"I don't think so," was what Islanders head coach Patrick Roy said when The Hockey News asked if the 30-year-old blueliner would be traveling.
Roy will talk at 5:35 on Saturday, so we'll get an official answer then.
DeAngelo, 30, is working his way back from a lower-body injury sustained early in the Islanders' 4-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on March 24. He has been skating on his own for the last few days, but has yet to join a team skate.
The Islanders have missed DeAngelo's presence in the lineup, going 2-4-0, including the Blackhawks loss, being outscored 23-17 over that span.
DeAngelo, who is in the final season of a one-year extension worth $1.75 million, has 33 points (five goals, 28 assists) in 72 games, averaging 19:03 minutes per game.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 31: Yordan Alvarez #44 of the Houston Astros hits a RBI double in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Daikin Park on March 31, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the first couple of games, the Astros offense looked like it was trying to force everything.
The swings came early, the contact was weak, and too many innings ended before the opposing starter ever felt uncomfortable. It had that familiar early-season look of a lineup still searching for rhythm.
But the last few games have felt completely different.
The at-bats are longer. The counts are deeper. Opposing starters are being forced to throw stressful innings much earlier in games, and by the middle innings you can already start to see the pressure building on the other dugout.
That’s the part that should stand out most to Astros fans.
This doesn’t feel like a random hot stretch built on bloops or timely luck. It feels like a real philosophical shift in how this lineup is attacking pitchers.
The Astros are forcing labor-heavy innings, creating more traffic, and putting their best hitters in better run-producing spots.
More importantly, it feels like something that can actually hold over 162 games.
The Astros’ plate approach can realistically hold up over 162 games
This is the biggest reason the early success feels sustainable.
Houston’s drop in swing rate from 36.5% in 2025 to 31.8% in the early part of 2026 is not random variance. It reflects a lineup-wide commitment to a more disciplined identity.
— Crawford Chronicles (@CrawfordChron) April 1, 2026
Unlike batting average spikes or bloop-hit luck, plate discipline tends to stabilize over time because it is rooted in decision-making and preparation.
Across a 162-game season, forcing pitchers to throw “one more pitch” every at-bat adds up to:
more mistakes in hitter’s counts
more middle-relief exposure
more late-game scoring opportunities
more crooked innings by the 5th and 6th
This is the kind of offensive identity that doesn’t disappear when the weather changes or the schedule tightens.
It should actually get stronger.
1. Tip of the cap to Soriano today. He was dealing. 2. Plate discipline is a gift, not something you can just "train." It's a special skill. 3. When no one’s getting on base, there’s not much a manager can do. 4. This is the outcome most of us expected. #Astros#ChaseTheFight
Better patience makes Yordan Alvarez and Christian Walker even more dangerous
This may be the most exciting long-term effect. A patient offense protects its stars. When the entire lineup is committed to deep counts, hitters like Yordan Alvarez and Christian Walker see better versions of every plate appearance. Why? Because every hitter is protecting the next.
When Jose Altuve works a six-pitch at-bat, when Isaac Paredes forces a full count, when Cam Smith takes a momentum walk, pitchers lose margin for error.
By the time Yordan or Walker step in, the pitcher is often:
behind in the count
revealing sequencing patterns
less willing to nibble
more likely to challenge with a get-me-over fastball
That’s exactly where elite power hitters thrive. This is why the Astros’ power ceiling feels more realistic this season. The lineup is no longer depending on stars to create everything alone. It is creating the environment for stars to do maximum damage.
That’s sustainable offense.
Strong Astros pitching takes pressure off the offense
The other hidden reason this approach can last is the pitching staff. As Houston’s starters continue to settle in, the offense no longer has to play with the feeling that every inning must produce runs.
When Hunter Brown, Mike Burrows, and the rest of the rotation are giving quality innings, the lineup can stay loose and trust the long game. That changes hitter behavior.
Instead of pressing for instant damage, hitters can stay balanced:
This is where you start to see examples like Jose Altuve taking more walks, something that naturally increases when a team is not playing from offensive panic.
Loose hitters make better swing decisions.
Better swing decisions create traffic.
Traffic creates RBI opportunities.
That’s the cycle Houston is starting to build.
And when the pitching continues to hold games steady, this offense should become even more dangerous as the season matures.
All in all from what we are seeing, the Astros still have a high ceiling, the question in 2026, as it is with prospect scouting, is how high is the floor for the Houston Astros? Only time will truly tell, but I do believe this team has given us a glimpse of what they are capable of this season. It is only 7 games, and other teams may not be where they will be once everyone is in midseason form. I am looking forward to seeing what this lineup does in their first test on the road.
Please follow me and my thoughts on the Houston Astros all season long on Locked on Astros:
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 03: Chris Martin #31 of the Texas Rangers pitches in the ninth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on April 03, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Reds 5, Rangers 3
A let down home opener.
For the second year in a row, the Rangers went into the ninth in the home opener with the game tied, then allowed a home run in the top of the ninth that resulted in a loss.
That’s a trend I’d just as soon see the Rangers get away from.
MacKenzie Gore pitched pretty well in his start. A pair of homers accounted for all three runs he allowed, but Gore struck out nine in six innings and didn’t walk anyone.
In fact, Rangers pitchers didn’t issue any walks in the game. Good job there, guys.
Although in retrospect, Chris Martin walking the first two batters he faced would have been a good thing.
Martin, who was going to retire after last season, was expected to be the stabilizing influence in the pen. He was the most expensive bullpen arm the Rangers went and got this offseason.
He’s now had three rough outings in four appearances this year, with the one good outing consisting of three pitches to one batter.
Its early, don’t want to jump to any conclusions, but it it not an encouraging start.
Offensively, I think it felt like the Rangers should’ve scored more than three runs. Six of the eight hits they recorded were of the extra base variety. None of them were homers, though, which would have been better.
Brandon Nimmo continues to rake, going 2 for 4 with a triple and a walk. Wyatt Langford had a double and a triple, pushing his OPS up above 500.
The 3 through 6 spots were an issue, totaling 1 hit in 16 plate appearances. Corey Seager struck out three times, which makes me sad. I don’t want Corey Seager to strike out a bunch in one game.
Joc Pederson was hitless in his two plate appearances, making him 0 for 10 to start the year.
There was a sequence in the bottom of the sixth that stuck with me. Jake Burger doubled to start the inning. Andrew McCutchen, pinch hitting for Joc Pederson once the Reds brought lefty Sam Moll into the game, grounded out to third, with Burger unable to advance. After a Josh Smith ground out, Moll threw four pitches to Josh Jung that were nowhere near the strike zone, seemingly pitching around him to get to Evan Carter.
Carter saw three pitches from Moll. The first two were breaking balls he was bailing on that ended up strikes. The third pitch Carter swung helplessly at.
