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Josh Jung, Rangers shoot for series win vs. Athletics
Josh Jung is having an April to remember for the Texas Rangers, who will face the Athletics in the rubber match of a three-game series on Sunday afternoon in Arlington, Texas.
Jung continued his hot streak with a go-ahead, two-run homer in the sixth inning of Saturday’s 4-3 victory. The win moved Texas one game over .500 and into a tie for first place in the American League West with the Athletics.
After going 0-for-17 in March, Jung is batting .371 with four homers and 14 RBIs in 20 April games. He said after Saturday’s contest that he remains focused on improving his approach at the plate.
“I think I could (improve) every night,” Jung said. “There’s a couple of at-bats I wish I could have back. But that (homer) was in a big spot. Over this little stretch I’ve been on, I’ve been able to execute. Every day is a battle to get in there and execute. You get four or five at-bats, and how many can you win.”
Sunday’s pitching matchup will feature a pair of right-handers as the Rangers’ Kumar Rocker (1-1, 3.48 ERA) faces J.T. Ginn (0-0, 3.74).
Rocker retired 13 consecutive hitters at one point and allowed one run across six innings in a 5-1 home win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday.
“One of the best parts was, after the first inning, he put up five zeros,” Texas manager Skip Schumaker said. “To keep us in the game and then provide the innings after that, and just kind of shut the momentum down on their side, was a huge step for him.”
Rocker owns a 19-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio in four starts this season covering 20 2/3 innings.
Shea Langeliers is 3-for-6 against Rocker, who is 0-2 with an 8.18 ERA in three career starts vs. the Athletics.
Ginn allowed three runs over 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision against the Seattle Mariners on Monday. The A’s won 6-4.
“It was a solid outing for J.T.,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “Any time a young guy goes out and gives up some (early) contact, it’s easy for things to kind of unwind. But I was impressed by how he finished. His sinker had a lot of life.”
Jung has two homers in eight at-bats against Ginn, who is 1-1 with a 4.62 ERA in five career starts vs. Texas.
The Athletics are looking to bounce back after losing Saturday despite out-hitting the Rangers 7-5.
“We came out and took some great at-bats,” Kotsay said. “Sometimes you’ve got to tip your cap to the other starter, who gave them five good innings and kept us at three runs. Offensively, we just didn’t add onto the lead and give ourselves any margin for error.”
Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz tied a franchise record by drawing a walk in his 15th consecutive game.
Kotsay is monitoring the status of designated hitter Brent Rooker, who has not played since April 9 because of a right oblique strain and is nearing a return to the lineup. Kotsay said Rooker might not need a rehab assignment and could rejoin the team in the next few days.
–Field Level Media
This Sunday Night Soccer spot matters more than it might have a few weeks ago. Real Salt Lake head to Dignity Health Sports Park for a 4:00 p.m. PT kickoff in Carson, with both clubs trying to climb in the Western Conference. RSL come in sixth in the West on 16 points at 5-2-1, while the Galaxy are 11th on nine points at 2-4-3 and still trying to steady themselves after a rough start to the league campaign. The match streams on Apple TV.
The short-term form gives this a little tension. LA returned from a three-match road stretch with a win at Austin, a draw at Dallas after coming back from 2-0 down, and then a 2-1 loss at Columbus. Real Salt Lake had won five of six before Wednesday’s 2-0 home loss to Inter Miami slowed that momentum. So this is not just a home favorite versus a better record. It is a match between a talented Galaxy side trying to reset at home and an RSL team that has looked dangerous for most of the month.
Real Salt Lake vs LA Galaxy Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor the latest soccer odds before kickoff. This one is being priced with a 3-way moneyline market, while the handicap and total still point to LA Galaxy as a slight home-side lean in what looks like a fairly open game.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Salt Lake | +185 | +0.5 (-175) | O 3.5 (+125) |
| Draw | +280 | N/A | N/A |
| LA Galaxy | +138 | -0.5 (+120) | U 3.5 (-170) |
Go Inside the Handicappers’ Playbook
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Real Salt Lake Betting Form
RSL still bring the more convincing season profile into this match. Through eight league games they are 5-2-1, averaging 2.0 goals per match with 1.70 xG and 16.13 shots per game. The attack has real variety, too. Diego Luna is driving a lot of the chance creation, Zavier Gozo has broken out, Sergi Solans already has five goals and an assist, and Morgan Guilavogui has added another layer with one goal and four assists in his first seven MLS appearances.
The away split is a little less dominant, and that is the part worth respecting if you are thinking about backing them on the road. RSL average 1.37 xG and 1.61 xGA away from home, with 1.67 goals scored and 1.67 conceded. They also play with less of the ball on the road, around 40 percent possession, which means they are often relying more on transition speed and direct attacking moments than on long phases of control. That can work against LA’s defense, but it also leaves them exposed if the game turns into a wide, back-and-forth match.
Availability matters a bit here. Jesus Barea, Emeka Eneli, Lukas Engel, and Ari Piol are out, while Juan Jose Arias and Philip Quinton are questionable. That is enough to take some stability away from an already aggressive team, especially if LA can force RSL into deeper defending than they want.
LA Galaxy Betting Form
The Galaxy’s league position still looks underwhelming, but the home underlying numbers are better than the table suggests. At home they are posting 1.84 xG and just 1.00 xGA per match, while averaging 15 shots and 55 percent possession. They have scored in every league game this season, and that matters a lot in this matchup because RSL have not kept a clean sheet yet. In other words, LA are flawed, but not flat. There is still enough attacking talent here to stress almost any MLS back line
The recent road stretch also gave a few reasons for optimism. LA beat Austin, rallied at Dallas, and then lost narrowly at Columbus, with Gabriel Pec scoring his first MLS goal of the season. Joseph Paintsil has looked sharper since returning, and Marco Reus has been used in a false-9 role since João Klauss went down. That is not a perfect solution, but it does keep the attack flexible and less predictable
The injury list is the obvious concern. Klauss is out until after the World Cup break following foot surgery, and Julián Aude, Matheus Nascimento, and Erik Thommy are also out. Maya Yoshida is only listed as questionable. Klauss in particular is a real loss because he had five goals in eight appearances and was the club’s top scorer. LA still have enough creators, but they do not have the same natural penalty-box reference point right now.
Real Salt Lake vs LA Galaxy Matchup Breakdown
This game looks like a style clash that should create chances for both teams. LA tend to hold more possession, especially at home, and they should try to pin RSL back through Reus, Pec, Paintsil, and Sanabria. RSL are more comfortable letting a match breathe a bit, then attacking quickly through Luna, Gozo, and Solans. With Galaxy averaging 55 percent possession at home and RSL down at 40 percent away, the shape is pretty clear. LA should have more of the ball, while Salt Lake will try to hurt them in transition and on broken sequences.
That is why the defensive numbers matter so much. The Galaxy have one clean sheet all season and none in away matches, while RSL have zero clean sheets through eight league games. MLS itself framed this as a match where the two sides have just one clean sheet between them, and that feels about right. Both teams have enough attacking quality to punish mistakes, and neither defense has earned much trust yet.
The pricing also reflects that read. The total is sitting at 3.5, which is high by MLS standards, and the current handicap makes LA only a slight home favorite. That tells you the market respects LA’s home underlying profile but also sees a match that can get stretched if either side scores first. If you like reading those kinds of spots through tempo, travel, and game state rather than just raw standings, a general sports betting guide can help sharpen the process.
Real Salt Lake vs LA Galaxy Predictions and Best Bets
My side lean is LA Galaxy, but not by enough to call it comfortable. The home xG numbers are better than the public record, Paintsil is trending back toward a full workload, and this feels like the kind of match where Reus and Pec can find enough space between the lines. RSL are the more stable team over the first two months, but their away profile is not nearly as convincing as their overall record, and the injury list trims some of their margin.
I still would not force the 3-way moneyline as my favorite angle. LA are missing Klauss, and RSL have enough attacking punch to keep this uncomfortable for 90 minutes. Diego Luna is in excellent form, the visitors have already shown they can score in bunches, and the Galaxy defense has not exactly looked airtight. So yes, I lean home side, but I think the total tells the cleaner story.
The over is where the value starts to stand out. LA score in every league match, RSL average two goals per game, and neither team has shown much clean-sheet reliability. A 3.5 total is never cheap, but the plus-money price helps, and the game script fits. If LA score first, Salt Lake have enough transition threat to answer. If RSL land the opener, the Galaxy almost have to open the match further. Either way, this has the look of a game that gets loose.
Best Bet: Over 3.5 (+125).
MLS Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
For bettors who want more than one angle before kickoff, free MLS picks is a good place to start. The MLS board changes quickly because travel, rest, and lineup volatility matter so much, and that page is built around exactly those matchday-style reads.
If you want to compare different betting styles instead of following one capper blindly, top sports handicappers and the handicapper leaderboard make that easier. ScoresAndStats emphasizes sortable performance data, rankings, and recent returns, which is useful when you are trying to separate short-term noise from actual consistency.
And if you want a stronger card than the free board offers, buy expert picks is the next step. In a match like this one, where the side and total point in slightly different directions, having a few trusted opinions before kickoff is usually better than forcing one quick read.
Werder Bremen travel to MHPArena for Bundesliga Matchday 31 on Sunday, April 26, with kickoff set for 15:30 CEST. Stuttgart come into the match on 56 points from 30 games, one point behind fourth-place Hoffenheim and still very much in the Champions League race. Werder sit 15th on 31 points from 30 matches, so they are not in full panic mode, but they are still too close to the bottom to treat this like a free swing. In the U.S., the match is listed on ESPN+.
The timing matters. Stuttgart just went 120 minutes in the DFB-Pokal semifinal and beat Freiburg 2-1 in extra time on April 23, which puts some real workload stress on this spot. At the same time, their recent league form is still strong enough to respect, with wins over Hamburg and Augsburg in the last month even after the 4-2 loss at Bayern. Werder are harder to pin down. They beat Hamburg 3-1 in the Nordderby, but the away form remains shaky and the broader picture is still a relegation-tinged survival fight.
Werder Bremen vs VfB Stuttgart Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should keep monitoring the latest soccer odds before kickoff. This is a 3-way moneyline market, with Stuttgart moving from an opening price of -175 to around -190, while the draw is sitting at +330 and Werder Bremen at +425.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Werder Bremen | +425 | +1.5 (-180) | O 3.5 (+105) |
| VfB Stuttgart | -190 | -1.5 (+130) | U 3.5 (-135) |
Go Inside the Handicappers’ Playbook
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Werder Bremen Betting Form
Werder are coming off a useful derby win, and that matters because confidence had been wobbling. The 3-1 win over Hamburg gave them a little air, but the run around it still reads unevenly: losses to Köln and Leipzig, then that one-goal win at Wolfsburg before the derby. Their season profile explains why they are difficult to trust away from home. Werder are 8-7-15 overall and just 3-3-9 on the road, with 17 goals scored and 27 conceded away from Bremen. Their away xG is only 14.24, while their away xGA is 27.40. That is a pretty clear warning sign against a top-five home side.
There are still a few attacking angles that keep them live. Jens Stage has nine league goals, Romano Schmid has eight assists, and Daniel Thioune clearly believes his side can at least make life uncomfortable if they are brave enough in possession. The likely shape is a 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 hybrid, with Stage, Lynen, Puertas, and Schmid doing most of the connective work behind Jovan Milosevic or another central option. But the squad situation hurts. Marco Grüll and Leonardo Bittencourt are suspended, Felix Agu is out, and Karl Hein, Julian Malatini, Mitchell Weiser, Keke Topp, and Victor Okoh Boniface are also unavailable. Thioune did at least say Stage is expected to be fit, while Marco Friedl and Maximilian Wöber are back in the mix.
VfB Stuttgart Betting Form
Stuttgart are still the stronger side by almost every useful measure. They are 17-5-8 overall and 11-2-2 at home, with 26 goals scored and 14 conceded at MHPArena. The home xG sits at 27.81 against an xGA of 18.69, and they are averaging 58.2% possession in those matches. That profile looks like a real Champions League contender, even if the table has not quite rewarded them with a top-four place yet. They also reached the cup final three days before this game, which says something about both their quality and their current momentum.
The attacking shape is the biggest reason the price is tilted their way. Deniz Undav leads the team with 18 league goals, Jamie Leweling has seven assists, and Angelo Stiller continues to set tempo from deep. There is some uncertainty over the exact front line because the projected XIs differ a bit, but the structure looks clear enough: a 4-2-3-1 with Führich and Leweling around either Tiago Tomás or Undav, supported by El Khannouss and Stiller in the creative zones. Werder’s own coach called Stuttgart the strongest attack in the league after Bayern, and that does not feel like empty praise.
The main hesitation is availability plus fatigue. Finn Jeltsch is out, and Justin Diehl and Lazar Jovanovic are also unavailable. Stuttgart also just played 120 high-stress cup minutes on Thursday, which is not nothing, even with decent squad depth. So this is not a perfect favorite spot. It is just a spot where the stronger team, stronger home profile, and stronger attacking numbers still point heavily in one direction.
Werder Bremen vs VfB Stuttgart Matchup Breakdown
This game should be about whether Werder can survive Stuttgart’s pressure in wide and half-space areas long enough to make their own transition threat matter. Stuttgart’s home numbers are pretty strong across the board: 244 shots, 92 on target, nearly 28 expected goals, and more than 58% possession in 15 home Bundesliga matches. Werder’s away record points the other way. They are conceding 1.8 goals per road match, and their away xGA is almost double their away xG. That is usually not a healthy mix against a side that likes to pin teams back and keep the ball moving.
The place where Werder can make this interesting is in second-phase attacks and direct breaks. Stage gives them late box runs, Schmid can still play the final pass, and Thioune clearly wants his side to trust themselves on the ball instead of just defending for 90 minutes. He also said recently that Werder have allowed very few shots on goal over the last weeks, which suggests they think they can at least keep the structure from collapsing. The problem is that Stuttgart’s home attack is much more consistent than most of the teams Werder have faced lately, and the missing bodies on Bremen’s flanks and in the forward rotation make it harder to absorb wave after wave.
The schedule angle is the one thing keeping this from feeling automatic. Stuttgart absolutely spent energy in the cup semifinal, and Werder are coming in with the emotional lift of that Nordderby win. Usually I would care more about the 120-minute issue. Here, I think the squad depth and the stakes in the top-four race keep Stuttgart aggressive enough. If you are weighing whether the better angle is side, handicap, or total, a solid general expert betting guide helps frame that decision, because the real question is not who is better. It is how much the fatigue discount should matter.
Werder Bremen vs VfB Stuttgart Predictions and Best Bets
My main lean is Stuttgart, and I prefer the home side on the spread rather than the 3-way moneyline. The market move from -175 to -190 already tells you where sentiment has gone, and I think it is justified. Stuttgart’s home record is excellent, their home xG profile is strong, and Werder’s away numbers are simply too weak to ignore. Bremen can score, sure, but they have not defended well enough on the road to make me want to stand in front of Stuttgart here.
The total is slightly trickier. Over 3.5 is tempting because Stuttgart matches can get stretched and Werder are capable of contributing a goal. But the cleaner play is still the side. Stuttgart should control most of the game, and Werder’s missing options out wide and up front make it harder to trust them to fully exploit the cup-fatigue angle. I can see 2-0, 3-1, maybe even 3-0 if Stuttgart score early and force Bremen to open up.
Stuttgart do have enough uncertainty around post-cup freshness that I would not chase an inflated alternate line. But at the standard spread, the matchup still points toward the home side. They create more, finish better, and carry the far clearer motivation in the Champions League race. Werder are fighting for safety, but this is a rough place to try to stabilize.
Best Bet: VfB Stuttgart -1.5 (+130).
Bundesliga Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
For this slate, today’s Bundesliga picks is the best starting point because it keeps the card focused on one league and makes it easier to compare this match against the rest of the Sunday board. The best soccer bets this week page is useful too when you want a faster shortlist instead of scanning every market.
For deeper comparison, I would use the top sports handicappers page and the handicapper leaderboard. That is usually the easiest way to separate specialists from generalists and see who is actually producing over time.
And if you want a stronger conviction position instead of a free lean, premium soccer picks is the natural next step. This is the kind of match where price and market selection matter almost as much as the teams themselves.
Dortmund hosts Friburgo at Signal Iduna Park on Sunday, April 26, in Bundesliga Matchday 31, with kickoff set for 11:30 AM ET. This is a big spot in the top-four race and, really, in the race for second as well. Dortmund comes in second on 64 points, only two clear of Leipzig after Saturday’s results, while Friburgo sits on 43 points and still very much alive in the European chase.
The mood around the two clubs is different, though. Dortmund has dropped back-to-back league matches against Leverkusen and Hoffenheim, which is its first two-game Bundesliga losing streak in more than a year. Friburgo, on the other hand, has put together consecutive league wins for the first time in 2026, but the scheduling pressure is real after 120 hard minutes in the DFB-Pokal semifinal and a Europa League semifinal first leg at Braga on Thursday, April 30.
Friburgo vs Dortmund Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor the latest soccer odds before placing anything. This is a 3-way moneyline market, with the draw priced at +330, while Dortmund is favored on the main line and the total is set at 3.5.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friburgo | +600 | +1.5 (-140) | O 3.5 (+135) |
| Dortmund | -220 | -1.5 (+100) | U 3.5 (-170) |
Go Inside the Handicappers’ Playbook
All in one spot. Real-time line moves, sharp reads, and verified edges.
Friburgo Betting Form
Friburgo has been decent overall, but the away split is where this matchup starts to tilt. On the season they are averaging 1.41 xG and 1.50 xGA per match, but away from home that shifts to 1.19 xG and 1.69 xGA, with 1.07 goals scored and 1.87 conceded per road game. The possession number drops to 45% away from home, and the shot volume falls to 10.87 per match. That is not disastrous, but it is not the profile you love walking into Dortmund either.
There is still enough attacking quality to be annoying. Friburgo averages 12.77 shots and 4.27 on target across the season, and the side has scored 44 goals in 30 league matches. Vincenzo Grifo, Igor Matanovic, Johan Manzambi and Lucas Höler give them enough movement and enough secondary creation to threaten if Dortmund leaves space in transition. The problem is that Friburgo has also failed to score in 47% of its away matches and has conceded in 73% of them.
The squad context matters too. Friburgo just played extra time in the cup, has Braga coming in four days, and is carrying injury uncertainty around Jordy Makengo and Philipp Treu, while Patrick Osterhage and Max Rosenfelder are expected to miss out. That is a lot to manage against a favorite at Signal Iduna Park.
Dortmund Betting Form
Dortmund’s recent results are the concern, but the home process is still strong. Across the season they are averaging 1.59 xG and 1.23 xGA, and at home that improves to 1.74 xG and 1.08 xGA. They are scoring 2.20 goals per home match, allowing only 0.93, holding 55% possession, and taking 14.8 shots per game at Signal Iduna Park. Those are still top-end home numbers, even if the last two league results have cooled the mood.
The bigger positive for Dortmund is that the matchup still fits the way they want to play. They average 13.07 shots and 4.67 on target over the full season, they have scored 61 league goals in 30 matches, and they have not failed to score in a single away match or in most of their home fixtures. The home floor remains high, which is why the market has pushed them into clear favorite territory despite the recent dip.
Team news is a little messy, but not enough to completely kill the home angle. Serhou Guirassy returned to training on Friday after concussion protocols but remained doubtful, Karim Adeyemi is still unavailable with a muscular issue, Felix Nmecha is expected to miss out again, and Niklas Süle is dealing with a knee problem. So yes, the attack may not be at full strength, and that matters a bit. Still, the predicted shape remains a 3-4-2-1 with plenty of creators around the box.
Friburgo vs Dortmund Matchup Breakdown
This is a pretty classic control-versus-counter setup. Dortmund should have more of the ball, and the numbers support that. They sit at 53% average possession overall and 55% at home, while Friburgo is at 48% overall and 45% away. Dortmund also takes more shots at home than Friburgo does on the road, and the xG gap at those splits is meaningful. That points toward more territorial pressure from the home side and more reactive football from the visitors.
The question is whether Dortmund turns that control into enough clean chances. That has been the issue in the two recent defeats. Friburgo can still be awkward because it has enough runners to attack the channels, and the predicted 4-2-3-1 gives them a reasonable shape to defend first and break later. But the away defensive numbers are still hard to ignore. Friburgo is conceding 1.87 goals per road game and carrying a 1.69 away xGA, which is a dangerous mix against a side that still creates 1.74 xG per home match.
The scheduling angle pushes the same way. Friburgo just lost an exhausting extra-time cup semifinal and now has Europa League travel to Braga in four days. Dortmund, by contrast, is fully focused on Bundesliga position and trying to hold off Leipzig for second. That does not guarantee a dominant home win, but it does make Dortmund the side more likely to push the tempo for longer. In matches like this, the sports betting strategy guide is useful because game state and calendar pressure matter almost as much as form.
Friburgo vs Dortmund Predictions and Best Bets
My first lean is Dortmund on the side. The market is not being subtle about it, and I think that is fair. Dortmund’s home shot volume, home xG, and home scoring profile are all materially stronger than Friburgo’s away numbers, and the workload on the visitors is a real factor here. Friburgo can absolutely stay competitive for stretches, but this feels like a spot where the favorite should spend more time in the final third and create the clearer chances.
The total is a little trickier. The head-to-head history between these clubs has usually produced goals, and Dortmund home games average 3.13 total goals while Friburgo away games average 2.93. But the current context makes me a little less eager to chase the over at 3.5. If Friburgo rotates even a bit, or simply looks heavy after midweek, the match could become more one-sided than chaotic.
That is why I prefer the handicap to the total. Dortmund does not need a perfect performance here. It just needs to turn its home control into a multi-goal win against a road side that has worse away xG numbers, worse away scoring numbers, and one eye on a semifinal in Portugal. Maybe it ends 2-0. Maybe 3-1. Either way, the spread offers a better price than the moneyline without asking for something outrageous.
Best Bet: Dortmund -1.5 (+100).
Bundesliga Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you are betting Bundesliga regularly, one preview helps, but the bigger edge usually comes from comparing the whole board and seeing where specialists are finding value. ScoresAndStats makes that easier with its Bundesliga picks and broader today’s soccer picks, especially on weekends when the table pressure is very different from one match to the next.
Transparency matters too. You can compare top sports handicappers, track the handicapper leaderboard, and sort through different betting styles instead of just following one opinion blindly. That tends to matter even more in soccer, where some cappers are much better with totals and derivatives while others are stronger on match-result markets.
And if you want stronger card-by-card opinions than a free preview can offer, premium soccer picks are there too. For bettors who want volume, accountability, and a cleaner way to compare experts before building out a weekend ticket, that broader setup is usually more useful than isolating one game on its own.
Mariners, Cardinals clash again after slugfest
What should have been a day to remember for Nathan Church turned into one he’d almost like to forget.
The St. Louis rookie outfielder hit two home runs and robbed another with a leaping catch at the wall, but he grounded into a game-ending double play as the Cardinals fell 11-9 to the visiting Seattle Mariners.
The Cardinals will attempt to avoid being swept in the three-game interleague series when it wraps up on Sunday afternoon.
“It was a good day for our offense, put up a lot of runs, but the outcome wasn’t what we wanted,” said Church, 25, who was summoned out of the dugout by the fans after his two-run homer in the seventh inning broke a 7-7l tie.
Church hit a solo shot in the second and added a sacrifice fly in a four-run third as the Cardinals took their first lead.
In the sixth, he made a leaping grab at the left-field wall to deny Seattle’s Mitch Garver of a homer.
“Really good day for him,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said of Church, who was playing in his 50th major league game. “He just continues to play really good defense, and the two homers, man, his swing just keeps looking better and better and the confidence continues to grow, which is what he needs. Both sides of the ball starting to settle in. The path he took today … just the work going into what he’s doing is really positive.”
JJ Wetherholt, Ivan Herrera and Pedro Pages also went deep for the Cardinals, but it wasn’t enough as Julio Rodriguez, Will Wilson and Cole Young homered for the Mariners.
Leading 9-7 in the eighth, Marmol called on closer Riley O’Brien with runners on second and third and one out. Pinch hitter Connor Joe greeted O’Brien with a tying two-run single.
In the ninth, J.P. Crawford reached on a bunt single with one out, Garver walked, and Young was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Leo Rivas lined the next pitch up the middle to break a 9-9 deadlock.
“It was one of those days,” said O’Brien (3-1), a Seattle native. “I’ll try not to think about the game for a little bit, watch it (Sunday morning) and see what I can take away from it.”
Rivas broke out of a 5-for-44 slump.
“I feel like I’ve been hitting the ball good the last couple days but right at ’em,” he said. And to have that one (fall) in a good situation like that is like — oooof — a relief for me.”
The 11 runs and 19 hits were season highs for the Mariners, who have won three games in a row and five of their past seven.
“What we’ve been waiting for,” manager Dan Wilson said. “Our guys, we don’t panic. We just continue to put together good at-bats, try to crawl our way back in the game. And that’s what they did.”
Sunday’s series finale will feature a pair of right-handers in the Mariners’ Emerson Hancock (2-1, 2.83 ERA) against the Cardinals’ Michael McGreevy (1-2, 3.29).
Hancock didn’t get a decision Monday in a 6-4 loss to the visiting Athletics after giving up three runs on seven hits over five innings. He’s 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in one career relief appearance against St. Louis.
McGreevy took a 5-3 loss Monday for the Cardinals at Miami when he allowed four runs in 5 2/3 innings. He’s 0-0 with a 1.50 ERA in one previous start vs. Seattle.
–Field Level Media
Nationals SS Nasim Nunez playing ‘nasty’ against White Sox
Washington Nationals shortstop Nasim Nunez delivered two hits, four RBIs and a stolen base during Saturday’s 6-3, 10-inning victory against the host Chicago White Sox.
Nunez acknowledged he was aiming to emulate one of his favorite players, current New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor — a path that might serve Nunez well again Sunday afternoon when Washington meets Chicago in the rubber game of a three-game set.
“Honestly, I was just like, ‘Let’s be nasty,'” Nunez said. “I told my parents before the game I was trying to channel my 2018 Lindor (then with Cleveland). I model my game after him, so I was watching some highlights and stuff. I just channeled that and just went out there to be.”
Washington evened the series behind an opportunistic attack. Automatic runner James Wood scored the go-ahead run in the 10th on a passed ball.
Nunez hit two-run singles in the fourth and 10th, and Keibert Ruiz doubled for the Nationals’ lone extra-base hit of the game.
Miguel Vargas doubled for the White Sox, who out-hit the Nationals 7-6 one night after out-hitting them 8-6 to key a 5-4 victory.
“It’s working, just putting the foot on the gas at all times,” Chicago rookie infielder-outfielder Sam Antonacci said.
The White Sox will try to rev their offense on Sunday against Nationals left-hander Foster Griffin (3-0, 3.38 ERA), who will oppose Chicago southpaw Bryan Hudson (0-0, 1.54).
Griffin is set to make his first career appearance against the White Sox. He pitched in seven games for Kansas City and Toronto over 2020 and 2022 but most recently competed in Japan.
Griffin defeated the Atlanta Braves 11-4 on Tuesday behind his first quality start, scattering five hits for three runs in six innings with one walk and three strikeouts.
“We hadn’t seen him before; that’s always a challenge,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “He’s got a lot of pitches. He’ll throw the kitchen sink at you. When you do that and you throw strikes with it, it makes it tough on the hitter, because you’re not sure what you’re going to get.
“He really showed an ability to pitch, and with a lot of different offerings.”
Hudson will serve as the opener for Chicago, as he did Friday night, when he worked around a hit and walk to notch a scoreless first inning.
Right-hander Sean Burke (1-2, 4.10 ERA) is expected to follow in bulk relief. Burke took a no-decision at Washington on Sept. 27, 2025, allowing two runs — on a Daylen Lile home run — and two hits in 4 1/3 innings with one walk and 10 strikeouts.
Burke has pitched to a 3.63 ERA in four April appearances, including three starts. He’s coming off Tuesday’s 11-5 victory in Arizona, when he spaced two runs and five hits in six innings with one walk and three strikeouts.
White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami is 1-for-8 with a solo home run and four strikeouts to begin the series.
Murakami has homered in six of his past eight games, but the 26-year-old rookie has four multi-strikeout games over the same span. He shares the major league lead of 11 home runs with Houston’s Yordan Alvarez.
–Field Level Media
Light-hitting Reds keep finding ways to win ahead of finale vs. Tigers
It’s fair to call the Cincinnati Reds the surprise team of the National League a month into the season. After entering the year without an abundance of household names, the Reds are tied for second in the majors with 18 wins.
Cincinnati will search for its 10th win in 12 tries on Sunday afternoon in the series finale against the visiting Detroit Tigers.
Despite a major-league-worst .213 batting average, the Reds have scored nine runs apiece in back-to-back wins over the Tigers and are averaging 7.3 runs across their last six outings. At .303, Sal Stewart is the only Cincinnati player hitting .300 or better.
Instead of a flashy centerpiece, the Reds have tried to break down the opposing pitching staff using 1-9 in the batting order.
“When you get this group of guys with the character we have and the way we play the game, good things will happen,” Reds second baseman Matt McLain said. “We play the game hard every single day.”
Stewart and TJ Friedl each had three hits and a homer in the Reds’ 9-2 series-clinching win on Saturday.
On the mound for the upstart club, Rhett Lowder (3-1, 3.10 ERA) will look to continue his impressive start to the year. After missing all of last season with multiple injuries, Lowder leads the Reds with three wins. The 24-year-old right-hander has won consecutive starts, and he allowed just one run across six innings in a 6-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday.
“He gave us six innings — that was really impressive,” Cincinnati manager Terry Francona said. “He just started to throw the ball more where he wanted to.”
Lowder, selected seventh overall pick in the 2023 draft out of Wake Forest, is slated to make just the 12th start of his career and first against the Tigers.
Detroit entered the interleague set winners in 10 of its previous 13 but has seen its pitching staff falter in a pair of games at Great American Ball Park. After falling on Nathaniel Lowe’s walk-off homer to lose 9-8 on Friday, the Tigers got just two innings out of starting pitcher Jack Flaherty in Game 2.
Manager A.J. Hinch and company will seek to fare much better in the early innings on Sunday in hopes of salvaging the series.
“(Cincinnati) put the ball in play twice in the first inning and scored four runs,” Hinch said. “That’s pretty much the tone that was set. It was rough to recover from.”
Keider Montero (1-2, 3.68 ERA) will make his fifth start of the year for Detroit. Montero, 25, will appear on the road for the first time this season. Last time out, he yielded three earned runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings Tuesday in a 12-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.
Montero has faced the Reds once, throwing five innings of two-run ball in an 11-5 win on June 13, 2025.
At the plate, Spencer Torkelson has homered in four straight games, becoming the first Detroit player to accomplish the feat since Ian Kinsler in May 2016. Torkelson can match the franchise record of five shared by multiple Tigers, most recently Marcus Thames in June 2008.
–Field Level Media
Rays pitcher Griffin Jax backed by powerful lineup against Twins
Looking for a way to get right-handed reliever Griffin Jax back on track, Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash is starting him against the team that traded him last summer, the visiting Minnesota Twins, in their series finale on Sunday.
Jax was one of the American League’s top setup relievers when he was obtained on July 31 for starter Taj Bradley. But Jax is off to a slow start this season (1-2, 8.00 ERA), allowing six earned runs in seven innings pitched in April, and has allowed at least one earned run in two of his last three appearances.
It will be the second time Jax has faced his old team. He pitched two shutout innings of relief in a 4-1 win over the Twins in Minneapolis on April 5, allowing two hits and a walk.
Right-hander Jesse Scholtens (1-1, 2.93) will handle the bulk role as the Rays go for the series sweep and their fourth straight win.
Scholtens is 0-3 with a 9.64 ERA in three career appearances (one start) against Minnesota, all of which came in the 2023 season with a Chicago White Sox team that lost 101 games.
Scholtens made the start in a 6-1 loss to Cincinnati on Monday and allowed five runs, including a two-run homer to Sal Stewart in the first inning, on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out six and didn’t walk a batter.
The Twins, who have lost four straight games and eight of their last nine, will start right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson (0-3, 5.96), who is 0-0 with a 3.31 ERA in three career starts against the Rays.
Woods Richardson will try and cool down a Tampa Bay offense that has hit five home runs in the first two games of the series, all of which have traveled more than 400 feet.
Junior Caminero and Jonathan Aranda both belted two home runs in Friday’s 6-2 victory, with one of Caminero’s landing over the batter’s eye in center field and measuring a career-long 450 feet.
Jake Fraley hit a two-run shot 401 feet to right-center off Bailey Ober in the fourth inning to highlight Saturday’s 6-1 victory.
“This lineup is dynamic,” Fraley said. “If we’re having trouble driving the baseball, we’re able to lean on ‘small ball’ a little bit. We’ve got a lot of guys in the lineup that are able to do it well. And then these last two games, we were able to put it in the stands.”
Left-hander Shane McClanahan, who has missed the last two seasons due to Tommy John and left triceps surgeries, picked up his first win at Tropicana Field since 2023, allowing three hits and striking out seven over five shutout innings.
“I was happy for him,” Cash said of the two-time All-Star. “Want to see that continue to build. We all know how special Shane can be in our rotation, and he’s working hard to get to that point. Today was another good step for him.”
The Twins, who have been outscored 25-13 in their last four games, wasted a quality start by Ober, who allowed two runs on three hits over six innings. Reliever Taylor Rogers was roughed up for three runs in the seventh without registering an out. Jonny DeLuca greeted him with a leadoff pinch-hit double into the left field corner and Ben Williamson followed with an RBI triple to the wall in left-center. Rogers then walked Cedric Mullins with a pitch to end his appearance.
Minnesota batters were just 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Royce Lewis broke up the shutout with two outs in the ninth with a bloop single to center, driving in Luke Keaschall, who had been hit by a pitch.
“We’re not worried about this group,” catcher Ryan Jeffers said. “It’s the ebbs and flows of baseball.”
Despite the recent rough stretch, the Twins are third in the American League Central, just 2 1/2 games behind the first place Cleveland Guardians.
–Field Level Media
Juventus visit AC Milan on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at San Siro in one of the biggest Serie A matches of Matchday 34. Kickoff is set for 20:45 CEST, and the Champions League race is the main story. Milan sit just ahead of Juventus, but there is very little separation between these teams at this stage of the season.
Milan enter at 19-5-9 after a narrow 1-0 away win over Hellas Verona. It was not flashy, but it was the kind of result that matters late in the year. They protected the lead, managed the rhythm, and avoided another stumble after a mixed stretch at home.
Juventus come in at 18-6-9 and look like the slightly hotter side. They have won three straight league matches without conceding, and that defensive form matters here because recent Milan vs Juventus meetings have been tight, cautious, and low scoring. This feels like another match where one mistake, one set piece, or one moment from a wide attacker could decide it.
Juventus vs AC Milan Odds
These are the current 3-way betting lines for Juventus vs AC Milan, and bettors should always monitor the latest soccer odds before placing a wager.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juventus | +155 | -0.25 (+118) | O 2.5 (+100) |
| AC Milan | +185 | +0.25 (-147) | U 2.5 (-130) |
| Draw | +210 |
Go Inside the Handicappers’ Playbook
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Juventus Betting Form
Juventus are playing their best defensive football at the right time. The Bianconeri have won five of their last six Serie A matches and have stacked clean sheets during that run, which is exactly the kind of profile that travels into a heavyweight away match. They are not always explosive, but they are hard to break down when the back line and midfield distances are right.
The attacking shape has enough variety. Kenan Yildiz gives Juventus a real creative spark between the lines, Jonathan David offers movement across the front, and Chico Conceicao can attack fullbacks directly. Weston McKennie and Khéphren Thuram also give them legs in midfield, which matters against a Milan side that can become dangerous when games open up.
The absences are manageable. Arkadiusz Milik remains out, while Filip Kostic has also been listed as unavailable. That removes some depth, but Juventus still have enough in the final third. From a betting perspective, the away side is more interesting on the draw no bet or -0.25 Asian handicap than the straight 3-way moneyline, because this match has a narrow-margin feel.
AC Milan Betting Form
Milan got the response they needed against Verona, but this is still a team that has been uneven lately. The Verona win was important because it stopped the bleeding, and the clean sheet helped, but Milan have also had recent home issues. A 0-3 loss to Udinese at San Siro is still fresh enough to matter for bettors.
The attacking setup has quality, of course. Rafael Leão can still change the game with one carry, Christian Pulisic gives Milan sharp movement in the final third, and Adrien Rabiot has been a useful late-season midfield presence. Milan can create from wide areas, but against Juventus, the question is whether they can create clean chances rather than just territory.
The injury picture is a concern. Ruben Loftus-Cheek is out, while Fikayo Tomori and Strahinja Pavlovic have also been listed out or unavailable. That weakens Milan’s defensive structure and removes some physical presence, especially in a match where Juventus can attack through direct wide play and second balls. Milan at +0.25 has some logic at home, but it is hard to fully trust them against this Juventus defensive run.
Juventus vs AC Milan Matchup Breakdown
This matchup sets up as a control game more than a shootout. Milan should have stretches where they carry possession at home, but Juventus are comfortable without the ball. That makes this tricky for Milan because they may have more of the ball without necessarily generating the better chances.
Juventus will likely look to stay compact, close central lanes, and then attack quickly through Yildiz, Conceicao, and David. That is where Milan’s defensive absences matter. If Milan lose structure in transition, Juventus have enough speed and technical quality to punish those gaps.
Set pieces and second balls could be huge. These matches often turn into long stretches of low-risk possession, then suddenly one delivery, one rebound, or one defensive mistake decides the market. Bettors comparing the 3-way moneyline, Asian handicap, and total can use a broader soccer betting guide to understand why protection against the draw matters in a match this tight.
The table context also points toward caution. Both teams want three points, but neither side can afford to lose ground in the Champions League race. That can create a strange game state. The first 20 minutes may be aggressive, then the match could settle into a chess match if neither side breaks through early.
Juventus vs AC Milan Predictions and Best Bets
I lean slightly toward Juventus, but I do not want to chase the 3-way moneyline in a rivalry match with this much draw risk. Juventus are in better recent form, they are defending at a higher level, and their attacking pieces match up well against a Milan back line dealing with absences. Still, winning at San Siro is never simple.
The better side angle is Juventus -0.25. If Juventus win, the bet cashes. If the match ends level, only half the stake is lost. That protection matters because a 0-0 or 1-1 draw is very live. I think Juventus are more likely to create the cleaner moments, but the price should respect how tight this fixture usually is.
The total leans Under. Recent meetings between these teams have been low-event, Juventus are in strong defensive form, and Milan may be more cautious because of their own defensive injuries. This does not feel like a spot where either manager wants the game to become stretched too early.
A 1-0 Juventus win or a 1-1 draw feels like the most realistic range. Milan have enough individual talent to score, but Juventus are the more stable team right now. For me, the best value is backing Juventus with a small layer of draw protection.
Best Bet: Juventus -0.25 (+118).
Serie A Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
Serie A betting this late in the season is all about motivation, lineup strength, and price discipline. Bettors can compare today’s soccer picks and broader soccer betting angles before locking into a side, spread, or total.
ScoresAndStats gives bettors a way to compare experts instead of relying on one opinion. You can review top sports handicappers, track long-term performance on the handicapper leaderboard, and see which handicappers are strongest across soccer markets and betting styles.
For bettors who want more than free analysis, premium soccer picks can help identify stronger positions across the full card. A match like Juventus vs AC Milan is exactly where price matters. The teams are close, the market is tight, and the best bet may be the one that protects against the most likely game script.
Inter head to Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino on Sunday for a Serie A match that still carries title-race weight, even after Napoli’s win on Friday delayed any early celebrations. Torino sit 12th and have climbed into safer mid-table ground since Roberto D’Aversa took over in February, while Inter come in first with a nine-point lead and the chance to move 12 clear with only four league games left if they win here. That is the pressure point. Torino are trying to prove the recent recovery is real, and Inter know one more professional road result puts the Scudetto almost completely out of reach.
The recent form is interesting because Torino are not collapsing into this spot. They are unbeaten in their last three league matches under D’Aversa and have taken seven points from wins over Pisa and Verona plus a draw at Cremonese. Inter, though, still look like the deeper and more reliable side. They just reached the Coppa Italia final after that dramatic comeback against Como, they have scored a league-high 78 goals, and they are still carrying the best overall away defensive xG profile in Serie A. So this is not just a “better team” angle. It is also a matchup where the away side’s season-long level remains much higher.
Inter vs Torino Odds
These are the current betting lines for this match, and bettors should always monitor the latest soccer odds before kickoff in case the market shifts on late team news. This is a 3-way moneyline market, with Inter installed as a solid road favorite.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inter | -250 | -1.5 (+100) | O 2.5 (-172) |
| Draw | +430 | N/A | N/A |
| Torino | +700 | +1.5 (-138) | U 2.5 (+140) |
Go Inside the Handicappers’ Playbook
All in one spot. Real-time line moves, sharp reads, and verified edges.
Inter Betting Form
Inter still bring the strongest statistical profile in the league into this match. They are winning 75% of their away matches, averaging 1.94 goals scored and just 0.88 conceded away from home, with 1.82 xG for and 1.02 xGA on the road. The possession number is high at 60%, the shot volume stays strong at 16.56 per match away, and they have failed to score in only 6% of league matches all season. That is why the market is willing to make them a road favorite even at Torino. The away floor is just very high.
The bigger question is availability and rotation. Lautaro Martinez remains out with a thigh issue, and Alessandro Bastoni is still a late fitness call because of the ankle problem, though he has not been ruled out. Even so, the projected XI still looks strong enough with Sommer behind a back three, Barella and Calhanoglu in midfield, and Thuram expected to lead the line alongside Francesco Pio Esposito. Inter do not look fully untouched, but they still look much deeper than Torino.
What I like from a betting perspective is that Inter are not relying on just one route to win. They can dominate possession, they can generate shots in volume, and they are still comfortable controlling lower-event road matches because the defensive structure travels. Even without Lautaro, this is a side that has enough midfield control and enough wide threat through Dumfries and Dimarco to keep Torino pinned back for stretches
Torino Betting Form
Torino deserve a little more credit than the table alone suggests. Since the coaching change, they have stabilized, and the last three league matches show why: a 4-1 win over Parma, a 1-0 win at Pisa, a 2-1 win over Verona, and then the 0-0 draw at Cremonese last weekend. That said, the broader profile is still modest. Torino average only 1.12 goals per match, with 1.29 xG and 1.51 xGA overall, and they have already conceded 54 league goals this season. For a team facing Inter, that margin is thin.
At home, the numbers are slightly better. Torino generate 1.37 xG and 4.38 shots on target per match at home, which at least gives them a fighting chance if they can keep this game level into the second half. But they are still not an especially explosive side, and the probable front two of Giovanni Simeone and Ché Adams depend heavily on Nikola Vlasic finding space underneath. If Inter can take that away, Torino’s attack becomes much more blunt.
The team news leans against Torino a bit, too. Duvan Zapata may return to the bench, which helps the depth and late-match physicality, but Tino Anjorin and Zakaria Aboukhlal remain out. That matters because Torino are already a side with a relatively low attacking ceiling, and losing extra midfield and wide support makes it harder to sustain pressure if they fall behind.
Inter vs Torino Matchup Breakdown
This match is really about whether Torino can force Inter into a slower, more physical script. Torino’s best path is not an open exchange. It is sitting in the 3-4-1-2, staying compact, winning second balls, and asking Vlasic to connect counters into Simeone and Adams. Inter, on the other hand, are built to control these matches with possession, territory, and repeated wing-back pressure. They average far more possession than Torino and allow the best away xGA in the league, so the burden is on the home side to find a different kind of game.
The shot profile pushes the same way. Inter are taking 17.64 shots per match on the season and 16.56 away, while Torino sit at 11.7 overall. Torino can absolutely be competitive in moments, but they do not create enough consistently to make me think they can trade chances with Inter for 90 minutes. If you like weighing that kind of style-versus-price angle, the soccer betting guide is useful because this is exactly the sort of matchup where team identity matters more than a quick glance at recent scores
The market is also telling you this expects Inter control, but maybe not a complete blowout. Inter opened around -264 with the spread at -1.5 and the total sitting at 2.5, with the over juiced. That reads like a game where the book expects Inter to do most of the attacking, but it is still respecting Torino’s recent improvement enough not to push the total any higher. I think that is fair. Torino are better organized now, just not dangerous enough often enough to make the underdog price appealing.
Inter vs Torino Predictions and Best Bets
My first lean is Inter on the side. The gap in quality is obvious, but the more important gap is reliability. Inter’s away profile is still elite, their xGA away is the best in Serie A, and they have too many different ways to take over this match. Torino are improved under D’Aversa, and I do think that part is real, but this is a big step up in class from Pisa, Verona, or Cremonese.
The spread is where the decision gets a little trickier. Inter -1.5 is absolutely live because Torino have conceded heavily over the full season and Inter already opened the campaign by hammering them 5-0. But Torino are more stable now, and D’Aversa has at least gotten the structure back to something respectable. So while I lean toward Inter covering, I think the moneyline is safer and the better bet in pure pricing terms is probably tied to the total rather than the side margin.
On the total, I lean over 2.5. Inter average 2.36 goals scored per match overall and 1.94 away, Torino have conceded 54 times in the league, and the game state could get stretched if the visitors score first because Torino cannot really sit on a one-goal deficit forever. I do not need Torino to do much for this to get there. A 2-1 or 3-0 type of Inter win would be enough, and both feel more plausible than a truly cagey 1-0 grind.
There is always some risk that Inter manage this more conservatively with one eye on the finish line, especially after the emotional cup comeback. Still, the combination of Inter’s shot volume, Torino’s defensive issues across the full season, and the market shading toward goals makes the total my favorite angle.
Best Bet: Over 2.5 (-172).
Serie A Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you are betting the Italian board regularly, it helps to compare more than one view before locking in a card. The today’s Serie A picks page is a strong place to start because these late-season matches carry very different motivations, and the best betting angle is not always the obvious favorite or the obvious total.
The bigger edge is transparency. You can compare top sports handicappers, check the handicapper leaderboard, and see who is actually producing over time rather than just riding one good weekend. That matters in Serie A, where title-race matches, survival games, and mid-table spots all behave differently in the market.
And if you want a stronger card than the free board offers, premium soccer picks are there for that next step. For a match like Inter against Torino, where motivation, squad depth, and game script all point in the same direction, having a few trusted opinions before kickoff is usually a better process than forcing one quick read.
