It’s a full slate of games across the majors today, with a total of 15 contests on the schedule.
My MLB player props and home run predictions will focus on Pete Crow-Armstrong, Colton Cowser, and Eugenio Suarez.
Best MLB home run props today
Player to hit a HR
Odds
Pete Crow-Armstrong
+320
Colton Cowser
+520
Eugenio Suarez
+420
💲Today's HR parlay
+15188
Pete Crow-Armstrong (+320)
Pete Crow-Armstrong showed glimpses of brilliance in his first full season in 2024, but 2025 was the true coming-out party. The Chicago Cubs star smacked 31 home runs while hitting .247.
For a small guy, PCA has serious power.
While he’s yet to go deep this season, Crow-Armstrong is already hitting .400, and he’ll be looking forward to today’s matchup. The Cubbies face Miles Mikolas of the Washington Nationals, and PCA is 7-for-9 against him.
Five of those hits have left the yard. He has absolutely terrorized the righty, and this is the perfect time for PCA’s first bomb of the year.
Time: 2:20 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Nationals.TV, MARQ
Colton Cowser (+520)
Colton Cowser has shown some pop in his bat over the last couple of seasons for the Baltimore Orioles. He clubbed 24 homers in ‘24 before 16 long balls last season in just 92 games.
Cowser is capable of leaving the yard at any given moment.
The O’s take on the Minnesota Twins once again today, who hand Taj Bradley the baseball. Cowser is 4-for-10 lifetime off the 25-year-old right-hander, going deep once. He hit 11 of his bombs off righties in 2025.
Bradley was also HR prone at times last season, surrendering 19 in 27 starts.
Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FS1
Eugenio Suarez (+420)
Eugenio Suarez is back in a Cincinnati Reds uniform, and he’s still one of the most feared power hitters in the show. The slugger went deep 49 times last season between stints with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Seattle Mariners.
The Venezuelan’s eyes will be lighting up with who is on the mound today for the Boston Red Sox. Sonny Gray takes the ball, and Suarez is 7-for-13 lifetime off the veteran with two home runs.
He hit 36 of his bombs off right-handed hurlers last year.
Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NESN, Reds.TV
2026 Transparency record
HR picks: 2-for-6, +2.0 units
Today’s HR parlay
Pete Crow-Armstrong
Bet Now +15188
Colton Cowser
Eugenio Suarez
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.
The Detroit Tigers have kicked off the 2026 campaign strong, having already clinched the season-opening series against the San Diego Padres with a 5-2 win on Friday night. On Saturday, they go for the sweep, which would complete the reversal of last season’s start.
So far, the visitors have outscored the home team, 13-4, behind solid performances by Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez, respectively. Rookie Kevin McGonigle added two more hits to his team-leading total of five and shares the team lead of four RBIs with Dillon Dingler.
Next up in the rotation is right-hander Jack Flaherty, who takes the mound opposite of fellow righty Randy Vásquez on Saturday. Here is a brief look at how they match up.
San Diego, California - March 27: Jeremiah Estrada #56 of the San Diego Padres walks back to the dugout after being pulled from the game during the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Petco Park on Friday, March 27, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
San Diego Padres pitchers have allowed a combined 12 walks over the first two games of the season against the Detroit Tigers. In each game there was one inning in which a Padres pitcher allowed three walks and four runs scored in the inning. Nick Pivetta allowed three walks in the top of the first inning, which resulted in four runs for the Tigers who beat the Padres 8-2 in the season opener. Jeremiah Estrada allowed three walks in the top of the eighth inning, which resulted in four runs for Detroit which beat San Diego, 5-2. The back-to-back losses have led to an 0-2 start for new manager Craig Stammen and as charitable as the pitching staff has been, the offense has not provided much excitement either, although facing Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez to start the season seems like an exercise in futility. The Padres have managed just four runs in two games and have 13 hits during that span. San Diego will try to salvage the series with a win today at Petco Park at 5:40 p.m.
Padres News:
Joe Musgrove has started throwing again and while there is no official timeline for his return, the fact that he is throwing for the first time since March 8 generates some buzz.
The San Diego farm system took a lot of arrows throughout the offseason with some ranking systems listing the Padres as the worst in baseball. The minor league players will have an opportunity to change some minds and their rankings with the minor leagues opening play this week.
