Since MLB's realignment in 1993, no division has had every team finish above .500. Could this be the year it finally happens?

State of play: The season is still young, but the AL East once again looks like the deepest division in baseball.

• Last year, the Yankees (99-63), Blue Jays (92-70), Rays (86-76) and Orioles (83-79) all finished above .500. The Red Sox (78-84) came close.
• This year, all five teams are above .500 through three-plus weeks. Every other division has at least two teams with sub-.500 records.

The intrigue: The AL East's pursuit of history will be aided by the new balanced schedule that will see teams play 52 division games, down from 76 in years past.

• As a result, MLB's toughest division will get to play less against one another — and more against everybody else.
• Consider this: Under the old scheduling format, the Orioles would have had the hardest projected opponent strength of schedule this season. Instead, they had the ninth-easiest.

By the numbers: The AL East is currently 55-23 (.705) outside the division, taking full advantage of the increased opportunities to beat up on weaker foes like the Tigers (11-1), Athletics (6-1) and Nationals (5-0).

Zoom out …"East" divisions are on fire across the major sports leagues.

• The three best regular-season teams this year in both the NBA (Bucks, Celtics, 76ers) and NHL (Bruins, Hurricanes, Devils) were in the East.
• The NFC East made history last season, with all four teams finishing .500 or better and three advancing to the divisional round.

We've played 30 NBA playoff games and 28 NHL playoff games. Here's where things stand.

🏀 NBA: The Sixers have advanced, but it's not all good news: MVP favorite Joel Embiid (knee) is "probably 50%" for the start of the second round.

• East: The 76ers swept the Nets, the Knicks are up 3-1 on the Cavaliers, the Celtics are up 3-1 on the Hawks and the Heat are up 2-1 on the Bucks.
• West: The Warriors and Kings are tied 2-2, the Nuggets are up 3-1 on the Timberwolves, the Suns are up 3-1 on the Clippers and the Lakers are up 2-1 on the Grizzlies.

1-2 punch … Kevin Durant and Devin Booker are the third duo to each score 25+ points in the first four games of the postseason, joining Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal (2003) and Elgin Baylor and Jerry West (1962).

🏒 NHL: There will be no first-round sweeps on the ice this year, which is pretty on brand for the parity-driven NHL.

• East: The Bruins are up 3-1 on the Panthers, the Hurricanes are up 3-1 on the Islanders, the Rangers are up 2-1 on the Devils and the Maple Leafs are up 2-1 on the Lightning.
• West: The Stars and Wild are tied 2-2, the Oilers and Kings are tied 2-2, the Golden Knights are up 2-1 on the Jets and the Avalanche are up 2-1 on the Kraken.

Stars drop gloves … Steven Stamkos and Auston Matthews traded punches on Saturday night in Tampa — the first fight in NHL history between players who have had a 60-goal season.

In Shohei Ohtani's last three pitching starts, he's recorded more hits at the plate (four) than he's allowed on the mound (three).

The big picture: Ohtani's 0.64 ERA leads all starters. He's already won an MVP award — it seems now he's coming for the Cy Young.

⛳️ Golf roundup: Lilia Vu won her first major at the Chevron Championship; Davis Riley and Nick Hardy captured their first PGA Tour wins at the Zurich Classic; Talor Gooch won LIV's first event in Australia, which drew over 90,000 fans.

🏈 NFL suspensions: The NFL suspended five players on Friday for violating the league's gambling policy. Three were suspended for at least the 2023 season for betting on NFL games.

📺 New shows: Will Ferrell will star in a golf sitcom that sounds loosely based on PGA Tour-LIV drama; Charles Barkley and Gayle King will co-host a new weekly CNN show called "King Charles" starting later this year.

⚽️ United vs. City: For the first time ever there will be a Manchester derby in the FA Cup final after Manchester United beat Brighton on penalties and Manchester City beat Sheffield United, 3-0, behind Riyad Mahrez's hat trick.

LAS VEGAS — Gervonta "Tank" Davis (29-0, 27 KOs) knocked out Ryan Garcia (23-1, 19 KOs) with a body shot in the seventh round to win their highly anticipated bout and fortify his claim as the face of boxing.

SEATTLE — Six days after the tragic death of teammate Chris Smith, the Seattle Sea Dragons secured the final spot in the XFL playoffs alongside the D.C. Defenders, Houston Roughnecks and Arlington Renegades.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Adolis García made history on Saturday, becoming the first AL player to hit three home runs and two doubles in a game. His line in the Rangers' 18-3 win over the A's: 5-for-5, 3 HR, 8 RBI (plus a hit-by-pitch).

BARCELONA — World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz beat world No. 5 Stefano Tsitsipas in straight sets to become the first player since Rafael Nadal to win back-to-back Barcelona Opens.

LONDON — Kenya's Kelvin Kiptum won Sunday's London Marathon in 2:01:25, the second-fastest marathon time ever. Only Eliud Kipchoge's world record of 2:01:09 from last September's Berlin Marathon was faster.

NEWCASTLE, England — Newcastle scored five goals in the first 21 minutes en route to a 6-1 win over Tottenham — a significant result in the race for a top-four finish and a spot in next year's Champions League.

A pair of top-two seeds must win on the road tonight to avoid falling into a 3-1 hole — a deficit only 13 teams have ever overcome in the NBA playoffs.

• Schedule: Bucks (down 2-1) at Heat (7:30pm ET, TNT); Grizzlies (down 2-1) at Lakers (10pm, TNT)
• Injury report: Giannis Antetokounmpo (back) is questionable after missing Games 2 and 3.

More to watch:

• 🏒 NHL playoffs: Devils (down 2-1) at Rangers (7pm, ESPN); Maple Leafs (up 2-1) at Lightning (7:30pm, TBS); Golden Knights (up 2-1) at Jets (9:30pm, ESPN); Avalanche (up 2-1) at Kraken (10pm, TBS)
• ⚾️ MLB: Red Sox at Orioles or Astros at Rays (6:35pm, MLB); Athletics at Angels (9:30pm, FS1)

Source: Giphy

Skiing + juggling = skuggling.

Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green won their 94th playoff game together on Sunday, the third-most by a trio in NBA history.

• Question: Which two trios do they trail?
• Hint: Texas and California.

Answer at the bottom.

1. ⚽️ Gorgeous bicycle kick
2. ⚾️ Not your typical groundout
3. ⚾️ Incredible play at first
4. 🥍 Through the legs
5. ⚾️ What a grab
6. 🏒 Filthy goal
7. 🥎 Avoids the tag
8. 🏒 Spin-o-rama
9. ⚽️ Impossible angle
10. 🏈 One-handed grab

Watch all 10.