Following a tradition he started in 2018, Diaz entered the field from the outfield bullpen, then headed to the pitcher’s mound to the sound of trumpets as his walk-out song "Narco" played over the stadium speakers. Diaz struck out two batters to close out the 5-4 win.
For the past three years, he did it at Citi Field as a member of the New York Mets. On March 27, he unveiled the walk-out ritual at Dodger Stadium.
Diaz told reporters in December he was looking forward to the moment after signing a three-year, $69 million contract with the Dodgers.
“It would be fun,’’ Diaz said at the time. “I think that music will get into the fans right away. That's a nice walk-up song, so I can't wait to, first game of the season, come in the ninth with Timmy Trumpet and get the W for the Dodgers."
The sound of trumpets almost always signals a triumphant moment. Diaz, the 32-year-old from Puerto, has recorded 253 saves in his nine-year MLB career, He also was named the American League Reliever of the year in 2018 and the National Reliever of the Year in 2022 and 2025.
Diaz started using Narco as his walk-out song in 2018. At the time, he was pitching for the Mariners, which provided a few options, according to MLB.com.
Why did he pick the song?
"The trumpets," Díaz told Matt Monagan of MLB.com in 2022. "The trumpets were unique. Something different from what everybody uses. That's why I picked it."
Released in 2017, the hit song is by Blasterjaxx, Dutch DJ and record production duo, and Timmy Trumpet, an Australian DJ/producer.
Upon joining the Mets in 2019, Diaz started using “No Hay Limite’’ as his walk-out song. But he went back to “Narco’’ in 2020 and has remained faithful to the trumpets ever since.
Los Angeles, CA - March 26: Kyle Tucker #23 of the Los Angeles Dodgers watches his RBI double as teammate Shohei Ohtani (not pictured) scores against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the seventh inning of an opening day baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
After the pomp and circumstance that came from the Dodgers’ second consecutive ring night, the Dodgers had a close affair on Friday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, pulling away late to win 5-4.
Emmet Sheehan made his first start of the season, and he made quick work of the first three Arizona hitters by striking out the side in order. The final one of the inning was initially called a ball, but Will Smith issued a challenge and the Dodgers won their first ABS challenge in team history.
Arizona began the top of the second inning by putting their first two hitters on base via a single from Gabriel Moreno and a walk to Pavin Smith. Sheehan managed to strike out Nolan Arenado and get Carlos Santana to fly out, but Alek Thomas got the Diamondbacks in front early with an RBI double that could’ve scored two, but a great relay from Kyle Tucker and Alex Freeland caught Smith at the plate. Arizona padded their lead to two as Ketel Marte launched a line drive home run to right field in the top of the third inning on a 3-0 fastball from Sheehan.
Arizona right-hander Ryne Nelson was one out away from keeping the Dodgers at bay over the first time through the lineup, but Alex Freeland got one of the two runs back with a towering home run to right field— a little thank you to Dave Roberts for adding him to the opening day roster. Shohei Ohtani and Kyle Tucker both walked against Nelson to put the potential tying and go-ahead runners on base, and Mookie Betts, who homered twice on ring night last year, crushed a go-ahead three-run home run to right-center field to give the Dodgers their third four-run inning over their first 11 innings on offense.
Sheehan struggled again in his second time facing the bottom half of Arizona’s lineup, as he allowed his second walk to Smith and a double to Carlos Santana to put the tying run in scoring position. Sheehan was pulled after tossing 83 pitches over just 3 1/3 innings of work, allowing two earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out six. Jack Dreyer came in relief of Sheehan, and Thomas once again made the Dodgers pay with his second double of the night, this time driving in two and tying the game, but Thomas overran the third base bag going for a triple and was tagged out.
Arizona threatened to retake the lead in the top of the sixth inning, as Ben Casparius allowed two baserunners while recording just two outs in the top of the sixth inning. Dave Roberts went to Tanner Scott for the second day in a row, needing him to put away Thomas with the go-ahead run at second base. The gamble paid off, and Scott struck him out to get the Dodgers out of the jam.
Both Alex Vesia and Edgardo Henríquez tossed a scoreless inning as the bullpen kept the Diamondbacks off the board after the second double from Thomas. The Dodgers couldn’t supply anything offensively after the home run from Betts, going hitless over their next 14 at-bats against Nelson and the Arizona bullpen. Freeland snapped the hitless skid to begin the bottom of the eighth inning with a ringing double to the right-center field gap. Ohtani moved him over to third on a groundout, and Tucker lined a ball into right field past a drawn in infield to put the Dodgers back on top by a run.
This set up the perfect opportunity for Edwin Díaz to make his Dodger debut, and emerged from the left field bullpen to the blaring sounds of “Narco” by Timmy Trumpet for the first time at his new home. Díaz put the tying run on base, but struck out two and tossed a scoreless inning to pick up his first save as a Dodger and help his new squad take the series from Arizona.
The Dodgers last season started the year 8-0. They are a quarter of the way there this time around.
Game particulars
Home runs— Ketel Marte (1); Alex Freeland (1), Mookie Betts (1)
The Dodgers wrap things up against Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday before an off-day on Sunday, with a three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians beginning the following day. Tyler Glasnow makes his first start of the season against left-hander Eduardo Rodríguez.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 27: Chase DeLauter #24 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates after hitting a home run on a fly ball to right center field during the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on March 27, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Maddy Grassy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Can’t win them all, I suppose. Although, tonight was a frustrating game in the fashion of the summer 2025 Guardians. Gavin Williams took the mound this evening and really struggled to find the zone. He threw a measly 31% of his pitches in the strike zone, per Statcast. The good news is he generated 15 whiffs! His stuff also looked fantastic across the board, just would’ve been nice if said stuff could’ve been located in that lovely white box that appears on the television. Gavin’s sweeper, especially, looked fantastic tonight. He seems to have tweaked that pitch this offseason, and is now more consistently throwing it east-west.
Some more good news as Chase DeLauter homered AGAIN in his first at-bat tonight, an almost exact replica of his first home run in the opening night game.
Per MLB researcher Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports on X), DeLauter is the third player since (at least) 1900 to record 3 home runs in their first two career regular season games. The most recent player was Trevor Story in 2016.
Anyway, Gavin’s command struggles eventually came back to bite him when he surrendered a 3-run homer to Cole Young (native Clevelander, of course) in the fourth.
Speaking of struggles, the Guardians loaded the bases in the top of the 5th with only 1 out. Hoskins and Naylor walked, and Rocchio was hit by a pitch. Kwan stepped to the plate, weakly flew out to left and, well, if you didn’t watch it live, I’ll let you watch it now.
The Guardians offense was much less fun to watch than it was last night, unfortunately. All good things must come to an end.
DeLauter did have a weird play in the field in the 3rd. Leo Rivas hit a fly ball near the foul line in right, DeLauter seemed to have caught it in his glove, but then dropped it right after. Rivas was awarded a triple.
Newly minted Guardians reliever Colin Holderman came into the game in the 6th and promptly gave up a 2-run homer. Oops!
Another newly minted Guardians reliever Peyton Pallette (Rule 5 pick from the White Sox) made his Guardians debut today, and it went far better than Holderman’s. Pitched 2 innings, struck out 2 (Donovan and Raleigh). Got both strikeouts in his first inning, and did surrender some hard contact in his second, but did not give up a hit. His stuff looked fantastic, per Thomas Nestico (@TJStats on X)
He seems to have spontaneously added almost 5 inches of ride on his fastball in his debut, which resulted in that stellar 114 stuff+ rating.
Anyway, the Guardians look to take the series lead tomorrow night with Cantillo on the mound. It’ll be Bryan Woo for the Mariners.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Ty France #4 of the San Diego Padres tosses his bat after striking out to end the second inning against the Detroit Tigers at Petco Park on March 27, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The highly regarded San Diego Padres bullpen failed to live up to expectations when the Padres faced the Detroit Tigers at Petco Park on Friday. Jeremiah Estrada entered the top of the eighth inning with San Diego clinging to a 2-1 lead. He was unable to protect the one-run margin, instead he allowed three walks and a single, while recording two outs before manager Craig Stammen replaced him on the mound with the game tied, 2-2.
Wandy Peralta needed just one out to keep the game deadlocked with the Padres coming to the plate in the bottom of the inning. However, Peralta allowed a two-out, two-run double to rookie Kevin McGonigle, who was playing in just his second MLB game. Peralta then allowed a single to Dillon Dingler before finally recording the third out of the inning on a pop out by Matt Vierling, but the damage was done and San Diego dropped its second game of the season to Detroit by the score of 5-2.
Michael King started the game for the Padres and allowed just one run on one hit with four walks allowed and six strikeouts. King left the game with a runner on and a 1-0 lead. Adrian Morejon came in for King and allowed just one hit, but that led to a run for the Tigers which tied the game 1-1. Morejon got the final out of the sixth and worked a clean seventh to setup the eighth inning for Estrada.
Michael King strikes out six over five innings in his Opening Week start against the Tigers
The game started with a highlight play in center field by Jackson Merrill in the top of the second inning. Merrill went back to the wall and jumped to make the catch to take a home run away from McGonigle. The play ensured the game remained scoreless. Merrill then doubled to lead off the bottom of the second inning, but back-to-back lineouts from Miguel Andujar and Ramon Laureano, followed by a strikeout from Ty France left him stranded.
San Diego scored the first run of the game off Detroit starter Framber Valdez, who was making his first start with the Tigers. Manny Machado opened the inning with a double down the line and into the left field corner. Merrill then beat out a close play at first base on a ground ball, which allowed Machado to move to third base and put runners on the corners with no outs. Andujar came through with an RBI-single on a sharp ground ball that kicked off McGonigle’s glove at third base and deflected to Javier Baez at shortstop. Baez saw he did not have a play at first base and held onto the ball and the Padres took a 1-0 lead.
San Diego scored its second run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Merrill worked a one-out walk and Andujar flied out for the second out of the inning. An errant throw by Detroit catcher Dingler trying to back-pick Merrill at first base, sailed into right field and Merrill advanced to second base. Laureano followed with a double off the base of the wall in right field that allowed Merrill to score from second base to give the Padres a 2-1 lead.
Mar 27, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Detroit Tigers third baseman Kevin McGonigle (7) hits a two-run single during the eighth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images | David Frerker-Imagn Images
The first game of the season was a smashing success: rookies mashing, pitchers dazzling, and a can of whoop-butt was opened right off the hop. Would the Tigers be able to duplicate their early success in San Diego on Friday night too? Well, it took a few innings to come to fruition, but just like we’ve seen in the past couple of years, these Tigers seem to have a taste for late-in-the-game comebacks at their best, with a clutch hit from a rookie being the fatal blow in a 5-2 Tigers win.
Making his regular-season Tigers debut was Framber Valdez, the biggest offseason pickup for Detroit. After eight solid seasons in Houston, the last four of which were very good, he came north to reunite with his former manager and maybe pick up a little more hardware, hopefully? In that four-year stretch he averaged a 3.21 ERA (127 ERA+, 3.29 FIP), 1.159 WHIP, a bit below 192 IP, 8.8 K/9IP and 2.3 BB/9IP. He’s also been great at keeping the ball in the park, averaging a scant 0.7 HR/9IP, even pitching half his games in whatever that park in Houston’s called these days, which has tended to favour the hitters a bit.
Facing Valdez tonight was Michael King, who’s in his third year in the Padres’ rotation after a few years spent mostly in the Yankees’ bullpen. He’s been no slouch lately either; in two seasons in a brown uniform he’s sported a 3.10 ERA (134 ERA+, 3.65 FIP). He’s also averaged just over 10 K/9IP, so let’s just say he’s been a solid acquisition for the Padres.
In the top of the second Kevin McGonigle hit a rocket to centre, but Jackson Merrill climbed the wall and took the rookie’s first major-league home run away.
I mean, that’s a pretty short wall, but you gotta tip your cap to any dinger-robbery. Merrill, of course, came up first in the bottom of the second and bashed a double to right, but a pair of lineouts and Valdez’s first strikeout got him out of the inning. He was giving up some solid contact, which isn’t exactly what you want to see.
The Padres got on the board in the fourth: Machado doubled to left, Merrill pushed him up to third with an infield single, and another infield single by Miguel Andujar scored him. A flyout put runners on second and third with one out, and Valdez was in his first jam of the night. Merrill took off from third on a grounder to Javier Báez and got cut down at the plate, leaving runners at the corners; Jake Cronenworth then struck out on a curveball in the dirt, ending the threat and the inning with limited damage.
In the top of the fifth the Tigers had two runners on with none out via a walk and a hit-batter. But then Parker Meadows struck out, Báez grounded out, and Kerry Carpenter struck out on some nasty changeups from King, and that was that.
Gleyber Torres walked to lead off the sixth, which was the end of King’s night. The very-tough Adam Morejon came on, and pinch-hitter Jahmai Jones grounded into what looked like a sure double-play, except a bobble by Machado put two runners on. But then Riley Greene actually did ground into the ol’ twin-killing, leaving Torres on third with two outs. Would the Tigers squander yet another opportunity? They actually would not, as Spencer Torkelson laced a single to left-centre to score Torres and tie the game.
But then Torkelson was thrown out trying to steal — you gotta be aggressive, I guess — and that ended the inning.
Colt Keith, who came into the game in the bottom of the sixth, made a nifty diving play on the first batter he saw on a screaming, 100-mph liner to third. With two outs and Merrill on first, Dillon Dingler tried to back-pick him after he stumbled, but Dingler airmailed the throw into right field; Merrill advanced to second and scored on a double by Ramón Laureano, the Padres retaking the lead 2-1. Ty France then struck out to end the inning, so yet again Valdez limited the damage after a run had scored with more quite possible.
Enmanuel De Jesus, who had a great WBC with Venezuela, took over for Valdez in the seventh, and gave up yet another Padres infield single. But then De Jesus got a pair of strikeouts and a flyout to right, and hey, that was a pretty nice return to the Major Leagues by EDJ after spending two years in South Korea. I’m going to call him EDJ whenever I can, and I hope it catches on.
Jeremiah Estrada, the second normally-lethal arm out of the Padres’ pen, came on in the eighth and with one out walked Carpenter, Torres and Keith to load the bases; his command was clearly off. That brought up Greene, who softly singled to shortstop — holy moly, how many infield singles can a game have?! — to bring home Carpenter and tie the game. Torkelson struck out, Estrada was dispatched in favour of Wandy Peralta, and McGonigle came to the plate for a lefty-lefty showdown. Peralta kept pouring fastballs inside and then a nasty slider down and away, but McGonigle kept fouling them off, one after another. On the tenth pitch of the at-bat he singled to right, driving in Torres and Keith to put the Tigers up 4-2.
What an epic at-bat by McGonigle in a clutch situation; this is his second game amongst the tall buildings, let’s not forget. Dingler then promptly atoned for his previous miscue by also singling to right, scoring Greene for a 5-2 lead. Vierling popped out to third to end the inning, but it’s worth noting that the Padres’ new manager, Craig Stammen, went to Peralta rather than the always-nasty Mason Miller. Who knows how that inning would’ve turned out if Miller was on the mound? Luckily, second-guessing managers is fun and absolutely free, so have at it, folks.
Kyle Finnegan was called upon for the bottom of the eighth, and Machado walked. But Merrill popped out to second, Andujar and Laureano struck out, and just think what a solid Finnegan could do for this Tigers bullpen. A fan can dream.
Kenley Jansen and his Fabulous Cutters made their Tigers debut tonight, to pitch the ninth and earn the save. What’d he do? Struck out Gavin Sheets, struck out Cronenworth, struck out Old Friend™ Nick Castellanos. I could get used to this.
Follow that pitch sequence: up and down, in and out. Six foul balls. One mistake in the zone, kaboom, game-changing hit. Plus, take a look at that video clip above; his swing is powerful but both controlled and balanced. I’m in luuuuurve, everyone.
Notes and Numbers
Wenceel Pérez, who didn’t make the Tigers out of Spring Training, hit a home run in Toledo tonight. Where was that earlier in March? Sheesh.
Did you see Mike Trout clubbed a monster home run on Thursday night, and crushed a screaming line-drive homer on Friday night? Did you know Mike Trout is still playing? I didn’t, but I’m glad he is. From 2012 through 2016, he averaged 9.4 WAR per season. That’s just absolutely bananas.
On this day in 1845, Wilhelm Röntgen was born in what is now northern Germany (but was part of Prussia back then). You may know him as the discoverer of X-rays in 1895. Quite a handy guy to have around, I’d think.
For the first time in franchise history, the Vegas Golden Knights will finish a season with more losses than wins.
Despite entering the year with a roster built around elite talent, headlined by players such as Jack Eichel and the high-profile addition of Mitch Marner, the Golden Knights have struggled to meet expectations. A 4-3 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night at T-Mobile Arena only added to a season defined by inconsistency, missed chances, and an inability to close out tightly contested games.
Goaltending Instability And The Root Of The Problem
One of the clearest issues throughout the season has been goaltending. While not the only reason for the team’s struggles, it has consistently been one of the most significant factors limiting Vegas from performing at its usual level.
Ted Orion said it best: "You can't win games if you can't play defense." Vegas can score, but stopping them is an issue.
To understand how things reached this point, it’s worth looking back at how the goaltending situation has evolved over the past few seasons.
The Golden Knights weren’t always unstable in net. In 2023, they captured the Stanley Cup with a more dependable structure in goal. However, Logan Thompson suffered a lower-body injury late in that season.
During his absence, Vegas turned to a rotation that included Laurent Brossoit, Adin Hill, rookie Jiří Patera, and midseason acquisition Jonathan Quick. Although Thompson was unavailable for the playoffs, he remained part of the championship team, and his name was eventually engraved on the Stanley Cup alongside his teammates.
