On Tuesday, the NBPA — the NBA's players' union — did exactly what it's supposed to do and came out in support of its player, and by extension it backs the NBA's Player Participation Policy.
"The Player Participation Policy was designed by the league to hold teams accountable and ensure that when an All-Star like Giannis Antetokounmpo is healthy and ready to play, he is on the court. Unfortunately, anti-tanking policies are only as effective as their enforcement; fans, broadcast partners, and the integrity of the game itself will continue to suffer as long as ownership goes unchecked. We look forward to collaborating with the NBA on meaningful new proposals that will directly address and discourage tanking."
Antetokounmpo's situation gets to the heart of the league's policy: It was designed specifically to keep teams from shutting down star players at the end of the season, even if there is nothing to play for. The problem for the league is that its incentives are misaligned: The only meaningful way for a struggling team like the Bucks to improve is to bring in more talent, and the best way to do that is through the draft. If the Bucks want to get Antetokounmpo to sign the max extension they will talk with him about this offseason, they need more talent, and a high draft pick is the best way to do that (whether they trade the pick or keep it).
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has said there will be changes to the NBA's tanking policy, the fact that the players' union is willing to work with him on that is an interesting step.
SAN FRANCISCO — Jared Oliva is 30 years old and hasn’t played in a big-league game since 2021, but that’s set to change after the Giants included the speedy outfielder on their Opening Day roster.
Buster Posey and the Giants opted for Oliva over 24-year-old outfield prospect Luis Matos, who was designated for assignment Wednesday ahead of San Francisco’s season opener against the Yankees.
“With a lot of hard conversations the last few days, that one was one that stood out as a real bright spot,” Posey said of Oliva, “to be able tell him he was on the team.”
Oliva, who led the Cactus League with 14 stolen bases, will serve as a pinch runner and the second backup outfielder alongside Jerar Encarnacion. Since appearing in 26 games for the Pirates between 2021 and 2022, Oliva spent three seasons in the minor leagues for three different teams.
“Honestly, pretty emotional,” Oliva said. “It’s been a lot of hard times. It’s been very tough. A lot of times looking at yourself in the mirror and feeling like you’re going against the current sometimes.”
Outfielder Jared Oliva made the Giants’ Opening Day Roster. MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Giants chose to go with Oliva, a career .179 hitter, and Encarnacion, a slugger signed out of the Mexican League in 2024, over Matos, a onetime top prospect who was out of options.
“The Matos one was hard. Been a Giant for a while now. … He’s shown flashes of being a really good big leaguer,” Posey said. “Ultimately [we] felt like carrying Oliva with what he can do on the basepaths, defensively, is a weapon for us. … With Jerar, the hope is to have some power.”
There weren’t too many other surprises — or decisions left to be made — as the Giants finalized their Opening Day roster after top prospect Bryce Eldridge was optioned last week.
Rule 5 pick Daniel Susac won the backup catcher job over Eric Haase after putting together a strong spring at the plate. The Giants would have to offer him back to the Athletics if he wasn’t on the 26-man roster. Blake Sabol, in 2022, was the last Rule 5 pick to make the Giants’ roster out of spring training.
“I really wanted to see which player stood out the most, and both played well,” Posey said. “Daniel, I think the most important part, carried himself well defensively and swung the bat well also.”
Haase was released, leaving the Giants with only one other catcher in the minor leagues who has played the position at the major-league level, 30-year-old Logan Porter, who will be joined by Jesus Rodriguez and Diego Cartaya at Triple-A Sacramento.
The Giants had indicated that they wanted to carry three left-handers in their bullpen and made good on those intentions with Ryan Borucki, Matt Gage and Erik Miller.
Buster Posey and the Giants opted for Oliva over 24-year-old outfield prospect Luis Matos Getty Images
Borucki, who worked with pitching coach Justin Meccage with the Pirates, was signed to a major-league deal this week after being cut by the White Sox. Joey Lucchesi, who was also brought into camp late, was granted his release and signed a major-league deal with the Angels.
Despite two days off over the first five days of the season, the Giants went with a 13-man pitching staff rather than using the favorable schedule to carry Matos or another position player into the season.
Ryan Walker and Miller are expected to split closing duties in a bullpen that also includes long men JT Brubaker and Keaton Winn, with Jose Butto, Caleb Kilian and Gage providing middle relief.
Spencer Bivens and Tristan Beck, who both had roles in prior year’s bullpens, were optioned to Triple-A.
“The Beck and Bivens decisions were tough,” Posey said. “Guys that have played roles with us (and) this year are certainly going to help us at some point. We’re confident of that. Excited for guys like Kilian to get an opportunity. The pickup we had with Borucki gives us a third lefty out of the bullpen. Brubaker’s a guy that’s going to give us length. He’s been there and done that before.”
There weren’t too many other surprises as the Giants finalized their Opening Day roster. Getty Images
Kilian, a former Giants prospect, made the team as a non-roster invitee after flashing a heater in the upper 90s and posting a 0.96 ERA in eight spring appearances.
Fellow reliever Reiver Sanmartin, who suffered a hip flexor strain in a World Baseball Classic exhibition, was transferred to the 60-day injured list to create room on the 40-man roster.
Left-hander Sam Hentges (right knee surgery/left shoulder surgery) and right-hander Joel Peguero (left hamstring strain) will start the year on the 15-day IL.
SF Giants Opening Day roster
Pitchers (13): LHP Ryan Borucki, RHP JT Brubaker, RHP José Buttó, LHP Matt Gage, RHP Adrian Houser, RHP Caleb Kilian, RHP Tyler Mahle, LHP Erik Miller, LHP Robbie Ray, RHP Landen Roupp, RHP Ryan Walker, RHP Logan Webb, RHP Keaton Winn
Catchers (2): Patrick Bailey, Daniel Susac
Infielders (6): Willy Adames, Luis Arraez, Matt Chapman, Rafael Devers, Christian Koss, Casey Schmitt
Outfielders (5): Harrison Bader, Jerar Encarnacion, Jung Hoo Lee, Jared Oliva, Heliot Ramos
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Cash rules everything around the NBA when it comes to expansion.
