Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has had a great start to his 2026 campaign, and I expect him to continue to be productive this afternoon as the Toronto Blue Jays try to sweep the Athletics.
Find out why in my Blue Jays vs. Athletics predictions and MLB picks below.
A’s vs Blue Jays predictions
A’s vs Blue Jays best bet: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Over 0.5 walks (+110)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ranked in the 89th percentile in walk rate last season among all qualified hitters in baseball.
He’s picked up right where he left off last season with walks in back-to-back games to start the season, totaling three in those two games.
I’m backing him to earn another free pass to first base this afternoon to go Over his 0.5 walks total, especially with A’s starter Luis Morales on the mound.
He struggled with command all spring long, walking 14 batters in his final five preseason appearances.
COVERS INTEL: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has recorded a walk in seven straight games dating back to Game 2 of the World Series.
I’ll continue to back Guerrero Jr.'s eye at the plate today by taking him to record a hit. He's riding a 14-game hitting streak and hopes to make it 15 in a row today.
For my second leg, I'll take George Springer to record an RBI. He’s a great fastball hitter, and Morales throws heat on more than 50% of his pitches. With the way the bottom of the lineup is hitting, it’s putting Springer in good RBI positions.
The Jays are also 7-3 in their last 10 games against the A’s. Given how much success they’ve had offensively in this series, and the erratic nature of Morales, I’m backing the Jays to pick up the win and complete the series sweep today.
A’s vs Blue Jays home run pick: George Springer (+305)
Morales is a fastball pitcher who was hit hard last season and throughout spring. He allowed eight homers in 10 appearances last season, and gave up three homers in his final three starts of spring.
Springer handles a fastball extremely well, sporting a 1.076 OPS against the pitch last season with a team-high 14 home runs. He hit them hard, too, with a .746 xSLG and a hard-hit rate of 55%.
2026 Transparency record
Best bets: 1-0, +1.2 units
SGPs: 0-1, -1.0 units
HR picks: 0-1, -1.0 units
A’s vs Blue Jays odds
Moneyline: A's +135 | Blue Jays -160
Run line: A's +1.5 (-150) | Blue Jays -1.5 (+125)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5
A’s vs Blue Jays trend
The Over is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings between these clubs. Find more MLB betting trends for A’s vs. Blue Jays.
How to watch A’s vs Blue Jays and game info
Location
Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON
Date
Sunday, March 29, 2026
First pitch
1:37 p.m. ET
TV
NBCS-California, Sportsnet
A’s starting pitcher
Luis Morales (2025: 4-3, 3.14 ERA)
Blue Jays starting pitcher
Eric Lauer (2025: 9-2, 3.18 ERA)
A’s vs Blue Jays latest injuries
A’s vs Blue Jays weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
After being able to derail run-and-gun teams like Saint Louis and Alabama in the second round and Sweet 16, No. 1 seed Michigan will have a different challenge on its hands with No. 6 Tennessee in Sunday's Elite Eight.
"We understand that especially at this point of the season, any team is a challenge," Michigan's Nimari Burnett said. "We're also ready to take the challenge to them as well. We look forward to a really good, physical game but also playing our style of play on both end of the floor."
For Tennessee, this a third straight trip to the Elite Eight... but a chance to reach the program's first Final Four.
"For me, it's definitely an added motivation. I'm hungry for it," Vols guard Bishop Boswell said. "Last year, I was here and we were able to get to the Elite Eight thanks to the senior guys. We weren't able to get it done. To see their faces, it hurt absolutely last year, watching the ceremony and everything of that nature and just seeing we weren't able to get to that point."
Here's what you need to know for today's Elite Eight matchup, including predictions and how to watch:
College basketball fans and the media love to debate which conference in college basketball is the best. The discussion in 2026 has surrounded the SEC and the Big Ten. Here's what Tennessee and Michigan players feel about the debate, ahead of the Sweet 16 in Chicago.
What time is Michigan vs Tennessee in Elite 8?
Time: 2:15 p.m. ET, Sunday, March 29.
What channel is Michigan vs Tennessee? How to watch, streaming info
The game is airing on CBS, streaming via Paramount+.
