ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 1: Luis Severino #40 of the Athletics leaves the game during the fourth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on April 1, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Morning A’s fans and welcome to another new week!
The club is back in Sacramento and set to kick off a new home stand tonight. It’s going to be a long one as the team will be home for the entire week, first with four games against the Texas Rangers and then three this weekend against the Chicago White Sox. Righty Luis Severino is going to kick things off tonight in the first game of the series. Texas and the Athletics have the same record two weeks into the season so someone is going to rise in the standings while the loser will fall a spot. It’s still early but these games matter so it’s important to get off on the right foot in the early going.
While no one in the Twin Cities knows how to feel about a successful season, the Minnesota Twins have surprised the world to start the year.
If and when Minnesota comes back to reality, it likely will be because of its pitching, a disadvantage tonight against the Boston Red Sox.
My Red Sox vs. Twins predictions and MLB picks doubt the weather will make things quick, but whenever there is a game, Minnesota’s surprise season should continue on Monday, April 13.
Who will win Red Sox vs Twins today: Twins +1.5 (-124)
Minnesota Twins righthander Bailey Ober has yet to throw a quality outing this season. Of his three starts, his season debut at Baltimore was the worst, but also the only one that the Twins lost.
With Ober’s continued struggles in mind, it is difficult to justify betting on Minnesota to beat the Boston Red Sox outright. But given the Twins have won six of their last seven games and are shockingly sitting atop the American League right now, some faith should still be put in them.
Minnesota sits sixth in runs per game this year, and while Garrett Crochet is a pitcher to fear, the Boston bullpen is not as fearsome (15th by ERA).
COVERS INTEL: Expected ERA paints and even grimmer picture for the Red Sox bullpen, as it ranks 26th.
Red Sox vs Twins Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (+106)
Expecting Ober to struggle immediately lends itself to expecting this Over to cash, as does expecting the Twins to still keep the game interesting.
Minnesota sits atop the AL because of its bats, ones that have powered the way to three straight Overs.
Crochet’s strikeout tendencies will cost the Twins some outs, but true-outcome baseball generally yields runs eventually, as well.
And if nothing else, the distinct likelihood of a weather delay tonight should throw any pitching plans into chaos.
Red Sox vs Twins odds
Moneyline: Red Sox -161 | Twins +140
Run line: Red Sox -1.5 | Twins +1.5
Over/Under: Over 7.5 | Under 7.5
Red Sox vs Twins trend
In winning six of their last seven games, the Twins sprung outright upsets in five of those six wins. Find more MLB betting trends for Red Sox vs. Twins.
How to watch Red Sox vs Twins and game info
Location
Target Field, Minneapolis, MN
Date
Monday, April 13, 2026
First pitch
7:40 p.m. ET
TV
NESN, Twins.tv
Red Sox starting pitcher
Garrett Crochet (2-1, 3.12 ERA)
Twins starting pitcher
Bailey Ober (1-0, 5.27 ERA)
Red Sox vs Twins latest injuries
Red Sox vs Twins weather
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.
HOUSTON - OCTOBER 09: Manager Phil Garner #3 of the Houston Astros celebrates with the crowd after Chris Burke #2 hit a solo home run to defeat the Atlanta Braves in Game Four of the 2005 National League Division Series on October 9, 2005 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. The Astros eliminated the Braves three games to one with a 7-6 victory in the 18th inning. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In memory of former Astros player and manager Phil Garner, this is a piece I previously wrote last year for The Sporting News on his reflection on the Astros first World Series run in 2005, twenty years after.
(This article was written for The Sporting News by Craig Larson Jr. and the original link can be accessed with the link below. Originally published 10/26/2025
As the World Series plays on without them, many Houstonians are feeling October withdrawals. George Springer’s heroics for Toronto reminded everyone just how special this time of year can be, and how nostalgia rules the moment.
Astros fans can never forget their first trip. It was twenty years ago this very week when Houston defied the odds, rallying from a 15-30 start to capture the National League pennant. The run finally erased the heartbreaks of 1980 and 1986, as well as more recent postseason disappointments against the Braves and Cardinals.
Their appearance in the 2005 World Series ended in a sweep by Chicago’s South Siders, yet it remains one of the most cherished chapters in franchise history. Manager Phil Garner, who guided that club, reflected with Sporting News on the magic of that run.
“It was a wonderful time,” Garner said. “People still approach me and say it was the best time they ever had. Families would get together and watch the games and had the best times of their lives. It looked bad at the start of the season, but most baseball players are optimistic. You never count yourself out. You can recover, but if we had been that percentage on the negative side after the All-Star break, it would’ve been virtually impossible to come back.”
Asked about finally breaking through to the franchise’s first World Series, Garner pointed to leadership and belief as the key.
“We had a couple of hurdles,” he said. “We had those series where we couldn’t get past the Braves, and then we had St. Louis the year before. I have to admit, you need great players, but you also need guys who have bought all the way into the program. If they don’t buy into what you’re selling, it’s not going to work. We had so much leadership on that team. There was Bagwell, Biggio, Clemens, Pettitte, Oswalt, and Lidge. We had all the core ingredients and great role players who carried us down the stretch.”
Two decades later, Garner is watching another October classic unfold — and he marvels at the modern era’s transcendent stars.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Garner said of Shohei Ohtani. “Look at the guys in the game right now who are 23 to 30 years old, this is the golden age of baseball. He plays both ways and plays at a Hall-of-Fame clip. It’s just crazy how good he is.”
Los Angeles, CA - April 10: Lakers guard Luke Kennard, #10, left, celebrates Lakers forward LeBron James, #23, basket in the second half against the Suns at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles Friday, April 10, 2026. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Lakers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
With Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves out to start their postseason run, the Lakers won’t have many believers.
The team has relied on LeBron James, who has had some remarkable games and helped LA earn a top-four seed in the West. Still, those victories were against play-in teams like the Warriors and Suns, who were resting players as their postseason positions in the West were solidified.
Now that the Lakers are playing a legitimate team trying to win, stacking victories won’t be easy.
In our national SB Nation Reacts survey this week, we asked fans which top-four seed had the best chance to be knocked out of the first round and the Lakers were the clear winner.
No other team is dealing with injuries as severe as the Lakers. With their top two players out, generating enough offense to keep up with the best in the West will be an uphill battle for the purple and gold.
The good news is that Reaves and Dončić are not ruled out for the playoffs. In fact, Luka has spent time in Spain working to accelerate the recovery of his hamstring strain. While Dončić is doing everything possible to get better and his attempt to return is commendable, it can also be concerning.
He’s dealt with hamstring injuries throughout his career, including earlier this season. The last thing anyone wants is for him to return too soon and make his injury worse.
The Lakers were in a similar situation with Anthony Davis back in 2021. He got hurt in the middle of their first round matchup against the Suns with a groin strain. AD pushed himself and came back for Game 6. However, he was very hobbled and couldn’t even complete the first quarter, ending his night early as the Lakers were eliminated.
A scenario where the Lakers not only lose in the first round but Luka gets even more injured would be awful.
The Lakers’ medical staff will have to be 100% certain Luka’s good to go and not be influenced by what the first round series win total looks like. If Luka can play great, but there’s no need to push like a title is on the line. Dončić is the future of this franchise, and his health shouldn’t be jeopardized for minimal benefit in the present.
For now, it’s all about recovery for Luka as the postseason begins and we see if he’ll get a chance to play.
This particular feud between Perkins and Simmons dates back to June 2025 when Perkins posted a video in which he called Simmons a "fool," among other things, after apparent criticism Simmons had levied against Perkins for predicting the Raptors would be a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference during the 2025-26 season. Simmons, at the time, offered to put a "wager" on Perkins' take.
Well, the Raptors will be the No. 5 seed and face the No. 4 seed Cleveland Cavaliers when the Eastern Conference playoffs begin this weekend.
Perkins didn't forget about Simmons' proposition for a bet. It's unclear if either side actually agreed to terms prior to Perkins resurfacing their original back-and-forth on Monday.
"Somebody tell @BillSimmons he can just make a donation to my non profit that’s for the youth in our communities that are less fortunate," Perkins wrote on his X account over the original tweet exchange with Simmons.
Somebody tell @BillSimmons he can just make a donation to my non profit that’s for the youth in our communities that are less fortunate https://t.co/wTpp9b7Mod
Perkins, 41, played 14 seasons in the NBA, including the first eight years of his career with the Boston Celtics. Simmons, 56, is an unabashed Boston sports fan who came to national prominence as a columnist at ESPN beginning in the early 2000s, including a two-year stint as an analyst on ESPN's NBA Countdown show.
"I don't know who anointed you the preacher or king or the head honcho of basketball, of the way things need to be. What have you done? Have you ever played?" Perkins said to Simmons in his initial video posted to social media on June 26, 2025. "... You feel like you're sitting on this throne. You got in your feelings because I feel like the Toronto Raptors are going to be a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference this upcoming season? So? That wasn't a crazy take or anything to that nature. It's a real thing, fool."
Simmons wrote back to Perkins in June he was, "honored that you sat in a car for 2+ minutes to scold me on your iPhone like this, even though we are a combined age of like 92. If you actually think Toronto will be top-6 in the East in anything other than 'most fun place to visit' – let’s wager on it ASAP."
Perkins was ready to collect just as soon as the NBA regular season concluded.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs walks off of the court before the game against the Dallas Mavericks on April 10, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Brandon Todd/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The 2026 NBA playoffs are upon us.
As of this moment, 20 teams are still alive for a shot at the Larry O’Brien trophy. However, eight of those teams still have some work to do before their playoff journeys can begin in earnest. Things kick off on Tuesday with the Play-In Tournament, as four teams in the Eastern Conference, and four teams in the Western Conference, vie for the final two spots in each conference.
Here is the schedule for the Play-In Tournament as well as the First Round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. And be warned, if you want to watch all the games, you better have Prime Video.
Here’s the final bracket for the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Remember, the NBA does not reseed.
Update (Wednesday April 15): Updated with the day of each First Round playoff game as provided by the NBA.
Eastern Conference Play-In
The Eastern Conference Play-In tournament gets things going on Tuesday, April 15. The Miami Heat and the Charlotte Hornets square off in the first game, with the loser eliminated from postseason contention. The winner will take on the loser of Wednesday’s game between No. 8 Orlando and No. 7 Philadelphia, with the winner of that game securing the No. 7 seed in the East.
The loser of that second game will drop to the No. 8 spot.