Carter had a double in the game and scored a run. But that plate appearance against Moll highlighted how overmatched he is against just about any decent lefthanded pitcher.
MacKenzie Gore reached 97.9 mph with his fastball, averaging 95.7 mph. Cole Winn topped out at 94.8 mph with his fastball. Jakob Junis’s sinker touched 92.8 mph. Chris Martin’s fastball maxed out at 95.4 mph.
Wyatt Langford had a 109.0 mph fly out and a 107.8 mph fly out. Joc Pederson had a 108.0 mph ground out. Corey Seager had a 107.0 mph ground out. Evan Carter had a 106.5 mph double. Jake Burger had a 104.2 mph double. Danny Jansen had a 103.3 mph double. Josh Jung had a 101.9 mph single.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 03: Fans enter the stadium before the home opener between the Cleveland Guardians and the Chicago Cubs at Progressive Field on April 03, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Guardians won their home opener and aim to play again today, weather-permitting.
Nick provided our recap here. Another big day for Chase DeLauter and the Guardians starting pitcher, this time Joey Cantillo.
Zack Meisel provided a cool diary of the game for the Athletic. Terry Pluto wrote a nice piece about the ballpark.
Around MLB:
The Tigers, Twins and White Sox won while the Royals were postponed. Byron Buxton got hit by a pitch and left the Twins’ game.
Mets left fielder Juan Soto, who has been one of the most durable players in the sport over the course of his career, is set to have an MRI this morning after leaving the team’s game last night in the first inning because of right calf tightness. Soto appeared to feel the calf issue as he ran from first to third on a single in the top of the first.
And now everyone holds their breath, as the Mets’ rocky start to the season would feel much worse if Soto’s diagnosis reveals anything significant. The 27-year-old is in the second year of his massive fifteen-year deal with the Mets, and he was outstanding at the plate last year with a .263/.396/.525 with 43 home runs, 38 stolen bases, and a 162 wRC+.
The Mets’ lineup had been ice cold since Opening Day until their ten-run barrage last night. It was encouraging to see a player like Marcus Semien, who couldn’t have been much worse at the plate in the team’s first seven games, have a big night. If Soto needs to spend any time out of the lineup, the Mets will need more performances like that to mitigate the loss.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 14, 2026: Eduardo Quintero #85 of the Los Angeles Dodgers prepares to bat during a minor league spring training game against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch on March 14, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The minor league season is now underway in full, with all four Dodgers affiliates playing games on Friday night for the first time this year.
Most of the big prospect names are accounted for on the various rosters. Josue De Paula, Zyhir Hope, and Adam Serwinowski are in Double-A Tulsa. Eduardo Quintero, Mike Sirota, Charles Davalan, Zach Root, and Christian Zazueta are with High-A Great Lakes. Emil Morales, Joendry Vargas, Landyn Vidourek, and Chase Harlan are in Class-A Ontario.
James Tibbs III is piling up extra-base hits alongside Zach Ehrhard in the Triple-A Oklahoma City outfield, and River Ryan is set to start for the Comets on Saturday. Alex Freeland is in the majors, platooning at second base.
Those 16 players were all ranked among the Dodgers’ top 10 prospects entering 2026 by at least one of Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, FanGraphs, ESPN, and The Athletic. The other two mentioned on top-10 lists are pitcher Jackson Ferris (fifth at BA, ninth at ESPN, 10th at The Athletic) and outfielder Ching-Hsien Ko (eighth at The Athletic), and both are currently in extended spring training, per Jim Callis at MLB.com.
Another notable prospect also at extended spring training, per Callis, is shortstop Kellon Lindsey, the speedster drafted in the first round in 2024 and ranked as high as 12th in the system by Baseball Prospectus and The Athletic. Lindsey played 28 games for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga in 2025 before going on the injured list in May. Outside of four rehab games in the Arizona Complex League, Lindsey didn’t play after July 10 last year. He played in one major league game this spring, on March 21, the last day of camp in Arizona.
“He looked like a major-league starter, and not a guy that’s cutting his teeth,” Roberts said of the way Sheehan finished. “It’s a tough lineup in the sense for a right-handed pitcher, there’s a lot of left-handed hitters. … I do think it was a step in the right direction.”
PORTLAND, ME - JULY 05: Mikey Romero #2 of the Portland Sea Dogs walks to the dugout before the game between the New Hampshire Fisher Cats and the Portland Sea Dogs at Hadlock Field on Saturday, July 5, 2025 in Portland, Maine. (Photo by Tyler Rodriguez/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
WORCESTER, Mass. – The Red Sox drafted a plethora of blue chip prospects over a four-year stretch, with Marcelo Mayer, Roman Anthony and Kyle Teel among others. But you may forget that Anthony wasn’t the first selection for Boston back in 2022. That would be Mikey Romero.
The rise of the “Big Three” kept the spotlight away from the former first-rounder, though his bat brought back some intrigue about his game in recent years.
Romero smacked the first home run of the season for Triple-A Worcester olast weekend against the Syracuse Mets. The infielder left the yard with an exit velocity over 100 MPH on an encouraging swing.
#RedSox No. 13 prospect Mikey Romero launched his first homer of the season in Saturday's win over Syracuse. pic.twitter.com/heb930Q3tE
The WooSox saw Romero play 45 games in Triple-A last season with a .745 OPS. With a return to a now-familiar environment in spring training and now in Worcester, Romero has a base under him to take off.
“I think it was good,” Romero told OverTheMonster.com on Media Day. “Came up, obviously a young guy, didn’t really know what to expect. Obviously struggled at the start. Being in a new clubhouse, being around guys who had show time, kind of everything, playing against better competition. I think just getting up here, getting my feet wet, it made the transition coming into this year super easy, just because I’m pretty comfortable. I know what to expect. I know all these guys, I was in camp with them, which I wasn’t in last year. And I think just the success I had last year is gonna help me kind of go into this year. I know that I’m more than good enough to compete at this level, and I’m excited to get going.”
The Red Sox added veteran infielders in a remake around the diamond this offseason, including Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Romero leaned on him for his defensive development this spring.
“In spring training, I was next to Kiner-Falefa, and me and him talked a bunch about playing second base, just because I kind of came up as a shortstop, played third for the majority of last year, so I’m at second base,” Romero explained. “But at this camp, I played only second base. And it was new in the sense of learning how to turn double plays a little quicker, make sure I’m in the right spot at the right time. And he’s been a big help.”
Nick Sogard, who blasted two homers Tuesday night, shows Romero a constant reminder of the opportunities that versatility provides. The Red Sox kept him on the playoff roster in New York last October where his hustle helped Boston scratch across extra scoring chances.
“I talk to him plenty about third base, second base,” Romero explained. “Just kind of everything like I lean on him a lot. I like the way he plays the game and it’s good to just have guys around that I can bounce ideas off of.”
