🧩 Piecing together playoffs | Sports Daily Newsletter

As the NHL and NBA enter the regular-season stretch, there’s a glimmer of hope that both the Flyers and Sixers will be extending their seasons and competing in the playoffs.

The last time the Sixers made a postseason appearance was in 2023-24, and for the Flyers, it was 2020, during a COVID-19 bubble-style year.

It’s been an interesting ride, from one team being in a rebuilding phase for what feels like an entirety to another tanking just last season. There are still plenty of unknowns as their seasons tick down to their last remaining games.

The Sixers are still jockeying for position in the Eastern Conference playoff race, and could finish anywhere from sixth to 10th. Entering Tuesday’s games, they held seventh place. With three games remaining, the margins are tight and they could play one of four first-round opponents.

Gabriela Carroll breaks down the possible matchups from most to least favorable for the Sixers.

As for the Flyers, they control their playoff destiny — and a 5-1 win over the Devils on Tuesday certainly helped — with four games remaining. They’ve missed a franchise record-tying five straight postseasons and haven’t had a playoff series in Philly since 2018, but now have 92 points and remain as the third seed in the Metropolitan Division.

With the Orange and Black back in the thick of the playoff race, every game counts, and here’s what you should know about how they got here.

— Isabella DiAmore, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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❓Which team do you think has a better chance of making a postseason run, Flyers or Sixers? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

It’s unlikely that the Eagles will spend early draft resources at a position where they are mostly set with Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby. However, a developmental Day 3 running back could be in the cards for the Birds, as they’ll be looking for an upgrade at the RB3 spot.

Let’s take a look at three late-round options the Eagles could target in the draft, including Penn State’s Nicholas Singleton, who had a breakout season in 2024 as a junior. A broken bone in his foot suffered at the Senior Bowl and his lack of production last season are factors in his late-round projection.

Orion Kerkering was out at the start of the season with a right hamstring strain, but on Tuesday the Phillies reinstated the right-hander from the 15-day injured list. Kerkering made four appearances for triple-A Lehigh Valley on a rehab assignment, pitching to a 2.25 ERA and 0.75 WHIP. He also introduced a splitter in the offseason to add a different look to his repertoire, which Rob Thomson believes is a major-league-ready pitch.

Cristopher Sánchez had an uncharacteristic outing for the Phillies in 6-0 loss to Giants. He didn’t get much help from his defense and the Phillies mustered just four hits.

Tyrese Maxey had an uncharacteristically off outing in Monday’s loss to the Spurs — 15 points, eight assists, three rebounds, four turnovers to be exact. “That’s just on me,” the All-Star point guard said.

Maxey’s performance also could be a blip in the reintegration of the Sixers’ finally healthy roster. However, he’ll need to shift back into his aggressive self to prepare for playoff intensity as the team enters Thursday’s game at the Houston Rockets still jostling for seeding.

Of the 25 active players on the Flyers’ roster, 12 have played in a playoff game. Only Sean Couturier, Travis Konecny, and Travis Sanheim have done so donning Orange and Black. But that also means 13 haven’t seen the postseason yet.

The veterans don’t necessarily seek out the younger players about it, but when it comes up, they try to remind them to “live day to day, game by game, and do your best dialing in and [being] detailed in those moments, and hopefully everything works out in your favor.”

In other news, Matvei Michkov was fined $2,000 by the NHL for his second diving/embellishment infraction in a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 24.

Who is the last Phillies skipper to be named National League manager of the year?

D) Larry Bowa — Chayim S. was first with the correct answer.

We asked: Which Phillies rookie will have the bigger impact, Andrew Painter or Justin Crawford? Among your responses:

Crawford hands down. An everyday elite ballplayer should have the higher impact than a good starting pitcher who might play in 4 games a month. — Ronald R.

As the everyday center fielder, Justin Crawford should have the biggest day-to-day impact on the Phillies. Solid defense and timely hitting will help solidify the bottom of the lineup. — Bob C.

Crawford will have a bigger impact. No knock on Painter but center field has been an issue for some time for the Phils. He brings good defense and seems capable of hitting for average and has great speed. He will impact more games than Painter. In addition, the pitching staff for the Phils has not been their biggest problem in the past. I think both of these guys will have a positive impact and hopefully be here a long time. I just think that an everyday player with speed, defense and hits for average were the bigger need. — Bill H.

Less pressure on Crawford. Crawford has done nothing but prove himself at every level. A natural. Painter is all potential and hype. Too early in the season to hand out final grades but Crawford may be leading off by The All Star game. — Andy A.

Hopefully both will carry the Phillies for years, but if I have to pick one it’s Justin Crawford. — Bill M.

Tough question. Painter had a very rough night in his first away from home game, while Crawford continues to hit although he certainly will not end up the season at .355. I think Crawford, the everyday player, will have a bigger impact this season than Painter although we are all rooting for the young pitcher to be a strong contributor. — Everett S.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jeff Neiburg, Devin Jackson, Gabriela Carroll, Gina Mizell, Gustav Elvin, Jackie Spiegel, Lochlahn March, Jonathan Tannenwald, and Katie Lewis.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

As always, thanks for getting your morning started with me. Have a great Wednesday, and Kerith will be in your inbox on Thursday. — Bella