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NHL Standings: The real March Madness

PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 22: Frederik Andersen #31 of the Carolina Hurricanes makes a save in front of Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

The NHL playoff race is reaching it’s peak this year, no where more than in the competitive and tight Eastern Conference. While the West is something of a pillow fight in the Pacific and a turtle race in general (Nashville is on a statistical pace for 89 points and currently holding a playoff spot), the East is a much more unforgiving place to be. The Islanders and Red Wings are currently on pace for 97 points and find themselves below the playoff line as of this morning.

Here’s the standings as of today.

It’s tough times in Detroit, the Red Wings are just 5-6-2 since play resumed after the Olympics and now in serious trouble with their playoff outlook. While Detroit’s season pace may be for 97 points, that is dropping by the game with their recent results in shambles. Ottawa, boasting a 10-2-2 record since the break, have now pulled ahead of Detroit.

It’s a similar story in the Metropolitan Division, where a run by the Columbus Blue Jackets (9-2-4) have overtaken the Penguins and Islanders in the standings as of this morning with 11 games to play, 10 for NYI.

Further down the line, any spoiler hopes for a last gasp run by Philadelphia and Washington took major hits with regulation losses last night. The four point swing in the Flyers/Blue Jackets game last night could have meant just a three point separation had the Flyers won last night. Instead, they lost and now are seven points behind Columbus and five points behind the playoff line, dealing a serious blow to any far-flung playoff hopes.

The Penguins have been in a mode of hanging on lately, their 17 games in March is an NHL high and presented a monumental challenge. They’ve had to do much of it without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. They have had some great moments lately – like an OT comeback win over Boston and a great performance against Colorado mixed in with some ugly defeats to Carolina, Vegas and the Avalanche. Monday’s upcoming game against NYI is looming absolutely massive for the potential fortunes of both teams.

Here’s some models on the Pens’ current outlooks:

The Athletic: 72%

Hockey Stats: 84%

Moneypuck: 75.2%

Hockey Reference: 80.2%

Most of the models remain fairly bullish on Pittsburgh, in part due to the remaining schedule. The Pens have gotten through much of their toughest games (though Ottawa and Dallas are on the horizon) and now statistically have the 20th easiest strength of schedule based on points% of remaining opponents. Less than 10 days ago, Pittsburgh had the No. 1 toughest remaining schedule, which speaks to how many quality opponents they’ve dealt with recently – four of the Pens’ last five games have been played against Carolina or Colorado who make up two of the top three teams in the league. Pittsburgh negotiated that to a 1-2-1 record and soon will finish off the season with six games against non-playoff opponents (two against Florida and Washington, New Jersey and St. Louis).

On the other hand, the toughest remaining schedules in the whole league belong to: NYI, BOS, CBJ and OTT, direct competitors for the Penguins. Schedule strength only accounts for so much and is no guarantee of success, both NYI and Boston lost last night in what should have been games they needed results against Chicago and Toronto, respectively. Teams still have to play the games and get the results, though it’s preferable to have an easier path it also doesn’t bring any promises.

In that outlook, there’s some reason for optimism, the Pens have made it through the absolute toughest part of their schedule and found a way to pick up a few points and remain slightly above the fray. Soon they need to take advantage of what remains. That won’t be immediate with the upcoming games of playing in Ottawa and hosting Dallas in the coming days will present big challenges but relief could be coming after that.

Ultimately and easily enough for the Penguins, if they stay ahead of NYI AND Detroit then the Pens will make the playoffs. Should Columbus cool off a little and the Pens slip by them, it becomes an even easier proposition. Pittsburgh (with 29 regulation wins compared to 27 for Detroit and 26 for the Islanders) also figure to hold that tiebreaker over both clubs below them, so it could presumably even be more favorable since those teams actually have to gain more points in the standings to pass the Pens.

Interestingly enough, Pittsburgh plays NYI on Monday and then Detroit on Tuesday next week. Both of those games will present massive opportunities to deal blows to the opposition’s chances of being able to end up ahead of Pittsburgh by the end of the year. There still could be bigger games at the very end of the season for absolute ‘must win’ situations, but the upcoming games against NYI and DET are about as big as it gets for importance.

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Jordan Walsh opens up about Celtics’ success, his up-and-down role, and more

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 4: Jordan Walsh #27 of the Boston Celtics plays defense during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on March 4, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

LAWRENCE, Mass. — Jordan Walsh knew that his Celtics team was going to be just fine.

In the offseason, when many in the media and the public predicted the Celtics would end up a lottery team, Walsh could only laugh.

“As soon as I started hearing people talking about losing and tanking and all that stuff, I immediately knew that that was never gonna be us,” Walsh told CelticsBlog at a PIMCO-sponsored dinner at the Lawrence Boys and Girls Club.

The discourse around the Celtics tanking was particuarly wild for the 22-year-old to digest.

“What is that? What does that mean purposely lose? Like, try not to win? Walsh said. ”There’s never going to be a situation where I feel like the Boston Celtics are not going to try to win — especially with Joe as the head coach.”

“Nobody in our organization wants to lose. I don’t care what it’s for – from Brad [Stevens] all the way down to me, nobody ever wants to lose.”

But, what kind of season was he, individually, destined for?

That, he wasn’t sure.

In total, Walsh has appeared in a 58 games this season, averaging 17.2 minutes a night. He’s tallied 5.3 points per game on 52.5% shooting, including 40.8% from three. All of those numbers are career-bests.

Walsh wasn’t in the rotation to start the year, but quickly emerged as a key part of the Celtics’ early success. He began starting games in November, and in December, he became one of the Celtics’ most crucial two-way players. That month, he shot 54.2% from three-point range, and was regularly tasked with guarding opposing teams’ best players.

After one December match-up, Los Angeles Lakers star Austin Reaves praised Walsh’s defense, per CLNS Media’s Bobby Manning.

“I can see him being one of the best defenders in the league for many years to come,” Reaves said,

But, the Celtics’ rotation continued to change, largely dependent on needs and recent play. Sam Hauser replaced Walsh in the starting lineup in January, and around that time, Baylor Scheierman also emerged as a key contributor and a secondary playmaker for the Celtics who demonstrated a proclivity for crashing the glass.