Michigan has played every style this season and rarely had a problem. Yaxel Lendeborg comes off a historic game and has made 10 of 18 3's in United Center in U-M's four games in Chicago the past two weeks. With Trey McKenney and Gayle providing consistent scoring off the bench, Mara and Johnson as a deep front line and Cadeau pacing the offense, U-M may take a moment to figure out Tennessee's defense that walls off at the rim, but should eventually be able to drive and kick its way to victory.
∎ Shawn Windsor, Detroit Free Press: Michigan 75, Tennessee 67
The Wolverines just beat the SEC’s best offensive team and now they face the SEC’s best defensive team. As U-M has shown all season, few teams adapt as well as it does. The Wolverines will again.
Tennessee's path to victory remains constant: win big on the offensive glass, limit mistakes down the stretch and turn to either point guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie or Ament for big buckets in crunch time. The Vols have had considerable frontcourt advantages in their first three NCAA Tournament games, but Michigan narrows that gap. There's an even fewer margin for error against Michigan, one that Iowa State couldn't exploit without injured Joshua Jefferson.
The Wolverines are the most complete team Tennessee has faced thus far, and at risk of getting egg on our face (again), Michigan should advance to the Final Four.
Jeff Seidel: Michigan 79, Tennessee 70
Carlos Monarrez: Michigan 92, Tennessee 78
John Leuzzi: Michigan
Jordan Mendoza: Michigan
Ehsan Kassim: Michigan
Austin Curtright: Michigan
Moneyline: Michigan (-350); Tennessee (+275)
Spread: Michigan (-7.5)
Over/under total: 146.5
Michigan will reach Final Four if...
John Leuzzi: Slow down Tennessee's offense, and break through Tennessee's front court.
Jordan Mendoza: It controls the tempo.
Ehsan Kassim: It can limit Tennessee's offensive rebounding.
Austin Curtright: It takes advantage of its size advantage. Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara make up perhaps the best frontcourt in college basketball, and they've been wildly efficient under the basket this season.
Tennessee will advance to Final Four if...
John Leuzzi: It can stop Yaxel Lendeborg, and win on the offensive glass.
Jordan Mendoza: Wins the battle of the bigs.
Ehsan Kassim: It finds a way to neutralize Yaxel Lendeborg.
Austin Curtright: Limits turnovers. While Tennessee upset Iowa State in the Sweet 16, it surrendered 16 turnovers against the pesky Cyclones defense. It won't get any easier to score against Michigan, either.
How old is Yaxel Lendeborg?
Yaxel Lendeborg is 23 years old. Lendeborg played three seasons at Arizona Western Community College before heading to UAB where he played two seasons. This is his first year at Michigan.
Is Elliot Cadeau deaf? Michigan PG overcame hearing, vision issues
Elliot Cadeau is half-deaf in one ear, dealt with blurred vision in one eye. That hasn't stopped Michigan point guard from turning in his best season.
Nate Ament injury update: How much will Vols star play vs Michigan?
The All-SEC freshman is still dealing with soreness. He played 29 minutes in the Vols' second round win over Virginia, scoring 16 points and 25 minutes in Tennessee's Sweet 16 win over Iowa State, scoring 18 points.
"There's no chance I'd sit out a March Madness game," he said prior to the UVA game. "It's about what can we do to get back to 100%, or as close to it as we can."
Tennessee coach Rick Barnes called the injury a "problem," and Ament won't be fully healthy until he gets time off at the end of the season.
"We need Nate. He knows it, but he will give us everything that he can, and that's really all I can say about it. If it's up to him, he would play every minute if he could," Barnes said.
Barnes is 38-25 in his career in the NCAA Tournament and led Texas to the 2003 Final Four.
Nate Ament 2026 NBA Draft, mock draft prediction
No. 11 overall to Portland Trail Blazers.
Kalbrosky's Analysis:
After a relatively slow and inefficient start to the season, Tennessee freshman Nate Ament is starting to realize some of his lofty expectations. The freshman averaged 21.6 points per game while shooting 38.9 percent on 3-pointers during a 13-game stretch before an injury against Alabama on Feb. 28. The All-SEC forward then had 27 points (4-of-6 on 3-pointers) with eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal against Auburn on March 12. It will only take one team to fall in love with Ament and given so much of what he brings to the table cannot be taught, that team is probably picking fairly early in the lottery.
Mar 28, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Cleveland Guardians designated hitter Chase DeLauter (24) celegbrates with centerfielder Steven Kwan (38) after hitting a two-run home run during the tenth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images | Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
I think we can officially call Chase DeLauter a phenom at this point.
Be sure to read Zach’s recap of last night’s exciting win. Seattle is a very good team. To secure a split and have a shot at winning a series in their home ballpark is pretty impressive.
Also, impressive, of course, is Chase DeLauter having a horrible game and still managing to get to 97 mph up and away for a home run. It’s remarkable how much an actual hitter being in the 2-hole changes this team.
I do hope last night was enough incentive for Vogt to tell batters to only challenge calls when given a signal to do so from the dugout. And to make sure that signal is only given on 2-2 or 3-2 counts. It’s just not worth it, otherwise. Batters are too emotional as are pitchers. Catchers are the only ones to be given carte de blanche to challenge as they see fit.
Tanner Bibee threw a bullpen yesterday and said he felt great. As long as he feels good today, it may be possible that first game exit was just a scare and he can make his next start. Let’s hope so.
Hunter Gaddis’s velo was down a bit, but he had a scoreless inning for Columbus yesterday in rehab.
AROUNDMLB:
The Twins won, but the Tigers, Royals and White Sox all lost.
Mar 28, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (16) in the dugout before a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Saturday was quite an unforgettable birthday for Will Smith.
Not only did his two daughters throw out the first pitch and not only was Saturday Smith’s bobblehead commemorating his go-ahead home run from Game 7 last year, but he also drilled a go-ahead two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to mark three consecutive come-from-behind victories and seal a series sweep for the Dodgers over the Arizona Diamondbacks. That might not have happened at all, as Dave Roberts noted during his post-game media presser that he initially had Smith out of the starting lineup.
“Actually I didn’t have him in there tonight, and he really wanted to be in there tonight on his bobblehead night. He said he felt good, and so that proved to be the right decision.”
Smith spoke with Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA following the ending of Saturday’s contest, noting how this Dodgers team never truly feels out of the game even when down in late innings, and there is always someone in the lineup to hand the baton to when needing a clutch moment.
“There’s nothing better than playing in front of our home fans here at Dodger Stadium. Late in innings, we never feel like we’re out of the game. It always feels like someone is going to come up with a big hit. We keep applying pressure. Mookie got on right before me, and tonight it was me that got the big hit.”
Links
Entering Saturday, Freddie Freeman was the only starter over the first two games of the season who had not yet recorded a hit. That all changed on Saturday as Freeman connected for three hits, including an opposite field RBI double to put the Dodgers on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Freeman’s lack of contribution over the first two games was a result of pure happenstance— including three deep fly ball outs on Friday— rather than a regression in his game, as he noted to Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA following Saturday’s game he’s been swinging well at the plate since spring training.
“I had been feeling good all spring training and even the last couple of games, even though I had nothing to show for it. Definitely nice to get it off the barrel in the first [at-bat] and hit a flare up the middle. Obviously, once you get one, you can just kinda rest easy… There’s a lot of things that happened for me tonight that was very positive.”
Tyler Glasnow followed up Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Emmet Sheehan with six strikeouts in his first outing of the year on Saturday, tossing a quality start over six full innings but ultimately having his performance result in a no-decision.
Glasnow spoke with Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA about getting back into a nice rhythm on the mound after getting scored on early, a running theme that persisted in the opening series for Dodgers starting pitchers.
ST. LOUIS — The Toronto Maple Leafs have had their upcoming game against the Anaheim Ducks marked on their calendar ever since the two teams first met this season on March 12. That’s when Anaheim Ducks captain Radko Gudas extended his knee into Auston Matthews, ending the Maple Leafs’ captain's season with a dangerous knee-on-knee hit.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that Gudas wants to play against the Maple Leafs on Monday no matter what, but the final decision may not come down to him if the club’s medical staff doesn’t clear him. Gudas understands the scrutiny that comes with avoiding a game where he is sure to be a target of retribution by many Maple Leafs for the hit on Matthews.
The Leafs were criticized for their lack of immediate response to the hit at the time.
Headlines: Gudas/Toronto; McMann; Canada to finalize Worlds management team, then go over roster, which could include Gavin McKenna; possibility things will move fast between Porter Martone and Flyers; optimism between Flames and Jonathan Castagna.https://t.co/qNjGbrPRt6
With eight games to go, it’s evident that the Leafs look like a team that is just going through the motions, waiting for this season to be over. Any juice going into a game, like retribution against the Ducks, will at least help in making these games interesting for the Maple Leafs. Even if Gudas doesn’t play, there will probably be many fights in the game.
“You can't go out and do stupid things—suspensions and things like that," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube warned. "That's not what it's all about. But we definitely have to go out and play a physical, hard game against that team".
Welcome to this edition of the Vancouver Canucks post-game analytics report. This recurring deep dive breaks down the analytics behind each Canucks game as recorded by Natural Stat Trick. In this article, we look back on Vancouver’s most recent 7-3 loss to the Calgary Flames.
Despite the lopsided score, the Canucks actually won the analytics battle in this game. Vancouver held a 23-22 even-strength scoring chances advantage while also winning the even-strength high-danger scoring chances battle by a count of 13-9. In the end, though, the Flames capitalized on their opportunities, which is why Calgary skated away with the victory.
As for the heatmap, Vancouver's focus was to get pucks on net from wherever they could. As for the Flames, they focused on creating issues in front of the net, which allowed them to get to lose pucks in the Canucks defensive zone. Overall, it was not a strong defensive performance by Vancouver's skaters, and it was a tough night for Nikita Tolopilo and Kevin Lankinen.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Calgary Flames, March 28, 2026, Natural Stat Trick.
To wrap this game up, the trio of Liam Öhgren, Elias Pettersson and Linus Karlsson were the Canucks best line. During their 13:06 of ice time, Vancouver held an 8-4 shot advantage and won the high-danger scoring chances battle 5-2. Ultimately, this is a trio that deserves some time together as they showed some chemistry in this game.
The Canucks continue their road trip on Monday with a matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights. At the time of writing, it is expected that Monday will be Evander Kane's 1000th regular-season game. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT.
Mar 28, 2026; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf (32) makes a save against the Vancouver Canucks during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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Suns guard Jalen Green (4) celebrates a three pointer against the Jazz during a game at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, on March 28, 2026. | Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Sometimes you need a slump buster, and there is no shame in that. The Phoenix Suns came in 1–6 over their last seven, searching for something to steady them, and the Utah Jazz provided that opportunity. Utah is deep in tank mode, and on Saturday night in downtown Phoenix, it showed early and often as the Suns easily dispatched them, 134-109.
Watching from the stands, the first thing that jumped out was the defensive intensity from Phoenix. There was purpose to it, a level of connection that made everything look clean. When one team is moving in sync and the other is not, it becomes obvious quickly. The Suns were rotating, communicating, and turning defense into offense. The Jazz were stuck in isolation, one pass, one move, one shot, the kind of possessions that stall before they ever really start.
It felt familiar in a different way. Watching so much college basketball this time of year, you see those same empty possessions from teams that are not connected, where everything leans on one player and the result is rushed and inefficient. That is where Utah is right now, limping toward the finish line, eyes on the lottery. Phoenix is in a different space, trying to build rhythm, trying to sharpen habits, trying to turn effort into execution.
One moment in the third quarter stuck with me. Jordan Ott pulled Rasheer Fleming aside after a substitution and spent two possessions talking him through a previous sequence. Teaching, correcting, reinforcing. It was not loud, it was not dramatic, but it mattered. Those are the moments that define a season like this one. A transition year is built on those exchanges, on the small adjustments that turn into growth over time.
There is still plenty to appreciate in the present. Wins like this serve a purpose. They restore a little confidence, they remind you what it looks like when things click. At the same time, it is hard not to glance ahead, to think about what this team could become as these lessons stack. It is a small takeaway from a comfortable win, but it is one that lingers.
Bright Side Baller Season Standings
He wasn’t the highest scorer against the Nuggets, but having Royce O’Neale back and seeing him hit 5-of-8 from deep got into your feels. He joins Jordan Goodwin and Jalen Green with 4 Bright Side Baller’s on the year.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 25: A general view of fans in the stands with Opening Day bunting during the game between the New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
Now that we’re getting back into the swing of the regular season, it’s time to find out what everyone’s favorite highlights of the week were!
I am, once again, at a distinct disadvantage because as of the time this is being written there has only been one game played this week, in which they lost 7-0 so the pickings are slim. And I already picked Aaron Judge’s golden sombrero for yesterday’s BP.
So I’m going to have to let you all do the heavy lifting this week. What were your favorite highlights of the week this week? Or if things have not improved since Wednesday’s loss, feel free to share the low-lights too!
I admit that I have my PCA jersey on. We had Chicago dogs for lunch and I have one Old Style left from a trip to Rocco’s a bit ago. Much more noise has been made about his deal than Nico Hoerner’s, as Pete has been anointed the new ‘face’. I suspect PCA is equal to the task. He seems to welcome the challenge and I look forward to when the young faces take over. George Gervin is right but the example of White Castle comes to mind.
Popular culture has claimed that name, as the boys from Wichita didn’t. Caleb Williams would have to go some to match Gervin’s accomplishments but the matter is for trademark attorneys to work out now. I would think some kind of settlement could be reached. Because Luther Burden III was also right.
Williams and PCA will not be denied. /narrative
Anyway, Pete had a good game, going 2 for 3, with 2 stolen bases, a walk, and a little glovework. Nico did well, as well, going 1 for 2 with a pair of walks, an RBI double, and a stolen base. Miguel Amaya clobbered a solo homer and an RBI single. Ian Happ unloaded for three. The Cubs had seven two-out RBI.
Cade Horton was Cade Horton. He threw strike after strike, with ground balls aplenty. Caleb Thielbar was just fine. Cubs win, 10-2. Rubber game today. Shota Imanaga and James Irvin on the hill.
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Kyle Williams (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Cubs’ Matt Shaw won’t have long runway in right field. “Before the game, I said this is not the ideal day to make your debut in right field with how the weather was today, but [Shaw] did a nice job,” manager Craig Counsell said.
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MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 27: A detailed view of the MLB debut jersey patch worn TJ Rumfield #7 of the Colorado Rockies in the first inning against the Miami Marlins by at loanDepot park on March 27, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Rockies played their last two spring training games and their first two regular season games this week. So far in the regular season, they’re 0-2 but there have been some moments of brightness. TJ Rumfield made his MLB debut, knocked his first MLB hit and launched his first MLB home run in his first two games. Ezequiel Tovar hit his first home run in 2025, and there were some excellent defensive plays made throughout the games. The baserunning game, though, still needs some work.
Additionally, on the farm, Charlie Condon hit two home runs (likely revenge homers for starting the year in Triple-A). Maybe we’ll see him sooner than we thought…
That all said, here’s what our staff had to write about during this busy week!
For the second time in as many days, Syracuse scored three runs, but this time, they surrendered five and suffered their first loss of the 2026 campaign. Joander Suarez gave up the first couple of those runs in his first start of the year, and Jonathan Pintaro and Alex Carrillo—both of whom made appearances for the big league Mets last year—gave up two runs and one run, respectively, to swing the game in Worcester’s favor.
Saturday could not have gone better for the New York Islanders amid their playoff push.
After knocking off the Florida Panthers 5-2, scoring five unanswered goals in the second period, the Islanders moved into second place in the Metropolitan Division with 89 points.
However, waking up in second would depend on the out-of-town scoreboard.
And, for the first time in quite a while, the results went the Islanders' way:
The Pittsburgh Penguins (88 points) fell 6-3 to the Dallas Stars.
The Columbus Blue Jackets (87 points) lost 3-2 to the San Jose Sharks.
The Detroit Red Wings (86 points) fell 5-3 to the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Ottawa Senators (86 points) lost 4-2 to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Islanders' next game is critical as they host the Penguins at UBS Arena on Monday night, the first of a back-to-back. They travel to Buffalo to face the Sabres on Tuesday.
ST. LOUIS — The Toronto Maple Leafs played their first game without their mentors present since rattling off back-to-back wins against the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers, and their effort on the ice made it look like they needed them back.
The Maple Leafs fell 5-1 to the St. Louis Blues. It looked like it was going to be one of those nights for the Leafs early on, when a four-minute power play for Toronto midway through the first period generated no shots on goal for the man-advantage. From there, things snowballed.
Justin Holl, playing in just his sixth NHL game this season, scored his second goal since 2024 when he departed the Leafs; notably, both of those goals occurred against Toronto. Although Jake McCabe scored early in the third period to cut St. Louis’s lead to 2-1, Pius Suter scored a shorthanded goal shortly after, deflating any hopes of a Toronto comeback.
It was a listless effort by Toronto’s skaters. "We had one player show up tonight, and that was our goalie. That's really what it boils down to," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said after the game. The Blues outshot the Maple Leafs in all three periods, demonstrating Toronto’s lack of urgency.
Playing in their 74th game of 82, Toronto’s playoff hopes are now all but mathematically dashed. The urgency just isn't there, and the Leafs are having a hard time manufacturing it given what lies ahead: a summer with no postseason hockey.
“We didn't check. We had no pressure. We let them come at us all night. We had the puck all night, but we didn't check it off them,” Berube said. “Checking is a will, a want, and an urgency, right? And, you know, we let them do whatever they want with the puck tonight”.
Perhaps most disappointing is that the Leafs didn’t put forth a better effort in front of Joseph Woll. The St. Louis native made 33 saves on 38 shots, but the save percentage doesn’t tell the whole story. The goaltender had to make several high-danger stops throughout the evening.
McCabe was asked if it’s hard to generate urgency given where the team sits in the standings. He paused to contemplate his response. “It shouldn’t be,” he responded. “It’s a privilege to play in this league and play on this team. If you lack urgency as a player, you’re going to find yourself out of this league”.
Craig Berube following tonight's 5-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues: "We had one player show up tonight, and that was our goalie. That's really what it boils down to."
The Leafs need to change the dynamic. It may or may not be the players; it might require a tweak in management, or perhaps both. While there have been occasions this season when the Leafs dominated in all three periods, there is now a complacency that comes with knowing the season is nearly over. This feels like a resignation, unlike the 4-0 loss to the Washington Capitals where the team was in full crisis mode.
Are the Leafs this bad? Is this just a bad year that can be flipped around with a retool? There aren’t many answers right now, and there won’t be until mid-April when their season comes to an end. Until then, the Leafs will be searching for urgency and motivation. The mentors aren’t around—but maybe they need to be.
In the last two games, the Montreal Canadiens had weak starts and needed goaltender Jakub Dobes to be phenomenal in the first frame to keep them in it before they found their footing. On Saturday night against the Nashville Predators, rookie Jacob Fowler wasn’t put in the same predicament. Quite to the contrary, Martin St-Louis’ team was very strong out of the gate. So strong in fact that the Tennessee outfit only managed to test Fowler three times in the first 20 minutes, while Montreal put nine shots on Juuse Saros’ net.
With two games on tap this weekend, it wasn’t surprising that St-Louis elected to give Fowler a game and rest Jakub Dobes for a second game against the Carolina Hurricanes in the span of six days. There was, however, one surprising thing about Fowler on the night: the Florida native had replaced the back plate of his mask, which normally depicts a Sunshine State licence plate, with one that featured a Quebec licence plate. He had used that on the mask he had made for the AHL All-Star Classic earlier this year and had said then that he decided to do it because Quebec was now his new home. A touch that will no doubt be appreciated by Canadiens’ fans.
For the second game in a row, the opponents ran into the Habs’ goaltender, and the Sainte-Flanelle was having none of it. On each occasion, the Canadiens stood up for their masked man. That’s great because you don’t go far in this league if you do not have a pack mentality, but the problem was that on both occurrences, it was diminutive defenseman Lane Hutson who came to the rescue.
On Thursday, against a 6-foot-2, 204-pound forward, Boone Jenner, and on Saturday, against a 6-foot, 183-pound forward, Luke Evangelista. While it’s good that someone was willing to stand up for the goalies, it never should be Hutson. Firstly, because that’s not his job, and secondly, because the Canadiens absolutely cannot afford an injury to their star blueliner.
Of course, the first name that comes to mind in that situation is Arber Xhekaj, but the gritty blueliner has been a healthy scratch for the last five games, and so he wasn’t on the ice or on the bench. It’s hard to imagine St-Louis putting him back in the lineup at this stage, since Jayden Struble has been playing great hockey of late. My one criticism is that he should have been the one to defend the goalies, not Hutson.
What’s the solution then? Playing seven defensemen? St-Louis has repeatedly said he doesn’t like doing that, as it’s hard to manage everyone’s ice time in that situation. Would it be worth inserting Xhekaj as a fourth-line forward? The idea could be interesting to explore, especially when St-Louis only played his fourth liners for an average of roughly eight minutes on Thursday. Still, the time for experiments has long gone. The Canadiens are involved in one of the tightest playoff races in recent memory. The stakes are just too high; you can’t play a player out of position now. Furthermore, it’s unlikely that the coach would be willing to scratch an offensive player to make way for protection; it’s just not the way he thinks.
Still, however things play out, this issue has to be addressed, and it needs to be addressed in a hurry.
No Jealousy On The Second Line
In the Canadiens 4-1 win, Montreal’s second line scored three of the Sainte-Flanelle’s four goals, and the three linemates each got a goal. Ivan Demidov opened the score with a spectacular shot off the post and in.
Rookie Oliver Kapanen scored the Canadiens’ second goal, on which Hutson got his 60th assist on the season, tying his total from last season. With 10 games to go, he needs six assists to tie Larry Robinson’s record of 66 assists.
Lane Hutson became just the third player and first defenseman in @CanadiensMTL history to record consecutive 60-assist seasons. #NHLStats
Later in the second frame, Alex Newhook joined the party when Demidov fed him for a one-timer in the high slot, a fantastic pass. With two points tonight, the Russian rookie now has 16 goals and 40 assists on the season for 56 points in 62 games.
Suzuki Keeps On Impressing
With an assist on Demidov’s goal, Nick Suzuki picked up the 300th assist of his career and added another one on Cole Caufield’s 45th goal of the season, meaning the captain now has 88 points this season—just one short of the career-high he set last season with 10 games left to play.
Needless to say, he will set a new mark before the end of the regular season, and it’s looking increasingly likely that he will hit the 100-point mark. As things stand, he’s on pace for exactly 100 points. The last Hab to hit the century mark in a season was Mats Naslund back in 1985-86, remember that year? It was a fantastic year in Montreal, and it ended with a parade.
The Canadiens headed to Carolina after the game, where they’ll take on the Hurricanes on Sunday at 5:00 PM. It will be interesting to see if Josh Anderson will be well enough to play. He left the game in the first frame, and the Habs later announced he was ill. If he’s not good to gp, what will Montreal do? Alexandre Texier is not on the trip according to La Presse and the Habs didn’t call up anyone. Can Patrik Laine become an option? That appears unlikely, Perhaps St-Louis could be forced to use seven blueliners…
BALTIMORE, MD - MARCH 26: Shane Baz #34 of the Baltimore Orioles takes the floor before the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Thursday, March 26, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Hello, friends.
The Orioles just can’t let us feel good about them for long, huh? The vibes were great yesterday afternoon around the Shane Baz contract extension, with excitement for the near future of the team from the front office and from a good number of the players. If only they could have sustained those good vibes through even one more game after that. Instead, the Orioles turned in a stinker of a 4-1 loss to the Twins to fall to 1-1 on the year. Check out my recap of the game for more of the not-so-lovely totals.
Anybody who is my age or younger has been prepared for this kind of thing by a lifetime of being Orioles fans. Nothing good lasts for long and plenty of times things have come along within 24 hours to squash fun vibes. This is only the latest example. Baz has the opportunity to bring the good vibes back here this afternoon, if he can turn in a good outing in his first game in an Orioles uniform.
It’s still kind of wild for me to think about, but Baz got that contract extension before ever throwing a pitch for the team. Mike Elias really likes this guy. This is not a guarantee of success. Sometimes Elias likes guys based on thinking they’ll be better than they have been and it doesn’t work out that way. Sometimes he likes guys based on thinking they’ll be about what they have been in the past and that doesn’t work out either. The guy has a solid track record overall, but there are glaring gaps and one of those is building a quality starting rotation.
Getting Baz locked up could be the first sign of starting to bring some stability into that group. Getting way ahead of ourselves, just based on who has major league experience and will still be available to the Orioles next year, they’ve got Kyle Bradish, Baz, and Dean Kremer. That’s potentially not a bad 60% of a rotation. If one of the team’s pitching prospects can fill a spot better than the previous wave’s guys like Cade Povich and Brandon Young did, then there’s only one hole to fill. That’s a whole lot better than having to sign two guys and trade for a third guy every winter.
Of course, two games into this 2026 season, there hasn’t been too much cause for worrying about the rotation yet. It’s an offense that’s not looking like much has changed from the last season and a half worth of Orioles baseball that feels like a problem. You can make excuses for this if you want, particularly yesterday when it was the 10th-coldest game start temperature in Oriole Park at Camden Yards history. Warmer weather is coming as soon as today, so this excuse pretty much expired already. Until they do enough to change the story, it’s the same story.
Orioles stuff you might have missed
You know who wants to talk some about the Shane Baz press conference? Everybody whose job it is to cover the Orioles on a regular basis.
There really is a lot to digest about it. Yes, it’s a further sign that something different is happening now than we got accustomed to with contracts before Rubenstein took over. It shows that the Orioles might actually invest in their rotation. There is hope for extensions for any non-Boras client who the O’s deem worth it. It seems like there is excitement both in the Orioles clubhouse and front office for these things happening. That’s all cool. It would just be a lot more cool if they built on these good feelings with how they played on the field yesterday.
Joseph Dzierwa headlines the Orioles next wave of pitching prospects (Baseball America) Subscription required for this one. The pitcher had a phenomenal appearance in the Spring Breakout game and if he carries that forward into the minor league season, that’s going to get mighty interesting in a hurry.
Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries
The Orioles last won a game on this day just last year, when they beat the Blue Jays, 9-5, to improve to 2-1 for the season. Just four of the seventeen players who appeared for the Orioles that day are on the 26-man roster right now. Jordan Westburg had four hits, including a pair of homers.
One lone former Oriole was born on this day: 1989-91 infielder Juan Bell. He passed away in 2016 at the age of 48.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: 10th president John Tyler (1790), baseball Hall of Famer Cy Young (1867), actress Amy Sedaris (1961), model Elle Macpherson (1964), and actress Lucy Lawless (1968).
On this day in history…
In 1461, the two sides of England’s Wars of the Roses fought the Battle of Towton. The York contingent, led by Edward, defeated the Lancastrian force of Queen Margaret, leading to Edward being crowned as Edward IV and the wars being interrupted for nine years.
In 1847, during the Mexican-American War, American military forces captured the city of Veracruz following a siege.
In 1961, upon ratification by the state of Ohio, the Twenty-third Amendment to the Constitution, which grants electoral votes to the District of Columbia, took effect. Maryland was seventh to ratify, about two months earlier.
In 1971, Lt. William Calley was convicted of 22 counts of premeditated murder for his role in the My Lai Massacre in Vietnam three years earlier. He served three days in prison before being released to house arrest under order of President Nixon, and ultimately served three years of house arrest for these murders.
In 1984, the Mayflower vans pulled out from the Baltimore Colts facility, marking the end of the Baltimore Colts and the beginning of the Indianapolis team that bears the same name.
A random Orioles trivia question
I received a random book of Orioles trivia questions for Christmas. I’ll ask a question each time it’s my turn in this space until I run out of questions or forget. It’s probably going to be run out of questions. Since I’m skipping stupid questions, repeat questions, and questions about the St. Louis Browns (it’s not a good book of trivia), we’re already up to 77, which is this:
Who had the lowest earned run average on the 1970 Orioles staff?
I will add the hint that this is inclusive of relievers.
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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on March 29. Have a safe Sunday. Go O’s!
COVERS INTEL: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has recorded a walk in seven straight games dating back to Game 2 of the World Series.
