The Chicago Cubs, already off to an uneven start this season, will lose right-handed starter Cade Horton for the rest of the season due to elbow surgery, manager Craig Counsell announced on Tuesday, April 7.
Horton, 24, finished runner-up in 2025 Rookie of the Year voting after posting a 2.67 ERA over 22 starts, and likely has the most dominant repertoire of Cubs starters. He pitched into the seventh inning in defeating the Washington Nationals in his season debut March 31, but exited his second start against Cleveland after just one inning.
Now, a rotation that seemed plenty deep after the acquisition of Edward Cabrera from Miami in the off-season will be stretched to the limit.
Horton was preceded to the IL by lefty Matthew Boyd, a 2025 All-Star who suffered a biceps strain. Veteran right-hander Javier Assad was already recalled to take his roster spot.
Now, the club is counting significantly on the return of lefty Justin Steele from Tommy John surgery performed almost exactly a year ago. Steele eyed a May return, but the Cubs placed him on the 60-day IL to begin the year, making that goal a tad ambitious.
And it also puts a greater onus on lefty Shota Imanaga to return to his 2024 form. The Cubs acquired Cabrera in the hopes it would take some heat off Imanaga, who has faded badly each of the past two second halves.
Minus Horton, that margin for error has narrowed for the Cubs, who have lost six of their first 10 games this season.
As the remodeled Mets lineup coalesced during the first week and a half of the regular season, Juan Soto was the constant. He hit when others didn’t. He needed no adjustment or warm-up period. He provided identity for a lineup still discovering one. So being without him and his .355 average and .928 OPS for two to three weeks as he recovers from a calf strain will obviously test them.
It will test them, in part, because to the extent that there is ever a good time to be without Soto, this is not that time. After hosting the Diamondbacks and Athletics this week – neither of whom are built to be pushovers, whatever their early-season showings might suggest – the Mets will fly to Los Angeles to face the mighty Dodgers and Chicago to face the Cubs.
Plus, early in the season is one time of year when the Mets’ other superstar, Francisco Lindor, is often at his worst. He entered Tuesday’s game 2 for his last 20, swinging earlier and often than his manager would like in what Carlos Mendoza characterized as an attempt to swing out of his slump. Bo Bichette is not fully clicking yet, either.
Still, there are reasons to believe the Mets can tread water offensively while Soto heals.
Luis Robert Jr. has already shown flashes of his superstar potential with the Mets. He is hitting .333 with a .907 OPS and demonstrating improved patience, currently looking capable of realizing his potential as a lineup keystone.
Francisco Alvarez, too, looks more like the best version of himself early this year than he did early in 2025. He has a hit in each of his last three games, homered twice Friday in San Francisco, and looks confident at the plate. Production similar to what he sustained after returning from the minors last year (.276 average with a .921 OPS) would help offset the loss of Soto significantly – not to mention what it would do for the Mets when he returns.
More imminently, the Mets will also cross their fingers that Mark Vientos can extend his current torrid stretch into the next week or two. The man who seemed in danger of falling out of the Mets’ plans entirely when spring training ended has hit his way back into relevance. He has a hit in all but one game he has played this year, including seven in his last three games.
Vientos will not sustain a .476 average and 1.236 OPS all season, in part because when healthy, the Mets do not have an obvious position at which he could get regular at-bats. But with Soto injured and Jorge Polanco battling an Achilles issue, they have plenty of room for him now.
As a righty, Vientos also offers help replacing Soto when the Mets face left-handed starters, against whom Soto has a career .843 OPS. Vientos will be a natural fit for all Mendoza’s lineups against lefty starters, though he likely would have found his way into them even without Soto’s injury, too.
Tuesday, against right-hander Zac Gallen, rookie Carson Benge replaced Soto in left field defensively with Vientos at first base and Brett Baty starting in right. With Soto out, Baty will likely get more chances against left-handed starters than the three plate appearances he has taken against lefties this season. Baty is a career .202 hitter against lefties with a .553 OPS, but he took major steps forward against left-handed pitching last year when he hit .247 with a .678 OPS. He is 1 for 3 against lefties this season, and the one was an RBI double.
