The Ducks are entering the homestretch of the regular season, with each game another opportunity to grab a vital two points and solidify their spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2018. However, the Ducks are currently experiencing one of their worst runs of the season. A five-game losing streak in which they've been outscored 14-24 and gained just one point has also featured two third period collapses against the Toronto Maple Leafs and the San Jose Sharks.
Their opponent, the Nashville Predators are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Monday. The Predators have won seven of their last 11 games and are just one point back of the second Wild Card spot. The Kings reclaimed that spot with their win on Monday.
Due to their poor run of play, the Ducks have dropped to second in the Pacific, with the Edmonton Oilers holding the top spot despite the teams being tied in points, thanks to the tiebreaker rules. The Vegas Golden Knights are one point back of both the Oilers and Ducks and could jump to first with a win and Oilers/Ducks losses on Tuesday.
Apr 3, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks play against the St. Louis Blues at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Dropping out of the playoffs completely remains an unlikely scenario for Anaheim. However, they must win at least two of their remaining five games to prevent that from becoming a reality. Four points currently separate the second Wild Card and second in the Pacific.
"Just trying to view these last five games as a round of playoffs," Troy Terry said. "That's truly what it is for us right now."
“Let’s incentivize ourselves,” head coach Joel Quenneville said. “Play this game like it's a playoff game, that’s the meaning and the purpose. We get to find out about guys knowing that with everything at stake, you rise to the occasion. But, you’ve got to earn it in this business in this situation as well. Let’s go get it.”
"This time of year, it's just important to win those games," Jackson LaCombe said. "I think every point matters throughout the year, so I wouldn't say we're looking into (the standings) too much, but you want home ice and everything else that comes with that. I think we're just trying to focus on playing our best hockey."
“I think we just want to play a little more simple,” Mason McTavish said. “I think we are really going to focus on not giving up as much, whether it's keeping our shifts shorter and being more fresh and thinking a little more clearly out there. I think that's something that we can control, and we're going to really look to focus down the stretch with these games meaning so much. It’s a great test for our team, and I know everybody's really excited.”
Apr 4, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish (23) during the second period against the Calgary Flames at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Corinne Votaw-Imagn Images
Anaheim's leading goalscorer Cutter Gauthier has missed the last three games with an upper-body injury. He left the game in the first period on Mar. 30 against the Toronto Maple Leafs and has not played since. He will not play against the Predators, missing a fourth consecutive game.
Captain Radko Gudas will also miss this game with a lower-body injury. He returned to face the Leafs, but has not played since.
Defenseman Pavel Mintyukov has also missed the past three games with a lower-body injury, but will return to the lineup against the Predators. He is playing in his 200th NHL game.
“Play hard and simple,” Mintyukov said on the focus for the team after their recent poor run of play. “No stupid mistakes.”
-Cutter Gauthier (upper-body) had a light skate on Tuesday and is targeting a return on Sunday, Mar. 12 against the Vancouver Canucks, per Quenneville.
-Radko Gudas (lower-body) is “closer than he was before,” but has no projected timeline. “(If) he gets in a practice or two with the guys, could be playing right after that,” Quenneville said.
-Ross Johnston (lower-body) is entering week three of his initial projected three to four-week timeline. Quenneville said Johnston is progressing well and that he’ll start skating soon. “Tough to say, but we’ll keep with that forecast.”
Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville speaks to the media after their morning skate at Honda Center.
Ducks Projected Lines
Mikael Granlund - Leo Carlsson - Beckett Sennecke Chris Kreider - Ryan Poehling - Troy Terry Alex Killorn - Mason McTavish - Jeff Viel Frank Vatrano - Tim Washe - Ian Moore
Jackson LaCombe - Jacob Trouba Pavel Mintyukov - John Carlson Tyson Hinds - Drew Helleson
Lukáš Dostál (confirmed)
Predators Projected Lines
Steven Stamkos - Ryan O'Reilly - Zachary L'Heureux Filip Forsberg - Matthew Wood - Jonathan Marchessault Tyson Jost - Erik Haula - Luka Evangelista Reid Schaefer - Fedor Svechkov - Joakim Kemell
Brady Skjei - Roman Josi Adam Wilsby - Nick Perbix Ryan Ufko - Justin Barron
The battle to stay out of the play-in spots in the East is real, with the team in fifth just 3.5 games up on the team in 10th. Two of those squads collide tonight when the Toronto Raptors host the Miami Heat.
Both teams desperately need a win after a tough stretch of games. My Heat vs. Raptors predictions and NBA picks tell you why Toronto will prevail against the spread on Tuesday, April 7.
Heat vs Raptors prediction
Heat vs Raptors best bet: Raptors -1.5 (-110)
The Miami Heat currently hold the last play-in spot in the East, but they trail the Toronto Raptors, who are just above the play-in spots in sixth place.
The Heat are coming off a win, but it was only their third in the last 11 games.
This will be an interesting stylistic matchup as Toronto’s defense tries to slow down the high-tempo Heat, who rank fifth in offensive rating since the All-Star break.
The Raptors do this frustrating thing where they show their potential for three quarters, before a typically poor fourth costs them the game, just like their most recent loss to the Celtics.
However, they tend to perform better when they’re supposed to win, and they’re slight home favorites here. Additionally, their strength remains at the defensive end of the floor, where they rank 10th in defensive rating for the second half of the season.
They also do a solid job on the perimeter, ranking eighth in opponent 3-point shooting percentage. This is important against a team that leads the NBA in pace and shots per game.
Meanwhile, the Heat rank 21st in defensive rating since the break. That should be enough to help Toronto cover this short spread at home and beat the Heat for the third time this season.
Heat vs Raptors same-game parlay
The Heat’s high pace of play and huge shooting output results in a lot of rebounds. Scottie Barnes has seen his rebounding numbers dip a bit lately, but he still averages 7.5 rebounds per game this season, and this is a great spot for him to get back to having a presence on the boards.
We also get a fun Norman Powell reunion tonight. The former Raptor returns to where he helped win an NBA championship in 2019, and the Toronto fans love him. Don’t be surprised if the guard, averaging 22.1 points per game this season, gets in a groove tonight.
Heat vs Raptors SGP
Raptors -1.5
Scottie Barnes Over 7.5 rebounds
Norman Powell Over 17.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Heating the glass
The Raptors have also struggled on the glass of late, ranking 23rd in rebounding rate since the All-Star break. So, rebounds for all!
Heat vs Raptors SGP
Scottie Barnes Over 7.5 rebounds
Brandon Ingram Over 5.5 rebounds
Andrew Wiggins Over 4.5 rebounds
Norman Powell Over 3.5 rebounds
Heat vs Raptors odds
Spread: Heat +1.5 | Raptors -1.5
Moneyline: Heat +100 | Raptors -120
Over/Under: Over 240 | Under 240
Heat vs Raptors betting trend to know
The Raptors have covered the 1Q Spread in 12 of their last 16 games for +7.45 Units and a 41% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Heat vs. Raptors.
How to watch Heat vs Raptors
Location
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
Date
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
TSN, FDSN-Sun
Heat vs Raptors 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.
Kentucky Basketball is receiving a wide range of projections in way-too-early 2026-27 Top 25 rankings, reflecting uncertainty after a season of key departures and transfers.
Projected starting five (before Jelavić’s transfer, though he could still return): G Trent Noah, G Collin Chandler, F Kam Williams, F Andrija Jelavić, C Malachi Moreno Projected key bench: Brayden Hawthorne, Mason Williams
Roster Status
Graduating: Otega Oweh, Walker Horn, Zach Tow
Transferring: Denzel Aberdeen (graduating), Jasper Johnson, Brandon Garrison, Jaland Lowe, Mo Dioubate, and Andrija Jelavić
Undecided: Trent Noah, Jayden Quaintance, Kam Williams, Collin Chandler, Brayden Hawthorne, Reece Potter
College/Testing NBA Draft Waters: Malachi Moreno
Mark Pope’s top priority will be retention, especially keeping 7-foot center Malachi Moreno, who averaged 7.8 points per game and has high breakout potential. Veteran shooting guard Collin Chandler, averaging 9.7 points, will also hopefully anchor the backcourt, though he has not 100% confirmed his return yet.
As the Wildcats navigate departures, transfers, and player development, fans are left watching closely how the roster takes shape and how early projections will adjust leading into the new season.
It’s still fairly early in 2026, but what a year it’s been for Carlos Beltran.
After finding out in January that he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the good news kept coming, including the most recent announcement that the former center fielder would be inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame and have his No. 15 retired in September.
“2026 has been an incredible year for me, and also for my family. My daughter has been accepted to Columbia University here in New York, so I’m so excited for that, and the Hall of Fame, the Hall of Fame for the Mets and now the number retired, I’m thinking about maybe a tattoo with 26,” Beltran said with a laugh on Tuesday afternoon. “My first tattoo, I don’t have any tattoos.
“But so happy, and honestly speaking I’m so grateful for the relationships in baseball and the ability to be around the team, the opportunity to be around the organization.”
Beltran, now a special assistant to David Stearns, played in parts of seven seasons for the Mets from 2005 to 2011, posting a slash line of .280/.369/.500 with 149 home runs, 559 RBI and 551 runs scored, ended up making five All-Star appearances as a Met, though he admitted his transition from playing in cities like Kansas City an Houston wasn’t the easiest, at least at first.
“There’s no doubt that New York is a different place to play baseball. The attention that you receive here as a baseball player, understanding the amount of people and media that you have to be available to after the games is different than in any city. I played for six different organizations in baseball and I never experienced in New York what I experienced in other organizations.
“I didn’t really understand the magnitude of playing in New York City. I knew that I wanted to be here, because I felt that at the point this organization was heading into, they were adding players that I thought were going to help this organization moving forward.”
Beltran admitted that he tried to play through injuries in 2005, his first year in New York, and he didn’t really find his rhythm until the 2006 season, when he helped lead the Mets to an appearance in the NLCS against St. Louis.
And while he said he felt “misunderstood” at times as a player, he now sees himself as a Met, and he’ll don the team’s cap when he gets enshrined in Cooperstown this summer.
“It really means a lot [to have my number retired], even though at times I feel like I was misunderstood,” Beltran said of his Mets tenure. “It’s sweet, it’s bitter at times, because I felt like there were moments where I was doing everything possible to try to connect with the fan base, but for some reason at times it was hard, because the message that was delivered sometimes out there about me didn’t allow me to connect with the fans.
“But believe it or not, this was the team where feel like I grew the most, as a character, as an individual, as a player. …. But the fact that I see myself as a Met; my identity as a baseball player is here. And working with this organization the past three years has also been incredible.”
Beltran will enter the Mets Hall of Fame and have his No. 15 retired during a pregame ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 19 prior to the 4:10 p.m. game against the Philadelphia Phillies.
It's fairly clear that Minnesota will be the No. 6 seed and Phoenix the No. 7 in the West, but that could become more official depending on what happens Tuesday. Here is what you need to know.
Playoff Scenarios
• Minnesota can clinch a playoff spot (and officially avoid the play-in) with a win over tanking Indiana and a Phoenix loss to Houston. • Conversely, the Suns can be locked into the play-in if they lose to the Rockets while the Timberwolves pick up the expected win over the Pacers. • Miami becomes locked into the East play-in with a loss on the road to Toronto.
Games to Watch
Miami Heat at Toronto Raptors, 7:30 p.m. ET, League Pass
Miami's slim chances of getting out of the No. 10 seed in the East — and having to win two games on the road to make the playoffs — hinge on it racking up wins and getting help with one of Orlando/Charlotte/Philadelphia falling apart in the last week. Toronto is technically the No. 6 seed in the East but is just half a game ahead of the trio the Heat are chasing and needs wins to avoid the play-in. Toronto should be desperate, and if Miami loses this game it is locked into the play-in.
Charlotte Hornets at Boston Celtics, 8 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock
Orlando, Charlotte and Philadelphia are all 43-36 and tied for the 7/8/9 seeds in the East (and they are all just half a game back of No. 6 seed Toronto) — the Hornets need to win this game to help secure at least a top-eight seed and maybe climb out of the play-in altogether. Boston is likely to finish as the No. 2 seed in the East, but the Celtics are just 2.5 games ahead of the Knicks, so an ill-timed losing streak could see them fall a slot in the seedings. This is a potential first-round playoff preview, and Charlotte may be the team that the top three in the East would most like to avoid in the first round the way it has played of late.
Houston Rockets at Phoenix Suns, 11 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock
Phoenix can, in theory, make up the three-game difference between these two teams and climb out of the play-in out West, but both of those things are unlikely. Houston should be the desperate team here, it is just one game back of the banged-up Lakers for the No. 4 seed in the West and getting to host a first-round playoff series (likely against those same Lakers). Both teams could use the win in this nightcap of the NBA Tuesday.
The Chicago Blackhawks have four games remaining in 2025-26, and all of them will take place at the United Center. They close out with games against the Carolina Hurricanes, St. Louis Blues, Buffalo Sabres, and San Jose Sharks.
All of those teams are either in a playoff spot or desperately pushing to try and get in, so it won't be an easy task in any of these matchups.
The Blackhawks will be solely focused on themselves as they try to finish the season strong. Every player on the roster is pushing to show what they can do ahead of next season, where they will be expected to take another step.
There are a lot of different storylines to keep an eye on when it comes to this team's final handful of games. These are the four that stick out with four games remaining.
1. The five-forward power play is starting to work well.
Over the last handful of games, Jeff Blashill has been using five forwards on the power play. Against the San Jose Sharks on Monday, this looked like a strong group that skated and moved the puck well with the man-advantage.
When asked if he would go back to this strategy next season, Blashill had a response that you would expect following a game where everything seemed to click:
"I’d have to be crazy not to," Blashill said on considering five forwards again in 2026-27. "I have no issue with five forwards. It doesn’t matter if it’s a forward or a [defenseman] back there. That doesn’t dictate whether or not you give up shorthanded chances. To me, it’s about the responsibility of the group. What it does is get the puck in Bedsy’s hands, and he’s the guy you want with the puck in his hands."
With five forwards on the ice, the defensive responsibility (assuming they allow the short-handed unit to get the puck and hang onto it) would be on whoever is playing at the point.
Things usually aren't negative for the Blackhawks when Connor Bedard has the puck on his stick. He is the best offensive player on the team, so getting him touches with the extra man out there is important.
Against the Sharks, Frank Nazar and Anton Frondell couldn't stop shooting the puck from the flanks, which was largely created by Bedard dancing around. In Chicago's case, it might be better to go with that instead of a defenseman at the top of the zone.
2. Kevin Korchinski's development is showing as the season comes to an end.
Kevin Korchinski was called up ahead of Matt Grzelcyk and Artyom Levshunov, who were ruled out for the season. In that stretch, he has shown great signs of development.
"He's not over-complicating it," head coach Jeff Blashill said of Korchinski. "He's using his feet to beat pressure, but then he's moving the puck to the open people. When he does that and defends with his feet, he's been a really good player."
