OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 22: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round 1 Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 22, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns were looking to bounce back in Game 2 in Oklahoma City, and while a 13-point loss does not scream “bounce back,” it kind of was. The adjustments showed up. The competitiveness showed up. It looked more like a real game.
The first change was obvious. Pace. Phoenix pushed it. That matters against the Oklahoma City Thunder, because living in the half-court against that defense is a tough way to survive. They are too connected, too disruptive, and too quick on closeouts. When the Suns played faster, moving the ball after makes and misses, it created cleaner looks. It worked, especially in the first half.
The third quarter hurt. Oklahoma City came out of the locker room and took control, outscoring Phoenix 35-20. The aggression ramped up, the game tilted, and the lead pushed to 22. It felt like it could get away from them.
Then the fourth happened. For the first time in a while, the Suns dictated something late. Pace. Physicality. Energy. They fought back and cut it to nine. Dillon Brooks set the tone with his aggression, and Devin Booker followed. Jalen Green tried to find it, but could not, going 1-of-6 in the quarter. Khaman Maluach played the entire fourth, and that is something worth circling moving forward.
More than anything, the Suns showed fight again. The kind that defined them early in the season. The kind that had faded in the final two months of the season. It showed up when it mattered most, and it reminded you of what this group can look like when they lean into their identity. Outscoring OKC 30-20 in the fourth was something.
They head back to Phoenix for Game 3 feeling better about where they are. Whether that turns into a win is another question. But for a night, it felt like the Suns again.
Bright Side Baller Season Standings
Wow. How bad was Game 1? Rasheer Fleming played 7:34 minutes of garbage time. He went 3-of-3 from the field, scoring 9 points in his postseason debut. And that was enough, with over 200 votes, to easily win the Bright Side Baller of the Game. I think that alone tells you where this fan base is.
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Game 86 (Game 2) against the Thunder. Here are your nominees:
Stalwart served Lancashire club from 1970 until 2004
As caretaker, helped saved Rovers from relegation in 1997
Tributes have been paid to “Mr Blackburn Rovers” Tony Parkes after his death at the age of 76. The former player and coach was one of the longest-serving employees in the club’s history, with his association beginning with his £5,000 move from Buxton in 1970 and concluding in 2004.
“Blackburn Rovers are devastated to learn of the passing of Tony Parkes. A true club legend, often referred to as ‘Mr Blackburn Rovers’,” said a club statement. “Everyone at Blackburn Rovers sends their deepest heartfelt condolences to Tony’s daughter Natalie and all his family and friends at this incredibly sad time.”
Former Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen is currently playing in the postseason for the first time in his 13-year career. While it took the 31-year-old blueliner a long time to get into his playoff action, there is no question that he is off to a fantastic start to this year's postseason.
Ristolainen has been on fire for the Philadelphia Flyers, who have won each of their first three games against the Pittsburgh Penguins. In three games for the Flyers this postseason, the former Flyers defenseman has one goal, three points, and a plus-2 rating.
Ristolainen's goal in Game 3 against the Penguins was a key one, too, as it gave the Flyers a 2-1 lead at the 9:06 mark of the second period. With this, he helped play a role in the Flyers gaining momentum during the contest and winning by a 5-2 final score.
Ristolainen will now be looking to stay hot as the postseason carries on. The Flyers are in a great spot right now with their 3-0 series lead, and Ristolainen's strong play is one of the several reasons behind it.
Ristolainen spent the first eight seasons of his NHL career with the Sabres. In 542 games with Buffalo over that span, the 2013 eighth-overall pick had 46 goals, 199 assists, 245 points, 848 blocks, and 1,355 hits.
Eleven years ago, Eric Martin cringed as he watched LeBron James dismantle the Atlanta Hawks in Game 3 of the 2015 Eastern Conference Finals with a 37-point triple-double in overtime.
