Nets solidify No. 6 seed with huge victory over Magic, will take on 76ers in first round  —  Friday night was merely a formality.  —  With the Eastern Conference's sixth and final guaranteed playoff seed hanging in the balance, and a date with a short-handed and low-ranked Orlando Magic team on the docket …

Rays beat A's, extend season-opening win streak to seven  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Isaac Paredes hit a grand slam during Tampa Bay's six-run second inning, and the Rays beat the Oakland Athletics 9-5 on Friday night to extend their season-opening win streak to seven games.

Clarke Schmidt's struggles continue in Yankees' loss to Orioles  —  BALTIMORE — The Orioles' home opener featured fireworks before and during their 7-6 win over the Yankees on Friday.  —  Following a pregame ceremony that involved actual pyrotechnics and Oriole orange smoke, both teams provided explosives via their lineups.

Phillies' Darick Hall set for surgery after baserunning injury  —  Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Darick Hall will undergo surgery for a torn ligament in his right thumb, he told reporters Friday.  —  Hall suffered the injury during Wednesday's loss to the New York Yankees when his hand landed …

Yankees 3B Josh Donaldson likely headed to injured list  —  BALTIMORE — New York Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson likely will be headed to the injured list with a right hamstring injury, manager Aaron Boone said Friday afternoon.  —  Donaldson was removed in the second inning …

Why KC Royals were eager for change of scenery ... leading to first road win of 2023  —  Speaking in the dugout at Oracle Park ahead of the Royals' first road game of 2023, interim manager Paul Hoover suggested a change of scenery might do a struggling Kansas City team well.

Magic sit starters, drop final home game to Cavaliers  —  Even after being eliminated from postseason contention, the Orlando Magic still had something to play in Thursday's 118-94 home loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.  —  The Magic entered the matchup .500 at home, vying for their first winning record at Amway Center in four seasons.

Chicago White Sox allow 5 home runs — and 13 in the series — in a 16-6 loss to the San Francisco Giants  —  ExpandAutoplay  —  1 of 29  —  White Sox starting pitcher Lance Lynn, left, reacts after giving up a home run to Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski in the fifth inning on April 6, 2023, at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Aaron Rodgers is worth the wait because he will make the Jets matter again  —  The Jets and the Packers are still hitting the pause button on Aaron Rodgers.  It means that Jets fans are still waiting — while hoping that something doesn't go wrong, just because these are the Jets we're talking about here …

Francisco Alvarez joining Mets in case Omar Narvaez has to go on IL  —  MILWAUKEE - Francisco Alvarez will be on standby when the Mets arrive at Citi Field on Friday.  —  The 21-year-old catcher - the organization's top prospect - will be a possibility for addition to the major league roster …

Clippers' Russell Westbrook serves up revenge against Lakers  —  LOS ANGELES — Let Russ be Russ.  That's the credo.  Long been.  —  As if there were an alternative.  —  As if pepper could not be peppery, as if salt could be sweet.  —  But it can be an acquired taste, the way Russell Westbrook plays basketball.