Two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference face off at Spectrum Center tonight as the Charlotte Hornets host the New York Knicks.
Charlotte has been white-hot from beyond the arc, and my Knicks vs. Hornets predictions expect the home team to hit treys and rack up points with ease.
Here are my best free NBA picks for Thursday, March 26.
Knicks vs Hornets prediction
Knicks vs Hornets best bet: Hornets team total Over 111.5 (-115)
The Charlotte Hornets offense has been electric for months, especially over its last 10 games. In that span, Charlotte sports the fifth-best offensive rating at 122, and the 12th-highest scoring average at 118.3.
The buzz around Charlotte has been even louder in front of the faithful at Spectrum Center. The Hornets have scored 112+ points in six straighthome games.
No team has averaged more points than Charlotte’s healthy 126.8 across their last six at home. That number climbs to 131 across their last four during the current home stand.
Charlotte’s 3-point shooting has been lights-out all season long, but it’s been even more prolific as of late. Over the last 10 games, Charlotte ranks first in 3-point attempts (46.4), first in 3-pointers made (18.7) and first in 3-point percentage (40.3%).
In that span, the New York Knicks have surrendered the 10th-most 3-point attempts (39.2), 10th-best 3-point percentage (37.5) and sixth-most 3-pointers made (14.7).
The Hornets’ plethora of shooters should have a field day against a struggling Knicks perimeter defense, and I expect the home team to build on the record-setting 26 triples it hit on Tuesday while clearing this modest team point total.
Knicks vs Hornets same-game parlay
Charlotte is playing some great basketball, and the Hornets have a 3-point mismatch and home court advantage. I'm rocking with the home team to win a close one.
LaMelo Ball has knocked down 4.5 triples per game on 39.5% shooting across his last 10 appearances, hitting 5+ four times and 4+ eight times. He's canned 13 treys over his last two games, and he should have no problem knocking down five more in tonight's favorable matchup.
Knicks vs Hornets SGP
Hornets team total Over 111.5
Hornets -1
LaMelo Ball Over 4.5 3-pointers
Our "from downtown" SGP: Buzz city blitz
Kon Knueppel leads the Association in total 3-pointers at 247, and he’s shattered the rookie record in that category. The Duke product has splashed 4+ 3-pointers in six of his last 10 games while shooting 43.8% from long range.
Brandon Miller is averaging 3.1 triples per game this season, but he’s knocked down 4.3 per game across his last four while hitting 4+ three times in that span.
Coby White has nailed 3+ triples in three of his last four games, while averaging 3.8 makes from beyond the arc.
Knicks vs Hornets SGP
LaMelo Ball Over 4.5 3-pointers
Kon Knueppel Over 3.5 3-pointers
Brandon Miller Over 3.5 3-pointers
Coby White Over 2.5 3-pointers
Knicks vs Hornets odds
Spread: New York +1 (-115) | Charlotte -1 (-105)
Moneyline: New York -105 | Charlotte -115
Over/Under: Over 223.5 (-110) | Under 223.5 (-110)
Knicks vs Hornets betting trend to know
The Hornets have covered the spread in 35 of their last 50 games (+19.60 Units / 36% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Hornets.
How to watch Knicks vs Hornets
Location
Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
Date
Thursday, March 26, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
MSG SN, FDSN Southeast
Knicks vs Hornets latest injuries
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LSU has not made the Men's NCAA Tournament since Wade's final season in Baton Rouge in 2022, though Wade did not coach the Tigers in that game. Since then, the Tigers have not had the same level of success seen under Wade, as the program has had three losing seasons under McMahon, including this past season, when they finished 15-17 overall.
The rumor of Wade's potential return has been circulating for some time. It gained some traction on Wednesday when reports emerged that LSU was working on hiring McNeese athletic director Heath Schroyer for a senior administrator position in Baton Rouge that would oversee the Tigers' men's basketball program. Schroyer hired Wade at McNeese before the 2023-24 season.
Here's the latest on Wade returning to LSU. Follow for live updates:
Will Wade live updates: LSU basketball makes coaching change
This story will be updated live
Will Wade 'has discussed' assistant coaching staff at LSU
A former SEC head coach tells USA TODAY Sports' John Brice that Wade’s talks with LSU are advanced enough that Wade has discussed his projected staff at LSU.
LSU reportedly 'expected' to hire Will Wade today
CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein reports on Thursday that LSU is expected to "part ways" with current Tigers coach Matt McMahon today, and officially hire Wade to take over the program.
Why did Will Wade leave LSU the first time
Wade was fired for cause by LSU in 2022 after the NCAA accused him of committing multiple Level I and Level II violations, including "lack of institutional control." The FBI was also involved in investigations, with Wade facing allegations of paying recruits in the pre-NIL era of college athletics.
"After receiving the Notice earlier this week, we took several days to fully evaluate it and engage in deliberate and thoughtful discussions about our next steps," the statement titled to the "LSU Community" read from then LSU President William Tate and athletics director Scott Woodward in 2022. "We can no longer subject our University, Department of Athletics, and—most importantly—our student-athletes, to this taxing and already-lengthy process without taking action."
In 2023, Wade was assessed a two-year show-cause order and a 10-game suspension for his first season at McNeese State. The NCAA's 2022 findings against Wade weren't the first time they caught him violating NCAA guidelines and policies during his tenure with the Tigers, though.
Will Wade buyout at NC State if Wolfpack coach leaves
According to Wade's contract, obtained by the USA TODAY Network, he would owe NC State $5 million if he were to leave the Wolfpack for another job, like LSU, before the end of his contract. That payout drops to $3 million on April 2.
There is a total of $14,756,250 million left across the remaining five years of Wade's contract with NC State, according to his contract that was obtained by the USA TODAY Network. Here is his year-by-year base salary, beginning in 2027:
Over the past few seasons, one major concern with the Knicks’ contention case has been their lack of depth. It usually doesn’t take more than an eight or nine-man rotation to make a successful playoff run, but injuries and slumps inevitably require teams to look further down their bench to fill those spots.
New York has historically struggled with doing so, in 2024 due to a crazy barrage of injuries, and in 2025 due to roster limitations. But coming down the stretch of this regular season, it finally looks like the Knicks have the depth required to sustain a 16-win marathon.
How did the Knicks build out a deep rotation despite limited cap flexibility and assets going towards high-ticket acquisitions? And will it be enough come playoff time?
Their bench does feature two mainstays who have been reliable ever since the Knicks tightened their rotation: Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride. Robinson is the longest-tenured Knick on the roster and has been pivotal in the entirety of their rebuild.
McBride was a development project drafted in 2021 that couldn’t seem to find his stride in the big leagues until New York’s trade for OG Anunoby opened up a bench guard role. McBride took full advantage, showcasing his knockdown shooting and suffocating defense.
It’s arguable his ascension helped pave the way for the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, which cost the Knicks another guard. There likely aren’t many regrets, given McBride’s been an invaluable reserve and fill-in starter on one of the most attractive contracts in the league.
