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Canadiens: Big Mistakes Lead To Costly Defeat

The Montreal Canadiens had a date with the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night, and both teams desperately needed the two points in what is proving to be a very tight playoff race. Earlier in the day, the Habs announced that Josh Anderson was dealing with an upper-body injury and would be evaluated daily. As a result, Joe Veleno got back in the lineup to take on the team that drafted him. The Quebecer had watched the last 10 games from the press gallery.

With such high stakes, it was hardly surprising to see both teams play some tight and hard-hitting hockey. While the Canadiens’ run-and-gun offence can be very entertaining to watch, it often leads them to take unnecessary risks. With the playoffs fast approaching, they got a wake-up call when they dropped back-to-back games last weekend in what could only be described as a giveaway festival.

Canadiens Talked Patrik Laine Trade With 2 Teams
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Canadiens Still Need To Fix Recurrent Mistake

Not Making The Same Mistake

For a second game in a row, Martin St-Louis gave Jakub Dobes the net. After the Czech netminder had a great outing on Tuesday, it was felt that he deserved to be there again. It feels like the organization has learnt from its past mistakes. Earlier this season, when the youngster was playing great games, he would still make way for Samuel Montembeault because the team wanted its starter to get his game back.

Now, despite Jacob Fowler being widely regarded as the Canadiens’ goaltender of the future, the coach decided to stick with Dobes, giving him the respect he deserves. There’s no doubt that Fowler will get back in the net soon enough; you can’t let him sit for too long, but giving the nod to Dobes was the right move in the circumstances.

The masked man rewarded his coach with another good performance. Through 40 minutes, he had stopped the 15 shots he faced, including a few tricky ones on rebounds, and he looked very comfortable out there. The Wings were trying to get in his face and take his focus off the task at hand, but he remained concentrated, even if he did get in on the pushing and shoving at one stage.

Managing The Game, The Clock And The Lead

The Canadiens led 1-0 entering the third frame, but J.T. Compher put the Wings on the scoreboard a little over two minutes into the period, and St-Louis looked very irritated by the goal. Not because it was a bad goal to give from Dobes, he made the first save, but the puck bounced off the Wings’ player and into the net, and you can’t fault him for that, but because it all stemmed from the fact that the Canadiens’ second line attacked with no regard to its defensive responsibilities.

Alex Newhook, Ivan Demidov, and Oliver Kapanen all ended up behind the offensive goal line, allowing the Wings to get a numerical advantage. While everyone was back in the defensive zone by the time the puck went in, the Habs have enough trouble establishing who needs to cover who when they don’t have to do it under pressure. The coach was fuming, and the look he gave his forwards as they sat back on the bench spoke volumes. There were only 11 minutes left in the third frame by the time Newhook and Ivan Demidov got back on the ice.

St-Louis rarely benches his top offensive players, but he's been talking about risk and puck management for ages now, and particularly in the last few days, he had had enough.

Everything That Can Go Wrong, Will Go Wrong

Despite leading for much of the game, the Canadiens ended up on the wrong end of a 2-1 defeat thanks to one play going horribly wrong. Montreal won a faceoff in the offensive zone, Matheson sent it around the board, and Noah Dobson was unable to stop the clearing attempt. Then, Mike Matheson went to retrieve the puck in the defensive zone, and somehow he coughed it up to Alex DeBrincat, who wasn’t going to miss his chance, all alone with Dobes.

As St-Louis has often said this season, the Canadiens paid cash for their mistakes in that game. The coach often says that “good teams will make you pay for your mistakes”, and Detroit made plenty of mistakes as well, but Montreal didn’t make them pay. The Michigan side had 19 giveaways but still skated away with the two points in a game the Canadiens couldn’t afford to lose.

Dobes would have deserved better on a night where he stopped 25 of the 27 shots he faced for a .926 save percentage, but it’s not about what you deserve; it’s about what you get. On Thursday night, Detroit, the Boston Bruins, the Ottawa Senators, and the Columbus Blue Jackets all won, yet another example of Murphy’s Law in action.

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Where VCU's epic March Madness comeback vs. UNC ranks in NCAA Tournament history

Not only did No. 11 seed Virginia Commonwealth upset No. 6 North Carolina in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, but it did it with an impressive comeback.

The Rams took down the Tar Heels 82-78 in overtime on Thursday, March 19, a result that didn't seem possible early in the game. North Carolina was up 56-37 early in the second half, primed to advance to the second round in the March Madness bracket, but the Rams went on a run to close the gap and forced overtime after a bucket in the final seconds. VCU held North Carolina without a field goal in overtime to pull off the victory.

It was among the largest comebacks in NCAA Tournament history, but where does it rank?

How large was VCU comeback over North Carolina?

VCU pulled off a 19-point comeback to beat UNC in overtime.

Where does VCU comeback rank in NCAA Tournament history?

The 19-point comeback is the largest in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Overall, it's the sixth-largest.

VCU Rams guard Terrence Hill Jr. (6) celebrates after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels in overtime of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

Largest comebacks in NCAA Tournament history

  • 1. 25: No. 14 seed BYU over No. 14 seed Iona (2012 First Four)
  • T-2. 22: No. 1 seed Duke over No. 3 seed Maryland (2001 Final Four)
  • T-2. 22: No. 7 seed Nevada over No. 2 seed Cincinnati (2018 second round)
  • T-3. 20: No. 4 seed Louisville over No. 7 seed West Virginia (2005 Elite Eight)
  • T-3. 20: No. 1 seed Ohio State over No. 5 seed Tennessee (2007 Sweet 16)
  • 6. 19: No. 11 seed VCU over No. 6 North Carolina (2026 first round)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness largest comebacks: Where VCU vs. North Carolina ranks

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Moesch wins her 1st NCAA individual title as Virginia adds to team lead at swimming championships

ATLANTA (AP) — Anna Moesch won the first NCAA individual title of her career in the 200-yard freestyle on Thursday night at the women’s swimming and diving championships to help Virginia add to its team lead.

Moesch’s time of 1:39.23 marked the second fastest performance in the event, just shy of Missy Franklin’s 11-year-old record.

Moesch also helped Virginia claim a third relay title in the competition with a 1:24.11 in the 200 freestyle. It was the fifth straight year Virginia won the event.

Virginia sits in first place with 249 points heading into the third day of the four-day competition. Texas is second with 183 points and Stanford third with 173.

Olympic gold medalist Torri Huske clocked a 48.49 to win the 100 butterfly for her third career national title. Huske edged Virginia's Claire Curzan after finishing second last season. The top three swimmers finished under 50 seconds, with Huske's Stanford teammate, Gigi Johnson, coming in fourth.

Bella Sims led wire-to-wire in the 400 IM for Michigan's first individual NCAA title since Maggie MacNeil in 2021. It was also the first gold in the event by a Wolverine since Mindy Gehrs in 1993.

N.C. State's Eneli Jefimova took the 100 breaststroke with the fastest time in program history.

Senior diver Chiara Pellacani defended her one-meter national title for Miami. Pellacani became the first diver to win multiple national titles in a Miami career since Brittany Viola (2008, 2011).

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AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

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Victoire beat Torrent 4-1 to tie Minnesota and Boston atop PWHL standings

LAVAL, Quebec (AP) — Laura Stacey scored twice and had an assist and the Montreal Victoire beat the Seattle Torrent 4-1 on Thursday night to tie Minnesota and Boston atop the PWHL standings.

Catherine Dubois — with her first of the season — and Skylar Irving also scored for Montreal (10-4-1-5), The Victoire rebounded after blowing a three-goal, third-period lead Sunday in a 4-3 overtime loss to Boston.

Victoire captain Marie-Philip Poulin missed the game because of a lower-body injury after leaving Sunday following a hit from forward Shay Maloney. Poulin favored her right leg, the same one the Canadian captain hurt during preliminary-round play against Czechia at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Ann-Renée Desbiens stopped 24 shots, and Kati Tabin added two assists.

Alex Carpenter scored for last-place Seattle (5-1-2-12). Hannah Murphy made 19 saves. The Torrent have lost seven in a row on the road.

Up next

Torrent: At Boston on Saturday.

Victoire: Vs. Ottawa on Sunday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

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Top Mets pitching prospects Jack Wenninger, Jonathan Santucci shine in Spring Breakout vs. Rays

Mets prospects flashed their potential in Thursday's Spring Breakout game on SNY against the Tampa Bay Rays. While the Metswon their Grapefruit League matchup against the Houston Astros, 6-2, New York's rising stars faced Tampa Bay's youngsters at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, Fla., but fell, 2-0.

Takeaways

  1. Jack Wenninger showed why he is the No. 8 overall prospect -- and top pitcher behind Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong -- in Joe DeMayo's top 30 for the 2026 season. The 24-year-old right-hander threw 42 strikes on 65 pitches, including 12 swings and misses, while touching 97.1 mph on his fastball. Wenninger fanned six, walked one and allowed one run on two hits in 3.2 IP. He showcased his full arsenal, hitting 95 mph into the fourth inning while mixing in a nasty changeup and devastating sweeper. From striking out the side in the first inning to retiring five straight through the third and fourth, Wenninger's outing should keep the Mets excited.
  2. Not to be overlooked, Jonathan Santucci was impressive in his own right. The left-hander got the ball to start the fifth inning and did not disappoint, allowing one run (unearned) on one hit while striking out five and walking two in 3.2 IP. He pounded the zone, throwing 35 strikes on 50 pitches with a fastball that hit 95-96 mph. DeMayo's No. 9 overall prospect and top southpaw had a 1-2-3 fifth inning on an economical 10 pitches before mixing in a devious slider that was some of the electric stuff that led to those four strikeouts.
  3. DeMayo's No. 3 overall prospect,A.J. Ewing, was aggressive out of the gate in the first inning when he Jose Urbina's second-pitch fastball back up the middle for a leadoff single. A third-inning strikeout swinging and fifth-inning flyout to right field followed, ending Ewing's 1-for-3 evening, but he ultimately flashed before Yonatan Henriquez replaced the 22-year-old center fielder in the sixth.
  4. Third baseman Jacob Reimer, DeMayo's No. 5 overall prospect, followed Ewing -- picking up Elian Peña's flyout to center field -- with a one-out single up the middle to put runners on first and second base. Reimer's 1-for-3 effort included a third-inning lineout to shortstop and fifth-inning flyout to left field before his night ended with Antonio Jimenez replacing him in the sixth.

Who's the MVP?

Wenninger, who made the most of his start, put the Mets' team of prospects in a position to win.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets host the St. Louis Cardinals Friday at 1:10 p.m. on SNY.

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Islanders fall late to Senators in gut-punch loss as playoff race continues to tighten

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Warren Foegele celebrates after scoring the game-tying goal on Ilya Sorokin during the Islanders' 3-2 loss to the Senators on March 19, 2026 at Canadian Tire Centre in Ontario, Image 2 shows Brayden Schenn, who also scored later in the game, fights with Ridly Greig (left) during the Islanders' road loss to the Senators

OTTAWA, Ontario — Such is the frenetic pace of the playoff race right now that the Islanders only needed to slip up once to get themselves into trouble.

Thursday’s 3-2 loss to the Senators later, the Islanders were in danger of falling out of third place — and potentially a playoff spot altogether — contingent on results that would come in mere minutes later in Columbus and Detroit.

That the defeat came on Brady Tkachuk’s winner with 11 seconds left in regulation only added to the hurt.

The Blue Jackets and Red Wings, both of whom looked in good shape to get points as the buzzer sounded in Ottawa, both were in position to pass the Islanders with wins.

Warren Foegele celebrates after scoring the game-tying goal on Ilya Sorokin during the Islanders’ 3-2 loss to the Senators on March 19, 2026 at Canadian Tire Centre in Ontario. NHLI via Getty Images

That would amount to a major shock to the system for an Isles team that has been in a playoff spot every day since Dec. 4.

That’s the cruel nature of the race right now, and this was a particularly cruel night for the Islanders.

They temporarily lost Anthony Duclair to injury in the second period after the winger caught Tyler Kleven’s blast on his right knee, and on a night where they didn’t seem to have much in the tank, the Islanders scratched and clawed their way to a 2-1 lead early in the third period anyway.

Brayden Schenn broke a 1-1 tie just 2:02 into the last period, taking an outlet pass off the rush and executing a perfect give-and-go with Simon Holmstrom to score for a second straight game, handing the Islanders the lead.

Brayden Schenn, who also scored later in the game, fights with Ridly Greig (left) during the Islanders’ road loss to the Senators. Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

Of course, that was not the end of it.

Warren Foegele re-tied the game off Fabian Zetterlund’s rebound that left Ilya Sorokin unable to cover his right post in time just over three minutes later.

Sorokin more than made up for it by the end of the night, coming up with a 10-bell save on Michael Amadio off the rush late in the third, which required the puck to be cleared off the line by Ondrej Palat for good measure.

Again, the Islanders looked completely on their heels — 19 minutes into the third, Schenn’s goal was their only shot on goal of the entire period.

It looked like the Isles would at least get the game to overtime, when Jordan Spence’s floater from the right point was knocked in by Brady Tkachuk with 11.1 seconds left on the clock, handing Ottawa a 3-2 lead and leaving the Islanders with a gut-punch loss.

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Hyo Joo Kim holes out for eagle and a 63 to lead Founders Cup at Sharon Heights

MENLO PARK, Calif. (AP) — Hyo Joo Kim capped off a flawless round at Sharon Heights by holing out for eagle on the par-5 18th hole for a 9-under 63 that gave her a two-shot lead in the Fortinet Founders Cup.

The best scoring came in the morning at the course hosting an LPGA event for the first time, before the greens began to get firm and fast and made it difficult to get shots close.

Kim was more impressed with keeping bogeys off her card on the tree-lined course than she was with the eagle on the final hole.

“I am just so satisfied I had no bogeys,” Kim said. “I had some mistakes in the beginning, but I was able to save them. I ended with an eagle, so I ended pretty happily.”

As for that eagle?

“I couldn't see the hole from where I was, but people started cheering and then I heard a ”Yeah!" So I figured it went in," Kim said.

LPGA rookie Dongeun Lee also had an eagle on the par-5 closing hole, posting a 65. Polly Mack of Germany overcame a double bogey on the par-5 10th on her way to a 66, tied with Jim Hee Im.

Mack missed only two fairways and three greens and let her length and her wedges do the work in making eight birdies to offset the double bogey.

“Hit a lot of fairways and greens and left myself with a lot of birdie chances. Had a lot of wedges into greens, and that’s what I’ve been working on the most this offseason,” said Mack, who finished her college career at Alabama. “It’s good to see that coming into play and really coming along and seeing that progress. Just had a lot of short birdie putts. Used most of them to my advantage.”

Gaby Lopez, Gemma Dryburgh and Nastasia Nadaud were in the group at 68, all of them with the lowest score in the tougher afternoon conditions.

Nelly Korda, who skipped the Asia swing after winning the season opener in 54 holes because of cold weather, had a 70. Jeeno Thitikul, the No. 1 player in women's golf, shot 72.

The tournament began as a tribute to the 13 founders of the LPGA. It began in Arizona in 2011 and last year was the second event of the season and played in Florida. It has attracted eight of the top 10 players in the women's world ranking and kicks off a four-tournament stretch in the West ahead of the first major of the year.

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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

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Reichel has goal an assist in Boston debut to help the Bruins beat the Jets 6-1

BOSTON (AP) — Lukas Reichel had a goal and an assist in his Boston debut, Jeremy Swayman made 22 saves and the Bruins beat the Winnipeg Jets 6-1 on Thursday night to end a two-game losing streak.

David Pastrnak scored his 27th goal of the season and had an assist. Viktor Arvidsson and Pavel Vacha also each had a goal and assist, and Fraser Minten and Jonathan Aspirot added late goals.

Fighting for one of the final Eastern Conference playoff spots, the Bruins finished in regulation for only the second time in seven games. They were coming off overtime losses at New Jersey on Monday night and Montreal on Tuesday night.

Jonathan Toews ended Swayman's shutout bid on a tip-in at 5:38 of the third. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 22 shots for Winnipeg.

Reichel came over from Vancouver at the trade deadline and was recalled from Providence of the American Hockey League on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old German winger Reichel made it 2-0 at 6:23 of the second period. Hellebuyck misplayed the puck behind the net on a wraparound, inadvertently knocking it out front for Reichel to swat in.

Pastrnak opened the scoring with 5:08 left in the first. He got the puck back off his own rebound, moved to the front and fired in a wrister.

Arvidsson knocked in a backhander off a scramble with 1:44 remaining in the second, and Zacha scored at 3:15 of the third.

After Toews put Winnipeg on the board, Minten had a tip-in with 4:08 left and Aspirot capped the scoring with 1:42 to go.

The Jets opened a three-game trip after an eight-game homestand.

Up next

Jets: At Pittsburgh on Saturday.

Bruins: At Detroit on Saturday night.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

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North Carolina collapses: 'This would be inexcusable for Hubert Davis'

VCU basketball completed a 19-point comeback against No. 6 seed North Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 19, winning its first March Madness game since 2016 in thrilling fashion.

The Rams, one of the stingiest mid-major teams of the 2010s, secured the sixth-largest comeback and biggest of the first round ever, in their upset of the Tar Heels, who were playing without star true freshman Caleb Wilson, a projected top-five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness live scores: Upsets, close calls, highlights from NCAA first round

VCU defeated North Carolina 82-78 in overtime behind Terrence Hill Jr.'s 34-point performance off the bench. He played 40 minutes in the game and also poured in five rebounds and five assists in the win, including a game-tying layup with 11 seconds left in the second half.

It's an impressive feat for VCU, who won the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament to earn an automatic bid before taking down North Carolina, all while being led by first-year coach Phil Martelli Jr., the son of former longtime St. Joe's coach Phil Martelli. VCU's former coach, Ryan Odom, left the program for Virginia last offseason.

VCU might not reach the Final Four in 2026 like it did in 2011, but the Rams did make first-round history nonetheless. Here's how social media reacted to VCU's comeback win:

VCU beats North Carolina in comeback win: Social media reacts

Here are the best reactions to VCU's 82-78 win over North Carolina on March 19:

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: North Carolina collapses in first-round upset vs VCU in March Madness

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Southern closes on a 14-2 run to beat Samford 65-53 in the women's First Four

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Jaylia Reed scored 16 points, DeMya Porter had 15 points and 12 rebounds and Southern closed the game on a 14-2 run to beat fellow No. 16 seed Samford 65-53 on Thursday night in the NCAA Tournament.

Southern (20-13) won a game in the First Four for the second straight season, earning a chance to play top-seeded South Carolina on Saturday in the Round of 64. It's the Jaguars’ third appearance in the NCAA Tournament in the last four years.

D’Shantae Edwards began the fourth quarter by converting a three-point play to give Southern a 47-44 lead. Samford tied it twice in the next three minutes, but could not get any closer.

Reed put Southern ahead for good with 6:47 remaining on a 3-pointer to begin the game-closing run. Six different Jaguars scored during the run.

Samford missed eight of its last nine field goals.

Jocelyn Tate added 10 points and seven rebounds off the bench for Southern, which had nine of its 13 steals in the first half. The Jaguars finished with 20 points off turnovers.

Briana Rivera led Samford (16-19) with 16 points and freshman Kaylee Yarbrough added 11 off the bench. The Bulldogs were making their third appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

Both teams shot 31% from the floor in the first half, with 17 combined turnovers and Southern leading 27-24. No player had more than six points at the break.

Up next

Samford faces the high-octane Gamecock offense ranked fourth in the nation at 86.3 points per game. South Carolina enters its 22nd NCAA Tournament with its 14th-consecutive appearance at the event.

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AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

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MLB Scores: Mets 6, Astros 2

Port St. Lucie, FL: New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga during a spring training workout on Feb. 19, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, FL. (Photo by Alejandra Villa Loarca /Newsday RM via Getty Images) | Newsday via Getty Images

The Mets defeated the Astros by a score of 6-2 tonight in West Palm Beach.

  • Kodai Senga started for the Mets and went four scoreless innings, allowing just one walk and three hits against four strikeouts. He threw 41 of his 63 pitches for strikes. His swiftest fastball clocked in at 97.1 MPH.
  • The Mets ran out essentially their Opening Day lineup and scored early and often against the Astros. Marcus Semien drove in the first and sixth runs of the evening on sacrifice flies. Luis Robert Jr. played two on a pair of doubles, and Brett Baty drove in a run on a double of his own. This, along with a bases loaded walk, led to six runs in the first five innings.
  • Bo Bichette went 2-2 with a walk in three plate appearances. Jorge Polanco went 1-2 with two walks.
  • In the ‘holding our breath’ department, Francisco Alvarez left the game in top of the fourth inning and was replaced by Jose Aular. It is unknown at this time as to why Alvarez was pulled from the game. Aular walked in his first two at-bats.
  • Luis García pitched the fifth for the Mets and ran into a little trouble, allowing a run to score on a throwing error, a walk, and a single.
  • Craig Kimbrel faced two batters in the sixth, striking out both. When he returned for the seventh, he struck out the first batter to face him, but then gave up a triple to Nick Allen. Although he was pulled from the game in favor of Brett Banks, Allen scored and the run was charged to Kimbrel.
  • Austin Warren and Dicky Lovelady each tossed an inning of scoreless ball.

The Mets play the Cardinals tomorrow at 1:10pm at Clover Park. The game will air on SNY.

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Dodgers fans consume extraordinary number of calories on game day

There’s nothing like a hot summer night at Dodger Stadium. 

The sun slowly melts away behind the San Gabriel Mountains, the cotton candy skies full of pink, orange and blue are so cinematic it feels like it was hand-painted just for Dodgers fans. 

Inhale and the aroma of hot dogs, popcorn and garlic fries tickles the nostrils like a memory. And if you’re like most fans, somewhere between first pitch and the seventh-inning stretch, all dietary discipline and restraint disappears.

MLB Photos via Getty Images

According to a recent study by The Lines, Dodgers fans aren’t just watching baseball — they’re devouring it. Literally.

On average, Dodgers fans consume an extra 1,140 calories per game day, one of the highest marks in Major League Baseball. That’s the equivalent of two Dodger dogs, a basket of garlic fries and a couple of cold beers. 

And fans do it often. 

Dodgers fans surveyed said they watch 3 ½ games per week, which means this isn’t an occasional splurge, it’s more like a ritual. Granted, fans said they consume more calories when they are at Chavez Ravine than they do watching from home or at a sports bar. 

Over the course of a 162-game season, that caloric surge stacks into something heavier — roughly 29.2 pounds of potential weight gain. Add October, where the games tighten and the nerves spike, and suddenly that number pushes past 30.

Baseball, it turns out, isn’t just a pastime in Los Angeles. It’s a full-body experience.

On average, Dodgers fans consume an extra 1,140 calories per game day, one of the highest marks in MLB.
Dodgers fans surveyed said they watch 3 ½ games per week, which means this isn’t an occasional splurge, it’s more like a ritual. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

League-wide, fans average an extra 753 calories per game. But Dodgers fans live louder than most fans. Only Rangers fans consume more extra calories per game than Dodgers fans with 1,265, because everything is bigger in Texas, even the waistlines. 

Here in California, Padres fans are not far behind with 1,015 extra calories consumed. But the Friar faithful also watch more games per week than any other fan base at 4.1 games, meaning they have a potential weight gain of 31.1 pounds during the regular season alone. 

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Angels fans, perhaps worn down by their team’s 11-year playoff drought, report just 340 extra calories per game and watch the fewest number of games per week at 2.6. 

Giants fans fall somewhere in between. At Oracle Park, fans consume an extra 843 calories on game day. Respectable but still more than the league average. 

Over the course of a 162-game season, that caloric surge stacks into something heavier — roughly 29.2 pounds of potential weight gain.
Because being a Dodgers fan is about moments and celebrating with a Dodger dog and a Michelada with the loyal fans around you that bleed blue.   Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

But Dodgers fans? They lean in.

Because being a Dodgers fan has never been about moderation. It’s about moments and celebrating with a Dodger dog and a Michelada with the loyal fans around you that bleed blue.  

And if that communion comes with an extra thousand calories?

So be it.

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Projecting the Astros Opening Day Roster 3.0

HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 19: Jumbotron displays the Houston Astros team logo during the baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros on June 19, 2022 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Astros will open the 2026 season in exactly one week. At this point in most springs, there might be two or three roster spots still up for grabs, but this year’s 26-man roster feels much murkier. Here is my third and final stab at projecting who will be in uniform next week when the Astros host the Los Angeles Angels.

Starting pitchers: Hunter Brown, Christian Javier, Tatsuya Imai, Mike Burrows, Spencer Arrighetti, Lance McCullers Jr

Also considered: None

It’s been a very good spring for this group, outside of Arrighetti’s first outing. All six are healthy, and all six are throwing the ball well. Even the pitchers outside this group have looked good whenever they’ve taken the ball, so this rotation has the makings of being both very strong and very deep.

Bullpen: Bryan Abreu, Bryan King, Steven Okert, AJ Blubaugh, Ryan Weiss, Enyel De Los Santos, Kai-Wei Teng

Also considered: Roddery Muñoz, Peter Lambert

Bennett Sousa suffered an oblique injury, so he’ll join Josh Hader on the IL to start the season. I’m still working under the assumption that De Los Santos will be ready for Opening Day after suffering an ankle injury, but he has yet to appear in a spring training game.

Muñoz has not allowed an earned run in his last seven outings after giving up two in his debut. He has 14 strikeouts over 8.1 innings and must remain on the active roster all season after being selected in the Rule 5 Draft over the winter.

A former second-round pick, Lambert has impressed after a season in Japan, and The Athletic reported that he can opt out of his minor league deal at the end of spring training. He’s put himself in position to make someone’s Opening Day roster if he doesn’t make the Astros’.

Catchers: Yainer Diaz, Christian Vázquez

Also considered: Cèsar Salazar

The Astros wasted no time getting Vázquez into a game after he joined the club following Puerto Rico’s elimination from the WBC. I think he was signed to open the season as Díaz’s backup, but that plan carries some risk. Salazar is out of options, so the Astros would have to expose him to waivers if they send him down.

Infielders: Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, Jeremy Peña, Christian Walker, Isaac Paredes, Nick Allen

Also considered: Brice Matthews, Zach Dezenzo

We still don’t know if Peña, who fractured a finger during a WBC tune-up game, will be available for Opening Day. However, the Astros haven’t ruled it out, which suggests that even if he can’t go next Thursday, he wouldn’t miss enough time to require an IL stint.

Outfielders/DH: Yordan Alvarez Jake Meyers, Cam Smith, Joey Loperfido, Taylor Trammell

Also considered: Zach Cole , Zach Dezenzo

I’ve had Cole on the Opening Day roster in each of my first two projections, but he’s up to 17 strikeouts in 42 plate appearances—north of 40%. His results on balls in play haven’t been much better, so a little time in Sugar Land might do him some good.

Dezenzo’s elbow injury likely takes him out of the running for a spot on the Opening Day roster.

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Mets' Francisco Alvarez exits spring training game with back tightness, considered day-to-day

Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez was pinch-hit for early in Thursday's spring training game against the Astros.

Alvarez struck out in his only at-bat and caught starter Kodai Senga for three innings, but when his turn at the plate came up in the fourth with the bases loaded and two outs, manager Carlos Mendoza had catcher Jose Aular pinch-hit and the youngster walked in a run to give the Mets a 3-0 lead.

After the game, Mendoza said that Alvarez's back tightened up and they took him out as a precaution. 

"Back started to get tight and it was just precautionary," Mendoza said. "Trainers took a look at him and seems to be doing ok. He said that if this was the regular season, he could keep playing. As of right now, he’s day-to-day. He’s not scheduled to play tomorrow. We’ll see where we’re at for the following day."

Entering Thursday's game, Alvarez was having a very strong spring. After his one AB against the Astros, Alvarez was 8-for-22 (.364) with three doubles, one home run and four RBI in 10 games. 

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Bryce Eldridge optioned in latest round of cuts

MESA, AZ - MARCH 08: Bryce Eldridge #8 of the San Francisco Giants greets a staff member prior to the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park on Sunday, March 8, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by George Gaza/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

In a teeny tiny bit of a shocker, the San Francisco Giants have optioned top prospect Bryce Eldridge to Triple-A Sacramento, according to Maria Guardado via social media. Joining him are IF/OF Tyler Fitzgerald and OF Grant McCray, bringing a lot of the roster decision questions towards a swift answer. It looks like the team is prepared to feature a heavy right-handed lineup and depth chart to kickoff the season.

Through April, they’re up against the following potential starting left-handed pitchers: Max Fried (Yankees), David Petersen and/or Sean Manaea (Mets), Cristopher Sanchez and/or Jesus Luzardo (Phillies), Trevor Rogers (Orioles), Andrew Abbott and/or Nick Lodolo (Reds), Foster Griffin (Nationals), and Braxton Garrett (Marlins). A tough bunch, to be sure, but not a majority of the starters the team will face that would necessitate an extreme alignment of the roster.

I say “teeny tiny bit of a shocker” because, although Eldridge leads the team in plate appearances (49) for this Cactus League season and is slugging a solid .450, he does lead the team in strikeouts (19) by a healthy margin and he’s hitting just .225, and he was just 3-for-his-last-18 with 1 extra base hit before the option. For a team that’s oversteering back towards batting average being the primary factor in valuing a hitter, that’s too ugly to ignore. In spite of Jerar Encarnacion’s .283 on base percentage and 0 walks, he’s hitting .289 and slugging .467. Luis Matos is at .268 (*and* a .348 OBP) with a .463 slug and just 3 strikeouts (against 1 walk).

If both Encarnacion and Matos do what they’ve done for most of their major league careers (get injured and be overwhelmed by major league pitching, respectively), then you can imagine how poorly this is likely to go — on the other hand, they’ve certainly earned the roster spot while the prospect with options has done exactly what an intriguing prospect should do: play well enough to stay in consideration. It just wasn’t enough to bump a player with a bit more of a track record. But still, this transaction is on the shocker (again, “teeny tiny”), as a lot of prognosticators and fans figured that Eldridge’s talent was such that he could finish his development at the major league level and is one of the organization’s biggest power threats even with the swing and miss.

The Giants could still add him back to the roster within the first two weeks of the season to qualify for the Prospect Promotion Incentive, so that’s something to keep an eye on. A reminder about what the PPI is:

MLB clubs can earn a Draft pick after the first round if a PPI-eligible player accrues one year of service as a rookie and then factors into a major award. That means he either has to win his league’s Rookie of the Year award or place in the top three in MVP or Cy Young voting prior to qualifying for arbitration.

For those who’ve been following the team very closely during the spring, this is not really a surprise, though, nor is (my once beloved) Tyler Fitzgerald (.189 with 14 K and 0 BB in 37 AB!) winding up back in Triple-A for what certainly seems like the tail end of his time with the Giants (barring a miracle). It’s the Grant McCray of it all. Here’s a left-handed outfielder with speed who can glove the heck out of all three outfield positions. He’s also drawn 8 walks against just 6 strikeouts in 38 PA and is 3-for-5 in stolen base attempts. Surely, the team could’ve used a player like that as the 12th or 13th player on the depth chart? Instead, it looks like Will Brennan will take that spot thanks to an 11-for-33 spring, giving him a triple slash of .333/.405/.424. Brennan is a career .267/.307/.373, but you can see how a 90 wRC+ guy is a safer bet than the likely lower than 90 wRC+ for Grant McCray.

This sixth round of camp cuts drops the group to 42. Still a lot of players to clear out before the team heads back to the Bay for the Wednesday night opener (for which tickets are still available!).