Diamondbacks vs Dodgers Prediction, Odds & Home Run Pick for Tonight's MLB Game

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The Los Angeles Dodgers aim for a season-opening three-game sweep of their NL West counterpart, the Arizona Diamondbacks, in the series finale on Saturday night. 

Eduardo Rodriguez is slated to start for the visitors, and my Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers predictions and MLB picks foresee him doing his part in avoiding the sweep on Saturday, March 28.

Diamondbacks vs Dodgers predictions

Diamondbacks vs Dodgers best bet: Eduardo Rodriguez Over 3.5 strikeouts (+124)

After dropping the first two games of the series, the Arizona Diamondbacks could use a strong outing from Eduardo Rodriguez on Saturday. 

The veteran southpaw isn’t known for his punchout prowess, but he’s had strikeout success against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Across a sample size of 131 at-bats vs. L.A.’s projected hitters, he’s racked up a respectable 26% K-rate.

Rodriguez tossed 4+ strikeouts in 20 of his 29 starts last year, and was in fine form during the World Baseball Classic, throwing four scoreless against Team USA. Expect a successful start to the season for him.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Arizona didn’t get much length from either Zac Gallen or Ryne Nelson, so Rodriguez may have a slightly longer leash than normal.

Diamondbacks vs Dodgers same-game parlay (SGP)

How about a pitcher’s delight? 

Tyler Glasnow may be primed for a career year — if he can finally stay healthy — and looked dominant in his last outing, striking out 11 Angels in an exhibition start. 

The towering righty has maintained a K rate above 29% each of the last eight seasons and gets a favorable matchup against an Arizona lineup that has failed to launch, posting a 77 wRC+ and 29.4% K rate in games one and two.

L.A. has its best bullpen in years, which will lead to more low-scoring games in 2026 now that it provides an adequate pairing with the strong rotation.

Diamondbacks vs Dodgers SGP

  • Eduardo Rodriguez Over 3.5 strikeouts
  • Tyler Glasnow Over 6.5 strikeouts
  • Dodgers moneyline

Diamondbacks vs Dodgers home run pick: Teoscar Hernandez (+400)

Teoscar Hernandez has been quiet to start the year. That could change in game three, given that he’s had success against Rodriguez in the past, batting 10-for-26 with three home runs and a 1.293 OPS.

The outfielder is posting strong underlying numbers early (.348 xBA and a 74th percentile bat speed). He’s mashed lefties in his career (136 wRC+), which will play against Rodriguez, who surrendered 1.57 HR/9 to right-handed bats in 2025.

2026 Transparency record
  • Best bets: 1-0, +1.45 units
  • SGPs: 1-0, +3.26 units 
  • HR picks: 0-1, -1 units

Diamondbacks vs Dodgers odds

  • Moneyline: Arizona +200 | Los Angeles -240
  • Run line: Arizona +1.5 | Los Angeles -1.5
  • Over/Under: Over 9 | Under 9

Diamondbacks vs Dodgers trend

Eduardo Rodriguez has gone Over 3.5 strikeouts in 23 of his last 33 outings. Find more MLB betting trends for Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers.

How to watch Diamondbacks vs Dodgers and game info

LocationDodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
DateSaturday, March 28, 2026
First pitch9:10 p.m. ET
TVDbacks TV, SportsNet LA
Diamondbacks starting pitcherEduardo Rodriguez
(2025: 9-9, 5.02 ERA)
Dodgers starting pitcherTyler Glasnow
(2025: 4-3, 3.19 ERA)

Diamondbacks vs Dodgers latest injuries

Diamondbacks vs Dodgers weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Game 2 Game Day Thread – Texas Rangers @ Philadelphia Phillies

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 26: A general view of Citizens Bank Park during the national anthem on Opening Day between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Texas Rangers at Citizens Bank Park on March 26, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Texas Rangers @ Philadelphia Phillies

Saturday, March 28, 2026, 3:05 PM CDT (105.3 The Fan / RSN, Victory+)

