SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 08: Jonathan Bowlan #52 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches in the seventh inning against the San Francisco Giants on April 8, 2026 at Oracle Park in San Francisco, CA. (Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Jesús Luzardo dazzled in the second game of the road trip against the Colorado Rockies, striking out 11 in 6.2 innings of one-run ball. It was a strong bounce back start after struggling against Texas to begin the year.
There is one three-pitch sequence that can tell anyone how dialed in he was in Coors.
Jordan Beck’s first at-bat ended in a pop-out to Bryson Stott, seeing one sinker and two sweepers. He swung and missed at the first sweeper and then hit the pop-up.
JT Realmuto and the club did not think he looked comfortable against the pitch and immediately go back to it to start his second at-bat.
They tested him again on a sweeper, looking for a called strike, but Luzardo missed his spot. It was still a solid pitch (although maybe a bit up if you’re looking for a whiff) and Beck swung over it.
Of the five pitches Beck has seen, four of them have been sweepers and the other was a sinker down and away. It’s now clear that the hitter has the pitch locked into his mind, especially if he sees the ball inside again.
Realmuto knows this and calls for a fastball down and in, perfectly off the expected tunnel of his sweeper that gets chases. Beck was just browsing the store, not looking for anything.
Sometimes it’s cool to show quick sequences because they can capture the kind of rhythm a pitcher and catcher have on a particular night. Everyone was in sync which makes it even harder for a weak Colorado Rockies lineup.
Jonathan Bowlan Tweaks
Jonathan Bowlan has looked like a nice get by the front office. It’s early and the ERA is inflated because of the Nationals but there is a lot to like, especially with what the Phillies have tweaked.
Bowlan is now throwing nearly two ticks harder than in 2025 with the Kansas City Royals, while still maintaining the high ride. 97.5 mph with 17.8 Induced Vertical Break will play like one of the best fastballs in the sport and it has early on. Opponents are hitting just .167 on the offering with a 35.3% whiff rate.
The Phillies also gave Bowlan a sweeper for right handed hitters. Compared to his traditional slider, there is nearly 11 more inches of glove-side movement while maintaining the same drop. At 85 mph with 13.7 inches of glove-side movement and 37 inches of drop, it’s probably the second best pitch in a deep and effective arsenal.
There are now six different pitches in the big right-handers’ arsenal: the four-seam fastball, sinker, slider, sweeper, changeup, and occasional curveball.
The Phillies have been on a big trend of trying to find relievers with already established deep arsenals. Jhoan Duran now throws five different pitches with the addition of his split-change, Brad Keller throws five pitches, Bowlan throws six, and Orion Kerkering is working on a splitter, which would give him four different pitches.
That might be something to watch for in the future when they acquire a right-handed reliever; there have been too many examples over the last year that indicate this is a new part of the front office pitching philosophy.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cubs fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
As you know, the Cubs have had multiple starting pitcher injuries, including the loss of Cade Horton for the season.
Colin Rea and Javier Assad have stepped up admirably, at least in their first starts of the year, filling in for Horton and Matthew Boyd. And we now know that Boyd will likely head out for a rehab start next week, so hopefully he’ll be back soon.
Earlier this week in the SB Nation Reacts survey, I asked you who the Cubs should call on as a replacement starter if anyone else goes down (and let’s hope the answer to “anyone else” is “no one”!). Here’s who you chose:
Jaxon Wiggins appeared to be on a similar path to the one Horton was on last year. Horton was called up in mid-May and had a spectacular rookie season.
But here’s the thing about Wiggins, that we learned since that survey question: He was scratched from a start. And:
Cubs Jaxson Wiggins is dealing with a sore arm. Jed Hoyer confirmed he is being backed up for now.
So… that’s not good. Fortunately, as noted, Rea and Assad have stepped up and Boyd will hopefully be back soon. So the Cubs’ starting pitcher depth has been tested and, so far, has held up well.
The national questions asked in the survey this week were about who will win each of the six MLB divisions. Here are the results to those six questions:
There’s a bit of recency bias in some of these results, I think. While it’s true that the Brewers have won the NL Central the last four years, many had picked the Cubs to win the division before the season started. It’s not surprising that the Brewers would come out on top of a survey like this, but the percentage of their vote surprises me a bit. Same for the Yankees over the Blue Jays in the AL East.
That’s why they play the games! I still think the Cubs will win the NL Central. As always, we await developments.
As Marcus Smart walked to the Lakers’ podium for his first postgame media availability following the Lakers’ 101-73 win over the Suns on Friday, he made a statement that carried more weight than just the four words that came out of his mouth.
“Feels like so long,” he said as he sat down before taking questions from reporters.
And it had been.
Not just because Smart had been sidelined for nine games due to a right ankle contusion before making his return to the court Friday night at Crypto.com Arena.
But because how much had changed for him and the Lakers over the previous three weeks.
When Smart suffered the injury during the March 21 win over the Magic, the Lakers were putting the finishing touches on a season-best nine-game winning streak, their most consecutive wins in a season since 2019-20.
The Lakers’ Marcus Smart returned Friday against the Suns and helped key the victory. NBAE via Getty Images
“It hurt us,” Smart said. “It hurt our morale. It took us a little time to get ourselves back together, but we trust in one another. We talked through it, this is new to us as well, and we’re trying to figure it out together. But we constantly are seeing that and doing what we’re supposed to do.
“That means everybody has to step up their roles. Everybody has to step up their play. Myself included. I might be playing more on both ends of the floor, just being that initiator, getting us in offense, finding guys, and then [finding] the right spots for myself as well.”
It didn’t take Smart long to be in those right spots, reminding the Lakers of what they missed while he was sidelined.
And what they’ll need from him now that he’s back with the playoffs on the horizon.
After Smart missed a floater over 6-foot-11 Suns big man Oso Ighodaro late in the third quarter, Ryan Dunn grabbed the defensive rebound, but Smart and Maxi Kleber didn’t give up on the play.
Kleber dove on the floor with Dunn for the ball, which popped out of Dunn’s hands.
Smart retrieved the ball midair and quickly passed it to Jarred Vanderbilt underneath the basket before falling over Dunn, assisting Vanderbilt on a dunk that put the Lakers up 75-58.
“He was awesome,” coach JJ Redick said of Smart. “And that play was just emblematic of our effort all game long.”
Smart (36) and his Lakers teammates are ready for the postseason challenge of likely playing without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
LeBron James said: “Just a winning player. He just makes winning plays. It’s just solidified with the play that he had out there with Maxi. That’s just what he does — just makes winning plays.”
Smart said it had been “stressful” trying to get his ankle to a place where he could return to the court.
Especially when the Lakers dropped three consecutive games after the injuries to Doncic and Reaves, as part of a 5-4 stretch they had without Smart.
“Seeing my guys out there and not being able out there to help, especially with things the way they are now, we’re down bodies, it’s been tough,” Smart added. “But everybody in the organization, players, coaches, just [gave] me full-time support. The training staff, we’ve been doing everything possible, day in and day out to try to expedite this [while] making sure we’re [not] sacrificing other things that can cause the ankle to flare up and we would be back at square one.”
Smart is expected to get more playing time in the regular-season finale against the Jazz on Sunday.
His impact will go beyond the stats in the box score.
It’ll be reflected in plays like he and Kleber made Friday.
And the leadership the Lakers need from him to navigate through the next week before the playoffs start without two of their best players.
“We all know it’s gonna be a challenge for us,” Smart said. “But this is part of the game, right? We see this every year. The playoffs start, and it’s whoever can stay healthy. A little bit of luck comes into play, but it’s definitely gonna be a challenge. I’m excited about the challenge. I know it doesn’t seem like we are as a team, but we are. We’re gonna have our ups, we’re going to have our downs, but we’re in it together.”
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The Calgary Flames can make their final road game of the season a meaningful one if they can take at least a point from the Seattle Kraken.
Seattle is hanging on by a thread in the West Wild Card picture, starting Saturday, eight points back with four games to play. Any LA point earned, or Seattle not winning, is curtains for the Kraken.
My Flames vs. Kraken predictions and NHL pickstarget the total, as their most recent matchups have seen plenty of scoring.
Flames vs Kraken prediction
Flames vs Kraken best bet: Over 5.5 goals (-135)
It's been a beast of a trip for the Calgary Flames, with stops at Colorado (2), Dallas, Anaheim, and Vegas. No wonder they're 1-3-1.
That's two of the NHL's best teams and two of the top teams in the Pacific Division if you're scoring at home. They've definitely scored on Calgary, piling up 26 goals through five games.
The Seattle Kraken is the only sub-500 squad the Flames will face, and they've allowed four or more goals in four of the last five.
The Over has cashed in three straight meetings between these teams, and the total is set at a generous 5.5 Saturday night.
Flames vs Kraken same-game parlay
Joel Farabee is closing in on his third career 20-goal season, and he's been one of the few bright spots on Calgary's road trip, potting two goals and four points in the last five games.
Bobby McMann scored in the last game in Seattle's 4-3 SO win over Vegas, but he loves lighting up the Flames, with three goals against them in five career meetings.
Five of Calgary's last six games have gone Over the total. Find more NHL betting trends for Flames vs. Kraken.
How to watch Flames vs Kraken
Location
Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA
Date
Saturday, April 11, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet West
Flames vs Kraken latest injuries
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.
