Mar 21, 2026; Bradenton, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Konnor Griffin (75) at bat during the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at LECOM Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced that baseball’s top prospect, Konnor Griffin, has been reassigned to minor league camp and will start his season in Triple-A Indianapolis.
This news comes after Griffin had a fairly strong outing in Bradenton in Spring Training and was trending towards being the Pirates’ big league shortstop come Opening Day. While he flashed great power at times in camp he did only hit .171 in Grapefruit League play. It appears that the Pirates’ organization are being cautious with his development and are giving him every opportunity to earn what could likely be a massive contract extension before he even turns 21-years-old.
Pirates manager Don Kelly announced the move on Saturday at LECOM Park and what led to the decision.
“You see a young kid who was maybe pressing just a little bit and trying really hard. Konnor Griffin the person is elite. Allowing him to go and get back to basics and being Konnor Griffin out there,” Kelly said. “We know there’s an elite talent level that comes with him. Just looking forward to him being in Pittsburgh whenever that time comes.”
Griffin of course impressed in his first year as a professional baseball player after being drafted ninth overall in 2024. Despite him starting in Low-A Bradenton he would finish 2025 in Double-A Altoona and received numerous end of season awards, to include a minor league All-Star nod and an invitation to participate in the Futures Game. Griffin slashed 333/.415/.527 in 122 minor league games last season.
Pittsburgh was similarly patient with Paul Skenes’ development, despite him seeming to be major league ready after less than a season spent in the majors. The club was certainly look out for their best interests in the respect that they have more control over a player’s future with the amount of service time they have spent in their minor league ranks. The club also has more control over what a long term extension could look like, and there have been reports that the Pirates and Griffin have already discussed what that contract could look like.
Griffin looks to be every bit of the promising prospect that the Pirates are hoping he will be, but it still might be in both parties best interest that he start his season in the minors. Some fans will be understandably disappointed with this move, especially considering that Griffin might already be the best option at shortstop for the Buccos. With that being said giving Griffin the opportunity to go out and be another prospect in Indianapolis will alleviate some of the pressure that he has undoubtedly been feeling. At just 19-years-old Griffin already has a huge magnifying glass on him as the best prospect in baseball and as possible savior for the Pirates. Having the opportunity to go to Indy will let Griffin slow things down and decompress and get back to playing more within himself with less outside pressure.
Make no mistake, Griffin should see big league action this season. With the way the team is currently constructed there really isn’t a solidified every day option at shortstop. Nick Gonzales has performed great in Spring Training, but of course has limited experience playing short at the major league level. Jared Triolo fits best there defensively but he figures to be the team’s third baseman. Nick Yorke is also in the mix but is much like the other candidates as he is largely unproven. If the Pirates can perform well as a team and Griffin can continue to excel he should find his way to Pittsburgh before season’s end.
Konnor Griffin casually fielding grounders while he’s mic’d up. 🔥
Kelly described the decision to send Griffin down as difficult but maintained that he was impressed with his play and his character while he was in Bradenton.
“When you’re talking about a kid who came into big league camp playing shortstop for the first time … the talent that you see, I think he handled himself really well, professionally,” Kelly said. “We’ve talked about the maturity level as a 19-year-old in big league camp. Really excited about him being a Pirate and what that means for the future of Konnor Griffin and the Pirates.”
Griffin finishes his spring in Bradenton with a slash line of .171/.261/.749 with seven hits and four homers in 41 at bats.
HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 21: Amen Thompson #1 of the Houston Rockets celebrates after the game against the Miami Heat on March 21, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Houston Rockets were locked into a close game with the Miami Heat in which they had given up a big Heat run, including a goaltend on Jabari Smith Jr. to give the Heat the late lead, but Amen Thompson tipped in the game winner at the buzzer off of a Kevin Durant miss to give the Rockets the 124-123 win.
AMEN SAVES KEVIN DURANT'S HISTORIC NIGHT 🚨
Amen Thompson hits the game-winner for the Rockets the same night KD passed MJ on the all-time scoring list 🚀 pic.twitter.com/CCcDP8ANAU
The Rockets were led by Kevin Durant’s 27 points, as he passed Michael Jordan for fifth on the all-time scoring list. KD also added 3 rebounds and 3 assists. He was 9-for-17 from the field and 5-for-9 from three. Thompson had 24 points and 18 boards on 10-for-17 shooting, as well as the game-winner. He was even 1-for-1 from three.
Reed Sheppard came to play, as he once again was the Rockets starting point guard. He finished with 23 points on 8-for-12 shooting and 5-for-8 from deep. He also added a game-leading 14 assists as well as 4 steals and turned the ball over zero times. Keep the kid out there, coach! The Rockets are now 10-2 when Reed starts.
Alperen Sengun had 19 points and 12 boards and Jabari Smith Jr. Had 13 points to send all five Rockets starters into double-figures.
The Heat were led by Bam Adebayo, who had a monster 32-points, 21-rebound night, but the Rockets were able to overcome that with a second straight night of quality team baskteball. They shot 52 percent and had 33 team assists to just 13 turnovers. What we’ve been learning is that the Rockets look way better with a point guard who can shoot in the lineup. It’s just a shame that it took Ime Udoke three-quarters of a season to figure that out as well.
The Rockets now move to 43-27 on the season and hold a half game lead over the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves. They’ll be back in action on Monday, as they head over to Chicago to take on the Bulls.
Fans already faced impossibly long odds of creating a perfect bracket. So having upsets on Day 1 took out a massive chunk of brackets. However, the chalkiness of the ensuing games — with just one double-digit seed headed to the Sweet 16 — likely also eliminated a bunch of brackets.
As of 8 a.m. ET on March 22, four perfect brackets remain in either the ESPN or NCAA bracket challenges. The NCAA did not provide the full number of brackets entered, but ESPN did. Only two of the 26,029,409 remain.
The biggest culprit on Saturday was No. 11 Texas' upset win over No. 3 Gonzaga. Before the game, 120 perfect brackets remained. Following the Longhorns' win, we were down to 27.
The four remaining perfect brackets
Here they are. The four smartest (or luckiest) bracketologists (of more than 26 million) of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, according to the NCAA:
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 01: Ceddanne Rafaela #3 of the Boston Red Sox walks to the dugout after hitting a fly ball for the third out to lose to the New York Yankees 4-3 in game two of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on October 01, 2025 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What’s This Team’s Deal?
This team has won one World Series since the year 2000. I haven’t looked into what happened in the hundred years before that.
