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Orioles news: O’s look to finalize roster on eve of Opening Day

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MARCH 31: Baseball fans look out to the baseball diamond before the Boston Red Sox play against the Baltimore Orioles during their Opening Day game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on March 31, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Good morning Birdland,

A baseball game that actually counts will take place today. It’s the Yankees and the Giants, it’s at 8 p.m., and it’s only on Netflix. So I will be missing it, but at least it’s happening!

As for a game that we all care about around here, we have one more day to wait. The Orioles season will get underway tomorrow at 3 p.m. or thereabouts. Pre-game festivities on Opening Day always seem to run just slightly over their allotted time. They might still be rolling up the orange carpet at 3.

If you are heading to Camden Yards for the game, it seems like you will have a lovely day on your hands. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-70s and the chance of rain is basically non-existent. It should be a perfect day for baseball.

You will also be among the first people to get a first-hand look at some of the offseason renovations to Camden Yards. Some fans took a gander over the weekend during the Orioles/Nationals exhibition, Kevin Brown took us all on a video tour of the place, and the broader press was going gaga over the changes throughout the day on Tuesday.

As for today, we will all be on the lookout for some finalizing of the team’s roster. The Orioles have to make their decisions by noon. That is when Opening Day rosters are due.

The team has already made some big decisions. Dean Kremer being sent to Triple-A was probably the biggest. They DFA’d Bryan Ramos on Tuesday. That was another significant move. He had a really good spring and looked like a potential infield option with Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg on the IL. Instead, he could be claimed and go elsewhere. We also need to learn if Dylan Beavers’ knee is fit enough for Opening Day. It seems like it will be, but a brief IL stint for him could open up a spot for someone else.

The bullpen is where most of the remaining question marks probably lay. We know Andrew Kittredge will make a rehab stop in Norfolk before he is ready. Keegan Akin could still go to the IL with his recent adductor issue. Jackson Kowar and Albert Suárez are both out of options. Yaramil Hiraldo could be sent down without issue, but he was quite good this spring and probably deserves a roster spot. And there is the possibility that the O’s pluck a reliever from someone else’s roster.

In general though, the O’s are in a good spot. They got the injuries to Holliday and Westburg out of the way early in spring, and then got through the Grapefruit League and WBC relatively unscathed. They won’t be a full strength on Opening Day, but it will be close.

Links

What MLB scouts say are the Orioles’ strengths and weaknesses | The Baltimore Banner
None of this is particularly ground breaking. We are well aware of where the team could improve, but it can be interesting to hear outside opinions. However, something in this piece that I vehemently disagree with was the description of Kyle Bradish as a “two or a really good number three” on a championship team. I understand if you have to take his recent health into consideration when determining his overall value, but in terms of actual ability and output, Bradish is at the very least a number two.

New video board, sound system should excite Oriole fans this season | Baltimore Baseball
Personally, I kind of liked the video board that the team used to have. It was a little awkward, but had a charm to it that the new one seems to lack. The sound system, on the other hand, was in desperate need of improvement. There were areas of the stadium where you could not hear anything being said. So that is certainly a welcome improvement.

‘It’s up to us now’: How O’s can make postseason run in 2026 | MLB.com
Health and home runs. That is the formula. The team had some bad luck in 2025, but they also just weren’t very good. Much of the roster returns in 2026, but the front office also made several high-profile additions that they hope will pay off.

One last chance to wonder about the roster | Roch Kubatko
I would love to see Elias pull off a late move for a quality reliever, but if that was going to happen it feels like it would have by now. At this point, it’s more likely they enter the year with the guys they have and figure it out as they go. Maybe the bullpen will be fine! Ryan Helsley looked pretty good over the weekend.

Orioles birthdays

Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!

  • Tucker Davidson turns 30 today. He pitched in one game for the 2024 Orioles and is currently in the Phillies organization.
  • The late Woodie Held (b. 1932, d. 2009) was born on this day. He was a utility player for the Orioles from 1966-67, taking the field at every position but pitcher, catcher, and first base during his time in Baltimore.

This day in O’s history

It has been a slow day in Orioles history, according to Baseball Reference. Instead, here are a few happenings on this date from beyond Birdland:

1948 – The first successful tornado forecast predicts that a tornado will strike Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma.

1965 – A group of nonviolent activists, led by Martin Luther King Jr, complete their four-day, 50-mile march from Selma, Alabama to Montgomery, Alabama to protest against segregation and encourage African-American citizens to exercise their right to vote.

1979 – The first fully functional Space Shuttle orbitor, dubbed Columbia, is delivered to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to be prepared for launch.

Dealing with a busted bracket?

The Sweet 16 is almost here – who’s still alive? We’re reviewing the week that was in the first week of the NCAA tournament and turning our focus to remaining teams. How bad (or good!) is your bracket? Join us in the SB Nation March Madness Feed and let’s talk about who’s most likely to make a run to glory.

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Barcelona takes on Spanish rival Real Madrid in Women's Champions League quarterfinals

MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid will try to close in on a first semifinal appearance in the Women’s Champions League when it hosts three-time champion Barcelona in the first leg of the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

Manchester United will make its debut in the last eight against Bayern Munich.

Barcelona will try to make it to a record-extending eighth consecutive semifinal appearance, and a sixth straight final in the competition that it has dominated in recent years.

The Catalan club is playing in its 11th straight quarterfinal and seeks to reclaim the title it lost to Arsenal last season. Barcelona topped the league phase with an unbeaten campaign that included 20 goals scored and three against.

Madrid, in its second consecutive quarterfinal, was eliminated by Arsenal in the last eight last season. If finished seventh in the league phase.

Man United has been thriving in its first European experience since a defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in qualifying in the 2023-24 season. Bayern recovered from a 7-1 loss at Barcelona at the start of the league phase to finish fourth and qualify for the quarterfinals for the eighth time in 10 seasons.

On Tuesday, Arsenal defeated English rival Chelsea 3-1 in their first leg of the quarterfinals. Wolfsburg took a 1-0 lead over record eight-time champion Lyon in a meeting of two of the competition’s most storied names.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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The Spin | Cricket’s Tetris calendar is a recipe for player burnout and fan apathy

South Africa v New Zealand T20 series highlights schedule that is increasingly hard to keep up with

Clinical guidance suggests recovery from emotional trauma can take weeks or months. In some cases, the lingering pain can last for years. Elite cricketers, though, are expected to compress that timeline into days.

Take Mitchell Santner. The New Zealand captain oversaw his team’s crushing 96-run loss by India in the T20 World Cup final on 8 March. It was the Black Caps’ fourth defeat in an ICC final since 2019 and, having swatted aside South Africa in the semi-final, would have stung. Well, Santner had to do his contemplating on the flight back home as seven days later he was suited and booted for a T20 international against the Proteas at Mount Maunganui.

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Norwegian skier Atle Lie McGrath wins World Cup slalom title after losing his temper at the Olympics

HAFJELL, Norway (AP) — Norwegian skier Atle Lie McGrath secured the World Cup slalom title on home snow Wednesday to conclude the season on a positive note after losing his temper at the Olympics when he squandered a big first-run lead.

McGrath broke down in tears during a long, emotional embrace with childhood friend and Olympic giant slalom champion Lucas Pinheiro Braathen of Brazil, who straddled a gate early in his second run to pave the way for McGrath's title.

McGrath, who won three slaloms this season, earned his first discipline title.

Timon Haugan, another Norwegian, won the race by finishing 0.44 seconds ahead of Olympic champion Loic Meillard and 1.03 ahead of Eduard Hallberg of Finland.

McGrath, who came eighth in the race, finished 64 points ahead of 2022 Olympic champion Clement Noel and 73 points ahead of Pinheiro Braathen.

McGrath, who was born in Vermont but grew up in Norway, entered the final run of the slalom at the Milan Cortina Games with a big lead. But after straddling a gate, McGrath angrily threw his ski poles away and ventured toward the woods to gather himself.

Marco Odermatt, who does not compete in slalom, secured his fifth straight overall title before the finals. He was awarded the large crystal globe after the slalom.

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AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing

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MLB opening day starting pitcher matchups: Who's on the mound for each team?

The 2026 MLB season is upon us, with nothing but possibilities and dreams of October celebrations ahead.

The journey begins on opening day as each team puts its best foot (or in this case, arm) forward in an effort to get off to that coveted 1-0 start.

Here is a look at the 30 pitchers who have earned the honor of being their team's opening day starter. Some are established veterans with plenty of experience in the role. Others are getting the call for the first time. And still others are being thrust into the maelstrom due to injuries or other complications.

No matter the circumstances, the feeling is the same. Let's play ball!

2026 opening day starting pitchers

Here's the schedule for the first three days of the 2026 MLB season, with each team's opening day starting pitcher in parentheses.

All times Eastern

Wednesday, March 25

Thursday, March 26

Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw the final pitch of the 2025 season when he recorded the final out in Game 7 of the World Series. He'll throw the first pitch in the Los Angeles Dodgers' title defense at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Friday, March 27

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB opening day pitching matchups for all 30 teams

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MLB 2026 bold predictions: Skenes takes Pirates to playoffs while ABS bums us out

First things first: The extremes aren’t so very extreme in Major League Baseball this year.

These aren’t the dark days of the 2010s, when teams were blatantly trying to lose, making for some easy 100-loss seasons and an equal amount of moderately decent teams stacking wins like folded laundry.

In 2026, there’s probably no more than five teams who can be confidently counted out of postseason contention. And that makes the annual exercise of bold predictions a little trickier.

Yet even if there’s legitimate hopes in almost every precinct, we can still take some stabs at eye-opening feats and surprise outcomes. With that, a venture out onto the limb for 2026:

The Mets – not the Dodgers – are the real super team

Owner Steve Cohen, who still spends like no other individual in ownership, has gotten a free ride out of this whole Dodgers-ruining-baseball narrative. Credit to his players, we suppose, for not winning the past two World Series.

Yet after a highly-disappointing 83-win, no-playoffs season, the Mets are stacked, hungry and primed for a huge season. Maybe it’s just a 2026-only alignment, but there is no more dynamic 1-2-3 in the game than Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto and Bo Bichette. Freddy Peralta gives them a real No. 1 in the rotation.

Clay Holmes is fully stretched out. Rookie Nolan McLean (and, later, Jonah Tong) gives them high-end arms to miss plenty of bats. The bullpen is… different, anyway, which isn’t a bad thing.

Can they dislodge Philadelphia atop the NL East? It will be a great race. But more quietly than usual, we feel something special coming from Queens.

The Pirates will make the playoffs

Throwing this out there while it remains a “bold” stance to take.

We’re not patting ownership on the head for actually bringing in reinforcements but will begrudgingly allow that they’ve at least given the Buccos a chance. An always fallow lineup finally has definition.

And while we’re concerned they got too excited about trading away pitching, the Paul Skenes-led group – which should get Jared Jones back, too – is deep enough to contend. We’ll take the trades of Johan Oviedo and Mike Burrows as a rousing endorsement of top prospect Bubba Chandler.

And we’ll wait like everyone else for the arrival of Konnor Griffin, franchise shortstop. Nothing’s automatic about all this – but for once, the ingredients are there.

ABS will be kind of a bummer

This is ostensibly the year all the Screenshot Warriors have waited for – the automatic ball-strike system, or, colloquially, “robot umps” at least partially integrated into the game.

Hey, the system works great: Challenges must come in a timely fashion and the “Robot” cooks up a verdict far quicker than a judge in traffic court. Yet in a mild bit of be-careful-what-you-wish-for, the notion of fighting over 0.1 of an inch will seem silly.

Especially when a pitcher like Skenes paints a perfect pitch on the corner to ring up a hitter, only for the prince of pedantry – ABS – to say, “Nah, you’re not good enough.”

JJ Wetherholt is the NL’s Rookie of the Year

Players aren’t concocted in a lab, but if you had to put together a perfect package for the modern game – without simply saying, “Give me Aaron Judge or Shohei Ohtani” – Wetherholt might be your guy.

He’s speedy. He puts the ball in play. Has power that will only continue to develop. Is a natural shortstop but can play all over the field.

In this case, he’ll be at second base because there’s a Gold Glover, Masyn Winn, at short. They should make beautiful music together up the middle. And while the St. Louis Cardinals’ rebuild may get unsightly at times, Wetherholt, the seventh overall pick out of West Virginia in 2024, will be appointment viewing.

Tarik Skubal tosses a perfect game

The stars will align someday. Tarik Skubal’s combination of dominance and efficiency and his frequent dates against AL Central lineups will result in the ultimate pitching accomplishment: Twenty-seven up, 27 down.

The lefty many expect will get close to a half-billion dollars this offseason can get deeper in games quicker than most, thanks in part to a fastball-changeup combo that can bury hitters in an 0-2 hole before their walk-up music has faded. And consider some of his gems last year:

  • Nine innings, two hits, no walks, 13 strikeouts, 94 pitches against Cleveland.
  • Seven innings, two hits, one walk, 90 pitches against the Chicago White Sox.
  • Seven innings, three hits, no walks, 10 strikeouts, 93 pitches against Cleveland.
  • Seven innings, one hit, one walk, 13 strikeouts, 93 pitches against Minnesota.

At some point, every liner will find a glove, every blooper will hang up long enough for an outfielder to run underneath it. And while it won’t make Armando Galarraga whole, the Tigers will have instant replay this time as a backstop against injustice.

Jason Benetti’s star continues to rise

For now, from a national perspective, he’s something of a “guy you’re familiar with yet don’t totally know.” Now, as the man behind the mic for a rebooted Sunday Night Baseball on NBC and its streaming arm, Benetti has a platform to become the entertaining and familiar voice viewers want from their big-time broadcasts.

The Detroit Tigers play-by-play man has done plenty of baseball and college hoops for Fox, yet this is his first foray as a true No. 1 guy. The booth format on NBC – which will integrate analysts from the participating clubs – will keep the product fresh each week while allowing Benetti to tee up the visiting talent. Like he does with, say, Bill Raftery on a Big Ten hoops game.

In an increasingly complex viewing world - especially within baseball - Sunday nights will once again be a safe harbor for fans seeking the familiar.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB bold predictions for 2026: Pirates to playoffs, Mets best in NL

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Who is Tony Vitello? What to know about Giants' new manager

The Tony Vitello era has officially begun in San Francisco.

Giants general manager Zack Minasian and President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey sought out Vitello because they wanted to do something out of the ordinary. They chose a new manager with no Major League Baseball experience, coming straight from managing the University of Tennessee.

"As much as this feels out of the box, Tony's name has been bouncing around Major League Baseball for awhile," Minasian said during Vitello's introductory news conference.

He added: "We kept coming back to 'this one would be really interesting' and just got even more interesting as we continued to speak."

Despite his lack of MLB experience, Vitello showed an eye for talent, dedication to his craft and passion for the game. That's what stood out to the Giants' decision-makers.

"It's something I've come to really appreciate about Tony and honestly made me feel more confident in this decision," Posey said. "This guy, he was hard to get ahold of. He was on the field all the time or he was bouncing from city to city recruiting, and just because this was on his plate, he was still full go with what his job was at Tennessee. I have a tremendous amount of respect for that. I wish it was easier to get in contact sometimes, but that's a little bit of how it played out."

Here's what to know about new Giants manager Tony Vitello:

How old is Tony Vitello?

Vitello is 47 years old. He was born on Oct. 9, 1978.

Tony Vitello contract, salary

Just weeks after his 47th birthday, Vitello signed a three-year contract (with fourth-year option) with the Giants. He will earn $3.5 million annually, according to The SF Standard.

Where else has Tony Vitello coached?

The elephant in the room is that Vitello has no MLB experience. He has coached MLB talent at Tennessee, however.

Vitello spent eight years as head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers, between 2018 and 2025, winning two SEC regular-season titles, two SEC Tournaments and the 2024 NCAA Baseball Tournament.

In that span, he coached Christian Moore, Garrett Crochet, Chase Silseth, Ben Joyce, Andre Lipcius, Trey Lipscomb, Jordan Beck, Seth Halvorsen, Chase Dollander and current Giants pitcher Blade Tidwell.

Posey praised Vitello's keen ability to build a culture. The coach's efforts have seemingly paid off.

"As a coach, I was just trying to make my way," Vitello said during his October introductory news conference. "I got thrust into a position at a young age that I probably didn't even deserve, so I was just trying to do a good job, and fortunately it helped get me to the next spot and the next spot and the next spot, and eventually this did become a dream, where I just decided if it was, if I was blessed enough to receive an opportunity, this is something I wanted to do before I was done coaching, in general."

Prior to Tennessee, Vitello served as an assistant coach at Arkansas, TCU and Missouri.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is San Francisco Giants new manager Tony Vitello?

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Bold predictions for San Francisco Giants' 2026 season

March Madness is rolling in college basketball, but Major League Baseball has its own version of madness in March: roster finalization, anticipation and preparation for a lengthy season — and a series of predictions to go with it.

The 2026 MLB season begins with the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees playing at Oracle Park at 5:05 p.m. PT (8:05 p.m. ET) on March 25. There's lots for the Giants hopeful to be excited for ahead of the 2026 season, but die-hards might not be so optimistic.

San Francisco has a new manager in Tony Vitello, a standout college baseball coach who rose to fame during his eight-year tenure at Tennessee, where he won an NCAA Tournament championship, two SEC Tournament championships and two regular-season titles.

It is his first year ever as an MLB manager, the Giants hiring him in October 2025. With zero MLB experience, the talk is whether Vitello is the answer to the Giants' recent mediocracy, or whether his hire puts a stamp on who they've been the last five years.

They didn't make any splash signings, but the Giants front office didn't just sit on their tails and hibernate during the winter. Despite not landing Japanese pitching sensation Tatsuya Imai, losing out on the sweepstakes to the Houston Astros, the Giants still managed to land effective players.

San Francisco brought in pitcher Tyler Mahle on a one-year deal, infielder Luis Arráez on a one-year deal, and Harrison Bader, to name a few.

Still, it'll be a roller coaster to see how they fare in the NL West against the San Diego Padres or arch rival Los Angeles Dodgers, who are coming off back-to-back World Series championships.

Here are some bold predictions for the San Francisco Giants during the 2026 season.

More MLB: When is Opening Day? 2026 schedule, start date for every team

Giants aren't as mediocre, but will still (barely) miss wild card

Giants fans can expect some life out of this new-look Giants team. The new additions will provide temporary excitement, but this team doesn't seem to have addressed its main issues: the bullpen, a closing lineup that'll make noise, and securing the outfield.

Personal drive, momentum swings, other teams being bad, are all legitimate reasons why the Giants won't be as bad as some think. But none of their offseason moves scream out NL West title, let alone World Series title ... but they can be more competitive than previous seasons.

In 2025, the team was the definition of mediocre at 81-81. They were just outside of a wild card spot.

This season, they will win more games, but others will, too, after improvements to their teams. Not sure if this is even a 90-win team, but nothing is off the table.

The Giants finish just under 90 wins at 85-77, which might not be enough for a wild card berth but it does provide more excitement this season. There will be times throughout the season where you ask yourself whether this team is a contender.

It could swing either way. MLB.com predicts the Giants will be a wild card team when it's said and done, with the second-best record in the NL West, behind the Dodgers.

Luis Matos, Bryce Eldridge, other prospects emerge

The Giants have been investing in their prospects and one of them will emerge as a rotational guy.

Bryce Eldridge is a 6-foot-7 first baseman who showed the potential he has in spring training, bombing a three-run home run. Was it a fluke or a sign of more to come?

In 40 at-bats during the 2026 spring training, Eldridge compiled nine hits, eights runs, a homer and 6 RBIs. His OPS was .830, with a batting average of .225.

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MLB 2026 opening night on Netflix: What you need to know

Major League Baseball's broadcast universe expands this season to include Netflix, but only on a limited basis.

The streaming giant's latest venture into the world of sports will include the actual Giants, of San Francisco, hosting the New York Yankees in an exclusive broadcast of the first game of the 2026 MLB season.

Netflix had to cobble together its announcing lineup from scratch, but the crew does feature some very familiar names to baseball fans.

Matt Vasgersian will handle play-by-play duties with former major Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia and ex-Giants outfielder Hunter Pence offering commentary. Lauren Shehadi will report from the field.

In addition, former ESPN anchor Elle Duncan will lead the studio show, with Barry Bonds, Albert Pujols and Anthony Rizzo filling the pre- and postgame analyst chairs.

Netflix is also taking over the broadcast of the All-Star Home Run Derby, which will be contested July 13 in Philadelphia.

2026 MLB opener on Netflix

  • New York Yankees at San Francisco Giants
  • Date: March 25
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT
  • Location: Oracle Park, San Francisco
  • AccuWeather forecast: Partly cloudy with game time temperature in the mid-60s and wind gusts up to 31 mph. Chance of rain 0%.
  • Starting pitchers: LHP Max Fried (Yankees), RHP Logan Webb (Giants)
  • Streaming: Netflix

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Netflix has exclusive rights to MLB opening night: Yankees vs. Giants

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The Celtics’ orca-loving Joe Mazzulla is an NBA oddball. He’s also a masterful coach

Joe Mazzulla won the NBA title with the Celtics in 2024. Photograph: Mark Stockwell/AP

The Boston Celtics’ head coach, Joe Mazzulla, is a very odd man. He is also a very good coach.

Take, for example, a story Celtics guard Derrick White told in an interview last November. According to White, the first sound at one Celtics practice wasn’t a whistle.

It was gunfire.

“[Mazzulla is] like, ‘Play the music!’… and next thing you know, it’s just machine guns going off … you’re in a war zone,” White said. He was laughing – but not really laughing.

The 37-year-old coach scored the sweat session with the sound of death, bullets rat-a-tat-tat over 10 straight minutes of zigzags and full-court pickups. He wanted players’ lungs burning. He wanted them to taste the vomit.

Mazzulla believes – and he believes many things – repetition under stress rewires your brain. Psychologists have spent decades studying how stimuli paired with intensity create recall that bypasses deliberation. The military industrialized it: conditioning, desensitization, immersion. The principle underneath it is simpler and more universal: the brain learns fastest when it’s overwhelmed. Adapt or die.

There’s something unsettling about it all. Basketball borrowing from the logic of war. Every coach will give platitudes about stress inoculation. Mazzulla puts sensory overload into practice. The goal is the same: strip decision-making down to instinct.

Mazzulla’s version of controlled chaos is the sound of gunfire, hence the practice session. Why? So, when weeks later, in the fourth quarter, a guard brings the ball up full court, the crowd is loud, and the game is tight, any player wearing green and white can turn into the Manchurian Candidate: synapses snapping into place to deliver the kill shot into the hoop.

Related: How Detroit’s New Bad Boys climbed from the NBA’s cellar to rule the East

A lot of this is odd. And a lot of what Mazzulla says is odd. He doesn’t really talk like other NBA coaches. His press conferences can sound more like philosophy seminars than strategy. Maybe Mazzulla’s deadpan delivery is Andy Kaufman performance art: half-jokes, half-koans, delivered with a straight face. Players have learned to stop trying to decode everything and just absorb the tone.

He has talked about wanting a wolf to guard his house, never sitting with his back to the door at restaurants in case anyone sneaks up on him and avoiding revolving doors because “if one of them gets stuck, then you’re just a sitting duck”. He wants his players to study the movements of orcas and hyenas to enhance their games.

The thing is, whether it’s because of his quirks or despite them, Mazzulla is a very effective coach. He’s already led the Celtics to one championship, and deserves the Coach of the Year award after leading the injury-riddled Celtics to the second seed in the East this season, while holding the second-best offensive rating, fourth-best defensive rating and third-best net rating.

It should be remembered that Boston were supposed to have a gap year after Jayson Tatum went out last postseason with an achilles injury. Starters Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis were both traded. Bench bigs Al Horford and Luke Kornet left in free agency, a harsh cost of survival under the new collective bargaining agreement.

Most teams would have reset. But Mazzulla got in the lab and changed the Celtics’ DNA. He kept the offense organized around spacing, timing and reads, building a system that could function until Tatum’s return. And defensively, he pared it back to the bone: just the raw, flayed nerves of constant ball pressure. This kind of scalable infrastructure helps role players reach their ceiling without your best player.

As the team changed, so did Mazzulla. It would have been easy to ask Jaylen Brown to be Tatum. Instead, he uses every player to their strength.

That’s why Ron Harper Jr, Baylor Scheierman, Hugo González and Luka Garza have been able to step in and up. Even Brown is expected to rebound, run, defend and play with the same energy and physicality the Celtics ask of everybody.

What’s behind the new philosophy? This summer, Mazzulla went to France, where he met with Guillaume Vizade, a fellow basketball oddball and the head coach of Le Mans. Two coaches from different systems tried to crack the code of creating advantages before a defense can set.

Vizade talks about the meeting like a thinktank: “Our shared ideas about arriving into offense while playing, amplifying advantages and creating chaos in opposing defenses connected very quickly during those discussions. I felt both lucky and proud to be able to present some of our methods and actions, and in return, I received even more by exchanging ideas with Joe and his disruptive approach.“

Vizade’s teams don’t just run; they vibrate. Hard-wired into a single hive mind. Like fungi. It’s how Boston play now. When the first option on offense is cut off, the offense doesn’t flinch. It reignites into a sequence of cuts and relocations that open up scoring gaps.

Mazzulla’s COTY case also rests on how much he changed Boston defensively. Last season, the Celtics could let opponents play one-on-one, live with contested shots without fouling. This year, they pick up their opps full-court and pressure the hell out the ball.

When one defender takes a risk, another one fills the space. If someone gets beat, the next man rotates. If that pass gets made, another closeout comes behind it. That’s why Celtics corner-help blocks have become such a staple. Boston are rotating so well they’re forcing opponents to make that one extra pass. Mazzulla has done all this without a great rim protector.

Related: NBA’s bizarre ‘tanking’ problem has spewed theories but no solutions | Sean Ingle

The clearest example of Mazzulla’s approach came in the 2024 Finals, when Dallas kept their big men near the rim, helping off shooters on the weak side to crowd the paint. Early on, it worked. Boston drove into traffic and ended up kicking the ball out late.

Mazzulla’s adjustment was using that help against Dallas. Boston began pulling the help defender toward the ball, often using a guard like Holiday to drag the Mavericks’ big man across the floor. As soon as the help stepped over, they swung the ball to the other side before the defense could recover.

From there, the options were obvious: a layup, a post-up or an open corner three. What looked like simple ball movement was really a smart way to pick apart Dallas’s defense, turning it against itself. Mad scientist-level scheming.

Speaking to last year’s disappointing second-round playoff exit, he said: “Every season exposes yourself to yourself … third year you get a taste for what it’s like to lose.”

That’s how Mazzulla rolls. He shows his players film of orcas and hyenas, predators that never attack all at once. Instead, they circle, shift, waiting for just the right moment before closing in and snapping their prey’s neck. Boston’s offense works the same way. The ball moves from side to side until the defense finally gives up a good shot.

Other outlets have detailed that being a Celtic means embracing the Joe Mazzulla experience. We’re talking about a guy who roams the facility barefoot while delivering instructions in an icy, hyper-focused monotone. He operates the Celtics like a man who knows he’s in the Matrix and wants his team to warp the simulation to their advantage.

The league is in good hands. JB Bickerstaff is honing the blade in Detroit, Mitch Johnson fast-tracked the Spurs mutation, and Mike Brown is restoring Eden in the Garden. But Mazzulla has raced far ahead of the pack for COTY by retooling a depleted contender while staying contending. Insane.

That’s what elite coaching looks like.

That’s why Joe Mazzulla should win Coach of the Year.

Play the music.

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Pens Points: Avalanche get revenge

PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 24: Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) skates with the puck against Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Parker Wotherspoon (28) during the third period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Colorado Avalanche on March 24, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Here are your Pens Points for this Wednesday morning…

The Pittsburgh Penguins hosted the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night at PPG Paints Arena. One week after the Penguins dispatched the Avalanche on their home ice, the Colorado hockey team returned the favor, pulling away early and defeating Pittsburgh 6-2. [Recap]

The Penguins received a mixed bag of injury news before the game. Evgeni Malkin missed the Avalanche game due to an undisclosed day-to-day injury, while defender Ryan Shea was cleared to return after missing Sunday’s clash. [PensBurgh]

After leaving against the Winnipeg Jets with an injury and missing Sunday’s contest against the Carolina Hurricanes, the aforementioned Shea was eager to return to the lineup on Tuesday, saying the timing was frustrating given how well he had been playing. [Trib Live]

Penguins prospect Harrison Brunicke remains focused on making the NHL roster, despite the up-and-down nature of the nine-game trial he received at the start of the season. He is using his time in juniors to continue on the upward trajectory. [Trib Live]

Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas says he has no plans to trade Erik Karlsson this summer. [TSN]

News and notes from around the NHL…

Connor McDavid clarified recent comments he made in support of Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper, saying they were not meant as criticism of his own team; they were meant to compliment a strong opponent. [Sportsnet]

Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice made history on Tuesday night, joining Scotty Bowman by becoming the second coach in NHL history to coach 2,000 career regular-season games. [NHL]

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11 Takeaways from Cavs 136-131 win over Magic: Sam Merrill isn’t just a shooter

Mar 24, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) shoot a three point shot during the second half against the Orlando Magic at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images | David Dermer-Imagn Images

CLEVELAND — Head coach Kenny Atkinson went to his postgame press conference todeliver one message after the Cleveland Cavaliers barely scraped by the Orlando Magic 136-131.

“I just told the team in the locker room, if we’re going to play defense like this, we’re going to have a short playoff stint,” Atkinson said. “We have a mentality that we’re just going to outscore people, and we all know, playoff time, it’s not going to be that easy offensively. … If we’re giving up 134 points, 120, we’re not going anywhere.”

That message was heard by his team, to the point that Donovan Mitchell mixed up whether or not they actually won the game.

“That’s why this loss, or this win, excuse me, feels different.”

Mitchell’s Freudian slip was understandable. You shouldn’t be able to give up 131 points to the Magic — the 18th ranked ofense — and come away with a victory.

The defense was awful. Let’s quickly run through some numbers that show this.

  • The Magic’s offensive rating was in the 96th percentile for an NBA game this season (137.9).
  • That offensive rating was the third-highest for Orlando this season.
  • Orlando grabbed 35.6% of their missed shots (84th percentile).
  • This led to the Magic scoring 23 second-chance points.
  • Orlando converted 73.1% of their shots at the rim (68th percentile).
  • The Magic’s free-throw rate was in the 98th percentile as they went 35-38 (92.1%) at the line.
  • Six Magic players finished with double-digit scoring, including Paolo Banchero, who put up 36 points on 10-19 shooting.

“It starts on the ball,” Max Strus said. “It starts with our pressure. It starts with our communication, physicality. We just let them be the aggressors tonight.”

The point of attack defense just wasn’t there. The Magic were able to get penetration into the paint on seemingly every drive, which broke Cleveland’s entire defense. This allowed for easy looks at the basket, open drive-and-kick threes, and trips to the free-throw line with the defense being out of position.

It was bad.

“Our leaders got to take ownership…ownership of defending better,” Atkinson said. “It really starts there.”

The Cavs believe that they can fix this issue, while acknowledging that these changes need to happen before the playoffs.

“A lot of it has to do with the mentality and want to,” Strus said. “That’s really defense as a whole. It’s just everybody as a whole buying into it. I think we have the right guys in the room to figure that out.”

“We’ll get there,” Mitchell said confidentially.

Talk is cheap at this point.

Jarrett Allen’s absence shouldn’t be overlooked, but not even he can clean up all the leaks that are currently in the defense. It’s up to the players who are still in the lineup to do a better job of competing on that end. Until they show that they can for a full 48 minutes, it’s difficult to believe that this will improve, at least not before the end of the regular season.

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Given how bad the defense was, the Cavs needed an elite offensive performance, and they got it.

Cleveland finished in the 99th percentile for offensive rating in a game this season, and they did so because of their balanced three-level scoring and ability to get to the line.

The Cavs finished in the 87th percentile for accuracy at the rim (80.8%), 97th percentile for midrange shooting (64%), and 69th percentile for three-point percentage (40%). That’s, on top of getting to the free-throw line for 29 attempts, and knocking down 89.7% of those shots.

This was an absolute offensive clinic.

Mitchell — looking like himself again — played a large role in that happening. He compiled 42 points on an efficient 14-22 shooting while going 3-7 from beyond the arc.

This was a much-needed showing from Mitchell, whose left eye is still bloodshot after being poked last week before their game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Mitchell said that the eye looks worse than it is and that he can see good enough out of it now. The only annoying part is the appearance, which is something his mother is constantly reminding him of by sending him pictures of how it looks on TV.

James Harden had a strong offensive showing as well. His ability to seemingly generate a quality look each possession was once again on display in combination with his own shot-creation skills. This led to him scoring 26 points on 8-16 shooting with seven assists.

Harden had another ridiculous assist. This time, it was a jumping, behind-the-back bounce pass from the restricted area to the three-point arc that had far more zip on it than seemed humanly possible.

“I better make it,” Strus said when asked about what he was thinking when he saw that pass. “That was unbelievable. He put it right in the pocket too.”

Sam Merrill is making the most of his opportunity in the starting lineup with Allen still sidelined. He had another impressive performance as he scored 19 points with most of his damage coming inside. Merrill went 4-5 on shots in the paint and got to the line for six free-throw attempts.

“He drives like his Giannis,” Mitchell joked. “I don’t know where this came from.”

Being more comfortable finishing inside has been a focus for Merrill going back to the offseason. He spoke at media day about wanting to “diversify” his game. He’s done that and made himself an indispensable part of the team as a result.

There’s a conversation to be had about whether Merrill should stay in the starting lineup when the team is fully healthy based on how well he’s fit offensively. The Cavs are in the 99th percentile for offensive rating (127.8) when Harden, Mitchell, and Merrill share the floor. That’s good enough to outscore teams by 9.9 points per 100 possessions (90th percentile).

More importantly, Merrill has made significant strides to become a more complete basketball player. When he first joined the Cavs, defense was an issue. He spent multiple years working on that until he proved that he can more than hold his own on that end. Now we see the effort he’s put in to be a more capable three-level scorer really paying off.

That work ethic has allowed him to go from a speciality role player to someone who fits perfectly in every context.

“The growth he’s had in his game and the confidence level he’s raised has been special to watch,” Strus said. “Sam’s a hell of a basketball player and people don’t give him a lot of credit. He can do a ot more than shooting. I’m so glad he’s putting that on display for everyone.”

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Fantasy Basketball Week 22 Injury Report: What's up with Giannis Antetokounmpo?

Week 22, at least in Yahoo! default leagues, is the semifinal week in fantasy basketball. And with more key players sidelined by injuries, managers continue to mine the waiver wire for value. Some standouts will be able to return in time to potentially affect fantasy league title races, while others may not. Let's look at some key injuries in Week 22, including a growing controversy in Milwaukee.

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Garland is leveling up for the fantasy basketball playoffs.

F Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks

Johnson has missed the Hawks' last two games with left shoulder inflammation, and he was questionable for Wednesday's game against the Pistons at the time of publishing. The concern is that this is the same shoulder that sidelined Johnson for the remainder of the 2024-25 season last January. However, the questionable tag suggests the All-Star forward is close to returning. Mouhamed Gueye (one percent rostered, Yahoo!) has started the last two games, recording totals of 19 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, two steals, three blocks and five three-pointers.

After scoring 16 points on 6-of-6 shooting in a March 21 win over the Warriors, Gueye crashed back to earth two days later in a rout of the Grizzlies. The inconsistency makes it challenging to trust Gueye as a streamer if Johnson remains out. While Jonathan Kuminga (27 percent) has also been inconsistent in Johnson's absence, Zaccharie Risacher (eight percent) has reached double figures in three straight games. Over the past week, the second-year wing has provided sixth-round value in eight-cat formats, according to Basketball Monster. While also a risky play, Risacher has been better than Gueye and Kuminga with Johnson sidelined.

F/C Danny Wolf and F/C Noah Clowney, Brooklyn Nets

Clowney has missed the Nets' last three games with a sprained right wrist, and he has also been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Warriors. While his initial absence raised Wolf's fantasy ceiling even higher than it was with Michael Porter Jr. out, the rookie 7-footer sprained his left ankle during Sunday's loss to the Kings. Ziaire Williams (five percent) has scored at least 16 points in each of Brooklyn's last three games, and the injuries make him someone worth streaming in deep leagues.

Also emerging recently have been Chaney Johnson (four percent) and Josh Minott (10 percent), with the latter being a fourth-round player over the last week. However, Minott received a DNP-CD on Sunday, a reminder that he is not guaranteed to be in the rotation. Hopefully, that won't be a concern for fantasy managers for the rest of Week 22 due to the Nets' injuries in the frontcourt.

G Jaden Ivey, Chicago Bulls

Ivey appeared to be on track for a return to action at some point this week, with the Bulls initially listing him as questionable for Monday's game against the Rockets. Unfortunately, he banged knees with a teammate during a recent practice. Ivey has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the 76ers, and Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said on Monday that he was unsure if the guard would travel with the team for this road trip.

Ivey's continued absence does not change the setup of the Bulls' perimeter rotation. However, it may ensure that Josh Giddey (99 percent) and Tre Jones (29 percent) don't take significant hits to their minutes. Over the last week, Giddey has played 34.2 minutes per game and Jones 27.9. Collin Sexton (19 percent) and Rob Dillingham (two percent) continue to fill out the perimeter rotation.

G Stephen Curry and G/F Moses Moody, Golden State Warriors

Wednesday's game against the Nets will be the 23rd that Curry has missed due to a right knee injury, and he reportedly has not been cleared to resume scrimmaging. There was hope over the weekend that he would be incorporated back into practices "in the coming days," so Tuesday's development is a concern.

And with the Warriors losing Moody for the rest of the season to a torn patellar tendon, they're even more shorthanded on the perimeter. Gui Santos (32 percent), Brandin Podziemski (44 percent) and De'Anthony Melton (15 percent) have added value due to the Curry and Moody absences, and Gary Payton II (12 percent) has provided seventh-round value in eight-cat formats since the All-Star break.

G Marcus Smart, Los Angeles Lakers

Smart was held out of Monday's loss to the Pistons with a right ankle contusion, and he was listed as doubtful on the initial injury report for Wednesday's game against the Pacers. With Rui Hachimura (10 percent) also out on Monday, Jake LaRavia (four percent) moved into the starting lineup. He played 29 minutes in the defeat, finishing with seven points, one rebound, one assist and one three-pointer. Even if he remains in the starting lineup, as Hachimura is questionable for Wednesday's game, LaRavia is not worth the risk in most leagues.

G Ja Morant, C Zach Edey and F/C Brandon Clarke, Memphis Grizzlies

Morant has not appeared in a game since January 21, with the Grizzlies' guard sidelined by a sprained UCL in his left elbow. On Tuesday, the Grizzlies announced that he is done for the rest of the season, an unsurprising development. When available, Ty Jerome (33 percent) remains the best option for fantasy managers, even with his minutes being limited. Javon Small (11 percent), Cam Spencer (13 percent) and Walter Clayton Jr. (three percent) also have value, depending on who's in the starting lineup. And in Small's instance, he is closing in on his 50-game limit as a two-way contract player.

The Grizzlies also had announcements on Tuesday on the statuses of Edey and Clarke. Ruled out for the rest of the season to undergo ankle surgery, Edey underwent a procedure on his left elbow on Tuesday to address lingering discomfort. He is still expected to make a full recovery ahead of next season. Clarke has still not been cleared for high-intensity on-court workouts as he continues to recover from a strained right calf. He is also expected to make a full recovery in time for the start of next season. The Grizzlies will continue to rely on Olivier-Maxence Prosper (10 percent), GG Jackson (21 percent) and Taylor Hendricks (21 percent) in the frontcourt, with Hendricks offering the highest ceiling for those needing defensive stats.

F Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Antetokounmpo's status following a hyperextension of his left knee has been a source of controversy recently. While it would be in the Bucks' best interest to shut him down for the rest of the season, not just to ensure that the star forward is fully healthy but for the team's draft lottery odds, Giannis has reportedly refused to sit out for the rest of the season. And the NBPA got involved on Tuesday, issuing a statement claiming that Antetokounmpo is "healthy and ready to play."

While Giannis being on the floor would be good news for fantasy managers, how many minutes would he play if allowed to return? Kyle Kuzma (17 percent) and Bobby Portis (38 percent) have also been banged up recently, with both considered questionable for Wednesday's game in Portland. Ousmane Dieng (eight percent) has not offered much fantasy value since the All-Star break, but he may be worth a look in deep leagues out of necessity.

G Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves

Edwards has missed the Timberwolves' last four games due to right knee inflammation and was given a re-evaluation timeline of one to two weeks last week. He will not be available for Wednesday's game against the Rockets. Ayo Dosunmu (35 percent) and Bones Hyland (10 percent) have performed well in Edwards' absence. With the former listed as questionable for Wednesday's game with a sore right calf, the latter could become even more valuable to fantasy managers in the short term.

G Miles McBride, New York Knicks

Knicks head coach Mike Brown provided a positive update on McBride following Tuesday's win over the Pelicans, revealing that the guard has progressed to scrimmaging in his recovery from sports hernia surgery. Multiple players have received opportunities to contribute with McBride sidelined.

Jose Alvarado (three percent) continues to serve as the backup point guard, with Mohamed Diawara (less than one percent) and Jordan Clarkson (three percent) logging rotation minutes on the wings. While all three have enjoyed their moments with McBride sidelined, none has been consistent enough to be much more than a streamer in deep leagues.

G Jalen Suggs and F Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic

Due to an illness, Suggs missed both games of the Magic's back-to-back to begin Week 22, sitting out games against the Pacers and Cavaliers. After struggling in his spot start against the Pacers, Jevon Carter (two percent) was more effective coming off the bench the following night. Against Cleveland, he contributed 15 points, four rebounds, four assists, one steal and three three-pointers in 27 minutes. Jamal Cain (less than one percent) started on Tuesday, finishing with 17 points, six rebounds, three assists and one three-pointer in 32 minutes. Orlando returns to action on Thursday, and there's no need to add either before an update on Suggs' availability is provided.

As for Wagner, he practiced with the Magic's G League affiliate on Monday and has since been recalled. Sidelined since the All-Star break, he's likely to be restricted in some way once he's cleared to return from his high ankle sprain. Tristan da Silva (20 percent) remains a player who should be rostered in 14-team leagues, and some 12-team formats as well, until Orlando returns to full strength on the perimeter.

C Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

Embiid, who has been out since February 26 with a strained oblique muscle, is officially questionable for Wednesday's game against the Bulls. Adem Bona (three percent) has been the starting center on most nights with Embiid out, and he has offered some value in steals and blocked shots. However, Andre Drummond (10 percent)'s overall value has been higher, especially for managers seeking rebounding production.

Also of note in Philadelphia is that Paul George returns from his 25-game suspension on Wednesday, and he will not be under any restrictions. He's rostered in 75 percent of Yahoo! leagues, so shallow league managers need to ensure that George is not sitting on the waiver wire. If he is, pick him up.

G Nique Clifford, Sacramento Kings

Clifford injured his left foot during Sunday's win over the Nets and was diagnosed with a midfoot sprain. While the rookie is traveling with the team, he's out for the entirety of Week 22 before being re-evaluated. Malik Monk (25 percent) is the player for fantasy managers to target, with Devin Carter (five percent) and Daeqwon Plowden (six percent) only being worth a look in extremely deep leagues.

G Isaiah Collier and F Brice Sensabaugh, Utah Jazz

Of these two Jazz players, Collier's injury has been more serious. He has missed the last three games due to left hamstring injury management, and he's been ruled out for a fourth when the Jazz host the Wizards on Wednesday. With Keyonte George still sidelined by a strained right hamstring, EJ Harkless (11 percent) has started the last three games, and Bez Mbeng (less than one percent) the last two. The latter was signed to a second 10-day contract on Monday, ensuring his availability for the rest of Week 22. Harkless offers greater upside with George and Collier out, but neither he nor Mbeng is a must-add player.

Sensabaugh, who has scored at least 21 points in each of his last six appearances, will not play on Wednesday for rest reasons. That makes Ace Bailey (47 percent) an even more appealing option in 12-team leagues, especially with the rookie having scored at least 25 points in three consecutive games. In Monday's loss to the Raptors, Bailey went off for a season-high 37 points, shooting 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. It would be unsurprising if he managed to deliver league titles to some fortunate fantasy managers over the next few weeks.

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Which Yankee(s) will hit the first two homers of the 2026 season?

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 02: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees gestures to fans after the game between the New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Sunday, June 2, 2024 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Finally. It’s been 168 days since the New York Yankees’ 2025 campaign ended in Division Series disappointment at the hands of the eventual AL champion Toronto Blue Jays. That was a big ol’ bummer, but it’s ancient history now. The 2026 MLB season begins tonight with the Yankees and San Francisco Giants kicking off the festivities out in San Francisco! Most of the other teams will then have their Opening Days tomorrow (or Friday in some cases).

Look, we’re pretty excited around here to see what Aaron Judge, Max Fried, and company do tonight, and we have a whole bunch of fun stuff planned for the day. So let’s just do a straightforward prompt for our Question of the Day: Who will hit the Yankees’ first two homers of the season? (Let’s keep it to just Yankees, sorry to Rafael Devers.)

Why are we phrasing the question this way? Well it honestly wouldn’t be very interesting to just ask about the first homer since the vast majority of responses would probably be “Aaron Judge, dummy.” So tell us the first two! Now, that could just be “Aaron Judge and Aaron Judge” since it’s fair to predict that the three-time MVP goes deep twice. But this at least allows for more creative responses! Judge and Jazz? Rice and Stanton? A Tuffy Rhodes-esque dark horse?

Have at it! I’m personally keeping it simple and going with Judge and Stanton. Those big boys can hit ’em out of anywhere, even San Francisco.

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Jeff will begin our day on the site by previewing the full three-game Opening Day series against the Giants, checking out each pitching matchup. I’ll have our staff Yankees/MLB-wide predictions up and you can make your own! Josh will run through the Yankees’ full Opening Day roster when it’s finalized, Jake will break down the soon-to-be-revealed lineup, Sam will celebrate a former Yankee-turned-coach for our birthdays series, and Jonathan will offer a refresher on the new Yankees coaches on the block.

Let’s get the party started.

Today’s Opening Day Matchup

New York Yankees vs. San Francisco Giants

Time: 8:05 p.m. EST

Video: Netflix

Venue: Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA

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Why Netflix is turning Major League Baseball's opening night into a big event

Los Angeles, CA - March 27: George Serrano, of Los Angeles cheers after watching.
George Serrano cheers during the Los Angeles Dodgers' 2025 home opener against the Detroit Tigers at Dodger Stadium. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

For many fans, Major League Baseball's opening day is somewhat of an unofficial holiday. Though this year offers a different viewing experience.

Instead of turning on ESPN or a regional sports channel to catch their favorite team, there will only be one game kicking off the season, and it will be streaming exclusively on Netflix.

On Wednesday, the New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants will face off at Oracle Park. Retired baseball stars Barry Bonds, Anthony Rizzo and Albert Pujols, led by former ESPN anchor Elle Duncan, will be in the broadcast booth.

And for one of the many Netflix touches — "Thing," the lovable detached hand from the streamer’s Addams family spinoff “Wednesday,” will be throwing the first pitch.

It's the latest example of a streaming platform finding its way into live sports programming. All of the major services, including Amazon Prime, Max, Peacock, Paramount+ and others, carry some combination of professional sports packages for their subscribers.

For Netflix, this marks the first time an MLB opening day game will be seen globally, as Netflix reaches nearly a billion viewers in more than 190 countries and in 50 languages.

For Gabe Spitzer, Netflix's vice president of sports, it's a chance for the streamer to "work together with a league to grow that audience" beyond just the die-hard sports fans. “Maybe casual fans are tuning in, or someone who's watched a baseball documentary on Netflix thinks, ‘Oh, I'll check out the Yankees Giants game because it's live.’ That's our ultimate goal,” he said.

Read more:Yoshinobu Yamamoto named Dodgers' opening-day starter for second straight season

A little over two years ago, Netflix first dipped its toes into live-streaming sports events, with the Netflix Cup, a golf tournament between PGA Tour golfers and Formula One drivers. It garnered a modest viewership of around 700,000 views in the second half of 2023.

Spitzer said the big turning point for Netflix in this arena was the November 2024 fight between former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and YouTube influencer Jake Paul. That event attracted 60 million households globally and became the most-streamed sporting event in history, according to Netflix. The massive audience tested the technical capacity of the streaming platform, as many fans complained of buffering or losing the video feed completely.

Netflix also turned Christmas Day into an event in 2024, paying $150 million a year for the rights to stream two NFL games on the holiday. The 2025 late-afternoon game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions was the most-streamed NFL game in history with 27.5 million viewers, according to Nielsen.

The opening-day game is part of a larger three-year deal the league has with Netflix, which is paying $60 million annually for a package that also includes the Home Run Derby and the annual Field of Dreams game in Dyersville, Iowa. The games became available when ESPN decided to opt out of its deal (the Walt Disney Co. unit negotiated a new package that gives the network 30 games and expanded streaming rights).

The MLB events will help inform Netflix about whether to pursue a larger package when the league's larger media rights contract, which includes the World Series on Fox, comes up for renewal after the 2028 season.

The streamer is also expected to engage in talks for a larger commitment with the NFL when the league exercises its option to reopen its media rights contract after the 2029-30 season.

But for now, the Netflix sports strategy is creating large-scale live events, which Spitzer calls “meaningful water-cooler conversation” for a global audience.

The streamer and the league worked together to make the Yankees-Giants game happen one day early and present it in prime time Wednesday night. As the sole game being played that day, Spitzer said it's “truly the launch of the season.”

Read more:For 2026, Netflix is doubling down on original storytelling and comedies

“As we continue to grow baseball around the world and reach younger fans, Netflix is an ideal partner to help us further expand the sport’s fan base with its ubiquitous streaming service," Kenny Gersh, MLB's executive vice president of media and business, said in a statement. "They are approaching their first-ever MLB game with great energy and creative marketing. We are excited to work with them in joining MLB’s collection of elite media partners.”

Lee Berke, a sports media consultant, understands Netflix’s venture into live sports as a way to “elevate the profile of a particular game and give it a Netflix spin — making it something you would only see on Netflix.”

“Every sport is looking now for events that can be of interest to heighten fan awareness, sponsor and distributor interest during the course of a season,” said Berke, pointing out the NBA Emirates Cup — an in-season tournament sponsored by the Dubai-owned airline — and NHL’s Four Nations Cup. “Everybody's trying to come up with a variety of events, because they drive interest, they drive business and revenues. It sort of feeds on itself.”

As the sports industry continues to open itself up for these spectacle-driven games, it provides additional television opportunities for media giants such as Netflix, Berke said. In the end, Berke said, these games are overall beneficial to the industry.

To Berke, the only lingering fear is that game events could further fragment audiences, as different sports now span across several streaming platforms and networks. The upside is they have the potential to help sports leagues capture audience attention, maximize revenue and offset rising expenses.

Read more:Netflix bows out of Warner Bros. auction, Paramount to claim the prize

“Let's be honest, if you're Netflix, you're looking to attract and retain subscribers. ... This is another tool in the toolbox for helping build growth and sustain subscribers,” Berke said. “The great consistent intellectual property out there that draws audiences year after year is sports, and if you find the right combination of them, it can help you drive your business.”

To aid this live sports push, Netflix recently recruited Duncan, the former anchor for ESPN "SportsCenter," to lead Netflix’s sports coverage. At ESPN, she said, it was “a very well-oiled machine that's been very successful" for decades with “a tried and true way” of doing things.

But as she transitions from a traditional TV network to a streaming service, Duncan's responsibility is different. It's no longer about serving a domestic audience of baseball superfans; she has to keep a sports-curious, global audience in mind.

“If you're watching ESPN, chances are you're a really die-hard sports fan, but Netflix is for everyone,” said Duncan. “How do we hook people who are more interested in watching 'Love is Blind' into a sports show?”

The baseball game will stream Wednesday at 5 p.m. Pacific time.

Times staff writer Stephen Battaglio contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.