BOSTON, MA - APRIL 19: VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers goes in for a dunk against the Boston Celtics during the second half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs 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
Here we go again!
The Philadelphia 76ers will take the floor at TD Garden once again on Tuesday in hopes of turning things around in this first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics — or at least make it a little more competitive. The hosting Celtics come into Game 2 with a 1-0 series lead after absolutely demolishing the Sixers on Sunday afternoon without really having to break a sweat.
It was truly a disaster on Sunday afternoon, a perfect display of two teams and organizations that are simply on two different levels in basically every possible way — Boston came in with strategy and depth, while Philadelphia looked completely desperate and without a plan.
Pretty much everything that could go wrong or poorly for Philadelphia on Sunday did. The team shot just 38.9% from the floor and 4-for-23 from long range in the loss. Paul George had a truly rough-to-watch game in terms of effort and efficiency. Kelly Oubre Jr. was 0-for-5 from long range. The Sixers still don’t have a truly suitable backup center for Joel Embiid, with both Andre Drummond and Adem Bona floundering in an attempt to keep up with the Celtics.
But Tuesday is another day. Whether it changes the result remains to be seen, but one can only hope the Sixers are able to put up a little more of a fight. Even just a spoonful of fight. It can’t get worse than Sunday, can it? (That question is rhetorical, Sixers… please do not take it as a challenge.)
The Sixers are still without Embiid as he continues to recover from an urgent appendectomy surgery performed just under two weeks ago. On Monday, the team announced that the center had begun a strength and conditioning program as his healing continues. What this means in the short term is still relatively unknown. Embiid probably wouldn’t return to training so quickly post-surgery unless there was a chance he could return these playoffs, but the likelihood of him even having a chance to play again this season might be cut down if the Sixers were to go down 2-0 on Tuesday night. It now becomes a bit of a “will he, won’t he” matter for Embiid. Familiar territory, indeed.
Meanwhile, the Celtics are a healthy, full-strength squad looking to just continue what they were able to do on Sunday. The Sixers didn’t exactly give them any reason to change strategy. Boston never trailed for a single moment of Game 1. Jaylen Brown (26 points) and Jayson Tatum (25) led the squad per usual, but this was a widespread effort for the C’s with everyone able to get involved. They had six players score in double-digits, with 10 of the 13 players they utilized throughout the game scoring five or more points.
It’s very tough to write about, honestly. It’s truly not meant to be overly negative or “doomer.” It is simply that the Celtics are an organization playing a completely different, much more successful game than the Sixers. The evidence was clear as day on Sunday. That being said, fans can always hope that Philadelphia are able to steal a game away. It would very likely require much better shooting from the Sixers on top of a plethora of other factors: more contributions from Paul George and even Quentin Grimes, better performances from the backup fives, providing more help/screens to get Tyrese Maxey space with the ball, actual ball movement instead of forcing ISO ball repeatedly… I could go on, but I think we all get the picture.
At the time of writing, the Sixers are roughly a 14-point underdog. Do with that what you will. It’s going to take a lot to overcome. But, if all the right stars align, it’s always possible.
The Sixers and Celtics tip off for Game 2 at 7 p.m. ET.
Game Details
When: Monday, April 21, 7 p.m. ET Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA Watch: Peacock Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 19: De'Aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers during Round One Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After the San Antonio Spurs handled the Portland Trail Blazers in the first playoff game of the Victor Wembanyama era, the two teams return for Game 2 tonight at 8 p.m ET.
If you didn’t watch Game 1 or are just trying to refresh your mind ahead of some Game 2 wagering, you are in the perfect place!
Game 1 Recap
As many of us expected, the Trail Blazers did not merely rollover and die. Deni Avdija did a great job in his playoff debut – scoring 30 points on 63.5% true shooting while also tallying ten rebounds and five assists. But he and everyone else on the floor was on a completely different level than Wembanyama.
The prodigious big man set a franchise record with 35 points in his postseason debut. That is a big deal considering this is the same organization that fostered the likes of Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker.
More than scoring, Wembanyama’s presence in the paint made it nearly impossible for Portland to operate. In his minutes, Portland was held to a 102.9 offensive rating, which is over ten points lower (113.1) than their regular season offensive rating – that was already viewed as unimpressive (21st in NBA).
Game 2 Outlook
The current spread for this game is set at 11.5, meaning that you can bet on whether you think the Spurs will win by more than 11 points or less than 12 points and vice versa with the Blazers.
As we said, the Spurs looked like the clearly superior team in Game 1. But the Blazers kept it close throughout, and San Antonio shot nearly 20% better from three than the Blazers on similar volume in Game 1. In the season, the two teams are separated by just 1.6% in that category. If that evens out a little (which you expect given the unusually large gap in this department), the game will be a lot more closely contested.
The over/under for this contest is set at 220.5. Game 1’s total finished at 209, so oddsmakers think there will be more scoring tonight.
According to the moneyline probabilities, FanDuel sees San Antonio as a heavy-favorite in Game 2. Their moneyline is listed at -700, giving them an 87.5% implied probability of victory.
How to watch Spurs vs. Trail Blazers Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 20: RJ Barrett #9 of the Toronto Raptors guards James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter of Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena on April 20, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Raptors 115-105. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In Monday’s Brotherhood Playoff Action, Jalen Johnson and the Atlanta Hawks evened the series with the New York Knicks, 107-106; Tyrese Proctor and his Cleveland Cavaliers took down RJ Barrett and Brandon Ingram, 115-105; while Minnesota came back from 19 down to beat Tyus Jones and the Denver Nuggets, 119-114.
Johnson scored 17 points and had 8 rebounds for Quin Snyder’s Hawks, who tied the series 1-1 with the win.
RJ Barrett had 22 points, shooting 10-13/0-1, while Ingram scored 17 on a poor 3-15/1-3 night from the floor. He’s hearing about it, especially since he complained after Game 1 that he didn’t get enough shots.
On the NBC broadcast, Noah Eagle mentioned the timeout and how it would shape the final 5.6 seconds of the Knicks-Hawks Game 2 battle Tuesday night.
Inside the NBC studios, Carmelo Anthony touched a monitor wondering why the Knicks had not used a supposed final timeout to set up a potential game-winning shot.
And the millions watching at home surely had similar thoughts after seeing Mikal Bridges clank a last-second jumper in the Hawks’ 107-106 upset road win rather than seeing a designed play out of a timeout.
The Knicks had a timeout, according to the NBC broadcast. @NBA_NewYork/X
Yet, all the focus on the timeout and Knicks fans’ consternation about Mike Brown seemingly pocketing it proved to be the unfortunate outcome from what would be called a “data issue” with NBC incorrectly adding a timeout the Knicks did not actually have before the rushed final play.
“We just want to say that the scoreboard showed a timeout that the Knicks did not have on the final play, but due to a data issue, the wrong timeout information was communicated, so that’s why you see a timeout on the score bug,” NBC’s Maria Taylor said during halftime of the Timberwolves’ 119-114 Game 2 road win over the Nuggets while the studio show recapped hectic final 5.6 seconds of the Knicks’ loss.
Whether the Knicks had a timeout for the final play Tuesday had a great effect on how they handled that last shot and NBC’s untimely error altered how viewers analyzed the chaos in real time.
Before CJ McCollum took the first of his two free throw shots with 5.6 seconds remaining and the Hawks leading, 107-106, the score bug showed the Knicks with no timeouts.
That meant the Knicks would have to attempt to score from either underneath their own basket or in transition off a miss.
The Knicks did not have a timeout right after McCollum missed his first free throw. @WorldWideWob/X
After McCollum missed the first free throw attempt, the Knicks suddenly had a timeout added to their tally.
Having a timeout would allow them to advance the ball and set up designed final shot out of an inbounds pass rather than a rushed play.
Eagle then noted how the presence of said timeout would affect the Knicks’ strategy.
“New York will take its timeout almost guaranteed here,” Eagle said.
McCollum missed the second and Josh Hart grabbed the rebound, yet, to the surprise of those following the score bug, he pushed ahead and passed to Bridges, who settled for a long jumper.
A contested long two-pointer is not an ideal shot, especially if one is under the impression that the Knicks had a timeout to burn.
Anthony, the Knicks legend, said that his initial frustration with the outcome in part stemmed from believing Brown had let them go.
“Well, I was touching and screaming because I was under the impression that there was a timeout, so thank you for correcting that,” Anthony said to Taylor.
Brown did not provide a concrete answer when asked if he would used a timeout had the Knicks possessed one.
“I usually like to go, so they can’t put in their best defenders and all that other stuff,” Brown said. “Five to seven seconds is close. It would have been by gut feel. There is a chance I could have taken a timeout … and then there’s a chance I wouldn’t have. I thought it was a good shot.”
NBC’s data error doesn’t completely absolve Brown, though.
He did not use the timeout the team needed to burn before the three-minute mark before losing it due to the NBA’s two-timeout maximum rule in the final 180 seconds, and then oddly used a timeout with 2:43 remaining when it seemed Jalen Brunson had a chance to score with the Knicks leading, 100-99.
Brown used his final timeout with 10.2 seconds remaining and the Knicks trailing, 107-103.
“A couple of possessions weren’t fluid,” Brown said of the timeout with 2:43 remaining. “So I wanted to make sure that we had something we wanted to get to, or to set something up offensively, because we had whiffed on the last couple possessions. It just didn’t look right, it didn’t feel right.”
Apr 20, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Mets owner Steve Cohen sits court side during the first quarter of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs between the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Meet the Mets
The Mets return to action tonight and will turn to young Nolan McLean to halt their slide.
Juan Soto should be back in uniform for the Mets soon, but Max Ralph pondered the question that’s on everybody’s mind: When exactly will Soto be back on the field?
Jared Greenspan explored the history of teams that have endured long losing streaks like the Mets, and what it means for their playoff hopes.
The team is backing Carlos Mendoza amid the losing streak, which isn’t sitting right with everybody. Still, it is clear that there’s enough blame to go around here.
On This Week In Mets, Tim Britton discussed the Mets having 10 days to save their season.
Did you have the NL Central as baseball’s best division? Be honest. Of course you didn’t, but it is.
Ken Rosenthal analyzed the deep problems the Mets, Phillies, and Astros face beyond their managers, who are not safe despite this not being entirely their faults.
The Yankees’ rotation might be this generation’s Murderers’ Row, explains Mike Lupica.
Cam Schlittler, who grew up a Red Sox fan in Massachucetts, says he and his family have received threats ahead of his start against the Red Sox in Fenway, but is nevertheless excited to pitch in the series.
The Royals released former first round pick Asa Lacy after six injury-riddled seasons.
Old friend Edwin Díaz will miss three month as he is set to undergo surgery to remove loose bodies in his right elbow.
The Twins placed right-hander Mick Abel on the injured list with right elbow inflammation. Abel was slated to face the Mets tonight.
Sonny Gray exited his start on Patriots’ Day with right hamstring tightness.
The Red Sox used some late-game small ball to secure an 8-6 victory over the Tigers on Patriots’ Day.
Colin Rea and a plethora of defensive gems helped Chicago top Philadelphia yesterday for their sixth straight win.
The first-place Reds won again, defeating the Rays 6-1 for their fourth straight victory. After some friendly pre-game trash talk, Elly De La Cruz robbed Junior Caminero with an incredible catch.
The Blue Jays had to take three buses from Phoenix to Anaheim, but they shook off the rust and prevailed 5-2 over the Angels for a series-opening win.
The Astros beat up the Guardians 9-2.
The Orioles edged the lowly Royals 7-5 in 12 innings.
The Mariners fell 6-4 to the Athletics, but Julio Rodríguez made a catch that people are talking about in the loss.
The Dodgers trounced the Rockies 12-3. In the win, Dave Roberts went with his gut and flipped Max Muncy and Miguel Rojas in the lineup, resulting in three homers between the two. Shohei Ohtani also extended his on-base streak to 52.
Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue
I wrote about the decision the Mets face with Carlos Mendoza
Detroit Tigers shortstop Bryce Rainer talks to reporters March 20, 2026, before the Spring Breakout game at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida. | Evan Petzold / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
After a really unfortunate shoulder injury that short-circuited a hot start to his pro career, the Detroit Tigers third ranked prospect, shortstop Bryce Rainer, has had a sluggish return to action in 2026. However, it’s only been 11 games, and he’s returning after 10 months away from game action, so it’s no surprise that he needed some time to get his bearings. The Tigers are unconcerned, and the 20-year-old Rainer was promoted to the High-A West Michigan Whitecaps on Monday. In his place, the Tigers have activated their 2025 first round pick in the draft, prep shortstop Jordan Yost, assigning him to Single-A Lakeland Flying Tigers for his full season debut.
Rainer was the 11th round pick out of Harvard-Westlake HS in the 2024 MLB draft. He hit the ground running in 2025 in Lakeland, showing off 70 grade raw power and a big arm that had made him more of a pitching prospect in high school until he broke out with the bat during his senior season. He immediately turned heads by hammering fastballs and going the opposite way with authority, showing good zone judgement, and displaying good defensive chops and speed on the basepaths. The left-hander hitter showed some early weakness against breaking balls, but was well on his way to a great pro debut and a rapid promotion to West Michigan when he tore his right rotator cuff diving back to first base on a pickoff attempt. So he’s really picking up about where he left off last May.
Some struggles as he faces some more advanced pitching should be expected, as with only 46 games worth of experience against pro pitching out of high school, there is bound to be some catching up to do. There’s no rush, and as long as he’s handling the level well by year’s end that’s very good progress, setting him up to tackle Double-A in his age 21 season in 2027.
Rainer missed the rest of the 25 season after the injury, and the Tigers eased him back into action throughout minor league camp in March. Since the Florida State League got underway, the Tigers have played him at shortstop in 8 of his 11 games and worked out of the DH slot in the rest. Rainer hasn’t hit the ground running offensively, but he’s continued to post some eye-popping exit velocity numbers that surpass anything a current Detroit Tigers hitter has managed, Riley Greene included.
A 477 foot blast last week that left the bat at over 116 mph made a statement that Rainer was stronger and swinging the bat even faster than last year. On the other hand, he’s been taking an awful lot of called strikes so far, and seems a little tight in the batters box. This early on it’s hard to say if the passivity is an issue here or just Rainer reacclimating himself. I would bet the latter.
As for Yost, he’s so far followed a familiar pattern since draft day. Lauded for his elite bat to ball skills and strike zone judgement, as well as the potential for Gold Glove defense at the shortstop position, the shortcoming scouts pointed to around draft day was his slender frame and low level of present power. There was some thought that Yost might never even develop good gap power. The Tigers obviously begged to differ, and they’re developing a track record of being correct on these matters. The slender, six-foot tall left-handed hitter built 13 pounds of good muscle between draft day and spring training, and immediately debuted in major league camp with a grand slam this spring in his first place appearance outside of the back fields. It wasn’t a cheap home run either.
So, some concerns about Yost’s future power potential were immediately alleviated. The 19-year-old will probably never be a big time power threat, but he’s got all the tools to develop into a really good hitting shortstop who plays high end defense, steals bases, and gives the Tigers 15 home runs a year with plenty of extra base hits. At the same time, he’s just getting started, and there’s a very long way to go.
So far, the Harris/Greenberg strategy of favoring athletic prep players with high end contact ability and worrying about power potential later is paying off already in the form of Kevin McGonigle thanks to the work of scouting chiefs Rob Metzler and Mark Conner. The long-term future of the Tigers’ infield could be really exciting. The heavy emphasis on locking up good prep pitchers in the draft, on the other hand, is not working out well at all, but there’s time for that to turn around.
It’s a positive, if not surprising, sign that Ryan Garko and Shane Ferrell decided Yost didn’t need extended spring training or work in the Complex League, which opens on May 2, to help prepare him for Florida State League action. Rainer moving up made this the move, but the timing makes sense as well, as the Flying Tigers will start a homestand against the New York Yankees affiliate, the Tampa Bay Tarpons on Tuesday evening. Fellow 2025 first rounder Michael Oliveto will probably need a little more time to refine his work at the catcher position comign out of high school, but his bat is also advanced enough that the two should unite with the Flying Tigers before too long.
As for Rainer, the Tigers wanted to give him some time to get his feet under him before what is still a pretty rapid promotion. At the same time, he’ll be 21 in July and is ready to be pushed even if he struggles along the way. The psuedo rehab assignment in Lakeland allowed him to play in decent weather as he got up to speed. With a homestand starting on Tuesday night versus the Lake County Captains and the weather turning back to spring, it’s a good week to get out to LMCU Park and catch the Whitecaps if you’re in the area. Rainer will probably need some time to adapt to more consistent breaking stuff in the Midwest League, but his defense and the crazy raw power on display are comfortably worth the price of admission alone. He’s a riskier prospect than McGonigle or Max Clark, but the upside here is tremendous.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has a message for anyone who thinks his team is bending MLB's rules regarding two-way players: If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
The Dodgers came under fire recently from Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell, who took issue with a recent game in which Shohei Ohtani served as a starting pitcher, but wasn't also in the lineup as designated hitter.
Before the Brewers' game on Monday, April 20, Counsell called the rule "bizarre" and suggested it gives the Dodgers an unfair advantage. "There’s not another player like that," Counsell said, "but one team gets different rules for that player."
"We're more than willing to have other teams go out and find a player that can do both (pitching and hitting)," Roberts said. "He's an exception because he's an exceptional player."
Ohtani went 1-for-4 with two walks and two runs scored in the Dodgers' win on Monday night. In the process he extended his streak of reaching base to 52 consecutive games, moving him ever closer to Duke Snider's franchise record of 58 in a row.
Counsell will have a chance to express his concerns directly to Roberts and Ohtani this weekend when the Cubs visit Dodger Stadium for a three-game series against the two-time defending World Series champions.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 18: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves waves to Phillies fans after the final out for the 3-1 win against the Philadelphia Phillies during the ninth inning at Citizens Bank Park on April 18, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Heather Barry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Monday was another fun day for the Braves offense as they won their sixth straight game in a 9-4 victory over the Nationals. Drake Baldwin and Matt Olson had big games, while the offense as a whole once again delivered. However, the story of the game was a stretch of concern after Ronald Acuna Jr. left the game after being hit by a pitch two different times. Fortunately, x-rays were negative and he is day-to-day. Despite the brief scare, it was another highly successful night for the Braves.
One development to watch this week is the potential for Didier Fuentes to start Thursday’s game vs. the Nats. Walt Weiss commented that Chris Sale could be a candidate to move back on the schedule due to having a pretty thorough previous outing. If the Braves take care of business over the next few days, Fuentes could be be an option to start Thursday it seems.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 19: Garrett Crochet #35 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Sunday, April 19, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Natalie Reid/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The 2025 American League Cy Young runner-up, Garrett Crochet, ranks 72nd of 73 qualified pitchers in ERA this season. Through five starts, he’s registered a 7.88 ERA in 24 innings. Over his last two starts, he’s allowed more earned runs than strikeouts, and more home runs than scoreless innings. After the worst start of his career against the Minnesota Twins, he came out and surrendered a first-inning run against the Detroit Tigers, making Red Sox Nation hold its collective breath. After cruising through the second, third, and fourth innings and allowing Red Sox fans to exhale, the Tigers jumped on him for four more runs in the fifth inning so fast that any breath would have been a gasp.
So, is it time to worry? I touched on this briefly in my game recap, but I say no. The velocity dipped in his start against Minnesota, and he paid the price for it, but it was following a 100+ pitch performance, and consistent with an early-season outing last season after a long outing, when he also temporarily lost some velo. It was back up on Sunday, and the stuff looked as sharp as it normally does. His sinkers on the armside earned strikes, while his fastballs above the zone flew by hitters in two-strike counts. He didn’t get as many strikes with his cutter, but it wasn’t so bad that he couldn’t use the pitch at all.
But there are two problems worth keeping an eye on.
The first is that he’s falling behind hitters. In 2025, Crochet threw 31.5% of his pitches ahead in the count. So far in 2026, that number is down to 25.2%. The league average is down to about 28% from 29%, potentially in part due to ABS, but Crochet went from above average to below. He’s also getting to two-strike counts against fewer hitters. In 2025, according to my janky Excel work, he got two strikes against 57% of the hitters he faced. In 2026, he’s getting to put away counts against 46% of opponents.
The second problem is his execution with two strikes, particularly with his sweeper. I’m going to focus on righties because Crochet isn’t going to see many lefties. Lefties are 4 for 13 against Crochet this season, but his sinker is still incredibly effective, and opponents will start as many righties as possible against him.
In two-strike counts against righties, his sweeper accounts for almost 35% of his offerings. That makes it his most used pitch in those counts, a year after his four-seam dominated in two-strike counts. While he’s throwing it more, it’s been less effective. The putaway rate is down from 30% to 19%, despite a nearly identical shape. When the shape is the same, and the way a pitch is deployed is the same, but the results are different, it typically comes down to location. That’s the case here.
Simply put, he’s not getting the ball to the glove side as frequently. A left-handed sweeper to a right-handed hitter will play best at the back foot, and Crochet hasn’t thrown to that spot as often this season. When it’s over the middle or up, righties can get around it and pull it to left field for hits. The good news is the stuff is still there. Maybe it’s feel, maybe it’s a mechanical issue. Let’s look at it in practice.
Here’s Spencer Torkelson in the fourth inning. His first time up, we walked on five pitches, three of them nowhere close to the strike zone.
The at-bat starts with a fastball for a called strike. It looks like he wanted it up and in, but misses on the arm side, but it’s a strike nonetheless. Good start.
At 0-1, Crochet goes to his sweeper and locates it low in the zone. It’s hard to say if Narvaez’s target is meant to be where the ball is supposed to start or finish, so he might have been looking to backdoor it for a called strike. If it is a miss, it’s not a bad one. It’s low in the zone, and Torkelson’s early swing fouls it off. Now at 0-2, Crochet can throw whatever he wants. I’d probably elevate a four-seam, or double up on the sweeper, and try to get it to the back foot.
He goes with a sinker that’s supposed to be away from Torkelson, but he spikes it for ball one. It’s a non-competitive pitch and a hard sequence off. At 1-2, I’d again look for an elevated four-seam or sweeper.
It’s the sweeper, and it’s a really good one. It doesn’t get a swing, but it’s located in an area where he will get swings if he throws it consistently. It’s maybe a little bit low, but that’s nitpicking. After spitting on a good breaking ball, hitters often look for a fastball because they feel as if they showed the pitcher they have the breaking ball covered. He also knows that Crochet doesn’t want to get to 3-2 with a runner on base and two outs. With that in mind, Crochet can double up on the sweeper in the same location to get a chase from Torkelson.
See what I mean? Torkelson is clearly looking for something hard, and he’s way out in front of this one. That’s basically it for Crochet. When he locates the sweeper, he’s going to carve up lineups. When he doesn’t, and hitters can look for one of his fastballs, things get more difficult. The ability to drop changeups in for called strikes to keep hitters honest would go a long way, but he’s never shown the willingness to commit to the pitch or the ability to throw it in the strike zone.
So that’s what it looks like when it’s going good, but what about when it’s going poorly? Here’s a look at some two-strike offerings against Matt Vierling in the first inning.
The first 0-2 pitch is a sweeper that’s fouled off. Notice the location? It’s in the zone, neither inside nor low enough to get a whiff.
He doubles up on it after the foul ball, this one misses on the arm side, where it’s never close to being a strike. Here are all the whiffs he got on the sweeper against righties last season.
There are a few away from righties, but the vast majority came down and in. Moving on.
At 1-2, Crochet goes to the cutter, and it again catches too much of the plate. Vierling fouls it down the line, and we do it again.
He tries to elevate a four-seam for his fourth two-strike pitch of the at-bat, but it’s down in the zone and fouled straight back. A straight-back foul ball typically means the hitter just missed it, so I’d avoid doubling up on that one.
He goes back to the sweeper, and it’s up in the zone. Vierling gets around it and pulls it into left field for a double. As an aside, sweepers typically benefit from velocity. This one was only 80 mph, a few ticks below his average. I know this is the forum where I’m supposed to dive into this stuff, but it’s late, and I have a deadline, so keep an eye on my Twitter for more on how his sweeper velocity could be impacting his performance.
That’s an example of Crochet not being able to put guys away, one of the issues I mentioned. The other is falling behind hitters. I won’t bore you with videos of Crochet missing with his fastball over and over again, only for the fastballs in the zone to get hit because hitters are ready for it. That’s what happened with Dillon Dingler, who blew the game wide open with his fifth-inning home run.
Long story short, I’d bet on a bounce-back from Crochet. The stuff is still there, and it’s just a matter of execution. Why he hasn’t been able to locate with two strikes, I can’t tell you. Fortunately, it likely isn’t a months-long fix. It could be as simple as throwing on the side between starts and making a tweak to get right. It’s not as if he was totally lost on Sunday, either. It’s easy to think about the run he allowed in the first inning and think that he struggled all day, but in reality, he dominated for the better part of 4.2 innings. His next start will likely come against the Orioles this weekend. I’m backing the pig to get back on track when that time comes.
DENVER, CO - APRIL 19: Edwin Diaz #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on from the mound in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on April 19, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
“Obviously, we all saw the stuff [Sunday], and it sent up red flags,” Roberts said. “And so, after the game, he had a conversation with our training staff, and felt that he had some elbow discomfort. So we just wanted to be proactive, and felt that it was smart to get an MRI, get imaging, which we did do, and it showed loose bodies.”
“I think we have a lot of guys capable of pitching in the ninth inning,” Gomes said. “It is a different three outs, but we also have multiple guys that have done it at a high level in the past.”
Sasaki turned in sharp results, and his velocity played up in his short stint as a reliever during last year’s playoff run. But his role in the bullpen was strictly situational. The plan was always for him to return to the rotation. Gomes doubled down on that once more Monday afternoon. When he was asked if Sasaki was a candidate to move to the bullpen, the executive responded with a one-word answer: “No.”
“He’s also making more contact this year, and his 20% strikeout rate is the lowest of his career. That’s encouraging, given the biggest question about Morales’ offensive profile is his hit tool,” wrote Ian Cundall at Baseball America. “The Dodgers have a stable of intriguing prospects on the Ontario team, but Morales might have the most upside of them all. He’s already showing present ability at the plate, and his bat could be ready for a new test soon.”
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 16: Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Parker Messick (77) reacts after the final out of the eighth inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Guardians on April 16, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It is time for Parker Messick to pitch.
The Guardians lost a bad game, yesterday, 9-2, to the Astros. Slade Cecconi looked pretty lousy again, but at least he said the right things after the game:
Cecconi: "I’ve been getting dragged through it a little bit, but f—, that’s baseball. Got sick for a couple weeks, I’ve pitched in 30 degree weather twice. Experiences like this will make me better, regardless of how I feel right now."
Steven Kwan, Kyle Manzardo, David Fry, Bo Naylor and Juan Brito are providing next to nothing at the plate. Connor Brogdon, Shawn Armstrong and Matt Festa continue to get hit hard every time out. So, if we solve those eight issues, we’ll win a World Series. Nice to know.
AROUND MLB:
The Tigers and Royals both lost. The Mets lost their 11th straight, which is quite funny.
The Los Angeles Lakers started the 2026 NBA Playoffs on a strong note with a 107-98 win over the Houston Rockets in Game 1 at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday, thanks in large part to a 19-point, 13-assist, eight-assist effort from LeBron James and a 27-point spark from Luke Kennard.
It was exactly the kind of game that the Lakers needed to play, and it's one that they'll have to continue to replicate in the first round without the presence of Luka Doncic.
Doncic has been out since April 2 with a grade 2 left hamstring strain, sustaining the injury late in the Lakers' blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. After undergoing an MRI, Doncic was ruled out for the remainder of the regular season.
Before going down, Doncic was playing some of the best basketball of his career, leading the league with 33.5 points per game while averaging 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds per game. Despite finishing outside of the top three in NBA MVP voting, Doncic is still in line to receive All-NBA honors.
Doncic returned to the team on Friday ahead of Game 1 after undergoing an injection procedure in his left hamstring in an attempt to accelerate his return from the usual 4-6 timeline, but as of Tuesday morning, an update on Doncic's status remains to be seen.
“They’re out indefinitely,” Lakers coach JJ Redick told reporters last week, referring to both Doncic and Austin Reaves. “I’m not going to have an update for you this week. They're out indefinitely.”
As of Tuesday, it looks like the most likely scenario is that Doncic will not return to the floor until at least the second round if the Lakers advance.
Luka Doncic injury update
Doncic is listed as out for Game 2 (hamstring) in the NBA injury report as of 6 p.m. PT on Monday. Redick addressed the injury earlier in the week but did not give too much information, merely stating Doncic and Reaves (oblique) are "out indefinitely."
"I’m not going to have an update for you this week," Redick said.
The Rockets failed to secure the win despite Los Angeles missing both Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, who remain out with hamstring and oblique injuries, respectively.
Clearly, the Rockets need Durant to return sooner than later. However, his return date may not come tonight for the team's second road game of the series Tuesday, April 21. He was still listed as questionable on injury reports Monday night with a right knee contusion.
Here's the latest on Kevin Durant's injury and when the 16-time All-Star might return:
Kevin Durant latest injury updates
The New York Times reports that Rockets' coach Ime Udoka believes Kevin Durant will be a game-time decision for Game 2 in Los Angeles.
Reports also indicate that Durant has been seen on the court during practice going through drills and moving "fairly well."
What is wrong with Durant?
Udoka noted that Durant's issue is not one of pain, but of mobility.
"Mobility probably [is most important], Udoka said Monday, April 20. "The pain tolerance is one thing, but actually moving and feeling comfortable doing all the movements is going to be the biggest thing."
Udoka also noted that the Rockets needed to play with more urgency, something that Durant's presence would certainly help with. He said, "We did a lot of things well. We won a lot of areas. But our efficiency and, I think, our shot creation and our shot quality can be a lot better."
When do Rockets play Lakers next?
Game 2 of the first-round playoff series between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers is Tuesday, April 21 in Los Angeles. The game is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. local) and will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Anaheim Ducks by a 4-3 final score in their Game 1 matchup. Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Kasperi Kapanen was a significant reason behind the Oilers' win.
Kapanen had an excellent game for the Oilers against the Ducks, as he scored two goals. His first goal was at the 18:21 mark of the first period and gave the Oilers a 2-0 lead. However, his second goal was the bigger of the two, as the former Penguins forward scored the game-winner at the 18:06 mark of the third period for Edmonton. With this, there is no question that Kapanen had a huge game for the Oilers in this one.
Kapanen was the unlikely hero for the Oilers in this contest and helped them pick up a much-needed Game 1 victory because of it. The Oilers will now be hoping that the former Penguins forward can continue to stay hot this postseason from here.
Kapanen was selected by the Penguins with the 22nd overall pick of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. While the Penguins traded him before he started his NHL career to the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2015 offseason to land Phil Kessel, Kapanen was traded back to Pittsburgh during the 2020 NHL offseason.
In three seasons with the Penguins from 2020-21 to 2022-23, Kapanen had 29 goals, 53 assists, and 82 points.
KASPERI KAPANEN SCORES HIS SECOND OF THE NIGHT AND THE GAME WINNER! 🔵🟠 #StanleyCup
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 11: Head coach Jordan Ott of the Phoenix Suns watches the action against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 11, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Game 1 has come and Game 1 has gone. To no one’s surprise, the defending champion, 64-win Oklahoma City Thunder crushed a Phoenix Suns team that limped to the finish line.
There isn’t much that went right for Phoenix. The game was already firmly in the hands of OKC by the halfway point of the first quarter. Shortly after that, the Thunder finished off a 17-2 run. The Suns would end up losing 119-85 and never really put up much of a fight.
So, what specifically went wrong for Phoenix in Game 1?
We could mention Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green, ostensibly the Suns’ second and third best players, combining for 12-38 from the field. We could talk about the Thunder outscoring the Suns 34-2 off turnovers. We could talk about the Suns losing a rebounding battle once again. But John Voita already covered all of those points in Sunday’s game recap.
What went wrong for Phoenix in game 1 of the first round is the same thing that is going to go wrong in game 2. It is the same thing that went wrong against Portland in the Play-In Tournament. And it is the biggest problem the Suns have been trying to overcome all season long.
What went wrong didn’t happen on the court, but in the front office. The Suns’ biggest problem is roster construction and positional balance.
Playing the Thunder is always frustrating. OKC gets whistles that nobody else could dream of. Shai’s foul-baiting antics make prime James Harden look like a rookie. Unfortunately, Shai’s shot-making is the only skill more profound than his foul-baiting.
Whenever Shai is on the court, you feel his presence. All ten guys on the court shift their attention towards him when he has the ball. He has gravity that forces both teams to revolve around him, and no team can make up for it by targeting him on the other end. He is the reigning MVP for a reason. He is a superstar.
Devin Booker is not. He is a star, yes, but not a superstar. Book had a good game on Sunday. He poured in an efficient 23 points and 6 rebounds. But every time he scored, I thought, “Oh, Devin Booker is on the court.” It felt like he was an invisible man, reappearing here and there. He picked his shots well and was definitely a net positive for the team despite having the second-lowest +/- for the Suns.
I didn’t always see Devin Booker as a phantom, catching glimpses of him when he decided to show up. From the bubble season all the way until Chris Paul was traded away, I felt like Booker was an impact player.
Why could that be? At this point, everyone should know that Devin Booker is better when he plays next to a competent, playmaking point guard. With Ricky Rubio or Chris Paul, Devin Booker could compete with any star in the league. For most of his career, however, Booker has not had the luxury of playing next to a solid facilitator.
If Brian Gregory and Mat Ishbia are serious about continuing to compete in the Devin Booker era, the reality is that Jalen Green, Collin Gillespie, Grayson Allen, and Jamaree Bouyea are the wrong kinds of backcourt partners for Book.
All four of those guys bring something different, and three of the four are starting-caliber players in the NBA. But none of them are floor generals. They all fit into the category of secondary playmakers. Unfortunately, I think it’s time for us to admit that Devin Booker does as well. Booker is, in fact, such an elite secondary playmaker that many of us have been convinced for years that he is capable of being a primary playmaker.
What this roster does have going for it are its wings. In fact, this is going too well. Booker, Green, Brooks, Allen, and O’Neale have gotten the lion’s share of the minutes on the wing this year. While that is a respectable quintet, its presence is leaving massive holes at the forward positions. If you have a backcourt of Booker and Green with Brooks at the small forward position, who is playing the power forward? Recently, it’s been all 6 feet and 3 inches of Jordan Goodwin.
This team has the wrong point guards, too many shooting guards and small forwards, and no starting caliber power forward.
Why does all of this matter? Why am I diving into the roster construction in an April article about game 1 of the playoffs?
Because the Phoenix Suns players and Jordan Ott have been set up to fail.
The Suns have had a fun season, and they have exceeded expectations. But regardless of what Mat Ishbia and the rest of the front office want to call it, this was the first season of a rebuild. It might not be a rebuild in the same way the Utah Jazz are rebuilding, but a rebuild it is nonetheless.
That means that the roster is just kind of awkward right now. Jalen Green might be the best young player the Suns could get for Kevin Durant last offseason. Does that mean that Jalen Green is going to be on the Suns for the next decade? No, it does not. Brian Gregory may already have plans to break up Phoenix’s shooting guard logjam.
But by refusing to call it a rebuild, the Suns have placed low-level playoff expectations on a team that was never supposed to be here. Once again, awkward.
That should be remembered when evaluating the talent both on the court and standing on the sideline. Jordan Ott is already a top-two coach in the Devin Booker era, yet the last few weeks of the season and the postseason thus far have left many fans unhappy with Ott’s performance. The context of what he has had to work with this season should be remembered in the upcoming offseason coaching discourse.
But, for now, the Suns and their imbalanced roster are having to face down one of the most harmonious and well-constructed teams in recent NBA history. Game 2 may go down just like Game 1 did. That doesn’t mean there aren’t lessons to be learned and experience to be gained to prepare for next year, when the roster will hopefully fit together a lot better than it has this season.
