Mets drop 11th straight after Devin Williams blows lead in nightmare extra-inning loss to Cubs

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (r.) throws out the Cubs' Alex Bregman to complete a double play in the first inning on April 19, 2026, Image 2 shows Luis Torrens, a catcher, talks with relief pitcher Devin Williams, Image 3 shows New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza watching his team from the dugout

CHICAGO — The Mets changed the script slightly Sunday, but the final scene of this horror show was all too familiar, with the opponent celebrating a victory.

Devin Williams wore the goat horns, blowing the save in the ninth before Nico Hoerner’s sacrifice fly against Craig Kimbrel in the 10th extended the Mets losing streak to 11 games with a 2-1 loss to the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

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The losing streak matches the club’s longest since 2002.

“Eleven losses, that’s a lot, whether it’s in April or any point of the season,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “But nobody is going to feel sorry for us. We have got to find a way.”

A sputtering Mets lineup managed only 10 runs in six games on the road trip. On this day the Mets went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

“This feeling sucks,” Francisco Lindor said. “[But] we’re professionals and we have got to find a way to do whatever it takes to end up on top after 27 outs and sometimes 30 outs. It’s not a good feeling, but no one here is hanging their heads. Everybody has got their head up high, fighting for each other.”

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, right, watches his team during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs. AP

Lindor, who has only one RBI, pointed blame toward himself.

“I came up in situations to drive runners in and didn’t do that,” he said. “It just came down to the last two outs. When I get guys in scoring position and I don’t drive them in, I don’t help the team.”

Kimbrel threw a wild pitch to advance automatic runner Pete Crow-Armstrong to third base with nobody out in the 10th before Dansby Swanson struck out and Hoerner won it with a fly to right.

Mendoza was asked about the possibility Kimbrel could have intentionally walked Hoerner, with slumping Michael Busch on deck, to set up a potential inning-ending double play.

Luis Torrens, left, talks with relief pitcher Devin Williams during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Sunday, April 19, 2026. AP

“In that situation, especially with Hoerner, you put him at first base, they are going to take second base there,” Mendoza said. “There is a contact situation there, but they have got some of their best hitters coming up after that too, so just going right after him.”

Michael Conforto tied it against Williams with a pinch-hit RBI double in the ninth. Tyrone Taylor didn’t field the ball cleanly in right field, allowing Ian Happ to score easily. Happ led off the inning with a single against Williams, who struggled in his previous appearance, allowing four earned runs over one-third of an inning against the Dodgers.

“They gave me a lead,” Williams said. “It’s my job to hold it and I made a mistake. It cost us the game today.”

Tobias Myers, in an opener’s role of sorts, gave the Mets two scoreless innings before David Peterson entered for the third. Peterson pitched 3 ²/₃ scoreless innings in relief — his most effective outing since his first start of the season.

Peterson allowed a triple to the first batter he faced, Crow-Armstrong, but escaped the inning with help from Hoerner’s line-drive double play, on which Crow-Armstrong was caught off third base.

Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (r.) throws out the Cubs’ Alex Bregman to complete a double play in the first inning on April 19, 2026. AP

MJ Melendez — one of the few Mets showing life offensively — homered against Javier Assad leading off the fifth. Melendez worked the count full before clearing the ivy in right for his first Mets homer. Melendez is 5-for-14 since his recall from Triple-A Syracuse.

Peterson drilled Crow-Armstrong with two outs in the fifth, but Crow-Armstrong was thrown out by Luis Torrens attempting to advance to second.

Hoerner singled in the sixth and stole second with one out. Huascar Brazobán replaced Peterson after Busch was retired. Brazobán walked two batters to load the bases before striking out Seiya Suzuki to preserve the one-run lead.

Matt Shaw singled leading off the bottom of the seventh inning but was left stranded at second base — following Brooks Raley’s wild pitch — as Luke Weaver retired Swanson for the final out.

Weaver returned to pitch a scoreless eighth before Williams entered for the ninth.

“You got to the ninth inning feeling good, but when you are playing one-run games you have to be perfect,” Mendoza said. “It’s hard to play like that. It’s a tough stretch right now.”

Devin Williams blows save as Mets lose 11th straight game, falling 2-1 to Cubs in 10 innings

The Mets were swept by the Chicago Cubs, losing Sunday's game by a score of 2-1 in 10 innings despite leading after eight innings.

Here are the key takeaways...

-- The Mets held a 1-0 lead into the ninth inning, but Devin Williams couldn't make the lead stand. After allowing a leadoff single, Williams allowed an RBI double to former Met Michael Conforto, with pinch-runner Scott Kingery scoring from first base, sending this game to extras and giving Williams his first blown save as a Met.

Despite a pair of runners in scoring position with two away, the Mets couldn't score in the top half of the tenth. Craig Kimbrel came on to pitch the bottom half of the tenth, uncorking a wild-pitch to move Pete Crow-Armstrong to third with no outs. NIco Hoerner cashed in with a sacrifice fly to right, giving the Cubs the win.

-- Carlos Mendoza's decision to go with an opener paid off.

Tobias Myers ended up going 2.0 scoreless innings in his role as opener, pitching around a leadoff walk in the first inning. Myers allowed one hit and struck out two while walking one. 

-- David Peterson entered to start the third inning, and he was immediately greeted by Crow-Armstrong, who tripled to right center to lead things off. But Peterson got out of the jam without allowing a run, thanks to a line-drive double play hit right to Marcus Semien, who threw behind Crow-Armstrong to get the third out at third base.

Peterson pitched into the sixth inning, leaving the game with a runner on third base. Huascar Brazoban came on and walked the first two batters to load the bases for Seiya Suzuki, but then struck him out to end the threat. That closed Peterson's line at 3.2 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits while striking out one without a walk.

-- The game stayed scoreless into the fifth inning, but MJ Melendez jumped on a Javier Assad pitch for a solo home run, giving the Mets a 1-0 lead. Melendez has provided a spark to the Mets' lineup since being called up, as he's now hitting .357 with a 1.152 OPS.

-- After the piggybacking plan worked to perfection, the Mets had their bullpen lined up well with Brooks Raley to pitch the seventh, Luke Weaver to pitch the eighth, and then Devin Williams to close things out. Raley and Weaver (four outs) kept things scoreless, but Williams couldn't match.

-- Brett Baty snapped his 0-22 slump with a line drive single to left in the third, the Mets’ first hit of the game. 

Game MVP

Hoerner, who had one hit and the game-winning sac fly RBI

Highlights

Upcoming schedule

The Mets are off on Monday and then begin a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday at 7:10 on SNY.

Nolan McLean will face Mick Abel.

Padres offense provides thrills

San Diego, CA - April 14: Ramón Laureano #5 of the San Diego Padres hits a triple in the third inning against the Seattle Mariners at Petco Park on April 14, 2026 in San Diego, CA. (Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)

The San Diego Padres played a seven-game home stand after taking 4-of-6 on the road. They swept the Colorado Rockies in dramatic fashion with a Xander Bogaerts walk-off grand slam one night and a Gavin Sheets walk-off the next night. They added eight home runs to their season total in the four games.

The Friars then swept the Seattle Mariners over three games and Bogaerts added another home run to his total. They won using power, base running, small ball and situational hitting; showing the range of talent they possess up and down the line up. A far cry from the 2025 season that started with a similar winning way but almost all the production came from the top of the line up.

Dia de los Muertos

The Padres debuted their new City Connect jersey during the homestand, paying tribute to the Dia de los Muertos holiday as well as the colors for the 1998 Padres team. They won for the first time in their new duds. The organization also sold $1.1 million of merchandise on the day of release (April 9).

Veterans have off days

Padres manager Craig Stammen has been liberal with off days for his veteran players, giving playing time to the bench and moving Fernando Tatis Jr. from right field to second base on Saturday and Sunday during the Rockies series. Both Xander Bogaerts and Jake Cronenworth got days off while Tatis Jr. became reacquainted with the middle infield.

When asked, Stammen explained his desire to keep his players fresh throughout the season and it all began with giving Manny Machado a day off in April. Machado had his first day off in 2025 during the month of September. He also slumped drastically the end of last season, admitting to being fatigued. It seems Stammen is determined for that to not happen this year with Machado or anyone else.

Padres visit the IL

When Jason Adam came off the IL to join the Padres after his injury rehab, Jeremiah Estrada took his place with elbow tendinitis. His velocity had been noticeably decreased with his fastball, down 3-4 mph from his top of 97 mph. His other pitches also showed a loss of velocity and he was being hit hard.

Nick Pivetta left his start on Sunday versus the Mariners after three perfect innings. It was obvious that something was really wrong as he kicked at the rubber, yelled into his glove and bit it as Stammen and a trainer walked out to the mound. There was minimal discussion and Pivetta left the game. It was revealed the next day that Pivetta would go on the IL and he was diagnosed with a flexor strain. A serious injury, flexor strains take weeks to months to heal at best.

The Padres had a scare when catcher Freddy Fermin took two deflected balls into his face mask on April 15, but he did not need the concussion protocol and was rested for two days before returning to the lineup. For back up, the Padres pulled catcher Rudolfo Duran from El Paso minutes after Fermin was removed in San Diego. He was with the Padres the next day, on the taxi squad, in case of any issue with Luis Campusano.

Sung-Mun Song optioned to Triple-A

The Padres signed Song during the offseason to serve as a super utility player for the Padres. He came to Spring Training recovering from an oblique strain and aggravated the injury during camp. Starting the season on the IL, Song completed his rehab on Wednesday and was reinstated then optioned to El Paso.

His stats with the Chihuahuas have improved in most areas but with a few concerning spots. Although he is hitting .276/.364/.310 in 58 at-bats he has eight walks and 17 strikeouts. He has no home runs and two doubles with no stolen bases. Defensively, he has played 3B, 2B and SS but has not played in the outfield. He has also been the DH. Making better contact and cutting down on strikeouts will need to happen before he can be considered a better option than what the Padres currently have.

Luis Campusano on a tear

After starting the season slowly, Campusano was the quiet hero during the homestand. Although he didn’t hit the game-winning hits in any of the comeback wins or rallies, Campusano hit a home run and multiple doubles during almost every rally. He is currently hitting .300/.364/.533 with an .897 OPS. He has four doubles and a home run with six RBI. The faith and confidence that the Padres have shown since the start of Spring Training is being repaid. It seems that what Campusano needed was an opportunity, and some confidence, in order to show what he can do.

Ramon Laureano is the man

An adage often heard among the Friar media and fans is that the Padres will go as Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. go. It is usually true that those two lead the team offensively in one way or another. But to start 2026, after the first 20 games, left fielder Ramon Laureano leads in almost all categories while Machado and Tatis Jr. are hitting .203 and .233 respectively. Tatis Jr. still doesn’t have his first homer of the year.

Laureano is first in average at .290, first in slug at .551 and first in OPS at .906. Machado has the OBP of .363 due to his 16 walks, which leads the team. Laureano has four home runs and 13 RBI, both tops though Bogaerts and Jackson Merrill also have 13 RBI.

Bench power

The Padres bench has been superior to what we have seen in the past so far, especially the bench of 2025. The contributions of Campusano are not to be compared to the sub-.200 batting average of the past back up catchers. The combination of Ty France/Miguel Andujar/Nick Castellanos has far outperformed last year and could rival the 2024 bench. The three combined have seven doubles, a triple and a home run with eight RBI.

Defensively, France is the best first baseman on the team and has a Gold Glove from 2025 to prove it. Andujar can cover for Machado at third when needed and has been the DH. Castellanos doesn’t appear to have a good defensive position but pinch-hitting and occasional filling in at right or left field has been his role.

Mason Miller

Miller’s outstanding performance so far this season has been discussed almost every day around baseball. What he is doing is unprecedented and we should all just be grateful we get to experience it on our team. In his 9.1 innings pitched, he has 23 strikeouts, two walks, two hits and seven saves. That brings his total from last August to 31.2 innings pitched with no runs allowed, passing Padres icon Randy Jones and closing in on Cla Meredith.

In comparison, Randy Vasquez has 25 strikeouts in 21.1 innings pitched. The Rockies’ Chase Dollander has 23 strikeouts in 19 innings pitched.

Should Every Oilers Playoff Night Be Bobblehead Night?

Somewhere in the Rogers Place storage room, wedged between a pallet of unsold Zach Hyman bobbleheads and a box of 2006 playoff memorabilia that nobody has the emotional bandwidth to deal with, there may be the most important piece of Stanley Cup playoff equipment the Edmonton Oilers own.

A bobblehead. Three of them, technically. 

Edmonton is 3-0 on bobblehead nights this season. A perfect record achieved under the watchful, spring-loaded gaze of miniature plastic athletes whose heads never stop nodding, as if in constant affirmation of every decision this team makes.

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You can call it a coincidence, a small sample size, or the most statistically irrelevant winning streak in professional hockey. All of those things are probably true, but none of them matter because the bobbleheads are not losing, and we are not going to be the ones to stop them.

So the question isn't whether this is rational. The question is whether the Oilers can somehow get 18,000 bobbleheads into a playoff arena without the NHL stepping in to ruin everything, which they absolutely would.

Sure, the teams on those bobblehead nights weren't exactly murderers now. Nobody is pretending these were victories against the Presidents' Trophy winner, but before you dismiss the bobblehead victims as pushovers, just know that the Oilers were not exactly clawing their way to number one either. Respect the body of work.

Jason Dickinson "Highly Motivated" To Play: When Will He Get In?Jason Dickinson "Highly Motivated" To Play: When Will He Get In?He's itching to hit the ice. Will injured forward Jason Dickinson be cleared for Game 1, boosting the Oilers' lineup?

Yeah, sure, the Anaheim Ducks did make the playoffs this year, which does count for something. But this is the same franchise that spent the better part of three seasons in a full institutional crouch, losing hockey games with such commitment and consistency that it started to look like a strategy—because it was—who has somehow clawed its way into the postseason. 

The cream jerseys are a whole other situation. These are alternate jerseys, a third option, the NHL equivalent of ordering something off-menu and being surprised it slaps. Not some storied vintage threads soaked in championship history.

There is no logical reason the Oilers should play better in them. The jersey does not improve their skating, sharpen their edges, or fix their breakouts. And yet, when Edmonton pulls the cream ones on, something happens that no analyst has successfully put into a chart.

3 Reasons This Ducks First-Round Draw Is One The Oilers Wanted3 Reasons This Ducks First-Round Draw Is One The Oilers WantedThe Edmonton Oilers have three strengths that perfectly counter the Ducks' defensive woes, setting up a favorable opening round.

The NHL's front office probably has a memo somewhere explaining why they can't wear them in the playoffs. 

Teams have been manufacturing superstitions out of flimsier material than this for decades. The 2012 LA Kings wore the same clothes on every road trip during their Cup run. Players have refused to wash their equipment, change their socks, or alter their pre-game meal for entire playoff runs.

One guy famously grew a beard, and now everyone does it. The bar for what counts as a legitimate playoff ritual is basically nonexistent.

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So maybe all it takes is someone placing a bobblehead on the shelf above the dressing room door. A small McDavid, head nodding in eternal encouragement, blessing each player as they head out to the ice. The cream jerseys hang nearby in a display case, radiating mysterious alternate-jersey energy through the plexiglass.

It's unscientific, completely unhinged, and costs roughly twelve dollars.

Worth every penny.

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Edgecombe named a finalist for Rookie of the Year award

Edgecombe named a finalist for Rookie of the Year award  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

BOSTON — The Sixers have rookie representation on the list of finalists for 2025-26 end-of-season awards. 

VJ Edgecombe was named Sunday night as a Rookie of the Year finalist along with the Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg and the Hornets’ Kon Knueppel. Voting results will be announced at a later date. 

Since being drafted out of Baylor with the No. 3 overall pick, Edgecombe has been valuable for the Sixers on both ends of the floor and displayed alluring tools to build on.

The 20-year-old led all rookies in minutes played. Over 75 games, he averaged 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.4 steals. Among rookies with at least 20 games played, Edgecombe ranked third in points per game, third in assists per game and first in steals per game. 

Of the three finalists, only Edgecombe’s team reached the playoffs. The Sixers suffered a blowout Round 1, Game 1 loss Sunday to the Celtics.

Knueppel and Flagg were teammates last season as Duke freshmen. Flagg averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists for the 26-56 Mavs. Knueppel posted 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per contest for the Hornets, who couldn’t advance out of the Eastern Conference’s play-in tournament. He carried over his sharpshooting to the NBA, hitting 42.5 percent of his three-pointers. 

The Sixers have had three Rookie of the Year winners in their history. Allen Iverson earned the honor in 1997, Michael Carter-Williams in 2014 and Ben Simmons in 2018. 

European football: Bayern Munich win 35th league title by surging past Stuttgart

  • Bayern bounce back from early concession to win 4-2

  • PSG’s title hopes hit after 2-1 home defeat by Lyon

Bayern Munich secured their 35th German league title by beating Stuttgart 4-2 to open up an unassailable lead with four games to play. Sunday’s result sent Bayern 15 points clear of second-placed Borussia Dortmund.

The Bavarian side, who face Bayer Leverkusen in the German Cup semi-final next week before taking on Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on 28 April, were a goal down before scoring four times to quickly turn the game around.

Continue reading...

Yankees' Anthony Volpe notches first multihit game of rehab assignment

Through four rehab games with the Yankees' Double-A Somerset Patriots, shortstop Anthony Volpe has his first multihit performance.

In Sunday's 7-6 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies' Reading Fightin Phils, Volpe's 2-for-4 afternoon started with a first-inning single.

Volpe followed third baseman and top prospect Greg Lombard Jr.'s leadoff home run against Zack Wheeler by sending a 1-0 offering back up the middle.

After an inning-ending flyout to left field in the third and a one-out lineout to shortstop two frames later, Volpe led off the seventh with a single through the middle against Luke Russo.

Following Volpe's second knock, which had an exit velocity of 104.2 mph, he stole second base.

Through 11 at-bats with Somerset since last Tuesday, Volpe (left shoulder surgery recovery) has four hits -- all singles -- and three strikeouts. He has two stolen bases and one walk.

Hawks vs Knicks Prediction, Picks & Odds for NBA Playoffs Game 2

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The New York Knicks took Game 1 by double-digit points, but the Atlanta Hawks will look to respond when the teams meet again at Madison Square Garden for Game 2. 

Dyson Daniels has done it all for Atlanta, and my Hawks vs. Knicks predictions expect he'll easily clear the Over on a modest combo prop.

Here are my best free NBA picks from the Mecca on Monday, April 20.

Hawks vs Knicks prediction

Hawks vs Knicks best bet: Dyson Daniels Over 11.5 rebounds + assists (-120)

Dyson Daniels enjoyed a second straight productive season with the Atlanta Hawks, averaging 33.2 minutes and career highs of 6.8 rebounds and 5.9 assists across 76 appearances.

Daniels’ season average of 12.7 rebounds + assists will easily clear his combo line for Game 2, so a baseline performance will get the job done. Daniels ended the season with 12+ rebounds + assists in three straight and four of his last five. He finished with 20 in Game 1 against the New York Knicks.

The do-it-all Australian cleared his combo line in 48 of 76 games, good for 63.2%. His implied probability to clear it again means his odds should be priced closer to -170 than -120, offering solid value.

Daniels finished the regular season as Atlanta’s third-leading rebounder and second-leading facilitator. His 6.8 rebounds per game ranked third among guards.

The Hawks also shot nearly 3.5% worse in Game 1 than they did during the season, so Daniels could be due for a few more assists if his teammates convert open looks.

In four games against New York (regular and postseason), Daniels finished with assist + rebound totals of 20, 15, 14, and 17. He easily topped 11.5 in all four games, and he’ll need to be at his best to help his team compete for a win with the series heading back home.

Hawks vs Knicks same-game parlay

I picked the Hawks to cover the same 5.5-point spread in Game 1, and they lost by 11. I’m not deterred, as Atlanta has a clear path to making this one more competitive.

The Hawks were a putrid 12 of 19 from the charity stripe, falling well below their season average of 77.4%. New York hit 25 of 30 free throws, and Atlanta can do a better job at limiting opportunities there. The Hawks went 18-8 ATS between the All-Star break and the end of the season, and I expect them to keep this one close as they look to avoid a 2-0 hole.

The Hawks and Knicks faced off four times this season, finishing with combined game totals of 215, 213, 210, and 253. Game 1 finished just a bucket shy of hitting the Over, and I’m betting on that extra bucket in Game 2.

Atlanta’s shooting was off, as the team hit just 44% of their field-goal attempts, and leading scorer Nickeil Alexander-Walker finished with only 17 points on a miserable 6-for-17 shooting. A slightly more efficient offensive attack from the visitors should push this one to hit the Over.

Hawks vs Knicks SGP

  • Dyson Daniels Over 11.5 rebounds + assists
  • Hawks +5.5
  • Over 217

Our "from downtown" SGP: Garden Buckets

Jalen Brunson has been at his best at home, averaging 27 at Madison Square Garden and 25.1 at all other venues. He’s averaged 29 points in four matchups with the Hawks. 

Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 25 points in Game 1, and he went for 21 and 36 in two other matchups with Atlanta this season. He’s got a size advantage against the Hawks’ undersized frontcourt.

Alexander-Walker averaged a career-best 20.8 points per game this season and scored 20+ in 46 of 78 appearances. NAW reached that scoring total in 24 of 39 road games, and I expect a bounce-back performance after his inefficient Game 1.

CJ McCollum finished with a team-high 26 points in Game 1, and in 76 games between the Wizards and Hawks, he scored 18+ points 40 times.

Hawks vs Knicks SGP

  • Over 217
  • Jalen Brunson Over 28.5 points
  • Karl-Anthony Towns Over 20.5 points
  • Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 19.5 points
  • CJ McCollum Over 17.5 points

Hawks vs Knicks odds for Game 2

  • Spread: Hawks +5.5 (-110) | Knicks -5.5 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Hawks +190 | Knicks -230
  • Over/Under: Over 217 (-110) | Under 217 (-110)

Hawks vs Knicks betting trend to know

The Atlanta Hawks have hit the Moneyline in 31 of their last 50 games (+14.55 Units / 12% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Hawks vs. Knicks.

How to watch Hawks vs Knicks Game 2

LocationMadison Square Garden, New York, NY
DateMonday, April 20, 2026
Tip-off8:00 p.m. ET
TVNBC

Hawks vs Knicks latest injuries

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Guardians Win the Series Over Orioles

CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 19: José Ramírez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field on April 19, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Guardians and Baltimore Orioles faced off for the final game of the four game series. With the Guardians up 2-1 on the series, the worst case was a series split. A welcomed change of pace after dropping back-to-back series.

Joey Cantillo took the mound for the Guards and had a rocky start. In the first 9 pitches, he only threw 2 strikes and had two runners on via a single and walk. Austin Hedges visited the mound and Joey locked in for the next 3 innings. Through the fourth inning he drastically improved his strike/pitch rate and kept Baltimore to two base runners.

The defense behind Cantillo looked to start the game in prime form with David Fry making a stellar catch in right field to end the third.

It took the Guardians a few innings to get the offense rolling. In the bottom of the third inning, Austin Hedges reached on a fielding error then went first to third on Brayan Rocchio’s single. Steven Kwan’s sac fly scored Hedgey, putting Cleveland on the board first.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Guards pulled further ahead of the Orioles, building on their lead. José Ramírez hit a first pitch, lead off home run. He punished the 89.8 mph four-seamer, launching it 408ft to the bleachers.

It didn’t stop there, either. David Fry got on base with a single to left. Daniel Schneemann worked a full count and drew a walk after facing eight pitches. Juan Brito doubled, scoring two. Schneemann had a great jump on Brito’s double. The misread by Oriole’s outfielder Blaze Alexander gave Schnee the timing he needed to score.

The final run of the inning came with two outs. Brayan Rocchio slapped a single to left that scored Brito from second base.

Things fell apart for Cantillo and the defense in the top of the fifth. Joey struggled pitching again, giving up a walk and a single before recording the first out. Taylor Ward hit a home run off of Cantillo, bringing the Orioles within two runs of tying. With two outs, Pete Alonso singled and Jonathan Rodríguez walked, putting Cantillo in the same situation for the second time in the inning resulting in his early pull from the game. Vogt turned to Matt Festa to finish out the inning. Matt Festa did his job, getting a hit directly to the second baseman Juan Brito sure to end the inning. Except, Brito committed a throwing error, loading the bases instead. The Baltimore pinch hitter hit up the middle in what should have been the third out, again. And, again, Juan Brito couldn’t flip the ball to Brayan Rocchio in time for the out, resulting in a fielder’s choice that brought Baltimore within one and loaded the bases. Thankfully Steven Kwan was able to nab a fly out to center to finally retire the side. Cantillo finished the day having gone 4.2IP, 5H, 4R/3ER, 6K.

José Ramírez came up to bat in the bottom of the fifth with one out and promptly reminded us fans that he is capable of single handedly changing the flow of a game. José saw a ball, took a strike, and then launched a low changeup to the porch in left field.

His second home run of the game aptly put him in sole possession of second most home runs at home in franchise history.

Peyton Pallette came out in the top of the sixth to pitch for Cleveland. He made two quick outs and was assisted by a great play in left by Angel Martínez to retire the side.

Peyton stayed in, going 1-2-3 in the seventh. Erik Sabrowski came on in the eighth giving up a walk, but then striking out the next three batters. In the bottom of the eighth Rhys Hoskins drew a lead off walk, and with David Fry’s single up the middle and a walk from Daniel Schneemann, they loaded the bases with no outs. Brayan Rocchio delivered with a two-out, two-run single on a liner to center.

Shawn Armstrong closed the game out in a non-save situation. Armstrong and Angel retired the Orioles 1-2-3, with Angel making another great catch in center. The Guardians win the game and win the series. The Houston Astros are coming to town for a three game series starting tomorrow night, in Cleveland.

Orioles scores: Rogers gets torched, O’s offense falls short again in 8-4 loss to Guardians

Apr 19, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso (25) walks to the dugout after striking out during the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images | David Dermer-Imagn Images

The Orioles dropped the finale of their four-game series to the Guardians, 8-4, as their offense underachieved again, their defense continued to stink, and their erstwhile ace coughed up six runs and suffered a noticeable velocity dip in his second straight ugly outing.

Other than that, though, it was a great afternoon of baseball.

The first four innings of this game featured the classic combination of terrible 2026 Orioles baseball — offensive futility and defensive shenanigans — along with the unfortunate new wrinkle of a horrendous Trevor Rogers performance. Normally, Trevor Rogers Day is one of celebration, in which fans can take comfort that they’ll at least get a quality outing from the Orioles ace. Today, though, he was sucked into the abyss of ineptitude that’s swallowed up so many of his teammates.

Things started out innocently enough, with Rogers mowing down the first seven batters he faced. But then came the defensive shenanigans I referred to earlier, and Rogers has nobody to blame but himself. On an Austin Hedges grounder to first base, Rogers raced to the bag to receive the feed from Pete Alonso, and then just…ran right past the base. He couldn’t get back before Hedges reached safely, and Cleveland had a gift baserunner on the Rogers error.

The Guardians, of course, took full advantage, because every Orioles defensive misplay is required to lead to at least one run. It’s in the MLB rulebook, look it up. Brayan Rocchio advanced Hedges to third on a single, and Steven Kwan scored him on a sac fly. An inning later, the Guardians made it 2-0 when José Ramírez blasted Rogers for a home run to left, the 290th of his Hall of Fame career. Well, there’s no shame in giving up a dinger to a guy like that, and at least things hadn’t spiraled out of control for Rogers.

…Oh. I spoke too soon. After the home run, Rogers suddenly couldn’t get anyone out. A single and a walk brought up Juan Brito, who lofted a shot to deep center field. It wasn’t an easily catchable ball, but a natural center fielder might’ve had a play on it. Unfortunately, the Orioles’ center fielder on this day was infielder Blaze Alexander, who got himself turned around and had no chance to reach the warning track as the ball fell in safely. Two runs scored on the double. If I could make a humble suggestion to the Orioles: maybe stop playing infielders in the outfield?

Two batters later, Brito scored on a Rocchio RBI single, extending the Cleveland lead to 5-0. It marked the second straight outing in which Rogers allowed four or more runs, something he hadn’t done since May 2024 with the Marlins (somehow he didn’t even do it in his disastrous four-start debut with the Orioles in September 2024). Not only that, but Rogers’ fastball velocity was notably down nearly 3 mph from his average. It’s fine. This is fine. Everything is fine. Rogers gutted through five innings, but coughed up a second Ramírez homer before he left.

As for the Orioles’ offense, well, the majority of the game was the same, sad story we’ve seen this whole series and most of the season. Birds hitters looked completely inept against a cavalcade of Cleveland pitchers, making weak contact — when they made contact at all — and coming up empty in most RBI situations. The O’s put up goose eggs in eight of their nine offensive innings.

The only exception was the top of the fifth, when it briefly looked like the O’s might stage a multi-run comeback like they did in Friday’s win. Starting the inning with a 5-0 deficit, the Orioles put two runners on base for Taylor “Two Bags” Ward, who added an extra two bags in this case, cranking a three-run homer to left field to whittle the deficit to 5-3. At long last, Ward — who homered 36 times for the Angels last year — picked up his first dinger as an Oriole in his 22nd game. He’s been one of the Birds’ best hitters all season, so I wasn’t going to rag on the guy for not homering, but it’s nice to get that first one into the ledger.

The rally continued, thanks to some bad Guardians defense. With two outs, Pete Alonso singled and Johnathan Rodríguez walked, chasing starter Joey Cantillo from the game. Against reliever Matt Festa, Jeremiah Jackson shuffled a grounder to the hole on the right side. The second baseman Brito fielded it cleanly but yanked a wild throw to first, allowing Jackson to reach. The next batter, pinch-hitter Dylan Beavers, rolled a grounder near the second base bag. Again Brito fielded cleanly but again muffed the throw, lobbing too late to the shortstop Rocchio as Jackson slid in safely to second. Beavers had a gift RBI and suddenly it was just a one-run game, 5-4, with the bases loaded and the chance for more damage.

Sadly, Coby Mayo flied out harmlessly, and the Orioles essentially never threatened again. Despite the Birds’ success against the Cleveland bullpen earlier in the series, they had no answer for the Guardians’ relief crew on this day. Rule 5 righty Peyton Pallette painted the strike zone for two perfect innings, followed by a scoreless inning apiece from Erik Sabrowski and ex-Oriole Shawn Armstrong. The Guardians added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth on Rocchio’s two-run single off Cameron Foster.

Before that, at least, Tyler Wells had his best outing of 2026 with two perfect innings, including five strikeouts. It’d be nice if Wells could do that in high-leverage situations, but kudos to him in any case. Tyler’s performance was one of the few highlights in another all-around ugly, lackluster showing by what’s becoming an increasingly uncompetitive Orioles team.

Sixers Bell Ringer: Sixers demolished with ease by Celtics in Game 1

(Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer season standings:

Tyrese Maxey – 22.5
VJ Edgecombe – 15
Joel Embiid – 11.5
Paul George – 8
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 5
Justin Edwards – 4
Andre Drummond – 3
Quentin Grimes – 3
Jared McCain :’( – 3
Dominick Barlow – 2
MarJon Beauchamp – 2
Adem Bona – 1
Cam Payne – 1
Jabari Walker – 1
Trendon Watford – 1
15th roster spot – 1


The Philadelphia 76ers were demolished 123-91 by the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series Sunday afternoon. It was bad. Very bad.

The Sixers are embarking on this series without Joel Embiid, who is still recovering from an emergency appendectomy less than two weeks ago. And boy, could they use him right now. (No, I’m not saying he should be playing. I’m just saying his absence is a very palpable loss on days like today, obviously.)

This one was pretty ugly start to finish for Philly. It is amazing to watch one team be outplayed by another in truly every single facet, on every single level in a game. These two teams are just playing different sports. The Celtics have an incredibly deep, talented roster with real strategy on the court. The Sixers look like they’re playing a pick-up game, with no rhyme or reason other than just desperately clawing at any chance to get a few points.

However it was expected to go, it actually went worse.

Game 2 is on Tuesday night.

Let’s get to the Bell Ringer. Term used lightly here.

Tyrese Maxey: 21 points, 1 rebound, 8 assists

Apr 19, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) controls the ball while Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (30) defends in the first half during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images | Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

Tyrese Maxey commanded the offense for Philadelphia on Sunday in more ways than one, scoring a team-high 21 points and adding a team-high eight assists.

The problem was that the Sixers just were completely outplayed as a team. There was nothing Maxey could do individually about it to change that, especially with the Celtics prepared to pay extra defensive attention to him. There seemed to be no urgency from Nick Nurse either to start calling for more screens to help Maxey get any space with the ball. It just felt like there was little he could do given the circumstances and he produced what he could.

Of course, Maxey didn’t shoot very well like the entire team. Again, partially likely due to having anywhere from one to three Celtics in his face when trying to score. The pathetic thing is that, at 40% from the floor (8-for-20) and 25% from three-point range (25%), Maxey was actually one of the Sixers more accurate shooters on Sunday.

He was far from perfect, don’t get me wrong — he needed to get more shots to fall and had three turnovers himself. I’m just adding context that I think is relevant.

Maxey finished the game with 21 points, 1 rebound and eight assists.

VJ Edgecombe: 13 points, 3 rebound, 3 assists, 2 steals

<p>(Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images

The biggest (only?) bright side to the Sixers making it to this first-round series against the Celtics is at least we are getting to give VJ Edgecombe his first NBA playoff reps in his rookie season. That’s a plus.

One of the first things I noticed about Edgecombe in this one was that he did not seem phased by the context of the game at all. First NBA playoff experience in his life, starting for a team that is coming into this series as a massive underdog to the Celtics, in Boston. It looked like just another game for Edgecombe, with the rookie playing aggressively and fearlessly as he has all year for Philadelphia.

He struggled along with his team, don’t get me wrong. It was an inefficient game for him as it was everyone else in a Sixers uniform, with the rookie shooting 6-for-16 field goals and 0-for-5 from long range. You obviously want him hitting more shots than that from the floor, but the Sixers were grasping at straws for really any opportunity to shoot, so there wasn’t exactly the most excellent spacing and shot selection available.

Seeing Edgecombe hit a big euro-step into a floater over Jayson Tatum is the kind of thing I hope Edgecombe is able to take from this series. These are just two teams on completely different levels of basketball overall, so there might not be as much success as he’d like, but there’s still a lot the rookie can develop and learn from with this experience nonetheless.

Edgecombe finished with 13 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Porter Martone: 1 game-winning goal inGame 1

<p>(Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)</p><br> | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Nineteen-year-old Porter Martone has been in Philadelphia for less than a month, but he’s already responsible for one of the biggest, realest moments of sports-induced joy the city has experienced as of late.

The Philadelphia Flyers took Game 1 of the first-round playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins on the road Saturday night when Martone scored the eventual game-winning goal. It was Martone’s first ever NHL playoff game.

Martone is already no stranger to stepping up in the clutch. His first NHL goal came back on April 5 in the regular season, when he netted an overtime winner to lift the Flyers 2-1 over the Boston Bruins.

Between having to watch this Sixers-Celtics mauling and a brilliantly-bad Phillies team, a team like the Flyers having exciting young talent stepping up in a big moment is just enough to keep us all from going completely insane right now. Flyers lead the Penguins 1-0 in the best-of-seven series. Next game, also in Pittsburgh, is Monday at 7 p.m. ET.

Bruins vs Sabres Prediction, Picks & Best Bets for NHL Playoffs Game 1

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Buffalo Sabres winger Josh Doan proved to be an effective offensive presence throughout his first season with the club, and that strong play will continue against the Boston Bruins tonight.

My Bruins vs. Sabres predictions and NHL picks expect Doan to clear his SOG prop on Sunday, April 19.

Bruins vs Sabres Game 1 prediction

Who will win Bruins vs Sabres Game 1?

Sabres: Buffalo's skill, team speed, and home-ice advantage should definitely be a factor after 15 years of sitting on the sidelines come playoff time. If Jeremy Swayman doesn’t stand on his head, it’ll be tough for the Bruins to hang around.

Bruins vs Sabres best bet: Josh Doan Over 1.5 shots (-150)

Josh Doan generated at least two shots in 61% of his games against Bottom-10 shot suppression teams this season. That includes three Overs in four tries against the Boston Bruins, against whom he averaged 2.75 shots per game.

He cleared this line in 10 of 12 home dates vs. Bottom-10 shot suppression sides, averaging 2.3 shots on 4.5 attempts.

Not only is the matchup good, but he’s skating on a line with Josh Norris. Doan averaged 10.22 shots on goal per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 play — easily the highest of any linemate he had all season.

Bruins vs Sabres Game 1 same-game parlay

Doan has excelled playing alongside Norris and Zach Benson, outscoring opponents 8-2 at 5-on-5. They help elevate his offensive ceiling at even-strength.

He also skates on the No. 1 power play, where he has exposure to elite weapons like Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin.

On the other side, Charlie McAvoy averaged a point per game over the second half of the season and hit the scoresheet in a remarkable 78% of his appearances. He’s in line for monstrous minutes in this high-event series, making him a good candidate to produce.

Bruins vs Sabres SGP

  • Josh Doan Over 1.5 shots
  • Josh Doan Over 0.5 points
  • Charlie McAvoy Over 0.5 points

Bruins vs Sabres Game 1 goal scorer pick

Josh Doan (+285)

Josh Doan is a playoff-type player. He plays a hard-nosed game and will work to get to the dirty areas of the ice, which is what’s needed at this time of year.

He has the hands and skill to finish in tight, and he has a better track record than many realize. He ranked third on the Sabres in 5-on-5 goals and outscored the likes of Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch on the man advantage.

Bruins vs Sabres odds for Game 1

  • Moneyline: Bruins +130 | Sabres -150
  • Puck Line: Bruins +1.5 (-190) | Sabres -1.5 (+160)
  • Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+120) | Under 6.5 (-140)

Bruins vs Sabres trend

Josh Doan has logged five points over his last five games. Find more NHL betting trends for Bruins vs. Sabres.

How to watch Bruins vs Sabres Game 1

LocationKeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
DateSunday, April 19, 2026
Puck drop7:30 p.m. ET
TVESPN

Bruins vs Sabres latest injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Houston was the 'perfect place' for Kingston Flemings. Now he's off to the NBA | Exclusive

Before the season, Kingston Flemings asked Houston assistant Hollis Price what it would take to be on the walls of the Cougars' practice gym. Price said he needed to be an All-American.

Fast forward a few months later and Flemings secured that goal of one day seeing his face up on the walls at Houston, after finishing off the best season by a true freshman in Houston history. The second-team All-American is now taking the next step in his career, declaring for the 2026 NBA Draft on Sunday, April 19.

Flemings, a projected top-five pick in USA TODAY's latest NBA mock draft, said it was a tough decision to go one-and-done in college, especially after Houston's loss to Illinois in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. After taking some time off following the Cougars' 65-55 loss, he made the unsurprising decision to take the next step.

"Obviously it was a hard decision whether to come back and play with my boys, take it one more year and try to go get the (national championship)," he said. "But this opportunity doesn’t come all the time. … Had to make the right decision, for sure.”

The former five-star recruit per 247Sports' Composite rankings could be the highest-selected player under coach Kelvin Sampson during his Houston tenure, with the feat currently held by Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker, who was selected No. 8 overall in 2023 after his true freshman season.

Despite the Cougars' recent success with seven Sweet 16 appearances and two Final Fours since 2019, Houston has only produced four NBA draft picks under Sampson, with Flemings easily possessing the highest ceiling of any Cougar under one of college basketball's best coaches.

There was no better choice for Flemings, though, and he credits his development with choosing Houston.

“I think it was the perfect place for me," he said. "Coach Sampson’s the perfect coach for me. Just coming into the year, I just tried to prove everyone right that recruited me, and just did whatever I could to win. I’m grateful for my decision.

"... If you want to win, if you want to become a better man, better player, everything like that, choose Houston. It’s not going to be easy, but every single day you come in here, you try to get better and you’ll get better in every single way.”

Flemings averaged 16.1 points with 4.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game this season, starting all 37 of Houston's games. He also shot 38.7% from 3-point range and was a pesky defender, averaging 1.5 steals per contest.

He made national headlines after exploding for 42 points and six assists in a 90-86 loss to Texas Tech in January, cementing himself as one of the best true freshmen in a loaded NBA draft class that includes numerous one-and-done prospects. USA TODAY projects nine of the first 10 picks to be true freshmen.

"Coming into this year, I wanted to be one of the best freshmen and I think I proved that," Flemings said.

In the coming weeks, Flemings plans on training his 3-point shot, his floater and improving his handle, aiming to dribble lower and tighter to prepare for NBA defenders.

He's also bringing the hard-nosed Houston mindset to the next level.

“I think (I'm) just a winner and someone that teammates like to play with," Flemings said. "Not going to be a bad guy for the team or a cancer. Someone the team’s going to love and a winner.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kingston Flemings details NBA draft decision in exclusive interview

Jayson Tatum has strong return to playoffs for Celtics, who rout 76ers 123-91 in Game 1

BOSTON — Jayson Tatum had 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in his first playoff game since rupturing his right Achilles tendon last season, and the Boston Celtics rolled past the Philadelphia 76ers 123-91 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series on Sunday.

Jaylen Brown scored 26 points and Neemias Queta added 13 for the second-seeded Celtics.

Tatum scored 21 points in the first half, playing in just his 17th game this season following surgery last May to repair his Achilles tendon.

Boston never trailed, building a 35-point lead as coach Joe Mazzulla gave minutes to 12 players. The Celtics connected on 16 3-pointers.

Game 2 is Tuesday night in Boston.

Tyrese Maxey had 21 points and eight assists for the 76ers, who played without Joel Embiid. The 2023 MVP continues to recover following an appendectomy on April 9. It’s unclear when he will be able to return.

Paul George scored 17 points and V.J. Edgecombe added 13. Philadelphia was 4 of 23 from 3-point range.

Maxey was hounded by a Celtics defense that contested 12 of his 14 shot attempts in the first half and held him to 8 of 20 from the field.

Philadelphia’s 64-46 halftime deficit was its largest in a playoff game against Boston since 1982.

Tatum had 10 first-quarter points, punctuated with an emphatic two-handed dunk, to help the Celtics end the period with a 33-18 lead.

Philadelphia struggled at the outset to keep pace with Boston’s shooting, making one of its first nine attempts from 3. The 76ers also had issues keeping Boston out of the paint after Embiid’s understudies, Adem Bona and Andre Drummond, each picked up two quick fouls.

That prompted Sixers coach Nick Nurse to bring in Dominick Barlow, who played just 10 minutes in Philadelphia’s play-in victory over Orlando.