Emilio Pagan took the mound in the 9th inning for the Cincinnati Reds on Monday, and he did so in a save situation for the first time in some two weeks. The Reds had scratched and clawed their way back to a 4-3 lead after earlier watching a 3-0 lead evaporate, yet the powers that be in Wrigley Field simply weren’t having any of it on the night.
Pete Crow-Armstrong sent a laser to the wall in center field that Dane Myers badly misplayed in the ivy, and the end result was a leadoff ‘triple’ that later scored on a sacrifice fly. That had the bleachers in the venerable stadium rocking, rocking that only got mightier when Pagan later served up a meatball to Michael Conforto that the veteran lefty bat mashed into the stands in left-center for a homer that won the game for the Chicago Cubs and sent the fans who had waited out the rain delay into a frenzy.
It was an obviously frustrating end to an evening that had, at times, shown ample promise. Chase Petty was recalled to start for the first time in 2026 after being bashed all over the place in his trio of appearances last year as a 22 year old, and despite Seiya Suzuki blasting a 3-run homer off of him Petty looked otherwise very, very much ready for the show.
The Reds also got offense from Ke’Bryan Hayes, who walked before later swatting a 2-run dinger. JJ Bleday also kept his hot start going with a homer of his own, and Elly De La Cruz was on-base four times on the night. Positives abounded before, y’know, the 9th inning meltdown, but that’s somewhat the issue for the Reds at this juncture of the season – they’ve built a team that, for whatever reason, ends up in tight ballgames almost every single night.
On Monday, it backfired in the most spectacular way, and the end result is their second consecutive defeat in a 1-run game and their fourth straight loss on this road trip through NL Central foes.
This one burned. It will burn tomorrow. It will likely burn in August, still.
Rotations are always cut a bit shorter as teams get deeper in the NBA playoffs, but depth players have to stay ready in case their number is called.
For the Knicks, that was Ariel Hukporti in Game 1 on Monday night.
Hukporti saw the floor just three times in New York’s first round meeting with the Hawks, but they were forced to turn to him early on this time around.
Karl-Anthony Towns ended up being okay after an early injury scare, but the big man was forced to the benched after picking up two early fouls against Joel Embiid.
Mitchell Robinson came on, but quickly picked up a foul of his own then Philadelphia turned to the Hack-A-Mitch strategy to try to slow the Knicks down, so he was pulled as well.
Ariel Hukporti entered into his most meaningful minutes thus far these playoffs.
The youngster was ready for the big moment, though, giving New York the big man they needed and holding his own in the tough matchup with Embiid downlow.
He went into the half as a +10 across his three minutes of action.
Hukporti saw even more time with the game out of reach down the stretch, and he ended up finishing the blowout victory with five points, a game-high nine rebounds, and a +22.
“I gotta give Ariel credit,” Mike Brown said. “We were in early foul trouble and Ariel came off the bench and he wasn’t expected to play, obviously, and he did a pretty solid job.
“You’re not going to stop a guy like Embiid or [Tyrese] Maxey, you just hopefully make them work without fouling them, and I thought Ariel did a really good job in that area.”
Hukporti will need to stay ready moving forward, as New York may have to turn to him again as they look to keep Embiid in check during this second round series.
Playing in the conference semifinal round for the first time in his career, Wembanyama, the Spurs phenom forward-center, swatted away 7 blocks in the first half Monday, May 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, marking the most ever by a San Antonio player in a playoff half since 1997.
That total was just one shy of Dwight Howard’s record for most blocks in any postseason half in the play-by-play era.
Wembanyama's block party didn't stop there. He was up to 10 before the end of the third quarter.
7 SWATS FOR WEMBY IN ONE HALF!
Most blocks in ANY postseason half in the PxP era:
The 7-foot-4 All-Star now has a unique opportunity to reach a rare points-rebounds-blocks triple-double. He has 8 points and 10 rebounds to go along with his 10 blocks with 2:36 remaining in the third.
Wembanyama started the second half much like he did the first; he dashed past Rudy Gobert for a dunk and minutes later blocked an attempted layup from Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels.
San Diego Padres DH/1B Nick Castellanos (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
San Diego Padres Nick Castellanos has been trying to dig himself out of a slow start to the 2026 season. He is hitting .164/.215/.279 with one home run and nine RBI over 62 at-bats. His statistical numbers do not offer much confidence that Castellanos can get out of this slump.
The Friar Faithful envisioned him as a lethal righty bat from the DH/1B position in the lineup. But that has not developed in the season’s first month. At 34, it may be time to question if Castellanos will ever be a serviceable run-producer again.
The Padres’ next move should be to designate him for assignment (DFA), so he can catch on with another ballclub. It would allow the Friars to replace him with a better option on the roster.
Castellanos failing to adapt to bench role
Castellanos’ struggles at the plate have mirrored some of his teammates for the first month. He has failed to make consistent contact, as his strikeout rate is at 26.2%, the highest of his career. Castellanos has only five extra-base hits this season.
All the blame cannot be placed on him, as the Friars have not given Castellanos the playing time needed to find his stroke. Throughout his 14-year major career, the right-handed slugger has averaged 130 games a season. The lack of playing time has adversely affected his offensive production.
His glove does not merit more starts, and the Padres cannot wait for Castellanos to figure it out offensively. Unfortunately, walking back to the dugout after an at-bat has been the pattern all season.
What is next?
Such a roster move allows the front office to add a player who is more familiar with the bench role. Any candidate must be versatile to play multiple positions, but more importantly, have the ability to hit in the clutch. This void has been an issue for the last several seasons.
The Friars have other roster issues to settle, but as we get deeper into the season, a deal to upgrade the bench must happen. With the trade deadline looming, the front office may have to sacrifice versatility to add a proven bat to the bench.
Acquiring a seasoned veteran might be more valuable than versatility as we inch toward October.
The signing of Castellanos has not worked out for either side. The Padres expected more power, and he largely has failed to deliver.
The organization cannot wait much longer to revamp the bench.
Taylor Hall scored the overtime winning goal to give the host Carolina Hurricanes a 3-2 comeback victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Nikolaj Ehlers scored once and added an assist, while Seth Jarvis tallied once for the Hurricanes, who lead the Eastern Conference semifinal series 2-0.
With time ticking down in the first overtime period, Hall drove to the net during a rush led by Sean Walker, had his first attempt stopped, but during the ensuing scramble pounced on a loose puck and got it past Flyer goalkeeper Dan Vladar at 18:54 of overtime.
It was Hall's first career playoff overtime goal during his seven seasons of post-season play.
Goaltender Frederik Andersen make 34 saves for the Hurricanes, who erased an early two-goal deficit. Jackson Blake collected a pair of assists.
Jamie Drysdale and Sean Couturier tallied for the Flyers, while Vladar stopped 39 shots.
The Flyers had a golden chance to win with an early overtime power play but could not convert.
The series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Thursday.
The Flyers competed much better than in the series-opening 3-0 loss.
Drysdale's power-play goal opened the scoring at 4:02. Amid a flurry at the net, the puck came out to the high slot and Drysdale stepped in from his point position to bury the chance.
The score marked the first time during this year's playoffs that Carolina has trailed in a game.
It was also Philadelphia's first goal during the opening period of the playoffs, and the first time the Hurricanes surrendered a goal in the first period.
Couturier doubled the lead 39 seconds later with his first tally of the playoffs. From behind the net, Carl Grundstrom slipped a pass to the top the crease and Couturier was on the spot to slip home the chance.
That sparked the Hurricanes and they were rewarded when Ehlers netted his first goal of the playoffs with a power-play tally of his own. Ehlers set up at right face-off dot and hammered a one-timer set up by Blake and K'Andre Miller at 10:21 of the first period.
Jarvis tied the clash with 8:39 remaining in regulation time, joining an odd-man rush and finding the mark after a drop pass from Ehlers as he reached the right circle.
Carolina outshot the visitors, 35-21, through 60 minutes, but the Flyers pumped 15 shots on goal to eight for the Hurricanes in overtime.
Freed from the clutches of Hawks defensive ace Dyson Daniels, Jalen Brunson terrorized the 76ers. He scored 27 of his 35 points in the first half and missed only six shots in 18 attempts. It was reminiscent of Brunson’s postseason brilliance two years ago against the 76ers, when he averaged 35.5 points in the series victory.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson #11 drives to the basket as Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George #8 defends. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Zero
The 76ers need Joel Embiid at his best to pull the upset in this series, and he struggled in the opener at both ends of the floor. Embiid managed only 14 points on 3-for-11 shooting and was minus-24 in 25 minutes. He was also a defensive liability, as the Knicks used him in the pick-and-roll, which led to open looks all evening.
Unsung hero
OG Anunoby is unconscious of late. He was 7-for-8 from the field Monday for 18 points and is 23-for-30 over the past three games. He also has was 8-for-11 from deep in that span. The exceptional two-way wing is playing the best basketball of his career at the right moment.
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns #32 puts up a shot over Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid #21. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Key stat
63.1: The Knicks’ field goal percentage, setting a franchise playoff record. The previous mark was 63.0, set in 1995 against the Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs.
Quote of the day
“Honestly, you got to take this game with a grain of salt. I don’t think we’re going to see that team that we saw in Game 1 in Game 2. They’re going to be ready to go,”
HOUSTON –– The Dodgers finally found the ingredients needed to snap out of their recent offensive malaise on Monday.
A hitter-friendly venue, in the form of Houston’s Daikin Park.
A woeful opposing pitching staff, facing an Astros team with the majors’ highest ERA.
And, after a two-week scuffle that had frustrated almost every member of their lineup, some much-needed big swings that keyed an 8-3 victory in the opening game of this week’s series.
The Dodgers finally found the ingredients needed to snap out of their recent offensive malaise on Monday. Getty Images
“I like where our guys’ heads are at,” manager Dave Roberts said before first pitch. “There is a new sense of revitalization walking around the clubhouse today.”
That energy might have initially picked up on Sunday, when the Dodgers snapped a four-game losing streak with a vibe-shifting win in St. Louis.
It wasn’t until they arrived in Houston, however, that the club snapped a stunning six-game home run drought, rediscovered a relentless identity up and down the batting order, and finally broke out with a complete offensive display –– scoring their most runs since April 25 in a dominant 13-hit display.
The onslaught began in the first inning, when the Dodgers strung together three two-out hits against Astros opener Steven Okert, including an RBI knock from ex-Astros star Kyle Tucker.
The onslaught began in the first inning, when the Dodgers strung together three two-out hits against Astros opener Steven Okert, including an RBI knock from ex-Astros star Kyle Tucker. Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Then, with the Astros up 2-1 in the second, it was none other than light-swinging No. 9 hitter Alex Freeland who ended the club’s longest stretch without a homer since 2014. He belted an opposite-field drive into the short Crawford Boxes in left. It would mark the first of seven unanswered runs from the Dodgers (22-13) that helped them pull far and clear away.
The offensive resurgence was also aided by Will Smith, who had three hits, including a go-ahead double later in the second; and Freddie Freeman, who added a pair of RBI singles in the third and fifth.
Tucker followed up his opening-inning knock with the team’s second home run of the evening in the third inning, as well, snapping his own 13-game long ball drought with a scorching line-drive to right.
And Freeland ultimately put together the team’s best all-around performance, reaching safely in four of five plate appearances with two later singles and a walk.
That all gave Yoshinobu Yamamoto plenty of support in an unremarkable six-inning, three-run start, which left his ERA at 3.09.
It also compensated for another hitless night from Shohei Ohtani, who drew two walks and recorded an RBI by beating out a potential inning-ending double play in the third, but is now 0-for-17 in his last five games.
Then, with the Astros up 2-1 in the second, it was none other than light-swinging No. 9 hitter Alex Freeland who ended the club’s longest stretch without a homer since 2014. Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
What it means
Throughout the Dodgers’ recent, both Roberts and his players had repeatedly preached patience and calm.
While the skid was glaring, they framed it as an inevitable ebb in a long season. While their lack of power was jarring, they insisted they were on the verge of heating up.
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Now, the team has some tangible new results to cling to. And for as bad as the last few weeks were, they still rank top-five in the majors in batting average, runs scored and (somewhat amazingly, given they still have just five long balls in their last 13 contests) home runs.
“We don’t really focus on the home runs,” hitting coach Aaron Bates said before the game. It’s more so just … if we impact the ball the way we want to, and we swing at good pitches, then usually the home runs are a byproduct of that.”
On Monday, that was finally the case once again.
And for as bad as the last few weeks were, they still rank top-five in the majors in batting average, runs scored and (somewhat amazingly, given they still have just five long balls in their last 13 contests) home runs. Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Who’s hot
We noted in this space on Sunday that Freeland seemed to be in danger of being sent down once Mookie Betts returns from his oblique injury (which is getting closer, with Betts slated to take live at-bats later this wee).
But then, he turned around and delivered his best game of the season, flashing the potential that helped him earn a spot on the opening day roster to begin with.
Before his second-inning home run, Freeland hadn’t gone deep since the second game of the season. His three hits were also his most since April 7.
He is still only batting .256 on the season, and sporting a below-league-average .688 OPS. However, he also has a .343 average since April 19.
Maybe the team’s roster decision when Betts returns won’t be so easy, after all.
Before his second-inning home run, Freeland hadn’t gone deep since the second game of the season. Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Who’s not
The Astros –– in what will be music to Dodgers fans’ ears.
With Monday’s loss, Houston is now 14-22, plummeting toward the bottom of the American League standings despite owning a top-10 payroll, and watching their decade-long window of contention finally begin to slam in their face.
This era of Astros success, of course, was kicked off by their controversial, trash-can-cheating 2017 title team, which knocked off the Dodgers in that year’s World Series.
For years, that storyline that had fueled frustration within the Dodgers’ organization.
But now, at least Roberts said Monday that he has “gotten past it.”
“Our fan base has feelings about them. Their fan base has feelings about us,” he said.
But, he added that, “honestly, I don’t put too much thought into it,” before noting that the Dodgers’ three recent championships have “certainly helped” him reframe his perspective.
Up next
Coming off his Pitcher of the Month award for March/April, Ohtani (2-1, 0.60 ERA) will be back on the mound Tuesday –– but not in the lineup as designated hitter. Roberts initially planned on having Ohtani hit in the game, but changed course following another quiet night at the plate on Monday. It will be the third time in his last four pitching starts that Ohtani will not serve as DH.
It was the kind of game Knicks fans loved. It may not have been as big a blowout as New York's last game, but it also may have been more meaningful.
New York blew out visiting Philadelphia in Game 1 of their second-round series, 137-98, on a night they looked like clearly the best team in the East. Game 2 is Wednesday night in Manhattan.
The Knicks are a team in a groove, winning their last three games by at least 29 points, and in the last two they have shot 61% overall and 44% from 3-point range.
Part of the Knicks fast start and dominance was that the 76ers played like a team with a Game 7 hangover — they looked gassed a quarter into the game. Embiid started 1-of-6 and Maxey 1-of-4. If it wasn't for Paul George hitting 3-pointers, Philadelphia could have been in a much deeper hole earlier.
And that hole was already 23 points at the half, 74-51, leading to an ecstatic crowd reveling in it at Madison Square Garden. Things were going so well that Josh Hart had time to untie Jimmy Fallon's shoe courtside.
In the third quarter, the Knicks just added to their lead out of the gate, and Nurse, wisely, decided to rest his tired stars early and start thinking ahead to Game 2.
In addition to Brunson's hot hand, OG Anunoby had 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting, while Karl-Anthony Towns had 17 points and five assists, playing well as the hub of the offense. Mikal Bridges added 17 points as well.
George was the only 76er with a hot hand all night, and while he played just 26 minutes, he led the team with 17 points. Joel Embiid finished with 14 points on 3-of-11 shooting, while Tyrese Maxey had 13 points on 3-of-9 shooting.
Expect a better outing from Philadelphia in Game 2, but if the Knicks are shooting like this there might be nothing the 76ers can do.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives around Og Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks during the third quarter in Game One of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 04, 2026 in New York City. 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 Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sixers Bell Ringer Season Standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 23.5 VJ Edgecombe – 16 Joel Embiid – 14.5 Paul George – 9 Kelly Oubre Jr. – 5 Justin Edwards – 4 Andre Drummond – 3 Quentin Grimes – 3 Jared McCain – 3 Dominick Barlow – 2 MarJon Beauchamp – 2 Adem Bona – 1 Porter Martone – 1 Cam Payne – 1 Jabari Walker – 1 Trendon Watford – 1 15th roster spot – 1
Bad news — the Sixers lost the first game of their conference semi-final matchup against the Knicks 137-98.
Good news — the Sixers escaped in one piece, and none of the starters played 30 minutes just 48 hours after an exhausting Game 7 dogfight in Boston.
Jalen Brunson led the rested Knicks with an innocuous 35 points on 66% shooting (12-of-18 FG), while Karl Anthony-Towns, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby combined for 52 points on 72% shooting (21-of-29 FG).
The Sixers, however, struggled to produce offense from the head of the snake. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey tallied only 27 points combined on 30% shooting (6-of-20).
The Knicks defensive consistency in the halfcourt will be the Sixers’ biggest hurdle this series. Getting out in transition more would help open things up, but that can only happen if the Sixers force a miss on defense and grab the rebound. Both prerequisites did not happen often on Monday.
Weeding through the mess of this game reveals a couple Bell Ringer-worthy performances.
George continues to be a constant presence, and was the one of two Sixers to carry over their offensive efficiency from Game 7 against the Celtics through the quick turnaround. He found his rhythm early, sinking a three off the catch after a Joel Embiid double team. He drilled another in the first off the dribble attacking Mitchell Robinson on a screen, and then opened the second quarter with a deep ball from the left wing.
George found Kelly Oubre Jr. multiple times in the first half. Once on a post pass to a cutting Oubre for a dunk, and then kicking out to Oubre after an effective drive for an open three.
Later in the first half, after an extended Knicks run, George found Embiid in the post with a perfect entry pass that lead to a tough finish at the rim. The next possession he would nail a pull-up jumper over Josh Hart after creating space with his dribble.
George was the only Sixer making shots by the time the third quarter started, nailing another three and a floater before Nick Nurse pulled the starters midway through the frame. The Sixers were down 31 points.
Kelly Oubre Jr. 12 points, 5-of-8 FG, 1-of-2 3PT, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block
Oubre finally hit a three and played with a high energy level on both ends throughout the game, even starting the contest with a block on Hart. He had a couple frustrating turnovers, but showed he can be a factor offensively as a cutter in this series. Multiple dunks off timely backdoors cuts helped keep the offense afloat through most of the first half. He was the team leader in rebounds, which is an unsustainable gameplan moving forward, but noteworthy in a team-wide effort deprived of energy.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 04: Kyle Tucker #23 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a home run in the third inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on May 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The home run drought is over, and it only took facing one of the shakiest pitching staffs in baseball for it to happen, as the Dodgers thoroughly outhit Houston in an 8-3 win. It was a win with the particularly sweet taste of seeing Kyle Tucker leave the yard in his old stomping grounds, hitting one out to right field, a place he patrolled for so many years.
Although Tucker had his home run, the first of them—the one that broke the streak—came from an unlikely source. It was Alex Freeland who left the park in the second inning, then tying the game at 2-2 after an eventful first inning in which the offense failed to capitalize on a pop fly from Tucker that dropped for an RBI single, ultimately seeing Andy Pages strand the bases loaded against Ryan Weiss. Set to be the bulk man after Steven Okert dealt with the big bad lefties in the Dodgers lineup, Weiss came in already with a big mess in the first—although he got out of it unscathed, the rest of his performance gave the Dodgers the ideal platform for a badly needed slugfest for a team that hadn’t had one of those away from home since they visited the Rockies a couple of weeks ago.
A Shohei Ohtani walk followed Freeland’s home run in the second, and he was driven in on an RBI double from Smith, then giving the Dodgers a 3-2 lead. The big damage, though, came in the following inning with a four-run spot. By the time Freddie Freeman hit a two-run single, all nine of the Dodgers’ hitters had reached base at least once, signaling a complete performance from top to bottom. In the middle of that complete performance, it’s impossible not to highlight Freeland’s reaching base safely in four of his five plate appearances with three hits and a walk.
Almost used to the idea of not a lot of run support, Yamamoto took advantage of the eight runs his offense scored and delivered yet another terrific outing, especially for a pitcher who had as much trouble as he did in the first inning, in which Houston scored two. Yordan Alvarez lived up to his outstanding reputation and track record early this season with multiple hits, but beyond him, Yamamoto kept the home bats in check outside a Zach Cole home run in the fifth, finishing six innings with three runs allowed and eight strikeouts.
It would’ve been nice to see Ohtani sprinkle in a hit and end this, what is now a 0-for-17 run, but the MVP can only do so much when he’s not really given much to hit. At the end of the day, the two walks he earned both led to runs and played an important role in this offensive outburst.
Following Yamamoto, the bullpen was dominant, earning eight of their nine outs via strikeout, with a scoreless inning each from Kyle Hurt, Blake Treinen, and Jack Dreyer, the latter two striking out the side.
Game particulars
Home runs— Alex Freeland (2), Kyle Tucker (4), Zach Cole (1)
The National League Pitcher of the Month in April gets the starting assignment against Peter Lambert, as Shohei Ohtani will also look to keep the offensive momentum going—Dave Roberts has already said that Ohtani will start and hit in Tuesday’s matchup with the Astros. The start time is exactly the same, at 5:10 p.m. (PT).
Apr 29, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres relief pitcher Mason Miller (22) walks off the field after pitching during the ninth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
In losing five-of-eight games, starting with the split against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Mexico City, the San Diego Padres had their first losing streak since the first week of the season. Coming home from Mexico, without a day off to recover, the Padres played six games against the Chicago teams. Losing both series 1-2, the Padres showed a sagging bullpen and an anemic offense most of the time.
You won’t catch the players or the manager using altitude or fatigue as an excuse. They won’t even use the flu that affected Fernando Tatis Jr. for most of the week. Fans are not likely to use those reasons to excuse some of the poor play, poor pitching or lack of offense. Maybe it’s just baseball but the Padres have to figure this out and get better quickly.
Luckily, the beleaguered San Francisco Giants are up next on the schedule. If the Friars don’t play better and score more runs for the next three games then we can discuss having a real problem.
A couple highlights from an otherwise forgettable week:
Mason Miller, who had his scoreless streak broken by the Cubs with an assist from the umpires, won March/April Reliever of the Month for the NL. His 10 saves, 1.17 ERA, 29 strikeouts, three hits allowed and .118 average against far outpaced anyone else in the NL.
The Padres sale to José E. Feliciano and his wife, Kwanza Jones was officially announced on Saturday. It is expected the sale will become final at the next MLB owner’s meeting in early June, unless they hold a virtual vote before then. Feliciano/Jones will reportedly own approximately 40% of the team with other partners investing. Both Dennis Lin of The Athletic and Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that Alfredo Harp Helú, as well as multiple members of the Seidler family, will retain ownership stakes.
Griffin Canning made his Padres debut and helped pitch the Friars to a victory over the White Sox in the final game of the series, salvaging a game after losing four in a row. The Padres called him up to replace Germán Márquez, who was placed on the injured list. Randy Vasquez was pushed back a day in his normal spot in the rotation.
The Padres sit at 20-13 and are 0.5 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.
Injuries and owies
Both Manny Machado and Miguel Andujar had limited playing time during the eight games with Machado experiencing cramping in his left calf and missing a game and used as DH in another. This required Jake Cronenworth to play third base for the first time since his inaugural season with the Padres. Normally, Miguel Andujar would have replaced Machado but he was held out of a couple games with hamstring tightness.
David Morgan has battled command issues recently and was sent to El Paso when Jeremiah Estrada was called up after his IL stint. In his 15 days away from the team, Estrada gained weight and strength as well as allowing the inflammation to subside in his throwing arm. His velocity was back to normal on his return.
Tatis Jr. does not have an injury, but he has played the better part of the home stand with the flu. He was given an off day on Sunday.
Márquez experienced tingling in his pitching arm in his last couple starts (per Mark Grant in the Padres broadcast on Sunday) and was placed on the IL as a precaution in hopes that some rest and rehab will improve his results.
Griffin Canning adds a sinker
In 2025, before his injury, Canning featured six pitches and used his four-seam fastball and slider most predominantly. He was obviously working on some things during his time with Triple-A El Paso but was needed by the Padres and didn’t get to his goal of 70-80 pitches before being called up.
In his first start as a Padre, Canning used four pitches in his five innings of work. He struck out seven and had a ground ball rate of 55.6%. His 51.6% ground ball rate last year was the highest of his career, and it seems he is doubling down on that strategy.
Canning used his changeup 34% and his four-seam fastball 33% of the time in his start against the White Sox. In his 73 pitches, he mixed in his slider 26% of the time and then flashed a sinker 7%. Canning has not thrown a sinker since 2024. He also never threw his cutter, curve or sweeper (according to StatCast) in his outing on Sunday.
It will be interesting to see what pitch mix is utilized going forward and whether he mixes all seven pitches he throws into his future starts.
Lucas Giolito
The Padres have until May 16 to get Giolito ready to join the Padres rotation. He has made two starts with the Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm with seven innings pitched. He has allowed seven hits and five runs with four walks and 10 strikeouts. His command was improved in the last start versus the first. The most telling factor regarding his lack of Spring Training reps is that his fastball is sitting 89-92 and he normally rides in the 93-94 mph range.
Building arm strength and endurance will be the goals for his remaining time in the minor leagues, attempting to replace a normal Spring Training with two more starts against minor league hitters. It has not been stated whether he will complete his progression with Lake Elsinore.
Yuki Matsui
The Padres either have to reinstate Matsui on today or get his permission to keep him in the minor leagues. He has completed all the goals of his rehab. He has 12.2 innings and a 4.97 ERA with 14 strikeouts and three walks. He has pitched back-to-back games and multiple innings.
Sad offense
Jackson Merrill is hitting .211, Jake Cronenworth is hitting .147, Freddy Fermin is hitting .170 and Nick Castellanos is hitting .164. The Padres’ two best hitters, Miguel Andujar and Luis Campusano, don’t play fulltime. Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts are tied for the team lead in home runs with five each. Bogaerts, Ramon Laureano and Machado each have 18 RBI to lead the Friars.
The Padres rank 23rd in batting average (.234), 25th in OPS (.686), 23rd in home runs (31) and 22nd in slug (.379). It isn’t sustainable to keep a winning record with the offense struggling this way. Oh, and Tatis Jr. still doesn’t have a home run.
Bullpen struggles
In the last two weeks, the Padres bullpen has dropped from being the fourth best in baseball to being the 14th. The ERA has slid from 2.95 to 4.01. Adrian Morejon is still being hit hard at times and even Mason Miller gave up some hits and a run.
The starting staff has slipped from 18th (4.18) to 21st (4.54) in that same time. Overall, the pitching staff is ranked 18th with a 4.30 ERA.
DENVER, CO - JULY 29: Colorado Rockies mascot Dinger wears a robe and holds a toy light saber during the Colorado Rockies Star Wars Night promotion during a game between the Colorado Rockies and the Oakland Athletics at Coors Field on July 29, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today is “May the Fourth (be with you)” aka Star Wars Day.
In honor of this very important holiday, I have a Star Wars-themed question for you all tonight: Which baseball player’s name sounds most like a Star Wars character?
Since the Mets are in town, I think I’ll go with Bo Bichette. Tarik Skubal might be a close second.
But are there others? And do you think they’d be a Jedi, a Sith, or something else within the Star Wars universe?
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 4: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round Two Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 4, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Tonight at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks hosted the 76ers in Game One of their semifinal series. New York had benefited from extra rest by routing Atlanta on Friday, while Philly took the Celtics to seven games before closing their series on Saturday. The visitors played like they had just fought a long battle as the Knicks won the first quarter by eight and clobbered them in the second quarter for a 23-point halftime lead. With New York scoring at will, their advantage reached 34 in the third quarter, and their reserves pushed the lead to 40 in the final frame. Final score: 137-98.
Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 35 points on 12-of-18 shooting (3-of-6 from three, 8-of-8 FT) in 31 minutes, chipping in three dimes and two steals with just one turnover. It was his most dominant performance of this postseason. As for the other starters, OG Anunoby scored 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting, plus a steal and a block. Karl-Anthony Towns put up 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-5 from deep, while contributing six rebounds, six assists, and two blocks in just 20 minutes. Josh Hart tallied eight points and rebounds, plus six assists in 26 minutes, while Mikal Bridges scored 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting (3-of-5 from three) in 27 minutes. Easily Bridges’ best game of the Playoffs, and he seemed to exorcise the ghosts of a rocky Atlanta series.
For Philly, Paul George led the way with 17 points. Joel Embiid scored 14 points and grabbed four rebounds in 25 minutes. Tyrese Maxey managed 13 points on 3-of-9 shooting in 27 minutes in Knicks jail.
Opening night jitters? Maybe. Game One began with a botched jump ball, a narrowly avoided shot clock violation by Philly, and an OG Anunoby foul while fighting through an Embiid screen. No one got into rhythm until Josh Hart picked off Maxey and hit Mikal Bridges for a dunk. Then Towns drilled a triple in Embiid’s grill to take a 7-2 lead.
Two misses and a turnover allowed the guests to creep ahead. Towns picked up his second foul (on Embiid) before the six-minute mark. That brought in Mitchell Robinson, whom Embiid baited into a foul, too. The fouls were piling up, and the teams kept trading baskets, with 10 lead changes in the period. Later in the quarter, Brunson and McBride hit back-to-back triples to restore their lead. After a Nick Nurse timeout, Paul George missed from close range, and Nurse had Justin Edwards hack-a-Mitch. After Grimes bricked, Edwards hacked again. Our favorite Cajun missed all four attempts. You can’t knock the strategy; Brown’s hands were tied with Towns in foul trouble, and Mitch’s misses made for two empty possessions.
Hukporti, who logged just 19 minutes in Round One, trotted onto the court at the 2:30 mark. Continuing the theme, Huk fouled Embiid, who attempted (and made) six freebies in the first frame. Aside from free throws, nothing much was going right for Philly, though. After another bad pass by Maxey, OG sank two freebies, and Deuce added a bucket to secure a 33-25 lead at the break.
Brunson had 14 points in the first quarter, while New York’s defense had made life miserable for Tyrese Maxey. He didn’t score his first basket until midway through the second quarter. Philly’s lead guard made a handful from the charity stripe, though, and New York was entering a worrisome foul situation. Mitch committed his third after playing just eight minutes, while Towns and Anunoby had two apiece with almost seven minutes remaining in the half.
The Knicks scored on all levels, with Towns and Anunoby cooking alongside Brunson, and Hart and Bridges chipping in with relative ease. Our heroes went up by 18 with 3:30 to go, while the visitors missed a number of one-and-dones. Brunson scored the last 11 points for New York and hit a Hail Mary trey with the clock expiring to put New York up 74-51 at intermission.
Through the half, the Knicks had shot 66% overall and 50% from downtown, dished 16 assists, turned the ball over just four times, and doubled Philly’s points in the paint (32-16). The only thing keeping the game from being a total blowout so far was Philadelphia’s perfect 14-for-14 from the line. Brunson led all scorers with 27, the most he’d scored in a half this season, doing so on 10-of-14 shooting. For Philly, Maxey had 13 points on 3-of-8 shooting, while Embiid had 12 on 3-of-10.
To start the third quarter, Brunson picked Oubre’s pocket, and Hart cashed in the fast break for a 25-point lead. Thanks to New York’s smothering defense, Philly continued to be plagued by turnovers. Embiid threw the ball directly to Brunson, resulting in an Anunoby dunk at the other end. Then Maxey coughed up the ball, and Anunoby swished from deep. With about nine minutes on the clock, the differential was 27 points, and Nurse was apoplectic.
Desperate for answers, Philly tried going zone. The Knicks kept scoring. Towns walked in a layup and then hit from deep to give our heroes a 30-point lead with seven minutes left in the frame. Soon after, Bridges drilled from downtown, making it 31. From there, Philly went on a 9-3 run but continued to look lost in the sauce. Nurse gave some extra burn to his reserves (Drummond, Grimes, Barlow, Bona), letting his stars rest in what seemed like a hopeless cause. The hosts closed out the period strong, taking a 109-78 lead into the final frame.
Tyler Kolek and Pacome Dadiet made unusually early appearances in the fourth quarter. The train kept rolling, with Kolek cashing multiple buckets from deep and Dadiet dunking. Mohamed Diawara got in on the action, too, as our heroes pushed the lead to 40. When the cutting was done, New York had won 137-98—meaning that they’d scored 277 points over the last two games. Unbelievable.
Up Next
Miranda’s coming in hot with a recap. Game Two will be played on Wednesday. Rest up, Knickerbockers.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - MAY 4: Jackson Chourio #11 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates after hitting a double against the St. Louis Cardinals in the first inning at Busch Stadium on May 4, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jackson Chourio shined bright in his season debut with four hits, including two doubles and a walk. Unfortunately for the young superstar, the rest of the Brewers lineup could not come through with the clutch hit when they needed it most, stranding 12 runners on base. Most painfully, the Crew had the tying run up to the plate in the top of the sixth and seventh innings.
We were able to see Chourio right out of the gate in the top of the first inning. He watched the first couple of pitches in his at-bat and then on his first swing of the 2026 season, he doubled to left-center field, ultimately being stranded at second base to end the inning.
St. Louis flocked to the base paths early and often against Brewers starter Chad Patrick, as they had at least two runners on in the first three innings. In the bottom of the second inning, former top prospect for the Cardinals, JJ Wetherholt, put his team on top early with a base hit into center field to give them a 1-0 lead.
Patrick struggled to string together consistent outs, as the Cardinals were patient at the plate. In the bottom of the fourth inning, the patience paid off as Iván Herrera doubled with the bases loaded to extend the Cards’ lead to 4-0. That would be the end of the day for Patrick, as for the first time in his career, he was pulled before completing the fourth inning of a start.
Thankfully for the Brewers, their bullpen was well rested, only having used two arms the day prior. DL Hall entered from the bullpen, where he settled in and threw 1 1/3 innings with a pair of strikeouts.
The bottom of the fourth inning featured a scary moment for Andrew Vaughn and Brewers fans alike, as in his return to the diamond, he was hit in the hand – the same hand that he broke his hamate bone, which landed him on the IL. Thankfully, he was able to shake it off and take first base.
Historically, Cardinals right-hander Kyle Leahy has always pitched well against the Brewers. Although most of his starts have come in bullpen appearances, as in 8 1/3 innings that he has pitched in, seven of those have been scoreless innings. Tonight, it was more of the same for Leahy as he threw 5 1/3 innings, allowing just one run and striking out five. The Brewers were able to collect six hits, but clutch pitching prevented them from having any big innings.
It took until the top of the sixth inning for the Crew to crack the scoring column, as Luis Rengifo singled to left field to drive in the team’s first run of the ballgame. Following that RBI base hit, the Brewers would have the tying run at the plate in two of the next three innings, unable to score any runs.
St. Louis tacked on a couple of big insurance runs in the later innings, and it proved to be big as the Brewers’ offense came to life in the top of the ninth inning. Chourio collected his fourth hit of the game with one out, doubling to center field to tie his career high for hits in a game. Brice Turang then came through with a two-run home run to cut the deficit down to just three.
Following the long ball, William Contreras singled. Then, another scary moment for the Brewers’ lineup took place. Tyler Black hit a ground ball where he beat out the return throw to avoid the double play. As he crossed first base, he tripped and hit the ground hard. Slow to get up, he was able to stay in the game and run the bases.
The rally ended there, though, as the Brewers dropped game one by a score of 6-3. Coming up with hits while having runners on continues to be a weak point for this offense. On the bright side of things, the Crew have Chourio and Vaughn back. We already saw what the addition of Chourio has done, and his productivity has historically spread among the others in the lineup. This team is getting healthier, and a better offense is soon to come.
Their first-round surge is showing no signs of slowing up.
It’s only growing stronger.
They keep setting new records.
Capturing new accolades.
Providing more and more reason to believe, as they obliterated the 76ers 137-98 Monday night at Madison Square Garden to take an emphatic 1-0 series lead.
Over the past four games — including the last three games of the first round, following back-to-back losses — the Knicks have outscored opponents by a combined 135 points.
Monday was the largest home playoff win in franchise history.
They became the first team in the play-by-play era to lead by 30-plus points in three straight playoff games.
Jalen Brunson is pictured during the Knicks’ May 4 win against the 76ers. Charles Wenzelberg
They became the first to win three straight playoff games by at least 25 points.
They were one point shy of being the first to win back-to-back playoff games by 40 or more.
Just one team had ever ended a series winning by 30 or more points, then opened a series winning by 30 or more points — the 1986 Celtics.
Now, it’s two.
“I just feel like our focus has been better,” Jalen Brunson said. “Our attention to detail has been better. Honestly, I think those two are very important for us. We gotta continue to do so.
“Yes, it’s turned into big wins. But that attention to detail will help us in the close wins as well.”
As the first half wound down, Josh Hart’s shot had clanked off the rim — a rarity for the Knicks on Monday.
But Mikal Bridges corralled the rebound and kicked it out to Brunson.
And Brunson drilled it, with hardly any time left on the clock.
Of course he did.
Did anyone expect otherwise?
He was doing anything he wanted against the 76ers defense.
The shot gave the Knicks a 23-point lead heading into halftime.
Karl-Anthony Towns dunks the ball during the Knicks’ May 4 win against the 76ers. Charles Wenzelberg
It brought Brunson to a whopping 27 points in that first half, including the Knicks’ last 11 heading into the break.
It got the fans inside Madison Square Garden to their feet and to full voice.
MSG was rocking — in that special way it does this time of year and at a level that felt much more intense than at any point in the first round.
The Knicks were making shots for fun.
They were suffocating the 76ers on the other end.
They were making it look easy.
It didn’t take long for that lead to grow to 31 in the first few minutes of the second half.
The 76ers tried to go to a zone.
It laughably failed.
The 76ers had no counterpunch or fight.
It was party time at MSG.
“I think right now,” Karl-Anthony Towns said, “we’re seeing the culmination of the trials and tribulations that we went through in the regular season.”
The Knicks ended at 63.1 percent from the field and 51.4 percent from 3-point range. Both teams emptied their benches for the entirety of the fourth quarter.
It was the second straight game no Knicks starters played a single minute in the fourth quarter.
Fans chanted for Tyler Kolek, like they did during regular-season routs.
He finished with a game-high 35 points — on stellar 12-for-18 shooting from the field and 3-for-6 shooting from 3-point range — along with three assists and just one turnover.
Knicks guard Mikal Bridges #25 reacts at Philadelphia 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. #9 after hitting a three-point shot during the third quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
VJ Edgecombe primarily guarded him, but he was often made useless by the endless screens.
“They were obviously,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse said, “picking us apart.”
Brunson’s supporting cast followed his lead in the second quarter, and that’s where the Knicks took off.
He finished with 18 points on 7-for-8 shooting from the field while also drilling both 3s he took.
Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 17 apiece.
Tyrese Maxey attempts a shot during the 76ers’ loss to the Knicks on May 4. Charles Wenzelberg
Hart was characteristically everywhere with eight points, eight rebounds and six assists.
Miles McBride provided a nice punch off the bench.
Foul trouble was perhaps the only area of concern for the Knicks.
Embiid drew a handful on Towns and Mitchell Robinson, forcing Ariel Hukporti to see some rare minutes.
But Embiid was a flailing, nightmarish mess otherwise, recording 14 points on 3-for-11 shooting from the field.
Bridges did a terrific job on Tyrese Maxey, who had just 13 points on 3-for-9 shooting from the field.
He didn’t hit a field goal until midway through the second quarter, when the Knicks were padding their lead.
It was his lowest point total since Jan. 26.
Paul George was a footnote.
It was an all-around bludgeoning.
“Honestly, you gotta take this game with a grain of salt and move forward,” Brunson said. “I don’t think we’re gonna see that team that we saw in Game 1 in Game 2. They’re gonna be ready to go.”
Perhaps the 76ers didn’t have enough time to reset after an emotionally draining seven-game first round.
Or, perhaps, as has been the case for multiple games in a row, this is who the Knicks are.