The rest of the bench is where this front office can really flex the job they’ve done in just a short period of time. Two of the Knicks backup guards -- Landry Shamet and Jordan Clarkson -- were picked up on veteran’s minimum deals.
Nothing points to being a true contender and player in the free agent market like securing a dependable three-and-D guard and recent Sixth Man of the Year at a price most teams could’ve outbid. Both were looking for an opportunity to contribute to a championship team and they’ve done so thus far.
Shamet’s been a lethal floor spacer, averaging 10 points a game on 39 percent shooting from three, and coming up huge with some big performances in timely games. Clarkson has had to fight his way back into the rotation, but has done so with his improved defense and ability to constantly attack the paint.
New York is so packed with reliable guards, one of those guys will likely be a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency option rather than a mainstay come the playoffs. They also picked up a specialist big in Jeremy Sochan off waivers, giving them a go-to defender when they need one at minimal cost.
These were impressive signing, but like with McBride, some of this front office’s biggest returns have come from the Draft. Facing financial and roster constraints entering the 2024 NBA Draft, the Knicks came away with a haul that would help define this season.
While a couple picks are still working their way into the rotation, Tyler Kolek and Ariel Hukporti have all but established themselves as capable players at the pro level. The Knicks took Kolek 34th overall and Hukporti 58th, but their impacts far exceed their draft spots.
If it weren’t for this basket of veteran guards ahead of him, Kolek would see nightly appearances thanks to his impressive playmaking ability. He’s also stepped up his defense and shooting, which were on display when he was the lead backup guard during the Knicks NBA Cup Championship run.
Hukporti hasn’t had as many opportunities, but in spurts has proven to be a solid roll man and interior defender, with some playmaking upside to boot. Having two second-year, second-round guys be ready to contribute in a postseason scenario is a tremendous luxury and testament to the front office’s scouting.
Jan 9, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; New York Knicks forward Mohamed Diawara (51) against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center. / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
But they may have outdid themselves in the 2025 Draft, using their lone selection at the 51st pick to take Mohamed Diawara, a young athletic wing who was meant to take a couple years in Westchester to bloom. It turns out that wouldn’t be necessary, as the neophyte has emerged as a legitimate rotation piece with his shooting, off-dribble game, and defense.
Finally, the Knicks were able to flip one of their recent mistakes, Guerschon Yabusele, into one of their biggest windfalls. They negotiated for the struggling big man to drop his second-year player option, allowing for a deal ahead of the deadline that helped them land Jose Alvarado.
Alvarado is a pesky and fiery floor general, whose inclusion has already provided a much-needed dose of energy and locker room aura. He’s already put up some monster nights and will certainly be a go-to reserve come the playoffs.
Put this all together, and this front office managed to leverage advanced scouting and a winning culture to cultivate a championship bench in two years despite the odds.
Robinson, McBride, Alvarado and Shamet make for a strong core four, and you’d need to go through Clarkson, Diawara, Kolek, Hukporti and Sochan before getting to somebody you’re really afraid of throwing in for a few minutes.
The Knicks are more prepared than ever to make a playoff push -- will they be able to pull it off?
The Florida Panthers will wrap up this week’s two-game homestand on Thursday night in Sunrise.
After picking up a 5-4 shootout win over the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday, Florida will play home game No. 37 of 41 when they host the Minnesota Wild at Amerant Bank Arena.
With the season winding down, the Panthers and their fans are keeping a close eye on the standings.
Unfortunately, it’s not the same kind of experience that Cats fans have been able to enjoy over the past several years.
This season the Panthers will see their franchise-record seven-year playoff streak come to an end, but with Florida’s 2026 first-round pick being top-10 protected, the standings-watch is still happening.
Entering play Thursday, the Panthers remain among the NHL’s bottom-10 teams.
Florida holds a 35-32-3 record, good for 73 points, which slots them as the ninth-lowest point total in the NHL. And for what it’s worth, of the eight teams below Florida, only one of them (the New York Rangers) are in the Eastern Conference.
When they hit the ice on Thursday, the Panthers will be missing several regulars from their lineup.
In addition to the long-injured Sasha Barkov, Jonah Gadjovich and Cole Schwindt, Florida will be without Sam Reinhart, Brad Marchand, Anton Lundell, Niko Mikkola, Uvis Balinskis, and A.J. Greer, who will be serving the second game of a three-game suspension.
Minnesota, meanwhile, is comfortably holding on to third place in the Central Division. They have a 12-point edge over fourth-place Utah, so barring anything crazy, the Wild will be a divisional playoff team.
Lately it’s been a bit of a mixed bag for the Wild, though.
Over the past two weeks, Minnesota has lost five of seven, with four of those five defeats coming against teams that aren’t in a playoff position.
Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Thursday’s meeting with Minnesota:
Photo caption: Jan 24, 2026; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) is met by Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) at the blue line in the third period at Grand Casino Arena. (Matt Blewett-Imagn Images)
The Ottawa Senators have been one of hockey’s best teams for nearly two months, vaulting into the East's second and final wild-card spot.
They try to make it five straight wins with a three-game regular-season sweep of the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, March 26.
My Penguins vs. Senators predictions and NHL picks have Ottawa taking advantage of the short-handed visitors to stay red hot.
Penguins vs Senators prediction
Penguins vs Senators best bet: Senators moneyline (-145)
Since January 25, the Ottawa Senators are 15-3-2, earning the league's second-most points in that span.
They’re a Top-8 scoring team, but the real difference has come in net, where they have a minuscule 2.15 goals against average, by far the best in the NHL.
Now they get the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have been outscored 11-3 in their last two games.
Ottawa's handled Pittsburgh this season, with a 4-0 shutout and a 3-2 win, part of this current playoff surge.
The Pens likely won't have Evgeni Malkin or Anthony Mantha, two of their five leading scorers.
Penguins vs Senators same-game parlay
Brady Tkachuk had a goal and an assist last time out in a 3-2 win over the Red Wings. He has five goals in his last 10 for Ottawa and has two goals against Pittsburgh this season.
Not a surprise that Sidney Crosby will be asked to take on a bigger offensive load with others out, and he gets a generous 2.5 shots on goal line Thursday. Sid has had at least four shots on net in four of his last six.
The Senators have hit the Moneyline in 15 of their last 20 games (+8.80 Units / 29% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Penguins vs. Senators.
How to watch Penguins vs Senators
Location
Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, ON
Date
Thursday, March 26, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN5
Penguins vs Senators latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
"It's on to the next," he said Wednesday. "If you get caught up in it and if you get satisfied, you're not going to last very long in this tournament."
This is an unfamiliar feeling for Nebraska, but a familiar foe awaits them in Thursday's Sweet 16 in Houston: Big Ten compatriot Iowa.
While Nebraska is coming off the game of the tournament, Iowa is coming off the upset of the tournament after knocking off No. 1 seed and defending national champion Florida in the second round — despite Hawkeyes star guard Bennett Stirtz going 0-for-9 from 3.
"Even though we beat a 1 seed, we can't get complacent, we got to keep getting better every day and get ready for the game (Thursday)," Stirtz said.