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 27: Dalano Banton #45 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on February 27, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
BOSTON — The Celtics have signed Dalano Banton to a standard contract, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype first reported.
Banton becomes the team’s 15th and final rostered player; since the trade deadline, the Celtics have signed former two-way players Amari Williams, Max Shulga, and Ron Harper Jr. to standard deals. Banton, who was on a Ten-Day contract earlier in the season, becomes the fourth post-deadline signing, allowing the Celtics to remain below the luxury tax but still fill out their roster.
Banton, a 26-year-old, 6’8 guard, was drafted by the Toronto Raptors in 2021 and has since played for the Portland Trail Blazers, Celtics, and, very briefly, for the Los Angeles Clippers. Across 221 career games, Banton has averaged 6.7 points and 2.2 rebounds in 14.3 minutes per game. He’s a 6’8 guard who can score in a variety of ways, but has never been particularly efficient (for his career, Banton has shot 40.3% from the field and 30.4% from three-point range).
Banton joined the Celtics for a West Coast road trip on a Ten-Day contract in late February, but did not sign a second Ten-Day contract with the team. Before that brief stint, he was on the Celtics for the first half of the 2023-2024 campaign, where he played alongside current Celtics Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Neemias Queta, Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, and Jordan Walsh.
Dalano Banton rejoins the Celtics after two years
In February, Banton said he was excited to rejoin Joe Mazzulla and his former teammates.
“It definitely feels good,” he told CelticsBlog. “I’m grateful and excited for the opportunity. Spending from the start of the season to right about a couple weeks ago in the G, just knowing that the uphill battle, and just sticking to the grind every day — being here is great. A lot of familiar faces, and everyone’s welcoming me back with open arms.”
Banton has had some very successful stretches since he was traded from the Celtics in February of 2024, just months before their title run. He averaged 16.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in Portland for the remainder of that 2023-2024, and subsequently averaged 8.3 points and 2.4 assists in a more limited role with the Blazers last year.
“I’m glad to have him back,” Mazzulla said. “He’s worked hard when he was with us before, but just his ability to — extra ball handling — but really his ability defensively to impact the game. Whether it’s on the ball, whether it’s with his ball pressure, whether it’s his defensive activity. I’m excited to have him back and working with him.”
Banton said he kept in touch with the Celtics in the year and a half since he was traded, in particular with his player development coach, Tyler Lashbrook.
“I’ve definitely had a great relationship with a lot of people here,” he said. “Brad’s been good to me ever since they signed me here a couple years ago. He always kept that relationship with them, always talking to my agent and stuff like that about me, keeping tabs on me.”
Payton Pritchard said it was great to have Banton back around.
“It’s been a journey for him,” Pritchard said. “For him to work his way back into the league and get an opportunity again, it’s a testament to his work ethic.”
The biggest question that’ll be answered Sunday evening: What seed will the Lakers enter the postseason as?
With Friday’s 101-73 win over the Suns, in addition to the results involving the teams around them in the Western Conference standings, the Lakers are guaranteed to be a top-four seed in the conference for the playoffs.
The Timberwolves (48-33) are locked in as the sixth seed.
The biggest question that’ll be answered Sunday evening: What seed will the Lakers enter the postseason as? NBAE via Getty Images
The Rockets (51-30) became the fifth seed after falling to the Timberwolves on Friday, in addition to the Lakers’ win and the Nuggets’ victory over the top-seeded Thunder locking Houston in at its spot.
Now, it’s just a matter of where the Lakers and Nuggets will finish in the standings so the 3-6 and 4-5 West playoff matchups can be set.
The Nuggets (53-28) are in control of third seed, but the Lakers (52-29) still have a shot at finishing at No. 3 for the second consecutive season entering the final day of the regular season.
Lakers finish as the third seed if …
The Lakers need the Nuggets to drop their regular-season finale to the Spurs on Sunday to have a shot at taking a jump in the standings.
If the Nuggets lose to the Spurs, the Lakers would need to beat the Jazz on Sunday to claim the third seed.
The Lakers need the Nuggets to drop their regular-season finale to the Spurs on Sunday to have a shot at taking a jump in the standings. Getty Images
If the Lakers finish the season as the third seed, they would match up against the Timberwolves in the 3-6 series for the second consecutive season, while the Nuggets would play the Rockets in the 4-5 series.
The Timberwolves knocked the Lakers out of the playoffs in the first round in five games last spring.
The Rockets (51-30) became the fifth seed after falling to the Timberwolves on Friday. AP
The Lakers own the tiebreaker over the Nuggets for playoffs seeding purposes after winning the regular-season series, 2-1.
