Bryson Tiller is leaving Kansas for bitter rival Missouri after a promising and productive freshman season with the Jayhawks.
The 6-foot-11 forward arrived in Lawrence before the spring semester in 2025 and redshirted before playing last season, when Tiller was a regular in the starting lineup. He averaged 7.9 points and 6.1 rebounds, and one of his best games for Kansas came against the Tigers, when he had 13 points, five rebounds and five blocks in an 80-60 rout at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
Missouri has been active in the transfer portal, landing Tennessee forward Jaylen Carey and Providence forward Jamier Jones.
Tiller visited the Tigers on Sunday and made the decision to join coach Dennis Gates over interest from Michigan, Georgia Tech, NC State, Arizona and others. He visited Miami but canceled a planned visit to Arizona.
Kansas already lost another big man, Flory Bidunga, who decided to transfer to Louisville.
NEW YORK — The Dodgers shattered Major League Baseball’s spending record with a combined $515 million in payroll and luxury tax last year en route to their second straight World Series title, according to final figures compiled by the commissioner’s office, and Los Angeles is projected for the highest total again in 2026.
Los Angeles’ 2025 spending included records for payroll at $345.3 million and tax of $169.4 million for a total of $514.6 million. Despite several contracts discounted to reflect deferred payments, the Dodgers’ total was seven times the $68.7 million payroll of the Miami Marlins, the lowest-spending team, and more than the payrolls of the bottom six clubs combined.
Spending by the Dodgers last year topped the previous high of $430.4 million by the 2024 New York Mets — and Los Angeles’ total didn’t include the $6.5 million signing bonus given pitcher Roki Sasaki as part of a minor league contract.
The Mets and Dodgers combined to spend $948.3 million. The ratio of the five highest spenders to the five lowest increased from 3.6 in 2021 to a record-high 4.7 last year.
The Dodgers in 2025 ended the Mets’ three-year streak as the top payroll, boosted by $8.5 million in earned bonuses by retiring ace Clayton Kershaw.
Los Angeles’ total would have been about $71 million higher but for the use of deferred money for seven players that resulted in discounting for their payroll calculations. Shohei Ohtani counts at $28.2 million because $68 million of his $70 million salary last year isn’t due until 2035.
The Mets finished second in payroll at $342.1 million and with tax had a total spend of $433.7 million.
In the first five seasons after owner Steve Cohen bought the team, the Mets spent $1.44 billion without winning a title: $1.11 billion in payroll and $320 million in tax.
Both the Mets and Dodgers exceeded the previous record-high payroll set by the 2024 Mets at $333.3 million.
Los Angeles is projected as of MLB’s opening-day figures to lead in 2026 spending with a $323.3 million payroll for its 40-man roster and a $163.7 million tax for a $487.1 million total. The Mets began with a record payroll at $358.4 million and have a projected tax of $124.1 million for a $482.5 million spend.
Cleveland has the lowest opening day 40-man payroll this year at $75.5 million.
Total spending, based on regular payrolls, rose 3.1% to $5.32 billion last year from $5.16 billion in 2024 and has increased 31.3% in four seasons under the current labor contract from $4.05 billion in 2021.
Those figures do not include the $50 million annual pre-arbitration bonus pool that began in the 2022 collective bargaining agreement or allocations for benefits, which are included in MLB’s luxury tax payrolls.
Among luxury tax payrolls, eight teams began 2026 over the $244 million tax threshold. The Dodgers ($415.2 million), Mets ($379.2 million) and New York Yankees ($339.6 million) were followed by Toronto ($319.5 million), Philadelphia ($315.2 million), Boston ($263.7 million), San Diego ($260.1 million) and Atlanta ($247.9 million).
The Chicago Cubs started $25,000 under and Detroit $2.5 million below. Payrolls increase and decrease during the season due to trades and roster moves.
The Yankees finished 2025 with the third-highest regular payroll at $301.5 million, followed by Philadelphia ($291.9 million), AL champion Toronto ($253.1 million), Houston ($236.4 million) and Texas ($229.9 million).
Four of the top five spenders reached the playoffs, except the Mets, along with teams whose payrolls ranked ninth, 10th, 12th, 15th, 17th, 22nd, 23rd and 25th.
The Dodgers boosted payroll the most in 2025 at $74.4 million. Other teams with big 2025 increases were Detroit ($61.9 million), Baltimore ($60.2 million to $165.6 million), San Diego ($45.6 million to $217.6 million), Philadelphia ($42.8 million) and Toronto ($34.7 million).
Fifteen teams cut payroll from 2024 to 2025, led by the Chicago White Sox (by $66.1 million to $87.9 million), St. Louis ($39.3 million to $139.1 million), Miami ($29.4 million to $68.8 million) and San Francisco (by $28 million to $182.9 million). The Cardinals have further slashed payroll to $102.3 million on opening day this year, and that includes about $47.4 million attributable to trades involving three players no longer with the Cardinals: Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras.
The Yankees cut payroll by $9.4 million from 2024 to 2025 and have raised it to $302.8 million this year.
Eleven teams topped $200 million in 2025, matching the record set in 2023. Five teams were below $100 million, one more than the record-low in 2024.
Regular payrolls for last year are based on 2025 salaries, earned bonuses and prorated shares of signing bonuses and non-cash compensation for 40-man rosters. Deferred salaries and bonus payments are discounted to present-day values, and termination pay, option buyouts and cash transactions among clubs are accounted for.
MLB calculated the average salary as of Aug. 31, the last day before active rosters expanded to 26, at $4,611,595. The players’ association, using a slightly different methodology, arrived at $4,721,393,
Luxury tax is based on payrolls with average annual values that include benefits and the pre-arbitration bonus pool. The players’ association doesn’t think tax payments should be used in measuring disparity because half the tax money goes to a commissioner’s discretionary fund distributed among teams eligible to receive revenue-sharing money which have grown their non-media local revenue.
We have 11 games on the MLB betting board today and a few of our favorite props are in the early games.
See why I'm backing Rangers right-hander Jack Leiter and Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz with my best freeMLB player propsfor Thursday, April 16.
Best MLB player props today
Player
Pick
Odds
Jack Leiter
Over 5.5 strikeouts
-110
Yandy Diaz
Over 1.5 total bases
-105
Parker Messick
Under 5.5 strikeouts
-106
Jack Leiter Over 5.5 strikeouts (-110)
Texas Rangers righty Jack Leiter is coming off a rough outing against the Dodgers elite offense. However, he impressed in his first two starts, striking out eight batters versus Baltimore and fanning nine against Cincinnati.
Leiter is in the 88th percentile in strikeout rate (33.3%) and the 94th percentile in whiff rate (37.3%). He came on strong towards the end of his rookie year in 2025, averaging 10.1 K/9 after the All-Star break.
He should mow down an Athletics lineup that strikes out at the second-highest rate in the majors (27.5%) and ranks 26th in whiff rate (29%)
Time: 3:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBC Sports California, Rangers Sports Network
Yandy Diaz Over 1.5 total bases (-105)
The Chicago White Sox will use Jordan Leasure (4.95 xERA) as an opener today with Anthony Kay in a bulk relief role. Kay has a 2.46 ERA but analytics suggest major regression. He's in the fifth percentile in hard-hit rate, and the 10th percentile in xERA (7.26) and xBA (.302).
He'll get roughed up by Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz. Diaz is slashing .369/.468/.569 and has racked up 37 total bases through 17 games. He has the platoon advantage against Kay and there's a 14 mph breeze blowing towards the outfield at Guaranteed Rate Field today.
The rookie has gone below 5.5 strikeouts in two of three starts this season. He doesn't have overpowering stuff and his whiff rate is in the 30th percentile. He generates most of his strikeouts due to a high chase rate but Baltimore doesn't chase many pitches.
The Orioles are 21st in the majors in strikeout rate (23.7%) but have trimmed that number to 19.7% over the last week. There's also a chance they get to Messick early since they have a sizzling .796 OPS against lefties.
Time: 6:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: CLEGuardians.TV, MASN
Rohit Ponnaiya's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 2-1, +1.65 units
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.
It's getaway day on the diamond, with a litany of afternoon games to make MLB picks on.
We're getting into our expert's MLB best bets right away, jumping on the first game of the day and carrying into the afternoon based on prices from Polymarket, which allows baseball fans all over the country to jump in on today's MLB action.
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Josh Inglis' expert pick: Nationals/Pirates Under 8.5
Price: 47¢ (+113) at Polymarket
Who doesn't love an afternoon getaway spot with a high total? The wind is still blowing out, but neither the Nationals nor the Pirates took advantage yesterday in a 2-0 game... with just five total hits. The pitching matchup is stronger today, and both bullpens should be fully available. Getaway lineups also tend to feature a few bench bats, which can dilute the offense. This number looks a bit high, with a fair price in the -120 to -115 range, making the plus-money Under worth a look.
Jon Metler's expert pick: Rockies moneyline
Price: 38¢ (+163) at Polymarket
The Rockies may be using an opener in Juan Mejia for this game, but the Astros are getting far too much respect in the market because of it. The Rockies are trading as a 38-cent underdog on Polymarket, but I make them closer to a 42¢ dog in this spot. Ryan Weiss is on the mound for the Astros, and he’s allowing left-handed hitters to bat .357 with a 1.009 OPS this season. That's a problem against a Rockies lineup loaded with lefties at the top, including Mickey Moniak, Edouard Julien, and TJ Rumfield. If those hitters can work the count, Weiss is likely to leave pitches over the heart of the plate that they can attack — especially considering he ranks in just the 7th percentile in hard-hit rate allowed, which is not a good sign for him — but a great sign for our bet.
Neil Parker's expert pick: Orioles moneyline
Price: 48¢ (+108) at Polymarket
Guardians starter Parker Messick will face a tough test today, with the Orioles ranking third in wOBA against southpaws. The 25-year-old lefty has an unsustainable .227 BABIP and 100% strand rate — and the pendulum is set to swing in the opposite direction with a potent Baltimore lineup. Cleveland also ranks 20th in wOBA against righties, and Baltimore starter Shane Baz has allowed three runs or fewer in 22 of his past 34 starts.
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 Mets have traded left-handed reliever Richard Lovelady to the Washington Nationals in exchange for cash considerations.
Lovelady was designated for assignment on April 11 when the club called up righty Craig Kimbrel.
The 30-year-old Lovelady appeared in six games for the Mets this season, pitching to a 3.68 ERA in 7.1 innings, striking out six and walking four. Lovelady also appeared in eight games for the Mets last season, when he posted a 6.30 ERA.
The Mets have had to make a number of bullpen moves lately, including releasing Luis Garcia and calling up Kimbrel and Austin Warren.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 15: VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the game against the Orlando Magic during the SoFi Play-In Tournament on April 15, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Down in South Philadelphia last night, the crowd filled in slowly for the Sixers’ Play-In Tournament matchup with the Magic. Blame traffic concerns if you’d like given that the Phillies were hosting a game across the street too and the simple fact that it was a weeknight. Sitting at Xfinity Mobile Arena before tipoff, both levels of the stands were fairly dead. Would the fan base lay an egg for this one? I couldn’t blame them much if that was the case.
The Sixers were playing for the right to be the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference and likely lose to the Celtics in the postseason for the sixth time this century. Joel Embiid was sidelined as he recovers from surgery for appendicitis while his timetable for returning to the court remains unclear. The promises of the Process and those first handful of playoff runs in the Embiid era have evaporated. Most people in this city are bitter about the team, or, even worse, apathetic.
Things, however, shifted as the game progressed. The arena filled up. People were decked out in jerseys from across the decades for the franchise, from Julius Erving to Allen Iverson to even a lingering Dario Šarić that I saw. Fans fed off the energy of the Sixers’ dynamic backcourt duo of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. By the time Andre Drummond, the unsung hero of the evening, nailed a three-pointer with under a minute to go in the first half, the crowd popped. It was as if the clock turned back to a time where anything was possible for the direction of the Sixers as unlimited possibilities were staring at us for the next decade.
I remember being there for the Sixers’ first post-Process playoff game against the Heat in 2018. It may have only been six years since the last time the Sixers were in the postseason, but it felt closer to 60. The Sixers torched Miami in the 27-point victory as vets Marco Belinelli and Ersan İlyasova went supernova off the bench and rookie sensation Ben Simmons dished out 14 assists. It was everything I had dreamed of playing out in front of my own eyes.
I’m a Sixers pessimist. That has been abundantly clear for a while, likely dating back to the team’s 2021 collapse against Atlanta that I’ve never fully recovered from in terms of my fandom. Still, it’s nice to get wrapped up in something bigger than ourselves, right? That’s how it felt watching this team pull out that win. Roaring after yet another improbable Drummond three near the end of the fourth quarter that padded the Sixers’ lead with 20,000 people is what it’s all about.
This all may be fleeting. I am not entertaining a miraculous upset of the Celtics in the coming days. I also imagine quite a few Boston fans, both those from the New England area and the disgusting locals who root for them, will be present and diminish the Sixers’ home court energy. At the very least, this win over Orlando was a call back to what makes playoff basketball so special for the fans in attendance and, maybe, just maybe, a harbinger of brighter days for the franchise in the future (maybe the distant future…).
The Detroit Tigers (9-9) host the Kansas City Royals (7-11) this afternoon at Comerica Park, looking to complete a series sweep and extend their winning streak to six games. The Royals have lost three in a row. As a result, the Tigers have climbed to within a game and a half of Minnesota in the American League Central and the Royals have fallen 3.5 games off the pace.
This series has highlighted two struggling offenses. Detroit has won each of the first two games by the score of 2-1. The Royals managed but six hits and the Tigers seven with Gleyber Torres accounting for three of the seven.
Kansas City has scored an American League-worst 56 runs this season. Only the San Francisco Giants have scored fewer in all of baseball with 55. As a team, the Royals are hitting .214. They have hit just 13 home runs. Their slugging percentage is .330. Metrics suggest they are hitting the ball hard, which suggests things should improve but its rough right now.
As noted earlier, Kansas City will not be the only team on the field in Detroit today that is struggling to score. The Tigers have scored 74 runs to date this season. They rank near the bottom of baseball with a mere 213 total bases in 666 plate appearances.
Now that we know not to expect an offensive bonanza today, lets look at today’s matchup specifically. The Tigers will send right-hander Keider Montero (1-1, 1.74 ERA) to the bump against KC southpaw Kris Bubic (2-1, 2.50 ERA).
Know also that Detroit is now 7-1 at home this season.
Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Royals at Tigers
Date: Thursday, April 16, 2026
Time: 1:10PM EST
Site: Comerica Park
City: Detroit, MI
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The Latest Odds: Royals vs. Tigers
The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Kansas City Royals (-122), Detroit Tigers (+102)
Kevin McGonigle has hit safely in 4 of his last 5 games (6-15)
Gleyber Torres was 1 for his last 13 prior to his 3 hits last night
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Top Betting Trends & Insights: Royals vs. Tigers
The Royals are 8-10 on the Run Line this season
The Tigers are 8-10 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed an MLB-worst 5 times in the Royals’ 18 games this season (5-13)
The OVER has cashed 7 times in the Tigers’ 18 games this season (7-9-2)
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions: Royals at Tigers
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday’s game between the Royals and the Tigers:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Tigers on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 8.5.
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ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Hawks center Jock Landale will miss at least the first two weeks of the NBA playoffs because of his sprained right ankle.
Landale averaged 9.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 23 regular-season games with Atlanta. He sustained a high ankle sprain on April 1 at Orlando. The Hawks say he “is progressing in his rehabilitation” and “will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks.” An update is expected after his re-evaluation.
Atlanta is the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and opens its first-round series at the third-seeded New York Knicks on Saturday.
The Hawks addressed a lack of depth at center — Kristaps Porzingis has been unavailable much of the season and N’Faly Dante is out for the year — by acquiring Landale from Utah for cash considerations in early February. He never played for the Jazz and was with them less than a day after being part of an eight-player trade involving Memphis.
The 30-year-old Landale averaged 11.3 points and 6.5 rebounds in 45 games for Memphis.
The Australian is in his fifth NBA season. He made his NBA debut with San Antonio in the 2021-22 season and also has played for Phoenix and Houston.
Oct 22, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) talks with Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images | Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
The Boston Celtics are going to be facing off against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the playoffs this season after they beat the Orlando Magic 109-97 in the Play-In Tournament. This is the 23rd time that Boston and Philadelphia have faced off against each other, the most in NBA playoff history.
The Celtics have an all time playoff record of 66-50 against the 76ers that dates back to when Philadelphia went by the Syracuse Nationals in the 1950s. Boston is 15-7 all time in playoff series against Philadelphia, dominating the matchup especially in recent memory.
Before we take a trip down memory lane, lets look at the 2026 regular season matchups between Boston and Philadelphia where they split the season series. The first matchup was all the way back to Opening Night on October 22nd where Philly beat Boston 117-116 in TD Garden. Tyrese Maxey led the way with 40 point alongside one of the best rookie debut performances in NBA History from VJ Edgecombe who dropped 34 points. Boston was led by Jaylen Brown and Derrick White who had 25 points each and the Celtics almost won if the game winning shot by Payton Pritchard went in at the final buzzer.
Game 2 was was only nine days on October 31st where Jaylen Brown gave the city of Philadelphia a Halloween fright, dropping 32 points in a 109-108 win for Boston on the road. This game was almost the opposite of Opening Night where it was Joel Embiid who missed the game wining three at the buzzer after Quinten Grimes dribbled out the shot clock. Anfernee Simons had a great game for Boston off the bench with 19 points while Maxey led the way for the 76ers with 26 points.
Boston played their third game against Philadelphia only eleven days later on November 11th where it finished as another close game, this time the 76ers winning 102-100 at home. Kelly Oubre Jr was the hero for Philly with a game winning put-back layup with 8.7 seconds to go and a Derrick White half court heave at the buzzer just missed. This was also known as the “Justin Edwards Game” where he led the 76ers with 22 points on 8-9 shooting from the field and 5-6 shooting from three. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 24 points but it wasn’t enough.
The final game of the season series didn’t come until four months later where on March 1st, Boston beat Philadelphia 114-98 in TD Garden, the biggest margin of victory between these teams all year. It was a close game with under three minutes to go in the fourth quarter before the Celtics rattled off an 11-1 run to close it out. This was the Neemias Queta Legacy Game where he dropped a career high 27 points and 17 rebounds on 10-14 shooting, dominating the 76ers underneath the basket. Brown also finished with 27 points for Boston while Maxey led the way with 33 points for Philadelphia.
BOSTON, MA – MARCH 1: Neemias Queta #88 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after a dunk against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half at TD Garden on March 1, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Early Years: Celtics vs Nationals/76ers (1953-1969)
Back in the day when there was only 8 to 9 teams in the NBA, the Celtics and Nationals would face off almost every season from 1953-1961. In that time frame Boston had the upper hand in this matchup with a record of 15-13 in 7 different matchups in this span.
In 1953 we saw the Celtics sweep the Nationals in the first round in a three game series behind 50 points from Bob Cousy on 10-22 shooting and 30-32 from the free throw line in a Game 2 that had four overtimes. Syracuse would respond by winning the next three series from 1954-1956. Two of these matchups came in what is now the conference finals and ending in a championship in 1955.
Boston came back in 1957 in the first five game series of this matchup, sweeping the Nationals in the first playoff series of Bill Russell’s career. After taking down Syracuse, Boston made their first NBA Finals where they won win their first championship in franchise history over the St. Louis Hawks. Little did we know this would start the greatest dynasty in NBA history.
Boston faced off against Syracuse two more times in 1959 and 1961 ending in Celtics victories and two more championships. The Nationals would leave Syracuse in 1963 and move to the City of Brotherly Love, now called the Philadelphia 76ers and trading for a superstar named Wilt Chamberlain.
The rebrand did not change their luck against the Celtics however, as Boston beat them four times in five years from 1965-1969. The one time Philadelphia beat Boston was in 1967 where they won the championship but the other four times ended in the Celtics winning it all.
BOSTON – 1967: Wilt Chamberlain #13 of the Philadelphia 76ers posts up against Bill Russell #6 of the Boston Celtics during a game played in 1967 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1967 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Lull Period: Celtics vs 76ers (1977)
Boston was in the process of restarting their dynasty in the mid-70s, winning the championship in 1974 and 1976 but didn’t face Philadelphia at all in this time. The 76ers on the other hand were struggling post losing Wilt Chamberlain but just acquired Julius Erving ahead of the 1977 season. This did wonders for Philly as they were back in real playoff contention and met Boston in the second round of the playoffs in 1977.
This series went all 7 games with Dave Cowens and John Havlicek doing their best to lead Boston while Erving dominated for Philadelphia. In Game 7, it was a close game but ended with the 76ers beating the Celtics in a playoff series for the first time since 1967. World B. Free led the way for Philadelphia with 27 points off the bench while Cowens struggled with only 11 points on 5-16 shooting. The 76ers went on to make the NBA Finals in 1977, losing to the Portland Trail Blazers in 6 games.
This was the end of the Celtics dynasty of the 70s but it was just the beginning of them seeing the 76ers in the playoffs on a yearly basis once the 1980s began.
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 22: Philadelphia 76ers Julius Erving, center, shoots between Boston Celtics Dave Cowens, left, and John Havlicek, right, during a game at the Boston Garden, April 22, 1977. (Photo by Frank O'Brien/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Bird Years: Celtics vs 76ers (1980-1985)
The Celtics had a brand new star to lead them back to glory in the 80’s and his name was Larry Bird. Bird’s rookie year in 1980 saw him win Rookie of the Year and lead Boston back to the playoffs. After sweeping the Houston Rockets in the first round, Bird lead the Celtics into his first matchup against the 76ers in the second round of the 1980 playoffs. Sadly, Philadelphia would win the series in 5 games and 76ers would make the NBA Finals, losing to the Los Angels Lakers.
Boston would respond to this loss in 1981 by beating the 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals in 7 game series. Larry Bird led the way with 23 points in Game 7 and the Celtics would take down the Houston Rockets in the NBA Finals for their 14th championship. Philadelphia came back in 1982 and blew out Boston in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, once again losing to the Lakers in the Finals. Hopefully, the 76ers would enjoy this victory over Boston because it would be the last time they beat the Celtics in a playoff series.
The Celtics wouldn’t play the 76ers in the playoffs again until 1985 where Boston dominated Philly, winning the Eastern Conference Finals in 5 games but losing to the Lakers in the NBA Finals. Boston wouldn’t play Philadelphia again for another 17 years, bringing the rivalry into the 21st century.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 29, 1981: Larry Bird #33 of the Boston Celtics looks to pass against Julius Erving #6 of the Philadelphia 76ers during Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals at the Boston Garden on April 29, 1981 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by James Drake/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Pierce Years: Celtics vs 76ers (2002-2012)
The 90s were a rough decade for the Celtics but one positive that came out of it was drafting Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker to be stars of the future. The duo made their first playoff appearance together in 2002 and faced off against the 76ers in the First Round. They would destroy the 2001 Eastern Conference Champion 76ers led by Allen Iverson, winning the series in 5 games. Pierce went nuclear in Game 5, where he dropped 46 points on 16-25 shooting while Walker finished with 26 points on 11-22 shooting.
The Celtics would ride this momentum to an Eastern Conference Finals appearance after beating the Pistons in 5 games in the Second Round before losing to the New Jersey Nets in 5 Games. The Nets would go on to get swept by the Lakers in the NBA Finals.
BOSTON – MAY 3: Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball as Derrick Coleman #44 of the Philadelphia 76ers attempts to block, during game 5 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals during the 2002 NBA Playoffs at the Fleet Center in Boston, Massachusetts on May 3, 2002. The Celtics won, 120-87. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/Getty Images/NBAE) | NBAE via Getty Images
Paul Pierce wouldn’t face off against the 76ers again until the Second Round in the 2012 Playoffs and a lot had changed in a decade. He was the Finals MVP in the Celtics 2008 NBA Championship with new co-stars in Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo. However, this was the Last Dance for this iteration of the Celtics and they faced off against a scrappy 76ers team who made it past the Chicago Bulls after Derrick Rose tore his ACL. They were led by All-Star Andre Iguodala and a young core of guys like Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner, and Lou Williams.
In theory this should have been an easy series for the Celtics to win but the 76ers put up a fight, forcing a Game 7 back in TD Garden after trading wins through the first six games. In that Game 7 the new core of Celtics were able to squash the 76ers Cinderella story, led by Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo who scored 18 points. Boston advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals but had a similar result from 2002, losing to the Big 3 Miami Heat in 7 games.
This would be the end of an era in Celtics history as Allen left to join the Heat in the offseason while Pierce and Garnett got traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2013. Little did we know that the draft picks from this trade would bring the next iteration of stars to the rivalry.
BOSTON, MA – MAY 26: Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics protects the ball during Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2012 NBA Playoffs on May 26, 2012 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2012 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Jays Years: Celtics vs 76ers (2018-2023)
We have reached the Modern Day in Celtics History, with the team now being led by Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, they had to continue the tradition of their first playoff series coming against the Philadelphia 76ers. In the Second Round in 2018, the Celtics faced off against the 76ers young core of Joel Embiid and Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons.
Boston was not favored since they lost their stars Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving but that did not stop their young group from beating Philadelphia in 5 games. In that Game 5 we saw a glimpse of the future, with Tatum leading the way with 25 points on 8-15 shooting while Brown finished with 24 points on 10-13 shooting. This overachieving Boston Celtics team would advance to the Eastern Conference Finals where they would lose to the LeBron James led Cleveland Cavaliers in 7 games.
BOSTON, MA – MAY 9: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics reacts against the Philadelphia 76ers during Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 9, 2018 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Boston would face off against Philadelphia again in the NBA Bubble, in the First Round of the 2020 Playoffs. This is sort of a footnote in the rivalry with the Celtics sweeping the 76ers. Simmons was out for the entire series and that led Embiid to try and carry the load by himself. The Celtics blew them out through three games before Kemba Walker dropped 32 points in Game 4 to win the series. The Celtics would once again make it to the Eastern Conference Finals after taking down the Toronto Raptors in 7 games in the Second Round but ran out of gas and lost to the Jimmy Butler led Miami Heat in 6 games. Miami would end up losing in the NBA Finals to the Los Angeles Lakers in 6 games.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 23: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics speaks with Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers after the game in Game Four of the first round of the playoffs at The Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 23, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The most recent matchup of the Celtics vs 76ers rivalry came in the Second Round of the 2023 Playoffs and that was the best series of the Jays era so far. It went all 7 games, starting with Boston losing Game 1 at home behind 45 points from James Harden. The Celtics won the next two games before dropping the next two to go down 3-2 in the series with Game 6 on the road and this is where Jayson Tatum would cement his playoff legacy.
Tatum was awful to start Game 6, shooting 1-13 through three quarters before dropping 16 points in the fourth quarter on 4-8 shooting to lead Boston to the win. This set the stage for the main event of Game 7 back in TD Garden with the season on the line. Jayson Tatum would proceed to break the record for points in a Game 7, dropping 51 points on 17-28 shooting from the field and 6-10 from three to lead the Celtics to a blowout victory over the 76ers to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Once advancing to the Conference Finals, the Celtics would lose another series to the Heat, this time in a heart breaking Game 7. Miami would lose in the NBA Finals to the Denver Nuggets in 5 games.
BOSTON, MA – MAY 14: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics celebrates during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on May 14, 2023 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
2026 Playoff Prediction
After going over the very long and extensive playoff history between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers it is now time to make my prediction for how the 2026 First Round series is going to go. The 76ers are a very dangerous team going into this series.
Joel Embiid might be out but Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecobe are a scary combination to face after they combined for 50 points against the Orlando Magic in the Play-In Game. Paul George is also back from his suspension early in the season and could also be a difference maker as a third option in this series. Philadelphia’s depth also has potential to help with Kelly Oubre Jr and Andre Drummond being solid support pieces.
The one thing that the Celtics have that the 76ers don’t is Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. For years teams have had a hard time finding an answer to guard both of them and the Jays are playing some of their best basketball going into the playoffs. Philly’s center depth could also cause them some issues, leading to potentially a ton of drives by Boston to the basket and easy points for a guy like Neemias Queta. Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, and Sam Hauser also have the chance to light up the 76ers from deep and we’ve seen Baylor Scheirman and Jordan Walsh play some great defense against tough competition.
My Final Prediction: Celtics Win the Series in 5 games. For as much as I respect Maxey and Edgecombe, I think Boston is just the better team and have too much firepower for Philadelphia to handle. I think the 76ers might be able to steal a win in this series but the Celtics should be able to win this series in a Gentleman’s Sweep.
BOSTON, MA – MARCH 1: Neemias Queta #88 and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics celebrate during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 1, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Toronto Blue Jays (7-10) and Milwaukee Brewers (9-8) meet in the decisive third game of their series. The teams split the first two games with the Brewers winning 9-7 on Tuesday and the Blue Jays winning 2-1 on Wednesday.
How to watch Toronto Blue Jays vs. Milwaukee Brewers
BALTIMORE - OCTOBER 1979: Pittsburgh Pirates' pitcher Grant Jackson #23 pitches against the Baltimore Orioles during the World Series at Memorial Stadium in October of 1979 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Focus on Sport/ Getty Images) | Focus on Sport via Getty Images
In honor of the Philadelphia Phillies playing host to the 2026 Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park, we here at The Good Phight are launching a yearlong series that focuses on the history of the Phillies and the All-Star Game.Check back regularly for posts about the Phillies participation (or lack thereof) in the Midsummer Classic over its history.
It’s time once again for a look at some Phillies one-time All-Stars. However, unlike the rest of this series so far (which you cancatchup onhere) there is only one member of the 1960s Phillies who was a one-time All-Star as a member of the Phillies, and he was just under the decade threshold.
Grant Jackson, 1969
In 1942, Grant Jackson was born as one of nine children to Joseph and Luella Jackson in Fosteria, Ohio. He was a strong athlete from an early age, lettering in football, baseball, and track during his time in high school. Unfortunately, Jackson’s family was not very well off financially, and their situation worsened when his father passed away following a heart attack in 1960 at the age of 52. That forced Jackson’s older brother and biology teacher Carlos to assume the role of the father figure in his life and help support the family. Jackson finished high school in 1961 but did not have the grades to qualify for an athletic scholarship to Bowling Green University.
That’s when he decided to take a long shot and reach out to the most famous resident of his hometown, Tony Lucadello, who also just so happened to be a scout for the Phillies. Lucadello would wind up being responsible for numerous players signing with the Phillies, including Mike Schmidt, Fergie Jenkins, and Mickey Morandini. But in 1961, Lucadello decided to give the 18-year-old Jackson a shot, as the Phillies signed the small 6-foot, 180-pound pitcher to a contract worth just $1,500. But Jackson needed the money to help his family, so he accepted. Shortly after, Jackson was introduced to the cruel realities of baseball in the time before high school players had agents, as he discovered just two days after signing with the Phillies that the Milwaukee Braves were prepared to offer him $35,000.
In any case, Jackson’s pro career started in 1962 when he was just 19 years old with the Bakersfield Bears of the California League. Jackson would spend the next two seasons there before eventually earning a promotion Triple-A in 1965 to Arkansas. Jackson, an African American, was walking into a very hostile environment in Little Rock as described by Arkansas teammate Fergie Jenkins. Jenkins described the racial climate by saying “things were tenser, more overt in Arkansas” and describing incidents where players would leave games to find their cars vandalized with racial epithets.
Jackson was not long for Arkansas though, as the Phillies made him a September call-up and he made his major league debut on September 3rd, 1965, on the road against the Cincinnati Reds. He entered in the bottom of the fifth with two on and no outs, relieving Phillies starter Ray Kulp who left with a 6-3 lead but traffic on the bases. Jackson struck out the first two hitters he faced in Tony Pérez and Deron Johnson, but he then allowed a three-run homer to Frank Robinson that tied the game at 6-6. Jackson would go on to pitch two innings and be charged with the loss as the Reds mounted a ferocious late offensive barrage to win 17-6.
The 22-year-old Jackson went on to appear in six total games his rookie year including two starts. He allowed 11 runs and four home runs in just 13.2 innings, but he also struck out 15 to flash his potential. Jackson began 1966 with the team but was demoted after just two relief appearances, except this time the Phillies Triple-A affiliate was in San Diego instead of Little Rock. That’s where he would stay for the rest of 1966, going 10-8 with a 3.96 ERA in 23 starts. Jackson made the MLB team in 1967 and stayed there all season, but only appeared in 43 games with four starts.
But then Phillies manager Gene Mauch was fired early into the 1968 season, paving the way for Bob Skinner to take control of the ballclub. Skinner was able to help Jackson correct a mechanical flaw in his delivery by speeding him up on the mound. The change worked, as Jackson had his best season in the majors to that point with a 2.95 ERA in 61 innings across 33 games and six starts. It was enough for Skinner to name Jackson the fifth starter in his rotation entering the 1969 season. Some in the media were incredulous about the idea that Jackson, who was still only 26-years-old, had finally figured it out. As Bill Conlin wrote in the Philadelphia Daily News, the Jackson story “was written every spring training about this time and is a story filled with hope,” calling Jackson “wild as a Filmore Auditorium Rock concert and as undisciplined as a Berkley student.” Jackson had remarked that “People ask me if this is a now or never year, I tell them it’s going to be a now year. I’ve had my last never year. This is going to be my year.”
Despite Conlin’s disbelief in Jackson’s talk, the lefty backed it up and then some. The 1969 Phillies finished with 99 losses, but Jackson excelled in his first real chance at being a major league starting pitcher. He was 9-10 with a 3.32 ERA in the first half of the season, earning him a nomination to the NL All-Star team for the contest to take place July 23rd at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. However, despite being the Phillies only representative at the midsummer classic, Jackson did not appear in the game as the NL went on to win 9-3 in large part thanks to two home runs from Willie McCovey of the Giants.
Jackson finished his All-Star season with a 14-18 record and a 3.34 ERA across 253 innings pitched with 180 strikeouts. It appeared he had finally proven himself as a pitcher, but he regressed mightily in 1970 and finished with a 5.29 ERA while having disputes with new manager Frank Lucchesi. The Phillies then finally gave up on Jackson, sending him to Baltimore in December 1970 in a package that included Sam Parilla and Jim Hutto in exchange for top outfield prospect Roger Freed who had just won MVP of the International League.
It was the best thing for Jackson’s career, as he never again had a losing record and totaled a 3.09 ERA in 538 appearances over his next 12 seasons of his career, including the 1979 season when he won the World Series as a member of the “We Are Family” Pittsburgh Pirates. Jackson had a pivotal impact in Game 7, entering a 1-0 game in the fifth inning and delivering 2.2 hitless innings of relief and earning the win to collect his first championship in three tries over the last decade. Freed meanwhile would play two seasons in Philadelphia and hit .222 in 191 games.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 08: Bryce Mayer #6 of the Corpus Christi Hooks warms up prior to the game between the Corpus Christi Hooks and the San Antonio Missions at Nelson Wolff Stadium on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Zach Del Bello/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (10-7) lost 9-8 (BOX SCORE)
Sugar Land got on the board in the first inning on an Alexander solo home run. Fleury got the start and allowed one unearned run over 2.2 innings. He was relieved by McLoughlin who allowed 3 runs and then Maldonado who allowed 3 runs as well. The offense picked up 3 runs in the third inning on a Winkler RBI single and Alexander 2 run home run. Winkler added a solo home run in the 5th. Sugar Land battled back to tie it getting an Unroe RBI double in the 8th and Strahm RBI single in the 9th as the game went to extra innings. In the 12th, Strahm gave Sugar Land the lead but in the bottom of the inning, the Bees got a 2 run double from Moore as they walked it off.
Alimber Santa, RHP: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Roddery Munoz, RHP: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Jayden Murray, RHP: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Logan VanWey, RHP: 0.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (6-5) won 10-5 (BOX SCORE)
The Hooks jumped out to an early lead scoring 2 runs on a Janek RBI double and a run on a wild pitch. They picked up 4 more runs in the 3rd inning on a Ferreras sac fly, Baez RBI single, Sacco RBI single and a run on a balk. In the 4th, Sullivan and Bush connected on solo home runs to extend the lead. Mayer got the start and pitched well tossing 4 scoreless innings while striking out 7. The pen allowed five runs but in the 8th, the offense got two more on a Sullivan RBI single and Spence sac fly. Chirinos closed it out with a scoreless 9th inning as the Hooks won 10-5.
Asheville jumped out to an early lead scoring 4 runs in the first on a Thomas solo HR, Schiavone 2 run HR and Hernandez RBI single. In the 4th, Batista added a 2 run double. The offense continued to add one in the 5th with Thomas driving in two more runs with a single. Santos started for Asheville and was solid allowing 2 runs over 5 innings of work. Serrano relieved Santos and allowed 5 runs, but the offense continued to pour it on getting a Frey RBI double in the 7th and 3 more in the 8th on a Hernandez 2 run triple and Thomas RBI groundout. The pitching held on for the 14-7 win.
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (2-9) lost 6-5 (BOX SCORE)
The Woodpeckers jumped out to an early lead scoring a run in the first on a Wakefield RBI single and another in the 2nd inning on a Diaz solo home run. In the 4th, Diaz connected on a 2 run home run to extend the lead. Potter got the start and pitched well tossing 3 scoreless innings. He was relieved by Oakes who struggled allowing 3 runs while retiring just 2 batters. In the 6th, Huezo scored on a wild pitch for the 5th run for Fayetteville, but the GreenJackets responded with 3 in the bottom of the inning to take the lead. The Woodpeckers’ offense was unable to come back as they fell 6-5.
Reminder: I’m on vacation all this week and will be a little briefer than usual this week. Thanks for your patience.
The Cubs offense has showing some serious signs of life. It’s now 53 runs over eight and if we drop the high and the low, it’s 42 over six. Or if you prefer, it’s 62 over 10. Any one of those slices is a very good one. They’ve scored the sixth most runs in baseball now. But it bears repeating, the start of this season is a weird one. The Astros have slipped to second most runs scored and they have a bottom six record in baseball.
The key to this team is going to be finding a groove on run prevention. They have a deceptively large margin of error though. This defense can be special. They need guys that throw strikes and manage contact. I mean everyone looks for guys with really elite stuff. You should always be searching high and low for those. But an old fashioned Kyle Hendricks would be in heaven with this team. The old championship core was good, but I don’t think anyone could credibly argue this team isn’t better. Javy Báez, Anthony Rizzo and Jason Heyward were truly elite fielders. But this team flashes elite ability at five positions. The eye test says that Michael Busch is pretty good too.
On Wednesday night Shōta Imanaga was terrific again. If early metrics are any indication, he might be in store for his best year as a Cub. The strikeouts are up and the walks down. That is always going to be a great sign for a pitcher. He and Edward Cabrera look really good in the early going. If Colin Rea can be relatively dependable, the rotation is functional. Jameson Taillon and Javier Assad can fill out the rotation, mixing some good and bad starts with a lot of veteran experience. Hopefully, in the not super distant future, Justin Steele becomes an option and Matthew Boyd returns healthy.
Eighteen games in, the Cubs are two games out of first place, but only a half game behind the team that I think most of us think is their primary competition. Don’t play yourself out of contention in April. Half way there and on track to accomplish that one simple goal.
Three Positives:
It’s hard to find enough positive words for Nico Hoerner’s start to the season. Three more hits, one a homer, five runs driven in and two scored. He also stole a base. He was involved in six of the 11 runs scoring.
Imanaga threw six innings allowing just three hits and a walk against a very potent Phillies lineup. I know most of you only root for or pay significant attention to the Cubs, but imagine yourself a Phillies fan. You just allowed 21 runs over two very non-competitive losses. They have a 28-year-old starter with a 7.94 ERA over 22.2 IP.
Dansby Swanson also had three hits, one a homer. Two runs driven in and two scored.
Honorable mention to Matt Shaw pounding lefty pitching with three doubles.
Game 18, April 15: Cubs 11, Phillies 2 (9-9)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
Hero: Shōta Imanaga (.163). 6 IP, 3 H, BB, ER, 11 K, WP (W 1-1)
Sidekick: Matt Shaw (.118). 3-4, 3 2B, 3R, 2 RBI
THREE GOATS:
Billy Goat: Ian Happ (-.081). 0-4
Goat: Michael Busch (-.044). 0-5
Kid: Pete Crow-Armstrong (-.028). 2-4
WPA Play of the Game: The game was tied in the third inning when a wild pitch scored Alex Bregman from third to give the Cubs a 2-1 lead. (.219)
*Phillies Play of the Game: Trea Turner led off the bottom of the first with a solo homer. (.097).
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 17 Winner: Colin Rea 74-68 over Hoerner (197 votes)
Up Next: Off day Thursday. The Cubs host the 7-12 Mets this weekend. Edward Cabrera (1-0, 1.62, 16.2 IP) gets the start for the Cubs. Kodai Senga (0-2, 7.07, 14 IP) is off to a rough start right along with the Mets as a whole. This will be the first of 13 straight scheduled games for the Cubs before the next off day. That will take us to the end of April.
Let’s take at least two out of three and keep momentum.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 14: Mike Yastrzemski #18, Michael Harris II #23, Ozzie Albies #1 and Drake Baldwin #30 of the Atlanta Braves react after taking the lead during the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Truist Park on April 14, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The schedule keeps lining ‘em up and the Braves keep knocking ‘em down. Indeed, we’re just under 20 games into the season and the Braves are not just in first place at the moment, they’re the only team above .500 in the NL East and they still have yet to drop a series. This is a very, very pleasant departure from how the season got started last season and here’s hoping that this can keep going for as long as possible.
With that being said, Miami definitely didn’t make this easy for Atlanta! Despite this being a house of horrors for the Marlins, this crew appeared to be up for the task of coming into Cobb County and making sure that things went their way for once around here. The Fish were off to a relatively solid start of their own and were desperate to make sure that things kept going in the right direction for them and we ended up getting a very competitive series out of these two divisional foes. Let’s talk about it, shall we?
Heading into this series, the Marlins had scored a grand total of three (3) runs across three games in Detroit. Monday must’ve felt like a bonanza for them as they scored three runs each in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. Grant Holmes was credited with three earned runs in the fourth, Aaron Bummer got credited for the trio of runs in the fifth and then Rolddy Muñoz got dinged for three runs over the two innings of work that he put in.
It seemed like there was going to be a slugfest coming based on what happened in that fourth inning as Atlanta responded to Miami’s flurry with a three-run rally of their own. They were unable to match the second three-run volley that Miami offered, as they could only muster up one more run in the fifth and that was it as far as the scoring was concerned for the Braves. Again, when you consider how both the Braves and the Marlins looked over their past three games before this one, respectively, this was just one of those nights that baseball loves to provide us all!
At first, it sure looked like we were heading towards a disappointing repeat of the events that took place on Monday night. The Marlins got to Reynaldo López early and plated four runs at his expense across the first two innings to get things going. The good news is that Reynaldo ended up fighting through those struggles to finish up with five innings under his belt — something that ended up being crucial as his stint ended up helping to keep the Braves right in it as they attempted to claw their way out of another hole.
Dominic Smith got things going for the Braves in this one with an RBI single in the second (you’ll be hearing more from him, later) and then Drake Baldwin and Matt Olson went back-to-back with two-out doubles in order to make it a one-run game. It stayed 4-3 all the way until the eighth inning, which is when this game got really interesting. It sure started inauspiciously for the Braves, as the Marlins got what looked like an insurance run after picking up three straight singles off of Robert Suarez.
Then it was Atlanta’s turn to respond and boy, did they ever respond. Drake Baldwin led off the frame with a single and then the two-run magic began shortly after that. Mike Yastrzemski and Ozzie Albies joined Baldwin on the basepaths with a single and HBP, respectively. That set the stage for another Big Dominic Smith Moment and the big guy delivered in dramatic fashion. Smith hit an opposite-field line drive into the gap in left-center for a bases-clearing double that turned a two-run deficit into a one-run lead. Raisel Iglesias entered in the ninth and promptly sat down all three Marlins batters in short order to ensure that the Braves came away from this one with a memorable win.
Folks, Bryce Elder just keeps making it happen. We really have to give it to the Guardians, apparently, because they’re the only team that’s figured out a way to even get a scratch on Elder so far. The Marlins certainly tried but they ended up failing as Elder sat down seven Miami batters on strikes and only gave up four hits and two walks. The Marlins just could not get a serious handle on what Elder was serving up. Elder now has an ERA of 0.77 through four starts — just like every single last one of us predicted coming into this season, right?
Thanks to some early runs and another big late-game flurry of offense, the Braves had a firm grasp on this game — for the most part. An Ozzie Albies long ball and another big RBI knock from Mauricio Dubón made it a 2-0 game in the second inning and then Atlanta added on four more runs across the sixth and the seventh innings. Austin Riley finally hit his first dinger of the season in the sixth inning, which was truly a sight for sore eyes. Drake Baldwin added on an RBI single in the seventh and then Matt Olson added another big fly to his tally to put the Braves ahead 6-0 at that point.
Remember when I said that the Braves had a firm grasp on this game for the most part? There was a slight wobble in the eighth inning when Osvaldo Bido ended up with three runs on his record. Fortunately, Robert Suarez was able to clean up the mess with a double play ball and then Raisel Iglesias finished things off to seal away another series win for the Braves.
I mentioned the standings in the opener for this series recap and while it’s always a perilous exercise to look at the standings this early in the season, it makes for really beautiful viewing at the moment. It’s not just the NL East, either — it’s the entire NL as a whole. While the Dodgers are currently off to the races doing Dodgers stuff that we all expected the Dodgers to be busy doing, the Braves aren’t that far behind them at 12-7 at the moment. The run differential is also a very lovely +44 as well. When you compare that to the rest of the NL East, it is night and day — the Marlins have the next-best run differential in the NL East at +2, and Atlanta’s next opponents are currently sitting on a run differential of -25.
Those opponents, of course, are the Philadelphia Phillies. While it’s just about impossible to make any grand statements about series taking place in April, it sure would feel nice to see the Braves keep this run of series wins going by going up to Philly and making that run differential just a little bit worse and getting even more of a gap going in the early portion of the season. It’s certainly a whole lot easier of a task to talk about than to actually do but with the way that this team is currently going at the moment, it’s tough to bet against the form that the Braves are in.
The confidence in the Braves’ clubhouse following this series against the Marlins has to be pretty high as well. The Marlins gave them a very good shot and honestly had the Braves on the mat during the first half of this series. However, the furious comeback in the second game led to a cool, calm and composed series win in the finale. It’s a vibe that’s similar to things felt for this ballclub not all that long ago. With standout performances from Dominic Smith, Bryce Elder, Matt Olson and more, it sure seems like the contributions are coming from enough sources that things feel somewhat sustainable.
Either way, I think we’re all rooting for this series-winning streak to keep rolling indefinitely. Keep banking those wins and keep things rolling for as long as possible, please!
Apr 15, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart (79) celebrates with right wing Reilly Smith (19) and defenseman Shea Theodore (27) after the Golden Knights defeated the Seattle Kraken 4-1 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Stephen R. Sylvanie/Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
LAS VEGAS — Mitch Marner broke a third-period tie and the Vegas Golden Knights won the Pacific Division for the fifth time in their nine-year history, beating the Seattle Kraken 4-1 to close the regular season.
Two points ahead of Edmonton entering the night, Vegas only needed a point to win the Pacific and set up a first-round series against Utah. Edmonton will finish play at home against Vancouver.
Reilly Smith had two late goals, Shea Theodore also scored and Carter Hart made 22 saves to help Vegas win its third straight. The Golden Knights finished 39-26-17, going 7-0-1 since John Tortorella took over as coach for the fired Bruce Cassidy.
Shane Wright scored for Seattle, and Nikke Kokko stopped 22 shots. The Kraken have lost two straight to fall to 34-36-11 with a game left at Colorado.
Marner gave Vegas a 2-1 lead at 1:23 of the third. Off a faceoff, defenseman Brayden McNabb took a long, straightaway shot that Marner tipped in for his 24th goal of the season.
Theodore tied it with 2:25 left in the second. The defenseman got the puck at the right point off a faceoff, moved to the top of the circle and fired a wrist shot past Kokko’s glove.
Wright opened the scoring at 2:24 of the second after missing the previous eight games because of an upper-body injury.
Golden Knights captain Mark Stone played his 400th game for the franchise.
Up next
Kraken: At Colorado.
Golden Knights: Host Utah in the first round of the playoffs.
Jack Leiter
Yandy Diaz
Parker Messick
