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MLB Picks Today: Best Bets for Diamondbacks vs Orioles and Cubs vs Phillies | Deadspin.com  Apr 4, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jesus Luzardo (44) pitches during the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images   Summer is in the air!What a difference a week makes as it’s gone from freezing to scorching in the Northeast and Midwest.Here are today’s MLB Picks.Season Record 7-8-1, -1.66 UnitsDiamondbacks at OriolesF5 Over 4.5 (-120 FanDuel)It’s going up to 90 today in Charm City. I don’t have the Ballpark Pal park factors number for today’s game yet, but last night Baltimore ranked as the top hitting venue in MLB with a +17% Run Factor. And it’s only toastier this afternoon.The Orioles start Kyle Bradish, and in all fairness he’s been better than his topline numbers so far. He was kind of polarizing in Fantasy drafts this year, but mostly because of doubts about the workload he could handle this year.That doesn’t concern us for today though. What does matter is that he has a 5.27 ERA and 1.68 WHIP through three starts covering just 13.1 IP. That is perhaps a bit unlucky as he has a sky high .382 BABIP against. The league average is .287 this year and his career level is .291, so this screams small sample size bad luck. What’s more he has a 60% LOB% vs. 71.1% league wide. His xERA is 3.21 and his SIERA is 4.25 so split the difference and he’s pitching more like a high 3’s ERA type.DBack starter Eduardo Rodriguez is the polar opposite as he has a 0.60 ERA but that is wildly propped up by a .222 BABIP and 96% LOB%.He’s the same meh pitchers he’s been in the last few seasons, perhaps worse as he has just a 15% K% (Bradish is 27% fwiw).It would not shock me in the slightest to see both pitchers regress today as Bradish remains the clearly better arm, early season results to the contrary. But I’m going to choose the weather over everything and play for the balls to fly around the park and roll with the Over. Our Current Best Offers1UnderdogClaim your Special Pick via Code + First Time Deposit up to 0 in bonus!T&Cs apply, 18+2ParlayPlay100% up to 0T&Cs apply, 18+3OwnersBox100% up to 0T&Cs apply, 18+4FanDuel Fantasy value with just a + depositT&Cs apply, 18+  Cubs at PhilliesIt’s a great pitching matchup here today. Shota Imanaga looks fantastic early on with a 2.81 ERA and 0.81 WHIP that’s fully backed by his 26.7% K-BB%. But that was achieved in some cold weather early season games. It’s warm in Philly today too and Shota’s one bugaboo in MLB is his propensity to give up bombs. He yielded 31 in 141 IP last year, but just 1 in 16 IP this year thanks to a 5.6% HR/FB% vs. a 12.6% rate in his career. I’m thinking he gets tagged for a couple from the loaded Phillies lineup.Meanwhile Jesus Luzardo has pitched perhaps better than he did in his ace turn of 2025, but early season luck has hit him even worse than Bradish.He has an enormous 36% K% but a .359 BABIP and 48% LOB% have led to an extremely misleading 6.23 ERA. His SIERA is 2.04. Whether he fully mean regresses today or not is anyone’s guess, but I think he’s a favorite to carve up the Cubs today. Our Current Best Offers1UnderdogClaim your Special Pick via Code + First Time Deposit up to 0 in bonus!T&Cs apply, 18+2ParlayPlay100% up to 0T&Cs apply, 18+3OwnersBox100% up to 0T&Cs apply, 18+4FanDuel Fantasy value with just a + depositT&Cs apply, 18+   #MLB #Picks #Today #Bets #Diamondbacks #Orioles #Cubs #Phillies #Deadspin.com

