Connor Rogers and Joe DeMayo diagnose more losing baseball on the latest episode of The Mets Pod. The guys go long on all of the Mets' problems, from the front office, through the coaching staff, to the entire roster.

Who is to blame, why is it happening, what can be done, and will changes soon be made?

Connor and Joe also go Down on the Farm to check in on the literal ups and downs of Christian Scott, and the recent promotion of top prospect A.J. Ewing to Triple-A Syracuse.

The show wraps up with a Mailbag to answer questions about lack of hitting development, signing veterans to short-term deals, and a fun but also sad scenario for first base.

Be sure to subscribe to The Mets Pod at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

April 28, 2026

'I'm Hopeful That Both Guys Will Be Ready': Hurricanes Hoping To Have Nikolaj Ehlers, Alexander Nikishin Back For Second Round

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are a tough grind and its one that wears down teams the deeper they go.

For the Carolina Hurricanes, who are headed into the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs after sweeping the Ottawa Senators, they're already feeling the effects.

Carolina has seen two players miss time so far this postseason due to injury in both Nikolaj Ehlers and Alexander Nikishin.

Ehlers was ruled out before Game 4 with a lower-body injury and Nikishin left early in the second period of Game 4 after suffering a concussion following a hit.

Neither player was on the ice with the team when they returned to practice on Tuesday, but Canes coach Rod Brind'Amour is hopeful that they'll soon be back.

"I'm hopeful that both guys will be ready by the looks of it," Brind'Amour said. "With the concussion, everything is trending in the right direction, it just kind of depends on how long we're off for. So it could work in our favor if it is a little longer."

The Hurricanes are currently awaiting their next round opponent, who will be one of either the Philadelphia Flyers or Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Flyers had a 3-0 series lead, but the Penguins have won two straight to force Game 6 on Wednesday.

So while some may worry about potential rust settling in for the idle Canes, that time will hopefully allow them to recover some key bodies.

They Said It

"It was good, exciting, but I just stay ready," said Nicolas Deslauriers, who drew in for Ehlers in Game 4. "I'm not here to take a spot, so I hope that Fly can come back because he's such a big key for us."

"Definitely scary just seeing the hit," said Seth Jarvis on seeing Nikishin knocked out of the game. "I thought the guys that went over there did a great job at sticking up for him. You obviously never want to see that happen to anyone. Just hoping he recovers fast — he seemed in good spirits today — so hopefully he'll be back for next series."

Recent Articles

Alexander Nikishin Diagnosed With Concussion

How Sweep It Is: Hurricanes Defeat Senators In Four; Advance To Second Round

Experience Reigning Supreme for Alexander Nikishin In Second Playoff Stint

Redemption: Jordan Martinook Scores First Career Playoff OT Winner After Penalty Shot Miss; Hurricanes Take 2-0 Series Lead

'I Feel Fresh': Jaccob Slavin's Early Absence May Be Blessing In Disguise For Hurricanes

Stay updated with the most interesting Carolina Hurricanes stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

April 28, 2026

Magic vs Pistons Same-Game Parlay for Wednesday's NBA Playoffs Game 5

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The Detroit Pistons’ promising season has come to a screeching halt at the hands of the Orlando Magic defense.

These Magic vs. Pistons predictions and SGP picks put more faith into Orlando’s defense in Game 5 on Wednesday, April 29.

Our best Magic vs Pistons SGP for Game 5

SGP leg #1: Cade Cunningham Under 28.5 points

Cade Cunningham was having a season that would have made him an MVP finalist, at the least. And then the basketball gods struck at the Detroit Pistons.

Cunningham’s collapsed lung may be healed for him to play against the Orlando Magic in this first round, but missing three weeks of games clearly impacted the point guard’s fitness. That is rather understandable when remembering, ya know, he suffered a collapsed lung.

Cunningham is driving less than ever. Before his injury, he took only 30.8% of his field goal attempts from deep. An adequate long-range shooter, Cunningham is far more productive at the rim.

Getting to the rim is exhausting, however, especially against such a pestering defense, so Cunningham has taken 45.7% of his shots from beyond the arc in the last two games.

SGP leg #2: Cade Cunningham Over 1.5 threes

Taking so many 3-pointers naturally results in Cunningham hitting multiple, as he's done in three of the four games in this series despite shooting a woeful 28.6% from deep. This is not faith in Cunningham's shot; this is a bet on the volume approach he has resorted to in this series because of dead legs.

SGP leg #3: Magic +9.5

And when your best offensive player is resorting to an inefficient shot on a notable volume of possessions, suddenly your offense is so compromised that a defense-driven team like Orlando can hang around in every game.

Covers NBA betting tools

See our full Magic vs Pistons Game 5 preview

Get Douglas Farmer's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Magic vs Pistons predictions for Game 5.

Warriors News:

2026 NBA mock draft: Risers, fallers ahead of the May 10 lottery | ESPN

Golden State enters an uncertain offseason, with Steve Kerr’s future unclear and a need to consider the long-term health of the roster, still anchored by 38-year-old Stephen Curry. Selecting a younger player such as Lopez, who has the experience to potentially slot in early on his rookie deal, might help mesh the short and long-term goals.

Why Steph Curry’s end-of-season admission can’t be ignored by the Warriors | NBC Sports Bay Area

“We don’t have to keep saying championship, championship, championship every day, even though we’ve experienced that,” Curry said. “It’s can we just build the foundation again with what this team needs to do with the way that the game is played now with how fast it is, how young and athletic it is. All of those things. We have to kind of put everything on the drawing board to get back to just being competitive every single night.”
Fast, young and athletic the Warriors are not. Between Steph, Steve Kerr, Draymond Green and a long list of Warriors past, a standard has been built in Golden State. A new foundation, however that might look, needs to be created by getting back to the drawing board.
His chase isn’t over yet. What Curry admitted also can’t be ignored.

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons jokingly proposes a Warriors superteam featuring LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Klay Thompson

@BillSimmons is all in on the Golden State Expendables 😂 pic.twitter.com/B3y5hHdfF8
— The Ringer (@ringer) April 27, 2026

NBA News:

What I’m hearing about NBA Draft Lottery changes, coaching hot seats and more | The Athletic

Yet according to league and team sources, a heavy front-runner has emerged among the three proposed solutions to curb the widespread tanking problem that put such a stain on this season: Option No. 1, in which 18 teams would be part of the draft lottery (rather than the current 14) and the bottom 10 teams would all have an 8 percent chance of landing the No. 1 pick. The remaining odds — 20 percent in all — would be divided among the remaining eight teams. In the current system, the bottom three teams all have a 14 percent chance of landing the No. 1 pick and the odds decline from there.

Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg named NBA’s Rookie of the Year

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg has been named the 2025-26 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year, earning the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy. pic.twitter.com/FmgY6vTLjx
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 27, 2026

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Report: Warriors organization unified in wanting Steve Kerr back

“There is not one person within the organization who wants Kerr to walk away, sources said,” Siegel wrote. “Lacob and Dunleavy have both made it known to Kerr that they want him back, as have Curry, Green, and the entire locker room. One of the main reasons Butler feels so comfortable with the Warriors since arriving at last year’s trade deadline is due to the family-like atmosphere Kerr has helped create.”

Follow @unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.

April 28, 2026

The Cubs are really good at ABS challenges

I had it in my mind to write this article a day or so ago after hearing the rankings of MLB teams on successful ABS challenges.

So you’ll forgive me for writing it the day after the Cubs failed on two of three challenges in their loss to the Padres, including one by Matthew Boyd in the first inning, that he later said he shouldn’t have made.

Here is that challenge [VIDEO].

Yeah, that’s a bad one. Not only because it was pretty clearly a ball, but that’s only the fourth pitch of the game! Perhaps a bit rattled, Boyd wound up walking Ramon Laureano, helping trigger a three-run Padres inning.

But in general, the Cubs have done well in ABS challenges. A new site called Tap to Challenge has taken data that’s been made available by Baseball Savant and sliced and diced it in a number of ways.

This chart shows the Cubs as the sixth-best team overall in challenges at a 60.3 percent success rate (through Monday’s games), just behind the Tigers at 60.4 percent and Mariners at 60.6 percent. The Royals top the leaderboard at 62.3 percent.

Breaking this down further, Cubs batters rank 17th at 46.2 percent (the D-backs lead at 52.6 percent) and Cubs catchers rank second with a 73.3 percent success rate (the Tigers lead at 85 percent).

Just 41 challenges have been made by pitchers, with 17 being successful (41.4 percent). Boyd’s challenge was the second made by a Cubs pitcher so far this year. The other, which was successful, was by Edward Cabrera on April 11 against the Pirates [VIDEO].

The most challenges by a team’s pitchers is five, by the Yankees. Yankees pitchers have been correct three times. Eight teams (Twins, Royals, Padres, Reds, Blue Jays, Rays, Diamondbacks and Brewers) have not had any challenges by pitchers, and in general, teams are telling pitchers not to challenge. The 41 pitcher challenges are just 2.3 percent of the total of 1,767 challenges made in total by all players.

There’s been some discussion here about whether MLB should eventually go to a full ABS system. Personally, I like the challenge system. It creates some strategy — obviously, losing a challenge in the first inning and both challenges by the third hurt the Cubs Monday night. It gets fans involved, you’ve certainly heard the cheering by home fans when their player is correct.

Last week at The Athletic, Jayson Stark wrote an article that detailed more of the things I’ve mentioned here, headlined “When will MLB go ‘full ABS,’ let robot umps take over? Maybe never.” I know that’s going to make some of you unhappy, but here’s some of the reasoning:

Do we really want ABS to tell us whether 700,000 pitches a year are balls and strikes? That’s a momentous question because it would be such a momentous change.
“You should only make changes if it makes the game better,” former Cubs/Red Sox/MLB rules visionary Theo Epstein said, as far back as 2023, in an appearance on the Starkville podcast with me and my co-host, Doug Glanville. “You have to figure out exactly what you’re solving for. With ABS, you don’t want to force a solution without a problem.”

Theo is correct, in my view. What if MLB went to a system like this, with umpires no longer used to calling balls and strikes, and the technology went down? Then you’re asking for trouble, in asking people who wouldn’t be doing this important thing to suddenly have to do it accurately.

The article says that for a time in 2023 and 2024, they experimented with full ABS in Triple-A, then surveyed players and fans on the system. The results might surprise you:

Check out the results from this survey, conducted in August 2024. Players and coaches were asked: Which ABS format do you prefer? You might want to look away because “full ABS” is about to take a hellacious drubbing.
Challenge system — 54 percent
Full ABS — 8 percent
Human umps — 38 percent
(Source: Major League Baseball)
Eight percent? They were being offered a chance to get every call right, and not even one in 10 wanted that? I think they were trying to tell us something.
Fans in Triple A weren’t quite that vociferous. But it was still more than a 2-to-1 runaway win for the challenge system over full ABS.
Challenge system — 47 percent
Full ABS — 23 percent
Human umps 30 percent
(Source: Major League Baseball)

Personally, I think that as the challenge system in MLB gets better because players get better at it, the percentage answering “human umps” in a survey like that would get smaller. And don’t take it only from me, take it from a former player who’s now a Triple-A manager:

Take it from Morgan Ensberg, manager of the Rays’ Triple-A Durham team. He lived through more than 100 games of the full-robot experience. He described those games as having “no color, no spirit.”
“It’s just weird, man,” said Ensberg, a longtime challenge-system fan. “Like, a robotic voice is saying, strike or ball, and you’re going to have problems with that, because you kind of want humans. You know, we all have our brains. And you want to have humans hitting, and humans pitching, and humans calling the games, because we’re going to see things more similarly.”

