The Suppan name is well known in West Hills. Jeff Suppan was a superstar at West Hills PONY baseball before moving on to Crespi and having a 17-year career in MLB. His sister, Karen, was once the girls' volleyball coach at Chaminade. Brother Mike has been a longtime teacher at Chaminade. Jeff still helps at West Hills PONY baseball.
Now there's a new Suppan making a name for herself. Jeff's daughter, Finley, is the star pitcher as a sophomore for Chaminade (10-2-1).
Asked about her father's contributions, Finley said, "He’s helped me a lot. We’ve had many car rides together. He told me a lot about the mental side of softball. Also how important it is to just focus one pitch at a time as a pitcher and to control the controllable."
Dad is learning it's much harder to watch his daughter pitch than pitch himself.
"I have to admit I don’t know how my parents and my family watched me pitch for all those years," Jeff said. "I guess that’s why my mom always kept score and now I do to."
Finley's complete interview will be on Thursday's edition of Friday Night Live at 5 p.m. via X at LATSondheimer.
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
On March 31, the Houston Rockets put on one of their best performances of the year, defeating the New York Knicks 111–94 at home.
The Rockets set the tone from the beginning. Houston took control early in the second quarter and never gave it up, playing with confidence, speed, and accuracy. Against a Knicks defense that never quite found its footing, their ball movement was especially impressive, as they piled up assists and continuously produced excellent opportunities.
Kevin Durant, who skillfully coordinated the offense, was at the center of it all. In addition to finishing with 27 points, the seasoned forward frequently punished New York’s defensive rotations and double teams. He was by no means alone; Houston displayed a well-rounded offense, with several players scoring in double figures, including a potent bench contribution that kept the pressure on.
The Rockets were equally impressive on defense. Leading the perimeter attack, Amen Thompson successfully neutralized Jalen Brunson, who was limited to just 12 points due to ineffective shooting. Throughout the whole game, Houston’s switching and toughness threw off New York’s rhythm, causing turnovers and contested possessions that prevented any meaningful comeback attempt. It was a tough game for the Knicks. With 22 points, Karl-Anthony Towns led the club, but he was ineffective against Houston’s interior presence. Beyond that, New York’s offensive cohesiveness never developed; they fell behind early and lacked the ball security and shot-making skills necessary to make a significant challenge.
Houston’s poise and depth swiftly put an end to any momentum the Knicks managed, especially during short bursts in the second quarter. By the fourth quarter, the Rockets were comfortably ahead due to their disciplined play and timely scoring, making the result seem academic.
In a larger sense, the victory demonstrated Houston’s ongoing development under duress in addition to exacting revenge for a previous defeat to New York earlier in the season. As the postseason draws near, the Knicks’ defeat revealed persistent worries about facing top-tier competition.
On this particular night, however, the narrative was straightforward: Houston was more decisive, deeper, and sharper throughout.
The Houston Rockets are back in action Wednesday night at Toyota Center versus the Milwaukee Bucks. You can catch the game on NBA League Pass or Space City Home Network, and as always, be sure to check back at the Dream Shake for pre- and post-game content.
The Montreal Canadiens were in Tampa Bay on Tuesday night to take on the leaders of the Atlantic Division, the Tampa Bay Lightning. Jakub Dobes was back in the net, fresh off being named the first star of the week in the NHL. In three games last week, the Czech netminder saved 100 of the 104 shots he faced and finished the week with a 1.33 goals-against average and a .962 save percentage. The rookie goaltender had 25 wins before Tuesday night’s game, besting both Patrick Roy and Carey Price's win totals in their rookie years. He won’t beat the record established by Ken Dryden, which stands at 39, but it’s still an impressive feat. Still, he had never beaten the Bolts and was hoping to do it on Tuesday.
For once, the Habs were ready to go when the puck dropped in Tampa, and they even led shots on goals-wise by the end of the first 20 minutes with nine shots to the Lightning’s eight, but the score was still tied at 1-1.
Juraj Slafkovsky celebrated his 22nd birthday on Monday, and he decided to keep the celebration going on Tuesday. The big Slovak played an impressive game, displaying everything he’s improved in his game this season. His puck possession, his ability to shield it with his body, and his ability to battle while keeping his balance have been key to the Canadiens’ strong possession game.
