Sep 21, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; A general wide view during the ninth inning during a game betweenn the Chicago White Sox and the San Diego Padres at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images | Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
In case you missed the news yesterday, the White Sox have postponed today’s game, their home opener. It’s going to be decently warm in Chicago today, 19 degrees, but there are apparently high winds and the risk that a rainstorm is going to blow through around game time. Here in Calgary it’s blizzarding sideways, but, sure, I’m sure some warm rain is uncomfortable too.
Not much for news today. The Jays have officially sent Angel Bastardo back to the Red Sox. That was always the most likely outcome when he didn’t make the team, although there was a chance someone could trade for him. His rough spring probably foreclosed that opportunity, so now he’s back in Boston’s system.
Bonus pools for the 2026 draft were announced. The Jays have the second smallest pool, ahead of only the Dodgers. Their first selection gets knocked back 10 places for trying too hard to win exceeding the second luxury tax threshold. That means they don’t go until 39th overall. eight teams will pick twice before they get to go, and the Rockies will be on the clock three times. They got a compensation pick after the fourth round for the Mets signing Bo Bichette after he rejected the Jays’ Qualifying Offer, but lose that pick and their second rounder for signing Dylan Cease after he rejected the Padres’ QO. After their ‘first rounder’, then, they pick in the third (103rd overall), 4th (131st), 5th (164th), 6th (193rd), 7th (222nd), and every 30 picks thereafter. So they’re going to have a hard time infusing any premium talent into the system this winter, although there’s plenty of gold to be panned in the later picks.
Finally, it’s opening day for all the leagues below AAA (which opened the same day the Majors did). Only the A ball Dunedin Blue Jays actually play today, though, at 4:30pm ET. They haven’t announced a starter yet, but top prospects Jojo Parker and Blaine Bullard should be in the lineup. They’ll face sixth overall pick Seth Hernandez, so it’ll be a good test from the jump. The AA New Hampshire Fisher Cats and A+ Vancouver Canadians open their seasons tomorrow night.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MARCH 30: Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. #7 of the Kansas City Royals celebrates with teammates after the Royals defeated the Minnesota Twins 3-1 to win the opening day game at Kauffman Stadium on March 30, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Do you think your office is interesting? Most people probably would disagree. Maybe parts of your job are interesting, but the office-y parts? The ones where you’re answering emails or getting a Gatorade from the fridge or politely asking your coworker if they had a good weekend while you pass each other in the hallway? Probably not.
I would argue that the clubhouse is the baseball office. It shouldn’t be interesting. And it’s really not. But there is some intrigue in the mundane. The following are some scenes from the Royals clubhouse. Some of them important. Some less so.
Sam Mellinger, VP of communication, waves at the reporters and TV camera operators in the room: Stephen Cruz is ready for his interview. We crowd around Cruz, the cameras turn on, and questions are sent his way, taking a short detour through a translator. Cruz answers in Spanish, the translator responding to the rest of us in English. Cruz threw all of one (1) inning in Triple-A Omaha before being summoned to Kansas City, Cruz ostensibly making the trip down the well-trod I-29 thoroughfare like so many before—including himself.
Cruz is excited about his slider, which he worked on in the offseason. He wasn’t worried about getting called up, because that was outside his control. He was just ready to pitch, and pitch he did, and pitch he will in Kansas City. Maybe even that night. Cruz seems ready.
That Cruz is here at all is because the Royals decided to send Carlos Estevez to the injured list due to his foot bruise. Er, “contusion,” manager Matt Quatraro clarifies a little later in his daily dugout interview. But Q used “bruise” first, and this is one of those situations where the technical term removes some of the teeth of what actually happens. A contusion is clinical, specific. A bruise is that nasty purplish-orange-green thing that happens when you accidentally slam your knee into the corner of the table and try to say every curse word you personally know all at once.
Estevez seemed to be in good spirits. He was walking around without much of a limp and without a boot. But, man, he has to be going through it. Imagine if you had a bad day at work and then someone threw a 90-something mile per hour fastball at your foot.
I’ve been in the clubhouse when the Royals have been blasting music before. Today is quiet. There’s some muffled sound coming from a few of the televisions, which are playing sports shows and varying baseball-related content.
But there was one TV that is just playing, you know, Bluey, as you do. The press gets clubhouse access for 45 minutes to an hour, give or take. And during that whole time, just like, constant Disney Jr., a marathon of children’s television. It’s the sort of thing I’d do as a joke, just to see how long it would stay on before someone did a double-take. No one did.
As I walked in, my eyes narrowed and I wonder what’s different about the room. I’m only there a dozen times a year, but something is different. I compile my memory and eventually ask Jake Eisenberg, who I know won’t mock me for asking a potentially dumb question: “New carpet?” “Yes, new carpet,” he replies. It’s got a new blue pattern in it and two very large Royals logos that weren’t there before.
Also new: some locker locations. Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen, besties, are now together on the right side. Tyler Tolbert is now by Vinnie Pasquantino. And Maikel Garcia got an upgrade, moving by one of the empty lockers in the back by his Team Venezuela teammate Salvador Perez.
It’s an upgrade because having an empty locker next to yours means more space, and that privilege is granted to the best players. Which two Royals have an empty locker on either side? You can probably guess: Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez.
Boredom can strike anywhere. For Carter Jensen and Lane Thomas, they decide to pass the time by doing something as old as time: playing cards.
Now, what kind of cards? I don’t know, I prefer not to loom over players who are doing something in their own space, in which I am a guest. But Noah Cameron looms. He is invested in the card game, which is funny because he will start on the mound of a Major League Baseball game in a few hours. Some pitchers keep to themselves during their starting day. But not Cameron, who seems lose—an embrace of the doldrums of work that even baseball players go through.
"When I know, you guys will know. I don't know. I have no idea. Just want to, just wanna live. That's all."