Also, in this scenario, the Lakers would also finish with their best record in an 82-game regular season since they won 57 games in 2010-11.
Lakers finish as the fourth seed if …
The Nuggets beat the Spurs on Sunday.
Or, if the Lakers lose to the Jazz.
If either (or both) scenario happens, the Lakers would play the Rockets in the 4-5 series, while the Nuggets would play the Timberwolves in the 3-6 series.
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The New York Mets (7-7), ranked third in the NL East, will host the Athletics (6-7), ranked third in the AL West, for the second game of their series. The Mets are favored with a -160 moneyline and a -1.5 spread. Starting pitchers are Jacob Lopez for the Athletics (0-1, 6.48 ERA) and Kodai Senga for the Mets (0-1, 3.09 ERA).
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs guards Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks during the game on April 10, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If there were any doubts that Victor Wembanyama would be hampered in the playoffs due to his rib injury, they were quickly silenced on Friday night. Wembanyama secured a First-team All-NBA spot and the Defensive Player of the Year award in his 65th game, putting up an eye-popping 40 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks in a 139-120 win over the Dallas Mavericks.
It was exactly the type of game the Spurs needed from their superstar big man. Wembanyama has been on a scoring tear since March. For all the external doubt about his ability to take over the game offensively… Wembanyama has been taking over the game offensively. His two-way impact has never been better than it has in the last two months. The only thing that could have held him back in the playoffs was that rib contusion.
Beyond the stats, it was the way he played on Friday that should reassure Spurs fans. He moved fluidly on the perimeter, handled the ball with ease, got up for blocks, and most importantly, didn’t look held back by his body. With Wembanyama close to 100%, San Antonio looks ready for a deep playoff run.
Takeaways:
I would like to share this clip of Wembanyama doing head calcs (short for calculations) on how many minutes players should have to play to qualify for awards. He can do it all.
The Mavericks hung around in the game despite being down several key contributors. When the Spurs finally pulled away in the third quarter, it was driven by an offensive outburst from De’Aaron Fox. San Antonio’s point guard scored 14 of his 18 points in the third. Fox has put together a nice stretch of games recently. His ability to take over games offensively will be valuable come playoff time. Fox also led the team with his passing, dropping 10 dimes for a double-double.
Carter Bryant is hooping right now. He had 12 points against the Mavericks, including three triples. He was one of the few players who could contest Cooper Flagg, blocking his jumper at one point. Overall, Bryant just looks more confident. He’s been slowly ascending all season. Now he’s a legitimate rotation player. Is he a playoff rotation player? That’s something we will find out in the next few weeks. At the very least, he looks like a player the Spurs can count on to play a more significant role next season.
Speaking of Flagg… that kid is a beast. He should be the rookie of the year, no offense to Kon Knueppel, but Flagg is on another level. He was unstoppable on Friday night with 33 points on 13-25 shooting. It felt like no matter who the Spurs put on him, he was able to get to his spots and score. It’s funny to think about what San Antonio would look like had they gotten him with the first overall pick.
After dropping 15 points on Friday, Harrison Barnes is sitting at 9.9 points per game with one contest left. He’ll have to score 17 points in San Antonio’s last game for the team to have 8 players average double-digit points.
Game 82, against the Denver Nuggets, could matter a lot. With a Los Angeles Lakers win on Friday, they now hold the tiebreaker for the three-seed. If the Spurs beat the Nuggets on Sunday, they’ll drop Denver down to the four seed, which means the Spurs would face either the Lakers or Minnesota Timberwolves in a potential second-round matchup. It’ll be up to Mitch Johnson if he wants to play the starters and try to avoid the Nuggets in the playoffs.
One year ago today, Chase Meidroth started his White Sox career like a banshee. | (Photo by Abigail Dean/Getty Images)
1917 The world championship season began in St. Louis, where the White Sox battered the Browns, 7-2. Jim Scott picked up the win, giving up four hits and a run in six innings of relief work for Lefty Williams. Buck Weaver drove in three runs for the Sox on the day. Slightly more than six months later, the Sox would win the World Series in six games over John McGraw and the New York Giants. Jim Margalus provided a detailed snapshot of the Opening Day win back in 2017.
1959 Early Wynn won his 250th career game, throwing a seven-hitter vs. Detroit. The victory put the White Sox at 2-0 to start the season, and the streak would reach four as a tip-off of a season that would end with the team’s first pennant in 40 years. Sherm Lollar homered twice, and Luis Aparicio clouted a round-tripper in the top of the seventh inning that broke a 3-3 tie.
Wynn went the distance, racking up six Ks against three walks, for a 68 game score.
