For the first time since 2011, the Buffalo Sabres are set to play postseason hockey. The Sabres kick off their first round series against the Boston Bruins on Sunday and will be looking to start the series by picking up a victory in Game 1.
When looking at the Sabres' roster, it is clear that as long as he has the crease, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonnen is the team's biggest X-factor.
The Sabres are going to need Luukkonen to be on his A-game during the playoffs, much like he was during the regular season. The 27-year-old goaltender was a major reason for the Sabres' turnaround this campaign, as he had a 22-9-3 record, a .910 save percentage, a 2.52 goals-against average, and one shutout.
With numbers like these, it is clear that Luukkonen has the potential to be a major difference-maker for the Sabres during the playoffs. If he can replicate his regular-season form during the postseason, the Sabres will be an incredibly tough team to beat.
It will be fascinating to see how Luukkonen performs during his first career postseason. The Sabres undoubtedly need him to be playing at his highest level.
San Diego Padres catcher Luis Campusano and closer Mason Miller after defeating the Seattle Mariners 5-2 at Petco Park on April 16, 2026, in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres’ offense has been very potent to begin the 2026 season. One of the early contributors has been Luis Campusano. He is off to a hot start because Campusano finally feels free from the pressure of fulfilling others’ expectations
It has allowed him to play carefree baseball.
Stammen’s belief never wavered
Padres skipper Craig Stammen put trust in his game. It began in Spring Training, when the manager proclaimed that Campy was the team’s backup catcher, despite the pleas for a more reliable option. The support for the one-time top minor league prospect came as a surprise.
It was not too long ago when the front office thought Campy was a defensive liability. They felt he regressed in framing pitches, blocking balls in the dirt, and throwing out would-be base-stealers. When Campusano started, he lasted five or six innings before a defensive replacement was put into the game.
It was obvious there was no trust that he could navigate a pitching staff to a victory. Unfortunately, the organization never took into consideration that the position was too encompassing for a young player. The demands overwhelmed Campy, but those days are over.
Campusano turning a new leaf
So far, you have to give Campusano high marks in fulfilling his catching duties. He has become more attentive in having pitchers execute the game plan. Stammen has given him some latitude to call certain parts of the game from what he has observed behind the plate. Finally, Campy has effectively utilized the ABS system, turning it into an advantage for getting ahead in counts.
In the batter’s box, you might describe what Campusano is experiencing as an offensive renaissance. Currently, he is batting .310 with a .885 OPS in 10 games. Let’s not forget that Campy did not record a base hit in 27 plate appearances last season.
He has made the necessary adjustments that allowed him to make quality contact with a more level swing. Despite all the early-season success, Stammen has to be smart in how he uses Campusano in the lineup.
What is next in Campy’s development
The burning question is whether his offensive value gives Campy more playing time. The organization may not be ready to have that conversation at this moment. However, starting receiver Freddy Fermin is struggling at the plate, hitting .161 with two RBI this season.
There has been no talk of Campy replacing him in the lineup, but that could change if he maintains good offensive and defensive metrics. Right now, Fermin is the better catcher. He ranks second in the defensive runs saved category and throws the ball down to second base in 1.89 seconds. No question, Fermin has elite defensive skills behind the plate.
Campusano is slowly gaining the trust of the coaching staff. Still, the Friars cannot sacrifice defense for another bat in the lineup.
However, he is a work in progress, as Campy is improving his footwork, becoming a solid blocker of pitches in the dirt, and making more accurate throws to second base.
Finally, confidence is in his professional vocabulary.
Feb 20, 2026; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Coleman Crow poses for a portrait during photo day at American Family Fields of Phoenix. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Brewers will take on the Miami Marlins in Florida on Friday night, as right-hander Coleman Crow makes his MLB debut.
Crow, who was already on the 40-man roster, was recalled from Triple-A Nashville earlier today. Right-hander Easton McGee was optioned to Nashville to open up the active spot.
Ranked as the team’s No. 27 prospect by MLB Pipeline, Crow was a 28th-round pick by the Angels back in 2019. He came over to Milwaukee from the Mets in exchange for Tyrone Taylor and Adrian Houser. After spending 2025 between Double-A and Triple-A, he started 2026 with the Sounds, making three appearances (two starts) with a 4.02 ERA and 18 strikeouts over 15 2/3 innings. Crow will match up with Janson Junk, a former Brewer who has found a home in Miami’s rotation over the last season-plus.
Crow will be backed up by Sal Frelick, William Contreras, and Brice Turang at the top of the order. Gary Sánchez bats cleanup as the DH, followed by Jake Bauers and Luis Rengifo. Garrett Mitchell, Greg Jones, and David Hamilton fill out the bottom of the order, as Joey Ortiz gets the day off.
First pitch is slated for 6:10 p.m. You can catch the television broadcast on Brewers.TV or listen to the game on WTMJ 620 and the Brewers Radio Network.
Los Angeles, CA - April 12:Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick meditates on the bench before a game against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, CA on Sunday, April 12, 2026.(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
However, beyond that, nothing is certain. So, Lakers head coach JJ Redick stressed at Friday’s practice before Game 1 that the goal remains the same: extend the season so that Luka and Austin have something to come back to.
“The mindset for our team, and for those two guys, we’re going to try to make this season as long as possible, so that we can get those guys back at some point,” Redick said. “We don’t know when that is. That’s our job, and their job is to do everything they can to be in a position to come back at some point. It may not work. But that’s what we’re trying to do.”
To win playoff games shorthanded, it’s going to take a total effort from the purple and gold. Some keys the team has identified have been outrebounding Houston, limiting turnovers and establishing physicality from the jump.
Players like Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart have also stressed the importance of winning Game 1 and protecting their home-court advantage.
The Lakers worked all season to be a higher seed, and even with Reaves and Dončić out, they can’t be crestfallen. The ultimate goal of winning a title is still on the table, and until it’s off, there is a chance.
LA doesn’t have many experts who believe they can overcome the odds, and they’ll be underdogs in this series. However, the rewards of extending their season are massive. Luka and Austin don’t have serious injuries, relatively speaking.
So, if the Lakers can buy them some time, they can still return and pick up right where they left off. It feels like ancient history, but when the Lakers were healthy in March, they went 15-2 and were one of the hottest teams in the NBA.
There’s still a chance that we see that team again this postseason.
The biggest question is whether LA can win enough to bring back that iteration of the Lakers. We’re going to begin finding out this Saturday when their series against Houston begins.
The Reds come into town sitting at 11-8 (same as the Twins), after finishing 83-79 last year and getting swept in the wildcard round. If, like me, you don’t think a playoff series win is a “real” series win unless it involves winning the divisional series, then the Twins haven’t done it since 2002… but the Reds haven’t done it since 1995. They did get to Game 5 in the 2012 NLDS, behind the bats of Jay Bruce, Brandon Phillips, and Joey Votto, and I’m having a hard time remembering who those guys were. The last Reds I really remember were Barry Larkin and Ken Griffey, Jr.
The current squad is led by rookie tater masher Sal Stewart (7 homers) and slick-fielding SS Elly De La Cruz (who Snoop Dogg loves).
Their starting pitcher today is Brandon Williamson, a 28-year-old lefty who spent much of 2024/2025 on the injured list. He throws a low-90s fastball and cutter, plus a change against RHB and a slider/sweeper against LHB. Those offspeed ones are his best pitches.
Williamson is officially One Of Us, born in Fairmont, MN. Fairmont is a south-central Minnesota town with some 10,000 residents (that’s pretty big for the region!). Its Wiki “Notable people” entry lists the Education Minnesota 2018 Teacher of the Year and a gentleman who wears a homemade costume to sci-fi conventions, calling himself Tron Guy:
Hey I’ll betcha he’s gotten more readers than I ever will.
Woods Richardson “was throwing up pregame,” manager Derek Shelton said. “I mean, after the third, he wasn’t in a great spot. We were hoping to get more out of him, and it just looked like he ran out of gas.”
Woods Richardson told the coaching staff he could pitch after chucking up his pregame meal. The Twins already had a shorthanded bullpen, and they were down a reliever because Cody Laweryson is headed to the 15-day injured list.
“I think it’ll be the last day he eats Subway for a long time,” catcher Ryan Jeffers said.
Well, it’s probably just one worker who didn’t wash their hands properly, it can happen at anyplace, not just at Subway. Still, all kudos to SWR for trying his best to help the team. (Hopefully on Wednesday he didn’t eat from “Crazy Eddie’s Sushi Truck.”)
Of course, that’s better than that time in 1972 when Reds management sent a pitcher with a sore arm to… the dentist. The dentist yanked teeth to cure the sore arm. It did not cure the sore arm.
Per Eric Strack and Ted Schwerzler at this site, Tom Pohlad got cranky with a fan who was wearing a “Sell The Team” hat at Sunday’s game, calling her “classless.” Apparently the woman did take some pictures of Pohlad — I don’t like having a camera pointed at me, either — but if he was just crabby about the hat, that’s a bit silly.
Yet another story about how sports gambling ruins lives. Yet another story about how sports gambling companies are trying to subvert laws protecting residents in all 50 states (and get the legal age you have to be to gamble lowered). None of this is going to end well.
Defector’s Diana Moskovitz on being a woman who’s a sports writer. It’s what you’d expect in terms of the rotten stuff. It doesn’t make it any less infuriating.
“Talking Points Memo” is a terrible name for a website, but Peter Dreier has an good post there about how Jackie Robinson’s legacy is much more radical than MLB tends to highlight.
And ESPN the channel may be the all-sports-gambling, all-Screaming Bro network at this point, yet the website still has OK stuff sometimes, and here’s a fun piece about what players think of ABS so far. Basically, they like it, though everyone has a different notion of how the system could be improved. I like Reese McGuire’s idea that offense and defense should get two challenges each. Travis d’Arnaud made a neat point I hadn’t thought of before; umpires like being proved right. I was thinking more about ego-tripping umps not wanting to be proved wrong… but for good umps who really are trying their best to not be ego trippers, it must be nice to know you got a tough call right.
Why does that ESPN piece have no author name? Was it compiled by a bunch of interns? Freelancers? Who knows. Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to be writers, it’s usually not for the best.
Words may not be actions, but words certainly speak volumes in their own right.
During the New York Rangers’ breakup day and in their individual exit interviews on Friday from Chris Drury to Mike Sullivan to all of the players, there was a clear message being sent regarding the team’s future direction.
The Rangers are signaling their intent to become a competitive, playoff-caliber team sooner rather than later.
Of course, that vastly contradicts Drury’s letter sent out to fans on Jan. 16 outlining the Rangers’ plan to retool the roster, trade some of the organization's key players, and get younger as a whole.
Drury’s message held an awfully similar tone to the Rangers’ 2018 letter to fans issued by the franchise's previous management group, in which was followed up by a multi-year rebuild.
However, it doesn't appear as if Drury, Sullivan, and company want to go down that same path.
Sullivan has expressed that he believes the Rangers can be more proactive in jumpstarting their competitive window instead of going through a long restructuring of the roster, typical in most rebuilding teams.
He shared that same sentiment on Friday with more time to decompress on the 2025-26 season.
“I think we have the ability to improve and get better in the most immediate future,” Sullivan said. “When you look at our team this year, for most of the year, we were right in the hunt. With some tweaks to our roster, get some guys healthy again, I think we have the ability to become a competitive team.”
The Blueshirts came into the 2025-26 campaign fresh off signing Vladislav Gavrikov to a seven-year, $49 million contract, while Sullivan left a 10-year partnership with the Pittsburgh Penguins to become the head coach of the Rangers, with the hopes of reviving their Stanley Cup aspirations that once seemed promising just one year before.
In spite of Drury’s competitive mindset, the Rangers struggled out of the gate, and by January, it was apparent that they would likely not make the playoffs.
"What I'll tell you is that did I anticipate some of the challenges that we had this year? Probably not,” Sullivan said. “I wouldn't be being honest with you if I said otherwise, but I just think that's the nature of pro sports.”
Shortly after the letter was released, the Rangers traded their franchise leader in points since the 2019-20 season, Artemi Panarin, to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for prospect Liam Greentree and a conditional 2026 third-round pick.
Outside of the Panarin deal though, Drury didn’t put his words from the letter into action, as he only made a couple of other minor trades leading up to the trade deadline, and notably held onto veteran forward Vincent Trocheck, who was heavily rumored to be moved.
Now, a Rangers team that just finished in last place in the Eastern Conference standings with a 34-39-9 record and 77 points, are conveying a sense of confidence about the immediate future.
“I'm not going to get into the timelines,” Chris Drury said on how close the Rangers are to becoming a playoff team. “I think we have a lot of good players. We have a lot of talented players. As we said in the letter, certainly wasn't good enough to that point and we're trying to retool and find some different ways to have success. I do like a lot of our pieces, and I'm excited to begin the offseason and take a deeper look at it and try and figure out how to be better.”
What led to this desire for a quick retool?
If you look around the NHL, there are teams that have been able to fastrack their rebuild and become competitive quickly, adding some young talent to an already established core, including the Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins, and the Penguins.
That is the model the Rangers appear to be looking to copy. Drury emphasized building around the team’s “core” players in his letter. These “core” players are likely headlined by Adam Fox, Igor Shesterkin, J.T. Miller ,and Mika Zibanejad.
There also has to be a level of buy-in from the core players, which seemed to be on shaky ground after the letter was released.
The main source of uncertainty came from Fox, whose noncommittal comments about his future with the Rangers sparked a wave of speculation.
That initial uncertainty from the team’s top point producers has suddenly turned into unwavering optimism, something strongly made transparent during Friday’s exit interviews.
"I’ve been here for 10 years. I’ve gone through the ups and downs. For me, yeah retool or whatever, but you just look around the league and see how fast it can go,” Zibanejad said. “I’m optimistic, especially with the young guys coming in, too, and playing. I don't feel like we need a whole lot. I want to be here to turn this around."
The Rangers ended the season on somewhat of a high note, winning five of their last seven games at home.
During the last stretch of games, the Rangers’ veteran talent was healthy, and a new wave of young talent, headlined by Gabe Perreault, Noah Laba, Tye Kartye, Jaroslav Chmelař, Adam Sýkora, and Drew Fortescue began to emerge.
This hot stretch was viewed as a sign of optimism by Drury and potentially even gives him more of a reason to jump on this trend of embarking on a quick retool as opposed to a mythical rebuild, whether that line of thinking may be irrational or not.
“Although the result of the season was not what we had hoped for, we were encouraged with how the team played to close out the year after the Olympic break,” Drury said. “The brand of hockey we played over the last few months gives us something to build on going into next season.
“We are excited with the future holds with the players we have in our roster, the prospects that we've already drafted, and 11 picks we have in the upcoming draft. We're determined to take the momentum we've created and carry that forward for the 2026-27 season.”
While we haven’t seen this plan of a shortened retool put into action just yet, and there’s no direct evidence to point toward the Drury going in that direction over the offseason, the words heard during breakup day were a clear indication that the Rangers are looking to be a competitive team in the near future, to the possible detriment of the organization.
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves high-five after a Doncic three-pointer against the Nuggets. The injured guards are hopeful of returning to the lineup during the first round of the playoffs against the Rockets. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
The elephant in the room for the Lakers as they enter the playoffs has been, and will continue to be, the status of their starting backcourt, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Both are out because of injuries — Doncic with a grade 2 left hamstring strain and Reaves with a grade 2 left oblique strain — and neither is expected to play in the best-of-seven, first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets that begins Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at Crypto.com Arena.
After practice Friday, coach JJ Redick was quick to say “there’s not” when asked about an update on Doncic and Reaves.
After Doncic and Reaves were injured on April 2 at Oklahoma City, the Lakers said both would be out until the end of the regular season. According to people not authorized to speak on the matter, both are expected to be out four to six weeks.
Doncic went to Spain to get treatment, and Reaves has been working diligently in L.A., with the hope that they can return sooner.
The Lakers miss their combined output of 56.8 points, 13.8 assists and 12.4 rebounds per game. Doncic led the NBA in scoring (33.5) and was third in assists (8.3); he was second on the Lakers in rebounding (7.7).
During the week of practice, Reaves was around his teammates and seen shooting after a few practices. He appeared to be in good spirits. Doncic was supposed to be back by Friday.
"We love having Austin here and we're glad he is in a position to do his return-to-play [work], however long it takes with us,” Redick said. “Excited to get Luka back and be around the group. Austin and I talk just about every day about different things. So he's … just being a part of this. …
"The mindset for our team and for those two guys, like we're gonna try to make this season as long as possible so that we can get those guys back at some point. We don't know what that is, and that's just our job. And their job is to do everything they can to be in a position to come back at some point. It may not work, but that's what we're trying to do.”
The theme of the Lakers' week at practice was to “elevate” their work.
Yes, they won’t have Doncic and Reaves, but that didn’t mean the Lakers couldn’t work harder.
When they worked on box-out drills in preparation for the way the Rockets attack the offensive boards, the Lakers went hard. When they watched film and had practice sessions, the Lakers worked with a purpose.
"The word we've used all week is 'elevate.' I think that's what it is,” Redick said. “We all know the playoffs are different. They're harder. There's no easy matchups, and you have to be able to elevate your play. But beyond that, it's elevating your recovery, your attention to detail, your preparation.
"I talked about that with my coaches as we started this week on Monday morning. It was an off day for the guys, but we were in there for six hours and we've all collectively gotta elevate. And particularly when you're missing two of your top guys, part of elevating is elevating each other and the belief that the group as a whole can be great.”
The Rockets are a tough and rugged team that is good on defense and at rebounding.
They ranked fourth in the NBA in points given up (110.0) and tied for fifth in opponents' field-goal percentage (46.0). They were tops in rebounding (48.1) and offensive rebounds (15.0).
That has the Lakers’ attention and is why they worked so hard during practice.
“It’s been great. The level of focus and attention to detail, the communication, everything has been elevated,” forward Jarred Vanderbilt said. “We’ve got a lot of guys that’s been to the playoffs and know what it takes.
"Like you said, everything elevates around this time and having a veteran group that’s kind of been there and had a taste of the playoffs, we all know what it takes to win games in the playoffs. It’s everybody going out and doing their job and paying attention to the game plan.”
The first full week of games for three of the four Padres minor league affiliates was less than successful with all teams having losing records thus far. There are some bright spots in these early results with pitching being the biggest issue at the start of the year.
There were a lot of lopsided results as well, with Low-A Lake Elsinore winning 21-0 and Triple-A El Paso losing 19-12 as examples. Several of the top prospects, and a few of the players to watch for this year, have started in an inconsistent manner as well. The small sample size indicates that time (and some better weather) will reveal what these players of capable of in 2026.
El Paso Chihuahuas (6-10 record, 4th in Pacific Coast League, South Division)
The Triple-A Chihuahuas went 1-5 for the week, with five games against the Albuquerque Isotopes and one against the Round Rock Express. Outfielders Samad Taylor and Jase Bowen lead the team offensively, Taylor has a .277 average with a .689 OPS. Bowen has a .603 slug while hitting .259 with four homers but also has 18 strikeouts in 58 at-bats. Swing-and-miss continues to be the big issue with Bowen despite his power and speed. Getting a better contact rate would really improve his chances of getting to the big leagues.
LHP JP Sears has a 4.73 ERA in three games and 13.1 innings pitched with 11 strikeouts and three walks. RHP Matt Waldron excelled early in the Chihuahuas season but has been called up to the Padres with the injury to Nick Pivetta.
LHP Jackson Wolf has been moved into the bullpen this season and has largely pitched well. He has started one game with five relief appearances over 8.2 innings with a 5.19 ERA and 12 strikeouts. Reliever Garrett Hawkins (40-man roster) has four appearances and 4.1 innings pitched with two hits allowed and five strikeouts. Reliever Evan Fitterer has appeared in four games with eight innings pitched, a 1.13 ERA and has 10 strikeouts.
San Antonio Missions (3-7 record, 4th in Texas League, South Division)
The Double-A Missions had a 2-3-1 record for the week while playing the Corpus Christi Hooks and the Midland Rock Hounds. New Padres minor leaguer IF Carson Tucker, 24, leads the Missions with a .412 average and a 1.029 OPS in 17 at-bats. He also leads the team with a .529 slug. First baseman Romeo Sanabria has five RBI and is one of the four players on the team with a home run.
LHP Luis Gutierrez leads the starters with two games and nine innings pitched and has a 1.00 ERA with 11 strikeouts and two walks. RHP Miguel Mendez (40-man roster) has also started two games with 7.2 innings pitched with a 1.17 ERA. Reliever Johan Moreno has appeared in four games and 6.1 innings pitched allowing no runs. Harry Gustin has six innings pitched over three games with a 1.50 ERA and six strikeouts.
Fort Wayne TinCaps (3-7 record, last in Midwest League, East Division)
The High-A TinCaps went 2-4 against the Lansing Lugnuts and Lake County Captains for the week. OF Alex McCoy has started the season on a streak. He is hitting .323 with a .995 OPS, with two home runs with three doubles and has four RBI. He has two walks and six strikeouts in 31 at-bats. The concern with McCoy since his signing was his swing and miss and contact ability. The power has always been there and if he can continue to make consistent contact then the sky is the limit for the 6-5 and 260-pound prospect.
LHP Kash Mayfield has had two starts so far with seven innings pitched and no runs allowed. He has eight strikeouts and five walks. RHP Maikel Miralles has started two games with eight innings pitched and 12 strikeouts with five walks but has a 5.63 ERA. RHP Carson Montgomery, who missed all of last season with injuries, started his first game and threw four innings. He has three strikeouts and a walk without allowing a run.
Lake Elsinore Storm (4-6 record, 3rd in the California League, South Division)
The Low-A Storm went 3-3 for the week versus the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and the Stockton Ports. Left Fielder Connor Westenburg, an undrafted free agent from last year, has played in 10 games and 29 at-bats with a .517 average, a .621 slug and a 1.196 OPS. He also leads the team with eight RBI. CF Ryan Wideman, drafted in the third round last year, is another high-upside outfielder who has speed and power, but contact has been the big question. He has started with a .244 average and .378 slug with nine RBI to lead the team.
RHP Bryan Balzer, signed from Japan and had an inconsistent debut last season, has started two games and nine innings pitched with a 1.00 ERA and 11 strikeouts and five walks. RHP Winyer Chourio has started two games with eight innings pitched and has a 1.13 ERA with 12 strikeouts.
The Padres top draft pick last year, LHP Kruz Schoolcraft, has had a disastrous start to the season. With Lake Elsinore, Schoolcraft has yet to make it past the first inning of his two starts. He has pitched a total of 1.1 innings with nine earned runs, one strikeout and six walks for a 60.75 ERA.
Detroit Tigers assistant hitting coach Cody Asche (92), left, talks to third baseman Kevin McGonigle (7) during the ninth inning against Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park in Detroit on Thursday, April 16, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Detroit Tigers (10-9) vs. Boston Red Sox (7-11)
Time/Place: 7:15 p.m., Fenway Park SB Nation Site: Over the Monster Media: Apple TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: RHP Casey Mize (1-1, 3.94 ERA) vs. LHP Ranger Suarez (1-1, 5.02 ERA)
Grounds crew members toil to clear snow from the outfield of Coors Field after a spring storm blanketed the intermountain West before the Colorado Rockies host the Los Angeles Dodgers...
DENVER — There was a fight outside Coors Field on Friday afternoon.
More specifically, a snowball fight — with a couple Dodgers fans enjoying an early-spring snow day at the Rockies’ home ballpark.
Snow covered Coors Field ahead of the Dodgers-Rockies game Friday night.
In the hours leading up to the start of a four-game series between the Dodgers and Rockies, a snowstorm swept through Denver, covering the streets, seats and field in and around Coors Field with a pristine layer of frozen white powder.
Like the fans outside, Dodgers players inside the stadium enjoyed the conditions — which were not expected to impact that night’s game.
Connecticut native Emmet Sheehan had a snowball fight of his own with one of the team’s radio broadcasters. A snowman was built on the railing of the visiting dugout along the third base line.
Baseball weather in Colorado!
Emmet Sheehan is making a snowman before things clear up.
The weather didn’t stop the Dodgers from some of their normal pregame routines. Freddie Freeman, for example, cleared an area for his normal afternoon picking session. Dodgers pitchers still played catch in the outfield — where a tractor had cleared snow from the grass Zamboni-style — even as more flurries fell from an overcast sky.
Though the snow was scheduled to let up in time for first pitch, temperatures were expected to keep on plunging into the low 30s.
Not exactly baseball weather.
But, as a glass-half-full Uber driver quipped while dropping a reporter off at the ballpark, “at least the beers will stay cold.”
Brazilian Oscar Schmidt, a Basketball Hall of Famer and the Olympic basketball scoring king (1,093 points), has died at age 68.
In a statement reported by Brazilian media, Schmidt's family noted that he battled a brain tumor the last 15 years "with courage, dignity, and resilience, remaining an example of determination, generosity, and love for life. Recognized for his brilliant career on the court and his remarkable personality off it, Oscar leaves a legacy that transcends sports and inspires generations of athletes and admirers in Brazil and around the world."
In five Olympics from 1980 through 1996, Schmidt averaged 28.8 points per game over 38 total games played.
That included a 42.3-point-per-game showing at the 1988 Seoul Games and a 24-point performance against the Dream Team in 1992 (a 127-83 defeat).
"There was not a shot that I don't like," he said.
Brazil's best Olympic finish in that span was fifth.
“I was the top scorer in the Barcelona Olympics even with the Dream Team there," Schmidt, nicknamed "Mão Santa" (Holy Hand), was quoted as saying.
Schmidt tallied 304 more points than the Olympics' second all-time leading scorer — Australian Andrew Gaze — and more than twice as many points as the U.S.' all-time leading scorer, Kevin Durant (518).
In the 1987 Pan American Games final, Schmidt scored 46 points — 35 in the second half — as Brazil rallied from a 20-point deficit to upset a U.S. team of college stars in Indianapolis. He called it his greatest achievement.
"The Brazilian sport, unfortunately, is saying goodbye to a great name, but I'm sure that his story will never be forgotten," Brazil Olympic Committee Marco Antonio La Porta said, according to a translation. "More than results and medals, Oscar represented values that define the Olympic spirit: dedication, overcoming, respect for the opponent. In each competition, he took with him not only talent, but also inspiration for all who believe in the transformative power of sport and the Brazilian flag in their hearts. His legacy lives on on the courts and hearts he touched along his journey. May your memory continue to motivate new generations to dream big and compete with honor. Your story, immortalized in the COB (Brazil Olympic) Hall of Fame, will remain in our hearts. Rest in peace Holy Hand. Your legacy will never be forgotten."
The 6-foot-9 Schmidt is largely considered the best player never to play in the NBA. He was drafted in the sixth round by the New Jersey Nets in 1984 but never joined the league.
"I say thank you very much (to the Nets), but if I play one game here, I will never play with my national team never more," Schmidt said in his 2013 Basketball Hall of Fame induction speech, noting international rules at the time when NBA players were not allowed in the Olympics.
A young Kobe Bryant, growing up in Italy, was awed by watching Schmidt play in that league on TV. In 2016, Bryant compared Schmidt to Dirk Nowitzki, "but he can do things that Dirk Nowitzki can't," Bryant said.
"He's out there scoring 45 points, 47 points and, as a kid, I was just extremely curious on how the hell that's possible," Bryant said. "He could just do it all. He was a great shooter, but he could handle the ball. He could get to the spots on the floor and play with a lot of passion, too."
The Post’s experts give their Knicks-Hawks predications:
Stefan Bondy
The Hawks have playoff unknowns in Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu and Dyson Daniels, so their reaction to the pressure — and to the intense atmosphere of Game 1 at MSG — is a wild card. They could rise to the occasion. They could shrink. Either way, the Knicks are more talented and that will carry them to victory.
Prediction: Knicks in 6
Zach Braziller
This won’t be easy. Like the Pistons in the first round a year ago, the on-the-rise Hawks will give the Knicks problems, stealing Game 2 at MSG and forcing a winner-take-all Game 7. In the end, Jalen Brunson and Co. do just enough to advance.
Prediction: Knicks in 7
Nickeil Alexander-Walker of the Atlanta Hawks and Josh Hart of the New York Knicks go after a loose ball during the game on April 6, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NBAE via Getty Images
Jared Schwartz
The Knicks almost certainly got a harder matchup with the surging, upstart Hawks than they would’ve with the Raptors. The Hawks are athletic, long, fast and full of belief. But much of their rise came against lowly opposition. And the Knicks should be far more talented with far more experience. The Hawks can hang around, but the Knicks should put them away with relative ease.
Prediction: Knicks in 5
Mike Vaccaro
Maybe I’ll be proven wrong but I don’t buy the Hawks’ late-season surge as anything much more than the byproduct of fortunate scheduling. I try to find an area that I’d give the Hawks the advantage. I don’t see one.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 16: Joc Pederson #3 of the Texas Rangers slides home to score against the Athletics in the ninth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 16, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for April 17, 2026 against the Seattle Mariners: starting pitchers are Jacob deGrom for the Rangers and Logan Gilbert for the M’s.
Texas begins a three game series in Seattle, the final stop on their road trip.
The lineup:
Nimmo — RF
Seager — SS
Langford — LF
Burger — 1B
Carter — CF
Pederson — DH
Jung — 3B
Smith — 2B
Jansen — C
8:40 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are +110 underdogs.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - APRIL 11: Michael Wacha #52 of the Kansas City Royals pitches during the 1st inning of the game against the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium on April 11, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There is never a good time to play the Yankees, one of MLB’s most consistently good teams throughout its long history. But the Royals still have to do it. From a certain perspective, maybe this is a good time to face them; if you’re already losing, what’s a few more losses? Then, when you get on a roll, the Yankees won’t be there to stomp on your dreams.
Michael Wacha, the last winner the Royals had, will attempt to closely replicate the eight shutout innings he pitched against the White Sox last weekend. It will probably be harder against the Yankees, but the seemingly rejuvenated right-hander seems like the guy if the Royals have one. Not only has he pitched to a 0.43 ERA, but the underlying metrics suggest he’s pitching the best baseball of his life. Yes, not just as a Royal, but ever.
Wacha did make one start against the Yankees early last year; he allowed 3 runs in 5.2 innings. But even as he’s pitching better now than ever before, the beginning of 2025 was his worst period as a Royal.
The Yankees have been prone to giving up a lot of runs lately. The Royals scored a lot of runs yesterday. Maybe they can finally get something going in New York, where all their left-handed hitters can aim for the short fences in right field. Certainly, if Vinnie hits the ball in New York like he did all week in Detroit, he could have 10 home runs at the end of the weekend. Unfortunately, Cam Schlittler (don’t say that five times fast around impressionable ears!) has been one of the bright spots in the early going.
Schlitter was promoted to the big leagues last July and hit the ground running, immediately becoming one of the Yankees’ best starters. He’s somehow been even better than that this year, with underlying metrics that suggest he might somehow be underrated by his sparkling 2.49 ERA. He has an MLB-leading 35.8% K-BB%. The best pitchers will strike out more than a third of the batters, but he has also only walked only 1 in his 22.2 innings so far this year.
At least he’s a right-hander.
Lineups
Following yesterday’s offensive outburst, manager Matt Quatraro hasn’t changed the lineup much. Michael Massey is back in there at second after being pulled partway through yesterday’s game. Lane Thomas is in left field again, as Isaac Collins is still day-to-day with his knee contusion. We’re just going to have to hope yesterday wasn’t a flash in the pan.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - APRIL 12: Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees reacts after giving up a hit against the Tampa Bay Rays during the second inning of a baseball game at Tropicana Field on April 10, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Earlier this week, the Yankees played a very frustrating series against the Angels. While it ended in a split of the four games, it sure didn’t feel like it. Both Yankees’ wins required ninth-inning comebacks, while both losses saw the pitching get blow out of the water. That being said, each new series is a chance to get a new winning run going, and they can do that tonight as the Royals come to town.
For tonight’s series opener, the Yankees will send Cam Schlittler to the mound. Schlitter has gotten off to an incredible start to the season, but has allowed a couple runs in his last two starts. Tonight, we’ll get to see him try and get back to dominance again Royals’ lineups that’s only been so-so
For the Royals, veteran Michael Wacha will take the hill. Wacha has gotten off to a very good start to 2026, coming in with a 0.43 ERA in his couple starts so far. It’s worth noting that in a signal of how little confidence the Yankees (understandably) seem to have in Ryan McMahon right now, he is sitting despite being a lefty bat who could face the righty Wacha; Amed Rosario will take his place at the hot corner. It’s also not a good sign for the slumping Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Austin Wells that they’re both batting behind Rosario. But Rosario’s been one of the few consistent bats for the Yanks thus far and has hit righties early on, so he’ll get his shot.
Here’s all the information to know on how to catch tonight’s game, and we hope you’ll come join us in the game thread for all the action!
How to watch
Location: Yankee Stadium — Bronx, NY
First pitch: 7:05 pm ET
TV broadcast: YES (NYY) | Royals.TV (KCR)
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY) | 96.5 The Fan, Royals Radio Network (KCR)