From a rookie who fell more often than not back in 2022, he has become a real power forward who gives headaches to his opponents. His reads have also gotten much better, and he’s able to identify when it’s time to switch things up. In the first frame, Ivan Demidov’s shots were off on the power play, and Slafkovsky initiated a permutation which led to him scoring the first goal of the game.
Then, in the second frame, he came into the Lightning’s territory in possession of the puck with plenty of speed and knowing full well where Cole Caufield was, he hung on to the puck until the very last second before delivering a perfect feed with a cross-zone pass right in front of the crease, allowing the sniper to notch his 47th game of the season. In the process, he cut Nathan MacKinnon’s lead in the race to the Rocket Richard trophy to just two goals.
Notre premier choix au repêchage qui fait des choix de premier plan
With Alexandre Carrier out for two to four weeks, Arber Xhekaj was back on the blueline, forming a pair with Kaiden Guhle. However, the pairings can vary during a game, and at one stage, Xhekaj found himself on the ice at the same time as Jayden Struble. They ended up being stuck on the ice for 1:51 and 1:48, respectively, trapped in the zone and unable to exit.
While they are both capable of playing as a sixth defenseman, when they both must be in the lineup, it can become a bit of an adventure. It wouldn’t be surprising if freshly recalled Adam Engstrom had a turn sooner rather than later. The youngster is NHL-ready, and he has played most of his career on the right side, which isn’t the case for Struble or Xhekaj.
Furthermore, with the stakes as high as they are right now, it will be a great opportunity to see how he can handle pressure.
Another Huge Game From Dobes
While the Canadiens led in shots in the first frame, they did not lead in shots in any other period. Over the last 40 minutes, Tampa had 29 shots while Montreal only had 14, but that mattered very little since Dobes stopped them all.
His performance on Tuesday was rendered even more impressive because it wasn’t a struggling goalie at the other end of the ice; it was likely Vezina Trophy winner Andrei Vasilevskiy. It didn’t impress the Canadiens’ netminder, though; he was simply Dobes (to the tune of Tina Turner’s Simply the Best) on the night.
In the end, the only goal he gave up came with a couple of players making it hard for him to follow Jake Guentzel around the net. For the rest of the night, he was incredibly solid. Could he have had better rebound control? Perhaps, but at that stage, it matters very little since he stopped every shot coming from the rebounds he gave.
On Caufield’s goal, the sniper and Mike Matheson both got their 300th point, and the blueliner even added an empty netter to put the icing on the cake, just like Suzuki, who also got one, his 92nd point on the season. As for Caufield, he now has 81 points on the year. Final score: Montreal 4, Tampa Bay 1. With that win, the Habs remain in third place in the Atlantic Division, but only two points behind Tampa and four points behind the Buffalo Sabres, who are now first thanks to a 4-3 win over the New York Islanders.
Lakers forward LeBron James goes up for a shot as Cavaliers center Thomas Bryant watches at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
The tests kept coming in the month of March for the Lakers and they responded with the same resounding answer: We’re ready.
Yet, even though the Lakers posted a 15-2 record last month, even though they beat some of the best teams in the NBA, they still have another big test on the horizon that will further show whether they're ready.
The Lakers will meet the defending NBA champion Thunder in Oklahoma City Thursday night, and it will be the test of all tests because OKC is just as hot as L.A. and owns the best record in the NBA.
The Thunder have their own unstoppable force in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, last season’s most valuable player who is in line to win it again this season, just as the Lakers have their own unstoppable force in Luka Doncic, another MVP candidate this season.
Los Angeles, CA - March 31: Lakers head coach JJ Redick coaches the team as the Lakers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 127-113 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles Tuesday, March 31, 2026. The Lakers clinched a playoff berth before their win over Cleveland. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Oklahoma City produced a 14-1 record in March. The Thunder have a 60-16 record, tops in the league.
So for the Lakers, Thursday will be a measuring stick against the best the league has to offer.
“Yeah, 100%. I mean, I feel like we've been in a couple playoff games here recently," Lakers forward Jake LaRavia said. "This is obviously going to be another one, you know, best team in the West. So it's going to be a good test for us as we're nearing the playoffs. And, yeah, it's going to be the same thing. We have to be physical. We have to play defense collectively. We're gonna have to just play together as a team.”
“Obviously they are the defending champs,” Lakers guard Austin Reaves said. “They play at a high level. Obviously one of the best teams in the league, if not the best team, and we have an opportunity to go into OKC and battle them.”
