Sports
Kraken, Maple Leafs look to build on offensive fireworks
Oct 24, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares (91) skates against the St. Louis Blues during the first period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images The visiting Seattle Kraken and Toronto Maple Leafs have already been tricking and treating this week before their game on Thursday night.
Both teams have treated their fans to high-scoring victories sparked by hat tricks.
Center John Tavares scored three goals — his 12th career regular-season hat trick — in Toronto’s 6-4 road victory over previously undefeated Winnipeg on Monday.
Defenseman Brandon Montour had his first career hat trick and added an assist in Seattle’s 8-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday in the opener of a five-game road trip.
The Kraken had a 4-0 lead by 10:33 of the first period.
“I think at times this year, we’ve been too much on the perimeter and we’ve been too much not a shooter’s mentality,” Kraken coach Dan Bylsma said. “There’s no secret about really scoring goals in this league, it’s you’ve got to have shot volume, you’ve got to have guys at the net, you’ve got to have people in around the net. … (Tuesday), in the first in particular, we were very good at that.”
Chandler Stephenson added four assists.
Montour scored his fourth goal of the season on a power play at 14:12 of the third period to finish a natural hat trick. He had two of Seattle’s three goals with the man advantage.
“I think we came out hot,” Montour said. “Obviously, it’s nice to get one early, get a few early, and then I think we just kept rolling. I think the energy level was good.”
“As far as Brandon’s game, not only five-on-five but on the power play, came up big for us,” Bylsma said. “The power play, it was really the first time where they kind of won us a game, they got three power-play goals, which was great. ‘Monty,’ he does it with a lot of flair, and that’s his personality and that’s what he brings to the room.”
Toronto also opened a 4-0 lead at Winnipeg after scoring twice in the first 3:25 of the second period. They withstood Winnipeg’s rally and Tavares clinched the result with his fifth goal of the season into an empty net.
Toronto coach Craig Berube reunited Tavares and William Nylander (one goal, two assists) and added Max Pacioretty (three assists to match a career best) to form a line that responded with nine combined points on Monday.
Berube noted that Nylander and Tavares have played well together in the past.
“With Pacioretty there, a big winger that could score, we are just trying to find a little bit more scoring in some other lines,” Berube said.
“(Pacioretty) did an amazing job working really hard, winning pucks back and making some really nice plays,” Nylander said. “We just meshed together off the hop, so it was nice.”
Tavares is on a five-game point streak (three goals, four assists).
“I just liked our pace with our feet, with the puck, without the puck and the way we moved the puck as well,” Tavares said. “The way we were able to use the open parts of the ice, get into the interior and make it difficult on their goalie. We drew some penalties early, so I just really liked the energy and pace of our game (Monday).”
Toronto is 5-1-0 against Seattle all-time.
–Field Level Media
Sports
After halting 8-game skid, Royals chase series win vs. Orioles
Apr 17, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Michael Wacha (52) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Michael Wacha has been the brightest light amid a dismal start to the season for the Kansas City Royals.
Meanwhile, Chris Bassitt might have found a needed rhythm following a rough beginning to his Baltimore Orioles’ tenure.
The two veteran right-handers will match up in the decisive contest of a three-game series on Wednesday afternoon in Kansas City, Mo.
Wacha (2-0, 1.00 ERA), who will turn 35 in July, is second in the majors in ERA, trailing only Jose Soriano (0.28) of the Los Angeles Angels. Wacha has yielded just three runs, eight walks and 13 hits over 27 innings of his four starts.
On Friday, Wacha gave up a two-run homer and two other hits over six innings in Kansas City’s 4-2 loss to the New York Yankees.
“He’s difficult against any lineup,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro.
Wacha is 3-3 with a 5.22 ERA in 13 career starts vs. Baltimore. He is 0-2 with a 5.29 ERA in three starts against the Orioles since joining Kansas City in December 2023.
The Royals, however, have some momentum after ending an eight-game losing streak with Tuesday’s 6-5 win to even this series.
“We believe in each other, and everyone in here,” star Bobby Witt Jr. told the Royals’ official website. “And that’s how we got to go about it. We got to get better every day and try to improve.”
Michael Massey belted a tying solo homer in the eighth inning and Maikel Garcia scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the ninth for the Royals, who will bid to post back-to-back victories for the first time since April 10-11.
“It’s a long season. … We have a great team,” Garcia told Royals.TV. “We just keep working, go out there and compete.”
Garcia is 4-for-9 in the series, but he’s hitless in four career at-bats vs. Bassitt (0-2, 6.19 ERA).
Bassitt allowed 10 runs over 6 1/3 innings while losing his first two starts as an Oriole this season. Since then, though, the former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher has yielded one earned run in 9 2/3 innings as Baltimore won his next two outings.
Last Friday at Cleveland, Bassitt yielded four hits and four walks over five scoreless innings of the Orioles’ 6-4 victory.
“Overall, good,” he said. “(I’m) able to just execute enough.”
Bassitt is 1-2 with a 3.60 ERA in eight career starts against the Royals, with Witt and Vinnie Pasquantino going a combined 2-for-10 vs. him.
Meanwhile, Massey’s homer served as the first hit and run allowed this season by Baltimore reliever Nico Garcia.
Pete Alonso had two hits Tuesday but is batting just .211 to open his first season with the Orioles after seven seasons with the New York Mets. However, Alonso is 3-for-7 with a home vs. Wacha.
Baltimore has lost six of its last eight games and is 2-4 on a seven-game road trip.
Fellow Orioles star Adley Rutschman came off the 10-day injury list Tuesday and hit his first home run of 2026. He’s a career .301 hitter with two homers and 10 RBIs against Kansas City.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Guardians' Chase DeLauter looking to heat up in finale vs. Astros
Apr 21, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians designated hitter Chase DeLauter (24) celebrates after hitting a three-run triple during the eighth inning against the Houston Astros at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images Chase DeLauter was the most impactful rookie in the majors during the opening weekend of the season, homering four times and driving in five runs over his first three games with the Cleveland Guardians.
Things haven’t gone nearly as well since then. However, they might be trending upward as the Guardians conclude a seven-game homestand Wednesday afternoon against the Houston Astros.
Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee (0-2, 4.81 ERA) will start the afternoon contest against Houston’s Peter Lambert (0-1, 7.20) in a battle of right-handers.
DeLauter recorded a go-ahead, three-run triple in the eighth inning on Tuesday to help Cleveland rally to an 8-5 victory over Houston. The Guardians scored a season-high six times in the inning.
“It’s no secret he hasn’t gotten results, but this kid is a good hitter,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said. “Chase stepped up in a huge way, backing up a fastball with a two-strike count. It was a cool moment for him.”
DeLauter was in a 1-for-26 slump when he sent a sinking liner toward the foul line in left, where Brice Matthews was unable to reach the ball in time.
DeLauter was batting .140 with four RBIs in his previous 14 games, dropping his season average to .219.
“Obviously, it’s not been the most ideal last two weeks or so,” DeLauter said. “But I’ve had the rest of the guys behind my back. And when you show up in the box, anything can happen.
“It’s been cold, there’s been a lot of stuff going on, so play the game and let’s see what happens.”
Bibee, who was considered the staff ace two years ago, also could be turning the corner after tossing six scoreless innings against the Baltimore Orioles last Friday. He had a bloated 6.38 ERA in his first four starts this spring.
In three career games against Houston, Bibee has 13 strikeouts over 16 innings and a 4.50 ERA without a decision.
The Astros won six of their first nine games but since have gone 3-13. They have split their first two matchups in Cleveland, taking the opener 9-2 on Monday behind a strong start from winning pitcher Spencer Arrighetti.
Second baseman Jose Altuve became the third player to play in 2,000 career games with Houston, going 0-for-5 Tuesday, while American League homer (10) and RBI (24) leader Yordan Alvarez extended his hitting streak to eight with two hits and three RBIs.
Astros manager Joe Espada was more focused on another number: 16. That’s how many players the team has on the injured list after outfielder Taylor Trammell (left groin strain) was hurt in Cleveland.
“It (stinks) because he has been grinding for two years, and given us some quality at-bats and was playing really good in the field,” Espada said. “It’s going to take some time for him to get back.”
Houston appears to have avoided a 17th IL stint as postgame X-rays to the left hand of outfielder Dustin Harris were negative. He exited after being hit by a pitch from Parker Messick, prompting Espada to tell his players to “be smart about” handling any further minor injuries.
Lambert made his first big league appearance since 2024 on Friday, giving up four runs in five innings in a loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. His only outing against the Guardians came two years ago with the Colorado Rockies, losing in relief by allowing one run in two innings in a 13-7 game.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Mariners' stadium reminds A's of their goal: AL West title
Apr 20, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers (23) hits a home run against the Seattle Mariners during the sixth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images The Athletics need only to look to the top of the third deck in right field at T-Mobile Park to realize the road to the American League West title goes through Seattle.
That’s where the Mariners’ 2025 division championship banner hangs.
“(The Mariners) were one game away from going to the World Series last year,” the Athletics’ Shea Langeliers said. “Last year, it kind of felt like a dogfight every time we played them. I don’t think it’s going to be any different this year. These early games in the season, you can look back later and realize how much they mean.”
Langeliers homered for a second consecutive night Tuesday, leading the A’s to a 5-2 victory as they remained a half-game ahead of the Texas Rangers atop the division race.
The Athletics will go for a sweep of their three-game series in Seattle on Wednesday afternoon.
Last season, the A’s went 6-7 against the Mariners, with 10 of those games decided by two runs or less.
This season’s series has started similarly, with the A’s winning 6-4 Monday. They scored an insurance run in the ninth Tuesday for the final three-run margin.
“If we want to beat anybody, we want to beat the Mariners,” A’s outfielder Lawrence Butler said. “So it felt really good beating them. … I wish (the stadium) was more packed out so more fans could go home sad.”
The Mariners’ Cal Raleigh also homered for a second straight night, but it wasn’t enough to prevent his team from losing for the sixth time in the past eight games.
Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez both went 2-for-3 and drew walks, showing signs of breaking out of their early season slumps.
“We had a lot of contact, but just not a lot to show for it,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “We’ve got to keep pushing, and keep getting that traffic on there and keep giving ourselves a chance. At some point, we’ll start to get those runs.”
Raleigh insisted it’s not for a lack of effort.
“Nobody’s ever gonna fault this team for not working hard and doing that stuff,” he said. “But just because you work hard, it doesn’t mean you get good results. So to me, it’s really about focusing in that two-minute stretch when you’re in the box. You want guys being competitive, being warriors in the box.
“It’s a fine balance, right? We all know that we want to be doing better than we are, but at the same time, it’s not going to help anybody in this room by trying to press and go out there and do more, try to be ‘the guy.’ It’s happened before to good clubs. It’s more under a microscope because it’s the beginning of the season. I have faith in this group.”
The series finale is set to feature a pair of right-handers in the Athletics’ Aaron Civale (2-1, 3.54 ERA) and Seattle’s Logan Gilbert (1-3, 4.03).
Civale is coming off a 9-2 loss to the visiting Chicago White Sox on Friday in West Sacramento, Calif., when he gave up five runs on 11 hits over 4 2/3 innings. He’s 2-3 with a 3.96 ERA in six career starts against Seattle.
Gilbert lost 5-0 Friday to visiting Texas, allowing two runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings, with one walk and seven strikeouts. In 14 career starts against the A’s, Gilbert is 4-1 with a 2.82 ERA.
–Field Level Media
After halting 8-game skid, Royals chase series win vs. Orioles
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