Three-time champion ‘out for extended period’
‘It is the most special week. I will be watching’
Phil Mickelson has announced he will not compete at next week’s Masters due to an ongoing “family health matter”.
Six-time major winner Mickelson, who won the Masters in 2004, 2006 and 2010, missed the first four LIV Golf events of the year and said he will remain “out for an extended period of time”.
Continue reading...The NBA postseason is rapidly approaching, with less than two weeks remaining in the 2025-26 regular season.
While all postseason berths have been clinched, teams are furiously jockeying for playoff positioning, especially those seeking to remain above the fray of the Play-In Tournament. That’s especially true in the Eastern Conference, where only four games separate the current No. 5 seed, the Atlanta Hawks, and the Miami Heat, currently No. 10.
In the Western Conference, all three divisions have been clinched, with the Oklahoma City Thunder claiming the Northwest, the San Antonio Spurs the Southwest and the Los Angeles Lakers the Pacific. But perhaps the most intriguing story as the regular season winds down is whether the Spurs can catch the Thunder for the top seed in the West.
Heading into the slate of April 2 games, the Cleveland Cavaliers, currently the No. 4 team in the East, can clinch a playoff spot with a win, while the Houston Rockets, currently the No. 5 team in the West, can clinch a playoff berth if the Phoenix Suns lose.
Here are the current brackets for the playoffs and the Play-In Tournament, the NBA standings and the schedule for Thursday, April 2:
(All times Eastern)
All 20 teams – 10 in each conference – that will participate in the postseason have been determined. Here are their records through April 1, and what each of those teams have clinched so far (x-clinched playoff berth; d-clinched division):
(After games played on April 1)
(After games played on April 1)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA playoffs: bracket, standings, schedule if postseason started today
The Hockey News' main site has revealed the top 10 players from their top 100 NHL-affiliated prospects rankings, and a Chicago Blackhawks first-round pick was given the No. 1 spot: Anton Frondell.
Frondell being named the best NHL-affiliated prospect by THN is not difficult to understand. The 18-year-old forward has the potential to blossom into a star forward at the NHL level. It is precisely why the Blackhawks selected him with the third-overall pick of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
Frondell had a strong season with Djurgardens IF in 2025-26, as he recorded 20 goals, 28 points, and a plus-15 rating in 43 games. With numbers like these, Frondell certainly showed off his offensive upside in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) this campaign.
Now, since joining the Blackhawks, he is only continuing to shine. In his first five NHL games with the Blackhawks, Frondell has recorded one goal, four assists, and five points. This included him recording two assists against the New Jersey Devils on May 29 and scoring his first NHL goal in his most recent appearance against the Winnipeg Jets on March 31.
With this, there is a lot to like about Frondell's game, and it is hard not to be excited about his future with Chicago.
The king of the Western Conference is here and his name is Luka Dončić.
During the month of March, no one played better than the Wonder Boy and the NBA agreed, naming him the Player of the Month for the Western Conference on Thursday.
This is the second time this season that Luka has won this award after also doing soback in January.
Luka’s scoring output in March placed him among the greatest players to ever play the sport. His 600 points in the month surpassed Kobe Bryant’s 578 points in March of 2006 for the most by a Laker.
Dončić had some ridiculous games, like his 60-point performance on the road in Miami and his game-winner over the Nuggets at home.
Luka scored over 40 points seven times in March and ended the month with 13 consecutive games scoring 30 or more points.
Dončić averaged 37.5 points, eight rebounds, 2.3 steals and 7.4 assists per game in March. Luka was the NBA’s highest scorer in March while also ranking 10th in rebounding and third in steals.
With Luka elevating his game, the Lakers dominated the league, going 15-2 in March. They haven’t won that many games in a month since 2000.
This award only strengthens Luka’s MVP case. He’s been named the best player in the West twice, while Victor Wembanayama only won it in February and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won it back in December.
Luka is also a shoo-in to be the scoring king of the league.
He’s averaging 33.8 points per game, just a decimal point off his career-best of 33.9 in the 2022-23 season when he led the Dallas Mavericks to an NBA Finals appearance.
