Mar 28, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (7) drives the ball towards the basket against the Sacramento Kings during the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images | Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Hawks have done incredibly this season, being on the outside of the playoff picture in some ways, then going all the way to sixth place in the Eastern Conference, where they currently remain.
The Hawks’ win streak was halted by the Houston Rockets recently on March 20th, but they followed that loss up with wins against the Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, and Detroit Pistons. They lost to the Boston Celtics 109 to 102 on March 27th and faced the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night.
Hawks injuries
The Atlanta Hawks were without forward Jonathan Kuminga, who was dealing with a knee injury and was managing that. Guard Dyson Daniels had a left toe sprain and was questionable but did not play. Center Onyeka Okongwu was also ruled out with a finger sprain.
Game analysis
In the first half, the Hawks struggled from three quite a bit, missing 12 of 18. They also had six turnovers, but in the second quarter, they fought back from down to gain the lead and concluded the half with a score of 66 to 54. Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the team with 14 points, going 8-for-8 on free throws.
In the second half, the Hawks got off to a great start, leading 78-66 in the third quarter with about seven minutes to go. As time went on, the Kings started to claw back into the game, being down less than 10 points in the fourth quarter. But the offensive play of Hawks guard Jalen Johnson and company, knocking down big shots from three.
Hawks win despite injuries
The Atlanta Hawks defeated the Sacramento Kings 123 to 113, despite injuries to several key players, including Dyson Daniels.
We asked Atlanta Hawks head coach Quinn Snyder how he assessed their performance even with said injuries, and he responded with, “we were gritty.” Snyder also harped on their defense defending better as the energy went up.
What’s next for the Atlanta Hawks?
The Hawks now have a record of 42-33, sixth in the Eastern Conference, and they’ll face the Boston Celtics on Monday, March 3oth at State Farm Arena.
The New York Mets (2-0), ranked #3 in the NL East, are favorites with a -180 moneyline to win against the Pittsburgh Pirates (0-2), ranked #5 in the NL Central. Nolan McLean will start for the Mets, facing Carmen Mlodzinski of the Pirates.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 28: Freddy Fermin #54 and Mason Miller #22 of the San Diego Padres celebrate on the field after defeating the Detroit Tigers at Petco Park on March 28, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Mason Miller faced off against Kevin McGonigle in the final plate appearance of the night between the San Diego Padres and the Detroit Tigers.
The Padres were looking to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Tigers thanks in large part to the breakout performance McGonigle who was playing the third MLB game of his career. The rookie got off to a blistering start with four hits in the series opener and he followed that with another hit in the second game of the series. There was debate on Friday night about whether Miller, the Padres closer, should have been brought into the game in the top of the eighth inning with the bases loaded and the score tied 2-2. Instead, San Diego manager Craig Stammen went with Wandy Peralta for the left-on-left matchup and McGonigle delivered a two-run single on a 10-pitch at-bat that gave Detroit a 4-2 lead en route to the win.
Miller entered the game on Saturday with the Padres ahead 3-0 and quickly recorded the first two outs. He then walked Spencer Torkelson to set up the matchup with McGonigle who struck out on three pitches giving Miller his first save of the season. The win was also the first of the year for the Padres and the first of Stammen’s managerial career.
Long before Miller faced McGonigle, Randy Vasquez toed the rubber for San Diego. The right-hander delivered a dazzling performance, although it was not always the smoothest outing, with six innings of scoreless baseball. Vasquez finished the night with three walks and eight strikeouts, but the most impressive part of his outing was that he allowed just two hits.
With a performance like that the San Diego offense did not have to do much and three runs was more than enough to help the Padres avoid the sweep.
Fernando Tatis Jr. stepped to the plate in the bottom of the third inning with runners at first and second with two outs. Tatis lined a pitch on the outer half from Tigers pitcher Jack Flaherty into right field, which scored Freddy Fermin from second base to give the Padres a 1-0 lead. Jake Cronenworth advanced to third base and San Diego had runners at the corners. Tatis would later steal second and the throw from Detroit catcher Jake Rogers could not be caught belt Gleyber Torres and went into shallow center field. The poor execution by the Tigers allowed Cronenworth to score to put the Padres up 2-0.
San Diego added its third run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. Flaherty allowed three consecutive walks to load the bases and Jackson Merrill grounded into a force out, which allowed Cronenworth to score to give the Padres a 3-0 lead.
San Diego is off today, but returns to action against the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park on Monday at 6:40 p.m.
Padres News:
The Friar Faithful came into the season with higher expectations of the Padres than many of the national pundits as was revealed in the win projections that was part of the Padres Reacts Survey on Gaslamp Ball.
Matt Waldron and Jason Adam were both back on the mound in minor league appearances and both pitchers looked impressive in their performances.
The Padres still have prospects despite what the prospect rankings tell you. Dennis Lin of The Athletic provides four names of prospects to watch who could affect the big-league club on the major league level on the field or in a trade.
Mar 28, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (88) gets dosed with water as teammates mob in celebration of getting a three run walk off home run Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz (2) during the eleventh inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images | Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
Meet the Mets
The Mets pulled off a thrilling, walk-off victory for their second win of the year, as Luis Robert Jr. began his Mets tenure with a bang, ending the game on a three-run homer in the bottom of the eleventh. Both offenses were held scoreless until extras on a chilly afternoon at Citi Field, as David Peterson and Mitch Keller traded zeroes. The Mets allowed the ghost runner to score in both the tenth and the eleventh, but managed to tie it in the bottom of the tenth and win it in the eleventh thanks to Robert’s heroics.
Laura Albanese of Newsday proved prophetic in a piece published yesterday in which she posited that Luis Robert Jr. could be the Mets’ X-factor in 2026 if he stays healthy.
The Mets’ offseason retooling is already paying dividends, writes Jon Heyman of The New York Post.
But the Mets are already experiencing learning curves at both first and third base, as Jorge Polanco and Bo Bichette both had mishaps in the field yesterday.
Around the National League East
The Phillies participated in an extra-inning contest yesterday as well, coming from three runs behind to tie the Rangers in the ninth. But Texas defeated Philadelphia 5-4 in ten innings.
Jacob deGrom was scratched from this start for Texas due to neck stiffness, but Jacob Latz had a strong outing in his stead.
The Mets weren’t the only NL East team to triumph in walk-off fashion yesterday. Old friend Dominic Smith hit a walk-off grand slam in his Braves debut to propel Atlanta to a 6-2 victory over the Royals. He became the first player in baseball history to hit a walk-off grand slam in his debut with a team.
The Nationals were shellacked by the Cubs 10-2, as Miles Mikolas’ 2026 is off to a shaky start.
The Nationals acquired infielder Curtis Mead from the White Sox in exchange for catcher Boston Smith. Mead had been designated for assignment earlier this week after failing to make Chicago’s Opening Day roster.
Owen Caissie’s go-ahead single in the eighth lifted the Marlins to a 4-3 victory over the Rockies. Eury Perez pitched seven strong innings in his season debut for Miami.
Unfortunately for Miami, they also lost a key player to injury yesterday when Cristopher Morel hit the IL with an oblique strain after he was a late scratch from the lineup on Friday after experiencing discomfort during batting practice. The Marlins plan to call up first baseman Deyvison De Los Santos to make his major league debut to replace Morel on the roster.
Around Major League Baseball
Brewers first baseman Andrew Vaughn becomes another victim of the broken hamate bone epidemic. He needs surgery and will miss 4-6 weeks.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider returned to his desk at the Rogers Centre to find a letter addressed to him that had been waiting for him all winter, dated the day after Toronto’s Game 7 loss in the World Series to the Dodgers. “I don’t know you,” it said, “but I felt compelled to reach out after watching your incredible leadership on display during the World Series.” The letter was from Golden State Warriors head coach and nine-time NBA champion Steve Kerr.
It was quite the day for walk-offs yesterday, as Cardinals rookie JJ Wetherholt followed up his home run in his big league debut with a walk-off knock in the Cardinals’ 6-5 victory over the Rays.
It has been an impressive first few games of the season for the 2026 rookie class, as Guardians rookie Chase DeLauter continued his early run of excellence with an opposite-field two-run homer that helped buoy Cleveland to a 6-5 victory over the Mariners.
Jared Greenspan of MLB.com ran down seven teams who are facing a litany of early injuries and discussed how they can overcome them.
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 17: DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Sacramento Kings high fives fans as he runs onto the court prior to the game against the San Antonio Spurs on March 17, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images SACRAMENTO, CA – MARCH 17: DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Sacramento Kings high fives fans as he runs onto the court prior to the game against the San Antonio Spurs on March 17, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Back home. The Brooklyn Nets wrapped up their four game West Coast road trip with a late night affair against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Nets gave the Lakers a good fight, but not good enough to come away with a win. The losing streak is at ten.
The opponent tonight is counting the clock down as well. The Sacramento Kings are finishing up another lost season and were on the road last night to take on the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks continued their good run and beat Sacramento 123-113.
At the start of Sunday, Brooklyn is in second place in lottery odds, one game behind the Indiana Pacers while Sacramento is in fourth, two and a half back of the top spot with eight games left. Indiana plays the Heat at home at 5:00 p.m. ET. The season ends two weeks from tonight and race to the bottom is going to be unpredictable.
YES Network on TV. Gotham Sports on streaming. WFAN on radio. Tip after 6:00 p.m. ET.
🤕 Injuries
The following are out:
Egor Demin
Danny Wolf
Michael Porter Jr
Day’ron Sharpe
Josh Minnott is questionable. The Nets three two-ways and one 10-day are available.
Everyone’s locked in to this game for tank purposes, so it helps to start thinking of who the top prospects are. One of them who will be playing before this game starts is Cameron Boozer of Duke. Over at The Kings Herald, Akis Yerocostas wrote about Boozer and what he brings to the table:
I’ve seen some fans and analyst be wary of Boozer because of past production from Duke guys that didn’t pan out in the league like Mavin Bagley or Jahlil Okafor. Boozer is a far different player from both of those guys. He’s more polished than Bagley, and more mobile than Okafor. He’s a better playmaker than both of them, and while he’s not a shotblocker, has good defensive instincts. If you were to compare him to any former Duke big man, Paolo Banchero would be a closer comparison, but Boozer has been better in every category than Banchero was in college. I do think Boozer would need to be built around a little more differently than some of these other guys, but I think any team drafting him will end up with a #1 option they can rely on.
The Draft Lottery will be here quicker than we know it. In the meantime, we’ve got you covered.
This one could turn in to a three point bonanza. These teams are dead last in opponent’s three point percentage and one big run on either side could turn this game ugly in a hurry. The Kings are on the second leg of a back-to-back and we’ll see if they have enough energy to make it through this one.
Nic Claxton playing this game should help against Maxime Raynaud. Raynaud hit the Nets for 22 points and ten rebounds in the first meeting, and Clax’s assignment tonight will be to push him out of the paint. Raynaud has been a positive presence for Sacramento and might be a player that is part of their future going forward.
👀 Player to watch: DeMar DeRozan
You look up one day and suddenly realize that DeMar’s been in the NBA for 17 years and has scored 26,660. He’ll likely surpass Dominique Wilkins for the 17th spot all-time tonight. He only need eight. DeRozan has been a solid and steady pro for much of his time in the league and could probably play 20 seasons if he wanted to. He’s most comfortable in the midrange area and is shooting close to 50 percent in that area of the court. Great players always know how to get to their sweet spots on the court, and DeMar is able to make things happen when the moment calls for it. As Sacramento tries to get back to respectability, we’ll see if DeRozan can be a long term presence going forward.
Ziaire Williams will get the start and look to make things hard on the former All-Star. Williams has crossed the 20+ minute mark in five consecutive games and figures to do so tonight as well. He’ll be tasked with contesting all of DeRozan’s shots and forcing him into mistakes. A good showing tonight will go well in making his case for being part of the team next season. The games may not mean much across the greater NBA landscape, but every day is an opportunity to impress someone.
BRADENTON, FL - MARCH 20: Konnor Griffin #75 of the Pittsburgh Pirates poses for a photo with his signed jersey after the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Pittsburgh Pirates at LECOM Park on Friday, March 20, 2026 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Pirates fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
This week’s question asked about Pirates top prospect Konnor Griffin. After a Spring Training in which he showed off his prodigious power, but also some inconsistency at the plate, the Bucs sent Griffin back to Triple-A. He still has a chance to come up later this year, but for now, he’ll start the season in the Minors. We asked if you thought that was the right move?
A full 82 percent agree with the team’s decision. Instead of rushing Konnor, get him a little more seasoning at the Minor League level. Seems like a prudent move.
As always, thanks for voting, and don’t forget to check out the page of our Reacts sponsor FanDuel. They’re still rocking plenty of MLB betting chances, including +225 odds for the Bucs to just make the MLB Playoffs. Which is up since the Bucs lost their first two games of the season.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 27: Miles McBride #2 of the New York Knicks reacts during the first quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Madison Square Garden on January 27, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Even after Thursday night’s loss to the Charlotte Hornets, the Knicks have remained one of the hottest teams in the league over the last couple of months. Thankfully, that has helped distract some fans from focusing too much on the absence of backup guard Deuce McBride, who has been out since January with a sports hernia injury. Thanks in large part to Jose Alvarado, Mo Diawara, and the surprising resurgence of Jordan Clarkson, New York has managed sans McBride and has not missed him quite as much as expected.
Don’t get it twisted, though, if the Knicks want to reach their ultimate goal, McBride will play a pivotal role. And reports suggest that he is nearing a return.
Ian Begley of SNY reported Saturday that McBride “remains on track to return to the court during the current road trip” and added that we could even see him make an appearance Sunday.
Some good news for Knicks after bad loss in CHA: Miles McBride remains on track to return to the court during the current road trip, possibly as soon as Sunday. McBride was ruled out of CHA game on Friday a day before tipoff; Sunday’s game vs OKC has not yet been ruled out for…
“Some good news for Knicks after bad loss in CHA: Miles McBride remains on track to return to the court during the current road trip, possibly as soon as Sunday. McBride was ruled out of CHA game on Friday a day before tipoff; Sunday’s game vs OKC has not yet been ruled out for him, per SNY sources. McBride is rehabbing from surgery to repair a sports hernia and has been out since Jan. 28.” — SNY’s Ian Begley
As of Sunday morning, he remains listed as questionable for today’s clash against the Thunder, but considering there was a chance he’d be out until the playoffs, this is a great sign pointing towards him having more time to re-acclimate than previously believed.
The interesting piece to this puzzle becomes the rotation. With teams shrinking their rotations during the playoffs to eight or nine players, Clarkson, Diawara, Landry Shamet, and Alvarado won’t all be in the rotation.
Diawara provides some much-needed athleticism and size on the wings, Clarkson provides experience, ball-handling, and self-creation, Shamet provides some much-needed shooting and defense, and Alvarado provides toughness and ball-handling. All of them have clear lanes to earning minutes, but most of them also have weaknesses as well.
Playing Alvarado and McBride may leave the backcourt too small against certain teams. Clarkson’s defense has been much improved lately, but he can still have his limitations on that end of the floor. Shamet has been one of the unheralded and unexpected saviors of the 2025-26 season, but he had fallen into a bit of a shooting slump prior to his recent injury. And then there’s Diawara, who has quickly turned into a fan favorite but is still prone to making rookie mistakes.
Looking at Mike Brown’s tendencies throughout the year, I’d assume it’s Clarkson and Shamet who get the first nod, with Diawara maybe getting spot minutes depending on the matchup. Brown has not shied away from changing up his second unit, though, so expect it to be a very fluid situation during the playoffs, where things can always change on a whim.
The final 2026 Final Four spot will come down to the marquee Elite Eight matchup between Duke and UConn. The two have combined for 11 national championships since 1991.
"You have two of the biggest brands in college basketball going at it to make it to the Final Four. I think it's super special," UConn forward Alex Karaban said. "I think it's super exciting. I know we're excited as a team. You've seen Duke. You've seen UConn throughout your entire life when you watch college basketball growing up. To be another piece of that story of those two programs going at it, I think it's awesome."
Sunday will be the first meeting between the schools since the 2014-15 season. They last met in a NCAA Tournament in 2004, with UConn winning 79-78.
Expect a physical, back-and-forth game, but with Caleb Foster back in the rotation, Duke has just enough offensive balance to edge UConn and make its way back to the Final Four.
Austin Curtright: UConn
John Leuzzi: Duke
Jordan Mendoza: Duke
Ehsan Kassim: UConn
Moneyline: Duke (-220); UConn (+180)
Spread: Duke (-5.5)
Over/under total: 133.5
Duke will reach Final Four if...
John Leuzzi: It can keep UConn's offense out of rhythm.
Jordan Mendoza: Out-muscles Connecticut.
Ehsan Kassim: Cam Boozer takes over.
Austin Curtright: If contains Tarris Reed Jr.
UConn will reach Final Four if...
John Leuzzi: Tarris Reed Jr. continues to impact the paint.
Jordan Mendoza: It shoots lights out.
Ehsan Kassim: It can continue to get Duke to turn the ball over.
Austin Curtright: Its bench can keep up with Duke's deep rotation.
Caleb Foster injury update: Will Duke guard play vs UConn?
Twenty days after Foster fractured his right foot in a win against North Carolina, he returned to play Friday against St. John's.
He rolled out of the Duke locker room with his right foot wrapped in ice and his right knee perched atop a one-legged scooter, a bag of ice strapped and wrapped around his left calf for good measure.
"He's doing well. For us, he's not doing anything on the court (Saturday)," Scheyer said. "Even for these guys, it's been more of a walk-through day getting ready. First time playing in a few weeks, he's sore and recovering like you would expect, but nothing concerning."
Cameron Boozer NBA draft stock, mock draft predictions
Boozer is widely projected as a top-3 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Here’s a look at where various mock drafts from major outlets have the Duke freshman going:
Cameron Boozer and his twin brother, Cayden (also a freshman for Duke) are the sons of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer.
Before his 13-year career in the NBA, Carlos Boozer was a standout forward for the Blue Devils under Mike Krzyzewski from 1999-2002. A member of Duke's 2001 national championship team, Carlos Boozer finished his three-year career with the Blue Devils with more than 1,500 points scored and started 93 of the 101 games in which he appeared.
How old is Alex Karaban? How long has Alex Karaban been at UConn?
Karaban is 23 years old and enrolled at UConn in 2022. He was part of the Huskies' 2023 and 2024 national championship teams.
Braylon Mullins 2026 NBA Draft, mock draft prediction
No. 29 overall to Cleveland Cavaliers.
Kalbrosky's Analysis:
Braylon Mullins, a five-star recruit and former McDonald's All American, missed the start of the season due to an ankle injury. But he has returned to action for the Huskies and has shown what makes him such an appealing player. He is a useful off-ball threat, which gives him an immediately practical role at the next level. The Big East All-Freshman wing shot 40.7 percent on 3-pointers during his first 18 games in the starting lineup, but it may be tough for scouts to forget his 0-for-8 performance from beyond the arc during his first game in March Madness.
The Chicago Cubs seek a series victory this afternoon when they host the Washington Nationals at historic Wrigley Field.
Washington has already whiffed a ton during this series, and my Nationals vs. Cubs predictions and MLB picks expect Shota Imanaga to take full advantage of this today.
Nationals vs Cubs predictions
Nationals vs Cubs best bet: Shota Imanaga Over 4.5 strikeouts (-120)
Shota Imanaga owns a 24.6% whiff rate, showing he consistently misses bats and generates swings and misses. That gives him a strong edge in this matchup against the Washington Nationals.
Imanaga throws strikes, limits walks (1.53 per nine), and works efficiently enough to pitch into the middle innings. He doesn’t need a dominant outing to get there, just his typical steady execution.
With Washington already prone to strikeouts, the opportunities should be there throughout his outing. This sets up as a solid spot for Imanaga to reach five strikeouts.
COVERS INTEL: Shota Imanaga spun 7.28 strikeouts per nine frames in 2025 and followed this up this spring with 18 punchouts across 20 innings.
Nationals vs Cubs same-game parlay (SGP)
Jake Irvin allowed nearly two home runs per nine innings pitched in 2025, and with the wind blowing out to left, he could have trouble with this Chicago Cubs lineup. I like Imanaga to pitch well, and if he does, Chicago should have no issues winning.
Michael Busch drove in a run on Opening Day and has four hits and two RBI across 11 career at-bats against today's starter.
Nationals vs Cubs SGP
Shota Imanaga Over 4.5 strikeouts
Michael Busch Over 0.5 RBI
Cubs -1.5
Nationals vs Cubs home run pick: Michael Busch (+250)
Busch bashed 34 bombs in 2025. He’s already batting .500 on the season but hasn’t left the yard yet.
That could change today. Irvin coughed up nearly two home runs per nine frames in 2025, and left-handed bats slugged .500 with a .384 wOBA across 100 2/3 innings.
As previously mentioned, Busch has already tasted success against Irvin, and he’s lit up the Nats pitchers during this series.
2026 Transparency record
Best bets: 0-1, -1.0 units
SGPs: 0-1, -1.0 units
HR picks: 0-1, -1.0 units
Nationals vs Cubs odds
Moneyline: Washington +200 | Chicago -245
Run line: Washington +1.5 (+100) | Chicago -1.5 (-120)
Over/Under: Over 9.5 | Under 9.5
Nationals vs Cubs trend
The Cubs have cashed the moneyline in 42 of their last 64 home games for +9.55 units and a 9% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Nationals vs. Cubs.
How to watch Nationals vs Cubs and game info
Location
Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Sunday, March 29, 2026
First pitch
2:20 p.m. ET
TV
Nationals TV, Marquee
Nationals starting pitcher
Jake Irvin (2025: 9-13, 5.70 ERA)
Cubs starting pitcher
Shota Imanaga (2025: 9-8, 3.73 ERA)
Nationals vs Cubs latest injuries
Nationals vs Cubs 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.
When Atlanta Braves designated hitter Dominic Smith stepped into the batter's box with the bases loaded and the game on the line Saturday night, he had someone else there alongside.
It marked the first time in MLB hsitory that a player hit a walk-off grand slam in his first game with a new team.
Smith, 30, had played for five different teams during his MLB career when he came to spring training as a non-roster invitee. He left the team for a little over a week at the start of camp when his mother, who was diagnosed with cancer last September, had what he called a "scare." However, he returned and eventually won a roster spot.
"This team is just so awesome," Smith said. "I'm so blessed because of the love they showed me, the support every day. They're asking about her, asking about her well-being, my well-being, and that's all they really cared about. They didn't care about baseball."
Smith validated his teammates' faith in him by capping off a six-run rally in the ninth with his home run into to the right field seats off Royals closer Carlos Estevez, the major league leader in saves last season with 42.
Although Smith wasn't with his mother when she died in California earlier this month, he said he was looking forward to the Braves' road trip next week to Anaheim, where he will see many of his family members.
"You know, I'm trying to hold back tears now," he said. "I feel her every day. I miss her dearly. It's not a moment I don't think about her. And like I said, I'm just so thankful because this team knows what I'm going through. So they really, you know, picked me up the last few weeks."
Mar 28, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; MLB umpire CB Bucknor (54) ejects Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora (13) during the game against the Cincinnati Reds in the eighth inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images | Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
One of the running storylines through spring training was that J.T. Realmuto was going to be good at challenges with the ABS system coming into place for the 2026 MLB season. Saturday, he was two for two in the final frames.
JT Realmuto nailed another successful ABS challenge in the top of the first.
He's now 5 for 5 on challenges this spring, turning two balls into strikeouts and two walks into strikes.
Yesterday’s game wasn’t the only one that made some news with the ABS system. The Reds and Red Sox had the pleasure of having their game umpired by the enigmatic CB Bucknor, who made his presence felt. Thankfully, the eye in the sky had other ideas with Bucknor’s strike zone.
C.B. Bucknor tried to ring up Eugenio Suárez on back-to-back pitches.
There haven’t been many examples like this so far in the young season, but based on this and others during spring training, what are your impressions of the ABS system? I’m still an old school-ish fan that kind of wishes we had the human element of the umpires behind the plate, but where it is at now, with teams limited on the number of challenges they can have, it feels like the best kind of balance that the game can have.
