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Bobby Witt Jr. finding his groove as streaking Royals face A’s
The power bat of star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. was missing in action for the first 27 games of the Kansas City Royals’ season.
But suddenly, Witt has homered in back-to-back games, and he’ll look to continue the streak Wednesday night when the Royals visit the Athletics in West Sacramento, Calif.
Witt delivered a tie-breaking, three-run blast in the top of the 10th inning as the Royals beat the A’s 4-1 in Tuesday’s opener of the three-game series.
He went the opposite way, and the blast barely cleared the short wall in right center to help Kansas City win its season-best fourth straight game.
“Just trying to piece it at-bat by at-bat and day-by-day and just trying to enjoy every moment that we can,” Witt said. “We’re going out there playing the game we love.”
Things are certainly more enjoyable now with the Royals having won five of six games following an eight-game slide.
Plus, Witt showing signs of putting his power slump behind him is a pleasing element. The 25-year-old hit 105 homers over his first four seasons, twice hitting 30 or more.
“He’s going to hit homers. We know that,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said of the two-time All-Star, who has two home runs, 15 RBIs and a .289 batting average this season. “Just putting good swings on the ball more frequently is going to lead to that. He’s got unbelievable ability all around.”
Kansas City catcher Salvador Perez also homered for the second time in three games. He nearly had two home runs in the contest, but his other shot was a liner that wasn’t high enough to clear the wall. He was held to a single on that bid.
Shea Langeliers had three hits and Jacob Wilson had an RBI single on a frustrating night for the A’s, who left 14 runners on base.
“We’re not getting that hit we need to extend leads and have some margin for error,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “Tough loss. … We played a really good game except for offense. We just couldn’t get a hit.”
Athletics left fielder Tyler Soderstrom injured his right shoulder and was a little woozy after he missed on a diving catch in the fifth. He was replaced prior to the top of the sixth.
“There’s not signs of a concussion right now,” Kotsay said, “but obviously that dive, if you watch it, he slammed down pretty hard, fully extended.”
Kansas City outfielder Jonathan India (shoulder) underwent season-ending surgery on Tuesday, while first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (lower back tightness) exited in the sixth inning. The latter was hurt while grounding out.
Kansas City is scheduled to send Michael Wacha (2-1, 2.51 ERA) to the mound against the Athletics’ Luis Severino (1-2, 5.17) on Wednesday in a battle of right-handers.
Wacha lost last Wednesday in his most recent start, when he allowed season worsts of six runs and seven hits over 5 1/3 innings in an 8-6 defeat to the Baltimore Orioles.
Wacha, 34, is 1-1 with a 3.31 ERA in three career starts against the Athletics.
Severino picked up his first victory of the season on Friday when he limited the Texas Rangers to one run and six hits over 6 2/3 innings in an 8-1 win.
Severino continues to struggle at Sutter Health Park and is 0-1 with a 7.15 ERA in two starts there this season. Overall, he is 2-10 with a 6.15 ERA in 17 starts at the ballpark since joining the A’s prior to the 2025 campaign.
Severino, 32, is 5-1 with a 3.67 ERA in seven career starts against Kansas City.
–Field Level Media
D-backs’ Eduardo Rodriguez aspires for more road success in clash vs. Brewers
The Arizona Diamondbacks will look for left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez to continue his road success on Wednesday night when the team continues its three-game series the Milwaukee Brewers.
Rodriguez (2-0, 2.89 ERA) will oppose Milwaukee right-hander Brandon Sproat (0-1, 6.45).
The Brewers pounded out 15 hits and capitalized on six walks for a 13-2 victory in the series opener on Tuesday night.
Sal Frelick jump-started Milwaukee’s offense with a leadoff homer in the second, snapping the team’s seven-game homerless streak. Milwaukee broke the game open with eight runs in the sixth inning, on eight hits — including two bunt singles — a walk and catcher’s interference.
“That’s being relentless,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said afterward. “You give up two and then you come back. That’s kind of the mentality that you want.”
Rodriguez is 1-0 with a 2.81 ERA in three road starts this season, allowing five runs in 16 innings. He won his most recent start, allowing four runs in five innings at home in an 11-7 victory over the Chicago White Sox last Wednesday.
“I thought E-Rod gave us what he could,” Arizona manager Tony Lovullo said afterward. “He gives us five innings. I think there were some mistakes today, but he made some pitches when he had to.”
Rodriguez is 0-2 with a 4.58 ERA in four career starts vs. the Brewers. He lost both starts against them last season, allowing eight runs, seven earned, in 8 2/3 innings.
Arizona’s Ildemaro Vargas singled in his final at-bat in the eighth inning Tuesday, extending his hitting streak to 24 games, including 21 this season. That ties Vargas with Steve Garvey for the fourth-longest streak in the majors to start a season since 1940. Ron LeFlore had a 30-game season-opening streak in 1976.
Vargas also is tied with Ketel Marte (2024) and Danny Bautista (2004) for the third-longest streak in franchise history. Luis Gonzalez had a 30-game streak in 1999 and Tony Womack 24 games in 2000.
With the state of the bullpen, Lovullo said the team likely will make a pitching move Wednesday.
For Milwaukee, Sproat — making his sixth appearance and fourth start this season — is seeking his first win in the majors. He was 0-2 in four September starts last season with the Mets.
Sproat did not get a decision in his last start, allowing three runs in 5 1/3 innings in a 5-4 loss at Detroit on Thursday. Opponents are batting .275 against him, with five homers in 22 1/3 innings.
Prior to Frelick’s homer, the Brewers had just one in 11 games, including seven straight, the longest streak since a franchise-record 13 without a homer in 1999.
“We had a homer tonight. You guys know that I ordered that,” Murphy said. “I asked Sal, ‘Sal, would you do me a favor, go ahead and homer, get these guys off my back.”
Milwaukee is second from the bottom in the majors with 20 homers, one ahead of San Francisco. The Brewers got some good news on the power front, however, with injured Jackson Chourio and Andrew Vaughn slated to begin rehab assignments at Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday.
–Field Level Media
Fresh off offensive outburst, Cards vie for series win vs. Pirates
St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol spoke Sunday of the team’s need to display resilience after absorbing a weekend series sweep at home against the Seattle Mariners.
It’s safe to say that Marmol has liked his team’s response.
After 4-2 and 11-7 victories in the first two contests of a four-game set at the Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis can earn a series win on Wednesday night.
“In spring, you have to create some framework for how you want this group to operate mentally,” Marmol said. “What you have to build into that framework is we can’t care about gut punches and let them last longer than a night.”
In this series, the Cardinals have been throwing all of the important punches.
After scoring four runs in the ninth inning on Monday night for a stunning comeback, they enjoyed their first double-figure scoring output of the year by getting 12 hits on Tuesday.
There was production up and down the lineup, including three RBIs each for Jordan Walker, Alec Burleson and Nolan Gorman. Walker has gotten off to an encouraging start this season after struggling the last two years, getting more balls in the air to properly use his tremendous power.
Burleson was mired in a slump until delivering an RBI single and a two-run double Tuesday, while Gorman started the scoring in the second inning with a long homer to right field.
It’s the type of progress Marmol and St. Louis are seeking in what many claim is a rebuilding year.
“Now you stack those on top of each other over time,” Marmol said. “That’s what’s important.”
Right-hander Andre Pallante (2-2, 4.26 ERA) will take the mound for the Cardinals, hoping to bounce back after a 3-2 loss Friday at home against Seattle. He was charged with three runs, four hits and three walks while striking out eight in 5 1/3 innings.
Pallante is 1-2 with a 3.33 ERA in 18 career games against Pittsburgh, five of them starts.
The Pirates will turn to right-hander Bubba Chandler (1-2, 4.88 ERA) on Wednesday in an effort to halt a three-game skid.
Chandler is coming off a 6-1 defeat Thursday vs. Texas, permitting seven hits and six runs in four innings with three walks and four strikeouts. He won his only prior outing against St. Louis, throwing four shutout innings in relief last August.
Chandler said a lack of execution hurt him against the Rangers.
