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Josh Inglis' expert pick: Tigers ML
Price:49¢ (+104) at Kalshi
The Detroit Tigers hold a clear starting pitching edge in Game 2 after an 8–2 win over the San Diego Padres yesterday, who got just nine outs from Nick Pivetta in the opener. I’m backing Detroit on the moneyline at 49% and would buy at 52% or better, with a projected fair price closer to -122. Framber Valdez has a significant edge over Michael King, who struggled this spring (20 runs allowed in 17+ innings) and tends to lack efficiency — opening the door to the Padres’ bullpen early. Detroit’s young bats also looked legit in Game 1, and this lineup has real upside.
Jon Metler's expert pick: Marlins ML
Price:65¢ (-186) at Kalshi
The Colorado Rockies can’t catch a break — it’s Opening Day, and they’re already being targeted as a team to fade. The Miami Marlins are priced at 65 cents, and I think that number should be closer to 69 cents, so I’m hitting the button. Miami has a clear platoon advantage here, with a starting lineup featuring eight right-handed hitters against Kyle Freeland, a lefty who allowed right-handed batters to hit .300 with an .821 OPS last season. With a lineup built to exploit that matchup and Sandy Alcantara unveiling his revamped sweeper, I’ll back the Marlins in this spot.
Joe Osborne's expert pick: Marlins/Rockies Over 7.5 runs - Yes
Price: 50¢ (+100) at Kalshi
This total of 7.5 is showing way too much respect for these starting pitchers. Alcantara is coming off an awful season, where he posted a 5.36 ERA and looks nowhere close to regaining his 2022 Cy Young form, and Freeland is average at best, yet somehow posted a 4.51 FIP on the road in 2025 — which was worse than his mark at Coors Field. He also got smacked for eight hits and six earned by Miami late last season. While bullpens can change year to year, both of these units were consistently among the worst in 2025.
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Mar 17, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Harris (11), left, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and Milwaukee Bucks forward Taurean Prince (12) watch the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers from the bench in the second half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
Earlier this week, NBA Players Association (NBPA) released the following statement rebuking the Bucks over their alleged desire to shut Giannis Antetokounmpo down for the remainder of the season following yet another injury:
“The Player Participation Policy was designed by the league to hold teams accountable and ensure that when an All-Star like Giannis Antetokounmpo is healthy and ready to play, he is on the court. Unfortunately, anti-tanking policies are only as effective as their enforcement; fans, broadcast partners, and the integrity of the game itself will continue to suffer as long as ownership goes unchecked. We look forward to collaborating with the NBA on meaningful new proposals that will directly address and discourage tanking.”
So, before I pick this apart, let’s recap the injuries Giannis has sustained this season. First, he suffered a groin strain in November and was projected to be out 1–2 weeks; he returned in 11 days. Then, he suffered a calf strain in December and was projected to be out 4–6 weeks; he returned in 24 days. He then reinjured that same calf in late January and, again, was projected to miss 4–6 weeks; this time, he and the medical team finally took that timeline seriously, missing about five weeks.
Following that, after playing three games, he rolled his ankle in the March 10 contest against Phoenix, which clearly hindered him for the rest of the game, but of course, Doc took GA’s word that he was fine and allowed him to keep playing; he missed no games, and we have no clue if the effects of that were/are still lingering. His latest injury, for crying out loud, is a hyperextended knee in which he also rolled an ankle (again) on the same play. Suffice to say, I’m willing to bet he isn’t 100%.
With that in mind, let’s rip into this statement. In essence, the NBPA claims that Milwaukee does not want Giannis to play because they are tanking and his presence will hinder their pursuit to lose games. What’s likely happened here is that Giannis wants to play, the front office wants him to sit, and so he (or his camp) has tattled to the players association to pressure the team into letting him play. Now, judging by Antetokounmpo’s previous handling of injuries and admission that he hasn’t been as careful as he should’ve been (why it was ever in his hands to such a degree, I’ll never understand), I’m not sure he has built up a great deal of credibility in this area. As reported by The Athletic’s Eric Nehm, the team’s stance is that Giannis is not healthy, and that’s all we can currently go by.
Now, maybe Antetokounmpo is telling the truth that he’s good to go, and the team is playing politics. But as I have written about, those politics likely have very little to do with tanking, as the NBPA asserts, and a whole lot to do with keeping Giannis healthy going into one of the most consequential offseasons in Bucks history; the “losing games” part of it is just a side effect (or bonus, if you see it that way). Not to rehash the whole article, but a catastrophic injury would put an almighty spanner in the works as it relates to Milwaukee’s future. So, hear me when I say that while a fine from the NBA would be ridiculous on many levels, I would pay 20 fines, and that would still be preferable to him returning.
To be clear, the assertion that Milwaukee is tanking or has tanked at any point this season is laughable at best, and deceitful at worst. The Bucks do not pass the smell test of any of the tanking hallmarks. They haven’t abused the injury report in any shape or form, and the perfect example of that is Giannis. They allowed him to come back as soon as humanly possible from his injuries, despite (I assume/hope) knowing the risk that was involved; could you imagine how long the Jazz, for example, would have held Lauri Markkanen out if he’d suffered the same calf injury GA suffered? “Oh, Lauri? Yeah, we know he’s been out seven weeks now, but he’s just not quite right yet. Trust us.”
The Bucks have played their young guards into the ground all year long, so much so that Kevin Porter Jr. has had to sit out a bunch of games now because of synovitis in the same knee he had meniscus surgery on earlier this season. They have closed with their best-performing unit in every game, even when that came at a political price (think of the number of games Sims has closed over Turner). I am sure the NBPA is aware of the league’s actual tankers, who’ve been closing games with their third-string unit for months now, right? Right?
Most importantly, Milwaukee has never even had a clear green light to tank anyway because they don’t own their first-round pick outright! There has always been the threat that finishing below New Orleans would mean Milwaukee would have to swap further back in the draft, so on the most basic level, trying to lose every game was never a cogent strategy. Sure, the Pelicans being horrible for most of the season has been calming for Bucks fans watching their team lose a bunch of games, but losing was never the team’s goal.
And sure, there is incentive now for the Bucks to tank the remaining games because, with so few left, the Pelicans are unlikely to rise higher than eighth in the lottery odds, and the Bucks can lock down ninth, but that incentive hasn’t come to bear until the last few days. And frankly, if Milwaukee wanted to do exactly that, they should have the full right to do so! After all, there are seven teams below them who have been egregiously tanking for months! I mean, some of these teams started weeks before the All-Star break! Like, what are we talking about here? The players association is calling out the Bucks of all teams? I’m not sure they’ve thought this one through.
There you have it, NBPA. Your statement is nonsensical garbage, and whoever wrote it should be embarrassed. Go take your tanking accusations and apply them to the teams who deserve them—there are plenty to choose from.
NORTH PORT, FL- FEBRUARY 22: JR Ritchie #92 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins on February 22, 2026 at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Gwinnett Stripers have released their initial roster for the 2026 season today, ahead of today’s first game of the season. The roster below is mostly as expected, though there is one big, surprising omission in Jhancarlos Lara not being part of it after spending a good chunk of time in Gwinnett last season.
The biggest story is probably that Lara is not here, though Brett Sears is also not after reaching Gwinnett last year and making 15 quality appearances in Columbus last season. Among the guys who are here, top prospect JR Ritchie is the best prospect on the team, and a candidate to quickly be promoted to Atlanta with a strong start to the season. Fellow prospect Lucas Braun is also back here after making three starts with the Stripers last year. The 39-year-old Carlos Carrasco may be the biggest name on the entire squad, making 286 career big league starts. They may also be looking to Dylan Dodd and Elieser Hernandez to round out the starting rotation. It is also in the plans for Didier Fuentes to join this group at some point, and this group will further deepen when Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, Hurston Waldrep, and potentially AJ Smith-Shawver return to action at various points in 2026.
Relievers
Hayden Harris is probably the top relief prospect who is here, after the lefty dominated in his stint last year. Anthony Molina and Rolddy Munoz are also a pair of younger relief arms that the Braves like. Ian Hamilton, Javy Guerra, Tayler Scott, and Hunter Stratton are relievers with a decent amount of big league games on their resumes, and candidates to help the big club in some capacity this year – however the most interesting arm of the bunch may be James Karinchak. Karinchak seemed on his way to being one of the top young relievers with the Guardians not too long ago, but has dealt with injuries and hasn’t appeared in a big league game since 2023. Anderson Pilar and Austin Pope are the other arms here, though both of them are guys the Braves wanted for their Triple-A affiliate, which makes this a deep and talented relief corps.
Catchers
Sandy Leon is arguably the biggest name among this group, as the 37-year-old has 559 games of big league experience under his belt, but he will have to split time here. Chadwick Tromp has received big league time in Atlanta in each of the past four seasons, and figures to factor in heavily in the playing time. Jair Camargo is a younger option who has five games of big league experience back with the Twins in 2024. While they may not have a guy who stands out as THE guy, all three of these options are more than capable at the Triple-A level.
Infielders
Nacho Alvarez is easily the most interesting young hitter on this roster, though he has lost his prospect status last year as he surpassed the rookie maximum for at bats. That would make Jim Jarvis the most interesting hitter prospect on the roster, which is kind of telling as he is more of a utility type of prospect. Recent minor league signing Rowdy Tellez could absolutely mash in Triple-A, and is likely the reason David McCabe isn’t here to open the season. Former Georgia Bulldog and 2019 second round pick Aaron Schunk is also here and should add even more offense to a Striper team that has been inconsistent in recent years with their bats. Contact oriented Luke Waddell and utility piece Luke Williams round out the infield. This is another group which looks improved heading into 2026, as it isn’t hard to picture a group led by Alvarez, Tellez, and Schunk holding their own offensively.
Outfielders
Although there aren’t any true prospects, this may be the most talented outfield we’ve seen in Gwinnett since the group with Cristian Pache and Drew Waters, back in 2021. Ben Gamel, Brewer Hicklen, and even DaShawn Keirsey Jr should provide power, and will be candidates to get called up to Atlanta this year should a temporary bat be needed. Jose Azocar is more of a speed guy with limited power, and he too has some big league experience on his resume.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 08: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees walks off the field after the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Yankees in game four of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 08, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across Major League Baseball. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Yankees fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Earlier this week, we asked Yankees fans to predict how far the team would go in 2026 in addition to our usual monthly GM approval poll. The results are in, in addition to some broader MLB-wide prompts about potential World Series outcomes. Let’s see how the voters voted!
Our first question asked fans to predict how successful the Yankees season would be when all is said and done.
Over one-third of responders believe that the Yankees will suffer the same fate as last season, when they were eliminated in four games by the Blue Jays in the ALDS — a series which was never particularly close. Some of that is down to the whole Toronto lineup getting hot at the same time, while a significant portion of the blame falls on the Yankees’ pitching staff. Perhaps the front office’s decision to run it back with essentially the same squad of players as last year helps explain Yankees fans’ pessimism that the team can do better this year — same team, same result. It’s encouraging that the next most popular response reflected faith that the Yankees will win their first World Series in 17 years, while roughly eight in nine voters believe they will at least make the playoffs.
Our next question asked whether Yankees fans approved of general manager Brian Cashman, specifically the course he charted over the offseason.
It’s not surprising that less than one-third of voters polled approve of the GM. This prompt goes hand in hand with the previous question. Yankees fans want the team to go farther in the postseason than last year, and a healthy proportion of the fanbase felt that the front office needed to upgrade the roster to achieve that goal. Instead, the two biggest offseason outlays saw the Yankees bring Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger back into the fold, each a year older than last season. It’s hard to argue with the strategy considering they scored the most runs in MLB last season, but the lack of ambition also deserves criticism.
We also have a pair of MLB-wide polls to review, starting with a question about the Dodger’s chances of a three-peat.
Only two teams — the 1972-’74 A’s and 1998-2000 Yankees — have won three World Series in a row in the last fifty-plus years, yet 29 percent of those polled believe the Dodgers will join that pair in pulling off the three-peat. It’s understandable given the Dodgers’ dominance over this decade, the team adding Kyle Tucker and Edwin Díaz to an already star-studded roster that boasts the most valuable player in baseball in Shohei Ohtani. Baseball fans are slightly more optimistic about the Dodgers’ chances than the two most cited projection systems, FanGraphs setting the Dodgers’ World Series winning odds at 22.6 percent and PECOTA at 20.8 percent.
Those same fans were than asked about which team they felt had the best chance of preventing the Dodgers from winning their third crown in a row.
The Blue Jays topped the responses at 24 percent, with the Mariners right behind them at 23 percent. Toronto came within two outs of winning Game 7 and the World Series last year, only for Miguel Rojas to hit the game-tying home run in the ninth and Will Smith the game-winner in the 11th. However, they are a weaker team relative to last year — despite signing Dylan Cease to be their ace, they lost one of the their biggest offensive contributors in Bo Bichette after he signed with the Mets in free agency. The Mariners are right there behind them, which makes sense give that both FanGraphs and PECOTA projected them for the most wins in the AL. They’ve got a full year of Josh Naylor and added All-Star Brendan Donovan, and have one of the best starting rotations in baseball that’s healthier than last season to start the campaign. The Yankees are in third place with roughly one in six voters believing they have what it takes to avenge their 2024 World Series loss to LA, while a trio of NL teams in the Mets, Phillies, and Cubs round out the most popular responses.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 26: Cristopher Sánchez #61 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts after the sixth inning against the Texas Rangers on Opening Day at Citizens Bank Park on March 26, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A dynamic start from their ace. Two stars clubbing huge home runs. A rookie making a splashy debut. Some drama late, exterminated by their closer.
Yep, 2026 Opening Day had pretty much everything you wanted to see from the Philadelphia Phillies.
On a gorgeous spring day at Citizens Bank Park, a lot of things went right and, for just a little while, the memories of last October’s crushing defeat at the hands of the Dodgers in the NLDS faded.
This baseball team is going to play another 161 of these things, all for a chance to try once again to push their Sisyphusian rock up the hill. But we’ll get to all that. On Thursday, the blueprint for regular season success was clear for all to see. Their 5-3 win over the Texas Rangers had all the ingredients we’ve seen this team successfully cook with over the last four seasons.
Cristopher Sanchez’ incredible performance was a continuation of the blossoming we’ve seen from him over the last three years. Not since Curt Schilling in 1997 has a Phils starter piled up 10 or more strikeouts in an Opening Day start.
That’s right. Roy Halladay never did it. Neither did Cliff Lee. Or Zack Wheeler. Or Cole Hamels. Or Aaron Nola. And that ain’t all.
Cristopher Sánchez of the @Phillies is the only MLB pitcher in the modern era to have an Opening Day start where he:
struck out 10+ batters allowed 0 walks allowed 0 runs allowed 3 or fewer hits earned the win pic.twitter.com/8dfxw28ZAA
His changeup was once again unhittable, generating a 54% whiff rate against the Rangers, who had absolutely no answers for him. His Game Score of 76 ranks tied for the 16th-best Opening Day performance by a starting pitcher in Phillies history (out of 129 starts). After Pittsburgh starter Paul Skenes was absolutely raked by the Mets for five runs in two-thirds of an inning on Thursday, the shortest outing of his career, Sanchez leapfrogged the reigning Cy Young Award winner in at least one odds-makers listing of ‘26 Cy Young contenders.
Paul Skenes to win the NL Cy Young odds move @FanDuelCanada 📉
While Sanchez was busy doing the “ace” thing, Kyle Schwarber once again gave fans an early Schwarbomb, a Ryan Howard Special to the opposite field in left-center. Two batters into the 2026 season, the Phils had a 2-0 lead, and Schwarber was 1/50th of the way to a second-straight 50-homer season.
Schwarber has a knack for these Opening Day dingers, especially after signing big free agent deals. He did the same thing in his very first at-bat as a Phillie on Opening Day in 2022, too.
Straight from the Irony Department, after an off-season in which everyone (including me) was bemoaning the idea of Alec Bohm hitting cleanup once again this year, it was Bohm who ended up smashing the biggest blast of the game, another oppo-shot, this to right field, to put the Phillies up 5-0.
You typically don’t want to have a player like Bohm in that spot in the lineup. We all know that. His career high in home runs is 20 (2023), and last year he hit just 11 in 120 games. He’s never had a slugging percentage above .448 in any of his first five MLB seasons. He’s simply miscast there.
But after all the talk of Bohm not providing enough “protection” for Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, it’s ironic that he was the one to pick up the slack for his teammates, both of whom struck out ahead of him with two runners on base. Had the Phils signed Bo Bichette this winter, Bohm wouldn’t even be here.
And then there’s rookie center fielder Justin Crawford, making his long-awaited MLB debut, hitting in the No. 9 hole. He was active early on, lacing line drive singles to center in his first two at-bats. It would have been icing on the cake if he could have delivered with the bases loaded and two outs in the 8th, but we’ll have to save that moment for some other day.
The Phils have had their share of dramatic Opening Day moments over the last 20 years. With a 5-0 lead entering the 9th, this wasn’t looking like one of them, but spring superstar reliever Kyle Backhus left his good stuff down in Florida. After a two-run blast, a couple more baserunners and some poor defense by Bryson Stott and Harper, Jhoan Duran entered the fray to secure the final two outs of the ballgame.
Manager Rob Thomson could have brought Duran in to start the 9th, even though it wasn’t a save situation, given the team is off on Friday. In the end, he had to use him anyway. Perhaps it’s just that Thomson forgot that, for the first time in his managerial career, he actually has a lock-down 9th inning pitcher at the start of the season. After Duran shut the door, it was revealed he became the first reliever in franchise history to record a save, at home, on Opening Day.
This is crazy but true. Consider…
Saves became official in 1969. Since then, the Phils' season opener was at home 23x.
They only won 8 of them and 3 did not present a classic save situation. The other 5: ⚾️ Complete game ⚾️ Complete game ⚾️ Walk-off ⚾️ Walk-off ⚾️ Walk-off https://t.co/Nlw0sfIn6N
As Jayson Stark noted, eight Phils closers had earned saves on the road on Opening Day, but never at home.
It’s always fun to mix in a little “weird” on Opening Day.
For one day, everyone forgot about the World Series drought. Baseball was back, and the Phillies were doing what they’ve done every season since Thomson took over the reigns as manager.
They won a baseball game.
They’re going to win many more of them before the season is out.
They’re probably going to look a lot like this one did, too.
The Atlanta Hawks (41-32) will face the Boston Celtics (48-24) in their third regular-season NBA matchup of the season. Both teams are ranked first in their respective divisions, with Boston favored by 4.5 points. The Celtics have a 67.7% implied probability of winning according to the moneyline odds.
How to Watch Atlanta Hawks vs. Boston Celtics
Date: Friday, March 27
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT
Where: TD Garden | Boston, Massachusetts
TV channel: Airing locally on FanDuel Sports Network Southeast, NBC Sports Boston
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 26: Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on during the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Thursday, March 26, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Paul Skenes is arguably the best pitcher in the league even after a rough start on Opening Day to the New York Mets. So it should be no surprise that teams would have interest in the former Cy Young winner, especially teams with a lot of money like the New York Yankees.
Skenes is under contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates through the 2029 season. However, that reportedly didn’t stop the New York Yankees from pursuing him as early as last season.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Thursday that New York “tried for Skenes at the deadline but were shut down so quickly the Pirates didn’t even listen to the offer.”
Heyman said a deal might have included a combo of Cam Schlitter, Carlos Lagrange, George Lombard Jr, and Spencer Jones. The Bucs disliked the offer and never called the Yankees back.
If the rumors are true, those are some of the Yankees’ top prospects, but it makes sense for Pittsburgh to not entertain that trade. Skenes is an already proven ace in the league, and he is still young with plenty of years ahead of him.
We have seen the Pirates make trades like this in the past, and they have not paid off. A lot of times, the prospects don’t pan out, and the last thing fans in Pittsburgh want is to trade their best player for a bunch of busted prospects.
While Heyman reported the Pirates have “no intention to trade Skenes … in the foreseeable future,” he also explained there is “little hope to sign him long term under current rules since he’ll probably be a $50 million-a-year pitcher assuming a payroll cap isn’t implemented.”
If there comes a time in the next year or two where Pittsburgh is out of the NL Central race and has no chance of making the postseason and staring at what could be a long rebuild, a package of top-notch prospects could start to look good for the franchise.
“We’re looking more like we’re playing a playoff game, like things matter,” said head coach Kris Knoblauch after the Edmonton Oilers picked up an overtime win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night. It's the team's second straight win, and unlike some of the past two-game streaks, these most recent victories have the Oilers looking like a team that's found something.
“We’re paying attention to detail, we’re simplifying our game. It’s nice to see. The games are so important right now that everyone seems like they’re dialled in and know the urgency to play right.”
Then again, the Oilers have tried to win three in a row several times this season, and the same thing almost always inevitably happens -- the team puts up a stinker.
Coming back home on Saturday afternoon to face the Anaheim Ducks, the Oilers can't afford to keep that tradition alive. That matinee game is as important as any game the Oilers have had on their calendar this season. The Ducks lead the Pacific Division and are five points up on the Oilers. If Edmonton wants any shot at catching them, this four-point swing (should Edmonton win in regulation) is critical.
The good news is that the Oilers can feel good about their recent efforts. In past instances where three in a row was on the table, the Oilers had pulled out some wins they arguably didn't deserve. This time, both victories against Utah and Vegas were well earned.
Even when the Oilers bent on Thursday -- allowing Vegas to tie the game three separate times -- they didn't break. Edmonton didn't allow the Golden Knights an opportunity to ever hold the lead. There are valuable lessons to be taken from that experience.
There were solid lessons learned on this short road trip overall.
“It’s a great road trip, two massive wins against two potential playoff opponents,” said Zach Hyman. He scored his 30th of the year on a great play, stripping the puck from a Vegas player in their zone and finishing it for a beautiful third goal. “I thought we played well defensively. Everybody contributed, which is so important at this time of year; everybody feels a part of it. We were rolling the lines, and everything went well. It was a huge road trip.”
Goaltender Connor Ingram said after the win: “We’ve found a way to play that’s given us success. Now it’s not being stubborn and sticking with it. Playing simple. We’re a good enough hockey club we’re going to get our chances. As long as we don’t give them that many, we’re going to be just fine.”
The Most Impressive Part About Thursday's Win?
The Oilers’ penalty kill was spot on Thursday night. Perhaps the most impressive part of the game was their 4-on-3 kill in overtime. Edmonton fought it off, then Evan Bouchard got the game-winner.
It was a solid defensive effort, the team's second in a row. During Tuesday’s win over Utah, the Oilers kept the Mammoth to a limited number of shots, blocking almost double the amount of even-strength shots as usual.
This team has found a playoff gear that they've shown no signs of having all season. The trick now is continuing to put forth that effort and not get stuck in their bad habits. The more they can win without Leon Draisaitl, the more they'll be ready to roll when he gets back.
In its effort to curb tanking, Adam Silver and the NBA presented NBA owners with three different conceptual ideas that would radically change and expand the NBA's Draft Lottery. All three would grow the lottery to between 18 and 22 teams and flatten the lottery odds. Plus, the plans open the door to harsher penalties for teams that manipulate their lineups or otherwise take steps to tank in the league's eyes, up to and including moving the team's draft pick back to the end of the first round.
• The lottery is expanded to 18 teams, the 10 teams that miss the postseason entirely, plus all eight teams in the play-in. • The 10 teams that miss the play-in all have an 8% chance of winning the lottery, with the other eight teams getting either 5%, 3% or 2% chances depending upon where they finish. • While 18 teams are in the lottery, the lottery would draw just the top four draft spots, and after that it would be by descending order of teams' records (the same as now).
Lottery Concept 2
• The lottery is expanded to 22 teams: The 10 that miss the postseason, the eight in the play-in, and the four teams eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. • Those 22 teams will be ranked in order of their record across the last two seasons (the WNBA's system). For example, if a team won 20 games this season and 30 the previous season, for the lottery purposes they would have 25 wins. • Teams will be given a win total minimum, and if they finish below that line their record will improve for lottery purposes. For example, let's say that number is 22 wins, then this season's Pacers/Nets/Wizards — all on pace to have fewer than 22 wins — would see their records increased to 22-60 for lottery purposes. The goal is to take away the incentive to lose too many games. • The top four spots in the lottery would be drawn as they are now, after that it would go in record order.
Lottery Concept 3
• The lottery is expanded to 18 teams, the 10 teams that miss the postseason entirely, plus all eight teams in the play-in. • The teams with the five worst records would all have the same odds — 11% to get the top pick — with the lottery odds for the rest of the teams descending from there. • There would be two lottery drawings. The first would be for the top five picks. Then, there would be a second lottery drawing for the 13 remaining teams, and if any of the teams with the five worst records did not make the top five picks, then they could not fall further than 10th.
None of these is a formal proposal in the sense that the owners will have to vote on one of these three plans, a league source told NBC Sports. Rather, the owners may push to combine different parts of the concepts. For example, the third concept could be modified so that it's essentially the same system as currently is in place, but with the five worst teams having the same odds instead of the worst three, with 18 teams in the mix, but after those top five are drawn, it could simply go in record order.
In addition to those proposals, the league wants to increase the commissioner's power to punish a team seen as manipulating its roster to tank. Those punishments could include moving a team's pick to the end of the draft (30th in the first round) and fines in the millions of dollars, according to Joe Varden at The Athletic, who has a quote from a league source.
"Without stricter penalties, you could still have crazy behavior. You have to have something in place that is so drastic, a team would actually think twice about tanking. And if a team tries it and gets caught, then the other teams need to see the penalties and realize it isn't worth it to try."
The NBA's Board of Governors is set to vote on these proposals before this year's NBA Draft.
Stopping tanking has been on top of Adam Silver's to-do list for years, and he's going to use his political capital to push owners to approve some version of one of these proposals. Whether they will work is another question.
The Cleveland Guardians, with a 1-0 record, face the Seattle Mariners, who are 0-1, in this regular-season matchup. Cleveland's Gavin Williams (ERA 3.06 in 2025) will start against Seattle's George Kirby (ERA 4.21 in 2025). The Mariners are favored with a -1.5 spread and a moneyline of -175, with the over/under set at 7 runs.
How to Watch Cleveland Guardians vs Seattle Mariners
Let’s tip the weekend off with some slam dunks in the NBA player prop markets. With 10 games on the schedule, there’s no shortage of options.
My favorites for today include Ace Bailey doing his best to sabotage the Utah Jazz’s tank job, while Chet Holmgren takes the Chicago Bulls by the horns and stuffs the stat sheet.
Those and more NBA picks for Friday, March 27, below.
The Thunder can pull off these streaks because they can hurt you in so many ways. Just look at Chet Holmgren.
The Thunder big man is averaging 16 points and 9.9 rebounds in his 15 games played since the All-Star break.
His rebounding prop is sitting at 8.5 for this matchup, but our Covers Prop Projections have him at 9.4 rebounds against a Bulls defense that surrenders the third-most opponent rebounds per game.
That has me looking at Holmgren’s double-double prop, which is priced at 2/1.
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: CHSN+, FanDuel Sports Network Oklahoma
Prop #2: Ace Bailey Over 20.5 Points
-105 at bet365
The Utah Jazz might have to start sitting down Ace Bailey if they want to fully embrace tank mode, because the Bailey breakout is for real.
Bailey is proving why he was worth a Top 5 pick. He’s averaging 21.9 points while shooting an impressive 42.9% from 3-point range over his last nine games. That includes putting up 32 or more points three times.
He gets a good matchup tonight against the Denver Nuggets. While Nikola Jokic and Co. are a machine on offense they are struggling at the other end of the floor. Denver ranks 21st in defensive rating and 18th in opponent made threes per game.
Expect another strong game from Ace tonight as he goes Over 20.5 points for the fourth time in five games.
The second-year center is arguably playing his best basketball of the season. He’s averaging 16.8 points with a .598 effective field goal percentage over his last eight games, and I like Clingan to keep putting in work in tonight’s matchup against the Dallas Mavericks.
The Mavs are a young team as well, with plenty of areas to work on, with the inside maybe being the most glaring. Dallas ranks dead last in the NBA in opponent points in the paint per game.
So, let’s back Clingan to go Over his point total of 14.5, a number that he’s topped in four of his last eight games.
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GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 19: Cameron Boozer #12 of the Duke Blue Devils battles Riley Mulvey #55 of the Siena Saints for the ball during the second half in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
March Madness is in high gear, and so there’s more interest to the upcoming NBA Draft, likely to take place on June 23 and 24 at its home since 2013, Barclays Center, Brooklyn. No, the dates are not yet official but the enthusiasm is.
For the Nets, with a high lottery pick, this year’s draft is seen as critical to their rebuild. More than one pundit has suggested that Sean Marks & co. hope to use their pick as part of a big upgrade, moving from two and a half dreary years of rebuild to perhaps what could be called a build. No longer will they be trying to lose.
Could it be analogous to what the franchise did in 2018-19 when a young team led by D’Angelo Russell wound up with the sixth seed … and enough NBA street cred to attract first Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving as free agents, then James Harden in a trade. Don’t expect this build to follow that same scenario but the pick will be critical nonetheless.
This year will also be very different from last June’s draft. After failing to move up — not willing to pay a hefty price that could have included their 2026 pick — they chose quantity over quality, taking a historic if risky five first rounders, even adding one the night before the Draft! (Interestingly, the Nets went into last year’s draft with a No. 2 ranking in Tanathon’s draft power rankings. Same so far this year. They may not have five firsts like last year but a higher lottery pick plus two picks in top half of the second round could be a better haul in a generational draft.)
Now though, hopes are higher. For one thing, the 2025-26 tank — excuse us, “playing the probabilities” — is deeper than last seasons meaning higher odds on May 10, lottery night in Chicago. At the moment, the Nets floor looks like No. 4, maybe even No. 3. They’re in second and only a game out of the top spot, currently held by the Indiana Pacers. Of course, things could change.
And since the Nets sent out future draft assets to get their 2025 and 2026 picks back from the Rockets, it would be ideal for them to get payback. But mostly it’s because this draft is seen as a great draft with comparison to the generational drafts of 1996 and 2003.
With the NCAAs now in the Sweet Sixteen, draft speculation is a little subdued with Darryn Peterson and A.J. Dybansta already done for the season. That leaves Cam Boozer of Duke fighting for the Final Four and beyond.
All that said, here’s the latest mocks. Is there a consensus? Not really. Boozer, Dybantsa and Peterson all have their advocates. Of the eight we surveyed, six had the Nets taking one of the three, with the outliers being forward Caleb Wilson of North Carolina and guard Kingston Flemings of Houston. Interestingly, none had Nets choosing guard Darius Acuff of Arkansas.
Dealing with a busted bracket?
The Sweet 16 is almost here – who’s still alive? We’re reviewing the week that was in the first week of the NCAA tournament and turning our focus to remaining teams. How bad (or good!) is your bracket? Join us in the SB Nation March Madness Feed and let’s talk about who’s most likely to make a run to glory.
Some mocks go with the lottery standings the day they post, others where they think Nets will land after the lottery. Some mocks only project the first round, others the full two. The Nets currently have two picks at Nos. 32 and 43.
Jeremy Woo was out last week with his picks. He has Brooklyn in fourth and out of the running for the Draft’s Big Three of Cam Boozer, A.J. Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson. Instead, he has them taking one of the next three, Caleb Wilson, the 6’10 ” forward out of North Carolina. He, along with Darius Acuff, Arkansas’ 6’3” point guard, and Kingston Flemings, Houston’s 6’5” combo guard, seem to the draftniks’ favorites just behind the Big Three although some are starting to suggest Acuff could move up and Peterson move down. Here’s his two-round takedown:
#4 – Caleb Wilson, PF, 6’10”, North Carolina, Freshman
Wilson opted to have surgery after breaking his thumb last week in practice, ending his season and depriving him of an opportunity to play in the NCAA tournament.
A first-team All-ACC selection, he has done enough to sit safely among the top picks even without taking the court again, showcasing his ability to play above the rim and two-way upside at power forward. Evaluators are curious how much more he can develop his 3-point shooting (25.9%) and ball skills, but Wilson plays exceptionally hard, having compiled 11 double-doubles and setting himself apart as an elite prospect. NBA teams have penciled him in as a top-four selection.
Brooklyn has built patiently, holding onto Michael Porter Jr. and Nic Claxton at the trade deadline and will be hoping to add star power to the youngest roster in the NBA, no matter where this pick falls.
Jonathan Wasserman actually came closest to nailing the Nets preferences in 2025, projecting that Brooklyn would take Nolan Traore (at No. 19); Danny Wolf (at No. 26) and Drake Powell (at No. 27) in his final mock. So, we should pay attention to him!
This time around, with the third pick of the NBA, he has the Nets selecting Darryn Peterson, a 6’6’ shooting guard who drew comparisons to Kobe Bryant at the start of the season but lately, he’s dropped, inconsistency and injury with a wee touch of weirdness hurting his cause.
A productive yet confusing freshman season came to an end for Darryn Peterson after St. John’s buzzer-beater in the Round of 32.
Despite all the controversy around his injuries and in-game tap-outs earlier in the season, he still averaged 20.2 points on 43.8 percent shooting (38.2 percent from three) while playing 29.0 minutes a game. Peterson’s shotmaking skill remains as exciting it seemed at Prolific Prep.
Plus, concerns over the cramping have seemingly faded with Peterson playing over 30 minutes a game over the last month.
Falling from No. 1 to No. 2 or 3 may be caused more by issues with his decision-making and shot selection. Since his 18 points in 20 minutes against Dybantsa on February 2, Peterson shot 39.2 percent from the floor, often relying on difficult, contested jumpers. He also dropped to 51.9 percent finishing on layups, a number that could be caused by a variety of things, including poor spacing, overconfidence in his shooting and legs that aren’t likely at full strength.
At this point with the predraft process approaching, whether he goes No. 1, No. 2 or even No. 3 will come down to the eye of the pick’s beholder, as there doesn’t seem to be any consensus right now when ranking Peterson versus Dybantsa and Boozer.
Going deeper, he likes a wing and a big. Both are from west Africa, Yessoufou from Benin and Chinyelu, Nigeria.
If you claim to be a Nets fan, don’t deny you refresh Tankathon.com at least 20 times a day. Admit it! That is the fist step toward overcoming an addiction. Unlike other addictions, however, it is not debilitating. That could change and lead to sprained index fingers by the end of June.
Not only does Matt Hoover’s site offer up-to-the-minute mocks, they also meticulously maintain the draft order, aka tank guide, for fans of lottery teams. Tankathon even offers a draft power rankings, based on the combined value of each team’s picks. (Nets are currently ranked No. 2 with their three picks in the top 45, just behind the Grizzlies with the nos. 7, 16 and 32.)
Tankathon believes the Nets will go the traditional route and take the country’s top player, 6’10” Cam Boozer of Duke. While their format is light on analysis unlike their rivals, they are long on video:
(Is this kid really only 19?)
In the second, Hoover thinks the Nets would be good with Boozer teammate, 6’6” guard Isaiah Evans and Australian Dash Daniels who like his brother Dyson, a defensive terror (and someone who Sean Marks travelled to Perth, Australia, 11,600 miles away, to scout — along with Karim Lopez — back in January.)
Aran Smith, founder of NBADraft.net is often the outlier in mock draft projections, but the analysis is often top-notch with regular updates on some of the big names. That said, Smith is yes, unconventional again, projecting the Nets will take Kingston Flemings, the 6’4” Houston PG, at No. 4. Four mocks so far, four different projections.
Yes, in terms of rumored interest, Flemings is the only one of the consensus outside the top four who anyone in the media has suggested has the Nets attention, as Corey Tulaba of No Ceilings told Erik Slater of Clutch Points last month…
“Kingston Flemings is a name that I’ve heard the Nets are interested in.”@CoreyTulaba on the top draft prospect outside the top four that Nets fans should be watching. pic.twitter.com/ZqhJgGbRi9
“A name that I think is really important for Nets fans to monitor from what I’ve heard around the league is Kingston Flemings of Houston. That is a name I’ve heard the Nets are kind of interested in and he’s been incredible this year.”
Projects as a high-level lead guard whose speed, poise, and efficiency translate well to the NBA game … Has the tools to impact winning early due to decision-making, defensive engagement, and ability to control tempo … Continued refinement of shooting mechanics and expansion of his scoring package could elevate him from a strong starter profile to an All-Star caliber guard … Defensive tools and mindset point to long-term two-way value … Winning habits, maturity, and coachability strengthen his overall projection and reduce long-term risk …
Flemings indeed hasn’t gotten a lot of attention. Powerfully built with a blazing quick step, the 6’5” sophomore is unlikely to fall out of the top 10 and is the type of player who often sneaks up the mock draft consensus in the last few weeks … and he is in the Sweet Sixteen.
In the second, Smith et al like Keyshawn Hall, a 6’7”, 250-pound 3-and-D candidate who is among this draft’s older players at 22. (Their mock like a couple of others don’t have the Nets picking in the forties. Perhaps the permutations of the draft order caused them to wait a bit.)
One thing about this round-up of mock drafts is how diverse the choices are at Nos. 3 and 4. There is no consensus on who the Nets should select … other than a high lottery pick. Last year, Khaman Maluach was for a long time the draftniks’ favorite to stroll across the stage wearing a Nets cap to a waiting commissioner. There was also a contingent who believed the Nets could wind up with Kon Knueppell!
The closest thing to a consensus – among fans at least – is A.J. Dybantsa and that’s not scientific. Reading though social media, the BYU forward is all smooth games reminiscent of, take your choice, Kevin Durant or Tracy McGrady. Heady comparisons. As Elliot Pohnl of TSN wrote recently in his latest mock:
Dybantsa plays with an incredible amount of force and assertiveness, which allows his athleticism to shine. Despite being surrounded by a mediocre BYU roster that got worse after the Richie Saunders injury, the Cougars were competitive in the Big 12. Dybantsa can take over games, and more importantly, he wants to take over games. He can handle the ball at a high level, and his length and athleticism helps him be a plus defender. His shot could use polish and he isn’t perfect offensively, but he has what it takes to be a franchise-changing selection.
Add to that Egor Demin’s endorsement of fellow Brigham Young product and you can see that if Dybantsa was still in March Madness, there’d be viewing parties among Nets fans. Alas, he is not. Also alas, Sporting News only does first round selections so no guesses on No. 32 or 43.
Ricky O’Donnell thinks that Darryn Peterson will be the name called by Adam Silver, assuming Nets get that top three pick in the lottery. Peterson is the big question mark among the top 3 and O’Donnell thinks the 6’6” Kansas guard (also around) may not answer that question with an exclamation point.
Darryn Peterson looked like Gen-Z Kobe Bryant coming out of high school. He hasn’t lived up to that billing at Kansas due to a bizarre set of injury circumstances that included “traumatic” cramping and multiple soft tissue strains in his lower body. Peterson just doesn’t look as explosive athletically as he did in high school, but he still put up awesome per-possession scoring numbers in an off-ball role by showing off his elite shotmaking. His freshman tape looks more like Richard Hamilton or Tre Johnson than anything else, bending defenses by darting around screens and splashing shots all over the floor. The fact that his shooting touch and outside volume both look better than expected is an encouraging sign for his star upside if he can regain his physical gifts. I had Peterson at No. 2 for most of the year, but at this point I’m tempted to slide him down to No. 4. Part of that is because North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson looked awesome before his season-ending thumb injury. Part of it is because Peterson just didn’t meet our expectations this season.
O’Donnell has Cam Boozer at No. 1 and A.J. Dybantsa and No. 2. He, too, only goes one round deep in his projections.
Adam Finkelstein is another vote for Cam Boozer who more than one draftnik thinks will carry the day (if available) because in addition to his skillset is that high character type Sean Marks & co. crave in the post Big 3 era. We’ve heard one draftnik describe Boozer in the simplest of terms: “the Perfect Net.”
This may be the easiest pick of the draft. Executives are terrified of missing on Dybantsa or Peterson if they end up reaching their full potential, but there’s little doubt that Boozer will be a long-term impact player. His resume of winning is unmatched, he’s physically ready for the next level and one of the smartest players in the draft. He’s a big-time rebounder, passer, has terrific hands and can operate at different spots on the floor offensively. Boozer has a war of a matchup Friday night against St. John’s and defensive menace Zuby Ejiofor.
The choice of a power forward would make for some interesting speculation come Draft Night. Boozer would not replace Nic Claxton or Day’Ron Sharpe in thinking about Nets big men. They all have different skillsets and fits. But of the Draft’s top three picks (if they get so lucky), he’s the one that would best round out the Nets team building exercise. Also, there’s no indication that the Nets are going to divert from their long-held belief in BPA — best player available. The reasoning is simple: you get a high lottery pick in a generational draft, you’re not drafting for next season. You’re drafting looking way down the road.
That said, Bryan Kalbrosky thinks that A.J. Dybantsa makes the most sense because he is the prospect most likely to raise the Nets level of offense which, as he notes, is currently horrific.
The Nets have the worst offense in the NBA and could instantly inject life into their offense by selecting AJ Dybantsa, who would likely go No. 1 overall depending on which team gets the pick. He emphasized that point during his one game for BYU in March Madness, putting up 35 points and 10 rebounds. The Big 12 Rookie of the Year led the nation in unassisted points scored (680) by a wide margin this season, per CBB Analytics. The emerging star also had 40 points against Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament on March 10 and averaged 28.8 points per game over his final 17 appearances.
There may be other aspects of Dybantsa’s potential that could use some upgrades, including maturity, but the name of the game is buckets and he knows how to do that, as Kalbrosky notes. No second round projections from USA TODAY. You’ll see more draftniks delve into the second day of the draft the closer we get.
The Boston Celtics will look to build on their impressive win over the Oklahoma City Thunder as they host the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night.
Jayson Tatum came up big on Wednesday, and I’m counting on him to lead Boston to cover again in my Hawks vs. Celtics predictions.
Read on for more analysis of this matchup in my free NBA picks for Friday, March 27.
Hawks vs Celtics prediction
Hawks vs Celtics best bet: Celtics -4.5 (-110)
The Boston Celtics have been working Jayson Tatum back into the lineup, and that fully paid off on Wednesday, when he put up 19 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists while playing more than 35 minutes against the Thunder.
Boston is now 7-2 with Tatum in the lineup this season. The 28-year-old is averaging 19.1 ppg and 9.2 rebounds per game, and while his shooting touch isn’t quite there yet, he showed improvement against the Thunder there as well, going 3-for-6 from three-point range.
The one thing that might make bettors question the Celtics tonight is the injury report. Jaylen Brown is out for tonight, which is a significant blow for Boston, but Derrick White and Neemias Queta will both be available after initial worries that the Celtics would be short-handed.
With Tatum healthy and improving in every game, Boston shouldn’t miss a beat.
The Atlanta Hawks continue to rack up wins since the All-Star break, but these wins have largely come against weaker competition. In their last two road games against quality opponents, the Hawks lost by 22 points to the Houston Rockets, then beat the Detroit Pistons by a single point in overtime on Wednesday.
As hot as the Hawks are right now, the Celtics are a different team with Tatum on the court, and they showed how tough they’ll be to beat at TD Garden down the stretch on Wednesday.
Hawks vs Celtics same-game parlay
The shaky injury report for Boston has sent the total down several points in this game, and that’s enough for me to target the Over.
The Hawks have hit the Over in five of their last six games, and there’s more than enough offensive talent on both sides to hit this number.
I’m also taking Tatum to grab Over 8.5 rebounds, a total he’s hit in each of his last four games.
Hawks vs Celtics SGP
Celtics -4.5
Over 225.5
Jayson Tatum Over 9.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: Tatum Does it All!
With Tatum coming off his best game since his return from injury, I’m backing the Celtics star to shine again tonight, especially with a potentially limited roster around him.
I’ll add Tatum to pick up another double-double after recording three in his last four games. I also like him to get Over 5.5 assists after dishing out seven on Wednesday against the Thunder, and pick up Over 1.5 steals, which he’s done in two straight contests.
Hawks vs Celtics SGP
Celtics -4.5
Jayson Tatum double-double
Jayson Tatum Over 4.5 assists
Jayson Tatum Over 1.5 steals
Hawks vs Celtics odds
Spread: Hawks +7.5 | Celtics -7.5
Moneyline: Hawks +183 | Celtics -215
Over/Under: Over 224.5 | Under 224.5
Hawks vs Celtics betting trend to know
The Celtics have won five of their last six games by 5+ points. Find more NBA betting trends for Hawks vs. Celtics.
How to watch Hawks vs Celtics
Location
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Date
Friday, March 27, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Southeast, NBC Sports Boston
Hawks vs Celtics latest injuries
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The New York Yankees (1-0) face the San Francisco Giants, who are 0-1 after losing their first game of the series on Opening Night. Starting pitchers are second-year pitcher Cam Schlittler for the Yankees, who posted a 2.96 ERA as a rookie, and Robbie Ray for the Giants, with a 3.65 ERA in 2025. The Yankees are favored with a moneyline of -130 at BetMGM.
How to watch New York Yankees vs. San Francisco Giants
Date: Friday, March 27
Time: 4:35 p.m. ET / 1:35 p.m. PT
Where: Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA
TV channel: ESPN Unlimited, MLB.TV (Local broadcasts: NBC Sports Bay Area, Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network)
Sep 1, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Luis Garcia (77) reacts after retiring the side against the Los Angeles Angels during the fifth inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images | Erik Williams-Imagn Images
“If you can’t beat them, join them.“ Or, in this case, have them join you.
In a move that is not quite as dramatic as someone like Roger Clemens eventually making his way from Boston stardom to the Bronx, the Yankees recently signed right-handed pitcher Luis Garcia to a minor-league deal. And if you were wondering? Yes, it’s that Luis Garcia, the former Houston Astro — the man whose windup kind of makes me seasick even while sitting on the couch, but that’s a conversation for another time.
A pretty successful starter for the Astros in 2021 and 2022, Garcia ascended alongside other young arms who rose to prominence in the post-sign-stealing-scheme environment, like Framber Valdez and Cristian Javier. He had a 3.60 ERA with 324 strikeouts in 312.2 innings for the back-to-back American League champions, winning a ring in ’22.
It’s been a tough road for Garcia since then, as he’s dealt with one scarily large injury bug over the past few years, limiting the righty to just 34.2 innings since the start of 2023. It’ll be a while before Garcia can suit up in the Yankees minor-league system, reserving the entirety of this 2026 campaign for his recovery from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent at the end of last season. Alarmingly, it was Garcia’s second TJS in a rather short period, as his first came in May 2023.
If you remove the health aspect, there were never a ton of performance-related concerns around the now-29-year-old Garcia, as he delivered some productive seasons for the Astros. At the same time, two major surgeries in the span of three years put his career in jeopardy. If the Yankees can rehabilitate him, there might be a solid pitcher in here.
Josh Inglis: DET ML
Jon Metler: MIA ML
Joe Osborne: MIA/COL o7.5
Chet Holmgren
Ace Bailey
Donovan Clingan
