The Athletics are back at it this evening at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento as they begin a three-game series against the American League Central rivals, the Chicago White Sox. The 6-13 White Sox are currently sitting in last place in the AL Central while the A’s are 10-9 and are tied for first place with the Texas Rangers

Aaron Civale, the 30-year-old righty will get the start for the A’s tonight. He’s currently 2-0 with a 1.72 ERA in his first season with the Athletics. He’ll go up against 29-year-old righty Davis Martin for the White Sox.  Martin is 2-1 with a 2.50 ERA in three starts for Chicago, while tossing 15 strikeouts in 18 innings of work.

Martin will go up against this lineup for the homestanding Athletics:

Civale will look to remain undefeated against this batting order for rookie manager Will Venable and his club:

Follow the Game:

Watch:
Athletics – NBCSCA

Listen:
Athletics – Talk 650 KSTE, KVMX 92.1/105.5, A’s Cast

Gerrit Cole completed his first rehab start in Friday’s Double-A game between the Yankees‘ Somerset Patriots and the Philadelphia Phillies’ Reading Fightin Phils.

New York’s ace RHP threw 44 pitches (36 strikes), allowed three runs on as many hits (one home run) while striking out three and walking one in 4.1 IP.

Still working with an overhead windup, Cole (Tommy John surgery recovery) delivered a perfect first inning with a strikeout sandwiched between two groundouts.

A perfect first inning for Gerrit Cole in Somerset!

(via @MILB) pic.twitter.com/Q74I52wPkU

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) April 17, 2026

The Patriots’ five-run first inning gave Cole a lead to pitch with in the second.

The inning, however, saw Cole work into trouble after Raylin Heredia‘s one-out walk and, two batters later, Dylan Campbell‘s two-out double.

Bryson Ware‘s two-run homer followed before Cole struck out Cade Fergus to end the frame.

Gerrit Cole gave up 2 hits, a walk and 3 runs in the 2nd inning, but struck out a pair pic.twitter.com/9HpokQT5J1

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) April 17, 2026

Cole rebounded in the third inning with a perfect frame, throwing four pitches and getting three groundouts.

The fourth saw Cole allow a one-out single to Heredia before Alex Binelas‘ 3-6-3 double play to end the inning.

After Campbell’s leadoff groundout, RHP Andrew Landry replaced Cole with one out in the fifth inning.

A ground ball hit to Gerrit Cole to finish out his night as he departs to a standing ovation in Somerset

Final line: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 44 pitches pic.twitter.com/NjcR0TwtEr

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) April 18, 2026

San Diego Padres (13-6) at Los Angeles Angels (10-10), April 17, 2026, 6:38 p.m. PST

Watch: Padres.TV

Location: Angel Stadium – Anaheim, Calif.

Listen: 97.3 The Fan

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The Dodgers (14-4) open a four-game series against the Colorado Rockies (7-12) starting Friday night at in Denver.

Tyler Glasnow (1-0, 4.00 ERA, 0.94 WHIP) makes his first career start at Coors Field in the series opener. Right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano (1-0, 2.16 ERA, 0.78 WHIP) will counter for Colorado.

Lineups

Friday game info

• Teams: Dodgers at Rockies
• Ballpark: Coors Field, Denver
• Time: 5:40 p.m. PT
• TV: SportsNet LA
• Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)

The Charlotte Hornets are one win away from ending a decade-long playoff drought as they prepare to face the Orlando Magic for the final spot on Friday night in the Eastern Conference.

1st Quarter Recap:

Soooooo….

Let’s just say the first quarter was rough. The #Hornets down 22 points (38-16), shooting 25% from the floor.

Orlando meanwhile, they’re up to nearly 67% shooting from the floor, outscoring the #Hornets 24-4 in the paint. @wsoctv

— DaShawn Brown (@DaShawnWSOC9) April 18, 2026

So far, not good…

The #Magic shooting 66% from the floor, and built a 17-point lead over the #Hornets with 3:44 left in the 1Q.

Still plenty of time. The Hornets need to start chipping away….

— DaShawn Brown (@DaShawnWSOC9) April 18, 2026

Win. In. #Hornets | @wsoctvpic.twitter.com/1rkmgh3kgk

— DaShawn Brown (@DaShawnWSOC9) April 17, 2026

Previous coverage:

The team that continues to gain confidence, especially after the battle against the Miami Heat.

ALSO READ: Heat, Hornets react to NBA ruling on uncalled LaMelo Ball foul, and how he’ll be eligible to play

The Hornets survived a win-or-go-home scenario on Tuesday with the 127-126 victory over Miami, and their reward? To do it again.

However, this is for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

They’ve already played Orlando four times this season and won three of those games.

The NBA said Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball should have been ejected for an uncalled flagrant foul when he reached out and tugged on the ankle of Miami’s Bam Adebayo.

Ball spoke Friday for the first time since the league fined him three days before.

“It’s all basketball. I feel like Bam knows,” Ball said. “We never had anything going on. I never had anything with anybody. I just go out there and play basketball. Even the one before. I’ve seen it. I tried to foul him.”

“Message, mindset, is to take the confidence of the last game, understanding that we are built for this moment,” said coach Charles Lee. “We have earned this moment, but on every possession, this is all we’re guaranteed is this one game.”

>> Sports reporter DaShawn Brown will be live at 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. to break down the game and what’s next for the Hornets. Channel 9’s Eli Brand will also have instant reactions from one of the many Hornets’ watch parties.

The Hornets are learning postseason is a completely different beast.

“There were a bunch of moments where you’re like, ‘Oh wow, we’re in a good spot. We’re going to win,’ and then you’re like, ‘Oh no, we could lose this game,’ but I think the guys stayed steady,” coach Lee said on Thursday. “The communication was really good. The execution in crucial moments was great. I think the last two days have been good for us to rest, recover, eat, sleep.”

“Obviously, the goal isn’t to go back and forth with a great scoring team,” Hornets’ Brandon Miller said on Thursday. “We always want to get a few stops.”

Lee spoke about Ball’s fines on Thursday, as well.

Coach Lee said he loved that Ball took accountability and didn’t believe it was malicious.

He also said he’s relieved that Ball will be available to play.

VIDEO: Hornets to face Magic in final play-in battle

The St. Louis Cardinals will continue their strong start to the 2026 season by opening a series in Houston versus the Astros Friday night. Kyle Leahy is scheduled to make the start for the Cardinals. He’s 1-2 with a 5.14 ERA. Peter Lambert will start Friday night for the Astros. 7:15pm central is scheduled to be the first pitch at Daikin Park.

The Houston Astros (8-12) will open a three-game series with their former division rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals (10-8), tonight at Daikin Park.

RHP Peter Lambert (season debut), selected from Triple A today, will make his first regular season appearance for the Astros tonight opposite the Cardinals and starter RHP Kyle Leahy (1-2, 5.14 ERA).

TONIGHT’S STARTER: RHP Peter Lambert joined the Astros via free agency this offseason after pitching last year for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in the NPB, posting a 3.98 ERA (55ER/124.1IP) with 111 strikeouts in 23 appearances in Japan.

This season, Lambert made his case by getting off to a strong start at Triple A Sugar Land, where he posted a 1.84 ERA (3ER/14.2IP) in three games (two starts), while also impressing at Major League Spring Training as a non-roster invite (1-1, 2.92 ERA, 4ER/12.1IP). A former Rockie, Lambert has 74 career MLB appearances, including 35 starts.

HOME-COOKIN’: Tonight is the fourth game of a six-game homestand for the Astros, in which they’ll host a pair of NL opponents in the Rockies (2-1) and Cardinals. The Astros have been great at home in 2026, going 7-3, including a seven-game winning streak, which was snapped last night.

VS. THE CARDS: This series is a matchup of former division rivals, who spent 19 seasons together in the NL Central from 1994-2012.

Overall, the two teams have played each other 722 times, with the Astros going 336-384.

These teams also have postseason history, with the Astros going 7-6 vs. the Cards in the playoffs. The two clubs faced off in back-to-back NLCS in 2004-05 with St. Louis taking the ‘04 NLCS in seven games and Houston winning the ‘05 NLCS in six games.

TODAY’S ROSTER MOVES: The Astros have selected RHP Peter Lambert (#38) to the Major League roster today. He takes the roster spot of RHP Christian Roa, who was optioned to Triple A Sugar Land after last night’s game.

In a corresponding move, the Astros transferred LHP Josh Hader to the 60-day IL.

EXTRA! EXTRA!:2B Jose Altuve recorded his 750th career extra-base hit last night with his 461st career double. He also has 32 triples and 257 home runs, all coming as an Astro. Only Craig Biggio (1,014) and Jeff Bagwell (969) have more extra-base hits than Altuve in franchise history.

GETTING ON :IF Isaac Paredes has an active on-base streak of 13 games, which ties as the longest active streak in the AL. During the run, which dates back to March 28, Paredes has posted a .375 OBP.

ON THE MEND: OF Zach Dezenzo (right elbow sprain) will begin a rehab assignment with Double A Corpus Christi tonight. Additionally, LHP Bennett Sousa (left oblique strain) is scheduled to make another rehab appearance at Corpus Christi tonight.

FAITH & FAMILY NIGHT: Tonight is Faith and Family Night at the ballpark. After the final out, fans are encouraged to stay for special postgame testimonials featuring Spencer Arrighetti, Carlos Correa and Shay Whitcomb.

Friday Night Fireworks presented by ConocoPhillips, will also be part of Faith and Family Night, as they will feature the musical theme Faith and Family.

TONIGHT’S SPECIAL GUESTS:SS Jeremy Peña will host students from Raul C. Martinez Elementary School tonight for Peña’s Pals.

In its fourth year, Pena’s Pals was developed by Jeremy in partnership with the Astros Foundation. The program celebrates kids and their development in academics, character building and making healthy choices.

THIS WEEKEND’S GIVEAWAYS: Tonight, 10,000 fans will receive a Carlos Correa City Connect Jersey, presented by Houston Methodist.

Tomorrow, 10,000 fans will receive an Astros Ice Cream Bucket Hat, presented by Texas Bay Credit Union.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Friday, April 17, 7:10 p.m. CST

Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX

TV: Space City Home Network

Streaming: SCHN+

Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; KTRH 740 AM; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Clippers are committed to a future with Kawhi Leonard as they transition from being the oldest team in the NBA to a younger one.

“Our plan is to win with Kawhi,” Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations, said Friday. “At the appropriate time, we’ll sit down with Kawhi and very similar to 2024, lay out our plan and if our goals are aligned, then we’d like to win with Kawhi.”

Leonard averaged a career-high 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists while playing in 65 games this season. He turns 35 in June and will enter the final year of a $149.5 million, three-year contract extension that he signed in 2024.

The Clippers would owe him $50.3 million next season, and they can extend his contract for two more seasons after the NBA Finals in June.

After a 6-21 start, the Clippers finished with a winning record (42-40) for the 15th consecutive season. They blew a 13-point lead at home in the final 10 minutes and lost 126-121 to Golden State in a play-in tournament game that ended their season.

Asked about his future Wednesday, Leonard said, “Let me cry about this loss a little bit more. We’ll have our discussions when that time comes.”

Leonard is missing the playoffs for the first time in his career when healthy. In his seven seasons with the Clippers, they reached the Western Conference finals in 2021 and lost in the first round the three previous years.

Also looming over the organization is the NBA’s ongoing investigation involving Leonard’s endorsement deal with a now-bankrupt former team sponsor, Aspiration. An outside law firm is looking into whether the deal was a way for the Clippers to circumvent the league’s salary cap.

“I think that we’re going to be in the clear,” Leonard said Wednesday, “so I’m not stressing it.”

Frank said the investigation, which began in September, had no effect on the season.

“If you know (owner) Steve (Ballmer) and know Steve’s integrity, you know there’s nothing to it,” he said. “We believe and we’ve very confident we’re on the right side of this.”

Even at the team’s lowest point, Frank said, there was never any consideration given to firing coach Tyronn Lue.

“I thought Ty and the staff did an unbelievable job,” he said.

Frank met Thursday with the players and basketball operations team to share his viewpoint on the season. It’ll be another week or so before the team holds individual exit interviews.

“We’re in this bridge period from competitive to get to contender,” Frank said. “We do have great hope and optimism with our future. We’ve put ourselves in a very good position with emerging young players, draft capital and cap space going forward.”

The team’s young returning corps includes Darius Garland, Derrick Jones Jr., Isaiah Jackson and Yanic Konan Niederhauser.

Veteran John Collins is an unrestricted free agent, while Bennedict Mathurin is a restricted free agent. The Clippers hold team options on Kris Dunn, Nicolas Batum, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Brook Lopez, Jordan Miller and Kobe Sanders.

“With any roster move,” Frank said, “how does it help us get closer to contention?”

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA