Javier Assad took the ball to Citizens Bank Park and attempted to throw it past the Phillies. Cristopher Sánchez tried to continue his skein of really good pitching. Both teams stood at 7-8 at the outset, the onset, the preface as it were.
The Phillies look like they are holding a Jayson Werth lookalike contest.
Javier Assad has an ERA now. Kyle Schwarber did what he does, his fifth and sixth, driving in three runs. Cubs should have kept that guy. But you know that.
But the Phillies continued to pull away. The Cubs did hold a late rally, so there’s something silver in the cloud for today.
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Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series. Thanks for reading. À bientôt. Good luck, Jeff!
Apr 12, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Noah Cameron (65) pitches during the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Seems like a slow news day.
Vahe Gregorian writes about the Royals start to the season.
The Royals’ starting rotation entered the game with a 2.56 ERA — second in MLB only to the Yankees (2.50). Meanwhile, its offense with 54 runs through Sunday is tied for second-worst in baseball. So there is many a mixed message with not a lot of statistically significant data — at least in terms of sample size. You could just as easily say the Royals have frittered away a good deal of that great starting pitching as that they’ve been fortunate to cobble together three wins with three or fewer runs. Most of all, the point here is that absolutely nothing defining has happened yet. This season still is too much in the embryonic phase to draw any conclusions despite an uninspiring start.
Anne Rogers takes stock of where the Royals are after the series against the White Sox.
Rotation still in good shape Royals starters entered Sunday having recorded 15 consecutive scoreless innings over the last two games, but Noah Cameron had more difficulty, allowing five earned runs in 5 1/3 innings. He allowed two two-out, two-run home runs and issued the walk that would eventually come around to score the tying run in the sixth inning.
But all in all, the Royals’ rotation is still in good shape. Through 16 games, starters have allowed zero earned runs in five starts, one run or fewer in 10 starts and two or fewer in 11 starts. Starting pitching wins games, and the Royals feel like their rotation is going to keep them in games no matter what.
DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 09: Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against the Calgary Flames in the second period at Ball Arena on April 9, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Sure, anyone can win the Stanley Cup so long as they make the playoffs — but is that really true? At this point we know there are contenders and pretenders in every postseason, and while it’s really cool to see Sidney Crosby in playoff hockey again, nobody is giving the Penguins a legitimate chance to raise the cup.
Today we look at the seven teams best poised to actually take it all home when the dust settles, from the clear favorites to the long shots.
No. 1: Colorado Avalanche
The Avs have been the best team in hockey this year, and it’s not particularly close. Anchored by Nathan McKinnon and Cale Makar, Colorado found a new gear in 2025-26 with the addition of Martin Necas. While Necas arrived last season as part of the Mikko Rantanen trade with Carolina, he really found his footing this season and meshed with the team.
Boasting a ludicrous +94 goal differential this season, nobody can match Colorado when it comes to the strength of their top two lines. The only risk for this team making a run to the cup is the severity of Cale Makar’s upper body injury. We know he’s going to miss some playoff time, and if that lingers it could have a huge effect on this team’s chances.
Key strength: Superstar strength out of their first two skating lines, as well as top line defense Key weakness: Cale Makar is carrying an injury into the playoffs, and that could lead to a slow start
No. 2: Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are more or less the same team that have been a playoff staple for the last eight years. Rod Brind’Amour’s brand of team-focused, no-superstar hockey does a phenomenal job of leading the Canes to amazing regular season results, but tends to falter in the playoffs where individual performance reigns supreme.
Carolina will hope that the free agent addition of Nikolaj Ehlers is the missing piece they needed, and after a slow start Ehlers became everything the team hoped for with 68 points this season. The 2025-26 iteration of the Hurricanes took another offensive step forward with Seth Jarvis taking the next step, and Jackson Blake emerging as a future star — but this team has the worst goaltending of anyone in the playoffs this year, which could be mammoth problem.
Key strength: Four line skating depth with little drop off between lines Key weakness: Both Freddie Anderson and Brandon Bussi are very shaky in net
No. 3: Dallas Stars
The Stars are a very, very good hockey team that too often masquerades as an elite one. That might seem unfair, but it’s tough to deny that the Stars failed to live up to expectations this season despite finishing with over 100 points on the year.
This was a team who were a preseason favorite to win the west, but Mikko Rantanen isn’t nearly as potent a scorer without McKinnon to set him up, and the Stars’ core weakness is a lack of playmaking centers. There’s an undeniable amount of firepower in Dallas, but running the game through the wings hasn’t traditionally been a recipe for success in the postseason.
Key strength: Streaky team who can dominate games when everything clicks Key weakness: Things don’t click often enough for this team to be consistent
No. 4: Montreal Canadiens
Love ‘em or hate ‘em, the NHL is a better place when the Montreal Canadiens are in the playoffs. This new generation of the Habs are brimming with young talent poised to take the next step forward. When you look at this roster you see a team that’s already over-performing expectations, and none of their key players have hit their prime yet.
Entering the playoffs Montreal has one of the strongest home ice advantages in the playoffs, with the Bell Centre being one of the most formidable places to play at the best of times. That edge isn’t likely to be quite enough to mitigate the defensive issues the Candiens are yet to resolve, or make it through with mid-tier goaltending.
