BALTIMORE, MD - MARCH 26: Jeremiah Jackson #82 and Jackson Holliday #7 of the Baltimore Orioles talk before the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Thursday, March 26, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning Birdland,
For a while anyway, last night’s game felt like one the Orioles were destined to win. Vibes were off the charts. Their manager, Craig Albernaz, was sitting in the dugout despite breaking a whole bunch of bones in his face the previous night. Staff ace, Trevor Rogers, was on the mound and sporting a ridiculous home record since the start of 2025. And the entire fan base was still beaming after the team’s ridiculous come back win on Monday.
And the game even got off to a good start! Samuel Basallo homered in the second inning. A bases loaded walk for Leody Taveras in the third inning doubled the advantage. And Jeremiah Jackson led off the fourth inning with a two-bagger, setting the stage for another insurance run.
Things went off the rails shortly thereafter.
Jackson moved to third on a sac bunt, and was then inexplicably picked off by old friend James McCann. What was he doing!? He had simply ventured too far down the third base line, and McCann nabbed him. Even worse, the lineup had just turned over. Gunnar Henderson was at the plate. Putting yourself at any sort of risk of being picked off at third base in that scenario is inexcusable.
Then Rogers struggled in the top of the fifth, coughing up a four spot, including a three-run homer. Albernaz would have to yank him before the inning was out.
Fortunately, the bullpen was great again. Rico Garcia, Grant Wolfram, Yennier Cano, and Nick Raquet (with some defensive help from Colton Cowser) combined for 4.1 scoreless innings and gave the lineup a chance to claw back.
But it wasn’t to be. They did score once more in the eighth inning, and even loaded the bases for Jackson. But he was unable to duplicate his grand performance from the night prior. Instead, he grounded out, and the Orioles fell to 9-8 on the season.
Elsewhere in the AL East:
The Yankees lost 7-1 to the Angels.
The Red Sox lost 6-0 to the Twins.
The Rays beat the White Sox 8-5.
The Blue Jays beat the Brewers 9-7
It’s a quick turnaround today. First pitch for the rubber match is set for 12:35 from Camden Yards.
Links
With 7 cheek fractures and broken jaw, O’s manager Albernaz back at work | Orioles.com I’m glad Albernaz, for the most part, is OK. He told reporters that he does not need surgery, and that he did not suffer a concussion. His diet is going to be a bummer for a while. Apparently all he gets is soft food and smoothies for the next six weeks. It could be worse! Now, please, Craig, let’s stand behind that big net in front of the dugout next time.
Hard to predict what’s happening with Orioles again in 2026 | Roch Kubatko The number of injuries early in the season has, to me, transformed what success looks like for the Orioles at the moment. The overall goal for the season hasn’t changed. They still need to make the playoffs and win some games once in. But for now, they simply need to survive and keep their head above water. Get guys like Adley Rutschman, Jackson Holliday, and Tyler O’Neill healthy. Reestablish some depth in the lineup. If that means going .500 for a bit, that feels OK.
Holliday sidelined from rehab assignment due to sore wrist | MLB.com Speaking of Holliday, he isn’t ready just yet. This isn’t necessarily a surprise. The guy didn’t get a spring training, and he is recovering from an injury. His rehab assignment was always going to be a bit longer than typical. Getting him back in the lineup by early May feels like the goal at this point.
Chris Tillman turns 38 today. The righty came to Baltimore in the Adam Jones/Erik Bedard trade ahead of the 2008 season, and would become a crucial member of the 2010s teams that returned the organization to relevance. Tillman debuted in 2009 as a 21-year-old, and then spent a decade with the Orioles. Eventually, he would rise to be the staff ace, make three Opening Day starts, and earn an all-star nod in 2013.
Michael Aubrey is 44. He played in 31 games for the 2009 Orioles, mostly as a first baseman.
This day in O’s history
1954 – For the first time since 1902, a big league team returns to Baltimore. The Orioles, recently arrived from St. Louis as the Browns, beat the White Sox 3-1 in their debut game at Memorial Stadium.
1987 – The Orioles get no-hit by Milwaukee Brewers hurler Juan Nieves, the first no-no in Brewers history.
2000 – Cal Ripken Jr. records the 3,000 hit of his career, ripping a single off of Twins pitcher Hector Carrasco. Ripken is the 24th major leaguer to reach the milestone, and is only the seventh player to pair that achievement with 400 career home runs,.
Apr 14, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies infielder Bryson Stott (5) turns a double play against the Chicago Cubs in the second inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Interesting decision last night by the official scorer when he assigned an error to Bryson Stott instead of Tim Mayza in the sixth inning. A low throw by Mayza was probably supposed to be caught by Stott, which is likely why they charged it to Stott in the first place, but that felt a little tough. I’d bet we see that changed in the coming days.
Free of charge for the discerning reader.Happy birthday toKing Cole and a mighty host of others, plus more baseball stories, like the Babe turning into THE Babe, Jackie Robinson debut, Hank’s first hit, and California baseball.
Today in baseball history:
1911 – At the age of 24, Grover Cleveland Alexander makes his major league debut, losing a 5-4 decision to the Rustlers on an unearned run in the tenth inning at Boston’s South End Grounds.
2009 – Ian Kinsler of the Texas Rangers goes 6 for 6 and hits for the cycle in a 19 – 6 win over the Baltimore Orioles. It had been 119 years since Farmer Weaver had been the last big leaguer to go 6 for 6 and hit for the cycle in a nine-inning game.
1493 –Christopher Columbus is received by the Spanish monarchs Isabella I and Ferdinand II in Barcelona upon his return from the New World. Columbus presents kidnapped Taínos indigenous people, plants and items collected from the Caribbean.
1862 – American poet Emily Dickinson first corresponds with author and future literary mentor Thomas Wentworth Higginson, a relationship that lasts the rest of her life.
1877 – World’s first home telephone is installed in Somerville, Massachusetts at the house of Charles Williams Jr.
1892 – General Electric Company formed by merger of Thomas Edison‘s General Electric Company with Thomson-Houston Electric Company, arranged by J. P. Morgan and incorporated in NY.
1948 – F. H. Thornton observes a flash of light in crater Plato on the Moon.
1955 – Ray Kroc opens the first McDonald’s Inc. fast food restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois.
2010 -Volcanic ash from the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland leads to the closure of airspace over most of Europe.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - DECEMBER 29: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center on December 29, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s not a stretch to say this was maybe the best individual season of Mitchell’s career. He scored more points than ever (1,952 total) and the 10th most in a single season by a Cavalier ever. All on an efficient 56.3% effective field goal percentage (82nd percentile).
Mitchell carried the Cavs throughout the season. He had 15 games of 35+ points, in which the Cavaliers went 14-1. Just two of those performances came after the All-Star break, a testament to how vital Mitchell was to Cleveland staying afloat during their slow start to the season.
Some factors hold him back from the A+. This was the highest usage that Mitchell’s recorded since being in Cleveland. That’s because the Cavs needed him to carry a heavier load. Still, it’s not the idealized version of Mitchell. Things have always looked smoother when he’s paired with another lead ball-handler. We didn’t see that for most of the season — not that Mitchell had any control over that.
Partnered with his higher usage, I’d argue this was the worst defensive season Mitchell has had in Cleveland. The Cavs fell out of the top-10 defensively for the first time since 2021. Mitchell’s inconsistent effort on that end of the floor played a role.
Nevertheless, this was a special offensive season from Mitchell and one of the best in franchise history. I shudder to think of where this team would have finished without him.
Grade: A
James Harden
20.5 points, 7.7 assists, 4.8 rebounds
Trading for Harden was the shock of the season. We won’t re-litigate the trade today, as only the playoffs can tell us whether or not it was worth it. But as of typing — I find it hard to believe there’s anyone in Cleveland who isn’t bought in right now.
Harden won us over almost immediately. Clutch shot making and some of the best pick-and-rolls the league has ever seen will do that. It became obvious how Harden can help raise this team’s ceiling. His instant chemistry with the bigs, along with not taking anything away from Mitchell’s scoring, is about as exciting as it gets.
Concerns remain. Can Harden play defense at a championship level? Will his turnovers be backbreakers in the playoffs? Or, can Harden step-back his way into leading a deep playoff run? That remains to be seen. Either way, I think he’s earned a little bit of faith. I’m willing to go down swinging with Harden at the helm.
Grade: A-
Jarrett Allen
15.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists
For years, Allen has been considered an unsung hero. I’m not sure that’s the case anymore. His heroic efforts in the back half of the season were as important as any other member of the team.
Allen averaged 22.3 points and 11.5 rebounds in February as the Cavs relied entirely on him to steady the ship. After multiple injuries and seismic changes at the deadline, it was Allen who kept everything running smoothly. His consistency made him an anchor on both ends of the floor, and it led to the best stretch of Allen’s career.
The only thing holding him back from an A+ or even an A+++ is the first month of the season. He suffered injuries to both hands and as a result, struggled to catch the ball or finish with his usual efficiency.
Grade: A–
Darius Garland
18 points, 6.9 assists, 2.4 rebounds
I think I speak for every Cavs fan when I say my heart sank during Garland’s first game back from the toe injury. The realization that a full summer of recovery wasn’t enough to overcome this setback was worrying.
Garland delivered a number of great games before being traded this year. The issue, of course, is each step forward came with an aggravation that felt like three steps backwards. The Cavs were left with no choice but to cut their losses and pivot to Harden in an attempt to save their season.
Mobley entered the season with dark-horse MVP written all over him. Fans expected another leap. Instead, they got more of the same — with some minor improvements on the margins.
It’s natural to feel disappointed by that outcome. Though, I do believe this was a strong season for Mobley if you can remove those preseason expectations and instead view this year for what it was.
An efficient 18 points per game as the third option on a 52-win team is pretty sweet. Especially considering he stayed at an All-Defensive level throughout the season. His finishing around the rim, as always, was a highlight. And Mobley ended the regular season with an elite stretch, averaging 20.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game in his final 20 games.
Still, I have to significantly ding his grade for not living up to expectations. Never fret, there’s more than enough time for him to make up for this in the playoffs.
Grade: C+
De’Andre Hunter
14 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists
I still don’t know what happened to Hunter. He checks all of the hypothetical boxes. Great size, good shooter, strong athlete. But none of that translates to the court. He struggled to shoot this season, played some of the worst defense I’ve seen, and overall felt as out of place as you can possibly get.
Grade: F
Jaylon Tyson
13.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists
Tyson might be the Valedictorian this year. Seriously, I can’t think of a Cavalier that has exceeded expectations more than Tyson.
I entered this season unconvinced that Tyson would be in the rotation, let alone a core piece of the team. I just didn’t think he’d be able to put so many things together in such quick fashion. But Tyson’s sophomore season felt like a launching point for an elite career.
The most impressive part of Tyson’s game is how effortlessly he adapted to whatever the Cavs asked of him. He played without the ball, shooting 44.6% from downtown and finishing as one of the best catch-and-shoot players in the NBA. That’s a role he wasn’t super comfortable playing before this season.
That expands to other aspects of the game. Tyson admitted he never played as the roller in pick-and-rolls before this season. Yet, he was a seamless fit as a screening partner with Mitchell and Harden. His below-the-rim finishing and processing speed as a playmaker allowed him to dominate in those actions.
The same goes for his defensive effort. Tyson wasn’t known as a defensive engine in college. But in the NBA? Being a scrappy, hustle player is what he needed to do to earn minutes. That was the initial bar he had to clear before breaking into Cleveland’s rotation and showing the rest of his skills. Check and check.
Most of all, Tyson proved one thing: he’s a winner. This is a dude who wants nothing more than to help his team get to the finish line. That’s going to keep him in the NBA for a long, long time.
Grade: A+++
Sam Merrill
12.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists
We all knew that Merrill could bury triples. Still, I wouldn’t take a career-high 158 three-pointers in just 52 games for granted. If he had been more available, Merrill would have easily become just the fourth Cavalier to hit 200+ three-pointers in a season. JR Smith, Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell are the others.
More impressively, Merrill proved that he isn’t just a three-point shooter this season. He began attacking the basket at a career-high rate, nearly doubling his previous high for two-pointers in roughly 20 fewer games. He also threw in a personal-best 125 assists, using his gravity to backdoor cut opponents and then kick the ball out to his teammates.
All the while, Merrill fought like hell defensively to hold his own more often than not. Effort goes a long way towards juicing your grade.
Grade: A-
Lonzo Ball
4.6 points, 4 rebounds, 3.9 assists
I’m not going to pile on Ball, whose career was totally derailed by injuries. We all saw how much he struggled to be imapctful this season. Whether it be clanking open jumpers or missing transition layups — let’s just acknowledge that this went sideways and move on.
Grade: F
Dean Wade
5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists
This was the most Dean Wade season I’ve seen from Dean Wade. That’s to say, I don’t think we learned anything new from Wade this year.
The Cavs need Wade. They play well when he’s healthy and shooting three-pointers with confidence. Neither of those things happens as often as you’d like, but they’re just common enough to hold onto the dream.
Grade: C
Thomas Bryant
6.2 points, 3.4 rebounds
Bryant was the best addition of the offseason. It turns out the bar wasn’t very high, after Lonzo Ball played his way to a podcasting career and Larry Nance Jr. became an end-of-bench veteran. But hey, Bryant earned this one.
Seriously, though. Bryant was super helpful off the bench as a backup big. The Cavs relied on him to bring energy, toughness and even some three-point shooting throughout the year. He isn’t mobile enough to hang in certain matchups — and he gave diminishing returns as his minutes grew higher. But for a last-second addition, this is as good as it gets.
Grade: A-
Larry Nance Jr.
3.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1 assist
I’ll admit, I was bummed that Nance wound up being out of the rotation entirely this season. I fully expected him to be an X-Factor for this team. He had all of the tools to be a glue guy. Instead, it’s clear that Nance isn’t the same player he used to be. His mobility has declined significantly and he doesn’t have the size or fine-skills to make up for it.
It’s still fun to have Nance on the roster. He’s a great locker room guy and fully accepted his role on the bench. Maybe he’ll surprise us in the postseason, should the Cavs elect to break glass and put him on the floor.
Grade: D+
Keon Ellis
8.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.3 steals
Ellis was a sweet pickup at the trade deadline. A springy, 6’5” guard who can generate turnovers and play without the ball offensively. He’s an efficient catch-and-shoot player who has shown he can do more than stand in the corner. Ellis took strides as a pick-and-roller this season while also finding success as a cutter.
His defensive impact is shakier than we thought it would be. He isn’t an elite one-on-one defender or the type of guy who is going to suppress shot attempts. Ellis is, however, capable of making some incredible defensive plays by recovering and blocking shots, or using his active hands to pick up steals.
Grade: B
Craig Porter Jr.
4.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists
Porter showed that he has more defensive tenacity than previously known. He turned himself into an energizer, darting into passing lanes and embracing the challenge of ruffling his opponent’s feathers. I’m still not sure he has the foot speed to be an elite defender, but this was a strong step in the right direction.
His lack of a jumper holds him back. Porter doesn’t even attempt enough three-pointers to keep a defense honest. That will have to change if his blocks, steals, rebounds and assists are ever going to be properly utilized.
Grade: B-
Dennis Schroder
8.2 points, 4.3 assists, 2.3 rebounds
Schroder was an add-on to the Hunter trade. He doesn’t fit particularly well next to either Mitchell or Harden. That’s because he’s not adept at playing without the ball, and some of his defensive impact has faded as he gets older.
To his credit, Schroder can still muck up a game and make things interesting. He also has a knack for getting to the rim and creating in the pick-and-roll that makes him worth a spot in the playoff rotation. At least he’ll get a chance to play serious minutes depending on the matchup.
Overall, some of the poor shooting and defense hold him back from a strong grade in the regular season.
Grade: C-
Tyrese Proctor
5.4 points, 1.5 assists, 1.3 rebounds
There’s not much to take from Proctor’s rookie season. His minutes were limited and mostly restricted to garbage time.
I’d happily take any stock moving forward. He’s a guard with good size and defensive instincts. Package that with his natural gift for shooting and I can’t see how this doesn’t pan out for him at some point in the future.
Grade: B
Nae’Qwan Tomlin
5.8 points, 2.8 rebounds
Tomlin went from a two-way to a standard contract this season. That’s enough for an A on its own.
Sure, his impact fell off a cliff in the second half of the year. We saw some warts emerge, such as his poor defensive awareness or his total lack of a three-point shot. But he eventually got the wheels back on track to end the season, again using his athleticism to impact games.
Tomlin, at his best, is a frenetic player who crashes the glass and runs forcefully in transition. That’s a lot of fun to watch, even if we understand that can only take a player so far.
Grade: A-
Max Strus
11.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists
Listen, no one wanted to wait until March to finally see Max Strus play basketball again. Even Strus himself was frustrated with the process. But once he returned, it was obvious that Strus still had the juice.
Strus played just 12 games in the regular season. In those games, he hit 6+ three-pointers three separate times. He shot above 40% from downtown and nailed some clutch shots along the way. It was all the evidence you needed to know that Strus can still swing games with his prolific shooting.
It wasn’t all pretty, of course. Coming back from a months long injury takes time. Strus’ foot-speed looks slower than before and his defense is a slight concern. He also reminded us of how streaky he can be, shooting 1-9 and 1-10 in two games before the season ended.
Maryland baseball entered the bottom of the eighth inning of its midweek bout against Towson down by one run.
That was when junior Brayden Martin notched his second RBI of the game, bringing in the tying run. Just two pitches later, sophomore Paul Jones II launched a two-run RBI double that came off the bat at 108 mph to extend Maryland’s lead.
After another batter was walked, Towson put in its second pitcher of the inning with the bases loaded and one out. Left-handed pitcher Ben Nugent proceeded to walk five Terps in a row — each brought in a run.
It was a late demolition for the Terps as they strolled to a 15-7 victory over Towson Tuesday at the Bob.
Right-handed pitcher Nic Morlang started the game for the Terps and recorded three total strikeouts. However, he allowed three hits, allowing the Tigers to take an early 2-0 lead. Morlang closed out the first inning by striking out Towson’s best hitter, Brian Heckelman.
Martin got on base and stole second in the bottom of the first, but he was ultimately stranded after freshman Ty Kaunas popped out to third and Jones II grounded out to second.
After Maryland’s defense recorded its 33rd double play of the season in the top of the second inning, the Terps got an RBI from Aden Hill to halve the deficit, but two runners were left on base.
Towson extended its lead in the third inning after following up a single with three consecutive doubles, bringing in three more runs. Right-handed pitcher Andrew Koshy stepped up to the mound for Morlang with one on and no outs.
A throwing error by second baseman David Mendez brought in another run for the Tigers before the inning ended after a strikeout and two pop-ups.
Mendez quickly redeemed himself, though, launching a breaking ball on the 2-1 count over the left center wall. His sixth home run of the season brought in three runs for Maryland, making the score 6-4 Towson.
“It was really helpful for me being able to pick up my guys,” Mendez said. “We knew we weren’t out of the game, so I knew that big swing was what we needed in that moment to take over the game.”
Maryland’s bullpen was able to hold the Tigers until the eighth inning, recording six more strikeouts and not walking a single batter.
In the bottom of the fourth, Martin’s sacrifice fly brought in another run for the Terps. Kaunas brought in the tying run with a solo home run shortly after.
Just one run was scored between the fifth and seventh innings — a sacrifice fly by Jones II in the bottom of the sixth gave Maryland a one-run lead.
In the top of the eighth, Towson’s catcher Coy Allman reached first on a throwing error by right-handed pitcher Jake Yeager, who had relieved Koshy two innings previously. The error allowed a run to score, tying the game once again. Sophomore right-hander Ryan Bailey entered the game and kept the Tigers scoreless for the remainder of the contest.
“We’re really going through it injury wise,” head coach Matt Swope said. “It was really good for those guys to try and stabilize that after not the best start.”
Maryland didn’t allow the tie to last for long, exploding for seven runs.
Towson went through three pitchers throughout the bottom of the eighth inning — Nugent was relieved by the Tigers’ third pitcher of the inning, who allowed a Martin sacrifice fly that brought in the Terps’ eighth run of the inning before recording the last out.
The Tigers only recorded one strikeout while throwing 58 pitches and walking eight Terps — five while bases were loaded — to give Maryland an eight-run lead.
“If you’re disciplined at the plate and you don’t swing at balls, you will be in college baseball games,” Swope said. “It’s my number one thing we’ve been good with all year.”
Bailey recorded one strikeout in the top of the ninth, while Martin and center fielder Nate Hawton-Henley claimed the remaining two to take the 15-7 victory.
Three things to know
1. Easy bases. Maryland recorded 15 RBIs on Tuesday — its third most this season and most since March 31 against Richmond. The Tigers out-hit the Terps 11-8, but it wasn’t enough, as two of Maryland’s hits were home runs and the remaining six brought in a run. Tuesday also marked the most walks the Terps have been dealt (12) since the Richmond contest, which also ended with 12 walks.
2. Base robber. Martin stole two bases Tuesday, bringing him to a season total of 16 stolen bases in 17 attempts — the most in the Big Ten. The junior also ranks first on the team and the Big Ten with the most walks (36), while Maryland ranks first in the Big Ten with 233 walks.
3. Support in the stands. The Bob was packed Tuesday, with the football, softball, field hockey, gymnastic, cheer, and women’s soccer teams coming out to show support. There were over 1300 fans in attendance for the midweek match.
“I love it. This is a lifestyle for me, it’s not a job,” Swope said. “I appreciate those guys coming out.”
Mar 18, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) splits the defense of Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) and guard Reed Sheppard (15) in the second half at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images | Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
The NBA Playoffs are coming up quickly now that the regular season is over. The Rockets came in fifth, therefore they will play the Los Angeles Lakers, who came in fourth, in a best-of-seven series. The higher-seeded team (Los Angeles) will host the first two games, as usual. After that, the series will go to Houston for games three and four, then back to LA for game five, back to Houston for game six, and finally back to LA for game seven.
The Lakers won three games in a row to finish the season. The Timberwolves ended Houston’s eight-game winning streak, but the Rockets beat the Grizzlies on Sunday.
One main plot point of the series is the continuing battle between Kevin Durant and LeBron James. Even though their most famous battles happened years ago in the NBA Finals, there is a sense of nostalgia and excitement as they meet again, this time in the first round. At this point in their careers, both players may still dominate games, but they are under quite different kinds of strain. Durant plays for a Houston team that is deeper and more balanced. LeBron is now in his 40s and is supposed to be the Lakers’ main offensive player, especially with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves hurting.
If the Lakers don’t let their ailments get in the way too much before the series, they might have a better chance of making it further in the playoffs. Reaves, an important guard, and Luka Doncic, who was brought in to be LeBron’s co-superstar, are both up in the air for this series. When the game is mostly one-on-one, LeBron has to score a lot because the rest of Los Angeles can’t make baskets or set up plays for other players when they aren’t there. Without those parts, the Lakers can’t afford to make as many mistakes.
The Rockets, on the other hand, are in good shape and ready for the playoffs. Houston has quietly become one of the best teams in the conference because they emphasis on being tough and disciplined on defense. Alperen Şengün’s frontcourt gives them a reliable inside scoring threat, and their perimeter defenders enable them to alter up their defenses and mess with their opponents’ offenses. Durant can score in a variety of different ways, and Houston has numerous other players that can also score (Sengun, Thompson, Sheppard etc), so it will depend on how well Houston’s supporting cast does.
The Rockets play a slower, more organized game, employing their size and skill to rebound to keep the ball. The Lakers, on the other hand, perform best when they get ahead early and make the game go faster. It’s harder to do this when Doncic isn’t in charge of the half-court. If Houston can keep the game moving at their tempo, they can keep the Lakers from getting easy points and put them in tough situations at the end of the game.
One of the most important things in the series is whether or not Doncic will feel better and how much. The Lakers wouldn’t simply be a top-heavy team; with him on the roster, they would be a big offensive danger straight away. Los Angeles would have to rely on role players to step up, which would be risky against the Rockets’ at times well-organized defense. It will be a tough and close series, but Houston has the upper hand with the L.A. injuries unless the Lakers get well soon.
BRADENTON, FLORIDA - MARCH 20, 2026: Seth Hernandez #25 of the Pittsburgh Pirates throws a pitch during the first inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Detroit Tigers at LECOM Park on March 20, 2026 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ top pitching prospect, Seth Hernandez, is looking strong in his first season of professional baseball with the Bradenton Marauders
Hernandez was drafted sixth overall by the Pirates in 2025 as the top high school pitching prospect in the class. He was named the California Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year, The Los Angeles Times Player of the Year and the Enterprise Varsity Player of the Year. He decided to forgo his commitment to Vanderbilt and signed with the Pirates for $7.25 million.
2025 only saw Hernandez get time with the Florida Coast League Pirates, so this is his first year of pitching in the minor leagues. With Low-A Bradenton the 19-year-old righty has made two starts so far this season, with both being very impressive. In his first career start against the Dunedin Blue Jays Hernandez largely dominated the opposing hitters. In just three innings pitched he accumulated eight strikeouts. He would give up one earned run and allow three hits, but for his first professional start, it doesn’t get much better.
Pirates 2025 first-round pick Seth Hernandez looks UNHITTABLE right now 😳
Against the Palm Beach Cardinals on April 10, Hernandez was once again dictating the pace from the mound. In four innings Hernandez struck out seven batters, while not allowing any hits or earned runs while he was pitching. Bradenton would go on to lose the contest and the series to Palm Beach, but it certainly wasn’t because of Hernandez.
Hernandez was given a prospect rating of 55 overall, with a 70 graded fastball and a 60 graded curveball. At 6’4” he has an athletic build which will bode well for a power pitcher, but he also has incredible body control to repeat his delivery on the mound consistently. He has a lot of potential given his physical skills and the fact that he has great stuff, working with a solid four pitch mix. Hernandez is in line to be another great velocity focused starter in the Pirates rotation.
Seth Hernandez is ranked as the Pirates’ second overall prospect and is ranked 24th in the top 100.
April 15 is celebrated across Major League Baseball as a commemoration of the day that Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947. And for the Los Angeles Dodgers — the team that Robinson debuted went onto play his entire 10-year career with — that day always carries a little more weight.
Every year on Jackie Robinson Day, a hold a pregame moment of reflection is held with both the Dodgers and the visiting team (in this year's case, the New York Mets) gathering at the eponymous player's statue in the centerfield plaza at Dodger Stadium.
"This is not a one-day situation," Roberts said at last year's ceremony. "It's Jackie Robinson's day for breaking the color barrier, but this is like an everyday sort of mindset, appreciation."
Members of the Robinson family and other invited guests usually attend as well; NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar spoke at the gathering in 2025. This year's scheduled guests include Jackie Robinson Foundation scholars and Robinson's granddaughters, Sonya Pankey and Ayo Robinson, along with Negro Leagues Baseball Museum president Bob Kendrick.
In addition to wearing Robinson's iconic No. 42 like all 29 other clubs, the Dodgers take it a step further by swapping out their interlocking LA for the Brooklyn B on their hats.
Even the Dodgers' opponent on Wednesday, the Mets, holds significance as they were created to fill a void left after two former New York teams — Dodgers and Giants — relocated to the West Coast in the 1950s.
How to watch the Dodgers vs. Mets on Jackie Robinson Day
The finale of the Dodgers' homestand vs. Mets will be televised nationally on ESPN on Wednesday, April 15 at 7:10 p.m. PT. In another cool wrinkle for Jackie Robinson Day, the game will be called by Joe Buck, who left FOX Sports to helm the "Monday Night Football" booth at ESPN in March 2022.
Here's how to watch the Dodgers play the Mets on Jackie Robinson Day:
Mark Walter and his ownership group bought the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012. Not long after, he called Rachel Robinson, widow of Dodgers legend Jackie Robinson, said Della Britton, president and CEO of the Jackie Robinson Foundation.
“Literally Mark supported us from day one when he bought the Dodgers,’’ Britton told USA TODAY Sports. "One of the first meetings he had, he called Rachel and Rachel and I went out to Los Angeles (from New York) and he said, ‘I want you to know this is part of your legacy and I very much feel the importance of this legacy to the team's history. We're partners...''
Jackie Robinson Day (Wednesday, April 15) will help spotlight the partnership between the Dodgers' current ownership group and Robinson's legacy.
In December, Walter and Thomas Tull, director of the movie "42" about Jackie Robinson, announced a $20 million to the Jackie Robinson Foundation, which along with the Jackie Robinson Museum is in New York.
“I remember Mark calling me,’’ Britton said, “and saying, 'Della, what do you need? You’ve worked so hard on this museum. We're so proud. Can we be helpful?'"
The Jackie Robinson Museum opened in 2022. When Walter learned a bridge loan on the museum project needed to be paid off, he came through, according to Britton. She also said Walter believes in a key part of Jackie Robinson’s story – the power of sports.
“It's an amazing equalizer, but it can also be an amazing force for change, for good,’’ Britton said. “And that's another thing that Mark Walter talks about, how he realizes how important sports is to bringing people together and for implementing the whole notion of egalitarianism.’’
'A bigger celebration'
On Wednesday, Rachel Robinson plans to be at the Jackie Robinson Museum, where she celebrated Jackie Robinson Day last year, too.
Britton planned to be at Dodger Stadium for the league-wide commemoration Major League Baseball started in 2004.
Jackie Robinson died in 1972. But Rachel Robinson has been around for all of the league-wide Jackie Robinson Day tributes held in honor of her late husband and Rachel Robinson's work, too.
She is 103 and lives in New York, home of the Jackie Robinson Foundation and the Jackie Robinson Museum. Of the foundation, Britton said, "We're a 53-year-old college scholarship program that Rachel started the year after Jackie died.’’
The Dodgers Foundation has supported dozens of Jackie Robinson scholars, according to Britton, who also said Walter hired some “very smart Jackie Robinson scholars.’’
Major League Baseball also supports the scholarship program, and preparation for Jackie Robinson Day has been underway, according to Britton.
“So it would start with the 30 teams,’’ she said, noting that Major League Baseball also has donated “generously’’ to the museum. “Each team, thanks to Major League Baseball by the way, supports a Jackie Robinson scholar..."
Several teams will honor scholars at the ballpark on Wednesday. Then there are the Dodgers.
“First of all, they embrace the fact that they support 10 Jackie Robinson scholars and they invite them all to the game and they put them on the field at the beginning,’’ Britton said. “So they have a big celebration. But then throughout the game, the Jumbotron gives stats and figures about not just Jackie Robinson, but also the foundation, his living legacy, if you will. So it's a bigger celebration. … It's wonderful.’’
(Editor's note: In an earlier version of this story, the name of Thomas Tull was misspelled.)
Jackie Robinson made history when he took the field at Ebbets Field in his debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947.
His is a legacy that continues in perpetuity, 79 years later, as MLB commemorates the anniversary of the day Robinson broke baseball's color barrier.
The tradition itself, in an official sense, is more recent than you might think; Jackie Robinson Day was first celebrated on April 15, 2004 and the practice of all on-field personnel — every player, manager, umpire and bat and ball boy — wearing Robinson's No. 42 didn't become firmly established for another five years after that.
But according to the Jackie Robinson Museum website, it was tap dancer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson who inaugurated it almost 80 years ago.
At the end of Robinson's rookie season, on Sept. 23, 1947, Bojangles led an on-field ceremony at Ebbets Field as a way for New York's Black communities to show their appreciation for Robinson and support for desegregation in the big leagues. Robinson was gifted a new car, TV set, gold watch and a fur coat for his wife, Rachel, through donations solicited by the New York Amsterdam News, a local Black newspaper.
Fifty years later, MLB rang in the 50th anniversary of Robinson's debut by unilaterally retiring No. 42 across the league. Ken Griffey Jr. temporarily switched his number from 24 to 42 on that day to honor Robinson and a decade later, he asked Rachel Robinson and then-MLB commissioner Bud Selig if they could temporarily unretire the number so he could wear it once again in tribute to Jackie Robinson.
The idea took off around the majors and on April 15, 2007, over 100 players — including four entire teams — took the field with No. 42 on their backs.
Did you know it was Ken Griffey Jr.’s idea to have every player wear No. 42 on Jackie Robinson Day? pic.twitter.com/VOkfGqYtKU
That number tripled for 2008, according to the Jackie Robinson Museum, and by 2009, every player, manager and umpire wore the number.
"To have everybody do it, I didn't think it was going to go that far," Griffey said in an interview with MLB Network's Harold Reynolds. "I wasn't thinking that big, but it's been an unbelievable thing since day one."
In 2022, the tradition took another step when MLB decided to have 42 on every jersey in a block Dodger blue font, with blue socks, regardless of the team's colors or number style.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 14: LaMelo Ball #1 celebrates with Coby White #3 of the Charlotte Hornets in overtime against the Miami Heat during their game at Spectrum Center on April 14, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Charlotte Hornets are in the NBA Play-In Tournament and still alive, having beaten Miami in a thriller Tuesday night.
Kon Knueppel didn’t play especially well, shooting just 2-12 and 0-6 on his three-point attempts, and finishing with just 6. Sion James didn’t have a big game offensively either, scoring just 2 points.
It’s been a while since a former Tar Heel had a major impact on the post-season. Can you remember the last one? It’s tough, isn’t it?
To put it in a different perspective, the last player out of UNC to be an All-Star was Vince Carter.
Well, that changed Tuesday night as former Tar Heel Coby White hit an improbable jumper to tie the game at 114-114 and ultimately put it into overtime.
LaMelo Ball hit the game-winner in overtime, but this play against Bam Adebayo may see him suspended for Charlotte’s final play-in game against the Phoenix Suns.
With Mark Williams, Grayson Allen, and Khaman Maluach, that will be a bit of a Brotherhood reunion.
ST. LOUIS, MO - APRIL 14: St. Louis Blues left wing Dylan Holloway (81) and Pittsburgh Penguins center Ben Kindel (81) battle for the puck during an NHL game where the St. Louis Blues hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday April 14th, 2026, at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis MO (Photo by Rick Ulreich/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Here are your Pens Points for this Wednesday morning…
The Pittsburgh Penguins closed the regular season on Tuesday night with a wild 7-5 loss to the St. Louis Blues. It was more or less an exhibition game for the Penguins, who iced a lineup of primarily depth players and had nothing to gain or lose in the result. However, it still provided an opportunity for participants to showcase their skills to the coaching staff as the grind of the Stanley Cup playoffs approaches. [Recap]
Penguins rookie defenseman Jake Livanavage, who was just signed to an entry-level contract on April 10, made his NHL debut with the team on Tuesday night, creating a full-circle moment after growing up as a fan and once holding a sign hoping to meet captain Sidney Crosby. [Penguins]
The Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers are set to renew their longstanding cross-state feud in the first round of the playoffs, with players embracing the bad blood and intensity that comes with one of the league’s best rivalries. [Trib Live]
As the Penguins start to turn their attention to key players on the Flyers’ roster, you can, too. Take a closer look at Philly goaltender Dan Vladar and his journey from inconsistent backup to key starter, becoming one of the team’s most important offseason additions. [PensBurgh]
News and notes from around the NHL…
NHL save percentages have dropped to their lowest level in roughly 30 years, driven by smarter, more skilled shooters, leading to higher-quality scoring chances. The growing belief is that modern offenses are outpacing goaltending systems that have become more predictable and position-based. [Sportsnet]
Dallas Stars forward Roope Hintz will be out for the first two games of his team’s playoff series against the Minnesota Wild with a lower-body injury. [Sportsnet]
Alex Ovechkin recorded an assist in what could have been his last NHL game, helping his Washington Capitals defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1 on Tuesday. The Capitals say they will continue to support Ovechkin as he weighs his future heading into the summer. [NHL]
Dodgers fans celebrate during the fifth inning of Game 1 of the 2024 World Series at Dodger Stadium. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The Dodgers are too good, and too rich. If the owners of other major league teams ultimately deem that combination so objectionable that they shut down the sport this winter because of it, they will risk a rupture in one of the greatest fan bases in American sports history.
The four million tickets the Dodgers sold last season tells one part of the story. Here is an arguably better one: For decades, the Dodgers and Lakers have dominated Los Angeles sports and left every other team far behind in popularity.
For now, after back-to-back World Series championships, the Dodgers have left even the Lakers far behind in popularity, and every other team in town even further behind.
In a Loyola Marymount survey asking Los Angeles County residents to identify their favorite among the 12 pro sports teams within the local media market, nearly half picked the Dodgers.
The Dodgers’ lead over the Lakers — 43% to 28% — represented the largest gap between the teams in the nine editions of the survey, first conducted in 2014 by the Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles.
The Rams ranked third, at 7%, followed by the Kings at 5% and the Angels at 4%.
The two women’s teams — Angel City FC and the Sparks — tied for last, each with less than 1% of the vote. Even when the study separated votes by gender, the two women’s teams each got less than 1% of the vote from women.
As recently as 2018, five teams beyond the Dodgers and Lakers — the Angels, Clippers, Galaxy, Kings and Rams — attracted at least 4% of the vote. In this year’s survey, only the Rams did.
“I’m a big Rams fan,” said Fernando Guerra, the center’s director, “and I still put the Dodgers first.
“I love all these teams. But, when you have to choose one, it’s the Dodgers.”
Dodgers president Stan Kasten pointed to the popularity and excellence of the players, the cherished ballpark and the generational fan support as factors contributing to the top ranking.
“If you have a lot of good elements but you don’t win, you’re not going to be as high,” Kasten said. “And, if you win but you don’t have the other elements, you’re not going to be as high.
“I think, right now, we’re as close as you can be to clicking on all cylinders.”
In 2018, Ohtani’s debut season with the Angels, 8% of fans that identified themselves as Asian picked the Angels as their favorite team and 34% picked the Dodgers — a terrific showing for the Angels, since the study polls residents in L.A. County, not Orange County.
That demographic this year: 4% picked the Angels, 47% picked the Dodgers.
In their 10 years since returning to Los Angeles, the Rams have made seven playoff appearances and two Super Bowl appearances, winning one. All that, and a half-century in their previous run in L.A., and their membership in the most popular sports league in America, and the best they could do was 7%.
“It’s just tough to break the Lakers’ and Dodgers’ hold,” Guerra said. “It’s not like we don’t love the Rams or the others. It’s just not your top priority.”
The Lakers and Dodgers have combined to win 20 championships in Los Angeles. The other 10 teams that call this market home have combined to win 16.
In the 13 seasons since Mark Walter and Co. bought the Dodgers, the team has won 12 division titles, made five World Series appearances, and won three championships. In the same time, the Lakers have won three division titles, advanced past the first round of the playoffs twice, and won one championship.
Walter bought a controlling interest in the Lakers last year. He has installed Lon Rosen, formerly the Dodgers’ executive vice president and chief marketing officer, as the Lakers’ president of business operations.
“When the Lakers are winning a lot of championships, they’re No. 1,” Rosen said. “When the Dodgers are, they’re No. 1.
“It’s a good position to be in, since we control both teams, and both teams are highly successful.”
In this moment, the Dodgers are highly successful.
“The Lakers and Dodgers are going to be neck and neck very soon,” Rosen said. “The Lakers will 100% be champions again soon.”
The Dodgers do not concede the days of neck and neck will return. Kasten, remember, said the Dodgers were as close as they could be to clicking on all cylinders.
“We don’t take that for granted,” he said. “We know we can do even better.”
Perhaps. Certainly, it is a nascent and evolving niche within the game, filled with trial and error, hot hands and teachable moments all in the name of trying to gain an edge – 0.1% of an edge, even – on the corners of the strike zone.
While things will certainly change, and something resembling normalization will occur over the rest of the season, there are a few hard and fast maxims about ABS that we feel comfortable rolling with. A look at six truths the so-called “robot umps” have yielded so far:
Games are longer
It’s true: The average nine-inning game is averaging 2 hours, 42 minutes, longest in the four years of the pitch-clock era. (The first three seasons produced nine-inning averages of 2:39, 2:36 and 2:38).
Certainly, there are plenty of factors that contribute to game time beyond the 30 or so seconds every ABS challenge takes. Teams are using 4.34 pitchers per game, the highest mark since 2021 and possibly a function of the early-season glut of off days enabling managers to more liberally deploy relievers.
Pitchers are also issuing 3.8 walks per game, the highest mark since 2000 and perhaps one that will normalize as the year proceeds and time is shaved off of games. So is it all the challenge system spiking game times?
Nope. But it’s certainly a contributing factor.
Catchers are king
As one might have anticipated.
Nobody has the vantage point of a catcher, able to see exactly where a ball crossed the plate and, like machine learning, eventually figure out, most importantly, what the Hawk-Eye tracking system believes is a strike.
Accordingly, catchers are successfully challenging at a rate of 62% entering games of Tuesday, April 14. They account for 501 of the 522 attempts by fielders, though pitchers, emotional beings that they are, aren’t faring too poorly – they’re 10-for-21 so far.
As for hitters?
Consider them the foolishly aggrieved party. Helmet-tappers are successfully challenging at a rate of just 47%, with Ronald Acuña Jr. (2 for 6), Nolan Schanuel and Hunter Goodman (each 1 for 5) the most erratic.
Dillon Dingler is the ABS whisperer
So, who’s the best at this thing?
We’ll give an early nod to the Detroit Tigers’ Dillon Dingler. He’s currently 9-for-10 in getting balls overturned for his pitcher, the best rate for a catcher with more than five challenges. Victor Caratini (8-for-10) is right on his tail, while veteran J.T. Realmuto is perfect in five challenges so far.
Managers are working harder to get thrown out
Yep, arguing balls and strikes – traditionally the surest ticket to an early shower – is much harder to do with a pair of replay challenges in a manager’s back pocket.
Yet are skippers still getting tossed? You bet.
Eight managers have been ejected so far, and the intent hasn’t changed much in the ABS era: Six of the eight got the heave-ho when their teams were trailing and, maybe, the manager saw fit to light a fire under the lads. Alas, none of the six clubs came back to win after their manager was ejected, though perhaps the histrionics proved whatever point the manager hoped.
One ejection did occur in an ABS situation: Derek Shelton, tossed with one out in the top of the ninth inning after an overturned ball, just as the Minnesota Twins were about to lose to the Baltimore Orioles. Runner’s interference resulted in two ejections, while a balk call, a disputed quick-pitch, a pair of check swings and an overturned out call at first accounted for the others.
The Twins are winning both sides of the ball
OK, so we won’t correlate ABS challenge success with on-field record just yet. Still, it’s hard to ignore that the Twins – consensus picks to finish last in the AL Central – are 10-7 and tied with Cleveland for the AL’s best record.
And they’ve won more batter’s challenges – 14 – than any team in the majors and lead the AL with 19 successful defensive challenges.
Sure, maybe the games have simply played out that the Twins have had a ton of chances to air a grievance. Either way, they’ve clearly chosen a path of aggression, as they lead in batter challenges (29) and are second to the Marlins with 28 defensive challenges.
Their percentages aren’t elite – they rank 15th among batters with a 48% success rate and 10th defensively at 68%.
But shooters shoot, as they say, and nobody’s gotten more calls overturned.
Umpires have gotten … worse?
So this is a tricky one.
There’s plenty of ways now to measure umpire aptitude, and we tend to lean on the very means-tested Umpire Scorecards as our metric of choice. Within that, we can look at correct ball-strike percentage or other methods of accuracy.
For this exercise, we’ve chosen to highlight how many umpires rank in the positive for what they call “accuracy above expected,” or the difference between actual accuracy and expected accuracy given the web site’s “machine learning approach to estimating an umpire’s performance relative to their peers.”
Fair enough.
For what it’s worth, 76 of 91 umpires – or 83.5% - finished above 0 in accuracy above expected in 2025. This year? Just 54 of 83 – or 65% - rank in the positive.
Keep in mind: This is an extremely small sample size. A vast majority of umpires have had three or fewer plate assignments so far. Perhaps the accurate calls heat up with the weather, etc.
And maybe the umps’ confidence will level up when they realize ABS confirms that they were right a lot of times, too.
Perhaps that’s the ultimate truism: That humans can go toe-to-toe with robots just fine.
Apr 13, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) jogs to the dugout after the top of the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | John Jones-Imagn Images
FanGraphs | Dan Szymborski: An 8-2 start had the Yankees in the driver’s seat early in the AL East, but a 1-5 run after that has helped settle down the division odds. Now, while the Yanks still boast the best odds of any team in the East to make the playoffs, they’re smack dab in the middle of the division projections with the Orioles and Blue Jays. The silver lining may be that these adjusted ZiPS projections don’t seem to favor the Red Sox at all, which may take the division down from a four-way knife fight to merely a three-sided knife fight.
Yankees PR: Hopefully, none of you were too invested in the return of Yerry De los Santos to the Yankees’ bullpen. Called up yesterday to replace the struggling Jake Bird, De los Santos is already heading back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in exchange for a to-be-named fresh arm. The Yankees had him soak up a couple innings of the ugly 7-1 loss to the Angels, allowing one run on three hits. As his pitch count rose to 44, it became clear that his stay in the Bronx would be short. Angel Chivilli and Kervin Castro are both 40-man roster candidates to tag in for Yerry, though Chivilli is more likely since Castro pitched for Scranton last night and the former last appeared for the RailRiders on Sunday.
CBS Sports | Matt Synder: Jazz Chisholm Jr. has taken his share of criticism early in the 2026 season, from this author included. While his onfield play does merit some of those critiques, Synder makes a fair point about how we wish athletes were more open about their play and how they feel about their play, when someone like Jazz expresses his challenges playing in cold weather, we jump on him for his honesty. This doubles down when you do the modicum of analysis to see that Jazz really does better as the weather warms, and as we turn toward summer, hopefully that performance starts to tick up.
New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: For one night, Trent Grisham got some validation. The Yankee center fielder has experienced a bit of a power outage so far this season, but got it back on Monday with a dynamite two-homer game, including the game-tying dinger in the ninth. Grisham had been hitting the ball hard and in the air, but to the big part of the field where outfielders run those balls down. It shouldn’t be a surprise that the key for Grisham’s power is pulling the ball, exactly what he did in game one of the Angels series.
New York Post | Dan Martin: Aaron Judge continues to carve himself into Yankee history, with another multi-home-run game on Monday night. With his fifth and sixth home runs of the year, Judge notched his 47th career multi-dinger performance, passing Mickey Mantle for second on the Yankee all-time list. Only Babe Ruth, with 68, is now above Judge.