The following season opened with Thompson and Hill sharing the net as a tandem. That arrangement changed when Hill dealt with a series of lower-body injuries, which allowed Thompson to step into the starting role. After some early inconsistencies, Thompson’s play improved notably following the Winter Classic, where he began to settle into a more consistent rhythm.
Heading into the playoffs, Thompson was named the Golden Knights’ starter and responded well early, helping Vegas win back-to-back games against the Dallas Stars on April 22 and 24. But as the series progressed, momentum began to shift. Thompson dropped the next two games, and while he delivered a strong performance in Game 3 with a career-high 43 saves, it came in a losing effort.
Logan Thompson deserved better. Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie
Facing pressure, the Golden Knights made the decision to turn to Adin Hill for Game 5. The move carried risk, largely based on Hill’s prior success as the goaltender who helped backstop the team to a Stanley Cup. The hope was that he could recapture that form and provide a spark.
Instead, the decision didn’t deliver the desired result. The change disrupted the stability in net, and Vegas was unable to regain control of the series, ultimately falling to the Stars in seven games.
Following the season, Thompson requested a trade, and the Golden Knights honored that request by sending him to the Washington Capitals during the 2024 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for two third-round picks.
Fallout And The Current State Of The Position
Since that move, the Golden Knights have struggled to find consistent goaltending. Adin Hill has endured the worst season of his career, ranking near the bottom of the league statistically with a 9-9-4 record, a 3.07 goals-against average, and a .868 save percentage.
In contrast, Thompson has thrived in Washington, emerging as one of the league’s top goaltenders. He currently ranks 2nd among 94 goaltenders, posting a 25-20 record, a 2.40 goals-against average, and a .914 save percentage. The difference in production has only intensified scrutiny around the decision to move on from him.
The organization also added Carter Hart, who arrived under the shadow of the Hockey Canada sexual assault investigation. His season, however, has been hampered by injuries and uneven play, and he has not been able to provide the stability the team was hoping for. Akira Schmid has filled in as well, but his performance has largely reflected that of a depth option rather than a true starter, further highlighting the uncertainty in net.
Hart making a save against the Oilers. Credit: Walter Tychnowicz
Entering the season, Vegas believed Hill and Hart would anchor the position. That plan has not materialized, and goaltending has become one of the team’s most pressing concerns.
Attention has naturally turned toward general manager Kelly McCrimmon. While he remains a respected executive and a Stanley Cup-winning architect, the current shortcomings—especially in goal—have raised legitimate questions. Accountability comes with the job.
Ultimately, McCrimmon is tasked with finding a solution. Whether through internal development, roster adjustments, or future acquisitions, the Golden Knights need to stabilize the goaltending position if they hope to return to contention.
Not every gamble works out, and when they don’t, the consequences can be significant. In professional sports, results drive everything. If McCrimmon is unable to guide the team back to consistent success, changes within the organization may eventually follow.
The New York Rangers’ 6-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night was headlined by a number of NHL firsts for a few of the Blueshirts’ young players.
The main storyline going into Friday night’s game was the highly anticipated debut of Drew Fortescue, who signed his entry-level contract with the Rangers last week after completing his junior season at Boston College.
Fortescue played a total of 17:23 minutes and recorded his first NHL point, assisting Jonny Brodzinski’s goal in the third period.
“I thought he was solid,” Mike Sullivan said of Fortescue. “For the most part, he played the game with composure. He didn't just throw pucks away. He made some outlet passes. He had good poise. I thought he had a high-panic threshold. He didn't throw pucks away when he was under pressure, he protected it. He defended well. I think he's got a good stick, decent mobility. There's a lot to like about Drew's game. For such a young kid in his first NHL game, I thought he played really well.”
In his second NHL game, Adam Sýkora recorded his first NHL goal, on a two-on-one chance with Will Cuylle.
The excitement from Sýkora was evident, as he celebrated with passion, and his teammates were ecstatic for the young rookie, who could be seen embracing him on the bench.
“I couldn't describe the feeling,” Sýkora said about his first NHL goal. “You play the first game (Wednesday), then you have a goal. I just appreciate every moment here to be around these guys and... help them to win games. And just enjoy every second I got an opportunity to play here.”
Sýkora has spent multiple years playing with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League, creating a reputation for himself as a player who plays with ferocious energy and a personality that is infectious.
That same energy, both on and off the ice, has been felt since the Rangers called him up earlier this week.
“He’s a dog on the bone on the puck,” Sullivan said of Sýkora. “Doesn’t matter what the score is, he’s going to give you 110%… His personality is infectious. You could see the reaction of his teammates when he scored the goal. I think that speaks volumes of what they think of him as a person.”
Dylan Garand was able to notch his first NHL victory in a moment he says that he’ll never forget.
The 23-year-old goalie made 27 saves on 28 shots, and in his two starts since taking over the backup goaltending job for the injured Jonathan Quick, Garand has caught the eye of Sullivan.
“I thought he looked really solid in there, and that's the second game in a row I felt that way so. It's two really good starts for him and I'm happy for him because I know how hard he's worked to get to this point,” Sullivan said of Garand. “It's great for our team, it's great for our organization... The feeling I've gotten behind the bench in the two starts that he's had is that he's completely in control and he has good composure in there.”
While the Rangers may be eliminated from playoff contention with less than 10 games remaining in the 2025-26 season, this is an opportunity for the young players to make their mark with the organization and prove their worth moving forward.
“I think we're all hungry,” Garand said. “This is kind of, for some of us, our opportunity. Guys like me and [Adam Sýkora], we've been playing in Hartford for a long time and we finally get to play games. We're hungry and we're excited to try and help this team win in any way we can. It's a lot of fun right now.”
TORONTO, ON - MARCH 27: Andrés Giménez #0 of the Toronto Blue Jays has a Gatorade bucket thrown on him after hitting a walk off RBI single in the ninth inning by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 during the game between the Athletics and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Friday, March 27, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Thomas Skrlj/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
That was fun. The pitching was mostly excellent, and interesting where not. The offence struggled but battled and got just enough done. That’s not how the Jays will hopefully do a lot of their winning this year, but it’s nice to be able to come through in multiple ways.
