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John Blackwell announces he won't be returning to Wisconsin on eve of transfer portal opening

John Blackwell is leaving Wisconsin after scoring 19.1 points per game for the Badgers this season.

Blackwell issued an Instagram post Monday saying he won’t return to Wisconsin next season and is instead going through the NBA draft process while also entering his name in the transfer portal. The transfer portal for basketball officially opens Tuesday. He credited coach Greg Gard for helping him grow as a player.

“That growth is exactly what’s driving this decision," Blackwell wrote on Instagram. I believe I owe it to myself and my family to chase the highest level I can reach, and this is the right time to take that step and leap of faith.”

A pair of Tennessee players announced intentions to enter the portal Monday after helping the Volunteers (25-12) to the Elite Eight. J.P. Estrella, a 6-foot-11 forward, averaged 10 points and 5.4 rebounds, while guard Bishop Boswell started 33 of 34 games this season.

The 6-4 Blackwell had 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game for Wisconsin as a junior while helping the Badgers go 24-11. He made 2.8 3-pointers per game and shot 38.9% from beyond the arc.

He played particularly well late in the year. Blackwell scored 24 points as Wisconsin beat Purdue in its regular-season finale. He averaged 26 points in three Big Ten Tournament games, including 34 against Washington and 31 in an overtime victory over Illinois.

Blackwell scored 22 points in Wisconsin’s 83-82 NCAA Tournament first-round loss to High Point.

He earned third-team all-Big Ten honors from the league’s coaches and media. Blackwell didn’t make the Associated Press all-Big Ten team, which includes only a first team and second team.

Blackwell had 15.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game as a sophomore in 2024-25.

“My time in Madison has truly changed my life,” Blackwell said. “Through every high and every tough loss, Badger Nation showed up with unwavering support. I’m beyond grateful — and I’ll carry that with me always. My prayer is that you understand my decision. Madison will always be second home to me for the rest of my life. This place and this community will always be part of who I am.”

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AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

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Panthers Assistant GMs Reportedly Garnering Plenty Of Interest Around The NHL

Florida Panthers assistant GMs Brett Peterson and Sunny Mehta are reportedly drawing interest around the NHL for several available GM jobs. 

The Panthers are considered the model of success at the moment. With three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals appearances, including two wins, the Panthers’ style of play and operations have received plenty of praise.  The Panthers have been able to acquire high-end players and sign them afterwards. 

So it’s no surprise that teams are interested in bringing Peterson and Mehta into their organizations as general managers.

On Saturday, Sportsnet’s NHL insider Elliotte Friedman revealed that Peterson has garnered interest from the Nashville Predators, and Mehta has been discussed for the Toronto Maple Leafs’ vacant role.

Barry Trotz, the current Predators GM, will step down once he finds a suitable candidate. The Predators have reportedly begun interviewing several candidates from around the NHL. 

Peterson is expected to be a strong candidate to land the Predators’ job, and even if he doesn’t, he will likely see interest from other teams.

Predators Ask For Hurricanes GM Tulsky, In-Person Interviews Held For Other CandidatesPredators Ask For Hurricanes GM Tulsky, In-Person Interviews Held For Other CandidatesThe Nashville Predators are one of the more intriguing teams to watch heading into the off-season. A recent report from NHL insider Elliotte Friedman indicates that they were denied permission to speak with Carolina Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky, but find out who else is on their radar.

Peterson is set to manage Team USA’s Men’s World Championship roster in 2026. If the Americans perform well and the roster he builds succeeds, his chances of landing a GM role will increase drastically.

As for Mehta and the Maple Leafs, the fit makes a lot of sense, and Friedman believes Mehta will be a factor in the process. 

“He’s been kind of discussed this week, Sunny Mehta, one of the assistant general managers of the Florida Panthers,” mentioned Friedman. “I do think he’s going to be a factor.”

Major Changes Reportedly Expected For Maple Leafs; Doug Armstrong Likely Unavailable For GM RoleMajor Changes Reportedly Expected For Maple Leafs; Doug Armstrong Likely Unavailable For GM RoleThe Toronto Maple Leafs made headlines when firing GM Brad Treliving, but the organization isn’t expected to stop there, as Sportsnet’s insider Elliotte Friedman expects major changes.

Friedman had previously discussed the firing of Brad Treliving and the opinions of MLSE CEO Keith Pelley. Pelley believes the Maple Leafs aren’t using all their resources to the best of their ability.

The Maple Leafs have one of, if not the biggest, analytics departments in the NHL, but under Treliving, Pelley believes they were underutilized. 

This is where Mehta would likely come in. Mehta began working as an analyst for the New Jersey Devils in 2014, before joining the Panthers in 2021. After two seasons, Mehta was promoted to assistant GM and director of analytics. 

With the Panthers success under Mehta and his impact on the analytics department, it’s easy to see why the Maple Leafs would be interested in Mehta’s services.

Panthers GM Bill Zito has built a strong relationship with Mehta and Peterson, but the pair of assistant GMs would likely love the opportunity to run their own NHL front offices. 

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Mets placing Juan Soto on IL due to calf injury

The Mets have placed outfielder Juan Soto on the 10-day IL due to the minor calf strain he suffered against the Giants on Friday in San Francisco.

The move is retroactive to Saturday.

In the press release announcing the IL stint, the Mets noted that "a typical return to play for this type of injury is approximately 2-3 weeks."

In a corresponding move, the Mets called infielder Ronny Mauricio up from Triple-A Syracuse. 

On Saturday, manager Carlos Mendoza said Soto "was in a really good place," adding that the plan was to give Soto 48-72 hours to see how he progresses before determining next steps.

Playing all but one inning of the final three games against the Giants without Soto, the Mets scored 24 runs as they won all three.

Soto had been on fire to start the season, slashing .355/.412/.516.

With Soto out, Jared Young has excelled, reaching base in four of his five plate appearances.

On Sunday, Young went 3-for-3 with a double and played stellar defense in left field. 

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Mets placing Juan Soto on IL due to calf injury

The Mets have placed outfielder Juan Soto on the 10-day IL due to the minor calf strain he suffered against the Giants on Friday in San Francisco.

The move is retroactive to Saturday.

In the press release announcing the IL stint, the Mets noted that "a typical return to play for this type of injury is approximately 2-3 weeks."

In a corresponding move, the Mets called infielder Ronny Mauricio up from Triple-A Syracuse. 

On Saturday, manager Carlos Mendoza said Soto "was in a really good place," adding that the plan was to give Soto 48-72 hours to see how he progresses before determining next steps.

Playing all but one inning of the final three games against the Giants without Soto, the Mets scored 24 runs as they won all three.

Soto had been on fire to start the season, slashing .355/.412/.516.

With Soto out, Jared Young has excelled, reaching base in four of his five plate appearances.

On Sunday, Young went 3-for-3 with a double and played stellar defense in left field. 

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Series Preview: Brewers at Red Sox

(080211, Boston, MA) fans take cover under anything handy, like pizza boxes and trash bags as the Red Sox take on the Indians at Fenway Park. Tuesday, August 02, 2011. (Staff photo by Stuart Cahill) (Photo by Stuart Cahill/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images

Ok. The Red Sox are now 2-7 on the season after three series. They were meh against the Reds. Then bad against the Astros. And actually played the Padres pretty hard, more or less, but came away 1-2.

The absence of Garrett Whitlock — who, to be clear, 100% should be allowed the time off for paternity leave and isn’t at fault — really hurt them on Saturday and Sunday, especially with Oviedo looking not great in his first appearance and then hitting the IL. They only need to go, uh, 87-68 the rest of the year to finish with the same record as 2025.

The Brewers are having the opposite start to the season: they’re rolling. Milwaukee will come to Boston sitting on a 6-1 record.

Remember Brandon Woodruff? He was pretty big for Milwaukee through 2022. Then he had injury-shortened seasons in 2023 and 2025 surrounding an entirely lost 2024 campaign on the shelf. But he’s back now. In his first start of 2026 he tossed five innings of two-run ball against the Tampa Bay Rays. He’s going up against Brayan Bello, who’s looking to bounce back from his start against the Astros. The goal this spring was to give him more swing-and-miss in his game and that part of his last outing was a success. Hopefully there is more to come.

Tuesday is Jacob Misiorowski, aka The Miz vs. Garrett Crochet. The pitching phenom against The Pig. Misiorowski, a 24-year-old righty, enters the day with a 2.45 ERA / 3.91 FIP. To watch for: 18 strikeouts in his first 11 innings against the Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. Glass half full or half empty, this could be a rough night for the Sox hitters. Crochet will need to be fully in control and bring at least his B game. In their meeting last year, Crochet struck out 11 Brewers in 6.2 innings as the Red Sox lost 3-2. Maybe bring the A game to be safe.