1969 The White Sox helped initiate Major League Baseball in Seattle, as the first home opponent for the expansion Pilots. The Sox promptly rolled over and died to the new team, 7-0. They were shut out by future Sox pitcher Gary Bell,who went the distance — and was traded to the Sox that June! That afternoon, the Sox would have nine hits but strand 14 baserunners.
1982 When a great blizzard hit the Midwest and forced cancellation of the first five games on the schedule, the White Sox had to open on the road the following week, in New York, with a doubleheader. No problem, as the franchise that had already won a regularly-scheduled Opening Day twin bill in 1971 put the wood to the Yankees, winning 7-6 in 12 innings, and then 2-0. It was the start of an eight-game winning streak to open the 1982 campaign — the best start to a season in franchise history. The White Sox beat the Yankees twice, Boston three times and the Orioles three times.
1995 Despite his career clearly being on the wane, Chris Sabo was inked for the White Sox bench/platoon DH. And boy, it did not work out: The former Reds standout was released less than two months later, on June 5, having cost the White Sox -0.3 WAR over 20 games, slashing .254/.295/.366 with one homer.
2000 For a man with no speed, he got around the bases fast enough this time!
Paul Konerko hit an inside the park home run in Tampa Bay. It came in the first inning, off of Esteban Yan, and drove in two runs. The Sox won, 13-6.
2008 To commemorate their World Series win three years earlier, the White Sox unveiled their “Champions Plaza” and “Championship Moments” monument prior to the game against the Detroit Tigers. Current players still on the team from the 2005 championship roster assisted in the unveiling of a white, bronze and granite sculpture weighing more than 25 tons that honored the title and featured timeless 2005 playoff images of Paul Konerko, Joe Crede, Orlando Hernández, Geoff Blum and Juan Uribe.
Later that night, the White Sox dropped a game to the Tigers, 5-2, as World Series hero José Contreras took the loss.
2011 White Sox utility player Brent Lillibridge belted the franchise’s 10,000thhome run, driving out a fastball from Oakland’s Dallas Braden at U.S. Cellular Field. It came in the fifth inning of a game the Sox eventually lost, 2-1, in 10 innings. Jim Margalus had game coverage for South Side Sox, although it being the 10,000 team homer apparently was not yet known, as it’s not in the piece.
Lillibridgehit a career-high 13 home runs that season.
2016 The White Sox beat Minnesota, 4-1, in the Twins home opener. Josh Nelson had South Side Sox coverage. The loss dropped the team to 0-7, which was the worst start for the Twins since moving to Minnesota.
2025 It was a wonderful start to a major league career for White Sox infielder Chase Meidroth, acquired in the deal with Boston involving All-Star pitcher Garrett Crochet.
Called up to the team and starting against the Red Sox, Meidroth drew three walks and singled in a 11-1 win. He also scored two runs. Meidroth became the first player to get a hit and walk three times in his major league debut since Larry Walker of the Expos on Aug. 16, 1989.
The Boston Red Sox panic meter is cranking up, and they’ll try to turn around a dismal road start in today’s matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Boston slipped to a 3-2 loss at Busch Stadium last night, falling to 1-6 on its travels this year, and my Red Sox vs. Cardinals predictions signal another nervy contest here, with St. Louis chasing a fourth straight win.
Get the lowdown on this April 11 battle with my free MLB picks and betting nuggets.
Who will win Red Sox vs Cardinals today: St. Louis Cardinals (+122)
At 4-9, the sky is already threatening to fall for this Boston Red Sox squad. While it’s still early days, Boston is tied for the third-fewest runs this season and managed just five hits last night against Dustin May, admittedly without Roman Anthony in the lineup.
Then you layer on some concerns around the Red Sox’s starter tonight, Ranger Suarez, who drags in an ugly 8.64 ERA and hasn’t made it past the fifth inning in either of his outings this year.
That opens the door for the St. Louis Cardinals here at plus odds, and I’m buying into their 5-2 home record.
COVERS INTEL:Suarez’s stuff hasn’t traveled well lately – he’s given up 3+ earned runs in five of his last seven road starts.
Red Sox vs Cardinals Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (-117)
Despite Boston’s struggles at the plate, I like the Over on this total, particularly with St. Louis sitting inside the Top 10 in runs and OBP.
The Over is 6-2-2 in the past 10 meetings between these teams, and the Cardinals have plated 5+ runs in five of their last six contests, led by the in-form Jordan Walker, who’s put together a six-game hit streak.
Both of Suarez’s outings this year have gone past this O/U number, so given his search for form and the 5.40 ERA for St. Louis starter Kyle Leahy, we should see steady offense in this one.