“They hit the ball well,” he said. “Flush it. Don’t care about it. Move on. That’s about all I can do. I didn’t execute a lot of pitches.”
After winning three straight road series against National League Central opponents in the first two months of the season, Pittsburgh must bounce back on Wednesday to have a chance at a series split. Manager Don Kelly said he hopes to see some of the same push-back that Marmol talked about with the Cardinals.
“We’ve been able to do that after tough days,” Kelly said. “We’ve been able to bounce back. We’re in the middle of a tough stretch … they continue to work.”
The Pirates did get Oneil Cruz’s ninth homer of the year Tuesday, as well as three RBIs from Ryan O’Hearn.
–Field Level Media
Tarik Skubal, Tigers take aim at hot Braves
Two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal will take the mound on Wednesday night when his Detroit Tigers face the host Atlanta Braves and their top rookie pitching prospect.
The Braves recorded a 5-2 victory Tuesday in the opener of a three-game series. It was Atlanta’s ninth straight win over the Tigers, who fell to 5-13 on the road this season.
Atlanta has won 11 of its past 13 games overall.
The left-handed Skubal (3-2, 2.72 ERA) will oppose Braves right-hander JR Ritchie (1-0, 2.57), who will make his second career start.
Skubal had good stuff but received a no-decision against the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday when he allowed four runs — three in the seventh inning without recording an out. When he returned to the dugout after being lifted in the seventh, he flipped over a small cooler and threw his glove.
“A mentally challenging day for him,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “He got dinged up a little bit at the end, but he pitched us pretty deep into the game.”
Skubal has made only one career start against the Braves, in 2024 when he allowed five runs (four earned) over four innings and took the loss.
Ritchie, 22, made his major league debut on Thursday against the Washington Nationals and yielded two runs on five hits — one of them a leadoff homer on Ritchie’s first pitch — with seven strikeouts in seven innings of a 7-2 victory.
“Going into it, I wasn’t going to worry too much about the hitters,” Ritchie said. “I kind of wanted to let (catcher Drake Baldwin) take care of that, and he did a great job all day. Very communicative, him and (Braves pitching coach Jeremy Hefner), just, ‘Hey, go out there and throw your stuff.’ Talking between innings about adjustments, what we’re gonna do. They definitely made my life a lot easier.”
Wednesday may be Ritchie’s last opportunity to start early this season. The Braves said Spencer Strider would not need another rehab start and would be returned to the rotation. That could come as soon as this weekend in Colorado.
Detroit’s Kevin McGonigle had an infield hit on Tuesday to extend his hitting streak to 12 games. He is batting .347 during the streak.
The Tigers had two players leave Tuesday’s game because of injuries.
Starting pitcher Casey Mize exited in the third inning with a right groin strain, and center fielder Javy Baez had to be carted off the field after catching his right ankle under his body while trying to slide into first base to beat a high throw. Both will be evaluated on Wednesday.
Atlanta activated right-hander Didier Fuentes when Dylan Lee went on the paternity list on Tuesday. Lee, who has made a team-high 14 appearances, likely will miss the entire series against Detroit. Fuentes pitched two scoreless innings on Tuesday night.
Atlanta said shortstop Ha-Seong Kim will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Columbus this week. Kim signed a $20 million, one-year contract as a free agent. He fell on some ice in Korea in January and injured the finger on his throwing hand.
–Field Level Media
After ‘fun’ victory vs. Nationals, Mets pursue a repeat feat
The New York Mets took advantage of their opportunities Tuesday night in an 8-0 win over the visiting Washington Nationals.
The Mets turned six hits, five walks and two home runs into eight runs en route to only their third victory in the past 18 games. The Mets left just four runners on base Tuesday.
Juan Soto hit a two-run homer to cap a seven-run fourth inning that sealed the win for New York, which has gone 3-15 in its past 18 games heading into a rematch with the Nationals on Wednesday night.
“A lot of confidence in those guys,” said Mets starter Clay Holmes, who earned the win by tossing six innings of three-hit ball on Tuesday. “To see that type of inning and know that it’s there, it’s just fun to be a part of.”
