MILWAUKEE -- The Boston Celtics have known for the better part of three months that if they were to make it to the NBA Finals, they would have to go through the Milwaukee Bucks. More specifically, they would have to try to slow down Giannis Antetokounmpo, a leading candidate for Most Valuable Player of the NBA.

Whether they had three months, three weeks or three days, the Celtics knew that when these teams met in the postseason, how they fared would depend on how Al Horford played. On Sunday, he showed the world why.

In a spectacular individual performance that epitomized the best 48 minutes of basketball this Celtics team has played all season, Horford finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, one steal, three blocks and no turnovers as Boston cruised to an emphatic 112-90 victory over Milwaukee in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series at Fiserv Forum.

"We've said all year you can't overstate Al Horford's importance to our team," Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. "The numbers back that up."

The numbers certainly backed it up on Sunday. As the Celtics had their way with the Bucks at both ends of the floor, bringing to the fore every doubt that has hung over Milwaukee's charmed run to the NBA's best record this season, Horford found himself in the middle of all of it. Some of that came offensively, as his shooting spaced the floor and created room for Boston's guards and wings to wreak havoc in the paint, and where he and Kyrie Irving (26 points and 11 assists) had tremendous success running pick-and-pops against Milwaukee's defense.

More of it came defensively, as he led the charge against Antetokounmpo. The Bucks' star finished with 22 points and eight rebounds but shot just 7-for-21 from the field (including 4-for-16 the first three quarters of the game) and had things made difficult by the Celtics as a group -- and Horford in particular -- with every step he took.

Against Horford, Antetokounmpo shot 1-for- 6 on the day, according to ESPN's Stats & Information. Against Aron Baynes, whom the Celtics moved to the bench to try to ensure that he or Horford was out there virtually every second that Antetokounmpo was during the game, Antetokounmpo went 1-for-4.

"They were loading [the paint] a lot," Antetokounmpo said. "Lots of guys in the paint. Whenever I got in the paint, when I spin or try and change direction, the second guy was right there.

"I've just gotta go watch tape. If they are going to play like this the whole series, I have to be able to make the right pass, trust my teammates to knock down shots."

Boston entered the game with a clear game plan, which Antetokounmpo alluded to, whether Horford was on the court to guard him or not: Pack the paint, and force him to settle for jumpers. Antetokounmpo responded by going 3-for-5 from 3-point range, tying his season high for makes in a game.

But even if he makes three more in each of the remaining games of this series, if Antetokounmpo shoots 25 percent on 2-point shots -- after he hit 64 percent of them during the regular season -- the Celtics will take that tradeoff. They might not have as much success -- and they are unlikely to have more highlight blocks like the one Horford had in the third quarter -- but it's a formula that should prove successful for the Celtics if they can keep implementing it.

"I just think that our group, we all understood how we needed to defend and how dangerous he is once he gets it in the paint," Horford said. "So constantly tonight, we had a couple of breakdowns, but for the most part, I feel like everyone was very aware. Our guards really did a good job of helping and closing down lanes and things like that, and we just wanted to challenge and contest every shot as best we could."

It was a team effort that began and ended with Horford. Boston has spent the season carefully managing Horford's minutes and games played, trying to keep him as fresh as possible for the playoffs. At times earlier this season, when Horford was dealing with tendinitis, some scouts wondered if he'd be able to return to the form he showed during last year's playoffs.

But those days have been long forgotten, as Horford has been consistently excellent for Boston the past few months leading into the playoffs and remained so in Boston's sweep of the Indiana Pacers in the first round. It certainly didn't change in Game 1 of this series, either, as Horford delivered precisely the performance the Celtics needed to seize home court in this series and show why they still have a chance to do what so many expected them to do when this season began.

"He was the Al Horford we all know and love," Celtics forward Gordon Hayward said. "Knocking down shots, being able to space the floor, also taking advantage of smaller guys in the post and around the rim. Defensively, he was all over the place. [He] really did a good job on Giannis. I thought our team for the most part did a good job on him.

"It's one game, though. They're going to come back even stronger with more energy next game. So it's a good start."

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Golden State Warriors superstar Kevin Durant is in the midst of one of the greatest postseason runs of his storied career. The 30-year-old forward continued his brilliant stretch by scoring 35 points and grabbing five rebounds in a 104-100 win over the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals on Sunday. Durant's recent play drew a comparison to Warriors coach Steve Kerr's former teammate with the Chicago Bulls: Michael Jordan.

"There's this guy named Michael something," Kerr said as the assembled media chuckled. "Can't remember his last name. No, but Kevin's run this past week has just been off the charts. I've said it a few times this week: He's the most skilled basketball player on Earth. He's one of the most skilled basketball players to ever play the game. There's never been anybody like him. Six-[foot]-11, handles the ball, shoots 3s, passes, defends. He's just an unbelievable talent. And I think after we lost Game 2 to the Clippers, I think he just felt like he had to turn it up and lift us up another level. That's exactly what he's done."

Durant, who is averaging 40.2 points in his past five games, including 50 points in Friday's Game 6 series clincher against the LA Clippers, is dominating at a level that is leaving his teammates and coaches a bit in awe.

"He's playing great right now," Warriors forward Draymond Green said. "He's being extremely aggressive, and when he's being aggressive as he's being, I don't think there's anyone in the NBA, maybe the world, that can stop him. So when he's being aggressive like that, that's always a positive for us. It's a challenge for the opposing team."

For his part, Durant is taking his recent play in stride. He was confident throughout the season in his ability to take over games when his team needed him to do so. His recent play hasn't come as a surprise to him.

"I try not to compare," Durant said. "Each stop along the journey has been -- I've just been tailor-made for the moment, I guess. I learned a lot so far as a player up until this point, so I think I'm starting to put everything together on both sides of the ball. I'm not looking at points or shots that I get up, just how focused I am for each possession."

Durant and the Warriors head into Game 2 on Tuesday buoyed by the fact that they found a way to win despite both Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson coming into the game with sprained right ankle injuries. With the All-Star backcourt feeling better and expected to get more treatment on Monday, the Warriors feel good knowing that the rest of their weapons will be healthier and will give Durant even more space to operate.

"He has been amazing," Curry said of Durant. "He's been so aggressive on the offense end. Found his matchups, taking his shots. Defensively he's been present. He just understands kind of what we need when we need it. And he's been playing with the ultimate confidence. I know he always has confidence, but it seems like it's been amped up in these last five games."

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Houston Rockets guard James Harden pleaded for a "fair chance" from officials after Houston's 104-100 loss to the Golden State Warriors in Sunday's Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.

Harden and the Rockets were specifically upset about what they believed were several incorrect non-calls on his 3-point attempts, on which the Warriors were allowed to close out without giving Harden the required landing space. According to Harden and coach Mike D'Antoni, the referees admitted at halftime that they missed four such calls in the first half.

"I'm going to try to be a nice guy because I really don't want to give the charity to them. I'd rather have my charity have the money," D'Antoni said, referring to a potential fine for criticizing officiating. "So, I mean, the response was they came in halftime and said they missed them. That's what they told me. They missed four of them. That's 12 foul shots. So be it. They're trying to do the best they can do."

Harden also thought he got fouled on a pair of 3-point attempts in the second half, including by Draymond Green on a potential game-tying attempt with 7.4 seconds remaining. Klay Thompson was the defender on the other non-calls that upset the Rockets.

"I mean, I just want a fair chance, man," said Harden, who scored 35 points but was 9-of-28 from the floor and 4-of-16 from behind the 3-point line. "Call the game how it's supposed to be called, and that's it. And I'll live with the results."

Joe Borgia, the NBA's senior vice president of replay and referee operations, later told NBA TV that Green did not foul Harden on his last 3 attempt because Green was going across, not into, Harden's path, and Harden "jackknifed" his body so his feet made contact with Green.

Harden was 13-of-14 from the line, but the Warriors were called for only one foul when he attempted a 3-pointer. That occurred in the first quarter, when Harden's shooting arm was clearly hit by Golden State forward Alfonzo McKinnie.

Harden referenced the series-ending injury suffered by Kawhi Leonard in the San Antonio Spurs' Game 1 loss to the Warriors in the 2017 Western Conference finals, on which he landed on Zaza Pachulia's foot after shooting a jumper, as a reason referees need to be vigilant about enforcing the rule requiring 3-point shooters to have space to land.

"We all know what happened a few years back with Kawhi," Harden said. "That can change the entire series. Just call the game the way it's supposed to be called, and we'll live with the results. It's plain and simple."

Rockets guard Chris Paul and D'Antoni were called for technical fouls for protesting a non-call after Paul made a 3 with 35.4 seconds remaining in the third quarter. They were irate that Golden State guard Shaun Livingston was not whistled for not allowing Paul any landing space.

"To shoot a 3-and-1, get a tech, I mean, it's tough," Paul said. "But I gotta be smarter because that didn't do nothing but hurt our team."

Paul was ejected after receiving his second technical foul with 4.4 seconds remaining. He appeared to make contact with referee Josh Tiven. Asked about the incident, Paul said, "I ain't seen it yet."

Team sources believe that any contact between Paul and Tiven was minimal and inadvertent and should not merit any discipline from the league office.

Harden, who has led the league in free throws attempted and made in each of the past five seasons, gets fouled while shooting 3s far more than any other player in the league, in large part because his step-back is so difficult to contest without making contact.

According to ESPN Stats & Information research, officials called fouls on Harden 3s 95 times during the regular season and five times in the Rockets' five-game first-round series against the Utah Jazz.

"All I'm going to say is we've been getting [those calls] all year," said Rockets guard Eric Gordon, who had 27 points. "It should be no different now."

During the second half, Jazz center Rudy Gobert chimed in via Twitter on the inconsistency in how Harden was being officiated.

My guys were not allowed to contest shots like that last week...or maybe i'm crazy and it's just camera angles ? https://t.co/RvqYdCWzuC

— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) April 28, 2019

Green was a dominant force with 14 points, nine rebounds and nine assists while anchoring the Warriors' defense as a small-ball center in Game 1. He scoffed at Harden's take that he didn't get a fair whistle.

"I've been fouled by James on a James 3-pointer before," Green said. "No, I ain't going with that one. ...

"I think we can all sit here and complain about calls after every game. That's just the nature of the game we play. Refereeing is an inexact science. So it is what it is."

Green strongly hinted that Harden causes most of the contact on his 3-point attempts.

"Gotta contest the shot," Green said. "When you land 3 feet ahead of where you shoot the ball from, that really ain't my issue."

The officiating was certainly not the Rockets' only problem in Game 1. They had no answer for Warriors star Kevin Durant in the second half, in which he scored 24 of his 35 points. Golden State dominated the glass despite playing a small lineup, winning the rebounding battle by a 38-26 margin. Center Clint Capela was a complete nonfactor, finishing with four points and six rebounds in 27 minutes in which the Rockets were outscored by 17 points.

But the officiating left the Rockets frustrated and bewildered.

"We just need to suck it up and don't worry about how they officiate and sit there and take it," D'Antoni said. "I'm getting a little old for that, but that's just how it goes. I try not to curse. I try not to completely be a jerk. Obviously didn't work. So I don't know. I don't know. It's beyond me."

OAKLAND, Calif. -- The worst-case scenario for the NBA, its fans and the game itself is for the Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets series to come down to a he said, he said on officiating.

This is a series rematch that has been a year in the making, perhaps the series that will determine this season's champion, as it was last season. History and legacy are on the line -- it's that type of series. Then there's the short term, specifically the free-agency implications.

But the officiating angle might be inevitable.

The Rockets have a strategy that pushes the limits of the rules, and the Warriors are as sly as any team in history. They're both fantastic at what they do. And they are both relentless on the officiating -- there were four technicals and an ejection right out of the gate in Game 1.

No one wanted Game 1 -- an ugly but still highly competitive and entertaining opener that ended in a 104-100 Warriors win -- to be defined by calls or non-calls. But, largely, it was. There just might be no end in sight.

It's easy to forget there are three teams on the floor at all times. Ideally, one of them remains anonymous and forgettable. The stakes and the nature of these teams make that most difficult.

When referees prepare for games, they go over film and tendencies, just like the teams. It is well known that the Rockets have a penchant for drawing fouls on 3-pointers. This is a part of their attack. James Harden drew 95 fouls on 3-pointers this season. He is one of the best in the history of the game at it.

It was clear that part of Golden State's game plan is to crowd the Houston 3-point shooters. And the Houston game plan involves 3-point shooters twisting their bodies and ripping their arms into their defenders. Both teams are good at it.

So here it was. There were 10 seconds left and the Rockets were down 3. Harden, one of the greatest ever at drawing a foul, takes a 3-pointer to try to tie the score. Draymond Green, one of the great defenders of this era, leaps to challenge it.

Green comes forward into Harden's area. Harden's legs jackknife toward Green and Harden spills to the ground. Two officials, Courtney Kirkland and Josh Tiven, stare and call nothing.

"Call the game how it's supposed to be called and that's it," Harden said. "And I'll live with the results. But especially we all know what happened a few years back with Kawhi. That can change the entire series."

Harden is referring to Kawhi Leonard getting undercut by Zaza Pachulia in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals in 2017. This is a reference to the stakes. That play changed that game, that series and perhaps that season's champion.

But then you listen to Green.

"When you land 3 feet ahead of where you shoot the ball from, that really ain't my issue," Green said. "I've been fouled by James on a James 3-pointer before."

But here's the thing. After this crucial moment that was the culmination of an afternoon full of this cat-and-mouse game, Chris Paul grabbed the offensive rebound with a cunning backdoor sprint to get into the paint. He looked to send it back to Harden for another chance to tie. But Harden was on the ground, out of the play. Put there by, well, circumstance. Call it a foul, call it a flop.

In a perfect world, he'd get another chance, and Green another chance to stop him. But this is Rockets-Warriors in the year 2019. So instead Paul got stuck and ran over Klay Thompson, triggering another intense non-call sequence that led to another technical foul and Paul getting ejected. Paul might've bumped Tiven in the heat of the moment, yet another thing for the league office to review.

After the game, in the visiting locker room, Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni demonstrated exactly what the rule is for how much space a shooter is supposed to get when he takes off for a jumper. He knows the chapter and verse, including what rights the defender has. It's a constant topic, given that it's a big part of what his team does.

D'Antoni thought the Rockets should've had 20 more free throws.

Meanwhile, over in the Warriors' locker room, they whispered about how the Rockets get away with putting two hands on Kevin Durant when he drives to the basket, a violation under the rules. Durant is so dominant with his height and shooting skill that once he gets the ball up and squared, there is really no way to stop him. So teams try everything they can to keep him from getting that ball up over his head.

The Warriors felt Durant should've been on the line a lot more.

These were just the Game 1 arguments. In Game 2, it might not be the 3-point landing fouls, it might be Harden's ability to create contact going to the basket. He's an absolute master. Or Durant's use of the rip move, he's so used to guys trying to slap the ball out of his hands before he raises it that he's an expert.

Harden finished the game with 14 free throws. Durant had 15.

This is mind-numbing. It's not the way this should be settled.

But here's Paul barking at the officials and getting tossed. There's D'Antoni screaming. Green is claiming he's wronged over there. Durant is chirping.

They're all so good at what they do. They're all so smart. They're all setting up the next call, the next game.

In a rivalry that's so competitive with such narrow margin for error and a seam or two of bad blood, perhaps this is what must be accepted. The search for an edge is relentless between these two teams, it's part of their DNA.

"That's just the nature of the game we play," Green said. "Refereeing is an inexact science. So it is what it is."

Guess so.

CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox entered their series finale on Sunday against the Detroit Tigers with the worst rotation ERA in baseball and the second-worst overall mark. They exited it with a new strikeout record.

Reynaldo Lopez and three relievers combined to strike out 20 Tigers in Chicago's 4-1 win at Guaranteed Rate Field. That tied the MLB record for a nine-inning game.

"Today's outing was one of the best of my career, definitely," Lopez said via White Sox interpreter Billy Russo. "Everything worked perfectly, and I felt good."

Lopez set a career high with 14 whiffs, and relievers Jace Fry, Kelvin Herrera and Alex Colome struck out two apiece. Lopez recorded 13 of his strikeouts with his fastball, the highest total by a White Sox pitcher in the past 10 years.

"The strikeouts, in and of themselves, for me are just a consequence, an outcome," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "When their stuff is good and they're executing, it just basically tells you they're on the right track in terms of managing what they're capable of doing."

According to ESPN Stats & Info, the White Sox became the seventh team to record 20 strikeouts in a nine-inning contest.

Although the White Sox needed four pitchers to tie the record, catcher Welington Castillo was behind the plate for all 20 strikeouts. He joins Rich Gedman (Red Sox), Bill Haselman (Red Sox), Sandy Martinez (Cubs), Chris Ianetta (Angels), Wilson Ramos (Nationals) and Christian Vazquez (Red Sox) as the catchers to accomplish that feat -- not that he was ready to pat himself on the back.

"What can I say?" Castillo said. "I wasn't thinking about that. I was just really focused about the game, making them execute their pitches. I think other people have to talk about [the record]. I don't like to talk about it."

Lopez struck out three in the second and sixth innings and two in each of his other four frames. Fry, Herrera and Colome each logged an inning apiece, so Chicago struck out at least two batters in all nine innings of the game.

The strikeouts set a White Sox franchise record for a game of any length and tied the Tigers' team mark for most times whiffed in a contest. For the White Sox, while the record was nice, what it might mean for a young staff trying to build consistency is more important.

"It is a big deal because this is the big leagues," Renteria said. "It's hard to do that, and it's hard to win a major league ballgame on top of it. I commend them for what they did. Every single guy in that locker room right now is really happy that it happened today to give us a chance to win a ballgame."

SAN FRANCISCO -- DJ LeMahieu and Gio Urshela became the latest Yankees to get hurt as New York completed a three-game sweep of the San Francisco Giants with an 11-5 win on Sunday that included another long home run by Gary Sanchez.

LeMahieu was removed in the bottom of the third because of right knee inflammation. He says the injury is on the outer edge of his right knee.

Manager Aaron Boone said after the game that he thought the infielder had a deep bruise. Although X-rays taken during the game were negative, LeMahieu will have an MRI on Monday in Phoenix, where the Yankees will spend a day off before they face the Arizona Diamondbacks in a two-game series starting Tuesday.

"Just hopeful that it's something that stiffened up on him in the day game," Boone said.

The injury stemmed from a foul pitch that LeMahieu rattled off his right knee in Friday's game. He finished that game and played all of Saturday's game. Following both, he had the knee wrapped with ice. On Sunday, LeMahieu's knee was wrapped in gauze as he spoke with reporters.

The infielder contends that he didn't do anything to further hurt himself Sunday. The knee just "got more painful as the game went on," he said.

Asked if he thought he'd be in the Yankees' lineup on Tuesday, LeMahieu said, "That's my mindset."

In his first season with the Yankees, LaMahieu is hitting .310 with 15 RBIs.

Urshela left after he was hit on his left hand by an 88.5 mph cutter from Nick Vincent in the fifth. Urshela had two hits Sunday and is batting .351 with six RBIs in 57 at-bats.

The Yankees said X-rays on him were also negative.

"Just kind of a day-to-day thing," Boone said. "Obviously, the off day is coming at a good time for us. Hopefully we avoided some serious injuries."

Urshela, who was hit on the top of his left hand, just above the wrist, said no further testing would occur on his hand. He'll see how he feels after Monday, but he is hopeful to be back in the lineup at Arizona.

"Thank God the results are negative," Urshela said, speaking through an interpreter.

Although he was removed after slowly walking up the first-base line and being evaluated on the field, Urshela said he started feeling better about his injury pretty soon after.

"Once I got hit, because of the pain and sensation you have, automatically you think the worst," Urshela said. "But eventually I was able to move my fingers and got movement back and took a deep breath there."

New York has had 15 players on the injured list this year, and just two have come back: Sanchez and pitcher CC Sabathia. Still, the Yankees are 6-1 on their road trip after outscoring the Giants 21-12, and New York improved to a season-best six games over .500 at 17-11 by winning for the 11th time in 13 games.

"We've got really good makeup in that room," Boone said. "It's something that's important to us to have those kind of people, and we have that -- guys that are tough, that are prepared.

"I always felt with this team that through ups and downs, whatever, they're really good at turning the page. But there is an extra focus right now that with what we're going through, guys are coming in ready for any kind of role, ready for any kind of situation, and they're delivering."

With a depleted bench, the Yankees used pitcher J.A. Happ as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning, and he grounded out.

Sanchez and Gleyber Torres hit two-run homers as the Yankees built an 8-0 lead by the sixth inning, and Luke Voit added three hits and a walk to extend his on-base streak to 39 games.

Domingo German (5-1) took a shutout into the sixth before tiring and is now tied for the major league lead in wins. He allowed four runs and five hits in six innings.

New York took a 2-0 lead in the first, Voit doubled the lead with a two-run single in the second, and Torres homered in the third. Sanchez's sixth-inning drive left the bat at 111.8 mph and traveled 430 feet, landing near the top of the left-field stands. That nearly matched Sanchez's first career grand slam Saturday, which traveled 467 feet.

Kevin Pillar homered and had three RBIs for the Giants, who are last in the NL West at 11-17.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

PHOENIX -- Perhaps Chicago Cubs pitcher Tyler Chatwood knew what was coming from his good friend when he doubled off Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Matt Andriese to start a 15th-inning rally in the Cubs' wild win over Arizona on Sunday.

The game was tied 3-3 until Ben Zobrist drove home Chatwood not long after the righty reliever notched his fourth career double off a groomsman from his wedding.

"I've played with Matty since I was 7 or 8," a smiling Chatwood said after the 6-5 victory. "He was in my wedding, so I've known him for a while."

Zobrist drove in two on the play, then came home on a sacrifice fly -- a run the Cubs needed after Arizona staged its own rally in the bottom of the inning. The game ended with the tying run on first as Nick Ahmed took Zobrist to the warning track on a long fly.

"It was nerve-racking for a little bit," Zobrist said after catching the final out. "I thought, 'Oh, no,' for a second there. Just one of those days."

The day began with Zobrist on the bench after he asked out of the lineup in favor of David Bote, who homered twice on Saturday. Zobrist thought it was the right thing to do since Bote was scheduled to be on the bench for the series finale.

"Yeah, that was the right call," Zobrist said. "The right team call. You can't have that guy sitting the day after he looks so good. I feel like it was the right team thing."

Zobrist earned praise from Maddon, who made the final decision. Zobrist decided on the move in part because he has been struggling. Then he came off the bench and helped win the game with his first extra-base hit of the season.

"It felt good to drive a ball," Zobrist said of his right-field corner shot. "It's been a while. In that spot, it felt even better."

The game was the second longest by innings and time (5:36) in Chase Field history, with winning sequences coming from a player who asked not to start and a pitcher who doubled off his childhood friend.

"There are really a lot of wonderful little subplots for those that are into subplots," manager Joe Maddon said.

WASHINGTON -- San Diego rookie shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. left Sunday's game against the Washington Nationals after he did an awkward-looking split while trying to stretch for a throw at second base.

Tatis was unable to keep his foot on the bag on the play. He moved around gingerly while umpires reviewed the play but could not continue.

Padres manager Andy Green said after the Padres' 7-6 11-inning loss that Tatis suffered a hamstring injury. Green said it was uncertain how much time, if any, Tatis Jr. would miss with his injury.

"I think everyone saw what happened on the field,'' Green said. "So we are hoping he is OK. We'll find out in time here. He seems in pretty good spirits right now. We'll find out how severe, how mild it is here very shortly.''

The 20-year-old entered the season as one of the top prospects in baseball. He is hitting .300 with six homers and 13 RBIs for the Padres. The son of former major leaguer Fernando Tatis had a career-high three hits on Sunday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Another week into the season, we've seen No. 1 change hands yet again, as the Astros' claim to the top slot ends after only two weeks, with the Dodgers moving back on top after getting three first-place votes. The Astros received one of the other first-place votes, with the injury-wracked yet rising Yankees getting the other. The Yankees weren't the only new team in the top five, as the Cardinals also moved up into the crowded field at the top of the rankings.

Speaking of crowds, with so many teams at or near .500, this was a week where any slip or step forward yielded big gains or big declines among our voters. After getting into the top 10 in Week 3, the Pirates tumbled 10 spots after a rough week, and the Brewers similarly slipped out of the top 10 after taking a few knocks.

In their place the Cubs returned to the top 10 on the strength of some stronger starting pitching, while the Twins finally gained a spot among the higher-ups by continuing to make a case that the AL Central will be a two-team race after all. The Twins' nine-spot climb up the rankings was second only to the Diamondbacks making their own big move, climbing up to No. 11.

For Week 4, our panel of voters was composed of Bradford Doolittle, Christina Kahrl, Eric Karabell, Tim Kurkjian and David Schoenfield.

Previous: Preseason | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

2019 record: 19-11
Week 3 ranking: 3

Cody Bellinger continued his April tear Sunday with his 14th home run, tying Christian Yelich for most in the majors -- which also ties Albert Pujols (2006) and Alex Rodriguez (2007) for most home runs before May 1. Bellinger is hitting an amazing .427/.500/.913 and his 36 RBIs have tied Juan Gonzalez and Mark McGwire (both 1998) for most before May 1. It has been one of the best Aprils we've ever seen. -- David Schoenfield

2. Houston Astros

2019 record: 17-11
Week 3 ranking: 1

Houston ranks 11th or better by bWAR at every position group, including DH and pinch hitters -- with one exception. The Astros' first basemen -- primarily Yuli Gurriel -- have put up below-replacement production so far. It would be scary what this Astros attack would look like with a bona fide, slugging first baseman, the kind of which the market has neglected the past couple of offseasons. -- Bradford Doolittle

3. Tampa Bay Rays

2019 record: 18-9
Week 3 ranking: 2

The Rays have been good at just about everything so far this season, and with their showing over the weekend at Fenway Park they've already shown that getting swept at home last week against the Red Sox was not a sign of imminent collapse. However, with Joey Wendle hitting the IL again, it's time for Willy Adames and Daniel Robertson to join the party. Robertson is hitting half a Mendoza with a .329 OPS against righties this season. -- Doolittle

4. St. Louis Cardinals

2019 record: 17-10
Week 3 ranking: 8

A sweep of the Brewers to begin the week earned the Cardinals a place atop the NL Central standings, with their bats continuing to lead the way. Paul Goldschmidt has been tearing the cover off the ball, batting .343 (12-for-35) with two homers during the team's just-completed nine-game homestand. -- Tristan Cockcroft

5. New York Yankees

2019 record: 17-11
Week 3 ranking: 6

After sweeping the Giants, the makeshift Yankees have won nine of 10 and own the second-best run differential in the majors behind the Rays. Luke Voit continues to get on base (.397 OBP and he has reached base every game this season), and Gary Sanchez came off the IL and homered Sunday -- his eighth in just 15 games. -- Schoenfield

6. Seattle Mariners

2019 record: 18-13
Week 3 ranking: 9

The Mariners beat the Rangers on Thursday and Friday, only to see the Rangers pound them 15-1 and 14-1 on Saturday and Sunday. Marco Gonzales won his start to become the majors' first five-game winner, but the defense continues to be a big issue. Tim Beckham has committed 10 errors at shortstop, the most of any player at any position, and Domingo Santana has been a train wreck in left field. His minus-9 defensive runs saved entering Sunday was the worst in the majors. -- Schoenfield

7. Minnesota Twins

2019 record: 16-9
Week 3 ranking: 16

The Michael Pineda success story has hit a few bumps of late, but he also has been a bit unlucky. A high BABIP has contributed to a 5.63 ERA, but his 4.24 FIP looks much better in comparison. It is not as if the Twins have a top pitching prospect knocking at the door. Pineda, who missed last season, should improve. -- Eric Karabell

8. Cleveland Indians

2019 record: 15-12
Week 3 ranking: 7

Francisco Lindor's return made an instant impact as he ripped three home runs while the Indians scored five of more runs in four of his first six starts. Lindor's presence coincided with revivified offense from Jose Ramirez, who clouted a pair of extra-base hits (a third of his season total), drew five walks and stole three bases. The Tribe's lineup isn't firing on all cylinders yet, but it's getting there. -- Christina Kahrl

9. Philadelphia Phillies

2019 record: 16-12
Week 3 ranking: 5

Getting shortstop Jean Segura and center fielder Odubel Herrera back from the injured list should aid an inconsistent offense that has not performed as expected so far. At least ace Aaron Nola is improving, after a four-start stretch sans a quality start. That 5.68 ERA should keep dropping this week. -- Karabell

10. Chicago Cubs

2019 record: 14-12
Week 3 ranking: 12

Addison Russell could return by the end of the week. Uprooting Javier Baez from shortstop seems dicey, but Russell would upgrade the middle infield overall defensively, since second base has been manned by Daniel Descalso, David Bote and Ben Zobrist. All salient statements about Russell's off-field troubles aside, adding a Gold Glove-caliber fielder can only help what has been an underperforming defensive unit. -- Doolittle

11. Arizona Diamondbacks

2019 record: 16-13
Week 3 ranking: 21

Arizona's hot streak -- a 10-3 run entering Sunday -- has been fueled by its pitching, posting a 2.95 ERA in that span. Diamondbacks relievers had a streak of 24 consecutive innings without giving up an earned run snapped Saturday by the Cubs, while Greg Holland (0.67 WHIP, 14 K's over nine scoreless innings) has been in vintage Royals form. -- Steve Richards

12. Milwaukee Brewers

2019 record: 15-14
Week 3 ranking: 4

Though the Brewers' offense has tasted great at Miller Park, the road output has been less than filling. Christian Yelich's surreal home-road splits exemplify that observation, but it has been a team-wide trait -- Milwaukee hitters rank second in home OPS versus 20th on the road. The pitchers haven't quite reversed that, though they do rank 18th in OPS allowed on the road versus 26th at home. A less homer-happy attack might make the Brew Crew offense a little more portable. -- Doolittle

13. Boston Red Sox

2019 record: 11-17
Week 3 ranking: 15

The upswing from last weekend's sweep of Tampa Bay was negated by a 2-4 week that included a two-game sweep by the Rays at Fenway. On the plus side, the Red Sox have gotten a boost from top prospect Michael Chavis, who has three home runs in 24 at-bats since being called up and filling in at second base. It will be interesting to see if he stays there when Brock Holt, Eduardo Nunez and/or Dustin Pedroia are healthy. -- Richards

14. New York Mets

2019 record: 14-13
Week 3 ranking: 11

The Mets can plug valuable Jeff McNeil into most every position and he keeps hitting. It is a bit surprising McNeil has yet to earn regular leadoff duties. He hits for average and makes contact, and Brandon Nimmo is, well, struggling to do those things. Meanwhile, Pete Alonso keeps hitting. -- Karabell

15. Atlanta Braves

2019 record: 13-14
Week 3 ranking: 14

How much has the bullpen struggled? Braves fans were chanting "We want Kimbrel" on Saturday night as the Rockies scored five runs in the ninth inning. The Braves acquired Jerry Blevins to add another lefty as the bullpen ranks 21st in the majors with a 4.64 ERA, has issued the second-most walks and has the worst strikeout-to-walk ratio. -- Schoenfield

16. San Diego Padres

2019 record: 16-12
Week 3 ranking: 18

Though the Padres' offense reached eight runs in a game for the first time Saturday, the pitching has kept them in games, including a week-opening three-game win streak. Closer Kirby Yates is on pace for a season for the ages, projecting for more than 70 saves and 125 strikeouts with a sub-1.00 ERA. -- Cockcroft

17. Washington Nationals

2019 record: 12-14
Week 3 ranking: 13

A never-before-seen feat Sunday: Juan Soto, Victor Robles and Carter Kieboom each homered, the first time three players 21 and younger homered for the same team in one game. In fact, the last team with three players that young to homer in the same season was the 1993 Expos with Cliff Floyd, Rondell White and Wil Cordero. The Nationals won the game on Matt Adams' walk-off HR, but lost the series to the Padres -- and have lost three series in a row, to the Padres, Rockies and Marlins, teams you have to beat if you want to win the division. -- Schoenfield

18. Colorado Rockies

2019 record: 13-15
Week 3 ranking: 20

Would you believe the pitching staff has had much to do with the Rockies' recent hot spell, with wins in 10 of their past 13 games? It's not just German Marquez's doing, either. Jon Gray, whose 5.12 ERA was highest among regular Rockies starters in 2018, had strung together three straight quality starts before scuffling a bit Saturday against the Braves. -- Cockcroft

19. Oakland Athletics

2019 record: 14-16
Week 3 ranking: 17

The A's rotation ranks last in the league in strikeout rate, but the past week's worth of games saw some significant improvements on that score, with Oakland's starters striking out 36 in 34 IP, with recent addition Chris Bassitt providing much of the boost with 16 K's across 12 innings in his first two starts. That kind of performance could help him stick around. -- Kahrl

20. Pittsburgh Pirates

2019 record: 12-14
Week 3 ranking: 10

Despite the unexpectedly early return of Gregory Polanco from shoulder surgery this past Monday, the Pirates' offense wasn't able to put it together. From April 17-23, the team scored fewer than five runs in all eight games, and usual leadoff man Adam Frazier is in a 6-for-33 slump in his past nine contests. -- Cockcroft

21. Cincinnati Reds

2019 record: 11-16
Week 3 ranking: 25

The Reds picked up a couple of key wins against the Braves at home during the past week, during which time closer Raisel Iglesias looked a lot closer to his 2017-18 self. The right-hander has converted each of his past four save chances and struck out 11 batters in 5⅔ innings in his past five outings. -- Cockcroft

22. Toronto Blue Jays

2019 record: 13-14
Week 3 ranking: 23

The Jays are 3-0 in the Vladimir Guerrero Jr. era, although he hasn't had a ton to do with it (3-for-12; 1 walk; 3 strikeouts; no runs, RBIs or errors). Baby Vlad's arrival did bring some energy to Rogers Centre -- this weekend's three-game series drew 69,499, or about 10,000 more than Toronto's previous weekend series -- and that counts for something. -- Richards

23. Los Angeles Angels

2019 record: 12-17
Week 3 ranking: 22

The Angels probably regret the three-year contract bestowed upon former Reds shortstop Zack Cozart in December 2017. In a year plus a month, Cozart has hit .194 for the Angels and slugged .309 over 81 games, and he is back on the injured list because of a neck injury. Even if he were healthy, the Angels need more offense. -- Karabell

24. Texas Rangers

2019 record: 14-13
Week 3 ranking: 19

Just when it looked as if the Rangers' week was going to be a complete washout, they snapped a five-game losing streak with consecutive wins over Seattle by the scores of 15-1 and 14-1. Everything is bigger with Texas, including run totals. The Rangers have scored in double figures six times and given up at least 10 runs five times, with a pair of 11-10 wins part of the mix. -- Richards

25. Detroit Tigers

2019 record: 12-14
Week 3 ranking: 24

On Friday, Miguel Cabrera ended a homerless streak dating to last season across 161 plate appearances by jacking an opposite-field home run down the line in Chicago. Among 28 regular first basemen or DHs, Miggy's .726 OPS ranks 24th of 29; his .081 isolated slugging ranks last. At 466 home runs and counting on his career, 500 suddenly looks very far away. -- Kahrl

26. San Francisco Giants

2019 record: 11-17
Week 3 ranking: 27

There's something emblematic of the team's fortunes that Buster Posey and (rubs eyes) Pablo Sandoval are among the team's hitting leaders, just like it was 2010 and both were 23-year-old regulars in the lineup together for the first time. Unfortunately, Posey's not hitting nearly as well as he did then, but Sandoval's .909 OPS, mostly in a pinch-hitting role, might be enough to get Bruce Bochy to start thinking about sitting Evan Longoria now and again. -- Kahrl

27. Chicago White Sox

2019 record: 11-14
Week 3 ranking: 26

The crosstown Cubs focused their rebuilding plan around the development of position players. The White Sox have tried to straddle the fence between hitters and starters. This year's rotation features several possible long-term fits, like Reynaldo Lopez, Carlos Rodon and Lucas Giolito -- none of whom are rookies. Thus it is no small thing that the ChiSox rank last in the majors with a 6.31 rotation ERA. That's the key number for this team. -- Doolittle

28. Kansas City Royals

2019 record: 9-19
Week 3 ranking: 28

Royals first baseman Ryan O'Hearn slugged .705 against right-handers as a rookie. Nobody expected a repeat to that level, but fans, and hopefully the team, should be patient here. O'Hearn, who gets platooned versus left-handed pitching for good reason, has been unlucky. He has power and plate discipline. -- Karabell

29. Baltimore Orioles

2019 record: 10-19
Week 3 ranking: 29

The O's haven't been quite as atrocious as last year -- not that that's saying much -- but they have been giving up home runs at an alarming rate. Baltimore pitchers have yielded 71 homers, an amazing 20 more than any other team in baseball. This weekend's foe, the Twins, touched 'em all 12 times, a team record for a three-game series -- and one more than they hit last weekend at Baltimore. -- Richards

30. Miami Marlins

2019 record: 8-20
Week 3 ranking: 30

Want to accentuate the positive? Caleb Smith is second in the NL in strikeout rate for starting pitchers with 11.5 K/9, and the Marlins' bullpen is second in the majors in strikeout rate, notching 10.7 K/9. So that's something. Jorge Alfaro, Starlin Castro and Curtis Granderson all produced OPS marks north of .750 for the week. So, the situation isn't entirely bleak, it's just still not great. -- Kahrl

Rafael Nadal's hopes of extending his own record by winning an ATP tournament for the 12th time were ended when he was beaten by Dominic Thiem in the Barcelona Open semi-finals.

Nadal has triumphed in Barcelona 11 times, a mark he has also hit at the French Open and Monte Carlo Masters.

But his hopes of adding to his record ended in a 6-4 6-4 loss to Thiem, who he beat in the 2017 Barcelona final.

The Austrian will meet 23-year-old Daniil Medvedev in Sunday's final.

Had Nadal won against Thiem he would have had the opportunity to match Martina Navratilova's professional tournament record of winning 12 times at the now-defunct Avon Championships of Chicago.

The 32-year-old had appeared on course to win the Barcelona Open for the fourth time in succession - he went into the match having won 46 of the 47 sets he had played in the tournament's final two rounds.

Instead 25-year-old Thiem, who lost to Nadal in a one-sided French Open final last year, will have the opportunity to win a second title of the year having beaten Roger Federer in the final at Indian Wells last month.

Russian Medvedev beat fourth seed Kei Nishikori 6-4 3-6 7-5 in their semi-final on Saturday.