No. 8 Orlando Magic at No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers: Wednesday, April 15 (7:30 p.m., Prime Video) Winner secures No. 7 seed in East
No. 7/No. 8 loser vs. No. 9 Charlotte Hornets: Friday, April 17 (7:30 p.m., Prime Video) Winner secures No. 8 seed in East, loser eliminated
Western Conference Play-In
Over in the Western Conference, the Play-In Tournament begins with the Phoenix Suns hosting the Portland Trail Blazers, with the winner of that game on Tuesday securing the No. 7 seed. The loser will take on the winner of Wednesday’s game between No. 10 Golden State and No. 9 Los Angeles.
All times Eastern.
No. 8 Portland Trail Blazers 114, No. 7 Phoenix Suns 110 Portland secures No. 7 seed in West
No. 10 Golden State Warriors at No. 9 Los Angeles Clippers: Wednesday, April 15 (10:00 p.m., Prime Video) Loser eliminated
No. 7/No. 8 loser vs. No. 9/No. 10 winner: Friday, April 17 ( 10:00 p.m., Prime Video) Winner secures No. 8 seed in West, loser eliminated
Eastern Conference Playoffs
Six teams are waiting in the Eastern Conference, led by the top-seeded Detroit Pistons. They’ll take on the No. 8 seed in the first round, while the Boston Celtics — who check in as the No. 2 seed in the East — will take on the No. 7 seed.
The other two first-round matchups are set: No. 3 New York vs. No. 6 Atlanta, and No. 4 Cleveland vs. No. 5 Toronto.
First Round
No. 1 Detroit Pistons vs. No. 8 (TBD)
Game 1: TBD at Detroit: Sunday, April 19 (6:30 p.m., NBC) Game 2: TBD at Detroit: Wednesday, April 22 (7:00 p.m., ESPN) Game 3: Detroit at TBD: Saturday, April 25 (1:00 p.m., NBC) Game 4: Detroit at TBD: Monday, April 27 Game 5: TBD at Detroit: Wednesday, April 29* Game 6: Detroit at TBD: Friday, May 1* Game 7: TBD at Detroit: Sunday, May 3*
No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 (TBD)
Game 1: TBD at Boston: Sunday, April 19 (1:00 p.m., ABC) Game 2: TBD at Boston: Tuesday, April 21 (7:00 p.m., NBC) Game 3: Boston at TBD: Friday, April 24 (7:00 p.m., Prime Video) Game 4: Boston at TBD: Sunday, April 26 (7:00 p.m., NBC) Game 5: TBD at Boston: Tuesday, April 28* Game 6: Boston at TBD: Thursday, April 30* Game 7: TBD at Boston: Saturday, May 2*
No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 6 Atlanta Hawks
Game 1: Atlanta at New York: Saturday, April 18 (6:00 p.m., Prime Video) Game 2: Atlanta at New York: Monday, April 20 (8:00 p.m., NBC) Game 3: New York at Atlanta: Thursday, April 23 (7:00 p.m., Prime Video) Game 4: New York at Atlanta: Saturday, April 25 (6:00 p.m., NBC) Game 5: Atlanta at New York: Tuesday, April 28* Game 6: New York at Atlanta: Thursday, April 30* Game 7: Atlanta at New York: Saturday, May 2*
No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Toronto Raptors
Game 1: Toronto at Cleveland: Saturday, April 18 (1:00 p.m., Prime Video) Game 2: Toronto at Cleveland: Monday, April 20 (7:00 p.m., NBC) Game 3: Cleveland at Toronto: Thursday, April 23 (8:00 p.m., Prime Video) Game 4: Cleveland at Toronto: Sunday, April 26 (1:00 p.m., ESPN) Game 5: Toronto at Cleveland: Wednesday, April 29* Game 6: Cleveland at Toronto: Friday, May 1* Game 7: Toronto at Cleveland: Sunday, May 3*
*If necessary
Western Conference Playoffs
Over in the Western Conference, the defending champions are waiting on the results of the Play-In Tournament, as the Thunder will have home-court in the First Round against the No. 8 seed. Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs secured the No. 2 seed, and will take on the No. 7 seed.
The other two matchups in the Western Conference are set. In the first, No. 3 Denver will take on No. 6 Minnesota, while in the second, No. 4 Los Angeles matches up against No. 5 Houston.
