The New York Mets try to snap a seven-game skid as they face the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight.
L.A. will have two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani on the mound, and my Mets vs. Dodgers predictions are betting on him to shut down New York's ice-cold offense.
Here are my best free MLB picks for this NL clash on Wednesday, April 15.
Who will win Mets vs Dodgers today: Los Angeles RL -1.5 (+105)
Shohei Ohtani has allowed just five hits and one run (none earned) through 12 innings this year.
Ohtani also anchors a Los Angeles Dodgers offense that leads the majors in OPS (.838), with that surging to .912 over the last week. They'll get to New York Mets righty Clay Holmes, who has a 4.08 FIP in 34 starts since last year.
The Mets are 28th in the majors in OPS (.625), with that dropping to .473 over the last seven days, as Juan Soto remains sidelined. They simply don't have the bats to keep up with the Dodgers' firepower.
COVERS INTEL: Since the start of 2025, opponents have slugged just .240 against Shohei Ohtani's four-seamer, while the Mets are slugging .342 against four-seam fastballs this year.
Mets vs Dodgers Over/Under pick: Under 8 (-115)
I'm expecting regression for Holmes against L.A.'s elite offense. However, he's still been solid since making the move to the rotation and has a 3.59 xERA this year.
Both teams also have strong bullpens. Mets relievers rank sixth in ERA (2.94) and eighth in WHIP (1.20), while Dodgers relievers are ninth in ERA (3.25) and sixth in WHIP (1.19).
The main reason to bet the Under is how bad New York's offense has been without Soto. The offseason departure of Pete Alonso was a huge blow, and Francisco Lindor (.194 BA) and Marcus Semien (.243 OBP) have been awful.
Rohit Ponnaiya's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 4-5, -1.68 units
Over/Under bets: 5-1, +3.75 units
Mets vs Dodgers odds
Moneyline: Mets +165 | Dodgers -200
Run line: Mets +1.5 (-125) | Dodgers -1.5 (+105)
Over/Under: Over 8 (-105) | Under 8 (-115)
Mets vs Dodgers trend
The Mets are 0-7 in their previous seven games, while the Dodgers are 9-2 in their last 11. Find more MLB betting trends for Mets vs. Dodgers.
How to watch Mets vs Dodgers and game info
Location
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
First pitch
10:10 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Mets starting pitcher
Clay Holmes (2-1, 1.50 ERA)
Dodgers starting pitcher
Shohei Ohtani (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
Mets vs Dodgers latest injuries
Mets vs Dodgers 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.
The Penguins jumped out to 3-0 and 4-1 leads before letting the Blues come all the way back to win it. Normally, this would be considered an "unacceptable" loss, but it was basically a preseason game since the Penguins had already clinched a playoff spot and were sitting out numerous players, including Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Erik Karlsson.
Rutger McGroarty got things started for the Penguins in the first period with a goal right off a draw. Avery Hayes and Anthony Mantha eventually scored to make it 3-0 before the Blues made it 3-1 at the end of the first period, thanks to Jimmy Snuggerud.
Elmer Soderblom scored a gorgeous goal at the beginning of the second period to make it a 4-1 lead before everything went south for the Penguins.
"That's like a Clydesdale horse" đđ
6'8" Elmer Söderblom showing off his size as he scores the Pens' fourth goal of the night đȘ pic.twitter.com/I5gR5U5JbO
The Penguins allowed five unanswered goals by the Blues, making it a 6-4 game before Avery Hayes scored his second goal to make it 6-5 in the third period. The Penguins tried to get a 6-on-5 goal, but it wasn't meant to be, as Dylan Holloway iced the game with an empty-net goal.
Here are some takeaways from this one:
- I know some people will look at the goals allowed by both Stuart Skinner and Arturs Silivs and get nervous, but there wasn't much they could do on a lot of the goals against. The Penguins were atrocious in their own zone for most of the evening, which shouldn't come as a surprise since they were playing without four of their top six defensemen.
Even when everyone's in the lineup, they've still been a little leaky as of late, but I expect this to get cleaned up by the time this weekend rolls around.
- Jake Livanavage made his NHL debut for the Penguins and logged 25:14 in a top-four role. I liked a lot of what I saw, especially on the power play. He was methodical with the puck, and his skating was smooth. It's only one game, but it's still something to build off going into next season.
- Elmer Soderblom continues to make a great case to be in the playoff lineup, even with everyone healthy. We still have to see if Connor Dewar and Blake Lizotte will be ready to go for Game 1, but Soderblom has been awesome since he was acquired from the Detroit Red Wings.
The goal he scored to make it 4-1 was something else. The way that he cut to the net and did the little toe before scoring the goal was awesome. He compiled five goals and 10 points in 20 games with the Penguins after they traded for him.
- Avery Hayes finished the regular season with five goals in 16 games and should be a full-time NHL player as soon as next season. He used a burst of speed to score the first goal, made no mistake with his release, and never gave up on the play to score his second. He's got what it takes to be a good bottom-six player in the NHL, and I'm looking forward to seeing how he keeps developing.
- Next up for the Penguins? Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They'll take on the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round for the first time since the 2017-18 season. The rivalry has been dormant for the last several years, but all it takes is a great playoff series to change that. I expect this one to be full of fireworks.
The final night of a regular season can seem meaningless for a team that already clinched their playoff position the night before. A sizable chunk of the regular roster is rested, meaning that younger players and AHL call-ups are brought in to take their place.
It is usually a transitionâpart reflection, part anticipation, rarely definitive in what it reveals. But for the Philadelphia Flyers, a 4â2 win over the Montreal Canadiens felt different.
A team that has spent months constructing an identity closed its season not by coasting into the postseason, but by reinforcing exactly who it is, even when the roster looks remarkably different from how it usually does.
The Flyers will finish 43â27â12 (98 points), third in the Metropolitan Division. Next comes the Pittsburgh Penguins for the eighth playoff meeting between the bitter interstate rivals.
But before that, this game offered something valuable: a snapshot of both present and future, converging at exactly the right time.
1. A Complete Season Ends With a Complete Performance
There is something significant about how the Flyers handled this final game. They didnât treat it as a formality, but as legitimate preparation.
The Canadiens played most of their top guysâthe likes of Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Juraf Slafkovsky were all in the lineupâand the Flyers' young guys were able to keep them under control.
The win completed a 3â0 season sweep of Montreal, the first time the Flyers have swept the Canadiens since 2017â18. But more importantly, it reinforced habits that have defined their late-season surge: structure, depth scoring, and composure.
There was no overextension, no chasing offense for the sake of it. The Flyers handled the game in layersâdefensively sound, opportunistic offensively, and consistent in their approach. That matters heading into the playoffs, especially when the organization is keeping a close eye on who could feature in the postseason should the Flyers need to call in a replacement.
2. The Youth Movement Isnât ComingâItâs Here
If there was a defining theme of the night, it was this: the Flyersâ future is here.
Oliver Bonk delivered a remarkable NHL debut, recording a goal and an assistâall in the first period. According to NHL stats, he became just the 10th defenseman in league history to record multiple points in his first NHL period, joining a list that spans over a century.
Hunter McDonald also made his NHL debut, contributing an assist and plenty of physical assertiveness to keep the Habs in check.
Speaking about his debut, McDonald said postgame, âIt was just awesome. I donât have words, honestly. It was pretty cool⊠It was just great that I played with them down there. Itâs a big family from Lehigh to here, everyone in this organization is classy. It was awesome.â
There is a connective thread running through this organizationâfrom Lehigh Valley to Philadelphiaâand nights like this make it visible.
Head coach Rick Tocchet acknowledged the difficulty of the moment for these players, and their admirable response to it.
âI was really impressed," he said. "Itâs a tough turnaround getting called up today and the travel⊠Thereâs a lot of moving parts for them. I give them a lot of credit.â
3. Porter Martone Is Operating in Rare Air
If Bonkâs debut represented the future arriving, Porter Martone continues to define the present.
With another goal and assist, Martone recorded his third multi-point game and extended his point streak to six games (4G, 5A). That ties him with Sean Couturier, Mike Ricci, and Peter Zezel for the second-longest point streak by a Flyers teenagerâtrailing only Eric Lindros.
Numbers like that place Martoneâs production not just in the category of âimpressive rookie performance,â but literally in the lineage of franchise history.
4. Matvei Michkov Is Peaking at the Perfect Time
Timing matters, and Matvei Michkov has chosen his moment well.
A goal and two assists in this game gave him his third three-point performance of the season and pushed him to 51 points (20G, 31A). More telling, however, is his recent form: 11 points in his last seven games.
In a sophomore season that admittedly left something to be desired after a standout rookie campaign, Michkov has found his legs, and recently, has not just been producing, but accelerating.
As the Flyers transition into playoff hockey, they will need players capable of creating offense in tighter, more structured environments. Michkovâs ability to generate in space, to read pressure, and to execute quickly positions him as a central figure in what comes next. He simultaneously is finishing the season strong, and entering the postseason as a difference-maker.
Philadelphia Flyers winger Matvei Michkov (39). (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)
5. Depth, Identity, and Joy Are All Aligned
The Flyersâ fourth goalâscored by Alex Bump, his fifth of the seasonâwas emblematic of something deeper.
It was about who was on the ice.
âI think my line was under 22 [years old], so weâre just happy to be here,â Bump said postgame. âWeâre trying to do the best we can and contribute in any way and have fun while weâre doing it.â
That blendâyouth, contribution, and enjoymentâis not always present in teams heading into the playoffs. But for the Flyers, it is a crucial part of their identity.
Tocchet made it clear that performances like this are not just appreciatedâthey are being evaluated with purpose.
âYeah, I mean, if you go far into the playoffs, you can go 28 deep on the roster. So, yeah, youâre looking, for sure," he said. "One of those guysâitâs not out of the question that they can play in the Penguins series. You definitely look for that stuff. Thatâs why itâs big.â
Mar 18, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Angel Chivilli (57) throws a pitch against the Boston Red Sox in the ninth inning during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The Yankeesâ bullpen started the year on fire, protecting leads left and right and enjoying a few breakout performances from unexpected pitchers â or at least thatâs what it looked like. Now, a few weeks into the season, the unit has looked leaky and inconsistent in recent games.
This has caused the Yanks to make some roster decisions after returning Cade Winquest to the St. Louis Cardinals to make room for Luis Gil in the rotation last week. One such move came after Mondayâs rollercoaster win, when they demoted Jake Bird. Then, in search of another fresh arm after Tuesdayâs 7-1 loss, they optioned Birdâs replacement, Yerry De los Santos, to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barres after pitching two innings.
To replace De los Santos on the active roster, New York has decided to bring up Angel Chivilli, whom they acquired in a late-January trade with the Colorado Rockies, sending T.J. Rumfield in return.
Prior to tonightâs game, the Yankees recalled RHP Angel Chivilli (#57) from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Chivilli, a Brian Cashman project not dissimilar from Bird, posted a 7.06 ERA in 58.2 innings last year in Colorado, with a 6.03 FIP and a much more decent 4.86 xFIP. He surrendered 1.9 home runs per nine.
The stuff is what intrigues New York more than the numbers. The 23-year-old has a fastball that averaged 97.1 mph last year, good enough to rank in the 88th percentile. It doesnât have an impressive movement profile, though. Chivilliâs two breaking ballsâa slider and a changeupâare far more promising and actually yielded excellent results last year, with a 45.4 percent and a 42.6 percent whiff rate, respectively.
The Yankees had high hopes for Chivilli, but a 12.38 ERA in spring training cost him a spot on the Opening Day roster. Instead, the organization sent him to Triple-A, where he has thrived with 8.1 dominant innings of a perfect 0.00 ERA, two walks, and nine punchouts.
Chivilli will get his first true chance in prinstripes, hoping to become a trusted reliever in a bullpen that needs sure things.
Just like that, thereâs $435.5 million worth of contracts to four unproven players, none signed by the rich Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets or Yankees.
So, whatâs the explanation?
Well, executives, GMs and agents around the game say teams think they are making shrewd business investments. Thereâs nothing sinister behind these contracts. Thereâs no hidden agenda with a likely work stoppage eight months away. It has nothing to do with a potential salary floor for small- and mid-market teams.
It has everything to do with these same small- and mid-market teams looking out for their future, knowing that if they donât act now, theyâll be losing these players when they hit free agency.
âJust look at whoâs doing these contracts," one GM told USA TODAY Sports. âItâs the same teams. These are the same teams that arenât the most desirable places for free agents, so theyâre locking up their guys now.
âThatâs all it is. Itâs not that complicated."
The GM spoke on the condition of anonymity for competitive reasons.
Indeed, it's not as if these franchises are premier destinations for free agents.
The Brewers, who reside in MLBâs smallest market, havent signed a free agent for more than the five-year, $80 million contract they gave outfielder Lorenzo Cain in 2018. Yet, theyâve been aggressive signing their own players to extensions, from All-Star outfielder Christian Yelichâs nine-year, $215 million extension to outfielder Jackson Chourioâs eight-year, $82 million contract before he played an MLB game.
Pittsburgh has hardly been a hotbed for free agents. The Piratesâ largest free-agent contract was a three-year, $39 million to pitcher Francisco Liriano in 2015. Ryan OâHearnâs two-year, $29 million free-agent contract this winter was their largest for a position player since Russell Martinâs two-year, $13 million deal in 2013. Their best path to keeping their talent is with extensions, signing outfielder Bryan Reynoldsâ eight-year, $106.75 million deal in 2023 and All-Star outfielder Andrew McCutchen to a six-year, $51.5 million extension in 2012.
The Mariners, who have had trouble attracting hitters to Seattle after their ill-fated 10-year, $240 million contract for Robinson Cano, wasted little time signing Julio Rodriguez to a 12-year, $209.3 million extension five months into his Rookie of the Year season in 2022. They also struck gold when they signed catcher Cal Raleigh to a six-year, $105 million extension last March, before his record-setting 60 home run season for a catcher and runner-up finish to Aaron Judge in the AL MVP race. The contract has already saved the Mariners tens of millions considering Raleigh makes just $11 million this year and will earn $12 million in 2027.
âItâs the same teams signing players to extensions, knowing that if they donât lock them up," one executive said, âtheyâre going to lose them. They donât have the luxury of waiting to see if they can out-bid other teams in free agency.
âReally, itâs smart business."
Thereâs a reason why the Cincinnati Reds would love to lock up rookie first baseman Sal Stewart and the Cleveland Guardians with rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter, too. If they donât pay them now, will they have the opportunity to keep them later?
These teams wouldnât be offering extensions if they didnât believe their players would out-perform their contracts, even with a player like Pratt, who had never played a game above Class AA until this year. There are definite risks involved. While the Mariners are gambling on Emerson to be a star, they previously swung and missed on an extension for Evan White.
If nothing else, agents say, these extensions are proving that the game is doing quite well financially.
âLook at the Pratt deal," one agent said. âThis isnât the Dodgers handing out $50 million to an unproven player. This is the smallest market club handing out $50 million well before theyâd have really any obligation to play him. You have the smallest-market team willing to take that $50 million bet, which speaks to their belief in the player, but also speaks to how well the game is doing right now."
These mid- and small-market teams believe they can not only protect themselves in the future by buying out free-agent years, but also saving themselves money in salary arbitration, too. Tigers two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubalsâ record-setting $32 million salary arbitration award sent shock waves in the industry. If Skubal can compare himself to any pitcher in the salary arbitration process by winning the Cy Young awards, what would have stopped Raleigh from comparing himself to Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmutoâs $23.875 million contract a year ago?
And if the new collective bargaining agreement lowers free agency from six years to five years, or permits players to reach salary arbitration earlier than the standard three years, the extensions could look like a steal.
Time will tell.
But for now, the mid- and small-market teams who know they canât keep up with the Dodgers and Yankeesâ spending sprees, believe itâs a necessary gamble.
ALTOONA, PA - SEPTEMBER 04: Scott Bandura #5 of the Richmond Flying Squirrels looks on during the game between the Richmond Flying Squirrels and the Altoona Curve at Peoples Natural Gas Field on Thursday, September 4, 2025 in Altoona, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Sydney Kaschalk/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Only three of the San Francisco Giants Minor League Baseball affiliates were in action on Tuesday, as poor AAA Sacramento just canât get in a game. The River Cats had both of their weekend games cancelled due to rain, which followed them as they traveled north from Sacramento to Tacoma, postponing their game on Tuesday. Theyâll try again tonight, in what will hopefully be their first game since Friday, and the teams are scheduled for a doubleheader on Thursday. Now letâs get to the action.
All listed positions in the roundup are the position played in that particular game.
News
Help is on the way for San Francisco. Major League LHP Sam Hentges, who started his rehab assignment over the weekend with a perfect inning for Low-A San Jose, was moved up to AAA Sacramento. Heâll likely pitch a few times for the River Cats, and then be activated and added to the Major League roster.
Sacramento had to make space for Hentges on the roster, and they did so by sending RHP Will Bednar (No. 24 CPL) back to AA Richmond. Thatâs a bit of a bummer for Bednar, who was a non-roster invitee, and already dealt with the disappointment of beginning the year on the Development List, presumably also for roster logistics purposes. Bednar pitched well in a pair of games for the River Cats, with 4 strikeouts and just 2 baserunners in 3 scoreless innings. Heâll surely be back in Sacramento when roster space allows it.
According to Baseball Americaâs JesĂșs Cano, LHP Jacob Bresnahan (No. 11 CPL), whose season was delayed by a spring injury, threw 3 innings in a simulation game at Papago yesterday, and reached 97 mph. The reigning Cal League Pitcher of the Year should be in High-A soon.
And finally, the Giants announced on Wednesday that AAA Sacramento outfielders Will Brennan and Drew Gilbert had been called up, as Major Leaguers Jared Oliva and Harrison Bader are headed to the IL. That means there will be some transactions in a flurry to get enough outfielders to the River Cats.
If the Squirrels werenât on fire before, they certainly are now. After losing their opener, Richmond has now won 9 consecutive games, as theyâre off to a truly brilliant start to the season. Then again, all of the affiliates are off to a brilliant start ⊠if only the team in San Francisco could get the memo!
Richmond won this game on the back of hits, hits, and then some more hits, as they totaled 17 in the contest en route to their 11 runs.
It started at the top of the lineup, where a pair of hitters set the table with 3-hit days. Leading off was left fielder Scott Bandura, who had a brilliant day, hitting 3-4 with a pair of doubles, while also adding both a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly. That flurry of productive contact rewarded Bandura with a whopping 5 runs batted in for the day.
â Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 15, 2026
Bandura is really putting on a clinic on how to master a level the 2nd time around. The left-handed hitter, who was taken in the 7th round of the 2023 draft, was promoted to Richmond late last year, and had some struggles as he got his feet under him. Bandura posted a .626 OPS and an 88 wRC+ in 45 games with the Squirrels last year, but even those numbers look a little worse with some digging, as they were propped up by a lot of walks. The now-24-year old hit just .199, and struck out 30.6% of the time.
But the old adage of âone to measure, two to rakeâ doesnât just apply to individual at-bats. Bandura appears to have applied that to his time in the Eastern League, as heâs raised his average to .333, while slashing his strikeout rate in half, all the way down to 14.9%. That, combined with his 6 extra-base hits, has given him a .913 OPS and a 140 wRC+ through 10 games this year.
Weâre still a few months of good performance away from talking about Bandura in AAA, but itâs not exactly the rosiest of outfield situations in Sacramento. Hopefully Bandura keeps putting pressure on, and can earn a 2nd consecutive midseason promotion.
Hitting behind Bandura was second baseman Dayson Croes, who went 3-6 and also bopped a pair of doubles, while knocking in 3 runs. Itâs been a sensational start to the year for Croes, a 26-year old who was signed out of indy ball a year ago. But that really shouldnât surprise anyone, as the lefty was awesome in his stint with Richmond a season ago ⊠and also awesome in his stint with Sacramento.
â Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 15, 2026
But the Giants are having Croes repeat AA, despite those strong results, primarily because fellow second baseman Nate Furman (No. 39 CPL) has earned the AAA priority. Croes is taking it in stride, by taking all of his good numbers in AA last year and making them even better: his average has jumped from .307 to .349, his on-base percentage from .354 to .391, his slugging percentage from .400 to .488, and his walk rate from 6.0% to 6.5%, while his strikeouts have dropped from 18.1% to 15.2%. All of that has resulted in an .880 OPS and a 134 wRC+. Unfortunately, it does feel like Croes will be unfairly stuck in AA for a while, unless the Giants decide they want him (or Furman) to try a new position, which seems unlikely given that they both struggle to handle second as is.
â Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 15, 2026
If the top of the lineup was the star that drove the team to victory, the bottom of the lineup was one hell of a wingman. The trio that hit in the 7-9 slots â catcher Drew Cavanaugh (No. 19 CPL), third baseman Diego Velasquez (No. 31 CPL), and right fielder Turner Hill â positively shined. Cavanaugh offered up the latest data point that his 2025 breakout season was not a fluke, as he hit 2-3 with a double, a walk, and a hit by pitch, while also striking out and getting caught stealing.
The 7 extra-base hits in 7 games is the headline-grabber for Cavanaugh, but Iâd argue that the most important thing heâs shown is improved contact. He only got into 14 games for Richmond last year, but hit just .186 with a 26.8% strikeout rate and a 14.8% swinging strike rate. This year? A .435 average, a 9.1% strikeout rate, and a 7.6% swinging strike rate. Those numbers will come down (or up, as the case may be), but when you start that great, you have room to fall while staying in a strong place. The result, for now, is a blistering 1.432 OPS and a 262 wRC+. So watch out, those who fear the talking heads: the Patrick Bailey discourse has already become insufferable thanks to Daniel Susac and JesĂșs RodrĂguez, donât let Cavanaugh join the party!
As for the other pair, Velasquez hit 2-4 with a hit by pitch to raise his OPS to .798 and his wRC+ to 128, while Hill went 2-4 with a walk, bumping his OPS to 1.007 and his wRC+ to 164. I expect both of those players â who initially made it to Richmond in 2024 â to get their first real glimpse of AAA at some point this year (I say ârealâ because Hill has been an emergency fill-in for the River Cats on numerous occasions over the years). Itâs certainly notable that Velasquez, who is still somehow only 22 years old, played third base in this game for the 1st time in his career. Some of that may be due to roster logistics in Richmond, but it also may be a way to prepare him for AAA since, as mentioned, Furman is blocking second base.
While it was the top and bottom of the order that carried the team, the prettiest swing of the day belonged to the heart of the order, as center fielder Bo Davidson (No. 4 CPL) left the building with a gorgeous swing of the bat in the 7th inning.
â Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 15, 2026
That salvaged an otherwise poor day for Davidson â he finished 1-5 with 3 strikeouts â but my goodness, that really might be the prettiest swing in the organization. The 23-year old is showing thereâs still plenty for him to work on in AA â neither his .240 average nor his 28.6% strikeout rate are telling the organization that heâs almost ready for AAA â but heâs also emphasizing his game-changing abilities. So far he has 3 home runs in just 7 games, all while holding it down in center field. Perhaps itâs that new dad strength Iâve heard so much about!
The pitching was better than the score would suggest, as 5 of Hartfordâs 7 runs came in the 9th inning, when RHP Cameron Pferrer got roughed up and couldnât make it through the inning, forcing long reliever RHP Shane Rademacher into emergency duty to record the final out.
But the piggybacking starters pitched quite well, with RHP Logan Martin and LHP Jack Choate (No. 37 CPL) handling the Yard Goats quite adeptly. Martin, who was making his 2nd start with the organization after coming over this winter in the Mason Black trade, had a bounce-back game after a rough AA debut. The 2023 12th-round pick, who will turn 25 later this season, gave up just 3 hits and 1 walk in 4.1 innings, with 4 strikeouts and only 1 run allowed.