The same can be said for Romero and Mayer, who joined the Red Sox system a year apart. Mayer won the second base job for the big league club. Romero looks to him as another brain to pick in the same age bracket.
“I grew up with Marcelo,” Romero said. “Him and I are obviously great friends. So like I know that he’s always in my corner. I can always talk to him about defense, offense, whatever it may be. His story, you know, he’s been another guy that’s been really open to, you know, just always talking to me, answering my texts, you know, sitting and having breakfast at the field. He’s a really good guy to talk to. He’s been playing the game, obviously, for a while. He does a lot of baseball left and he’s done that at a high level.”
Years of offensive progressions and productive defensive conversations with teammates equipped Romero well entering 2026. Now, it’s up to him to translate all that information into his game. Particularly at the plate, he identified room to grow and attack early.
“The big focus was really just getting the chase down a little bit,” Romero shared. “… But in spring training, I did a really good job. Like I chased at a really low rate. I think it was around 20 to 25 percent, which is a big improvement from last year. I know I’m going to slug. I know I’m going to hit home runs. I know I’m going to hit doubles, get RBIs. I think the biggest thing is just having good at-bats, making sure I’m getting the right pitches to hit. Because when I’m getting pitchers in the zone, I usually do damage. So I think it’s just about maturing in that way for me is like being okay with maybe taking a couple of pitches that are strikes but aren’t in the heart of the zone and capitalizing on the mistake that the pitcher will make eventually.”
Romero entered 2026 as Boston’s No. 13 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. There’s no reason he can’t play his way into infield reps at some point when inevitable injuries arise and Boston needs reinforcements. It’s a crowded group of veterans and young players, but there’s a lane for Romero to play his way to Fenway Park with an offensive surge.
Amid his hottest stretch of the season, one that was propelling him toward the top of the MVP race, he suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain midway through the third quarter of the Lakers’ 139-96 loss to the Thunder on Thursday.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a play during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Paycom Center on April 2, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) Getty Images
Doncic was extinguished right when he was exploding.
He averaged the second-most points in March in NBA history (37.5), behind Michael Jordan. He led the Lakers on a 16-2 run.
On Thursday morning, he was named the Western Conference Player of the Month for games in March. And he was a finalist for Defensive Player of the Month, a nod he received for the first time in his career.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball during the game against Oklahoma City Thunder on April 2, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images
That evening?
He was laid out on the floor, unsure of his future.
The worst part of it is the timing. Things were finally clicking for Doncic. Really clicking.
Lakers coach JJ Redick kept describing Doncic as “clear-headed.”
Basketball had become his refuge amid the turmoil in his personal life.
And it had become obvious that he had truly embraced Los Angeles as his home following the shocking trade last season that ripped him away from Dallas, where he thought he’d spend his entire career.
He was on the verge of leading the 17-time champion Lakers into the playoffs as real contenders. He had the rest of the league on the edge of their seat, unsure what he and his team were capable of doing in the postseason.
In addition to becoming the 10th player in NBA history to score over 600 points in March, he was averaging 8 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 2.3 steals over that stretch. He was trying on defense. He was a complete player who was challenging Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama for the league’s most prestigious individual honor.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts from the floor after a play during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Paycom Center on April 2, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) Getty Images
Then he went down.
Doncic, who was grabbing at his left hamstring in the second quarter, felt it seize while driving against Jalen Williams with 7:39 left in the third period.
He hopped a few times. He doubled over in pain. Then he slowly sat down, collapsing onto his back.
What a shame.
Now, both he and the Lakers are plunged into uncertainty.
Will he be able to return in time to help the Lakers? Will he qualify for awards using the “Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge,” even though he will miss the 65-game threshold? Are the Lakers toast?
The narrative has changed in whiplash-inducing fashion for a player who leads the league in scoring (33.5), is third in assists (8.3) and sixth in steals (1.6).
It has also shifted for the third-seeded Lakers, who now need to refind their identity after the Big 3 had finally jelled.
It took them until spring to find their groove, with Doncic as the head of the snake, Austin Reaves as the second option and LeBron James as third. And then with the playoffs five games away, the rug was ripped from underneath them.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic gestures during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images William Liang-Imagn Images
For the Lakers, this was dizzying.
And for Doncic, it was gut-wrenching.
Over the last month, Doncic was inspiring MVP chants during road games. He had 51-point and 60-point performances. He made a game-winning shot against the Nuggets in overtime.
He was him.
Now the Lakers need to figure out who they are without him.
PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 27: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 27, 2026 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. 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 Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
By now you’ve likely seen our first three parts (Part I, Part II, Part III) covering the NBA’s attempt to curb tanking. In this, our fourth and final part, we’ll take a look at the last of the proposed changes being brought before the Board of Governors.
For ease of reference, here are the basics of the current rules that we’ve included in each of the prior parts. As it stands, the 14 teams that do not make the Playoffs are eligible for the lottery. Don’t confuse making the Play In Tournament with making the Playoffs – they are not the same. 16 teams make the Playoffs when all is said and done, with 14 heading to the lottery. Lottery odds are flat (14%) for the three worst teams, with the odds decreasing from there down to the 14th worst team (0.5%). The team with the worst record can receive no worse than the 5th pick, as the lottery only determines picks 1-4 with the rest of the draft order following inversely of a team’s record.
Option 3 – Five-by-five, dual-lottery
Key aspects of the proposal include:
18 teams in the draft lottery (10 that miss the Playoffs outright plus 8 that make the Play In Tournament).
Each of the 5 worst teams have the same lottery odds, with other teams having worsening odds inversely with their record.
The first 5 picks would be determined by a lottery drawing.
After the first 5 picks are determined, the remaining 13 picks would be determined via yet another lottery drawing.
If any of the worst 5 teams fall outside the top 5 picks, they can fall no lower than the 10th overall pick.
Thoughts on the proposal
This proposal is probably the best indication that the NBA has a lot of lawyers running things. It seems this proposal is the most likely of the three to confuse fans. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea, but it doesn’t mean it’s a good one either. It matches the first proposal in terms of the number of lottery teams, but pairs it with a level of complexity that echoes the second proposal in terms of variables. A dual lottery is intriguing, but flat odds for the five worst teams doesn’t move the dial all the much from where things currently stand (flat odds for the three worst teams). It also may result in plenty of teams still looking to tank, just maybe slightly less so. The second lottery for picks 6-18 is where things get even more interesting. Is the prospect of being in a second lottery enough to incentivize teams to make the Play In Tournament? A Play In team with a good chance to jump to the number 6 pick is certainly enticing.
What it could mean for the Mavericks
Dependent upon when the changes take place, this could potentially benefit the Mavericks. If a reasonable expectation is for them to be a Play In team that quickly becomes a lock for a top-six Playoff team, it could put the Mavericks in position to move up in the draft just as they are breaking through the Play In Tournament phase of their growth. As with all of these scenarios, there are a ton of variables and timing concerns that would greatly change things for Dallas. With the number of picks swaps going against them in the coming years and how little control they have of their picks in general until 2031, their best outcome would be getting good quickly and hoping these changes are not imminent. The latter seems unlikely, so it’s possible Dallas could get some good draft luck that serves only to benefit another team.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
Welcome to Inside the Suns, your weekly deep-down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team. Each week the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — give their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.
Fantable Questions of the Week
Q1: Throughout the season, fans have voiced many doubts as to whether Devin Booker and Jalen Green could successfully play together. What are your thoughts on this pairing now?
Diamondhacks: While acknowledging Booker as the more accomplished player, both careers have been characterized by questionable shot selection. Curtailing their threes off the dribble is one identifiable change that could make them a very formidable offensive pair. They’re both too talented with the ball, even more so in concert, to settle for that relatively low % shot as often as they do. Catch and shoot 3s, yes. Off the dribble, not so much.
Ashton: Not much.
Yes, Green showed his potential in March, but I am still just not seeing the play-making and assists that should come from good to elite guards. Even if one just looks at offense and who has the ability to take a game over. I remain unconvinced in that area with both players.
So, put me in the doubter club? But I really wonder if this is so much of a pairing as it is to both players’ limitations.
OldAZ: It depends on how long we as fans are willing to wait and on our ability to remember that Jalen Greene is still a young player at only 23 years old. It is fair to recognize that by 23 Devin Booker was an All-Star and had leveled up his assist numbers and shooting percentage. However, now that Green and Booker are on the same team, we can hope that Green emulates some of his game around what Booker does, although with an additional dose of athleticism. We have seen some incredible passes from Green at times and we have seen effort given on the defensive end. Neither of these are consistent at this point, but this was also true of Book in his younger career.
Suns fans been skeptical of playing “point Book” and recall all those times when the Suns played without a true point Guard, but if Green can develop into something close to the same level of facilitator while still being an offensive threat like Booker, then there is a chance this backcourt pairing can be very effective. We have seen it in flashes, but are we willing to wait for consistency?
Rod: While I don’t think it’s perfect, I do like the way their strengths don’t overlap. Green’s speed and quickness getting to the rim are a welcome addition that complements Book’s mid-range game. I wish both of them were better distributors, but neither is shabby in that respect. The real question that has yet to be answered is if they can function together as the only guards on the court. I’d love to see a lineup of those two plus Brooks at SF, Fleming at PF, and Williams at C, a lineup with some size to it, just to actually see how well it works. No matter how well Book and Green can play together in small-ball lineups, that’s not going to be a good enough excuse to keep the two of them together in the long run.
Q2: Rookies Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Maluach are finally playing meaningful and productive rotation minutes. Do you believe this is because Jordan Ott brought them along slowly or in spite of it?
Diamondhacks: People sometimes confuse playing time with development. Any lottery coach can pencil in a high draft pick for 20 minutes a night and call it ‘development’. But that’s playing time, and I’m not sure any two draftee teammates have tangibly improved more from their respective draft day projections than Maluach and Fleming have.
If development is defined as learning and getting better, then Rasheer and Khaman are developing fast, not slow. Both played a lot in the G-League, and Rasheer has played more NBA minutes than about 2/3 of second rounders. I suspect they’ve been ‘brought along’ methodically and effectively, assimilating valuable standards and skills as they go, on a non-lottery team.
Ashton: I do not think Ott had a choice with the injuries that occurred. I believe the plan was to bring the rookies slowly along, and that seemed to be working, but with Mark Williams and Brooks sidelined with injuries, they were both pressed into play.
This question was asked before the Orlando game, and KM really did not get meaningful minutes in that game. Sheer did fine. This is one of those running questions where we see if the equation changes against the Hornets (before my submission), but in no way do I put this on the coach.
Would Izzo do it differently with the MSU Suns? I think he would have played the player minutes the same way.
OldAZ: I have said many times this season that the rookies should be made to earn their minutes, which justified the lack of playing time early this season. I could also be generous and say that Ott had a master plan to avoid the rookie “wall” by limiting their early minutes. Their recent play and contributions would justify all these efforts if that was really what was going on. Unfortunately, the last few weeks I am not inclined to be this generous in my interpretation of Ott’s motivations.
It is clear that he trusts veterans far more than younger players, and only the very high IQ Oso has worked himself into continuous meaningful minutes. Even after Fleming has shown to have the potential to be a major contributor, and KM has proven to be competent when they were down to only 2 centers Ott continues to only play veterans down the stretches of games, despite mounting evidence that having only one or no bigs on the floor in the 4th quarter also correlates to anemic offensive output and a massive disadvantage on the boards. I do still think that their success has been in large part to being brought along slowly, but Ott loses a little more credit for this every game as he fails to utilize them in a bigger way.
Rod: I really think Ott made the right decision in sending them to the Valley Suns early on and not throwing them directly into the fire of the NBA early on. Maluach still looks as though he needs more seasoning, but he started out so raw that it’s understandable. Fleming looks NBA-ready, something I didn’t see in him even during early-season garbage minutes. Maluach’s offense still needs some polish but his defense seems to have come along nicely.
Would it have worked as well (or better) if they were gifted more meaningful NBA minutes early in the season? Perhaps but it also could have backfired and hurt their confidence. And one thing that’s for certain is that they haven’t been pushed hard enough to slam into that “rookie wall” that comes from the extended NBA season. For Fleming especially, I’m glad that he’s relatively fresh at this point of the year instead of running on fumes.
Q3: What would you say are the keys to the Suns having any chance of getting past the 1st round of the playoffs?
Diamondhacks: First round? You mean the Clippers or OKC/SAS?
Neutralizing Darius Garland is a key to beating the New Improved Clippers, and a “healthy Jordan Goodwin” might be the best man for that job. If that’s even a thing at this point. Poor guy.
Outside of major injuries, I can’t offer a key or ‘secret’ to beating OKC/SAS in a meaningful series. The Suns don’t match those rosters’ top-end talent, depth, or experience.
Ashton: Go for the jugular here, Rod. Let’s just get it all on record. I can’t wait to read your response.
I have spent the month of March looking for Cinderella (I am married btw) and have not found it yet. The projected playoff brackets look as chalky as the NCAA, but in the month of April.
I doubt the Suns get out of the play-ins, much less the playoffs. Just so many inconsistencies on defense and offense on a season that was unreasonably full of hope and well done on a 40-plus win season. But they are fading in the stretch, and that is where it matters.
