BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 17: Masataka Yoshida #7 of the Boston Red Sox reacts with Roman Anthony #19 after hitting a walk-off single during the 10th inning of a game against the Detroit Tigers on April 17, 2026 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
You know how sometimes you hear a statistic that feels so outrageous you have have to dig into the details and verify it yourself? Well, Chris Cotillo dropped one of those last night when he tweeted this after the Red Sox 1-0 win in ten innings:
Red Sox have seven wins wearing the green uniforms — and all seven are walk-offs.
Now let’s be clear, the Red Sox don’t always win when they wear these uniforms (they’re 7-5 overall in the Fenway greens), but when they do, they always hit a walk-off. For more context on how outrageous this stat is from Cotillo, let’s think about how common walk-offs are across the MLB landscape. On average, teams have hit about seven walk-offs per season over the last 30 years, but since you can only hit a walk off at home and you only win on average a little over half of those 81 games each season, the odds of any random win at home being a walk-off are actually about one in six. (Think somewhere in the ballpark of about seven times out of 42 for simplicity’s sake.)
So now let’s apply the math. The odds of hitting something with a one in six chance seven times in a row? One in 279,936. That’s the absurdity of what the Red Sox are doing in these green uniforms!
So with something so rare and majestic ongoing, let’s relive the magic up to this point, starting with the first Red Sox walk-off in these uniforms back in May of last year:
The streak began in rather unusual and innocuous fashion with no real sign of what was to come. The Red Sox actually lost their first ever game wearing these green uniforms on May 16th to Atlanta, but their mere presence must have awakened something in the old ballpark, because the very next night, the Red Sox (back in their regular uniforms) came from 5-0 down to beat the Braves 7-6 in walk-off fashion.
The next time they were supposed to wear the green uniforms was the following Friday on May 23rd, but bad weather disrupted the start of a four game series against the Orioles and postponed the Thursdays game, which completely shuffled the deck. As a result, the Sox ended up playing a double header on Saturday, and the first game played that day became the green uniform game of the series, which is the walk-off highlight you see above.
Three weeks later, a more traditional pattern would start to settle in.
Like most things that turn into a huge deal, the Red Sox walk-off streak of wins in the greens should have been cut off before it got rolling. This is the game Garrett Crochet nearly threw a complete game shutout, but Aaron Judge got him with a game tying homer in the ninth. With context, we now know all that did was allow Carlos Narvaez to continue the green walk-off streak in extras.
If there’s a signature game in these uniforms, I’d argue it’s this one. Between the way this ninth inning unfolded, the way the win was also part of a four game sweep and a ten game winning streak, the way Roman Anthony walked, the way this ball was absolutely clobbered, the fact this might be Dave O’Brien’s best call ever, and of course the way Ceddanne Rafaela reacted, was all just pure cinema!
What would an electric Red Sox streak be without Roman Anthony right in the middle of it? He had been in the majors for less than two months at this point, and looked incredibly comfortable throughout this at bat.
I think this is the point where people really started catching on to the green uniforms and their walk-0ff magic. The summer wasn’t even over and the Sox had walked off five times in an outfit that only made its debut in May.
This was the perfect explanation point on a season that got Boston back in the playoffs for the first time in four years. Unfortunately, there weren’t any postseason games played at Fenway Park, which obviously also means the 2025 list ends here.
But with a new season, we have a continuation of the streak. The Red Sox wore their greens for the first time in 2026 last night, and so far, everything seems to be carrying over. It’s also a fun little nugget that the guy who wears No. 7 delivered the hit that extended this streak to seven.
So with that, you might be wondering … “When do the Red Sox play in their green uniforms again?” Well, as long as they stick to their usual pattern, it will be on their next Friday night home game, which is set for May 1st against the Astros. If they win in walk-off fashion again on that night for the eighth time dressed in green, that one in 279,936 from above becomes one in 1,679,616. You could start a religion out of this.
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 6: Jaylen Brown #7 and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics talk during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on March 6, 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to one of the larger and more preposterous playoff preview power poll projects I’ve ever attempted. We are ranking the Top 50 players in the NBA Playoffs, an utterly ridiculous effort that is, frankly, not possible to do responsibly. There is no methodology so sound that one person can rank 50 people; there is no theory so ironclad that it can avoid the rampant, harmful subjectivity of the recesses of my troubled mind. So, without meaningfully explaining my definition of “Top 50” or a philosophy of value or any kind of scientific method, I’m going to do it anyway. Also check out our rankings of every team in the field by their championship chances.
In an effort to not make this a million words, I have only given the Top 25 (spoiler alert: it’s actually 26, you’ll see why) players their own blurbs, and then grouped the back 25 (spoiler alert: it’s 24) together in some loose categories that I think capture the spirit of the exercise. In any case, lots about this will be demonstrably wrong, and I apologize that there is absolutely no way to avoid that. Onwards!
The best player in the world until someone else feels sufficiently inevitable with the ball in their hands. Shai has achieved peak scoring excellence in that you just think his shot is always going in, and he scores at a volume, efficiency and location (over 77 percent of his shots are twos and he shoots 55.3 percent from the field … he’s a guard!) that simply shouldn’t be possible. He has the belt.
2. Nikola Jokic
Made up award: The Novak Djokovic Lifetime Achievement Award for Serbian Sports Excellence
I debated whether Jokic or Victor Wembanyama would get the second spot, but their majestic head-to-head battle clinched it for the Joker. The San Antonio Spurs are contenders for a number of reasons, the biggest (and tallest) one being Wemby. The Denver Nuggets are contenders for one reason and one reason only: Jokic, who could enter some seriously hallowed all-time ground if he grabs a second ring in a stacked West.
3. Victor Wembanyama
Made up award: Voted “Most likely to record a quadruple double in the playoffs”
Wemby and his precarious health have been treated carefully this year to maximize his impact and longevity, but the kid gloves are going to have to come off eventually. When they do, he’s such an outlier that I would believe any statistical achievement if he plays 43 minutes. There have only been four quadruple doubles in NBA history, and yet I’d somehow be surprised if he wasn’t the fifth.
4. Luka Doncic
Made up award: The Bitcoin Award for Player Who Can Swing the Market the Most
Luka’s availability after an unbelievably poorly timed hamstring injury is the great question mark of these playoffs. If he can return, and actually be Luka Doncic, before the Lakers are eliminated? It’s a whole new ballgame for everyone.
5. Anthony Edwards
Made up award:The John Henry Award for Potentially Having to Dig a Tunnel through a Mountain
Edwards is everyone’s favorite young player who might be the next Michael Jordan — he’s electrifying and displays two-way brilliance that is rare for the modern scoring guard. But he has his work positively cut out for him in these playoffs, needing to shake off some late-season injuries and then probably beat Denver, San Antonio and OKC all in a row just to make the NBA Finals. Best of luck.
6. Donovan Mitchell
Made up award: The Ralph Fiennes “We need to get this guy an Oscar” Award
This is a guy who has made the playoffs every year of his career but never made the Conference Finals, so fans are crying out for him to please get some hardware this time around. I’ve always been bullish on Mitchell as an elite playoff guy, whose highs are high enough to beat literally anyone single-handedly. But he will need to do that consistently for once to get over the hump.
7. Cade Cunningham
Made up award: The Cade Cunningham “so likeable that his injury might kill the 65 game rule” Award
Everyone was so in agreement that Cunningham deserved to be on the All-NBA First Team that we all collectively freaked out about the 65-game rule to try to salvage his candidacy before he was granted an exemption (which is probably the best reason to kill the rule). Cunningham was the twin-turbo V8 engine that drove the Pistons to the number one seed, but may be leaned on too heavily to create shots with Detroit lacking a second scorer.
8. Jaylen Brown
Made up award: The Captain Phillips “I am the captain now” Award
Brown has improved his game in ways I simply did not believe were possible at this point in his career. With Jayson Tatum out most of the year, he proved he could be the First Violin in a world-class orchestra that’s about to go on tour. Truly a spectacular season for one of my favorite players.
9. Jalen Brunson
Made up award: The Second Round Pick Award for second-best second-round pick of all time
Behind only Nikola Jokic in second round pick achievement, Brunson is of course an elite first option, an elite shot creator and an elite foul-sponge, a critical skill in the playoffs with tighter whistles across the board. It’s worth wondering, though, if the Knicks can actually win the East with Brunson at this kind of usage. I think they can, but the rest of the roster will need to take on part of the burden.
10. Jayson Tatum
Made up award: The Patriots-Falcons 28-3 Super Bowl Award for Best Comeback
Almost an unfathomably great result for Tatum, who tore his Achilles less than a year ago and now stands poised for his 122nd career playoff game and counting. He and Brown are two of the most successful playoff guys in terms of number of games played to start their careers, and Tatum is a championship-winning first option when healthy. We shall see how much strain he’s ready to take.
11. Devin Booker
Made up award: The Damian Lillard “You might need to demand a trade at some point” Award
Booker seems committed to Phoenix financially and competitively, and it’s impressive work that such a flawed team made the playoffs. But the Suns spent all their draft capital and young pieces to build a team, tear it down and now is staring down mediocrity for the foreseeable future. There are plenty of ways to pivot around such a great player, but there’s a chance this gets 2021ish Damian Lillard. Just a chance.
12. Tyrese Maxey
Made up award: The Lightning McQueen “Ka-Chow” Award for Being Fast
There is no correlation between average player speed and… being a good player, which is why Maxey is my pick for fastest NBA player in lieu of data. This is purely in terms of visually explosive burst in transition and on drives. The Celtics have struggled to contain Maxey for years, and he is Philly’s singular win condition.
13. Kevin Durant
Made up award: The Al Horford “should we talk about how old this guy is more?” Award
Durant is still putting ball in hoop like no other in year 19 which is, somehow, still not discussed nearly enough. LeBron James cornered the market on “wow he’s how old” discussions, but Durant is casually averaging 26 a game in 36 minutes in 78 games played. In the playoffs, you often need a bucket. For all the stuff that comes with the Durant experience, he is still the bucket.
14. Jamal Murray
Made up award: The Jaylen Brown Award for scoring leap I didn’t see coming
Did you know this was Murray’s first career All-Star season? Somehow, some way, Murray became a far more efficient shooter this season and ratcheted up his scoring to over 25 a game. He and Jokic have a premier partnership that we already know can win a title. Will they win another?
15. Jalen Johnson
Made up award: The Casual NBA Fan award for “WHO are you saying is three whole spots better than LeBron?”
Many NBA fans may have missed this development, but Jalen Johnson has been soaring up the superstar boards all season, basically getting better and better for five straight years … all the way to somehow looking like an All-NBA first option. Trae Young’s departure took off the training wheels, and now we’re flying.
16. Chet Holmgren
Made up award: The Banana Boat Award for going from Third to Second Banana
Holmgren is a first-time All-Star who made a serious leap over Jalen Williams, whose injury-laden season saw Chet take on a bigger role. He’s a cornerstone defensive force and exactly what the Thunder need to dynasty this thing up.
17. Scottie Barnes
Made up award: The Eye Test Award for being better than your stats
Barnes’ Basketball Reference page doesn’t really suggest he improved much as a scorer, but he shot the ball much better and was a major part of a pretty spicy Toronto team that is looking to spoil some fun in Round One.
18. LeBron James
Made up award: The “Lock In” Award for potentially most epic lock-in
If LeBron James can carry the Los Angeles Lakers out of the first round without their two best scorers — Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves — that would be one of the premier lock-ins of all time. I’m a Celtics fan, but I’m going to be rooting for this.
19. James Harden
Made up award: The Lucy Pulling the Football Award for most consistent playoff disappointment
Not generally the most reliable guy in the playoffs, the Cleveland Cavaliers nonetheless traded Darius Garland for Harden in a last-ditch effort to salvage their meh season. It could work; Harden is a good player. But nothing historically suggests it will.
20. Jalen Duren
Made up award: The “Most Improved Player Award” Award for exemplifying what that award is supposed to mean
Duren almost doubled his scoring output this season and was the second-biggest reason the Pistons took the league by storm. He is a dominating force on the glass and a pretty solid interior scorer, given his complete lack of a jumpshot. I’m a big fan of Duren.
21. Deni Avdija
Made up award: The Zion Williamson “I’m going to the rim no matter what” Award
Deni isn’t Williamson, who actually does not shoot threes at all anymore by the way, but he is at his best when he is trying to get downhill on every possession. He was a one-man wrecking crew in the first Play-In game, but we will see if that works against Wembanyama, whose 872-foot wingspan might cause problems.
22. Karl-Anthony Towns
Made up award: The James Harden “not sure how reliable this guy is” Award
Towns’ playoff plus/minus stats are not what you want out of your supposed second option, but it has proved difficult for the Knicks to keep both he and Brunson on the court and survive defensively. To avoid becoming the next Harden, towns will need a moment.
23. Alperen Sengun
Made up award: The Kevin McHale Award for 2020s Post Bag
Sengun is a legitimately great post scorer in the year 2026, and it’s pretty fun to watch him eviscerate rim protectors who haven’t had to deal with that since 1987. Balancing his and Durant’s shot diets is the real challenge.
24. Stephon Castle
Made up award: The Jayson Tatum “he’s HOW young?” award for only being 21
Castle is so far beyond what I could have ever expected out of him at his age, and looks like a potential future star. To quote myself when I was talking about Roman Anthony, I am two years older than Stephon Castle. I am not old.
25. Evan Mobley
Made up award: The Not-Tim Duncan Award for player who is not Tim Duncan
One of my favorite niche NBA media moments of the last five years was this strange series of Bill Simmons podcasts circa 2022 where he and Ryen Russillo kept referring to Mobley as potentially the next Tim Duncan. I was also supremely in on Evan Mobley, and have not quite made back my investment either. He’s a really good player and a beast defensively, but he’s been too inconsistent, especially on offense, to go any higher.
26. Derrick White
(Bonus solo blurb, it was going to be the Top 25 get their own blurbs but I literally forgot about Jalen Brunson when I wrote this the first time and refuse to bump DWhite)
Made up award: The Matisse Thybulle Award for Blocking Threes
Derrick White has blocked nine threes this year. That isn’t quite the most, but he’s consistently up there in three-blocking, a skill that I’m just not sure how you teach or learn. Stuff like that is what makes White so valuable, because he’s also a great scorer and creator. What a player.
The “How healthy will you be?” Group
27. Austin Reaves
28. Jalen Williams
29. Aaron Gordon
Three players who are critically important to their respective teams that either haven’t been healthy for much of the year or may not be healthy going forward. Gordon and Williams seem fine at the moment, with Gordon in particular coming back in force, but none of their respective lineups are the same without them. Only the Thunder could hope to survive an extended absence of any of these three.
The “We need offense, do you have offense?” Group
30. Paolo Banchero
31. Julius Randle
32. De’Aaron Fox
33. Amen Thompson
Four guys that have had up and down offensive years and four guys who will have to be on the up part of the up and down for the playoffs if their team has any big-time goals. Specifically, I’m looking at Randle as a primo candidate to sink or swim his whole team. Edwards can’t be the only creator for Minnesota, since Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels are not reliable offensively. Thompson may get exposed for his poor shooting, but is capital R required for Houston with their relative lack of ball handlers.
The “Actually, we’re good on offense, can you just play defense?” Group
34. Rudy Gobert
35. OG Anunoby
Perhaps the two most important defensive players in these playoffs because of their matchups. Anunoby is going to have to guard some of the best wings in the league throughout the Knicks’ run, and the Eastern Conference might as well be a Wingstop with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Scottie Barnes, Jalen Johnson, they’re everywhere. Gobert, meanwhile, has Wembanyama and Jokic coming at him like a train. He will have to go full Tobey Maguire Spider-Man to stop them.
The High Variance Group
36. Brandon Ingram
37. Franz Wagner
These guys could score in bunches and swing a series by themselves or completely disappear and … swing a series by themselves. Ingram is a player that I wasn’t particularly interested in anymore after his Pelicans tenure expired, but he had a really nice year in Toronto and got back to the All-Star game for the first time since 2020. Both these guys are important bucket-getters on teams without an embarrassment of creators, so lock in.
The Guy I Couldn’t Put in a Group
38. Joel Embiid
Embiid is a player I continue to feel bad for, and having an appendectomy right before the postseason is the worst luck imaginable for a guy who has had a career of the worst luck imaginable. I’ve tried to make this list relatively injury-agnostic, but I didn’t want to speculate at all for Embiid, whose playoff impact I can’t really measure or project whatsoever. So here he is in his own group, presented essentially without comment.
The Bucket of Wings
39. Nickeil Alexander-Walker
40. Mikal Bridges
41. Jaden McDaniels
It physically hurt me to put Alexander-Walker this low since he has more than doubled his scoring this season and is unironically shooting 50-40-90 Bridges and McDaniels are both critical players for their teams, but just feel like a lesser version of what they could be; especially Bridges, who was a legit first-option in Brooklyn for a minute there. But wings are king, and these guys will play a lot.
Important Players on Important Teams
42. Ausar Thompson
43. Jarrett Allen
44. Alex Caruso
A bit of a grab bag here, but these are essential players on teams with championship aspirations. Ausar is definitely still a work in progress offensively but he is also one of the best defensive players in the league, an accolade you could also toss on Caruso, a peak pot-stirrer that somehow makes all of his opponents worse at basketball. Allen, meanwhile, is battling a knee injury but is a massive non-negotiable for the Cavs given how small the rest of their lineup is.
The X-Factors
45. Dyson Daniels
46. Jrue Holiday
47. Naz Reid
48. Payton Pritchard
49. Isaiah Hartenstein
Quite the collection of dudes here, all of whom could be described as “oh (insert name from this group), I really like that guy.” They all play pretty different games, but their teams would not be the same without them.
It’s pretty funny that in a Top 50 players list I had a pretty easy time coming up with the Top 49 but really couldn’t pick the last guy in. This is basically the free space in bingo; just put whoever you want here. I, for one, really wanted to put Baylor Scheierman or Neemias Queta here, but decided against it. Let me know in the comments who you’d put at 50, and what I messed up. If everyone just agrees with me, something went horribly wrong.
The Philadelphia Flyers kick off their first-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night. The Flyers will be aiming to secure a victory in Game 1.
The Flyers are entering the playoffs hot, as they won five out of their last six regular-season games. Flyers top prospect Porter Martone was certainly a reason behind this, as he was excellent for the Metropolitan Division after signing his entry-level deal.
In nine career NHL games for the Flyers, Martone had four goals, six assists, 10 points, and 16 hits. This included him ending the regular-season on a six-game point streak, where he scored all four of his goals and recorded five assists.
With how well Martone kicked off his NHL career this regular-season, it is hard not to feel optimistic about him heading into the playoffs. His hard-nosed style of play should make him a great fit for playoff hockey, and he should give the Flyers a major boost during the postseason because of it.
If Martone can continue to provide strong offense and physicality during the playoffs, it would be huge for a Flyers team that is looking to go on a run as big underdogs. Let's see how the Flyers' top prospect performs from here.
Bernd Leno saves the day for Fulham to secure draw that dents Brentford’s European ambitions
1 min Brentford kick off, lump the ball forward and Igor Thiago wins a corner!
“Given today’s match between two solid London sides,” says Peter O’Connor, “a poser. If there were an independent state of London, where would its football league figure among the Big Five European leagues?”
The NBA playoffs are here and make no mistake: Oklahoma City is the team to beat. The Thunder are the reigning champions and had the best record in the NBA despite a rash of injuries, including their second-best player from last season missing the majority of the season.
That doesn't mean they are invincible. San Antonio, Denver, Boston and others would have a shot, but they all have to make it to face OKC first. This is going to be a long and wild playoffs.
Here are my predictions for the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
First Round
Eastern Conference
• Detroit beats Orlando 4-1 • Boston beats Philadelphia 4-1 • New York beats Atlanta 4-3 • Cleveland beats Toronto 4-2
Atlanta is going to put a scare into New York (and an upset is not out of the question). This Hawks team had the third-best net rating in the league over the last two months, is fearless, has an All-NBA talent in Jalen Johnson, plus they have Nickeil Alexander-Walker and CJ McCollum giving them plenty of scoring, and Dyson Daniels locking guys down. The Knicks' bench and experience get them over the hump, but barely. Aside from that, Cleveland should look improved with its shrunken playoff rotation, and Boston and Detroit are just better than their opponents.
Western Conference
• Oklahoma City beats Phoenix 4-1 • San Antonio beats Portland 4-1 • Denver beats Minnesota 4-2 • Houston beats Los Angeles Lakers 4-2
The Suns played the Thunder tough in the regular season, but this isn't the regular season. Portland has interesting young athletes, San Antonio has better ones. The Lakers would have won this series if healthy, but at least Kevin Durant vs. LeBron James is always entertaining.
Denver vs. Minnesota is the best first-round series in either conference — a real rivalry between teams that match up well. Both teams are big, talented and know how to level up in the playoffs. I will take the consistency of Denver — and the way Nikola Jokic enjoys putting up numbers on Rudy Gobert.
Conference Semi-Finals
Eastern Conference
• Cleveland beats Detroit 4-2 • Boston beats New York 4-2
Do I feel comfortable picking a James Harden-led team to win a big playoff series? No. Not even close. However, styles make fights, and Detroit wants a low-scoring series where it gets its buckets in the paint, but Cleveland is waiting with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen to shut that down. If the Pistons win this series, it will be because Daniss Jenkins and Duncan Robinson stepped up big time. The Knicks vs. Celtics will be fun, but the Celtics have been the better team of late and will send the Knicks and their owner into a tailspin this offseason.
Western Conference
• Oklahoma City beats Houston 4-1 • Denver beats San Antonio 4-3
Denver vs. San Antonio is a coin flip, and maybe the experience factor does not matter — the Spurs don’t believe it does — but if forced to choose, I will bet on it and on the Nuggets' desperation for the win. That all depends on Aaron Gordon's hamstrings holding up, by the way. In the other West series, the Rockets are a flawed team and the Thunder will expose that.
Eastern Conference Finals
• Boston beats Cleveland 4-1
Cleveland has the talent to make this a tight seven-game series, but this is where I will no longer trust Harden and a Donovan Mitchell-led team to go any further. Especially against a team that has been there and done that.
Western Conference Finals
• Oklahoma City beats Denver 4-3
This is the real NBA Finals, and the Nuggets have a chance at the upset here (as will the Spurs if they outlast the Nuggets in the second round). That said, in the end, I will trust the depth and versatility of the defending champions, not to mention Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the clutch to get it done.
2026 NBA Finals
• Oklahoma City beats Boston 4-1
Boston is a very good team about to step into a bad matchup. Oklahoma City has more depth and versatility, more athleticism, and it has more high-level defenders to impede Boston's stars than any team in the league. OKC has one ring and is now playing for a legacy, and it knows that. Expect the Thunder to win this far more comfortably than they did in the Finals a year ago.
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 02: Garret Anderson #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates after hitting the game winning base hit in the 14th inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium on June 2, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Garrett Anderson, who played the first 15 seasons of his career with the Angels and finished up with the Dodgers in 2010, died at age 53, the Angels announced on Friday.
Anderson was born and raised in Los Angeles, and played at Kennedy High School before getting drafted by the Angels in 1990. I first saw him play with the Class-A Palm Springs Angels in 1992. Anderson made three All-Star teams and drove in the go-ahead runs in Game 7 of the 2002 World Series to help clinch the Angels’ only championship.
With the Dodgers, a 38-year-old Anderson played sparingly, but did notably drive in the only run of a 14-inning win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on June 2, 2010. It marked the first time the Dodgers had won back-to-back 1-0 games for the first time in 26 years.
“You always hear, ‘Don’t meet your heroes,’” Freeman told The California Post. “But then I got to meet him, and I was like, ‘I’m glad I did.’ Because he was a beautiful man. And I wish he was still here. He meant a lot to so many people … I’m at a loss for words really.”
Hyeseong Kim talked to Jack Harris of the California Post about getting optioned to the minors at the beginning of the season, and his subsequent return two weeks ago when Mookie Betts was placed on the injured list. Manager Dave Roberts praised Kim’s swing, noting improvement from late in spring training: “I think he’s into the ground much better. I think the swing decisions are better mechanically. It looks great. So really proud of the work.”
Earlier Friday, Katie Woo at The Athletic noted the improvement of Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia, and Blake Treinen in the Dodgers bullpen in the first three weeks of the season. Through Friday, that trio has combined to allow only one run in 22 2/3 innings with a 27.7-percent strikeout rate.
As they head into their first appearance in the Stanley Cup playoffs since 2020, it is becoming clear that the Philadelphia Flyers still don't have many believers out there.
Some of the skepticism is, of course, understandable. Veterans like Christian Dvorak, Noah Cates, and Dan Vladar all enjoyed career years, and the Flyers don't yet have a superstar in their ranks like many other contenders do.
That's exactly why national pundits--namely ESPN--have the Flyers on the outs before the puck is even dropped for Game 1 of the series with the Penguins.
In their recent preview, x-factor, and bold prediction story, ESPN's bold prediction is that the Flyers are swept by the Penguins. Here's the rationale:
"Vladar's lack of past playoff reps is exposed early, and the Flyers can't counteract with enough goal support. Coach Rick Tocchet does his best to shuffle the deck and keep Philadelphia alive, but it gets swept in the opening round," they wrote.
They were careful to note in the leadup, too, that Trevor Zegras, the team's No. 2 scorer with 67 points in 81 games this season, has never played in an NHL playoff game himself.
That is what makes the upcoming experience with the battle-hardened Penguins so valuable, even though the sentiment amongst the Flyers themselves is that they have been playing playoff hockey since the Olympic break.
There is some truth to that, as the Flyers were eight points back of the New York Islanders for third place in the Metropolitan Division with two games in hand back on Feb. 22.
As for the Penguins, they were still second in the division at that time and never relented, whereas the Flyers had to scratch and claw for it after a dismal winter stretch.
ESPN's prediction of the Flyers getting swept is interesting, if nothing else, due to the rivalry behind the series. It seems a near-impossible outcome, especially with the two sides finishing the regular season with very similar records.
The Flyers will get their first crack at proving the ESPN crew wrong when they face the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh at 8 p.m. on Saturday night.
The one thing that people can be proud of is that the Columbus Blue Jackets always put fans in the stands. We can argue about whether or not they deserve it, but that's an argument for another day.
Let's take a look at the attendance numbers for this past season.
Total Nationwide Arena Capacity: 18,500 - 14th highest in the NHL.
Total Fans For Season: 691,996 total fans came out to games - 24th in the NHL.
Average Attendance: 16,878 - 26th in the NHL.
Capacity % - 91.2% - 30th in the NHL
Sellouts - 16 - Most since the 2003-04 season (16).
Home Record - 20-13-8
Per NHL PR, the National Hockey League set a total attendance record for the 4th straight year, with a total of 23,158,522 fans passing through NHL doors. NHL teams played in front of an average of 17,651 fans, which comes out to 97.5% capacity.
Despite the CBJ not making the playoffs for the 6th straight year, attendance remains strong. Some fans see that as a bad thing and would like attendance to drop to get the owner's attention, whiles most choose to support the team no matter what.
No matter where you sit on the issue, there is no right or wrong answer. Support the team how you'd like, but more fans in seats means more money to spend on free agents and young future stars like Adam Fantilli, Denton Mateychuk, and Jet Greaves.
The fans of the Columbus Blue Jackets are loyal, loud, and love showing up at Nationwide Arena to watch their team play NHL Hockey.
With the excitement of the CBJ re-signing Head Coach Rick Bowness to a one-year contract, many fans said they'd come out to support the team next year, even after the epic collapse that cost them the playoffs. It's hard to imagine fans being excited about a head coach, but here we are.
Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft Lottery on May 5, 2025, where the CBJ will most likely pick 14 or 15.
Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!
Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story.
Let us know what you think below.
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.
DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 1: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates after a three-point basket against the Denver Nuggets in the second half at Ball Arena on April 1, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. 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 Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets Date: April 18th, 2026 Time: 2:30 PM CDT Location: Target Center Television Coverage: Prime Video
Every great rivalry needs its trilogy.
Not the kind where two teams randomly bump into each other once every few years and call it history, but the kind where the games start to blur together, where every possession feels familiar, where the players know what’s coming and still can’t stop it. The kind where every matchup feels like a sequel, not a standalone episode.
That’s what this has become.
The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Denver Nuggets are about to meet in the playoffs for the third time in four years. It’s a score that never quite feels settled. Denver struck first in 2023, brushing Minnesota aside in the first round on their way to a title. Minnesota answered in 2024 with one of the most defining wins in franchise history, a Game 7 comeback that flipped a twenty-point deficit into a Western Conference Finals berth and, more importantly, flipped the psychology of the matchup.
That game changed everything.
Because ever since then, these teams haven’t just played each other, they’ve tested each other. You can run through the list like a greatest hits album. The 10-point fourth-quarter comeback at Target Center in November 2024. The double-overtime war in April 2025 where Nikola Jokic emptied the clip and still somehow lost. The recent Christmas Day classic where Anthony Edwards hit a last-second dagger to send the game into overtime, only for Denver steal it right back.
Every game has been a battle. Every game has had stakes. Every game has ended with one fanbase walking away like they just survived something and the other wondering how it slipped away.
And now, after a one-year hiatus, we get the playoff version again.
The Uneasy Road That Led Here
Here’s the part that makes this whole thing a little more complicated than it should be.
The Wolves didn’t exactly cruise into this matchup.
They didn’t build momentum in March and April the way they did last year. They didn’t lock in a top seed and spend the final week sharpening their edge. Instead, they stumbled. They dealt with injuries. They rotated players in and out, ultimately settling into the six seed. It’s the exact same spot they occupied a year ago, but with a very different path waiting on the other side.
That’s the tension hanging over this series.
We’ve seen what this Wolves team can be. We’ve seen the version that overwhelms teams defensively, that moves the ball, that knocks down threes a ridiculous clip. But we’ve also seen the version that checks out for a quarter, that lets games slip, and that turns winnable nights into inexplicable losses.
Last year, Minnesota entered the playoffs looking like a team ascending. This year, they enter looking like a team still trying to remember exactly who they are.
The silver lining? They’re fresh.
Anthony Edwards. Julius Randle. Jaden McDaniels. Rudy Gobert. All of them have spent the last couple weeks on what is essentially a managed workload. They’re not peaking, but they’re not exhausted either. Against a Denver team that plays through the most physically demanding superstar in basketball, that might matter more than we think.
Game 1: The Swing Game Nobody Talks About Enough
Let’s zoom in on what actually matters right now: Game 1.
Stealing Game 1 on the road flips the entire structure of the series. Win Game 1 in Denver, and suddenly the pressure shifts. The Nuggets are the ones answering questions. The Wolves are the ones holding leverage. The math changes. The tone changes. Everything changes.
Lose it, and you’re immediately climbing uphill.
Let’s be honest. The expectation outside Minnesota is pretty clear. Denver is rolling into the playoffs on a heater. The narrative is that they’ve figured it out again. That they’re the more complete team. That they have the best player in the world.
Minnesota? They’re the wild card. The team that could win this series… or could just as easily lose in five if things go sideways.
The good news for Wolves fans: we’ve seen that script before.
And we’ve seen how it can end.
The Keys to Game 1
1. Make Nikola Jokic Work for Everything
This isn’t about stopping Jokic. That’s not a real strategy.
This is about cost.
Every possession has to cost him something. Every touch, every post-up, every rotation. You don’t let him play in rhythm. You don’t let him dictate pace. You don’t let him casually drift into a 38-point, 12-assist, 15-rebound night.
This is why this roster exists. Tim Connelly specifically constructed this team to defeat the monster he drafted.
Gobert. Randle. Reid. Three big men, same objective: wear Jokic down. Hit him. Lean on him. Make him defend. Turn the game into something physical, something draining, something that builds over time.
Because you’re not beating Jokic in one quarter. You’re trying to beat him in Game 5… Game 6… Game 7.
2. Recreate the 2024 Defensive Identity
This is where Minnesota won the series last time. They turned Denver into a grind. They made Jamal Murray uncomfortable. They closed out on shooters. They rotated with purpose. They made every possession feel like it was being played in a phone booth.
That version of this team has to show up again. Jaden McDaniels has to be a problem. Anthony Edwards has to bring that second-level intensity we saw in 2024. The guards have to fight over screens instead of dying on them. The rotations have to be sharp.
Because if Denver gets clean looks? If Murray is allowed to get comfortable? If the role players start feeling it?
It’s over.
3. No More Stagnant Offense
When things get tight, Minnesota has a tendency to default into isolation basketball. Edwards dribbling. Randle backing down. Everyone else watching.
That cannot be the Wolves’ approach to offense.
The Wolves’ offense works when it’s connected. When the ball moves. When Edwards collapses the defense and kicks. When Randle draws help and finds shooters. When the ball doesn’t stick.
Denver’s defense is vulnerable, but only if Minnesota makes them work.
4. Hitting Shots is Not Optional
This isn’t complicated.
The Wolves are going to get looks, but looks don’t matter if they don’t fall. Minnesota cannot afford one of those 8-for-38 from three nights. They cannot afford to go ice cold for six-minute stretches. They cannot afford to leave points at the free-throw line.
This team’s margin for error is too thin.
Shoot league average from three, and they’re in this game. Shoot well, and they can win it.
Shoot poorly, and they’ll be down 0-1 with even more pressure to perform in Game 2.
5. Be Who You’ve Been Hinting At All Year
This is the biggest one. All season long, this team has flirted with its ceiling. We’ve seen flashes. Moments. Quarters. Stretches where everything clicks.
And then it disappears.
This is the moment where it can’t disappear.
This is where Anthony Edwards has to be that guy for 40 minutes, not just the last five. This is where Julius Randle has to play like the version of himself that dominated playoff games, not the one that drifts. This is where Gobert anchors everything. Where McDaniels impacts both ends.
This is where the Wolves stop being theoretical.
82 games.
The bad losses. The injuries. The nights where they looked like contenders and the nights where they looked like they forgot how to play basketball.
It all leads here.
This is the round. This is the opponent. This is the standard.
If the Wolves want to be taken seriously as contenders, they have to go through this. They have to beat a team led by the best player in the world. They have to win in their building. They have to prove that 2024 wasn’t a one-off.
We’ve seen them go toe-to-toe with this exact team and come out on top. But that version of the Wolves, the one that defends like its life depends on it, that moves the ball, that hits shots, that plays with edge and purpose, has to show up.
Because this isn’t about potential anymore. This isn’t about what they could be.
This is about what they are… right now.
Game 1 in Denver.
They either take it… or spend the rest of the series trying to get it back.
Apr 6, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga (0) dribbles against New York Knicks guard Landry Shamet (44) during the second half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
This is the fourth and final of a series of roundtable questions I’m asking the staff here at Peachtree Hoops about the Hawks as we approach the postseason. Today’s two questions: who will be the X-factor in this series and who wins the Knicks-Hawks series?
Who will be the X-factor in this series and why?
Wes: CJ McCollum took a week or two to adapt to the screening-heavy and ball movement-heavy offense here in Atlanta, but his shot creation off the dribble has been key to unlocking a 20-6 record since the All-Star break. I suspect that — just as Jalen Brunson will have the ball in his hands during crunch time this series — the Hawks may give CJ McCollum ‘four flat’ sets late in games, and he’ll need to get to his spots for the Hawks to pull out close games.
Jackson: Dyson Daniels. In all likelihood, the Knicks will try to hide Brunson on defense by matching him up with Daniels, and it will be up to the Great Barrier Thief to make New York pay by attacking the basket and forcing Brunson to move his feet on that end of the floor. If he’s unable to do so, Daniels’ lack of perimeter shooting could become an easily exploitable vulnerability for the Hawks, especially in a playoff setting, where halfcourt offense comes more into the forefront.
Malik: Onyeka Okongwu. He’s probably going to have the task of guarding Karl-Anthony Towns, and when he and Jalen Brunson start getting into their two-man game, Okongwu will have to make the right decisions on defense. He’ll also play a big part if he’s on the court with Robinson, and his perimeter shooter could lure him out the paint, making it easier for the other Hawks to get to the rim.
Graham: Jonathan Kuminga. If Kuminga absolutely stinks off the bench, I really worry for the Hawks’ bench production in this series – unless Gabe Vincent catches fire and Zaccharie Risacher can be productive (if he even plays). If the Hawks can’t win that battle, I’m not sure they can win this series. Kuminga will have to play and be productive in order for the Hawks to have a chance to win that bench battle.
Hassan: Mouhamed Gueye. With Jock Landale set to miss the majority of the first-round thanks to the ankle injury he suffered against Orlando on April 1st, Gueye will likely get the first shot as the backup ‘5’ against New York, stepping in to guard Karl Towns whenever Okongwu needs a breather or gets into foul trouble. More importantly, he’ll draw the unenviable task of keeping New York’s back up big man, Mitchell Robinson off the glass – which will be one of the most important swing factors in the series.
On a per-possession basis, Robinson is the best offensive rebounder in the NBA, with New York grabbing the rebound on a whopping 40% (!) of their misses in the halfcourt with him on the floor this season per cleaningtheglass. Additionally, Gueye has typically operated at the ‘4’ this season, as – at 6’11”, 210 pounds – he’s struggled to match up against some of the more physically imposing bigs in the league. Lineups featuring Gueye at the ‘5’ ranked in just the 16th percentile in defensive rebounding rate during the regular season, and it’s clear that Gueye is going to have his work cut out for him going up against Robinson.
That said, I’ve had a plot on ‘Mo Gueye island’ ever since his rookie season, and one thing that’s for certain is that he is not going to back down from any matchup – no matter the size difference. Gueye is a freak athlete who ranked in the 93rd percentile in defensive EPM last season and in the 89th percentile this season. He has the agility to guard at the level of the screen and switch out on the perimeter. He posted one of the highest steal rates on the team this season. Robinson is undoubtedly a tough matchup for him, but if Gueye can give the Hawks enough on offense (30.8% from three this season), while holding his own on the defensive end and on the boards, it will significantly boost Atlanta’s chances of pulling off the upset.
The injury to Landale has clearly put Atlanta’s bench unit in a precarious position, and to be perfectly honest, if they had someone better than Gueye or Tony Bradley to step into this role, I’d be all for it. However, given the options on the roster, Gueye is their best bet, and I’m holding out hope that he’ll be able to hold his own against a physical Knicks front line. The Hawks are going to need Gueye to be at his best in this first round series.
Who wins the Knicks-Hawks series and in how many games?
Wes: Five years ago, I said Hawks in six. As we all remember, they ended up winning in five. I trust the Hawks to get the better of the Dyson Daniels on Jalen Brunson matchup and gum up New York’s entire offense. This team is playing connected and inspired basketball once again.
This is purely a vibes call but run it back. Hawks in six.
Jackson: Knicks in seven. The Hawks have many ways they can make life hard for New York, including their stable of strong perimeter defenders to throw at Brunson, as well as the Knicks’ lack of a good defensive matchup for Johnson. However, experience and homecourt advantage count for a lot in the playoffs, as does having a clear go-to option down the stretch of close games — which Atlanta currently does not. Those factors, plus New York’s undeniable advantage around the basket in this matchup, might be too much to overcome for the Hawks, but not after they give the Knicks all they can handle.
Malik: Knicks in six. Not only do I think that Mitchell Robinson will be a problem for the Hawks if Jock Landale doesn’t return in time, but Jalen Brunson always knows how to turn it on when it matters. The Hawks have several players to throw at him, but he still finds a way to get his. I also think Karl-Anthony Towns will make things hard for the Hawks. They’ll definitely put up a fight, but I think the Knicks are the better team and will prevail.
Graham: I look at the season-series numbers and think ‘what is likely to repeat in the playoffs?’ I remember looking at the Knicks-Hawks 2021 series preview and felt confident that Julius Randle was not going to average 37 again in the playoffs, nor Immanuel Quickley likely to replicate his series production from the regular season-series. In short, I thought the Knicks overplayed to their potential in the regular season. Sure enough, neither could replicate those numbers and the Hawks advanced in five games.
But this time I look at the season series averages, and I don’t see the potential for the averages to significantly regress. I think it’s entirely reasonable ‘KAT’ could average nearly 30 points on high efficiency based on how this Hawks’ frontline may be exploited. Brunson could certainly average close to 30 points in this series as he did in the regular season, and possibly more because I he will average a better three-point shooting number than 29% in the season series. The same applies for the Knicks as a whole, who averaged 29% from three against the Hawks in the season series – they were fourth in the NBA with 37.3% per game.
From the Hawks’ side of ‘what is likely to repeat’ in the postseason, Alexander-Walker averaged 28 points per game to lead the Hawks in scoring. That could persist, but the three-point shooting I fear may not – and that’s not exclusive to Alexander-Walker (who shot 45.5% from three on 11 attempts per game in the season series). Okongwu shot 47.8% from three on nearly eight attempts, and Johnson shot 45% from three – I’m just not convinced these averages can persist in the playoffs, and even with these percentages in the regular season the Hawks fell 1-2 in the season series.
Atlanta’s bench production concerns me, as does the potential reliance on CJ McCollum as the ball-handler down the stretch; I just think that’s a very one-sided matchup when you consider Brunson will be doing the same for the Knicks. McCollum has been good for the Hawks, but there is a gap in quality and reliability between those two players in two different stages of their careers. Elsewhere, the offensive rebounding/second chance scoring is obviously a huge worry.
This Hawks group is in completely new territory together in the postseason for the first time while this Knicks group have been battle-tested together — not to mention they also have homecourt. These are factors that can swing games on their own.
In short, there’s too many logical arguments in the Knicks’ favor this time around to overlook, and not many other variables go in the Hawks’ favor. I think the Knicks advance in five games.
Hassan: Knicks in 7. My heart is telling me Atlanta, but my brain is saying New York. I think the lack of firepower off the Hawks bench, New York’s advantage on the glass, and Jalen Brunson’s abilities as a closer prove too much for Atlanta to overcome.
The Knicks had the sixth best clutch record in the NBA this season (21-13) while the Hawks went just 17-18 in clutch games. I think these two teams are more evenly matched than a lot of people think, and Atlanta advancing to the second round isn’t out of the question, however New York’s experience and comfort in close games will put them over the edge.
DENVER, CO - AUGUST 15: Second baseman Tyler Freeman #2 of the Colorado Rockies flips the baseball to first with his glove but is unable to get the runner in the fourth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field on August 15, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Rockies love versatility.
They collect it. They prioritize it. They build around it — players who can move, adjust, and fill gaps across the roster.
Under the current front office, that emphasis has been explicit.
In theory, it works. But, like any philosophy, it only works if you know when to stop applying it.
The Rockies didn’t invent the experiment — but they’ve kept it going
Freeman wasn’t developed as a utility player.
In the minors, he was overwhelmingly an infielder — developed at shortstop with the expectation he’d eventually slide to second base as his long-term home.
Cleveland began expanding that role late, even moving him into center field in 2024 and asking him to learn a new position on the fly. By the time Colorado acquired him, the flexibility was already part of his profile.
The Rockies didn’t create that version of Freeman. They chose to keep going.
The Rockies saw a problem — and chose more flexibility
In 2025, Freeman hit .281, posted a .354 OBP, and still finished with negative bWAR
Because, as Joelle Milholm wrote here on the Row — he “raked at the plate, tanked in the field.”
The Rockies have a real reason to hesitate here. Freeman struggled defensively across positions, including second base.
And in 2026, they’ve already leaned on players like Willi Castro and Edouard Julien to cover those innings. That approach isn’t irrational, but the response has been more movement for Freeman.
And defense, especially in the infield, is built on repetition.
Freeman hasn’t gotten that.
The profile has never really changed
For years, the reports have been consistent:
Elite bat-to-ball skill
Advanced feel for contact
Modest but developing gap power
A likely defensive home at second base
Statcast tells a similar story now:
This isn’t a star profile. But it is: An everyday, contact-oriented profile the Rockies haven’t fully defined
So what’s missing?
The last step.
Freeman makes contact as well as almost anyone. But he hasn’t consistently turned that into damage.
And development like that doesn’t happen in abstraction — it happens in routine.
It’s the same glove. The same angles. The same pre-pitch rhythm. The feel of the dirt under your cleats, every inning.
Freeman hasn’t had that.
Instead, it’s been different gloves, different sightlines, different responsibilities. One night he’s reading hops on the infield dirt, the next he’s standing in the outfield grass, waiting instead of reacting.
That instability matters — even if the exact effects are hard to isolate.
Sports psychology research consistently shows that role clarity can influence confidence, decision-making, and perceived effectiveness. Baseball-specific evidence is more limited, but the general principle holds: players tend to perform best when expectations are stable.
And when things aren’t stable, hitters often get more conservative.
They shorten up. They put the ball in play. They avoid risk.
So a player with developing pop can become: a contact hitter who never fully taps into it
That’s not proven cause and effect, but it’s a pattern worth considering.
What happens if they choose a lane?
Make Freeman the everyday second baseman.
Not because it’s guaranteed to work, but because it hasn’t really been given a chance to.
Once that decision is made, the rest of the roster starts to organize itself.
Ryan Ritter isn’t part of the current roster, but that actually reinforces the point. His path isn’t as a primary second baseman — it’s as a true super-utility player. When he’s up, his value comes from moving between the infield and outfield, not competing for a single position. Castro already fills a version of that role at the major-league level, rotating through shortstop, second, and third base in a way that makes the roster more flexible without blurring development.
The real redundancy is elsewhere.
Freeman and Julien share a similar offensive identity — contact-driven, bat-first players whose value comes from what they do at the plate. Both have been moved around defensively. Both have below-average defensive track records. But they’re not interchangeable.
Freeman brings more athleticism. He was developed as an infielder. His profile — contact, speed, and just enough developing pop (maybe) — fits more cleanly at second base if given the chance to settle there.
Julien’s path is narrower. His value likely comes as a bat-first option moving between second, first, and DH. And if that role overlaps too heavily with Freeman’s, the Rockies eventually have to decide whether carrying both actually creates value — or just duplicates it.
Just as importantly, the outfield stops being a catch-all.
Instead of absorbing infield uncertainty, it can stabilize around players like Brenton Doyle, Mickey Moniak, Jordan Beck, Troy Johnston, and Jake McCarthy — players who are actually being evaluated as outfielders, not filling gaps created elsewhere.
That clarity extends beyond the active roster.
With Freeman anchored at second, the path for the next wave — Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP), Zac Veen (No. 9 PuRP), Cole Carrigg (No. 4 PuRP) — becomes easier to see. Not guaranteed, not blocked, but defined. They’re no longer competing against positional drift; they’re competing within structure.
And that’s the real point. Choosing a lane for Freeman doesn’t just answer one question.
It forces the Rockies to decide which overlapping skill sets they actually believe in — and which ones they don’t.
The clock is ticking
Freeman is 26 and under club control through the 2028 season.
That gives the Rockies a limited window to define him, develop him, or extract value.
Right now, they’re still figuring out what he is.
Let him be the exception
Purple Row has already documented the Rockies’ embrace of optionality. The front office has been clear about valuing adaptability.
That philosophy has value, but it still requires decisions.
Tyler Freeman doesn’t need more positions. He needs a clearer role.
The Isotopes (10-9) fall just short to the Comets (10-9) in a scoring bonanza. Charlie Condon led the way, going 3-for-5 with three RBI, while Cole Carrigg drew two walks and Chad Stevens stayed hot with a 2-for-5 performance. On the mound, Luis Peralta took the loss as pitching struggled to contain the Comets’ offense. Welinton Herrera was a bright spot, tossing two scoreless innings to open the game.
The Yard Goats (5-8) fell to the Flying Squirrels (11-2) in a hard-fought game. Aidan Longwell led the way on offense, going 3-for-5 with a home run, while Andy Perez added three hits of his own. Pitching proved to be the difference, as every arm allowed at least one run, with starter Alberto Pacheco taking the loss after giving up three earned runs in 2.1 innings.
The Indians (6-7) walked it off in the 10th inning, edging the Canadians (4-9) after a scoreless battle through nine. Robert Calaz delivered the game-winning single in extras to seal the win. On the mound, Jordy Vargas and Fisher Jameson were outstanding, combining for a shutout. It was a tightly played game throughout, with pitching dominating until the final swing.
The Grizzlies (9-4) edged the Tower Buzzers (6-6) in a close contest, scoring five runs on just five hits despite striking out 11 times. Wilder Dalis provided the biggest swing of the night, going 1-for-3 with a crucial three-run homer in the seventh. On the mound, Austin Newton delivered a strong start, allowing one run while striking out six over 5.2 innings. It was a gritty win, with Fresno making the most of limited opportunities.
In this piece by Thomas Harding on MLB.com, Ezequiel Tovar is off to a slow start, but underlying metrics suggest better results could be on the way. The Rockies remain encouraged, as he looks to turn those signs into production while aiming to reach a higher level this season.
Snow blanketed Coors Field before the Dodgers-Rockies game, where Emmet Sheehan even paused to admire a snowman near the field. Crews cleared it in time, but the scene added a perfect “only in Colorado” twist to an April night at the ballpark.
Renee Dechert of Purple Row takes a fun look at the Albuquerque Isotopes’ 2026 walk-up songs, highlighting the mix of personality and culture throughout the roster. From hip-hop and reggaeton to rock and country, the playlist reflects each player’s style and adds a behind-the-scenes feel to the team’s at-bats.
At the moment, I’m not on the IL. I am, however, perpetually listed day-to-day.
When it rains it pours: The Cubs placed closer Daniel Palencia on the 15 day IL with a left oblique strain. He joins Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey and Porter Hodge (out for the season) as relievers who are down.
Matt Sullivan (Sporting News): Who is Cubs’ new closer? Chicago has replacement plan for injured Daniel Palencia. “Caleb Thielbar, the 39-year-old lefty veteran who has some closing experience in his career, is an option. Hoby Milner, another veteran lefty, doesn’t have much closing experience, but it’s not completely foreign. Jacob Webb? Ben Brown?”
Matt Sullivan (Sporting News): Cubs reveal 2027 timeline for Cade Horton after Tommy John surgery. “”Cubs Cade Horton had his elbow surgery,” Rogers reports. “Looking at a 15-16 month recovery, per Craig Counsell. Horton being out 15-16 months means that, beyond simply missing the rest of the 2026 MLB season, he’s also going to miss the first few months of the 2027 season.”
Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Cubs Could Be Only Option for Giolito, Who Might Settle for Discounted One-Year Deal. ““The two teams linked are the Padres and the Cubs,” Jon Heyman told 104.3 The Score on Thursday. “Now, the Padres are creative, but they have zero money. So it’s not gonna be easy to sign a free agent of that ilk with zero money. So, of the two teams linked, [the Cubs]’re the only one who has a dime, so they probably have a shot at Giolito.”
Brian Kelder (North Side Baseball): Just How Good is Michael Busch? “He’s off to a rough start, but do the Cubs have a star at first base?”
Field Level Media (Deadspin): Cubs LHP Matthew Boyd (biceps) begins rehab assignment. “Boyd gave up three runs on four hits over 3 2/3 innings for Triple-A Iowa, while throwing 64 pitches (46 for strikes) at Columbus. He had one walk and six strikeouts. Boyd could return to the Cubs’ rotation as early as next week, according to manager Craig Counsell, with Chicago set to face the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers.”
Jake Misener (Cubbies Crib): Jed Hoyer addresses the elephant in the room talking about rash of Cubs injuries. “Regardless of the cause, the fact (the injuries) are happening with such regularity, paired with the Cubs having not yet proven they can consistently develop long-term pitching solutions, is a major long-term concern..”
Tony Andracki (Bleacher Nation): Is the Cubs Offense … Back? “The Cubs scored 28 runs in three games in Philadelphia, including blowout wins Tuesday and Wednesday. For perspective, the Cubs scored only 29 runs in the previous six games.”
Aldo Soto (Sports Mockery): Chicago Cubs Fans Need to Slow Their Roll on Kevin Alcántara. “This week is the perfect example of the boom-or-bust nature of Alcantara’s season so far. In two games this week, he’s 2-for-10 with 2 HRs with six strikeouts. Out of 225 qualified hitters in triple-A, Alcantara’s 38.1% ranks ninth-highest.”
“Every page these days has some form of advertising. {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.“
Food For Thought:
D Man is the driving force behind D Man & The Alley Hounds, a prominent blues-rock outfit based in Louisville, Kentucky. D Man is recognized for his “High Energy Blues & Rock ‘n’ Roll Show,” often interacting closely with the audience. His performances are characterized by soulful vocals and a repertoire that honors legends like Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf while keeping a modern edge.
An Arkansas athlete donned 55 T-shirts and ran a half marathon
Most Unique Places to Visit in the USA | Hidden Gems Travel Guide
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
Dylan File put together a nice start and Max Clark had a big night as the Hens took down the Bats and evened the series 2-2.
Clark singled but was picked off in the first inning, but in the top of the second, Eduardo Valencia led off with a single. Jace Jung followed with a single and Corey Julks reached on an error. After a Tyler Gentry strikeout, Ben Malgeri lifted a deep enough fly ball to get the run in, but that was all they’d get from the inning. 1-0 Hens.
File cruised through four innings without much trouble in the meantime, although he certainly wasn’t racking up the whiffs. He allowed two hits and two walks, and then watched his team add on a run in the top of the fifth. Trei Cruz led off with a single and Clark lined another single to right field. Gage Workman doubled in Cruz, but Clark was thrown out trying to score on a Valencia ground ball, and the Bats escaped the inning with the Hens leading 2-0.
Max Clark with his third single of the day, and just like that he’s hitting .333 against lefties on the season. pic.twitter.com/ffIe0BlbI2
File allowed a run in the bottom half, but escaped a minor jam on a Blake Dunn double play ball and wrapped up a pretty good outing overall.
Gentry and Malgeri immediately got the Hens going in the top of the sixth with back-to-back doubles to make it 3-1. A pair of ground outs followed, but Clark stepped to the dish and crushed a 108.4 mph blast to right field for a two-run shot, his first Triple-A home run. 5-1 Hens.
Max Clark crushes this ball for his first Triple-A homer. Left his bat at 108.4 MPH and went an estimated 414 feet. He’s 4-for-4 tonight, and Toledo leads 5-1. pic.twitter.com/Lv5FxpiQ0Z
Max Burt tripled and scored on a wild pitch in the eighth to make it 6-1. Matt Seelinger allowed a run in the bottom of the ninth, but wrapped this one up without much trouble.
Clark: 4-5, R, 2 RBI, HR
Jung: 2-4, 2B, BB
Julks: 2-5, K
File (W, 1-0): 5.0 IP, ER, 4 H, 2 BB, K
Coming Up Next: It’s a 1:05 p.m. ET start on Saturday.
Knuckleballer Kenny Serwa survived issuing five walks, surrendering just a pair of runs, only one earned, but it was a quiet game from the SeaWolves offense.
Brett Callahan doubled and drew a walk, but Justice Bigbie was the only other player with a hit. Harrisburg right-hander Davian Garcia wasn’t exactly dominant, but he had a solid night and got good defensive work behind him.
Woo-Suk Go did post his second straight outstanding outing, striking out five and giving up one hit in two scoreless innings.
Carlos Pena gave the SeaWolves a good outing, and the bats had enough to take down the Senators on Friday.
The SeaWolves started quickly as Seth Stephenson lead off with an infield single, and Peyton Graham doubled him in. A pair of ground outs got Graham home for a 2-0 lead.
Pena allowed a two-run homer in the top of the second as Harrisburg tied it up, but he shut the Senators down from there, striking out eight without a walk allowed, scattering four hits on the night.
The SeaWolves came right back as Justice Bigbie singled to lead off the game, and E.J. Exposito cracked a two-run homer to re-open a 4-2 lead.
Pena got in a bit of trouble in the fourth after a single allowed, and then a two-out double, but a relay from left fielder Chris Meyers in to Graham and home to Bennett Lee cut down the runner and ended the inning.
The SeaWolves made it 5-2 in the bottom half after Bigbie led off with a single, Exposito walked, and Lee singled in Bigbie.
Peña finished his outing by striking out the side in the fifth. Trevin Michael walked three in two innings of work, but collected the save anyway.
Exposito: 1-2, R, 2 RBI, HR, BB
Stephenson: 2-3, R, K
Bigbie: 2-3, 2 R
Pena (W, 1-1): 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 8 K
Coming Up Next: It’s a 1:35 p.m. ET start on Saturday.
West Michigan Whitecaps 6, Lansing Lugnuts 4 (box)(F/7)(Gm1)
The Whitecaps got a good outing from Lucas Ellisalt and just held on against a late charge from Lansing to take Game 1 on Friday.
Elissalt only went four innings in this one, but he blanked the Lugnuts, striking out four. Meanwhile, his teammates gave him an early lead to work with. Patrick Lee and Ricardo Hurtado hit one-out singles in the top of the first, and Garrett Pennington reached on an infield single to load the bases. Andrew Sojka paddled a single through the right side of the infield to plate Lee and Hurtado, though Pennington was thrown out trying to take third base, and Cristian Santana flew out. Still is was a 2-0 lead.
Lee got them started again in the fifth when he hammered a deep drive to center field for a triple. Hurtado walked, and their first baseman, Pennington, did first baseman things by ripping a three-run shot the opposite way to make it 5-0.
Patrick Lee drives a triple to right center to get West Michigan started in the 5th inning. pic.twitter.com/2jNyf1jXUA
Garrett Pennington launches a 3-run homer to the opposite field to put the Whitecaps up 5-0. It’s his 3rd home run of the year. @jgoldstrass on the call. pic.twitter.com/9KKASHSNbQ
Duque Hebbert took over for the ‘Caps after a clean fifth from CJ Weins. Hebbert got knocked around a little for two runs in the sixth.
In the top of the seventh, leading 5-2, Hurtado drew a one-out walk and Pennington singled him to third. A Sojka fly ball was deep enough to get the run in for a 6-2 lead.
Hebbert got into trouble in the bottom of th eseventh, but held on to wrap this one up.
Pennington: 3-4, R, 3 RBI, HR
Hurtado: 2-2, 3 R, 2 BB
Patrick Lee: 2-4, 2 R, 3B, 2 K
Elissalt: 4.0 IP, 0 R, H, 2 BB, 4 K
West Michigan Whitecaps 4, Lansing Lugnuts 1 (box)(F/7)(Gm2)
The Whitecaps swept the Lugnuts despite Lansing outhitting them 11 to 4. That makes it four straight for the Whitecaps in this series, and five straigth overall.
On a bit of a makeshift night from the bullpen, the Whitecaps built a lead right away and managed to hold on despite all the traffic on the bases. The game started with Patrick Lee reaching on an error, and Juan Hernandez, just up from Lakeland, followed with a single. Garrett Pennington stepped in and launched his second three-run bomb on the day, and it was 3-0.
And Garrett Pennington gives West Michigan an early lead with this 3-run blast to left center. It’s his 2nd 3-run shot of the doubleheader, and his 4th home run of the season. @jgoldstrass calls it, and he sees threes everywhere. pic.twitter.com/KXNsjhmMR0
Zack Lee got the start, and he tossed three scoreless innings. Lefty Ethan Sloan handled the fourth, and then Ryan Harvey took over in the fifth. Harvey allowed a pair of singles before getting a strikeout and a pop-up. Another single drove in the Lugnuts only run of the game. One more single to Nolan McCarthy in left, making his High-A debut, saw McCarthy cut down Gunner Gouldsmith trying to score to end the inning.
Nolan McCarthy made a great catch earlier in the game and now he makes a great throw home for an outfield assist to end the inning. pic.twitter.com/vdrUqMXVvT
The Tigers signed RHP Seth Chavez to a minor league deal back on April 8, and he took over for the final two innings. Hunter Dobbins singled in the top of the seventh, advanced to second on a Clayton Campbell soft tapper to the pitcher, advanced to third on a balk, and scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-1, where it ended.
Pennington: 1-3, R, 3 RBI, HR
Patrick Lee: 0-2, R, 2 BB
Lee: 3.0 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 BB, K
Coming Up Next:
Lakeland Flying Tigers 5, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels 2 (box)
Zach MacDonald remains red hot at the plate, and the Flying Tigers got good pitching on a bullpen day to win again on Friday.
The Flying Tigers got out to a quick lead when Jesus Pinto singled and MacDonald walked with one out in the first. Beau Ankeney doubled to left and both runners came around to score.
Charlie Christensen is off to a nice start in his pro career, and he tossed two scoreless to start this one off. Cale Wetwiska had a little more trouble, striking out five, but giving up two solo shots that tied the game in his two innings of work.
In the fifth, MacDonald, playing left field in this one, crushed another hard hit homer at 111.4 mph to make it a 3-2 lead. Wetwiska started the fifth, but came out of the game with an injury, though there was nothing obviously wrong and his velocity had been good all night.
Zach MacDonald with another absolute rocket to left. It’s his 5th home run of the year, and he has gone deep in three straight games. Left his bat at 111.4 MPH and went 396 feet. The Flying Tigers lead 3-2. 🚀 pic.twitter.com/bkJnkU2Mzo
Scott Effross and Eliseo Mota got the Flying Tigers through the fifth, sixth, and seventh without a baserunner, combining for five strikeouts.
In the top of the ninth, Jack Goodman singled, and catcher Sergio Tapia pulled a fly ball to left for a two-run shot to make it 5-2, where it ended. Donye Evans was a little shaky in his two innings of work, but collected the save.
While Zach MacDonald is tearing it up, Bryce Rainer continues to struggle pretty terribly after his long absence. He’s struck out 19 times in 10 games this season and his approach is a mess currently. It’s very early though.
Sergio Tapia launches a 2-run homer to left and Lakeland takes a 5-2 lead in the 9th. pic.twitter.com/hXkg6TOAB2
Just like that, there is no real reason to parse scoring stats for the Cubs anymore. With 33 runs over their last three games and 47 over five, they are now up to 106 runs in 19 games (~5.6/game). Last season, over the whole season, they averaged about 4.9 runs per game. Summer weather and rosters depleted by injuries and/or trades haven’t happened yet.
I know some were worried about the offense after an anemic open to the season, but just like that, the Cubs offense is clicking. To be fair, when they struggled over those early games, I noted that the distressing thing is that they really hadn’t had to go through very many elite pitchers. That was a daunting aside at that point. Now, through this earlier schedule, they’ve produced very well. The wear and tear of a season and those elite arms still lay ahead. But the Cubs offense has shown that they can be dangerous.
There is a lot of baseball to be played. I’m not going to be exuberant about things based off of three straight wins, just like I wasn’t in the doldrums when they had gotten off to a sluggish start. Even the worst teams look good sometimes and even the best teams look lousy sometimes. Through a little less than 15 percent of the season, the team is 10-9. Over 162 games, that would be an 86-win pace. I’m going to bet most of you won’t quibble that this team has felt like about an 86-win team over the course of the season.
The real question from here is does the team stay around that level? Or does this team take off from here? I’ve learned that, despite the marathon nature of baseball, a lot of fans suffer from a lot of recency bias. So this is a weird conversation for me to have with many of you. I thought they were a 90-95 win team before the season. So these three wins feel like some signal that they can be that kind of team. But if you thought they were an 80-85 win team, you are probably looking at the whole 19 and saying this is going to be a bumpy ride.
Either way, enjoy it when things swing up like this.
Three Positives:
Moisés Ballesteros had two hits, one a three-run homer that blew the game open early.
I love Nico Hoerner, he’s my favorite current Cub. That said, if I had to list Cubs who might put up MVP caliber numbers over a 20 game period, he’d be well down the list. I would be highly surprised to see a Hoerner like player do well in the MVP voting, but he’s having that kind of run right now. Three more hits, one more a homer and two more runs driven in. Second in all of baseball in RBI. Largely from the lead-off spot.
Michael Busch had two hits, a walk and scored twice. The numbers are rebounding some and I’m hoping the power numbers start to fall in place next.
Game 19, April 17: Cubs 12, Mets 4 (9-8)
GRAPH
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: Moisés Ballesteros (.226). 2-2, HR, 3 RBI, R
Hero: Nico Hoerner (.156). 3-5, HR, 2 RBI, R
Sidekick: Seiya Suzuki (.077). 2-5, 2B, RBI, 2 R
THREE GOATS:
Billy Goat: Carson Kelly (-.044). 1-4, R, DP
Goat: Pete Crow-Armstrong (-.030). 0-3, BB
Kid: Dansby Swanson (-.029). 1-2, BB, 2 R
WPA Play of the Game: Moisés Ballesteros hit a three-run homer with two outs in the first to add to an early 1-0 lead. (.206)
*Mets Play of the Game: Marcus Semien with runners at first and second and no outs in the second, scoring one and decreasing the Cub lead to three. (.122)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 18 Winner: Nico Hoerner received 145 out of 244 votes.
Up Next: Game two of the three-game set. Jameson Taillon (0-1, 4.86, 16.2 IP) makes his fourth start and seeks his first win. Old nemesis Freddy Peralta (1-1, 3.86, 21 IP) makes his first start as a Met against the Cubs. This is his fifth start for the Mets.
I have no objections to a fourth straight win. If the Mets want to implode, I’m definitely here for it.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - APRIL 15: Jung Hoo Lee #51 of the San Francisco Giants is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a run during the second inning of the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on April 15, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
Another week of San Francisco Giants baseball is drawing to a close, which means it’s time to pick our Player of the Week!
They say there’s a song for any and every occasion, and I guess the one for today is “Slim Pickins” by Sabrina Carpenter. Because there was not a lot to cheer for this week. As of the time this is being written, the Giants have lost every game so far this week.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t silver linings, I guess. So I’m going to give the honors to Jung Hoo Lee this week. He has been heating up a bit over the last few games, and even got his first home run of the season in last Friday’s win over the Baltimore Orioles. The last recorded win as of the time this is being written. So that’s something to celebrate.
Who is your pick for Player of the Week?
What time do the Giants play today?
The Giants continue their series against the Washington Nationals today at 1:05 p.m. PT.