That is all LeBron James has said about retirement. It's not a topic open for discussion with him. However, his strong play of late — he had a triple-double this past week against Washington — and the Lakers' strong play down the stretch has only strengthened the belief in league circles that the 41-year-old NBA icon will play at least one more season. It also has fueled speculation about where he would play: Cleveland? Golden State? New York? Back with the Lakers?
Rich Paul shuts down the recent reports of LeBron James future teams he might play for:
“There’s no truth to any of it. First of all, I don’t know what’s happening. He don’t know either! We don’t even talk about it… Just enjoy the moment. The man is playing minutes with his… pic.twitter.com/OQXFyNlDo5
"There's no truth to any of it. First of all, I don't know what's happening. He don't know either. We don't even talk about it…
"Just enjoy the moment. The man is playing minutes with his son. Meaningful minutes. The Lakers are 12-1 and playing well. Why are you talking about some stuff for next year? I get you have to talk about it, but it's like, oh my god, nobody knows! I don't care what article is written, I don't care what tweet is out there, nobody knows anything."
It's a good effort by Paul — and I don't doubt him for a second. I am sure he and LeBron have not talked about this directly.
It also will not end the speculation.
Two quick thoughts about LeBron's future (and we're betting on him returning to play one more season and have a grand farewell tour).
First, the playoffs will have a lot to say about LeBron's market (and the same is true of any potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade market). Good teams are going to be eliminated early this postseason and rethink their strategy. How hard Cleveland comes for LeBron would be very different if they are again eliminated in the second round, versus making the East Finals or the NBA Finals. Or, look at it this way, of the top six in the West (the Thunder, Spurs, Lakers, Nuggets, Rockets and Timberwolves), two of those teams will be eliminated in the first round. Teams such as Houston in the West or New York in the East could have very different offseasons depending on how the playoffs play out.
Second, any discussion about LeBron's future has to hinge on one question: How big a pay cut is he willing to take? How little money is he willing to pay for?
LeBron opted into the final year of his contract at $52.6 million this season — a big pay cut is coming. Even if he returns to the Lakers, who have his Bird Rights and can pay him whatever, he is going to have to take a steep pay reduction. Will he demand at least $30 million (which would force a sign-and-trade to a new contending team)? Would he take the mid-level exception for $15 million? Would he play for the minimum, or closer to it, to get to a destination he wants? LeBron's salary demands will help shape what teams might target him this summer.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 31: Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (58) passes the puck during the third period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings on March 31, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Time for some random Pittsburgh Penguins thoughts because I have a lot on my mind, but none of it is probably enough for a full article on its own. There is a lot to discuss!
The biggest thing is just the Eastern Conference standings and the Stanley Cup Playoff race in general.
1. The Pittsburgh Penguins did themselves a big favor this week, and they got some big help
The Penguins started the week on Monday and Tuesday with back-to-back wins against the New York Islanders and Detroit Red Wings. They were not just big wins on the scoreboard, beating the Islanders 8-3 and the Red Wings 5-1. They were statement wins. They were the Penguins two biggest games of the regular season, against teams directly competing with them for potential playoff spots and seeding, and they absolutely dominated both games and kicked the snot out of both of them. It was impressive. Combined with the help they received on the out-of-town scoreboard on Tuesday night, when literally every team around them and chasing them lost in regulation, it put the Penguins in a really good position.
They are three points ahead of the Islanders with a game-in-hand on them. They are four points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets. They currently have the tiebreaker on both teams. They are six points ahead of non-playoff teams Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals. Those are big cushions and a lot of breathing room when every team has between six and eight games remaining on their schedules.
From a percentage standpoint, the Penguins playoff odds by pretty much every model are over 94 percent.
But let’s look at it another way. In my view, if the Penguins win three more of their remaining seven games, I think they are in. It is possible that even two more wins does it for them. Let’s put some numbers on it. Here is a quick look at what every team behind the Penguins would need to do to finish ahead of them if the Penguins win between one and four more games.
Keep something in mind with this: In each scenario at least three teams, and at least two Metropolitan Division teams would have to finish ahead of them.
Keep something else in mind with this: Every team on that table plays at least one other team on the table. Some of them play a team on the table multiple times. There are games that teams are going to lose just based on that. It does not even get into the overall strength of schedule some of these teams have to play, including the Islanders and Blue Jackets.
The Penguins are not in yet. They still have some work to do. They have still put themselves in a good position. The start of this week was extremely important.
2. Kris Letang and Sam Girard hold a lot of keys for the Penguins
Perhaps the biggest development out of the two games to open this week is that the defense pairing of Kris Letang and Sam Girard seemed to finally start clicking a little bit. The Penguins have been consistent in sticking with them, perhaps frustratingly so, and finally got some pay-off with it. They played two of their best games on Monday and Tuesday and the numbers support that.
In the two games the pairing produced:
A 3-0 goals advantage on the scoreboard when they were on the ice together during 5-on-5 play.
A 64.06 percent expected goals share.
A 57.1 percent scoring chance share.
A 58.8 percent high-danger scoring chance share.
They also seemed to pass the eye test for really the first time since they have started playing together.
With the way Erik Karlsson is playing the Penguins have at least one outstanding defensive pair. It can not be overstated how important a second strong defensive pair can be. If these guys can figure it out and play well together, that changes a lot for the Penguins.
3. Give Stuart Skinner the chance to take the starting job
The goalie rotation has done its job. Without a clear No. 1 from the start they have mostly managed the situation, kept both guys fresh while also giving them consistent playing time, and put themselves in a good position. At some point, though, somebody is going to have to take the job and become the No. 1 guy. Right now it is looking like it should be Stuart Skinner. Not only because he has been the marginally better goalie recently, but also because Arturs Silovs is just really struggling right now.
Skinner was outstanding on Tuesday against Detroit and should have earned himself another start on Thursday. We know both goalies are going to play over the weekend due to the back-to-back situation, but for Thursday you need to give Skinner another chance to to show he deserves to get the primary playing time.
4. Elmer Soderblom is looking more impressive with each game
The Penguins trade deadline was a little quiet, only adding young forward Elmer Soderblom from the Detroit Red Wings for a third-round pick. It is the type of low-risk, potentially high-reward chance the Penguins have been taking recently and the early returns were a little mixed. At times you could see glimpses of why the Penguins would want to take a chance with him. At other times you could see glimpses of why the Red Wings were willing to give up on him for a third-round pick.
Over the past two games things have really come together for him. He already has more goals and points in a fraction of the games with Penguins than he had at the start of the season with the Red Wings. He is also really starting to look more comfortable and use his size. Even though he only recorded an assist on Tuesday against the Red Wings, I honestly thought he was one of their best players. He was everywhere. He was clearly trying to send a message to the Red Wings and seemed to be trying to score 1,000 goals. He was a physical force. He won fights for the puck along the walls. He controlled the puck. He created chances.
On Monday, he scored a huge goal to get them on the board and get things rolling offensively for them.
He is getting more impressive with each game, and he might even be starting to make an argument for himself ot stay in the lineup. I do not expect this trade to work out as well as, say, the Egor Chinakhov trade has. It still seems like there is at least a chance the Penguins may have found a useful player that can contribute for them.
The Florida Panthers will wrap up their second-to-last homestand of the season on Thursday night in Sunrise.
Despite being decimated by injuries, the Panthers continue to fight for every point they can get, as that’s the culture Florida Head Coach Paul Maurice and General Manager Bill Zito have built.
After taking down the playoff hungry Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, the Panthers will again face a team clawing for every point they can get in a crowded playoff race when the Boston Bruins visit South Florida.
One big difference, or two, in the Panthers from Tuesday to Thursday will be that defenseman Aaron Ekblad and Dmitry Kulikov will not be in Florida’s lineup.
Both were injured after being hit by the puck; Ekbald suffered a broken finger and won't play again this season, while Kulikov has a broken nose and could still play at some point, according to Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice.
Now while the Bruins are looking to get back into the playoffs after missing out last season, the Panthers are in a position to retain a high-end asset if they can finish low enough in the standings.
Florida’s first round pick in this summer’s NHL Draft is top-10 protected, so even though they traded it Chicago at last year’s Trade Deadline in the Seth Jones deal, the Panthers will retain the selection if they end up with a pick in the top 10 after the NHL Draft Lottery.
Currently, there are five teams below Florida (75 points) in the league-wide standings: the Vancouver Canucks (52 points), Chicago Blackhawks (68 points), Calgary Flames (70 points), New York Rangers (71 points) and the St. Louis Blues (74 points).
The Seattle Kraken have the same 75 points as do the Panthers, but they’ve played one less game than Florida.
With just eight games left in their season, it will be interesting to see how things shake out for the Panthers from here on out.
They’ll be fighting for every point they can get, but when you’ve got half an AHL roster and you’re fighting against NHL squads looking to make noise in the playoffs, it’s going to be tough.
Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Thursday’s battle with Boston:
Photo caption: Jan 11, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Tobias Bjornfot (2) moves the puck past Boston Bruins center Charlie Coyle (13) during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
There seems to be some tension in the Giants infield.
In Wednesday’s 7-1 road loss to the Padres, San Francisco third baseman Matt Chapman fielded a slow grounder off the bat of Xander Bogaerts.
Chapman collected and fired on the run to first baseman Casey Schmitt, but the ball ticked off Schmitt’s glove and rolled to the wall on what would be ruled a throwing error by Chapman.
The play came with runners on first and third and two outs, so it led to a run that could’ve been prevented with a clean throw and catch.
Instead, Gavin Sheets scampered home to make it 2-0 Padres in the fifth.
During a mound visit a few minutes later, Chapman had some harsh words for Schmitt.
“Hey, catch the f—cking ball,” Chapman said twice.
Matt Chapman telling Schmitt to catch the (expletive) ball. @TalkinBaseball_/X
After the game, Chapman and Schmitt both said they’d made up. Chapman said it was just a “heat of the moment” incident.” Schmitt added that he stretched too early on the play.
“I’ve already talked to Casey. It’s all good,” Chapman said. “I figured that people would try to make that a big deal, but it’s baseball. Stuff happens. We all learn from it. We’ll move on.”
“I’m not mad about it or anything. It’s baseball,” Schmitt added. “Those are things I should have done and didn’t. At the end of the day, we wake up tomorrow, we play another game and we get back at it. We’re trying to win games. That’s the bottom line. Sometimes things happen. I just messed up.”
No other runs scored in the inning despite the blunder, but the Giants were still beaten 7-1 by San Diego.
Giants starter Adrian Houser gave up just one run over 5 ⅓ innings, but Jose Butto allowed four runs in the bottom of the eighth to stretch the Padres’ lead to six.
The Giants had just four hits in the affair to the Padres’ 10 and struck out 14 times.
Casey Schmitt can’t catch the ball at first base. @TalkinBaseball_/X
Chapman, known for his stellar defense at the hot corner, is in the second year of a six-year, $151 million extension he signed in September 2024.
Last year, he appeared in 128 games and slashed .231/.340/.430 with a .770 OPS, a letdown after the massive deal. He also hit 21 homers and had 61 RBIs.
He spent the first five years of his career in Oakland and the next two in Toronto before moving to the Giants on a three-year contract in 2024 that would ultimately be extended.
Chapman won four Gold Gloves across his first eight seasons, a reason why Wednesday’s mishap was uncharacteristic.
Matt Chapman has won four Gold Gloves across his MLB career. Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
Of course, it doesn’t help that Schmitt isn’t playing his natural position. Before this season, he’d only played a total of 18 games at first base at the MLB level, playing every other infield position instead.
San Francisco is now 2-4 through the first six games of the season after being swept by the Yankees in its opening series and winning two of three against the Padres.
The Giants are looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2021. They’ve finished within the 79-81 win range in the last four campaigns, a consistently mediocre squad.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 26: Brett Wisely #0 of the Atlanta Braves hits a single in the fifth inning against the New York Yankees during a Grapefruit League spring training game at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 26, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’ve got a roster move that fell through the cracks a little bit but still needs to be talked about since it affects the depth of this squad. Back around Opening Day, infielder Brett Wisely was designated for assignment once it was clear that he wouldn’t be making the team. That was all the way back on March 25 when that particular move was made. Now, he’s cleared waivers and has been subsequently assigned to the Gwinnett Stripers.
As DJourn mentions above, this should help the depth when it comes to the infield (and the outfield as well since Wisely can play out there, too) and it’s something that the Braves have learned over the past couple of seasons that you can never have too much of. Meanwhile, this ends a wacky offseason journey for Wisely — one that saw him get picked up off waivers by the Braves last September, traded to the Rays in January and then brought back from the Rays before settling into the Braves Triple-A club.
Wisely made four appearances for the Atlanta Braves and didn’t record a hit in nine plate appearances. With that being said, he’ll probably be used as a defensive substitute if (and hopefully not when) he’s needed to return to the Braves any time soon. For now, he’ll be plying his trade in Gwinnett where he will surely play in more than two games for the Stripers like he did last season.
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - APRIL 01: Jahmai Mashack #21 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks to shoot against the New York Knicks during the second half at FedExForum on April 01, 2026 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Who would have thought the Knicks would beat the Grizz… on the road, not least!
Get-right game got New York on the right path again as the Knickerbockers are one win away from reaching 50 dubs for the third consecutive season.
Two more wins, and Coach Brown would match Thibs’ best record in just his freshman season on the Knicks sideline. Bananas!
Mike Brown postgame Memphis: “2 areas have to clean up…19 turnovers for 34 pts…& fouls…Made it up…offensive rebounds..OG 3…KAT 6…KAT trip-dub great…Hukporti DPOG…36 assists great [but some “homerun” assist tries] led to turnovers…Didn’t shoot as many 3s as we’d like…” pic.twitter.com/UZR2y53EW0
“A game like that, it’s always tough if you play against a group that’s free and can attack and has nothing to lose. But our guys at the end of the day, we were good in a lot of areas.”
On the rebounding effort against the Grizzlies:
“A lot of good performances from our guys, we were able to make it up in terms of the times that they went to the free throw line and our turnovers by offensive rebounding. OG had three offensive rebounds, KAT had six offensive rebounds. KAT had a triple-double tonight, which was great. And especially in 30 minutes of action, and then OG, for him to get 13 rebounds. A big, big night to get a double-double. We needed every single one of those rebounds.”
On Landry Shamet’s return:
“He’s arguably one of our, if not the best, on-ball defenders. Especially when it comes to ball screens and dribble handoffs. He’s really physical in that area. And you feel him. His pace offensively creates gravity for others. And then his ability to shoot. He can string together two or three 3s. And it can create separation for him and give our group confidence. We had to find other ways. But we missed that from him, especially from his size.”
On encouraging Miles McBride to keep shooting amid his post-comeback struggles:
“If you’re open, let it fly. I even told him this before, I don’t care if he’s 0-for-15. I just want him to feel the aggression, get to his spots.”
Jalen Brunson
On the need for accountability:
“Regardless of being veterans or not, we got to turn the page and do something about it. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been in the league or not.”
Novak "How's team feeling?…Always lotta talk when there's losing streak"
Mikal "It's alright…Losses don't define everything. I think we more upset how we've been playing…energy…lack of focus at times…Lack of effort been on us little bit…Just gotta keep getting better" pic.twitter.com/77Y30bCRWW
On the Knicks’ true-talent level showing up on Wednesday:
“I feel the team we have, a lot of guys able to shoot, drive. I’ve been talking about this since last year. We got a lot of talent that can do a lot of things. Just got to share the ball and play off each other and try to make the right reads.”
On the first-half offense vs. defense against Memphis:
“It was good. We were sharing the ball, all that stuff. I think defensively we could’ve been better, still gave up a lot of points. Offensively, we were sharing the ball, moving well. But defensively, we could’ve done better.”
On the second-half mild letdown:
“I’m still not happy about us in the second half not locked in and them making a run. They play hard. A good young team. But I think it’s unacceptable for us.”
On his ironman streak:
“Hopefully, I have kids one day and I’ll brag about it.”
OG hits dagger 3 In front of Grizz bench Then turns around Yells & points at…
“It’s great. It doesn’t matter about the triple-double, double-double, as long as we get a win, something that has been escaping us in the last week. Good to end the road trip on a high note so we can go back home to our fans where we’re comfortable and we get that energy from our fans and hopefully make it a two-game winning streak.”
On the good ball movement in the win over Memphis:
“I thought we did a good job moving the ball. I thought we did a good job of playing with a point-five mentality and doing everything we needed to do to beat a good team, and a hungry team with a lot of guys trying to prove themselves in this league. I thought we did a good job of weathering the storm. We understood they’re going to play hard. They’re going to play well, and we found a way to win.”
On how he handles double teams:
“When they’re double and triple teaming, I understand that one of my teammates is open. Just staying patient, staying relaxed and trying to make the right play. I was disappointed with the turnovers I had today, but I’m glad that I was able to find my teammates more than not and we were able to come out with a win.”
On regrouping after the three consecutive losses heading into Wednesday’s game:
“It was a group effort to regroup.”
Landry Shamet
On feeling fatigue on his return:
“I was definitely a little tired at the end of the game. The legs — that’s obviously the biggest thing. You can do all you want to stay in shape but playing a real NBA basketball game, that’s like the next layer of your rehab or whatever. You just got to get reps and get your legs back under you. So I felt really good. Just naturally a little heavy at the end. But that’s alright.”
OG Anunoby
On his fourth-quarter scoring:
“I was shooting the same shots, but they were just going in.”
J. Cole has signed a contract to play in the Chinese Basketball Association with the Nanjing Monkey Kings, per ESPN sources. The multi-time Grammy award-winning and multi-platinum artist had committed to playing a few games for the Chinese team last year, and now follows through. pic.twitter.com/8fFyHv1fvY
Cam Schlittler was outstanding again taking the ball on Wednesday against the Mariners.
After allowing just one hit in his season debut last week in San Francisco, the young right-hander was nearly unhittable again as he continued the Yankees' dominant stretch of pitching.
Schlittler found himself in trouble from the first pitch he threw, as Brendan Donovan led off the game with a double, but he was quickly able to escape the threat with help from two strikeouts.
He allowed a one-out knock to Luke Raley in the bottom of the second, but that also proved to be no bother, as he set down the next two he faced on just seven pitches.
The righty was in complete control from there, going on a stretch of 15 straight retired before Aaron Boone came to pull him with one out in the bottom of the seventh.
“It was exciting to see just how dominant his stuff is,” the skipper said, via YES Network. “He was ahead in counts, got early outs which allowed him to get deep in the game with a pitch count -- he’s just throwing the ball incredibly well.”
Schlittler finished the day with just the two hits while striking out seven on an efficient 79 pitches over 6.1 innings.
He’s the first pitcher in Yankee history with zero walks, zero runs, and 15+ K's in any two-game span.
“It was just like last start,” Schlittler said. “Just being in the zone making good pitches, defense was great behind me, so just having the confidence to go out there attack and do what I can to get as far as I can with a limited amount of pitches.”
Seattle struck three times over the last two innings against the Yankees’ bullpen, but they were able to hang on to close the season-opening road trip 5-1.
Schlittler wasn't the only arm to deliver for New York on the road trip, as their starters have the lowest ERA in MLB history through six games (0.53) and they've allowed the third-fewest runs as a team over that span (six).
“I think the staff is dominant, the bullpen has been great, as well,” the young righty said. “The team as a whole we’re just feeding off of each other and just taking it each game and each start and just keep rolling with it.”
Los Angeles, CA - March 23:Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Ronan Kopp (83) pitches against the Angels at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA on Monday, March 23, 2026.(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
After three straight games scoring exactly 13 runs, the Oklahoma City Comets could manage only five runs on Wednesday afternoon in Las Vegas. The Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate allowed six runs in the eighth inning in an 11-5 loss to the Aviators (Athletics) for their second loss of the season.
After a scoreless seventh, Garrett McDaniels allowed a pair of singles, coupled with an error for one run in the eighth. Ronan Kopp entered and got the second out of the eighth, which allowed a second run to score. Then Kopp allowed a pair of two-run home runs to complete the fateful six-run inning that broke the tie.
The usual suspects thus far were instrumental in the Comets offense. Ryan Fitzgerald had three hits, while James Tibbs had two singles and a walk. Ryan Ward had two hits of his own plus a walk, and drove in a pair. Ward also scored a run thanks to heads-up baserunning in the first inning.
13 hours after last night's game ended, the Comets keep it rolling.
Noah Miller knocks a RBI single, and Ryan Ward's heads up baserunning makes it 3-0 early! pic.twitter.com/ECpkgwJrt6
Jerming Rosario made one spot start for Oklahoma City in 2024, and has since switched to relief. The right-hander’s first two games back with the Comets have been impressive, totaling four innings, one run allowed, and six strikeouts among his 18 batters faced. He struck out four in two innings on Wednesday, with his one run allowed the game-tying home run by Henry Bolte.
4:30 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Luke Fox) vs. San Antonio [Padres] (TBA)
6:35 p.m.: Ontario (TBA) vs. Lake Elsinore [Padres] (TBA)
7:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Cole Irvin) at Las Vegas (Cade Morris)
It’s the inaugural game for the Ontario Tower Buzzers, the Dodgers’ new affiliate. Double-A Tulsa also opens its season Thursday. Tulsa’s game will be televised by SportsNet LA, the second of 20 minor league games on the network this season.
Apr 1, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (7) moves the ball past Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) in the first quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Editor’s note: This is the first post from new Peachtree Hoops contributor Jackson Stone. We’re excited to have him on the staff and help with our coverage of the Atlanta Hawks.
The Atlanta Hawks completed a season sweep of the Orlando Magic on Wednesday evening with a dominant 130-101 victory over their Southeast divisional rivals on the road.
The Hawks came into this game with a clean bill of health and plenty to play for, with the Magic trailing them in the Eastern Conference playoff race by just 2.5 games heading into the matchup. In the first few minutes of this one, it was Orlando that came out with more intensity despite playing on the second night of a back-to-back, having defeated the Phoenix Suns in narrow fashion on Tuesday night.
Atlanta was stuck in mud for the first several possessions on offense, opening just 4-for-14 from the field, with frustrations mounting quickly as Orlando began a parade to the free throw line on the other end of the floor. Things reached a boiling point when reserve guard Buddy Hield inexplicably picked up a technical foul from the bench for arguing with the referees.
However, things started to pick up for Atlanta toward the end of the first quarter when the first bench players entered the game, including the newly acquired Jonathan Kuminga, who played his second straight excellent game for Atlanta, finishing this one with 12 points on an efficient 5-of-7 shooting, along with solid defense. Kuminga put pressure on the rim early and often for Atlanta, which loosened up the Magic defense and allowed the Hawks to find an offensive rhythm, trimming the lead to three by the end of the first period.
Once the second quarter began, the Hawks caught fire and quickly took the lead. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who found himself on the bench earlier than usual in this one after picking up two quick fouls, overcame those troubles to torch Orlando for 22 points in the first half, including 17 in the second quarter alone.
In the frame, the Hawks’ key free agent signee hit the Magic with a barrage of three-pointers, quick crossovers, and impressive finishes at the rim.
He also made one of the plays of the season when he hit Magic star Paolo Banchero with a killer spin move and reverse layup that drew some oohs from the Orlando crowd and got the Hawks’ bench off its feet.
Overall, the Hawks ended up winning the second quarter by a score of 47-26, taking an 18-point lead into halftime. While some of this can be chalked up to favorable shooting variance on both ends of the floor, the Hawks did a much better job of getting into the paint and making Orlando’s defenders move their feet in the quarter, as well as pushing the ball in transition, as Quin Snyder has so often emphasized throughout the year.
On the other end, Atlanta played excellent defense, communicating well and largely forcing the Magic to stay on the perimeter, where they are among the worst teams in the NBA. In fact, at one point, the Magic had missed 19 consecutive three-pointers before the streak was finally broken by Desmond Bane in the third quarter.
“…for the most part, once we just were more disciplined on the ball and also off the ball, I think it took some of those driving lanes away and, and tried to keep (Banchero) out of the paint and then by the same token, you know, when we got out, we’re able to get in the paint and get some good looks and Nickeil obviously got hot, but he was getting good shots,” said Snyder after the game.
Magic forward Franz Wagner was also mostly a non-factor in his first game after missing nearly two months with an ankle injury.
The Hawks would only increase the lead coming out of the locker room for the third quarter, with big man Onyeka Okongwu quickly making an impact and forcing an early Orlando timeout.
Four minutes into the second half, the Hawks’ lead had ballooned to 31 points, and a chorus of boos began to rain down from the home fans in attendance.
Along the way, the bench continued to play well, and Dyson Daniels even got in on the action on the perimeter, knocking down a three-pointer for the second game in a row. The Hawks ended up taking a 102-76 lead into the fourth and final period, although the fireworks were just getting started in central Florida.
In a scary moment, Magic reserve big man Goga Bitadze ripped Hawks center Jock Landale down in a clear non-basketball play, which caused Landale to land awkwardly on his ankle. Hawks guard Dyson Daniels then shoved Bitadze, who ultimately was thrown out of the game after receiving a flagrant foul penalty two, with Daniels earning a technical foul for his role in the skirmish.
Goga Bitadze has been ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul on this play. 😳
Landale initially limped back to the locker room but was able to return to shoot the two flagrant free throws before exiting once again and not returning.
In the fourth quarter, Orlando was able to trim the lead under 20, but the game was never in doubt, and Snyder was able to pull his starters with a few minutes remaining. In a fun scene, former Magic wing Caleb Houstan caught fire in the stretch run of the contest, torching his former team for nine quick points on three triples.
The Hawks ended up cruising to the 130-101 win, pushing their record to 44-33 on the season, and giving them their third straight victory overall. It’s officially the most wins the Hawks have recorded since the 2015-16 season, although they did have a higher winning percentage in the shortened 2020-21 season, in which they reached the Conference Finals.
Making matters more impressive for Atlanta was the fact that they reached the 130-point mark despite a quiet shooting night from CJ McCollum, who scored just nine points on 4-for-13 shooting, as well as Jalen Johnson, who shot below his average in terms of both points and field goal percentage.
However, Johnson once again played excellent defense on Banchero, holding the former All-Star to just 11 points on the evening.
“I thought JJ did a really good job after the first time out of really raising his level as well. The things that he’s doing on the offensive end. You know, he’s setting other people up, but on the defensive end tonight, I think the job that he did on Banchero was really good,” said Snyder.
The Hawks also demolished the Magic on the glass in this one, winning by a margin of 52-36 in that department. That area has been one of the major areas of concern for Atlanta throughout this season, but the Hawks have started to clean it up amid their hot streak, with Dyson Daniels emerging as one of the top rebounding guards in the league, particularly on the offensive end.
“We had some loose ball rebounds on both ends of the floor, and Dyson gets his hands on a lot of balls. He’s just got a nose for it, whether it’s on the glass or during play when he’s guarding the ball or off the ball. Something that, you know, he’s got great instincts,“ said Snyder.
Elsewhere in the NBA, the Hawks got some help on Wednesday, with the Boston Celtics demolishing the Miami Heat, and the Sacramento Kings springing an upset over the Toronto Raptors. That result gives the Hawks a 1.5-game cushion for the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, with just five games left to go until the playoffs.
Overall, few if any could have predicted that the Hawks would be in this position less than two months ago, when the team was 26-30 heading into the All-Star break, fresh off their trade of Trae Young to the Washington Wizards. However, Atlanta has steadily climbed the ranks in the conference since then, with Alexander-Walker continuing his case for the Most Improved Player of the Year award, finishing with 32 points on Wednesday night, after dropping 41 on the Magic two weeks ago.
It’s also not fully off the table that the Hawks could reach as high as fourth place in the conference, with two games coming up against the Cleveland Cavaliers next week, who currently lead Atlanta by 3.5 games for that spot.
All in all, this was one of the best overall performances of the year from the Hawks, and the team showed impressive maturity in shrugging off their rough start to the game and coming back to dominate the way they did. Orlando had everything to play for in this one, trying to avoid a second straight trip to the play-in, and Atlanta still played like the more desperate team, hitting the floor for loose balls and getting around screens on defense instead of dying on them.
Of course, the Magic even at their full strength aren’t exactly a litmus test for NBA excellence. This team did lose by over 50 points earlier this week, after all. However, heading into this game, the Hawks were coming off an impressive home win over the Boston Celtics in relatively comfortable fashion, and they also knocked off the Detroit Pistons on the road last week.
For the first time in what seems like forever, the Hawks are now playing like a team fans can count on to deliver a consistent brand of basketball on a nightly basis, one defined by defense, high-flying transition opportunities, and savvy playmaking in the halfcourt. While they’re likely to start out the postseason on the road, and still haven’t fully wrapped up avoiding the Play-In Tournament, it’s been years since Hawks fans have seen their team jell this quickly, and at this opportune of a time.
Naturally, fans will call back to the 2021 season, when the team made their surprise run to the conference finals, a campaign that also featured a late-season surge up the standings and a first-round playoff matchup with the New York Knicks, which is very much on the table for later this month.
Still, this team’s defense and versatility make it seem to have a higher ceiling than even that beloved 2021 squad, especially as Jalen Johnson continues to blossom into a star player. The Hawks’ fourth quarter lapses in their recent games against the Celtics prove that Johnson still has a ways to go in learning how to deliver like a superstar player should in the clutch, but Atlanta still has a clear face of the franchise, who can stuff the stat sheet and make winning plays even on an off night, as was the case on Wednesday in Orlando.
Next up, the Hawks take the floor on Friday evening on the road versus the Brooklyn Nets.
TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 1: DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Sacramento Kings drives against Ja'Kobe Walter #14 of the Toronto Raptors during the first half of a basketball game at the Scotiabank Arena on April 1, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
You couldn’t have drawn up Wednesday night’s results any better as a Philadelphia 76ers fan. The Sixers overcame Joel Embiid’s illness-related absence and a poor defensive effort in the first half to defeat Washington, 153-131. Good and fun to watch, but certainly not unexpected against a Wizards team at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. However, they also received a ton of assistance from across the Association.
The Hawks defeated Orlando, 130-101. While we want Atlanta to lose in a vacuum, given that the Hawks hold the tiebreaker over the Sixers, it seems more important to gain a game’s ground on the Magic than try to catch the guys in the ATL. Boston also took care of business against Miami, 147-129, importantly increasing the cushion for the Sixers over the Heat after Erik Spoelstra’s club earned the season tiebreaker over Philadelphia earlier this week.
The most improbable and beneficial result came north of the border, though, where the worst-in-the-West Sacramento Kings pulled off the 123-115 upset victory over the Toronto Raptors. With the Sixers owning the tiebreaker over the Raptors due to divisional record, Wednesday’s series of events means that Philadelphia is now sitting in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, which would be clear of the Play-In Tournament and in the actual, no-doubt-about-it playoffs.
Charlotte is highlighted above because they are the only Sixers-postseason-relevant team taking the court tonight, hosting the Phoenix Suns. Come on, Collin Gillespie, you’re a Philly guy, help us out.
The Sixers still have a difficult stretch ahead of them, with games against Minnesota, Detroit, San Antonio and Houston upcoming. Still, all the dominoes fell perfectly on Wednesday night, setting the stage for an exciting end to the regular season.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 01: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks the ball against the Golden State Warriors during the first half at Chase Center on April 01, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs secured their tenth-straight victory on Wednesday night against the Golden State Warriors. It was their sixth-straight game winning by double-digits. The Spurs haven’t had a single-digit margin of victory in about two weeks. This team is rolling, and it is all led by one man: Victor Wembanyama.
San Antonio’s third-year big man is chasing the MVP award and putting up dominant scoring performances in the process. Wembanyama had a 41-point double-double for the second game in a row. Despite Draymond Green and the Warriors’ best efforts, they couldn’t do anything to slow Wembanyama down. Once again, he will headline our player grades.
As a quick reminder, these grades are based on each player’s on-court performance, going beyond just the stat sheet. A “B” grade represents the average performance for an individual.
Wednesday night’s game essentially broke down like this: when Wembanyama is on the court, the Spurs lead grows. Wembanyama leaves the game, and the lead shrinks. The Warriors couldn’t come close to stopping him inside. Green tried this new strategy where he would sag off Wembanyama in the mid-range, which, in theory, makes sense; it’s better than him getting to the rim. But Wemby nailed every wide-open mid-range shot, basically giving the Spurs two free points any time Green sagged off.
It wasn’t Wembanyama’s best defensive game. He was caught out of position a few times and looked a step slow on getting to shots he would usually erase. But he was so dominant on the other end, and the game swung so far in San Antonio’s direction when he was in the game, that he deserves the top grade.
What’s that old saying? Shooters shoot? Champagnie took a lot of shots in the win over Golden State. Fifteen to be exact, thirteen of them from three. Most of them were good shots in the flow of the offense, and he knocked down four threes.
I once heard JJ Reddick talk about his philosophy on getting up threes. He said that if you shoot 40% from deep, you should be shooting at least 10 threes a game, because in theory, you should make 4. That’s 12 points. It seems like Champagnie took Reddick’s advice.
It’s been a bit of a rough stretch for Vassell recently. It used to seem automatic when he would get a catch-and-shoot opportunity, but right now he’s hit a cold streak. It was encouraging to see him get more involved as a passer when the jumper wasn’t falling. I love that curl-screen action they run to either get Vassell a mid-range shot or find Wemby on a lob. He hit Vic for a lob on that play, showing some awareness that the better look is the 7-foot-4 big man at the rim.
Also, can we talk about how springy Vassell has looked in the last two games? He got UP for a block late in the game, just two nights after he got one called for goaltending by doing nearly the same thing.
Castle almost had a triple-double again, but he needed to play garbage time minutes to get there. Earlier in the game, he made some silly turnovers, but his assist-to-turnover ratio will look pretty good when he tosses 11 dimes. Castle’s finishing in the paint has still been just off a bit, but he’s making up for it at the three-point line. At this point, should we call Castle a catch-and-shoot threat? He’s knocked down 41% of his 70 three-point attempts since the All-Star break.
After a tough game on Monday, Fox bounced back against the Warriors. He was awesome defensively, hounding the Warriors’ guards on the perimeter and getting a few strip steals. Fox wasn’t heavily involved offensively, but he was getting into the paint a bit more consistently. When Wembanyama is on a roll like this, it seems like the team’s top priority is getting him the ball. Fox does a great job deferring to the superstar and letting him lead the way.
Barnes also had a bounce-back game on Wednesday. It felt like Barnes was always right where he needed to be to grab a loose ball or offensive rebound. He knocked down 50% of his threes and attacked a few hard closeouts by the Warriors to get to the free-throw line. It’s always nice to see Barnes thrive against the team that drafted him.
It feels like Johnson can roll out of bed and score 10 points off the bench. It’s part of the reason why he is the betting favorite for Sixth-Man of the Year on FanDuel at -200.
Wednesday wasn’t KJ’s best game. He was inefficient from the field and settled a bit from three-point range. He took a side step three at one point in the game, which might be the first time I’ve seen him shoot a three-pointer off movement this season. It was the kind of game where he could afford to take a lot of threes. Johnson is much more effective when he’s getting to the basket and scoring in the paint.
Mitch Johnson made me eat my words from the last game when I said Bryant was getting squeezed out of the rotation for the playoffs. With Luke Kornet out, Johnson played Bryant as a small-ball center. The results weren’t all that bad. Bryant didn’t have to do much rim protection, but he guarded multiple positions and held his own.
His jump shot is just not falling right now. It’s not like he’s getting a lot of opportunities, but he’s missing some open shots that, if they were going down, could open up a pathway to more playing time when the full team is healthy.
It’s hard to hold anything against Plumlee. He was signed after not playing much basketball this year and is 36 years old. But it was evident that Golden State felt they could attack the rim when he was in the game. He also doesn’t provide much of anything offensively at this stage of his career. The small-ball lineup with Bryant was much more effective than going to the veteran in Kornet’s absence.
This was a game where Harper looked like a rookie. Sure, he had some impressive finishes around the rim, but his ball security and defense were not up to his usual standards. He threw the ball away carelessly and had a hard time defending without fouling.
Grade: C
Monday’s Inactives: Luke Kornet, Harrison Ingram, David Jones-Garcia, Emanuel Miller
Tonight's matchup between the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers will tell the tale of two extremes in a busy Eastern Conference. The Canadiens are scorching hot, winners of six straight, while the Rangers are the only team in the East eliminated from playoff contention.
My Canadiens vs. Rangers predictions and NHL picks lean into this sobering reality for the Rangers, as Cole Caufield & Co. will look to gain some ground with the Atlantic Division crown very much in sight on Thursday, April 2.
Canadiens vs Rangers prediction
Canadiens vs Rangers best bet: Cole Caufield anytime goal (+130)
Death, taxes, and Cole Caufield finding the back of the net.
The diminutive winger has scored more than anyone in 2026, notching an astounding 26 goals in his last 26 games. He's scored in three straight and has seven in his last six.
Tonight, he faces a lowly New York Rangers squad that ranks near the bottom in effectively all defensive metrics.
He's just three goals shy of the illustrious half-century mark — a feat that has eluded all Montreal Canadiens players for over 35 years.
Canadiens vs Rangers same-game parlay
On the topic of red-hot Habs players, look no further than Juraj Slafkovsky.
The 2022 No. 1 pick has been playing at a 40-goal, 92-point pace for exactly half of the season, and has served as the perfect complement to Caufield and Nick Suzuki on the team's top line.
He's racked up 13 assists in 17 games since his show-stopping Olympic performance, and has nine in his last 10. Yet, somehow, a Slaf assist is set at plus-odds.
Overshadowed amidst the influx of career seasons in Montreal is Mike Matheson. His 24:17 average ice time per game leads the team (18th in the NHL), and he's on pace for the second-best offensive totals of his career.
The Quebec native has blocked two or more shots in six of his last seven games.
The Over has hit in nine consecutive meetings between these teams. Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Rangers.
How to watch Canadiens vs Rangers
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Thursday, April 2, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN2
Canadiens vs Rangers latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Washington Wizards have been at the forefront of the NBA’s tanking crisis all season. The product the Wizards are putting out this year is so bad that they let Bam Adebayo of all players score 83 points on them in a single game. Washington spent part of the year limiting minutes for its best players in an attempt to increase its ping-pong balls, and not even trading for Trae Youngand Anthony Davis has changed the losing culture this season.
The Wizards should be celebrating any fan who wants to attend a game at the end of another tanking season, but instead they played a cruel April Fools’ prank on one of them during a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night.
The Wizards brought a fan out for a blindfolded halfcourt shot with the promises of $10K if he made it. The fan badly missed the shot, but because he was blindfolded, the Wizards pretended he made it and had the announcers and various mascots celebrate with him.
When the Wizards finally let the fan watch his shot on the jumbotron, he saw he missed, and the team revealed that it was an April Fools’ Day prank. Watch the video here:
The Wizards made a fan think he won $10,000 in an April Fools prank by pretending he made a blindfolded half court shot 😭 pic.twitter.com/MZEfAiGZKM
“Somebody’s rich,” the in-game host explained after the fan took the shot. A minute later, she changed her tune.
“I really, really hate April Fools’ Day.”
The team did give the fan an autographed jersey and some courtside seats for next season. I guess that’s cool, but $10K is a lot cooler.
It feels like the Wizards just can’t help it from giving themselves and the league a black eye this season. Washington will enter the lottery hoping for some luck to find a new franchise star, but do they deserve it? In our new NBA mock draft, the Wizards fell to fifth while three non-tankers moved up into the top four. That feels appropriate.
Going to a Wizards game is a bad enough way to spend a Wednesday night. Getting turned into the butt of a viral joke for thinking you just won $10K by making an impossible shot is even worse. Shame on the Wizards.