Against righties, Jared Young will likely continue to see more opportunities than the Mets anticipated when they named him to their Opening Day roster. Young, who went 3 for 3 playing in place of Soto in Sunday’s game in San Francisco, has a 1.005 OPS in 13 at-bats this year.
Even with reasons for optimism around hitters in the bottom of their lineup, the easiest way for the Mets to build sustainable offense without him is for Lindor and Bichette to carry them through it. And the Mets building sustainable offense without Soto is important so that neither he nor his team feels pressured to hurry and turn a small problem into a big one: After all, the best way to survive games without Soto is to avoid them as much as possible.
CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 29: Baylor Scheierman #55 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on March 29, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 (Photo by Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Charlotte Hornets (43-36) at Boston Celtics (53-25) Tuesday, April 7, 2026 8:00 PM ET Regular Season Game #79 Home Game #39 TV: NBC/Peacock, NBCSB, FDSN Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, 92.7 WFNZ-FM, Sirius XM TD Garden
In another game that could be a first round preview, the Celtics host the Charlotte Hornets. The teams in the 6th through 10th spots are all separated by just 2 games. With each of these teams having 3 or 4 games left to play, every game is important for the final seeding. The Hornets are going to want to win so as not to drop into the 9th or 10th spot, which will require 2 wins rather than 1 in order to make the playoffs.
This is the 3rd, and final, game between these 2 teams. The Hornets won the first game between these two teams 118-89 in Boston on March 4. The Celtics evened the series with a 114-99 win in Charlotte on March 29. The Celtics are 82-47 overall all time against Charlotte and they are 43-21 in games played in Boston. The Celtics won the series last season, winning all 4 games.
The Celtics are 2nd in the East, 3.5 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are 2.5 games ahead of 3rd place New York, 3.5 games ahead of 4th place Cleveland, 8.5 games ahead of 5th place Atlanta, and 10 games ahead of 6th place Toronto and 10.5 games ahead of 7th place Philadelphia. The Celtics are 34-15 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 27-11 at home and 8-2 in their last 10 games. They have won their last 3 games.
The Hornets are 8th in the East, 7 games behind 4th place Cleveland, 2 games behind 5th place Atlanta, and half a game behind 6th place Toronto. They are tied with 7th place Philadelphia, and 9th place Orlando and 1.5 games ahead of 10th place Miami. They are 25-24 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 22-17 on the road and 8-2 in their last 10 games. They have won their last 4 games.
After this game at home against Charlotte, the Celtics will play one game on the road at New York and then host New Orleans in back to back games. They will finish the season by hosting Orlando. After this game at Boston, Charlotte has just 2 more games to play. They will then host Detroit before taking on the Knicks at New York.
The Celtics have a clear injury list for the first time in a long time. Nikola Vucevic returned on Sunday after missing 4 weeks due to finger surgery. The Hornets are close to full strength as well. Two-way player, PJ Hall is out due to an ankle injury. Coby White is listed as probable due to left groin soreness.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Derrick White vs LaMelo Ball
Derrick White | Getty ImagesLaMelo Ball | Getty Images
SG: Jaylen Brown vs Brandon Miller
Jaylen Brown | Getty ImagesBrandon Miller | Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images
SF: Sam Hauser vs Kon Knueppel
Sam Hauser | NBAE via Getty ImagesKon Knueppel | Getty Images
Celtics Reserves Payton Pritchard Hugo Gonzalez Luka Garza Amare Williams Jordan Walsh Baylor Scheierman Max Shulga Nikola Vucevic Ron Harper, Jr
2-Way Players None
Injuries/Out None
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
Hornets Reserves Grant Williams Sion James Josh Green Ryan Kalkbrenner Pat Connaughton Tre Mann Liam McNeeley Coby White Tidjane Salaun
2-Way Players Tosan Evbuomwan Antonio Reeves PJ Hall Injuries/Out PJ Hall (ankle) out Coby White (groin) probable
Head Coach Charles Lee
Key Matchups Jaylen Brown vs Brandon Miller Miller is averaging 20.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. He’s shooting 48.1% from the field and 43.0% from beyond the arc. In the first 2 games against the Celtics, he averaged 15.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.5 steals while shooting 50% from the field and 35.7% from beyond the arc. He is a good 3 point shooter and so the Celtics have to stay with him on the perimeter.
