Please, Baby Jesus, give me the strength to find some home run props today. The weather is getting cold for the seemingly third time this season, but there are some great matchup spots to target for dingers and MLB player props.
The Orioles could be batting around, facing a bullpen arm as a starter, and the Pirates have to take advantage of one of the worst starters in BlastContact percentage.
These are my favorite home run props for Tuesday, April 28, including a +17688 parlay.
Best MLB home run props today
Player to hit a HR
Odds
Pete Alonso
+490
Oneil Cruz
+370
Brett Baty
+570
💲Today's HR parlay
+17688
Pete Alonso (+490)
It’s a good day to back the Polar Bear, Pete Alonso, on Dinger Tuesday at a price near +500.
The weather is shifting again, but Camden Yards remains a solid setting for right-handed power with the wind blowing out. Alonso also carries a 33% opposite-field fly-ball rate, and Camden has one of the shallowest right-field fences, per THE BAT.
He’ll face Kai-Wei Teng, who is making his first start after working in a multi-inning relief role. His MLB track record isn't impressive, and his command has been inconsistent.
The Baltimore Orioles could also see plenty of a vulnerable Houston Astros bullpen, which boosts the outlook for power. Houston's relievers own the worst ERA in baseball. Alonso also homered off Teng in the only meeting between the two.
The fair price here sits around +430.
Time: 6:35 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MASN, Space City Home Network
Oneil Cruz (+370)
I’m getting square, but I’ll happily take a potential five-AB leadoff hitter in a strong matchup against Kyle Leahy, who ranks among the worst pitchers in baseball by Blast Contact%.
Only one starter has a worse mark, and Leahy has been getting crushed by left-handed hitters.
If swing speed is your angle, Oneil Cruz fits — he owns the second-fastest swing in baseball and is a prime target in plus matchups. The setting also helps, with temperatures in the 70s and winds blowing out to center.
If Leahy exits early, Cruz will see a St. Louis Cardinals bullpen that ranks 25th in ERA and lacks strong left-handed options.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SportsNet Pittsburgh, Cardinals.TV
Brett Baty (+570)
If you’re betting home runs today, make sure to include some New York Mets. Zack Littell has allowed 11 homers over 25 innings this year, with nine coming in his last three starts. He’s hanging on by a thread and is backed by one of the worst bullpens in baseball.
Left-handed hitters already have nine long balls off Littell, and while Juan Soto is a solid look at +300, Brett Baty at +570 stands out.
He’s been the Mets’ best hitter over the last week, and his Blast Contact metrics support the surge. This is a strong spot to stack HR/RBI exposure.
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SNY, Nationals.TV
Jinglis' 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 6-47, -14.2 units
Today’s HR parlay
Pete Alonso
Bet Now +17688
Oneil Cruz
Brett Baty
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The two best teams in Europe put on a show for the ages in Paris
3 min: Olise tries to advance down the left but Zaïre-Emery is all over him in a flash. It’s a high-octane start, and Bayern are seeing more of the ball.
2 min: Stanišić sends a long throw down the right for Musiala, who gathers by the PSG box before returning the ball to the Bayern right-back. Stanišić crosses. Pacho heads clear. A positive start by the visitors.
Apr 27, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) and Philadelphia Flyers left wing Noah Cates (27) take a third period face-off in game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Charles LeClaire/Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
The Pittsburgh Penguins are halfway to history.
Sidney Crosby and the Penguins are aiming to become just the fifth team in NHL history to win a series after trailing 3-0. They’ve won two straight games to force Game 6 in Philadelphia.
“It’s quite clear the situation for us is win or go home,” said Crosby, who had two assists in a 3-2 win in Game 5. “I think that urgency, that desperation, whatever you want to call it, I think has brought (out) some of our best hockey because of it. So, we just gotta keep going here.”
The Flyers are among the four teams that have rallied to win a series after losing the first three games. They did it against Boston in the second round in 2010. Philadelphia ended up reaching the Stanley Cup Final that season, losing to Chicago.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be easy,” Flyers forward Owen Tippett said. “We knew we weren’t going to win every game. Reset and get back at it.”
While Philadelphia aims to advance to the second round for the first time since 2020, there are two Game 5s featuring series locked in a 2-2 tie.
The Tampa Bay Lightning rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Canadiens 3-2 in Montreal in Game 4, tying the series and regaining home-ice advantage.
The Vegas Golden Knights squandered a three-goal lead but came back to defeat the Utah Mammoth 5-4 on Shea Theodore’s goal with 51.5 seconds left in overtime to even their series.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Philadelphia Flyers
When/Where to Watch: Game 6, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT (TNT).
Series: Flyers lead 3-2.
Philadelphia’s seemingly comfortable 3-0 series lead doesn’t feel quite so comfortable anymore, not after consecutive victories by the Penguins in which Pittsburgh captain Crosby has been at his brilliant best.
Crosby had a goal and an assist in Game 4, then backed it up with perhaps an even better performance in Game 5, dishing out a pair of helpers, the second of which set up Kris Letang’s game-winning goal just moments after Crosby took a slapshot to his left knee and limped to the training room.
While the Flyers still are in a solid position to do what all but four teams in NHL history have done — winning a series after taking the first three games — for a youth-laden club in its first playoff series in six years, the fourth win is proving to be the hardest.
“Even though 3-0 sounded nice, we knew it wasn’t going to be over,” Philadelphia goaltender Dan Vladar said.
It’s not. The Penguins steadily have regained the form that made them one of the league’s biggest surprises during the regular season. They received secondary scoring in Game 5— third-liner Elmer Soderblom scored his first of the playoffs and fourth-liner Connor Dewar notched his second — and then clamped down during the third period to extend their season.
A chance to shift all of the pressure on the Flyers awaits if Pittsburgh can find a way to force a Game 7.
“I think the last couple games we found our stride a bit,” said Crosby, who now has 100 wins in the playoffs. “We should feel good about that. ... We’re playing good hockey and we’ve got to go in there and find a way to win again.”
Montreal Canadiens at Tampa Bay Lightning
When/Where to Watch: Game 5, Wednesday, 7 p.m. EDT (ESPN).
Series: Tied 2-2.
After three overtime games, one finally was decided in regulation when Brandon Hagel scored two goals to lift the Lightning to a 3-2 win. Hagel has six goals in the series.
“He’s definitely become the straw that stirs our drink,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “Even when we went down 2-0, he stood up and looked both ways and, literally I think, captivated the bench with what he was saying and the message he was delivering.”
Hagel’s words motivated his teammates and Max Crozier inspired them with his actions.
The Lightning were down 2-0 in the second period when Crozier flattened Montreal’s Juraj Slafkovsky with a hard hit in the middle of the ice. The legal check energized Tampa Bay and changed the momentum of the game.
“The hit obviously got our bench out of their seats,” Cooper said. “But you still have to take advantage of that. We score in the last minute of the second, and in the first minute of the third, and all of a sudden the game’s completely changed. It helped take the crowd out of it.”
The Canadiens have to rebound after wasting a two-goal lead at home and missing an opportunity to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. They can’t dwell on Game 4.
“That’s a veteran team. They’re very good at drawing penalties. They got talented players,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. “They’re a tough team and we knew it was going to be a tough series. We’re right in it. We’re in a battle. It’s a fine line between winning and losing in these games, but we’re battling.”
Utah Mammoth at Vegas Golden Knights
When/Where to Watch: Game 5, Wednesday, 10 p.m. EDT (TNT, truTV HBO Max).
Series: Tied 2-2.
This opening-round series has a sense of deja vu for the Golden Knights, and Vegas hopes that’s a good sign of what’s to come.
The Golden Knights opened last year’s playoffs by prevailing in six games over the Wild. Vegas split the first two games at home, was blown out in Game 3 at Minnesota and won in overtime in Game 4 before going on to take the next two games and the series.
And the series with the Mammoth?
The almost exact beginning.
But financial advisers often warn that past performances aren’t necessarily indicative of future results, and the Golden Knights know they have a fight on their hands if they are to advance to the second round.
“I really like our squad,” coach John Tortorella said. “The most important thing for our team is to know who we are, know who you are as a club, and we are a really good hockey club. No matter what happens, we move forward with the highs and lows of a series.”
There was plenty of both for both teams in a 5-4 Vegas overtime victory at Salt Lake City.
The Golden Knights went up 3-0, Utah roared back with four unanswered goals and Vegas forced overtime in the third period. Then the Golden Knights thought they won in OT before an offside review wiped out Pavel Dorofeyev’s goal, and then actually won it on Jack Eichel’s sensational pass to Shea Theodore in the high slot for the winner with less than a minute left in overtime.
“There is plenty of hockey left in this series; a tied series going back,” Mammoth defenseman Ian Cole said. “It’s a three-game series. (We’re) focusing on what we can control and where we stand right now. I think that will do us well.”
Could the Eastern Conference No. 1 seed fail to make it out of the first round? At this point, expect as much from the Detroit Pistons, and give plenty of credit to the Orlando Magic for forcing such an issue.
My Magic vs. Pistons predictions and NBA picks give credit to Orlando’s defense for how exhausted it has left Cade Cunningham, something that should continue in Game 5 on Wednesday, April 29.
UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight.
Magic vs Pistons prediction
Who will win Magic vs Pistons Game 5?
Magic: While everyone just saw the Denver Nuggets mount a rally when returning home despite a 3-1 series deficit, Denver has a few things Detroit lacks: Two of the best postseason players in the NBA, nearly a decade of postseason experience, and a championship pedigree.
Staring disappointment in the face, do not be shocked when the young team fails to fight.
Magic vs Pistons best bet: Cade Cunningham Under 28.5 points (-120)
While this could certainly come across as insulting doubt in Detroit Pistons’ cornerstone Cade Cunningham, it is meant more as acknowledging reality.
Cunningham looked excellent in Game 1 against the Orlando Magic, playing more than 40 minutes and scoring 39 points, though Detroit still lost by double digits.
It was his first full workload since returning from a collapsed lung, playing 20-some minutes in the last three games of the regular season as he tried to get back up to speed.
But the reality is, missing three weeks because of a collapsed lung was undoubtedly going to impact Cunningham’s conditioning, and the physical nature of the Magic defense has exacerbated that.
Cunningham has shot 15-for-46 (32.6%) in the last two games, both Detroit losses. His 3-point shooting has fallen to 6 of 21 in those two games, 28.6%.
Realize, Cunningham shot 46.1% from the field and 34.6% from deep in the regular season before his injury.
While he may not yet be an efficient scorer, he is far better than the version of the last week. He is simply out of gas, as are the Pistons without Cunningham at his best.
Magic vs Pistons same-game parlay
What is more exhausting, driving into the lane against a physical and long defense or chucking 3-pointers for much of the night? Based on his choices in the last two games, Cade Cunningham would rather live beyond the arc right now.
Before his collapsed lung, he took 30.8% of his field-goal attempts from deep. In this series, it has jumped to 38.0%. In the last two games, it has been an even more alarming 45.7%.
Cunningham should hit multiple 3-pointers simply because he is taking so many rather than getting to the rim, and that inefficient approach helps keep Orlando in every game.
Magic vs Pistons SGP
Cade Cunningham Under 28.5 points
Cade Cunningham Over 1.5 threes
Magic +9.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Goodnight, Detroit
Orlando has already won on the road in this series. It has firm control, and it knows the best time to clinch the series is as soon as possible.
Given how suffocating the Magic defense has been — even the Pistons’ one win featured them scoring only 98 points — there is always value in a moneyline higher than +300.
Magic vs Pistons SGP
Cade Cunningham Under 28.5 Points
Cade Cunningham Over 1.5 3-Pointers
Magic moneyline
Magic vs Pistons odds for Game 5
Spread: Magic +9.5 | Pistons -9.5
Moneyline: Magic +310 | Pistons -390
Over/Under: Over 211 | Under 211
Magic vs Pistons betting trend to know
Detroit has fallen short of its team total in all four games of this series and by an average of 13.4 points per game. Find more NBA betting trends for Magic vs. Pistons.
How to watch Magic vs Pistons Game 5
Location
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Magic vs Pistons latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The 8-seed Orlando Magic are 48 minutes away from eliminating the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in what would be one of the biggest upsets in more than a decade.
Key Takeaways
The Pistons would become the fifth-largest favorite to lose to an 8-seed as a No. 1.
Oddsmakers have the Pistons as 9.5-point favorites in Game 5.
Cade Cunningham committed the most turnovers in a three-game stretch in nearly 50 years.
Up to this point, there have only been six 8-over-1 upsets in the NBA.
Year
Losing Team
Winning Team
Series Odds
2023
Milwaukee Bucks
Miami Heat
-1,200/+750
2012
Chicago Bulls
Philadelphia 76ers
-1,400/+900
2011
San Antonio Spurs
Memphis Grizzlies
-390/+280
2007
Dallas Mavericks
Golden State Warriors
-1,800/+1,200
1999
Miami Heat
New York Knicks
-280/+230
1994
Seattle SuperSonics
Denver Nuggets
-2,000/+1,400
The Magic find themselves up 3-1 on the Pistons after a 94-88 victory in Game 4 on Monday. DraftKings now has the Magic as -255 favorites to win the series, while the Pistons are +210 underdogs.
Those marks are sharp deviations from where the teams opened the series. DraftKings had the Magic at +380, or a 20.8% implied chance, while the Pistons were -500 to move on to the second round.
The most interesting aspect of this topsy-turvy start to the series is that it doesn’t involve any mitigating circumstances.
In 2023, the Miami Heat - +750 series underdogs against the Milwaukee Bucks, per Sports Odds History - were buoyed by Giannis Antetokounmpo suffering a lower back contusion 11 minutes into Game 1. He did not return and missed two contests before returning for Game 4. The Greek Freak averaged 32 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists in the two contests following his return, but the Bucks still lost the series in five games.
Can Pistons avoid huge upset?
There’s plenty of blame to go around for the Pistons. The Magic only barely squeaked through the play-in tournament, losing the 7-8 matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers and winning their do-or-die game against the Charlotte Hornets.
Among the Pistons’ many issues are their misfiring stars. Cade Cunningham has posted impressive averages of 29.5 points, 7.5 assists, and 6.3 rebounds, but his shooting percentage dropped to 42.4%. He has also averaged a grotesque 6.8 turnovers per game and committed the most turnovers (24) in a three-game stretch in the playoffs since 1977-78.
Jalen Duren, who is expected to challenge for an All-NBA team after averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds on 65% shooting, has not shown up for the series. He has averaged 9.8 points and 8.3 rebounds on 46.9% shooting, never scoring more than 12 points and failing to hit double-digit rebounds in all four games.
The supporting cast hasn’t provided much help. The team has shot a combined 27.5% from three, by far the worst in the playoffs, and committed the second-most turnovers per game.
Having said all that, DraftKings still installed the Pistons as -9.5 favorites in Game 5 on Wednesday. Their only win in the series came on their home floor, where they will be for Game 5 and where they went 31-9 during the regular season. The Magic were 19-20 on the road.
NBA title odds remain calm
While the Magic find themselves in a much more secure position than the Pistons, oddsmakers still aren’t showing them much respect. DraftKings lists them at +15,000 in NBA championship odds, while the Pistons are still at +4,500.
The Pistons' +210 series odds suggest they still have a near-one-in-three chance to rip off three straight wins and salvage their season. That will require them to do something they failed to do this season, as they split their regular-season series with Orlando at two games apiece.
LeBron James makes history every time he steps on the floor. He isn’t looking to be on the wrong side of it when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Houston Rockets in Game 5 on Wednesday, April 29.
As I’m sure you’ve heard, no NBA team has ever come back from a 0-3 hole to win a playoff series. But after Houston avoided the sweep at home this past weekend, the history buffs aren’t too sure that stat will hold up.
Tonight's Rockets vs. Lakers predictions know James isn’t taking Houston for granted, especially coming off one of the worst performances of his storied career.
My NBA picks like LeBron to top his scoring prop in Game 5, even if it's not enough to land the knockout punch.
UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight.
Rockets vs Lakers prediction
Who will win Rockets vs Lakers Game 5?
Rockets: The Lakers are home chalk for Game 5. That’s a contrast to Game 1, when they closed as 2.5-point home underdogs once Kevin Durant was ruled out. A few wins, home court, and the promise of Austin Reaves’ return has flipped the script on this series but I’m not counting out the Rockets just yet. Houston’s defense has improved greatly over the past six quarters and I think there’s value in them stealing a victory in L.A. as +150 moneyline pups.
Rockets vs Lakers best bet: LeBron James Over 23.5 Points (-115)
A lot of factors folded into LeBron James’ terrible night in Game 4.
The tight turnaround, exhaustion from carrying the club, Tari Eason’s defense, and perhaps a little complacency all stewed together for a 2-for-9 shooting effort and just 10 points from James. Oh, and there were the eight turnovers.
Following the one-sided loss, James immediately pointed the finger at himself and was quick to correct anyone asking if the Los Angeles Lakers were comfortable with a 3-1 series edge over the Houston Rockets.
“There’s no such thing as being comfortable until a series is done. None of us are,” he told the media.
Before his dud in Game 4, James scored a combined 57 points in the two games prior and fired up 42 total field goals in those efforts. That had his scoring prop jacked to 25.5 points with heavy juice on the Over Sunday.
LeBron has now enjoyed a two-day break to recharge and reassess the Rockets’ defense, while that 10-point sputter and Austin Reaves’ possible return anchor his scoring total at 23.5 points for Wednesday night.
This number is the shortest scoring O/U listed for James since losing Reaves and Luka Doncic late in the regular season. Even if Reaves does return, he’ll likely be restricted, and the scoring load remains on James’ broad shoulders.
Player projections for Game 5 don’t discount “The King”, pegging him between 24.5 and more than 27 points Wednesday night. The pressure of giving Houston a glimmer of hope, as well as cleaning up his mess from Game 4, has me leaning toward the high side of those forecasts.
Rockets vs Lakers same-game parlay
The Rockets' offense has been a mess with Kevin Durant in and out, but Houston decided to get it done with defense in Game 4, and this team has looked much stronger on that side of the ball over the past six quarters. Those stops and turnovers translated into easy buckets, and desperation keeps things close on Wednesday.
Alperen Sengun has stepped up as the Rockets’ leader in this series and has been a steady scorer the past two games, putting up 19 and 33 points on a combined 21-for-39 shooting (54%). With the Lakers doing a better job limiting turnovers, this game is played at a slower tempo in the halfcourt, which works well for Sengun. Some models sit as high as 24.5 points in Game 5.
Rockets vs Lakers SGP
Rockets +4.5
LeBron James Over 23.5 points
Alperen Sengun Over 22.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Rocket Man
Alperen Sengun is the Rockets' top option with KD out. I see this as more of a half-court game, and he can go after the Lakers' weak interior defense. His projections call for 24+ points, 11+ rebounds, and he’s been a shot swatter on the defensive end all series.
Rockets vs Lakers SGP
Rockets moneyline
Alperen Sengun Over 22.5 points
Alperen Sengun Over 9.5 rebounds
Alperen Sengun Over 1.5 blocks
Rockets vs Lakers odds for Game 5
Spread: Rockets +4.5 | Lakers -4.5
Moneyline: Rockets +150 | Lakers -180
Over/Under: Over 208.5 | Under 208.5
Rockets vs Lakers betting trend to know
The Houston Rockets have gone Over their Team Total in 20 of their last 30 games (+8.35 Units/24% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Rockets vs. Lakers.
How to watch Rockets vs Lakers Game 5
Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Rockets vs Lakers latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Wilson Peak, San Juan National Forest, Colorado (Photo by: Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
It is quite likely that the last two days will the slowest of the entire season for the Cincinnati Reds.
Despite winning the overall series (and being on a roll overall), the Reds spent Sunday afternoon dropping the series finale in Great American Ball Park to the Detroit Tigers. Compounding things was the manner in which they dropped it – they surged back in the same way they have in so many wins so far this year only for their always-reliable bullpen to implode.
Then, they had one of those rare days off during the middle of a homestand, so they got to mill around town thinking about Sunday for two days with no travel in there to break it up. Hopefully, that won’t leave them ripe for a letdown against the Colorado Rockies, who are in town Tuesday to open a three-game series in GABP.
These two clubs met one another at precisely the same time in 2025, with the Reds heading west to Denver to sweep the Rockies between April 25th and 27th. While these are your father’s Rockies – they’re in last place in the National League West once again – rest assured that the 2026 Rockies are, so far, not the 2025 Rockies, as that club was a miserable 4-23 upon being swept aside in Coors Field.
The 2026 Rockies are in last place so far, but they’re 13-16 and boast just a -11 run differential. They’ve scored 118 runs – same as the Reds – and they are fresh off winning all three games they played against the New York Mets in the Big Apple (sandwiched around one game that was postponed). They also boast burgeoning ace Chase Dollander, who (as of today) is the NL leader in bWAR by a pitcher.
Lucky for the Reds, though, they’ll miss Dollander, who pitched Sunday in the team’s final game in New York. Instead, they’ll open play on Tuesday against veteran lefty Kyle Freeland, who is off to a brilliant start of his own so far this season (2.30 ERA, 1.09 WHIP across 3 starts). Cincinnati, meanwhile, will counter with their own burgeoning ace in Chase Burns, who’ll look to fireball his way past this upstart Colorado offense.
First pitch on Tuesday is set for 6:40 PM ET. With a left-handed starter on the bump for the Rockies, the Reds have chosen to stack righties in their lineup like this:
Mar 24, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) reacts after missing a pitch in the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Shohei Ohtani snapped the longest home run drought of his Dodgers tenure in a three-hit game on Sunday, and collected three more hits, including an RBI double in the ninth on Monday to help set up Kyle Tucker’s walk-off winner. Ohtani has reached base nine times in his last 14 plate plate appearances over the last three games.
But he won’t hit in Tuesday’s game against the Miami Marlins, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed on Monday night. Instead, Ohtani will focus on pitching, part of the ever-present puzzle of managing the workload of a two-way player who excels at both pitching and hitting.
This is the second time in five pitching starts for Ohtani this season in which he was not also the designated hitter. The first time, on April 15 against the New York Mets, came two days after getting hit by a pitch on the back of his right shoulder, which factored into the decision.
By not swapping spots with Tyler Glasnow this series (to start the day before an off day), Ohtani on Tuesday will pitch on five days rest for the first time this season. After starting the fifth game of the season on the mound, Ohtani’s other pitching starts came on seven, six, and six days of rest.
Some of the cost of removing Ohtani from the lineup is mitigated somewhat by having backup catcher Dalton Rushing ready and able to fill in when needed at designated hitter. Rushing so far this season has started once each at DH and first base in addition to his nine catching starts, and is hitting .385/.467/.974 with seven home runs, second on the team despite batting only 45 times.
Speaking of Rushing, he pinch-hit for second baseman Santiago Espinal in the ninth inning and walked, helping to set up Tucker’s game-winner. But had the Dodgers only tied the game, things would have gotten weird in the 10th inning, because the Dodgers at that point were out of position players.
Roberts told reporters Monday night that in the 10th he would have moved Max Muncy to second base, and moved Freddie Freeman to third base with Rushing at first base. Muncy has 161 career starts at second base, but the last one was in 2022, before Major League Baseball put limitations on defensive shifts. Freeman started 16 games at third base way back in 2017 with the Atlanta Braves, but otherwise has only worn a first baseman’s glove in the field in his 17-year career.
Sure, the Dodgers won on Monday, but at the cost of expanding our sense of wonder.
The NBA moved closer to a slightly expanded 16-team lottery Tuesday, one that will flatten odds of winning the No. 1 pick and try to deter tanking by drastically lowering the chances of winning for the teams that finish with the three worst records.
The “3-2-1 Lottery” proposal, which was reviewed by the league’s general managers, will be further discussed before it goes the Board of Governors for a final vote that is expected next month. It will not change the current format, which will likely be utilized for the final time when the lottery for this year’s draft is held May 10. This would go into effect next year.
The proposed plan will be discussed again at a competition committee meeting on Thursday. It would add two teams to the current 14-team lottery structure and incentivizes winning even for teams that aren’t still in the race for play-in or playoff spots.
The 16 teams in this proposal would all get somewhere between one and three lottery balls — hence the 3-2-1 name that has been attached to the plan — and the awarding of those balls would be broken down thusly:
— The losers of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 play-in games in both conferences would get one lottery ball each.
— The No. 9 and No. 10 seeds going into the play-in tournament would get two lottery balls each.
— The remaining 10 teams that miss the playoffs and the play-in would all get three lottery balls — with the exception of the three worst teams in the standings. They would enter “draft relegation” and have one of their lottery balls taken away, which the NBA hopes would keep teams from trying to lose as many games as they can for the worst possible record. That practice, the so-called “tanking,” has been rewarded in the current system by better lottery odds.
The league was furious this season at how some teams were clearly prioritizing their draft spot over winning, even fining the Utah Jazz $500,000 “for conduct detrimental to the league” over the way two top plays were held out of the fourth quarter of a pair of games — one of which the Jazz actually won.
There was a clear race to the bottom this season with five teams — Washington, Indiana, Utah, Memphis and Brooklyn — all having winning percentages below .180 after the All-Star break. There has never been a season in NBA history, until now, where so many teams lost that often after the break.
“The incentives are not necessarily matched here,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in February when discussing the correlation between the teams with the worst records having the best lottery odds. “I think the tradition in sports where the worst-performing team receives the first pick from their partners, when any economist comes and looks at our system, they always point out you have the incentives backwards there. That doesn’t necessarily make sense.”
Silver has vowed that the league — which has changed the lottery system several times over the past decades — would strongly address the tanking issue before next year.
Odds of winning
The teams that finish with the three worst records would all have a 5.4% chance of winning the No. 1 pick, and could not fall below the No. 12 pick.
But the best odds of winning No. 1 would go to the other seven teams that miss the play-in and the playoffs — with those clubs all having an 8.1% chance of finishing with the No. 1 selection.
The No. 9 and No. 10 play-in seeds would also have a 5.4% chance of winning the lottery, and the losers of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 play-in games would both have a 2.7% chance.
Major changes to odds
The three worst teams this season — Washington, Indiana and Brooklyn — have 14% odds of winning the lottery and are guaranteed a top-seven pick. (In Indiana’s case, if the Pacers finish with the fifth or sixth pick, it would convey to the Los Angeles Clippers because of a previous trade.)
In the proposed system, those teams would have a 5.4% chance of winning and could fall as low as 12th in the first-round draft order. There would be a 72% chance that those teams would fall outside the top five.
“This is a decision that needs to be made at the ownership level,” Silver said earlier this year. “It has business implications, has basketball implications, has integrity implications for the league. It’s one that we take very seriously. We are going to fix it, full stop. I want to say that directly to our fans. … Incentives need to be fixed. We will fix them. I’m looking forward to that.”
Other proposed changes
More elements within the 3-2-1 proposal include:
— No team could win back-to-back No. 1 picks or have three consecutive picks in the top five.
— No protections in trades would be allowed for picks that fall between Nos. 12 and 15.
— The league would have “expanded disciplinary authority” to address tanking, with potential moves including lowering teams’ lottery odds or even changing draft positions.
— The proposed plan, if approved, would sunset after the 2029 draft and require the Board of Governors to vote to either continue the system or make changes yet again.
It's an AL East theme to our MLB best bets today, as we're starting the day off with two moneylines and an Over/Under involving that division, based on the prices at Polymarket.
See why our expert MLB picks are keying in on the prices for Boston and Tampa Bay to win today, plus Baltimore to be part of a slug fest.
UPDATE: Added best bets for additional MLB games from Covers Staff.
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Josh Inglis' expert pick: Red Sox moneyline
Price: 51¢ (-104) at Polymarket
The Boston Red Sox have picked things up after ownership made coaching changes following a slow start. Since then, they’ve won two straight and may hold the starting pitching edge today against the Toronto Blue Jays, who were limited to two hits yesterday (with just one off starter Ranger Suarez through eight innings). Payton Tolle was dominant in his season debut, while Trey Yesavage is making his first start after a rough rehab stint, posting an 8.59 ERA over 14+ innings, and threw just 2 1/3 innings in his last outing. The fair price on this moneyline sits closer to -115, giving Boston value.
Neil Parker's expert pick: Rays moneyline
Price: 46¢ (+117) at Polymarket
The Tampa Bay Rays send the better offense to the dish, with a 10th-ranked wOBA and the lowest strikeout percentage in the majors against righties. Plus, I don’t think Cleveland Guardians starter Tanner Bibee is completely healthy: He exited his first start of the season with right shoulder inflammation, yet never missed a turn in the rotation. His velocity dipped across the board in his most recent start, and he’s also surrendered an alarming 53.2% hard-hit rate this year.
Joe Osborne's expert pick: Astros/Orioles Over 9
Price: 52¢ (-108) at Polymarket
Kai-Wei Teng gets the start for the Houston Astros, but hasn’t reached the fourth inning in any outing this season, which likely forces heavy bullpen usage. That's not good, as the Astros bullpen has been a disaster lately. On the other side, Shane Baz is coming off back-to-back starts with four earned runs allowed. The Over has also hit in eight of nine for the Astros and in seven straight games for the Baltimore Orioles.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Apr 18, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics third baseman Max Muncy (3) is mobbed by teammates as they celebrate his walk off sacrifice fly out during the 11th inning against the Chicago White Sox at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Scott Marshall-Imagn Images | Scott Marshall-Imagn Images
The Athletics have endured four consecutive losing seasons as they relocated eastward to Sacramento on their way to Las Vegas, but they appear to climbing out of their hole with a young roster. They had a winning record (35-29) after the All-Star break last year, and are in first place early in this season.
Kansas City Royals (11-17) vs. Athletics (15-13) at Sutter Health Park, Sacramento, CA
The Athletics’ offensive numbers are very similar to the Royals in runs-per-game, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, home runs, and steals. They have a .360 on-base percentage at home and .291 on the road.
Twenty-nine year old rookie Carlos Cortes has been on fire, hitting .538 (14-for-26) with three home runs in his last seven games, earning AL Player of the Week honors. Nick Kurtz was fifth in the American League with 36 home runs last year, despite not making his MLB debut until April 23. Former Royals slugger Brent Rooker has struggled, but is just coming off the Injured List after missing time with an oblique injury. Infielder Jacob Wilson has the second-lowest walk rate in baseball, with just one free pass in 27 games. Max Muncy (not THIS Max Muncy) has a 35.6 percent strikeout, sixth-highest in baseball. Backup catcher Austin Wynns hit two of his six home runs last year against the Royals.
Aaron Civale has given up 17 hits and 8 runs in 10 innings over his last two starts. Salvador Perez is a career .333 hitters (7-for-21) with three home runs against him. He throws his cutter one-third of the time, but opponents are hitting .296 against it this year.
Luis Severino won his first game of the year in his last start, giving up one run in 6.2 innings against the Rangers. He’s 5-1 with a 3.67 ERA in seven career starts against the Royals, but he has a 6.15 ERA in 17 starts at Sutter Health Park.
Jeffrey Springs has had a reverse split this year, with righties hitting .185/.269/.326 against him this year. He has a 48 percent whiff rate on his change up and has been good at suppressing hard contact.
The A’s have a 4.05 ERA from their bullpen, using a collection of unproven pitchers, and cast-offs from other organizations. Joel Kuhnel is a 31-year-old journeyman who barely has 100 career MLB innings, and has been anointed the closer early on, although 26-year-old Jack Perkins has also had some save opportunities. Former Royals pitcher Scott Barlow joined the A’s after posting a 4.21 ERA in 75 games with the Reds last year.
After a disappointing series loss at home to the White Sox, the Athletics went on the road and won series in Seattle and Texas. They have some talent, but a lot of inconsistent pitching. Sutter Health Park has been a very home run-friendly ballpark, so this is an opportunity for the Royals’ offense to keep rolling.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 26: Ryan Borucki #47 and Erik Miller #68 of the San Francisco Giants prepares for the game at Oracle Park on April 26, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last season, I revived the wonderful groug’s Bullpen Trust Power Ranking bit to… mixed results. This year, I thought I’d try something different and simply review it every month. It’s not yet the end of April, but it’s been over a month since the season started, so now is a great time to check in. My one sentence review:
It has been way better than three NRIs in a trench coat.
When the season started, the bullpen seemed like an experiment being conducted by Buster Posey and Zack Minasian to see just how anonymous they could make the group. The Giants obviously believe that spending lots of money on pitching is one of the deadliest things a team can do and so they look to cut corners there wherever they can. And, perhaps, Buster Posey’s memory of being a player might have him thinking about the “guy off the street” feeling the bullpens had during the championship era and letting that inform his decision-making. I am a big believer in the whole “relievers are fungible” philosophy. It feels like the Giants have taken it to an extreme.
That might have more to do with Posey being a Hall of Fame catcher than a sophomore exec, though, and after hiring a guy with a staff well-versed in coaching up and optimizing pitchers, it all makes a lot of sense. Our general unfamiliarity with it is less important than the results on the field. Which, as you’ll recall, weren’t great in the first week or so.
This morning, Alex Pavlovic pointed out in a post that the Giants’ bullpen looks incredible — a 1.51 ERA! — if you pick things up starting April 7th. That leads the sport. Their 2.73 xERA is 2nd overall and leads the NL, too, in this same span. Of course, overall, the bullpen has been good from an ERA standpoint (2.93 — 3rd in MLB), but this micro-split, timed with the Giants turning things around overall (10-7 from April 7th on), feels appropriate.
We’re in the small sample size fun zone of the early season for sure, but the improvised, figure it out as they go bullpen is being figured out before our very eyes. One important-ish stat I talked about two and a half weeks ago was the average fastball velocity, which at the time — in, again, what was a very small sample — was 10th in MLB at 94.7 mph. But with lots more Erik Miller, Keaton Winn, Caleb Kilian, and now Blade Tidwell contributing to the sample, they’ve sped up to 4th overall in MLB (95.7 mph) which is a big part of why the team is #7 in MLB in bullpen strikeout rate (24.8%). This is the really good stuff.
Where the bullpen remains troubling is in the other two outcomes: an 11.9% walk rate that’s 23rd in MLB. They’re hanging around middle of the pack when it comes to home runs on flyballs, too. These are all “for the season” results, so let’s hop back to that “since April 7th” cutoff that Pavlovic provided this morning.
Individually, while there’s a lot of JT Brubaker in the sample, his lesser stuff is balanced out by a bracing shot of Blade Tidwell, who probably didn’t think he would be destined for a bullpen role when the Giants traded for him, but he’s been really effective there. Another see-saw of talent is groundball rates. Keaton Winn and Matt Gage are closer to 40%, and along with JT Brubaker this trio represents the flyball sector of the bullpen. Brubaker is skating by on cunning and guile in that regard, but Gage’s 92.5 mph average velocity and 6.13 FIP on a .188 BAbip are yellowish-red flags for that pair. Meanwhile, Keaton Winn’s 1.23 FIP is the other side of those concerns. He’s just been that good. Even Ryan Borucki has been solid (1.93 ERA in last 5 appearances) and Ryan Walker has been good — nowhere close to the half-season disaster of 2025.
Another “since April 7th” stat: every reliever has helped the Giants win. They all have positive Win Probability Added. Click the link and check it out right now! We might never see that again. Sure, it might seem like cheating to toss out a handful of games to make the picture look better, but it’s such a stark difference and the eye test from this recent run of games only supports it that I declare it’s not bad or illogical to do that. The Giants left Arizona knowing they had to figure some things out.
So, the great bullpen experiment of 2026 has worked out positively so far, perhaps even sooner than expected. It’s a bullpen that features different looks. Not just from arm angles, but also velocity and general stuff. It’s funky and it’s working well.
The New York Yankees (19-10) continue their Texas road trip tonight as they take on the Rangers (14-15) in Game 2 of their series at Globe Life Field. Ben Rice (10), Aaron Judge (11), and Jazz Chisholm Jr. (3) each went yard last night to lead the Yankees to a 4-2 win over Jack Leiter and co. Max Fried was brilliant again, allowing just four singles over six shutout innings to earn his fourth win of the season.
Tonight’s contest features a stellar pitching matchup between two arms in different stages of their careers but both dominating early in the 2026 season. The Yankees will start young right-hander Cam Schlittler (3-1, 1.77 ERA), who has allowed one earned run or less in four of his six starts, looking to stifle a Rangers’ offense that is hitting only .216 at home. Texas counters with their veteran ace, Jacob deGrom (2-0, 2.13 ERA), who has pitched like, well, …Jacob deGrom.
Jasson Dominguez has been recalled to the big club as a result of Giancarlo Stanton being placed on the 10-day disabled list due to a right calf strain. Expect Dominguez to start as the Yankees rarely sit youngsters who have been recalled. Aaron Judge’s bat is beginning to heat up. The reigning MVP and favorite to repeat as MVP enters the game on a two-game homer streak.
Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Yankees vs. Rangers
Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Time: 8:05PM EST
Site: Globe Life Field
City: Arlington, TX
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, Prime Video, Rangers Sports Network
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. Rangers
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: New York Yankees (-122), Texas Rangers (+102)
Rangers: Jacob deGrom Season Totals: 25.1 IP, 2-0, 2.13 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 35K, 7 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Yankees vs. Rangers
Andrew McCutcheon is just 3-28 (.107) in April / All 3 hits are singles
Corey Seagar struck out 3 times last night
Jazz Chisholm Jr. is 8-20 with 7 RBIs in his last 5 games
Jose Caballero has hit safely in 8 of his last 9 games (13-34)
Trent Grisham is 3-19 over his last 6 games
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Top Betting Trends & Insights: Yankees vs. Rangers
The Rangers are 8-7 at home this season
The Yankees are 6-7 on the road this season
The Yankees are 18-11 on the Run Line this season
The Rangers are 16-13 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 3 times in Texas’ last 10 games this season (3-7)
The OVER has cashed 4 times in the Yankees’ 10 games this season (4-6)
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. Rangers
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Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Tuesday’s game between the Yankees and the Rangers:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Yankees on the Moneyline.
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BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 29: Brad Stevens, president of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics, leaves a press conference at Boston Celtics media day at the Auerbach Center on September 29, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BOSTON – Before the season began, Jayson Tatum scoffed at the notion that the Celtics were going to tank the season.
“It’s the way our organization is ran,” Tatum told ESPN’s Malika Andrews. “It’s the culture that we set, it’s the standard that we have — regardless of who is on our team.”
Six months later, and Tatum’s comments seem awfully prescient. The Celtics are fresh off a 56-win season and have a 3-1 lead over the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the playoffs.
And on Tuesday, Brad Stevens was (unsurprisingly) named the league’s Executive of the Year, earning 11 first-place votes (and 69 total points), beating out Atlanta Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh, who came in second place.
It’s Stevens’ second such honor in three seasons, his first coming in 2024, after the championship season.
The voting panel for the 2025-26 NBA Basketball Executive of the Year Award consisted of basketball executives from NBA teams.
I talked to a front office executive earlier this month who told me he continues to be baffled about why teams are willing to even pick up the phone when Stevens calls, considering how many trades he’s won in recent years. (He said the same of Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti).
But what actually makes Brad Stevens so good at the job?
Few can answer that question better than Rich Gotham, the Celtics’ longtime team president. Gotham joined the Celtics as a marketing executive in 2003 and replaced Red Auerbach as team president in 2007.
So, when I got the chance to sit down with him a few weeks ago, the first thing I wanted to discuss was this elusive notion of “Celtics culture.”
It hasn’t always really been there during Gotham’s tenure, but it’s been on full display for years now. And the Brad Stevens era — which began 13 years ago — has embodied it.
“Early on, we were, candidly, bringing players through the organization so quickly, so many moving parts to build the team that became the ‘07, ‘08 champs,” Gotham said. “Culture? It wasn’t the same. You had pride in being part of the Celtics and what that means. But when you’ve got players coming in and out, you don’t really have a chance to cement it.”
Things began to change in 2007; that was the year the Celtics traded for Kevin Garnett.
“He was a culture-maker,” Gotham said. “Suddenly, you got a player who’s a superstar, who’s coachable, who outworks everyone, who holds everyone to the highest standard, and people just sort of like – if he’s in the layup line, I’m on point. If he’s not, if he’s hurt, if he’s out, it’s a little looser.”
Garnett served as a model for younger players like Kendrick Perkins and Leon Powe, and also influenced his co-stars, like Paul Pierce. The result was the franchise’s first championship in 22 years. And Garnett’s tenure in Boston served as a cultural reset.
“When he came here, we as an organization got our swag back,” Gotham said.
Then came Brad Stevens
The next most critical part of that culture-building was Brad Stevens, who took over as head coach of the Celtics in 2013.
Stevens had already emerged as one of the best young coaches in the game; few could draw up an ATO quite like the Indiana native. But Stevens’ defining characteristic may have been his ability to cultivate culture.
“Brad is a believer in culture, and he brought a good, strong sense of what he felt constituted being a good teammate,” Gotham said. “And when Brad got here, we were in transition. His years as a coach helped build culture, and then when he moved into the position where he’s the one acquiring the talent, that sort of played over there.”
Stevens has served as the Celtics’ general manager since 2021, meaning that he wasn’t the man responsible for bringing in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown (shoutout Danny Ainge).
But, he was the driver behind the trades that brought players like Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, and Al Horford to Boston – players who epitimized the team-first, Celtics mindset the organization wanted to embody.
“Brad really looks at [talent acquisition] from a team standpoint,” Gotham said. “And, a lot of it is sort of the unselfishness that you really need to make it work for an NBA team. If you look for that in players, the rest of it kind of follows.”
For Joe Mazzulla, Stevens’ talent acquisition philosophy has made life a whole lot easier. Countless times this season, he’s deflected questions about his own coaching and deferred to the players in the locker room.
“The greatest gift you can have as a coach is to have players that have a high, competitive character, care about winning, and want to get better,” Mazzulla said a few weeks ago.
Who signs those players?
Brad Stevens, whom Mazzulla coached under from 2019 to 2021. That synergy has made the whole operation run a lot more seamlessly.
“We have a unique relationship because I worked for him, and there aren’t many of those former coaches in the GM role, who can see from a GM perspective and a coach perspective,” Mazzulla said. “And I know how he thinks and the language that he speaks and how he sees the game because I worked for him, and he knows how I look at it — because we had that.”
Craig Luschenat, the Celtics’ head of player development, told me that the front office is a major reason for the program’s success. Neemias Queta, Sam Hauser, Jordan Walsh, and Baylor Scheierman all got their start with the Maine Celtics — and all four are now hugely important to the Celtics’ success.
“They only bring in guys that are, first of all, great people and hard workers,” Luschenat said. “And so, we’re very fortunate that we don’t have to deal with guys who are lazy or don’t love basketball. We don’t have to deal with any of the off-court stuff, so when they get to the building, they’re ready to work. And that’s a huge advantage.”
The Celtics head of player development Craig Luschenat leads the usual player development work ahead of Game 4
And, it goes beyond just being a hard worker: basketball IQ is something that Stevens and the front office prioritize.
“You could look at a lot of players that have been here previously, that now aren’t with us, or just guys around the league that are super athletic… if you just watch them in a workout, one-on-one, you’d be like, ‘Oh my gosh, this guy’s a freak, right?’” Luschenat said. “But as soon as you put 9 other players on the floor, they can’t think the game, or they can’t make high-level decisions, and aren’t competitive. And so, our front office does an amazing job of bringing guys that can think, compete at a high level, and work hard, and if you have that as a foundation, it makes our jobs as coaches so much easier.”
Luka Garza epitomizes what’s made Brad Stevens so effective
I’ve talked to many people around the league this season, and they all affirmed one thing: Luka Garza is widely considered to be one of the best locker room guys in the NBA.
So, when he was set to become a free agent, he was one of Stevens’ first calls.
“There are no secrets in the NBA,” Gotham said. “You generally have a good understanding of players who are really good culture contributors. And Brad definitely puts an emphasis on that aspect of the whole player.”
The backup center’s play became key to the Celtics’ on-court success this season; he’s averaged 8.1 points in 16.2 minutes per game, while shooting a team-best 43.3% from three.
But, equally pivotal to the Celtics’ success has been his mindset.
Some nights, Garza has eclipsed 25 minutes of action, and other nights he’s ridden the bench. Garza fell out of the rotation for two distinct stretches – in December and in February. Still, his attitude never wavered.
“Luka Garza is such a great example of a player who’s got that – no matter what role he’s playing,” Gotham said. “If he plays two minutes, or if he plays 20 minutes, if he’s not playing for a couple of games, he’s the same person coming to work every day, giving you everything he has. He has just a great attitude, just a great positive vibe to him. And that really does contribute to the team. And when players get a chance, who’ve put in the work, and then they start to thrive – I just think the team feeds off it.”
That culture is why Hugo Gonzalez goes berserk when Baylor Scheierman draws a charge, or why Ron Harper Jr. jumps up and down on the sidelines when it’s Gonzalez’s turn and he gets a defensive stop.
“You’ve seen this team this year – how happy they are for each other on the bench, how happy everyone’s been to see Jordan have success, Hugo have success, Baylor have success, Neemi have success, Ron Harper have success,” Gotham said. “It feeds itself.”
Stevens didn’t win the award exclusively because he knows how to cultivate culture — he, alongside a team of assistants that includes Mike Zarren, Dave Lewin, and Buddy Scott, also managed to get the team under the luxury tax line ahead of the trade deadline.
Payton Pritchard, the NBA’s third-most efficient isolation scorer in the NBA and the Celtics’ third-leading scorer, is making less than $8 million this season.
Neemias Queta, a 2021 second-round pick who was waived by the Sacramento Kings three years ago, established himself as the team’s front-court anchor while playing on a minimum contract.
Jordan Walsh has been locking up Tyrese Maxey on a second-round rookie deal. Sam Hauser, who went undrafted, was a perennial starter this season. Hugo Gonzalez quickly established himself as one of the most impactful rookies despite being picked No. 28 overall. And Baylor Scheierman turned into a legit rotation player in just his second year in the league.
Walsh, Gonzalez, Scheierman, Queta, and Garza are each making less than $3 million.
The result?
While shedding hundreds of millions of dollars in payroll, the Celtics survived Jayson Tatum’s 62-game sidelining en route to a 56-win season, good for second-best in the East.
And, after many expected them to head toward the lottery, the Celtics are back in familiar territory: eyeing an NBA title.
Record: 14-13 (5th in NL Central) Run Differential: +19 Pythagorean Record: 15-12 (-1)
The Brewers entered the season having put together a good run atop the NL Central, finishing first four of the last five seasons and finishing second in 2022. Coming into this season, the division went through quite the overhaul, however, the Brewers were still expected to compete for the division crown. As of the writing of this preview, things have not gone according to plan, with the Brewers currently residing dead last in the division, 3.5 games out of first, despite having a winning record.
Game 1 (April 28, 4:40 p.m. MST)
Merrill Kelly RHP (1-1, 9.31 ERA) vs. Chad Patrick RHP (1-1, 2.35 ERA)
Kelly is coming off an outing he likely wishes he could forget. This will be his third start since coming off the IL to open the season. So far, Kelly’s trademark command has yet to show itself. The last outing is hard to judge Kelly by, as suspect defense and a terrible mis-call in the field by the umpiring crew negatively impacted pretty much everything Kelly was trying to accomplish. This is a big outing for Kelly, as the team needs Kelly the Mainstay to help stabilize the rotation, which has started to show some cracks. This would be the perfect time for Kelly to throw his first quality start of the season.
Patrick took the loss last Wednesday against the Tigers, allowing four runs on six hits and one walk in four innings. He struck out two. Following opener DL Hall, Patrick struggled to contain the Detroit bats. Half of his hits allowed went for extra bases, and the right-hander gave up more than one run in an outing for the first time all season. While Patrick still holds a strong 2.35 ERA and 1.26 WHIP on the campaign so far, his 11:8 K:BB through 23 innings is an alarming ratio for someone known to have above average control.
Rodriguez has finally had the sort of success the Diamondbacks were hoping for when they signed him a few years ago. It helps that he has been able to be mostly injury free for a spell now. Rodriguez had one of his rougher outings last time out, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks while striking out four over five innings to earn the win over the White Sox on Wednesday. Rodriguez threw 61 of 96 pitches for strikes, but it wasn’t a particularly convincing performance. He gave up a pair of solo home runs in this outing, putting him at four homers allowed over five starts this season. Rodriguez is at a 2.89 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 18:12 K:BB through 28 innings, but he’s given up eight runs over his last two starts, so his early luck may be fading fast.
Sproat did not factor into the decision last Thursday against the Tigers, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out four. Sproat gave up a two-run homer to Riley Greene with two outs in the first inning, but he settled down from there and kept Detroit off the board until the sixth inning, when they tacked on another run. The 25-year-old Sproat had given up two runs over 10.1 innings in his previous two outings and came close to delivering a second straight quality start Thursday.
Game 3 (April 30, 10:40 a.m. MST)
Michael Soroka RHP (4-0, 2.60 ERA) vs. Brandon Woodruff RHP (2-1, 3.77 ERA)
Michael Soroka has been a breath of fresh air for the Diamondbacks. For a team currently undergoing a minor injury crisis with the pitching staff, the oft-injured Soroka has bucked the trend. Not only has Soroka stayed healthy, but he has seemingly turned back the clock to the days when he first debuted., pitching not only as Arizona’s best starter of the season thus far, but one of the better starters in the entire National League. Soroka took a no-decision Thursday against the White Sox, allowing one run on seven hits and one walk in five innings. He struck out six. With a favorable home matchup versus the lowly White Sox, Soroka built on his excellent start to the season, continuing to bully hitters with his heavy mid-90s fastball. Soroka has now worked at least five innings while giving up two runs or fewer in all but one of his first five outings.
Woodruff took the loss last Friday against the surprising Pirates, giving up three runs on five hits and two walks over five innings while striking out three. The veteran right-hander started strong with two scoreless frames but allowed single tallies in each of the third, fourth and fifth innings. Woodruff delivered quality starts in his previous two outings but didn’t come back out for the sixth inning Friday to end that streak. He’s gone at least five frames in each of his five starts this year.
Players to Watch
Ildemaro Vargas: Vargas’ hit-streak to open the season remains in-tact at 20 games this season and 23 overall dating back to last year. Vargas is coming off of a NL Player of the Week performance in which he hit .364 with 4 home runs and 12 runs batted in. He has already tied his career season-high for home runs with six on the season. Vargas would currently lead the league in hitting if he were qualified. He should be qualified after his next game and, if he keeps the hit streak alive, will likely lead all of the NL in hitting.
Nolan Arenado: After getting off to a slow start to the season at the plate, the veteran third baseman has quietly turned things around and is now among the league leaders in batting average at .286, good for 20th in the league. In his career against the Brewers, Arenado sports a .928 OPS with 24 homers and 77 RBI.
Notable Injuries
Arizona Geraldo Perdomo: Perdomo suffered an ankle sprain in the first game in Mexico City. He was given a precautionary day off on Sunday. He is expected to be available for the first game against the Brewers, but that has not yet been confirmed. It would not be surprising to see him ride the bench for another game as a potential pinch-hitter to give the ankle more time to shore itself up again.
Gabriel Moreno: Moreno was initially expected to be back in time for this series against the Brewers. A delay in his rehab has now pushed that expectation back to this weekend’s series against the Cubs.
Carlos Santana: Santana continues to nurse a groin injury that has had him on the IL since 6 April. He is not expected back for this series.
Adrian Del Castillo: Del Castillo dislocated the tip of his left ring finger while trying to frame a pitch that was fouled off his hand in Sunday’s game against the San Diego Padres and is considered day-to-day. Del Castillo exited the game immediately after the injury, but the medical staff was able to pop his finger back into place. He is not expected to require a stint on the injured list and is considered day-to-day.
Pete Alonso
Oneil Cruz
Brett Baty