Wednesday is a getaway day before an off-day to travel and, maybe, reset. Chad Patrick will take the ball for the Brewers. In two starts he has an ERA of 0.96 (FIP 4.36) after allowing just one runs over two starts totaling 9.1 innings. Again, it’s the White Sox and Royals, so not the greatest accomplishments, but also not nothing. That’s three more righties for the Boston lefty hitters to feast on. Platoon advantage doesn’t guarantee results but it’s nice to have all the same. Sonny Gray will make his third start in a Boston uniform and we’ll all hope it goes more like his second. Two runs in six innings when your team can give you five is good enough for a win.

William Contreras, brother of Willson, will be in town. He’s off to a .259/.375/.481 start with a homer.

Christian Yelich is hitting .353/.389/.529 with a homer and is as hot at the plate as he could be.

Old friend David Hamilton has stolen four bases for the Brewers.

The good news? After the Brewers series the Sox go on the road for six games against the rebuilding Cardinals (4-4 ahead of Sunday Night Baseball) and Twins (3-6). And then another potentially brutal stretch facing the Tigers and Yankees. But good teams win against good teams so we’ll see what happens.

Probable Pitching Matchups

Monday, April 6: Brandon Woodruff (3.60 ERA / 5.98 FIP) vs. Brayan Bello (9.64 ERA / 7.04 FIP)

Tuesday, April 7: Jacob Misiorowski (2.45 ERA / 3.91 FIP) vs. Garrett Crochet (3.27 ERA / 2.73 FIP)

Wednesday, April 8: Chad Patrick (0.96 ERA / 4.36 FIP) vs. Sonny Gray (4.50 ERA / 3.18 FIP)

When/Where to Watch

Monday, April 6 at 6:45 PM ET on NESN

Tuesday, April 7: 6:45 PM ET on NESN

Wednesday, April 8: 1:35 PM ET on NESN

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Series Preview: Brewers at Red Sox

(080211, Boston, MA) fans take cover under anything handy, like pizza boxes and trash bags as the Red Sox take on the Indians at Fenway Park. Tuesday, August 02, 2011. (Staff photo by Stuart Cahill) (Photo by Stuart Cahill/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images

Ok. The Red Sox are now 2-7 on the season after three series. They were meh against the Reds. Then bad against the Astros. And actually played the Padres pretty hard, more or less, but came away 1-2.

The absence of Garrett Whitlock — who, to be clear, 100% should be allowed the time off for paternity leave and isn’t at fault — really hurt them on Saturday and Sunday, especially with Oviedo looking not great in his first appearance and then hitting the IL. They only need to go, uh, 87-68 the rest of the year to finish with the same record as 2025.

The Brewers are having the opposite start to the season: they’re rolling. Milwaukee will come to Boston sitting on a 6-1 record.

Remember Brandon Woodruff? He was pretty big for Milwaukee through 2022. Then he had injury-shortened seasons in 2023 and 2025 surrounding an entirely lost 2024 campaign on the shelf. But he’s back now. In his first start of 2026 he tossed five innings of two-run ball against the Tampa Bay Rays. He’s going up against Brayan Bello, who’s looking to bounce back from his start against the Astros. The goal this spring was to give him more swing-and-miss in his game and that part of his last outing was a success. Hopefully there is more to come.

Tuesday is Jacob Misiorowski, aka The Miz vs. Garrett Crochet. The pitching phenom against The Pig. Misiorowski, a 24-year-old righty, enters the day with a 2.45 ERA / 3.91 FIP. To watch for: 18 strikeouts in his first 11 innings against the Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. Glass half full or half empty, this could be a rough night for the Sox hitters. Crochet will need to be fully in control and bring at least his B game. In their meeting last year, Crochet struck out 11 Brewers in 6.2 innings as the Red Sox lost 3-2. Maybe bring the A game to be safe.

Wednesday is a getaway day before an off-day to travel and, maybe, reset. Chad Patrick will take the ball for the Brewers. In two starts he has an ERA of 0.96 (FIP 4.36) after allowing just one runs over two starts totaling 9.1 innings. Again, it’s the White Sox and Royals, so not the greatest accomplishments, but also not nothing. That’s three more righties for the Boston lefty hitters to feast on. Platoon advantage doesn’t guarantee results but it’s nice to have all the same. Sonny Gray will make his third start in a Boston uniform and we’ll all hope it goes more like his second. Two runs in six innings when your team can give you five is good enough for a win.

William Contreras, brother of Willson, will be in town. He’s off to a .259/.375/.481 start with a homer.

Christian Yelich is hitting .353/.389/.529 with a homer and is as hot at the plate as he could be.

Old friend David Hamilton has stolen four bases for the Brewers.

The good news? After the Brewers series the Sox go on the road for six games against the rebuilding Cardinals (4-4 ahead of Sunday Night Baseball) and Twins (3-6). And then another potentially brutal stretch facing the Tigers and Yankees. But good teams win against good teams so we’ll see what happens.

Probable Pitching Matchups

Monday, April 6: Brandon Woodruff (3.60 ERA / 5.98 FIP) vs. Brayan Bello (9.64 ERA / 7.04 FIP)

Tuesday, April 7: Jacob Misiorowski (2.45 ERA / 3.91 FIP) vs. Garrett Crochet (3.27 ERA / 2.73 FIP)

Wednesday, April 8: Chad Patrick (0.96 ERA / 4.36 FIP) vs. Sonny Gray (4.50 ERA / 3.18 FIP)

When/Where to Watch

Monday, April 6 at 6:45 PM ET on NESN

Tuesday, April 7: 6:45 PM ET on NESN

Wednesday, April 8: 1:35 PM ET on NESN

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UNC hiring Michael Malone as head coach

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 04: Head coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets reacts against the Golden State Warriors in the second quarter at Chase Center on April 04, 2025 in San Francisco, California. 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 Eakin Howard/Getty Images) | Getty Images

North Carolina appears to have found its next head coach and, surprise, it is someone no one was really talking about. Despite connections to the university due to his daughter playing volleyball at Carolina, former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone was not a name you heard a lot of in relation to the Tar Heels’ head coaching job.

However, despite that, sources have told people at ESPN that he will be the next coach at UNC. There will be plenty of time to deep dive into this later, but just a quick history of a current NBA announcer who has not coached any basketball in over a year after he was surprisingly fired from the Nuggets three games before the NBA season ended. Malone does have college experience having served as a college assistant at Oakland, Providence, and Manhattan, though all of that was 25 years ago. Malone is most famous for being an NBA coach who led the Denver Nuggets to their first and only championship in 2023 and being the head coach of the emergence of Nikola Jokic as he became one of the best (if not best) players in the NBA.

Malone will be expected to quickly adjust to the ever-changing world of college sports while navigating NIL deals, the transfer portal that opens tomorrow, and recruiting for the first time. The task will be a tall one and one should have a multitude of questions of whether or not he can do this at a high level, especially after what fans just experienced with a football coach attempting the same thing this past season.

What do you think of this? Let us know in the comments below.

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Cubs roster move: Matthew Boyd to injured list, Javier Assad recalled

The Cubs have not started out the season well, and now have lost a second starting pitcher to injury:

Boyd had a rough outing on Opening Day, but recovered and threw very well last Wednesday against the Angels, striking out 10.

Let’s hope this turns out to be correct:

Javier Assad has made two starts for Triple-A Iowa this year. He threw three shutout innings against Columbus, then got hit pretty hard by Louisville. Assad is pretty much a known quantity; his MLB seasons have all been quite similar. I wouldn’t expect him to give the value Boyd does, but he will eat up some innings and probably throw reasonably well. He threw 75 pitches against Louisville last Thursday, so he should be ready to go tomorrow and perhaps throw up to 90 pitches or so.

This obviously isn’t the way any of us wanted the season to begin. Fortunately for the Cubs, they do have some starting pitcher depth. Let’s hope it doesn’t get tested any further.

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Cubs roster move: Matthew Boyd to injured list, Javier Assad recalled

The Cubs have not started out the season well, and now have lost a second starting pitcher to injury:

Boyd had a rough outing on Opening Day, but recovered and threw very well last Wednesday against the Angels, striking out 10.

Let’s hope this turns out to be correct:

Javier Assad has made two starts for Triple-A Iowa this year. He threw three shutout innings against Columbus, then got hit pretty hard by Louisville. Assad is pretty much a known quantity; his MLB seasons have all been quite similar. I wouldn’t expect him to give the value Boyd does, but he will eat up some innings and probably throw reasonably well. He threw 75 pitches against Louisville last Thursday, so he should be ready to go tomorrow and perhaps throw up to 90 pitches or so.

This obviously isn’t the way any of us wanted the season to begin. Fortunately for the Cubs, they do have some starting pitcher depth. Let’s hope it doesn’t get tested any further.

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MLB Player Props & Best Bets for Today, April 6

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The bases are juiced as we open another week of MLB action, and I’m ready to drive in some MLB player props winners. 

My best bets today include Ernie Clement doing his best to exact some revenge in the Blue Jays World Series rematch against the Dodgers, and Logan Gilbert racking up the Ks in a matchup vs. the Rangers.

Those and more MLB picks for Monday, April 6 below.

Best MLB player props today

Player PickOdds
Padres German MarquezUnder 14.5 Outs+122
Blue Jays Ernie ClementOver 1.5 Total Bases+105
Mariners Logan GilbertOver 6.5 Strikeouts+102

German Marquez Under 14.5 Outs Recorded (+122)

Konnor Griffin is getting all the headlines for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but the Buccos as a whole have begun 2026 with a bang.

The Pirates have rattled off five straight wins, plating 32 runs, and enter tonight’s game against the San Diego Padres ranked ninth in wRC+ and seventh in OPS.

That’s not great for Padres starter German Marquez. It appears that pitching in Colorado wasn’t the only issue for the veteran right-hander. He was tagged for four runs on eight hits in his first start with the Friars. That included two home runs in just three innings of work against a relatively light-hitting San Francisco Giants squad.

The Pirates have chased the opposing starter before completing five innings three times during this five-game winning streak. I’m betting it happens again tonight. 

  • Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Padres.TV, SNP

Ernie Clement Over 1.5 Total Bases (+105)

It’s fun that we get a rematch of one of the most exciting World Series so early in the season. But while the Los Angeles Dodgers have rolled into 2026, it’s been a bit of a rough start for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Toronto enters at 4-5, thanks to some poor fundamentals, ineffective relief pitching, and a lack of clutch hits.

Luckily, they can still rely on the guy who holds the record for most hits in a single postseason: Ernie Clement. 

The Blue Jays' second baseman is one of the few guys giving them good at-bats right now, hitting .297 with 11 hits over nine games. Clement was also a monster vs. left-handed pitching last season, hitting .326 with a .900 OPS.

He faces lefty Justin Wrobleski, who allowed three runs on four hits in his first start against the Cleveland Guardians. 

I love Ernie to set the tone in this World Series rematch and go Over 1.5 total bases.

  • Time: 7:07 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: FS1

Logan Gilbert Over 6.5 Strikeouts (+102)

It hasn’t been the smoothest of starts to the season for the Seattle Mariners, and that includes starter Logan Gilbert.

The 2025 All-Star has surrendered eight runs over his first two starts, but the one positive is that he’s still getting a lot of swings and misses, resulting in strikeouts. He’s punched out 13 batters in 10 2/3 innings over his first two starts.

And now he gets a great matchup to keep that going when he takes the ball against the Texas Rangers.

Gilbert has been a problem for the Rangers for a while. Current Texas batters have combined for a .202 expected batting average and a 26.8% strikeout rate. The Rangers also enter this game with the 10th-highest K-rate in baseball.

If Gilbert can be a little more efficient, he is a great bet to go Over his strikeout prop tonight. 

  • Time: 8:05 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Mariners.TV, RSN
Andrew Caley's 2026 Transparency Record
  • Prop picks: 9-9, -0.09 units

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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MLB Player Props & Best Bets for Today, April 6

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The bases are juiced as we open another week of MLB action, and I’m ready to drive in some MLB player props winners. 

My best bets today include Ernie Clement doing his best to exact some revenge in the Blue Jays World Series rematch against the Dodgers, and Logan Gilbert racking up the Ks in a matchup vs. the Rangers.

Those and more MLB picks for Monday, April 6 below.

Best MLB player props today

Player PickOdds
Padres German MarquezUnder 14.5 Outs+122
Blue Jays Ernie ClementOver 1.5 Total Bases+105
Mariners Logan GilbertOver 6.5 Strikeouts+102

German Marquez Under 14.5 Outs Recorded (+122)

Konnor Griffin is getting all the headlines for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but the Buccos as a whole have begun 2026 with a bang.

The Pirates have rattled off five straight wins, plating 32 runs, and enter tonight’s game against the San Diego Padres ranked ninth in wRC+ and seventh in OPS.

That’s not great for Padres starter German Marquez. It appears that pitching in Colorado wasn’t the only issue for the veteran right-hander. He was tagged for four runs on eight hits in his first start with the Friars. That included two home runs in just three innings of work against a relatively light-hitting San Francisco Giants squad.

The Pirates have chased the opposing starter before completing five innings three times during this five-game winning streak. I’m betting it happens again tonight. 

  • Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Padres.TV, SNP

Ernie Clement Over 1.5 Total Bases (+105)

It’s fun that we get a rematch of one of the most exciting World Series so early in the season. But while the Los Angeles Dodgers have rolled into 2026, it’s been a bit of a rough start for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Toronto enters at 4-5, thanks to some poor fundamentals, ineffective relief pitching, and a lack of clutch hits.

Luckily, they can still rely on the guy who holds the record for most hits in a single postseason: Ernie Clement. 

The Blue Jays' second baseman is one of the few guys giving them good at-bats right now, hitting .297 with 11 hits over nine games. Clement was also a monster vs. left-handed pitching last season, hitting .326 with a .900 OPS.

He faces lefty Justin Wrobleski, who allowed three runs on four hits in his first start against the Cleveland Guardians. 

I love Ernie to set the tone in this World Series rematch and go Over 1.5 total bases.

  • Time: 7:07 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: FS1

Logan Gilbert Over 6.5 Strikeouts (+102)

It hasn’t been the smoothest of starts to the season for the Seattle Mariners, and that includes starter Logan Gilbert.

The 2025 All-Star has surrendered eight runs over his first two starts, but the one positive is that he’s still getting a lot of swings and misses, resulting in strikeouts. He’s punched out 13 batters in 10 2/3 innings over his first two starts.

And now he gets a great matchup to keep that going when he takes the ball against the Texas Rangers.

Gilbert has been a problem for the Rangers for a while. Current Texas batters have combined for a .202 expected batting average and a 26.8% strikeout rate. The Rangers also enter this game with the 10th-highest K-rate in baseball.

If Gilbert can be a little more efficient, he is a great bet to go Over his strikeout prop tonight. 

  • Time: 8:05 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Mariners.TV, RSN
Andrew Caley's 2026 Transparency Record
  • Prop picks: 9-9, -0.09 units

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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Phillies vs. Giants prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for April 6

The Philadelphia Phillies (5-4) open a three-game series tonight against the struggling San Francisco Giants (3-7) at Oracle Park. Philadelphia hands the ball to Andrew Painter (1-0, 1.69 ERA) while the Giants turn to Adrian Houser (0-1, 1.69 ERA).

The Giants’ offense has been nonexistent to date this season. San Francisco scored a total of five runs over their last three games. They rank last in the majors with a .561 OPS and currently hold an MLB-worst -25 run differential through just 10 games. Winners of four of their last five, the Phillies are surviving offensively but not thriving. Bryce Harper and co. are hitting .227 as a team. They wrapped up their weekend series in Denver against the Rockies scoring three runs over the final two games.

As noted earlier, top prospect Andrew Painter is expected to start for Philadelphia tonight. The rookie dominated in his MLB debut with eight strikeouts over 5.1 innings in a 3-2 win over the Nationals on March 31. Veteran Adrian Houser lost in his season debut but was sharp allowing but one run over 5.1 innings against the Padres.

Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and the opener of this three-game series and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game Details and How to Watch: Phillies vs. Giants

  • Date: Monday, April 6, 2026
  • Time: 9:45PM EST
  • Site: Oracle Park
  • City: San Francisco, CA
  • Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

The Latest Odds: Phillies vs. Giants

The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of FanDuel:

  • Moneyline: Philadelphia Phillies (-120), San Francisco Giants (+100)
  • Spread: Phillies -1.5 (+139) / Giants +1.5 (-168)
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable Starting Pitchers: Phillies vs. Giants

Pitching matchup for April 6:

  • Phillies: Andrew Painter
    Season Totals: 5.1 IP, 1-0, 1.69 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 8K, 1 BB
  • Giants: Adrian Hauser
  • Season Totals: 5.1 IP, 0-1, 1.69 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 4K, 1 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Phillies vs. Giants

  • Trea Turner has hit in 6 straight games and is 9-25 over that span with 4 doubles
  • Bryce Harper is hitting just .139 for the season (5-36)
  • Alec Bohm has one extra base hit on the season in 34 ABs
  • Rafael Devers is 8-38 on the season (.211) with 2 extra base hits
  • Harrison Bader is 1 for his last 15 and 4-34 on the season (.118)

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top Betting Trends & Insights: Phillies vs. Giants

  • The Giants are 2-8 on the Run Line this season
  • Philadelphia is 2-7 on the Run Line this season
  • The OVER has cashed 5 times in the Phils’ 9 games this season (5-3-1)
  • The OVER has cashed 4 times in the Giants’ first 10 games (4-3-3)

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions: Phillies vs. Giants

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday’s game between Philadelphia and San Francisco:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Phillies on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Phillies on the Run Line.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 8.0.

