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Yankees series preview: Not a team you want to face during a losing streak

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 16: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees reacts after hitting a home run in the first inning during the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium on April 16, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Royals have stumbled out to a 7-12 start and are winless on this road trip as they travel to the Bronx. The Yankees are always expected to be one of the top teams to contend for a title, although a championship has eluded them now for 16 seasons. They got off to a great start this year, but have dropped seven of their last nine, including getting swept by the Rays.

Kansas City Royals (7-12) vs. New York Yankees (10-9) at Yankee Stadium, New York, NY

Royals: 3.42 runs scored/game (26th in MLB), 4.16 runs allowed/game (12th)

Yankees: 4.53 runs scored/game (13th), 4.00 runs allowed/game (8th)

Only four teams have hit more home runs than the Yankees this year, and 15 of their 23 home runs have come at home. They also have the second-highest walk rate in baseball. Aaron Judge is tied for the most home runs in baseball with eight. He’s a .325/.416/.663 with 16 home runs in 43 career games against the Royals. He is hitting just 3-f0r-21 with 11 strikeouts against Michael Wacha though.

Trent Grisham hit just .182/.303/.348 against lefties last year. Austin Wells hit .208/.259/.403 in the second half last year. Shortstop Anthony Volpe is out with a shoulder injury, replaced by José Caballero, who stole 49 bases last year. Giancarlo Stanton is just 4-for-29 (.138) over his last nine games, although he homered yesterday against the Angels.

The Yankees are without Carlos Rodón, Clarke Schmidt, and Gerrit Cole due to injury, and the Royals will miss Max Fried this series. But Cam Schlittler leads all pitchers in fWAR so far this year, tossing 13.2 scoreless innings to start the season. He had made just 18 career MLB starts, but has a 2.85 ERA with 114 strikeouts in 94.2 innings. He throws a 97 mph four-seamer that opponents are hitting just .161 against this year.

Will Warren has only pitched into the fifth inning once in his first four starts. Lefties hit .266/.350/.436 against him last year. He relies a lot on a sinker and sweeper, generating a 56 groundball rate so far this year.

The Yankees acquired lefty Ryan Weathers from the Marlins for four minor leaguers last winter. He has pitched in parts of the last five seasons, but has never made more than 20 starts in a year. Injuries limited him to just eight starts last year, and he posted a 3.99 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 38.1 innings. In his last start against the Angels, nine of the 10 balls in play against were flyballs sent at least 295 feet.

The Yankees’ bullpen has a 4.13 ERA and they have four blown saves already. David Bednar is tied for the AL lead with five saves, but he has given up a run in four of his last six outings. Fernando Cruz had a 36 percent strikeout rate last year, seventh-highest for a pitcher with at least 30 innings. Tim Hill had a 64.8 percent ground ball rate last year.

The Royals are coming off getting swept and are in bad need of some early wins. Yankee Stadium is a tough place for that, but the smaller dimensions of the ballpark may get the bats going. The Royals need to at least grab a win, and maybe two, or else they will return home Monday finding their season in a deep hole.

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“Come Back Stronger”: Alex DeBrincat Challenges Red Wings To Respond Next Season

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While 16 teams are preparing for battle in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Detroit Red Wings were once again left cleaning out their lockers at Little Caesars Arena after another disappointing finish.

Despite being tied for first overall in the Eastern Conference in late January, the Red Wings stumbled to a 9-15-5 record during the final 29-game stretch of their centennial campaign, seeing their playoff cushion disappear and ultimately be eliminated from postseason competition last Saturday. 

It marks the 10th consecutive season of no postseason hockey in Detroit, not only the longest drought in team history, but now officially the longest active drought in the NHL. 

Forward Alex DeBrincat, who scored 41 goals, the most by any Red Wings forward since Marian Hossa in 2008-09, explained that the club needed to channel the disappointment they're currently feeling and use it as fuel for next season. 

“Over the summer, we need to bottle up what this feels like and come back stronger,” DeBrincat said. “I think, I feel like we’ve said that the past couple of years, but overall, I think we played good hockey for, you know, 3/4 of the season and put ourselves in a great spot, had confidence. We were coming to the rink ready to play and confident we could beat any team in the League for a long time there." 

Not long after the resumption of the schedule following the Olympic break, the Red Wings suffered a 4-3 OT loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on March 4, a game in which they led 3-1 in the third period.

What followed was a series of costly losses, perhaps the most damaging of which was a stunning 4-3 regulation setback against the Florida Panthers. Detroit led 3-2 with 90 seconds left, only to see the Panthers knot the score and then score the go-ahead goal with just 14 seconds left. 

While they eventually rebounded with two straight wins over the Calgary Flames and Montreal Canadiens at home, they dropped four of their next five, all against opponents they were jockeying for playoff position against. 

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

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“And that kind of slipped," DeBrincat said of Detroit's lead in the standings. "I don’t know exactly when it slipped or what happened, but then you see the mental side of the game come in, and we feel defeated, and you can see it. We need to find a way to work hard every game to the end of the season."

Following the aforementioned 5–3 loss to the Devils last Saturday that sealed Detroit’s playoff fate, the Red Wings earned a point with a third-period comeback against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday. However, they then sleepwalked through an 8–1 loss in their regular-season finale against the Panthers—their largest margin of defeat all season and the most goals the club has surrendered since November 2022. 

"I think our last game was probably one of the most embarrassing games I’ve played in myself," DeBrincat said of their lopsided loss. "Everyone, it seems like, we weren’t working hard, and I know it didn’t mean anything, but you could kind of see that creep into our game during that last bit. Very frustrating.”

Red Wings Lock in Depth Forward with One-Year Contract Extension Red Wings Lock in Depth Forward with One-Year Contract Extension The Detroit Red Wings have announced a one-year contract extension for depth forward John Leonard, who appeared in multiple contests this season in what was his first campaign with the organization.

DeBrincat is set to enter the final season of a four-year deal he signed shortly after being acquired from the Ottawa Senators during the 2023 offseason, but the Farmington Hills, Michigan, native reiterated that he feels comfortable playing in his hometown. 

“I love it here. I think we’re still a little far away from even having those conversations, but yeah, this is my home,” said DeBrincat. “I’ve loved every bit of playing here, but I think at the end of the day, it’s a business, so we’ll see what they want to do. But yeah, I love it here.

“I think this is a team I want to be a part of for a long time, and I think everyone knows that. I want to be a big part of changing the culture, and obviously, we’ve done a little bit of that, but there’s still work to do.”

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Rockets vs Lakers Same-Game Parlay for Saturday's NBA Playoffs Game 1

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Kevin Durant and LeBron James headline the upcoming first-round matchup between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers.

Regardless of your fandom, don’t sleep on this Round 1 rumble. You’ll miss KD and LeBron when they’re gone, and in honor of this Hall of Fame pairing, my Rockets vs. Lakers predictions for Saturday’s series opener lean on both superstars.

Here are my best NBA picks for April 18.

Our best Rockets vs Lakers SGP for Game 1

Without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, oddsmakers aren’t giving the Los Angeles Lakers much of a shot in Round 1.

That said, if there was a game in which L.A. would show up, Saturday is it. Los Angeles is rested and ready for the Rockets, and LeBron always plays his best in the opener. The Houston Rockets' young stars could be a bit tight, having to start the playoffs on the road.

Kevin Durant hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. He was a beast in the home stretch, averaging more than 27 points in the final 13 games of the regular season. His projections sit as high as 27+ points for Game 1 against a broken L.A. rotation.

Fading LeBron James’ assist prop is kind of a nod toward his scoring prowess. The Lakers' supporting roles are terribly inconsistent, especially against a good defense like Houston. James has been dishing out the dimes with Luka out, but he’ll have to carry this team with scoring in Game 1.

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Buffalo Sabres return to NHL playoffs for first time since 2011. Get tickets

New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change.

Buffalo Sabres star Tage Thompson (L) and Pittsburgh Penguins icon David Pastrnak are meeting in the first round of the NHL Playoffs.

The drought is officially over.

After a 15-year absence from the NHL playoffs, the Buffalo Sabres are returning to the postseason in a big way.

With a sparkling 50-23-9 record and first-place Atlantic finish, Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen have home-ice advantage against Jeremy Swayman and David Pastrnak’s Boston Bruins in the best-of-seven first round.

Their four hypothetical home games are scheduled to take place:

Game OneSunday, April 19
7:30 p.m.

Game TwoTuesday, April 21
7:30 p.m.

Game FiveTuesday, April 28
TBD

Game SevenSunday, May 3
TBD

If you’d like to be there to root yourself hoarse for the Blue and Gold live, tickets are available for all high-stakes showdowns.

At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on seats for any of the four games in Buffalo was $360 including fees on StubHub.

Prices for games at Boston’s TD Garden start at $176 including fees.

In the off-chance you’ve been living under a rock, Buffalo’s season took a turn in mid-December when they were made fun of on “Heated Rivalry” the club let general manager Kevyn Adams go and promoted Jarmo Kekalainen.

Once the move had been made, everything started clicking for Lindy Ruff’s gritty squad.

“It’s extremely satisfying,” Ruff said after clinching the Atlantic. “[These] last four months [have] been so much fun…you hope you get the team in the right place and become consistent, but these guys have exceeded my expectations.”

Over the course of the regular season, Buffalo and Boston met twice and split the season series. The Sabres won their most recent contest 5-1 on March 5 behind goals from Ryan McLeod, Alex Tuch, Josh Norris, Owen Power, and Mattias Samuelsson.

Although we can’t predict what happens next, we do know the best way to experience this series is live because…who knows when the Sabres will be back in the playoffs?

Don’t miss this one.

For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about the Buffalo Sabres vs. Boston Bruins 2026 first-round NHL Playoff Series below.

Buffalo Sabres playoff home game tickets

A complete calendar including all announced Sabres home game dates and the best prices on tickets can be found here:

Buffalo Sabres home game datesTicket prices
start at
Game One
Sunday, April 19		$501(including fees)
Game Two
Tuesday, April 21		$365(including fees)
Game Five
Tuesday, April 28		$360(including fees)
Game Seven
Sunday, May 3		$437(including fees)

Boston Bruins playoff home game tickets

All Bruins playoff home game dates and the cheapest tickets available can be found below.

Boston Bruins home game datesStubHub prices
start at
Game Three
Thursday, April 23		$176(including fees)
Game Four
Sunday, April 26		$198(including fees)
Game Six
Friday, May 1		$204(including fees)

How to watch the Sabres and Bruins on TV

Fans hoping to catch Ruf’s rowdy roster on the tube can watch all first-round playoff games on ABC, ESPN and TNT.

Just make sure to review your local listings before tuning in.

If you don’t have cable, your best bet may be DIRECTV.

2026 NHL playoff schedule

Want to keep tabs on how the postseason is shaking out?

Check out the NHL’s 2026 Playoff Bracket here.

Huge concerts at the KeyBank Center in 2026

Not sure what to do once the final buzzer sounds on the 2025-26 NHL season?

The KeyBank Center has you covered.

The vintage and unhinged arena has booked a number of exciting acts to entertain audiences all summer (and fall) long.

Here are just five of our favorites you won’t want to miss live.

• Bryan Adams (Aug. 14)

• Zac Brown Band (Nov. 5)

• Zayn (Nov. 7)

• Sombr (Nov. 14)

• Andrea Bocelli (Dec. 11)

Want to see who else is Buffalo-bound? Check out this list of all the upcoming events at the KeyBank Center (which includes the NHL Draft) to find the show for you.

Why you should trust ‘Post Wanted’ by the New York Post

This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.

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The Jumbo Jack and Panda Express Plate promotions have returned

Jack in the Box Mascot at ChainFEST, the world's first gourmet chain food festival on December 1, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images) | Variety via Getty Images

Almost two seasons ago, I was watching a Dodgers telecast where announcer Joe Davis and play-by-play analyst Orel Hershiser commented about one of the two main food promotions associated with the Dodgers: the “free” Jumbo Jack with the purchase of a large drink at participating Jack in the Box restaurants, the day after the Dodgers strike out at least seven batters.

The banter included a call to action for a reporter like Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times to investigate the matter, with the acknowledgment that most serious reporters would not touch this story. I accepted the challenge because doing my own thing is part of my brand here at True Blue LA.

Sometimes we get investigative pieces about the Dodgers Gondola Project, sometimes we get travelogues about Japan, and sometimes we get silly little essays about “free” hamburgers and modestly discounted sugar chicken.

Life is just funny, sometimes.

Speaking of sugar chicken, the other major fast-food promotion is offered when the Dodgers win at home. The following day, at participating Los Angeles-area restaurants, one can purchase a discounted two-entree plate from Panda Express for $7. The cost of this promotion has increased by a dollar each year over the last two years, making it less of a solid deal.

As a fun aside, Panda Express is an offshoot of the Panda Inn, which opened in Pasadena in 1973 and elsewhere in southern California, before eventually spawning the fast-casual chain we all know today. Would I ever want sugar chicken but fancy? Probably not, but to each their own.

This season, I have finally taken measures to keep track, mostly in real time, of the Dodgers’ progress in triggering these promotions. There was an AM/PM promotion for a free hot dog (after the Dodgers steal a base), and there is a McDonald’s promotion for a “free” six-piece chicken McNuggets (with a $2 purchase) after the Dodgers score six runs. But these promotions have largely failed to capture the imagination of the fanbase, mostly because they seemed ill-conceived.

The people are not clamoring for a free gas-station hot dog or a convoluted way to get one of the better things on the McDonald’s menu. (Author’s note: the best thing is the Egg McMuffin — period.)

If anything, these promotions used to work outside of the Los Angeles area, even as far away as Tulare County, three to four hours to the north. Not anymore. Am I to blame for that fact? God, I hope not.

The status of the big two promotions

As you can see, the Dodgers have been humming along, churning out victories, discounted Panda Plates, and “free” Jumbo Jacks with aplomb. Last year, the Dodgers triggered the Jumbo Jack promotion 131 times out of 162 regular season games, which is roughly a 80.9% clip. Last year, the Dodgers won 52 out of 81 home games to trigger the Panda Express promotion, which is about a 64.2% clip.

So far, the Dodgers are at a slightly slower pace with the Jumbo Jacks promotion and a slightly faster pace with the Panda Express promotion, but the season is still less than a full month old.

To refer to Joe Davis’ original request, no one should be eating fast food every single day. If one were forced to, there are ways to make the Panda Express plate tolerable to your health (double teriyaki chicken, no sauce, vegetables — you’re welcome).

With Jack in the Box, it’s much harder to be healthier. Admittedly, you’re at a burger joint; the window for good choices closed as even less bad menu choices are not covered by the promotion, which is the only reason apart from sheer hunger than patrons should go.

Unlike other seasons, I am keeping a daily track to prevent the slog of sifting through box scores for a single statistic, which is anathema to joy. Speaking of anathema, Jack in the Box has gone through tough times like another fast food operators in recent years.

The company has had a colorful history, accidentally serving Australian horse and kangaroo meat in the early 1980s to marketing that was poorly timed with the Oklahoma City bombing in 1994. Does this downturn mean the Jumbo Jack promotion may go the way of Rax and other fast food restaurants swept into the dustbin of history? Who can say.

Still, if one lives in the Los Angeles area and wanted to take “advantage” of these deals, sooner would be better than later. However, given recent history, the Dodgers will likely trigger either or both of these promotions on a regular basis during the rest of the 2026 campaign.

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Game Preview: Booker vs. Curry in a win-or-go-home Friday night finale

Apr 8, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) attempts to drive to the basket against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Who: Phoenix Suns vs. Golden State Warriors

When: 7:00pm Arizona Time

Where: Mortgage Matchup Center — Phoenix, Arizona

Watch: Prime Video

Listen: KMVP 98.7

So the season comes down to this. One game against the Golden State Warriors for the right to stay alive. For the right to earn the eight seed. For the right to face the Oklahoma City Thunder, the defending champions, and the best team in the league.

At first glance, it feels favorable. The Warriors limped to a 37–45 record and haven’t been playing their best basketball. But that surface read doesn’t hold for long. Because what they have can’t be measured in standings. They know who they are. They know how to win. The core of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Steve Kerr has lived in these moments. Four championships together are unquantifiable. You saw it against the Los Angeles Clippers. Down double digits, they didn’t blink. They dropped 43 points in the fourth quarter and took control. That’s not luck. That’s experience.

So the record gets tossed. The late-season struggles get tossed. Because they have the one thing that travels in games like this. They have Curry.

For the Suns, it’s a shot at redemption. A chance to still reach the postseason after dropping the 7–8 game. No seven seed has failed to advance in the Play-In era. Phoenix doesn’t want to be the first. Standing in the way is a team that has given them problems, even if it’s been a while since they last met. None of that matters now. One game. One result. Season on the line.

Probable Starters

Injury Report

Suns

  • Grayson Allen — QUESTIONABLE (Left Hamstring Soreness)
  • Mark Williams — QUESTIONABLE (Left Foot Soreness)

Warriors

  • Jimmy Butler III — OUT (Right ACL)
  • Moses Moody — OUT (Left Patellar Tendon)
  • Kristaps Porzingis — QUESTIONABLE (Right Ankle Soreness)
  • Quinten Post — OUT (Right Foot Injury Management)

Tale of the Tape

All of the statistics listed below are post-All-Star break.

SUNSSTATWARRIORS
13-14Record8-19
110.5 (28th)PPG112.7 (27th)
109.7 (5th)OPP PPG118.2 (20th)
113.6 (17th)OFF RTG112.9 (19th)
113.1 (13th)DEF RTG118.2 (22nd)
35.7% (18th)3PT%34.2% (25th)
43.2 (19th)RPG41.9 (22nd)
24.0 (30th)APG28.9 (8th)
8.4 (16th)STL9.2 (10th)
37.5 (30th)/49.2 (11th)PITP/OPP PITP48.2 (21st)/52.3 (22nd)
18.0 (13th)/16.4 (10th)PTS OFF TO/OPP PTS OFF TO19.1 (10th)/19.8 (26th)
36.6 (19th)Bench Scoring45.8 (6th)

What to Watch For

It starts at the point of attack for the Phoenix Suns. That’s been the issue for two months now.

If you can’t contain the ball up top, everything behind it gets stressed. It puts pressure on guys like Mark Williams and Oso Ighodaro to protect the rim, and when they do, the defense collapses. That leads to kick-outs and open threes. Against the Golden State Warriors, that’s dangerous. They may sit 25th in three-point percentage since the All-Star break, but they’re 11th in makes. Volume matters. Give them space and they’ll make you pay. So while collapsing the defense has its place, it comes with risk.

On the other end, the Suns need to find the three-point line early. This is where their advantage lies. 18th in the NBA in three-point percentage since the break, Phoenix is 4th in makes at 15.0 per game. Golden State isn’t as long or as disruptive on the perimeter as the Portland Trail Blazers. That was Portland’s blueprint: keep Phoenix off the arc. It worked. The Suns didn’t hit their first three until midway through the second quarter.

That can’t happen again.

You want an early rhythm. Knock down a couple. Get the crowd engaged. Settle the building before the tension creeps in. Because it will. This is an elimination game. If the Suns fall behind, even briefly, that anxious energy will show up.

Key to a Suns Win

Control your emotions. You’re facing the Golden State Warriors, a group built on experience. They’ve lived in elimination games and understand the moment. They’re the more mature team.

The Suns are different. Phoenix is younger and more emotional. They’re in their emo phase, and my assumption is Fall Out Boy posters are all over their room. The team feeds off that energy, but it can swing on them fast. It needs to be controlled. Add Draymond Green into the mix, poking and prodding, and you can feel how this could tilt early. Don’t be surprised if a couple of technicals show up as officials try to keep it in check.

Devin Booker needs to show real leadership, especially the emotional kind. In a game like this, that means being the emotional beacon: the player who gives his teammates space to feel the moment while keeping his own emotions firmly under control.

We felt it on Tuesday, the way these games come in waves. There are runs and momentum shifts. The team that stays composed usually comes out on top. If the Suns are going to win, it starts there. Stay composed. Stay disciplined. Use emotion as a tool to impose your will.

Prediction

It hasn’t been a great track record against the Golden State Warriors this season, but I have confidence that this Phoenix Suns group has more depth. They can sustain scoring, keep pressure on throughout, and that matters against a team that isn’t elite defensively.

Because of that, I lean Suns. They find enough offense, they hold steady, and they get it done. Phoenix wins and moves on to the postseason. We have one amazing day of discourse before the reality of a matchup against OKC sinks in.

Suns 109, Warriors 101

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Martin Perez returns to Braves, opens Phillies series on mound

It’s been quite an eventful week for Martin Perez.

After allowing one run over five innings in the Braves’ 6-0 loss to Cleveland on Saturday, he was designated for assignment but elected free agency when he cleared waivers on Tuesday. However, he rejoined the Braves on a minor league contract Wednesday and was officially brought back to the Atlanta roster Friday morning.

That lands him right back where he was at this time last week, taking the mound the fifth spot in the Braves’ rotation as Atlanta kicks off a three-game road series against the Philadelphia Phillies Friday evening.

Perez, 35, was viewed as more of a depth piece when he signed a minor league contract with the Braves in late January. As the injuries stacked up, though, his case for a roster spot grew and eventually came to fruition.

Now in his 15th major league season, Perez has largely been what Atlanta needed from a fill-in starter. In three games (two starts), he’s allowed five runs over 14 1/3 innings for a 3.14 ERA. He’s never really been a strikeout pitcher and has just six this season, but has managed well with a 0.91 WHIP.

Per Baseball Savant, he’s in the ninth percentile in whiff percentage and third percentile in strikeout percentage. However, he’s in the 87th percentile in barrel percentage and 83rd percentile in hard-hit percentage.

Atlanta will be looking for Perez to set the tone against Philadelphia as it looks to move back atop the NL East this season after a two-year lull. After the Braves had won the regular-season series against the Phillies each of the last four years, Philadelphia claimed the season series for the first time since 2019 last year, winning eight of 13 games against Atlanta on the way to its second straight division title.

The Phillies, though, have not been at their best early this season. They enter this series with an 8-10 record having lost three straight series, most recently losing two of three to Arizona and the Chicago Cubs at home.

They are tied for 10th in the league in home runs (20), but 23rd in batting average (.229), 22nd in on-base percentage (.309) and 18th in slugging percentage (.381).

It hasn’t been much better on the mound for Philadelphia. Without Zach Wheeler early this season as he nears a return from thoracic outlet decompression surgery which included the removal of a rib which he kept, they’re 26th in the league in ERA (4.92) and dead last in opponent’s batting average (.276).

While Cristopher Sánchez has picked up right where he left off (the Braves will see him Saturday against Chris Sale in a battle of the aces), a number of other starters have struggled in the early going. That includes veteran RHP Taijuan Walker (1-2, 7.36 ERA), who the Braves will face in the series opener.

Walker was hit hard in his first two starts of the season, allowing a combined 17 hits and 10 earned runs over 9 2/3 innings in losses against the Nationals and Rockies. But he may have found something last time out against the Diamondbacks, allowing two runs on four hits over five innings with a season-high six strikeouts and two walks.

He did allow one more home run in that win, though, running his season total to four.

Friday’s game will be the only game of the weekend with the local broadcasting crew of Brandon Gaudin and C.J. Nitkowski. Saturday’s game will be broadcast on FOX, and Sunday’s will be back on NBC/Peacock for the second straight week.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Friday, April 17, 6:40 p.m. EDT

Location: Citizens Bank Ballpark, Philadelphia, PA

TV: BravesVision, Gray TV

Streaming: MLB.tv

Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan

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Knicks fans can hurl eggs at comedian in Hawks garb in wild NBA playoff stunt

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows A young man in a blue

Knicks fans don’t have Trae Young to vilify anymore, but a new person will be getting the ire of the Madison Square Garden faithful on Saturday night when they host the Atlanta Hawks for Game 1 of the playoffs.

The Post has learned that there will be a stunt set up outside MSG where a comedian will be enclosed in a plexiglass case decked out in Hawks gear with a microphone to needle Knicks fans as they enter and leave the arena, beginning pregame at 5 p.m. ET and could last into the wee hours of the night

The stunt, put on by sports and prediction company Underdog, will include employees handing fans eggs and other projectiles to throw at comedian Andrew Weiss.

New York Knicks fans protest against the NYPD as they set up barricades to the Subway entrance after the Knicks’ win against the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of Round 3, the Eastern Conference Finals. Angelina Katsanis

The Garden had not been notified of the upcoming stunt and is not involved. Parts of the sidewalks are public property, though they are maintained in part by Vornado Property Management.

A source told The Post that the Knicks had “no involvement” in this stunt.

NYC’s Street Activity Permit Office did not respond to multiple requests for comment about whether one was needed for such a stunt.

Win or lose, the comedian is slated to be there both pre- and postgame.

Knicks fans won’t need to target Trae Young any further. Angelina Katsanis
Outside of MSG will be some wild Knicks fans looking to settle scores with a Hawks fan. NBAE via Getty Images

Knicks fans are typically rather rambunctious outside the arena after playoff games, and their “F–k Trae Young” chants from the 2021 NBA Playoffs and beyond are part of Garden lore.

The stakes are notably higher this year. First-year Knicks coach Mike Brown’s group embarks on a massive playoff campaign in their first season without Tom Thibodeau.

The Knicks reached the Eastern Conference Finals and took the Pacers to six games last season, falling just short of making the NBA Finals.

Fans will be on pins and needles as they head into the arena, and perhaps will have some scores to settle after the game as well. Weiss will need to be in top form either way.

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David Stearns talks causes of Mets' struggles: 'Urgency is not the problem here’

It’s been a tough week for the Mets. 

The club's offense has been stuck in a rut, as they’ve found themselves quickly falling to five games under the .500 mark in the midst of their eight-game losing streak. 

New York has been shut out three times, and they’ve scored just 12 runs over that span. 

“We haven’t played good baseball for the last week,” David Stearns said Friday in Chicago. “We’ve had a tough time scoring runs -- it’s a combination of we’re not hitting great and we also ran into some good pitching, and we need to play better.”

While the Mets have looked lifeless at times during this tough stretch, Stearns emphasized that urgency is not the problem. 

The inability to generate scoring chances has often led to them trying to do too much at the plate, which has led to them sitting among the league's worst in chase rate. 

“We’re trying to score runs,” Stearns said. “Sometimes you have to let the pitcher come to you, and that’s really easy for me to say and it’s really easy for me to watch a game and think that -- it’s a heck of a lot tougher when you’re in the box and want to make something happen.

“You guys have asked about urgency -- there’s plenty of urgency, there’s plenty of want -- sometimes that can lead to things like chase rate, unfortunately, but I think that ends with just one bases-clearing double. We’ve all seen that throughout our careers in baseball, and I think once we get that it’ll normalize.”

Even while they wait for that one big knock, Stearns feels good about the team he assembled.

“We believe in our players,” he said. “Fundamentally, we believe that we have good players who are preparing in the best way possible, who are working hard, and in my experience when you have players who care about the right things -- which our players do -- it leads to good results.

“Certainly over the seven-to-10 days we haven’t seen that, but we still have a long season to go and I’m confident that we will see it.”

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Playoff Preview: 3 Keys to Cavs beating Raptors

TORONTO, CANADA - NOVEMBER 24: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers stands for the National Anthem before the game against the Toronto Raptors on November 24, 2025 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers are entering the 2026 NBA Playoffs with a chip on their shoulders. Before they can prove anything of substance and go the distance, they need to take care of business as the heavy favorites in their first-round series with the Toronto Raptors.

Here are three keys to making sure that happens. All stats are via Cleaning the Glass.

1. Control the Pace

The Cavs have a talent advantage in this series. But talent can only get you so far. Winning on the margins is often what determines outcomes. If you lose the mini-battles, you lose the series.

For Cleveland, losing control of the pace would be the quickest path to destruction.

Toronto finished the regular season 3rd in transition frequency. They scored over 20 points per game off fastbreaks. They also generated the fourth most turnovers in the league. These transition opportunities are huge for a team that finished 13th in offensive efficiency.

In short, this series favors the Cavs if they can keep this game in the halfcourt. How do you achieve that?

Taking care of the ball is the first step. Cleveland finished the season 8th in turnover percentage and was even better (6th) in the two months after acquiring James Harden. This will be key as the Cavs ranked 11th in transition defense post All-Star break, but struggled heavily in scenarios created off turnovers, finishing 20th off steals.

Then there’s the double-edged sword of attacking the offensive glass. On one hand, offensive rebounds can wear a team down and slow things significantly. On the other hand, coming up short on an offensive board will leave your transition defense more vulnerable. The Cavs have to play this carefully.

The Raptors finished 1st in transition frequency off live rebounds. However, they ranked 19th in keeping opponents off the offensive glass. Cleveland was 11th in offensive rebounding percentage. There’s an opportunity for the Cavs to burn or get burned here. I’ll be interested to see how they approach this.

Either way, a slower pace benefits Cleveland. Expect the Cavs to make this their top priority in round one.

2. Trust the Math

There isn’t much in the world that everyone can agree on. We can, however, agree that three is greater than two, right?

If my math is correct, then the Cavs once again have an advantage.

The Raptors finished 25th in three-point frequency and 18th in accuracy this season. They are… not a great perimeter team. Aside from scoring in transition, the Raps primarily made up for their lack of shooting by attacking the paint (9th in rim frequency) and mid-range (6th in mid-range frequency).

This is exactly the type of style that Cleveland’s defense prefers to go against.

The Cavs have always worked to run opponents off the line and force them to score from the middle of the floor. Difficult, inefficient two-pointers are preferable to three-point jumpers. This has been the basis of Cleveland being an elite defense in years past. It will be their blueprint for round one, too.

Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes will try their best to beat Cleveland from the mid-range. They’ll likely even have a game or two where they are red-hot from that zone. But this is a gamble the Cavs are willing to accept. The math says that Toronto will have a hard time winning four out of seven games by scoring in the mid-range.

The Cavs will trust that even the most prolific scoring performance from the mid-range will be something they can overcome with their own three-point shooting. Let’s talk more about that in our next section.

3. Score, Score, Score

I can’t blame anyone who might feel hesitant to trust Cleveland’s defense. After all, we spent most of the regular season watching them either be banged up or struggling to play with consistent effort. I’ll grant you that concern.

But this team should pack a strong enough punch offensively to make everything else in this series moot.

Lineups featuring James Harden had an offensive rating of 120.9 (87th percentile). Add Donovan Mitchell next to him, and those lineups had a scorching 125.7 offensive rating (98th percentile). You’re banking on that being enough to overcome anything in this first round, even a top-10 defense.

For reference, the Cavs ranked sixth in offensive rating against top-10 opponents after the All-Star break. The Raps ranked 21st.

The problem-solving capabilities of Harden and Mitchell make this possible. They can punish you in isolation, through their pick-and-roll dynamism with Allen and Mobley, or by spraying the ball to any of Cleveland’s various three-point specialists. They have a solution to anything a defense can throw at them.

And while we know that the guards can fill it up, the potential for either Mobley or Allen to control the paint is just as dangerous. These two hit their stride in the back half of the season and will put a heavy strain on Toronto’s frontcourt to keep them from racking up dunks.

Finally, X-Factors like Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, Keon Ellis, and Max Strus can swing the entire series with their three-point shooting. Either one of them can heat up in a hurry and deliver a game-ending run.

All in all, the Cavalier offense has all of the tools needed to be an extinction-level threat to the Raptors. This is their greatest advantage in round one.

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NHL 26 Predicts A Woeful Stanley Cup Playoff Result For The Los Angeles Kings

With the entire Stanley Cup playoffs bracket set, everyone is making their picks and predictions as to how the post-season will play out. EA Sports' NHL 26 completed their own version of a prediction with its yearly playoff simulation.

The end result was not a pretty one for the Los Angeles Kings, and fans will hope for anything other than what NHL 26 thinks will happen.

Confirmed on Thursday night, the Kings are facing the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche have been a juggernaut all season long and even took home the Presidents' Trophy as the league's best regular-season team.

Colorado's performance this season was certainly not lost in this NHL 26 simulation.

In the first round of the playoffs, the video game predicted the Kings to get swept by the Avalanche in a 4-0 series defeat.

It may not be completely unrealistic for Colorado to sweep Los Angeles, considering the Avs finished the season with 31 more points than the Kings and are 19 positions apart in the NHL standings.

Although for the Kings not to pick up a single win in the post-season seems harsh, even if they are one of the least impressive teams to make the playoffs in some time.

How Do The Los Angeles Kings Match Up Against The Colorado Avalanche?How Do The Los Angeles Kings Match Up Against The Colorado Avalanche?The Los Angeles Kings clinched a playoff berth, but are currently in line to face the NHL's best team, the Colorado Avalanche. How can the Kings match up against the Presidents' Trophy winners?

However, it's worth mentioning that Colorado has had a couple of first-round series in the last five campaigns where they swept their opponent as the top seed of their division.

It happened in the 2022 playoffs when the Avs swept the Nashville Predators, and in the 2021 playoffs when the St. Louis Blues were the victim of Colorado's dominance.

Whether it's looking back at history, the course of this past regular season, or the simulation of NHL 26, it's clear that the Kings are the biggest underdog in this year's playoff campaign.

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Tyler Glasnow in Coors for the first time ever

Apr 10, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow (31) throws to the plate during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Going on his third season as a Dodger in 2026, Tyler Glasnow still has a lot of firsts left to accomplish, and one of them will be done this weekend—would you believe that this will be the first time Glasnow starts a game in Coors Field in his career? Scheduling and injuries have prevented the tall right-hander from taking the mound in Colorado before—that’ll change as the Dodgers and Rockies meet for the first time in 2026, both already exactly where they’re expected to be at season’s end, on opposite ends of the NL West standings, Los Angeles in first and Colorado in last place, tied with the Giants.

Early results for Glasnow in 2026 are about as Glasnow-esque as it gets, with his ERA (4.00) not matching the level of dominance he has displayed on the mound, striking out 22 hitters in 18 frames with a sub-1.00 WHP—one couldn’t even tie a home run problem to his high ERA. A three-start sample is just that, but it’s also very like him to deliver these types of numbers.

In a timely fashion, the Dodgers starters kicked things up a notch in the last series against the Mets, which means the bullpen will come in fresh for this series against the Rockies. Relievers only had to cover 6.1 of the 27 innings against the Mets, with Blake Treinen as the only pitcher who appeared twice.

While we’re on the subject of good pitching, the veteran Tomoyuki Suagno, who’ll oppose Glasnow in this Friday’s matchup, is off to quite the start, including six innings of one-run ball against the Phillies in his last home outing. Sugano has had a home run problem, but all four homers he allowed were solo shots, maintaining a low ERA thanks to it. Generating traffic isn’t the biggest of challenges in Coors—if they do it, the home runs have been there against Sugano.

Friday’s game info

  • Teams: Dodgers at Rockies
  • Ballpark: Coors Field, Denver
  • Start time: 5:40 p.m. PT
  • TV: SportsNet LA & Rockies TV
  • Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)
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Hornets vs Magic Props & Best Bets for Tonight

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The Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic are in a battle for their NBA playoff lives.

Tonight’s NBA Play-In finale should be absolutely riveting, and my Hornets vs. Magic predictions and NBA props projections have found three potential mismatches to take advantage of.

Read on for my NBA picks for Friday, April 17.

Best Hornets vs Magic props

PlayerPickbet365
MagicWendell Carter Jr.Over 1.5 assists+100
HornetsMiles BridgesOver 1.5 threes +102
Hornets Kon KnueppelOver 2.5 threes-130

Prop #1: Wendell Carter Jr. Over 1.5 assists

+100 at bet365

As the Orlando Magic's starting center, Wendell Carter Jr.regularly serves as the offensive hub, with Orlando guards and wings cutting to the cup off his passes.

Our Covers prop projections have Carter dropping at least two dimes tonight, which is something he has done in three of his previous seven games. 

The Charlotte Hornets rank among the league's worst at defending big man playmakers, making this a prime opportunity for Carter to rack up the dimes.

Prop #2: Miles Bridges Over 1.5 threes

+100 at bet365

Miles Bridges has quietly become one of Charlotte’s most reliable 3-point threats.

With LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller drawing constant defensive attention and creating open looks on the perimeter, Bridges benefits from some of the best kick-out opportunities on the team.

He’s knocked down at least four threes in four of his previous seven games and should get there again against Orlando.

Prop #3: Kon Knueppel Over 2.5 threes 

-130 at bet365

Kon Knueppel has been one of the more impressive shooting revelations for Charlotte this season. He’s drained the fourth-most threes in the NBA this season and is coming off a 0-for-6 stinker against Miami.

Our model expects a bounce-back shooting night, and Knueppel has made at least three threes in four of his previous seven games. 

I expect Orlando's defense to prioritize stopping Ball first, so I’ll back the rookie sharpshooter against the Magic. 

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Warriors vs Suns Win Probability at Prediction Markets Like Kalshi

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The Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns collide in a win-or-go-home showdown tonight, with the winner punching a ticket to the playoffs and the loser sent packing.

The Suns may be priced as favorites, but that number carries less weight in a win-or-go-home spot, where rotations shrink, stars take over, and variance swings harder than the market accounts for.

With prediction markets like Kalshi offering a sharper, real-time read on sentiment, we’re breaking down the latest Warriors vs. Suns predictions and best NBA picks for this high-stakes clash.

Who will win Warriors vs Suns?

Warriors win probability:43% (+133)
Suns win probability:59% (-144)

The Phoenix Suns come in as slight favorites at 59% (-144), while the Golden State Warriors sit at 43% (+133), setting up a tight game that will likely come down to which superstar — Devin Booker or Stephen Curry — takes over when it matters most.

Our prediction:Suns to win

Covers NBA expert Jason Logan says "The Suns are being discounted after running into a hot Portland squad on Tuesday, and the Golden State Warriors will show their age in a tough travel spot Friday."

Read more in Jason Logan's full Warriors vs. Suns predictions.

Start trading with Kalshi today!

Sign up now using our exclusive Kalshi promo code 'COVERS' and get a $10 trading bonus after you trade $10 on any other event contracts — including Warriors/Suns!

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More Warriors vs Suns prediction markets

You're certainly not limited to the main game outcome for Warriors vs. Suns at Kalshi; you also have options to trade on the spread, total, and more, among other NBA odds markets.

You can buy either side of a market — for example, "Yes" on the Suns -2.5 spread means the Suns will cover, while "No" means the Warriors will cover — with each side priced based on the implied probability (which can be converted to American, Decimal, or Fraction odds using the Covers odds converter).

Warriors vs Suns spread and total at prediction markets

OutcomeYesNo
Suns -2.553¢ (-113)48¢ (+108)
Over 218.5 points53¢ (-113)48¢ (+108)

Our predictions:Suns -2.5— Yes and Over 218.5 points — No

That potential for a faceplant isn’t the only reason I’m fading Golden State. The Warriors will now hit the road for the fourth time in eight days, which is a lot of wear and tear on the aging legs of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Al Horford, and Kristaps Porzingis.

The Phoenix Suns, on the other hand, get to stay home and enjoy an added day of rest and prep. Phoenix is being discounted after running into a red-hot Portland squad in the Play-In and has shown an ability to bounce back from poor performances, going 22-15 SU and 21-16 ATS when coming off a loss.

Other Warriors vs Suns prediction markets available

  • Devin Booker 25+ points (Yes: 64¢)
  • Steph Curry 25% points (Yes: 70¢)
  • Draymond Green double-double (Yes: 17¢)

What is Kalshi and how does it work?

Kalshi is a federally regulated U.S. exchange where you trade directly on the outcome of real-world future events. Instead of traditional bets, you trade "Event Contracts" which are simple Yes/No questions like "Will the Suns win tonight?" These events are priced between $0.01 and $0.99, and the prices reflect the market’s estimated probability of that event occurring. For instance, $0.55 equals a 55% chance. If your prediction is correct, the contract pays out exactly $1.00; if not, it settles at $0. Kalshi is essentially a stock market for reality.

How does Kalshi differ from sportsbooks?

In a sportsbook, you bet against the bookmaker, who sets fixed odds and takes a "vig," which is a kind of commission. On Kalshi, you trade against other users. This peer-to-peer model means prices are driven by supply and demand, often resulting in fairer odds. Additionally, because these are financial derivatives, you can exit your position early. If your team takes a 14-point lead, the contract price will rise, allowing you to sell your "Yes" shares for a profit before the final whistle even blows.

Why should I wager on Warriors vs Suns at Kalshi?

Kalshi offers four unique advantages over traditional sportsbooks:

  1. Flexibility: Unlike a "locked-in" bet, you can sell your contract at any time.

  2. Transparency: You trade against other users, which can allow you to find better value.

  3. Federal regulation: As a CFTC-regulated exchange, your funds are held in a secure, transparent environment.

  4. Availability: Kalshi is available in 49 states (excluding Nevada) and D.C., including many regions where traditional sportsbooks aren't yet legal.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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2026 NHL draft lottery odds, explained: Who has the best shot at No. 1?

The quest for the 2026 Stanley Cup begins Saturday, Aug. 18 with 16 teams taking part in eight first-round series.

For the other half of the NHL, teams will look forward to seeing where they will draft in June. The annual draft lottery is scheduled to be held after the first round of the playoffs and will determine the order of the non-playoff teams in the first round.

The last-place Vancouver Canucks will have the best odds at 18.5% to win outright and 25.5% if a team in the 12 to 16 range wins and moves up the maximum 10 spots.

But last year, the New York Islanders won the lottery despite 3.5% odds and took Matthew Schaefer No. 1 overall. The Utah Mammoth won the second drawing and jumped to the fourth overall pick.

This year's draft is deep with Penn State's Gavin McKenna and Sweden's Ivan Stenberg leading the way.

Here are the odds for the draft lottery, per Tankathon, based on their final finish in the 2025-26 standings:

NHL draft lottery odds

Teams in the 12 to the 16 range can't win the No. 1 overall pick. They would move up 10 spots.

  • 1. Vancouver Canucks: 18.5% (25.5% overall)
  • 2. Chicago Blackhawks: 13:5%
  • 3. New York Rangers: 11.5%
  • 4. Calgary Flames: 9.5%
  • 5. Toronto Maple Leafs: 8.5% (pick traded to Boston but is top 5 protected)
  • 6. Seattle Kraken: 7.5%
  • 7. Winnipeg Jets: 6.5%
  • 8. Florida Panthers: 6.0% (pick traded to Chicago but is top 10 protected)
  • 9. San Jose Sharks: 5.0%
  • 10. Nashville Predators: 3.5%
  • 11. St. Louis Blues: 3.0%
  • 12. New Jersey Devis: 2.5%
  • 13. New York Islanders: 2.0%
  • 14. Columbus Blue Jackets: 1.5%
  • 15. Detroit Red Wings: 1.0% (pick traded to St. Louis)
  • 16. Washington Capitals: 0.5%

Top North American skaters

  • LW Gavin McKenna, Penn State
  • D Reid Chase, Sault Ste. Marie
  • D Carson Carels, Prince George
  • D Keaton Verhoeff, North Dakota
  • D Daxon Rudolph, Prince Albert

Top international skaters

  • LW Ivan Stenberg, Sweden
  • D Alberts Smits, Latvia
  • C Oliver Suvanto, Finland
  • C Viggo Bjorck, Sweden
  • RW Elton Hermansson, Sweden

How does the draft lottery work?

There are two drawings, first for a chance at the top pick and then for a chance at the second pick. Winning teams can move up only 10 spots. The last-place team can draft no lower than third overall. Beginning with the 2022 lottery, a team cannot win more than twice in a five-year period. There are 14 ping-pong balls in the machine and each team is assigned a series of four numbers. The lower a team is in the standings, the more series of numbers it gets. 

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 NHL draft lottery odds what teams have the best chance