NBA

• The Heat are lending plenty of credence to the idea that the regular season is mostly insignificant, at least for proven, battle-tested teams. After finishing the regular season with a negative point differential, Miami is now just a game from the Eastern Conference Finals. NBA teams typically need their key players to thrive in order to win in the postseason, and that’s what occurred last night, as Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo combined for 50 points in this contest. Winning Game 5 will be difficult, but the Heat should have their spot secured in the next round by late Friday night, following Game 6.
• The Knicks have found a high level of success on the glass in the playoffs, but the team’s edge has disappeared a bit as this series has gone on. Yesterday, New York was out-rebounded, 44-35, and that can’t happen if the Knicks wish to advance, as the team relies on outworking its opponent. RJ Barrett was decent in this game, but the Knicks need more out of the Quentin Grimes-Josh Hart duo in Game 5, which should be intense.

MLB

• Tigers 6, Guardians 2
  • Things got away from the Tigers last season in the club’s 96-loss campaign, but on the back of some respectable pitching, Detroit is in the thick of the AL Central race. Lurking in second place, the Tigers have won seven of 10.
  • Cleveland hasn’t hit well, and that’s a result of numerous players underperforming. Fortunately for the Guardians, there’s plenty of time to right the ship and erase the club’s 3.0 game deficit to the Twins.
• Rays 3, Orioles 0
  • Shane McClanahan is a stud. Tampa Bay’s ace was excellent in his first two seasons as a big leaguer, but he’s taken his game to a whole new level this year, registering a 7-0 record and a 1.76 ERA. The Rays are ridiculous.
• Pirates 2, Rockies 0
  • Pittsburgh entered yesterday with a seven-game losing streak, so it was good for the club that Mitch Keller was on the bump to serve as a stopper for the skid. Keller is legitimately strong piece for Pittsburgh — a pleasant surprise following a rough start to his career.
• Yankees 7, Athletics 2
  • In a tough season for Oakland, Esteury Ruiz has been a fun bright spot. Ruiz had zero career stolen bases entering 2023, but already has 17 this season. The speedster’s pace probably won’t keep up, but if Ruiz continues to get regular playing time, I can see him swiping 60 bags.
• Royals 12, White Sox 5
  • Plenty has gone wrong for the White Sox so far this year, but Dylan Cease continuing to get drilled may be the worst development. Cease shockingly has a 5.58 ERA and 1.51 WHIP — figures far worse than what we have come accustomed to seeing from Chicago’s ace.