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
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 28: Jake Burger #21 of the Texas Rangers rounds the bases after hitting a two run home run during the third inning of the game against the Philadelphia Phillies on March 28, 2026 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Rangers 5, Phillies 4
I would have preferred that the Rangers first win of the season be a little less exciting.
The pitching was a plus.
Jacob Latz was tapped to make the start on a cold and blustery day due to Jacob deGrom’s neck stiffness sidelining him. An ominous beginning to the day.
Latz exceeded all expectations with his performance in the spot start, allowing only one baserunner through the first four innings, when Adolis Garcia reached on an E3 due to Jake Burger dropping a wind-blown infield pop fly. He started the fifth against lefty Bryson Scott, who worked a walk, and then was replaced by Cole Winn.
Winn retired the first two batters he faced before a J.T. Realmuto infield single gave the Phillies their first hit of the game. A 3-2 walk to Justin Crawford loaded the bases, but Winn struck out Trea Turner on three pitches to end the inning.
That fifth inning was the closest thing to a rally the Phillies were able to generate until the ninth, as Jalen Beeks retired all three batters he faced and Jakob Junis all six batters he faced. Texas took a one hitter into the ninth, and I was wanting the official scorer to change Realmuto’s infield single to an E4.
Robert Garcia came in in the ninth to finish things out, and after fanning Kyle Schwarber and getting Bryce Harper on a weak grounder, a weakly hit bloop into center by Alec Bohm kept Philly alive. An eight pitch battle against pinch hitter Edmundo Sosa resulted in a walk, and Skip Schumaker brought in Chris Martin to get the final out.
Martin got Adolis to pop up behind first base, and it looked like the game was over. For the second time in the game, however, Burger was flummoxed by the wind. He couldn’t make the catch and picked up his second E3 of the game.
Adolis then got sawed off by Martin, but managed to loft a softly hit fly down the left field line that fell in for a double, making it 3-1. Brandon Marsh then followed with the only hard hit ball of the inning, a two run single, to tie the game. Martin got Realmuto on a 3 pitch K after that, but the damage had been done, and extra innings ensued.
Texas had taken the three run lead early on, with Corey Seager homering in the first inning and Jake Burger hitting a two run shot in the third. That third inning also featured a tremendous blast to center by Wyatt Langford that looked like a sure homer — however, the wind knocked it down, and Justin Crawford made a tremendous leaping catch to rob Langford of extra bases.
Texas got baserunners here and there after that, but didn’t make serious noise again until the tenth. Langford fought off a difficult Jhoan Duran pitch for an opposite field single, sending Zombie Runner Brandon Nimmo to third, and then Nimmo scored and Langford went to second on a wild pitch. After Seager and Burger fanned, Andrew McCutchen’s line drive single made it a two run game.
It turned out the Rangers needed that insurance run, as Tyler Alexander allowed a two out single to Harper, scoring the Zombie Runner and sending Otto Kemp, who had reached on an HBP, to third. An Alex Bohm pop fly — which was caught — ended the game, and we could all be happy.
There was some discussion about the Rangers doing nothing against Cristopher Sanchez on Thursday, and to what extent that was an indication of the offense repeating its haplessness do, last year. The Phillies got shut down through eight innings by Jacob Latz and a collection of middling relievers, would have been shut out if Burger hadn’t botched the ninth inning pop up, and only had one hard hit ball in the final two innings when they finally scored some runs.
It’s a reminder that good teams get shut down sometimes.
Jacob Latz topped out at 95.1 mph with his fastball, averaging 92.4 mph. Cole Winn’s fastball hit 95.1 mph. Jalen Beeks reached 92.7 mph with his fastball. Jakob Junis’s fastball reached 92.6 mph. Robert Garcia topped out at 95.5 mph with his fastball. Chris Martin’s fastball touched 95.0 mph. Tyler Alexander maxed out at 90.3 mph.
Joc Pederson had a 109.7 mph ground out. Wyatt Langford’s blast to the wall was 107.0 mph. Evan Carter had a 106.0 mph single. Jake Burger had a 104.1 mph home run. Corey Seager’s home run was 103.2 mph. Brandon Nimmo had a 103.0 mph single and a 101.1 mph single. Andrew McCutchen’s single was 101.7 mph.
The Rangers won’t be swept, which is good. Sunday afternoon they try to take the series.
