Dec 21, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
Are you excited to see what plan of action the Minnesota Vikings concoct at quarterback? If so, the verdict could arrive sooner rather than later if head coach + de facto personnel general manager Kevin O’Connell uses a trade for his next quarterback. Splashy trades have occurred in the NFL, well, right about now on the calendar.
The calendar has produced real QB deals in this stretch before, and Minnesota’s situation makes an early move feel realistic.
If O’Connell, interim general manager Rob Brzezinski, and Brian Flores pull the trigger on a quarterback trade, news of the deal doesn’t have to wait until March.
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The NFL Calendar Has Precedent for QB Trades … Right Now
Yes, trades are basically fair game in January and February.
Kansas City Chiefs general manager John Dorsey stands with quarterback Alex Smith and head coach Andy Reid at a press conference, captured on Mar 13, 2013, in Kansas City. The image marks Smith’s arrival via trade, introducing Reid’s new quarterback and signaling a reset for the franchise’s leadership direction. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
The January and February Trade Examples
On January 30th, 2018, the Kansas City Chiefs ended the Alex Smith era via trade to the Washington Commanders, leaning full tilt into Patrick Mahomes, a decision that would net three Super Bowl trophies and counting. Smith attempted to latch on to the Commanders, but that didn’t really pan out.
On January 30th, 2021, the Los Angeles Rams conducted an NFL landscape-changing deal by shipping Jared Goff and draft picks to the Detroit Lions for Matthew Stafford. The swap changed each team and the league forever, culminating in a Rams’ Super Bowl triumph one year later. Goff became a Top 12 quarterback in Detroit, whisking that then-sad franchise back to relevance.
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On February 18, 2021, the Indianapolis Colts attempted to put their foot down, hoping to solve the quarterback spot once and for all by acquiring Carson Wentz from the Philadelphia Eagles for draft picks.
All these deals happened [checks notes] right now on the calendar. There’s no rule stating teams must wait on the trade framework until March. O’Connell can wheel and deal right now if he chooses.
For the Vikings, Why Wait?
Unless Minnesota has sights set on a free agent, like Malik Willis, there’s no reason to wait to work the trade phones. Of course, nobody is absolutely sure if the Vikings prefer to swing for the fences at quarterback or if a veteran backup like Jimmy Garoppolo or Case Keenum would do the trick.
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If O’Connell wants the former option — obtaining a big name to compete with McCarthy or flatly takes his job — he may want to act now. Between the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets, and Vikings, a new quarterback might be on the menu for all three teams, especially if Aaron Rodgers retires.
In that vein, for whichever passer Minnesota has in mind, it’s better to agree to trade terms now — like Smith, Stafford, Goff, and Wentz — than to wait until free agency or the draft. The early bird gets the worm.
Code for Kyler Murray?
So, what exactly are we talking about here? It could be an obvious code for Kyler Murray.
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The Cardinals have reportedly reached the end of the road with the 28-year-old, hiring a new head coach last week and likely wanting a fresh start after Murray took Arizona to the postseason just once in seven years. Think of it this way: if the Vikings had the same QB1 since 2019 and the club reached the playoffs one time, wouldn’t you want them to try something different?
That’s where the Cardinals are entering the 2026 offseason.
Because Murray’s stock is low and his contract is fat, the team that trades for him can probably ship a 2nd- or 3rd-Rounder to the desert and call it good. Why not the Vikings? Why not in February?
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray reacts following the final whistle at State Farm Stadium, shown on Dec 8, 2019, after a loss to Pittsburgh. The moment captures postgame frustration during a turbulent season, reflecting the emotional swings of a young quarterback adjusting to NFL speed, scrutiny, and late-game pressure. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Bleacher Report‘sDoric Sam noted on a Murray trade last week, “The relationship between Arizona and franchise quarterback Kyler Murray became strained during Jonathan Gannon’s tenure. Murray was limited to just five games this past season due to a foot injury, and there has been rampant speculation that he could be parting ways with the Cardinals this offseason.”
“ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss reported last month that ‘multiple sources’ said that Murray’s ‘trade value increased’ following Oregon quarterback Dante Moore’s announcement that he was returning to the Ducks. The Cardinals could wipe the slate clean for LaFleur by shipping away the 2019 No. 1 pick if they get an offer they can’t refuse.”
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Non-Murray Candidates
If Murray is not Minnesota’s trade target, there are two lists. Here’s the realistic one of quarterback options:
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson kneels in prayer on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium, framed on Dec 22, 2024, following a matchup with Tennessee. The scene conveys reflection and composure after competition, highlighting Richardson’s leadership presence and personal routine amid a demanding season and public spotlight. Mandatory Credit: Grace Hollars/USA Today Network via Imagn Images
And the dream-big list, courtesy of starry-eyed Vikings fans:
Baker Mayfield
Joe Burrow
Justin Herbert
Lamar Jackson
It’s worth noting that Murray lives right in the middle of these lists — probably why he’s inside Minnesota’s rumor mill at a fever pitch.
Overall, remember that a would-be Vikings quarterback trade could hit your phone notifications at any minute.
One of the most eagerly awaited fixtures of the Premier League season is set to take place on Sunday, as league leaders Arsenal make the trip to face Manchester City in a high-stakes title showdown at the Etihad Stadium.
The result of this clash could have a significant impact on how the title race unfolds. A win for City would bring them within three points of Arsenal, with the added advantage of a game in hand. On the other hand, an Arsenal victory would extend their lead to nine points, creating a sizeable gap at the top. Even a draw would work in favour of the Gunners as they look to maintain control of the standings.
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Manchester City head into the contest with strong momentum, currently on a three-match winning run that includes a triumph over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final, followed by convincing victories against Liverpool and Chelsea. Their recent form makes them slight favourites going into this encounter.
Arsenal, however, have hit a rough patch in recent weeks, losing three of their last five matches. Their struggles in front of goal have added to the concern, and they will be eager to respond with a composed performance as they chase a long-awaited Premier League title.
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Manchester City Team News
Manchester City’s injury concerns are limited to their defense, with Pep Guardiola missing three center-backs ahead of Arsenal’s visit. Joško Gvardiol, John Stones, and Rúben Dias are all sidelined, so Abdukodir Khusanov is expected to line up alongside Marc Guéhi again on Sunday.
Nico O’Reilly had been a minor concern after coming off early in last weekend’s win over Chelsea, but Guardiola has confirmed the youngster is fit to play. As a result, the manager is unlikely to alter the lineup that won at Stamford Bridge, especially with the team benefiting from a free midweek after their Champions League exit.
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Arsenal Team News
Arsenal would prefer to head to Manchester at full strength, but several key players are unavailable. Bukayo Saka is the most notable absentee due to an Achilles problem, while Mikel Merino remains sidelined with a long-term foot injury.
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Riccardo Calafiori, Jurriën Timber, and Martin Ødegaard have all missed recent games, though Mikel Arteta has suggested that some could return for the clash at the Etihad. Noni Madueke, who was forced off early in midweek with a minor issue, is also in the mix to feature.
Kai Havertz may be brought into the starting lineup following another underwhelming display from Viktor Gyökeres, while Cristhian Mosquera is expected to keep his place at right-back.
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Manchester City vs Arsenal probable starting eleven:
Manchester City starting 11: Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Guéhi, O’Reilly; Rodri, Silva; Semenyo, Cherki, Doku; Haaland.
Emma Finucane added more gold in the women’s sprint, and won silver in the team event with Rhianna Parris-Smith and Lauren Bell.
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Finucane dominated the sprint event, securing a 2-0 win over Mina Sato in the final, and also won bronze in the women’s keirin.
Richardson took silver in Paris in 2024 while racing for Australia before switching to race for Great Britain.
Olympic champion Harrie Lavreysen of the Netherlands was only fifth in Hong Kong as Richardson beat Kaiya Ota of Japan in the final.
Erin Boothman, making her international track debut, won silver in the women’s madison alongside Maddie Leech, who also picked up silver in the team pursuit.
Jofra Archer struck with the first ball of the second innings to equal a record held by Mohammed Shami during Rajasthan Royals’ IPL 2026 match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens on Sunday.Opening the bowling for Rajasthan Royals, Archer bowled KKR opener Tim Seifert for a golden duck with the first delivery of KKR’s innings. With this, Archer now has five wickets on the first ball of an IPL innings, matching Shami’s record.He had also taken wickets on the opening ball in RR’s previous two matches — against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 10 and Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 13 — dismissing Phil Salt and Abhishek Sharma respectively.Wickets off the first ball of an IPL innings (most):
5 – Mohammed Shami
5 – Jofra Archer
Earlier, after winning the toss, Rajasthan Royals chose to bat. Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine combined to take five wickets and restricted RR to 155 for nine.It could have been worse for RR had KKR not conceded ground in the power play.Rajasthan made a strong start, reaching 63 without loss as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored at over 10 runs per over against the pace attack.The match changed after spin was introduced. Sooryavanshi hit Narine for a six off his second ball, but Narine followed it with five dot deliveries. Chakravarthy then dismissed Sooryavanshi with his fourth ball, completing his 200th T20 wicket. The batter was caught by Ramandeep Singh at deep midwicket.Rajasthan Royals slipped from a strong position to 118 for four in 15 overs, with the run rate dropping below eight.
Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II reacts after securing an interception in the second half against the Los Angeles Rams at Lucas Oil Stadium, with the moment unfolding on Oct 1, 2023 in Indianapolis. The defensive play sparked energy for the Colts, though the game ultimately extended into overtime and ended in a narrow loss. Mandatory Credit: Jenna Watson-USA TODAY Sports.
The NFL draft will get cracking in four days, and with the event so close you can taste, we take one final look at the weekend rumor mill before showtime.
Minnesota has roster questions to solve, and the rumor mill keeps supplying new angles.
The Minnesota Vikings have a handful of roster needs in mid-April and nine picks to address them.
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Three Late-April Storylines for the Vikings’ Next Moves
The Purple Rumor Mill for Sunday, April 19th.
Elon punter Matt Yurk sets up for a kick during team action, continuing his development as a specialist during the fall campaign, with the sequence taking place during the 2025 season at Elon University. Yurk builds consistency and hang time while drawing attention as a potential NFL prospect for the 2026 draft cycle. Mandatory Credit: Brad Puckett-ElonPhoenix.com.
Rumor: Don’t rule out a rookie punter for the Vikings.
Punter chatter has stayed quiet since Minnesota signed Johnny Hekker in March, but the team will still put in its rookie homework.
NBC Sports’ Ryan Fowler tweeted Thursday, “The Minnesota Vikings will hold a private workout with Elon punter Jeff Yurk tomorrow morning, per source. The FCS’ all-time leader in yards per punt and a two-time first-team FCS All-American, Yurk averaged 58.6 yards per punt at Hula a few months back.”
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And there you have it. Minnesota provided a special teams clue for next Thursday’s draft. A punter is in play, even if the new guy might come from undrafted free agency.
Yurk likely won’t require a draft pick; he profiles as a post-draft addition through undrafted free agency. If Minnesota wants to stir competition at punter, Georgia’s Brett Thorson would enter the mix as the top prospect in the class. Some pundits expect Thorson to be picked in the middle rounds, believe it or not.
Rumor: The Vikings are a trade landing spot for cornerback Kenny Moore II.
Credible reporting suggested this week that the Indianapolis Colts would trade Moore II, and it didn’t take long for Minnesota to make the cut as a possible landing spot, courtesy of SI.com‘s Albert Breer.
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Breer wrote, “As for potential landing spots, I think Dallas would be one, with the nickel being an important piece in new coordinator Christian Parker’s defense and the Cowboys having a hole after Jourdan Lewis’s departure to the Jaguars last year. The Vikings are another potential fit, with Moore’s versatility meshing, at least on paper, with how DC Brian Flores builds his defense.”
“Those teams being in the NFC should also make them likely suitors, assuming Indy would rather not help out a conference rival. Moore, who will turn 31 in August, is in a contract year, so that’ll drive down his value some. But if the price was a Day 3 pick on the higher end, and I had a need like Dallas and Minnesota, I’d probably do it.”
Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II jumps the route and returns an interception for a touchdown during first-quarter action at Nissan Stadium, with the play unfolding on Sep 21, 2025 in Nashville. The defensive score sparks momentum early as Moore showcases instincts and playmaking ability against a division opponent. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images.
Do the Vikings need Moore II? Not really — unless the plan leans into a much deeper cornerback room than last year’s thin setup.
Right now, the group includes Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, James Pierre, Dwight McGlothern, and Zemaiah Vaughn. That unit could use a dependable CB4, but Moore II probably sits above that kind of role.
Rumor: Adam Thielen is eyeing the booth for his next career move.
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Vikings.com’s Rob Kleifield reported Thielen’s next career path this week, noting, “Last month, the Vikings organization celebrated the amazing careers of C.J. Ham and Adam Thielen. This month, Thielen took a baby step toward what could wind up being a focus in his life after football. Thielen was one of 24 players who got ‘suited and booted’ for the NFL’s annual broadcasting and media workshop in Los Angeles last week.”
“Thielen was picked from a pool of 90 applicants, and he participated alongside the likes of LB Demario Davis and WR Brandin Cooks. Alumni of the workshop include All-Pro Maurice Jones-Drew, as well as Super Bowl Champions Jason McCourty and Jason Kelce. Thielen sounded hesitant about a career in media during his retirement ceremony, alluding to the frequent traveling, but he stated his desire to be involved with the game in whatever is next.”
This sounds right up Thielen’s alley, truth be told.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen moves through pregame warmups at U.S. Bank Stadium, preparing for kickoff as the home crowd fills in, with the moment captured on Dec 24, 2022 in Minneapolis. The veteran receiver goes through routine drills ahead of a late-season matchup against the New York Giants. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.
The Athletic’s Vic Tafur on the details of Broadcast Bootcamp: “It’s tough to get a spot at the workshop, which was first held in 2007. There were 90 applicants for 24 spots in this year’s program. Each player was asked to answer questions to make sure this is something he is serious about and then asked to submit reels.”
“Some players sent in old interviews at their lockers. They were told this was their chance to be their own content creator and their reels should reflect what they want to do in the space. After the reels were screened, players were ranked 1-90, with no clear-cut criteria.”
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Kleifield even teased Thielen doing some Vikings draft content next week.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 06: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks dunks against Dyson Daniels #5 and Gabe Vincent #4 of the Atlanta Hawks during the first quarter at State Farm Arena on April 06, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The New York Knicks made a good start to their playoff run, beating the Atlanta Hawks 113-102 to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Jalen Brunson led the way with 28 points and seven assists, setting the tone early with 22 of those points coming in the first half. Karl-Anthony Towns took over after the break, finishing with 25 points, while OG Anunoby added 18. Josh Hart filled in everywhere, contributing 11 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and three steals.
The Knicks were sharper at the free throw line, outscoring Atlanta 25-12, and made better use of their depth. Their bench gave them energy and helped them maintain control.
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Defensively, New York tightened up as the game went on. The third quarter proved decisive, with the Knicks limiting the Hawks’ rhythm, forcing turnovers, and making scoring difficult. Even when Atlanta found success from three, they struggled to get consistent.
After the game, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder pointed out what his team needs to improve.
“The formula for us and our identity has been to run and move the ball… we need to do more of it.”
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Game 1 goes to the Knicks, who now have the early advantage as the series moves forward.
With needs on both sides of the ball, the Giants can now take care of the offense and defense with blue-chip prospects inside the top 10 of the draft later this week.
And that’s exactly what we have them doing in our new mock draft in the wake of the Lawrence trade with the Bengals.
“Staying at No. 5, the three players who seem to be most squarely on their radar are Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles and (Ohio State safety Caleb) Downs,” Raanan wrote.
Styles is a freak athlete with sideline-to-sideline speed and great length. He’s a strong tackler, good in run defense and has shown elite skills in coverage after posting an 87.4 Pro Football Focus grade in that area last season.
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The Ohio State product can wear the green dot and will be a leader in New York’s defense for a decade.
“I think Jordyn Tyson goes much higher than earlier expected,” ESPN’s Matt Miller said. “Teams are comfortable with the INJ history. Conversation for him starts at 5 but he’s off the board no later than 16.”
If not for his injury history, Tyson would likely be the undisputed No. 1 receiver in this class. The 6-foot-2, 203-pound pass-catcher can line up anywhere on the field, is a polished route-runner and can even block.
After losing Wan’Dale Robinson in free agency, the Giants need another weapon for quarterback Jaxson Dart across from star wideout Malik Nabers. Not only would Tyson check that box, he could very well provide an upgrade over Robinson.
Round 2, Pick 37: DT Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
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kayden mcdonald
The loss of Lawrence will leave a void in the middle of the Giants’ defense, hurting both the pass-rush and run defense. Making matters worse, New York was already weak upfront, even with Lawrence on the roster.
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While McDonald isn’t much of a pass-rusher, he showed improvement in that area last season with a career-high three sacks. He really shines as a run defender, with the Ohio State product posting the best PFF grade in the nation in run defense.
Once viewed as a first-round pick, the belief is most teams now have him with a second-round grade because of his lack of pass-rush prowess.
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That’s just fine for the Giants, as McDonald can provide the kind of boost to the run defense from Day 1 that New York needs.
The loss of Cor’Dale Flott leaves the Giants with a big void after the team failed to adequately address the position in free agency, leaving a potential starting duo of Paulson Adebo and uninspiring free-agent signing Greg Newsome outside.
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After taking a step back in 2024, Davis rebounded with a strong showing after he transferred to Washington. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound cornerback gave up a passer rating of just 50.6 in coverage, notched a personal bests two interceptions and he showed out in the run game with an impressive PFF grade of 81.8.
Davis can offer some competition for Newsome on the boundary, and it’s not crazy to think he could win that competition in Year 1.
Tournament: Bavarian International Tennis Championships
Round: Final
Venue: MTTC Iphitos e.V. tennis club in Munich, Germany
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Category: ATP 500
Surface: Clay
Prize Money: €2,561,110
Live Telecast: USA – Tennis Channel | UK – Sky Sports | Canada – TSN
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Ben Shelton vs Flavio Cobolli preview
Shelton pictured at the 2026 BMW Open | Image Source: Getty
Second seed Ben Shelton will face off against fourth seed Flavio Cobolli in the final of the 2026 BMW Open on Sunday, April 19.
Shelton started his season with a quarterfinal run at the ASB Classic and followed it up with another quarterfinal finish at the Australian Open, where he lost to Jannik Sinner. He then went on to win the Dallas Open and reached the quarterfinals in Houston before arriving in Munich. There, he defeated Emilio Nava, Alexander Blockx, Joao Fonseca, and Alex Molcan 6-3, 6-4 to reach the final.
Cobolli pictured at the 2026 BMW Open | Image Source: Getty
Meanwhile, Cobolli’s standout result this season is his title run at the Mexican Open. He also made the semifinals of the Delray Beach Open, losing to Sebastian Korda, but hasn’t had many other notable results. In Munich, he beat Diego Dedura, Zizou Bergs, Vit Kopriva, and Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-3 to set up a clash with Shelton.
Ben Shelton vs Flavio Cobolli head-to-head
Shelton leads Cobolli 3–2 in their head-to-head. Cobolli won their first two meetings in Geneva and Washington in 2024, while Shelton has taken the last three in Acapulco, the Canadian Open, and the Paris Masters in 2025.
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Ben Shelton vs Flavio Cobolli odds
Player
Moneyline
Handicap Bets
Total Games
Ben Shelton
-525
-4.5 (-105)
Over 21.5 (-115)
Flavio Cobolli
+360
+4.5 (-140)
Under 21.5 (-125)
(Odds via BetMGM)
Ben Shelton vs Flavio Cobolli prediction
Shelton plays with clear intent. The serve sets the tone, the forehand follows, and he looks to finish points before rallies really take shape. When he’s confident, everything happens quickly and on his terms.
Cobolli is more about structure and balance. He moves well, absorbs pace, and is comfortable building points rather than rushing them. He’s willing to stay in rallies and wait for openings instead of forcing them.
The key is whether Shelton can keep control early. If he’s landing first serves and dictating with his forehand, Cobolli may struggle to settle. But if rallies extend, Cobolli’s consistency and movement can start to make things uncomfortable. The American’s firepower gives him the edge, but he’ll need to stay disciplined to avoid letting the match drift.
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Pick: Shelton to win in straight sets.
Ben Shelton vs Flavio Cobolli betting tips
Tip 1: The match will have over 21 games.
Tip 2: Shelton to win at least one set with a score of 7-5 or better.
Apr 14, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser (17) reacts to an inside pitch during the eighth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
There was a glaring lack of contact from Baltimore Orioles’ hitters on Saturday.
The Orioles had four hits — two of them homers — while striking out a stunning 16 times.
Baltimore will look to have their bats smack the ball more often in Sunday’s finale of a four-game series against the host Cleveland Guardians.
The Guardians have won two of the first three games, including Saturday’s 4-2 victory when right-hander Gavin Williams dominated the Orioles.
Williams struck out 11 in seven innings and allowed one run, three hits and one walk. He leads the majors with 40 strikeouts.
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“That’s not the biggest goal for me,” Williams said of the strikeouts. “I’m just trying to help the team win games. It’s cool, but I don’t think it’s necessary to have to punch that many people out. I’m just trying to win games.”
Meanwhile, Baltimore’s Pete Alonso and Colton Cowser struck out in all four at-bats and Dylan Beavers fanned three times on Saturday.
That breeze inside the ballpark wasn’t necessarily coming from the nearby lake.
Orioles manager Craig Albernaz pointed to Williams’ dominance as the reason for Alonso and Cowser’s difficulties.
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“They couldn’t see the breaking ball early enough to either make an adjustment or hold off on it,” Albernaz said.
Alonzo was the club’s marquee offseason acquisition and signed a five-year, $155 million contract. But so far, he has fizzled with a .208 average, two homers and eight RBIs to go with 26 strikeouts in 78 at-bats.
Cowser has yet to go deep and is batting .178 with 16 strikeouts in 45 at-bats. The fifth overall pick in the 2021 draft continues to struggle with big-league pitching.
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“Colton, he’s our guy, and he has to figure it out how he wants to approach guys and what he’s trying to feel,” Albernaz said. “But with Colton at the plate, he’s dangerous. He’s a guy where, if he’s not feeling great, he can still get one pitch and do damage on, and that’s something where we feel very confident in.”
Leody Taveras and Gunnar Henderson hit the homers for Baltimore’s runs.
All of Cleveland’s runs also came on homers on Saturday. Brayan Rocchio smacked a three-run homer and Bo Naylor hit a solo blast.
Rocchio said a more patient approach is paying off for him. He has three homers in 63 at-bats after having five in 344 at-bats in 2025.
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“That’s impressive for me, too,” Rocchio said. “Last year, I was struggling at hitting. Now I’m able to help the team with my at-bats and to see more pitches is pretty cool.”
Left-hander Joey Cantillo (1-0, 2.61 ERA) will start the finale for the Guardians.
Cantillo, 26, received a no-decision against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday when he gave up two runs and five hits over six innings. Both runs came on solo homers.
Cantillo is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in four appearances (two starts) against Baltimore. Cowser is 2-for-4 with one strikeout against Cantillo.
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Left-hander Trevor Rogers (2-1, 3.04) will take the mound for Baltimore.
Rogers, 28, was roughed up by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday and took the loss. He gave up four runs and nine hits over 4 2/3 innings.
Rogers is 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA in two career starts against the Guardians. Rhys Hoskins is 9-for-21 (.429) with four homers off Rogers while David Fry (1-for-4) also has taken him deep.
Atotal of 78 players from schools in the West have been taken in the Top 5 overall picks in the NFL Draft since it premiered in 1936.
USC leads the way with 20 top picks, followed by Stanford with 8, and Cal and Oregon with 7 each.
We have included UTEP on this list because, beginning in 2026, the Miners are playing in the Mountain West, and the City of El Paso is in a direct line with Albuquerque and west of Boulder, Fort Collins, and Cheyenne.
Here is a table of all the players from the region who have been drafted in the top five.
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There is a breakdown by program at the bottom.
Top 5 Overall NFL Draft Picks for Programs from the West
Apr 6, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; UConn Huskies guard Braylon Mullins (24) controls the ball against Michigan Wolverines guard Roddy Gayle Jr. (11) during the second half in the national championship of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament between the and the Michigan Wolverines at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
UConn’s sharp-shooting wing Braylon Mullins announced Saturday on social media that he is passing on entering the NBA draft and returning to the Huskies for his sophomore season.
Mullins, regarded as a first-round and possible lottery pick in the 2026 draft in June, made the announcement on Instagram on his 20th birthday.
The slender 6-foot-6 Mullins, a five-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American out of Greenfield, Ind., was a unanimous pick for the Big East All-Freshman Team after averaging 12.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 33 games after missing the first six with an ankle injury. He started 29 of UConn’s final 30 games.
His 72 3-pointers were second most for a freshman in UConn history. He shot 33.5% (72 of 215), with his most famous the shot of the NCAA Tournament.
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Mullins’ 35-footer with 0.3 seconds left beat Duke 73-72 in the Elite Eight, sending UConn to the Final Four. The Huskies (34-6) later lost 69-63 to No. 1 Michigan in the national championship game.
Earlier on Saturday, rising sophomore Nikolas Khamenia announced he was transferring from Duke. The 6-foot-8 wing joins a squad returning Mullins and point guard Silas Demary Jr., wing Jayden Ross, transfer Najai Hines (Seton Hall) and incoming freshmen Colben Landrew and Junior County.
UConn is waiting on guard Solo Ball to announce his plans and has lost forward Jaylin Stewart and center Eric Reibe to the transfer portal.
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