The Buffalo Sabres seemed stymied by the Boston Bruins defensive game plan in Game 1 of their first-round series for two-and-a-half periods, but with time running out, the Sabres urgency increased, the Bruins retreated into a defensive shell around goalie Jeremy Swayman, and that allowed Buffalo to wrest control of the game. Tage Thompson tied the game on a pair of tallies, Mattias Samuelsson put the Sabres into the lead, and Alex Tuch scored the game-winner into an empty net, all within 6:46 in a 4-3 victory at KeyBank Center on Sunday night.
The crowd was extremely loud and boisterous even during warmups for the first playoff game in 15 years, and the rafters shook with a deafening crescendo of cheers during the Sabres late rally. Less than 24 hours later, the club did not practice and is attempting to maintain their level of excitement, while at the same time trying to stay composed.
"We met this morning, and we went through the game and areas we thought we're pretty good at and a couple areas we'd like to improve. (We) talked about putting this game away and moving on to the next one, knowing that it's a desperate situation for (Boston), Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said. "No team really wants to go down two games to none, and we'd like to put them in that situation."
The Bruins played the game they need to play to beat a more offensively talented Buffalo squad, positionally disciplined defensively, and relying on goalie Jeremy Swayman to make the big saves. That was the case through two periods, as the Sabres outshot Boston 27-13. The Bruins failed to take advantage of some early shakiness from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in his first playoff start, and failed on some of their best scoring chances, as David Pastrnak was stymied by UPL on two breakaways.
“We understand how they play. They've had a lot of success with it. We understand how we play," Ruff said. "I thought maybe the first two periods, we were just a little bit slow getting there, but we really want to focus on our game. We know what the strength of their game is, and they know what the strength of ours is. And we feel that the longer we can stay with our game, the better the chances we can win a hockey game."
HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 16: Yainer Diaz #21 of the Houston Astros tags out Tyler Freeman #2 of the Colorado Rockies at home plate to end the fifth inning at Daikin Park on April 16, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Thomas Nestico of TJStats broke down the top WAR player currently on each team by position and by division.
Today, we are going to look at the catcher position:
Yainer Diaz hasn’t just been the worst catcher on his team. He isn’t just the worst catcher in the AL West. He’s tied as the worst catcher in MLB. That’s a statement.
When Yainer first came up to Houston, his defense would be a work in progress but he showed strong pop times and a powerful arm. At the plate, he had power, hit for a high average, and made strong contact despite a tendency to be a free swinger.
It was expected that as he got older, he would learn better plate discipline and get himself better pitches to hit as a result. Instead, the opposite has happened and Yainer has regressed at the plate badly as a result.
Yainer still swings at nearly everything, often leading to ground ball outs when reaching for pitches he should be taking. He sees less good pitches to hit because the league knows he will swing at anything.
The differences between Yainer’s rookie season of 2023 when he burst on the scene looking like a real catcher of the future to today are startling:
That is an awful lot of red that has turned to blue. The top 7 categories have gone from red to blue.
He still chases at near the same rate, and while his walk rate has improved ever so slightly, it’s still way down the bottom of the league.
It may be something that would be perhaps more tolerable if his defense had continued to improve. Alas, that has regressed also:
These stats are confounding because Diaz is not old enough to have age-related regression in physical ability, and we are not aware publicly of any kind of injury that is causing Diaz to regress. That doesn’t leave a lot of room for interpretation, and the room it does leave isn’t positive.
Meanwhile, Christian Vazquez is hitting .375 (12×32) with a .444 OBP and a 1.132 OPS, with 10 RBI in just 10 games (8 starts) and has four catcher caught stealings on the season.
While it’s unlikely Vazquez continues at this torrid a pace, he should be getting more playing time while he is hot, especially since his defense is such a vast improvement from Diaz’.
To be clear, we are not seeing some dip into the fountain of youth on Vazquez, this is a hot streak.
If we compare Vazquez’ 2025 (.189/.271/.274) to his current 2026 (.375/.444/.688) via the metrics, here is what we get:
As you can see, Vazquez’ offensive metrics really aren’t much different from last year.
His x SLG is nearly identical, as are his exit velocities and barrel rate.
Vazquez’ Hard Hit % is actually lower, as his is Square Up % and his overall bat speed.
His Chase Rate, Whiff Rate and K rate are all up, though his BB Rate is also up.
These numbers tell us that there has been some luck involved in his performance, but also that his willingness to draw walks (8.4% to 10.8%) has helped him get better pitches to hit, and he’s hit them in places that have resulted in base hits (xBA improvement from .210 to .251)
Now for the defense:
While it is likely the Blocks number for 2026 is negatively impacted by limited playing time, the Caught Stealing is something that Vazquez continues to do well in.
Framing could also be a factor of limited opportunity. Sprint speed is down, and that is to be expected in an aging catcher.
Overall, Vazquez doesn’t project as a starting-caliber catcher, but Diaz has been so bad this season, that the Astros really have no choice but to play Vazquez more (especially while he’s hot) if they intend on winning baseball games.
Maybe a short term hit to playing time lights a fire under Diaz, but we will learn a little something about his makeup if it does or it doesn’t.
The numbers match the eye test right now, and neither one lies. It has been a brutal start to the season for Yainer Diaz.
The question is at what point is there accountability.
Learn to spell his name. Learn to pronounce his name. Learn to enjoy the absurdities that come when Victor Wembanyama is on the court. They will likely define the next few weeks of the NBA playoffs, to the San Antonio Spurs’ great delight and the Portland Trail Blazers’ great misery.
Victor Wembanyama may not go 5-for-6 from beyond the arc again, but even by missing a few 3-pointers, he would likely increase his own playing time. Yes, the San Antonio Spurs superstar scored 35 points in fewer than 33 minutes in Game 1. His own dominance lessened the need for more action.
Wembanyama has scored at least 34 points in five of his last six games, clearing 40 in three of those. He has been in a dominant form for a bit now, something that should worry not only the Portland Trail Blazers but also everyone in the NBA.
The Trail Blazers' concern stems largely from an inability to defend Wembanyama. Second-year center Donovan Clingan is actually an imposing defensive presence, but he has neither the quickness nor the agility to keep up with Wembanyama away from the rim.
Portland needs to trim Clingan’s minutes and try a different approach. That approach will still be unlikely to work, but some adjustment is a must.
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.
Kings interim coach D.J. Smith, top, talks with right winger Alex Laferriere (14) during Game 1 against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday. (Jack Dempsey / Associated Press)
As a kid growing up in Windsor, Canada, just across the river from Detroit, D.J. Smith would look forward to the Stanley Cup playoffs the way other kids looked forward to Christmas.
“It's special as a kid growing up, just watching that first game of the NHL playoffs,” he said. “As a Red Wings fan, me and my brother [would] get it on Channel 50 back home, watch [Steve] Yzerman and the boys and it was exciting.”
Now Smith is coaching in those same playoffs after guiding the Kings on a mad dash to a wild-card berth. And while the games haven’t lost that special feeling they had when he was a kid, now they’re all business.
“To be up here is special,” he said. “But you’ve got to turn the page on that. I’ve got a job to do.”
He did that job well in Game 1 of the Kings’ opening-round series with the Colorado Avalanche, pushing the NHL’s best team to the final horn in a 2-1 loss. The Kings have a chance to even the series Tuesday before returning to Crypto.com Arena for Game 3 on Thursday and Game 4 on Sunday.
Sunday’s game wasn’t the first time Smith stood behind the bench in a Stanley Cup playoff game. As an assistant, he coached the Maple Leafs in the postseason three times and he was also an assistant on Jim Hiller’s staff last spring when the Kings reached the playoffs.
None of those teams made it past the first round, but Smith said he learned a lot from the experience.
“You’ve got to slow it down in your mind. Things happen quick,” he said. “Big moments happen quick. Decisions have to be made quick. But they have to be made calmly. And the players need to know you're under control at all times.
“We know the task at hand. We have [a] game plan and then I’ve got to continue to make tweaks to it to give us the best chance to win.”
The game plan worked well enough in Game 1, where a mishandled puck led to Logan O’Connor’s breakaway goal early in the third period, a score that proved to be the difference. The Kings held the highest-scoring team in the NHL to just two goals, held the highest-scoring line in the league to just one point and won the battle of the special teams.
“We fall short. But there's a lot of good things,” Smith said after Sunday’s loss.
He hadn’t even left Ball Arena before beginning work on the tweaks for Game 2.
“I think we could be on the net more. We’ve got to be more physical. We’ve got to hit their [defense] more. And I expect that in the next game.”
There could also be a roster change if Smith decides to have Andrei Kuzmenko, a good puck-handler and offensive-zone presence, dress for the first time since undergoing surgery to repair torn meniscus in late April.
“In order to beat this team, we’re going to have to be better than good,” Smith said Monday. “We need more zone time. We have to hold on to pucks. We can forecheck harder. We have to do a better job of creating.”
If being a head coach in the Stanley Cup playoffs is a dream come true for Smith, a hockey lifer, it may be a bittersweet one. He got the opportunity only after Hiller, a friend and colleague in Toronto, was fired with 23 games left in the regular season, but he made the most of it, guiding the Kings to points in 17 of their final 24 games to climb over two teams and into the postseason.
Smith, 48, was a head coach for parts of five seasons in Ottawa, where he posted just one winning record and never made the playoffs. However, that previous head coaching experience was one reason he was brought to Los Angeles as the Kings’ top assistant in 2024 since it made him an ideal fallback candidate should Hiller falter.
When Hiller did, general manager Ken Holland promoted his understudy.
“I made the decision because I feel like our team hasn’t played consistent enough. We’ve underperformed,” Holland, who hoped the move would jolt the team, said at the time of the change.
And it worked. Under Smith, the Kings have played with added aggression and urgency and have become far more physical.
“Once Smithy came in, he just changed the energy a little bit and we’re trying to be a little more aggressive versus sitting back,” captain Anze Kopitar said.
They’ve also bonded.
“We’ve really come together as a group,” forward Quinton Byfield said.
Now the challenge becomes doing something no Kings coach has done in more than a decade: getting the team past the first round of the postseason. If Smith can do that he might lose the interim tag in his title, which would make these Stanley Cup playoffs really special.
Apr 19, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle (21) shoves Tampa Bay Lightning forward Zemgas Girgensons (28) into the boards during the third period in game one of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
Morgan Tencza/Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
TAMPA, Fla. — Behind a loud, energetic, sellout crowd chanting “Let’s Go Bolts!” from Thunder Alley into the arena, the Tampa Bay Lightning should have a clear home-ice advantage.
Not in the playoffs.
A 4-3 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 was the Lightning’s 10th loss in 11 games at home in the postseason, going back to Games 4 and 6 in the 2022 Stanley Cup Final against Colorado.
They can’t afford to fall behind 2-0 in the best-of-seven, opening-round series.
The Lightning have been knocked out of the playoffs in the first round three straight years since the Avalanche prevented them from a three-peat four years ago.
“We believe in this group here. It’s a different team every year,” forward Anthony Cirelli said. “That’s not in our mind at all. We have to go win a hockey game. That’s what it comes down to. Our energy level has to be up, our emotion has to be up. We have to be ready to go from the first 60-plus and have the urgency to win the game.”
Juraj Slafkovsky scored three power-play goals for the Canadiens in the opener. Lightning coach Jon Cooper wasn’t happy with his team’s penalty-killing unit and the players who put them in position to be short-handed. He called the penalties “stupidity.”