The Thunder have one of the NBA’s best defenses. OKC holds teams to 107.6 points per game, second-best in the league, and 43.5% shooting, the best in the NBA.
Oklahoma City ranks fifth in the NBA in scoring (118.6) and fifth in shooting percentage (48.2).
So, yes, the Lakers will have their hands full.
“They're great on both sides of the ball,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “They're gonna make you work for things defensively because of how physical they are. And then, they just do a great job of driving. You really have to do your best to keep them outta the paint, have you to do your best to be square of the ball. … They just are really good at what they do. And they've been doing that now for five years. And they know all the nuances. They know all the tricks. They all know the timing of everything. They're just a tough team to guard.”
Lakers' ultimate teammate
Lakers guard Marcus Smart looks to pass after chasing down a loose ball under pressure from Kings guard Russell Westbrook at Crypto.com Arena on March 1. (Ronaldo Bolanos/Los Angeles Times)
The Lakers all view Marcus Smart as the ultimate teammate, a selfless member of their group and a true leader the team can count on for his willingness to compete on both sides of the basketball.
Smart and Deandre Ayton sit next to each other in the Lakers’ locker room and that has been a good thing for Ayton, who relies on Smart for his wisdom and guidance.
And even though Smart missed his fifth straight game Tuesday night against the Cavaliers with a right ankle contusion, Ayton and the Lakers still felt his presence.
“Yeah, I think there's a built-in level of respect and, in some ways, acceptance with Marcus because of how hard he competes and how much he gives every single time that he steps on the floor,” Redick said. “That's an easy way to build trust with your teammates — ... to play as hard as you possibly can every single night and do it with a competitive gusto. And that's what Smart does.
" I think for [Ayton,] he's just been a great calming voice for him throughout the year. ... Marcus has been there, throughout halftimes, huddles, on the court. ... It's really allowed D.A. to be more consistent as we've gotten towards the end of the season.”
Smart has been recognized for being such a great teammate.
The NBA announced on Tuesday that Smart is one of 12 finalists for the 2025-26 Twyman-Strokes Teammate of the Year Award. It’s an honor that recognizes the player deemed the best teammate based on selfless play, on-and-off the court leadership as a mentor and role model to other NBA players and commitment and dedication to his team.
“He’s like a brother’s keeper,” said Ayton, who had 18 points and nine rebounds against the Cavaliers. “He sees everything, just like [LeBron James] and [Austin Reaves] and Luka [Doncic]. But he’s definitely going to bring it up. He reminds me a little bit of [former Suns teammate] Jae Crowder, that guy who is always going to be the one saying the right thing at the right time. Just our enforcer, our pit bull and he’s the one that set the tone, really, and we all follow. He throw a punch, we all going to throw a punch. You got 1,000 punches, you know what I’m saying? That’s Marcus.”
Harrison Barnes was nominated as an NBA Sportsmanship Award Finalist. The award is given to a player who most “exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship on the court with ethical behavior, fair play, and integrity.”
He was nominated alongside former Spurs guard Derrick White, T. J. McConnell, Bam Adebayo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Al Horford.
And per league, Harrison Barnes is one of six finalists for its annual Sportsmanship Award, a field that includes former Spur Derrick White. pic.twitter.com/tP3e4PH87w
This comes on the heels of receiving some high praise from Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra.
The award “recognizes the player deemed the best teammate based on selfless play, on- and off-court leadership as a mentor and role model to other players, and commitment and dedication to team.”
Fox is joined by nominees Desmond Bane, Jalen Brunson, Pay Connaughton, Jeff Green, Jrue Holiday, Deandre Jordan, Duncan Robinson, Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum, Garrett Temple, and Jaylin Williams.
De’Aaron Fox is 1 of 12 finalists for the NBA annual award that “recognizes the player deemed the best teammate based on selfless play, on- and off-court leadership as a mentor and role model to other players, and commitment and dedication to team.” pic.twitter.com/WclY9T73yC
The NBA presents the winner with the Twyman–Stokes Trophy and gives a $25,000 donation to a charity of the recipient’s choice.
Spurs legend Tim Duncan won in in 2015.
Jrue Holiday has been awarded the honors three previous years.
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Nov 12, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) celebrates with forward Jalen Johnson (1) after a play against the Sacramento Kings during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images | Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Hawks fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Your Atlanta Hawks are red-hot, having won 17 of 20 games since the All-Star Break.
In a season where the Hawks were supposed to contend for a top six place in the Eastern Conference, the team took a very circuitous route to get here. The team’s starting point guard and starting center at the beginning of the season are now elsewhere, and for a long time the Hawks found themselves floundering below .500 in the ninth and tenth spots in the standings.
But with this recent surge, they now find themselves fifth — a game and a half up on the Philadelphia 76ers in seventh and half a game above the Toronto Raptors.
The remaining six games for Atlanta are, in order, at Orlando, at Brooklyn, home against New York, at and home to Cleveland, and finish at Miami. That’s a tough slate.
So I ask you, loyal readers, would it be a disappointment if the Hawks slipped below sixth into the Play-In Tournament? The results of the poll will be posted later this week.
Kurtis Patterson’s dramatic rise from state discard to Test prospect has continued, receiving the Steve Waugh Medal for New South Wales’ men’s domestic cricketer of the year.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 31: Rickard Rakell #67 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in the first period during the game against the Detroit Red Wings at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 31, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Penguins have positioned themselves nicely for a potential playoff spot with their back-to-back big wins against the New York Islanders and the Detroit Red Wings.
On consecutive nights, the Penguins blew past their opponents to give themselves a much better chance of making the playoffs now than they had just 48 hours prior.
As of Wednesday morning, the Penguins have a 95% chance of making the playoffs.
Going into Monday’s game against the Islanders, the Penguins were sitting with a 79% chance of making the playoffs, according to HockeyViz.
With their big 8-3 win on the road in New York, Pittsburgh’s chances jumped to around 90% with another pivotal game against the Red Wings at home the following day.
As the Penguins took care of their own business, their playoff chances jumped to 95%, according to HockeyViz and then scoreboard watching did them some favors, as well.
Other teams in the playoff hunt like the Senators, islanders, Blue Jackets, and Flyers all came up on the losing end on Tuesday night.
Mar 31, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) and New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) fight in the third period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
“It will be interesting to see if the Devils do look to hire someone solely for the president of hockey operations title this summer, and whether that would allow Fitzgerald to stick around for at least one more season as GM and assess him from there. The feeling in New Jersey is that Fitzgerald is preparing for the worst, knowing he’s on the hot seat.” [Sportsnet]
The Rangers avoided a season series sweep with a 4-1 win over the Devils on Tuesday. [Devils NHL]
We had a goalie fight:
Igor Shesterkin: First Rangers goalie fight since Dan Cloutier on April 4, 1998
And the #NJDevils, who could have been where the Flyers are if they'd played the last 2 games before the Olympic break and the first 2 out of the break like they meant something:
— Whatever ownership has planned — firing GMTF, keeping him and hiring a POHOP or status quo –…
“MLB’s automated strike zone system is leading to more accurate officiating. Should the NHL also use tracking technologies for offside and goal-line calls?” [The Hockey News]
A look around the league at each team’s best prospect: [ESPN]
“Macklin Celebrini is in the midst of one of the best NHL seasons ever produced by a teenager. On Monday night, the 19-year-old notched the 100th point of his sophomore campaign, posting two goals and an assist in a 5-4 win over the St. Louis Blues. Reaching the milestone puts him in some very elite company.” [Sportsnet]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
Free of charge for the discerning reader.Unrest on the horizon and some of baseball’s sad passings. Also, a homer that wasn’t, and other stories.
Today in baseball history:
1914 – Rube Waddell dies from tuberculosis in San Antonio, TX, at the age of 37. One of the top lefthanded pitchers in major league history, Waddell led the American League in strikeouts for six years in a row, collected four consecutive 20-win seasons from 1902 to 1906, including the Triple Crown in 1905 with 27 wins, 287 strikeouts and a 1.48 ERA, leading the league in all pitching categories. Waddell, who dies in a sanitarium, had seen his condition weakened by his efforts to contain a winter flood in Kentucky. He will be selected to the Hall of Fame by the Special Veterans Committee in 1946.
1957 – Called by Les Biederman of The Sporting News ”one of the most unusual games in modern spring training history,” Kansas City and Pittsburgh battle through 18 innings to a scoreless tie “before probably one of the smallest crowds of the season anywhere, only 432 paid admissions.” Starting at 1:30 p.m., the game is called by mutual agreement at 5:27 because of impending darkness and high winds. Each team uses three pitchers, with the Athletics managing eleven safeties and the Bucs held to seven. Of the latter total, Roberto Clemente accumulates three, including the contest’s only extra-base hits, a leadoff double to begin the game and a one-out double in the top of the 18th. Clemente then saves the game in the bottom of the frame by gunning down Clete Boyer trying to go from first to third on Vic Power’s single with none out.
1970 – An ownership group headed by automobile dealer Bud Selig buys the Seattle Pilots for $10.8 million. Selig will immediately move the Pilots to Milwaukee, WI and rename the team the “Brewers.” The Pilots lost $1 million during their lone season in Seattle, WA.
1980 – After failing to come up with a new collective bargaining agreement with the owners, the Executive Board of the Players’ Association votes unanimously to cancel the 92 remaining exhibition games and to strike on May 22 if a deal has not been reached by then. During spring training, the players had voted 971-1 in favor of a strike. The lone dissenter was Kansas City’s Jerry Terrell, who voted no for religious reasons.
1985 – Today’s issue of Sports Illustrated contains a fictitious article about a New York Mets pitching prospect named Sidd Finch*, whose fastball has been timed at 168 miles per hour. Author George Plimpton offers bogus quotes from real-life members of the Mets, as well as several staged photos, and fools readers nationwide.
1996 – Home plate umpireJohn McSherry collapses and dies from a heart attack on Opening Day at Cincinnati’sRiverfront Stadium, in the 1st inning of a game between the Reds and Expos, which is cancelled. The 51-year-old McSherry had umpired in the National League for 26 seasons. Reds owner Marge Schott hits a low point with her insensitive remarks, blaming the late umpire for spoiling the team’s opening day celebrations.
2012 – The Cardinals’Lance Berkman plays an April Fools prank on teammate Adam Wainwright. Before the third inning of a Grapefruit League game, Wainwright’s white Chevrolet Silverado pick-up truck is driven on the warning track at Roger Dean Stadium as the public address announcer states that it will be given away to a lucky fan. A stunned Wainwright watches from the bench as the supposed prize winners, a father and his son, climb into the bed of the truck when it stops in front of the home dugout and Berkman, who is driving, pokes his head out of the window, waves to everyone, and drives away.
2021 – In one of the strangest plays today, the Dodgers’Cody Bellinger connects for an apparent home run with Justin Turner on first base in the third inning of their game against the Rockies at Coors Field. The ball goes in and out of leaping LF Raimel Tapia’s glove to land in the stands, but Turner, who was running on the play, thinks it has been caught and sprints back to first base. On the way, he crosses paths with Bellinger, who is running in the opposite direction. Bellinger is called out for passing a baserunner, and his homer becomes a long single, but once the confusion has been cleared, Turner is allowed to trot around the bases, so at least Bellinger gets an RBI. The play helps the Rockies win the game, 8-5.
374 – Comet 1P/374 E1 (Halley) approaches within 0.0884 AUs of Earth.
1748 – Ruins of Pompeii rediscovered by Spaniard Rocque Joaquin de Alcubierre.
1867 – International Exhibition opens in Paris.
1891 – The Wrigley Company is founded in Chicago, Illinois.
1927 – First automatic record changer introduced by His Master’s Voice.
1948 – ”Big Bang” theory proposed in scientific journal “Physical Review” by American cosmologists Ralph Alpher, Hans Bethe, and George Gamow.
1976 – Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs found Apple Computer in the garage of Jobs’ parents house in Cupertino, California.
1989 – A. Bartlett Giamatti replaces Peter Ueberroth as the seventh commissioner of Major League Baseball; dies suddenly of a heart attack five months later.
BALTIMORE, MD - MARCH 26: Craig Albernaz #55 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on during during batting practice before the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Thursday, March 26, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning Birdland,
You remember all of that starting pitching depth that Mike Elias was excited about? It’s probably going to be put to the test right away. That’s because Zach Eflin made it through just 3.2 innings of his season debut on Tuesday night before he had to leave with an apparent injury. We learned after the game that he was experiencing “elbow discomfort.” Not good!
Elbow discomfort is often the first step down the road towards Tommy John surgery. That would, of course, shelf Eflin for the year and likely mean the end of his time with the Orioles, although he and the team do have a mutual option for 2027.
It should be said, we do not know what the exact injury is at this moment. Everyone outside of the Orioles organization would simply be speculating. But, we have all seen this movie before. An injury to the UCL is most likely, and that usually requires surgery. However, that isn’t always the case. Back in 2014, Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka partially tore his UCL. He received PRP injections, rested for six weeks, and then returned to the team. He never needed surgery on the injury at all. But that is a unique case, and not what any of us should expect.
