Category: MLB

It’s safe to say we are on the roller coaster ride that is the baseball season. This early season has been filled with ups and downs. It’s fun that no matter how baseball changes, how many ways we can analyze it, it’s still a lot the same game. Oh sure, if this were 50 or 60 years ago, Cubs starter Edward Cabrera would probably have thrown (at least) another inning or two. After all, when your starter has allowed just one hit and one walk over six, you keep running him out there.

Just for kicks, I went all of the way back to 1969 to see what Ferguson Jenkins did on Opening Day. It was a perfect compare and contrast to the modern game. Fergie threw only eight innings on Opening Day that year. Was it great restraint by the famed Leo Durocher? Well, not really. Fergie allowed five runs in eight innings of work (he didn’t walk anyone, though). Also, let’s be clear. Fergie started the ninth, pitching with a three-run lead. He allowed two singles and a three-run homer. That finished Fergie’s day after throwing 109 pitches. The Cubs did score two in the bottom of the 11th (after allowing one in the top) to walk it off.

The game changes. Teams don’t rely on starters anywhere near as much as we used to. They hope that more pitches can be thrown at or near max effort. They hope that more pitchers, when effective, can pitch much longer into their careers. We know that first thing is happening more and more. We think maybe that second thing is happening. Less is being asked of starters. And yet, little is more valuable than a strong start from your starter. The Cubs have had two quality starts in the young season and they’ve won both games. They lost the other two.

Eleven teams came through the first weekend of the season without a quality start. Those teams combined for a record of 12-24. That record is buoyed by the Brewers who, annoyingly, swept their opening series without a single QS. Of course, the White Sox didn’t have one either in that series. So I guess that was a wash, at least for starting pitching. The Nationals didn’t have one over the weekend either, but did beat the Phillies in Philadelphia, 13-2. Clearly, no one has told the Nationals that they are supposed to be God-awful. For that matter, no one has told Joey Wiemer that he’s not going to be the MVP. Who doesn’t love an early season line of .800/.846/1.600? I think that’s maybe some kind of record pace.

I’ll be a broken record here early. Because it’s early. Very little of this matters much. It would definitely matter a lot if Cade Horton and Edward Cabrera were elite. We have reason to believe one is and hope that the other can be. It would definitely matter a lot if Matthew Boyd and Shōta Imanaga were bad. I think we fear that one is and expect the other to be at least decent, coming off of an All-Star season. Drawing conclusions in April is a fool’s errand. Doing so in March is a waste of time.

The Cubs got a good pitching performance and the bats shined. More of both, please. And hey, even when one has an off night, there isn’t any particular rule that says both have to be off. I like to think of baseball having four quadrants. These two wins are in the best quadrant which is good pitching/good hitting. So let’s hope that those other two quadrants (good hitting/poor pitching, and poor hitting/good pitching) eke out some wins too. The best teams can win games in all three of the better quadrants (it’s an unusual scenario to win a game with poor/poor performance). And let’s hope the Cubs spend an awful lot of time in that best quadrant. They’ve got a lot of winning to do and a lot of working out who the best 26 are. And there are only 158 games left to get all of that done.

Three Stars:

1. Edward Cabrera. Six innings, five strikeouts and just one walk. No runs and only a single hit. I only had one eye on it at the time, but I didn’t think the one hit looked particularly crushed.
2. Ian Happ had a solo homer and a walk. This is the third straight game he’s homered in, matching a career high. It very well could have been four had the wind not knocked down a crushed ball in the opener.
3. On the third game in three days, with two more to follow, Colin Rea got nine outs with a huge lead. In the modern game, you use a ton of pen. In early games, that’s particularly exacerbated. With Jameson Taillon and Matthew Boyd to follow, who knows what you get? Giving everyone else a night off allows you to go much more aggressively at the next two. The Cubs high-leverage relievers have seen no leverage at all yet.
4. Honorable mention to the whole offense. Nine hits, seven walks. Angels starter Ryan Johnson was really shaky and the Cubs had a very patient approach to that. Happ only stands out for the homer. Otherwise, the Cubs offense just showed a steady, relentless approach and wore the Angels down. And their troubles were complicated by the early conditions at Wrigley Field on a pop fly that almost certainly should have been caught and led to two runs.

Game 4, March 30: Cubs 7, Angels 2 (2-2)

Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.

THREE HEROES:

• Superhero: Edward Cabrera (.174). 6 IP, 19 BF, H, BB, 0 ER, 5 K (W 1-0)
• Hero: Carson Kelly (.122). 1-4, 2 RBI
• Sidekick: Ian Happ (.075). 1-4, BB, HR, RBI, 2 R

THREE GOATS:

• Billy Goat: Alex Bregman (-.039). 1-4, BB
• Goat: Michael Conforto (-.014). 0-2
• Kid: Matt Shaw (.001). 1-2

WPA Play of the Game: Carson Kelly batted with runners on first and second and two outs in the first, the Cubs up one. He skied one into shallow center. The Angels failed to make a play on the ball and Pete Crow-Armstrong motored around from first to make this into a two-run single. (.155)

*Angels Play of the Game: Ryan Johnson faced Alex Bregman with a runner on first and no outs in the first inning, the game scoreless. He got Bregman to pop out for the first out. (.035)

Cubs Player of the Game:

Yesterday’s Winner: Alex Bregman received 124 of 148 votes.

Up Next: Game two of the three-game set with the Angels. Jameson Taillon makes his season debut. Last year he was 11-7 with a 3.68 ERA in 23 starts. Taillon’s numbers as a Cub do not in any way justify the negative perception of his value. In his age-34 season last year, he dealt with some injuries but was pretty effective when healthy. At this point in his career, it’s hard to imagine he can’t be a fifth starter who produces more good starts than bad and provides value to this team.

The Angels start 27-year-old José Soriano. Soriano started Opening Day this year for the Angels. He threw six scoreless and struck out seven in Houston. He’s pitched in parts of three seasons for the Angels previously, having an 18-21 record and a 3.82 ERA across 92 appearances (52 starts). Could the 27-year-old Dominican product be finding himself? We shall see. He didn’t face the Cubs last year. He threw five unremarkable innings against them in July 2024. Michael Busch took him deep and Miguel Amaya had a pair of hits. Plan to see Miguel back in the lineup to try to continue his hot start at the plate.

How about the first back-to-back wins of the season?

It’s really difficult to make any concrete assertions about a baseball team after only four games. Sure, these games make the term “lethargic” look positively energetic, but even in the most negative point of view, there isn’t really much we can tell about this team yet. The only thing these games have done is reinforced preconceived notions that clouded judgement in the first place.

Instead, we can try and see if there are any trends beginning to take shape. Ideas maybe we had before the season even began that maybe there is a shred of data that can be looked at to see if something is there. Here are a few to maybe keep an eye on as the season progresses, particularly in these early weeks.

Otto Kemp: left fielder?

Sunday’s game was a demonstration that maybe the team’s belief in Kemp as a viable option as one of the platoon partners for the outfield was a bit ambitious in the first place. 2025 showed several examples of why this idea was misguided in the first place, yet the team continued to assert that Kemp would be fine.

There is the likelihood that the team will continue to put him out in left field in a lefthanded pitcher is on the mound. They want to have the platoon advantage there and they believe their best option is to have Kemp, which is odd considering they have Dylan Moore on the roster, a player that has actually played left field in the past. If he cannot play the position, one has to wonder about Kemp’s place on the roster.

Bryce Harper

There is no reason to belabor the point about elite/not elite that was beaten in the offseason. It’s tiresome and boring. Instead, let’s re-shape the question. What would make Dave Dombrowski even say that?

Pitchers are going to try and see what Harper still has. One might think that they’ll try and get him to chase since that was one of his issues with his season last year. We only have a sample of 71 pitches thrown to him, so as you can imagine, the heat map is all over the place.

This doesn’t really tell us much about anything, so instead, how are pitchers trying to approach him? We’ve seen a steady decline in pitchers throwing him fastballs since that is where he does a lot of damage. The rise in breaking ball usage is continuing, even if it, again, is just 71 pitches in total.

Yet this is worth watching as the season progresses. Harper’s bat speed so far suggests that there hasn’t been a falloff there, but the steady diet of breaking pitches that are going out of the zone are going continue from the looks of it. How he fares will likely determine the next chapter of his career.

Rob Thomson’s decision making

The Opening Day usage of Kyle Backhus was fine in theory. The team was up five runs, they only needed three outs and Backhus’ funk was probably something that the Rangers hadn’t seen much of. He wasn’t good, thus forcing Jhoan Duran into the game to give the Phillies their only win of the season thus far. In game two, Jacob deGrom was scratched from the lineup, a left handed reliever taking his place, yet Thomson left in his usual platoon players in Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh. The team was no-hit through several innings afterwards. Getting Stott and Marsh plate appearances against southpaws is fine, particularly if one hopes for their improvement against them, yet it was another curious decision.

Justin Crawford sitting on Monday evening was interesting as well, giving fodder to something else to watch as the season goes on: what goes behind the decisions Thomson regularly makes? Early in the season, he has shown a willingness to sit players often coming out of spring training as the baseball version of load management. That would help explain some of the lineup decisions made early on, but as the season keeps going, when do the lefties (Stott, Marsh and Crawford) sit? What about the bullpen usage patterns? With a trip to Colorado looming, it made some sense to let Taijuan Walker eat some innings Monday, preserving as many arms as possible, but again, what about the situational usage patterns? What will end up being the bullpen pecking order?

As stated before, it’s still only four games. There is plenty of baseball to go, likely most of it good baseball. These are only a few things to watch as the season goes forward, but they are still rather significant things to track.

Opening Day of Major League Baseball is one of the best days on the sports calendar. Its even more sweet when you can turn it on to take your eyes away from the brutal sweep that was happening in Oxford this past weekend.

Nonetheless, when you have a program that has succeeded at the level coach Mike Bianco’s has over the years, you are likely to have some MLB talent come through (or skip by — looking at you Roman Anthony). So let’s see where our former Rebels landed at the start of the 2026 MLB season.

MLB/40 Man Roster

Gunnar Hoglund – A’s, IL-15

Ryan Rolison – Chicago Cubs, 40 Man (AAA Iowa)

James McArthur – Kansas City Royals, IL-15

Drew Pomeranz- Los Angeles Angels

Nick Fortes – Tampa Bay Rays

Minor League Roster

Tim Elko – IL, ACL recovery (CWS)

Jacob Gonzalez – AAA Charlotte (CWS)

Calvin Harris – AA Birmingham (CWS)

Drew McDaniel – High A Winston-Salem (CWS)

JT Quinn – High A Frederick (BAL)

Dylan DeLucia – AA Akron (CLE)

Doug Nikhazy – AAA Columbus (CLE)

Luke Hill – Low A Hill City (CLE)

Sam Tookoian – High A Tri-City (LAA)

Houston Roth – AAA Tacoma (SEA)

Cooper Johnson – AAA Round Rock (TEX)

Connor Spencer – High A South Bend (CHC)

Kemp Alderman – AAA Jacksonville (MIA)

Grae Kessinger – AAA Syracuse (NYM)

Jacob Waguespack – AAA Nashville (MIL)

Derek Diamond – AA Altoona (PIT)

Josh Mallitz – AA San Antonio (SD)

Mason Morris – Low A Daytona (CIN)

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The Cleveland Guardians take on the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight in Chavez Ravine for the second game of a three-game series.

Shohei Ohtani makes his season debut on the mound for the hosts, while Tanner Bibee makes his second start of the season for the visitors.

See why my Guardians vs. Dodgers predictions and MLB picks are targeting the Under on Tuesday, March 31.

Guardians vs Dodgers predictions

Guardians vs Dodgers best bet: Under 8 (-105)

Shohei Ohtani’s arsenal of pitches is downright filthy (115 Stuff+), and he was dominant at home a season ago (.151 BAA, 1.71 ERA). 

There’s a fully stocked bullpen behind him after Sunday’s off day and yesterday’s three-pitcher outing, so they should limit a Cleveland Guardians lineup with poor numbers (.279 wOBA, 79 wRC+). 

Tanner Bibee (104 Stuff+) has been a dependable arm, recording an xERA below 3.75 in each of the last three seasons (87 starts). The weather favors these two strong starting pitchers, as there’ll be rain in Southern California.

COVERS INTEL: Tanner Bibee ranked in the 67th percentile or better in xERA, xBA, average exit velocity, walk rate, and hard-hit rate. Shohei Ohtani didn’t have enough innings to qualify, but he’d be in the 90th percentile or above in every category.

Guardians vs Dodgers same-game parlay (SGP)

Ohtani was positively electric on the mound a year ago, and effectiveness (areer 3.00 ERA, 3.18 FIP) hasn’t been the issue — it’s all about health. 

He’s healthy now, striking out 11 batters in his most recent exhibition outing. That gives the Los Angeles Dodgers a leg up on the mound, and they have one at the plate, too. 

You could argue the bullpen is a wash, but the Dodgers have been elite in relief (2.19 FIP) and have all their best arms rested, whereas Cleveland closer Cade Smith threw 29 pitches in Monday’s series opener.

Guardians vs Dodgers SGP

• Under 8
• Dodgers -1.5

Guardians vs Dodgers home run pick: Max Muncy (+330)

Bibee’s primary flaw is the home run ball. He allowed 1.33 HR/9 a year ago despite a 10-point uptick in groundball rate, so it’s definitely the L.A. side I want to target with a home run prop.

Max Muncy posted 16 of his 19 home runs off right-handed pitchers a season ago, tagging them for a 157 wRC+ with substantial power (.247 ISO).

He hits Bibee’s three-pitch mix against lefties (primarily four-seamers and change-ups with a dash of cutters) well, with decreased whiff rates and increased effectiveness against all three offerings.

Guardians vs Dodgers odds

• Moneyline: Cleveland +220 | Los Angeles -270
• Run line: Cleveland +1.5 (-105) | Los Angeles -1.5 (-115)
• Over/Under: Over 8 | Under 8

Guardians vs Dodgers trend

The Guardians have cashed the Under in 39 of their last 60 road games. Find more MLB betting trends for Guardians vs. Dodgers.

How to watch Guardians vs Dodgers and game info

Guardians vs Dodgers latest injuries

Guardians vs Dodgers weather

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Jacob deGrom will start for the Texas Rangers tonight against the Baltimore Orioles, the team announced this morning.

deGrom was originally scheduled to start this past Saturday in Philadelphia against the Phillies. He woke up that morning with a stiff neck, however, and with it being a blustery 45 degree day, the Rangers opted to push their 37 year old ace back and use Jacob Latz as a spot starter in his place. Latz responded with four no-hit innings in the Rangers’ 5-4 victory.

The Rangers indicated at the time that the deGrom issue was minor, and they anticipated him starting on this road trip, which concludes tomorrow. deGrom will have the benefit of pitching in balmy 80 degree weather this evening, which I have to think is preferable to pitching in 45 degree weather.

The Rangers have not yet announced a starter for Wednesday’s matinee game in Baltimore, which starts at 11:35 a.m. Central. Kumar Rocker, who was originally expected to start today before deGrom was pushed back, could get the nod. Alternatively, the Rangers could go with Nathan Eovaldi, who started the season opener on Thursday, and would be going on five days rest.

The Astros have set their rosters for opening day of the minor league baseball season. There are a lot of intriguing players at each level and could be a big year for a few prospects. Below are a couple players to watch at each minor league level!

Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Triple-A)

Hitter – Zach Cole, OF

Cole was drafted in the 10th round in the 2022 draft. The left-handed hitting outfielder has plus speed and some big time raw power, though that comes with some swing and miss. Overall in 2025, Cole had a 22 doubles, 7 triples, 19 home runs and a system leading 151 wRC+ over 97 games. He also earned a late season promotion to Houston. While he will start in Triple-A, he should be back up in 2026 at some point.

One More: Collin Price, C/1B

Pitcher – Hudson Leach, RHP

Leach was signed as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 draft. Leach was dominant at times in 2025, but his command would get away from him and he ended up with a 5.54 ERA overall, though he had a 3.51 FIP. He did finish with 63 strikeouts in 39 innings, including some run in Triple-A. He turned some heads in the AFL with a really good breaking ball and a fastball that was sitting high 90s, touching 99 MPH. With some nice outings in Sugar Land, Leach could find himself in the Houston bullpen.

One More: Alimber Santa, RHP

Corpus Christi Hooks (Double-A)

Hitter – Lucas Spence, OF

The Astros signed Spence as an undrafted free agent in 2024, and he made the most of his first professional season. He started the 2025 season in Fayetteville and after hitting .286 in Single-A, he was promoted to High-A where he connected on 6 home runs with a .774 OPS. He was promoted to Double-A where he added 4 more home runs with 17 runs batted in. He finished the season with 31 doubles, 27 stolen bases and a .771 OPS in 116 games, and an impressive 14.3% walk rate. Spence flew up the rankings last year and has the tools to be a plus defender too.

One More: Joseph Sullivan, OF

Pitcher – James Hicks, RHP

Hicks was a 13th round pick by the Astros in 2023 and has flew through the system initially with a breakout 2023 where he posted a 3.82 ERA with 115 strikeouts over 106 innings across three different levels. Hicks had some injuries in 2025 and struggled for the most part posting a 5.59 ERA in 46.2 innings in Double-A. He did finishthe year on a high note striking out 23 to just 4 walks over his final 14.2 innings and then carried that into a dominate Arizona Fall League showing posting a 0.00 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 14 innings. He should be in Triple-A in 2026. 