In 2025, after winning a three-game Wild Card series against the Red Sox, New York went down to the Toronto Blue Jays 3-games-to-1, allowing 37 runs in those four games. They have chosen to shake nothing up and bring back the same manager, the same GM, and almost the exact same team in 2026.
How Good Are They?
When their entire team is healthy, they could be “Best in the American League” good, but will that happen? Nearly all of their best players have some risk attached to them.
Starting with the staff, Gerrit Cole is working his way back from Tommy John Surgery before last season, hoping to return by June 1. Carlos Rodon had surgery on his elbow at the end of last season to remove bone spurs. Rodon hopes to return in April, but will not pitch in a Spring Training game. Ryan Weathers has excellent stuff, but has had trouble staying on the field, yet to eclipse 95 innings in a season over his five-year career. If those three are healthy, alongside ace Max Fried and playoff nemesis Cam Schlittler, look out. But that’s a big “if”.
At the back end, both Devin Williams and Luke Weaver bolted across town to the Mets, leaving a ‘pen that could use a couple more arms. David Bednar is a strong closer, but is backed up by Camilo Doval and the 36-year-old Fernando Cruz as high-leverage arms. Doval had a 4.82 ERA and a 12.6% walk rate after being traded to the Yankees last July. And while Cruz’s strikeout numbers are elite (13.8 K/9 in his career), he had a 4.52 career ERA before 2025. Tim Hill, Jake Bird, Paul Blackburn, Ryan Yarbrough, and Cade Winquest are not likely to scare anybody. On the hitting side, DH Giancarlo Stanton self-reported that he “can’t open a bag of chips” last month due to continued pain in both of his elbows. Second baseman Jazz Chisholm went 30-30 a year ago and should have plenty of motivation in a contract year, but has had issues staying on the field throughout his career.
Shortstop Anthony Volpe had shoulder surgery last October and could miss multiple months of the season, although some might argue that this could help the Yankees, considering Volpe made 13 throwing errors and hit .212 a year ago.
With 3-time MVP Aaron Judge, a returning Cody Bellinger, and Ben Rice hitting two through four in the Yankee lineup, there is plenty of firepower returning. The Yankees hit 274 home runs a year ago, 30 more than any other team in baseball.
Of course, we all know who Aaron Judge is when it truly matters, which was on display once again during an abysmal World Baseball Classic performance. Judge’s .236 career batting average in the playoffs, with a 31.1 K%, makes it fair to ask whether he or Clayton Kershaw is the least clutch great player of this generation.
Most Likable Player:
None.
Least Likable Player:
Gerrit Cole. After a year away, I wouldn’t want anyone to forget how unlikable Cole is.
The Yankees will come to Fenway for a three-game mid-week set April 21-23, as well as a four-game weekend series from June 25-28. Boston will head to the Bronx for a couple of weekend three-game series, June 5-7 and August 28-30.
Season Prediction
88-74, 3rd in AL East. Too many arm injuries, along with a subpar bullpen, hold the Yankees back in 2026. New York will finish behind the division-leading Blue Jays, as well as the Red Sox. If that lines things up for a Wild Card rematch in 2026, the games would be at Fenway this time.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 4: Emmet Sheehan #80 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch during a World Baseball Classic exhibition game against Team Mexico at Camelback Ranch on March 4, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On paper, the Dodgers’ starting rotation consists of a four-headed behemoth comprising of All-Stars and a pandora’s box of options to fill in the final spot. With Blake Snell and Gavin Stone set to begin the season on the injured list, it opened up a wild horse race to see which young pitchers could support the back-end of the rotation.
Both River Ryan and Kyle Hurt enjoyed fruitful springs after having their entire 2025 season wiped away due to injury, but they were both demoted back to Triple-A Oklahoma City before Saturday’s Cactus League finale. Roki Sasaki, despite his ongoing struggles, will be a fixture in the rotation— for now. The final spot comes down to either Emmet Sheehan and Justin Wrobleski, but the Dodgers are still uncertain as to whether they’ll implement a five or six-man rotation, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was less definitive Friday, not naming a fifth starter when asked. President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said the situation between Sheehan and Justin Wrobleski was more “nuanced” than one being the fifth and the other the sixth starter with “piggyback” outings a possibility early in the season.
Sheehan struggled over 10 2/3 innings on the mound this spring, posting a 5.91 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP, while Wrobleski posted a slightly better 5.40 ERA and 1.08 WHIP across 8 1/3 innings.
Links
Yoshinobu Yamamoto was stellar in his final tune-up of spring on Friday, where he silenced the San Diego Padres over five shutout innings, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out seven on 68 pitches.
Yamamoto spoke with Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA post-game about his most recent start as he prepares to spearhead the Dodgers regular season on Thursday.
“There were a few things I wanted to try, and today I was able to get into the game very nicely, so I think that was good. With runners on base, I was able to calmly throw my pitch. There were a few pitches, especially like a first pitch strike, and that was something that I was focused on going to.”
The Dodgers now have a better idea as to how to approach the new ABS system, as Sonja Chen of MLB.com notes that challenges will be used conservatively and predominantly on the offensive side of the at-bat.
“I feel like as hitters, we kind of laid off a little bit and didn’t use it the way that we were supposed to use it early on, because we were saving it for the catcher and to have a conversation,” [Miguel] Rojas said. “But now that we have a little bit more clarity of how we’re going to use it, I think the team is going to start getting better.”
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 23: Ryan Ritter #8 of the Colorado Rockies in the outfield during the spring training game against the Chicago White Sox at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 23, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In addition to playing second, third, and short, he’s also spend some time in the outfield. But, as he told Purple Row, he’s ready for the challenge.
Lessons learned in 2025
While there were any number of lessons to be learned in the Rockies historically bad 2025, for Ritter, it was about learning to pace himself.
“It’s a long, very long season,” Ritter said, “so just making sure that I’m really taking care of my my sleep, my meals right after the game and just staying strong all year.”
Although he, like many MLB players, found himself losing too much weight during a grueling season, Ritter is on track to do better in 2026.
“I just know that this year, that’s not gonna happen.”
In addition to spending the offseason in the weight room, Ritter also began working on setting a sustainable routine — even if it’s a little dull.
“This year, I have a good routine,” he said. “I make sure I do the boring things every day, just keeping it simple.”
Coaching and spring training changes
So far, Ritter likes the changes put in place by the Rockies front office.
“It’s been great,” he said, pointing to all the new coaches and players. “We’ve been all getting along really well here, and it’s been very competitive, but it’s how you want it.”
For Ritter, he appreciates the “small things” happening in camp.
“I want to learn and improve on every part of my game. So I definitely like hearing from them more often this year.”
Exploring the outfield grass
Ritter has spent most of his MLB career playing the infield. But with the Rockies emphasis on versatility, they’ve given Ritter a shot at showing what he can do in the outfield.
But Warren Schaeffer and his staff didn’t give him much notice.
“The day I found I was playing left field, it was like, ‘Hey, you play left before?’ I said, ‘No.’” And then bench coach Jeff Pickler told Ritter it was his time. Ritter took a few outfield reps, and the rest is history.
“I’ve just been making it part of my game.”
The coaching staff has helped with the transition and he become a more diverse utility player.
“The coaches get me prepared from pregame work, and I just use my athletic ability to make it work,” Ritter said.
Clearly, the Rockies are seeing what Ritter can do.
“I don’t think I’ve played a game this year where it’s been back-to-back the same position,” Ritter said. “So they’re definitely putting me in positions to play all these different positions, and it’s been great.”
He added, “I’m getting more comfortable.”
Still, when asked his favorite position, Ritter had a quick answer: “I played infield my whole life, so I’m a shortstop at heart.”
At this point, it seems likely Ritter will break camp with the Rockies given his flexibility. For a player in only his second MLB season, it’s a positive sign.
Who will be the fifth starter? Who will be the backup catcher? Who will be the starting first basemen? Who will make the bullpen? Let us know in the comments!
*means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.
Daryl van Schouwen (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Daniel Palencia serves Cubs a Classic reminder. “Palencia proudly wore a Venezuela jersey walking into the Cubs’ clubhouse Friday after the team’s day off.”
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 25: Coach Rich Monteleone of the New York Yankees poses for a portrait during Yankees Photo Day at Legends Field on February 25, 2005 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The early 1990s were a bit of a wasteland for the Yankees as a franchise. By winning percentage, the 1990 and ‘91 teams are two of the worst in franchise history, and they mostly continued the story of the 1980s, where the Yankees made the playoffs just once. By 1993, they began to show signs of returning to form, and then of course by the end of the decade, they were a dynasty again.
That’s not to say there were no good players around in the dark periods though. For instance, they got two solid years in there from reliever Rich Monteleone.
Richard “Rich” Monteleone Born: March 22, 1963 (Tampa, FL) Yankees Tenure: 1990-93
Monteleone was born and raised in Tampa, Florida attending Tampa Catholic High School. It was out of high school that the Tigers selected him with their first round draft pick in 1982, which was the 20th overall pick. Relatedly, another Tampa high school pitcher was selected fifth that year, with a certain Dwight Gooden going to the Mets.
While Monteleone did sign with the Tigers, he would never actually appear for them in the majors. Initially a starter in the minor leagues, he was a bit of a slow developer, as he never posted an ERA under four in any of his first six MiLB seasons. After his first couple, he ended up as part of a trade in December 1985, sending him to the Mariners organization. His first season there still saw him struggle to put up good numbers, and Seattle eventually moved him to the bullpen in 1987. He was briefly called up to the big leagues that April, getting his first taste of the majors before getting sent back down.
In 1988, Monteleone was still struggling to find his footing and the M’s eventually just released him that May. A couple days later, he signed with the Angels, where he finally began to figure things out. He made a cameo at the major league level in 1988, but then got an extended run the following season. In 1989, Monteleone posted a 3.18 ERA (121 ERA+) in 39.2 innings.
Despite that, Monteleone started 1990 back in the minors. However, just after the new season started, he and Claudell Washington — a former Yankee returning to the Bronx — were sent to the Yankees in exchange for Luis Polonia. The trade for the Yankees was more about reacquiring Washington, as they were still trying to get something going and contend again, but they also got a pitcher who had shown some positive signs. The Yankees also sent Monteleone to the minors, before recalling him for a sub-par cup of coffee that September.
Monteleone returned to the big league roster in 1991 and found some success, at least stats-wise. Often used in a multi-inning role, he posted a 3.64 ERA (115 ERA+) in 47 innings. The following year, he was even better. Pitching in over 90 innings, he put up a 3.30 ERA. He recorded seven wins, which was third on the team in total, starter or reliever.
The next season wasn’t as good, though, as Monteleone’s ERA was just under five in over 80 innings pitched. The Yankees let him walk in free agency after that year, and he signed with the Giants. He bounced back in the strike-shortened 1994 season, with a 126 ERA+. He also served as San Francisco’s player representative in the MLBPA throughout that turbulent time.
With the 1995 season still in flux to start, Monteleone went to Japan and joined the Chunichi Dragons. However, he didn’t have the best of years there and returned to his old Angels team later in the year. A free agent again to start 1996, Monteleone re-signed with the Yankees. However, he never actually appeared again with the team, starting in the minors before being sent back to the Angels for Mike Aldrete, who would be a bench option for the ‘96 World Series-winning Yankees. Monteleone pitched a handful of innings for the Angels in ‘96 before retiring following that season.
After giving up playing, Monteleone got into coaching, where he would end up back with the Yankees. He was the pitching coach in the organization at various minor league levels, and was the big league team’s bullpen coach from 2002-04. After that, he stayed with the organization through 2008 as a special instructor.
Monteleone’s numbers were hardly ever dominant, but at least for a couple years in the early 1990s, they were decent enough for a Yankees team that often wasn’t getting even that.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
Jan 19, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren (79) watches a shot from Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8) as center Connor McMichael (24) defends in the third period at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
The Colorado Avalanche are bound for the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season!
Today, their final road swing through the Eastern Conference sees them in a brunchtime visit to Washington, D.C. to face the Washington Capitals in a bid to sustain their Central Division lead.
Colorado Avalanche (45-13-10)
The Opponent: Washington Capitals (35-27-8)
Time: 10:30 A.M. MDT/12:30 P.M. EDT
Watch: ALT, ALT+ (Avalanche Local Broadcast Area), MNMT (Washington Capitals Broadcast Area Only), NHL Network, NHL Center Ice (Outside Regional Broadcast Areas – US), SN1, SN+, TVAS, TVAS+, NHL Centre Ice (Canadian Broadcast Areas)
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio KKSE-FM 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche got their four game road trip off to a good start on Friday evening, as they defeated the Chicago Blackhawks by a score of 4-1 at United Center. All of Colorado’s big guns factored into the victory, as Martin Nečas, Brock Nelson, Nazem Kadri, and Valeri Nichushkin all tallied goals in the contest. Nathan MacKinnon’s three assist night helped power Colorado’s big guns in the victory as he continues his chase for the Art Ross scoring title; coming into today’s contest, MacKinnon’s 114 points sees him two points behind Edmonton’s Connor McDavid (116) and four points behind Tampa’s Nikita Kucherov (118). The win snapped Colorado’s three game losing streak, and helped them maintain their position as the undisputed leader across the Central Division, Western Conference, and entire League standings.
