Batter pays for poor form since fearless Boxing Day knock in 2024
Brendan Doggett earns spot on 21-man list after Ashes Test debut
Australia’s Ashes-winning players have been rewarded with contracts for a bumper 2026-27 cricket season, but there was no room on the 21-man list for Sam Konstas and Glenn Maxwell.
Paceman Brendan Doggett, who made his full international debut against England in November’s opening Ashes Test in Perth, earned his first national contract, while opener Jake Weatherald, who played all five Tests last summer, retained his upgraded contract despite averaging just 22.33 during the series.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - MARCH 31: Ivan Herrera #48 of the St. Louis Cardinals hits a two-RBI double against the New York Mets in the third inning at Busch Stadium on March 31, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Andre Pallante pitched 5 strong innings and received offensive support from Ivan Herrera, JJ Wetherholt and Ramón Urías as the St. Louis Cardinals shutout the New York Mets 3-0 at Busch Stadium Tuesday night.
It’s hard to overstate how good Andre Pallante looked as his pitches were down with great movement as he only allowed 3 hits over 5 innings. Kodai Senga was impressive for the Mets, but the Cardinals got all the runs they needed in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Ivan Herrera found his swing and drove in JJ Wetherholt and Victor Scott II who both had 2 hits Tuesday night.
The Cardinals had a few defensive gems, too, with Masyn Winn helping Pallante get out of a 5th inning jam when the Mets had runners on 1st and 3rd with only one out when he was able to double up the Mets when he snagged a line drive and rifled the ball back to first.
The Cardinals added an insurance run in the bottom of the 7th when Ramón Urías crushed a 403 foot home run into the left field stands.
The St. Louis Cardinals bullpen was solid tonight as Andre Pallante was supported by Gordon Graceffo who was just called up from Memphis in place of Matt Pushard who was sent to the IL. Ryan Stanek and JoJo Romero kept the Mets off the scoreboard and Riley O’Brien closed out the game in the 9th. The Cardinals are now 3-2 on the season and will try to take the series against the Mets in a Wednesday afternoon game at Busch Stadium starting at 12:15pm . Matthew Liberatore is expected to get his second start of the season while Freddy Peralta is expected to take the mound for the Mets.
Mar 31, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Shane McClanahan (18) delivers a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
It has been a long time since we’ve seen a start from Shane McClanahan. Since August 2, 2023, in fact. But the former All-Star has dealt with bad hand after bad hand in terms of injury, and his path back to the majors hasn’t been an easy one. Tonight, all eyes were on the mound as McClanahan made his triumphant return to the bump, and everyone wanted to see if he still had the same goods he once did. Meanwhile, much has been made of the Brewers’ offseat efforts to bolster their rotation, potentially at the hindrance of other positions (Gary Sanchez taking reps at first? What is this, Moneyball?) It would be an interesting outing to test McClanahan’s mettle. The Brewers, meanwhile, had Brandon Woodruff, who was reliable and efficient in 12 games for the Brewers last year after also missing the enitre 2024 season due to injury.
The Rays wasted little time getting on the board, as Jonathan Aranda hit a one-out home run.
The ABS system then turned around and bit the Rays a little as catcher William Contreras challenged a call and it was overturned, ultimately resulting in Junior Caminero striking out. The Rays would need to settle for the one run as they turned things over to McClanahan and his big moment. Shane didn’t miss a beat, looking like he’d never left his role as an All-Star starter, someone the Rays believed in enough to let him debut in the postseason. He took the Brewers out in order in the home half.
In the top of the second the Rays went 1-2-3. Heading into the bottom of the inning, McClanahan had his first wobble, giving up a one-out walk to Gary Sanchez. He got right back in the swing of it, though, getting the next two outs to end the inning.
Heading into the top of the third, Chandler Simpson challenged a strike call and lost, but then singled to get on base anyway. With one out, Simpson stole second, but two outs followed to leave the baserunner stranded. Nice to see Simpson already in midseason form with the basepath hustle, though. Bottom of the third and the Brewers once again went three-up, three-down.
After nearly putting two Brewers players into the dugout chasing down a high pop-up in foul territory, Caminero hit a single to kick off the fourth. RIP Junior Caminero’s bat. Alas, three outs then followed, once again leaving a baserunner stranded. Thankfully, McClanahan continued to show excellent command in the bottom of the fourth, getting through the Brewers in order.
Nick Fortes decided to lend his starting pitcher a hand in the top of the fifth with a leadoff home run to put the Rays up 2-0. Three outs followed, but we love a man who recognizes the necessity of insurance runs.
In the bottom of the fourth, Gary Sanchez took a leadoff walk, his second walk of the night. With one out, Brandon Lockridge singled, and from that point, McClanahan kind of lost his mojo. Joey Ortiz walked, and then Brice Turang singled. Gary Sanchez got home, but Turang had been caught in a rundown and there was some contention over whether or not Turang actually got tagged out at second. After a review, it was ruled that Turang was safe at second keeping the inning going and probably taking three years off Kevin Cash’s life. The Rays all had to return to the field because everyone had assumed it was an out. The safe call also meant that a run across home by Ortiz after the tagout was now a scoring run, putting the Brewers in the lead. McClanahan’s night was also done. His final line was 4 2/3 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER (Ortiz was counted as an error to Cedric Mullins), 3 BB, 4 K on 79 innings. Not how you’d like to see a really solid start from McClanahan end, but overall there was plenty to like from his return. Cole Sulser came out of the pen to get the final out of the inning.
Woodruff’s night was also done after five innings, as Jared Koenig came out of the Brewers’ pen. Jake Fraley got a two-out single, but the Rays couldn’t capitalize on the baserunner once again. Things just got worse in the bottom of the inning as Gary “Still Not a Good First Base Choice” Sanchez hit a solo home run to center to extend the Brewers’ lead to 4-2. Jake Bauers then singled, and stole second. Lockridge hit a long double to score Bauers. Sal Frelick singled to put runners on the corners. Sulser did finally manage to get out of the inning but the Brewers were up 5-2.
Grant Anderson was in next for the Brewers in the seventh. With two outs, Simpson legged out a strong triple, but it wasn’t enough to give the Rays the edge, as a strikeout then ended the inning. In the home half, Yoendrys Gómez came in and gave up a leadoff walk to Turang. Turang then stole second. Gomez got two outs then intentionally walked Christian Yelich. Despite an attempt from the Brewers to challenge a stike call, the call on the field was upheld to strike out a pinch-hitting Garrett Mitchell and end the inning. No additional damage done despite having two runners aboard.
Abner Uribe came in for the Brewers in the top of the eighth. He gave up a two-out walk to Caminero. Fraley then singled to put runners on the corners. The Rays brought in Richie Palacios to pinch-hit, and he pinch flied-out instead. Things didn’t get much better in the home half when Jake Bauers hit a leadoff home run. Three outs followed, but the damage was really done by that point.
Angel Zerpa was the next Brewers pitcher up in the ninth, hoping to finish things off. He got the first two outs, but a pinch-hitting Ryan Vilade got a walk. It wasn’t enough for the Rays to stage a comeback, though, and the final out came around to end the inning.
Kodai Sengastruck out nine batters while throwing a hard fastball, but the Mets managed just three hits in a 3-0 loss to the Cardinals on Tuesday night in St. Louis.
New York (3-2) batters did manage four walks, but left six men on base and went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. St. Louis (3-2) faired slightly better with six hits and four walks but was held to 2-for-11 with RISP and left seven on base.
Here are the takeaways...
- Senga burned in 98 mph fastballs with his first two pitches of the game, a big jump from last season when his average heater clocked in at 94.7 mph. Senga got into some trouble with a leadoff single and walk sandwiching a strikeout on the "ghost" fork, but avoided any damage as he deftly fielded his position on MasynWinn’s bunt attempt and made a funky-but-on-target throw to third.
There were more heaters in the second, as Senga blew 99 mph fastballs past Jordan Walker and Nathan Church and a 98 mph one past Ramon Urias to strikeout the side on 13 pitches.
A couple of mistakes from Luis Robert Jr. put Senga in a pickle in the third. The centerfielder misjudged a liner for a double over his head, and on JJ Wetherholt’s sharp single, threw all the way home, and two were in scoring position. The extra base proved costly as Iván Herrera smoked a hanging slider (107.4 mph) for a two-run double off the wall in left.
After an eight-pitch 1-2-3 fourth with another strikeout, Senga issued back-to-back two-out walks, the first involved Herrera winning two challenges on balls well out of the zone that umpire Hunter Wendelstedt called strikes. Pinching coach Justin Willard's visit worked as he notched a scoreless, 26-pitch frame.
Senga closed his account by striking out the side, two swinging and one looking. His final line: 6.0 innings, two runs on four hits and three walks with nine strikeouts on 92 pitches (56 strikes). He got 16 whiffs on 46 swings and posted a 28.3 called strike plus whiff rate. For the night, he averaged 97.4 mph on his 36 fastballs (up 2.7 mph from last season), and that velocity stayed consistent through the night, with his last pitch being a 98 mph heater.
- Juan Soto ripped a 3-2 pitch into center for a single with one down in the first (110.8 mph off the bat), and started the sixth by smashing a low fastball off the wall in right for a double (109.3 mph) against Cards’ starter Andre Pallante. He went down swinging in the eighth to finish 2-for-4.
- Robert Jr., looking to atone for his defensive miscues, hit the ball hard with runners on first and second and nobody out in the sixth against reliever GordonGraceffo, but it went for a 374-foot out to center. He finished 0-for-3 with a walk.
- Jared Young had an RBI chance in his first at-bat with runners on first and second and two outs in the first, but he struck out swinging on three pitches. After singling up the middle with one out in the fourth, he got another RBI chance with runners on the corners in the sixth, but his soft liner turned into an inning-ending double play as Bo Bichette was cut down at first on a strong throw from Winn. He finished 1-for-4.
- Francisco Lindor worked his sixth walk of the young season with one out in the third but finished 0-for-3 with three groundouts.
- Bichette, with a runner on second, grounded out to third on a 3-0 hack to end the third. He went 0-for-3 with a walk and has started the year 2-for-22.
- Marcus Semien went down swinging on a slider in the dirt in his first at-bat. He finished 0-for-2 with a walk, as he’s struggled at the plate to start the year (2-for-16).
- Carson Benge, who had two hits on Monday, grounded out to short in each of his first two times and struck out swinging to finish 0-for-3.
- Luis Torrens made his first impact behind the plate with an apt challenge leading to a strikeout to start the bottom of the second. He went down swinging his first at-bat and drove one to the gap in left center, but Church ran it down. Torrens finished 0-for-2 as Francisco Alvarez pinch-hit for him in the seventh and flied out to the warning track in right-center to end the inning. Alvarez is now 0-for-27 as a pinch-hitter in his career.
- Mark Vientos made his first start of the season as the DH after getting just one at-bat in the first four games and went 0-for-2 before being lifted for a pinch-hitter to start the seventh, with Brett Baty grounding out to first in his spot against ex-Met Ryne Stanek. Baty bounced out to end the game, going 0-for-2.
- Richard Lovelady allowed a home run to Ramon Urias on a sweeper to start the seventh. A single and one-out intentional walk put two more on, but he escaped without any further damage, thanks to Young making a great diving stop on a smashed ball down the first base line that would've gone for extra bases. Lovelady, pitching for the third time in four days, added a 1-2-3 eighth with a second strikeout of the night.
The Mets look to grab the series in Wednesday's matinee with Freddy Peralta making his second start against Cardinals left-hander Matthew Liberatore in the 1:15 p.m. start on SNY.
Hayden Cantrelle | Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Cubs have released a ton of players over the weekend as they clear the rosters and we prepare for the start of the rest of the minor league season. I hope I’m getting all of them here.
RHP Tyler Beede
RHP Walker Powell
RHP Ben Heller
RHP Dominic Hambley
RHP Joel Sierra
RHP Ronny Lopez
RHP Sam Thoresen
RHP Nick Hull
RHP Edward Castillo
LHP Chase Watkins
OF Parker Chavers
SS Christopher Paciolla
SS Jaylen Palmer
3B Albert Gutierrez
There were also a few players released who never made it out of the Dominican Summer League, RHP Johansel Javier and LHP Darlin Ventura.
For only the third time in his career, Riley Martin got the start tonight. Martin pitched well, allowing just one run on three hits over three innings. He struck out three and walked two. The one run came on a solo home run by JJ Bleday, as the ball was flying out of Louisville Slugger Field. Somewhat appropriately.
Vince Velazquez threw the next three innings and he got knocked around for four runs, three earned, on two hits over three innings. Velazquez walked three, struck out two and gave up a solo home run.
Collin Snider came in to get the final out of the eighth inning and he did that, striking out Garrett Hampson. But after the Cubs took a 7-5 lead in the top of the ninth, Snider got rocked in the bottom of the ninth. He allowed a two-run home run to Edwin Arroyo and a walk-off solo home run to Rece Hinds.
The final line on Snider was three runs on three hits over two-thirds of an inning. He struck out two
Third baseman Hayden Cantrelle hit a two-run home run in the top of the ninth to give Iowa a temporary lead. Cantrelle went 3 for 4 with a double, the home run and three total RBI. Cantrelle also stole two bases. He scored twice.
Left fielder Justin Dean led off the top of the first inning with a home run to put Iowa up early. Dean went 1 for 3 with two walks.
Later in the first inning, right fielder Kevin Alcántara hit a solo home run, his second on the young season. Alcántara went 2 for 4 with a double and the homer. He scored twice.
Center fielder Chas McCormick was 2 for 4 with a run batted in.
Catcher Christian Bethancourt went 2 for 4 with a double. He scored on Cantrelle’s home run in the top of the ninth.
Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson knocked a two-run ground rule double against the Atlanta Braves in the second inning at Truist Park. | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The Athletics continued their interleague series with the Braves today at Truist Park in Atlanta. Making his first official start of the season for the A’s was 30-year-old righty Aaron Civale. He was 4-9 with a 4.85 ERA last season for three MLB ball clubs. Civale matched up against 28-year-old lefty José Suarez for the Braves. Suarez just pitched in nineteen innings for the Braves last season, going 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA.
After a quiet top of the first inning, the Braves got on the board first when reigning National League R-O-Y Drake Baldwin knocked his third homer of the year to give the Braves a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the second, Brent Rooker led off with a single but was erased on a double play ball by Soderstrom. Max Muncy walked and advanced to second on a balk and scored on a single by Andy Ibáñez. Lawrence Butler and Denzel Clarke each walked and Jacob Wislon hit a ground rule double to drive in two.
Max Muncy doubled to lead off the fourth inning. Andy Ibáñez drove in his second run of the game with a base hit. Headed to the bottom of the fourth, the A’s led 4-1.
Shea Langeliers knocked his fourth homer of the year against the team that drafted him to bring the score to 5-1 for the A’s.
In the bottom of the sixth, Hogan Harris replaced Aaron Civale. Civale’s final line:
5.0 innings, two earned runs, four hits and one walk. He struck out three.
Harris flirted with disaster walking the first two Braves of the inning but buckled down and escaped unharmed.
Denzel Clarke ripped a single into right centerfield, and then Jacob Wilson shocked the stadium with a bunt single down the first base line. Shea Langeliers ground into a double play, erasing Wilson but moving Clarke to third with two outs. Kurtz flied out to left field to end the threat.
Justin Sterner replaced Harris in the bottom of the seventh, he walked Dominic Smith and then Mauricio Dubón reached on a throwing error by Max Muncy. That brought up Ronald Acuña Jr. who struck out swinging.
Scott Barlow replaced Sterner in the eighth. This was his third appearance in the kelly-green and gold. He tossed a 1-2-3 inning to get the A’s to the ninth.
Mark Leiter Jr. was brought in to shut the Braves down in the ninth. It would be his first save opportunity of the year. He didn’t make it easy on himself, but in the end, he struck out former MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. and got Drake Baldwin to pop out to end the game. The A’s first victory of the season came at the expense of the Atlanta Braves, 5-2.
The A’s go for the series win tomorrow at 9:15 AM PDT.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Chase DeLauter #24 and Steven Kwan #38 of the Cleveland Guardians embrace after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on March 30, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Let’s see if Jose can get back on track tonight, huh?
CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 28: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball as Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers plays defense during the game on January 28, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
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Dealing with a busted bracket?
The Sweet 16 is almost here – who’s still alive? We’re reviewing the week that was in the first week of the NCAA tournament and turning our focus to remaining teams. How bad (or good!) is your bracket? Join us in the SB Nation March Madness Feed and let’s talk about who’s most likely to make a run to glory.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors looks on against the Washington Wizards in the fourth quarter at Chase Center on March 27, 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Before Draymond Green was the defensive anchor of a dynasty, he was a scouting report outlier.
The 2012 draft profile reads like a eulogy for a young player trying to find his way into the league “Lacks the ideal size to play power forward. Lacks the quickness to play on the wing. Does not have a go-to move in the post.” The kindest thing the scout could offer was that his intangibles “might allow him to succeed as a role player in the NBA.” Thirty-five players went off the board before him.
That document is now a collector’s item of catastrophic misjudgment.
With Draymond sitting just 10 rebounds away from tying Larry Smith’s 6440 boards for third on the Warriors’ all-time rebounding list, it’s worth stopping and actually saying that out loud. Third in franchise history is CRAZY.
Good Lord willing, soon Green will only be behind Nate Thurmond at 12,771 and Wilt Chamberlain at 10,768. Wilt freakin’ Chamberlain, who once averaged 27 rebounds per game for an entire season. Green, the tweener from Saginaw who wasn’t supposed to guard small forwards or power forwards at the next level, is 11 pulls from the glass away from passing Larry Smith and sitting alone behind two of the most physically dominant players the sport has ever produced.
The beautiful irony is that Draymond got there by being exactly what the scouts said he wasn’t. Not through length nor vertical pop. He did it through positioning, anticipation, timing, and a refusal to let a basketball hit the floor without a fight. Every rebound feels like a closing argument against every front office that thought he had no true position, no clean fit, and no obvious future. You can’t measure his tremendous work ethic, superb positioning after the shot is released, and feel for the game that only got sharper once the stakes got higher.
Skip Bayless says Draymond Green is a first-ballot hall of fame player
“This is the crazy thing about this man. He has averaged for his career 9 points 7 rebounds and 6 assist. And he is a first-ballot hall of famer. So think about that but has that ever. I’m not blowing smoke… pic.twitter.com/rSKY7m2Uai
And that is what made him so indispensable. Draymond didn’t just complement the dynasty, he was the unlock mechanism. The Splash Brothers needed someone who could defend every position, push the break, organize the chaos, and make the next read before the defense knew the question. He is the connective tissue, the player who took all the hard, unglamorous work and turned it into structural advantage. The Warriors don’t win four titles without Stephen Curry bending the geometry of the sport. They also don’t win them without Draymond Green solving the puzzle of how to build around that kind of genius.
Wait, speaking of Curry…wait Unanimous sits eighth on this same list at 4,957 rebounds?!
In case anyone needed a reminder, the greatest point guard in basketball history has been quietly pulling down boards for over a decade and a half while we were all watching him break our brains from 35 feet. The man shows up everywhere in the Warriors record book and still somehow manages to surprise you.
But this particular moment belongs to Draymond. Ten rebounds from tying history, eleven from owning it outright. The scouting report said he does several things well but nothing great.
MIAMI (AP) — Griffin Conine hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning, and the Miami Marlins scored four runs in the fourth in a 9-2 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night.
The Marlins, who were hitless in the first three innings, got their first hit in the fourth when Xavier Edwards singled off starter Erick Fedde (0-1). Agustín Ramírez doubled, then Liam Hicks sent them both home with a hit deep down the first baseline. Hicks leads MLB with eight RBIs this season.
Center fielder Luisangel Acuña committed two errors moments apart on throws to home. The first came on Owen Caissie’s single that drove in Hicks, and then on Heriberto Hernández’s single that sent Caissie home and gave Miami a 4-2 lead.
Fedde threw 80 pitches over five innings, earned four strikeouts, three runs and a walk.
With Hernández on third, Graham Pauley bunted. Relief pitcher Bryan Hudson overthrew the throw to home, giving the Marlins their fifth run. Conine and Hicks scored on sacrifice flies in the seventh and eighth.
Munetaka Murakami singled to drive in Edgar Quero, and Andrew Benintendi hit a line drive to right field to bring Acuña home and give the White Sox a 2-0 lead in the second.
Anthony Bender (1-0) pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings with a strikeout and a walk. Marlins starter Janson Junk allowed two runs and five hits with five strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.
Up next
Chicago's Sandy Alcantara (1-0, 0.00 ERA) starts against Shane Smith (0-1, 16.20) in the series finale Wednesday.
For the second consecutive year, the Los Angeles Lakers will finish the regular season atop the Pacific Division.
The Lakers (49-26) clinched a playoff spot and the division title before their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night even tipped off, thanks to the Phoenix Suns' 115-111 loss to the Orlando Magic earlier.
While the Lakers have historically dominated the Pacific with 26 titles since the division was established in 1970-71, their current run of two straight since the arrival of head coach JJ Redick snapped a dry spell that began after their NBA championship run in 2019-20.
The red-hot Lakers — winners of 11 of their last 17 — currently sit as the third seed in the West after Monday, one game ahead of the fourth-place Denver Nuggets and three games ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets. And with their postseason spot now in hand, LA could have a chance to cement their claim at the third spot with wins over the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Suns and Utah Jazz.
Los Angeles, CA - March 30: Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) smiles while standing next to teammate Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Kyle Tucker (23) as they receive Silver Slugger awards prior to the start of a MLB game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cleveland Guardians at Dodger Stadium on Monday, March 30, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Ronaldo Bolaños/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MARCH 31: Ezequiel Duran #20 of the Texas Rangers celebrates his solo home with Brandon Nimmo #24 in the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on March 31, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Bill Streicher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Orioles were forced to turn to their bullpen early Tuesday night, which ended in disaster as the Rangers scored seven runs against the pen to down the O’s 8-5.
After starter Zach Eflin left with two outs in the 4th, the Orioles’ pen began a rollercoaster ride that had way more downs than ups. Lefty Grant Wolfram kicked off the 5th by allowing an opposite-field single to Brandon Nimmo. Outfielder Wyatt Langford then turned on a sinker left over the plate, lacing it into the left-center gap. After the ball wedged under the outfield wall padding, Langford ended up on third and Nimmo raced home to score, giving Texas a 2-1 lead.
In a left-on-left matchup against Corey Seager, the two-time World Series MVP slashed a Wolfram sinker into center, with the single just evading the sliding catch attempt of Colton Cowser, allowing Langford to scamper home. The left-handed reliever would avoid any other damage that inning, but his efforts set the unfortunate tone for the bullpen.
The Baltimore bats did their best to try to keep the Orioles in the game. Trailing 1-0 in the 4th, Pete Alonso launched his first home run as an Oriole, turning on the fastball of former teammate Jacob deGrom and depositing the baseball in the Orioles’ bullpen.
Down 3-1 in the 5th, the offense again came through, using a two-out rally to tie the game at three. Blaze Alexander kicked off the rally by flipping a deGrom slider into right field for a single. Taylor Ward then extended the inning by hitting a high chop to deep shortstop for an infield.
After homering on Monday night, Gunnar Henderson came through with another big hit to tie the game. The star shortstop attacked a fastball up and away, sending a towering fly over the head of Langford in left, ricocheting off the wall for a two-run double that tied things at three.
Those efforts proved futile as the relievers couldn’t keep the Rangers off the scoreboard. With the game tied 3-3, Yennier Cano entered in the 6th. The former All-Star gave up a one-out double to Evan Carter, who then moved to third on a groundout. Cano looked to end the threat unscathed against Nimmo, but the Texas leadoff man smacked a broken-bat single into center field to give the Rangers a 4-3 lead.
Things only got worse when Yaramil Hiraldo entered in the 7th. The already much-maligned Hiraldo didn’t help his popularity in Birdland when he gave up a leadoff walk to Seager and a flair single to Jake Burger. His popularity cratered three batters later when he gave up a two-out, three-run homer to Texas catcher Danny Jansen. The longball finally crushed the Orioles’ hopes Tuesday, putting them down 7-3.
Popular rookie Anthony Nunes pitched the last two innings, picking up two strikeouts but allowing his first run in the majors on a solo HR off the bat of Seager. Across four relievers, the bullpen combined line of 5.1 IP, 9 H, 7 ER, 1 BB and 4 K.
A desperate, 9th-inning comeback attempt fell short but made the scoreline look more acceptable. Against the oldest active MLB reliever, Chris Martin, Tyler O’Neill started the inning with an HBP and moved to second on a Colton Cowser Single. After two quick outs from Jeremiah Jackson and Alexander, Ward doubled into the left-center gap to clear the bases and give the O’s some consolation runs. With the tying run on deck in the form of Pete Alonso, Gunnar Henderson grounded out to second to seal the loss.
Adding injury to insult was the injury to the O’s No.5 starter, Eflin. Making his first start of 2026, the 31-year-old right-hander looked really sharp early in the game. After giving up a flyout to the warning track to lead off the 1st, Eflin punched out Wyatt Langford on a sinker at the knees and struck out Corey Seager on an excellent changeup away.
Normally known as a control guy who pitches to contact, Eflin had swing-and-miss stuff throughout the first three innings. He started out the 2nd by striking out Jake Burger on a changeup down and away before getting the second out on a perfectly thrown back-foot sweeper.
After working out of a two-on, two-out jam in the 2nd, Eflin gave up his only run of the evening in the 3rd. Against Rangers No.9 Ezequiel Durán, an 0-1 sweeper caught too much of the plate, and the Texas infielder launched the ball over the left field wall for a solo HR. The blemish didn’t bother Eflin, however, as he bounced back by punching out Brandon Nimmo on a sinker on the inside corner. He then punctuated the 3rd with a backwards K of Burger, dropping a CB right over the outside corner.
The veteran right-hander started off the 4th with his seventh punchout of the night, getting Joc Pederson to swing through a 3-2 changeup away. From there, things started to go downhill for Eflin. With two outs, Jansen hooked a ground ball down the left field line for a double. Eflin then walked Carter to give the Rangers a two-on, two-out opportunity.
The Orioles righty threw one pitch to Duran, a curveball that didn’t come close to the zone, and then signaled for the trainer to take him out of the game. After Grant Wolfram came in and finished the inning, Eflin’s line closed at 3.2 IP on 74 pitches, with 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB and 7 K. Later in Tuesday night’s broadcast, Kevin Brown reported that Eflin left with “right elbow discomfort.”
Despite the frustration that comes with the loss, it was a great day at the plate for some of the newest Orioles. Alonso had the home run and a single off fellow former Met deGrom. The ninth-inning double from Ward was his fourth base knock of the game, giving him the first four-hit game of his MLB career.
Ace Trevor Rogers will return to the mound tomorrow to try and salvage the final game of the series against the Rangers. First pitch is scheduled for 12:35pm ET.
Mar 31, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) shoots against Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) during the first quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images | Mike Watters-Imagn Images
The Phoenix Suns lost to the Orlando Magic 115-111 on Tuesday. Devin Booker led the Suns with 34 points, but Collin Gillespie was the only other Suns starter to score in double digits. The Suns struggled to shoot from both the field and from three. While the Magic had 25 turnovers, the Suns had 20. The team’s two-game losing streak has been snapped.
Phoenix trailed for the majority of the contest, not taking their first lead until early in the fourth quarter. However, on the second night of a back-to-back, the Suns’ offense went cold down the stretch, going more than five minutes without hitting a field goal late. To start and end the game, Phoenix had trouble executing offensively.
Now 42-34 on the year, it’s looking more and more likely the Suns will be in the play-in. The question is will be it as the 8th or 7th seed. Their lead over the Clippers is now just 2.5 games.
Game Flow
First Half
It was a tepid start for the Suns. Technical fouls were flying for both teams and the Suns had just two made field goals in the first 5;35 of the game. Orlando was up 20-8 about halfway through the first. Phoenix was able to cut the lead down to single digits, going on an 8-0 run to end the quarter. It was 28-21 Orlando after the first quarter.
The Magic pushed the lead back to double digits early in the second with a 5-0 run. Phoenix started to creep back around the midway point of the quarter. Jordan Goodwin had an impactful four-point play that cut the deficit to five.
Want to know how Dillon brooks is back? He picked up four fouls in the first half and had to be subbed out less midway through the second because of his foul troubles.
When the Suns cut the lead down to a one-possession score, Orlando responded with a 9-0 run. For the rest of the half, Orlando had a sizable lead Phoenix just couldn’t crack too deeply into. At the half, the Suns trailed the Magic 70-56.
Second Half
To start the third quarter, Phoenix quickly cut their second half lead in half and more some. An 11-2 run prompted an early Orlando timeout, and the Suns pushed the game into a one-score contest at 80-77. Jordan Goodwin was flying all over the court. With Brooks in foul trouble, Goodwin anchored Phoenix’s defense.
The Orlando lead hovered around five points. Phoenix struggled to retake the lead. When Phoenix cut it to two with less than two minutes left in the third, Desmond Bane hit a straightaway triple. It was the perfect depiction of how the final six minutes of the third went until the end. A quick 8-0 run by the Suns to end the third tied the game up at 94 heading into the fourth.
Phoenix’s first lead of the game came early in the fourth quarter, with a Rasheer Fleming slam. The game went back and forth. Neither team was able to build more than a possession lead. Both offenses started to slow down their paces. Grayson Allen started to find a bit of a rhythm after a rough start to the game.
Down 109-107 with 4:08 left, Jordan Ott and company called a timeout. Both team’s offenses remained static and couldn’t generate baskets or good looks. Down the stretch, Phoenix’s offense especially struggled. They went over five minutes without making a field goal which ended up being their kryptonite and ending their two-game win streak.
Up Next
The Suns will face the Hornets on Thursday for their third game in four nights and their third game of their four-game road trip. Phoenix beat Charlotte 111-99 last month back in Arizona.
Mar 31, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Jose Suarez (54) throws against the Athletics in the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Looking for another series win, the Braves had Jose Suarez on the mound facing the A’s and Aaron Civale.
Things started nicely for Atlanta and for Suarez, as Jose struck out two of the 3 A’s he faced in the first. Drake Baldwin continued his torrid hitting to start the season with a first inning homer to right center, giving Atlanta a 1-0 lead. Olson notched an opposite field single, but that was the extent of the offensive output in the first.
Baldwin's third homer of the season came off the bat at 105.4 mph. That is the fifth ball he has hit 100 mph or harder this year. Yandy Diaz entered today leading MLB with 9 balls hit 100-plus mph. Michael Harris II was one of 14 MLB players with at least six such exit velos. pic.twitter.com/chpbRPy9xD
Jose allowed some traffic in the second, as he allowed a leadoff single and induced a double play before a walk, a balk, and a single allowed the A’s to level the game up at 1 run. Suarez continued to struggle, issuing two more walks to load the bases with two outs. A ground rule double brought home two more runs for the A’s, as Suarez was lucky it bounced over the fence, sparing a third run from scoring on the play. Suarez was able to limit the damage with a strikeout of former Braves’ prospect Shea Langeliers, but that second inning is exactly the fear when starting a guy like Suarez, even as it didn’t involve any homers.
After three groundouts from Atlanta in the home second, Suarez came back with another two strikeouts and another scoreless inning. The A’s offense broke through again in the fourth with a double and a single to go up 4-1. Suarez got two more outs to finish his second time through the Athletics’ order before Weiss wisely pulled the plug before allowing him to face the top of the order again. Joel Payamps was the first pitcher out of the bullpen and extinguished the threat in a couple pitches. Suarez issued more walks than you would want in a 3.2 inning outing, but he did also miss more bats than you would expect for his profile, accumulating 6 strikeouts and 9 whiffs. After another hapless inning on offense against Civale, Payamps came out and left a sweeper center and up in the zone to Langeliers who yanked it just inside of the left field foul pole for a solo homer, putting Atlanta in a 5-1 hole. Payamps then struck out Kurtz and Rooker before he was pulled for Martin Perez. Perez finished the inning with a strikeout of Tyler Soderstrom.
The Braves clawed a run back with singles from Dominic Smith and Mauricio Dubon and a sac fly from Ronald Acuna. Perez worked a clean sixth on three contact outs. Back to back walks from Austin and Yaz presented an opportunity for Atlanta in the sixth with one out, but righty Ozzie and Michael Harris were unable to convert the opportunity. A line drive single and a bunt single spelled trouble for Martin Perez in the seventh, but a double play and a flyout got him out of the inning.
A walk and an error put two runners on with no outs in the bottom of the seventh for the top of the Atlanta order. Ronald struck out, as he continues to scuffle to start the season, at least in terms of results. Baldwin hit a ball well but it turned into an out and Matt Olson struck out ending the threat and keeping the score at 5-2 going into the eighth. Perez worked another scoreless inning on three contact outs, making for a very efficient 4.1 inning outing with no runs, 6 whiffs, and 3 strikeouts.
The Braves didn’t lie down without a fight in the bottom of the ninth, as singles from Harris and Dubon put the tying run at the plate with one out and Ronald Acuna at the plate as well as Drake Baldwin on deck. Ronald had a pretty brutal at-bat to strike out, handing the keys to the game over to Drake, who got under one and popped up to second base, ending the game.
Join us again for a getaway game at 12:15 PM ET with Chris Sale on the mound to decide the series.