One More: Bryce Mayer, RHP

Asheville Tourists (High-A)

Hitter – Caden Powell, INF/OF

Powell was selected by the Astros in the 6th round of the 2024 draft and signed overslot for $422,500. The 21-year-old is listed at 6’3″ and 200 lbs with room to grow. He started his college career at Oklahoma but transferred to Seminole State College where he was named the D-1 junior college player of the year. Powell started the 2025 season great in Single-A posting an OPS over .800 while showing off power and speed. He missed some time with an injury and had some struggles when coming back, but his power and upside with the bat is legit.

One More: Ethan Frey, OF

Pitcher – Cole Hertzler, RHP

Hertzler was drafted by the Astros in the 5th round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of Liberty University. Hertzler has pitched limited innings due to injury but has dominated hitters in Single-A with a four pitch mix. In 21 professional innings, he has a 1.29 ERA with 28 strikeouts. His fastball sits in the low to mid 90s and can tough 96 MPH. Hertzler’s best secondary pitch is his slider that has continued to progress. His also added a changeup and curveball. He is healthy now and has a chance to make a big impact in 2026.

One More: Parker Smith, RHP

Fayetteville Woodpeckers (Single-A)

Hitter – Xavier Neyens, INF

Neyens was selected by the Astros in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft and signed for $4.12 million. A left-handed hitter out of Washington, Neyens boasts some of the most impressive raw power from his class. While he has a strong arm suited for a corner infield or outfield spot, it’s his powerful bat and advanced hitting ability that made him a top pick. The 19-year-old will be in full season ball and get a chance to show why he was a first round pick.

One More: Kevin Alvarez, OF

Pitcher – Jagger Beck, RHP

Beck was signed as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 draft. He pitched sparingly in 2025 but then went off to winter ball in Australia and dominated striking out 36 over 37 innings while posting a 3.16 ERA. The right-hander has a mid 90s fastball and is an imposing figure on the mound at 6’6″ and 205 lbs. The 19-year-old will be one of the youngest pitchers on the Fayetteville roster.

One More: Nick Potter, RHP

In an unexpected announcement Tuesday morning, Seattle Mariner top prospect Colt Emerson reportedly agreed to an 8 year, $95 million contract extension with the organization. The deal includes a ninth year club option as well as various escalators that can bring the total up to $130 million. Additionally, Emerson was granted a full no trade clause in the deal.

In signing, Emerson has secured the largest pre-debut contract in MLB history, surpassing Jackson Chourio’s 8/$82 2023 contract with the Brewers.

The team’s first round draft pick in the 2023 draft, Emerson has graced the top of prospect lists since joining the professional ranks and is considered a consensus top ten prospect in the sport. At just 20 years old, the uber-talented shortstop now figures to be on the fast track to debuting with the club and will be locked up in the PNW for the next decade.

A sweet-swinging lefty shortstop, Emerson possesses some of the best bat-to-ball skills in all of minor league baseball and is renowned for his plate discipline, a trait that’s given him an incredibly high floor as a player since his time of drafting. His game, however, has taken a jump, as he’s now posting some very intriguing underlying power numbers without sacrificing his contact rates all that much, rounding out his game and making him a complete player that looks like a threat for 20+ homers a year. Offensively, there’s not a ton to poke holes in.

His glove is where the most progress has been made. Once considered a strong candidate to move to third base, Emerson is now a true shortstop defender that should have little issue manning the six. He’s got an excellent arm and solid range, and though he may have to play a different position to get his reps in on this roster, shortstop is undoubtedly his long-term home.

Whether Emerson is expected to join the roster right away or remain in Triple-A for extra seasoning is yet to be announced, but it seems reasonable to assume the Mariners would promote Emerson now that he’s officially on the big league payroll. Though clarifying the Mariner roster for most of the next decade, this move undoubtedly muddies the water for how the 2026 roster shakes out, and how they choose to handle it is a fascinating discussion that needs to be had. Have your own thoughts? Sound off in the comments below!

So the Red Sox offense so far is… ah, not great. Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, Willson Contreras, Trevor Story, and Ceddanne Rafaela are all carrying an OPS below .700. Caleb Durbin is carrying an OPS below the gates of hell. But all is not lost offensively, thanks the prodigious play of Wilyer Abreu. Following his outstanding WBC performance, the outfielder is once again off to a hot start. And, this year, the Sox coaching staff thinks he has the potential to turn into an “elite” bat. (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)

If the lineup continues to struggle, then one of the talking points of the season will undoubtably all of the offensive options the Red Sox elected not to pull the trigger on this past offseason. One of those players was Isaac Parades, who recorded a hit against the Sox last night. But he actually sounds a bit relieved that he’s not in Boston, owing to his troubles at Fenway: “Truthfully, it’s not a stadium that I can see the ball well [at]. I don’t know why. It’s just difficult for me to see the ball there.” (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)

Parades actually hasn’t started all that well either, though he’s been better than the man the Red Sox settled on to play third base, Caleb Durbin, who is 0-14 with one walk and three strikeouts. But Durbin’s not all that worried yet: “Baseball is just one of those sports I think where it’s a very feel sport. So the more you’re in rhythm and the more you have your feels right, you’re going to be hot and you’re going to be feeling good. So it’s just trying to get back to that and work through that. Like I said, it’s just working. You’ve got to put in the work to get those feels back.” (Christopher Smith, MassLive)

And here are two more names to throw into the “not worried” hat: Ranger Suarez and Johan Oviedo, who both struggled last night but are taking it in stride. (Christopher Smith, MassLive)

Truthfully, we all should take the words of Durbin, Suarez, and Oviedo to heart. It’s just four freaking games, everyone! Having said that, there’s an argument to be made that the blueprint that Craig Breslow put together for the team this offseason leaves little margin for error. (Rob Bradford, WEEI)

And given that the roster construction could lead to a lot of variance, it’s no surprise that the Red Sox are one of the most polarizing teams in the league with respect to preseason prognostications. (ESPN)

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The New York Mets paid how much to watch Bo Bichette strike out all the time? And another catcher is going to hit 60 home runs!

MLB Opening Weekend overreactions are a ton of fun. Because you know, baseball is a game all about small sample sizes.

Even so, we can still use some of those sometimes outlandish statements to attack the MLB MVP odds markets.

Here are my favorite MLB MVP predictions for the American and National Leagues, based on those early-season overreactions.

MVP overreactions and early picks for 2026

Overreaction	Early pick
Shea Langeliers +8000	Vladimir Guerrero Jr. +1600
Bo Bichette +8000	Ronald Acuna Jr. +1100

Early American League MVP pick + overreaction

AL MVP overreaction: Shea Langeliers is the new Cal Raleigh!

Cal Raleigh was 28 years old during his historic 60-home-run season.

Shea Langeliers is a catcher. He’s playing in his age 28-season. He also has ridiculous power, and he hit three home runs in the Athletics' first three games of the season!

Shea Langeliers' second home run of the night 💪

Tie game in the 9th! #OpeningDaypic.twitter.com/0Zuz836NmR

— MLB (@MLB) March 28, 2026

Raleigh also hit 64 home runs in the two seasons before last, and Langeliers had 60 combined between 2024-25.

Langeliers is in the middle of an A's lineup that seems to be swinging for the fences, and plays half of his games in a minor-league ballpark in Sacramento.

Crazier things have happened than Langeliers doing his best Raleigh impression this season.

Shea Langeliers odds to win MVP: +8000 at FanDuel

AL MVP pick: Unfinished business

Aaron Judge is the favorite to win another American League MVP for a reason. He’s put forth two of baseball's greatest hitting seasons in the last two years. But a slow start could cost him, and he’s striking out a lot.

I like the price with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at +1600. Vladdy is coming off an incredible postseason run, where he hit eight home runs and came up just short of leading the Toronto Blue Jays to a World Series title.

He could lead the AL in hits and batting average, and even a slight uptick in regular-season homers could send his numbers through the roof. All while playing for a team expected to contend for another AL Pennant. 

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. odds to win MVP: +1600 at FanDuel

Current AL MVP odds & favorites

Player	Odds
Aaron Judge	+180
Bobby Witt Jr.	+450
Cal Raleigh	+950
Julio Rodriguez	+1200
Nick Kurtz	+1500

Early National League MVP pick + overreaction

NL MVP overreaction: Bo Bichette sucks!

It took New York Mets fans just three games to boo their new third baseman, and not without reason. 

Bo Bichette signed a three-year, $126 million contract with the Mets this offseason, but his tenure in Queens has gotten off to a rocky start. The former Blue Jay went a dismal 1-14 with eight strikeouts over the opening weekend, and the fans let him have it.

Bo Bichette gets loudly booed after he struck out to end the seventh pic.twitter.com/l2937k60Eo

— Mets'd Up Podcast (@MetsdUp) March 29, 2026

The overreaction here is that this was another huge waste of money for the Mets. But this is a guy who is one of the best pure hitters in the game. He led the American League in hits twice and was on pace to do it again last season before missing a chunk of games late in the year.

This price is too long for a guy who could be an impact bat in one of the best lineups in baseball. 

Bo Bichette odds to win MVP: +8000 at FanDuel

NL MVP pick: If not Ohtani, then who?

Obviously, this is Shohei Ohtani’s award to lose, and if he starts 15 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers this season, it’s a wrap.

That said, there are a ton of great talents that could normally be up for MVP awards if, ya know, Ohtani didn’t also pitch, such as Juan Soto, Ronald Acuna Jr., and Fernando Tatis Jr., to name a few.

My favorite among this trio is Acuna. A former MVP himself, the Atlanta Braves outfielder is set to have his first fully healthy season since he won the award in 2023.

Acuna is capable of putting up a 50-home run and 50-stolen-base season. 

Ronald Acuna Jr. odds to win MVP: +1100 at FanDuel

Current NL MVP odds & favorites

Player	Odds
Shohei Ohtani	-140
Juan Soto	+700
Ronald Acuña Jr.	+1100
Fernando Tatis Jr.	+2000
Francisco Lindor	+2200

More MLB odds and picks from Covers

• MLB MVP odds
• MLB Cy Young odds
• MLB Rookie of the Year odds
• World Series odds
• Free MLB picks

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Happy Tuesday! We were treated to our first walk-off of 2026 last night after a single from Cal Raleigh slipped past first base and scored Leo Rivas from third. Another stellar pitching performance featured six innings from Luis Castillo with no runs, two hits, and seven strikeouts. The bullpen largely did their job, and Matt Brash looked electric in his first save of the season.

The second game of the series against the New York Yankees starts tonight at 6:40 PM with a pitching duel of Logan Gilbert versus Max Fried.

In Mariners news…

• The Mariners have announced an agreement with KING 5 to televise 10 Friday home games this season, beginning on April 10 with a divisional matchup against the Houston Astros.
• The Mariners’ Double-A affiliate Arkansas Travelers have announced their 2026 roster, which is headlined by top pitching prospects Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan.
• Catcher Cal Raleigh is expected to have more days off in 2026 compared to last season.
• We will be hosting a site chat on Thursday, April 2nd, at 6:40 PM during the first off day of the regular season. Stay tuned for a link on Thursday and please join in the conversation!

Around the league…

• RHP Cody Ponce was carted off the field in his Toronto Blue Jays debut after landing awkwardly on his right knee while trying to field a hit. He was initially diagnosed with right knee discomfort but is expected to receive a full diagnosis today after an MRI.
• Houston Astros outfielder Zach Cole has broken his toe in a Triple-A game after being hit by a pitch, and has no current timetable for return.
• The Milwaukee Brewers are finalizing an eight-year/$50.75 million contract with top shortstop prospect Cooper Pratt.
• The Colorado Rockies recorded a whopping 17 hits in their 14-5 win over the Toronto Blue Jays yesterday.
• Outfielder Harrison Bader’s first home run as a San Francisco Giant led the team to their first win of the season.

Game Recaps

Soroka’s 10 K’s – and immaculate inning – pave way to win in home opener by Steve Gilbert [Dbacks.com]

A sellout crowd greeted the Diamondbacks on a festive night that featured a triple and homer from Corbin Carroll and a stellar Arizona debut for Michael Soroka, who recorded the fourth immaculate inning in franchise history.

And while things did get a little too interesting, the end result was all that mattered — a 9-6 win over the Tigers in the home opener at Chase Field.

D-backs Secure First Win of 2026 in Stressful Fashion by Alex D’agostino [Arizona Sports]

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Paul Sewald fired a 92 MPH fastball past Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson, capping off a 1-2-3 ninth inning. 

The D-backs had won their first game of the season 9-6, as Sewald locked down his first save back in the closer’s role.

It was not, however, an easy victory. Arizona held an 8-0 lead as late as the seventh inning, but watched that lead evaporate in an ugly bullpen meltdown. But it would not end in as disappointing a manner as many others have.

Diamondbacks News

Diamondbacks’ new ribbon boards causing problems for fans on Opening Day by Alex Weiner [Arizona Sports]

The Arizona Diamondbacks are in problem-solving mode, according to a team spokesperson, as the new ribbon boards at Chase Field are causing view obstructions for fans, particularly those sitting in the 300 level.

The D-backs, in partnership with Daktronics, had ribbon boards installed below the 200 and 300 sections around the ballpark, along with a shorter board underneath the suites.

Several fans sitting in the front row of the 300 level explained that they had to lean forward or bring multiple seat cushions to see the field, as they could no longer watch the game between the rails.

Diamondbacks Call Up Exciting Infield Prospect by Alex D’Agostino [SI]

Fernandez, Arizona’s newly-crowned No. 27 prospect, has been an exciting prospect to watch ahead of the 2026 season. He surged for 17 home runs in 2025 with Double-A Amarillo, then came on strong in Cactus League play with a .280/.308/.840 slash. 

Both offensively and defensively, Fernandez stood out to Arizona’s coaching staff this spring.

“You guys saw him all spring training long, a very exciting player, very youthful, continuing to climb through the system and learn and grow about our concepts, and just plugs right in,” manager Torey Lovullo said.

Around the League

Night of firsts as Bader’s blast sends Giants into win column by Maria Guardado [MLB]

The Giants checked off several key firsts in Monday night’s series opener against the Padres at Petco Park.

They got their first home run of the season. They got their first quality start. And most importantly, they got their first win.

MLB 2026: Best, worst automated balls-strikes challenges by Jeff Passan [ESPN]

Just like with the pitch clock, the advent of robot umpires did not break Major League Baseball. The automated ball-strike system (ABS) debuted in the major leagues Wednesday after years of testing in the minor leagues, and in the 47 games since, exactly 94 calls have been overturned. Some were egregious, others by literal millimeters. The general consensus, based on in-stadium fan reaction and seamless integration into television broadcasts: Not only does ABS work, it makes the game better.

Skeptics and holdouts remain — just as they do with the pitch clock two seasons after it was added. Unlike the complaints about the pitch clock that mostly concern one’s personal preferences, the criticisms of ABS are rooted in math and logic. The system’s margin of error (approximately 1/6th of an inch, according to the league) is larger than some of the calls being overturned. And if the system is as good and accurate as the league says, does it not make sense to utilize it for all ball-strike calls?

The 50 Most Eyebrow-Raising Team Promotions of 2026 by Kiri Oler [FanGraphs]

There’s not an obvious cat equivalence to the ever popular Bark in the Park events held annually by most teams, but that hasn’t stopped a couple of clubs from trying.

Saturday, August 29 has been declared Caturday at Nats Ballpark. Back in 2012, Washington launched its initial Natitude Campaign as a tone-setter for the fanbase, but over time it devolved into a sarcastic rallying cry that rang out only when things weren’t going great for the club. Then last spring, with a new wave of young stars on the rise, the team attempted to reignite the bit with Next Gen Natitude and a hype video that was roughly as inspiring as the 2025 Nationals. But this year, the Nats have finally struck the correct chord with a Next Gen Catitude shirt that I would happily wear to the gym, should one fall into my possession.

Cody Ponce Going For Imaging With Knee Discomfort by Anthony Franco [MLB Trade Rumors]

Blue Jays starter Cody Ponce left tonight’s season debut on a cart in the third inning. The team has only announced the injury as right knee discomfort.

Ponce stumbled while trying to field a chopper off the bat of Rockies center fielder Jake McCarthy (video provided by Shi Davidi of Sportsnet). The big righty was unable to field the ball cleanly, then tried stopping abruptly to pick it up. He tweaked his right leg, took a few more steps, then went down on the dirt a little to the left of first base.

Cam Schlittler’s Improved Cutter Hints at Future Breakout by Michael McDermott [Mike’s Hardball Blueprint]

At surface value, it appears that the right-hander added nearly 8” of lift to his cutter based on his 2025 and 2026 pitch shape data. If you look at the raw data from Baseball Savant, his cutter went from an average of 4.9” induced vertical break in 2025 to 12.5” in 2026. That also came with a velocity jump from 92.0 MPH to 95.0 MPH.

Based on those metrics, it certainly appears that Schlittler has morphed a mediocre cutter into a “plus-plus” offering. I agree with that on principle, but his 2025 data may be an example of how improperly identified pitches can muddy the aggregate metrics. That’s an important thing to consider when you look at pitch data from an analytical lens.

It was not a great opening weekend for the Omaha Storm Chasers, as they played on the road, against the Louisville Bats and were swept. The Bats are the AAA affiliate for the Cincinnati Reds.

The Storm Chasers lost a pair of one run games, 2-1 and 6-5 (in 10 innings), but were routed in the series finale 10-4. Some notable stats and numbers from some players that just missed out on cracking the Royals Opening Day roster are as follows:

• Josh Rojas- 4-12, 1 HR, 1 double, 3 runs scored and 4 runs batted in.
• Kameron Misner- 2-12, 3 runs batted in, 6 strikeouts.
• John Rave- 3-10, 1 run batted in, 5 walks, 2 stolen bases.
• Abraham Toro- 3-15, 1 run batted in, 7 strikeouts.

For the pitchers, Ryan Bergert was the Opening Day starter. He went 4.1 innings, gave up seven hits, two runs and struck out four.

Luinder Avila also got a start, despite fans clamoring for him to be a backend bullpen piece. The Royals want him stretched out to be a potential starter. In his start, he went 3 innings, gave up four hits, two runs, two walks, while striking out three.

Steven Cruz, who emerged as a key bullpen piece last season, before suffering an injury, got a save opportunity on Saturday, with a 5-3 lead. Unfortunately, the 26-year-old surrendered a game tying two-run homer to Christian Encarnacion-Strand. However, on a positive note, Cruz did strike out three batters in that inning.

The Storm Chasers are home Tuesday-Sunday for a six-game series against the Buffalo Bisons, the Blue Jays’ AAA affiliate.

In AA news, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals open their season Thursday, April 2 with a four-game road series, against the Wichita Wind Surge, the Twins’ AA affiliate. Dennis Colleran got a lot of hype from the Spring Training outings he had for Kansas City. He will be a name to keep an eye on. The 22-year-old quickly moved through the minors last season, working through Quad Cities and Columbia with dominating numbers. A 2.85 ERA over 66.1 innings, with an opposing batting average of .161, with 72 strikeouts and 34 walks.

Frank Mozzicato, the 7th overall pick in 2021, had a rough season for the Naturals last season, but the lefty is primed to bounce back and continue working his way up the ladder.

In High-A ball, the Quad Cities River Bandits open their season Friday at the South Bend Cubs, the Chicago Cubs High-A affiliate. Two top names to keep an eye on are right hander Drew Beam and catcher Blake Mitchell.

In Single-A, the Columbia Fireflies, open their season Thursday on the road against the Hickory Crawdads, the Rangers Single-A affiliate. Right-handed pitcher Kendry Chourio, who has received national hype as a prospect is the top Firefly to watch early on.

Rosters have not been set for other affiliates, but the Royals have made a few transactions. Drew Waters cleared waivers and was assigned to Omaha yesterday. The Royals released infielder Brennon McNair, outfielders Tyler Gentry and Milo Rushford, and pitchers Chandler Champlain, Jonathan Heasley, Yenfri Sosa, Fraynel Nova, Jesus Rios, Juan Martinez, and Mack Anglin. Infielder Javi Vaz, pitchers John Means, Tyson Guerrero, Anthony Simonelli, and Asa Lacy were placed on the 60-day IL. And third baseman Sam Ruta, a West Point graduate, was placed on military leave.

Baseball is just picking up for all the Royals affiliates, with everyone other than the Storm Chasers playing their first games this week. There will be more to cover and write about next week, but who might you want to learn about? Which team or prospect intrigues you the most? It should be a fun season for all the Royals affiliates and I’m excited to keep a close eye on them.

If you watched any of the Little League World Series in the late 2000s, you will recall the number of times you saw Chien-Ming Wang listed as a favorite player. The legend began 46 years ago today in Taiwan’s oldest city, long before he became a household name in New York or a symbol of pride across his home country.

Chien-Ming Wang
Born: March 31, 1980 (Tainan City, Taiwan)
Yankees Tenure: 2005-09

Wang’s path toward the major leagues started to take shape in 1999, when he helped lead Taiwan to a silver medal at the World Port Tournament. He posted a 1.59 ERA in the event, allowing just six hits and striking out six over 5.2 innings, a performance that caught the attention of MLB scouts. The Yankees saw enough to invest, signing him in May of 2000 for a reported $1.9 million bonus.

At the time he was not viewed as a future ace, and no one from Taiwan had ever made it to the majors. In fact, Wang was not considered one of the top amateur players in his own country at the time. What he became was gradually built one worm-burner after another. Shoulder surgery derailed Wang’s second season with the club, so he really jumpstarted his journey to the Bronx in 2002.

Wang worked his way methodically through the Yankees’ minor league system, refining the pitch that would ultimately define his career. With the help of Yankees instructors, he developed a heavy sinker that transformed him from a conventional pitcher into something far more unique. As Wang worked his way through the system, his identity was clear: He was not going to overpower hitters; he was going to overwhelm them with movement, forcing contact and turning at-bats into groundballs.

That identity carried him to the majors in 2005. And he did not arrive quietly.

Wang made his MLB debut on April 30, 2005, becoming just the third Taiwan-born player in MLB history after Dodgers bench outfielder Chin-Feng Chen and Rockies pitcher Chin-hui Tsao. He fired seven innings of two-run ball against the Devil Rays, grinding them down.

Indeed, Wang quickly proved he belonged, going 8–5 with a 4.02 ERA across 17 starts, recording a 1.246 WHIP, a 0.7 HR/9, and a 63.9-percent groundball rate — second in the majors among all pitchers with at least 100 innings to only the next year’s NL Cy Young Award winner, Brandon Webb. He gave the Yankees exactly what they needed in that moment, innings, stability, and a glimpse of something more.

Wang broke out in 2006, going 19–6 with a 3.63 ERA across 218 innings in 33 starts, tying for the Major League lead in wins and finishing second to Twins ace Johan Santana in AL Cy Young voting. He did it with just 76 strikeouts, relying instead on elite contact management. He led the Junior Circuit in groundball rate at 62.8 percent and allowed just 12 home runs all season (an MLB-best 0.5 HR/9), a reflection of how dominant his sinker truly was.

In a rotation that included Hall of Famers Mike Mussina and Randy Johnson (and big money Carl Pavano), Wang became the constant. The kid was not just part of the rotation; he was leading it.

And he backed it up in 2007.

Wang again won 19 games, going 19–7 with a 3.70 ERA, allowing just nine home runs all season, good for a 0.4 HR/9, and continuing to dominate with his sinker-heavy approach. Across those two seasons, he went a combined 38–13, establishing himself as one of the most reliable and valuable pitchers in baseball. It was just unfortunate that the Yankees were a dynasty in twilight and consigned to three consecutive ALDS losses, so the postseason resume was not there. It didn’t help that he looked worn down by the end of 2007, when Cleveland pummeled him twice in a four-game ALDS loss.

Nonetheless, Wang’s strategy for success was clear: he did not overpower hitters. He controlled them. And heading into 2008, it looked like more was coming.

Wang opened the 2008 campaign in dominant form, jumping out to an 8–2 record and once again anchoring the Yankees’ rotation. He became the fastest pitcher to reach 50 career wins in decades, doing so in just 85 starts, and looked every bit like a pitcher entering his prime.

It felt sustainable. It felt as repeatable as Wang’s smooth hands over head delivery. It felt like as long as the infield defense could remain steady behind him a legendary career was destined.

Then, during interleague play in Houston on June 15, 2008, everything changed. Fans of the era might want to avert their eyes:

Wang was allowed to reach base on an ineffective bunt that led to a force out, and he later scored on a Derek Jeter single. Immediately after crossing home plate, the Yankees’ ace hopped in pain, reached for Robinson Canó’s baggie jersey, and as his hand rested on his knee every fan held their breath. Ultimately, Wang needed help to get off the field.

The diagnosis was severe: Wang suffered a sprained Lisfranc ligament and a partial tear of a tendon in his right foot. This sparked a wave of calls for the universal designated hitter, but it would be more than a decade before that rule would be put into place. (Five years after this, Houston joined the American League and there never would’ve been a pitcher batting there anyway.)

What initially felt like a fluke injury became the turning point of Wang’s career. He missed the rest of the 2008 season began a long rehabilitation that altered his mechanics and eventually led to shoulder and arm issues.

Wang attempted to return in 2009, but the effects of the injury were immediate and difficult to overcome. Across 12 starts, he went 1–6 with a 9.64 ERA, as the command never fully returned and his sinker flattened out. The pitcher who had built his success on precision and movement suddenly could not replicate either. By the end of the season, the Yankees made the difficult decision to non-tender him, bringing his chapter in the organization to a close. The ace was gone as quickly as he had arrived. However, Wang went out with a ring—a teastament to all the hard work and quality innings he gave them in the years before ’09—and the organization has not secured one since.

What followed was not a clean ending, or a ride off into the sunset, but a long and difficult fight.

Wang’s comeback took years. After leaving the Yankees, he spent time with the Nationals, Blue Jays, and Royals, along with multiple minor league stops and extended rehab assignments. He returned to the majors in 2011 with Washington, again in 2013 with Toronto after starring for Taiwan in the World Baseball Classic, and later in 2016 with Kansas City, nearly eight years after the injury that changed everything.

Nearly a decade later, he was still chasing it. That persistence became the second half of his career. The documentary Late Life captures that stretch, showing a former ace grinding through the minors with uncertainty, driven by the belief that he still had something left.

It was not glamorous. But it mattered. Because he did make it back. And in doing so, he showed something just as meaningful as his peak. Who he was. Not just the ace, but the competitor who refused to walk away.

Today, Wang remains in the game as a coach, most recently working with the Taiwanese team in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, helping guide the next generation of pitchers from his home country.

That legacy is now formally recognized as well. In 2024, Wang was inducted into the Taiwan Baseball Hall of Fame, receiving over 90 percent of the vote in recognition of both his big-league success and his impact on the game in Taiwan. He remains the most accomplished Taiwanese player in MLB history.

For a time, Chien-Ming Wang was not just the Yankees’ ace. He was one of the most effective pitchers in baseball and the standard for a generation of Taiwanese players. Wang was also a homegrown product, And long after that ended, he showed what it meant to keep going.

Happy birthday, Chien-Ming Wang.

See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

MLB Rumors: Colt Emerson and the Seattle Mariners have agreed to terms on an 8 year, $95 million deal, per reports. This is the largest contract ever for a player under team control who has yet to play in the major leagues.

Emerson, a shortstop who doesn’t turn 21 until July, was the 22nd overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. He appeared in the back end of top 100 lists prior to the 2024 season after an impressive pro debut. He split the 2024 season between low-A and high-A, putting up a 867 OPS in low-A and a 648 OPS in high-A. That performance as a teenage shortstop made him a consensus top 25-30 prospect.

Emerson put up a .285/.383/.458 slash line in 2025, primarily in high-A, but with 34 games in AA and six games at AAA. He has started the 2026 season at AAA Tacoma, but with a long-term deal now in place, one would expect he will be in the majors in the very near future, likely displacing Leo Rivas at shortstop.

We have seen a spate of contract extension over the last week or so. The Chicago Cubs inked a 6 year, $115 million extension with Pete Crow-Armstrong as well as a 6 year, $141 million deal with Nico Hoerner. Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt, who, like Emerson, is in AAA currently and has yet to play in the majors, is reportedly on the verge of doing an 8 year, $50 million-plus extension.

The Boston Red Sox are seeking their second victory of the season as they take on the Houston Astros. Houston's Hunter Brown, who looked strong in his first start, will face Boston's Brayan Bello, who has an ERA of 3.35.

How to watch Boston Red Sox vs. Houston Astros

• Date: Tuesday, March 31

• Time: 8:10 p.m. ET / 5:10 p.m. PT

• Where: Daikin Park, Houston

• TV Channels: Space City Home Network, NESN

• Live Stream:ESPN+, MLB.TV | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Team records

• Boston Red Sox: 1-3 (No. 5 in AL East)

• Houston Astros: 3-2 (No. 2 in AL West)

Odds

• Spread: Houston Astros -1.5

• Moneyline: Houston Astros -150 / Boston Red Sox 125

• Over/Under: 7.5

Starting pitchers

Boston Red Sox: Brayan Bello (11-9, ERA: 3.35, K: 124, WHIP: 1.24)
Houston Astros: Hunter Brown (0-0, ERA: 0.00, K: 9, WHIP: 1.71)

Weather: 76°F at first pitch

Ballpark: Capacity: 41,000 | Roof: Retractable | Surface: Grass