Konnor Griffin, the undisputed number one prospect in baseball, officially got his call to the big show today. The 19-year-old phenom will make his highly anticipated MLB debut at the Pittsburgh Pirates’ home opener on Friday.
His minor league resume leading up to this moment is nothing short of video-game numbers. In just five games in AAA this season, Griffin averaged .438 with a staggering 1.196 OPS. Even more impressive? Across the four different minor league teams he suited up for on his rapid ascent, he never batted below a .325 average. He’s finally getting the chance to show the rest of the world exactly why he earned that number-one ranking.
As for me? I have regrets.
The Mistake
Griffin’s highly coveted 1st Bowman card was released in the 2024 Bowman Draft set. At the time, he was one of the absolute top chases in the product, headlining a loaded class alongside guys like Travis Bazzana, Jac Caglianone, and Cam Smith.
During the initial release hype, I got incredibly lucky. I managed to hit two Konnor Griffin 1st Bowman Autographs.
And then, regrettably, I sold them shortly thereafter for around $150 for the pair.
Looking at the market today is a tough pill to swallow. A single PSA 10 of that exact base autograph is today selling for almost $2,000. If you’re lucky enough to hold a low-numbered parallel version of Griffin’s 1st Bowman auto, you are sitting on an asset that is currently moving for upwards of $25,000 on the secondary market.
In the sports card hobby, it is a well-known fact that the “best” time to sell a prospect is the week he gets called up to the majors. That’s peak hype. That’s not to say a card will never increase in price after a debut, but when a 19-year-old is already priced by the market as if he’s guaranteed to be the next Aaron Judge or Shohei Ohtani, those are almost impossibly big shoes to fill.
Knowing exactly when to sell a prospect card is brutal. It’s an inexact science.
Not everyone who gets a 1st Bowman card even makes it to the majors.
Of those who do make it, even fewer manage to stay there.
And a fraction of that group actually becomes All-Stars.
Furthermore, with over 100 prospects featured in each release of Bowman Draft, figuring out who to invest your money in can feel like throwing a dart at the wall with your eyes closed and just hoping you hit a bullseye.
The Reality of the Hobby
That’s just the nature of the beast. No matter how much research you do, how many minor league box scores you check, or how closely you watch spring training, there are always going to be surprises. For every Konnor Griffin-type card I’ve sold way too early, I’ve held onto two other “can’t-miss” prospects who completely fizzled out and never panned out at the major league level.
So, while I look around the internet today and see the jubilation of the collectors who held onto their Griffins (or bought in early) reaping the financial rewards, it’s admittedly hard for me to celebrate this amazing accomplishment by the kid.
Ultimately, though, it’s fine.
The difference between the highs and lows of collecting can be vast. Getting too invested in the pure ROI and making money absolutely sucks the fun out of the hobby. So while I may feel a sharp sting of regret at the moment, I can look at the cards I do have, the cards that connect me to my childhood, to a specific memory, or to a legendary moment, and be grateful that this hobby still makes me feel something.
Even if, today, that feeling is just wishing I had a time machine.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 30: Ranger Suárez #55 of the Boston Red Sox looks on during the first inning of the game against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on March 30, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If I were to say the words “October baseball” to you, you would instantly be able to picture it in your imagination. You know exactly how October baseball looks, feels, and sounds. You see the bundled-up fans in the stands, you see the FOX score bug on the screen, you hear the crowd roar for a two-out double that plates a run in the bottom of the first.
If I were to say the words “August baseball” to you, you’d be able to picture that, too. And that’s the case even though October baseball and August baseball are near polar opposites — the former cold, tense, loud, urgent; the latter hot and languid, pleasant background noise to the dog days of summer.
The baseball season has its own unique rhythm. And each phase it passes through is integral to the composition as a whole. You wouldn’t want every game to feel like October — that would be far too stressful. Nor would you want every game to feel like August — you need to get the blood flowing every now and then. But the two months complement each other. You need them both. The baseball season is a story that unfolds in a familiar and necessary pattern.
You need May baseball, which is what I would call Settling-In Season. May is when you finally get used to the new faces on the team and when the team starts to define itself. You need June baseball, aka Porch Season, when summer kicks on and the fireflies flutter at dusk and the novelty of the new season wears off, allowing baseball to assume its rightful place as part of everyday life. You need July baseball, when, thanks to the All-Star Game and the increased trade chatter, you start to focus a little bit more on the rest of the league — which superstar is on pace for a historic season, which slow-starting team is revealing itself to be merely a bad team, and which surprising team is going to make itself a fixture of your MLB.TV routine for the rest of the summer. And, of course, you need September baseball, Pennant Chase Season, the aficionado’s October, when scoreboard-watching becomes as intense as watching the game itself.
This brings us to the current month, to April baseball. And there’s no question what April Baseball is. It’s Freak-Out Season. These are the days when everything is magnified beyond all reason or rationality. Luxuriating in the euphoria of baseball’s return, we hang onto every pitch in a way that will seem obsessive and weird in just a few weeks time. We marvel at some hot-shot rookie and wonder if he’s going to single-handedly change the complexion of the playoff race. (What’s up, Chase DeLauter!) We wonder whether a team we assumed would be dominant is actually fatally flawed. (Hello, 2018 Dodgers!) We can’t believe that a young and unpedigreed reliever-turned-starter has thrust himself into the Cy Young race. (I haven’t forgotten you, 2024 Tanner Houck!)
And here’s the thing about Freak-Out Season: it’s fun as hell! Even if we know that Chase DeLauter will not shatter the single-season home run record, that the Dodgers will not finish several games under .500, that Tanner Houck will come back down to Earth, it’s fun to imagine the most extreme possibilities. And this applies to both the good and the bad.
These April freak-outs become the things we remember and laugh about a few months or even years later. Remember the closer-by-committee disaster of April 2003? Remember when the Yankees opened up a launching pad of a ballpark that would prove to be even worse than Coors Field in April 2009? Remember the hilarious torpedo bat freak-out of just last year?? Twelve months ago I was freaking out because I was genuinely convinced that the delicate balance between hitter and pitcher had been forever altered. What a silly, naive fool I was! Thanks a lot, Anthony Volpe!
April baseball is novelty — new players, new ballparks, new rules — and we don’t always know how to handle it. And that’s fine. Freaking out is what the calendar demands of us. And even if you yourself don’t want to freak out, let other fans enjoy this time in their own way. You may be correct that Garrett Crochet will not throw a dud in fifty percent of his starts this year and that Caleb Durbin will not go 0-for-the-next-six-months. But you don’t actually get anything for being right about baseball on the internet and policing other fans’ behavior is lame as hell.
So go ahead and enjoy the extremes of Freak-Out Season, just as you enjoy the extremes of winter. Call for Alex Cora to be fired for failing to properly prepare the team for the ABS era. Demand Caleb Durbin be sent down to AAA. Declare Ranger Suárez to be the worst free agent signing in team history, non-Sandovalian division. Do these things not because you will be proven right (you probably won’t) but because fandom demands and emotion and because the calendar calls on you to do so.
There is a time and a place for taking a measured and considered view of baseball, for reminding yourself of just how long a baseball season is and for staying calm. That time is called August and we don’t need another one. This is April. And in its own, chaotic, fevered way, it’s great. Embrace it.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder get to know each other intimately over the next six days, with the first of two matchups scheduled at the Paycom Center tonight.
Oklahoma City is the top team in the West, but Los Angeles is the conference’s hottest squad, losing just once in the past 14 games.
If L.A. wants to prove it belongs among the best in the West, it needs to solve a soft interior defense getting roughed up at the rim. That's easier said than done against OKC.
Our Lakers vs. Thunder predictions go hard in the paint, and my NBA picks like OKC center Isaiah Hartenstein to have his way on Thursday, April 2.
Lakers vs Thunder prediction
Lakers vs Thunder best bet: Isaiah Hartenstein Over 7.5 points (-112)
Isaiah Hartenstein has been slowly working his way back from a calf injury that cost him games in March, gradually increasing his floor time and involvement in the Oklahoma City Thunder offense.
Hartenstein, who has topped out at six points in each of his last three outings, got a rest spot against Detroit on Monday, sitting out the second game of back-to-back contests. That gives him four days’ rest and puts him at his healthiest in a long time for this matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers.
For all its success, Los Angeles continues to get bullied on the blocks. The Lakers have surrendered more than 53 points in the paint per game during this hot streak, and a smaller rotation and ineffective interior defenders allow those foes to fire at a 69.5% clip within five feet of the rim.
Oklahoma City’s spacing isolates Hartenstein down low, especially with Chet Holmgren stretching the floor. The Thunder’s dribble penetration draws help, and the 7-footer often finds himself open in the dunker’s spot or on lobs over the top.
Hartenstein also activates the pick-and-roll, and L.A. ranks dead last in defending those play sets, especially when it pertains to containing the screener.
He's had success versus the Lakers this season, putting up 10 and 11 points on a collective 9-for-15 shooting while logging 20 and 22 minutes in those two meetings. Hartenstein's projections for Thursday range between 8.8 and 9.0 points through 23 minutes of work.
Lakers vs Thunder same-game parlay
Oklahoma City’s defense is stingy at home and will turn the screws on L.A. as the team sharpens its playoff mindset.
The Thunder are bound to focus their defensive fire on stopping a red-hot Luka Doncic, which could leave more space for LeBron James to operate. LeBron’s projections flirt with 20 points tonight, and he scored 22 in his lone matchup with the Thunder this season.
Lakers vs Thunder SGP
Thunder moneyline
Isaiah Hartenstein Over 7.5 points
LeBron James Over 17.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Towers of Power
The Thunder’s 7-footers will have their way with a small Lakers lineup, terrorizing the interior for points and sending back shots on the defensive side.
Player models call for Holmgren and Hartenstein to top their points props and also forecast a couple of swats from Chet.
Lakers vs Thunder SGP
Thunder -9
Isaiah Hartenstein Over 7.5 points
Chet Holmgren Over 15.5 points
Chet Holmgren Over 1.5 blocks
Lakers vs Thunder odds
Spread: Lakers +9 (-110) | Thunder -9 (-110)
Moneyline: Lakers +280 | Thunder -360
Over/Under: Over 232 (-110) | Under 232 (-110)
Lakers vs Thunder betting trend to know
The Lakers have been underdogs of +5.5 or higher just nine times this season, going 3-6 SU and ATS when set as sizable underdogs. Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Thunder.
How to watch Lakers vs Thunder
Location
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Date
Thursday, April 2, 2026
Tip-off
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Lakers vs Thunder latest injuries
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LOS ANGELES - JUNE 8: Allen Iverson #3 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket against Kobe Bryant #8 of the Los Angeles Lakers during game two of the 2001 NBA Finals played June 8, 2001 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, 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 License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2001 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Twenty-five years removed from the Sixers’ most recent NBA Finals berth, Allen Iverson remains the definitive Philadelphia basketball star this century and one of the most beloved athletes in Philly history. Enough time has passed that even those Sixers fans who didn’t watch Iverson live with their own two eyes have now become aware of his generation-altering presence both on and off the court.
Honoring Iverson and that era of Sixers basketball took on new levels this season with the team’s beloved throwback-inspired City Edition uniforms that pay tribute to that 2001 squad. Now, the Sixers and Mitchell & Ness have teamed-up for “76 Originals: The Answer Collection,” a merchandise capsule that highlights Iverson himself and those early 2000s vibes.
The collection features six items, ranging from t-shirts to a hoodie to a classic varsity jacket that all harken back to that iconic time for the Sixers.
When the Sixers reach the postseason in a couple of weeks, can they just wear their black uniforms every game, please? I just want to get ahead of that now…
FORT MYERS, - MARCH 16: Owen Murphy #56 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the 2024 Spring Breakout Game between the Atlanta Braves and the Boston Red Sox at JetBlue Park on Saturday, March 16, 2024 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Kelly Gavin/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Gwinnett’s monopoly on Minor League games being played is coming to an end as the rest of full season ball begin to ramp up. Let’s take a look at the roster and see whats in store for the Clingstones.
— Columbus Clingstones (@GoClingstones) April 2, 2026
Starters
Brett Sears, RHP
Owen Murphy, RHP
Ian Mejia, RHP
Herick Hernandez, LHP
Drue Hackenberg, RHP
Garrett Baumann, RHP
By the looks of the roster Columbus starts the season with six starters headlined by Owen Murphy, who looks to continue his strong work following his return from Tommy John surgery. After making stops at four different levels last season, Brett Sears starts the year in Columbus after making 15 appearances there last season before he was promoted to Gwinnett to finish the season. 26 year old Ian Mejia begins his fifth season of professional baseball and will return to Columbus after he made 24 appearances (17 starts) last season to the tune of a 2.62 ERA. Also included on the roster is the dynamic Herick Hernandez who put together another enormous strikeout rate season (11 K/9) season thanks to his 24” IVB fastball, and slider combination. Rounding out the rotation will be Drue Hackenberg who looks to rebound after a very difficult 2025, and Garrett Baumann who showed a massive increase in velocity in last season, and opened some eyes during Spring Training.
Relievers
Blane Abeyta, RHP
Ryan Bourassa, RHP
Jack Dashwood, LHP
Blayne Enlow, RHP
Elison Joseph, RHP
Tyler LaPorte, RHP
Jhancarlos Lara, RHP
LJ McDonough, RHP
Shay Schanaman, RHP
Samuel Strickland, LHP
Luis Vargas, RHP
There is a ton of velocity located in the backend of this pitching staff. Jhancarlos Lara, Elison Joseph, and Luis Vargas lead the charge – all capable of sitting 97+ on the mound in pure relief roles. Blane Abeyta surprisingly returns to Columbus after a very strong 2025 with the Clingstones (2.29 ERA in 43 appearances). After 8 strong appearances in Columbus for Ryan Bourassa (0.82 ERA, 11 innings), Ryan starts the season in Columbus as well. Tyler LaPorte, LJ McDonough, Shay Schanaman, and Samuel Strickland add some unique release points and stability to his talented core of players. Jack Dashwood and Blayne Enlow are the two new additions to the organization.
Catchers
Archer Brookman, RHB
Tyler Tolve, LHB
Adam Żebrowski, RHB
Columbus return a pair of catchers who were with the team last season in Adam Zebrowski, and Tyler Tolve. Tyler played in just 29 games last season, two with Columbus, while Zebrowski had a .638 OPS in 87 games for the Clingstones. Joining them will be the recently signed Archer Brookman who hit .230/.289/.299 in A+ ball last season for the West Michigan Whitecaps.
Infielders
Drew Compton, S
Cal Conley, S
Lizandro Espinoza, RHB
Jordan Groshans, RHB
David McCabe, S
Keshawn Ogans, RHB
Ambioris Tavarez, RHB
Shortstop is the name of the game in the infield as the Clingstones boast five shortstops on the roster. Drew Compton, and David McCabe are the two first basemen on the roster, with David likely slotting in at DH. Jordan Groshans joins a group of players that have been with the Braves since they were acquired in Lizandro Espinoza, Keshawn Ogans, and Ambioris Tavarez.
Outfielders
Patrick Clohisy, LHB
Tristin English, RHB
Kevin Kilpatrick, RHB
Ethan Workinger, RHB
The outfield in Columbus is a mix of speed and power as Patrick Clohisy and Kevin Kilpatrick will roam the outfield catching everything in sight while Ethan Workinger and newly signed Tristin English look to provide Columbus with some sorely missed power.
We will have posts coming on Rome and Augusta later today, so stay tuned for that.
Mar 28, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Angel Zerpa (61) throws a pitch in the in the seventh inning against the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Brewers, coming off a strong 5-1 homestand featuring a sweep of the White Sox and a series win over the Rays, will look to continue their momentum on the road against the Kansas City Royals. The Royals have also gotten off to a solid start, as they’re 3-2 entering Thursday’s series finale against the Twins.
The Brewers are still without a few key players, as Andrew Vaughn and Jackson Chourio are both out for a few weeks with hand injuries. Quinn Priester (May), Rob Zastryzny (on rehab assignment), and Craig Yoho (mid-April) are also on the IL, while outfielders Steward Berroa and Akil Baddoo will likely be sent to Triple-A whenever they’re ready to return (Berroa in April, Baddoo in June).
Kansas City is without closer Carlos Estévez, who suffered a left foot contusion on a comebacker in the ninth inning last weekend. Infielder Michael Massey is also out with a calf strain, while pitchers Stephen Kolek, James McArthur, and Alec Marsh are also shelved (Marsh likely for the season).
Through two series, the Brewer offense is led by Brice Turang’s nine hits, while Jake Bauers and Gary Sánchez have each slugged a pair of homers to lead the team. Sánchez, despite playing in only three games (six at-bats) is hitting .500/.625/1.500 with those two homers and a pair of walks. Turang has added a homer and a team-best four doubles, and David Hamilton leads the team with four steals. Christian Yelich and William Contreras are the other key contributors, while Sal Frelick has gotten off to a slow start. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .279/.378/.448 (.826 OPS ranks third in MLB) with eight homers (tied for fifth), 45 runs scored (tied for first), and 15 steals (first).
Kyle Isbel leads Kansas City’s offense with two homers thus far, as he’s hitting .571 on the season with a team-best eight hits in 14 at-bats. Maikel Garcia is hitting .313/.429/.375 with five hits, while Bobby Witt Jr. and Jac Caglianone have also added five hits apiece. Salvador Perez is still a threat offensively, and the Royals also feature former Brewer Isaac Collins, Jonathan India, Carter Jensen, Vinnie Pasquantino, and Lane Thomas. As a team, the Royals are hitting .244/.319/.400 (.719 OPS ranks ninth) with six homers (tied for 14th), 22 runs scored (tied for 22nd), and six steals (fifth).
Grant Anderson and Aaron Ashby lead the Brewer bullpen with four appearances each. Anderson hasn’t allowed a run and has struck out six over five frames, while Ashby has allowed one run (a solo homer) and struck out nine over 5 2/3 innings. DL Hall, former Royal Ángel Zerpa, Jared Koenig, and Abner Uribe have also held opponents scoreless, while Trevor Megill and Jake Woodford have the only other blemishes for this bullpen with one run allowed each. As a staff, the Brewers have a 2.83 team ERA (tied for fourth), including a 4.45 starter ERA (21st) and a 1.05 reliever ERA (second). They’ve struck out 76 batters (tied for third) over 54 innings.
Lucas Erceg is one of the few bright spots in Kansas City’s bullpen so far, with three scoreless outings spanning 2 2/3 innings with a pair of saves. Former Brewer Nick Mears, Matt Strahm, and Steven Cruz are the only other relievers to not allow a run, totaling just 4 1/3 innings between them. Bailey Falter (five runs in 3 1/3 innings), Alex Lange (two runs in 1 1/3 innings), Daniel Lynch (three runs, but only one earned, in two innings), and John Schreiber (one run in two innings) have all had a rough go of it early in the season, though Schreiber does have the team’s other save. As a staff, the Royals have a 4.36 team ERA (23rd), including a 1.98 starter ERA (third) and an 8.44 reliever ERA (28th). They’ve struck out 40 batters (27th) over 43 1/3 innings.
Probable Pitchers
Friday, April 3 @ 6:45 p.m.: RHP Chad Patrick (0-0, 2.08 ERA, 5.02 FIP) vs. RHP Michael Wacha (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.34 FIP)
Patrick had a pretty meh start of the season, throwing 4 1/3 innings in Saturday night’s win over the White Sox. He allowed just one run but gave up five hits and a walk with four strikeouts. Patrick made his first MLB start against the Royals almost exactly one year ago, on April 1, when he allowed no runs on three hits and three walks with five strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings.
Wacha, 34, is in his 14th MLB season with his sixth MLB team. This is his third year with the Royals, who he has a 3.54 ERA and 3.61 FIP over 61 starts with. In his season debut last weekend, he went six scoreless frames against the Braves, allowing three hits and a walk with seven strikeouts on just 80 pitches. A familiar opponent for Milwaukee, Wacha has faced the Crew 17 times (16 starts), with a 4.16 ERA and 81 strikeouts over 84 1/3 innings. This is his first start against Milwaukee since 2023, when he was with the Padres.
Sproat got off to a rough start in his Brewer debut on Sunday, as he allowed seven runs on six hits (including three homers) and four walks with three strikeouts over just three innings. Luckily, Milwaukee’s offense bailed him out to deliver a late comeback win. This will mark his first career start against Kansas City.
Lugo, 36, also had a scoreless start against the Braves last weekend, though he has a win to show for it. The 6’4” righty went 6 1/3 innings in that one, allowing five hits and no walks with three strikeouts. The AL Cy Young runner-up in 2024, Lugo has made 10 appearances (two starts) against Milwaukee, with a 2.31 ERA and 26 strikeouts over 23 1/3 innings, including 6 2/3 innings with three runs allowed (two earned) and five strikeouts while with the Royals in 2024.
Sunday, April 5 @ 1:10 p.m.: LHP Kyle Harrison (0-0, 1.80 ERA, 3.17 FIP) vs. LHP Kris Bubic (1-0, 1.50 ERA, 5.50 FIP)
Unlike Sproat, Harrison had a solid Brewer debut on Monday night against the Rays, despite the fact that Milwaukee lost that one. He allowed just one run (a leadoff homer by Yandy Díaz) on four hits and a walk while striking out eight. His lone appearance against Kansas City came last year while with the Giants, a relief outing that spanned 1 1/3 innings with one run allowed and a pair of strikeouts.
Bubic, 28, is in his seventh MLB season, all with the Royals. An All-Star last year, he got off to a solid start once again this season, allowing one run on a pair of hits and three walks while striking out four against the Twins on Monday. He’s made three career starts against Milwaukee, allowing no earned runs (one earned) over 17 1/3 innings with 19 strikeouts, including six shutout frames with eight strikeouts in a win last season.
How to Watch & Listen
Friday, April 3: Exclusively on Apple TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Saturday, April 4: Brewers TV, nationally on FS1; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Sunday, April 5: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Prediction
This is a tough battle, with Milwaukee’s younger arms going up against three veterans for Kansas City. The Royals are a pretty evenly matched team on paper, so I’ll give them the edge at home and say K.C. wins two of three this weekend.
With all the time he’s missed due to injuries, Schwindt has played just 22 games, scoring 3 goals and totaling 4 points.
The 6-foot-3, fourth-line center was originally drafted by the Panthers in the third round (81st overall) in the 2019 draft, but was dealt to the Calgary Flames in the Matthew Tkachuk trade. Later, he was claimed off waivers by the Vegas Golden Knights, and then again this season, was claimed off waivers by the Panthers.
In 71 games between the Panthers, Golden Knights, and Flames, Schwindt has scored four goals and 12 points, averaging 9:12 of ice time.
If Schwindt can return for either Saturday or Sunday’s road games against the Panthers, Maurice must decide who exits the lineup. The most likely candidates are anyone on the fourth line. At the moment, that is Vinnie Hinostroza, Nolan Foote and Luke Kunin.
But given the way the Panthers’ season has gone, there is a high chance another forward will exit tonight’s game early with an injury and be unable to play this weekend.
Additionally, Dmitry Kulikov has suffered a pretty severe broken nose, but Maurice said Kulikov wants to play, so there is a chance he can return against the Penguins, as he has already been ruled out of tonight’s game against the Boston Bruins.
Maurice and his coaching staff are doing a lot of line juggling due to injuries.
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: In this Aerial view, "The Samurai of the Diamond" mural by Robert Vargas featuring Los Angeles Dodgers Japanese pitchers Shohei Ohtani (17), Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) and Roki Sasaki (11) at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel on March 27, 2026 in Torrance, California. (Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In total, the trio against Cleveland allowed three runs in 16 innings, with 12 strikeouts and six walks. The Dodgers became the first team in Major League Baseball history to start a Japanese pitcher in three consecutive games, per Elias.
“These are three great men. They are all different. This is a special time in Major League Baseball, certainly with the Japanese players we’re fortunate to have, and around the league,” manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday. “It’s an honor to know that I managed these three guys.”
This is the second year all three have been Dodgers teammates, but the timing never worked out in 2025 for all three to be in the rotation at the same time. Ohtani was rehabbing from his second Tommy John surgery and didn’t get into a game until mid-June. Sasaki went on the injured list in May and didn’t return until September, and by then there was only room for him in the bullpen.
Fourteen Japanese players were on opening day rosters this season, matching 2010 for second-most in a season, behind only the 16 Japanese players on 2008 opening day rosters.
Having three Japanese starting pitchers on the same team in any season is rare enough, as only 35 pitchers born in Japan have started a game in MLB. Yamamoto, Ohtani, and Sasaki are only the third such trio in major league history, joining the 2001 Montreal Expos (11 starts by Masato Yoshii, 10 by Tomo Ohka, and three from Hideki Irabu) and 2003 Dodgers (33 from Hideo Nomo, 27 by Kazuhisa Ishii, and two by Masao Kida).
Yamamoto, Ohtani, and Sasaki combined for 52 starts last season, tied for second-most in a season by Japanese pitchers on one team.
The Chicago Blackhawks selected Anton Frondell with the third overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. From that moment on, he became one of the most important assets in the organization.
After a strong year in the SHL and at the World Junior Championships, he raised his stock even more. The Blackhawks brought him to North America right when his season ended with Djurgardens, his SHL club.
Nobody is expecting a teenager to dominate right when they join the NHL, but Frondell has been as close to dominant as possible. Through his first five NHL games, he has one goal and four primary assists.
It’s one thing to have the points, but his high number of scoring chances he creates for himself and his teammates is what makes his offensive game so impressive. As he and the team around him develop, more of these chances will find the back of the net, earning him even more points.
Frondell has mostly been used as an offensive play-driver, but his defensive metrics support him being a strong two-way player as well. The Blackhawks are focused on seeing what they have in him as a center just as much as a winger, which would entail being a great defensive forward for 200 feet.
"He's done an excellent job," Jeff Blashill said of Frondell after their overtime loss to the Jets. "To be out against one of the best lines in the league, there were some mistakes, but overall, the line did an excellent job."
Blashill admitted that he's been thrown to the wolves early in his NHL career, and playing against stars like Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele is certainly a challenge for anyone.
"I really like playing with him," Tyler Bertuzzi said of his new linemate. "He's big, and he forechecks hard. I think that's why we had success tonight. He's all over the puck and forechecking hard; he battles, which I like."
Bertuzzi has 31 goals this season, and he's played with almost every top-six caliber center and winger on the team at one point. His versatility has been admirable, and it's helped Frondell adjust to playing center quickly.
"He looks right at home," Bertuzzi continued on Frondell. "He's just going to keep getting better as he grows and continues to play big minutes in big spots. The future is looking bright."
For being an 18-year-old with under 10 NHL games played, his impact has been felt much quicker than anticipated. Nobody would have thought twice if it took him a while to get going in terms of score sheet production, but it's been almost a seamless transition.
Frondell, in addition to being a wonderful hockey player off to a great start on the ice, is a nice kid who has a winning attitude. He was gleaming with excitement as he talked about his first home game in the NHL.
"[It was] incredible," Frondell said of his United Center debut. "Back on the road trip, when we played in Madison Square Garden and different arenas, I thought, 'Oh, this is pretty good.' But they said, 'Wait until you get back at home.' I know what they mean by that now. It's a pretty good crowd here."
It helps when you play as well as Frondell did all game. Eventually, his usage on the defensive side of the puck will match the offensive side, and he's compared his playstyle to Sasha Barkov in the past for a reason, but that will come with more experience.
"The game is a whole new level from what I'm used to in Sweden," Frondell said of the actual hockey game. "Everything goes so fast, everyone is a lot better. I still have a lot to learn."
If this is him at his most raw in the NHL, Tyler Bertuzzi will end up being correct about the bright future. He has looked good at two different positions, fits in with the other young players on the team, and has a desire to get even better.
The one thing that Frondell has yet to truly unleash is his massive one-timer. He put that shot on display at the World Juniors and with Djurgardens, and it looks like it could develop into one of the best one-time shots in the league.
Once he starts pounding those on net, along with everything else he's done well, the Blackhawks will have another consequential offensive player firing on all cylinders.
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Heavyweight fixture that featured icons such as Kevin Sinfield and Lesley Vainikolo returns after 12-year hiatus
It will almost feel as if Super League has stepped back in time on Friday night as the rivalry that defined the competition’s early years returns after a 12-year hiatus, and it will not just be across West Yorkshire that eyes will be on Odsal Stadium for Bradford Bulls’ derby with Leeds Rhinos. In a small corner of New Zealand, Lesley Vainikolo will interrupt his Saturday morning to watch the return of the derby he starred in for Bradford during the early 2000s, and he will probably not be alone.
Dubbed the Volcano because of his incredible try-scoring record, with 149 in 152 games for the Bulls, Vainikolo rarely gives interviews these days. But the lure of discussing one of Super League’s biggest fixtures returning was too much to resist. “There is no way I’d miss it,” says the 46-year-old, who is now director of rugby at Wesley College near Auckland, the school that forged the career of Jonah Lomu.
Before I begin, I should let you know that this article is mostly just venting. Major League Baseball hasn’t listened to me when I’ve written on this topic before and I’m pretty sure they’re not going to listen now.
Nevertheless, I persist.
March 26 is too early to play baseball in northern cities. Period, full stop. I’m sure those of you who live in the Chicago area are familiar with this meme. This version was posted eight years ago, but is still absolutely relevant:
No question, we are somewhere between “spring of deception” and “third winter,” and after all the rain we’re about to get over the next few days, it will definitely be “mud season.” (The White Sox called off their scheduled home opener Thursday because of a forecast of heavy rain; they rescheduled for Friday.)
“Spring of deception” was in evidence Monday evening at Wrigley Field, when the game time temperature was 77 and more than 36,000 paid to see the Cubs defeat the Angels. I was told that there were thousands of walk-up tickets sold that night, and given that the paid crowd Tuesday was about 26,000, that tracks. Even with that 77-degree temperature, the average game-time temp for the six-game homestand just ended was 51.5 degrees. That’s barely tolerable for this time of year, and take that day out and the average for the other five games was 46.4. Yuck.
Further, Wednesday afternoon’s game was played in 39-degree weather with a reported sustained wind speed of 21 miles per hour, blowing in. That was just the 10th game in Wrigley Field history (where there’s officially recorded weather data) with both a temp that low and a wind speed that high:
I remember that 1997 game well. It was Opening Day, and the 29-degree temperature remains the lowest ever recorded at a Cubs game at Wrigley Field. It was impossible to not be freezing that afternoon. The famous 14-10 comeback win over the Braves in 2018 was a game played in possibly the worst conditions ever at Wrigley, given that a light rain fell throughout the game and they never stopped play.
The Cubs have a three-game series against the Pirates next weekend at Wrigley after the current road trip, then hit the road again for a three-game set in Philadelphia before returning for a seven-game homestand against the Mets and Phillies beginning April 17. By then, maybe, we’ll begin to have decent weather in Chicago.
March 26 (actually, March 25 if you include the Giants/Yankees season opener in San Francisco) is far too early to start the MLB season. Why are we here? In part, because recent CBA’s between MLB owners and players have mandated a certain number of off days during the regular season. Now, I’m not opposed to that; rest days are a good idea for players. But adding those extra off days has also added several days to the regular season’s length, which this year spans 187 days from March 25 to Sept. 27. Ten years ago, the regular season length was 182 days, and if you remember shorter seasons that began in mid-April and ended before October, that was in the days of scheduled doubleheaders. For example, 60 years ago in 1966, the season was 171 days long (April 12 to Oct. 2), but the Cubs had 10 scheduled doubleheaders that year. That’s simply not possible in baseball in 2026.
The expanded postseason then lasts almost five weeks. MLB hasn’t set a postseason schedule for this year yet, but if it mirrors last year’s, Game 7 of the World Series would be played on Oct. 31.
If MLB wanted to have a schedule that made more sense by the calendar, they’d push it back about 10 days. Typically, the weather in northern cities is better in October than it is in April. The problem with that: TV networks don’t want the World Series pushing too far into November, because that is “ratings sweep month” and they want their entertainment shows there, not baseball.
Some will say that if the league insists on scheduling games in northern cities in March, they should at least be divisional games, where the team would come into town later in the year and you’d at least have a potential makeup date for a postponement. That would be slightly better than scheduling, for example, the Nationals and Angels… but it’s still dumb when there are alternative ideas.
So what are those alternative ideas?
The way I see it, there are two possible solutions.
The first is shortening the season, which I wrote about here a few weeks ago. This is undoubtedly going to happen once MLB expands to 32 teams, which will likely not happen until the Rays stadium situation is settled, so we could be five years or more away from that. Even so, when that happens and the regular season is shortened, we are likely going to have an expanded postseason, which would eat up some or all of the saved time from shortening the regular season. Thus that isn’t necessarily going to push the regular season start date back into April, where it belongs.
The second is something that’s been resisted by MLB and its teams for quite some time, but it’s also something I think has to happen if the league is going to insist on playing almost a week’s worth of games in March: Play all of them in warm weather cities or cities with stadiums with roofs. It was especially dumb, for example, to have the Angels playing in Chicago this week. Not only did that risk postponement, but with a team that has its home 2,000 miles from Chicago, that made potential makeup dates difficult because the Angels schedule is more West Coast-centric. The league was lucky that rain didn’t interrupt the last two games of the series given dire forecasts, but the Tuesday and Wednesday games were played in awful conditions that weren’t fair to fans, gameday staff or players.
Here are the MLB teams that I would consider to be either located in warm-weather cities or with indoor stadiums: Blue Jays, Rays, Astros, Rangers, Angels, Mariners, A’s, Marlins, Braves, Brewers, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Giants and Padres. That’s 14 of the 30 teams. The following MLB cities are what I would consider “mid-latitude” locations, places where it can generally be warm enough in late March/early April to host games: Kansas City, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Baltimore and Washington. The league could rotate those five cities, one every five years, in joining the other 14 to host games over the first week.
Yes, I’ve heard the objections:
Those cities don’t want all the early season games; kids are still in school, people aren’t on vacations, etc.
Teams don’t necessarily want to start on the road every single year
To which I say, “Too bad.” It’s just too cold and potentially wet in most northern cities to play baseball there in March. Granted, this sort of bad weather can — and does! — happen in those cities well into April, but at least the chances of good weather are better in April than in March.
I think the teams/cities noted above need to suck it up and host the first week of games. Every single year. MLB is a $12 billion business, they could make it worth those cities’ while to be the hosts for a week at the beginning of the season, instead of (for example) seeing Wrigley Field with announced crowds of 25,000, maybe a third of whom are actually in the ballpark.
Beyond the fact that playing in cold conditions like this is inconsiderate to fans, gameday staff and players, it doesn’t make for good baseball. You saw quite a number of routine pop flies that should have been caught at Wrigley over the first homestand drop untouched. Cold weather makes it more difficult for players to get loose and risks injury.
All right, I’ve had my 1,400 words of venting. What do you think?
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JULY 14: Major League Baseball commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. announces the pick for the Kansas City Royals at the 2024 MLB Draft at Cowtown Coliseum on July 14, 2024 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Royals will have $15,954,000 to spend on draftees this summer, the sixth-largest draft bonus pool in baseball. The Pirates will have the most money to spend, with a record pool of $19,130,700. The Royals benefit from being selected for the sixth pick through the MLB Draft lottery, the measure instituted to discourage tanking.
The MLB Draft bonus pool is essentially a capped spending system that limits how much each team can spend on signing its draft picks. Each draft slot position is assigned a dollar value, and the slot values for the first ten rounds are added to comprise each team’s “bonus pool.” The Royals will also receive a Competitive Balance pick in Round A due to being a small market team. They will pick sixth only in the first round, the remaining rounds are determined by reverse order of last year’s standings.
1st round (#6 overall) – $7,746,100
Competitive Balance Round A (#30) – $3,190,500
2nd round (#56) – $1,721,700
3rd round (#91) – $872,900
4th round (#119) – $651,500
5th round (#151) – $476,900
6th round (#180) – $367,600
7th round (#209) – $289,900
8th round (#239) – $233,400
9th round (#269) – $207,900
10th round (#299) – $195,600
Teams that exceed their bonus pool face a penalty. Clubs that outspend their allotment by 0-5 percent pay a 75 percent tax on the overage. At higher thresholds, teams lose future selections: a first-rounder and a 75 percent tax for surpassing their pool by more than 5 and up to 10 percent; a first- and a second-rounder and a 100 percent tax for more than 10 and up to 15 percent; and two first-rounders and a 100 percent tax for more than 15 percent.
Teams are not required to spend the slot value on a particular draft pick, but can allocate the bonus pool as they see fit. Many teams will skimp on some picks, in order to offer other picks money well over slot. Having a larger bonus allows a team more flexibility in their strategy. If a player does not sign, the team loses that bonus slot value from their pool. You can find complete slot values and each team’s bonus pool here.
The 2026 MLB Draft will begin on July 11-12 in Philadelphia as part of the All-Star Week celebrations.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 28: Duncan Robinson #55 of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 28, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For the second time in less than a week, the Detroit Pistons take on the Minnesota Timberwolves. Detroit hosts this one, aiming to sweep the season series. That would be a sweet victory after last year’s dust-up.
The dynamic of this game will change if Anthony Edwards suits up this time around. He is questionable tonight after appearing in one of the last seven Timberwolves games. Minnesota has seven games left, and Edwards needs to play six more games to hit 65, which triggers eligibility for an All-NBA selection.
Hopefully, he is in the lineup so we can see Ausar Thompson get a chance to hound the explosive bombs away scorer. Ausar should be motivated to guard another star but stay out of foul trouble tonight. He had some success vs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Ausar has to stay sharp and disciplined so he can stay on the floor.
Ausar Thompson steals the ball from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Kevin Huerter with the fastbreak dunk at the other end, and Ausar gets fouled out after he fouls SGA, with 1:53 minutes remaining in regulation (with replays) pic.twitter.com/gnXF2jwsSt
The playoffs are at our front door. The national chatter around Detroit (assuming health) is that there is not another creator/scorer next to Cade Cunningham. Jalen Duren is starting to make that proclamation look funny in the light.
Game Vitals
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
When: 7:00 PM
Watch: Prime Video
Odds: Pistons (-3.5)
Analysis
“Who is gonna help Cade?” “They do not shoot it well enough,” and similar sentiments have been laid out all year. Duren has picked up the phone regarding the first question. This All-Star season is turning into an All-NBA one.
people will try to discount it because it's march but it can't be overstated how incredible jalen duren has been since cade went down. 24/11/3 on 76.4% TS.
SEVENTY SIX POINT FOUR!!!!
he's also been ridiculous from the line, 64/75 (85%) from there in this stretch. been perhaps…
The efficiency dominance has been a steady theme. Duren’s 68.6 true shooting percentage is No. 1 in the association. He has been a paint beast all year and is now filling out his game in other ways.
The passing screams he can be a hub when teams swarm Cade. It’s understandable to question if Duren will continue to dominate with less space come playoff time due to the shooters, but maybe the Pistons have flipped a switch shooting-wise?
Over the last eight games, the Pistons have been shooting 38 percent from deep. They rank last in 3-point rate during this stretch, but shotmaking is shotmaking. It will eventually open up the floor if the shooters keep it up. Or teams will just get burned by capable shooters.
Eight games are not a huge sample, but Detroit has shooters who can go on a hot stretch. Career-wise, Duncan Robinson is a tier-one elite shooter, and Kevin Huerter is a tier-two sharpshooter. Huerter is 42 percent on six attempts over the last four games; hopefully, he has turned the corner.
Marcus Sasser has been the goods as a shooter, Daniss Jenkins is someone defenses guard, Javonte Green is a sneaky solid shooter, and Tobias Harris is respectable.
Detroit has not been consistent from deep this year, but getting hot at the right time can change the trajectory of their playoff run. Shooting is needed, but it all starts with the defense.
Ausar is the defensive engine who gets things started. His anticipation is something the league has not seen and needs to adjust to.
ausar beats players to their spots so well that it gets called a foul because nobody else in the league can do it and it looks unnatural
Do not get me wrong, Ausar can be handsy and pick up ticky tack fouls. But sometimes he gets called for stuff that elite defenders usually get away with.
Think Alex Caruso or Patrick Beverley, they get to play with a little more defensive spunk and not get called for certain fouls due to their reputation. Ausar’s defensive rep is headed in that direction, and his First Team All-Defense selection this season will expedite that process.
Julius Randle and Naz Reid will look to bounce back after the dominant Detroit defense shut them down less than a week ago. It will not be easy, but I imagine those two come out motivated. Jaden McDaniels is out again, but Ayo Dosunmu is back. He will impact the game, but that may not be enough to push Minnesota over this Pistons group, who continues to play well no matter who is on the floor.
Donovan Sebrango exited Tuesday’s game late in the third period after blocking a shot against the Ottawa Senators, but thankfully, he avoided any serious injury.
The 24-year-old skated in 17:55 of ice time, recording one assist, blocking two shots, and throwing two hits. This season, Sebrango has played in 32 games for the Panthers, notching four assists.
Benning has been very impressive during his first stint in the NHL, and his offensive nature should blend nicely with Sebrango, who is considered more of a stay-at-home defenseman.
The Panthers have seven games remaining and sit 13 points out of a playoff spot. Their chances are almost zero, but coach Paul Maurice and Bill Zito don’t want to see their team mail it in, as that is not the culture they’ve built with the players.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs will look to play spoiler when they visit the San Jose Sharks at the SAP Center tonight.
While the young and talented San Jose core is chasing down a postseason berth, it’s Toronto rookie Easton Cowan headlining my top Maple Leafs vs. Sharks predictions and NHL picks for Thursday, April 2.
Maple Leafs vs Sharks prediction
Maple Leafs vs Sharks best bet: Easton Cowan Over 0.5 points (+110)
The trio boasts an impressive 58.9 Corsi For percentage at five-on-five and has been on the ice for 7.13 goals per 60 minutes over the past five games.
Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks are playing for the second consecutive night and have also allowed the second-most goals per game.
Maple Leafs vs Sharks same-game parlay
In addition to San Jose giving up goals in bunches and playing on the second night of a back-to-back, Toronto is embracing the spoiler role and has won three of its past four contests.
Additionally, the Maple Leafs have allowed the third-most goals per game this season, so I’m anticipating a high-scoring affair tonight.
Maple Leafs vs Sharks SGP
Maple Leafs moneyline
Over 6.5
Easton Cowan Over 0.5 points
Maple Leafs vs Sharks odds
Moneyline: Maple Leafs +100 | Sharks -120
Puck Line: Maple Leafs +1.5 (-230) | Sharks -1.5 (+190)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-110) | Under 6.5 (-110)
Maple Leafs vs Sharks trend
Toronto has only hit the Under in nine of its last 25 games (-4.00 Units / -15% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Maple Leafs vs. Sharks.
How to watch Maple Leafs vs Sharks
Location
SAP Center, San Jose, CA
Date
Thursday, April 2, 2026
Puck drop
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN4
Maple Leafs vs Sharks latest injuries
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