Sweet relief: Rays 11, Cardinals 7

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - MARCH 29: Chandler Simpson #14 of the Tampa Bay Rays rounds third base on his way to scoring a run against the St. Louis Cardinals in the second inning at Busch Stadium on March 29, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Rays escaped from St. Louis with a win. Although the Rays offensive production was impressive — 11 runs, 17 hits and 4 walks — there was not one minute when this win felt assured.

The Rays started out with the lead.

After having been no-hit for six innings yesterday, the Rays were able to put up three runs in the second inning on a combination of hard hit doubles and singles. Chandler Simpson got the inning going with a single, he was driven in by Johnny DeLuca’s double. DeLuca scored on a passed ball, and then Carson Williams (double) and Yandy Diaz (single) combined for another run.

Steve Matz, one-time Mets and Cardinals pitcher signed this winter as a free agent, got the start for the Rays. He was perfect, and impressive, for the first two innings. In the third, he gave up a smashed double (115 mph) double to Jordan Walker. Walker scored on what was ruled a single with a throwing error, but it was a slightly bloopy softly hit ball that Palacios had trouble handling. He rushed his throw to first and sent it sailing, which allowed Walker to score, making the score 3-1.

The top of the fourth inning seemed to go quietly for the Rays, with two quick outs. But then Hunter Feduccia drew a walk (even after losing a challenge on a called strike), Red Hot Yandy smoked a left field double to drive him home, and Jonathan Aranda decided to make things symmetrical with a double to right field (Yandy scored) and Cedric Mullins said “that looks like fun” and also hit a run-scoring double, to make the score 6-1.

Things fell apart for Matz rather quickly, however, in the bottom of the fourth inning. A walk and a single didn’t seem too problematic, but then, as the pitch count mounted, Matz threw one too many over-the-plate change ups and Walker smacked the last of those into the stand for a three run homer, making the score 6-4. The Cardinals got two men on base once more in the fifth, but thanks to a double play neither runner scored.

This meant, however, that as of the sixth inning we got the Rays Bullpen Adventure. Kevin Kelly came in and promptly gave up a leadoff double. The runner advanced to third on a fly ball to center, and it was fortunate that Cedric Mullins caught that fly ball at all.

Garrett Cleavinger also allowed a hard hit lead off hit in the seventh, although this one held to a single. He then managed to load the bases — no comfortable, quick inning for our guys! — before getting out of the jam.

The Rays were able to score again in the eighth inning, facing rookie (making his major league debut) Matt Pushard. After a single, a walk, and a wild pitch Yandy was able to drive home a run with a bloop single (I guess he got tired of smoking the ball and decided to try some soft contact). Aranda singled home another run. Run number 9 came courtesy of Mullins’ sac fly to center.

Mason Englert came in, then, with the benefit of a five run lead, and did whatever he did to give it back. A solo home run by Nolan Gorman was followed by a single, followed by a two-run homer and we were back to a two-run lead — which we know is not NEARLY big enough.

The Rays offense, having seen what the bullpen can do, added on in the ninth. After a couple of hits put Simpson on third, Carson Williams put down a perfect bunt hit to score him (for the record, I’m largely a “don’t bunt” person but there’s a “speedy guy on third and needing an insurance run” exception.) 10-7.

Yandy went back the the “hit it soft” approach and his “excuse-me” swing ended up acting as a kind of bunt, scoring Williamson and putting leaving him with an infield single.

That meant the Rays had a four run lead and all we needed was a reliever to who could get three outs. Bonus if he could do it without first loading the bases. And in walks Bryan Baker. Three weak contact outs and, miraculously, the game ended with the Rays lead in tact.

As we savor this win, let’s look at the positives. Matz was really good for three innings. I think he can build on that moving forward. Yandy is red hot — five hits and four RBI today. Aranda and DeLuca had multi hit days, and look locked in.

On to Milwaukee for a weekday series.

Nationals take opening series in Chicago with 6-3 win over Cubs

CHICAGO (AP) — Joey Wiemer and Keibert Ruiz homered and the Washington Nationals earned a season-opening series win with a 6-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.

Jake Irvin (1-0) allowed two runs and three hits with seven strikeouts and a walk in five innings and Clayton Beeter, the last of four Washington relievers, worked a clean ninth for his first save. Washington took two of three in the series.

Alex Bregman hit two solo home runs — his first since joining the Cubs as a free agent — and Ian Happ added one.

Brady House and Daylen Lile hit consecutive two-out singles off Shota Imanaga (0-1) in the first and Wiemer followed with his second homer of the season to give Washington a 3-0 lead.

Imanaga also gave up Wiemer’s leadoff triple in the fourth, but stranded him there with three straight outs. Wiemer was 3 for 3 with a walk.

Ruiz added a two-run homer off reliever Hoby Milner in the eighth.

Bregman, who signed a five-year, $175 million contract in January, hit a solo shot to center to start the fourth and Happ added his second of the season two pitches later to make it 3-2.

Bregman added an eighth-inning solo shot to right field off Cionel Pérez.

Imanaga was pulled after walking the leadoff man in the sixth. He gave up six hits and four runs while walking two and striking out seven.

Winnipeg Jets forward Jonathan Toews, who captained the Chicago Blackhawks to three Stanley Cups, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Up next

Nationals: at Phillies where Washington's Foster Griffin faces Philadelphia's Taijuan Walker on Monday.

Cubs: host Angels. Ryan Johnson starts for Los Angeles against Chicago's Edward Cabrera on Monday.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

O’Neill, Beavers, Alonso lead late rallies to capture the series, 8-6

Mar 29, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles right fielder Tyler O'Neill (9) grounds into a force out at first during the seventh inning against the Minnesota Twins at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images | Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

New beginnings. So much hope, so much promise. The 2026 season is brand-new, and so is Shane Baz’s career as an Oriole. This week the team announced a five-year, $69-million extension for the right-hander—all before he’d thrown a single regular-season pitch. The front office called it a “no brainer.” It almost feels like too much anticipation.

All I can say after today is, given the sharpness of Baz’s stuff, they may be right, but four runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 IP wasn’t the first impression Baz, or any of us, had hoped for. He threw just one bad inning, but seven hits is a lot.

It’s fair to say that in today’s Game 3 series finale against the Twins, Orioles pitching was a shambles. Between the two teams, there were fourteen runs allowed total, 24 hits, and ten ABS challenges (more on those in a sec). But in the end, it was OK, because O’s hitters delivered a special performance.

Down 4-0 early, the O’s rallied, courtesy of a Tyler O’Neill three-run homer in the fourth, and a two-run go-ahead double by Dylan Beavers in the sixth. New-ish reliever Yaramil Hiraldo allowed the Twins to tie it, 5-5, with a first-pitch homer, and Rico García had to clean up a bases-loaded mess, as he did all last season. The O’s raced ahead again with three runs in the seventh, including on an Adley Rutschman pinch-hit RBI double. Again their bullpen tried to give it away, Tyler Wells looking faulty. But Yennier Cano got another clutch, bases-loaded K, and Ryan Helsley was, if not lockdown, good enough. Batters were challenging strike and ball calls all day, and it was a little dizzying, but overall, ABS seems to be a good innovation.

Let’s start at the beginning. This was my first real impression of Shane Baz and here are some thoughts: OK, so the Baz fastball really does live at 96-97 mph. Wow! He hit 99. OK, he’s got a wicked knucklecurve, too. Total “swords” material, as the Pitching Ninja would say. He can also mix in a 91-mph cutter just to confuse things.

This is really pretty stuff. Maybe it’ll produce an ace one day, but Baz’s outing today wasn’t pretty. He dispatched the Twins in a stylish nine-pitch first inning, capped off by a challenged strikeout of Byron Buxton that ABS vindicated! But the second inning was a mess.

Four Twins reached with no outs: Matt Wallner served a 98-mph fastball into center, Josh Bell got hit, catcher Victor Caratini tapped an elevated offspeed pitch to left, and an infield single to second made it 1-0 Twins. Baz battled to strike out Royce Lewis, but the victory was pyrrhic. No. 9 hitter Tristan Gray doubled past a diving Tyler O’Neill, and three runs scored. The relay from center to second to third saw Coby Mayo put the tag on the runner, then fire home too late to stop the fourth run from scoring.

After that, Baz got better. In the fourth, Beavers, in his first-ever game in centerfield, lost a ball in the sun (d’oh—you felt for him), gifting Josh Bell a double. But Coby Mayo fielded a grounder, tagged Bell (or Bell left the basepaths; it wasn’t clear), a run-saving play. In the fifth, Byron Buxton dropped in a blooper to the right-field corner, but Tyler O’Neill fired a bullet to second. Buxton overran the bag, and he was out!

The scoreboard stayed 4-0.

At this point, the Orioles offense was even more disheartening than Baz’s one bad inning, because they were getting handled by Very-Large-But-Otherwise-Not-Terribly-Scary Twins starter Bailey Ober, who has a slowish fastball and a decent changeup/slider combo. I’m not just being mean: from the booth, Ben McDonald said “When I look at his stuff, it doesn’t wow me.”

But Orioles hitters made their adjustments off the soft-tossing giant, and Tyler O’Neill delivered again, this time with the bat. Pete Alonso had led off with a 108-mph single, bringing a needed jolt of life to this lineup, and Basallo followed with a single. Tyler O’Neill went to a 3-1 count and got a hanging sinker: bam. Out it went, crushed to left field. It was, as the booth said, a “muscular” response by O’Neill (that’s a working out joke, by the way).

The two starters were out early, and the ABS challenge system proved critical to both their replacements. Twins youngster Mick Abel coughed up Gunnar Henderson’s first hit of the year but still posted a scoreless fifth, boosted by an ABS-assisted strikeout of Taylor Ward. Taking over for Baz in the top of the sixth, lefty Grant Wolfram struck out Matt Wallner when Basallo challenged the ball four call. Gutsy! It was a strike by a hair, and this conceivably saved a run because the next hitter doubled.

The Orioles put up two more runs in the sixth, as O’Neill walked, Coby Mayo hit a bloop double, and Dylan Beavers delivered his biggest hit of the young season.

The Orioles bullpen did not look nails today, and I have some questions, but that’s for another day. Yaramil Hiraldo allowed a game-tying homer on his very first pitch, then hung several sliders and walked three batters. Rico García, Mop-up Man Extraordinaire, froze Matt Wallner, who pointlessly used his ABS challenge, and it proved important the next inning.

In the seventh, Twins newbie Mick Abel was kind of hung out to dry—I’d have pulled him before 81 pitches, but I’m just a couch potato, after all. After a leadoff single, Gunnar Henderson was alleged to walk. Ball Four was definitely not a ball, but home plate ump Chris Segal blew it, and the Twins were out of challenges! With Ward on second and Gunnar on first, Pete Alonso came through with a single on an outside pitch. (OK, for the record, this guy can really hit.) The O’s weren’t done: a pinch-hitting Adley Rutschman cranked a double to the center-field wall to make it 7-5 good guys. Basallo was intentionally walked (flattering). With no outs, Mr. Canada grounded into a forceout, but Coby Mayo came through with a single. 8-5 Birds.

Unfortunately, Tyler Wells, like Yaramil Hiraldo, was also having a “can’t find the strike zone day,” and he, too, let a run in and loaded the bases. Today, Yennier Cano was up to the task, however, and froze Buxton, complete with a triumphal Cano Strikeout Pose.

Ryan Helsley, pitching on a couple days rest, had himself an 8-6 lead to protect. He did not look particularly sharp, and again, ABS came to the rescue. After a leadoff single, new left fielder Taylor Ward earned his keep with a low ranging grab on a sinking liner. Then, Helsley nearly walked Josh Bell, but new backstop Adley successfully challenged a 3-0 ball call. Come back to the plate, Josh! Then, Helsley dropped in a 3-2 slider on the edge of the strike zone that the ump called ball four. Now Helsley challenged it, and lo and behold, it was a strike by a hair!

Here is Adley’s challenge (Pitch 4) and Helsley’s (Pitch 6). Clearly, ABS is already making a huge difference.

That was a crazy one, folks! It was also a series win, and a great day for the bats.

So, who is your vote for Most Birdland Player of Sunday’s outing? Mr. Canada himself, Tyler O’Neill and his three-run jack? Pete Alonso, who kickstarted the offense and had two singles and a walk? Dylan Beavers, coming through with a go-ahead, two-out double? Rico García, who pulled another Houdini with the game tied and the bases loaded in the seventh?

Make sure to leave your thoughts in the comments below.

LIVE DISCUSSION: Sacramento Kings at Brooklyn Nets, 6:00 PM ET

SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 22: Drake Powell #4 of the Brooklyn Nets looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 22, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

There’s a certain comedy in the agony for Nets fans right now, and frankly, all fans of tanking teams. There has to be. Otherwise it would really be a brutal watch… assuming you’re still watching.

Typing out this sentence feels wrong, but it’s the reality: the Brooklyn Nets need to lose tonight. And not just tonight — as many times as possible over these final eight games. Up next is a gauntlet of teams trying to accomplish the exact same thing. The Kings tonight. The Wizards next week. Milwaukee twice. The Pacers sandwiched in between. It’s a scramble to the bottom.

There is a strange beauty in it, too. These games still matter, just not in the way we’re used to. There are young professionals on the floor who are competing for future opportunities and contracts. That part is real…


🏀 KEY INFO

Who: Sacramento Kings (19-56) at Brooklyn Nets (17-57)
When: 6:00 PM ET
Watch: YES Network


⚠️ Injury Report

Nets

  • Egor Demin
  • Danny Wolf
  • Michael Porter Jr
  • Day’ron Sharpe
  • Josh Minnott
  • Jalen Wilson
  • The Nets three two-ways and one 10-day are available.

Kings

  • DeMar DeRozan
  • Malik Monk
  • Russell Westbrook
  • Domantas Sabonis
  • Zach Lavine
  • Keegan Murray
  • De’Andre Hunter
  • Drew Eubanks

💬 DISCUSSION

Share your thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.

Guardians vs Mariners Prediction, Odds & Home Run Pick for Tonight's MLB Game

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The first edition of Sunday Night Baseball in 2026 pits a pair of uneven starters against one another as the Seattle Seahawks host the Cleveland Guardians.

My Guardians vs. Mariners predictions expect the offenses to make life miserable for both starters in a high-scoring final.

Check out our full MLB picks for Sunday, March 29, including Sunday Night Baseball props from analyst J.D. Yonke.

Guardians vs Mariners predictions

Guardians vs Mariners best bet: Over 7.5 (-122)

This total does not account for what these two starters are.

Cleveland Guardians hurler Slade Cecconi posted a 4.99 xERA last season with a 49% hard-hit rate that was among the worst in the sport.

Meanwhile, Seattle Mariners starter Emerson Hancock is trying to outperform his underwhelming metrics entering his third season. The righty posted a 4.90 ERA last season, paired with a 5.51 expected ERA. The season before followed a similar pattern, with a 4.75 ERA and a 5.92 expected ERA.

The ball will be in play early and often, and the quality of contact should be high.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Cecconi’s 12% barrel rate and 49% hard-hit rate both ranked in MLB’s bottom 10% among qualified 2025 starters.

Guardians vs Mariners same-game parlay (SGP)

The -144 price point for Seattle is about right with my -146 projection.

I’m genuinely more confident in the Mariners' bats to exploit a pitcher with a serious barrel rate and hard-hit problem. Cal Raleigh looms large, but others like Dominic Canzone, Luke Raley, and Randy Arozarena posted hard-hit rates above 40% last season.

Guardians vs Mariners SGP

  • Over 7.5
  • Mariners moneyline

Guardians vs Mariners home run pick: Dominic Canzone (+430)

Canzone opened the year with two homers and has posted a Top-3 exit velocity among all Guardians and Mariners hitters in this series. He projects favorably against Cecconi’s fastball-slider combo, particularly the slider, which is a pitch the righty leans on heavily. Canzone posted the highest hard-hit rate among Seattle hitters against that pitch last season.

2026 Transparency record
  • Best bets: 0-1, -1.2 units
  • SGPs: 0-1, -1 units
  • HR picks: 0-2, -2 units

Guardians vs Mariners odds

  • Moneyline: Cleveland +122 | Seattle -144
  • Run line: Cleveland +1.5 (-176) | Seattle -1.5 (+146)
  • Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-118) | Under 7.5 (-104)

Guardians vs Mariners trend

The Seattle Mariners have hit the Game Total Over in 90 of their last 160 games (+17.65 Units / 10% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Guardians vs. Mariners.

How to watch Guardians vs Mariners and game info

LocationT-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA
DateSunday, March 29, 2026
First pitch7:20 p.m. ET
TVPeacock
Guardians starting pitcherSlade Cecconi
(2025: 7-7, 4.30 ERA)
Mariners starting pitcherEmerson Hancock
(2025: 4-5, 4.90 ERA)

Guardians vs Mariners latest injuries

Guardians vs Mariners weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Lakers hope two-day 'reset' will refresh them for final stretch of the season

Los Angeles, CA - March 27: Lakers guard Luka Doncic, #77, winks and points
Lakers guard Luka Doncic winks and points to a player after a play in the second half against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Two days with no games allowed the Lakers to fully reset as they prepare for the final stretch of the regular season and a playoff run.

They have eight games left, starting with the NBA lottery-bound Washington Wizards at Crypto.com Arena on Monday. The Lakers will play without star guard Luka Doncic because he’s serving his one-game suspension for reaching the league limit of 16 technical fouls.

The Lakers had an early practice Sunday and that gave them a chance to make adjustments with fresh bodies and minds.

Read more:Luka Doncic will serve one-game suspension for techs on Monday

“Yeah, for me, I think, based on all of them wanting to come in at 10 a.m. on a Sunday, I think it is as much mental and spiritual and emotional,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said after practice. “We didn't want to have these guys in here long today. But we got a lot done, watched some film and cleaned some stuff up. But there is these two days for us. It's a great reset for us.”

Doncic got his 16th technical foul of the season Friday night during a win over the Brooklyn Nets after an exchange with Ziaire Williams, when both were given double technical fouls in the third quarter of that game.

For Doncic, who earns $45.9 million per season, the suspension will cost him about $264,000.

If he gets two more technical fouls between now and the end of the regular season, he will be automatically suspended for an additional game.

Doncic is eligible to return for the Lakers on Tuesday night when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“I mean, he's disappointed,” Redick said of Doncic. “He wants to be there for his teammates, and again, I've talked about this all year, like he plays. He's not a guy that takes games off. He can be banged up and he's gonna play. He was like that when I was his teammate in Dallas. For tomorrow, we've gotten, I think, some great contributions from guys that haven't necessarily been in the nine-man rotation when we've been fully healthy.”

Redick spoke about how Bronny James, Jarred Vanderbilt and Maxi Kleber have all had “good moments” when they were called on for duty.

And with Doncic out, Redick said it will take a group effort to beat the Wizards.

“But we're gonna need everybody tomorrow,” Redick said.

Read more:Swanson: Bronny James has proven he deserves to be a Laker — with or without LeBron

The Wizards have the third-worst record in the NBA at 17-56. They are second to last in the league in points allowed, giving up 124 per game.

Still, this is all about the Lakers and how they get ready for the playoffs during the final few games of the season .

Half of the eight games are against teams with records below .500.

The Lakers will face a Cavaliers team that’s making a push for better positioning in the Eastern Conference. They will twice face an Oklahoma City team that has the best record in the league and a Suns team that has a 3-1 record against the Lakers.

“That's the thing I've talked about all year is you need great effort and you need great execution,” Redick said. “I think the effort part has been there very consistently for weeks now. Sometimes when the games are stacked together and travel and all that, there can be some small details, execution-wise, that can have slippage, and I think for us, especially on the defensive end, we can do some things better. But I mean, look, the last 16 games we are where we are because we've been really good on both ends.”

Etc.

Redick said guard Marcus Smart (right ankle contusion) and forward Adou Thiero (left knee soreness) are in “that day-to-day camp” with their injuries.

“So we’re just kind of waiting for them to feel like they’re good enough to go,” Redick said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Jordan Walker Homers, But Rays Hammer Dustin May, Beat Cardinals 11-7

JUPITER, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 26: Jordan Walker #18 of the St. Louis Cardinals at bat during a spring training game against the Houston Astros at Roger Dean Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images

There are some positives that the St. Louis Cardinals can take away from Sunday’s 11-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, but Dustin May’s start is not one of them as he was hammered through 4 innings.

Dustin May’s unfortunate outing started to go south in the 2nd inning when the Tampa Bay Rays strung together a single by Simpson, a double by Deluca giving the Rays their first run who then advanced to 3rd on a sac fly by Palacios. Deluca scored on a wild pitch from May giving the Rays a 2-0 lead. Williams hit a ground ball up the middle, but ended up with a hustle double. Fedducia singled on a ball that popped out of Burleson’s glove followed by a Diaz single putting the Rays up 3-0 early.

The Cardinals would get on the board in the bottom of the 3rd inning when Jordan Walker ripped a double to left. He would later score when a Victor Scott II infield single was mishandled by Palacios.

Tampa Bay added to their lead in the 4th inning when Fedducia walked and scored after Diaz doubled. Aranda then doubled to right field scoring Diaz who would also score on a double by Aranda. The double parade continued with Mullins which scored Aranda giving the Rays a 6-1 lead.

The Cardinals would show big signs of life in the bottom of the 4th inning when Masyn Winn singled, Thomas Saggese walked and then Jordan Walker lit up an off-speed pitch on the outside part of the plate and deposited it into the left field stands.

The St. Louis bullpen did a solid job for a couple innings when Justin Bruihl relieved Dustin May in the 5th and 6th innings and held the Rays scoreless. George Soriano kept the Rays off the board in the 7th inning, but Matt Pushard’s major league debut in the 8th inning was not a successful one as Tampa Bay would add 3 more runs in that frame giving them a 9-4 lead.

The 2026 Cardinals continue to prove that they have no quit in them as Nolan Gorman slammed a home run into the right field stands in the bottom of the 8th.

Jordan Walker continued to show a much-improved approach as he hit a laser shot single to right field following the Gorman home run. He was followed by Pedro Pagés who also homered making it a 2-run lead at the time.

Tampa Bay added more runs in the top of the 9th inning thanks to a sacrifice bunt given up by Chris Roycroft making the score 10-7 who was also victimized by another dribbler in front of the mound which gave the Rays a 11-7 lead which is how the game would end.

There are a lot of positives even in a Sunday defeat. JJ Wetherholt got another hit as he’s opened the season with a .308 average. Jordan Walker looks like a changed man as he went 3 for 4. Nolan Gorman came off the bench and homered in one of his at-bats. Justin Bruihl and George Soriano did a great job out of the bullpen giving the Cardinals at least a chance to come back.

The St. Louis Cardinals will be back in action Monday night as the New York Mets come to town. Kyle Leahy is scheduled to make his first start of the year for the Cardinals.

Iowa Cubs Wrap: I-Cubs bullpen meltdown leads to 7-5 loss

MESA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 10: Jaxon Wiggins #70 of the Chicago Cubs participates in Spring Training workouts at Sloan Park on February 10, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Iowa Cubs were caught hibernating by the Columbus Clippers (Guardians), 7-5.

It was a good start for Jaxon Wiggins, who went four innings and allowed just one run on two hits. Wiggins struck out six and walked two.

Here’s Wiggins getting a strikeout.

Meanwhile, the I-Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when right fielder Justin Dean doubled to lead off the inning and then second baseman James Triantos beat out an infield single to score Dean with two outs.

The I-Cubs made it 4-0 in the bottom of the second with this three-run blast from third baseman Pedro Ramirez.

First baseman BJ Murray Jr. made it 5-1 in the bottom of the third with this solo home run.

But then the I-Cubs bats went silent. Gavin Hollowell threw two great innings of relief, allowing no runs and no hits. He walked one and struck out three. But Tyler Santana was called upon to pitch the eighth and ninth innings. He allowed one inherited run and one more of his own to score in the eighth and then allowed a solo home run to lead off the ninth and a three-run home run to Nolan Jones that gave Columbus the lead for good.

The final line on Santana was five runs on three hits and four walks over two innings. He struck out two.

Iowa did bring the go-ahead run to the plate with two outs in the ninth, but DH Jonathon Long hit the first pitch to the shortstop for an easy fielder’s choice that ended the game.

Pedro Ramirez was 1 for 2 with the home run and two walks. He also stole a base.

BJ Murray Jr. was 1 for 4 with the home run.

Justin Dean went 1 for 3 with the double and two walks.

Golden Knights Fire Bruce Cassidy, Name John Tortorella Head Coach

Bruce Cassidy, who led the Vegas Golden Knights to their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, was fired Sunday.

The move was announced by general manager Kelly McCrimmon, who also confirmed that veteran NHL coach John Tortorella will take over behind the bench for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.

Cassidy Fired

Cassidy departs after four seasons with the Golden Knights, highlighted by the franchise’s championship run in 2023. Despite that success, the organization elected to make a change as it looks to regain consistency down the stretch of the current campaign.

Bruce Cassidu got the raw end of this deal. Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie
Bruce Cassidu got the raw end of this deal. Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie

“We thank Bruce Cassidy for his dedication to our hockey club and community over the past four seasons,” McCrimmon said. “Under Bruce’s leadership, we reached our ultimate goal in 2023 by bringing a Stanley Cup to Vegas. Bruce will forever be remembered with the utmost regard by our organization for what was accomplished here.”

McCrimmon added that the timing of the decision was driven by the team’s current performance and the need to reset expectations as the regular season enters its final phase.

“With the stretch run of the 2025-26 regular season upon us, we believe that a change is necessary for us to return to the level of play that is expected of our club,” McCrimmon said.

Tortorella Takes Over Behind the Bench

The Golden Knights are turning to Tortorella, one of the most experienced coaches in NHL history, to provide a new voice and direction. McCrimmon pointed to Tortorella’s résumé as a major factor in the decision.

“With John Tortorella, we bring in a Stanley Cup Champion as well as one of the most experienced and respected coaches in the NHL,” McCrimmon said. “His guidance will be a great asset to our team at the pivotal point in the season we currently face. We look forward to welcoming John to Vegas.”

Tortorella arrives with 23 seasons of NHL head coaching experience, most recently with the Philadelphia Flyers from 2022 to 2025. His previous stop included a six-year tenure with the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he helped guide the franchise to its first-ever second-round playoff appearance in 2019 and earned the Jack Adams Award following the 2016-17 season.

Over his career, Tortorella has coached 1,620 NHL games—ranking sixth all-time—and has compiled 770 wins. His résumé also includes stints with the Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers, and Tampa Bay Lightning, with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 2004.

The coaching change marks a significant pivot for the Golden Knights as they look to stabilize their play and push toward another deep postseason run under new leadership.

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Owen Caissie hits walk-off homer to give Marlins a sweep of Rockies in season-opening series

MIAMI (AP) — Owen Caissie hit a walk-off, two-run homer to give the Miami Marlins a 4-3 win over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday and complete a sweep of their season-opening series.

Javier Sanoja doubled with two outs in the ninth inning against Rockies reliever Victor Vodnik (0-1) before Caissie drilled a change-up from Vodnik over the wall in right field.

In addition to going deep, Caissie doubled twice and batted 5 for 10 over the three-game set.

Sanoja, Otto López and Xavier Edwards had two hits each for the Marlins. Michael Petersen (1-0) got the win, throwing a perfect ninth.

The Rockies struck quickly against Marlins starter Max Meyer on Jordan Beck’s three-run double in the first.

Miami chipped away at the early deficit when López hit an RBI double in the first and Austin Slater added a sacrifice fly in the second.

Rockies starter José Quintana was lifted after 4 1/3 innings and 78 pitches of two-run ball. Quintana gave up four hits, struck out two and walked four.

The 37-year-old Quintana began his 15th season with Sunday’s outing. Quintana pitched for eight previous clubs before Colorado signed him to a free agent deal in the offseason.

Meyer settled down after the first and kept the Rockies scoreless through the remainder of his five-inning outing. He allowed five hits, struck out five and walked two.

Miami’s Deyvison De Los Santos doubled in his first major league at-bat in the second. De Los Santos was recalled from Triple-A Saturday.

Up next

Rockies: RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (10-10, 4.64 with Baltimore in 2025) makes his Colorado debut in the opener of a three-game set at Toronto on Monday. Four seasons since his last major league appearance, RHP Cody Ponce will start for the Blue Jays.

Marlins: RHP Chris Paddack (5-12, 5.35 in 2025) will start the opener of a three-game home series against the Chicago White Sox on Monday. RHP Davis Martin (7-10, 4.10) will start for the White Sox.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Eight encouraging things about last night’s Mariners loss

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 28: Julio Rodríguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after hitting a single to score Cole Young #2 of the Seattle Mariners to tie the game during the ninth inning at T-Mobile Park on March 28, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Having had a while to process last night’s 6-5 loss against the Guardians, I have determined that as far as losses go, I’m pretty okay with this one. Yes, there were incredibly frustrating things: the bullpen coughing up a key run after some questionable decisions, the utter lack of hitting with runners in scoring position, the double-digit strikeouts. But there were enough positives to take away to leave me about as encouraged as one can be about a loss.

One: Bryan Woo looked unhittable for five innings

Woo’s postgame interview was agonizing as he shouldered the blame for the loss after giving up [checks notes] two runs over six innings. Yes, the command faltered in the sixth, but Woo’s performance up to that point was dominant. The Guardians came in with a plan to be aggressive against him and Woo pounded the zone anyway, forcing the Guardians into quick, weak-contact outs. He also racked up nine strikeouts, 15 whiffs, and hit a career milestone of four hundred strikeouts en route to re-establishing himself as the ace of the rotation.

Two: Randy keeps getting on base

Randy Arozarena’s ice-cold challenge in the second inning that resulted in a walk was one of my favorite moments from yesterday’s game. Randy will get his hacks in, make no mistake about it, but he is running an extremely hilarious (to me) 7.7% strikeout rate vs. a 31% BB rate over these first three games.

Three: Cole Wilcox makes a strong Mariners debut

Wilcox, who’s up in place of the injured Carlos Vargas, showed why he was a spring training standout with an efficient 1-2-3 inning. The issue for Wilcox is throwing strikes, and he did that last night against the bottom of the Guardians’ order, including a fairly devastating three-pitch sequence to CJ Kayfus that ended with Kayfus chasing after 96 on the top rail. You can read more about Wilcox here.

Four: Cole Young continues to be on time for the fastball

Young didn’t have a great day at the plate but he came up huge in the ninth, shooting a 97.5 mph fastball oppo down the left-field line for a leadoff double and eventually scoring the tying run. Young continues to handily beat his preseason projections into the ground and while pitches will eventually stop throwing him fastballs on the plate, Young also did a good job in this at-bat of laying off a couple of tough splitters.

Five: Julioooooooooo

This was the feel-good moment of the night for me. It’s been a scuffle for Julio over these first three games but this game-tying single where he just used his strength to muscle the ball into right-center was cathartic. It’s encouraging to see Julio not getting too big with his swing and doing what the moment calls for, tying it up and passing the baton.

“What we saw from Julio throughout the spring was using the whole field, and that was a perfect example there,” said Dan Wilson. “Not trying to do too much, especially with two strikes, just trying to get something in play there, and he did get a pitch he could handle and found a hole over there on the right side and gave us the tie at the time. Outstanding at-bat for him.”

Six: That Chase DeLauter homer was an anomaly

96.6 up and away? On a cold March night in Seattle? xBA of .490, 99 mph off the bat and 365 feet? Home run at 20 of 30 parks? Get all the way out of here.

Seven: Healthy Luke Raley is a menace to opposing teams

[Crocodile Dundee voice] That’s not a home run, that’s a home run. Raley had one home run over 400 feet last year after hitting 11 in 2024, including a career-long 459-footer, and 12 in 2023 with Tampa Bay. He’s already notched one such blast three games into the 2026 season with this 411-footer, scorched off the bat at 108.9 mph.

Eight: Return of the comeback kids

Maybe the most encouraging thing from last night’s loss: the comeback the team mounted in the last few innings, even if it fell short. Cole Young said that J.P. Crawford took him aside between innings to encourage him and help coach him up with a scouting report on the pitcher, right before his leadoff double. Young also said Josh Naylor was feeding positive energy to the dugout, telling everyone the Mariners were going to come back and win that game. It didn’t happen last night, but the pieces are in place.

“That’s what this team does,” said Wilson. “We have seen that time and time again, and to feel that energy in here, to feel that fight in here again, that’s a really good sign as we get started.”

Celtics will be without two starters vs Charlotte Hornets

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MARCH 12: Derrick White #9, Jayson Tatum #0 and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics look on during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 12, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Celtics will be without Jaylen Brown (left Achilles tendonitis) and Derrick White (right knee contusion) when they face the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday night. Those absences will come on the first night of a back-to-back; the Celtics will visit the Atlanta Hawks on Monday.

Jayson Tatum, who was listed as questionable with right Achilles repair management, is available, as is Neemias Queta (right thumb sprain). Nikola Vucevic remains out with a right ring finger fracture he suffered on March 6th.

It’s unclear if either Brown’s or White’s injuries are cause for concern

Brown will miss his second straight game with Achilles tendonitis; Joe Mazzulla said on Friday that he was “a little banged up” and day-to-day. White is likely just taking a rest night with the Celtics playing again on Monday, though he previously missed a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder earlier this month with the same knee contusion.

With both players sidelined, Baylor Scheierman will likely remain in the starting lineup. Scheierman started on Friday in place of Brown in the win over the Hawks, his 18th start of the season. He’s averaging 4.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 17.9 minutes per game this season, while shooting 38.5% from three.

In addition, Ron Harper Jr. and Jordan Walsh could see increased minutes with the Celtics shorthanded. Harper Jr. started two games last month when Brown was sidelined, while Walsh is coming off his most extensive run in weeks, having tallied 27 minutes on Friday night.

Queta and Luka Garza will continue to anchor the frontcourt with Vucevic sidelined; Garza has played double-digit minutes in 11 straight games after previously falling out of the rotation after the trade deadline.

Celtics-Hornets tips off at 6pm ET.

Canucks To Face Former Coach On Monday As Golden Knights Make Coaching Change

Ahead of their matchup on Monday against the Vancouver Canucks, the Vegas Golden Knights have made a coaching change. Vegas announced on Sunday that it had fired Bruce Cassidy and replaced him with John Tortorella. The Golden Knights have been in a tailspin recently, with only three wins and eight points in their last 10 games. 

Tortorella's first action behind the bench will be against the Canucks, which he coached in 2013-14. That season went off the rails for Vancouver, as they finished with a 36-35-11 and missed the playoffs. Tortorella was fired at the end of the season and replaced by Willie Desjardins. 

Since leaving the Canucks, Tortorella has coached the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Philadelphia Flyers. He won the Jack Adams Award in 2017 and has made the playoffs four times since leaving Vancouver. Tortorella has also been heavily involved with Team USA and was an Assistant Coach on their 2026 Gold Medal Olympic team. 

Apr 13, 2014; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks head coach John Tortorella signals from the bench during the third period against the Calgary Flames at Rogers Arena. The Vancouver Canucks won 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-Imagn Images
Apr 13, 2014; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks head coach John Tortorella signals from the bench during the third period against the Calgary Flames at Rogers Arena. The Vancouver Canucks won 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-Imagn Images

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