San Diego Padres Fernando Tatis Jr.(Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images) | Getty Images
San Diego Padres Fernando Tatis Jr. is exiting the first month of the 2026 season with a disappointing .250/.333/.290 line, zero HR, 12 RBI, and 0.0 WAR. A very strange start for a player with a career WAR of 27.2. Nevertheless, not an area of concern, but certainly a step back in run production.
Tatis Jr. is an elite defender with two Gold Gloves and two Platinum Gloves for his effort. However, for a player to be a Most Valuable Player candidate, the honor is closely tied to an outstanding offensive season. Unfortunately, Tatis Jr.’s output is nothing to write home about.
Tatis Jr. has become a more patient hitter
Granted, we are still in April, but the Friar Faithful want to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The star outfielder seems to be willing to take pitches and be more patient at the plate. Tatis Jr. did not overhaul his swing mechanics but has concentrated on putting more of the bat’s barrel on the ball.
The adjustment has drawn 13 walks in 27 games, which could challenge his career-high 89 BB last season. His walk rate is at 10% for the first month, as he is swinging less and is more willing to take a walk that puts a runner on base for the heart of the batting order.
The lone negative to his start, Tatis Jr. is still striking out at an alarming rate with runners in scoring position. Currently, his walk-to-strikeout rate is nearly 1-2.5, with Tatis Jr.’s strikeout rate at 24.6%. It has led to some missed scoring opportunities, as he has been having trouble putting the ball in the air.
To become a better run-producer, Tatis Jr. must drive the ball
Tatis Jr. has an 18.7% fly ball rate, which is the lowest of his seven-year major league career. Surprisingly, he is hitting a career-high 49.3% groundball rate in 100 at-bats. This combination likely explains his 27-game homerless streak.
Let’s not get too restless, as the newfound plate discipline will result in better quality contact at-bats. The three-time All-Star’s OPS (.623) is decent, but nowhere near his career average of .859. Tatis Jr.’s best mark was .975 in 2021. He wants to put himself into favorable count situations. But Tatis Jr. is failing to lift the ball for extra base hits.
Despite the slow offensive production, Tatis Jr. is too talented a home run hitter to remain silent much longer. If he goes on a mini spree, his walk rate will likely decline.
He is scorching the ball when making solid contact, but it is right at the waiting glove of a fielder. Tatis Jr. is sporting a robust 66.7% hard-hit rate, well above the league average of 38.6%. He has an exit velocity of 93.3 mph this month. Tatis Jr. is trying to use the whole field and not pull every pitch. Still, you would expect better production than the results have shown.
His newfound plate discipline should provide more hittable situations. At some point, Tatis Jr. will do damage against opposing pitching.
The Vegas Golden Knights are looking to bounce back after falling behind 2-1 in their series against the Utah Mammoth. They’ll get their chance in Game 4 on Monday at the Delta Center.
Game 3 was last on Friday at the Delta Center. The Golden Knights started strong, outshooting the Mammoth 12-2 through the first 12 minutes. However, the Mammoth made the most of their limited scoring chances and jumped out to a crushing 4-0 lead in the second period. The Golden Knights pushed, but couldn’t mount a comeback and lost 4-2.
Puck drop for Game 4 is scheduled for 6:50 p.m. PST.
Carter Hart will start in goal for the Golden Knights. Hart has a 1-2 record and a .892 average save percentage in three games this postseason.
Karel Vejmelka will start in goal for the Mammoth. Vejmelka has a 2-1 record and a .916 average save percentage in three games this postseason.
Golden Knights Lines
Ivan Barbashev — Jack Eichel — Pavel Dorofeyev
Reilly Smith — Mitch Marner — Mark Stone
Brett Howden — Tomáš Hertl — Keegan Kolesar
Cole Smith — Nic Dowd — Colton Sissons
Defense
Brayden McNabb — Shea Theodore
Noah Hanifin — Rasmus Andersson
Jeremy Lauzon — Kaedan Korczak
Goaltenders: Carter Hart / Adin Hill
Mammoth Lines
Clayton Keller — Nick Schmaltz — Lawson Crouse
Kailer Yamamoto — Logan Cooley — Dylan Guenther
JJ Peterka — Alex Kerfoot — Michael Carcone
Liam O’Brien — Kevin Stenlund — Brandon Tanev
Defense
Mikhail Sergachev — MacKenzie Weegar
Nate Schmidt — John Marino
Ian Cole — Sean Durzi
Goaltenders: Karel Vejmelka / Vitek Vaněček
Special Teams
VGK power play: 22.2%, 5th
VGK penalty kill: 83.3%, 8th
Mammoth power play: 16.7%, 9th
Mammoth penalty kill: 77.8%, 12th
Game Notes
Tonight’s game could very well decide the fate of the Golden Knights’ season. Historically, teams that go up 3-1 go on to win the series 91.0% of the time.