Kevin Gausman was phenomenal. He began his season by striking out the side, and didn’t allow a base-runner until Shea Langeliers opened the scoring with a one-out home run in the fourth. That would be his only blemish on the night. He got through six in just 83 pitches, but I think John Schneider reasonably concluded that that was enough for his first outing of the year no matter how easy he was making it look. His last pitch of the night was a 96mph fastball, which hopefully augurs well for his form for the rest of the season.
Luis Severino looked pretty strong himself early on. A Vladimir Guerrero jr. walk in the first was the only Jays runner through three. They threatened to tie it in the fourth, with Nathan Lukes working a lead off walk and Vlad recording the Jays’ first hit with a ground ball single, but an Addison Barger double play ball and another ground out prevented them from capitalizing. They finally took the lead in the fifth. Kazuma Okamoto walked and Ernie Clement lined a double to set the table. Tyler Soderstrom badly misplayed a soft Andres Gimenez liner, calling off centre fielder Denzel Clarke and then letting the ball get past him. It was ruled a triple, but really it was a three base mental error that put Toronto in front 2-1.
That score would hold for a while. Severino got out of the inning, and Scott Barlow retired the Jays in order in the bottom of the sixth. Louis Varland allowed a walk and a single to open the seventh, but escaped on a double play and a strikeout. Barlow got two more outs in the bottom half around a line single by Okamoto. Hogan Harris took over and walked Gimenez but then got Springer to ground out. Tyler Rogers and Harris traded scoreless eighths.
Jeff Hoffman had an eventful ninth. He got some help from a smart ball challenge by Alejandro Kirk to strike out Nick Kurtz leading off, but then Langeliers’ second bomb of the night tied it at two. Hoffman rallied to strike out Soderstrom swinging, but the third strike was on a slider that bounced in the batter’s box and got past Kirk. It was ruled a strikeout and wild pitch. He rallied, striking out Brent Rooker and Jacob Wilson to end the inning. Hoffman becomes the third Blue Jay to record four strikeouts in an inning, following Mike Bolsinger in 2017 and Steve Delabar in 2012.
Justin Sterner came on to try to preserve the tie, and it looked like he was going to do it after he got ground outs from the first two Jays batters. Luckily, it wasn’t to be. Okamoto started the rally with a ground ball single, his second hit and third time on of the night. Clement chopped one softly up the line into left field for his second double, and Gimenez finished it off with a sharp ground ball single to secure the win.
Jays of the Day: Andres Gimenez (0.58!!), Ernie Clement (0.15), Kevin Gausman (0.21), Tyler Rogers (0.12), and Kazuma Okamoto has to get a nod for reaching base three times in his North American debut.
Send em’ back to Dunedin: Addison Barger (-0.18), George Springer (-0.13), Alejandro Kirk (-0.14), Jeff Hoffman (-0.21).
We’ll be back tomorrow afternoon at 3:07pm ET. Jeffrey Springs will take on new Blue Jay Dylan Cease. See you all there.
The Chicago Blackhawks took on the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Friday night. This was the third game out of four on their East Coast road trip.
The first game of the trip on Tuesday night was an impressive win over the New York Islanders, while they were blown out by the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday. This game, the second half of a back-to-back, was a chance for the Blackhawks to bounce back.
Earlier in the week, Anton Frondell made his NHL debut, while Sacha Boisvert did one game later. The excitement of their first games is in the past, and now it's about getting them to become contributors on the team.
After losing to Philadelphia 5-1 on Thursday, they were beaten by the Rangers 6-1 one night later. It’s a young team, and it showed by being outscored 11-2 over two nights.
Nick Lardis scored Chicago’s lone goal on Friday by getting himself into a good position so he could take advantage of a pretty passing play by every skater on the ice. That’s three goals in the last four games for Lardis, who continues to find the back of the net no matter what level he’s at.
From there, the Rangers scored six unanswered to skate home with a 6-1 victory. Although New York and Chicago are at the same level in the standings, the former has veterans who can bring their A-game on any given night, which is usually enough to take down a young team like the Blackhawks.
The excitement of two prospects joining the lineup has gone away, but they were both noticeable in the loss to the Rangers.
For Frondell, who led all Blackhawks forwards in ice-time, he had one play where he stripped US Olympian JT Miller of the puck and found Connor Bedard all alone in front of the net. The shot was saved, but more often than not, that effort will result in goals. It was one of many noticeable plays that Frondell had over the course of the match.
As for Sacha Boisvert, he participated in his first career NHL fight. He mentioned that as a desire of his right when he signed, and now he has that checked off his list.
The Blackhawks didn't go after JT Miller right away when he hit Artom Levshunov, but they handled it later on, and that eventually led to Boisvert's fight against Will Borgen.
Making a name for himself in any way that he can is a key to earning a roster spot in 2026-27, and he’s done that through two games in limited ice time. As his role grows, so will his level of play.
The Blackhawks poor results can mostly be attributed to bad puck possession and defensive decision-making. Shots aren’t the end-all, be-all, but giving up 39 or more in four of the last five games is not ideal.
The Rangers had just 10 against the Ottawa Senators a couple of nights ago, and they had 39 against the Blackhawks. There is a sincere difference in competitive level between the Blackhawks and other NHL teams right now.
This is a tough stretch for the Blackhawks. No matter who is on the other side, a young team like them is going to struggle at times with all of their inexperience in the lineup. The core of the team must grind through and take that next step in their development, and it will only happen with reps like these.
Wins over the Islanders are a glimpse into how good things can be, and defeats like these two late-week losses show how far away they are.
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If someone would have said prior to the start of the 2025-26 season that the Pittsburgh Penguins would be playing a large chunk of their second half without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, many would have drawn the conclusion that the season was going even worse than expected for them. And outside expectations certainly weren't very high to begin with.