With the win over Chicago, the Avalanche clinched their ninth consecutive postseason berth, and became the first team in the NHL this season to reach the 100 point mark in the standings. Although they’ve enjoyed being ahead of the rest of the League by a healthy margin throughout the season, that lead has diminished as the regular season marches towards its conclusion. The annoyingly persistent Dallas Stars have narrowed the lead the Avalanche have over their Central Division rivals in recent weeks, but Colorado did get some help from the Minnesota Wild on Saturday afternoon as they defeated Dallas by a 2-1 overtime decision at Grand Casino Arena. The Avalanche currently hold a three point lead over Dallas, but today’s contest in Washington serves as Colorado’s game in hand in the standings. A win today will increase their lead to five points, with both teams having thirteen games remaining on their regular season schedules.
Head Coach Jared Bednar acknowledged the accomplishment after the win in Chicago on Friday. “We like what we’re doing right now. Obviously, there’s ebbs and flows to the season, but I think, to this point in the season, if you look at it as a whole, that we’ve put ourselves in a good spot here. We feel good about the way we’re playing. Making the playoffs is the first step to getting to where you want to go, so we’re pretty happy about that.”
Bednar may opt to return to Mackenzie Blackwood, who stopped 19 of 20 shots on Friday against Chicago, for today’s contest. Scott Wedgewood, who continues leading the League for the lowest goals against average (2.19), and now leads the League in save percentage (.916), could get the start on Tuesday in Pittsburgh should Bednar decide on starting Blackwood today.
Prior to leaving for Chicago, Bednar indicated that Ross Colton, Gabe Landeskog, Artturi Lehkonen, and Logan O’Connor would accompany the Avs on the road trip, and that all four were projected to return to the lineup at some point as the trip progresses. None of them were in the lineup on Friday evening in Chicago, and at the time of this writing, there are no updates on whether any of them would make an appearance against Washington today. However, Ivan Ivan, who was in action on Friday in Chicago, was reassigned to Loveland after the contest, which may indicate that at least one player may return to action today.
Both Colorado and Washington previously met on January 19 at Ball Arena. MacKinnon scored twice, Nečas had a goal and an assist, and Scott Wedgewood stopped 22 of 24 shots in that contest as the Avalanche skated to a 5-2 victory. Today’s game wraps up the season series against Washington.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Valeri Nichushkin – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas Nazem Kadri – Brock Nelson – Nicolas Roy Ross Colton – Jack Drury – Gavin Brindley Joel Kiviranta – Parker Kelly – Zakhar Bardakov
Defense: Cale Makar – Sam Girard Josh Manson – Brent Burns Brett Kulak – Sam Malinski
Between the Pipes: Mackenzie Blackwood Scott Wedgewood
Washington Capitals
Since their previous meeting against Colorado in January, Washington has hovered around the .500 mark, having won five of their final nine games prior to the Olympic break and six of their previous eleven games upon returning to action after the pause. As a result, Washington currently sits in sixth place in the Metropolitan Division, and are six points back of the final wild card spot, currently occupied by the Detroit Red Wings, in the Eastern Conference.
With three teams ahead of them as the season winds down, Washington’s chances of making the playoffs are slim. The trade deadline on March 6 saw the departures of Nic Dowd to the Vegas Golden Knights and cornerstone defenseman John Carlson to the Anaheim Ducks, and the acquisition of forward David Kampf from the Vancouver Canucks and defenseman Timothy Liljegren from the San Jose Sharks. Since the deadline, Washington has gone 4-2-1, but comes into today’s contest against Colorado having won three of their four previous games. Their most recent victory came this past Friday against the New Jersey Devils by a score of 2-1.
The debut of Cole Hutson this past Wednesday saw the rookie defenseman score his first career goal with Washington. While his older brother Lane may have more name recognition across the League due to his play for the Montréal Canadiens, Capitals fans certainly may feel optimistic about what he can bring to the Washington blue line, especially after scoring in his debut. The loss of Carlson may certainly sting, but the future lynchpin on defense may already be right there in Hutson if his development follows a similar trajectory to Lane’s.
As noted in this space during the first preview article featuring Washington and Colorado, if you were asked who was leading Washington in goals, you’d probably say it was Alex Ovechkin. As it was back then, it is still Tom Wilson, but Ovechkin now shares the goal scoring lead with Wilson (25), and the lead in team points (52). Wilson, who was out with injury for the previous outing against Colorado, earned a silver medal with Team Canada along with goaltender Logan Thompson. Defenseman Jakob Chychrun is third among Washington skaters in points (51), second in goal scoring among all skaters (23, tied with Aliaksei Protas), and third in assists (28).
Thompson has won his three of his past five starts, and will likely start today against Colorado. He ranks third in goals against average among goaltenders (2.36), and fourth in save percentage (.915).
Today’s game against Colorado wraps up a four game home stand at Capital One Arena. Washington will begin a three game road trip out west on Tuesday.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Alex Ovechkin – Dylan Strome – Anthony Beauvillier Aliaksei Protas – Pierre-Luc Dubois – Tom Wilson Connor McMichael – Justin Sourdif – Ryan Leonard Brandon Duhaime – Hendrix Lapierre – Ethen Frank
Defense: Martin Fehérváry – Rasmus Sandin Jakob Chychrun – Trevor van Reimsdyk Cole Hutson – Matt Roy
Between the Pipes: Logan Thompson Charlie Lindgren
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 02: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics dribbles the ball against Rudy Gobert #27 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third quarter at Target Center on January 02, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Celtics defeated the Timberwolves 118-115. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Minnesota Timberwolves at Boston Celtics Date: March 22nd, 2026 Time: 7:00 PM CDT Location: TD Garden Television Coverage: NBC, Peacock, Telemundo Radio Coverage: KFAN FM, Wolves App, iHeart Radio
There’s a certain kind of loss that tells you everything you need to know about a team.
Not the buzzer-beater losses. Not the “we got unlucky” losses. Not even the “their best guy went nuclear” losses. I’m talking about the ones where you can rewind the tape, pause it in the middle of the second quarter, and say, “this is where it slipped away”, even if the final margin comes down to one possession and a corner three.
Friday night against Portland? That was one of those.
The Timberwolves had the opportunity sitting right there in front of them: finish the homestand 3–0, stack another win without Anthony Edwards, and create a little breathing room in the Western Conference standings. Instead, they walked away with a loss that dropped them from the fourth seed to the sixth. Minnesota now finds itself in a three-way tie with Houston and Denver, and, because the Wolves won’t allow themselves to have nice things, they hold none of the tie-breakers.
The worst part? You can’t even chalk it up to bad luck.
Yes, the final defensive sequence is what everyone will remember. Minnesota was clinging to a one-point lead and needed one defensive stop. Just one. And instead, they give up offensive rebound after offensive rebound, can’t secure the ball, can’t finish the possession, and eventually Jerami Grant is standing in the corner with six seconds left on the shot clock like he’s at an open gym, calmly drilling the go-ahead three.
Game over.
But if you think that’s why the Wolves lost, you weren’t paying attention. This game was lost long before Grant’s shot. It was lost on the glass. It was lost in the paint. And most of all, it was lost during a second quarter stretch that felt like watching a car skid off black ice in slow motion.
Portland scored on 10 of 11 possessions. It wasn’t just bad defense. It was a complete breakdown of structure, communication, and effort. The perimeter defense fell apart, which meant driving lanes opened up like automatic doors at a grocery store. The Blazers got uncontested looks at the rim. Minnesota couldn’t string together stops. And on the other end, the Wolves looked like five guys who had just met each other in the parking lot.
Ball movement? Gone. Shot selection? Questionable at best. Rhythm? Nonexistent.
By the time the dust settled, Minnesota was down 17 points, and the game had already tilted in a way that made everything else harder than it needed to be.
Now, to their credit, the Wolves did what they’ve done a handful of times this season. They fought back. They erased the deficit. They actually took the lead by the end of the third quarter and gave themselves a chance to win.
But that’s kind of the problem with this team, isn’t it? They’re constantly asking themselves to be perfect late because they weren’t disciplined early.
If they don’t dig that 17-point hole, they don’t need that final stop. If they don’t get outworked on the boards all night, maybe Portland doesn’t even have a chance to take that shot. If they defend with purpose for 48 minutes instead of 40, maybe we’re talking about a professional, workmanlike win instead of another postmortem.
At this point in the season, there are no moral victories. Not with the standings this tight. Not with the playoffs looming. Not when every game swings three spots in the bracket depending on how things break. Here’s the reality now: the Wolves have gone from flirting with the three seed to sitting in the six, tied with Houston and Denver, holding zero tiebreakers, and staring at a schedule that does them absolutely no favors. And oh yeah… Anthony Edwards is still out.
So now the conversation shifts from “can they climb?” to “can they survive?” Because coming up next is Boston, then Houston, and then Detroit. That’s not a stretch you ease into while trying to rediscover your identity. That’s a stretch that exposes you if you don’t have one.
Let’s start with Boston, because that’s the immediate problem. The Celtics are getting healthier. Jayson Tatum is back. Jaylen Brown is still Jaylen Brown. They’re one of the most complete teams in the league when they’re right, and unlike Minnesota, they’ve shown an ability to weather adversity without completely losing their footing.
And if we’re being honest, it’s not entirely clear how the Wolves match up with them right now without Edwards. Which doesn’t mean they can’t win. It just means the margin for error is basically nonexistent. So if they’re going to pull this off, it’s going to require a level of discipline and execution we haven’t consistently seen.
Here are the keys to the game…
#1 – Value every single possession.
The Wolves have had a bad habit lately of being careless with the ball and sloppy with their decisions, which often turn into easy transition opportunities. You cannot give Boston free points. Every possession has to mean something. Every pass has to have purpose. If Minnesota starts gifting the Celtics extra chances, this thing could get out of hand quickly.
#2 – Win the rebounding battle.
On Friday night, Portland outworked them, plain and simple. Boston doesn’t have a Donovan Clingan-type rim presence, but they absolutely will scrap, rotate, and crash when the opportunity is there. Rudy Gobert needs to be a vacuum. Julius Randle, who, let’s be honest, had a rough night against Portland, needs to be better. Nothing deflates a team faster than playing 20 seconds of good defense and then giving up an offensive rebound and a reset.
#3 – Hunt high-efficiency offense.
The second quarter against Portland was a masterclass in what not to do. Forced shots. Stagnant possessions. Hero ball without the hero. Against Boston, that’s a death sentence. This needs to be a connected offense. That means feeding Gobert around the rim, getting McDaniels and Randle downhill, and creating clean looks for guys like DiVincenzo, Bones, and Ayo. You’re not going to out-talent Boston without Edwards. You have to out-execute them.
#4 – Do not allow the avalanche. We’ve seen it too many times this season. A bad three-minute stretch turns into a bad five-minute stretch, which turns into a double-digit deficit that suddenly feels insurmountable. Boston is one of the best “run” teams in the league. They smell blood, and they go on those 12–2 bursts that flip games. Minnesota has to recognize those moments early. That’s on the players to stay mentally locked in, and it’s on Chris Finch to hit the timeout button before things spiral.
#5 – This has to be a Julius Randle game.
There’s just no way around it. Without Edwards, there isn’t a version of this game where the Wolves win and Randle is just “fine.” He has to be great. Not just as a scorer, but as a leader, a rebounder, a defender, a facilitator. Friday night was probably his worst performance of the week, and it showed. The engagement wasn’t there. The physicality wasn’t there, and it cost Minnesota the game.
The good news? We’ve seen the version of Julius that can carry this team. The one who attacks, who bodies people, who makes quick decisions, who bends the defense and opens everything up for everyone else. That version exists. Minnesota needs him to find it again… immediately.
This week isn’t about aesthetics. It’s not about style points. It’s not about proving anything to the national media or climbing some imaginary power rankings.
It’s about survival.
The Wolves had a chance to make things easier on themselves Friday night, and they let it slip. Now the margin is thinner, the schedule is tougher, and the stakes are higher.
They don’t have to be perfect, but they do have to be better.
And they have to figure it out quickly, because the standings aren’t going to wait for them to get comfortable.
PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 21: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 21, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Saturday night marked the fifth straight loss for the Phoenix Suns, and you can feel the frustration starting to seep in. On the surface, the reasons are clear. The team is banged up. The injury report before games reads like a CVS receipt. It is long, it is exhausting, and it impacts everything. But even with that, they are right there late. But their poor decisions are costing them the opportunity to win.
They are in the game, within reach, close enough to grab it, and then it slips. They run out of gas. They run out of options. They run out of answers. Execution fades, possessions tighten, and the game gets taken from them. That is where this frustration lives. Because it is not about being blown out, it is about being close and not finishing.
After the loss to San Antonio, I was not mad. I was disappointed. There is a difference.
This one hits different. Losing to Milwaukee without Giannis brings out something else. This is not a powerhouse version of the Bucks. This is a team that is navigating the end of its season with a different agenda, one that includes positioning for the future. You can see it, and you can feel it. And still, the Suns could not take advantage.
That is where the frustration comes from. Because the opportunity was there. Another winnable game, another moment to stop the slide. And once again, it slipped away.
And it keeps coming back to the same place late in games. Devin Booker.
He is the highest-paid player on the floor. He is the one who is supposed to take control when things tighten, when possessions matter most. That is the expectation and that is the responsibility. Right now, it is not showing up consistently. You watch Ryan Rollins (who?) attack the rim without hesitation, getting downhill, putting pressure on the defense. Then you watch Booker settle. Midrange looks that are not falling. Turnovers at the worst times. Situational decisions that leave you scratching your head, like taking a two when you are down three with under 20 seconds left.
Those are the moments. Those are the possessions that define games, and right now, they are not going Phoenix’s way. Booker is the one who has to change that.
Did he look hurt? Yeah, there were moments where you could see it. A slight hobble, a lack of burst, something that did not look quite right. And maybe that is part of the explanation for a 4-of-17 night and only 14 points. But if that is the case, then adjust. Dictate the offense, do not become it. Lean into the guys around you. Let Collin Gillespie organize. Let Jalen Green attack. Let Jordan Goodwin bring that energy and pressure. Use your gravity to create opportunities rather than forcing yourself into every possession.
Because when you try to carry it while not at full strength, it can swing the wrong way. And in this one, it did. Yes, the team is injured. That is real. But it cannot be an excuse for poor decision-making. That is what is fueling this losing streak.
You look at a moment like tonight, up 91–84, with control of the game starting to tilt your way. Jalen Green was rolling, feeling it, and instead of settling into a quality possession, he pulled up for a 27-foot three. A heat check. And it missed. Momentum gone. That is the difference. Those are the possessions that matter. Not the highlight plays, not the runs, the decisions in between. The ones that either steady you or derail you. Right now, they are derailing the Suns.
Jalen Green cooking in the fourth…and then he takes a 27-footer. Decision making…will it ever improve?
The injuries make everything harder. They shorten the margin and they force different lineups and roles. But the decisions are what swing games, and too often, Phoenix is making the wrong one at the wrong time.
We know help is coming. The troops are on the sideline, and at some point, the opportunity to turn this around should be there. The problem is that the clock is not slowing down. The season is entering its final stretch, and the runway is getting shorter.
We gave Jalen Green about 20 games to find his legs and get comfortable again. What does that timeline look like for Dillon Brooks or Mark Williams? That is where this gets tricky.
It is a strange place to be. This is a team that has overachieved relative to preseason expectations, and now it feels like it is drifting back toward them. Injuries are the primary driver, everyone understands that. Still, you need more from your max player. That is part of the deal. Because even with everything working against them, the Suns have been in these games. They are right there. They simply cannot finish, and that is where the frustration turns into anger.
Bright Side Baller Season Standings
It is funny how this works. I sit here writing about different players and how the Suns could best utilize them, and then they hear it. I say Collin Gillespie should probably move to the bench now, start getting comfortable in the role he will have once Dillon Brooks returns.
His response? 24 points. 6-of-11 from beyond the arc.
So maybe there is a lesson in there somewhere. Maybe I should keep writing those pieces, keep pushing buttons, keep saying what players cannot do. Because every time it happens, it feels like they go out and prove the opposite. And Gillespie did exactly that against San Antonio.
That performance gave him his 11th Bright Side Baller of the season, second only to Devin Booker. That says a lot about this season, about who he is, and about what he is becoming.
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Game 71 against the Bucks. Here are your nominees:
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARCH 16: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks dunks during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on March 16, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What’s the point of all this?
Not just the last 12 games of this Dallas Mavericks season. They’re probably going to lose a lot of those games, so you’re not watching for the thrill of victory. A lot of the players on the team right now will likely be gone after this summer, so you’re not seeing the beginning of some blossoming young team.
I’m going to watch at least half those games, if not more. Why?
It’s the same when the team is good, too, even when they’re great. Take a moment and think about all the great teams who didn’t win a championship, and then broke apart within five years. If you’re a Golden State Warriors or San Antonio Spurs fan, you’ve seen four championships in the last 25 years. That means 21 years of disappointment for fans of the most successful teams. For fans of less successful teams…well, it’s a lot of disappointment.
But we keep coming back. We watch championship teams, mediocre teams, lottery teams. Mostly it ends badly, sometimes even heartbreak. So why do we do this?
One easy answer is to see Cooper Flagg’s development. It looks like he’s going to be a superstar, and it’s always fun to be there for the beginning of something like that.
There’s also the other young guys, Max Christie and Ryan Nembhard. They’ll likely be role players at best, but it’s fun to get to know players like that and see if they become more.
There’s the chance that Jason Kidd will awake from his slumber and show a human emotion once or twice during a game. Maybe he’ll even raise his voice and get ejected, just for fun or sheer boredom.
If Dwight Powell gets enough minutes, he might break the career record for getting hit in the face with a basketball. Or he might break a real Mavericks franchise record simply by being around for a while (he’s less than thirty rebounds away from passing Erick Dampier for eighth all time).
Maybe you’re in full tank mode and are rooting for them to lose every game for the rest of the season so they get a better pick. That’s one way to stay entertained! Make sure you’re staying up to date on all the mock drafts.
You might just like seeing Klay Thompson shoot 3-pointers. He likely won’t pass any more historical marks this season, but he’s got a great shot, and it’s fun to see him when he’s shooting the lights out. Maybe Thompson has a game where he goes on an absolute heater and hits double digit 3-pointers.
Maybe around mid-March the players will just be sick of this season and get in a fight with another team. It’s not what you’re watching for, obviously, but it would break up the monotony of one of the weirdest and blandest seasons in years.
Maybe the best reason to be here, watching these games, caring about what’s going on, is the relationships you build through this dumb team. It creates bonds with your parents, your kids, your brothers and sisters, your friends, that will likely never go away. It’s why we get so happy when this team succeeds, and why we get so despondent when a historically incompetent GM trades away a top five player for almost no return.
So we keep showing up to see them lose by twenty to a championship contender, or lose by two to a fellow lottery-bound team. We watch the good games and the bad, even if we turn it off and go to bed early sometimes (especially those West Coast games with late start times).
Maybe there’s no real legitimate reason to watch a soon-to-be deconstructed team finish out a miserable season, and we’re all some sort of addicts. Addicted to basketball, whether it’s in it’s best or worst forms. If you stop and think about it too long, it really doesn’t make sense. We’re going to watch this team finish out 2-10, together, for fun?
But here we are, getting excited about Flagg making a play way too advanced for someone his age, or getting mad about Daniel Gafford’s lack of rebounding, or just getting bored. But we’re in it together, in this basketball purgatory together, thinking about better days on the horizon.
The Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators are at the United Center on Sunday afternoon for a day game within the Central Division. The Blackhawks are trying to finish the season strong, while the Predators are trying to make a late-season push for the playoffs.
Chicago is coming off a horrendous loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Friday night. Nashville is coming into the second leg of a back-to-back, as they defeated the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday.
Scouting Nashville
The Nashville Predators are on a three-game winning streak, and that has pushed them above the playoff line entering Sunday. Nobody saw that coming, even a month ago, let alone multiple months ago.
Stamkos - O'Reilly - Evangelista
Forsberg - Wood - Marchessault
Jost - Haula - L'Heureux
Schafer - Svechkov - Wiesblatt
Skjei - Josi
Hague - Perbix
Barron - Ufko
Annunen
Murray
Steven Stamkos, Ryan O’Reilly, Jonathan Marchessault, and Filip Forsberg lead things up front for Nashville. They were sellers at the deadline, but they kept these guys, and they are being rewarded for it late in the season.
On defense, the bottom two pairs follow the lead of the top pair, comprised of Brady Skjei and Roman Josi. Nashville has been one of the best NHL teams at pumping out impactful defensemen, and this year is no different with their newfound depth.
Juuse Saros is injured, so their options in goal against the Blackhawks are Justus Annunen and Matt Murray. Annunen defeated the Golden Knights on Saturday, but they could go right back to him on Sunday. Andrew Brunette has a decision to make, but it won’t be revealed until closer to game time.
Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago
The Blackhawks are not expected to have Sacha Boisvert or Anton Frondell available for Sunday’s game. They are both expected to make their NHL debut on the East Coast later next week.
Greene-Bedard-Burakovsky
Bertuzzi-Nazar-Teravainen
Slaggert-Donato-Mikheyev
Lardis-Toninato-Lafferty
Vlasic-Levshunov
Kaiser-Rinzel
Del Mastro-Grzelcyk
Knight
The Chicago Blackhawks are going to be without Andrew Mangiapane and Louis Crevier again on Sunday. They are expected to return to the lineup on the upcoming road trip.
Going with a traditional lineup was forced on Jeff Blashill in the loss to Colorado, as he used the 11/7 strategy in St. Paul on Thursday. Having Dominic Toninato, Sam Lafferty, and Ethan Del Mastro in the lineup on Sunday will be necessary again.
Arvid Soderblom played for Spencer Knight on Sunday, the second half of a back-to-back. Against the Predators, expect Knight to get the nod once again.
How To Watch
The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game, it can be found on CHSN locally. Nationally, it is available to stream on ESPN+. The puck will drop shortly after 2:00 PM CT.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
With an incredibly tight playoff race in the Eastern Conference this season, the Montreal Canadiens had a must-win game against the New York Islanders on Saturday at the Bell Centre. Before the game, the organization paid tribute to Rodger Brulotte, a monument of the journalistic scene in Quebec, who passed away on Friday after a battle with cancer. Brulotte will be most remembered for his role as the Montreal Expos play-by-play man on RDS, but he also had a hand in the creation of the Expos’ mascot (at the time), Youppi! After the video tribute, the mascot came out on the ice, wearing his Expos jersey from back in the day, and holding a picture of himself with Brulotte, a nice touch by the organization.
The Canadiens came out strong out of the gate and took a whopping 17 shots on Ilya Sorokin’s net in the first frame, but they still ended up trailing 2-1 after the first 20 minutes of action. While the Habs did well to test the star netminder often, they failed to create any traffic in front of him, and he’s one of those goalies who will stop the puck if he sees it.
Jacob Fowler, who was in the net for the first time since his loss to the Anaheim Ducks last Sunday, only saw six shots in the first stanza, but still surrendered two goals. The first of which was a sharp top-corner shot from former Habs Emil Heineman on the power play, and the second was scored on a breakaway. He could have given up a third after mishandling the puck out of his net and losing it, but Brendan Gallagher cut off the Islanders’ pass.
A Tale Of Two Teams
After dominating in the first frame, the Canadiens came out worryingly flat to start the second frame and stayed flat for much of it. Martin St-Louis’ men didn’t have a single shot on goal until 14 minutes had been played in the frame. Whatever Montreal was trying, it wasn’t working. Asked about that period, the coach explained:
The first tenish minutes of the second, we couldn’t execute. We had so many moments where we could have spent time in their zone, but we missed a pass, we tried to go low to high, and it bounced over our sticks. We could never get going. Eventually, we got it back. You know, I thought our power play was really good, which helped us regain momentum. I just felt tonight, in that third period, the guys understood how we played a lot of good hockey, and, unfortunately, the game is tied right now. Let’s get this game. It was a group decision at that point; we just kept going, and we were hard to handle.
- St-Louis on a tough game to coach
The Canadiens bounced back after a good scare; the Islanders had a goal denied when the puck was touched too high, and it seemed to wake Montreal up. Not long after, Jean-Gabriel Pageau absolutely obliterated Lane Hutson with a bone-crushing hit, and from that point on, the right version of the Canadiens was back. Seconds after that hit, Alex Newhook, who had missed numerous chances up to that point, tied up the game with a one-timer from the side. The goal came at the right time, especially since he had just missed a golden scoring opportunity from the high slot.
Less than a minute and 20 seconds later, Cole Caufield scored his 41st of the season, walking in with the puck on the near post and lodging it above Sorokin’s shoulder. A power play goal made possible by the fact that Juraj Slafkovsky made a good read on the other side to stop a zone exit from the Isles.
After 40 minutes, the Canadiens had a 3-2 lead, somehow. Still, Brendan Gallagher had put them in hot water again by taking an incredibly silly penalty, a tripping call in the offensive zone with six seconds left in the frame.
Gallagher Bounced Back
While the penalty ended up being costly, with New York tying up the game on that power play, the veteran wasn’t made to skip a shift. Some might have liked the coach to have held him accountable, but on his very next shift, the Habs got the lead back as the veteran was creating traffic in front of the Isles’ netminder. Gallagher had an assist on the play and redeemed himself in the best possible way. Perhaps the coach felt his veteran knew what he had done was wrong, so there was no need to hammer the point home.
An Offensive Feast For The Top Line
In this 7-3 win, the top line combined for 13 points. Caufield got a hat-trick and a pair of helpers for five points, while Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky both recorded four points. They were a thorn in the Islanders’ side all night, and they frustrated their first line so much that Matthew Barzal ended up dropping his gloves and trying to fight the captain in the third. Suzuki was wise enough to decline the invite, and Kaiden Guhle soon came to his rescue.
Montreal now has 13 games left to play, and Caufield has 43 goals, making a 50-goal season a real possibility; he is on pace for 51 as things stand. As for Slafkovsky, he now has 61 points in 69 games, and each new point sets a new career high. As for Suzuki, with 85 points, he only needs four to tie his record-breaking 89 output from last season. The question is, though, will they remain together or will they have to be split up to kick-start the second line?
The Canadiens will have a day off on Sunday and be back to work in Brossard on Monday morning.
Massive ovation for Rodger Brulotte after the video tribute. Youppi! Is on the ice wearing his Expos jersey #GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/Yd2hv5zbCB
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 02: Dean Kremer #64 of the Baltimore Orioles licks his fingers after giving up a lead-off home run to LaMonte Wade Jr. #31 of the San Francisco Giants in the first inning on June 02, 2023 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hello, friends.
There are now just four days remaining until Orioles Opening Day. It’s coming on Thursday! As of yesterday, the team has wrapped up its exhibition schedule in Florida, with a home-and-home pair of exhibitions in Baltimore (today) and Washington (tomorrow) still to come before everything starts getting finalized for the regular season. Today’s 1:35 afternoon game will be televised on MASN.
In yesterday’s Grapefruit League finale, the Orioles beat the Phillies, 10-8. Jhonkensy Noel hit a grand slam in the game, which is nice for him but is not going to make much difference in his roster chances. Several pitchers who will not be on the Opening Day roster were in action in the game and gave up runs. One guy who will be on the roster had a scoreless inning: Tyler Wells struck out three guys.
The Orioles made some news yesterday that still has me surprised. Dean Kremer was optioned to minor league camp. This was essentially the obvious move ever since the team signed Chris Bassitt, yet it still surprised me because I couldn’t believe they would actually do it. Kremer has been a remarkably consistent guy across the last three years – seriously, his three ERAs are within 0.09 of one another. They weren’t good ERAs, but they are good enough that he has earned a spot in a major league rotation. Just, you know, the back, not the middle or even the front.
Kremer might still get that spot. The Orioles could still be intending to go with a six-man rotation. The thing is that with the early off days on March 27 and April 2, they don’t even really need a fifth starter more than once over the first week-plus of game action. Perhaps they’ll try to bring up Kremer when they want to transition to six, and in the meantime he’s keeping his innings built up in Triple-A Norfolk. We’ll see what they end up doing. Somebody could get hurt before they try to go to six guys. Or they might have a different plan entirely.
Another angle to is it that Kremer has generally stunk in April, with last year’s 7.04 ERA being representative of what he’s done in his career. If it is possible to absorb the rocky April in the minors and then get him up to MLB after that’s out of his system for the year, that’s a plus for the fortunes of the 2026 Orioles. Your guess is as good as mine whether Kremer could come up to MLB in May and avoid his career-long April struggles. Maybe he’s just going to stink in the first month he’s facing MLB hitters, whatever month that ends up being.
The Orioles also delivered a variety of injury updates that could have had a potential impact on the Opening Day roster. Manager Craig Albernaz told reporters before yesterday’s game that the knee soreness for Dylan Beavers shouldn’t have him out for the start of the season. On the other hand, Heston Kjerstad, who was unlikely to make the Opening Day roster anyway, is getting an MRI done on his hamstring. It seems that injured reliever Andrew Kittredge is trying to keep his injured list stint to the minimum. We’ll see how that works out.
Although spring training is over, the Orioles have not cut down the roster to close to the 26-man limit just yet. There are 42 players remaining in camp, two of whom are certainly ticketed for the IL. The team has probably already made the choices, it’s just a question of when they will reveal them. Or if Mike Elias does another end of spring training waiver wire/cash considerations surprise. It’s happened before.
Orioles stuff you might have missed
Keegan Akin suffers hip injury, muddling bullpen picture (The Baltimore Sun) One more bit of injury news from yesterday that could shake up the Opening Day roster. If Akin can’t go, will Elias decide it’s Anthony Nunez time? That’s what I’d do, but I don’t think he’s going to ask me.
Albernaz on Eflin: “He’s checked every box” (School of Roch) The fact that Zach Eflin has looked healthy and seemed to be pitching well through spring training, including in his most recent outing a couple of days ago, seems to be the thing that sealed Kremer being sent to the minors. If Eflin was two weeks behind schedule, Kremer is on the team. But he’s seemed to be in good shape, so that’s how it is.
Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries
Today in 1981, Earl Weaver was suspended after removing the Orioles from the field during a spring training game and forfeiting the remainder of the game in protest that he was not provided a correct batting order after the opponent, the Royals, made a number of substitutions. I’ll go ahead and guess he was right about it.
There are a few former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2018 catcher Andrew Susac, 2013 outfielder Mike Morse, and 1957 super utility man Billy Goodman.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: Declaration of Independence signer and Marylander Charles Carroll (1723), actor Chico Marx (1887), Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim (1930), Broadway composer Andrew Lloyd Webber (1948), and actor Keegan-Michael Key (1971).
On this day in history…
In 1765, the Parliament of Britain passed the Stamp Act, levying taxes directly on the North American colonies. Over time they were rather famously unhappy about this.
In 1871, North Carolina’s governor, William Woods Holden, was impeached and removed from office. He was the first governor of a state to be removed from office in this way. If the Wikipedia article about this is accurate, there have been a total of six more governors removed from then to now.
In 1963, the debut album for The Beatles, titled Please Please Me, was released.
In 1972, the Equal Rights Amendment, which proposed to enshrine that equality of rights shall not be denied on account of sex, was sent to the states for ratification. This effort has to date proved unsuccessful, though many states, including Maryland, include such a clause in their state constitutions.
A random Orioles trivia question
I received a random book of Orioles trivia questions for Christmas. I’ll ask a question in this space each time it’s my turn until I run out of questions or forget. There are 100 questions and because I’ve skipped stupid ones, we are already on 65. Here’s today’s question:
How many Gold Glove winners did the Orioles have in 1996? Bonus: Name the players.
**
And that’s the way it is in Birdland on March 22. Have a safe Sunday.