During that 3-15 span, the Mets have been outscored 87-47 and shut out four times. They had been limited to one run in four other games.
The eight runs Tuesday marked the fifth-most this season for the Mets, who were without Soto for 15 games due to a right calf strain and lost shortstop Francisco Lindor to a left calf strain last week.
Left-hander David Peterson (0-3, 5.06 ERA) is slated to move back into the Mets’ rotation Wednesday night in the middle game of a three-game series between the National League East rivals. He made his past two appearances out of the bullpen.
Right-hander Cade Cavalli (0-1, 4.01 ERA) is scheduled to start for Washington.
Tuesday’s shutout loss was just the second of the season for the Nationals, whose 156 runs entering play on Wednesday stood fourth in the major leagues.
The Nationals were off Monday for the first time since April 9. Washington went 9-8 during the stretch of 17 games in as many days, but Tuesday was a disappointing return to action.
Starter Zack Littell allowed just one hit — Bo Bichette’s leadoff homer in the first — over the first three innings and appeared on the verge of getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth when he got Marcus Semien to hit a one-out grounder to third. But Jorbit Vivas misplayed the ball, which went under his glove, as MJ Melendez and Mark Vientos scored the first two runs of the inning.
“He made the pitch — he got the ground ball — we didn’t convert it,” Nationals manager Blake Butera said. “And then it just seemed like we weren’t really able to slow it down after that.”
Peterson, who was demoted to the bullpen after posting a 6.41 ERA in his first four starts, hasn’t pitched since last Thursday, when he gave up one run over 3 1/3 innings in the Mets’ 10-8 win over the Minnesota Twins. It was the second relief appearance this season for Peterson, who tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings against the Chicago Cubs on April 19.
Cavalli didn’t factor into the decision in his most recent start last Thursday, when he allowed two runs and struck out a career-high 10 over five innings as the Nationals fell to the Atlanta Braves 7-2.
Peterson is 7-1 with a 2.48 ERA in 14 career games (11 starts) against the Nationals. He defeated them for his lone big league shutout last June 11, when he gave up six hits in the Mets’ 5-0 victory.
Cavalli didn’t factor into the decision in his only appearance against the Mets, when he tossed five scoreless innings last Sept. 20 n the Nationals’ 5-3, 11-inning win.
–Field Level Media
Phillies eager to ride ‘good start’ into rematch vs. Giants
After beginning the Don Mattingly era with a much-needed victory, the Philadelphia Phillies hope to ride the momentum into Wednesday night’s matchup with the visiting San Francisco Giants.
Philadelphia entered Tuesday with a league-worst-tying 9-19 record, prompting the team to part ways with manager Rob Thomson.
Mattingly was promoted from bench coach to replace Thomson on an interim basis — and the early results overwhelmingly were positive.
Jesus Luzardo allowed just two hits over seven scoreless innings, while Trea Turner spurred the offense with four hits in the Phillies’ 7-0 victory over the Giants on Tuesday. Adolis Garcia drove in two runs, while Bryce Harper and Alec Bohm each added two hits and an RBI in the lopsided triumph.
“It feels great, obviously, for us to win, and not necessarily for me,” said Mattingly, 65, a former major league manager with both the Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins “… It’s really about our club, and it’s a good win for us, as a team. Hopefully, this is the start of us playing better baseball.”
Turner had not recorded a multi-hit game since April 12, while Bohm (.157), Kyle Schwarber (.190) and Bryson Stott (.213) are among the Phillies with lower-than-expected batting averages this season.
“Tonight was a good start,” Turner said. “We’ve got to keep doing what we did. We played a great team game today. Everyone contributed.”
For his part, Luzardo had not worked seven innings in a game all season. However, he was at his best against a Giants team that entered with seven wins in its previous 10 games.
“We obviously could have done things better, but you can’t take away from the way Luzardo was throwing the ball,” San Francisco manager Tony Vitello said.
Wednesday’s pitching matchup will feature two aces who have not been at their best this season.
Philadelphia left-hander Cristopher Sanchez (2-2, 2.94 ERA) has won only once since Opening Day and is coming off a rough start against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday in a game in which he gave up six runs and a career-high 12 hits in 5 1/3 innings. Sanchez got a no-decision in his team’s 8-7 loss in 10 innings.
“I just tried to execute the plan that we had, stay as long as I could in the game,” he said through an interpreter. “They jumped on their plan, and they got me.”
Sanchez also was hit hard by San Francisco on April 7, when the Giants tagged him for four runs (two earned) and 11 hits in five innings in a 6-0 victory. That loss dropped Sanchez to 2-1 with a 1.82 ERA in six lifetime games against the Giants.
Wednesday’s scheduled starter for San Francisco, right-hander Logan Webb (2-3, 4.86 ERA), yielded three runs in seven innings in his last start — a 3-0 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday.
“I honestly thought that was one of the better games I’ve thrown this year,” Webb said, adding that he’s “still working, still trying to get back to what I expect of myself.”
Webb is 0-1 with a 6.19 ERA in three career outings (all starts) against the Phillies. He did not face them when the teams met in San Francisco last month.
–Field Level Media
James Harden’s turnover issues plaguing Cavaliers vs. Raptors
James Harden’s playoff history has a common theme throughout his 17-year career. Only Utah Jazz legends Karl Malone and John Stockton have appeared in more postseason games without winning an NBA championship.
Harden’s shortcomings in the postseason are front and center as his Cleveland Cavaliers return home for Game 5 of their Eastern Conference first-round series against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night.
Fifth-seeded Toronto tied the series at 2-2 with back-to-back victories in Canada, taking full advantage of Harden’s sloppy ballhandling and bad decision-making. Fourth seed Cleveland had won the first two contests rather decisively in its arena.
“Games change fast and things happen in the playoffs,” Harden said Tuesday following practice at the team’s suburban training facility. “We won two games at home and we had two opportunities to win games there, and we didn’t.
“Game 5 is an opportunity for us to take advantage of the series.”
Harden committed eight turnovers in a 126-104 loss in Game 3, then made seven in Game 4 as the Cavaliers melted down late in a 93-89 defeat. His shooting wasn’t much better, making just 40.7% (11 of 27) of his field goal attempts and 5-of-16 3-pointers in the two games.
The future Hall of Famer now has 24 turnovers in the series, putting him on pace to break the league playoff records for miscues in a six- or seven-game series. LeBron James holds both marks with 34 and 40, respectively.
“That’s on me,” Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said. “I’ve got to put James in a better position to try and minimize what Toronto has been doing with him defensively. They’re sending a lot at him and (Donovan Mitchell), and there are ways we can fix that.”
Mitchell, whose 28.1 career scoring average is the seventh best in playoff history, was unable to convert open shots in the last two games. He made 32.5% (13 of 40) of his field goal tries and went 5-of-19 beyond the arc to only score 35 total points.
The sudden switch in his — and the Cavaliers’ fortunes – occurred when Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic moved Ja’Kobe Walter into the lineup and shifted Jamal Shead to the bench with regular starter Immanuel Quickley injured and out for the series.
Despite Walter and Shead missing 22 of their 24 shots, including all 17 3-pointers, in the last two games, the rotation switch has allowed Toronto to force 39 turnovers. The Raptors have only made 23.
Shead himself has forced 11 of Harden’s miscues while in a one-on-one situation.
“A lot of them have been self-inflicted,” Harden insisted. “Especially me, which is a lot. Too many. But I can correct that. I’ll be ready.”
Toronto has all the momentum on its side as it took a Tuesday flight to Cleveland after working out at its lakefront gym. Scottie Barnes has topped 20 points in the first four games, establishing a franchise playoff record, and is averaging a series-high 25.8.
RJ Barrett is also having a breakout run at 24.3 points per game, while rookie center Collin Murray-Boyles has been dynamic in chipping in 17.0 points and 7.3 rebounds with a .65.9 field-goal percentage.
But the driving force has been Barnes, who also is dishing out a series-high 7.3 assists while taking great pleasure in elevating his teammates’ games.
Barrett was born in Toronto, but Barnes has become his hometown’s hero.
“It’s my absolute privilege to work with a human being like Scottie Barnes,” Rajakovic said. “The biggest thing about him is his heart. How much he cares about other people, how much he cares about his teammates, and how much he cares about this organization.”
–Field Level Media
Pete Alonso, Orioles determined to heat up vs. Astros
The Baltimore Orioles would like for first baseman Pete Alonso to get untracked.
They hope to see more signs of that Wednesday night against the visiting Houston Astros after the slugger unleashed an opposite-field home run in a 5-3 Baltimore victory Tuesday in the series opener.
Alonso, a big free-agent prize for the Orioles in the offseason, is batting only .198 with four homers and 12 RBIs this season.
“I think my swing feels good,” he said. “Just need to get a ball or two to find some grass or maybe a seat.”
Alonso put one in the seats over the right-field fence in the fifth inning Tuesday. Every time he homers, it’s a signal that he could be on the verge of a breakout.
“His defense right now has been better than advertised,” Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said. “It’s been elite for us at first base. So it’s just on the offensive side of the ball, and he’s close. You can see it in the box, you can see it in his work. So I think once he kind of gets in that groove, it’s going to be dangerous.”
Alonso said it’s clear that the best is still to come from the Orioles, who halted a two-game skid on Tuesday.
“I think from the group largely, there’s been a lot of great individual performances, but I think from a lineup perspective, not everyone’s got going,” Alonso said. “I think once everyone kind of gets going, we start getting on the same page clicking, we’re going to put some runs up, which is going to alleviate some of the stress for the pitching staff.”
Right-hander Chris Bassitt (1-2, 6.75 ERA) will be Baltimore’s starting pitcher for the middle game of the three-game series with the Astros. He gained his first victory of the season last Wednesday despite giving up five runs in 5 1/3 innings in an 8-6 win at Kansas City. The Orioles have won in his past three starts.
Bassitt has made 16 career starts vs. Houston, recording a 5-6 record and 4.32 ERA in 89 2/3 innings. That marks the most innings he has logged against any opponent in his 12-year big-league career.
The Astros have the worst record in the American League and are dealing with injuries that have altered the available roster.
“It’s unfortunate that we have to go through this again,” Houston manager Joe Espada said. “But we find ourselves in a spot that we know we have been here before. … We have a roster now that I feel good about. Putting these guys in the best position to have some success is the most important thing while we get the rest of the guys back.”
Houston’s starting pitcher on Wednesday will be right-hander Peter Lambert (1-1, 3.27 ERA), who’s coming off last Wednesday’s six shutout innings in a 2-0 victory at Cleveland. He’ll face the Orioles for the first time.
Espada said the Astros will have infielder Jeremy Pena back with the team Wednesday, but he won’t be activated to play. Instead, he’ll continue rehab work for a hamstring strain.
Outfielder Colton Cowser hasn’t been in Baltimore’s lineup for four straight games, but Albernaz said part of that is because of Leody Taveras’ production.
“It’s nothing about Cowser,” Albernaz said.
Taveras is batting .286 this season, with two homers and 15 RBIs.
–Field Level Media
Rockies strive to do the difficult: Stop Reds’ Elly De La Cruz
Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz will look to continue his historic start to the season when the Reds host the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night in the second game of a three-game series.
The star shortstop had a pair of clutch defensive plays to go with his 3-for-4 night at the plate on Monday. De La Cruz homered and drove in four runs in Cincinnati’s 7-2 victory.
The homer was the 10th for De La Cruz, who became the first major leaguer since 1900 with at least 10 home runs and at least eight stolen bases before May.
De La Cruz has stolen his eight bases in 10 attempts. His 10 homers are tied for most by any major league switch-hitter before May since 1900, as he joined Seattle’s Cal Raleigh (2025), Oakland’s Nick Swisher (2006), and Houston’s Lance Berkman in 2002 and 2006.
Defensively, De La Cruz made a spectacular throw across his body from deep in the hole to throw out Kyle Karros by a half-step in the second inning Tuesday and started a key double play on a bad-hop grounder hit by Hunter Goodman to end the seventh inning.
“The win. That’s the best part. That’s the best part,” De La Cruz said after the game. “You play to win. We come with the same mentality every day. We’re just trying to win.”
The Reds have won eight of their past 10 games to remain in first place in the National League Central.
Cincinnati will send left-hander Brandon Williamson (2-2, 5.40 ERA) to the mound on Wednesday. He has struggled with command recently, issuing 14 walks in 20 1/3 innings in April.
Williamson often has labored to put batters away and failed to pitch deep into games. He has not exceeded 5 1/3 innings in four of his five starts. Williamson will try to improve on his most recent outing, when he allowed five runs on seven hits last Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays in a 6-1 loss.
Williamson’s spot in the rotation could be in jeopardy as another left-hander, Nick Lodolo, prepares to make his 2026 season debut. Lodolo has been sidelined since beginning the season with a blister on his left index finger.
He has started twice against the Rockies in his career and has a 3.38 ERA and 11 strikeouts with no decisions.
Colorado will counter with right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano (2-1, 3.42 ERA), making his sixth start of the season, third on the road and first career start against Cincinnati. Sugano has allowed two or fewer runs in four of his five starts.
In his most recent outing against the San Diego Padres last Wednesday, Sugano earned the win after allowing just one run over 5 2/3 innings in an 8-3 victory, marking the first time this season he did not surrender a home run. With Kyle Freeland coming off the injured list and starting on Tuesday, Sugano is pitching on a full week of rest.
The Rockies squandered several scoring opportunities on Tuesday, stranding 10 runners and going just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position as their three-game winning streak ended.
“Bunch of runners on base. Situational baseball not good,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer lamented. “Runner on third base, less than two outs, 0-for-3. Plenty of chances, boys kept going, but just didn’t get the job done when it was needed.”
Mickey Moniak leads the Rockies with eight home runs and is slugging .655, while Edouard Julien was 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs in Tuesday’s loss.
–Field Level Media
The Orlando Magic visit the Detroit Pistons for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at Little Caesars Arena. Tipoff is set for 7:00 PM ET on Amaz, with Orlando leading the series 3-1 and holding its first chance to close out the matchup.
The Magic won Game 4 by a 94-88 score, and that result really captured the series. Orlando did not shoot well, but it defended, rebounded, protected the ball, and forced Detroit into the kind of half-court grind that makes every possession feel heavy. Franz Wagner scored 19 before leaving with a calf issue, while Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr. gave Orlando enough frontcourt production to survive a low-scoring game.
Detroit is now in the elimination spot despite being favored by 9.5 points at home. Cade Cunningham had 25 points in Game 4, but the Pistons’ turnover issues were costly, and they were held without a field goal over the final stretch. The market is still pricing Detroit like the stronger home team, but this is a strange number for a team trailing 3-1 in a series that has become this defensive.
Orlando Magic vs Detroit Pistons Odds
These are the current betting lines for this Game 5 matchup, and bettors should always monitor the latest NBA odds before making a final play.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando Magic | +319 | +9.5 (-111) | O 211.5 |
| Detroit Pistons | -415 | -9.5 (-112) | U 211.5 |
Go Inside the Handicappers’ Playbook
All in one spot. Real-time line moves, sharp reads, and verified edges.
Orlando Magic Betting Form
Orlando is not winning this series with clean offense. That is probably the first thing bettors need to accept. The Magic shot poorly in Game 4, including some rough perimeter stretches, but they still won because their defense has been elite. They are allowing only 98.5 points per game this postseason, and their three-point defense has been one of the biggest reasons Detroit’s offense has looked uncomfortable.
The Orlando Magic stats and results show a team that can win ugly, which is a useful playoff trait. Banchero gives them the main scoring hub, Wagner gives them size and shot creation when healthy, and Carter helps control the glass. Desmond Bane has also been important because his shooting and decision-making give Orlando more structure late in possessions.
The injury concern is real, though. Wagner’s calf issue changes the ceiling of the offense if he is limited or ruled out, and Jonathan Isaac’s knee status is also worth monitoring. Availability matters here, so check the Orlando Magic injury report before tipoff. Still, Orlando’s spread case is not built on needing to light up the scoreboard. It is built on defense, free throws, rebounding, and making Detroit earn every half-court bucket.
Detroit Pistons Betting Form
Detroit has the desperation angle, the home-court angle, and the market respect. That is the good part. The concern is that the Pistons have not shown enough offensive rhythm to justify laying this many points without some hesitation. Cunningham has carried a huge workload, and in Game 4 he finished with 25 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, but the turnover number was a problem.
The Detroit Pistons schedule and stats still show a strong defensive team. Detroit is allowing only 100.5 points per game in the postseason, and its field-goal defense has been excellent. Tobias Harris gave the Pistons 20 points in Game 4, and Jalen Duren’s rebounding remains a key swing factor. If Detroit owns the glass and keeps Orlando out of transition, it can absolutely force a Game 6.
But laying 9.5 points requires more than just winning. Detroit needs margin, and that means cleaner offense, fewer giveaways, and better late-game execution. The Detroit Pistons injury report should be watched before tipoff, but the bigger issue may be shot creation. If Cunningham is the only player consistently bending the Magic defense, Orlando can keep this inside the number even if Detroit wins.
Orlando Magic vs Detroit Pistons Matchup Breakdown
This series has become a defense-first matchup, and that makes the spread feel inflated. Orlando wants to slow the game, pressure the ball, contest threes, and force Detroit into late-clock decisions. Detroit wants Cunningham downhill, Harris involved early, and Duren creating extra possessions through offensive rebounding.
The turnover battle is probably the biggest swing point. Orlando had only 12 turnovers in Game 4, while Detroit had 20. That is not just a box-score note. In a low-possession playoff game, those empty trips are the difference between winning by six and losing by six. If Detroit cleans that up, the Pistons have enough defensive quality to win. If not, this game starts looking a lot like the last one.
Shot profile also favors the Under. Neither team is playing with a fast pace, both defenses are limiting clean looks, and the half-court possessions have been physical. For bettors using an NBA betting guide to think through playoff totals, this is the kind of matchup where pace, foul rate, and late-game pressure matter more than raw regular-season averages.
The one thing that could push scoring higher is late fouling. If Detroit leads by six or eight in the final minute, Orlando could extend the game. But that is not enough for me to chase an Over. The cleaner read is still defense, contested shots, and long scoring droughts.
Orlando Magic vs Detroit Pistons Predictions and Best Bets
I lean Magic +9.5. Detroit may win this game, and honestly, that would not surprise me. The Pistons are at home, facing elimination, and have already beaten Orlando once in Detroit during this series. But laying nearly double digits against a team that leads the series 3-1 feels too expensive.
Orlando’s defense gives the Magic a strong floor. Even if Wagner is not fully healthy, the Magic can still cover by dragging the game into the mud, getting to the free-throw line, and forcing Detroit to execute late. That is not always pretty, but it is very cover-friendly when you are catching 9.5 points.
The total also points Under 211.5. Both teams are defending at a high level, and the Game 4 result was not a fluke in terms of style. Detroit has had trouble generating easy offense, while Orlando is not exactly built to run away with pace and shot volume. A 100-94 type of game fits the matchup better than anything in the 220s.
My projected score lands around Pistons 100, Magic 94. That gives Detroit the win, Orlando the cover, and the Under. The spread is the best bet because it gives us room for Detroit to survive without asking the Pistons to suddenly become efficient enough to win by margin.
Best Bet: Magic +9.5 (-111).
NBA Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
NBA playoff betting changes quickly because one injury update, rotation tweak, or market move can shift the value before tipoff. Checking today’s NBA picks gives bettors a better way to compare the full playoff board before locking in a number.
ScoresAndStats gives bettors access to top sports handicappers with long-term records, profit tracking, and transparency across different betting styles. Some experts are stronger with sides, others focus on totals, and some look for derivative angles when the main spread gets too sharp.
You can also compare experts through the handicapper leaderboard or look for premium NBA picks when you want a stronger read on the biggest games. For bettors who want more matchup context, the NBA previews hub is also useful during the playoff grind.
