ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 26: Jake Burger #21 of the Texas Rangers walks back to the dugout after striking out in the fourth inning against the Athletics at Globe Life Field on April 26, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A’s 2, Rangers 1
And back to .500.
So far this year, the Rangers have been at .500 eight times. Well, nine, if you count Opening Day, which I don’t.
Kumar Rocker was fine on Sunday. The problem was, he apparently needed to be perfect.
A pair of two out walks in the first were followed by a Carlos Cortes triple, and that ended up being the ballgame.
It didn’t matter that Rocker didn’t walk anyone the rest of the way, went six innings with only those two runs coming across off of him, that the bullpen threw up three shutout innings.
Rocker only struck out three A’s hitters in the game, and generated just eight swinging strikes, none of which came on his fastball or sinker. Not a dominating performance, but at the end of the day, he allowed just two runs in six innings, and you’d like to think that the Rangers offense would take advantage of that.
The relievers the Rangers used — Tyler Alexander, Gavin Collyer, and Peyton Gray — are currently sporting a 0.63 ERA, a 0.00 ERA, and a 0.00 ERA. That’s good, it seems like.
Offensively, the Rangers put a lot of runners on base but didn’t do anything with them once they were on base. Texas was 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position, and the “1” was a Josh Smith bunt single that loaded the bases.
The Rangers totaled six hits and five walks, and also had Evan Carter reach once on an HBP and once on an error on an attempted sac bunt. That Evan Carter sac bunt/error play also brought home the lone run of the game, but with no RBI credited because of the error. So the Rangers didn’t even get an RBI in this game.
How sad.
Part of the problem was a lack of extra base hits. Josh Jung had a pair of doubles, but every other hit was a single, and its harder to score runs with singles and walks than with extra base hits.
Texas left runners on second and third with two outs in the second. Evan Carter reached on an HBP with one out in the fourth, stole second, was joined on the bases by Josh Smith with a two out walk, and both were stranded.
In the sixth, after the E1 that brought Jung — who led off the inning again with a double — home and put Carter on base, Jake Burger walked and Smith had that aforementioned bunt single, loading the bases. Danny Jansen then struck out. Sam Haggerty, who had hit for Alejandro Osuna the inning before, struck out. Brandon Nimmo then hit a line drive that, had it been in the gap, would have cleared the bases, but instead was to straightaway center field, and thus was caught for an out.
It felt then that it was over, and in fact, the Rangers only had two more baserunners the rest of the way, and didn’t get a runner past first base.
The old adage says that you are going to win a third of your games and are going to lose a third of your games, and its what you do with the other third that matters. This was a game squarely in that other third, and the Rangers let it get away.
Kumar Rocker hit 95.8 mph with his sinker, averaging 94.4 mph. Tyler Alexander reached 91.8 mph on his sinker. Gavin Collyer hit 97.8 mph with his fastball. Peyton Gray’s fastball touched 92.7 mph.
Corey Seager had a 108.4 mph line out. Jake Burger had a 107.9 mph sinlge. Josh Jung had a 107.7 mph fly out and a 100.2 mph fly out. Brandon Nimmo had a 104.6 mph fly out and a 103.0 mph line out.
Another game looms on the horizon. Maybe the Rangers will win it.
Apr 25, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) looses the ball in front of Atlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga (0) and guard Gabe Vincent (4) during the second half during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
How low can the vibes get before you reach a point of no return?
We got pretty close to that after the demoralizing beatdown the Knicks got at the hands of the shorthanded Mavericks back on MLK Day in January to fall to 2-9 in their last 11 games. Even throughout all the frustration in the prior year and a half, it felt like the Knicks were dangerously close to something irreparable that night. Fortunately for them, they solved their woes two nights later.
The Game 3 defeat at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday somehow found a lower point. While January is still a ways away from the playoffs and most fans knew they had enough time to shape up, the Knicks were suddenly fighting for their lives in Game 4. A loss would mean a 3-1 deficit and an all-but-assured first-round exit in the season with the highest expectations in nearly three decades.
The discontent was already beginning. Mike Brown was being flamed for every single decision. Jalen Brunson’s struggles were having fans question his long-term viability as the face of this franchise (don’t believe me? We got that discourse in our very own comment sections!). Mikal Bridges became the most slandered man in basketball. For the sake of the franchise and everyone involved, Game 4 was a must-win, even if they could technically afford to lose.
But they didn’t. They almost led buzzer-to-buzzer, and aside from a brief charge to start the second half, the Hawks were down double digits for essentially the final three quarters. Every small run was answered. Every time Atlanta countered an offensive strategy or found a way to exploit a defensive hole, it was patched immediately. It was 48 minutes of pure execution.
You could not script a better feel-good victory that has you take a step off the ledge and believe better days are ahead. But what exactly changed about how the team played in Game 4 compared to the first three?
Defensive Intensity and Pressure
The No. 1 thing that the Knicks did right in Game 4 was to not make anything easy for the Hawks on offense. There was significantly more full-court pressure, a higher pick-up point, and more physical on-ball defense. CJ McCollum, whose performance in the first three games mirrored the Black Mamba, got a variety of looks to keep him off balance and it wore him down, to the point where he played significantly more off-ball than usual.
The Knicks forced 18 turnovers and made play after play, gambling for steals and deflections to slow down a potent offense that thrives on early shot clock action.
A different referee crew might disrupt the game flow with a litany of fouls on these plays, but the Knicks recognized early that Scott Foster’s crew was going to let them play, and they looked the part of a veteran team playing with the type of desperation they needed against a young, athletic team on the road.
But it wasn’t just the way they were dragging down Atlanta in the halfcourt; it was the way they prevented them from playing to their pace.
Game 4’s pace sat at just 94 possessions, compared to 101 in Game 3.
The Hawks went from scoring 40 combined fast-break points in their two wins to just seven in Game 4.
The Hawks scored 37 points off 29 combined turnovers in Games 2 and 3, but only scored 14 points against 14 turnovers on Saturday. The Knicks turned the Hawks over 18 times on Saturday, a series-high.
All of this is absolutely necessary to continue to take firm control of this series.
Working Through Karl-Anthony Towns
Pretty much everyone here at P&T believed that Karl-Anthony Towns was the X-factor, so there’s no coincidence that Towns’ two best games have been the two wins this series.
What’s fascinating, however, is that you’re not getting the 35-point masterpieces. Instead, you’re getting low shot totals and 20-point triple doubles.
Gravity is extremely impactful in evaluating the impact of an offensive player. Even when Jalen Brunson is struggling with his shot some nights, he can have a big impact by drawing defenders and spraying to open shooters. While that’s not precisely what happened with Towns’ last game, his gravity led to openings for his teammates, specifically using the exact same back screen concept with Brunson and OG Anunoby that worked to perfection over and over again.
Here's the simple play the Knicks ran that Atlanta could not stop yesterday.
Goes to show you, especially in the NBA, it's not about the action, it's about the personnel running it. pic.twitter.com/A1t5Erk1Dg
When he wasn’t the facilitator, Towns was going right at both Onyeka Okongwu and Jonathan Kuminga. Unlike before, when he was content to sink into the corner when the Hawks switched up the coverages with Kuminga, he was a man on a mission all night long.
FIRST POSTSEASON TRIPLE-DOUBLE. KNICKS EVEN THE SERIES 2-2.
Karl-Anthony Towns, have yourself a night!
The only other @nyknicks player to tally 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a postseason game?
The only player that the Hawks have no answer for is Towns. We’ve seen them hound Brunson with a variety of wings that have made him struggle through four games, but no coverage in the world can stop the Big Bodega when he’s decisive and playing with purpose.
Better Rotations
The only time in this series that the minutes with both Brunson and Towns on the bench have been catastrophically bad was the start of the second quarter of Game 2. Outside of that, they’ve played about even.
That said, we saw very few of those minutes in Game 4 as part of a very different rotation.
For one, the struggling Bridges was limited to just 19 minutes, as his impact on offense was incredibly muted and, due to the team-wide priority on more defensive intensity, his defensive impact was more replaceable. That meant more minutes for Deuce McBride, whose minutes alongside Brunson and/or Towns this series have been exceptional this series:
There was still no double big lineups, but Mike Brown’s real stroke of genius was how he deployed Brunson and Towns. He did an effective line change with four minutes left in the first quarter to get all starters but Josh Hart out of the game, but re-inserted Brunson after a one-minute recharge to finish the quarter before starting him on the bench and Towns on the floor in the second.
His trust in Jose Alvarado was also similarly important, and he’s been willing to play the hot hand by putting in the fiery Brooklyn native over Landry Shamet, who’s currently out of the rotation. There’s still potentially more moves to be made, but the moves made thus far have stabilized this series.
Effort. Pure Effort.
At the end of the day, this is what it’s all about.
The Hawks have flat-out played harder through three games in this series. Talent can overcome intensity every so often, but the Knicks put themselves in the muck for long enough that energy won out in Games 2 and 3. The Knicks needed to match the intensity, and they played the type of ankle-biting basketball that we haven’t seen enough from this group.
They’re diving for loose balls. They’re communicating on defense. They’re getting in each other’s faces to lock in. Just look at what Rick Brunson was saying to his own son.
Every time this team faces any sort of adversity, there are detractors in the media who want to tear down everything that this team has built. Regardless of how Boston, Detroit, and Cleveland have fared in the playoffs so far, it’s the Knicks that have the most negative coverage. It’s not just the fanbase that was ready to write the Knicks’ obituary after Game 3; it was the national media. What other team gets mentioned on a WWE show as “cursed”
For the Knicks, the No. 1 key is intensity and effort. They played Game 4 like they only had 96 minutes left in their season, and that mentality needs to remain. Dropping Game 5 in MSG is a similar death sentence to dropping Game 4. The season is in similar peril on Tuesday, even if you feel a helluva lot more confident now than you probably did going into Saturday.
Keep Atlanta on their heels, and the series is yours. They’ve shown you the blueprint.
Apr 26, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) embraces guard Stephon Castle (5) after a game against the Portland Trail Blazers during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
Talk about a tale of two halves! I’ll be honest, as halftime approached, I was comforting myself with the argument that this game represented an unfortunate but understandable stumble for a young, inexperienced team that was still coming off a critical Game 3 win without its superstar. It certainly wasn’t an ideal scenario, but I kept telling myself that this would be another one of those playoff scars that ultimately leads to winning.
Fortunately, my insincere, grasping rationalizations quickly gave way to delight, as the Spurs narrowed a 15-point deficit to just four via a 2-and-a-half minute burst early in the third. To their credit, Portland did not immediately crumble after this onslaught, as the remainder of the quarter was a back-and-forth affair that ended with the score knotted up at 74. The Blazers continued to keep things close for several minutes in the fourth; however, by the middle of the quarter San Antonio had a double-digit lead that continued to grow as the game drew to a close.
In pulling off this comeback, the Spurs became the only team in NBA playoff history to win a game by 15+ after being down by 15+ at half. As you might imagine, a performance like this produces some wild stats, as we will discuss below:
Note: Now that we’ve moved into the postseason, the reference period used for grading changes from the set of regular season games since 2012-2013 to the set of postseason games since 2012-2013. Unless otherwise noted below, this set DOES include play-in games. As of the end of April 26, 2026, this group include 1,151 games.
Factors that decided the game
This is one of those games in which the overall box score obscures wild variation in play for both teams over the course of the game. Of course, the factors discussed here are still completely valid, but it is important to note that essentially all of the Spurs’ key advantages were built in the second half.
San Antonio invested heavily in stocks (steals + blocks) in this game, logging 22 as a team to Portland’s 11. That Blazers total is unspectacular but perfectly respectable; unfortunately for them, Wemby matched it by himself.
The Spurs’ stifling defense produced a turnover margin of -5, which helped them build a FGA edge of +7. However, another reason that San Antonio attempted more field goals is that they fouled more often and at worse times, giving Portland a +6 advantage in FTA.
The Blazers’ notable edge at the free throw line (+5 FTM) was completely swamped by the Spurs’ massive advantage from the field, which was partly driver by volume but mostly the result of big margins in FG% (+9.43 percentage points) and 3P% (+10.17 percentage points). As a result, San Antonio made 11 more shots, four more threes, and outscored Portland by 26 from the field.
Rare Box Score Stats
I mentioned above that Victor had 11 stocks in this game (seven blocks and four steals). Only seven other players have met of surpassed this total in a true playoff game (i.e., no play-in contests) since the start of the 1996-1997 postseason.
The Spurs’ team total of 22 stocks is not nearly as rare a feat, but still far from common. In the 1,151 postseason games since 2012-2013, a stock total of 22+ has happened 30 times, including 22 times for winners and eight times for losers. That’s about once in every 39 contests, or a bit more than twice per postseason.
This was just the 19th postseason contest since 2012-2013 in which a winning team had an assist margin of +12 or more while having no more than 26 assists.
In the 2,380 true playoff games played since the start of the 1996-1997 postseason, this game marked just the 29th time that any team (winner or loser) recorded 10+ blocks as a team while no more than three members of that team had a block. Furthermore, it is was just the 21st time in the same period that 9+ players on one team had at least one steal.
What are Team Graded Box Scores?
Very briefly, these box scores grade winner-loser differentials for basic box score statistics, with the grade being based on the winning team’s differential relative to other NBA winners during a defined reference period. Think of it like a report card for understanding how a given winner performed relative to other winners. The reference period used runs from the start of the 2012-2013 season to the latest date of play, including only games in the same season category (i.e., regular season and playoff games are not compared to each other).
Data Source: The underlying data used to create these box scores was collected from Basketball Reference. In all cases, the data are collected the morning after the game is played. Although rare, postgame statistical revisions after data collection do occur and may affect the results after the fact.
Apr 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; A fan sits alone in the sixth inning of the game between the Colorado Rockies and the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Meet the Mets
The Mets lost twice to the Rockes in the span of six hours. Do you really want to hear any more?
Chris Sale passed Chuck Finley on the strikeouts leaderboard and recorded the 150th win of his career in the Braves’ 6-2 win over the Phillies.
In a 10-inning contest, Dicky Lovelady enjoyed the greener pastures of Washington got his first victory in a Nationals uniform in a 2-1 contest against the White Sox.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 02: Max Fried #54 of the New York Yankees pitches during the first inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on September 02, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Outside that pair of series against the Athletics and Rays, this Yankees team has been pretty adept at quickly brushing off losses. That’s something they’ll look to do in the backend of this road trip after missing out on a sweep opportunity against the Houston Astros. After Luis Gil’s increasingly disappointing efforts on Sunday—ultimately leading to his demotion—the Yankees will start the series against the Rangers with the best they have to offer on the mound in a three-game set of high-profile pitching matchups.
Monday: Max Fried vs. Jack Leiter(8:05 pm ET)
Already making his fifth start on the road in 2026, Max Fried has been superb early on, but if there is one element to his game that’s lacked a bit, it is in the strikeout department—not that this is ever the primary aspect of his game. The Rangers’ offense presents quite the opportunity for Fried and other left-handers on the Yankees pitching staff—Texas has struggled the most against southpaws in the big leagues, only one of 30 clubs with a strikeout rate of at least 30 percent against them, and also boasts a pitiful 67 wRC+. Further damaging the Rangers’ prospects against left-handers is the absence of Wyatt Langford, their premier right-handed hitter and one of the more exciting young players in the American League, currently on the IL.
One of the few pleasant pieces of news for the Rangers last season was that Jack Leiter established himself as a solid starter. However, in the middle of a campaign that placed him seventh on the Rookie of the Year voting roll call, Leiter had his shortest outing against the Yankees. The young right-hander struggled with the free passes—conceding four of them—and not even finishing four innings. Yankee hitters will once again look to work deep counts against Leiter. It’s a bumpy start to 2026 for the former Vanderbilt standout, as he hasn’t finished the sixth since March and has allowed 12 runs on 17 hits and 9 walks across his last trio of outings (14.1 innings) against the Dodgers, A’s, and Pirates.
Tuesday: Cam Schlittler vs. Jacob deGrom(8:05 pm ET)
For the first time since he squared off against George Kirby in his second start of the season, Cam Schlittler will not be the center of attention of a pitching matchup, as he and the Yankees face one of the more dominant starters of this century of baseball. There is not a whiff of hyperbole in that statement when you assess what deGrom has done—the two-time near-unanimous Cy Young Award winner’s level of dominance in a post-prime period with the Rangers only enhances his legend, still just about as good as it gets out there. He has a 2.13 ERA and a 1.066 WHIP in his five starts for 2026, fanning 35 — including 10 Bucs his last time out.
It remains to be seen how Giancarlo Stanton will recover in the following days, having been out of the lineup on Sunday. Jasson Domínguez’s reported promotion seems to indicate that an IL stint is a lock (and Domínguez will be ready to face the Rangers’ righties from his superior side). If the Yankees’ designated hitter is indeed unable to suit up on Tuesday, it’ll be a particularly impactful hit; Stanton has potent numbers he has shown against deGrom over the years, hitting four home runs in 27 at-bats against him, doing so with a .333 batting average. Other than Stanton, the Yankee hitter who has faced deGrom the most is Cody Bellinger, also featuring quality numbers against the Rangers ace with a pair of bombs in 19 at-bats.
Wednesday: Will Warren vs. Nathan Eovaldi (2:35 pm ET)
On one side, an undefeated pitcher, who has been quietly solid early on in 2026 (only 11 qualified pitchers have topped Warren’s 0.9 fWAR in 31.1 innings); on the other, a starter that, as of Sunday, April 26th, is tied for the league lead in losses with four. As a former Yankee, it’s weird to think that Nathan Eovaldi has faced them more than any other club in his career as a big leaguer. Eovaldi was so magnificent last year that with this disappointing beginning to his 2026 campaign, the veteran is only four earned runs away from matching his total the previous season (25), achieved in exactly 130 innings of work.
While the results for Eovaldi have been vastly underwhelming, nothing under the hood corroborates the potential expectation of a rapid decline, so the Yankees should expect the usual customer who has a 3.22 ERA in 24 career appearances against them. While Stanton’s numbers against deGrom stand out more and the impact of his potential absence might be especially hurtful, his career stats against Eovaldi are also impressive. The currently sidelined Yankees DH has four bombs in 38 at-bats against Eovaldi, facing him one more time than Judge, who has gone deep twice with a .324 average facing him.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 17: Catcher Bo Naylor #23 of the Cleveland Guardians watches the scoreboard during the top of the fifth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field on April 17, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Russell Lee Verlinger/Cleveland Guardians/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good feeling’s gone.
The Guardians have now lost two straight series to the injury-depleted Astros and injury-depleted Blue Jays. Not great, Bob.
Nicole has the recap of a feckless performance by the hitters against Patrick Corbin. I had forgotten that Corbin inexplicably owns Jose Ramirez. Meanwhile, Steven Kwan has a 73 wRC+, Kyle Manzardo has a 58 wRC+, George Valera has a 55 wRC+, Juan Brito has a 44 wRC+ and Bo Naylor has a 9 wRC+. Those numbers have to change, one way or another. Also, I don’t know that they can continue to play Fry in right field or Brito at second base, defensively.
Aside from that, how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?
Guardians Weekly featured Gavin Williams and Peyton Pallette, and a focus on the Hill City Howlers.
AROUND MLB:
The Tigers beat the Reds, the Royals beat the Angels, and the Twins and White Sox lost.
It is no secret that the Philadelphia Flyers' decision to trade for Trevor Zegras was a fantastic one. The 25-year-old forward had a strong first regular season with the Flyers in 2025-26, setting new career highs with 26 goals and 67 points in 81 games. He has also made a big impact for the Flyers so far this postseason, recording one goal and four points in four games.
While the Flyers have benefited by bringing in Zegras, the Anaheim Ducks have also gotten good value from Ryan Poehling from the trade. In 75 regular-season games during his first season with the Ducks, he scored 11 goals and set new career highs with 25 assists and 36 points. With numbers like these, he has been a solid part of the Ducks' forward group since being traded by the Flyers.
However, Poehling has been notably stepping up his game for the Ducks during the playoffs so far.
In four playoff games this spring for the Ducks, Poehling has three goals and a plus-2 rating. This included him putting together a two-goal game against the Edmonton Oilers on April 22. He also scored the Ducks' overtime winner against Edmonton in Game 4, giving Anaheim a 3-1 series lead.
With this, it is clear that Poehling is having a very good start to the playoffs for the Ducks. It will be interesting to see if the former Flyers forward can continue to be a difference-maker for Anaheim from here.
In 145 games over two seasons with the Flyers, Poehling had 23 goals, 36 assists, and 59 points.
The Braves once again took care of business on Sunday, beating the Phillies and winning yet another series as their great start to the season rolls along. The amount of positive data points from the past few weeks is highly encouraging to see, including the Braves going 10-3 against NL East opponents over the past two weeks. Plus, the Braves now have the best record in baseball, a needed start as they enter May and a tougher stretch of the schedule.
Braves News
The Braves also made some notable changes to their pitching setup for the week ahead. JR Ritchie will get a second start against the Tigers. Meanwhile, Reynaldo Lopez will, at least for the near future, work out of the bullpen as he continues to lock in his mechanics.
Another significant development on Sunday was a second solid start from Spencer Strider in Gwinnett, which is his third rehab start overall. While nothing is yet official, Strider’s return to the rotation could happen as early as this week.
Mets' Joe Torre slides under Dodger catcher Ellie Rodriguez as he scores on a single by Jerry Grote. Umpire Andy Olson makes the all as the Mets take an eight inning 4-1 lead. The Dodgers came back in the ninth inning to score four runs and beat the Mets 6-5. (Photo by Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)
Ellie Rodríguez, the Puerto Rican catcher who played nine major league seasons died on Thursday at age 79.
Rodríguez only played the one season for the Dodgers, but he held a notable place in local baseball lore. The Dodgers acquired Rodríguez at the end of spring training in 1976 from the Angels for backup outfielder Orlando Álvarez. That was the only trade involving multiple major league players between the Dodgers and Angels from 1976 for nearly four decades, a streak that was only snapped at the 2014 winter meetings when intermittent Dodger Andrew Heaney was sent to Anaheim for Howie Kendrick.
In his one season for the Dodgers, Rodríguez played 33 games behind the plate, with 21 starts, batted a total of 90 times and had no extra-base hits. But he walked 19 times and was hit by three pitches, giving him the wonderful .212/.400/.212 batting line. The .400 on-base percentage was rare among Dodgers catchers in franchise history.
Dodgers catchers with a .400+ OBP in 90+ PA
Babe Phelps (1935) .408
Babe Phelps (1936) .421
Ellie Rodríguez (1976) .400
Mike Scioscia (1985) .407
Mike Piazza (.400) 1995
Mike Piazza (.422) 1996
Mike Piazza (.431) 1997
Chad Kreuter (.416) 2000
Austin Barnes (.408) 2017
Will Smith (.401) 2020
Will Smith (.404) 2025
Rodríguez played nine years in the majors, and hit .245/.356/.308 with 76 doubles and 16 home runs in 775 games with the New York Yankees, Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, Angels, and Dodgers. He was the first All-Star in Royals history, in 1969, and also was an All-Star with the Brewers in 1972. Rodríguez caught Nolan Ryan’s fourth no-hitter with the Angels in 1975.
For 15 years (1998-2012), Rodríguez was the Latin American coordinator and player development consultant for the Atlantic League and also managed in the league.
“Ellie was an integral part of the foundation and growth of the Atlantic League with his ties to baseball throughout the world,” Atlantic League president Rick White said in a statement. “He was a dear friend who helped create many opportunities for players throughout Latin America, both in the Atlantic League and in Major League baseball. We owe him a debt of gratitude for his outstanding work in helping the league grow both in the U.S. and internationally.”
The Montreal Canadiens have announced that they have assigned defenseman David Reinbacher to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Laval Rocket.
Reinbacher had been with the NHL club but did not make an appearance during their ongoing first-round playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He did play in his first two NHL regular-season games to round off the campaign, though, where he had one assist.
Down in the AHL this regular season, Reinbacher had five goals, 19 assists, 24 points, 56 penalty minutes, and a plus-18 rating. It was the most amount of games Reinbacher has played since starting his AHL career in 2023-24, which was certainly good to see.
Reinbacher will now be looking to make a big impact for the Laval Rocket during their playoff run. The 2023 fifth-overall pick is a huge part of the Canadiens' prospect pool, and he should get more chances at the NHL level next season with the Habs.
DALLAS, TEXAS - APRIL 12: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts to a play during the first half against the Chicago Bulls at American Airlines Center on April 12, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When the Dallas Mavericks selected Cooper Flagg last June, the franchise was saved, but there were still questions about Flagg’s upside.
Those questions were answered, as Flagg had one of the best scoring seasons for a teenager ever, and left no doubt about his future.
Season Review
Flagg’s season started off poorly, as he averaged just 15.5 points in the first 15 games. He looked uncomfortable and rushed, with no go-to moves.
These problems were only exacerbated by the truly awful two-big lineups the Mavericks were relying on, with multiple non-shooters always clogging the paint.
But it wouldn’t take long for Flagg to find his rhythm, as after the bad start he proceeded to average 23 points, 5 assists, and 7 rebounds over his last 51 games.
These stats show the biggest reason for optimism regarding Flagg, which is his superhuman ability to improve. At the beginning of his lone college year at Duke Flagg was seen as a mainly defensive prospect with some connective offensive tools. By the end of that season Flagg had become Duke’s de-facto point guard and lead ball handler.
And somehow he kept improving this year, even as the team around him crumbled. It started with his gigantic improvement as a ball-handler, allowing him to get to his spots much easier. But the biggest improvement was his touch around the rim, which was seen as a weakness before the draft. This touch has become his best weapon, as his floaters are already some of the best in the league.
He even found a new level in April, with step-back threes becoming part of his repertoire.
Flagg also rewrote the record books for players his age. Flagg became the youngest player in the league history to score: 30, 40, and 50 points, as well as being the first teenager to have multiple 40 point games.
This type of scoring production
All in all, Flagg showed consistent effort and buy-in all year, with the circumstances of the team never really affecting him, and his winning mentality never wavering.
Best Game
It is very hard to pick Flagg’s best game, with there being multiple generational performances. You could easily make a case for his 51 point explosion against the Magic, or his near 45 point triple double against the Lakers.
But to take a page out of Ryen Rusillo’s book, I’ll zag against the obvious.
My pick for Flagg’s best game was his 33 point, 9 rebound, 9 assist performance against the Denver Nuggets.
This game is far from Flagg’s best statistical outing, but it was maybe his most impactful. Not only did the Mavericks win this game, but it was against a bona-fide contender that was trying to win.
Flagg was amazing all night, with his three ball dropping all game, including a clutch-time three over multiple defenders.
He was also incredibly efficient, nailing 14-21 from the field and only having two turnovers.
This was also one of his best playmaking games of the season, as he consistently leveraged his downhill scoring to create opportunities for others.
My pick for his second best game would have to be his 45 point game against the Lakers.
Contract Status
Flagg will be entering year 2 of his 4 year, $62.7 million contract he signed last year.
Looking towards the future
Now that Flagg’s rookie season is over, what does he have to do to reach the level of a true superstar?
In my opinion, the most important improvement Flagg has to make is his shot selection. Flagg often settled for long mid-range jumpers over three pointers last year, leading to some of his poor efficiency.
Flagg only attempted 3.5 three point shots a game, accounting for just 20% of his total shots on the year. There were many moments throughout the season where defenses simply ignored Flagg from behind-the-arc, which made his paint finishing that much harder.
Shooting more threes, with hopefully more efficiency, should make Flagg nearly ungradable in almost any situation, forcing defenses to bend to his gravity.
Besides shooting, Flagg could also stand to attempt more free throws, as his Free Throw Rate was .29, which is slightly above average. Obviously this isn’t bad, but comparing it to other stars it lags behind. Shooting more free throws would help to ease the difficulty of his shot diet, and get more easy points.
But all of this doesn’t really matter if Mavericks do not build a smarter team around Flagg.
The spacing of last year’s team was a disaster, with Flagg always dealing with stacked paints. Having Kyrie Irving back will help to ease this issue, but it does not solve it. The Mavericks should prioritize adding this offseason, and hopefully give Flagg the space he needs to dominate.
Grade: A+
There’s no other grade that makes sense for Cooper Flagg.
Flagg exceeded any expectations as a scorer and shot creator, while simultaneously showing off incredibly impressive playmaking.
Detractors might point to his below-average efficiency, or disappointing advanced metrics; however, these issues can mostly be explained by the team around him.
Flagg was able to succeed in the most dire possible circumstances, and with the addition of a top 10 pick, Kyrie Irving and a hopefully healthy Dereck Lively II, he should be poised for a historic second season.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 25: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns attempts a shot against Jalen Williams #8 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half in Game Three of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 25, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Thunder defeated the Suns 121-109. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns are down 3-0 to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. No NBA team has ever come back from losing the first three games of a series, and Phoenix hasn’t played like they’d have a chance to change that record.
With Game 4 tonight, here are the questions we want your thoughts on for Week 27 as the Suns face elimination:
Could the Suns steal Game 4 by getting hot from deep?
Phoenix hasn’t particularly shot the three-ball well this series, hitting just 33% of their triples. One way the undermanned and less talented team can steal a game in the series is by getting hot from deep; it’s how the seven-seeded Philadelphia 76ers beat the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of their series: Philly went 19/39 from three in their win.
With Phoenix missing their starting center for the entirety of the series so far, the team has been forced to play small, opting for more spacing on the floor, including playing forward Haywood Highsmith at the center spot to help with spacing.
Is the key to victory in Game 4 a hot shooting night?
Assessing Devin Booker’s performance
Devin Booker has been limited by the Oklahoma City defense, averaging nearly six points less per game than he did in the regular season, on worse efficiency from three and the field. With lengthy and versatile defenders like Lu Dort, Alex Caruso, and Cason Wallace, the Thunder have made it their mission to make sure that anyone but Booker can beat them, and they’re doing so. Both Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks are averaging more shots per game during the series and are averaging more points per game, consequently.
With Mark Williams out, Phoenix’s inside/out game is not as strong as it was during the season, also prohibiting the team’s top ball handlers’ ability to operate on offense, but being the Suns best player and leader, should more be being asked of Booker?
Would a sweep be a disappointment?
The Suns have been heavy underdogs in every game during their first round series. If they do lose and get swept by the defending champions, does that make the team’s playoff run a disappointing one? Or should this have been expected. The Thunder had the best record in the league, came into the playoffs winning 18 of their last 21 games, while the Suns came into the series with less rest and dealing with multiple injury to key players.
Has this series gone as you expected it to go?
On the Suns’ plate this week
Game 4 is tonight at the Mortgage Matchup Center. If they lose, their season is over, if they win, they’ll head back to OKC for Game 5. If they get to Game 6, it’ll be on Friday, while Game 7 would be Sunday. Tonight’s game is on Peacock and NBC.
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Abner Uribe (45) reacts after a the third out during the ninth inning of their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Saturday, April 25, 2026 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. | Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Welcome to week 5 of our 2026 NL Central Power Rankings — let’s rank some teams!
1. Chicago Cubs (17-11); 5-2 this week; 73.7% chance to make postseason (FanGraphs)
The top of these rankings remain a tough 1-2 punch, as the Cubs and Reds are both vying for the division lead. Chicago extended their win streak to 10 games with a four-game sweep of the Phillies before a win on Friday against the Dodgers, but they lost the final two games of the set over the weekend as they were outscored 18-4.
Seiya Suzuki slugged four homers this week, and Michael Busch and Dansby Swanson each added a pair of long balls. Suzuki and Busch also tied for the team lead with 10 hits apiece. Alex Bregman homered and totaled nine hits this week, and Nico Hoerner added eight hits, including a homer.
None of Chicago’s starting pitchers had an outstanding week, as the two starters to pick up wins (Shota Imanaga and Colin Rea) also took a loss in their second start of the week. The bullpen, however, was great. Ben Brown, Corbin Martin, Ryan Rolison, Yacksel Ríos, Vince Vealsquez, and Jacob Webb combined for 13 innings with no earned runs, striking out 11 batters.
The Cubs now visit the Padres for three games before returning to Wrigley to host the D-backs and Reds.
2. Cincinnati Reds (18-10); 4-2 this week; 35.0% chance to make postseason
The Reds have continued to win, as they’ve now won four consecutive series after a pair of 2-1 series wins over the Rays and Tigers this week. They remain atop the NL Central standings.
It was a power-heavy week for the Reds, as they totaled 16 homers in their six games this week. Nathaniel Lowe led the way with four homers, and Elly De La Cruz added three homers and five other hits. Sal Stewart hit two more homers, driving in a team-high 10 runs and swiping three bags as he looks like an early-season NL Rookie of the Year frontrunner.
Rhett Lowder made a pair of solid starts, totaling 11 innings with 10 strikeouts and three runs allowed. Chase Burns struck out eight and allowed two runs over 5 2/3 innings in his start, and Brady Singer went 5 1/3 innings with one run allowed and three strikeouts. Graham Ashcraft, Brock Burke, and Emilio Pagán all put up scoreless weeks for the bullpen, with Burke leading the way with four scoreless frames and four strikeouts over four appearances.
After an off day on Monday, Cincinnati will host the Rockies for three games before a road trip takes them to the Pirates and Cubs.
3. Pittsburgh Pirates (16-12); 3-3 this week; 62.0% chance to make postseason
The Pirates split their two series with the Rangers and Brewers this week, losing two of three in Texas before taking two of three against Milwaukee over the weekend.
Oneil Cruz led the Pittsburgh offense with a pair of homers, but he had just one other hit and struck out 11 times in 23 at-bats. Nick Gonzales led the team with 10 hits, driving in two and scoring three runs, while Konnor Griffin picked up his first career homer on Friday night in Milwaukee.
Paul Skenes turned in a sterling start against the Brewers on Friday night, allowing just one hit and striking out seven over seven scoreless innings. Braxton Ashcraft went seven innings with two runs allowed and five strikeouts in his start. The bullpen had an all-around solid week as eight arms combined to allow zero runs over 19 innings with 18 strikeouts — in fact, the only reliever to allow any runs this week was Gregory Soto (two runs in two innings).
Pittsburgh heads back home for four games against the Cardinals before hosting the Reds for three games next weekend.
4. Milwaukee Brewers (14-13); 2-4 this week; 35.7% chance to make postseason
The Brewers continue to struggle with consistency on offense, as they scored 17 runs in their two victories this week but just nine runs in their four losses, as they dropped two of three to both Detroit and Pittsburgh.
Milwaukee’s offense failed to pick up a homer this week, but Jake Bauers led the squad with eight hits, including three doubles. David Hamilton finally found a bit of success, going 7-for-19 with a double, two RBIs, and three runs scored. Brice Turang led the team with four RBIs despite only picking up three hits (all singles).
Kyle Harrison turned in arguably the best start of his career on Sunday, striking out 12 over six shutout frames. For the week, he went nine innings with one run allowed and 15 strikeouts. Jacob Misiorowski struck out nine and allowed three runs over six innings in a no-decision, while Aaron Ashby continues to set the pace for the bullpen, as he allowed no runs and struck out eight in 4 1/3 innings this week. DL Hall, Grant Anderson, and Trevor Megill also had scoreless weeks for the ‘pen, allowing just three hits and three walks with seven strikeouts over 7 2/3 total innings.
The Brewers get an off day on Monday before hosting the D-backs to wrap up their homestand. They’ll then head to Washington and St. Louis on a six-day, six-game road trip beginning Friday.
5. St. Louis Cardinals (14-13); 1-5 this week; 9.6% chance to make postseason
The Cardinals finally look like they’re falling back to earth, as they dropped five of six games this week, losing two of three in Miami before being swept by the Mariners in St. Louis.
Nathan Church had a huge week offensively, picking up eight hits, including four homers, to go with seven RBIs. Iván Herrera and JJ Wetherholt each added a pair of homers, and Masyn Winn totaled eight hits and four RBIs.
The pitching staff didn’t have a great week overall, as every player who appeared on the mound allowed at least one run, with the lone exception of Justin Bruihl, who went 3 2/3 scoreless innings over three appearances. Michael McGreevy made a pair of starts, allowing five runs and striking out nine over 11 2/3 innings, while Dustin May picked up the only win this week, going 5 1/3 innings with one run allowed and five strikeouts.
St. Louis now heads to Pittsburgh for a four-game set against the Pirates before a homestand against the Dodgers and Brewers to begin May.
DENVER, COLORADO - AUGUST 19, 2022: Carlos Estevez #54 and Elehuris Montero #44 of the Colorado Rockies following the game against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field on August 19, 2022 in Denver, Colorado.(Photo by Harrison Barden/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last week, I gave you some background on the Rockies’ Cultural Education & Development Program. This week, I’m going to follow up by providing some insight into the curriculum. Specifically, I will detail the program in the Dominican Academy and the Dominican Summer League since those are the most intensive programs.
The focus is on helping players from Latin America gain skills that will allow them to be successful in the US on and off the field.
Basic Structure
Classes run for 20 weeks, which is a little longer than a traditional high school or college semester (those are 15-16 weeks). It is broken down into six different units that are taught by Angel Amparo, Julio Medina, or a combination of the two:
Weeks 3 & 4: Introduction to Computers, Dawere Accelerated High School Program & Classroom Assignments
Weeks 5-9: English 101, Intermediate & Advanced ESL
Weeks 10-14: Cultural Development 101
Weeks 15-17: Critical Thinking 101
Weeks 18-20: Math 101 & Off-Season Planning
“We have classes Monday through Friday from 4-7,” Angel Ampardo explained. “We do smaller groups, no more than 15 players, just to have better control. And we have office hours so they can come and see us for one-on-one attention.
“(The syllabus) shows you what we’re going to do, what’s required, a brief description of what we do and the goals and just the basic English structure,” he continued. “But then here, you see things like learning leadership, planning self-discipline skills and some of the resources and websites that we use. We have a classroom and a computer lab area, too. We also grade them.”
Players are graded on the following:
Journals (10%)
Completion and Effective Demonstration of Personal Improvement Plan (45%)
Based on Rockies Evaluation Matrix
Quizzes, Tests and Projects (30%)
Homework (10%)
Punctual Attendance (5%)
In addition to formal classroom lessons, the players also participate in other educational opportunities.
“I throw in professional development workshops,” Amparo said. “(Last) week, we had a workshop about interview processes and how to handle the press. That (was) on Monday, and the following Wednesday, we have a financial planning workshop. I throw in a lot of personal workshops. I have facilitators that I’ve worked with for years that are good at what they do that I get in contact with and have them come in to do specialized workshops and trainings with the players. We also have several community outreach programs and projects that we do throughout the season.”
And at the end of the season, the Rockies conduct exit interviews with the players.
“We tell them what their offseason plan is and what we want them to work on during the offseason,” Amparo said. “We get their feedback, too. We do anonymous surveys. What did you like about this season? What classes were good? What didn’t you like? What do you want to add? Because we want this to be interactive.
“We want to add stuff that they like,” he continued, “hence why chess came into it, then a video game tournament came into it and a domino tournament. So we get their feedback, and then we review it during the offseason, and then we modify the syllabus based on what we think would benefit them.”
No Offseason
During the offseason, the Rockies also keep tabs on the players.
“In the offseason, players are home, so if I’m not in Arizona or Denver, we do home visits as well for the players,” Amparo said. “We visit them, we talk to their parents and loved ones, just to let them know how they’re progressing. It helps them put a face to a name to tell them what our role is and just to let parents know that there’s a more personal connection.”
Amparo stressed that this comes from the Rockies’ emphasis on getting to know the players as individuals.
“I’ll never forget what I was told by my boss during my interview. He was like, ‘Look, focus on creating genuine and authentic relationships with the players. If you put the players’ needs first, always, you’ll do a good job. I guarantee it,’” he said. “He said it’s a lot of work – ‘I’m not going to lie to you, you’ve got to dive in head first. But it’ll be the most rewarding work that you’ll do.’ And I’ve never forgotten that interview. So I like the fact that players can come to me with their personal problems or something like that. I enjoy that role, if I can provide some sort of guidance or direction.”
A Work in Progress
This program has been in place for 14 years, and has evolved with changing needs.
“I remember my first day of work,” Amparo said. “I went with a suit and tie with a briefcase, and I had this plan of what I wanted to do because I’ve taught before at a university level and in high schools. But when I got there on my first day, I was like ‘Oh no, this is not going to work.’
“So I did a lot of observing in that first season at all levels,” he continued. “And after all of the observing and the feedback that I received, I said ‘Okay, let’s build a syllabus, a curriculum and lessons based on these pillars here that we feel are important.’ And it’s been going like that for years.”
Every year, the Rockies modify their lessons based on feedback from players as to what was most beneficial to them as well as adjusting the projects and activities to accommodate the world landscape.
“It’s changed so much now,” Amparo said.
“I was told ‘You probably won’t see the fruits of your success for about six or seven years.’ And since I’ve been here so long, I find players who have made it – who signed with us and couldn’t speak a lick of English – who are now playing at the major-league level. But even the ones who didn’t make the majors, but had this good work ethic and are now working as international crosscheckers or hitting coordinators or scouts or pitching coordinators… Those are success stories to me because these are all the kids who came through our program here. They played baseball for a few years and didn’t make it to the majors, but they’re still involved with the sport that they love.
“And those are the ones I can use with new players,” he continued. “I can show you [Ezequiel] Tovar’s first interview with us here in the DSL and look where he is now. He’s been in the league for eight years now, and now I can show tangible proof that this works if you put in the effort. Obviously, I don’t want to discourage them and say, ‘Even if you don’t make it to the majors…’ I never say that to them, but they know if they don’t make it to the majors, they can still have a career and a life in baseball. So this is tangible proof that I can show them.”
Amparo also likes to call players back who have graduated from the program to talk to the players currently in the program. He’s brought back Tovar, Carlos Estévez, and others to be interviewed and share their stories about how they signed and their career trajectories. He likes to implement tangible interactions to motivate the students, and that’s the biggest way that things have evolved and continue to evolve.
Coming Up Next
Next week, I will share the stories of some players who spent time in the program in various stages. Stay tuned!
In a back-and-forth affair, the Isotopes ended up topping the River Cats 8-6. The Topes jumped out to an early 4-0 lead on a homer by Sterlin Thompson (No. 13 PuRP) in the second, followed by a double from Nic Kent, single from Drew Avans and sac fly from Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) in the third. However, they then gave up three runs in the third and fourth. They gave up another in the sixth on a ground-rule double to tie the game. In the ninth, though, they scored four more runs to put themselves up 8-4. They bent to give up two more runs in the bottom on a two-run shot by Bryce Eldridge, but still came out victorious. Welinton Herrera (No. 17 PuRP) ended up getting the win, as he pitched two scoreless innings with two hits, one walk and three strikeouts.
The Isotopes return home to face the El Paso Chihuahuas (Padres) next.
While the Yard Goats scored two runs, they did not record a single hit against the Red Sox Double-A team. Both runs were scored in the third inning, where Jose Torres led off with a walk. Zach Kokoska and GJ Hill popped and lined out, and then Torres stole second. Dyan Jorge walked, and Torres stole third. Then, Andy Perez reached on a fielding error to score both Torres and Jorge, but Braylen Wimmer struck out on a foul tip to end the inning. In total, the Yard Goats ended up walking five times and striking out 12.
On the pitching side, it was Cade Denton who blew the save by giving up a two-run homer to Nate Baez in the the sixth to tie the game. The third run was scored in the eighth, though, after Carlos Torres recorded back-to-back strikeouts of Max Ferguson and Nate Baez to lead the inning off. But then Brooks Bannon walked and stole second, but then Ronald Rosario singled to score Bannon before Nelly Taylor struck out looking to end the inning.
The Yard Goats return home to play the Reading Fightin’ Phils (Phillies) again. They went 2-4 in their last series in Reading three weeks ago.
The Indians got the scoring going early and never looked back. Tevin Tucker led off the ballgame with a double and then stole third base, which allowed him to score on a wild pitch. Jocob Hinderleider struck out swinging, but then back-to-back baserunners set up Kelvin Hidalgo for a three-run homer to put the Indians up 4-0 in the first inning.
In the fourth, Roynier Hernandez hit his own solo shot to put them up 5-0. The AquaSox finally struck back in the bottom of the inning, as Luis Suisbel and Axel Sanchez led off with back-to-back hits off Yujanyer Herrera. Anthony Donofrio singled to score Suisbel and make the score 5-1. The AquaSox scored two more runs in the sixth and one more in the seventh to make it a one-run game. But the Indians gave themselves some insurance with a Robert Calaz triple to score Kelvin Hidalgo, who reahced on a fielding error right before him.
The AquaSox scored another run in the eighth and tied it in the ninth on a lead-off Brandon Eike homer, but Tommy Hopfe doubled in the tenth to snatch the victory for the Indians. In total, the Indians walked four times and struck out nine; the AquaSox walked 11 times and struck out 15.
The Indians have two off days, and will head to Eugene to play the Emeralds (Giants) starting on Wednesday. To fit in a full six-game series, they are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Saturday.
Like their major league brethren, the Fresno Grizzlies played a doubleheader today. Unfortunately, they were on the losing end of a sweep.
Their first game was a make-up of a suspended game from Saturday, where they ultimately lost 7-2. They got the scoring going early when Cameron Nelson led off with a solo home run. But the Quakes singled, reached on an error and walked to set up a two-RBI single by Marlon Quintero in the second. Two batters later, Hayden Alvarez singled to score two more Quakes and three batters after that, Lucas Ramirez singled to score two more and drive up the score 6-1. That’s when things were suspended on Saturday night. When the game resumed, it was a pretty uneventful game. In the bottom of the fourth, Derek Bernard homered to tack on another Grizzlies’ run. The final run was scored in eighth, when Anyelo Marquez hit a homer of his own.
In the second game, Rancho Cucamongs kicked things off in the first. They jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings, and tacked on three more in the seventh. They completely blanked the Grizzlies, who were held to just three hits — a Clayton Gray double in the first, a Luis Mendez single in the fifth, and an Ethan Holliday (No. 2 PuRP) triple in the sixth.
They will head back on the road to face the Stockton Ports (Athletics) next.
Patrick Saunders wrote a wonderful profile on Mickey Moniak and his grandfather, Bill, who was coached by Ted Williams during his minor league days. Mickey, Bill and Matt (dad) all share stories of how their mutual love of baseball has connected them throughout the years, and how Mickey leaned on them during his early career struggles with the Phillies before having breakout years with the Rockies.
The All-Star Game isn’t for another 2.5 months, but folks are already starting to make way-too-early cases for players. In this case, SI makes the potential cases for eight players who might be deserving after the Rockies have only had one representative in each Midsummer Classic since 2021. How many players will the Rockies send to Philadelphia this year?
Apr 26, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals center fielder Lane Thomas (15) celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off home run during the tenth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Kansas City Royals outfielder Isaac Collins knows when he is going well. There is usually a glaring sign.
“Just my swing decisions,” he said. “You know, if I’m taking those balls on the edge and executing pitches over the plate, that’s when I’m at my best.”
“I think it just kind of speaks for the team as a whole,” Caglianone said. “Doesn’t matter the situation, I think we are just going to be fighting for each other.”
It was clear early that Ragans was working with good stuff when he struck out the side in the top of the first. All three came on fastballs 98-plus mph, including the 99.2 mph heater Jo Adell swung through to end the frame. That was Ragans’ hardest pitch of the night, but he averaged 96.5 with his fastball, 2.3 mph above what his season average had been so far.
Ragans filled up the zone with a 71% strike percentage and recorded whiffs (47%) and chase (40%). The Angels could not keep up with his fastball, and he was fearless with it, throwing it 51% of the time. Ten of his 11 strikeouts came on the pitch.
“Mechanics have a lot to do with the heater,” Ragans said. “If my mechanics are in line, it’s probably going to be good. Everything else feeds off it. It’s just about commanding the fastball, getting ahead and letting everything else play.”
He did a similar pregame routine Sunday with throwing, which is the main aspect that is affected. Garcia has been available off the bench for pinch-hit opportunities and was again Sunday.
“We’re just being cautious,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “He’s too valuable for us to have something happen. We have [Nick] Loftin at third, we feel good about that, but with the day off tomorrow, just wanted to be cautious.
Among the issues with the five-acre site were the minimal flexibility to develop around it, negotiations with the railroad to build over the existing tracks and even how the stadium itself would fit.
“You said, ‘It won’t be symmetrical,’” Hall reminded Sherman.
Sensing Sherman was struggling with those options, Hall suddenly was moved to broach something he said he hadn’t thought about much before that moment. He’d had no previous notion of moving Hallmark headquarters, he said, and certainly had never seen it as a potential site for baseball. It wasn’t really a consideration, he added, “until I said it out loud.”
Thinking out loud, really, with someone he could trust to kick around such ideas.
“‘What if we thought about this differently?’” Hall recalled saying to Sherman.