In fact, even with Crosby and Malkin, most didn't expect the Penguins to be talking about potential first-round playoff matchups in late-March, let alone without their star forwards. But, here they are at second in the Metropolitan Division, and they've almost managed to make it through the toughest month of their entire schedule - and the toughest strength of schedule in the NHL - largely without at least one of them in the lineup.
And there have been many players who have stepped up in the absence of 87 and 71. Rickard Rakell has taken on first-line center duties and has seven goals and 15 points in the 16 games since the Olympic break - including six goals and 14 points in his last 11. Bryan Rust has seven goals and 19 points in those 16 games. Anthony Mantha has six goals and 11 points. Egor Chinakhov has six goals and 14 points.
Even goaltenders Arturs Silovs and Stuart Skinner - despite some inconsistencies from both since the break - have done enough in a general sense to help keep the Penguins afloat and have come up with some big saves in big moments.
But there is one player who has carried this team on his back, and he's separated himself as this team's MVP in not only this stretch, but arguably, for the entire season.
And that would be Erik Karlsson.
Karlsson, 35, was acquired by the Penguins in the summer of 2023 - GM and POHO Kyle Dubas's first summer with the organization - and his first two seasons in Pittsburgh, even if they weren't bad ones, were a bit underwhelming. And this is, especially, considering the fact that he was coming off an historic 29-goal, 101-point Norris Trophy campaign with the San Jose Sharks, which was the third of his hall-of-fame career.
This season, however, the best version of Karlsson has re-emerged. And not only is he leading the charge to get this Penguins' team to the playoffs for the first time in four years - and the first time during his tenure in Pittsburgh - he's also, arguably, the best player in hockey during this playoff stretch run.
Karlsson is tied for second in the NHL in points (21) since Mar. 1, and he is tied for second in the NHL in goals since Mar. 16 (six). And the crazy thing is that the only NHL defensemen within spitting distance are Buffalo Sabres' blueliner Rasmus Dahlin and Evan Bouchard of the Edmonton Oilers, who each have 15 points since Mar. 1 and are 27th and 28th in the league since then.
These are elite forward numbers that Karlsson - a defenseman - is putting up. For the past month, his name has been up there with the likes of Nikita Kucherov, Martin Necas, Jack Hughes, Nathan MacKinnon, and Connor McDavid. And it's not as if he's sacrificing defense to create offense, either, as Karlsson is playing one of the very best defensive seasons of his NHL career.
We're seeing vintage Erik Karlsson, folks 👀
• Six goals over his last six games • Three-straight three-point games on the road • Seven multi-point games over his last 10 outings • Ranks second in the NHL with 22 points since February 28 pic.twitter.com/XEBB9nYCla
There is little debate that Karlsson is the very best player in the league right now. He is not just putting up elite, forward-level production game-in and game-out, and he is not just a product of what's happening around him. He has been, far and away, the best Penguins' player in the last month, and even if the players mentioned above are contributing to the cause, guys like Kucherov and Necas - the only guys who have more points than he does in March - have the benefit of other players like Jake Guentzel and MacKinnon, respectively, helping them lead their teams to comfortable playoff berths.
The Penguins are anything but comfortable. Although they completely control their own destiny, two points separate them and the outside of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. They are fighting for their playoff lives and continuously fending off teams below them in the standings, and they are doing it without Crosby and Malkin.
And that push, that fight, has been led by Karlsson. He is the x-factor. He is the difference-maker. He is the best player on the ice in nearly every single game at this point, carrying his team on his back and leading by example and by proxy.
Simply put, the Penguins would not be in a playoff spot right now if not for Karlsson. He is playing some of the best hockey of his entire 17-year NHL career, and his unparalleled contributions have not gone unnoticed by his teammates.
“He’s doing so much for us," Rakell said. "And it’s not just scoring goals. It’s the way he breaks out pucks and keeping a close cap on their entries and just dictating the game. Then, obviously, everybody knows his game. When he’s confident, he’s one of the best defensemen in our league still. He shows that he can do it all.”
And when the calendar month of March concludes, Karlsson should certainly be recognized as the NHL's first star since there has been no one better in hockey on both an individual basis and in terms of dragging his hobbled team to the postseason.
MESA, ARIZONA - MARCH 15, 2025: Jonathon Long #17 of the Chicago Cubs bats during the second inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Los Angeles Angels at Sloan Park on March 15, 2025 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Welcome to another year of the Minor League Wrap. Although for the first week, we’ll just be the Iowa Cubs wrap as they started the season this evening and the other three affiliates wait until next Friday.
Javier Assad got the Opening Night start for Iowa and maybe he wasn’t as sharp as he has been, but he definitely was effective. Assad did not allow the Clippers a run over the first three innings. Assad allowed three hits and walked three, so there were a lot of baserunners, but striking out five helped keep any of them from scoring.
Charlie Barnes, who pitched the last four years with KBO’s Lotte Giants, threw the next three innings and was impressive. He got the win after giving up just one hit and no runs. He did walk three but he struck out seven.
The Clippers got two runs off of reliever Ryan Rollison in the seventh inning. But Collin Snider threw the final 1.2 innings, did not allow a baserunner and got the save. He struck out two.
The Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when first baseman Jonathon Long singled, went to second on a ground out and scored after two wild pitches.
The I-Cubs put this game out of reach with a four-run sixth inning. First up was an RBI single for center fielder Brett Bateman. It was Bateman’s first Triple-A hit.
It was Opening Day for the baseball Athletics as they enter their second season playing in West Sacramento, a temporary stay after relocating from Oakland as they await their presumed move to a state of the art ballpark in Las Vegas.
To begin what will be the 126th season for A's, the green and gold bunch opened the season on the road. The Athletics take on the Toronto Blue Jays in a season-opening three-game weekend series at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada. They dropped the first game, 3-2, despite two home runs from Shea Langeliers. The Blue Jays won the game on a walk-off single by shortstop Andres Gimenez. The next game is Saturday, March 28 at 3:07 p.m. ET (12:07 p.m. PT).
Last year was kind of weird. It was the first time in 57 years that the Athletics didn't play in the Bay. The last game in Oakland was Sept. 26, 2024.
Athletics owner John Fisher wanted new facilities, fans said "sell the team" and Fisher relocated them to Vegas. Until his fancy new ballpark is ready, they moved eastward to Sacramento.
Their first go around was interesting. On the field, the Athletics weren't exactly terrible, but they weren't good. Improvement in the bullpen and there could be some hope for a team that has hitting strength that compares to some of the best in the majors behind Nick Kurtz, Brent Rooker, Jacob Wilson, Shea Langeliers, Tyler Soderstrom and Lawrence Butler.
Last season, the Athletics ended their season with a 76-86 record. They played better on the road at 40-41. Through 81 games in Yolo County, they posted a 36-45 record despite the home circumstances they faced at Sutter Health Park, a minor-league venue with a max capacity crowd of a little more than 14,000. However, that number was rarely seen in attendance.
Here are some bold, and fun, predictions for the Athletics with 161 to go:
Athletics fans are in a dilemma. They love baseball. They love their A's. They dislike Fisher.
Some go to games to support the A's, even if it means making the drive from Oakland or their Bay Area home. Some don't. Some just go for baseball to see their favorite opposing team. The average attendance during the 2025 season was 9,487.
That number could go up. Tickets are cheap and Sacramento is a baseball town after all. The city also wants a major league team and sees this as a tryout period. The first year might have been tough to get large crowds consistently, but maybe Sacramento and surrounding neighbors will catch on to the fact they have Major League Baseball right in their vicinity.
A's could surprise some folks
As predictions go, nobody really knows what's going to happen. But it's still fun to guestimate.
Although a lot goes into being successful. Staying injury-free, which probably won't happen. Momentum swings amist the long, drawn out MLB season. Teams will go on runs. Some winning, others losing.
Expect the A's to be fun, exciting. Especially with half their lineup (Brent Rooker, Jacob Wilson, Tyler Soderstrom, Lawrence Butler) locked in to long-term contracts. USA TODAY experts say pitching, though, might not enable them to take the next step.
Their offensive capabilities last year proved that they can win games. It's Round 2 in Sacramento for the A's young core and veteran mix. Is it crazy to say they win 80 games? Maybe. But that's where this is going. It's still not enough, but it'll bring excitement and just maybe they'll flirt with wild-card talks, but ultimately falling short.
Plus, USA TODAY experts have the Astros and Seattle Mariners atop the AL West.
Nick Kurtz goes from Rookie of the Year to MVP candidate
Nick Kurtz is coming off of a rookie year in which he smacked 36 home runs, had 86 RBIs on a .290 batting average and 1.002 OPS.
It'd be ridiculous to think that the Baseball Writers' Association of America would even consider a MVP on a team that barely scratches the surface of 80 wins. However, if the A's are going to have any kind of success, Kurtz might have a lot to do with that.
Just flirting with a wild-card berth should put him in conversation. Not to win, just mention his name. However, if the A's somehow are a playoff team, and he's has similar success or better than the 2025 campaign, then yeah, Kurtz for MVP. Why not?
As the 2025–26 NHL regular season enters its final stretch, the Colorado Avalanche find themselves in a commanding position atop the league standings—and in firm control of the race for the Presidents’ Trophy.
Strong Position at the Top
Colorado improved to 48-13-10 (106 points) after a playoff-esque 3-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets, extending their winning streak to four games. With 11 games remaining, they’ve created separation not only in the Central Division—holding a nine-point edge over the Dallas Stars—but also in the race for the league’s top overall seed.
Erik Karlsson summed it up perfectly on what it's like seeing Nathan MacKinnon charging down the ice.
A win in the rematch would only tighten their grip.
“We’re still fighting for first place, so every win’s important until they put the mark beside our standings,” head coach Jared Bednar told NHL.com. “So, we have something to play for down the stretch run here. And we’ve had a good year, but we’re not comfortable—we’re still just kind of fine-tuning our game for going into the playoffs.”
The Math
Despite their strong position, the math behind clinching the Presidents’ Trophy remains intriguing. The Avalanche’s primary challenger, the Carolina Hurricanes, also have 11 games remaining and currently sit at approximately 96 points. If Carolina were to win every game from here on out, they would earn 22 additional points, finishing with a maximum of 118 points.
That sets Colorado’s magic number at 119 points—meaning the Avalanche will likely secure the Presidents’ Trophy with roughly six to seven more wins down the stretch. In practical terms, an 8–3 finish would comfortably secure the award, while a 7–3–1 record could also be sufficient depending on Carolina’s results. However, given the parity of the modern NHL, it is unlikely the Hurricanes will win all of their remaining games, barring unforeseen circumstances.
Leading the Avalanche is Nathan MacKinnon, who scored twice on seven shots Thursday night as Colorado defeated Winnipeg 3-2 at Canada Life Centre. It marked the first time in 330 days that Colorado had beaten the Jets on the road in the regular season, and MacKinnon’s two-goal performance pushed him to 47 and 48 goals on the year, extending his lead atop the NHL goal-scoring race.
Mark Scheifele initiating the breakout from behind the net.
Jets forward Mark Scheifele, despite being on the opposing side, offered high praise for MacKinnon’s impact and consistency.
“He’s absolutely fantastic. He’s an absolute horse out there. He’s a guy that works on his game so tirelessly,” he stated. “On the other side, he’s a fun guy to watch. Makes a lot of plays, a lot of little plays, even that a lot of people don’t notice. So, he’s one of, if not the, one of the best, if not the best player in the league. And he shows it every single night. And it’s impressive to watch.”
Different Stakes, Same Intensity
While the Avalanche continue to surge, the Jets are fighting for their postseason lives. At 30-30-12 (72 points), Winnipeg sits five points back of a Western Conference wild card spot with 10 games remaining.
“Every game is huge for us, no matter the opponent,” Jets forward Cole Perfetti added. “At this stage of the year for us, we need two points every single night, so it doesn’t matter who we’re playing.”