The winner of tonight's game advances to Saturday's Elite Eight against the winner of Houston/Illinois.
Here's what you need to know about tonight's game, including predictions.
HIT REFRESH FOR UPDATES.
Nebraska vs Iowa basketball live score
TEAMS
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2H
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What time is Nebraska vs Iowa Sweet 16 game today?
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET from Houston.
What channel is Nebraska vs Iowa game on? How to watch, streaming info
Nebraska vs. Iowa will air on TBS and truTV and stream via Fubo.
Nebraska vs Iowa prediction, odds
Odds provided by BetMGM as 9:30 a.m., Thursday, March 26.
∎ Tyler Tachman, Des Moines Register: Iowa 68, Nebraska 65
The Huskers and Hawkeyes split the season series, with each of them winning on thier home floors. This game, though, clearly has a lot more at stake than just a regular season Big Ten victory. Both games were very tight, with Nebraska's win earlier this month in Lincoln going to overtime with a big Iowa comeback.
This game could really go either way, and regardless of the result, it would be historic. A win would earn Iowa its first trip to the Elite Eight since 1987. A victory for Nebraska would keep this historic March Madness run alive. Either way, the winner of this one will be just three wins away from a national title.
Blake Toppmeyer: Nebraska
Paul Myerberg: Nebraska
Jordan Mendoza: Nebraska
John Brice: Nebraska
Matt Glenesk: Nebraska
Craig Meyer: Iowa
John Leuzzi: Nebraska
Austin Curtright: Iowa
Ehsan Kassim: Nebraska
Moneyline: Nebraska (-130); Iowa (+110)
Spread: Nebraska (-1.5)
Over/under total: 131.5
Why did Pryce Sandfort transfer from Iowa to Nebraska?
Nebraska's leading scorer Pryce Sandfort transferred from Iowa to Nebraska after the Hawkeyes fired Fran McCaffery following last season.
After Iowa hired Ben McCollum, every Hawkeye scholarship player except one transferred to a new home, including Pryce to Nebraska.
"It's like a Hollywood horror story almost,” said Pryce's older brother Payton, who starred for the Hawkeyes. “You want both teams to do so well. And they're both having dream seasons. … And now they run into each other?”
“I could never not support Pryce,” he added. “I know what we’ve been through together and what we’ve dreamed about. For him to have a chance to play in the Final Four, that’s pretty special for my family. It’s just, why couldn’t it be (against) anybody else?”
Is Sam Hoiberg related to Fred Hoiberg?
Yes, he's his son. While Fred was known for his 3-point shooting, Sam is a nuisance on defense and earned votes for Big Ten's defensive player of the year, which went to Michigan center Aday Mara.
What happened when Iowa, Nebraska played this season?
The teams split their regular season series.
Iowa won 57-52 on Feb. 17
Nebraska won 84-75 in OT on March 8
Bennett Stirtz followed Ben McCollum from Drake to Iowa
The Hawkeyes' leading scorer Bennett Stirtz (19.7 ppg) transferred from Drake to Iowa, following coach Ben McCollum. The two were key to the Bulldogs' first-round upset of Missouri in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
"Yeah, the amount of trust I have in him, and that he never lies to anyone on this team, including me. He shoots it straight," Stirtz said on his relationship with McCollum. "Even when it's tough and even when it's hard. He pushes you past your limit and I think that's where the trust comes in and he cares about you a lot and wants to make you a better person. So, yeah, he just pushes everyone on this team and honestly you can see the benefit from that and even in the wins that he's all had throughout his career, he doesn't get complacent. So that's what we need to do and continue to do is even though we beat a 1 seed, we can't get complacent, we got to keep getting better every day and get ready for the game tomorrow."
Why does Alvaro Folgueiras point to sky after 3-pointers?
Folgueiras points up at the sky after every 3-pointer he makes in honor of his dad, who died when he was 9 years old. He pointed at the sky after hitting his eventual game-winner against Florida, although he waited for the Gators' timeout after running back on defense.
Folgueiras expressed what his family means to him after the game, and mentioned his mom being a rock throughout his childhood without his dad.
"He left us with my mom and my brother in my house," he said. "It was kind of hard. We didn't really feel it as much because my mom always made sure that we didn't need anything, absolutely nothing. So, I cannot say that I grew up in an environment where I needed some things. No, that's not the truth.
"Sometimes I can say that because I feel his absence. I was just going in the court and playing to get away of my house to be with something else. But I can say that I had a happy childhood. Something that we all said, and everyone has these kinds of things on their life.
"It's that we are not victims. I never let things like that make me a victim. Not to me and not to my brother, not to my mom. We are like that because my mom was showing out every single day. Yeah."
“I don't think we ever really want to sign up to be the Cinderella story,” said Texas coach Sean Miller after beating Gonzaga in Round 2. “Because we are the University of Texas.”
The Boilers need a big game from their bigs against an opponent which thrives on interior scoring and offensive rebounding. This may also be decided by which defense with a marginal track record all season maintains a recent trajectory of improvement — and does so without fouling. Purdue's seniors are playing, and leading, better than ever, and this matchup sets up well for another Elite Eight trip.
Texas has had a luxury of facing injury-hampered teams to get to the Sweet 16. If C.J. Cox is good to go, Purdue is fine. If Cox can’t, Purdue will still dance on.
Blake Toppmeyer: Purdue
Paul Myerberg: Purdue
Jordan Mendoza: Purdue
John Brice: Purdue
Matt Glenesk: Purdue
Craig Meyer: Purdue
John Leuzzi: Purdue
Austin Curtright: Purdue
Ehsan Kassim: Texas
Moneyline: Purdue (-350); Texas (+275)
Spread: Purdue (-7.5)
Over/under total: 148.5
CJ Cox injury update: Will Purdue guard play vs Texas?
C.J. Cox suffered a knee he said was hyperextended during Sunday's second round win over Miami. He's done drills and plenty of rehab work with trainers, he said Wednesday during media availability with reporters in San Jose. He's hopeful to play, but the Boilermakers have depth behind him if he can't go, namely Gicarri Harris.
"I was obviously scared if I had torn something, because then I'm out for a long time, but thankfully I didn't," Cox said. "It still sucks, but just continuing one step at a time."
Cox said an MRI on the knee, injured Sunday against Miami, came back "pretty good." Purdue only watch film and shot free throws Monday. Cox partially participated in Tuesday's short practice, staying out of contact drills.
Jordan Pope injury update: Will Texas guard play vs Purdue?
Pope suffered a lower-leg injury in Saturday's win over Gonzaga. He said he was "hopeful" to play against the Boilermakers on Thursday.
"Jordan, he's dealing with a lower leg situation," Sean Miller said Wednesday. "We're hopeful that he can — we've given him a lot of rest since our last game, and I think he's really responding to it.
"We still had a pretty quick turnaround, all things considered, because of the distance between San Jose and Austin and traveling from Dayton to Portland and Portland back to Austin."