So that is the “human element” you want. Humans playing and calling the plays, with the technology backing them up. I think that’s a good match. And also, remember this:

Is ABS improving the game?
The answer, from fans who attended games between March 26 and April 19:
Yes — 92 percent
No — 8 percent
(Source: Major League Baseball)
We eagerly await the results of independent polling on this topic. But if you’ve spent even one night in a big-league ballpark during the past few weeks, it couldn’t be more obvious. The buzz that accompanies every challenge cartoon on the scoreboard is telling us that the people paying to sit in those seats are gobbling up this stuff.
“I think that one of the virtues of baseball is, we have things that we can argue about in a bar as we’re watching a game,” the same official said. “So one of the things that makes ABS challenge interesting is, you’re sitting there and it’s a 3-2 count, and a guy gets rung up on a called strike in the third inning with a runner on second. And you say: ‘Why the hell didn’t he challenge?’ I think that’s an interesting aspect of the game.”
Remember: If you let those robot umps call every pitch, you lose all of that.

Because in the end, baseball is entertainment. And in my view, the challenge system definitely provides entertainment.

Stark’s article concludes with some thoughts about where the system might go from here. Maybe you add a third challenge, he cites an unnamed baseball executive, and I could see that happening. The whole article is definitely worth reading, if you haven’t seen it yet.

One last thing and then I’ll let you have at it. Going back to the charts from Tap To Challenge (a fantastic site worth your time), the site also has data on umpires. That’s also worth a look — you’ll find that quite a few umpires have been overturned more than CB Bucknor. Baseball Savant also has quite a bit of ABS data you can peruse.

April 28, 2026

So, who on the Yankees is allowed to challenge balls and strikes?

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - APRIL 10: A general view of the video board during a ABS challenge against Jazz Chisholm Jr. #13 of the New York Yankees in the fourth inning during the game between the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Friday, April 10, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mary Holt/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

I’m writing this before the Yankees take on the Rangers Monday night, so it’s subject to change, but at this moment Jazz Chisholm Jr. is the worst player in baseball when it comes to the ABS challenge system. His 14 percent success rate is the lowest in the sport, and this weekend against the Astros we saw two dreadful examples.

The first one annoyed me — it’s an eight-run game in the ninth inning, this is about as close to stat-padding as you get in baseball. The second failed challenge is somewhat offset by the fact that Jazz notched a single a couple of pitches later, but challenges are limited; once you fail you can’t use it again. Chisholm took away a potential review from another player on a call that wasn’t close.

View Link

I think Jazz is a pretty good player but it is perhaps time to concede that a guy with a near-20 percent career K-BB rate doesn’t have a great understanding of the zone. Chisholm makes his money by getting his A-swing off and hitting the ball into the gap, not by owning the strike zone the way a Juan Soto-type would. Suffice it to say, Jazz doesn’t get to challenge except in the most obvious of circumstances.

Chisholm isn’t the only guy that’s hurting the team on the review side of things though. The Yankees sit a tick below league average (47 percent) at hitter-induced challenges at 44 percent, and bang on league average on fielder-induced at 59 percent. For a team that has preached strike zone ownership for about as long as I’ve been alive, they’re sure not making any gains in this part of the game.

Four players have been a net positive in the challenge system, with Aaron Judge of course leading the way. The Yankee captain is 3-for-4 with reviews this year, and you could argue that the three-time MVP has been more cautious than he should be. Then again, he has won three MVPs without the challenge system, so while I’m sure he has the greenlight to review any pitch he deems necessary, it might just end up not being a part of his game.

Ryan McMahon and Trent Grisham have gone a combined 5-for-7 so far this year, and if Aaron Judge has a big, emerald-green flag, they have something that’s slightly paler but still very clearly a go. In general, I think challenges should be reserved for times there are men on base, the first pitch of the at-bat, or a potential final pitch. McMahon and Grisham can go outside that band slightly, but not wildly.

Then we have a middle grouping, of guys that have been neutral to slightly bad — the yellow lights. This includes Paul Goldschmidt, Giancarlo Stanton, and José Caballero, the latter of which has called for 10 reviews, the most on the team. I tend to think that Cabby does this as a bit of gamesmanship, in the same way that he refuses to engage the pitcher until the eight-second required mark. Still, these three guys have to sit within tight parameters like discussed above, but as long as they stick to ‘em, they can tap their helmets.

Then there’s the dunce caps. Ben Rice, Austin Wells, Cody Bellinger, and Chisholm have actively cost the team runs with their challenge attempts. They’ve combined to go 3-for-13, which would be a pretty cold weekend series at the plate, and is even worse off when it comes to challenging balls and strikes. For now, unless there’s a deeply egregious call or the entire game can change on the result — a Rob Refsnyder-esque situation — these guys should focus on getting the bat on the ball more than anything else.

April 28, 2026

Bright Spots The Kings Could Build On From A Disappointing First-Round Playoff Series

The Los Angeles Kings are just a couple of days removed from a disappointing 4-0 first-round series defeat to the Colorado Avalanche in the Stanley Cup playoffs. But it's a good time to reflect on what transpired in the Kings' post-season, and what they can build from.

Though they lost every game, there are some bright spots to take from this series, even if it was the team's fifth-straight exit in the opening round of the playoffs.

So, now that the Kings' off-season is officially underway, let's look back at the positives from these playoffs.

Anton Forsberg

Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg was a revelation for the team, not only in the post-season, but in the final stretch of the regular season and ultimately helped push Los Angeles into the playoffs.

The recent play of Forsberg tells the organization that they have another veteran netminder who can be relied on. Los Angeles' tandem plans changed alongside Darcy Kuemper, who has been the starter for most of his Kings career before this Forsberg streak.

The Swede gave the Kings a chance to win in the playoffs, especially in Game 1 and 2. In the playoff opener, Forsberg stopped 30 of 32 shots, recording a .938 save percentage. He was even better the next game when he posted a .944 SP with 34 saves on 36 shots on goal.

How Long Can Anton Forsberg Keep This Up For The Kings?Despite back-to-back standout performances under the crease, the Kings still trail 2-0, as their offensive struggles have wasted Anton Forsberg's elite goaltending.

In what was his first-ever experience of the post-season, Forsberg put up a total .909 SP - a number that was damaged late in Game 4 when Los Angeles needed to take chances offensively. Though without a win, he was certainly a bright spot for the Kings in the playoffs.

The Kings brought in the 33-year-old netminder through 2025 free agency. They signed the veteran to a two-year contract following four years with the Ottawa Senators as a perennial backup, besides a remarkable 2021-22 campaign.

Now, he's more than a backup goalie for the Kings and will have a much bigger role next season with the way he closed out 2025-26.

Anton Forsberg and Drew Doughty (Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images)

Ability To Shutdown Superstars

Los Angeles has been known for their ability to play defensively and sometimes uneventful hockey. But in a series against the Presidents' Trophy winners, it needed to be on full display, and they executed for the most part.

Before Game 4, the Kings had nearly muted Colorado's superstars with their ability to defend as a team and five-man unit.

After Game 3, players such as Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, Brock Nelson, Cale Makar and Nazem Kadri were all held to just one point in the series.

'Hard To Keep It Together': Kopitar Shares Appreciation For Kings Fans In The Closing Moments Of NHL CareerLos Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar shared what his emotions were like as his career wound down to its final few minutes on Sunday, and how much the fans meant to him over the past 20 years.

Furthermore, despite the Avalanche having three players end the regular season with an average of over a point per game and six players who registered at least 20 goals, no one on Colorado ended the series with more than a point-per-game average.

While Los Angeles' offense couldn't hold up its end of the bargain, the way the Kings held off the mighty Avalanche was impressive, and it kept them competitive in nearly every contest.

They can take pride in what they accomplished defensively, and going into the 2026-27 campaign, they'll be confident in their ability to silence the NHL's top stars, even with Anze Kopitar out of the picture.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

April 28, 2026

MLB Home Run Predictions Today: Best HR Prop Bets, Picks, Parlay & Odds for Tuesday, April 28

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UPDATE: Added another HR pick + parlay.

Please, Baby Jesus, give me the strength to find some home run props today. The weather is getting cold for the seemingly third time this season, but there are some great matchup spots to target for dingers and MLB player props.

The Orioles could be batting around, facing a bullpen arm as a starter, and the Pirates have to take advantage of one of the worst starters in BlastContact percentage.

These are my favorite home run props for Tuesday, April 28, including a +17688 parlay.

Best MLB home run props today

Player to hit a HR	Odds
Pete Alonso	+490
Oneil Cruz	+370
Brett Baty	+570
💲Today's HR parlay	+17688

Pete Alonso (+490)

It’s a good day to back the Polar Bear, Pete Alonso, on Dinger Tuesday at a price near +500.

The weather is shifting again, but Camden Yards remains a solid setting for right-handed power with the wind blowing out. Alonso also carries a 33% opposite-field fly-ball rate, and Camden has one of the shallowest right-field fences, per THE BAT.

He’ll face Kai-Wei Teng, who is making his first start after working in a multi-inning relief role. His MLB track record isn't impressive, and his command has been inconsistent.

The Baltimore Orioles could also see plenty of a vulnerable Houston Astros bullpen, which boosts the outlook for power. Houston's relievers own the worst ERA in baseball. Alonso also homered off Teng in the only meeting between the two.

The fair price here sits around +430.

Time: 6:35 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MASN, Space City Home Network

Oneil Cruz (+370)

I’m getting square, but I’ll happily take a potential five-AB leadoff hitter in a strong matchup against Kyle Leahy, who ranks among the worst pitchers in baseball by Blast Contact%.

Only one starter has a worse mark, and Leahy has been getting crushed by left-handed hitters.

If swing speed is your angle, Oneil Cruz fits — he owns the second-fastest swing in baseball and is a prime target in plus matchups. The setting also helps, with temperatures in the 70s and winds blowing out to center.

If Leahy exits early, Cruz will see a St. Louis Cardinals bullpen that ranks 25th in ERA and lacks strong left-handed options.

Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SportsNet Pittsburgh, Cardinals.TV

Brett Baty (+570)

If you’re betting home runs today, make sure to include some New York Mets. Zack Littell has allowed 11 homers over 25 innings this year, with nine coming in his last three starts. He’s hanging on by a thread and is backed by one of the worst bullpens in baseball.

Left-handed hitters already have nine long balls off Littell, and while Juan Soto is a solid look at +300, Brett Baty at +570 stands out.

He’s been the Mets’ best hitter over the last week, and his Blast Contact metrics support the surge. This is a strong spot to stack HR/RBI exposure.

Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SNY, Nationals.TV

Jinglis' 2026 Transparency Record

HR picks: 6-47, -14.2 units

Today’s HR parlay

Pete Alonso	Bet Now +17688
Oneil Cruz
Brett Baty

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

April 28, 2026April 28, 2026

Paris Saint-Germain 5-4 Bayern Munich: Champions League semi-final, first leg – as it happened

The two best teams in Europe put on a show for the ages in Paris

3 min: Olise tries to advance down the left but Zaïre-Emery is all over him in a flash. It’s a high-octane start, and Bayern are seeing more of the ball.

2 min: Stanišić sends a long throw down the right for Musiala, who gathers by the PSG box before returning the ball to the Bayern right-back. Stanišić crosses. Pacho heads clear. A positive start by the visitors.

April 28, 2026

Penguins are a win away from forcing a Game 7 at home against the Flyers after trailing series 3-0

Pittsburgh Penguins Philadelphia Flyers — Apr 27, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) and Philadelphia Flyers left wing Noah Cates (27) take a third period face-off in game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The Pittsburgh Penguins are halfway to history.

Sidney Crosby and the Penguins are aiming to become just the fifth team in NHL history to win a series after trailing 3-0. They’ve won two straight games to force Game 6 in Philadelphia.

“It’s quite clear the situation for us is win or go home,” said Crosby, who had two assists in a 3-2 win in Game 5. “I think that urgency, that desperation, whatever you want to call it, I think has brought (out) some of our best hockey because of it. So, we just gotta keep going here.”

The Flyers are among the four teams that have rallied to win a series after losing the first three games. They did it against Boston in the second round in 2010. Philadelphia ended up reaching the Stanley Cup Final that season, losing to Chicago.

“We knew it wasn’t going to be easy,” Flyers forward Owen Tippett said. “We knew we weren’t going to win every game. Reset and get back at it.”

While Philadelphia aims to advance to the second round for the first time since 2020, there are two Game 5s featuring series locked in a 2-2 tie.

The Tampa Bay Lightning rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Canadiens 3-2 in Montreal in Game 4, tying the series and regaining home-ice advantage.

The Vegas Golden Knights squandered a three-goal lead but came back to defeat the Utah Mammoth 5-4 on Shea Theodore’s goal with 51.5 seconds left in overtime to even their series.

Pittsburgh Penguins at Philadelphia Flyers

When/Where to Watch: Game 6, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT (TNT).

Series: Flyers lead 3-2.

Philadelphia’s seemingly comfortable 3-0 series lead doesn’t feel quite so comfortable anymore, not after consecutive victories by the Penguins in which Pittsburgh captain Crosby has been at his brilliant best.

Crosby had a goal and an assist in Game 4, then backed it up with perhaps an even better performance in Game 5, dishing out a pair of helpers, the second of which set up Kris Letang’s game-winning goal just moments after Crosby took a slapshot to his left knee and limped to the training room.

While the Flyers still are in a solid position to do what all but four teams in NHL history have done — winning a series after taking the first three games — for a youth-laden club in its first playoff series in six years, the fourth win is proving to be the hardest.

“Even though 3-0 sounded nice, we knew it wasn’t going to be over,” Philadelphia goaltender Dan Vladar said.

It’s not. The Penguins steadily have regained the form that made them one of the league’s biggest surprises during the regular season. They received secondary scoring in Game 5— third-liner Elmer Soderblom scored his first of the playoffs and fourth-liner Connor Dewar notched his second — and then clamped down during the third period to extend their season.

A chance to shift all of the pressure on the Flyers awaits if Pittsburgh can find a way to force a Game 7.

“I think the last couple games we found our stride a bit,” said Crosby, who now has 100 wins in the playoffs. “We should feel good about that. ... We’re playing good hockey and we’ve got to go in there and find a way to win again.”

Montreal Canadiens at Tampa Bay Lightning

When/Where to Watch: Game 5, Wednesday, 7 p.m. EDT (ESPN).

Series: Tied 2-2.

After three overtime games, one finally was decided in regulation when Brandon Hagel scored two goals to lift the Lightning to a 3-2 win. Hagel has six goals in the series.

“He’s definitely become the straw that stirs our drink,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “Even when we went down 2-0, he stood up and looked both ways and, literally I think, captivated the bench with what he was saying and the message he was delivering.”

Hagel’s words motivated his teammates and Max Crozier inspired them with his actions.

The Lightning were down 2-0 in the second period when Crozier flattened Montreal’s Juraj Slafkovsky with a hard hit in the middle of the ice. The legal check energized Tampa Bay and changed the momentum of the game.

“The hit obviously got our bench out of their seats,” Cooper said. “But you still have to take advantage of that. We score in the last minute of the second, and in the first minute of the third, and all of a sudden the game’s completely changed. It helped take the crowd out of it.”

The Canadiens have to rebound after wasting a two-goal lead at home and missing an opportunity to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. They can’t dwell on Game 4.

“That’s a veteran team. They’re very good at drawing penalties. They got talented players,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. “They’re a tough team and we knew it was going to be a tough series. We’re right in it. We’re in a battle. It’s a fine line between winning and losing in these games, but we’re battling.”

Utah Mammoth at Vegas Golden Knights

When/Where to Watch: Game 5, Wednesday, 10 p.m. EDT (TNT, truTV HBO Max).