Let’s just agree that Bucknor should not be a playoff umpire at all.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN. - MARCH 2026: Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu (13) reacts after scoring in the third quarter at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn., on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Phoenix Suns. (Photo by Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images) | Star Tribune via Getty Images
The calendar says the playoffs are right around the corner. Normally, this part of the season is about tightening the rotation, leaning on your stars, and getting everyone ready for the games that actually matter. But for Minnesota, the past few weeks have turned into a live-fire evaluation of everything beyond Anthony Edwards.
Since going down with injury on March 13th, Edwards has been watching from the sideline while the rest of the roster has been forced to answer a question that tends to define playoff runs more than we like to admit: What do you actually have when your safety net disappears?
And to their credit, the Wolves didn’t just tread water. They made it interesting.
They beat a desperate Phoenix Suns team that’s been breathing down their neck in the standings. They walked into TD Garden and knocked off the Boston Celtics, something this franchise hadn’t done since flip phones were still a thing. And then they survived one of the most chaotic, logic-defying overtime games of the season against the Houston Rockets.
Which is why this week’s SB Nation Reacts poll landed a little differently than usual.
If this team is going to make a real run, its third straight deep push into the postseason, who’s the guy that swings it? Who’s the piece that turns them from “tough matchup” into something nobody wants to see in a seven-game series?
And the answers from the Canis Hoopus faithful tell you exactly where the belief, and the uncertainty, still lives with this team.
No. 1: Ayo Dosunmu — The New Toy… or the Missing Piece?
Let’s start with the winner, because this is where things get interesting.
Dosunm”u topping the list feels like one part recency bias, one part “shiny new trade acquisition energy,” and one part we’ve been waiting for this exact type of player all season”. And honestly? All three can be true.
Since arriving from the Chicago Bulls at the deadline, he’s done something Minnesota desperately needed: he’s changed the tempo of their offense. He pushes in transition, he attacks seams, and most importantly, he’s been knocking down threes at a highly efficient clip.
Coming into the season, point guard was clearly one of Minnesota’s biggest question marks. Mike Conley Jr. aged himself out of the starting lineup, and Rob Dillingham didn’t developed quickly enough to solve the problem. Dosunmu doesn’t answer everything, but he answers enough to matter.
And in a playoff series? That’s all you need. One guy who flips a quarter. One guy who swings a Game 4. One guy who turns a 2–2 series into a 3–2 advantage.
That’s how role players become guys.
No. 2: Jaden McDaniels — The Swing Piece
McDaniels finishing second feels right and also somehow still underrated.
We already know what he is defensively. He’s the guy you throw at the other team’s best scorer and say, “good luck.” He did it during that 2024 Western Conference Finals run. He can absolutely put elite players in a straight jacket.
But the real question, the one that defines Minnesota’s ceiling, is what he does offensively.
When he’s just spacing the floor and hitting occasional threes, the Wolves are good. When he starts attacking, really attacking, by getting downhill, finishing at the rim, and becoming that third scorer behind Edwards and Julius Randle… that’s when things tilt. That’s when Minnesota becomes terrifying.
Suddenly it’s not a two-man show. It’s a three-headed problem.
The frustrating part? It’s not always there. It comes and goes. And that’s what makes McDaniels the ultimate X-factor. Because if they can unlock that version of him consistently, the entire equation changes.
No. 3: Rudy Gobert — The Floor, the Ceiling, and Everything in Between
Rudy was my personal answer to this poll.
If you’ve watched this team long enough, you already know the truth: everything they want to be defensively starts and ends with Gobert.
He’s not just an anchor. He’s the entire foundation. When he’s engaged, locked in, and active? The Wolves look like a top-tier defense that can strangle games. When he’s off, in foul trouble, or disengaged? Things unravel quickly.
That’s the Gobert paradox.
We’ve seen the absolute peak in Game 5 against the Lakers, where he basically snatched their souls and ended the series himself. And we’ve seen the opposite like a few weeks later in the Western Conference Finals against OKC where he disappeared, put up minimal numbers, and couldn’t impose himself.
Feast or famine.
But if Minnesota is going to make a serious run? They need feast Gobert. The version that controls the paint, dominates the glass, and quietly turns every possession into a grind. That’s the version that makes everything else work.
No. 4: Julius Randle — Can He Be Consistent?
Randle landing fourth might be the most revealing result on the list. Not because it’s wrong, but because it shows how expectations shape perception.
We’ve already seen what Randle can be in the playoffs. In 2025, during those first two rounds, there were stretches where he was the best player on the floor, even with Edwards out there. He bullied teams, created offense, and acted as both scorer and facilitator.
That version of Randle? That’s a problem for anyone. But then came OKC. The inconsistency. The drop-off.
Even this season, it’s been a bit of a roller coaster. Strong start. Post-All-Star dip. Then flashes again lately, especially with Edwards out, where he’s stepped back into that primary role and delivered big performances against teams like Phoenix and Houston.
So why fourth?
Because with Randle, it’s no longer about “can he do it?” It’s about “will he do it consistently?”
In a weird way, that’s a compliment. He’s expected to show up. He’s expected to be great. The question is whether he can stay at that level for two straight months. If he does? Everything changes.
No. 5: Naz Reid — The Flamethrower off the Bench
Reid finishing last feels fair… but also slightly dangerous to underestimate.
Yes, he’s a sixth man. Yes, his minutes are more limited. But he’s also the kind of player who can swing a game in eight minutes. When he’s hitting threes, spacing the floor, and finishing inside, he turns Minnesota’s second unit into something legitimately scary. When he’s off? It can get inconsistent fast.
We saw both versions in the 2025 postseason.
Every playoff run needs a guy like Reid. The unexpected punch. The bench explosion. The “where did that come from?” performance that flips a game you had no business winning.
He may not be the most impactful player overall. But in the right moment? He might be the most important one on the floor.
The Big Picture: This Isn’t About One Guy Anymore
Here’s the part that matters.
The Wolves are still long shots at+4000 to win the title. The West is brutal. The margins are razor thin. And this team has been anything but consistent.
But this recent stretch without Edwards has revealed something that might matter more than any odds number: They’re deeper than we thought.
They’ve beaten good teams. They’ve survived utter chaos. They’ve shown they can win ugly, win physical, and win connected.
If you’re looking for the blueprint for a playoff run, it’s not just “Ant goes supernova.” It’s this:
Edwards as the engine
Randle as the co-star
Gobert anchoring everything defensively
McDaniels as the swing piece
Dosunmu and Reid as the wild cards
That’s not just a roster. That’s a formula.
The question, the one that’s going to define the next two months, is whether all of those pieces show up at the same time.
Because if they do? This stops being a “fun team with potential” conversation… and starts becoming something a lot more serious.
And if you’re feeling a little frisky about it, yeah, you could do worse than taking a look at those +4000 odds over at FanDuel Sportsbook.
The Toledo Mud Hens never got going in a Saturday night 1-0 loss to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
A pair of rehabbing major leaguers set the tone on the mound for the IronPigs, and the Mud Hens couldn’t capitalize, failing to push across the equalizer.
Mud Hens can’t string anything together vs. Wheeler
Toledo faced 11-year MLB veteran Zach Wheeler, who is rehabbing from rib resection surgery he underwent last September to address venous thoracic outlet syndrome. Scheduled for three innings or 45-50 pitches, he only needed 38.
Wheeler struck out the side in the first, all three coming on the curveball. He froze Wenceel Perez on one that caught the outer edge of the zone, and Eduardo Valencia and Trei Cruz swung over balls below the zone. Max Clark drew a one-out, full-count walk, laying off an inside four-seamer, and Jace Jung ambushed a cutter left over the middle of the plate for a pair of baserunners in the inning.
Max Anderson led off the second with a base hit, jumping on a fastball just like Jung. It ricocheted off Carter Kieboom’s glove but would’ve taken a great play to get the out. Corey Julks nearly grounded into a double play, but he beat out the throw to first by less than half a step. Gage Workman grounded out to third, and Ben Malgeri lined out to second.
Wheeler got his lone 1-2-3 inning in the third, getting Perez to pop out to shortstop, Clark to ground out to first and Jung to ground out to short. Again, Toledo failed to hit anything hard. All three outs came off the bat at 75 mph or slower. Workman’s groundout in the second was the only hard-hit ball off Wheeler.
Sammons cruised through four, struggled in fifth
Bryan Sammons got the start for the Mud Hens and was mostly effective through 4 2/3 innings. He gave up one run on five hits and a walk, but most of the damage came in the fifth inning. He retired the side for a clean first inning. Sammons worked his four-seam and cutter in early before turning to the curveball with two strikes. All three outs in the first came on contact, but nothing came off the bat over 94 mph.
Kieboom jumped on a cutter for a 112.1-mph single into left field to open the second — the hardest-hit ball of the day — but Sammons recovered nicely. He got Rene Pinto on the ground to short, Liover Peguero popped out to second and Christian Cairo flied out to center.
It took until the third for Sammons to record a strikeout. He froze Oscar Mercado with a changeup and Sergio Alcantara on a high sweeper. Pedro Leon singled softly into right with two outs, but Sammons struck out the side, getting Felix Reyes to swing over a changeup.
Kieboom worked a four-pitch walk off Sammons in the fourth, but he got the other three batters out with relative ease.
The fifth is where things got out of hand, if only slightly. Cairo and Mercado led off with back-to-back singles, the latter coming on a push bunt into no-man’s-land on the right side. Sammons got two outs, but he gave up an RBI single into shallow center against Reyes. That ended Sammons’ day. Cole Waites came in for four pitches and one out to end the fifth.
