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Blackhawks Forward Nick Lardis Had A Magnificent Rookie Year As A Pro

The Chicago Blackhawks selected Nick Lardis in the third round, 67th overall, in the 2023 NHL Draft. He then became a prolific goal scorer in the OHL with the Brantford Bulldogs.

In his final season with Brantford, Lardis scored 71 goals in 65 games played. This was a massive jump from the 29 goals he had one year prior. When the 71-goal season ended, it was clear that Lardis had a knack for finding the back of the net, but would it translate to pro hockey? 

Lardis started this season with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League, and he was one of their best rookies. In 35 AHL games, Lardis scored 18 goals. He also had two stints in the NHL, totaling 41 games, exactly half of the regular season. 

In those 41 games, Lardis scored 10 goals. A 20-goal pace as a 20-year-old rookie, one who was selected in the third round, is excellent. His ability to score has followed him at every level. He won’t score 70 in the NHL, but becoming a solid contributor to their middle six is an incredible ceiling. His first year was outstanding for his development. 

"I think I learned a lot,” Lardis said. “Not just on the ice, but also on how to be a pro off the ice. I think that's important. There are a lot of great leaders here, and even in Rockford, too, when I was down there. They showed me the ropes a little bit and how to be a consistent pro hockey player. I thought that was big, too."

Lardis knows that he has what it takes to be a great goal-scorer. He is ready to learn from this season and apply what he learns to his future. He also soaked in what he might need to do to improve as the years go by. 

"I think a big thing for me in my first pro year is learning,” Lardis said. “I think there are a lot of little details that [Blashill] wants me and the other guys to improve on. I think for this summer, my overall strength, I want to be a lot stronger and win more puck battles next year, just making sure I'm winning a lot of battles and improving my strengths."

Being a double-digit goal scorer in 41 games played as a rookie is telling. As of now, it is hard to argue that he isn’t a top young goal-scoring player in the organization. That start to his career should give him the confidence to come in next year knowing for a fact he should be on the team. Once the games begin, he doesn’t have to wonder if he belongs because of his totals from the previous year. 

 "It helps, for sure,” Lardis said of reaching the 10-goal plateau, giving him more confidence. “But, I'm not going to think about it too much, honestly. I still believe in myself that I can be a great goal scorer in this league. It helps with confidence going into the summer. But next year, I'll have bigger goals. It just motivates me more to want to get more than 10 next year.”

Is Lardis a lock to make the team out of camp? That’s a lot to assume, but he will definitely be on the inside track coming into the preseason because of what he accomplished in his first year pro. 

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Game 22 Game Day Thread – Texas Rangers @ Seattle Mariners

Apr 18, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (6) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images | Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images

Texas Rangers @ Seattle Mariners

Sunday, April 19, 2026, 3:10 PM CDT (105.3 The Fan / Rangers Sports Network)

T-Mobile Park

LHP MacKenzie Gore vs. RHP Bryan Woo

Today’s Lineups

RANGERSMARINERS
Brandon Nimmo – RFRob Refsnyder – RF
Corey Seager – SSCal Raleigh – DH
Wyatt Langford – LFJulio Rodriguez – CF
Jake Burger – 1BRandy Arozarena – LF
Joc Pederson – DHMitch Garver – C
Josh Jung – 3BConnor Joe – 1B
Evan Carter – CFJ.P. Crawford – SS
Josh Smith – 2BCole Young – 2B
Danny Jansen – CLeo Rivas – 3B
MacKenzie Gore – LHPBryan Woo – RHP

Go Rangers!

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Game 21: San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Angels

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 18: Adam Frazier #20 of the Los Angeles Angels takes the throw as Freddy Fermin #54 of the San Diego Padres is out on a double play in the third inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 18, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) | Getty Images

San Diego Padres (14-7) at Los Angeles Angels (11-11), April 19, 2026, 1:07 p.m. PST

Watch: Padres.TV

Location: Angel Stadium – Anaheim, Calif.