Key strength: Goal-scoring potential of Cole Caulfield and Juraj Slafkovsky Key weakness: Too much youth without enough veteran leadership to make a deep run
No. 5: Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild understood the assignment in 2025-26. After signing Kirill Kaprizov to a mammoth extension they had to pour more gas on the fire, and did just that by being the biggest in-season buyers by adding one of the NHL’s best defenseman in Quinn Hughes, then bolstering their depth with numerous smaller deals at the deadline.
Hughes has helped transform this team from a back-end playoff hopeful to a legitimate contender. The core issue is that when it comes to scoring Minnesota is wholly reliant on Kaprizov and Matt Boldy to find the net, with the rest of the team lagging far, far behind.
Key strength: Three brilliant playmakers in Kaprizov, Boldy, and Hughes Key weakness: They’re in the west, which is dominated by the Avs
No. 6: Tampa Bay Lightning
When you have Andrei Vasilevskiy in net there’s always going to be a chance to win games, and the Lightning showed that in 2025-26 by allowing just 222 goals on the year. The problem comes at the other end, where regression from both Brayden Point and Brandon Hagel has put even more pressure on Nikita Kucherov to carry the load for Tampa Bay.
This version of the Lightning is really good, but hasn’t changed dramatically enough to see where they succeed where they’ve failed in the past. Corey Perry is too old to be a difference maker at this point, and the team overpaid to get him at the deadline. As such it feels like the Lightning are headed back to hit the same brick wall. Still, there’s always a chance they can get hot and make a deep run as they have in the past.
Key strength: Nikita Kucherov and Jake Guentzel are two of the best scoring forwards in the playoffs Key weakness: This looks too much like the same Lightning team that lost in the first round of 2024-25
No. 7: Buffalo Sabres
I hate putting the best feel-good story in hockey so low on the list, but it’s a credit to Buffalo that they make the contenders list at all. The Sabres went from finishing 7th in the Atlantic Conference to 1st this season, as they went from a team who seemed poised pre-season to be sellers and rebuilders at the deadline, to now being a legitimate force.
This team has solid depth, but lacks the high-end talent to really compete just quite yet. The power play unit for Buffalo isn’s fully developed, and once you get past Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch the forwards fall off a cliff.
Key strength: Devil-may-care freedom belief they can beat anyone Key weakness: Not enough depth to compete just yet
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 13: Garrett Crochet #35 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after giving up a walk against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Target Field on April 13, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the Red Sox having some momentum after winning two straight and four of their last five games, they gave the ball to Garrett Crochet last night. He was facing a Minnesota Twins lineup that recently beat up on Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez, and turned in the worst performance of his career: an 11-run, 1.2 IP stint. With his velocity and arm angle down slightly, are you concerned? Personally, I’m not. (I actually am slightly concerned, but choose to say I’m not because that’s much less scary).
We go again against the Twins tonight. Hopefully Sonny Gray puts forward a better performance against one of his former teams. Use this space to talk about what you want and, as always, be good to one another.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - MARCH 25: Luis Serna of New York Yankees pitches in the third inning during to Spring Training Game Two between Diablos Rojos and New York Yankees at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu on March 25, 2024 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Jaime Lopez/Jam Media/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It wasn’t the best week on the farm for the Yankees’ four affiliates, but it was the first full week of the season, during which all four affiliates got in six games. Nobody had a winning week, but all four levels had at least one player produce a standout performance, with several showing incredible progress and continued results in their season debuts.
Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
Record: 9-6, 1.5 GB in the International League East after a 3-3 week against the Durham Bulls (Rays)
Run differential: +24
Coming up: Road @ Syracuse Mets (Mets)
The second full week of the season was a mixed bag for the RailRiders, who started out with another Tuesday postponement due to blistering cold in Northeastern Pennsylvania. They opened the week with a thrilling comeback victory on Wednesday, which saw them rally back from a 6-0 deficit in a bullpen game by taking advantage of bad Durham defense. They then walked off the Bulls on Thursday in a back-and-forth game, thanks to a walk-off blast from catcher Ali Sánchez.
A planned doubleheader on Friday saw only one game played, and it was tied through six innings at two before a blowup outing by Harrison Cohen resulted in an eight-run seventh and a loss. They finally got the doubleheader in on Saturday, which saw Carlos Lagrange take the loss in the matinee despite seven strikeouts in 3.1 fiery innings, while they rode the burly bat of Spencer Jones to take the nightcap, 9-5. The bats mostly fell silent in a 4-3 loss on Sunday.
Jasson Domínguez continues to impress on the hitting front, racking up six hits, seven walks, and four stolen bases in six games. What was especially intriguing was that he even started a pair of games in center field, his original position when he signed out of the Dominican Republic. There wasn’t anything too notable in either of those games, but he did commit an error when he misplayed a single into center field that allowed a run to score.
Spencer Jones is heating up after a horrific start to the season. Through nine games, the 6-foot-7 slugger had a strikeout rate over 50 percent, but he only struck out five times in six games this week. His standout performance came in the nightcap of Saturday’s doubleheader, when he went 3-for-4 with a home run and five RBIs.
As for the rest of the hitting core, the veterans are all over the place. Max Schuemann and Braden Shewmake haven’t gotten going (though my colleague Scott had a very nice article about Schuemann), while Seth Brown and Paul DeJong have been more than serviceable. The real standout is Sánchez, who could be in play for a midseason call-up behind the dish if the depth is tested. A former big leaguer with five different teams, he’s not known for his bat, but he blasted a pair of home runs this week.
Brendan Beck continued a strong start to the season on Wednesday, while there were mixed results for Elmer Rodríguez and Carlos Lagrange. For Rodriguez, his velo was down, and he labored through five innings, while Lagrange struggled with command while lighting up the radar gun, sitting nearly 101 on his fastball. In three starts, he now has 13 strikeouts to nine walks in 10.2 innings.
Bullpen-wise, the 40-man arms continue to deal. Yovanny Cruz and Angel Chivilli have still yet to give up an earned run, combining for 19 strikeouts in 14.2 innings. Yerry De los Santos and Kervin Castro have also continued to pitch well. Any of those players could be in play to come up to the Yankees today with the news of Jake Bird’s demotion.
Following tonight’s game, the Yankees optioned RHP Jake Bird to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Record: 3-5, 2 GB in the Eastern League Northeast after a 2-4 week against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Mets)
Run differential: +5
Coming up: Home vs. Reading Fightin’ Phils (Phillies)
This team has had the early identity of extreme inconsistency. For a TLDR, here’s what I mean:
Three wins: 37 runs, +28 run differential Five losses: 11 runs, -23 run differential
In three of their five losses, they’ve been held to one run or fewer. They scored four combined runs in a Wednesday doubleheader, losing the first game 11-3 before they failed to pick up Chase Chaney in a 2-1 loss. They rebounded to win by 10 runs on Thursday, powered by another strong game by George Lombard Jr., before losing an extremely odd Saturday game, which saw them need to use infielder Owen Cobb in the 10th inning. They took the finale, 7-5.
Speaking of Lombard, he continues to be on fire, going 7-for-19 with a home run and three doubles. There’s a lot to be encouraged by in his first seven games of the season. After struggling to generate much game power in 2025 (9 HR and .146 ISO in 132 combined games), he’s already hit two homers with seven extra-base hits in 32 plate appearances. His very mature plate discipline has remained on display, and he’s only struck out four times. The defensive IQ still looks very, very impressive as well.
We go from a 20-year-old top prospect to a 32-year-old journeyman, as the oldest player in Double-A is raking in his first taste of MLB-affiliated ball in seven years. Nick Torres is coming off a tremendous week, going 8-for-18 with a home run and a double in five games while splitting time at first base, left field, and designated hitter. He isn’t much of a prospect, but the Mexican League MVP is easy to root for.
Elsewhere on offense, guys like Coby Morales, Garrett Martin, and DJ Gladney continue to hit, while they’re still hoping for Jace Avina and the catching tandem of Miguel Palma and Manuel Palencia to get going, as the three have combined to start the year 4-for-55.
Ben Hess had a very challenging start on Saturday, when he lost all command in the third inning. There’s always a worry that some of these minor-league starters might not be able to throw enough strikes to start at the big-league level, and Hess is currently in that gray area. Through two starts, he has 14 strikeouts and 10 walks/HBP in just 7.2 innings. When his stuff is on, it’s on, but it won’t matter if he can’t throw enough strikes.
The results were mixed with the rest of the rotation. Kyle Carr had a better start on Sunday after walks hurt him in his first start of the season, while Trent Sellers and Xavier Rivas both struggled in their first starts. Cade Smith had a dazzling first four innings in his Double-A debut on Wednesday, but unraevled in the fifth and had to be saved by Eric Reyzelman in relief.
Speaking of Reyzelman, he’s among those off to a great start in the bullpen. The former fifth-round pick won’t be long for Somerset if he continues to show improved command, while both Will Brian and Chris Kean have impressed as well. Those three have 20 strikeouts combined in just over 10 shutout innings of relief and have been stabilizers to a bullpen with a few struggling arms.
As we look ahead, Anthony Volpe is starting a rehab assignment in Somerset on Tuesday as he inches closer to returning from labrum surgery.
Players of Note:
Ben Hess: 7.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 9 K Eric Reyzelman: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K George Lombard Jr: 13-for-28, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 7 XBH, 2 SB DJ Gladney: 7-for-21, 3 RBI, 3 XBH, 2 BB Coby Morales: 8-for-27, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 4 XBH, 5 BB
High-A Hudson Valley Renegades
Record: 3-5, 3.5 GB in the South Atlantic League North after a 1-5 week against the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Nationals)
Run differential: -3
Coming up: Road @ Frederick Keys (Orioles)
Hudson Valley had a rough week on both sides of the ball. The Renegades scored first in the first five games of the week, but only won one of them. They dropped Tuesday’s game in extras, lost on a blowup fifth inning on Wednesday, won 2-0 on Thursday, lost a pitcher’s duel on Friday, had one bad inning doom them on Saturday, and just had a lousy loss on Sunday.
After a great start to the season, most of the 2025 draftees cooled off considerably this week, as Kaeden Kent, Core Jackson, and Kyle West struggled (Jackson did hit a home run on Saturday, at least). The standout hitters this week were 2025 undrafted free agent Eric Genther (9-for-21, RBI, 3 BB, 2 2B) and former top prospect Roderick Arias (5-for-23, 5 RBI, 3B, 4 SB), who noticeably looks more comfortable after leaving Tampa.
The pitching was a mixed bag. Franyer Herrera wasn’t great in his abbreviated season debut, Brandon Decker tossed 3.2 hitless innings but struggled with command, Rory Fox was dominant in his first three innings before completely unraveling, and Sean Paul Liñan flashed his potential with seven strikeouts in 3,1 choppy innings. Additionally, the team lost Pico Kohn to the 7-day injured list with an undisclosed injury.