Sammons’ velocity was down for most of the night, averaging 89.1 mph on the fastball. He averaged 91.5 the last time he was tracked by Statcast — in 2024. Low velocity is typical this early in the year, and he should ramp it up moving forward assuming there’s nothing wrong.
The cutter drew four whiffs (25%), and the changeup induced a pair of whiffs on as many swings — it also had a very low spin rate of 742 rpm, which is more than 400 below his average changeup a year ago. Sammons didn’t miss any bats with his curve, but he didn’t give up any hits on it either.
Toledo couldn’t hit Lehigh Valley’s bullpen
Toledo struggled to get hits after notching a pair in the first two innings. Lehigh Valley’s bullpen ended up allowing just two hits over the final six innings.
Orion Kerkering, who was also on a rehab assignment, retired the side in order. Valencia grounded out softly to short, Cruz watched a sinker that caught the inside of the buffer zone for strike three and Anderson grounded out to third. Cruz might have seen another pitch if he had challenged, but he opted not to.
Connor Gillespie was responsible for five of the six Toledo baserunners through the final six innings. Workman singled to center field, and a pitch hit Malgeri — both with one out. Perez killed the fifth-inning rally with a lineout to left field that Workman couldn’t get back to second base in time on. Bad baserunning from Workman there.
In the sixth, Clark walked for the second time, stole second base and moved to third on a flyout. Cruz also walked in the fifth, but Jung and Anderson struck out for the first and third outs of the inning. Another double play ended the seventh, this time nullifying a throwing error by Kieboom off the bat of Workman. Malgeri grounded into the 4-6-3 twin killing.
Genesis Cabrera went 1-2-3 in the eighth. Clark tried to sneak a bunt in for a base hit, but it went right back to the pitcher. Chase Shugart earned the save in the ninth, working around a leadoff single from Valencia through the left side — 99.4 mph off the bat. Cruz struck out, Anderson flied out to left and Julks ended the game on a flyout to right.
Mud Hens bullpen mostly matches Lehigh Valley
Toledo threw a different pitcher in each of the final three innings. Burch Smith, Drew Sommers and Tyler Mattison got the ball in that order.
Smith went 1-2-3 in the sixth, striking out Kieboom on a clock violation and Pinto on an eighth-pitch curveball. He was mostly fastball (94.4 mph average), but he drew two whiffs on the other nine pitches he threw. The curveball and sinker combined for four called strikes/whiffs on five tries.
Sommers had to work around a one-out single and walk, but he ended the seventh with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout to first from Reyes. The lefty stuck to his sinker-slider mix for 70% of his 20 pitches, throwing three four-seamers and three changeups for just one strike. The slider was solid, drawing three whiffs on six swings.
Mattison allowed the first three batters he faced to reach base. He walked De La Cruz to open the frame. Clark saved a run with a smart throw to third after Kieboom singled off Workman’s glove at second. Pinto’s walk wouldn’t have brought De La Cruz in, but Peguero’s flyout to right would have. Cairo struck out swinging to end the inning.
Tyler Mattison gives up a hit to Carter Kieboom, but Max Clark throws out Bryan De La Cruz at 3rd. pic.twitter.com/j2osdTD4BK
After last night’s epic ending against the Kansas City Royals, which clinched the Atlanta Braves’ first series win of the season, Grant Holmes will be taking the mound to start the early game off with hopes of holding down the defensive end and sweeping the series before facing the Athletics on Monday.
During his five games in spring training, Holmes had solid performances through his outings since returning from the 60-day IL in November.
In the first half of last year, Holmes stood out as a dominant starter who gained enough trust from his team and fans to look forward to his outings to keep the Braves in the game, even through a rough start to the 2025 season. This year, he’s hoping to pick up where he left off, but this time, staying healthier for much longer to keep improving the depth of the Braves’ pitching staff.
Holmes’ slider was used the most (36%) in his arsenal last year and had a 42.8% Whiff rate. If Holmes can pull off a strong season debut today to set the tone, the only thing we’ll have to cross our fingers for will be his health. We know he has the “stuff,” now we need him to carry it out.
On the Royals’ side, they’re looking to avoid a sweep. Seth Lugo will be taking the bump to put an end to a 0-3 start to the season. Coming off the 2025 season with a 4.15 ERA, and most recently a World Baseball Classic appearance with team Puerto Rico, it doesn’t give a full scope of how solid Lugo actually is for the Royals. Relying on 10 pitches in his arsenal, the one that needs to cause awareness is his curveball.
Now, though, Lugo is solid; he isn’t very consistent, and his 8-7 record last year puts him in a below-average percentile. However, it’s not to underestimate what he brings to the table. Let’s just say, if he shows up in his 2024 form today, the Braves might find trouble on offense.
This will be the game to close us out and check the box for series one. Already securing the series, will the Braves complete a sweep as well, or will the Royals successfully avoid a rocky 0-3 start to their season?
COVERS INTEL: Shota Imanaga spun 7.28 strikeouts per nine frames in 2025 and followed this up this spring with 18 punchouts across 20 innings.
