LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 14: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Denver Nuggets on March 14, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With the Western Conference a tight-knit race yet again this season, this series will look at the standings and games to watch across the league as the Lakers look to secure home court and move up the standings.
The Lakers had a great road trip, winning five of their six games. However, the teams beneath them also performed well, with the Wolves beating the Rockets and the Nuggets currently on a four-game winning streak.
So, while LA has the tiebreaker over the teams they are competing with for playoff position, the race remains tight.
Here’s a look at the current playoff standings in the middle of the conference: 3. Lakers — 47-26, 10 GB 4. Nuggets — 46-28, 11.5 GB 5. Wolves — 45-28, 12 GB 6. Rockets — 43-29, 13.5 GB 7. Suns — 40-33, 17 GB
If Denver keeps on winning, it’ll apply pressure on LA to do the same. With only a game and a half separating the two teams, anything can still happen.
Let’s take a look at the big games to watch around the league for the next couple of days and who Lakers fans should be rooting for.
Friday
Jazz at Nuggets — It’ll probably be five wins in a row for Denver after they play Utah. While the NBA aims to discourage tanking, under the current rules, the Jazz have no incentive to win.
Rockets at Grizzlies — Memphis has lost 12 of their last 13 games. The Rockets are struggling, but it’s hard to imagine them losing to the Grizzlies.
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.
Saturday
Pistons at Wolves — The Lakers lost to the Pistons, so they witnessed firsthand how tough they can be to beat. Perhaps this weekend, they can help LA out by beating Minnesota.
Jazz at Suns — Rooting for Utah to win in March is an exercise in futility.
Sunday
Warriors at Nuggets — Golden State is still trying to win games and potentially surpass the Blazers for the No. 9 seed in the West. With Steph Curry still out, they don’t have much firepower to compete with the Nuggets, but at least they are incentivized to do so.
Rockets at Pelicans — New Orleans has been playing better than their 25-49 record suggests. They are 5-5 in their last 10 games with wins over the Clippers and Raptors. They won’t be favored against the Rockets, but they’ll be at home and an upset is a possibility.
Monday
Wolves at Mavs — The Mavericks aren’t trying to win games. Check the box score at halftime and see if this contest is worth watching after that.
Suns at Grizzlies — The bad news here is that the Grizzlies play the Suns, and Laker fans want Memphis to win. The good news is the Suns are seven games back of the Lakers, so it’s virtually impossible for them to catch LA at this point.
Mar 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets right fielder Carson Benge (3) celebrates with second baseman Marcus Semien (10) and shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) and third baseman Bo Bichette (19) and first baseman Jorge Polanco (11) and catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The dominant storyline regarding the Mets all offseason was about the roster turnover. If you look up and down yesterday’s Opening Day lineup, about half of the players in it are new faces, most of whom weren’t even in the organization last season. Yesterday’s 11-7 victory over the Pirates in which the Mets got the best of one of the premiere aces in the game was a total team effort that included contributions from nearly all of these new Mets.
For starters, the pitcher that took the mound to ring in the season in front of the Citi Field faithful was one of those new players. Freddy Peralta’s performance wasn’t perfect, but it was enough to earn him his first win in a Mets uniform. After giving up the two-run homer to Brandon Lowe in the first, he bounced back to strike out the next three batters and ended up racking up seven strikeouts in total. Other than the mistakes Peralta made to Lowe, who either simply had Peralta’s number or is about to enter a new era of dominance as a Pittsburgh Pirate, he had a strong Mets debut.
The final line on Freddy Peralta's Mets debut:
5 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, 80 pitches.
Peralta allowed a pair of Brandon Lowe homers but is in line for the win thanks to some healthy run support. pic.twitter.com/4r1CjMqjd4
The Mets were able to erase the deficit created by the Lowe two-run homer yielded by Peralta and then some in the bottom of the first, which became a marathon rally that knocked Paul Skenes out of the game with just two outs in the first. The newcomers in the Mets’ lineup were huge contributors to this rally. Bo Bichette plated the Mets’ first run of 2026 with a sacrifice fly. Jorge Polanco then singled and Luis Robert Jr. worked an 11-pitch walk—one of the key at-bats in the inning because of the bases-clearing triple that followed.
Can't forget about Luis Robert Jr.'s incredible at-bat against Paul Skenes in the first inning 🔥 pic.twitter.com/xFM6QN3KYe
Though of course the sun played a role, Marcus Semien gets credit for a double and an RBI in the inning all the same. Both Robert and Semien would go on to have a multi-hit game. Robert notched RBI knocks in both the fourth and fifth innings, the latter being a slow grounder that he beat out with his speed for an infield hit. In his very first game as a Met, Robert showed why the Mets traded for him (and why they have been trying to do so for years now). His skills on both side of the ball were on full display, as he made a diving catch in center to end the third inning as well. In fact, for all the hemming and hawing about players learning new positions, the Mets played a solid game defensively. The Mets’ new infield contingent made all of the plays—fundies that would have made Keith Hernandez proud if this game had been broadcast on SNY.
It is fitting that Freddy Peralta was followed in the game by Tobias Myers, who came with him in the trade from the Brewers. Myers gave up a solo homer to Ryan O’Hearn and nothing else over three strong innings of work, demonstrating right away the value he provides as a long man in the bullpen—a role the Mets have not had consistently filled for quite some time now.
The only new addition whose day did not quite go as well was Luis Garcia, who was tasked with protecting a six-run lead in the ninth inning. With how Myers was cruising it seemed like he might finish the game, but it seems like the Mets opted to save his bullets and turn to Garcia instead with the more comfortable lead. Garcia was shaky in the ninth, but ultimately got through it with the lead in tact. Overall, yesterday was still a very good day for the new look Mets.
Of course, not all 162 games of this long season are going to look like this—“a near perfectly executed offensive inning,” as Howie Rose described the first-inning rally in what turned out to be a near perfectly executed game all around. There are going to be bad moments where it feels like the team isn’t gelling. But you can see David Stearns’ vision for the Mets within yesterday’s win—a microcosm of what he wants this next Mets era to look like. Some of these new faces, like Bo Bichette, who has an opt-out after this season, may be fleeting pieces as this Mets puzzle comes together. Others, like Freddy Peralta, with whom the Mets are still negotiating on a potential extension, may end up staying awhile. We have a lot of season left to see if this new group has the secret sauce of a championship club. But yesterday was a good start.
KANSAS CITY, MO - AUG 16: Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr (7) celebrates as he leaves the field after winning a MLB game between the Chicago White Sox and the Kansas City Royals on August 16, 2025, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Kansas City has a favorable April schedule and needs to take advantage
The schedule to begin 2026 is a bit of a gift for a Royals team that has not gotten off to the strongest starts historically. Last year’s team made it to the end of April at 16-15 and even stayed above .500 through May before having one of the most atrocious months I have ever seen in June, which ended up being too much to overcome in the end. This year, the MLB schedule makers have deigned to give the Royals an early season scheduling gift. Here are the series that they will play through April:
3 games at Atlanta Braves
3 games vs. Minnesota Twins
3 games vs. Milwaukee Brewers
3 games at Cleveland Guardians
4 games vs. Chicago White Sox
3 games at Detroit Tigers
3 games at New York Yankees
3 games vs. Baltimore Orioles
3 games vs. Los Angeles Angels
3 games at Athletics
Outside of the nine-game stretch at Detroit, at New York, and home for Baltimore, the other opponents are all fine-to-bad. Milwaukee has a habit of being quite good, but they are projected for a win total in the low 80s. Atlanta is currently missing Sean Murphy, Ha-Seong Kim, Spencer Strider, and several other players right now and is quite vulnerable. Minnesota was gutted last year and only has starting pitching to lean on. There are a lot of opportunities to pick up early wins, and maybe more importantly for this team, early confidence.
The Yankees, Brewers, Braves, Orioles, and Tigers are projected to have winning records, but the Braves are not at full strength. That means half of the teams faced are projected below five hundred and they are projected to be further below .500 than the first five are projected to be above. The projected weighted average win percentage for these 31 games is just .493 helped out by that bonus fourth game against the White Sox. Of the 31 games, 16 are at home and 15 on the road, giving the Royals a slight advantage in their ballpark with new dimensions to fit them.
Getting off to a good start can be huge for this team. They have a chance to get the momentum early in a winnable division. There is only the one short stretch of nine games against Detroit, New York, and Baltimore where the goal would be to win four out of nine, and you would be happy not to have dropped more. The rest of those are all series you should feel like you can win, and it is a matter of banking as many of those as possible. Something like an 18-13 start looks very possible, which would be a nice step toward a successful season.
That would not be enough to guarantee anything over a long season, but for a team like this, it could make a huge difference.
1. ALLAN STANLEY: The big defenseman cost the Rangers the equivalent of four minor league players worth $40,000 right after World War II. Although fans wanted Allan to play a tougher game, that wasn't his style. The Rangers failed to give Stanley enough time to mature and foolishly traded him to Chicago on Thanksgiving Day eve, 1954. So good was Al that he's now in the Hall of Fame and winner of four Stanley Cup rings – as a Maple Leaf.
2. DAVE KERR: One of the NHL's best goalkeepers during the late 1930's, Davey was so good that he had the honor of being the first NHL player to have his picture on the cover of Time Magazine. After his Rangers won the Stanley Cup in 1940, Kerr asked boss Lester Patrick for a $500 raise. When Lester refused –still in his prime – Kerr quit hockey and never returned.
3. MIKE BOSSY: A four-time Cup-winner with the Islanders, Mike could have been a Ranger. In the 1977 Draft, the Blueshirts had the eighth and thirteen picks. First they went for Lucien DeBlois and then Ron Duguay, The Isles happily snatched Bossy at Number 14.
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 24: Shohei Ohtani #17 and Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers joke on the field prior to Game One of the 2025 World Series presented by Capital One between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Friday, October 24, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Los Angeles Dodgers won a World Series title in the abbreviated 2020 season, doing so with the likes of Clayton Kershaw, Cody Bellinger, Walker Buehler, Justin Turner, Kenley Jansen, and Corey Seager as key parts of their core.
Every last one of those players is now gone, with all but Kershaw having skipped town long before the 2024 season (when the Dodgers also won a World Series). Kershaw stuck around through the end of the 2025 season before hanging up his spikes for good, and he managed to get a ring as part of the 2025 World Series champion Dodgers, too.
The Dodgers franchise has become an absolute juggernaut, the latest iteration of an Evil Empire that Major League Baseball has so often featured during its glory days. With a trio of titles over the last six seasons, they have seized ownership of the league from the likes of the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and San Francisco Giants, staking claim as the behemoth on every single team’s schedule. And if they continue to have their way with the league this season, it’ll be a three-peat for them come October.
So, it’s not at all surprising that a significant plurality of MLB fans in the latest MLB Reacts poll think it’s the Dodgers who will win the 2026 World Series, too, putting together a three-peat on the backs of Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, & Co.
It only took two games for the Dodgers to dispatch the upstart Cincinnati Reds in the first round of last year’s playoffs, an amount of time that makes it hard to even remember the Reds participating on that grand stage. And while the Reds went out and acquired Eugenio Suárez to bolster their offense and can now lean into Sal Stewart for a full season, the Reds face a mountain to climb to even get the chance to take down the Dodgers again at the end of this season.
In fact, the Reds aren’t even on the shortlist of likeliest suitors to tackle the Dodger dynasty. That honor goes to the Toronto Blue Jays, who battled the Dodgers to a scintillating Game 7 just last fall before ultimately dropping the series on a dramatic Will Smith home run.
At least, that’s according to those who responded to the latest MLB Reacts survey.
The revamped New York Mets, a Philadelphia Phillies club reunited with Kyle Schwarber, and a Chicago Cubs club that splurged big to sign Alex Bregman stand as the top competition from the National League side, according to the survey.
The Cincinnati Reds were not among the top contenders to take down the Dodgers, per survey results.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 26: Yordan Alvarez #44 of the Houston Astros bats in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels on Opening Day at Daikin Park on March 26, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hunter Brown was strong in his Opening Day start, but only lasted 4.2 IP due to his high pitch count following 4 walks and 9 strikeouts. A.J. Blubaugh then pitched 2.1 IP in relief, likely giving us a look at how the Astros intend to use their bullpen.
Astros employ effective long relief plan after Brown (9 K's) on Opening Day https://t.co/3BoZ14kOZp
You can call the rule dumb. You can call the rule outdated. However, the rule was properly called on a play that cost Yordan Alvarez a first inning home run because his towering blast hit the roof scaffolding at Daikin Park.
Isaac Paredes is playing first base, Nick Allen is at shortstop and Carlos Correa shifts to third. Joe Espada pinch-ran Allen for Christian Walker after he led off the seventh with a ringing double
OTTAWA, CANADA - MARCH 26: Ben Kindel #81 of the Pittsburgh Penguins scores the game-winning, shoot-out goal against Linus Ullmark #35 of the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on March 26, 2026 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Penguins have had their struggles this season with the shootout, though the worm has turned in the past week with two straight victories in the game deciding gimmick. The problem has been two-fold in that their goalies can’t keep the puck out of the net (opponents are scoring a dreadful 54.2% this season) and their shooters, as of a week ago were only scoring on 24.2% of their attempts. That’s a losing formula on both ends.
As we wrote before, it was as simple as expecting the shootout woes to continue until Pittsburgh found better shooters than they had. Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust are a combined 5-for-19 on the year (26.3%) and that low rate of converting isn’t going to lead to results, regardless of the goaltending woes on the other side. The last week has been aces, the Pens have scored four times on six attempts and only allowed one goal on five opponent tries. Much of the success has been in shaking up the shooters, Ben Kindel took only his second shootout try of the season last night. Newcomer Egor Chinakhov is 3-for-7 on the year with the Pens (42.8%) about doubling up the rest of the team’s percentage. They’ve found better players to take the shots and are now starting to win shootouts (it’s only two in a row, but hey that’s a start compared to the 1-10 record in shootouts at the start).
Kindel is now 2-for-2 this season on shootouts. The TSN feed caught him smiling as he took his attempt last night. This is the type of loose confidence and swagger you need from a shootout player. Pittsburgh should be using Kindel as a shooter every game at this point. He won’t score on all his attempts forever but he’s a lot better of an option than the veterans who have been coming up empty recently.
I don’t often use the Game Score impact card due to how it can be misconceived or analyzed but the one from last night was telling due to how it matched what I saw and how it ties into some ongoing trends. Rickard Rakell has been awesome lately with 14 points in his last 11 games. Erik Karlsson is pulling the wagon to a huge degree. The “fourth” line (even though they’re not deployed or given typical fourth line ice time) is making positive impacts. Bryan Rust is a reliable performer. Stuart Skinner had a great game keeping the team afloat. Kris Letang is struggling, Sam Girard is too while trying to find his way coming back from injury and still relatively new to the team and system. Tommy Novak didn’t grade well last night but has been better recently. All of this was on display last night and has been going that way for a while, reflected nicely by
At this point the team has to seriously question Ville Koivunen’s place in the lineup for this important stretch of the season. Out of 441 forwards across the NHL who have played at least 250 minutes, Koivunen ranks 439th in points/60 with a dreadful 0.45 rate that is below Ryan Reaves and just about everyone else in the league. On the rink Koivunen looks tentative, slow, is muscled off pucks regularly and barely supports play, often hinders it. He does little good away from the puck and has not been able to generate virtually anything with it, which ought to be his strength. The Penguins are in a tough spot given the injuries to Evgeni Malkin, Blake Lizotte and now maybe Sidney Crosby but it’s probably time (or past time even) to consider other options than Koivunen, who just doesn’t look the part right now of an NHL caliber player for a team pushing to make the postseason.
Here are the fastest teams ranked in terms of 20-22 mph bursts. I also included 22+ mph bursts in the 2nd column.
Boston is slowest in East while Calgary is the slowest in the NHL by significant margin. pic.twitter.com/2q9l271M5m
This ties into the above, but dropping Koivunen might make the Pens faster too, which they could probably stand to gain some team speed. Koivunen only has 11 bursts of 20+ mph in his 35 games this season, per NHL Edge. He plays on a line with Justin Brazeau, who himself only has 33 bursts of 20+ in his 54 games. That makes for one of the less explosive lines a team could create. Being fast doesn’t always mean being good and lacking burst doesn’t necessarily tie into an ineffective player, just a matter of all the pieces coming together in the big picture that present opportunities for the team to improve, especially seeing the Pens on the same rink as speedy teams like Carolina, Colorado and Ottawa in recent games. (And Rutger McGroarty, if you were wondering, has 24 bursts in his 20 NHL games).
Now shifting gears to an even worse topic, the dreaded goalie interference drama.
Friedman attempts to explain about how the league thought Karlsson lost a battle with Morgan Barron, creating the goalie contact and why that goal stood. That’s one interpretation, though as always application of rulings is ever inconsistent — for the Penguins and across the NHL.
Personally, I think the bigger issue is Justin Brazeau’s recently disallowed goal against Colorado versus Claude Giroux’s non-interference in last night’s Ottawa game. Both were similar, and if anything Giroux had less of a case of obstructing the goalie than Brazeau (who was dealing with some contact from a defender). It’s difficult if not impossible to make sense of the NHL’s conclusions.
One area worth taking notice about is the frequency of coach Dan Muse’s challenges. The Penguins’ nine goalie interference challenges lead the league by a wide margin, no other team has challenged for GI more than five times.
no one has challenged for goalie interference more than the Penguins this year — Boston, Calgary, Chicago, and Ottawa are tied for second with five challenges this year.
Behind the Penguins -9 in these challenges, the Panthers are second-worst after going 0-4
Is Muse, as a rookie, over-eager to try and reverse a call? He obviously sees things he thinks is interference, yet the league hasn’t agreed a single time. Not sure if the correction is to limit challenges to the most ‘obvious’ of cases, with the caveat being that it’s a major issue to know what even is ‘obvious’ these days. Credit Muse for having the conviction to keep challenging when he disagrees even though at some point internal choices might have to be adjusted given how it’s been going. Just some food for thought, since basically no one can provide logical answers at this point.
St. Louis Blues pro scout and AHL GM Kevin Maxwell and VP of hockey operations Peter Chiarelli are leaving the club to pursue other opportunities, TSN’s Darren Dreger reports.
According to Dreger, Maxwell is expected to return to the New York Rangers in a management role, while Chiarelli is one of the candidates to replace Barry Trotz as GM of the Nashville Predators.
Maxwell has been with the Blues organization since 2022. He’s worked as a pro scout and the GM of the Springfield Thunderbirds since his arrival. Prior to joining the Blues, Maxwell was the long-time director of professional scouting and a pro scout for the Rangers, spending 14 seasons with the club.
The 65-year-old has worked in scouting departments with NHL teams since 1988.
As for Chiarelli, he’s been with the Blues since 2019, starting as a senior advisor for two years before shifting into his role as VP of hockey operations for the past five seasons.
Prior to joining the Blues organization, Chiarelli was the GM of the Edmonton Oilers, but his time there went south fairly quickly, as he was fired before the end of his fourth season.
Before joining the Oilers, Chiarelli was the GM of the Boston Bruins, leading them to the Stanley Cup in 2011.
The 61-year-old has worked in the NHL since 1999, starting with the Ottawa Senators.
With Doug Armstrong becoming the full-time president of hockey operations and Alexander Steen as GM, moves within the front office were anticipated, but now the Blues will need to undergo plenty of housecleaning.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
There are eight games on the diamond today, and I’ve got a trio of MLB player props to cover you through the night.
My top MLB picks start with Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho, and Los Angeles Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel rounds out the betting card for Friday, March 27.
Best MLB player props today
Player
Pick
Odds
Daulton Varsho
Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI
-135
Heriberto Hernandez
Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI
-125
Nolan Schanuel
Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI
-105
Daulton Varsho Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI (-130)
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho posted a rock-solid .355 wOBA and .865 OPS against righties last season, and Athletics starter Luis Severino finished the year with a 4.80 xFIP against left-handed hitters.
Varsho has been on a heater during Spring Training, racking up 19 hits, 12 runs, and 14 RBI while posting a mammoth 1.246 OPS across 53 plate appearances.
Time: 7:07 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MLBN, Sportsnet
Heriberto Hernandez Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI (-125)
Miami Marlins outfielder Heriberto Hernandez posted a .976 OPS this spring after recording a respectable .782 mark against lefties last season.
Hernandez is projected to hit in the middle of the lineup and also draws a favorable matchup against Colorado Rockies southpaw Kyle Freeland tonight.
Freeland has allowed a .361 wOBA to right-handed hitters, posting a 4.98 ERA and 4.78 xFIP over the past three years.
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MIAM, COLR
Nolan Schanuel Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI (-105)
Los Angeles Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel went deep in the season opener yesterday, and the 2023 first-round pick projects to return to the middle of the lineup again in a neutral matchup against Houston Astros right-handed pitcher Mike Burrows (career 3.90 ERA and 3.95 xFIP across 99 1/3 MLB innings).
In addition to being positioned to rack up counting stats, Schanuel has worked on adding bat speed during the offseason. Expect another big performance from the Halos’ youngster at Daikin Park.
Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Apple TV
2026 Transparency record
Prop picks: 3-1, +1.9 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Los Angeles Dodgers (1-0) face the Arizona Diamondbacks (0-1) in the second game of their series, with the Dodgers favored by a 1.5-run spread and a moneyline of -250. Starting pitchers are Ryne Nelson for Arizona, who had a 3.39 ERA in 2025, and Emmet Sheehan for Los Angeles, whose 2025 ERA was 2.82.
How to Watch Arizona Diamondbacks vs Los Angeles Dodgers
Baseball: Atlanta Braves Jason Heyward (22) in action, at bat vs Chicago Cubs. Atlanta, GA 4/5/2010 CREDIT: Bob Rosato (Photo by Bob Rosato /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X84007 TK1 R1 F20 )
Opening Day is often thought of as a beginning for, well, obvious reasons. But, sometimes, I guess it’s an ending as well. Jason Heyward has announced his retirement after a 16-season MLB career:
Jason Heyward has officially announced his retirement from Major League Baseball after 16 seasons.
In his retirement, he plans to focus on the Jason Heyward Baseball Academy, his youth development program that mentors young athletes. Aside from baseball, Heyward will continue to…
For many of us, Heyward’s career was a big part of Braves fandom. His hype, amazing first MLB game, and overall awesome rookie season dovetailed with me going from a guy who largely just watched all the games to being really interested in how everything in baseball worked. His Braves tenure overlapped with a resurgence in the team’s fortunes after a few years wandering in the wilderness after the division title streak ended, though he also had to endure the disappointing conclusions to the 2011 and 2014 seasons. And, of course, his trade to the Cardinals heralded the first (and perhaps only, if we’re lucky) demonstrative Atlanta Braves rebuild.
Heyward put up nearly 20 fWAR in his five seasons as a Brave, matching his rookie season’s 4.7 with another 4.7 in his final season pre-trade. His best season actually came immediately after he was dealt to the Cardinals — 5.6 fWAR. He he actually hit better as a rookie, which was his best offensive season overall (134 wRC+). However, his defense didn’t rate highly that year as compared to the next decade-plus of his career, hence the higher overall performace in 2015. His career included five Gold Gloves, an All-Star selection in his rookie season, and a World Series title in 2016 with the Cubs — despite his lackluster performance that year for his third team.
His career descended into more a role player/clubhouse guy vein from 2021-onward, though he did have a nice half-season while outhitting his xwOBA a bunch for the Dodgers in 2023. He’ll now put some of those experiences to work in mentoring the next generation of athletes at his eponymous academy.
Thanks for the memories, Jason Heyward. We’ll always have that amazing debut game against the Cubs in 2010. I know it’s a baseball moment I won’t ever forget.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MARCH 30: Donte DiVincenzo #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket against Ausar Thompson #9 of the Detroit Pistons in the first quarter at Target Center on March 30, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Pistons 123-104. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Detroit Pistons Date: March 28th, 2026 Time: 4:30 PM CDT Location: Target Center Television Coverage: ABC, FanDuel Sports Network – North Radio Coverage: Wolves App, iHeart Radio
There are regular-season wins, and then there are the kind of wins that feel like they belong in a 30-for-30 intro montage. Wednesday night against the Houston Rockets was that kind of game for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Not just because of how it ended, but because of how many different ways it should have ended before it ever got there.
This wasn’t just another March game. This game was about standings math, playoff positioning, and psychological survival all wrapped into one. It was two teams entering with identical records, deadlocked in the Western Conference at the five seed, staring each other down with the kind of stakes that don’t need a playoff logo to feel like a playoff game. The winner gets separation. The loser gets anxiety.
And Minnesota walked into it shorthanded.
No Anthony Edwards. No Ayo Dosunmu.
Which meant renewed responsibility for Mike Conley Jr., more on-the-fly adjustments, and a general sense that this was going to be one of those nights where everything had to go right just to have a chance. Meanwhile, Houston rolled in with Kevin Durant, size, athleticism, and every reason to believe this was their moment to seize control of the standings and snatch the tie-breaker with the Wolves.
For about 44 minutes, Minnesota didn’t just survive. They controlled the game. The Wolves looked like the team with the clearer identity. They dictated the tempo, leaned into their physicality, and played through their size in a way that has become their most reliable offensive blueprint. The result? 63 points in the paint.
Defensively, they were connected. Rotations were sharp. The effort level, something that completely vanished during that California spiral, was back where it needed to be. The lead never ballooned into a blowout, but it lived in that steady 4-to-8-point range, the kind that tells you one team is just a little more in control than the other.
Then late in the game, Minnesota stretched it.
Eleven-point lead. Three and a half minutes left.
And if you’ve watched this team long enough, you already know what comes next.
This is where the game turned from a basketball contest into something closer to a psychological endurance test.
Minnesota gave up a 12–0 run. The offense tightened. The ball movement stalled. The rhythm disappeared. And layered on top of that, the Wolves found themselves on the receiving end of a whistle pattern that, let’s just say, tilted things in a very specific direction.
Houston finished with 25 free throws. Minnesota got 10. That’s not just a discrepancy. That’s a storyline, especially when the Wolves are living in the paint all night. Then came the moment that flipped everything: a flagrant foul on Julius Randle running through a screen, which turned a tense finish into a full-on momentum avalanche. Free throws, possession, chaos.
The lead evaporated, and suddenly, everyone in Target Center found themsslves back in that familiar Wolves nightmare, the one where they snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Except this time, there was a twist.
Down one, late, with everything unraveling, Julius Randle rose to the occasion and forced a massive bucket to put Minnesota back up by one. It’s the kind of shot that feels like it should be the story. The kind that usually becomes the defining moment, but Scott Foster and his crew had other ideas.
Houston’s final trip down the floor required an inbounds pass, and the refs took the opportunity to turn a Sengun flop into a Rudy Gobert foul-out, sending the Rockets to the free-throw line for the game-tying point.
Overtime.
And if that final minute of the 4th quarter felt like survival, what followed felt like punishment.
In overtime, Minnesota was basically playing a game of musical chairs with its rotation.
No Edwards. No Ayo. Rudy Gobert fould out. Jaden McDaniels injured.
Then Naz Reid gets hit with a charge call that somehow gets upheld despite Alperen Sengun very clearly not being set and then gets ejected for good measure.
So now you’re down basically… everyone.
Houston opened overtime on a 13–0 run. Minnesota has been outscored 26-2 over the course of six minutes. The Target Center crowd is already halfway out the door, fans muttering, typing the mental postgame recap that ends with “same old Wolves.”
Except… it wasn’t.
Because out of absolutely nowhere, with a lineup that felt like it had been assembled five minutes earlier, Minnesota rips off 15 straight points.
Not a couple of lucky buckets. Not a mini run. A full-on reversal of reality.
The energy flipped. The defense tightened. The shots fell. The Rockets look stunned. And the Wolves, who had every excuse in the world to fold, just kept coming.
Down two in the final seconds, Durant got to the line (because of course he did) with a chance to swing things back.
Miss.
The subsequent intentional miss goes nowhere.
And just like that, the Wolves walk away with a win that makes absolutely no sense on paper and somehow means everything in the standings.
Why This Matters More Than It Should
This wasn’t just about beating Houston. This was about survival in a stretch that could have buried their season.
After that disastrous California trip where they couldn’t defend anybody and looked completely disconnected, the Wolves have now won four out of five games without Anthony Edwards.
That’s not accidental. That’s identity. They’ve rediscovered what works: defense, physicality, connected offense. Not hero ball. Not hoping Ant saves them. Actual structure.
And now they’ve put themselves in position to do something that felt impossible a few days ago.
Detroit, and the Trap That’s Always There
As if Wednesday night wasn’t enough of a test, now comes the part where this team has historically failed.
They get to face a Detroit Pistons team missing their best player in Cade Cunningham, on an early-tip weekend game, with a chance to grab real momentum and go 3–0 through a brutal stretch.
It’s the amalgamation of every scenario this team has fumbled all season.
Keys to the Game
1. Recommit to That Defensive Identity
What we saw against Houston, and before that against Boston, was the version of Minnesota that actually works. It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t about one guy going nuclear. It was about five guys moving on a string, shrinking driving lanes, contesting everything, and forcing opponents to grind through possessions like they’re dragging a sled uphill.
That has to carry over. This team hasn’t shown success in winning shootouts. Their margin for error lives on the defensive end, and if they want to finish this gauntlet 3–0, it starts with bringing that same suffocating, connected effort for a full 48 minutes.
2. Dominate the Paint Like You Mean It
The Wolves didn’t just edge Houston inside, they imposed their will with 63 points in the paint, and it changed the entire tone of the game. That’s not just a stat you glance at. It’s the identity they need to lean into when Edwards isn’t there to bail them out.
Now they get a Detroit team anchored by Jalen Duren. This is where Rudy Gobert has to be a monster again. Every rebound, every loose ball, every shot at the rim needs to be his territory.
Julius Randle can’t have another Portland-type night where the effort comes and goes. This is a grown-man game. You either win the paint or you spend the night chasing.
3. Keep the Ball Moving
One of the weird silver linings of the Anthony Edwards absence has been how the offense has opened up. The ball has moved more. Players are cutting. Decisions are quicker. There’s less of that “everyone stand around and watch Ant cook” dynamic.
That has to continue.
Randle has actually struck a nice balance lately of attacking when needed, but also kicking out and trusting teammates. That’s the version of him that makes this offense dangerous. The moment this devolves into isolation-heavy, slow-developing possessions, you’re playing right into Detroit’s hands.
Minnesota doesn’t need a hero tonight. They need five guys making the right read, over and over again, until the defense cracks.
4. Push the Pace When the Opportunity Is There
Without Edwards, the Wolves don’t have that same instant offense button, but they do have ways to manufacture easy points. And it starts with getting out in transition.
Players like Ayo Dosunmu and Bones Highland can push tempo, collapse the defense, and either finish or kick out for clean looks. That’s where this team can steal 10–12 easy points that don’t require half-court execution.
And against a Detroit team that wants to play physical and grind, those transition buckets are like cheat codes. They break rhythm, flip momentum, and turn a close game into a manageable one.
5. Don’t Beat Yourselves (Because You Almost Just Did)
This is the one that matters most, because we just watched it nearly cost them everything.
Turnovers. Missed free throws. Mental lapses. Those three-minute avalanches where the entire operation falls apart and suddenly a comfortable lead is gone or a close game becomes a massive hole. It happened at the end of regulation against Houston. It happened again at the start of overtime. The Wolves were incredibly fortunate to survive it.
Detroit won’t care that Minnesota just pulled off one of the wildest wins of the season. If the Wolves give them those same openings, this game flips in a heartbeat.
So this is about discipline. Value every possession. Secure rebounds. Hit your free throws. Make the simple play.
It’s one thing to lose because the other team is better. It’s another to lose because you handed it to them.
The Bigger Picture: One Win Away From Something Real
A few days ago, this team looked like it was spiraling: defense gone, identity gone, standings slipping, everything trending in the wrong direction at the worst possible time.
Now?
They’ve taken down Boston. They’ve survived Houston in a game that should’ve broken them three different times. They’ve won four out of five without Edwards and somehow rediscovered the version of themselves that actually has postseason teeth.
Yet this is the exact kind of spot where the old Wolves fold.
Emotional high. Undermanned opponent. Chance to stack a third straight win in a brutal stretch. Early tip on a weekend. Every possible ingredient for a letdown.
If this team is serious. If this stretch is actually the beginning of something and not just another hill on the roller coaster, then this is the game where they prove it.
Because the next rung on the ladder is right there again. Not handed to them. Not guaranteed. But right there within reach.
And after everything they just went through… it would be a shame to fall off it now.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cubs fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Earlier this week in the SB Nation Reacts survey, I asked you to grade Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer’s offseason.
Hoyer made two significant acquisitions, signing free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman and trading for starting pitcher Edward Cabrera. He also added some veteran relievers and upgraded the bench.
The overwhelming majority of voters gave Hoyer at least a “B” grade:
A slight majority, 51 percent, graded Hoyer “B” — but a full 38 percent (myself included) gave him an “A” grade. The rest were split between “C,” “D,” and “F.” Honestly, I don’t understand the failing grade, even if it’s only one percent of all respondents. I’ve never been a big fan of Hoyer but this offseason he clearly upgraded the team.
Yes, we did not see the results too well in Thursday’s opener. Of course, that’s just one of 162 games and every team’s going to have a few clunkers in a long season. The Cubs still can take two of three from the Nationals, and that’s what I called for in the series preview. Do that and they’ll be off to a good start. For one thing, the weather Saturday and Sunday is supposed to be better than Thursday’s windy, cold opener.
Here are the results of the two national survey questions asked this week.
The Dodgers certainly got off to a good start Thursday evening, thrashing the Diamondbacks 8-2. Former Cub Kyle Tucker had his first Dodgers hit and RBI.
The Blue Jays, of course, came within inches of unseating the Dodgers last fall. Toronto has returned a powerful team with strong pitching and they could easily make the World Series again. It’s good to see that at least some fans think the Cubs have a chance to win the World Series this year. That’s what I called for in my season predictions. I’ll stand by that call.
WORCESTER, Mass. – The Boston Red Sox paid Kristian Campbell early last April because the organization believed in the 2023 fourth-rounder after his meteoric minor league rise.
His MLB experiment came crashing down after just 11 weeks in the show last season. Campbell struggled defensively at second base and hit just .223 in 67 games. The Red Sox sent him to Triple-A Worcester to reset his environment and allow the young talent to refine his offensive approach and find his defensive strengths.
Entering 2026, Campbell returns to Worcester with a settled field to convince the big league club that he can contribute again at a high level.
“It’s really comfortable because this is my second time, second season being in that environment,” Campbell said at WooSox Media Day on Thursday. “My first season, I was kind of all over the place between three levels. Last year, I debuted with all new guys. This year I’m with the guys that I was with the very first year again. So I’m really in a comfortable spot to compete, get better, to work on things I need to work on.”
“Everybody comes to Boston to win. Nobody really comes to Boston to mess around.”
Part of his growth will include more time in the outfield, an area he gained some minor league experience in before, and where he could excel given the way his Georgia Tech coaches raved about his athleticism. The 23-year-old must find his true home defensively, so he’s more than willing to move around in the best interests of the Red Sox.
“I really love the outfield,” Campbell said. “Obviously, I don’t really have that much time out there considering I started out in the infield, but being able to play everything. Obviously, I would like to focus on the outfield right now because that’s what I’ve been working on the most. And I really like the outfield to be honest. You know, if they need me or want me to play the infield, I can always go back to it if they want me to. But I like the outfield. So that’s what I’ve been working on the most right now.”
Whether he eventually finds his way as an infielder or outfielder, he finds himself pretty far down the depth chart right now, fighting a roster logjam. With that in mind, Campbell might be a trade candidate. He spoke to the “scary” realities of moving organizations at the trade deadline in 2025. But he stuck around this offseason and can now shift his focus to performing at Polar Park.
“You don’t really have to worry about anything right now,” Campbell added. “Just worry about competing every day, putting up good at bats, playing good defense, doing the little things right. Whenever the season keeps going, you gotta play all 162 games. You look back and if you do everything right in the beginning, you’re gonna have a good season to look back on.”
Offensively, Campbell ran into trouble when he strayed from his natural profile that ignited his fantastic 2024 run. In 2025, he chased too much. He didn’t pull the ball. He didn’t make enough hard contact. Now, restoring his roots at the plate and on the bases shapes his expectations for 2026.
“Not trying to do too much, just going back to my hit and running game,” Campbell explained. “Kind of like a throwback to what I did in college and kind of what I did when I first got into the system a couple years ago. Just seeing the ball deep, hitting it, keeping the ball low, not really trying to force too many home runs or try to force too much in general. Just let it happen naturally. Don’t try to force it out or do anything crazy. So just be simple and let the accidents be home runs like I grew up.”
Campbell continued: “That’s pretty much my approach going into it. And I’ve been working on it and trying to get my head around it. But that’s what I want to do. I mean, obviously getting bigger and stronger. You want to show how much power we have sometimes, but sometimes it can play against you. And I feel like it plays against me sometimes when I try to force something to happen versus letting it happen naturally. You know, like three years ago, I wasn’t as big and I wasn’t even trying to hit a home run because I knew I probably couldn’t. So I was always just trying to keep the ball low, get my hits, get my singles and doubles. Really doubles, try to get a bunch of doubles and let the home runs happen if they happen. And I’m just trying to get back to that approach and not try to do too much too fast. That’s the main thing.”
Campbell knows the expectations and the pressure of winning in Boston that will meet him when he eventually finds his way back to the big leagues. He appreciated that aspect of the Red Sox clubhouse the last few weeks in Fort Myers and knows what’s at stake in 2026 and beyond.
“People take it really serious,” Campbell shared. “Everybody comes to Boston to win. Nobody really comes to Boston to mess around. I feel like I really realized that last year and this year too, that all the guys that came in know what it’s like playing against Boston because they weren’t on the team before. And they take it really serious and they really enjoy being around and being in a new environment. So it’s really easy to connect with them and for them to jump in and be a part of the plan immediately is big. So it’s really exciting and the guys we’ve got, all the new guys we’ve got are really cool. So I’m excited to watch them start this season out strong and watch the team start off strong [on Opening Day]. So yeah, it’ll be fun.”
Campbell and the WooSox start the 2026 season Friday against the Syracuse Mets.
On a relatively quiet Friday night in the NHL, one matchup carries major weight in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Detroit Red Wings travel to Buffalo to face the division-leading Sabres in a game with significant postseason implications.
Detroit enters the contest trailing the Ottawa Senators by two points and the New York Islanders by three points for the second wild card spot in the East. This makes Friday’s game critical if the Red Wings hope to remain in the playoff hunt.
While Kevin McGonigle is dazzling on the diamond, the Red Wings have given their fans little to cheer about with a brutal 6-9-3 record over their last 18 games. That slump has caused their playoff chances to drop sharply and puts added pressure on their final 11 games of the season.
This will be the third and final meeting between Detroit and Buffalo, with the Sabres winning both previous matchups. Since their last meeting in mid-November, Buffalo has only improved. Over their past 15 games, the Sabres have gone 12-1-2, the best record in the league during that span. They have combined explosive offense with one of the league’s top defensive performances, pushing them to first place in the Atlantic Division and establishing them as a serious Stanley Cup contender.
Buffalo will face a Detroit team that is desperate for a turnaround as the Red Wings are overdue for a momentum shift and will look to finally break through against the Sabres. Much will depend on their returning players, who have started to make an impact.
Andrew Copp has four points in his last five games, while captain Dylan Larkin scored in his return and will aim to lead by example again. Detroit is also hoping for more production from David Perron, who has yet to register a point in five games since rejoining the team at the trade deadline.
Buffalo’s recent dominance has been fueled by the standout play of Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin. Both performed well internationally at the Olympics and have carried that momentum back to the NHL. Dahlin has been especially impressive, recording 29 points in his last 22 games, while Thompson has maintained a point-per-game pace over his last 19 contests.
Detroit Red Wings’ Expected Line Combinations vs Buffalo (Friday)
Finnie – Larkin – Raymond
DeBrincat – Compher – Kane
Kasper – Copp – Appleton
Perron - Dries - van Riemsdyk
Edvinsson – Seider
Chiarot – Faulk
Johansson - Benard-Docker
Gibson
Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Daulton Varsho
Heriberto Hernandez
Nolan Schanuel
