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Panthers Visit Maple Leafs In Matchup Holding Deep Draft Lottery Implications

The Florida Panthers will close out the road portion of their schedule on Saturday night against a division rival also having a frustrating season.

Florida has dropped each of the first four games of this five-game roadie and will try to salvage a win against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena.

To be fair, while yes, the players on the ice will absolutely be pushing to end their weeklong expedition with a hard-earned victory, when looking at the bigger picture, it would actually more benefit the Panthers if they lost the game. In regulation.

The big reason why its better for Florida not to win at this point of the season, after being eliminated from playoff contention, is that if the Panthers finish in a position where they end up with a top-10 selection in this summer’s NHL Draft, they get to retain the pick despite having traded it to Chicago in last year’s Trade Deadline deal that brough Seth Jones to Sunrise.

Whether Florida keeps the pick or trades it, the higher that selection ends up being, the better.

When looking at the standings, the Panthers and Maple Leafs each have 78 points through 79 games, sitting as the sixth and seventh-worst teams in the league. Florida is seeded higher because they have more regulation wins.

In terms of lottery odds, this game holds pretty heavy implications.

The Seatle Kraken are one point behind the Cats and Leafs with a game in hand. They host the Calgary Flames on Saturday after beating the Vegas Golden Knights in a shootout Friday night,

Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Thursday’s visit to Ottawa:

Carter Verhaeghe – Sam Bennett – Mackie Samoskevich

Jesper Boqvist – Eetu Luostarinen – A.J. Greer

Tomas Nosek – Cole Schwindt - Noah Gregor

Nolan Foote – Luke Kunin – Vinnie Hinostroza

Gus Forsling – Mike Benning

Donovan Sebrango – Marik Alscher

Tobias Bjornfot – Ludvig Jansson

Photo caption: Jan 6, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Troy Stecher (28) battles for the puck with Florida Panthers center Eetu Luostarinen (27) during the second period at Scotiabank Arena. (Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images)

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The Canadiens Sent A Message, They’re Not Afraid To Get Their Hands Dirty

Last year in the playoffs, the Montreal Canadiens were manhandled by the Washington Capitals. For most of the young Canadiens, it was a first taste of the playoffs and one they weren’t ready for. On Thursday night, against the Tampa Bay Lightning, which came to town intending to do exactly the same, the Sainte-Flanelle stood tall and refused to bow down.

The referees handed out 126 penalty minutes in that game, 71 of which were given to the Lightning. The Canadiens pushed back after every aggression, but they had the discipline not to go too far over the line. They played with physicality, but they remained in control.

Josh Anderson was flying out there and always ready to stand up to the opponents. He handed up, dropping the gloves with Declan Carlile and giving the 25-year-old a correction. He even ended up getting in Nikita Kucherov’s head with stealthy slashes, and Tampa’s ace took himself out of the game for two minutes when he tried to reciprocate.

We’ve been used to seeing a fast, high-scoring team this year, but the Canadiens showed they can play a different game, one that is highly suited to playoff hockey, and they did it against a team that has won more than its fair share of Stanley Cups over the recent years.

It might have only been one game, but to limit the Bolts to 18 shots and one goal while playing that kind of hockey was rather impressive. The talk of the town on Friday morning in Montreal wasn’t just Cole Caufield’s 50th goal; it was also the type of game the Canadiens played, and some even thought that the proverbial window of opportunity might be open for Martin St-Louis and his men now.

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MLB Predictions and Moneyline Picks for Saturday, April 11

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Saturday’s full slate is loaded with opportunity, and today’s MLB picks come down to identifying pitching mismatches, bullpen reliability, and situational spots early in the season.

From bounce-back offenses to teams leaving hitter-friendly parks, there’s value across multiple games if you’re willing to trust the numbers over the noise.

Let’s break down the top MLB picks and moneyline predictions for Saturday, April 11.

MLB moneyline picks for April 11

MatchupPick
DiamondbacksDiamondbacks
vs
PhilliesPhillies		Phillies
-127
MarlinsMarlins
vs
TigersTigers		Tigers
-133
PiratesPirates
vs
CubsCubs		Cubs
-144
TwinsTwins
vs
Blue JaysBlue Jays		Blue Jays
-104
AngelsAngels
vs
RedsReds		Angels
+117
AthleticsA's
vs
MetsMets		Athletics
+133
White SoxWhite Sox
vs
RoyalsRoyals		White Sox
+144
YankeesYankees
vs
RaysRays		Yankees
-168
NationalsNationals
vs
BrewersBrewers		Brewers
-156
GiantsGiants
vs
OriolesOrioles		Giants
-104
Red SoxRed Sox
vs
CardinalsCardinals		Red Sox
-122
GuardiansGuardians
vs
BravesBraves		Braves
-117
RockiesRockies
vs
PadresPadres		Padres
-150
RangersRangers
vs
DodgersDodgers		Dodgers
-178
AstrosAstros
vs
MarinersMariners		Astros
-133

Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of 4-11.

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Expert MLB moneyline picks for April 11

Diamondbacks vs Phillies: Phillies (-127)

Phillies win probability: 56%

Both pitchers are off to rough starts, but I trust the Phillies' offense to take advantage of Brandon Pfaadt's inability to strike anyone out. 

Marlins vs Tigers: Tigers (-133)

Tigers win probability: 57%

The Tigers aren't exactly hitting the cover off of the baseball, but sooner or later, they'll need to start stringing together some wins. With an advantage on the mound, I'll take them at home. 

Pirates vs Cubs: Cubs (-144)

Cubs win probability: 59%

The Pirates are still the Pirates despite an even-keel start, so give me the Cubs at home. Braxton Ashcraft is not as good as his early numbers suggest. 

Twins vs Blue Jays: Blue Jays (-104)

Blue Jays win probability: 51%

The Twins are hot right now, but the odds suggest this is a game they lose. Blue Jays pick up the win behind a solid outing from Eric Lauer. 