OldAZ: This is a continuation of the last question for me. They simply have to get away from playing only one player with size at a time. Even before Williams got hurt, they would often leave him on an island with 4 smaller players and when Brooks was out this led to some brutal results as average power forwards would feast on the Suns diminutive front line. I think Ott has got to recognize that as of late, the younger players are bringing more energy and effort that is lacking from his all veteran, small ball units.
Earlier in the season, the Suns won many games because they out hustled the other team. Now, as teams ramp up their intensity for the playoffs the Suns have not been able to match that when an older and undersized lineup is on the floor. It is an interesting mix, because most of the Suns youth consists of taller, longer players while the vets are mostly guards and smaller wings. This should work to their advantage “IF” Ott would put at least 2 of the bigger bodies on the floor for most of the minutes. Brooks and Goodwin would be far more effective if the other “forward” on the floor was not really an out of position guard.
For example, Brooks as the PF with Dunn at SF and either center, or Fleming and Goody with the other center make for a nice balanced front line that would compliment ANY combination of the Suns talented guards. I realize this limits O’Neale’s minutes, but in reality he should only play longer minutes if he is on fire shooting during the few minutes he would be left with. This would put at least 2 bigger players on the floor at all times and significantly increase the Suns athleticism on the defensive end.
We have all seen that when the Suns play better defense this season, their offense magically clicks as the ball moves faster and they get more early buckets. Unless this change is made, I see a quick and early exit for the Suns, which has the double downer of not giving those young players any significant playoff experience for the future. However, if he does mix them in more the value of this experience will be worth it AND I believe they would probably win an extra game or two in the process.
Rod: The way they’ve been playing lately, IF they actually get past the play-in games, I don’t see them having much of a chance of even winning a single game against either OKC or the Spurs in a 7-game series. Maybe they might win one game at most if they have one of those nights where everyone’s shots are falling, but that would be more luck than anything else to win that way.
They’ve just seemed so out of sync over the past few weeks that I have little hope/faith that they can somehow get their stuff together between now and the end of the regular season. If they can somehow do that, I could see them throwing a bit of a scare into a 1st round opponent by winning a game or two but that’s about it. I think they could do better than that if all the things that have gone wrong lately suddenly start to go right again, but I don’t think we can count on that happening.
As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!
Quotes of the Week
“Everything is on the table. We’re trying to figure this thing out on the fly and that’s what I just said. We’ve got to expedite it. There’s no excuse. We just have to figure it out.” – Jordan Ott
“Us being a first-year team, we just need some consistency. It hasn’t been that this year due to injuries and that’s just part of it.” – Devin Booker
“I think what the Suns take advantage of is just the energy that he (Jordan Goodwin) brings on and off the court. He’s a really good person and a good teammate. He really wants to see everybody do well.” – Ryan Dunn
“He (Collin Gillespie) is the definition of coming in here, getting your work in every day, sticking with it, and he’s definitely showing that it pays off.” – Devin Booker
“I’m extremely grateful to my teammates, coaching staff put me in great opportunities, but would’ve liked to get a win. That was the main thing.” – Collin Gillespie on beating the Suns’ single season 3-point record
Suns Trivia/History
Jordan Goodwin has 35 games this season with multiple steals, the fifth most in the NBA this year, behind only Kris Dunn, Ausar Thompson, Cason Wallace, and Dyson Daniels. The last time a Suns player had that many was in the 2018-19 season when Mikal Bridges had 40.
On April 6, 1993, the Suns entered the 4th quarter up 98-81 over the LA Lakers. They extended their lead to 20 points before going cold and allowing the Lakers to take a 2-point lead with just 1.6 seconds to go. The Suns had possession and inbounded the ball to Dan Majerle, who made a 33-foot three-point basket for a 115-114 win. Following the shot, Majerle jumped on the scorer’s table to celebrate as cheers from the home crowd lasted for several minutes. It was the Suns’ first-ever season sweep of LA.
On April 6, 1994, Suns point guard Kevin Johnson had a career high 25 assists in a 107-95 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. The entire Spurs team had just 1 assist more than KJ’s total for the game. KJ’s 25 assists in this one is also the Suns’ franchise record for most assists in a single game.
On April 7, 1969, as a new expansion franchise, the Suns took part in their first-ever NBA draft. The draft is mostly remembered because Phoenix lost the historic coin toss between them and Milwaukee, which gave the Bucks the right to draft Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul Jabbar) with the first pick. What is not widely known is that the Suns went on to draft a total of 22 players in that draft! The last player they selected was Jim Plump in the 20th round with the 216th pick of the draft.
On April 9, 1990, the Suns made an NBA record 61 free throws (out of 80 attempts) in beating the Utah Jazz 119-115 in overtime. A total of 121 free throws were attempted by both teams. Kevin Johnson was sent to the line 24 times and made 23 on his way to leading the Suns in scoring with a total of 37. Tom Chambers was just behind him with a total of 36 points and was 17 of 22 from the line. The Jazz were 29 of 41 at the FT line and had four players foul out of the game, two others finished with five fouls, and another four had four fouls each. Two players, Mark West and Dan Majerle, fouled out for the Suns. The Suns’ 61 made FTs is still the NBA record for the most FTs made in a single game. The 121 total FT attempts by both teams is not an NBA record, however. That record was established during the NBA’s first season on Nov. 24, 1949, when the Syracuse Nationals and the Anderson Packers combined to attempt a whopping 160 free throws in a 86-74 5-OT win for Syracuse.
This Week’s Game Schedule
Sunday, April 4 – Suns @ Chicago Bulls (12:30 pm) Tuesday, April 7 – Suns vs Houston Rockets (8:00 pm) Peacock Wednesday, April 8 – Suns vs Dallas Mavericks (7:00 pm) Friday April 10 – Suns @ LA Lakers (7:30 pm)
Important Future Dates
April 12 – Regular season ends (All 30 teams play) April 13 – Rosters set for NBA Playoffs 2026 (3 p.m. ET) April 14-17 – SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament April 18 – NBA Playoffs begin
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SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 31: Willy Adames #2 of the San Francisco Giants celebrates after hitting a double against the San Diego Padres during the eighth inning at Petco Park on March 31, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
We’ve officially had our first full week of San Francisco Giants baseball this season, so it’s time to pick our Player of the Week!
I think it will come as no surprise that my pick for this week is none other than Willy Adames! Sure, the majority of his numbers for the week came from one game, but it was a heck of a performance! Four hits (including a leadoff home run), two runs, and two RBI? Yeah, that’s gonna get you Player of the Week.
Who is your pick for this week’s Player of the Week?
What time do the Giants play today?
The Giants continue their series against the New York Mets tonight at 6:05 p.m. PT.
TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 31: Kyle Karros #12 of the Colorado Rockies plays a ball against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fifth inning in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on March 31, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s only been a week, which means most of what we’re working with is built on quick impressions and small samples. There isn’t enough here yet for real trends — just a collection of games shaping the early feel of the season.
And the early feel? It’s different.
They’re running the bases more aggressively, getting contributions from new faces, playing solid defense, and — maybe most importantly — actually staying in games. Late innings have mattered. One-run swings have shown up. There’s just enough chaos to keep things interesting.
And yet… the record doesn’t really show it.
For a team that looks more competitive and energetic, the results feel familiar. Rockies fans know this tension — the pull to believe something might be different, while waiting for it to fall back into place.
That push and pull isn’t just anecdotal, either. The current “hope-o-meter” reflects a fanbase that’s a little more optimistic than before — but still hesitant to fully buy in.
Which raises the obvious question: If they’re improving, why aren’t they winning more?
The early answer starts with how they’re playing.
They’ve turned more games into coin flips. Instead of fading early, they’re keeping things within reach. Four of their first seven games have been decided by one run, and two others were still one-run games through five innings. Most have come down to a late swing or a single mistake — something that marks a meaningful shift.
But living there comes with a tradeoff.
When games are close, the margin for error disappears — and the Rockies’ familiar issues tend to show up in those moments. A strikeout with runners on. A starter who can’t quite get through another inning. A mistake pitch that turns into a home run.
The most obvious issue is the strikeouts.
They haven’t gone away, and in close games they’re often the difference between pressure and nothing. A walk and a single can vanish quickly with a couple of empty swings. It’s not just theoretical — the Rockies have struck out 32 times over their last two games, a reminder of how quickly things can unravel.
Then there’s the rotation.
Starters haven’t provided much length, which shifts pressure to the bullpen. To their credit, relievers have been excellent — but asking them to carry that load every night isn’t sustainable.
And so far, the early returns suggest that trend may stick for a while, even as the group shows signs of steadiness.
Offensively, inconsistency has mattered, too.
There’s been one breakout performance, but otherwise scoring has been a grind. They’ve created opportunities, but not always converted them. In one-run games, that gap matters.
And early numbers are still volatile.
Take away one big inning in Toronto, and the offense looks thinner. Remove a rough first inning in the home opener, and the pitching looks cleaner. A week in, a single inning can still shape the story.
When mistakes happen, they’ve been loud.
Home runs — more about timing than volume — have flipped close games or erased slim leads.
Put it all together, and the picture is clearer.
The Rockies look more competitive. More watchable. There are real signs of improvement — enough to make you want to buy in a little. Maybe?
Instead of getting blown out, they’re losing in the margins. And until they cut down strikeouts in key spots, get more length from starters, and limit mistake pitches, those margins will keep working against them.
That doesn’t mean this start is meaningless.
If anything, it shows where the progress is actually happening — and where it still needs to catch up. Being in games more consistently matters. Playing cleaner, more competitive baseball matters. Those are the steps that come first.
The climb up the standings will come later — if it comes at all.
For now, the real question isn’t how many games they’re winning. It’s whether this version of the Rockies can show up like this every night.
Tough night for Albuquerque (2-5) against Reno (4-3). The Isotopes gave up 18 hits while managing just four of their own, with four different players accounting for the only offense. Six pitchers cycled through the game, with Welinton Herrera taking the loss after allowing three runs in just two-thirds of an inning.
Hartford (1-1) cruises to even series against Chesapeake (1-1). Braylen Wimmer had a four-hit night and Bryant Betancourt drew four walks to set the tone as the Yard Goats racked up 12 hits and 11 walks, consistently exploiting Baysox command issues. Konner Eaton handled the rest on the mound by tossing six shutout innings.
It played out as a well-rounded effort as Spokane (1-0) topped the Aquasox (0-1) in Friday night’s season opener. Robert Calaz went 1-3 with an RBI and stolen base, while Max Belyeu went deep and added a walk to lead the offense. On the mound, Yujanyer Herrera and Bryson Hammer each delivered three shutout innings, with Hammer earning the win.
Fresno (0-1) drops season opener to Visalia (1-0). Marcos Herrera allowed all six runs in 3.2 innings, and the lineup couldn’t keep pace, with Roldy Brito and Ethan Holliday combining for five strikeouts in a 2-for-9 night. Wilder Dalis stood out, going 2-for-3 with a walk to start his season.
This Denver Post article covers how Gov. Jared Polis — an accomplished Congressional Baseball Game participant — is all in on a Rockies turnaround. The projections, meanwhile, give Colorado almost no shot. It’s early, but the gap between belief and reality is already hard to ignore.
This MLB.com article lays out where the Rockies’ top prospects are starting the 2026 season — and what that says about the organization’s timeline. From Single-A to Triple-A, the next wave is still developing into something real. It’s a reminder that while progress is underway, the bigger picture is still coming together.
This Purple Row article highlights how Charlie Condon is taking the next step in his development after a strong spring showing. The Rockies’ top prospect didn’t break camp with the team, but early Triple-A results suggest he’s not far off.
Hens pitching was on point again against a good offense, and the Bats lit up Mets’ pitching again to take a 3-1 lead in the best of six series on Friday.
Max Clark continues to rake in his first look at the Triple-A level. He still has just two strikeouts through seven games, and he got the Hens started by dumping a one out single into left field and tearing around first to second base. An MJ Melendez throw went wide, and Clark ended up on third and then scored on a balk.
Right-hander Ty Madden got the start for Toledo, but he was greeted immediately by a Melendez solo shot. He gave up a pair of one out singles and then popped up Jose Rojas. At that point he left the game because he was already near 30 pitches in the inning, and Konnor Pilkington cleaned up the final out of the first. The at-bats were long, and Madden is sitting around 92 mph right now, so there’s still a long way to go to get back to the 95-97 mph heat he had prior to the shoulder injury last year.
Right-hander Christian Scott did not have a good time facing the Hens, and back-to-back solo shots from Eduardo Valencia and Gage Workman opened the top of the second. He bounced back with a pair of strikeouts and wrapped up the inning but it was 3-1 Hens.
Eduardo Valencia smashes a solo homer to the opposite field to put Toledo up 2-1. It’s his first of the year. pic.twitter.com/c1DyWmDWMh
Pilkington tossed a clean bottom half, and Wenceel Pérez and Clark opened the third with singles. A Trei Cruz single off first baseman Jose Rojas scored Pérez but Clark was stranded. 4-1 Hens.
In the top of the fourth. Tomas Nido and Ben Malgeri doubled back-to-back and Max Burt was clipped by an errant pitch. Pérez stepped back in and sprayed an opposite field drive for a double that scored Malgeri. The Mets went back to the pen, but Clark was there again with a sac fly to bring in Burt for a 7-1 lead.
The rest of the game saw Matt Seelinger, Burch Smith, and Ricky Vanasco rack up strikeouts, pitching through modest traffic. Sean Guenther closed it out.
