The Orlando Magic will be without forward Franz Wagner for Game 6 against the Detroit Pistons with a right calf strain.
The Magic lead the Eastern Conference first-round best-of-seven series three games to two. Orlando has not advanced past the first round in the playoffs since 2010.
Wagner was injured during the third quarter of Orlando's 94-88 win in Game 4. He scored 19 points before leaving the game and has not played since.
Detroit, the top seed in the East, staved off elimination for at least one more game with a 116-109 victory in Game 5 behind Cade Cunningham's 45 points, a Pistons single-game playoff record.
Franz Wagner injury
Wagner will miss his second consecutive playoff game because of the tight calf strain. Should Orlando lose Game 6, it is unclear whether Wagner will be able to play in a Game 7 in Detroit.
Wagner, who was seen in a walking boot earlier in the week, has averaged 16.7 points during the series first four games.
After
enjoying a day off on Thursday, the Montreal Canadiens and the Tampa Bay
Lightning will be back on the ice tonight, and the Habs will have the
opportunity to advance to the second round with a win. Since moving to the Bell
Centre in 1996, the Sainte-Flanelle has eliminated its rivals only four times
in front of a capacity-filled building. A 3-0 win against the Pittsburgh
Penguins in 1998, a 2-1 win against the Boston Bruins in 2002, a 5-0 win
against those same Bruins in 2008, and a 4-3 win against the Lightning in 2014,
a sweep. Then, twice in front of a
limited number of fans during its magical run to the Cup final in 2021, a 3-2
win against the Winnipeg Jets to finish the sweep and another 3-2 win, this
time against the Vegas Golden Knights in overtime on St-Jean-Baptiste day in
Game 6.
Can the
Canadiens do it once more on Friday night? Time will tell. Historically, the
Bolts have an 11-10 record in Game 6 of a series for a .524 winning percentage.
When the game is played at home, they are 6-6, and when it’s on the road, they
are 5-4. However, when they trail 3-2 in the series, they are 4-6 for a .400
winning percentage. When the series started at home, and Game 6 was played on
the road, they have a 2-1 record (.667 winning percentage).
Meanwhile,
the Canadiens have a 36-27 record in Game 6 of a series for a .571 winning
percentage. When that game is played on the road, they are 17-18, but at home
they are 19-9 for a .679 winning percentage. When they have a 3-2 series lead,
they have a 27-3 record for a stunning .900 winning percentage, and when the
series started on the road and Game 6 is played at home, they are 7-1 (.875 win
percentage).
If for many
of the young Habs this will be a first game in which they can eliminate their
rival, for a couple of veterans with the Lightning, facing elimination is just
another day at the office. Defenseman Ryan McDonagh, a former Canadiens
first-round pick from the 2007 draft who was traded to acquire Scott Gomez,
will be playing his 31st game facing elimination; his team has come out on top
20 times. As for forward Corey Perry, he’s faced that situation 35 times, and
his team has won 19 of those games.
All eyes
will be on Martin St-Louis once more tonight to see if he makes any lineup
changes or lines adjustments. Will Brendan Gallagher play a second game in a row?
He has certainly proven that he can still make an impact on proceedings, even
with limited ice time. Will Josh Anderson still be with Nick Suzuki and Cole
Caufield? Will the Lady Bing finalist finally break through at even strength? Or
will the Canadiens’ depth scoring finish the job it started so well? Can the
Canadiens manage to keep Hagel off the scoresheet for a second game in a row?
It would certainly be a step in the right direction…
The Canadiens
will hold a morning skate at the Bell Centre at 10:30 AM, but by now we know
that St-Louis is unlikely to reveal much ahead of puck drop. The game is set
for 7:00 PM, and you can catch it on CBC, TVAS, SN, ESPN2, and The Spot. Francis Charron and Jon McIsaac are set to officiate, while Jesse Marquis and Andrew Smith will be the linemen. If you're attending the game, be sure to be in your seat for the pump-up video, it yet another strong offering by the Canadiens. It will also be interesting to see who will carry the torch tonight. Cournoyer did it for Game 1, Savard did it for Game 3, who's next? Larry Robinson? Patrick Roy?