Citizens Bank Park

LHP Jacob Latz vs. RHP Aaron Nola

Today’s Lineups

RANGERSPHILLIES
Brandon Nimmo – RFTrea Turner – SS
Wyatt Langford – LFKyle Schwarber – DH
Corey Seager – SSBryce Harper – 1B
Jake Burger – 1BAlec Bohm – 3B
Joc Pederson – DHBryson Stott – 2B
Josh Smith – 2BAdolis Garcia – RF
Josh Jung – 3BBrandon Marsh – LF
Evan Carter – CFJ.T. Realmuto – C
Danny Jansen – CJustin Crawford – CF
Jacob Latz – LHPAaron Nola – RHP

Go Rangers!

San Diego hopes to stave off Opening Series sweep

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Michael King #34 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning at Petco Park on March 27, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

San Diego Padres fans had the wool pulled over their eyes last night by the Detroit Tigers as the Friars lost their thin 2-1 lead late into the night.

The Friar Faithful believed they were close to the first win of the season and tasted victory before an eighth-inning Tigers rally snatched it away.

Michael King looked vintage, pitching five scoreless innings of one-hit ball (in large part to Jackson Merrill’s miraculous home run robbery).

Beyond that, the Padres got to Detroit starter Framber Valdez just enough to give a cushion typically good enough for the bullpen to keep. But Jeremiah Estrada’s eighth-inning meltdown forfeited San Diego’s chances.

Today, the Padres hope to hold off the Tigers from sweeping them this Opening Week. The Friars need to get their first win out of the way. Until they do, it’ll be hard to feel good about any minor success the club has without the wins to back it up.

Taking the mound

Jack Flaherty (DET) v. Randy Vásquez (SD)

With Flaherty hoping to rebound from a rough 2025 before he goes into free agency at the end of this year, the onus will be on him against Vásquez.

After having a career-year in ‘25, Vásquez is looking to build on his resumé for San Diego. He will get a chance to do that today after having a rough outing the last time he faced Detroit (six runs over two-plus innings).

San Diego got a fantastic start from King yesterday but somehow managed to lose the game late. The Padres won’t need an incredible start from Vásquez given the Friars’ previous success against Flaherty.

Batter up!

With the Padres’ first game against a right-handed pitcher, the starters will look more like last year’s.

The lineup will likely look similar to yesterday’s, with only a few minor tweaks:

  1. Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
  2. Xander Bogaerts, SS
  3. Jackson Merrill, CF
  4. Manny Machado, 3B
  5. Ramón Laureano, LF
  6. Nick Castellanos, DH
  7. Gavin Sheets, 1B
  8. Freddy Fermin, C
  9. Jake Cronenworth, 2B

Even though Tatis has been the leadoff hitter for the first two games, it’s possible manager Craig Stammen returns to his lineup from earlier this spring, with Bogaerts in the leadoff spot and Tatis batting cleanup. Though that’s unlikely to be the case against right-handed pitchers even though Bogaerts has been wrecking Tigers pitching thus far.

The assumption would be that Castellanos will be benched in favor of ‘25 breakout Gavin Sheets. But Castellanos owns a career .375 batting average and a 1.069 OPS against Flaherty (16 at-bats) so he’ll likely slide to DH over Miguel Andujar, with Sheets starting at the cold corner.

Relief corps

With Adrian Morejon going two full innings yesterday, it’s safe to say he’s out for tonight’s finale against the Tigers. Estrada is in a similar position after blowing the game wide open for Detroit with back-to-back-to-back walks to load the bases.

David Morgan has pitched two innings in as many games, so he’ll probably be kept in the bullpen. Alongside him is Wandy Peralta who has gone one and a third in the same time frame.

With that in mind, Kyle Hart, Ron Marinaccio, and Bradgley Rodriguez are all available to pitch. Closer Mason Miller has yet to be used after the Padres have failed to attain a lead in the ninth. Hopefully tonight will mark his 2026 debut in San Diego.