Perez: 2-5, R, RBI, 2B
Clark: 2-3, R, RBI, 2B, BB
Pilkington (W, 1-0): 2.1 IP, 0 R, 3 H, BB, 0 K
Smith: 2.0 IP, 0 R, H, 0 BB, 4 K
Coming Up Next: It’s a 1:05 p.m. ET start on Saturday in Syracuse.
The SeaWolves stormed back from an early deficit and then held off a furious comeback attempt from the Squirrels to win their home, and season, opener on Friday evening.
Brett Callahan, one of my favorite sleeper prospects in the Tigers’ system for his power, fly ball hitting tendencies, and quality defense and arm, opened the scoring with a one out 423 foot solo shot in the bottom of the first.
Lefty Joe Miller’s velocity is suddenly way up this spring, and that’s pretty surprising from a 27-year-old journeyman starter. It didn’t help him much in the top of the second, as the Squirrels dragged him through a long inning and scored three runs.
Miller settled in after that, but Trevin Michael took over with two outs in the top of the fourth to clean up that inning. John Peck hammered a doubled in the bottom half, but Callahan, Izaac Pacheco, and Justice Bigbie all struck out as starter Greg Farone gave them trouble all night.
Peyton Graham singled through the box with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, and that finally knocked Farone out of the game. Dylan Hecht came on to clean up the inning for the Squirrels. Eric Silva pitched the top of the sixth for Erie, issuing a walk but no more. Moises Rodriguez and the sinker of doom handled the seventh without issue, and then the SeaWolves finally broke loose at the plate.
Dylan Carmouche came on for Richmond, and Bigbie and Chris Meyers greeted him with single. A wild pitch advanced the runners and Andrew Jenkins torched an impressive line drive homer to straightaway center field that gave Erie a sudden 4-3 lead.
Andrew Jenkins with a line-drive 3-run homer to dead center to put Erie up 4-3. It’s his first at the Double-A level. pic.twitter.com/Y2QuN5UVKs
Graham strafed a triple the opposite way into the right field corner and Bennett Lee was hit by a pitch. Seth Stephenson doubled off the wall in left center, scoring Graham, but Lee was thrown out at the plate. Richmond went back to their pen, and Mitch White immediately plunked Callahan. Peck struck out, but Stephenson and Callaham pulled off a double steal and Pacheco walked to load the bases. A Bigbie single up the middle plated two more runs and made it 7-3.
Moises Rodriguez and the sinker of doom were wild in the eighth after watching a big lead pile up. He issued two walks and then a double that scored two. Suddenly it was 7-5, and Tanner Kohlhepp took over. He gave up a double that made it 7-6, but got a pair of fly outs to end the inning.
Kohlhepp came back out in the ninth and collected the first save of the year.
Graham: 2-3, R, 3B, BB, K
Callahan: 1-2, 2 R, RBI, HR, K, HBP
Peck: 1-4, 2B, K
Miller: 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K
Coming Up Next: It’s a 1:35 p.m. ET start in Erie on Saturday.
West Michigan Whitecaps 6, Lake County Captains 4 (box)
The ‘Caps made it two in a row with a furious late inning rally and add-on runs in the eighth and ninth to run their record to 2-0 for first year manager Rene Rivera.
RHP Lucas Elissalt was the opening day starter in this one, and he was solid for two innings before digging himself a hole with a pair of walks to start the third. There was much hard contact, but he gave up a pair of runs and the long inning ended his night.
Overall, the Whitecaps’ offense really struggled through six innings. In the seventh, Cristian Santana was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and with one out, Hunter Dobbins walked. An infield single from Clayton Campbell loaded the bases, and Patrick Lee came up with a rocket of a single to the center fielder to plate two runs and tie the game. A Woody Hadeen sac fly scored Campbell to take the lead, and after Lake County went to the pen, Roberto Campos singled in Lee before the inning came to an end.
Patrick Lee rips a 2-run single to right center to tie the game for West Michigan. pic.twitter.com/TTwq5YCLlJ
Carlos Marcano, another sleeper prospect on my list, handled the sixth with a 1-2-3 inning. Offseason minor league signing RHP Ryan Harvey took over in the seventh, and he promptly hit a batter and got into trouble, allowing two runs that tied the game before getting out of jam.
In the eighth, Junior Tilien walked with one out and Dobbins reached on an infield single. Campbell smoked a line drive single to center field to load the bases, and Lee came through again with a sac fly that recaptured the lead at 5-4. Garrett Pennington launched a solo shot in the top of the ninth to open a little margin for Nicaraguan right-hander Duque Hebbert. Hebbert got into trouble due to a one-out double from Jaison Chourio and a walk, but a strikeout and a ground out to second wrapped it up and earned him the save.
Garrett Pennington slashes a solo homer to the opposite field to give West Michigan a little more cushion. pic.twitter.com/KNuYCYwPqZ
The Flying Tigers opened their 2026 campaign in Tampa, rallying back from an early deficit and pouring it on in the middle innings for a comfortable victory.
The Flying Tigers got right to work, as Jesus Pinto led off the game with a single. Bryce Rainer ripped a ground ball to second, but beat out the attempted double play. A rehabbing Hao-Yu Lee flew out, but Carson Rucker drilled a double to left to plate Rainer, and Jack Goodman singled to make it 2-0.
Sawyer Gipson-Long made his first rehab appearance, working back from a left hip labrum repair, and he punched out the first two hitters he saw and got a flyout in a snappy first. However, he gave up a double to start the bottom of the second, and a pair of errors by catcher Sergio Tapia didn’t help, as a pair of runs scored to tie the game. RHP Donye Evans took over with two outs, but gave up an two-run single before getting out of the inning.
So, it was 4-2 Tampa entering the third. Rainer led off with a walk, and after Hao-Yu Lee and Rucker struck out, Goodman walked and a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third. First baseman Beau Ankeney, the Tigers’ 14th rounder last summer out of Loyola, proceeded to absolutely hammer a line drive single at a whopping 114.4 mph off the bat to score both runners and tie the game 4-4.
The inning kept on going from there. Zach MacDonald doubled to left to score Ankeney, sending the Tarpons back to the pen. New reliever Justin West walked Tapia, Nolan McCarthy, Jesus Pinto, and Rainer in order, and it was 7-4. Ah…Single-A ball. Hao-Yu Lee completed the scoring with an infield single to plate McCarthy and make it 8-4.
At this point, we got our first look at last year’s third rounder out of Arizona State, LHP Ben Jacobs. We like Jacobs as our scouting report attests. It’s just a question of how much upside he has left in his stuff. He was a little shaky in his pro debut, walking the leadoff hitter and giving up a stolen base and then an RBI single that made it 8-5, but the southpaw got a flyout and then punched out the next two hitters, showing a good 93-95 mph fourseamer and a pretty advanced changeup as well.
The walk parade from Tampa pitching handed the Flygers two more runs in the fourth. Yankees prospect Greysen Carter was very wild, but finally composed himself enough to blow Rainer away with a 99.6 mph heater to end a pretty ugly inning. 10-5 Lakeland.
Jacobs looked good in the fourth, collecting another pair of strikeouts, though he did allow a walk in the inning.
Benjamin Arias took over from Carter in the fifth and issued a one-out walk to Rucker, who promptly stole second. Goodman walked as well, and Ankeney singled in Rucker on another pretty hard hit ball. Goodman scored when Tapia grounded to shortstop and it was misplayed. 12-5 Lakeland.
Jacobs was really feeling it as he settled in, and probably isn’t long for Single-A. He struck out the side in fifth and then allowed just a single in the sixth, facing the minimum as the Tarpons’ Hans Montero singled but was just down by McCarthy from left field. Jacobs showed advanced control of all three pitches and racked up 14 whiffs, averaging 94 mph with his fourseamer. He topped out at 95.9 and the life on the fourseamer was pretty explosive. He looks already tuned up to where I hoped the Tigers could get him in a year or two. Really impressive.
Pedro Garcia leaked a pair of runs in the seventh, while RHP Jorger Petri came on with two outs in the eight and closed this one out without issue.
Beyond Ankeney’s scorcher, Jesus Pinto hit a ball 108.7 mph and Goodman posted a 107.6 mph exit velo as well. Tough first game back for Rainer, who struck out three times, though he did walk twice.
Ankeney: 2-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB, 2 K
Rucker: 2-5, 2 R, RBI, 2B, BB, 2 K, SB
MacDonald: 2-5, 2 R, RBI, 2B, 2 BB, SB, CS
Gipson-Long: 1.2 IP, 4 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 K
Jacobs: 4.0 IP, ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 7 K
Coming Up Next: It’s a 6:30 p.m. ET start at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Saturday.
PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 03: Members of the Baltimore Orioles meet on the mound in the second inning during the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Friday, April 3, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning Birdland,
The Orioles have not exactly started the year on fire. They lost 5-4 on Friday afternoon in Pittsburgh. That makes them losers of three out of their last four, alone in third place of the AL East. Across the board, they just haven’t been good enough.
The starting pitching, outside of Trevor Rogers, isn’t firing on all cylinders yet. Kyle Bradish battled on Friday. He explained after the game that his stuff looks and feels good. He just needs to execute. That could take some time.
Things aren’t much better in the bullpen, although there are hot and cold spots. Dietrich Enns walked three and gave up a run in his lone inning. That came just after the Orioles had clawed back two runs the previous frame and really could have used a stop. At least Tyler Wells delivered two shutout innings, and Rico Garcia continued to look like a weapon.
The defense has been, as expected, a problem. That wasn’t really part of the loss on Friday. In fact, Blaze Alexander made an amazing stop at third base that resulted in an out. But questions still linger, particularly in the outfield, where most of the miscues have occurred early.
The one area of the team that does feel like it’s on the upswing is the offense. The 30 runs they have scored are tied for 17th in MLB. Not great. But they are eighth in batting average (.257), seventh in on-base (.336), and 11th in slugging (.391). They need to be hitting more home runs, and they will. There is just too much talent and power for them to be near the bottom of the league in long balls. Once that happens, scoring will go up, which will buy the pitching staff a little more wiggle room.
At least, that is what the Orioles must be telling themselves right now. Scoring more runs is the only viable avenue they really have at this point. The pitching staff was always going to be a work in progress that they hoped would eventually figure it out. The offense, on the other hand, should have been ready to go out of the box. It’s showing signs of life, but they need more. Maybe that happens today.
We will get our second look at Shane Baz this afternoon. Perhaps there is added motivation for him to face the organization that originally drafted him, but then dealt him away. Or maybe that is irrelevant. Either way, first pitch is at 4:05.
Links
Eflin going to get second opinion on injured right elbow | MLB.com Typically, players don’t get second opinions unless they don’t like the first one. And since this is an elbow injury to a big league pitcher, odds are that the first opinion was that Zach Eflin needs Tommy John surgery. Players want to avoid surgery whenever possible, especially one that can came with an 18-month recovery process. It could be even worse for Eflin, who is fresh off of a back injury that ruined his 2025 campaign. Losing another season (or two) might cost him his career entirely.
Orioles waiting for better days from rotation (and other notes) | Roch Kubatko It seems like the mantra for the entire team right now is “just wait.” They will hit more home runs. They will play better defense. They will get better starts from their rotation. There is logic in that. Early-season outcomes can be wonky. But the Orioles aren’t projected to be some juggernaut. They will need to fight for a potential playoff spot. So games now matter quite a bit for them. They need to get the most out of them.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
Conner Greene turns 31 today. The righty was an obsession of the Orioles’ front office for a bit. They acquired him three different times between 2020 and 2022. Ultimately, he would toss a total of just 23.1 innings with a 7.71 ERA for the O’s in 2021.
Renato Núñez is 32 years old. The slugging infielder spent parts of three seasons in Baltimore from 2018 through ‘21. He was a solid hitter, posting a 107 OPS+ during his time with the O’s.
Odrisamer Despaigne turns 39. During the 2016 season he appeared in 16 games out of the Orioles bullpen.
Jim Dedrick is 58. All six games of his big league career came with the 1995 Orioles.
Brad Komminsk celebrates his 65th birthday. The outfielder had a 46-game stint with the Orioles in 1990.
Mike Epstein turns 83. His decade in the big leagues began with a short stay in Baltimore. Between 1966 and ‘67, he played in 15 games for the Orioles before he was dealt to Washington, where he got more of an opportunity.
The late Tom Fisher (b. 1942, d. 2016) was born on this day. He pitched in two games for the 1967 Orioles.
Eddie Watt is 85 today. The righty was a crucial member of the Orioles bullpen during the franchise’s best years. From 1966 through ‘73, he had a 2.74 ERA over 363 total appearances and won two World Series titles with the team. He was inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame in 2000.
This day in O’s history
2001 – Making his Red Sox debut at Camden Yards, Hideo Nomo no-hits the Orioles in a 3-0 win for the visitors.
2005 – As the season opens, Sammy Sosa and Rafael Palmeiro officially become the first pair of teammates to have at least 500 career home runs each. They bat right next to one another (fourth and fifth in the lineup, respectively) in an Orioles lineup that tops the Athletics 4-0 on Opening Day.
2011 – The Orioles improve to 4-0 on the young season with a 5-1 win over the Tigers. Earl Weaver throws out the first pitch, Jake Arrieta tosses six innings, and Brian Roberts hits a three-run homer.
