PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Tyrese Maxey scored 21 points and the Philadelphia 76ers tuned up for the play-in tournament with a 126-106 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday night in what could be Hall of Fame coach Doc Rivers’ final game.
The 76ers did not immediately know at the final horn their Eastern Conference opponent.
The Bucks played without All-Star and former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, while the 76ers were without Joel Embiid after he was stricken last week with appendicitis.
Antetokounmpo and the Bucks could be headed toward a separation in the offseason after a tumultuous season limited him to 27.6 points and 9.8 rebounds in 36 games this season, by far the fewest games of his 13-year career.
Coach Nick Nurse had no health update on Embiid, yet the timeline for recovery on an appendectomy would surely rule him out of any early postseason play. Embiid has been limited to 38 games this season, with the former MVP and two-time scoring champion sitting out primarily to manage injuries to his knees.
Sixers fan loudly booed Rivers — who coached the team for three seasons — even as he was recognized by public address announcer Matt Cord for making the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Cord, with one of the more recognizable voices in all of Philadelphia sports, called his final regular-season game after 28 seasons on the mic.
The 64-year-old Rivers said ahead of the game his final answer on retirement will come “definitely sooner” rather than later in the offseason. Rivers is going into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame this summer. Only Gregg Popovich, Don Nelson, Lenny Wilkens, Jerry Sloan and Pat Riley have more coaching wins than Rivers.
Up next
The 76ers have more basketball ahead and the Bucks face an offseason full of franchise-altering decisions.
NEW YORK (AP) — LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller each scored 19 points, Kon Knueppel made three 3-pointers in his record-setting rookie season and the Charlotte Hornets beat the New York Knicks 110-96 on Sunday to clinch the No. 9 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Coby White also had 19 points for the Hornets, who will host No. 10 Miami in the play-in tournament. Charlotte will have to win that game and then beat the loser of the 7-8 game to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
With the Knicks locked into the No. 3 seed in the East, Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart and OG Anunoby all sat. Mikal Bridges was the only starter to play for the Knicks, going the opening 23 seconds to extend his consecutive games played streak to 638, eighth-longest in NBA history. He then committed a foul to check out of the game.
The Knicks will face No. 6 seed Atlanta in the first round of the playoffs. Deuce McBride scored 21 points and Jose Alvarado had 16 as New York finished 53-29.
Knueppel finished 3 for 10 behind the arc and scored 14 points. He led the NBA and set the rookie record with 273 3-pointers in what could be a close race with No. 1 pick and Duke teammate Cooper Flagg for Rookie of the Year.
The Hornets went 33-16 in 2026 and finished 44-38. They won 17 of their last 21 road games.
Anunoby sprained his left ankle in the Knicks’ victory over Toronto on Friday and it’s unclear if he could have played. Coach Mike Brown said he didn’t even ask the medical staff because there was no need, and the Knicks said the forward was considered day to day.
MIAMI (AP) — Jaime Jaquez Jr. capped his sixth-man award candidacy by scoring 26 points off the bench, Bam Adebayo and Norman Powell each scored 25 and the Miami Heat tuned up for the play-in tournament by beating the Atlanta Hawks 143-117 on Sunday night.
Kel’el Ware scored 16 points for Miami, which will need to win two road play-in games to make the playoffs. The Heat pulled off that feat as the No. 10 seed entering the play-in last season.
Buddy Hield scored a game-high 31 points in just 21 minutes off the bench for Atlanta, which had a playoff spot locked up going into the game. Corey Kispert scored 21 and Asa Newell finished with 17 for the Hawks.
Miami ended the season with a team-record 9,911 points.
The Hawks — who knew most scenarios coming into the day would have them in the No. 5 spot, though there was a chance of falling to No. 6 — decided to emphasize health and rest, so they sat Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, CJ McCollum, Jalen Johnson, Jonathan Kuminga and Onyeka Okongwu, among others.
“The focus for us has been on our guys going into the postseason healthy,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. “And after that, we’ll figure out who we’re playing and all those things when we get to the postseason.”
Tony Bradley, a recent acquisition for Atlanta, made his first Hawks start. Kispert made his eighth of the season, Keaton Wallace made his third and Newell made his second.
Atlanta finished 46-36, its best record since going 48-34 in 2015-16. Miami finished 43-39, ending the regular season at .500 or better for the 15th time in Erik Spoelstra’s 18 seasons as head coach.
Up next
Hawks: Either New York or Cleveland in Round 1 of playoffs.
Heat: Will visit Charlotte in a play-in game either Tuesday or Wednesday.
Nov 9, 2025; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs catcher Owen Ayers during the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Iowa Cubs
Rained out. The game with the Omaha Storm Chasers will not be made up. Maybe they shouldn’t have run towards the rain.
Jake Knapp started and gave the Smokies four strong shutout innings. Knapp surrendered three hits. He struck out five and walked no one.
Erian Rodriguez then pitched two scoreless innings, but Nick Dean allowed a three runs in the eighth. Dean pitched 1.2 innings and gave up three runs on three hits and no walks. He struck out three.
But the Smokies managed to come back and send the game into extra innings. But Vince Reilly ran out of gas in the tenth and took the loss. Reilly’s final line was four runs, two earned, on three hits over two innings. Reilly struck out two, walked one and hit two batters.
Devin Ortiz connected on a solo home run in the fifth inning. It was his second of the season and second in as many days. Ortiz went 1 for 4.
DH Haydn McGeary sent the game to extras with an RBI double in the bottom of the ninth. McGeary went 2 for 4 with a walk.
Koen Moreno bounced back from his disastrous first start of the year by tossing four scoreless innings, allowing just three hits. He struck out four and walked no one.
Kenten Egbert relieved Moreno and got roughed up for four runs in the fifth. That included a three-run home run to Tai Peete, who was a key part of the Brendan Donovan trade this winter. Egbert finished with four runs on four hits over two innings. He struck out two.
Marino Santy pitched the final three innings without allowing a run and got the win. Santy allowed two hits and one walk. He struck out two.
DH Owen Ayers gave the Cubs the lead with a two-run home run in the top of the ninth. It was his second home run this year. Ayers went 2 for 5.
Third baseman Matt Halbach homered in his second-straight game. His blast came with the bases empty in the fourth inning. Halbach went 1 for 5.
Center fielder Kane Kepley was 2 for 4 was hit by a pitch. Kepley doubled to lead off the top of the first and then scored when the next batter, right fielder Leonel Espinoza, singled him home. Espinoza went 2 for 5 with a double. He scored on Ayers’ home run in the ninth.
Left fielder Brian Kalmer was 3 for 4 with a double.
First baseman Cameron Sisneros was 2 for 4 with an RBI single in the fourth inning.
Starter Riely Hunsaker was a last-minute replacement for Victor Zarraga and he may not have been ready as he was jumped on for four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Hunsaker took the loss after allowing four runs on one hit, three walks and one hit batsman over two-thirds of an inning. He did not strike anyone out.
Zarraga came to relieve Hunsaker in the first inning and he gave up four runs on three hits over 2.2 innings. Zarraga walked two and struck out four.
Third baseman Cole Mathis hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning. Mathis went 2 for 3 and was hit by a pitch. It was his third home run this season.
Right fielder Eli Lovich chipped in a solo home run in the top of the ninth. Lovich was 2 for 4.
No franchise has won more Rookie of the Year awards than the Dodgers. “The Blue Crew” have claimed 18 RoY trophies dating back to the club’s early days in Brooklyn.
However, unlike the AL — where the West has been the recent home of the top rookies — the NL East has housed six of the last 13 RoYs, with a mix of outfielders, infielders, starting pitchers, a catcher, and even a reliever.
Apr 12, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Noah Cameron (65) pitches during the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
After a three-hour rain delay, the Kansas City Royals blew a lead, dropping the series finale to the Chicago White Sox, 6-5.
The first three games all had final scores of 2-0, but this one was a fun, back and forth affair. The White Sox got on the board first, in the second inning. After Noah Cameron got two quick outs, Colson Montgomery smacked a double up the right field line, and Tanner Murray, who got his first major league hit yesterday, smoked his first major league home run to left field, and the Royals were down 2-0.
After the first seven Royals were sat down, Isaac Collins singled and Kyle Isbel walked. Jonathan Cannon then came in, the planned bulk pitcher today for the White Sox. Well, that didn’t go as planned. He came in and walked three straight Royals to help the KC offense tie the game at 2. Cannon would then leave the game with an injury.
The Royals were still 0 for their last 32 with a runner in scoring position after Salvy struck out. Carter Jensen came up, bases loaded, two down, game knotted at 2. Jensen broke the streak on a swinging bunt on the first pitch. A 40.4 mph exit velo, roller up the 3rd base line was picked up by the pitcher and he had no play. The Royals took the lead 3-2.
In the top of the fourth, Cameron gave up a one out single, but got a pop out to Jr. However, on the first pitch Montgomery blasted one inside the right field foul pole, 4-3 Chicago.
Jac Caglianone led off the bottom half of the inning for the Royals. He promptly smashed a double into the corner, and Collins smashed a single up the middle to tie the game again at 4. Isbel bunted Collins over to second, and Witt smacked a two out single to center to pull the Royals back in front 5-4. All of a sudden, the Royals were hot with RISP.
The 6th inning is where Cameron started to get erratic. After a quick first out, he walked Munetaka Murakami, Lenyn Sosa singled and a walk to Edgar Quero loaded the bases. Cameron would be relieved by Nick Mears. Cameron went 5.1 innings, giving up 6 hits, 5 runs, 2 walks and striking out 4.
Mears would go 3-1 with Montgomery, before getting him to pop up. However, he would walk Andrew Benintendi to tie the game back up at 5. Mears struck out the next batter to end the threat.
John Schrieber got the 7th, and as it has been for him all season, it didn’t go well, a leadoff double, hit batter and sac bunt, had the White Sox with 2nd and 3rd and one out. The Royals intentionally walked Murakami, the lefty to face Sosa. Schrieber threw a wild pitch to let the run score. He retired the next two hitters.
In the bottom of the 7th, Witt led off with a walk, but Vinnie, Salvy and Jensen couldn’t do anything with it.
Michael Massey looked to have tied the game to lead off the bottom of the 8th with a solo homer, but Dustin Harris reached over to bring it back. White Sox carried the 6-5 lead into the bottom of the ninth.
Isbel struck out to start the inning. Maikel Garcia weakly flew out to center, and Bobby Witt Jr . walked, giving Pasquantino a chance with two out. Vinnie quickly struck out in an ugly at bat. Splitting series at home against the lowly White Sox is not a good omen for the season. The Royals have won just one series 16 games in, they have either split or lost every other series. The schedule doesn’t get any easier ahead either. Man, sometimes I hate how much I care and stock I put into this team.
The Royals drop to 7-9 on the season. They split the series with the White Sox. They are off tomorrow, before being back in action Tuesday in Detroit, with first pitch being at 5:40 p.m. CT. Cole Ragans will pitch against Framber Valdez. After a three-game series in Motown, the Royals will be in the Bronx for a three-game set against the Yankees next weekend.
The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team to win 10 games (and 11) in 2026, more than living up to their status as the World Series favorites.
Despite being somewhat written off as a legitimate contender, the San Diego Padres became the second team to reach double-digit victories.
MLB odds still have the Dodgers atop the odds board, but the Friars may need to prove themselves a bit more yet, as they’re still as high as +4000.
2026 World Series winner odds
2026 World Series odds over time
Here, we’ll track how the World Series odds shift throughout the offseason, free agency, spring training, and 2026 regular season.
MLB World Series futures bets
The Los Angeles Dodgers are rightly favored to win the World Series, and you can certainly justify wagering on them at +210 or thereabouts.
However, a lot can happen in a few months. Granted, even their late-season swoon didn’t hurt them too much, but the Dodgers were +500 as of the Wild Card Series.
Bet
Odds
Bet date
Units
Detroit Tigers
+2500
February 26
0.25
I wish I had pulled the trigger on the Milwaukee Brewers at +3000. However, I feel like betting on them now would be jumping the gun and taking an inferior price just to prevent missing the boat.
That said, +2500 might not last very long, either, especially if they handle the Boston Red Sox this week at Fenway Park.
However, a rough road series could also cause this line to drift back closer to its Opening Day mark, at which point I’d take the plunge (though no shame if you do so now, either). And if the Brewers just keep on winning, so be it.