Tom Oldfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 0-1, -1.0 units
Over/Under bets: 1-0, +1.0 units
Red Sox vs Cardinals odds
Moneyline: Red Sox -127 | Cardinals +122
Run line: Red Sox -1.5 (+133) | Cardinals +1.5 (-144)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-117) | Under 7.5 (+113)
Red Sox vs Cardinals trend
Dating back to last season, the Cardinals are 13-7 in their last 20 home games. Find more MLB betting trends for Red Sox vs. Cardinals.
How to watch Red Sox vs Cardinals and game info
Location
Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
Date
Saturday, April 11, 2026
First pitch
7:15 p.m. ET
TV
FOX
Red Sox starting pitcher
Ranger Suarez (0-1, 8.64 ERA)
Cardinals starting pitcher
Kyle Leahy (1-1, 5.40 ERA)
Red Sox vs Cardinals latest injuries
Red Sox vs Cardinals 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.
The Boston Red Sox, ranked fifth in the AL East with a 4-9 record, face the St. Louis Cardinals, who are tied for first in the NL Central at 8-5. Boston's Ranger Suarez (0-1, 8.64 ERA) will pitch against St. Louis's Kyle Leahy (1-1, 5.40 ERA). Despite being the away team, Boston is favored with a -145 moneyline.
How to Watch Boston Red Sox vs St. Louis Cardinals
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 6: A general view of the New York Knicks logo before a game against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 6, 2017 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s that time of the year.
That time of the year when we come up with a thousand possibilities, anxiously think about this and that and the other thing… only for everything to unfold and be resolved by itself in 24 hours.
We just can’t help ourselves, can we? That’s why, with just one game left to play and the Knicks locked into the No. 3 seed out East, we’re presenting you with all possible four first-round opponents and all scenarios that would lead to each of those matchups, depending on Sunday’s results.
Rest assured, New York will be hosting whoever happens to cross their path for the first two games of the series.
NY Knicks vs. TOR Raptors
Hawks win AND Raptors win
Hawks lose AND Raptors win AND Magic win
NY Knicks vs. ATL Hawks
Hawks lose AND Raptors win AND Magic lose
NY Knicks vs. ORL Magic
Hawks lose AND Raptors lose AND Magic win
Hawks win AND Raptors lose AND Magic win
NY Knicks vs. PHI Sixers
Raptors lose AND Magic lose AND Sixers win
All games with Eastern Conference-seeding implications are scheduled for 6 p.m. ET, so you can start making room for the 6-9 timespan.
The San Francisco Giants (6-8), tied for fourth in the NL West, face the Baltimore Orioles (6-7), tied for second in the AL East, in the second game of their series. San Francisco is favored with a moneyline of -120, while Baltimore is at +100. Giants' Logan Webb (1-1, 5.00 ERA) faces Orioles' Chris Bassitt (0-2, 14.21 ERA).
How to watch San Francisco Giants vs. Baltimore Orioles
WICHITA, KS - JUNE 13: Pascanel Ferreras #5 of the Corpus Christi Hooks smiles for the camera before the game between the Corpus Christi Hooks and the Wichita Wind Surge at Equity Bank Park on Friday, June 13, 2025 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Lexi Ashcraft/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (8-5) won 5-2 (BOX SCORE)
Lambert started for Sugar Land and pitched really well allowing 1 run over 6 innings while striking out 8. The offense got on the board in the bottom of the 6th when Winkler tied the game on a solo home run. In the 8th, the offense added 4 more runs on a wild pitch, a Winkler 2 run single and a Nelson RBI single. Leach allowed a run in the 9th but held on as Sugar Land won 5-2.
Peter Lambert, RHP: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K
Sam Carlson, RHP: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Alimber Santa, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K (WIN)
Hudson Leach, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (4-3) won 2-1 (BOX SCORE)
McPherson started for the Hooks and was solid striking out 5 over 4.1 scoreless innings. The pen pitched well with Sanchez coming in and tossing 2 scoreless innings. True came on for the 8th and allowed a run as the Missions took the lead, but in the 9th inning, Ferreras connected on a 2 out go-ahead home run to give the Hooks a 2-1 lead. True tossed a scoreless 9th as the Hooks won 2-1.
Smith got the start for Asheville and was solid allowing 2 runs over 5 innings while striking out 3. Asheville got on the board in the 6th when Nunez connected on a go-ahead 3 run home run. They picked up another run in the 8th when a run scored on an error. Guedez pitched in relief and allowed 1 run over 3.2 innings. Wohlgemuth came on with 2 outs in the 9th and picked up a strikeout to close out the 4-3 win.
