Wisconsin guard John Blackwell (25), left, celebrates a play against Michigan with guard Nick Boyd (2) during the second half at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Wisconsin Badgers are losing some major production this offseason, as stars Nick Boyd and John Blackwell will be playing elsewhere next season.
Boyd, a senior this year, will be looking to make his dreams come true in the NBA, while Blackwell, who is testing the NBA Draft waters, committed to play for Duke.
Well, both players got a significant accomplishment on Friday: earning an invite to the 2026 NBA Combine.
The NBA announced today that 73 players have been invited to the AWS NBA Draft Combine 2026, which will take place May 10-17 at Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis in Chicago.
Additionally, a select number of standout players from the AWS NBA G League Draft Combine 2026,… pic.twitter.com/9w2ncpacCe
Blackwell and Boyd are two of 73 players who were invited to the NBA Combine, joining a long list of players who hope to hear their name called in June.
The Combine will take place from May 10th to 17th, while players must either keep their name in or withdraw from the draft on May 27th. So, in Blackwell’s case, he and the other players testing the draft waters have the opportunity to participate in the combine, receive feedback, and make an informed decision on whether to return to college.
It was a strong year for the duo, who made the case of being the country’s top backcourt this season. Boyd led the way with 20.7 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.8 rebounds, while shooting a respectable 48 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from three.
Blackwell, on the other hand, was key as a junior, averaging 19.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while shooting nearly 39 percent from three-point range.
While he’s expected back at Duke for his senior year, it’ll be a big week for both players as they look towards their future.
Who will win White Sox vs Padres today: Padres moneyline (-190)
The San Diego Padres have feasted on right-handed pitching at home over the past month, hitting .269 with a .814 OPS and .357 wOBA – all Top-7 marks.
They should cause problems for Sean Burke, whose ERA is nearly a full run below his FIP thus far. That’s a red flag.
While Burke has limited quality contact, he doesn’t miss many bats, which could get him into trouble against this lineup.
The Padres did real damage at home in April, finishing fifth in total hits and seventh in homers per at bat.
COVERS INTEL: Sean Burkes ranks in the 32nd percentile in expected batting average allowed.
White Sox vs Padres Over/Under pick: Over 8.0 (-104)
Burke has done a better job of limiting hard contact but his home run to fly ball rate is only ~62% of his career average, a sign some regression could be coming.
The Padres rank 10th in HR/FB vs. righties over the last month and eighth at home, making them a real test for Burke.
On the other side, Padres starter Michael King ranks in the 32nd percentile in barrel suppression. The Chicago White Sox sit ninth in homers and fifth in ISO vs. righties on the road so they have the power to capitalize.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 10-3, +6.18 units
Over/Under bets: 6-7, -1.72 units
White Sox vs Padres odds
Moneyline: Chicago (+160) | San Diego (-190)
Run line: Chicago +1.5 (-125) | San Diego -1.5 (+105)
Over/Under: Over 8.0 (-105) | Under 8.0 (-115)
White Sox vs Padres trend
The Chicago White Sox have hit the Game Total Over in 11 of their last 15 away games (+6.55 Units / 39% ROI).Find more MLB betting trends for White Sox vs. Padres.
How to watch White Sox vs. Padres and game info
Location
Petco Park, San Diego, CA
Date
Saturday, May 2, 2026
First pitch
8:40 p.m. ET
TV
CHSN, Padres.TV
White Sox starting pitcher
Sean Burke (1-2, 3.21 ERA)
Padres starting pitcher
Michael King (3-1, 2.41 ERA)
White Sox vs Padres latest injuries
White Sox vs Padres 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.
HOUSTON, TX - MAY 1: Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets shoots the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during Round One Game Six of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 1, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, 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 (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After blowing the opportunity to end the series in Game 5, the Lakers, on one day’s rest, came out determined to end the young and hungry Houston’s season Friday night.
With a Game 7 looming, a Lakers defensive masterclass combined with offensive ineptitude from Houston led to just 31 first-half points for the Rockets, giving LA an 18-point halftime advantage en route to a Game 6 win to end series.
Coming into the playoffs, who won the center matchup between Deandre Ayton and All-Star Alperen Şengün was highlighted as a defining indicator of which team would hold the advantage. Ayton came to LA preaching his renewed focus on defense over offense, and, as he’s done all series, showed it once again Friday night.
After sending double teams at Şengünin Game 5, the purple and gold went back to single coverage with Ayton. LA’s big man moved his feet, stonewalling Şengün and contesting high without fouling to shut off Houston’s main offensive engine.
As the lead initiator with Kevin Durant out, Şengün had a series-high eight assists in Game 5. It was much different in Game 6, where the single coverage forced him into just one assist and four turnovers on 5-12 shooting.
Houston runs Şengün in more than just straight post-up actions. The Reed Sheppard-Şengün pick and roll had given the Lakers some issues in previous games.
Watch below as Ayton “shows”— meets the ballhandler at the level of the screen and gives the guard defender Austin Reaves time to recover — and returns to match up with Şengün on the low block. His hands were high, ready to contest, pinning the big man under the basket and forcing an ill-advised behind-the-back pass for a turnover.
A few possessions later, with Houston threatening a second quarter run, they isolated Şengün at the free-throw line extended. Watch as Ayton absorbs three separate body bumps and a ball fake, then extends a contest to get a block on the fade-away attempt.
To start the third, Şengün looked to attack with a head of steam. He catches it on the trail from Amen Thompson and prepares for his patented spin move at the basket. Ayton keeps his position, doesn’t bite on the pump fake and contests the jump hook while cleaning the defensive glass.
“[Ayton] played his ass off tonight,” Marcus Smart said postgame. “He was locked in from the start to the finish. He kept his composure and he really set the tone for us on that defensive end. It allowed me to do what I do and everyone else to kind of galvanize and come together and do our thing.”
That composure held Şengün, a 52% shooter from the field in the regular season, to just 46% for the series and 28 assists to 18 turnovers.
Backup center Jaxson Hayes struggled mightily in this series, unable to stay on the floor with consistent fouls. The center production was entirely in Ayton’s hands. His minutes jumped up in this series as a result, while he was anchoring a defense that held the Rockets to a bottom-five offense in the playoffs.
The Lakers were underdogs in every game they won this series and the Thunder will be heavy favorites in the next round. No matter how that matchup goes, within all the criticism, Ayton came through when they needed it the most.
As promised to begin the year, he was content going without offensive touches, having only six shots in 28 minutes, and shut down Şengün to give the Lakers their first playoff series win in three years.
The Yankees got a positive update on Saturday regarding slugger Giancarlo Stanton, who's currently on the 10-day injured list with a low-grade calf strain.
Stanton told YES Network's Meredith Marakovits that his right calf is improving as he took swings in the batting cage Friday and will again on Saturday.
He will also be working out in the pool on Saturday and is encouraged by the progress he's made so far in his recovery, he told Marakovits.
"Doesn't look too serious, but enough to not want to wait a couple more days," Boone said. "We'll see what we have as the week unfolds -- hopefully not too long, but we'll see."
Over 24 games (90 at-bats) this season, Stanton is hitting .276 and owns a .724 OPS with three home runs, six doubles, and 14 RBI.
Apr 19, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Ryan Weathers (40) delivers a pitch during the fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
With Luis Gil back at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Elmer Rodríguez not exactly dealing in his MLB debut, some of the muddied water around returning Yankee starters has begun to clear. Still, after Will Warren’s excellent outing last night in the win over Baltimore, Ryan Weathers is tasked with holding serve in his own start today, and in fairness to him he’s putting together a nice little run.
Making his seventh start of the year, Weathers has made one truly bad outing against the Angels, but everything else has varied between serviceable to very good, including a combined 12.1 innings allowing two runs against the Astros and Royals since that debacle at the hands of the Halos. I feel like there’s still another level to Weathers though, and maybe that comes in the rotation, maybe it comes deployed as a five-out-reliever-type. The better each successive start goes, the more I’m going to believe in the former.
Orioles starter Kyle Bradish, meanwhile, is all about the walks. The righty is issuing free passes to 12.5 percent of batters faced, leading to a paltry 10.3 percent K-BB rate, my personal favorite pitching stat. The Yankees have the second-highest walk rate in the game, and there have been points this year where I’ve wondered if they’re actually too passive, but against a hurler like Bradish you can see why they’d be willing to work counts.
Offensively, the lineup reverts back to its normal form against righties. Paul Goldschmidt is back on the bench, Ben Rice is at first batting second, and Ryan McMahon gets the start at third base. Jasson Domínguez will be your DH today, back in the starting nine with a clean bill of health on his elbow after an injury scare in Texas.
How to watch
Location: Yankee Stadium — Bronx, NY
First pitch: 1:35 pm ET
TV broadcast: YES | MASN
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280, 98 Rock 97.9 FM, WBAL 1090 AM
MIAMI – The Phillies reinstated catcher J.T. Realmuto from the injured list and made an adjustment to their bench before Saturday’s game against the Miami Marlins.
Realmuto’s return meant someone had to be subtracted from the 26-man roster. The subtraction turned out to be seldom-used utility man Dylan Moore, who was designated for assignment. With Moore gone, Garrett Stubbs remains with the club in the role of utility man.
Stubbs, who had come up from Triple A to serve as the backup catcher when Realmuto was sidelined with back spasms on April 22, was immediately pressed into outfield duty Saturday. He started in left field when Justin Crawford was scratched with a migraine moments before first pitch. The Phils’ outfield had already been short with Brandon Marsh nursing a sore right elbow after being hit by a pitch Friday night. With Crawford out, manager Don Mattingly moved Adolis Garcia from right field to center field and Felix Reyes from left field to right.
Stubbs was the Phillies’ primary backup catcher from 2022 to 2024. He spent most of last season at Triple A Lehigh Valley and returned there again this season. In addition to catching, Stubbs played some third base and left field at Triple A. He also saw some time at those positions in spring training. Earlier in his career, he played some second base.
With a third catcher on the roster, Mattingly will feel comfortable using Realmuto as a pinch-hitter on days he’s not in the starting lineup.
“I like the thought of the three catchers,” Mattingly said. “It allows a little bit more freedom with pinch-hitting and pinch-running. Stubby’s not a traditional catcher that can’t do anything else. He can play second, he can play third, he can play left, he actually runs, he can steal a bag. He’s a good baserunner, a good bunter. All the things that role brings, we feel pretty good about Stubby doing it.”
Stubbs feared he’d be the one let go when Realmuto returned. He got a welcome surprise when he arrived at the ballpark Saturday.
“I had Saturday marked on my calendar, knowing that was the day J.T. would be back,” he said. “I was able to take a deep breath when Donnie told me and I knew I’d be on the roster.”
The Seattle Mariners have piled up the runs at home lately, plating at least four runs in five of their last six games at T-Mobile Park.
My Royals vs. Mariners predictions expect the offense to give Seth Lugo plenty of trouble as they pull out the win.
Let’s dive deeper into my latest MLB picks for Saturday, May 2.
Who will win Royals vs Mariners today: Mariners (-140)
Although the Seattle Mariners have been inconsistent this season, their offense has been a clear strength at home, specifically against right-handed pitchers.
Seattle currently ranks second against righties in wRC+ at home, trailing only Detroit.
Kansas City Royals starter Seth Lugo will struggle to slow Seattle’s offense. He is sitting in the 18th percentile in whiff rate and is struggling to miss bats, leading to a lot of contact. Lugo also ranks in the 26th percentile in expected batting average.
The M's offense is set up for a productive outing tonight.
COVERS INTEL: The Mariners rank second in line drive rate against righties at home, hitting them 22.1% of the time.
Royals vs Mariners Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (-110)
Lugo’s underlying profile screams regression. He owns a 3.91 xFIP, 4.31 xERA, and has allowed homers on only 2.4% of his flyballs, not even a quarter of his career rate (11.7%).
On the other side, Emerson Hancock has stranded 95.4% of opposing baserunners. That has made his ERA more flattering than it should be. For reference, his previous marks were 71.2% as a rookie and 72.2% last season.
With some red flags on both sides, this matchup sets up well for the offenses.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 10-3, +6.18 units
Over/Under bets: 6-7, -1.72 units
Royals vs Mariners odds
Moneyline: Kansas City (+120) | Seattle (-140)
Run line: Kansas City +1.5 (-170) | Seattle -1.5 (+145)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-110) | Under 7.5 (-110)
Royals vs Mariners trend
Seattle has cashed the moneyline in 34 of its last 50 home games (+11.80 Units / 14% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Royals vs. Mariners.
How to watch Royals vs Mariners and game info
Location
T-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA
Date
Saturday, May 2, 2026
First pitch
9:40 p.m. ET
TV
MLB Network
Royals starting pitcher
Seth Lugo (1-1, 2.63 ERA)
Mariners starting pitcher
Emerson Hancock (2-1, 2.86 ERA)
Royals vs Mariners latest injuries
Royals vs Mariners 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.
BERLIN, GERMANY - OCTOBER 01: Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump figure during the unveiling of the wax figures of actors Tom Hanks and Vin Diesel at Madame Tussauds on October 1, 2018 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Tristar Media/Getty Images) | Getty Images
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 01: Coby Mayo #16 of the Baltimore Orioles jogs on the field prior to the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Friday, May 1, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Orioles filled up the transaction board as they prepared for today’s game against the Yankees. Baltimore added fresh arms to the bullpen by activating Dietrich Enns and Nick Raquet. To make room, the O’s optioned Tyler Wells and designated Albert Suárez for assignment.
Enns is back from the injured list after suffering a left-foot infection while in Pittsburgh. He last pitched on April 3. Raquet made two appearances for Baltimore earlier in the season and failed to make a strong first impression.
The Orioles also added top pitching prospect Trey Gibson to the taxi squad. MLB Pipeline’s Jake Rill recently reported that Gibson will make his MLB debut tomorrow.
Kyle Bradish will get the start today as the Orioles look to even the four-game series. This feels like a big game for early May. Baltimore currently sits two games below .500 (15-17) and six games below the first place Yankees.
Taylor Ward will leadoff and play left field. Gunnar Henderson will follow at shortstop, and Adley Rutschman will catch Bradish. Pete Alonso will slot into the DH spot, which will provide Coby Mayo a chance to play first base. Tyler O’Neill and will take the other outfield corner, and Blaze Alexander will play center field. Jeremiah Jackson (second base) and Weston Wilson (third) will round out the infield.
The O’s are sending seven righties and one switch hitter out to face Yankees lefty Ryan Weathers. Weathers is 1-2 with a 3.21 ERA.
Apr 19, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Andrew Painter (24) checks a runner against the Atlanta Braves in the fourth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
There has been a lot Andrew Painter has seen over their first month in the big leagues. He joined a contending team that got off to an uneven 8-8 start, then lost ten straight, and one of the greatest managers in the history of the franchise got sacked not even 30 games into the season. It’s a lot.
While all of this is happening around Painter, he has made five big league appearances, four of them starts and the other a relief appearance because he had a migraine. The results have been a bit mixed, and he probably shouldn’t have faced Michael Harris II in Atlanta. That decision from Rob Thomson might’ve gotten him fired. Again, it’s a lot.
Through all of that, here is what we know about how Caleb Cotham and the Phillies are trying to use Painter.
The arsenal
One of the biggest differences in how Painter pitched in AAA last season and what he is doing in the Majors this year is how he is platooning his arsenal.
The first big changes are actually how he’s attacking right handed hitters. His sinker against righties has jumped from roughly 6% to 31% in the majors and is his primary fastball against them. He has been exclusively throwing it on the inner-third of the plate to keep hitters honest.
This jump has sacrificed the four-seam usage to right-handed hitters and the hard slider. Painter did throw what was considered a cutter last year along with a hard slider, but some of this could be pitches bleeding into each other and the usage makes it seem that way. He threw those offerings roughly 32% of the time to righties and his four-seam 40% of the time.
He has cut his four-seam fastball down to 28% against right-handed hitters so far and the slider usage went down to 14%. He is working an east-west combination with the sinker in and using sliders and sweepers away for chase.
The approach to left handed hitters has surprisingly been similar but some of this could be how the Phillies want to use his arsenal.
There has been a lot of discussion about Andrew Painter’s four-seam fastball shape, even from our site. Look, it’s not the high back-spin whiff machine that was promised pre-Tommy John surgery and it’s generally getting hit hard, especially from right-handed hitters.
But there is still a way to use it effectively against lefties. His fastball only gets 3.2 inches of arm-side movement on average but compared to what hitters are used to seeing, he is sort of cutting the pitch. So, the Phillies have been asking him to throw it glove-side or inside to lefties.
He is also doing a good job of backdooring the slider for called strikes and working a tunnel with his split-change, which is getting a 36.8% whiff rate against left-handed hitters. He has flipped some curveballs for strikes and has shown the ability to get chase.
Adjustments moving forward
The general results for Painter’s first 24 big league innings have been fine. The ERA is high at 5.25 but his FIP is sitting at 3.34 because he isn’t walking a lot of hitters and other ERA estimators are hovering close to four. He is not getting a lot of whiffs or strikeouts but probably has the capacity to do so moving forward.
There have to be adjustments to how he attacks right-handed hitters because he is allowing a .343 average with a .929 OPS. It’s not good enough especially given some of his secondary pitches.
The first big change is to cut back on the four-seam fastball usage. It is working enough against lefties but righties are crushing it. They have an average exit velocity of 94.4 mph on the pitch and are hitting .400 on the offering. He has not allowed an extra-base hit in this sample, but the quality of his contact is concerning and he isn’t getting nearly enough whiffs to justify it.
Some of the usage will have to go into the sinker because he needs something to throw strikes with and that might be fine. His average exit velocity allowed on the sinker is down 10 mph against righties compared to the four-seam fastball. He could also try and steal more strikes with the curveball if there are some worries about not throwing enough strikes.
The slider and sweeper usage probably have to increase because he is not getting enough strikeouts against righties. His slider has a 57.1% whiff rate against righties and the sweeper is at 35.7%, throwing those pitches a bit more should help increase his strikeout rate.
There are issues with this, Painter has not shown amazing command of his arsenal yet, so things are tricky. Also, platooning down his arsenal might make him more predictable moving forward. It’s a tricky balance.
There are some good ideas for Painter but there is still a lot that the club has to figure out. There is a promising pitcher here, with some encouraging signs that should be in for a solid rookie campaign.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 27: Connor Prielipp #61 of the Minnesota Twins pitches against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of the game at Target Field on April 27, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
First Pitch: 1:10 pm CDT TV: Twins.TV Radio: TIBN / WCCO 830 / The Wolf 102.9 FM / Audacy
This week, I had free tickets to my first two Target Field games of the year, the deflating Tuesday night loss against the Seattle Mariners, and the series-opening victory against these very same Toronto Blue Jays. I wish I could say that the in-person experience revitalized my faith in the team, but after enduring the loss in less-than-ideal weather conditions on Tuesday night, I opted to skip an even colder Thursday game. They wound up winning without me, which makes it feel like I went 0-for-2 anyway.
This series is split at a game apiece, with the Blue Jays earning a convincing win on Friday night, in a game that wanted for some cleaner defense by Minnesota. To tip the scales, the Jays are sending out Known Good Pitcher Dylan Cease; the Twins are sending Supposed Good Pitcher Connor Prielipp.
It’s the third big-league start for Prielipp, who’s been impressive so far against the Met and Mariner lineups. The Jays are yet another challenge; Prielipp has to be hoping for an Angels outing or something in the near future. Last time out, Prielipp threw five one-hit frames and walked three while en route to his first big-league win.
Cease is well-known to the Twins, although this will be their first matchup with the mustachioed right-hander donning a Toronto uniform. After two trips around the baseball calendar with the San Diego Padres, the former White Sox ace is in the first of seven seasons north of the border.
Expect the bats to do some damage against Rocker, whose results (3.38 ERA) are better than his process (4.11 xFIP, 4.17 SIERA).
COVERS INTEL: A lot of Rocker’s success has stemmed from keeping the ball down, which will be difficult against a Tigers offense that ranks fifth in flyball rate vs. righties at home.
Rangers vs Tigers Over/Under pick: Over 8.0 (-120)
This game sets up well for the offenses. The Tigers are in a favorable spot and the Rangers have quietly been productive away from home.
Texas ranks third in wOBA and fourth in OPS on the road this season, keeping company with teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves.
While the Rangers have a higher strikeout tendency than those teams, they’re still dangerous.
Both teams squeezed only 3.2 innings out of their starting pitchers on Friday, which could make key bullpen arms fatigued or unavailable entirely.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 10-3, +6.18 units
Over/Under bets: 6-7, -1.72 units
Rangers vs Tigers odds
Moneyline: Texas (+115) | Detroit (-135)
Run line: Texas +1.5 (-175) | Detroit -1.5 (+150)
Over/Under: Over 8.0 (-120) | Under 8.0 (+100)
Rangers vs Tigers trend
The Detroit Tigers have hit the Moneyline in 10 of their last 13 games at home (+6.40 Units / 35% ROI).Find more MLB betting trends for Rangers vs. Tigers.
How to watch Rangers vs Tigers and game info
Location
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
Date
Saturday, May 2, 2026
First pitch
7:15 p.m. ET
TV
FOX
Rangers starting pitcher
Kumar Rocker (1-2, 3.38 ERA)
Tigers starting pitcher
Keider Montero (1-2, 4.00 ERA)
Rangers vs Tigers latest injuries
Rangers vs Tigers 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.
Detroit Tigers broadcaster Jason Benetti had a short reaction to the ABS challenge. TNS
His assessment came after a horrible challenge on a 3-2 pitch in the ninth inning — which was not close to being outside the zone — in the Yankees’ 12-4 win over the Astros on April 24.
“You just gotta laugh, at that point,” Chisholm said. “We were winning, it’s a kid’s game. You got to laugh at some things. Sometimes you just got to laugh at yourself and walk off. Did get fined a thousand dollars, but it’s OK.”
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 09: Wehiwa Aloy, the Baltimore Orioles 2025 3rd pick in the draft, looks on during batting practice prior a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 9, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Triple-A: Norfolk Tides 6, Nashville (Brewers) 5
The Tides had to go with something of a patchwork pitching staff for this game, as the scheduled starter, Trey Gibson, was moved around to set up potentially joining the MLB team tomorrow. Norfolk jumped to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, helped in part by Creed Willems hitting a two-run homer against rehabbing major leaguer Quinn Priester. This was a good one for the prospects in the Tides lineup, with Willems collecting a pair of hits, Jud Fabian having two hits, two walks, and two stolen bases, and even Peyton Eeles, the short king, picking up three hits and a walk. All of these guys are OPSing over .800 so far.
Substitute starting pitcher Christian Herberholz allowed eight hits across 4.1 innings. The two runs he gave up, both in the bottom of the first, were unearned, following after a missed catch error by Willems at first base. Both teams would have regretted losing this one – Norfolk left 11 men on base and Nashville stranded 10. A fourth inning home run by Christian Encarnacion-Strand – who’s also OPSing over .800 – provided the sixth and ultimately decisive Norfolk run.
Largely a stinker as far as the prospects on this roster are concerned, starting with my honorary hyphenated cousin Juaron Watts-Brown getting blasted for six runs, with three home runs allowed, in only four innings. It’s tough to come back from that and the Baysox did not. This was Watts-Brown’s first start at his proper level after starting his year on an injury rehab assignment.
Chesapeake was efficient in its scoring, collecting its four runs on only four hits. Infielder Griff O’Ferrall hit a two-run homer, his second of the season, to bring things within save range in the ninth inning, but at that point Erie did not change pitchers to give anyone save opportunity.
Syrup heir Brandon Butterworth (note: not actually a syrup heir) took an 0-for out of the leadoff spot. Ethan Anderson was also hitless. My guy Aron Estrada added one hit. So did early strong performer Anderson De Los Santos, still OPSing over 1.000 after 21 games. He is 22 and if he breaks out here at that age, that’s worth taking note.
Did Wehiwa Aloy homer again? He sure did! That’s his fifth for the season. This one expanded the Keys lead in the eighth. Aloy himself drove in the first Keys run with a sixth inning double, and he shortly scored when Victor Figueroa – one of the guys from last year’s Padres deal – also homered again, his seventh in 20 games played here. This Keys lineup has been strong. Nate George was 1-5, and Braylin Tavera added a hit and two walks.
Figueroa is OPSing over 1.100, which is great. The other guys are holding around .750, less exciting but also less depressing than tracking Aberdeen box scores last year.
The starter for Frederick was Twine Palmer. The modest trade return for Ramón Urías last July, Palmer was particularly terrible with his new organization after the deal, and he had a couple of tough games in April of this year. Still, after just one run allowed in 4.1 innings in this one, Palmer has the ERA down to 3.86 and High-A batters are only hitting .164 against him this year. It’s not nothing.
Low-A: Hill City (Guardians) 6, Delmarva Shorebirds 3
Although Delmarva outhit their opponent by an 8-6 margin and the Howlers committed four errors to the Shorebirds zero, the Orioles affiliate was not able to capitalize and turn this into a victory.
One standout effort at the plate came from outfielder Stiven Martinez, an 18-year-old who had three hits out of the leadoff spot to raise his season OPS to .722. As the Shorebirds roster has been for the past several years, it’s a group in search of somebody who might break out into something interesting; the ones who do so, such as George last year, tend not to remain for long.
Norfolk: at Nashville, 7:35. Starter: Cameron Weston
Chesapeake: at Erie, 1:35. Starter: Juan Rojas
Frederick: at Brooklyn, 2:00. Starter: Yeiber Cartaya
Delmarva: vs. Hill City, 7:05. Starter: Kailen Hamson
In addition, today is the beginning of the Florida Complex League Orioles season. We may check in on those players in our weekly recaps but will not be updating those box scores in the daily posts.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - APRIL 20: Rhett Lowder #25 of the Cincinnati Reds looks to receive the ball against the Tampa Bay Rays during the game at Tropicana Field on April 20, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Friday night’s series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates couldn’t have gone much worse for the Cincinnati Reds. First, they sat out a lengthy rain delay in PNC Park and eventually waded into a drubbing at the hands of the Bucs in cool temperatures, their arms and bats looking as soggy as the 9-1 scoreline.
Brady Singer got rocked, again. Zach Maxwell was rudely welcomed back to the big league mound. The 2 through 5 spots in the Reds lineup combined to go 0 for 16 with nary a walk, with the entire Reds lineup mustering only a lone walk and trio of hits on the night.
It was perhaps the ugliest loss of the year, especially given the company.
Cincinnati will look to bounce back on Saturday, however, and will do so with rookie Rhett Lowder on the bump to start. Pittsburgh will counter with righty Carmen Mlodzinski, against whom previous Reds lineups have struggled mightily.
In 8 career starts against Mlodzinski, Cincinnati batters have posted a combined .214/.267/.321 line with nary a homer. Lucky for these Reds, though, they’ve now got both Sal Stewart and Nate Lowe anchoring the middle of their lineup.
The Reds will also welcome back bullpen anchor Graham Ashcraft, who was activated off the bereavement list prior to the start of this one. Maxwell was optioned back to AAA Louisville on the other side of that ledger, with the Reds noting that he’ll now be teammates with Nick Lodolo as the latter takes his rehab tour up to the AAA level.
COVERS INTEL: Sean Burkes ranks in the 32nd percentile in expected batting average allowed.