When Korchinski was the 7th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, the Blackhawks envisioned him as a high-end skating defenseman with great puck skills. It wasn't clicking at the NHL level early on, but he showed those skills in the AHL on a nightly basis.
Now, at 21 years old, he is starting to prove the scouting staff correct. It takes time, especially at this position with his skill set. It doesn't happen overnight. Heading into the summer, especially if he finishes strong over these four games, Kyle Davidson and his staff must work on getting him extended (RFA).
3. Anton Frondell and Sacha Boisvert are looking to have strong finishes to a wild season.
Anton Frondell and Sacha Boisvert were both inserted into the Chicago Blackhawks lineup late in the season. They have wildly different skillsets, but are each capable of contributing to the team in the long-term.
Boisvert, the 18th pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, is a scrappy bottom-six forward who can play center or wing. In addition to playing a physical game (that includes fighting), he has a knack for goal scoring. As he adapts to the pro game, he should find success reaching the high-danger areas more frequently.
As for Frondell, he was the third overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft for a reason. Whether it's his two-way dominance, elite one-time shot, or tenacity in all three zones, he already fits into a top-six NHL role.
Whether he plays wing with a dynamic center or drives his own line as a center in the future remains to be seen, but the Blackhawks will certainly do their due diligence to figure out a great plan for him.
Going into the final four games of the season, expect both of them to skate like the wind. It's been a wild season for each of them, and they'd like to finish it strong.
4. Good Draft Lottery Odds are awaiting the front office.
The Chicago Blackhawks enter the final four games with the second-fewest amount of points in the National Hockey League. The Vancouver Canucks have locked in the best odds, but the Blackhawks could finish anywhere in the bottom five.
With some incredible teams rolling through town in the next few days, there is an opportunity for them to remain with the second-fewest amount of points. They have already improved their totals from a year ago, so one more year in the top three won't hurt them in any way. In fact, they would be guaranteed to add an elite prospect.
If they stick with the second-best odds, they will enter the lottery with a 13.5 percent chance of winning the first overall pick in the 2026 Draft. Picking first or second likely means one of Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg. Dropping outside of the top two could mean anything, as this is a deep draft with some big decisions yet to be made.
Although the young Blackhawks have no interest in dropping any of their final four games, every result will have the hockey world checking the standings at the bottom.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
It became abundantly clear by early April that this year’s rookie class has a chance to be a once in a generation influx of impact fantasy contributors. The excitement level for this current nucleus reached its high-water mark last Friday when Pirates prodigy Konnor Griffin became the first teenager to reach the majors since Juan Soto back in 2018. We’ve already seen flashes of present and future fantasy greatness from Kevin McGonigle, JJ Wetherholt, Sal Stewart, Carson Benge, and Chase DeLauter.
The ever-expanding list of potential high-impact rookie talent this season also includes Samuel Basallo, Trey Yesavage, Andrew Painter, Bryce Eldridge, Carter Jensen, Bubba Chandler, Connelly Early and Justin Crawford. Technically, Kazuma Okamoto and Munetaka Murakami qualify too. Not to mention that potential franchise cornerstones like Leo De Vries, Colt Emerson and Jesús Made are on the horizon. We’re also due for some out-of-nowhere stars emerging. It’s an exciting and slightly overwhelming moment for fantasy managers to have to draw firm conclusions about prospects as they reach the majors faster than ever before.
The actionable conclusion, especially in dynasty formats, is to start thinking about the next wave instead of marveling at the present tsunami crashing into the shore. Here’s an oversimplification: Waves don’t begin at the shoreline, they form far offshore, building shape and momentum long before anyone on the beach takes notice. This week’s Rotoworld Dynasty Stock Watch examines seven prospects on the rise with varying trajectories and timelines to the big leagues that fantasy managers should be prioritizing in trade discussions.
⚾ Baseball is back! MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.
There are professional debuts, and then there’s whatever Hernandez did last Friday in his season debut for Low-A Bradenton, recording eight strikeouts over three scoreless innings. The 19-year-old prodigy was selected sixth overall in last year's MLB Draft as the consensus top prep pitching arm in the class and certainly lived up to the hype. He topped out at 99.3 mph and generated an eye-popping 18 swinging strikes on 39 pitches (30 strikes) in the abbreviated outing.
He's still a hyperspace jump or two, to borrow a Star Wars metaphor, from reaching the big leagues, but he's clearly one of the top pitching prospects in the fantasy landscape already. He'll be one of the biggest risers in dynasty rankings over the next few months and is on a trajectory to blossom into one of the top pitching prospects in baseball.
James Tibbs III, OF, Dodgers
There would be a path to major-league at-bats for Tibbs in virtually every other organization, but there appears to be no clear avenue to regular playing time in Los Angeles, barring an unexpected development. The 23-year-old former first-round pick, who was traded by both the Red Sox and Giants last year, is making plenty of noise on the doorstep of the majors, hitting .474 (18-for-38) with seven homers and 13 RBI through nine games at Triple-A Oklahoma City.
James Tibbs III is off to an INSANE start to 2026 at Triple-A for the Dodgers
He won’t sustain this surreal pace much longer, but it’s increasingly likely he forces his way to the big leagues later this season, whether with the Dodgers or elsewhere. Tibbs could fit in a righty-mashing platoon role alongside someone like Teoscar Hernández, but Los Angeles is unlikely to carve out consistent at-bats unless he gives them a reason over the coming months.
The alternative is another organization overwhelming the Dodgers with an offer to make him an everyday player. The simplest way to put it: Tibbs looks ready for the majors, and someone is going to give him that opportunity soon.
Ryan Sloan, SP, Mariners
Sloan has been a household name in dynasty formats for a couple years at this juncture, but he’s a bit underrated from a national standpoint, especially with southpaw Kade Anderson drawing a ton of attention in the same system. The 20-year-old possesses the complete fantasy ace starter kit, featuring upper-echelon velocity, elite spin rates and the ability to command his electric arsenal. He routinely touches the upper 90s with his fastball and pairs it with a hard-biting slider capable of neutralizing left-handed hitters.
MLB's No. 4 RHP prospect Ryan Sloan (@Mariners) retires his final 7 batters faced and finishes with 4 K's across 4 IP in his Double-A @ARTravs debut: pic.twitter.com/VbW0WYZBNZ
He allowed three runs with four strikeouts over four innings in his season debut last Saturday for Double-A Arkansas after posting a 3.73 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 90/15 K/BB ratio across 82 innings in the lower minors last year. There’s a potential buying opportunity for dynasty managers if Sloan isn’t being valued like a future ace in trade discussions, and he’s a worthwhile stash in deeper mixed leagues given the strong possibility he reaches the majors later this summer.
Sam Antonacci, 2B/OF, White Sox
Antonacci announced his presence to the broader fantasy audience during last month’s World Baseball Classic and has looked like an everyday big leaguer early in the Triple-A season, hitting .346 (9-for-26) with two homers and three steals in seven games. He’s also drawn eight walks while striking out just three times over that span.
Sam Antonacci homers for the 2nd straight game to begin his Triple-A @KnightsBaseball tenure ⚡️
The 23-year-old has clearly added strength after hitting just five homers in 139 games across the previous two minor-league seasons. The uptick in power, combined with his well-rounded skill set and defensive versatility, should make him a viable fantasy contributor in deeper formats once he reaches the majors. He doesn’t offer the same upside as some of the other names in this space, but his proximity to the majors and recent improvements have driven a rapid rise in his stock.
