Apr 3, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto (22) reacts on a call strike against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images | Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images
After exiting yesterday’s game with calf tightness and undergoing an MRI earlier today, Juan Soto revealed that he has been diagnosed with a minor right calf strain. That’s about the extent of what we know, as Soto said he does not know how long he will be out and is hoping to avoid an IL stint. Speaking to the media prior to the game, Soto said, “We’re going to see how I wake up the next couple of days and go from there.”
Soto, who has appeared in at least 150 games in each full 162-game season dating back to 2019, has not made a trip to the injured list since April 2021, so this is a unique situation for the Mets’ left fielder. Soto exited Friday’s game in the first inning after appearing to injure his calf running first to third on a single. It was the lone negative in the team’s otherwise stress-free 10-3 win.
For now, the Mets have seemingly avoided the worst-case scenario, but it will be a few days before we know definitively. Losing Soto for any amount of time would be a huge blow for the club, especially with Francisco Lindor struggling following hamate surgery, and several of the team’s newcomers, including Bo Bichette and Marcus Semien, scuffling in the early stages of the season with their new club. Soto is hitting .355/.412/.516 with one homer, three runs scored, five runs batted in, and a 162 wRC+ on the young season. Last year, Soto finished second in NL MVP voting while slashing .263/.396/.525 with 43 home runs, 105 runs batted in, 120 runs scored, a 156 wRC+, and a 5.8 fWAR in 160 games.
The 2026 NBA postseason is right around the corner as teams around the association have five or fewer games remaining in the 2025-26 regular season.
The Golden State Warriors look to get their team into form ahead of the postseason following an injury-riddled season that has seen season-ending setbacks to Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody, and nagging injuries to Al Horford and Quinten Post.
ESPN’s Shams Charania and Anthony Slater reported that Curry is expected to play April 4 against the Houston Rockets. With five games remaining in the Warriors’ schedule, Curry’s return is just in the nick of time to get back into basketball shape for a post season run.
Here’s what Golden State’s playoff scenarios could look like:
Here is who the Warriors face in their five remaining games of the 2025-26 regular season.
Sunday, April 5: vs. Houston Rockets
Tuesday, April 7: vs. Sacramento Kings
Thursday, April 9: vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Friday, April 10: @ Sacramento Kings
Sunday, April 12: @ Los Angeles Clippers
How the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament format works
The SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament is practically the NBA’s equivalent to MLB and NFL’s wild card round. In this format, the Nos. 7-10 seeds are vying for a playoff berth. The higher seed plays at home throughout the tournament. The No. 7 and 8 seeds play each other, winner is the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. Loser still has a chance for the No. 8-seed.
The No. 9 and 10 seeds play each other in an elimination style game. The winner of the No. 9 vs. 10-seed game plays the loser of the No. 7 and 8 seeds game for the No. 8 and final spot in the playoffs.
Warriors’ playoff scenarios
The Warriors will play in the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament since they won’t be able to catch the Western Conference’s No. 6 seed before the regular season ends.
The Warriors (36-41) are currently the No. 10 seed in the West and have five games remaining before the postseason begins Tuesday, April 14 with the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament.
Ahead of them, by three games, are the Los Angeles Clippers (39-38) at the No. 9 slot. The Portland Trail Blazers are 40-38, a half game above the Clippers at No. 8. Currently placed at No. 7 are the Phoenix Suns.
If the regular season ended today, the Warriors would go on the road to face the Clippers in an elimination game for a chance at the No. 8-seed.
If Golden State loses they are eliminated from postseason contention. If they win, they would face the the loser of the No. 7 vs. 8 seed game between the Suns and Blazers for the No. 8 spot.
If the Warriors were to win both play-in games, they would make their 2026 NBA Playoff appearance in the first round against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Golden State Warriors playoffs odds
Here are the Warriors’ playoffs odds, as of Saturday, April 4, courtesy of BetMGM.
Warriors’ playoff chances
Miss the playoffs: -450
Make the playoffs:+300
Advance to Western Conference second round (semifinals):+2800
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – DECEMBER 01: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers takes a selfie with fans after the game against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on December 01, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers will look to sweep the season series against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday evening.
The Pacers have one of the worst records in the league, and given the convoluted protections on their first-round pick in the upcoming draft, they could benefit from being at the bottom of the standings.
Even though Indiana has an incentive to lose games, they’re still capable of winning. In the last week and a half, they’ve beaten the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat, while coming close to taking down the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers.
Considering how the Cavs haven’t exactly handled their business against other teams they’re more talented than in recent weeks, this one could be closer than we anticipate at the onset.
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TV: FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, FanDuel Sports App, NBA League Pass
Point spread: Cavs -17.5
Cavs injury report: Evan Mobley – OUT (left calf injury management), Jarret Allen – OUT (knee injury management), Sam Merrill – OUT – (hamstring injury management), Jaylon Tyson – OUT (toe), Dean Wade – OUT (ankle)
Pacers injury report: Tyrese Haliburton – OUT (Achilles), Pascal Siakam – OUT (ankle), Johnny Furphy – OUT (ACL), T.J. McConnell – OUT (hamstring), Andrew Nembhard – OUT (back), Aaron Nesmith – OUT (neck), Ben Sheppard – QUESTIONABLE (hip), Obi Toppin – PROBABLE (foot), Jarace Walker – QUESTIONABLE (tailbone), Ivica Zubac – OUT (rib)
Cavs expectedstarting lineup: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Keon Ellis, Max Strus, Thomas Bryant
Pacers expected starting lineup: Ben Sheppard, Quenton Jackson, Kobe Brown, Obi Toppin, Jay Huff
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 04: Masataka Yoshida #7 of the Boston Red Sox looks on after striking out in the ninth inning against the San Diego Padres at Fenway Park on April 04, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the eighth game in a row to kick off the 2026 MLB season, the Boston Red Sox failed to score more than five runs. They are the only team in baseball that has yet to do so this season. Get used to this.
The lineup isn’t going to be this anemic all season long — and it certainly won’t be bitterly cold with an easterly wind whipping off the harbor all season long. But the 2026 Red Sox just aren’t going to scare many opposing pitchers.
Yes, there is Roman Anthony. And in in the fifth inning he laced a triple to put the game-tying run on third base. The problem for Anthony and the Red Sox, though, is that there were already two outs and the man hitting behind him doesn’t belong near the top of an MLB lineup. It’s now been six years since Trevor Story was a real asset on offense. And in the key at-bat of the middle innings with Anthony 90 feet from home, he weakly grounded out to second.
On the pitching side of things, Connelly Early wasn’t that sharp today. He walked four batters in just four innings and spent a lot of the game nibbling around the edges. But he limited hard contact, struck out Fernando Tatis twice, and kept his team in the game, making him one of the few Red Sox players who did his job today.
Three Studs
Willson Contreras, 1-4 R, K
He scored the first run of the game and blasted a ball that would’ve been an extra base hit if Fernando Tatis didn’t cover more ground than any other right fielder I’ve ever seen. He’s seeing the ball well and is going to be massively important this season.
Marcelo Mayer, 1-3, RBI, 2 K
He knocked in the Sox first run of the game with a sac fly and, once again, looked good out there in the field. There’s no advance stat for this, but he continues to just look like a ballplayer, y’know?
Roman Anthony, 2-4
Triples are sexy, ergo Roman Anthony is sexy. Also he’s the only guy on the team who got multiple hits.
Three Duds
Trevor Story, 0-4 K
It wasn’t just the groundout with Anthony on third. He also came up with two on and no out in the 8th and struck out. The Sox ended up scraping a run across in that inning anyway, but it’s at-bats like that one that make it hard to put crooked numbers on the board.
Caleb Durbin, 1-3
Just as Story doesn’t belong at the top of a lineup, Durbin doesn’t belong in the six hole. Yes, he got a hit today. But it was an infield dribbler and he continues to swing the bat like a man who is afraid to hurt the baseball. And while Freddy Fermin’s RBI double down the third baseline definitely wasn’t his fault, it is, unfortunately, a fact that someone other than the shortest third baseman in the league might’ve been able to get a glove on it.