Parker Smith, RHP: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K (WIN)
Jose Guedez, RHP: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Nate Wohlgemuth, RHP: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K (SAVE)
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (1-6) lost 8-2 (BOX SCORE)
Forcucci got the start making his professional debut and tossed a scoreless inning with 2 strikeouts, though he did walk three. The Woodpeckers got on the board first getting a run in the 3rd inning on an Alvarez RBI single. Weber relieved Forcucci and tossed 3 scoreless innings with 5 strikeouts. Pentecost came on in relief but struggled allowing 6 runs over 2.2 innings. After the RiverDogs got a few more runs, the Woodpeckers responded with one in the 8th on an Alvarez RBI single. The offense went down quietly in the 9th as the Woodpeckers fell 8-2.
ANAHEIM, Calif. — George Klassen landed at Long Beach Airport at 9:45 p.m. on Saturday, April 4. He picked up his bags and began driving to his hotel, uncertainty still weighing on his mind after the two-hour flight from Salt Lake City, Utah.
Klassen, the No. 3 prospect in the Los Angeles Angels organization according to Baseball America, brought the 24-year-old right-handed pitcher up from Triple-A to be on standby after Ryan Johnson — the Angels’ scheduled starter for Sunday — had fallen ill.
At 11 p.m. Pacific Time, Klassen got the call: the Angels needed him to start on Sunday. Klassen, on short notice, would be making his Major League debut.
“I didn’t really know how to react,” Klassen told USA TODAY Sports. “I was like, ‘Alright. Yeah, let’s do it!’”
The first thing Klassen did when he hung up the phone was to pick it back up and start dialing. It was 1 a.m. in Port Washington, Wisconsin, but Klassen got hold of his parents, Jim and Lani, his sister, Sarah, and his girlfriend.
“You guys need to get out here,” Klassen told them.
He got his sister a flight and within four hours, the entire Klassen family was on a plane bound for Southern California to watch him step on a big league mound for the first time at Angel Stadium.
“It meant the world to me that they could make it,” he said.
Klassen’s debut on April 5 quickly turned into a high-leverage situation after Seattle Mariners outfielder Luke Raley jumped on his first pitch — a 97 mph fastball — and lined it down the foul line in right field for a leadoff double. Raley moved up to third on a groundout by Cal Raleigh on the next pitch, putting him 90 feet away from home.
He would stay there, though, as Klassen buckled down to fan Julio Rodríguez, making the slugger reach on a slider up and outside for his first career strikeout as a Major League pitcher and drawing a flyout from Josh Naylor to work himself out of the jam.
Klassen’s day would be over just two innings later after allowing two earned runs on three hits with five walks and four strikeouts as the Angels went on to beat the M’s 8-7 in extra innings. But it was enough to leave a good impression on Angels manager Kurt Suzuki.
“You’re gonna be nervous. I know he was nervous,” Suzuki told USA TODAY Sports. “I know there was some anxiety in there. Which is good, it means he cares. I thought he handled himself great, I thought he made pitches when he had to.
“Obviously two innings is not the line he wanted, but it could’ve been two innings and six runs. Instead, it was two innings, two runs and he gave us a chance to win.”
But not too long ago, the only thing Klassen wanted was to be comfortable on the mound again.
George Klassen's 'scary' 2025 concussion
On May 11, 2025, Klassen was starting the first game of a doubleheader for Double-A Rocket City against the Montgomery Biscuits. His mom and sister were in the crowd, having made the trip to see him play on Mother’s Day.
In the top of the fourth inning, Klassen threw a pitch to Hunter Stovall. His memory goes blank from there until he woke up a few moments later, arms outstretched as he lay on the mound facing the sky, thinking to himself, “I took one to the head, didn’t I?”
Stovall had made contact on his swing and hit a line drive directly back at Klassen, who tried to turn away right as the ball ricocheted off of the right side of his head. Klassen crumpled to the ground and lay motionless for a couple seconds as Trash Pandas manager Andy Schatzley and athletic trainer Dylan Culwell rushed out to attend to him on the field.
George Klassen was struck by a batted ball and had to leave the game with assistance from the trainer. pic.twitter.com/qxso0g3hrD
Mitch Farris, Klassen’s teammate, was warming up in the bullpen as he was scheduled to start the second game that day when he saw it happen. He was speechless, and could only hope that his friend was okay.
“It looked pretty bad when he went down,” Farris told USA TODAY Sports. “Didn’t look like he knew where he was at, and then it was kind of tough having to lock back in to get ready for my start the next game.”
Farris had grown especially close with Klassen as well as fellow Angels pitching prospects Sam Aldegheri and Samy Natera Jr. throughout their time together in the minors. The four regularly get together when they’re under the same roof, whether it’s Natera taking them to a local favorite Mexican food spot in Arizona during spring training or Aldegheri cooking up authentic Italian food during the season.
Farris, like most pitchers, has taken his fair share of comebackers over the years — though never one to the head — as well as some close calls.
“Sometimes, it’s hard to tell how hard they’re coming back at you,” he said. “Anything off the bat looks really hard and some of them are slower — which those too, can be dangerous because you react too quick, honestly.”
Suzuki was a catcher for 16 seasons in the big leagues and while he never saw any of his pitchers get hit in the head, he also saw a lot that came very close.
“It’s more of like, ‘Holy crap,’” Suzuki said. “The guys throw hard and then they hit the ball hard, so you don’t have much time to react. It’s a scary thing, man, it’s scary. I understand it’s part of the game, but you just never want to see it or be a part of it.”
Klassen wobbled off the field, leaning on Schatzley and Culwell, when he noticed his mom coming down the stands. She wasn’t crying, which was a reassuring sign for Klassen.
“Happy Mother’s Day!” he shouted out.
She laughed.
George Klassen's road to recovery was more mental than physical
Nine months earlier, in late August of 2024, Klassen — who had just been traded to the Angels along with Aldegheri from Philadelphia for Carlos Estévez a month before — threw a curveball that was chopped back towards him. The dirt in front of home plate usually slows down balls like that, but this one skipped the dirt entirely and bounced straight onto the infield grass, where it sped up and nailed Klassen right between his nose and upper lip.
Klassen needed four stitches and was on a smoothie diet for the next five days. On the sixth day, he could finally open his mouth enough to eat some solid food and treated himself to pasta with red sauce and ground beef mixed in.
“It was the best thing ever,” he recalled with a chuckle.
Based on that first time getting hit in the head, the second go around wasn’t as bad for Klassen, even with the three-day hospital stay. He already knew what the recovery would entail and what he needed to do.
He started running and throwing after five days, and spent a few more weeks in concussion protocol and missed three starts as it took him a couple tries at the memory reaction test before he was cleared to get back on the mound.
But once he got there, Klassen wasn’t expecting to find out that there was still a mental side of his recovery that he still had to go through.
When he started throwing off the mound, Klassen noticed that he would be pulling off at the end of his delivery. Or when he started facing live batters, he subconsciously — almost instinctually — began to shield himself.
“Your body is gonna wanna try to protect itself, so I mean it’s gonna do whatever it can without you knowing,” Klassen told USA TODAY Sports. “I wouldn’t say (it’s a) mental block, but like just another hurdle.”
And just like any physical hurdle, Klassen knew the best way for him to overcome this mental one was by tackling it head-on.
After talking it out with people around him, Klassen came to realize he was dealing with automatic negative thoughts (ANTs), a pattern of involuntary, repetitive and pessimistic thoughts that immediately affect mood and behavior and can often drive depression and anxiety, according to a 2025 study published by the National Institutes of Health.
“Your brain’s always gonna go with what went wrong or bad instead of thinking it was positive,” Klassen said. “So, that was a big thing that I stuck with and really tried to just keep on working with.”
Klassen effectively had to rewire his whole way of thinking while on the mound. He had to put aside what went wrong or what could go wrong — in this case getting hit before and the fear of getting hit again — and instead think of what could go right. Positive thinking sounds simple enough in theory, but it took a while for Klassen, about five weeks, he estimated, to fully buy into the concept.
But once things clicked, Klassen saw the end goal in sight. He could finally be himself on the mound again.
"I had a lot of support to get here."
The moment of realization for Klassen on April 5 didn’t come until he was throwing his pregame bullpen session at Angel Stadium.
“This isn’t spring training. This isn’t whatever,” he said to himself. “This is the real deal.”
Klassen had made it.
“It was an awesome feeling. It was really cool.”
For Farris, it’s been a full-circle moment simply getting to be in the Majors with one of his closest friends. Even if they’ve technically been competing against each other in trying to get called up, Farris says they’re so close that it doesn’t feel that way.
They are, after all, going through the same process together, stride by stride.
“Any success he has, I’m happy for him. Any success I have, he’s happy for me,” Farris said. “ … So, whatever information and advice I have for him, I give him and vice versa.”
And it’s not just Farris that Klassen’s seeking advice from. Throughout the first week he’s spent in the Angels clubhouse, he’s picked the brain of every player he can. He’s asked about pitch grips, cues, how they get themselves back into the moment whenever they’re feeling off that day and how they keep the bad from taking over their headspace. Then he looks for ways he can implement that advice into his own routine.
Just under a year ago, Klassen was just trying to get back to feeling like himself. Now, he’s trying to unlock the next level of where he feels he can get to, which in itself is a testament to how far he’s come.
“It’s crazy,” he said, reflecting on his path. “I definitely had a lot of help from my family side, coaches side, players side. Asking questions, just taking all the knowledge up I can.
“... I had a lot of support to get here, for sure.”
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