How Jordan Walsh has dealt with fluctuating minutes

Walsh’s minutes have steadily declined throughout the season; he averaged 24.1 minutes per game in November, 20.6 minutes in December, 15.8 minutes in January, 14 minutes in February, and 11.8 minutes in March.

Since Tatum’s return, he has mostly racked up DNPs as the odd man out from the Celtics’ pack of wing defenders. But, when he reflects on the year, he feels good about what he accomplished, even if it wasn’t always perfect.

“I’m still okay with where I’m at because Year 1, I had no chance of playing,” Walsh said. “This year, I started 20 games, and we went 15 and 5 — and I proved that I can play at a high level.”

It also helps that there are many other players on the Celtics roster who have also dealt with fluctuating minutes and benchings throughout their career.

“I’ve gotten a piece of everybody’s story — Payton [Pritchard], JB [Jaylen Brown], Xavier [Tillman], all these people kind of went through similar things,” Walsh said. “I’ve gotten their story, and they gave me their knowledge on it.”

Tillman, however, has been a notable absence in the locker room. Walsh said last month that Tillman was his closest friend on the roster, and someone he often turned to for motivation and support. But, Tillman was traded to the Charlotte Hornets in the hours ahead of the trade deadline, and Walsh said soon after that he’d have to find another teammate to lean on.

For now, that teammate is Jaylen Brown, who he sits next to on the team plane. But, Tillman is irreplaceable.

“I still talk to Xavier all the time — that’s my guy,” Walsh said. “He’s got a special place in my heart because of how he helped me get through certain things, and even just stuff that has nothing to do with basketball. But, JB is a good second, though.”

Walsh and his teammates are a few weeks away from postseason action, and he’s excited to kick off his third playoff run as a Celtic.

“As a competitor, as somebody who wants to be the best and wants to bring the best at other people around him, like there’s no better place to be, for sure,” he told the students at the Lawrence Boys and Girls Club.

The season has been made extra sweet because of the fact the team has defied expetations. Walsh didn’t take offense to the misconceptions on the outside, but he understood from the jump that outside discourse has severe limitations.

“The media, they report what they can,” he said. “They do it the best they can. And most of the time, or some of the time, it’s not like they’re wrong. They just — they’re not in the inside, so they don’t know the inside scoop. But I think that with that going around, and people saying it, podcast, TV and stuff saying it – completely wrong.”

“I never had a doubt that we were going to be a good team.”

As far as his own individual season?

He’s embracing a changing role and ensuring his mindset doesn’t change, even when opportunities do.

“It’s kind of just doing my best in the role that I am in now, and that’s just supporting the guys, showing up to practice, being the last one to leave,” Walsh said. “Like, all that stuff is so cool to me.”

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Bulls vs 76ers Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

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The Philadelphia 76ers welcome the Chicago Bulls to Xfinity Mobile Arena tonight as they look to bounce back from a tough loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

My Bulls vs. 76ers predictions are eyeing Philly to get back in the win column on its home court. 

Read more in my NBA picks for Wednesday, March 25. 

Bulls vs 76ers prediction

Bulls vs 76ers best bet: 76ers -6 (-110)

The Philadelphia 76ers are staying afloat despite being bitten by the injury bug. They’re in seventh place in the Eastern Conference with a 39-33 record, and will likely be in the Play-In Tournament. 

Tyrese Maxey remains out, while Joel Embiid is a game-time decision due to an oblique injury. Paul George is also on track to return from a 25-game suspension. 

Nonetheless, Philadelphia has still found ways to win without its stars. It's won four of its last six games, and Nick Nurse’s squad covered tonight’s spread in three of those. While the Sixers have lost both meetings with the Chicago Bulls this season, they were on the road and came from a time when Chicago was competitive. 

The Sixers are 20-17 at home, and the Bulls are 11 games below .500 on the road. Philly has also covered the spread in two of its last three games at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Meanwhile, Chicago has lost three of their last four on the road, failing to cover the spread in each of those defeats. 

Philadelphia will finally end its losing skid against the Bulls and strengthen its case for the Play-In. The return of both Embiid and PG will be huge.

Bulls vs 76ers same-game parlay

VJ Edgecombe has been a brilliant piece for the Sixers in 2025-26, averaging 16 points per game. He’s had even more of a run lately due to the absences, and the youngster has cashed the Over in three straight. Edgecombe just dropped 35 points on the Thunder. 

He had 38 points last Thursday against the Kings, too, and he’s hit the Over in points in two of his last four at home. 

He’s also cashed the Over in triples in two of his last three, and Edgecombe just went 7-for-15 from deep in the loss to Oklahoma City. 

Bulls vs 76ers SGP

  • 76ers -6
  • VJ Edgecombe Over 20.5 points
  • VJ Edgecombe Over 2.5 made threes

Our "from downtown" SGP: By George, he's still got it!

Nurse said George won’t require a ramp-up period, which means he should play decent minutes tonight. He’s averaging 2.3 makes from deep for a 38% clip this season at home, and in one meeting against the Bulls, PG was 4-for-9 from 3-point territory.

Dominick Barlow is averaging 8.0 PPG for the Sixers and 7.4 at home. He’s averaging 7.5 in March so far, and the big man has cashed the Over in points in five of his last eight appearances.

Bulls vs 76ers SGP

  • VJ Edgecombe Over 20.5 points
  • VJ Edgecombe Over 2.5 made threes
  • Paul George Over 2.5 made threes
  • Dominick Barlow Over 7.5 points

Bulls vs 76ers odds

  • Spread: Bulls +6 (-110) | 76ers -6 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Bulls +195 | 76ers -240
  • Over/Under: Over 239.5 (-110) | Under 239.5 (-110)

Bulls vs 76ers betting trend to know

The 76ers have covered the 4Q Spread in 10 of their last 12 games (+7.65 Units / 55% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Bulls vs. 76ers.

How to watch Bulls vs 76ers

LocationXfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
DateWednesday, March 25, 2026
Tip-off7:00 p.m. ET
TVCHSN, NBCSP

Bulls vs 76ers latest injuries

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Morning Flurries: Erik Johnson was made for television

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 31: Erik Johnson, the former NHL defenseman and 2022 Stanley Cup champion for the Colorado Avalanche makes his on-air debut for the ESPN network. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

Though Colorado Avalanche fans tried to forget everything about the 7-2 loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins last week (and a win last night helps ease tgat memory), one positive was the Erik Johnson experience between the benches. The former Avalanche defenseman is flourishing in his new television career which seems to be a natural fit.

On that note, check out this video to go behind the scenes with Johnson and fellow former Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie as they discuss their recent retirement from the NHL and what’s next up for each of them.

Speaking of playing the Pittsburgh Penguins in that loss last week at Ball Arena, here is the tribute video for Sam Girard provided by the Avalanche.

As always, a look back at how the trade deadline helped shape the two best teams in hockey and their stretch run before the playoffs begin in April.

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The art of a Mitchell Robinson offensive rebound

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 1: Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks plays defense during the game against Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs on March 1, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Who would you consider the best at each individual skill in the NBA?

Is Luka Doncic the best pure scorer? Is Nikola Jokic or Tyrese Haliburton the best pure playmaker? Is Stephen Curry the best shooter? Is Victor Wembanyama the best defender? When healthy, does Kyrie Irving have the best handles?

But notice how all of those guys are superstars. All of them have millions of kids around the globe draped in their jerseys, have multiple endorsement deals, and are recognized as pillars of the game. But can you say the same for, say, the best rebounder?

In terms of overall rebounding, it’s hard to quantify who’s the best at the overall skill exactly, but in terms of offensive rebounding? It’s very clearly one man, a backup center for the New York Knicks who makes just $14 million a year and almost never plays more than 27 minutes in a game.

Robinson is an artist at what he does. It’s not as simple as camping in the paint as the team’s lob threat; it’s all about positioning. He always seems to be in the right spot, reading the ball in the air to see the way it would bounce off the rim. You’ll naturally get enough offensive rebounds as a center just from standing there, but to do what Robinson does consistently? You have to be an artist.

Over the last five seasons, Robinson has per-36 averages of 6.4 OREB per game. In 2025-26, he’s pushed that number to an impossible 8.1, which leads all players who’ve played at least 10 games (Steven Adams, 7.1). He also towers over the likes of Donovan Clingan and Andre Drummond, two elite rebounders, in total rebounds per 36 (16.4).

It’s even baffling on a team-by-team basis. By himself, he’d be tied for 18th in the NBA in offensive rebounds per 36 minutes. There are 10 entire teams he is outrebounding on a rate basis by himself. His offensive rebounding prowess is a big reason why the Knicks have had a supercharged net rating despite efficiency numbers on both sides of the ball not being inherently elite.

You want to know what impact looks like? I went and looked at each of his 235 offensive rebounds this season, through Tuesday’s win over the Pelicans, and sorted them by result:

Mitch layup/dunk attempt: 91 (52 made, 57.1%)
2-point attempt: 19 (8 made, 42.1%)
3-point attempt: 69 (29 made, 42%)
Foul: 29 (17-32 FT, not just Mitch)
Turnover: 16 (11 by Mitch himself)
Other: 11

Here are some other stats:

  • 24 of Mitchell Robinson’s 50 assists on the season are off his OREB, 18 of them three-pointers.
  • Only twice in 54 games has he been held without an offensive rebound. He has more games with eight (8) than he has fewer than two (5). That’s consistency.
  • Here’s how other players are shooting off of Robinson’s OREB:
    Brunson: 11-18 (10-15 3pt)
    Bridges: 2-14 (2-13 3pt)
    Clarkson: 4-11 (2-6 3pt)
    Anunoby: 6-10 (5-8 3pt)
    Towns: 6-7 (2-2 3pt)
    Kolek: 3-7 (3-5 3pt)
    Hart: 2-6 (0-2 3pt)
    Shamet: 3-4 (3-4 3pt)
    McBride: 1-4 (1-4 3pt)

Let’s put something else in perspective. Robinson’s penchant for getting the team extra possessions has stolen multiple wins. These are all the games that, if the Knicks don’t score the points they do off his offensive rebounds, they lose the game:

  • 11/19 @ DAL
  • 12/25 vs CLE
  • 12/27 @ ATL
  • 1/24 @ PHI
  • 2/4 vs DEN
  • 3/15 vs GSW
  • 3/24 vs NOLA

That Dallas game, if you remember, saw a controversial Brandon Williams offensive foul crush the shorthanded Mavericks’ dreams of an upset. Mitch’s three offensive rebounds led to five points in a two-point win.

On Christmas Day against Cleveland, Robinson grabbed eight offensive rebounds and it led directly to 13 points, including three triples in the fourth quarter of the miraculous comeback.

Two nights later, against Atlanta, the Knicks would’ve blown a huge lead if not for Robinson’s four offensive rebounds leading to six points.

Three days after a beatdown of Brooklyn ended the 11-game skid from hell, the Knicks held off a mostly healthy Sixers squad in Philly, thanks to Mitch’s six OREB that led to seven points.

That double overtime game against Denver never gets to overtime without Robinson’s putback layup in the first quarter.

They would’ve taken that embarrassing loss to a heavily shorthanded Warriors team in MSG without Robinson’s three offensive rebounds leading to four points.

Last night, against a suddenly healthy Pelicans team, the Knicks scored seven points off his four offensive rebounds.

Imagine the Knicks with six more losses. They’d be 41-32 and tied for sixth in the East. Imagine how toxic social media would be then, when it’s this toxic already with the Knicks tying the Celtics for the No. 2 seed.

Without Robinson’s offensive rebounding alone, the Knicks would be in danger of falling into the play-in tournament.

It’s going to be interesting to see what the offseason looks like with Robinson’s expiring contract and how the Knicks will be able to manage him, Mo Diawara, and Jose Alvarado’s impending free agencies while juggling the second apron, but we don’t have to worry about that for now.

Just enjoy greatness while you can. It’s not often you get a unicorn who’s this special at something like this.

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NBA owners approve exploring expansion bids for teams in Las Vegas and Seattle

NBA owners approve exploring expansion bids for teams in Las Vegas and Seattle originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Seattle and Las Vegas are one step closer to having NBA teams.

The league’s board of governors voted Wednesday to approve a plan that will allow NBA officials to “formally explore potential team expansion” to those two cities, which have long been thought of as the front-runners to land franchises.

“Today’s vote reflects our Board’s interest in exploring potential expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle — two markets with a long history of support for NBA basketball,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “We look forward to taking this next step and engaging with interested parties.”

Silver will hold a news conference later Wednesday to discuss next steps. The league said investment bank PJT Partners has been brought on “as a strategic adviser to evaluate prospective markets, ownership groups, arena infrastructure, and the broader economic implications of expansion.”

Expansion isn’t a done deal. But it’s not just a dream anymore, either.

New Orleans guard Dejounte Murray was 11 years old when Seattle last had an NBA team. He grew up with hopes of being like Gary Payton, Ray Allen and Shawn Kemp, and even remembers a rookie who played for the SuperSonics named Kevin Durant.

It’s been nearly two decades since those days ended. That said, Wednesday’s vote should finally fuel real hope of a basketball revival for Seattle — and a new chapter in Las Vegas.

“It’s a basketball city, basketball culture, so it’s mandatory I think that they get it back over there,” said Murray, a Seattle native.

Added Orlando’s Paolo Banchero, another Seattle native: “I think it’s been a long time coming for the city. I think everybody was pretty bummed out when they left. And since then it’s just been waiting and hoping that one day they will come back. I’m sure with the news, everybody’s excited. I know I’m excited for all the kids growing up because Seattle’s a really big basketball city.”

It is, and so is Las Vegas — which has become a major part of the NBA ecosystem even without a team.

The NBA’s Summer League is held in Las Vegas each year and has become a can’t-miss event for league executives, coaches, media, agents and even players who aren’t taking part in the games. The championship round of the NBA Cup, the in-season tournament, has been held in Las Vegas as well. And the city used to play host to the occasional regular-season game; for example, in 1984, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of the Los Angeles Lakers broke the league’s career scoring record in a game against the Utah Jazz — who used Las Vegas for some of their home games at that time.

The idea of putting a franchise there might have seemed unlikely a couple of decades ago. Not anymore, especially not with the NFL’s Raiders, the NHL’s Golden Knights and the WNBA’s Aces all already there and with Major League Baseball on the way.

“I think Seattle and Las Vegas are two incredible cities,” Silver said in December, speaking about expansion while in Las Vegas for the NBA Cup.

Assuming owners will eventually decide to actually expand the NBA past its 30-team footprint, there will be much to figure out. On the short list: the expansion fee (expected to be at least $6 billion), the timeline for adding the clubs (2028-29 would almost certainly be the earliest this could happen) and how the Western Conference will be realigned (at least one team is likely to join the Eastern Conference).

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr said the SuperSonics were “one of the iconic franchises in the NBA.” The team left in 2008 and became the Oklahoma City Thunder.

“I was shocked when the league left Seattle,” Kerr said. “Incredible fan base. Great basketball market. A ton of talent coming from Seattle. Top 10 media market. Incredible sports city. So, it was kind of shocking to all of us when the league left Seattle. And I think we all hoped it would be a lot sooner than 18, 19 years, whatever it’s going to be, before they got back in the league.

“They belong in that city, and a team belongs there,” he added. “Those fans deserve it.”

___

AP Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney and AP Sports Writers Schuyler Dixon and Joe Reedy contributed to this report.

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NHL Player Props & Best Bets for Today, March 25: Good Time Charlie

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Charlie McAvoy is one of the best defensemen in the NHL, and he’s at the top of his game right now, ranking third among blueliners with 24 points over his last 20 games.

The Boston Bruins are putting all their eggs in his basket as they push for a playoff spot, which is why — even in a back-to-back — he's a priority target in my three NHL player props for tonight

Read on for my NHL picks for Wednesday, March 25.

Best NHL player prop bets today

PlayerBet99
Bruins McAvoy Over 0.5 assists-105
Rangers Fox Over 0.5 points-115
Rangers Lafreniere Over 0.5 points-130

img alt="Get a first bet encore up to $800 with the BET99 promo code COVERSNHL" width="100%" loading="lazy" src="https://img.covers.com/promo-articles/bet99nhlcreative2526.jpeg"Get a first bet encore up to $800 with BET99 bonus code COVERSNHL.
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Our best NHL player props for Wednesday, March 25

Take a look at our best bets and expert analysis below.

Prop #1: Charlie McAvoy Over 0.5 assists

-105 at BET99

Charlie McAvoy is on a torrid offensive run. He's piled up 24 points over his last 20 games, with 18 coming by way of assist.

He's playing a lot of minutes and serving as a driving force from the back end.

With the Bruins desperate for every point — especially after laying an egg against the Maple Leafs — they'll leave no stone unturned trying to get them. That means a ton of ice for McAvoy, back-to-back be damned.

He's excelled in those situations this season, assisting in six of the last seven while playing at least 24 minutes five times.

  • Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: TNT

Prop #2: Adam Fox Over 0.5 points

-115 at BET99

Adam Fox is one of the best offensive defensemen in the sport. Even in a down year for the New York Rangers, he’s still found a way to produce a point in 55% of his games, and 62% following a day of rest.

He's really ramped it up of late, finding the scoresheet in seven of his last nine contests — including against playoff-bound teams like Minnesota and Columbus.

Fox picked up a point in his last meeting with the Leafs and generated 5+ attempts in both games, indicating strong involvement in the offense.

  • Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: NHL Network

Prop #3: Alexis Lafreniere Over 0.5 points

-130 at BET99

Alexis Lafreniere is heating up.

He's produced 10 points over his last nine games while generating nearly a full attempt more than his season average. The Rangers have put more on his plate without Artemi Panarin, and he's responded well.

He's poised to find success tonight against the Maple Leafs, who rank dead-last in shots allowed and 29th in goals allowed this season.

Lafreniere has hit the scoresheet in five consecutive games vs. Bottom-12 teams in goals allowed, producing 10 points in total. That includes a three-point effort against the Leafs just a few weeks ago.

  • Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: NHL Network

These props are available now at BET99, one of our best betting sites.

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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Bruins vs Sabres Predictions, Picks & Best Bets for Tonight’s NHL Game

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Tage Thompson is one of the best volume shooters in the NHL, ranking seventh in shot attempts and eighth in shots on target this year.

My Bruins vs. Sabres predictions expect his shooting opportunities to be plentiful against a fatigued Boston side that bleeds shots even at the best of times.

Let’s dive into my NHL picks for Wednesday, March 25, with puck drop from KeyBank Center set for 7:30 p.m. ET.

Bruins vs Sabres prediction

Bruins vs Sabres best bet: Tage Thompson Over 3.5 shots on goal (-105)

Tage Thompson is a Boston Bruins killer. He has recorded 4+ shots on goal in six consecutive games while averaging 6.16 per contest.

That includes two head-to-head meetings this season, which should come as no surprise given the Bruins rank 31st in shots allowed.

Thompson has also cleared 3.5 shots in eight of 11 home games against Bottom-10 shot suppression teams. The three Unders came in multi-goal victories vs. teams 27th or lower in the standings, leaving no reason for Thompson to push.

With first place in the Eastern Conference within reach, the Buffalo Sabres will lean heavily on Thompson in this matchup.

Bruins vs Sabres same-game parlay

Josh Doan has produced an average of 2.5 shots and cleared his line in 10 of 11 home games against Bottom-10 shot suppression teams. He has fared particularly well against the Bruins this season, generating 6+ shot attempts in both meetings.

Josh Norris is riding shotgun with Doan on a strong third line and also skates on the top power play, making him a prime candidate to hit the scoresheet. He has done so in four of five games this season following two days of rest.

Bruins vs Sabres SGP

  • Tage Thompson Over 3.5 shots on goal
  • Josh Doan Over 1.5 shots on goal
  • Josh Norris Over 0.5 points

Bruins vs Sabres odds

  • Moneyline: Bruins +165 | Sabres -200
  • Puck Line: Bruins +1.5 (-150) | Sabres -1.5 (+120)
  • Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-114) | Under 6.5 (-106)

Bruins vs Sabres trend

Josh Doan has registered multiple shots on goal in 10 consecutive games. Find more NHL betting trends for Bruins vs. Sabres.

How to watch Bruins vs Sabres

LocationKeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
DateWednesday, March 25, 2026
Puck drop7:30 p.m. ET
TVNESN, MSG-B

Bruins vs Sabres latest injuries

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Brad Stevens will not be the next UNC Basketball coach

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - FEBRUARY 06: General Manager Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics watches warmups before a game against the Dallas Mavericks at the TD Garden on February 06, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Hours after it was announced that Hubert Davis would not return as basketball coach next season, we already have our first name removed from the list. Matt Norlander of CBS Sports reports that President of Basketball Operations for the Celtics, Brad Stevens, has removed his name from consideration for the job.

Bringing Stevens back to college basketball was an intriguing idea to many Carolina fans in the wake of the Davis news. Stevens is widely regarded as a brilliant basketball mind and his success with the Celtics has been impressive. Still, the college game is markedly different now than it was when Stevens was coaching it and navigating the world of NIL and the transfer portal has not come easily for everyone. It’s easy to understand by UNC would be interested in Stevens and equally easy to understand why Stevens would want to stay put in the NBA.

Stevens was definitely one of the bigger long shots on the list of names that Carolina might be interested in. The other NBA-connected name on the list has been Billy Donovan, which does not have nearly the support of bringing in Stevens. The most likely outcome is that a current college coach ends up in Chapel Hill.

Just have to figure out the who.

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Rockets expected to make run at Giannis Antetokounmpo in offseason

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 19: Giannis Antetokounmpo #29 of the Milwaukee Bucks walks on the court during warmups before their game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center on March 19, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah.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 Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Last summer, the Houston Rockets pulled off the blockbuster trade of the offseason, acquiring Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns, for the nominal outgoing package of Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green and the 10th pick of the 2025 NBA Draft. Houston has been at a near identical pace to last season’s team but is on pace to finish with right at 50 wins, which would be just two wins short of last season’s 52-win finish.

The fact that Houston is even on track to finish that close to last season’s Cinderella team is a testament to Durant, as the team has been without three starters from last season’s starting five in Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks. Not to mention Steven Adams, who has been the key to Rockets coach Ime Udoka’s offensive strategy of getting additional high-percentage bites at the apple, by way of second-chance scoring opportunities.

Houston is clearly in need of more consistent, high-level play. Teams have found it rather easy to neutralize Durant by either double-teaming him at halfcourt or sending traps and blitzes at him. According to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, the Rockets could make a pursuit for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Mannix took to his signature Open Floor: SI’s NBA Show to elaborate on Houston’s potential summer plans.

“Look, the Giannis thing that’s out there. I know…I believe that they’re going to try to make a run at him in the offseason. So that looms.”

Mannix continued.

“I was up and down there a couple of times and I have talked to Rafael Stone about this and the front office people there, like they made a great deal for Durant. They didn’t give up all of their assets. They’ve still got a treasure trove of assets that they can use to make a deal. So, if they can make one more big swing, whether it’s Giannis or someone else, to get another player that fits the timeline of Kevin Durant, what they did this season was worth it.”

From a salary standpoint, an outgoing package of Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr. and Clint Capela would clear enough salary for the 31-year-old two-time MVP.