The strikeouts and walks will be worth watching for Martin, as they may determine whether heâs able to continue developing as a starter or will have to move to a relief role at some point. He only had 7.7 strikeouts against 3.6 walks per 9 innings in High-A in 2025, and the Giants will need to see improvement on that front.
Speaking of fluctuating between starting and relieving, itâs still not entirely clear what role Choate has, but he played it damn well on Tuesday, giving up just 2 singles and a walk in 3.1 innings, while striking out 6 batters (he also gave up an unearned run). Choate, a soon-to-turn 25-year old whom the Giants selected in the 9th round in 2022, has been playing something of a hybrid relief/piggybacking starter role, with 7.2 innings through 3 appearances this year. So far his strikeout stuff â which has always been surprisingly high given his lack of velocity â has taken a leap forward, from 10.8 per 9 a year ago, to 15.3 this season. Thatâs still a very small sample size though, so weâll see how that holds. Either way, itâs been a great start to the year for Choate, who is trying to prove he belongs in AAA as he nears the 150-inning mark in AA.
High-A Eugene (8-2)
Eugene Emeralds beat the Everett AquaSox (Mariners) 7-1 Box score
A really phenomenal pitching showing for the Emeralds, who allowed just 4 hits on the day. They did issue 6 walks, but 4 of those came from RHP Trey Dillard who, like Pferrer with Richmond, entered the game late, struggled, and had to be relieved for the final out of the game.
But the 3 pitchers who came before him pitched wonderfully. It started with LHP Charlie McDaniel, who took down 3 scoreless frames with just 1 hit, 1 walk, and 1 hit batter, while striking out 4. McDaniel wasnât the most efficient â he needed 52 pitches for those 3 innings, with just 32 strikes â but 4 strikeouts and 0 extra-base hits paint the picture of someone who made hitters uncomfortable all day long. Through 2 starts, the 24-year old UDFA has yet to allow a run.
Next up was LHP Esmerlin Vinicio, who is having a much-needed awesome season. Vinicio threw 19 of 30 pitches for strikes while tossing 2 shutout innings with just 1 hit allowed, and striking out 2 batters.
It feels like Vinicio has been in the system forever, though he only just turned 23 years old. Heâs still lacking physicality, though this year he no longer looks like he could blow away with a strong gust of Pacific Northwest wind. Most importantly, after a few seasons of really struggling with walks, Vinicio has shown much better command through an admittedly tiny sample size: heâs issued just 1 walk in 4.2 innings, with 6 strikeouts (heâs also only given up 1 hit, and 0 runs). Vinicio, who was signed in 2019 out of the Dominican Republic, might need a strong year to stay in the organization.
And then it was RHP Ryan Slater, San Franciscoâs 18th-round pick in 2024. He was utterly dynamic in 2 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out 5 batters. Slater had a solid debut season last year with Low-A San Jose, but so far heâs been much better in High-A ⊠though heâs only pitched 5 innings. Still, a great start to the year for the 23-year old, who has a 1.80 ERA and a 2.89 FIP.
Despite the 7 runs, it was a fairly mild-mannered day for Eugeneâs offense, as they had 7 hits, just 2 extra-base hits, and 2 walks. But they made the most of their swings, no one more so than catcher Onil Perez, who hit 1-3 with a strikeout, but bashed his 1st home run of the season.
Perez was once one of the better catcher prospects in the system, but has fallen on some tough times as of late, which has resulted in a 4th consecutive year getting reps in the Northwest League. He did finally put up some good numbers with Eugene last year, but really struggled in AA. That, combined with the emergence of Drew Cavanaugh, pushed Perez back down a level, and now heâs 2nd on the depth chart behind Diego Cartaya.
He entered this game just 1-12 on the year, but every hit helps, and thatâs doubly (or perhaps quadruply) true for big flies. The season is long, so thereâs plenty of time for Perez â who is only 23 â to find his swing again.
Second baseman Zander Darby had the only multi-hit game for the Ems, as he went 2-4 with a stolen base and a strikeout. Itâs been a dreamy start to the year for the 23-year old lefty, who was a 12th-round pick in 2024, as he has a 1.029 OPS and a 178 wRC+ through 8 games (ignore the 29.4% strikeout rate and 0.0% walk rate). Darby had an excellent 2 months with Low-A San Jose last year, but struggled mightily in his month to end the year with Eugene. Nice to see him adapt to the level and start to take care of it.
Quiet â but not bad â games for the teamâs pair of top prospects. Center fielder Dakota Jordan (No. 5 CPL) hit 1-3 with a walk, while shortstop Gavin Kilen (No. 7 CPL) went 1-4 with a double and a strikeout. Jordan, who has an .804 OPS and a 112 wRC+, has just 1 strikeout in his last 4 games, after amassing 13 Ks in his 1st 5 games of the year. Kilen, who has a 1.067 OPS and a 176 wRC+, has 7 extra-base hits in just 9 games, as Julyâs 1st-round pick is off to a brilliant start to his 1st full season.
Low-A San Jose (7-3)
San Jose Giants lost to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Angels) 12-6 Box score
The San Jose Giants did something we all desperately wish the San Francisco Giants would do: they hit a lot of home runs. Unfortunately, the end result for the Baby Giants was something the Adult Giants are all too familiar with: a loss.
But it wasnât due to the long ball, as San Jose bopped a trio of big flies.
The 1st one came on the very 1st pitch of the day, from the very best prospect on the team, shortstop Jhonny Level (No. 3 CPL).
Level returned to the lineup after missing a few games, and wasted no time making his impact with a gorgeous swing of the bat. It was his only hit of the day, as the 19-year old switch-hitter ended the game 1-4 with a walk, a strikeout, and his 1st error of the season.
There have been a lot of star performers in the Minors for the Giants this year, but Iâd argue no one has had a better year than Level, who is building on last yearâs breakout campaign by hitting 15-31 through 7 games, with 3 home runs, 5 doubles, 4 walks, just 7 strikeouts, and 3 stolen bases, all while playing solid defense at shortstop. Level has started to pop up at the very end of some top 100 lists and, if he keeps performing even remotely like this, I think heâll likely be residing in the top 50 in every midseason prospect list. Really couldnât ask for a better beginning to the year for someone who, itâs worth repeating, is more than 2 years younger than the average player in the Cal League.
If Level is the MVP of the farm system at this point, then catcher Junior Barajas is first or second-team All-Farm. Last yearâs 11th-round pick continues to rake in his debut season, as he hit 1-4 with a home run and a walk.
Rod Barajas Jr. gets in on the action today with his third home run of the year. He is now tied with Jhonny Level (and a couple more prospects) atop the Cal League long ball standings. pic.twitter.com/jwIJBP3CTF
The 21-year old lefty isnât playing every day due to his position, but heâs making the most of his playing time, going 10-31 with 3 homers, 4 doubles, 2 walks, and 6 strikeouts, for a 1.124 OPS and a 166 wRC+. Like Level, Barajas is doing that with solid defense at a premier position, as heâs wasted no time looking like the Giants latest late-round steal. We need more than 7 games before we can give him that crown, but still ⊠the Giants have to be thrilled with what theyâre seeing.
And rounding out the home run party was designated hitter Broedy Poppell, who hit 1-3 with a walk and his 1st career home run. Thatâs always worth celebrating!
Like Barajas, Poppell was a late pick by the Giants last year, as he went in the 13th round for a meager $50K signing bonus. The switch-hitter, who turns 24 soon, has been awesome in his debut season, hitting 6-20 with 5 walks against just 4 strikeouts. Normally an outfielder, Poppell is a little bit more a control the zone guy than a home run hitter, despite what he did Tuesday. That was his 1st extra-base hit, but he has more walks than strikeouts, which was also the case in his 2 seasons as a starter at Florida A&M.
Also a nice day for second baseman Dario Reynoso, who hit 2-4 with 1 walk and 2 strikeouts. The right-handed hitter, who just turned 21, has had something of a mixed bag of a season in 2025. Last year he dominated the Complex League (.999 OPS, 158 wRC+), but was awful in his short stint with San Jose (.472 OPS, 45 wRC+). Things are much rosier in his 2nd pass through the level, as he has a .785 OPS and a 125 wRC+. But the issue with his 2025 was that he struck out a lot ⊠even while decimating ACL pitchers, Reynoso had a red flag strikeout rate of 31.7%, which rose to 38.6% in San Jose. Itâs still a troubling number this year, at 31.3%. And finally, thereâs the power issue: Reynoso sported a .258 ISO in the ACL last year, thanks to 10 home runs and 27 total extra-base hits in just 53 games. He has just 1 extra-base hit this season, and through 22 total games in Low-A only has 4 ⊠all of which have been doubles.
Iâm stalling on the hitters because the pitchers werenât good and I donât want to talk about them. RHP Keyner Martinez (No. 10 CPL) got the start, and it was a great game until it wasnât.
Martinez was on absolute cruise control for a while, as he was perfect through the 1st 3 innings. But he ran into so much trouble in the 4th inning that he didnât make it out of the frame, as he gave up 2 hits (both singles), 2 walks, and a hit batter, while only recording 2 outs. That, combined with RHP Mauricio Estrella allowing 2 of the inherited runners to score, tattooed 4 earned runs on Martinezâs ledger in just 3.2 innings, despite looking great for most of the game, and recording 5 strikeouts.
The 21-year old Martinez has yet to replicate last yearâs breakout campaign, as he has a 9.45 ERA and a 6.57 FIP through 2 starts. But thatâs a tiny sample size, and he has 9 strikeouts in 6.2 innings. There can be no denying that he has some of the best stuff in the system, he just needs to harness it.
RHP Melvin Pineda also showed off the strikeout stuff despite some struggles. The 2021 international signee from Venezuela, who turns 22 next month, gave up a hit, a walk, a hit batter, and a run in just 1.2 innings, but struck out 4 batters. He has 10 strikeouts through 5.2 innings this year.
Karl-Anthony Towns had an up-and-down 2025-26 season for the Knicks. While he earned his second All-Star appearance in two years with New York, he also averaged a career-low 31.0 minutes per game, and his 20.1 points per game were the lowest since his rookie season.Â
But speaking with reporters on Wednesday ahead of the Knicksâ first round playoff matchup with the Atlanta Hawks, Towns said that he, and the entire team, will be judged on what they do in the postseason.Â
âItâs great that we put ourselves in this position, to be in the playoffs in this position, but at the end of the day, the regular season doesnât mean anything if we donât capitalize on this opportunity,â he said.
"This is the time. We've got to go out there and we've got to execute and we've gotta capitalize on this opportunity. At the end of the day, we'll be judged on what we do on this run."
Townsâ fit and role in Mike Brownâs system has been a topic of discussion all season, but the versatile big man could be a real matchup problem for the Hawks. Towns had 36 points and 15 rebounds against Atlanta back in December, and he went for 21 points and 12 rebounds against them earlier this month.Â
âIâve got to continue to impact winning and do whatever this team needs me to do or sacrifice for to get us the win, so Iâm willing to do that,â he said.Â
âTrust my work, thatâs where my confidence is built,â he later added. âItâs built when there are no lights, no cameras, no fans. Just me, the basketball and the hoop. Me and the great (assistant coach) Mark Bryant, we get to work and my confidence is built there.â
The Knicks took two out of three head-to-head matchups with the Hawks this season, but Towns knows Atlanta, who finished first in the Southeast Division this year, will provide a challenge.
âI mean, theyâre a great team,â Towns said. âTheyâre young, theyâre athletic, and they cause turnovers. So, we expected ourselves needing to be the best. We just have to continue to use those one percents every game in the regular season to be the team we want to be at this time.â
Offseason moves are another aspect of the pre-draft process that fantasy managers need to consider. New faces in new places, either via free agency or trades, significantly impact the outlooks of players, whether it's the one being moved or the teammates around him. Here are ten potential free agents (unrestricted, restricted and player or team option) whose statuses will affect fantasy basketball in 2026-27.
Harden has a player option worth just over $42.3 million for the 2026-27 season, and his time in Cleveland has been a success so far. In 26 regular-season games, with the Cavaliers going 19-7, The Beard averaged 20.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.5 blocks and 3.1 three-pointers in nearly 34 minutes.
While Harden isn't the prolific scorer that he was during his prime, he's still a capable playmaker who has shot 43.5 percent from three since joining the Cavaliers. Plus, their current rotation has a wealth of offensive options that were bound to lessen Harden's influence as a scorer. And availability has not been an issue recently, with Harden playing at least 70 regular-season games in each of the last three seasons.
G Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers
Like Harden, Reaves has a player option for next season, worth just under $15 million. Given the production, especially this season, he's due for a major payday this summer. Injuries limited Reaves to 51 appearances in 2025-26, but he was highly productive when on the floor, averaging 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.3 three-pointers in 34.5 minutes per game.
His fantasy outlook for 2026-27 will be affected by what happens with LeBron James, but last summer signaled a shift from James to Luka DonÄiÄ as the franchise's focal point. If LeBron isn't in the fold, Reaves becomes an even better fantasy prospect in Los Angeles.
C Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons
Duren essentially bet on himself going into the 2025-26 season, not agreeing to a rookie extension before the October deadline. He'll be a restricted free agent this summer, and the first-time All-Star stands to strike it rich. Duren appeared in 70 games for the Pistons, averaging 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.8 blocks in 28.2 minutes. Whether you're talking about points or category leagues, Duren was a top-50 player on the team that finished the regular season with the best record in the East. He didn't have a top-50 ADP last fall; that won't be the case ahead of the 2026-27 season.
G Trae Young, Washington Wizards
Injuries limited Young to 15 games this season, five after being traded to the Wizards in January. He has a player option for next season worth just under $49 million, and remaining in Washington either on that deal or a reworked contract would significantly affect the fantasy values of multiple players. Young being in the mix eliminates most of Bub Carrington's redraft league value, and he wasn't the best option in those formats down the stretch, even with increased playing time.
Wings like Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George and Will Riley will have to take on more responsibilities defensively, but each could benefit as finishers with Young running the show. This can also be said for Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr, although there are questions regarding how those two bigs will fit alongside each other. Young will remain an early-round draft pick, regardless of league format.
F LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
James, who will turn 42 in December, has not yet decided whether he'll play next season, so we'll operate as if he's definitely playing. As an unrestricted free agent, what would his market be, with the age countering the lengthy list of achievements. Does he stay with the Lakers on a reduced deal, freeing up more money for Austin Reaves? Does James head elsewhere with designs on winning a title for a fourth different franchise? Given the skill set, he can fit in just about any system, even if the fantasy ceiling is lower than it was in seasons past.
F/C Kristaps PorziĆÇ”is, Golden State Warriors
When healthy, PorziĆÇ”is can be an excellent fantasy asset, especially in category leagues. However, availability is a major concern, with injuries including a lingering illness, limiting the Warriors' forward/center to 32 games this season between Golden State and Atlanta. PorziĆÇ”is averaged 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.2 blocks and 1.7 three-pointers in 24.0 minutes per game, shooting 44.6 percent from the field and 84.2 percent from the foul line.
After entering the 2025-26 season with a Yahoo! ADP just outside of the top-50, PorziĆÇ”is is highly unlikely to reach those heights next fall. A healthy KP can be a top-50 fantasy player, if not better, but the recent issues making a risky player to commit an early-round pick on.
C Isaiah Hartenstein, Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder will have some decisions to make this summer, as starters Hartenstein and Luguentz Dort have team options for the 2026-27 campaign. Limited to 47 games, iHart has a team option for next season worth $28.5 million. In those appearances, the 7-footer averaged 9.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.8 blocks in 24.2 minutes, shooting 62.2 percent from the field and 61.0 percent from the foul line.
Hartenstein's abilities as a rebounder and facilitator make him a solid center option, especially for those punting free-throw percentage. If he were to move on this summer, Jaylin Williams is someone whose fantasy value would receive a boost if the Thunder were to stick with a two-big lineup; Cason Wallace or Ajay Mitchell would benefit if the Thunder decided to slide Jalen Williams to the four.
G Fred VanVleet, Houston Rockets
VanVleet, whose player option for next season is worth $25 million, has not played this season due to a torn ACL suffered just before the start of training camp. Unfortunately, the injury kept fantasy managers from seeing how a partnership between VanVleet and Kevin Durant would work, with the latter's offensive gravity likely making it easier for the former to find quality shots.
Even with VanVleet shooting 37.8 percent from the field in 2024-25, his lowest percentage since his rookie season, the Rockets guard was still a top-75 player in category leagues. He's capable of remaining a highly valuable guard in fantasy basketball next season, especially if playing alongside Durant.
G/F Norman Powell, Miami Heat
Powell was on a roll to begin his first season with the Heat, averaging 23.0 points per game on 47.4 percent shooting in 45 games before the All-Star break. Unfortunately, injuries limited his availability and productivity after the break, pushing the Heat wing's season-long fantasy value outside of the top-50. Powell will be an unrestricted free agent, and uncertainty in Miami may place him in a holding pattern.
Do the Heat make a run at Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is not eligible to sign an extension with the Bucks until October? If so, what would Milwaukee's asking price be? Does Powell even wait to see how that situation plays out before deciding on his future? At his best, Powell can offer excellent fantasy value, but there are some unknowns for fantasy managers to consider.
C Nikola VuÄeviÄ, Boston Celtics
VuÄeviÄ, who will be an unrestricted free agent, moved from a starting role to the bench when he was traded from Chicago to Boston. A fractured finger suffered in early March limited him to 16 regular-season appearances with the Celtics, with Vooch recording averages of 9.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.6 blocks and 1.1 three-pointers in 21.1 minutes. Fitting into a new rotation is never easy, and the injury did VuÄeviÄ no favors. However, his fantasy value as a reserve does not come close to what he can offer when starting. And Neemias Queta's emergence makes it incredibly difficult for Vooch to start in Boston in 2026-27.
One more Western Conference series can be set on Wednesday, April 15, with the Vegas Golden Knights having a chance to wrap up the Pacific Division title during their season finale. If they do, they will face the Utah Mammoth in the first round.
That would leave the second and third Pacific Division seeds, plus the second wild card in the West, up for grabs on the final night when the Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings play. If Vegas doesn't clinch on Wednesday, all four playoff seeds will be in play on Thursday.
Here's what to know about the NHL standings, including the latest playoff bracket, Wednesday's clinching scenario and the tiebreaker procedures for the 2025-26 season before the postseason begins on April 18:
Who's in the 2026 NHL playoffs?
Eastern Conference: Carolina, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Montreal, Tampa Bay, Boston, Ottawa
Western Conference: Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Vegas, Edmonton, Anaheim, Utah, Los Angeles
Who can clinch an NHL playoff seed today?
The Vegas Golden Knights will clinch the Pacific Division title if they get at least one point against the Seattle Kraken.
NHL games today (Wednesday, April 15)
Dallas at Buffalo, 7, TNT, tru
N.Y. Rangers at Tampa Bay, 7
Detroit at Florida, 7
Toronto at Ottawa, 7:30
San Jose at Chicago, 8:30
Seattle at Vegas, 10
NHL playoff standings
NHL Eastern Conference standings 2025-26
After April 14 games. x-clinched playoff spot. y-clinched division. z-eliminated.
Out of the playoffs: z-Washington Capitals (95), z-Columbus Blue Jackets (92), z-Detroit Red Wings (92), z-New York Islanders (91), z-New Jersey Devils (87), z-Florida Panthers (82), z-Toronto Maple Leafs (78), z-New York Rangers (75)
NHL Western Conference standings 2025-26
After April 14 games. x-clinched playoff spot. y-clinched division. z-eliminated.
Out of the playoffs:z-Nashville Predators (86), z-San Jose Sharks (84), z-St. Louis Blues (84), z-Winnipeg Jets (82), z-Seattle Kraken (79), z-Calgary Flames (75), z-Chicago Blackhawks (70), z-Vancouver Canucks (58)
NHL playoffs if they started today
NHL Eastern Conference playoff bracket
Here is how the Eastern Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on April 14:
Carolina (M1) vs. Ottawa (WC2) This series is set
Pittsburgh (M2) vs. Philadelphia (M3) This series is set
Buffalo (A1) vs. Boston (WC1) This series is set
Tampa Bay (A2) vs. Montreal (A3) This series is set
The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second in the second round. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. Key: M - Metropolitan Division. A - Atlantic Division. WC - wild card
NHL Western Conference playoff bracket
Here is how the Western Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on April 14.
Colorado (C1) vs. Los Angeles (WC2)
Dallas (C2) vs. Minnesota (C3). This series is set
Vegas (P1) vs. Utah (WC1)
Edmonton (P2) vs. Anaheim (P3)
The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second in the second round. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. Key: C - Central Division P - Pacific Division. WC - wild card
NHL tiebreakers: What is the first tiebreaker in NHL standings?
If two teams are tied in points at the end of the regular season, here are the tiebreakers:
Regulation wins
Regulation and overtime wins (ROW)
Total wins
Most points earned in head-to-head competition: If teams had an uneven number of meetings, the first game played in the city that has the extra game is excluded. When more than two clubs are tied, the percentage of available points earned in games among each other (and not including any odd games) shall be used to determine standings.
Goal differential
Total goals
In the Pacific Division, the Oilers have the most regulation wins, followed by the Golden Knights, Ducks and Kings.
When does the NHL regular season end?
The NHL regular season is scheduled to end on Thursday, April 16, with six games.
When do the NHL playoffs start?
The NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs are schedule to begin on Saturday, April 18.
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 10: Bryce Elder #55 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the first inning during the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Truist Park on April 10, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Jack Casey/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Bravesâ run prevention was really good coming into this series. Through Sundayâs win over Cleveland, the Braves had a league-best 59 ERA-, a sixth-in-MLB 89 FIP-, and a pedestrian 99 xFIP-. The pitching performance was just okay, but a combination of favorable HR/FB stuff (yay, the universe owes them for last season) and top-three defensive play cured pretty much every ill.
And then, the Marlins came to town. They blasted the Braves with BABIP, homers, and everything in between in the first game. Grant Holmes came in with a 63/110/115 line (ERA-/FIP-/xFIP-), and was dealt a 166/78/94 outing by the vagaries of fate and the Marlinsâ bats. Basically: he didnât pitch well but the team kept runs off the board, and then he pitched okay and the runs piled up on him anyway. Reynaldo Lopez came in with a 28/128/112 line, and was dealt a 133/63/89 start, which was pretty much the exact same outcome (except that no reliever hung a curve for a three-run homer and the Braves won). The Braves are still first in ERA-, and sixth in FIP-, but theyâve moved up to tenth in xFIP- while having 15 runs dumped on them in two games. The Marlins, meanwhile, have continued doing what theyâve done so far this season â they have a top-ten wOBA and bottom ten xwOBA, have the leagueâs biggest favorable variance in this regard, and if youâve watched these first two games, you get it: holy every grounder finds a hole, Batman!
So, now weâve got Bryce Elder lined up for the rubber game. Elderâs line? 25/73/86. Thatâs better, worlds better, than the frankly-subpar pre-Marlins performances of Holmes and Lopez, but the same giant run prevention gap applies. Thereâs added intrigue, too. Elder was brilliant in his first two outings of the year, showing a completely different approach to pitching and a much more exaggerated (and effective, and not all over the place, or mechanically problematic for long stretches) slider. Then, he faced the Guardians, and it was⊠if not Bad Elder, at least, Unremarkable Elder. But, honestly, nah â he was bad. A 3/3 K/BB ratio and his first homer allowed (a no-doubter). In essence, the Elder âregressionâ that everyone feared.
So, whatâs Elder going to do now? In the first two games of this series, the Marlins upended things and drove a dagger into the positioning-and-defense run prevention the Braves had used as their aegis to this point. His career against the Marlins has been a mixed bag â better starts (but with some clunkers mixed in) through 2024, and then two struggle bugs in 2025. Not that it really matters, this might be a different Elder at this point. Or, it might be the same old Elder, based on his most recent start. I have no idea. I donât think anyone does, including Bryce Elder. Weâll see what happens.
Countering Elder in this rubber game will be Chris Paddack, who signed a one-year, $4 million contract to pitch in Miami in the offseason. Paddackâs 2026 experience has been the opposite of that for the Braves thus far (except in this series): he has a 150/125/97 line in two starts and a relief appearance. He had a bizarre Marlins debut (6/0 K/BB ratio, but two homers and eight runs charged), then a blergh long relief appearance (4/4 K/BB ratio) where he was charged with just a single unearned run, and then a mixed bag start against the Tigers (4/1 K/BB ratio, a homer. Paddack has pitched pretty well against the Braves in his career (3.36 FIP, 4.14 xFIP), but itâs just a handful of outings spread across the now-kinda-long arc of his career. The Braves didnât do much against him in two outings last year, but that was kind of par for the course for them.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Wednesday, April 15, 7:15 p.m. EDT
Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
TV: BravesVision
Streaming: MLB.tv (and Braves.tv if youâre in-market, etc.)
Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM
(Also, a moment of silence for the hilarious readout on the MLB.com preview that lists the Marlinsâ TV provider as Marlins.TV, presented by Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia. Between this and the clown show that is the forced spelling of loanDepot Park, please contract the Marlins and open a more serious franchise somewhere.)
Weâre still in small sample size territory as the calendar turns to tax day, but the Cubs are just a titch under 10 percent of the way through their season. The results have been disappointing to say the least, even though itâs early. While there are signs of optimism, the scoreboard doesnât lie and neither do the standings, which you can see here:
The word that comes to mind immediately is âyikes.â
Admittedly, there are some close losses in those nine early contests and some of the Cubs bullpen arms havenât gotten off to a great start. Additionally, there are a number of key hitters for the Cubs who should be performing better off to slow starts, I mean, just look at this table sorted by wRC+ for Cubs hitters with at least five plate appearances (not including Tuesdayâs game):
Again, every small sample size caveat in the world applies to these stats, but the Cubs absolutely need Alex Bregman, Matt Shaw, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Michael Busch to right the ship and get their wRC+ above 100 ASAP. Thatâs a Short Porch for another day, though. Today weâre talking about starting pitching.
The Cubs started the season with a rotation that included Cade Horton, ShĆta Imanaga, Edward Cabrera, Matthew Boyd and Jameson Taillon. Seventeen games into the season Cade Horton is out for the rest of the year after they found damage to his UCL, Matthew Boyd is on the injured list due to a biceps issue and the rotation is ShĆta Imanaga, Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon, Colin Rea and Javier Assad.
But the bench of pitchers is basically depleted. The next man up would likely be Ben Brown who was moved to the bullpen this season after struggling as a starting pitcher. While fans may be clamoring to see top prospect Jaxon Wiggins, heâs dealing with unspecified âsorenessâ at the moment. In case youâre wondering how the front office is feeling about this pitching situation, reporting from The Athletic yesterday indicated the Cubs are one of the teams checking in on Lucas Giolito, who managed to piece together a season with a 3.41 ERA in 2025 over 145 innings pitched, despite a FIP of 4.17 and an xERA of 5.01.
The bottom line is that the Cubsâ depth is being tested early and it doesnât look like the current 40-man or farm system have adequate answers for a team who fancies itself as being much better than their current record.
CLEARWATER, FL - MARCH 1: Shelley Duncan of the New York Yankees looks on before the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at BayCare Ballpark on March 1, 2026 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Crowds flocked to see the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders during their first home series of the season last week at PNC Field in northeastern Pennsylvania. Total attendance for five dates was 17,043, the teamâs largest Opening Week attendance since 2019.
Fans saw the RailRiders split the six-game series with the Durham Bulls.
In the opener, the RailRiders overcame a six-run deficit in theie final three at-bats for a 7-6 win. A wild pitch and RBI double by big-league veteran Paul DeJong in the bottom of the sixth brought the RailRiders within 6-2. Another wild pitch and a Yanquiel FernĂĄndez sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh narrowed the margin to 6-4. Then in the bottom of the eighth, two balks brought in the tying runs. Familiar Yankees face Oswaldo Cabrera followed with a sacrifice fly to give the RailRiders the victory.
Manager Shelley Duncan said it was the type of win that can define the character of a team.
âThe energy these guys had ⊠a lot of teams would sometimes implode, give up,â Duncan said. âBut these guys stayed locked in every pitch. They went out there and continued to have good at-bats, just chipping away. Not trying to do too much, not trying to force that big inning, not trying to force the comeback in one inning.â
Ali SĂĄnchez kept that special feeling going in the seriesâ second game. After the Bulls scored a run in the top of the ninth to tie the game, the catcher homered with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to give the RailRiders a 5-4 triumph.
âThey kept grinding and it ended up paying off,â said Duncan of his teamâs spirit. âThey had trust in themselves that things would happen. Itâs something special.â
Durham won the next two games, 10-2, and, 4-2, in the first game of a doubleheader. The RailRiders used a six-run fourth inning to take the second game of the twinbill, 9-5. The Bulls claimed the series finale, 4-3, to salvage a split.
Jasson DomĂnguez and Spencer Jones led the way for the RailRiders against Durham.
DomĂnguez batted .316 (6-for-19) in the series with seven walks and five stolen bases in six games. âThe Martianâ has been batting in the leadoff spot this season and is tied for seventh in the International League in batting at .354 (17-for-48) with two home runs, eight RBIs and seven stolen bases.
Jones, meanwhile, hit .278 in the series (5-for-18) with one home run, eight RBIs and two stolen bases in six games. He walked five times and struck out five times. That last number is interesting since in his first eight games and 33 at-bats, he whiffed 19 times. His eight RBIs gave him 17 for the season, which is tied for the International League lead.
Reliever Danny Watson picked up two of the three wins in the series and fellow reliever Yovanny Cruz had the other. Cruz is 3-0 with one save. His three wins are tied for the league lead.
The split in the Durham series left the RailRiders with a 9-6 record, two games behind the Memphis Redbirds in the International League standings. They now head north up Interstate 81 for a six-game series with the Syracuse Mets that was scheduled to begin Tuesday.
Syracuse (7-8) is coming off a series in which it lost four of six to the Buffalo Bisons. Nick Morabito leads the Mets at .295 (13 for 44) with two home runs and five RBIs. Cristian Pache has a team-best 10 RBIs while batting .233 (10 for 43) with one home run. Right-hander Jonah Tong, the Metsâ No. 2 prospect, was scheduled to start the opening game of the series. (Neither he nor the RailRidersâ Brendan Beck fared well.)
Also on the Syracuse roster is veteran Jose Rojas, who played for the RailRiders last season and was selected to the International League All-Star team. He led the league with 32 home runs and 105 RBIs and tied for the lead with 35 doubles while batting .287. He tied the franchise record for home runs in a season set in 2011 by Jorge Vasquez and was the second player in franchise history with 100 or more RBIs in a season, falling one short of the mark of 106 set by Torey Lovullo in 1999.
The Yankees are making an addition to their bullpen ahead of Wednesday's game, calling up righty Angel Chivilli.Â
Chivilli was acquired from the Rockies over the offseason in exchange for 1B T.J. Rumfield, who has taken advantage of his new opportunity with a stellar start in Colorado.Â
The 23-year-old right-hander, on the other hand, struggled mightily with the Yanks during spring training as was optioned to the minors after giving up 11 runs in just eight appearances.
He rebounded nicely in Triple-A, though, starting the year with five straight scoreless outings.Â
Chivilli will now look to carry that success over to the Bronx, where heâll take the place of RHP Yerry De Los Santos, who was optioned back to the minors on Tuesday night.Â
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube understands how Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness feels.
Following the Blue Jackets' final regular season game on Tuesday, a 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, Bowness lashed out at his players after what he called a careless performance.
It had been three months since Bowness' hiring in Columbus, and the Blue Jackets have had a 21-11-5 record since, tying them for the fifth-most points in the NHL since Jan. 13.
But after an uptick in play in the first two months following Bowness' hiring, the Blue Jackets fell off a cliff, securing just seven of a possible 26 points in the final 13 games of the season.
The playoffs were a possibility for the Blue Jackets, much like they were for the Maple Leafs coming out of the Olympic break. However, after picking up numerous costly losses, the team's playoff hopes drifted further and further away.
"I don't know if I'm back, but if I'm back, I'm changing this culture," Bowness told reporters in Columbus following their loss on Tuesday.
"These guys, they don't care â losing is not important enough to them. It doesn't bother them. Like, how can you go out and play like that? I should've done this a month ago. But this is why we are where we are. This is why we're out of the playoffs."
Ahead of Toronto's final game of the regular season on Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators, Berube was asked about Bowness' comments and the importance of players having to hate to lose.
"Well, they do," the Maple Leafs' head coach said.
"I think more than anything â and I'm not in (Bowness') head or what he was thinking or whatever â for me it's like, losing has to hurt. It's got to be vocalized in the room by the players. When you're losing and you're not winning, things have to be said in a not-so-nice manner.
"And when that happens in a locker room enough times, things are bound to change. You got to challenge each other, and he's not wrong."
Coming out of the Olympic break, the Maple Leafs were six points out of a playoff spot. They lost their next eight straight in what was one of their longest losing streaks in recent memory.
Since the Olympic break ended, the Maple Leafs have held the NHL's worst record of 5-14-5 in 24 games. They've picked up just 15 of a possible 48 points and were outscored 64-99 in that stretch.
We've seen more fight out of the team recently, after Auston Matthews suffered a knee injury at the hands of Anaheim Ducks defender Radko Gudas on Mar. 12. That's in part due to no one standing up to Gudas right away after Toronto's captain went down.
But does what occurred with the Blue Jackets â with Bowness calling out the team's culture â need to happen in Toronto? Is culture something that needs to improve within the Maple Leafs?
"I'm not going to talk about all that," Berube said. "I'm not getting into all that stuff."
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - APRIL 14: Kevin McGonigle #7 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates after scoring a run against the Kansas City Royals during the bottom of the eighth inning at Comerica Park on April 14, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This morning, uber-prospect Kevin McGonigle and the Detroit tigers finalized an eight year, $150m contract extension. The deal covers the 27-34 seasons, effectively buying out the first three years of McGonigleâs free agency, and includes escalators that could increase its value to $160m. Even assuming McGonigle breaks arbitration records (firmly on the table, given that heâs hitting .311/.417/.492 in his first 72 MLB PA with peripheral stats that suggest he really is that good), that values his age 27-29 seasons at $90-100m. Heâs one of a spate of top prospects to sign for big money right at the beginning of, or even shortly before, their MLB careers so far this spring:
Several young but established big league stars have also extended recently, including Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, Red Sox ace Garrett Crochett, and Orioles starter Shane Baz. The Jays were active in that market last year, signing Alejandro Kirk last season to a deal that now looks like theft after his breakout 2025 and then paying Vladimir Guerrero jr. what amounts to a retail price free agent deal to keep him in Toronto for the remainder of his career.
The Jays donât have any clear extension candidates right now. Daulton Varsho is the obvious name, but heâs having something of a weird start to the season with his speed, range and power significantly down so far but his contact rate and overall offensive production looking excellent. Combined with a potential offensive breakout being derailed by injury last year, he might be a guy where both team and agent decide to wait and see before valuing his free agency.
I still think this trend is of interest to us on this site, though, because it probably reveals something about the direction the economics of the sport and the process of collective bargaining between the MLB Playersâ Association and the league are headed. The current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) runs through the end of this season, at which point itâs been widely predicted that there might be a lockout. Owners are said to be upset about the lack of parity in payrolls, with the New York Metsâ $362.6m 2026 expenditure being more than five times the last place Cleveland Guardiansâ $69.4m. Of course, one might reasonably then ask what the Guardians are doing with the roughly $200m disbursement of national and pooled local revenues each franchise receives, at which point owners tend to harumph and storm out of the room.
Regardless, itâs very clear that ownership intends to push for a salary cap. Progressively stricter luxury taxes have proven ineffective in curbing top team spending. Nine teams are paying some tax in 2026 and five are into the top tax bracket, including clubs like the Blue Jays and Mets that were not regular tax payers 5+ years ago. If a soft tax wonât stop spending, a hard cap is the only way to do it. On the other side, though, a cap has always been a firm red line for the union. They rely on high spending teams to set the market and to force cheap owners to spend. If owners are willing to press their case, thereâs a risk of a lockout that could shorten or even scrap the 2027 season. Both sides are gearing up for a prolonged stoppage, with the MLBPA allocating 100% of player licensing revenues (the share the player gets when, e.g., you buy a replica of their jersey) in each of the last two seasons to build up a strike fund thatâs now over half a billion dollars, while the owners have a war chest about four times as large.
Thereâs also a larger economic backdrop. The local cable sports market (referred to as regional sports networks, RSN), which is the backbone of MLB teamsâ local revenues, is collapsing. Main Street Sports Group, which operates the FanDuel Sports Network RSNs that broadcast nine MLB teamsâ games, has had to try to renegotiate rights deals it couldnât afford to pay. Most of the teams eventually just transferred their rights to MLB.tv, which is partnering with ESPN to sell local streaming rights for roughly half of the league starting next season. Commissioner Rob Manfred is scrambling to redesign the leagueâs revenue model around streaming, but how well that will work isnât clear, and heâs facing opposition from more successful teams that like owning their own regional broadcast rights. Owning a north American sports franchise has been a bonanza to TV money and skyrocketing franchise valuations over the last 30 years. Whether that will continue is at least a little murky. The potential for a lockout further clouds the picture. Attendance took a decade to recover from the 1994 strike. A prolonged 2027 lockout, at a time when the league is navigating the streaming transition, could be even more damaging.
GMs and agents are intensely aware of all of this, of course, which is why the recent extension spree is interesting. Early career extensions are a team friendly bet, in general, as players trade upside for certainty. They hit the market later and with fewer prime seasons remaining, taking the possibility of ever signing a true top of the market contract off the table in exchange for locking in set for life money now. That Scott Boras clients donât take extensions has become a fan cliche because the hyper-aggressive agent pushes his guys to hit the open market, a bet that pays off more often than not. And now, the fact that agents are directing their clients towards extending shows that theyâre leaning towards the safety side of that bet.
Teams are typically in a position to be less risk averse. A player only gets one career, and if something goes wrong that career can be cut short before they strike it rich. A team expects to operate indefinitely, and its revenue is stable as long as the fans show up. Itâs still somewhat telling that they want to sign these deals, though. The Tigers clearly think locking in the right to pay McGonigle over $30m in 2034 is worth taking on that risk, which doesnât point to an expectation that the top end of the free agent market is going to downshift in any huge way.
Overall, then, I think the signs are modestly pessimistic for labour, but arguably slightly optimistic for fans wanting to watch a 2027 baseball season. After all, negotiations need both parties to have a basically similar understanding of reality to work out, and it doesnât hurt when failing to strike a deal has some painful consequences. The fact that a lot of extensions are getting done suggests that players and their agents are not expecting a world where salaries skyrocket while GMs donât significantly fear the bottom of the free agent market dropping out. The leagueâs forced pivot towards variable streaming revenues has the potential to make viewership damaging antics by owners more damaging to everyone. Those factors in combination give me a little hope that reasonable positions will be taken and the gap can be bridged. Still, there are choppy waters ahead.
COVERS INTEL: Since the start of 2025, opponents have slugged just .240 against Shohei Ohtani's four-seamer, while the Mets are slugging .342 against four-seam fastballs this year.
Raphielle Johnson
