Mar 23, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (7) reacts after making a three point basket against the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Hawks (41-32) look to take down Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics (48-24).
Jock Landle (right shoulder impingement) has been ruled out for this game.
Starting lineup:
G CJ McCollum
G Nickeil Alexander-Walker
F Dyson Daniels
F Jalen Johnson
C Onyeka Okongwu
Please join in the comments below as you follow along.
Where, When, and How to Watch and Listen
Location: TD Garden, Boston, MA
Start Time: 7:30 PM EDT
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Southeast (FDSNSE)
Radio: Sports Radio 92.9 the Game (WZGC-FM)
Streaming: FanDuel Sports Network app, Fubo (out of market), NBA League Pass (out of market), Youtube TV (NBA League Pass out of market)
Foster had missed the entire ACC tournament – won by the Blue Devils – and first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament after suffering a foot fracture in the team's regular-season finale against North Carolina on March 7. He was not in the starting lineup against the Red Storm, but was cleared to play.
He finished Friday's game with 11 points (all in the second half) in 19 minutes, including some key late buckets to ice the game.
He's been seen at postseason games with his foot in a boot and riding on a one-legged scooter. Foster did participate in the Duke's shoot-around Thursday, March 26 during the session that was open to media.
There was optimism Foster could return at some point in the postseason.
"He had a good day of practice (Wednesday), doing a little bit," Duke coach Jon Scheyer said to media on March 26. "Again, it's not like there's a lot of practice time, but we have to make sure he's in position before the game, more of a game-time decision.
"He's going to give it everything he has to go ..."
The 6-foot-5 junior has started 30 of 31 games and is averaging 8.5 points per game and leads all regulars shooting 40.2% from the 3-point line.
Cayden Boozer has stepped into Foster's position in the starting lineup for the past five games. The freshman has averaged 13.8 points in those games. And more impressively, he has totaled 44 points, 14 assists and just four turnovers as Duke defeated Virginia in the ACC tournament title game and Siena and TCU in the NCAA Tournament.
Duke will have center Patrick Ngongba II available, as well. The sophomore was also injured in the North Carolina season-finale and returned for the team's second-round game against TCU. He scored 4 points and had 4 rebounds in 13 minutes.
It'll be a huge boost for the Blue Devils, getting back an experienced guard. True freshman Cayden Boozer has played well in Foster's absence, though, and may have earned more minutes in the meantime.
Jason Heyward accomplished a lot in his career: five gold gloves, an All-Star appearance and a memorable World Series title.
But after 16 years in the big leagues, the outfielder is calling it a career.
The 36-year-old told “MLB Central” on the league’s TV network on Friday that he is officially retiring from the game, saying he’s looking forward to being a “mentor” to up-and-coming players of the next generation.
Jason Heyward of the San Diego Padres hits a single against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fifth inning in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on May 20, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Getty Images
“I look forward to being a potential mentor to any of the young players coming up, anybody that is in the game right now. I feel like the game’s in good hands in that sense, and I look forward to being a fan and seeing what other ways I can give back,” Heyward told ”Central.”
“Thank you to everybody that’s been there to support: the fans, teammates, coaches, staff, ownership groups, everyone and so on. Thank you for allowing me to live out my dream.”
Heyward, who was born in New Jersey but grew up in Georgia, was drafted by his hometown Braves in the first round of the 2007 draft and made his MLB debut in 2010. In his first big league at-bat, Heyward crushed a three-run home run at Atlanta’s Turner Field.
It proved to be the catalyst in a memorable rookie campaign that saw him get named to the National League All-Star team and finish second in the Rookie of the Year voting to Giants catcher Buster Posey.
Jason Heyward of the Atlanta Braves makes a catch against the Baltimore Orioles at Turner Field on June 16, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. Getty Images
He played four more years in Atlanta and won his first two Gold Gloves before getting traded to the Cardinals ahead of the 2015 season. He produced a .797 OPS and another Gold Glove in St. Louis that season, which earned him an eight-year, $184 million contract with the Cubs.
The contract mostly didn’t pan out, as he hit .245/.323/.377 over seven seasons, but he did win two more awards for his defensive prowess.
However, memorably, during Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, Heyward gave a speech to his Cubs teammates during a rain delay after Chicago had blown a lead late to Cleveland.