Listen: 97.3 The Fan

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‘I Don’t Think You Can Ever Be Fast Enough’: Three Things Canucks Forward Max Sasson Plans To Work On During The Off-Season

When it comes to their trajectory, the Vancouver Canucks are in an interesting situation. On one hand, their potential is bolstered by a crop of talented young players all in their early 20s. On the flip side, their supposed ‘veterans’ are, for the most part, still slightly under 30, though the younger ‘veterans’ all have a good chunk of NHL games under their belt. 

Max Sasson is one of a couple players who don’t quite fit into either of the two categories. While the 25-year-old did play in 29 games with the Canucks last year, he spent the majority of his time with the Abbotsford Canucks and played a key role in the team’s Calder Cup run back in June. The 2025–26 season was his first full stint in the NHL, during which he put up 13 goals — tied for sixth-most on the team — and six assists in 66 games. Having said that, since the start of the 2024–25 season, Sasson has played in some of the most games of all current Canucks; 162 in both the NHL and AHL. 

A full off-season to properly rest and train will go a long way for him personally, Sasson explained during Friday’s end-of-season media availability. 

“Last summer, I got home on July 1, and I was back here like August 20-something. So using this full off-season to obviously, you hear the answers that train and which obviously, 100%, I’m going to use this to be more mobile. I think there’s areas of my game that I can clean up with my wall play, my puck touches. I also think I can transform myself with this long off-season into more of a, I say NHL third-line body, where you’re not getting pushed off the puck as easy.” 

One distinct characteristic of Sasson’s game through his first two NHL seasons has been the speed he can exhibit while cutting into the O-zone. It’s something that, despite being so noticeable, the forward believes he can still work on for the coming season.  

“I want to continue to work on my speed. I don’t think you can ever be fast enough.” 

Sasson’s speed went on full-display towards the back-end of the season, when he was moved to wing after playing mostly at centre. This slight shift in position is something that the forward isn’t entirely opposed to as his career progresses — if anything, he’s intrigued by it.

“I played a little bit of it last year here, but for the majority of my three seasons, I’ve been a centre, but yeah, I think I have embraced it. And I think there are chances for me to use more of my speed, especially maybe not having to work as hard in the D-zone, and maybe using my energy to push the pace up-ice and getting more foot races. Do I see that as a path forward? Honestly, I feel comfortable with both. However, I think in the second half, the majority of games were at the wing, and I think I proved that I probably can be a pretty good winger in this league.”

Jan 19, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Max Sasson (63) skates against the New York Islanders in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Jan 19, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Max Sasson (63) skates against the New York Islanders in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

The mental side of the game is another part that Sasson is planning on working on during the off-season. Keeping focus on what’s going on internally is something that, he admitted, he has noticed more at the NHL level. 

“I feel a lot of times that when guys are thinking a lot, and they have a lot going through their mind, you can see it on the ice. And when a guy’s playing free and playing with confidence, it’s very noticeable.” 

Despite picking out a few things he’s hoping to work on this off-season, Sasson acknowledges that everyone on the team needs to put in the work in order for the team to keep themselves on the path to future success. Sure, Vancouver may be in the rebuilding stage of their process, but as Sasson said, that shouldn’t stop them from coming into training camp with a healthy level of compete.  

“No player in here is thinking rebuild. We’re all going to train our butts off this summer and come into camp and try to compete for a playoff spot. But when you hear rebuild, I think you can think of some excitement and look around the league at some of the teams that have done it. And you know, you see Willy (Willander), you see Zeev, you see Öhgy (Öhgren), you see all these really young players. That should be exciting for fans to see, because the potential is endless with these guys. I think when, if [a rebuild]’s done right, you can be one of the best teams in the league.” 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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Rob Thomson lays out Taijuan Walker plan as Zack Wheeler nears return

Rob Thomson lays out Taijuan Walker plan as Zack Wheeler nears return originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

To begin the season, every five days, Taijuan Walker has toed the slab for the Phillies.

With Zack Wheeler on the shelf to open the year, the club needed its tall right-hander to eat innings, keep the Phillies in games and bridge the gap until the ace’s return.

Walker, though, has not done that consistently. And his biggest issue has come right away — in the first inning — when he has dug the Phillies into early holes at a time when the offense has struggled to score.

Through four starts, Walker owns a league-worst 24.75 ERA in the opening frame, allowing 11 runs on 12 hits, three homers and five walks. Opponents are slashing .500/.567/.917 against him in the first inning, good for a 1.483 OPS.

The next-highest first-inning ERAs belong to Washington’s Jake Irvin and Colorado’s Michael Lorenzen at 15.75.

With the same qualifier, Walker’s mark would be the highest in the National League since Eric Nolte posted a 23.63 first-inning ERA for San Diego in 1991.

This is nothing new for Walker, either. Since signing with the Phillies in 2023, he leads the Majors in first-inning ERA at 8.41 among pitchers with at least 70 starts in that span.

Because of that, the Phillies changed Walker’s pregame routine before his last outing, trying to build more intensity at the end of his bullpen session so he would be in more of a game rhythm by first pitch. It did not solve the issue. Walker still gave up two runs in the first against the Braves.

So with Wheeler nearing a return after his fifth minor league rehab start, the natural question started to loom:

What is the plan for Walker now?

The right-hander had been lined up to start Wednesday against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, but Rob Thomson announced Sunday that the Phillies will use an opener, with Walker still in line to follow.

“No,” Thomson said when asked if Walker would start. “We’re gonna open it.”

Whether entering in the second or third inning helps him is still to be seen. But the Phillies are clearly willing to try something different. As Thomson put it, “It’s just kind of trialing.”

The thought process is simple enough. Walker has to be more aggressive early in outings and avoid falling behind.

“He’s just got to attack, not get behind,” Thomson said.

Walker’s role beyond this week still appears to depend in large part on how Wheeler feels, even once he returns.

Wheeler pitched Sunday for Double-A Reading in Bridgewater, N.J., and allowed four earned runs — including two home runs — on six hits while striking out four in four innings. He threw 77 pitches, short of the 90-pitch goal, and the chilly weather did him no favors.

Thomson said the curveball looked good and thought the outing was fine considering the conditions.

“The curveball was good. Very cold,” Thomson said. “48 strikes, so considering how cold it was, I thought that was pretty good. The velocity was down a little bit, but I think that’s understandable.”

The pitch count plan was adjusted because of pitches inning-by-inning.

“We wanted to get him up to 90, but there were a lot of long innings in between,” Thomson said. “I just decided to get him out.”

That leaves Wheeler’s return date a little less clear than it looked a few days ago. When asked whether Wheeler will rejoin the rotation this coming weekend, Thomson did not commit.

“We’ve got to get him back here and talk to him, figure out where we’re going,” he said.

When Wheeler does come back, though, Thomson did not dismiss Walker still having a place on the Major League staff.

“Yeah,” he said when asked if Walker still has a rotation role. “Well, we think he’s gonna get better.”

That could mean a move into a long relief role, which is where Walker finished last year. But Thomson also did not rule out a six-man rotation, something they considered last September when Aaron Nola was returning from injury and the club signed Walker Buehler.

“If there was a long stretch of games without a day off, sure,” he said.

That possibility would make some sense. It could help manage Andrew Painter’s innings later in the season, ease some stress off Wheeler’s arm and give the Phillies’ left-handed starters an extra day when needed.

The Phillies at least have reason to think creatively about the staff beyond the top five. The rotation has gotten off to a slow start, particularly Jesús Luzardo, whose 7.94 ERA is the worst among qualifiers. Walker, who does not qualify because of innings, is at 9.16.

They have gotten solid outings from Cristopher Sánchez, Aaron Nola and Painter, but the offense has not done the rotation many favors.

If the Phillies were hitting to their standards, the spotlight on the final rotation spot — or a possible sixth — might not feel so magnified. But that is where things stand for a team that opened 8-12.

UPDATE ON REALMUTO AND MILLER

Thomson also provided an update on catcher J.T. Realmuto and top prospect Aidan Miller.

Realmuto, who exited Saturday’s game, was still sore Sunday and only available in an emergency role.

“He’s still a little sore,” Thomson said. “He’s available on emergency tonight.”

