I feel like Oprah is about to show up and say “You get an extension and you get an extension!” In any case, the Brewers signed shortstop prospect Cooper Pratt to an eight-year extension. Pratt has yet to make his major league debut. Adam McCalvy reports.
Brandan Gawlowski evaluates the Pratt deal, expected to be worth just over $50 million with some team options.
But that deal is overshadowed by the eight years and $95 million the Mariners gave to shortstop prospect Colt Emerson, which is the largest contract ever given to a player who has yet to make his major league debut. There’s a club option for an ninth year and some escalator clauses that could bring the total deal to over $130 million. Daniel Kramer with the story.
Sam Blum looks at how ABS has shrunk more than half of MLB players. (The Athletic sub. req.) Many players who used to be listed as 6’1” or 6 even are now being revealed as actually around 5’10”. Blum also goes into detail as to how players get measured.
Andrew McCutchen apologized to a Phillies fan after hitting his first home run for the Rangers. As Kennedi Landry reports, it was someone McCutchen knew from his time with Philadelphia.
The Mud Hens came out on top in the first of six against the Syracuse Mets on Tuesday afternoon. The Hens pounced on the Mets in the top of the first and cruised to victory as the game was called in the seventh due to rain.
Veteran Cubs’ closer Carl Edwards Jr. got the start in this one, and the Hens took advantage of some walks and poor defense. Wenceel Pérez led off with a walk, and second baseman Ji Hwan Bae botched a grounder off the bat of Max Clark, leaving both runners safe. A walk to Jace Jung loaded the bases with no outs.
Edwards Jr. froze Eduardo Valencia on a called strike three after winning a challenge, but a seeing eye ground ball from Trei Cruz found the outfield grass, plating two runs. A soft tapper from Max Anderson scored Jung as Edwards Jr. couldn’t make the play in time to get Anderson at first. Corey Julks pulled a grounder to third and the Mets got Anderson at second, but Bae threw wide of first, botching the possible double play and allowing Cruz to score. A double from Gage Workman brought Julks all the way around from first, and it was 5-0 when Ben Malgeri grounded out to end the inning.
Trei Cruz with an RBI single that just gets out of the infield, drives in two as Toledo is up 2-0 in the first. pic.twitter.com/ZRVTWLGOBH
Reliever Ricky Vanasco took the mound for the Hens and gave up a leadoff single to MJ Melendez, but set the Mets down 1-2-3 after that. He punched out Ryan Clifford on a changeup foul tipped into Valencia’s glove to send this to the second inning.
Pérez led off again in the top of the second, lacing a single, but he was erased trying to steal second. Max Clark lined out and Jung grounded out to end the inning. Vanasco spun a 1-2-3 frame, punching out Cristian Pache swinging over a changeup along the way.
An Anderson double play ball erased Trei Cruz after a walk in the third. Lefty Drew Sommers took over from Vanasco and promptly walked the leadoff hitter, but cleaned things up from there with a pair of swinging strikeouts, one on a high fastball and the other on a good, biting slider.
Sommers gave up a homer to Ronny Mauricio in the fourth, along with a second walk, but right-hander Burch Smith came on to clean up the inning without issue.
Having survived the first inning, Edwards Jr. had delivered three scoreless, and right-hander Jordan Geber took over in the top of the fifth. Max Clark singled with one out, but was picked off, and Geber punched out Jung with a high splitter fading away out of the zone to send this to the bottom half. Smith tossed a 1-2-3 frame, striking out Mets’ catcher Hayden Singer on a high fastball to send this to the sixth.
Geber set down the Hens in order, and the rains let loose, delaying the game for a half hour. When things calmed down, lefty Konnor Pilkington took over for the Hens in the bottom half. He gave up a bunt single to start the inning, but bounced back to strike out Mauricio and Clifford and got out of the inning without issue.
Geber got Julks on a flyout to open the seventh, but walked Gage Workman. Ben Malgeri smoked a ball to center that was caught, but Geber followed by walking Pérez after Workman stole second base. The Mets went back to their pen, but reliever Alex Carrillo walked Max Clark after Clark challenged a 2-0 fastball away correctly. However, Jung went down 0-2 in the count, and Carrillo dropped a slider on the bottom rail of the strike zone. Called a ball, catcher Senger challenged it and Jung was called out.
That was all she wrote for this one, as the rains really cut loose, and the game was officially called official.
Pérez: 1-2, R, 2 BB, CS
Cruz: 1-2, R, 2 RBI, BB, K
Clark: 1-3, R, BB
Vanasco: 2.0 IP, 0 R, H, 0 BB, 2 K
Sommers (W, 1-0): 1.1 IP, ER, H, 2 BB, 3 K
Smith: 1.2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K
Pilkington: 1.0 IP, 0 R, H, 0 BB, 2 K
Coming Up Next: The 1-3 Hens and the Mets will get going again on Wednesday at 1:05 p.m. ET.
TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 30: Jake McCarthy #31 of the Colorado Rockies steals second base against Ernie Clement #22 of the Toronto Blue Jays during the third inningin their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on March 30, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
They’ve talked about it for years now.
The Colorado Rockies would enter spring training with the prerogative of stealing more bases in the regular season, especially after the implementation of bigger bases in 2023. Players would run free during Cactus League action, particularly the speedsters, in the hopes that it would carry over into the regular season. Things appeared to be working as the Rockies placed in the top 10 in spring training stolen bases each of the last three seasons.
However, once the games actually started, the running game ceased to matter as much.
Over the last three seasons, the Rockies have ranked 28th in baseball with 248 total stolen bases. That’s 284 fewer than the Tampa Bay Rays, who swiped 532 bags. As for the Rockies themselves, only eight players had more than 10 stolen bases from 2023 to 2025, with Brenton Doyle as the only player with more than 30 bags, coming in with a hefty 70.
Cory Cohen explored some of the follies of the Rockies’ running in 2025. Despite having a fairly quick team, the Rockies ranked 23rd in stolen bases but were caught 39 times, resulting in a league-worst 68.5% success rate. Jumps were slow, and there was a hint of trepidation in the running of the bases.
It’s understandable why the running game would cease during the regular season. Being down big more often than not, the Rockies were hesitant to give away outs on the bases.
“The game has to sort of dictate what you do,” former manager Bud Black said in 2025. “You’ve got to be close in the score or have a lead. If you’re behind a few runs, running yourself into an out or running yourself out of an inning can be detrimental.”
It’s a sentiment that current manager Warren Schaeffer echoed this season.
“There were times last year where we were down early, so you shut the running game down — you can’t run them, and you have to take the risk down a notch,” Schaeffer said.
However, both managers alluded to the fact that keeping games close and staying ahead are the ideals to make sure the running game remains a factor. While that has much to do with how the pitching is doing, the offense has its role to play to keep things rolling.
The running game remained a factor this year in spring training more than in previous years. The Rockies finished third in all of baseball with 45 stolen bases, but they had more attempts than anyone with 68 total attempts. Twenty-three different players had at least one stolen base in camp.
Only five games into the 2026 season, and the Rockies are showing that running and being aggressive will play a factor. In 2025, the Rockies swiped eight bases through their first 12 games. This season, the team swiped eight bases through their first four games, a franchise first. The expected culprits of speedy players such as Jake McCarthy — who had three seasons of 20 or more bases in Arizona — Jordan Beck, and Brenton Doyle will get their bases. Still, there is also a noticeable difference in how the Rockies will approach base stealing.
No one is exempt from the steal signal.
Kyle Karros isn’t exactly a speedster. In his recorded baseball history on Baseball Reference, Karros’s career high in stolen bases is the 12 he swiped in 2024 in 17 attempts with the High-A Spokane Indians. In fact, you would probably have to go back to his high school days to see if he stole more than 10 bases in a season before that. And still, Karros has already swiped two bases this year, with more likely on the way.
Hunter Goodman is also a candidate to run in the right situation despite not being a speedster. On Monday night against Toronto, Goodman attempted a steal of a second, and while he got thrown out, he had a good jump and was just beaten by a good throw. But if the Rockies’ All-Star catcher is going to try swiping bags, nothing is off the table for the running game.
Being aggressive base runners, particularly in the steals department, is something the Rockies can finally make good on in 2026. As they try to develop their new brand of baseball, using speed and aggression to create havoc on the bases is going to go a long way in helping this team score more runs.
Willi Castro said it best in spring training: “The mentality is to score because that’s how you win ballgames.”
The archetype of how base stealing can make a difference was on full display in Miami by the Marlins as they swept the Rockies. The Milwaukee Brewers lead the league with double-digit steals already, and they had the best record in baseball last season. When trying to win in the margins, the “Running Rockies” have to keep the foot on the gas pedal and run without fear. Only then can the strategy manage to stick around as they hope.
What began as a pitcher’s duel ended up being a blowout in the home opener for the Albuquerque Isotopes. Gabriel Hughes (No. 12 PuRP) made the start for the Isotopes and was excellent through five innings as he allowed two runs on three hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. He actually came out to start the sixth inning, but surrendered a leadoff triple to end his evening. Things got out of hand in the eighth inning for the Isotopes bullpen after Ryan Miller and Patrick Weigel surrendered a combined six runs on four hits. Zac Veen (No. 9 PuRP), making a rehab appearance, went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, while Blaine Crim went 1-for-3 in his rehab. Cole Carrigg (No. 4 PuRP) had a good night, going 2-for-4 with a double, while veteran Vimael Machín had three hits, including a triple. The offense managed just one run on eight hits with 11 strikeouts and just two walks.
On this week’s episode, Evan Lang and I talked about the first series of 2026 against the Marlins and broke down the first weekend of play for minor league baseball.
There are plenty of interesting things to watch for with the Rockies’ Triple-A affiliate, one of which is the versatility of Cole Carrigg. The Rockies are stretching Carrigg out to play multiple positions after he spent 2025 as a primary center fielder, and he is continuing that journey with the Albuquerque Isotopes.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Luis Arraez #1 of the San Francisco Giants bats during the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on March 30, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
As we discussed yesterday, I am living in the past on these so I am going to take a second to give the San Francisco Giants a polite golf clap for getting their first win of the 2026 season on Monday night!
But today, I wanted to take a look at the latest in the Giants’ social media team’s YouTube series “Mic’d Up” this time featuring one of the newer members of the team and WBC Champion, Luis Arráez! The video follows along with Arráez as he goes through his day during the team’s Spring Training in Scottsdale, AZ!
What time do the Giants play today?
The Giants wrap up their series against the San Diego Padres this afternoon at 1:10 p.m. PT.
KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 30: Fans walk on the concourse prior to the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Monday, March 30, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Mikayla Schlosser/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Sherman confirmed again that the Royals are discussing site options in downtown Kansas City (Jackson County), North Kansas City (Clay County) and on the Kansas side of the state line, where the Kansas City Chiefs, whose Arrowhead Stadium is in the same lot as Kauffman Stadium, are set to move for the start of the 2031 NFL season.
Sherman said the Royals would want to have the site control and public financing in place before announcing where their new home would be. He also maintained that they are looking for a public-private partnership, which hasn’t changed since the team first launched its search efforts years ago.
“At the end of the day, the team will put a substantial amount of capital into the stadium and the development around it, but there will be a meaningful portion from – expected to be a meaningful portion – the public as well,” Sherman said.
The Royals want to build a new ballpark and a surrounding ballpark district, not unlike The Battery in Atlanta, where the Royals just opened the ‘26 season. Sherman and several business operations officials were there over the weekend and witnessed what it’s like to have approximately 40,000 people in and around the stadium with retail and restaurants booming with business.
I’m still loyal to my take that Wrigley Field is the best MLB stadium, but I feel like Kauffman can definitely be up there as well. Considering how pretty the ballpark is, its accessibility, and its activities to keep the fans engaged, I can see why people rave about this stadium and why there’s debate on what to do with it. Part of the aura of Kauffman did come from the fans, however, as the sold-out crowd created a great Opening Day energy for the team. We’ll see how well this crowd lasts from now until October. But for a crowd to show out like that for a team that missed the postseason last year, Kauffman Stadium will definitely see me again this summer.
To me, the story of the game was how the Royals won it. If you’re new to Inside the Crown this year, and maybe even well before that, oddities were sort of the thing I wanted to focus on. Back when I wrote for Baseball Prospectus, I wrote a weekly article where I’d pick out one thing from one game and expand on it in a way that I would be surprised if anyone else did. So here’s the oddity from this one. The Royals got home runs from Isaac Collins and Kyle Isbel, their eighth and ninth hitters.
They didn’t have a game at all in 2025 when both of those lineup spots homered. They didn’t have a game in 2024 when it happened. The last time it happened was May 4, 2023 when Freddy Fermin and Isbel homered. Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter for a list of the 22 times the Royals had both their eight and nine hitters homer. It’s a long looking list because 22 times seems like a lot, but for a team in their 58th season, I’d say it’s a pretty rare list. What makes it even more interesting is it’s the first time that all the runs were accounted for in a game by the home runs from the bottom of the order.
Franchise temperature: 57 degrees. This feels like a good temperature for the Royals, who went into a period of rapid cooling after their contending rosters from the mid-2010s broke up. To the credit of J.J. Picollo and his staff, the Royals have curbed that decline and managed to settle in tepid waters. With a contention-worthy 26-man roster heading into 2026, they hope to wade a little closer to the warm sands of the shoreline ahead.
Regardless, it isn’t even April yet and Estevez, fifth among relief pitchers in fantasy points last season and a mid-round pick in most leagues, is already down to 51% rostered in ESPN. For shallow ESPN daily leagues, in which there are only seven active pitchers (and where holds figure into the scoring), sure, there may be little reason to wait for Estevez because free agency is littered with so many relief options. However, in standard industry formats, particularly roto/category-based ones in which saves are the key — and especially in AL-only formats — aim to be patient.
His whiff rate was excellent at 35.3%, and his chase rate and xwOBACON were above-average at 30.8% and .339, respectively. His zone rate was a little below average at 48%, but that likely was due to his lackluster control on the changeup and slider, which had zone rates of 25% and 20%, respectively. Despite those paltry zone rates, he still did generate a 66.7% whiff rate on the changeup and a 100% whiff rate on the slider.
It wasn’t the prettiest start, but it was the kind of grind-it-out affair that Bubic was known for in 2025, when he made the AL All-Star team. I also wonder if there were some nerves for Bubic, especially with him starting in his first career home opener. He talked about how different it was for him, especially when comparing it to his first career start at Kauffman during the 2020 COVID season when fans weren’t allowed.
Twelve Hawk-Eye technology cameras installed throughout the ballpark track player and ball movement, feeding data into Statcast.
Seven cameras track player movement, while five are dedicated solely to the baseball’s movements. Those ball-tracking cameras capture up to 300 frames per second, allowing the system to precisely locate each pitch within the strike zone and reconstruct its path.
Memo to the Royals: You’re missing a great opportunity if you haven’t signed Doona as a team sponsor. Doona makes trendy, high-end baby strollers and car seats and appears to be the $650 stroller of choice among Royals moms. As players’ wives reunited at The K Monday for the 2026 home opener, they shared photos of the kiddos they brought along for the big day. One picture in particular reflected how young this team is: a gaggle of black baby strollers parked outside the private UMB Diamond Club.
Kniepfel remembers her first Royals game when the team still played at Municipal Stadium near East 22nd Street and Brooklyn Avenue.
“It was so much fun, the atmosphere was something else,” Kniepfel said. “Finding a place to park was something else. You had to find a place sometimes in someone’s driveway.”
Years later, Kniepfel would step onto the field at Kauffman Stadium.
“Presidents and all kinds of famous people, and here I, little old me, got to throw the first pitch,” Kniepfel said. “I threw that ball, and it landed straight in the secretary’s glove. We just lived in that excitement for hours, maybe the next day, too. I still think about that.”
Mar 31, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Jose Suarez (54) throws against the Athletics in the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Braves suffered their second loss of the season during Tuesday night’s matchup with the A’s. The Braves fell 5-2, and though they had an early lead, it was squandered by the starting pitching. José Suarez got the nod, and in 3.2 innings, he gave up four runs on five hits. He walked three and struck out six.
Suarez’s struggles in spring training carried over into Tuesday night. He allowed six runs and 11 hits across two appearances this spring.
The Atlanta offense was also lackluster, tallying just six hits on the night. The Braves have yet another chance to turn things around and win the series Wednesday afternoon at 12:15 ET.
The Toronto Blue Jays have placed righty Cody Ponce on the 15-day injured list with an ACL sprain. Fortunately, there is still a chance he returns this season.
The New York Mets have hired J.D. Martinez as a special advisor to baseball operations.
The Boston Red Sox and the Houston Astros close out their three-game series Wednesday afternoon at Daikin Park with the Astros looking for the sweep.
Boston’s slow start to the season continues. The Sox lost again last night to drop to 1-4 on the season. Houston won 9-2. Hunter Brown gave up just one run over six innings and Yordan Alvarez went yard for the third time this season as Houston improved to 4-2 on the young season. It was the Astros’ fourth straight win.
Garrett Crochet takes the ball for the Sox this afternoon against Mike Burrows of the Astros.
Lets dive into this afternoon’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game Details and How to Watch: Red Sox at Astros
Date: Wednesday, March 31, 2026
Time: 3:05PM EST
Site: Daikin Park
City: Houston, TX
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, NESN, SCHN
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The Latest Odds: Red Sox at Astros
The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of FanDuel:
Moneyline: Boston Red Sox (-149), Houston Astros (+129)
Spread: Red Sox -1.5 (+119)/ Astros +1.5 (-143)
Total: 7 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers: Red Sox at Astros
Pitching Matchup for April 1:
Red Sox: Garrett Crochet Season Totals: 6 IP, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 8K, 2 BB
Astros: Mike Burroughs Season Totals: 5.2 IP, 0-1, 7.94 ERA, 1.94 WHIP, 6K, 2 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Red Sox at Astros
Yordan Alvarez has hit in 5 straight games including 3 home runs and is hitting .381 for the season
With 2 more hits yesterday, Christian Walker is hitting .333 this season which is nearly .100 points higher than his .238 average for all of last season
Trevor Story has a hit in 4 of 5 games but is hitting just .167 to date this season
Jarren Duran sat yesterday and is hitting just .154 this season
The Sox have been outscored 50-25 through Boston’s first 5 games
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Red Sox at Astros
Boston is 1-4 on the Run Line this season
Houston is 4-2 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 4 times in Houston’s 6 games this season (4-2)
The OVER has cashed 3 times in 4 games for Boston this season (3-2)
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions: Red Sox at Astros
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday’s game between the Red Sox and the Astros:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Astros on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on either side on the Run Line.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Game Total UNDER 8.5.
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 02: General manager Kelly McCrimmon (L) and head coach Bruce Cassidy of the Vegas Golden Knights attend Media Day for the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and the Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on June 02, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Vegas Golden Knights made the decision over the weekend to fire head coach Bruce Cassidy and replace him with John Tortorella with eight games remaining in the regular season.
On the surface, it might be surprising to some. After all, Cassidy is one of the best head coaches in the entire league. Cassidy won a Stanley Cup with the Golden Knights back in 2023. He has a long track record of success dating back to his days in Boston, as do the Golden Knights since they came into the league. The Golden Knights currently sit in third place in the Pacific division and should comfortably be a playoff team with just under ten games remaining.
For most organizations, that would be good enough as we head into the final few weeks of the regular season.
The Vegas Golden Knights aren’t most organizations.
Since the day they entered the league, they have operated with a ‘win at all costs’ mentality. It doesn’t matter who their coach is or what he has done there. The coach is as disposable as a tissue if they’re not winning. It doesn’t matter who their players are. It doesn’t matter if Marc-Andre Fleury is a fan favorite Vezina trophy winner. If Vegas can upgrade in net, they will try to do so. If they can swing a trade for Mark Stone, Jack Eichel, Tomas Hertl, Noah Hanifin, or Rasmus Andersson, they’ll do it. If they can sign a Mitch Marner or Alex Pietrangelo, they won’t hesitate. Perhaps just as importantly, they don’t let sentimentality get in the way when it comes to holding onto longtime original Misfits like Reilly Smith (who has since returned to Vegas at a discount) and Jonathan Marchessault, among others. Vegas is as ruthless and cold-hearted when it comes to personnel decisions as it gets.
Some might ask what’s the point of firing the coach with eight games left in the regular season. But if you’ve already decided as an organization that you’re going to move on once the season ends anyways, why would you wait to lose to the Oilers in six games in the first round of the playoffs to do so? Wouldn’t you make a change now just to see if you can light a fire under the team just in time for the most important games of the season?
How’s this for a novel concept…..wouldn’t you try to save your season?
It might not be the most people-friendly way of treating your own to just discard them when they’re deemed to be no longer useful when it comes to achieving your goals. But the Vegas Golden Knights have shown time and time again that they don’t care about your feelings. This isn’t summer camp where we all get a participation ribbon. It’s an environment that might rub some the wrong way and might not always work, and in this instance with Tortorella replacing Cassidy, it very well might not work. Heck, this approach has only worked once in eight seasons for the Golden Knights where they’ve won a championship.
But like it or not, that’s the high standard that Vegas has set for themselves and the culture they’ve built in their short time in the league. The standard is to win, and if you’re not helping to achieve that goal, you won’t be around for very long. If they can find someone who is better equipped to help them win, they won’t hesitate to pull the trigger and make that change. And if it does work out and they do win? Flags fly forever. See you at the parade at the Las Vegas Strip. The end justified the means.
Part of what makes the Golden Knights the Golden Knights is knowing that good enough isn’t actually good enough. Hoping things just magically get better and doing nothing isn’t a strategy, and they’re not going to just settle. It’s not good enough that they lost three in a row and six of seven before making the coaching change. It’s not good enough that at this point of the season that they barely have more points than the Devils do. It’s not good enough that Edmonton, their most likely playoff opponent in the first round, has had their number. Vegas has lost 9 of their last 10 to the Oilers, including playoffs, dating back to last season. Going from Cassidy to Tortorella might not work out, but at least they’re trying to do something to flip the script. They know they only have a limited number of kicks at the can with their core. Punting seasons for no good reason isn’t acceptable.
There will come a day where Vegas continuing to trade futures won’t work. Where signing a big free agent won’t extend their window. Where making a coaching change won’t bail them out because the roster is what it is. There will be a day where the entire house of cards that the Golden Knights are built upon collapses. They will have to do a much dreaded rebuild, and the rest of the league will show no sympathy towards them when it comes to paying them back on the ice after Vegas was on or near the top of the league for so long. Heck, its possible they’re already at that point and they’re in denial.
But the Golden Knights clearly don’t think they’re at that point yet.
They’re operating with a sense of urgency that we don’t see most teams operate with by channeling their inner Lou Lamoriello and replacing a head coach with a handful of games remaining in the regular season. They hold their own accountable, at every level. That ‘win at all costs’ approach is who Vegas is as an organization.
By the way, I’m using the words I’m using to describe Vegas for a reason. Words like ‘culture’, ‘identity’, ‘standard’, ‘accountable’ and ‘urgency’. Because when people think of the Golden Knights, what do they associate with them? Winning, first and foremost, but also, doing whatever it takes to win.
Must be nice.
So why am I waxing poetic about the Golden Knights on a Devils-centric blog?
For starters, I do admire their conviction in their beliefs and their willingness to not just accept their fate and blame injuries or bad luck. I respect that they operate in the manner they do, and I’m not ashamed to admit that I wish the Devils were more cutthroat chasing what should be the ultimate goal, which is winning a championship.
I’m not entirely sure I even agree with the decision to fire Cassidy for Tortorella. Yes, both of them are Stanley Cup championship winning coaches. I don’t know that I consider Cassidy to be the problem though when most of their issues are goaltending, shooting, and PDO related. In fact, I consider Cassidy to be one of the three or four best coaches in the league, to the point where there should be a bunch of teams holding meetings this week discussing whether or not they should fire their current coach immediately to hire Cassidy. I do think Vegas as an organization could use a kick in the pants though, and there’s probably not a better coach to do that in the short-term and get the attention of the room than John Tortorella, so from that standpoint, I get why they made this particular change.
More importantly, I respect how aggressive they are to try to achieve their goals. I respect the sense of urgency with which they operate. Why sit around and wait until the trade deadline to go get Rasmus Andersson when you can get him in January? Why go into the playoffs as flat as any team in the league when there’s a chance you get the coaching bump from Tortorella screaming at everyone and go on a run?
Some might argue that this is a panic move or an act of desperation on the part of the Golden Knights. And perhaps it is to some extent. But it also says something about who you are when you can look in the mirror and admit that what you’re doing isn’t working. If you know what you’re doing isn’t going to work, why are you continuing to do it?
That’s not desperation. That’s reading the room, seeing things aren’t going as you expected, being honest with yourself in your self-assessment, reacting with new information that has since been presented to you, and doing something to try to fix it before its too late and you threw a season away for no good reason.
Again, must be nice.
How many times have we, as Devils fans, sat around on these forums over the years and complained about the Devils not doing enough? How many times have we complained about Tom Fitzgerald sitting on his hands and not doing anything? How many times have we been told to be patient? That there’s no coaching change coming. No trades. How many times have excuses been made for why the Devils aren’t doing more, whether it’s because the team is capped out, injured, or both. How many times have the Devils refused to even so much as go and call someone up from Utica just to see if they can create a spark. How many times have we begged for scraps from top Devils brass over the years only to be given nothing?
If the roles were reversed and the Devils operated with the same standard and same urgency that Vegas does, does anyone think Tom Fitzgerald survives this season when someone above him looks at the mess he created? Would an organization like Vegas tolerate some of the terrible contracts handed out and massive draft misses that have happened under Fitzgerald’s watch?
Does anyone think Sheldon Keefe survives the season when the Devils are going through their prolonged stretch where they can’t score? Or do the Devils make a change sometime in December or January when the season was still salvageable….not unlike what Buffalo or Columbus did when those organizations fired their GM and head coach, respectively. Not unlike what Vegas is trying to do now with Tortorella.
Do you think the Golden Knights would tolerate keeping Dave Rogalski continually employed for six plus years despite no actual positive results from any of the goaltenders?
Do you think the Golden Knights, a team that has manipulated the salary cap and found loopholes more than any other team to find a way to squeeze every last dollar under the cap, would’ve unnecessarily paid Evgenii Dadonov a $250K bonus that gets charged to next year’s cap when Dadonov has done nothing and every penny matters? Or would they have said tough luck and played some rando from their AHL affiliate instead?
I think we all know the answer to those questions.
Instead, we have what we have with the Devils. A country club atmosphere where people remain in their positions for years and years despite the lack of on-ice success. That’s the culture the Devils have fostered in the post-Lou Lamoriello era. One where the Devils ‘identity’ is a jumbled mess in part because the GM had steered the roster away from what they were building. One where there is zero sense of urgency from the top down when things are going poorly. One where the Devils are content to sit on their hands while playing poorly for months on end. One where the Devils still have no answers for the Carolina problem that has plagued them for years.
One where winning, while it would be nice, isn’t the highest priority.
That’s the difference between a team that is serious about winning and one that isn’t.
At the end of the day, we’re asking for the bare minimum here from ownership and management. We want to watch a competitive hockey team that has a realistic chance of winning. And when we’re not getting that, we want to know that the people in charge are at least aware of the problem. That they give a damn about this team as much as we do as fans. That they’re not just content to see how things go or see if they can work their way out of this. I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but I also know doing nothing and expecting the problem to fix itself isn’t a plan.
The Calgary Flames will look to snap a three-game road skid when they visit the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night in Paradise, Nevada, with puck drop scheduled for 10 p.m. ET.
Vegas enters the matchup with a 33–26–16 overall record and a solid 11–5–5 mark within the Pacific Division. The Golden Knights have been especially dangerous when their offense clicks, boasting a dominant 32–6–10 record in games where they score at least three goals. Their ability to generate offense consistently has been a key factor in keeping them competitive in a tightly contested division.
Calgary, meanwhile, comes in at 31–35–8 overall. The Flames have shown resilience within the division, holding a 12–7–3 record against Pacific opponents. Like Vegas, Calgary’s success is closely tied to its offensive output, posting a strong 22–7–3 record when scoring three or more goals. However, defensive inconsistencies have contributed to their sub-.500 overall record.
Recent Form And Key Trends
This will be the fourth meeting of the season between the two clubs. Calgary claimed the most recent matchup, a 6–3 victory highlighted by a two-goal performance from veteran forward Mikael Backlund. That win remains a notable reference point as the Flames look to replicate that success on the road.
From an individual standpoint, Vegas continues to lean on the production of forward Tomas Hertl, who leads the team with 24 goals and 31 assists. His consistent scoring presence has been vital to the Golden Knights’ offensive structure. Forward Pavel Dorofeyev has also provided a spark recently, contributing four goals and five assists over his last 10 games.
For Calgary, Backlund remains a steady contributor with 16 goals and 24 assists on the season, continuing to play a two-way role for the club. Forward Morgan Frost has added momentum in recent games, tallying four goals and two assists over his last 10 outings, offering secondary scoring support that Calgary has needed.
Looking at recent form, Vegas has gone 4–4–2 over its last 10 games, averaging 2.6 goals per game while allowing 2.5. The Golden Knights have also been disciplined in limiting penalties compared to Calgary, averaging 11.4 penalty minutes per game during that span.
Calgary enters with a slightly stronger 6–3–1 record over its last 10 contests, producing 3.1 goals per game. However, defensive issues remain a concern, as the Flames have allowed an average of 3.3 goals during that stretch. Special teams and defensive zone execution will likely play a decisive role in determining whether Calgary can maintain its recent scoring uptick while tightening up at the back.
In terms of availability, both teams are dealing with notable absences. Vegas will be without William Karlsson (lower body), as well as depth players Carter Hart (leg) and Jonas Rondbjerg (lower body). Calgary’s injury list is longer, with Jonathan Huberdeau out for the season (hip), along with Samuel Honzek (upper body), Jake Bean (undisclosed), Joel Hanley (upper body), and Yan Kuznetsov (day-to-day, upper body). Connor Zary is also day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
With both teams still jockeying for positioning in the Pacific Division, Thursday’s matchup carries added importance. Vegas will aim to defend home ice and capitalize on its offensive strengths, while Calgary looks to build on recent scoring trends and reverse its road struggles.
The Suppan name is well known in West Hills. Jeff Suppan was a superstar at West Hills PONY baseball before moving on to Crespi and having a 17-year career in MLB. His sister, Karen, was once the girls' volleyball coach at Chaminade. Brother Mike has been a longtime teacher at Chaminade. Jeff still helps at West Hills PONY baseball.
Now there's a new Suppan making a name for herself. Jeff's daughter, Finley, is the star pitcher as a sophomore for Chaminade (10-2-1).
Asked about her father's contributions, Finley said, "He’s helped me a lot. We’ve had many car rides together. He told me a lot about the mental side of softball. Also how important it is to just focus one pitch at a time as a pitcher and to control the controllable."
Dad is learning it's much harder to watch his daughter pitch than pitch himself.
"I have to admit I don’t know how my parents and my family watched me pitch for all those years," Jeff said. "I guess that’s why my mom always kept score and now I do to."
Finley's complete interview will be on Thursday's edition of Friday Night Live at 5 p.m. via X at LATSondheimer.
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
On March 31, the Houston Rockets put on one of their best performances of the year, defeating the New York Knicks 111–94 at home.
The Rockets set the tone from the beginning. Houston took control early in the second quarter and never gave it up, playing with confidence, speed, and accuracy. Against a Knicks defense that never quite found its footing, their ball movement was especially impressive, as they piled up assists and continuously produced excellent opportunities.
Kevin Durant, who skillfully coordinated the offense, was at the center of it all. In addition to finishing with 27 points, the seasoned forward frequently punished New York’s defensive rotations and double teams. He was by no means alone; Houston displayed a well-rounded offense, with several players scoring in double figures, including a potent bench contribution that kept the pressure on.
The Rockets were equally impressive on defense. Leading the perimeter attack, Amen Thompson successfully neutralized Jalen Brunson, who was limited to just 12 points due to ineffective shooting. Throughout the whole game, Houston’s switching and toughness threw off New York’s rhythm, causing turnovers and contested possessions that prevented any meaningful comeback attempt. It was a tough game for the Knicks. With 22 points, Karl-Anthony Towns led the club, but he was ineffective against Houston’s interior presence. Beyond that, New York’s offensive cohesiveness never developed; they fell behind early and lacked the ball security and shot-making skills necessary to make a significant challenge.
Houston’s poise and depth swiftly put an end to any momentum the Knicks managed, especially during short bursts in the second quarter. By the fourth quarter, the Rockets were comfortably ahead due to their disciplined play and timely scoring, making the result seem academic.
In a larger sense, the victory demonstrated Houston’s ongoing development under duress in addition to exacting revenge for a previous defeat to New York earlier in the season. As the postseason draws near, the Knicks’ defeat revealed persistent worries about facing top-tier competition.
On this particular night, however, the narrative was straightforward: Houston was more decisive, deeper, and sharper throughout.
The Houston Rockets are back in action Wednesday night at Toyota Center versus the Milwaukee Bucks. You can catch the game on NBA League Pass or Space City Home Network, and as always, be sure to check back at the Dream Shake for pre- and post-game content.
The Montreal Canadiens were in Tampa Bay on Tuesday night to take on the leaders of the Atlantic Division, the Tampa Bay Lightning. Jakub Dobes was back in the net, fresh off being named the first star of the week in the NHL. In three games last week, the Czech netminder saved 100 of the 104 shots he faced and finished the week with a 1.33 goals-against average and a .962 save percentage. The rookie goaltender had 25 wins before Tuesday night’s game, besting both Patrick Roy and Carey Price's win totals in their rookie years. He won’t beat the record established by Ken Dryden, which stands at 39, but it’s still an impressive feat. Still, he had never beaten the Bolts and was hoping to do it on Tuesday.
For once, the Habs were ready to go when the puck dropped in Tampa, and they even led shots on goals-wise by the end of the first 20 minutes with nine shots to the Lightning’s eight, but the score was still tied at 1-1.
Juraj Slafkovsky celebrated his 22nd birthday on Monday, and he decided to keep the celebration going on Tuesday. The big Slovak played an impressive game, displaying everything he’s improved in his game this season. His puck possession, his ability to shield it with his body, and his ability to battle while keeping his balance have been key to the Canadiens’ strong possession game.
From a rookie who fell more often than not back in 2022, he has become a real power forward who gives headaches to his opponents. His reads have also gotten much better, and he’s able to identify when it’s time to switch things up. In the first frame, Ivan Demidov’s shots were off on the power play, and Slafkovsky initiated a permutation which led to him scoring the first goal of the game.
Then, in the second frame, he came into the Lightning’s territory in possession of the puck with plenty of speed and knowing full well where Cole Caufield was, he hung on to the puck until the very last second before delivering a perfect feed with a cross-zone pass right in front of the crease, allowing the sniper to notch his 47th game of the season. In the process, he cut Nathan MacKinnon’s lead in the race to the Rocket Richard trophy to just two goals.
Notre premier choix au repêchage qui fait des choix de premier plan
With Alexandre Carrier out for two to four weeks, Arber Xhekaj was back on the blueline, forming a pair with Kaiden Guhle. However, the pairings can vary during a game, and at one stage, Xhekaj found himself on the ice at the same time as Jayden Struble. They ended up being stuck on the ice for 1:51 and 1:48, respectively, trapped in the zone and unable to exit.
While they are both capable of playing as a sixth defenseman, when they both must be in the lineup, it can become a bit of an adventure. It wouldn’t be surprising if freshly recalled Adam Engstrom had a turn sooner rather than later. The youngster is NHL-ready, and he has played most of his career on the right side, which isn’t the case for Struble or Xhekaj.
Furthermore, with the stakes as high as they are right now, it will be a great opportunity to see how he can handle pressure.
Another Huge Game From Dobes
While the Canadiens led in shots in the first frame, they did not lead in shots in any other period. Over the last 40 minutes, Tampa had 29 shots while Montreal only had 14, but that mattered very little since Dobes stopped them all.
His performance on Tuesday was rendered even more impressive because it wasn’t a struggling goalie at the other end of the ice; it was likely Vezina Trophy winner Andrei Vasilevskiy. It didn’t impress the Canadiens’ netminder, though; he was simply Dobes (to the tune of Tina Turner’s Simply the Best) on the night.
In the end, the only goal he gave up came with a couple of players making it hard for him to follow Jake Guentzel around the net. For the rest of the night, he was incredibly solid. Could he have had better rebound control? Perhaps, but at that stage, it matters very little since he stopped every shot coming from the rebounds he gave.
On Caufield’s goal, the sniper and Mike Matheson both got their 300th point, and the blueliner even added an empty netter to put the icing on the cake, just like Suzuki, who also got one, his 92nd point on the season. As for Caufield, he now has 81 points on the year. Final score: Montreal 4, Tampa Bay 1. With that win, the Habs remain in third place in the Atlantic Division, but only two points behind Tampa and four points behind the Buffalo Sabres, who are now first thanks to a 4-3 win over the New York Islanders.
Lakers forward LeBron James goes up for a shot as Cavaliers center Thomas Bryant watches at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
The tests kept coming in the month of March for the Lakers and they responded with the same resounding answer: We’re ready.
Yet, even though the Lakers posted a 15-2 record last month, even though they beat some of the best teams in the NBA, they still have another big test on the horizon that will further show whether they're ready.
The Lakers will meet the defending NBA champion Thunder in Oklahoma City Thursday night, and it will be the test of all tests because OKC is just as hot as L.A. and owns the best record in the NBA.
The Thunder have their own unstoppable force in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, last season’s most valuable player who is in line to win it again this season, just as the Lakers have their own unstoppable force in Luka Doncic, another MVP candidate this season.
Los Angeles, CA - March 31: Lakers head coach JJ Redick coaches the team as the Lakers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 127-113 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles Tuesday, March 31, 2026. The Lakers clinched a playoff berth before their win over Cleveland. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Oklahoma City produced a 14-1 record in March. The Thunder have a 60-16 record, tops in the league.
So for the Lakers, Thursday will be a measuring stick against the best the league has to offer.
“Yeah, 100%. I mean, I feel like we've been in a couple playoff games here recently," Lakers forward Jake LaRavia said. "This is obviously going to be another one, you know, best team in the West. So it's going to be a good test for us as we're nearing the playoffs. And, yeah, it's going to be the same thing. We have to be physical. We have to play defense collectively. We're gonna have to just play together as a team.”
“Obviously they are the defending champs,” Lakers guard Austin Reaves said. “They play at a high level. Obviously one of the best teams in the league, if not the best team, and we have an opportunity to go into OKC and battle them.”
The Thunder have one of the NBA’s best defenses. OKC holds teams to 107.6 points per game, second-best in the league, and 43.5% shooting, the best in the NBA.
Oklahoma City ranks fifth in the NBA in scoring (118.6) and fifth in shooting percentage (48.2).
So, yes, the Lakers will have their hands full.
“They're great on both sides of the ball,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “They're gonna make you work for things defensively because of how physical they are. And then, they just do a great job of driving. You really have to do your best to keep them outta the paint, have you to do your best to be square of the ball. … They just are really good at what they do. And they've been doing that now for five years. And they know all the nuances. They know all the tricks. They all know the timing of everything. They're just a tough team to guard.”
Lakers' ultimate teammate
Lakers guard Marcus Smart looks to pass after chasing down a loose ball under pressure from Kings guard Russell Westbrook at Crypto.com Arena on March 1. (Ronaldo Bolanos/Los Angeles Times)
The Lakers all view Marcus Smart as the ultimate teammate, a selfless member of their group and a true leader the team can count on for his willingness to compete on both sides of the basketball.
Smart and Deandre Ayton sit next to each other in the Lakers’ locker room and that has been a good thing for Ayton, who relies on Smart for his wisdom and guidance.
And even though Smart missed his fifth straight game Tuesday night against the Cavaliers with a right ankle contusion, Ayton and the Lakers still felt his presence.
“Yeah, I think there's a built-in level of respect and, in some ways, acceptance with Marcus because of how hard he competes and how much he gives every single time that he steps on the floor,” Redick said. “That's an easy way to build trust with your teammates — ... to play as hard as you possibly can every single night and do it with a competitive gusto. And that's what Smart does.
" I think for [Ayton,] he's just been a great calming voice for him throughout the year. ... Marcus has been there, throughout halftimes, huddles, on the court. ... It's really allowed D.A. to be more consistent as we've gotten towards the end of the season.”
Smart has been recognized for being such a great teammate.
The NBA announced on Tuesday that Smart is one of 12 finalists for the 2025-26 Twyman-Strokes Teammate of the Year Award. It’s an honor that recognizes the player deemed the best teammate based on selfless play, on-and-off the court leadership as a mentor and role model to other NBA players and commitment and dedication to his team.
“He’s like a brother’s keeper,” said Ayton, who had 18 points and nine rebounds against the Cavaliers. “He sees everything, just like [LeBron James] and [Austin Reaves] and Luka [Doncic]. But he’s definitely going to bring it up. He reminds me a little bit of [former Suns teammate] Jae Crowder, that guy who is always going to be the one saying the right thing at the right time. Just our enforcer, our pit bull and he’s the one that set the tone, really, and we all follow. He throw a punch, we all going to throw a punch. You got 1,000 punches, you know what I’m saying? That’s Marcus.”
Harrison Barnes was nominated as an NBA Sportsmanship Award Finalist. The award is given to a player who most “exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship on the court with ethical behavior, fair play, and integrity.”
He was nominated alongside former Spurs guard Derrick White, T. J. McConnell, Bam Adebayo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Al Horford.
And per league, Harrison Barnes is one of six finalists for its annual Sportsmanship Award, a field that includes former Spur Derrick White. pic.twitter.com/tP3e4PH87w
This comes on the heels of receiving some high praise from Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra.
The award “recognizes the player deemed the best teammate based on selfless play, on- and off-court leadership as a mentor and role model to other players, and commitment and dedication to team.”
Fox is joined by nominees Desmond Bane, Jalen Brunson, Pay Connaughton, Jeff Green, Jrue Holiday, Deandre Jordan, Duncan Robinson, Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum, Garrett Temple, and Jaylin Williams.
De’Aaron Fox is 1 of 12 finalists for the NBA annual award that “recognizes the player deemed the best teammate based on selfless play, on- and off-court leadership as a mentor and role model to other players, and commitment and dedication to team.” pic.twitter.com/WclY9T73yC
The NBA presents the winner with the Twyman–Stokes Trophy and gives a $25,000 donation to a charity of the recipient’s choice.
Spurs legend Tim Duncan won in in 2015.
Jrue Holiday has been awarded the honors three previous years.
Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.
Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.
Nov 12, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) celebrates with forward Jalen Johnson (1) after a play against the Sacramento Kings during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images | Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Hawks fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Your Atlanta Hawks are red-hot, having won 17 of 20 games since the All-Star Break.
In a season where the Hawks were supposed to contend for a top six place in the Eastern Conference, the team took a very circuitous route to get here. The team’s starting point guard and starting center at the beginning of the season are now elsewhere, and for a long time the Hawks found themselves floundering below .500 in the ninth and tenth spots in the standings.
But with this recent surge, they now find themselves fifth — a game and a half up on the Philadelphia 76ers in seventh and half a game above the Toronto Raptors.
The remaining six games for Atlanta are, in order, at Orlando, at Brooklyn, home against New York, at and home to Cleveland, and finish at Miami. That’s a tough slate.
So I ask you, loyal readers, would it be a disappointment if the Hawks slipped below sixth into the Play-In Tournament? The results of the poll will be posted later this week.