Angels vs Reds: Angels (+117)

Angels win probability: 46%

The Reds should not be the favorite over anyone right now, except maybe the Angels. However, the Angels offense has been better, so plus money is a steal. 

A's vs Mets: A's (+133)

A's win probability: 43%

I do not trust the Mets. Neither should you. 

White Sox vs Royals: White Sox (+144)

White Sox win probability: 41%

Both teams are struggling out of the gates, but I will fade Michael Wacha in this spot, as I do not think he's still a Major League-calibre pitcher. 

Yankees vs Rays: Yankees (-168)

Yankees win probability: 64%

Max Fried is the Yankees' ace, and he will pitch them to victory. 

Nationals vs Brewers: Brewers  (-156)

Brewers win probability: 61%

The Nationals' entire pitching staff is awful, posting stats that are last in most major categories. The Brewers will do more than enough on offense to pick up the win. 

Giants vs Orioles: Giants (-104)

Giants win probability: 51%

I'll take the Giants and Logan Webb over the O's and Chris Bassitt. Better pitcher, with two even offenses. 

Red Sox vs Cardinals: Red Sox (-122)

Red Sox win probability: 55%

Ranger Suarez is not as bad as his early numbers suggest. The Cardinals once again struggle with production, so give me the Red Sox lineup to do plenty of damage against Kyle Leahy.

Guardians vs Braves: Braves (-117)

Braves win probability: 54%

These two teams may have near-identical records, but the Braves offense has been raking. I'll take them at home to pick up another win. 

Rockies vs Padres: Padres (-150)

Padres win probability: 60%

See Rockies. Bet against Rockies. You'll win more often than not. 

Rangers vs Dodgers: Dodgers (-178)

Dodgers win probability: 64%

See Dodgers. Bet Dodgers.  

Astros vs Mariners: Astros (-133)

Astros win probability: 47%

To say the Seattle Mariners' offense got stuck in the starting gate would be putting it lightly. They are 30th in batting average, OBP, SLG, and OPS. The only reason they are not winless is that their pitching has been solid.

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Mets Daily Prospect Report, 4/11/26: Rumble Ponies put up a baker’s dozen

SURPRISE, AZ - OCTOBER 18: DíAndre Smith #6 of the Scottsdale Scorpions slides into third base during the game between the Scottsdale Scorpions and the Surprise Saguaros at Surprise Stadium on Saturday, October 18, 2025 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Triple-A: Syracuse Mets (6-7)

BUFFALO 7, SYRACUSE 1 (BOX)

The Mets got three-hit by the Bisons in what was a pretty lackluster affair. Christian Arroyo continues his hot start to the season by driving in the Mets’ only run of the game, which was mercifully ended early by bad weather. At least potential bullpen churn pieces Anderson Severino and Mike Bauman looked alright.

Double-A: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (4-2)

BINGHAMTON 13, SOMERSET 1 (BOX)

The Rumble Ponies walked 13 times, scored 13 runs, and only collected eight hits in a trouncing of the Yankees’ Double-A club. Bryce Conley and Gabriel Rodriguez combined for the first six innings of five hits, one walk, no runs, and ten strikeouts. D’Andre Smith drove in five on two hits (a double and a triple).

High-A: Brooklyn Cyclones (1-5)

BROOKLYN 6, JERSEY SHORE 4 (BOX)

Brooklyn finally got a dub in an extra-inning affair down the shore. John Bay, Corey Collins, and Colin Houck combined for three runs in the top of the tenth to secure the win.

Single-A: St. Lucie Mets (3-3)

DUNEDIN 9, ST. LUCIE 2 (BOX)

Tommy Pham is trying to claw his way back to the bigs, and he went 0-2 with a walk in a lopsided loss to the Jays. Frank Camarillo went five innings, giving up three earned runs, but kept the Mets close until Joe Charles had what can only be described as one of the wildest innings you’ll ever hear about: Walk, wild pitch, walk, walk, wild pitch, walk, infield fly, wild pitch, single, got yanked.

Rookie: FCL Mets (0-0)

NO GAME (SCHEDULE)

STAR OF THE NIGHT

D’Andre Smith

GOAT OF THE NIGHT

Joe Charles

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Yankees prospects: Logan Maxwell homers twice for Tampa in Friday’s only org win

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders: L, 2-10 (7) vs. Durham Bulls; they were supposed to play a doubleheader but rain nixed the nightcap, so they’ll try to play two today in a single-admission twin bill beginning at 3:05pm ET

CF Jasson Domínguez 1-2, 2 BB, SB — only a single but he’s still doing his thing
SS Oswaldo Cabrera 0-4, K, GIDP
2B Max Schuemann 0-3, BB
LF Spencer Jones 0-2, 2 BB, K
RF Yanquiel Fernández 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI — drove in Scranton’s only runs in first with double
1B Seth Brown 0-3
DH Ernesto Martinez Jr. 1-3, 2 K
3B Paul DeJong 0-2, BB
C Payton Henry 0-1, BB, K
C Ali Sánchez 1-1

Elmer Rodríguez 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 5 K, HR, WP, pickoff error
Harrison Cohen 1.2 IP, 1 H, 5 R (5 ER), 3 BB, 2 K, HR, HBP, pickoff error (loss) — it was a 2-2 tie in the seventh; then it wasn’t
Kervin Castro 0.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, HR

Double-A Somerset Patriots: L, 1-13 at Binghamton Rumble Ponies

SS George Lombard Jr. 1-4, 2 K
RF Garrett Martin 1-4, K
LF Jace Avina 0-4, 2 K
2B Marco Luciano 1-4, 2B, 2 K
DH Coby Morales 2-4, 2B, RBI, 2 K, SB, CS — Patriots got some doubles but wasn’t their night
1B Nicholas Torres 2-3, 2B, HBP
CF Kenedy Corona 0-3, BB, 2 K
C Manuel Palencia 0-3, K, passed ball
3B Owen Cobb 1-3, 2 K

Xavier Rivas 2 IP, 5 H, 5 R (5 ER), 4 BB, 2 K, HR (loss) — woof
Bailey Dees 1.2 IP, 0 H, 2 R (2 ER), 4 BB, 1 K, pickoff
Hayden Merda 2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 5 K — dynamite relief
Kelly Austin 1.1 IP, 1 H, 3 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 0 K, HBP
Diomedes Hernandez 0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 0 K

High-A Hudson Valley Renegades:L, 1-3 vs. Wilmington Blue Rocks

3B Core Jackson 1-4, 2 K, SB, HBP, throwing error
SS Kaeden Kent 1-4, BB, SB
1B Kyle West 0-3, BB, RBI, K, SB
C Eric Genther 1-3, BB, K, missed catch error
DH Roderick Arias 0-3, BB, K, 2 SB, picked off — ‘Gades had the wheels but not much else
RF Tyler Wilson 0-4, K — bottom five in the lineup went a combined 0-for-15; hard to win with three hits
LF Josh Moylan 0-2, 2 BB, 2 K
PR Cole Gabrielson 0-0
CF Camden Troyer 0-4
2B Connor McGinnis 0-2, 2 BB, K

Jack Cebert 7.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 8 K, HR, HBP (loss) — don’t often see minor leaguers pitching into the eighth these days, especially in April, but Cebert was efficient (92 pitches) and very good; hard-luck loss due to the early two-run shot he allowed
Tanner Bauman 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, HBP
Chris Veach 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Low-A Tampa Tarpons: W, 9-0 at Clearwater Threshers

SS Jackson Lovich 2-4, 2 2B, BB, 2 RBI, K, SB
3B Enmanuel Tejeda 0-4, BB, 2 K
DH Engelth Urena 0-3, 2 BB, K
LF Logan Maxwell 2-4, 2 HR, BB, 5 RBI, K, CS — big afternoon for the undrafted free agent out of Arkansas!
CF Willy Montero 1-4, BB, 2 K
RF JoJo Jackson 1-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 K — hit the hell out of his first homer of 2026 (106.1 mph, 390 feet)
C Ediel Rivera 0-3, K, HBP, passed ball
2B Austin Green 0-3, BB
1B Hans Montero 0-3, K, HBP

Justin West 5.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K (win) — 12 swings and misses, nice start
Jose M. Rodriguez 2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K — almost as many swings and misses (8) in fewer pitches!
Pedro Rodriguez 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

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Phillies news: Brandon Marsh, Bryce Harper, MLBPA

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 10: Brandon Marsh #16 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates his three-run home run with Bryce Harper #3 in the first inning during the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park on April 10, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.(Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) | Getty Images

So we’re gonna do this Brandon Marsh as the cleanup hitter thing now? I guess it’ll work against a team without left handed relief pitching, but later on? What then?

On to the links.

Phillies news:

MLB news:

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Game 15 Preview: Tigers can seal 3rd-straight weekend series win on Saturday

After five games of futility, the Detroit Tigers finally got back into the win column with a 2-0 victory over the Miami Marlins on Friday night.

It was another weak effort at the plate for the Motor City Kitties, but they were able to get their old friend Chris Paddack for a pair of runs during his six-inning stint — enough to earn the W. On the mound, Kieder Montero gave his team six scoreless innings, and the bullpen did the rest to ensure the triumph.

On Saturday afternoon, right-hander Casey Mize will take the bump opposite fellow righty Janson Junk. Detroit’s former top-overall draft pick has put up a near-elite strikeout percentage in a very limited sample size so far, but otherwise has struggled to find consistency.

Junk has looked perfectly serviceable so far, but far from invincible. Take a look below at how the two match up.

Detroit Tigers (5-9) vs. Miami Marlins (8-6)

Time (ET): 1:10 p.m. ET
Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
SB Nation Site: None
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network

Game 15: RHP Casey Mize (0-1, 5.23 ERA) vs. RHP Janson Junk (0-1, 3.09 ERA)

PlayerGIPK%BB%GB%FIPfWAR
Mize210.128.310.935.74.630.1
Junk211.217.04.342.93.440.2

MIZE

JUNK

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I Promised Myself I Wouldn’t Overreact to Jordan Walker – I Lied

MLB: Detroit Tigers at St. Louis Cardinals

Just as we all predicted, the Cardinals are off to a solid start to the 2026 season with an offense led by Jordan Walker. Going into Friday night’s game, Walker is top ten in the MLB in WAR,  sports a 192 wRC+, is second in baseball in isolated slugging, and has somehow upstaged JJ Wetherholt as the most exciting Cardinal to follow for the first two weeks of the season. I, along with the majority of the fanbase, was prepared for another excruciating season of Walker runway. Over the offseason, my conspiracy theory was that the Cardinals didn’t really believe in Walker either and would trade him or send him to the minors after a couple months of putrid play. 

Walker has done everything humanly possible to completely reverse the narrative in the first 12 games of the season. Beyond the excellent offense, he has shown off his incredible arm and added value in the field and on the bases. The natural question that most of Cardinals Nation is debating is whether or not this new and improved Jordan Walker is here to stay. If I were a bit wiser and less prone to overreaction, I would say to just enjoy the ride and try not to overanalyze a 12-game sample size. Alas, I am not wise and one of my favorite activities is overreacting, so I must forge ahead into the abyss in search of a star right fielder. 

Has Jordan Walker Broken Out?

The first thing to note is that this type of stretch is not unprecedented for Walker. Here is a look at his rolling 12-game average wRC+ since he debuted in 2023.

He has not reached these heights since his rookie season when he had better 12-game stretches in both June and September. It feels like it has been forever since we have had a Walker hot streak to analyze, but I remember always feeling like even the good runs were a bit of a mirage driven by scorched ground balls and batted ball luck.

In the table above, you can see that both 2023 stretches were far more reliant on higher contact rates and elevated BABIPs. During the September 2023 stretch, his exit velocity of 87.7 MPH was actually below league average. The thing all three stretches have in common is the lowered chase rate around 28%, which is right around league average. Walker’s career chase rate is 33.2%, which places him in the bottom 20% in baseball. 

It isn’t fair to say that the two 2023 stretches were just batted ball luck, as Walker did pop four home runs in each. However, the metric that jumps off the page in this 2026 stretch is the 26.7% barrel rate. To quote from the Statcast Glossary: 

To be Barreled, a batted ball requires an exit velocity of at least 98 mph. At that speed, balls struck with a launch angle between 26-30 degrees always garner Barreled classification. For every mph over 98, the range of launch angles expands.

To illustrate this graphically:

I bring up Barrels because this metric gets at the real root of Walker’s struggles, the fact that he has not been able to get the ball off the ground and take advantage of his prodigious bat speed and exit velocity numbers. In order to barrel a baseball, you must not only hit it hard, but hit it at an optimal angle. Walker’s career Barrel% of 9.8% is just a touch above league average. His 26.7% barrel rate thus far in 2026 ranks third in baseball behind Kyle Schwarber and Shohei Ohtani (both at 27.3%). 

Walker has hit 30 balls in play this year, 8 of which were barrels. Looking at the rolling average over the course of his career, you can see in the numbers what is obvious in watching him hit this year, he is finally scorching the ball in the air.

Now the million-dollar question: is this sustainable? I will go out on a limb and say no… No player has ever maintained a Barrel% above 27% for a full season since tracking started in 2015. Aaron Judge holds the top four individual seasons with percentages between 24.7% and 26.9% of balls in play. However, given that Walker is in pretty rarefied air, I wanted to see how this 30-batted-ball sample size stacked up across a wider range of players. I looked at every player who had at least 30 balls hit in play in 2025 and calculated the rolling average of each to see how often players were able to maintain this kind of a rate. Here is the data:

1,100 plate appearances occurred in 2025 in which the batter had a 27% Barrel% over their previous 30 balls in play. While this puts Walker in the 99th percentile, it is far from an unprecedented run for a stretch this short. 96 players in total were able to eclipse the 27% threshold for a stretch of 30 balls in play at some point last year. The majority of the total plate appearances belong to the best hitters in the game, but there were plenty of below-average hitters able to peak at this level. The sample size of players able to crest 40% is much smaller and almost exclusively elite.

Nick Kurtz was the one player to get to a 47% rate over his absurd July run last season. 

So, how long would Walker have to keep up his newfound proclivity for finding the barrel for us to get truly giddy with excitement? Another 20 balls hammered at his current rate would reduce the cohort from 96 down to 19 of the (mostly) best hitters in baseball. One hundred balls in play at this level pretty much cements you as a top hitter in baseball, or Oneil Cruz.

Barrels Conclusion

Walker has improved, but we will know WAY more in just another 20 or 30 games. So, if Walker does keep barreling his way into the summer, do we have an MVP candidate on our hands? Probably not, but certainly not before we address the 7-foot-tall elephant in the room…

Oneil Cruz being included in this group of elite hitters is the perfect example of how things could still go wrong, even if they go mostly right. He has struggled with the same combination of low contact and high chase rates that have plagued Walker. Despite barreling the ball at an elite level, his contact problems have kept him as a roughly league-average hitter. Now, Cruz is still a good player and if Walker’s defense keeps improving, he could be valuable even as more of a 100 wRC+ player, but the Cardinals keep giving him chances because of his ceiling as a true middle-of-the-order bat. 

Comparing Walker and Cruz to the Judge, Ohtani, Schwarber, Stanton, and Raleigh group further illustrates the importance of plate discipline. The below table includes the career contact and chase rates for these players.

Not only is Walker’s contact rate exactly in line with the average of the power-hitting group, he actually has the best zone-contact%. The root of strikeout problems is not in his raw ability to make contact, but in his lack of discretion on when to swing. Looking at the same 12-game rolling average for chase rate, Walker has been near a career low in this metric as well.

Coming into the season, it seemed impossible that Walker would simultaneously start lifting the ball while reducing his chase rate, but that is exactly what he has done so far. Hopefully, as he gains confidence, he will become even more patient and wait for his pitch to drive. He hasn’t proved anything yet, and he still has some work to do on his plate discipline, but Walker has reminded us all why he was once the future of the franchise.

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Open Thread: Spurs Devin Vassell hosting a meet-and-greet on April 13th

Apr 8, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) reacts after getting fouled while attempting to dunk during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

April 12th is the last day of the regular season and then the Spurs have a couple of days off before they begin the first round of the playoffs.

What to do, what to do? How about meeting Devin Vassell?

On Monday, April 13th, Spurs swingman Devin Vassell will be making a guest appearance at Panda Express at 7979 Bandera Road.

From noon until 2PM, fans can meet Vassell while trying Panda Express’ new spicy dish – Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken.

There will be a photo booth, DJ, prize wheel, and an appearance by Pei Pei, the Panda Express mascot.

Make sure to get there early as these events typically have long lines.

Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.

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Game Preview: Washington Capitals @ Pittsburgh Penguins, 4/11/2026

PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 01: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins looks on alongside Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena on May 1, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** | NHLI via Getty Images

Who:  Washington Capitals (40-30-9, 89 points, 6th place Metropolitan Division) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (41-22-16, 98 points, 2nd place Metropolitan Division)

When: 3:00 p.m. ET

How to Watch: National broadcast on ABC, streaming on ESPN+

Pens’ Path Ahead: Today is the final home game of the regular season (but not the last home game of the season, now that the Pens have clinched a playoff spot with Thursday’s 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils). The Penguins are headed to D.C. tomorrow to complete the home-and-home back-to-back with what could be the final matchup between Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Alex Ovechkin. Ovechkin recently said he will wait until after the season to confirm whether he is retiring from the NHL, which caused ticket prices to spike ahead of the matchup in D.C. The Pens then get a day off before wrapping up the season on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues.

Opponent Track: The Philadelphia Flyers’ loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night didn’t just help the Pens clinch home ice advantage— it also kept the Capitals’ hopes of sneaking into the third spot in the Metro alive. The Caps have a path to the postseason if they can win out their final three games, starting with this back-to-back set against the Pens, as long as the Flyers, New York Islanders and Columbus Blue Jackets keep losing. If the Caps lose today to the Penguins, however, their playoff odds drop to next to nothing. Per MoneyPuck:

Season Series: The Penguins blew an early three-goal lead with Arturs Silovs in net, but rallied with a late power-play goal from Bryan Rust to secure a 5-3 win over the Caps in these teams’ last meeting in Pittsburgh on Nov. 6.

Hidden Stat: This game is set to mark the 75th time Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin have played one another, according to Penguins PR. Crosby and the Penguins have gone 43-27-4 in those previous 74 matchups.

Hidden Stat II: This weekend could potentially mark the end of an era that has shaped both franchises. The Ovechkin/Crosby era has last for just over 40 percent of the Capitals’ franchise history and more than a third of the Penguins’ history (h/t WashingtonCaps.com’s Mike Vogel).

Getting to know the Capitals

Projected lines

FORWARDS

Alex Ovechkin – Dylan Strome – Anthony Beauvillier

Aliaksei Protas – Ilya Protas – Tom Wilson

Connor McMichael – Pierre-Luc Dubois – Ryan Leonard

Brandon Duhaime – Justin Sourdif – Ivan Miroshnichenko

DEFENSEMEN

Martin Fehervary / Rasmus Sandin

Jakub Chychrun / Trevor van Riemsdyk

Cole Hutson / Matt Roy

Goalies: Logan Thompson, Mitchell Gibson

Potential scratches: Hendrix Lapierre, Ethen Frank, David Kampf, Declan Chisholm, Dylan McIlrath, Timothy Liljegren, Charlie Lindgren (upper body)

Injured Reserve: None

  • Ilya Protas, the 19-year-0ld brother of Caps winger Aliaksei Protas, made his NHL debut on Wednesday. The Capitals are currently running both brothers, who each measure in at 6’6” on either side of Tom Wilson (6’4”). The trio weighs more than 300 pounds combined.
  • Ilya Protas isn’t the only young Capital making his NHL debut down the stretch. Nineteen-year-old defenseman Cole Hutson has eight points (three goals, five assists) in 11 games since making his NHL debut in March.
  • Goaltender Charlie Lindgren was a full participant in practice Friday and is traveling with his team to Pittsburgh, Caps coach Spencer Carbery told reporters. Logan Thompson, who most recently backstopped the Caps to a 4-0 shutout of the Toronto Maple Leafs, is likely to get the start today in Pittsburgh, but having Lindgren back for Sunday could determine who starts the latter half of the back-to-back.

Season stats
via hockeydb

  • Tom Wilson is one goal shy of hitting the 30-goal plateau for the second time in the NHL career. Ovechkin already hit that mark in 75 games to mark his NHL-record 20th season with at least 30 goals.
  • Is this Ovechkin’s last game in Pittsburgh? The Washington captain recently announced he won’t be deciding whether to return for another NHL season until after the Caps’ run this season is over. How soon fans find out could depend at list in part on whether the Pens are able to play spoilers for the Capitals’ playoff chances today at PPG Paints. The Caps are at the very least honoring his last home game of the season by giving out special rally towels to fans in attendance on Sunday in D.C.

And now for the Pens

Projected lines 

FORWARDS

Egor Chinakhov – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust

Tommy Novak – Rickard Rakell – Evgeni Malkin

Anthony Mantha – Ben Kindel – Justin Brazeau

Elmer Soderblom – Noel Acciari – Avery Hayes

DEFENSEMEN

Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson

Sam Girard / Kris Letang

Ryan Shea / Connor Clifton

Goalies: Stuart Skinner, Arturs Silovs and Sergei Murashov

Potential Scratches: Ilya Solovyov, Blake Lizotte (injured), Kevin Hayes, Ryan Graves, Jack St. Ivany, Connor Dewar (day-to-day)

IR: Filip Hallander, Caleb Jones (season-ending shoulder surgery)

  • Connor Dewar missed Thursday’s win over the New Jersey Devils with what the Penguins described as a day-to-day lower-body injury. The team didn’t practice Friday, so an update on his injury status will come today.
  • The Penguins could also potentially decide to rest some players now that the team has been locked in as the No. 2 seed, although this could still be a first-round preview if the Caps win out while the Flyers, Jackets and Isles spiral.

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Who's in 2026 NHL playoffs? Latest bracket, standings, clinching scenarios

The NHL's busy 15-game schedule on Saturday, April 11 could provide more clarity in the playoff race.

Five more NHL teams − the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, Edmonton Oilers, Vegas Golden Knights and idle Anaheim Ducks − can clinch a postseason berth, joining the nine teams that have already made it. The Ducks would end a seven-season playoff drought if they clinch.

The Pacific Division lead is in play with the leading Oilers and second-place Golden Knights in action. The second wild-card seed in the Western Conference could change hands again if the Nashville Predators win and the Los Angeles Kings lose.

In non-playoff news, Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby and Washington's Alex Ovechkin will face each other for the 100th time. That game is being nationally broadcast on ABC.

Here's what to know about the NHL standings, including the latest playoff bracket, Saturday's clinching scenarios and the tiebreaker procedures for the 2025-26 season:

Who's in the 2026 NHL playoffs?

Eastern Conference: Carolina, Buffalo, Montreal, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh

Western Conference: Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Utah

Who can clinch an NHL playoff berth today?

  • The Boston Bruins will clinch a playoff berth if they beat the Lightning. They'd also clinch if they get one point, the Red Wings lose and the Senators and/or Flyers lose. A third option: The Red Wings lose in regulation and the Islanders or Flyers lose.
  • The Ottawa Senators will clinch a playoff berth if they beat the Islanders and the Red Wings lose.
  • The Edmonton Oilers will clinch a playoff berth if they get at least one point against the Kings. They also clinch if the Jets fail to win in regulation.
  • The Vegas Golden Knights will clinch a playoff berth if they beat the Avalanche. They'd also clinch if they get one point and the Jets and Predators lose. Third option: The Sharks lose and the Jets and Predators lose in regulation.
  • The idle Anaheim Ducks will clinch a playoff berth if the Sharks lose and the Jets and Predators lose in regulation.

NHL games today (Saturday, April 11)

All times p.m. ET

  • Tampa Bay at Boston, 12:30, ABC
  • Ottawa at N.Y. Islanders, 1
  • Washington at Pittsburgh, 3, ABC
  • Edmonton at Los Angeles, 4
  • New Jersey at Detroit, 5
  • St. Louis at Chicago, 5
  • Minnesota at Nashville, 5
  • N.Y. Rangers at Dallas, 5
  • Carolina at Utah, 5
  • Florida at Toronto, 7
  • Columbus at Montreal, 7
  • Philadelphia at Winnipeg, 7
  • Calgary at Seattle, 7
  • Vegas at Colorado, 8
  • Vancouver at San Jose, 10

NHL playoff standings

NHL Eastern Conference standings 2025-26

After April 9 games. x-clinched playoff spot. y-clinched division. z-eliminated.

Metropolitan Division

  • y-Carolina Hurricanes (108)
  • x-Pittsburgh Penguins (98)
  • Philadelphia Flyers (92)

Atlantic Division

  • x-Buffalo Sabres (106)
  • x-Montreal Canadiens (104)
  • x-Tampa Bay Lightning (102)

Wild card

  • Boston Bruins (96)
  • Ottawa Senators (94)

Sitting out of playoff position: Detroit Red Wings (91), New York Islanders (91), Columbus Blue Jackets (90), Washington Capitals (89), z-New Jersey Devils (83), z-Florida Panthers (78), z-Toronto Maple Leafs (78), z-New York Rangers (75)

NHL Western Conference standings 2025-26

After April 9 games. x-clinched playoff spot. y-clinched division. z-eliminated.

Central Division

  • y-Colorado Avalanche (114) - Presidents' Trophy winners
  • x-Dallas Stars (106)
  • x-Minnesota Wild (102)

Pacific Division

  • Edmonton Oilers (90)
  • Vegas Golden Knights (89)
  • Anaheim Ducks (89)

Wild card

  • x-Utah Mammoth (90)
  • Los Angeles Kings (85)

Sitting out of playoff position: Nashville Predators (84), Winnipeg Jets (82), San Jose Sharks (81), St. Louis Blues (78), Seattle Kraken (77), z-Calgary Flames (73), z-Chicago Blackhawks (70), z-Vancouver Canucks (52)

NHL playoffs if they started today

NHL Eastern Conference playoff bracket

Here is how the Eastern Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on April 9:

  • Carolina (M1) vs. Ottawa (WC2)
  • Pittsburgh (M2) vs. Philadelphia (M3)
  • Buffalo (A1) vs. Boston (WC1)
  • Montreal (A2) vs. Tampa Bay (A3)

The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second in the second round. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. Key: M - Metropolitan Division. A - Atlantic Division. WC - wild card

NHL Western Conference playoff bracket

Here is how the Western Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on April 9.

  • Colorado (C1) vs. Los Angeles (WC2)
  • Dallas (C2) vs. Minnesota (C3)
  • Edmonton (P1) vs. Utah (WC1)
  • Vegas (P2) vs. Anaheim (P3)

The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second in the second round. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. Key: C - Central Division P - Pacific Division. WC - wild card

NHL tiebreakers: What is the first tiebreaker in NHL standings?

If two teams are tied in points at the end of the regular season, here are the tiebreakers:

  1. Regulation wins
  2. Regulation and overtime wins (ROW)
  3. Total wins
  4. Most points earned in head-to-head competition: If teams had an uneven number of meetings, the first game played in the city that has the extra game is excluded. When more than two clubs are tied, the percentage of available points earned in games among each other (and not including any odd games) shall be used to determine standings.
  5. Goal differential
  6. Total goals

When does the NHL regular season end?

The NHL regular season is scheduled to end on Thursday, April 16, with six games.

When do the NHL playoffs start?

The NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs are scheduled to begin on April 18.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL playoff bracket, clinching scenarios and 2026 standings

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Who has edge in NHL playoff bracket as regular season hits final week?

The NHL playoffs start a week from Saturday.

After a rare day off on Friday, teams will have two to four games left before the April 16 end of the regular season and contenders will try to cement playoff positions.

So far, the Carolina Hurricanes, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning and Pittsburgh Penguins have clinched Eastern Conference playoff spots and the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild and Utah Mammoth have clinched in the West. Colorado and Carolina have won division titles.

Five more teams have the potential to clinch berths during Saturday's 15-game schedule.

Here's what is still to be decided in the final week of the regular season:

Atlantic Division title

The Sabres (106 points), Canadiens (104) and Lightning (102) have a shot. Buffalo has two games left and the other teams have three. The Sabres lead in the first tiebreaker (regulation wins). The Canadiens have been the hotter team, going 9-1 in their last 10 games, while the Lightning have lost three in a row.

Third in the Metropolitan Division

The top three teams in each division make the playoffs and that might be the best path for Metropolitan teams to get back into a playoff position. The New York Islanders, led by recently hired coach Peter DeBoer, are a point behind the third-place Philadelphia Flyers, compared to three points out of the second wild-card spot. The Columbus Blue Jackets are two points behind the Flyers. Each team has three games left and the Islanders lead in regulation wins.

Eastern Conference wild card spots

The Boston Bruins (96) and Ottawa Senators (94) hold the two positions, and they can clinch berths on Saturday. Boston will get in with a win. Ottawa would need a win and a Detroit Red Wings loss. If that happens, Detroit's playoff drought would hit 10 seasons. The Senators lead the Bruins in regulation wins and will take the first wild card if the teams end up tied in points.

Pacific Division title

The division-leading Edmonton Oilers, Vegas Golden Knights and idle Anaheim Ducks have a chance to clinch berths on Saturday. One point separates the Oilers and the other two. All have three games left and the Oilers have more regulation wins. Edmonton and Vegas will play the No. 1 overall Colorado Avalanche, and the Oilers and Ducks will play the last-overall Vancouver Canucks.

Western Conference wild card

The second wild card keeps changing hands and the Los Angeles Kings have a one-point lead on the Nashville Predators plus a game in hand. But the Kings have only 20 regulation wins and their closest pursuers have 25 or more. The Winnipeg Jets, who are three points back, are on a 7-2-1 run.

Home ice in the Central Division

The Dallas Stars beat the Minnesota Wild on Thursday and need only one win or a Wild regulation loss to clinch second place and have home ice advantage in the first round. Dallas-Minnesota is the only first-round series that is set.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL playoff bracket: What's to be decided in final week

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Today on Pinstripe Alley – 4/11/26

Apr 10, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; New York Yankees infielder Amed Rosario (14) throws to first base during the fifth inning against Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Pablo Robles-Imagn Images | Pablo Robles-Imagn Images

It’s really great stuff to be in the midst of the Yankees’ first annoying stretches of 2026. Really, it’s charming! Really, it’s not exhausting at all watching this lineup flail against Jeffrey Springs and Steven Matz! Can this end now please?

Today on the site, we’ll have a birthday post for one of the key players on the Yankees’ 2009 World Series champions, Madison will have the Rivalry Roundup from a busy Friday night of baseball action, John will critique a new feature of lights and Yankee Stadium entertainment, Scott will sit down for chat with Max Schuemann of Triple-A Scranon/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (late of the A’s) is getting accustomed to his new digs, and Andrés will anzlyze Luis Gil’s season debut.

Today’s Matchup

New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays

Time: 6:10 p.m. EST

Video: YES Network, Rays.tv

Venue: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL

Questions/Prompts:

1. Any lineup shuffle suggestions for today to shake things up?

2. How flawless does Max Fried need to pitch today for you to feel comfortable?

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Bright Spots in the Rubble: Coulibaly, Carrington Stand Out in Latest Wizards Defeat

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 10: Bilal Coulibaly #0 of the Washington Wizards goes to the basket against Simone Fontecchio #0 of the Miami Heat during the second half at Capital One Arena on April 10, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Wizards lost to the Miami Heat last night but got strong performances from Bilal Coulibaly and Bub Carrington. The final tally was 140-117 — the third time this season the Heat scored 140 or more against the Wizards.

The shellacking was Washington’s 28th loss by 20 or more points this season. I might believe that number was made up except I watched virtually every minute of them.

Bub Carrington shot 6-7 from three-point range in the Wizards loss to the Miami Heat. | NBAE via Getty Images

The Miami Heat broadcast had some interesting tidbits about the Wizards. Like:

  • The Wizards have the NBA’s worst overall record. They also have the worst record at home and on the road. Quite the triple crown.
  • It’s Washington’s third straight season with fewer than 20 wins.
  • Washington has used 50 different starting lineups in their 81 games so far this season.

Washington getting stomped by the Heat was inevitable. As has been chronicled extensively, the Wizards want to lose to maximize their Draft Lottery odds. Miami wanted to win to improve their position in the NBA’s play-in games. The Wizards set their lineups and minutes distribution accordingly.

While the Wizards received a thorough butt kicking, there were some positives — Coulibaly, Carrington, and Brian Keefe.

Coulibaly was a classic “tough cover” — 25 points in 22 minutes, 5 rebounds, 5 assists. His usage rate was an astronomical 38.6% and his offensive rating (points produced per possession x 100) was 145. That’s a great game.

Carrington had trouble missing shots — 11-15 from the floor, 6-7 from three — en route to 30 points in 34 minutes. He even tossed some accurate lobs, including one to Anthony Gill.

As for Keefe, I’ve liked a lot of what I’ve seen schematically from Keefe this season, at least when the Wizards actually run sets as designed. Last night, there were a number of really clever and well-designed actions on display.

  • First quarter, 6:26 — A simple (but effective) “get action.” Carrington passed the ball to JuJu Reese, then ran straight to him for a dribble hand off (DHO). It gave him a wide open three. This is a very old basketball play, and it endures because it works.
  • First quarter, 5:32 — Carrington passed to Coulibaly on the wing and runs down to the corner in a classic clearout cut. Coulibaly passed the ball to Reese out top, and then immediately turned and set a pin down screen for Carrington, who sprinted all the way out to Reese at the top for a DHO and a wide open three. I love this play for a few reasons, including how it uses defender assumptions against him (when Carrington cleared out, his defender relaxed just a little because that cleared out guy is usually out of the play at that point). And it gave Carrington an open look from a favorite spot.
  • Second quarter, 9:03 — This one was super smart. Miami went zone and Carrington made a normal baseline cut. He emerged on the weak side and came up to the wing. Completely normal action. Except, Will Riley made a similar cut behind him — trailing him to the weak side but going to the corner. The weak side defender picked up Carrington and followed him to the wing. That left Riley undefended in the corner where he got a wide open three-point attempt on the swing pass. He missed, but this is great play design.
  • Third quarter, 9:28 — One of my favorite plays of the night — I’m calling it a horizontal Spain pick-and-roll. So, in a Spain pnr, a second screener comes into the action to screen for the original screener. Keefe and the Wizards turned it on its side. In this version, Carrington screened for Coulibaly and then cleared only to double back over a Reese screen into a wide open three from the top.

All this is to say, I’m looking forward to seeing what Keefe and the Wizards coaching staff can do when they’re playing to win.

Four Factors

Below are the four factors that decide wins and losses in basketball — shooting (efg), rebounding (offensive rebounds), ball handling (turnovers), fouling (free throws made).

The four factors are measured by:

  • eFG% (effective field goal percentage, which accounts for the three-point shot)
  • OREB% (offensive rebound percentage)
  • TOV% (turnover percentage — turnovers divided by possessions)
  • FTM/FGA (free throws made divided by field goal attempts)
FOUR FACTORSHEATWIZARDSLGAVG
eFG%72.0%57.6%54.5%
OREB%30.0%16.2%26.0%
TOV%17.6%12.7%12.7%
FTM/FGA0.2680.1200.207
PACE10299.3
ORTG137115115.7

Stats & Metrics

PPA is my overall production metric, which credits players for things they do that help a team win (scoring, rebounding, playmaking, defending) and dings them for things that hurt (missed shots, turnovers, bad defense, fouls).

PPA is a per possession metric designed for larger data sets. In small sample sizes, the numbers can get weird. In PPA, 100 is average, higher is better and replacement level is 45. For a single game, replacement level isn’t much use, and I reiterate the caution about small samples sometimes producing weird results.

POSS is the number of possessions each player was on the floor in this game.

ORTG = offensive rating, which is points produced per individual possessions x 100. League average so far this season is listed in the Four Factors table above. Points produced is not the same as points scored. It includes the value of assists and offensive rebounds, as well as sharing credit when receiving an assist.

USG = offensive usage rate. Average is 20%. Median so far this season is 17.7%.

ORTG and USG are versions of stats created by former Wizards assistant coach Dean Oliver and modified by me. ORTG is an efficiency measure that accounts for the value of shooting, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers. USG includes shooting from the floor and free throw line, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers.

+PTS = “Plus Points” is a measure of the points gained or lost by each player based on their efficiency in this game compared to league average efficiency on the same number of possessions. A player with an offensive rating (points produced per possession x 100) of 100 who uses 20 possessions would produce 20 points. If the league average efficiency is 115, the league — on average — would produced 23.0 points in the same 20 possessions. So, the player in this hypothetical would have a +PTS score of -3.0.

Players are sorted by total production in the game.

WIZARDSMINPOSSORTGUSG+PTSPPA+/-
Bilal Coulibaly224714538.6%5.43073
Bub Carrington347215823.7%7.3200-2
Sharife Cooper214517916.5%4.7201-19
Julian Reese377811112.8%-0.567-11
Anthony Gill357512210.1%0.538-20
Will Riley28608128.7%-5.96-30
Jamir Watkins31667016.1%-4.82-25
Leaky Black32676020.5%-7.6-52-11
HEATMINPOSSORTGUSG+PTSPPA+/-zip
Simone Fontecchio275720417.7%8.932632
Bam Adebayo388213219.2%2.6160227
Jaime Jaquez Jr.367713721.7%3.6161247
Kasparas Jakucionis316614916.9%3.7179225
Kel’el Ware224618814.1%4.7215-11
Pelle Larsson275612832.7%2.3132178
Andrew Wiggins234910825.5%-0.98057
Keshad Johnson306310214.4%-1.258235
Vladislav Goldin130.0%0.0000
Trevor Keels130.0%0.0000
Jahmir Young136234.6%-0.5-10301
Myron Gardner37015.3%-1.2-42101
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Yankees news: Volpe slated to start upon return

TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 16: New York Yankees Infielder Anthony Volpe (11) listens to instructions during the spring training workout on February 16, 2026 at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

NY Post | Greg Joyce: Anthony Volpe has reunited with the Yankees as they arrived in Tampa to play the Rays this weekend, the injured shortstop having taken an extended stay at the team’s complex while rehabbing from offseason surgery on his labrum. The time for a rehab assignment is nearing, and could come as early as Tuesday after meeting with the team physician for a final check-up, but once he’s fully ready to go what will his role with the team be? General manager Brian Cashman gave the strongest indication that he’ll be back as the starting shortstop that we’ve heard since the offseason, confirming “that’s always been the plan” when reporters asked. He did leave a caveat that “ultimately that’ll be the manager’s call” on starting Volpe, but there’s little doubt that the GM and manager will be in lockstep on this.

José Caballero had a chance to make this a more debatable choice with the starting gig wide open for the first month of the season, but his bat has been ice cold to start the year. A .135/.200/.162 triple-slash isn’t inspiring any confidence, and the team was already inclined to go back to Volpe once healthy after assessing the team in the offseason. Given how dreadful the bottom of the lineup has performed, an early season performer like Volpe could win a lot of favor back in his court by jumping back in with some timely hits.

NJ.com | Bob Klapisch ($): We’ve seen high highs and low lows with this 2026 team already, jumping out to a 7-1 start that was tops in the league with electric pitching just to watch as the bats have gone missing and been unable to support the staff amidst a 1-4 skid that’s mainly been punctuated by three consecutive losses. It’s early, yes, so the answer of what this Yankees team is likely falls somewhere between those two results, but some very real flaws have been exposed as stats begin to stabilize.

AP | Ronald Blum: The average salary of an MLB player rose for another year after Opening Day payrolls were made official, seeing a 3.4 percent jump from 2025 to a record $5.34 million. Overall, the growth of the game’s major-league side of the financials has been on a steady climb following the pandemic, recovering from a slow decline in the late 2010s, but the underlying concern is that the extreme spenders and thrifters have both gotten stronger: six teams paid out over $250 million this year instead of four last year, while eight teams spent under $100 million as opposed to five in 2025. The median salary also grew slightly, up to $1.4 million from $1.35 million, but it still hasn’t come close to the median record set back in 2015. With a lockout all but assumed to be arriving after this season concludes, these numbers paint a picture of the opening lines that the union and owners will set their trenches against, so it’s worth familiarizing yourself with them now.

MLB Trade Rumors | Charlie Wright: Former Yankee Mike Ford is taking on a front office role with the Tampa Bay Rays, which would all but confirm that the first baseman is electing to retire from the game after spending last season abroad in Japan. Ford had a sensational stint with the Yankees in 2019 filling in for an injured Edwin Encarnacion, hitting for a .909 OPS in 50 games, but his subsequent 2020 season didn’t fare nearly as well and he played only a minor role in that year as well as in 2021, leading to a trade that sent him to Tampa. Now he’ll get the chance to work with the Rays’ minor leaguers in a still-undefined role.