The Golden Knights are 10-8in Game 4s in franchise history.
With an assist in Game 3, Mark Stone recorded his 75th playoff point (38-37-75) with the Golden Knights. He’s tied with Jonathan Marchessault for the most in franchise history.
After going 0-fer their last five power play opportunities, the Golden Knights are changing up their units.
Apr 23, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies designated hitter Edouard Julien (6) hits and RBI single in the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
While a clear feature of the 2026 Rockies is Warren Schaeffer changing up lineups depending on the opposing pitcher and analytics, one trend is emerging as a fairly regular trend: Edouard Julien in the leadoff spot.
Julien has hit in the No. 1 spot in 17 of the Rockies 29 games with all of them coming in the last 20. Jake McCarthy served as the leadoff hitter for the first five games of the season, Troy Johnston has done it three times, Tyler Freeman has done it twice and Jordan Beck and Mickey Moniak have each hit No. 1 once.
Overall, Julien is hitting .284/.369/.392 with 12 runs scored, 10 RBI, three doubles, one homer, 10 walks, 21 strikeouts and two stolen bases in 74 at-bats over 25 games. His .369 OBP is the second-best on the team for players with at least 40 at-bats.
Julien’s numbers are even better as the leadoff hitter. He’s hitting .317/.403/.429 with 20 hits, 10 RBI, one homer, two doubles, nine walks and 15 strikeouts in 63 at-bats. His production, along with patient at-bats, which are pretty rare for the Rockies, has made him the clear choice for the Rockies No. 1 hitter.
In spring training, Julien explained that he knows who he is as a hitter and takes pride in having long at-bats and not chasing.
In the first five games of the season, McCarthy had a .158 OBP as the leadoff hitter. The lack of production likely cost him the spot and relegated him to the bench. Johnston and Moniak have proved to be outstanding regardless of their place in the lineup. Unfortunately, Beck is off to a slow start in 2026 and is not getting as much time either.
Freeman was the Rockies most frequent leadoff hitter last year with 72 games in the role. Freeman is a solid choice for his low strikeout rate of 13.5% compared to the MLB average of 22.5%. A true utilityman, he’s hit in every spot in the lineup in his career and the No. 1 spot accounts for the most at the 10.3% of his games. He’s hit .260/.336/.332 with 47 runs, 30 RBI, 22 doubles, one homer, 16 stolen bases, 33 walks and 53 strikeouts in 377 at-bats over 101 games.
Freeman has struggled with some minor health issues to start the season. He started the season on the 10-day IL with lower back inflammation and tightness and was also pulled from the April 20 game with dizziness. Bloodwork came back fine, but playing in only 16 games this far, his vacancy may have opened up a spot for Julien.
Julien, who is in his fourth MLB season and first with the Rockies, is no stranger to the leadoff role. He played the majority of his time there in his first two of three seasons with Minnesota. Including his time with the Rockies, he’s now spent 43.8% of his career as a leadoff man. In his career, he’s hitting .214/.322/.356 with 72 runs scored, 41 RBI, 17 doubles, 15 homers, eight stolen bases and 72 walks with 165 strikeouts in the role in 449 at-bats in 128 games.
After a strong series against the Dodgers, Julien explained his philosophy of putting together quality at-bats.
At least for the foreseeable future, the leadoff spot appears to be Julien’s. With the Rockies off to a 13-16 start, and Colorado going 9-8 with Julien hitting first, it should be.
Do I think the Philadelphia 76ers can stave off elimination? Not really. But I do see the 11.5-point spread as something they can manage? Yeah.
With Joel Embiid shaking off the rust, he can help the 76ers fight the Boston Celtics off the offensive glass, which will cut down on second-chance points that buried them in Game 4.
Embiid returning to form also gives Philly an inside-out attack that was sorely lacking with Adem Bona and Andre Drummond down low.
Speaking of the big man, he grabbed 10 rebounds on 21 rebounding chances in his Game 4 return. With the Sixers putting in an extra effort to box out Boston, I like Philadelphia center to snatch up nine or more rebounds, and so do game projections.
Paul George has taken a step back in this offense, especially with Embiid returning. He does still pose a threat from distance, and with Embiid packing the paint, PG finds extra space on his 3-pointers. He’s hit at least three triples in each of the past two games.
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HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 19: Houston Astros manager Joe Espada (19) watches play from the home dugout during the MLB game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Houston Astros on April 19, 2026 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The latest news on the Houston Astros and from around MLB:
Astros GM Dana Brown says Manager Joe Espada is NOT in jeopardy of losing his job:
From his suite overlooking Daikin Park, Astros GM Dana Brown backed manager Joe Espada on Sunday morning amid the team's 11-18 start.
"I can’t start pointing the finger at Joe because we’re walking a ton of guys and we’re banged up.” – https://t.co/OTydlzDEsp
Chandler Rome on where he sees fault lying with the Astros current state and slow start on the Gallant Says podcast with Sportsradio 610’s Paul Gallant:
Tyler Stafford also doesn’t think Espada is to blame for the Astros early season woes – from the Crush City Territory podcast he hosts with Chandler Rome:
"This isn't a team that's just given up and is going through the motions."@tylercstafford doesn't believe Joe Espada can be pointed to as the issue for the Astros, but could a move still be made? pic.twitter.com/aFaVdezxTe
Rome also questions if Brown has the authority to fore Espada if he wanted to (and that he currently does NOT want to) on his Crush City Territory podcast:
"I am not sure that Dana Brown has the autonomous authority to [fire Joe Espada] if he wanted to. It doesn't sound like he wants to."@Chandler_Rome breaks down the power dynamics within the Astros organization right now. pic.twitter.com/CZ0ArKjgU7
Spencer Arrighetti didn’t make the Opening Day roster, but was always expected to be the 6th starter. Things haven’t gone according to play for the Astros, but Arrighetti is currently their best healthy starter:
Spencer Arrighetti went seven innings today against the Yankees, tying Lance McCullers Jr. (March 30) for the longest start by a Houston pitcher this year.
He gave up three hits, one run (a HR by Judge) and struck out eight batters to lower his ERA to 2.00 in 18 innings.
After a slow start to the season, Isaac Paredes is finding his groove. Over his last 7 games, he has raised his AVG from .186 to .233, SLG from .254 to .384, OPS from .569 to .710. In that span he is 9×27, 3 HR, 8 RBI:
Is Imai getting more comfortable in Houston, in America?
New for @CrawfishBoxes: The Astros expect Tatsuya Imai to begin a rehab assignment in Corpus Christi on Tuesday, and Joe Espada believes Imai is getting more comfortable with the Astros https://t.co/1xeiy05XFC
SP Cody Bolton made his first rehab start at Sugar Land Sunday. He pitched 2 innings, allowed 1 run on 2 hits and a walk. He threw 20 pitches, including 13 for strikes:
ANOTHER REHAB ALERT ‼️
RHP Cody Bolton is scheduled to make a rehab appearance with the Space Cowboys today! Subject to change without notice.
Chandler Rome with an interesting take on the internet-based rumors of the Astros potentially dealing Yordan Alvarez on the Gallant Says podcast with Sportsradio 610’s Paul Gallant:
I had to ask Chandler Rome about the ragebait Astros trade q that got wayyy too much traction this month.
When Carlos Correa returned to Houston at the trade deadline last season, he was excited about the opportunity to play 3B and how it would take stress off his body no longer being an everyday SS. Due to multiple injuries to SS Jeremy Pena, Correa has had to primarily play SS. He’s been pretty good his first full season back in Houston:
Is this Astros team just not built to withstand injuries? Chandler Rome on the Crush City Territory Podcast:
"Other teams in baseball are just more equipped to deal with injuries than the Astros currently are."@Chandler_Rome says the series against the Yankees showcased one of Houston's biggest flaws. pic.twitter.com/1EPUMd4aEA
The Boston Red Sox fired Alex Cora and a bunch of his coaches over the weekend in what looks like a power play by Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow. Players are perturbed, media is perplexed, management is not on the same page and the owner is silent, as usual:
Trevor Story is not happy with the decisions and says he wants to clear the air with Craig Breslow today. Says “some of the best coaches in the world didn’t get a fair shot.”
Pretty weird to see Craig Breslow paint the decision to fire Alex Cora as a joint decision, before Sam Kennedy makes it very clear this move was led by Breslow. pic.twitter.com/BhvwjLsZax
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) April 26, 2026
From @spencernusbaum_: Irate Red Sox players blast front office’s purge of Alex Cora and coaches
“If this shows us anything,” Trevor Story said, “it’s we’re here to play baseball, and that’s it. We don’t make decisions. We don’t have any input on that.”https://t.co/xr9CvQ906U
By not allowing players to ask questions after firing Alex Cora, Red Sox higher-ups exemplified an ongoing lack of feel, says @Ken_Rosenthal.
"This is a lack of respect for your players, and in Henry's case, not addressing anything is a lack of respect for your fans." pic.twitter.com/OuDg5x8jEf
#MLBCentral reacts to the state of the Red Sox after parting ways with Alex Cora and 5 members of the coaching staff this past weekend. pic.twitter.com/k6oFmY18mD
Red Sox SP Garrett Crochet has had how many managers now?
Garrett Crochet noted that this is the seventh season in which he has been in the majors. And Chad Tracy is his seventh manager. https://t.co/ql84zJktqx
Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer are the two oldest active players in MLB. They are both now on the IL after tough starts to the season:
Max Scherzer lands on the IL with forearm and ankle injuries. He's one strikeout away from 3500, but he's posted a 9.64 ERA in five starts this season pic.twitter.com/8CDGRVVbKu
In a tie game in the 9th, umpire John Bacon called a strike to Rob Refsnyder that missed outside by 2.71 inches. Then, he tried to call him out on a pitch that missed by 5.97 inches.
This was the largest miss on a called strikeout this season.
Former Phillies closer Ricky Bottalico lets loose on the team in it’s own postgame show:
"The hitting is atrocious. The starting pitching is worse. And the bullpen is just all over the place… You want me to come on here and be positive and tell you everything's gonna be fine?…"
Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar wreaked havoc as defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru skittled out Delhi Capitals for 75 before romping to a nine-wicket victory in the IPL on Monday.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 11: Jack Leiter #22 of the Texas Rangers in action against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on April 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for April 27, 2026 against the New York Yankees: starting pitchers are Jack Leiter for the Rangers and Max Fried for the Yankees.
The Rangers take on the Yankees in a game that will determine whether the Rangers will be above or below .500 tomorrow.
The lineup:
Nimmo — RF
Jung — 3B
Seager — SS
Burger — 1B
McCutchen — DH
Higashioka — C
Haggerty — LF
Carter — CF
Duran — 2B
7:05 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are +140 underdogs.
DETROIT, MI - MARCH 23: Adou Thiero #1 and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers high five before the game against the Detroit Pistons on March 23, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On a night where there were some ridiculous refereeing decisions, perhaps the most inexplicable in Game 4 between the Lakers and Rockets came at the end of the game.
Late in garbage time, Adou Thiero and Aaron Holiday had a minor scuffle that should have resulted in nothing notable. Instead, James Williams instantly ejected both players after giving each a technical in a truly bizarre decision.
“I’m more p—– off about them kicking Adou out,” LeBron said. “That was uncalled for and made no sense. I think that’s the first time he’s ever been thrown out of a game in his life. I don’t think that was warranted. Give him two technicals? The kid just got in the game. That was ridiculous.”
It was a sentiment shared by the locker room as a whole. According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Luka Dončić has Thiero covered.
In the locker room after the game, Lakers star Luka Doncic told Thiero he would pay whatever fine the NBA imposes for the infraction.
This altercation — and it doesn’t even feel like it should be called as much given how minute it was — was part of a testy final few minutes between the two sides. At the end of the game, the two teams had what amounted to an intense staredown before exiting to their locker rooms.
After the final buzzer, the trash talk continued between both teams at center court. Several Lakers players told ESPN that Rockets forward Jae’Sean Tate was taunting their team, using curse words to name call, and invited the 6-foot-10, 240-pound Kleber to fight him.
Genuinely, it feels like a lot of this was created by how the game was officiated. Ayton’s ejection started it to a degree, but the ejections of Thiero and Holiday raised the emotions of the two teams.
Now, at the same time, we’re at the point in the series where the two teams will naturally not like each other, having played four times in a week. But three ejections preceding an on-court brouhaha of sorts at the final buzzer is not normal.
There’s no taking it back now, either. The rest of this series is going to be particularly chippy and everyone is going to have a bit of a shorter fuse than normal.
But to circle back to Thiero, it’s nice to see the team’s two leaders immediately step in to defend their rookie after a pretty egregiously bad decision.
While the Stanley Cup Playoffs are in full swing, the Detroit Red Wings are once again watching from home after they extended their absence to a 10th straight season.
Not only are the Red Wings in the midst of the longest playoff drought in franchise history, now spanning 100 years, but they also hold the NHL’s longest active postseason drought.
That distinction comes after the Buffalo Sabres ended their 14-year drought earlier this spring and are now one win away from advancing to the second round.
Last week, Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman held his season-ending media availability session and made it clear that not only is he disappointed with how things played out, but that he recognized warning signs even amidst what was an advantageous position in the standings for Detroit in January and February.
He also made it clear that the club simply needs more talent on the roster.
“We need better players,” Yzerman said. “We need to improve specifically in certain areas. We can talk about goal scoring; we need to improve in that area, particularly five-on-five.
“Collectively, if you’re watching the playoffs, and I’m assuming and I’m hoping our players are, to play with the intensity and determination needed to be successful to make the playoffs and get there," he continued. "But ultimately it’s incumbent upon me and my staff to improve the team.”
Yzerman's press conference was addressed by noted NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman during a recent airing of his "32 Thoughts" podcast. In Friedman's mind, the door is open for a "big" move for the Red Wings during the offseason, especially given Yzerman's blunt assessment of needing better players.
“I think when you take a look at how hard Todd McLellan was on the Red Wings players after that last game, the 8-1 loss to Florida, and I think everyone understood why he felt that way, Yzerman and McLellan up there together and Yzerman giving him a 100 percent vote of confidence, that was a message,” Friedman said.
“And the message was, the team I put together, it's not good enough. And we already knew that from the fact that they didn't get in. But you know how sometimes managers will defend it, saying they weren't ready or had injuries, nope. He didn't sugarcoat anything."
Friedman concluded:
“Big summer for him," he said. "He's put everyone on notice. It's tough to predict. I think it's one of those things that if they don't make a big trade this summer of some kind, or a big move this summer of some kind, people are going to be shocked. And he's walked himself into a position where he almost has to do it.”
It appears as though the door is open this offseason for a major upgrade to the Red Wings roster.
They were linked to multiple names in the weeks and days leading up to the March NHL Trade Deadline, including Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks and Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues, though both players ultimately remained with their current clubs.
The Red Wings were also reported heavy frontrunners to land defenseman Quinn Hughes before he was ultimately traded from the Canucks to the Minnesota Wild in December.
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Minnesota's Anthony Edwards underwent an MRI, and it "revealed a left knee hyperextension injury and bone bruise. Edwards will be considered week-to-week," the Timberwolves announced. Edwards will miss the rest of Minnesota's first-round series with the Denver Nuggets — the Timberwolves lead that 3-1 — and could miss some or all of the team's second-round series as well.
Edwards injured his knee when he lept to contest a shot by Denver's Cameron Johnson and landed awkwardly, hyperextending his left knee. This is the opposite knee from the one with runner's knee that had bothered him through the end of the regular season and into these playoffs.
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said that Edwards will push hard to return this postseason if the Timberwolves can stay alive for that long. He might well return in the next round, a matchup likely against the Spurs, if the Timberwolves advance.
These teams meet for the first time since the Cubs defeated the Padres in last year’s tightly-fought Wild Card Series. Both teams are off to good starts in 2026; perhaps they will meet again in October.
For more on the Padres, here’s Matt DeWalt, manager of our SB Nation Padres site Gaslamp Ball.
The San Diego Padres got off to a rough start to the season dropping the first two series at home against the Detroit Tigers and San Francisco Giants, leaving them with a 2-4 record. Since that time, the Padres have won six consecutive series heading into a road matchup with the Arizona Diamondbacks in Mexico City. Tons of runs were scored in that two-game set, which the teams split.
The story of the season has been the San Diego bullpen, which is anchored by Mason Miller. The right-hander has been dominant to this point and has thrown 34.2 consecutive innings (including the end of the 2025 season) without allowing a run, while giving up just seven hits with 69 strikeouts. Miller has converted all of his 10 save opportunities on the year.
The starting rotation has taken some hits with Yu Darvish out for the season, Joe Musgrove still not back after Tommy John surgery in 2024, and Nick Pivetta being placed on the IL with a flexor strain. Michael King leads the staff and is joined by Randy Vasquez, Walker Buehler and German Marquez. Matt Waldron was called up from Triple-A, but did not look good in his first two starts against the Los Angeles Angels and Colorado Rockies.
The San Diego offense has shown signs of life and appears to have discovered some of the slug that was missing during the 2025 season. The most surprising player without a home run for the Padres is Fernando Tatis Jr. He is still contributing with hits and driving in and scoring runs, but the goose egg in the HR column is a bit alarming to the Friar Faithful. Ramon Laureano has solidified the leadoff spot and has been one of the best offensive players for San Diego along with Xander Bogaerts.
New Padres manager Craig Stammen has shown a willingness to shakeup the lineup and has stressed his desire to make rest days a priority for players like Manny Machado, Jake Cronenworth and Bogaerts. He uses his bench depth to achieve that goal. Stammen seems to be pulling all the right levers as his team sits at 18-9 and is tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the NL West lead. We will have to see if Stammen and the San Diego roster can maintain this level of play as the season progresses.
Fun facts
San Diego is the only current National League city other than Chicago at which the Cubs have a winning record. They are 133-129, .508.
But they lost two of three each of the past two years, after having split four games in 2023. From 2018-22, the Cubs had gone 9-4 in San Diego.
(Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
Probable pitching matchups
Monday: Matthew Boyd, LHP (1-1, 5.79 ERA, 1.143 WHIP, 1.56 FIP) vs. Randy Vasquez, RHP (2-0, 1.88 ERA, 1.081 WHIP, 2.53 FIP)
Tuesday: 8:40 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network, MLB Network (outside the Cubs and Padres market territories)
Wednesday: 3:10 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Prediction
This will not be an easy series. The Padres are a very good team and are 9-4 at home this year. They’ve had to travel from Denver to Mexico City to San Diego over the last week, though. Maybe they’ll be tired from playing at altitude for a week. (Yes, I’m reaching.) I’m going to say the Cubs will get good outings from Boyd and Cabrera and win two of three.
Up next
The Cubs have Thursday off, then return to Wrigley Field for a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks beginning Friday afternoon.
The Yankees ran out their longest win streak of the season this past week, getting eight in a row before dropping the final game of their set with Houston on Sunday. Thus far the team’s performance has come in three waves, with two stretches of dominant play sandwiching a terrible stretch where they couldn’t buy a run. The pitching has been fairly consistently the wing of the roster that’s been performing, but the offense has warmed up with the weather and found its footing of late.
All of this has the Yankees sitting atop the AL East as the month of April is nearly concluded, and the expected competition in the Red Sox and Blue Jays have been struggling out of the gate. Boston even made the surprising decision to fire their manager Alex Cora alongside several members of their coaching staff shortly after getting swept by New York. Has the landscape of the division changed with how these teams have performed, or will they remain thorns in the Yankees’ side? Will Jasson Domínguez find a consistent role on the team after getting called up in the wake of Luis Gil’s demotion? How will Anthony Volpe look when he returns to take over the shortstop gig? If you have questions like these, or anything else on your mind, send ‘em in for a chance to be featured in our Yankees mailbag.
Answers will run on Friday afternoon. All questions received by the night of April 30th will be considered. You can leave your submissions in the comment section below or by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.
Solving the riddle of the Boston Celtics requires far more than the Philadelphia 76ers getting Joel Embiid back in the lineup.
That said, Embiid’s presence in the interior is undeniable, and Philadelphia really needs him to dominate the defensive glass to limit the C’s second-chance looks.
My 76ers vs. Celtics predictions peg Embiid to gorge himself on the glass with my NBA picks taking the Sixers center to top his rebounding prop on April 28.
76ers vs Celtics prediction
76ers vs Celtics best bet: Joel Embiid Over 8.5 rebounds (+110)
Heading into the series, the Philadelphia 76ers knew rebounding was going to be an issue, especially with Joel Embiid recovering from an appendectomy for the first three games.
The Boston Celtics are one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the NBA, with guards crashing the glass and snatching up long rebounds from the team’s surplus of outside shots.
Even with Embiid back for Game 4, Boston rounded up 14 offensive rebounds Sunday, which led to 19 second-chance points. Afterward, Philadelphia head coach Nick Nurse criticized his team’s lack of effort on the glass.
Embiid played 34 minutes in his first game since April 6, and while his conditioning was poor, he still finished with 10 rebounds. However, he was in position for 21 rebounding chances, which would normally fetch between 12 and 15 boards for most centers.
The 7-footer doesn’t stray too far from the rim, even when defending the Celtics' pick-and-roll. He’s opting for drop coverage, which keeps him in a prime position to get after it on the glass.
Before his surgery, Embiid was rebounding well despite coming in and out of the lineup with shin/ankle/oblique injuries in February and March. In his final eight games of regular-season action, he averaged 8.8 boards on 14.5 rebounding chances.
I expect him to be a bit livelier in Game 5, having shaken off the rust. With the 76ers' guards making a concerted effort to box out, that surge in rebounding chances converts into actual boards.
Player projections sit as high as 10.4 rebounds from Embiid on Tuesday.
76ers vs Celtics same-game parlay
Do I think the 76ers can stave off elimination? Not really. But I do see the 11.5-point spread as something the Sixers can manage? Yeah.
With Joel Embiid shaking off the rust, he can help the 76ers fight the Celtics off the offensive glass, which will cut down on second-chance points that buried them in Game 4.
Embiid returning to form also gives Philly an inside-out attack that was sorely lacking with Adem Bona and Andre Drummond down low.
Paul George plays fourth fiddle now that Embiid is back, but he benefits from the big man’s gravity in the paint and will get more space on the arc.
George finished 3-for-3 from 3-point land in Game 4 and made four triples in Game 3. Game script has Philly fighting from behind, prompting plenty of 3PAs from PG.
76ers vs Celtics SGP
76ers +11.5
Joel Embiid Over 8.5 rebounds
Paul George Over 2.5 threes
Our "from downtown" SGP: Back the big man
Embiid had an immediate impact on offense in his return to play and can beat up on a soft Boston interior. He’s forecasted for 25 points, 10+ rebounds, and has turned away at least one shot in nine of his last 10 games overall.
With Embiid putting in his best effort, the 76ers can manage a cover of this double-digit spread.
76ers vs Celtics SGP
76ers +11.5
Joel Embiid Over 24.5 points
Joel Embiid Over 8.5 rebounds
Joel Embiid Over 0.5 blocks
76ers vs Celtics odds for Game 5
Spread: 76ers +11.5 | Celtics -11.5
Moneyline: 76ers +425 | Celtics -575
Over/Under: Over 214.5 | Under 214.5
76ers vs Celtics betting trend to know
The Boston Celtics have been double-digit favorites 22 times this season, and those games have produced a 7-15 Over/Under record (68% Unders). Find more NBA betting trends for 76ers vs. Celtics.
How to watch 76ers vs Celtics Game 5
Location
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Date
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
76ers vs Celtics latest injuries
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.
The season is on the line for the Boston Bruins when they face the Buffalo Sabres in Game 5 at the KeyBank Center on Tuesday, April 28.
My top Bruins vs. Sabres predictions and NHL picks are calling for Buffalo to come through on home ice and send Boston packing.
Bruins vs Sabres Game 5 prediction
Bruins vs Sabres best bet: Sabres moneyline (-155)
The gap in five-on-five play between the Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins at TD Garden the past two games has been astronomical, so I love the Sabres finishing the series off in Game 5.
Buffalo drove possession with a 61.9 Corsi For percentage and generated an eye-poping 68.4% of the expected goals when adjusted for score and venue at 5-on-5, and most importantly, the Sabres solved Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman with six goals in Game 4.
Hats off to Boston for rallying to their Game 2 win after gifting away the series opener, but this has turned ugly for the Bruins with the Sabres outscoring them 9-2 over the past two games to take a commanding 3-1 lead back home to the KeyBank Center.
Bruins vs Sabres Game 5 same-game parlay
While the Buffalo moneyline is my preference as a standalone best bet, the puck line provides a nice odds boost for this same-game parlay.
Boston hasn’t had an answer for the Tage Thompson-Alex Tuch duo, and they’ve clicked with winger Peyton Krebs for a 55.8 CF% and 63.3 xGF% at 5-on-5 while combining for 10 points during the series.
Tuch has been particularly dangerous with 2.52 expected goals and five high-danger scoring chances, with Thompson just as effective with 1.94 ixG and five HDSC, and the Bruins have also allowed the second-most goals and expected goals per 60 minutes this postseason.
The Buffalo Sabres have covered the puck line in seven of their last nine games (+7.00 Units / 48% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Bruins vs. Sabres.
How to watch Bruins vs Sabres Game 5
Location
KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
Date
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Puck drop
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
TNT, Sportsnet
Bruins vs Sabres latest injuries
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.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 26: Tarik Skubal #29 of the Detroit Tigers pitches during the third inning of a game against the San Diego Padres on Opening Day at Petco Park on March 26, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A recent report from The New York Post’s Jon Heyman suggested that the San Diego Padres might return to their former Seidler-spending ways this offseason, even getting into the bidding war for the services of Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal.
Skubal has long been sought after by other clubs, and teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets will factor in as well in the bidding. He’s likely to receive the largest free agent contract ever for a pitcher, with most analysts estimating his value to be somewhere around $50 million annually.
That number blows the previous record of $43.33 million (Max Scherzer, Mets), though that was only for three years. Skubal would likely be locked up for much longer than that, and under a no-trade clause.
The war for Skubal
Skubal will, without a doubt, break that record. The only question is by how much.
The sole way that number could be dampened is by injury. He’s never not dominating on the mound, it seems like a certainty in life: death, taxes, and Tarik Skubal going six quality innings. But if he were to require surgery, there would be a major question mark entering free agency. He would likely still garner a large salary, but it could cause the AAV to dip.
Here’s the thing, though. Of the three teams mentioned thus far in the bidding (Dodgers, Mets, Padres), San Diego has the best reason to sign Skubal.
The Dodgers are hardly short on starting pitching, with a rotation headlined by Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Even with their injuries they still manage to piece it together every year.
They don’t need the southpaw’s services nearly as much as others, but they’ll be bidders simply because they like to spend. They’ve now picked up a top free agent in three consecutive offseasons, and four of the last five (Freddie Freeman, 2022; Shohei Ohtani, 2023; Roki Sasaki, 2025; Kyle Tucker, 2026).
On the other hand, the Mets desperately need consistent starters. They have a rotation with huge upside, but they’ve largely missed the mark. The only one producing right now is Nolan McLean (who could win NL Rookie of the Year this season).
But — if GM David Stearns manages to keep his job amidst New York’s torrid start to the year — he’s shown a hesitancy to extend pitchers contracts longer than a couple years. Skubal will be looking to attain a bit more length than that.
San Diego has the most compelling case for a true ace like Skubal. Both Michael King and Nick Pivetta have opt-outs in their contracts after this season, and they each seem likely to test free agency. Bob Nightengale of USA Today even wrote that “As long as he’s breathing at the end of the season, [Pivetta will] opt out.”
The Friars, like they do every year, need certainty on the pitching front. They’ve got Vásquez for 2027, but that’s about it. It’s possible they retain Pivetta given the flexor strain that’s kept him off the mound for the foreseeable future. But King will likely walk given he’s pitched like an ace again after an injury-plagued 2025.
A return to the Seidler way
If San Diego is actually in on Skubal this upcoming offseason, it would mark a return to the spending ways of former owner Peter Seidler. He shelled out just about everything he had in order to field a winning team for the Padres. And, although Seidler accomplished his vision, he never got to see the club win a World Series before he passed away in 2023.
Other investors will join as minority owners. It seems likely that the Seidler family will retain some level of ownership. Drew Brees and Vuori’s Joe Kudla had been reported to desire joining ownership so they could be in on the club as well. Alfredo Harp Hélu also stated that he will retain his 15% stake in the organization.
But regardless of that, there’s a question of the Feliciano-Jones ownership’s commitment to spending. Feliciano, through his private equity firm Clearlake Capital, has owned Chelsea F.C. of the Premier League. Chelsea has had problems with their ownership in recent years, but they have been the biggest-spending club in the league.
Is Feliciano’s move to the Padres a desire to step out and create something of his own away from the ownership drama with Chelsea? Or was he the cause of Chelsea’s problems and ousted by the other owners to pursue something else?
It’s difficult to say until more is revealed about the two. San Diego has yet to formally announce the sale of the club, as the minority ownership still has to be sorted out. Once it is, the owners of MLB will convene and vote in Feliciano and Jones, though that process is mostly a formality.
But for the Friar Faithful the team being sold is great news. Each offseason, the Padres have felt like they were simply treading water instead of actually competing with other teams. They’ve managed to hold up until now, coming off of consecutive postseason appearances and 90-win seasons, but the Seidler family has pulled back the reins on Peter Seidler’s bodacious spending of the past.
If Feliciano and Jones return to that spending, the Friars might be unstoppable. With rockstar GM A.J. Preller in the manager’s chair for the club (with a bigger wallet to boot), San Diego could be even more of a championship-caliber team than they already are. That makes it easy to dream of Skubal in brown and gold.