At a time when there are concerns about tanking and league depth, the Board of Governors has green-lit “formally” exploring expansions to Las Vegas and Seattle, the NBA announced Wednesday.
Each franchise could have bidding wars in the $7 billion-$10 billion range, per ESPN, and the 2028-29 season has been floated as the potential inaugural season for the respective franchises.
Key Arena during a 2006 SuperSonics-Trail Blazers game. NBAE via Getty Images
“Today’s vote reflects our Board’s interest in exploring potential expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle — two markets with a long history of support for NBA basketball,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in the release. “We look forward to taking this next step and engaging with interested parties.”
There have long been rumors of NBA expansion over the last two-plus decades since the league last added a franchise in 2004, and it now seems there are finally some tangible legs.
The NBA last added the Charlotte Bobcats — now the Hornets — to bump from 29 teams to 30 and create six divisions of five teams, and 32 is a natural number for an increase.
Details leaked earlier this month that the Board of Governors would vote during their meetings from March 24-25, and they need 75 percent (23 votes) to move forward.
The cash boon from the moves surely factored into the decision, since the owners would directly profit from adding two more teams.
The NBA said that PJT Partners is being enlisted as a “strategic partner to evaluate prospective markets, ownership groups, arena infrastructure and the broader economic implications of expansion.”
T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the home of the NBA Cup. NBAE via Getty Images
Seattle already has a long history with the NBA, with the SuperSonics franchise from 1967 to 2008, before the team relocated to Oklahoma City.
There has long been fervor from fans to return to the Emerald City, and now it seems the green and yellow could be on its way back.
Las Vegas has never had an NBA team, but Sin City plays host to the Summer League and the NBA Cup semifinals and championship game.
With MLB (A’s) and the NFL (Raiders) adding Las Vegas teams in recent years, to go along with the Golden Knights of the NHL, it seems a matter of time before the NBA is in Nevada.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. Andrew Leyden/ZUMA / SplashNews.com
The one concern with adding two teams is that it comes as tanking consumes the sport, and the NBA has yet to figure out how to prevent teams from being uncompetitive in the second half.
The league is attempting to implement anti-tanking procedures, but it remains to be seen whether that will be enough of a deterrent.
Former Seattle SuperSonic Detlef Schrempf wears a Sonics shirt courside during the Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings' NBA preseason game at KeyArena, Friday, Oct. 5, 2018. The Warriors won 122 to 94. (Genna Martin, seattlepi.com) (Photo by GENNA MARTIN/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
The NBA is about to get a whole lot more interesting.
After plenty of foreshadowing that this would be coming, Shams Charania of ESPN reported on Wednesday that the league’s owners had voted for the next step toward expansion in fielding bids and applicants.
Breaking: The NBA's Board of Governors has approved a vote for the league to explore bids and applicants for expansion teams exclusively in Las Vegas and Seattle, sources tell ESPN. A bidding process is expected to generate offers in the $7-10 billion range for each team. pic.twitter.com/yEaLPjnTVf
This would add two more teams to the Western Conference, and could mean the iconic SuperSonics will be back in the NBA before this decade ends, as Charania further detailed in an article.
The NBA’s board of governors has approved a vote for the league to explore bids and applicants for expansion teams exclusively in Las Vegas and Seattle.
All 30 owners voted in favor of exploring Las Vegas and Seattle expansion, sources told ESPN. A bidding process is expected to generate offers in the $7-10 billion range for each team, according to sources.
Sources told ESPN last week that the league is targeting the 2028-29 season for the two expansion franchises to start playing.
For the Lakers, this means two new teams will be joining the West, and someone will have to go East. Will it be the Wolves or the Grizzlies, or will some other team head East?
Adding two expansion teams also will likely necessitate a changing of divisions. Will the Lakers be grouped with the Las Vegas franchise? Will all the California teams remain in the same division? There is plenty of ripple effects of the league adding new franchises.
With teams like the Lakers selling for $10 billion, it’s no surprise the NBA would like to add two teams to the league and rack up record expansion fees.
Seattle has a huge fanbase and has proven there is demand for NBA action there, as evidenced by the success they had with the Sonics. The NBA already has a strong relationship with Las Vegas, hosting its Summer League games there every year since 2004.
With the NFL, MLB, and WNBA already proving that Vegas is a hotbed for professional sports, it was only a matter of time before the NBA added a team.
However, don’t expect LeBron James to be the owner of that new franchise.
The path towards this conversation about adding these two, going from conceptual to reality, will take time. A bidding process still needs to take place, get approved, and then don’t forget to figure out all the details, like where the stadiums will be.
Still, it seems inevitable at this point, and unanimous approval is a clear sign that everyone is on board.
A lot still needs to be figured out, but it seems like a sure bet that Vegas and Seattle will play basketball sooner rather than later.
GOODYEAR, ARIZONA - MARCH 5: Jose Franco #74 of the Cincinnati Reds throws a pitch during a Spring Training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Goodyear Ballpark on March 5, 2026 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We don’t yet know when, or if Jose Franco will take the mound for the Cincinnati Reds, but we do now know he’s going to have a very good opportunity to do so within the next two weeks.
With Opening Day set for tomorrow – Thursday, March 26th – and with Nick Lodolo needing a trip to the injured list while his blister recovers, Franco has been added to the team’s Opening Day roster as depth. MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon relayed the news earlier on Wednesday, noting that Caleb Ferguson was also predictably placed on the 15-day IL to begin the 2026 season.
Franco was added to the 40-man roster over the winter after a 2025 season that saw him pitch to a 3.11 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 118 K and 54 BB in 110.0 IP split between AA Chattanooga and AAA Louisville. It was his second straight solid season after he missed all of 2023 while recovering from arm surgery, and while he’s been used almost exclusively as a starter he’ll now be tasked with a depth role to begin 2026.
In essence, Cincinnati is leaning into carrying him as a long man in the ‘six for five’ starter scenario they originally planned to use before the blisters and injuries to the rest of the starting staff. Given that Nick Lodolo will be out for nearly two weeks, he’s almost assured to get at least one chance to pitch in bulk while on the active roster.
Congrats to Jose on making the bigs!
Here’s the complete Opening Day roster:
Catcher (2) – Tyler Stephenson, Jose Trevino
Infield (6) – Sal Stewart, Matt McLain, Elly De La Cruz, Ke’Bryan Hayes, Eugenio Suárez, Nathaniel Lowe
Sal Stewart (1) – Sal Stewart
Outfield (4) – Will Benson, Noelvi Marte, TJ Friedl, Dane Myers
Starters (6) – Andrew Abbott, Brady Singer, Rhett Lowder, Chase Burns, Brandon Williamson, Jose Franco
Bullpen (7) – Emilio Pagan, Graham Ashcraft, Tony Santillan, Pierce Johnson, Brock Burke, Sam Moll, Connor Phillips
NBC and Peacock will welcome Major League Baseball for the 2026 season starting with Thursday's 1:15 p.m. matchup between the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets in Citi Field.
NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes will take the mound for the Pirates, and Freddy Peralta will be the Mets' starting pitcher.
Pittsburgh held a 4-2 edge in the series between the teams last year, winning the last four (including a three-game sweep in June).
See below for additional information on how to watch the Pirates vs. Mets and a breakdown of the game. Also check out the schedule for the MLB on NBC and Peacock. There will be 27 prime-time MLB games featured across NBC, Peacock and NBCSN in 2026. NBC Sports will also stream one out-of-market game each day of the 2026 MLB season nationally on Peacock.
Who are the announcers for Pirates-Mets Opening Day?
Matt Vasgersian will provide play-by-play alongside analysts Al Leiter and Neil Walker.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. New York Mets preview:
The Pirates went 71-91 in 2015, placing last in the National League Central and missing the playoffs for the 10th consecutive season (the NL's longest active drought).
Skenes, 23, has made the All-Star Game in each of his first two seasons. The No. 1 overall pick from the 2023 MLB Draft, he led Major League Baseball in ERA (1.97) and led the NL in WHIP (0.95) to become the third pitcher to win Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Award in his first two seasons (joining Fernando Valenzuela in 1981 with the Dodgers and Dwight Gooden 1984-85 with the Mets.
Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly enters his first full season in charge of his childhood team. He replaced Derek Shelton after the Pirates started 12-26 last year. Pittsburgh went 59-65 under Kelly, who secured a contract extension with the team where the Butler, Pennsylvania, native began a nine -season playing career in 2007.
The Pirates (whose 117 home runs last season wre focused on improving their power, adding veterans Brandon Lowe (second baseman, 31 years old), Ryan O’Hearn (1B/OF/DH, 32) and Marcell Ozuna (35, 1B/DH). Center fielder Oneil Cruz, 27, has spearheaded the Pittsburgh offense since his first full season in 2022 and led the team in homers (20) and stolen bases (38, tied for the most in the NL with the Mets' Juan Soto).
Feb 25, 2026; North Port, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) throws a pitch in the third inning against the Atlanta Braves during spring training at CoolToday Park. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
The Mets finished second in the NL East last year at 83-79, missing the playoffs for the seventh time in nine seasons despite having World Series aspirations after signing Soto to an MLB-record $765 million contract.
After falling in the 2024 NLCS to the Dodgers, the Mets were the best team in the league at 45-24 through mid-June when poor pitching and inconsistency led to a collapse that ended with missing the playoffs on the final day by losing a tiebreaker to the Reds for the last wild card-spot.
New York set a record by using 46 different pitchers last year. The Mets have overhaueld their roster by moving on from five players who played a combined 36 seasons in New York, including 1B Pete Alonso (the franchise's all-time HR leader with 264 who went to the Orioles), closer Edwin Diaz (Dodgers) and DH Starling Marte (Royals). OF Brandon Nimmo (Rangers) and 2B/OF Jeff McNeil (Athletics) were traded.
Starting pticher David Peterson is the Mets' longest tenured player in his seventh season.
In addition to the Dodgers-Diamondbacks game Thursday night on NBC and Peacock, Sunday Night Baseball will make its debut March 29 with a matchup between two 2025 first-place teams, as the Mariners play host to the Guardians. The 18-game MLB Sunday Leadoff schedule will begin May 3, with the defending AL champion Toronto Blue Jays visiting the Twins in Minnesota. On Sunday, July 5, all 15 MLB games will be presented nationally across Peacock and NBC as part of a special all-day “Star-Spangled Sunday” showcase.
NBC Sports will also stream one out-of-market game each day of the 2026 MLB season nationally on Peacock. Telemundo Deportes will present all NBCUniversal-produced MLB games in Spanish, with Universo televising all games broadcast on NBC.
From an MLB Opening Day doubleheader on March 26 to the Wild Card round of the playoffs, NBC Sports’ 2026 schedule delivers wall-to-wall coverage.
D.J. Short
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Davis' tenure is highlighted by leading the Tar Heels to the Final Four as a No. 8 seed in his first season. The Tar Heels went 125-54 overall in five seasons under Davis, but a near-70% winning percentage was not good enough for another year, as the program saw a second straight first-weekend exit in March Madness.
It's an important hiring cycle for the Tar Heels, who have athletic director Bubba Cummingham retiring and Steve Newmark soon taking over. It could also be a historic one, as UNC said it is looking to hire someone with no ties to the Tar Heels — something that hasn't happened in 74 seasons.
If North Carolina wants to hire its replacement for Davis from among the top coaches and rising stars in the sport, it will need to be ready to make a significant financial investment simply to lure them away from their current programs.
Here's a look at the buyouts for some of the Tar Heels' top potential candidates:
UNC basketball candidates: How much will these coaches cost Tar Heels?
Editor's note: All information via coach contracts obtained by USA TODAY Network. This list does not include candidates coaching at private institutions such as Vanderbilt's Mark Byington, Gonzaga's Mark Few and Saint Louis' Josh Schertz.
Nate Oats, Alabama
Buyout: $18 million ($10 million on April 1)
There's no question Oats is one of the top coaches in college basketball after leading the Crimson Tide to the Sweet 16 for the fourth straight season and fifth time in the last six years. He also has a 2024 Final Four appearance. But his buyout number could be a deal-breaker for the Tar Heels.
Oats has an $18 million buyout if the Tar Heels were to poach him before April 1, at which point it would drop to $10 million.
The Gators coach has a $16 million buyout that drops to $11 million on April 16.
T.J. Otzelberger, Iowa State
Buyout: $4 million
If Oats and Golden's buyouts are too high, then UNC may find T.J. Otzelberger's rather reasonable by comparison. Otzelberger, who has Iowa State in the Sweet 16 for the third time of his five-year tenure, has a $4 million buyout.
Dusty May, Michigan
Buyout: $4 million ($2 million on May 1)
Like North Carolina, Michigan is one of the top athletic departments and jobs in the country, and one that May has exceeded in just two years in his time in Ann Arbor. But if the Tar Heels can persuade him to move to the ACC, it won't cost them much.
May has a $4 million buyout that drops down to $2 million on May 1.
All Lloyd has done in his five seasons at Arizona is win, even breaking Brad Steven's NCAA Division I record for most wins by a head coach in five seasons. It would be a home run hire if UNC could get a coach of Lloyd's caliber — just think of the head-to-head matchups with Duke and Jon Scheyer.
But Lloyd will also cost the Tar Heels a pretty penny, though not as much as it'd cost to get Oats or Golden: His buyout is $9 million, but would drop to $6.25 million on April 1.
With just three weeks remaining, every win carries weight in a crowded and fiercely competitive Western Conference race.
The Minnesota Timberwolves — still without Anthony Edwards — welcome Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets, and this matchup sets up for KD to stay scorching after his 40-point explosion against the Chicago Bulls.
Here are my best free NBA picks for this heavyweight tilt on Wednesday, March 25.
Rockets vs Timberwolves prediction
Rockets vs Timberwolves best bet: Kevin Durant Over 26.5 points (-110)
Kevin Durant is averaging 24.2 points per game at home, but he’s scoring 27.7 on the road this season. The Slim Reaper has scored 27+ in 31 of 68 games, reaching that mark in 18 of 33 road contests.
Durant went through a dip in scoring, averaging just 20.3 points in a three-game span while facing the Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers. Over his last two games, Durantula is back on track offensively with scoring totals of 27 and 40.
Houston’s superstar forward recently passed Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list. Remarkably, Durant ranks fifth in scoring but just 13th in field goal attempts, highlighting his elite efficiency.
Over his last 10 games, Durant has shot 58.1% from the floor and 46% from beyond the arc. He can be effective against a formidable Minnesota defense even if the team limits his shot attempts.
Durant has found success against the Minnesota Timberwolves in recent matchups. Across his last five regular-season tilts with the Wolves, he’s averaged 30.4 points and scored 27+ three times, including a 39-point performance in his first meeting of 2025-26.
I expect Durant to stay hot on the road in a primetime matchup with major playoff implications.
Rockets vs Timberwolves same-game parlay
Houston is just 1-6 ATS across its last seven games, while Minnesota has covered in three of four without Anthony Edwards. Edwards is out again, and Ayo Dosunmu is banged up with a calf injury.
The Houston Rockets should be desperate for a win after an embarrassing loss to the Chicago Bulls, and I’ll take them to win by at least a bucket on the road against a banged-up Wolves team.
Both teams have struggled offensively across their last 10 games. In that span, the Wolves rank 22nd in scoring (114 PPG), and the Rockets rank 26th at 111.1 PPG.
Both defenses are above average and play a physical brand of basketball, and buckets may come at a premium in this dogfight.
Rockets vs Timberwolves SGP
Kevin Durant Over 26.5 points
Rockets -1.5
Under 224
Our "from downtown" SGP: No Bones About It
Bones Hyland has scored 15+ points in four straight games without Anthony Edwards while averaging 20 in that span. He's only averaged 2.4 assists for his career, but he's averaged four helpers in three starts and 3.8 dimes in nine games with 25+ minutes.
With Ayo Dosunmu banged up, Bones could have the ball in his hands a lot tonight.
Durant will understandably see plenty of defensive attention from Minnesota, and he'll need to find his teammates for open looks when the double-team comes.
He's recorded 5+ assists in four of his last seven games, and he dished seven dimes against the Wolves in his first meeting.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have hit the Team Total Under in 25 of their last 35 games at home (+13.75 Units / 34% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Rockets vs. Timberwolves.
How to watch Rockets vs Timberwolves
Location
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Date
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Tip-off
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Rockets vs Timberwolves latest injuries
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The New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants open the 2026 season at Oracle Park on Wednesday, March 25, and I’ve got a trio of MLB picks to cover you for the action.
My top Yankees vs. Giants predictions expect San Francisco ace Logan Webb to have his hands full navigating a tough and talented New York lineup tonight.
Yankees vs Giants props for March 25
Pick
Odds
Logan Webb Under 6.5 strikeouts
-146
Ben Rice Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI
-115
Jazz Chisholm Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI
+130
Yankees vs Giants player prop picks
Logan Webb Under 6.5 strikeouts (-146)
The New York Yankees paced the majors in wOBA and ISO against right-handed pitchers last season, and San Francisco Giants righty Logan Webb fanned six or fewer batters in 19 of 34 starts.
Additionally, between the World Baseball Classic and Spring Training, Webb has only thrown 18 innings across five starts, so I’m not convinced he’ll pitch deep enough into this game to record seven or more strikeouts.
Ben Rice Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI (-115)
Yankees first baseman Ben Rice is set to hit in the heart of the lineup after posting a rock-solid .371 wOBA and .860 OPS against right-handed pitchers last season. He also had a productive spring with 11 hits, seven runs, and five RBI across 51 plate appearances.
Jazz Chisholm Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI
Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm posted an impressive .360 wOBA and .267 ISO against righties last season, and he’s set to see plenty of opportunities to score and drive in runs, hitting in the lower-middle half of the lineup.
Chisholm has also been ramping up this spring with three runs, seven hits, and five RBI across just 36 plate appearances, and he posted two runs, four hits, and four RBI through four games in the World Baseball Classic.
How to watch Yankees vs Giants and game info
Location
Oracle Park, San Francisco, California
Date
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
First pitch
8:05 p.m. ET
TV
Netflix
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Mar 16, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy (49) talks to his team in the third inning during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
The Brewers have officially released their active roster for Opening Day! As of a few days ago, when the Brewers optioned Robert Gasser, Logan Henderson, and Shane Drohan to the minor leagues, it seemed certain which players would end up making the final cut. But a late trade threw one curveball into the decision-making process, so while 25 of these 26 players were expected as of this weekend, one wasn’t even in the organization.
That “one” is right-handed pitcher Jake Woodford, acquired from the Rays for minor-leaguer K.C. Hunt on Tuesday. Woodford is out of minor league options, so that makes Easton McGee the odd man out; he has been optioned to Triple-A Nashville.
The Brewers also officially placed several players on the injured list, and there is nothing unexpected here. Akil Baddoo, whose strained hamstring is expected to keep him out until June, has been placed on the 60-day IL, which opened the 40-man roster spot for Woodford. Steward Berroa, Quinn Priester, Craig Yoho, and Rob Zastryzny all head to the shorter IL (10 days for Berroa, 15 for the pitchers). (Dave gave updates about these players’ expected return dates yesterday.)
Besides the Woodford/McGee swap, everything else is as expected. A quick review with a few notes:
Position Players
Catchers: William Contreras and Gary Sánchez Infielders: Jake Bauers, David Hamilton, Joey Ortiz, Luis Rengifo, Brice Turang, and Andrew Vaughn Outfielders: Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick, Brandon Lockridge, Garrett Mitchell, and Christian Yelich
These positional designations, used by the team, are of course not going to be completely accurate. Yelich will mostly play as the designated hitter (though the team keeps saying they aren’t afraid to use him in left field, and did so on Monday to back that up). Bauers will play sometimes, maybe frequently, in the outfield.
As for things to watch early in the season that could affect the roster, I am keeping my eye on a few, and I’ll order them in terms of my perceived urgency:
What are the Brewers getting out of the presumed center field platoon of Mitchell and Lockridge?
Does Ortiz look like a typical below-average, slick-fielding middle infielder, or is he as bad as last year? And how many of his at-bats are going to Hamilton?
Does Rengifo look like a guy who can hold down the fort at third base all season?
Is Bauers, coming off a Ruth-ian spring, making it impossible to not play him against every right-handed pitcher?
How is Jett Williams looking at Triple-A Nashville?
The answers to these questions could determine whether this group is the same or not when summer rolls around.
Pitchers
Here’s who’ll be coming off the mound for the Brewers to start the season.
Starters: Kyle Harrison (L), Jacob Misiorowski (R), Chad Patrick (R), Brandon Sproat (R), Brandon Woodruff (R) Relievers: Grant Anderson (R), Aaron Ashby (L), DL Hall (L), Jared Koenig (L), Trevor Megill (R), Abner Uribe (R), Jake Woodford (R), Ángel Zerpa (L)
Notably, the Brewers have just one lefty in the starting rotation… but more than half of the pitchers coming out of the bullpen are left-handed. I’m not sure how unusual that is or not, but I don’t remember the last time the Brewers did it.
Of course, Aaron Ashby and/or DL Hall could end up starting some games at some point this season, and Robert Gasser is standing in the wings at Nashville. But the Brewers have announced their starters for the first six games of the season, and they all come out of the starting group listed here.
Once again, questions I’m keeping an eye on:
How are the young guys holding up in the rotation, and are any of them going to be replaced early in the season by the standby options in the minors (Gasser, Logan Henderson, Shane Drohan, others)?
Who is going to have to move aside when Priester (hopefully) returns (supposedly early May), and is this group going to make that decision difficult?
How is Woodruff’s velocity, and if it’s a little scary, is he compensating somehow?
Are we getting about what we’re expecting from everyone in the bullpen? And what are we expecting from Zerpa?
Those are early roster-related questions I’m keeping my eyes on. I’m just glad we have real baseball to watch again!
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 22: Jared Oliva #56 of the San Francisco Giants. bats against the Sacramento River Cats during the eighth inning of an exhibition game at Sutter Health Park on March 22, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees Opening Day rosters take the field at Oracle Park this afternoon for the first game of the Major League Baseball season, the Arizona Wildcats baseball program will be well represented.
Three of the six former Wildcats to appear on Opening Day rosters will be present in San Francisco: the Giants’ and Jared Oliva and Daniel Susac and the Yankees’ Austin Wells.
The three players represent the range of experience of Arizona alums in MLB. While Wells is a well-known commodity in the big leagues, Oliva and Susac are looking to make a name for themselves this season, Oliva as a journeyman outfielder and Susac as an up and coming catcher.
Here are all the former Arizona Wildcats on 2026 Opening Day rosters listed alphabetically.
Kevin Ginkel, Arizona Diamondbacks
Year in Majors: 8th
Ginkel is looking for a bounce back year after struggling last season and missing the last few months with a shoulder injury. He had a 7.36 ERA last season in 29 appearances. Ginkel should have a prominent role on a D-backs bullpen in need of dependable arms. The 32-year old Ginkel is two years removed a great 2024 year when he recorded a 3.21 ERA over 70 innings.
Scott Kingery, Chicago Cubs
Year in Majors: 7th
Kingery is back on a big league roster after being mostly out of MLB from 2021-25. Kingery appeared in 19 games with the Angels last season, recording four hits in 29 plate appearances. Kingery had a so-so Spring Training for the Cubs, hitting .204 in 24 games. Making the Cubs Opening Day roster comes as a bit of a surprise. He provides a solid glove at second base but will likely play sparingly.
Jared Oliva, San Francisco Giants
Year in Majors: 3rd (first since 2021)
Oliva, a journeyman outfielder, made the Giants roster after putting together an eye-catching Spring Training. Oliva’s bat (.375 batting average) and speed on the bases sealed his spot. Oliva has spent practically his entire career in the minors, save 26 appearances with Pittsburgh in 2020-21. He’s shown decent pop at the AAA level, but it’s hard to know if his hitting will translate to big league pitching. However long his tenure in the Giants clubhouse, Oliva’s story to the big leagues after spending most of a decade in the minors is an inspiring one.
Rob Refsnyder, Seattle Mariners
Year in Majors: 11th
Refsnyder is back on the West Coast after spending the majority of his career in the American League East (aside: Refsnyder is on his seventh team, all in the AL). The 34-year old provides a reliable bat with a knack for hitting lefties. Playing for the Red Sox last season, Refsnyder batted .304 against left-handed pitchers compared to .212 versus righties. Refsnyder’s plate approach has improved over the years. The Athletic profiled his hitting philosophy last year.
Daniel Susac, San Francisco Giants
Year in Majors: 1st
Susac is making his Major League debut for the Giants. The former first round pick by the A’s was picked up by San Francisco in the Rule 5 Draft. Susac is the second in his family to serve as the Giants’ backup catcher; his older brother Andrew played behind Buster Posey in 2014-15. Whether the younger Susac sees more playing time in the black and orange will depend on whether he can carry over his solid minor league batting numbers to the big leagues.
Austin Wells, New York Yankees
Year in Majors: 4th
Wells is the most high profile former Wildcat on this list and the guy who is under the most pressure as he enters his second season as the the Yankees’ starting catcher. Wells is considered an excellent framer of pitches, a skill that may lose some of its value under MLB’s new automated ball-strike system. Offensively, Wells hasn’t lived up to the hype. Last season he batted .219 with a .711 OPS. Those numbers earned him a lot of boos in the Bronx. The Yankees are hopeful that Wells’ strong showing in the World Baseball Classic competing for the Dominican Republic will mark a turnaround at the plate.
BENGALURU, India (AP) — American investors are making a big move into Indian cricket, with two separate billion-dollar deals made on the same day for teams in the country's most popular sports league.
No team in the Indian Premier League — one of Asia's most-watched sports events — had ever sold for more than $1 billion until a consortium backed by U.S. businessmen Kal Somani and Rob Walton — the former Walmart chairman — agreed Tuesday to buy the Rajasthan Royals in a deal that Indian media valued at $1.63 billion.
That record only lasted hours, though, as an even bigger deal was announced the same day for reigning champion Royal Challengers Bengaluru. That team was bought for $1.78 billion by another consortium that includes U.S. billionaire David Blitzer's Bolt Ventures and American asset manager Blackstone.
The two deals highlight the increasing allure of India's national pastime among international investors looking to be part of the most popular sport in the world's populous country.
“It’s mind-boggling numbers," Indian cricketing great Sourav Ganguly told local reporters. “But great news for Indian cricket and the way forward. I think it’s already as big as the NBA.”
The valuations for the two teams mark a huge jump from their original 2008 sales, when liquor baron Vijay Mallya purchased RCB for $111.6 million and Rajasthan sold for $67 million.
Cricket's hottest property
The IPL, which only runs three months a year, features the sport's shortest format — called Twenty20 — and has developed into cricket's hottest property. In 2022, the broadcast rights for the 2023-27 cycle were bought for $6.4 billion by Disney Star and Reliance Viacom18. Disney has since exited its India business and the two entities together formed JioStar in 2025.
In a statement, Blitzer described the IPL as “one of the great growth stories in global sport.”
In 2021, the league was expanded from eight to 10 teams and the two new franchises, Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants, sold for $670 million and $940 million, respectively.
In comparison, the London Spirit team of the British cricket league The Hundred was valued in 2025 at $370 million — the highest for any team in that tournament — when its partial stake was up for sale last year.
“Over the past two decades, the IPL has morphed to become a global sporting powerhouse that has changed the face of Indian cricket, creating enormous value for India,” said Kumar Mangalam Birla, chairman Aditya Birla Group, which is part of the consortium that includes Blitzer. “RCB, as one of the most compelling franchises in modern sport, offers us a distinctive platform to extend our legacy into the arena of global sport.”
The new ownership consortium will bring in a reformed management team for RCB. Aditya Birla director Aryaman Vikram Birla will serve as chairman, while Satyan Gajwani of the Times of India Group will take on the role of vice chairman.
Blitzer already has ownerships stakes in the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers, the NHL's New Jersey Devils and the Premier League's Crystal Palace, among a slew of other teams.
For Rajasthan, Somani was an existing shareholder and moved to take full control of the franchise in a deal that still needs approval from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Indian media reported. The Arizona-based tech entrepreneur is also one of the founders of Motor City Golf Club in the TGL league co-founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.
While the IPL’s current valuations still fall well shy of the top global sports franchises in other sports, like the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys or soccer's Real Madrid, there is still room to grow.
Cricket made a foray into the U.S. market with the 2024 T20 World Cup — won by India — and the sport will return to American shores at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
Times Group, another of RCB’s new co-owners, is already heavily invested in the American cricket market. It owns Willow, which primarily broadcasts all major cricket matches — including the IPL — in the U.S.
There is also a connection between the IPL and Major League Cricket — a T20 competition that began in 2023 and has six teams: in Los Angeles, New York, San Fransisco, Seattle, Dallas and Washington, D.C.
The MLC is run with the blessings of IPL’s franchises – Chennai Super Kings owns the Texas franchise, while Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians own the Los Angeles and New York teams, respectively. The league is expected to grow to eight teams in 2027, with Arizona being a prime contender for one of the new franchises.
Sep 18, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Carson Williams (7) reacts after hitting a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the sixth inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The Tampa Bay Rays have officially finalized the 26-man roster for the 2026 season, including six players to the injured list.
Here is your 2026 Rays for Opening Day:
LEFT-HANDED PITCHERS (4): Garrett Cleavinger, Steven Matz, Shane McClanahan, Ian Seymour
RIGHT-HANDED PITCHERS (9): Bryan Baker, Joe Boyle, Mason Englert, Yoendrys Gómez, Griffin Jax, Kevin Kelly, Nick Martinez, Drew Rasmussen, Cole Sulser
CATCHERS (2): Hunter Feduccia*, Nick Fortes
INFIELDERS (5): Jonathan Aranda*, Junior Caminero, Yandy Díaz, Carson Williams, Ben Williamson
10-DAY INJURED LIST (2): INF Gavin Lux*, INF Taylor Walls**
15-DAY INJURED LIST (2): RHP Ryan Pepiot, RHP Edwin Uceta
60-DAY INJURED LIST (2): RHP Manuel Rodríguez (recovery from right elbow surgery), RHP Steven Wilson
*left-handed batter **switch hitting batter
It should be noted that both Palacios and Vilade are capable of manning infield positions and are in play for second base roles with Lux on the injured list with a shoulder injury, while short stop should be primarily manned by Williams following an oblique strain for Walls.
As the final move, the Rays have elected to add LHP Cam Booser to the 40-man roster, but are optioning him to Triple-A. To make room, reliever Wilson — acquired from the White Sox alongside reliever Gomez in the OF Everson Pereira/UTIL Tanner Murray trade — was moved to the 60-day injured list with a lower back injury.
DENVER, CO - APRIL 04: Flyover during the National Anthem for the Colorado Rockies opening day against the the Athletics at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado on Friday, April 04, 2025. (Photo by Andy Cross/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) | Denver Post via Getty Images
With spring training having finally drawn to a close and the first official day of the 2026 Major League Baseball season arriving, the Colorado Rockies have formally announced their Opening Day 26-man roster.
Names in bold denote those players making an Opening Day roster for the first time.
Starting Rotation
LHP Kyle Freeland, No. 21
RHP Michael Lorenzen, No. 24
LHP Jose Quintana, No. 62
RHP Tomoyuki Sugano, No. 11
RHP Ryan Feltner, No. 18
Entering his tenth MLB season, left-handed pitcher Kyle Freeland will once again lead the Rockies’ pitching rotation as the Opening Day Starter. This will mark his franchise-record fifth time getting the nod for Opening Day as he takes the mound on Friday, March 27th against the Miami Marlins.
Behind Freeland is a rotation that looks nigh-unrecognizable compared to previous seasons. Only right-handed Ryan Feltner returns in the no. 5 spot as he looks to rebound from an injury-shorted 2025 campaign.
Right-handed pitchers Michael Lorenzen and Tomoyuki Sugano, as well as left-handed pitcher Jose Quintana, are all veterans joining the Rockies for the first time as off-season free agent acquisitions.
Bullpen
RHP Zach Agnos, No. 36
RHP Chase Dollander, No. 32
RHP Jimmy Herget, No. 44
RHP Jaden Hill, No. 0
RHP Juan Mejia, No. 47
RHP Antonio Senzatela, No. 49
RHP Victor Vodnik, No. 38
LHP Brennan Bernardino, No. 83
Right-handed pitchers Antonio Senzatela and Chase Dollander will both start the season in the bullpen after competing for the fifth rotation spot during spring training. Senzatela missed valuable time to be stretched out as he joined Venezuela for the World Baseball Classic, while Dollander will be given the opportunity to face big league hitters as he continues to work on his mechanics and arsenal.
Right-handed reliever Seth Halvorsen was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque to find his footing after a season-ending elbow injury and a difficult spring training saw him struggle to dial in his command. Fellow righties Zach Agnos, Jimmy Herget, Jaden Hill, Juan Mejia, and Victor Vodnik are all returning to the bullpen after playing significant roles there in 2025.
The Rockies’ lone left-handed reliever to start the season is Brennan Bernardino, who arrived via trade with the Boston Red Sox during the off-season.
Off-season waiver claim and right-handed pitcher Keegan Thompson has been designated for assignment
As expected, 2025 All-Star and Silver Slugger Hunter Goodman will be the Rockies’ primary catcher to start the 2026 campaign. Non-roster invitee Brett Sullivan earned the backup catcher role after a solid showing in Cactus League play where he hit .410/.452/.821 with five doubles, a triple, three home runs, two stolen bases, and struck out just three times in 39 at-bats. He also demonstrated solid defense behind the plate.
Braxton Fulford has been optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque, where he will get regular at-bats as the Isotopes’ starting catcher.
Infielders
1B TJ Rumfield, No. 7
2B Edouard Julien, No. 6
3B Kyle Karros, No. 12
SS Ezequiel Tovar, No. 14
Outfielders
OF Jordan Beck, No. 27
OF Brenton Doyle, No. 9
OF Jake McCarthy, No. 31
OF Mickey Moniak, No. 22
Utility
Willi Castro, No. 3
Troy Johnston, No. 20
Ryan Ritter, No. 8
Only four of the Rockies’ non-catching position players were on last year’s Opening Day roster: Gold Glove winners Ezequiel Tovar and Brenton Doyle, as well as outfielders Jordan Beck and Mickey Moniak. Everyone else is either a new arrival from the off-season or making the Opening Day roster for the first time in their career.
Third baseman Kyle Karros and utility-man Ryan Ritter both made their MLB debuts last season and earned spots on the Opening Day roster during spring training. Karros will be the Rockies’ every-day third baseman while Ritter has taken on super-utility duties by learning outfield and first base during camp.
Edouard Julien, Jake McCarthy, and TJ Rumfield all joined the Rockies via trade over the off-season while Willi Castro was a free agent acquisition. Julien will likely be the Rockies’ back-up second baseman behind Castro, though both are able to play multiple positions. McCarthy will play corner outfield when he is not spelling Brenton Doyle in center field.
Troy Johnston, a waiver claim, made the roster after a solid spring and an injury to incumbent Tyler Freeman. He can play first base and both corner outfield positions.
TJ Rumfield, who arrived from the New York Yankees in exchange for right-handed reliever Angel Chivilli, was the standout player of spring training. He earned the starting first base job after hitting .286/.359/.554 in 23 games with five home runs and only two strikeouts over 56 at-bats. He was also the Rockies’ Abby Greer Spring Training MVP award winner.
RHP RJ Petit, No. 58 (Tommy John surgery) (15-Day)
DH Kris Bryant, No. 23 (Lumbar degenerative disk disease) (60-Day)
RHP Jeff Criswell, No. 46 (Tommy John surgery) (60-Day)
RHP Pierson Ohl, No. 40 (Tommy John surgery) (60-Day)
The Rockies will start the season with eight players on the injured list. Right-handed pitchers Pierson Ohl—acquired via trade with the Minnesota Twins—and RJ Petit—a Rule 5 draft selection from the Detroit Tigers—both required Tommy John surgery before the season started. Meanwhile, RHP Jeff Criswell is rehabbing from his own surgery and is expected back in April or May.
Blaine Crim, Tyler Freeman, Zac Veen, and McCade Brown all missed significant time this spring due to a variety of ailments and will not be ready to start the season.
TAMPA, FL - MARCH 21: Jim Jarvis #94 and Tate Southisene #19 celebrate after the game between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Saturday, March 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Vincent Mizzoni/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
This is a weird post. I’ll just go ahead and get that out of the way. And then I’m going to head into a brief-ish aside.
I used to generate a lot more content. On the rare occasion I interrogate this fact, the subsequent thoughts fall into a few camps. One is that, well, I’m just busier. My bit of unsolicited life advice framed as a statement: one small child in a both-parents-work household with no non-hired help nearby is imminently doable; two small children with the same setup is really difficult. 2025 was also just a brutal year all-around, I’m not sure what 2026 represents in that regard yet. But, the other hand is that for me, MLB is shoving itself more into the “abstractly/conceptually interesting” camp rather than the “directly engaging camp.” My favorite part of baseball was roster construction, but the expanded playoffs have brutalized the idea (as expected). On top of that, there’s a bunch of non-player-related uncertainty (different balls, different rules), which both dampen the rewards to roster construction but also make baseball feel kinda serialized — “Oh, that was the year that X” — perhaps too much. I don’t know. Anyway, the combination of having less time and feeling like learning baseball things is less consequential because rosters are just kind of a morass of “we sorta tried” these days is a bummer.
Okay, I got that out of the way. And having done so, I’m going to talk about Spring Training.
The Braves won three-fourths of their official Grapefruit League contests, finishing 21-7. Even the mighty Dodgers couldn’t catch up — the Braves’ total victory over both spring leagues wasn’t assured until late, but the Dodgers ended up finishing 20-9 in the Cactus League. This, of course, means nothing. You know it means nothing, and even if it meant something, Spring Training during a World Baseball Classic year would mean even less. (Though, of course, the Braves won while missing arguably their best player for much of Spring Training…) But, it’s useful to occasionally reevaluate whether the things we think we know are true are… true. So, here we are.
I went back to 2016 (because that’s the year we have “modern” playoff odds memorialized on FanGraphs). For those years, I pulled teams if they:
Won either the Cactus or Grapefruit League; or
Didn’t win either league, but had a record better than the winner of one of those leagues.
This gave me 24 team-seasons, excluding 2020. Most years had two or three teams in this set; 2017 has four, because the Angels “won” the Cactus League with a .588 winning percentage, while three Grapefruit League teams fared better. One of those teams was the 2023 Braves, who had a .643 Spring winning percentage — behind the Cardinals that year, but still good enough to be included. (And we all know how 2023 went for the Braves!)
For each of those team-seasons, I then pulled both their actual end-of-season winning percentage, but also their before-the-season-started final projected wins point estimate. All of this is summarized below.
Some of this stuff is kinda interesting. The teams here have a collective 85 win-ish projection (whether you include 2026 or not). Actual performance for these teams ended up around 87 wins, so basically a two-win swing. It seems tempting to say that superlative Spring Training teams go on to beat their projections in the regular season, but nah — pretty much any statistical test you can muster shows no effect, something underscored by the fact that despite the two-win swing overall, ten of the 24 teams performed worse than expected. These findings are also robust to pretty much any kind of drill-down — excluding “extra” teams that didn’t win their Spring league, only taking the best team each Spring, etc. etc.
Bottom line, you already knew this: it doesn’t matter. The 2016 Nationals had an insane Spring Training, as did the 2024 Orioles. Those teams actually did do much better than expected. But the 2025 Giants are next, and they ended up at .500, as expected. The 2016 Diamondbacks weren’t supposed to be good, had a great Spring Training, and then imploded during the regular season.
You probably could’ve surmised all of this. But now you know. Yay, the Braves won in Spring Training. That’ll have to be its own reward, such as it is. Overall, the Braves will have to scrap for a playoff spot, as their injury situation and general roster malaise make this much more of a 2019-2021 situation than the expected-and-consummated dominance they managed in 2022-2023.
D.J. Short
Logan Webb Under 6.5 strikeouts
Ben Rice Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI
