MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 31: Vinnie Pasquantino #9, Bobby Witt Jr. #7 and Jonathan India #6 of the Kansas City Royals stand on the field for pre-game ceremonies prior to the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Monday, March 31, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Aaron Gash/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Royals open their 2026 season tonight against the Atlanta Braves and manager Matt Quatraro has posted the first lineup of the season. The lineup is right-handed heavy against Braves left-hander Chris Sale, with Jac Caglianone and Kyle Isbel on the bench. Lefties hit just .162/.250/.302 against Sale last year.
Cole Ragans gets the Opening Day start for the Royals, the sixth pitcher in club history to get the nod in the first game in three or more consecutive seasons.
Game time is tonight at 6:15 CT, and you can watch on Royals.TV.
CHICAGO — Jason Heyward, who launched his 16-year major league career with the Atlanta Braves in 2010 and won a World Series title with the Chicago Cubs in 2016, announced his retirement on Friday.
Heyward played in 34 games with San Diego in 2025, hitting .176.
For his career, Heyward hit .255 with 186 home runs with six teams. He also played for St. Louis, Houston and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The outfielder won five Gold Gloves, including four straight seasons from 2014 through 2017.
Heyward, whose nickname is “J Hey,” played his first five seasons with the Braves and set career highs with 27 homers and 82 RBIs for Atlanta in 2012. He was drafted by the Braves in 2007 from Henry County High School in suburban Atlanta.
Heyward played for the Cubs for seven seasons, from 2016 through 2022. He said he plans to focus on his Jason Heyward Baseball Academy, a youth development program based in Chicago.
“I wanted to reach this moment and know without a doubt that it was time to walk away, and I do,” Heyward said in a statement. “No second-guessing, no looking back, just gratitude.”
Heyward said playing 16 years in the major leagues “gave me everything, and now I get to give some of that back. Through the Jason Heyward Baseball Academy, I get to mentor the next generation, keep my hands in the game, and make sure kids in my community have the opportunities and the space to dream the same way I did.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 26: Carson Benge #3 of the New York Mets reacts to hitting his first home run in his MLB Debut during the sixth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Opening Day at Citi Field on March 26, 2026 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Unsurprisingly, the vibes were good after the Mets’ 11-7 Opening Day victory over the Pirates at Citi Field on Thursday afternoon. That reflected in the post-game comments, where there were a lot of positive things to say about the team’s performance in the win.
Carlos Mendoza
On the team’s approach against Paul Skenes in the five-run first inning: “If you want to beat guys like this…you’re going to have to play perfect baseball, pretty much, not only putting together some pretty good at-bats, but running the bases, putting the ball in play. That whole inning, the way everything unfolded, was pretty impressive. Overall, one through nine, pretty solid day, and it says a lot about our offense.” (MLB)
On the team getting contributions from the entire lineup: “They continued to add on. Not only that first inning, but that fifth inning was as good as the first one, where they’re controlling the strike zone, they’re creating traffic, we’re putting the ball in play with two strikes, we’re going the other way when we need to, that’s the sign of a good offensive team from one through nine. When you get contributions from Marcus [Semien], from [Carson] Benge, and Alvy [Francisco Alvarez], and we’re able to turn that lineup over, we’re going to be in a good place.” (MLB)
About Benge’s debut: “Who he is is super consistent. He’s 0-for-2 with a couple of strikeouts and he still feels pretty good about his chances. He controls the strike zones, he walks…and then he gets a pitch where he can do damage and goes to the pull side like that. I’m not surprised by it.” (SNY)
About Peralta’s Mets debut: “Other than the two mistakes there to Lowe, I thought he was pretty good. They put together some really good at-bats…he was able to get through five on a day where, like I said, a couple of missed pitches there where they clipped him. But overall, I thought he was very good.” (SNY)
Carson Benge
On his first major league home run: “I kind of blacked out running around the bases. I don’t really remember too much. I know I got it good off the bat.” (SNY)
On his support system in his major league debut: “It means the world, you now. Having all the people that have sacrificed so much for me come up and watch that happen is definitely big.” (SNY)
On his approach following the two strikeouts: “Just calm down. Deep breath, calm down. Great atmosphere, great fans, just trying to bring myself back down so I can compete.” (SNY)
On the Citi Field crowd: “It was amazing. The crowd was the loudest I’ve ever heard, times five.” (SNY)
On the reaction from the fans: “I just got chills that this is where I’m supposed to be and just having fun every day playing baseball.” (SNY)
On the dead bird incident: “I heard a thud, I looked over and it was just down. Down for the count.” (SNY)
Freddy Peralta
On the atmosphere at Citi Field: “Amazing, man, amazing. I think, personally, something that helped me to get better. But it’s amazing and I can’t wait to see it in the rest of the season that same way.” (SNY)
On the offense picking him up: “Amazing! I asked them earlier today before the game, ‘I need some runs from you guys.’ But damn, that’s crazy!” (SNY)
On the feeling of walking to the mound in a different uniform: “I don’t know how to explain to you right now what is the difference, but it feels different. The energy from the first pitch to the last one, you can feel it.” (SNY)
On his plans for a barbecue after Opening Day: “I wish. I don’t know, you never know. I’m going to keep it a secret. It may happen, yeah!” (SNY)
Bo Bichette
On his competitive at-bats: “The goal of our team should be to have the most competitive at-bats every single day.” (SNY)
On the mindset after getting down 2-0 in the first: “I mean it’s the first game, but it could give us a glimpse into what we want to be as a team. You know, getting down early and coming back against you know, maybe the best in the game. That’s good stuff, so we’ll try to keep it going.” (SNY)
Brett Baty
On contributing to the team’s Opening Day victory: “That was awesome. That was a really fun game. Our lineup was really special, put together a lot of scrappy at-bats, and then Freddy, the bullpen…it was awesome.” (SNY)
On Benge’s debut: “Unbelievable. Really, really cool. I think if I’m remembering correctly, Alvy hit a home run his first hit, maybe, and I think I did it, too. Well, I know I did it. But no, it was really really special, and I’m super happy for him.” (SNY)
On the team’s lineup: “It’s huge, that’s what we harp on. We’re a complete lineup. If you wear the pitcher down, then somebody in our lineup’s going to get a mistake and do some damage with it.” (SNY)
Chase DeLauter is ready to haunt Chicago pitching for the next six years. | (Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)
MLB Spring Training is over, and the 2026 baseball season is upon us! As teams put the final touches on their Opening Day rosters, let’s look at some of the biggest headlines across the league.
10. Grayson Rodriguez starts on the Angels IL
The Angels have always struggled with pitching, but missing the ace they traded for ranks high on the Halo’s biggest worries this year. Rodriguez didn’t throw a single regular-season pitch with Baltimore in 2025 after missing the season due to a right lat strain, and his return has been delayed due to severe arm weakness, known as ‘dead arm.’ Rodriguez’s absence makes trading Taylor Ward away look like a huge mistake right now.
9. Konnor Griffin misses Opening Day
MLB’s No. 1 prospect will have to wait to pencil in his debut date. The Pirates’ 2024 first-round pick made a splash in his first year in the minors, slashing .333/.415/.527 while belting 24 home runs and 94 RBIs from Single to Double-A ball. For the first time in a blue moon, Pittsburgh is making the right call not to rush Griffin to the majors. While he has the highest odds of being the NL Rookie of the Year, he can wait an extra month or two to earn the accolade.
8. Atlanta’s rotation is plagued with injuries
What should’ve been a bounce-back year is already starting on the wrong foot for the Braves. Atlanta can create their own rotation from injured starters alone. Ace Spencer Strider is out for at least two weeks, with Spencer Schwellenbach also sidelined for a few months. Losing that much production will sting.
Dave Roberts has too many great players and not enough roster spots. Utility player Kim was optioned to the Oklahoma City Comets ahead of Opening Day. His strong .280/.314/.385 slash line and 13 stolen bases off the bench last year wasn’t enough to beat out LA’s No. 8 prospect Alex Freeland. Kim won’t be in Triple-A long, though, whether it’s with the Dodgers or another organization.
6. No lefties in the Dbacks bullpen
The MO for general managers is to have a fair mix of lefty and righty pitchers to keep batters on the tips of their cleats. Still, the Arizona Diamondbacks took an unconventional, and likely unintentional, approach to finalizing their pitching staff. Maybe GM Mike Hazen is taking a Billy Beane approach, ignoring the psychology- and performance-driven strategies that have dominated roster construction and pitching changes. Or, perhaps it’s just a fun coincidence. Either way, it will be fun to see how this decision shakes out.
The D-backs will have ZERO LHP in the Opening Day bullpen ❌
RHP Paul Sewald (35) RHP Ryan Thompson (33) RHP Kevin Ginkel (32 tomorrow) RHP Taylor Clarke (32) RHP Joe Ross (32) RHP Jonathan Loáisiga (31) RHP Juan Morillo (27) RHP Andrew Hoffmann (26) pic.twitter.com/9qBxPdLv2a
5. Top prospect JJ Wetherholt makes Cardinals roster
The projected best player in St. Louis will headline the lineup on Opening Day. Although he struggled during Spring Training, Wetherholt taxed pitchers last year with a .306 batting average, .421 on-base percentage, and 72 walks. His high offensive ceiling and speed should be enough to bring fans to one of the most underrated ballparks in the league.
4. Rangers break Opening Day news to Carter Baumler on the mound
What’s the best way to learn that you’ve made the Opening Day roster as a Rule 5 Draft pick? If you didn’t say during a game during a mound visit, you’re wrong. Texas manager Skip Schumaker marched to the mound after five straight outs from Baumler, not to send him to the dugout, but to break the great news. This is another reason why it’s impossible not to be romantic about baseball.
Skip Schumaker told Rule 5 pick Carter Baumler that he made the Rangers Opening Day roster during a mound visit 🥹 pic.twitter.com/19J10vk39Q
The Bronx made the tough decision to option 2024 Rookie of the Year Gil to Triple-A. Despite pitching well after spending nearly half the season on the IL, Aaron Boone claims that the Yankees don’t need a fifth starter until mid-April, with roster priority being given to reliever Rule 5 pick Cade Winquest and relievers Jake Bird and Brent Headrick. Why give the ball to a reliable guy when you can experiment with three less-proven players?
2. Detroit’s Kevin McGoingle set to make his debut
The Tigers’ star shortstop prospect is ready to get to work. The 2023 draft pick has quickly made a name for himself, tallying three-straight .300+ batting average, .400+ on-base percentage, and .850 on-base plus slugging percentage seasons across his minor league stints. Detroit is making an interesting decision to have McGoingle skip Triple-A and go straight to the majors, but if it works out, it’ll look genius.
Kevin McGonigle has made the @Tigers Opening Day roster!
1. Chase DeLauter secures locker in Guardians clubhouse
MLB’s No. 46 overall prospect will be in Seattle’s right field to start the season after a Spring Training that went exactly how Cleveland fans hoped. DeLauter’s exceptional .459/.535/.838 slash line, three home runs, 10 runs driven in, and 10 runs scored with only four strikeouts in 14 games has the Guardians and baseball fans across the nation pumped to see this young stud’s first at-bats.
One of the most intriguing baseball betting options is the “run first inning” market, where you can wager on whether there will be a scorer plated in the opening frame.
With two potent offenses facing off in tonight’s NL West duel between the Dodgers and Diamondbacks, my MLB picks expect early fireworks.
Check out the rest of my free NRFI and YRFI bets for Friday, March 27.
Best NRFI/YRFI bets today
Pick
Odds
/ - NRFI
-125
/ - YRFI
-102
/ - YRFI
-113
Rockies at Marlins: NRFI (-125)
The Colorado Rockies have the worst offense in the majors, especially on the road, where they posted a pathetic .589 OPS and averaged just 2.81 runs per game last year.
Meanwhile, the Miami Marlins had a .693 OPS with 3.91 runs per game at home. Neither team has made significant lineup upgrades, and 10 mph winds are blowing toward the infield at LoanDepot Park tonight.
Miami is handing the ball to former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara, who struggled last season coming off Tommy John surgery. Now two and a half years removed from the procedure, he could be in line for a resurgent campaign.
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Marlins.TV | Rockies.TV
Angels at Astros: YRFI (-102)
Although Houston Astros righty Mike Burrows looked good in the preseason, I’m not convinced he’s a true No. 2 starter.
Burrows posted a 4.33 xERA last year, and the Los Angeles Angels ranked third in the majors in first-inning scoring percentage (33.3%). The Halos lack depth, but they’re strong at the top of the lineup — at least when Mike Trout is healthy.
L.A. will counter with lefty Yusei Kikuchi, who had a 4.48 xERA last year and sported a 6.00 ERA in the first inning. The Astros hit well against lefties, and with a healthy Yordan Alvarez back in the lineup, they should be more productive offensively this season.
Time: 8:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Apple TV
Dodgers at Diamondbacks: YRFI (-113)
These were two of the most productive offenses in the majors last year, with the Los Angeles Dodgers leading the NL in OPS (.768) and the Arizona Diamondbacks sitting third (.758).
L.A.’s murderers’ row has gotten even stronger after adding Kyle Tucker. Meanwhile, the top of the D-Backs’ lineup remains formidable with Corbin Carroll, Geraldo Perdomo, and Ketel Marte.
Arizona is starting Ryne Nelson, who posted a 3.93 xERA last year and ranked in the bottom fifth percentile in average exit velocity.
Time: 10:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MLB Network
What is a NRFI bet?
NRFI (No Run First Inning) and YRFI (Yes Run First Inning) bets add a thrilling twist to the start of an MLB game. A NRFI bet is a wager that no runs will be scored in the first inning. You're betting that the starting pitchers for both teams will get through the first inning without allowing any runs, whether by striking out batters, inducing ground balls, or through solid defensive play.
A YRFI bet is the exact opposite. You're betting that at least one run will be scored in the first inning. In this case, you’re hoping for an early offensive burst such as a leadoff walk, a timely hit, or even a home run.
NRFI and YRFI bets add excitement to the early part of a game and offer immediate gratification for bettors looking for a quick resolution.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
There are eight games on the MLB slate today, and prediction markets like Kalshi allow baseball bettors in every state (excluding Nevada) a chance to lock in their favorite MLB best bets.
We've asked our baseball experts for their favorite MLB picks today — as well as offering extra MLB expert picks from the rest of the Covers staff for Friday, March 27.
Sign up now using our exclusive Kalshi promo code 'COVERS' and get a $10 trading bonus after you trade $10 on any other event contracts — including MLB expert picks!
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Josh Inglis' expert pick: Tigers ML
Price:49¢ (+104) at Kalshi
The Detroit Tigers hold a clear starting pitching edge in Game 2 after an 8–2 win over the San Diego Padres yesterday, who got just nine outs from Nick Pivetta in the opener. I’m backing Detroit on the moneyline at 49% and would buy at 52% or better, with a projected fair price closer to -122. Framber Valdez has a significant edge over Michael King, who struggled this spring (20 runs allowed in 17+ innings) and tends to lack efficiency — opening the door to the Padres’ bullpen early. Detroit’s young bats also looked legit in Game 1, and this lineup has real upside.
Jon Metler's expert pick: Marlins ML
Price:65¢ (-186) at Kalshi
The Colorado Rockies can’t catch a break — it’s Opening Day, and they’re already being targeted as a team to fade. The Miami Marlins are priced at 65 cents, and I think that number should be closer to 69 cents, so I’m hitting the button. Miami has a clear platoon advantage here, with a starting lineup featuring eight right-handed hitters against Kyle Freeland, a lefty who allowed right-handed batters to hit .300 with an .821 OPS last season. With a lineup built to exploit that matchup and Sandy Alcantara unveiling his revamped sweeper, I’ll back the Marlins in this spot.
Joe Osborne's expert pick: Marlins/Rockies Over 7.5 runs - Yes
Price: 50¢ (+100) at Kalshi
This total of 7.5 is showing way too much respect for these starting pitchers. Alcantara is coming off an awful season, where he posted a 5.36 ERA and looks nowhere close to regaining his 2022 Cy Young form, and Freeland is average at best, yet somehow posted a 4.51 FIP on the road in 2025 — which was worse than his mark at Coors Field. He also got smacked for eight hits and six earned by Miami late last season. While bullpens can change year to year, both of these units were consistently among the worst in 2025.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 26: Cristopher Sánchez #61 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts after the sixth inning against the Texas Rangers on Opening Day at Citizens Bank Park on March 26, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A dynamic start from their ace. Two stars clubbing huge home runs. A rookie making a splashy debut. Some drama late, exterminated by their closer.
Yep, 2026 Opening Day had pretty much everything you wanted to see from the Philadelphia Phillies.
On a gorgeous spring day at Citizens Bank Park, a lot of things went right and, for just a little while, the memories of last October’s crushing defeat at the hands of the Dodgers in the NLDS faded.
This baseball team is going to play another 161 of these things, all for a chance to try once again to push their Sisyphusian rock up the hill. But we’ll get to all that. On Thursday, the blueprint for regular season success was clear for all to see. Their 5-3 win over the Texas Rangers had all the ingredients we’ve seen this team successfully cook with over the last four seasons.
Cristopher Sanchez’ incredible performance was a continuation of the blossoming we’ve seen from him over the last three years. Not since Curt Schilling in 1997 has a Phils starter piled up 10 or more strikeouts in an Opening Day start.
That’s right. Roy Halladay never did it. Neither did Cliff Lee. Or Zack Wheeler. Or Cole Hamels. Or Aaron Nola. And that ain’t all.
Cristopher Sánchez of the @Phillies is the only MLB pitcher in the modern era to have an Opening Day start where he:
struck out 10+ batters allowed 0 walks allowed 0 runs allowed 3 or fewer hits earned the win pic.twitter.com/8dfxw28ZAA
His changeup was once again unhittable, generating a 54% whiff rate against the Rangers, who had absolutely no answers for him. His Game Score of 76 ranks tied for the 16th-best Opening Day performance by a starting pitcher in Phillies history (out of 129 starts). After Pittsburgh starter Paul Skenes was absolutely raked by the Mets for five runs in two-thirds of an inning on Thursday, the shortest outing of his career, Sanchez leapfrogged the reigning Cy Young Award winner in at least one odds-makers listing of ‘26 Cy Young contenders.
Paul Skenes to win the NL Cy Young odds move @FanDuelCanada 📉
While Sanchez was busy doing the “ace” thing, Kyle Schwarber once again gave fans an early Schwarbomb, a Ryan Howard Special to the opposite field in left-center. Two batters into the 2026 season, the Phils had a 2-0 lead, and Schwarber was 1/50th of the way to a second-straight 50-homer season.
Schwarber has a knack for these Opening Day dingers, especially after signing big free agent deals. He did the same thing in his very first at-bat as a Phillie on Opening Day in 2022, too.
Straight from the Irony Department, after an off-season in which everyone (including me) was bemoaning the idea of Alec Bohm hitting cleanup once again this year, it was Bohm who ended up smashing the biggest blast of the game, another oppo-shot, this to right field, to put the Phillies up 5-0.
You typically don’t want to have a player like Bohm in that spot in the lineup. We all know that. His career high in home runs is 20 (2023), and last year he hit just 11 in 120 games. He’s never had a slugging percentage above .448 in any of his first five MLB seasons. He’s simply miscast there.
But after all the talk of Bohm not providing enough “protection” for Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, it’s ironic that he was the one to pick up the slack for his teammates, both of whom struck out ahead of him with two runners on base. Had the Phils signed Bo Bichette this winter, Bohm wouldn’t even be here.
And then there’s rookie center fielder Justin Crawford, making his long-awaited MLB debut, hitting in the No. 9 hole. He was active early on, lacing line drive singles to center in his first two at-bats. It would have been icing on the cake if he could have delivered with the bases loaded and two outs in the 8th, but we’ll have to save that moment for some other day.
The Phils have had their share of dramatic Opening Day moments over the last 20 years. With a 5-0 lead entering the 9th, this wasn’t looking like one of them, but spring superstar reliever Kyle Backhus left his good stuff down in Florida. After a two-run blast, a couple more baserunners and some poor defense by Bryson Stott and Harper, Jhoan Duran entered the fray to secure the final two outs of the ballgame.
Manager Rob Thomson could have brought Duran in to start the 9th, even though it wasn’t a save situation, given the team is off on Friday. In the end, he had to use him anyway. Perhaps it’s just that Thomson forgot that, for the first time in his managerial career, he actually has a lock-down 9th inning pitcher at the start of the season. After Duran shut the door, it was revealed he became the first reliever in franchise history to record a save, at home, on Opening Day.
This is crazy but true. Consider…
Saves became official in 1969. Since then, the Phils' season opener was at home 23x.
They only won 8 of them and 3 did not present a classic save situation. The other 5: ⚾️ Complete game ⚾️ Complete game ⚾️ Walk-off ⚾️ Walk-off ⚾️ Walk-off https://t.co/Nlw0sfIn6N
As Jayson Stark noted, eight Phils closers had earned saves on the road on Opening Day, but never at home.
It’s always fun to mix in a little “weird” on Opening Day.
For one day, everyone forgot about the World Series drought. Baseball was back, and the Phillies were doing what they’ve done every season since Thomson took over the reigns as manager.
They won a baseball game.
They’re going to win many more of them before the season is out.
They’re probably going to look a lot like this one did, too.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 08: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees walks off the field after the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Yankees in game four of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 08, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across Major League Baseball. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Yankees fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Earlier this week, we asked Yankees fans to predict how far the team would go in 2026 in addition to our usual monthly GM approval poll. The results are in, in addition to some broader MLB-wide prompts about potential World Series outcomes. Let’s see how the voters voted!
Our first question asked fans to predict how successful the Yankees season would be when all is said and done.
Over one-third of responders believe that the Yankees will suffer the same fate as last season, when they were eliminated in four games by the Blue Jays in the ALDS — a series which was never particularly close. Some of that is down to the whole Toronto lineup getting hot at the same time, while a significant portion of the blame falls on the Yankees’ pitching staff. Perhaps the front office’s decision to run it back with essentially the same squad of players as last year helps explain Yankees fans’ pessimism that the team can do better this year — same team, same result. It’s encouraging that the next most popular response reflected faith that the Yankees will win their first World Series in 17 years, while roughly eight in nine voters believe they will at least make the playoffs.
Our next question asked whether Yankees fans approved of general manager Brian Cashman, specifically the course he charted over the offseason.
It’s not surprising that less than one-third of voters polled approve of the GM. This prompt goes hand in hand with the previous question. Yankees fans want the team to go farther in the postseason than last year, and a healthy proportion of the fanbase felt that the front office needed to upgrade the roster to achieve that goal. Instead, the two biggest offseason outlays saw the Yankees bring Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger back into the fold, each a year older than last season. It’s hard to argue with the strategy considering they scored the most runs in MLB last season, but the lack of ambition also deserves criticism.
We also have a pair of MLB-wide polls to review, starting with a question about the Dodger’s chances of a three-peat.
Only two teams — the 1972-’74 A’s and 1998-2000 Yankees — have won three World Series in a row in the last fifty-plus years, yet 29 percent of those polled believe the Dodgers will join that pair in pulling off the three-peat. It’s understandable given the Dodgers’ dominance over this decade, the team adding Kyle Tucker and Edwin Díaz to an already star-studded roster that boasts the most valuable player in baseball in Shohei Ohtani. Baseball fans are slightly more optimistic about the Dodgers’ chances than the two most cited projection systems, FanGraphs setting the Dodgers’ World Series winning odds at 22.6 percent and PECOTA at 20.8 percent.
Those same fans were than asked about which team they felt had the best chance of preventing the Dodgers from winning their third crown in a row.
The Blue Jays topped the responses at 24 percent, with the Mariners right behind them at 23 percent. Toronto came within two outs of winning Game 7 and the World Series last year, only for Miguel Rojas to hit the game-tying home run in the ninth and Will Smith the game-winner in the 11th. However, they are a weaker team relative to last year — despite signing Dylan Cease to be their ace, they lost one of the their biggest offensive contributors in Bo Bichette after he signed with the Mets in free agency. The Mariners are right there behind them, which makes sense give that both FanGraphs and PECOTA projected them for the most wins in the AL. They’ve got a full year of Josh Naylor and added All-Star Brendan Donovan, and have one of the best starting rotations in baseball that’s healthier than last season to start the campaign. The Yankees are in third place with roughly one in six voters believing they have what it takes to avenge their 2024 World Series loss to LA, while a trio of NL teams in the Mets, Phillies, and Cubs round out the most popular responses.
NORTH PORT, FL- FEBRUARY 22: JR Ritchie #92 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins on February 22, 2026 at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Gwinnett Stripers have released their initial roster for the 2026 season today, ahead of today’s first game of the season. The roster below is mostly as expected, though there is one big, surprising omission in Jhancarlos Lara not being part of it after spending a good chunk of time in Gwinnett last season.
The biggest story is probably that Lara is not here, though Brett Sears is also not after reaching Gwinnett last year and making 15 quality appearances in Columbus last season. Among the guys who are here, top prospect JR Ritchie is the best prospect on the team, and a candidate to quickly be promoted to Atlanta with a strong start to the season. Fellow prospect Lucas Braun is also back here after making three starts with the Stripers last year. The 39-year-old Carlos Carrasco may be the biggest name on the entire squad, making 286 career big league starts. They may also be looking to Dylan Dodd and Elieser Hernandez to round out the starting rotation. It is also in the plans for Didier Fuentes to join this group at some point, and this group will further deepen when Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, Hurston Waldrep, and potentially AJ Smith-Shawver return to action at various points in 2026.
Relievers
Hayden Harris is probably the top relief prospect who is here, after the lefty dominated in his stint last year. Anthony Molina and Rolddy Munoz are also a pair of younger relief arms that the Braves like. Ian Hamilton, Javy Guerra, Tayler Scott, and Hunter Stratton are relievers with a decent amount of big league games on their resumes, and candidates to help the big club in some capacity this year – however the most interesting arm of the bunch may be James Karinchak. Karinchak seemed on his way to being one of the top young relievers with the Guardians not too long ago, but has dealt with injuries and hasn’t appeared in a big league game since 2023. Anderson Pilar and Austin Pope are the other arms here, though both of them are guys the Braves wanted for their Triple-A affiliate, which makes this a deep and talented relief corps.
Catchers
Sandy Leon is arguably the biggest name among this group, as the 37-year-old has 559 games of big league experience under his belt, but he will have to split time here. Chadwick Tromp has received big league time in Atlanta in each of the past four seasons, and figures to factor in heavily in the playing time. Jair Camargo is a younger option who has five games of big league experience back with the Twins in 2024. While they may not have a guy who stands out as THE guy, all three of these options are more than capable at the Triple-A level.
Infielders
Nacho Alvarez is easily the most interesting young hitter on this roster, though he has lost his prospect status last year as he surpassed the rookie maximum for at bats. That would make Jim Jarvis the most interesting hitter prospect on the roster, which is kind of telling as he is more of a utility type of prospect. Recent minor league signing Rowdy Tellez could absolutely mash in Triple-A, and is likely the reason David McCabe isn’t here to open the season. Former Georgia Bulldog and 2019 second round pick Aaron Schunk is also here and should add even more offense to a Striper team that has been inconsistent in recent years with their bats. Contact oriented Luke Waddell and utility piece Luke Williams round out the infield. This is another group which looks improved heading into 2026, as it isn’t hard to picture a group led by Alvarez, Tellez, and Schunk holding their own offensively.
Outfielders
Although there aren’t any true prospects, this may be the most talented outfield we’ve seen in Gwinnett since the group with Cristian Pache and Drew Waters, back in 2021. Ben Gamel, Brewer Hicklen, and even DaShawn Keirsey Jr should provide power, and will be candidates to get called up to Atlanta this year should a temporary bat be needed. Jose Azocar is more of a speed guy with limited power, and he too has some big league experience on his resume.
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 26: Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on during the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Thursday, March 26, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Paul Skenes is arguably the best pitcher in the league even after a rough start on Opening Day to the New York Mets. So it should be no surprise that teams would have interest in the former Cy Young winner, especially teams with a lot of money like the New York Yankees.
Skenes is under contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates through the 2029 season. However, that reportedly didn’t stop the New York Yankees from pursuing him as early as last season.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Thursday that New York “tried for Skenes at the deadline but were shut down so quickly the Pirates didn’t even listen to the offer.”
Heyman said a deal might have included a combo of Cam Schlitter, Carlos Lagrange, George Lombard Jr, and Spencer Jones. The Bucs disliked the offer and never called the Yankees back.
If the rumors are true, those are some of the Yankees’ top prospects, but it makes sense for Pittsburgh to not entertain that trade. Skenes is an already proven ace in the league, and he is still young with plenty of years ahead of him.
We have seen the Pirates make trades like this in the past, and they have not paid off. A lot of times, the prospects don’t pan out, and the last thing fans in Pittsburgh want is to trade their best player for a bunch of busted prospects.
While Heyman reported the Pirates have “no intention to trade Skenes … in the foreseeable future,” he also explained there is “little hope to sign him long term under current rules since he’ll probably be a $50 million-a-year pitcher assuming a payroll cap isn’t implemented.”
If there comes a time in the next year or two where Pittsburgh is out of the NL Central race and has no chance of making the postseason and staring at what could be a long rebuild, a package of top-notch prospects could start to look good for the franchise.
“We’re looking more like we’re playing a playoff game, like things matter,” said head coach Kris Knoblauch after the Edmonton Oilers picked up an overtime win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night. It's the team's second straight win, and unlike some of the past two-game streaks, these most recent victories have the Oilers looking like a team that's found something.
“We’re paying attention to detail, we’re simplifying our game. It’s nice to see. The games are so important right now that everyone seems like they’re dialled in and know the urgency to play right.”
Then again, the Oilers have tried to win three in a row several times this season, and the same thing almost always inevitably happens -- the team puts up a stinker.
Coming back home on Saturday afternoon to face the Anaheim Ducks, the Oilers can't afford to keep that tradition alive. That matinee game is as important as any game the Oilers have had on their calendar this season. The Ducks lead the Pacific Division and are five points up on the Oilers. If Edmonton wants any shot at catching them, this four-point swing (should Edmonton win in regulation) is critical.
The good news is that the Oilers can feel good about their recent efforts. In past instances where three in a row was on the table, the Oilers had pulled out some wins they arguably didn't deserve. This time, both victories against Utah and Vegas were well earned.
Even when the Oilers bent on Thursday -- allowing Vegas to tie the game three separate times -- they didn't break. Edmonton didn't allow the Golden Knights an opportunity to ever hold the lead. There are valuable lessons to be taken from that experience.
There were solid lessons learned on this short road trip overall.
“It’s a great road trip, two massive wins against two potential playoff opponents,” said Zach Hyman. He scored his 30th of the year on a great play, stripping the puck from a Vegas player in their zone and finishing it for a beautiful third goal. “I thought we played well defensively. Everybody contributed, which is so important at this time of year; everybody feels a part of it. We were rolling the lines, and everything went well. It was a huge road trip.”
Goaltender Connor Ingram said after the win: “We’ve found a way to play that’s given us success. Now it’s not being stubborn and sticking with it. Playing simple. We’re a good enough hockey club we’re going to get our chances. As long as we don’t give them that many, we’re going to be just fine.”
The Most Impressive Part About Thursday's Win?
The Oilers’ penalty kill was spot on Thursday night. Perhaps the most impressive part of the game was their 4-on-3 kill in overtime. Edmonton fought it off, then Evan Bouchard got the game-winner.
It was a solid defensive effort, the team's second in a row. During Tuesday’s win over Utah, the Oilers kept the Mammoth to a limited number of shots, blocking almost double the amount of even-strength shots as usual.
This team has found a playoff gear that they've shown no signs of having all season. The trick now is continuing to put forth that effort and not get stuck in their bad habits. The more they can win without Leon Draisaitl, the more they'll be ready to roll when he gets back.
The Cleveland Guardians, with a 1-0 record, face the Seattle Mariners, who are 0-1, in this regular-season matchup. Cleveland's Gavin Williams (ERA 3.06 in 2025) will start against Seattle's George Kirby (ERA 4.21 in 2025). The Mariners are favored with a -1.5 spread and a moneyline of -175, with the over/under set at 7 runs.
How to Watch Cleveland Guardians vs Seattle Mariners
The New York Yankees (1-0) face the San Francisco Giants, who are 0-1 after losing their first game of the series on Opening Night. Starting pitchers are second-year pitcher Cam Schlittler for the Yankees, who posted a 2.96 ERA as a rookie, and Robbie Ray for the Giants, with a 3.65 ERA in 2025. The Yankees are favored with a moneyline of -130 at BetMGM.
How to watch New York Yankees vs. San Francisco Giants
Date: Friday, March 27
Time: 4:35 p.m. ET / 1:35 p.m. PT
Where: Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA
TV channel: ESPN Unlimited, MLB.TV (Local broadcasts: NBC Sports Bay Area, Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network)
Sep 1, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Luis Garcia (77) reacts after retiring the side against the Los Angeles Angels during the fifth inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images | Erik Williams-Imagn Images
“If you can’t beat them, join them.“ Or, in this case, have them join you.
In a move that is not quite as dramatic as someone like Roger Clemens eventually making his way from Boston stardom to the Bronx, the Yankees recently signed right-handed pitcher Luis Garcia to a minor-league deal. And if you were wondering? Yes, it’s that Luis Garcia, the former Houston Astro — the man whose windup kind of makes me seasick even while sitting on the couch, but that’s a conversation for another time.
A pretty successful starter for the Astros in 2021 and 2022, Garcia ascended alongside other young arms who rose to prominence in the post-sign-stealing-scheme environment, like Framber Valdez and Cristian Javier. He had a 3.60 ERA with 324 strikeouts in 312.2 innings for the back-to-back American League champions, winning a ring in ’22.
It’s been a tough road for Garcia since then, as he’s dealt with one scarily large injury bug over the past few years, limiting the righty to just 34.2 innings since the start of 2023. It’ll be a while before Garcia can suit up in the Yankees minor-league system, reserving the entirety of this 2026 campaign for his recovery from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent at the end of last season. Alarmingly, it was Garcia’s second TJS in a rather short period, as his first came in May 2023.
If you remove the health aspect, there were never a ton of performance-related concerns around the now-29-year-old Garcia, as he delivered some productive seasons for the Astros. At the same time, two major surgeries in the span of three years put his career in jeopardy. If the Yankees can rehabilitate him, there might be a solid pitcher in here.
Mar 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets right fielder Carson Benge (3) celebrates with second baseman Marcus Semien (10) and shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) and third baseman Bo Bichette (19) and first baseman Jorge Polanco (11) and catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The dominant storyline regarding the Mets all offseason was about the roster turnover. If you look up and down yesterday’s Opening Day lineup, about half of the players in it are new faces, most of whom weren’t even in the organization last season. Yesterday’s 11-7 victory over the Pirates in which the Mets got the best of one of the premiere aces in the game was a total team effort that included contributions from nearly all of these new Mets.
For starters, the pitcher that took the mound to ring in the season in front of the Citi Field faithful was one of those new players. Freddy Peralta’s performance wasn’t perfect, but it was enough to earn him his first win in a Mets uniform. After giving up the two-run homer to Brandon Lowe in the first, he bounced back to strike out the next three batters and ended up racking up seven strikeouts in total. Other than the mistakes Peralta made to Lowe, who either simply had Peralta’s number or is about to enter a new era of dominance as a Pittsburgh Pirate, he had a strong Mets debut.
The final line on Freddy Peralta's Mets debut:
5 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, 80 pitches.
Peralta allowed a pair of Brandon Lowe homers but is in line for the win thanks to some healthy run support. pic.twitter.com/4r1CjMqjd4
The Mets were able to erase the deficit created by the Lowe two-run homer yielded by Peralta and then some in the bottom of the first, which became a marathon rally that knocked Paul Skenes out of the game with just two outs in the first. The newcomers in the Mets’ lineup were huge contributors to this rally. Bo Bichette plated the Mets’ first run of 2026 with a sacrifice fly. Jorge Polanco then singled and Luis Robert Jr. worked an 11-pitch walk—one of the key at-bats in the inning because of the bases-clearing triple that followed.
Can't forget about Luis Robert Jr.'s incredible at-bat against Paul Skenes in the first inning 🔥 pic.twitter.com/xFM6QN3KYe
Though of course the sun played a role, Marcus Semien gets credit for a double and an RBI in the inning all the same. Both Robert and Semien would go on to have a multi-hit game. Robert notched RBI knocks in both the fourth and fifth innings, the latter being a slow grounder that he beat out with his speed for an infield hit. In his very first game as a Met, Robert showed why the Mets traded for him (and why they have been trying to do so for years now). His skills on both side of the ball were on full display, as he made a diving catch in center to end the third inning as well. In fact, for all the hemming and hawing about players learning new positions, the Mets played a solid game defensively. The Mets’ new infield contingent made all of the plays—fundies that would have made Keith Hernandez proud if this game had been broadcast on SNY.
It is fitting that Freddy Peralta was followed in the game by Tobias Myers, who came with him in the trade from the Brewers. Myers gave up a solo homer to Ryan O’Hearn and nothing else over three strong innings of work, demonstrating right away the value he provides as a long man in the bullpen—a role the Mets have not had consistently filled for quite some time now.
The only new addition whose day did not quite go as well was Luis Garcia, who was tasked with protecting a six-run lead in the ninth inning. With how Myers was cruising it seemed like he might finish the game, but it seems like the Mets opted to save his bullets and turn to Garcia instead with the more comfortable lead. Garcia was shaky in the ninth, but ultimately got through it with the lead in tact. Overall, yesterday was still a very good day for the new look Mets.
Of course, not all 162 games of this long season are going to look like this—“a near perfectly executed offensive inning,” as Howie Rose described the first-inning rally in what turned out to be a near perfectly executed game all around. There are going to be bad moments where it feels like the team isn’t gelling. But you can see David Stearns’ vision for the Mets within yesterday’s win—a microcosm of what he wants this next Mets era to look like. Some of these new faces, like Bo Bichette, who has an opt-out after this season, may be fleeting pieces as this Mets puzzle comes together. Others, like Freddy Peralta, with whom the Mets are still negotiating on a potential extension, may end up staying awhile. We have a lot of season left to see if this new group has the secret sauce of a championship club. But yesterday was a good start.
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