Annie Heilbrunn of the San Diego Union-Tribunesat down with pitcher Michael King as he prepared for his season opening start against the Detroit Tigers.
Baseball News:
Chase DeLauter of the Cleveland Guardians celebrated his first MLB game with two home runs. He followed that up with another home run in the second game of the season.
Kevin Gausman took the mound as the Opening Day starter for the Toronto Blue Jays and proceeded to strikeout 11 batters in the game.
Mar 27, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29), left, tags out Cleveland Guardians first baseman Rhys Hoskins (8) at home plate during the fifth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images | Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
I had forgotten for a minute what losing felt like. There it is. Let’s get back to winning.
Nick has your recap of last night’s loss. Need to get Manzardo, Kwan and Bo going.
After an impressive two-hit night to start off his 2026 campaign, I expect Clement to continue that momentum this afternoon, especially with a lefty on the mound for the A’s.
Read on for my full A's vs. Blue Jays predictions and free MLB picks for Saturday, March 28.
A's vs Blue Jays predictions
A's vs Blue Jays best bet: Ernie Clement Over 1.5 total bases (+135)
After a two-hit performance in the season/series opener, I’m anticipating another big game from Ernie Clement this afternoon by backing him to go Over his posted total of 1.5 bases.
Clement crushes lefties, and the Athletics are sending left-hander Jeffrey Springs to the mound this afternoon. Clement is no stranger to Springs, either. He is 2-for-7 against him throughout his career, while posting a 1.143 OPS.
Overall, Clement was one of the most dangerous hitters against lefties last season, posting a team-high .900 OPS with 26 extra-base hits.
COVERS INTEL: After a four-base night on Opening Day, Clement enters today’s contest hitting .405 with a 1.004 OPS, while averaging 2.5 bases per game, over his last 10 outings.
A's vs Blue Jays same-game parlay (SGP)
The Toronto Blue Jays have one of the most potent lineups in baseball, and handles the fastball pretty well. The A’s starter throws a hefty amount of fastballs, and ranked in the 33rd percentile in xBA last season.
I’m expecting a busy afternoon on the basepaths for the Blue Jays, so I’ll fade Springs and take the Over on his posted total of 4.5 hits allowed.
I’ll also back Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to have a productive day. He owns a .309 career batting average against the Athletics, and has seen Springs 16 times in his career, going 4-for-16 with a homer. I’ll take Over 1.5 bases for Vladdy.
A's vs Blue Jays SGP
Ernie Clement Over 1.5 total bases
Jeffrey Springs Over 4.5 hits
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Over 1.5 total bases
A's vs Blue Jays home run pick: George Springer (+305)
Springs allowed 28 home runs last season, fourth-most in all of baseball. He throws a healthy dose of fastballs, which is a pitch George Springer handled extremely well last season, sporting a 1.076 OPS against the pitch with a team-high 14 home runs.
He hit them hard too, with a .746 xSLG and a hard-hit rate of 55%.
A's vs Blue Jays odds
Moneyline: Athletics +155 | Toronto -190
Run line: Athletics +1.5 | Toronto -1.5
Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5
A's vs Blue Jays trend
The Jays are 6-2 on the moneyline in the last eight meetings between these two clubs. Find more MLB betting trends for A's vs. Blue Jays.
How to watch A's vs Blue Jays and game info
Location
Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON
Date
Saturday, March 28, 2026
First pitch
3:07 p.m. ET
TV
NBCSCA, SN
A's starting pitcher
Jeffrey Springs (11-11, 4.11 ERA)
Blue Jays starting pitcher
Dylan Cease (8-12, 4.55 ERA)
A's vs Blue Jays latest injuries
A's vs Blue Jays weather
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.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 27: Drake Baldwin #30 of the Atlanta Braves reacts as he rounds first base after hitting a solo homer against the Kansas City Royals during the third inning of the home opener at Truist Park on March 27, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Winning Opening Day at home is fun. Hey, Opening Day at home is fun all by itself. First Opening Day win at home since 2018 and that Nick Markakis home run. The Braves needed to rally from down five runs that day. But they controlled last night from the jump. Chris Sale got double plays in the first two innings. Ozzie Albies’ home run just scraped by the left field pole. Drake Baldwin’s home run just got over the fence. Michael Harris basically called game with a no-doubt home run. Then Chris Sale and the bullpen cruised for the shutout.
How’s that for a palette cleanser? Last year, those double play ground balls versus Sale would have found a way through the infield. A pelican would have come out of nowhere to push Albies’ home run foul. The Braves had at least seven long fly balls like Baldwin’s hit the top of the wall and bounce back into play. And Michael Harris would have barely missed a home run. Is the nightmare of 2025 over? I think I need to see about 90 more of these games to be sure.
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 27: Newly appointed manager Walt Weiss #4 of the Atlanta Braves looks on during the MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the Kansas City Royals on March 27, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Opening Day in Cobb County couldn’t have gone any better for the Atlanta Braves if they had scripted it themselves. I’d imagine that every team in baseball would absolutely take a 6-0 win to start the season — especially if that win saw the team succeed in nearly all facets of the game.
Walt Weiss spoke with the media following his winning debut as manager of the Braves and the very first thing he did (unprompted, mind you) was to shower praise upon Chris Sale for getting things started on the right foot — both in this game and the season as a whole. “That last inning out there, he can still go and get 98 (mph) when he wants it. This is a special guy,” said Weiss about Sale. “The manager’s dream is to have a guy like that on Opening Night to set the tone.”
Weiss went on to talk about the total team effort that helped push the Braves to victory in this one. “We played outstanding defense,” said Weiss. “That game probably could’ve turned if we don’t make a few of those plays. Eli [White], Austin [Riley], [Ronald] Acuña. Jr., [Matt] Olson made a great play down the line. Turned two double plays early when Chris’s pitches were starting to mount a little bit in the first two innings.”
Chris Sale spoke with the media before Weiss did and he confirmed that he was pretty happy with the defense that was behind him on Friday night as well. “Unbelievable defensive plays,” said Sale. “I mean, half the [SportsCenter] Top 10 is going to be from when I was out there. I mean, half the texts I’m getting [after the game] is like ‘You better do something for your defense!”
The manager continued to heap praise upon his team for their effort with the gloves on Friday night. “Great defense. It was just a really well-played game,” continued Weiss. “We hit the ball into the seats. We ran the bases well…we made some good reads on some balls on the bases so it was just a really good game.”
Speaking of the base running, that’s certainly been a point of emphasis for Walt Weiss and his staff once they took over coaching duties here in Atlanta. I asked Weiss how he felt about the aggressiveness that was shown on the base paths on Friday night and he certainly seemed pleased with what he witnessed. “[Aggressive base running] is going to be part of our identity moving forward. That’s the plan,” stated Weiss. “We had a caught stealing and that’s okay — I’m willing to trade a few outs here and there on the bases to create an identity. We want to put heat on people, whether it’s in the box or on the bases and we have the personnel to do that.”
Weiss then brought up new first base coach Antoan Richardson and how he’s already having an impact on stressing the importance of strong base running. “I talked about Antoan making base running really important to our guys,” emphasized Weiss. “That’s what he did this Spring and yeah, we hit the ball into the seats tonight but I think on the nights that we don’t, we’ll have a better chance to score some runs this year.”
The manager also went on to explain his reasoning behind placing Ozzie Albies in the third spot in the lineup. That was a decision that certainly raised some eyebrows when it was announced but it ended up paying off based on his performance at the plate and Weiss was pretty happy about that as well.
“I love seeing Ozzie in the box right-handed, I just do,” explained Weiss. “I thought that was the perfect spot for him in the lineup. [Cole Ragans] is a left-handed starter but even later in the game, they’ll go to the bullpen and they’re going to target [Drake] Baldwin and Olson with their left-handed relievers and they’ve got to pay the price. You’re going through Ozzie with the three-batter rule. I’ve always loved Ozzie from the right-hand side. [The lineup] will look a little different against right-handed starters but he made me look good tonight. Thanks, Ozzie.”
Finally, the Braves players did make a note of celebrating Weiss’s first win as Braves manager by letting him partake in the Player of the Game celebration that they have going in the clubhouse. Chris Sale spoke to the media before Weiss did and while he was tight-lipped about whatever the ceremony was, Weiss was willing to talk about it with us. “They got this thing when you’re Player of the Game — I wasn’t Player of the Game, of course, that was Chris Sale. They did let me take a putt. I guess it’s probably about a 30, 40-footer and there’s a lot of hooting and hollering and a lot of stuff on the line. I got to do the Player of the Game putt and they gave me a nice little gift for my first win, so it’s a great night.”
Naturally the follow-up question was whether or not he made the putt. “I missed the putt,” said Weiss, sadly and faceitiously. “You weren’t supposed to ask that. You know I would’ve said ‘I made it’ if I did, you wouldn’t have had to ask!”
Despite the missed putt, the new manager was clearly in high spirits. It might just be one game in a long marathon of a season but everybody will take starting 1-0 over 0-1. The Braves now have their first win under their belts, Walt Weiss has his first win as manager of the Braves and now the team will be looking to pick up their first series win with a victory tomorrow night as Reynaldo López gets the start against the Royals.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - AUGUST 09: General Manager Mike Elias of the Baltimore Orioles watches the Orioles Hall of Fame ceremony before the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Athletics at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 09, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning Birdland,
Could the vibes be any more immaculate? The Orioles followed up their 2-1 win on Opening Day Thursday with the news on Friday that they are signing Shane Baz to a five-year, $68 million contract extension. For the first time with Mike Elias leading the front office, the Orioles have made a long-term commitment to a pitcher.
Now, Baz is probably not the pitcher that most fans expected (or even wanted) the Orioles to lock up. He certainly doesn’t have the track record of Trevor Rogers or Kyle Bradish. But that could be exactly why he was the one they set their sights on.
Baz is extremely talented. The Orioles have reminded us of that quite frequently ever since they traded for him back in December. He’s also young, not turning 27 until mid-June, and already had three years of team control remaining. On top of that, he has had some injury problems. That’s enough uncertainty to make him open to an extension, but far enough behind him that the Orioles were OK with the commitment. That combination of factors seems to have made him an ideal candidate for an extension in Elias’ eyes.
That averages out to $13.6 million per season with most of it coming in ‘29 and ‘30, the two years of free agency that Baz will now be forgoing. It’s a lot of money for someone that is yet to even throw a pitch in your uniform and has just one full healthy season under his belt, but it’s not bad if Baz ends up being everything that they hope he can be.
It’s a gamble. The Orioles are betting on Baz staying healthy, and on the ability of the organization to help him hit his ceiling. You would have to assume that whatever they saw this spring convinced them that he is the guy to pin their hopes to moving forward.
So what does this mean for other Orioles pitchers hoping for a big deal? Rogers has been/is still likely to bet on himself. He’s a free agent after the year. If he can even come close to duplicating what he did in 2025, he is going to be the most sought after free agent next winter. Bradish, on the other hand, could be open to something. He is still rather fresh off of Tommy John surgery and won’t hit free agency until after the 2028 season. The question could be whether the Orioles are interested. Bradish is already 29 years old. Do they want buy out his age 32, 33, or 34 seasons? That doesn’t sound like an Elias move.
For 2026 anyway, the Orioles have assembled a very fun staff. Baz is part of that. Hopefully things go well, because we will be watching it for a long time to come.
A healthy Kyle Bradish? The Orioles can hardly wait. | The Baltimore Banner To me, Bradish is the best pitcher on this Orioles team. The only thing holding him back this year will be the kid gloves with which the Orioles are likely to handle him to make sure he gets to October unscathed. That could mean a lot of four- or five-inning starts where he leaves after 80 pitches early in the season. If that’s what it takes, and the Orioles are winning games, I’m cool with it.
Orioles extension candidates: After Baz, Basallo, who could be next? | The Capital Gazette Gunnar Henderson needs to be the answer here. It sounds like the Orioles are laying the ground work there, but nothing has come together yet. Scott Boras is Henderson’s agent, and he does not like for his big clients to sign ahead of free agency. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible, but the Orioles will need to knock his socks off with an offer.
Christian Walker turns 35 today. Drafted by the Orioles back in 2012, he would play in just 13 games for them between 2014 and ‘15 before he was DFA’d and eventually claimed by the Diamondbacks, where he became one of the more consistent first basemen in the game.
Shawn Boskie is 59 years old. He spent the 1997 season as a swingman on the Orioles pitching staff.
Glenn Davis turns 65. He played parts of three seasons in Baltimore from 1991 through ‘93, accumulating just 0.7 bWAR total in that time. What did it cost the Orioles to get him from the Astros? Three players: Steve Finley, Pete Harnisch, and Curt Schilling. Yikes.
This day in O’s history
1999 – The Orioles become the first major leaguers to visit Cuba since 1959. In an exhibition against the Cuban national team, the O’s win 3-2 in 11 innings. Charles Johnson hits a two-run homer, and Harold Baines drives in the winning run. The two teams will play a rematch at Camden Yards on May 3.
Mar 12, 2026; Clearwater, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zach Pop (56) throws a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the sixth inning during spring training at BayCare Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The Phillies opened the season with three pitchers on the injured list – Zack Wheeler, Orion Kerkering and Max Lazar. We kind of have an idea that at least Wheeler and Kerkering are going to be back sooner rather than later since they have already begun rehab assignments in Lehigh Valley. Lazar’s status is a bit more hazy, so we can’t really know when he’ll come back.
These impending returns of Wheeler and Kerkering mean that there will be roster shuffling about to occur. Two of the assumed three bottom pitchers on staff will have to get removed, so the question is which ones and when. Of the three – Backhus, Pop and Mayza – which ones should be gone and when? Should Backhus be the first to go, his funk not funky enough to get hitters out consistently? Might Pop’s roster bubble get….popped? Maybe it’s none of these three. Give your best guess.
Bubblegum card (by the Bowman Gum Company) features baseball player Vic Raschi, of the New York Yankees, 1953. (Photo by Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Vic Raschi did not have a long enough or fruitful enough career to warrant anything like a Hall of Fame induction or a number retirement from the Yankees. However, for several years, he was a very good pitcher for the Yankees in what was arguably their most dynastic era.
Today just so happens to be “The Springfield Rifle’s” birthday, so let’s take a look back at his life and career.
Victor John Angelo “Vic” Raschi Born: March 28, 1919 (West Springfield, MA) Died: October 14, 1988 (Groveland, NY) Yankees Tenure: 1946-53
Born in Massachusetts, Raschi excelled at several sports in his youth including baseball, football, basketball, and even marbles, winning a state-wide tournament as a 10-year old. Baseball was the one he was best at, as he had a cannon for an arm. That ability along with the famous Springfield Armory in his home town got him his future nickname of “The Springfield Rifle.”
As a 16-year old, Raschi was spotted by Yankees’ scout Gene McCann. With the pitcher still in high school, the Yankees came to an agreement with him and his family. The team would pay for Raschi to attend college, with the Yankees getting the first chance to sign him upon him joining the professional ranks. Raschi decided he couldn’t pass up that opportunity and went to the College of William & Mary thanks to the Yankees before eventually signing a pro deal with them in 1941.
After two solid years in the minors, Raschi had to put his career on hold. He ended up missing the entirety of the 1943-45 seasons as he served in the military during World War II. Upon returning to baseball in 1946, he very quickly worked his way through the rest of the minors. Raschi pitched across Double-A and Triple-A that season, and was good enough to get called up by the Yankees that September. He made his MLB debut on September 23rd, allowing six runs in a complete game victory over the Athletics.
Following his 1946 debut, Raschi was hoping to make the team out of spring training in ‘47, but the team ended up demoting him back to the minors. Initially, he refused to report to his assignment with the Portland Beavers before relenting after cajoling from his wife and threats of banishment from the Yankees. As it would turn out, the demotion ended up being a godsend for the pitcher. Portland’s manager was Jim Turner, who in Portland and later as the Yankees’ pitching coach, helped unlock the speedy pitcher.
Raschi put up a very impressive start to the 1947 season in Portland, eventually earning that recall to the majors that he desired. Upon his recall, he hit the ground running in New York, putting up a 2.98 ERA over his first eight games, which included a couple complete game victories. He fell back to earth a bit down the stretch that season, but he did make two appearances out of the bullpen as the Yankees beat the Dodgers for the ‘47 World Series title.
While the Yankees as a team fell back to the pack in 1948, Raschi locked down his spot in the rotation, making 31 starts, and even getting down-ballot MVP votes. In 1949, he then put up what was, by some metrics, the best season of his career. His 121 ERA+ was the best of his career in ‘49, as he also won 21 games, cracking the 20 mark for the first time, which he would match the following two years. He was on the mound in the final game of the regular season, throwing a complete game win over the Red Sox to clinch the AL by just one game over Boston. He was then the winning pitcher in the series-clinching Game 5 win in the World Series against the Dodgers.
Over the next three years, Raschi remained a very good middle rotation arm. Over the course of 1948-52, he was named an All-Star four times and got MVP votes in all five seasons. He posted a 98-42 record over that time. The Yankees won the World Series in all of 1949-53, making Raschi a six-time champion. In 1950, he set the tone in that series by throwing a complete game shutout in Game 1 against the Phillies, with the Yankees narrowly winning 1-0. He probably wouldn’t have been named series MVP just for that game as it ended in a Yankees’ sweep, but you could certainly make the argument that his contribution was the most important. Across the 1950-53 triumphs in particular, he went 4-2 with a 1.42 ERA.
While he put up a season in 1953 that wasn’t unlike some of his previous ones, some of the Yankees’ brass decided he had taken a step back. As the team attempted to cut his pay, Raschi held out. Upon finally reporting to spring training, the team up and sold him to the Cardinals ahead of the 1954 season.
Whether or not his 1953 season was a down one, the rest of his career would definitely see him take a step back from his prime. Across the 1954-55 seasons, Raschi posted an ERA over five with the Cardinals and then the A’s. The 1955 season would be the final one of his playing career.
After retiring, he settled in his wife’s hometown in upstate New York. There, he ran a liquor store, did some baseball coaching, and spent time teaching elementary school. He eventually passed away in 1988 at the age of 69.
The Yankees’ various dynasties from the 1920s through the early 1960s were usually defined by the star hitters that often dotted their lineups. However, you still need good pitching to get over the hump, and Raschi was that on several very good Yankees’ teams.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Edwin Díaz #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium on March 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When the Los Angeles Dodgers added closer Edwin Díaz this offseason, they locked down the back end of their bullpen, which was an issue for them at times during the 2025 season.
They also set the stage for one of baseball’s most dramatic entrances shifting to the West Coast.
Díaz made his Dodgers debut on Friday night, entering in the ninth inning to close out a 5-4 game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and his entrance was as electric as ever. Not only did he come out of the bullpen to Timmy Trumpet’s “Narco,” the song Díaz used while closing games for the Mets at Citi Field, but he was accompanied by a live trumpet player, Los Angeles artist Tatiana Tate:
After the game, both Díaz and manager Dave Roberts talked about the entrance, and the save.
“I was surprised a little bit,” said Díaz about Tate’s performance. “I heard a trumpet sounding before I was coming out. I said, ‘No way, they got a live trumpet.’ It was pretty fun. I enjoyed it, and I know fans enjoyed, too.”
“I got word that there might be a trumpet player,” said Roberts. “That was great. I was hoping to get him in there, and it worked out, and he performed. I think the fans got what they were hoping for.”
Friday night, Dodgers fans got exactly what they were hoping for, and more.
Christopher Jackson sings the National Anthem at Citi Field, Thursday, March 26, 2026. | Kevin R. Wexler-NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Vidal Bruján and Ben Rortvedt were sent through waivers for the Mets, while Bryan Hudson was claimed by the White Sox.
Around the National League East
Chris Sale had a strong first start and the Atlanta bats socked three homers en route to a 6-0 opening day win for the Braves over the Royals.
Sandy Alcántara pitched seven strong innings to help lead the Marlins to a 2-1 victory over the Rockies in their first game of the season. Don’t look now, but the National League East is undefeated in 2026.
WORCESTER, Mass. – Roger Clemens arrived as the Guest of Honor for WooSox Opening Day with core memories of the 40th anniversary of a special season.
The 1986 campaign started a run of over two decades in the majors as one of the best starting pitchers in the sport. From learning from Hall of Famer Tom Seaver to earning a World Series trip, “The Rocket” hit the ground running in Boston.
“Great memories,” Clemens said Friday at Polar Park. “For me, Boston being my home, getting drafted out of the University of Texas, winning the Eastern League. And before I actually went back to Texas after that season, the Sox had me come. That’s the first time I got to see Fenway Park. So I thought it was amazing. And actually, the game, still remember it, was Dennis Eckersley against Jim Palmer. And so I got to see those two guys work. And so that was a treat for me.”
It was April of 1986 when Clemens introduced himself as a star in the league with a 20-strikeout effort against the Seattle Mariners, the first such game in MLB history, on a night to remember at Fenway Park. Clemens matched the feat 10 years later in Detroit, though the first instance means just as much four decades later.
“Both 20 strikeout games were really cool,” Clemens recalled. “The first one that stands out, basically it was early in the year and I was proving to my teammates and to the ball club that I was healthy.”
The Red Sox right-hander gave plenty of credit to the late Bill Fischer, Boston’s pitching coach in 1986, for guiding him and persistently prioritizing the ability to fill up the strike zone..
“So I was able to get a lot of knowledge from him and he always stressed not to walk guys,” Clemens explained. “Both 20 strikeout games when you’re throwing that high rate of speed and you’re striking guys out, I didn’t walk a guy. So I think I’m most proud about that. That’s probably why I never threw a no-hitter.”
Clemens took control on the mound from the jump, where he believes he called up to 95% of the pitches he threw to catcher Rich Gedman, who caught his old starter’s ceremonial first pitch Friday afternoon. In the modern era of PitchCom and MLB’s adoption of the ABS system, Clemens brought his own context to pitching in 2026.
“Yeah, I love it,” Clemens shared. “You know, I love that they also are featuring the high strike. They pinch you a little bit east and west now. And of course, with the ABS system, makes you say, I don’t think the pitcher should be allowed. … I think it should be the hitter and the catcher. They have the best look. Even if you’re a mitt looker, you’re a pitcher that stares at the mitt the entire time, you still lose sight of the baseball, flight of the ball at some point. But yeah, I love it.”
Clemens reached the World Series with Boston before a heartbreaking loss to the New York Mets. The 2026 Red Sox look to find their way to the Fall Classic for the first time in eight years. Clemens gets his first look at the squad when Boston visits his home state to take on the Houston Astros next week.
His keys to the season? Renewed chemistry in the clubhouse after dramatic stretches of 2025 in addition to the ability to lean on established pitching depth to counter the summer months.
“I think there’s a lot of team chemistry,” Clemens said. “That’s very important, which if you guys were around me last year when I came up here on radio and TV, the first baseman (Triston Casas) got hurt and I thought that would be a perfect scenario for the third baseman (Rafael Devers) at that time to move over to first. He’s a very good player, he’s in San Francisco now. So that didn’t work out. Your team chemistry has to be there.”
The 63-year-old entered the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2014. He’s yet to hear his name called in Cooperstown due to steroid scandals, though he knows his performance landed him among the best to ever throw a major league pitch.
“For me, which I’m hoping to do something really cool that you guys will see, my son’s gonna go with me,” Clemens shared, alluding to new projects surrounding his baseball career. “I’m not even gonna tell you what it is, but I gotta go to Ohio for something. This Thurman Munson Award, which I had the privilege to win that. But I’m gonna do something else that deals with Cy Young. And when you’re mentioned with guys like Cy Young or Babe Ruth or ahead of Willie Mays and guys like that, you’re in pretty good company. So that’s good enough for me.”
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 26: A general view of UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium during the national anthem flyover prior to the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday, March 26, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — Charley Steiner returned to the Dodgers broadcast booth on Thursday, calling the first three innings of the opening day game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on radio.
Steiner has battled health issues in recent years, including multiple myeloma and a back injury that made it difficult to walk. His workload for this season is unknown, and will depend on how he’s feeling. At the very least, expect Steiner to be a part of some radio pregame segments with Rick Monday.
This is the 22nd season calling games for the Dodgers for Steiner, who turned the microphone over on Thursday to Stephen Nelson to call the final six innings alongside Monday on opening day.
Every locker in the Dodgers clubhouse on opening day had a Seiko bag from Shohei Ohtani with a note saying “Three Peat!!” Inside was a luxury watch. It’s the third such season Ohtani has given a gift to his teammates before the first game.
“He’s just very generous, very thoughtful,” manager Dave Roberts said Thursday. “I think we’re all very grateful.”
Let’s be honest right up front: The Rockies are not chasing history in 2026. (They might be running from it.)
They’re not chasing Todd Helton and Larry Walker’s 49 home runs. They’re not chasing Andrés Galarraga’s 150 RBIs. They’re not sniffing Walker’s .379. This isn’t that kind of team. But that doesn’t mean this season won’t be worth watching.
Because while this roster won’t threaten the franchise record books over 162 games, it absolutely has the kind of young, toolsy, unpredictable talent that can do something ridiculous on any given night.
And at Coors Field, ridiculous still happens.
The Big Records? Not Happening
Before we get to the fun stuff, let’s acknowledge reality.
The Rockies’ all-time season records belong to the legends of Blake Street. Dominant hitters. Video game numbers.
No one here has the power, consistency, and opportunity to touch 49 home runs. No one is getting on base enough to steal 68 bags — stolen bases have never really been a Rockies identity, and that hasn’t changed (the high since 2016 is just 30, from Brenton Doyle in 2024). And no one is driving in 150 runs without a lineup built to feed them.
With Doyle’s speed, Tovar’s all-around game, and Beck’s upside, this feels doable.
Top candidates: Brenton Doyle, Jordan Beck, Ezequiel Tovar
Four-Home Run Game (Okay… Probably Not)
Only 21 players in MLB history have done it, but three did it in 2025. Baseball gets weird.
More realistically, a three-homer game is in play (last done by Michael Toglia in 2024).
Top candidates: Hunter Goodman, Jordan Beck, Mickey Moniak
No-Hitter (definitely not)
The Rockies have one no-hitter ever — Ubaldo Jiménez in 2010. Given this rotation, it’s hard to see that changing. But a dominant, start-to-finish outing? That’s possible.
A complete game is a more realistic benchmark — the last one came in 2022 from Chad Kuhl.
Chase Dollander has the raw stuff to flash something special. The catch? He’s starting in the bullpen.
Still — stuff plays.
Single-Game Records to Watch
If anything is happening this year, maybe it’s here:
These don’t require a perfect season — just one perfect night. And this roster has enough tools to stumble into one.
Takeaways
This version of the Rockies probably won’t give you a summer-long chase for history. The legends of Blake Street set the bar. Those records are safe — for now.
But it might give you a random Tuesday in June where someone hits for the cycle. Or three homers out of nowhere. Or a young arm that puts it all together for a full game. Baseball has always had room for something unexpected.
And this team? It feels like it’s built for exactly that.
In a season where Rockies fans will be looking for smaller wins — and things to celebrate — as roster churn and player development take center stage, the moments will matter more than the standings.
There will be standout performances this year. The only question is how big they’ll be — and where they’ll ultimately land in Rockies history.
So what do you think? Do we see a cycle? A no-hitter? Does anyone on this roster make a real run at a single-game or even a season record?
Tanner Gordon set the tone on Triple-A Opening Day, tossing five strong innings and allowing just one run on three hits while striking out five, helping the Isotopes overcome three errors to secure the win. Cole Carrigg (No. 4 PuRP) and Vimal Machin led the offense with two hits apiece, while Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) added a single in four at-bats. Not the cleanest game defensively, but plenty of pitching and just enough offense to get Albuquerque off to a winning start.
In this piece by Maria Aldrich of Sports Illustrated, she frames the Rockies’ offseason as a mix of smart, under-the-radar moves and a few that already look questionable. She points to some low-risk additions and controllable pieces as steps in the right direction, while also highlighting decisions the club might come to regret, like letting Germán Márquez walk in free agency.
In this Denver Sports (104.3 The Fan) piece, the staff fires off bold predictions for 2026 that range from cautiously hopeful to full Coors Field chaos. There’s a clear belief the Rockies will be better than a 119-loss disaster, with breakout buzz around Goodman, Tovar, and Beck. Beyond that, it’s the usual mix of power surges, surprise standouts, and just enough wild takes to remind you how unpredictable this team can be.
Pete Crow-Armstrong
Colton Cowser
Eugenio Suarez
COVERS INTEL: After a four-base night on Opening Day, Clement enters today’s contest hitting .405 with a 1.004 OPS, while averaging 2.5 bases per game, over his last 10 outings.
