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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.
Apr 2, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (22) reacts after scoring a run on an RBI double hit by infielder Bo Bichette (19) against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images | Robert Edwards-Imagn Images
Meet the Mets
After losing three straight games due to some fairly inept offensive performances, the Mets finally broke through with ten runs against the Giants last night, with Marcus Semien hitting his first homer for his new team and Francisco Alvarez adding a pair of his own. Nolan McLean, meanwhile, did not allow a baserunner through the first five innings of the game, and while he faltered slightly in the sixth, he still only gave up one run in 5.1 innings of work. The Mets did get a major scare early in the game when Juan Soto left after just half an inning due to right calf tightness which will require imaging today. It was a sour note on what would otherwise have been a fairly stress-free 10-3 victory in San Francisco.
After going through the first eight innings without either team scoring any runs, the Braves broke through in the ninth with solo homers from Ozzie Albies and Matt Olson to give them a 2-0 win over the Diamondbacks.
Eury Pérez was lighting up the radar gun but couldn’t control the strike zone, as he walked six in four innings of work and took the loss in the Marlins’ 8-2 defeat against the Yankees.
Miles Mikolas had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day yesterday, as the veteran starter gave up 11 runs in 4.1 innings to doom the Nationals to a 13-6 loss in their home opener.
The Warriors forward, who has spent his entire 14-year NBA career playing as Curry’s partner-in-crime, shared the perfect two-word response to Curry’s impending return.
“Thank God,” Green said on “The Draymond Green Show.”
Curry has been sidelined for more than two months with a nagging knee issue.
He made a major leap in his rehab this past week after returning to full practice for the first time and participating in 5-on-5 scrimmaging. Curry scrimmaged for the second time on Thursday, and Warriors coach Steve Kerr shared that “he looked good” and “looked like Steph Curry.”
“We’re excited,” Green continued. “No. 1, just to see him back on the floor, the NBA is a much better place when Steph Curry is on the floor. I think we all can agree with that from a team perspective. The most important thing for us the past couple of weeks has been staying competitive, making sure we’re building great habits, because realistically, I don’t believe we had enough. But continuing to build the right habits, continuing to stay competitive, continuing to keep spirits high, so that when Steph returns, when Al [Horford] returns, you’re not trying to break bad habits.
“You plug those guys in where they go and you try to build on the good habits that we’ve been working on. You try to build on some of the experiences that these guys have been getting due to the injuries. If you just let go of the rope while Steph is out, when Al’s out, when they do come back, it’s just going to be more of the same. And quite honestly, we didn’t win a ton of games, but what we did was build some good habits and guys have grown in different areas. And now, you get your reinforcements back and you try to give yourself a chance.”
Curry hasn’t played since Jan. 30. The Warriors have posted a 9-18 record without their best player.
Golden State currently holds a 36-41 record and sits in 10th place in the Western Conference standings, three games behind the ninth-seeded Portland Trail Blazers.
“Going into this play-in situation, you go in healthy and a little fresh, which is one upside of the injuries,” Green said. “And with a group of guys who have been there. I’ve been there. Steph’s been there. Al Horford’s been there. Porzingis has been there. mixed with guys who haven’t had many opportunities. And you roll the dice and you see what you get. So we’re excited as hell.”
With just five regular-season games remaining, Curry’s return comes at the perfect time.
And Green shared that despite speculation, the Warriors never actually considered shutting down Curry for the season.
“As I told you all, there was never really an idea of Steph shutting it down,” Green said. “He’s been working to get back and obviously had the frustrating days in between. But there was never really a talk of like, ‘Yo, let’s shut it down.’ It’s just not who he is. So we’re excited as hell. And honestly, you just want to give yourself a shot at the playoffs. You give yourself a chance.”
Winnipeg Jets - 32-21-12 - 76 Points - 5-3-2 in the last 10 - Lost 1- 6th in the Central
Columbus Blue Jackets - 38-26-12 - 88 Points - 4-5-1 in the last 10 - Lost 2 - 4th in the Metro
Team Notes Per CBJ PR
The Blue Jackets began their seven-game April schedule with a 5-1 loss at Carolina on Thursday. The team has three home and road contests each left in the regular season.
The Jackets have earned points in 17-of-20 contests at Nationwide Arena in 2026 (12-3-5), ranking third in the NHL in goals for per game (3.90), seventh in points pct. (.725) and ninth-T in goals-against per game (2.85) over that span.
