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New York Yankees vs. Miami Marlins: Will Warren vs. Eury Pérez

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Will Warren #98 of the New York Yankees in action against the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium on September 09, 2025 in New York City. The Tigers defeated the Yankees 12-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After a highly successful 5-1 road trip to open the season, the Yankees return home to Yankee Stadium for the first time in 177 days to open a three-game set with the Miami Marlins on a rare Friday matinee. The Marlins come into this one on a roll to start the season, taking advantage of hosting the Rockies and White Sox on their season-opening homestand to match the Yankees and Brewers’ league-best starts.

Will Warren will look to keep the rotation dominance going in his second start of the season after a solid opening effort in San Francisco. The 26-year-old threw some of the fastest pitches of his career in the first inning, but lost considerable velocity as the game went on and was removed after 4.1 innings of one-run ball. It’ll be interesting to see if the adrenaline has him throwing 97 to start again, or if he’ll look to maintain normal velocity throughout.

Eury Pérez gets the start for the Marlins after throwing seven strong innings against the Rockies last week. After missing all of 2024 and the start of 2025 with Tommy John recovery, he’s healthy to start 2026 and will be looking to power through this Yankee lineup. Pérez, who turns 23 later this month, doesn’t even have 200 MLB innings under his belt, but has the potential to be one of the game’s best pitchers.

Pérez leans heavily on his high-octane four-seamer, which has consistently sat at 98 mph even after elbow surgery. He utilizes five other pitches, but throws none of them more than 20 percent of the time. Look out for curveballs and changeups to lefties, sweepers and cutters to lefties, and sliders as his primary secondary pitch. The big weakness that has bedeviled Pérez is that, when hitters do make contact, it’s usually very loud and in the air, which makes for an interesting matchup against an offense like this at Yankee Stadium (compared to last August in the Marlins’ more spacious home).

It’s a usual lineup for the Yankees, featuring the same nine players that it has for four of the six games this season. They do mix up the bottom third, however, moving Austin Wells up to seventh and putting the struggling Ryan McMahon in the 9-hole.

Jakob Marsee—who had a spectacular debut series against the Yankees when Miami swept them after the 2025 Trade Deadline—leads off for the Fish, followed by Xavier Edwards and former Baby Bomber Agustin Ramírez. Liam Hicks, Otto Lopez, and Owen Caissie (acquired from the Cubs for starter Edward Cabrera) are all off to great starts this year and will be the heart of the order, as Connor Norby, Griffin Conine, and Graham Pauley bring up the rear. That’s five lefties and a switch-hitter against Warren, who needs to be better against lefties.

How to watch

Location: Yankee Stadium — New York, NY

First pitch: 1:35 pm ET

TV broadcast: YES, Marlins.TV/CBS Miami

Radio broadcast: 560 WQAM, WAQI 710 (MIA), WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY)

Online stream: MLB.tv (out-of-market only), Gotham Sports App

For updates, follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

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Islanders' Simon Holmstrom A Game-Time Decision vs. Flyers

ELMONT, NY -- Forward Simon Holmstrom is a game-time decision for the New York Islanders against the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday night, per head coach Patrick Roy. 

The 24-year-old took part in the Islanders' optional morning skate on Friday. 

Holmstrom, who has 39 points (19 goals, 20 assists) in 73 games this season, sustained an upper-body injury in their 8-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday. He did not play in their 4-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday.

Forward Anthony Duclair played in his spot on the team's second line alongside Brayden Schenn and Mathew Barzal. While Roy wouldn't divulge who would be coming out of the lineup if Holmstrom was able to play, one would think Duclair would come out. 

Puck drop between the Islanders and Flyers comes your way at 7 PM ET. 

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How The Canucks Stack Up To The Rest Of The NHL: 75 Games In

The Vancouver Canucks are 75 games into their 2025–26 NHL season and have officially clinched 32nd overall for the 2025–26 season. With this result, they have secured the best possible odds to select first-overall in the 2026 NHL Draft. Vancouver has seven games remaining in their 2025–26 NHL season; here’s how they stack up to the rest of the league at this point in the year. 

Team Stats 

Vancouver Canucks team stats, 75 games into 2025-26.
Vancouver Canucks team stats, 75 games into 2025-26.

Vancouver became the first team to be mathematically eliminated from playoffs last week, though this week, they officially locked themselves into 32nd overall in the NHL. Around the league, other teams have only just begun to find themselves being eliminated from post-season contention, as the Chicago Blackhawks (31st), New York Rangers (29th), and Toronto Maple Leafs (25th) are now out of the running. Having said that, all three teams still currently have over 65 points on the season, with Chicago registering 68 in 76 games, New York putting up 71 in 76, and Toronto averaging slightly over a point per game with 77 in 76. 

The Canucks’ lone saving grace stats-wise is their power play, which has found some success throughout the season but not as much as it appears to be having now in relation to the team’s place in the standings. Vancouver currently ranks 17th in the NHL in power play percentage with a success rate of 20.2%, with the Canucks having scored power play goals in four consecutive games. They’ve scored a total of nine power play goals in their past 10 games. 

Individual Skater Stats

Vancouver Canucks individual skater stats, 75 games into 2025-26.
Vancouver Canucks individual skater stats, 75 games into 2025-26.

Vancouver finally has their first 20-goal scorer of the season, as Brock Boeser hit this mark after his hat trick against the Colorado Avalanche on April 1. Now at a season total of 21 goals, he’s tied for the 92nd-most goals in the NHL alongside Zach Werenski, Mikko Rantanen (who has been injured), and Kiefer Sherwood. Prior to this, Sherwood had retained the Canucks’ lead in goals despite not playing for the team since the start of January. 

When it comes to the team’s overall lead in points, Elias Pettersson’s 48 currently sits at the top of the Canucks but is tied for 119th in the NHL. Ironically enough, 48 points is the current lead for power play points by a player in the league, with this being held by Connor McDavid. Pettersson also has the Canucks’ lead in power play points with 21. 

Goaltending Stats 

Vancouver Canucks goaltending stats, 75 games into 2025-26.
Vancouver Canucks goaltending stats, 75 games into 2025-26.

It’s not exactly a good sign when the goaltender who holds your team-high in SV% and GAA hasn’t played in months, but with the season the Canucks have had, it almost feels expected. Thatcher Demko remains the Canucks’ leader in SV% (.895%) and GAA (2.90), and has remained at the top for the better-half of this season. The next highest Canucks goaltender in both of these stats is Nikita Tolopilo, who is tied for 52nd in the NHL in SV% (.886%) and ranks 68th in GAA with 3.57. Having said that, Demko’s previous team-high of eight wins has finally been surpassed, as Kevin Lankinen notched his ninth win of the season against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday. 

Lankinen has taken the bulk of Vancouver’s starts since Demko was declared out for the remainder of the season, though he’s played much more as of late. While he’d started in five consecutive games, the goaltender has played in every game but one (April 2) since March 17. This has been reflected in his personal stats, as he currently ranks 23rd in the NHL in overall minutes played (2404:27), 21st in shots faced (1181), and 14th in high-danger shots faced (359). 

Apr 1, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Vancouver Canucks left wing Jake DeBrusk (74) scores on Colorado Avalanche goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood (39) in the first period at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Apr 1, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Vancouver Canucks left wing Jake DeBrusk (74) scores on Colorado Avalanche goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood (39) in the first period at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Vancouver will wrap up their 2025–26 season with three games at home and four on the road. They’ll face the Utah Mammoth and Vegas Golden Knights in Vancouver on April 4 and 7 respectively, before heading to California to take on all three of the Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, and Anaheim Ducks. The Canucks will play their final home game against the Kings on April 14, but will wrap their season up in Alberta against the Edmonton Oilers. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

Canucks Officially Secure Best Odds At Picking First-Overall In 2026 NHL Draft

Canucks Prospect Nominated For 2026 Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy

How Quinn Hughes Has Performed Since The Canucks Traded Him To The Wild

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Collin Gillespie has etched his name in the Suns’ record books

Mar 31, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) shoots a three point basket against Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva (23) during the second half at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images | Mike Watters-Imagn Images

From undrafted to making franchise history, as the Phoenix Suns put it, there’s a new member in the Phoenix Suns record books, and it’s Collin Gillespie. Last night, the guard set the franchise record for most three-pointers made in a season, passing a 21-year record that was held by Quentin Richardson when he hit 226 threes in the 2004-2005 season.

Gillespie, 26, has been one of the main reasons the Suns have surpassed their preseason expectations. Starting the season off the bench, he’s started 57 games this year and leads the team in total minutes, and is having his best season in nearly every statistical category. Averaging three triples per game, shooting 41% from long range, he’s not only been efficient from behind the arc, but consistent. His second year on the team, the guard was resigned this offseason after a strong end to his 2024-2025 campaign. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Some of Gillespie’s best shooting games have come when Phoenix’s top scorer, Devin Booker, is out. On February 3rd against the Portland Trailblazers when he hit eight triples as a part of his 30-point, 10-assist double-double, joining Booker and Steve Nash as the only Suns’ to ever perform such a statistical performance with eight threes. When Booker went down early against the Los Angeles Lakers on December 1st, Gillespie had a stellar performance, going for 28 points and hitting eight triples in the process.

It’s been an overall strong and surprising season from the former Villanova guard, but he’s hit a bit of a cold stretch of late. In March, his points per game were the lowest they’ve been since before he was inserted into the starting lineup, and it was his least efficient month both from the field and three, shooting under 40% for both. In his first game of April, he shot 2/7 from the field, 29%. He’s had to deal with a change in his offensive role since Jalen Green and Devin Booker have been fully healthy and back in the lineup. The team has also dealt with a slew of injuries, including to starters Mark Williams and Dillon Brooks.

For the Suns to get out of the play-in tournament and give the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs some trouble in the first round, Gillespie is going to need to get his rhythm back, but for now, the focus is that he put himself in the Phoenix Suns record books. Gillespie has five more games this season to expand his lead as the Suns’ all-time leader in threes made in a season; he can give himself some cushion to make his record last.

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Where will the Battery Power Top 30 Braves Prospects open up the 2026 season?

TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 21, 2026: John Gil #93 of the Atlanta Braves throws the ball to first base to retire George Lombard Jr. of the New York Yankees during the second inning of a Spring Breakout game at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

Today is the day where Columbus and Augusta get their seasons underway, meaning all four levels of the Atlanta Braves system are now underway. With that in mind I decided to make this guide for following where our Top 30 prospects, and honorable mentions, will open the season.

Below you will find the players in order of their rankings in the Battery Power Top 30 Braves prospects, followed by where they will open the season as well as the positions you can expect them to play. At the bottom you can find a guide on which prospects are a part of which team.

  1. Cam Caminiti – A+ Rome, LH Starting Pitcher
  2. JR Ritchie – AAA Gwinnett, RH Starting Pitcher
  3. Didier Fuentes – AAA Gwinnett, RH Starting Pitcher. Note Fuentes also was a part of the Atlanta Opening Day roster, but was sent down to stretch out as a starter
  4. Owen Murphy – AA Columbus, RH Starting Pitcher
  5. Diego Tornes – Extended spring training. Tornes will likely open with the FCL club next month playing mostly center field.
  6. Tate Southisene – A Augusta, SS/2B/3B/CF
  7. Briggs McKenzie – Extended spring training. McKenzie will likely open as a starting pitcher with the FCL team when that season begins.
  8. Luke Sinnard – Extended spring training. Sinnard wasn’t included on any of the rosters, meaning he will start in Florida. He will likely move to Columbus, or possibly Rome, once he is ready.
  9. John Gil – A+ Rome, SS/3B/2B
  10. Alex Lodise – A Augusta, SS/2B/3B
  11. Jhancarlos Lara – AA Columbus, RH Reliever
  12. Garrett Baumann – AA Columbus, RH Starting Pitcher
  13. Luis Guanipa – A Augusta, CF/RF
  14. Conor Essenburg, A Augusta, RF/LF/1B
  15. Isaiah Drake – A+ Rome, CF/RF/LF
  16. Cody Miller – A+ Rome, SS/2B/3B
  17. Owen Carey – A+ Rome, CF/LF/RF
  18. Blake Burkhalter – Extended spring training. Burkhalter will likely move to Gwinnett shortly after his return and pitch in relief.
  19. Lucas Braun – AAA Gwinnett, RH Starting Pitcher
  20. Herick Hernandez – AA Columbus, LH Starting Pitcher
  21. Jose Perdomo – A Augusta, SS/3B/2B
  22. Rayven Antonio – TBD. Antonio is on the roster for Augusta on the website, where he spent all of last year. However he wasn’t named in any of the roster tweets for the four affiliates.
  23. Raudy Reyes – N/A. Reyes is out with Tommy John surgery according to his social media.
  24. Eric Hartman – A+ Rome, CF/LF/2B
  25. Ethan Bagwell – A Augusta, RH Starting Pitcher
  26. Dixon Williams – A+ Rome, 2B/3B
  27. Cade Kuehler – A+ Rome, RH Starting Pitcher
  28. Hayden Harris – AAA Gwinnett, LH Reliever
  29. Carter Holton – A Augusta, LH Starting Pitcher
  30. Drue Hackenberg – AA Columbus, RH Starting Pitcher

Honorable Mentions

  • Jeremy Reyes – A+ Rome, RH Starting Pitcher
  • Brett Sears – AA Columbus, RH Starting Pitcher
  • Juan Mateo – A Augusta, SS/3B/2B. Will open on the injured list
  • David McCabe – AA Columbus, 1B/3B/DH
  • Landon Beidelschies – A Augusta, LH Starting Pitcher

By Team

Triple-A Gwinnett

2.JR Ritchie

3.Didier Fuentes

19.Lucas Braun

28.Hayden Harris

Other Prospects of Note: Rolddy Munoz, Jim Jarvis

Double-A Columbus

4.Owen Murphy

11.Jhancarlos Lara

12.Garrett Baumann

20.Herick Hernandez

30.Drue Hackenberg

HM.Brett Sears

HM.David McCabe

Other Prospects of Note: Elison Joseph, Ambioris Tavarez, Patrick Clohisy

High-A Rome

1.Cam Caminiti

9.John Gil

15.Isaiah Drake

16.Cody Miller

17.Owen Carey

24.Eric Hartman

26.Dixon Williams

27.Cade Kuehler

HM.Jeremy Reyes

Other Prospects of Note: Cedric De Grandpre, Ian Mejia, Logan Braunschweig

Low-A Augusta

6.Tate Southisene

10.Alex Lodise

13.Luis Guanipa

14.Conor Essenburg

21.Jose Perdomo

25.Ethan Bagwell

29.Carter Holton

HM.Juan Mateo (IL)

HM.Landon Beidelschies

Other Prospects of Note: Cristobal Abreu, Luis Arestigueta, Davis Polo, Zach Royse, Nick Montgomery, Junior Garcia

Extended Spring Training

5.Diego Tornes

7.Briggs McKenzie

8.Luke Sinnard

18.Blake Burkhalter

22.Rayven Antonio

23.Raudy Reyes

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Royals Reacts Results – Lights out for the Royals opponents

Lucas Erceg is outlined on a darkened field by his name in a wall video board as he enters a game
Aug 20, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Lucas Erceg (60) enters the game during the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images | William Purnell-Imagn Images

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Kansas City Royals fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Earlier this week, Carlos Estévez went on the Injured List with a foot contusion. Until he returns, the Royals will need someone else to close games. So we asked who Royals fans would choose if they could have their druthers. The results were overwhelming in selecting one guy.

Royals Reacts results showing that fans overwhelmingly prefer Lucas Erceg be the Royals closer while Carlos Estévez is out

73% of respondents said they preferred that Lucas Erceg do all the closing for KC until Estévez gets his mojo back, and it seems like Matt Quatraro agrees with them. In three save opportunities since Estévez’s injury, Erceg has gotten the call twice. The third game went to John Schreiber, but only because Erceg had already pitched two games in a row.

Interestingly, fans were not at all high on once-and-now-again reliever Matt Strahm; he received only 4% of the vote, barely ahead of potential rookie Luinder Avila’s 3% – Avila is set to make his first major league start tonight, in any case.

One in five thought that a closer by committee would be the best option since the Royals have so many relievers on their roster with late-game experience. Closers by committee always seem like shaky endeavors to me, so I’m perfectly happy to just let Erceg handle things with Matt Strahm seeming to take over quasi-fireman duties, pitching in whatever situations late in the game. For example, pitching the seventh in yesterday’s game because that was when the heart of the Twins order was due up, hoping that the lower part of the lineup would be easier for Steven Cruz to handle. Obviously, it didn’t work out that way, but it made a lot of sense in the moment.

Now, what I’m curious about is whether everyone thinks Lights Out Lucas should just continue saving even when – or if – Estévez has his foot and mechanics fixed. Depending on how long he’s out and how well Erecg does, it could end up being a controversial decision either way.

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GameThread: Tigers vs. Cardinals, 1:10 p.m.

Apr 1, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Fans gather at the main entrance in a snow flurry before the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Indians on Opening Day at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-Imagn Images

Detroit Tigers (2-4) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (4-2)

Time/Place: 1:10 p.m., Comerica Park
SB Nation Site: Viva El Birdos
Media: Detroit Sportsnet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Pitching Matchup: LHP Framber Valdez (0-0, 1.50 ERA) vs. RHP Michael McGreevy (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

PlayerGIPK%BB%GB%FIPfWAR
Valdez16.020.04.047.42.000.2
McGreevy16.023.89.528.62.500.2

Lineups

CARDINALSTIGERS
Masyn Winn – SSKevin McGonigle – 3B
Ivan Herrera – CGleyber Torres – DH
Alec Burleson – 1BKerry Carpenter – RF
Ramon Urias – 3BRiley Greene – LF
Jordan Walker – RFDillon Dingler – C
Yohel Pozo – DHZach McKinstry – 2B
Thomas Saggese – 2BSpencer Torkelson – 1B
Jose Fermin – LFParker Meadows – CF
Victor Scott – CFJavier Baez – SS

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Game Discussion for St. Louis Cardinals vs Detroit Tigers

Mar 28, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael McGreevy (36) pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays during the sixth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

The St. Louis Cardinals begin their first road series of the season as they take on the Detroit Tigers for their home opener in Comerica Park. According to MLB.com, Michael McGreevy will make his second start for the Cardinals after his epic effort against the Tampa Bay Rays where he held them hitless through 6 innings. Framber Valdez is expected to the Friday’s starter for the Tigers. Game time is set for 12:10pm. Note that Masyn Winn is in the lineup today after the car accident after Wednesday’s walk-off victory.

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Purple Row Community Intros

DENVER, CO - JULY 4: A detail of the purple row of seats as the Colorado Rockies participate in Major League Baseball Summer Workouts at Coors Field on July 4, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Happy Home Opener, everyone!

The Rockies had a lot of turnover this offseason and we needed to get to know the new coaching staff. As it turns out, Purple Row also had some turnover with Mac Wilcox headed off to do other projects, but we’re also pleased to welcome Cory Cohen, Zeke Perez Jr., and James Riggenbach to the staff!

So in the spirit of introductions, we wanted to introduce ourselves to you — or reintroduce in some cases since we recognize (and appreciate!) that some of the Purple Row community have had a long-term commitment to the site.

And in addition, we’d like to invite you to introduce yourselves, too, by copying and pasting the questions below and answering them in the comments:

Name:

Location:

On Twitter or BlueSky, I am:

How I became a Rockies fan:

Favorite Current Rockies:

Favorite All-Time Rockie:

Favorite Non-Rockie:

Favorite Rockies Prospect:

Metaphysical Position on the Diamond:

Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit:

Favorite Baseball Movie:

What was the best thing about your past year:

When Not Rowing, I:

Baseball Card Back Fun Fact:

Walkup Music:

Name: Sam Bradfield

Location: Phoenix, AZ

On Twitter or BlueSky, I am: @sammieb27.bsky.social

How I became a Rockies fan: Rocktober was during my freshman year of high school, so I became glued to every inning during that magical run! When I went off to college in Arizona a few years later, I took my love of the team with me (wearing Rockies gear is always a conversation starter). I took a few years off to watch other sports, and some life happened, but when I discovered the Arizona Fall League in 2016, it reignited my passion for baseball and the Rockies were the obvious choice to root for as my hometown team. And then I applied for Purple Row a year later and the rest, as they say, is history!

Favorite Current Rockie: I have a lot of guys I really like, but I think my favorite right now is Ryan Feltner. He’s been through a lot, and he and I always have good conversations about baseball and art.

Favorite All-Time Rockie: Troy Tulowitzki — he was my first favorite Rockie in the World Series run and I haven’t let go of that since. I’m so bummed that his career didn’t pan out the way folks thought it would.

Favorite Non-Rockie: Ryan McMahon — I know he’s a former Rockie, but he and I “debuted” right around the same time (him in Aug. 2017 and me in Dec. 2017) so he has a special place in my heart. He was the first Rockies prospect I started following after meeting him in the AFL, and was also my first Purple Row interview in 2018. If we’re talking about guys who never played on the team, I really like David Peralta. He always seemed like such a stand-up guy as well as a good baseball player, and I loved watching him play for the Diamondbacks.

Favorite Rockies Prospect: I’m really excited for Charlie Condon. I think he has a ton of potential to do some damage and be good in this league for a long time.

Metaphysical Position on the Diamond: Probably one of the corner outfield spots — I’m more of an introverted extrovert, so I’m happy to both be part of the action and also let others have their moments.

Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit: I’ve heard excellent things about PNC Park, so I’m excited to check it out!

Favorite Baseball Movie:A League of Their Own, hands down

What was the best thing about your past year: Moving back to the Phoenix area from LA — sure, I grew up in Colorado and still love the state, but Phoenix is really where I call home (plus I’m happy to be out of Dodgers country!).

When Not Rowing, I: Work as an Academic Advisor for first-year students studying English and Communications, and previously advised for students studying Theatre. In my free time, I hang out with my cat Simon, play piano in my living room, and love watching TV shows (I’m currently watching Shrinking, the Scrubs revival, The Americans and The Pitt) and the Phoenix Suns.

Baseball Card Back Fun Fact: Usually writing for Purple Row is my “fun fact” but I guess in this case, I was a music major in college and never played a sport beyond eighth grade rec league volleyball. Most of my sports knowledge is self-taught because I was in marching band and wanted to know what was happening on the field/court.

Walkup Music: Ok, I’m going to be weird and say Test Drive from How to Train Your Dragon. I know it doesn’t have words or anything, but this score just pumps me up:

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Now you’re blowing smoke, I think you’re one big joke: Phillies vs. Rockies series preview

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 28: Ezequiel Tovar #14 of the Colorado Rockies throws the ball to first base for an out against the Miami Marlins in the fifth inning of the game at loanDepot park on March 28, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Phillies’ ninth inning comeback and extra inning win on Wednesday afternoon shifted the narrative of the early season. While a 3-3 homestand is a disappointment, it feels so much better than 2-4.

The Phillies will now head on the road for the first time all season as they visit Coors Field, a stadium that has largely vexed them over the years. However, most of that vexing came when the Rockies were a quality – or even halfway competent – baseball team. The 2025 Rockies were about as far from quality as a team could get, and perhaps not coincidentally, the Phillies did much better when they visited Coors last year.

And from the looks of things, the Rockies of 2026 are not much better than the 2025 edition.

Colorado Rockies

Record: 2-4, Fourth place in National League West (2 games back)

The last time they met

As mentioned, the Phillies used to seem to save some of their worst games for Coors Field, but that didn’t matter when facing a team as uncompetitive as the 2025 Rockies were. The Phillies visited Colorado for four games in May 2025, and won all four, finishing off a 7-0 season sweep of the Rockies.

The finale was a 2-0 win, closed out in dominating fashion by Jordan Romano, during that split second when it looked like he might be getting his act together. (I’m serious, Romano really did have a good stretch last year.)

What’s the deal with the Rockies?

They’ll likely be better than they were last year, but aside from clearing that exceptionally low bar, the Rockies aren’t expected to be very good this season. They didn’t bring in a lot of free agents expected to make much of an impact and are hoping that some of their younger players can develop.

As far as the actual talent on hand, Hunter Goodman might be the best catcher in the National League, and WBC hero Ezequiel Tovar looked like a burgeoning star in 2024 before injuries cost him almost half the season last year.

The pitching situation is dire, with Kyle Freeland and Michael Lorenzen being the team’s best starters. They added a reliable veteran in Joe Quintana in the offseason, but he was recently placed on the Injured List and will miss this series.

Featured Rockies player: Kyle Karros

Justin Crawford will face off against another young second-generation player this weekend. Second year third baseman Kyle Karros is the son of former Rookie of the Year Eric Karros.

After being drafted in 2023, Karros rose rapidly through the Rockies system, making his major league debut in 2025.

Karros is regarded as a plus defender at third base but didn’t wow anybody with his bat in his rookie season, putting up a .585 OPS in 43 games. He’s fared even worse in 2026, going 4-19 with just one extra base hit. The Rockies first six games have been on the road, so it’s possible that playing in Coors Field could help his numbers. However, he had a higher OPS on the road in 2025.

The one good thing about a rebuilding team is that they can have plenty of patience with their young players. If Crawford were to struggle as the year progresses, the Phillies might start looking at trade candidates for the stretch run.

Remembering a guy who used to play for the Rockies

David Nied was the Rockies’ first pick in the 1992 expansion draft. At the time, it wasn’t clear what effect the thin Denver air would have on pitchers, so the Rockies were trying to stockpile power arms. Taking a top 50 prospect from an elite Atlanta Braves farm system seemed like a decent proposition.

Nied joined the Rockies in 1993 and didn’t immediately excel with a 5.17 ERA in 16 starts. He showed some improvement the following season, but injuries soon took their toll. He pitched in just eight games over the next two seasons, and his career was essentially over.

What about the Phillies?

It’s been a strange first six games for the Phillies. They’ve looked very bad for stretches and have gotten some bad luck (The Nationals certainly found grass on a lot of balls put in play). On the other hand, they’ve already had two ninth inning comebacks, and the rookies have been impressive.

What can we conclude from this?

Pretty much nothing. It’s been six games!

Pennant year song battle

Everybody Wants You by Billy Squier knocked off Here We Are Again.

The next challenger as suggested by CarterAndCo is:

My Sister, Julianna Hatfield, 1993

The song is supposedly partly about existential longing. And isn’t that what being a sports fan basically is?

Closing thought

You’d think a series in Colorado against an unimpressive Rockies team would be just the thing to get the Phillies’ offense going consistently. But just because they should hit doesn’t mean they will. Late game comebacks are fun and all but getting off to an early lead can also be fun, and the Phillies should try doing it more often.

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Highlights: Spurs guard trio combine for 61 points in win over Clippers

Apr 2, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) drives the ball while under pressure from Los Angeles Clippers forward John Collins (20) during the second half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images | William Liang-Imagn Images

Coming off a victory against the Golden State Warriors, the Spurs traveled to the Intuit Dome to take on the Los Angeles Clippers. Victor Wembanyama missed this game due to ankle injury management. Without Wemby, the Spurs went back and forth with the Clippers in the first quarter. After leading by eight, the Spurs outscored the Clippers in the second, 35-19, to give themselves a 24-point cushion heading into halftime. The Spurs’ cushion was provided by lockdown defense and hot shooting. In the third, the shooting went ice cold. The Spurs shot 1-9 from three, and were outscored by LA, 34-19. In the fourth quarter, the Clippers cut the deficit to seven. However, thanks to big shots from Stephon Castle, De’Aaron Fox, and Dylan Harper, the Spurs’ lead ballooned to as much as 23. The Spurs ultimately won 118-99.

De’Aaron Fox led the way with 22 points (9-13 FG), eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Fox was super efficient from the field and was active in the passing lanes. His steals were comprised of pickpockets, interceptions, and deflections. His points really painted the picture in the fourth quarter. Come playoff time, expect more of this stat line, where the team will need him the most.

BUZZER-BEATER! Fox finds an open Harrison Barnes at the last second for the buzzer-beating three to end the first quarter!

Guard your pockets! Fox pickpockets Kris Dunn and speeds past everyone for a wide-open lane for a jam!

Stephon Castle dropped 20 points (8-15 FG, 3-5 3PT), five assists, and four rebounds. Steph created offense with a mix of tough and-one finishes, dunks, middies, and threes. Despite having five turnovers, he dropped clutch buckets with Fox in the fourth. He drained a corner three, converted an and-one, and had himself a dunk contest. He also had the assignment of guarding Kawhi Leonard, which was not an easy task. Look for Steph to draw the toughest defensive assignment come playoff time.

WHITE CASTLE! Steph finds Luke Kornet on the alley-oop connection early in the first!

Sniping from the Castle! Steph catches and knocks down the open three from the top of the key!

Catch and Shoot + Corner Specialist badges activated! Steph gives the Spurs extra cushion by draining the corner three early in the fourth!

GET BIG! Steph drives in on Darius Garland and muscles through for an and-one finish!

DETONATED! Luke finds a cutting Steph for an open lane, which results in a ferocious slam!

Dylan Harper dropped 19 points (8-12 FG, 2-3 3PT), five assists, two rebounds, and a steal. Dyl’s dribble and finishing moves are so polished for a rookie. He made every spin and every finish look easy. He also drained a pair of threes. He earned extra playing time in the fourth due to his play, and it paid off in a big way. He slashed his way to the cup and found open shooters to clinch the game. While he’s earned an All-Rookie selection, there might be a chance he sneaks onto the first team.

Put him in a blender! Dyl goes to work on Nicolas Batum with a crossover spin move for the layup!

WHAT CAN’T HE DO? Dyl catches and drains a running shot from half court to beat the second quarter buzzer!

FLIGHT #2 CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF! Dyl drives past John Collins with a crossover and explodes for a two-handed slam!

DAGGER! Dyl finds an open Keldon Johnson in the corner for the game-clinching three!

Without their best player, the Spurs made this a statement game. Wemby might be an MVP candidate, but this team has loads of talent. For example, the guard trio of Castle, Fox, and Harper showed up and showed out. Every time the ball was in either of their hands, points were going to be generated. The guard play combined with cutters and shooters is already deadly. Just add the 7’5” alien to destroy a team’s defense. The Spurs face a real test this Saturday against a contending Denver squad.

Finally, here are the full game highlights.

The Spurs end their three-game road trip this Saturday when they travel to Ball Arena to take on the Denver Nuggets at 2:00 P.M. (CST) on Prime Video/FDSN-SW.

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Dodgers at Nationals game I chat

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Alex Freeland #76 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on before the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Dodger Stadium on March 30, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Dodgers’ first road game of the season is the Washington Nationals’ home opener.

Friday game info
  • Teams: Dodgers at Nationals
  • Ballpark: Nationals Park, Washington D.C.
  • Time: 10:05 a.m. PT
  • TV: SportsNet LA
  • Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)

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Championship roundup: Coventry edge past Derby to close in on promotion

  • Wrexham rally against West Brom to boost playoff push

  • Leicester earn precious point against Preston

Jack Rudoni came off the bench to score twice as Championship leaders Coventry moved 11 points clear of second-placed Millwall with a 3-2 victory against Derby.

The midfielder had been out of action since 28 February but returned to devastating effect as Coventry made it eight wins in nine league outings.

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Bulls vs Knicks Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

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The New York Knicks will try to find some consistency ahead of the playoffs as they host the Chicago Bulls on Friday night.

New York is beating bad teams but failing to cover, and I’m taking Chicago with the points tonight in my Bulls vs. Knicks predictions.

Let’s break down this matchup and see all my free NBA picks for Friday, April 3.

Bulls vs Knicks prediction

Bulls vs Knicks best bet: Bulls +15.5 (-110)

The Chicago Bulls may have watched their season go down the drain in recent weeks, but there have been moments when they’ve been able to come through for bettors.

Specifically, they’ve done a good job when they’ve been given a boatload of points, covering in five straight games in which they’ve been underdogs by nine points or more.

Meanwhile, the New York Knicks are dealing with their own struggles as they look towards the playoffs.

New York has now lost three of its last four outright, and while it continues to score wins against bad teams – the Knicks have won 10 straight games against opponents with losing records – that’s only masking the team’s struggles.

Along with having issues getting wins against quality opposition, the Knicks have now failed to cover in any of their last five games and are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 overall. They’re just 2-6 ATS in their last eight games as a favorite.

While not as dramatic as some other patches of shaky defense, New York has allowed 114.0 ppg over its last six games, well up from the season average of 110.6 ppg.

And it’s still not clear exactly how Karl-Anthony Towns best fits into the offensive system alongside Jalen Brunson, with the Knicks putting up 103 points or less in four of their last seven games.

New York should win tonight – it’s what they do against weaker teams – but there’s no way to have any confidence in a blowout. I’m taking the Bulls to cover the massive spread on offer here.

Bulls vs Knicks same-game parlay

Along with taking the Bulls to cover, I’m also going to target the Over tonight. Chicago has hit the Over in five of its last six games and has played to a total of Over 237.5 points in each of their last six games.

In what should be a high-scoring affair, I also like Tre Jones to hit his points total. The Chicago guard has now scored 15+ points in seven straight games and should continue to get high usage for the Bulls for the rest of the regular season.

Bulls vs Knicks SGP

  • Bulls +14.5
  • Over 237.5
  • Tre Jones Over 14.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Bulls ball out

For a longshot SGP, let’s roll with Josh Giddey to pick up a triple-double tonight. He’s coming off a March where he put up six triple-doubles and came within 0.6 rebounds per game of averaging one for the month.

I’ll also take Tre Jones to hit the Over on his PRA total, as he’s put up 24+ PRA in six of his last seven games. I’m also taking Matas Buzelis to hit Over 2.5 threes tonight, something he’s done in four of his last six games.

Bulls vs Knicks SGP

  • Josh Giddey triple-double
  • Tre Jones Over 22.5 points + rebounds + assists
  • Matas Buzelis Over 2.5 threes made

Bulls vs Knicks odds

  • Spread: Chicago +14 (-110) | New York -14 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Chicago +650 | New York -1000
  • Over/Under: Over 237.5 (-110) | Under 237.5 (-110)

Bulls vs Knicks betting trend to know

The Bulls are 3-0 ATS in their last three games as double-digit underdogs. Find more NBA betting trends for Bulls vs. Knicks.

How to watch Bulls vs Knicks

LocationMadison Sqaure Garden, New York, NY
DateFriday, April 3, 2026
Tip-off7:30 p.m. ET
TVCHSN, MSG

Bulls vs Knicks latest injuries

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NHL Playoff Race: What the Penguins need to do

ELMONT, NEW YORK - MARCH 30: Anders Lee #27 of the New York Islanders checks Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at UBS Arena on March 30, 2026 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Penguins lost to Tampa last night but still remain incredibly well-positioned to secure a playoff spot this season.

Here’s the relevant standings for them as of now.

While there could be other avenues with a Wild Card spot, for now we’ll keep it simple on the most straight-forward path available to Pittsburgh: finishing in the top-3 of the Metropolitan Division.

To ensure that, the Penguins simply must not be surpassed by two of: the New York Islanders, Columbus Blue Jackets, Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals. Regulation wins is the first tiebreaker if a team ends up with the same number of points, and that’s good news for the Pens since their 31 RW is unlikely to be overtaken by anyone they’re in competition with (the Caps have a case, but being seven points back with six games to go it’s highly unlikely they will be able to pull into a tie with Pittsburgh).

Since Carolina is 10 points ahead of the Pens, the realistic best case scenario for Pittsburgh is the second spot in the Metro, which easily enough accomplished by keeping all the teams currently behind them that way at the end of the season.

Here’s a breakdown for that:

First glance might look scary, but the maximum totals are not going to be anyone’s final outcome, and shifting down all the time. The Islanders and Flyers play each other tonight, if that games ends in regulation then someone’s max is being reduced by two points (if it ends in OT, it goes down by one for the losing side). A team like the Caps had a max of 99 yesterday before their loss to New Jersey, same story for Columbus who had their max reduced from 102 to 100 as a result of losing last night to Carolina.

Cut and dry, as of now, a good base-line magic number for the Pens’ is 8. Any combination of eight points earned by PIT or lost by Columbus and Philadelphia is going to lock up a Pittsburgh playoff spot. To secure second place, the magic number is 9 and focus shifts to the Islanders. In that regard, and in a hard-and-fast outlook, if the Pens win four of their last six games then they don’t even need any outside help and will sew things up all by themselves.

What could that mean? Let’s look at the remaining schedules for the remaining teams in the hunt and even forecast their paths in a somewhat conservative way.

(Green represents projected, hypothetical wins, yellow for an OT/SO loss and white for a regulation loss)

Games have been impossible to predict ahead of time, a team like NYI lost to Chicago and defeated Dallas last week, most would have figured those results being reversed. We’ll split the middle and more or less project 3-2-1 records for everyone, a little above average but nothing extreme. This could be generous considering teams like NYI (3-5-0 in last eight) and CBJ (1-5-1 in their last seven) aren’t exactly setting the world on fire. Could a team like Philadelphia out-perform their projection? Absolutely. Even so, tack a couple more points on and — barring a team going on a ridiculous run — the projected totals seem pretty realistic and viable as a base that likely could have a tolerance of 1 or 2 points in either direction.

This kind of outlook shows how strongly the Pens’ position is. They would need two wins in their last six games to get to 96 points and likely clinch second place if the teams behind them have a semi-realistic finish. If something zany happens – like NYI wins Game 82 vs Carolina because the Hurricanes bench their star players — then that simply becomes Pittsburgh needing three wins to secure second place and home ice advantage.

Who should Penguin fans root for, aside from the obvious for NYI, CBJ and PHI to lose as much as possible in regulation? Game-by-game you can go above for that. Hold your nose, but if the main focus is on second place you’d want the Flyers to win tonight in regulation against the Islanders and then definitely lose their next game against Boston. If the results are reversed and NYI beats the Flyers tonight, the good news for the Pens is that helps the cause for Pittsburgh’s overall playoff number. There’s some bittersweetness and dual feelings on either end of the result, more than anything the preference would be for NYI/PHI to simply not end up going to overtime.

Generally speaking, you’d also like for Atlantic Division teams like Buffalo, Montreal, Detroit and Boston to do well in their multiple games remaining against the Metropolitan Division. Toronto could also play spoiler, though count on that at your own risk. Carolina could also do Pittsburgh a solid by taking care of business in their three games against NYI and PHI. The Winnipeg Jets are out there too with games against CBJ and PHI, the Jets could perform a service with some wins there to bring further momentum out of those two would-be contenders.

The good news is the math is very much in the Penguins’ favor. If they get even 4, 5 or 6 points in the remaining six games to play then they will be in very good shape to make the playoffs. If they play above .500% down the stretch and gain 7+ points, which isn’t a huge ask, the likelihood of securing the Metro2 playoff spot becomes all but elementary.

Unexpected outcomes can happen — that’s why they play the games to find out who actually wins them — but the current positioning of being up 3-4 points on their opponents (while holding the first tiebreaker) with only six games to go represents a huge edge for Pittsburgh right now. More than anything at this point, for the Pens it’s not about the desperation of going on a big run at the end of the year so much as playing well and being prepared to hit the postseason in good form and with momentum.