The Chicago Blackhawks had Jonathan Toews and the Winnipeg Jets in town on Tuesday night. This was Chicago's first game at home after a long four-game road trip.
This was also Anton Frondell's first game at the United Center as a member of the Blackhawks. On his second shift of the game, Frondell scored his first career NHL goal.
Frondell's goal came at the end of a shift in which he was all over the puck. There were a handful of other times that the puck could have ended up in the back of the cage, but he finally got it past Connor Hellebuyck for the first of his career.
On the goal, Louis Crevier got it towards the net, Ilya Mikheyev put it on the stick of Frondell, and he didn't miss this chance.
— Blackhawks on CHSN (@CHSN_Blackhawks) April 1, 2026
Not only did he score his first career goal, but it came against a future Hall of Fame goalie in Hellebuyck. That is certainly a memorable way to score the first of many.
Frondell's first goal is the fifth point (the first four were all primary assists) of his NHL career in his fifth game. That's exactly the type of start that the Blackhawks were hoping for from the 3rd overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
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The Chicago Blackhawks are in the final stretch of the season. Following their Tuesday night matchup against the Winnipeg Jets, the Blackhawks will have only eight regular-season games left.
With the 2025-26 campaign now nearing its conclusion, one Blackhawks prospect who fans should be paying extra attention to during these final games is defenseman Kevin Korchinski.
Korchinski was called up to the Blackhawks' NHL roster earlier this week and should get more opportunities to finish off the campaign. This is because Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill confirmed that defensemen Matt Grzelcyk and Artyom Levshunov will be out for the remainder of the season.
With Korchinski getting called up, he will undoubtedly be looking to impress. It would be significant for him if he ends the year on a high note, as it would certainly help his chances of getting more opportunities on Chicago's roster next season.
Korchinski has played in five games this season with the Blackhawks, where he has recorded one assist. Down in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs this season, he has posted two goals and 26 points. Overall, the 2022 seventh-overall pick has shown promise in the AHL, and it will be interesting to see if he can shine during the final stretch of the season from here.
The Mets have hired J.D. Martinez as a special advisor, a role that will see him working with players in the organization in a similar way that Carlos Beltrán has in recent years, according to Tim Healey.
One of the best hitters of his generation, Martinez spent his final major league season with the Mets in 2024 and was repeatedly referenced as a positive influence on his teammates as he shared his hitting expertise. He hit .235/.320/.406 that year with just a 107 wRC+ and 16 home runs, but considering how hard it is to do that at all, that wasn’t bad by any stretch for a player in his age-36 season.
Over the course of his major league career, Martinez hit .283/.348/.516 with a 130 wRC+. But his peak was even better, as he hit .293/.359/.549 with 291 home runs and a 140 wRC+ from his breakout 2014 campaign with the Tigers through the end of the 2023 season, which he spent with the Dodgers.
JUPITER, FL - MARCH 14: Andre Pallante (53) of the St. Louis Cardinals delivers a pitch during a spring training game against the Miami Marlins on March 14, 2026 at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The St. Louis Cardinals are back at Busch Stadium Tuesday night for game 5 of the 2026 season with the New York Mets still in town. According to MLB.com, Andre Pallante will make the start for St. Louis while New York will put Kodai Senga on the mound for another 6:45pm start.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 26: Hunter Brown #58 of the Houston Astros throws on the mound before a game against the Los Angeles Angels on Opening Day at Daikin Park on March 26, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Astros (3-2) host the Boston Red Sox (1-3) tonight at Daikin Park in the second game of a three game series.
Astros Opening Day starter RHP Hunter Brown will make his second start of the season for the Astros, this time opposite RHP Brayan Bello and the Red Sox.
TUESDAY’S TILT: The Astros and Red Sox will play the middle game of their three-game series tonight as Houston goes for their fourth straight win and a series victory.
ON THE HUNT: RHP Hunter Brown is making his second start of the season after tossing 4.2 scoreless innings against the Angels on Opening Day.
A 2025 All-Star, Brown finished third in the AL in Cy Young voting last season after turning in the best year of his career with a 12-9 record, a 2.43 ERA (50ER/185.1IP) and posting a 1.03 WHIP. He held opponents to a career-low .201 average and posted 206 strikeouts in 185.1 innings pitched.
ASTROS VS. BELLO: The Astros are seeing RHP Brayan Bello tonight for the first time since facing him in back-to-back starts on Aug. 24 and Aug. 29, 2023. A couple Astros have career homers opposite Bello in LF Yordan Alvarez (3×5, HR, RBI) and IF Isaac Paredes (2×7, HR, 2RBI).
RIVALRY VS. THE RED SOX: The Astros and Red Sox have developed a nice rivalry over the last 10 years, as the two clubs have seen each other in three different postseason series since the 2017 season. The Astros won two of those three series, winning the 2017 ALDS and 2021 ALCS, while the Red Sox took the 2018 ALCS.
YORDAN AND THE BABE: LF Yordan Alvarez has played 30 career games against the Red Sox, including six in the postseason, combining for a .404 (44×109) average with 11 doubles, nine homers, 29 RBI, a .481 OBP and a .771 SLG. Among all Major League players with at least 125 regular season and postseason plate appearances against the Red Sox, Alvarez leads all in batting average, OBP and SLG. The lists below include the postseason.
ALL-TIME LEADERS VS. BOS (MIN. 125 PA)
Batting Average
1. Yordan Alvarez: .404
2. Will Clark: .403
3. Lyman Bostick: .467
SLG
1. Yordan Alvarez: .771
2. Babe Ruth: .683
3. Wander Franco: .659
LEAGUE LEADERS: The Astros lead the Majors in doubles (14) and total bases (73), while ranking second in hits (44) and walks (25). Individually, 1B Christian Walker leads the Majors in doubles (4), while 2B Jose Altuve owns a share for the MLB lead with six runs scored.
JOSE, JOSE, JOSE, JOSE!: 2B Jose Altuve went 4×4 with four runs scored and a pair of homers last night, giving him 42 four-hit games since he debuted in 2011, which are by far the most in the Majors in that time frame (1B Freddie Freeman ranks second with 31). Altuve’s four runs scored matched his career high, which he’s accomplished seven times, most recently on July 4, 2025 at LAD.
YORDAN’S UPCOMING MILESTONES: LF Yordan Alvarez (497 RBI) is three RBI shy of reaching 500 career RBI, a mark only 14 players in franchise history have reached. Alvarez also checks in with 172 career homers, which makes him just two homers shy of matching franchise icon OF George Springer (174HR) for seventh on the Astros all-time list.
GOIN’ DEEP:LF Brice Matthews hit his first homer of the season last night, a 434’ shot to left-center field. Matthews’ homer was the longest of his career, the longest by an Astro this season (by 40 feet) and the fifth-longest in the Majors in 2026.
COLE SIDELINED:OF Zach Cole will be placed on the minor league IL today with a fifth toe fracture on his right foot. Cole began the season at Triple A Sugar Land, where he sustained the injury on a HBP on Sunday vs. Round Rock.
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff (53) throws in the outfield during spring training workouts Saturday, February 14, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona. | Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Following their first loss of the season last night, the Brewers have their first chance to bounce back. They will look to do that tonight in their second game against the Rays.
Prior to tonight’s game, the Brewers made a few roster moves and provided some injury updates. First, Luis Matos was officially added to the active roster. In a corresponding move, Jeferson Quero was optioned back to Triple-A Nashville. Steward Berroa and Rob Zastryzny were also sent to Nashville on rehab assignments. Zastryzny is expected to pitch an inning tonight.
In other injury news (from Dave Gasper), Andrew Vaughn underwent hand surgery today and is expected to return in mid-May. Quinn Priester is scheduled to throw a bullpen today with “two ups” — meaning he will warm up and start two simulated innings. Craig Yoho is also scheduled to throw a bullpen on Thursday.
The Brewers finish their first turn through the rotation as Brandon Woodruff takes the mound tonight. He’s been building up through the spring and is ready to go to start the season, despite some concerns in spring training if he would be stretched out enough. According to Pat Murphy, “we could see six ‘ups’ for Woodruff tonight”. which could mean we see Woodruff pitch into the sixth inning. In his final start of the spring, he threw 62 pitches in a three-inning start against the Rangers. He allowed three runs, four hits, and one walk while striking out four. Last season, he had a 3.20 ERA in 12 starts. Over his last 24 starts at American Family Field, he’s posted a 14-1 record and a 2.10 ERA, and the Brewers are 21-3 in those starts.
For the Rays, Shane McClanahan will make the start. This is his first regular-season MLB start since 2023. In the last two years, he underwent Tommy John surgery, then a nerve issue in his elbow kept him out in 2025. Before that, he received votes for AL Rookie of the Year in 2021 and AL Cy Young in 2022. This spring, he made four starts and posted a 2.08 ERA in 13 innings, with 15 strikeouts and five walks. The Brewers faced him once back in 2023, and he pitched seven shutout innings with seven strikeouts.
The Brewers are shuffling the lineup a little tonight. Brice Turang remains the leadoff hitter, but Luis Rengifo will move up into the second slot. This slides William Contreras back to third, and Christian Yelich — who will make the start in left field tonight — bats fourth. Gary Sánchez gets the start at DH and bats fifth, with Jake Bauers at first base batting sixth. Brandon Lockridge moves over to center field and bats seventh. Sal Frelick and Joey Ortiz round out the lineup in their usual positions.
Here are the full starting lineups for tonight. First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. on Brewers.TV and the Brewers Radio Network.
Mar 30, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Detroit Tigers second baseman Colt Keith (33) gets ready to hit against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Kerry Carpenter has been in a pretty rough place this spring. After a fairly good, but again injury plagued 2025 season, the Tigers’ right fielder and designated hitter came into camp looking to put together a more consistent 2026 and hopefully finally banish the back and hamstring injuries that have nagged at him for much of his career. He seems healthy, but he just hasn’t been seeing the ball well this spring. With 10 strikeouts through four games, manager A.J. Hinch has at least temporarily pulled the plug on the leadoff experiment.
The lineup on Tuesday night features Colt Keith leading off and playing third base, and this is a fairly interesting development. Keith has always controlled the strike zone pretty well, taking his share of walks and keeping his strikeouts to league average or better levels. Meanwhile, his contact showed signs of improvement last summer that have carried over in the early going. An estimated 416 foot double off Mike Soroka in Monday night’s game was the latest sign that Keith is seeing the ball well and starting to get off more A-swings to take advantage of his plus raw power.
Meanwhile, teams are already scared of Kevin McGonigle, quickly backing away from throwing him fastballs in the zone, and the rookie now moves to the two-hole in tonight’s lineup. No one is putting together better at-bats in the lineup, and he’s already adapted to the respect he’s being shown by taking his walks. He’ll also make his second start at the shortstop position with Javy Báez getting the night off apart from pinch-hitting duties.
Of course, we’re four games into the season. None of this says anything much about how various hitters will do over the course of the season. Carpenter will be fine as long as he’s healthy. But, while the strategy of putting a legit power hitter atop the order is a good one that has found more favor among managers in recent years, particularly if it’s a hitter with pronounced splits that you may want to pinch-hit for later in games, Carpenter needs to heat up before this is going to work.
In the meantime, while it’s customary to protect a rookie a bit by hitting them down in the order until they’ve settled in, McGonigle isn’t a regular rookie. He’s walking and striking out both at a 17.6 percent clip, and holds a 185 wRC+ in the very early going. Keith runs reasonably well, and McGonigle can challenge Parker Meadows as the fastest guy on the team home to first. So the change gives the Tigers some of their most disciplined hitters atop the order, both with the ability to take the extra base.
SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - MARCH 03: Brayan Bello #66 of the Dominican Republic looks on prior to an exhibition game against the Detroit Tigers at Estadio Quisqueya on March 03, 2026 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Red Sox look to get back in the win column tonight and avoid falling three games under .500 in the first swing through the rotation.
On the mound, they’ll have Brayan Bello, who is very much the definition of Trick or Treat. At times (including much of last summer), he looks like a top of the rotation starter you want out there to end a losing streak. Unfortunately, at other times (like in Game 2 of the Wild Card series last October), he rides the edge of disaster and puts the team behind the 8-ball.
If the Sox are going to win tonight, they’re likely going to need the first guy to show up because the lineup will be facing Hunter Brown who finished third in Cy Young voting last year and didn’t allow a run his first time out.
To try and generate a spark (and also to just rotate guys in there), Alex Cora shook up the lineup in a few spots. Masataka Yoshida is in the third slot, Jaren Duran and Caleb Durbin will start the evening on the bench, and Connor Wong will do the catching instead of Carlos Narvaez.
Perhaps the best thing the Red Sox have going for them in this one is that all the high leverage relievers are rested after the team got their doors blown off yesterday, which means if they can keep it tight in the early innings, they might be able to pull one out late.
Today’s Lineups
RED SOX
ASTROS
Roman Anthony – LF
Jeremy Pena – SS
Trevor Story – SS
Yordan Alvarez – DH
Masataka Yoshida – DH
Jose Altuve – 2B
Willson Contreras – 1B
Carlos Correa – 3B
Wilyer Abreu – RF
Christian Walker – 1B
Andruw Monasterio – 3B
Joey Loperfido – LF
Marcelo Mayer – 2B
Cam Smith – RF
Connor Wong – C
Yainer Diaz – C
Ceddanne Rafaela – CF
Jake Meyers – CF
Brayan Bello – RHP
Hunter Brown – RHP
⚾️ First Pitch: 8:10 pm – Daikin Park (Formally Minute Maid and Enron Field), Houston, Texas
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JUNE 1: Brodie Johnston #9 of the Vanderbilt Commodores runs the bases after a homer in the second inning against the Wright State Raiders during the NCAA Nashville Regional game at Hawkins Field on June 1, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carly Mackler/Getty Images) | Getty Images
6pm CT on SECN+.
After three straight improbably walk-off victories over THEM, what will the Diamond Dores bring against Belmont?
On the Mound
Tuesday @ 6:00pm SECN+
Vanderbilt #45 Fr. RHP Connor “The Canadian” Hamilton (0-0; 5.65 ERA)
Erick Fedde throws his first pitch for the Chicago White Sox since 2024 tonight. | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
The White Sox served the Marlins their first loss of the season Monday night, and perhaps righthander Erick Fedde can carry that momentum into his first start of the season; anything that will make us all forget about the first three losses of the year.
Fedde is back with the South Siders after being traded at the deadline in 2024, and while is 2025 season wasn’t much to write home about, he looked a bit more consistent in his Spring Training performances, albeit a small sample size. In three outings (8 2/3 innings), Fedde allowed three runs on nine hits — including one home run — and struck out seven compared to two walks, amounting to a 3.12 ERA. In 2025, his strikeout rate declined to 13.3% from 21% the year prior, which still isn’t an elite K% by any means, but still highlights a significant year-over-year drop-off. Walks were also a bigger problem last season, as his rate ballooned in 2025, going from a 63-percentile in 2024 (7.2% BB%), all the way up to a 10.8% BB%.
Despite some struggles with control, Fedde does have a solid five-pitch arsenal with a cutter, sinker, sweeper, changeup and four-seamer, and he relies most heavily on the first four. His sweeper has remained consistent year-over-year with sub-.200 opponent batting averages and his top whiff rate, hovering between 25-26% both seasons.
Fedde will have to deal with some hard hitters from Miami, especially at the top of the order with Liam Hicks in the 4-spot, currently ranking second in the majors in hard-hit percentage (75%): Six of eight of his batted balls have left the bat at 95 mph or faster.
On the other end, righthander Janson Junk will take the mound for Miami, also making his first start of the year. In 16 starts (21 appearances) and 110 innings in 2025, Junk posted a 4.17 ERA on the season, and a 4.53 ERA as a starter. His low (2.9%) walk rate in 2025 was definitely a highlight, though Junk doesn’t strike out a ton of batters (17.2%).
Junk will still have to deal with a White Sox team that has scored 16 runs in the last two games (though only winning one, of course), and the top of the lineup has been hitting the ball fairly hard despite the lack of team success. Chase Meidroth has been one of the more consistent players to start the season and will hold down the leadoff slot, posting a 1.162 OPS in his first four games. The real star of the show, however, is in the 2-slot, as Munetaka Murakami has already mashed three home runs on the season, and has been getting on base quite a bit with four walks.
Miguel Vargas is thankfully back in the lineup as well in the 5-hole, after blasting a grand slam in Monday’s matchup.
First pitch will take place shortly at 5:40 p.m. CT, and you can tune into the TV broadcast on CHSN or MLB Network, or listen in at ESPN Chicago AM 1000 on the radio. How about two Sox wins in a row?
Francisco Lindor – SS Juan Soto – LF Bo Bichette – 3B Luis Robert – CF Jared Young – 1B Mark Vientos – DH Marcus Semien – 2B Carson Benge – RF Luis Torrens – C
Kodai Senga – RHP
Cardinals lineup
JJ Wetherholt – 2B Ivan Herrera – C Alec Burleson – 1B Masyn Winn – SS Nolan Gorman – DH Jordan Walker – RF Nathan Church – LF Ramon Urias – 3B Victor Scott – CF
Andre Pallante – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 7:45 PM EDT TV: SNY Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 01: Yegor Chinakhov #59 of the Pittsburgh Penguins carries the puck against Ben Chiarot #8 of the Detroit Red Wings at PPG PAINTS Arena on January 1, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Athletic is in the midst of releasing its prospect pool rankings, with the St. Louis Blues at 10th.
When The Athletic conducted these rankings a year ago, the Blues ranked 14th, moving up four spots in 2026.
The Blues received high grades overall, but the one criticism was that the prospect pool is missing a truly elite, franchise-altering prospect. It’s fair criticism, but that’s also indicative of where the Blues have been selecting in the first round. Their highest draft selection in the last five years was 10th overall, when they selected Dalibor Dvorsky.
While they may currently lack that top prospect, they could land that in this year’s draft. The Blues currently sit in fifth last place due to points percentage, and a top-five pick could be franchise-altering.
With that being said, the depth the Blues have is rivalled by few.
In the first tier, Scott Wheeler named three Blues players: Justin Carbonneau, Dalibor Dvorsky, and Adam Jiricek.
Carbonneau had a stellar goal-scoring season in the QMJHL, and his club, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, is a threat to win the QMJHL championship.
Dvorsky has graduated to the NHL, but because of these rankings’ rules, he was still eligible to be named a prospect. In his first full NHL season, Dvorsky has scored 11 goals and 18 points in 62 games. He’s shown he can be a threat as a shooter, but he can also play a reliable two-way game.
His performance at the Olympics showed he could be a strong 5-on-5 player, but he needs to add that element in the NHL.
Jiricek is healthy and is showing his talent. He was a dominant defensive force at the world juniors and added plenty of offense as well. In the OHL with the Brantford Bulldogs, Jiricek has led the way on the blueline, and they are the heavy favorites to win it all this year.
Logan Mailloux, Theo Lindstein, and Otto Stenberg highlighted tier 2. All three players have seemingly graduated to the NHL, but they did spend parts of the season with the AHL's Springfield Thunderbirds.
They’ve all shown they can play in the NHL, but finding ways to become even more impactful is the next step.
Tier 3 featured Marcus Gildof, a big Swedish netminder; Colin Ralph, a big left-handed defenseman in the NCAA; and Dmitry Buchelnikov, a recently acquired skillful Russian winger.
Tier 4 consisted of Lukas Fischer, another big left-handed defenseman in the OHL; Love Harenstam, a standout Swedish netminder; Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, a two-way Finnish center playing in the AHL; Juraj Pekarcik, a skilled winger in the AHL; Jakub Stancl, a versatile forward in the AHL; and Adam Jecho, a big center playing in the WHL.
Michael Buchinger was named as an honorable mention.
With another three first-round picks in this year’s upcoming draft, there could be plenty of new faces in these rankings, and the Blues’ position could be a lot higher next year.
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 30: A Rawlings baseball glove sits by the visiting team's dugout before a game between the Athletics and Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on March 30, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Braves go for the series win over the A’s in a matchup of fifth starters Jose Suarez and Aaron Civale. Today’s game starts at 7:15 PM ET in Atlanta and can be viewed on BravesVision and on Gray TV. You can read more on the pitching matchup in the game preview here and see the lineups here.
Join us and discuss tonight’s game in the comments below!
The Mets brought in Jorge Polanco to play first base -- which he had not done before this season -- and to be a DH option for manager Carlos Mendoza.
After inserting Polanco as the DH in the last two games, as the veteran infielder deals with a sore Achilles, Polanco was not in Tuesday's lineup against the Cardinals. It's the first game Polanco has missed in the early going, but the Mets skipper signified that this was a planned off day for Polanco.
"Just an off day. Middle of a nine-game stretch, here," Mendoza said ahead of Tuesday's game. "He was going to get a day here. I thought today, with a lefty pitching tomorrow, it was either going to be today or tomorrow, and decided to do it today. Woke up today and he’s in a good spot."
When asked whether Polanco will continue to be the Mets' DH when he returns to the lineup tomorrow or play first, Mendoza said that he wasn't sure but wanted to get through Tuesday's game first. He did say he "wouldn't be surprised" if he penciled Polanco's name at first base tomorrow, however.
Through four games, Polanco is 3-for-15 with a double and one RBI as a Met.
Mendoza was asked about potentially sitting other veterans like Marcus Semien. The manager gave some insight into his thought process and boiled it down to open communication between coach and player.
"They all want to play 162, but we have to be mindful of a lot of these guys," he said. "I’ll continue to talk to him, I’ll continue to visit with him after every game. If it doesn’t happen in this stretch of nine, it’s going to happen. The player will need a day or two. They want to play, they take pride in posting and being available. That’s part of getting to know each other here. And we’ll go from here."
Francisco Lindor, who underwent offseason surgery for a hamate bone, has yet to miss a game or time playing shortstop. Mendoza said that the same philosophy goes for Lindor, but, knowing how Lindor is, he'll have to work on him to give him a breather in the early going.
"It’ll be fluid, but we’ll have to be smart," Mendoza said.
Devin Williams' 'elite' stuff
Williams' second appearance with the Mets came in a save situation on Monday night, and the All-Star reliever showed why the team acquired him this offseason.
It took Williams just 12 pitches (10 strikes) to get a 1-2-3 ninth inning to secure the team's third win of the season.
"He looked pretty nasty. If you look at the metrics, it was pretty good," Mendoza said of Williams and his changeup. "He’s elite. And when he’s on his game and at his best, he’s pretty tough. It was just good to see him out there, getting the first one out of the way, and we have to keep him there."
Across his two appearances, Williams has been near-perfect. He's allowed one baserunner (a walk) in 2.0 innings pitched while striking out three batters.
