Sports
After managerial change, Phillies look to alter fortunes vs. Giants
Apr 8, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Adolis García (53) walks off the field after lining out to San Francisco Giants left fielder Harrison Bader (9) in the to pot the eighth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Justine Willard-Imagn Images The Philadelphia Phillies made news on Tuesday morning, hours before opening a three-game series against the visiting San Francisco Giants.
The Phillies fired manager Rob Thomson and named bench coach Don Mattingly as their interim skipper through the 2026 season.
USA Today reported Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora, fired Friday, was offered the job and declined, opting to spend time with his family.
The floundering Phillies (9-19) have lost 11 of their last 12 games and are tied with the New York Mets (9-19) for the worst record in the majors. Both were expected to compete for the National League East title this season.
The Phillies’ run differential (-54) is by far the worst in the sport, landing Thomson on the hot seat.
“Well, that’s natural, right?” Thomson said of his job security prior to Tuesday’s news. “It’s normal. And I’ve never worried about that in my entire career. … I don’t have time to think about it.”
The Phillies snapped a 10-game losing streak Saturday with an 8-5 extra-inning victory over the Atlanta Braves. But the momentum didn’t last long, as they fell behind early in Sunday’s 6-2 series-finale loss.
Aaron Nola allowed three runs in the first inning and three more in the second, and the Phillies’ bats managed only one hit (a single) in six innings against Chris Sale.
“It’s not like the record is going to change overnight,” said designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, whose two-run homer in the eighth accounted for the Phillies’ offense on the day. “It’s going to be a continuous grind, and we’re ready for that. We know that there’s a long road ahead.”
The Phillies’ attempted path to recovery will begin Tuesday with Jesus Luzardo (1-3, 6.91 ERA) on the mound. The left-hander has labored through the first month of the season, although he was able to limit the damage in his most recent outing.
Despite allowing five hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings against the Chicago Cubs last Tuesday, Luzardo gave up just one run in an eventual 7-4 defeat. Still, he expects more of himself after signing a five-year, $135 million contract extension in the offseason.
“It’s very frustrating,” Luzardo said. “As a whole, we don’t feel like we’re doing the job that we need to do. … I think there’s been times that a lot of us think that we can pick up the slack, me included.”
Luzardo, who is 2-1 with a 5.23 ERA in six career starts against San Francisco, will be facing a team that has turned things around following a slow start of its own.
The Giants have won seven of their last 10 games after beginning the season 6-12. They have won three series in a row — against the Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins.
In Sunday’s 6-3 triumph over Miami, San Francisco’s Casey Schmitt hit a go-ahead home run for the second straight game.
“That’s what we’re here for: to drive in runs and be productive,” said Giants third baseman Matt Chapman, who walked and scored in the decisive seventh inning. “But we are a team, and Casey’s hot right now.”
Landen Roupp allowed just two hits and three runs over 7 2/3 innings — a performance that Tyler Mahle (1-3, 5.26) would love to copy in Tuesday’s contest.
Mahle is coming off a sparkling effort in last Wednesday’s 3-0 win over the Dodgers, as he gave up just three hits and two walks over seven innings.
In four lifetime starts against Philadelphia, Mahle is 1-1 with a 2.41 ERA. He held the Phillies to three hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings April 8 in San Francisco, helping the Giants take two of three in that series.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Astros' Christian Walker batting cleanup one day after HBP to head
May 2, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (8) is helped off the field after being hit by a pitch during the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images Less than 24 hours after taking a fastball to the helmet, Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker was penciled into the starting lineup for the Astros’ series finale on Sunday at Boston.
Facing an 0-2 pitch from Red Sox rookie left-hander Tyler Samaniego, Walker was drilled over his left eye by a 93.3 mph fastball on Saturday that broke his helmet and sent the biggest piece flying 10 feet toward the backstop.
With the Astros leading 6-3 in the ninth, they took precautionary measures and removed Walker in favor of pinch runner Brandon Shewmake.
“I feel OK,” Walker told reporters afterward. “I think the helmet took most of it. And turning away from it hopefully made it more of a glancing blow than straight impact.”
Clearly Walker felt good enough to fill the cleanup spot for Sunday’s game against the Red Sox. Walker has appeared in every game this year for the Astros — starting all but one — and the 35-year-old has been producing some career numbers.
His .309 batting average, .386 on-base percentage and .577 slugging percentage all represent career bests. He has delivered eight homers and 26 RBIs through 34 games, which put him on pace for a career-high 38 homers and 124 RBIs.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Best NBA Bets Today: Game 7 Picks for Cavs vs Raptors, Magic vs Pistons
Feb 19, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) after the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images Two Game 7’s take place on Sunday in the NBA playoffs for the right to advance to the second round.
Both do-or-die contests feature Eastern Conference squads, starting with the top-seeded Detroit Pistons returning home to battle the Orlando Magic.
The night affair showcases the Cleveland Cavaliers, looking to avoid an early exit against the injury-riddled Toronto Raptors. The winners of each of these games face each other in the conference semifinals.
We’ll break down two plays for the Sunday action. Remember to monitor the odds throughout the day, as the sides and totals market is constantly changing.
Here are the free NBA picks for Sunday, May 3. Odds Courtesy of DraftKings.
Best NBA plays today
- Magic/Pistons Over (201.5)
- Cavaliers (-8.5) vs. Raptors
Magic/Pistons Over (201.5) – 3:30 p.m. ET
Orlando’s offense disappeared in the second half of Friday’s 93-79 home loss to Detroit, preventing the Magic from advancing. The Magic led by 22 points at halftime, but were outscored in the second half, 55-19 as Detroit forced a Game 7 back at home.
How bad was Orlando’s offense in the second half of Game 6? The Magic missed 23 consecutive field goal attempts at one point and finished 4-of-37 in the final 24 minutes.
Will things turn around in Game 7 back in the Motor City? The total closed at 209.5 in Game 6 and never threatened the Over. Sunday’s total has dipped to 202.5, as two games in Detroit finished with 213 points (Game 1) and 225 points (Game 5).
The teams combined for 51 points in the first quarter of Game 6 before Orlando outscored Detroit, 35-12 in the second quarter. It’s unlikely the Pistons will have another quarter like that and the Magic certainly won’t put up 19 points in a half again.
As long as these teams avoid a major cold spell, this game can hit the Over on Sunday afternoon.
Our Current Best Offers
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Cavaliers (-8.5) vs. Raptors – 7:30 p.m. ET
The Raptors stunned the Cavaliers in the final seconds of overtime in Game 6 on Friday behind R.J. Barrett’s go-ahead 3-pointer. Toronto returns to Cleveland for Game 7 on Sunday night as the home team owns a perfect 6-0 record in the series.
Toronto’s leading scorer Brandon Ingram missed Game 6 with a heel injury and is questionable for Game 7. Barrett has stepped up to be the Raptors’ top scoring option at 24.3 points per game, while posting at least 22 points in each of the three games in Cleveland.
The Cavaliers have not covered in the last four games since cashing in each of the first two wins at home. Cleveland squandered late leads in two of the losses in Toronto with the only bad performance coming in the 22-point Game 3 loss.
Since the 2023 playoffs, nine of the last 11 Game 7 winners have advanced with a victory margin of at least 10 points. Chances are Cleveland won’t win a close game here, so we’ll lay the points with them to grab a blowout and advance to the second round.
Our Current Best Offers
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Sports
Canadiens D Noah Dobson game-time decision for Game 7
Apr 11, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens defenseman Noah Dobson (53) skates during the warmup before the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images Montreal Canadiens defenseman Noah Dobson is considered a game-time decision for Game 7 of the team’s Eastern Conference first-round series versus the host Tampa Bay Lightning.
Dobson has been sidelined with an upper-body injury after blocking a shot against the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 11.
“He’s been a big player for us this year,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. “I’m confident that if he plays, he’s going to bring something.”
Dobson, 26, recorded 47 points (12 goals, 35 assists) and averaged 22:29 of ice time in 80 games during the regular season.
The Canadiens acquired Dobson in a sign-and-trade agreement with the New York Islanders on June 27, 2025, as he agreed to an eight-year, $76 million contract.
In return, the Islanders received forward Emil Heineman and both of Montreal’s first-round picks (Nos. 16 and 17) in the 2025 NHL Draft. The Islanders used those selections on Swedish right winger Victor Eklund and defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson of Barrie (OHL).
Dobson has totaled 277 points (62 goals, 215 assists) in 348 career games since being selected by the Islanders with the 12th overall pick of the 2018 NHL Draft.
–Field Level Media
Astros' Christian Walker batting cleanup one day after HBP to head
Best NBA Bets Today: Game 7 Picks for Cavs vs Raptors, Magic vs Pistons