Thomson said he did not expect it to be a long-term issue, but the Phillies were still checking on him.

There was more news on Miller. The Phillies’ top-ranked prospect still has not resumed swinging a bat, but he is moving closer.

“He’s now taking ground balls,” Thomson said. “He’s doing everything except for swing. We’re hoping to get him going this week if everything goes well enough.”

An encouraging update on that front.

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Dodgers vs. Rockies game III chat

DENVER, CO - APRIL 18: Edouard Julien #6 of the Colorado Rockies dodges the tag by Alex Freeland #76 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third inning during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Saturday, April 18, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Dodgers look to bounce back after a tough defeat as they take on the Colorado Rockies in Denver on Sunday. Roki Sasaki makes his fourth start of the season against right-hander Michael Lorenzen.

SUNDAY GAME INFO
  • Teams: Dodgers vs. Rockies
  • Stadium: Coors Field, Denver, CO
  • Time: 12:10 p.m. PT
  • TV: SportsNet LA
  • Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 (Spanish)

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How Luke Kennard exploded for a career night in Game 1

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 18: Luke Kennard #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Houston Rockets during Round One Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 18, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. 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 Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

LOS ANGELES – Saturday’s Game 1 between the Lakers and Rockets saw the Crypto.com Arena crowd will the purple and gold to victory behind the unlikeliest of leading men.

​Midway through the fourth with LA leading by 12, the Lakers ran an action to get their lead guard his fifth three of the night and put the nail in Houston’s coffin.

No, it wasn’t Luka Dončić or Austin Reaves, the high-scoring duo originally expected to lead LA in postseason scoring. ​With both stars still out, Luke Kennard stepped up huge, putting up a playoff career high of 27 points on 5-5 shooting from the 3-point line.

​It started early for the Duke product playing in the 29th playoff game of his career. A sign of utmost respect, the Rockets attached arguably their best perimeter defender, Amen Thompson, to Kennard.

LA used multiple screens and actions to shake him free from the first-team All-Defense opponent. Watch below as he comes off an ATO, curling around a Deandre Ayton screen with Thompson in chase mode.

Known for his 3-point shooting, the 59% mid range shooter collects his first two points. A couple possessions later, he curls off another screen in the middle of the floor and drives with a pretty off-hand hook shot that softly banks in. He finished the first quarter with 12 points on 5-6 shooting.

A major question entering the series was how the Lakers’ guards would handle the on-ball pressure Houston presents, especially in lineups without LeBron James.

Even while committing three turnovers, Kennard provided much-needed shot creation and showed off his underrated handle. Watch below as he snake dribbles off the screen and hits a pull-up over Alperen Şengün in drop coverage.

He stayed aggressive, not only taking threes but seeking them, including one over Thompson’s contest shown below.

“I just liked that he was aggressive shooting threes,” head coach J.J. Redick said postgame. “He played a fantastic basketball game…he just played really aggressive tonight.”

​While the Lakers can’t expect 27 points every night, they will need this level of assertiveness every game of the series to contend. He’s become a primary option and the gravity of his movement is a vital cog in the Lakers’ opening up shots for others.

​It’s not a large sample size, but once Luka and Reaves went down, LA quickly moved Kennard up the hierarchy. The two-man game with LeBron has blossomed all season and continued Saturday as they surgically hunted mismatches of big man Şengün and young guard Reed Shepherd.

Kennard’s usage on the Lakers before the injuries was just 12.8%. In the final five games of the season, it jumped to 19%. On Saturday, it was a steady 20.2% as one of the main go-to scorers and facilitators.

The Rockets will likely make adjustments going forward, adding more aggressive coverages and mixing up defensive rotations. The Lakers reps have been building towards this moment, and he took full advantage of the opportunity, looking prepared to continue doing so.

“Honestly, I feel like those games leading up to right now, I developed a rhythm kind of playing in that role,” Kennard said post-game. “It gave me confidence going into the playoffs of doing more and being controlled, poised, and looking for my shot when I can. So tonight, there was no difference. Shots went in.

“Again, it’s just having that mentality of getting everybody organized when I can and then looking for the best shot available and just being aggressive.”

You can follow Raj on X at @RajChipalu

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Game Thread: The NBA Playoffs are here. Suns vs. Thunder, Game 1

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 11: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 11, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Thunder defeated the Suns 136-109. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Game 1.

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LIVE GAME BLOG: Los Angeles Kings v. Colorado Avalanche, Game 1

Get ready to rumble!!

First Period

Josh Manson wasted no time setting the tone, flipping the switch on his physical game early and delivering a crushing reverse hit on Scott Laughton that sent the longtime Flyer sprawling to the ice in a heap. It was the kind of jolt that instantly raised the temperature inside the building.

Momentum briefly tilted Colorado’s way midway through the period when Los Angeles forward Jared Wright was whistled for slashing Gabriel Landeskog at 10:54, handing the Avalanche their first power play of both the afternoon and the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Despite a few controlled entries and some perimeter movement, Colorado couldn’t crack through, and the Kings’ penalty kill held firm.

13 minutes in, the game remained locked in a tight, scoreless battle, with the Avalanche holding a slight 5–3 edge in shots. By the end of the opening frame, nothing had changed on the scoreboard—still 0–0—but Colorado carried a bit more of the play, outshooting Los Angeles 9–5 while establishing an early physical and technical edge.

Second Period 

The second period opened with an unintentional bit of comedy. Kings defenseman Brian Dumoulin was still jawing at the officials after a whistle, clearly frustrated as he picked himself up off the ice. But when the replay hit the jumbotron, the crowd got the punchline—Dumoulin hadn’t been taken down by an Avalanche player at all. It was his own teammate who sent him tumbling, taking the edge off his argument in a hurry.

Colorado got another opportunity to seize momentum at 3:05 when Mathieu Joseph was called for interference on Jack Drury, handing the Avalanche their second power play. There was a little more bite this time—some net-front hacks, a couple of dangerous looks—but the finish still wasn’t there. The Avs slipped to 0-for-2, and you could feel a bit of frustration starting to creep in.

For Dumoulin, the period only got worse. Just over six minutes in, he went down awkwardly and stayed there, clearly in discomfort. After a pause, he needed help getting off the ice, favoring his lower body. It looked serious in the moment, though he would later return—an early scare in what had already been a rough stretch for him.

Then came the kind of sequence that leaves everyone shaking their heads.

In what felt like the latest installment of “What Exactly Is Goaltender Interference?”, Drury was tripped by Drew Doughty and sent crashing into Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg just as Logan O’Connor fired the puck into the net. The Avalanche celebrated what looked like a 1–0 lead—but the officials immediately waved it off. No goal. Interference.

Colorado challenged, hoping for a different outcome, but the ruling stood after review. Instead of a lead, the Avalanche found themselves shorthanded with a delay-of-game penalty. Confusion turned into frustration in a matter of seconds.

The chaos didn’t stop there. With 9:36 remaining, Artemi Panarin found himself staring at a wide-open net at the top of the crease, but in a split-second defensive play, Sam Malinski lifted his stick just enough to throw off the shot, sending it wide at the last possible moment.

Ten seconds later, the Avalanche were right back on the power play after Quinton Byfield tripped Nathan MacKinnon. It felt like another chance to finally break through—but it evaporated almost instantly. Just 41 seconds in, Martin Nečas was whistled for holding, and the ice tilted back to even strength.

Finally, the breakthrough came—and this one left no doubt.

With 4:31 to go in the period, MacKinnon threaded a slick pass to Artturi Lehkonen, who drove into space and snapped a shot past the outstretched right leg of Forsberg. Clean. Clinical. No debate this time.

After all the chaos, controversy, and missed chances, Colorado had its lead—1–0, and one that actually stuck.

At the end of 40 minutes of play, the Avalanche held a 1-0 lead with a 22-17 advantage in shots on goal. 

Third Period

This time, it counted for Logan O'Connor. After taking a pass from Jack Drury, the hard-charging Av skated hard down the right wing, skated past a defender, and ripped a top shelf wrister that beat Forsberg and gave Colorado a 2-0 lead.

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Texas Rangers lineup for April 18, 2026

Texas Rangers lineup for April 18, 2026 against the Seattle Mariners: starting pitchers are MacKenzie Gore for the Rangers and Bryan Woo for the Mariners.

This is the final game of a long, grueling, ten game road trip.

The lineup:

Nimmo — RF

Seager — SS

Langford — LF

Burger — 1B

Pederson — DH

Jung — 3B

Carter — CF

Smith — 2B

Jansen — C

3:10 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are +120 underdogs.

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Best NBA Player Props Today for April 19: Wembymania Runs Wild

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Sunday brings another slate of playoff openers in the NBA, with some of the biggest young stars in the league seeing action tonight.

That includes both Paolo Banchero and Victor Wembanyama, both of whom I’m picking to have big games for their teams in my NBA player prop picks for tonight.

Keep reading to see my favorite NBA picks from Sunday, April 19.

Best NBA player props today

PlayerPickbet365
MagicPaolo BancheroOver 33.5 points + rebounds + assists-115
SpursVictor WembanyamaOver 11.5 rebounds-130
SpursDe'Aaron FoxOver 1.5 made threes-120
MORE NBA FREE PICKS

Prop #1: Paolo Banchero Over 33.5 points + rebounds + assists

-115 at bet365

The Orlando Magic needed to win on Friday to finally clinch their playoff spot, doing so in style with a 121-90 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. Paolo Banchero was at the heart of that victory, scoring 25 points and putting up 36 total PRA.

That’s nothing unusual for the Magic star, who averaged 35.8 PRA for the season and surpassed his total for tonight’s game in four of his last five regular-season games, including a 31-point, 37 PRA performance against the Detroit Pistons earlier this month.

Orlando will need more performances like that to have a chance in this series. I expect the Magic to lean heavily on Banchero, making him an excellent choice to hit his PRA total tonight and throughout the series.

  • Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: NBC

Prop #2: Victor Wembanyama Over 11.5 rebounds

-130 at bet365

Victor Wembanyama put together perhaps his most complete season this year, playing 71 games and continuing to dominate defensively. Wembanyama averaged career highs of 25 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, all while the San Antonio Spurs have carefully limited his minutes, letting him play just under 30 per night.

We won’t see those kinds of restrictions or careful usage in the playoffs. Wemby finished the regular season strong on the boards, collecting 13+ rebounds in seven of his last eight.

There’s no reason to expect anything less from the 22-year-old now that the Spurs are pushing to make a deep playoff run, and I love Wembanyama’s rebounding Over tonight.

  • Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: NBC

Prop #3: De'Aaron Fox Over 1.5 made threes

-120 at bet365

De’Aaron Fox has been an important complementary piece for the Spurs this year, averaging 18.6 PPG on 48.6% shooting. That includes solid shooting from deep, hitting 33.2% of his threes for the season.

We saw Fox shoot more freely from deep in the final few games of the season, hitting 2+ from beyond the arc in each of his last three games.

And with the Portland Trail Blazers certain to focus on preventing Wembanyama from singlehandedly beating them, that should make it easier for Fox to get open and to fire away from deep. With his made threes total at a modest 1.5, I like the Over.

  • Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: NBC

These props are available now at bet365, one of our best betting sites.

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Colorado Rockies game no. 22 thread: Roki Sasaki vs Michael Lorenzen

HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 14: Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen (24) sin the visitors' dugout during the MLB game between the Colorado Rockies and Houston Astros on April 14, 2026 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Last night the Colorado Rockies accomplished something that they took until August last season to do: defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Rockies finished the 2025 season with a 2-11 record against their dreaded big brother in the National League West. With a win this afternoon the Rockies can not only cement at least a series split, but also tie their win total against them with plenty of season left to go.

Making the start for the Rockies this afternoon is the right-handed veteran Michael Lorenzen. Lorenzen’s season has been extremely hot or cold thus far. He’s made it through five innings just once in four starts, and two of those starts got ugly fast. He currently holds the worst ERA on the team at 8.10 and is worth a rough -0.8 wins above replacement per Baseball Reference.

His last time out, Lorenzen pitched just 2.2 innings and faced 18 batters. He gave up seven runs—two of which were earned—with three strikeouts, one walk, and a balk.

Similarly struggling out of the gate this season is Roki Sasaki, who will be making the start for the Dodgers today.

The Japanese righty holds a 6.23 ERA over his first three starts. In 13 innings he has nearly half as many walks given up (10) and home runs allowed (3) that he yielded over 36.1 innings in his 2025 rookie season. His last outing came against the Texas Rangers, where he walked five batters compared to six strikeouts over four innings of work and gave up two earned runs on five hits.

The Rockies have never faced Sasaki before. Sasaki is currently utilizing a three pitch mix consisting of a four-seam fastball, a slider, and a split finger. Opposing batters have been hitting the fastball, which averages 97 MPH, at a .381 clip. However, he has gotten much better results from the slider and split finger. Both pitches currently carry a whiff rate over 30%.

First Pitch: 1:10pm MDT

TV: Rockies.tv

Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM; KNRV 1150 (Spanish)

Lineups:

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Grant Holmes and the Braves on broom watch in Philly series finale

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 11: Grant Holmes #66 of the Atlanta Braves walks in the dugout before the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Truist Park on April 11, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Select folks in the Battery Power community (in our comments and Feed) and the FOX broadcast last night seemed to be of a similar mindset – underestimating the boys from Cobb County. Pitching matchups favoring PHI, the stars in their lineup on the verge of breaking out, and the home turf advantage / house of horrors disadvantage of Citizens Bank… some folks posited it would be understandable and okay if we left Pennsylvania with one win. 

Yes, it’s an April series. Yes, we’ll see them again in less than a week when they come to town. But if we’re to wholeheartedly believe in these 2026 vibes and this league-leading run differential, it felt important to take care of business, particularly when it’s of the NL East variety.

And here we are: one run given up in 18 innings and poised to sweep the Philadelphia Phillies at their own ballpark. Let’s get greedy!

Following last night’s marquee matchup, Grant Holmes and Andrew Painter will face off tonight on Peacock. 

It feels like we’re always saying this about our starters, but Holmes (1-1, 3.32 ERA) will really be looking for a bounceback outing after his last one. He was pretty vocal about his incredibly short leash against the Marlins (59 pitches in four innings, 24 for strikes). And to his point, things were looking good after three perfect innings… but a BABIP one from hell would end his day. Weiss, after smoothing things over with his pitcher, attributed some of it to the righty’s workload in his last start in Anaheim, where he threw 99 pitches.  

Holmes last started against Philadelphia on April 5, 2025, where he went four, walked four, and fanned six in an eventual Braves loss. No one has more than 4 ABs against him, but the ones with a single hit to date are Adolis García, Bryson Stott, and Brandon Marsh. Harper has walked twice.

Phillies #2 prospect and rookie Andrew Painter (1-1, 3.77 ERA) will toe the rubber for the other side, making his third career start. His last outing was five innings of one run ball, limiting Arizona to three hits, one walk and striking out seven. The kicker? It was all in relief – he did all of that after waking up with a gnarly migraine and throwing up several times before the matinee game. Despite the late scratch, he recovered enough to enter in the third and do his part, even if the Phillies would go on to lose 4-3. 

Painter’s fastball can touch 97 mph while he mixes in sliders, sinkers, and curveballs. Don’t be surprised if he sprinkles in the occasional sweeper.

We’re hoping to see the Braves staff pitch out of their minds like they have so far. Should something happen to Holmes early, a well-rested bullpen awaits the call (likely minus Suarez, and Iggy’s status dependent on how he slept last night). 

But a dominant offensive performance like Friday night’s would also be very welcome. Fresh in my mind is the Braves doing very little against a different stellar rookie in Cleveland’s Parker Messick. However, the Braves dinked and doinked three unearned runs on their way into delivering Cristopher Sanchez his first loss of the season, so truly anything feels possible. 

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Sunday, April 19, 7:20 p.m. EDT

Location: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA

TV: Peacock

Streaming: MLB.tv

Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan

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Padres quickly back on track, force rubber match in Anaheim

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 18: Jackson Merrill #3 of the San Diego Padres makes a catch and avoids a collision with Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 as he robs Yoán Moncada #10 of the Los Angeles Angels of a home run in the second inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 18, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The San Diego Padres wasted no time putting one back into the win column with a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels last night. It was a late-inning win with the Friars waiting to put up their first runs (and the first of the game) until the eighth.

Both starters pitched scoreless outings, with Germán Márquez going 5 2/3 innings while allowing only two hits. The Padres managed to get five men on base against Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi (4 H, 1 BB), but they couldn’t convert any into runs.

Overall, although a good win for the Friars, they seemed to be making it harder on themselves than they needed to. Jason Adam pitched the eighth inning in relief and allowed his first run of 2026. He gave up back-to-back singles before getting two outs. Then he struck out Nolan Schanuel to end the inning… until he didn’t.

Strike three was overturned for ball two and Schanuel singled to score the only Halos run of the game. Adam finally ended the inning by winning a seven-pitch battle against Jo Adell, inducing a groundout to Manny Machado. It was a nail-biter frame given that the Padres only had two runs at the time.

They scored two more in the top of the ninth to add insurance for Mason Miller. It was insurance he wouldn’t need (and hasn’t all season) despite having the first “rocky” outing of 2026. He gave up a hit to Yoán Moncada and a walk to Vaughn Grissom but kept his scoreless streak intact and now is tied for the lead in saves across MLB (7).

That might feel like a lot, but it’s an important backdrop for tonight’s rubber match as the Padres look for their fifth straight series win after dropping the first two of the year.

Taking the mound

Reid Detmers (LAA) v. Michael King (SD)

Detmers has been a solid starter for the Angels. If not for the emergence of José Soriano as an absolute ace, he would be the Halos best starter. He’s pitched to a 3.57 ERA and limited the New York Yankees to one run on four hits in his last start.

He’s done a good job of limiting walks, focusing on commanding his pitches well. The Padres have faced him sparingly, but in what they have seen, they’ve hit him quite well (.363 BA, 31 ABs). If they can wake up their bats tonight after a cold series (four runs scored), it should be an easy win.

That peaceful easy feeling is due mostly to who’s on the mound for San Diego. King’s return to bona-fide ace-dom has been a welcome one for the Friars. He’s authored a 2.78 ERA across 22 2/3 innings this season, limiting opponents to a .205 batting average.

King will look to continue that tonight against a relatively potent Angels lineup. Márquez stifled that lineup last night so King shouldn’t have trouble. But, if he does, the bullpen has enough availability to pick him up.

Batter up!

Freddy Fermin had an encouraging return to the lineup after a brief concussion scare. He went 1-for-2 with two walks and scored two runs. That being said, Luis Campusano will probably get the start in today’s game.

Nick Castellanos will also probably start with the lefty Detmers on the mound. His splits are much better against left-handers than Gavin Sheets. That would have the lineup looking like this:

  1. Ramón Laureano, LF
  2. Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
  3. Jackson Merrill, CF
  4. Manny Machado, 3B
  5. Xander Bogaerts, SS
  6. Miguel Andujar, DH
  7. Nick Castellanos, 1B
  8. Luis Campusano, C
  9. Jake Cronenworth, 2B

Andujar had a great day yesterday, going 2-for-3 against the Halos. He’ll probably start against Detmers given his splits are similar to Castellanos against left-handers.

Relief corps

The Padres spent all of their high-leverage options last night, using Adrian Morejon, Adam and Miller to record the final 3 1/3 innings. Morejon was his usual self, dominating the Angels.

Adam struggled somewhat, as did Miller (though calling Miller’s outing a struggle simply for allowing two baserunners for the first time this year is a little silly).

Tonight, the Friars will have Kyle Hart, Ron Marinaccio, David Morgan, Wandy Peralta and Bradgley Rodriguez to turn to following King.

Miller could also come out to close given the off day tomorrow before the Padres’ series opener against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday.