Mets left-hander A.J. Minter began his rehab assignment with a clean inning at Single-A Port St. Lucie on Thursday afternoon.
The reliever had a quick outing, needing only nine pitches to get the three batters he faced, including a strikeout looking, aided by a timely ABS challenge.
Speaking in Queens ahead of Thursday’s game, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza indicated it could still be a bit of time before the 32-year-old reliever is ready to pitch again in the big leagues as he looks to return from a torn left lat.
“We started the clock,” Mendoza said. “It will be one of those where, if we have to use every single day, we will. But the fact that he’s in real competition is a good sign.”
Minter averaged 93 mph on his four fastballs, which was down 1.5 mph from his average last season. He got one whiff on three swings, which came on his hardest heater of the afternoon at 93.5 mph.
The cutter was good, getting three called strikes on four pitches, including the put-away on the strikeout. His average velocity of 89.8 was right in line with his average from a year ago.
The Mets have 30 days for Minter to complete his rehab, which puts him on track for a late-April or early-May return.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 02: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up before tipoff against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Paycom Center on April 2, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last week, I described the state of the Lakers as happiness. Now, all that remains is despair.
That’s what happens when two star players go down in the same game and are out for the rest of the regular season and beyond.
Earlier this year, during a bump in the road that is the NBA season, Lakers head coach JJ Redick referenced Jay-Z’s song “A Week Ago,” describing how things can go from good to bad in a flash.
Well, this is a much worse situation, and when I think about the fact that all of us are stuck watching a team that can’t win games, the ending of the book “The Great Gatsby” comes to mind.
“Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And one fine mornin—
So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”
5 things I liked and didn’t like
1. Injuries stink
To win an NBA title, you need a combination of skill and luck. The Lakers had the talent to compete in the West, but the injuries have gotten the better of them.
Watching Dončić and Reaves go down while the Lakers were getting blown out by the Thunder killed all hope one could have of a successful season. It’s one thing to lose against the best teams in the NBA. But to not get a chance to compete with anywhere close to your full roster is quite another.
Basketball, like life, can be painful, cruel and unfair. The breaks didn’t go the Lakers’ way, and that’s just the way the 2025-26 season went down.
2. The Thunder are levels better than the Lakers
Okay, but also, did you see the Lakers-Thunder matchup?
OKC was miles ahead of the Lakers. Austin Reaves couldn’t get a pass through the Thunder defenders, and when he did, Deandre Ayton couldn’t catch the ball. Their defense shut down the Lakers’ offense immediately, and the game was over within minutes.
The Lakers couldn’t even get a shot off, and when they did, it was a brick. It’s just one game, but there was a statement to be made and OKC made it.
For me, I take solace in knowing that even if they were healthy, the best-case scenario for LA was making it far enough to get obliterated by OKC.
3. Will Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves be smart enough not to rush back?
Reaves and Dončić are done for the regular season, but the playoffs are up in the air. Being the competitors they are, it’s no surprise they are doing everything to return and not let all their work go to waste this year.
In fact, Luka has gone to Spain for specialized treatment for his hamstring strain in hopes of expediting the process. While his desire to play and do everything possible to return is admirable, he has to be careful that he doesn’t push beyond what is okay.
As a Chicago Bulls fan once told me, it can always get worse.
This feels like the bottom, but if Luka rushes back, injures his hamstring again, makes it a longer-term injury, and the Lakers still get blown out of the playoffs, that would be a far worse scenario than where they are now.
If his treatment helps him return sooner and he’s healthy, great. But if coming back risks further injury, cooler heads have to prevail over competitive fire.
4. JJ Redick needs to calm down
Speaking of cooler heads prevailing, can Redick tone it down a bit during games? We’ve seen him get into arguments with his stars, like Luka, and during the team’s other loss to the Thunder this week, there he was, arguing with Jarred Vanderbilt.
Vando usually has a very calm demeanor, but he was anything but that during a verbal back-and-forth with Redick.
Redick can be a demanding coach, and there is nothing wrong with that. Still, there has to be a moment where things get reigned in a bit.
In that game, the Lakers had four starters missing, and they needed Vando to have even a glimmer of hope of winning. Instead, he didn’t play the rest of the night after this.
I’m not saying they would’ve won if he’d played, but I am saying they were a worse team with him sitting out on Tuesday.
On the other hand, Redick wasn’t just critical of Vando. He also called an early timeout because Rui Hachimura wasn’t doing his job and mentioned postgame that Ayton can’t catch the ball right now.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick postgame on:
– Jarred Vanderbilt ("We gotta be great teammates")
– Rui Hachimura ("Called early timeout because Rui didn't do his job")
These are intense times and Redick wants the same success for the Lakers that everyone wants. That’s fine and he’s in charge so it goes his way. But I think finding a way to send the right message without a public spat would benefit all involved.
5. The Marathon Continues
The late, great rapper Nipsey Hussle had a mixtape titled “The Marathon Continues.” The premise was that, despite the ups and downs, life goes on, and we have to keep grinding for the better. That’s what the Lakers have to do at this point in the season.
It feels hopeless right now, but that’s not the case. The players left have to believe they can win enough to extend the season so that Dončić and Reaves can return for the most important games.
Lakers coach JJ Redick on Luka Doncic/Austin Reaves and the rest of the road ahead:
“Both those guys are going to try to come back, and it's our job to extend the season so that they can come back.” pic.twitter.com/fGSO7NNbe0
There are just a few games left, but they have to spend what’s remaining of the regular season preparing for the playoffs and finding a way to win. That’s a tall task, but it’s the job in front of them. Here’s hoping they find a way to shock us all.
Stat of the Week
One bright spot this week was that having players out meant others got a chance.
Against the Thunder, Adou Theiro logged a career-high 21 minutes. Hopefully, he can play a bit in the remaining games and show off his explosive athleticism.
The present feels dark, but the future can be bright with players like Thiero. If he shows more flashes that he is a player who can grow in LA, just like Austin Reaves and Max Christie, then that’s something good that can happen this month.
Play of the Week
Thiero gave the Lakers one of the few highlights of the week with one of his power dunks. It started with Drew Timme getting the ball on the inbound from Bronny James. He got doubled, which left Thiero wide open on the opposite side. Thiero cut to the basket, and Timme found him open near the rim.
Cason Wallace recovered well, but Thiero was too quick and athletic. He double-pumped the ball, which got Wallace out of the play and slammed it home.
With players getting hurt and nothing but losses, finding a Player of the Week was tough.
In the end, I went with LeBron James. He averaged 21.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists, leading the team in all three categories. He was brilliant against the Mavericks and while it didn’t lead to a win, he needs to play at that level if the Lakers are going to salvage anything from this season.
Raj Chipalu broke down the Lakers’ crushing defeat with some in-depth film breakdown and an honest assessment of the gap between LA and OKC.
Increased defensive pressure is intended to rush and rattle the opponent. The Lakers have been completely out of their element in all three matchups and have trailed by over 30 points at halftime in both games in Oklahoma City. The Thunder cruised to a 45-point victory while LA failed to reach 100 points for the first time since February.
While the Lakers were likely never touching OKC’s ceiling this year, the run in March raised questions about just how high the mountain is. The Thunder quickly ended any hopes of a climb as they now sit comfortably at the top, firmly holding the Lakers’ kryptonite.
It’s clear that tanking has become a big problem in the NBA and John Hollinger wrote about why it’s even worse than you think.
Overall, the eight tanking teams are 17-144 against the 20 legit squads since the trade deadline, a 0.106 winning percentage. To put this achievement into perspective, considering that the Chicago Bulls alone won 18 games against the postseason-20 before the trade deadline.
Wait, it gets worse: The tankers haven’t exactly been taking their opponents to the wire, either. Our Notorious Nine have lost by an average margin of 13.9 points since the All-Star break. The Utah Jazz alone lost games by 35 and 34 this weekend.
Let me underline this for emphasis: The average team in this group, when faced with any type of real basketball game, is playing as bad as the worst team in history (the 7-59 Charlotte Bobcats during the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season), posting a despicable .106 winning percentage that equates to an 8.7-win season over 82 games, with nearly the worst scoring margin in NBA history.
And this isn’t one team doing this. It’s nine of them.
HOUSTON (AP) — Joel Embiid was diagnosed with appendicitis and will undergo surgery on Thursday in Houston, the Philadelphia 76ers announced.
The 76ers are scheduled to play at the Rockets on Thursday night.
The team said further updates will be provided as appropriate.
The 76ers are currently eighth in the Eastern Conference and on track for a spot in the play-in tournament, though they are only one game behind sixth-place Toronto.
Embiid has been limited to 38 games this season, sidelined primarily by injury management in his knees.
He was held out against the Detroit Pistons on Saturday with “right oblique; injury management; (and) illness.” He has not played in both games of a back-to-back all season.
After missing Saturday's game, Embiid had 34 points and 12 rebounds in Philadelphia's 115-102 loss at San Antonio on Monday night.
Embiid, 32, is averaging 26.9 points and 7.7 rebounds this season after playing in only 19 games in the 2024-25 season. He hasn't appeared in as many as 40 games in a regular season since 2022-23 when he was named MVP after averaging a career-high 33.1 points.
Embiid expressed his frustrations with Daryl Morey, the 76ers president of basketball operations, on Friday night for not allowing him to play in Washington last week.
“I was pissed off. I wanted to play basketball,” Embiid said. “I wasn’t allowed to play basketball, so I think this is more of a question of Daryl Morey or whoever makes the decisions.”
Athletics pitcher Jeffrey Springs dominated the Yankees today for the victory. | John Jones-Imagn Images
Fresh off a come from behind, ninth inning victory over the New York Yankees last night, the two teams were back at it this morning for the rubber match of the 3-game series at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Jeffrey Springs got the start for the Athletics today against Ryan Weathers for the Yankees.
Both pitchers were rock solid through five innings. Weathers allowed four hits and no walks, and Springs held them hitless through five with just one walk. The only negative so far was Brent Rooker leaving the game during his first at-bat. After a swing and a miss, he immediately asked to be lifted from the game in pain. Lawrence Butler replaced him. The initial report was right side soreness. Look here for more info once we hear anything.
Springs continued holding the Yankees hitless through six innings, but despite a mattering of hits, the A’s have yet to score. Max Muncy tripled off the wall in deep right-centerfield to open the seventh inning.
With one out in the seventh, Springs walked Giancarlo Stanton and then Ben Rice singled for the first hit of the game for the Yankees. The Yankees successfully executed a double steal with pinch runner Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Rice. But Austin Wells flied out to left to end the inning and the threat. Headed to the top of the eighth inning, the A’s led the Yankees 1-0.
Springs exited the game in the bottom of the eighth, replaced by Justin Sterner. After two quick outs, he walked Amed Rosario. That brought up Aaron Judge. After working Sterner to a full count, Judge grounded out to second to end the inning.
Former A’s hurler Paul Blackburn came in to pitch the ninth for the A’s. With one out, Max Muncy doubled. Soderstrom grounded out, but that allowed Muncy to advance to third, but now with two outs. Wynns struck out to end the top half of the inning and brought a bottom of the ninth showdown.
Hogan Harris entered to pitch the ninth. He got Bellinger and Chisholm Jr. on pop outs. That brought up Ben Rice. He may have spoiled Springs’ no-no, but he was not going to spoil the win for the A’s and the save for Harris. The A’s took the series from the Yankees and now head to Flushing Meadows for a three-game set against the neighboring Mets.
Out of nowhere, as if their bats were suddenly dealing with a termite infestation, the Yankees offense disappeared. Following a single from Amed Rosario in Wednesday’s fourth inning and into Thursday’s seventh inning, Yankees batters went 0-for-36 and made Jeffrey Springs — less ace and more crafty lefty — look like Gerrit Cole.
Ben Rice ensured the 40,392 chilly fans in The Bronx would not witness history, but that proved to be the most positive moment of the matinee in what became a 1-0 loss to the A’s, who handed the Yankees their first series defeat of the season.
“We got shut down today,” said manager Aaron Boone, an eternal optimist who found no offensive silver lining. “The previous games where we’ve struggled scoring, I feel like we’re getting the traffic, we’re having quality at-bats.
“Today was the day we got beat.”
Aaron Judge reacts after striking out in the third inning of the Yankees’ loss to the A’s on April 9, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Yankees (8-4) had looked like a buzzsaw until pitching from West Sacramento created a malfunction. Against Luis Severino and the A’s bullpen Wednesday, the Yankees totaled one hit after the first inning — the Rosario knock, which was erased by a double play — and flirted with true disaster a day later, finishing with a single hit.
Springs took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and never threw a pitch that registered even 93 mph. The veteran lefty was efficient, in control and pitching to weak contact on an afternoon when hopeless Yankees at-bats lent some belief that the 33-year-old could etch his name into history books.
But with one out in the bottom of the seventh, a walk cracked open the door. Giancarlo Stanton worked a strong at-bat and earned the Yankees’ second base on balls of the game, and first baseman Nick Kurtz — likely aware of Stanton’s sneak-attack steal a few days prior — held him on first base.
A’s starter Jeffrey Springs pitches against the Yankees on April 9, 2026. Jason Szenes / New York Post
Rice took advantage of the hole and grounded a single through the right side, prompting cheers from the fans and exhales from the Yankees.
There was “a little bit” of a sigh of relief, Rice acknowledged, but even the breakthrough was mitigated.
“Kind of a seeing-eye ground ball,” Rice added. “But it feels good to see one get through.”
The hit did not lead to a run. With two on and one out, Randal Grichuk struck out and Austin Wells flied out to strand two. That would conclude the drama, the Yankees unable to find a second hit.
Wells went hitless in three at-bats and is batting .167 through 10 games. José Caballero, who is ensuring that Anthony Volpe’s job is safe, owns a .135 average. Ryan McMahon, who heard boos Wednesday and found himself back in the lineup even against a lefty a day later, is down to .069 in 12 games with a revamped batting stance that apparently takes some time to master. Add in the struggles of Jazz Chisholm Jr. (.186), who came off the bench and stole a base but flied out in his lone at-bat, and the bottom of the Yankees order is a wasteland.
Yankees starter Ryan Weathers pitches against the A’s on April 9, 2026. Jason Szenes / New York Post
“We’ll get this going,” said Boone, whose Yankees — for all their recent hitting struggles — have lost by a single run in each of their defeats. “We got a few guys struggling to get on track a little bit.”
Thursday was not a case of smashed line drives from the Yankees dying in gloves.
Against Springs — who struck out six in seven innings and maxed out at 92.6 mph — the Yankees struck one pitch that left a bat over 100 mph — a second-inning flyout from Rice. Otherwise, a lineup intended to mash a lefty — featuring Rosario as the leadoff hitter and Grichuk, righties who were brought in for these exact scenarios — looked like one that is not looking forward to seeing southpaw Steven Matz in Tampa on Friday.
“We didn’t generate much. We didn’t hit a lot of balls on the screws,” said Boone, whose club wasted excellence from Ryan Weathers (eight strong innings of one-run ball).
The Yankees cannot wait to get hot. At least they can do so literally beginning at Tropicana Field on Friday.
“Definitely looking forward to that [weather],” Rice said.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with appendicitis and will undergo surgery in Houston, the team announced.
The 76ers are in town to play the Rockets as they cling to the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference with three games remaining in the regular season. Embiid had already been ruled out for Thursday's game because of an illness.
Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix that causes pain in the lower right part of the belly, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Philadelphia (43-36) visits the Indiana Pacers on Friday before ending the season at home against the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. The 76ers are one game back of the Toronto Raptors for the No. 6 seed to avoid participating in the play-in tournament.
Embiid is averaging 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 38 games this season. He left Monday's game against the San Antonio Spurs with an ankle injury.
The seven-time All-Star had come out publicly against the organization over his playing status, as they ruled him out of a game earlier this month after he had missed a morning practice. Embiid said he found out through social media that he would not be playing.
"I was pissed off. I wanted to play basketball," said Embiid, who has missed time this season because of right knee, shin and oblique injuries. "I wasn't allowed to play basketball, so I think this is more of a question of Daryl Morey or whoever makes the decisions."
Just when it feels like the home run market can’t get any tighter, MLB rolls out a six-game Thursday slate filled with tricky spots for targeting long balls and MLB player props.
That said, Kansas City stands out as the premier hitting environment on the board. With a high total, favorable wind conditions, and plus-money value on both sides, the matchup at Kauffman Stadium offers some of the best opportunities of the day. There are several +400 or longer home run prices worth targeting in this game, while the rest of the slate presents far fewer appealing options.
As a result, I’m locking in three bats from the Chicago White Sox vs. Kansas City Royals matchup for my favorite home run props and MLB picks on Thursday, April 9.
UPDATE: Added another HR pick + parlay.
Best MLB home run props today
Player to hit a HR
Odds
Munetaka Murakami
+410
Bobby Witt Jr.
+470
Miguel Vargas
+590
💲Today's HR parlay
+14148
Munetaka Murakami (+410)
Kauffman Stadium has the best home run conditions on the board today, as Thursday features one of the thinnest slates of the year, with just a handful of games and cold weather across the East Coast.
Munetaka Murakami projects as the most likely player to go deep, with a 0.28 HR projection per Covers, powered by THE BAT. With a fair price around +320, the Chicago White Sox slugger offers solid expected value in a limited market.
Seth Lugo is prone to giving up power, allowing 27 home runs over 145 innings last year, ranking among the higher HR/9 rates. With double-digit winds blowing out to left field, the total has climbed as high as 9.5.
Murakami hasn’t piled up hits yet, but half of his knocks have gone over the fence. The matchup, environment, and price all line up well in this spot.
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Chicago Sports Network App, ROYL
Bobby Witt Jr. (+470)
Although Bobby Witt Jr. has yet to go deep, he leads the Kansas City Royals with a .409 xwOBA, which ranks inside the Top 25 in baseball. He’s been unlucky, but positive regression should be coming soon.
The hitting conditions at home are among the best on the slate, and he gets a favorable matchup against Anthony Kay, who has allowed a home run in each of his two starts and profiles as a contact-heavy arm.
Kay is also giving up plenty of hard contact — 92.4 mph average exit velocity — and the Chicago bullpen is also without three key arms.
As the weather improves, Witt’s HR price will likely drop below today’s number more consistently. This is a good spot to buy in on one of the top players in baseball in a strong matchup and favorable environment.
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Chicago Sports Network App, ROYL
Miguel Vargas (+590)
Let’s keep attacking one of the best home run environments on the board and go back to the Chicago side with the No. 3 hitter, Miguel Vargas, who projects better than his current price. THE BAT has Vargas closer to +500, creating a solid edge.
Vargas draws a favorable matchup against Lugo, a pitcher who can be vulnerable to the long ball. The profile fits — we’re not looking for singles here, just power — and the conditions only help with double-digit winds blowing out.
On a thin slate, there’s value in double-dipping against a homer-prone arm in a strong weather spot.
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Chicago Sports Network App, ROYL
Jinglis' 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 2-19, -8.6 units
Today’s HR parlay
Munetaka Murakami
Bet Now +14148
Bobby Witt Jr.
Miguel Vargas
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.
Our NBA player prop projections are set for tonight’s Western Conference clash between Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors, with the model pinpointing several standout opportunities.
By analyzing the data and comparing it to current market lines, we’ve uncovered the bets with the highest value.
For those building their cards, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Thursday, April 9.
Lakers vs Warriors computer picks for April 9
Lakers
Warriors
James u25.5 points +100
Melton o14.5 points -135
Ayton u8.5 rebounds -125
Green o4.5 rebounds -220
Hachimura o1.5 3-pointers -150
Melton o1.5 3-pointers -170
Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout!
Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your team goes up by 20+ points!
Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review!
Sign Up Now atimg src="https://img.covers.com/betting/sportsbooks/2/bet365.svg" alt="bet365" width="100" height="28" style="vertical-align: middle;"
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Lakers computer picks
LeBron James Under 25.5 points (+100)
Projection: 25.3 points
The Los Angeles Lakers have operated at the league’s eighth-slowest pace on the road this season, and with the Golden State Warriors ranking seventh-slowest over their last 20 games, this matchup sets up for a reduced number of possessions.
That slower tempo limits overall opportunities for the Lakers and, in turn, caps how often LeBron James can assert himself offensively in the way they’ll likely need.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet James Now at bet365!/span
Deandre Ayton Under 8.5 rebounds (-125)
Projection: 8.4 rebounds
The Lakers rank as the NBA’s second-worst offensive rebounding team this season, a trend that aligns with Deandre Ayton consistently falling short of this rebounding line.
He’s gone Under in seven of his last 10 games at an 8.5-rebound mark, making another miss on this prop a realistic outcome.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanbet ayton Now at bet365!/span
Rui Hachimura Over 1.5 made threes (-150)
Projection: 2.3 made threes
The matchup against the Warriors sets up well for three-point production, as opposing starting small forwards have posted a league-high 47.0% 3-point rate against them this season — creating a favorable path for Rui Hachimura to cash the Over from deep tonight.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet HaCHIMURA Now at bet365!/span
Warriors computer picks
De'Anthony Melton Over 14.5 points (-135)
Projection: 15.4 points
Over their last five home games, the Lakers have allowed opposing starting point guards to average 6.2 free-throw attempts per game — the fourth-highest mark in the league — making it easier to generate points at the line.
That trend bodes well for De'Anthony Melton to boost his scoring output by attacking and drawing fouls.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet melton Now at bet365!/span
Draymond Green Over 4.5 rebounds (-220)
Projection: 6.6 rebounds
The Warriors rank 10th in offensive rebounding over their last 25 games, setting up a favorable spot for Draymond Green to exceed a modest line.
He’s already gone Over in five of his last 10 games at a 5.5-rebound number, making this another strong opportunity to do so.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet green Now at bet365!/span
De'Anthony Melton Over 1.5 made threes (-170)
Projection: 2.3 3-pointers
Melton has only cleared this 1.5 made threes line in four of his last 10 games, but the surface-level hit rate doesn’t fully capture the upside in this matchup.
The matchup against the Lakers adds a layer of optimism. The Lakers have consistently allowed clean looks from beyond the arc, particularly to opposing guards, due to their tendency to collapse into the paint and prioritize interior defense.
That style naturally creates kick-out opportunities, exactly the type of looks Melton thrives on as a catch-and-shoot option.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet melton Now at bet365!/span
How to watch Lakers vs Warriors tonight
Location
Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Date
Thursday, April 9, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
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.
Send in your questions now for this week’s episode of The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast to discuss everything Pistons. Submit your question to the comments section here or on X/Twitter to @TheRealWesD3 and/or @blakesilverman.
Join us live on Saturday afternoon for the show where we’ll recap the Pistons’ recent stretch of games. How do you hope the play-in tournament shakes out? Will the NBA bypass the 65-game requirement for Cade Cunningham’s circumstance? What team are you most afraid to potentially see in the postseason?
Plus, The Pindown has a phone line where you can leave a message and hear your voice on the show. Call (313) 355-2717 and leave us a voicemail with your question. Please try to keep the message around 45 seconds or less so we can fit everyone into the show.
The podcast will be uploaded to all audio platforms the following morning.
PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 08: Nick Castellanos #21 of the San Diego Padres hits a two RBI double in the seventh inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on April 8, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres are returning to Petco Park today after a wonderful stretch for the Friars on the road.
After starting off the season 2-4, they won both away series and are coming back to San Diego sitting at .500. The vibes are high after their 8-2 shellacking of the Pittsburgh Pirates yesterday.
With a pitcher’s duel going through six-plus innings between starters Michael King and Mitch Keller, the Friars put up a four-run seventh inning. It was a lead they wouldn’t surrender, despite King and Kyle Hart allowing two runs in the bottom of the seventh to the Bucs.
The game reminded the Friar Faithful who the Padres are. Their pitching mostly dominated, the offense hammered mistakes and they were aggressive on the base paths.
With a four-game series against the division-rival Colorado Rockies starting today, San Diego will look to capitalize on their momentum.
Taking the mound
Jimmy Herget (COL) v. Randy Vásquez (SD)
With José Quintana scratched after landing on the injured list with a right hamstring strain, the Rockies didn’t announce their starting pitcher until today.
They’ll likely make it a bullpen game after ace Michael Lorenzen pitched 5 2/3 innings against the Houston Astros in Colorado’s 9-1 win yesterday. Jimmy Herget will lead off the group.
The Rockies’ bullpen has been quite good through the first two weeks of the season, posting a 2.91 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. It would be a surprise if San Diego can’t find a solution for their division rivals, with them going 10-3 against Colorado last season.
However, in the past the Friars have (for whatever reason) had difficulty beating the struggling Rox. They did a good job last year putting those woes to bed, hopefully they can tonight as well.
Vásquez has shown flashes of bonafide ace stuff in his first two starts for the club. In 12 innings pitched, he has a 0.75 ERA with only one run allowed thus far.
Vásquez was a back-end starter for the Padres going into this year, but he’s pitching like a front-end one. He’s managed to stymie a Detroit Tigers lineup that, two days earlier, tagged Nick Pivetta for six runs.
There’s nothing to suggest he can’t handle this Rockies lineup just like he did the Tigers and the Boston Red Sox already this year. But, if Vásquez does stumble, the bullpen is rested well enough to dominate.
Batter up!
With Manny Machado getting a rest day yesterday, he’ll be back at the hot corner tonight. But Miguel Andujar had a great day in his place, going 2-for-4 at the plate. This road trip has been great for Andujar, after ending the homestand with a .167 batting average, he’s since raised it to .310 in the last six games.
But Nick Castellanos was also great yesterday (1 H, 2 RBI, 1 BB). This is exactly what San Diego had in mind when they signed Castellanos and Andujar: make it difficult to not have them in the lineup:
Ramón Laureano, LF
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Jackson Merrill, CF
Manny Machado, 3B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Miguel Andujar, DH
Nick Castellanos, 1B
Freddy Fermin, C
Jake Cronenworth, 2B
If the offense can keep it rolling after pounding out 24 hits against Pittsburgh, they’ll be able to solve the Rockies’ pitching staff easily.
Relief corps
King went six full innings yesterday and came back out for the seventh before giving up back-to-back hits. That forced manager Craig Stammen’s hand and he was lifted in favor of Kyle Hart. Hart looked a little shaky but managed to get out relatively unscathed (1 H, 1 BB).
Behind him was Jeremiah Estrada in the eighth inning and closer Mason Miller in the ninth. Estrada looked more like his usual dominant self despite his recent lackluster performances.
Miller’s strikeout streak came to an end at 11 with Jake Mangum’s game-ending groundout, but he has still yet to allow a run in 26 2/3 innings.
Today’s game will likely see Bradgley Rodriguez, Wandy Peralta, Ron Marinaccio, Adrian Morejon and David Morgan available out of the ‘pen.
Morejon has struggled lately, and that was highlighted by his inability to get more than one out in Tuesday’s 1-7 loss to the Pirates. If he can begin to rebound from his (thus far) dull performance, it will go a long way towards assuaging worries about his relief appearances.
Miller will likely be available as well to close even though he pitched yesterday. He was efficient, only throwing 10 pitches, and the Friars have shown a willingness to use him in consecutive games.
The Yankees fell to the Athletics by a score of 1-0 on Thursday afternoon, dropping the rubber match of the three-game series.
Here are the takeaways...
-- With lefty Jeffrey Springs on the mound, Aaron Boone changed things up with the lineup. Amed Rosario led off, playing second base, and Randal Grichuk got the start in left. Of note, Paul Goldschmidt did not get the start at first base against the lefty, with Ben Rice getting the nod. Boone said before the game that with the Yanks facing lefties in three of their next four games, Goldschmidt will see plenty of playing time.
But the Yankees had no answers for Springs. The former Ray held them hitless through the first five innings, allowing just one walk and striking out four during that span.
Finally, after 6.1 innings of no-hit ball, Ben Rice came through with a single through the right side, which followed a Giancarlo Stanton walk to put a couple of runners on base. The A's got out of it, though, as Austin Wells flew out with a pair of runners in scoring position to end the threat.
Springs went 7.0 shutout innings, allowing just one hit while striking out six and walking a pair. He lowered his season ERA to 1.47.
--The A’s lineup suffered a blow early, as right fielder Brent Rooker appeared to tweak something in either his back or side when swinging at a pitch in the first inning. Rooker, the three-hole hitter, had to be removed from the game and replaced by Lawrence Butler.
--Ryan Weathers, who has gotten off to an inconsistent start to his Yankees career, looked sharp early. The lefty started the game with three scoreless innings, striking out three while allowing just two hits.
Weathers and Springs traded zeros through the first six innings, but Weathers allowed a leadoff triple to Max Muncy to start the seventh. Tyler Soderstrom cashed in with an RBI single, putting the first run on the board for either team.
Weathers turned in what was easily his best start as a Yankee, going 8.0 innings while allowing just one earned run on seven hits with seven strikeouts and no walks.
-- The Yankees finished with just one hit, and have just two hits total since the first inning of Wednesday's game.
Mar 24, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri (91) warms up against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Charles LeClaire/Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
DENVER — Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri will miss “some games” because of a finger injury, Colorado coach Jared Bednar said.
Bednar added the Avalanche hope to work him back into the lineup before the playoffs. The Avalanche have five games remaining.
Colorado already has clinched the Central Division and the top seed in the Western Conference. A win over Calgary wraps up the Presidents’ Trophy, which goes to the squad with the best NHL record.
Kadri was hurt in a 3-1 win over the Blues in St. Louis. He has four goals and five assists in 16 games since being acquired by Colorado as part of a trade deadline deal with the Flames on March 6.
The 35-year-old Kadri helped Colorado to a Stanley Cup title in 2022.
In addition to Kadri, the Avalanche are without defenseman Cale Makar because of an upper-body injury. Makar skated with the team in a red, non-contact sweater. Makar is set to miss his fifth straight game.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 7: The sneakers worn by Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on April 7, 2026 at TD Garden 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Vancouver Canucks will take on the Los Angeles Kings for the second-last time this season tonight. Vancouver last faced Los Angeles on March 26, during which the Canucks lost by a score of 4-0. The Canucks will play the Kings one more time this season after tonight on April 14 at home. Here are the lineup notes for April 9, 2026.
Vancouver is not expected to change their lineups too much today, meaning that Ty Mueller will sit out of his second-straight game. The forward was called up last Wednesday and played in two games before being healthy-scratched on Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Nikita Tolopilo will start in net for the Canucks tonight, with this being the goaltender's third consecutive start since Kevin Lankinen was held out of the lineup on a day-to-day basis. In his last start, Tolopilo stopped 27 of 29 shots faced for a .931 SV%.
Projected Lineup:
O’Connor-Pettersson-DeBrusk
Öhgren-Rossi-Boeser
Sasson-Blueger-Karlsson
Höglander-Räty-Douglas
Buium-Hronek
M. Pettersson-Willander
E. Pettersson-Mancini
Tolopilo
Patera
Game Information:
Start time: 7:30 pm PT
Venue: Crypto.com Arena
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 650
Apr 7, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Nikita Tolopilo (60) in the net against the Vegas Golden Knights in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Munetaka Murakami 
Bobby Witt Jr.
Lakers
Warriors