Why did Camden Heide transfer from Purdue to Texas? 'I'll be a Boilermaker for life'
Heide spent the previous two seasons at Purdue before entering the transfer portal and landing in Austin. So why did he leave Purdue?
“I was looking for a bigger role on a winning team,” he told IndyStar's Gregg Doyel with a smile. “Those were tough conversations, obviously, with coaches and teammates I’d known for years. Everyone didn’t see it eye-to-eye, but I just wanted people to understand I was doing what was best for me. And at the end of it, they were all supportive of me. It just goes to show the kind of people Purdue recruits. Great guys.
“I’m happy I was a Boilermaker. I’ll be a Boilermaker for life.”
Heide, who hit a key late 3-pointer in Texas' second round upset over Gonzaga, has helped provide the Longhorns with a scouting report on his former team.
"He's been big time. He knows what they do," Texas guard Tramon Mark said. "He knows a lot of what they do, so he's been helping us, coaching us up on the things that they do and just being a big-time guy for us in our scouting and everything we do in our scouting, practice. He's been big.
Braden Smith breaks Bobby Hurley NCAA assists record
Smith finished the game with 1,083 career assists in his four-year career with the Boilermakers. Purdue fans at the game gave Smith a standing ovation for the achievement.
Smith told USA TODAY Sports ahead of the tournament he was "ready to just get it over with" so he could put all of the attention toward winning Purdue's first national championship. Now with that in hand, the decorated guard can go for the two goals he had for his senior season.
"That's one of the reasons I came back, was to win and to get the record," he said. "Obviously, wanted to do it at a place that I've been for the three years prior. For me, just to be around a great bunch of guys and obviously great coaching staff, and do it with them, I think it makes it more special."
Matt Painter March Madness record: How many Sweet 16 appearances does Matt Painter have?
Matt Painter has a 26-17 career record in the NCAA Tournament. This is his 18th trip to March Madness, 17th with Purdue (he led Southern Illinois to the NCAA Tournament before becoming Purdue's coach-in-waiting).
He's led the Boilermakers to nine Sweet 16s.
Sean Miller March Madness record: How many Sweet 16 appearances does?
Texas is the third team Miller has guided to March Madness (Xavier and Arizona are the others). He has a 25-13 record combined in 14 NCAA Tournament appearances.
This is his ninth trip to the Sweet 16.
What’s furthest a First Four team has advanced in NCAA Tournament?
Texas was one of the last at-large teams to get a berth to March Madness. That meant a trip to Dayton and the First Four.
The Longhorns beat NC State on a Tramon Mark last-second shot, then beat BYU despite 35 points from AJ Dybantsa in the first round. Texas followed that up with an upset of No. 3 seed Gonzaga in Round 2 to reach the Sweet 16.
Texas needs two more wins if it wants to match the furthest a First Four team has gone in an NCAA Tournament.
VCU (2011) and UCLA (2021) reached the Final Four after starting its tournament run in the First Four.
Will Arizona fans boo Sean Miller at Sweet 16 in San Jose?
Texas-Purdue is the first game of Thursday's Sweet 16 at San Jose, with the Arizona-Arkansas game to follow. Miller coached 12 seasons at Arizona and was fired in 2021 after an NCAA probe found Miller has offered to illegally pay players and the school was forced to vacate wins from the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons.
There will be plenty of Wildcats fans in the stands in the SAP Center. So what kind of reception does Miller expect to receive Thursday?
"I would hope they would cheer for us. We're the 11 seed. If I were them, I'd want us to win," Miller said.
"But my relationship with Arizona is nothing but great. I have three sons, they all attended the University of Arizona, and each of them had an amazing experience. Two of the three, their girlfriend, potentially maybe who they end up with as their wife, also went to Arizona. I was there for 13 years, have friendships that will last a lifetime. I was treated, our family was treated incredibly well.
"... I mean, if we were to beat Purdue — I'm at Texas. That would be amazing. We're playing in the Elite Eight. But the other part of it doesn't really exist for me. I think with that emotion, you can either burn the house down or make it warmer. I look at that place and that experience as nothing but just making my house warmer. I have nothing but positive thoughts, feelings and perspectives towards that experience."
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 14: Sergei Murashov #1 of the Pittsburgh Penguins makes a save in the third period during the game against the Utah Mammoth at PPG PAINTS Arena on December 14, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The goals against numbers are starting to pile up, and there are not many cards left for the Pittsburgh Penguins to play in an effort to fix it.
The trade deadline has come and gone, so there is no move to be made to add outside defensive help.
There is also no immediate help available in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton that can offer much of a fix.
Aside from simply playing better, cutting down on the turnovers, and getting back to controlling games the way they were a couple of weeks ago, there is not much else the Penguins can do from a personnel standpoint to fix the defense. Switching defensive pairs and defensive partners might just be a case of rearranging deck chairs.
There is, however, one player in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton that could potentially fix some things, and it is prized goalie prospect Sergei Murashov.
Not only does Murashov have the talent and upside to be a franchise goalie for the next decade, just by the nature of being a goalie he is the one player that could significantly improve things in the short-term. Goalies change everything.
From a big picture standpoint, I am not entirely ready to say Stuart Skinner and Arturs Silovs have been the biggest problem over the past 10-11 games. Going into Tuesday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche, the duo had basically allowed the number of goals that had been expected of them given the chances they were facing and what the Penguins were allowing in front of them.
They were not stealing much, but they were not the biggest cause of the goals against issues.
That changed a little bit on Tuesday with Silovs against the Avalanche.
You might disagree, but not only was that game not as lopsided as the 6-2 final score would suggest, I thought the Penguins played better in that game than they did in their win on Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets. I thought it was one of their best recent games in terms of generating chances, they had a pretty significant scoring chance and expected goals advantage, and they really carried play for long stretches of time. It is not always as simple as this, and sometimes we might lean on this a little too much and oversimplify the game, but this was definitely a game where goaltending was the difference.
Scott Wedgewood made every big save the Avalanche needed him to make. And he made a lot of them. Silovs did not make a single one for the Penguins.
It is one thing when your goalies are not stealing games and just doing what is expected. You can still compete with that and win with that if the team around the goalies is playing well enough.
It is something else entirely different when goalies start losing games for you.
You also sometimes need a goalie to steal a game or two for you. That is the thing that is not happening at the moment.
That is also where Murashov could come into play, because with his upside and talent he is the type of goalie that could, in theory, steal a game for you and steal some big saves. He has the upside to potentially do more than just make the saves you are supposed to make.
Given the Penguins ongoing goalie rotation, Stuart Skinner is going to start Thursday’s game against the Ottawa Senators. If he plays well in that game, I would give him Saturday’s start against the Dallas Stars. If he plays well in that game, you go from there and maybe start shifting away from the goalie rotation and let somebody try to run with the job.
If he does not play well on Thursday, and the Penguins lose another big game in the standings by allowing four or more goals, I think that is when you start seriously having the Murashov discussion. Because what else can you do at this point other than simply play better in front of the goalies? And while that does need to happen (and while I think it can happen), you still need something more from the goalies.
As we saw on Tuesday, a bad goaltending performance can still swing a better overall performance against you.
The argument against calling up Murashov is that he is only 21 years old, has only a handful of NHL games, and that inserting a young goalie like that into a playoff race could be an extremely risky move. Especially when the team itself is struggling to defend. There is definitely a risk to it. It could go very badly in the short-term.
But there is also an upside to it, and there is SOME precedent for a goalie in this situation getting a chance late in the season for a playoff team.
Not a ton of precedent. But some.
I went back over the past 25 years and searched for goalies that fit the following parameters:
Age 24 or younger
Between 5 and 15 games played in the NHL that season and or their career as a whole
Getting their first real, meaningful playing time late in the season for a playoff team
I only found a handful of players that fit into it. But they are interesting.
In a small way, this is kind of what is happening in Montreal right now with Jacob Fowler. With the Canadiens clinging to their playoff spot and having major goaltending questions all season, the 21-year-old Fowler has started three of the team’s past seven games. He has not received the bulk of the playing time, but he is still there and might have more upside than Sam Montembeault and Jakub Dobes are currently giving them.
Late in the 2023-24 season a young Silovs received three starts in April with the Vancouver Canucks due to an injury situation, and then received the bulk of the playing time in the playoffs. He played well enough to get the Canucks into the second round.
During the 2015-16 season we have Matt Murray with the Penguins. After appearing in just 13 regular season games in his debut season, with the majority of them coming after March, he took advantage of his opportunity at the start of the playoffs and never gave it up in helping lead the Penguins to a Stanley Cup. Just as was the case with Silovs in 2023-24, injuries played a big role in this, but he made the most of his opportunity. The difference here is that 2015-16 Penguins team was an absolute monster that was steamrolling every team it played. That is not to say that Murray did not play well (because he played very well), but there was a very strong supporting cast around him. Then he helped them win another Stanley Cup the next season. This team, while exceeding expectations and perhaps still legitimately very good, is not anywhere close to that level.
In 2011-12, the Washington Capitals turned to 22-year-old Braden Holtby, with almost no NHL experience, late in the season and let him take the starting job into the playoffs. He posted a .935 save percentage (after posting a .922 mark at the end of the regular season) and had the Capitals in Game 7 of the second round, a 2-1 loss away from reaching the Eastern Conference Finals.
These are the best recent examples I can find that would fit this scenario. The previous ones have mostly worked.
If you are good enough to do it, you will.
If it does not work that well and getting beat in a couple of games ruins the player’s psyche that much that it ruins their long-term development, that is probably a concerning development for a very different reason.
I understand the argument against it.
I am also not going to argue that goaltending has been the only problem.
But it IS the one move that could be made that could make a big impact. There should come a time here very shortly where the Penguins make that call. Or at least give it serious consideration. There are not many other options.
The Hockey News revealed players 61-80 for their last top 100 NHL-affiliated prospects rankings. After Blackhawks prospect Vaclav Nestrasil landed the No. 83 spot, three more Chicago prospects have made the cut this time around: Sacha Boisvert, Marek Vanacker, and Kevin Korchinski.
Boisvert was given the No. 61 spot on THN's rankings. The 2024 first-round pick appeared in 26 games this season with Boston University, where he had three goals and 17 points. This is after he had 18 goals and 32 points in 37 games last season with the University of North Dakota. He signed his entry-level deal with the Blackhawks earlier this month, so the promising forward will soon be getting his professional career started.
Vanacker was given the No. 68 spot on THN's list, and like Boisvert, he certainly has good potential. The 2024 first-round pick has had a big season with the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL, as he has 47 goals and 82 points in 60 games. With numbers like these, there is no question that the 6-foot-1 forward has good skill.
As for Korchinski, he was given the No. 80 spot. The left-shot defenseman is still looking to cement himself as a full-time NHL defenseman. While the 2022 seventh-overall pick has had some growing pains, he certainly has the potential to become a good blueliner in the NHL.
The Vancouver Canucks (21–41–8) have finally reached the end of their eight-game March home stand, with their final game taking place against the Los Angeles Kings (28–25–15) tonight. Vancouver has gone 2–5–0 so far through the home stretch, with their most recent match being a 5–3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. The Kings, one of the handful of Pacific Division teams battling for a wild card spot in the playoffs, last played in a 3–2 shootout loss against the Calgary Flames.
Vancouver will be seeing lots of the Kings as they prepare to round out their 2025–26 season. Tonight’s game marks the first of three that they’ll play in against Los Angeles ahead of the season end, with their other matchups coming on April 9 in California and April 14 in their final game at Rogers Arena this year. The last time these two teams faced off was on November 29 in a 2–1 overtime loss for Vancouver.
With Los Angeles still looking for a playoff spot, and Vancouver officially eliminated from playoff contention earlier in the week, tonight’s game could be one of a few that the Canucks play spoiler for in the Kings’ post-season wishes. Los Angeles has lost their last four games, though they have picked up two overtime loss points during this stretch, while yet another defeat would put them in an even deeper point deficit than before. If Vancouver stays consistent to some of their efforts through the home stand, they may end up being a big factor into the Kings missing out on the playoffs.
Players To Watch:
Elias Pettersson
Fresh off a night that saw him score his 500th NHL point, Elias Pettersson will be a player to watch on the Canucks tonight. He had two power play helpers in his team’s loss to the Ducks, with his line also scoring his team’s third goal of the game. Including this effort, the forward is now up to five points in his past four games. Adding to that, he is two goals away from becoming ninth-all time in franchise goals scored — a milestone that would see him pass former Canucks captain Bo Horvat on the list.
Artemi Panarin
Prior to his team’s loss to Calgary, Artemi Panarin had scored a goal in six of his past 10 games. Since joining the Kings via trade, he’s scored six goals and 11 assists in 15 games played. His most recent run of play has been even more impressive, with the forward putting up a six-game point streak before the loss to the Flames. As Los Angeles’ leading scorer, he’ll be a player to watch come tonight.
Nov 29, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Kings left wing Kevin Fiala (22) and Vancouver Canucks right wing Brock Boeser (6) battle for the puck during the overtime period at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Vancouver Canucks (21–41–8):
Points:
Elias Pettersson: 15–28–43
Filip Hronek: 8–33–41
Brock Boeser: 17–20–37
Jake DeBrusk: 15–18–33
Linus Karlsson: 13–17–30
Goaltenders:
Thatcher Demko: 8–10–1
Kevin Lankinen: 8–24–5
Nikita Tolopilo: 5–6–2
Jiří Patera: 0–1–0
Los Angeles Kings (28–25–15):
Points:
Artemi Panarin: 25–49–74
Adrian Kempe: 26–33–59
Kevin Fiala: 18–22–40
Quinton Byfield: 17–23–40
Brandt Clarke: 8–30–38
Goaltenders:
Darcy Kuemper: 17–13–13
Anton Forsberg: 11–11–5
Pheonix Copley: 0–1–0
Game Information:
Start time: 7:00 pm PT
Venue: Rogers Arena
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 650
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The Chicago Blackhawks, who defeated the New York Islanders 4-3 on Tuesday, are back in action on Thursday night. They come in 4-3-3 in their last 10 as they continue to develop young players who will impact them in the future.
This will be a match against the Philadelphia Flyers, who come in 6-3-1 in their last 10. For Philly, they sit five points below the playoff line in the Eastern Conference. The Blackhawks have a chance to spoil any chance of a miracle run for them.
Scouting Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Flyers are having a better year than anyone would have expected before it began, but they have a lot of work to do. There are good young players on their roster, but more steps must be taken for the organization to get over the hump.
Barkey-Zegras-Tippett
Bump-Dvorak-Konecny
Grundström-Cates-Michkov
Glendening-Couturier-Hathaway
Sanheim-Ristolainen
York-Drysdale
Seeler-Juulsen
Ersson
Vladar
Trevor Zegras has had a healthy bounce-back season, his first with the Flyers after a big trade with the Anaheim Ducks. Playing in their top six has given him a boost.
Travis Konecny didn’t make Team Canada at the Olympics after being on the 4-Nations Face-Off team, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t deserving. He is a great player that Chicago’s defense must have an eye on when his line is out there.
Matvei Michkov is on the third line, and his season isn’t going the way he had hoped after a strong rookie year, but the skills are there for him to change a game at a moment’s notice.
Philadelphia’s defense is a big reason that they are even in the race at all. Travis Sanheim was a Team Canada guy in Milano Cortina, and he plays a key role on this team in the NHL.
Rasmus Ristolainen, Cam York, and Jamie Drysdale lead the depth on the blue line, as they all bring different strengths that Blackhawks forecheckers/back-checkers must pay attention to.
In goal, the Flyers have found success with either Samuel Ersson or Dan Vladar in the net. Vladar started on Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, so expect Ersson against the Blackhawks.
Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago
The Blackhawks are going to have Sacha Boisvert making his NHL debut. This comes one game after Anton Frondell made his debut. The Blackhawks are continuing to get younger by inserting more prospects that are ready to compete and make the team better.
Greene-Bedard-Frondell
Bertuzzi-Nazar-Lardis
Burakovsky-Donato-Mik
Teravainen-Boisvert-Slaggert
Vlasic-Levshyunov
Kaiser-Rinzel
Del Mastro-Crevier
Knight
Anton Frondell is on the first line, as he should be. His play in his first post-draft season earned him that opportunity before he ever even stepped onto an NHL sheet. He impressed in his NHL debut, a 4-3 win over the New York Islanders.
Sacha Boisvert isn’t at the same level as Frondell, but multiple tough two-way players like him are needed on every team. Playing on the fourth line to dip his toes into the NHL waters is perfect
It looked a little strange for Teuvo Teravainen to be on the fourth line in the last game with Landon Slaggert and Sam Lafferty, but it makes a lot more sense with Boisvert down the middle instead. This line has some skill and a little bit of toughness that should make waves in all three zones.
Arvid Soderblom was excellent in the win over the Islanders. Now, expect Spencer Knight to get the nod against the Flyers. Each goalie will be heavily relied on as the season comes to a close.
How To Watch
The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game, it can be found on CHSN locally. Nationally, it is available to stream on ESPN+. The puck will drop shortly after 6:00 PM CT.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Well, here we are at the earliest-ever home opener for the Cubs. You already know how I feel about March baseball in Chicago (they generally shouldn’t, ever). And the forecast for the opener Thursday has temps falling from an early high of near 60 into the 40s. There’s a chance of rain that hopefully will hold off until the game is over.
For more on the Nationals, here’s Sam Sallick, manager of our SB Nation Nationals site Federal Baseball.
There is a lot of “new” for the Washington Nationals this year. They have a new front office, a new manager and a brand new coaching staff. It is a lot of change for an organization that had the same GM/manager combo for nearly a decade before this.
Paul Toboni and Blake Butera want to modernize the Nationals process. They have also provided an infusion of youth. Toboni is just 35 and Butera is the youngest manager in the league at just 33. The roster is also very young, especially on the position player side of things.
The Nats star players at the plate are James Wood and CJ Abrams. Wood had a tough spring after tailing off in the second half last year. However, he has some of the most impressive raw power in the game. Abrams saw his name in trade rumors, but unlike fellow Juan Soto trade piece MacKenzie Gore, he stayed in DC.
Speaking of Gore, the Nats pitching staff has looked very solid this spring. They are short on big names, but they’ve been throwing the ball well. Opening Day starter Cade Cavalli has been throwing the ball as well as anyone. He threw 14 scoreless innings this spring, which helped get him the Opening Day nod despite just 11 career starts.
Cavalli has an impressive arsenal. His mid to upper 90’s fastball and his power curve provide a strong foundation. However, he added a sweeper to give him a better weapon against right handed hitters, who he struggled against last year. I am bullish on Cavalli and think this will be a breakout year for him.
Behind him, the Nats actually have a few veterans in the rotation. Cubs fans know Miles Mikolas very well, and he is in DC now. They also picked up Zack Littell and Foster Griffin. I am intrigued by Griffin, who dominated in Japan the last few years before coming back to the States this offseason.
The Nats probably won’t be good, but hopefully they are better to watch this season. This new regime is rebuilding the rebuild in a lot of ways. However, I trust these new guys to get it right eventually.
Fun facts
The Cubs have a .486 winning percentage against the Nationals franchise since it began play in 1969 as the Montreal Expos. But they are .519 (69-64) since the team moved to Washington after 2004.
They are .526 overall at home vs. the Expos/Nationals, including .523 since 2005.
From 2021-24, the Cubs were 9-4 when hosting the Nationals. Last year, they won the series opener, then lost the next two games.
NOTE: The Cubs do not have starters officially listed for Saturday or Sunday as of the time of this post. Horton and Imanaga are listed here because that’s the order they last pitched in Spring Training games after Boyd. The Cubs are one of only three teams (also Angels and Rockies) that don’t have a starter listed for Saturday. Those three and the Braves are the only teams that don’t have a starter listed for Sunday.
Times & TV channels
Thursday: 1:20 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Saturday: 1:20 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Sunday: 1:20 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Prediction
I don’t see any reason the Cubs shouldn’t take at least two of three here.
Up next
The Cubs host the Los Angeles Angels at Wrigley Field in a three-game series beginning Monday evening.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 13: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves and Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies speak during the first inning at Citizens Bank Park on September 13, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last year’s National League East race ended with the Phillies (96-66) winning their second consecutive division crown, while the Mets (83-79) and Braves (76-86) both underperformed expectations and missed the playoffs entirely. The Marlins (79-83), meanwhile, came close to .500 as they showed promise and play a key role in ending the Mets’ postseason dreams on the final day of the regular season, and the Nationals (66-96) showcased their potential with their young, up-and-coming talent, despite finishing in the cellar.
Heading into Opening Day, the NL East race promises to be one of the most exciting ones to watch around the league. The Mets are projected to bounce back and contend for their first division title since 2015, while the Braves are expected to rebound and the Phillies once again have a roster built for a run at the postseason. So let’s review where things stand at the start of the 2026 season, and what Mets fans might expect from the team’s division rivals.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies are coming off back-to-back NL East crowds and four consecutive playoff appearances, though they have failed to make it beyond the Division series in either of the previous two seasons after going to the World Series in 2022 and reaching the NLCS in 2023.
In many ways, the Phillies are “running it back”, as they enter 2026 with a very similar roster to the one they showcased last year. Their key offseason moves were re-signing Kyle Schwarber to a 5-year, $150 deal—Mets fans will recall that the club was also reportedly in on the Schwarber sweepstakes—and catcher J.T. Realmuto to a three-year deal. The Phillies also, very recently, extended two cornerstones of their rotation in left-handers Cristopher Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo, which should offer them rotation stability for years to come. In terms of new faces, the club added slugging outfielder Adolis Garcia and reliever Mitch Keller. On the departure side, Philadelphia parted ways with Nick Castellanos, Harrison Bader, and Matt Strahm. The team will start the year without ace Zack Wheeler as he recovers from thoracic outlet surgery, but after a “successful spring,” he is set to begin a rehab assignment and could be back in April.
Both ZiPS and PECOTA have the Phillies taking a step back in 2026 and relinquishing their NL East crown, and that’s to be expected for a team that’s a year older and not necessarily better. Fangraphs projects the Phillies to win 87 games, which is actually down from their projection of 91 wins and an NL East crown from late January. This update lands them squarely in third place in the NL East but would secure them the second Wild Card in the National League. Baseball Prospectus is a little more bullish, projecting them to finish at 84.9 wins in their up-to-date model on March 25. The Phillies will once again go as far as Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, and Kyle Schwarber can carry them, as their veteran core remains strong but, again, one year older. Their rotation remains a strength, even as they wait for Wheeler’s return, and they have the benefit of a full season with closer Jhoan Duran, whom they acquired ahead of last year’s trade deadline.
Atlanta Braves
The Mets’ collapse stole the headlines around the league and took a lot of heat off the Braves, who unexpectedly fell flat on their faces and finished in fourth place after seven straight postseason appearances. The Braves, who won six straight division crowns from 2018-2023, fell below the .500 mark for the first time since 2017.
Atlanta enters the year with a new skipper at the helm, as Walt Weiss is set to succeed Brian Snitker, who held the position for ten years but chose to step down into an advisory role. Weiss previously served as Snitker’s bench coach. On the field, the team added reliever José Suarez and outfielder Mike Yastrzemski. They also claimed Osvaldo Bido from the Yankees, inked Rowdy Tellez on a minor league deal, and brought in old friend Dom Smith, who is in position to potentially make the roster out of spring. Atlanta will be managing some injuries heading into this year, specifically to Spencer Strider, who begins the year on the injured list with a left oblique strain. Joey Wentz (torn ACL) and Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow inflammation) both begin the year on the 60-day IL.
Their roster is still loaded with talent, and the project models seem to agree that they will get back on the horse in 2026. Both ZiPS and PECOTA have them narrowly missing a division crown, falling just behind the Mets but handily securing the top Wild Card spot in the NL. Fangraphs sees them winning 88 games (matching the Mets) but falling short in the end. Baseball Prospectus, meanwhile, has them at 88.7 wins, just shy of the Mets’ simulated projection of 89.4.
Ronald Acuña Jr. remains their key player, and a healthy and elite season from their star outfielder could make all the difference (emphasis on ‘healthy’). There’s also Matt Olson, who played 162 games for the fourth straight season and finished with a 136 wRC+ and a 4.7 fWAR. Atlanta also desperately need a bounce back year from Austin Riley, who struggled last season and has not come close to his All-Star self from 2022 and 2023. The biggest bright spot for Atlanta last year was catcher Drake Baldwin, who earned Rookie of the Year honors after a stellar debut season, and he will now be thrust into a more prominent role going forward.
Miami Marlins
The Marlins surprised some folks last year when they came close to .500 and hung around the NL Wild Card picture until the late stages of the season—some of this is certainly due to the subpar competition, no doubt. They also flirted with trading ace Sandy Alcántara, who missed all of 2024 and struggled to regain his form in 2025 until well after the All-Star break. You can be sure that the team will again explore a trade this year, if they are not realistically in a playoff spot—Alcántara’s contract expires at the end of the 2026 season.
The Marlins did what they do best, which is trade their talented players for prospect capital. They made two headline moves in this vein: trading right-hander Edward Cabrera to the Cubs in a package centered around outfielder Owen Caissie, and trading left-hander Ryan Weathers to the Yankees for four prospects. It’s worth noting that Cabrera is under team control through 2028, and Weathers through 2029, which brought in a bigger return. To fortify their roster, the club signed utility player Christopher Morel and acquired Esteury Ruiz from the Dodgers. They also acquired right-hander Bradley Blalock from the Rockies and left-hander Kade Bragg from the Twins.
Unsurprisingly, their season last year has done little to sway perception of their team or inspire much from the projection models. They are, pretty much across the board, viewed as the fourth team in this division, as ZiPS sees them finishing 75-87 and PECOTA has them basically right around that with a sim W total of 74.7. In both scenarios, they fall well short of the third Wild Card spot, failing to earn a postseason spot for the third straight yea after their Wild Card appearance in 2023. They still have some bright young players to watch, including Xavier Edwards and 2025 All-Star Kyle Stowers. At the very least, Mets fans should take comfort in the fact that New York does not play Miami during the final week of the season—their final games against the pesky Marlins are September 7-9 at loanDepot Park.
Washington Nationals
Despite some promising young talent, the Nationals still came close to 100 losses and seem to be nowhere close to contention in the division. They confirmed those thoughts by trading one of their best veterans, pitcher MacKenzie Gore, to the Rangers for a package of five minor leaguers. On the major league side, they made some minor moves, adding Zack Littell, Foster Griffin, and Miles Mikolas, all on relatively affordable one-year deals. The rest of their roster was filled in by waiver claims.
The Nationals are projected to finish right near the bottom of the league yet again. ZiPS sees them finishing the year 69-93, a three-game improvement from their 2025 results. This would give them more wins than just the Colorado Rockies, and would tie them with the projected win total of the Chicago White Sox. PECOTA, meanwhile, is a bit more pessimistic, simulating a total of 67.1 wins for Washington, ahead of just the Rockies (59.4) and Angels (65.5) in their model. This year will be all about the growth of rising stars James Wood and CJ Abrams, and their continued growth will be the main point of concern for Washington in what is ultimately another rebuilding year.
Projections and Predictions
The Mets have been a popular pick to win the 2026 NL East title, and not just from ZiPS and PECOTA (see standings below) but also from several seasoned baseball journalists at MLB, ESPN, SNY, Newsday, the NY Post and more. However, as we have learned far too many times, projections and predictions are a far way off from reality. With that said, the Mets find themselves in a good position and should be able to size up well against the Phillies and Braves as they look to capture their first division crown in over a decade.
