WST president Barry Hearn says ‘sentiment’ played a part
500 seats to be added to the theatre in £45m refit
Barry Hearn concedes he has let his heart rule his head for the first time in his career after striking a remarkable new long-term deal to keep snooker’s world championship at the Crucible Theatre – before hinting that his son Eddie was among those who were against the decision.
The tournament has been played at the 980-seat venue in Sheffield since 1977, and it will remain there until at least 2045 with an option to extend to 2050 after World Snooker Tour and Sheffield city council agreed a contract to ensure snooker’s most prestigious event will stay at its spiritual home.
Mar 21, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Former Texas Rangers player Ivan Pudge Rodriguez looks on during the second half of the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the LA Clippers at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Good morning.
Dave Sessions writes that while the Texas Rangers were beating the Kansas City Royals in a dress rehearsal at The Shed last night, Rule 5 reliever Carter Baumler found out he made the squad while on the mound.
Evan Grant writes that Kumar Rocker was the victor of camp’s most publicized battle as he earned the final spot in the rotation.
Grant writes that despite overtures to make Langford the everyday center fielder, the Rangers have opted for Evan Carter to man to role with Langford still playing there on days where Carter sits against lefties.
Grant notes that the rotation could be further bolstered as the season progresses as Cody Bradford and Jordan Montgomery continue to work their way back.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 12: Lucas Giolito #54 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after being taken out of the game during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on September 12, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I had a mild heart attack after searching for Lucas Giolito news. Not going to repeat it, but the robots believe a signing has occurred already. There’s no reason to feed the algorithms any further. If content farms are going to wish something into existence, then let me tell you about Shohei Ohtani opting out of his contract to join the Braves on a league minimum deal. There, let some Dodger fan do a double take.
The Braves have lost a fourth starting pitching option before Opening Day. This may bring Martin Perez back into the picture. It also might have the Braves scrambling for more bodies. So let’s take a brief look at what Lucas Giolito brings to the table.
Last year he avoided the HR/FB monster in Boston to a 3.41/4.17/4.39 (80/99/110) line. He got 2.15 strikeouts per walk. He has a 93 MPH fastball at 33 years old. Projections have him in the 0.7-1.5 WAR range. He throws fastballs around 48 percent of the time, and breaking stuff around 30 percent. There may be more there, but those are some top-line numbers.
You know who he sounds like? An older, luckier Bryce Elder. Bryce was devoured by the HR/FB monster in Atlanta to a 5.30/4.55/4.04 (125/112/98) line. He got more strikeouts at a 2.56 strikeouts per each walk. He has a 93 MPH fastball at 27 years old. Projections have him in the 0.8-1.7 WAR range. The pitch selection is slightly fewer changeups etc. but you get the idea. MLB Trade Rumors has Giolito getting 2 years at 32 million. He’s not getting that from the Braves, even in the state they’re in. It would probably be closer to 5-10 million per year.
So should the Braves be interested in an older, perhaps luckier Bryce Elder? Can they afford not to, though? Pitchers are dropping like flies here. The Braves have a somewhat light schedule (as far as competition, not volume) in March and April. Maybe they bump along the best they can, pick up a marginal-type starter and see what’s available for trade in June. Or they can sign Giolito, warts and all, and still see what’s out there in June.
There aren’t good choices when you lose four starting pitcher options (and maybe a fifth with Lopez) before the season starts. They may have to hold their nose at some point and bring in someone. Only question now is which one.
Mar 15, 2026; Clearwater, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott (5) singles against the Atlanta Braves in the second inning during spring training at BayCare Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Bryson Stott had himself a productive spring this year. The Phillies second baseman hit .366 with a 1.072 OPS across 16 Grapefruit League appearances. Spring training stats are not a surefire precursor to a successful season, but in this particular case, Stott’s success continues a trend of improved hitting dating back to last season.
Stott hit .294 with an .855 OPS in 60 games after the All-Star break in 2025, and that’s including a brutal month of July where he hit just .194 in 20 games. If you look from August through the end of the season, Stott was hitting .310 with an .880 OPS.
There are more reasons to believe the improvement is real in addition to those traditional back of the baseball card numbers too. Stott’s weighted on-base average (wOBA) improved on both fastballs and breaking balls from August on, and in the case of fastballs it was a significant increase.
Stott’s expected batting average on both pitch types also hit their season highs in August and September, offering dramatic increases from the early season months.
What this means is that Stott began impacting the ball more and at a higher rate of occurrence, leading to more well hit balls and base hits in general. He credits lowering his hands and understanding his limitations to the opposite field as major reasons for his success as he described to the Athletic’s Charlotte Varnes.
That ability to impact the ball has carried over so far into 2026, as Stott’s average exit velocity in spring training was 92.5 MPH, which if it happened over the course of a full season, would be the first time he had an average exit velocity that started with a 9. Stott has routinely been among the bottom of the league when it comes to hitting the ball hard with a career average exit velocity of 87.7.
Now of course, this is spring training and we’re only talking about 16 games and 48 plate appearances. It’s hardly reasonable to conclude anything for certain from such a small sample size. Even with Stott’s second half improvements last season, he still only had average exit velocities under 90 in his two months of greatest improvement. But Stott doesn’t need to be someone who rips the ball all the time either, as his skill set leads to being more of a contact hitter who sprays the ball over the field rather than swinging for the fences. That said however, he still needs to be better at impacting the ball, something he’s been able to accomplish since the end of last season.
Time will tell whether Stott is truly a new hitter or not. Once again, this spring isn’t a confirmation, but rather a continuation of a trend that started in August. It will be interesting to see if Stott’s improvements hold up as the league will no doubt adjust back at him as the regular season gets under way.
So, do you buy in to Bryson Stott’s improvement? Has he finally found the secret to unlocking more of his offensive potential? Or will all of this prove to be a mirage once pitchers find a new weakness to exploit?
SARASOTA, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: Kyle Bradish #38 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches during the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a spring training game at Ed Smith Stadium on March 11, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Congratulations to all of Birdland. Opening Day is just two days away. We made it to the start of 2026.
As our Tyler Young outlined yesterday, the Orioles’ time in Sarasota gave us plenty of clarity about some things. And yet, there are plenty of aspects of this Orioles roster that we want to see put to the test in the games that actually matter.
The Orioles are one of the most changed teams in the American League as they look to bounce back from the profound disappointment of the 2025 season. In comes new manager Craig Albernaz, new star 1B Pete Alonso and other big veteran additions in Taylor Ward, Shane Baz, Chris Bassitt and Ryan Helsley.
The first month of the 2026 season will give us the first glimpses as to whether this team is ready to return to contention or if this roster’s holes will again prove insurmountable. And yet, the beginning of a new season is supposed to offer hope and a chance to learn about the newest iteration of the O’s. With that in mind, here are four things to look forward to in the upcoming first month of Baltimore baseball.
1. A hot start from the Orioles
The Orioles want a chance to prove that the disastrous start to the 2025 season was a complete anomaly. The schedule makers gave them the opportunity to do just that with a favorable opening slate of games across March and April.
The first series of the season sees the Orioles welcome the Twins to Camden Yards, as the two biggest sellers at the 2025 trade deadline square off in Baltimore. Minnesota is entering the early stages of a rebuild, and FanGraphs projects the Twins to finish fourth in the AL Central with a 23.8% chance of making the playoffs. In terms of easy opening series, only a few teams present less of a threat than the Twins.
Things don’t get all that much tougher across the rest of the Orioles’ first 1o series of the year. FanGraphs gives the O’s a 52.1% chance to make the postseason. Of their first ten opponents, only the Red Sox (60%) head into the new season with better odds to play October baseball. Next highest is the Pirates at 47.3%, though the schedule lines up such that the Orioles shouldn’t have to face reigning NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes.
Most of the Orioles’ early opponents fall in the category of “fighting to get above .500,” as the O’s will welcome the Rangers, Giants, Astros and Diamondbacks to Baltimore while traveling to face the Guardians and Royals. The Orioles also get an early trip to the South Side of Chicago to take on a White Sox team most assume to be the worst in the AL.
A winning record in April won’t guarantee a winning season, but a slow start can doom a team—as we saw last season. In the Orioles’ two most recent playoff seasons, they combined to go 38-19 (.667). Last year, the O’s opened the season 12-18 on their way to a losing record. This year, Baltimore should get back to winning ways early thanks to a favorable schedule.
2. The new look rotation in action
The Orioles may not have added an ace in the offseason, but there’s little doubt that this rotation is significantly better than what they had last season. After all, Zach Eflin was the Opening Day starter last year; this year, he’s the O’s No. 5 starter.
This Orioles rotation has been hailed as the best ever assembled under Mike Elias. However, this group still has something to prove. Trevor Rogers will look to prove that he can sustain his excellent 2025 performance over a whole season. Kyle Bradish will want to show that he’s fully back to his 2023 form after returning from Tommy John surgery with a strong, six-start cameo last year. Shane Baz and Chris Bassitt will look to prove they were the right depth additions to round out the rotation.
This group should be day and night compared to the Charlie Morton, Tomoyuki Sugano days of yesteryear. The favorable early schedule should give this rotation the stage to show how far this pitching staff has come in the span of a year.
3. How Alby manages the 1B, DH and C at-bats
The signing of Alonso and the long-term financial commitment to Samuel Basallo created a potential logjam at 1B and C. Albernaz now has the pleasure of trying to figure out how Alonso, Basallo, Ryan Mountcastle and Adley Rutschman can all help the Orioles play winning baseball in 2026.
Part of this headache was “solved” as a side effect of the Jordan Westburg injury. With Westburg out until at least May, Coby Mayo spent all of spring training earning the Opening Day start at 3B—and in turn taking him out of the equation at 1B. That still leaves four players vying for playing time at three spots.
Common sense says that Alonso will get the Opening Day start at first, with Rutschman behind the plate and Basallo at DH, leaving RMC as a bench bat and late inning defensive replacement. Then, against LHPs, Alonso will slide to DH, Mountcastle will step in at 1B and Basallo will assume a traditional backup catcher role in the dugout.
However, if managing a team were as simple as following common sense, you wouldn’t need 10+ years of major league coaching experience to land in the first-base dugout at Camden Yards. Will Alby prioritize getting RMC’s better glove in the lineup against more than just lefties? Will the lack of a third catcher influence how often Basallo and Rutschman start together? These are the questions Alby will look to answer over his first 10 series as Orioles manager.
4. Alby’s return to Cleveland
At every opportunity this offseason, the Orioles’ new manager has spoken glowingly about friend and former boss, Stephen Vogt. Albernaz will get the chance to square off against the reigning two-time AL Manager of the Year and his former employer, the Guardians, when the O’s visit Cleveland in mid-April.
While the matchup will certainly be emotional for the Orioles new skipper, it also gives him and his new team a chance to prove they can win the type of games that playoff teams win. On paper, the O’s are more talented than the reigning AL Central champions. However, Vogt has made his name as a manager through exceeding expectations and minimizing his team’s perceived shortcomings. Albernaz has a similar task with the Orioles; beating his friend and mentor would be a strong early sign that he’s up for the challenge.
How will things shake out during the 2026 MLB season?
Here are predictions from SNY staff and contributors for playoff teams, World Series matchups and winners, and the major awards...
Chelsea Janes, SNY MLB Insider
NL East champ: Mets NL Central champ: Cubs NL West champ: Dodgers 1st NL Wild Card: Phillies 2nd NL Wild Card: Diamondbacks 3rd NL Wild Card: Braves AL East champ: Yankees AL Central champ: Tigers AL West champ: Mariners 1st AL Wild Card: Red Sox 2nd AL Wild Card: Blue Jays 3rd AL Wild Card: Orioles NLCS: Dodgers over Mets ALCS: Yankees over Mariners World Series: Dodgers over Yankees NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani AL MVP: Bobby Witt Jr. NL Cy Young: Paul Skenes AL Cy Young: Garrett Crochet NL Rookie of the Year: JJ Wetherholt AL Rookie of the Year: Kazuma Okamoto
Todd Zeile, SNY Mets Analyst
NL East champ: Mets NL Central champ: Reds NL West champ: Dodgers 1st NL Wild Card: Braves 2nd NL Wild Card: Brewers 3rd NL Wild Card: Padres AL East champ: Yankees AL Central champ: Guardians AL West champ: Mariners 1st AL Wild Card: Red Sox 2nd AL Wild Card: Blue Jays 3rd AL Wild Card: Rangers NLCS: Mets over Dodgers ALCS: Yankees over Red Sox World Series: Mets over Yankees NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani AL MVP: Aaron Judge NL Cy Young: Paul Skenes AL Cy Young: Tarik Skubal NL Rookie of the Year: Carson Benge AL Rookie of the Year: Trey Yesavage
Jerry Blevins, SNY Mets Analyst
NL East champ: Phillies NL Central champ: Cubs NL West champ: Padres 1st NL Wild Card: Dodgers 2nd NL Wild Card: Mets 3rd NL Wild Card: Giants AL East champ: Red Sox AL Central champ: Tigers AL West champ: Mariners 1st AL Wild Card: Yankees 2nd AL Wild Card: Orioles 3rd AL Wild Card: Guardians NLCS: Mets over Padres ALCS: Tigers over Mariners World Series: Mets over Tigers NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani AL MVP: Bobby Witt Jr. NL Cy Young: Paul Skenes AL Cy Young: Garrett Crochet NL Rookie of the Year: Nolan McLean AL Rookie of the Year: Kevin McGonigle
Jim Duquette, SNY Mets Analyst
NL East champ: Mets NL Central champ: Cubs NL West champ: Dodgers 1st NL Wild Card: Phillies 2nd NL Wild Card: Brewers 3rd NL Wild Card: Giants AL East champ: Yankees AL Central champ: Tigers AL West champ: Mariners 1st AL Wild Card: Red Sox 2nd AL Wild Card: Blue Jays 3rd AL Wild Card: Orioles NLCS: Cubs over Mets ALCS: Yankees over Tigers World Series: Cubs over Yankees NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani AL MVP: Aaron Judge NL Cy Young: Freddy Peralta AL Cy Young: Garrett Crochet NL Rookie of the Year: Nolan McLean AL Rookie of the Year: Kevin McGonigle
Sal Licata, BNNY Host
NL East champ: Mets NL Central champ: Cubs NL West champ: Dodgers 1st NL Wild Card: Braves 2nd NL Wild Card: Phillies 3rd NL Wild Card: Giants AL East champ: Yankees AL Central champ: Tigers AL West champ: Astros 1st AL Wild Card: Mariners 2nd AL Wild Card: Red Sox 3rd AL Wild Card: Blue Jays NLCS: Mets over Braves ALCS: Yankees over Astros World Series: Mets over Yankees NL MVP: Juan Soto AL MVP: Aaron Judge NL Cy Young: Paul Skenes AL Cy Young: Bryan Woo NL Rookie of the Year: Carson Benge AL Rookie of the Year: Chase DeLauter
John Harper, SNY Contributor
NL East champ: Mets NL Central champ: Cubs NL West champ: Dodgers 1st NL Wild Card: Phillies 2nd NL Wild Card: Padres 3rd NL Wild Card: Pirates AL East champ: Blue Jays AL Central champ: Tigers AL West champ: Mariners 1st AL Wild Card: Yankees 2nd AL Wild Card: Red Sox 3rd AL Wild Card: Rangers NLCS: Dodgers over Mets ALCS: Tigers over Blue Jays World Series: Dodgers over Tigers NL MVP: Juan Soto AL MVP: Aaron Judge NL Cy Young: Paul Skenes AL Cy Young: Tarik Skubal NL Rookie of the Year: Nolan McLean AL Rookie of the Year: Kazuma Okamoto
Anthony McCarron, SNY Contributor
NL East champ: Mets NL Central champ: Brewers NL West champ: Dodgers 1st NL Wild Card: Cubs 2nd NL Wild Card: Phillies 3rd NL Wild Card: Diamondbacks AL East champ: Red Sox AL Central champ: Royals AL West champ: Mariners 1st AL Wild Card: Yankees 2nd AL Wild Card: Orioles 3rd AL Wild Card: Rangers NLCS: Dodgers over Mets ALCS: Yankees over Red Sox World Series: Dodgers over Yankees NL MVP: Juan Soto AL MVP: Bobby Witt Jr. NL Cy Young: Logan Webb AL Cy Young: Garrett Crochet NL Rookie of the Year: JJ Wetherholt AL Rookie of the Year: Kevin McGonigle
NL East champ: Braves NL Central champ: Cubs NL West champ: Dodgers 1st NL Wild Card: Mets 2nd NL Wild Card: Phillies 3rd NL Wild Card: Pirates AL East champ: Yankees AL Central champ: Royals AL West champ: Mariners 1st AL Wild Card: Blue Jays 2nd AL Wild Card: Tigers 3rd AL Wild Card: Orioles NLCS: Dodgers over Braves ALCS: Mariners over Yankees World Series: Dodgers over Mariners NL MVP: Ronald Acuña Jr. AL MVP: Bobby Witt Jr. NL Cy Young: Yoshinobu Yamamoto AL Cy Young: Bryan Woo NL Rookie of the Year: Nolan McLean AL Rookie of the Year: Kazuma Okamoto
Keith Raad, Mets Radio Broadcaster
NL East champ: Mets NL Central champ: Cubs NL West champ: Dodgers 1st NL Wild Card: Braves 2nd NL Wild Card: Padres 3rd NL Wild Card: Phillies AL East champ: Blue Jays AL Central champ: Tigers AL West champ: Mariners 1st AL Wild Card: Red Sox 2nd AL Wild Card: Yankees 3rd AL Wild Card: Astros NLCS: Dodgers over Phillies ALCS: Red Sox over Tigers World Series: Dodgers over Red Sox NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani AL MVP: Aaron Judge NL Cy Young: Cristopher Sanchez AL Cy Young: Bryan Woo NL Rookie of the Year: Nolan McLean AL Rookie of the Year: Kazuma Okamoto
Joe DeMayo, The Mets Pod co-host
NL East champ: Mets NL Central champ: Brewers NL West champ: Dodgers 1st NL Wild Card: Phillies 2nd NL Wild Card: Padres 3rd NL Wild Card: Cubs AL East champ: Yankees AL Central champ: Tigers AL West champ: Mariners 1st AL Wild Card: Blue Jays 2nd AL Wild Card: Red Sox 3rd AL Wild Card: Guardians NLCS: Dodgers over Mets ALCS: Mariners over Yankees World Series: Dodgers over Mariners NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani AL MVP: Aaron Judge NL Cy Young: Yoshinobu Yamamoto AL Cy Young: Tarik Skubal NL Rookie of the Year: Nolan McLean AL Rookie of the Year: Kevin McGonigle
Matt Spendley, SNY Director, Digital Engagement
NL East champ: Phillies NL Central champ: Cubs NL West champ: Dodgers 1st NL Wild Card: Brewers 2nd NL Wild Card: Mets 3rd NL Wild Card: Pirates AL East champ: Yankees AL Central champ: Tigers AL West champ: Mariners 1st AL Wild Card: Blue Jays 2nd AL Wild Card: Orioles 3rd AL Wild Card: Astros NLCS: Cubs over Dodgers ALCS: Mariners over Yankees World Series: Cubs over Mariners NL MVP: Juan Soto AL MVP: Bobby Witt Jr. NL Cy Young: Paul Skenes AL Cy Young: Garrett Crochet NL Rookie of the Year: Konnor Griffin AL Rookie of the Year: Munetaka Murakami
Danny Abriano, SNY Manager of Editorial Production
NL East champ: Mets NL Central champ: Cubs NL West champ: Dodgers 1st NL Wild Card: Phillies 2nd NL Wild Card: Padres 3rd NL Wild Card: Braves AL East champ: Red Sox AL Central champ: Tigers AL West champ: Mariners 1st AL Wild Card: Yankees 2nd AL Wild Card: Blue Jays 3rd AL Wild Card: Rangers NLCS: Mets over Padres ALCS: Mariners over Red Sox World Series: Mariners over Mets NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani AL MVP: Bobby Witt Jr. NL Cy Young: Yoshinobu Yamamoto AL Cy Young: Garrett Crochet NL Rookie of the Year: Nolan McLean AL Rookie of the Year: Carter Jensen
Alex Smith, SNY Editorial Producer
NL East champ: Phillies NL Central champ: Cubs NL West champ: Dodgers 1st NL Wild Card: Padres 2nd NL Wild Card: Braves 3rd NL Wild Card: Mets AL East champ: Blue Jays AL Central champ: Tigers AL West champ: Mariners 1st AL Wild Card: Yankees 2nd AL Wild Card: Guardians 3rd AL Wild Card: Red Sox NLCS: Dodgers over Cubs ALCS: Red Sox over Yankees World Series: Red Sox over Dodgers NL MVP: Fernando Tatis Jr. AL MVP: Roman Anthony NL Cy Young: Cristopher Sanchez AL Cy Young: Bryan Woo NL Rookie of the Year: Nolan McLean AL Rookie of the Year: Kevin McGonigle
Phillip Martinez, SNY Editorial Producer
NL East champ: Braves NL Central champ: Cubs NL West champ: Dodgers 1st NL Wild Card: Phillies 2nd NL Wild Card: Brewers 3rd NL Wild Card: Mets AL East champ: Yankees AL Central champ: Tigers AL West champ: Mariners 1st AL Wild Card: Blue Jays 2nd AL Wild Card: Red Sox 3rd AL Wild Card: Royals NLCS: Dodgers over Cubs ALCS: Blue Jays over Yankees World Series: Blue Jays over Dodgers NL MVP: Ronald Acuña Jr. AL MVP: Bobby Witt Jr. NL Cy Young: Paul Skenes AL Cy Young: Garrett Crochet NL Rookie of the Year: Nolan McLean AL Rookie of the Year: Kazuma Okamoto
Here are Mets and Yankees predictions from SNY staff and contributors for final records, team MVP, and more for the 2025 MLB season...
Chelsea Janes, SNY MLB Insider
Who will the Mets' MVP be? Juan Soto Over/under 40 home runs for Juan Soto? Over What will Freddy Peralta's ERA be? 3.85 Which prospect will have the biggest MLB impact? Carson Benge Where will Mets finish in NL East? First What will Mets' final record be? 94-68
Who will the Yankees' MVP be? Aaron Judge Over/under 50 home runs for Aaron Judge? Under What will Cam Schlittler's ERA be? 3.99 Which prospect will make the biggest MLB impact? Carlos Lagrange Where will Yankees finish in AL East? First What will Yankees' final record be? 92-70
Todd Zeile, SNY Mets Analyst
Who will the Mets' MVP be? Juan Soto Over/under 40 home runs for Juan Soto? Over What will Freddy Peralta's ERA be? 2.97 Which prospect will have the biggest MLB impact? Carson Benge Where will Mets finish in NL East? First What will Mets' final record be? 93-69
Who will the Yankees' MVP be? Aaron Judge Over/under 50 home runs for Aaron Judge? Under What will Cam Schlittler's ERA be? 3.01 Which prospect will make the biggest MLB impact? George Lombard Jr. Where will Yankees finish in AL East? First What will Yankees' final record be? 92-70
Jerry Blevins, SNY Mets Analyst
Who will the Mets' MVP be? Juan Soto Over/under 40 home runs for Juan Soto? Over What will Freddy Peralta's ERA be? 3.22 Which prospect will have the biggest MLB impact? Carson Benge Where will Mets finish in NL East? Second What will Mets' final record be? 90-72
Who will the Yankees' MVP be? Aaron Judge Over/under 50 home runs for Aaron Judge? Over What will Cam Schlittler's ERA be? 3.99 Which prospect will make the biggest MLB impact? Spencer Jones Where will Yankees finish in AL East? Third What will Yankees' final record be? 85-77
Jim Duquette, SNY Mets Analyst
Who will the Mets' MVP be? Juan Soto Over/under 40 home runs for Juan Soto? Over What will Freddy Peralta's ERA be? 2.50 Which prospect will have the biggest MLB impact? Carson Benge Where will Mets finish in NL East? First What will Mets' final record be? 90-72
Who will the Yankees' MVP be? Aaron Judge Over/under 50 home runs for Aaron Judge? Over What will Cam Schlittler's ERA be? 3.30 Which prospect will make the biggest MLB impact? Spencer Jones Where will Yankees finish in AL East? First What will Yankees' final record be? 92-70
Sal Licata, BNNY Host
Who will the Mets' MVP be? Juan Soto Over/under 40 home runs for Juan Soto? Over What will Freddy Peralta's ERA be? 3.41 Which prospect will have the biggest MLB impact? Carson Benge Where will Mets finish in NL East? First What will Mets' final record be? 93-69
Who will the Yankees' MVP be? Aaron Judge Over/under 50 home runs for Aaron Judge? Over What will Cam Schlittler's ERA be? 3.78 Which prospect will make the biggest MLB impact? George Lombard Jr. Where will Yankees finish in AL East? First What will Yankees' final record be? 95-67
John Harper, SNY Contributor
Who will the Mets' MVP be? Juan Soto Over/under 40 home runs for Juan Soto? Over What will Freddy Peralta's ERA be? 3.08 Which prospect will have the biggest MLB impact? Carson Benge Where will Mets finish in NL East? First What will Mets' final record be? 93-69
Who will the Yankees' MVP be? Aaron Judge Over/under 50 home runs for Aaron Judge? Over What will Cam Schlittler's ERA be? 3.24 Which prospect will make the biggest MLB impact? Carlos Lagrange Where will Yankees finish in AL East? Second What will Yankees' final record be? 92-70
Anthony McCarron, SNY Contributor
Who will the Mets' MVP be? Juan Soto Over/under 40 home runs for Juan Soto? Over What will Freddy Peralta's ERA be? 3.15 Which prospect will have the biggest MLB impact? Carson Benge Where will Mets finish in NL East? First What will Mets' final record be? 94-68
Who will the Yankees' MVP be? Aaron Judge Over/under 50 home runs for Aaron Judge? Over What will Cam Schlittler's ERA be? 3.95 Which prospect will make the biggest MLB impact? Carlos Lagrange Where will Yankees finish in AL East? Second What will Yankees' final record be? 94-68
John Jastremski, SNY Contributor
Who will the Mets' MVP be? Juan Soto Over/under 40 home runs for Juan Soto? Over What will Freddy Peralta's ERA be? 3.10 Which prospect will have the biggest MLB impact? Carson Benge Where will Mets finish in NL East? Second What will Mets' final record be? 92-70
Who will the Yankees' MVP be? Aaron Judge Over/under 50 home runs for Aaron Judge? Under Which prospect will make the biggest MLB impact? Carlos Lagrange What will Cam Schlittler's ERA be? 3.44 Where will Yankees finish in AL East? First What will Yankees' final record be? 92-70
Keith Raad, Mets Radio Broadcaster
Who will the Mets' MVP be? Juan Soto Over/under 40 home runs for Juan Soto? Over What will Freddy Peralta's ERA be? 3.13 Which prospect will have the biggest MLB impact? Ryan Lambert Where will Mets finish in NL East? First What will Mets' final record be? 90-72
Who will the Yankees' MVP be? Aaron Judge Over/under 50 home runs for Aaron Judge? Under What will Cam Schlittler's ERA be? 3.49 Which prospect will make the biggest MLB impact? Carlos Lagrange Where will Yankees finish in AL East? Third What will Yankees' final record be? 88-74
Joe DeMayo, The Mets Pod Co-host
Who will the Mets' MVP be? Juan Soto Over/under 40 home runs for Juan Soto? Over What will Freddy Peralta's ERA be? 3.32 Which prospect will have the biggest MLB impact? Carson Benge Where will Mets finish in NL East? First What will Mets' final record be? 95-67
Who will the Yankees' MVP be? Aaron Judge Over/under 50 home runs for Aaron Judge? Under What will Cam Schlittler's ERA be? 3.68 Which prospect will make the biggest MLB impact? Carlos Lagrange Where will Yankees finish in AL East? First What will Yankees' final record be? 97-65
Matt Spendley, SNY Director, Digital Engagement
Who will the Mets' MVP be? Juan Soto Over/under 40 home runs for Juan Soto? Over What will Freddy Peralta's ERA be? 3.99 Which prospect will have the biggest MLB impact? Carson Benge Where will Mets finish in NL East? Second What will Mets' final record be? 87-75
Who will the Yankees' MVP be? Aaron Judge Over/under 50 home runs for Aaron Judge? Under What will Cam Schlittler's ERA be? 4.09 Which prospect will make the biggest MLB impact? Carlos Lagrange Where will Yankees finish in AL East? First What will Yankees' final record be? 93-69
Danny Abriano, SNY Manager of Editorial Production
Who will the Mets' MVP be? Nolan McLean Over/under 40 home runs for Juan Soto? Over What will Freddy Peralta's ERA be? 3.27 Which prospect will have the biggest MLB impact? Carson Benge Where will Mets finish in NL East? First What will Mets' final record be? 93-69
Who will the Yankees' MVP be? Aaron Judge Over/under 50 home runs for Aaron Judge? Under What will Cam Schlittler's ERA be? 3.81 Which prospect will make the biggest MLB impact? Carlos Lagrange Where will Yankees finish in AL East? Second What will Yankees' final record be? 92-70
Alex Smith, SNY Editorial Producer
Who will the Mets' MVP be? Juan Soto Over/under 40 home runs for Juan Soto? Under What will Freddy Peralta's ERA be? 3.53 Which prospect will have the biggest MLB impact? Carson Benge Where will Mets finish in NL East? Third What will Mets' final record be? 83-79
Who will the Yankees' MVP be? Aaron Judge Over/under 50 home runs for Aaron Judge? Over What will Cam Schlittler's ERA be? 3.74 Which prospect will make the biggest MLB impact? Carlos Lagrange Where will Yankees finish in AL East? Second What will Yankees' final record be? 93-69
Phillip Martinez, SNY Editorial Producer
Who will the Mets' MVP be? Juan Soto Over/under 40 home runs for Juan Soto? Under What will Freddy Peralta's ERA be? 3.10 Which prospect will have the biggest MLB impact? Carson Benge Where will Mets finish in NL East? Third What will Mets' final record be? 88-74
Who will the Yankees' MVP be? Aaron Judge Over/under 50 home runs for Aaron Judge? Under What will Cam Schlittler's ERA be? 3.35 Which prospect will make the biggest MLB impact? Carlos Lagrange Where will Yankees finish in AL East? First What will Yankees' final record be? 94-68
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 25: General view of action as Zac Gallen #23 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the second inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on April 25, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Every spring brings the smell of grass, the sunshine at Salt River Fields, the eternal hope that only Spring Training can provide. It also inevitably brings a litany of new food offerings at Chase Field. Some are basic ballpark fare. A beer cheese hotdog, for example. Some are much needed offerings to appeal to a wider demographic of potential fans, an Impossible Burger, for example. Others… come from a dark place where the conventions of the culinary arts dare not tread. The D-bat dog. The fried chicken funnel cake sandwich. Sandwiches that are nearly two feet long and combine chicken parmesan and meatball subs. They are all equally important to me.
These crazed food items have become integral to the experience of the game itself. Far beyond the Diamondbacks, though I believe them to be pioneers in the field, teams try to one up each other and themselves with their offerings every year. The full list of additions can be found here, but indulge me to share my top five most anticipated items that were announced.
#5: Oreo Explosion Churro Dog
Look, I am a sucker for the Churro Dog. It’s one of the items that started this whole journey off, both for the Diamondbacks as well as myself as the official food critic of AZ Snakepit. They either have declined in quality over the years, I’ve gotten older, or both, but you’ll still find me trying the latest iteration on Opening Day (assuming Levy’s doesn’t run out). This year, it’s simply described as “our classic churro dog with Oreo toppings.” Sure! Sold! I’ll take two. Is it going to be good? Eh. Is the churro going to be stale and cold, and they won’t have plasticware again? Yeah probably, but such is life. Have a churro dog. Churro Dog HQ, 129 and 324
#4: Take Me Out to the Ballgame Milkshake
This is a salted caramel shake with whipped cream, peanut butter sandwich cookies, Kit Kat bars and Cracker Jack. Look at it
The D-backs will have a "Take Me Out to the Ballgame Shake" at games this year 🤤
It's a salted caramel shake with whipped cream, peanut butter sandwich cookies, Kit Kat bars and Cracker Jack.
This is a monstrosity. How do you eat it? You can’t drink that with a straw. Honestly, I’m not sure a spoon is breaking through those chunks. It’s impossible. And the flavor profile. My god it’s like someone asked for the Diabeetus special. You won’t be able to taste anything specific, it will just be sugar. Can’t wait to have one. One of these days this job is going to kill me. Churro Dog HQ, 129 and 324
#3: Footlong Beer Cheese Hotdog
Look, I’m a simple man. Give me cheese, meat, carbs, and I’ll probably be happy. This new Beer Cheese Hotdog hits all those checkboxes. It’s exactly what it says it is, plus bacon and crispy onions. I’ll eternally be disappointed in the hotdogs they serve at Chase, but this still sounds good, even knowing it’s going to be a subpar hotdog. Grand Canyon Grill, 214. Only accessible with 200 level ticket.
#2: Pork Belly Nachos
I’m intrigued by this one. It’s described as Wonton chips, crispy pork belly, quick kimchee, gochujang cheese sauce, pickled red onions, scallions. Those are some big flavors, and not typically ones you find at an MLB stadium. You can’t go wrong with pork belly, but kimchee and gochujang are both delicious if done correctly, but its very easy to let it get out of hand and overpower the dish. I’m also not sure I’ve ever heard of using wonton chips as the base for nachos either, but again, I’m intrigued. Potentially, this could be an elite shareable at the game, bringing much needed variety to your standard choices. Available at Taste of Chase, Section 130
#1: Big Bella Sandwich
I’m genuinely excited for this one. The sandwich features mortadella, mozzarella, pistachio cream, arugula, chopped pistachio, extra virgin olive oil, sea salt. This will be available at the Jefferson Street Deli stand, where I’ve had good experiences before. The 50/50 stretch last season was surprisingly one of the best things I’ve had a Chase Field before, and I’m hoping they’ll continue the winning streak. I’m most interested in the pistachio cream they’re using as a condiment. It sounds delicious and should pair well with the mortadella. This is what I’ll be having for dinner on Opening Day. Available at the Jefferson Street Deli behind Section 120.
These are just a few of the exciting new food options coming to Chase Field this year. Stay tuned here for the occasional review of them. Also stay tuned for my new, nearly weekly series exploring food options around the stadium for before and after the games!
Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Yankees open the 2026 season against the Giants in San Francisco on Wednesday...
5 things to watch
Will Max Fried's subpar spring carry over?
Fried's performance in his first year with the Yankees was so good that the loss of Gerrit Cole didn't hurt the team much. Fried was the ace of the staff and anchored arguably the best rotation in the majors.
Entering year two, Fried will have to shoulder that burden once again, at least in the early going. That's why his mediocre spring is a bit alarming. In three spring starts, Fried allowed seven earned runs across 14.1 innings (4.40 ERA). While his strikeouts are where they usually are, opposing teams got bat to ball for 12 hits.
In Fried's last start, he walked four batters in his five innings, which was his worst outing this spring. While Fried didn't pay too much mind to his struggles, the Yankees want to start the season on the right foot and a return-to-form for their Opening Day starter would help.
How will the other starters do?
With Cole and Carlos Rodon on the shelf to start the season, the other starters will need to step up behind Fried.
Schlittler will get one of the starts in San Francisco and the Yankees will lean on their playoff hero to take the next step in 2026. It's unclear who else will take the mound over the weekend, but it's likely Will Warren and Ryan Weathers. Meanwhile, the Yankees hope Luis Gil can return to the form he had in 2024.
Can Aaron Judge put the WBC behind him?
The captain was having a nice showing in the WBC before the knockout rounds began. But when the pressure hit, Judge didn't come through in the way many hoped he would.
In the championship game against Venezuela, Judge went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Worse off, his at-bats came in big spots that could have flipped the game in Team USA's favor.
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (99) hits a home run against the Detroit Tigers during the third inning in a Spring Training game at George M. Steinbrenner Field. / Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
For the tournament, Judge finished 6-for-27 (.222) with two home runs and five RBI. He walked six times and struck out seven.
It should be made clear that it's still March and hitters usually take a bit to get going -- as evident with Judge's so-so production in spring games -- but this team goes as far as Judge takes them. If he's not producing, this lineup will be hard-pressed to put up enough runs.
Unless....
Offense elsewhere
The Yankees are putting a lot of stock in the development of Ben Rice and Austin Wells this season. They believe there's plenty of offensive production still there to be mined, especially with Rice.
The young first baseman will see the bulk of the time at that position, giving the Yanks a dynamic bat. Depending on how manager Aaron Boone draws up his lineup, Rice could be batting behind Judge. He'll need to prove that he can be that protection Judge needs to see hittable pitches.
As for Wells, his defense is major league ready, but he regressed offensively last season. Wells did have a very good WBC playing for the Dominican Republic, and perhaps that can carry over and lengthen this lineup.
And then we have Trent Grisham. The Yankees' de facto leadoff man from a year ago, Grisham may not provide the same gaudy offensive numbers he gave them last season, but giving the team anything close to that will also help give Judge and this lineup opportunities to drive in runs.
New-look bullpen
The bullpen will have some returning faces, but there will be a lot of new ones as well.
Gone are Devin Williams and Luke Weaver, but David Bednar and Camilo Doval -- acquired last trade deadline -- are still here, and Fernando Cruz and Tim Hill have become mainstays. But what about the rest? This weekend should give us a clue as to how Boone will deploy his relievers, especially the new ones -- and who he trusts in which situations.
This will be especially crucial in Schlittler's start, as his oblique tightness earlier in camp set his progression back a bit. He won't be built up as much as the others, so we can expect Ryan Yarbrough or Paul Blackburn to help bridge the game for Schlittler.
Predictions
Who will the MVP of the series be?
Aaron Judge
Back in his home region, Judge will get off to a hot start in San Francisco.
Which Yankees pitcher will have the best start?
Max Fried
The Giants deploy a lot of left-handers, and Fried should be able to neutralize them.
Which Giants player will be a thorn in the Yankees' side?
Rafael Devers
The Yankees' old nemesis from when he was with the Red Sox. The slugger will see his first Opening Day as a Giant, but should be much more comfortable with the organization this year after being acquired midseason in 2025.
INGLEWOOD, CA - MARCH 23: Pete Nance #35 of the Milwaukee Bucks goes up for the rebound during the game against the LA Clippers on March 23, 2026 at Intuit Dome 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 Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Down a fair few key guys, the Milwaukee Bucks got an almighty butt-whooping in their second visit to LA this season, falling 129-96 to the Los Angeles Clippers. The Bucks tried hanging in there, but their lack of offensive juice became too much against the Kawhi-led Clippers. Funnily enough, this was the first game between these two sides this season; they meet on Sunday in Milwaukee for the second. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.
Started well, going 5/8 in the first half (which included him taking Kawhi one-on-one and winning), but tailed off in the second half. Looked pretty fatigued, which is reflected in his turnovers. Also had nothing to slow down Darius Garland.
I liked the looks he took from three, but they just didn’t go in. He seems to play worse without KPJ being there to get him open looks. That said, his defensive awareness was poor, losing his man a few times. Moreover, it’s not good enough to get no boards when the team gave up 11 offensive rebounds for the game. Brook Lopez dominated this matchup, ironically.
Scored multiple times from his trusty wing post-ups, but looked a step slow against some of their athletes, getting burned at the rim by the likes of Jordan Miller and Kobe Sanders. He did well when he was guarded by Isaiah Jackson, though.
Way more of a mixed bag for Ous than the last game. Unlike the case with Booker, he had nothing for Kawhi (then again, it’s freaking Kawhi). Also, he was bothered by physicality, giving the ball away way more than he should have.
Like Rollins, Nance started well but tailed off in the second half. Had a nice back-cut for the dunk, as well as a slam in transition (dude sneakily has bounce). And although his second half wasn’t great (3/8 shooting), it should be taken in context as to who he was out there with for most of that half.
His first bad game in a minute. Jericho seemed bothered by the amount of physicality they were using, and simply wasn’t as effective as a switch defender as he had been, getting roasted by Garland in one instance. Had butter fingers catching the ball on a few occasions.
Missed most of his shots and had some poor possessions guarding Kawhi. On one occasion, guarding him in the corner, he didn’t really even try to move his feet, instead reaching for the ball and allowing the blow-by.
Grade: D+
Gary Trent Jr.
31 minutes, 20 points, 7/13 FG, 6/10 3P, -12
A real breakout game for Gary. Granted, many of his makes came in garbage time, but still, he took each shot with the confidence of someone who’s been a regular in the rotation.
Credit where it’s due, AJax came into the game and made a positive imprint, primarily through his passing. He even had a few hockey assists (when they pass to the guy who gets the assist), which he won’t get credit for. On one occasion, he made a really nice lefty hook pass off the roll-replace action to AJ Green. Even took (and made) a three with confidence, as his defender went under the screen.
Grade: A-
Doc Rivers
Eh. With what Doc had at his disposal, I can’t poke too many holes in his game; the team looked worn down, both physically and emotionally. Continuing to give Trent more minutes has been a good move. I get the decision, but starting Prince over Green isn’t the move to make if you’re looking at this from a future-focused POV. Again, not saying it’s necessarily the “wrong” decision, though.
Grade: C
Garbage Time: Thanasis Antetokounmpo,
Inactive: Kyle Kuzma, Kevin Porter Jr., Cam Thomas, Alex Antetokounmpo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Gary Harris, Cormac Ryan
Bonus Bucks Bits
Doc referenced the team losing in Utah and then bouncing back in Phoenix as a sign that one bad night doesn’t mean they are a bad team.
As I wrote in the rapid recap, the Bucks began the third quarter shooting 1/11 from the floor; they also shot their first free throw at the 3:59 mark (on a technical foul) since the first quarter. Yikes.
Per Eric Nehm, This is the Bucks’ 10th loss by 25 or more points.
The Bucks had 22 turnovers, 14 of which came in the first half.
Darius Garland looked so much better than he did when he first came back.
Jordan Miller and Kobe Sanders have been godsends for the Clippers.
Bogdan Bogdanovic, who obviously has an interesting history as it relates to the Bucks, has fallen out of Ty Lue’s rotation for most of this season.
Up Next
The Bucks finish out the road trip tomorrow night in the PNW against the Blazers. Catch the game at 9:00. p.m. CDT on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.
GREENVILLE, NC - JUNE 02: Campbell Camels Matthew Barefoot (28) is congratulated by the team after scoring during a game between the Quinnipiac Bobcats and the Campbell Camels on June 2, 2109 at Clark-LeClair Stadium in Greenville, NC. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Campbell @ NC State | Tues, Mar 24 @ 6:00pm | ACCNX | Live Stats
A red-hot Campbell squad that has won 10 of their last 12 games, including back-to-back midweek victories over Duke and Coastal Carolina last week, comes to Raleigh on Tuesday evening for a 6:00pm matchup with NC State.
The Camels (14-9, 8-1 CAA, RPI #119) struggled out of the gate with a 4-7 mark, which included a pair of at-the-time nice looking victories over East Carolina and Troy, but those wins have diminished since as both the Pirates and Trojans have scuttled compared to preseason expectations. Following a series loss to Wright State and former Wolfpack pitcher Alex Sogard, Campbell has put it together and is playing excellent baseball of late.
Collectively, the lineup is hitting .283/.397/.486, 46 2B, 30 HR, 12.1 BB%, 20.2 K%, 69-76 SB, presenting a much more aggressive approach on the bases (3.0 SB/gm) than the program has displayed in recent memory. The adjusted approach has resulted in an offensive boon of late, with the Camels posting double-digit runs in six of their last eight games. It’s a deep lineup with up to ten productive bats, led by rSR 3B Jonah Oster (.341/.386/.659, 7 2B, 6 HR, 5.9 BB%, 12.7 K%, 1-2 SB), JR SS Logan Chapman (.364/.411/.591, 4 2B, 3 HR, 4.0 BB%, 12.0 K%, 5-5 SB), rSR LF Joe Simpson (.306/.444/.361, 4 2B, 0 HR, 17.4 BB%, 23.9 K%, 23-24 SB), FR RF Carlos Lugo (.325/.386/.425, 5 2B, 1 HR, 6.8 BB%, 5.7 K%, 6-7 SB), and JR CF Mike Murphy (.315/.422/.574, 2 2B, 2 HR, 10.9 BB%, 23.4 K%, 8-9 SB).
Redshirt-sophomore RHP Cooper Clark (2-3, 5.20 ERA, 27.2 IP, 4.3 BB%, 23.1 K%) and David Rossow (4-1, 3.42 ERA, 26.1 IP, 8.5 BB%, 26.5 K%) have been relative mainstays of the weekend rotation, but settling on that Sunday arm will be key to continuing to sit atop the CAA standings. NC State transfer JR RHP Camden Wimbish (0-1, 4.26 ERA, 25.1 IP, 5.7 BB%, 25.5 K%) appears to have the current grip on the job. The staff as a whole has a 5.14 ERA with a 9.1 BB% and 24.4 K%. The ERA is higher than ideal, but this is a group that has some talented arms and can get it done. SO RHP/OF Jett Music (0-1, 3 SV, 4.35 ERA, 10.1 IP, 8.9 BB%, 33.3 K%) and rJR RHP Mason Smith (1-0, 1 SV, 5.09 ERA, 23.0 IP, 8.9 BB%, 28.7 K%) lead the bullpen.
The team has a .967 collective fielding percentage, but 14 of their 27 errors have come from two players (Oster and 2B Elijah Clayton), but Clayton has been error-free for seven straight games (Oster, not so much), so if things get better there this team is going to be hell for a CAA that is already looking up at them. Granted, the meat of the conference slate for the Camels is still to come, and while they avoid perennial CAA heavyweight Northeastern, they do have a pair of conference series each with UNCW and Charleston.
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - MARCH 18: Josh Smith #8 of the Texas Rangers waits for a pitch during a Spring Training game against the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium on March 18, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 Texas Rangers Opening Day roster appears to be set after the announcements made by the club last night. The 26 players who will start the season on the active roster are as follows:
Rotation
Nathan Eovaldi
Jacob deGrom
MacKenzie Gore
Jack Leiter
Kumar Rocker
Bullpen
Chris Martin
Robert Garcia
Jakob Junis
Jalen Beeks
Cole Winn
Tyler Alexander
Jacob Latz
Carter Baumler
Catcher
Danny Jansen
Kyle Higashioka
Infielders
Jake Burger
Josh Smith
Corey Seager
Josh Jung
Ezequiel Duran
Outfielder
Wyatt Langford
Evan Carter
Brandon Nimmo
Sam Haggerty
DH
Joc Pederson
Andrew McCutchen
This was more or less what we would have expected two weeks ago, with the only real questions being whether Kumar Rocker or Jacob Latz would be the team’s fifth starter, and who would get the final two spots in the bullpen.
The team announced prior to last night’s game that Rocker would be the fifth starter, Latz would be in the bullpen, and McCutchen and Duran would round out the position player group.
We wondered at the time why there was no announcement as to who the final spot in the bullpen was going to. Rule 5 pick Carter Baumler had an excellent spring, and seemed to have earned a job, but there was no announcement as to whether he would be making the squad, or if it would be someone else.
As it turns out, that’s because the team was doing something special with Baumler, who came into last night’s exhibition game to start the fifth inning. After recording the first two outs of the inning, manager Skip Schumaker came out to the mound, along with catcher Danny Jansen and the infielders. Schumaker told Baumler then that he had made the team:
A pretty neat moment for Baumler, a 2020 5th round pick of the Baltimore Orioles who due to injuries had pitched just 88 innings over 49 appearances, with just six games above A ball, prior to the Rangers acquiring him as a Rule 5 selection this winter. Baumler understandably got a little emotional talking about it during the broadcast.
Procedurally, the Rangers will need to place Cody Freeman and Cody Bradford on the injured list before Thursday’s season opener in Philadelphia, and will need to create a 40 man roster spot for Andrew McCutchen. Its possible Bradford will go on the 60 day injured list, but he is expected to start a rehab assignment soon after Round Rock’s season starts on March 27, but given the organization has said they hope to have Bradford back in May, it seems more likely that Bradford would be placed on the 15 day injured list. Dairon Blanco and Michel Otanez would appear to be the guys on the 40 man bubble.
Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dylan Samberg has been a blocked-shot machine, recording at least two in eight of his past 10 games.
Tasked with slowing down a Vegas Golden Knights forward group loaded with firepower, my Golden Knights vs. Jets predictions expect him to step in the way of plenty of rubber.
Let’s break down my NHL picks for Tuesday, March 24.
Golden Knights vs Jets prediction
Golden Knights vs Jets best bet: Dylan Samberg Over 1.5 blocked shots (-125)
Dylan Samberg does a lot of the heavy lifting for the Winnipeg Jets' defense. He has spent a team-leading 41.2% of his minutes facing elite competition, per PuckIQ.
That usage leads to more time in the defensive zone, filling shooting lanes against high-end offensive players.
Samberg has gotten in the way of at least two pucks in 68% of his games against Top-12 shot-generation teams, such as the Vegas Golden Knights.
His hit rate jumps to 75% on home ice, where Scott Arniel has last change and is better able to get the matchups he wants.
Golden Knights vs Jets same-game parlay
Mark Scheifele has gone three consecutive games without a point, his longest drought of the season. The Golden Knights rank 28th in team save percentage, so this is a spot where positive regression can kick in.
Gabriel Vilardi has picked up at least a point in 60% of his games against Top-16 teams at limiting goals against, and he correlates with Scheifele on the power play. That’s an important factor as the Golden Knights have averaged more than five minutes of short-handed time over their past 10 games.
Golden Knights vs Jets SGP
Dylan Samberg Over 1.5 blocked shots
Mark Scheifele Over 0.5 points
Gabriel Vilardi Over 0.5 points
Golden Knights vs Jets odds
Moneyline: Golden Knights -130 | Jets +110
Puck Line: Golden Knights -1.5 (+190) | Jets +1.5 (-230)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-125) | Under 5.5 (+105)
Golden Knights vs Jets trend
Dylan Samberg has blocked multiple shots in six of his last seven home games. Find more NHL betting trends for Golden Knights vs. Jets.
How to watch Golden Knights vs Jets
Location
Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, MB
Date
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Puck drop
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
SCRIPPS, TSN3
Golden Knights vs Jets latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
James Hagens is starting his pro career with the AHL’s Providence Bruins, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Boston Bruins fans won’t see him play in the NHL at some point this season.
“We’re very excited to have James join the Bruins organization and take this next step,” Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said in a press release.
“James is an important part of our future, and this is a great opportunity for him to get immediate experience at the professional level in Providence and continue his development, while keeping all options open.”
Hagens was selected by the Bruins with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. He is their best prospect in at least a decade and is coming off a stellar sophomore year at Boston College during which he tallied a career-high 47 points (23 goals, 24 assists) in 34 games.
Some fans might be disappointed that Hagens hasn’t yet signed his entry-level contract to join the Bruins. And that’s understandable. The hype around Hagens is immense. But there’s no harm in getting him some AHL experience, and the B’s still have the option to sign him to his ELC and elevate him to the NHL before the end of the season if they want.
What does it all mean, and how could Hagens find himself in the NHL this season? Let’s break it down.
What happens now?
Hagens practiced with Providence on Tuesday and likely will make his AHL debut Wednesday when the P-Bruins play Springfield. Providence also has games scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.
Hagens is essentially in tryout mode. If he plays well in Providence, the chances of him reaching the NHL this season improve (more on that shortly).
What are the Bruins’ options?
Hagens signing an AHL ATO gives both the Bruins and Hagens more options than if he just signed his ELC right off the bat.
New NHL contracts signed after the trade deadline prevent players from playing in the AHL that season. Therefore, by going to Providence first, Hagens is eligible to play for the Providence Bruins and in the AHL playoffs.
The P-Bruins are No. 1 in the Eastern Conference standings and expected to make a deep run in the Calder Cup Playoffs. The intensity of the AHL playoffs is a step up in competition from NCAA hockey, so those reps would be beneficial for Hagens.
The Bruins can also sign Hagens to his ELC if they want him on the NHL roster this season. Signing his AHL ATO doesn’t prevent him from going to the NHL at some point this year.
Keeping Hagens in the AHL through the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign would ensure that his ELC does not begin until next season. If he signed his ELC this season, he’d burn one of its three years. In that scenario, his ELC would end after the 2027-28 season, instead of after the 2028-29 campaign.
How Hagens could make it to NHL this season
Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
James Hagens won Beanpot MVP this season with BC.
The AHL-to-NHL path is pretty common, even for prospects of Hagens’ caliber. The transition to minor league hockey is obviously easier than the NHL, especially in the Bruins’ current situation where they are fighting for a playoff spot.
The B’s, with 12 regular season games remaining and a slim two-point lead in the wild card race, are not in a position to develop young prospects and allow them to make mistakes. The stakes are too high in Boston right now. Every point in the standings is critically important.
That said, Hagens could still find himself wearing the spoked-B if one or more of a few different scenarios unfold, including…
1. Injuries test the Bruins’ depth
Similar to Hagens, Charlie McAvoy began his pro career with an AHL amateur tryout agreement and reported to Providence after his Boston University season ended in 2017.
McAvoy could have remained in the AHL the rest of that season, but the Bruins’ blue line was so decimated by injuries entering their first-round playoff series against the Ottawa Senators that they pretty much had to call up McAvoy. He didn’t look out of place, either. McAvoy played very well in the six games versus the Senators.
If the Bruins were to be hit by injuries at center or on the wing between now and the playoffs, the best player in Providence to call up would be Hagens given his impressive offensive skill set.
2. Hagens forces Bruins’ hand by dominating in AHL
If Hagens is lighting up the stat sheet and making a huge impact offensively for Providence, it’s possible the Bruins just call him up and hope he can carry that success to the NHL level.
The Bruins need to play with more speed, and there is a lack of high-end playmaking and goal-scoring talent throughout their roster. Hagens has the skill set to address all three of those concerns in the near future.
Expectations for Hagens if he reaches NHL this spring
Hagens has enormous talent and potential, and many experts (including yours truly) project him to be a top-six forward for a long time.
However, there are several recent examples of forwards who were a first-round pick and joined their NHL team soon after leaving college and did not produce at a high level that season. It doesn’t mean they won’t be great NHL players; it just shows how hard it is to make the transition to the NHL immediately after ending your college career.
Cole Caufield, Wisconsin (No. 15 overall, 2019 draft, MTL): 4 goals, 1 assist in 10 games played
Kent Johnson, Michigan (No. 5, 2021, CBJ): 0 goals, 3 assists in 9 GP
Matty Beniers, Michigan (No. 2, 2022, SEA): 3 goals, 6 assists in 10 GP
Ryan Leonard, Boston College (No. 8, 2023, WSH): 1 goal, 0 assists in 9 GP
Matthew Wood, Minnesota (No. 15, 2023, NSH): 0 goals, 1 assist in 6 GP
Gabriel Perreault, Boston College (No. 23, 2023, NYR): 0 goals, 0 assists in 5 GP
Two of those examples are Hagens’ former linemates at BC, Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault.
Leonard joined the Washington Capitals late last season after BC’s campaign ended. Leonard, like Hagens, was a top-10 pick and played two years for the Eagles before turning pro.
Leonard scored one goal with zero assists in nine regular season games for the Capitals, then tallied one assist in eight 2025 playoff games with Washington. He wasn’t productive offensively, but the experience did help him make a jump this season. Leonard has 36 points (15 goals, 21 assists) in 64 games so far.
Perreault also made the transition to the NHL late last season and went scoreless with five shots in five games for the New York Rangers.
What would be fair expectations for Hagens if he does join the Bruins this season? Don’t get exposed defensively, create scoring chances and push the pace in transition. He would also need to prove he can win 50-50 puck battles and not be overmatched physically.
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - MARCH 09: Carson Benge (93) of the New York Mets looks on while waiting to bat during a spring training game against the Miami Marlins on March 09, 2026 at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Meet the Mets
The Mets finally announced that Carson Benge will be on the team’s Opening Day roster, which felt like an inevitability after his incredible spring training performance.
Andrew McCutchen made the Opening Day roster for the Rangers as he prepares for his 18th season.
Rangers manager Skip Schumaker let reliever Carter Baumler know he had made the major league roster during a mound visit.
Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue
Grace Carbone explained why 2026 is of the utmost importance for David Peterson in her season preview.
Thomas Henderson previewed Bo Bichette’s 2026 campaign, which could see the Mets and Bichette turning a marriage of convenience into something special.
Chris McShane looked at how Sean Manaea may be able to bounce back during the 2026 season as he previewed what is hopefully a comeback season for the left-hander.
Linus Lawrence brought us Mets Madness: Elite Eight.
This Date in Mets History
You can trace the birth of Shea Stadium back to this date in 1961, when the New York State Senate approved $55 million in funding to build what would become the new home of the Mets in Queens, New York.
Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images