NEWARK, NJ - DECEMBER 14: Frank Nazar #91 of the Chicago Blackhawks takes a faceoff against Jack Hughes #86 of the New Jersey Devils in the second period of the game at the Prudential Center on December 14, 2024 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Matchup: The New Jersey Devils (37-33-2) at the Chicago Blackhawks (27-33-13)
The Time: 7:00 PM EDT
The Broadcast: TV — MSGSN, NHLN; Radio — Devils Hockey Network
Effectively Eliminated
The New Jersey Devils were keeping their playoff hopes at least somewhat alive over the past couple weeks, winning most of their games. However, key losses to the Washington Capitals and last night’s collapse to the Carolina Hurricanes all but eliminated them from playoff contention. It is not quite a mathematical truth yet, as only the New York Rangers have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, but it is too much of a hill to climb at this point. The most points the Devils can now finish with is 96 if they won each of their final 10 games, and there are currently four teams, spanning from seventh place (Penguins) to 10th place (Senators) with 86 to 88 points at this current moment. All of those teams can still hit 100 points, and only two of them will make the playoffs. Even the 11th and 12th place Flyers and Capitals can still reach the playoffs if three of those teams have a terrible end to the season. But the New Jersey Devils? They made their bed and now will have to lie in it.
I will have more to say in a future post-mortem article on this season, but it got me thinking last night: never let anyone tell you that a loss in November or December won’t make or break the season. And while this is a pervasive attitude among fans, that games late matter more than games early in the season (they don’t), it’s also terrible to see similar attitudes among players. And frankly, I think there were too many players on the Devils who were too comfortable with giving up a loss in the first half of the season with the mind that it doesn’t determine the whole season. Losing a game is fine, but losing efforts are not, and I think we all know that too many players gave losing efforts throughout the season until about a month ago.
The Blackhawks Are Worse…Much Worse
The Devils are not a bad team, though. The Blackhawks are a bad team. They are very likely to win the first overall pick for Gavin McKenna this summer. And if you are watching the standings for that, you might actually want the Devils to win tonight, hurting their own draft position. They are tied with the New York Rangers at 67 points through 73 games for the second-worst point totals in the league, ahead of only the truly rotten Vancouver Canucks. But what makes the Rangers more respectable than the Blackhawks is that the Rangers play in the Eastern Conference. In case you have not noticed by now, the league parity appears very well and good. But the conference parity has been flushed down the toilet and is now clogging the sewers under league headquarters. I might expect a team with 67 points in the West to have more like 55 points in the East. In total, there are 11 teams in the East with true winning records (i.e. not “NHL .500”) and 11 teams that have a winning record in regulation. In the West, the Edmonton Oilers just won their 28th game in regulation to become the fourth team to at least be breakeven in the first 60 minutes, with only three teams (Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota) having a winning record in regulation.
I will have more to say about conference parity in a future article, but it is important to note that the Blackhawks are a terrible team in one of the worst conferences I can ever remember staining an NHL season.
The Blackhawks have two scorers with more than 40 points in Tyler Bertuzzi (53 in 70) and Connor Bedard (67 in 60). If those two do not score, the Blackhawks are all but certain to lose their games. They lost 6-1 to the Rangers two nights ago and 5-1 to the Flyers in their matchup the night before. They have the 30th-ranked offense in all situations (2.51 goals per 60) and the 25th-ranked all situations defense (3.16 goals against per 60).
That’s actually an overperformance of their expected numbers.
Their 2.58 expected goals for per 60 ranks 32nd in the league: dead last. Their 3.46 expected goals against per 60 ranks 27th in the league. Reducing the situations to five-on-five only makes things worse, with their total offense improving to 26th in the league while their defense slips to 28th in the league, with their expected rates sitting still at 32nd for offense (2.22 xGF/60) and their expected five-on-five defense sitting dead-last at 32nd with a flat 3.0 expected five-on-five goals against per 60. The Devils, by comparison, are sitting at 2.58 xGF and 2.65 xGA per 60 at five-on-five. It’s a true chasm between a Devils team we are frustrated with and a truly bad team.
But this is the NHL, and truly bad teams are still full of (mostly) NHL players. If the Devils are wallowing too much from yesterday evening, the Blackhawks can catch them sleeping and take a victory, giving the Rangers second-position for the Draft Lottery. This is especially true since the solid young goaltender Spencer Knight will be in net for Chicago, with his .908 save percentage and three shutouts in 48 games this season. That trade, getting Knight with a first-round pick in exchange for Seth Jones, was really great work by Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson. Now that these games really don’t matter to the Devils’ playoff hopes, it might be fun to see how a young, talented goaltender performs in net.
Your Thoughts
What do you think of tonight’s game? How do you think the Devils will respond to their collapse in Carolina last night? What do you think of the Chicago Blackhawks? Can the Devils learn anything from a team that is truly in the basement? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, and thanks for reading.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 26: Gary Trent Jr. #5 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on from the bench during the second quarter against the Miami Heat in the Emirates NBA Cup at Kaseya Center on November 26, 2024 in Miami, Florida. 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 License Agreement. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you think the Milwaukee Bucks are playing against the Los Angeles Clippers today (after getting walloped by them on Monday), you are mistaken.
Where We’re At
The Bucks have but one opponent, and it is the Chicago Bulls. It’s simple: finish below the Bulls and get rewarded with a modicum of higher probability at snagging a good pick come June. The Clippers are merely the next hurdle to crash into. With all due respect to my esteemed colleague Jack Trehearne, the Bucks most certainly are tanking: look no further than here. With that said, I want to maximize the runtime for the folks who (along with the draft pick) are the future of this team, with or without Giannis. Check out what that means below.
Hopefully the Clippers will again be a willing hurdle. They sit in the Western Play-In, and although unlikely to escape that purgatory, I’m sure they would rather be in the 7/8 game and ideally host it. Shoutout to Old Friend Brook Lopez reclaiming a starting spot in Zubac’s absence. And when is the hammer going to come down on Kawhi?
Injury Report
UPDATE: Deep breath… Thanasis (left calf soreness), Kyle Kuzma (right achilles tendonopathy), Ryan Rollins (left hip flexor soreness), and Myles Turner (right patella tendonopathy) are questionable, and Giannis (left knee hyperextension and bone bruise), Gary Harris (personal reasons), Kevin Porter Jr. (right knee synovitis), and Bobby Portis (left wrist sprain) are out.
For the Clippers, Isaiah Jackson is questionable with a right ankle sprain, while Bradley Beal (left hip fracture) and Yanic Konan Niederhauser (right lisfranc ligament tear) are out.
Player To Watch
Gary Trent Jr. obviously hasn’t spent much time at the rim in recent games, as he notched team-highs in points in two of the last three games. I’ll be watching to see if he continues to eat up minutes that could be spent on younger Bucks.
How To Watch
FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin at 2:30 p.m. CDT.
Mar 28, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants center fielder Harrison Bader (9) reacts next to New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells (28) after striking out in the ninth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images | Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
A crucial first step has been made for our 2026 San Francisco Giants. After barely even being able to stand up in the box over the first two games of the season, suddenly the offensive started to find their legs. They looked steady against right-hander Will Warren in the 1st. Back-to-back hits from Luis Arraez and Rafael Devers got them making consecutive strides out of the box, around the bases. Arraez actually reached the distant region of third base, a world a 2026 Giant had only dared venture to twice before. Home plate, that mythic El Dorado, was real, it was there, in their sights, tantalizingly close — but alas, the journey came up short again. While Heliot Ramos forced 10 pitches out of Warren, he ultimately went down swinging to end the inning with the runners stranded.
San Francisco’s historic run of scoreless frames would swell to 20 frames before a run was scored. Jung Hoo Lee, batting lead-off instead of Arraez, led off the 3rd with a double. Two pitches later, Matt Chapman rolled a fastball through the middle plating Lee. A straightforward combination of balls-in-play to produce a run. The Giants were on the board. Had it always been that simple? A somewhat sarcastic roar rose from the fans as Jung Hoo Lee bowed his head slightly as his foot touched the plate. Joe Davis, from the Fox broadcast booth: “Boy it’s time for a Gatorade bath, huh?” And as annoying as that is to hear coming from a Dodgers play-by-play announcer, he was absolutely right. That took way too long.
The irony was that while that first run scored, it still had the Giants coming up short. Down two thanks to a 2-out, double by Ben Rice off starter Tyler Mahle in the top of the frame meant San Francisco’s offensive “renaissance” was far from enough.
That point became painfully obvious as the inning and game progressed. The Giants had planted their first stride but that didn’t mean they could walk. One step forward was met by two steps back. When spirits were high after Chapman’s RBI, singles-whiz Arraez, with an opportunity to help build a rally, fanned on three pitches. Devers went down after four.
The Giants line-up actually out-hit the Yankees 9 to 7. A positive development considering they managed a historically skint four hits over the previous two games. But on Saturday, we saw better plate approaches, better at-bats. Forward progress was made, but its momentum couldn’t sustain itself over two or three batters before it all came crashing down.
Harrison Bader’s first hit as a Giant in the 4th was promptly erased by Patrick Bailey grounding into a double play to end the inning. In the 5th, down 3-1 now after Aaron Judge launched a solo homer off reliever Ryan Borucki, Jung Hoo Lee worked a one-out walk, followed promptly by Chapman being called out on strikes.
In the 6th, Devers led off the frame with a double. Against tough-right hander Jake Bird, Heliot Ramos fought off an inside fastball and rolled it through the 5.5 hole to set up runners at the corners with no outs. Two solid steps…then they started to toddle. They hesitated. They looked down, realized how far off the ground they were, and freaked out. With an opportunity to cut the lead in half with a fly out, even a double play ball, Adames threw his bat at a 1-2 sweeper half-a-foot off the plate. Two pitches later, Harrison Bader rolled into an inning-ending, rally-killing, vibe-strangling, double-play. The Giants had face-planted.
They’d do it again in the bottom of the 9th.
Six bullpen arms, orchestrated by Tony Vitello, held the powerful Yankee line-up in check. Their lead held at just two runs. Leading off the 9th against David Bednar, Heliot Ramos worked a 7-pitch walk, with a dramatic strike-3 call overturned that turned the plate-appearance in his favor.
Comebacks were in the air. The early spring mood, dramatic. Across the league, five games would eventually be decided in extra-innings on Saturday night, and four ended in walk-offs (including a grand slam for #forevergiant Dom Smith in Atlanta). After Ramos revived his at-bat and turned into a walk, the Giants had the tying run at the plate with nobody out. Out of nowhere, Adames straightened up and singled. Now the winning run was in the box. Two men on, nobody out. A ball in play most likely scored a run. The energy in the stadium ratcheted up…then Bader chased two ridiculously high fastballs to put him an 0-2 hole. There it was: the hesitation, the nerves, the “try-hard.” The legs started to shake. The knees doubted. That familiar wobble. Three pitches later, Bader was on his butt in the box, unable to put an elevated splitter in play. Two pitches after that, game over. Another double-play ball off the bat of Bailey sealed it: swept at home.
The run was nice. It’s an essential step, yes — just, you know, a little behind schedule coming three games into the season and clearly not enough to make up much ground. Come Monday in San Diego, leaps and bounds would be greatly appreciated.
It’s the rubber match of a three-game set between the Texas Rangers and Philadelphia Phillies.
A pair of lefties make their 2026 debut for the win, as Philadelphia’s Jesus Luzardo is looking to pick up where he left off from his best season as a pro, while MacKenzie Gore will try to bounce back from his worst season in the bigs.
My Rangers vs Phillies predictions and MLB picks have Luzardo and the top of Philadelphia’s order leading the Phillies to a series win.
Rangers vs Phillies predictions
Rangers vs Phillies best bet: Phillies moneyline (-148)
Jesus Luzardo went 4-1 with a 5.11 ERA against the American League last season. He pitched against the Texas Rangers and threw six strong, giving up seven hits, one earned run, and striking out four in a 3-2 win.
Luzardo should be supported by Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber, who combined to go 0-for-10 in Saturday’s 5-4 loss. Turner is hitting a wicked .440 against Mackenzie Gore, with three doubles, a couple of walks, and two runs driven in.
Meanwhile, Schwarber has five hits and eight walks in 21 at-bats vs Gore.
COVERS INTEL:Mackenzie Gore made three starts against the Phillies last season, giving up 10 hits and five earned runs across 18 innings. All three games ended in losses.
Rangers vs Phillies same-game parlay (SGP)
Gore finished inside the Top 25 in strikeouts last season, but his 6.5-strikeout line might be just slightly off, as he threw 7+ strikeouts in just three of 17 starts to end 2025.
Brandon Nimmo is hitting .300 vs. Luzardo in 20 career at-bats, with four RBI, the most of any Ranger against Luzardo.
Rangers vs Phillies SGP
Phillies moneyline
Mackenzie Gore Under 6.5 strikeouts
Brandon Nimmo Over 0.5 RBI
Rangers vs Phillies home run pick: Kyle Schwarber (+240)
Kyle Schwarber has gone deep in each of his last four games against the Rangers, and he already has a home run against Gore in his career.
Rangers vs Phillies odds
Moneyline: Texas +125 | Philadelphia -150
Run line: Texas +1.5 (-165) | Philadelphia -1.5 (+140)
Over/Under: Over 8 | Under 8
Rangers vs Phillies trend
The Phillies have won 55 of their last 83 home games for +12.35 units and a 9% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Rangers vs. Phillies.
How to watch Rangers vs Phillies and game info
Location
Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Sunday, March 29, 2026
First pitch
1:35 p.m. ET
TV
Rangers Sports Network, NBCS-Philadelphia
Rangers starting pitcher
MacKenzie Gore (2025: 5-15, 4.17 ERA)
Phillies starting pitcher
Jesus Luzardo (2025: 15-7, 3.92 ERA)
Rangers vs Phillies latest injuries
Rangers vs Phillies 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.
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
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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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COVERS INTEL:
