Yankees’ Max Fried dominates without his best stuff and command

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 25: Max Fried #54 of the New York Yankees pitches against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning on Opening Day at Oracle Park on March 25, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

New York Yankees ace Max Fried posted a 4.40 ERA in the Grapefruit League, with four walks and 12 strikeouts in 14.1 innings. That’s exactly why you shouldn’t fully trust spring training stats: no one in his or her right state of mind had any reason to doubt the stellar southpaw heading into the season. Taking the ball on Wednesday night versus the San Francisco Giants, Fried didn’t disappoint. The Yankees won comfortably 7-0, and their Opening Day starter was dealing all night. Fried kept his opponents off the scoreboard for 6.1 innings, in which he conceded just two hits and one walk. He struck out four and retired the last eight hitters he faced.

In the first couple of innings, you could see that Fried didn’t quite have his best curveball command, yet he cruised through those first two frames with no runs, just one hit, a walk, and four strikeouts. After that, he didn’t strike out any more hitters, but was still able to keep the Giants in check with an increased usage of sinkers and sweepers the second and third time through the order:

By the last couple of innings, the Giants started making more contact in the air, but Fried still finished with seven outs on the ground and three flyouts. In other words, he was always in control despite still not reaching his best velocity. The one time he was in some trouble was in the first inning, and he got out of the jam with a trademark groundball to second:

Last season, Fried’s four-seam fastball averaged 95.8 mph, but the pitch was at 94.6 mph on Wednesday night, peaking at 96.4 mph. It’s certainly something to keep in mind, but it doesn’t sound like a major problem, and he should be able to reach peak velo in a few outings. In fact, the 94.6 mph average fastball velocity Fried showed last night was actually a small step forward because he checked in at 94 mph in his last outing.

Top velocity or no, it quickly became clear that it was going to be a long night for San Francisco anyway.

Fried totaled 86 pitches in the productive night, 53 of which were strikes. He ‘only’ got six swings and misses, though: one with the four-seamer, three with the cutter, one with the curveball, and one with the changeup.

As the season goes on, Fried should be able to regain the feel for his excellent curve, a pitch that had a 42 percent whiff rate last year. It only earned a single whiff in three swings, but the fact that the offering only had a 15 percent CSW (two called strikes+whiffs in 13 pitches) was perhaps a bit more concerning.

Still, it’s nothing to be alarmed about, as Fried is good enough to bounce back eventually. This is a pitcher who posted a 2.86 ERA in 195.1 innings last season in his first year in pinstripes, winning 19 of his 32 starts. He’s 32, still in his prime, with no signs of slowing down. The Giants indeed helped Fried a bit on Wednesday night, as they consistently expanded the zone and produced empty swings and less-than-ideal contact every time they did it. The pitcher, however, was smart enough to keep testing their limits and getting good results. It should be another productive campaign for the talented left-hander, who was on pace to have a much better season last year if it weren’t for blister issues that popped up in July. This time around, we’ll hopefully see what a fully healthy season of Fried can provide.

The Beginning: Mariners vs. Guardians Series Preview

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 01: José Ramírez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians looks on during Game Two of the American League Wild Card Series between the Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Ben Jackson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The weight of expectations is now a burden the Seattle Mariners must carry with them this year. To rise so high last season, only to be let down in the end, eight outs away from the franchise’s first World Series appearance. To stand so close to unknown territory, only to be turned away, produces the desire to find the way back to that precipice. As the weather warms and the days grow longer, the bitterness of a cold, autumn defeat is replaced by the spring hope of a new season. We’ve tasted greatness. Now we want the whole meal.

The Mariners look like one of the most complete teams in the American League. There’s star power in the form of Julio Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh, both projected to be the best in baseball at their respective positions. The team made the right win-now moves to bolster the lineup, re-signing Josh Naylor and trading for Brendan Donovan. The pitching staff remains a strength. There’s a gaggle of young prospects pushing to make an impact in the big leagues sooner rather than later. Seattle is looking to defend a division title for the fourth time in franchise history and earn a postseason berth in consecutive seasons for just the second time ever. The expectations for this team haven’t been this high since the turn of the century. We’ve been burned by high expectations before, but this team is built to deliver, and anything less than a World Series appearance should be seen as a disappointment. Go M’s.

GameTimeGuardians StarterMariners StarterGuardians Win%Mariners Win%
Game 1Thursday, March 26 | 7:10 pmRHP Tanner BibeeRHP Logan Gilbert37.5%62.5%
Game 2Friday, March 27 | 6:45 pmRHP Gavin WilliamsRHP George Kirby38.1%61.9%
Game 3Saturday, March 28 | 6:40 pmLHP Joey CantilloRHP Bryan Woo37.1%62.9%
Game 4Sunday, March 29 | 4:20 pmRHP Slade CecconiRHP Emerson Hancock41.1%58.9%
*Game odds courtesy of FanGraphs
OverviewGuardiansMarinersEdge
Batting (wRC+)87 (15th in AL)113 (2nd in AL)Mariners
Fielding (FRV)28 (2nd)-30 (12th)Guardians
Starting Pitching (FIP-)103 (10th)100 (7th)Mariners
Bullpen (FIP-)84 (1st)97 (10th)Guardians
2025 stats

Welcome to another year of series previews. If you’re a regular Lookout Landing reader, welcome back. If you’re a new face, welcome home. This will be my 12th year writing these previews. Above, you’ll see a brief overview of the upcoming series: probable pitchers, game times, and a rundown of the Mariners and their opponents. Below, you’ll see the Mariners’ opponents laid out in more detail: projected lineups, key players, and starting pitcher analysis. Finally, you’ll get a view of the big picture: AL West and Wild Card standings. As always, I appreciate your feedback and hope that these features continue to be helpful and educational throughout the season.

The Guardians know a thing or two about surpassing expectations. Last year, they surprised everyone by winning the AL Central for the second consecutive season and the sixth time in the last decade. It took a historic collapse from the Tigers and a furious hot streak in September to get there, but the team blew past their projections. The team exceeded their pythagorean record by eight wins and their BaseRuns record by 11, and counting on that kind of overperformance again in 2026 wouldn’t be a great bet.

Of course, Cleveland didn’t go out and make a bunch of moves to capitalize on their division title this offseason. They did sign José Ramírez to a new seven-year contract extension that should keep him in Cleveland for the rest of his career. Everything else was focused on the fringes of their roster; they signed Rhys Hoskins to DH and cover 1B as the short side of a platoon and brought in a bunch of new relievers to help a bullpen that’s still reeling from Emmanuel Clase’s gambling scandal. The Guardians are hoping for breakouts from young guys like Kyle Manzardo and Chase DeLauter to fuel some real improvements to the team’s talent level. This is a pretty young roster and there’s certainly room to grow, but the projections aren’t buying it. FanGraphs is projecting 76 wins and a fourth place finish in the AL Central. Still, don’t underestimate this team.

PlayerPositionBatsPAK%BB%ISOwRC+
Steven KwanCFL6938.7%7.9%0.10299
Angel MartínezLFS48422.7%4.8%0.13574
José Ramírez3BS67311.0%9.8%0.219133
Kyle Manzardo1BL53125.4%9.0%0.221113
Rhys HoskinsDHR32827.7%11.6%0.179109
Chase DeLauter (MiLB)RFL17715.8%15.8%0.209128
Gabriel AriasSSR47134.4%5.7%0.14477
Bo NaylorCL41423.9%10.9%0.18485
Brayan Rocchio2BS38320.1%5.7%0.10877
2025 stats

This lineup runs through Ramírez. He’s a perennial MVP candidate and has already booked a place in the Hall of Fame when he decides to hang up the cleats. Last year was a “down” season for him and I put scare quotes there because down for him means a 133 wRC+ and just 6.3 fWAR. His power output was a little lower than normal due to a slight dip in contact quality, though he still managed to muscle out 30 home runs. Manzardo and DeLauter are the youngsters who have the pedigree to become middle-of-the-order compliments to Ramírez. The left-handed first baseman had an up-and-down season last year but managed to make some real improvements to his plate approach during the second half of the season. DeLauter has been a top prospect in Cleveland’s farm system since being drafted in the first round in 2022 but injuries have really derailed his development pathway. He’s plenty talented at the plate but doesn’t field particularly well. The Guardians actually had him make his debut in center field in the playoffs last year, but he’ll shift to an outfield corner as his regular home. To accommodate DeLauter, Steven Kwan has shifted to the middle of the outfield after winning Gold Gloves in left field in each of his first four seasons in the big leagues. While Kwan’s defensive acumen will be put to the test in center, his bat definitely needs to rebound if the Guardians want a shot at defending their division title. He’s oscillated between very good years at the plate and merely average years and a lot of that has to do with the capriciousness of an approach that is so contact oriented.

Probable Pitchers 

Updated Stuff+ Explainer 

PitcherIPK%BB%HR/FB%GB%ERAFIP
Tanner Bibee182.33321.3%7.1%13.0%44.7%4.244.34
Logan Gilbert13132.3%5.8%14.8%38.9%3.443.35
2025 stats
PitchUsage vRHBUsage vLHBVelocityStuff+Whiff+BIP+xwOBA
Four-seam20.6%34.0%94.487601130.373
Sinker25.6%6.3%94.1110741210.267
Cutter27.2%15.2%86.21031261090.291
Changeup4.0%24.6%81.81221251080.249
Curveball2.6%7.2%79.7102681300.292
Sweeper19.8%12.7%83.0111951070.275
2025 stats

Tanner Bibee took a pretty significant step backwards last year. He managed to make 31 starts, but his strikeout rate dropped by five points, and his ERA and FIP jumped up nearly a full run. His fastball has never really been a standout pitch for him but it was hit extremely hard last year. A mechanical issue led to less ride on the pitch and batters really keyed in on that pitch. Thankfully, the rest of his secondary pitches didn’t lose much effectiveness and all the underlying data looked good. His changeup and sweeper, in particular, have been fantastic pitches, but his repertoire is deep enough, he can keep batters off balance in any count. The key, then, is figuring out his mechanics to regain the ride on his four-seam fastball. 


PitcherIPK%BB%HR/FB%GB%ERAFIP
Gavin Williams167.224.6%11.8%14.4%44.7%3.064.39
George Kirby12626.1%5.5%12.8%44.1%4.213.37
2025 stats
PitchUsage vRHBUsage vLHBVelocityStuff+Whiff+BIP+xwOBA
Four-seam30.9%43.1%96.699106910.383
Sinker12.0%1.7%95.99559880.352
Cutter14.1%14.0%91.879781200.378
Curveball9.9%32.8%82.0109108870.238
Slider33.1%8.4%86.5114133930.245
2025 stats

Gavin Williams ended last season on an extremely lucky run. From June through the end of the season, his BABIP allowed was just .221 which led to a 2.50 ERA that far outpaced his 4.27 FIP. Most of his underlying peripherals stayed pretty stable through the season, but a ton of good batted ball luck allowed him to be a key piece of the Guardians’ playoff run in September. He added a sweeper to his pitch mix last year and it returned a 44.0% whiff rate. That gives him two excellent breaking balls to attack batters with alongside a hard fastball. The issue is his command. His walk rate is well below average and it’s pretty shocking he was able to get away with all those baserunners without giving up a ton more runs.


PitcherIPK%BB%HR/FB%GB%ERAFIP
Joey Cantillo95.126.9%10.5%11.0%40.8%3.213.55
Bryan Woo186.227.1%4.9%12.8%40.8%2.943.47
2025 stats
PitchUsage vRHBUsage vLHBVelocityStuff+Whiff+BIP+xwOBA
Four-seam40.4%46.0%91.790681000.389
Changeup34.4%20.8%78.31131591230.216
Curveball21.3%12.4%77.311376790.206
Slider4.0%20.8%85.18386730.347
2025 stats

Joey Cantillo spent last year split between the bullpen and the rotation. Once he made the move to starting in July, things really took off for him; he posted a 2.96 ERA and a 3.21 FIP across 13 starts down the stretch. His calling card is a phenomenal changeup that produced a 49.4% whiff rate last year! His two breaking balls are okay too — his curveball is the better of the two but he was testing a new grip on his slider this spring to hopefully increase that pitch’s effectiveness. His command is his weakness, though his walk rate improved slightly after joining the rotation last year. With a role in the rotation secured to start this season, he’s well positioned to take a big step forward if he can get his errant command under control.


PitcherIPK%BB%HR/FB%GB%ERAFIP
Slade Cecconi13220.0%5.9%15.5%41.3%4.304.64
Luis Castillo180.221.7%6.2%10.5%41.3%3.543.88
2025 stats
PitchUsage vRHBUsage vLHBVelocityStuff+Whiff+BIP+xwOBA
Four-seam39.0%47.8%94.39084910.388
Sinker17.7%5.2%93.69333980.402
Cutter2.9%3.2%88.8
Changeup1.4%12.9%84.39378670.432
Curveball9.7%22.4%75.51001011180.228
Slider29.4%8.5%84.295108940.299
2025 stats

Slade Cecconi came to the Guardians last offseason in the December 2024 trade that sent Josh Naylor to Arizona. He had a decent year in Cleveland, managing to stick in the rotation for the entire year after spending the first two years of his career as a swingman in Arizona’s bullpen. He doesn’t have outstanding stuff and won’t overpower batters, but he does have excellent command and a deep repertoire to keep batters off balance. His two breaking balls are his best pitches and he added a cutter and sinker to his arsenal last year. His fastball is pretty lackluster and that’s where his whole approach breaks down. If he’s not keeping batters honest with his secondary pitches, they can key in on his heater and do some real damage.


The Big Picture:

TeamW-LW%Games BehindRun Diff
Mariners – y90-690.566+72
Astros85-740.5355.0+21
Rangers80-790.50310.0+79
Athletics75-840.47215.0-84
Angels71-880.44719.0-164

MLB Opening Day 2026 thread

BALTIMORE, MD - MARCH 26: A detail shot of the Opening Day logo before the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Thursday, March 26, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

After yesterday’s Opening Night on Netflix, MLB Opening Day officially kicks off for 22 other teams today. The San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees will resume their series tomorrow.

The day kicks off with a marquee matchup of Paul Skenes and the Pittsburgh Pirates facing off against Juan Soto and the New York Mets. The Chicago White Sox will face the Milwaukee Brewers, which comes on the heels of the news that Brewers’ star outfielder Jackson Chourio was placed on the injured list with a fractured hand suffered in the World Baseball Classic.

The other big nationally televised matchup is that of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers, who will kick off the evening slate. World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto was named the Opening Day starter for the reigning champs, and he will face a recently re-signed Zac Gallen, making his fourth Opening Day start for the Snakes.

Here’s how the full slate breaks down today:

Game 1: Pittsburgh Pirates at New York Mets

RHP Paul Skenes vs. RHP Freddy Peralta

First Pitch: 11:15 a.m. MDT

TV: NBC/Peacock

Radio: Sports Radio 93.7 KDKA The Fan (Pirates); Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App 92.3 HD2 (Mets)

Lineups:


Game 2: Chicago White Sox at Milwaukee Brewers

RHP Shane Smith vs. RHP Jacob Misiorowski

First Pitch: 12:10 p.m. MDT

TV: Chicago Sports Network; Brewers.TV

Radio: ESPN Chicago WMVP 1000 AM (White Sox); WTMJ 620 (Brewers)

Lineups:


Game 3: Washington Nationals at Chicago Cubs

RHP Cade Cavalli vs. LHP Matthew Boyd

First Pitch: 12:20 p.m. MDT

TV: Nationals.TV; Marquee Sports Network

Radio: WJFK 106.7 The Fan (Nationals); 104.3 The Score, Univision TUDN, WPPN 106.7 / TUDN (Cubs)

Lineups:


Game 4: Minnesota Twins at Baltimore Orioles

RHP Joe Ryan vs. LHP Trevor Rogers

First Pitch: 1:05 p.m. MDT

TV: Twins.TV; MASN

Radio: TIBN, WCCO 830, The Wolf 102.9, Audacy App, LosTwins.com (Twins); 98 Rock 97.9 FM, WBAL 1090 AM (Orioles)

Lineups:


Game 5: Boston Red Sox at Cincinnati Reds

LHP Garrett Crochets vs. LHP Andrew Abbott

First Pitch: 2:10 p.m. MDT

TV: NESN; Reds.TV, Gray Media, WXIX FOX19

Radio: WEEI 93.7, WCCM 1490 AM (Spanish), WESX 1230AM (Spanish) (Red Sox); WLW 700 (Reds)

Lineups:


Game 6: Los Angeles Angels at Houston Astros

RHP JoséSoriano vs. RHP Hunter Brown

First Pitch: 2:10 p.m. MDT

TV: FanDuel Sports Network West; Space City Home Network

Radio: BLAA 830 (Angels); KBME 790 AM/94.5 FM HD-2, KLTN-TUDN 102.9 FM (Astros)

Lineups:


Game 7: Detroit Tigers at San Diego Padres

LHP Tarik Skubal vs. RHP Nick Pivetta

First Pitch: 2:10 p.m. MDT

TV: Detroit SportsNet; Padres.TV; MLBN

Radio: WXYT 97.1 FM (Tigers); KWFN 97.3, XEMO 860 (Padres)

Lineups:


Game 8: Tampa Bay Rays at St. Louis Cardinals

RHP Drew Rasmussen vs. LHP Matthew Liberatore

First Pitch: 2:15 p.m. MDT

TV: Rays.TV; Cardinals.TV

Radio: WDAE 95.7 FM, WQBN/1300AM (Rays); KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM, WIJR AM 880 (Spanish) (Cardinals)

Lineups:

Rays TBD


Game 9: Texas Rangers at Philadelphia Phillies

RHP Nathan Eovaldi vs. LHP Crisopher Sánchez

First Pitch: 2:15 p.m. MDT

TV: Rangers Sports Network; NBCSP+, NBC 10

Radio: KRLD 1080, KFLC 1270 (Rangers); 94 WIP, iHeart App (Phillies)

Lineups:


Game 10: Arizona Diamondbacks at Los Angeles Dodgers

RHP Zac Gallen vs. RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto

First Pitch: 6:30 p.m. MDT

TV: NBC/Peacock (National)

Radio: 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station, KNAI 101.9 FM/860 AM (Diamondbacks); Dodgers Radio AM570, KTNQ 1020 (Dodgers)

Lineups:

DBacks TBD

Dodgers TBD


Game 11: Cleveland Guardians at Seattle Mariners

RHP Tanner Bibee vs. RHP Logan Gilbert

First Pitch: 8:10 p.m. MDT

TV: Guardians.TV; Mariners.TV

Radio: WTAM 1100, Guardians Radio Network (Guardians); Seattle Sports 710 AM (Mariners)

Lineups:

Guardians TBD

Mariners TBD


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Sippin’ a drink and feelin’ fine: Phillies vs. Rangers series preview

SURPRISE, ARIZONA - MARCH 18: Wyatt Langford #36 of the Texas Rangers swings the bat during a Spring Training game against the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium on March 18, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Opening Day!

The 2026 season begins today for the two-time defending National League East champion Philadelphia Phillies. We’ve got 162 games to determine if they can make that a three-peat, and then hopefully advance to the ultimate goal of a World Series title.

They’ll start things off with a relatively unfamiliar opponent from the American League. I realize that with 15 teams in each league, at least two teams are going to begin with an interleague matchup, but it still feels somewhat wrong not to go against an NL team – if not a divisional opponent – to begin the season.

But since the schedule makers have given us the Rangers, it is the Rangers we shall discuss.

Texas Rangers

2025 record: 81-81 (Third place in American League West)

The last time they met

The Phillies visited Arlington in August 2025, and despite a history of poor play in Arlington over the years, the Phillies won all three games.

What’s the deal with the Rangers?

After a .500 season, the Rangers’ biggest change was firing manager Bruce Bochy and replacing him with Skip Schumacher. You may remember Schumaker winning the 2023 Manager of the Year award for leading the Miami Marlins to the playoffs, and getting fired a season later because Marlins gonna Marlin, and they lost 100 games.

As for the roster, the biggest additions came via trade, as they picked up two former NL East players in MacKenzie Gore and Brandon Nimmo. (Yes, we have to open the season against stupid Brandon Nimmo.) Offensively, they seem to largely be counting on better health and/or rebound seasons from players who disappointed in 2025, such as Corey Seager and Josh Jung. They also believe outfielder Wyatt Langford is ready to take another step forward on offense.

The starting rotation looks strong with Gore joining Jacob deGrom, Jack Leiter, and Nathan Eovaldi. (Or at least it will be strong if deGrom can have a second consecutive healthy season. Last year, was the first time since 2019 he made 30 starts in a season.) The bullpen looks less intimidating, as they’re counting on Robert Garcia and Chris Martin to handle the high leverage innings

Player spotlight: Andrew McCutchen

I always felt the idea of Andrew McCutchen on the Phillies was better than actually having him on the Phillies. When they signed the former MVP, he was no longer in his prime, but the hope was that he would be a strong presence in the clubhouse, and a viable contributor as the team’s leadoff hitter.

By most reports, he was a great teammate, but sadly, the results on the field didn’t match expectations. In 2019, he was playing well before his season was prematurely ended by a knee injury. In 2020, he got off to a slow start recovering from that injury and didn’t get going until the abbreviated season was close to over. In 2021, he had a solid season with the bat, but the former Gold Glover had become a liability in the field.

The next season, the Phillies chose to instead pursue Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos (They batted .500 on that decision) and let Cutch head to Milwaukee. Afterwards, he went back to Pittsburgh for a few seasons, putting up decent offensive numbers but slowly declining to the point where he was basically a replacement player in 2025.

At 39 years of age, there wasn’t high demand for Cutch’s services, but he came to camp with the Rangers as a non-roster invitee, and thanks to a strong showing in Spring Training, made the team.

Opening Day memories

For some reason, this is the third time the Phillies and Rangers have squared off on Opening Day. (Does MLB like having contrasting red, white, and blue color scheme going at it to start the season?) The first time was in 2014, which seemed to be a mismatch with Cliff Lee facing someone named Tanner Scheppers.

Last year, I wrote about how it can feel depressing when you don’t have a legit Opening Day starter. It’s much nicer to see Cristopher Sanchez get the ball the first game rather than the likes of Jeremy Hellickson (Hellickson had a cromulent career, but nobody was mistaking him for an ace) or Omar Daal. (On the other hand, I still love me some Robert Person, who started Opening Day in 2002!)

Anyway, the Phillies knocked Scheppers around, but surprisingly, the Rangers did the same to Lee. But thanks to big days by Ben Revere and Cody Asche (Another reminder that Opening Day is rarely predictive) and a grand slam by Jimmy Rollins, the Phillies prevailed 14-10. (This was not a harbinger of things to come for neither the 2014 season nor the Phillies-Rangers rivalry. The Phillies finished in last place and would lose their next nine games against the Rangers.)

The Phillies also visited Texas to open the season in 2023. The game started off nicely, with the Phillies getting off to a 5-0 lead, only to have Aaron Nola and the bullpen implode in a nine-run fourth inning. The Phillies lost and would lose their next three games as well.

I was trying to remember what happened on Opening Day last year, and I was drawing a blank. That’s especially embarrassing since I was in attendance at the game in Washington. (A lot easier to get Opening Day tickets down there!) It was the one where everyone was striking out (and blaming the shadows) until the late innings when the Phillies unloaded against the Nationals’ bullpen.

Opening Day is supposed to be a time for optimism but let me tell you: The Washington fans were not feeling positive about their chances that season. (And they were right! The Nats sucked last year!)

Remembering a guy who used to play for the Rangers

In 1992, the Rangers traded for A’s outfielder Jose Canseco. The former MVP expressed a desire to team with Rangers’ first baseman Rafael Palmeiro as the “new Bash Brothers,” but Canseco’s time in Texas is more remembered for PED use, injuring himself while pitching, and letting a ball bounce off his head for a home run.

Pennant year song battle!

As a new feature this year, I’ll be picking songs from a year in which the Phillies won the NL Pennant and pitting them against each other. (I may try to challenge myself and pick songs somehow related to the series at hand!) The winner stays on until defeated.

Here We Are Again – Debroy Somers, 1915

Coming from the year of the Phillies’ first ever National League title, the song seemed appropriate for the start of another season.

Ghost – Justin Bieber

In honor of the least popular change to Citizens Bank Park, here’s Justin Bieber’s hit from 2022.

Vote now!

If you have any favorite songs from 1915, 1950, 1980, 1983, 1993, 2008, 2009, or 2022, feel free to suggest them in the comments.

Closing thought

It’s Opening Day! Even if you don’t like what the Phillies did this past offseason or don’t like their chances to win it all, who cares? Everyone is 0-0, and you can let yourself dream a little! Go Phils!

Texas Rangers lineup for Opening Day, 2026

MLB Texas Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi | Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images

Texas rangers lineup for Opening Day, March 26, 2026 against the Philadelphia Phillies: starting pitchers are Nathan Eovaldi for the Rangers and Cristopher Sanchez for the Phillies.

It is Opening Day, y’all. Let’s do this.

The lineup:

Nimmo — RF

Langford — CF

Seager — SS

Burger — 1B

McCutchen — DH

Jung — 3B

Smith — 2B

Jansen — C

Haggerty — LF

3:15 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are +130 underdogs.

Why was Matt McMahon fired at LSU? Tigers basketball decision explained, buyout

Matt McMahon is reportedly out at LSU.

The Tigers, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel, have relieved McMahon of his duties as head coach of the men's basketball program after just four seasons. The firing of McMahon gained steam in the last few days with LSU's decision to bring back former Tigers coach Will Wade, who just finished his first season at North Carolina State and has reportedly signed a seven-year deal with LSU.

At LSU, McMahon never had the same success he had at Murray State. The Tigers went 60-70 overall over four seasons under McMahon and finished at the bottom of the SEC in three of those seasons.

Here's what to know about why McMahon was fired by LSU:

Why did LSU fire Matt McMahon?

It ultimately boils down to LSU's performance under McMahon, who was considered an up-and-coming bright mind in men's college basketball when he was hired away from Murray State in 2022.

LSU has not won more than 17 games in a season under McMahon, and never finished better than .500 in SEC play. The Tigers didn't made the Men's NCAA Tournament, and didn't make it out of the first round of the 2024 Men's NIT.

LSU had just one winning season under McMahon, coming in his second season when the Tigers went 17-16. The Tigers finished 15-17 overall and 3-15 in SEC play this season, a conference mark that put them as the No. 16 seed in the SEC tournament.

The other component is LSU's hiring of McNeese State athletic director Heath Schroyer as a senior administrator with the Tigers, which will include oversight of the men's basketball program. That hiring was reported to be a key factor in Wade considering a return to LSU. Schroyer also hired Wade at McNeese State ahead of the 2023-24 season, after he did not coach in 2022-23 following his exit from LSU.

In Wade, the Tigers bring back a coach who has a successful track record. He holds a 266-119 overall record as a head coach, with additional stops at Chattanooga and VCU. He led the Tigers to a 105-51 record in five seasons, and just led the Wolfpack to a 20-14 mark this past season.

Matt McMahon buyout

According to McMahon's contract, obtained by the USA TODAY Network, LSU owes him $8.02 million if he is fired without cause on April 1, as part of his buyout.

Matt McMahon LSU record

Here's a year-by-year breakdown of how LSU has fared under McMahon:

  • 2022-23: 14-19 overall
  • 2023-24: 17-16 overall
  • 2024-25: 14-18 overall
  • 2025-26: 15-17 overall

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Matt McMahon fired: Why did LSU basketball make coaching change?

MLB Player Props & Best Bets for Today, March 26

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The real Opening Day is here... and so too are MLB player props.

With 11 games on the diamond and countless markets for pitchers and hitters, there’s no reason we can’t open the season by driving in some winners.

My favorites for today include strikeout props for Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Logan Gilbert. Those and more MLB picks for Thursday, March 26, below.

Best MLB player props today

PlayerPickOdds
Rays Junior CamineroOver 0.5 RBI+115
Dodgers Yoshinobu YamamotoOver 5.5 strikeouts-136
Mariners Logan GilbertOver 6.5 strikeouts+102

Junior Caminero Over 0.5 RBIs (+115)

Junior Caminero is coming off a breakout campaign with the Tampa Bay Rays, where he swatted a massive 45 home runs with 110 RBIs, and I like him to carry that production into an Opening Day matchup with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The raw numbers for Caminero were great, but the underlying statistics say it was no fluke. The Rays' third baseman ranked in the 91st percentile or better in expected slugging, average exit velocity, and hard-hit percentage. Simply put, he hits the ball hard and often.

He gets a great matchup against Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore. For starters, Caminero has the splits advantage with Liberatore being a lefty.

Liberatore is also coming off a tough season, ranked in the Bottom 15% in both expected ERA and opponent expected batting average. The issue for Liberatore is that he gives up a lot of hard contact, and doesn't have much swing and miss stuff.

Caminero also had a great performance in the World Baseball Classic, and I love the price for him to drive in a run.

  • Time: 4:15 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Rays.TV, Cardinals.TV

Yoshinobu Yamamoto Over 5.5 strikeouts (-136)

The last time we saw Yoshinobu Yamamoto in a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform, he was having an all-time performance in the World Series.

Now, he gets the ball for the Dodgers on Opening Day against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks.

But it wasn’t just the postseason where Yamamoto was showing his dominance. He ended the regular season in the 89th percentile in strikeout rate. That strikeout rate was above 30% over his last 14 starts of the season.

He also dominated this D-backs lineup last season. Current Arizona players have combined for a 32.1% K-rate against Yamamoto, with strikeout totals of 4, 9, 10, and 7 in four games.

Yamamoto also topped this number in 12 consecutive games to end the season, and we know his arm is nice worked out thanks to the World Baseball Classic. 

  • Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Peacock

Logan Gilbert Over 6.5 strikeouts (+102)

The Seattle Mariners have one of the best rotations in baseball, and it’s Logan Gilbert who gets the ball on Opening Day in a matchup against the Cleveland Guardians.

Gilbert is coming off his first All-Star selection in 2025, ranking in the 85th percentile in both expected ERA and opponent expected batting average. But it’s the strikeout numbers that are really impressive.

The 6-foot-6 starter struck out 32.4% of the batters he faced last season, which ranked in the 94th percentile. 

The Guardians were a middle-of-the-pack team when it came to getting punched out by right-handers, ranking 15th in K-rate and return a nearly identical lineup to last season.

I’ll take a shot on Gilbert to top his strikeout prop on Opening Day at plus money.

  • Time: 10:10 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: CleGuardians.TV, Mariners.TV
2026 Transparency record
  • Prop picks: 1-1, +0.4 units

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.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Matt McMahon fired by LSU basketball after 4 seasons, Will Wade to be hired

LSU men's basketball coach Matt McMahon has been dismissed after four seasons at the school.

Former Tigers coach Will Wade, who preceded McMahon in the job, is returning to the school after his tumultuous tenure that saw the program found guilty of recruiting violations. Wade received a show-cause penalty as part of the NCAA punishment, but return to coaching at McNeese State in 2023 and led North Carolina State to the NCAA Tournament this season in his one year at the school.

Wade will owe North Carolina State a buyout of $5 million.

The loss of Wade disappointing development for the Wolfpack, who thought they had found their next long-term coach in Wade after moving on from Kevin Keatts.

For LSU, it's the second time in five months it has hired a coach who tanked his reputation before rehabilitating it. The football program, of course, hired Lane Kiffin away from Mississippi in a year where the rebels made the playoffs. Now it's poaching a coach it was strong-armed into moving on from in the first place.

For McMahon, it ends a four-year era in which he went 60-70 and a lowly 17-55 against the SEC with no Men's NCAA Tournament appearances.

Matt McMahon buyout

McMahon's buyout figure figures to be just more than $8 million, according to his contract obtained by USA TODAY Sports. He spent eight seasons with Murray State before joining the Tigers, going 154-67 with three NCAA appearances.

Matt McMahon LSU record

McMahon struggled to recruit to LSU, and the team's record reflected it. The Tigers went 60-70 (17-55 SEC) in his four seasons with them, and they didn't make the NCAA Tournament during his tenure.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Matt McMahon fired by LSU basketball, Will Wade to return to Tigers

Guardians vs Mariners Prediction, Odds & Home Run Pick for Tonight's MLB Game

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The Cleveland Guardians open the season on the West Coast with a game against the Seattle Mariners tonight.

Both teams are coming off divisional titles and return with rosters mostly intact, if not upgraded.

Seattle has an edge in the starting pitching matchup and brings in an absolutely stacked lineup, which is why my Guardians vs. Mariners predictions and MLB picks call for it to cover at home on Thursday, March 26.

Guardians vs Mariners predictions

Guardians vs Mariners best bet: Mariners -1.5 (+130)

The Seattle Mariners were the fourth-best hitting team with a 113 OPS in 2025 and have been even better this spring. 

After scoring 4.7 runs per game last year, Seattle averaged 5.5 in spring training. 

Logan Gilbert was effective as usual when healthy last season, finishing with a 3.44 ERA and an elite 32.3% strikeout rate. The Cleveland Guardiansranked 28th in scoring last year, so facing a top-shelf starter is not ideal for this set of bats.

Guardians starter Tanner Bibee had the worst year of his career. He didn’t find a solution this spring, giving up six homers in six starts with a 6.65 ERA.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Bibee’s fastball whiff rate dropped from 21.3% in 2024 to 13.2% last year, and also declined for his cutter, sinker, and curve.

Guardians vs Mariners same-game parlay (SGP)

img src="https://img.covers.com/betting/sportsbooks/818/fanduel_2.svg" alt="FanDuel Logo" loading="lazy" width="194" height="62"

Mariners -1.5

Mariners first-inning moneyline

Mariners team total Over 3.5

+525 at FanDuel

The Mariners added one of baseball's top leadoff batters in Brendan Donovan. He’ll get on base ahead of MVP candidates Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez, which could result in a quick knockout of Bibee. 

Bibee allowed 27 homers last year and failed to strike out a batter an inning, a trend that continued into the spring. The Cleveland bullpen is missing injured setup man Hunter Gaddis, and Matt Festa struggled this spring, posting a 6.75 ERA.

Guardians vs Mariners SGP

  • Mariners -1.5
  • Mariners first-inning moneyline
  • Mariners team total Over 3.5

Guardians vs Mariners home run pick: Cal Raleigh (+275)

There are matchup-based picks, and then there are ones where you don’t need to dive too deeply into the numbers. If anyone is going to homer in this game, it will be MLB’s reigning home-run leader playing in his home opener. Bibee’s struggles with the long ball make this an even better bet. He was even worse on the road, giving up twice as many home runs and an OPS 200 points higher than in home games. Randy Arozarena is the only member of the heart of Seattle’s order to homer against him, but that could easily change after tonight.

Guardians vs Mariners odds

  • Moneyline: Cleveland +158 | Seattle -188
  • Run line: Cleveland +1.5 (-152) | Seattle -1.5 (+126)
  • Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-122) | Under 6.5 (+100)

Guardians vs Mariners trend

The Seattle Mariners have covered the Run Line in 21 of their last 33 games. Find more MLB betting trends for Guardians vs. Mariners.

How to watch Guardians vs Mariners and game info

LocationT-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA
DateThursday, March 26, 2026
First pitch10:10 p.m. ET
TVGuardians TV, Mariners TV
Guardians starting pitcherTanner Bibee
(2025: 12-11, 4.24 ERA)
Mariners starting pitcherLogan Gilbert
(2025: 6-6, 3.44 ERA)

Guardians vs Mariners latest injuries

Guardians vs Mariners weather

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.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Tigers vs Padres Prediction, Odds & Home Run Pick for Today's MLB Game

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All eyes will be on Tarik Skubal as he starts what could be his last year with the Detroit Tigers, and he’ll have the San Diego Padres in his sights in today’s season opener.

It’s a heavyweight pitching matchup at Petco Park as Skubal and Nick Pivetta square off, and my Tigers vs. Padres predictions expect Detroit’s ace to pave the way to a road victory.

Take a closer look at this March 26 clash with my free MLB picks.

Tigers vs Padres predictions

Tigers vs Padres best bet: Tigers moneyline (-134)

After the Detroit Tigers’ late-season collapse last year, it’s easy to forget their scorching 29-15 start. I see Detroit flying out of the traps again here.

Tarik Skubal, coming off a 2.21 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 2025, should love the pitcher-friendly conditions at Petco Park.

The visitors are 4-1 SU in their past five season openers, and their two-time Cy Young winner has shown that his stuff travels (2.30 ERA on the road last season).

While the San Diego Padres had a strong home record last year, changes in the clubhouse — including new manager Craig Stammen — may take time to pay off.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Skubal posted an ultra-stingy 1.77 ERA in day games last season, and he allowed just five home runs in 76 1/3 innings across those outings.

Tigers vs Padres same-game parlay (SGP)

The Under was 44-34-3 in San Diego’s home games in 2025, and this feels like another pitching duel.

Nick Pivetta is looking to prove his 2.87 ERA last season was legit, and the Tigers’ strikeout-heavy lineup can lurch from feast to famine within the same game.

The Padres’ big bats were quiet in their final few Spring Training outings, and Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado — coming off WBC action — are among the hitters who’ve never faced Skubal.

I’m also backing Riley Greene’s bat to make an impact. He racked up a career-high 155 hits in 2025.

Tigers vs Padres SGP

  • Tigers moneyline
  • Under 7
  • Riley Greene Over 0.5 hits

Tigers vs Padres home run pick: Riley Greene (+360)

I’ll double down on Greene for the HR prop, too.

He crushed 36 dingers last season, with 32 of those coming off righties. That’ll put Pivetta under pressure here, and the Detroit slugger hit more homers on the road than at home in 2025.

Petco Park isn’t the easiest place to nail the long ball, but Greene’s power overrides that.

Tigers vs Padres odds

  • Moneyline: Detroit -134 | San Diego +114
  • Run line: Detroit -1.5 | San Diego +1.5
  • Over/Under: Over 7 | Under 7

Tigers vs Padres trend

The Padres have hit the Under in 80 of their last 143 games (+13.65 Units / 9% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Tigers vs. Padres.

How to watch Tigers vs Padres and game info

LocationPetco Park, San Diego, CA
DateThursday, March 26, 2026
First pitch4:10 p.m. ET
TVDetroit SportsNet, Padres TV
Tigers starting pitcherTarik Skubal
(2025: 13-6, 2.21 ERA)
Padres starting pitcherNick Pivetta
(2025: 13-5, 2.87 ERA)

Tigers vs Padres latest injuries

Tigers vs Padres weather

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.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Chicago Cubs vs. Washington Nationals preview, Thursday 3/26, 1:20 CT

Thursday notes…

  • ON OPENING DAY: Since 1876, the first year of the National League, the Cubs have opened the season against 28 different teams. This will be their second against the Nationals. They lost to them at home, 2-1, on April 5, 2012. When the Nationals were the Montreal Expos, the Cubs were 1-2 against them in openers, winning in 1973 and losing in 1983 and 2001. All games were at Wrigley Field. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
  • IN MARCH: The Cubs are 10-13 in games played in March. Their first such game was in 1998. They played two in 2000, then one each in 2003, 2008 and 2014. Starting in 2018, they have played 17: three in 2018 and 2019, one in 2023, three in 2024 and seven last year. The Cubs have been the home team for only five of the 23 games, and three of those were in Tokyo, against the Mets in 2000 and against the Dodgers last year. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
  • IN MARCH AT WRIGLEY FIELD: The team’s only two previous games in March at Wrigley Field were against the Brewers. On March 31, 2008, Kosuke Fukudome, in his first game, hit a home run with two men on base and nobody out in the ninth inning to tie the score at 3. Craig Counsell doubled leading off the Brewers’ 10th and scored on a bunt, hit by pitch and sacrifice fly. The Cubs went down in order and lost, 4-3. On March 30, 2023, the Cubs won, 4-0, as Marcus Stroman and three relievers combined to allow four hits, walk five and strike out 12. The Cubs scored all their runs in the third inning on three singles, two walks and an error. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
  • LAST YEAR’S HOME OPENER: In 2025, the Cubs had played nine games before they opened at Wrigley Field, including two “home” games in the Tokyo Dome. They had a 5-4 record when they faced the Padres on April 4, 2025. The Cubs won the game 3-1, getting 7.1 strong innings from Shōta Imanaga.

Cubs lineup:

Nationals lineup:

Matthew Boyd, LHP vs. Cade Cavalli, RHP

Matthew Boyd had an excellent 2025, making the NL All-Star team, though he did run out of gas late in the season.

After being hit hard in Game 1 of the division series against the Brewers, he recovered to have an outstanding outing in Game 4.

Against the Nationals last year, Boyd made two starts, allowing 11 hits, one walk and four runs in 14.2 innings (2.45 ERA).

Boyd was particularly effective at Wrigley Field last year, posting a 2.51 ERA and 0.903 WHIP in 15 starts at home. The Cubs went 13-2 in those 15 games.

This will be his third Opening Day start (also 2020 and 2021 with the Tigers).

Cade Cavalli was the Nats’ first round pick in 2020 (22nd overall), taken six picks after the Cubs took Ed Howard and three picks after Pete Crow-Armstrong went to the Mets.

He was a Top 100 prospect three years in a row (2021-23), then missed the entire 2023 season with Tommy John surgery. He made 10 starts for the Nats last year and the results were okay: 4.25 ERA, 1.479 WHIP. He has never faced the Cubs or anyone on the Cubs’ active roster.

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network.

Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Nationals site Federal Baseball. If you do go there to interact with Nationals fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.

You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.

The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.

You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

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Canadiens Soaring Goalie Makes NHL's Top Prospects List

The Hockey News' main site revealed players 61-80 for their latest top NHL-affiliated prospect rankings on Wednesday. A Montreal Canadiens goalie prospect made the cut, as Jacob Fowler was given the No. 67 spot. 

Fowler being named one of the NHL's top prospects by THN is not surprising in the slightest. The 21-year-old has the potential to become a very good goaltender at the NHL level and has shown promise this season with the Habs.

In 13 appearances with Montreal this campaign, Fowler has a 6-5-2 record, a .899 save percentage, a 2.72 goals-against average, and one shutout. With this, the 2023 third-round pick has had a nice start to his NHL career. 

Fowler has also been fantastic while in the AHL with the Laval Rocket this season. In 27 games with the AHL squad on the year, he has a 19-7-1 record, a .916 save percentage, a 2.23 goals-against average, and three shutouts. When noting that this is his first full AHL season, the 6-foot-1 goaltender has certainly been impressive. 

With Fowler being so young and already showing this much promise, it is hard not to be excited about his future with the Canadiens. It will be fascinating to see how he continues to develop his game from here. 

Wrigley Field ranks among MLB's best. How to watch Opening Day

Yet another MLB season kicks off today at Wrigley Field, with the Chicago Cubs set to take on the Washington Nationals against the iconic backdrop of the city skyline.

The stadium has been a fixture of Chicago for more than a century, drawing baseball fans from across Illinois and Indiana through sunshine, rain and strong winds.

As a result, it's no surprise that Wrigley ranked among the best MLB stadiums in the country, according to a self-proclaimed subjective list by USA TODAY's sports site For The Win. The site ranked all 30 MLB stadiums based on general atmosphere, design, location, amenities, food and character.

Wrigley Field ranks among best MLB stadiums

Wrigley Field

Wrigley Field ranked fourth on the list, only behind San Diego's Petco Park, San Francisco's Oracle Park and Pittsburgh's PNC Park.

For The Win described a trip to Wrigley as "something that every sports fan should try to experience at least once," applauding the recent large-scale renovation while admitting the room for growth in the food selection.

"The Cubs officially completed their massive, multi-phase renovation in 2019, and I think it was done in a perfect way that brought in modern amenities while still respecting Wrigley Field’s old-school charm," the site said. "The food selection could be a bit better from a variety standpoint, but, I mean, you’re at Wrigley. Just enjoy it."

How did White Sox stadium rank?

Rate Field

On the opposite side of the spectrum, the White Sox's Rate Field landed near the bottom of the list, mainly for its lack of a skyline view.

For The Win ranked Rate Field No. 27 out of 30, above only Phoenix's Chase Field, Sacramento's Sutter Health Park and Tampa's Tropicana Field.

"I’ve mentioned it before, but I can’t get over how the stadium could’ve had an epic skyline view if it was flipped around," the site said. "Instead we’re left with a view of nothing. The team is eyeing a new stadium, though, that would have the view. I am glad they dropped the 'Guaranteed' from the name, so there's that."

For The Win's 2026 ranking of best MLB stadiums

  1. Petco Park – San Diego Padres
  2. Oracle Park – San Francisco Giants
  3. PNC Park – Pittsburgh Pirates
  4. Wrigley Field – Chicago Cubs
  5. Coors Field – Colorado Rockies
  6. Fenway Park – Boston Red Sox
  7. Target Field – Minnesota Twins
  8. T-Mobile Park – Seattle Mariners
  9. Citi Field – New York Mets
  10. Oriole Park at Camden Yards – Baltimore Orioles
  11. Dodger Stadium – Los Angeles Dodgers
  12. Truist Park – Atlanta Braves
  13. Busch Stadium – St. Louis Cardinals
  14. Citizens Bank Park – Philadelphia Phillies
  15. Nationals Park – Washington Nationals
  16. Kauffman Stadium – Kansas City Royals
  17. Progressive Field – Cleveland Guardians
  18. Daikin Park – Houston Astros
  19. Comerica Park – Detroit Tigers
  20. Rogers Centre – Toronto Blue Jays
  21. Globe Life Field – Texas Rangers
  22. Great American Ball Park – Cincinnati Reds
  23. LoanDepot Park – Miami Marlins
  24. American Family Field – Milwaukee Brewers
  25. Yankee Stadium – New York Yankees
  26. Angel Stadium – Los Angeles Angels
  27. Rate Field – Chicago White Sox
  28. Chase Field – Arizona Diamondbacks
  29. Sutter Health Park – Athletics
  30. Tropicana Field – Tampa Bay Rays

How to watch Cubs-Nationals opening day

The first pitch is scheduled for 1:20 CT.

The game can be watched locally on Marquee Sports Network or streamed on MLB.TV for out-of-market viewers.

It can be listened to on 104.3 The Score, Univision TUDN and WPPN 106.7/TUDN.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wrigley Field ranks among best MLB stadiums ahead of Opening Day

Dodgers opening day facts & history

ST. LOUIS, MO - MARCH 31: Todd Hollandsworth of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the Opening Day game against the St. Louis Cardinals on March 31, 1998 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images) | Sporting News via Getty Images

When the Dodgers host the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday evening, it’ll be their first-ever game on March 26.

The Dodgers first played a regular season game in March in 1998, opening that year on March 31 against the Cardinals in St. Louis. Mark McGwire in the fifth inning off Ramón Martínez hit the first of his then-record 70 home runs that season. The Dodgers also played a single March game in 2003, 2008, and 2011.

The first time the Dodgers played before March 31 was in 2014 with two games in Australia, and they also had two-game international trips in Korea in 2024 and Japan in 2025. They’ve also played March games domestically in 2014, 2019, as well as annually from 2023-25. In all, the Dodgers have played 28 regular season games in March, and have won 20 of them, and are 14-5 in March games at Dodger Stadium.

Mookie Betts is tied with Kyle Schwarber as the all-time leader with eight career March home runs, including two last season against the Detroit Tigers.

The Dodgers have won 15 of their last 18 opening days, including the last four in a row.

Opening at home has been the norm for the Dodgers in recent years, especially when considering the domestic portion of the schedule. They opened the 2024 season in Seoul, South Korea and started 2025 in Tokyo, Japan, but their first game after returning home was at Dodger Stadium.

The only other two road starts in the last 10 years came in 2021 and 2022 at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies, but the second of those openers was only in Denver because the MLB lockout pushed back the original start to 2022, which would have been at Dodger Stadium.

This is the 65th season of Dodger Stadium, and the 32nd time opening day is at Chavez Ravine. The Dodgers are 19-12 in those games, with eight wins in their last nine such openers.

The Dodgers have won each of their last seven home openers in Los Angeles, dating back to 2019, and since Dodger Stadium opened in 1962 they are 37-27 in their first game at the ballpark.

Mets sign Tommy Pham to minor league deal

Tommy Pham prepares to swing a bat in a blue and orange Mets uniform
Tommy Pham | (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

The Mets added a bit of outfield depth ahead of their season opener, as the team has agreed to a minor league deal with Tommy Pham, per ESPN’s Jorge Castillo. If Pham gets called up to the team’s major league roster, he’d be on a $2.25 million salary with a potential $850k in bonuses, and he has an April 25 opt-out clause.

Pham is perhaps best known to Mets fans as a player who called his teammates with the 2023 Mets the “least-hardest working group of position players I’ve ever played with.”

In his stint with the Mets that year, Pham fared well, hitting .268/.348/.472 with a 124 wRC+ and 1.4 fWAR in 264 plate appearances. That led to the Mets trading him to the Diamondbacks for minor league infielder Jeremy Rodriguez at the deadline that year. His comments about his then-former teammates came later that season.

Since that trade, however, Pham hasn’t hit as well as he did with the Mets. He had a 92 wRC+ as he spent time with the White Sox, Cardinals, and Royals in 2024, and he finished the 2025 season with a 94 wRC+, having spent the entirety of the season with the Pirates.

In the short term, Pham figures to get some reps in the minors to get up to speed. Assuming he plays in Syracuse sometime soon, he’ll join fellow outfield depth options like MJ Melendez and some of the Mets’ top prospects in getting outfield innings there. Perhaps he’ll supplant Jared Young on the Mets’ major league roster before long, but it’ll be interesting to see if the team gives him a major league roster spot before his opt-out date.