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Milwaukee Bucks vs. Portland Trail Blazers Preview & Game Thread: End of the road

Nov 24, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara (33) drives against Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner (3) in the second half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

The Milwaukee Bucks wrap up their four-game West Coast road trip against the Portland Trail Blazers tonight at Moda Center. Embarrassed by Brook Lopez and Los Angeles Clippers on Monday, the Bucks look for better fortune against another former franchise icon, Jrue Holiday. But the task will be anything but easy against a Trail Blazers team that has won four out of its past five. The Bucks and Blazers have played once already this season, with the Blazers claiming a 115-103 victory behind 35 points—including 16/19 free throws!—from Jerami Grant.

Where We’re At

Prior to the Clippers game, I likened the Bucks’ season to Cormac McCarthy’s TheRoad. As it turns out, I may have been too kind. Down by as many as 46 points against the Clippers, things looked bleaker than ever. Ryan Rollins and Ousmane Dieng, saviours against the Phoenix Suns, tied for a team-worst—and personal season-worst—plus/minus (-37), while committing five and four turnovers, respectively. And after several minutes-long stretches where the Bucks couldn’t buy a basket, Cam “I’m a bucket” Thomas’ waiving just hours earlier seemed cruelly poetic. On the plus side, Pete Nance’s conversion to a standard, multi-year NBA contract is well deserved and a testament to the work he’s put in all year long (and prior to that). Additionally, Gary Trent Jr. (20 points, six threes) had his most prolific outing since dropping 20 points against the Brooklyn Nets in December.

The Blazers, meanwhile, have put themselves in the thick of play-in action. Currently sitting ninth, just half a game behind the Clippers, Portland has benefited from a career-year from Deni Advdija (24.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 6.7 APG), internal growth from the likes of Donovan Clingan (12.4 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 1.7 BPG), and the steady veteran presence of Holiday (15.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 6.7 APG). Most recently, they demolished the Brooklyn Nets 134-99 behind 35 points (9/11 from three) from 2024-25 All-Defensive Second Teamer Toumani Camara and 15 rebounds and a season-high seven blocks from Clingan.

Injury Report

For the Bucks, Giannis (Left Knee; Hyperextension; Bone Bruise), Kevin Porter Jr. (Right Knee; Synovitis) and Gary Harris (Left Groin; Contusion) are out. Kyle Kuzma (Right Achilles; Soreness) and Bobby Portis (Right Wrist; Sprain) are questionable.

For the Blazers, Damian Lillard (Left Achilles Tendon; Injury Management), Shaedon Sharpe (Left Fibula; Stress Reaction), and Yang Hansen (G League – On Assignment) are out. Jerami Grant (Left Foot; Soreness), Vit Krejci (Left Calf; Contusion), and Robert Williams III (Left Knee; Injury Management) are all questionable.

Player to Watch

Hours after the world discovered Pete Nance’s contract conversion, he put up a career-high-tying 12 field goal attempts (in a team-high 32 minutes). Granted, the game was over early, and it’s not within Nance’s character to suddenly become a gunner. Still, it will be interesting to see how Nance’s new contract—and the security that comes with it—impacts his overall play. Even more interesting is how Nance’s role evolves moving forward. Does Nance remain in his current role, handy but often out of the rotation when everyone is healthy, or do the Bucks envision him as something more and look to simulate that for the remainder of the season? Either way, Nance has earned his spot, making the most of the minutes he has played—13.3 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.1 APG, and 1.4 stocks per 36 minutes, while shooting 55% from the field and 47% from three.

How To Watch

Tune in at 9:00 p.m. CDT on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.

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Preview: Bruins look to bounce back against surging Sabres

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 27: Michael Kesselring #8 of the Buffalo Sabres battles for position to screen Joonas Korpisalo #70 of the Boston Bruins with Hampus Lindholm #27 during an NHL game on December 27, 2025 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

Just the facts

  • When: Tonight, 7:30 PM
  • Where: KeyBank Center – Buffalo, NY
  • How to follow: TNT, HBO Max, NESN, 98.5 The Sports Hub
  • Opposing perspective:Die By The Blade

Know your enemy

  • 44-20-7, 95PTS, 1st in the Atlantic Division
  • Tage Thompson: 36G-36A-72PTS; Rasmus Dahlin: 15G-50A-65PTS; Alex Tuch: 29G-30A-59PTS
  • Alex Lyon: 20-8-4, 2.64 GAA, .912 save percentage

Game notes

  • After what was probably their worst team-wide effort of the calendar year at home against the Maple Leafs on Tuesday, the Bruins are right back at it on Wednesday night, visiting the Atlantic-leading Buffalo Sabres.
  • Yes, the “Atlantic-leading” Buffalo Sabres! After some fits and starts at the beginning of the season, the Sabres have been on an absolute tear of late. Prior to the weekend’s games, they were on a near-historic run of 32-6-2 in their last 40 games and they’re 8-1-1 in their last ten.
  • The last of those games, however, was a loss, a 6-5 OT loss in Anaheim on Sunday night. That game wrapped up Buffalo’s West Coast trip, so tonight’s home game will be their first in Buffalo since March 14.
  • It feels like it’s been forever since these two teams played, with the last match-up coming shortly after Christmas, a 4-1 Sabres win in Buffalo. Prior to that, they played twice at TD Garden in the span of three weeks in October, both of which ended up Bruins wins.
  • For the Bruins, they’ll be looking for a far better effort than the one we saw at TD Garden Tuesday night. That game saw the Bruins disconnected, discombobulated, dysfunctional, dis-whatever else you can think of. They managed to stay in the game mostly because the Leafs are bad, but if they play that way tonight, it’ll be over before the end of the second period.
  • Josh Doan, acquired from Utah in the JJ Peterka trade last June, has been excellent for Buffalo this season. The 24-year-old has 23G-24A-47PTS in 71 games, far eclipsing his previous best output for Arizona/Utah. Doan is one of a handful of Sabres who have contributed invaluable depth scoring this season, along with guys like Noah Ostlund (11G), Josh Norris (10G), Sam Carrick (9G), and Logan Stanley (9G).
  • Alex Lyon has started the majority of Buffalo’s games this season, including their last game in Anaheim. He’s 6-0-1 in his last seven starts.
  • Barring a change of heart from Marco Sturm, Joonas Korpisalo will start tonight for the Bruins. He started two of the three games against Buffalo this season, winning at TD Garden and losing in Buffalo.
  • For a team with such a potent offense (4th in the NHL in GF/G), the Sabres have a surprisingly average power play, just 16th in the league.
  • With last night’s loss, the B’s margin of error in the playoff push has essentially evaporated. They’re still in the first wild card spot, one point ahead of Ottawa. However, they’re also just one point ahead of the New York Islanders and two points ahead of Detroit, so…buckle up!
  • On the other side of the coin, they’re only two points behind Montreal too, so who knows.
  • There won’t be any schedule-watching tonight, as the only other game on tap is between the Maple Leafs and the New York Rangers. Let’s hope the Leafs make it two wins in a row.
  • A broadcast note: while this game will be broadcast on TNT, it should also be shown locally on NESN, per both the NHL website and a NESN broadcast schedule. While the Celtics are playing tonight as well, they got bumped to 105.7, so the B’s will be on The Sports Hub.

See ya tonight!

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What do you think of Opening Night?

MESA, ARIZONA - MARCH 23: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees warms up on deck during the first inning of the spring training game against the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park on March 23, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Tomorrow is Opening Day. But tonight is baseball. Regular season baseball.

MLB is debuting Opening Night this year, with the Yankees and Giants opening their seasons against each other, all streamed through Netflix. It’s a double-blow to the traditionalists; not only are we getting a game before the proper start of the season, but it’s an interleague game, no less. It’s not exactly unprecedented— various international games have been played prior to Opening Day, and counted in the regular season standings. Still, it’s a change of pace.

In the days to come, we’ll have plenty of more serious, more pressing, more controversial questions to ask about the Phillies as their season takes shape. So let’s have a more casual question to end the offseason. What do you think about Opening Night?

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Wouldn’t it be nice if Spring Training meant something and the White Sox were mediocre?

Spring cherry blossoms are wonderful, too — while they last. | (Getty Images)

Well, the White Sox almost had a winning record in the Cactus League, what with a 15-16-1 finish. Too bad it doesn’t matter.

But they ended up losing their last five games, six if you include the Spring Breakout game. Good thing it doesn’t matter.

Of course, their big hullabaloo this season is about “momentum,” and that momentum isn’t necessarily the kind they want. So maybe momentum doesn’t matter, either, except maybe as a PR gimmick.

Everyone knows Spring Training records are meaningless, whether for such badness as the Mariners being last in the Cactus League last year or next-to-last this year, or the goodness of the Rockies sporting a 15-14-1 record this year. True, the 2024 White Sox gave a sad foreshadowing of the regular season to come by finishing last in the spring as well, but the 2005 World Champs were next to third from last in Arizona with a 14-18 record, so things can really turn around once it counts.

But what about individual performances? After all, we do talk about how a solid spring could get somebody a spot on a major league roster.

Well, maybe not so much meaning there, either.

White Sox spring 2025 leaders provide a look at carryover accuracy

On the hitting side, Chicago’s big leader, with an astounding 1.352 OPS, was none other than (pause for dramatic effect) Adam Hackenberg! Yep, Adam Hackenberg, who went on to spend the regular season in Charlotte and Birmingham, and hit a combined .206. Now, the folks who keep track of spring stats tend to divide the line at 20 at-bats, and Hackenberg’s 12 wouldn’t make the cut, nor would Kyle Teel’s 1.119 OPS in 19 at-bats or William Bergolla Jr.‘s 1.167 in 12.

With the cutoff applied, the immortal Brandon Drury leads the 2025 White Sox with a staggering 1.260 OPS. Yep, Brandon Drury, who went on to a regular season where he hit .179 in 10 games in Charlotte before being released and then signed by the Angels, where he worked his way down to rookie league level.

A one-off, perhaps? Well, next was the .989 of Nick Maton, who then hit .167 in Chicago and .192 in Charlotte before being released. Maton was followed by Tristan Gray (.978), who actually hit a solid .270/.333/.472 in Charlotte before the team sold him to the Rays, where he posted a respectable .693 OPS for a middle infielder.

(As an aside, OPS tends to be the favorite stat of evaluation for hitters these days, but it’s unfair to singles hitters, who could post a .300 average and next-to-Aaron Judge .400 on-base percentage and still come in at a below-average .700, despite the very important Moneyball belief that what really matters is getting on base.)

The top performance among any batter who actually started for the White Sox was the fine .966 of Luis Robert Jr. We all know how that went.

What about pitchers?

By far the best pitcher for the White Sox in 2025 was Adrian Houser, who wasn’t with the team until May. Of those who were around in Arizona, there’s more correlation with the games that count than with hitters, but not anything close to a clear picture.

Martín Pérez sported a fine 2.25 ERA over 12 innings and pitched well once it counted until he got injured (yeah, yeah, ERA isn’t a great stat in a small sample size, but you go with what you’ve got). Shane Smith just went up from 3.37 to 3.81.

But three 0.00 ERAs topped the guys who did the best — Cam Booser (regular season 5.52), Penn Murfee (7.82), and the guy who we don’t talk about (minors). Justin Dunn had a 1.13, then a 7.63 in Charlotte before being released, and was even worse for Royals affiliates. Davis Martin had a 1.90, less than half his regular-season number, which was okay. Jonathan Cannon’s 10.32 showed he was already in trouble.

But that’s ancient history, the Sox have momentum now!

Okay, so here’s the 2026 story:

Most importantly, none other than Adam Hackenberg was back for another try, and once again he led the team!! Batted a perfect 1.000. Okay, it was only one at-bat, but that’s not his fault.

Of those with more than 20 official trips this year, the leader was Oliver Dunn, with a 1.128 OPS on a .296/.387/.741 slash line. Of course, he won’t be on the regular season roster, so Austin Hays tops those who will, at 1.056, followed by Luisangel Acuña at 1.004. One can only hope there is some carryover to games that count.

Of note is that among the top Sox hitters this spring is Korey Lee, .289/.426/.526, so naturally he’s being dumped in favor of Reese McGuire for reasons only the incredible White Sox brain trust is smart enough to comprehend.

Chase Meidroth and the various competitors for the fifth outfield spot hit it pretty well. Hitting better than expected were Lenyn Sosa and Andrew Benintendi (though Benintendi K’ed one-third of the time), with Munetaka Murakami doing fine, especially in only K’ing eight times in 29 at-bats, not including WBC time. Edgar Quero did fine, as did prospects William Bergolla Jr., Braden Montgomery, and (especially) Sam Antonacci.

On the uh-oh side, Colson Montgomery whiffed 20 times in 55 at-bats and only walked three times. He did hit three homers, but only had — this is amazingly bad — four RBIs. Final line .182/.224/.345, about where he was a year ago in Charlotte, that had him seemingly heading toward a career in coaching high school ball, until a couple of weeks back in Arizona straightened him out. This time, he’s already in Arizona, so who knows where he’ll have to head.

All in all, early in the spring, when the Sox were winning, they were doing a whole bunch of scoring when it was late in the game, and our-NRIs-vs-your-NRIs. Later, not so much.

Pitchers?

Better not to ask. Let’s just say the sample size is too small and not mention how bad Shane Smith and Anthony Kay looked last time out. The rest of the starters were at least middling, as were many relievers except theoretical-star-of-the-future Grant Taylor and theoretical-star-of-the-now Sean Newcomb.

There is a stat that shows the level of opposition a player faced in the spring; the Baseball-Reference.com version gives 10 points if the batter or pitcher faced was in the majors in 2025, eight if in Triple-A, seven if in Double-A, and so on down the line. Unfortunately, it’s a stat with a problem, since particularly early in the spring, minor league pitchers trying to move up in the ranks are going to be firing their very best stuff unless specifically told not to, and major leaguers secure in their jobs may well experiment with a new pitch or grip or arm angle and work on their worst stuff, not their best. Remember when Jake Peavy went an entire spring start, throwing nothing but change-ups?

So?

So best to look back at the top. Nothing so far matters except Kyle Teel and Mike Vasil getting hurt, especially Vasil, since he’ll be gone into 2027. Not the at-least-mediocre record, alas. But not any bad performances, either.

Let the stuff that goes on their permanent record begin!

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A strong start feels crucial for the 2026 Orioles

SARASOTA, FL - MARCH 04: Baltimore Orioles center fielder Colton Cowser (17) bats during a game against the Houston Astros on March 4, 2026, at Ed Smith Stadium at Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Orioles started the season 3-2 last year before going 18-34 in April and May. Baltimore was all but out of the division race before posting a 16-11 June, and the team’s 13-12 July record failed to prevent a sale at the trade deadline.

They say you can’t win a World Series early in the season, but you can lose your opportunity to compete for one. Baltimore lost their manager, multiple starting pitchers, and any chance at the postseason before school let out for summer. It’s a fate that the 2026 team will do everything in its power to avoid.

Teams can survive a slow start if they turn things on later in the year, but there is a real incentive for this group to hit the ground running. The team added multiple veteran leaders in Pete Alonso, Chris Bassitt and Taylor Ward, but several of Baltimore’s top contributors are younger players lacking in postseason experience.

New skipper Craig Albernaz has made an impact with his “Day One” mantra, but the still (relatively) young core could adapt a “here we go again” type of mindset if they struggle out of the gate. I shouldn’t have to sell you on the importance of winning baseball games, but should we expect it to happen?

Reason for Optimism

One look at the starting rotation should already inspire confidence. Zach Eflin—last year’s Opening Day starter—has dropped to the bottom of the rotation. Trevor Rogers is set to take the ball in Game 1 after pitching at a Cy Young pace for a majority of the last season. Kyle Bradish is back. The team likes the floor and loves the ceiling of trade acquisition Shane Baz, and Chris Bassitt knows how to pitch in the AL East.

This group replaces 30 starts by Tomoyuki Sugano, 22 appearances by Cade Povich, and 23 games from Charlie Morton. Povich and Brandon Young (12 starts in 2025) will look to develop at Norfolk where they’ll be joined by six-year veteran Dean Kremer.

Baltimore optioning Kremer (11-10, 4.19 ERA) to the minors should tell you everything you need to know about this rotation. Kremer posted 2.2 bWAR last season, and the team believes it has at least five starters that give the team a better chance to win. The 30-year-old righty will definitely get a chance to make an impact this season, but his option speaks to the depth that Baltimore has built up for 2026. Kremer, Povich, Young, Tyler Wells, and Albert Suárez could all take the ball while prospects like Trey Gibson work toward a summer promotion.

The starters will hopefully find their way into winnable games thanks to the offensive additions. Pete Alonso will provide protection for Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, and Colton Cowser. A full year of Samuel Basallo and Dylan Beavers should help. Taylor Ward tallied 36 homers last season, and Tyler O’Neill should be able to top his disappointing totals from 2025. The mainstays of the lineup should lighten the burden on players like Cowser, Coby Mayo and Blaze Alexander.

The schedule looks relatively favorable with matchups against the Twins, Rangers, Pirates and White Sox to begin the season.

Cause for Concern

The Orioles infield took a blow when Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg went down with injuries. Holliday is already nearing a return, but hand injuries often make an impact on a player’s ability to hit for power. Westburg is set to miss at least the first month, but there’s a lingering concern that the team will be without the former All Star long term.

Baltimore will count on Mayo and Alexander to fill the void in April. Mayo’s defense will be under a microscope, and Alexander will be asked to fill a larger role than originally anticipated. What happens if the duo fail to meet expectations?

Ryan Helsley will enter the season as the team’s closer, but the bullpen hierarchy still needs ironed out. Andrew Kittredge and Keegan Akin both suffered spring injuries, and Yennier Cano failed to pitch like a high-leverage reliever last season. Albernaz will look to find trustworthy relievers early in the year, but the search could come with consequences if players fail to meet the moment.