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Despite 2-1 series deficit, Golden Knights not panicking vs. Mammoth

NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Vegas Golden Knights at Utah MammothApr 24, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Rasmus Andersson (4) skates with the puck against Utah Mammoth center Nick Schmaltz (8) during the third period in game three of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

After an unlikely Game 3 victory, the Utah Mammoth will try to secure their third straight win over the visiting Vegas Golden Knights on Monday in Salt Lake City during Game 4 of their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series.

Vegas secured a 4-2 home win in Game 1, but the Mammoth erased the Knights’ home-ice advantage by winning Game 2. Utah then took command of the series with a 4-2 victory Friday in the first-ever NHL playoff game in Salt Lake City.

The Mammoth won Game 3 despite being outshot by a 32-12 margin. Utah became the eighth team since 1974 to win a playoff game with 12 or fewer shots, while the Golden Knights lost despite allowing the second-lowest shots total in any game (regular season or playoffs) in Vegas franchise history.

Sunday’s practice saw the Knights deploy some new line combinations and new power-play units. Vegas has gone 2-for-9 on the power play in the series and 5-for-6 on the penalty kill, though coach John Tortortella felt “we lost the special teams battle in the first three games.”

While the lineup may have some new looks in Game 4, Tortortella said neither his coaching staff or his veteran players have any panic.

“We’ve made some adjustments, as you do in (the) playoffs. Not crazy stuff, but when you get down in a series and you lose a couple in a row, it’s belief,” Tortortella said. “It’s believing in what we’re doing, belief in how we’re preparing. This is mental. This is where I feel very comfortable with this team. … We can draw as much stuff as we can on the board x’s and o’s-wise, this is belief. I think we have that in that room.”

Utah defenseman MacKenzie Weegar said his team also has a few new tricks in mind for Game 4.

“We expect a really good response from a really good opponent over there, so we’re going to need to be focused and prepared,” he said.

As efficient as the Mammoth were with their shots in Game 3, Weegar knows that level of production won’t normally win games.

“We’re definitely going to make some corrections for the next game, which will I think build a little bit more speed and we’ll get a little more offense going.”

Twelve different Mammoth players have at least one point in the series, and five players share the team lead with three points apiece. Weegar, Dylan Guenther, Lawson Crouse, and Logan Cooley each have two goals and an assist, and Kailer Yamamoto has three assists.

Playing in his first career playoff games, Karel Vejmelka has risen to the occasion with a 2.36 goals-against average and .916 save percentage in the series. The numbers are a step beyond Vejmelka’s solid 2.75 GAA and .897 save percentage in the regular season.

Mark Stone, Ivan Barbashev (each with two goals and one assist) and Jack Eichel (one goal, two assists) all have three points in the series, sharing the Vegas team lead.

Though Carter Hart allowed four goals on 12 shots in Game 3, he’ll be back in the Vegas net on Monday. Hart went 7-1-0 with a .932 save percentage over his last eight starts spanning the end of the regular season and first two postseason games.

–Field Level Media

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World Series star Trey Yesavage rejoins Blue Jays to face Red Sox

MLB: Toronto Blue Jays-WorkoutsFeb 11, 2026; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage (39) throws a bullpen session for spring training practice at Blue Jays Player Development Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Trey Yesavage will try to duplicate his magic from late in 2025 when he makes his season debut Tuesday night against the visiting Boston Red Sox.

The Blue Jays dropped the opener of the three-game series against Boston 5-0 on Monday when they were held to two hits.

Yesavage began the season on the injured list with impingement in his right shoulder. He completed a minor league rehabilitation assignment, splitting four games (three starts) between Class-A Dunedin and Triple-A Buffalo, going 0-1 with a 7.50 ERA.

“He checked all of the boxes that we had hoped for,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “I wasn’t really looking at results, more looking at his stuff and the plan we had laid out since spring training.”

Yesavage went from Class-A to the majors in one swoop last season. He found himself back in the minors to start this season while working his way back to health, but this time he knew he would soon be back with Toronto.

“I think I’ve handled it well,” Yesavage told Sportsnet. “My mindset was kind of like how I was in the minors, play so they have to bring you up here and whatnot, so just still having that competitive nature and being able to prove that I should be here. The toughest part is it’s kind of slow. I wish I could have been up here sooner.”

In three regular-season starts in 2025, Yesavage went 1-0 with a 3.21 and 16 strikeouts in 12 innings. In the postseason, he posted a 3-1 mark with a 3.58 ERA in six games (five starts), including a 1-0 record and a 2.08 ERA in the World Series, when he struck out 12 and walked one in 8 2/3 innings.

Yesavage has not faced the Red Sox, who will start Payton Tolle (0-0, 1.50 ERA). The left-hander allowed one run in one inning in relief in his only appearance against Toronto, last Sept. 24.

Boston has won three straight for the first time this season, the past two for interim manager Chad Tracy, who replaced the fired Alex Cora.

Red Sox left-hander Ranger Suarez allowed one hit and one walk with a season-best 10 strikeouts in eight shutout innings on Monday. In three career appearances (two starts) against Toronto, he is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 17 1/3 innings.

“Today is who he is,” said Boston catcher Carlos Narvaez, who homered in the eighth inning. “That’s who has been the last five, six, seven years. We used all pitches, all locations, so that is fun.”

The Red Sox continued the process of reorganizing the coaching staff after six were let go with Cora’s departure.

One of the moves was shifting Jose David Flores from first base coach to bench coach, a position he held from 2022-24 at Triple-A Worcester, where Tracy was the manager.

“One of our most experienced guys left here as far as baseball knowledge,” Tracy said before the game on Monday. “So having him with me, next to me, as well as (pitching coach) Andrew Bailey in there, is important. He’s a great baseball man and one of my closest friends, so the combination of those two and having him by my side is huge.”

Pablo Cabrera will take over as first base coach and Jack Simonetty will become an assistant hitting coach.

Toronto put starter Max Scherzer on the injured list on Monday due to right forearm tendinitis and left ankle inflammation.

“Doctor’s order was just get rest,” Scherzer said on Monday. “There’s nothing structurally wrong.”

Chase Lee was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo, and he allowed the homer to Narvaez in a 1 1/3-inning outing during his Toronto debut.

–Field Level Media

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Long-ball White Sox chase series win vs. Angels in clash of aces

MLB: Los Angeles Angels at Chicago White SoxApr 27, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas (20) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the seventh inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Back-to-back home runs from Munetaka Murakami and Miguel Vargas sparked the Chicago White Sox to a seven-run outburst in the seventh inning on Monday night.

While the long ball proved the key to an 8-7 home victory against the slumping Los Angeles Angels, the White Sox also are confident in their ability to play small ball — including bunting — as they seek to secure a series victory Tuesday night in the second contest of a three-game set in Chicago.

“We’ve been talking about bunting as a weapon starting in spring training and how important that was going to be for guys in certain spots,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “Some more than others. But that’s got to be part of our game as we’re trying to find ways to score runs.”

Los Angeles, meanwhile, is seeking answers for preventing runs late in the game. A beleaguered bullpen again was unable to hold a lead Monday in a game that was delayed by rain and thunderstorms for three hours.

Los Angeles has lost four straight games and eight its last nine. The past two defeats have been frustratingly similar, with left-handed reliever Drew Pomeranz allowing tying or go-ahead home runs to the first batter he faced in the seventh inning or later.

On Sunday, Kansas City’s Jac Caglianone reached Pomeranz for a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth to force extra innings.

Murakami took his turn in Monday’s series opener against the White Sox, greeting Pomeranz with a three-run blast in the seventh for his major-league-leading 12th homer. Vargas followed with a solo shot.

“We mingle together a lot, so I’m just glad that he’s a teammate and I’m glad to have him here,” Murakami said through a translator.

The Angels have kick-started their attack recently after a dry spell. Paced by two hits apiece from Mike Trout, Vaughn Grissom, Nolan Schanuel and Bryce Teodosio, Los Angeles out-hit the White Sox 14-9 on Monday.

A day earlier, the Angels built an early 6-0 advantage before losing 11-9 in 10 innings.

Grissom started at second base Monday as the Angels faced left-handed starter Anthony Kay. Grissom hopes to translate his success to more regular time in the lineup.

“It’s not my decision,” he said, “but that would be sick. As a ballplayer, you want to be in there every single day. So it’s definitely something that I’d love, but I do whatever helps the team win.”

Tuesday’s pitching matchup will feature a pair of ace right-handers as Davis Martin (3-1, 2.01 ERA) of Chicago faces Jose Soriano (5-0, 0.24) of Los Angeles.

Martin will aim to close a sharp April in which he has pitched to a 1.37 ERA over 26 1/3 innings covering four starts.

Soriano has been even more dominant, allowing only one run in 25 2/3 innings in four starts this month. He pitched five shutout innings in a no-decision against the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday. The Angels won 7-3.

“He’s got serious stuff,” Schanuel said. “I feel bad for hitters who have to go face him three or four times in a game. I saw it while standing in there during spring training. He’s got [a] Wiffle ball. I’ve never seen a baseball move that much.”

Soriano has flourished in two career appearances (one start) vs. the White Sox, going 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA. He has allowed two hits and struck out 10 batters over nine scoreless innings.

Martin is 0-1 with a 3.07 ERA in three career appearances (all starts) against the Angels.

–Field Level Media

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Twins ride offensive outburst into rematch vs. Mariners

MLB: Seattle Mariners at Minnesota TwinsApr 27, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins first baseman Kody Clemens (2) hits a single against the Seattle Mariners in the eighth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

The Seattle Mariners are no strangers to rain in the damp Northwest.

But after losing their series opener on a cold, soggy Monday night against the Minnesota Twins in Minneapolis, the Mariners might be glad to see that the weather forecast is better for the rest of the week.

The Mariners will look to bounce back on Tuesday after the Twins ended Seattle’s four-game winning streak.

“The weather was a little difficult,” Mariners right-hander Luis Castillo said after he started in an 11-4 loss against the Twins on Monday. “The mound was a little wet and a little slippery. There was a fear of sliding and hurting yourself. But I felt like when I wanted to or if I needed to put more velocity on it, I could.”

On Tuesday, the Twins will go for back-to-back victories for the first time since April 11-14. Minnesota also is pursuing its first series win in two weeks, when it took two of three games against the Boston Red Sox.

Twins manager Derek Shelton praised his hitters after they erupted for 11 runs on 12 hits Monday. Kody Clemens homered and drove in five RBIs, and Byron Buxton belted a two-run homer.

Shelton hopes to see more success at the plate from the Twins, who managed only one or two runs four times in their previous five games before Monday’s breakout.

“It’s nice,” Shelton said. “Sometimes, you go through stretches, and (Monday) was a good day, and we seemed to capitalize on a bunch of opportunities. We had a little bit of luck — a ball hit a base — but sometimes you need those things.”

Twins right-hander Joe Ryan (2-2, 3.90 ERA) will make his seventh start of the season. He will look to bounce back from a bumpy performance against the New York Mets, who tagged him for seven runs (four earned) on seven hits in five innings on Thursday. New York won 10-8.

Ryan has 33 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings this season. Opponents have only a .208 batting average against him, average along with a .265 on-base percentage and a .367 slugging percentage for an OPS of .632.

This will be Ryan’s sixth career start against Seattle. In his previous five outings, he is 1-3 with a 4.13 ERA and has struck out 32 batters in 24 innings.

Seattle will counter with right-hander Logan Gilbert (1-3, 4.36), who also will make his seventh start of the season. Gilbert will seek to recover from his shortest stint of the season on Wednesday, as he allowed three runs on six hits in four innings in a no-decision vs. the Athletics. The Mariners won 5-4.

Gilbert is 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA in five career starts against the Twins. He has not faced them since the 2024 season, when he went 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA against Minnesota.

Cal Raleigh will look to stay hot at the plate for the Mariners. He homered in Monday’s series opener, which marked his seventh home run of the season and his fifth in the past seven games.

The Twins are 8-6 at home this season; Seattle is 4-9 on the road.

–Field Level Media

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