It was another packed weekend on the sports calendar, with baseball heating up, the NBA and NHL playoffs underway, and the NFL draft now just days away in Pittsburgh.
In Major League Baseball, the Pittsburgh Pirates continued their strong early-season play with a 6-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Pittsburgh has been one of baseball’s pleasant surprises through the opening weeks, showing strong pitching and a much-improved offense.
The Philadelphia Phillies, meanwhile, dropped a 4-2 decision to the Atlanta Braves. Philadelphia entered the season with high expectations but has stumbled out of the gate, making for a disappointing start for a club expected to contend in the National League.
The Baltimore Orioles also continue to search for traction after an 8-4 loss to the Cleveland Guardians. Like the Phillies, Baltimore is expected to be a contender.
The Washington Nationals were one of the region’s bright spots Sunday, blanking the San Francisco Giants 3-0.
Elsewhere around the majors, the New York Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals 7-0, the Toronto Blue Jays routed the Arizona Diamondbacks 10-4, and the Colorado Rockies stunned the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-6.
In the NHL playoffs, the Philadelphia Flyers carry a 1-0 series lead into tonight’s Game 2 against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh after opening with a 3-2 win. It marks Philadelphia’s first playoff appearance in six seasons, adding extra energy to the renewed cross-state rivalry.
Other Stanley Cup results saw the Colorado Avalanche beat the Los Angeles Kings 2-1, the Buffalo Sabres edge the Boston Bruins 4-3, and the Vegas Golden Knights defeat the Utah Mammoth 4-2.
In the NBA playoffs, the Boston Celtics handled the Philadelphia 76ers 123-91 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference series. The Sixers will try to even the matchup tomorrow night in Boston while trailing 1-0.
Other NBA winners included the Orlando Magic over the Detroit Pistons 112-101, the San Antonio Spurs over the Portland Trail Blazers 111-98, and the Oklahoma City Thunder over the Phoenix Suns 119-84.
Finally, after months of nonstop speculation since the Super Bowl ended in February, the NFL Draft finally begins Thursday night in Pittsburgh. The Las Vegas Raiders hold the first overall pick and are widely expected to select Fernando Mendoza of the national champion Indiana University Hoosiers.
Source: MLB, NHL, NBA, The Athletic