CBJ have also earned points in 25 of the last 32 contests overall since Jan. 11 (20-7-5, 45 pts.). The club ranks third in the league in goals-against per game (2.63) and fourth in points pct. (.703) over that stretch.
Columbus leads the NHL with a franchise-record 56 goals scored by defensemen in 2025-26 (56-133-189, 76 GP).
CBJ rank fourth in the league in goals scored and goal differential in the opening period (78-59; +19).
Player Notes Per CBJ PR
Adam Fantilli, who led the club in goals and points (tied) in March with 7-9-16 in 17 games, has set a single-season career high in assists and points with 21-34-55 in 76 contests.
Jet Greaves has earned points in 15 of his last 18 starts since Jan. 11 (12-3-3, 2.36 GAA, .913 SV% in 19 GP), ranking fifth among NHL goaltenders in GAA and seventh-T in SV% (min. 6 GP).
Boone Jenner has recorded 2-4-6 in the past nine contests since Mar. 19.
Kirill Marchenko leads the club in goals and ranks second in points with 26-37-63 in 70 outings in 2025-26.
Denton Mateychuk notched Columbus' lone goal on Thursday and has posted two goals in the last four contests. He is the third different CBJ blueliner (Werenski, Jones) with at least 13 goals in a campaign in club history (13-17-30, 69 GP).
Zach Werenski, with 21-57-78 in 69 games in 2025-26, sits two assists shy of tying the franchise's record for assistsin a single season set by Artemi Panarin (79 GP in 2018-19) and matched by the defenseman in 2024-25 (81 GP).
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 19.6% - 21st in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 76.2% - 27th in the NHL
Goals For - 234 - 17th in the NHL
Goals Against - 234 - 22nd in the NHL
JetsStats
Power Play - 17.3% - 28th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 78.2% - 20th in the NHL
Goals For - 211 - 25th in the NHL
Goals Against - 227 - 13th in the NHL
Series History vs. TheJets
Columbus is 18-18-0-1 all-time, and 9-9-0-0 at home vs. Winnipeg
Columbus has earned points in six of the last ten meetings between the clubs since Jan. 22, 2020 (5-4-1).
CBJ have won four of the last seven meetings at Nationwide Arena since Oct. 27, 2017 (4-3-0), but the Jets have won the last two-straight at Columbus.
The winning team has recorded four or more goals in 15 of the last 18 games of the series dating back to Dec. 10, 2015, and has limited the other team to one goal or less in six of the last nine since Nov. 24, 2021.
The home team has won all three games in the series requiring time beyond regulation (CBJ; 2-1 in OT).
The teams have combined for seven-plus goals in five of the past eight games at Nationwide Arena.
Columbus has recorded five of the seven shutouts in the all-time series (MR CBJ: Merzlikins, 36 saves in 3-0 W at CBJ on Nov. 24, 2021), but Winnipeg recorded the most recent one (Hellebuyck, 29 saves in 5-0 win at WPG on Jan. 9, 2024).
Each team has registered two hat tricks and a penalty shot attempt in the all-time series.
Who To Watch For TheJets
Mark Scheifele leads the Jets with 34 goals, 58 assists, and 92 points.
Kyle Conner has 34 goals and 85 points.
Connor Hellebuyck is 20-21-11 with a SV% of .898.
Eric Comrie is 12-9-1 with a SV% of .897. He hasn't started since March 22nd.
CBJ Player Notes vsJets
Boone Jenner has 8 points in 15 career games against Winnipeg.
Zach Werenski has 11 points against the Jets.
Sean Monahan has 21 points in 33 games.
Injured Reserve & Other Injuries
Brendan Smith - Lower Body - Missed 38 Games IR - Out for the rest of the regular season.
Damon Severson - Missed 4 Games - Upper Body - OUT FOR THE SEASON
Dmitri Voronkov - Missed 3 Games - Upper Body - Week-to-week
Mathieu Olivier - Missed 2 Games - Upper Body - OUT FOR THE SEASON
Mason Marchment - Missed 1 Game - Undisclosed
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 194
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on FanDuel Sports Network. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 The Fan, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 03: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics dribbles the ball against A.J. Green #20 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the third quarter at Fiserv Forum on April 03, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
1. Historic First Half Offense
After dropping a franchise record 53 points on the Miami Heat in the game before, the Celtics came into this matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks and dropped 43 more. Boston scoring 96 points in back-to-back first quarters is a new NBA record, beating the previous mark set by the Denver Nuggets of 92 points in 2008. Boston once again shot ridiculously well, going 15-25 (60%) from the field and 8-12 (67%) from three with 0 turnovers.
