The Atlanta Hawks can lock down a playoff berth with a victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs will be locked into the East’s No. 4 seed if they lose to the Hawks or the New York Knicks beat the Toronto Raptors.
How to watch Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Atlanta Hawks
Coaches: Will Bolt (7th season, 196-133-1) & Mark Wasikowski (7th season, 317-197)
TV/Stream: All games on B1G+
Radio: All Nebraska games on Huskers Radio Network, Huskers.com, Huskers App
After a tough first 3 weeks of a non-conference schedule, Nebraska has rolled through the easier part of its schedule. Prior to the mid-week game against an impressive Kansas team, only a single game against a hot veteran pitcher stopping them from winning 22 in a row. In baseball, it doesn’t matter what level you are playing, that streak is still impressive (just ask the Back to Back Big Ten Champion teams that struggled in the midweek against South Dakota State and Omaha). Now the team gets to find out if the momentum will carry them against the two best teams remaining on its weekend schedule and secure a top 4 seed AND potentially a home regional.
Oregon rolled through the early part of its schedule, with only a slip up against an average UC Irvine team, and a loss in the baseball version of the Civil War to Oregon State. Since a trip to UC Santa Barbara, the offense which had been mashing the ball (it still leads the Big Ten in home runs and total bases) has stalled a bit. They’ve averaged just 3 runs per game in their last 8 games, which included two mid week losses to Portland sandwiched around the team’s first weekend series loss at Michigan.
It’s hard to imagine a whole team has gone cold for an extended period of time. Then again, Nebraska fans only have to look to last season (sorry for the PTSD) to see how a good offensive team can just go ice cold for a couple stretches. Is the past couple weeks just a blip for the Ducks and they just need some home cooking to regain their power? Or can Nebraska’s strong pitching staff capitalize on their recent woes?
Game 1: RHP Ty Horn (1-1, 4.70 ERA) vs. RHP Will Sanford (4-1, 2.54 ERA)
Game 2: RHP Carson Jasa (6-1, 3.64 ERA) vs. RHP Collin Clarke (5-2, 2.72 ERA)
Game 3: RHP Cooper Katskee (5-0, 2.79 ERA) vs. RHP Cal Scolari (4-0, 2.81 ERA)
For the first time really all season, Ty Horn struggled mightily, and to the point he couldn’t get an out in the 4th inning. His pitches, which have lived at the bottom of the strike zone, just didn’t seem to have a lot of downward bite to them against a substandard Penn State offense. 3 doubles and 2 home runs took advantage of the elevated Horn pitches. Horn always seems to dig deep and be at his best against top competition, and bounces back big time the week after a rough start.
The Carson Jasa experience continues for the Huskers. He set a career high with 11 strikeouts against Penn State. Other than the disasterous Auburn start, he’s struck out at least 8 batters in each start. He is up to 66 strikeouts in 42 innings over his 8 starts. Joba Chamberlain and Shane Komine are the only Husker pitchers with more than 65 strikeouts over their first 8 starts in a season.
As is his custom, Cooper Katskee gave up 2 runs early, then cruised through a season best 7 innings. Michael Anderson got 2 home runs off of him, but really nothing else of consequence came from the Nittany Lions offense against the senior. It was a real luxury to have him go so deep to help make up for the short outing by Horn. The staff has a good balance of different types of starting pitchers that can all potentially get deep into games. It’s been a while since a Husker team could say that.
After a freshman season in which he started and you saw glimpses of greatness, Will Sanford has taken the Friday night baton and run with it. He’s pitched almost the exact same innings (39) as last season, and has dropped his walks from 39 to 23 and increased his strikeouts from 42 to 51. Like Ty Horn, he is coming off his worst start of the season, giving up 6 runs in 2.2 innings at Michigan. He hasn’t really struggled like that at all this year. How will he bounce back?
When Saturday starter Collin Clarke is on, he really has a ton of movement on each one of his pitches. Really looks like Koty Frank (shoutout Frank Koty!) when he was stalking the mound for the Huskers. He eats up innings, having gone 6 innings in all but 2 starts so far, and doesn’t waste pitches. He will be in the zone on nearly every throw. He can get in hitters heads to, he is very demonstrative on the mound. If you can watch the video on the tweet below, he has something to say after nearly every strike thrown.
Collin Clarke (rhp, @OregonBaseball). Very impressive; pitched with an edge. Ended 4-of-6 innings with a punchout. Missed bats with whole arsenal.
The highest ceiling may be Sunday starter Cal Scolari. As a redshirt freshman at San Diego last season (Man, I hate those guys!) he was the West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year. He has 46 strikeouts in just 32 innings. He and Katskee are both undefeated on the year. The series may come down to who gets their first blemish on the year.
Scouting Report
On offense, the Ducks looked to a pair of All-Conference juniors to help replace all the production lost off of last year’s team that belted a conference leading 115 home runs. The two middle infielders who had big time seasons a year ago, have gone in different directions in 2026.
Second baseman and leadoff man Ryan Clooney is taking his game to another level, he is batting .359 and already has as many extra base hits as he did all of 2025. He has 33 runs scored and has 28 RBIs, which is outstanding for a leadoff batter. Cooney is also he biggest threat the Ducks have on the base paths, stealing 11 out 13 bases on the year. His partner, short stop Maddox Moloney is going through his worst season in Eugene. His batting average is down almost 80 points from a season ago to just .235. After hitting 8 doubles and 15 home runs last year, he is at 6 and 5 respectively this season. As D1Baseball’s Burke Granger shows, he has lost the ability to hit the off-speed pitch, batting .225 lower on sliders than last year and .144 lower on change-ups.
Maddox Molony (SS, @OregonBaseball). Struggling after OPSing .969 w/ 15 HR in '25. Disparity vs off-speed year-over-year.
One Duck that has been good his whole career, but really exploded this season is third baseman Drew Smith. He really worked on his swing in the offseason and it seems his batting average speed has really taken off. He is leading the team in batting at .386, home runs, with 10, and RBIs, at 38. His OPS is third in the conference behind Penn State’s Michael Anderson (Sorry for bringing him up again.) and UCLA’s Will Gasparino (Who you will find near the top of nearly every offensive category.). Oh, and by the way he is probably the best defensive third baseman in the Big Ten.
— Oregon Duck Baseball (@OregonBaseball) April 3, 2026
One player who has been slumping recently but is capable of changing the outcome of a series with the power in his bat is Dominic Hellman. Listed at 6’6” and 281 lbs, the senior hit 13 home runs in his first healthy season last year, and despite his recent lack of success still has 7 doubles and 8 home runs on the season, including hitting 4 home runs in an earlier series against Northwestern.
One freshman to keep track of, that may be the next great Oregon player is right fielder Angel Laya. Their top recruit is batting .296, but is second on the team in home runs with 9. He also has 25 runs scored and 28 RBIs.
Oregon has the best bullpen Nebraska has seen in a while. The staff as a whole is 2nd in the nation in WHIP at 1.13. Closer Devin Bell transferred in from D-II Western Oregon. He was the closer there as a freshman and sophomore, before becoming an All-American starter as a junior. He has 7 saves this season, an ERA of 4.26, 11 strikeouts and 5 walks in 12.2 innings.
The guy the Ducks go get to get them out of a jam is sophomore Tanner Bradley. After not seeing the field much as a freshman, with only 4 appearances, he is leading the team with 15 this year. And it’s not hard to see why. In his 25.1 innings, he has struck out 41 batters and walked 8. His 1.42 ERA leads the regular on the team as well.
The other regular out of the pen is former top ranked pitcher out of the state of Nebraska Michael Meckna. The Elkhorn South grad is second on the team with 14 appearances, and has struck out 18 in 17.1 innings.
The Ducks are an elite defensive team, fielding at 98.1% on the season, good enough for 4th in the Big Ten currently, behind Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota.
Series History
This is the first regular season matchup between the Huskers and Ducks. You may remember their only previous meeting, a 7-3 Nebraska win over the top seeded Oregon team in that horrible pool play structure.
On Deck
This is the Huskers’ first weekend series where both teams are ranked since 2015. When #17 Maryland swept #18 Nebraska in College Park, MD.
Former Oregon Duck Mac Moyer is leading the Big Ten in both batting average (.406) and hits (52). He is 3rd in on base % (.500) behind Iowa’s Miles Risley, and former Husker and current Purdue Boilermaker Aaron Manias.
The NU pitching staff is holding opponents to a .215 batting average against, currently besting the previous low this century of .227 in 2005.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 09: Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks attempts to steal the ball from Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden on April 09, 2026 in New York City. 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 Pamela Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
#1 – Boston defensive collapse
The Celtics entered the game with the 7th-best half-court defense in the NBA, allowing 95.9 points per 100 possessions. Last night, the Knicks scored 122.5 points per 100 possessions in half-court situations. And the worst defensive stretch happened six minutes before the final buzzer, when the Knicks decided to hunt Neemias Queta.
At first, the Portuguese big man was matched up with Josh Hart so he could roam around the paint. Therefore, the Knicks changed their approach and used Hart as a screener to involve Queta in the action and take away his rim protection.
The Celtics quickly changed their coverage and put Queta back on Karl-Anthony Towns, who is slower than Hart on cuts. Yet, they couldn’t stop that two-man action either. Queta’s positioning was either too aggressive or too low on the ball screen, leading to passes for the roll man.
The Celtics then tried to switch the screen to take away the pass to the roll man, but that created a mismatch for Jalen Brunson, who is elite at getting to his spot against a taller defender.
Look how precise the Knicks were at attacking Queta. They switch the screen order between Hart and KAT so they can involve the Celtics big man on the second screen. Derrick White wants to help on the ball, and Jayson Tatum hesitates between covering KAT or Hart, leading to an open shot at the rim after great offensive manipulation from Brunson.
In four minutes, the Knicks ran seven pick-and-rolls to attack Queta and generated 13 points — 1.85 points per possession. Vucevic then entered the game to close it, but Hart’s daggers had already made the difference.
The Knicks changed their coverage during the game but started with drop coverage when KAT was involved in the action. They were happy to leave Jayson Tatum open for pull-ups as long as the paint wasn’t available.
There was a counter, even if the shots weren’t falling for the Celtics’ go-to guy. Drop coverage often creates space for the roll man behind the defender when spacing allows it. Here, Queta rolls and Tatum finds him above the drop for a nice alley-oop.
Tatum wasn’t the only one taking advantage of it. Payton Pritchard took over the offense when #0 was sitting. This coverage gives him space to get to his spot with more speed and less pressure on the ball.
Pritchard has really improved his pick-and-roll manipulation. On the play below, a small in-and-out dribble freezes KAT just long enough to attack him and get to the rim.
The patience he shows in these actions is impressive. He waits for the perfect timing, attacks when the rim isn’t protected, puts his defender on his back, and spins for just enough space to finish.
But the pick-and-roll wasn’t the only offensive route the Celtics used.
#3 – Hunting Brunson
From the opening minutes, the Celtics targeted Jalen Brunson. With Brunson matched up on Sam Hauser, Boston used movement to bring him into actions. This created gaps in the Knicks defense, allowing Tatum to drive and kick to Derrick White for an open three.
Forcing switches onto Brunson is one of the best ways to pressure the Knicks, so the Celtics consistently looked for it. Screen, post-up, read the help, find the open man — simple execution.
Last night was a great opportunity to see how the team functions with both Vucevic and Tatum on the floor. What stood out clearly was the offensive upside.
First, it creates one of the best spacing lineups, especially in the frontcourt.
On top of that, Vucevic opens a door that has been mostly closed since the Kristaps Porzingis trade: the pick-and-pop. Until now, most ball-screen actions involved Queta’s verticality in pick-and-roll situations. Vucevic brings a different dimension.
On this play with Tatum, the pick-and-pop shows its value. Not only can Vucevic shoot, but he can also attack a closeout and create for others.
The duo will need time to build chemistry as the playoffs approach, but Vucevic’s screen quality, IQ, and skillset will create opportunities for Tatum.
In April, Jayson Tatum is close to eight assists per game, and this was another example of his growth as a passer. While his ability to pass on the move remains impressive, it’s also interesting to see him used as a more traditional point guard.
For perspective, he made 77 passes last night. No other player on either team had more than 60. He initiates most actions when he’s on the floor, acting as a creator, driver, and even a quarterback.
This play might be the best example. The Knicks defense collapses, he reads it instantly, and delivers a perfect pass to Pritchard, who swings it to Vucevic.
CBS Sports analyst Ashley Nicole Moss apparently didn’t know Baylor Scheierman. Now she does.
Last night was another example of his two-way impact. As Jordan Walsh struggled defensively against Brunson, Scheierman stepped in and played 30 minutes. He contested 13 shots — the second-highest total for the Celtics — showing real defensive activity.
But he stood out even more for his offensive efficiency. He scored 20 points on just eight shots — one of the most efficient scoring nights you’ll see.
Baylor Scheierman is now tied for the most games in NBA HISTORY with 20+ PTS on 125% TS. pic.twitter.com/BnkefTuag0
Speaking of Scheierman, it was surprising not to see his best friend get minutes. In the previous matchup against New York, he showed elite defensive versatility against both Brunson and KAT.
Given the defensive struggles, it would make sense to see him more in a potential playoff matchup.
#8 – Dealing with the intensity
The Knicks beat the Celtics at their own game by forcing turnovers through discipline and intensity.
On this play, Mitchell Robinson is extremely aggressive on Vucevic, and his length disrupts the action completely, leading to a turnover.
Like in their last playoff matchup, the Knicks raised their defensive level at the right moment, while Boston couldn’t respond.
#9 – Hart causing trouble
The Celtics were once again hurt by their coverage on Josh Hart. As shown earlier, he’s dangerous as a screener, but Boston also chose to leave him open.
That approach is risky now. Hart is shooting close to 40% from three this season. The Celtics often help off non-shooters, but the Knicks may be too balanced for that strategy.
#10 – 332 days later
"I was afraid for somebody to tell me, 'you're a shell of yourself.'"
Jayson Tatum talks to @TaylorRooks about returning to the court at Madison Square Garden less than one year after his achilles injury. pic.twitter.com/7T5QV2drfw
“I was done with basketball,” Jayson Tatum told Taylor Rooks. Thankfully, he returned after suffering an injury 333 days ago at Madison Square Garden.
Seeing him back on that court was meaningful and highlights the work he has put in to return to this level. He said he went from feeling like Superman to the smallest man on earth — and is now somewhere in between.
That’s a good place to be heading into the playoffs.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 31: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates with Tyrese Maxey #0 against the New Orleans Pelicans at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 31, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There was a buzz around the Sixers after they took down the Charlotte Hornets a couple weeks ago.
Paul George was back from suspension and looked spry. Joel Embiid had another hot start and came up with a huge block late. Tyrese Maxey came back sooner than expected from his right pinky tendon strain. Nick Nurse pushed the right buttons and the role players did their part. The Sixers looked more like the team Daryl Morey had envisioned two years ago.
Reality struck quickly with the Sixers laying an absolute egg in Miami a couple nights later, but things still appeared to be trending upward. Guys were healthy. Vibes were high. It made people wonder what this Sixers team could be if they could just make the playoffs.
Then it all came crashing down Thursday afternoon with news that Embiid had appendicitis and would require surgery ahead of the Sixers’ biggest game of the season. Who knows how long the season would’ve lasted, but this feels like the unofficial end to any fun thoughts.
When you look at teams ahead of matchups, you’re looking for stats and trends. What are their offensive and defensive ratings? What lineups do they use and which are most successful? How do they do at home vs. the road? What’s their record against teams above .500?
With the Sixers, you could throw every single one of those things out the window. Embiid and George missed large chunks of the season. They also dealt with minutes restrictions. Maxey, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Dominick Barlow all missed a decent amount of games. Their most durable and reliable player has ironically been rookie VJ Edgecombe, who will likely play 75 regular-season games (all starts) in his first year.
It made the Sixers nearly an impossible evaluation. The team we saw against the Hornets basically existed for one night in Charlotte. And it’s not as simple as they had one great game. It was the only game this season where they had their full complement of players, everyone was healthy and nobody was on any type of restriction. If you’ll recall, the game in Miami was the first time Embiid complained of an “illness,” which was quite possibly the beginning of his appendicitis.
That’s not to say the Sixers were poised to be a championship contender. At best, they could’ve captured the six seed. They would’ve taken on the New York Knicks as a (deserved) underdog and probably lost.
But who knows? The Knicks are far from invincible. Maybe they could’ve pulled off the upset. Maybe they could’ve taken a few games and made things interesting. What would Embiid do with two functioning knees? How would George look, now finally healthy? How would the backcourt of Maxey and Edgecombe perform in their first postseason together?
These are intriguing questions. Maybe the Sixers wouldn’t have liked the answers, but it would’ve been better to find out, especially after watching incredibly non-competitive basketball for most of last season.
If the 2024-25 Sixers get an F (they absolutely do), then the 2025-26 Sixers get an I for incomplete. Where does that leave things? Well, something has to change. If you’re going to keep Embiid and George (and there is little recourse to move both, barring something unforeseen), you need to find a way to win games without them. Maybe you can’t be on a 50-win pace without them, but a 40-win pace should be doable.
Personnel changes need to happen. First order of business is fortifying the center position. Adem Bona is a worthwhile player to develop, but you need a big-bodied option at the five who can rebound and protect the rim. You don’t need a world-beater — just a guy who can set good screens, roll hard and finish at the rim, affect players at the basket and not get crushed on the glass. That archetype of player is not hard to find. That guy being below the age of 30 would also be a plus.
The Sixers could also use more pop off the bench. Morey made it clear that re-signing Quentin Grimes is a priority. Should it be? Grimes’ season has had many more valleys than peaks. Is that a guy you want to throw a bunch of money? What about Oubre? He’s coming off a great season, but he was dinged up and is now on the wrong side of 30. It’s also worth noting he’s now the third-longest tenured Sixer. Morey doesn’t tend to value continuity and locker room vibes. Maybe he should in the case of Oubre (if Morey is still here).
It’s also been a pretty disappointing season for Nurse. Yes, he’s been dealt nothing but crummy hands the last two seasons, but what advantages has he created for the Sixers on nights when they’re shorthanded or in close games? It feels like it could be time for a new voice and new offensive and defensive schemes, which will fit the team’s personnel better.
For now, another season ends with a slew of what-ifs and a bunch of offseason questions.
Same as it ever was.
Update from Philadelphia 76ers Public Relations on 4/10/26:
Joel Embiid was discharged from the hospital today following a successful appendectomy and is returning to Philadelphia. Embiid’s surgical recovery will be managed by team physicians in consultation with his surgeon. A timeline for return to basketball activities has not yet been determined.
DENVER, CO - APRIL 4: Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jesus Luzardo (44) pitches in the fourth inning during a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on April 4, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
A few days ago, I was looking up Jesús Luzardo on Baseball Savant, as one does. Due to a typo, though, I accidentally searched for “Jesús Lizardo”. I expected to be redirected to Luzardo’s page. Instead, though, I was brought to a page on the very real Jesus Lizardo, a catcher who was in the Pirates organization last year. After I got over my crushing disappointment that Lizardo isn’t a version of Luzardo from an alternate universe in which everyone is a reptile (Crocodile Sánchez and Aaron Anole-a round out the Reptillian Phillie rotation), I got to thinking: does every Phillie have a similar-name Doppelgänger out there? And so, I now present to you, the Phillies All-Doppelgänger team. They mostly didn’t play the right positions, and they may not have had star careers (or even major-league careers at all), but they sort of sound like our Phillies.
Pitcher: Jesus Lizardo
Lizardo played with Pittsburgh’s Dominican Summer League squads in 2024 and 2025. Given that he slashed a career .331/.244/.575, it seems unlikely that we will ever see the dream of a Luzardo/Lizardo battery in the bigs. Oh well.
Catcher: JT Riddle
Our BCIB is the only player in major league history with the name Realmuto. The only player to ever reach the bigs with a vaguely similar surname is Richard Realf, a pitcher who played for one season with Cleveland in 1901 (and who went by the name Dick Braggins, which you could do in 1901 without drawing laughs). Instead, we’ll go with Realmuto’s initial-buddy JT Riddle (no periods after the J and T, unlike Realmuto). Riddle played in parts of six seasons with Miami, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, and Cincinnati. He didn’t pose much of a riddle for opposing pitchers, posting a career OPS of .616.
First Base: Bryan Harper
In 2011, the Washington Nationals drafted B. Harper, who played at Las Vegas High School, then the College of Southern Nevada. “But wait!”, you’re saying. “Bryce was drafted in 2010!”. Yes, he was. 2008’s B. Harper was Bryan, Bryce’s brother. A southpaw reliever, Bryan played in the Nationals organization from 2011 to 2019. He also has the distinction of being drafted by the same club twice, having been a Washington pick in 2008, too. That being the case, and being the older brother, he came first— Bryce is actually his doppelgänger.
Second Base: Bob Stotts
“Stott the presses,”, the assembled Stotts cried in 2022, “one of our own has made the show!” A number of Stotts had played pro baseball, starting with John Stott in 1892, but none had made it to the bigs until Bryson. The closest name match among them was Bob Stotts, who had a single pro season with the Dodgers organization, playing for the Sooner State League’s Seminole Ironmen, and the Southwest International League’s marvelously named Bisbee-Douglas Copper Kings.
Shortstop: Trey Turner
In 2017, the Washington Nationals decided one Trea Turner wasn’t enough. See, they already had Trea Turner at shortstop. But the 10th round of the 2017 draft offered them the opportunity to draft another one. Sure, he wasn’t quite the same— he was a pitcher, for one thing, and for another, he spelled his name with a y. Between the Trea/ys Turner and the Harper brothers, the 2010s Nationals seemed to be going for some sort of strategy involving confusing the other team as to who they were actually facing. Abbott and Costello would’ve been proud.