Fortunately, the Orioles did plan on absorbing at least one injury like this. Dean Kremer is standing by in Triple-A Norfolk. The 30-year-old was surprisingly demoted to begin the year, more as a roster maneuver than a reflection on his performance. He would be the obvious next man up to join the rotation if Eflin’s injury is serious.
Kremer is as dependable as they come. Over the last three seasons his ERA has hovered between 4.10 and 4.19. He has eclipsed 170 innings in two of the last three seasons. And the 3.97 FIP he posted in 2025 was his best mark since 2022 (3.80). He is what you would get if you built a number five starter in a lab, and that is a valuable player to have on your roster. For now, it seems the team will add Albert Suárez to beef up the bullpen (which is having its own issues), but Kremer still looks like the favorite to take Eflin’s spot in the rotation longer term.
The odds of a starting pitcher going down at some point this year were always going to be high. To have it happen in the first week of the season, though, is absolutely brutal. You have to imagine the Orioles were hoping to buy a little more time so that the likes of Trey Gibson, Cade Povich, and Brandon Young could get into their seasons a bit more, refine their approaches, and be in a better position to contribute. That trio won’t be called on yet, but each could just be one injury away from a trip to Baltimore.
Links
Eflin to undergo imaging after departing ’26 debut; IL stint likely | MLB.com This is the first time that Eflin has had an elbow issue during his career. Most of his other IL stints have come because of his back, which he had surgically repaired last summer. The way manager Craig Albernaz was talking after the game, it certainly doesn’t sound like Eflin will be coming off of the IL anytime soon.
Orioles To Select Albert Suárez | MLB Trade Rumors It is nice to have someone like Suárez to call on from Triple-A. When the Orioles have needed him in each of the last two seasons he has been quite good. Injuries limited him to just five big league appearances in 2025, and he did not have the best spring. But ultimately you have to trust the 36-year-old to figure it out. If he pitches well enough the Orioles might just hang onto him and demote one of the optionable bullpen arms when it comes time to call up Kremer.
Keegan Akin turns 31 today. Since fully transitioning to a reliever a few years ago, the lefty has been a rather reliable piece of the Orioles bullpen. He is currently on the IL, but is expected to slot right back into the middle innings once healthy.
Rich Amaral is 64. He was a backup outfielder for the O’s during the 1999 and 2000 seasons, known more for his glove than his bat.
Mike Kinnunen turns 68. A southpaw, he tossed 27 total innings for the Orioles between 1986 and ‘87.
This day in O’s history
2010 – The Orioles acquire infielder Julio Lugo from the Cardinals. He would become a utility option for them, spending most of his time at second base as Brian Roberts battles a herniated disc in his lower back.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 31: Andrew Painter #24 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches in the first inning of his MLB debut against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on March 31, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Now THAT is how you debut.
It’s a rather nice feeling that both of the players that the Phillies are entrusting with important roles this year – Justin Crawford and Andrew Painter – got off to good starts in their first game rather than the duds that could have happened. We’d have all been fine expecting both to fall flat on their face in their first ever MLB games, but both came out and performed.
BUFFALO, NY -- The New York Islanders were bailed out by the out-of-town scoreboard on Tuesday night after their 4-3 regulation loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
However, those results, while helpful to the Islanders, are a bit misleading.
The Blue Jackets have a game in hand, while Ottawa, Detroit, and Philadelphia each have two games in hand.
Now, games in hand only matter if you win them, but the Islanders certainly aren't safe in a playoff spot with six games to go.
They'll need the scoreboard to keep breaking in their favor, but a win over the Flyers at home on Friday before heading to Raleigh for their final road game on Saturday night against the Hurricanes would do a world of good.
The Warriors forward, who, along with a handful of future draft picks, reportedly was included in Golden State’s trade offer to the Milwaukee Bucks for superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, ultimately stayed put past the NBA’s Feb. 5 trade deadline with the only team he has known throughout his 14-year career.
However, that did not always appear to be the most likely outcome for Green before the Bucks eventually decided not to trade Antetokounmpo this season.
“This is probably it,” Green told ESPN’s Anthony Slater about what he told himself in the days leading up to the deadline. “And I got to be OK with that. You see so many people leave places bad and I just didn’t want that.”
“I’m a human being. There was a second of me [at the deadline] that felt like, ‘Damn, they really going to do that to me?'”
