PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 30: A general view of the exterior of Chase field is seen prior to the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday, March 30, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Today’s Lineups
BRAVES
DIAMONDBACKS
Ronald Acuna – RF
Ketel Marte – 2B
Drake Baldwin – C
Corbin Carroll – RF
Matt Olson – 1B
Geraldo Perdomo – SS
Austin Riley – 3B
Gabriel Moreno – C
Mike Yastrzemski – LF
Adrian Del Castillo – DH
Ozzie Albies – 2B
Nolan Arenado – 3B
Michael Harris – CF
Jose Fernandez – 1B
Dominic Smith – DH
Alek Thomas – CF
Mauricio Dubon – SS
Jorge Barrosa – LF
Bryce Elder – RHP
Michael Soroka – RHP
A slightly unusual start time for a Saturday, rather than the typical 5:10 pm. That’s because today’s game is a Fox Sports national broadcast, so we must all bow to their commercial demands. More irritatingly, that means that, a mere eight games in, this will be the fourth different subscription-based service you need to have in order to watch the Diamondbacks. In addition to dbacks.tv, we have already had Netflix on Opening Day, and Apple TV last night. I know you’ll need to add Peacock to the list in June. I will not be engaging with this nonsense, and so will be following this game purely on Gameday, if at all.
After Eduardo Rodriguez proved his first start was no fluke, with an even better one last night, we turn to Michael Soroka to see if he can reproduce his sterling debut as a Diamondback. Right now, he has a FIP of -0.22. Yes: that’s a negative figure. It’s possible because FIP just goes off things like K-rate and BB-rate. Soroka fanned ten batters in only five innings last time on the mound, while walking one. The joys of small sample sizes. It’d be nice if he could keep anything in that solar-system up, though right now, I’m more concerned about the offense. The D-backs now have a collective OPS of a mere .648. Carroll is our only active player with 10+ PA and an OPS+ above a hundred.
To this end, things have been shaken up a bit this afternoon. Jose Fernandez replaces the woeful Carlos Santana at first, and Adrian Del Castillo makes his first start as the designated hitter. Santana’s .043 average is the lowest for any D-back through ten games (25 PA or more). The previous worst was Geraldo Perdomo’s 1-for-20 start in 2022, and he at least had the ability to draw seven walks. Santana’s much-praised plate discipline hasn’t really been seen, with just two walks and eight strikeouts. I know Torey doesn’t want to pull the plug hastily, but Santana has been such a black-hole on offense, he could be a literal black-hole on defense and he’d still be of questionable value.
Apr 3, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) singles during the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
As far as regular-season games go, this one is as big as it’s gotten so far for Ryan Weathers, personally. The newest member of the Yankee rotation will pitch for the first time in front of his new home crowd and will do so against none other than his former team, the Miami Marlins. This is not your traditional successful big leaguer who inevitably gets moved to a contender, as he doesn’t fit the timeline of his current team. Sure, the Marlins got younger by flipping Weathers to the Yankees, but they also had plenty of time to develop him into a more established starter and then trade him for a better package. He’ll face his former teammates with something to prove, looking to justify the trust the contending Yankees placed in him.
If all of that wasn’t enough, Weathers faces the pressure of maintaining this outstanding run of form that Yankee starters have showcased to begin the year. Through the first seven games of the year, Yankee starters have an ERA below 1.00—Cam Schlittler is validating all the exciting takes he generated after his first year, Max Fried is being his usual outstanding self, and Will Warren has delivered two productive starts. Out of these four, Weathers was the most unpredictable commodity, and if he can hold his own, this rotation will be in a terrific spot, only getting better as the season goes on and more veteran reinforcements arrive
A bit of interesting information about this game and one that ties into last night’s performance: Historically, Giancarlo Stanton hasn’t fared particularly well against his former team, in what’s obviously not that large of a sample size. Stanton has a .391 SLG in 79 PA against the Fish. Amidst the offensive outburst of an 8-2 win on Friday, Stanton was the only Yankee hitter not to reach base safely.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 01: Mason Miller #22 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the San Francisco Giants during the eighth inning at Petco Park on April 01, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
They have only seen it twice this season, but according to this week’s Padres Reacts Survey on Gaslamp Ball, San Diego Padres fans would not be opposed to seeing Mason Miller and his new bullpen entrance more often.
The problem to this point in the year after the first six games over two series at Petco Park is that there have only been a couple of chances for Miller to job from the bullpen to the mound. Of course, there was at least one other opportunity where many Padres fans thought Miller should have been coming into the game, but San Diego manager Craig Stammen said he and pitching coach Ruben Niebla decided before the start of the game that Miller would not throw more than an inning in a save situation. Stammen cited the early time of year as the reason the right-handed flame thrower was unavailable.
With the team on the road, there is no chance Miller will be accompanied by his entrance music, “Blind” by Korn should he come into a game over the next two series. The Padres dropped the first game of their series against the Boston Red Sox but will look to get on a winning streak as San Diego completes the series in Boston and moves on to Pittsburgh to face the Pirates before returning home to face the Colorado Rockies, April 9.
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Logan Henderson (43) talks with catcher Gary Sanchez during spring training workouts Sunday, February 15, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona. | Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Let’s play two! After the Brewers won what was ultimately a tense game in the first leg of today’s doubleheader, they’ll take on the Royals a second time after a couple hours off for, presumably, pancakes.
Tonight’s pitching matchup was originally scheduled as Milwaukee’s Brandon Sproat versus Kansas City’s Seth Lugo, a 2024 All-Star. But a surprise was announced before the second game of the doubleheader: tonight’s 27th man, Logan Henderson, will start the game, with Sproat following out of the bullpen.
Henderson will function more as an opener than a “bulk” guy today, as he’s still working his pitch count up after he was put slightly behind schedule during spring training by what was called “mild elbow discomfort.” While anything elbow-related is concerning, Henderson did start on Tuesday for Triple-A Nashville. In that game, he threw 45 pitches on his way to three sharp innings: no runs, one hit, one walk, five strikeouts. Henderson, of course, made five excellent starts for the Brewers in 2025 (a 1.78 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 25 1/3 innings) but spent most of last season in Nashville before a flexor strain prematurely ended his season. This will be Henderson’s sixth career appearance and start, but don’t expect him to throw more than 50-60 pitches.
Sproat was knocked around by the White Sox last Sunday in what was his fifth career start and first as a Brewer. He allowed seven runs on six hits, three of them homers, in just three innings, and Chicago looked almost like they knew what was coming. But if that rattled Sproat’s confidence in himself, his confidence in his teammates should be sky high: while Sproat left the game in a 7-2 hole, the Brewers’ offense scored seven runs late, six of them in the eighth inning, and came from behind for a 9-7 win.
Lugo has made one start this season, and it was quite a good one. Also last Sunday, Lugo blanked the Braves for 6 1/3 innings, in which he scattered five hits and didn’t walk anyone. Lugo isn’t a young man anymore at age 36, but he had his best season just two years ago when he had a 3.00 ERA in over 200 innings and finished second in Cy Young voting. Last season, Lugo was 8-7 with a 4.15 ERA — basically exactly league-average — but a concerning 5.09 FIP. He’s not a big strikeout pitcher, but generally does well keeping runners off base.
Lugo is right-handed, but the Brewers are rotating some players into the lineup for the night game. Gary Sánchez will be behind the plate, Blake Perkins takes over for Brandon Lockridge in left field, and Joey Ortiz is in at shortstop, with David Hamilton moving over to third and Luis Rengifo to the bench. Christian Yelich will remain the designated hitter for game two. Jonathan India and Carter Jensen are in the lineup for game two, with Salvador Perez moving from behind the plate to DH. Nick Loftin and Starling Marte (who is definitely on the Royals), who started this afternoon, are on the bench.
Aaron Ashby, Abner Uribe, and Trevor Megill all pitched in the early game, so if there’s a save situation in game two, somebody who isn’t necessarily used to saving games will be out there. Ángel Zerpa and Jared Koenig are both available as lefties, but if the Brewers like a right-handed matchup better in the ninth inning, that basically just leaves Grant Anderson. Jake Woodford and DL Hall are also presumably available out of the bullpen. Speaking of bullpens, the Royals’ 27th man tonight will be righty reliever Eli Morgan.
First pitch for the nightcap is at 6:10 p.m., and the game can be seen on Brewers TV.
Logan Henderson has been selected as the 27th man for tonight's game AND will make his season debut as SP
The Los Angeles Kingshave signed another prospect, the team announced Saturday. Los Angeles officially signs Henry Brzustewicz to a three-year entry-level contract deal worth $1 million, according to PuckPedia, and will report to the AHL's Ontario Reign on a PTO deal for the rest of the 2025-26 season.
Brzustewicz was drafted by the Kings in the first round and 31st overall in the 2025 NHL draft.
Following his breakout season with the London Knights, Los Angeles decides to sign him to a three-year entry deal after his season with the Knights comes to an end, following elimination from the playoffs.
We have signed D Henry Brzustewicz to a three-year entry level contract through the 2028-29 season.
Brzustewicz will report to the @OntarioReign on a PTO for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
The defenseman had a great season for the London Knights, recording 19 goals, 35 assists, and 54 points in 59 games. In his fifth season with the London Knights, this is not only the best set of numbers he has ever put up in the OHL, but he's also tied for third in the OHL in goals this season.
Most importantly for the Kings and Reign, Brzustewicz is a winner, most recently winning back-to-back J. Ross Roberston Cups with the London Knights (2024, 2025) and the 2025 Memorial Cup.
The Ontario Reign currently leads the Pacific Division with a record of 42-19-3 and 89 points. The 19-year-old will play a big role in the Reign's quest for a Calder Cup. With the playoffs coming up, Brzustewicz's skills will surely live up to what has been an excellent season up to this point.
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Apr 2, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) falls to the court during a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the third quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Luka’s injury alone was going to cause widespread ripple effects for the Lakers. Add Austin to the mix and everything is disrupted.
Austin is set to miss 4-6 weeks, which covers the whole first round and part of a second round series, if somehow that happens. The typical recovery time for a Grade 2 hamstring strain would rule Luka out for the first round and, similarly, jeopardize his availability for a second round series.
Those timelines feel like a formality now, though. Austin and Luka are out for the first round of the playoffs and, barring a miracle, the Lakers will be, too.
Where does that leave the purple and gold, then, moving forward, both in the short and long term?
Playoff seeding
The Lakers have five games remaining in the regular season and are not locked into a playoff seed yet. While it went under the radar last week, LA did clinch a playoff spot, meaning the play-in is out of the question.
The standings are still tight, however, with LA one game up on Denver and two games up on Houston in the fourth and fifth spots, respectively. Minnesota has taken a nosedive and is four games back of the Lakers in the sixth seed, so there is a floor for LA to fall.
The Lakers also don’t have a particularly daunting schedule, sans another meeting with Oklahoma City on Tuesday. They will play at Dallas on Sunday, the Thunder on Tuesday, at Golden State on Thursday, at home against Phoenix on Friday and at home against Utah to wrap up the season.
Having said all that, making matters worse on Saturday was Denver beating the Spurs at home, pulling them closer to the Lakers. They will still play San Antonio and Oklahoma City one more time each in its final four games.
As for Houston, they play at Golden State and Phoenix before hosting the Sixers, Wolves and Grizzlies to end the season. While they’ve won five games in a row, the only win against a non-tanking team in that span was the Knicks.
It feels likely that the floor for the Lakers will be the fifth seed, though there is a worst-case scenario of LA going winless and Minnesota going undefeated, dropping them all the way to sixth.
MIAMI, FLORIDA – MARCH 19: Austin Reaves #15 and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers speak during the fourth quarter against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center on March 19, 2026 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Postseason match-up
Remember the 2013 playoffs? I wouldn’t blame you if you memory-holed that series against the Spurs in which the Lakers lost player after player after player.
In the fourth and final game of that matchup, LA started Darius Morris and Andrew Goudelock in the backcourt with Earl Clark at small forward. Chris Duhon played 43 minutes off the bench.
The playoffs this year are going to resemble that a little too closely.
LA still has talented players available, but this team is going to be so drastically different from the one in the regular season that it’s going to be hard to win a game. LeBron is going to have to go from third fiddle to carrying the offense again, something he may not even be able to do at 41.
A whole lot of role players who had spent months learning how to play alongside Luka now are going to have drastically different roles. Players who probably shouldn’t be relied upon for offense are going to need to score to even be competitive.
In that sense, it feels irrelevant who they play in the first round now because of how outmatched they’re going to be. Success for this team is going to look more like being competitive and maybe stealing a win, which is a damn shame considering where this team was even at the start of the week.
Offseason plans
The summer is going to be full of decisions for the Lakers and they’re now going to have to make them without seeing the best version of this team in the playoffs.
In fact, with the injuries they dealt with during the season, the sample size of the recent, idealized version of the Lakers is about a dozen games. It was a really good dozen games, but it was also a dozen games that ended in a dismantling by the Thunder.
The playoffs were supposed to serve as the big stress test for the team to learn if this really worked, particularly against the top teams, and where they needed changes. We’re not even going to get a glimpse of that now with so many players likely being slotted into unfamiliar roles in the postseason.
Instead, the front office will have to make decisions this summer with an incomplete data set.
Is it worth bringing LeBron back this summer or is it time to rip off the band-aid? Do they need another center this summer? Two new centers? How do some of the Lakers’ role players set for free agency hold up in the playoffs alongside Luka like Rui Hachimura or Luke Kennard?
These are all questions this front office won’t have fully satisfactory answers on, which is what makes this injury such a gut punch.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 30: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the Chicago Bulls on March 30, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs came up short in one of their final tests of the regular season, ending their win streak at 11. The Nuggets are battle-tested, deploying the top offense in the NBA, and they were the better team in the crucible.
Nikola Jokić feasted in the lane, but the Spurs couldn’t be stopped from getting there, either. It also helped that they kept their groove going in most of the non-Victor Wembanyama minutes, and the Nuggets weren’t as strong with Jokić resting. Still, it was a close game that required overtime, and the difference was the Spurs losing control and going cold after Jokić checked in for the last time.
Observations
This is as good as it gets to a playoff appetizer. Thirteen 3-pointers came in the first quarter as both teams showed high-level horsepower and the level of physicality increased as the game went on. The stakes were high for both teams as the Spurs had a chance of catching the first seed, and the Nuggets are trying to maintain home-court advantage in round one of the playoffs.
The Nuggets had the Spurs on the ropes in the third quarter, and they survived thanks to Julian Champagnie, Wembanyama and Stephon Castle putting the offense on their shoulders. The three of them combined for seven baskets in that span, yet the Nuggets went on a big run late in the period with them on the bench, cutting the Spurs’ lead to four going into the fourth quarter. The Spurs took advantage of the non-Jokić minutes, but the script flipped, and they were put in too many scrambles.
Nikola Jokić is the best player in the world, and making him work on defense is a necessity because he doesn’t want to guard anybody. The Nuggets tried to hide him on the smaller players, but the Spurs did a good job of going at him.
Wembanyama and Castle each had two fouls in the first quarter, but they didn’t let that affect their aggression and they continued charging into the paint. Wembanyama’s activity generated 11 of his 17 free throw attempts in the first half. On top of that, his presence was a big reason why the Nuggets struggled to score in the lane. Still, Jokić outplayed him in crunch time.
Christian Braun was the guy the Spurs left open to clog the lane, and he made five 3-pointers. Despite the production, he was the right player for the Spurs to try that against because he’s been awful on open and wide-open attempts this year.
Jokić took an accidental smack to the face by Wembanyama in the first quarter, and then took a shot to the upper chest by Keldon Johnson late in the second. He usually comes out like a madman after getting battered and bruised, and he finished with 40 points on 52 percent shooting.
The Spurs have been almost unbeatable when they score at least 70 points in the first half. After this loss, their record drops to 15-3.
De’Aaron Fox had five baskets in the fourth quarter, but he made a huge mistake, causing a four-point play by lunging at a shooter, which cut the team’s lead to two points late in the game. He also missed some critical shots in overtime.
Saturday afternoon was the tale of two opposite storylines: the beginning of what could be a promising career, and the potential end of a legendary career.
Gabe Perreault and Jonathan Quick are at two opposite ends of their respective careers.
In the New York Rangers’ 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday afternoon, Perreault recorded his first NHL hat trick, while Quick may have played in his last NHL game.
From where Perreault was at when he entered rookie camp in September to this point in April marks a true transformation.
The 20-year-old forward didn’t make the Rangers’ opening night roster out of training camp and even when he was called up from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League in November, he only played in three NHL games before he was sent back down to the AHL.
Mike Sullivan emphasized that the game moved too fast for Perreault, who was initially struggling to make the jump from the AHL to the NHL.
“As a young player, it's just physical maturity,” Sullivan said of Perreault in November. “The speed of the game and the size and the strength of the players at this level is second to none. For most young players, that's one of the challenges in making the jump to being an impact player at this level.”
In December, Perreault was recalled by the Blueshirts, and he never looked back.
The 2023 first-round pick showed offensive poise and readiness to play in the NHL that he was unable to display in his previous call-up.
Since rejoining the Rangers in December, Perreault has steadily gained Sullivan’s trust, earning himself a consistent top-six role and time on the power play.
In his rookie campaign for the Rangers, Perreault’s natural offensive instincts have risen to the forefront, as the game continues to slow down for him.
“When you look at Gabe's growth here over the course of the season, I think he's picked up a couple of steps just in his quickness, not only that, but how quickly he thinks the game,” Sullivan said. “It's one of the biggest hurdles. I think young players, all young players, regardless of what their strengths are as players, is just the speed of the game, the physical speed, the foot speed itself, but also how fast you have to think the game.
“The windows of opportunity open and close way quicker in this league than any in the world. That's what separates the NHL from the rest. I think the game is slowing down in his mind. And obviously his hockey IQ is probably his greatest attribute… With his vision, and his brain, and his stick skills, he's finding ways to have success in those areas in that environment. That's the experiential learning that's so critical. It's essential to the young players' growth. I just think with each game that he plays, he's getting better and better in all those areas.”
Perreault is also learning how to be in the right places at the right times. On Saturday afternoon, Perreault’s first goal game when Mika Zibanejad found him the puck at the low bumper, and his second goal came when Jonny Brodzinski fed him the puck while streaking to the net on a two-on-one chance.
Sullivan gave Perreault an opportunity to complete the hat trick with an empty net in the late stages of the contest, and J.T. Miller made a conscious effort to pass Perreault the puck in order to achieve this great feat.
“Thrilled,” Sullivan said of how happy he is for Perreault. “You can see the reaction on the bench. Everybody was rooting for him. He's an easy guy to root for. He's a great kid. He works hard. The fact that J.T. was working hard for him to try to get the hat trick was awesome. I just think it speaks volumes for the type of people that we have.”
Perreault underplayed his hat trick after the game, but acknowledged that the accomplishment holds significance for him.
“It means a lot.” Perreault said of his hat trick. “My teammates made a couple of nice plays, so I had a couple of easy ones (goals) today. It definitely feels good to get the hat trick, but most importantly, get the win.”
On the other side of the coin, Quick is at a different stage of his career.
The 40-year-old’s future with the Rangers and more importantly, his future in the NHL appears to be murky.
It’s unclear if Quick will retire following the completion of the 2025-26 campaign, but his one-year, $1.55 million contract is set to expire on July 1, which raises questions regarding his plans past this season.
Despite not giving any indication of his future, it was hard not to have the thought that he could be making the last start of his NHL career.
Coming off of a seven-game absence from an upper-body injury, Quick came back strong on Saturday afternoon, making 31 saves on 32 shots and helping propel the Rangers to a victory over a Red Wings team still fighting for a playoff spot.
The veteran goalie didn’t delve into much detail about his future plans when speaking with the media postgame, and he was noncommittal on the topic of retirement.
“We got six games left, five games left, something like that. I just want to enjoy the ride the rest of the way these last five, six games and figure that out when it’s time,” Quick said about if he’s thought about the big picture whether this could be his last season.”
It takes a lot for someone to transition from being one of the premier goaltenders in the NHL to being a backup. That’s exactly what Quick has been able to do, creating a new chapter in an illustrious career.
Winning two Stanley Cups with the Los Angeles Kings as the starting goaltender, Quick adapted to a backup role in 2023 with the Vegas Golden Knights en route to winning his third Stanley Cup.
Since then, Quick has formed the perfect tandem in New York with Igor Shesterkin, stepping in for Shesterkin when needed while providing a critical veteran presence in the locker room.
“I believe he's a first ballot Hall of Famer. When you look at his body of work in the league, he's a multiple time Stanley Cup champion,” Sullivan said of Quick. “I think what he means internally to our organization, I think maybe flies under the radar. I think his teammates have so much respect for him, certainly his coaching staff and the management team.
“The example, what he represents, and how he goes about his business every day, I think is inspiring for all of us. His work ethic is second to none. He has such a passion for the game. He just loves hockey. He loves being on the ice, loves competing, and those are the types of players that we believe you win with ,and so I think he's a great inspiration for all of us.”
In Quick’s absence, Dylan Garand played two games, posting a 1-0-1 record, 1.44 goals against average, and .954 save percentage.
The 23-year-old goaltender is someone who is bound to compete for the Rangers’ backup position next season, and his recent emergence has brought more uncertainty surrounding Quick’s future with the Rangers.
Even with Quick back in the fold, the Rangers are still keeping Garand around for now. However, Sullivan doesn't view having three goalies around as competition.
“I think Quickie and Shesty have been great mentors for Dylan Garand right now,” Sullivan emphasized. “I can see that relationship developing. The example that those two guys set for a guy like Dylan, it's great for Dylan to be around these guys... I think a guy like Dylan right now being around these guys, I think there's huge value in that, and a huge benefit in that.”
Michigan basketball has been an indomitable force in the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament, marching its way to the Final Four with four victories that were decided by an average of 22.5 points per game.
While their triumphs have been the product of hard, diligent work from players and coaches, one figure has loomed particularly large in the Wolverines’ path to a 35-3 record.
Yaxel Lendeborg has been an overwhelming driver for Michigan in his first season with the program. After averaging a double-double in each of the previous two years at UAB, the 6-foot-9 forward was the prize of last year’s transfer portal haul, choosing Dusty May and the Wolverines over a number of other extremely interested suitors.
Lendeborg has more than lived up to the hopes that greeted him in Ann Arbor, earning first-team All-American and Big Ten player of the year honors for a Michigan team that’s two wins away from its first national title since 1989.
Lendeborg’s do-everything success on the floor has made him a figure of intense interest not only for college basketball fans, but NBA front offices who will be vying for his services during the 2026 NBA Draft.
As his team prepares to play fellow No. 1 seed Arizona in the Final Four on Saturday, April 4, here’s a closer look at Lendeborg:
Yaxel Lendeborg age
Lendeborg is one of the older players in this year’s Final Four. The Michigan standout is 23 years old and will turn 24 in September, ahead of what will be his rookie season in the NBA.
Yaxel Lendeborg draft
Lendeborg is widely regarded as a lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Here’s a look at where various mock drafts have the Wolverines star going:
This season, Lendeborg is averaging 15.2 points, seven rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. Since the first round of the NCAA tournament, he’s been even better, averaging 25 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while shooting 61.4% overall, including 52.6% from 3-point range in Michigan’s past three games.
Here’s a look at his stats from this season:
2023-24 (UAB): 13.8 points per game, 10.6 rebounds per game, 2.1 assists per game, 2.1 blocks per game, 0.7 steals per game, 51.3% on field goals, 33.3% on 3s
2024-25 (UAB): 17.7 points per game, 11.4 rebounds per game, 4.2 assists per game, 1.8 blocks per game, 1.7 steals per game, 52.2% on field goals, 35.7% on 3s
2025-26 (Michigan): 15.2 points per game, 7 rebounds per game, 3.3 assists per game, 1.3 blocks per game, 1.2 steals per game, 52% on field goals, 37% on 3s
At halftime of the Lakers' loss to the Thunder on Thursday, both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves were checked out by the Lakers' medical staff. Doncic appeared to tweak his hamstring in the first half, Reaves had been grabbing his back and left side, clearly bothered by something. Both were cleared to play and return.
Less than six minutes into the second half, Doncic suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain and is out not only for the start of the regular season but also very likely for the start of the playoffs. Now comes this:
Austin Reaves has suffered a Grade 2 oblique strain and is out for the remainder of the regular season, the Lakers announced Saturday. Like Doncic, Reaves will likely be out for the start of the playoffs — Reaves is expected to be out 4-6 weeks, reports Shams Charania of ESPN, which would have him out not only for the first round of the playoffs but potentially the second round as well.
Oblique strains are more common in the MLB where the avg time lost is ~46 days.
In the NBA, the avg time lost for nondescript oblique strains is ~16.7 days. High grade oblique tears have an avg time lost ~9 weeks. Look for Reaves' possible return to fall somewhere in-between.
Reaves is the Lakers' second-leading scorer and a key shot creator for the team, averaging 23.3 points and 5.5 assists per game.
Reaves is an unrestricted free agent after this season but is widely expected to re-sign with the Lakers. The only question is how much, but it's likely going to be close to a $35 million-per-season average.
Without Doncic or Reaves, 41-year-old LeBron James becomes the primary scorer and shot creator for Los Angeles, something the future Hall of Famer can handle, but not with the consistency he once did. With Doncic and Reaves thriving during the recent Lakers run — they had gone 13-1 in the games prior to facing OKC — LeBron had settled comfortably into a role as the third option. Now, all that changes.
The Lakers sit as the No. 3 seed in the West, just half a game in front of the Nuggets and two games up on fifth-seed Houston. If the Lakers struggle through the final week of the season they could slide down the standings and into a tougher matchup (maybe even starting the playoffs on the road).
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Nathaniel Lowe #30 of the Texas Rangers celebrates after hitting a two run home run during the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 29, 2024 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Nathaniel Lowe posted a 122 OPS+ in nearly 2600 PA for the Texas Rangers across four full seasons after coming over from the Tampa Bay Rays. In that time he was valued at 11.5 bWAR, won a Gold Glove, a World Series, and a Silver Slugger Award – the latter coming during a remarkable 2022 season in which he hit 26 homers and .302/.358/.492 (139 OPS+) in 645 PA.
He’s still just 30 years old. While his stint with the Washington Nationals to begin a 2025 season after being dealt away from the Rangers was unlike him (88 OPS+), he rebounded to hit a much more Lowe-esque .280/.370/.420 in 119 PA with the Boston Red Sox to finish the year.
He’s a pretty damn good hitter still, I believe. And the Cincinnati Reds got him for a song in free agency over the winter, as he landed on a minor league deal with an invite to spring camp and a guarantee of just over $2 million bucks if he made the big league roster – which he did.
He’s going to have a place on this roster at some point that’s more obvious and a better fit than right now, I can guarantee it. He’s a proven left-handed bat with a long, long track record of hitting well against RHP, and that’s something the Reds simply do not have on the roster in spades. Elly De La Cruz is, we know, but beyond that we’re looking at a pretty clearly post-peak TJ Friedl and…Will Benson?
So while he’s been mostly relegated to bench-bat status to begin 2026 (thanks to Sal Stewart rightfully getting run at 1B and Eugenio Suarez deserving at bats somewhere, too), Lowe’s going to fit in somehow, some way before this 162-game grind comes to a close.
Perhaps that’s in a role like where he’ll start against his old club Texas on Saturday at DH. Suarez is displacing Ke’Bryan Hayes at 3B for another game, as Hayes still searches for some semblance of offense. Despite Cincinnati oddly betting big on Hayes’ defense being able to make up for the fact that he’s been the most punchless bat in baseball for years (and the long-term contract that is on their books for it), there’s a good argument to be made that getting Suarez time at 3B and Lowe in the lineup at DH makes the Reds a better overall team than Hayes at 3B, Geno at DH, and Lowe sitting on the bench.
At least, that’s what I pretty much think, and we’ll get another look at it against RHP Kumar Rocker and the Rangers Saturday evening.
The Hayes thing is something the Reds will obviously continue to work on seeing as he’s under contract for years beyond 2026. For now, though, it’s worth finding out if the former Rangers 1B who fell in their lap for dirt cheap can make them significantly better in the short term, and that’s what we’ll get a look at today.
Here’s how Cincinnati will line up for Rhett Lowder’s second start of 2026:
Jul 26, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker (80) throws to the plate during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 04: Bub Carrington #7 of the Washington Wizards dribbles the ball against Pelle Larsson #9 of the Miami Heat during the second quarter at Kaseya Center on April 04, 2026 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Once again, the Wizards offered little resistance on defense.
A couple nights ago the Philadelphia 76ers scored 153 in regulation over the little defense the Wizards offered. As the game today evolved the only interesting question seemed to be whether the Heat will break that threshold or not. At halftime, the Miami Heat were right on pace: scoring 77 points. If they could match that in the second half, they would arrive at 154!
Alas, the Wizards did not come out of the locker room after half-time with any more determination, as they ceded 45 points in the 3rd quarter alone. But maybe one of those patented “comebacks from behind” in the 4th quarter?
Nah, with 6 minutes left in the 4th, the scoreboard showed 118-140 for the hosts, as they were on pace to break the 153 threshold!
But, at last, the Wizards were able to keep the Heat to only 30 points in that final frame, and as the game ended the scoreboard proclaimed 136-152 in favor the Heat.
Some bright spots for the Wizards were:
Will Riley was the best starter in terms of plus/minus, with only -3. Actually, he played well. Made 12 of his 17 field goals, and scored 31 points in 37 minutes! It’s probably much thanks to him that the loss was only by 16 points.
Also, Sharife Cooper and Jamir Watkins were great in garbage time, with 20 (3-for-5 from deep) and 14 (2-for-4 from deep) points each.
For the Heat, Jaquez Jr. had 32 points in 32 minutes, off the bench! Did we already say candidate for 6th man of the year?
The Wizards now head to Brooklyn for another matinee game, tomorrow.
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts was removed in the first inning of Saturday's game in Washington due to lower back pain, the team announced.
Betts walked in the top of the first and came around to score on Freddie Freeman's double, but was replaced by Miguel Rojas at short when the Dodgers took the field in the bottom of the inning. An update on Betts' status was expected after the game.
Betts was hitting .179 (6-for-28) with two home runs and seven RBIs entering Saturday's contest. A four-time World Series winner, Betts is coming off the worst season of his career, posting a .732 OPS in 150 games while making the full-time transition to shortstop.
The 33-year-old joined the Dodgers prior to the 2020 season and has helped lead the team to three championships, including back-to-back titles in 2024 and 2025.
If Betts were to miss time, Rojas – the World Series Game 7 hero – would likely take over as the team's primary shortstop in the interim.