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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Phillies vs. Giants prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for April 6

The Philadelphia Phillies (5-4) open a three-game series tonight against the struggling San Francisco Giants (3-7) at Oracle Park. Philadelphia hands the ball to Andrew Painter (1-0, 1.69 ERA) while the Giants turn to Adrian Houser (0-1, 1.69 ERA).

The Giants’ offense has been nonexistent to date this season. San Francisco scored a total of five runs over their last three games. They rank last in the majors with a .561 OPS and currently hold an MLB-worst -25 run differential through just 10 games. Winners of four of their last five, the Phillies are surviving offensively but not thriving. Bryce Harper and co. are hitting .227 as a team. They wrapped up their weekend series in Denver against the Rockies scoring three runs over the final two games.

As noted earlier, top prospect Andrew Painter is expected to start for Philadelphia tonight. The rookie dominated in his MLB debut with eight strikeouts over 5.1 innings in a 3-2 win over the Nationals on March 31. Veteran Adrian Houser lost in his season debut but was sharp allowing but one run over 5.1 innings against the Padres.

Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and the opener of this three-game series and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game Details and How to Watch: Phillies vs. Giants

  • Date: Monday, April 6, 2026
  • Time: 9:45PM EST
  • Site: Oracle Park
  • City: San Francisco, CA
  • Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

The Latest Odds: Phillies vs. Giants

The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of FanDuel:

  • Moneyline: Philadelphia Phillies (-120), San Francisco Giants (+100)
  • Spread: Phillies -1.5 (+139) / Giants +1.5 (-168)
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable Starting Pitchers: Phillies vs. Giants

Pitching matchup for April 6:

  • Phillies: Andrew Painter
    Season Totals: 5.1 IP, 1-0, 1.69 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 8K, 1 BB
  • Giants: Adrian Hauser
  • Season Totals: 5.1 IP, 0-1, 1.69 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 4K, 1 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Phillies vs. Giants

  • Trea Turner has hit in 6 straight games and is 9-25 over that span with 4 doubles
  • Bryce Harper is hitting just .139 for the season (5-36)
  • Alec Bohm has one extra base hit on the season in 34 ABs
  • Rafael Devers is 8-38 on the season (.211) with 2 extra base hits
  • Harrison Bader is 1 for his last 15 and 4-34 on the season (.118)

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top Betting Trends & Insights: Phillies vs. Giants

  • The Giants are 2-8 on the Run Line this season
  • Philadelphia is 2-7 on the Run Line this season
  • The OVER has cashed 5 times in the Phils’ 9 games this season (5-3-1)
  • The OVER has cashed 4 times in the Giants’ first 10 games (4-3-3)

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions: Phillies vs. Giants

Rotoworld Bet Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday’s game between Philadelphia and San Francisco:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Phillies on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Phillies on the Run Line.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 8.0.

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
Posted on

Michael Malone hired as UNC basketball coach; former NBA champion replaces Hubert Davis

North Carolina has its next basketball coach, as it intends to hire former Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone for its vacancy, three people close to the situation confirmed to USA TODAY Sports on Monday, April 6.

Malone was fired by the Nuggets before the playoffs in 2025, two years after winning the NBA Finals with the organization. The 54-year-old coach last coached in college in 2001 as an assistant at Manhattan, after stints at Oakland (1994-95) and Providence (1995-98).

Malone's daughter, Bridget Malone, plays volleyball at North Carolina. He replaces Hubert Davis, who was fired after the Tar Heels' first-round loss to No. 11 seed VCU in the NCAA Tournament.

Top 25 available players: College basketball transfer portal rankings

It's an outside-the-box hire for North Carolina, opting for a coach who has never been a college head coach before. The timing of the hire also makes sense, with the transfer portal officially opening April 7.

In 10 seasons with the Nuggets, Malone went 471-327 (.590), reaching the playoffs six times. He has 510 career NBA wins, also spending two seasons as the Sacramento Kings' head coach before he was fired.

The Tar Heels were tied to multiple Final Four coaches like Arizona's Tommy Lloyd and Michigan's Dusty May, although both turned down the job publicly. Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan was also tied to the role, although the former two-time national champion with Florida was adamant about sticking with the Bulls through the remainder of the regular season, which would've likely posed a threat to North Carolina's recruiting timeline for next season, especially with the portal window only lasting 15 days this offseason.

Malone's hire also signals a change in North Carolina's hiring philosophy. He's the school's first hire since Frank McGuire in 1952 to not have had prior connections to the school as either a player or assistant coach, although his daughter is a student at the school. Davis was a longtime assistant and player, Roy Williams graduated from North Carolina, Matt Doherty played at North Carolina, Bill Guthridge was an assistant before he was hired and so was Dean Smith, one of the most legendary coaches in college basketball history.

Malone cut his teeth as an NBA assistant, working for the New York Knicks (2001-05), Cleveland Cavaliers (2005-10), New Orleans Hornets (2010-11) and Golden State Warriors (2011-13) before landing his first head-coaching gig with the Kings. He was also an NBA All-Star Game head coach in 2019 and 2023.

The Queens, New York native spent most of his career with Nikola Jokic, a 3-time MVP winner with the Nuggets and one of the best players in the world. Malone was most recently an NBA analyst with ESPN.

Michael Malone coaching record, history

Head coaching record

  • 2013-14 Sacramento: 28-54
  • 2014-15 Sacramento: 11-13
  • 2015-16 Denver: 33-49
  • 2016-17 Denver: 40-42
  • 2017-18 Denver: 46-36
  • 2018-19 Denver: 54-28, conference semifinals
  • 2019-20 Denver: 46-27, conference finals
  • 2020-21 Denver: 47-25, conference semifinals
  • 2021-22 Denver: 48-34, first round
  • 2022-23 Denver: 53-29, NBA champions
  • 2023-24 Denver: 57-25, conference semifinals
  • 2024-25 Denver: 47-32

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mike Malone hired as next North Carolina basketball coach

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Chicago Cubs vs. Tampa Bay Rays preview, Monday 4/6, 3:10 CT

Monday notes…

  • IT’S STILL EARLY: April 6 is the earliest date on which the Cubs have played the Rays. The previous earliest was April 18, in 2022, at Wrigley Field. The earliest at Miami was June 11 in 2024, the last time the Cubs journeyed there. The Cubs’ first games this season vs. the Angels and Guardians also were their earliest in those rivalries. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
  • HOME RUNS ARE GOOD, BUT… The Cubs have lost the last three games in which they hit exactly three home runs: on Sept. 25 of last year, at home against the Mets, 8-5; on March 29, at home against the Nationals, 6-3; and yesterday in Game 2 at Cleveland, 6-5. Before that, they had lost only three of 19 three-homer games, going back to Sept. 30, 2023. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
  • DOUBLEHEADER CATCH-UP: The Cubs split Sunday’s doubleheader in Cleveland. The last time the Cubs swept a doubleheader on the road was Sept. 11, 2015 at Philadelphia.
  • STEALING BASES: The Cubs have stolen eight bases so far this year without being caught. They are the only MLB team with at least eight steals this year with no runners caught stealing.

Cubs lineup:

Rays lineup:

Jameson Taillon, RHP vs. Shane McClanahan, RHP

Jameson Taillon’s ERA shows 0.00, which is good!

I wouldn’t exactly call his first 2026 start “good,” though. He walked four and threw 85 pitches and didn’t complete the fifth inning. Still, it was better than his awful Spring Training. So that’s something, anyway.

The last time he faced the Rays in Tampa, June 11, 2024, he threw six shutout innings, striking out five. That’d work, though most of those guys aren’t on the Rays anymore.

Cedric Mullins, new to the Rays this year, is 5-for-14 against Jamo with two home runs. So watch for that.

Shane McClanahan allowed two hits and three walks in 4.2 innings in his first 2026 start against the Brewers. That was, in fact, his first MLB appearance since 2023, following Tommy John surgery and then a nerve issue.

He has faced the Cubs once in his career, May 30, 2023 at Wrigley Field. Nico Hoerner homered off him that evening.

That’s about all I’ve got on McClanahan.

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network.

Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Rays site DRays Bay. If you do go there to interact with Rays fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.

You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.

The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.

You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

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