MLB Picks Today: Best Bets for Diamondbacks vs Orioles and Cubs vs Phillies | Deadspin.com
MLB Picks Today: Best Bets for Diamondbacks vs Orioles and Cubs vs Phillies | Deadspin.com  Apr 4, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jesus Luzardo (44) pitches during the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images   Summer is in the air!What a difference a week makes as it’s gone from freezing to scorching in the Northeast and Midwest.Here are today’s MLB Picks.Season Record 7-8-1, -1.66 UnitsDiamondbacks at OriolesF5 Over 4.5 (-120 FanDuel)It’s going up to 90 today in Charm City. I don’t have the Ballpark Pal park factors number for today’s game yet, but last night Baltimore ranked as the top hitting venue in MLB with a +17% Run Factor. And it’s only toastier this afternoon.The Orioles start Kyle Bradish, and in all fairness he’s been better than his topline numbers so far. He was kind of polarizing in Fantasy drafts this year, but mostly because of doubts about the workload he could handle this year.That doesn’t concern us for today though. What does matter is that he has a 5.27 ERA and 1.68 WHIP through three starts covering just 13.1 IP. That is perhaps a bit unlucky as he has a sky high .382 BABIP against. The league average is .287 this year and his career level is .291, so this screams small sample size bad luck. What’s more he has a 60% LOB% vs. 71.1% league wide. His xERA is 3.21 and his SIERA is 4.25 so split the difference and he’s pitching more like a high 3’s ERA type.DBack starter Eduardo Rodriguez is the polar opposite as he has a 0.60 ERA but that is wildly propped up by a .222 BABIP and 96% LOB%.He’s the same meh pitchers he’s been in the last few seasons, perhaps worse as he has just a 15% K% (Bradish is 27% fwiw).It would not shock me in the slightest to see both pitchers regress today as Bradish remains the clearly better arm, early season results to the contrary. But I’m going to choose the weather over everything and play for the balls to fly around the park and roll with the Over. Our Current Best Offers1UnderdogClaim your Special Pick via Code + First Time Deposit up to 0 in bonus!T&Cs apply, 18+2ParlayPlay100% up to 0T&Cs apply, 18+3OwnersBox100% up to 0T&Cs apply, 18+4FanDuel Fantasy value with just a + depositT&Cs apply, 18+  Cubs at PhilliesIt’s a great pitching matchup here today. Shota Imanaga looks fantastic early on with a 2.81 ERA and 0.81 WHIP that’s fully backed by his 26.7% K-BB%. But that was achieved in some cold weather early season games. It’s warm in Philly today too and Shota’s one bugaboo in MLB is his propensity to give up bombs. He yielded 31 in 141 IP last year, but just 1 in 16 IP this year thanks to a 5.6% HR/FB% vs. a 12.6% rate in his career. I’m thinking he gets tagged for a couple from the loaded Phillies lineup.Meanwhile Jesus Luzardo has pitched perhaps better than he did in his ace turn of 2025, but early season luck has hit him even worse than Bradish.He has an enormous 36% K% but a .359 BABIP and 48% LOB% have led to an extremely misleading 6.23 ERA. His SIERA is 2.04. Whether he fully mean regresses today or not is anyone’s guess, but I think he’s a favorite to carve up the Cubs today. Our Current Best Offers1UnderdogClaim your Special Pick via Code + First Time Deposit up to 0 in bonus!T&Cs apply, 18+2ParlayPlay100% up to 0T&Cs apply, 18+3OwnersBox100% up to 0T&Cs apply, 18+4FanDuel Fantasy value with just a + depositT&Cs apply, 18+   #MLB #Picks #Today #Bets #Diamondbacks #Orioles #Cubs #Phillies #Deadspin.comApr 4, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jesus Luzardo (44) pitches during the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

Summer is in the air!

What a difference a week makes as it’s gone from freezing to scorching in the Northeast and Midwest.

Here are today’s MLB Picks.

Season Record 7-8-1, -1.66 Units

Diamondbacks at Orioles

F5 Over 4.5 (-120 FanDuel)

It’s going up to 90 today in Charm City. I don’t have the Ballpark Pal park factors number for today’s game yet, but last night Baltimore ranked as the top hitting venue in MLB with a +17% Run Factor. And it’s only toastier this afternoon.

The Orioles start Kyle Bradish, and in all fairness he’s been better than his topline numbers so far. He was kind of polarizing in Fantasy drafts this year, but mostly because of doubts about the workload he could handle this year.

That doesn’t concern us for today though. What does matter is that he has a 5.27 ERA and 1.68 WHIP through three starts covering just 13.1 IP. That is perhaps a bit unlucky as he has a sky high .382 BABIP against. The league average is .287 this year and his career level is .291, so this screams small sample size bad luck. What’s more he has a 60% LOB% vs. 71.1% league wide. His xERA is 3.21 and his SIERA is 4.25 so split the difference and he’s pitching more like a high 3’s ERA type.

DBack starter Eduardo Rodriguez is the polar opposite as he has a 0.60 ERA but that is wildly propped up by a .222 BABIP and 96% LOB%.He’s the same meh pitchers he’s been in the last few seasons, perhaps worse as he has just a 15% K% (Bradish is 27% fwiw).

It would not shock me in the slightest to see both pitchers regress today as Bradish remains the clearly better arm, early season results to the contrary. But I’m going to choose the weather over everything and play for the balls to fly around the park and roll with the Over.

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Underdog
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Cubs at Phillies

It’s a great pitching matchup here today. Shota Imanaga looks fantastic early on with a 2.81 ERA and 0.81 WHIP that’s fully backed by his 26.7% K-BB%. But that was achieved in some cold weather early season games. It’s warm in Philly today too and Shota’s one bugaboo in MLB is his propensity to give up bombs. He yielded 31 in 141 IP last year, but just 1 in 16 IP this year thanks to a 5.6% HR/FB% vs. a 12.6% rate in his career. I’m thinking he gets tagged for a couple from the loaded Phillies lineup.

Meanwhile Jesus Luzardo has pitched perhaps better than he did in his ace turn of 2025, but early season luck has hit him even worse than Bradish.

He has an enormous 36% K% but a .359 BABIP and 48% LOB% have led to an extremely misleading 6.23 ERA. His SIERA is 2.04. Whether he fully mean regresses today or not is anyone’s guess, but I think he’s a favorite to carve up the Cubs today.

Our Current Best Offers

1

Underdog
Underdog

Claim your Special Pick via Code + First Time Deposit up to $250 in bonus!

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#MLB #Picks #Today #Bets #Diamondbacks #Orioles #Cubs #Phillies #Deadspin.com

Apr 4, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jesus Luzardo (44) pitches during the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

Summer is in the air!

What a difference a week makes as it’s gone from freezing to scorching in the Northeast and Midwest.

Here are today’s MLB Picks.

Season Record 7-8-1, -1.66 Units

Diamondbacks at Orioles

F5 Over 4.5 (-120 FanDuel)

It’s going up to 90 today in Charm City. I don’t have the Ballpark Pal park factors number for today’s game yet, but last night Baltimore ranked as the top hitting venue in MLB with a +17% Run Factor. And it’s only toastier this afternoon.

The Orioles start Kyle Bradish, and in all fairness he’s been better than his topline numbers so far. He was kind of polarizing in Fantasy drafts this year, but mostly because of doubts about the workload he could handle this year.

That doesn’t concern us for today though. What does matter is that he has a 5.27 ERA and 1.68 WHIP through three starts covering just 13.1 IP. That is perhaps a bit unlucky as he has a sky high .382 BABIP against. The league average is .287 this year and his career level is .291, so this screams small sample size bad luck. What’s more he has a 60% LOB% vs. 71.1% league wide. His xERA is 3.21 and his SIERA is 4.25 so split the difference and he’s pitching more like a high 3’s ERA type.

DBack starter Eduardo Rodriguez is the polar opposite as he has a 0.60 ERA but that is wildly propped up by a .222 BABIP and 96% LOB%.He’s the same meh pitchers he’s been in the last few seasons, perhaps worse as he has just a 15% K% (Bradish is 27% fwiw).

It would not shock me in the slightest to see both pitchers regress today as Bradish remains the clearly better arm, early season results to the contrary. But I’m going to choose the weather over everything and play for the balls to fly around the park and roll with the Over.

Our Current Best Offers

1

Underdog
Underdog

Claim your Special Pick via Code + First Time Deposit up to $250 in bonus!

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Cubs at Phillies

It’s a great pitching matchup here today. Shota Imanaga looks fantastic early on with a 2.81 ERA and 0.81 WHIP that’s fully backed by his 26.7% K-BB%. But that was achieved in some cold weather early season games. It’s warm in Philly today too and Shota’s one bugaboo in MLB is his propensity to give up bombs. He yielded 31 in 141 IP last year, but just 1 in 16 IP this year thanks to a 5.6% HR/FB% vs. a 12.6% rate in his career. I’m thinking he gets tagged for a couple from the loaded Phillies lineup.

Meanwhile Jesus Luzardo has pitched perhaps better than he did in his ace turn of 2025, but early season luck has hit him even worse than Bradish.

He has an enormous 36% K% but a .359 BABIP and 48% LOB% have led to an extremely misleading 6.23 ERA. His SIERA is 2.04. Whether he fully mean regresses today or not is anyone’s guess, but I think he’s a favorite to carve up the Cubs today.

Our Current Best Offers

1

Underdog
Underdog

Claim your Special Pick via Code + First Time Deposit up to $250 in bonus!

T&Cs apply, 18+

2

ParlayPlay
ParlayPlay

100% up to $100

T&Cs apply, 18+

3

OwnersBox
OwnersBox

100% up to $500

T&Cs apply, 18+

4

FanDuel Fantasy
FanDuel Fantasy

$65 value with just a $10+ deposit

T&Cs apply, 18+

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#MLB #Picks #Today #Bets #Diamondbacks #Orioles #Cubs #Phillies #Deadspin.com

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LaMelo Ball hurt Bam Adebayo by tripping him in NBA play-in, and Erik Spoelstra’s response says it all <div><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">The Heat and Hornets gave us an instant classic to kick off the NBA Playoffs with their overtime thriller, but the conversation following the game was understandably focused on an ugly moment which happened at the start of the second quarter.</p></div><div><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">LaMelo Ball was driving to the basket when he fell to the ground on some light contact. Bam Adebayo recovered the ball, tried to keep it inbounds on one leg, when Ball tripped the Heat star, causing him to fall hard and be forced out of the game with a lower back injury.</p></div><div><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">The incident has been hotly debated. The angle above is damning, and it appears clear that Ball tripped Adebayo on purpose. Another angle from behind the play is less conclusive, looking more like LaMelo was flailing while complaining for a foul, and happened to pull Adebayo’s ankle as a result. Further muddying the water was a lack of a foul on the play, with a referee standing <em>right</em> <em>at the baseline</em>, but not making a call.</p></div><div><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Adebayo was listed as questionable to return with a lower back injury and was later downgraded to being out — playing only 11 minutes.</p></div><div><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was understandably heated after the game and didn’t hold back. While he credited the Hornets for making plays down the stretch, he acknowledged that not having Adebayo hurt his team in the elimination game.</p></div><div><blockquote class="duet--article--blockquote _1teeyfa0 ls9zuh9"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _1teeyfa8 ls9zuh1">“I apologize on that one. I got hit in the head, didn’t really know where I was — but I’m going to check on hin, make sure he’s okay and everything.”</p></blockquote></div><div><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">The big question now is whether or not the NBA will take any action against LaMelo Ball. The Hornets are set to play the loser of Magic/76ers on Friday to determine the No. 8 seed in the playoffs. If the league decided a suspension was warranted for the trip it would essentially ensure Charlotte would lose that game, with Ball being the most important player on the Hornets. However, without a foul being called on the play it would be highly unusual for the NBA to suspend a player, meaning that LaMelo could get away with a fine.</p></div> #LaMelo #Ball #hurt #Bam #Adebayo #tripping #NBA #playin #Erik #Spoelstras #response

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15 Sequels That Totally Ignored What Made the Original Work | Den of Geek

INDIANAPOLIS — Even before Caitlin Clark took the floor on Friday, she had the feeling something special was in store. If nothing else, she was trying to will it into existence.

Individually, she had struggled to find a rhythm since returning from injury. As a team, the Fever needed a big night from their superstar with fellow All-Star Aliyah Boston out.

But even by Clark’s lofty standards, Friday was something special.

Clark tallied a franchise record 45 points to go along with 10 assists, becoming the first player in WNBA history with a 40-10 game, to lead the Fever to a dramatic 110-107 win over the Seattle Storm.

“I feel like you just have to believe you’re going to have those types of nights and you have to visualize having those types of nights and I feel like that’s what I did,” Clark said. “It’s not always going to go your way…I know all the time and the work that I’ve put in and people believe in me and, more than anything, I believe in myself.

“You just got to dig your feet in a little bit and, when it’s not going your way, nobody cares. Like you find a way to make it better and find a way to help your team win and make this team better and I feel like that’s what I always try to do.”

When her team needed her most on Friday, Clark dug in for a fourth quarter masterpiece. Not only did she finish with 16 points in the frame, but she scored or assisted on 17 of the final 19 points for Indiana. No shot was bigger, though, than her stepback three with 39 seconds left to put the Fever up 105-102, giving them a lead they would not relinquish.

“It’s incredible,” Fever head coach Stephanie White said. “It’s special. She does things that we haven’t seen…In the moment, sometimes it’s surreal to see. Heck, I looked down at the stat sheet at the end of the game and it’s like, ‘Holy s—, 45 [points] and 10 [assists].’ I mean, it’s just incredible.”

After starting the season hot, things haven’t been smooth sailing for Clark. A back injury has plagued her in recent weeks, limiting her to just four games since June 24. For most of those outings, she’s looked like someone searching for her rhythm.

But Friday felt different from the jump. Not only did Clark sense it, but her coach could see it, too.

“She seemed lighter,” White said of Clark pregame. “She seemed positive. She seemed like she was bouncy. I think she felt good. I think every day we’ve seen a little bit more of it.”

Ironically, it was Clark’s backcourt mate who looked destined for the big night in the first quarter. Kelsey Mitchell scored 17 of her 30 points in the opening frame, helping the Fever to an early double-digit lead. In another bit of history from the night, Clark and Mitchell’s 75 combined points are the most by a duo in franchise history.

It wasn’t until the second quarter that Clark really found her groove, doing so predominantly at the free throw line, helping her to 14 points in the period. The Fever desperately needed it as the Storm pulled themselves back into the game to trail by just three at the break.

Seattle only kept coming in the second half and eventually built up an eight-point lead in the fourth with 5:23 remaining. However, that became the turning point for both Clark and the Fever as they steadily chipped away at the deficit.

Clark showed off her growing array of ways to get buckets, mixing mid-range jumpers with drives to the basket and her patented stepback jumper. A 3-pointer with 2:23 gave her a career-high 38 points and closed the deficit to one. A few possessions later, Clark found Monique Billings for an and-one layup with 1:11 left to tie the game.

The sequence of the night, though, came shortly after.

Following a Fever turnover in a tie game with just under a minute remaining, Clark raced back on the fastbreak to strip Flau’jae Johnson and win back possession. She followed that up with the biggest shot of the game, turning a broken play into the go-ahead 3-pointer to blow the roof off the arena.

“I just think that when she’s really in a flow, [she] reads the game as good, if not better than anybody,” White said. “I think she’s grown into taking what the defense gives her and we always know she has the ability to make big shots and she did all of that tonight.”

There’s never a bad time for a 45-point night, but this could hardly come at a better one for Clark. Limited by injury and a minutes restriction, Clark hadn’t found a groove since returning to the lineup on July 8. Finding her rhythm again, then, was a positive in itself on Friday.

The 45 points? A welcome bonus.

“It’s tough when you come back from injury,” White added. “Your body feels different. Mentally, you want it to happen so badly. Sometimes you second-guess yourself and that’s part of it. Rhythm, timing, all the things that happen when you haven’t played for a little while. So it was huge. It was big time for her and for us.”

Funnily enough, White noted pregame that Clark was still on a minutes restriction that had hovered right at 25. That number came and went in the fourth quarter without a hint of Clark coming off the floor.

Nothing was taking her out of that game. Not on a night as special as Friday.

“Steph knows better than that,” Clark joked with a smile. “Trainers know better than that. They would get an earful. But I told Steph at halftime, like I felt really good and I didn’t want to lose this game…I’ve spent a ton of time on [my body] and I trust the people around me that have really helped me. I always find confidence in that, so I know I’m doing all the right things and there’s no way I was ever coming out of the game in the 4th quarter.