Aroldis Chapman, 1 IP, 2 H, K, 1 ER
He was brought into a tie game in the 9th and tasked with keeping it a tie game. He did not.
Play of the Game
I’m not putting a Padres walk-off here, so let’s take another look at Roman’s triple.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says shortstop Mookie Betts will undergo an MRI on Saturday night after a potential back injury. Betts left Saturday’s game against the Washington Nationals in the first inning, with the team citing “right low back pain.”
Roberts confirmed to reporters postgame that Betts’ injury happened as he rounded the bases on a Freddie Freeman RBI double, which gave L.A. a 2-0 lead early in the game. After stepping on home plate, Betts walked back to the dugout pretty slowly, and was taken out of the game not long afterward.
Miguel Rojas then stepped in for Betts at shortstop to start the bottom of the first. The Dodgers went on to win 10-5.
Dave Roberts said Mookie Betts (back) will undergo an MRI tonight. Said Betts felt his back tighten up while running the bases in the first. Roberts described it as more “moderate than serious” but does not expect Betts to play the next couple of days.
Roberts described the injury as more “moderate” rather than serious, but said that Betts is not expected to play the next few games. The Dodgers close out their series against the Nationals on Sunday before traveling to Toronto to start a three-game series against the Blue Jays on Monday.
Roberts also said that the team will likely call up another player to cover for Betts in the meantime — most likely utility prospect Hyeseong Kim, who the Dodgers optioned to the minors to start the season to make room for Alex Freeland.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says shortstop Mookie Betts will undergo an MRI on Saturday night after a potential back injury. Betts left Saturday’s game against the Washington Nationals in the first inning, with the team citing “right low back pain.”
Roberts confirmed to reporters postgame that Betts’ injury happened as he rounded the bases on a Freddie Freeman RBI double, which gave L.A. a 2-0 lead early in the game. After stepping on home plate, Betts walked back to the dugout pretty slowly, and was taken out of the game not long afterward.
Miguel Rojas then stepped in for Betts at shortstop to start the bottom of the first. The Dodgers went on to win 10-5.
Dave Roberts said Mookie Betts (back) will undergo an MRI tonight. Said Betts felt his back tighten up while running the bases in the first. Roberts described it as more “moderate than serious” but does not expect Betts to play the next couple of days.
Roberts described the injury as more “moderate” rather than serious, but said that Betts is not expected to play the next few games. The Dodgers close out their series against the Nationals on Sunday before traveling to Toronto to start a three-game series against the Blue Jays on Monday.
Roberts also said that the team will likely call up another player to cover for Betts in the meantime — most likely utility prospect Hyeseong Kim, who the Dodgers optioned to the minors to start the season to make room for Alex Freeland.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – APRIL 4: Nick Yorke #38 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates with Brandon Lowe #5 after scoring on an RBI single by Jake Mangum #28 (not pictured) in the eighth inning during the game against the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park on April 4, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After misplays from Anthony Nunez and Coby Mayo allowed the Pirates to tie the game in the 8th, a Nick Yorke walkoff single in the 9th doomed the Orioles to their second straight loss in Pittsburgh.
Despite being tied at 2-2 heading into the bottom of the 9th, manager Craig Albernaz turned to close Ryan Helsley to bring the game to extras. After starting the inning by getting Brandon Lowe to ground out to second, Helsley left a fastball over the plate to Bryan Reynolds. The former All-Star smashed a line drive to deep left field that sailed just over Dylan Beavers’ glove for a one-out double.
After intentionally walking Ryan O’Hearn, Yorke came to the plate looking to end the game. With the count knotted at 2-2, Helsley fired a fastball at Yorke’s knees that seemed to catch the bottom of the zone. However, home plate umpire Dan Iassogna incorrectly called it a ball, and the Orioles were out of challenges after a failed challenge in the top of the 9th from Gunnar Henderson. The very next pitch, Yorke lined a single to left field to bring home Reynolds and walk off the O’s.
While the 9th inning stung, the real pain point for Birdland came in the 8th. Albernaz gave the rookie Nunez his first high-leverage opportunity of the season, sending him in for the penultimate frame with Baltimore up 2-1. The first batter Nunez faced reached base when Marcel Ozuna dribbled a ball up the third base line that Mayo failed to field cleanly. The O’s 3B somewhat redeemed himself on the next AB, throwing out new Pirates star Konnor Griffin on a grounder as pinch-runner Yorke went to second. Spencer Horowitz then grounded out to second to put the tying run at third.