Third Base: Alec Byrd
Only one Bohm has ever made the bigs. But there have been a quartet of other Alec Bs in pro baseball. The closest name match among them is Alec Byrd, a reliever who came out of Florida State and played three seasons with the Rockies and Reds organizations.
Left Field: Brandon Moss
And, at long last, we actually have a doppelgänger at the right position. And the right team, too! Brandon Moss played over a decade in the bigs, starting with the BoSox, but eventually making his way to the Phillies for the 2011 season (though he appeared in only five games). His best year came in Oakland, where he was named to the 2014 AL All-Star team.
Center Field: Jim Crawford
A lefty pitcher, Jim Crawford played two seasons with Houston and three with Detroit from 1973-1978. He went by the nickname of Catfish. Crawfish seems like it would’ve been the more appropriate ichthyology-based nickname, plus he wouldn’t have had to share it with the more famous Hunter.
Right Field: Adonis García
Only one player in professional baseball history has had the name Adolis, and he’s a Phillie. But Adonis García, who played parts of three seasons with Atlanta from 2015-2017, is just one letter away.
Closer: Jhonny Duran
He was indeed a pitcher, and his name sounds an awful lot like our flamethrowing Durantula. But Jhonny didn’t have quite the same stuff as Jhoan, and made it only as far as the Rangers’ Dominican Summer League team.
New uniforms, new roster moves — but are the Royals finding answers on the field?
In this episode of the Royals Rundown Podcast, hosts Jacob Milham and Jeremy “Hokius” Greco break down the latest developments surrounding the Kansas City Royals, from recent roster transactions to ongoing performance concerns. The discussion covers the return of Eli Morgan, bullpen adjustments, and what recent moves signal about the team’s strategy as the season unfolds.
A key focus is the Royals’ continued struggles with runners in scoring position, diving into whether the issue is mechanical, mental, or simply variance —and what it means for the team’s offensive ceiling moving forward. The duo also evaluates bullpen reliability and identifies potential bright spots emerging from recent performances.
Off the field, the conversation shifts to the highly anticipated Royals City Connect uniforms, with a detailed breakdown of the design, symbolism, and fan reception. Jacob and Jeremy also draft their favorite City Connect uniforms from this year’s release, comparing Kansas City’s look to standout designs from teams like the Pittsburgh Pirates and Atlanta Braves.
To wrap things up, the episode previews the upcoming Royals vs. White Sox series, highlighting key matchups, pitching outlooks, and what Kansas City needs to do to gain momentum. Blending analysis, culture, and fan-focused discussion, this episode keeps Royals fans informed and engaged as the season progresses.
April 3, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; The bat and helmet of Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp (27) on the grass during the spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
For the second game in a row, the Tulsa Drillers got to double digits in runs scored, this time needing every bit of it to take the 12-9 win over the Springfield Cardinals with some late game drama—one of three wins on Thursday from the Dodgers’ top four minor league teams.
Player of the day
As one would imagine with the amount of runs they’ve been scoring as of late, the Tulsa Drillers are getting outstanding production from their best players, and that starts with Kendall George at the top of the batting order. Getting the day off from the field, George was the DH and managed to reach base safely in four out of six plate appearances, responsible for a quarter of the runs that the Drillers scored.
Getting good pitches to hit, considering most pitchers didn’t want to have to deal with Josue De Paula behind him, George went 3 for 5 with a double and also walked once—the highlight of his performance was a go-ahead single in the ninth, then giving the Drillers a 10-9 lead.
A massive threat on the basepaths, George would also steal a base in that 10th inning, his fifth one this season, in which he has yet to be caught.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
River Ryan did his best to keep the Express off the scoreboard in a game in which he clearly didn’t have it, allowing eight hitters to reach safely in 4.1 innings of work with just two earned runs. However, the Comets ultimately fell on the losing end of a tightly contested affair, dropping it 6-5.
Both teams finished the game with the same 13 hits, but while walks weren’t that much of a problem for Ryan, every reliever who came out of the Comets’ bullpen suffered with them—the Comets’ relievers combined to put eight men on, while the opposing team only allowed three free passes.
One of the stars of these first few games of the minor league season, James Tibbs III struggled heavily, going 0 for 4 with a Golden Sombrero—one of the responsible parties for the Comets going 3 for 14 with runners in scoring position and not capitalizing on a four-hit game from leadoff bat Ryan Fitzgerald.
Double-A Tulsa
Ten walks and five stolen bases allowed, it wasn’t a favorable performance for Tulsa pitching, with starter Adam Serwinowski failing to complete two full innings. Still, in the end, their star hitters were too much for the Springfield Cardinals to handle, outhitting the opposition 15 to 7.
Interestingly, the bulk of that damage came on singles, 12 of the Drillers’ 15 hits to be exact—the exceptions being a couple of doubles from George and De Paula, and a two-run bomb from center fielder Harry Newell in the third inning.
One important note about this game is that, evidently, facing the switch-pitching effects of Jurrangelo Cijntje didn’t really affect the Drillers, with 11 men reaching in the three innings of work from the Cardinals’ starting pitcher.
High-A Great Lakes
Southpaw Sterling Patrick was one out short of earning the win, but that shouldn’t minimize a solid performance, allowing all of one hit in 4.2 innings of work against the Whitecaps with seven strikeouts. Unfortunately for Patrick, the walks proved to be a bit of an issue, allowing four of them, thus preventing a longer outing as the Loons won the game 5-2.
The big hit of the game for the Great Lakes came right in the first inning when Logan Wagner hit a two-run bomb. In fact, the Loons really didn’t need much offense after the opening frame, one in which they secured three of their total five hits in the game.
Class-A Ontario
Relentless attack with at least one run scored in each of the first five innings. That’s how the Tower Buzzers secured an 8-3 victory away from home. Luis Carias’ work out of the bullpen was also very important, covering 3.2 innings, as starter Brady Smith once again delivered a short start, a regular occurrence since he joined the Dodger organization last season.
Offensively, designated hitter Jaron Elkins was the standout performer, securing a four-hit game with three runs batted in, including a solo shot, one of three from the Tower Buzzers in the game—joined by Landyn Vidourek and Anson Aroz.
DENVER — Tyson Gross gave Calgary a moment to hold onto late Thursday night in Denver—even if the scoreboard didn’t fully reward it.
The hometown product broke through with his first NHL goal in the final minutes against the Colorado Avalanche, battling at the top of the crease and jamming home a loose puck after a point shot from Matvei Gridin. It was the kind of gritty, hard-earned tally young players dream about—scored not with flash, but with determination in the blue paint.
A Dream Realized—And Nearly Doubled
For Gross, the breakthrough was only part of the story.
Just a few shifts after his first career marker, he appeared to strike again. Stationed near the side of the net, Gross angled his stick perfectly and banked another puck across the goal line, momentarily sending the Flames bench into celebration. For a brief moment, it looked like a storybook night—two goals in quick succession in just his early NHL action.
Zach Whitecloud quick comments following morning skate.
But the jubilation didn’t last.
Following a coach’s challenge from Colorado, the play was ruled offside at the blue line, wiping away what would have been Gross’ second goal of the night. Instead of a multi-goal performance, he was left with a single tally—though one that still carried immense personal significance.
Despite the overturned goal, Gross’ impact was undeniable. In a game where Calgary struggled to generate sustained offense, his net-front presence and willingness to battle stood out.
“I thought he did a great job on his faceoffs,” Flames head coach Ryan Huska stated. “He did a really good job, especially in the third period, winning draws and then going right to the net. He has a presence in front, and he did a good job of banging—or whacking—a rebound in. We’re excited for him to score his first goal in the NHL.”
Even in a 3-1 loss—sealed late by an empty-net goal from Nathan MacKinnon—Gross delivered a glimpse of what could be more to come.
A Much Better Effort
Speaking with several Flames players prior to the game—including Zach Whitecloud and Morgan Frost—the message was clear: they wanted a far better showing than their March 30 loss, when they were routed 9-2 by this same Avalanche team.
While the lineup wasn’t identical—Nazem Kadri, who had been dealt back to Colorado at the deadline, was unavailable due to a broken finger—the response from Calgary was noticeably different.
Despite another loss, the Flames didn’t go quietly. They competed for every inch of the ice from the opening puck drop. Dustin Wolf, who was pulled in that previous meeting after allowing four goals on 16 shots in less than half a period, bounced back in a big way—stopping 38 of 40 shots and giving Calgary a chance throughout the night.
If the Flames can continue to bring this level of effort, while retooling, drafting well, and steadily improving their roster, this is a team that could become one to watch in the near future. There’s no shame in this performance—only signs of progress.
MINNEAPOLIS — Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows was sent to a hospital for overnight observation after he collided head-to-head with teammate Riley Greene as they converged for a fly ball.
Greene made the catch, and Meadows landed on his back in a daze, barely moving with his hands pointed up and blood appearing on his face. After a few minutes, Meadows was able to sit up. Medical personnel slowly helped him stand and move toward a cart that was waiting to take him away.
“It’s a terrible feeling. I still feel terrible,” Greene said after the game against Minnesota at Target Field. “He hit my head. I don’t know where I hit him, to be honest, but I just really hope he’s OK.”
Meadows had a concussion, manager A.J. Hinch said after the Tigers lost 3-1 to the Twins and were swept in the four-game series. The collision caused Meadows to bite the inside of his mouth, which led to the bleeding.
“We’re going to get him checked out for everything, but this one worries me,” Hinch said.
Josh Bell led off the eighth inning for Minnesota with a shallow fly to left-center that Greene appeared to be calling for as he and Meadows ran toward the ball. Meadows tried slowing up and backing off at the last second. But his face appeared to slam against Greene’s head, sending both players tumbling to the grass.
“It’s a perfect tweener, and you have two guys who like to go and get it,” catcher Jake Rogers said. “It’s a scary thing.”
Meadows has started 11 of 13 games in center field for the Tigers this season. Matt Vierling made the other two starts. Meadows went 0 for 3 and is batting .250 with two extra-base hits.
The 26-year-old Meadows, who was a second-round draft pick by the Tigers in 2018, made his major league debut in 2023. He missed the first two months of last season with a nerve problem in his upper right arm. Then he missed more than a month with a shoulder injury and finished with a .215 average and a .621 OPS.
The NBA rings in the final weekend of the regular season in a big way. Tonight’s slate features all 30 teams in action – in one form or another.
Basketball bettors are going to miss days like this when the playoffs limit us to a handful of matchups and a barren odds board. For now, let’s make the most of a monster night in the Association.
With motivations mixed across the NBA, I’m going to stick to teams with something to play for Friday. Here are my best NBA prop picks and predictions for April 10.
The Atlanta Hawks are still trying to secure their spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs, with the No. 5 seed within reach. A loss at Cleveland Wednesday was a set back but Atlanta gets another crack at the Cavs Friday.
With Cleveland pretty much parked in the No. 4 spot, the Cavaliers are sitting some starters, including center Jarrett Allen. That opens up the interior and has me looking to Onyeka Okongwu’s rebounding total.
Okongwu finished with only five boards Wednesday as both teams shot better than 47% from the field. The second of two straight matchups will see that shooting success dip, especially with key players out for Cleveland. That will prompt more rebounding chances.
What’s more, the Cavaliers opted to guard Okongwu with James Harden at times Wednesday and without Allen patrolling the paint, the Hawks 6-foot-10 forward can hit the offensive glass against smaller checks.
He’s averaged 7.5 rebounds on 12.8 rebounding chances over the past 23 games and grabbed eight or more rebounds in three of his last five games (two games with seven). Player projections range from 8.0 to 10+ boards tonight.
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
Prop #2: Mikal Bridges Over 12.5 points
-110 at bet365
Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, I’m never betting on Mikal Bridges again.
The New York Knicks small forward looked like he was going to make good on my Over 12.5 points prop bet for him against Boston last night. He started the game with a quick seven points and sat with 10 points early into the second half.
That’s where he would finish. Ouch.
New York is back in action tonight against Toronto with the Knicks trying to hold on to the No. 3 spot in the East. And I’m back on Bridges to top this same point total.
Bridges shot well before opting not to (he dished out six assists), finishing 4 for 4 with two triples last night. He’s hitting at a 53% clip over his last eight outings, putting up 13 or more points in six of those contests. Bridges has played well versus Toronto, scoring 11, 14, 15, and 30 points in four meetings this season.
Tonight’s projections paint the same picture they did yesterday, with Bridges forecasted for at least 14 points. I’ll bite. Again.
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBC, MSG, TSN, Peacock
Prop #3: Paolo Banchero Over 22.5 points
-110 at bet365
Just a couple weeks ago, Paolo Banchero was the hottest scorer in the land. The Orlando Magic small forward has cooled considerably since the start of April, putting up more than 20 points only twice in his last five games.
Luckily for him and the Magic, the Bulls are on deck Friday night. Orlando is fighting to get out of the Play-In Tournament, sitting half a game out of the No. 6 seed cutoff with two contests to go.
Chicago is one of the worst defenses and rolls out a patchwork rotation that is missing a ton of size inside. The 6-foot-10 Banchero can get to the rim for easy buckets against a Bulls interior allowing more than 58 points in the paint over the last 10 outings.
Scoring forecasts all sit north of this 22.5 O/U with most models at 24+ points Friday. Banchero has scored 24 and 31 points in his past two meetings with Chicago.
FYI: I also don’t hate his Over 8.5 rebounds (+100) with projections flirting with nine rebounds. Chicago is playing the second night of back-to-back games and lost center Guerschon Yabusele to an injury last night.
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Chicago Sports Network, FanDuel Sports Florida, WESH
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Tonight in Tampa, the Yankees (8-4) and Rays (5-7) open a three-game series. It’s an early-season AL East clash, with the Yankees seeking to extend their lead in the division while the Rays look to improve their standing. Luis Gil makes his first start of the season as he takes the mound for New York against veteran Steven Matz who is off to a solid start in 2026. New York is looking to find its offense after being held to just two runs over their last two games in consecutive losses to the Athletics. The Rays offense sputtered as well scoring just two runs per game the last two games against the Cubs earlier this week.
The Yankees are looking to get their offense back on track after being stymied the last two games against the Athletics. New York were shutout yesterday after scoring just twice in Wendesday’s 3-2 loss. The A’s dealt the Yankees their first series loss of the season. Aaron Judge was the poster child for their struggles at the plate. The MVP went 1-9 without an extra base hit against Tampa Bay. The Rays’ pitching was suspect against the Cubs surrendering 19 runs over the three-game series.
Last season, these teams played their games in Florida at Steinbrenner Stadium. Tropicana Field has been repaired and is once again home to the Rays this season.
Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game Details and How to Watch: Yankees vs. Rays
Date: Friday, April 10, 2026
Time: 7:10PM EST
Site: Tropicana Field
City: Tampa, FL
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, YES, Rays.TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The Latest Odds: Yankees vs. Rays
The latest odds as of Friday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Yankees (-143), Rays (+119)
Spread: Yankees -1.5 (+119) / Rays +1.5 (-143)
Total: 8.0 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers: Yankees vs. Rays
Pitching matchup for April 10:
Yankees: Luis Gil Season Totals: First Start of the Season
Rays: Steven Matz Season Totals: 11.0 IP, 2-0, 4.09 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 10K, 3 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Yankees vs. Rays
Aaron Judge has not homered in the last 5 games
Giancarlo Stanton hit .500 in March but is hitting just .174 in April
Ben Rice is 7-23 in April with 3 HRs and 8 RBIs
Chandler Simpson has hit safely in 5 straight (8-22) and 11 of 12 games this season (18-46)
Cedric Mullins is 1-11 over his last three games
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Yankees vs. Rays
The Yankees are 8-4 on the Run Line this season
The Rays are 5-7 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 9 times in the Rays’ 12 games this season (8-2-2)
The OVER has cashed 4 times in New York’s 12 games (4-6-2)
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions: Yankees vs. Rays
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday’s game between the Yankees and the Rays:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Yankees on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Yankees on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 8.0.
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This biggest moment in the NBA on Thursday night didn’t happen on the court, but rather in the stands of the Pacers vs. Nets game. A couple in Pacers gear were filmed in the stands having what looked to be a deep, philosophical conversation before the woman snapped.
The man appeared to be saying something about what it takes to get a full-time job, to which she clapped back: “That’s you! That’s you … what the f*** are you talking about?” Immediately, the clip went viral, with the widespread assumption being that he was mansplaining to her, and she was fed up — but it’s now been clarified by the woman herself that everyone is wrong.
IM CRYINGGGGGGGG I LOVE MY BOYFRIEND THIS IS JUST HOW WE TALK!!!!!!!!!!!!! https://t.co/V9yjPwAP43
There are numerous photos of the couple together on her Instagram, confirming that she is the woman seen in the video — and we even got a clarification about exactly what set off this discussion from the boyfriend.
To be fair: It was an April game between the Pacers (19-61) and the Nets (20-60) — given the circumstance I’d probably be talking about the practical application of a Liberal Arts degree was well, rather than be locked on Obi Toppin scoring 26 points.
The New York Knicks (52-28) can lock down no worse than the Eastern Conference’s No. 3 playoff seed with a win over the Toronto Raptors (43-35). The Raptors can secure the No. 5 seed if they beat the Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Atlanta Hawks.
Apr 4, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) skates with the puck against the Florida Panthers during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Alberti-Imagn Images | Mark Alberti-Imagn Images
The Pittsburgh Penguins are back in the playoffs, officially clinching their spot on Thursday night with a 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils. It ends a three-year playoff drought and gets them back into the playoffs far sooner than anybody expected when Kyle Dubas was hired as general manager to start rebuilding the organization. There is still a lot of work to do long-term, especially as Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and even Erik Karlsson get closer to the end of their careers. Those are questions for another day.
The only question that matters right now is what can the Penguins actually do now that they are in the playoffs with home-ice advantage secured in the opening round.
Given that this team has silenced doubters and exceeded expectations all season, nothing should be completely ruled out.
I said this a few weeks ago, but if you ignored the preseason expectations and just simply looked at the way this team plays and the numbers behind it, you would probably not hesitate to call it a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.
As of Friday they are on pace for 101 points this season. They have the eighth-best record in the NHL as a whole, the fifth-best record in the Eastern Conference and rate in the top-10 in pretty much every meaningful category.
Standings: 8th
Goal-Differential: 8th
5-on-5 Goal Differential: 7th
5-on-5 Expected Goals Share: 7th
5-on-5 Scoring Chance Share: 10th
5-on-5 High-Danger Scoring Chance Share: 9th
Power Play: 7th
Penalty Kill: 6th
They are also the second-highest scoring team in the league behind only the Colorado Avalanche, despite Crosby, Malkin, and Rickard Rakell each missing double-digit games. The depth has been sensational as they already boast 12 10-goal scorers, 10 15-goal scorers, five 20-goal scorers, and have outscored teams 93-89 with a 52 percent expected goal share during 5-on-5 play when neither Crosby or Malkin is on the ice.
They are incredibly deep at forward with as many as 16 or 17 NHL caliber players. That is a necessary ingredient for a Stanley Cup contender.
They also have two other necessary ingredients in a true No. 1 center (Crosby) and a true No. 1 defenseman (Erik Karlsson).
No matter who their first-round opponent ends up being, whether it is the Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Islanders or Washington Capitals (very long shot) the Penguins should be favorites in it. Imagine somebody telling you that back in September. You would look at them like they were crazy. Well there is nothing crazy about it now, because the Penguins are here, and they look like a team that is capable of at least advancing a little bit in the playoffs.
It is just a matter of how far they can go and what their ceiling actually is.
For all of the positives and key ingredients this team has, there are still a couple of questions that could limit what they do and how far they can go.
They can score with, and outscore, just about any team in the league.
The question will be stopping people.
While the Karlsson-Parker Wotherspoon pairing has been outstanding, the Penguins do have some big questions on defense after them.
The biggest being whether or not Kris Letang and Sam Girard can continue on the path they have started to display over the past couple of weeks.
When that duo was first put together it was a problem. A big problem. But as Girard has started to find his confidence, that pairing is starting to click a little bit. There might not be a bigger development for the Penguins right now than those two becoming a legitimate second defense pair. They are now outscoring teams 13-8 with a 52 percent expected goals share at 5-on-5 overall. Over the past 10 games those numbers are 11-5 and 58.4 percent.
That would be a game-changer to have two pairings you can count on.
The question then becomes whether or not you can hide the third pairing of Connor Clifton and Ryan Shea. And while they have been very good this season, and especially lately, I do still have some fears about Clifton in a best-of-seven series where teams are scouting deeper, line-matching harder and looking to exploit whatever weakness they can.
Then there is the goaltending.
Stuart Skinner seems to have taken the upper hand in net and is likely to enter the playoffs as the No. 1 goalie. It is deserved, and the best choice. For all of his flaws and inconsistencies, he has shown over the past two years he can play well in stretches, especially in big games, and at least do enough to get a team to the Stanley Cup Final. The Penguins do not need him to be a superhero in there. They just need him to not lose games.
I am not ready to say the Penguins are on the same level as a Colorado, Tampa Bay or even Carolina when it comes to Stanley Cup contenders. But they are also not going to be a pushover or an easy out if/when they get beyond the first round. This is a really good hockey team. A playoff team. Now we get to see just what type of playoff team they can be.
The Phoenix Suns (44-36) are locked into the Western Conference’s No. 7 seed and the play-in tournament. The Los Angeles Lakers (51-29) can finish anywhere from Nos. 3-5. A win against the Suns and a loss by the Houston Rockets to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday would secure home-court advantage for the Lakers in the first round.
Onyeka Okongwu
Mikal Bridges
Paolo Banchero