Previous World Series picks thread
2-26: Tigers
This might be the Detroit Tigers‘ best shot at winning the Fall Classic before the window closes a tad before re-opening. Two-time American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal is poised to enter free agency after the season, which would greatly diminish their chances going forward, even with fellow southpaw Framber Valdez anchoring the rotation. But with Skubal and Valdez at the front of the rotation, Jack Flaherty and Casey Mize providing solid innings in the middle, and veteran Justin Verlander returning home for one last shot at glory with the team that drafted him 22 years ago, the pitching side of things is promising enough to inspire confidence. The lineup is where risk and uncertainty come into play, which is why we can get them for +2500. Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter, and Spencer Torkelson are more or less penciled in as the heart of the batting order, which is a bit wobbly. Colt Keith could take another step forward, and Gleyber Torres has a reasonably high floor, but the ceiling feels limited. However, the Tigers have an abundance of prospects knocking on the door of the major leagues. Shortstop Kevin McGonigle and outfielder Max Clark are the two with the most promise, and they should make their debuts fairly early on. McGonigle is a candidate to crack the Opening Day roster, while Clark is likely to arrive closer to midseason. Trey Sweeney has already had a taste, Max Anderson is probably the second baseman of Detroit’s future, and Hao-Yu Lee and Jace Jung could be useful pieces from the jump. The point is, the Tigers won’t mess around with Skubal’s final year. And with the AL Central still in flux, Detroit has a projected 72.6% chance of reaching the postseason — the second-best odds in the American League, behind only the Seattle Mariners at 79.1% — per FanGraphs. Getting to the postseason is, obviously, the first big hurdle. And if the Tigers are in the mix at the All-Star break, management will likely add at the trade deadline, so the soft spots on the roster today won’t be the same in a few months.
Will revisit betting splits as more data is available for the 2026 World Series.
Past World Series winners
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the 2025 World Series by toppling the Toronto Blue Jays in an epic seven-game series.
Here are the last 10 World Series winners, along with their opening odds.
Season
Winner
Opening odds
Runner up
2025
Los Angeles Dodgers
+240
Los Angeles Dodgers
+350
Los Angeles Dodgers
+600
Los Angeles Dodgers
2017
Los Angeles Dodgers
2016
Los Angeles Dodgers
9
2025
Atlanta Braves
4
2021
Chicago Cubs
3
2016
Minnesota Twins
3
1991
Chicago White Sox
3
2005
The New York Yankees are the most decorated team in MLB history, and it isn’t close. In addition to winning a whopping 27 titles, they’ve played in 41 World Series. The Los Angeles Dodgers are second all-time with 23 World Series appearances, while the St. Louis Cardinals have won the second-most championships at 11.
After 36 years at ESPN, announcer Mark Jones took the mic on Sunday for his final broadcast with the network, calling a season-finale matchup between the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic.
Before tip-off, Jones was the subject of multiple tributes.
Jones joined the “Inside the NBA” pregame show, where he received a standing ovation from hosts Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal.
Mark Jones gets a standing ovation from the Inside the NBA crew 🏀
“I have a very full and a very heavy heart today as I say goodbye to the only place that I’ve really worked in network television,” Jones said in response. “I’m just thankful for all the friends that I’ve made along the journey.
“They talk about it being not about the destination but the journey. And my journey’s been outstanding.”
When the broadcast shifted to TD Garden for game coverage, Jones’ announcing partner, Doris Burke, paid tribute.
Doris Burke shows love to Mark Jones before the Magic and Celtics tip off for his last ESPN broadcast 👏 pic.twitter.com/3eX0zZ0NCx
“After spending more than half your life calling games for this network, tonight is it,” Burke said. “I just want you to know, everybody involved, in the truck, here courtside, we are honored to be here with you.”
Jones, choked up, responded:
“I love you Doris,” he said. “We’re gonna have some fun and document the game and do it the way it’s gotta be done. Brought some seasoning with me tonight, folks.”
Jones’ decision to leave ESPN
Jones, 64, has worked at ESPN since 1990, calling NBA and college football games. He announced on Instagram on Friday that Sunday’s game would be his last with the Network.
“It’s been a memorable journey these decades with the ABC/ESPN family, but I have decided that it’s time to move on,” Jones wrote. … “As I move on to my next chapter, I believe my best work is yet to come. I’ll be out there cookin’ hotter than fish grease!”
Jones also declined elaborate on his “next chapter” in his statement. He’s worked for years as the local play-by-play voice of the Sacramento Kings on NBC Sports California and confirmed to the Sacramento Bee on Friday that he’ll continue in that role.
“My plan is to be here for a long, long time,” Jones told the Bee. “I love it here, and I’ve been warmly received by the Kings.”
ESPN released a statement thanking Jones for his contributions to the network following his announcement.
“Mark has made an enduring impact at ESPN since 1990, serving as a signature voice primarily within our NBA and college football coverage and across nearly all of our platforms,” ESPN said. “We’re grateful for Mark’s countless contributions and we wish him continued success.”
Apr 12, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso (25) hits an RBI double during the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images | Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
Sunday afternoon in Baltimore. A pleasant breeze swirled around the baked brick of Camden Yards, carrying the warm tang of Old Bay seasoning. One would be forgiven if the pleasant atmosphere suggested a sedate affair, a leisurely stroll of a game.
The Giants had gone down in order at the top of the inning against Orioles starter Cade Povich, and after Pete Alonso swung heavily over a 1-1 change-up, their offense appeared about to do the same against Adrian Houser. And it’d carry on like that: quick at-bats, quick outs, quick innings… The two teams accumulating zeroes on the scoreboard with the competitive edge of an Easter egg hunt. One of those pleasant spring days in which nothing is expected, nothing needs to be fought for, or figured out quite yet. A day spent squinting up into the bright sun. A day in which a squirrel runs across the outfield. A day in which a leaf blower can be heard in the distance.
At least, it was supposed to be one of those days. Alonso whiffed at a 1-1 change-up, putting him in a 1-2 hole with two outs, and the inning felt over. One down. On to the next one.
Perhaps that sounds naive to say considering Alonso’ resume, but the slugger had moved down the coast for $155 million pocketed over 5 years and was off to the characteristically slow start for a player coming off free agency. He had been hitless in the first two games of the series, batting .167 with a .521 OPS so far on the season. He was getting settled, finding his footing, getting comfortable — he wasn’t yet a threat. Again, down in a 1-2 count, with the way Alonso has been struggling, the inning should’ve been over.
But then he took a pitch he wasn’t supposed to take.
Alonso had called time, found his breath and settled himself, and took a 1-2 sinker off the plate for a ball. No, the fastball wasn’t the most tantalizing offering, but the pitch’s location, paired with its back-door movement, was meant to tease. It was supposed to keep him in swing-mode, keep him defensive. Instead, Alonso let the pitch go, and it brought him back into the count. Maybe the players or fans weren’t completely cognizant of this the moment, but in retrospect, that was when the pastel-colored afternoon turned for the Giants.
Houser spun an excellent 2-2 curveball that dropped out of the zone, and Alonso just let it go. A great, disciplined take that brought the count full. He then fought off another breaking ball before spitting on another sinker that came ’round just off the plate. Ball 4.
Should catcher Daniel Susac have challenged that call? According to the MLB Gameday and Baseball Savant zone, the ball looks like it may be a hair’s width from the corner, but those might not line-up with the stadium’s ABS zone. Still those are not the kind of dicey decisions you want to have to make in the 1st inning…and on a Sunday no less!
Instead of a casual start to the game, Alonso’s walk made things stressful, and Houser didn’t handle it well. Two pitches later, Samuel Basallo (another scuffling big man) put the Orioles up for good.
Disciplined at-bats from Baltimore hitters and clutch contact extended innings when it mattered most. The third strike, the third out proved elusive for Giants arms. 5 of the Orioles’ 6 runs on the day came with San Francisco pitching an out away from shutting down a frame.
Another 2-run rally in the 5th against Houser similarly started with the bases empty and two outs already recorded. An innocuous single off the bat of Henderson kept the inning going. Down 0-2, Taylor Ward refused to bite at two pitches off the plate before flipping an inside fastball into right field for another single. And with runners on the corners, down 2-strikes again, Alonso dug out a curveball and pulled it into the left field corner for a two-run gut punch.
The Orioles offense refused to go with the casual flow seemingly promised. This was not a day of rest, but a day of work. Every at-bat became an opportunity to assert themself on their opponent. The line-up worked 5 walks to go along with their 11 hits and struck out only 7 times. Houser and subsequent relievers weren’t getting exposed on mistakes necessarily, either. Decent pitches were being spoiledby solid takes or contact-oriented swings.
(Synonyms for the verb spoil: thwart… ruin… upset… scupper… scotch… vitiate… muller… )
With a runner on second in the 6th, Coby Mayo thwarted a well-pocketed 2-2 slider from Ryan Walker. The spun bloop off a choked-up bat scored Baltimore’s fifth run, vitiating Walker’s chances of putting up a scoreless frame. In the 7th with two outs, Colton Cowser’s 2-out infield single off Erik Miller was hit just weakly enough to plate another run and scuppering the Giants chances of a comeback.
The stubborn Orioles order was in stark contrast to the Giants’ offensive exploits against southpaw starter Cade Povich. While the line-up has been somewhat decent against left-handed pitching (117 wRC+, 6th in MLB) their Kryptonite has been 4-seam fastballs. Their collective 88 wRC+ against the straight heater is the worst in the league — and unfortunately, it’s a pitch Povich, and frankly a lot of other pitchers — likes to throw. The optics didn’t look great from the outset, then the early hole from the Basallo homer really put the line-up on the back foot. Resilience would not be the word I’d use to describe the make-up of these hitters. A lead has proved definitive against these Giants so far. They’ve only won one game this season when scoring second and that was only because the Mets got to hit first in their 7-2 win back on April 2nd.
Povich retired the first 12 batters he faced in order, and he did it pretty fast. A lot of chased fastballs, flinched-at curves. A bushel of pop-ups. He fanned 5 with 0 walks over 6.2 innings pitched. 4 of the 5 knocks he allowed were singles. Heliot Ramos’s two out double in the 7th was the first extra base hit he allowed and ended up chasing him from the game.
Daniel Susac continued to be a bright spot in his third start of the season. He threw out Colton Cowser from his knees to complete a strike ‘em out, throw ‘em out double play in the 2nd. He’d record the only RBI against Povich with a 2-out punch up the middle in the 5th that at the time cut Baltimore’s lead in half. Batting clean-up and serving as the designated hitter for the fourth straight game, Casey Schmitt logged a 3-for-4 night of loud contact. His lead-off single in the 5th put Povich in the stretch for the first time and ultimately set-up the team’s first run, while his 9th inning solo shot gave him his fourth extra base hit of the series. Since the “catch the f***ing ball game” (7-1 loss to SD on 4/1), Schmitt has hit safely in each of his five starts, including three 3-hit games.
San Francisco had their chances to close-out at-bats, close-out innings, and ultimately, close out this Baltimore series but couldn’t find a way to firmly shut the door. Now they’re 6-10 with more road series coming this week in Cincinnati and Washington.
With the Mets struggling to find their groove, they needed Freddy Peralta to step up and pitch like the ace he is in Sunday’s series finale against the Athletics.
Peralta did just that, delivering his longest and most encouraging outing of the season, but New York’s offense failed to back him up as the losing streak hit five.
The right-hander said postgame that he didn’t have his best stuff, but he was still good enough to hold the A’s to just one run on a Nick Kurtz homer in six innings of work.
“We made adjustments and got better as the game went on,” he said.
Peralta certainly did, as he retired six of the final seven batters he faced, working around a two out walk in the top of the fifth and then finishing his day with a scoreless sixth.
He walked three, gave up four hits, and struck out six.
“He was good,” Carlos Mendoza said. “They ran his pitch count up with foul balls and good at-bats, but still found a way to get us six innings — except for the breaking ball on the homer, I thought he was very good.”
Sean Manaea was just as solid in relief of Peralta.
The lefty did a tremendous job keeping the team in the game, cruising through the final three innings.
Manaea’s velocity remained down from last season, averaging just 89.3 mph on his fastball, but he once again showed that he can still be effective.
He retired all nine hitters he faced and struck out four.
“Very good,” Mendoza said. “Attacked, threw strikes, fastball continues to have life. The delivery, the way he’s moving, I like the aggressiveness overall — he not only gave us three innings, but he kept us there, he gave us a chance.”
The Mets will need more pitching performances like this as their offense looks to get back into a groove.