Pirates manager Don Kelly then pinch-hit former Ray Tanner Mangum for No. 9 hitter Joey Bart. The slap-hitting outfielder chopped a ball into the triangle between the pitcher, 1B and 2B. The grounder barely evaded Nunez’s glove, allowing Mangum to reach and Yorke to score the tying run.
The O’s held that lead for most of the game thanks to a two-run rally in the 4th. With the game tied at 0-0, Gunnar Henderson led off the inning by lining a hanging CB into right field for a single. Adley Rutschman then singled sharply up the middle to move Gunnar to third. Dylan Beavers followed Rutschman’s lead, attacking a first-pitch splitter from Pirates starter Carmen Mlodzinski and sending it to center field to bring home Gunnar. After Mayo walked, another rocket single from Leody Taveras gave Baltimore a 2-0 lead.
Throughout most of the afternoon, it looked like two runs were all the O’s would need thanks to starter Shane Baz. The right-hander had dominated the Pirates in his only previous outing vs. Pittsburgh and continued that dominant streak Saturday in PNC Park.
Early on, it looked like we might see a repeat of his up-and-down Orioles debut. Baz walked leadoff batter Oneil Cruz on a 3-2 fastball, replaced him with Brandon Lowe on a fielder’s choice and then gave up a single to No.3 hitter Bryan Reynolds. Instead of unraveling, however, Baz locked in; he punched out Ryan O’Hearn on a 3-2 fastball up and away, before striking out Marcel Ozuna looking on a fastball away.
From there, the former Pirates first-round pick entered cruise control against his former employers. He sped through the 2nd inning on only 11 pitches, getting a groundout from baseball’s No. 1 prospect, Konnor Griffin, a soft lineout from Spencer Horowitz and a flyout by Nick Gonzales. Baz was even more efficient in the 3rd, setting down Joey Bart, Cruz and Lowe just eight pitches, including making the Pirates CF look silly on a knucke curve for the right-hander’s third strikeout.
The only blemish on his record came in the form of an unearned run in the 4th. Pitching with a 2-0 lead, Baz allowed Reynolds to reach on a tapper down the first base line, which the Orioles’ pitcher fielded but couldn’t get out of his glove in time.
The former Oriole O’Hearn followed that E1 with a hard single to right field. Both runners advanced on a groundout to Coby Mayo at third, who bobbled the grounder, forcing him to only take the out at first. After Baz hit Griffin to load the bases, Horowitz flicked a well-located curveball into left for a sac fly. Baz then got Gonzales to softly line out, ending the scoring threat and preserving a 2-1 Orioles lead.
The 26-year-old started to show some signs of fatigue in the 5th. After striking out Bart looking with another excellent knuckle curve, and getting Cruz to fly out, Baz issued two walks on 10 pitches to put the tying run at second. O’Hearn couldn’t play hero agains the O’s, though, sending a towering fly ball to center for the final out of the inning.
Perhaps unexpectedly, Baz returned for the bottom of the 6th, having already thrown 83 pitches. He picked up his fifth and final strikeout of the afternoon on another well-spun curveball to Ozuna. After getting Griffin to ground out to Mayo, Baz looked to finish off his quality start against Horowitz. Instead, the Pirates 1B would slice an automatic double into the left field bleachers to chase the Orioles starter.
After Rico Garcia came in and got the last out of the 6th, it closed Baz’s line at 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), 3 BB and 5 K. While he only managed to get one more out than in his debut, the Orioles’ newest flame-throwing Texan showed the quality of pitching that earned him his recent $68M/5 years extension.
The bullpen arms followed Baz’s up until the 8th inning. Garcia walked the first batter he faced in Gonzales, but got Bart to roll over a slider to end the scoring threat. Lefty Grant Wolfram was equally cool under pressure; after giving up a single to Cruz to lead off the 7th, he struck out Lowe and Reynolds before getting O’Hearn to ground out.