But the two pitchers who really stood out were Luis Serna and Jack Cebert. We’ll get into Serna later on, but Cebert was impressive in his season debut. The 2025 15th-rounder debuted briefly last season as a reliever, but pitched into the eighth inning today in his first pro start. He bounced back after a tough third inning, and despite taking the loss, struck out eight in 7.1 innings with zero walks.
The bullpen has had an inconsistent start to the year. Chris Veach is the current gold standard with six strikeouts in 4.1 shutout innings, while both Ben Grable and Jack Sokol are racking up strikeouts in relatively small samples. It’s too early to say much with this unit.
Record: 3-6, 4 GB in the Florida State League West after a 3-3 week against the Clearwater Threshers (Phillies)
Run differential: -15
Coming up: Home vs. Bradenton Marauders (Pirates)
If you’ve followed the Tarpons for the last few years, you know that pitching has been an issue for the team for a good while. That does happen to be a trend in Single-A, but the early returns are incredibly encouraging for Tampa. In six games this week, they allowed 10 total runs.
Tampa lost the opener, 4-1, after a rough seventh inning. Strong starting pitching buoyed victories on Wednesday and Thursday, even with an underperforming offense. The offense came through with a 9-0 win on Friday, but the Tarpons dropped both weekend games by only scoring one total run.
Pretty much everyone is struggling to start the year, as even with Logan Maxwell’s multi-homer game and JoJo Jackson’s strong first weekend, the numbers aren’t good. Brando Mayea is struggling, as is Enmanuel Tejeda, who’s an ugly 1-for-27, albeit with 11 walks. There’s one player, though, who’s still hitting.
Jackson Lovich started the year on the injured list with a minor injury, but returned on Thursday to play the next four games. His six-game cameo last season saw some eye-popping numbers, but it could be a victim of a small sample size. Well, he’s continued it to start this season, starting 6-for-16 with five extra-base hits, four RBIs, and a stolen base. He has been striking out more, but his stats to start his career are ludicrous.
I’d like to keep pushing the Jackson Lovich propaganda alongside @ChrisCoop_. He’s absolutely punishing baseballs right now.
103.2 mph AvgEV (100th%) 113.6 mph MaxEV (98th%) 108 mph 50th% EV (100th%) 113.6 mph 90th% EV (100th%)
The pitching is the story. Blake Gillespie threw six shutout innings on Tuesday, Allen Facundo struck out eight in 5.2 innings in his season debut on Wednesday, Tyler Boudreau struck out nine in 4.1 innings on Thursday, Justin West tossed 5.1 shutout innings on Friday, and Danny Flatt spun six solid innings on Sunday. Henry Lalane had a solid outing on Saturday as well, but he’s going back on the injured list.
Players of Note:
Logan Maxwell: 6-for-22, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 2 SB JoJo Jackson: 7-for-27, 5 RBI, 2 2B, 5 BB, 3 SB Allen Facundo: 5.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 8 K Jose M. Rodriguez: 5.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 5 BB, 11 K
Prospect of the Week:Luis Serna
Weekly Stats: 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 10 K
Progress isn’t always linear for prospects rising through a farm system. This is especially true for international prospects, who sign so young that they have an exceptionally longer leash to figure things out because of their age.
Serna was once a highly-touted prospect out of Mexico who dominated rookie ball in 2021 and 2022, combining to strike out 102 batters in 81 innings of 2 ERA ball at age 17 and 18. While he had a more challenging 2023, he figured to be entering his age-20 season with all the promise in the world. He even got to pitch in his home country when the Yankees played an exhibition in Monterrey in late March.
19-year-old Mexico native Luis Serna with a changeup for his first K of the night 🔥 pic.twitter.com/a4OQ7JyPuH
When Serna made his Single-A debut with Tampa, though, he just couldn’t figure things out. Injuries cost him part of 2024 and most of 2025 as he mightily struggled over the course of two years, pitching to a baffling 5.99 ERA in 76.2 innings. The shine had worn off, even if he wouldn’t turn 22 until this July. Still, the Yankees decided not to have him repeat Single-A until he figured it out, pushing him to High-A Hudson Valley. And while one game doesn’t dictate how your season will go, his High-A debut was as good as possible.
He allowed just two baserunners with 10 strikeouts and 22(!) whiffs in seven strong innings in Thursday’s win. His velocity was back to 93-94, his changeup was otherworldly, his slider and curveball worked as tertiary pitches. Everything was working for a guy who’s finally healthy.
Luis Serna today in his first High-A outing: 7.0 IP 1 H 0 ER 10 K – 1 BB
Unbelievable stuff from Serna today. That changeup is something SERIOUS…I am not kidding, I watch a lot of Yankee prospect baseball and this is easily one of the best pitches in the organization's farm… pic.twitter.com/61oNDwrG3W
For a team that has developed some great arms in recent years, if we see a resurgence from a guy like Serna getting back on a big league trajectory, that might be their biggest win yet.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - APRIL 13: Pete Alonso #25 of the Baltimore Orioles watches his home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 13, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Tuesday, Camden Chatters! And what a good morning it is, waking up after the most exciting Orioles game of the young season. Down 7-1 going into the bottom of the sixth, your favorite baseball team scored eight runs in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings to come from behind and secure a 9-7 victory.
The comeback was dramatic. Jeremiah Jackson launched a grand slam into left field to cut the lead to just one run. In the next inning, it was Pete Alonso’s turn. With Taylor Ward on base, Alonso hit a bomb that went directly over the head of Mr. Splash, who was wearing a polar bear head. The optics were perfect and the Orioles were up, 8-7. Jackson hit another dinger in the eighth inning for good measure, and Ryan Helsley’s 1-2-3 ninth inning locked up the win. You can get all of the excellent details from this wild win in Paul Folkemer’s game recap.
Dean Kremer was called back from Norfolk to make last night’s start. It was a mixed bag, to say the least. Kremer gave up three home runs, which is very bad. But he struck out nine without walking a batter, which is good. Kremer is no ace, and there is no telling what will happen to him now. Mike Elias is a tricky guy. But the line all along has been that Kremer is a good back-of-the-rotation starter, and that much remains true.
The offense started the season in a concerning way, but the bats are coming around. They have scored at least five runs in four of the last five games. Before putting up nine runs last night, they had back-to-back games with six runs scored. The weather is heating up this week and we can only hope that the bats will like the new temps.
Tonight, the Orioles will try to take the series against the Diamondbacks. And they have a decidedly front-of-the-rotation starter going for them. Trevor Rogers will make his fourth start tonight. He is on a week’s rest as the Orioles stretch out the rotation, presumably in an effort to keep Rogers and others ready throughout the entire season. Rogers has allowed four earned runs in three starts, a total of 19 innings. Hopefully, he has another good one in him tonight.
If you missed all of the roster updates from yesterday, allow me to bring you up to speed. Poor Ryan Mountcastle was placed on the 60-day IL with a broken foot. In his place, the Orioles called up infielder Weston Wilson. However, rehabbing Jackson Holliday was in the Orioles’ dugout last night. Could his recall be imminent? He doesn’t have much time remaining on his rehab stint, but the other Jackson, Jeremiah, is playing like a man who does not want to lose his job.
Yaramil Hiraldo, who is out with shoulder inflammation, has also been moved to the 60-day IL. The Orioles optioned Cade Povich to make room for Kremer, a move that might make sense but also is a little frustrating. Povich has been great. He’ll be back, I know.
Also yesterday, the Orioles traded for Reds infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand , then optioned him to triple-A. Encarnacion-Strand has played for the Reds in parts of the last three seasons. He is 26 years old.
Links
O’s manager Albernaz hit in head by foul ball in dugout – MLB.com It was a scary moment in the game last night when Jeremiah Jackson fouled a ball into the dugout that hit manager Craig Albernaz in the face. Albernaz got checked out and returned one inning later sporting a scratch and a swollen face. Jackson apologized by hitting two home runs.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have a ton of Orioles birthday buddies, but sadly none of them left too lasting and impression on Orioles history. They are:
Jeff Fiorentino (43), one of those dark days players who, for some reason, looms larger in my memory than is warranted. He appeared in 56 games with the Orioles from 2005-06 and 2009.
Gregg Zaun (55), nephew of Rick Dempsey.
Brad Pennington (57), the relief pitcher who taught 14-year-old Stacey that sometimes it’s ok to turn off the TV before the pitch is thrown.
Mike Trombley (59), who was a pretty good reliever for the 2001 Orioles. He spent most of his career in Minnesota.
Greg Myers (6o), journeyman catcher who stopped in Baltimore from 2000-01.
Jay Aldrich (65), a 1990 seven-gamer.
Frank Bertaina (b. 1944, d. 2010), a relief pitcher and prankster whose teammates gave him the nickname “Toys in the Attic” because he was…insane? Or something. It was not clear to me after googling.
Kal Segrist (b. 1931, d. 2015), who had 11 plate appearances for the 1955 Orioles.
On this day in 1990, Cal Ripken started a streak (not that one) that led to a major league record 95 straight errorless games and 431 total chances by a shortstop.
Who:Pittsburgh Penguins (41-24-16, 98 points, 2nd place Metropolitan Division) @ St. Louis Blues (36-33-12, 82 points, 6th place Central Division)
When: 9:30 p.m. ET
How to Watch: Local on TVAS and SN-PIT, national on ESPN
Pens’ Path Ahead: The Philadelphia Flyers officially clinched a first-round matchup with the Pens with a shootout victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday night. These two teams last met in the postseason in 2018 (the Pens won that series in six games before losing the second round in six to the eventual champion Washington Capitals). The series will begin either Saturday or Sunday in Pittsburgh.
Opponent Track: The Blues were officially eliminated from playoff contention Sunday when the Los Angeles Kings beat the Edmonton Oilers. This marks the third time in four seasons St. Louis has fallen short of the playoffs. The Blues most recently claimed a 6-3 win at home Monday night against the shorthanded Minnesota Wild, and they’re wrapping up their season Thursday against the Utah Mammoth in Salt Lake City.
Season Series: A late even-strength goal from Sidney Crosby made the difference in the Penguins’ 6-3 win over the Blues back in October at PPG Paints.
Getting to know the Blues
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Dylan Holloway – Robert Thomas – Jimmy Snuggerud
Pavel Buchnevich – Pius Suter – Jordan Kyrou
Jake Neighbours – Dalibor Dvorsky – Jonathan Drouin
Alexey Toropchenko – Jack Finley – Otto Stenberg
DEFENSEMEN
Philip Broberg / Logan Mailloux
Theo Lindstein / Colton Parayko
Cam Fowler / Tyler Tucker
Goalies: Jordan Binnington (Joel Hofer started last night)
Potential scratches: Justin Holl, Nathan Walker, Jonatan Berggren, Matthew Kessel, Oskar Sundqvist
Injured Reserve: None
The Blues racked up even more offense than the scoreboard shows last night after multiple successful goal challenges from the Minnesota Wild. That included two goals in a span of less than 30 seconds in the second period. It could be another high-scoring game tonight in St. Louis. The Wild were resting half their starting lineup, and the Pens are likely to take a similar tactic tomorrow.
That offensive explosion included two goals from Jake Neighbours, who’s been struggling down the stretch this season. It could be good for both team and player to end the season with a hot streak from Neighbours, who was floated on a recent 32 Thoughtspodcast as a potential future captain in St. Louis.
Joel Hofer started last night against the Wild, so the Pens could be seeing Jordan Binnington tonight. Binnington is still searching for his first win of April after the Blues lost to the Los Angeles Kings and Winnipeg Jets in his last two starts.
Season stats (does not include yesterday’s game) viahockeydb
Offensive depth has been an issue all season for the Blues, as recently pointed out by Jeremy Rutherford for The Athletic. Heading into Monday, the team’s top line of Dylan Holloway, Robert Thomas and rookie Jimmy Snuggerud had combined for over a quarter of the team’s total production (including defensemen).
“(The other lines) just haven’t found that rhythm that the first line has. Everyone sees the skill and the plays they make off the rush, but they’re doing a lot of good stuff, winning battles, being connected, and having someone at the net front. It’s something I think the other lines need to make sure that they have a net anchor a little bit more.” — Blues coach Jim Montgomery, per Rutherford
The Blues are heading into the 2026 NHL draft with three first-round picks, including a lottery selection projected as of Monday to land at No. 8. They also have one of the top prospect pools in the NHL, starting by recent first-rounders Justin Carbonneau and Adam Jirícek. The Blues could be hoping graduating some of those prospects to the NHL in the near future, in addition to developing a potential high pick and young players like Snuggerud, will help this team retool from its aging 2019 championship core.
And now for the Pens
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Egor Chinakhov – Rickard Rakell – Ville Koivunen
Anthony Mantha- Tommy Novak – Justin Brazeau
Rutger McGroarty – Kevin Hayes – Avery Hayes
Elmer Soderblom – Joona Koppanen – Noel Acciari
DEFENSEMEN
Ryan Shea / Connor Clifton
Sam Girard / Jack St Ivany
Ryan Graves / Ilya Solovyov
Goalies: Stuart Skinner and Arturs Silovs
Potential Scratches: Blake Lizotte (injured), Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Ben Kindel, Erik Karlsson, Parker Wotherspoon, Kris Letang, Bryan Rust
IR: Filip Hallander, Caleb Jones (season-ending shoulder surgery)
Take these lines (from the Penguins’ first of two matchups with the Caps this weekend) with a grain of salt. They’ll depend on who the Pens decide to rest in the final game of the regular season, reportedly many of the top players are not expected to be on the trip out to Missouri and returned home to Pittsburgh after the game in DC on Sunday.
Some fun stats from Penguins PR: Players who have hit career-high points totals with the Penguins this season include Anthony Mantha, Justin Brazeau, Connor Dewar, Egor Chinakhov, Ryan Shea, Parker Wotherspoon, Bryan Rust, Ilya Solovyov, Elmer Soderblom and Jack St. Ivany.
If Anthony Mantha finishes the season as the Penguins’ leading goalscorer (he’s on track to, barring a three-goal night from Sidney Crosby) he will join Jake Guentzel, Chris Kunitz, Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell on an exclusive list as the only Penguins outside Crosby or Evgeni Malkin to lead the team in scoring since 2005.
Crosby is meanwhile set to finish the season as the Penguins’ point leader for the 16th time. He is one season shy of tying Gordie Howe’s 17 seasons as the Detroit Red Wings’ points leader for the all-time record with a single franchise.
The Islanders finish their season-killing homestand by hosting a longtime nemesis, the Carolina Hurricanes, who have nothing to play for and every reason to rest with first place in the East locked up. That didn’t stop them from forcing the Flyers to a shootout last night before Philadelphia clinched the final playoff spot and set up a Battle of Pennsylvania in the first round.
I’m still processing my feelings — disappointment? low expectations ultimately met but via a mostly fun route? hope for offseason improvements? — from how this season petered out, but we solved a lot of it in comments/group therapy yesterday so I think many of us are ready to start 2026-27, at least if we are given the reins to make the moves we know to be needed.
But there is still business to finish! Matthew Schaefer needs a goal tonight. I don’t care if they play him at forward like an early ‘80s Phil Housley, or if they set him up on the doorstep on the power play, or have him cherrypick like Daniel Briere — whatever they need to do, make this happen and give him exclusive possession of the NHL record for goals by a rookie defenseman.
They probably get shut out though.
The final First Islanders Goal picks of the season go here. BIG thank you to Commenter69420 for managing this all season and keeping it going for you FIG-addicts.
Islanders News
Will we get news of a callup or even NHL debut today? (Victor Eklund is getting that, according to THN) Figure knowing one way or other after the morning skate.
And this won’t be answered today, but will it be Anders Lee’s final game as an Islander? (Doubtful, but possible.) Or any of the other longtime Islanders? (More likely.)
This is actually a tough vote for Goal of the Year: the Palmieri Instant ACL Legend or the Schaefer Leaf-Slayer goal. [Isles]
What an up and down season, ending with a thud that makes Dan and Mike feel pretty low. [Islanders Anxiety podcast]
Talking to Islanders and Rangers about their memories of their rookie lap. [Newsday]
Pete DeBoer says getting a few games with this team means he is “way ahead” of where he would be had he been hired sometime this summer. [Post]
Prospect Report: Kashawn Aitcheson continues to accumulate points, Quinn Finley’s Wisconsin falls short, and a few others are still active in the CHL playoffs. [Isles]
The Islanders, Devils and Rangers have made history: This is the first time all three have missed the playoffs. [Post]
Elsewhere
Lots of games and additional clinchings last night. Though the Isles are done, there are actually two more days of games after tonight.
Matt Moulson’s brother-in-law calls it quits at 40, finishes with a loss as a Ranger, following a long tradition of former greats going to the Smurfs to kill off their career. [ESPN]
The Stars have a guy named Mavrik Bourque and he just got a hat trick. [Sportsnet]
Here’s all the roster turnover Kyle Dubas did to get the Penguins one last playoff appearance before the tanks roll in. [Sportsnet]
It’s hard to believe, but we have arrived at game No. 82 for the 2025-26 Pittsburgh Penguins, though it seems like just yesterday they were at Madison Square Garden opening the season against the New York Rangers. Not many fans thought there was going to be more than the standard 82 games for the Penguins this season, but we now know there is more hockey yet to be played with the Penguins qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs. First though, the Penguins will put a cap on the regular season with a matchup against the St. Louis Blues later this evening.
Puck drop is scheduled for 9:30 PM ET and will be broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and ESPN.
Pens Points…
For now, there is only one game remaining on the Penguins 2025-26 schedule, a meeting with the St. Louis Blues later this evening to wrap up the regular season. More games of course will be added, likely this weekend when the Penguins begin Stanley Cup playoff action. [Pensburgh]
Who the Penguins will play when those playoff games are added remains to be seen, but we could know by the time this post goes live with the Philadelphia Flyers just two points away from locking down the final playoff spot and guaranteeing a “Battle of Pennsylvania” meeting in the first round. [Pensburgh]
There were a bunch of regulars missing from the Penguins lineup over the course of their weekend back-to-back with the Washington Capitals. That opened the door for some depth players to get back in the lineup and make one last audition before the playoffs begin. [Pensburgh]
For maybe the last time, Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin met in an NHL game this weekend. If that was indeed the end of their two decade rivalry, then it was an absolute treat to watch all these years, and the two combatants seem to agree, the memories will last forever. [PPG]
It didn’t appear so at the time, but the moves Kyle Dubas made over the summer helped build the Penguins into the playoff team they are today. Add in a handful of other transactions he made during the season and at the draft, and you will exactly how he built the Penguins into a contender. [Sportsnet]
NHL News and Notes…
With the regular season winding down, the race for the NHL’s individual awards are also coming to a close. Nikita Kucherov is will positioned to win his first Hart Trophy and Zach Werenski could take home his first Norris while Matthew Schafer should waltz away with the Calder. [ESPN]
Anton Forsberg has backstopped the Los Angeles Kings into a playoff spot out west with a spotless week in goal and he has been named the NHL First Star of the Week as a result. Fellow goalie Linus Ullmark has named Second Star while Dylan Larkin rounded out the trio of honorees. [NHL]
The NBA regular season is over, which means many teams are shifting their focus entirely to the 2026 NBA Draft.
With nearly half of the teams done with games for the season, their scouts and front office executives will soon determine which future pros they may add to their roster for next year. After an exciting March Madness tournament won by the Michigan Wolverines, several prospects showed exactly what they can offer in the league.
As many collegiate players announce their intention to declare early entry to the 2026 NBA Draft, we can start to develop a more clear picture of what this class may look like.
The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery, which will determine the order of picks one through fourteen, will be held May 10 in Chicago, followed immediately that week by the draft combine, also in Chicago.
Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the No. 3 pick will play out with Brooklyn Nets making the selection.
Our draft order is based on Tankathon.com and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.
While he is no longer perceived as the near-certain No. 1 overall pick that he once was due to relative inconsistency and injury issues, many scouts and evaluators feel that Darryn Peterson is the most talented player in this class. The Nets had the worst offense in the NBA and could change the course of the franchise by selecting Peterson. It is incredibly rare to find a prospect who is able to score as efficiently as Peterson did while holding a usage rate as high as his was this season.
The NBA regular season is over, which means many teams are shifting their focus entirely to the 2026 NBA Draft.
With nearly half of the teams done with games for the season, their scouts and front office executives will soon determine which future pros they may add to their roster for next year. After an exciting March Madness tournament won by the Michigan Wolverines, several prospects showed exactly what they can offer in the league.
As many collegiate players announce their intention to declare early entry to the 2026 NBA Draft, we can start to develop a more clear picture of what this class may look like.
The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery, which will determine the order of picks one through fourteen, will be held May 10 in Chicago, followed immediately that week by the draft combine, also in Chicago.
Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the No. 5 pick will play out with Utah Jazz making the selection.
Our draft order is based on Tankathon.com and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.
Utah Jazz 2026 projected draft picks
No. 4
Utah Jazz 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 5 overall, Kingston Flemings, G, Houston
Kalbrosky's Analysis:
The Jazz had the worst defensive rating in the Western Conference and could potentially improve that by selecting Houston freshman Kingston Flemings to join Keyonte George in their backcourt. The All-Big 12 guard has several games when he has recorded at least three steals, notching eight against Arizona State earlier this season. He scored 42 points against No. 11 Texas Tech on Jan. 24. Flemings helped lead Houston to the Sweet 16, and with highs as high as his were this season, it will not take long for him to hear his name called on draft night.
The NBA regular season is over, which means many teams are shifting their focus entirely to the 2026 NBA Draft.
With nearly half of the teams done with games for the season, their scouts and front office executives will soon determine which future pros they may add to their roster for next year. After an exciting March Madness tournament won by the Michigan Wolverines, several prospects showed exactly what they can offer in the league.
As many collegiate players announce their intention to declare early entry to the 2026 NBA Draft, we can start to develop a more clear picture of what this class may look like.
The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery, which will determine the order of picks one through fourteen, will be held May 10 in Chicago, followed immediately that week by the draft combine, also in Chicago.
Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the No. 1 pick will play out with Washington Wizards making the selection.
Our draft order is based on Tankathon.com and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.
Washington Wizards 2026 projected draft picks
No. 1, No. 51 (via MIN) and No. 60 (via OKC)
Washington Wizards 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 1 overall, AJ Dybantsa, F, BYU
Kalbrosky's Analysis:
The Wizards finished with the worst record in the NBA and would benefit tremendously from a lottery win. They had the second-worst offense in the league and could instantly inject life into their offense by selecting AJ Dybantsa, the NCAA scoring champion and Julius Erving Award winner. He emphasized that point during his one game for BYU in March Madness, putting up 35 points and 10 rebounds. The Big 12 Rookie of the Year led the nation in unassisted points scored (680) by a wide margin this season, per CBB Analytics. The emerging star also had 40 points against Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament on March 10 and averaged a stellar 28.8 points per game over his final 17 appearances.
The NBA regular season is over, which means many teams are shifting their focus entirely to the 2026 NBA Draft.
With nearly half of the teams done with games for the season, their scouts and front office executives will soon determine which future pros they may add to their roster for next year. After an exciting March Madness tournament won by the Michigan Wolverines, several prospects showed exactly what they can offer in the league.
As many collegiate players announce their intention to declare early entry to the 2026 NBA Draft, we can start to develop a more clear picture of what this class may look like.
The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery, which will determine the order of picks one through fourteen, will be held May 10 in Chicago, followed immediately that week by the draft combine, also in Chicago.
Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the No. 10 pick will play out with Milwaukee Bucks making the selection.
Our draft order is based on Tankathon.com and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.
Milwaukee Bucks 2026 projected draft picks
No. 10
Milwaukee Bucks 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 10 overall, Mikel Brown Jr., G, Louisville
Kalbrosky's Analysis:
The Milwaukee Bucks, potentially heading toward an ugly Giannis Antetokounmpo divorce, must simply draft the best player available with whatever pick they have and will likely keep Louisville floor general Mikel Brown Jr. highlighted on their big board. The All-ACC guard has deep shooting range and was among the freshmen leaders in 3-pointers made from beyond 25 feet (27) this year, per CBB Analytics. Brown was averaging 29.2 points per game over his last five appearances, including 45 points against NC State on Feb. 9, while hitting 10 shots from beyond the arc, before an injury on Feb. 28 forced him to miss March Madness.
The NBA regular season is over, which means many teams are shifting their focus entirely to the 2026 NBA Draft.
With nearly half of the teams done with games for the season, their scouts and front office executives will soon determine which future pros they may add to their roster for next year. After an exciting March Madness tournament won by the Michigan Wolverines, several prospects showed exactly what they can offer in the league.
As many collegiate players announce their intention to declare early entry to the 2026 NBA Draft, we can start to develop a more clear picture of what this class may look like.
The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery, which will determine the order of picks one through fourteen, will be held May 10 in Chicago, followed immediately that week by the draft combine, also in Chicago.
Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the No. 24 pick will play out with New York Knicks making the selection.
Our draft order is based on Tankathon.com and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.
New York Knicks 2026 projected draft picks
No. 24, No. 31 (via WAS) and No. 55
New York Knicks 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 24 overall, Chris Cenac Jr., F/C, Houston
Kalbrosky's Analysis:
It was an up-and-down season for former five-star recruit and McDonald's All-American Chris Cenac Jr. at Houston. He did, however, got hot at the perfect time. During his first game in the Big Dance, the big man recorded a season-high 18 rebounds, while also knocking down a 3-pointer and grabbing a steal. Then in the Round of 32, he showed off more scoring with some impressive cuts to the basket, dropping 17 points against Texas A&M. He was quieter in the Sweet 16 but still managed 10 rebounds.
The NBA regular season is over, which means many teams are shifting their focus entirely to the 2026 NBA Draft.
With nearly half of the teams done with games for the season, their scouts and front office executives will soon determine which future pros they may add to their roster for next year. After an exciting March Madness tournament won by the Michigan Wolverines, several prospects showed exactly what they can offer in the league.
As many collegiate players announce their intention to declare early entry to the 2026 NBA Draft, we can start to develop a more clear picture of what this class may look like.
The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery, which will determine the order of picks one through fourteen, will be held May 10 in Chicago, followed immediately that week by the draft combine, also in Chicago.
Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the No. 29 pick will play out with Cleveland Cavaliers making the selection.
Our draft order is based on Tankathon.com and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.
After transferring from Xavier to Texas during the offseason and then leading his team to the Sweet 16, Dailyn Swain became one of the more intriguing breakout players in college basketball. The All-SEC forward is versatile and contributed a little bit of everything for the Longhorns on both sides of the ball, scoring well both in the paint and on fastbreaks. Another element that is notably compelling is that Swain is efficient one-on-one in isolation against his defenders.