Chicago Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward (22) holds up the commissioners trophy during the Chicago Cubs World Series victory rally on November 4, 2016, at Grant Park in Chicago, IL. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Cubs rallied in the 10th inning to win their first World Series in 108 years.
“I told them I love them,” Heyward told reporters after winning it all. “I told them I’m proud of the way they overcame everything together. I told them everyone has to look in the mirror, and know everyone contributed to this season and to where we are at this point.
“I said, ‘I don’t know how it’s going to happen, how we’re going to do it, but let’s go out and try to get a W.'”
Heyward later had stints with the Dodgers and Astros before finishing his career with the Padres last season. He finishes with 186 home runs, 730 RBIs and a .744 OPS.
It has been a busy six months since the 2025 season ended at Coors Field with a loss to the Giants, capping off the most torturous season in franchise history.
The Rockies finished 2025 on a six-game losing streak enroute to 119 total losses on the season — a number that still doesn’t quite feel real.
A lot can change over the winter.
This offseason brought sweeping changes. Paul DePodesta and Josh Byrnes were brought in to reshape the front office, signaling a long-overdue investment in analytics, player development, and infrastructure. A new coaching staff followed, reinforcing what the Rockies hope is a philosophical reset from top to bottom.
PECOTAprojects the Rockies for around 60 wins in 2026. That’s not contention, but a record of 60-102 would represent a 17-win improvement. No one is confusing this team with a miracle turnaround like the 2024 Royals, but for the first time in a long time, there’s at least a sense of direction.
The roster looks very different.
Over half the team has changed since last Opening Day. Kyle Karros will make his Opening Day debut, while TJ Rumfield is set for his Major League debut tonight. Overall, the roster is young — especially on the position player side, with only Brett Sullivan north of 30. The rotation is more experienced but features three new faces aiming to provide stability.
This may be the most intriguing Opening Day in franchise history — not because of expectations, but because of what could be taking shape. And it all starts tonight at loanDepot Park in Miami.
On the mound for Colorado is veteran lefty Kyle Freeland, making his franchise-record fifth Opening Day start (2019, 2022, 2024, 2025, 2026). A Colorado native, Freeland enters his 10th season coming off a 5–17, 4.98 ERA campaign across 31 starts. He’s at his best working with tempo and generating weak contact, mixing a fastball, curveball, cutter, and sweeper to keep hitters off balance.
Opposing him is former Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara for Miami. After returning from Tommy John surgery in 2025, the right-hander posted a 5.36 ERA over 31 starts but looked more like himself down the stretch, going 7–3 with a 3.33 ERA in his final 13 outings. He brings a balanced five-pitch mix anchored by an elite fastball.
One thing to watch early: the offense.
The Rockies quietly put together a strong spring, leading MLB with an .858 OPS andscoring 202 runs in 31 games. Just as encouraging, they cut down on strikeouts, finishing the spring with the 13th fewest.
The pitching lagged behind — posting the second-highest team ERA andallowing 209 runs — but the Rockies still finished the spring with a 15-15 record. For a team coming off three consecutive 100-loss seasons, that’s meaningful progress.
The question now: do those offensive gains carry over, and can the pitching catch up?
Luis Severino gets the Opening Day nod for the Athletics against the reigning American League champion Toronto Blue Jays | Dennis Lee-Imagn Images
The day we’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived. A’s Opening Day baseball is hours, minutes or just seconds away. Granted, it’s not “our” opening day at “our’ our ballpark, we’ll have to wait another week for that celebration, but it is the start of the most promising season in recent memory.
There’s a buzz around this team that I haven’t sensed in a while, and it will all get started today as the reigning American League champs host our A’s for the weekend! Let’s hope that watching the Blue Jays hoist the American League Pennant will serve as even more motivation for this young and uber-talented team to take their play to the next level.
Taking the mound for the A’s today will be Luis Severino. The 32-year-old righty hopes to improve upon a rough first season in the Kelly-green and gold where he went 8-11 with a 4.45 ERA in 162 innings. He ended last season with a definite upswing and pitched well in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) this spring, so there is reason for optimism.
Severino will go up against 35-year-old righty Kevin Gausman. He finished the year with a 10-11 record over thirty-two starts. He logged a 3.99 ERA with 189 strikeouts for the Jays.
Gausman will face off against this lineup for Mark Kotsay’s A’s tonight at the Rogers Center in Toronto:
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 25: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics reacts to a foul called against him during the second half of the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at TD Garden on March 25, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Thunder 119-109. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BOSTON — Jaylen Brown will miss Friday’s game between the Celtics and the Atlanta Hawks with left Achilles tendonitis. How severe — or concerning — that injury is remains to be seen, but Brown will miss time due to an Achilles injury for the first time this season.
He was previously listed on the injury report as questionable to play with left calf tightness. Both the exact injury and his official status were updated on Friday.
Joe Mazzulla declined to give much information about Brown’s status in his pregame press conference before Celtics-Hawks, but did offer that Brown was day-to-day.
When asked if the Achilles injury could keep Brown out of multiple games, Mazzulla simply repeated: “He’s day-to-day.”
Joe Mazzulla on Jaylen Brown, who is out with left Achilles tendonitis:
When asked if it’s an injury Brown suffered in Wednesday’s game, or if it’s something he was dealing with previously, Mazzulla said: “‘He’s just a little banged up.”
Outside of Brown, the Celtics should be mostly available ahead of Friday’s match-up. Derrick White (right knee contusion) and Neemias Queta (right thumb sprain) are both available after previously being listed as questionable. At the same time, Nikola Vucevic remains out as he continues to recover from a right ring finger fracture he suffered on March 6th.
This will be Jayson Tatum’s first game back without his co-star. He’s averaging 19.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game this season.
The Hawks are also mostly healthy, except for Jock Landale, who is out with a right shoulder impingement.
One day after the Mets began their season, Jonah Tong was on the hill for Triple-A Syracuse's Opening Day as they took on the Worcester Red Sox at Polar Park.
After a bit of a bumpy first inning in which he walked two, the right-hander settled down and looked good in his four innings of work, where he allowed no runs on one hit and those two free passes. The youngster also struck out four, including three of the last four batters he faced, but his outing was done following 73 pitches (42 strikes).
Tong featured his usual fastball/changeup combo while also throwing in some cutters and curveballs as he continues to work on adding to and refining his repertoire. His fastball reached as high as 97 mph, but was typically around 93-95 mph.
The 22-year-old got better as the game went on, retiring the final eight batters he faced. Had it not been for a first inning that saw him throw 33 pitches, Tong would've been able to pitch deeper into the game and possibly get the win.
Nevertheless, Tong left the game with a 2-0 lead after Jose Rojas hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning.
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 16: Gary Payton II #0 of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on March 16, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors look to keep their two-game winning streak going as they take on the Washington Wizards on Friday night. The game will be played at 7:00 PM PT in San Francisco and can be watched on NBC Sports Bay Area.
While the Warriors picked up another win with a 109–106 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night, it didn’t come easy. Despite having the rare talent advantage over an injured and tanking Brooklyn team, Golden State found itself trailing by nine points heading into the fourth quarter. To Brooklyn’s credit, they took advantage of a travel-worn Warriors group that, as head coach Steve Kerr pointed out, had played in seven different cities over the past 11 days.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said Golden State “looked like a team that was playing our seventh game in 11 days in seven cities.” Noted the issues the turnovers are causing.
Fortunately, the Warriors had Gui Santos to keep them afloat, as he led the team with a career-high 31 points after returning to a starting role. Behind Santos, Golden State outscored the Nets 32–20 in the fourth quarter to secure the win in regulation.
Brazilian excellence 🇧🇷
Gui Santos becomes just the third Brazilian in NBA history to drop 31+ in a game. pic.twitter.com/iOCk1J8Ft9
Gary Payton II has quietly been one of the most efficient players on the team over the past several games. He shot a perfect 5-of-5 from the field on Wednesday night, 8-of-8 on Monday against the Dallas Mavericks, and made his last three shots the game prior to that against the Detroit Pistons. He has now made 16 consecutive field goals and is just three shy of tying the Warriors’ franchise record of 19 straight, set by Wilt Chamberlain.
Payton should have a strong opportunity to reach that milestone against a Wizards team he had success against just over a week ago. He went 7-of-10 from the field for 15 points in that matchup and now faces the Wizards again after they have lost nine of their last 10 games.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 22: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket against Jrue Holiday #5 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 22, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Blazers defeated the Suns 92-77. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Eight games remain for the Phoenix Suns, and the picture is starting to settle. They sit three games clear of the eighth seed, planted firmly in that seventh spot in the Western Conference. It is not official, nothing ever is until the math says so, but it feels like this is where they are headed. So the climb out of the Play-In starts to fade, and the conversation shifts. Not where you are going, but who is coming to meet you there.
Right now, the Suns are three games up on the Los Angeles Clippers, who sit only a half game ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers. Lurking behind them are the Golden State Warriors, still trying to find enough traction to stay in the mix. That trio becomes the focus. That trio becomes the question.
And yeah, you play who you play. That is how this works. There is no dodging, no maneuvering, no trying to outsmart the bracket. The Suns are locked into their lane, and whoever shows up will be waiting on the other side of that first Play-In game.
But as a fan, it is a fun exercise. You look at matchups, you think about styles, you picture how it could unfold. It is part of the experience, part of the anticipation. We asked the question earlier this week in Suns Reacts, and the answer came through loud and clear. The overwhelming preference was Portland.
I find myself in that same lane. The Los Angeles Clippers have been playing real basketball for the past three months. They are connected, disciplined, and comfortable in who they are. That is not a team you want to see in a one-game setting. They make you work for everything, they stay within themselves, and they carry experience that shows up when the game tightens.
The Portland Trail Blazers are not a walk either, but the matchup feels different. It feels cleaner for Phoenix. As long as you do not let Donovan Clingan turn into prime Steph Curry and flip the math on you, the Suns walk into that game with the best player on the floor in Devin Booker. That matters. It always matters.
Against the Clippers, that edge is not as clear. Kawhi Leonard changes that equation. He is a proven winner, a Finals MVP twice over, and when he is right, he can control a game in a way few players can. That shifts the balance and creates doubt. And when you are talking about a single elimination environment, those margins carry weight.
So it makes sense that 63% of the community landed on Portland. It is not about avoiding competition. It is about understanding matchups and where you hold your advantages.
With only a handful of games left, the answer is coming soon, and it might not reveal itself until the final day. That is how tight this race is. And if you are looking at it from a betting perspective on FanDuel, it is hard to feel confident in any direction. The NBA has a way of flipping expectations, especially this time of year. At the end of it, none of it really matters until the ball goes up. You get your opponent, you take the floor, and you execute. That is the only part you control.
“The three-ball problem the Knicks are having is not an aberration. It’s chronic. They play a good team, they give up a lot of threes, they play a poor team…and tonight they’re not denying threes again”.
That was Walt Clyde Frazier, the color commentator for the Knicks, during Thursday night’s loss to the Hornets. And Frazier, who has long been known for his honesty, was pretty accurate in summing up one of the few weaknesses this otherwise very good team has. It’s been a sentiment lamented by many of the fans for some time now. And as his colleague, Mike Breen, mentioned, the Knicks have cleaned up some of this, but the team still struggles with limiting three-point opportunities overall.
As of Friday afternoon, the Knicks rank 19th in the opponent three-point percentage, and worse off, 22nd in the three-point attempts given up per game. Why is this? Some of it by choice. Similar to his predecessor, Tom Thibodeau, current head coach Mike Brown has opted to protect the paint and limit easy opportunities within the arc. That can lead to overhelping, which then creates a situation in which the defense is left in a constant state of recovery. For much of the last couple of months, the Knicks have found a good balance of defending the paint, while still getting back out to shooters, thanks in large part to good communication and solid effort. But, so long as that remains a core philosophy of this coaching staff, the Knicks will continue to have problems in that department.
But why is this a choice this team has made? Some of it boils down to simple philosophical preference. Some of it, though, is also linked to personnel issues. Not only are the Knicks not a very athletic team, but New York has the unenviable task of finding who to hide Jalen Brunson on defensively. Brunson, to his credit, has upped his defensive effort over the last few weeks, and there’s an argument to be made that he has played some of his best defense as a Knick during that stretch. Yet effort, anticipation, and smarts can only do so much. Brunson’s lack of size and athleticism puts a cap on just how effective he can be as a defender.
Jalen Brunson HAS TO GUARD one of
Lamelo Ball Kon Brandon Miller Miles Bridges Moussa
That might be the most difficult 5 in the EAST to try and hide him on.
With that being the case, it has become clear that he’s now a focal point of teams’ game plans on both ends. While teams have been keying in on how to slow down his scoring, they’ve also started to single him out and attack him more and more on the other end. Take last night’s game against the Hornets as an example. Against big, athletic teams like Charlotte, the Knicks must pick between having Brunson exert energy running through screens or guarding someone bigger. Thursday night, they chose the latter.
Now, having the undersized Brunson defend a much bigger Miles Bridges is far from ideal (see above). But if that’s the decision Brown goes with, he must stick to that plan, and trust Brunson to hold his own and make it tough on Bridges. Earlier this season, Brown spoke glowingly about Brunson’s defense, explaining how he doesn’t get the credit he deserves. If Brown really does trust Brunson’s one-on-one defense that much, he has to let him defend and live with the results.
Instead, though, the Knicks, after purposefully opting into that matchup repeatedly, compounded their transgression by doubling him in the post. The Hornets were already getting a lot of good looks from deep with their dribble penetration, as well as their offensive rebounding. But by ultimately choosing to start defensive possessions playing four-on-five, the Knicks allowed a team that likes to shoot threes an easy avenue to finding more of them.
There are two sides to this problem right now. The bad news is that this problem is unlikely to go away. They can continue to clean some things up. But it’s unlikely that they will completely change their philosophy or find a better way to hide Brunson defensively, given the makeup of the roster. The good news, though, is that not every team the Knicks are going to play is as good as the Hornets at finding, taking, and making threes. How many teams have guys that can hit shots like the one below? You could argue Charlotte has three in LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Kon Knuepell. Most teams have maybe one?
LOGO KNUEPPELL!
O Charlotte Hornets vai DOMINANDO o Knicks até aqui.
— Pisou Na Linha | NBA 🏀🇧🇷 (@pisounalinha) March 27, 2026
The Heat, 76ers, Raptors, Pistons, and Magic, all of whom the Knicks may end up playing in the playoffs, all rank in the bottom half of the league in three-point percentage, with the last four ranking 21st or lower. Meanwhile, the Hawks, Celtics, and Cavaliers, who could also eventually match up with the Knicks in the playoffs, rank in the top half, but only the Hawks rank in the top 10. And in terms of attempts per game, the Celtics, Cavaliers, and Hawks are the only teams that rank higher than 15th in the league, with the 76ers, Magic, Raptors, and Pistons all being in the bottom 10.
That may point to this issue not being quite as detrimental as it may seem. Another interesting note is that of the four teams in the league that currently hold a better defensive rating than the Knicks (Thunder, Pistons, Spurs, Celtics), three of those teams rank in the bottom half of the league in three-pointers given up per game. The Pistons, the only one of those four teams not in the bottom half, barely rank in the top half, coming in at 14th. That may seem like a good thing. But quality always matters.
And in this case, the numbers suggest that it’s not that the Knicks give up too many threes, it’s that they give up too many open threes. New York currently ranks 10th in the league in wide-open threes (no defender within six feet) given up per game. Of the top five defensive teams, only the Celtics give up more per game. This is also reflected in the fact that the Thunder is the only one of those top five defensive teams that give up a higher percentage from three than the Knicks.
So what does this all mean ultimately? The Knicks do struggle with giving up a lot of threes. They also happen to give up a lot of wide-open ones. But it’s not a backbreaker. And it doesn’t automatically make them a bad defensive team. Evident by the team’s recent success and the success of some of the best defenses in the league, giving up a lot of threes does not inherently mean you can’t defend. As stated earlier, how you give up said threes and what kind of threes you give up tend to matter more.
The Hornets just hit three straight triples the Knicks have no answer for this offense pic.twitter.com/EDCwXoZ4hZ
The Knicks can, and if they want to reach their goals, should continue to try and improve there, even if it’s on the margins. There are still plays like the ones above that have nothing to do with personnel or philosophy, and can be fixed with better communication and focus. But shooting is one of the more volatile things. On any given night, a good shooting team can shoot badly, and a good shooting team can shoot well. We’ve seen both happen to and against the Knicks. Will they lose games in the playoffs because of it? Likely. But not every potential playoff opponent is a great shooting team. If New York can continue to take care of business and execute in other areas of the game, their three-point defense may not end up being as detrimental as it sometimes seems.
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 19: Cole Ragans #55 of the Kansas City Royals poses for a portrait during photo day at Surprise Stadium on February 19, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Jeremy Chen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The long winter has finally ended. Baseball is back. And while we got to laugh at the misfortunes of nearly half the teams in the league yesterday – seriously, Oneil Cruz seems very badly miscast as a centerfielder – it’s finally our turn to fret about our own team’s foibles. Let’s play ball!
Today’s starter for Kansas City is Cole Ragans, getting his third straight Opening Day start. He’ll be looking for his first win in such games, though. He took the loss against Minnesota in 2024 and could only watch from the bench as Sam Long got rocked for three runs in the tenth inning against the Guardians last year. Even after a ninth-inning rally forced the extra frame to begin with.
We all know that Ragans was hurt and had a much worse ERA last year. But pretty much every backing stat we have says he actually pitched significantly better than fourth-in-Cy-Young-voting campaign in 2024 – at least, when he was able to be on the mound. Keen-eyed Royals fans should watch not just to hope he stays healthy, but to see if he can pitch similarly to how he did last season while he’s at it. If he pitches a full season the way he did last year, he could end up the runaway favorite for the 2026 Cy Young Award.
Ragans has never faced Atlanta as a member of the Royals; he pitched three innings of relief against them in 2023 as a member of the Rangers and gave up four runs. But that was a long time ago and a very different Ragans. Atlanta’s offense somewhat resembles the 2025 Royals in that it has some absolute studs – Ronald Acuña Jr, Drake Baldwin, Matt Olson, and Austin Riley – and then a bunch of guys you mostly would rather weren’t in your lineup. Former Royals Mike Yastrzemski either isn’t in the lineup or shouldn’t be thanks to his splits.
The Royals, as an organization, are very familiar with Atlanta’s starter, Chris Sale, as he pitched for the White Sox for so many years. But they haven’t actually faced him since 2023, when he was still with the Red Sox. He’s a very different pitcher now than he was then, back to being absolutely elite when he’s on the mound, and the Royals are going to have their hands full.
Lineups
The Royals’ opening day lineup includes four players who weren’t on the team at this time last year. Maikel Garcia also returns to his old home at the top of the lineup after a monster 2025 and an even better WBC performance, after being left out of the Opening Day lineup last year.
The Royals are really leaning into their platoons, at least to start the year, with Starling Marte and Lane Thomas getting starts over Kyle Isbel and Jac Caglianone, who each figure to get the majority of the playing time at their positions over the course of the season. However, you can understand letting them sit against one of the very toughest lefties in the game. They could both enter as pinch hitters later in the contest.
I think it probably says something less than kind that the Royals’ plan for leadoff last year now bats seventh, and their “big” offseason acquisition is batting eighth. But Lane Thomas is having a lot of faith put in him to bat third today. Still, it may be Opening Day, but it’s also only one game out of 162. So let’s try not to panic too much about what this lineup construction means or how lineups will work for the rest of the year. Looking purely at the positive, it’s nice to see Manager Matt Quatraro leaning into the platoon matchups the front office built for him. We’ll just have to see whether they and he did well enough.
The Hockey News' main site has revealed players 21 to 40 for their latest top 100 NHL-affiliated prospects rankings. A notable Philadelphia Flyers prospect made the cut this time around, as defenseman Oliver Bonk was given the No. 38 spot.
Bonk is a prospect who the Flyers are hoping will be a major part of their blueline in the future. This is because the 2023 first-round pick has the tools to blossom into a high-impact defenseman at the NHL level.
Bonk is currently in his first season at the American Hockey League (AHL) level with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. In 37 games this campaign with Lehigh Valley, he has recorded five goals, 11 assists, and 16 points. This is after he had 11 goals and 40 points in 52 games during the 2024-25 season with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
Bonk also had a big year for the Knights in 2023-24, as he posted 24 goals, 43 assists, and 67 points in 60 games. With numbers like these, there is no question that the right-shot defenseman has good upside.
Bonk will certainly be a Flyers prospect to watch for the remainder of the season and onward. It will be interesting to see how he continues to grow his game from here.
Astros All-Star shortstop Jeremy Peña will make his season debut on Friday against the Los Angeles Angels after missing Opening Day due to his recovery from a fractured right index finger.
Peña suffered the injury playing for the Dominican Republic in an exhibition game leading up to the World Baseball Classic. He was healthy enough to be included on the Astros’ Opening Day roster and spent Thursday facing live pitching with the Astros Triple-A affiliate in Sugar Land, TX.
“He feels good. He’s excited to be back in the lineup. We’re all excited to have him back in the lineup,” Astros manager Joe Espada said.
Espada said Peña’s availability for Saturday’s game will hinge on how he feels after Friday’s game. Peña hit a home run while playing in Tuesday’s exhibition against Sugar Land at Daikin Park.
Peña, 28, finished last season batting .304 with 17 home runs and 62 RBI in 125 games with 20 stolen bases. He was selected to his first All-Star Game and finished 10th in American League MVP voting.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 07: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Atlanta Hawks during a game at State Farm Arena on March 07, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Are we sure this is legal? Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr. are officially available. The Sixers will have all their regulars against the Hornets Saturday night.
This is a lot of good injury news at once — is this allowed?
The Sixers released their injury report ahead of a big matchup with the Charlotte Hornets and it revealed that Tyrese Maxey may return to the court slightly earlier than expected. Both Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr. (elbow strain) are listed as questionable. Charlotte has yet to submit their injury report.
Tyrese Maxey listed as questionable tomorrow vs. the Hornets. The Sixers might have their whole team available. Wow.
This would be just a few days ahead of the approximate three-week timeline the Sixers originally gave for his reevaluation after suffering a torn tendon in his right pinky when he last played on March 7 against the Atlanta Hawks. After participating in left-handed only drills, Maxey has been seen on the court doing work with the right hand this week.
It’ll be a really big one in Charlotte at that. The Sixers currently sit just a half game behind the Toronto Raptors for the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, but they’re just a game ahead of the Orlando Magic, Hornets and Miami Heat for the eighth, ninth and 10th seed, respectively.
The Sixers next stop after the Hornets will be in Miami to take on the Heat. Tiebreakers for the season series are on the line as well with the Sixers going 1-1 against in each of their first two games against both opponents.
The 2025–26 season hasn’t been very kind to the Vancouver Canucks, but it has been to some of the organization’s former players. One such player is none-other than Bo Horvat, former Canucks captain and now 30-goal scorer for the fourth time in his NHL career.
Horvat’s first career 30-goal season came as a member of the Canucks back in 2021–22, during which he scored 31 goals in 70 games. The season after that remains his career-high, as he scored 31 goals in 49 games with Vancouver before being traded to the New York Islanders and adding seven more to his overall total in 30 games. He has since scored 30+ goals in two of his three other seasons with New York, with his lone sub-30 goal season being the 2024–25 season. He scored 28 goals in this particular year.
Horvat has enjoyed quite the season in his third full-year with the Islanders, having scored his 30th goal of the season in his team’s 2–1 win against the Dallas Stars on Thursday night. This goal extended Horvat’s current point streak to five straight games, with this being the second time this season he’s had a point streak of that length.
Throughout the month of March, 13 games so far, Horvat has scored six goals and five assists, going pointless in only three of his team’s games. This came only a few weeks after he suited up for his first Winter Olympic Games with Team Canada, during which he scored two goals in six games.
Mar 7, 2026; San Jose, California, USA; New York Islanders center Bo Horvat (14) scores the game-winning goal against San Jose Sharks goaltender Yaroslav Askarov (30) in the overtime period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images
Prior to sustaining a couple of injuries in December and January, Horvat had scored 19 goals in 31 games with the Islanders this season, putting him at a goals per game pace of .612. While his 30th goal of the season now ties him with Zach Hyman and Connor Bedard for 27th-most in the NHL, had he been healthy through the whole season, it wouldn’t have been a surprise if he ranked much higher.
Horvat and the Islanders are currently deadlocked in a stiff battle for the Eastern Conference’s wildcard spots. While the Islanders currently occupy the final spot with 87 points in 73 games, the Ottawa Senators are only a point behind them with a game in hand.
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