That urgency contrasts with Colorado’s position—but not their mindset. The Avalanche are not easing into the playoffs; they are sharpening their game while chasing hardware. Contributions like Logan O'Connor’s return from injury and continued offensive dominance from their top line only reinforce their depth and readiness.
The Avalanche don’t need perfection—they just need to keep winning enough games to stay in control. The Presidents’ Trophy may not be the ultimate prize, but it remains a significant milestone. And while the Stanley Cup is the true goal, capturing both is a rare accomplishment last achieved by the 2012–13 Chicago Blackhawks.
For Colorado, the opportunity to pursue both remains very much alive—and increasingly within reach.
All the World Series memories and emotions came flooding back for the Los Angeles Dodgers and their fans on March 27 at Dodger Stadium.
The remaining members of the 2025 team were individually called from the dugout and onto the stage to receive their rings before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Shortstop Mookie Betts received his fourth career World Series ring, the most of any active player.
“It's super special and this day never gets old,” Betts told Spectrum SportsNet in the moments after receiving his ring. “It shows the accomplishments we made and hope we can do it again.”
Pitcher Clayton Kershaw retired after the World Series, but was also in attendance at the stadium for a second straight night to follow up his broadcasting debut on NBC.
Kershaw was not initially announced among his former teammates, but received a thunderous ovation nonetheless.
Dodgers legend Orel Hershiser was headed to the mound to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before manager Dave Roberts got on the microphone to announce a pitching change, calling on Kershaw from the dugout.
Kershaw stood on the familiar hill to throw the ball to Freddie Freeman before the pitcher was handed his ring and embraced by his teammates, who made their way back out of the dugout.
What do the Dodgers’ 2025 World Series rings look like?
Each ring includes the words "World Champions" on top of the ring with a blue "LA" featured in the middle.
The top of the ring could be removed to reevaluate a sample of dirt enclosed in the ring and a pair of trophies inscribed with "2024" and "2025" on the respective trophies.
The side panels of the ring included the respective player's last name and number on one panel and the words "Dodgers 2025 BACK 2 BACK" inscribed on the other.
“There are a lot of diamonds, but you can open it up and there's some dirt in there,” Betts said. “A lot is going on.”
Mar 27, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland (21) is removed from the game by manager Warren Schaeffer (4) during the fifth inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The Colorado Rockies opened the 2026 season in Miami with a lineup that looked nothing like the one that started 2025 — between debuts and new additions, this felt less like a continuation and more like a reset.
Kyle Karros made his first Opening Day start, following in the footsteps of his father Eric, who made nine in his career.
TJ Rumfield made his MLB debut, becoming the first rookie to start Opening Day for Colorado since Trevor Story in 2016.
Jake McCarthy and Edouard Julien also made their first Opening Day starts for the Rockies, underscoring just how much this roster has turned over.
Even Warren Schaeffer was managing in his first Opening Day game.
The result? A competitive game that ultimately slipped away, 2–1, with just a hint of familiar frustration on offense.
Freeland battles, bullpen delivers
Kyle Freeland took the loss, falling to 1–3 with a 7.01 ERA in five Opening Day starts — a number skewed to an extent by one rough outing.
This wasn’t ace-level dominance, but it was veteran pitching.
Freeland bent, but didn’t break. He worked through traffic, issued a couple of walks, and gutted his way through 4.1 innings, allowing two earned runs while keeping the game within reach.
Jimmy Herget, Brennan Bernardino (making his Rockies debut), and Juan Mejia combined for 3.2 scoreless innings—no walks, two strikeouts, and a key escape in the eighth. Mejia stranded a runner at third with a full-count strikeout on a back-up slider that froze Caissie.
His fastball touched the upper 90’s, his secondaries had sharp depth, and he worked efficiently — seven innings, four hits, one unearned run, five strikeouts. For long stretches, the Rockies looked eager against him, pressing early before settling in late.
Colorado’s lone run came in the fourth — and it came the hard way.
The inning started with Jake McCarthy dropping a drag bunt and using his speed to create some chaos and reach first base. McCarthy then stole second base, but his aggressiveness backfired as he was cut down at home after a Hunter Goodman single.
Willi Castro beat out a double-play ball. Tovar followed with a topped ball that forced a tough play. Rumfield showed discipline with a four-pitch walk in his second MLB plate appearance. Beck added an infield hit driving in Castro.
It was a textbook manufactured run. It was also the only one.
The inning that got away
The Rockies had their best chance in the eighth, and couldn’t cash in.
Hunter Goodman, who led the team with two hits, put together a strong at-bat against Anthony Bender, fighting off multiple sweepers before lining a two-out single to left. Karros moved to third, and suddenly Colorado had runners on the corners.
Willi Castro stepped in.
An ABS challenge flipped a ball to a strike. Castro worked the count full as Bender struggled to land his off-speed.
Miami immediately applied pressure in the bottom half.
Connor Norby led off with a double, and after a groundout moved him to third, the infield came in. Mejia induced a pop-up in foul territory for the second out, then delivered the biggest pitch of the night:
Full count. Two outs. Runner on third.
A back-up slider that froze Owen Caissie.
Inning over.
Last chance, same result
The Rockies had one more shot in the ninth.
Facing Peter Fairbanks, they couldn’t break through. Tovar struck out chasing, Beck popped out, and after TJ Rumfield collected his first MLB hit — a broken-bat blooper into shallow right-center — Brenton Doyle lined out to shortstop to end it.
There were some familiar frustrations — the inability to sustain innings and cash in with runners in scoring position had a bit of a 2025 feel.
But it’s too early to spiral there. The hitters were overly aggresive in swing decisions early, but settled in a bit as the excitement of Opening Day dissipated. Colorado struck out nine times — an improvement from Opening Day 2025, when they struck out 12 in another one-run loss in Florida.
This team looked more athletic. More versatile. More aggressive. The bullpen was excellent. Freeland kept them in it.
They were competitive. Gutty. A game within reach all night.
Sandy Alcantara was simply better — and the Rockies couldn’t quite capitalize.
Up next
The Rockies will look to even the series tomorrow at 2:10 p.m. MDT.
