Category: Baseball

For once, Shohei Ohtani’s left-handed swing wasn’t the smoothest thing at Dodger Stadium.

On Monday night, as Kirsten Watson was delivering a live shot from the Dodgers’ dugout just ahead of the team’s exhibition matchup with the Angels, she pulled off a slick move that had social media buzzing.

The Spectrum SportsNet reporter was breaking down Santiago Espinal’s positional versatility, when suddenly, a Dodgers staffer asked for a fist bump right in the middle of one of her sentences.

Spectrum SportsNet's Kirsten Watson with the no-look fist bump pic.twitter.com/ju4xRNdKZD

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 24, 2026

Without missing a beat, Watson casually dapped up the guy without looking, and went on with her analysis as if nothing had happened.

Quickly, X users clipped the video and praised her for the clean maneuver.

“That’s a championship reporter right there,” one wrote.

“Peripheral vision off the charts,” another added.

At least one of the X videos had nearly half a million views as of Tuesday morning.

It won’t be long until Dodgers fans can get another up-close look at Watson’s work — the reigning World Series champions play the Angels again on Spectrum SportsNet later Tuesday, before they officially open their regular season against the Diamondbacks on Thursday.

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On this episode of The Dodgers Post, Jack Harris and Dylan Hernández look ahead to the start of the regular season, and debate whether the Dodgers made the right Opening Day roster decisions.

They talk about the team’s most difficult roster choice, keeping Alex Freeland with the big-league club while sending Hyeseong Kim to the minors to begin the year. They also discuss Roki Sasaki’s challenging spring, and the pros and cons of starting him in the opening day rotation.

Later, the duo breaks down their expectations for Shohei Ohtani in 2026 as he returns to a full-time two-way role. And they make predictions about the upcoming season, revealing their expected Dodgers win totals and whether the team can complete a World Series three-peat.

All that and more, as the regular season finally arrives.

At Citi Field, there are the usual heavy hitters when it comes to food choices — not to mention on-field stars — but new additions make this year’s options a well-rounded food lineup with plenty of depth.

The food is just part of what goes into the decision-making for the partners the Mets bring in each season, as there are unique stories and backgrounds all across the diamond that they hope satisfy hungry fans.

This year will see a wide array of additions, such as 1986 World Series hero Mookie Wilson bringing his take on barbecue and Bronx-born chef Zina Bunch taking her brand of Puerto Rican empanadas to the major leagues.

“I think that those stories are really great, and that’s what I mean when literally everywhere you look in the ballpark, there’s a cool story, there’s a cool food item, and there’s just something amazing,” Jason Eksterowicz, Aramark senior executive chef for Citi Field, told The Post.

“When you look around here, and you talk to all of these different partners, it literally is like a food family that we’ve built here.”

The Mets are selling 37 new offerings for the 2026 season in partnership with 27 vendors. The Amazin’s may be looking for their first World Series crown in 40 years, but Citi Field’s culinary concoctions continue to be champs — now having won USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Award for best baseball stadium food for three straight years.

Ahead of the Mets’ home opener on Thursday, March 26, against the Pittsburgh Pirates, here are some of The Post’s favorite dishes for this season after sampling items at the team’s annual tasting event. 

Eat in the Cave

The Puerto Rican soul-food kitchen brings its delectable empanadas to Citi Field, with its veggie nadas being the star of the show. Described as a savory blend of rice, cilantro, sweet pumpkin, chickpeas and potato, they pair with the aptly named Cave sauce that bolsters the flavor of the dish.

Chef Bunch told The Post that the veggie nadas are one of the best-selling items for their New Jersey-based food truck, and the inclusion of the vegan-friendly option — the Cave sauce, however, is not — was because she “wanted to touch the crowd of vegans and vegetarians, and Citi Field thought it would be a great touch.”

Eat in the Cave will also offer beef and cheese nadas, and fans looking to try them can find the empanadas in the Hudson Whiskey NY or Clover Home Plate clubs.

Pig Beach BBQ

A fan favorite at Citi Field the past few seasons, this barbecue joint is throwing a change-up with a new menu item — loaded cornbread with decadent cheddar cheese sauce, BBQ sauce and, the pièce de résistance, pulled pork. The cornbread is moist and sweet and balances out nicely with the pork.

Because this isn’t exactly your garden-variety cornbread, Pig Beach founding partner and chef Shane McBride recommends to The Post that fans use a fork to enjoy this indulgent item, which he considers a main attraction and no mere side dish.

“The pulled pork just naturally goes with it — it’s just juicy, succulent,” McBride said. “There’s a little bit of sweet and sour from the vinegar sauce, and it pairs really well with the cornbread. It’s quick and easy … This is probably the fastest dish we’ve ever done here.”

Taqueria Ramirez

Brooklyn residents have become acutely aware of this Greenpoint eatery’s fresh tacos over the past few years, and now the world’s borough will experience some of that at the Coca-Cola Food Truck in Section 302 from opening day through July 12.

The stand will offer a nopales (cactus) taco, and with the depth of flavor, even carnivores will have a hard time turning up their noses.

Chef and co-owner Giovanni Cervantes is bringing his best fastball with this one because it definitely doesn’t lack heat. There’s a crunch and je ne sais quoi quality to the flavor profile that Cervantes believes foodies will crave.

“We always like to create a little bit of contrast with a little bit of fat, a little bit of acidity that we create with the salsas, a little bit of spiciness that comes with that as well,” Cervantes, who hails from Mexico City, told The Post. “But I feel, particularly, this taco is really rich in textures you don’t expect.”

Legacy Catering by Mookie Wilson and family

During his playing days, Wilson used to cook up pork chops and yams for himself and some of his teammates. Now, the Mets legend is showing off his culinary skills for everyone.

The smoked pulled-chicken sliders — available at the Hudson Whiskey NY Club — feature a classic golden BBQ sauce, bread and butter pickles on a Martin’s slider bun. One could argue that the sandwich is as enjoyable as watching Wilson hit a groundball through a certain first baseman’s legs.

Wilson enjoys the idea that his food will help people see the many layers that baseball players have.

“I think that it kind of opened people’s eyes a little bit,” he told The Post. “There’s another side to many, many ball players.”

Willets Point Brewery

The 9-9-9 challenge — nine beers and nine hot dogs over nine innings — has taken over a subset of baseball culture over the past few years, and Citi Field is now offering fans a more formal way to do it, albeit in a scaled-down variation. Chowhounds can pig out on nine mini Nathan’s hot dogs that come with nine 4-ounce beers (either Coors Light or Heineken).

But Willets Point is also selling a backyard BBQ burger that is loaded with two 4-ounce Pat LaFrieda patties, New York cheddar, BBQ pulled pork, onion rings, whiskey BBQ sauce, shredded lettuce and pickles on a brioche bun.

This was one of The Post’s new favorite bites, so if you’re looking for an elevated burger, this should be a go-to.

The rest

If any of those items don’t catch your fancy, there are plenty of other options when you’re at the ballpark.

The Queensboro — an eatery from Jackson Heights — will have a kimchi reuben at the Taste of Queens from March 26 to July 12, while former “Man v. Food” host Adam Richman’s Burger Hall of Fame will now offer a caprese burger at its stand. Amazin’ Deli added a chopped Italian sausage sandwich that’s a new spin on a ballpark staple.

Those looking for a sweet treat have a few choices, with Long Island-based Hildebrandt Ice Cream bringing a Mets-inspired Blue & Orange Skies flavor, along with Pat LaFrieda’s Chop House adding an apple pie cheesecake that bears a striking resemblance to the ballpark’s iconic home run apple.

The Mets announced that they will be wearing a memorial patch on their jersey sleeves during the 2026 season, honoring former manager Davey Johnson. 

Here's a look (click on the tweet below to see the uncropped image):

The Mets will wear a "Davey" patch on their jerseys this year to honor the late Davey Johnson pic.twitter.com/XEN9OkdSF1

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) March 24, 2026

Johnson died this past September at the age of 82.

The winningest manager in Mets history (595-417), Johnson was at the helm for the Mets from 1984 to 1990, leading the 1986 team to a World Series win over the Boston Red Sox. 

He had a winning record in all six of his full seasons (including five straight 90-win seasons), with the team moving on from him after a 20-22 start to the 1990 season.

Johnson was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame in 2010.

A week after the All-Star Break in 2005, the Houston Astros were swept in St. Louis. The loss dropped them two under .500 and for all intents and purposes, left them dead in the water. Some fourteen weeks later, they’d shock the baseball world, appearing in their first World Series.     

Tim Purpura was at the helm as GM and sat down for an extensive interview with The Crawfish Boxes.     

Andy & Roger in 2005. What did they bring to the clubhouse each day?     

They brought legitimacy to Houston baseball.   They were great teammates, and set the standard in different ways.  As you know, we signed Andy first to help us win games in the post-season. 

But we hoped he would also help us develop some of our good young pitchers (Oswalt, Lidge, etc.)  He was the guy to who was teaching the young pitchers mound presence, hyped up their competitiveness, etc.   It seemed like whenever I saw Andy in the clubhouse or dugout, he always had a young pitcher by his side.

Roger brought a competitiveness that we never had in recent times. Roger was also ultimately prepared.  During spring training in 2005, the head groundskeeper came running into my office from the pouring rain to tell me that the crew couldn’t get Roger off one of the mounds.  Afraid that he might get hurt, I ran down there to talk to him.  When I got outside (in the rain) I asked him if he could bring it inside and finish his bullpen on an indoor mound. After I made my request he said, “but Boss, when else am I going to be able to practice throwing from the mound in the rain.”

When he first came on board, on Opening Day, he had hundreds of Under Armor fleece sweatshirts with his personal logo and his number 22 embroidered.  He had the clubhouse team distribute them not only to the players, but every single full-time employee at Minute Maid Park. He’s a very thoughtful person.

How tough is it to deal away aging vets and stars when the organization and fans have such an attachment?  The Astros recently have endured that with the Tucker, Bregman departures.   

Unfortunately, we didn’t do a good job doing that.  Our fans, our owner, etc. put a great deal of pressure on us to stay the course, particularly after the World Series in 05.

I believe that the budgets for free agents, player development, and scouting as well as foreign signings and operations must be robust enough to be able to create the next star players to satisfy.

Have you ever seen anything like Ohtani? 

Generational talent. In a word: No. 

The ones that are high on the list for me are Barry Bonds, Nolan Ryan, and. Roger Clemens. I still cannot believe that Nolan never won a Cy Young Award, let alone multiple awards.  Nolan started the movement towards weight training which was the match that set Major League teams starting strength and conditioning  programs. 

As for Ohtani,  I would pay to see him. When he came into the League with the Angels, my daughter and I would always try the see him in Arlington, when the club was in town.  He can do it all and has already.   

What’s a typical day life now for you?

Busy…for the recent year or so I have been developing a negotiation, mediation and arbitration practice. 

Purpura Mediation | Sports & Business Mediation & Arbitration  Think NIL issues.     

Even though Purpura’s tenure as GM was brief, his impact was historic, delivering the first pennant in franchise history.      

Ask Jerry Dipoto in Seattle or A.J. Preller in San Diego if they wouldn’t change places.    In combination, they’ve been working as GM’s for a combined twenty five years and are still chasing a Series appearance.   

LOS ANGELES — Spring training was a disaster for Roki Sasaki, but the Dodgers are showing incredible faith in the phenom to find some semblance of command once the games count for real.

In three of his four Cactus League starts, Sasaki was removed in the middle of an inning that got away from him, earlier than his originally planned length, then re-entered the game to open the next inning, which is allowed during spring training. Prior to Monday night’s start at Dodger Stadium against the Angels, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts talked about expectations for Sasaki, who will start the Dodgers’ fourth game of the season, next Monday against the Cleveland Guardians at home.

“Tonight we need to see him in compete mode. There’s a time to work on your mechanics, and a time to go out and compete,” Roberts said. “Once the game starts, it’s about getting hitters out, because this is his last tuneup for the fourth game of the regular season. And he’s got to be ready to go.

“You’re not always going to feel perfect, physically, mentally, emotionally, whatever it is. But certainly for a starting pitcher, when it’s your day, you still got to find a way to take down a good amount of outs.”

Sasaki had his worst command to date against the Angels, and was removed five batters into the first inning with no outs. In fairness, one of those was a groundball that should have been an out, but Miguel Rojas threw errantly to second base. And it didn’t get much better once Sasaki resumed pitching in the second inning.

The only target Sasaki consistently hit on Monday was Angels shortstop Zach Neto, clipped on the right elbow on a 3-0 pitch the first inning and plunked by an errant 0-2 splitter in the second. Sasaki walked six Angels and struck out two.

“The results weren’t good today,” Sasaki said through his interpreter. “My mechanics were a little off, but I’ll keep improving.”

His spring training stats are gruesome. Sasaki threw more balls (110) than strikes (108), and half of his batters faced reached base by hit (nine), walk (15), or hit by pitch (two). All that to complete 8 2/3 innings, during which he allowed 15 runs.

Sasaki this spring has been trying to add a new pitch to his repertoire, classified as a cutter at Baseball Savant. But he mostly scrapped the pitch on Monday, throwing the cutter only six times in his 66 pitches, and still had a devil of a time against the Angels with mostly his fastball and splitter.

Roberts after the game reiterated that Sasaki would start Monday against Cleveland, and will be in the rotation to open the season.

“He’s got to go out there and attack hitters. It’s just one of those things that it’s tough to pitch when you’re working behind in counts, running deep counts, and getting your pitch count up there,” Roberts said. “If it’s mechanical, if it’s mental, if it’s emotional, all that we’ve got to sift through and find some clarity when he takes the mound. Because at the end of the day, he’s got to get outs.

“We’re still trying to learn and get better, and acclimate. I believe in him, I really do. I told him that in the dugout. For me, I’m going to keep pouring into him like our staff is, and expect it to get better.”

The Dodgers made a long-term investment into Sasaki, the most coveted pitcher in baseball last offseason who is still only 24 years old. Ideally he’s going to be around for at least five more years, and they are calculating that it’s worth a little short-term rough patch now, dealing with these growing pains to potentially reap a considerable payoff in the long run.

Left unspoken is that the Dodgers’ competition in the National League West is not as robust in 2026 as it has been in recent seasons, and it would probably take a disaster for them to not win the division. They’re willing to see it through with Sasaki, even if the early cost is being behind in his starts.

We’ll see how long that rope lasts, however. It’s one thing to struggle in games that don’t count. Going forward, the stakes are real, and the Dodgers are hoping Sasaki will finally turn a corner.

“We’re going to run him out there. I don’t think that for me, to put my head in a space that there’s another alternative right now, that’s not helpful. I don’t think so,” Roberts said. “I think that we’re gonna support him as much as we can, and then give him some runway, and then, once the season starts, then you gotta it’s about production.”

Well it’s here: the last game of Spring Training, as the Braves open their regular season on Friday in Atlanta against Kansas City. Grant Holmes gets his final spring tune-up, wrapping up what has been a strong and healthy spring for Grant. There was much concern about his health, given that he was shut down for a partial UCL tear last season and opted for the rest and rehab route for recover that has yielded mixed results in the past across baseball. He has not only been healthy, but has yet to allow a run and has struck out a bunch of batters this spring.

The Braves will be rolling with what could easily be an Opening Day lineup, as Ronald Acuna leads off, followed by Drake Baldwin and Matt Olson.

Last game of spring! 🌞 pic.twitter.com/SeD59JLVSR

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) March 24, 2026

That Braves lineup will face Ryan Pepiot, a solid #4-quality starter for the Rays. The Rays are also running out a number of MLB regulars in their lineup, so this game should resemble major league level competition for most of the game.

Spring send-off pic.twitter.com/MriyY3tuzS

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) March 24, 2026

Join us and discuss the game in the comments below!

Game Notes

Time: 12:05 EDT

TV: ATL Video, MLBTV

Radio: ESPN 103.7/WIFN 1340

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Parlays and same-game parlays in particular are more popular than ever among sports bettors, and with so many baseball games to wager on every single day in a season that stretches from March to October, the MLB and parlays are a perfect pairing.

Combining multiple baseball bets together means a bigger profit, but with that comes a bigger risk. If you are new to baseball betting and making MLB picks, we help you learn how to wager on baseball parlays the smart way. 

What is a baseball parlay bet?

A baseball parlay bet ties two or more wagers together and places one single stake for an increased payout. The more bets added to the parlay, the larger the potential profit. However, all the selections (called legs) included in the parlay must be correct for the overall parlay to win. Even if three of the four bets included in the parlay win and one loses, the entire parlay is a loss.

Parlays promise larger payouts due to the high risk involved. The more bets added to the baseball parlay, the greater the risk. Because of all those variables, parlays have a much lower win probability than single baseball bets.

While they are a fun way to wager, they are not a sustainable long-term betting strategy due to their high risk/low probability.

Baseball same-game parlays

Baseball same-game parlays have become increasingly popular recently, with sportsbooks offering parlays on odds markets from a single game. 

The example below is a three-leg, same-game parlay from a matchup between the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays. The parlay includes a bet on the Yankees moneyline (to win outright) at +120 odds, a bet on the Under 7.5 runs at -110 odds, and a player prop on Kevin Gausman to record Over 17.5 outs at -145 odds.

Tying all three bets together in a baseball same-game parlay increases the odds to +610. A $100 stake on this parlay would payout $710 ($610 in winnings + $100 original stake). All three bets must be correct for the parlay to win.

Baseball multi-game parlays

Baseball multi-game parlays are the most common method of wagering on parlays, tying together bets from different MLB games.

The example below is a two-game baseball parlay, including a bet on the Yankees moneyline at +120 and the Los Angeles Dodgers moneyline at -135.

By themselves as single bets, these bets would return $220 and $174, respectively, on $100 stakes ($394 total return on $200 in stakes), but the result of one does not impact the other (one could lose and the other could win and pay out). 

As a multi-game baseball parlay, however, combining the two bets into one parlay generates odds of +282, and a single $100 stake can return $382 ($282 in winnings + $100 original stake).

MLB parlay betting tips

Baseball parlay betting is a great way to break up a long season and also capitalize on what you see as your best bets for that day’s games. Here are some MLB parlay betting tips to follow all season long: 

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.

The 2026 Major League Baseball season will reportedly begin tomorrow, March 25th, when the San Francisco Giants take on the New York Yankees in the hallowed grounds of the Bronx. (We all know the season doesn’t really begin until the next day when the Cincinnati Reds play host to the Boston Red Sox at Great American Ball Park, but we’ll let that slide for the time being.)

That means we’re about to engage upon six-plus months of some serious baseball, and we’re going to see plenty of remarkable things along the way. Some will be predictable – Jose Ramirez, per usual – and some will come completely out of nowhere. There will be amazing plays, incredible streaks, and plenty of dumbness for all to enjoy.

With the looming 162 game grind in mind, here are Five Dumb Predictions for the 2026 MLB season.

Shohei Ohtani wins the NL Cy Young Award

It’s going to happen, right?

The greatest baseball talent the world has ever seen has done pretty much every single thing ever already, and the rewards for such prowess have stacked up, too. He’s been a Rookie of the Year. He’s been named MVP four times (including in both leagues). He’s been an All Star five times, a World Series winner twice, the NLCS MVP. He’s led the league in homers (twice), triples once, arby-eyes once, and even swiped 59 bags in a single season (while only being thrown out four times).

He’s done it all offensively, enough to make his 16.1 career bWAR from the mound seem almost an afterthought. Perhaps that’s because so much of what he’s done offensively came as he recovered from Tommy John surgery, something that sounds as ridiculous as it is. All he’s done on the mound lately is pitch to an absurd 6.89 K/BB, 2.87 ERA, and 1.90 FIP in 47.0 IP in 2025 after not pitching at all in 2024, but you don’t have to go too far back to see his 4th place finish in the 2022 AL Cy Young Award, either.

I think the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar is going to look around and realize that his club needs him this year, more than ever, as their ace, and in typical Ohtani fashion I think he rises to that occasion. Yeah, he’s still going to hit the crap out of the ball, but maybe he just won’t run and slide so much. On the bump, though, I see a return to a more full season of work, and topping 150 IP with scintillating peripherals will win him the award that will truly cement his legacy as the greatest overall player of all time.

Ronald Acuña wins his 2nd NL MVP

Acuña’s 2023 win of the award came as he led all of Major League Baseball in hits (217), steals (73), OBP (.416), and total bases (383), the superstar ripping off an absurd .337/.416/.596 line in 159 games. He swatted 41 homers to fabricate the 40/70 club, but a torn ACL set him back significantly the very next year.

In 2025, we saw the Acuña at the plate we’re accustomed to seeing, as he hit .290/.417/.518 when healthy, though he didn’t stay perfectly healthy all year (and barely ran when he did). In 2026, though, I think we get the full package back once again, and that’s going to be electric enough for him to claim this award for the second time.

It may seem like he’s been around forever already, but he just turned 28 years old in December. He’s almost two weeks younger than Spencer Steer, for reference. Yeah, there’s an infinite amount left in his tank, and he’s going to show it again in 2026.

Wyatt Langford leads the AL in dingers

Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford is going to finish the 2026 season with more dingers than anyone else in the American League. Not Aaron Judge, not Cal Raleigh, Wyatt Langford – the 24 year old with 38 career homers under his belt.

Big time breakout year for this guy incoming. I’m going to say he ends up with 46, and that does the trick.

Buy, buy, buy while you can!

5+ WAR season, 35+ homers for Seattle’s Randy Arozarena

Contract years are incredible catalysts in a sport that hands out quarter-billion dollar contracts like hotcakes. So, when a player who’s shown consistent ability to be among the league’s elite at multiple skills reaches one, it’s hard not to think there’s going to be an effort to align the stars into a career year.

That’s not to imply that Arozarena has done anything other than give his absolute best throughout his rock solid career to-date. It’s just an acknowledgement that players, particularly when they reach their age-31 season at the very same time, surely know when they’ve got a platform year in front of them (see: Kyle Schwarber last year).

Randy’s got a chance to jump to the top of the free agent class with a year like that in 2026, and I think he will rise to the occasion because of it. He’ll top the 27 dingers that sits as his career high to date (established just last season), and another 30+ steal season with perhaps some better defense would vault him firmly into 5+ WAR territory.

I think he does it!

The Boston Red Sox win the 2026 World Series

Reds fans are going to get the first taste of just how filthy Garrett Crochet is going to be this season when he takes the mound in GABP on Thursday for Opening Day. Boston’s resident ace is poised to show his first season in Boston – a brilliant one in 2025 after coming over from the White Sox – was just the tip of the iceberg, and I think he leads a revamped pitching staff to the upper echelon of the league.

With the bats, though, it’s Roman Anthony who takes a giant step forward in 2026, and I think the Willson Contreras addition has gone completely under the radar – he’s going to beat the crap out of the green monster all year long. It’s a lineup that’s deep and versatile, and I think it’s on the cusp of taking completely off.

Not to mention that it just seems very Red Socky for them to jump up and seize a title in a year where the Dodgers and Yankees sit atop most every projection system – that’s just their style.

After a 3-1 record last week and a series win over Kentucky, Ole Miss hopped back into the nation’s top 25 just in time for a road trip to Memphis in the midweek.

The No. 18 Rebels (19-6, 3-3 SEC) will faceoff with the Tigers (6-16, 1-2 AAC) at FedEx Park with a first pitch set for 6 p.m. CT. Ole Miss defeated Memphis a few weeks ago in Oxford in a 7-1 final.

Things did not get easier for the Tigers after that loss with the program piling up losses in non-conference and conference play this season. The Rebels meanwhile have been surging of late and need to get past the Tigers tonight to focus in on the massive in-state series with Mississippi State in Oxford this weekend.

PROJECTED PITCHING MATCHUP

• Ole Miss: RHP Owen Kelly (1-0, 3.68 ERA)
• Memphis: LHP Logan Rushing (0-1, 7.71 ERA)

Owen Kelly will start on the mound for Ole Miss after a nice outing last week against Austin Peay where he went 2 IP with no earned runs. Kelly pitched against Memphis in the aforementioned game going 4 IP with one earned run and five strikeouts in his longest outing of the year.

Memphis will counter with lefty senior Logan Rushing whose last outing was against Eastern Illinois going 1.1 IP with no earned runs in a loss. Rushing has not had an appearance longer than two innings this season or topped 50 pitches in action.

The Rebels on paper should win this game every time, but anyone who knows this rivalry knows the Memphis squad is made up of local travel ball players who know plenty about the Ole Miss lineup and its tendencies. The 7-1 final from a few weeks back will either serve as a chip on their shoulder or a nightmare it can’t awake from when the first pitch flies at 6 p.m. tonight.

The game will be livestream on ESPN+ and the ESPN app.

The next step in profiling Seattle’s shot at defending their AL West throne, and a potential American League pennant bid, comes on the other side of the ball. Seattle’s pitching staff has the easiest task in the sport, in the sense that their hitters face the toughest task. T-Mobile Park, with its predictable dimensions, chilly climate, and SABR-worthy peculiarities in eye of the batting beholder, is a welcoming place for hurlers. But make no mistake, this projects as a worthy group in their own right, as Seattle is joined by only the Dodgers and Blue Jays to have both hitters and pitchers projected in the top-7 of the sport by FanGraphs wins above replacement.

Anchors (complimentary) of the 2021-2024 Seattle Mariners, in 2025 the starting rotation was at times an anchor (derogatory) to the club’s efforts. While a 3.97/4.02/4.03 ERA/FIP/xERA is no great catastrophe as a starting staff, plenty of the club’s numbers fell short of the standard set by this group. A drop of over 60 innings pitched was most damning, with all but Luis Castillo missing time with injury at one point or another among the top five arms from 2024. Bryce Miller will almost certainly open the season on the injured list, and Logan Evans is sidelined with Tommy John to chip into the depth further.

I’ll skip the panic brake pumping and slam the pedal down here, however. Seattle’s rotation is a huge strength, and is poised for a better showing than a season ago to pair with the improved lineup. Bryan Woo’s breakout was a blessing for the M’s, not only for his excellence but an astounding rate of efficiency. The buttery righty is poised to glide through bats once more in his age 26 campaign, even if he’ll likely face a bit more batted ball fortune on occasion than his lifetime .246 BABIP to this point in nearly 400 innings… right? While George Kirby sought to diversify his targets somewhat, Woo relentlessly pounded the zone at a rate surpassing his famously walk-thrifty teammate. Kirby’s biggest question mark is largely superficial: what impact does his lower arm slot have? The righty seems intent on working the edges more, forcing hitters into disadvantageous swings instead of relentlessly pounding the zone. This is a pathway to more strikeouts and, hopefully, better performance away from T-Mobile Park for Kirby in particular, but it’s likely we’ll see an uptick in free passes, albeit hopefully worth the added K’s.

Castillo and Gilbert have the least to alter headed into 2026. For The Rock, it’s mostly a battle against time and a workload that is an outlier in this era. No longer needed to be the ace, Castillo is a lynchpin for Seattle’s efforts all the same, as his capacity to deliver six quality innings every fifth game eases the burden on the bullpen and is a luxury few clubs can boast. Gilbert, despite a halting campaign at times a season ago, is pursuing the same goal as Kirby from the opposite end. Despite great velocity, Gilbert’s four-seam fastball is a get-ahead offering but not a strikeout one. His splitter took over the slack for the deterioration of his slider, seemingly a side effect of his injury issues in 2026. Now sporting the slider and a refreshed cutter, Gilbert’s target is the 200 inning mark he eclipsed in 2024.

The depth will receive some greater shine tomorrow, but suffice to say Emerson Hancock cannot be given much chance in the bullpen as he was late in 2025. While the Georgia righty saw some promise there in short stints, if the M’s hope to avoid the return of the likes of Luis F. Castillo, they’ll hope Hancock can fill in most ably. He is, particularly at home, a fine option in a pinch. Too much, however, and the bullpen could be strained.

That bullpen’s capacity for strain will look familiar at the season’s outset, although more hale than this time a year ago. The back five of the ‘pen introduce southpaw Jose A. Ferrer, the return in the Harry Ford deal with the Nationals whose knack for groundballs will be a test for a Mariners infield that’s not prioritized defensive prowess in its construction. Still, joined by Speier, Bazardo, Brash, and Muñoz, the M’s can boast one of the better pathways from the 6th-9th in MLB. Likely, Seattle hopes to get to bounce back and forth on days between their five most potent arms, keeping 2-3 fresh per night as often as possible. 

The presumed final three also serve that purpose in the inverse. Carlos Vargas, Casey Legumina, and Cooper Criswell all lack minor league options, hence their inclusion on this list, but only Criswell seems assured his role given his capacity for long relief and strong showing this spring.

Vargas and Legumina have been given ample opportunities in Seattle but have found mixed results, leaving hard-throwing righties Cole Wilcox and Yosver Zulueta windows to crack the club. Both hurlers, as well as the M’s bevy of 40-man relievers, have minor league options remaining, leaving them likeliest to begin the season in Triple-A Tacoma as a tiebreaker.

For Seattle to repeat as AL West champions, the pitching staff will need to improve upon a season ago. The most straightforward path is greater durability and performance from the rotation, easing the load on arms like Bazardo whose workload was, particularly by the end of the playoffs, Herculean. The M’s are positioned to be among the best in baseball on both sides of the ball. That’s what good teams do, and your Seattle Mariners are a good team.

Baseball history is full of great players. It is also full of players whose stories become intertwined with legends so large that they never quite stand on their own.

Ernie Shore just happens to be one of those players.

The former Yankee celebrates his birthday today, and while his career deserves recognition on its own, it is nearly impossible to tell his story without telling it alongside the one and only Babe Ruth. At almost every turn of Shore’s baseball life, Ruth was there.

Ernest Grady Shore
Born: March 24, 1891 (East Bend, NC)
Died: September 24, 1980 (Winston-Salem, NC)
Yankees Tenure: 1919-20

Shore’s journey to the major leagues began far from the spotlight that would eventually follow him. Born in North Carolina in 1891, he developed a country-strong frame on his family’s farm and an arm that caught the attention of professional scouts early. He graduated from Guilford College in 1914 and even returned during the offseason to serve as a math professor, but his professional path had already begun to take shape before that.

In 1912, the New York Giants brought Shore in on trial, a reminder of just how different the game looked at the time. Shore made his professional debut on June 20 as a reliever, but when the Giants attempted to option him, he refused and returned to college. He was later required to pay a fine to be reinstated before continuing his professional career.

Like many players of his era, his path back to the majors ran through the minor leagues, where he refined his command and established himself as a dependable arm rather than a headline-grabbing prospect. That reliability made him valuable. By the time he reached the Baltimore Orioles of the International League, Shore had developed into one of the more promising pitchers in high-level minor league baseball. Baltimore was one of the premier pipelines to the majors, and it just so happened that another young player was coming through that same system.

George Herman Ruth.

In 1914, both Shore and Ruth were part of the deal that sent them from a financially struggling Baltimore franchise to the Boston Red Sox. It was the first time their careers crossed, and it would not be the last. The two even roomed together early in their Boston days, until Shore reportedly requested a different roommate due to their vastly different lifestyles and habits.

In Boston, Shore quickly proved he belonged. While Ruth was still being used primarily as a pitcher, Shore emerged as one of the most reliable arms on a loaded Red Sox staff. From 1914 through 1917, he compiled a 58–33 record with a 2.12 ERA and played a key role in helping Boston capture World Series titles in 1915 and 1916. He was not flashy, but he was effective, the kind of pitcher teams relied on to win games consistently.

Ruth, meanwhile, was becoming something else entirely. Even then, the contrast was clear. Shore was steady and dependable. Ruth was becoming a phenomenon. Much like their personalities, they were two very different types of players.

That contrast reached its peak on June 23, 1917, in one of the strangest and most famous games in baseball history. Ruth started that day and immediately walked the first batter. What followed felt more like chaos than competition. After arguing the strike zone, Ruth was ejected and, in a moment that only adds to the legend, reportedly punched the umpire on his way out.

Shore entered the game in relief, despite having pitched just a few days earlier. The runner Ruth had allowed on base was caught stealing, and from that moment on, Shore was perfect. He retired the next 26 batters in order, recording 27 consecutive outs without allowing another baserunner.

For years, the game was considered a perfect game. Today, it is officially recognized as the first combined no-hitter in Major League Baseball history, credited to both Ruth and Shore, further cementing their connection in baseball history.

But that designation has always felt a little incomplete. Shore did everything a pitcher could possibly do. He faced 26 batters and retired all 26. His performance alone met every standard of perfection. The only thing separating him from a perfect game was the fact that Babe Ruth had already walked a batter.

In a single afternoon, Shore’s greatest achievement became inseparable from Ruth’s most chaotic moment. That was not a one-time occurrence. It was the pattern of his career.

Shore continued to pitch effectively for Boston, but his career was soon interrupted by military service during World War I. He missed the 1918 season, and when he returned, he was not quite the same pitcher. The timing was significant. As Shore worked his way back, Ruth was transforming into the most dominant offensive player the game had ever seen.

Once again, their paths crossed. Shore was eventually traded to the Yankees, reuniting him with Ruth in New York just as Ruth’s legend was exploding. This time, however, they were no longer peers on parallel tracks. Ruth was becoming the face of baseball. Shore was nearing the end of his career.

He appeared in parts of the 1919 and 1920 seasons with the Yankees, contributing as a veteran arm on a roster that was beginning to take shape around Ruth’s larger-than-life presence. Even in New York, their connection extended beyond the field.

One story that has followed Shore through history involves an incident during a Yankees exhibition game, when Ruth went into the stands to confront a heckler. Accounts vary, as they often do with stories involving Ruth, but the situation reportedly escalated to the point where the fan pulled a knife. Shore was among those who intervened, helping to defuse the situation and potentially prevent serious harm. For Shore, it was just another instance of helping the hot-headed Ruth out of a jam.

In a career filled with moments tied to Ruth, even that story fits. On the field, Shore once followed Ruth and delivered perfection. Off the field, he may have helped protect him.

Shore’s major league career came to an end shortly thereafter, finishing with a 65–43 record and a 2.47 ERA across seven seasons. Those numbers reflect a pitcher who was far more than a footnote. He was a key contributor to championship teams, a reliable starter, and a player capable of one of the most remarkable pitching performances the game has ever seen.

After baseball, Shore returned to North Carolina, where he lived a far different kind of life. He served as a sheriff for many years, becoming a respected figure in his community. In contrast to Ruth’s life of fame and spectacle, Shore’s post-baseball years were defined by stability, service, and a quieter form of impact.

It is a fitting contrast. Because while Babe Ruth became one of the most famous athletes in history, Ernie Shore remained something else entirely: a great pitcher whose legacy is forever intertwined with the biggest name the game has ever known.

Some players are remembered for what they did. Others are remembered for who they did it alongside. Ernie Shore will always be both.

Happy birthday, Ernie.

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