Baseball: Angels good and bad times. Pirates major league debut – a long time coming.
Basketball-NBA: Round 1 results.
Football – NCAA: Colorado one year change.
Football- NFL: Draft deets. 5 players suspended for betting violations. Heisman statue dedicated.
Golf: Zurich Classic sees first time PGA Tour winners.
Hockey: Round 1 results.
Olympic Sports: Farewell to Farah. Chikunova breaks WR. Grimes wins nationals.
Baseball:
- The Angels beat the Royals on Sunday with 3 straight HRs by Taylor Ward, Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani in the 6th. But while that was good news, Angels rookie C Logan O’Hope is out for 4-6 months with a shoulder injury.
- Pirates infielder Drew Maggi is 33 years old and he finally got the call, the call up to the majors. He was playing on the Double-A team when he got the news that he will be playing on the highest level. Maggi has played 1,155 games across 13 minor league seasons. He was selected by the Twins in 2021 but never played a game.
Basketball – NBA:
- Round 1 continued: We had one sweep this week and that was the Embiid-less 76ers over the Nets. Phili won all 4 games and is done and chilling for the next round. The closest game in the series was Game 3 by 5 points and the easiest game was Game 1 by 20. The Suns are close to putting away the Clippers, leading their series 3-1. Although Westbrook had 37 points to be the top scorer of the game. The Heat and Lakers have both taken a 2-1 lead in their series against the Bucks and Grizzlies respectively. Those two series were evened out in Game 2 before those teams took the lead. The Warriors won last night to even up the series with the Kings, winning by a single point 126-125. The Knicks are up 3-1 after Sunday night’s win. Same for the Celtics who are now over the Hawks 3-1 after Sunday night’s win. That game was also high scoring 129-121. The Nuggets/Timberwolves Game 4 went into OT after the Timberwolves had a terrible 4Q only scoring 16 points. Didn’t matter though as they won the game in OT but that has been there only win so far as the Nuggets currently sit 3-1 in the series.
Football – College:
- The bigger winner this past week is Colorado whose spring game was sold out along with this year’s season tickets. Quite a comparison from last year.
- Oklahoma dedicated another Heisman statues this weekend to Cardinals QB Kyler Murray. The statue was unveiled at the spring game with plenty of former football players in attendance including Baker Mayfield who got his statue last year.
Football – NFL:
- The NFL draft is this week beginning on Thursday. The top 5 picks are: Panthers, Texans, Cardinals, Colts and Seahawks. We know the top 2 both are looking for a new franchise QB so who goes where?
- 4 Lions players and Commanders DE have been suspended for violating the league’s policy on betting. 2 Lions players and the Commanders player are suspended indefinitely for betting on NFL games specifically. The Lions dismissed their 2 players and the other 2 that are involved apparently did not bet on NFL so their suspension is only 6 games each.
- It is finally official as of today. The Jets are getting QB Aaron Rodgers from the Packers.
Golf:
- Davis Riley and Nick Hardy were last minute adds to the Zurich Classic but they are sure glad they decided to play as the two took home their first PGA Tour titles. The pair was 3 shots behind the leaders going into Sunday but birdied 4 of the last 6 holes for a 2 shot victory. Their total score of -30 at 258, was 1 better than last year’s champs Xander Schauffle and Patrick Cantlay who were in the mix going into Sunday but ultimately got 4th. Beau Hossler and Wyndham Clark were atop the leader board the first 3 days but finished with a -1 round and 3 shots back when they started with a one shot lead. Riley’s bets finish before this was a playoff loss to Sam Burns at the 2022 Valspar. Hardy’s was T5 at Sanderson last year.
- The LIV was in the land down under this weekend. Talor Gooch won his first LIV individual title with a score of -19, 3 shots ahead of the next player. However the 4Aces won the team event this week. We get a double helping of the LIV with another event this week!
Hockey:
- Round 1: we have no one with a spot secured in the next round as of yet and no sweeps left. The Stars evened up the series against the Wild by taking Sunday night’s game. As did the Oilers with their OT win on Sunday. The Kings started hot scoring 3 in 1st period before the Oilers did the same in the 2nd. They both scored a game piece to take the game into OT. The Bruins lead 3-1 as do the Hurricanes over the Islanders. In a weird coincidence, every game on Saturday led to the series being 2-1 and 3 games went into OT! The Golden Knights were winning 4-1 into the 3rd period before they let the Jets score 3 in the final period to take the game to OT. The Vegas team did get the W in the end. The Maple Leafs and Lightning both scored 2 in the first period before going into OT where the Maple Leafs won. The Devils and Rangers both only scored a single goal both in the 2nd The Devils won in OT but still trail the series 1-2. The Avalanche scored 6xs including 2 in 90 seconds in their win over the Kraken on Saturday.
Olympic Sports:
- Mo Farah has announced that the London Marathon will likely be his last marathon as he is set to retire this year. He has competed in front of his home crowd 3xs with 3rd being his best result.
- RUS Evgeniia Chikunova broke the WR in the 200m breaststroke with a time of 2:17.55 on the first day of Russian Championships on Friday. The previous record was set in the Tokyo Olympics final by RSA Schoenmaker 2:18.95. TBD if Chikunova will be allowed at Worlds as RUS and BLR are banned. Her record will undergo the steps to be approved and verified.
- Sticking with swimming, Katie Grimes successfully defended her 10km open water national championship at just the age of 17. She won by 15 seconds and earned a spot to compete at worlds this summer.
What to watch this week
Baseball – MLB:
- Mon 4/24
- A’s at Angels @ 8:38pm on FS1
- Waldichuk vs Suarez
- A’s at Angels @ 8:38pm on FS1
- Fri 4/28
- Phillies at Astros @ 7:10pm on AppleTV+
- Cardinals at Dodgers @ 9:10pm on AppleTV+
- Sat 4/29
- Braves at Mets – or – Cubs at Marlins @ 3:05pm on FOX
- Cardinals at Dodgers @ 8:10pm on FS1
- Montgomery vs Kershaw
- Sun 4/30
- Cubs at Marlins @ 11:05am on Peacock
- Phillies at Astros @ 6pm on ESPN
- Falter vs Urquidy
Baseball/Softball – NCAA:
- Mon 4/24
- Softball: 14. Florida vs 4. Tennessee @ 6pm on SEC
- Tues 4/25
- Baseball: 7. East Carolina vs NC St @ 5pm on ESPNU
- Baseball: 10. Coastal Carolina vs 2. Wake Forest @ 5pm on ACC
- Baseball: 12. Louisville at 13. Kentucky @ 6pm on SEC
- Wed 4/26
- Baseball: 10. Coastal Carolina vs 2. Wake Forest @ 12pmon ESPNU
- Baseball: Oklahoma vs 14. Texas @ 12:30pm on LGHN
- Baseball: 7. East Carolina vs NC St @ 3pm on ESPNU
- Baseball: 12. Louisville vs 13. Kentucky @ 6pm on ESPNU
- Softball: Mercer at 13. Georgia @ 6pm on SEC
- Thurs 4/27
- Softball: Mercer at 13. Georgia @ 5pm on ESPNU
- Baseball: 17. Miami vs 12. Louisville @ 6pm on ACC
- Baseball: Texas A&M vs 5. Arkansas @ 7pm on ESPNU
- Fri 4/28
- Softball: 5. Florida St at Notre Dame @ 5pm on ACC
- Baseball: 14. Texas vs TCU @ 6pm on ESPNU
- Baseball: Alabama vs 1. LSU @ 6pm on SEC
- Baseball: Duke vs 8. UVA @ 7pm on ACC
- Baseball: 22. UCLA vs 9. Stanford @ 9pm on ESPNU
- Sat 4/29
- Softball: 15. LSU vs 13. Alabama @ 1pm on ESPN2
- Softball: Ole Miss vs 14. Florida @ 2pm on SEC
- Softball: 20. Kentucky at Mississippi St @ 4pm on SEC
- Softball: 4. Tennessee at 12. Arkansas @ 4pm on ESPNU
- Baseball: 14. Texas vs TCU @ 6pm on ESPNU
- Baseball: 18. UNC vs VTech @ 6pm on ACC
- Baseball: Mizzou vs 3. Florida @ 6pm on SEC
- Sun 4/30
- Baseball: Auburn vs 6. South Carolina @ 11am on SEC
- Softball: 15. LSU vs 13. Alabama @ 11:30am on ESPN
- Softball: 4. Tennessee vs 12. Arkansas @ 12pm on ESPN2
- Baseball: 13. Kentucky vs 4. Vanderbilt @ 2pm on SEC
- Softball: Mizzou vs 24. Texas A&M @ 5pm on SEC
Basketball – NBA:
- Mon 4/24
- East 4: Bucks at Heat @ 6:30pm on TNT
- MIA leads 2-1
- West 4: Grizzlies at Lakers @ 9pm on TNT
- LAL leads 2-1
- East 4: Bucks at Heat @ 6:30pm on TNT
- Tues 4/25
- East 5: Hawks at Celtics @ 6:30pm on TNT
- BOS leads 3-1
- West 5: Timberwolves at Nuggets @ 8pm on NBATV
- DEN leads 3-1
- West 5: Clippers at Suns @ 9pm on TNT
- PHX leads 3-1
- East 5: Hawks at Celtics @ 6:30pm on TNT
- Wed 4/26
- East 5: Knicks at Cavaliers @ 6pm on NBATV
- NY leads 3-1
- West 5: Lakers at Grizzlies @ 6:30pm on TNT
- East 5: Heat at Bucks @ 8:30pm on NBATV
- West 5: Warriors at Kings @ 9pm on TNT
- Tied 2-2
- East 5: Knicks at Cavaliers @ 6pm on NBATV
- Thurs 4/27 – If necessary
- West 6: Nuggets at Timberwolves @ TBD on TBD
- West 6: Suns at Clippers @ TBD on TBD
- East 6: Celtics at Hawks @ TBD on TBD
- Fri 4/28 – If necessary
- West 6: Grizzlies at Lakers @ TBD on TBD
- West 6: Kings at Warriors @ TBD on TBD
- East 6: Bucks at Heat @ TBD on TBD
- East 6: Cavaliers at Knicks @ TBD on TBD
- Sat 4/29 – If necessary
- West 7: Timberwolves at Nuggets @ TBD on TNT
- West 7: Clippers at Suns @ TBD on TNT
- East 7: Hawks at Celtics @ TBD on TNT
- Sun 4/30 – If necessary
- West 7: Lakers at Grizzlies @ TBD on TBD
- West 7: Warriors at Kings @ TBD on TBD
- East 7: Heat at Bucks @ TBD on TBD
- East 7: Knicks at Cavaliers @ TBD on TBD
Football:
- Thurs 4/27
- NFL Draft @ 7pm on ESPN and ABC
- Fri 4/28
- NFL Draft @ 6pm on ESPN and ABC
- Sat 4/29
- NFL Draft @ 11am on ESPN and ABC
- USFL: NOLA Breakers at Birmingham @ 11:30am on USA
- USFL: Memphis Showboats at Houston Gamblers @ 6pm on FOX
- XFL South Championship: Arlington Renegades at Houston Roughnecks @ 6pm on ESPN2
- Sun 4/30
- USFL: Pitt Maulers at Phili Stars @ 11am on NBC
- XFL North Championship: Seattle at DC Defenders @ 2pm on ESPN
- USFL: NJ Generals at Michigan Panthers @ 3pm on FOX
Golf:
- Thurs 4/27
- Mexican Open at Vidanta – Round 1 @ 3:30pm on Golf Channel
- LIV: Singapore – Round 1 @ 9pm on CW
- Fri 4/28
- Mexican Open at Vidanta – Round 2 @ 3:30pm on Golf Channel
- LIV: Singapore – Round 2 @ 9pm on CW
- Sat 4/29
- Mexican Open at Vidanta – Round 3
- @ 1pm on Golf Channel
- @ 2pm on CBS
- LIV: Singapore – Final Round @ 9pm on CW
- Mexican Open at Vidanta – Round 3
- Sun 4/30
- Mexican Open at Vidanta – Final Round
- @ 1pm on Golf Channel
- @ 2pm on CBS
- Mexican Open at Vidanta – Final Round
Hockey:
- Mon 4/24
- East 4: Devils at Rangers @ 6pm on ESPN
- NYR leads 2-1
- East 4: Maple Leafs at Lightning @ 6:30pm on TBS
- TOR leads 2-1
- West 4: Golden Knights at Jets @ 8:30pm on ESPN
- VGK leads 2-1
- West 4: Avalanche at Kraken @ 9pm on TBS
- COL leads 2-1
- East 4: Devils at Rangers @ 6pm on ESPN
- Tues 4/25
- East 5: Islanders at Hurricanes @ 6pm on ESPN
- CAR leads 3-1
- West 5: Wild at Stars @ 7pm on TBS
- Tied 2-2
- West 5: Kings at Oilers @ 8:30pm on ESPN
- LA leads 2-1
- East 5: Islanders at Hurricanes @ 6pm on ESPN
- Wed 4/26
- East 5: Panthers at Bruins @ 6pm on ESPN
- BOS leads 2-1
- West 5: Kraken at Avalanche @ 8:30pm on ESPN
- East 5: Panthers at Bruins @ 6pm on ESPN
- Thurs 4/27
- East 5: Lightning at Maple Leafs @ 6pm on TBS
- East 5: Rangers at Devils @ 6:30pm on ESPN2
- West 5: Jets at Golden Knights @ 9pm on ESPN2
- Fri 4/28
- East 6: Bruins at Panthers @ TBD on TBD
- If necessary
- East 6: Hurricanes at Islanders @ TBD on TBD
- If necessary
- West 6: Avalanche at Kraken @ TBD on TBD
- If necessary
- West 6: Stars at Wild @ TBD on TBD
- East 6: Bruins at Panthers @ TBD on TBD
- Sat 4/29 – If necessary
- West 6: Oilers at Kings @ TBD on TBD
- West 6: Golden Knights at Jets @ TBD on TBD
- East 6: Maple Leafs at Lightning @ TBD on TBD
- East 6: Devils at Rangers @ TBD on TBD
- Sun 4/30 – If necessary
- East 7: Panthers at Bruins @ TBD on TBD
- East 7: Islanders at Hurricanes @ TBD on TBD
- West 7: Kraken at Avalanche @ TBD on TBD
- West 7: Wild at Stars @ TBD on TBD
Motorsports:
- Sun 4/30 – F1: Azerbaijan GP @ 6am on ESPN
Soccer:
- Tues 4/25
- Premier League: LeedsU vs Leicester City @ 4pm on USA
- Wed 4/26
- CONCACAF: Phili Union vs LAFC @ 8pm on FS1
- Thurs 4/27
- Premier League: Everton vs NewcastleU @ 3:45pm on USA
- Sat 4/29
- Premier League: Crystal Palace vs West Ham @ 8:30am on USA
- Premier League: Brentford vs Nottingham Forest @ 10am on USA
- Sun 4/30
- Premier League: Fulham vs Manchester City @ 10am on USA
- Premier League: Liverpool vs Tottenham @ 12:30pm on USA
- MLS: MinnesotaU vs FC Dallas @ 8pm on FS1