First Round
No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 8 (TBD)
Game 1: TBD at Oklahoma City: Sunday, April 19 (3:30 p.m., ABC) Game 2: TBD at Oklahoma City: Wednesday, April 22 (9:30 p.m, ESPN) Game 3: Oklahoma City at TBD: Saturday, April 25 (3:30 p.m., NBC) Game 4: Oklahoma City at TBD: Monday, April 27 Game 5: TBD at Oklahoma City: Wednesday, April 29* Game 6: Oklahoma City at TBD: Friday, May 1* Game 7: TBD at Oklahoma City: Sunday, May 3*
No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 7 Portland Trail Blazers
Game 1: Portland at San Antonio: Sunday, April 19 (9:00 p.m., NBC) Game 2: Portland at San Antonio: Tuesday, April 21 (8:00 p.m., NBC) Game 3: San Antonio at Portland: Friday, April 24 (10:30 p.m., Prime Video) Game 4: San Antonio at Portland: Sunday, April 26 (3:30 p.m., ESPN) Game 5: Portland at San Antonio: Tuesday, April 28* Game 6: San Antonio at Portland: Thursday, April 30* Game 7: Portland at San Antonio: Saturday, May 2*
No. 3 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves
Game 1: Minnesota at Denver: Saturday, April 18 (3:30 p.m., Prime Video) Game 2: Minnesota at Denver: Monday, April 20 (10:30 p.m., NBC) Game 3: Denver at Minnesota: Thursday, April 23 (9:30 p.m., Prime Video) Game 4: Denver at Minnesota: Saturday, April 25 (8:30 p.m., ABC) Game 5: Minnesota at Denver: Monday, April 27* Game 6: Denver at Minnesota: Thursday, April 30* Game 7: Minnesota at Denver: Saturday, May 2*
No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 5 Houston Rockets
Game 1: Houston at Los Angeles: Saturday, April 18 (8:30 p.m., ABC) Game 2: Houston at Los Angeles: Tuesday, April 21 (10:30 p.m., NBC) Game 3: Los Angeles at Houston: Friday, April 24 (8:00 p.m., Prime Video) Game 4: Los Angeles at Houston: Sunday, April 26 (9:30 p.m., NBC) Game 5: Houston at Los Angeles: Wednesday, April 29* Game 6: Los Angeles at Houston: Friday, May 1* Game 7: Houston at Los Angeles: Sunday, May 3*
The Pittsburgh Pirates, who are leading the NL Central with a 9-6 record, open a four-game series with the Washington Nationals (7-8). The Pirates took two of three games from the Chicago Cubs over the weekend. Washington swept three games from the Milwaukee Brewers. Paul Skenes is expected to start for Pittsburgh against the Nationals’ Cade Cavalli.
How to watch Washington Nationals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JANUARY 09: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts after scoring a three-pointer against the Orlando Magic during the fourth quarter at Kia Center on January 09, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the Sixers taking care of business against the Milwaukee Bucks (so long, Doc Rivers) and the Orlando Magic losing to the Hospital Celtics, we’ll have meaningful basketball in South Philly this week.
The Sixers will host the Magic in the 7-8 play-in game Wednesday at Xfinity Mobile Arena. It’s simple: win and the Sixers will take on the second-seeded Boston Celtics in the first round. Lose and they get another shot to make the playoffs and take on the top-seeded Detroit Pistons with a win over the loser of the 9-10 play-in game. Lose both games and that’s all she wrote.
Any questions or thoughts about the matchup? Hit me up in the comments.
The Philadelphia Phillies (7-8) begin a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs (7-8). The Phillies have lost four of their past five games. The Cubs avoided a three-game sweep by the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 7-6 victory on Sunday. Javier Assad is scheduled to start for the Cubs against the Phillies’ Cristopher Sánchez.
How to watch Chicago Cubs vs. Philadelphia Phillies
The Chicago Cubs (7-8) travel to Citizens Bank Park to take on the Philadelphia Phillies (7-8) in the start of a three-game series.
Chicago is coming off a 7-6 comeback win over Pittsburgh yesterday that saw them trail 5-0 at one point. The Cubs have been at or below .500 all season long and have another chance to reach .500 with a win today. Chicago's offense has sputtered this season with a .224 batting average (21st) and 122 hits (22nd), ranking bottom 10.
Philadelphia is 1-4 over the last five games and is looking to reach .500 at home. The Phillies are 4-5 at home this season and lost two of the past three. Philadelphia has lost two straight series and scored four or fewer runs in five consecutive games.
Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Cubs at Phillies
Date: Monday, April 13, 2026
Time: 6:40 PM EST
Site: Citizens Bank Park
City: Philadelphia, PA
Network/Streaming: MLB TV / FS1
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Cubs at the Phillies
The latest odds as of Monday:
Moneyline: Chicago Cubs (+153), Philadelphia Phillies (-186)
Spread: Cubs +1.5 (-143), Phillies -1.5 (+119)
Total: 8.0
Probable starting pitchers for Cubs at Phillies
Monday's pitching matchup (April 13): Javier Assad vs. Cristopher Sanchez
The Phillies’ Bryce Harper is hitting .273 with 15 hits and 29 total bases over 55 at-bats
The Phillies’ Alec Bohm is hitting .148 with eight hits and 10 strikeouts over 54 at-bats
The Cubs’ Nico Hoerner is hitting .316 with 18 hits and 28 total bases over 57 at-bats
The Cubs’ Michael Busch is hitting .135 with seven hits, 12 strikeouts, and seven walks over 52 at-bats
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Cubs at Phillies
The Cubs are 5-10 ATS this season
The Phillies are an MLB-worst 3-12 ATS this season
The Cubs are 8-6-1 to the Over this season
The Phillies are 7-7-1 to the Over this season
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Cubs and the Phillies
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday's game between the Cubs and the Phillies.
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Cubs on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Cubs at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Over on the Game Total of 8.5
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The New York Yankees (8-7) start a four-game series against the Los Angeles Angels (8-8) at Yankee Stadium. New York has lost five in a row, including a three-game sweep by the Tampa Bay Rays. Will Warren is scheduled to start for the Yankees against the Angels’ Yusei Kikuchi.
How to watch Los Angeles Angels vs. New York Yankees
Let's open up the mailbag to discuss some of the Mets' top prospects...
Does the organization have any concerns regarding A.J. Ewing’s arm strength in center field and could second base be a better fit? -- Mets Ledger
In talking to multiple people in player development about Ewing over the past couple of months, I have not gotten any indications that they believe arm strength will limit his ability to end up in center field long term.
He may not have the arm talent of a Carson Benge, but Ewing’s arm grades out average to a tick above. The Mets firmly believe he has the tools to become elite defensively at center field and it should be expected he spends a vast majority of his time this year in center.
Him playing some second base early is about maintaining versatility. It doesn’t hurt that second base is a natural position for him. It would not shock me if as the year wore on, you saw the second base reps dissipate.
Even if Ewing’s arm strength isn’t a plus, it is not considered to be a deterrent to his future in center field.
What is the outlook for Nate Lavender this season? Can he make the MLB club? -- Dan B
Lavender was returned to the Mets from the Rays this past November, after Tampa Bay selected him in the 2024 Rule 5 Draft. He missed the 2025 season due to Tommy John surgery and had a cleanup procedure in August.
Given that cleanup, the Mets took it slow with Lavender this spring. Despite being a non-roster invite to big league camp, he did not get into game action. Instead, he worked in the backfields on building back up.
He has made two rehab outings so far with Low-A St. Lucie, with two scoreless innings, striking out three batters and walking none. His velocity is back to pre-Tommy John form, averaging 93 mph and touching 95 mph. He’s also throwing a low-to-mid 80s slider.
Lavender should be moving his rehab up before long, and if he performs once he reaches Triple-A, a big league debut could be in the cards. It ultimately does take a number of relievers to get through the marathon of 162 games.
The question is whether there will be a situation where there is a need for a third or even fourth left-hander in the bullpen.
While the Mets are hopeful that their main left-handers (A.J. Minter once he’s back and Brooks Raley) provide stability, Minter has a history of injury that has to be taken into account. There is also the uncertainty in what the long-term role this season will be for Sean Manaea. If Minter and Raley can remain healthy, it’s hard to envision Lavender playing a significant role in 2026.
The organization’s plan is for Lavender to be bullpen depth in Triple-A, but as we have seen year over year, especially in the bullpen, that depth often finds its way to being needed.
With Eli Serrano's move out of Brooklyn .. think we see emergence as a top prospect in the system? -- Dave Schoenfeld
Serrano stands out as a player who was affected by the environment of Brooklyn, which is known as the toughest park for left-handed hitters in minor league baseball. In 2025 in Brooklyn he hit .189 with a .635 OPS, while hitting .255 with a .743 OPS on the road.
Ranking 17th in my preseason top 30 list, Serrano does stand out as someone who could take a step forward, even at a higher level of competition. Through seven games with Double-A Binghamton to start 2026, he is hitting .320 with a .979 OPS and four extra-base hits (two doubles and two triples).
Serrano is a long-levered, 6-foot-5 outfielder who is up 20 pounds since being drafted in 2024. It is a power over hit profile, with above average raw power. He has worked with hitting coordinator Daniel Nicolaisen to refine his swing mechanics, and even dating back to spring training, Serrano has been impacting the baseball more.
Serrano is one to follow, and with a strong season along with some graduations expected to happen this year, he could make a jump towards the top 10 of the system.
Mike and Dan react immediately to the Islanders getting eliminated from playoff contention after a lost weekend against Ottawa and Montreal.
We’ve seen the Islanders lose in many different ways over the years. But we’ve never seen them choke away a season like this. They played almost every game since the Olympic Break as if they were playing out the string, whittling away a playoff berth that they might not have totally deserved. And while a few players get a Hall Pass, namely Matthew Schaefer and Cal Ritchie, many of the guys who have been here a while conducted themselves in a despicable, cowardly fashion. Which calls into question what the franchise’s real intentions are and where their true priorities lie. Do they want to get people to watch them and spend money on them, or do they actually want to win games first and foremost? Do they want to be just good, or truly great?
In the second half, we look ahead to their final, meaningless game against Carolina and the few milestones that we’d like to see get hit. We also talk briefly about the week’s one victory over a DOA Leafs team in a game we can’t even enjoy anymore because, like everything else, it amounted to nothing. Very few of their games over the last five seasons have been purely enjoyable because of the team’s attitude. There have been players and moments to remember but overall, this era can be personified by a noticeable and unsatisfying lack of accomplishment.
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Apr 12, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) hits a solo homerun during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images | Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
The New York Mets (7-9) travel to the West Coast to face the Los Angeles Dodgers (11-4) in a three-game series in Chavez Ravine. While there is never a good time to face the best team on the planet two years running, coming off of a sweep by the lowly Athletics, the Mets could really have used an easier draw.
Where do we start?
With the exception of a failed comeback on Saturday afternoon, the Mets’ bats have been taking a spring siesta for the better part of a week. During their current five-game losing streak, the Mets have scored nine runs, but six of those came in Saturday’s attempted comeback. They’ve been shut out twice, scored one run once, and scored two runs once in the other four games in that period.
It is easy to blame some of this offensive drought on Juan Soto’s stint on the injured list, but that is far too easy of a scapegoat. The entire team isn’t hitting with any consistency, including players who we all know are too good for this to be a long term issue, such as Bo Bichette and the notoriously slow-starting Francisco Lindor.
But for a team that lost a playoff spot by one game last season, that is cold comfort at best. And while there are some solutions that may be temporary balms (hello Thomas James Pham!), there was a narrative in the offseason that once Eric Chavez and his “hammer the ball into the ground as hard as you can as often as you can” philosophy was jettisoned, things would improve.
And they will. We know this. But for the short term, watching Marcus Semien take an even further dive into offensive irrelevance, Jorge Polanco unable to do much of anything, and Carson Benge look consistently overmatched at the plate, it is hard to feel good about the players that required an optimistic lens in the first place. Benge will adjust, Polanco will heal, Semien will…I don’t know, man. But right now, none of them are helping the team with their bats.
The good news, if there is any, is that the pitching staff hasn’t been as dreadful as the stat line looks. Luke Weaver has eaten shit twice in the last week and he’s more or less responsible for two of those losses. That’s not great, but I would rather one reliever be struggling than an entire bullpen of ineptitude. The Mets moved on from both Richard Lovelady and Luis García over the weekend, and while we shouldn’t be printing up Joey Gerber or Craig Kimbrel shirseys just yet, at least the Mets aren’t resting on their broken down laurels and are trying something new.
As for the starting pitching, it continues to be a mixed bag. Nolan McLean has been as advertised and Freddy Peralta is doing lots of Freddy Peralta stuff. Kodai Senga had two fantastic starts and then a terrible one, and David Peterson did the same in reverse. Clay Holmes left Friday’s game with hamstring tightness, but apparently is on track to start on Thursday, despite his spot still being listed as TBD.
Look, it’s early in the season, and we all know how this goes. But this offseason was a tough sell for a few reasons, but some of the major talking points included run prevention, versatility, a deeper lineup, and an improved relief corps. The versatility has been more or less accurate, but everything else has been flat-out wrong. If the Mets turn things around and waltz into a playoff spot, we will all laugh about our April panic, but that doesn’t make being in the middle of the panic any less frustrating.
Again, if they were traveling (without an off day to the opposite side of the country) to play almost any other team, things would feel better. But the Dodgers are the owners of the best record in baseball, the best player of the 21st century, and more money than some mid-sized nations. They snatched up the Mets’ All-Star closer, they outbid the Mets for their outfield target, and generally are the best run franchise in baseball.
While they lost to old friends Jacob deGrom on Sunday and Tyler Rogers on Wednesday, the team looks strong, even with Kyle Tucker hitting below league average thus far. Andy Pages isn’t going to have a 1.181 OPS the entire season, but there is enough thump in the Los Angeles lineup that they don’t need him to. This is what a deep lineup actually looks like.
Monday, April 13: David Peterson vs. Justin Wrobleski, 10:10 PM EDT on SNY
After a good first start, Peterson has been downright awful in his next two appearances. Ten earned runs over nine and two-third innings is never pretty, but if FIP is to be believed, Peterson isn’t having as bad of an April as his ERA would have us believe. Until the Mets’ bats heat up, the club could really use Peterson’s FIP instead of his ERA.
In his first start against the Guardians, Wrobleski gave up three runs in four innings. It wasn’t exactly a terrible start, but it is one that he would build on when he faced the Blue Jays in a rout a week later. While he’sbeen fine thus far, he’s not necessarily a pitcher of the caliber of the next two starters in this series. The Mets need to win this game in order to have any real shot at taking the series, if there’s any hope of that at all.
Tuesday, April 14: Nolan McLean vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 10:10 PM EDT on SNY
The Mets have a wonderful history of producing top-level starting pitching over their history, and McLean appears to be the latest in that line. Over his first 11 MLB starts, McLean has exactly one (1) start of more than three earned runs. He’s been the recipient of some lackluster offense behind him, and while that doesn’t appear to be changing too much against the Dodgers and one of the best pitchers in baseball, the long term outlook for McLean looks very, very bright.
In what still feels like a ‘the one who got away’ situation, Yamamoto spurned the Mets in favor of the Dodgers ahead of the 2024 season. Since then, he had a good ‘24 and a great ‘25, and 2026 is looking to be more of the same. In his last start against the Blue Jays, Yamamoto struck out six, walked one, and allowed just one run. This pitching matchup looks to be one of the best of the early season.
Wednesday, April 13: TBD vs. Shohei Ohtani, 10:10 PM EDT on ESPN
I must admit, I don’t keep as informed about other teams’ individual performance as I probably should. And so while it was somewhat of a shock to see Ohtani’s 0.00 ERA, it’s not really surprising. Just when we start to get used to who Ohtani is as an absolute once in a generation superstar, he does something else seemingly unbelievable. And so while this sparkling ERA won’t last, don’t be surprised if Ohtani continues to make the best baseball players on the planet look like little leaguers.
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - MAY 17: Tegan Kuhns #21 of the Tennessee Volunteers pitches during game three of the series against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Baum-Walker Stadium at George Cole Field on May 17, 2025 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Volunteers 8-4. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The group over at Overslot Baseball has come out with an interesting and fun new tool ahead of the 2026 MLB Draft, giving us a mock draft simulator to play with, just like there is for the NFL and NBA drafts. I would recommend giving it a try for yourself if you have a few minutes.
This will be the first official mock draft of the season, and there will be more in the series as Overslot tweaks their draft board, with one final one to come just ahead of the actual draft.
The mock draft lasts 10 rounds, and the bonuses listed are their best estimates at what bonuses could look like for some of these prospects. While not perfect, they are mostly pretty reasonable. I will note ahead of time that the player database is not quite the full list of players you will find eligible for the actual draft, and there is no current ability for senior signs. For my senior signs, I will just take placeholders and subtract the amount they sign for and project that money to be used to sign overslot guys in rounds 11-20.
You can see below the screenshot of the mock draft, and get more reasoning on why each player was picked, along with who else was considered for each pick. For the top pick, I am noting who was already taken ahead of the Braves pick. Note that the placeholders are the final two picks, Derrick Mitchell and Ty Horn.
Pick 1.9 – Jacob Lombard, SS, Florida HS
The first eight picks ended up being Roch Cholowsky, Grady Emerson, Vahn Lackey, Justin Lebron, Chris Hacopian, Eric Booth Jr., AJ Gracia, and Liam Peterson. That left me to choose from Jacob Lombard (significantly overslot), Jackson Flora (slightly overslot), and my current favorite Sawyer Strosnider (underslot). I went with Lombard, who cost $1.6M overslot at $8.3M, with $6.7M being the slot value. It was a tough choice between three very talented players, but Lombard may have the highest upside of anyone in this class if he hits, and the reports on him this spring have been quite positive following a slightly disappointing summer.
Lombard is a player capable of being the face of a franchise if he hits enough. The son of George Lombard and brother of George Jr.has plus power, double plus speed, and will stick at shortstop. The hit tool has rebounded since the summer, but should be an average tool for him with continued work. He is immediately the Braves best prospect if he was drafted.
Pick 1.26 – Tegan Kuhns, RHP, Tennessee
Slot here is $3.6M and the Lombard pick makes it tough to consider the two best players on the board, prep lefty Gio Rojas (significantly overslot), and a second prep shortstop Tyler Spangler (slightly over). I started to look at some of the other options on the board, and it was filled with Kentucky shortstop Tyler Bell, Texas outfielder Aiden Robbins and a grouping of college pitchers led by Mason Edwards, Cole Carlon, Tegan Kuhns, and Joey Volchko among others. I’ve liked Kuhns a for a bit, and his deep pitch mix and upside definitely feel like a Braves pick, plus it doesn’t hurt that he’s on the cheaper side of that group at $3.1M – saving $500k on slot.
Kuhns has the plus fastball and curve and the rest of his five-pitch arsenal could all be average to slightly below. Command is probably going to be below average, but that shouldn’t hold him up too much with his arsenal, assuming he can get it to a 45-grade. He is a guy with legitimate middle of the rotation upside, and a fall back of a late inning reliever.
Pick 2.48 – Jake Brown, OF, LSU
Slot is $2.1M here and I want to save a little bit more money since I am still $1.1M overslot. That removes Canadian lefty Sean Duncan and prep right-handers Cooper Sides and Jensen Hirschkorn from the mix despite being the best players available. Texas catcher Carson Tinney, LSU outfielder Jake Brown, Notre Dame righty Jack Radel, and Liberty righty Ben Blair are the best of the college options, while on the prep side shortstops Aiden Ruiz and Rocco Maniscalco, and outfielders Noah Wilson and local Martin Shelar are among the best options in the price range. Another local option is Blessed Trinity right-hander Joseph Contreras, though his price is listed at $2.2M. If I hadn’t grabbed Lombard with the top pick, Ruiz would be the pick here – but doubling up on shortstops this early after last year’s draft doesn’t feel realistic. It comes down to Brown and Wilson, with Brown being $200k cheaper. Brown is the pick here as the Braves can both use outfielders and bats who are closer to the big leagues, plus he saves $300k on his slot – bringing us to halfway through the overage on Lombard.
Brown has been productive in the past, but has taken a step forward this spring. He projects to be above-average with four of his tools, with average to slightly above power being the one thing that isn’t. He will have a chance to play center in the pros, but would be a good defender in right that should move through the minors fairly quickly. In a different draft, he would probably not be available with this pick.
Pick 3.84 – Daniel Jackson, C, Georgia
Slot is $974k here and there are several interesting options on the board. UCLA outfielder Will Gasparino, Kansas State breakout shortstop Dee Kennedy, and Georgia catcher Daniel Jackson are the best of the bats. North Carolina’s Jason DeCaro is the top righty with East Carolina’s Ethan Norby being the best lefty. I decided to take the toolsy Jackson here over DeCaro with the Braves interest in drafting catchers, especially after not grabbing one last year. Jackson costs $730k, saving $244k and putting us $556k over.
Jackson has been a huge breakout star this year for the Bulldogs. He has gone from a three true outcomes hitter to among the national leaders in homers due to the strides he has made with his plate discipline. That isn’t the only reason he is being drafted here, as he is an excellent athlete who could develop into a solid defensive catcher – with a fallback option of an outfield spot as well.
Pick 4.112 – Gavin Grahovac, 3B, Texas A&M
Slot is $698k and there are three names that are really sticking out. Texas A&M slugger Gavin Grahovac, NC State lefty Ryan Marohn, and Miami slugger Daniel Cuvet. I decided on Grahovac at $516k, saving $182k and reducing the deficit to $374k.
Grahovac has big power, but swing and miss and will always be a below average hitter. Still he’s easily got plus power and is a good athlete. There are some defensive questions, but with average speed and a big arm he could make a quality corner outfielder. The hope here is that you can continue to progress with the hit tool, as he has cut his 2024 strikeout rate down from 34.3% to 16.3% (he missed all but six games last year due to injury). This is probably the latest he would be available, as his power has started to show up recently after a slow start to the season in that department.
Pick 5.144 – Tommy LaPour, RHP, TCU
Slot is $511k and one name sticks out, TCU’s Tommy LaPour. The right hander would have been projected to go much higher, but an early season injury has prevented him from pitching. Getting him for $359k here is a steal, saving $152k and dropping that total to $222k over.
LaPour came into the year as a potential late first rounder, but hasn’t pitched since Opening Day. He’s a big, physical college right-hander with a fastball that has touched 101 MPH, an inconsistent slider that at its best is a second plus pitch, and a solid change. His command also projects to be an average tool. The makings are there for this former two-sport star to continue developing as a pro, which is something the Braves would love to work with.
Pick 6.173 – Lorenzo Carrier, OF, Pitt
Slot is $390k and I decided to get under budget by taking a senior, though he will not be a traditional senior sign ($5-50k). A breakout this year by Pitt’s Lorenzo Carrier is enough to get him $150k, a savings of $240k – putting us $18k in the green. It is important to remember Carrier could have had top three round money out of high school, but turned it down to head to Miami. The power and speed have always been there, but he seems to have unlocked the hit tool that had held him back for his entire college career. Despite the breakout and tools, this is a fifth year senior who presently has a half year of production on this level, so he isn’t going to cost slot.
While Carrier is picked as a money saver, the plus power and speed are for real. His strides with his hit tool have him currently hitting .396/.563/.871 with 13 homers and more walks (36) than strikeouts (32). It’s not just about the stats either, as his analytical data is pointing to real growth too. His speed and arm should also allow him to be an asset in right.
Pick 7.202 – Matt Scott, RHP, Georgia
Slot is $307k and once again I focused on one name. Georgia’s Matt Scott is a big, talented pitcher who has never quite performed to his tools yet in his college career. He has been better at UGA than he was at Stanford, but this is a bet on the Braves player development to maximize his stuff and improve his command. He will cost $207k, a savings of $100k.
Scott’s breakout this year with his command has coincided with him being mostly used as a reliever, as six of his eight appearances are out of the pen – though he has the arm to work multi-innings. His strikeout rate is a career high 13.9 – more than two above his previous high. Command will probably never he his strength, which will likely keep him in the pen, but he has a chance to be a very useful power arm out of the bullpen, and in the seventh round without a ton of money left in the bonus pool, that would be a win.
Pick 8.232 – Jaxon Jelkin, RHP, Kentucky
Slot is $245k and I wanted to grab another arm. Kentucky’s Jelkin is one of the better arms available to close out the picks based on pure talent in the first half of the draft. He will cost me $150k, a savings of $95k.
Jelkin is in the middle of his best season, and the well traveled 23-year-old, is one of those guys with both stuff and pitchability. He’s up to 96 MPH, has a four pitch mix, and gets excellent movement on his pitches. Like Scott, the traits are there and for not much money, this is worth a flier.
Pick 9.262 – Gable Mitchell, INF, Iowa
Slot is $212k. The Derrick Mitchell name in the picture is a place holder for Iowa senior sign infielder Gable Miller. Derrick Mitchell is listed at $150k, but I’m giving Gable $10k here, a savings of $202k, and a savings of $140k from the picture.
Mitchell is the kind of player the Braves like – a kid with a high-end ability to make contact who doesn’t strike out often. He doesn’t quite impact the ball hard often enough to go earlier, but this is the type you keep sending out there to prove himself until he can’t. He is hitting .385/.483/.582 with 18 walks to only five strikeouts in 149 plate appearances. Mitchell’s limited power and not impressive exit velocity numbers probably give him a ceiling of a utility guy, but the Braves do like adding players in this mold here.
Pick 10.292 – Darin Horn, RHP, Coastal Carolina
Slot is $198k. The Ty Horn name above is also a place holder for Coastal Carolina senior sign right-hander Darin Horn. Ty is listed as $150k, but I’m giving Darrin $10k here, a savings of $188k, and a savings of $140k from the picture.
Horn is a multi-inning reliever for a strong Coastal program who has been very productive for the last two seasons. He has seen his command improve this year, cutting his walk per nine rate from 6.5 last year to a career high 3.0 this year. Also important to note is the fact his sinker has a 47% whiff rate (min 100 pitches), which completely dominates the category, as the guy in second is only at 30.8%.
Rounds 11-20 budget:
Rounds 11-20 show as having $263k remaining to spend, but with the Mitchell and Horn place holders, there is an additional $280k available. That means there is an extra $543k to spend overslot in the second half of the draft. With the first $150k in those rounds not counting towards the bonus pool, that means the Braves would be able to go up to $693k to sign a player.
Overall thoughts:
I want to say that I never intended for this draft to avoid prep players minus one, but due to the way the budget worked that wasn’t really a possibility. This is a strong draft, though the flexibility was removed at the start by taking Lombard with the first pick. If I had gone Strosnider followed by Spangler instead, I would have had a little extra money to work with – but Lombard is the type of player you don’t want to watch become a superstar in some other team’s uniform. Brown, Jackson, and Grahovac help infuse more talent into the hitting side of the system, and Brown and Grahovac especially could move quicker. Getting a talented arm like Kuhns, plus LaPour means I added to the pitching in the system as well. Then a pair of toolsy lottery tickets in Carrier and Scott could further add to the talent in the system. The final three picks in Jelkin, Mitchell, and Horn are longer shots, but each of them has something to work with. Finally with this draft the Braves could spent nearly $700k on a prep in the 11th round, or spread that money around to give out four bonuses of around $300k for the final 10 selections.
COVERS INTEL: Expected ERA paints and even grimmer picture for the Red Sox bullpen, as it ranks 26th.
