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Stars Vs. Avalanche Set To Be A Blockbuster, But Who Will Advance To Second Round?

Jake Oettinger, Valeri Nichushkin and Esa Lindell (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

The NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs are nearly here, and already, we know many of the first-round matchups we’ll be seeing.

In the Eastern Conference, the Carolina Hurricanes will be taking on the New Jersey Devils. The Washington Capitals will be squaring off against the Montreal Canadiens or the Columbus Blue Jackets. And in the Western Conference, the Winnipeg Jets will be battling one of the St. Louis Blues, Minnesota Wild or Calgary Flames, and the Los Angeles Kings will be facing the Edmonton Oilers. To be sure, there will be no shortage of drama right out of the gate in the playoffs.

However, the first-round showdown we’re most interested in will be the Dallas Stars against the Colorado Avalanche. This will be the second time since 2019-20 that the Stars and Avs have faced each other in the post-season, with Dallas winning both series. But this time around, we believe the Avalanche have what it takes to beat the Stars and win their first-round series for the second season in a row. 

A lot of the Stars’ fortunes will depend on the status of star defenseman Miro Heiskanen, who hasn’t played since Jan. 28 due to a knee injury that required surgery. Dallas has gone 18-7-5 in Heiskanen’s absence, but Heiskanen could miss the entire first round, and being without a first-pair blueliner who can play 25 minutes a night could be devastating for the Stars’ playoff aspirations.

Given that Colorado has superstar D-man Cale Makar – the odds-on favorite to win this year’s Norris Trophy as the league’s top blueliner – not having Heiskanen to counterbalance Makar’s impact might be the difference that pushes the Avalanche to victory in the opening round.

Colorado has gone 2-1-0 against Dallas this season, with the Avs winning the two most recent games, including a 4-3 overtime win on March 16. And the Avalanche’s lone loss to the Stars this year came on Nov. 29, well before Colorado remade their goaltending tandem and altered much of their lineup.

But in the two Avalanche wins over Dallas, the Avs didn’t play No. 1 netminder Mackenzie Blackwood, going instead with backup Scott Wedgewood. So the Stars are going to get their first up-close look at Blackwood in Game 1 of their upcoming series, and the Stars’ lack of familiarity with Blackwood could play out to Colorado’s advantage.

Dallas does indeed have the edge in some significant team stats, with a slightly better goals-for average of 3.38 per game (compared to the Avs’ average of 3.32) and a better goals-against average of 2.64 (compared to Colorado’s average of 2.83).

However, the Avalanche have the better power play at 24.7 percent (compared to Dallas’ average of 22.8 percent). And given that special teams often matter greatly in the post-season, the Avs could benefit from their potent play with the man-advantage.

We’ll be offering our predictions for the entire first round once the series matchups are all confirmed. But for now, we’re going to say we like the Avalanche to narrowly beat out the Stars this time around.

Colorado’s lineup is stacked with first-rate talent, and Dallas’ lineup doesn’t have a shortage of skill, either. But we believe the Avs have the best player in the series in superstar center Nathan MacKinnon, and his determination to win is likely to push Colorado into the second round. 

And regardless of who wins, the Stars/Avalanche series is going to be one of the biggest blockbusters of the opening round – and the winner of the series could go on to win it all.

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Portland bets on continuity, extends Chauncey Billups as head coach

PORTLAND — The Trail Blazers have chosen continuity.

That is no small thing for a team about to miss out on the postseason, especially in an NBA where two teams in the top four of the league (at least at the time) fired their coach in recent weeks (and Denver threw out the GM as well).

Portland has signed coach Chauncey Billups to a multi-year contract extension, just days after GM Joe Cronin got an extension as well. This move is a vote of confidence in the team's improvement in recent months.

"For us to be sitting here and saying, 'All right, we're moving on. Let's keep going.' It just literally means to me that Jody [Allen, team Chair] and Bert [Kolde, Vice Chair] see a lot of promise in us,” Billups said. “The rest of the league, and most of the league, is moving and shaking and going where they're going, we're sitting here saying, 'All right, we're in this spot. Let's just kind of keep going on this, on this progress.'"

Billups took over a very different job when he was first hired — he was brought into a win-now situation with Damian Lillard. After Lillard was traded to Milwaukee, the job shifted into a rebuild and Billups has been open about that being a transition for him, and that he had a lot to learn about building a team and a culture.

That has started to pay off of late. The Trail Blazers are 21-22 in 2025 and have the fourth-ranked defense in the NBA since the All-Star break. Cronin and Billups said that what matters as much as the wins is how they are winning, how they are building a defense-first roster. How did that turnaround happen?

“I kind of got to a point with our squad where I just told them all, I didn't really care who it was, the name on the back of the jersey and salary and whatever, I didn't care. We were sinking. We were sinking pretty bad. I'm gonna play the guys that are gonna compete, play defense,” Billups said of a ‘come-to-Jesus” meeting with the players. “If you don't do that, I don't care. You’re not playing. And I meant that, and they felt that, and they really brought us together to be honest with you.”

“For us to be the third best defense in the league this second half of the season, that's meaningful, substantive, and that's what we've been trying to do,” Cronin said.

This team is not complete. Portland does have promising young players on its roster, including Toumani Camara, Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson, and Donovan Clingan. However, the team lacks a natural No. 1 option, but Cronin and Billups feel good about what is being built.

“You gotta have top-flight guys. But to me, I think we're raising that,” Billups said. “I think we're growing that. I look at, like, OKC traded for Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander]. He wasn't a star yet. Now he's probably going to be the MVP of the league. Joker [Nikola Jokic] wasn't a star when he got to Denver, they raised him into that. Giannis [Antetokounmpo] wasn't a star when he got to Milwaukee, they raised him into that.”

Whether Portland has a guy they can raise to that level is up for debate, but Cronin and Billups will get the chance to show they can take this team to the next level.

Cronin called making the postseason next year a reasonable goal. That becomes the benchmark, and not an easy one to reach in the West (ask Phoenix).

But the Blazers like the path they are on, so they bet on continuity.

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Penguins V. Bruins Preview: Tomasino Returns To Lineup

Mar 1, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Philip Tomasino (53) defends Boston Bruins center John Beecher (19) during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)

With only two games remaining on their 2024-25 schedule, the Pittsburgh Penguins don't want to go out with a whimper. 

And their injury-depleted lineup will see some relief on Sunday afternoon.

Forward Philip Tomasino will be back in the lineup on Sunday against the Boston Bruins, who have fallen to the basement of the Eastern Conference with a 2-8 record in their last 10 games. 

Tomasino has been out since Apr. 5 with a concussion, and he will slot into a new spot in the lineup on a fourth line with Vasily Ponomarev and Joona Koppanen. Tristan Jarry will get the nod in goal for the third straight game.

Here is the rest of the Penguins' lineup:

Entering the game, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is one point shy of registering his third consecutive 90-point season and the ninth of his NHL career. Crosby sits at 32 goals and 89 points.

Bryan Rust needs one more goal to hit the 30-goal plateau for the first time in his career, and Rickard Rakell - sitting at 34 goals - is one tally shy of setting a new career-high. His 68 points also puts him just one point shy of tying his career-best mark set in 2017-18 with the Anaheim Ducks.

In addition, defenseman Matt Grzelcyk enters Sunday's matchup just two points shy of hitting the 40-point mark for the first time in his NHL career.

'I Would Love To Come Back': After Career Year, Grzelcyk Hopes To Stay In Pittsburgh'I Would Love To Come Back': After Career Year, Grzelcyk Hopes To Stay In PittsburghWhen defenseman Matt Grzelcyk made the decision to sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins last summer, he did so with the mindset that he'd come in and be granted some opportunity to rediscover his game.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!      

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Knicks close out regular season with 113-105 win over Nets

The Knicks closed out their regular season with a 113-105 win over the Nets in Brooklyn.

Here are the key takeaways…

-With the Knicks locked into the No. 3 seed in the East, head coach Tom Thibodeau rested all of the usual starters.Mikal Bridges was the exception, as he was on the floor for the opening tip before the Knicks immediately fouled to get Bridges to the bench. By starting the game (and playing all of six seconds), Bridges preserved his consecutive games played streak, which is now at 556 contests.

-Precious Achiuwa started at center, making his first three shots, including an end-to-end run of the floor that was capped off with a monster slam. Achiuwa had 12 points in the first quarter alone, and went on to score 18 points to go along with nine rebounds.

-Landry Shamettechnically came off the bench in this one, replacing Bridges just six seconds into the game, but his shooting prowess was on display from the moment he took the court.

Shamet knocked down his first four threes and finished the game with a team-high 29 points on 7-of-13 shooting from downtown.

Thibodeau will likely shrink the Knicks’ rotation in the playoffs, and it’s hard to imagine Shamet, one of the best three-point shooters on the team, not seeing the floor come the postseason.

-The Nets led by as many as 10 points in the first half and were up by four at the break, but the Knicks stormed back thanks to a third quarter that saw them outscore Brooklyn 27-17, with Miles McBride scoring seven points in the quarter. The Knicks led by six going into the fourth and led for the entire fourth quarter. When the Nets pulled within two points in the final minutes, Thibodeau went back to Shamet and Achiuwa, who helped the Knicks close things out.

-Outside of Shamet, the Knicks did not shoot very well as a team, which is to be expected given it was largely the reserve unit playing extended minutes with one another, something that doesn't happen often under Thibodeau. As a team, the Knicks shot 43.0 percent from the floor and 38.1 percent from beyond the arc, but taking out Shamet's numbers would shrink those figures to 40.6 percent and 31.0 percent, respectively.

-Sunday's game was a nice showing for the backcourt duo of McBride and Cam Payne, who combined to score 38 points with 15 assists. Both players will likely be important for the Knicks in the playoffs.

Game MVP

Shamet, who has emerged as the Knicks' best three-point shooter.

Highlights

Upcoming schedule

The regular season is over, and the Knicks’ have a first-round playoff matchup with the Detroit Pistons on tap.

While the official schedule has not been released, Game 1 in New York will likely be Saturday or Sunday.

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Lando Norris left searching for answers after disappointing Bahrain GP

  • Briton third behind teammate Piastri and Russell
  • Norris: ‘I’m nowhere near the capability I have’

Lando Norris has insisted he remains confident in his abilities, even as he admitted he has no answer as to what he can do to work better with his McLaren car after a difficult weekend. The British driver, soundly beaten at he Bahrain Grand Prix by his teammate Oscar Piastri, said he is hurt by the frustration he feels.

Norris finished third at the Sakhir circuit, behind Piastri who took the flag a full 15 seconds up the road from Mercedes’ George Russell in second. After qualifying poorly in sixth, a performance he admitted left him “clueless”, an exasperated Norris felt he was no closer to getting to grips with the car after the race.

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Sorokin’s Shutout Leads Islanders 1-0 Past Devils

Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

The New York Islanders defeated the New Jersey Devils 1-0 on Sunday afternoon.

It was the first game for the Islanders following their elimination from playoff contention.

Ilya Sorokin returned to the crease following his injury in the Islanders' 7-6 loss to the Nashville Predators on April 8. 

Jacob Markstrom made his first start since April 8 when he conceded seven goals on 23 shots in a loss to the Boston Bruins.

Here’s how it happened:

Penalties by Casey Cizikas and Nathan Bastian gave both teams a power play in the first half of the period, but neither capitalized.

The Islanders nearly opened the scoring at 11:01, but it was deemed not to be a goal.

Around the 13:30 mark, Pierre Engvall fired a wrist shot off the post, followed by Hudson Fasching’s rebound attempt, which was turned aside by Markstrom.

The Devils outshot the Islanders 10-8 in the period.

A Paul Cotter elbow to Adam Pelech at the 6:00 mark resulted in a five-minute major and match penalty. This was the second time Cotter has been ejected from a game for an illegal hit to the head, the last time coming in 2023.

The hit left Pelech with blood gushing from his nose as he left the ice:

He did not return.

The Islanders had one shot on goal and did not score during the five-minute power play.

Bo Horvat found the game’s first goal in the final minute when he intercepted a Timo Meier pass before sniping Markstrom glove-side:

This was Horvat’s 28th goal of the season and fourth in his past six games.

The Devils outshot the Islanders 6-5 in the period.

It was an uneventful third period that saw neither side generate much offense.

Sorokin turned aside all 23 shots faced for the shutout and Horvat found the game's lone goal as the Islanders earned their 35th win of the season.

UP NEXT: The Islanders battle the Washington Capitals on Tuesday at 7:30 EST.

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Playoff Jimmy Butler perfect player to help Warriors exorcise NBA play-in demons

Playoff Jimmy Butler perfect player to help Warriors exorcise NBA play-in demons originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — The stakes for the Warriors were as high as they could be for a regular-season finale Sunday, which meant an early appearance from Playoff Jimmy Butler.

Even with all the pressure and playoff implications looming over Golden State’s matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers, Butler remained cool. Calm. Collected. Confident. 

Butler’s first made basket didn’t come until six-and-a-half minutes into the game. After that, it was business as usual for the 35-year-old, who showcased a vintage Playoff Jimmy performance in a 124-119 loss. He finished with 30 points on 12-of-20 shooting and went 6 of 9 from the free-throw line, adding nine assists, one steal and one block in a team-high 48 minutes.

Despite his effort, the Warriors couldn’t get the job done to secure the No. 6 playoff seed and punch a ticket to the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. Instead, they dropped to the No. 7 play-in slot and will host the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday. 

While it wasn’t the outcome the Warriors wanted, it’s an atmosphere Butler welcomes. 

The Warriors are 0-3 in their previous play-in contests. Butler’s track record is a bit different, as he has found success in the play-in tournament during his time with the Miami Heat. In 2023, Butler and Miami lost a play-in game to the Atlanta Hawks but bounced back to beat the Chicago Bulls courtesy of his 31 points. The Heat went on to make it to the NBA Finals that year. 

“We’re right where we want to be,” Butler said postgame. “We still got an opportunity, and we control our own fate. We’re going to be just fine.”

Draymond Green approached the postgame podium slightly sluggish and unusually monotone. He was upset with the loss, and it showed by his demeanor and trickled off his tongue word by word.

But when asked about Butler’s presence and how he can help the Warriors still make a deep postseason push, Green spoke passionately about his teammate’s impact. 

“I mean, we just draw on having Jimmy as a whole,” Green said. “You have a guy who can kind of slow the pace of the game down for us, get us into good things, having another No. 1 next to Steph is different. 

“So it definitely makes us a much better team. Tonight, we didn’t capitalize on his great game, but it makes us a much more complete, better team.”

Golden State’s 2023-24 season ended with a deflating play-in loss to the Sacramento Kings. In 2020-21, the Warriors lost to the Los Angeles Lakers by three before suffering a season-ending play-in loss to the Grizzlies.

Those losses still sting for the Warriors, but they’re hopeful Butler gets them over that hump. 

“We joked about that last week,” Steph Curry said of Butler’s play-in success. “He went into the play-in packing for two months. So we would love to have that opportunity. We haven’t had a good outcome in the three [play-in] games. I remember each one vividly. 

“[LeBron James] hit that shot in the right wing. Ja [Morant] hits a couple tough buckets. And we washed the Sacramento game down the drain pretty quick. So just win.” 