Game 2: Twins at Orioles

BALTIMORE, MD - MARCH 26: Tyler O'Neill #9 of the Baltimore Orioles bobbles a fly ball in the sixth inning against the Minnesota Twins on Opening Day at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on March 26, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images

First Pitch: 3:05 pm CDT
TV: Twins.TV / FS1
Radio: TIBN / WCCO 830 / The Wolf 102.9 FM / Audacy

KNOW THINE ENEMY: Camden Chat

Each of the last few seasons, that pesky day off right after the season opener has felt particularly sting-worthy. In 2023 and 2025, it delayed Minnesota’s early-season chances to prove that the bad breaks of last season were a thing of the past — that this iteration of the Twins was ready to get back on the horse, and that a late-season collapse did not define the fresh new version of the team. In 2024, it put a temporary pause on the momentum of 2023, and left room for another day of morbid speculation as to what effect “right-sizing” was going to have on the season ahead.

But in 2026, an early day off feels less like a tease and more like a delay of the inevitable. In their opening salvo, the Twins stamped all the squares on their 2026 bingo card: a great start from Joe Ryan, a loss credited to leaky relief and bad defense, an outright failure to hit with runners in scoring position, and a run-scoring opportunity created single-handedly by Byron Buxton, maybe the only good player in the lineup. It was a loss so emblematic of the gloomy forecast, Dan Hayes’ recap was mostly about how Joe Ryan is probably going to be gone soon.

Now that we’ve had about 48 hours to feel sorry for the state of things, it’s time to get back to the grind. After all, as predictable as the Opening Day loss felt, there’s 161 games left this season, and a whole weekend worth of series left for Minnesota to try and win. In their attempt to do so, they’ll send out this year’s #2 starter, Mr. Taj Bradley.

Along with Abel, the 25-year-old Bradley is one of two key cogs in the starting rotation delivered by last season’s trade deadline from beyond the grave. Shipped by the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Griffin Jax, straight-up, Bradley got six games under his belt as a Twin in 2025, walking a few too many hitters and giving up a few too many runs (6.61 ERA in 31.1 IP, with six homers allowed.)

Armed with a couple different fastball looks, a splitter/curve mix, and an occasional sinker, Bradley is hoping to live up to his stock as a fifth-round draft pick after putting up two and a half relatively uninspiring seasons in Florida. With the exception of a 2024 in which he managed a 97 ERA+ and a career-low 3.1 BB/9, Bradley’s other big-league stints have been marked by ballooning earned run averages and dwindling ERA+ marks. (Some even say that those go hand-in-hand.)

What Bradley has going for him is his age, a change of scenery, and a former top-50 prospect ranking. There has always been potential with Bradley, and there may yet be a well to be tapped, but any player within the Rays organization who fails to see their potential extracted — and particularly a pitcher — there remains cause for concern that another team can do the same. The counterargument would be that the Twins did just that with Joe Ryan, another Tampa Bay prospect, although the optics of trading a minor-league Ryan for Nelson Cruz are admittedly shinier when compared to the optics of TB’s front office giving up on Bradley after over 350 big-league innings.

Both Bradley and Abel, who we’ll see again next week, will presumably get long leashes throughout a major figure-it-out year for the entire roster. If both can perform, the perception of the team is somewhat transformed. If either struggle, it may take us back to the Chris Archer/Dylan Bundy days of rotational depth.

On that lovely, optimistic note, enjoy the game!!

Game #2 GameThread: A’s @ Jays

TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA - 2016/04/16: Roger Centre entrance, the landmark is a multi-purpose stadium in downtown Toronto, it is home to the Toronto Blue Jays among other sports teams. (Photo by Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images) | LightRocket via Getty Images

On holiday in Japan. I wonder if my MLB TV subscription will work when I’m there. Scheduling these so Tom_M has one less thing to worry about.

All going well, we are in Tokyo today. It will be 4:00 am Tokyo time when this one starts so I’m not going to be watching.

Of course, since I’m doing this a couple of weeks ahead of time, I don’t have the lineups. If someone would like to post them in the thread that would be great.

I don’t think I’ve ever been away at the start of the season before.

Go Jays Go.

