Deadspin | Tigers’ confidence renewed entering home series with Royals Apr 6, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle (7) fields a ground ball against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images The Detroit Tigers enjoyed a confidence-building weekend at home. They’ll try to keep the good vibes going when they host Central Division rival Kansas City in a three-game series that begins on Tuesday. The Tigers had lost five straight before the Miami Marlins headed north to Michigan for a three-game series. Detroit swept the series by a combined score of 16-3. “Collectively, you know, the sum of our parts is pretty good,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “Just because you lose a game or two doesn’t mean it defines you. … I trust this team and I believe in this team. It doesn’t shock or surprise me. And I hope it doesn’t shock or surprise anybody who follows us.” Most of their runs came via the long ball. Javier Baez hit a solo shot in the series opener. Riley Greene smashed his first home of the season, a three-run shot, on Saturday. Dillon Dingler, Kevin McGonigle and Kerry Carpenter went deep in Sunday’s 8-2 victory. It was the first career homer for rookie phenom McGonigle, who had three hits in the series finale to raise his average to .322. “It meant everything,” McGonigle said of the homer. “Especially doing it in front of this city. I love this place already and I’m looking forward to a long future here. I can’t believe I was able to do that in front of them.” McGonigle forced his way onto the team with a stellar spring. Hinch has moved the 21-year-old shortstop to the top of the lineup. “This is just who he is,” Hinch said. “I like that he’s settling into playing every day at this level. Things will normalize for him as the attention settles down.” Left-hander Framber Valdez (1-1, 4.76 ERA) will start the series opener for Detroit. Valdez gave up just one run in his first two outings, but he was lit up for eight runs and 10 hits in five innings at Minnesota in an 8-6 loss on Wednesday. Valdez is 2-3 with a 3.29 ERA in nine career outings against Kansas City. He’ll be opposed by Cole Ragans (0-3, 5.91), the first left-hander to start against the Tigers this season. Ragans was removed in the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday after taking a Jose Ramirez liner off his left hand. He avoided a serious injury, as he was diagnosed with a left thumb contusion. Ragans said he felt he could have stayed in the contest. “One of those things where it’s probably the right thing to do,” Ragans said. “But I think all of us as competitors, we want to play every chance we get. Obviously aggravating for me, just because I felt so good prior to that, and then something like that happens.” Ragans is 3-2 with a 3.64 ERA in six career outings against Detroit. Kansas City split a four-game series at home against the Chicago White Sox. The Royals lost the series finale on Sunday, 6-5. They had scored just seven runs in their previous five games. The offense has yet to find a spark. They’ll head to Detroit with a .221 team batting average. Sluggers Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez are both hitting .153. “I think just with both of them, they’re expanding a little bit more than what they normally do,” manager Matt Quatraro said. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Tigers #confidence #renewed #entering #home #series #Royals

Free Coby White.

While a February trade from Chicago to Charlotte allowed the North Carolina native to forge a fresh start with his non-toxic, home-state team, White still is aiming to escape the Eastern Conference play-in tournament.

Not to mention the Miami Heat, Chicago’s play-in foil for the past three seasons.

On Tuesday, White’s Hornets will host the Heat in the play-in opener, and White has a pulse on how to prevail.

“We’ve just got to use our pace,” he said. “It’ll be a tough game if we make it a half-court game. It plays into their favor because of all the weapons they have offensively, the length that they play with defensively, the physicality they play with. So, I think we’ve got to use our pace.”

Miami took the season series from Charlotte 3-1, with both meetings in South Beach coming before Nov. 7 amid the Hornets’ 4-14 start.

Charlotte entered a March 6 visit from the Heat at 32-31 and stuck around before losing 127-120. The Hornets put everything together 11 days later, coasting to a 136-106 victory as the Heat were without Bam Adebayo (right calf tightness) and fellow frontcourt starter Andrew Wiggins (toe).

Both teams navigated injuries down the stretch of the regular season but enter Tuesday in relatively good health. As with Charlotte against New York, Miami capitalized on facing a foe already in the East playoff field during Sunday’s regular-season finale. The Heat handled the Atlanta Hawks by 26 as 13 players saw the court.

“They’re a team that’s going to be obviously well-prepared,” White said. “They got a hell of a coach in Erik Spoelstra. So for us, we got to be honed into the details.”

Some cynics might say that Spoelstra’s star is tumbling as the Heat have been relegated to the play-in the past three seasons. Whatever the case, he boasts two NBA championships and four other Finals appearances since taking the reins in 2008-09.

Of course, that includes the 2022-23 Heat, who regrouped from a loss in the 7-8 game to defeat White and the Bulls and earn an official spot in the playoff draw. Eighth-seeded Miami upset Milwaukee, New York and Boston before bowing out to Denver in a five-game Finals.

For better or worse, Spoelstra knows the urgency of the play-in nearly as much as he does the Finals. In his experience, tackling the former doesn’t have to be formidable.

“You have to absolutely embrace it,” Spoelstra said. “It makes you feel alive, that’s for sure, if you’re a competitor.

“You don’t want the season to go the way it can to put you in the play-in, but once you’re in it, it’s exhilarating. You have to embrace the competition, embrace how every single possession really does matter.”

The Hornets need a victory on Tuesday and against the loser of Wednesday’s Orlando-Philadelphia game to advance to the East draw for the first time since 2016.

The Heat know the drill — both in the play-in and against the division rival Hornets. Charlotte features LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel and White among a horde of regulars who are comfortable with moving the ball and creating opportunities from long range.

“They play a lot faster at home, so obviously you’ve got to be aware of the shooters,” Adebayo said. “They run their offense with such a pace and sometimes it seems chaotic. You’ve got to be able to maintain through when they make runs or if it’s one of those big momentum swings, you’ve got to understand how we can settle and get back in the play.”

As Spoelstra can attest, anything can happen from there.

#Coby #White #Eyes #Breakthrough #Hornets #Face #Heat #Deadspin.com">

Coby White Eyes Breakthrough as Hornets Face Heat | Deadspin.com Free Coby White.While a February trade from Chicago to Charlotte allowed the North Carolina native to forge a fresh start with his non-toxic, home-state team, White still is aiming to escape the Eastern Conference play-in tournament.Not to mention the Miami Heat, Chicago’s play-in foil for the past three seasons.On Tuesday, White’s Hornets will host the Heat in the play-in opener, and White has a pulse on how to prevail.“We’ve just got to use our pace,” he said. “It’ll be a tough game if we make it a half-court game. It plays into their favor because of all the weapons they have offensively, the length that they play with defensively, the physicality they play with. So, I think we’ve got to use our pace.”Miami took the season series from Charlotte 3-1, with both meetings in South Beach coming before Nov. 7 amid the Hornets’ 4-14 start.Charlotte entered a March 6 visit from the Heat at 32-31 and stuck around before losing 127-120. The Hornets put everything together 11 days later, coasting to a 136-106 victory as the Heat were without Bam Adebayo (right calf tightness) and fellow frontcourt starter Andrew Wiggins (toe).Both teams navigated injuries down the stretch of the regular season but enter Tuesday in relatively good health. As with Charlotte against New York, Miami capitalized on facing a foe already in the East playoff field during Sunday’s regular-season finale. The Heat handled the Atlanta Hawks by 26 as 13 players saw the court.“They’re a team that’s going to be obviously well-prepared,” White said. “They got a hell of a coach in Erik Spoelstra. So for us, we got to be honed into the details.”Some cynics might say that Spoelstra’s star is tumbling as the Heat have been relegated to the play-in the past three seasons. Whatever the case, he boasts two NBA championships and four other Finals appearances since taking the reins in 2008-09.Of course, that includes the 2022-23 Heat, who regrouped from a loss in the 7-8 game to defeat White and the Bulls and earn an official spot in the playoff draw. Eighth-seeded Miami upset Milwaukee, New York and Boston before bowing out to Denver in a five-game Finals.For better or worse, Spoelstra knows the urgency of the play-in nearly as much as he does the Finals. In his experience, tackling the former doesn’t have to be formidable.“You have to absolutely embrace it,” Spoelstra said. “It makes you feel alive, that’s for sure, if you’re a competitor.“You don’t want the season to go the way it can to put you in the play-in, but once you’re in it, it’s exhilarating. You have to embrace the competition, embrace how every single possession really does matter.”The Hornets need a victory on Tuesday and against the loser of Wednesday’s Orlando-Philadelphia game to advance to the East draw for the first time since 2016.The Heat know the drill — both in the play-in and against the division rival Hornets. Charlotte features LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel and White among a horde of regulars who are comfortable with moving the ball and creating opportunities from long range.“They play a lot faster at home, so obviously you’ve got to be aware of the shooters,” Adebayo said. “They run their offense with such a pace and sometimes it seems chaotic. You’ve got to be able to maintain through when they make runs or if it’s one of those big momentum swings, you’ve got to understand how we can settle and get back in the play.”As Spoelstra can attest, anything can happen from there. #Coby #White #Eyes #Breakthrough #Hornets #Face #Heat #Deadspin.com

mwasimuddin125 0

Free Coby White.
While a February trade from Chicago to Charlotte allowed the North Carolina native to forge a fresh start with his non-toxic, home-state team, White still is aiming to escape the Eastern Conference play-in tournament.
Not to mention the Miami Heat, Chicago’s play-in foil for the past three seasons.
On Tuesday, White’s Hornets will host the Heat in the play-in opener, and White has a pulse on how to prevail.
“We’ve just got to use our pace,” he said. “It’ll be a tough game if we make it a half-court game. It plays into their favor because of all the weapons they have offensively, the length that they play with defensively, the physicality they play with. So, I think we’ve got to use our pace.”
Miami took the season series from Charlotte 3-1, with both meetings in South Beach coming before Nov. 7 amid the Hornets’ 4-14 start.
Charlotte entered a March 6 visit from the Heat at 32-31 and stuck around before losing 127-120. The Hornets put everything together 11 days later, coasting to a 136-106 victory as the Heat were without Bam Adebayo (right calf tightness) and fellow frontcourt starter Andrew Wiggins (toe).
Both teams navigated injuries down the stretch of the regular season but enter Tuesday in relatively good health. As with Charlotte against New York, Miami capitalized on facing a foe already in the East playoff field during Sunday’s regular-season finale. The Heat handled the Atlanta Hawks by 26 as 13 players saw the court.
“They’re a team that’s going to be obviously well-prepared,” White said. “They got a hell of a coach in Erik Spoelstra. So for us, we got to be honed into the details.”
Some cynics might say that Spoelstra’s star is tumbling as the Heat have been relegated to the play-in the past three seasons. Whatever the case, he boasts two NBA championships and four other Finals appearances since taking the reins in 2008-09.
Of course, that includes the 2022-23 Heat, who regrouped from a loss in the 7-8 game to defeat White and the Bulls and earn an official spot in the playoff draw. Eighth-seeded Miami upset Milwaukee, New York and Boston before bowing out to Denver in a five-game Finals.
For better or worse, Spoelstra knows the urgency of the play-in nearly as much as he does the Finals. In his experience, tackling the former doesn’t have to be formidable.
“You have to absolutely embrace it,” Spoelstra said. “It makes you feel alive, that’s for sure, if you’re a competitor.
“You don’t want the season to go the way it can to put you in the play-in, but once you’re in it, it’s exhilarating. You have to embrace the competition, embrace how every single possession really does matter.”
The Hornets need a victory on Tuesday and against the loser of Wednesday’s Orlando-Philadelphia game to advance to the East draw for the first time since 2016.
The Heat know the drill — both in the play-in and against the division rival Hornets. Charlotte features LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel and White among a horde of regulars who are comfortable with moving the ball and creating opportunities from long range.
“They play a lot faster at home, so obviously you’ve got to be aware of the shooters,” Adebayo said. “They run their offense with such a pace and sometimes it seems chaotic. You’ve got to be able to maintain through when they make runs or if it’s one of those big momentum swings, you’ve got to understand how we can settle and get back in the play.”
As Spoelstra can attest, anything can happen from there.

#Coby #White #Eyes #Breakthrough #Hornets #Face #Heat #Deadspin.com">Coby White Eyes Breakthrough as Hornets Face Heat | Deadspin.com