While Butler’s impact historically has heightened come postseason time, Curry has felt his presence since the former Heat forward first was traded to Golden State in early February. Curry only hopes that continues this week and moving forward.

Sunday’s game was the perfect indication of just that.

Butler’s steady presence was needed for the Warriors while their best player struggled to find a consistent groove through the first three quarters. Curry entered the fourth quarter with 15 points. Butler at the time had 24.

The baton was passed over to Curry, who got rolling in the final frame to force overtime. He wound up with 36 points.

That double-threat dynamic has the potential to be lethal in a momentous postseason atmosphere. 

“I mean, I don’t know how you could be any more confident,” Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski said of Butler’s postseason impact. “I don’t know if there’s any one person in a play-in situation that you would want on your team. Maybe Steph. 

“And we have both of them. So the confidence is there. You know him and Steph are going to produce and now it just becomes what other role guys are going to step up and want the moment.”

Butler doesn’t feel any pressure from all the “Playoff Jimmy” talk. He’s grateful and honored that his teammates have that confidence and faith in him, but he let it be known that he’s not the only one who can make some magic happen when needed.

“I do [feel the responsibility],” Butler said. “But man, we got a lot of really good basketball players around this locker room key in what we’re trying to do. I like the confidence that [the team] has in myself, I also have that same amount of confidence. 

“So I know that I and we have a job to do, and I know that we’re capable of doing it. So play-in, here we come.”

The winner of Tuesday’s game will clinch the No. 7 seed and face the Houston Rockets in a best-of-seven first-round playoff series. The loser will still have a chance to keep their season alive Friday against the winner of the Kings vs. Dallas Mavericks game that will be played Wednesday.

The stage is set. The curtains are open. And it’s Butler’s time to shine.

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Kuminga gets up shots after DNP in Warriors' OT loss vs. Clippers

Kuminga gets up shots after DNP in Warriors' OT loss vs. Clippers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Jonathan Kuminga is doing what he can to stay in rhythm despite not leaving the bench once in the Warriors’ frustrating 124-119 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday at Chase Center. 

Following Golden State’s 2024-25 NBA regular-season finale, the four-year forward was seen taking shots in an empty Chase after recording an eyebrow-raising DNP.

The Warriors, who ended as the Western Conference’s No. 7 seed on Sunday, are hosting an NBA play-in tournament game on their home court against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday.

It’s worth considering that Kuminga’s role within coach Steve Kerr’s system this season has been rocky, shifting from starter to reserve to starter and back to reserve.

Kerr, who has managed plenty of roster subplots at the helm of the Warriors this season, recently expressed his opposition to a three-player combination between Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler and Kuminga.

That said, Kerr could benefit by leveraging Kuminga’s athleticism in transition against the Grizzlies.

Ultimately, Dub Nation will have to wait to see if Kerr will utilize Kuminga – even if he’s making time to stay ready.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

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McLaren’s Oscar Piastri surges to dominant victory at Bahrain F1 GP

  • George Russell finishes second; Lando Norris third
  • Ferrari’s Leclerc and Hamilton take fourth and fifth

Flawless was the assessment of Oscar Piastri’s race engineer after the Australian delivered a consummate victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Calm and controlled throughout, this was a champion’s drive from Piastri that has made it abundantly clear he is in contention to return the championship this season.

Tom Stallard, a 2008 Olympic rowing silver medallist for Great Britain, is Piastri’s engineer but the Australian, unflappable, barely needed so much as a gentle nudge from him all race, such was the ease with which he drove from pole to flag to take McLaren’s first victory at the Sakhir circuit.

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Blackhawks Lock In Second Best Draft Lottery Odds

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The Chicago Blackhawks earned a point in their shootout loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night. That was their 57th standings point of the season, which ranks 31st in the National Hockey League. 

The Nashville Predators currently sit in 30th with 66. Chicago only has two games left, so it is impossible to catch them. The San Jose Sharks, who currently rank 32nd with 51 points, can no longer catch Chicago now that they are up to 57. 

That means that Chicago locked itself into the second-best draft lottery odds by being the second-to-last place team in the league. They will have a 13.5% chance of winning the first overall selection. 

This upcoming draft isn't like other drafts in the sense that there isn't one guy standing out as a lock to be picked first. There is no Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, Jack Hughes, or Connor Bedard ready to change a franchise right away. 

Instead, there is a clear-cut top four who could go in any order. That is for Chicago scouts to figure out once the results of the lottery are revealed. 

This makes it three years in a row that the Blackhawks will have top-three draft lottery odds. Of course, they selected Connor Bedard first overall in 2023 and Artyom Levshunov second overall in 2024. Here in 2025, they'd love to add another franchise pillar. 

The lottery will take place during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 2025 NHL Draft will start on June 27th and go through June 28th. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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The Masters 2025: Rory McIlroy seals career grand slam after dramatic play-off – as it happened

Rory McIlroy finally joined the career-slam pantheon after a wild rollercoaster ride around Augusta National

Nothing went right for Justin Rose yesterday. His flat stick was stone cold, he shot 75, he spent a fair proportion of the round grumbling away at his perceived bad luck. But he’s in a much chipper mood this afternoon. Sending your approach on 1 from 162 yards to eight feet, then rolling in the birdie putt tends to help with stuff like that. A little fist pump, then a giggle with his caddie, and he moves to -6. Again, like Collin Morikawa, he’s surely too far behind to have much of a chance of winning, unless both Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau do a Ken Venturi. (Jack Burke Jr came from eight back on Sunday in 1956 to win, but he needed the then-amateur Venturi to collapse to 80 to pip him by a stroke.) Still, let’s rule nothing out yet.

Quite a few experts tipped the in-form Collin Morikawa this week. It’s not quite happened for the 2020 PGA and 2021 Open champion, but he’s not been far off, coming into the final day having posted two level-par rounds of 72 sandwiching a 69. He’s surely too far off the pace to threaten today, unless the wheels come off all three of the leading trio, but he’s just followed up birdie at 2 by stroking a 25-footer across 3 for another. Im Sung-jae meanwhile birdies 2, and these lads are the first pair to make inroads near the top of the leader board.

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Peter Laviolette Is ‘Not Blind’ About Potentially Getting Fired By Rangers

James Guillory-Imagn Images

With the New York Rangers officially eliminated from playoff contention, all eyes are on Peter Laviolette to see if he gets fired. 

Laviolette is in the second year of a three-year contract with the Rangers and it’s no secret he’s on the hot seat. 

One year after leading the Rangers to win the Presidents’ Trophy and record their best record in franchise history, they missed the playoffs, which has led to some pressing questions and concerns. 

On multiple occasions, fans have chanted “Fire Lavy” as the Rangers’ struggles became increasingly apparent.

Laviolette was finally asked about his job security and gave an honest answer on where he potentially stands.

“I think everything gets looked at when a year is not good like this. I’m not blind to anything. I love being here with these guys and the New York Rangers,” Laviolette said via Mollie Walker of The New York Post. “It’s a year where everything went right to a year where things didn’t go right. When things don’t go right, I’m sure everything gets looked at. I’m not naive. That being said, this is the place I want to be was New York City, the New York Rangers. It’s a great organization, great city, great family…”

“It's just tough right now, everybody's faced with disappointment. Everybody I just mentioned is faced with disappointment today and I get that. There's always things that are looked at.”

Nothing is confirmed yet, but it appears as if the writing is on the wall for Laviolette and his time in New York. 

The word around Laviolette’s future has been kept under wraps at least for now. However, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun believes that Laviolette will ultimately be relieved of his duties. 

“I can tell you that there’s absolutely no word out of the Rangers, themselves,” LeBrun said. “Very tight-lipped about what might transpire here over the next week, or so. But in talking to other people around the League, the low-hanging fruit, the expectations from a lot of people I’ve talked to is that Peter Laviolette could get fired.

“He’s got another year on his deal, so certainly not a sure thing. But when you look at the body language and the performance of the team over the last month, again, when I’ve talked to other people around the League, that’s probably the easiest conclusion, and so, we’ll see whether or not that happens.”

The Rangers have two games remaining with so many questions still left unanswered about what the team’s future will look like.

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Struggling Brandon Marsh: ‘Just feel like I'm letting my guys down'

Struggling Brandon Marsh: ‘Just feel like I'm letting my guys down' originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

ST. LOUIS – When an offense succeeds, it’s typically not because of the nine-hole hitter. When an offense struggles, it’s typically not because of the nine-hole hitter.

But when the nine-hole hitter is riding an 0-for-26 slump without many competitive at-bats, it’s hard to overlook, even if larger issues exist.

Brandon Marsh is going through it. He’s batting .108 on the season and doesn’t have a hit in the last 11 games he’s played.

The Phillies face a right-handed pitcher in three of their next four games at home against the Giants but it may be time to sit him nonetheless.

“I gotta think about that one,” manager Rob Thomson said after Sunday’s 7-0 loss. “He’s really frustrated and understandably.”

Marsh hit .292/.387/.477 against right-handed pitching in 2023. He hit .262/.342/.450 against right-handed pitching in 2024. His pathway to consistent playing time is hitting righties and he’s done so the last two years, but so far this season, he’s just 2-for-24.

Saturday was one of Marsh’s better recent games. He walked and scored a run, then later sacrificed Alec Bohm to second, making it easier for Bohm to score on a single.

Marsh is in the mode right now of trying to do anything he can to have a productive day. Sunday was another rough one. He struck out swinging in his first at-bat on a fastball well above the zone, then chased a couple of sliders to strike out his next time up. His final at-bat of the day ended on a groundout on a sinker far inside off the plate.

“Yeah, you know…” he said Sunday afternoon before taking a long pause. “It’s been a rough start to the season for sure. I’m not doing my part, which stinks the worst. Just feel like I’m letting my guys down. I need to be better for them.”

It’s not as if the Phillies have a host of other options. Johan Rojas is the other centerfielder on the roster and is off to a nice start, but on an at-bat by at-bat basis, he doesn’t offer the Phils more of a chance for offense than Marsh. Justin Crawford is in Triple A, where he started hot before cooling off a bit. If Marsh, who does have minor-league options remaining, continues to struggle, Crawford could become a possibility. But it doesn’t seem like the Phillies are quite there yet. The left-handed-hitting Crawford’s spent a grand total of two weeks at Triple A.

Marsh isn’t the only cold Phillie. Alec Bohm is 5-for-50 since the third day of the season, and though he hit the ball hard for a bulk of that time with some bad luck, he hasn’t done so the last few days.

“It’s tough to struggle but obviously, it’s the big leagues so you’ve got to pull out of it and understand you’re gonna go through ups and downs in the season,” Bryce Harper said. “But just try to stay as even-keeled as you can and always remember it’s not about the name on the back, it’s about the one on the front. We’re trying to win series and no matter what you’re doing, you’ve got to keep rolling. I don’t want to be hitting .250 right now. Just want to win every day. You’ve got to have that mindset and come in and try to win ballgames.”

Sunday’s plane ride home probably wasn’t the most fun one Marsh and Bohm have had as Phillies. They’ve both delivered for this team and been a part of plenty of rallies and big moments, but their successes and failures matter more now than ever before. They’re getting older, they’re getting more expensive, they’re getting closer to free agency and their own improvement will help determine whether an offense that was largely unchanged will be able to take the next step.

“I’ve got to do anything I can to help this ballclub win and right now I’m not doing that,” Marsh said. “So I’ve got to figure some things out.”