While Green initially might have been hurt by the possibility of being traded, he certainly understood why Golden State was willing to part with him, even if it resulted in him playing for a team that he, admittedly, had no interest in playing for.
“I understand this business probably [as] good as any player,” Green shared with ESPN. “I understand like, ‘Yo, this is Giannis Antetokounmpo. They not just about to trade me for a bag of peanuts.’ It would’ve almost been a point of pride.
“I’ll be honest though. I didn’t want to play for Milwaukee.”
Warriors superstar Steph Curry, who has accomplished so much in his illustrious NBA career alongside — and in part, because of Green –also understands why the franchise would have to part with his longtime teammate.
“I didn’t spend time on the conversation,” Curry told ESPN about the possibility of Green being traded. “But I guess Giannis is the only one that would’ve made sense. And I think, to his point, any team would’ve looked at that. But we never got there. I guess I’m the only one that is off the board, out of the conversation, but you have to be naïve to not understand the business side of it.”
Green and Curry will close out their 14th season together before the Warriors embark on an offseason that, once again, could result in a major roster shake-up.
The same holds for the Michigan basketball star, is true for Arizona's Koa Peat, Illinois' Keaton Wagler and Connecticut's Terrian Reed. These four have been among the best players in March Madness, but have also proven themselves over the course of the season.
For either the Wolverines, Wildcats, Fighting Illini or the Huskies to win the 2026 national championship, they'll need their best players to shine in the biggest moments of the year when the quartet plays in the Final Four on Saturday, April 4, from Indianapolis.
However, just because a star has a big game, it does not mean these teams can easily be knocked off. Just ask Alabama and Labaron Philon. The Crimson Tide star matched a career-high of 35 points, but got little help from his supporting cast, causing Alabama to lose to Michigan in the Sweet 16.
All four stars will need help from a potential unsung hero for their team to win a national title. Here's a look at some potential candidates who could step up in that role:
Trey McKenny, Michigan
Trey McKenny, the freshman from Flint, Michigan, is potentially finding his stroke at the right time. On the season, he is averaging 9.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game on 46.2% shooting from the field, incluidng 38% from 3-point range.
However, McKenny scored at least eight points in every NCAA Tournament game, including 17 points against Alabama and followed it up with a 12-point performance against Alabama. Against the Crimson Tide, he connected on three 3-pointers.
In addition to his hot outside shooting, McKenney has also gotten to the free throw line 11 times over the last two games, knocking down 10 of them. While Lendeborg is the present for the Wolverines, McKenney is likely the future, already declaring his intention to return next season.
Could he give a glimpse into why he was a top-20 recruit in the 2025 class to help Michigan win its first title since 1989?
Motiejus Krivas, Arizona
Could the first-year starter and junior for Arizona, Motiejus Krivas, be a key for the Wildcats to win their first national title since 1997?
On a team full of scorers, Bradley is fourth on the team with his career-best 10.4 points per game, while averaging a best 8.2 rebounds per game. He shoots 56.9% from the field. He has started all 38 games for Arizona this season after making just one start in his first two seasons.
He is capable of a big scoring performance, as he did when he scored 25 points against Kansas State on Jan. 27, on 7-of-10 shooting from the field and making 11 of 12 free throws.
Kylan Boswell, Illinois
With Wagler's emergence, it could be easy to forget his fellow backcourt mate, Kylan Bowell, at times. However, Boswell is the model of consistency for Brad Underwood's Illinois team.
The 6-foot-2 senior guard from Champaign, Illinois, is averaging a career-high 12.5 points per game on 45% shooting from the field, to go along with 3.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.
Boswell had a 25-point performance against UConn earlier this season, while he also had 22-point performances against Texas Tech and Alabama. He also scored 20 points against Nebraska, proving he's capable of big games when called upon.
Silas Demary Jr., UConn
UConn's strength is having many players whom it can turn to for a shot with the game on the line. Case in point, freshman Braylon Mullins hitting the game-winning buzzer-beater against No. 1 seed Duke in the Sweet 16.
For this exercise, Mullins is too well-known now. So another player to keep an eye on is junior Silas Demary Jr. The UConn junior is averaging 10.4 points, 5.9 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game on 45.5% shooting and 40.5% 3-point shooting.
The transfer from Georgia had 23 points and 15 assists on Jan. 7 against Providence, proving he is capable of a major game when it is needed.
