If Brady Tkachuk Trade Rumors Are True, Don't Be Surprised If Florida Panthers Are Among Potential Suitors

The offseason rumor mill is certainly a fun one to see churning.

This time of year is always especially juicy because while the season is over for some teams, others are still fighting in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, so you get storylines that are dripping with intrigue as players fight their guts out for one team with the looming concept of them moving on as soon as their season ends is hanging over everyone’s head.

Between trades and free agency, there will be plenty to keep track of as we make our way through the playoffs and into the NHL Draft before finally hitting free agency on July 1.

This week, NHL Insider David Pagnotta dropped a very interesting nugget while appearing on “Hello Hockey.”

According to Pagnotta, the Ottawa Senators could look into trading team captain Brady Tkachuk this offseason.

"I think there's a good chance the Sens explore trading Brady Tkachuk this summer," Pagnotta said. "And it’s for a variety of reasons. I don't think it's exclusively to do with the fact that he plays in Ottawa. I think there are different parameters for him that have factored into perhaps that personal decision."

If Tkachuk is indeed on the trade block, it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see the Florida Panthers kick the tires on what it would take to swing a possible deal for the feisty forward.

Bringing the Tkachuk brothers together in South Florida would be quite the power move by Panthers General Manager Bill Zito.

Florida already plays an incredibly fast and physical brand of hockey, and it would seem Brady Tkachuk would be a good fit with his brother Matthew and the Panthers.

One of the biggest hurdles would seemingly be whether or not the Senators would be willing to trade Brady Tkachuk within the Atlantic Division.

Beyond that, the financial element of making a move for Brady Tkachuk work in South Florida would be interesting to see play out.

Brady has two years remaining on his current deal, which carries an Average Annual Value (AAV) of just over $8.2 million.

According to PuckPedia, the Panthers will head into the offseason with around $15.3 million in cap space to work with.

While Florida has 12 forwards and six defensemen under contract for next season, they need to shore up their goaltending situation.

Could Zito bring in Brady Tkachuk while still addressing the team’s need for goaltending?

A deal for Brady would likely have to include Florida’s 2026 first-round pick – which will be either the first, second, eighth, ninth or tenth overall depending how things shake out at next week’s NHL Draft Lottery – and some combination of NHL players or prospects.

The 26-year-old younger Tkachuk brother was the fourth overall pick by Ottawa at the 2018 NHL Draft and has played 572 games with the organization, racking up 213 goals and 463 points while developing into one of the league’s grittiest two-way forwards.

In the time since older brother Matthew Tkachuk was traded to the Panthers during the summer of 2022, there have been more than a few instances where the bothers have gotten a taste of what it would be like to play together at the highest level.

They skated on the same line during the 2023 NHL All-Star Game, which just happened to take place in South Florida.

Then came the 4 Nations Face-Off in February of 2025, when the Tkachuk’s again skated on the same line for much of the tournament, leading Team USA to the gold medal match against Team Canada.

Perhaps the biggest and best example of what the two can accomplish together came during the 2026 Winer Olympics.

Matthew and Brady were two of the biggest faces for Team USA, helping the United States claim its first Olympic gold in ice hockey since 1980.

Will the brothers once again have the opportunity to put on the same sweater later this year?

Stay tuned.

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Photo caption: Feb 4, 2023; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Atlantic Division forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) of the Florida Panthers fist bumps Atlantic Division forward Brady Tkachuk (71) of the Ottawa Senators during the second period of a semifinal game during the 2023 NHL All-Star Game at FLA Live Arena. (Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images)

Mets say Luis Robert Jr. is day-to-day with lower back tightness

Apr 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (88) reacts after popping out with the bases loaded in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field.
Luis Robert Jr. | (Photo: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images)

In addition to mentioning that Juan Soto is dealing with forearm tightness in his pregame press availability, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said that fellow outfielder Luis Robert Jr. is dealing with lower back tightness. The team considers him day-to-day at the moment.

The perpetually-injured Robert is in his age-28 season, his first in Queens as he came to the organization in a trade with the White Sox over the offseason. Over the course of his major league career, he’s topped out at 145 games played in a single season, and his next-best total was 110. Over the last five seasons, he’s averaged 104 games played per year.

On top of the injury concerns, Robert came into this season with back-to-back 84 wRC+ seasons to his name in 2024 and 2025 in Chicago. He’s off to a slightly better start than that with a .224/.327/.329 line and a 94 wRC+, but he’s been worth just 0.2 fWAR and hasn’t looked the part of a stellar defender in center field.

Still, with Francisco Lindor out of the Mets’ lineup for the foreseeable future, the last thing the Mets need is another injured player. Here’s hoping Robert ends up being fine and returning in a matter of days, but it won’t be shocking if he ends up missing more time than that given his track record.

Andre Tourigny Sends Strong Message After Mammoth’s Toughest Loss Yet

For Utah Mammoth head coach Andre Tourigny, Monday night’s collapse and comeback were inseparable.

His club spent the opening stretch chasing the game, then authored one of the fiercest rallies of the postseason before watching it slip away in overtime. In the end, resilience was not enough.

Mammoth Rally Falls Short in Overtime Heartbreaker

Utah erased a three-goal deficit against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 4 of its first-round series at Delta Center, only to suffer a crushing 5-4 overtime defeat.

After falling behind early, the Mammoth stormed back with four unanswered goals and seized a 4-3 lead in the third period, sending the Salt Lake City crowd into a frenzy. But Vegas answered with 10 minutes remaining, and Shea Theodore buried the winner in overtime to even the series.

It was a painful missed chance for Utah, which had an opportunity to grab a commanding 3-1 series advantage and put itself one win from the second round. Instead, the Golden Knights reclaimed home-ice advantage heading back to T-Mobile Arena for Game 5.

“Obviously, they had a great start,” Tourigny said afterward, per NHL.com's Matt Komma. “I liked the way we responded after their third goal. … Right away after that’s where we started rolling and got back in the game a little bit. So, I’m proud of the way our guys responded to adversity. That was a hard-fought game. We know how good they can be, and I think we responded well in the second half of the game.”

Utah Finds Its Game Too Late

The Mammoth looked sluggish early, generating only three shots in the first period before gradually finding their footing. By night’s end, Utah had fired 31 shots at Vegas goaltender Carter Hart and solved him four times.

Vegas countered with 36 shots of its own, and Utah netminder Karel Vejmelka will likely replay a few of those goals in the days ahead. Still, the Mammoth’s pushback reinforced why this series remains far from settled.

“I loved our fight. We're still playing confident,” captain Clayton Keller said after scoring Utah’s fourth goal. “We got down in the game but kept going. Everyone was contributing, and we got some momentum there from the fans as well. All in all, we fought well until the end. We'll learn from this game and still be really confident, for sure.”

Utah has already proven it can win in Las Vegas once this series. To regain control, it will need to do it again when Game 5 begins just after 10:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday night.

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Braves injury updates on Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, Ha-Seong Kim and more

Feb 28, 2026; Sarasota, Florida, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider (99) throws a pitch against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Hoo boy, we got an absolute litany of updates from Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss during his usual pre-game press conference. It was as if the skipper just decided to take this opportunity to clear the air about the handful of Braves players who are in various stages of working their way back onto the big league roster.

Big thanks to Grant McAuley for detailing some of these updates since there were a bunch of them. We’ll go one by one, starting with Spencer Strider:

Spencer Strider

Strider was spotted at Truist Park on Saturday doing a throwing program ahead of his rehab start on Sunday with Gwinnett. The start went well and now the Braves are planning for Strider to make his return to the roster this weekend in Colorado against the Rockies. As Weiss has mentioned in previous statements, the rotation is currently on a series-by-series basis so we don’t know which day will be Strider’s day but it will be this weekend.

Sean Murphy

Meanwhile, Murphy has been struggling a bit at the plate during his rehab stint. He did pick up three hits on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Miami’s Triple-A squad) but those were also the first three hits that he’s collected so far on rehab after going 7 games and 19 plate appearances without a hit and just one walk. As such, the Braves are giving Murphy a little more time and according to Weiss, it’ll be “4-to-5 more days” before they’ll re-evaluate his status.

Ha-Seong Kim

The Braves are anticipating that Kim will need “a couple of weeks” for a rehab assignment before they start to think about bringing him up. I’d imagine that it’ll be the same process as what Murphy is getting, so I personally wouldn’t anticipate seeing Murphy until early-May and Ha-Seong Kim until mid-May.

Raisel Iglesias

Iggy is reportedly back throwing again and his shoulder inflammation has “subsided” so this should indeed just be a minimal IL stint for Atlanta’s high-leverage reliever. Please tell me he’s learned how to sleep in a normal position.

Hurston Waldrep

Apparently Waldrep will be throwing his first bullpen session since having surgery on his elbow to remove those infamous “loose bodies.” The bullpen session will take place within the next few days. In fact, we actually got a bit of a timeline for Waldrep, as McAuley reported that the Braves are apparently targeting June as a possible time for Waldrep to get back into game action.

Spencer Schwellenbach

We also got a timeline for Schwellenbach as well but that one is a lot more nebulous. Schwellenbach still isn’t throwing yet and Weiss told the media that he’s expecting a return after the All-Star Break. So this is very much a long-term situation for Schwellenbach.

So there you have it! That’s about as clear of an update as you can get for a lot of these guys who are still trying to get back healthy in order to join a Braves squad that is flying high at the moment. The good news for Schwellenbach and Waldrep in particular is that they can likely take their time in getting healthy since the pitching staff is currently doing very well in their absence and they’ll still need plenty of time to get right anyways.

With that being said, it’s certainly exciting to know that Spencer Strider will be back soon and that guys like Raisel Iglesias, Sean Murphy and even Ha-Seong Kim are clearly on the right track as well. This team still isn’t at full strength yet and help is one the way. It’s a very good sight to see!

Mets announce Juan Soto is dealing with forearm tightness

Apr 22, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets designated hitter Juan Soto (22) fields fly balls in the outfield before a game against the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said that Juan Soto experienced forearm tightness after throwing on Friday, and the team is hoping he can get back to playing the field in the next few days. For now, Soto is in the Mets’ lineup as the team’s designated hitter for their series opener against the Nationals tonight at Citi Field.

Having moved from right field to left field ahead of the 2026 season—following a rather disastrous defensive showing in right in his first season with the Mets last year—the typically-durable Soto already spent some time on the injured list with calf tightness this month.

He returned from that injury on April 22, and in the Mets’ five games since then, he’s hit .200/.429/.200 in 21 plate appearances. On the season, Soto is hitting .301/.418/.413 with one home run and a 141 wRC+ in 55 plate appearances.

While forearm tightness isn’t quite as dreaded a term for a position player as it is for a pitcher, outfielders do occasionally end up needing Tommy John surgery for injuries that arise in the forearm. Bryce Harper is the most notable of those players, but aside from the time he needed on the injury list to recover, he’s been a very good hitter after having the surgery.

For now, the Mets say that Soto is not experiencing any discomfort when swinging the bat, and the last thing they can afford in a season that’s off to a terrible start is significant time without Soto in the lineup. Keeping him at DH for the time being seems like a wise move, even if the Mets’ outfield options aren’t super appealing at the moment.

Alex Cora declines Phillies proposal (for now) but flopping team needed 'new voice'

Philadelphia Phillies boss Dave Dombrowski wasn’t evasive Tuesday, didn’t try to be politically correct and didn’t bother to soothe anyone’s feelings.

He wanted to hire Alex Cora to be the team's next manager.

He might have even begged Cora at times to be their manager, saying that not only is he one of the finest managers in the game, but a future Hall of Famer.

Dombrowski didn’t even bother to wait 24 hours after Cora was fired by the Boston Red Sox on Saturday to offer him the Phillies managerial job with Rob Thomson still employed.

It wasn’t until Monday morning that Cora, in the second year of a three-year, $21.75 million contract, told Dombrowski that he was sorry, but he was going home to Puerto Rico for the summer. He wanted to be a “full-time dad" for his eight-year-old twin sons with a daughter in graduate school.

“I thought he might take it, but as time went on over the next day,’’ Dombrowski said after making the offer Sunday, “it was apparent from his perspective that he wanted to take time with his family."

Dombrowski, Phillies president of baseball operations, was disappointed, but certainly understood Cora’s reasoning. He then had to make a huge decision himself.

Should he stick with Thomson, or fire him anyway, and determine if there’s anyone in the organization who could make a difference?

“There's no question we have the talent," Dombrowski kept saying.

So, he telephoned Don Mattingly, their bench coach and the son of Phillies GM Preston Mattingly, and asked if he’d please take over the Phillies for the remainder of the season.

Phillies players during a pitching change in Atlanta.

Mattingly, 65, who said in January that he didn’t have the energy to manage again after stints with the Dodgers and Marlins, agreed to at least ride out the rest of the season. The Mattinglys make history by becoming the first father and son to be a GM and manager for an MLB team.

Mattingly won’t be around long, just the rest of the summer, but Dombrowski still believes a change of voice is all that’s needed to have this team playing deep into October.

“This isn’t a blame game…," Dombrowski said in his press conference. “I just don’t think we’re playing up to our capabilities. I think we’re a much better club than we played. And so you make tough decisions that are tough at times….

“Four years ago, he was the right voice for us with the club that we had. There was no question about it. I just think we needed a different voice with this group where we are now."

So, Thomson, who had the finest winning percentage in Phillies’ history, leading the Phillies to four consecutive postseason berths, is out the door.

Cora will be waiting at the door and most likely will be the Phillies’ top target after the season, barring Mets owner Steve Cohen from offering a contract so lucrative that he can’t ignore.

And Mattingly is now inside the room, hoping to somehow make a difference with a team that’s grossly underperforming.

Why was Rob Thomson fired?

The Phillies, 9-19, off to their worst start since 1992, may learn quickly if this year is even salvageable. They already are 10 ½ games behind Atlanta in the NL East, and seven games out in the NL wild-card race race. If they’re going to make a move, the time is now.

The Phillies are facing four teams with losing records in their next five series with the Athletics (15-13) the only team with a winning record. The Phillies will face the Giants (13-15), Marlins (13-16), A's, Rockies (13-16) and Red Sox (12-17) in their next 16 games. Those teams have a .462 winning percentage.

The upcoming weak schedule played a factor in Dombrowski’s decision. He could have waited to see how they’d perform in this stretch under Thomson, but decided he didn’t want to take that risk. If he really had any confidence that their fate would change under Thomson, Dombrowski would have delayed a move.

He didn’t want to take that chance.

“I felt that we needed a new voice in there," Dombrowski said, “a little different feeling in the clubhouse. At this point, Rob was the first to admit that he doesn’t know what’s really going on. He’s a little bit surprised on how we performed…

“I just thought this was the right time to get a different voice with some different direction. Don’t been part of our staff here all along, so he’s got a pulse of his feelings and how we can perhaps improve a little bit here and a little bit there."

Well, to be honest, they need to improve a whole lot here, and a whole lot there.

This team, who has averaged 92 victories the past four seasons, has been dreadful. They have been outscored by an MLB-leading 54 runs. Their star-studded and expensive rotation is last in the league in ERA (5.80). They are winless (0-10) against left-handed starters. Their right-handed hitters have the lowest OPS (.505) against lefties than any team since 1920. And they’ve played lousy defense

So, the looming question now is just what kind of team would Cora be inheriting after the season?

Is it a team that needs to be completely overhauled? Or just one that needs tinkering?

Do they make some household changes and perhaps even contemplate the idea of trading Bryce Harper, who has a complete no-trade clause, or shortstop Trea Turner?

Or do they add onto the mix and pursue infielder Bo Bichette again after they thought he was coming their way last winter before pivoting to the Mets?

Can Phillies turn things around?

The truth is that the Phillies have an aging team, with four players 33 or older, and the window to win a World Series is closing quickly, but Dombrowski aggressively pushed back on the narrative they are too old.

“It’s not age that has caught up to us," Dombrowski said. “Our guys are not aged out by any means. Some of the guys who aren’t even our more veteran guys aren’t having a good start to the season. That would be an inappropriate statement to me. In fact, some of the [older] guys there are having better seasons than anybody.

“But I do think we’re better than this."

When asked if there were any regrets the way he built the roster, or whether the Phillies should have made changes during the winter instead of bringing back the nucleus, Dombrowski pushed back again.

“I don’t know anybody that would think we would not have a good starting pitching rotation," Dombrowski said. “To me, it might be the best in baseball. Our bullpen is strong. We haven’t scored runs. We haven’t hit. I can’t predict that some of these guys would have performed the way they have. But on roster construction, we don’t have a gaping hole….

"So I don’t have a regret. Now, if we play the game this way the rest of the year, I’ll have a lot of regrets."

Dombrowski, who wanted to make sure that his own evaluations weren’t off-base, summoned his top three scouts to Atlanta over the weekend. He asked them to closely watch the team, talk to players, and make their own assessments. He said that unanimously, they all agreed that the club is simply underachieving and not deeply flawed.

“This club has talent," Dombrowski said. “There’s no question we have the talent. I don’t want to say the most talented, but talented as most. We just have not played that way…

“Do I think we can play better?

“I hope so.

“If not, we’ll all have made a mistake."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Phillies manager job goes to Mattingly after Alex Cora declined

Mets' Juan Soto dealing with forearm tightness, will continue to DH for time being

Since returning from the injured list on April 22, Juan Soto has been the Mets' DH in all five games he's played.

Looking to avoid a long-term injury, the team said they would take it slow with his return from a calf injury and has not inserted him back into the outfield yet. But by now, some could have expected him to have played at least one game in the field. So with Soto in the lineup as DH again for Tuesday's game against the Washington Nationals, manager Carlos Mendoza was asked if the plan for the upcoming games will be for the star to continue to DH or not. 

Mendoza shared that Soto is currently dealing with forearm tightness and underwent an MRI that came back clean, adding the hope is he will be able to play outfield again "in the next few days."

"On Friday, after the defensive work he complained about forearm tightness, after the throwing," Mendoza said. "Obviously he was DHing that day. Saturday we got rained out. Sunday, came in, pretty much felt the same. He threw, but you know, like 50-60 feet. Yesterday, came in, got treatment, and played catch.

"We did an MRI today and structurally it's fine. Ligament and all of that is fine. He's going to continue to get treatment. He's going to throw, he's going to continue to throw. And hopefully, he can play the outfield here in the next few days. Doesn't bother him to swing or anything like that, but we're dealing with that, too."

Soto last played LF on April 3 on the road against the San Francisco Giants, the game he exited after the top of the first inning with calf tightness. Overall this year, he's played seven games in left field and five as DH.

In the five games he's played since coming back, Soto has gone 3-for-15 with six walks and two strikeouts.

Mendoza also mentioned Tuesday that Luis Robert Jr. is day-to-day with lower back tightness, so having Soto available as an option defensively later in the week could help the team if Robert is still sidelined.

Public Skate: Bruins vs. Sabres, Game 5

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 26: Boston Bruins head coach Marco Sturm looks on from the bench during the third period of Game Four of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Buffalo Sabres at TD Garden on April 26, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Sabres defeat the Bruins 6-1. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome to another night of Bruins hockey, folks!

Ideally, this isn’t the last one until October, but that’s up to the Bruins, not any of you.

(Unless you messed up one of your superstitions prior to Sunday, in which case it’s entirely possible this is all your fault.)

I am not an analytics expert, but my advanced models tell me that it would benefit the Bruins to NOT go down by six goals tonight.

Please do not steal my data without proper credit.

Anyways, let’s have fun out there.

Bruins! Sabres! In New York, which borders The Commonwealth!

Discuss.

Cubs vs Padres Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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The San Diego Padres are laying down a marker with an explosive April run – and Petco Park should be rocking again tonight, with the Chicago Cubs in town.

After last night’s 9-7 victory, San Diego has now won nine in a row at home, and my Cubs vs. Padres predictions favor the hosts over a Chicago team that had a hot streak of its own earlier this month.  

Read on for my free MLB picks ahead of this April 28 clash.

Who will win Cubs vs Padres today: Padres (+104)

With an 18-5 mark in April, the San Diego Padres look capable of pushing the L.A. Dodgers in the NL West, and I see the offense serving up enough run support for Walker Buehler tonight.

Buehler has had a bumpy start to 2026, but he’s only allowed two earned runs across his last two outings at Petco Park.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Cubs have dropped three in a row, and righty Edward Cabrera’s last three starts have coughed up 11 runs. That spells trouble against a San Diego squad that’s 10-4 at home this year and racked up 14 hits in last night’s battle.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Buehler’s struggles have largely come on the road (13.50 ERA this year, 6.12 ERA in 2025), but he’s posted a 3.00 ERA at Petco Park this season while giving up just five runs.

Cubs vs Padres Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-105)

If yesterday’s matchup was any indication, both lineups are ready to mash. The numbers back that up, too — the Padres have scored 32 runs across their last four contests, while the Cubs rank third in the majors in hits and runs. 

The Over has been a winning ticket in six of Chicago’s past seven games, and Cabrera’s last two starts have breezed past this O/U total. We’ve also seen 9+ runs in five of San Diego’s past eight outings.

It’s hard to make the case for the Under given all the firepower here, and Manny Machado enters with nine hits in his last five games. 

Tom Oldfield's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 1-4, -3.36 units
  • Over/Under bets: 4-1, +2.61 units

Cubs vs Padres odds

  • Moneyline: Cubs -112 | Padres +104
  • Run line: Cubs -1.5 (+147) | Padres +1.5 (-164)
  • Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5

Cubs vs Padres trend

The Over is 18-11 for the Cubs this season. Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Padres.

How to watch Cubs vs Padres and game info

LocationPetco Park, San Diego, CA
DateTuesday, April 28, 2026
First pitch9:40 p.m. ET
TVMARQ, Padres.TV
Cubs starting pitcherEdward Cabrera
(2-0, 2.73 ERA)
Padres starting pitcherWalker Buehler
(1-2, 5.75 ERA)

Cubs vs Padres latest injuries

Cubs vs Padres weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Will Luis Arraez hit a home run this season?

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 26: Luis Arraez #1 of the San Francisco Giants sacrifice bunts against the Miami Marlins in the bottom of the seventh inning of a major league baseball game at Oracle Park on April 26, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Let’s start with the important part of this story: Luis Arraez is having a great season right now. Do all the people who never doubted the front office’s commitment to signing a singles hitter who hadn’t played second base in some time to play second base want to serve crow to those of us who found it to be a very silly idea? Go right ahead. I promise I won’t turn the tables if his season reverses. This post is not about his fielding —

No, but seriously, let’s take a brief detour and spotlight his fielding. +6 Outs Above Average? This stat didn’t exist in 2015 or 2016, but the first year that Joe Panik has Statcast data is 2018 (his final full season with the Giants) and he had a +8 for the entire season. Did Ron Washington retool Luis Arraez’s defense in such a way that they now have their best overall second baseman since Joe Panik (Thairo Estrada’s 5.6 fWAR 2021 season excepted)? That’s an easy list to top, of course, and there’s still a lot of 2026 remaining, but goodness gracious, what a development!

But he’s currently the only Giants regular without a home run. Even Harrison Bader got one before he hit the IL. He’s never had more than 10 in a season (2023) and the only other time he had 0 was in 2020. It’d be a little wacky and probably not a good thing if he hit 0 home runs in a season. In the history of Major League Baseball, there have been 181 second basemen to amass at least 400 plate appearances and hit 0 home runs. Just 77 of those have come in the past 100 years and only 31 in the last 50 years. The only times that has happened this century: Chris Getz (2011 Royals) hit .255/.313/.287 in 429 PA (118 G) and Mickey Morandini (2000 Phillies & Blue Jays) hit .257/.322/.313 in 457 PA (126 G). Luis Castillo managed it for the 1999 Florida Marlins, too, but his triple slash of .302/.384/.366 was much better (despite just a 102 wRC+) and included 50 stolen bases. Luis Arraez has stolen just 35 bases for his career. But let’s dig in a little more to see if it’ll happen:

Why he will

  • He hit 8 home runs just last year.
  • He’s got 65 games left at Oracle Park to try to yank one onto the arcade above the bricks in right field.
  • He’s homered in just 11 of the 32 parks he’s played in, but he play in them a combined 14 times remaining in 2026, including 4 more in Petco Park.
  • The Phillies have the highest Park Factor for left-handed hitters hitting homers (132) in the sport! Sure, the Phillies will be throwing two lefties at the Giants for this series, but if Arraez parks one against Andrew Painter, you read it here first.
  • The league’s home run rate at this point last season was 1.09. It’s 1.08 today. It went up as last season progressed, ending at 1.18. More home runs will be hit and he’ll be able to get in on the action.
  • Edit: As Roger of There R Giants points out below, he already has homered this year.

Why he won’t

  • He’s never homered in Coors Field? 11 games, 53 plate appearances and only a pair of extra base hits for his career (a double and triple)?? Or in Chase Field (16 games, 71 PA)?! What is going on here???
  • He’s never homered in Oracle Park (29 G 125 PA).
  • His .057 ISO is the lowest of his career and there are reasons to argue it’ll remain down around there: he’s a year older and playing most of his games at a park that suppresses offense in all forms.

Look, chances are he’ll sock a few out this season. Dingers aren’t a part of his game, but it’s still a big part of being a big leaguer in the 21st century. He has a career slugging percentage of .412 but over the past three seasons it’s averaging .391. So, a clear decline from his age-22 to 26 seasons (.326/.379/.427) but a very valuable player if he can make the defense at second base work with what is largely a singles-only offensive skillset.

Should Panthers' Sandis Vilmanis Be A Full-Time NHL Player In 2026-27?

Sandis Vilmanis completed his second professional season in North America, splitting his time between the Florida Panthers in the NHL and the Charlotte Checkers in the AHL.

Still, the 22-year-old found a way to be effective in both leagues. 

In the AHL, Vilmanis was a play driver offensively. In 48 games, he scored 17 goals and 38 points, ranking third in both statistics despite missing a large chunk of the season. 

In his rookie season in the AHL, Vilmanis showed flashes of what he could become despite being drafted in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL draft, and his sophomore season proved many of his believers right.

When he was called up for 19 NHL games, Vilmanis skated on the fourth line, averaging just 10:24 of ice time, but he showed versatility in his game. His three goals and five points weren’t eye-catching, but he fired 15 shots on goal and threw 38 hits, showing little fear of the bright lights. 

Vilmanis’ ability to contribute offensively, while being a physical force, is exactly what coach Paul Maurice wants in his bottom six, and it’s why he was rewarded with an extended stint while the Panthers navigated an onslaught of injuries. 

Charlotte Checkers Eliminated From Calder Cup Playoffs Following Game 3 Overtime LossCharlotte Checkers Eliminated From Calder Cup Playoffs Following Game 3 Overtime LossThe Charlotte Checkers season is finished following their Game 3 overtime elimination by the hands of the Springfield Thunderbirds.

With all things considered, the question is: Where should Vilmanis spend the 2026-27 season?

Vilmanis will remain exempt from waivers, which makes it challenging for the Latvian winger to maintain a spot in the NHL. Still, a strong training camp and pre-season would almost force the Panthers organization to start him in the NHL. 

The Panthers struggled at 5-on-5, but Vilmanis won his minutes. According to naturalstattrick.com, the Panthers owned a Corsi For percentage of 53.73 percent, an expected goals percentage of 55.04 percent, and were even, seven goals for and seven goals against, with Vilmanis on the ice. 

If Vilmanis can play his way onto the roster, deciphering where he should play will be the next challenge. It’s hard to envision him playing anywhere in the top nine given the current makeup of the roster, but he could regain his spot on the fourth line. 

'He's A Good One': Panthers' Sandis Vilmanis Continues To Make His Mark In The NHL'He's A Good One': Panthers' Sandis Vilmanis Continues To Make His Mark In The NHLFlorida Panthers' Sandis Vilmanis is now 12 games into his NHL career and has continued to be impressive. He’s shown plenty of versatility, something coach Paul Maurice likes and acknowledged.

Ultimately, Vilmanis’ chances of making the roster depend on what GM Bill Zito does in the off-season. A.J. Greer and Tomas Nosek, two mainstays on the fourth line over the past couple of seasons, require contracts. If they are brought back, chances are Vilmanis won’t have a spot on the NHL roster. Additionally, Cole Schwindt was said to have earned the fourth-line center role, which gives Vilmanis another young competitor.

If they do not return, Zito and Maurice will be showing the trust they have in their youth, like Vilmanis, to be given the runway to earn that role. 

Having too many depth options is a good problem for an organization to have, and it’s players like Vilmanis whose job is to give them that issue. 


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A’s roster moves: Muncy to IL, Harris recalled

MESA, ARIZONA - MARCH 08, 2026: Brett Harris #11 of the Athletics covers first base on a pickoff attempt during the seventh inning of a spring training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Hohokam Stadium on March 08, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

The A’s announced on Tuesday afternoon that the team was placing third baseman Max Muncy on the IL with a broken bone in his left hand. The team recalled fellow third baseman Brett Harris from Triple-A to take his roster spot.

It’s a tough break for Muncy after his solid start to the season. The former first-round pick is hitting .239/.308/.402 with two home runs and two stolen bases. The strikeouts (37) are still an issue as is the glove at third base but Muncy at least was providing some offense from the hot corner, something the A’s sorely lacked last year. It seemed like Muncy’s HBP last week was a bullet dodged but in the end the team eventually discovered the fracture and now he’ll be out for a while.

The team hasn’t addressed how long Muncy will be on the shelf for but his absence will be measured in weeks, not months. While Muncy is down the team will likely split third base duties between Darell Hernaiz and Harris. Hernaiz is hitting .222/.323/.421 with just one long ball in 15 games this year. Harris meanwhile has spent the beginning of the season with the Aviators and is hitting .274/.408/.419 with the Las Vegas. He hasn’t had much success in the big leagues up to this point and was getting some playing time at first base recently but this could be an opportunity for him back at the hot corner while Muncy is down.

Ranking the biggest surprises so far in first round of NBA playoffs

The NBA playoffs are not known for upsets. We're used to seeing the mega superstars competing in the latest rounds. Major upsets, storybook performances from underappreciated players seem so rare that one such experience in a postseason makes for some of the most unforgettable moments in recent memory.

Whether it was Tyrese Haliburton leading the No. 4 seed Indiana Pacers to the NBA Finals and taking the Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games in 2025 or Jimmy Butler taking the No. 8 seed Miami Heat to the Finals in 2023, these surprises turn ordinary postseasons into unforgettable ones. And this year, it seems like we've got a lot of them.

Although only one team – the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder – has advanced to the second round, there are a myriad of upsets on the horizon that I can say with near certainty very few people saw coming. Here are the five biggest surprises of the 2026 NBA postseason thus far:

Biggest surprises of the 2025-26 NBA postseason

5) Where did Marcus Smart come from?

Even without Kevin Durant for most of the series, no one expected the Lakers to get out to a 3-0 series lead. But that is made much easier when someone like Marcus Smart, who shot under 40% during the regular season, scores 46 points combined in Games 2 and 3.

Smart averaged less than 10 points per game during the regular season and only scored more than 20 points three times. Now, in the postseason, we've seen him do it twice in just four games. And considering the combined point differential in those games was just 11 points, with one of those games going into overtime, Smart's out-of-nowhere performances certainly caught the Rockets by surprise.

4) CJ McCollum taking over for Atlanta

Considering that CJ McCollum started just 25 games for the Atlanta Hawks this year, it's kind of shocking that he's been the one that helped elevate the team over the Knicks in Games 2 and 3 of their series.

While the series is still tied 2-2, McCollum has been a breath of fresh air and a pivotal reason the Hawks have any wins in this series at all. Not only is he shooting over 50% from the field, but he's only had one game with fewer than 20 points.

Considering how hot the Hawks ended the season, there were many fans who believed they'd put up a good fight or even upset the Knicks in Round 1. However, most of those fans believed the performances needed would come from All-Star Jalen Johnson, 2026 Most Improved Player Nickeil Alexander-Walker or midseason trade acquisition Jonathan Kuminga. Seeing 34-year-old McCollum continue to give the Knicks' postseason woes was not on very many bingo cards, but it's certainly been great to watch.

3) LeBron James turning back the clock

Marcus Smart isn't the only Laker turning heads, LeBron James at 41 years old is another veteran who's turning back the clock against Houston. Despite the absence of both Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, James has taken command of this Lakers' team and dominated the Houston Rockets through four games.

The 22-time All-Star was two rebounds away from a triple-double in Game 1 and just four assists from another in Game 3. Unsurprisingly, his worst performance of the series thus far wound up being the only Lakers' loss.

2) Ayo Dosunmu and the Minnesota Timberwolves

Though the Minnesota Timberwolves were a popular sleeper pick to emerge from the West, their opening round matchup against the Denver Nuggets was still immensely tough, and many fans wouldn't have been surprised to see them lose the series.

Now, if we were to tell those same fans that Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo would go down with injuries in Game 4, they'd all probably assume the series would be over in six games maximum. However, even in a worst case scenario for Minnesota, this series will go seven games.

That same Game 4 that saw Edwards and DiVincenzo go down gave Dosunmu the avenue to take over. He did exactly that, notching 43 points, the most in a single game this postseason. Though Dosunmu was considered a great midseason acquisition for Minnesota at the time, no one could've expected him to be the catalyst for the Timberwolves' 3-1 series lead over the Nuggets.

Though that lead didn't last long and Denver wound up winning Game 5 handedly, the Timberwolves have put themselves in terrific position to take down Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets despite the absence of two critical players. They have Dosunmu to thank for that.

1) The Detroit Pistons' disappearance

Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner reacts to a shot by forward Paolo Banchero against the Detroit Pistons in the fourth quarter during game three of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Kia Center.

This was obvious from the get-go, but it really could be considered either the Pistons' disappearance or the Magic's sudden surge.

The former is more likely the case though. While many fans believed the Pistons were more built for the regular season than postseason, nobody expected them to fall apart so quickly. Between increased turnovers and inconsistent offensive production, the Pistons have made it difficult for themselves to win.

In Game 4 alone, the Pistons committed 20 turnovers which led to 23 points for the Magic. If the Pistons could cut that number down to their game average figure from the regular season (15.1), the Magic would've scored approximately 17 points off turnovers, a six-point difference. Lo and behold, the Magic won Game 4 by six points.

With stars like Jalen Duren and Asuar Thompson all underperforming as well, it's been easy for Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Desmond Bane to take over. Since 2013, only one No. 1 seed has lost in the first round of the NBA Playoffs: the 2023 Milwaukee Bucks. They lost in five games to the Miami Heat. History might be repeating itself in 2026.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA playoffs rankings: 5 biggest surprises of first round thus far

Hawks vs Knicks Computer Picks: Our Best Player Prop Projections for Game 5

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Our NBA player prop projections are set for a pivotal Game 5 between the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks, with the model highlighting several high-value spots.

By comparing the data to current market lines, we’ve pinpointed where the strongest edges are.

These Hawks vs. Knicks predictions are driven by the numbers—not guesswork.

If you’re building your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Tuesday, April 28.

Hawks vs Knicks computer picks for Game 5

Hawks HawksKnicks Knicks
Johnson u20.5 points 
-120
Brunson o26.5 points 
-120
McCollum o3.5 assists
-125
Towns o11.5 rebounds
-105
McCollum o2.5 3-pointers 
-102
Hart o4.5 assists
-135

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Hawks Game 5 computer picks

Jalen Johnson Under 20.5 points (-120)

Projection: 20.4 points

Facing the New York Knicks’ league-slowest pace over the last 25 games, the Atlanta Hawks should see fewer possessions, which works against Jalen Johnson’s scoring outlook and puts his chances of clearing the Over in jeopardy.

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CJ McCollum Over 3.5 assists (-125)

Projection: 3.96 assists

The Hawks’ sixth-fastest road pace this season should create extra opportunities, setting up a favorable spot for CJ McCollum to facilitate after clearing 3.5 assists in six of his last 10 games.

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CJ McCollum Over 2.5 3-pointers (-102)

Projection: 2.9 3-pointers

This is a favorable spot for perimeter volume against New York. At home, the Knicks allow the most 3-point attempts per game to opposing starting shooting guards (7.6). And few have punished them more than CJ McCollum, who should carry that same aggressive, Knicks-killer mindset into Game 5.

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Knicks Game 5 computer picks

Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 points (-120)

Projection: 26.9 points

Jalen Brunson has cleared 26.5 points in five of his last 10 games, and the setup in Game 5 puts him in a strong position to do it again.

With the series tightening, Brunson’s usage typically climbs in high-leverage spots, and he’s the clear engine of New York’s half-court offense.

He thrives in playoff settings where the pace slows and possessions become more deliberate, allowing him to hunt mismatches and operate in isolation or pick-and-roll.

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Karl-Anthony Towns Over 11.5 rebounds (-130)

Projection: 13.4 rebounds

The Knicks rank third in the NBA in offensive rebounding at home (13.3 per game), putting Karl-Anthony Towns in a prime spot to control the glass and give New York an edge on the boards.

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Josh Hart Over 4.5 assists (-135) 

Projection: 5.04 assists

The Knicks’ recent surge has been fueled by their heart & energy, with much of it stemming from Josh Hart’s playmaking and especially after clearing 4.5 assists in four of his last 10 games.

Back on their home floor, he’s in a strong spot to make another impact.

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How to watch Hawks vs Knicks Game 5

LocationMadison Square Garden, New York, NY
DateTuesday, April 28, 2026
Tip-off8:00 p.m. ET
TVNBC

Not intended for use in MA.
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Where to watch New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers: Live stream, TV channel, odds for Tuesday, April 28

The New York Yankees (19-10) face the Texas Rangers(14-15) in the second game of their series. The Yankees won Monday’s opener 4-2. The scheduled starting pitchers are Cam Schlittler for the New York Yankees, with a 1.77 ERA, and Jacob deGrom for the Texas Rangers, with a 2.13 ERA.

  • Date: Tuesday, April 28

  • Time: 8:05 p.m. ET / 5:05 p.m. PT

  • Where: Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX

  • TV Channels: Rangers Sports Network, Amazon Prime Video

  • Live Stream:ESPN+, MLB.TV | Follow on Yahoo Sports

  • New York Yankees: 19-10 (No. 1 in AL East)

  • Texas Rangers: 14-15 (No. 2 in AL West)

  • Spread: Texas Rangers +1.5

  • Moneyline: Texas Rangers +105 (46.8%) / New York Yankees -125 (53.2%)

  • Over/Under: 7.5

New York Yankees: Cam Schlittler (3-1, ERA: 1.77, K: 41, WHIP: 0.73)
Texas Rangers: Jacob deGrom (2-0, ERA: 2.13, K: 35, WHIP: 1.07)

Weather: 61°F at first pitch

Ballpark: Capacity: 40,000 | Roof: Retractable | Surface: Artificial Turf