With the Lakers currently sitting at the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference and Luka playing some of the best basketball of his career, they look like one of the teams to beat as the regular season comes to a close.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
After reading the headline you were probably wondering how long it would take for me to mention Leo De Vries. The answer was, apparently, 18 words. Let’s take a look at two trends that are on collision course unless they aren’t:
1. The A’s have gone wild lately with regard to extensions, inking not one, not two, not three, but four in the past two years — and made a $130M offer to Nick Kurtz that was not accepted. And have reportedly been in discussions with Shea Langeliers even if no agreement is imminent or likely. Clearly these A’s are “extension oriented” as they attempt to build a juggernaut with name recognition in the “approaching Vegas with a strong tailwind” years.
2. There seems to be a movement towards signing extensions for players with enormous potential and exactly zero track record. This past week Colt Emerson set a new record being guaranteed $95M before his first PA and it’s a record that might last for days…Reports have the Pirates and Konnor Griffin “deep in extension talks,” news that was followed by Griffin’s call up today. It’s a race to see which comes first: his (probably) 9 figure extension or his first big league hit.
It’s hard to see these 4 A’s extensions and 2 “pre-MLB debut” extensions and not wonder about De Vries. Would it be prudent for the A’s to bet on the 19 year old before he proves himself in the big leagues and his price tag rockets upwards? Could it be a break, in hindsight, that Kurtz passed up $130M guaranteed and left that purse open for the A’s to put elsewhere, perhaps into a toolsy shortstop who has drawn comps to Francisco Lindor while tearing up spring training after mastering AA as an 18 year old?
Prospects in baseball fail more often than they succeed, by a lot. Even the most promising ones, the “can’t miss” ones, often miss. Injuries can drastically alter a career arc as can issues of maturity or off the field choices around diet or lifestyle.
For this reason I tend to be risk averse with regard to offering unproven prospects appreciable guaranteed money and teams have generally felt the same way — until now. And today I am going to put myself out there by declaring that while usually my recommended answer would be “no,” with De Vries I see an exception. I would love to see the A’s hop on the “pre-debut band wagon” and sign De Vries now to a similar deal to the ones Emerson and Griffin are signing.
First off, Emerson and Griffin are such good prospects that their deals provide a fair barometer for the ceiling of a De Vries extension. That is to say Emerson isn’t going to settle for $95M over 8 years but De Vries gets $150M. In any talks with De Vries, presumably you would be looking at figures comparable to the ones we have seen with his peers. (We will see about the specifics with Griffin, but even if they are a lot more robust one has to factor in that he is the #1 prospect right now on MLB Pipeline, not 4th.)
So with De Vries, presumably, the A’s would be gambling on the efficacy of allotting somewhere around Emerson’s $12M-ish per year over an 8 year period. Given that De Vries is poised to debut as soon as the next couple months, plays a premium position, switch hits effectively from both sides of the plate and has matched stars like Fernando Tatis Jr. and Bryce Harper in his AA hitting at age 18, it’s hard to imagine where if he stays healthy De Vries won’t be a veritable bargain over the next 8 years averaging around $12M/year (or whatever his extension would look like).
Obviously you don’t want to start a salary clock too far ahead of an MLB clock, since once you are paying a player he is getting paid wherever he plays. So whenever the A’s were to agree to an extension with De Vries they would have to feel a call up was imminent — this was the case with Griffin who is getting called up for tonight’s game.
After the way he dominated the Cactus League (.426/.460/.723, 3 HR in 50 PA), including many hits against quality big league pitchers, it’s fair to think that De Vries might force his way up as soon as June 1st. So the time to talk about an extension is right about now.
Let’s be realistic here: there are finite dollars for the front office to throw around. An extension for a player making his AA season debut tonight might mean backing off on continued talks with Nick Kurtz, or it might mean foregoing a free agent opportunity in 2028. So you have to be sure it’s the right choice of where to allocate “real money” — you can’t just fall back on the cliched “Sure, it’s not my money, why not?”
Should the A’s get knee deep in extension talks with De Vries before he sets foot on a big league diamond for the first time? Suddenly there is precedent that teams are seeing this gamble as a shrewd investment in a long term future and contention window, while in the meantime Jon Singleton is laughing on his way to the bank.
In Leo We Trust?
Major League Baseball on Wednesday unveiled its recommended slot values for the 2026 MLB Draft, which determines the bonus pools that each team has to spend this July. After signing star free agents Edwin Díaz and Kyle Tucker this offseason, the Dodgers in this year’s draft have the lowest bonus pool in MLB and their lowest bonus pool in the 15 years of the slotting system.
Bonus pools are determined by adding up the recommended slot values for every pick through the 10th round. Because both Díaz and Tucker rejected qualifying offers from their former teams in November, and because the Dodgers were a competitive-balance-tax-paying team, Los Angeles lost a pair of 2026 draft picks with each signing. For Díaz, the Dodgers forfeited their second-round and fifth-round picks, and for Tucker they lost their third-round and sixth-round picks.
That leaves only six picks in the first 10 rounds of the 2026 draft, and the Dodgers have a total bonus pool of $3,951,500 to spend. Here are the team’s recommended slot values, per both Carlos Collazo of Baseball America and Joe Doyle of Over-Slot Baseball.
| Round | Overall pick | Slot value |
| 1 | 40 | $2,504,200 |
| 4 | 132 | $575,300 |
| 7 | 223 | $260,300 |
| 8 | 253 | $218,500 |
| 9 | 283 | $201,700 |
| 10 | 313 | $191,900 |
| Total | $3,951,500 |
The Dodgers’ previous lowest bonus pool was in 2022 with $4,223,800 to spend.
“The depth of our system put us in a position where, while the cost is still meaningful, it wasn’t as significant. We have a very strong system up top,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said in January. “But even more than that, I think the depth of our system allows us this one year to have our food budget for the draft meetings exceed our signing bonuses. It’s not great by any means, but just trying to balance that with doing everything we could to put ourselves in the best position to win a championship in 2026.”
The 2026 MLB Draft place will be held from July 11-13 in Philadelphia, the host city for this year’s All-Star Game.
Who: Phoenix Suns (42-34) vs. Charlotte Hornets (40-36)
When: 4:00 pm Arizona Time
Where: Spectrum Center — Charlotte, North Carolina
Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports
Listen: KMVP 98.7
The Phoenix Suns are looking to solidify their position as the seventh seed in the West and maintain control of their standing. With only six games left, this is going to be a big test, as they are only up three games on the Los Angeles Clippers. After a devastating loss to Orlando, they now look to get a sneaky win against one of their Southeast rivals, the Charlotte Hornets.
The Hornets and Suns have been pretty good friends in the trade market, exchanging players over the past few transaction periods. That being said, both are fun, exciting young teams who are trying to make a statement this year. The Suns want to be that defensive powerhouse that can guard anyone one through five, while the Hornets want to outscore you with their lethal offense.
Charlotte has been able to take care of business and is now no longer rebuilding but looking to shine with Kon Knueppel, LaMelo Ball, and Brandon Miller. A relatively healthy team, compared to past seasons, has shown that, with the new culture brought by Charles Lee, they can win now and in the future too.
One thing to watch for in this one is how Dillon Brooks is back in with this team. He missed 18 games with a broken hand, leaving the Suns a bit disconnected on defense. Not having their main anchor of defense made it tough to stop opponents from getting to the paint and eventually scoring.
Having him back should bolster the Suns’ rim protection. With Brooks, we saw that he returned in his first game. He got into some old trouble early as well. His limiting that (as best as he can) would be helpful so the Suns can keep him on the court for those defensive purposes. This Hornets offense is talented, and Brooks is going to have to be key to stopping their electric scorers.
Brooks, offensively as well, has to find himself back in this groove as he, Booker, and Green are all healthy. This is the time we have all been waiting for: a healthy three-headed monster that can win the Suns’ games. For Brooks, he needs to find his shots and find when he can take those in the offense. After starting the game off with a nice turnaround jump, he then went 3-of-12 for the entirety of the game from the field. Finding where he can succeed, given how iso-heavy he is on the offensive side, is something to look for in this one as the Suns gear up for the Play-In.
The big key to his game is going to be matching the Hornets’ offensive output. They have been the best offensive team since the calendar year flipped to 2026, and they have completely changed the franchise’s trajectory. That being said, they put up a lot of points and have the shooters to do so. Both LaMelo Ball and Kon Knueppel can swing a run individually, something the defense will have to be on lock for.
The Suns will need Jalen Green and Devin Booker to once again combine for a great combination of points to keep them in arm’s reach. This time, hopefully getting some trips to the foul line, unlike in Memphis the other night.
Guys like Dillon Brooks, Ryan Dunn, and Rasheer Fleming are going to have to step up defensively to shut the hot Hornets offense down. With Fleming’s recent development, he needs more playing time, and hopefully, he sees that in this one.
The Suns turn the corner and beat Charlotte for the second time this season
Suns 114, Hornets 106
Among the most important positions around the diamond, there is a fair argument that catchers stand alone atop the list. Over their long history, the Yankees have been blessed with good backstops who can handle themselves with the gear and with the bat, with the likes of Bill Dickey, Yogi Berra, Elston Howard, Thurman Munson, and Jorge Posada leading the charge. While the Yankees may not boast those truly elite names behind the plate within the past decade, they have remained highly effective at manning the position, often with multiple players getting significant run.
In 2026, the job belongs to Austin Wells, with J.C. Escarra serving as a more-then-serviceable backup. Although neither of these backstops produce Piazza-esque numbers with the bat, they are both capable hitters, and have more recently shown themselves to be a potent duo on defense in particular. 2026 has been a historically good start on the pitching side of things in New York, and their catchers are playing pivotal roles in lifting their batterymates to new heights.
Wells, the clear starter at the position, has turned himself into a really solid all-around player. As a rookie in 2024, he showed legitimate potential with the bat, posting a 107 wRC+ in over 400 plate appearances, and although he took a slight step back last season, he made up for it with some pop, as he topped 20 homers for the first time. Wells didn’t go deep during his first week of regular season play, but his All-WBC-worthy performance in March signaled that he should remain no easy out.
Perhaps even more importantly, Wells has turned around his status as a defensive catcher. Originally seen as someone who may not stick behind the plate, both he and the Yankees have proved the skeptics wrong, as he has taken huge strides since arriving in the big leagues and seems to be thriving in the premium position.
During the 2025 campaign, Wells graded as one of baseball’s very best pitch-framers (12 framing runs via Statcast), while keeping himself afloat with average grades in other areas. Wells, who once seemed to be a bat-first catcher who had potential to end up position-less, now looks like one of the league’s steadier defenders behind the plate, all while handling his own on offense thanks to some legit thump with the bat.
While the Yankees should be satisfied with their first-stringer, whose 6.5 fWAR between 2024-25 ranks sixth among big league catchers, where they separate themselves is with their quality depth at the position.
Escarra, who initially made headlines as a feel-good story out of spring training last season, has also turned himself into a real force behind the plate. Despite only playing in only 40 games with the Yankees in 2025, his five catcher framing runs was bested by only seven catchers in baseball. Escarra established himself among the best defensive backstops in the minor leagues last season, and despite the limited work, one of the more adept pitch-framers in the sport. Even though ABS is now part of Major League Baseball, not every borderline call is going to be reviewed due to the challenge limits, and the Yankees have already stolen some strikes in 2026.
Beyond that, Escarra has a solid bat for backstop, where the bar is lower than most positions due to the inherent defensive value. His numbers will likely never jump off the page, with his 79 wRC+ last season, but he has solid discipline, posting a 11.2-percent walk rate, while limiting strikeouts and maintaining the decent potential to run into one now and then (even if you understandably discredit all spring training numbers, his three Grapefruit League bombs at least indicate that there is power in his bat). All told, Escarra stands as a more-then-adequate backup, as someone who can stay afloat with the bat, and potentially be a difference maker behind the plate.
The combination of the two catchers, Wells as a more significant threat with the bat and a surprising changing of the tide on defense, along with Escarra’s valuable glovework behind the plate, make the Yankees stand out at the position.* This is something they’ve excelled at in recent years, thanks to solid all-around value from the likes of Kyle Higashioka, Jose Trevino, and even all the way back to José Molina — skilled catching depth has legitimate value that can be hard to see with the naked eye.
*Since he’s the primary first baseman, we’re not even delving into the luxury of having Ben Rice around as a third catcher. But it sure is nice, especially because the Yankees and Rice have an interest in at least keeping that ability “in [his] back pocket.”
The success of Wells and Escarra has also allowed the Yankees to move some of their other catching depth in recent years for value elsewhere on the diamond. This includes moving Trevino for reliever Fernando Cruz, acquiring top pitching prospect Elmer Rodríguez in exchange for Carlos Narvaez, and adding the likes of David Bednar and Camilo Doval at last year’s Trade Deadline for prospects Rafael Flores Jr. and Jesus Rodriguez.
The 2026 season has gotten off to a roaring start on the pitching side of things for the Yankees, and it is only fair to credit their backstops for some of it. Two players, who were once a future non-catcher and a 30-year-old rookie have turned themselves into two of the sport’s best pitch-framers and game-managers, and as a result, an one of the game’s better catcher’s rooms.
Even if the offensive numbers remain where they are, the floor that Wells and Escarra provide on the whole is hard to overstate, and the Yankees pitchers who have dominated thus far would absolutely agree.
If LeBron James leaves the Lakers this offseason, one outcome is certain — he will not be signing with the Grizzlies.
While recently filming a golf video with the “Bob Does Sports” guys, James absolutely tore into Memphis after he was asked if in-season travel wears on him.
The 41-year-old Los Angeles superstar said it definitely does, and he admitted the home of the Grizzlies is one of the cities that makes him feel the most weary.
LeBron James on playing the Grizzlies:
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) April 2, 2026
“I’m f***ing 41 years of age. You think I want to do sh** in Memphis on a random Thursday? I’m not the first guy in the NBA to talk about this. You guys got to move the team… go over to Nashville already.”
(via @leaguealerts) pic.twitter.com/ZN5y5vRg2p
He then added that he finds it so mundane, he and some of his other colleagues have actually urged Grizzlies players and perhaps even the franchise to move.
“I’m not even, like, the first guy to talk about it in the NBA,” James said in the video, which just dropped on YouTube on Thursday. “We’re all, like, ‘You guys have to move. Just go over to Nashville. You’ve got Vanderbilt over there. You’ve got the f—king NASCAR. You’ve got a stadium. Don’t they got a hockey team, too? They’ve got everything.”
James went on to reveal there’s no way he’d ever play in a Grizzlies uniform, even if they had been the organization with the top overall pick when he was coming out of high school 23 years ago.
“They know,” James said. “Their only chance was in 2003 if they ever won the lottery. And I might have pulled an Eli Manning and not showed up.”
The vid’s only been up for a couple hours, but James’ words have already garnered criticism.
Grizzlies reporter Jessica Benson took to her X page to blast James and defend her Tennessee turf, writing that “the parade of s—ting on Memphis is tired, cruel and so incredibly misguided.”
“The way people talk about this city is nuts,” Benson said. “Happy to give any NBA player (or anyone!) an itinerary the next time they’re in town to debunk this absurdity.”
James hasn’t yet addressed the growing backlash, but if any Memphians were waiting on pins and needles for him to expound, he should have media availability later Thursday following the Lakers vs. Thunder tilt.
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There are just three games on today's MLB slate, but we still have some MLB best bets for that action based on prices at prediction markets like Polymarket, which allow bettors all across the country to get in on some baseball action.
Our expert MLB picks are below, with Minnesota and Kansas City continuing to start slow and Atlanta being underpriced in an advantageous matchup.
| Pick | Odds |
|---|---|
 Josh Inglis: MIN/KC NRFI | +108 |
 Jon Metler: Braves ML | -108 |
Prices courtesy of Polymarket.
Sign up now using our exclusive Polymarket promo code 'COVERS' (on your mobile app only) and get a $20 trading bonus after you deposit $20 to trade on any other event contracts — including MLB expert picks!
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Price: 48¢ (+108) at Polymarket
Things should settle down this afternoon after yesterday’s 13–9 game, which still cashed a NRFI at a similar number. The 20 mph winds are inflating the total and giving us a better price on the first inning, and through the first week of the season, neither the Twins nor the Royals has scored in the first frame. It sets up well with Taj Bradley vs. Cole Ragans, especially with potential getaway-day lineups on both sides —with a chance that key bats such as Byron Buxton and Salvador Pérez get a day off.
Price: 52¢ (-108) at Polymarket
The Braves are trading as a 52% favorite against the Diamondbacks, and I think this price is an absolute steal — I make the Braves closer to a 62% favorite in this matchup. Ryne Nelson allowed two home runs in his season debut, lasting just 4 2/3 innings, and his cutter could get him into trouble against a Braves lineup capable of barreling the ball consistently. What really stands out is the depth of Atlanta’s lineup right now: Mauricio Dubón and Dominic Smith are both hitting over .385 to start the season, helping turn the lineup over and giving a pitcher like Nelson nowhere to breathe. If the Braves can drive up his pitch count and get into the Diamondbacks’ bullpen early, it becomes a significant advantage for Atlanta.
| Pick | Odds |
|---|---|
| NYM ML | -118 |
| Read analysis in our Mets vs. Giants predictions | |
| Braves ML | -120 |
| Read analysis in our Braves vs. Diamondbacks predictions | |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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It’s been a few extra days, so it’s time to check with our friends in the Lone Star state.
It’s been a good week for the Houston Rockets, which means it’s been a bad one for the 2026 first-round pick they owe to the Sixers as a result of the Jared McCain trade. Houston rebounded well after starting it as poorly as possible.
They looked to be in a full tailspin when they blew a 13-point lead in overtime to the Minnesota Timberwolves on national television back on March 25. Since then, though, the Rockets have gotten back on track, winners of their last four.
Three of those were against tanking teams in the Grizzlies, Pelicans and Bucks, but they impressively blew out the New York Knicks during this streak as well.
Of course the winning streak is bad news for the pick they owe to Philadelphia. They would currently be giving the No. 23 overall pick to the Sixers. They are a half game behind the Timberwolves for the 21st pick and tied with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Unfortunately for the Sixers, Houston’s schedule remains pretty light for the rest of the regular season as well. The Utah Jazz at home on April 3 should be a breeze for them. Playing in Golden State on April 5 could be tricky, as Stephen Curry is reportedly eyeing a comeback, but that will be his first game back in two months.
After that they’ll head down to Phoenix to take on the struggling Suns, who have won just three of their last 10. The Sixers themselves might have the best chance to take one from them on the April 9. They’ll wrap up the regular season with the Grizzlies and Wolves one more time at home on April 10 and 12, respectively.
Before that pick’s position will be set in stone, Sixers fans can get one last chance to get a look at some potential prospects in the Final Four. Arizona featuring Koa Peat and Michigan featuring Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara will square off on April 4 at 8:49 p.m. ET.
The Cleveland Cavaliers can clinch a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference with a victory over the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors are still missing star guard Stephen Curry, who is expected to return next week. The Cavs are currently seeded third in the East while Golden State appears headed for the West’s play-in tournament.
Date: Thursday, April 2
Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
Where: Chase Center, San Francisco
TV Channels: NBCS, FDSO
Live Stream:NBA League Pass | Follow on Yahoo Sports
Cleveland Cavaliers: 47-29 (No. 2 in Central Division)
Golden State Warriors: 36-40 (No. 4 in Pacific Division)
Spread: Golden State Warriors +10.5
Moneyline: Golden State Warriors +360 / Cleveland Cavaliers -475
Over/Under: 227.5
Explosive knocks by openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma led Sunrisers Hyderabad to their first win of the IPL season with a 65-run thrashing of Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday.
The Rays have completed their first week of games facing off against a pair of NL Central teams. Below are five early trends to watch as the Rays look to build momentum in April. It’s still early, but these indicators can give us a directional sense of what’s real and what might regress.
is the zone-minus-out-of-zone swing rate for the offense so far – slightly better than average, and good enough for 13th in the league. This group showed plus swing decisions during the spring with a rate of 40.0%, and that trend is continuing into the regular season although a few hitters have shown slightly more early-count aggressiveness than they did in the spring. The eye test and data both support the high quality of at-bats we’re seeing from this Rays offense. I expect this to continue given the players they have on the 40-man roster as they settle in more during April.
is the team’s contact rate so far. Again, this was a pretty obvious one to see coming when we look at the roster moves they’ve been making over the last ~10 months, and the Spring Training data supports this trend as well. The Rays offense is making contact at a comfortably plus rate, ranking 3rd in the league so far.
is the team’s 90th percentile exit velocity. They’re currently above-average here as well and have the 5th highest EV90 in the league. The above average raw power shown from the Rays hitters so far combined with the quality of at-bats and high contact rate has helped produce a strong and efficient offense. Yes, there’s some BABIP luck that we can expect to regress a bit eventually, but they project to be one of the better BABIP teams in the league given their plus contact rate and how hard they’re hitting the ball.
is the Rays combined line drive plus fly ball rate for the offense. This was an indicator I was a bit skeptical about heading into the regular season as it was just 46.0% in the spring and near the bottom of the league. However, they’ve done well to improve on this number so far compared to their Spring Training data and the 46.6% (last in the league) they showed in 2025. This will be something to monitor as a higher rate can raise the offensive ceiling of the group. It’s unlikely they sustain a top 10 mark over a full season, but even settling in around league average would represent a meaningful step forward from 2025.
is the rate at which batted ball events are being converted to outs by the defense – the 9th lowest in the league. This is not a red flag yet as it’s still early, but it’s maybe a yellow flag – the defense is simply allowing too many additional outs and extra bases. The outfield has been pretty solid at 66.1% on their own (average for the outfield is 60.7%), so it’s mainly the infield and their 82.6% (average for the infield is 89.1%) which ranks near the bottom of the league. Given that they have average or better defenders at every infield position, this should improve over a larger sample. This is something to monitor through April, especially with a heavier divisional schedule coming in May.
Just as a small side note, Chandler Simpson has been one of the most impressive defenders on the team so far this season. He had a strong spring, and that has translated well into the regular season. He has made several impressive catches with relative ease, including this one with a 20% catch probability and this one with a 50% probability. The only blemish is this opportunity with a 10% catch probability that he nearly turned into an out. The reactions and routes are night and day difference from 2025, and it’s easy to see a path to him earning a larger role.
This opening weekend and homestand have felt especially sweet after last year’s nightmare start. Drake is raking, TBS-era Braves enjoyers are eating good with the newly revealed City Connects and various BravesVision homages… and the Braves aren’t climbing out of an early season deficit.
Let’s hope the good vibes made the team plane headed West.
First stop on the trip will be Chase Field, where Reynaldo López and the Braves will be kicking off a four-game set against the Diamondbacks (lots of “A” logos in the scorebug in this stretch – Athletics in the rearview, Arizona on deck, and Angels in the hole). A battle of #2 starters with no-decisions awaits in the desert.
López’s performance in Game 2 is probably a touch overshadowed by Dom Smith’s history-making grand slam, but it was a good one nonetheless. After the worriers and haters said he couldn’t do it (and by it, I mean fix his fastball velo), he had a “here, damn”-type of an outing in his season debut. He touched 97 mph and rarely dipped below 93 mph during his six innings of one-run ball. All hail the magical mechanical adjustment?
On the other side will be longtime D-back Ryne Nelson. Alternating between starting and long relief in the beginning of 2025, he cemented his role in the rotation after Corbin Burnes went down for the year. He would go on to toss a career-high 154 innings with a 3.39 ERA. In his last outing against the Braves in 2024, he went five innings with five hits (a homer apiece from Olson and Harris II), three earned runs and seven strikeouts. He’ll be looking to bounce back from his Opening Week performance after being tagged for 4 ER in 4.2 innings by the vaunted Dodger lineup.
This Diamondbacks team, like the Athletics, started the season 0-3 but completed a sweep of the Tigers yesterday. Their lineup continues to be headlined by Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte, and Geraldo Perdomo.
It’s going to be a late one – perhaps consider taking a page out of Team Italy’s book and getting beaned up if you’re following along here in Atlanta or on the East Coast.
Game Date/Time: Thursday, April 2, 9:40 p.m. EDT
Location: Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
TV: BravesVision
Streaming: MLB.tv
Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan
