Feb 19, 2026; PortCharlotte, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Trevor Martin (83) poses for a photo during media day at Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Prior to their series opener against the Cincinnati Reds, the Tampa Bay Rays are calling up right-handed pitcher Trevor Martin from Triple-A Durham.
Martin, 25, was the Rays 3rd round selection in the 2022 draft. During his collegiate days, Martin was a closer for Oklahoma State but the Rays tried him as a starting pitcher for the first few years of his development. Martin easily dismantled hitters in the lower levels but Double-A was too much of a challenge and he was converted back into a reliever last season. This year, Martin has made seven appearances for Triple-A Durham and has yet to allow an earned run over 9.1 IP, registering a 26.8 K% and 14.6 BB% against 41 hitters faced.
FanGraphs ranked Martin as the Rays 42nd best prospect entering the 2025 season and they had this to say regarding the young hurler,
Martin hasn’t sustained his peak 2022 velo and was more 90-94 with his fastball in 2024, but plus vertical break and above-average extension help enable a fastball-heavy approach despite that middling velo. Aside from his curveball, which has movement that pairs with his heater, Martin doesn’t have a secondary pitch that’s performing at an average or better level.
Mason Englert heads to the Injured List with right forearm tightness. The 26-year old has thrown in 9 games for the Rays already this season, registering a 7.11 ERA | 4.77 FIP with a 16.7 K% & 6.7 BB% over 12.2 IP.
In order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the Rays transferred recent free agent signing Michael Grove, to the 60-day Injured List.
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: Brady Basso #66 of the Athletics pitches during a spring training game against the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The A’s announced a small roster move on Monday morning hours before their series with Seattle kicks off. The team is bringing up left-hander Brady Basso to the big league squad for the first time this season, while optioning out right-hander Mason Barnett back to Triple-A:
Basso provides manager Mark Kotsay with another left-handed option out of the bullpen. The 29-year-old began the season in Triple-A with the Aviators in the ‘pen but has gotten hit hard in six appearances. He’s sporting an ugly 9.45 ERA but has had some success in the past before. Let’s hope he can figure it out at the big league level or if his struggles will continue.
Barnett meanwhile returns to Vegas after spending just a couple days with the big league team. The right-handed starter made just one relief appearance for the A’s this weekend, pitching two innings without allowing a run. He’ll now return to Vegas and likely resume his starting responsibilities until the A’s need another arm again. Maybe next time he gets brought back up he’ll actually get a starting assignment or two.
Mar 19, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) looks on during the third quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images | Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images
In case you need reminding, go ahead and rewatch Sunday’s game to see how much the Sixers miss Joel Embiid when he’s out.
The team looked hopeless without the big fella, getting crushed by the Boston Celtics 123-91 in Game 1 Sunday. Sure, the Celtics are the favorites to get out of the East and Nick Nurse didn’t seem to have any answers for anything Joe Mazzulla was doing, but Embiid’s absence was undeniably felt.
Adem Bona and Andre Drummond struggled mightily on both ends of the floor. Bona couldn’t finish anything at the rim and got into early foul trouble. Drummond yet again couldn’t keep up with Neemias Queta and also got into early foul trouble. Dominick Barlow had to play some five and didn’t find any success, either.
Like it or not, the Sixers are stuck in this Embiid limbo, praying there’s any chance he can return for this series. The team is only as good as his health allows them to be — which obviously hasn’t been good for nearly his entire career. Trading him isn’t likely to help the franchise now or in the future. It’s frustrating, but there really aren’t many alternatives other than getting serious about building a roster that can at least withstand his absences.
Embiid’s three-year extension kicks in next season, when he’ll make (an estimated) $57.9 million. That number goes up to $62.6 million in 2027-28. He then has a player option for the 2028-29 season at $67.2 million. Put yourself in the shoes of another general manager — as great as Embiid is when he plays, are you giving up real assets for that cap hit and sorted injury history? Of course you aren’t.
Think about Daryl Morey’s history here as well. He won’t salary dump players, for better or worse. He did so immediately upon his arrival with Al Horford in a move that absolutely had to happen. Since then, he’s held on to players like Ben Simmons and James Harden, despite their desires to be traded. This is a guy who held on to Tobias Harris for the entirety of his contract because he couldn’t get positive value in return. To think he would happily hand over picks to get off Embiid’s contract isn’t based in reality.
Of course, there’s a non-zero chance Morey isn’t running things this offseason. So, you’re then expecting the next executive to trade a guy in Embiid who is a franchise icon and, again, attach assets to do it. It would be the defining move of the next executive’s tenure. That’s a lot of weight to put on a potential Morey successor.
And take into account what the team looks like post-Embiid salary dump. It’s doubtful the players they receive in return will offer any type of upgrade. Those guys are likely to be salary dumps in their own right. Maybe a player like a Nicolas Batum will sneak in the deal like in the Harden trade, but how much better does that make this version of the Sixers? They’ll also have less picks to build for the future, hurting any future team-building around Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.
Again, there’s no great solution here. The best and most logical step is to fortify the center position behind Embiid. The Sixers have done well on the margins in so many other areas. Their inability to find just a decent backup big or two, knowing Embiid’s injury history, is mind-boggling.
Bona is fine as a backup playing 15-20 minutes a night while he continues to develop, but the team needs more. With respect to Drummond, who is giving the Sixers everything he can right now, an upgrade is needed. You don’t need a world-beater, just a big who can do the basics — set good screens, roll to the rim and finish, rebound and protect the rim. There are centers who fit this mold you can acquire without needing premium trade assets or money. Johni Broome is here, but it still could be beneficial to bring in another young big after the 23-year-old rookie couldn’t get minutes before suffering a meniscus injury.
The Sixers couldn’t be in a stranger spot. Embiid is likely too good to salary dump, but can’t be relied upon to stay healthy through a playoff run. There’s no perfect answer, but the team can do better starting this offseason.
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 18: Cleveland Guardians pitcher Cade Smith (36) its congratulated by Cleveland Guardians catcher Bo Naylor (23) following the Major League Baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Guardians on April 18, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Houston Astros come to town tonight, looking to get back on track, while the Guardians look to continue their strong start with another series win.
The Astros are 8-15 and third in wRC+ at 122, ninth in Baserunning Runs Above Average at 1.2, 21st in Defense at -5.4, last in starting pitcher ERA at 6.34 (4.59 FIP), and 24th in bullpen ERA at 5.21 ((4.26 FIP).
The Guardians are 13-10 and 17th in wRC+ at 100, 25th in Baserunning Runs Above Average at -1.5, ninth in Defense at -0.2, fourth in starting pitcher ERA at 3.10 (3.93 FIP), and 29th in bullpen ERA at 6.18 ERA (5.39 FIP).
On paper, looks like the Guardians need to hope the past couple games of bullpen improvement can hang around, then they will have a good chance of keeping that Astros’ offense in check. Putting the ball in play a good bit should help as the Houston defense looks bad, so far. It’s tough to read TOO much into trends for another couple weeks, at least, but surface level, the Guardians have a clear path to take this series.
MATCHUPS: Game One, Monday, 6:10PM ET: Slade Cecconi, RHP 5.03 ERA (4.50 SIERA) vs. Spencer Arrighetti, RHP 1.50 ERA (3.28 SIERA). Game Two, Tuesday, 6:10PM ET: Parker Messick, LHP 1.05 ERA (3.23 SIERA) vs. Ryan Weiss, RHP 4.91 ERA (7.18 SIERA). Game Three, Wednesday, 1:10PM ET: Tanner Bibee, RHP 4.81 ERA (3.96 SIERA) vs. Peter Lambert, RHP 7.20 ERA (2.15 SIERA).
This will be a big series for the Guardians to show that they are more of an alpha team in the AL than the Astros. The Astros are reeling… (Mortal Kombat voice) FINISH THEM.
Also, Jose Ramirez’s official countdown to 300 homers/300 steals: 9 homers left, 3 steals left.
Glossary:
wRC+ – Weighted Runs Created Plus – A measure of determining a player’s run production value while controlling for park effects. 100 is league average.
Baserunning Runs Above Average – A metric including stolen base value, double-play avoidance, and taking extra bases to determine how many runs above average a team is on the basepaths
Defense – This stat gives you how many runs above average a team’s defenders save their team, adjusted for positional value (i.e. a catcher has far more defensive value for a team than a first baseman).
FIP – Fielding Independent Pitching. Essentially, ERA weighted by factors a pitcher can control (strikeouts, walks and homers) while eliminating as much as possible the effects of a good or bad defense.
SIERA – A metric to determine a pitcher’s true ERA based on strikeout rate, walk rate, and quality of batted-balls given up. This number is similar to ERA (3 and under is excellent) in determining player performance.
This past week looked like it was going to continue to frustrate the Yankees, as they opened up with a series where they pulled a split from the jaws of a sweep. The Angels outclassed them on the field, dominated the two wins that they took in the Bronx, and only thanks to the full might of the offense and Jordan Romano completely melting down in the ninth twice did they pull out a pair of walk-off wins. However, the Royals were a needed medicine and the team recovered fast, sweeping Kansas City out of town with a pair of weekend blowouts to boot.
The playing field has leveled out with the Yankees taking a brief dip into their first losing streak of the year, but they’ve clawed back a narrow half-game lead atop the division. The Rays are surprisingly the team they’re fending off after getting swept by them, as the rest of the East is still under .500, and the AL in general lacks standouts in the Central and West. Will the Rays remain a thorn in their side and stick around to challenge them for first, or are the standings so crazy right now that anything goes? Is Ben Rice breaking out into a superstar bat, or do we need to pump the breaks before leading co-MVP chants at the Stadium? Have the worries with Trent Grisham’s bat dissipated after finding the power stroke recently? If you have questions like these, or anything else on your mind, send ‘em in for a chance to be featured in our Yankees mailbag.
Answers will run on Friday afternoon. All questions received by the night of April 23rd will be considered. You can leave your submissions in the comment section below or by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.
CHICAGO – Manager Rob Thomson considered giving Alec Bohm the night off as the Phillies began a four-game series against the Chicago Cubs on Monday night. But when the lineup was posted, Bohm was in it, batting sixth.
“I thought about it,” Thomson said. “But you know what, he’s going to play the next two days (against a pair of left-handed Cubs’ pitchers) so let’s run him through and see if we can get him going a little bit.”
The Phillies came into Wrigley Field on the heels of a troubling 2-7 homestand.
No one struggled more on the homestand than Bohm, who was just 2 for 29, dropping his season average to .139.
Bohm had a strong spring — .310, three homers, 10 RBIs, .928 OPS — and smacked a three-run homer to help key an opening day win. Since then, he has just nine hits, eight singles and a double, in 69 at-bats.
The hellacious slump has coincided with the news that Bohm has filed a lawsuit against his parents, claiming they mismanaged his finances.
Bohm has declined comment on the matter, citing the personal nature of it all. But it is fair to wonder if the situation has affected his play.
Thomson was asked if he believes that could be the case.
“That I can’t tell you,” he said. “Because I haven’t talked to him about it. My door is always open and I told him any time he wants to come in and talk about it, but he hasn’t.
“His demeanor around the clubhouse and prior to the game is really good, and, actually, during the game it’s really good. I see a lot less frustration out of him when he doesn’t do well. He’s growing up. He’s maturing. We’ve just got to get that swing and that contact point straightened out because we need him. He can hit.”
NOTES
• Catcher J.T. Realmuto, who came out of Saturday night’s game with lower back soreness and did not play Sunday night, was not in the starting lineup Monday night.
“He’s available on an emergency basis tonight,” Thomson said. “I think he’s going to be able to play (Tuesday night).”
• Thomson said he would announce Zack Wheeler’s next start on Tuesday. That start is expected to come in Atlanta, where the Phillies begin a series Friday night.
The Buffalo Sabres seemed stymied by the Boston Bruins defensive game plan in Game 1 of their first-round series for two-and-a-half periods, but with time running out, the Sabres urgency increased, the Bruins retreated into a defensive shell around goalie Jeremy Swayman, and that allowed Buffalo to wrest control of the game. Tage Thompson tied the game on a pair of tallies, Mattias Samuelsson put the Sabres into the lead, and Alex Tuch scored the game-winner into an empty net, all within 6:46 in a 4-3 victory at KeyBank Center on Sunday night.
The crowd was extremely loud and boisterous even during warmups for the first playoff game in 15 years, and the rafters shook with a deafening crescendo of cheers during the Sabres late rally. Less than 24 hours later, the club did not practice and is attempting to maintain their level of excitement, while at the same time trying to stay composed.
"We met this morning, and we went through the game and areas we thought we're pretty good at and a couple areas we'd like to improve. (We) talked about putting this game away and moving on to the next one, knowing that it's a desperate situation for (Boston), Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said. "No team really wants to go down two games to none, and we'd like to put them in that situation."
The Bruins played the game they need to play to beat a more offensively talented Buffalo squad, positionally disciplined defensively, and relying on goalie Jeremy Swayman to make the big saves. That was the case through two periods, as the Sabres outshot Boston 27-13. The Bruins failed to take advantage of some early shakiness from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in his first playoff start, and failed on some of their best scoring chances, as David Pastrnak was stymied by UPL on two breakaways.
“We understand how they play. They've had a lot of success with it. We understand how we play," Ruff said. "I thought maybe the first two periods, we were just a little bit slow getting there, but we really want to focus on our game. We know what the strength of their game is, and they know what the strength of ours is. And we feel that the longer we can stay with our game, the better the chances we can win a hockey game."
HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 16: Yainer Diaz #21 of the Houston Astros tags out Tyler Freeman #2 of the Colorado Rockies at home plate to end the fifth inning at Daikin Park on April 16, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Thomas Nestico of TJStats broke down the top WAR player currently on each team by position and by division.
Today, we are going to look at the catcher position:
Yainer Diaz hasn’t just been the worst catcher on his team. He isn’t just the worst catcher in the AL West. He’s tied as the worst catcher in MLB. That’s a statement.
When Yainer first came up to Houston, his defense would be a work in progress but he showed strong pop times and a powerful arm. At the plate, he had power, hit for a high average, and made strong contact despite a tendency to be a free swinger.
It was expected that as he got older, he would learn better plate discipline and get himself better pitches to hit as a result. Instead, the opposite has happened and Yainer has regressed at the plate badly as a result.
Yainer still swings at nearly everything, often leading to ground ball outs when reaching for pitches he should be taking. He sees less good pitches to hit because the league knows he will swing at anything.
The differences between Yainer’s rookie season of 2023 when he burst on the scene looking like a real catcher of the future to today are startling:
That is an awful lot of red that has turned to blue. The top 7 categories have gone from red to blue.
He still chases at near the same rate, and while his walk rate has improved ever so slightly, it’s still way down the bottom of the league.
It may be something that would be perhaps more tolerable if his defense had continued to improve. Alas, that has regressed also:
These stats are confounding because Diaz is not old enough to have age-related regression in physical ability, and we are not aware publicly of any kind of injury that is causing Diaz to regress. That doesn’t leave a lot of room for interpretation, and the room it does leave isn’t positive.
Meanwhile, Christian Vazquez is hitting .375 (12×32) with a .444 OBP and a 1.132 OPS, with 10 RBI in just 10 games (8 starts) and has four catcher caught stealings on the season.
While it’s unlikely Vazquez continues at this torrid a pace, he should be getting more playing time while he is hot, especially since his defense is such a vast improvement from Diaz’.
To be clear, we are not seeing some dip into the fountain of youth on Vazquez, this is a hot streak.
If we compare Vazquez’ 2025 (.189/.271/.274) to his current 2026 (.375/.444/.688) via the metrics, here is what we get:
As you can see, Vazquez’ offensive metrics really aren’t much different from last year.
His x SLG is nearly identical, as are his exit velocities and barrel rate.
Vazquez’ Hard Hit % is actually lower, as his is Square Up % and his overall bat speed.
His Chase Rate, Whiff Rate and K rate are all up, though his BB Rate is also up.
These numbers tell us that there has been some luck involved in his performance, but also that his willingness to draw walks (8.4% to 10.8%) has helped him get better pitches to hit, and he’s hit them in places that have resulted in base hits (xBA improvement from .210 to .251)
Now for the defense:
While it is likely the Blocks number for 2026 is negatively impacted by limited playing time, the Caught Stealing is something that Vazquez continues to do well in.
Framing could also be a factor of limited opportunity. Sprint speed is down, and that is to be expected in an aging catcher.
Overall, Vazquez doesn’t project as a starting-caliber catcher, but Diaz has been so bad this season, that the Astros really have no choice but to play Vazquez more (especially while he’s hot) if they intend on winning baseball games.
Maybe a short term hit to playing time lights a fire under Diaz, but we will learn a little something about his makeup if it does or it doesn’t.
The numbers match the eye test right now, and neither one lies. It has been a brutal start to the season for Yainer Diaz.
The question is at what point is there accountability.
Learn to spell his name. Learn to pronounce his name. Learn to enjoy the absurdities that come when Victor Wembanyama is on the court. They will likely define the next few weeks of the NBA playoffs, to the San Antonio Spurs’ great delight and the Portland Trail Blazers’ great misery.
Victor Wembanyama may not go 5-for-6 from beyond the arc again, but even by missing a few 3-pointers, he would likely increase his own playing time. Yes, the San Antonio Spurs superstar scored 35 points in fewer than 33 minutes in Game 1. His own dominance lessened the need for more action.
Wembanyama has scored at least 34 points in five of his last six games, clearing 40 in three of those. He has been in a dominant form for a bit now, something that should worry not only the Portland Trail Blazers but also everyone in the NBA.
The Trail Blazers' concern stems largely from an inability to defend Wembanyama. Second-year center Donovan Clingan is actually an imposing defensive presence, but he has neither the quickness nor the agility to keep up with Wembanyama away from the rim.
Portland needs to trim Clingan’s minutes and try a different approach. That approach will still be unlikely to work, but some adjustment is a must.
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.
Kings interim coach D.J. Smith, top, talks with right winger Alex Laferriere (14) during Game 1 against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday. (Jack Dempsey / Associated Press)
As a kid growing up in Windsor, Canada, just across the river from Detroit, D.J. Smith would look forward to the Stanley Cup playoffs the way other kids looked forward to Christmas.
“It's special as a kid growing up, just watching that first game of the NHL playoffs,” he said. “As a Red Wings fan, me and my brother [would] get it on Channel 50 back home, watch [Steve] Yzerman and the boys and it was exciting.”
Now Smith is coaching in those same playoffs after guiding the Kings on a mad dash to a wild-card berth. And while the games haven’t lost that special feeling they had when he was a kid, now they’re all business.
“To be up here is special,” he said. “But you’ve got to turn the page on that. I’ve got a job to do.”
He did that job well in Game 1 of the Kings’ opening-round series with the Colorado Avalanche, pushing the NHL’s best team to the final horn in a 2-1 loss. The Kings have a chance to even the series Tuesday before returning to Crypto.com Arena for Game 3 on Thursday and Game 4 on Sunday.
Sunday’s game wasn’t the first time Smith stood behind the bench in a Stanley Cup playoff game. As an assistant, he coached the Maple Leafs in the postseason three times and he was also an assistant on Jim Hiller’s staff last spring when the Kings reached the playoffs.
None of those teams made it past the first round, but Smith said he learned a lot from the experience.
“You’ve got to slow it down in your mind. Things happen quick,” he said. “Big moments happen quick. Decisions have to be made quick. But they have to be made calmly. And the players need to know you're under control at all times.
“We know the task at hand. We have [a] game plan and then I’ve got to continue to make tweaks to it to give us the best chance to win.”
The game plan worked well enough in Game 1, where a mishandled puck led to Logan O’Connor’s breakaway goal early in the third period, a score that proved to be the difference. The Kings held the highest-scoring team in the NHL to just two goals, held the highest-scoring line in the league to just one point and won the battle of the special teams.
“We fall short. But there's a lot of good things,” Smith said after Sunday’s loss.
He hadn’t even left Ball Arena before beginning work on the tweaks for Game 2.
“I think we could be on the net more. We’ve got to be more physical. We’ve got to hit their [defense] more. And I expect that in the next game.”
There could also be a roster change if Smith decides to have Andrei Kuzmenko, a good puck-handler and offensive-zone presence, dress for the first time since undergoing surgery to repair torn meniscus in late April.
“In order to beat this team, we’re going to have to be better than good,” Smith said Monday. “We need more zone time. We have to hold on to pucks. We can forecheck harder. We have to do a better job of creating.”
If being a head coach in the Stanley Cup playoffs is a dream come true for Smith, a hockey lifer, it may be a bittersweet one. He got the opportunity only after Hiller, a friend and colleague in Toronto, was fired with 23 games left in the regular season, but he made the most of it, guiding the Kings to points in 17 of their final 24 games to climb over two teams and into the postseason.
Smith, 48, was a head coach for parts of five seasons in Ottawa, where he posted just one winning record and never made the playoffs. However, that previous head coaching experience was one reason he was brought to Los Angeles as the Kings’ top assistant in 2024 since it made him an ideal fallback candidate should Hiller falter.
When Hiller did, general manager Ken Holland promoted his understudy.
“I made the decision because I feel like our team hasn’t played consistent enough. We’ve underperformed,” Holland, who hoped the move would jolt the team, said at the time of the change.
And it worked. Under Smith, the Kings have played with added aggression and urgency and have become far more physical.
“Once Smithy came in, he just changed the energy a little bit and we’re trying to be a little more aggressive versus sitting back,” captain Anze Kopitar said.
They’ve also bonded.
“We’ve really come together as a group,” forward Quinton Byfield said.
Now the challenge becomes doing something no Kings coach has done in more than a decade: getting the team past the first round of the postseason. If Smith can do that he might lose the interim tag in his title, which would make these Stanley Cup playoffs really special.
Apr 19, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle (21) shoves Tampa Bay Lightning forward Zemgas Girgensons (28) into the boards during the third period in game one of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
Morgan Tencza/Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
TAMPA, Fla. — Behind a loud, energetic, sellout crowd chanting “Let’s Go Bolts!” from Thunder Alley into the arena, the Tampa Bay Lightning should have a clear home-ice advantage.
Not in the playoffs.
A 4-3 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 was the Lightning’s 10th loss in 11 games at home in the postseason, going back to Games 4 and 6 in the 2022 Stanley Cup Final against Colorado.
They can’t afford to fall behind 2-0 in the best-of-seven, opening-round series.
The Lightning have been knocked out of the playoffs in the first round three straight years since the Avalanche prevented them from a three-peat four years ago.
“We believe in this group here. It’s a different team every year,” forward Anthony Cirelli said. “That’s not in our mind at all. We have to go win a hockey game. That’s what it comes down to. Our energy level has to be up, our emotion has to be up. We have to be ready to go from the first 60-plus and have the urgency to win the game.”
Juraj Slafkovsky scored three power-play goals for the Canadiens in the opener. Lightning coach Jon Cooper wasn’t happy with his team’s penalty-killing unit and the players who put them in position to be short-handed. He called the penalties “stupidity.”
Tampa Bay was the most penalized team in the NHL in the regular season with 425. The Lightning had 14 penalty minutes and the Canadiens converted three times in five opportunities with the man advantage.
“The big one is staying out of the penalty box,” Cirelli said. “Our PK has to be better. They have a really good power play. We have to limit our penalties.”
And, they’ve got to play better on special teams.
“If you’re going to kill penalties off at 50%, then you’re probably not going to last very long,” Cooper said. “But if you kill penalties off at 50% and you only give up two (penalties), well, maybe you can survive.”
The good news for the Lightning is an 8-5 all-time record in playoff series that begin with a home loss. They are 13-8 in Game 2s at home.
The Lightning will need Andrei Vasilevskiy to play more like the dominant goaltender they’re used to having. He wasn’t sharp against the Canadiens in the opener, allowing four goals on 19 shots.
In a series that features potential Hall of Famers like Vasilevskiy and Nikita Kucherov, Montreal’s Slafkovsky was the difference maker in Game 1.
Slafkovsky, who had four goals and four assists in six games for Slovakia in the Milan Cortina Olympics, has built off that success. After finishing with 30 goals in the regular season, he became the third-youngest Canadiens player to record a hat trick in the playoffs.
“The evolution of Slaf, I think, is almost the same as the evolution of our team,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. “We know what he’s capable of bringing Slaf, and that’s what he did. He played to his identity. Not just the goals — he was physical, he won battles. It was a big game for him.”
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 08: Bilal Coulibaly #0 of the Washington Wizards handles the ball against the Miami Heat at Capital One Arena on February 08, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards have completed Year 3 of their rebuild, ending a “deconstruction phase” that included countless trades, six first-round picks and 196 losses.
General Manager Will Dawkins said the team will “try to compete” next season, but hesitated to provide greater expectations. It appears Washington will use the 2026-27 season as an evaluation year, one to identify which young pieces to build around, which veterans should stick around and more.
But first comes the 2026 offseason — an important period that could shape the franchise’s next decade of contention. Washington owns a top-five pick in the upcoming draft, which has a 52.1% chance of improving to a top-four pick, plus two others in the second round.
While the draft is important, it’s far from the only marquee event from now until opening night in October. Below is a full breakdown of the key dates surrounding Washington’s rebuild this offseason.
May 10: NBA Draft Lottery
Washington’s pick odds at the upcoming NBA Draft Lottery are as follows:
1st pick: 14.0%
2nd pick: 13.4%
3rd pick: 12.7%
4th pick: 12.0%
5th pick: 47.9%
The NBA’s worst team hasn’t landed the No. 1 pick since the league switched to its current lottery system in 2019. The last time the worst team got the top pick was in 2018 when the Phoenix Suns selected Deandre Ayton.
May 10-17: NBA Draft Combine
The draft combine is a weeklong event held in Chicago. It’s an opportunity for league executives, coaches and scouts to evaluate players’ weight, height, athleticism, shooting and more while they compete against their fellow prospects.
May/June: Pre-draft workouts
The period between the draft lottery and the draft itself consists of speculation, mock drafts and more. But for teams, it serves as a six-week period to host group and individual workouts with the draft’s top prospects.
Under Dawkins and Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger, the Wizards have been discreet throughout the pre-draft process. While some teams post their workout participants to social media, Washington keeps its information close to the vest.
June 23: Round 1 of the NBA Draft
The Wizards finished with the NBA’s worst record, which means they can pick no lower than No. 5 in this year’s draft. The consensus top-four in this draft have separated from the rest on most big boards, with a cluster of talented guards entering the conversation at the fifth pick.
The consensus top-four prospects, in no particular order, are as follows:
AJ Dybantsa, F, BYU
Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas
Cameron Boozer, F, Duke
Caleb Wilson, F, North Carolina
Prospects Washington could target at No. 5, should that be their pick:
Darius Acuff, G, Arkansas
Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois
Kingston Flemings, G, Houston
Mikel Brown, G, Louisville
June 24: Round 2 of the NBA Draft
Washington owns the following picks in the second round:
No. 51 (via Minnesota)
Acquired from Detroit in a 2024 trade that sent Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala to the Pistons for Marvin Bagley III, Isaiah Livers, and 2025 and 2026 second-round picks.
No. 60 (via Oklahoma City)
Acquired from San Antonio in a July 2025 trade that sent Kelly Olynyk to the Spurs for Malaki Branham, Blake Wesley and a 2026 second-round pick (least favorable of DAL/PHI/OKC).
Fun fact: The last second-round pick the Wizards signed to a second contract before Dawkins became GM in 2023 was Shelvin Mack, who was selected in 2011.
Washington has signed both of its second-round picks under Dawkins — Jamir Watkins and Tristan Vukcevic — to second contracts.
Tristan Vukcevic: 2 years, $6M — team option in 2027-28
Jamir Watkins: 1-year, $2.15M — team option in 2026-27
June 29: Deadline to pick upoptions
Trae Young’s player option ($49M)
D’Angelo Russell’s player option ($5.97M)
Watkins’ team option ($2.15M)
Submit two-way qualifying offer to Sharife Cooper
While Young has a $49 million player option for the 2026-27 season, it’s widely expected that the veteran guard will decline that option and instead ink a multi-year extension to remain in Washington.
With Russell’s buyout market reportedly “nonexistent,” the 30-year-old guard could opt into his player option to remain a Wizard next season. A buyout is still possible, as Russell never reported to the Wizards following a February trade that sent him from Dallas to Washington.
June 30: Team negotiation period begins
Teams can negotiate with free agents during this window. Contract terms will be reported but nothing will be official until free agency begins six days later. Expect to see plenty of breaking news by Shams Charania of ESPN during this timeframe.
July 1: Bilal Coulibaly and Cam Whitmore become rookie extension eligible
An extension for Whitmore, who missed most of the 2025-26 season with deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder, is unlikely. But his fellow 2023 draft pick, Bilal Coulibaly, is poised for a payday.
Coulibaly’s stats — 11.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game on 31.9% 3PT — don’t stand out. If anything, they were a bit underwhelming for the third-year wing. But Coulibaly’s defensive prowess, an ability to mark the opposing team’s best player while providing switchability in guarding one through four, is coveted across the association.
Dawkins has a history of extending Washington’s first-round picks once they become extension eligible.
In 2023, he gave Deni Avdija a 4-year, $55 million extension that looks like one of the league’s best contracts. Now, Dawkins later dealt Avdija to Portland, but that’s a discussion for another story.
Dawkins also extended Corey Kispert before the 2024-25 campaign, giving the sharpshooting wing a 4-year, $54 million payday. If history repeats itself, Dawkins appears poised to extend Coulibaly, his first draft selection as Washington’s GM, later this offseason.
Should a deal materialize, look for it to be signed closer to opening night in October, as each of the previous extensions were. Avdija was extended on Oct. 22. Kispert inked his extension on Oct. 21.
July 6: Teams can officially announce signings
The Wizards conducted free agency before this year’s trade deadline, acquiring big names like Young and Anthony Davis, among others. Here’s a breakdown of those contracts for the 2026-27 season:
Trae Young ($49M player option — extension candidate)
Anthony Davis ($58.5M)
Jaden Hardy ($6M)
D’Angelo Russell ($5.97M player option)
July 9-19: Summer League
Summer League is scheduled for July 9-19. Expect second-year players Tre Johnson, Will Riley, Jamir Watkins and Julian Reese to suit up in Las Vegas. Those players will be joined by the Wizards’ 2026 first-round pick, plus any other selections they make on draft night.
The Baltimore Orioles (10-12) head to Kauffman Stadium tonight to begin a three-game series against the struggling Kansas City Royals (7-15).
The O’s lost two of three over the weekend to the Guardians in Cleveland. They have lost six of their last ten games. At the core of their issues is a lack of run production. Baltimore has scored just 91 runs this season which ranks T9 among 15 American League teams. They rank T20 in all of baseball. The big boppers in the Baltimore lineup have not been coming up big so far this season. Gunnar Henderson is hitting .204, Pete Alonso .207 with but two home runs, and Adley Rutschman remains sidelined with an ankle injury.
You think run production is an issue in Baltimore? Hah! Kansas City ranks dead last in baseball with a putrid 71 runs scored in 22 games. The next closest team in the American League are the White Sox with 82 runs scored in 22 games. As a result, the Royals have lost seven in a row and now sit last in the AL Central. Bobby Witt Jr. has been on base 29 times in April and has scored only three runs.
The pitching matchup features Orioles righty Kyle Bradish taking on KC right-hander Seth Lugo. Lugo has been a standout performer for Kansas City thus far pitching to a 1.48 ERA. Bradish needs a solid start to get his season on track. The 29-year-old has allowed 12 earned runs in 19.2 innings.
Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Orioles vs. Royals
Date: Monday, April 20, 2026
Time: 7:40PM EST
Site: Kauffman Stadium
City: Kansas City, MO
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, FS1, MASN, Royals.TV
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The Latest Odds: Orioles vs. Royals
The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Baltimore Orioles (-115), Kansas City Royals (-105)
Bobby Witt Jr. is 6-15 over his last 4 games with 3 RBIs and 3 runs scored
Salvador Perez is 5 for his last 45 (.111) with 1 extra base hit
Taylor Ward is hitting .267 over his last 4 games but .294 in April (17 games)
Jeremiah Jackson has hit safely in 11 of 15 games in April (.315)
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Top Betting Trends & Insights: Orioles vs. Royals
The Royals are 8-14 on the Run Line this season
The O’s are 8-14 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 12 times in Baltimore’s 22 games this season (12-10)
The OVER has cashed an MLB-worst 7 times in the Royals’ 22 games this season (7-15)
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Expert picks & predictions: Orioles vs. Royals
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Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday’s game between the Orioles and the Royals:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Royals on the Moneyline.
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BOSTON, MA - APRIL 19: Head coach Nick Nurse of the Philadelphia 76ers hangs his head on the bench during the second quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on April 19, 2026 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
Well, even the little sliver of optimism I had for this Sixers-Celtics series evaporated rather quickly on Sunday. Boston was dominant and the Sixers looked out-classed in every facet of Game 1. It looks like it’s going to be a long week for Sixers fans as their team marches their way to inevitable doom. Until then, I’ll hit our loyal readers with a fresh “5 Sixers thoughts” column…
The Sixers’ backup centers continue to flounder
Andre Drummond had a stellar evening during the Sixers’ Play-In win over Orlando that ran counter to how horrific it was to watch him on the court throughout the regular season. That didn’t carry over to the first round of the playoffs in Drummond’s 21 minutes of play, as the Sixers’ big was a negative on both ends of the court.
That’s before even getting nominal starter Adem Bona, who, in 14 minutes of play, appeared entirely out of place in an NBA playoff game. He should not be allowed to dribble the ball in transition ever again.
Sure, the Sixers are always going to be at a frontcourt disadvantage whenever Joel Embiid is out, but that’s a problem a dozen years in the making. The team has failed to get competent reserve big men play for the whole duration of the Embiid era even with it being a guarantee that Embiid will miss significant time annually.
All things considered, at least this is far less important than Greg Monroe being a -9 in under two minutes of play against Toronto in Game 7 of the 2019 Eastern Conference Semifinals, right?
Paul George’s effort is awful
From a pure efficiency standpoint, Paul George’s Game 1 performance was passable. He had 17 points while shooting 50 percent from the field, 50 percent from deep and going 8-of-9 from the free throw line. Watching the actual game unfold, however, told a different story.
George’s defensive effort, maybe more than anything I witnessed on Sunday, infuriated me. The Sixers are going against likely the best wing tandem in the league with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. There was no Embiid waiting at the cup to protect the rim. I know he’s about to turn 36 years old and he’s not the All-Defensive guy he once was nearly a decade ago, but how about at least give the appearance of trying?
I know it’s ultimately the fault of the organization for handing George a contract he didn’t deserve at this stage of his star-studded career, but I’d like to see “Playoff P” attempt to live up to it, you know?
I winced in anticipation of a miss whenever Kelly Oubre shot a three-pointer
Kelly Oubre was 0-for-5 from deep on Sunday, including a few back-breaking, open-as-anything looks. That stands out in my mind, yes, but it would be wrong to not share the blame for the Sixers’ overall shooting woes. They were 4-of-23 on threes, clocking in at 17 percent. It’s nearly impossible to win in the modern NBA launching it up that poorly.
That checks out for a Sixers team that shot 34.9 percent from three in the regular season, which came in 23rd in the whole league. They’re also not hoisting enough threes to lean into wild shooting variance that could give them a puncher’s chance at a win against a heavily-favored Boston squad. The Celtics shot 44 threes in Game 1 compared to the Sixers’ 23. George and Tyrese Maxey need to let it fly with reckless abandon!
We meet again, Nikola Vučević
During the Sixers’ seven-game battle against the Celtics in the 2012 Eastern Conference Semifinals, Nikola Vučević was a first-round rookie for the team. He played just three minutes across that series even while starting center Spencer Hawes was completely lost out there while going against Kevin Garnett. I would’ve liked to have seen if he had legitimately anything to give the Sixers instead of watching Hawes!
Anyway, Vučević, who turned into a two-time All-Star over the years, came off the Celtics’ bench in Game 1 and gave them some competent help. It would’ve been nice for the Sixers to be on the receiving end of that 14 years ago!
The “We want Boston!” chants got turned on their heads
As the Sixers pulled away against the Magic in the Play-In, the South Philadelphia faithful began chanting, “We want Boston!” I personally wasn’t doing that at the arena because I knew what would await this team in the first round, but I don’t begrudge those fans too much who were living in the moment and doing that.
Celtics fans certainly took notice of it though.
As Boston thrashed the Sixers on Sunday and built a lead of 30-plus points, Celtics fans trolled Philadelphia with its own “We want Boston!” chants. It is what it is. If you want to dish it out, you have to be able to take it, too.
The Cincinnati Reds mascot, Mr. Redlegs shows off his muscles during a Major League Baseball game between the Atlanta Brave and Cincinnati Reds at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 2, 2025. | Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Cincinnati Reds have scored just 78 runs through their 22 games played this year, yet they’ve managed to win 14 of those and sit in 1st place in their division after their weekend sweep of the Minnesota Twins.
The Tampa Bay Rays, meanwhile, have seen their runners score 103 times through just 21 games, yet they sit in 2nd place in their own division with 12 wins after dropping two of three over the weekend against Pittsburgh.
Not all baseball is played alike, of course. Tampa’s offense has come out of the gate in impressive fashion, their team wOBA ranking 11th overall, their team wRC+ 10th, and their 18.6% K-rate at the plate the second lowest of any team in baseball. The flip side to that, though, is that their 4.90 expected ERA through those 21 games is 5th worst as they’ve yielded 1.28 homers per game (5th highest) – and the collective 5.81 xERA from their relievers is the single worst of any bullpen unit to date.
In many ways, the 12-9 Rays are the inverse of the 14-8 Reds, who have gotten where they are thanks to elite bullpen work and improved defense (Cincinnati ranks 13th in DEF at FanGraphs while Tampa ranks 2nd worst) despite bottom of the barrel offense. Both clubs, though, have managed to win a lot more than they’ve lost despite both still boasting negative run differentials for the season, with Tampa mimicking the Reds with a 4-1 record in one-run games of their own.
Something will likely have to give in this series, though that’s not a given. We could get a 9-6 win from Tampa followed by a pair of pair of 2-1 Reds victories, and that would just about sum up where both clubs are on the baseball result spectrum at this point in the galaxy’s history.
Rhett Lowder will toe the rubber in Monday’s series opener, with Chase Burns (Tuesday) and Brandon Williamson (Wednesday) slated to follow. First pitch Monday at the renovated Trop is set for 6:40 PM ET, and the Reds will line up like so:
