Mar 27, 2026; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) reacts during the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Sorry for the miss on the Game Thread last night, y’all. We had a miscommunication on the game coverage sheet, and I was working one of my other jobs last night, so I couldn’t just jump in. Anyway, enough apologies, on to the game.
The Houston Rockets got a win last night, dowing the Memphis Grizzlies 119-109 in a solid performance. The team was led by Kevin Durant, who finished with 25 points, 6 rebounds and 10 assists on 8-for-14 shooting from the floor and 3-for-7 from deep. He helped Houston on a 14-3 run in the fourth quarter that put the game away for the Rockets.
Houston also had a good night from Jabari Smith Jr., who bounced back from an ugly game with 21 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 assists. He was 7-for-16 from the field. In fact, all five Rockets starters finished in double figures, as the Rockets got 18 points and 8 boards from Amen Thompson, 14 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 blocks from Alperen Sengun, as well as 15 points, 5 boards, 5 assists and 4 steals from Reed Sheppard, who continues to remain in the starting lineup. Seems like Ime may have finally gotten his head out of his ass on that one.
The Rockets got hit with the Rampaging Rando (trademark Xiane) last night, as Olivier-Maxence Prosper went off for 31 points on 12-for-15 from the floor depsite just averaging 9 points per game on the season, but the rest of the Grizzlies shot just 36 percent on the night. The Rockets also won the rebounding battle to help bring home the win.
Houston now moves to 44-29 on the season and sits in sixth place in the Western Conference. They are one game back of the Minnesota Timberwolves for fifth and are four games ahead of the Phoenix Suns for seventh place. They will return to action on Sunday versus the New Orleans Pelicans.
WORCESTER, Mass. – Roger Clemens arrived as the Guest of Honor for WooSox Opening Day with core memories of the 40th anniversary of a special season.
The 1986 campaign started a run of over two decades in the majors as one of the best starting pitchers in the sport. From learning from Hall of Famer Tom Seaver to earning a World Series trip, “The Rocket” hit the ground running in Boston.
“Great memories,” Clemens said Friday at Polar Park. “For me, Boston being my home, getting drafted out of the University of Texas, winning the Eastern League. And before I actually went back to Texas after that season, the Sox had me come. That’s the first time I got to see Fenway Park. So I thought it was amazing. And actually, the game, still remember it, was Dennis Eckersley against Jim Palmer. And so I got to see those two guys work. And so that was a treat for me.”
It was April of 1986 when Clemens introduced himself as a star in the league with a 20-strikeout effort against the Seattle Mariners, the first such game in MLB history, on a night to remember at Fenway Park. Clemens matched the feat 10 years later in Detroit, though the first instance means just as much four decades later.
“Both 20 strikeout games were really cool,” Clemens recalled. “The first one that stands out, basically it was early in the year and I was proving to my teammates and to the ball club that I was healthy.”
The Red Sox right-hander gave plenty of credit to the late Bill Fischer, Boston’s pitching coach in 1986, for guiding him and persistently prioritizing the ability to fill up the strike zone..
“So I was able to get a lot of knowledge from him and he always stressed not to walk guys,” Clemens explained. “Both 20 strikeout games when you’re throwing that high rate of speed and you’re striking guys out, I didn’t walk a guy. So I think I’m most proud about that. That’s probably why I never threw a no-hitter.”
Clemens took control on the mound from the jump, where he believes he called up to 95% of the pitches he threw to catcher Rich Gedman, who caught his old starter’s ceremonial first pitch Friday afternoon. In the modern era of PitchCom and MLB’s adoption of the ABS system, Clemens brought his own context to pitching in 2026.
“Yeah, I love it,” Clemens shared. “You know, I love that they also are featuring the high strike. They pinch you a little bit east and west now. And of course, with the ABS system, makes you say, I don’t think the pitcher should be allowed. … I think it should be the hitter and the catcher. They have the best look. Even if you’re a mitt looker, you’re a pitcher that stares at the mitt the entire time, you still lose sight of the baseball, flight of the ball at some point. But yeah, I love it.”
Clemens reached the World Series with Boston before a heartbreaking loss to the New York Mets. The 2026 Red Sox look to find their way to the Fall Classic for the first time in eight years. Clemens gets his first look at the squad when Boston visits his home state to take on the Houston Astros next week.
His keys to the season? Renewed chemistry in the clubhouse after dramatic stretches of 2025 in addition to the ability to lean on established pitching depth to counter the summer months.
“I think there’s a lot of team chemistry,” Clemens said. “That’s very important, which if you guys were around me last year when I came up here on radio and TV, the first baseman (Triston Casas) got hurt and I thought that would be a perfect scenario for the third baseman (Rafael Devers) at that time to move over to first. He’s a very good player, he’s in San Francisco now. So that didn’t work out. Your team chemistry has to be there.”
The 63-year-old entered the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2014. He’s yet to hear his name called in Cooperstown due to steroid scandals, though he knows his performance landed him among the best to ever throw a major league pitch.
“For me, which I’m hoping to do something really cool that you guys will see, my son’s gonna go with me,” Clemens shared, alluding to new projects surrounding his baseball career. “I’m not even gonna tell you what it is, but I gotta go to Ohio for something. This Thurman Munson Award, which I had the privilege to win that. But I’m gonna do something else that deals with Cy Young. And when you’re mentioned with guys like Cy Young or Babe Ruth or ahead of Willie Mays and guys like that, you’re in pretty good company. So that’s good enough for me.”
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 26: A general view of UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium during the national anthem flyover prior to the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday, March 26, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — Charley Steiner returned to the Dodgers broadcast booth on Thursday, calling the first three innings of the opening day game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on radio.
Steiner has battled health issues in recent years, including multiple myeloma and a back injury that made it difficult to walk. His workload for this season is unknown, and will depend on how he’s feeling. At the very least, expect Steiner to be a part of some radio pregame segments with Rick Monday.
This is the 22nd season calling games for the Dodgers for Steiner, who turned the microphone over on Thursday to Stephen Nelson to call the final six innings alongside Monday on opening day.
Every locker in the Dodgers clubhouse on opening day had a Seiko bag from Shohei Ohtani with a note saying “Three Peat!!” Inside was a luxury watch. It’s the third such season Ohtani has given a gift to his teammates before the first game.
“He’s just very generous, very thoughtful,” manager Dave Roberts said Thursday. “I think we’re all very grateful.”
The Vancouver Canucks (21-42-8) kick off a four-game road trip on Saturday against the Calgary Flames (30-34-8). Both these teams are at the bottom of the standings and have won a combined eight of their past 20 games. Vancouver enters the game looking to snap a four-game losing streak, while Calgary is coming off an overtime loss on Thursday.
Saturday is setting up to be an interesting game from a draft lottery perspective. While the Canucks have all but secured 32nd place, the Flames have a chance to finish the season with the second-best odds at first overall in the 2026 NHL Draft. Ultimately, Saturday could be called a tank battle as both teams have struggled mightily this season.
As for Vancouver, they cannot have a repeat of Thursday night. Even if the Canucks lose, they need to show that they can play a full 60 while improving areas like shot generation and the penalty kill. At this stage of the season, the process is more important than results, as Vancouver will remain at the bottom of the standings the rest of the year.
Players To Watch
Tom Willander:
Tom Willander is one of the younger players getting more opportunities as the season comes to a close. He played over 21 minutes on Thursday and showed late in the game that he isn't afraid to get involved in a scrum. Even though he is only 21, Willander looks like he is developing into a leader for the Canucks.
Hunter Brzustewicz:
A familiar face will be in the lineup for Calgary on Saturday as Hunter Brzustewicz will patrol the blue line for the Flames. Initially drafted by Vancouver in 2023, the 21-year-old is projected to suit up for his 27th career game. So far this season, Brzustewicz has three points and is averaging 15:07 per night.
Nov 23, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf (32) defends against Vancouver Canucks center Linus Karlsson (94) during the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Simon Fearn-Imagn Images
Vancouver Canucks (21–42–8):
Points:
Elias Pettersson: 15–28–43
Filip Hronek: 8–33–41
Brock Boeser: 17–20–37
Jake DeBrusk: 15–18–33
Linus Karlsson: 13–17–30
Goaltenders:
Thatcher Demko: 8–10–1
Kevin Lankinen: 8–25–5
Nikita Tolopilo: 5–6–2
Jiří Patera: 0–1–0
Calgary Flames (30–34–8):
Points:
Mikael Backlund: 16-23-39
Matt Coronato: 16-20-36
Morgan Frost: 17-18-35
Joel Farabee: 16-16-32
Blake Coleman: 17-13-30
Goaltenders:
Dustin Wolf: 21-25-3
Devin Cooley: 9-9-5
Game Information:
Start time: 7:00 pm PT
Venue: Scotiabank Saddledome
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 650
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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On March 8th, the Phoenix Suns played the Charlotte Hornets. The Suns won 111-99 behind a combined 78 points from the backcourt trio of Devin Booker, Collin Gillespie, and Jalen Green. For most of us, this was a game like any other. We watched, we enjoyed, we went to bed happy that our Suns got another win. It was the second win in a row, and it came against a Charlotte team that is surprisingly hot this season.
But in Phoenix at the Mortgage Matchup Center, in section 108, row 17, there was a special young man and his parents, for whom this game meant so much more.
22-year old Tate Haddock comes from a long line of Suns fans. His mother, Pam, reminisces about the stories her father would tell about the first seasons of Suns’ basketball. Tate himself started really paying attention to the Suns around a decade ago during Devin Booker’s sophomore season.
In August of 2024, the lives of the Haddock family would change forever. Tate was diagnosed with Leukemia. Doctors told him that if left untreated, he had six months left to live.
“It was very rattling, more than anything,” Tate said.
However, it was neither the diagnosis nor the chemo that Tate said was the worst part of his battle with cancer.
“People don’t talk about watching your loved ones struggle with it just as much, if not more than you do. It was a lot harder on the people that cared about me than it was myself.”
Ever since the diagnosis, Mike and Pam Haddock have been driving four and a half hours every week with their son to St. Louis for chemotherapy. Through it all, Tate and his parents remained strong and hopeful, with the help of their community.
“I had a great support system. My parents, my partner, grandparents. There are a lot of people taking good care of me. My partner stayed with me throughout my entire hospital stay. For better or worse, there were people that cared.”
It wasn’t just his family, either. His small town in Missouri held a golf benefit for him. Pam said, “You don’t realize until you’re in the middle of it and you find the kindness of strangers, how you really are supported and how much people are willing to care and support you if they know what you need and want.”
Even through the last year and a half of treatment, the Haddock family has kept up with their Suns. Ask them about their favorite Suns players of all time, and you will see a trend. Pam immediately chimes in, “I loved Charles Barkley’s bad attitude!” Tate will tell you, “Dillon Brooks, and we love Goodie!”
PHOENIX, AZ – NOVEMBER 01: Dionte Christmas #25 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after hitting a three point shot against the Utah Jazz during the second half of the NBA game at US Airways Center on November 1, 2013 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Jazz 87-84. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The conversation about favorite players led us to his Instagram (@haddock_tate_haddock). “If I’m really locking in, I like Dionte Christmas because one time he reposted my story on Instagram.” Dionte Christmas played his sole 31 NBA games for the Suns in the 2013-2014 season.
That Suns fandom was why, just a few days before Tate’s birthday, the family piled into their car and roadtripped from Missouri to Phoenix to watch the Suns play the Hornets.
But Pam had more in mind than just a good time at the arena. “I tried everything to get him to be able to meet players. Emailing reporters, players. I’ve got to figure this out!”
Eventually, she was able to get a hold of the Sun’s Mercury Foundation. “They said they wanted to make it a night he wouldn’t forget.”
And so it was that before the game, Tate Haddock could be seen, freshly in remission, walking through the players’ tunnel to stand courtside for pregame shootaround.
“I didn’t know how special it was going to be. I was allowed to just walk up to Oso and talk to him.”
In addition to this incredible experience, the Suns gave him a bag full of merch. He even got his hat signed by Royce O’Neale, Amir Coffey, Haywood Highsmith, and Oso Ighodaro.
“It was amazing,” says Pam, “For them to recognize him and make him feel special and for them to treat our whole family like VIPs, it made me feel like I had accomplished something amazing.”
Overall, it was an incredible night for a young man with battles still ahead of him. Though in remission, Tate has to continue chemo until September 2027. He’s happy that during this, the team is moving in a positive direction.
“This is the best I’ve felt about being a Suns fan since 2021,” Tate said.
“We love the culture and scrappiness,” Pam continued.
When Tate was asked about who his favorite young player on the roster was, he said, “I love Rasheer Fleming.”
And why shouldn’t he? Rasheer Fleming is turning himself into a scrappy player, much like his other favorite players Dillon Brooks and Jordan Goodwin. These players exemplify in their games what Tate has exemplified in his heart, a fighting spirit that doesn’t give up.
“When you are facing adversity, try to see the good in things. When it’s hard to find the good, you’ve got some options. You can create it for yourself or look harder. Eventually, you’ll find it, no matter how hard it can be.”
Tate’s story isn’t just about one man’s battle with cancer. It is a reminder of how much more we are capable of when we come together. It is a reminder of the power of a community working together toward a common goal, whether as a nation, a small town in Missouri, or the fans of a basketball team.
The most important thing we can do is take care of one another. So tell the people you love that you love them, go out and get involved in your community, and cheer as hard as ever for the teams you love.
With teams just getting underway, the market is still finding its footing. That can lead to softer prices, especially when public perception hasn’t caught up to current form or roster changes.
Below, we break down the top moneyline MLB picks for Saturday, March 28.
MLB moneyline picks for March 28
Matchup
Pick
Rays vs Cardinals
+107
Nationals vs Cubs
-217
Athletics vs Blue Jays
-175
Twins vs Orioles
-182
Rangers vs Phillies
-127
Pirates vs Mets
-150
Red Sox vs Reds
+109
Rockies vs Marlins
-154
Angels vs Astros
+134
White Sox vs Brewers
-250
Royals vs Braves
-120
Yankees vs Giants
+114
Tigers vs Padres
-120
Diamondbacks vs Dodgers
-250
Guardians vs Mariners
-175
Lines courtesy of Kalshi as of 3-28.
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Expert MLB moneyline picks for March 28
Rays vs Cardinals: Cardinals (+107)
This matchup is tighter than the odds suggest, but St. Louis offers value as a near coin-flip underdog. Tampa Bay’s offense can be streaky, and if the Cardinals can get out to an early lead, they can steal this one
Nationals vs Cubs: Cubs (-217)
A common theme for me is to find whenever Miles Mikolas is pitching and fade him. The Cubs' offense isn't going to be the problem this season, and I expect Cade Horton to receive plenty of run support.
Athletics vs Blue Jays: Blue Jays (-175)
Dylan Cease will make his Blue Jays' debut, and that's enough for me to back the home side. He's coming off a down year last year, but showed good stuff in his last spring training start.
Twins vs Orioles: Orioles (-182)
Give me the Orioles at home here. It's tough to trust Taj Bradley's form coming into this game. He gave up plenty of contact in ST, with very poor command.
Rangers vs Phillies: Phillies (-127)
Philadelphia’s lineup depth and power give them a strong edge in this matchup despite going up against Jacob deGrom, who is usually starved for run support.
Red Sox vs Reds: Red Sox (-154)
I just don't believe the Reds are going to be any good this season, so I will look to fade them as much as possible early on. Sonny Gray gives the Sox the pitching edge here.
Pirates vs Mets: Mets (-150)
Welp, the Pirates had a really good first inning in Game 1, before the wheels fell off. Expect much of the same in this spot.
Rockies vs Marlins: Marlins (-200)
Everyone's favorite matchup to not care about. I like Eury Perez more than I do Michael Lorenzen, so give me the Marlins at home.
Angels vs Astros: Angeles (+134)
Let's take a shot with the Angels here. Jeremy Pena is still day-to-day with an injury and the Astros lineup tends to go really cold when they are cold.
White Sox vs Brewers: Brewers (-250)
Betting on bad teams is not a recipe for success. So, let's take the better team here with the decided hitting advantage.
Royals vs Braves: Braves (-143)
I think Michael Wacha is on the decline and won't last the season in the majors. Give me the Braves at home.
Yankees vs Giants: Giants (+114)
It's tough to go against the Yankees, but I think the Giants have the pitching edge here in this matchup of Will Warren vs. Tyler Mahle.
Tigers vs Padres: Tigers (-120)
The Tigers are going to be a really fun team to watch this year, and they should be able to beat up on Randy Vasquez, who gave up 10 hits, eight runs, and three home runs in his last two spring starts.
Diamondbacks vs Dodgers: Dodgers (-250)
I don't know about you, but I believe there are going to be very limited spots to bet against the Dodgers this year... and this spot is not one of them.
Guardians vs Mariners: Mariners (-175)
Bryan Woo was one of Seattle's better pitchers last year, and he comes into this one with two solid spring training outings under his belt. I'm banking on pitching being the difference in this game.
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.
No game Friday. Today Cade Horton matches up against our old friend Miles Mikolas, trying to put a bow tie on the series. Mikolas isn’t quite what he used to be, but he still has moxie and tenacity.
We have plenty of videos to watch and some good articles to get you revved up for baseball, if that’s a need. Jason Heyward retired. He might do more for the community than the game, in the end.
“Having Pete on our side and having him around is important to our success, and a guy like that, it’s wins. He’s got another challenge ahead of him now, but he’s ready for it.” — Craig Counsell.
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The Mud Hens took an early lead in their International League opener in Lehigh Valley, but the offense ran out of gas and the Hens bullpen floundered late to lose it.
Sean Guenther got the spot start and had to pitch through a minor jam in the first. He did so, and then put the Pigs down in the second inning. Meanwhile, Trei Cruz got the Hens started in the top of the second with a single, and then took second on a wild pitch. Outfielder Corey Julks singled him in for a 1-0 lead.
Max Clark walked and stole second in the top of the third, but no rally followed him. Ricky Vanasco handled the third, issuing a walk but punching out a pair of hitters.Vanasco gave up a leadoff walk in the bottom of the fourth, but punched out two more swinging and then Tomas Nido challenged a ball call to get his pitcher a third strikeout in the inning. Impressive outing from Ricky Vanasco, but still some control issues. The stuff is strong.
Max Clark drew 94 walks and stole 19 bases in 2025. He picks up one of each in the 3rd inning tonight. pic.twitter.com/pSgZDuwRT3
Clark walked again in the fifth, but was also stranded again. Lefty Konnor Pilkington pitched around a two-out double in the bottom half. The Hens got two-out singles from Julks and Nido, and then a walk from Gage Workman, but Clark grounded out to end the top of the sixth.
In the bottom half, Pilkington got into trouble, loading the bases with a pair of walks after a leadoff double from the Pigs’ Felix Reyes. Brenan Hanifee got two outs without a run, as Workman took a grounder at third and cut down the runner at home plate. And then Hanifee walked in a run anyway to tie the game 1-1 before getting out of the inning.
A leadoff double from Wenceel Pérez was squandered in the top of the seventh. Tanner Rainey took over in the bottom half and was a mess, leaving Matt Seelinger to take over with a run in and runners on first and second. Seelinger walked Carter Kieboom to load the bases, and then followed up with a wild pitch and a pair of hits that made it 5-1 Pigs.
The rest of the game the Hens just couldn’t string anything together. Pérez stayed hot with a solo hot in the ninth to make it 5-2, extending his late spring hot streak, but overall the Hens bullpen was pretty sloppy in this one.
Wenceel Perez gets a low changeup and launches a 359-foot homer just over the wall in right. pic.twitter.com/cGcZPwnVwo
Prior to the game, the finalized Mud Hens roster was released. There weren’t too many surprises. Right now it’s a four-man rotation with Keider Montero, Ty Madden, Bryan Sammons, and Lael Lockhart Jr. Prospect Jake Miller and Sawyer Gipson-Long should be taking spots within a few weeks, but on Opening Day they went with a Sean Guenther-led bullpen game.
Toledo will host ten members of the Tigers’ 40-Man Roster: RHP Brenan Hanifee, RHP Ty Madden, LHP Jake Miller, RHP Keider Montero, LHP Drew Sommers, C/1B Eduardo Valencia, INF Jace Jung, INF Hao-Yu Lee, UT Trei Cruz and OF Wenceel Perez.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 25: A view of the stadium and a view of Kayakers arriving in McCovey Cove on Netflix branded kayaks are seen during the MLB Opening Night Game: Yankees vs. Giants, at Momo's on March 25, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thos Robinson/Getty Images for Netflix) | Getty Images for Netflix
Good morning, baseball fans!
Now that we’re back into the groove of the regular season for the San Francisco Giants, it’s time to start checking in weekly to see who everyone’s Player of the Week is!
This week is a bit tough, especially for me because I have to pre-write these. Which means the team has only played exactly one game as of the time I am writing this and that was their semi-disastrous loss to the New York Yankees on Wednesday.
So if I had to make a pick from just that game, I’m giving it to Aaron Judge! This might be a first in Player of the Week history (given that we only started doing these last season), since we usually try to give that out to a Giants player. But YOU try picking someone from the Giants in Wednesday’s game that made fans happier than Judge did when he struck out four times.
We may not remember the details of that game as time moves forward, but we’re going to remember Judge getting the league’s first golden sombrero of the year!
Who is your pick for Player of the Week?
What time do the Giants play today?
The Giants conclude their series against the Yankees this afternoon at 4:15 p.m. PT.
Let’s be honest right up front: The Rockies are not chasing history in 2026. (They might be running from it.)
They’re not chasing Todd Helton and Larry Walker’s 49 home runs. They’re not chasing Andrés Galarraga’s 150 RBIs. They’re not sniffing Walker’s .379. This isn’t that kind of team. But that doesn’t mean this season won’t be worth watching.
Because while this roster won’t threaten the franchise record books over 162 games, it absolutely has the kind of young, toolsy, unpredictable talent that can do something ridiculous on any given night.
And at Coors Field, ridiculous still happens.
The Big Records? Not Happening
Before we get to the fun stuff, let’s acknowledge reality.
The Rockies’ all-time season records belong to the legends of Blake Street. Dominant hitters. Video game numbers.
No one here has the power, consistency, and opportunity to touch 49 home runs. No one is getting on base enough to steal 68 bags — stolen bases have never really been a Rockies identity, and that hasn’t changed (the high since 2016 is just 30, from Brenton Doyle in 2024). And no one is driving in 150 runs without a lineup built to feed them.
With Doyle’s speed, Tovar’s all-around game, and Beck’s upside, this feels doable.
Top candidates: Brenton Doyle, Jordan Beck, Ezequiel Tovar
Four-Home Run Game (Okay… Probably Not)
Only 21 players in MLB history have done it, but three did it in 2025. Baseball gets weird.
More realistically, a three-homer game is in play (last done by Michael Toglia in 2024).
Top candidates: Hunter Goodman, Jordan Beck, Mickey Moniak
No-Hitter (definitely not)
The Rockies have one no-hitter ever — Ubaldo Jiménez in 2010. Given this rotation, it’s hard to see that changing. But a dominant, start-to-finish outing? That’s possible.
A complete game is a more realistic benchmark — the last one came in 2022 from Chad Kuhl.
Chase Dollander has the raw stuff to flash something special. The catch? He’s starting in the bullpen.
Still — stuff plays.
Single-Game Records to Watch
If anything is happening this year, maybe it’s here:
These don’t require a perfect season — just one perfect night. And this roster has enough tools to stumble into one.
Takeaways
This version of the Rockies probably won’t give you a summer-long chase for history. The legends of Blake Street set the bar. Those records are safe — for now.
But it might give you a random Tuesday in June where someone hits for the cycle. Or three homers out of nowhere. Or a young arm that puts it all together for a full game. Baseball has always had room for something unexpected.
And this team? It feels like it’s built for exactly that.
In a season where Rockies fans will be looking for smaller wins — and things to celebrate — as roster churn and player development take center stage, the moments will matter more than the standings.
There will be standout performances this year. The only question is how big they’ll be — and where they’ll ultimately land in Rockies history.
So what do you think? Do we see a cycle? A no-hitter? Does anyone on this roster make a real run at a single-game or even a season record?
Tanner Gordon set the tone on Triple-A Opening Day, tossing five strong innings and allowing just one run on three hits while striking out five, helping the Isotopes overcome three errors to secure the win. Cole Carrigg (No. 4 PuRP) and Vimal Machin led the offense with two hits apiece, while Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) added a single in four at-bats. Not the cleanest game defensively, but plenty of pitching and just enough offense to get Albuquerque off to a winning start.
In this piece by Maria Aldrich of Sports Illustrated, she frames the Rockies’ offseason as a mix of smart, under-the-radar moves and a few that already look questionable. She points to some low-risk additions and controllable pieces as steps in the right direction, while also highlighting decisions the club might come to regret, like letting Germán Márquez walk in free agency.
In this Denver Sports (104.3 The Fan) piece, the staff fires off bold predictions for 2026 that range from cautiously hopeful to full Coors Field chaos. There’s a clear belief the Rockies will be better than a 119-loss disaster, with breakout buzz around Goodman, Tovar, and Beck. Beyond that, it’s the usual mix of power surges, surprise standouts, and just enough wild takes to remind you how unpredictable this team can be.
The Detroit Red Wings had not scored a first-period goal since their victory over the New Jersey Devils on March 8, but they were able to remedy that drought on Friday evening.
In fact, they did it three times.
First-period goals from Alex DeBrincat, Lucas Raymond, and Marco Kasper paced the Red Wings to a critical 5-2 road win over the Buffalo Sabres, enabling them to get back to within a point of the second and final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.
For the Red Wings, getting off to a big start was key.
"Everyone was asking me about the want or the need to score in the first period, so it was really big," head coach Todd McLellan said. "We caught them maybe a little bit flat, and you could see when they took it up in the second (period) and it was a different game. But the lead was something we needed."
As McLellan noted, the Sabres upped their game in the contest's middle frame, limiting the Red Wings to only three shots while also finally solving John Gibson with a Tage Thompson goal.
However, Detroit kept Buffalo at bay and secured an insurance tally from former Sabres defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker. Despite a Sabres goal from team captain Rasmus Dahlin soon afterward, Buffalo native and future Hall of Famer Patrick Kane sealed the victory with an empty net goal.
Kane made sure to not only emphasize the importance of the fast start but also credit Gibson, who made 28 saves.
“It was a great start, I think we were really focused on the start tonight, and that obviously put us in a great position. Second period wasn't great, obviously, but kind of held down the fort, only gave up one. Gibby made some huge saves."
Gibson returned to the form that made him one of the NHL's best goaltenders since the beginning of December, turning aside several prime chances for the Sabres.
"He was unbelievable for us tonight, and a lot of bending but not breaking in the right moments in the game, and obviously the fourth goal was huge to give us a cushion," Kane said. "So, big team win. Coming into Buffalo against a good team, we should feel good about that one, but got to get right back to it tomorrow.”
The Red Wings are back in action on Saturday evening against the visiting Philadelphia Flyers.
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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 27: Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against Nickeil Alexander-Walker #7 of the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at the TD Garden on March 27, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
#1 – Early game trouble
As it was highlighted by Gray Washburn in the press conference after the game, it’s rare for Joe Mazzulla to call multiple timeouts so early in the game. However, pretty quickly, the Celtics were falling behind, especially because of their offense. As the Celtics head coach said, there were too many “empty possessions.”
Looking back at the film, most of the shots prior to that second timeout were contested pull-up shots or floaters, but rarely open opportunities or layups at the rim. The Hawks did a great job of contracting the space without leaving too much gap to the shooters.
Right after the timeout, it was yet another missed pull-up from the mid-range, but this time the Celtics crashed the glass and extended the possession for a Hugo Gonzalez three-pointer.
To get back in the game, the Celtics needed to find a way to the rim. For that, they used the Hawks’ coverage against them. As the Hawks were willing to switch over screens, the Celtics multiplied the cuts and increased the movement while obtaining the matchup they wanted.
On the play below, the screens on the strong side of the court create a switch that gives Luka Garza a big size advantage on Gabe Vincent. This makes it easier for Derrick White to find him on the cut and finally get a shot at the rim for the Celtics.
The Celtics used that momentum against the Hawks bench to get going and make the most of the mistakes. Here, Jonathan Kuminga jumps on the fake and White drives right away for another layup. The Celtics were finally able to get deep into the paint.
The lack of good execution on switches was perfect for the Celtics offense, and showed how deep the Celtics can be. While the starters struggled a little at first, the bench rolled over the Hawks. Here, the switch is completely broken and Garza gets a free roll to the rim.
But he was just getting started, as the guard ended up with 36 points last night. Often, Joe Mazzulla talks about creating good looks early in the possession. Well, look at PP here going full speed on that handoff with Garza. The defense isn’t even set and he scores right at the rim. The early bird gets the worm, right?
Then, a little give-and-go early in the possession. As he passes to Jayson Tatum, PP uses the flare screen from Neemias Queta to get enough space for another bomb.
Here, the action starts a bit slow as he runs a first ball screen with Tatum. He sees space to attack, so he swings it to the side, but immediately cuts and gets the ball back for another layup.
And he kept attacking the Hawks like this all night until the final buzzer. Great game from PP with Jaylen Brown sitting out. But while the scoring is what stands out, he impacted the game in other ways.
#4 – Pritchard beyond the scoring
Asked Joe Mazzulla about Payton Pritchard, who was a +26 in a game the Celtics won by seven:
“The points are one thing, but I thought the ball handling, handling the pressure, the offensive rebounding… It’s just those big time plays for us. He's not defined by scoring.” pic.twitter.com/jTlPSfP8Ip
Joe Mazzulla was right, the 36 points will make the headlines, but some plays had an even bigger impact on the game. In the second half alone, he created four extra possessions with offensive rebounds.
This extra effort from one of the smallest guys on the court speaks loudly to the commitment to winning and doing what it takes to put the team in the best position possible, with or without the ball.
#5 – Roaming off Dyson Daniels
The other big factor in the game was the Celtics’ defensive plan against the Hawks — and once again, it was about how they mixed matchups. As expected, they put Neemias Queta on the Atlanta Hawks’ worst shooter, Dyson Daniels. This lack of shooting from the former Pelicans guard created an overload of players in the paint for the Hawks on offense, as Queta was playing the safety.
Yet, what was surprising was Sam Hauser being matched up with Onyeka Okongwu, and the Hawks weren’t going after him to punish the Celtics’ bet. Of course, the Celtics center isn’t known for his post-up moves and isn’t even that tall, but the Hawks could have tried to put pressure on the Celtics’ defensive shell with that size advantage.
The Hawks tried various things to help Daniels. They attacked the Celtics big men with drives, or asked for more movement from their non-shooting wing, but the flow seemed off when the actions involved him, and the paint was full of bodies anyway.
Overall, the Celtics were able to turn him into a non-impact offensive player, forcing others to make the difference from the outside.
#6 – Dealing with Jalen Johnson
A big wing with driving and shooting abilities like Jalen Johnson is tough to handle for any team, but the Celtics had a plan in mind to make sure they gave away the right thing. Early in the game, they were comfortable living with his shooting variance, even as he was making pull-up threes from deep.
On the action above, it is clear that the threat the Celtics identified was his drive, not his shot. The following play speaks even louder. Like against the Thunder, the Celtics sent a lot of help from the nail, closed the drives, and took away the pass to the corner. And if you take away the drives and the corner three from a team… well, there isn’t much hope left.
Against a team with a lot of ball pressure, drawing offense around Neemias Queta was smart and worked pretty well. Here, he gets the ball at the nail, and Sam Hauser sets a back screen for Jayson Tatum. The action isn’t well read and that creates a gap for JT’s cut.
A little later, Tatum returns the favor to Sam Hauser with a screen on the zoom action, and Queta is again the man holding the ball while the play unfolds, like a QB waiting to deliver a touchdown pass.
With 5 minutes left in the second quarter, the Celtics were up 3 points and then went for a small-ball unit to close the first half. While the score at the break indicates it didn’t go as expected, there are some encouraging flashes and lessons from that stretch.
First, the Celtics — and Jayson Tatum in particular — will need to be more disciplined in these situations where he is the rim protector. Here, he gets caught by Daniels behind him and that’s an easy layup for the Hawks.
At the same time, Jayson Tatum at the five is great for spacing and mismatch hunting. He can be the screener and, depending on the defensive coverage, it creates gaps in the defense. Here, the double comes and he finds Jordan Walsh on the cut.
On offense, it was simple and energetic. He made the right reads and took the shots he was supposed to. Most importantly, he showed presence on the offensive glass to generate much-needed extra possessions.
On defense, he was very active but remained disciplined. He had the second-most contested shots for the Celtics and did a great job against the Hawks guards, especially on CJ McCollum. On the play below, he stays connected, navigates the screen the right way, and baits McCollum into a shot that he can block.
Jordan stayed ready and delivered a strong performance with a real impact.
#10 – Another trip, another blast because of you
This three-week trip to Boston to cover the Celtics was, like last year, an immense honor. Every game, I have to pinch myself to make sure it is still real.
However, this experience wouldn’t be possible if all of you weren’t here to read, comment, and react to these articles. So I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to go through these lines.
The kid I was back in my French Alps wouldn’t have dared to dream about an opportunity like this, and you made it possible by reading my work on CelticsBlog. I hope I didn’t disappoint.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are back at home for the first of three straight games in the friendly confines of Nationwide Arena. This game features the San Jose Sharks.
San Jose Sharks - 32-21-7 - 71 Points - 2-6-2 in the last 10 - Lost 6 - 6th in the Pecific
Columbus Blue Jackets - 38-23-11 - 87 Points - 6-2-2 in the last 10 - Lost 1 - 3rd in the Metro
Team Notes Per CBJ PR
CBJ wrapped up a three-game road trip (1-2-0) with a 2-1 loss at Montreal on Thursday. Each contest was decided by a single goal.
The Blue Jackets, who begin a three-game homestand on Saturday, have earned points in 12-straight home games (9-0-3), tied for the longest home points streak in club history (12; 9-0-3 from Feb. 11-Mar. 31, 2013). The team has also collected points in 16-of-17 contests at Nationwide Arena in 2026 (12-1-4).
The club has earned points in 24 of its last 28 contests (20-4-4, 44 pts) to lead the league in wins (tied), points pct. (.786) and goals against per game (2.43) since Jan. 11.
Columbus has allowed two goals or less in eight of the last nine games since Mar. 10 (1.78 GA/GP, 3rd in NHL).
CBJ play their 15th of 16 back-to-back sets (18-6-4, .714 pts pct.) vs. San Jose (Saturday) and Boston (Sunday).
Player Notes Per CBJ PR
Adam Fantilli has registered points in seven out of the last nine games (3-6-9) and in 13 of the last 17 contests (8-10-18). He is two points (21-32-53, 72 GP) from setting a single-season career high.
Jet Greaves has earned points in 14 of his last 16 starts since Jan. 11 (12-2-2, 2.23 GAA, .915 SV% in 16 GP), while G Elvis Merzlikins has recorded points in 10 of his past 12 starts over that span (8-2-2, 2.50 GAA in 13 GP).
Boone Jenner has registered 1-3-4 in the last five games and sits two contests shy of 800 for his NHL career (209-207-416, 798 GP).
Mason Marchment has totaled 13-10-23 in 30 contests with the Blue Jackets.
Mathieu Olivier has posted 3-1-4 in the past six games and ranks eighth-T in the NHL in goals since Jan. 28 (11 in 21 GP).
Zach Werenski has recorded multiple points in three of the last five games (1-7-8). He has notched 21-56-77 and 25 multi-point efforts in 65 games in 2025-26 to lead NHL blueliners in points-per-game (1.18), multi-point efforts, and shots on goal (226) and sit second in points and third in goals. He's also tied Artemi Panarin's single-season club record for multi-point games (2018-19).
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 20.0% - 17th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 78.2% - 21st in the NHL
Goals For - 226 - 17th in the NHL
Goals Against - 218 - 16th in the NHL
SharksStats
Power Play - 19.8% - 18th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 79.0% - 16th in the NHL
Goals For - 210 - 19th in the NHL
Goals Against - 250 - 30th in the NHL
Series History vs. TheSharks
Columbus is 29-35-0-6 all-time, and 19-13-0-3 at home vs. San Jose.
Columbus had its six-game points streak in the series (5-0-1) in the 5-2 loss in the last meeting at San Jose.
The Blue Jackets have earned points in 10 of the last 14 games of the series since Mar. 4, 2018 (9-4-1).
CBJ have won four-straight home games against the Sharks and five of the past six at Nationwide Arena.
The home team has won four-straight and collected points in nine of the last 10 in the series (8-1-1).
Six of the last seven games played at Nationwide Arena have been decided by multiple goals.
The winning team has scored four-plus goals in 7 of the last nine matchups in the overall series.
The teams have each recorded six shutouts and three hat tricks in the series, with CBJ recording the most recent in each category (Bobrovsky, 26 saves in a 4-0 shutout win at CBJ on Feb. 23, 2019; Carter, three goals in a 6-3 W at CBJ on Feb. 21, 2012).
Who To Watch For TheSharks
Macklin Celebrini leads the team with 35 goals, 61 assists, and 96 points.
Alex Wennberg has 31 assists and 45 points.
Yaroslav Askarov is 19-17-3 with a SV% of .888
Ohioan Alex Nedeljkovic is 13-13-4 with an .893 SV%.
CBJ Player Notes vsSharks
Charlie Coyle has 6 goals and 12 points against San Jose.
Zach Werenski has 8 points in 14 career games.
Mason Marchment has 6 points vs. the Sharks.
Injured Reserve & Other Injuries
Brendan Smith - Lower Body - Missed 34 Games IR - Out for the rest of the regular season.
Damon Severson - Upper Body - Left the game early against the Montreal Canadiens.
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 180
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on FanDuel Sports Network. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 The Fan, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
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While the novelty of outdoor games might have worn off for those watching on TV, they remain an incredible experience for those in attendance, and Montreal is now the only Canadian team that has not hosted an outdoor game. In the latest edition of his written 32 Thoughts, Sportsnet's insider Elliotte Friedman reports that the Montreal Canadiens are working to fix that.
Furthering Renaud Lavoie’s report about the fact that the Habs are aiming to build a temporary outdoor stadium at Parc Jean Drapeau, Friedman reports that it would be able to seat 42,000 fans, and the organization aims to have that ready for the 2028-29 season. He also adds that a woman’s game would be part of the festivities. That would no doubt be a big success given how popular the Montreal Victoire have been since its inception.
The Canadiens have taken part in four outdoor games so far: the very first regular-season outdoor game in 2003, in which they battled the Edmonton Oilers, another Heritage Classic in 2011 against the Calgary Flames, a Winter Classic in Foxborough against the Boston Bruins, and the NHL Centennial game against the Ottawa Senators in December 2017. Montreal has a 2-2-0 record playing outside in the regular season. Next season, the Habs will feature in their fifth outdoor game, taking on the Winnipeg Jets on October 25 at the Princess Auto Stadium.
Having attended the game in Foxborough in 2016, I can attest to the special atmosphere, with 67,246 fans cheering on the archrivals. The Canadiens won that game 5-1, and the fans who had come down from Montreal for the event didn’t go home disappointed. The weekend would have been perfect had it not been for the life-altering injury Denna Laing sustained in the game between the Boston Pride and the Montreal Canadiennes the day before the Winter Classic. The forward suffered a spinal cord injury when she collided headfirst with the boards and has been in a wheelchair since. Last year, she was awarded the NHL Foundation Athlete Leadership Award for her leadership and advocacy for spinal cord injury awareness.
If and when the Canadiens manage to have a temporary stadium and the NHL schedules a game there, I highly recommend attending; you’ll have a wonderful time.
Welcome back to minor league baseball! With Nolan McLean and Carson Benge both on the major league roster and all but guaranteed to accrue enough innings/at-bats to graduate from rookie status, Jonah Tong will soon be Mets’ number one prospect, and the right-hander picked up where he left off last season, throwing four scoreless innings en route to Syracuse’s first win of the 2026 season. In the top of the fourth, Jose Rojas slugged a two-run homer to give the Mets the lead, a lead that they would not relinquish. Anderson Severino and Austin Warren combined to throw three more scoreless innings after Tong left, while Nick Morabito added on an additional run in the seventh. Things got a little hairy in the bottom of the eighth, when Nick Burdi loaded up the bases without a single out, but he eventually navigated out of the inning allowing just a single run on a groundout. Joe Jaques had a much easier time in the bottom of the ninth, allowing a single but otherwise running into no issues for his first save of the season. One down, 149 more to go.
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