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 21: Pitcher Brandon Claussen #77 of the New York Yankees poses for a portrait during the Yankees' spring training Media Day on February 21, 2003 at Legends Field in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Brian Cashman was ready for a change. A 36-year-old Robin Ventura was showing signs of wear, slashing just .251/.344/.392. On a star-studded Yankees roster, his spot at third base seemed the most plausible position to upgrade. It just so happened that the Reds were in the midst of a fire sale and were looking to move a third baseman of their own, one six years younger and in the middle of a career year.
In separate moves, the Yankees GM spun Ventura off to the Dodgers and swung a deal with Cincinnati to replace him with one Aaron Boone. Cashman could never imagine how integral Boone would be to his team’s fortunes over the next two-plus decades. What he did know was that, to acquire him, he’d need to part with his most promising pitching prospect.
Brandon Allen Falker Claussen Born: May 1, 1979 (Rapid City, SD) Yankees Tenure: 2003
Brandon Claussen did not begin his journey in pro ball with much fanfare. The third player ever selected out of Howard College in Big Spring, Texas, he was taken by the Yankees in the now-defunct 34th round of the 1998 MLB Draft. As is the case for any unheralded prospect who makes it to the show, Claussen took a slow and steady path up the food chain. After proving himself at Rookie Ball, Low A, Single-A, and High-A, the left-hander broke out at Double-A in 2001, going 9-2 with a 2.13 ERA in 21 starts. Baseball America took notice, ranking Claussen as 37th-best prospect in baseball before the 2002 season.
Claussen made 15 starts at Triple-A that year and appeared to be on the doorstep of the Bronx. That’s when his ascent was stunted by the dreaded Tommy John surgery, ending his ‘02 campaign. “This isn’t career-threatening,” said Mark Newman, the Yankees’ senior vice president for baseball operations, encouragingly of the team’s top pitching prospect. “They do it with great effectiveness now. He’s a strong, hard-working kid, so he’s got as good a chance as anybody.”
The injury may actually have kept Claussen in pinstripes. He was a hot name in July trade talks, especially with the Blue Jays, who reportedly wanted him as the centerpiece of a deal for outfielder Raúl Mondesi. Toronto settled on a less highly-regarded lefty, Scott Wiggins, instead; they were mostly just happy to unload the surly Mondesi’s contract.
Newman’s optimistic angle on Claussen was proven right, as he returned to game action in late April. He bounced back admirably in 2003, making 11 starts at Triple-A to the tune of a 2.75 ERA. “He is quick to return from [Tommy John], but he feels he is very healthy,” Gordon Blakeley, the Yankees’ senior vice president for baseball operations, said. ”His stuff is back where it was before the injury.”
In the midst of this run of excellence, Claussen was called up for a spot start during a rare multi-stadium doubleheader against the Mets in order to keep the rest of the Yankees’ staff on regular rest. It was to be his only start for the team that drafted him. Claussen performed well, pitching around eight hits while allowing two runs (one earned) in 6.1 innings. Playing on the road at Shea Stadium, he even added a base hit and an RBI to cap off a stellar debut. “I was just going to go out and play my game,” he said after the win. “That’s what got me here.” The southpaw impressed his Hall of Fame manager as well. “His poise was unbelievable,” said Joe Torre. “He was very impressive.”
Despite a crowded starting rotation, the Yankees’ top pitching prospect appeared to have a bright future in pinstripes. But there was another major development during that doubleheader against the Mets that would end up cutting his Yankees tenure short. Torre benched Ventura for both games, noting that “his bat’s a little slow now.” After Claussen’s scheduled second start was rained out, he was optioned down to Triple-A as the deadline hot stove began to reach a smolder. The Yankees were looking to augment their bullpen and everyone from the Rangers (who were shopping Ugueth Urbina) to the Mets (Armando Benítez) to the Pirates (Scott Sauerbeck) and the Reds (Scott Williamson) were reportedly interested in Claussen as the centerpiece of their return.
Cashman held strong in his desire to retain the talented southpaw but relented once Boone was on the table. On July 31st, the GM shipped Claussen and fellow lefty Charlie Manning off to Cincinnati for the third baseman. “Brandon Claussen, in our opinion, is the real deal,” Cashman said after the move was finalized. “In terms of getting top talent, you have to rob Peter to pay Paul.” As had happened so many times before, the New York press suspected that the Boss had put his thumb on the scale to force his front office to sacrifice the future for the present. “The deal seems more like a hurried decision to appease George Steinbrenner, the principal owner, than a move that instantly addresses a primary weakness or provides an incredible player,” wrote Jack Curry for The New York Times.
Boone’s impact on the Yankees — first as a hero in the 2003 ALCS, then as the man whose offseason ACL injury opened the door for New York to acquire Alex Rodriguez, and finally as the team’s skipper for eight years and counting — is well-documented. For his part, Claussen finished the ‘03 season with Triple-A Louisville and would spend the next three seasons shuttling between there and Cincinnati.
In 57 starts over those years, he never fulfilled the potential that had enthralled much of the league, going 15-27 with a 5.12 ERA while walking 120 and striking out just 223 in 309.2 innings. In June of 2006, the 27-year-old was placed on the DL with a rotator cuff tear which would require surgery and end his days in a Reds uniform. The Nationals signed him to a one-year deal for the ‘07 season. After seven minor-league starts, he hung up his spikes for good, joining his father-in-law’s family tire business.
As of 2023, he was still in that line of work, running his own wheel repair shop in Lubbock, Texas. Rustin Dodd of The Athleticwrote a fantastic piece on Claussen that year in which he revealed his perspective on his reputation as a “bust.”
I think there’s so much emphasis on looking at the occupation to make you happy,” he said. “But what I’ve learned is a job is a job. If it’s a baseball, if it’s changing tires, it is what it is. It’s who you do it for and who you do it with.”
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 18: Denzel Clarke #1 of the Athletics runs the bases against the Chicago White Sox in the bottom of the seventh inning of a major league baseball game at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Athletics are out to a better-than-expected start as they sit atop the division with a 17-14 record and a one-and-a-half game lead over the Seattle Mariners. It’s only the first month of the season but April went about as good as you could hope for the A’s as they have the third-best record in baseball so far. They had a rough schedule that saw them on the road lots during the first month but on the bright side that just means more home games the rest of the way. That’ll be helpful down the line when the A’s are tired and don’t want to hit the road.
The calendar has now turned to May though and things will only get harder from here. The target is now on our backs and teams in the division know they can’t arrive to Sacramento and expect to automatically get two or three wins. This group of A’s has a lot more heart and is much more scrappy than the versions we saw over the past two years. That doesn’t mean there aren’t things to consider or watch moving forward. Things like…
1. How long is Jacob Lopez’s leash?
Lopez entered camp this year seemingly with nothing to prove but health after a solid rookie season that saw him post a 4.07 ERA across 21 games (17 starts). He helped to solidify the middle of an Athletics rotation that needed arms and really saved the starting staff with his out-of-nowhere season. Considered a throw-in in the trade that also brought Jeffrey Springs to the A’s, Lopez looked like a steal, and an under control one at that.
But so far this year things have not gone according to plan. Lopez’s spot in the starting rotation was not as secure as fans thought entering spring, with only the veterans Severino, Springs and Civale assured of starting roles to begin the year. Fellow starter Luis Morales was ahead of Lopez on the depth chart but he only made two starts for the big league squad before the team had seen enough and demoted him to Triple-A, replacing him in the rotation with J.T. Ginn, who has been a steady presence at the backend of the rotation since joining.
Severino’s contract makes it certain that he has a long leash. Springs has been the team’s best pitcher in the first month, and Civale is looking like a steal of a bargain for what he’s doing right now. Ginn is holding his own as well, and that means all signs point towards Lopez being the odd man out when the A’s want to get a look at a different young arm.
Lopez hasn’t done a whole lot to inspire confidence that he’s about to turn a corner. The 28-year-old has a rough 5.84 ERA this season and more walks (21) than strikeouts (18). He ended last year on the IL with a flexor strain in his pitching elbow, a worrying injury that made him a slight question mark all offseason long. It’s possible he’s not as healed as he thinks and is making bad adjustments to compensate, and with Mason Barnett looking good in Las Vegas Lopez’s time in the rotation could be short. He’s scheduled to get the ball on Saturday against Cleveland and he desperately needs a quality outing to ensure his spot in the starting staff.
2. What’s the plan when Denzel Clarke is healthy?
The gifted center fielder can certainly play his position as well as anyone in the game and a Gold Glove feels like a given if he gets enough playing time. It feels like the young outfielder is taking away hits and robbing home runs on a nightly basis, and that’s only barely hyperbole. He’s one of the best to play the position for the Athletics in a long, long time.
But the 26-year-old is hitting just .170 with a 24/4 K/BB ratio during the first month of the 2026 season. Those are even worse stats than last year when he was 26% worse than league average. This year? The 25-year-old is 84%(!) worse than league average. That’s… not good. At all. It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise either though as Clarke struggles both during Spring Training and during Team Canada’s time in the World Baseball Classic.
While A’s fans had high hopes that Clarke could at least be serviceable in the batting order, he’s instead become a black hole, an automatic out that has cost the team plenty of times already. Clarke had shown promise in the upper minors and the A’s were ready to push the envelope with him just to get his glove to the big leagues faster. He was never going to be a speedster or a power threat, but the way he looks in the batter’s box makes one think he should not only be in the minors, but perhaps even back in Double-A.
Clarke needs to completely readjust his approach at the plate, but that’s hard to do in the middle of the season. This injury that he suffered shouldn’t prevent him from getting back out onto the field for too much longer, but it might behoove the A’s to let Clarke find himself with his bat down in Triple-A until he figures things out. That’s not what the Athletics were planning for when they essentially handed him the center field job to begin the year, but that’s where we are now. Will he be reinstated and immediately retake his spot in center upon his return?
3. Will the A’s have a closer?
Right-handed Joel Kuhnel has gotten the bulk of save opportunities since his promotion on April 7th. He’s 4-for-4 in that regard while allowing only three earned runs in that time, and his 2.70 ERA is looking mighty nice in the early going.
This has been an out-of-nowhere development for the bullpen. Kuhnel was brought aboard this offseason on a minor league deal after spending the past six seasons bouncing around the league. Before this season he hadn’t had much in the way of chances in the big leagues other than a 53 appearance season way back in 2022, when he posted a 6.36 ERA for the Reds. There wasn’t much thought then at the time other than “nice depth”, but Kuhnel is making the most of his opportunity right now.
But Kuhnel ran into some problems in the second game of the Royals series, allowing a run and giving the Royals a chance to have a late-game comeback. Thankfully Mark Kotsay came out to get his right-hander before things got more out of hand, giving Mark Leiter Jr. the chance to nail down his third save of the season. So what’s going to happen over the next month? Is Kuhnel our guy until he inevitably blows a save, and then it’s back up for grabs from that point on? Is his time as the closer already over? The A’s had another save opportunity yesterday and Kotsay went with Jack Perkins to finish off KC.
The hope is that the journeyman righty can continue to solidify the backend of the A’s bullpen. It worked out for the A’s at times last year but having a closer-by-committee isn’t a long-term way to use the relief unit. Everyone having their set roles and knowing when or where they might be used is beneficial to all those arms that are asked to come into games and lock down the win. It’s a highly stressful job, being a reliever in the big leagues, and asking guys to be ready at a moment’s notice for the entirety of a baseball game is just another added stress. Maybe Kotsay can press all the right buttons for six whole months (and hopefully playoffs), but there’s a reason a team like the Padres shelled out big time to acquire Mason Miller last year. Here’s to hoping we can lock someone into the closer’s role sooner rather than later.
NEW YORK — Luke Weaver thinks losing is weighing on the Mets and New York is being suffocated by its poor play.
Weaver gave up a go-ahead, two-run homer to CJ Abrams in the eighth inning that lifted the Washington Nationals to a 5-4 win and dealt the Mets their 17th defeat in 20 games.
“At the end of the day, this pursuit of perfection is just an ultimate pressurized failure mindset,” Weaver said softly during a lengthy postgame introspection. “Everybody wants to be the hero because we care and we want to win really, really bad, and I just don’t think success lives in that realm. It just truly doesn’t and I think the freedom of which we play day to day is just kind of being suffocated a little bit.”
New York is a major league-worst 10-21. The team’s .323 winning percentage through April is its fourth-lowest behind bad starts in 1962 (3-13), 1964 (2-10) and 1981 (4-10).
After overcoming a 3-0 deficit to take a 4-3 lead on MJ Melendez’s three-run homer in the third and Mark Vientos’ RBI double in the sixth, the Mets lost a game in which they were ahead for the 10th time this year.
Luis García Jr. singled on the first pitch of the eighth from Weaver, and Daylen Lile beat a relay throw to avoid a double play. Abrams drove a hanging changeup 403 feet to right-center.
“I want to do my job. It’s that simple. There’s moments that feel really close, and then there’s just one — mistakes that magnify our situation,” Weaver said. “And, so, of course I sit there and feel the weight of the world, and feel like I let the team down. But at the end of the day, I do feel like I’m in a good spot. It’s just, we sit there and we just tell you guys, ‘It’ll come. This is the game. This is the law of averages’ and all these things, but at the end of the day those words just don’t hold the same weight when you continue to go (lose) day after day.”
Much was expected from the Mets, whose offseason makeover saw Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo and Edwin Díaz depart, and Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien and Devin Williams arrive. Thus far, it’s fizzled.
New York started the season with the major leagues’ highest payroll at $358.4 million. A big league-best 45-23 at the start of play on June 13 last year, the Mets are 48-76 since.
They are 27th among the 30 teams with a .227 batting average, 29th with 106 runs and 30th with a .631 OPS.
“Typically we don’t see an entire kind of collective group at the same time not playing their best brand of baseball,” Weaver said.
New York’s lone position players batting above .240 are $765 million slugger Juan Soto, whose 15-game absence because of a right calf injury coincided with a 12-game losing streak, and Melendez, who opened the season in the minors but has batted third behind Soto the last two games.
One-third of the Mets’ opening-day lineup is on the injured list. Center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (lumbar spine disk herniation) joined shortstop Francisco Lindor (left calf) and first baseman/designated hitter Jorge Polanco (left Achilles, right wrist) are on the shelf.
Weaver and Williams, imported from the crosstown New York Yankees by president of baseball operations David Stearns to rebuild the back of the bullpen, have combined for a 6.86 ERA and three blown saves.
Mets starters are averaging barely five innings per outing. Members of the rotation other than Clay Holmes and rookie Nolan McLean have a 6.04 ERA.
“It just feels like there’s a little bit of a culture that’s just kind of adapted to it unintentionally,” Weaver said. “It’s just how winning and losing goes. When you win, you feel like you’re on top of the world. When you’re losing, everybody wants to talk about the failures and the outcomes. And the magnification just becomes immense.
“Sleep is lost. The mind wanders and you just kind of get into a fixation that you don’t really need to be in.”
The Mets are 8 1/2 games out of the NL’s final playoff spot and 11 1/2 games back of the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves. Only two teams — the 1914 Boston Braves and the 1981 Kansas City Royals — have made the playoffs after starting 10-21 or worse — and the Royals did so by winning the AL West second half crown in the split strike season.
“It’s hard for all of us,” embattled manager Carlos Mendoza said. “We’re in this together. It’s not easy. But we’ve got to keep going. There’s no other choices here. We have a responsibility and we have to turn this thing around.”
Perhaps by going all the way back to their first days as baseball players.
“It’s simplifying the process and maybe doing less,” Weaver said. “Maybe it’s less reps. Maybe it’s more about just enjoying why you do this for a living and trying to just find your inner kid and the joy of why you play the game and not trying to do it for other people.”
The Los Angeles Dodgers begin a six-game road trip as they visit the St. Louis Cardinals tonight.
There’s some added intrigue to this series as LA has dropped two straight, while the Cardinals have won four in a row.
My Dodgers vs. Cardinals predictions and MLB picks expect the defending champs to land the first blow on Friday, May 1.
Who will win Dodgers vs Cardinals today: Dodgers moneyline (-167)
We’re getting a discounted price on the best team in the league because they’re on the road, have dropped two straight, and are facing a club riding a four-game win streak.
L.A. comes in fully rested after an off day, while St. Louis played Thursday and has a taxed bullpen, with six relievers throwing 29+ pitches over the last three days.
COVERS INTEL: Matthew Liberatore opened the season with a noticeable uptick in velocity, but that trend is now heading the wrong way. He averaged 93.4 mph on his four-seamer in his last start, down nearly a full tick from his season average of 94.3 mph.
Dodgers vs Cardinals Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-102)
Liberatore has long struggled to keep batters from reaching base (1.39 WHIP), and LA’s star-studded lineup should capitalize.
His pitching counterpart, Emmet Sheehan, is dealing with decreased velocity. He’s averaging 94.6 mph on his heater after sitting at 95.4 in each of his first two seasons in the league.
The young hurler has an underwhelming 91 Stuff+, and the Cardinals are good enough against RHP (104 wRC+) to push across a few runs on Friday.
JD Yonke's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 9-6, +3.08 units
Over/Under bets: 11-5, +5.87 units
Dodgers vs Cardinals odds
Moneyline: Dodgers -167 | Cardinals +154
Run line: Dodgers -1.5 (+100) | Cardinals +1.5 (-120)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-102) | Under 8.5 (-118)
Dodgers vs Cardinals trend
Los Angeles is 5-1 SU against left-handed starters this season. Find more MLB betting trends for Dodgers vs. Cardinals.
How to watch Dodgers vs Cardinals and game info
Location
Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
Date
Friday, May 1, 2026
First pitch
8:15 p.m. ET
TV
SportsNet LA, Cardinals.TV
Dodgers starting pitcher
Emmet Sheehan (2-0, 4.79 ERA)
Cardinals starting pitcher
Matthew Liberatore (0-1, 4.75 ERA)
Dodgers vs Cardinals latest injuries
Dodgers vs Cardinals weather
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.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 29: Brandon Ingram #3 of the Toronto Raptors waits during the first quarter of Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on April 29, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Brandon Ingram has been downgraded to doubtful ahead of Game 6 between the Toronto Raptors and the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to Sportsnet’s Michael Grange.
The forward has reportedly been dealing with heel inflammation since March 23, during which he missed the 143-127 win over the Utah Jazz. It was the second game of a back-to-back. The night before, Ingram played 27 minutes against the Phoenix Suns and finished with six points on 30 per cent shooting.
Ingram also missed games against the Orlando Magic (Mar. 29) and the Sacramento Kings (Apr. 1) due to the same heel injury.
His struggles this post-season have been notoriously documented. Ingram is averaging only 12.0 points on 11.6 attempts and 32.7 per cent from the field.
While Raptors fans may find solace in a possible answer for his slump, the injury update will likely put the team at a disadvantage headed into tonight’s elimination game.
After completing the long journey back following Tommy John surgery, the young right-hander appeared to have found his groove over his second and third outings at the Triple-A level.
Scott gave up seven runs in his regular season opener for Syracuse, but bounced back nicely to allow just two runs while striking out 12 batters in 10.1 innings of work over the next two starts.
So with the back end of the Mets’ rotation struggling, they decided to give him a shot.
“The way Scotty's been throwing the ball, we knew it was just going to be a matter of time before he was going to help us -- here we are giving him that opportunity, he's earned it and we're excited,” Carlos Mendoza said.
Things, however, didn’t quite go as planned.
The 26-year-old, who was calm and collected in his first call-up back in 2024, was a bit overwhelmed by the moment as he lasted just 1.1 innings before being pulled.
Scott simply could not find the zone, issuing a career-high five walks and hitting a batter.
“It started to get away [from me],” he told Anthony DiComo on MLB.com. “It was just like first walk, second walk, and that’s not really who I am -- then you start aiming. You try to throw the ball over the plate. It kind of spiraled on me.”
The Mets sent Scott back down to Syracuse one day later, but with Kodai Senga landing on the IL earlier this week, it created another opportunity for him to show he belongs at this level.
Scott is set to take the ball in Friday night’s series-opener against the Angels.
“I still trust my stuff and believe in it," he said. "I know if I go out there, I belong at this level. So I’m not too worried about it. Definitely something to learn from, to take with me to the next couple of starts and throughout my career.
“You can’t let the moment get too big like that, especially when things start to go south -- I’m excited for the opportunity to come back and be able to pitch again.”
Gloves will be off in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-offs as all three clubs hope to join Coventry in the top-flight
If Ipswich do not achieve promotion this month the image may be permanently seared into Jack Clarke’s retinas. He had slalomed through Southampton’s defence in the final act of a dizzying cameo on Tuesday night and, from an angle on the left, unleashed a near-flawless drive across Daniel Peretz. Replays barely do justice to the home No 1’s left-handed save but the key detail is that he somehow got a touch on the ball and glanced it millimetres wide, with Clarke preparing to wheel off towards the visiting fans. It was 2-2 in the 94th minute and Ipswich would have been home and dry with a win but for the merest snick off the edges of Peretz’s goalkeeping apparel.