Series: Tied 2-2.

This opening-round series has a sense of deja vu for the Golden Knights, and Vegas hopes that’s a good sign of what’s to come.

The Golden Knights opened last year’s playoffs by prevailing in six games over the Wild. Vegas split the first two games at home, was blown out in Game 3 at Minnesota and won in overtime in Game 4 before going on to take the next two games and the series.

And the series with the Mammoth?

The almost exact beginning.

But financial advisers often warn that past performances aren’t necessarily indicative of future results, and the Golden Knights know they have a fight on their hands if they are to advance to the second round.

“I really like our squad,” coach John Tortorella said. “The most important thing for our team is to know who we are, know who you are as a club, and we are a really good hockey club. No matter what happens, we move forward with the highs and lows of a series.”

There was plenty of both for both teams in a 5-4 Vegas overtime victory at Salt Lake City.

The Golden Knights went up 3-0, Utah roared back with four unanswered goals and Vegas forced overtime in the third period. Then the Golden Knights thought they won in OT before an offside review wiped out Pavel Dorofeyev’s goal, and then actually won it on Jack Eichel’s sensational pass to Shea Theodore in the high slot for the winner with less than a minute left in overtime.

“There is plenty of hockey left in this series; a tied series going back,” Mammoth defenseman Ian Cole said. “It’s a three-game series. (We’re) focusing on what we can control and where we stand right now. I think that will do us well.”

April 28, 2026April 29, 2026

Magic vs Pistons Prediction, Picks & Best Bets for Tonight's NBA Playoffs Game 5

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Could the Eastern Conference No. 1 seed fail to make it out of the first round? At this point, expect as much from the Detroit Pistons, and give plenty of credit to the Orlando Magic for forcing such an issue.

My Magic vs. Pistons predictions and NBA picks give credit to Orlando’s defense for how exhausted it has left Cade Cunningham, something that should continue in Game 5 on Wednesday, April 29.

UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight.

Magic vs Pistons prediction

Who will win Magic vs Pistons Game 5?

Magic: While everyone just saw the Denver Nuggets mount a rally when returning home despite a 3-1 series deficit, Denver has a few things Detroit lacks: Two of the best postseason players in the NBA, nearly a decade of postseason experience, and a championship pedigree.

Staring disappointment in the face, do not be shocked when the young team fails to fight.

Magic vs Pistons best bet: Cade Cunningham Under 28.5 points (-120)

While this could certainly come across as insulting doubt in Detroit Pistons’ cornerstone Cade Cunningham, it is meant more as acknowledging reality.

Cunningham looked excellent in Game 1 against the Orlando Magic, playing more than 40 minutes and scoring 39 points, though Detroit still lost by double digits.

It was his first full workload since returning from a collapsed lung, playing 20-some minutes in the last three games of the regular season as he tried to get back up to speed.

But the reality is, missing three weeks because of a collapsed lung was undoubtedly going to impact Cunningham’s conditioning, and the physical nature of the Magic defense has exacerbated that.

Cunningham has shot 15-for-46 (32.6%) in the last two games, both Detroit losses. His 3-point shooting has fallen to 6 of 21 in those two games, 28.6%.

Realize, Cunningham shot 46.1% from the field and 34.6% from deep in the regular season before his injury.

While he may not yet be an efficient scorer, he is far better than the version of the last week. He is simply out of gas, as are the Pistons without Cunningham at his best.

Magic vs Pistons same-game parlay

What is more exhausting, driving into the lane against a physical and long defense or chucking 3-pointers for much of the night? Based on his choices in the last two games, Cade Cunningham would rather live beyond the arc right now.

Before his collapsed lung, he took 30.8% of his field-goal attempts from deep. In this series, it has jumped to 38.0%. In the last two games, it has been an even more alarming 45.7%.

Cunningham should hit multiple 3-pointers simply because he is taking so many rather than getting to the rim, and that inefficient approach helps keep Orlando in every game.

Magic vs Pistons SGP

Cade Cunningham Under 28.5 points
Cade Cunningham Over 1.5 threes
Magic +9.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: Goodnight, Detroit

Orlando has already won on the road in this series. It has firm control, and it knows the best time to clinch the series is as soon as possible.

Given how suffocating the Magic defense has been — even the Pistons’ one win featured them scoring only 98 points — there is always value in a moneyline higher than +300.

Magic vs Pistons SGP

Cade Cunningham Under 28.5 Points
Cade Cunningham Over 1.5 3-Pointers
Magic moneyline

Magic vs Pistons odds for Game 5

Spread: Magic +9.5 | Pistons -9.5
Moneyline: Magic +310 | Pistons -390
Over/Under: Over 211 | Under 211

Magic vs Pistons betting trend to know

Detroit has fallen short of its team total in all four games of this series and by an average of 13.4 points per game. Find more NBA betting trends for Magic vs. Pistons.

How to watch Magic vs Pistons Game 5

Location	Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date	Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Tip-off	7:00 p.m. ET
TV	Prime Video

Magic vs Pistons latest injuries

Not intended for use in MA.
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April 28, 2026

Magic Close in on NBA History as 7th 8-Seed to Upset No. 1 Seed

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The 8-seed Orlando Magic are 48 minutes away from eliminating the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in what would be one of the biggest upsets in more than a decade.

Key Takeaways

The Pistons would become the fifth-largest favorite to lose to an 8-seed as a No. 1.
Oddsmakers have the Pistons as 9.5-point favorites in Game 5.
Cade Cunningham committed the most turnovers in a three-game stretch in nearly 50 years.

Up to this point, there have only been six 8-over-1 upsets in the NBA.

Year	Losing Team	Winning Team	Series Odds
2023	Milwaukee Bucks	Miami Heat	-1,200/+750
2012	Chicago Bulls	Philadelphia 76ers	-1,400/+900
2011	San Antonio Spurs	Memphis Grizzlies	-390/+280
2007	Dallas Mavericks	Golden State Warriors	-1,800/+1,200
1999	Miami Heat	New York Knicks	-280/+230
1994	Seattle SuperSonics	Denver Nuggets	-2,000/+1,400

The Magic find themselves up 3-1 on the Pistons after a 94-88 victory in Game 4 on Monday. DraftKings now has the Magic as -255 favorites to win the series, while the Pistons are +210 underdogs.

Those marks are sharp deviations from where the teams opened the series. DraftKings had the Magic at +380, or a 20.8% implied chance, while the Pistons were -500 to move on to the second round.

The most interesting aspect of this topsy-turvy start to the series is that it doesn’t involve any mitigating circumstances.

In 2023, the Miami Heat - +750 series underdogs against the Milwaukee Bucks, per Sports Odds History - were buoyed by Giannis Antetokounmpo suffering a lower back contusion 11 minutes into Game 1. He did not return and missed two contests before returning for Game 4. The Greek Freak averaged 32 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists in the two contests following his return, but the Bucks still lost the series in five games.

Can Pistons avoid huge upset?

There’s plenty of blame to go around for the Pistons. The Magic only barely squeaked through the play-in tournament, losing the 7-8 matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers and winning their do-or-die game against the Charlotte Hornets.

Among the Pistons’ many issues are their misfiring stars. Cade Cunningham has posted impressive averages of 29.5 points, 7.5 assists, and 6.3 rebounds, but his shooting percentage dropped to 42.4%. He has also averaged a grotesque 6.8 turnovers per game and committed the most turnovers (24) in a three-game stretch in the playoffs since 1977-78.

Jalen Duren, who is expected to challenge for an All-NBA team after averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds on 65% shooting, has not shown up for the series. He has averaged 9.8 points and 8.3 rebounds on 46.9% shooting, never scoring more than 12 points and failing to hit double-digit rebounds in all four games.

The supporting cast hasn’t provided much help. The team has shot a combined 27.5% from three, by far the worst in the playoffs, and committed the second-most turnovers per game.

Having said all that, DraftKings still installed the Pistons as -9.5 favorites in Game 5 on Wednesday. Their only win in the series came on their home floor, where they will be for Game 5 and where they went 31-9 during the regular season. The Magic were 19-20 on the road.

NBA title odds remain calm

While the Magic find themselves in a much more secure position than the Pistons, oddsmakers still aren’t showing them much respect. DraftKings lists them at +15,000 in NBA championship odds, while the Pistons are still at +4,500.

The Pistons' +210 series odds suggest they still have a near-one-in-three chance to rip off three straight wins and salvage their season. That will require them to do something they failed to do this season, as they split their regular-season series with Orlando at two games apiece.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

April 28, 2026April 29, 2026

Rockets vs Lakers Prediction, Picks & Best Bets for Tonight's NBA Playoffs Game 5

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LeBron James makes history every time he steps on the floor. He isn’t looking to be on the wrong side of it when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Houston Rockets in Game 5 on Wednesday, April 29.

As I’m sure you’ve heard, no NBA team has ever come back from a 0-3 hole to win a playoff series. But after Houston avoided the sweep at home this past weekend, the history buffs aren’t too sure that stat will hold up.

Tonight's Rockets vs. Lakers predictions know James isn’t taking Houston for granted, especially coming off one of the worst performances of his storied career.

My NBA picks like LeBron to top his scoring prop in Game 5, even if it's not enough to land the knockout punch.

UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight.

Rockets vs Lakers prediction

Who will win Rockets vs Lakers Game 5?

Rockets: The Lakers are home chalk for Game 5. That’s a contrast to Game 1, when they closed as 2.5-point home underdogs once Kevin Durant was ruled out. A few wins, home court, and the promise of Austin Reaves’ return has flipped the script on this series but I’m not counting out the Rockets just yet. Houston’s defense has improved greatly over the past six quarters and I think there’s value in them stealing a victory in L.A. as +150 moneyline pups.

Rockets vs Lakers best bet: LeBron James Over 23.5 Points (-115)

A lot of factors folded into LeBron James’ terrible night in Game 4.

The tight turnaround, exhaustion from carrying the club, Tari Eason’s defense, and perhaps a little complacency all stewed together for a 2-for-9 shooting effort and just 10 points from James. Oh, and there were the eight turnovers.

Following the one-sided loss, James immediately pointed the finger at himself and was quick to correct anyone asking if the Los Angeles Lakers were comfortable with a 3-1 series edge over the Houston Rockets.

“There’s no such thing as being comfortable until a series is done. None of us are,” he told the media.

Before his dud in Game 4, James scored a combined 57 points in the two games prior and fired up 42 total field goals in those efforts. That had his scoring prop jacked to 25.5 points with heavy juice on the Over Sunday.

LeBron has now enjoyed a two-day break to recharge and reassess the Rockets’ defense, while that 10-point sputter and Austin Reaves’ possible return anchor his scoring total at 23.5 points for Wednesday night.

This number is the shortest scoring O/U listed for James since losing Reaves and Luka Doncic late in the regular season. Even if Reaves does return, he’ll likely be restricted, and the scoring load remains on James’ broad shoulders.

Player projections for Game 5 don’t discount “The King”, pegging him between 24.5 and more than 27 points Wednesday night. The pressure of giving Houston a glimmer of hope, as well as cleaning up his mess from Game 4, has me leaning toward the high side of those forecasts.

Rockets vs Lakers same-game parlay

The Rockets' offense has been a mess with Kevin Durant in and out, but Houston decided to get it done with defense in Game 4, and this team has looked much stronger on that side of the ball over the past six quarters. Those stops and turnovers translated into easy buckets, and desperation keeps things close on Wednesday.

Alperen Sengun has stepped up as the Rockets’ leader in this series and has been a steady scorer the past two games, putting up 19 and 33 points on a combined 21-for-39 shooting (54%). With the Lakers doing a better job limiting turnovers, this game is played at a slower tempo in the halfcourt, which works well for Sengun. Some models sit as high as 24.5 points in Game 5.

Rockets vs Lakers SGP

Rockets +4.5
LeBron James Over 23.5 points
Alperen Sengun Over 22.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Rocket Man

Alperen Sengun is the Rockets' top option with KD out. I see this as more of a half-court game, and he can go after the Lakers' weak interior defense. His projections call for 24+ points, 11+ rebounds, and he’s been a shot swatter on the defensive end all series.

Rockets vs Lakers SGP

Rockets moneyline
Alperen Sengun Over 22.5 points
Alperen Sengun Over 9.5 rebounds
Alperen Sengun Over 1.5 blocks

Rockets vs Lakers odds for Game 5

Spread: Rockets +4.5 | Lakers -4.5
Moneyline: Rockets +150 | Lakers -180
Over/Under: Over 208.5 | Under 208.5

Rockets vs Lakers betting trend to know

The Houston Rockets have gone Over their Team Total in 20 of their last 30 games (+8.35 Units/24% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Rockets vs. Lakers.

How to watch Rockets vs Lakers Game 5

Location	Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date	Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Tip-off	10:00 p.m. ET
TV	ESPN

Rockets vs Lakers latest injuries

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April 28, 2026

Reds welcome the Colorado Rockies to Cincinnati

Wilson Peak, San Juan National Forest, Colorado (Photo by: Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

It is quite likely that the last two days will the slowest of the entire season for the Cincinnati Reds.

Despite winning the overall series (and being on a roll overall), the Reds spent Sunday afternoon dropping the series finale in Great American Ball Park to the Detroit Tigers. Compounding things was the manner in which they dropped it – they surged back in the same way they have in so many wins so far this year only for their always-reliable bullpen to implode.

Then, they had one of those rare days off during the middle of a homestand, so they got to mill around town thinking about Sunday for two days with no travel in there to break it up. Hopefully, that won’t leave them ripe for a letdown against the Colorado Rockies, who are in town Tuesday to open a three-game series in GABP.

These two clubs met one another at precisely the same time in 2025, with the Reds heading west to Denver to sweep the Rockies between April 25th and 27th. While these are your father’s Rockies – they’re in last place in the National League West once again – rest assured that the 2026 Rockies are, so far, not the 2025 Rockies, as that club was a miserable 4-23 upon being swept aside in Coors Field.

The 2026 Rockies are in last place so far, but they’re 13-16 and boast just a -11 run differential. They’ve scored 118 runs – same as the Reds – and they are fresh off winning all three games they played against the New York Mets in the Big Apple (sandwiched around one game that was postponed). They also boast burgeoning ace Chase Dollander, who (as of today) is the NL leader in bWAR by a pitcher.

Lucky for the Reds, though, they’ll miss Dollander, who pitched Sunday in the team’s final game in New York. Instead, they’ll open play on Tuesday against veteran lefty Kyle Freeland, who is off to a brilliant start of his own so far this season (2.30 ERA, 1.09 WHIP across 3 starts). Cincinnati, meanwhile, will counter with their own burgeoning ace in Chase Burns, who’ll look to fireball his way past this upstart Colorado offense.

First pitch on Tuesday is set for 6:40 PM ET. With a left-handed starter on the bump for the Rockies, the Reds have chosen to stack righties in their lineup like this:

First of three with the Rockies.

Powered by @PNCBank pic.twitter.com/rMrMPDEO4C
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) April 28, 2026

The red-hot Nate Lowe remains in the lineup as the lone guy who’ll bat left-handed against Freeland.

Go Reds!

They Said It

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SGP leg #1: Cade Cunningham Under 28.5 points

SGP leg #2: Cade Cunningham Over 1.5 threes

SGP leg #3: Magic +9.5

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Magic vs Pistons prediction

Who will win Magic vs Pistons Game 5?

Magic vs Pistons best bet: Cade Cunningham Under 28.5 points (-120)

Magic vs Pistons same-game parlay

Magic vs Pistons SGP

Our "from downtown" SGP: Goodnight, Detroit

Magic vs Pistons SGP

Magic vs Pistons odds for Game 5

Magic vs Pistons betting trend to know

How to watch Magic vs Pistons Game 5

Magic vs Pistons latest injuries

Key Takeaways

Can Pistons avoid huge upset?

NBA title odds remain calm

Rockets vs Lakers prediction

Who will win Rockets vs Lakers Game 5?

Rockets vs Lakers best bet: LeBron James Over 23.5 Points (-115)

Rockets vs Lakers same-game parlay

Rockets vs Lakers SGP

Our "from downtown" SGP: Rocket Man

Rockets vs Lakers SGP

Rockets vs Lakers odds for Game 5

Rockets vs Lakers betting trend to know

How to watch Rockets vs Lakers Game 5

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