WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Joseph Sullivan #19 of the Houston Astros bats during the sixth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (16-12) won 7-4 (BOX SCORE)
Sugar Land got on the board in the 4th inning on a 2 run HR from Winkler. They got another run in the 5th on an Unroe solo home run. Ullola got the start and was solid allowing 2 runs, 1 earned, over 5.1 innings of work. The pen allowed a run as the Aces tied it. The game would end up in extra innings and in the 10th, the Sugar Land offense scored 4 runs on a Winkler RBI single, Salazar 2 run double and Strahm sac fly. The Aces got one run back but that was it as Sugar Land held on for the 7-4 win.
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (10-12) lost 10-8 (BOX SCORE)
Imai made a rehab start for the Hooks but struggled allowing 4 runs over 2 innings. The offense got on the board in the 2nd inning scoring 3 runs on a Garcia sac fly and Dezenzo 2 run single. Frisco scored 2 more runs in the 3rd but the offense got 2 back in the bottom of the inning on a Sullivan solo HR and Encarnacion sac fly. In the 5th, Sullivan connected on another solo home run. The Hooks took the lead in the 6th inning on a Janek 2 run double. Nezuh pitched in relief and was dominant striking out 7 over 5.1 scoreless innings. Ramsey came on in the 9th but allowed 2 runs as Frisco tied it. In the 10th, Frisco picked up 2 runs and the Hooks offense was unable to comeback as they well 10-8.
Jackson Nezuh, RHP: 5.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
Ramsey David, RHP: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
Derek True, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
A+: Asheville Tourists (5-17) lost 10-2 (BOX SCORE)
Asheville got on the board in the 3rd inning on a Nunez sac fly. They got another run in the 4th inning on an error. Rodriguez got the start and was solid allowing 2 runs over 4.2 innings while striking out 6. He was relieved by Cruz who struggled allowing 8 runs over 3.1 innings. The offense was quiet the rest of the way as Asheville fell 10-2.
Anthony Cruz, RHP: 3.1 IP, 6 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 6 BB, 4 K
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (9-13) lost 4-3 (BOX SCORE)
The Woodpeckers got on the board early scoring 2 runs in the 2nd inning on a Monistere RBI single and Flores RBI single. Beck got the start and went 4 innings allowing 2 runs. Fayetteville took the lead in the 6th scoring a run on an error. Verdugo pitched in relief and tossed 5 no-hit innings, though he did allow one unearned run and walked 5. The game would go to extra innings and in the 10th, the RiverDogs walked it off as the Woodpeckers fell 4-3.
Apr 28, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly (29) takes a moment before taking the mound in the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
Diamondbacks News
Kelly, Hoffman Swatted by Brewers While Vargas Keeps Streak Alive While it is still too early to panic about Merrill Kelly, the veteran righty is looking more and more like the pitcher the Rangers acquired at the deadline last year and less and less like Merrill the Mainstay that the Diamondbacks hoped they were signing this last winter. Andrew Hoffman allowing eight runs while only recording one out in relief was more than Arizona could survive.
Brewers Pound Arizona Pitching Lopsided losses like the one last night are why the Diamondbacks have such a negative run differential despite their winning record.
Revisiting the Blaze Alexander Trade After Andrew Hoffman was slapped around last night, there is a very strong chance that the return from the Blaze Alexander trade, Kade Strowd, will be getting a call-up today or tomorrow.
Other MLB News
Phillies Fire Rob Thomson After losing 11 of 12, the Phillies’ front office parted ways with Manager Rob Thomson. They then attempted to hire Alex Cora before being rebuffed and settling for Don MAttingly.
It’s Getting Late Early for the Mets Twenty-nine games in, the team from Queens is tied with division rival Philadelphia for the worst record in all of baseball and sit 10.5 games out of first
Cristopher Sanchez has pitched extremely well out of the gate, allowing more than two runs only once through six starts.
My Giants vs. Phillies predictions expect him to lead the home team to victory against a struggling San Francisco offense.
Let’s take a closer look at my MLB picks on Wednesday, April 29.
Who will win Giants vs Phillies today: Phillies moneyline (-150)
The Philadelphia Phillies have not had a strong offensive season, but they’ve quietly been potent at home, at least against right-handed pitching. They sit sixth in SLG, ninth in OPS, and 10th in wOBA vs. righties.
That could be trouble for San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb, who has allowed at least three earned runs in five of six starts and has yet to find his footing.
The lone exception came against the Mets, who rank in the Bottom 3 in runs, SLG, and OPS.
Philadelphia is in a good spot to produce, and with Cristopher Sanchez on the mound, it won't take much to get a win.
COVERS INTEL: The Phillies trail only the Dodgers, Braves, and Rangers in hard-hit rate against righties at home.
Giants vs Phillies Over/Under pick: Under 7 (-105)
Sanchez has allowed two runs or fewer in five of six starts, including against the Giants in early April.
He has been flat-out dominant at home, allowing two or fewer in 18 consecutive starts. The last time he allowed more than a couple of runs at home was April 6 of 2025, against the powerhouse Dodgers.
He is well-positioned to neuter a Giants offense that ranks dead last in runs, homers, and stolen bases.
While the Phillies should have some success against Webb, the Giants have a strong bullpen that can help limit the damage and keep this game relatively low-scoring.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 7-3, +3.18 units
Over/Under bets: 3-7, -4.72 units
Giants vs Phillies odds
Moneyline: Giants +120 | Phillies -140
Run line: Giants +1.5 (-175) | Phillies -1.5 (+150)
Over/Under: Over 7 (-110) | Under 7 (-110)
Giants vs Phillies trend
The Giants have only hit the Team Total Over in 7 of their last 22 away games (-10.50 Units / -41% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Giants vs. Phillies.
How to watch Giants vs Phillies and game info
Location
Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
First pitch
6:40 p.m. ET
TV
NBCS-Bay Area, NBCS-Philadelphia
Giants starting pitcher
Logan Webb (2-3, 4.86 ERA)
Phillies starting pitcher
Cristopher Sanchez (2-2, 2.94 ERA)
Giants vs Phillies latest injuries
Giants vs Phillies 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.
While a match-up between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain would almost certainly be most neutrals’ Bigger Cup final of choice, the major benefit of these two European heavyweights meeting in the semi-finals is that we get to watch them do it all again next week. While Football Daily has occasionally felt first-world resentment at being forced to sit through no end of turgid footballing dross masquerading as top-tier, top-flight entertainment this season, last night we felt genuinely sorry for any football fans who couldn’t enjoy the otherworldly treat served up in Paris. For many in the UK, the cost of watching Europe’s elite is an unaffordable luxury when they’re already struggling to put light in the bulb and food on the table. And while Pep Guardiola’s budget almost certainly stretches to an Amazon Prime subscription, last night the Manchester City boss took an ill-advised punt on Stockport County and Port Vale providing more bang for his buck at Edgeley Park.
Looking at that photo of Messi from 2005 (yesterday’s Quote of the Day), I had no idea before seeing his T-shirt that he was so left wing. We all know he did his best work off the right” – Andy McGregor.
A mention in Football Daily of Nike ‘Phantom Elite’ boots made me realise I may have missed some stages in the overdramatisation of product names in football. In my day we used to just call them Pumas, or Umbros or (quietly) Golas. Now it seems we’re just a few seasons away from kids clamouring for the new Nike Mega Eagle Missile Ghost Boss boots (as worn by Emil Krafth)” – Andrew Boulton.
What an absurd, breathless, brilliant game that was between PSG and Bayern last night. It was so end to end that, every time the camera panned to either end of the ground, I was surprised to see the keeper stood in a proper football goal, rather than between two piles of jumpers. I was also fully expecting the match to be brought to an end by a teacher marching onto the pitch ringing a brass handbell” – Phil Taverner.
Q: Would you like some goals?
A: Nine. Danke!
Q: Bayern’s second goal was scored in what part of Paris?
A: Champs-Olise’s.
Q: Do you think four goals are enough to get a result at PSG?
A: Cinq again!
Q: What time is it?
A: Five past Neuer.
Q: What now for PSG?
A: Oui go again next week!” – Peter Oh.
Wasn’t that a magnificent display of everything that’s good about football these days? No, not that trivial nine-goal kickabout in Paris. I’m referring to the wholly integrated approach to The Great Game yesterday evening in which the Hearts youth team won the Scottish Youth Cup final 4-0, and the Hearts Women’s team, already league leaders, won 3-0 to stretch their lead to five points with three games to go. What a season this could be for all things maroon” – Ken Muir.
Despite being native Baltimorean – yes, a Baltimoron if you must – I had to search for the meaning of recent allusions to Jimmy McNulty (Football Daily passim). Call me chauvinistic, but you see I’ve made it a point of never watching ‘The Wire’. When I need dramatic representation of harrowing, Sisyphean struggle on the one hand and ghastly, inexorable decline on the other, I simply turn to north London’s two (at least for now) Premier League flag-bearers” – Clinton Macsherry.
Apr 28, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum (3) fights for a loose ball against New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and guard Jose Alvarado (5) during the second quarter of game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Hawks dropped a pivotal Game 5 as they fell to a convincing 126-97 defeat to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night. Jalen Johnson led the Hawks in scoring with 18 points, while Dyson Daniels added 17 points. For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson scored 39 points with OG Anunoby adding 17 points.
The Hawks — having come off of a heavy home loss in Game 4 — needed to begin Game 5 with intent, to let the Knicks know that Game 5 was not going to be a repeat of Game 4. Atlanta brought physicality in the opening stint, pressing up to the ball and getting physical, with Daniels in particular getting involved on both ends.
The Knicks also brought their defensive intensity; they just made the Hawks work so hard on offense so often of the time in the first half, which was really the defining element of this game when viewed from afar.
On a drive near the end of the shot clock, Daniels is contested well at the rim as he tries to get to a spin and layup:
Here, Johnson sees an extra body on the ball, is forced to give the ball up to Daniels, who finds Okongwu, who has to go to a spin and hook move as the clock begins to wind down:
Contrast this to the Knicks, who enjoyed some very easy baskets in comparison in the first half.
At the end of the first quarter, the Hawks double Brunson out front but half-commit to it, and when Brunson slips the pass in between Daniels and McCollum to the cutting Jordan Clarkson, he’s so wide open he almost has too much time to think before getting into his floater:
These particular lapses are regular season blunders; they’re just unacceptable baskets to allow in Game 5 of a playoff series tied 2-2. While they are the greatest offenders, they weren’t the only easy baskets the Knicks scored.
Brunson torched the Hawks all night long and the Hawks certainly helped him at times. Here in transition, Brunson bursts in transition but poor help defense from Jonathan Kuminga allows Brunson to get all the way to the rim for the basket:
Towns himself finished with 16 points but only took seven shots, most of which came in the first half where he, too, had an easy time of scoring, particularly against Kuminga, both in terms of just shooting over him:
The Knicks ran out to a double-digit lead in the first quarter, scoring 35 points 65% shooting while the Hawks shot 1-of-8 from three — a consistent struggle all night long from behind the arc. While the Knicks only outscored the Hawks by three points in the second quarter, the Hawks, I thought, did not take this second quarter seriously enough from a rotation point of view.
The lineup to start the second half was poor, and the Knicks’ second unit completely outplayed the Hawks’. While the final scoring margin of the benches was 38-24 in favor of the Knicks, it sure felt like the Knicks’ advantage was much wider than that, as Jose Alvarado, Mitchell Robinson, and Jordan Clarkson outplayed Atlanta’s bench. Kuminga, in particular, was bad: bad shot-making, bad shot selection, and consistent foul-baiting that is just not likely to get called on the road.
The Knicks ran their lead to 20 in the second quarter and, really, never looked back from here. Never again did the lead drop below double-digits, nor were the Knicks particularly threatened at any point in the second half as Brunson took over, scoring 22 of his 39 points. It really was as easy as that for the New Yorks, who take a 3-2 series lead with the Hawks’ season now on the line, facing elimination in Game 6 in Atlanta.
Postgame, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder directed attention to the Knicks’ defense limiting the Hawks while acknowledging the Hawks needed to do more to overcome the Knicks’ defense, believing the Hawks didn’t play to the level they needed to.
“They did what they were supposed to do, protect at home court,” began Snyder postgame. “Their defense never really let us establish consistently how we need to play to beat them. It’s really like imposing your will on the offensive end, really moving and passing. You can feel possessions where that occurs, and that’s when we’re efficient or have success. We had some shots that didn’t go in, that’s always in play. For us, I think we need to execute on who we are and what we’ve done to be a good team. That’s hard when you play against a team of their caliber, but that level for us, we didn’t hit it. They had a lot to do with that, but that can’t be where it stops. We’ve got to be more committed to that and to playing the way that we know we need to play to be successful, and we get a chance to go home and do that.”
The Hawks were asked about the Knicks’ physicality, and similarly acknowledged that they needed to find a way to get around this.
“We got smashed tonight, but we still got a chance,” said Dyson Daniels. “It’s 3-2, we’re going home to protect our home court. We’ve got to be better, we got to come out, we got to be more physical, we got to play harder. They came in and just manhandled us, so we’re going to have to really, change some things around if we want to, you know, get Game 6.”
“We just got to play through it,” added Onyeka Okongwu of playing through physicality. “We can’t let their physicality take us out of what we want to do. We’ve just got to move the ball more. We’re not really playing like ourselves, we’re not running, we’re not moving the ball, we’re not spacing. The things that we did to get us to this point of the year we’re not doing well enough. We have to do that on Thursday, or our season will be over.”
“I don’t think we played anywhere near our best basketball at all this series,” said Daniels. “…We want to play fast, but you can’t play fast when we put them on the free throw line and we’re not getting stops. We’ve got to be better at getting stops, keeping them off the free throw line, and then we just got to have the mindset to run. Everyone’s got to run. If you have four guys running and one guy doesn’t, that hurts you as well. So, five guys got to run, got to space. Like I said, we haven’t played to our strengths this series, and I don’t think we’ve had a game where we’ve had a good fastbreak, got a lot of fastbreak points. So, credit to them as well, they’ve taken that away from us, but it’s something that we need to do.”
The Hawks finished fifth in the NBA in three-point percentage, but shot just 13-of-42 from three in Game 5. There were plenty of very makable shots the Hawks missed from distance, but on a night where the Hawks weren’t succeeding in getting out in transition for threes, where the Knicks limited their turnovers to also prevent fastbreak scoring, and a lack of free throw shooting (shooting 10-of-17 from the line), the Hawks paid a dear price for missing their threes.
Looking across the roster, CJ McCollum retuned to Earth with six points on 3-of-10 shooting, and while he has been the star for the Hawks in this series, their success in this series is dependent on the scoring success of Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
Johnson led the Hawks in scoring with 18 points, but really struggled to get going offensively in the half-court, and shot 1-of-5 from three. Alexander-Walker had a good third quarter and shot good percentages (6-of-11 from the field, 4-of-9 from three). It just wasn’t enough. That’s the sentiment I think actually applies across the board here, because the percentages for the starters, minus McCollum, are actually solid — there just wasn’t enough of it.
“I think for us, we can get kind of caught up in individual performances,” said Snyder when asked about other stepping up as McCollum returns to Earth. “You always need those, but we need to look at kind of our collective, look at it collectively. Everybody needs to make plays for each other. When we’re playing well, that’s what it looks like. CJ’s a competitor, but it’s us, and our guys have embraced that throughout the course of the year. When you play a really good team, they have an impact on your ability to do that. Whether last game it was us turning the ball over, tonight our ability to space and make an extra pass, and those things that generate better shots.”
From the Knicks’ side, it was a familiar story: 60 points in the paint, 20 second chance points, and big free throw disparity, shooting 25-of-34 from the line.
“Their size and athleticism, when they get the ball in there it’s difficult defensively to have an impact,” said Snyder of the Knicks’ paint scoring. “We just need to build a better perimeter, if that makes sense. Whether it’s double teaming a certain situation, where there’s a mismatch or a size mismatch, but the physicality that we have to play with defensively, really as much as anything, on the glass. We got to dig and scratch and claw and be better.”
The Hawks have done well to make this series and take the 2-1 lead, but this game was a microcosm for everything the Hawks should have feared heading into this series.
Jalen Brunson dominated, scoring 39 points on 15-of-23 from the field, absolutely dominating his matchups with Alexander-Walker and Daniels. There was nothing any of them could do. Brunson was getting to the rim, getting into his pull-up — everything that he did so well in the regular season series. Massive volume, massive efficiency, and just no answers for the Hawks. McCollum is the reason the Hawks even have two wins in this series, and for that he deserves a lot of credit, but this type of disparity between he and Brunson was what concerned me heading into the series.
Towns took seven shots in this game — it blows my mind how little either the Knicks don’t go to him more given his mismatches/advantages, or how Towns himself doesn’t just demand the ball and just shoot over Daniels, or put him in the spin cycle going to the rim. Towns still finished with 16 points and was dominant in that first quarter where the Knicks broke away whilst also grabbing 14 rebounds.
The Knicks’ bench completely outplayed the Hawks’ bench as referenced earlier. Guys like Alvarado, Robinson, and Clarkson comprehensively outperformed Atlanta’s bench.
This was a bad Kuminga game, and we talked about it heading into the series. He had to be the swing guy off the bench in this series for the Hawks to have success. In the two wins for the Hawks in this series, Kuminga has averaged 20 points on 61% shooting from the field and 37% from three on over four attempts. In the three losses, Kuminga has averaged 10 points per game on 37% shooting from the field and 7% from three on over four attempts per game. His performances are really important for the Hawks, and last night was not a good one. Not that he was helped by his bench compatriots: Vincent struggled to hit shots, Corey Kispert missed all four of his shots, and Tony Bradley is left even further alone than the Knicks left Dyson Daniels.
Speaking of, the Knicks were happy to let Daniels handle as much as possible. While Daniels scored 17 points on 7-of-11 from the field and 2-of-4 from three, it’s hard to escape the thought that that’s exactly what the Knicks wanted. The same issues still exist: Daniels is still played off of, left alone from three, allows Towns to guard Daniels and hover around the rim.
And there’s nothing the Hawks can really do about it, and what Daniels did is an improvement from earlier in the series where he wasn’t scoring and just handing the ball off and screening — it’s just a fundamental aspect baked into this series that the Knicks can take advantage of every game. More Daniels means less Johnson and less Alexander-Walker, and that’s just fine with the Knicks.
Other issues that I was concerned about heading into this series: transition offense. Teams just tend not to turn the ball over as much in the postseason, and I was concerned that this would limit the Hawks’ fastbreak opportunities, but I didn’t think it would be as low as four points in Game 5. Transition is the Hawks’ bread-and-butter: get out, run, get to the rim or kick out to a shooter for a made three — none of these things happened for the Hawks consistently in this game.
Offensive rebounds and second chance scoring…we’ve been over this issue enough — it’s just another aspect that’s baked into this series that there are no adjustments for: it’s just going to happen and all you can do is limit it. The Hawks really struggled with this, with the Knicks converting eight offensive rebounds into 20 points. From a volume standpoint, the Hawks actually did a great job to limit to just eight offensive rebounds — they just couldn’t get any stops from them.
In short, all the things the Hawks should have been worried about heading into the series all transpired — almost every single one of them. So, perhaps from that perspective the series was due a game like this, and it’s hard for all those things to occur at once, which should give the Hawks some optimism heading back home for Game 6
Game 6 is do-or-die; win or go home. The nature of these last two games should give the Hawks cause for concern, and if there’s anything in this series for Jalen Johnson or Nickeil Alexander-Walker, or any more heroics from CJ McCollum, or impactful games from Jonathan Kuminga, there is no more time remaining.
Game 6 takes place on Thursday night back at State Farm Arena.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 19: Egor Demin #8 and Drake Powell #4 of the Brooklyn Nets celebrate during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on February 19, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Brooklyn Nets made an early entry into the offseason. We knew it would be this way for several weeks, but it’s still a bit striking to see a bushel of teams duking it out on national television every night, and our guys cosplaying as Arthur Morgan or sitting court side with Ice Spice.
Yes, Brooklyn players did both of those things last week. The guys are already making the most of their time off, and frankly, they should be. Once the playoffs roll through, we’ll be about two weeks away from the draft and less than a month away from the start of Summer League. Time indeed flies when you’re having fun.
To at least keep tabs on everyone, we’ve put together another social media roundup, the first of this offeason. Several players took time over the past few weeks for some season recap posts. And, as mentioned, others went straight into vacation mode. Here’s what we have for you.
From Brooklyn to…
Brooklyn’s top pick in last year’s draft wasted little time getting out of Brooklyn. He’s certainly had the look of a highway man as well, recently venturing out west for some horseback riding.
Not long before that, Dëmin also went golfing with creator Noah Schone. He also visited his alma mater, where he caught ball game and appeared to get a workout in. I don’t want to make a mountain out of a molehill, but the latter has to be a good sign in terms of his left plantar fascia injury management.
However, Dëmin isn’t the only rookie on the road right now. Earlier this week, Drake Powell got out to Iceland (the thinking man’s Cancun?) Ziaire Williams asked why Powell had gloves on in the comments, where Tyrese Martin replied “knowing him prolly out there Rock climbing and shi.”
Several Nets also posted slideshows over the past two weeks bidding farewell to the 2025-26 season. Believe it or not, it’s already been three years in the NBA for Jalen Wilson…
The Nets have a club option on Malachi Smith’s contract for next year. His post reminded us how many big moments he had after getting the call up at the end of the season.
In his end-of-season post, Day’Ron Sharpe wrote “Peace and blessings. Until next time.” Brooklyn has a team option on his contract this summer as well. After a career season from the now five-year NBA vet, I’m pretty confident “next time” will be back in Brooklyn.
Noah Clowney captioned his post in a similar fashion. This past year was his third in the league, and his best statistically in terms of scoring, passing, and rebounding.
Our last end-of-season reel belongs to Josh Minott. Much of it was made out of clips from his coming out game vs the New York Knicks. Next year, let’s hope he gets that sought after win against them.
Two-ways Tyson Etienne, Chaney Johnson, and E.J. Liddell all dropped end-of-season posts as well. Liddell shouted out both the Brooklyn and Long Island staff for their work with him over the course of the campaign.
“Thank you Brooklyn & Long Island for another year in this league,” he wrote. “It’s been a year full of growth & lessons that I will carry for the rest of my life. One thing I can say I learned is that through habits & discipline you forge a character rich with courage and peace.”
The New York Yankees and Texas Rangers meet this afternoon in a matchup that couldn't be more different on the mound, with a 36-year-old veteran on one side and a 22-year-old making his major-league debut on the other.
The Yankees have won nine of their last ten games, and my Yankees vs. Rangers predictions don't expect them to slow down here.
Read all about it in my MLB picks for Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
Who will win Yankees vs Rangers today: Yankees moneyline (-113)
Yes, the New York Yankees will give the ball to Elmer Rodriguez, making his MLB debut on the road.
Yes, he’ll be facing a pitcher who has been around the block a time or two. But it still isn’t enough to nullify the issues facing Texas Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, or the Yankees' bats.
It's the same story that has made the Yankees look more like actual contenders rather than paper tigers: They have the lowest chase rate in the sport at just under 26%.
That likely means Eovaldi is forced to come off his split and throw more fastball stuff. And just as has been the case for the last five years or so, New York is one of the better fastball-hitting teams in the sport, ranking within the Top 3 in barrel and hard-hit rates.
Rodriguez's debut introduces a ton of volatility, but he’s a legitimate prospect who will do enough against a struggling Rangers offense.
COVERS INTEL: If the season ended today, Eovaldi would finish with the highest hard-hit rate of his career at 49%.
Yankees vs Rangers Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-115)
Two factors push this toward the Over.
Eovaldi's contact profile is one of the worst in baseball right now, at least for a starting pitcher. His hard-hit rate ranks in the Bottom 20%, and his average exit velocity ranks in the Bottom 30%.
Against a disciplined Yankees lineup, he will have a tough afternoon once they get into counts and force him to attack the zone.
On the other side, Rodriguez is making his major-league debut. That’s the analysis. I like his outlook, and this isn’t the worst team to face right now either, but the fastball-heavy stuff makes him very vulnerable to the long ball.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 11-8, +2.67 units
Over/Under bets: 12-8, +3.8 units
Yankees vs Rangers odds
Moneyline: Yankees -120 | Rangers +100
Run line: Yankees -1.5 (+139) | Rangers +1.5 (-168)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-115) | Under 8.5 (-105)
Yankees vs Rangers trend
The New York Yankees have covered the Run Line in 26 of their last 40 away games (+15.35 Units / 35% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Yankees vs. Rangers.
How to watch Yankees vs Rangers and game info
Location
Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX
Date
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
First pitch
2:35 p.m. ET
TV
YES, RSN
Yankees starting pitcher
Elmer Rodriguez (Triple-A: 1-2, 1.27 ERA)
Rangers starting pitcher
Nathan Eovaldi (2-4, 5.79 ERA)
Yankees vs Rangers latest injuries
Yankees vs Rangers weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Apr 9, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Randal Grichuk (34) reacts after striking out against the Athletics during the seventh inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | John Jones-Imagn Images
The Yankees were set for a bit of a roster crunch this week, one that had fans wondering exactly how the club would piece together the puzzle. Well, we have part of the answer now, as this morning the Yankees announced that they had designated outfielder Randal Grichuk for assignment to clear a spot on the active roster for Elmer Rodríguez.
Grichuk signed a minor league deal this offseason with the hope that he’d give Aaron Boone another right-handed option off the bench against left-handed pitchers. The idea was fine enough in theory, but Grichuk hasn’t quite gotten there in practice, slashing .194/.212/.323 this year in limited playing time. Grichuk did make solid contact during his time with the Yankees, posting exit velocity and hard hit rates better than league average, but he also showed ugly plate discipline and was never much of a fielder. His case for remaining on the roster long term was thin unless he provided real thump at the plate.
The 34-year-old will now hit waivers, and if he clears he’ll have the option to elect free agency. For the Yankees, they’ll still have roster decisions later this week to work out, as a corresponding move will be needed once Anthony Volpe is activated (infielder Max Schuemann figures to get a ticket back to Triple-A). But for now, with this bit of roster business sorted out, we can fully turn our attention to today’s main event: Rodríguez’s major league debut this afternoon in Texas.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 16: A detail of a Wilson glove and Los Angeles Dodgers hat in the dugout during a game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on April 16, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was an incredibly satisfying day for the Dodgers minor league affiliates, going four for four with wins of every kind, from dramatic close affairs, as in the one-run victory in Ontario, to a complete blowout with a 10-run lead in Tulsa.
Player of the day
Blake Snell’s rehab outing was the headline of a matchup between the Tower Buzzers and the Storm, but for as important as he was in a 4-3 win for Ontario, none of it would have happened without the heroic efforts of outfielder Ching-Hsien Ko.
The Tower Buzzers first got on the board in the third inning, when Ko hit an RBI double into center field. Trailing 3-2 in the ninth, the home side needed to pull something out of the hat, and they did so in the form of a Ko solo shot, his third of the year in what has been quite a productive campaign. Ontario would go on to win that game in the 10th on a balk, and they ended the game with only a pair of extra-base hits, both coming from Ko.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
A scoring outburst in the opening frame, headlined by a couple of home runs from Ryan Ward and Jack Suwinski, was sufficient for the Comets to secure their 13th win of the season by a score of 7-3. It was a game that could be split into two uneven parts, as nine of the 10 total runs were scored in the first two innings. Gervasse, McDermott, and Rosario combined to throw four scoreless innings for the Comets’ bullpen, allowing just one hit.
Although he didn’t get an RBI, James Tibbs III—to the surprise of absolutely no one—was the Comets’ most productive hitter in the game, finishing it 3 for 4 and as the only hitter to score a run multiple times.
Double-A Tulsa
You get a home run, he gets a home run, everyone gets a home run. That’s what it felt like as six different Driller hitters combined to hit seven long balls in a 17-7 win. The source of the two-homer game was the most unlikely one, in the form of ninth-hole hitter Chris Newell. Zyhir Hope, Josue De Paula, Zack Gelof, Griffin Lockwood-Powell, and Joe Vetrano all went yard once.
Home run derby? Nah… just today’s game 😏
Your Tulsa Drillers hit 7 home runs including a grand slam during today's game! pic.twitter.com/2WhwmZm9vA
Pitching-wise, Adam Serwinowski had a particularly troublesome start, which kept this game relatively close until a seven-run outburst for the Drillers in the eighth. Unlike the Missions, who saw each of their relievers struggle, the Drillers leaned into Myles Caba’s outstanding work. The southpaw even earned the win by striking out five of the seven batters he faced in two scoreless frames.
High-A Great Lakes
In a similar fashion to the blowout win of the Drillers, the Loons took part in a high-scoring game with both starters struggling heavily, but their bullpen was able to stabilize things, whereas their opponent never got into a rhythm. Delivering 5.2 scoreless innings in relief, Cody Morse and Jakob Wright contained a Chiefs offense that had scored a run in four out of the first five frames.
Offensively, the Loons didn’t deliver the home run derby we saw with the Drillers—Logan Wagner was responsible for the team’s only home run in the game—but 18 hits are likely to bring damage in any form they come; Nico Perez and catcher Jesus Galiz were the two that reached base at least four times, with everybody but DH Eduardo Guerrero getting at least one hit.
Class-A Ontario
If you want to read more about it, here is a breakdown of Blake Snell’s second rehab outing in his journey towards a 2026 MLB debut.
The 4-3 win had some quality pitching from both sides behind it, but each offense has plenty of reasons to lament not achieving a better output, as they combined to go 2 for 29 with runners in scoring position. Ko was not only responsible for the Tower Buzzers’ two sole extra-base hits, but he was also the only hitter in the game with multiple hits. It’s no surprise that this game would end in such a unique way, with a walk-off balk for the Tower Buzzers in the 10th.
Because Snell only covered three innings, Ontario needed some length out of its bullpen, and that came in the form of four scoreless from Hyun-Seok Jang, who earned five of the game’s absurd 30 strikeouts, combining both squads.
Transactions
The Oklahoma City Comets placed right-hander Ryder Ryan on the 7-day IL. Another right-handed pitcher, Dave Bautista, was assigned to the DSL.
Tuesday’s scores
Round Rock 3, Oklahoma City 7
Tulsa 17, San Antonio 7
Great Lakes 11, Peoria 4
Ontario 4, Lake Elsinore 3
Wednesday’s schedule
10:05 a.m. PT: Tulsa (Evan Shaw) vs. San Antonio (Victor Lizarraga)
3:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Sean Patick) vs.Peoria (Blake Alta)
4:45 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Logan Allen) at Round Rock (TBD)
5:35 p.m. PT: Ontario (TBD) VS. Lake Elsinore (TBD)
American baseball player Bob Knepper, a pitcher for the Houston Astros, pictured during training, April 21st 1981. (Photo by UPI/Bettmann Archive/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Our 9th installment of the Legends Series features two-time All-Star Pitcher Bob Knepper. Knepper started 413 games throughout his major league career, spending several seasons as a reliable member of the Astros pitching rotation.
Q: The Dodgers will be coming to town here early next month. You had some amazing battles against L.A. in your day. Were they the biggest team to beat in the old N.L. West?
A: I started battling those guys even before I got to Houston. In 1978, I was facing them as a member of the Giants at Candlestick Park, so I already had that ingrained in me. The Dodgers were always the team to beat.
Q: You started 38 games in 1986. How special was that group?
A: We had a bunch of great guys, some amazing personalities, and a lot of the guys were having career years. Hal Lanier did a great job managing our club that year and it was a lot of fun.
Q: You made two All-Star appearances. Which was more special, 1981 or 1988?
A: I don’t know if one was more special than the other. You know in 1986, I thought Art Howe should’ve made the team, he was putting up some impressive numbers that season. Those appearances were a real privilege and honor. It’s a fun event.
Q: When you pitched, pitch counts weren’t a big thing. Could you do what you did in today’s game?
A: It’s certainly different. The entire culture of baseball has changed.
When I played, there was an expectation that you could go 9 innings. It’s a different world now.
Look at even the high school ranks, kids are playing baseball year-round. I honestly believe you only have so many pitches in your arm, why would you waste them in high school?
I think pitchers are being overworked early on in their careers, and the philosophy has just changed so much.
Q: How much did you want the challenge of taking the ball in the 9th inning?
A: I always enjoyed pitching in the 9th inning. I enjoyed facing adversity when I’d be a little tired or worn out and my stuff wasn’t as sharp. I’d take on that challenge head on because that’s what I was paid to do.
Q: Toughest hitters you ever faced?
A: You know, I’m not sure I ever struck out Pete Rose, and trust me, I tried. There were so many guys. Tony Gwynn and Mike Schmidt, Andre Dawson, they were all great hitters. Even when Jack Clark came back to the National League, it was such an enjoyable thing to try and strike him out. Dale Murphy was also a real challenge and when you recorded an out against that caliber of players, it warranted a fist pump.
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 16: Hitting Coach Peter Fatse #62 of the Boston Red Sox carries a speaker during a spring training workout at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 16, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I tried to be patient. I really did. It’s late April, and I know better than to overreact to a month of baseball from a team that was 43-45 last June before going on a tear. But there is a point where patience crosses the line into insanity, and Red Sox fans crossed it.
The Red Sox were 10-17 when the coaching staff got the ax. Last place in the AL East. They got swept at Fenway by the Yankees—THE YANKEES—and then went to Baltimore and got slaughtered 10-3 on Friday night. Seven losses in their last eight games. In a season that was supposed to be a real run at the division.
The underlying numbers were just as bad as the eye-test results. Boston was hitting .226/.310/.333 as a team. Their slugging percentage is 30th in baseball. Dead last. Their OPS ranked 24th. They’d hit 13 home runs through 26 games—also last in the majors and they’d scored just 90 runs all season, 26th ranked. Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu had combined for nearly half the team’s home runs just by themselves.
This was not a slump after a month of baseball. This was a structural failure, and you have to look somewhere to shake things up. That somewhere ended up being, well, just about everyone. But it certainly needed to be Pete Fatse.
The numbers tell you what’s wrong, but watching the games tells you why.
The Red Sox were swinging at 62% of pitches in the strike zone. League average is 66%. That lack of aggression and eye compounded across every at-bat: falling behind in counts, handing pitchers the advantage before a ball is even put in play. On middle-middle pitches—your bog-standard meatballs—they were swinging just 61% of the time. League average on those pitches is 73%. Did this team just lose their eye let alone their confidence? Dead last in baseball in swinging at the most hittable pitches a pitcher can throw. Embarrassing.
Fatse went in front of reporters after a loss to the Cardinals two weeks ago and said the team needed to be more “convicted” before two strikes. Look, in theory that’s the right thing to want. But when your hitters are barely lifting the bat for the easiest pitches at the lowest rate in the league, “convicted” stops sounding like a coaching philosophy and starts sounding like a vague wish you whisper into the void. You can say it all you want. The results keep screaming back.
It didn’t stop with zone aggression. The Sox weren’t stealing bases—13 steals in 17 attempts through 26 games. They hit too many grounders, produced too few pulled fly balls, and generated almost no power from anyone outside of two hitters. This offense wasn’t just cold—it was in the Antarctic. The lack of confidence in themselves was beyond apparent.
The context surrounding this team kept getting worse. Sonny Gray—someone this team was relying on to be an innings eater—is on the IL with a hamstring strain. Roman Anthony—who hasn’t looked like himself and that’s frankly scary—has been in and out with a sore back. Payton Tolle got called up to eat Gray’s rotation spot, pitched an 11-strikeout GEM against the Yankees on Thursday, and the offense still could only scratch two runs across. Blowing that masterclass from Tolle is beyond reprehensible.
It’s not a pitching problem, though there are problems there too. The onus falls on a true lack of offensive identity. This lineup doesn’t know what it is or how it’s supposed to score.
The frustrating part is that the roster was never built to bash its way out of trouble. There’s no David Ortiz in there. No Mookie. Alex Bregman walked in free agency and wasn’t replaced with anyone who could fill that role. Trevor Story and Caleb Durbin both rank in the bottom three among all qualified MLB hitters in wRC+. Those are your 3-5 hitters on most days.
For a team constructed the way this one was—contact-oriented, built around traffic and pitch counts and manufacturing runs—EVERYTHING depends on staying aggressive in the zone, working counts, and doing damage when pitchers leave pitches over the middle. They continually play against an identity that’s embedded in the inherent construction of this roster.
Fatse had been here four+ years and frankly, it wasn’t not the first time we’d called for his head. He had beyond ample time to shape an approach. The results of his approach were abysmal in 2026.
Firing Fatse and co. doesn’t fix everything. It won’t turn Story into a .310 hitter or conjure a cleanup bat that Breslow didn’t acquire this winter. The roster still has real limitations, and those deserve their own conversation. But Fatse and the coaching staff represented the most actionable move available, and doing so at least signaled that the organization understood this was deeper than a bad April—that the approach being coached was part of the problem, not just a byproduct of a cold stretch.
Apr 17, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics center fielder Denzel Clarke (1) attempts to catch the ball during the first inning of the game against the Chicago White Sox at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images | Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images
Happy Wednesday A’s fans!
This week is the Athletics second weeklong home stand of the season. Tonight, the team will play its second of three games against the Kansas City Royals. This weekend, Stephen Vogt’s Cleveland Guardians come to California’s capital for a three-game series. The A’s need to do better this week after dropping two out of three to the Chicago White Sox to conclude their most recent stretch of games at Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park.
Through the first full month of the season, the team has performed better on the road, playing in and winning more games against several quality opponents. If Mark Kotsay’s squad wants to make it through May competing with the Seattle Mariners and/or Texas Rangers for first place, then the Athletics must improve their level of play at home.
After getting through the first couple weeks of the season relatively injury-free, the A’s are starting to see injuries pile up among their position players. Just as the team got designated hitter Brent Rooker back from a 14-game absence with an oblique strain, they placed starting center fielder Denzel Clarke on the injured list with a bone bruise in his foot. As long as Clarke continues to suffer injuries that force him to miss time, he will not get the copious amount of plate appearances he needs to improve his offensive ability, which at the moment is way behind his prowess on the grass.
In Rooker’s absence, Carlos Cortes stepped up in a huge way. He is fresh off winning the American League Player of the Week Award, a well-deserved first career award for the late-blooming outfielder. This past week, Cortes hit .542 (13-for-24) with three homers, seven RBI, two doubles, a triple, four runs scored, a 1.083 slugging percentage and a .542 on-base percentage across six games.
Yesterday, third baseman Max Muncy joined Clarke on the injured list. He had been playing through a fractured finger which happened when he was hit on the hand by a pitch in a game two weeks ago. During last night’s game, left fielder Tyler Soderstrom hurt himself attempting to make a diving catch. Cortes replaced him and proceeded to get on base in all three of his at-bats. Hopefully it was just a precautionary removal as the team cannot afford to lose Soderstrom for an extended period of time.
Luckily, the Athletics’ pitching staff has mostly stayed healthy so far. On Sunday, they survived a scare involving J.T. Ginn, whose start ended abruptly due to right arm soreness. However, he is healthy, has no injury designation and is likely to make his next start. Given the A’s limited pitching depth, the team can ill afford too many injuries to pitchers if they want to take the next step and compete for the playoffs or at the very least finish the season with a winning record.
Last May, the Athletics franchise-worst 1-20 stretch put to rest any hopes they had of competing for the playoffs. What are you hoping to see from the team as May approaches? Can the bullpen keep up its strong performance or will it doom the team for a second-straight May?
The injury-bug continues to bite right-handed pitching prospect Braden Nett, who the A’s acquired along with De Vries and two other players in exchange for closer Mason Miller last July.
Unfortunately, RHP Braden Nett has landed back on the IL after making just one appearance for Triple-A Las Vegas… https://t.co/QPkzlSSc1D
— Bill Moriarity – A's Farm (@AthleticsFarm) April 28, 2026
Max Muncy’s recent offensive slump was likely connected to the injury he had been playing through. Why did it take the A’s this long to diagnose and take action?
Max Muncy’s finger injury stems from when he was hit by a pitch on April 13 against the Rangers. Tried to play through discomfort until an MRI yesterday revealed the non-displaced fracture. He’ll be shut down from baseball activities for the time being.
The A’s may not be the only team bound for Las Vegas in the near future. In addition to a potential new NBA team, MLS is talking about possibly relocating the Vancouver Whitecaps from Canada to Southern Nevada. Does the city have the capacity to support all these professional sports franchises?
BREAKING NEWS: A special committee of MLS owners met earlier this month to discuss and evaluate the future of the Vancouver Whitecaps, including the possibility of relocation, sources briefed on the conversations told @PaulTenorio and @tombogert. pic.twitter.com/uifzYodGL7
Florida St. infielder Alex Lodise (1) reacts to his double at second base during the first inning of an NCAA college baseball matchup Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at VyStar Ballpark in Jacksonville, Fla. FSU rallied to defeat UF 8-4 off a walk-off grand slam from Alex Lodise in the ninth inning. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] | Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Alex Lodise was off to an underwhelming start in Augusta with high strikeouts and not nearly as much power production as we had hoped, but the first game of the week was a chance for him to break out as he went deep twice as part of Augusta’s 12-run, five home run performance. Luis Guanipa also added to the tally with a tank in the game, and Augusta gave the system most of the cheering potential on Tuesday. That said, Isaiah Drake and John Gil can by no means be discounted as both had good games in Rome to continue their streaks of solid play.
(18-10) Gwinnett Stripers 10, (13-15) Charlotte Knights 7
Jim Jarvis, SS: 3-5, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, .343/.464/.510
Sean Murphy, C: 1-4, 2B, BB, .222/.300/.333
Nacho Alvarez, Jr., 3B: 1-5, 2B, .197/.276/.236
Javy Guerra, SP: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0.71 ERA
Daysbel Hernandez, RP: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 5.79 ERA
It was a slow week for Jim Jarvis at the plate against Jacksonville, but he immediately got back on track in the series opener in Charlotte and led a scoring outburst from the Stripers. Jarvis clubbed a two-run home run in the third inning to put Gwinnett on top in the game, and they never relinquished that lead. Jarvis’s home run was his fourth of the season, bringing him already within one of his career high through just 27 games, and his contributions were far from over. He added an RBI single in the sixth inning as part of Gwinnett’s six run frame which carried them in the runs column for the whole game, and capped off his evening with an eighth inning double. That sixth inning also featured a big appearance from Sean Murphy, who kept a soft liner fair down the left field line for an RBI double. Murphy has certainly not been his best during his rehab stint in the system, but tonight was a good step for him. In addition to it being his second straight game with a hit he also caught all nine innings and went 4-4 on ABS challenges behind the dish.
With the depleted starting staff the Stripers turned to a committee approach to pitching this game, and almost ran into a wall in the late innings after a strong start to the game. Javy Guerra and Anderson Pilar have been incredible for the Stripers on the mound this season so it’s no surprise that both were on their A game in this one, combining to go five innings with only one run allowed while the offense opened up a 9-1 lead. The Stripers turned it over to Daysbel Hernandez in the sixth inning, who managed to pitch a scoreless inning though it’s clear he is not yet at the top of his game. His fastball velocity is starting to work back towards normal, sitting at 96.5 mph in this game, but he still doesn’t have the same juice he did last season. The positive note was just how well he was landing his slider in this game. He had a few very bad misses, but what for the most part he was throwing both his pitches in solid locations and didn’t make significant mistakes in the inning he threw. The game was plodding along nicely until the seventh inning when Austin Pope had a blowup outing, allowing a walk, five hits, and four runs before being pulled after retiring only one hitter. Charlotte drew even closer with a run off of James Karinchak in the eighth inning and a home run off of Ian Hamilton in the ninth, and following that long ball Hamilton got into a dangerous situation with two outs. He allowed a hard single to old friend Jarred Kelenic, then a bloop hit to bring the tying run up, a hitter whom he walked to load the bases. With his back against the wall Hamilton locked in at the right time, getting three swinging strikes on his slider to retire the final hitter.
Cam Caminiti, SP: 5 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 5.63 ERA
We like to see good games from Isaiah Drake and John Gil, and those two helped lift an underwhelming evening for Rome who didn’t really get any offense going until the game was mostly wrapped. Drake had a solid hit in the first inning that got snagged for an out, but he wasn’t done in the game and had a couple of other hits. His double in the eighth inning down the left field line kicked off the big inning for Rome, leading to three runs to make the final score look a little more respectable for them. Drake would end up scoring on an odd play, when Cody Miller beat out a tapper down the first base line that the pitcher apparently missed the tag, though he would argue otherwise. On that play John Gil, who earlier walked, was able to come all the way in to score from second base, capping another solid performance from him to further boost his numbers. Gil’s lone hit in the game came in the fourth inning when he hit a screaming liner over shortstop for a single. Then, with just a bobble from the left fielder Gil had enough time to advance to second base, showing again what an impact his speed can make on the bases. After a perfect week at the plate Eric Hartman’s hitting streak came to a quiet close with an 0-4 performance. He had a decently well-hit ball in the fourth inning on a fly out that advanced, but otherwise had a non-impactful game for the first time in awhile.
Looking at the seven hits and runs allowed it would be easy to write this off as a poor day on the mound for Cam Caminiti, but that wouldn’t feel like an entirely fair evaluation of his performance. Early on in this outing Caminiti worked quickly and efficienty, almost never falling behind in the count and forcing a combination of weak contact and swing and misses that had him through three easy innings. An error helped bring home a run and he did allow a double on a slider below the zone that the hitter scooped into left field, but all in all he looked solid even if his slider wasn’t at its best all the time. As the game progressed he started to settle in to slinging those sliders across the zone to lefty hitters, but in the fourth inning he just started bleeding singles. It was rarely poor locations or hard hits that did him in, but a series of soft singles that led to two runs to further the hole in the game for Rome. A bunt single and a roller through the right side of the infield accounted for the two hits and runs in the next inning, but he finished off the frame with his best fastball of the game. He went up above the zone for a whiff to strike out a hitter to end the inning, one of his strikeouts in the game. His worst pitch was probably the 0-2 fastball down the middle that got smacked for a single to lead off the sixth and he was pulled after walking the next hitter, but overall Caminiti’s execution in this game far outpaced his actual performance. Certainly there could have been occasions he made slightly better pitches with his slider to get whiffs late in counts, but he pitches significantly better than the line would indicate and I wouldn’t in any way put it in the same category as the struggles he had last week.
Swing and Misses
Cam Caminiti – 13
Trent Buchanan – 6
(13-9) Augusta GreenJackets 12, (6-16) Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 4
Luis Guanipa, CF: 2-4, HR, BB, 2 RBI, .329/.352/.557
Logan Forsythe, SP: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 2.70 ERA
Aivan Cabral, RP: 4 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 3.50 ERA
April has felt like a slow wait to see when Alex Lodise would break out. The strikeout rates have been a bit concerning, but his contact quality has been there since the beginning and with three multi-hit performances last week it felt like only a matter of time before he would have a big day at the plate. That day came in the opener of the series against Kannapolis. The GreenJackets routed the Cannon Ballers thanks to five home runs in the game, and two of those came off of the bat of Lodise as he drove in five runs. Interestingly the GreenJackets didn’t do a whole lot the first time through the order against Kannapolis starter Truman Pauley, and trailed 2-0 going into the fifth inning, but Cooper McMurray woke up a sleeping giant by crushing a game-tying home run in the bottom of the fifth. A few batters late and Lodise got his first. He unloaded on one to left field for a two-run home run, and after the fifth inning Augusta held on to a 5-2 lead. That lead grew in the next inning, and Luis Guanipa had a big hand in that four run frame. He got to look at a slow breaking ball on the inning corner of the plate and had all day to get his quick hands around on the pitch, and he absolutely launched the pitch off of the apartment buildings in left field. Guanipa had a great game in his own right, starting out in the first inning with a deep fly ball that bounced off of the center field wall and allowed Guanipa to streak in to third base with a triple. Guanipa also drew a walk in the fifth inning, a hugely welcome sign for him, and in his final at bat hit a ball hard into the gap that the left fielder was positioned perfectly on to track down for a line out. Lodise added on by showing off his power with a no doubter the opposite way in the eighth inning, and two batters later Nick Montgomery got in on the action with a long home run of his own.
It took a bit of time for the pitching staff to get their bearing after the long rain delay, and Logan Forsythe was the victim of that. Forsythe’s command issues finally came around to hurt him after a decent start to the season as he walked three hitters in 1 2/3 inning and seemed to really have no idea where anything was going. He had to give way to Carter Lovasz early in the game, and Lovasz thankfully was able to settle it down quickly. He dominated with 2 1/3 innings of scoreless ball, striking out three batters. Aivan Cabral had the job of providing long relief for Augusta, and while he was just okay it was plenty for Augusta after they scored nine runs in two innings. Cabral allowed a ton of contact on his sinker and it turned into seven hits over four innings of work, but with such a solid defense behind him they were able to keep him from really getting into serious trouble. The most impressive looking of Augusta’s pitchers was Styven Paez, though his command is obviously a major problem at this stage. The Braves can hope that Paez is a late bloomer who can grow into some command, as his upper 80’s sweeper has legit major league potential and pairs well with a fastball that can really get up on hitters thanks to Paez’s low release and solid carry. It’s sort of a dime-a-dozen relief profile in the minor leagues at this point, and given the effort in Paez’s delivery it’s hard to project his command coming along too well, but it’s never a bad thing to have a few cheap guys in the system with some middle relief potential.
Apr 27, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Seattle Mariners second baseman Cole Young (2) hits a RBI fly ball against the Minnesota Twins in the fifth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images | Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
Hello folks and happy Wednesday!
The Mariners bats came alive yesterday as the team feasted on the Twins’ bullpen to the tune of a 7-1 victory. In particular, it was a great game from second baseman Cole Young, who is beginning to round into form offensively with a .278/.352/.407 slash line heading into today’s action.
How have your expectations for Young evolved over the course of the season? Just how far do you think he can go?
— The Late Innings Show (@LateInningsShow) April 28, 2026
Meanwhile, Jeff Passan had Cal Raliegh on his podcast to discuss the origin of the Big Dumper nickname, coaches calling pitches from the dugout, and more.
There are layers to Rob Refsnyder’s go-ahead home run against the Cardinals.
#Mariners bullpen catcher Justin Novak performed a Japanese salt ritual for Rob Refsnyder, intended to "keep things light" for the scuffling outfielder.
Two days later – Novak caught Refsnyder's go-ahead home run in the visiting bullpen.
We had another April managerial change yesterday, with the Phillies canning skipper Rob Thomson. Don Mattingly, the father of Phillies GM Preston Mattingly, will take over in his place. Alex Cora was reportedly offered the Philadelphia gig but turned it down so he could spend time with his family.
Mets starter Kodai Senga, who has been struggling this season, was placed on the injured list with lumbar spinal inflammation.
Two closeout games are on tap for tonight, as the Los Angeles Lakers look to finish off the Houston Rockets and the No. 8-seeded Orlando Magic try to complete the upset with a win over the Detroit Pistons.
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers look to hold serve at home after the home team won each of the first four games of the series against the Toronto Raptors.
My NBA picks cover all three games for this April 29 slate.
Prop #1: Paolo Banchero Over 34.5 points + rebounds + assists
-112 at bet365
Paolo Banchero shot a putrid 4-for-18 from the field in Game 4, but he still finished with 30 PRA.
Banchero will be better offensively in Game 5, especially with Franz Wagner’s status up in the air. Given his extensive injury history this season, I expect Wagner to sit this one out.
During the regular season, Banchero averaged 32 PRA with Wagner in the lineup compared to a whopping 37.7 with him sidelined.
The Orlando forward closed out the regular season on a high note, averaging 36.4 PRA across his final eight games. He went for 35+ four times and finished with exactly 34 once more.
Banchero posted PRA totals of 36, 32, 46, and 30 in Games 1-4 of the series, respectively, but he was even better against the Pistons in the regular season.
In three regular-season matchups with Detroit, Banchero averaged 39.3 PRA and hit the Over on this line in every game.
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Prime
Prop #2: Donovan Mitchell Over 27.5 points
-112 at bet365
Donovan Mitchell’s home-road splits were noticeable during the regular season, but they’ve been glaring in this series.
In Games 1 and 2, Mitchell averaged 31 points while shooting 55.8% from the floor and 47.1% from beyond the arc. In Games 3 and 4 at Scotiabank Arena, he totaled 35 points on a miserable 13-for-40 from the field and 5-for-17 from long distance...
The series is now a best-of-three affair, and the Cavs get two of those in Cleveland. I’ll bet on Mitchell bouncing back in front of the home crowd tonight after letting his team down in Toronto.
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where to watch: ESPN
Prop #3: LeBron James Over 15.5 rebounds + assists
+100 at bet365
LeBron James finished Game 4 with just 10 points on 2-for-9 shooting and 0 of 3 from 3-point range. Despite the poor offensive showing, he made an impact as a rebounder and facilitator, posting 13 rebounds + assists.
Through four games of the series, James has racked up 21, 15, 19, and 13 RA, carrying a hefty load as the team’s primary playmaker.
Austin Reaves is expected back tonight, so James’ scoring may take a hit. With Luka Doncic still sidelined, however, James should thrive in other areas.
During the regular season, James averaged 12.4 RA in games played with Doncic. In 11 games with Doncic sidelined, that number rocketed up to 17.3, and James hit the Over nine times. I expect a strong performance from the King at home in a closeout scenario.
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COVERS INTEL: The Phillies trail only the Dodgers, Braves, and Rangers in hard-hit rate against righties at home.
Paolo Banchero
Donovan Mitchell
LeBron James