Dodgers’ Alex Vesia wears custom glove with name of daughter stitched on

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Alex Vesia pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Image 2 shows Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Alex Vesia celebrates after the seventh inning

Most people don’t want to be reminded of one of their worst moments in life.

But for Alex Vesia, that moment is also close to his heart.

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Alex Vesia celebrates after the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) AP

Vesia and his wife, Kayla, tragically lost their newborn daughter last October, which caused him to miss the Dodgers World Series run last season.

So when Opening Day came this year, the Vesia family knew emotions would be heightened after picturing life differently.

Kayla  attended Los Angeles’ season opener against the Diamondbacks, and in an Instagram post, she called her evening at the ballpark “very bitter sweet.”

“What I would give to have my Sterling girl here,” Kayla wrote, “carrying her in my heart always.”

Alex and Kayla announced on Nov. 7 that Sterling Vesia, their newborn, died on Oct. 26. They wrote at the time there were “no words to describe the pain we’re going through.”

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Alex Vesia pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Now every time Alex takes the mound, he’ll be reminded of Kayla and Sterling.

Alex made his season debut Saturday night in Los Angeles’ 5-4 victory over the Diamondbacks, throwing one inning of scoreless ball while surrendering one hit.

While his stat line was impressive, it was what he was wearing that caught everyone’s attention.

Alex was seen sporting a custom glove with Sterling Sol stitched onto it.

Alex first spoke about his and Kayla’s loss during spring training when he read a prepared statement to the media.

“The lessons we’ve learned from this is that life can change in an instant,” Alex said. “Ten minutes is all it took. Sterling Sol was the most beautiful girl in the world. We got to hold her, change her diaper, read to her and love her. Our time together was far too short. Kay and I will keep those precious moments and memories to ourselves. I hope that anyone listening can empathize and respect our wishes for privacy as we continue to heal, and as we navigate the ups and downs of a baseball season.”

The Dodgers return to action Sunday when they wrap up their three-game series with the Diamondbacks. First pitch is set for 6:10 p.m.

Game #2, Athletics at Blue Jays Game Thread

This afternoon, the Athletics will look to rebound from yesterday’s back-breaking loss and nab their first win of the 2026 season in game two of the team’s inaugural series against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Shea Langeliers’ two home runs and starting pitcher Luis Severino’s five solid innings pitched was not enough to prevent the team from losing its opening game. After Langeliers’ second home run of the game, a game-tying blast in the top of the ninth inning off of Toronto’s closer Jeff Hoffman, the Blue Jays instantly responded. The hosts recorded three straight two-out hits in the bottom of the ninth off A’s reliever Justin Sterner for the walk-off victory, sending their fans home happy.

Left-hander Jeffrey Springs will take the mound today for the A’s. Springs turned in a decent season last year, his first with the A’s following four years with the Tampa Bay Rays. Over 32 games, 30 of those starts, Springs went 11-11 with a 4.11 ERA, striking out 138 hitters in 171 innings pitched. The veteran lefty struggled the first month of his A’s tenure before posting a 3.72 ERA from May till the end of the season, a number that the A’s would be more than happy to see replicated this year. One cause for alarm is that Springs struggled this spring, pitching to a 6.28 ERA in the Cactus League. As a result, his first start today will be worth watching to see if that was just an aberration due to preseason games meaning nothing. To contend this season, the A’s need Springs and Severino to pitch well and give the team a chance to win every time they are on the mound.

Springs will go up against 30-year-old right hander Dylan Cease, who will be making his much-anticipated Blue Jays debut. Having signed a seven-year, $210 million contract with the team in free agency, Toronto is counting on Cease pitching like the top-of-the rotation arm he can be as the team aims for a return to the World Series. Last year, with the San Diego Padres, Cease went 8-12 with a 4.55 ERA, striking out 215 batters in 168 innings pitched.

Cease will face this A’s lineup this afternoon at the Rogers Centre:

The A’s lineup is nearly the same as yesterday, with Nick Kurtz once again in the leadoff spot. The only change is Carlos Cortes getting the start in right field instead of Lawrence Butler, a switch likely to give Butler rest following his recent return from knee surgery. Langeliers was the only A’s batter to record a hit yesterday. Hopefully more of his teammates can join him in the hit column today!

Springs will go up against this Blue Jays lineup today:

A’s pitchers did a good job neutralizing Blue Jays superstars George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. last night. Kazuma Okamoto was one of the Blue Jays who stepped up instead, recording two hits and scoring the game-winning run in the Japanese third baseman’s MLB debut.

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Tyler Glasnow’s season debut and a minor bullpen test

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 27: Tyler Glasnow #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers admires his ring during the 2025 Back-to-Back World Champions Ring Ceremony prior to the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Friday, March 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jessie Alcheh/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Searching the whole of the National League, one will not find a team utilizing a starting pitcher at or near the caliber of Tyler Glasnow this Saturday. Scheduling and other outside factors led to some rotations—including the Dodgers—not necessarily starting the season in descending order of skill set, but the point is valid all the same. It won’t get much easier for opposing offenses against the Dodgers, at least not while this rotation can stay—knock on wood—moderately healthy.

As much as we could focus on Glasnow and his outlook heading into a third season with the Dodgers, for a third game of the season, this will be as big an endurance test to the bullpen early on as one could ask for. For starters, Glasnow isn’t the type of pitcher to go that deep into a game, even when he’s rolling, a byproduct of all those strikeouts. Secondly and most importantly, the Dodgers’ bullpen has excelled in a sizeable share of work these past two days. Dodger relievers have covered nearly a full game’s worth of baseball, responsible for 8.2 scoreless frames in a pair of two wins against the Diamondbacks.

It speaks to the depth of this unit that the Dodgers were able to cover all of these innings with Tanner Scott being the only pitcher who appeared in both games. And even Scott had a minimal workload in both games, not even cracking double-digit pitches.

Kyle Tucker’s go-ahead RBI takes the headlines, but the Dodgers don’t win that game if Jack Dreyer and Ben Casparius falter early on, both asked to throw 20+ pitches in a game the Dodgers only got 10 outs from their starter.

Saturday’s game info

  • Teams: Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks
  • Ballpark: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
  • Start time: 6:10 p.m. PT
  • TV: SportsNet LA
  • Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish), 98.7 FM’s Arizona Sports Station, KNAI 101.9 FM / 860 AM

Reynaldo Lopez draws Game Two start against Royals

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Reynaldo López #40 of the Atlanta Braves delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Truist Park on September 28, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Casey Sykes/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Given that Reynaldo Lopez missed nearly all of the 2025 season, I’m sure no one was really looking forward to a reality where he was the Braves’ de facto number two starter. Nonetheless, that reality is here: Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep went down with substantial injuries earlier, and then Spencer Strider hit the shelf with an oblique issue. So, here we are: behind Chris Sale, it’s Lopez today, and then Grant Holmes in the series finale.

Lopez’ health and effectiveness is a pretty swing-y part of the Braves’ eventual 2026 success, or lack thereof. He dazzled in his return to starting in 2024, with a collective 48/74/85 line (ERA-/FIP-/xFIP-) where he at least hinted at the ability to outperform his peripherals by amping up his pitches in key situations. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to see whether he could repeat the misaligned pitching line, because he made all of one start in 2025 and then went down with shoulder woes for the rest of the year.

Coming into this season, Lopez’ production is a wild card. On the one hand, he avoided explicit injury in Spring Training. On the other hand, when getting his tune-ups in, he exhibited diminished velocity, and set off the unpleasant clanging of alarm bells when, in his most recent outing, he not only looked disastrous mechanically, but was lobbing in sub-90 mph fastballs for the whole outing. That resulted in an uncanny (and not in a good way) bit of damage control by the Braves — who first answered that the lower velocity (and presumably other issues) were the result of a mechanical misadjustment, and then had Alex Anthopoulos confirm such (and indicate that he now felt much better about the situation) on an Opening Day radio appearance.

How much you believe all of that is entirely up to you. Maybe it’ll be fine, maybe Lopez’ shoulder has just congealed into one of those weird reheatable ham blocks I heard advertised on the radio this morning and is no longer suitable for big league pitching. The proof is going to be in the pudding… or… ham… block… thing. (Seriously, I wish I didn’t know how ham was made. Don’t look it up.) If Lopez falters, the Braves do have a bunch of bullpen arms capable of throwing a bunch of innings to salvage this game, so hopefully, if there are issues, we see something fairly proactive in terms of pitching management.

The Royals, meanwhile, will be looking for their first W of 2026 behind Michael Wacha. The now-34-year-old signed a chunky deal with Kansas City ahead of the 2024 season ($51 million, three years), and delivered with a career-high 3.6 fWAR across 31 starts (also a career high) and 172 2/3 innings. That performance topped the first year of his deal, where he had 3.3 fWAR and an 81/89/101 line. Basically, the Royals feel really good about this deal, in all likelihood. His 2025 performance benefited from some stuff beyond his pitching, as his line was 91/88/109. A lot of his success was driven by a very low HR/FB rate, and the Braves will have to hope and/or force the issue, as their path to success still probably runs through hitting a bunch of homers, as they showed yesterday. (For his career, Wacha is at 96/97/100, so this gap-against-xFIP is pretty recent development and likely related to whatever adjustments he’s made to keep pitching into his mid-30s.)

Kind of amazingly given his career, Wacha hasn’t faced the Braves since 2023, where he had a dominant outing against them. Before then, the Braves had knocked him around in four straight prior starts going back to 2017. He’s been around for over a decade now, and has evolved a fair bit, so history is probably just a curiosity here. The same goes for Lopez, who has 27 career appearances against the Royals and terrible numbers against them, but most of those issues came during his uneven White Sox tenure. He dominated them in a start in late 2024, but again, that’s probably not too relevant for these proceedings.

Anyway, the Braves are on a quest to go 2-0 and keep exorcising last year’s demons. We’ll see if they can manage it.

Game Info

Kansas City Royals at Atlanta Braves

Saturday, March 28, 7:15 pm EDT

Truist Park, Atlanta, GA

TV/Video: Fox (national, should not be blacked out on MLB.tv)

Radio/Audio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan

Mets Notes: When we may see Mark Vientos in the lineup, Brett Baty in the field

Carlos Mendoza provided some updates prior to the Mets' second game of the season, Saturday afternoon against the Pittsburgh Pirates on SNY... 


When may we see Mark Vientos…

The Mets’ lineup has looked the same in the first two games of the season, and likely will again for the most part Sunday with another righty on the mound. 

Mendoza would like to give everyone a start soon, but with how the roster is built, this is  how things are playing out. 

As things stand, the skipper is targeting Wednesday's finale against the Cardinals for Vientos’ first start of the season. 

Mendoza has spoken with the young slugger as he’s adjusted to this new role.

“I told him, look man, two years ago you had your best year and the first six weeks you were in Triple-A. You came here, hit a walk-off and then the next day we were sending you back to the minors, and you had the best year -- he understands and he’ll be ready whenever his name is called," he said. 

Vientos had about as bad a spring as one could ask for coming off a down year at the plate, reaching safely just three times across 35 Grapefruit League at-bats. 

He also went just 2-for-15 with Team Nicaragua in the WBC. 

What about Baty in the field…

Brett Baty has DH’d for the first two games, but with the Mets’ heavy schedule over the next week, the skipper expects that won’t stay the case for long.

“We’ll start seeing him moving around the infield, outfield, especially with us starting today nine in a row -- it just was Opening Day, then the off day, but there’s a good chance that we’ll start putting him in the field.”

Baty, of course, saw time at first and third, in addition to right during spring training. 

He’s gotten some reps in the outfield down in the minor leagues, but if he does appear in a game out there, it’ll be the first time he does so in the majors. 

His first base appearance will be his first since high school. 

Looking ahead to McLean’s season debut…

While we don’t want to overlook Saturday’s game just yet, it is exciting to look ahead to Sunday’s series finale, which will feature young Nolan McLean on the bump. 

The right-hander is facing some lofty expectations after taking the league by storm last season, but Mendoza is confident he’ll be up to the task. 

“If anyone is built for this, it’s Nolan -- with how much and how quickly everything has been thrown at him,” he said. 

“Last year when he came up and how he handled it and then recently with the WBC playing in one of the biggest games besides the playoffs or World Series, how he handled it -- he’s equipped, he’s built for it, we just have to enjoy it now and watch him go do his thing.”

Washington Nationals vs Chicago Cubs Game Thread

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 26: Nasim Nuñez #26 reacts after the final out in the ninth inning of a game between the Washington Nationals and the Chicago Cubs on Opening Day at Wrigley Field on March 26, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Griffin Quinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After a great win on Opening Day, Blake Butera and the Nats will look to clinch a series win against the Cubs. It will be tough though, as the Cubs have had a lot of success against today’s starter Miles Mikolas. The Nats will also be without the services of one of their best players.

CJ Abrams will be out of the lineup today, due to a death in his family. We are praying for CJ and the Abrams family. For the lineup itself, James Wood will remain the leadoff hitter, but there will be a lot of changes as expected. Drew Millas is surprisingly hitting second today and will be behind the plate. Luis Garcia Jr. will get the start at first base. Jorbit Vivas will make his Nats debut at second base. With Abrams out, Nasim Nunez will slide over to shortstop. Miles Mikolas will make his Nats debut against a team he is very familiar with from his Cardinals days..

The only real change in the Cubs lineup is behind the plate. Miguel Amaya will be in there instead of Carson Kelly. The Cubs will be excited to see Miles Mikolas, who they have handled the last couple years. Pete Crow-Armstrong has owned Mikolas, going 7/9 with 5 homers against the righty. The Cubs may see a slightly different version of Mikolas, with the righty potentially throwing fewer fastballs. Cade Horton will be on the mound for the Cubs.

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Game Info:

Stadium: Wrigley Field

Time: 2:20 PM EST

TV: Nationals.TV

Radio: 106.7 The Fan

After a great start to the season, the Nats will look to seal the series win against a tough Cubs team. Miles Mikolas is going to have to be careful against this lineup, but hopefully the old dog has some new tricks. It would also be great to see James Wood get going and start to make consistent contact. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!

Game Discussion for St. Louis Cardinals vs Tampa Bay Rays

ST. LOUIS, MO - MARCH 26: Michael McGreevy #36 of the St. Louis Cardinals takes the field during player introductions prior to the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on Thursday, March 26, 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

After a rousing come from behind Opening Day victory, the St. Louis Cardinals will attempt to maintain their perfect 2026 record with a Saturday afternoon game versus the Tampa Bay Rays. According to MLB.com, Michael McGreevy will make the start for the Cardinals while Joe Boyle will take the mound for the Rays.

Here’s the starting lineup for the Cardinals today

  1. JJ Wetherholt (L) 2B
  2. Iván Herrera (R) C
  3. Alec Burleson (L) 1B
  4. Masyn Winn (R) SS
  5. Nolan Gorman (L) DH
  6. Ramón Urías (R) 3B
  7. Nathan Church (L) LF
  8. Jordan Walker (R) RF
  9. Victor Scott II (L) CF

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Best NRFI Bets Today: MLB First Inning Predictions for Saturday, March 28

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One of the most intriguing baseball betting options is the “run first inning” market, where you can wager on whether there will run scored in the opening frame.

The Detroit Tigers are set to wrap up a three-game set against the San Diego Padres tonight, and my MLB picks expect one of their pitchers to get rocked. 

Check out the rest of my free NRFI and YRFI bets for Saturday, March 28.

Best NRFI/YRFI bets today

PickOdds
Twins/Orioles - YRFI+104
Rockies/Marlins - NRFI-142
Tigers/Padres - YRFI-113

Twins at Orioles: YRFI/ (+104)

Minnesota Twins starter Taj Bradley pitched to a 5.05 ERA over 142 2/3 innings last year. He struggled early in games, posting a 5.94 ERA with a .271 OBA through the first two innings.

Bradley could be in trouble against a Baltimore Orioles offense that should improve after adding Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward.

Meanwhile, Baltimore right-hander Kyle Bradish is coming off a strong season, but doesn’t have a large enough sample size for me to trust him. Minnesota also has a decent offense, provided Byron Buxton and Royce Lewis stay healthy.

  • Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: FS1

Rockies at Marlins: NRFI (-142)

We got a winner by betting the NRFI prop in this matchup yesterday when these inept offenses combined for just three runs.

The Colorado Rockies were a disaster on the road last year, posting a .589 OPS with just 2.81 runs per game. Meanwhile, the Miami Marlins had a .693 OPS with 3.91 runs per game at home.

Both offenses should struggle again, and Miami’s Eury Perez looks ready to break out. The 22-year-old ranked in the 80th percentile in xERA (3.23), xBA (.203), and strikeout rate (27.3%) across 20 starts in 2025. 

Perez should mow down a Rockies lineup that strikes out frequently.

  • Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Marlins.TV | Rockies.TV

Tigers at Padres: YRFI (-113)

The Detroit Tigers are handing the ball to Jack Flaherty, who posted a 4.64 ERA in 31 starts last year.

Although Flaherty possesses good swing-and-miss ability, he struggles when batters make contact. He sat in the bottom 20th percentile in barrel rate and hard-hit rate in 2025, and the San Diego Padres have a strong lineup that rarely strikes out.

Meanwhile, Friars starter Randy Vasquez is due for major regression after posting a 5.37 xERA last season. He’ll face a tough task navigating a Tigers lineup with dangerous hitters at the top.

  • Time: 8:40 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Padres.TV | Tigers.TV
2026 Transparency record
  • NRFI/YRFI picks: 2-1,+0.88 units

What is a NRFI bet?

NRFI (No Run First Inning) and YRFI (Yes Run First Inning) bets add a thrilling twist to the start of an MLB game. A NRFI bet is a wager that no runs will be scored in the first inning. You're betting that the starting pitchers for both teams will get through the first inning without allowing any runs, whether by striking out batters, inducing ground balls, or through solid defensive play.

A YRFI bet is the exact opposite. You're betting that at least one run will be scored in the first inning. In this case, you’re hoping for an early offensive burst such as a leadoff walk, a timely hit, or even a home run.

NRFI and YRFI bets add excitement to the early part of a game and offer immediate gratification for bettors looking for a quick resolution.

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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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.

Gamethread 3/28: Rangers at Phillies

Mar 26, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Brandon Marsh (16) hits a double during the eighth inning against the Texas Rangers at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Here are the lineups. For the Phillies:

For the Rangers:

Let’s talk about it.

Game 2: Red Sox at Reds; Sonny Gray’s Debut

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 28: Sonny Gray #54 and Carlos Narváez #75 of the Boston Red Sox walk to the dugout during the first inning of a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 28, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

What to Watch for Today

Red Sox Nation got a little taste of baseball on Opening Day, immediately followed by an oddly scheduled off-day. Due to the severe weather in Cincinnati, the game likely would have been postponed anyway so the Red Sox come out ahead with no disruptions to the schedule. Things are going their way so far in this young season.

Sonny Gray takes the mound for the first time as a Red Sox. He’s also returning to Cincinnati where he played from 2019-21 but don’t expect any drama on that front; he saves his trash talk for the Yankees.

Watch Eugenio Suárez, WBC hero, who generated some interest when the Sox suddenly needed a third baseman and a power bat two months ago. Will Red Sox Nation have any regrets about not signing him?

Most importantly, let’s focus on our own guys: our new-look rotation and infield, up-and-comers Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer, and what power-bat alternatives will emerge from the lineup.

Let’s get after it—go Sox!

How to Watch or Listen

First pitch is at 4:10 PM ET on NESN and WEEI.

Lineups