Boston also set a franchise record for the most points in consecutive first halves with a total of 155 points after scoring 80 points against Miami and 75 points against Milwaukee, breaking the previous record of 152 points. In the first half against the Bucks, the Celtics shot 28-53 (53%) from the field and 12-23 (52%) from three with only 2 turnovers.
Tonight in Milwaukee, the Celtics have set an NBA record for points in back-to-back first quarters (96) and a franchise record for points in back-to-back first halves (155).
Previous NBA record for a consecutive 1st quarters was 92, by Denver in 2008.
After recording his first triple-double of the season against the Heat, Jayson Tatum was about as close as you could get when it came to getting two in a row, finishing with 23 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists and 3 steals on 8-16 shooting from the field and 4-8 shooting from three. One of the craziest stats on Tatum in this game is that he finished as a +30 in 31 minutes, just ethical hoops.
When it came to his shot, Tatum looked like he was shooting in an open gym for most of his attempts. The Bucks did not have a guy who could guard him and his work navigating screens from Neemias Queta allowed him to get a ton of wide open shots.
Tatum’s rebounding in this game was big on the defensive glass but it was his assists that were the most impressive thing to watch. Tatum was seeing the floor like Neo in the Matrix. He knew what play was coming and made the pass to a teammate before even they knew what they were about to do. Just pinpoint accuracy that not every player in the NBA can master.
I was also really impresses with Tatum’s defense in this game. The 3 steals that he ended with were in result of Tatum using his heightened sense of awareness for the situation to pick off passes and create offensive opportunities. Maybe he really is Neo.
3. Queta for Most Improved Player
For the 16th time this season and the second game in a row, Neemias Queta finished with a double-double of 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks on 8-11 shooting. This game is a perfect example of why Queta needs to win Most Improved Player.
Queta has improved so much when it comes to setting the best screens in the NBA and making quick decisions once he has the ball in his hands. This play where he caught it at the free throw line and passed it to Derrick White show’s his improvements in his decision making.
When it comes to scoring, Queta’s connection with Jayson Tatum is really starting to blossom into an unstoppable force. Out of his 8 made shots, 4 of them were assisted by Tatum. Queta’s job was just to finish the play and he did a great job of putting himself in the right position to receive the passes.
On the defensive end, we have seen Queta transform into an incredible shot blocker. He had 4 blocks in this game that he was able to time up perfectly. Going from the fourth string center last season to the starter this year has been an incredible testament to his development and that should put him as the favorite for Most Improved Player.
4. Brown Makes Scoring Look Easy
It must be so awesome to be able to have an offensive bag like Jaylen Brown. He finished with 26 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals on 7-17 shooting and 2-4 from three but when you watched him play in this game it looks like its just a regular game of pickup.
We saw Brown take and make a ton of pull-up jump shots against Milwaukee mostly due to the fact that they just couldn’t guard him. Similar to Tatum, Brown was able to get wherever he wanted to on the court with relatively no pushback from the defense and just rise up over people. Brown finished his night on fire, scoring 13 points in the third quarter before sitting for the rest of the game.
That’s why I think it has to be so cool to have Jaylen Brown’s offensive ability because he knows how to make the game of basketball look so easy.
5. Hauser-Matic
Coming off a first quarter where Sam Hauser shot 6-6 from the field and 5-5 from three in the first quarter against the Heat, he followed it up with a 3-3 shooting first quarter against the Bucks with all of his shots coming from beyond the arc. Hauser finished this game with 13 points on 5-6 shooting from the field and 3-4 shooting from three.
Hauser’s ability to get hot early is huge for the Celtics offense. When he is hitting his threes, Boston can build up a lead quick and in a hurry. This reminds me of how the 2024 Celtics would use Jrue Holiday on offense when he shot 43% from three that year. Boston was able to close out games by the end of the third quarter up by 50 points all because Holiday was hitting wide open corner threes.
Hauser has that same ability to just make wide open shots to demoralize a defense and that makes Boston’s offense so much scarier to any team that runs into them.