Good morning. Unless you’re manager Tony Vitello or on the Giants, in which case I just say I hope tomorrow is a better morning for you. Because the Yankees’ spanked the Giants 7-0 in the first game of the year.
There was one thing that happened last night that has never happened in an official MLB game before. The Yankees’ José Caballero made the first ever Automatic Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge. The call was upheld, so we’re still waiting on that first overturn.
One thing the Giants did last night was break the weirdest streak in baseball. After 19 seasons of having a different left fielder start for San Francisco on Opening Day, Heliot Ramos made his second-straight Opening Day start for the Giants. This streak goes back to Barry Bonds’ final season in 2007.
Speaking of Bonds, on the broadcast last night he revealed how he almost became a Yankee, only to hang up on George Steinbrenner when the “Boss” wanted an answer immediately. There’s been some question of the accuracy of the story, as Steinbrenner was officially banned from baseball during the time Bonds described.
Jordan Schusterman has a preview of the Tony Vitello era in San Francisco. For someone with no professional experience before showing up to camp, he has certainly won over a lot of grizzled MLB veterans.
The Red Sox will be serving "Lobstah Poutine" at Fenway Park this year! This ballpark food features crispy fries, lobster meat, clam chowder and crispy bacon all served in a custom lobster boat 🤤
I never thought I say that the Marlins did something right that the Red Sox messed up. But this looks delicious.
The Marlins' new "Machete" menu item is served in a custom carrying case 😳
This TWO-FOOT homemade flour tortilla is griddled on the flat top with melted mozzarella and Oaxaca cheeses, house-marinated carne asada, smoky guajillo pepper sauce, salsa verde and cilantro 👀
May 16, 2022; Oakland, California, USA; Minnesota Twins shortstop Royce Lewis (23) and Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton (25) celebrate after defeating the Oakland Athletics at RingCentral Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Ah, a fresh season. Unlimited potential. Anything is possible! Or at least, it feels that way until the moment your favorite team fails to score after having a runner on third base with no outs, or if the bullpen blows a five-run lead. That is when you remember that baseball, while beautiful, may be the most frustrating game of all.
Alas, the Orioles will enter yet another brand new campaign anyway. This one does genuinely begin with lofty aspirations. They were one of the busiest clubs over the winter, and on paper they look like a team that could do some great things. At the very least, they should improve upon their 75 wins from a season ago
The Twins, on the other hand, seem like they could be headed in the opposite direction. They went 70-92 in 2025, which cost Rocco Baldelli his job as manager. Derek Shelton will take the reins. He was last the skipper of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2020 through May of last year, when he was canned after a 12-26 start to the year. It’s not the most aspirational of hires, but Shelton is familiar with the organization, having served as bench coach back in 2018 and ‘19.
This past offseason was highlighted more by what the Twins did not do rather than what they did. Neither Joe Ryan nor Byron Buxton was traded. That would have made sense if the organization then went and made any sort of impact additions to their roster, but they largely sat on their hands. Josh Bell, Victor Caratini, and Taylor Rogers were the “marquee” free agents brought on. While each of them are fine major leaguers, they won’t elevate this team at all.
Instead, their hopes will be pinned on Buxton and Royce Lewis being the best versions of themselves. That is asking a lot of Buxton, entering his age-32 season, who always seems to miss some amount of time. The 126 games he played in 2025 was his most in a season since 2017. Lewis gets hurt a lot too. He played in 106 games last year, the most he has ever played as a big leaguer.
The rotation will be without Pablo López. He had Tommy John surgery in February and will miss the entire 2026 season. He only tossed 75.2 big league innings last year due to a right shoulder strain that became a forearm strain during rehab. But they were stellar innings as he had a 2.74 ERA and 1.11 WHIP prior to being shut down.
Who knows what will happen in the AL Central. Once again it looks like one of the league’s weaker divisions. So maybe the Twins could get some luck and sneak up on a few clubs. But the more likely outcome is that they deal with major injuries again and slump to be one of the worst team’s in the AL. That was the case in 2025, and they still managed to go 6-0 against the Orioles. That can’t happen again for an O’s team with postseason aspirations.
Game 1: Thursday, March 26th, 3:05 p.m., MASN
LHP Trevor Rogers (9-3, 1.81 ERA in 2025) vs. RHP Joe Ryan (13-10, 3.42 ERA in 2025)
Rogers threw just 109.2 innings last year, but he was so dominant that he earned some consideration for the AL Cy Young award anyway. OK, it was just one down-ballot vote, but it’s hard to argue the logic. The southpaw was spectacular, generating 5.4 bWAR, only 1.1 bWAR less than the award winner, Tarik Skubal, who threw nearly twice as many innings. He deserves the start here even if he is a strong candidate for some negative regression.
Ryan is likely to be one of the most sought after players at this year’s trade deadline if the season goes poorly for the Twins. The 29-year-old had a 3.42 ERA and struck out 194 over 171 innings last year, and he won’t hit free agency until after the 2027 season.
Game 2: Saturday, March 28th, 4:05 p.m., MASN
RHP Kyle Bradish (1-1, 2.53 ERA in 2025) vs. RHP Taj Bradley (6-8, 5.05 ERA in 2025)
The great X-factor of the 2026 Orioles could be Bradish. We know how good he can be. Over the last three seasons he has a 2.78 ERA and is striking out 10.1 batters per nine innings. Of course, he only has 240 total innings across those three seasons due to Tommy John surgery in mid-2025. So the big question will be how healthy he can remain. The O’s are likely to be conservative with him early, shortening starts, and skipping his turn occasionally. But when he does pitch it should be dynamite.
It’s not usually a good sign when the Rays trade away a pitcher. That’s an organization that tries to hoard pitching talent as much as possible, but they were OK with swapping Bradley for Griffin Jax last year. Bradley was even worse (6.61 ERA in 31.1 innings) for Twins than he was for the Rays (4.61 ERA in 111.1 innings). Minnesota is hard-pressed to find starting options, so Bradley will get plenty of chances to prove himself.
Game 3: Sunday, March 29th, 1:35 p.m., MASN
RHP Shane Baz (10-12, 4.87 ERA in 2025) vs. RHP Bailey Ober (6-9, 5.10 ERA in 2025)
The Orioles have talked about Baz as the rotation’s ceiling-raiser all offseason. In essence, they swap him into Grayson Rodriguez’s place in the rotation. Right now, that looks like a wise decision. Rodriguez is opening the season on the IL for the Angels while Baz looked quite good in his final spring tuneup against the Nationals. There is no denying the stuff. It’s great. Now he just needs to harness it.
Ober was a disappointment in 2025. After back-to-back seasons worth 3.0 bWAR and an ERA under 4 in 2023 and ’24, he flopped badly last year. His numbers this spring were rather ugly too. Across 13 spring innings he had a 1.769 WHIP and struck out just 4.2 batters per nine innings. You gotta take those stats with a grain of salt, but his trajectory is not what you want if you’re a Twins fan.