It means the gloves will be off on Saturday lunchtime at Portman Road, the Den and far beyond. The league’s finale is poised deliciously and, even if the Championship winners, Coventry, are long gone, nobody is going quietly in the wait for second. Will Ipswich, experienced in such scenarios under Kieran McKenna, use quality and muscle memory to preserve second spot? Could Alex Neil’s relentless Millwall offer up the story of the season by returning to the big time after 36 years away? Or will Kim Hellberg and Middlesbrough, seemingly a top-flight team in waiting for much of the campaign before falling away, orchestrate one last twist?
Let's finish the week off in a big way after Yordan Alvarez decided to go deep in Game 2 after we bet him to go yard in Game 1 of yesterday's doubleheader.
It's May, which means it's getting nicer, and it's time to pick off those MLB player props.
I want a piece of the White Sox bats vs. German Marquez and the San Diego bullpen, and the Blue Jays can stack runs vs. a starter they've already tagged once this year.
These are my favorite home run props for Friday, May 1.
UPDATE: Added a Hunter Goodman HR pick + a 160/1 HR parlay!
Best MLB home run props today
Player to hit a HR
Odds
Miguel Vargas
+570
Jesus Sanchez
+540
Hunter Goodman
+369
Home run pick: Miguel Vargas (+570)
The Chicago White Sox have one of the best hitting matchups on the slate, and Miguel Vargas at +570 offers the best +EV in the lineup.
Vargas has boosted his OPS from .593 to .805 over the last 10 days, powered by four homers. He’s drawing more walks than strikeouts and is seeing the ball well with a .511 OBP.
The real target here is Germán Márquez and a San Diego Padres bullpen that has been hit around lately. Márquez owns some of the worst Blast Contact numbers, his fly balls are leaving the yard at a high rate, and he has one of the worst xFIPs among MLB starters.
Add in a Padres bullpen with the third-worst ERA over the last two weeks, and it sets up well for Chicago bats.
Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Padres.TV, Chicago Sports Network
Home run pick: Jesus Sanchez (+540)
Let’s take a left-handed bat vs. Simeon Woods Richardson, who is firmly circled as a fade.
He faced the Toronto Blue Jays three starts ago and got shelled for five runs while lasting just 12 outs, with Toronto putting up 10 runs in that game.
Outside of José Quintana, Woods Richardson owns the worst xFIP among today’s starters, and his Blast Contact numbers are also near the bottom. He’s allowed a home run in every start this year, and the Jays benefit from recent familiarity.
The Minnesota Twins bullpen could also give it up, carrying a 5.40 ERA over the last 14 days — the fourth-worst mark in baseball over that stretch.
Jesús Sánchez at this price is the play for me. His swing speed ranks among the best on the team, and his fast-swing rate trails only Vladimir Guerrero Jr. I’ll take him over Dalton Varsho, who is 50 points shorter.
Time: 8:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Twins.TV, SN1
Home run pick: Hunter Goodman (+369)
With a poor weather slate, let’s head to Coors Field and take the most probable home-run hitter in that game, per Covers MLB prop projections.
I have Grant Holmes circled as a fade: He gave up a pair of dingers in his last start, and his Blast Contact numbers, HR/FB rate, and xFIP all point to more longballs coming. He’s also pitched at Coors before (2024) and allowed five runs over five innings.
Hunter Goodman has homered in three straight series and launched two vs. the Reds just two games ago. He has four HRs over his last six games and hasn’t even needed Coors to go deep this year, with nine homers already on the road in 2026.
There aren’t many +EV home-run looks today, but Goodman is always worth a play at +350 or better
Time: 8:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: COLR, BravesVsn
Josh Inglis' 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 9-52, -4.9u units
Today’s HR parlay
Miguel Vargas
Bet Now +16154
Jesus Sanchez
Hunter Goodman
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The Lakers took the first three games of the series, but have dropped the last two, including a 99-93 loss in Game 5.
The Rockets are looking to become the first NBA team to force a Game 7 since the Boston Celtics in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat. Each of the three previous NBA teams that forced a series finale down 0-3 lost Game 7.
Doncic was injured on April 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, diagnosed with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, and hasn't played since.
Should the Lakers advance, their opponent will be the Thunder, who beat Los Angeles in all four regular-season meetings, winning by an average of 22 points per game. Doncic is not expected to be ready for the start of that series because of the injury.
SEATTLE, WA - APRIL 11: Members of the Seattle Mariners celebrate after winning the game between the Houston Astros and the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Eric Hiller/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Rick Rizzs Happy Totals: 16 Dan Wilson Tough One Tonights: 16 Run Differential: +7
PITTSBURGH — The almost maniacal preparation Paul Skenes pours into every start already is the stuff of legend, just two years into his career.
Still, even the Pittsburgh Pirates ace knows no matter how his pregame routine goes, he’s never really sure what kind of stuff he’s going to have on a given day until he steps onto the mound and the leadoff hitter steps into the box.
Many times, such as in Milwaukee, it nearly is perfect.
Then there are afternoons like against St. Louis, when the command that seems to come so easily looks far more ordinary than extraordinary.
Skenes’ third pitch of the game landed in the right-field seats at PNC Park courtesy of Cardinals rookie JJ Wetherholt. Three batters later, Jordan Walker turned on a sweeper that didn’t sweep and sent it into the first row of bleachers in left to give the Cardinals the early momentum on their way to a 10-5 victory and a four-game sweep.
The loss dropped Skenes (4-2) to 0-5 against the Cardinals, though that number is a little misleading. His career ERA versus St. Louis sits at 2.95, even after allowing five runs, four earned, in his first rocky performance since a bumpy opening day in New York against the Mets.
That number is telling of the almost impossibly high standard Skenes has set for himself during his rapid rise from first overall draft pick to arguably the best pitcher in the game.
“Nobody expects more out of Paul Skenes than Paul does out of himself,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “I think when he has a game like today or the opener, we have to find a way to pick him, because he picks us up all the time.”
Yet given a chance to put a halt to Pittsburgh’s first rough patch this season, Skenes didn’t quite have it. He fell behind Wetherholt 2-0 before the St. Louis second baseman turned on a 95 mph fastball — a tick below the usual 98-99 range Skenes sits at — and laced it into the seats above the Roberto Clemente Wall in right.
Ivan Herrera followed with an infield single. Two batters later, Walker pounced on an 83 mph sweeper that caught the inside part of the plate. The ball sailed just over the glove of Pittsburgh left fielder Jake Mangum, sending the Cardinals on their way to their first four-game sweep at PNC Park since 2019.
Asked why St. Louis might have his number — relatively speaking — the 23-year-old Skenes responded with his typical mix of sarcasm and blunt truth.
“They score more runs than us,” he said.
Skenes settled in — his nine strikeouts were a season high — but when the Cardinals were able to make contact, they made things happen. They added a run in the third after an infield single by Alec Burleson and a throwing error by rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin led to an RBI single by Nolan Gorman. In the fifth, Burleson flipped his bat at a changeup well off the plate and dumped it into left field to drive in Wetherholt.
“I think that sometimes teams go up there, try to work his pitch count, try to get that up,” Kelly said. “It doesn’t seem to be the case. They’re going up there swinging and trying to get their swing off. ... They put some good swings on the ball today.”
The Pirates fell to 16-16, hardly the horrific start of a year ago that cost former manager Derek Shelton his job, but it also has them off the pace a bit in the hyper-competitive NL Central with first-place Cincinnati coming in for the weekend.
“I mean, every team is going to have skids,” Skenes said. “Just got to get back to who we are and just play our game. Not try to do too much. Just think we’re trying to do too much a little bit, especially today. Just got to be us.”
Pittsburgh second baseman Brandon Lowe said the quiet part out loud about how spoiled the Pirates have become when Skenes’ familiar No. 30 is standing on the mound.
“It’s pretty difficult when you sit there and you’re saying, ‘Oh, he struggled’ and he gave up three (runs),” Lowe said.
Lowe, one of a handful of veterans acquired in the offseason to surround the Pirates’ young core that includes Skenes and the 20-year-old Griffin, is not concerned about the last week snowballing into something that would put a damper on the positive vibes created during a season that began with plenty of promise.
“When you’re in the training room, you’re in the tubs and stuff like that, showers, you just kind of have conversations and talking with these guys for a long time,” said Lowe, who hit his eighth home run of the season in the seventh. “They have a pretty good head on their shoulders and the way they look at things. ... So it’s just one of those things, you kind of flush the bad ones and focus on the next one.”
COVERS INTEL: Matthew Liberatore opened the season with a noticeable uptick in velocity, but that trend is now heading the wrong way. He averaged 93.4 mph on his four-seamer in his last start, down nearly a full tick from his season average of 94.3 mph.
Miguel Vargas
Jesus Sanchez
Hunter Goodman