6. Pritchard Paint Precision
Payton Pritchard continued his streak of good performances in this game, finishing with 16 points and 6 assists on 7-12 shooting from the field and 2-6 shooting from three. The thing that impresses me most with Pritchard’s offense is how is able to navigate himself when he is in the paint at his size.
Pritchard loves when a big gets switched on to him so he can completely embarrass them by taking them off the dribble and shooting a fadeaway jumper that doesn’t even touch rim. The defends the jump shot? Pritchard is just going to use an array of up-and-under moves to continue to embarrass them. If he’s not doing that, Pritchard might just use his speed to blow by you and finish through contact for a layup.
No matter what happens, in the end the big man on the other team ends up feel sad and embarrassed while Payton Pritchard just continues his asention into the Gen Z version of Steve Nash.
7. White Three-Point Slump Busted?
Ever since Jayson Tatum has come back on March 6th, Derrick White has been in a shooting slump from three, shooting 26% from three on 78 attempts in his last 12 games. Although he was able to buck that trend in this game against Milwaukee, finishing with 17 points 5-9 shooting from three.
White is currently having the second worst three-point shooting season of his career at 32% but this game feels encouraging. He looked a lot more comfortable taking them in this game verses last game against Miami where he only attempted 1 three. Hopefully White can get hot for the playoffs, but his shooting as a whole is the least bit concerning considering all of the other ways he can impact the game on offense and defense.
8. Buck Hunting vs Zone
In the Miami game, it was pretty obvious the Celtics plan was to attack Tyler Herro any chance they got and tonight Boston did the same thing with Milwaukee’s AJ Green. In the second quarter we saw Brown and Tatum attack Green on back-to-back plays with similar results.
Tatum started it out by getting the ball at the three point line. With Green only being listed at 6’4”, this was a free basket Jayson, backing down the Bucks sharpshooter and splashing a step back jumper in his face.
On the next offensive possession the Celtics had, Brown got the ball at the three point line and just bullied his way to the free throw area where he hit Green with a fadeaway jumper that looked like shooting practice.
These were a couple examples of the way the Celtics were able to exploit mismatches on the undermanned Bucks all night long. After years of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum having to play against the Miami Heat’s zone defense in the conference finals, it feels funny that teams even try to run it when the Jays are on the floor and they don’t have the personnel to hold up.
9. Board Man Gets Paid
Boston dominated Milwaukee in pretty much every aspect of this game but one area that stands out was their ability to dominate the glass, out-rebounding the Bucks 48-30 on the night. Craziest part about the Celtics rebounding number is the fact that Tatum and Queta combined for 21 of the 48 rebounds for Boston.
When it came to the points in the paint battle, the Celtics blew them out 56-22. With Myles Turner being the only person that has even the slightest ability to defend the paint against Boston, it was pretty much an all you can buffet down there. Boston shot 22-26 (85%) directly underneath the basket in this one, finished off by a Jordan Walsh alley-oop dunk.
10. The Celtics Defense Makes No Sense
It’s hard to find negatives when the Celtics have blown out their opponents the last two games by an average of 25 points while scoring an average of 140 points, but there is one thing that just doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense and that is Boston’s three point defense.
This game made it back-to-back games where the Celtics allowed 20+ threes to their opponent and still won. This has only happened one other time in NBA history from the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021. Although the Celtics are winning is there any cause for concern with the three point defense?
I’m going to say no when it comes to being concerned given the fact that Boston averages 14.1 threes given up a game so this could just be an outlier. The Celtics were blowing out their opponents by so much, in some meaningless regular season games and they were just a little lackadaisical on defense. Even in their last loss to the Atlanta Hawks on March 30th, Boston only allowed 15 made threes.
My final verdict is that there is nothing to really be concerned about as of now but it really is just a strange statistical anomaly. Leave it to the Celtics to break both brains and stat sheets.
Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick and Mo Salah had a penalty saved as City trounced their old rivals at the Etihad
Pre-match optimism
“You may not be entirely surprised to learn that I’m not confident about this game,” writes proud Welshman and Liverpool fan Matt Dony. “But, having not terribly enjoyed the international break, it would be nice to have something to cheer about. So I’m trying to be rational! The Liverpool XI is strong. City aren’t the force they used to be. The unpredictability of knock-out competition. Szoboszlai has been unplayable at times this season. There are reasons to be cheerful! (City are still going to win, aren’t they? I hate football…)”
DALLAS, TEXAS - APRIL 03: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks goes for a dunk against Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic in the second half of an NBA game at American Airlines Center on April 03, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Flagg made 6-of-9 from 3-point range, five of which came in the second half, against the Magic. He recorded three steals on the defensive end. But most of all, his performance proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that a straw poll with six regular-season games still left on the schedule is an imperfect endeavor. He left no shadow of a doubt on Friday who should be named the NBA’s Rookie of the Year.
It has to be Flagg.
“I would hope it helps,” Flagg said when asked how his 51-point explosion should factor into his chances at winning the Rookie of the Year award. “But I’m not going to worry about that. I’m just going to worry about getting better every single night.”
At 19 years and 105 days, Flagg became the youngest player in NBA history to record a 50-point game and just the third rookie to do it since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976. Brandon Jennings scored 55 for the Milwaukee Bucks against the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 14, 2009, and Allen Iverson scored 50 for the Philadelphia 76ers on April 12, 1997 at the Cleveland Cavaliers. If his current season averages hold through the final five regular-season games of the year, Flagg will become just the fourth rookie to average more than 20 points, more than six rebounds and more than four assists per game, after Larry Bird, Michael Jordan and Luka Dončic all did it in their first years. He joined Jordan as just the second rookie to have multiple 45-point games since the merger as well.
He dwarfed his 14-point effort in the third quarter on 5-of-6 shooting from the floor with an astronomical fourth quarter against the Magic. He was an absolute maniac getting to the rim, but also made 2-of-3 from distance in the frame. He nuked Orlando for 24 points in the fourth on 11-of-18 shooting overall, then got a bottled water shower in the locker room after an 11-point loss, which felt a little weird.
We’ll excuse the awkwardness because, honestly, what’s the appropriate response to a night like Friday, when every Maverick not named Cooper Flagg combined to shoot 25-of-65 (38.5%) from the floor? At least it shows that the kid owns that locker room, as he damn well should.
Flagg scored 10 straight points for the Mavs in a span of less than two minutes early in the third, including a step-back 3-pointer with just over nine minutes left in the frame to put him at 23 points on the night. Two free throws and a pull-up jumper late in the third put him at 27 points entering the fourth and gave Flagg his 18th game of 25 or more points in his rookie year and before turning 20, passing Dončić, who had 17 games of 25 or more points as a teen. But that was just an appetizer.
Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd was ejected early in the fourth quarter after arguing a non-call that should have been whistled for a foul on Desmond Bane, who tugged on Flagg’s elbow following a shot attempt. Flagg scored all 24 of his fourth-quarter points after the ejection in the final 10 minutes of the game.
Flagg’s stop-and-pop 3-pointer from the right wing with 9:45 left to play put him at the 30-point mark, and that’s when he detonated. The next time down, he dropped the hammer on a high-flying dunk over Paolo Banchero. Two possessions after that, Flagg nailed his fourth 3-ball of the game, this time from the left wing to force a Magic timeout with the Mavericks trailing 123-102.
The one hole in Flagg’s game across his rookie season has been his jumpshot. His six 3-pointers on Friday are the latest evidence that he has what it takes to plug that hole in short order. And when he does, the NBA is on notice. He’s going to be the best player in the league.
Scoff at the fact that his final 21 points came in “junk time” against an Orlando team that had lost eight of its last 10 coming into Friday’s game at your own peril. Flagg is the realest of real deals, but we’ve known that for quite some time. He spun for a hoop and the harm inside over Jamal Cain with 2:05 left to play, then flopped to the ground with his arms extended overhead, in relief after reaching the 50-point peak. The ensuing free throw put Flagg at 51 points for the game, elevating Flagg to even more rarified air than he already occupied.
The kid is a monster, and he should be the NBA’s Rookie of the Year. He now owns the three top-scoring single games (51, 49, 42) by a rookie this year and five of the top eight.
“Well he’s a rookie, he should be Rookie of the Year,” Kidd said in his postgame press conference. “It’s unbelievable, the country is not watching the same thing that we get to watch on a daily basis. The things that he’s done, he’s in rare air, he’s with the GOAT when you talk about MJ and what he did in his rookie year, and as a teenager. And so to see what Cooper’s doing, just the excitement, the joy of playing the game. Win or lose, his spirit is about winning, and right now we’re not, but as he just said in the locker room, we’re just gonna be that much better come next season.”
I’d say case closed, but he’s still got five chances left to do something special again.
The NBA playoff picture continues to take shape entering the weekend.
All of the postseason berths have been clinched, but teams continue to battle for position in the final days of the regular season. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Houston Rockets became the latest teams to clinch full playoff spots on Thursday.
The Rockets were dominant with a 140-106 victory over the Utah Jazz on Friday.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are not only the defending champions but also made another statement to the rest of the league with a convincing 139-96 win against the Lakers on Thursday. The Thunder remain the No. 1 seed in the West, followed by the San Antonio Spurs and the Lakers — suddenly without Luka Doncic — rounding out the top three.
The Eastern Conference standings remain tight, with 4.5 games deciding the seedings between teams No. 5 through No. 10. The Detroit Pistons have held their ground as the top team in the East, with the Boston Celtics trailing by 4 games. The Celtics outscored the Milwaukee Bucks 43-26 in the first quarter before winning 133-101 on Friday.
Here are the current brackets for the playoffs and the Play-In Tournament, the NBA standings and the schedule for Saturday, April 4:
NBA schedule for Saturday, April 4
Washington Wizards at Miami Heat, 3 p.m. ET
San Antonio Spurs at Denver Nuggets, 3 p.m. ET
Detroit Pistons at Philadelphia 76ers, 7 p.m. ET
NBA standings
All 20 teams – 10 in each conference – that will participate in the postseason have been determined. Here are their records and what each of those teams has clinched so far (x-clinched playoff berth; d-clinched division):
TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 01: Darren Raddysh #43 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates against Morgan Geekie #39 of the Boston Bruins during the third period of the 2026 NHL Stadium Series at Raymond James Stadium on February 01, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Andrei Vasilevskiy: 36-13-4, 2.34 GAA, .912 save percentage
Game notes
The Bruins will look for a better 60-minute effort against a group of Florida Men today, facing a Lightning team that has won three of four and is in a back-and-forth fight with Buffalo for first in the Atlantic.
This will be the first meeting between these two games since the Stadium Series game back on February 1, a wild affair that ended as a 6-5 win for Tampa in a shootout.
As you likely remember, that game featured a remarkable eight power play opportunities for the Lightning, who converted on three of them.
Tampa is 7-1-2 in their last ten games, most recently beating Pittsburgh 6-3 on Thursday. That game featured a hat trick for Anthony Cirelli, who has eclipsed the 50-point mark for the second season in a row.
Nikita Kucherov remains one of the league’s elite scorers, scoring more than 120 points for the third season in a row. With 41 goals, he’s just three away from bettering his previous career high of 44, set back in 2024.
Corey Perry, acquired from Los Angeles near the trade deadline, has 3G-2A-5PTS totals for Tampa in 14 games.
Tampa has a few guys who are banged up at the moment, with Brandon Hagel and Scott Sabourin termed “questionable” by the team. Neither played Thursday against Pittsburgh.
Jake Guentzel has been on a heater for Tampa, recording 5G-4A-9PTS totals in his last five games. Guentzel has 25 points in 32 career games against the Bruins.
On the Bruins side of things, there isn’t much to report after Thursday’s loss. No new injuries, controversies, etc. We should see both goalies this weekend with another game against Philadelphia tomorrow afternoon, but it’s not clear yet which order Marco Sturm will use.
In case you missed it above, this game will be airing locally on NESN+, as the Red Sox will be hosting the San Diego Padres at 4:10 PM. That time of year, folks.
See ya tonight? This afternoon? This evening? Later!
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The Spurs are locked into the second seed in the Western Conference. There is a small chance —albeit unlikely — that they can surpass OKC and move into that top seed, but they cannot finish the season lower than second. Quite a turnaround from last season, and a great feat for the young team, their coaches, and staff.
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Apr 3, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Members of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrate defeating the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
It seems that Zack Wheeler got roughed up a bit last night in his rehab start with Lehigh Valley.
It’s probably mostly important to remember that he had major surgery and we aren’t sure what version of Wheeler will be returning soon. It’s also important to remember that this is his spring training, so peaks/valleys in his velocity are to be expected. Best not to make too much of it.
