How could Mets shake things up with season in danger of slipping away?

When the Mets beat the Twins this past Wednesday to snap their interminable 12-game losing streak, and then followed that up by topping Minnesota again in a wild game on Thursday, it felt like they had turned a corner.

The problem for the Mets was that the street they turned down was a dead end.

That dead end was (mystifyingly) the Rockies, who embarrassed the Mets while sweeping them in a three-game series at Citi Field over the weekend as New York mustered just four runs.

Of the three losses, the most damning was Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader, when New York could barely do anything against starter Jose Quintana, who entered the game with an ERA of 6.23, was throwing an assortment of slop at them, and had serious issues over the first few innings as he tossed more balls than strikes.

In that game, the Mets had four chances with the bases loaded. Just one hit could've turned the game in their favor. The results in those spots?

Strikeout swinging
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Strikeout swinging

The Mets' offensive futility has resulted in a 9-19 record, tied with the Phillies for the worst in MLB. New York's 92 runs scored are the fewest in baseball.

With a season that began with sky high expectations in danger of slipping away before the calendar flips to May, what can the Mets possibly do to shake things up and turn it around?

The Carlos Mendoza situation

I wrote last week that most of the blame for what's gone wrong falls on the players, then on head of baseball operations David Stearns, then on Mendoza.

Nothing has changed in that regard.

Apr 4, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza watches his team take on the San Francisco Giants during the ninth inning at Oracle Park.
Apr 4, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza watches his team take on the San Francisco Giants during the ninth inning at Oracle Park. / D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

And while around the team last week, there was no sense that Mendoza was in immediate danger.

Things change, though.

The Red Sox, in a similar predicament to the Mets, fired Alex Cora over the weekend while also dismissing most of his coaching staff. Cora, of course, won a World Series in Boston in 2018 and is viewed as one of the best managers in baseball.

It seems Boston has scapegoated Cora and his staff instead of looking themselves in the mirror and properly assigning blame. At the same time, it's hard to argue with a team changing the manager and coaching staff amid a disastrous season.

Mendoza is in the final guaranteed year of his contract (New York holds a club option for 2027) and is working with a mostly-new coaching staff. So in that regard, the road has already been paved for the Mets to move on in a clean way during this season if they so choose.

To reiterate: the Mets' 9-19 record is not Mendoza's fault. However, it's more than fair to point at their many miscues so far this season (both mental and physical) and lay a good deal of that at Mendoza's feet. He can't hit or pitch, but the players' preparation and readiness to perform is a reflection of the manager.

What's next for Kodai Senga?

The situation with Senga in the rotation has become untenable, with him being unable to pitch more than 3.1 innings in any of his last three starts.

After Sunday's game, Senga acknowledged his poor performance but was non-committal when asked if he would accept an assignment to Triple-A Syracuse.

New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga (34) delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field
New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga (34) delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field / Kamil Krzaczynski - Imagn Images

The Mets could theoretically move Senga to the bullpen, but that seems like a very poor fit given his routines. Beyond that, the Mets already have three starting pitchers working in relief roles -- David Peterson, Sean Manaea, and Carl Edwards, Jr. They also have Tobias Myers in the bullpen, and he is often relied on for multiple innings at a time.

Speaking last week, Stearns made it clear New York was happy with Myers in his current role. So by process of elimination, it seems the easiest way to replace Senga is to slide Peterson or Manaea into the rotation.

More complicated is what to do with Senga, who is under contract through the 2027 season.

The first base problem

Jorge Polanco could return from the IL relatively soon. But when he does, the expectation is that he'll be used mostly as a DH -- something that makes sense given his Achilles issue.

The problem for the Mets is that both Brett Baty and Mark Vientos are struggling badly offensively.

Baty is hitting .220/.250/.329 (65 OPS+) in 88 plate appearances.

Vientos is hitting .243/.280/.357 (81 OPS+) in 75 plate appearances.

Amid the Mets' first base uncertainty, there have been some fans calling for the team to promote prospect Ryan Clifford from Triple-A Syracuse.

While Clifford's power is tantalizing, he isn't really tearing it up in Triple-A (.768 OPS) and has been striking out at a high rate -- fanning 37 times in 25 games. Clifford is not the answer, at least not now.

Can the offense be jolted by a trade?

The nearly three-week absence of Juan Soto and the current absence of Francisco Lindor has not helped matters, but the offense has been unable to do much of anything due in large part to their big offseason additions (Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien, and Luis Robert Jr.) not providing much.

Bichette (63 OPS+), Semien (65 OPS+), and Robert (89 OPS+) were supposed to deepen the lineup. That hasn't happened. And before he missed time, Polanco (52 OPS+) was not himself at the plate.

Apr 10, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets designated hitter Bo Bichette (19) runs out a single against the Athletics during the sixth inning at Citi Field.
Apr 10, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets designated hitter Bo Bichette (19) runs out a single against the Athletics during the sixth inning at Citi Field. / Gregory Fisher - Imagn Images

Add to that the aforementioned issues facing Baty and Vientos, and you get a situation where a jolt is needed. But where could it come from?

Impact trades are incredibly rare this early in the season.

Even if there was one to be made, it's fair to question whether the Mets should even do it, since it would likely require sacrificing key pieces of their future in an effort to try to salvage a season that might not be salvageable.

Perhaps it could make sense if there's a deal out there that brings New York an offensive difference-maker who is under team control for years to come. But again, it's hard to see something like that materializing this early.

Any top prospects on the horizon?

Christian Scott got a chance in the rotation last week and will likely be back sooner rather than later.

Jonah Tong's stuff has been better than his overall results early on this season, and he has started to lock in recently. But he's still working on refining his secondary offerings in Triple-A and will not be rushed (nor should he be).

Flamethrowing reliever Ryan Lambert should impact the big league club at some point this season, but walks remain a serious issue for him as he's issued nine in 7.2 innings for Syracuse.

The most intriguing position player in the higher levels of the minors is A.J. Ewing, who was promoted to Triple-A on Monday after tearing up Double-A Binghamton.

In 81 plate appearances over 18 games for Binghamton this season, Ewing slashed .349/.481/.571 (1.053 OPS) with two homers, six doubles, one triple, and 12 stolen bases.

The 21-year-old Ewing, whose future is expected to be in the outfield, has started 13 games in center field this season, four at second base, and one at DH.

Ewing is now just a phone call away from the majors.

Canadiens’ Guhle Had Big Game

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle didn’t have the kind of season he wanted to have. He was limited to just 39 games in the regular season as he was once again bothered by injuries. He had to undergo adductor muscle surgery, which caused him to miss 39 games, and he was rested for a few games at the tail end of the season.

When he played his sixth game of the season on January 12, he struggled to find his rhythm, which wasn’t surprising as he had some serious catching up to do, but he eventually got there. Since the start of the playoffs, he’s been used on the Habs’ second pairing alongside Lane Hutson, and he’s played the right way, generally.

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In the first four games of the Canadiens’ series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Guhle was on the ice for over 21 minutes; in one game, he played over 26 minutes, and in the first three meetings, he landed 10 hits. Ahead of the series, he had said that he looked forward to “being a prick” against Tampa, and he’s certainly done that, punishing the Bolts’ forwards at every turn, but it was particularly true on Sunday night.

In the Habs’ 3-2 regulation loss, the gritty defenseman landed 11 hits, one more than he made in the first three games combined, and he managed to stay away from the penalty box, which was no small feat. On top of being very efficient on the penalty kill. He was even the architect of the Canadiens’ first goal of the game, spotting Zachary Bolduc gathering speed in acres of space and sending him a picture-perfect pass.

While he was understandably disappointed with the loss, the blueliner remained philosophical after it, telling the media several times, “that’s playoff hockey for you” and that there were “off calls, probably for both sides”. When asked what the lesson was about this loss, he replied:

I don’t know, just hopefully next time, the puck doesn’t go off a guy’s face in the net.
-

Asked how frustrating it was that Nikita Kucherov was right back in the game after staying down for several minutes and needing the trainer’s assistance after Jake Evans cross-checked him in the back, he replied: “Yeah, it’s frustrating.”

The Canadiens must now forget about that frustration, turn over a new leaf and head to Tampa like it’s a brand new series, just a shorter one that has become a best-two-out-of-three affair.


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Cubs vs Padres Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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The Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres are both red hot and begin a tape-measuring, three-game set at Petco Park tonight.

My top Cubs vs. Padres predictions and MLB picks call for Chicago to earn the win in a low-scoring bout tonight.

Who will win Cubs vs Padres today: Cubs moneyline (-103)

The Chicago Cubs send a superior lineup to the dish with a seventh-ranked wOBA against righties, while this San Diego Padres offense ranks 28th in wOBA against lefties.

I’m confident in Cubbies southpaw Matthew Boyd, too. He’s a start removed from returning from his biceps injury and sports a rock-solid 3.39 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 3.74 xERA since joining the club in 2025.

Friars righty Randy Vasquez's 1.88 ERA is also miles below his 4.31 xERA, so I’m expecting hiccups navigating a Chicago lineup that’s specialized in timely hitting during an active 13-5 heater.

Covers COVERS INTEL: The Cubs pace the majors in wOBA while averaging 6.0 runs per game during the highlighted 13-5 stretch.

Cubs vs Padres Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-133)

The No. 1 reason I like this Under is that while Vasquez is off to an unsustainable start, his fastball velocity and movement are up to generate more swinging strikes. It has enabled him to allow just four runs across 22 2/3 innings during his first two trips through the order over his five starts.

Add the wind blowing in at Petco Park to the highlighted San Diego struggles against lefties, and I expect Boyd to keep the Padres off balance at the dish, too.

Of course, San Diego has only played to the Over in 19 of its past 50 games, too.

Neil Parker's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 12-7, +6.14 units
  • Over/Under bets: 5-5, -0.64 units

Cubs vs Padres odds

  • Moneyline: Cubs -102 | Padres -118
  • Run line: Cubs -1.5 (+150) | Padres +1.5 (-182)
  • Over/Under: Over 8 (-105) | Under 8 (-115)

Cubs vs Padres trend

The Cubs have won 10 of their last 12 games for +8.75 units and a 61% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Padres.

How to watch Cubs vs Padres and game info

LocationPetco Park, San Diego, CA
DateMonday, April 27, 2026
First pitch9:40 p.m. ET
TVMarquee, Padres.TV
Cubs starting pitcherMatthew Boyd
(1-1, 5.79 ERA)
Padres starting pitcherRandy Vasquez
(2-0, 1.88 ERA)

Cubs vs Padres latest injuries

Cubs vs Padres weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Mets top prospect A.J. Ewing promoted to Triple-A Syracuse

Mets top prospect A.J. Ewing is one step closer to the major leagues.

The 21-year-old outfielder has been promoted to Triple-A Syracuse after a red-hot start to his season at Binghamton. 

In 18 games this season, Ewing hit .349 with a .481 OBP and 1.053 OPS, hitting two home runs with seven RBI, 16 runs scored and 12 stolen bases. 

Ewing had an impressive spring training showing with the Mets this year, slashing .381/.423/.667 with one home runs and six RBI in 10 games. 

Ewing, a center fielder who has also been getting some time at second base, is SNY's No. 3 overall prospect in the Mets system, behind only Nolan McLean and Carson Benge, both of whom are already in the majors.

Higgins ends O’Sullivan’s bid for eighth world snooker title as Selby blasts ‘horrific’ conditions

  • Scot wins 13-12 in final-frame thriller at the Crucible

  • Selby unhappy with table after 13-11 defeat by Wu

Ronnie O’Sullivan admitted he got what he deserved after seeing his bid for a record-breaking eighth Crucible crown shattered by a stunning comeback from John Higgins while Mark Selby branded the playing surface “horrific” after a 13-11 defeat by China’s Wu Yize.

O’Sullivan twice led by five frames but lost six in a row across the final two sessions, and Higgins fired three centuries on Monday before holding his nerve to get over the line in the decider and complete a memorable 13-12 win.

Continue reading...

Ha-Seong Kim set to begin rehab assignment with Double-A Columbus Clingstones

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 26: Ha-Seong Kim #9 of the Atlanta Braves hits against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fifth inning at Truist Park on September 26, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Brett Davis/Getty Images) | Getty Images

For the past couple of weeks, both Sean Murphy and Spencer Strider have been busy on the farm getting in work via rehab assignments. While Strider may be closer to returning than Murphy is, one thing we know now is that they’ll be joined by a third Braves big leaguer who is working his way back from injury.

All the way back in January, shortstop Ha-Seong Kim slipped on ice and tore a tendon in his right middle finger. That astonishing bit of bad luck cost him the rest of the offseason, spring training and at least one full month of the regular season. The good news is that Kim is closer to being ready now than ever before and the Braves have decided that now is the time to send him out on a rehab assignment.

The Double-A Columbus Clingstones put out a press release today announcing that Kim will be playing with the Clingstones for this week’s home series against the Montgomery Biscuits.

Here’s more from the press release:

The Atlanta Braves today announced that infielder Ha-Seong Kim has joined the Columbus Clingstones on a Major League rehab assignment, marking the first MLB rehab assignment in franchise history.

Kim will appear with the Clingstones during the club’s upcoming homestand against Montgomery at Synovus Park. 

The six-game series begins Tuesday, April 28 with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m. ET. For tickets and more information, visit Clingstones.com

The statement is short and matter-of-fact but it’s big news. Kim was acquired off waivers from the Rays right as the final month of the 2025 season began and Kim proceeded to produce at a clip of .253/.316/.368 with a .301 wOBA (.309 xwOBA), 91 wRC+ and three home runs. Those numbers were below what his usual level of production is but the Braves believed in it enough to where they agreed to a $20 million one-year-deal during the offseason to keep him around. Assuming Kim returns and stays healthy, that’ll be the key to really unlocking Mauricio Dubón’s versatility as well — which we’re already seeing with the way Walt Weiss has plugged him into any spot needed early on in the season.

Either way, getting Kim back will be huge but this could also be a lengthy rehab stint given that he’s been out for so long. Sean Murphy is also taking his time to get ready for the farm so I’d imagine that we may not see both of them until we get a decent amount into May. Either way, that’s now three big leaguers who are actively working their way back to being on the major league squad for the Braves and three players who could potentially provide an impressive impact as well.

Russell Wilson plays for Savannah Bananas, reminding many of baseball career

Russell Wilson is still looking to join a team for the 2026 NFL season, but in the meantime, he landed a temporary baseball gig.

Wilson suited up for the Savannah Bananas – a barnstorming exhibition baseball team akin to the Harlem Globetrotters – for their April 26 game against the Party Animals at Yankee Stadium.

Wilson came to bat in the bottom of the fifth inning, drawing applause from the sold-out crowd on hand at Yankee Stadium. The 37-year-old quarterback managed to make contact, but the bat broke when he did so.

The result? Wilson hit a weak bouncer to first base. He tried to leg it out, but the first baseman, Jason Swan, fielded it between his legs and flipped it to the pitcher, Jake Lialios, to end the inning with a trick play.

NBA head coach rankings for all 16 still alive in 2026 Playoffs

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 02: Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick looks on against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Paycom Center on April 2, 2026 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. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The 2026 NBA Playoffs are all about the matchups, and that puts an added emphasis on coaching. Coaching often has a way of falling into the background during the league’s eternal 82-game regular season, but maximizing every possession matters in the playoffs, and it puts a harsh spotlight on the men in the big chair who need to consistently cook up advantages for their teams to advance.

The narratives can change fast in the playoffs. It feels like several people on this list are coaching for their jobs even if they had a lot of regular season success. With offseason openings in Chicago and New Orleans and a potential opening in Portland, we already know the coaching carousel will be spinning this summer. You can bet that there will be a couple more vacancies before the end of the season.

Let’s rank every head coach who made the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

16. Jamahl Mosley, Orlando Magic

The Magic were my preseason NBA Finals pick out of the East, and instead they barely snuck into the playoffs as the No. 8 seed. Orlando was the most disappointing team of the season, and it seemed likely they would try out a new head coach before making a major shake-up to the core once the season ended. Then something funny happened: the Magic finally got healthy and started playing their best basketball at the right time. Orlando looks like it can absolutely win its first-round series against the No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons. If the Magic advance, they probably can’t fire Mosley even if they never should have been the 8-seed to begin with. Mosley deserves a ton of credit for optimizing his defense to limit Cade Cunningham and shutdown Jalen Duren to this point. Everything is fluid in the playoffs, and that includes this ranking of Mosley.

15. Tiago Splitter, Portland Trail Blazers

Chauncey Billups was arrested in a federal gambling probe after the first game of the season, and it thrust assistant Tiago Splitter into a head coaching role the rest of the season. All Splitter did was lead the Blazers to a winning record for the first time in five years, and finally get them back into the playoffs. Splitter has been good enough to keep the job going forward, but new owner Tom Dundon is emerging as an unprecedented cheapskate who might not offer him enough money to return. It’s hard to think another coach could have squeezed out many more wins this season, but I do think it would benefit Portland to play faster going forward given their halfcourt scoring troubles. The Blazers rank No. 21 in pace after a defensive rebound, and No. 23 in pace after a turnover. Billups made them play faster before his arrest. Splitter has performed really well in general, but I’m still not super convinced he’s a great head coaching candidate long-term.

14. Nick Nurse, Philadelphia 76ers

Nurse won it all with the Toronto Raptors in 2019. He’s still hanging on with the Sixers in 2026, but he’s lost his momentum at this point and feels like he’s hanging on by a string. Philly ranked in the bottom half of the league in both offensive and defensive efficiency despite Nurse riding Tyrese Maxey so hard that he led the league in minutes per game. The constant injuries to Joel Embiid and Paul George certainly haven’t helped, but it feels like Nurse’s ‘mad scientist’ act from Toronto has lost its juice all these years later. It wouldn’t be too surprising if his head coaching days are over either after this series, or after next season.

13. Ime Udoka, Houston Rockets

What a disaster the playoffs are shaping up to be for Udoka and the Rockets. Houston avoided the sweep to the Lakers in Game 4, but there’s no excuses when you’re facing a team without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Udoka just hasn’t been able to find any answers for how to unclog the halfcourt offense. While other teams have been able to hide bad defenders, Udoka has no plan for former No. 3 overall pick Reed Sheppard and still doesn’t trust him. Udoka took the Rockets from 22 wins to 41 wins to 52 wins since arriving, but it feels like Houston is stalling out. We predicted Udoka could lose his job if the Rockets lose the series, and it sure feels like it’s trending that way.

12. Mike Brown, New York Knicks

Brown was always going to be feeling pressure in his first year as Knicks head coach after taking over for Tom Thibodeau, who had just led the team to the conference finals. So far, it’s impossible to say the Knicks upgraded. New York’s defense rose from No. 14 to No. 7 during the regular season and the offense finished a couple spots better too, but it just feels like Brown still doesn’t have the answers to the team’s biggest questions. He’s made multiple missteps in his first-round series with the Atlanta Hawks, including playing lineups with Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns multiple times per game. The Hawks are no slouch, but the Knicks still feel like they have the talent advantage in this series, and it would be a complete disaster if they fail to advance. Could Brown be coaching for his job after just one year? I’m not sure if there’s a head coach in the playoffs feeling more heat than Brown.

11. Darko Rajaković, Toronto Raptors

Reputations can change quickly in the playoffs, and it feels like Darko Rajaković’s is turning for the better during his first-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Rajaković was hired as a developmental coach, but Scottie Barnes regressed in his first season a year ago, and recent first-round picks Ja’Kobe Walter and Gradey Dick haven’t contributed much. Well, Barnes roared back to form with the best season of his career in his second season in the system, rookie Collin Murray-Boyles has been an instant impact hybrid forward, and Rajaković squeezed a 16-win improvement out of Toronto this year. Rajaković is drawing praise from every corner for evening the series with Cleveland through four games, showing impressive adaptability on both sides and coming up with a plan to limit the Cavs’ pick-and-roll combinations as much as possible. I had Darko a couple spots lower before the weekend, and he could be a couple spots higher by the time this series is over.

10. David Adelman, Denver Nuggets

Adelman was facing championship-or-bust expectations from the moment he took over for Mike Malone. He performed well in an incredibly difficult situation after getting the job at the very end of last year’s regular season, leading the Nuggets to a 7-game first-round win over the Los Angeles Clippers and then a tough 7-game loss to the eventual champion Thunder. This year’s Nuggets won 54 games even with long injuries to Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon, Peyton Watson, and more, but the playoffs haven’t been so kind to them. Minnesota’s Game 4 victory to take a 3-1 series lead despite major injuries to Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo is the type of loss that can blow up a franchise. The Nuggets are getting out-classed in the series, and Adelman hasn’t had any answers to their various problems. It’s possible Denver can still mount a comeback with Minnesota’s starting backcourt out for the series, but Denver simply looks flat and dead right now, so it’s hard to expect it will happen. Adelman could quickly find his reputation in the gutter with one more loss.

9. JB Bickerstaff, Detroit Pistons

Bickerstaff once took the Cavs from 22 to 44 to 51 wins, and now he’s pulled off a similar turnaround with the Pistons. He inherited a 14-win team when he was hired by Detroit, and immediately won 44 games and then pushed for 60 wins this season to grab the East’s No. 1 seed. Now Bickerstaff is fighting for his reputation as the Orlando Magic have given him all he can handle in the first-round. The Pistons’ halfcourt offense was middling all year for a team that won at such a high clip, and this playoff run has exposed even more issues, including a failure to maximize Jalen Duren. The Pistons can’t bully the Magic in the same way they pulled a lot of opponents this year, and there have been some questions about how he’s handled a deep rotation in this series. Getting eliminated by Orlando would do major damage to Bickerstaff’s reputation, and would essentially invalidate the 2026 NBA Coach of the Year that he may win. Add in his struggles in the playoffs in Cleveland too, and Bickerstaff badly needs to take these Pistons on a deep run. He’s definitely a solid coach who deserves a lot of credit for building an elite Pistons defense, but he needs to prove there isn’t a better option out there for a team with NBA Finals aspirations.

8. Mitch Johnson, San Antonio Spurs

Mitch Johnson entered his first full season as Spurs head coach just trying to make the playoffs. Instead, San Antonio blew past its preseason over/under of 44.5 wins by winning 62 games and claiming the No. 2 seed in the West. It might feel like anyone could coach Victor Wembanyama to success, but Johnson did well to convince his superstar big man to cut out some three-point shots, play more frequently at the basket, and cut down his turnovers. Johnson also seamlessly juggled a backcourt with one highly paid veteran (De’Aaron Fox) and two hungry youngsters in Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper. He deserves some credit for coaxing career-years out of Julian Champagnie and Sixth Man of the Year Keldon Johnson, too. Johnson is only 39 years old, and will have every opportunity to grow alongside Wembanyama long term.

7. Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland Cavaliers

Atkinson took the Cavs from 48 wins to 64 wins in his first season on the job, but a second-round playoff flameout took some of the shine off his 2025 NBA Coach of the Year award. This season has continued to be a bit sobering for Atkinson and Cleveland, as the Cavs dipped to 52 wins in an injury-marred season that saw the team swap out Darius Garland for James Harden. Cleveland regressed on both ends of the floor, and its No. 1 ranked offense from 2024-25 was exposed as unsustainable. Atkinson has been out-coached by Darko Rajaković at times in this series, and Cleveland risks getting upset if he doesn’t tighten things up and figure out how to puncture a flawed Raptors team. Again: reputations can change quickly in the playoffs, and Atkinson feels like he might be starting to live on the edge, and not in a good way.

6. Jordan Ott, Phoenix Suns

The Suns are getting pulverized by the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round, but that shouldn’t take away from the incredible job Ott did in his first season this year. The Suns’ preseason over/under was set at 30.5 wins, and Ott ended up leading the team to 45 victories and a playoff berth no one saw coming. He found edges on the margins by going all-in on offensive rebounding and trying to force turnovers defensively, and it ended up getting the most out of a group that didn’t have the most talent but always played hard. Taking the next step will be even more difficult for Ott and the Suns, but his first year was a huge success regardless of how this series ends.

5. Quin Snyder, Atlanta Hawks

Snyder missed the playoffs his first two years with the Jazz before making six straight trips to the postseason, including three 50-win seasons. Are the Hawks on the brink of a similar run of sustained success? Snyder got the Hawks back into the playoffs in his third season with the team despite massive midseason roster turnover. The preseason optimism for Atlanta started with Trae Young and Kristaps Porzingis. Both were traded before the deadline, and now Snyder is coaching up C.J. McCollum, Jonathan Kuminga, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker to go toe-to-toe with the Knicks. Atlanta has consistently found ways to frustrate Jalen Brunson, and they made a sharp move by putting Kuminga on Karl-Anthony Towns. I also give Snyder credit for making the tough decision to take former No. 1 overall pick Zacch Risacher out of the rotation right now. I don’t know if Atlanta will actually win its series against the Knicks, but I do know they should feel good about their head coach long-term.

4. Chris Finch, Minnesota Timberwolves

It wasn’t long ago that the Wolves went 13 straight years without making the playoffs. Under Chris Finch, they’ve made the playoffs in five straight seasons, including two Western Conference Finals trips. Minnesota was on its way to waxing the Denver Nuggets in a first-round series upset when Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo both suffered long-term injuries. If Finch can still get Minnesota to advance despite missing his starting backcourt, it will be proof that he’s one of the best coaches in the league. Minnesota fans can get frustrated with his lack of development for young players on the roster, but you can’t argue with the results — especially for a franchise like the Wolves that spent so many years in the wilderness.

3. JJ Redick, Los Angeles Lakers

No one expected the Lakers to mount a playoff run without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves entering the postseason, but somehow they are on the brink of advancing to round two largely due to Redick’s brilliance. The Lakers coach has taken full advantage of the Rockets’ shortcomings in terms of ball handling and shooting to put Houston on the precipice of crisis. Redick’s strong connection with LeBron James is evident in this series as the 41-year-old continues to play at a high level, but he’s also getting good play out of Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart. Redick has zero coaching experience when he was hired off his podcast a couple years ago, but he’s made the most of a changing roster in a pressure-cooker environment. The Lakers are being rewarded for their belief in him, and now he may be one of the best coaches in the league.

2. Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City Thunder

Mark Daigneault spent his first three seasons building up the Thunder without a playoff appearance. Ever since, they’ve been one of the best teams in the league, and now they’re trying to make history. No NBA team has won back-to-back championships since the Kevin Durant-era Warriors, but the Thunder are the favorites to repeat after winning their first title since moving to OKC last year. Daigneault has done well to set up an elite defense that blurs the lines between physicality and fouling, and he knows how to stay out of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s way on offense. It might feel like anyone could coach the Thunder to success, but that would be taking Daigneault’s success for granted.

1. Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics

This was supposed to be a gap year for the Celtics with Jayson Tatum coming off a torn Achilles. Instead, Boston zoomed right past their 41.5-win preseason over/under to earn 56 wins and eventually emerge as the Eastern Conference favorite once Tatum made his return. Mazzulla deserves most of the credit for turning the Celtics into a machine at both ends of the floor despite losing key veterans Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis over the offseason. He maximized an inexperienced front court to help make Neemias Queta into a legitimate starting center, he did well to re-center the offense around Jaylen Brown, and he got the most out of Derrick White even during a season where he was ice cold from three. The Celtics just play their game every night out and that’s a credit to Mazzulla. Still only 37 years old, Mazzulla should be an elite coach for a long, long time.

Hawks vs Knicks Prediction, Picks & Odds for NBA Playoffs Game 5

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If the New York Jets are still searching for a solution at quarterback, they can just look across the Big Apple hardwood.

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns put his playmaking on display in a crucial win over the Atlanta Hawks this weekend, knotting New York’s first-round series at 2-2 heading home for Game 5.

Towns dished out 10 assists — his second-best passing performance of the season — and our Hawks vs. Knicks predictions and NBA picks see New York’s big man setting up his teammates.

Hawks vs Knicks prediction

Hawks vs Knicks best bet: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 3.5 assists (-105)

The New York Knicks need to get guys like Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges going. The Atlanta Hawks have done a great job of pressuring the Knicks' backcourt early in possessions, which has disrupted how New York normally operates.

However, head coach Mike Brown made an excellent adjustment in Game 4. He utilized center Karl-Anthony Towns as an offensive conduit, feeding him at the high post and allowing Brunson & Co. to work off the ball, with KAT as the primary playmaker.

That resulted in the Knicks’ best offensive showing of the series (114 points on 49% shooting), fueled by 10 assists on 12.0 potential dimes from Towns. He found cutters inside, connected on pocket passes, and skipped to shooters off screens, producing the second-most assists of his entire season.

KAT averaged 3.3 assists on 3.7 potential assists through the first three games of the series, and while the Hawks will try to adjust to him as a playmaker, his passing prowess will continue to be a problem.

Towns as the ball handler above the foul line not only draws Atlanta’s size away from the rim, opening up a ton of room in the key, but gives him a strategic advantage as a playmaker. The 7-footer is able to see over the Hawks’ diminutive frontcourt, easily accessing open teammates.

Towns’ assist props have bounced between 2.5 and 3.5 for this series (he’s gone 3-1 Over), coming in at 3.5 O/U for Game 5. Going back to the regular season, KAT has dished out 4+ dimes in seven of his last eight games overall.

Hawks vs Knicks same-game parlay

New York avoided a bad spot with a strong road win in Game 4 and is learning to live without Jalen Brunson making his usual postseason magic. Atlanta, on the other hand, is starting to struggle with adjustments as the series goes on and doesn’t have a reliable support staff to step up, as the Knicks do.

Josh Hart is more focused on defense and rebounding in this series, but he's getting plenty of looks from outside. As the Hawks swarm Brunson, the space is there for Hart.

He was just 1-for-5 from beyond the arc in Game 4, but Atlanta is allowing him wide-open attempts. Hart is a better shooter inside MSG, shooting 44% from distance at home compared to 40% on the road.

Hawks vs Knicks SGP

  • Knicks moneyline
  • Karl-Anthony Towns Over 3.5 assists
  • Josh Hart Over 1.5 threes

Our "from downtown" SGP: KAT's out of the bag!

Towns keeps coming up big for New York. He’s found his spot as a primary passer from the high post, which also makes him a dangerous offensive rebounder as he crashes from outside.

The Hawks will eventually have to sag off KAT to plug up the paint, and he’s not afraid to let it fly from deep, having made two and three triples in the opening two games of the series.

Hawks vs Knicks SGP

  • Knicks -6.5
  • Karl-Anthony Towns Over 3.5 assists
  • Karl-Anthony Towns Over 11.5 rebounds
  • Karl-Anthony Towns Over 1.5 threes

Hawks vs Knicks odds for Game 5

  • Spread: Hawks +6.5 | Knicks -6.5
  • Moneyline: Hawks +220 | Knicks -270
  • Over/Under: Over 213 | Under 213

Hawks vs Knicks betting trend to know

The Knicks have covered the spread in 29 of their last 45 home games for +12.50 units and a 25% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Hawks vs. Knicks.

How to watch Hawks vs Knicks Game 5

LocationMadison Square Garden, New York, NY
DateTuesday, April 28, 2026
Tip-off8:00 p.m. ET
TVNBC

Hawks vs Knicks latest injuries

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Dodgers vs Marlins Prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for April 27

The Dodgers (19-9) and Marlins (13-15) meet for a three-run series in Los Angeles. The Dodgers enter on a two-game winning streak, while the Marlins have dropped two consecutive.

Los Angeles is 11-4 at home this season with 22 home runs (tied 4th) and a .261batting average (10th). The Dodgers' pitching rotation owns a 2.93 ERA (3rd) at home and allow a .197 OBA (3rd).

On the road, Miami has struggled. The rotation ranks second-worst in ERA (5.82) with the sixth-worst opponent batting average (.265). Miami is 3-12 on the road this season compared to 10-6 at home. The Marlins are 1-2 so far in their first West Coast trip.

Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Marlins at Dodgers

  • Date: Monday, April 27, 2026
  • Time: 10:10 PM EST
  • Site: Dodger Park 
  • City: Los Angeles, CA
  • Network/Streaming: ESPN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Marlins at the Dodgers

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Los Angeles Dodgers (-314), Miami Marlins (+248)
  • Spread: Marlins +1.5 (+119), Dodgers -1.5 (-143)
  • Total: 8.5

Probable starting pitchers for Marlins at Dodgers

  • Monday's pitching matchup (April 27): Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. Chris Paddack
  • Dodgers: Yoshinobu Yamamoto

2026 stats: 32.2 IP, 2-2, 2.48 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 28 Ks, 5 BB

  • Marlins: Chris Paddack

2026 Stats: 24.0 IP, 0-4, 6.38 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 25 Ks, 6 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not!

  • The Marlins’ Xavier Edwards is hitting .343 with 36 hits and 49 total bases over 105 at-bats
  • The Marlins’ Jakob Marsee is hitting .178 with 19 hits and 26 strikeouts over 107 at-bats
  • The Dodgers’ Andy Pages is hitting .337 with 34 hits and 56 total bases over 101 at-bats
  • The Dodgers’ Kyle Tucker is hitting .238 with 25 hits and 26 strikeouts over 105 at-bats

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Marlins at Dodgers

  • The Marlins are 11-17 ATS this season
  • The Dodgers are 15-13 ATS this season
  • The Marlins are 17-9-1 to the Over this season, ranking third-best
  • The Dodgers are 15-13 to the Under this season

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Dodgers and the Marlins

Rotoworld Bet Best Bet

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday's game between the Dodgers and the Marlins.

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Dodgers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Dodgers at -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 8.5

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Dodgers Week 5: Starting pitching carrying the load, Max Muncy powers up

Apr 23, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow (31) pitches the ball against the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images | Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images

It took a weekend rally, but the Dodgers continued their streaks of winning weeks to open the season. They bookended the week with blowout wins, but in between saw the offense disappear, losing a series in San Francisco. Winning the last two games against the Cubs gave the Dodgers a 4-3 week.

Newly-signed closer Edwin Díaz had surgery on Wednesday and will be out three months, and his absence was immediately felt as the next four on the depth chart all had outings to forget this week. Starting pitching has been an incredible strength of the Dodgers this season, and Week 5 was no different. No better illustration of the pitching staff from last week than the starters allowing nine runs in 45 1/3 innings while the bullpen gave up 10 runs in 15 2/3 innings.

Batter of the week

Max Muncy hit three more home runs, giving him a team-leading nine on the year, and for the week he also paced the Dodgers in hits (eight), walks (six),and runs scored (eight), for a robust 1.639 OPS.

Honorable mentions go to Dalton Rushing, who hit two more home runs to continue his hot start to the year, and to Miguel Rojas, who had five hits in his 10 at-bats, including a double and home run.

Pitcher of the week

Tyler Glasnow is off to a fantastic start to 2026, and had his best start yet on Thursday in San Francisco, with nine strikeouts in eight scoreless innings to beat the Giants. Glasnow retired his final 14 batters faced, and his 88 game score tied Sandy Alcantara (April 1 for the Marlins) for the best showing by a starting pitcher in MLB this season.

“It was a little tense early on, probably trying too hard. I think as the game went on I was just thinking about keeping my hands and my body loose,” Glasnow told reporters Thursday in San Francisco. “Talking with Connor (McGuiness) and Mark (Prior) in between, I think I just got into a good place as the game went on.”

Glasnow’s 88 game score is the best by a Dodgers starter since Blake Snell put up a 90 game score in Game 1 of last year’s National League Championship Series in Milwaukee.

Glasnow was so good that he relegated Justin Wrobleski’s excellent week to most honorable mention status. Wrobleski allowed only one run in seven innings at Coors Field on Monday, then worked through traffic to keep the Cubs scoreless on Sunday at Dodger Stadium. Normally one run in 13 innings wins you pitcher of the week here, but Glasnow had a special performance.

Week 5 results

4-3 record
38 runs scored (5.43 per game)
19 runs allowed (2.71 per game)
.780 pythagorean win percentage

Year to date

19-9 record
159 runs scored (5.68 per game)
92 runs allowed (3.29 per game)
.731 pythagorean win percentage (20-8)

Miscellany

Snapping a skid: Sunday was a welcome site for Shohei Ohtani, who reached base four times, including a double, walk, and home run. The latter was the first home run for Ohtani in two weeks, after going 59 plate appearances in between long balls. That was the longest homer drought for Ohtani since joining the Dodgers — he also had 47 PA and 46 PA without a home run in 2025, and streaks of 45 PA and 40 PA in 2024. The 59 PA without a home run was Ohtani’s longest since ending 2022 with 93 homerless PA with the Angels, the longest streak of his career.

Pretty fast for a pitcher: Now that he’s back to full-time two-way status this season, it’s understandable if Shohei Ohtani tries to conserve energy whenever possible. For instance, he didn’t pitch at all in 2024 after elbow surgery, and stole 59 bases, more than doubling his career high. In 2025 he stole 20 bases, but 11 of those were in his first 47 games, before his pitching really ramped up. He dialed it back a bit with nine steals in his final 111 games. This year, Ohtani did not even attempt a stolen base in his first 21 games. But last week he swiped three bases in three tries, all of them in the first inning.

Play of the week: This ended up getting overshadowed by a bullpen implosion and the Dodgers losing a game they led 4-0 in the seventh inning, but the twirling throw from Andy Pages, the laser relay by Hyeseong Kim, and Will Smith’s second great tag of the game at home plate prevented the go-ahead run from scoring in the eighth inning on Friday against the Cubs.

Transactions

Monday: After diminished velocity rang alarm bells, closer Edwin Díaz landed on the injured list and will miss three months or so after arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow on Wednesday. Right-hander Jake Eder was recalled from Oklahoma City.

Tuesday: After two days away for the birth of his daughter, Freddie Freemanreturned from paternity leave. Ryan Ward went back to Triple-A after collecting two hits with a run batted in during his first major league stint.

Game results

PlayerPARH2BHRRBIBBBA/OBP/SLG
Muncy24882346.444/.583/1.056
Rojas11151140.500/.500/.900
Rushing21350263.294/.429/.647
Freeland16242013.308/.438/.462
Espinal10231000.333/.333/.444
Kim20270041.368/.400/.368
Ohtani32661116.231/.375/.385
Tucker25443002.174/.240/.304
Pages27353041.200/.222/.320
Smith14110131.77/.143/.308
Hernández29441033.154/.241/.192
Freeman25140012.174/.240/.174
Call11110011.100/.182/.100
Ward1000000.000/.000/.000
Offense26638571483229.245/.330/.408
Steals: Ohtani 3, Kim 2 (out of 3), Pages 1
PitcherRecordIPHRBBSOERAWHIP
Glasnow1-08.010190.000.250
Ohtani0-06.050070.000.833
Wrobleski2-013.0121490.691.231
Sheehan0-06.3411101.420.789
Yamamoto0-17.063273.861.143
Sasaki1-05.074157.201.600
Starters4-145.33599471.790.971
Hurt0-03.010020.000.333
Klein0-01.310020.000.750
Henriquez0-02.321233.861.714
Eder0-02.011114.501.000
Scott0-1, Sv2.722116.751.125
Treinen0-01.031029.003.000
Dreyer0-12.7331310.131.500
Vesia0-00.7221127.004.500
Bullpen0-2, Sv15.715106155.741.340
Totals4-361.0501915622.801.066

Previous reviews: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

Up next

The Dodgers run the Juan Encarnación gauntlet, finishing up the homestand against the Miami Marlins before hitting the road to face the Cardinals in St. Louis to open the month of May.

Mon, 4/27Tue, 4/28Wed, 4/29Thu, 4/30Fri, 5/1Sat, 5/2Sun, 5/3
MarlinsMarlinsMarlinsOFFat Cardinalsat Cardinalsat Cardinals
7:107:1012:105:154:1511:15
YamamotoOhtaniGlasnowSheehanSasakiWrobleski
PaddackJunkAlcantaraLiberatore*McGreevyMay
SNLASNLA/MLBSNLASNLAFoxSNLA

Miikka Muurinen commitment gives John Calipari, Arkansas No. 1 recruiting class

Arkansas basketball added to its 2026 recruiting class, and it did so internationally.

John Calipari and the Razorbacks landed the commitment of Finnish power forward Miikka Muurinen, a four-star recruit and No. 55-ranked player in the 2026 recruiting class by 247Sports Composite rankings, on Monday.

He's the fourth commit to the Razorbacks' 2026 recruiting class.

The 6-10 power forward played for Partizan Belgrade in the Serbian League this past season after splitting time at multiple high schools in the United States. He also has international experience with the Finland senior national team, where he averaged 6.6 points in eight games at the FIBA EuroBasket last summer.

"Since my visit a year and a half ago, they've been consistent and committed to recruiting me," Muurinen told ESPN's Jeff Borzello and Paul Biancardi. "They've always shown interest. They've been very consistent, and they've gotten to know me as a person. That's been very important to me.

"When I left my Arkansas visit, I was not only excited about the program but also about the people, and I said to myself, those are the type of people I want to be around on a daily basis."

With Muurinen's commitment, Arkansas now holds the No. 1 recruiting class for 2026 on 247Sports Composite rankings. Other commits to the Razorbacks include five-star recruits in shooting guards JJ Andrews and Jordan Smith Jr. and strong forward Abdou Toure.

Here's a deeper look into Muurinen:

Miikka Muurinen 247Sports rankings

  • Stars: Four
  • National ranking: No. 55
  • Positional ranking: No. 9

Muurinen is listed as a four-star recruit by 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is the No. 9 power forward in the 2026 recruiting class and the No. 1 player in Serbia.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Miikka Muurinen commitment: Arkansas lands four-star Finnish forward

Yankees vs Rangers Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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It’s Max Fried Day for the New York Yankees as they begin a series with the Texas Rangers.

Fried has looked as good as ever this season, and it’s hard to stand in the way of him, especially considering how hot the Bronx Bombers have been lately.

My Yankees vs. Rangers predictions and MLB picks see value in the Yankees on Monday, April 27.

Who will win Yankees vs Rangers today: Yankees moneyline (-156)

Max Fried is going to have a bad start at some point this season. Predicting when that comes is difficult, but you’d imagine it happens against a team that avoids both the ground ball and the swing-and-miss. The Texas Rangers are not that team.

The ground ball remains a major part of Fried’s profile, as he’s nearing a 50% rate this season. His strikeout rate has declined over time, but a nine-strikeout outing against the Red Sox and a 30% chase rate show he can still dominate when hitters expand the zone.

Texas does a great job avoiding groundballs, but they rank last in chase contact rate and also carry a Top 3 whiff rate. That’s an issue for me in this matchup, particularly considering how strong of a fade candidate that Rangers SP Jack Leiter is for me.

A Bottom 15% barrel rate, and a Bottom 20% hard-hit rate? You don’t need me to tell you that's an issue against the New York Yankees. I’d play this to -172.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Fried's fastball run value is in the 99th percentile, his off-speed in the 98th, and breaking ball in the 94th.

Yankees vs Rangers Over/Under pick: Under 8 (-105)

This matchup likely leans toward a 4-2 or 3-1 Yankees victory rather than a blowout. 

There’s not much I need to say about Fried here. I think he’ll be able to get a high amount of swing-and-miss against this team, especially given how he’s performed out of the gate.

On the other side, while I think the Yankees get Leiter, he should also be able to collect a high amount of outs against the bottom of the New York lineup that has so much swing-and-miss. 

Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 9-8, +0.67 units
  • Over/Under bets: 10-8, +1.80 units

Yankees vs Rangers odds

  • Moneyline: Yankees -156 | Rangers +136
  • Run line: Yankees -1.5 | Rangers +1.5
  • Over/Under: Over 8 | Under 8

Yankees vs Rangers trend

The Yankees have hit the moneyline in 28 of their last 40 away games (+11.50 Units / 20% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Yankees vs. Rangers.

How to watch Yankees vs Rangers and game info

LocationGlobe Life Field, Arlington, TX
DateMonday, April 27, 2026
First pitch8:05 p.m. ET
TVYES, RSN
Yankees starting pitcherMax Fried
(3-1, 2.40 ERA)
Rangers starting pitcherJack Leiter
(1-1, 4.97 ERA)

Yankees vs Rangers latest injuries

Yankees vs Rangers weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

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

The Premier League finally has a relegation battle | Jonathan Wilson

After recent seasons with a defined bottom three, a handful of nervous clubs are aiming to beat the drop to the Championship

It was a good weekend for Nottingham Forest, although perhaps not as good as it looked like it might be on Friday night. That evening, when they handed Sunderland their record defeat at the Stadium of Light, winning 5-0, Forest must have been expecting to pull away from at least one of their relegation rivals. As it turned out, though, they ended the weekend where they began, five points clear of third-bottom Tottenham and three clear of West Ham with four games remaining after both the London strugglers also won.

It was a classic Saturday afternoon in the relegation battle, the sort that is rare these days with games so spread out over a weekend. But Tottenham’s match at Wolves and West Ham against Everton kicked off at the same time, which meant that Tomáš Souček’s goal six minutes after half-time not only prompted celebration at the London Stadium but also anxiety among the Spurs fans who had travelled to Molineux. Then João Palhinha put Tottenham ahead with eight minutes remaining and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall levelled for Everton with two minutes to go. Had it stayed like that, Tottenham would have been out of the relegation zone on goal difference. But Callum Wilson scored for West Ham two minutes into injury-time, lifting them back above Spurs and within three points of Forest.

Continue reading...

2026 Texas Rangers Recap: Week Five

Apr 23, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob Degrom (48) reacts after leaving during the sixth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Season Record: 14-14

Week Record: 3-3

Series Record: 4-4, 1 split

GAME 23: 5-1 Win vs Pittsburgh Pirates
GAME 24: 4-8 Loss vs Pittsburgh Pirates
GAME 25: 6-1 Win vs Pittsburgh Pirates
GAME 26: 1-8 Loss vs Athletics
GAME 27: 4-3 Win vs Athletics
GAME 28: 1-2 Loss vs Athletics

The Rangers are a very average baseball team so far.

Last year they ended .500 and they haven’t shown they’re going to be any different.

There have been glimmers, there have been streaks, but much like 2025, nothing consistent enough to really see what this team is.

Other than average.

Obviously I’m writing this just a couple hours after Sunday’s terrible game. Texas had runners on in every inning, except fittingly the 9th where they went down 1-2-3 for the first time the entire game. They had the bases loaded with no outs and have nothing to show for that. They were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11 runners.

It felt more like 20.

A month into the 2026 season and if this is the team that’s sticking around for the rest of it, it’s gong to be a very frustrating season to watch.

Oh and Wyatt Langford was placed on the injured list right as he was getting hot, because of course that would happen.

To top off a very meh week for the Rangers, their new city connects are cursed.