The 42-year-old retired sales executive, who’s a Golden State Warriors fan, fired off a tweet from his couch in his home in Phoenix.
“Lebron is 30, this f–kery won’t go on for much longer, thank god,” he wrote from his X account, @urkle91.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James gestures after scoring during the second half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Houston Rockets, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) AP
That tweet has become a viral sensation, having more than a decade-long shelf life.
Superstars have retweeted it.
It has been repurposed to include players in other sports, such as Shohei Ohtani and Patrick Mahomes. It has been viewed millions of times.
It even reached James himself.
“I saw that Tweet throughout all of my 30s,” James said on the “New Heights” podcast. “Want to know what’s funny? When I turned 40, the same f–king guy said, ‘LeBron turned 40, this f–kery won’t go on much longer.’
“He’s going to be real upset when I turn 50.”
The man responsible for one of the most infamous tweets in NBA history has understandably had twinges of regret.
“There are many times I considered deleting the tweet,” Martin said with a laugh. “He was 30. And then 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 — and there was just no regression in sight.”
Eric Martin
Now, things have only gotten worse for Martin.
The 41-year-old James, who’s the only NBA player to reach season 23, is trying to lead a Lakers team without Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) past Kevin Durant and the Rockets in their first-round playoff series.
How’s it going?
The Lakers have a 2-0 lead and James has been the star of the series.
In Game 1, James had 19 points, a game-high 13 assists, eight rebounds, two steals and one blocked shot. In Game 2, he had a game-high 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
“It’s kinda like pie in my face,” Martin said.
Since turning 30, James has won two championships, made 11 All-Star teams, 11 All-NBA Teams and he became the league’s all-time leading scorer. He has had 80 of his 155 playoff games in which he had a 25/5/5 line since turning 30, more such performances than Michael Jordan had his entire postseason career (73). Last season, the 40-year-old was sixth in MVP voting.
Martin is reminded of James’ stunning longevity everyday.
“Anytime he has a good game, people retweet the comment,” he said. “Every single game. I look at my mentions, I look at my notifications, and it’s just people clowning the tweet. Every. Single. Game.
“It’s a shrine for people now.”
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the first half of a game against the Phoenix Suns at Crypto.com Arena on April 10, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) Getty Images
Martin’s tweet actually went unnoticed for years.
Then, during the 2017 NBA Finals, Martin was trash-talking James on X when he pissed off the wrong Cleveland Cavaliers fan, who went digging through his past tweets and unearthed that gem with a retweet.
The tweet was then reposted by the X account “Freezing Cold Takes” which has over 600,000 followers.
A viral sensation was born.
Over the years, the flame just kept being fanned.
By 2018, the tweet was all over the internet. Martin realized the extent of its reach when his son’s and daughter’s friends started seeing it on Instagram and saying, “Isn’t that your dad’s page?”
Things only got worse from there.
After James had a 47-point, 10-rebound and nine-assist performance on his 38th birthday on Dec. 30, 2022, the Instagram page House of Highlights (which has 51 million followers) posted the tweet alongside a photo of James pointing and laughing.
James then reposted it on his Instagram (which has 156 million followers), adding a bunch of emojis of a face crying with laughter.
“It just took off,” Martin said. “It just went to another level. Every six months, I’d see another publication just retweet, retweet, retweet.”
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball during the game against the Houston Rockets during Round One Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California.(Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images
For Martin, things reached a screeching point when James led the Lakers past his Warriors in the second round of the 2023 playoffs.
“I’ve never seen so many notifications before on my phone,” Martin said. “It damn-near malfunctioned.”
Martin, however, decided to get in on the joke 10 years later, posting on X, “Lebron is 40, this f–kery won’t go on for much longer, thank god,” That tweet has 3.3 million views.
Martin can laugh at everything now, even though his social media has been accosted by James’ fans.
He just has one wish going forward.
He doesn’t want the Lakers to beat the Rockets.
“If they do beat them, it’s just going to make the noise around LeBron even louder, which I dread,” he said with a laugh.
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CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 18: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks over Jakob Poeltl #19 of the Toronto Raptors during the second quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena on April 18, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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
INDEPENDENCE — The Toronto Raptors made their first major lineup adjustment of the series against the Cleveland Cavaliers when they decided to bench their typical starting center, Jakob Poeltl, for the entire second half in Game 2. Instead, they opted to go small with the 6’7” Collin Murray-Boyles and the 6’9” Sandro Mamukelashvili nominally playing the five.
After Game 2, Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković said that the idea behind going smaller was to provide a different look defensively. “We wanted to be able to switch more in the pick-and-roll.”
That idea made sense, but didn’t work out well for Toronto.
Instead of feasting on Poeltl in the pick-and-roll, the Cavs were able to attack and hunt out mismatches by forcing switches on screens. This was seen most clearly in how James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, and Evan Mobley all attacked Brandon Ingram whenever matched up against him. And without a center, there wasn’t additional help defense waiting to bail Ingram out.
Despite Cleveland’s success, Jarrett Allen wasn’t able to take advantage of Toronto’s smaller front line. He registered just four points in the second half and wasn’t included in the team’s closing lineup despite being guarded by a much smaller RJ Barrett.
Despite not making an impact as a scorer, head coach Kenny Atkinson liked what he saw from Allen.
“These are the little sacrifices you have to make,” Atkinson said after practice on Wednesday. “Obviously, we got to reward him if they’re going to go small and get him down on the mismatches, but he sacrificed himself with screening.”
Atkinson said that he wants to keep Allen in the dunker’s spot against some of these smaller lineups. This would allow him to clean up missed shots and potentially finish lobs if the help defense steps up.
“I give him a 10-out-of-10 in terms of understanding that and then sacrificing for the squad,” Atkinson said. “After I watched the film, [I realized] this guy is way more impactful than even I think. His impact is monumental for the team.”
It’ll be interesting to see if the Cavs can get Allen more involved against these smaller lineups.
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Despite not helping Toronto’s defense, going smaller did jump-start the offense.
“[It] probably increases their transition offensive rate,” Atkinson said. “They’re going to double down on their speed.”
“It makes them space the floor a little more and makes them play faster,” Max Strus said. “It’s a new thing that we’re gonna have to figure out, and I think we did some things to prepare for it today.”
The Cavs came into this series talking about needing to keep the Raptors from running in the open court. They’ve succeeded at that front in the first two games of the series, and will need to do so again if they want to steal a game in Toronto or potentially end the series there.
Going smaller hasn’t produced considerably better results for Toronto. They’re just 0.5 points per 100 possessions better with Poeltl off the court, and have registered a -12.5 net rating. That isn’t going to get it done.
Even though benching Poeltl may be the best move for the Raptors, it isn’t going to close the talent gap that we’ve seen through the first two games, at least not on its own. They need better performances from their best players — mainly Brandon Ingram — and hope that the Cavs’ stars cool off.
Despite how stress-free the first two games have been, the Cavs aren’t taking anything for granted as the series shifts north of the border.
“The series hasn’t even started yet until you go on the road,” Strus said. “So we got to come in with an aggressive mindset, just like we treated games one and two, and play our best basketball.”
The Philadelphia Flyers picked up an impressive 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 3. With this, the Flyers now have a commanding 3-0 series lead over Pittsburgh and need just one more win to advance to the second round.
There were many reasons behind the Flyers' big Game 3 over the Penguins, and Trevor Zegras was certainly one of them. The skilled forward scored at the 5:18 mark of the second period to tie the game up at 1-1. He then recorded the primary assist on Noah Cates' third-period goal that gave the Flyers a 4-2 lead. With this, Zegras certainly stepped up for the Flyers in Game 3.
This was just the latest strong game from Zegras in what has been a great year for him. The 25-year-old forward now has three points in three playoff games for Philadelphia. He also had an excellent regular season for the Flyers, setting new career highs with 26 goals and 67 points in 81 games.
With how great Zegras has played for the Flyers since his arrival, it is clear that the Metropolitan Division club made a fantastic move acquiring him this offseason from the Anaheim Ducks. The change of scenery has benefited the 2019 ninth-overall pick in a major way, and he is performing like a star again.
The Chicago Blackhawks have a decent chance to select first or second in the 2026 NHL Draft. The lowest they can pick is 4th, and that can only happen if both lottery winners come from teams that finished in 30th place or better. The lottery will make this determination on May 5th.
If the Blackhawks select first or stay put at second, Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg are the two best options. With the third or fourth pick, assuming McKenna and Stenberg go first and second, the possibilities are endless.
If they want to go the route of a defenseman, Chase Reid and Keaton Verhoeff are exceptional prospects. They can each move the puck, skate, and develop their two-way play as they move into pro hockey.
The Blackhawks already have a lot of young studs on the blue line, but they may want someone who shows more promise as a true number one. If one of Reid or Verhoeff turned out to be better than both Sam Rinzel and Artyom Levshunov, it would make it a great selection.
With all of that said, if they wanted to go with a forward 3rd or 4th overall, Caleb Malhotra would be an excellent pick. He is a true center and projects to be one at the NHL level.
With Nick Lardis and Marek Vanacker already in the organization, the Blackhawks have had a great line between them and the OHL's Brantford Bulldogs. Malhotra would be a great person to extend that relationship.
During the 2025-26 season, Malhotra was second in scoring on the Bulldogs with 84 points (29 goals). Only Jake O'Brien, who was drafted eighth overall by the Seattle Kraken in 2025, had more points (93). Vanacker, sharing the ice with Malhotra, led the OHL with 47 goals.
Malhotra's father, former NHL player Manny Malhotra, is the head coach of the Abbotsford Canucks, the AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks. His son, Caleb, has a great chance to be the first center off the board in 2026.
What makes Caleb Malhotra an elite prospect is his two-way ability. When he doesn't have the puck, you can expect him to make wise choices while defending and trying to get the puck back. On offense, he has an incredible hockey IQ, which allows him to make plays for himself and others.
If the Blackhawks drafted him, it would become almost certain that one (or maybe both) of Frank Nazar or Anton Frondell will become a full-time wing. Having that level of forward depth and versatility would pay off down the road when they are dealing with playoff matchups.
In his draft +1 year, Malhotra is committed to play for Jay Pandolfo and the Boston University Terriers. That squad is projected to be very good, which would make for a great developmental environment for a young star like Malhotra.
The results of the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery will determine whether or not this is a possibility for Chicago. If they do end up taking Malhotra, you'll know they did their homework because they are in Brantford scouting quite a bit.
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It’s been a rough start to the playoffs for the Montreal Canadiens’ top line formed by Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Juraj Slafkovsky. They went from scoring 110 goals in the regular season to being totally muzzled at even strength in the first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
That’s not overly surprising, since the Canadiens failed to win home-ice advantage to start the series, Jon Cooper had the last change in the first two games. He was able to keep Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel glued to Suzuki’s line. Both are very efficient player defensively, and they’ve done their job admirably.
Speaking to the media after Tuesday night’s game, the Captain didn’t shy away from the facts:
Personally, and my line, we can definitely do a better job, help the guys out five-on-five a little more. We’ll be looking to do that in Game 3.
- Suzuki on his line's performance
That’s where Martin St-Louis comes in. At home, he will have the last change, and he’ll be able to keep Suzuki’s line away from Cirelli. If he manages to do that well, his top line should have more space to play in and end up with easier matchups. Once that’s done, though, it will be down to the players to do their part and deliver the goods.
The good news for the Canadiens is that even if the Lightning was able to neutralize the Canadiens’ top line at even strength, the Habs still won a game in Tampa and regained home-ice advantage. In fact, they came very close to winning both games in Florida, despite many believing they were a one-line team.
Montreal proved that it can still win without its top line being its best line, but now, with the series going back to the Bell Centre, it’s time for Caufield, Suzuki and Slafkovsky to show why they were one of the most dominant even-strength lines throughout the season. They have to step up and take control because the Habs won’t be able to win three more games against the Bolts without their contribution.
De son 1er à son 50e, regardez chaque but inscrit par Cole Caufield cette saison juste ici!
BUFFALO, NEW YORK - APRIL 21: Logan Stanley #64 of the Buffalo Sabres and Mark Kastelic #47 of the Boston Bruins fight during the third period in Game Two of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at KeyBank Center on April 21, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Joe Hrycych/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Just the facts
When: Tonight, 7 PM
Where: TD Garden – Boston, MA
How to follow: NESN, 98.5 The Sports Hub, TNT, TruTV, HBO Max
Tage Thompson: 2G-1A-3PTS; Alex Tuch: 1G-2A-3PTS; Peyton Krebs: 1G-1A-2PTS
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: 1-1-0, 4.19 GAA, .825 save percentage
Game notes
After earning a hard-fought split in two games in Buffalo, this first round series shifts to Boston, where the Bruins will look to build on a strong effort in Game 2.
The Bruins were the second-best road team in the NHL during the regular season, winning 29 of their 41 home games. Carolina also won 29 games, but had two OT losses to the Bruins one, so they had a one-point edge in overall performance on home ice.
The shift to TD Garden will give Marco Sturm and the Bruins a chance to have the second change during all stoppages, which could allow Sturm to try to go for some more favorable match-ups. For example, he could try to deploy some line-matching on Tage Thompson’s line, or could elect to put his speedy third line out against more opportune opposition. It’s probably not something worth overthinking too much, but could be a slight advantage.
At this point, it looks like a case of which team blinks first in terms of lineup changes. Barring injury, the Bruins aren’t likely to shake things up yet on the back of two (mostly) strong performances. On the Buffalo side, however, there’s some clamoring for a change in net, something Lindy Ruff wouldn’t comment on yesterday. Gaffe on Morgan Geekie aside, I don’t think Luukkonen has been terrible, and if you pull him now, you likely can’t go back to him in the series. Still, it’s a move Ruff will probably make tonight.
Noah Ostlund may be available for Buffalo tonight. The forward has been out since the end of March and could rotate into the lineup to give Buffalo a bit of a boost. The rookie had 11G-16A-60PTS totals in the regular season.
Game 2 was more physical than Game 1, a trend the Bruins would likely want to continue in Game 3. I’m not sure we’ll see Pittsburgh-Philly Game 3 levels of shenanigans, but you never know. The Sabres, as a team, are faster than the Bruins, so it benefits the B’s to make the game more of a grind instead of a track meet.
However, Ruff is already delving into the Craig Berube School of Coaching manual, accusing the Bruins of “clutching and grabbing” to “slow things down.” If the Bruins get called for a holding penalty five minutes into the game, don’t be surprised.
As another reminder, this game will start at 7 PM, not 7:30 PM, though that might be more of a “7ish” because the game is on TNT.
It was hard to watch on Tuesday as Victor Wembanyama collided with Jrue Holiday just minutes into the second quarter. Upon impact, Wemby lost his balance and landed face first onto the hardwood. In the immediate aftermath, it was unclear if Wemby had been knocked unconscious. After a few moments, he turned around appearing to stand up, only to need another moment to regain his composure.
Dusty Garza with Spurs Reporter posted this doctor’s opinion:
There is growing doubt and speculation that Victor Wembanyama will even be allowed to fly to Portland.
A surgeon who happens to be a huge Spurs fan communicated to me that “a chin blow causes a vasovagal response to lose consciousness not like a direct blow to the head like we… pic.twitter.com/lq1xqOT36K
As Shams Charania reported, Wemby’s 48 hours began immediately after the diagnosis. He is being re-evaluated and monitored. As of this post, the 2-days ends this evening, Thursday, April 23rd at arounf 8:00 p.m.
Wemby is hoping to travel with the Spurs in the event he is available to play in either game 3 or game 4, but no decision will be available until he’s been fully checked out and given the go ahead.
Dr. Brian Sutterer, who independently analyzes sports injuries for his own YouTube channel, posted this video:
According to NBA protocol, which is less stringent than the NFL, Wemby “theoretically, could come back for game 3,” but the doctor states that he doesn’t think that time should be the only metric used in making the decision.
If past is prologue, the Spurs will not release any information until necessary and will not play Victor Wembanyama until it is believed he is in the right physical and emotional state and that his injury won’t hamper his playing ability or harm him.
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 13: J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on against the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park on April 13, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Cubs 13-7. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phillies have been bad and unlucky to start the season. Now they can officially add “injured” to that list of grievances, as J.T. Realmuto was placed on the injured list with back spasms, joining the likes of Jhoan Duran, Jonathan Bowlan, and Zach Pop who were already on the IL. Get ready for a whole lot more Rafael Marchán and some Garrett Stubbs.
Apr 22, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Baltimore Orioles left fielder Colton Cowser (17) and center fielder Leody Taveras (30) and right fielder Dylan Beavers (12) celebrate in the outfield after the win over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Hello, friends.
The Orioles have escaped Kansas City with a series win after pulling off a comeback to get an 8-6 victory in yesterday’s game, bringing themselves back within a game of .500. The Royals broke a long losing streak with their win on Tuesday but remain in the basement of the American League. You could maybe say that it would have been better if the O’s really embarrassed the worst team, which they didn’t do. Still, they won two of three, and they showed some resilience in doing it, so that’s something. Check out Paul Folkemer’s recap of the game for more of the lovely totals.
One thing I think that we can hope for coming out of that series is that the signs of life from Samuel Basallo and Coby Mayo at the plate continue. Mayo, in particular, had a pair of three-run homers over the course of the series. Struggling outfielders Dylan Beavers and Colton Cowser had two hits apiece in Wednesday’s game as well. The problems that the team has had so far will seem a lot easier to overcome if these guys are able to start hitting at least decently.
Less positive is the continuing struggle of this year’s edition of the veteran starting pitcher signing, Chris Bassitt. The team spotted him a five-run lead yesterday after scoring six runs in the top of the sixth inning and Bassitt still couldn’t get through the bottom of the inning without making things way more interesting. He gave up a home run to the first batter he saw after the big O’s offensive outburst. In all, Bassitt gave up five runs in 5.1 innings to raise his season ERA to 6.75 after five starts.
It’s not quite Charlie Morton territory. Morton had a 10.89 ERA after the same number of games, after which he got dumped from the rotation. With each of Cade Povich and Brandon Young starting off well for Triple-A Norfolk, I understand the impulse to do the same for Bassitt. I doubt that the Orioles will, at least not unless this drags out for a longer at this level of bad results. Maybe another five starts. At least we don’t have to worry about him for a few more days.
There’s a little Orioles injury news that will probably hang in limbo over the off day today. Jackson Holliday was sent back to Baltimore yesterday for an MRI on his hand after his latest rehab stint was shut down following an uncomfortable swing in Norfolk. There was no news about it after yesterday’s game and there probably won’t be in the off day either. We’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out if there are any updates to be had there – or with any of the other injured O’s who might be back any day now or might just keep on lingering.
The Orioles will next be in action on Friday night at home against the Red Sox starting at 7:05. As of this writing, there is not a scheduled starter for the Orioles. If they don’t use the off day to skip Dean Kremer’s turn, then it will be Kremer who would be on turn to make the start. The Red Sox will send out Brayan Bello, who’s struggled to begin the 2026 season. This does not necessarily mean anything where the enigmatic Orioles offense is concerned.
Orioles stuff you might have missed
Orioles place Helsley on family leave/bereavement list, recall Espada (Baltimore Baseball) There was a roster move ahead of yesterday’s game, with the closer leaving for a few days for the family medical or bereavement leave list. The team did not announce the specific circumstances. If it is a medical situation, I wish the best for it turning out well. If it’s bereavement, condolences to the family.
Jeremiah Jackson is getting his hacks in (FanGraphs) The folks at FanGraphs have taken notice of the strong start by an unlikely Oriole. Now that Jackson’s BABIP luck has reached a more stable place, what might he do the rest of the way?
Today in 1994, future Hall of Famer Lee Smith picked up his ninth save of the season in the 16th game played by the Orioles. This was a new MLB record for fastest to nine saves. The Orioles beat the Mariners, 4-3, as Smith got his save. He did not allow a run over 12 April appearances that year.
In their 25th game one year ago, the Orioles lost to the Tigers, 4-3, in the first game of a doubleheader, to fall to 10-15 on the season. Jordan Westburg, Ryan O’Hearn, and Ramón Urías all had three hits in the losing effort for the O’s. For the time being, the 2026 edition of the team is doing two games better than those guys.
There are a few former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2022 pitcher Louis Head, 2009 pitcher Sean Henn, and 1957 infielder Buddy Peterson.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: playwright William Shakespeare (1564), 15th president James Buchanan (1791), physicist Max Planck (1858), baseball Hall of Famer Warren Spahn (1921), actress Shirley Temple (1928), musician Roy Orbison (1936), wrestler/actor John Cena (1977), comedian/host John Oliver (1977), baseball Hall of Famer Andruw Jones (1977), and gold medal snowboarder Chloe Kim (2000).
On this day in history…
In 1014, the Irish, led by High King Brian Boru, repelled a Viking invasion in the Battle of Clontarf, though Brian Boru himself was killed in the battle.
In 1635, the Boston Latin School was founded. Still in operation continuously on through today, this school is recognized as the first public school in what is now the United States.
In 1985, Coca-Cola released New Coke, a change to its formula. Within three months, they brought back the previous Coca-Cola formula. New Coke survived as Coke II through 2002.
In 2005, the first YouTube video was posted. One of its co-founders released a video titled “Me at the zoo”.
**
And that’s the way it is in Birdland on April 23. Have a safe Thursday.
Feb 17, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets infielder Jacob Reimer (98) throws the ball during the New York Mets spring training workouts at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images | Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
Starter Brandon Waddell had a slow start to the game, allowing three first inning runs. He would settle down in his next two frames, handing off a 3-0 deficit to the bullpen. The score stayed 3-0 until the fifth, when Ji Hwan Bae doubled home two to make it 3-2. Jackson Cluff hit a three run home run in the sixth to make it 5-3 Mets. Both clubs traded runs in the bottom of the seventh and the top of the eight, giving Syracuse a 6-4 lead heading into the eighth inning.
The eighth inning saw the bullpen start to fall apart, as they surrendered a run in the eighth. Eventually, they would blow the game completely, getting walked off in the bottom of the ninth.
Will Watson, the 2024 seventh round pick who burst onto the scene with a 2.60 ERA across three levels last year, continued his slow start to the 2026 campaign. He surrendered a three run home run in the second, another run in the third, and it was academic from there for Erie.
The two bright spots on the day for the Rumble Ponies are Eli Serrano, who pushed his season OPS to .942 and drove in their only run with a double, and Jacob Reimer, who has struggled mightily this year, but went 4-4 on the day.
CF A.J. Ewing: 0-4, K
SS Marco Vargas: 0-4, 2 K
3B Jacob Reimer: 4-4, R, 2B
C Chris Suero: 1-4, K
LF Eli Serrano III: 1-3, 2B, RBI, BB, K
RF Jose Ramos: 0-4, K
DH Kevin Parada: 1-3, BB
1B Nick Lorusso: 0-4, 3 K
2B Wyatt Young: 0-3, 2 K
RHP Will Watson: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, L (0-3)
LHP Felipe De La Cruz: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP
Brooklyn continued to struggle in 2026, dropping their 12 game over their first 16. They actually led this game 2-0 after one, with Corey Collins and Ronald Hernandez driving in the runs with a sacrifice fly and double respectively. Hudson Valley slowly but surely chipped away at the small lead, and eventually led the game themselves by a score of 3-2 after four. A John Bay single would tie it in the sixth, and that score would hold until the ninth inning, when Bryce Jenkins would surrender a walk off home run.
A win! The only win in the organization besides THE METS WHO SNAPPED THEIR 12 GAME LOSING STREAK(!!!).
St. Lucie actually trailed 2-0 after a two run home run in the second inning, but starter Frank Camarillo settled down from there to deliver five innings of two run ball. The Mets tied the game in the bottom of the fourth with RBI singles by JT Benson and Branny De Oleo. Julio Zayas gave tgem the lead with a double in the seventh, AJ Salgado added a run with a sacrifice fly, and Sam Biller added another insurance run with a double of his own. The St. Lucie pen was nearly perfect surrendering just two hits and a walk.
SS Elian Peña: 1-3, R, 2 BB, K
2B Sam Robertson: 0-4, R, 2 K
1B Randy Guzman: 0-3, BB, 2 K
DH Julio Zayas: 2-4, 2B, RBI, K
RF AJ Salgado: 0-3, R, RBI, 2 K, SB (2)
CF JT Benson: 1-4, R, RBI, SB (3)
C Chase Meggers: 0-1, R, 3 BB, K
LF Sam Biller: 1-2, 2B, RBI, BB, K, SB (5)
3B Branny De Oleo: 1-4, RBI, 2 K, E (2)
RHP Frank Camarillo: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
LHP Nate Lavender: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Elwis Mijares: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, W (2-0)
RHP Tyler McLoughlin: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, WP (1), S (1)
Dec 28, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) shoots on Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) in the first half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
In Wednesday’s Brotherhood Playoff Action, Detroit beat Orlando, 98-83, and OKC tamed Phoenix, 120-107.
Detroit didn’t have too much trouble with Orlando in this one, though Paolo Banchero scored 18 points and also had 6 rebounds and 8 assists.
With just three points, Wendell Carter didn’t have a great game, though his rivalry with Jalen Duren livened things up. Carter is dating Angel Reese, while Duren used to as well. Things might get a bit heated, obviously, and they did.
The Thunder took a 2-0 lead on Phoenix, but the Suns are still without Mark Williams and Grayson Allen, both out with injuries.
On Thursday, we’ll see Quin Snyder’s Hawks take on the New York Knicks. Tyrese Proctor and the Cleveland Cavaliers will see the Toronto Raptors, featuring RJ Barrett and Brandon Ingram. Finally, Tyus Jones and the Denver Nuggets will challenge the Timberwolves.
Super League Man of Steel central to World Cup plans
McDermott: ‘We can win it; absolutely we can win it’
Brian McDermott, the new England head coach, has insisted that Super League’s reigning Man of Steel, Jake Connor, is central to his plans for this year’s World Cup, before appearing to attack the treatment of the Leeds Rhinos half-back by his predecessor Shaun Wane.
McDermott was unveiled on Thursday as England’s coach on a short-term deal for the tournament in Australia this autumn. The former Leeds and London coach is now working in the NRL as an assistant for Gold Coast Titans and saw off competition from Sam Burgess to be named as Wane’s successor.