The offense was not a particular bright spot either for the Orioles, as the bats only went 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left nine runners on base. However, given the late-inning meltdown by the pitching and defense, the offense will dodge most of the blame.
The Orioles will once again try and salvage the third game of an already-lost series tomorrow afternoon, when Chris Bassitt takes the mound on Easter. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35pm ET.
Instead of sitting in his office in the Michigan basketball locker room to prepare for the Wolverines’ Final Four game vs Arizona at 8:49 p.m. ET, May was instead courtside scouting the Illinois-UConn semifinal.
Dusty May here courtside scouting the first half of this game.
The Wolverines would play the winner of the first semifinal if they prevail in the second semifinal on Saturday, April 6, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
May told TBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson that with the quick turnaround, he “wanted to see things live, especially because he’s not that familiar with UConn.” He added he wanted a fresh perspective on the Huskies, and that this was “much better than sitting in the back.”
The Boston Celtics may get a key piece back in their lineup shortly before the NBA playoffs begin.
Center Nikola Vučević was upgraded to questionable for Sunday’s matchup with the Toronto Raptors on the Celtics’ injury report. He has missed Boston’s past 14 games with a fractured ring finger that required surgery to stabilize.
Vučević, 35, was acquired at the NBA trade deadline from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick. (Boston also received a second-rounder in the deal.) He appeared in 12 games before getting injured, averaging 10.4 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting 35% on 37 3-point attempts.
The Celtics have upgraded Nikola Vučević to questionable for Sunday’s game against Toronto .., signaling that Vučević is indeed on the brink of a pre-playoffs return from a fractured finger.
Overall this season, Vučević is scoring 15.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game, and shooting 37% on 3s.
Without Vučević, the Celtics have gone 10-4 and maintained their hold on the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, four games behind the Detroit Pistons and 2.5 games ahead of the New York Knicks.
However, Vučević’s absence also coincided with the return of Jayson Tatum from a ruptured Achilles suffered in last season’s playoffs. In 13 games, he’s averaged 21.4 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists with 33% shooting from long range.
Now, with five games remaining on the regular-season schedule, Boston expects to have its full complement of players and some time for Vučević to work into condition. That will also include Ron Harper Jr., who reportedly agreed to a two-year deal after bouncing between Boston and the team’s G League affiliate. He’s averaged 3.4 points and shot 34% on 3-pointers in 26 games with the Celtics.
Mathematically, the top spot in the East is still within reach but a first-round matchup against either the Raptors or Philadelphia 76ers appears likely.
The Boston Celtics may get a key piece back in their lineup shortly before the NBA playoffs begin.
Center Nikola Vučević was upgraded to questionable for Sunday’s matchup with the Toronto Raptors on the Celtics’ injury report. He has missed Boston’s past 14 games with a fractured ring finger that required surgery to stabilize.
Vučević, 35, was acquired at the NBA trade deadline from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick. (Boston also received a second-rounder in the deal.) He appeared in 12 games before getting injured, averaging 10.4 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting 35% on 37 3-point attempts.
The Celtics have upgraded Nikola Vučević to questionable for Sunday’s game against Toronto .., signaling that Vučević is indeed on the brink of a pre-playoffs return from a fractured finger.
Overall this season, Vučević is scoring 15.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game, and shooting 37% on 3s.
Without Vučević, the Celtics have gone 10-4 and maintained their hold on the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, four games behind the Detroit Pistons and 2.5 games ahead of the New York Knicks.
However, Vučević’s absence also coincided with the return of Jayson Tatum from a ruptured Achilles suffered in last season’s playoffs. In 13 games, he’s averaged 21.4 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists with 33% shooting from long range.
Now, with five games remaining on the regular-season schedule, Boston expects to have its full complement of players and some time for Vučević to work into condition. That will also include Ron Harper Jr., who reportedly agreed to a two-year deal after bouncing between Boston and the team’s G League affiliate. He’s averaged 3.4 points and shot 34% on 3-pointers in 26 games with the Celtics.
Mathematically, the top spot in the East is still within reach but a first-round matchup against either the Raptors or Philadelphia 76ers appears likely.