Tampa Bay was the most penalized team in the NHL in the regular season with 425. The Lightning had 14 penalty minutes and the Canadiens converted three times in five opportunities with the man advantage.
“The big one is staying out of the penalty box,” Cirelli said. “Our PK has to be better. They have a really good power play. We have to limit our penalties.”
And, they’ve got to play better on special teams.
“If you’re going to kill penalties off at 50%, then you’re probably not going to last very long,” Cooper said. “But if you kill penalties off at 50% and you only give up two (penalties), well, maybe you can survive.”
The good news for the Lightning is an 8-5 all-time record in playoff series that begin with a home loss. They are 13-8 in Game 2s at home.
The Lightning will need Andrei Vasilevskiy to play more like the dominant goaltender they’re used to having. He wasn’t sharp against the Canadiens in the opener, allowing four goals on 19 shots.
In a series that features potential Hall of Famers like Vasilevskiy and Nikita Kucherov, Montreal’s Slafkovsky was the difference maker in Game 1.
Slafkovsky, who had four goals and four assists in six games for Slovakia in the Milan Cortina Olympics, has built off that success. After finishing with 30 goals in the regular season, he became the third-youngest Canadiens player to record a hat trick in the playoffs.
“The evolution of Slaf, I think, is almost the same as the evolution of our team,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. “We know what he’s capable of bringing Slaf, and that’s what he did. He played to his identity. Not just the goals — he was physical, he won battles. It was a big game for him.”
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 08: Bilal Coulibaly #0 of the Washington Wizards handles the ball against the Miami Heat at Capital One Arena on February 08, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards have completed Year 3 of their rebuild, ending a “deconstruction phase” that included countless trades, six first-round picks and 196 losses.
General Manager Will Dawkins said the team will “try to compete” next season, but hesitated to provide greater expectations. It appears Washington will use the 2026-27 season as an evaluation year, one to identify which young pieces to build around, which veterans should stick around and more.
But first comes the 2026 offseason — an important period that could shape the franchise’s next decade of contention. Washington owns a top-five pick in the upcoming draft, which has a 52.1% chance of improving to a top-four pick, plus two others in the second round.
While the draft is important, it’s far from the only marquee event from now until opening night in October. Below is a full breakdown of the key dates surrounding Washington’s rebuild this offseason.
May 10: NBA Draft Lottery
Washington’s pick odds at the upcoming NBA Draft Lottery are as follows:
1st pick: 14.0%
2nd pick: 13.4%
3rd pick: 12.7%
4th pick: 12.0%
5th pick: 47.9%
The NBA’s worst team hasn’t landed the No. 1 pick since the league switched to its current lottery system in 2019. The last time the worst team got the top pick was in 2018 when the Phoenix Suns selected Deandre Ayton.
May 10-17: NBA Draft Combine
The draft combine is a weeklong event held in Chicago. It’s an opportunity for league executives, coaches and scouts to evaluate players’ weight, height, athleticism, shooting and more while they compete against their fellow prospects.
May/June: Pre-draft workouts
The period between the draft lottery and the draft itself consists of speculation, mock drafts and more. But for teams, it serves as a six-week period to host group and individual workouts with the draft’s top prospects.
Under Dawkins and Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger, the Wizards have been discreet throughout the pre-draft process. While some teams post their workout participants to social media, Washington keeps its information close to the vest.
June 23: Round 1 of the NBA Draft
The Wizards finished with the NBA’s worst record, which means they can pick no lower than No. 5 in this year’s draft. The consensus top-four in this draft have separated from the rest on most big boards, with a cluster of talented guards entering the conversation at the fifth pick.
The consensus top-four prospects, in no particular order, are as follows:
AJ Dybantsa, F, BYU
Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas
Cameron Boozer, F, Duke
Caleb Wilson, F, North Carolina
Prospects Washington could target at No. 5, should that be their pick:
Darius Acuff, G, Arkansas
Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois
Kingston Flemings, G, Houston
Mikel Brown, G, Louisville
June 24: Round 2 of the NBA Draft
Washington owns the following picks in the second round:
No. 51 (via Minnesota)
Acquired from Detroit in a 2024 trade that sent Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala to the Pistons for Marvin Bagley III, Isaiah Livers, and 2025 and 2026 second-round picks.
No. 60 (via Oklahoma City)
Acquired from San Antonio in a July 2025 trade that sent Kelly Olynyk to the Spurs for Malaki Branham, Blake Wesley and a 2026 second-round pick (least favorable of DAL/PHI/OKC).
Fun fact: The last second-round pick the Wizards signed to a second contract before Dawkins became GM in 2023 was Shelvin Mack, who was selected in 2011.
Washington has signed both of its second-round picks under Dawkins — Jamir Watkins and Tristan Vukcevic — to second contracts.
Tristan Vukcevic: 2 years, $6M — team option in 2027-28
Jamir Watkins: 1-year, $2.15M — team option in 2026-27
June 29: Deadline to pick upoptions
Trae Young’s player option ($49M)
D’Angelo Russell’s player option ($5.97M)
Watkins’ team option ($2.15M)
Submit two-way qualifying offer to Sharife Cooper
While Young has a $49 million player option for the 2026-27 season, it’s widely expected that the veteran guard will decline that option and instead ink a multi-year extension to remain in Washington.
With Russell’s buyout market reportedly “nonexistent,” the 30-year-old guard could opt into his player option to remain a Wizard next season. A buyout is still possible, as Russell never reported to the Wizards following a February trade that sent him from Dallas to Washington.
June 30: Team negotiation period begins
Teams can negotiate with free agents during this window. Contract terms will be reported but nothing will be official until free agency begins six days later. Expect to see plenty of breaking news by Shams Charania of ESPN during this timeframe.
July 1: Bilal Coulibaly and Cam Whitmore become rookie extension eligible
An extension for Whitmore, who missed most of the 2025-26 season with deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder, is unlikely. But his fellow 2023 draft pick, Bilal Coulibaly, is poised for a payday.
Coulibaly’s stats — 11.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game on 31.9% 3PT — don’t stand out. If anything, they were a bit underwhelming for the third-year wing. But Coulibaly’s defensive prowess, an ability to mark the opposing team’s best player while providing switchability in guarding one through four, is coveted across the association.
Dawkins has a history of extending Washington’s first-round picks once they become extension eligible.
In 2023, he gave Deni Avdija a 4-year, $55 million extension that looks like one of the league’s best contracts. Now, Dawkins later dealt Avdija to Portland, but that’s a discussion for another story.
Dawkins also extended Corey Kispert before the 2024-25 campaign, giving the sharpshooting wing a 4-year, $54 million payday. If history repeats itself, Dawkins appears poised to extend Coulibaly, his first draft selection as Washington’s GM, later this offseason.
Should a deal materialize, look for it to be signed closer to opening night in October, as each of the previous extensions were. Avdija was extended on Oct. 22. Kispert inked his extension on Oct. 21.
July 6: Teams can officially announce signings
The Wizards conducted free agency before this year’s trade deadline, acquiring big names like Young and Anthony Davis, among others. Here’s a breakdown of those contracts for the 2026-27 season:
Trae Young ($49M player option — extension candidate)
Anthony Davis ($58.5M)
Jaden Hardy ($6M)
D’Angelo Russell ($5.97M player option)
July 9-19: Summer League
Summer League is scheduled for July 9-19. Expect second-year players Tre Johnson, Will Riley, Jamir Watkins and Julian Reese to suit up in Las Vegas. Those players will be joined by the Wizards’ 2026 first-round pick, plus any other selections they make on draft night.
The Baltimore Orioles (10-12) head to Kauffman Stadium tonight to begin a three-game series against the struggling Kansas City Royals (7-15).
The O’s lost two of three over the weekend to the Guardians in Cleveland. They have lost six of their last ten games. At the core of their issues is a lack of run production. Baltimore has scored just 91 runs this season which ranks T9 among 15 American League teams. They rank T20 in all of baseball. The big boppers in the Baltimore lineup have not been coming up big so far this season. Gunnar Henderson is hitting .204, Pete Alonso .207 with but two home runs, and Adley Rutschman remains sidelined with an ankle injury.
You think run production is an issue in Baltimore? Hah! Kansas City ranks dead last in baseball with a putrid 71 runs scored in 22 games. The next closest team in the American League are the White Sox with 82 runs scored in 22 games. As a result, the Royals have lost seven in a row and now sit last in the AL Central. Bobby Witt Jr. has been on base 29 times in April and has scored only three runs.
The pitching matchup features Orioles righty Kyle Bradish taking on KC right-hander Seth Lugo. Lugo has been a standout performer for Kansas City thus far pitching to a 1.48 ERA. Bradish needs a solid start to get his season on track. The 29-year-old has allowed 12 earned runs in 19.2 innings.
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.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game Details and How to Watch: Orioles vs. Royals
Date: Monday, April 20, 2026
Time: 7:40PM EST
Site: Kauffman Stadium
City: Kansas City, MO
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, FS1, MASN, Royals.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: Orioles vs. Royals
The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Baltimore Orioles (-115), Kansas City Royals (-105)
Bobby Witt Jr. is 6-15 over his last 4 games with 3 RBIs and 3 runs scored
Salvador Perez is 5 for his last 45 (.111) with 1 extra base hit
Taylor Ward is hitting .267 over his last 4 games but .294 in April (17 games)
Jeremiah Jackson has hit safely in 11 of 15 games in April (.315)
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Orioles vs. Royals
The Royals are 8-14 on the Run Line this season
The O’s are 8-14 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 12 times in Baltimore’s 22 games this season (12-10)
The OVER has cashed an MLB-worst 7 times in the Royals’ 22 games this season (7-15)
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: Orioles vs. Royals
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
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 Monday’s game between the Orioles and the Royals:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Royals on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Game Total UNDER 9.0.
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 19: Head coach Nick Nurse of the Philadelphia 76ers hangs his head on the bench during the second quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on April 19, 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
Well, even the little sliver of optimism I had for this Sixers-Celtics series evaporated rather quickly on Sunday. Boston was dominant and the Sixers looked out-classed in every facet of Game 1. It looks like it’s going to be a long week for Sixers fans as their team marches their way to inevitable doom. Until then, I’ll hit our loyal readers with a fresh “5 Sixers thoughts” column…
The Sixers’ backup centers continue to flounder
Andre Drummond had a stellar evening during the Sixers’ Play-In win over Orlando that ran counter to how horrific it was to watch him on the court throughout the regular season. That didn’t carry over to the first round of the playoffs in Drummond’s 21 minutes of play, as the Sixers’ big was a negative on both ends of the court.
That’s before even getting nominal starter Adem Bona, who, in 14 minutes of play, appeared entirely out of place in an NBA playoff game. He should not be allowed to dribble the ball in transition ever again.
Sure, the Sixers are always going to be at a frontcourt disadvantage whenever Joel Embiid is out, but that’s a problem a dozen years in the making. The team has failed to get competent reserve big men play for the whole duration of the Embiid era even with it being a guarantee that Embiid will miss significant time annually.
All things considered, at least this is far less important than Greg Monroe being a -9 in under two minutes of play against Toronto in Game 7 of the 2019 Eastern Conference Semifinals, right?
Paul George’s effort is awful
From a pure efficiency standpoint, Paul George’s Game 1 performance was passable. He had 17 points while shooting 50 percent from the field, 50 percent from deep and going 8-of-9 from the free throw line. Watching the actual game unfold, however, told a different story.
George’s defensive effort, maybe more than anything I witnessed on Sunday, infuriated me. The Sixers are going against likely the best wing tandem in the league with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. There was no Embiid waiting at the cup to protect the rim. I know he’s about to turn 36 years old and he’s not the All-Defensive guy he once was nearly a decade ago, but how about at least give the appearance of trying?
I know it’s ultimately the fault of the organization for handing George a contract he didn’t deserve at this stage of his star-studded career, but I’d like to see “Playoff P” attempt to live up to it, you know?
I winced in anticipation of a miss whenever Kelly Oubre shot a three-pointer
Kelly Oubre was 0-for-5 from deep on Sunday, including a few back-breaking, open-as-anything looks. That stands out in my mind, yes, but it would be wrong to not share the blame for the Sixers’ overall shooting woes. They were 4-of-23 on threes, clocking in at 17 percent. It’s nearly impossible to win in the modern NBA launching it up that poorly.
That checks out for a Sixers team that shot 34.9 percent from three in the regular season, which came in 23rd in the whole league. They’re also not hoisting enough threes to lean into wild shooting variance that could give them a puncher’s chance at a win against a heavily-favored Boston squad. The Celtics shot 44 threes in Game 1 compared to the Sixers’ 23. George and Tyrese Maxey need to let it fly with reckless abandon!
We meet again, Nikola Vučević
During the Sixers’ seven-game battle against the Celtics in the 2012 Eastern Conference Semifinals, Nikola Vučević was a first-round rookie for the team. He played just three minutes across that series even while starting center Spencer Hawes was completely lost out there while going against Kevin Garnett. I would’ve liked to have seen if he had legitimately anything to give the Sixers instead of watching Hawes!
Anyway, Vučević, who turned into a two-time All-Star over the years, came off the Celtics’ bench in Game 1 and gave them some competent help. It would’ve been nice for the Sixers to be on the receiving end of that 14 years ago!
The “We want Boston!” chants got turned on their heads
As the Sixers pulled away against the Magic in the Play-In, the South Philadelphia faithful began chanting, “We want Boston!” I personally wasn’t doing that at the arena because I knew what would await this team in the first round, but I don’t begrudge those fans too much who were living in the moment and doing that.
Celtics fans certainly took notice of it though.
As Boston thrashed the Sixers on Sunday and built a lead of 30-plus points, Celtics fans trolled Philadelphia with its own “We want Boston!” chants. It is what it is. If you want to dish it out, you have to be able to take it, too.
The Cincinnati Reds mascot, Mr. Redlegs shows off his muscles during a Major League Baseball game between the Atlanta Brave and Cincinnati Reds at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 2, 2025. | Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Cincinnati Reds have scored just 78 runs through their 22 games played this year, yet they’ve managed to win 14 of those and sit in 1st place in their division after their weekend sweep of the Minnesota Twins.
The Tampa Bay Rays, meanwhile, have seen their runners score 103 times through just 21 games, yet they sit in 2nd place in their own division with 12 wins after dropping two of three over the weekend against Pittsburgh.
Not all baseball is played alike, of course. Tampa’s offense has come out of the gate in impressive fashion, their team wOBA ranking 11th overall, their team wRC+ 10th, and their 18.6% K-rate at the plate the second lowest of any team in baseball. The flip side to that, though, is that their 4.90 expected ERA through those 21 games is 5th worst as they’ve yielded 1.28 homers per game (5th highest) – and the collective 5.81 xERA from their relievers is the single worst of any bullpen unit to date.
In many ways, the 12-9 Rays are the inverse of the 14-8 Reds, who have gotten where they are thanks to elite bullpen work and improved defense (Cincinnati ranks 13th in DEF at FanGraphs while Tampa ranks 2nd worst) despite bottom of the barrel offense. Both clubs, though, have managed to win a lot more than they’ve lost despite both still boasting negative run differentials for the season, with Tampa mimicking the Reds with a 4-1 record in one-run games of their own.
Something will likely have to give in this series, though that’s not a given. We could get a 9-6 win from Tampa followed by a pair of pair of 2-1 Reds victories, and that would just about sum up where both clubs are on the baseball result spectrum at this point in the galaxy’s history.
Rhett Lowder will toe the rubber in Monday’s series opener, with Chase Burns (Tuesday) and Brandon Williamson (Wednesday) slated to follow. First pitch Monday at the renovated Trop is set for 6:40 PM ET, and the Reds will line up like so:
The game ended with Kerr gathering Green and Warriors superstar Stephen Curry on the sideline for an embrace in which he appeared to acknowledge it could be his final game as the Warriors' coach. Kerr told Green and Curry, according to audio captured by Prime Video, "I don't know what's going to happen next, but I love you guys to death. Thank you. I appreciate you."
Kerr's contract expired after this season and the team told reporters Monday that Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy won't speak publicly until Kerr and Golden State come to a resolution. Green acknowledged Kerr's words would provide some closure if his run as coach is over.
"Steph, myself, Steve shared a moment in what could be our last time playing with Steve as our coach," Green said. "I'm happy we got to share that moment, like he didn't miss the moment. It was a big deal. I hope he's our coach next year. You want my opinion? I think not, just because it feels like that. It felt like that was it."
Green went on to note that he's "never been so uncertain since early in my career on what happens next." The 36-year-old forward has a $27.6 million player option on the final year of his current contract that he can exercise to remain with Golden State next season.
Kerr has been the Warriors' coach since 2014, leading the franchise to four NBA championships with Curry and Green serving as the team's cornerstones throughout the run.
Both Curry and Green could become free agents after the 2026-27 season if they don't sign contract extensions with Golden State this offseason. Curry has indicated he would like Kerr to return if that's what the coach wants to do.
The day is finally here. After eight years, the Ducks are back in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Their opponent, the battle-tested Edmonton Oilers, have finished the previous two seasons as the Stanley Cup Final runner-up.
"You look at the regular season, it's a big grind," Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm said. It's long, especially when you have two deep (playoff) runs in recent history. It's hard to get up for every game, I'm not gonna lie. But this time of year, everybody, you've got to do everything. You've got to get yourself geared up and get going here."
"It's the best time of year," Oilers forward Zach Hyman said. "This is the time you want to play in. It's a long season, and we've had a lot of experience in the playoffs, so it's nice to be back."
Mar 28, 2026; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers forward Zach Hyman (18) trips up Anaheim Ducks defensemen Jackson LaCombe (2) during the third period at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
The Ducks and Oilers finished the season one point apart in the standings, with the latter taking advantage of the former's slump in the final 10 games of the regular season (2-6-2) to close the gap and grab home ice.
"Yeah, absolutely," Ducks forward Beckett Sennecke said on being able to turn the page and get off to a fresh start in the playoffs. "A lot of us, this is our first playoff game, so we're all super excited. This is something we've been looking forward to for a long time."
A majority of Anaheim's roster has never played in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. None of their top-5 points leaders this season has ever played in an NHL playoff game before, though Chris Kreider (sixth) and Mikael Granlund (seventh) have a combined 200 games of NHL playoff experience between them.
Another player on the Ducks roster with plenty of playoff experience is captain Radko Gudas, who has played in 57 playoff games. His last playoff appearance was in 2023 with the Florida Panthers, when they lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final.
"Very exciting," Gudas said. "This is the goal we set for ourselves at the start of the season. We're excited to get a few games in, a lot of firsts for a lot of our guys. Just a lot of excitement in the room. Looking forward to hard work ahead of us."
Apr 7, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (93) moves the puck against Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas (7) during the third period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
"They say the first round's always the hardest," Ducks forward Ryan Poehling said. "It's just the physicality, the energy. Everyone's ready to go. You've got that big bump in energy. So I think that's the biggest thing, just being prepared mentally and just meeting it head-on, being the aggressor. You don't want them to come at you, you want to go with them and get lost in the moment."
"They said (to) just kind of try and weather the storm in the first five minutes," Sennecke said. "Everyone's super excited, especially in Game 1. And then get physical. Every little detail, they said, can change a game, can change a series, so it's just making sure that you're playing 100% and managing the puck properly."
"If you want to win, you've got to play without the puck," Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville said. "You've got to check and you've got to make sure that you prioritize that, especially against a team that can score and has a lethal power play. So, let's go make sure we avoid taking unnecessary or careless penalties. But, we've got to play well with the puck as well and manage it as best we can, too."
Leon Draisaitl and Jason Dickinson are expected to return to the lineup for Edmonton. Draisaitl missed the final month of the regular season due to a lower-body injury, while Dickinson missed the final three games of the regular season due to a leg injury.
Troy Terry was absent from Anaheim's morning skate, but Quenneville confirmed that Terry will be in the lineup for Game 1.
Ducks Projected Lines
Chris Kreider - Leo Carlsson - Troy Terry Alex Killorn - Mikael Granlund - Beckett Sennecke Mason McTavish - Ryan Poehling - Cutter Gauthier Jeff Viel - Tim Washe - Ian Moore
Jackson LaCombe - Jacob Trouba Pavel Mintyukov - John Carlson Tyson Hinds - Radko Gudas
Lukáš Dostál (confirmed)
Oilers Projected Lines
Matt Savoie - Connor McDavid - Zach Hyman Vasily Podkolzin - Leon Draisaitl - Kasperi Kapanen Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Jason Dickinson - Jack Roslovic Colton Dach - Adam Henrique - Trent Frederic
Apr 20, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox right fielder Roman Anthony (19) center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela (3) and right fielder Wilyer Abreu (52) celebrate their win over the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images | Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
So we can only have so many nice things with the 2026 Red Sox, eh?
Good news! The offense can actually produce runs!
Bad news! Sonny Gray left the game in the third with right hamstring tightness and we had to almost empty out the pen before the series against the Yankees!
Fun times.
Can I also just say the jersey matchup today was phenomenal? I wouldn’t be opposed to the Tigers bringing these navy getups back in much more permanent fashion.
Studs
Roman Anthony (1-for-2, 3 BB, 1 RBI)
Things might be starting to click for Roman, and it’s really because of the walks. Being able to have a good eye means you’re not swinging at bull. When he can put the second half of it together and make good contact on his pitches, watch out.
Masataka Yoshida (2-for-4, 2 runs scored, 1 BB)
Where has he come from? His exit velo is at a career high, his clutch meter is through the roof, his decision making…well he at least got back to third and didn’t get caught blowing by a stop sign in this one, but I’m seeing a good ballplayer!
Middle Bullpen (Weissert, Whitlock)
The Italian Stallion and Mr. Whit cleaned up a big mess inherited from the below. It let the Sox score a few more runs and breath a little.
Duds
Middle Bullpen (Morán, Watson, Kelly)
These guys are lucky that the Sox don’t have so many function arms because BOY do they get used a lot and boy is it an adventure every single time. Ryan Watson, WHAT are you doing?
Jarren Duran (0-for-3, 1 K)
Almost put Abreu on here but he walked and brought in a run, Duran just didn’t have an affect on this one.
Play of the Game
I was going to go for Rafaela’s RBI single in the 7th, but this actually ended up being the game-winning hit after all was said and done. I can’t believe after getting inches from being beaned on a bunt, he slapped that single.
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 12: Jorge Mateo #2 of the Atlanta Braves scores a run in the second inning during the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Truist Park on April 12, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves will be facing off against the Washington Nationals tonight in a battle of two of top three offenses in MLB right now in terms of runs scored per game. The Braves are scoring 5.55 runs per game and the Nats are scoring 5.50.
This matchup will feature five hitters in the top thirty in the NL in wRC+. CJ Abrams in currently number two in the NL with Michael Harris rounding out the top thirty.
With the Nats’ starter Jake Irvin being a RHP, it could be assumed that we will see a lineup that features the red hot Dom Smith, but what we did not know for certain is if Walt Weiss will be resting any of the starters. He has been doing that this season seemingly more than Brian Snitker did.
We knew Matt Olson would not be sitting, but he has struggled against Irvin in his sixteen at-bats with a .188 average and .610 OPS. Dominic Smith has a .333 average against Irvin in his six at-bats, but only a .666 OPS. The player to keep an eye on is Michael Harris who leads the team with eighteen at-bats against Irvin and has been successful. He has a .389 average and .950 OPS against him.
It turns out that Mauricio Dubón will be getting the night off as Jorge Mateo will be getting the nod at SS. We also have some other movements of note. Mike Yastrzemski has been moved down to ninth while he is waiting to get into a groove, and red hot Michael Harris has been moved up to sixth in the lineup. It is nice to see that Walt Weiss is not stuck on a certain lineup and will play the hot hand and move certain players around.
For the Nationals, CJ Abrams has had no trouble against Bryce Elder in his career. In his fifteen at-bats against him, he has a .400 average and .905 OPS. In fact, five of the seven players to have faced Elder before have an OPS of .800 or better. The difference is this is arguably the best version of Bryce Elder we have ever seen.
The Nationals red hot offense will be a real test to see if Elder is for real. Every pitcher has an off night every once in awhile. We saw it with Chris Sale recently. But, Elder could also prove tonight that he can slow down a potent lineup. The key will be slowing down Abrams and James Wood, who has hit a HR off of Elder already in his young career.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 29: Jose Quintana #62 of the Colorado Rockies throws a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at loanDepot park on March 29, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In an unusual road game on Monday that wraps up a four-game series, the Dodgers try to avoid a third straight defeat at the hands of the Colorado Rockies, twice done in by the bullpen late in games. They’ll do so against a familiar face in José Quintana, a starter they’ve bullied in the NLCS in each of the past two seasons on their way to World Series titles. Now, this lefty-mashing offense will get the opportunity to hit against Quintana in Coors Field.
As a team, the Dodgers have an .851 OPS against southpaws, while 28 of the other 30 clubs are below .800. And sure, scoring 16 runs in three games isn’t bad by any means, but there was probably a little part in all of us that wanted to see them crack double digits at least once while playing in Colorado. This is as good an opportunity as any.
For the second week in a row, Justin Wrobleski will square off against a lefty, now looking to replicate—at least partially—the success he had against the Mets, pitching the game of his life with eight scoreless innings of two-hit ball.
A reliever who provided length for the majority of his early career in the majors, Wrobleski fulfilled that role three times in previous appearances at Coors Field. This will be his first start at Colorado, following what seemed to be a trend in this series—Roki Sasaki and Tyler Glasnow had also never started a game in Coors before.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 17: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Arizona Diamondbacks hits a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays at Chase Field on April 17, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Diamondbacks continued to impress on a 6-3 roadtrip. What’s the key for this success to continue?
James: Get healthy. Stay healthy. That’s a solid first step. Arizona’s biggest opponent over the last year has been the IL. Also, Michael Soroka has to continue to be the Michael Soroka that he has been, resembling when he first debuted many years ago.
Wesley: James is absolutely right on all counts, especially that last point. Michael Soroka really needs to continue pitching well and stay healthy, not for the team or anything, but so that we as a fanbase can come together and publicly shame James for being so completely wrong about Soroka.
In all seriousness, aside from the team needing to stay healthy and continue playing well, the biggest thing I think is picking the right time to call up a Ryan Waldschmidt or LuJames Groover, or one of the many RHPs that Hazen signed over the offseason. At this point it is unrealistic to expect perfect health from this roster, so knowing the optimal time to call up our prospects is going to be important down the stretch
Ben: I think the easiest answer certainly is health, but the team has played really solid, well-rounded baseball. The pitching – both in the rotation and from the bullpen – has been somewhere between good and very good, there are offensive sparks up and down the lineup, and the defense has been excellent with the team pacing the majors in defensive runs saved. I think how the pitching holds up will be the key to maintaining this success. There’s probably some negative regression in store for several important contributors – particularly Eduardo Rodriguez whose FIP and expected ERA (4.24 and 4.15) are so far beyond his actual ERA of 1.96 that he almost certainly can’t continue it at that level.
Makakilo: Two observations about the Diamondbacks (7-15 April games):
5.3 runs scored per game.
15 shutdown performances by relief pitchers. Their shutdowns were second most in the Majors during their road trip.
Preston: This success will not continue in the same ways. We’ve almost certainly seen the best of both the starting rotation and the bullpen. The offense needs to step up and be the offense that we’ve seen the last couple of years. Perdomo needs to start finding more open spaces. Ildemaro Vargas is not going to continue to post a wRC+ in the 180s; his career wRC+ is 80, and his BABIP is .415. The third and fourth most valuable Diamondbacks on the offensive side (by fWAR) this season are both on the IL.
There’s been both good luck and bad luck, though. The second best xFIP on the team belongs to…Taylor Rashi? Paul Sewald has either been lucky (if you look at BABIP and contact) or relatively in line with expectations (if you look at xERA and xFIP).
Dare I say that we are seeing what a good team does? This team isn’t winning one way. The rotation, the bullpen, the offense, the defense…none of them are elite, but all of them have contributed. This is close to the “anybody, anytime” days of the recently disgraced Tony Clark, with the significant difference that this team is not a mirage. They are legitimately good, and can win in multiple ways.
Spencer: Play solid baseball. And trust pure talent and motivation over experience and “readiness” (Fernandez and Vargas vs Smith/Sanatana).
ISH95: They have to be able to weather whatever comes next. It’s a long season, with 140 some odd games, give or take, left to go. The answer to what makes for winning baseball the past two weeks will not be the answer for the next two. Adapt to the next challenge. It’s something the team has struggled with in the past.
Merrill Kelly looked alright in his return. Any flash opinions?
James: I was pleased to see him gut out 5+ innings. I think he still looks rusty though. The ball to strike ratio would suggest the same (for Kelly). He’s going to need a bit more time to knock the rust off, which is fine and to be expected
Wesley: He did seem a bit rusty, but overall he looked really good, all things considered.
Ben: He looked all right. There wasn’t any noticeable drop in velocity or movement on his pitches and he looked relatively comfortable. I have faith he’ll continue to get more comfortable and more confident as the season progresses.
Makakilo: This season, his first game was comparable to his first game last season. He pitched 5.1 innings in each, facing 24 batters (86 pitches) this season and 23 batters (85 pitches) last season. My flash opinion is he is on track to pitch like he did last season.
Preston: He had a really bad inning that could have (and, for many D-backs’ pitchers, would have) snowballed into a 17-2 loss. He toughed through it and the Diamondbacks won. That’s the kind of veteran leadership the team needs.
Spencer: I’ve stopped discounting Kelly. He’s gonna be solid to great for years. Very impressive man.
ISH95: It’s nice to have the best pitcher on the team back, even if he didn’t pitch to his normal standards. Rust is to be expected, especially since if my memory serves he only got one true rehab game, with the others being a sim game at Extended Spring Training and a long bullpen.
Nolan Arenado has shown flashes of contribution recently. Mirage or might he be turning the corner toward Longoria type presence?
James: I never understood all the Arenado hate. Even the best players in the league go through spells like he did, especially as they get older. As long as he continues to be steady, I am not worried. The one thing I like about Arenado is that he tends not to get nervous and doesn’t try to be something he isn’t at the plate. He puts in the work and trusts the results will follow. It seems that now they are.
Wesley: I still stand by my prediction that he will bounce back offensively. I don’t think he’ll ever be the guy he was in his peak, but I think he has enough gas left in the tank to provide some positive WAR on both sides of the diamond. If he doesn’t bounce back, then you call up LuJames Groover, Tommy Troy, or one of the many good hitting middle infielders.
Makakilo: During the road trip, his 8 RBIs led the team. And his .208 BABIP shows he was relatively unlucky, so his performance could be higher.
On the other hand, on the road trip, his 15.4% hard hits was lower than his season average, suggesting it was a mirage.
Overall, I’m optimistic that he will continue to make significant positive contributions.
Preston: For what we are paying him, we’re getting value. He’s not the player he once was. He also has turned on some fastballs recently and hit them a long way. His bat speed isn’t bad. But I’d really like to see him draw some walks and stop chasing pitches a mile out of the zone. That’s not an age-related decline; that’s more of a pressing too hard decline.
Spencer: He old, man. But even old dogs still have tricks. He’s almost always defied some metrics, so I trust he can be productive. Something close to the middle ground of the polar sides we saw from Suarez.
Ben: If our expectations for Arenado are 2023 Longoria, then I think those expectations will be met. In the first few weeks, Arenado has shown he can still be a very positive contributor in the field while having some contributions with the bat. Putting the two head-to-head emphasizes that as Arenado still finds his footing with a new team. The biggest red flag so far? His chase rate, strikeout rate, and walk rate are all sitting at career worst, but that might be a function of trying to force something rather than allowing the game to come to him more naturally.
ISH95: Spencer’s right, the man is old and it shows. His defense, while still good, has clearly lost a step, and the bat hasn’t been there for a while. Can he maintain a decent balance of the two and be Longoria 2.0, yeah, probably.
What’s your favorite TV show?
James: That’s a tough call for me as I have seen a ridiculous amount of television in my time as I review many shows/episodes. On the short list though would be such titles as: Murdoch Mysteries Death in Paradise
The West Wing (followed quite closely by another Aaron Sorkin gem, The Newsroom)
Lucifer Babyloinfielder.
Wesley: I can’t answer a question as broad as that. Even if we narrow it down to a favorite in specific genres, I’d still have a hard time picking just one favorite. Favorite scripted live-action comedy? Hard to choose between ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’, ‘It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia’ ‘Wilfred’ ‘Brockmire’ along with another five or six shows I’m forgetting. Favorite sketch comedy show? Once again, it’s very hard to choose between ‘The Whitest Kids U Know’ ‘Key & Peele’ ‘Upright Citizens Brigade’ ‘Kids in the Hall’ ‘Chappelle’s Show’ ‘Mr. Show w/ Bob and David’ and that doesn’t even get it things like ‘The Muppet Show’
Although I didn’t exactly answer the question, I think you get my point. Comparing a comedy like ‘It’s Always Sunny’ to a dramatic thriller ‘Mr. Robot’ doesn’t do either show any favors.
Makakilo: Death in Paradise.
Preston: I’ve recently enjoyed sharing The Good Place with my oldest; there’s something about sharing shows with people that mean a lot to you that makes them better. I personally love Bojack Horseman, but I also haven’t seen it since my life was in a place where I needed to see it, so I don’t know if holds up.
Spencer: Person of Interest has long been the answer here. It’s just excellent in every aspect (with one weird episode ending music choice). But currently on air? The Pitt, Ted Lasso, Shrinking and maybe Your Friends & Neighbors.
Ben: I’m with everyone else – trying to choose just one TV show would be extremely difficult. The West Wing is regularly quoted in our household, The Office was long a comfort show for me, but there are so many shows that I’ve loved. ISH95: My colleagues are not wrong that this is nearly an impossible question to answer. However, nothing is actually impossible if you actually set your mind to it, so I will say Doctor Who, even though sometimes it seems as though the show and those behind it do in fact hate its viewers.