Brody Hopkins, SP, Rays
Hopkins boasts one of the more imposing power arsenals among pitching prospects, featuring triple-digit fastball velocity paired with a curveball and changeup that can both touch 90 mph. The 24-year-old flamethrower has allowed just one run with a 10/7 K/BB ratio across nine innings over two starts for Triple-A Durham.
He has a chance to reach Tampa Bay later this season after a dominant run at Double-A Montgomery last year, where he posted a 2.72 ERA with a 141/60 K/BB ratio across 116 innings. Hopkins is an elite pitching prospect worth monitoring closely, especially with only veterans like Steven Matz and Nick Martinez standing between him and a potential rotation spot in one of the more pitcher-friendly home parks in baseball. He could be one of the top-ranked dynasty pitching prospects by midseason.
George Lombard Jr., SS, Yankees
Lombard is ready to play shortstop at the highest level from a defensive standpoint. The 20-year-old former first-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft struggled over 108 games at Double-A last year, but he’s off to a strong start in a return to the level, going 6-for-9 with three extra-base hits and one steal through two games.
Hard to get better than George Lombard Jr.'s season debut.
He would represent a clear long-term defensive upgrade over Anthony Volpe at shortstop, and his timeline to the majors could accelerate if he proves capable of handling upper-minors pitching over the next few months. He doesn’t project as a fantasy superstar—particularly if batting average remains an issue—but his blend of double-digit home run and stolen base potential provides a path to mixed-league relevance soon.
Luis Hernandez, SS, Giants
Sometimes, you know it when you see it. The top international prospect from the 2026 signing class, Hernandez drew rave reviews from scouts and evaluators during spring training and will skip the Dominican Summer League altogether, making his stateside debut soon in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League.
The switch-hitting shortstop is more about projection than present tools from a fantasy perspective, but similar things were said about Leo De Vries and Jesús Made at this stage of their development. The aggressive assignment is a clear indication that San Francisco believes he can handle the challenge and move quickly through the system. He’s still several years away from the majors, but a strong showing over the next few months could vault him near the top of most dynasty rankings.
Andrew Fischer, 3B, Brewers
Fischer was one of the prospect standouts during last month’s World Baseball Classic, hitting .357 (5-for-14) with three extra-base hits in four games. The 21-year-old first-round pick from last year’s MLB Draft posted an .848 OPS in 19 games at High-A Wisconsin during his pro debut. He’ll open this season at the same level but could reach Double-A by the summer. If he shows improved strike-zone control in the upper minors, he could arrive in Milwaukee as a legitimate middle-of-the-order power bat as soon as 2027.
The New York Yankees have the scariest lineup in baseball, and today they host the A's and righty Aaron Civale, whom they have history of dominating.
That AL clash headlines my three favorite MLB picks in the "no run first inning" and "yes run first inning" markets today.
Here are my best free YRFI and NRFI bets for Tuesday, April 7.
Best NRFI/YRFI bets today
Pick
Odds
/ - NRFI
-120
/ - YRFI
-115
/ - YRFI
+118
Cubs at Rays: NRFI (-120)
Javier Assad makes his season debut for the Chicago Cubs and has pitched to a solid 3.43 ERA across 331 innings in his MLB career. He takes on the Tampa Bay Rays, who are 29th in the majors in barrel rate and 25th in hard-hit rate.
The Cubs have also struggled at the plate, ranking 25th in OPS (.628), with that number dropping to .557 over their last three games.
The Rays are giving the pill to Drew Rasmussen, who has logged a sparkling 2.68 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP in 83 career starts with Tampa Bay.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Marquee Sports Net | Rays.TV
Athletics at Yankees: YRFI (-115)
The New York Yankees have the best lineup in the AL and have scored in the first inning in 44.4% of their games.
They face Athletics starter Aaron Civale, who pitched to a 4.85 ERA in 102 innings last season. Civale has an ugly 6.35 ERA with a 1.65 WHIP in seven career starts against the Yankees.
The A's also have a talented lineup anchored by Brent Rooker and Shea Langeliers. The A's are seventh in the majors in exit velocity, and the 20 mph wind blowing towards the outfield today will help both offenses.
Time: 7:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBC Sports CA | YES
Mariners at Rangers: YRFI (+118)
The Seattle Mariners are ice-cold at the plate. That said, this is virtually the same lineup that mashed on the road last year, and proven sluggers like Cal Raleigh, Josh Naylor, and Julio Rodriguez will eventually break out.
They face Texas Rangers righty Nathan Eovaldi, who has surrendered 16 hits and 11 runs through 8 2/3 frames.
Meanwhile, M's starter George Kirby struggles away from the pitcher-friendly confines of T-Mobile Park. He had a 5.16 ERA with an OBA of .279 on the road last year, and the Rangers are second in the majors in hard-hit rate and exit velocity.
Time: 8:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Mariners.TV | Rangers Sports Network
Rohit's 2026 Transparency Record
NRFI/YRFI picks: 7-7, -0.27 units
What is a NRFI bet?
NRFI (No Run First Inning) and YRFI (Yes Run First Inning) bets add a thrilling twist to the start of an MLB game. A NRFI bet is a wager that no runs will be scored in the first inning. You're betting that the starting pitchers for both teams will get through the first inning without allowing any runs, whether by striking out batters, inducing ground balls, or through solid defensive play.
A YRFI bet is the exact opposite. You're betting that at least one run will be scored in the first inning. In this case, you’re hoping for an early offensive burst such as a leadoff walk, a timely hit, or even a home run.
NRFI and YRFI bets add excitement to the early part of a game and offer immediate gratification for bettors looking for a quick resolution.
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.
The reaction was predictable; the Lakers came out flat against an already eliminated Dallas Mavericks team on Sunday. They were able to fight back behind a 30-point, 15-assist effort from LeBron James and a triple-double by trade deadline acquisition Luke Kennard, but Cooper Flagg had arguably his signature moment of his rookie season with 45 points, eight rebounds and nine assists to outlast LA 134-128, handing the shorthanded Lakers their second straight loss.
In the meantime, the other teams in the running for the third seed – the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets – have surged. The Nuggets have won nine in a row and overtook the Lakers for third place with their comeback over the Portland Trail Blazers, Monday, April 6. The Rockets, trailing by just one game, have also been red-hot with a six-game winning streak of their own.
So how much room do the Lakers have for error – if any at all? Here's what lies ahead for each team in the final week of the season:
Luka Dončić's MVP campaign was put to a premature end when he suffered a grade 2 left hamstring strain in the fourth quarter of the Lakers' blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He's been ruled out for the remaining five games in the regular season, with his status unclear for the playoffs.
The standard timeline for a grade 2 hamstring strain is four-to-six weeks, which would make a return in the first round highly unlikely, but Dončić is currently in Spain to undergo an injection procedure in an attempt to expedite his recovery timeline. It's currently unclear how effective this treatment is or how much it can speed up the healing process.
Austin Reaves also went down with a grade 2 left oblique strain in the same game; he is also expected to miss 4-6 weeks as he rehabs in Los Angeles. If both timelines go completely as expected, the Lakers would likely need to advance to the second round in order for Dončić and Reaves to return to the floor.
LeBron James also landed on Monday's injury report as questionable for their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder with left foot injury management, which has been persistent over the past month or so. Given the Lakers' reliance on the 41-year-old to carry them at least through the first round, it wouldn't be surprising for him to have a night off in at least one of the four games left in the regular season.
Remaining schedules for the Lakers, Nuggets and Rockets
Here are all the games left for each of the teams in the running for the No. 3 seed in the West:
Lakers remaining games
Tuesday, April 7: vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Thursday, April 9: at Golden State Warriors
Friday, April 10: vs. Phoenix Suns
Sunday, April 12: vs. Utah Jazz
Nuggets remaining games
Wednesday, April 8: vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Friday, April 10: vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Sunday, April 12: at San Antonio Spurs
Rockets remaining games
Tuesday, April 7: at Phoenix Suns
Thursday, April 9: vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Friday, April 10: vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Sunday, April 12: vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Who has the edge?
The Nuggets have championship experience and one of the greatest centers to ever play the game on their side in Nikola Jokić, but they unequivocally have the toughest remaining schedule out of the three teams. Denver's final two games are against the top two seeds in the West -- though Victor Wembanyama's status might be up in the air for that game.
The Rockets have endured plenty of growing pains along the way, but they're ending the season on just as strong of a note as they started it. This is the youngest of the teams vying for the third seed, and Kevin Durant is still every bit the matchup nightmare he's always been (burner accounts aside). Three of their final four games are against teams jockeying for playoff positioning, and their penultimate meeting with the Timberwolves can likely decide who ends up with the fifth seed.
The Lakers – on paper at least – have the most favorable remaining schedule after Tuesday's game against OKC, but their backs are against the wall after dropping a winnable game in Dallas. The Warriors are still trying to find their rhythm, but Steph Curry looked like himself in his return April 5, which could spell danger for anyone in the West. The Suns might still be fighting to get into the top six, but odds are they'll be locked into the play-in by then. The Lakers then finish off against the tanking Utah Jazz.
The third seed is still within reach, but LA is going to need their role players to step up, like Deandre Ayton had during their 15-2 March or how Luke Kennard did with his triple-double on Sunday. James has shown that he can still pull off amazing feats on the court, but it can't come down to just him if this shorthanded Lakers team is going to survive.
Game 77 tonight against the St Louis Blues can be a big one for the Colorado Avalanche, as not only could they secure first in the Central Division and lock up first place in the Western Conference, but they could also secure the Presidents' Trophy, with the help of some other teams, of course.
If they want to win the Central Division and finish first as West #1, the stipulations for tonight are as follows:
- A win versus St. Louis Blues (regulation or overtime, need the two points) -OR; One point versus the Blues and the Dallas Stars lose to the Calgary Flames (in any fashion) -OR: Stars regulation loss versus Flames
It's as simple as that for the Avalanche: secure a point against the Blues and hope the Flames don't pull off an upset against the Stars, who are starting Jake Oettinger tonight.
Granted, the Flames are 6-3-1 in their last ten, and the Stars are 3-5-2 in their last ten, so both teams are both hot and cold going against each other tonight. Though the last time each faced each other was back on March 3, where the Stars took a massive 6-1 victory over the Flames.
Presidents Trophy Stipulation
Now this is where the Avalanche start to rely on more than just one team if they hope to secure the Presidents' Trophy tonight. Here are the stipulations needed if the Avalanche wants to secure the 2025/26 Presidents' Trophy:
- Avalanche regulation win against the Blues, AND Carolina Hurricanes lose in regulation to the Boston Bruins -OR; Overtime/shootout win versus the Blues, Hurricanes regulation loss to the Bruins, AND the Tampa Bay Lightning don't secure a regulation win against the Ottawa Senators.
It's a bit more congested for the Avalanche if they want to secure the Presidents' Trophy tonight, as the stars need to align perfectly for them, which is hard with that many stipulations.
The Hurricanes have already clinched a playoff spot, but the Bruins are currently holding the top wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference with 95 points, and the teams below them are not too far away from reaching their point total.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have already clinched a playoff spot, but they're fighting for first in the Atlantic against the Buffalo Sabers, who are tied with them in points, both with 102.
The Ottawa Senators are fighting to keep that last wildcard spot, as there are four other Eastern Conference teams creeping up on them, ready to take that spot with just a matter of one win.
The Avalanche are in a comfortable spot to secure both. Will they get both tonight against the Blues? Time will only tell if all stipulations fall their way.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 12: Cole Carrigg #86 of the Colorado Rockies runs to third base during the seventh inning of the Spring Training game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 12, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) | Original photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images, March 12, 2026
We’ve talked at length about how Cole Carrigg (No. 4 PuRP) is the definition of a “super-utilityman,” having played every position on the field at least once while also switch hitting. However, in spring training, he also worked on honing his off-the-field skills.
Carrigg has always been an aggressive player, as evidenced by his stealing home in Saturday’s Isotopes game:
Last August, he notoriously stole second, third and home in the same inning.
“I’ve had a tendency to play, not necessarily over the top, but I just play 100% all the time,” he said during spring training. “That’s what I’ve been taught growing up by my dad and my brother. The only way I know how to play the game is a fully-competitive, 100% nature.”
However, that comes with some drawbacks.
In 2025, Carrigg posted a 33% chase rate – one of the highest in the minor leagues. That was the biggest on-field skill he worked to develop during spring training: trying to harness his “competitive nature” and learn a more patient approach.
“I’m just trying to do a lot a lot of the time, and sometimes that can get in the way,” he said. “But for me, it’s just knowing what I’m looking for and knowing what I can handle the best, and not trying to do too much at times.
“I’ve definitely taken some strides in that area,” he continued. “(I didn’t have) a lot of walks this spring, but I feel like I put myself into good counts. But putting the ball in play and playing hard is never a problem.”
That said, with the Rockies focus on versatility at all positions, why isn’t a guy like Carrigg being looked at more closely? It might be more related to off-the-field things.
“Probably handling failure like a professional,” Carrigg said of his next step, “getting rid of that immaturity and just letting them know that. If I do come up to the big leagues, I’m sure it’s not always going to be great – hopefully it’s awesome and I do well, but there’s going to be tough times. And being able to handle that like a pro and not bring the club down in any sense, and having any bad attitude or whatever and just being a good locker room guy… I felt like I did a really good job this spring. Granted, it went well so it’s a lot easier to be happy when things are going well. But just handling more of that type of thing like a professional.”
In addition to an extended look at big league spring training, Carrigg also got the opportunity to represent Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic.
“Getting a little week break to go play with the WBC was super cool,” he said. “I played short there and got to represent Israel, and I had four really good games out there. We went 2-2 – it wasn’t the result that we wanted, but it was still really fun to win a couple games, get them their berth for the next WBC. And then getting back into camp and hitting the ground running, and just playing some good ball and enjoying it while I could. I had a real blast.”
And the adjustments made things interesting down the stretch.
“It was a pretty unique experience going from camp to the WBC,” Carrigg said. “There’s a few big leaguers on our team – actually, quite a few, to be honest – so it kind of felt almost similar to spring training. We got to play against the Marlins at their spring training and we played against the Mets at their spring training, so for the most part, it kind of felt just like big league camp. But it was pretty cool – we stayed in a super awesome hotel with great food. It was pretty top notch. And then coming back, obviously, everything we have here is top notch, as well. And I got to see all the fellas again, so it was really good.”
Carrigg was not optioned to minor league camp until March 19 – the same day as Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP). Last year, he was reassigned on March 5. That goes to show how much closer Carrigg could be to the big leagues.
“I guess I did what I needed to do to stay longer,” he said. “Last year was a little shorter stint and I didn’t really play all that great. I guess you could say I forced the hand a little bit more this year, and I guess I just showed what I could bring to the table and bring to the team, and hopefully that’s some winning baseball.”
In his first week in Triple-A, Carrigg has gone 8-for-33 (.242) with one double, one triple, two RBI and two walks. He also has six strikeouts, but has stolen six bases in seven attempts.
Carrigg might be a player that fits the new Rockies archetype, so hopefully he can gain a little more control in order to put himself in a place to be called up to the bigs.
Weekly Pebble Report: March 30th-April 5th
Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes (3-6)
The Isotopes welcomed the Reno Aces (Arizona Diamondbacks) for their first homestand of the season. Albuquerque managed to snag two wins in the series, thanks largely in part to their pitching staff, with the starters in particular compiling a 1.99 ERA in 22 1/3 innings with six walks and 25 strikeouts. Pitchers as a unit have allowed three or fewer runs in four of the first nine games in the 2026 season.
Unfortunately, the offense has struggled quite a bit to put runs on the board. The Isotopes tied a team record by going six consecutive home games without a home run, dating back to last year’s season finale, before new minor league free agent addition, Andrew Knizner, connected for a home run on Sunday. During this series, the Isotopes posted a .209/.308/.280 slashline with just 10 extra-base hits (eight doubles, one triple, one homer).
It’s also worth noting that it was shared on Sunday that Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) has been absent for the last few days after having a cyst removed, but it’s expected he’ll be able to get back to action in a few days.
⬆️ Stock Up: Top Marks for the Professor
Gabriel Hughes (No. 12 PuRP) came up big on the mound in both of his appearances during the series. In total, Hughes worked 10 1/3 innings with five hits and three earned runs allowed. During his start in the Home Opener last Tuesday, Hughes allowed just two runs on three hits while striking out eight batters against just two walks. During Sunday’s finale, Hughes entered the game after Parker Mushinski served as the “opener” and proceeded to allow one run on two hits with six strikeouts and just one walk. In that outing, he threw 56 of his 77 pitches for strikes.
Hughes fits the mold of a pitcher that the new front office is emphasizing. He offers a varied arsenal and has the mental aptitude to experiment and handle the mental approach to pitching at a higher elevation. He is, of course, a person who reads philosophy books for fun in his spare time. Hopes are high that Hughes will be able to make his big league debut at some point this season, and his showing an ability to handle the extreme conditions of the Pacific Coast League draws that day ever closer.
⬇️ Stock Down:Veen Struggling in the Duke City Scene
Officially activated from the injured list and optioned to Triple-A, Zac Veen (No. 9 PuRP) has struggled since joining the Isotopes on March 31. He is just 2-for-18 to begin the season with seven strikeouts and a pair of walks. He went 1-for-3 with an infield single and a walk in the series finale, marking the first time he reached safely multiple times in a game this season. He deserves some grace as he missed the last few weeks of spring training, but Veen has a lot to prove and will need to find his footing to put pressure on those above him on the depth chart.
Upcoming
The Isotopes kick off their next six-game series Tuesday by heading south to face off against the El Paso Chihuahuas (San Diego Padres).
Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats (2-1)
The Hartford Yard Goats started their tenth anniversary season as the Yard Goats with a 2-1 series win over the Chesapeake BaySox (Baltimore Orioles) at their home stadium of Dunkin’ Park. Although their season opener was marked by high strikeouts (14) and not taking advantage of scoring chances (2-for-12 with runners in scoring position), the Yard Goats rattled off back-to-back victories to take the series. In Game 2, the offense roared to life, beating down the BaySox 10-2 after plating five runs in the sixth inning.
⬆️ Stock Up:Shining, Wimmering, Splendid.
Anyone not named Braylen Wimmer might have been surprised to see the 25-year-old super utilityman on the field this spring. After suffering a seizure during the Arizona Fall League in November, Wimmer underwent a surgical procedure called an awake craniotomy to remove as much as possible of a large, cancerous brain tumor called an astrocytoma. No one would have blamed him for sitting even part of this season out.
Yet Wimmer suited up as the Opening Day center fielder for the Hartford Yard Goats and played in two of their first three games. Not only did he play, he excelled. Wimmer went 4-for-7 at the plate, drove in four runs, scored three times himself, went a perfect 2-for-2 stealing bases, and walked twice.
⬆️ Stock Up:Brooks Gets It Done
When the Rockies parted ways with Bradley Blalock this off-season, they obtained 24-year-old right-handed pitcher Jake Brooks from the Miami Marlins in the process. Brooks—a former 11th round pick from the 2023 draft—ended his last season in the Miami organization with Double-A Pensacola. This season he is starting the year in Double-A and had a strong debut with the Rockies organization. Brooks worked five scoreless frames against the BaySox while allowing just two hits and setting down nine batters via the punchout.
Upcoming
The Yard Goats are off to Reading for a six-game set against the Fightin’ Phils (Philadelphia Phillies) for their first road trip of the season.
High-A: Spokane Indians (2-1)
The Indians took two of three in their opening series against the Everett AquaSox (Seattle Mariners). On Friday, they won convincingly 4-1; on Saturday, they lost a close 3-2 game; and on Sunday, they outslugged the AquaSox 10-9.
Jackson Cox (No. 16 PuRP) was the only starter to pitch more than three innings, and he only allowed one run — a solo homer — on three hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in his start on Saturday. The Indians used three pitchers in that game, while they used four on Friday and six on Sunday. While the pitching staff has punched out a lot of batters (30), they’ve also walked quite a few. They’ve given up at least five walks in each of their games, including 10 on Sunday.
⬆️ Stock Up:Fight On! ✌🏻
Third baseman and 2025 draft pick Ethan Hedges (No. 29 PuRP) had a spectacular weekend at the plate. The Rockies’ third-round pick from USC went 6-for-11 (.545) with a double, two homers (both on Sunday), four RBI, one walk and three strikeouts.
Hedges was immediately sent to Spokane after he was drafted, and he hit just .195/.303/.234 in 20 games.
⬇️ Stock Down:Zero degrees Kelvin
Shortstop Kelvin Hidalgo struggled this week, going hitless (0-for-13) in three games with four strikeouts. He only reached (and scored) because he was hit by a pitch on Sunday. Of the prospects who have yet to record a hit, Hidalgo is the only one who started all three games.
Upcoming
The Indians head out for their first road trip, heading down to Hillsboro, OR to take on the Hops (Arizona Diamondbacks) for six games.
Low-A: Fresno Grizzlies (2-1)
The Low-A Fresno Grizzlies kicked off their 2026 season on the road against the Visalia Rawhide (Arizona Diamondbacks) looking to build on their strong 2025 campaign in which they reached the post-season only to be stymied by the eventual California League champion San Jose Giants.
The Grizzlies lost their season opener thanks to six earned runs given up by starter Marcos Herrera and a failure to capitalize on scoring chances by going 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. The offense also struck out 15 times. However, they quickly found their footing to win the next two games and their first series of the year. Across those two games the Grizzlies scored a combined 12 runs and strong pitching performances from 2025 draft picks Austin Newton and JB Middleton kept the Rawhide bats at bay.
⬆️ Stock Up:Born to Be Wilder
19-year-old third baseman Wilder Dalis (no. 24 PuRP) picked up where he left off after a standout campaign in 2025 across the Arizona Complex League and Low-A Fresno. Dalis went 4-for-10 at the plate to kick off the Low-A season with a double and his first home run of the year. He also drew three walks to just two strikeouts and had two RBIs.
Top Rockies prospect and 2025 first round pick Ethan Holliday was assigned back to Low-A Fresno to start the season and reportedly is bigger than stronger than ever. Unfortunately, that didn’t necessarily translate to results at the plate. The 19-year-old recorded just one hit in the Grizzlies’ three-game series against Visalia. While he drew two walks, he struck out a whopping seven times in 12 at-bats, including a rough four strikeout game on Saturday.
Upcoming
The Grizzlies head home to beautiful Chukchansi Park for their home opener and a six-game set against the Stockton Ports (Sacramento Athletics)
Apr 18, 2025; North Augusta, South Carolina, USA; Augusta GreenJackets Ethan Bagwell (18) pitches during the Augusta GreenJackets and Myrtle Beach baseball game at SRP Park. The Augusta GreenJackets unveiled their new Augusta Azalea uniforms. Mandatory Credit: Katie Goodale - Augusta Chronicle/USA TODAY NETWORK | Katie Goodale / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Introducing a new weekly series where we review what we’ve seen, and heart from the latest week of minor league action. This past weekend we saw all the full season teams start their yearly grind so let’s take a glance at what happened.
Who’s Hot
Ethan Bagwell – 6IP 0H 0R 1BB 6K, 16 whiffs
Ethan kicks off the series with an outstanding season debut for the Augusta GreenJackets against the Fredricksburg Nationals. Ethan utilized a four pitch mix: four seam, cutter, sweeper, changeup. His four seam fastball averaged around 94 MPH and maxed out at 96, a pitch he threw 21% of the time. His cutter had an average of 93 MPH, and he threw it 15% of the time. It was his sweeper that did a majority of the heavy lifting as he utilized it an astronomical 59% of the time. Finally, he showed four changeups. Ethan was in control from the very start of the game as he retired the first 12 batters that he saw. He commanded his pitches, pitched to weak contact, while also registering whiffs (16). It was a dominant start by every definition of the word.
JR Ritchie – 5IP 4H 0R 3BB 5K, 8 whiffs
While it was not on the same level as Ethan, JR Ritchie rebounded nicely after a bit of a disaster opening day (3.2IP 5H 2ER 3BB 3K). He was able to shutout the Round Rock Express across five innings of work. The command is still not quite there, as he still had an uncharacteristic three walks but did register 8 whiffs. JR utilized a five pitch mix of his four seam, two seam, curveball, changeup, and sweeper – getting whiffs on his changeup (1), four seam (1), curveball (3), cutter (1), two seam (2).
Didier Fuentes – 3.2IP 1H 0R 1BB 7K, 12 whiffs
Didier Fuentes continued his hot run of play with 3.2 fantastic innings against the Round Rock Express. He generated 12 whiffs, while primarily utilizing his four seam and slider. His four seam average 97 miles an hour, maxing out at 99 (multiple times), with -9.3” of horizontal break – which he used 57% of the time. His slider, averaged right around 86 miles an hour and moved a lot like the Lara slider/cutter, with just 4” of horizontal movement and 0.1” of vertical break. Fuentes also utilized his changeup (splitter), but he threw it just five times and it was not really a factor. That said, he got up to 72 pitches and looks to continue to build his arm strength until he is back in the starting rotation.
Owen Murphy – 5.2IP 3H 2ER 2BB 10K, 15 whiffs
It was a terrible start as Owen surrendered a homer and a triple to begin the game, but he settled in and turned in yet another very strong start while collecting 15 whiffs. Owen utilized a four pitch mix: four seam (91 MPH), slider (84 MPH), curveball (77 MPH), and a splitter (85 MPH). That said, he was still primarily 4s (54%), and slider (34%).
Alex Lodise – 13 AB, .385/.429/.462
Alex Lodise is off to a sizzling start as he’s hit the ball hard, registering a max EV of 109 on an opposite field hit. Keeping in mind that Lodise walked just fives times in 25 games last year, he’s picked up a walk and struck out just twice so far to start the season. The biggest thing to monitor is the lack of chasing especially at the top and bottom of the zones for Alex. While he has expanded a bit, he’s showing a much more promising approach at the plate and looks to be recognizing breaking pitches significantly better. While he still will go high in the zone, the fact that the chasing looks significantly better is very promising. Also of note, he hasn’t been chasing slider aways either – another very promising trend to monitor the rest of the year.
After his strong play the previous inning, Alex Lodise rips a opposite field double pic.twitter.com/xmyHEIFZh6
The promising 19 year old continue his strong play, collecting a 1.017 OPS through the first three games of the season. John also had five successful stolen bases often resulting in non-competitive throws. John also showed off the improved power as well, hitting a three run homer with an exit velocity of 104 MPH.
Isaiah Drake – 12 AB, .333/.429/.833
Isaiah Drake is off to an absolutely scorching start with a 1.262 OPS across the seasons first three games. Isaiah has continued his patience at the plate, not expanding the zone – with just two strikeouts while also walking a pair of times. Like Gil, Drake is also perfect on the base pads with 3 stolen bases and 0 caught stealings. He’s also collected two homers already, and has put up extremely strong exit velocity numbers. On April 3rd alone, he had exit velocities of 100, 103, 105, 97, and 101 MPH, going 2-for-5 in that game. There are a lot of positive trends to take from Isaiah’s opening weekend and if he continues to hit at a rate remotely close to this, there will be a lot of chatter about him being a Top 100 prospect.
Nick Montgomery – 5 AB, .600/.778/1.200
Nick appeared in just a pair of games for the GreenJackets but boy did he show out – with a 1.978 OPS during the opening weekend series. Nick showed patience at the plate, not expanding the zone and walking four times in the two games while striking out once. His homer was a barreled, coming in with a 99 MPH EV. The selectively at the plate was a welcome sign for the power hitting catcher as he really struggled at the plate last season. While it’s early, it’s a very positive trend that will hopefully continue through the season.
Nick Montgomery protects the top of the zone and deliver this opposite field rbi single to tie the game for the GreenJackets pic.twitter.com/mNGuxGllA0
As good as Nick was at the plate, it was a bit of a disaster behind the plate. In a single game he had a pair of throwing errors, as well as a passed ball that allowed a runner to score. High school catchers are notoriously some of the slowest developing players so it’s important to stay patient with Nick, however hopefully the play behind the plate improves to allow him to stay at the position where his power is on another level.
Cody Miller – 12 AB, .083/.083/.167
It’s been an odd start to the season for Cody who seems to be pressing quite a bit at the plate. Through the first three games of the season Cody has just one hit, and has struck out an uncharacteristic five times with zero walks. He’s expanded his zone as he’s pressed for more contact and the result has been poor quality at bats.
Jose Perdomo – 6 AB, .000/.000/.000
In a big year where health is of the highest interest to this writer, Jose Perdomo suffered an injury when he slipped running out of the box. He was down for a bit with trainers looking at his knee before he was able to get to his own feet and walk off the field. While there hasn’t been any concerning updates regarding the injury yet, it is yet another non-contact injury that has gotten in the way of his development. Hopefully Perdomo has avoided significant injury and will be back on the field sooner than later.
Corbin Carroll. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Before reading this update, you may want to look at this preseason article. It looked at six outfielders who could most exceed expectations. It concluded that Corbin Carroll was the most likely and that maybe two would exceed expectations.
Current status of the players. Jordan Lawlar broke his wrist. Waldschmidt stayed in the minors. So four players remain.
Corbin Carroll is the right fielder, and Alex Thomas is the center fielder. Tim Tawa and Jorge Barrosa are playing the in the outfield to make up for Lawlar’s absence. Let’s look at those four players to see whether they are exceeding preseason expectations.
Corbin Carroll. My preseason expectation was high. That expectation was the same OBP, SLG, and OAA as last season, and 34 homers (3 more than last season). Also, there are concerns about his recovery from the broken hamate bone.
Batting. His OBP and SLG exceeded my high expectations. He is on track for more homers than last season. In addition, he hit two triples in the first ten games. His impact went beyond expectations. In four of the Diamondbacks first five wins, his RBIs made the game-winning difference. The WPA totaled 1.02 for his top-ten plate appearances. He is playing at an All-Star level.
Let’s look at those four games:
30 March, 4 RBIs, D-backs won 9-6.
31 March, 2 RBIs, D-backs won 7-5.
1 April, 1 RBI, D-backs won 1-0.
5 April, 1 RBI and two singles where he crossed the plate, Dbacks won 6-5.
Defense. He is accumulating OAAs at a pace much higher than last season. Perhaps he will be a candidate for a gold glove.
Alek Thomas. My preseason expectation was batting as good as the 2025 league average OBP and SLG, and 6 OAA (the average of his 2023 and 2024 seasons).
Batting. His OBP and SLG are less than past seasons, and lower than 2025 league averages. On the other hand, his potential can be seen because his 4 RBIs are tied with Fernandez and Vargas for second highest on the Diamondbacks. His top-four plate appearance have a WPA totaling 0.26.
Defense. He is accumulating OAAs at a pace much higher than his excellent 2023 and 2024 seasons. His defense in center field is making a huge positive contribution to the Diamondbacks.
Jorge Barrosa. My preseason expectation was batting as good as the 2025 league average OBP and SLG, and 2 OAA
Batting. His .462 SLG is exceeding preseason expectations. His .231 OBP is close the expectations. So far this season, his SLG and OBP are higher than Tim Tawa’s SLG and OBP. His two doubles added a total of 0.14 WPA. Although he received no added WPA for crossing the plate, in the tenth inning of the game on 5 April, as the ghost runner he scored the winning run.
Defense. So far, Baseball Savant shows zero OAA. However, that zero may only indicate that he has not yet accumulated more than 0.5 OAA. It is too soon to draw conclusions about his defense.
Tim Tawa. If he becomes an everyday player, then he will exceed my preseason expectation of a bench player. Before looking at his actual innings played per game, I decided that averaging 0.7 innings per Diamondbacks game would exceed expectations. Tim Tawa started the season as a bench player, averaging 1.8 innings per game. In games 6 through 10, he averaged 6.0 innings per games, very close to being an everyday player. Currently, he is close to exceeding preseason expectations.
The following table compare the four outfielders. Data from Baseball Reference, Baseball Savant, and MLB com.
Summary.
Corbin Carroll is exceeding preseason expectations for batting and defense. In four of the Diamondbacks first five wins, his RBIs made the game-winning difference. Also, he may be a candidate for a Gold Glove.
Jorge Barrosa’s SLG is exceeding preseason expectations. It’s too soon to decide on his defense.
Alek Thomas’ defense in center field is exceeding preseason expectations. His defense in center field is making a huge positive contribution.
Tim Tawa is close to achieving everyday player status, which would exceed preseason expectations.
The video game overlords were a bit kinder to the Colorado Avalanche this time around.
Nathan MacKinnon scored in overtime to lift the Avalanche to a 2–1 win over the St. Louis Blues. Brett Kulak also found the back of the net for Colorado, while Scott Wedgewood turned aside 32 shots.
Jordan Kyrou scored the lone goal for St. Louis, and Jordan Binnington made 25 saves in the loss.
First Period
At the 3:23 mark, Gabe Landeskog teed up a one-timer from the top of the left circle, but his blistering shot was gloved down by Binnington.
Through the opening five minutes, St. Louis jumped out to a 7–1 edge in shots, with Wedgewood forced to keep Colorado afloat early.
The first half of the period was sloppy on Colorado’s end, as repeated turnovers in the defensive zone put Wedgewood in several dangerous situations. However, just past the midway point, the Avalanche broke through. Joel Kiviranta found Kulak in the slot, and his quick wrister slipped just over Binnington’s blocker to give Colorado a 1–0 lead.
Landeskog had another look from the same spot with under two minutes remaining, but Binnington turned it aside with the blocker.
Second Period
Just past the midway mark, Brent Burns made a terrific read, intercepting a pass to break up a prime scoring chance that could have tied the game for St. Louis.
After two periods, the Avalanche held a 1–0 lead, though the Blues carried a 24–17 advantage in shots.
Third Period
Colorado ran into penalty trouble early in the period when Landeskog was called for interference on Theo Lindstein.
The Avalanche killed off the penalty, but the Blues still managed to tie the game shortly after. Kyrou wrapped the puck around the net and tucked it in, with Nick Blankenburg in pursuit but unable to prevent the equalizer.
Moments later, Colorado received its first power play of the night when Jimmy Snuggerud was called for cross-checking Kiviranta.
Burns ripped a slap shot 50 seconds into the man advantage, but Binnington came up with a strong glove save. The Avalanche generated multiple Grade-A chances, including a dangerous one-timer from Necas that was turned aside, but couldn’t regain the lead.
Sam Malinski then put the Blues back on the power play with a cross-check on Dylan Holloway. And of course, it wouldn’t be an NHL video game without a Frostbite glitch—Malinski briefly turned into O.J. Simpson and sent his stick through Holloway’s chest… yet somehow avoided any additional charges.
Regulation solved nothing, sending the game to overtime.
Overtime
This time, Colorado flipped the script.
On a 2-on-1 rush, MacKinnon fed Necas, who blasted a slap shot that deflected off Binnington’s elbow and bounced right to MacKinnon at the backdoor. The puck caromed in off his chest, sealing a 2–1 Avalanche victory.
If the Avalanche score the real-life triumph, they'll finally, at long last, clinch the Central Division.
Soto was placed on the IL on Monday, retroactive to Saturday, due to the minor calf strain he suffered this past Friday against the Giants in San Francisco.
Mendoza explained that the decision was basically made on Sunday, and that Soto was fine with it.
While Soto could've conceivably played in the near-term and avoided an IL stint, Mendoza said the team "just wanted to play it safe."
"I've been saying that these are tricky, the calf area," Mendoza explained. "There's no reason for us to continue to go day by day and put him through a series of exercises and make a decision on whether he's gonna be available or not.
"We just decided, you know what, take your time before we start putting you through a series of things that he has to check all the boxes, right? Give him time, and we'll get him back when we get him back."
Tuesday is the fourth day since Soto's injury occurred, and he is eligible to return from the IL in one week -- on Tuesday, April 14.
When the Mets announced the IL move, they noted that a typical return to play for the type of injury Soto has is two-to-three weeks.
"For now, it's just treatment," Mendoza said about Soto's rehab. "I'm pretty sure he's gonna be doing some exercises indoors -- not much baseball activity until the soreness or the tightness goes away. That's the plan for the coming days."
New York Mets shortstop Ronny Mauricio (0) hits against the Miami Marlins during the fifth inning at Clover Park / Sam Navarro - Imagn Images
Mauricio was called up to replace Soto on the 26-man roster, and Mendoza laid out why, noting that they wanted another infielder/versatile player up given the minor ailments to Jorge Polanco (Achilles) and Brett Baty (thumb).
Mendoza spoke to Mauricio about his role, explaining to the 25-year-old that regular playing time might be sparse while he's up.
"Even though his name is not gonna be in the starting lineup, he's got a pretty important role," Mendoza said. "Coming off the bench, lefty bat, the versatility, defensively, pinch-running if we need to. But also understanding that the playing time part is gonna be limited. But we're not talking about having a case here like last year, where he kind of sat on the bench for a long time."
Mauricio slashed .226/.293/.369 with six homers and six doubles in 184 plate appearances over 61 big league games in 2025.
He has tantalizing potential, but has yet to put it all together at the major league level.
Mauricio also missed the entire 2024 season and the start of 2025 after needing ACL surgery for an injury he sustained while playing winter ball -- something that slowed his development.
/
- NRFI
/
- YRFI
/
- YRFI