“It didn’t matter. I would play with one leg.”

#Caitlin #Clark #rewrites #record #books #historic #45point #outing">Caitlin Clark rewrites record books with historic 45-point outing  INDIANAPOLIS — Even before Caitlin Clark took the floor on Friday, she had the feeling something special was in store. If nothing else, she was trying to will it into existence.Individually, she had struggled to find a rhythm since returning from injury. As a team, the Fever needed a big night from their superstar with fellow All-Star Aliyah Boston out.But even by Clark’s lofty standards, Friday was something special.Clark tallied a franchise record 45 points to go along with 10 assists, becoming the first player in WNBA history with a 40-10 game, to lead the Fever to a dramatic 110-107 win over the Seattle Storm.“I feel like you just have to believe you’re going to have those types of nights and you have to visualize having those types of nights and I feel like that’s what I did,” Clark said. “It’s not always going to go your way…I know all the time and the work that I’ve put in and people believe in me and, more than anything, I believe in myself.“You just got to dig your feet in a little bit and, when it’s not going your way, nobody cares. Like you find a way to make it better and find a way to help your team win and make this team better and I feel like that’s what I always try to do.”When her team needed her most on Friday, Clark dug in for a fourth quarter masterpiece. Not only did she finish with 16 points in the frame, but she scored or assisted on 17 of the final 19 points for Indiana. No shot was bigger, though, than her stepback three with 39 seconds left to put the Fever up 105-102, giving them a lead they would not relinquish.“It’s incredible,” Fever head coach Stephanie White said. “It’s special. She does things that we haven’t seen…In the moment, sometimes it’s surreal to see. Heck, I looked down at the stat sheet at the end of the game and it’s like, ‘Holy s—, 45 [points] and 10 [assists].’ I mean, it’s just incredible.”After starting the season hot, things haven’t been smooth sailing for Clark. A back injury has plagued her in recent weeks, limiting her to just four games since June 24. For most of those outings, she’s looked like someone searching for her rhythm.But Friday felt different from the jump. Not only did Clark sense it, but her coach could see it, too.“She seemed lighter,” White said of Clark pregame. “She seemed positive. She seemed like she was bouncy. I think she felt good. I think every day we’ve seen a little bit more of it.”Ironically, it was Clark’s backcourt mate who looked destined for the big night in the first quarter. Kelsey Mitchell scored 17 of her 30 points in the opening frame, helping the Fever to an early double-digit lead. In another bit of history from the night, Clark and Mitchell’s 75 combined points are the most by a duo in franchise history.It wasn’t until the second quarter that Clark really found her groove, doing so predominantly at the free throw line, helping her to 14 points in the period. The Fever desperately needed it as the Storm pulled themselves back into the game to trail by just three at the break.Seattle only kept coming in the second half and eventually built up an eight-point lead in the fourth with 5:23 remaining. However, that became the turning point for both Clark and the Fever as they steadily chipped away at the deficit.Clark showed off her growing array of ways to get buckets, mixing mid-range jumpers with drives to the basket and her patented stepback jumper. A 3-pointer with 2:23 gave her a career-high 38 points and closed the deficit to one. A few possessions later, Clark found Monique Billings for an and-one layup with 1:11 left to tie the game.The sequence of the night, though, came shortly after.Following a Fever turnover in a tie game with just under a minute remaining, Clark raced back on the fastbreak to strip Flau’jae Johnson and win back possession. She followed that up with the biggest shot of the game, turning a broken play into the go-ahead 3-pointer to blow the roof off the arena.“I just think that when she’s really in a flow, [she] reads the game as good, if not better than anybody,” White said. “I think she’s grown into taking what the defense gives her and we always know she has the ability to make big shots and she did all of that tonight.”There’s never a bad time for a 45-point night, but this could hardly come at a better one for Clark. Limited by injury and a minutes restriction, Clark hadn’t found a groove since returning to the lineup on July 8. Finding her rhythm again, then, was a positive in itself on Friday.The 45 points? A welcome bonus.“It’s tough when you come back from injury,” White added. “Your body feels different. Mentally, you want it to happen so badly. Sometimes you second-guess yourself and that’s part of it. Rhythm, timing, all the things that happen when you haven’t played for a little while. So it was huge. It was big time for her and for us.”Funnily enough, White noted pregame that Clark was still on a minutes restriction that had hovered right at 25. That number came and went in the fourth quarter without a hint of Clark coming off the floor.Nothing was taking her out of that game. Not on a night as special as Friday.“Steph knows better than that,” Clark joked with a smile. “Trainers know better than that. They would get an earful. But I told Steph at halftime, like I felt really good and I didn’t want to lose this game…I’ve spent a ton of time on [my body] and I trust the people around me that have really helped me. I always find confidence in that, so I know I’m doing all the right things and there’s no way I was ever coming out of the game in the 4th quarter.“It didn’t matter. I would play with one leg.”  #Caitlin #Clark #rewrites #record #books #historic #45point #outing

India’s P.V. Sindhu will take on home favourite Akane Yamaguchi in the Japan Open 2026 final on Sunday.

Sindhu entered the final after beating China’s Chen Yufei in the semifinals, while Yamaguchi overcame Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani in the other last-four clash.

P.V. Sindhu vs Akane Yamaguchi head-to-head (Sindhu leads 15-14)

  • 2026: Australian Open (SF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 22-20, 21-12
  • 2026: Thailand Open (QF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 19-21, 21-18, 21-15
  • 2026: Malaysia Open (QF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-11
  • 2025: Badminton Asia Championships (R16) – Akane Yamaguchi won 21-12, 16-21, 21-16
  • 2023: Canada Open (SF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 21-14, 21-15
  • 2023: Singapore Open (R32) – Akane Yamaguchi won 18-21, 21-19, 21-17
  • 2022: Thailand Open (QF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-15, 20-22, 21-13
  • 2022: Badminton Asia Championships (SF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 13-21, 21-19, 21-16
  • 2021: World Tour Finals (SF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-15, 15-21, 21-19
  • 2021: Indonesia Masters (SF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 21-13, 21-9
  • 2021: Tokyo Olympics (QF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-13, 22-20
  • 2021: All England Open (QF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 21-16, 16-21, 19-21
  • 2019: World Tour Finals (Group) – Akane Yamaguchi won 18-21, 21-18, 21-8
  • 2019: Japan Open (QF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-18, 21-15
  • 2019: Indonesia Open (Final) – Akane Yamaguchi won 21-15, 21-16
  • 2018: World Tour Finals (Group) – P.V. Sindhu won 24-22, 21-15
  • 2018: Asian Games (SF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-17, 15-21, 21-10
  • 2018: Asian Games (Team QF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-18, 21-19
  • 2018: World Championships (SF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-16, 24-22
  • 2018: All England Open (SF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 19-21, 21-19, 21-18
  • 2018: Asia Team Championships (Group) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-19, 21-15
  • 2017: World Superseries Finals (Final) – Akane Yamaguchi won 15-21, 21-12, 21-19
  • 2017: World Superseries Finals (Group) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-9, 21-13
  • 2017: Hong Kong Open (QF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-12, 21-19
  • 2017: French Open (SF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 14-21, 9-21
  • 2016: World Superseries Finals (Group) – P.V. Sindhu won 12-21, 21-8, 21-15
  • 2016: Uber Cup (Group) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-11, 21-18
  • 2015: Macau Open (SF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-8, 15-21, 21-16
  • 2013: Japan Open (R16) – Akane Yamaguchi won 6-21, 17-21

While Sindhu holds a minor lead in head-to-head numbers against Yamaguchi, the Japanese shuttler has dominated their battle in recent years.

Since 2023, the pair have clashed six times, with Yamaguchi winning five of those matches. Sindhu’s only win in this spell came in the Malaysian Open earlier this year after Yamaguchi had to retire due to an injury.

Numbers to watch out for before the final

2026 Win-Loss Record:

P.V. Sindhu: 18–9

Akane Yamaguchi: 33–6

BWF World Ranking:

P.V. Sindhu: 10

Akane Yamaguchi: 3

HSBC Race to Guangzhou Ranking:

P.V. Sindhu: 14

Akane Yamaguchi: 3

Published on Jul 18, 2026

#P.V #Sindhu #Akane #Yamaguchi #headtohead #Complete #record #ahead #Japan #Open #final">P.V. Sindhu vs Akane Yamaguchi head-to-head: Complete record ahead of Japan Open 2026 final  India’s P.V. Sindhu will take on home favourite Akane Yamaguchi in the Japan Open 2026 final on Sunday.Sindhu entered the final after beating China’s Chen Yufei in the semifinals, while Yamaguchi overcame Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani in the other last-four clash.P.V. Sindhu vs Akane Yamaguchi head-to-head (Sindhu leads 15-14)
                                                        2026: Australian Open (SF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 22-20, 21-12                    
                                                        2026: Thailand Open (QF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 19-21, 21-18, 21-15                    
                                                        2026: Malaysia Open (QF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-11                    
                                                        2025: Badminton Asia Championships (R16) – Akane Yamaguchi won 21-12, 16-21, 21-16                    
                                                        2023: Canada Open (SF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 21-14, 21-15                    
                                                        2023: Singapore Open (R32) – Akane Yamaguchi won 18-21, 21-19, 21-17                    
                                                        2022: Thailand Open (QF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-15, 20-22, 21-13                    
                                                        2022: Badminton Asia Championships (SF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 13-21, 21-19, 21-16                    
                                                        2021: World Tour Finals (SF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-15, 15-21, 21-19                    
                                                        2021: Indonesia Masters (SF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 21-13, 21-9                    
                                                        2021: Tokyo Olympics (QF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-13, 22-20                    
                                                        2021: All England Open (QF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 21-16, 16-21, 19-21                    
                                                        2019: World Tour Finals (Group) – Akane Yamaguchi won 18-21, 21-18, 21-8                    
                                                        2019: Japan Open (QF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-18, 21-15                    
                                                        2019: Indonesia Open (Final) – Akane Yamaguchi won 21-15, 21-16                    
                                                        2018: World Tour Finals (Group) – P.V. Sindhu won 24-22, 21-15                    
                                                        2018: Asian Games (SF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-17, 15-21, 21-10                    
                                                        2018: Asian Games (Team QF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-18, 21-19                    
                                                        2018: World Championships (SF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-16, 24-22                    
                                                        2018: All England Open (SF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 19-21, 21-19, 21-18                    
                                                        2018: Asia Team Championships (Group) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-19, 21-15                    
                                                        2017: World Superseries Finals (Final) – Akane Yamaguchi won 15-21, 21-12, 21-19                    
                                                        2017: World Superseries Finals (Group) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-9, 21-13                    
                                                        2017: Hong Kong Open (QF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-12, 21-19                    
                                                        2017: French Open (SF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 14-21, 9-21                    
                                                        2016: World Superseries Finals (Group) – P.V. Sindhu won 12-21, 21-8, 21-15                    
                                                        2016: Uber Cup (Group) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-11, 21-18                    
                                                        2015: Macau Open (SF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-8, 15-21, 21-16                    
                                                        2013: Japan Open (R16) – Akane Yamaguchi won 6-21, 17-21                    While Sindhu holds a minor lead in head-to-head numbers against Yamaguchi, the Japanese shuttler has dominated their battle in recent years.Since 2023, the pair have clashed six times, with Yamaguchi winning five of those matches. Sindhu’s only win in this spell came in the Malaysian Open earlier this year after Yamaguchi had to retire due to an injury.
Numbers to watch out for before the final
2026 Win-Loss Record:
P.V. Sindhu: 18–9

Akane Yamaguchi: 33–6
BWF World Ranking:
P.V. Sindhu: 10

Akane Yamaguchi: 3
HSBC Race to Guangzhou Ranking:
P.V. Sindhu: 14

Akane Yamaguchi: 3
Published on Jul 18, 2026  #P.V #Sindhu #Akane #Yamaguchi #headtohead #Complete #record #ahead #Japan #Open #final

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