Derrick White vs LaMelo Ball Ball is averaging 19.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. He is shooting 40.6% from the field and 36.8% from beyond the arc. In the first 2 games against the Celtics, he averaged 18.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists while shooting 38.9% from the field and 31.8% from beyond the arc. He is 2nd in the league with 255 total 3 pointers this season and is always a threat from the perimeter. He is quick and always a threat to steal the ball.
Honorable Mention Sam Hauser vs Kon Knueppel Knueppel is averaging 18.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. He is shooting 48.9% from the field and 43.8% from beyond the arc. In the first 2 games against the Celtics, he averaged 16.5 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist while shooting 44.4% from the field and 36.7% from beyond the arc. He leads the league in 3 pointers made with 265. The Celtics have to stay with him on the perimeter.
Keys to the Game Defense – Defense is always the key to winning. The Celtics are 4th the league with a defensive rating of 111.7. The Hornets are 12th in the league with a defensive rating of 113.4. The Hornets are 4th with an offensive rating of 118.7 while the Celtics are 2nd with an offensive rating of 119.9. The Celtics are capable of playing lock down defense but there are times when they lose focus and allow their opponents to score way too easily. They need to continue to make defense a priority and play tough defense in this game against a very good offensive team.
Rebound – Rebounding is important to give the Celtics extra possessions and to limit possessions for their opponents. Rebounding takes effort and the Celtics need to give extra effort to beat the Hornets to rebounds. The Celtics are 4th with 46.5 rebounds per game and the Hornets are 5th with 46.2 rebounds per game. The Hornets are 2nd with 17.8 second chance points per game and the Celtics need to limit those for the Hornets by putting more effort into grabbing rebounds.
3 Point Shooting – The Celtics are 4th in the league, averaging 41.8 three pointers per game. The Hornets are 2nd, shooting 43.1 threes per game. The Celtics are shooting 36.4% as a team from beyond the arc (9th) while the Hornets are shooting 38.1% from beyond the arc (3rd). The Celtics make 15.2 threes a game (3rd) while the Hornets make 16.4 thees a game (1st). The Celtics need to work to get open and move the ball to find the best shots. If the 3’s aren’t falling, they need to take the ball inside. And they need to defend the perimeter or the Hornets will bury them in threes. In the Celtics March 4 loss to the Hornets, the Celtics shot just 27.8% on 3’s while allowing the Hornets to shoot 38.8% from beyond the arc. In their March 29 win, the Celtics shot 41.2% from beyond the arc while holding the Hornets to just 27.9%. The Celtics need to stay focused on offense and play tough defense in order to win this game.
Move the Ball Carefully– The Celtics are tough to beat when they keep the ball moving and find the open man but when one player over dribbles and lapses into hero ball, they falter. The Celtics are 33-0 when they have more assists than their opponent but just 18-23 when they have fewer assists than their opponent. Keep the ball moving and don’t lapse into hero ball, whether in the first quarter or the 4th quarter. They have to make careful passes and not turn the ball over because in their loss to the Hornets, the Celtics turned the ball over 15 times but in their win, they turned it over just 5 times.
X-Factors Home Game and Motivation – The Celtics need to feed off the energy of the crowd and hopefully, the Hornets will be distracted by travel and the hostile crowd. The Celtics should protect their home court and play harder because of it. Both teams are playing for their seeding in the playoffs. The Celtics need to win to guarantee the 2nd seed. The Hornets are playing to stay in the 7th or 8th spot and avoid having to win 2 games to make the 8th seed. They are going to be very motivated to win and the Celtics have to be focused and play with extra effort to get the win.
Officiating – Officiating is always an x-factor. Every crew calls the game differently. Some call it tight and call every bit of contact while others allow more physical play. Some favor the home team while others call both sides evenly. The Celtics have to adjust to the way the refs are calling the game and not allow no calls and bad calls to affect their focus on playing the game.
Apr 6, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Adolis Garcia (53) is hit by a pitch during the seventh inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images | Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images
We’re ten games into the 2026 season, which is not nearly enough to look for things that are concrete. A new approach by one player may only be just a blip on their season long radar. Drawing a conclusion from a ten game sample isn’t really going to give us a lot of information, but it’s worth a try.
Out of all of the things that are happening with the team so far, which one feels the most “real” when it comes to something that might hold all season long?
Much of this offseason centered around the team’s signing of Adolis Garcia to replace Nick Castellanos in right field, a lot of that discussion not really understanding the move. Early on, Garcia has at the very least hit the ball hard, putting himself in the top 25 in average exit velocity, in the top 50 in barrels per plate appearance. He’s started to run into a little more batted ball luck, so it’s nice to see results go with the work.
Several other players are having a decent start to the season, so let’s figure out which one is the most “real”?
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Phillies fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.
The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft, Alabama's Labaron Philon Jr. is expected to go in the first round after declaring on Tuesday. Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the Guard's draft night will play out.
Our draft order is based on ESPN's projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.
Labaron Philon Jr. 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 11 overall, Golden State Warriors
Kalbrosky's Analysis:
The Warriors could still use more reliable players in the backcourt and could find a fairly compelling player in Alabama sophomore Labaron Philon. Even though the All-SEC guard was not playing at 100 percent during March Madness due to injury issues, he played well in the tournament, recording 35 points during a loss against Michigan. He also notched 29 points in his first game and 12 assists in his second. The guard averaged 22.0 points per game and he improved his 3-point shooting from 31.5 percent as a freshman to 39.9 percent as a sophomore, also managing 5.0 assists per game in the process.
Here's a running list of player movement in the Big Ten this offseason (players USA TODAY Sports has confirmed are in the portal, have either announced intention to transfer or it's been reported they are in portal).
Here's a running list of player movement in the SEC this offseason (players USA TODAY Sports has confirmed are in the portal, have either announced intention to transfer or it's been reported they are in portal).
Here's a running list of player movement in the ACC this offseason (players USA TODAY Sports has confirmed are in the portal, have either announced intention to transfer or it's been reported they are in portal).
Here's a running list of player movement in the Big 12 this offseason (players USA TODAY Sports has confirmed are in the portal, have either announced intention to transfer or it's been reported they are in portal).
Here's a running list of player movement in the Big East this offseason (players USA TODAY Sports has confirmed are in the portal, have either announced intention to transfer or it's been reported they are in portal).
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 07: Salvador Perez #13 of the Kansas City Royals reacts during the eighth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on April 07, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In the second inning, Rookie of the Year candidate Carter Jensen crushed a belt-high cutter to the empty right field bleachers for a line drive home run. The homer was Jensen’s third of the year, and put the Royals ahead 1-0 against their divisional rivals, the Guardians.
But that hit turned out to be the only Royals hit all afternoon. When you only get one hit, you’re gonna lose the game, and lose the game the Royals did in a 2-1 final score.
Granted, today’s game was a little odd. The Royals are speedrunning weird weather games, with their 13-run rainfest victory against the Twins last Wednesday an unusually wet and foggy contest as one example. Today’s contest was another example, and Nick Kappel—the Royals’ Director of Media Relations—pointed out that this was the third-coldest first pitch temperature at a balmy 33 degrees. Cleveland, baby!
Coldest 1st-pitch temperatures in @Royals history:
29° April 7, 2007 vs. DET 32° April 8, 2018 at CLE 33° April 7, 2026 (TODAY!) at CLE
Royals batters weren’t totally barred from the experience of running the bases. Kansas City actually drew eight walks, with seven different batters netting their free pass to first base. But no one could get a hit. A little of this was bad luck, as other than Jensen’s home run the Royals had four batted balls with an expected batting average of .570 or better and all of them turned into outs. Of course, the Guardians—miserable little luck merchant gremlins that they are—got hits on all six of their batted balls with an expected average of .570 or better.
Kansas City had their best chance in the eighth inning with one out, Bobby Witt Jr. walked and stole second base. Vinnie Pasquantino walked, and then Witt and pinch runner Lane Thomas executed a double steal. But Salvador Perez had popped up just before, and Jensen struck out immediately after.
And with Matt Strahm and Lucas Erceg unavailable today, and with Carlos Estevez on the injured list, manager Matt Quatraro was forced to turn to his fourth-best reliever in the ninth inning. Predictably, Cleveland was able to do damage against John Shcreiber, effortlessly sandwiching a walk between a pair of singles to squeeze a runner across and excite all 16 remaining fans in attendance.
Hey, Noah Cameron was really good! He threw 5.2 innings, striking out five against one walk and one run. Unfortunately, the Kansas City offense seems intent on forcing their starters to throw near-perfect games for a chance at winning; they came into today with a .653 OPS with runners in scoring position and a .589 OPS in high-leverage situations. Sooner or later, they’ll need to do some damage.
Also, whoever replaced Bobby Witt Jr. with Alcides Escobar, please put them back. It’s getting a little old.
Mar 26, 2026; San Jose, CA, USA; Texas Longhorns forward Dailyn Swain (3) drives to the basket against Purdue Boilermakers guard Fletcher Loyer (2) in the second half during a Sweet Sixteen game of the West Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images | Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
In the wake of a sensational season on the Forty Acres that concluded with a trip to the Elite Eight, Texas Longhorns junior forward Dailyn Swain is declaring for the 2026 NBA Draft, according to his agents.
NEWS: Texas's Dailyn Swain will declare for the 2026 NBA Draft, agents Richie Beda and Bill Duffy of WME Basketball told DraftExpress.
Swain, a projected 1st-round pick, helped the Longhorns reach the Sweet 16 and was named SEC Newcomer of the Year and 2nd-Team All-Conference. pic.twitter.com/kkchZ8hcwn
Because Swain’s agents are NCAA certified, the 6’8, 220-pounder could still opt to withdraw from the draft after participating in the NBA Draft combine next month, an invitation he’s certain to receive.
The Xavier transfer was the breakout star for Texas, averaging 17.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, three of the five major statistical categories in which Swain led the Longhorns. Excellent off the bounce, Swain showed the ability to get into the paint and finish around the rim, make plays for his teammates, and improved his three-point shooting from 25 percent to 34.4 percent while shooting over 80 percent from the free-throw line.
Swain’s improved shooting stroke from distance is a major catalyst in his rise up NBA Draft boards, although he’s still considered a polarizing prospect — some mock drafts have him as a lottery pick, but others don’t believe that he’s a first-round selection.
NIL and revenue sharing have changed the calculus for productive college players with questionable NBA Draft upside, but there remains plenty of upside for Swain if he chooses to enter the NBA Draft with the No. 14 pick, the last in the lottery, guaranteed $10 million over two years in the 2025 NBA Draft.
However, it’s still early in the pre-draft process, which will be influenced by how many players declare and how well players in the same range as Swain test and perform at the NBA Combine.
Swain signed with Texas head coach Sean Miller at Xavier as an under-recruited member of the 2023 recruiting class over offers from Arizona State, Cincinnati, Kansas State, Ohio, Ohio State, and Virginia Tech because of an undeveloped frame and undeveloped shooting ability.
A Big East All-Freshman team selection in 2023-24, Swain played in 29 games (three starts) and averaged 4.6 points and 3.0 rebounds in 18.9 minutes per contest before showing improvement as a sophomore by leading the team in steals (53, 1.56 spg) and ranking second in rebounding (5.5 rpg) and assists (89, 2.6 apg), third in scoring (11.0 ppg), and fourth in minutes (28.5 mpg).
One of the most coveted players in the NCAA transfer portal, Swain followed Miller to the Forty Acres and continued a positive trajectory that could help him become a first-round pick in this year’s draft.
Two of the worst teams in the NBA clash on Tuesday night as the New Orleans Pelicans host the Utah Jazz.
My Jazz vs. Pelicans predictions are backing Utah forward Kyle Filipowski to put up big numbers in a game that should have little defense.
Here are my best free NBA picks for this showdown on April 7.
Jazz vs Pelicans prediction
Jazz vs Pelicans best bet: Kyle Filipowksi Over 19.5 points (+100)
It's that time of the year when teams eliminated from the playoffs shut down starters and put embarrassingly little effort into defense.
That puts the betting value on props for marginal players getting increased opportunities. That includes Utah Jazz forward Kyle Filipowski, who has scored at least 20 points in five of his last six games.
Filipowski is coming off a 20-point performance against OKC's elite defense, where he took a season-high 25 field goal attempts in 38 minutes. He'll have another productive night against the New Orleans Pelicans, who rank 23rd in the league in ppg allowed (119.4).
Jazz vs Pelicans same-game parlay
Cody Williams is another Jazz player who has seen his playing time and usage rate surge down the stretch. Williams is logging 35.0 minutes and 4.6 assists per game over the last month. He should drop 5+ dimes in what's expected to be a shootout tonight.
Pelicans wing Saddiq Bey is averaging 20.5 ppg over the last 34 games. He's been taking even more shots than usual with Trey Murphy III and Dejounte Murray sidelined.
Jazz vs Pelicans SGP
Kyle Filipowski Over 19.5 points
Cody Williams Over 4.5 assists
Saddiq Bet Over 19.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Youth movement
With the total sitting at a whopping 242.5 between two teams that don't care about playing defense, let's back another hungry young player in Pels point guard Jeremiah Fears. The seventh pick in the 2025 draft has racked up 13 assists over the last two games.
Jazz vs Pelicans SGP
Kyle Filipowski Over 19.5 points
Cody Williams Over 4.5 assists
Saddiq Bet Over 19.5 points
Jeremiah Fears Over 6.5 assists
Jazz vs Pelicans odds
Spread: Jazz +10.5 | Pelicans -10.5
Moneyline: Jazz +400 | Pelicans -550
Over/Under: Over 242.5 | Under 242.5
Jazz vs Pelicans betting trend to know
The Jazz have gone Over their Team Total in 12 of their last 15 games (+8.60 Units / 50% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Jazz vs. Pelicans.
How to watch Jazz vs Pelicans
Location
Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Date
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
KJZZ, GCSEN
Jazz vs Pelicans latest injuries
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NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.
The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft, Texas's Dailyn Swain is expected to go in the first round. Here's how USA TODAY currently projects his draft night will play out.
Our draft order is based on ESPN's projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.
After transferring from Xavier to Texas during the offseason and then leading his team to the Sweet 16, Dailyn Swain became one of the more intriguing breakout players in college basketball. The All-SEC forward is versatile and contributed a little bit of everything for the Longhorns on both sides of the ball, scoring well both in the paint and on fastbreaks. Another element that is notably compelling is that Swain is efficient one-on-one in isolation against his defenders.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - APRIL 1: Nathan Eovaldi #17 of the Texas Rangers gets set to throw a pitch in the fifth inning during a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 1, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for April 7, 2026 against the Seattle Mariners: starting pitchers are Nathan Eovaldi for the Rangers and George Kirby for the M’s.
Texas faces Seattle in game two of their series in Arlington. Ezequiel Duran is starting at third base in place of Josh Jung. Duran also pinch ran for Jung last night in the eighth inning after Jung singled to lead off the inning, and I’m guessing Jung is dealing with some sort of leg issue.
The lineup:
Nimmo — RF
Langford — LF
Seager — SS
Burger — 1B
Pederson — DH
Carter — CF
Higashioka — C
Josh Smith — 2B
Duran — 3B
7:05 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are +105 underdogs.
