SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 25: Logan Webb #62 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the New York Yankees during the first inning on Opening Day at Oracle Park on March 25, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Francisco Giants started their four-game series against the New York Mets in exciting fashion. Then it turned downhill very, very quickly, with two ugly losses. Now, on Easter Sunday, the Giants will look to get back in the win column, and earn a series split.
Taking the mound for San Francisco is their ace, right-hander Logan Webb, who makes his third start of the season. It hasn’t quite been the year that Webb has been looking for, as he’s 1-1 with a 7.36 ERA, though he sports a 2.64 FIP. He has 12 strikeouts against five walks in 11 innings, and in his most recent game gave up three runs in six innings against the San Diego Padres.
On the other side is fellow right-handed pitcher Kodai Senga, who is coming off an up-and-down 2025 in which he made 22 starts, had a 7-6 record, posted a 3.02 ERA and a 4.12 FIP, and had 109 strikeouts against 55 walks in 113.1 innings. This is Senga’s second start of the year, after he allowed two runs in six innings against the St. Louis Cardinals in his season debut.
Enjoy the game, everyone. Go Giants!
Game #10
Who: San Francisco Giants (3-6) vs. New York Mets (5-4)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 30: Lance McCullers Jr. #43 of the Houston Astros looks on during the game against the Boston Red Sox at Daikin Park on March 30, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Astros (6-3) look to take the rubber game of a 3 game series with the Athletics (2-6) in Sacramento.
RHP Lance McCullers Jr. will be on the mound for the Astros this afternoon opposite LHP Jacob Lopez and the Athletics.
ABOUT MCCULLERS: RHP Lance McCullers Jr. is set to make his second start of the season.
In his season debut against the Boston Red Sox on March 30, he allowed one run on four hits and one walk with nine strikeouts in seven innings. It was his longest outing since Sept. 21, 2022 at Tampa, where he also went 7.0 innings. It was his first quality start and win since July 4, 2025 in Los Angeles against the Dodgers.
TODAY’S ROSTER MOVE: The Houston Astros placed RHP Hunter Brown on the 15-day IL today (retro 4/2) due to a right shoulder strain. To take his place on his active roster, Houston recalled RHP Christian Roa from Triple A Sugar Land.
AGAINST THE ATHLETICS: The Astros and A’s are facing each other today for the third of 13 scheduled games in 2026.
The Astros went 5-8 vs. the A’s in 2025, including a 3-4 record at Sutter Health Park. The Astros have own a 121-107 all-time record against the Athletics.
MR. 500: LF Yordan Alvarez recorded his 500th career RBI on Friday night on a sac-fly RBI in the third inning. He became the 15th player in franchise history to record 500 RBI. He is also the fastest player in franchise history to record 500 career RBI doing so in just 685 games, passing 1B Jeff Bagwell, who recorded 500 RBI in 717 games.
WALK THIS WAY: LF Yordan Alvarez walked a career-high tying four times yesterday vs. the Athletics. This marked the second time in his career he’s recorded a four-walk game, also Aug. 20, 2019 vs. Detroit.
Alvarez also tied the franchise record for walks in a nine inning game…the last Astros player to record four walks in a nine inning game was 3B Alex Bregman on June 3, 2023 vs. the Angels.
1B Jeff Bagwell holds the franchise record for walks in a single game with six on Aug. 20, 1999 in Miami against the Marlins, but the game went 16 innings.
YORDAN’S UPCOMING MILESTONES: LF Yordan Alvarez has recorded 173 career home runs, which makes him just one home run shy of matching franchise icon OF George Springer (174 HR) for the seventh on the Astros all-time list.
Sixth on the list is Alex Bregman at 191.
LEAGUE LEADERS: The Astros lead the Majors in runs (60), doubles (27) total bases (147), hits (87), walks (50), (OBP (.391), SLG (.479) and OPS (.870).
Individually, LF Yordan Alvarez leads the Majors in OBP (.590) and OPS (1.474), while ranking tied for first in runs (9). 1B Christian Walker leads the Majors in doubles (6).
DOWN ON THE FARM: The Astros Single A affiliate Fayetteville Woodpeckers defeated the Wilson Warbirds, 6-5 yesterday at SEGRA Stadium.
Astros number one overall prospect, OF Kevin Alvarez went 4×5 with two runs, two RBI and a double.
Astros number seven overall prospect RHP Ethan Pecko made a rehab start in the game, allowing two hits and striking out four in two scoreless innings.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Sunday, Apri5 3, 3:05 p.m. CST
Location: Sutter Health Park, Sacramento, CA
TV: Space City Home Network
Streaming: SCHN+
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 30: A general view of the exterior of Chase field is seen prior to the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday, March 30, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Today’s Lineups
BRAVES
DIAMONDBACKS
Ronald Acuna – DH
Ketel Marte – 2B
Drake Baldwin – C
Corbin Carroll – RF
Matt Olson – 1B
Geraldo Perdomo – SS
Mike Yastrzemski – LF
Nolan Arenado – 3B
Michael Harris – CF
Jose Fernandez – DH
Ozzie Albies – 2B
Carlos Santana – 1B
Mauricio Dubon – 3B
Tim Tawa – LF
Eli White – RF
James McCann – C
Jorge Mateo – SS
Jorge Barrosa – CF
Martin Perez – LHP
Brandon Pfaadt – RHP
The D-backs have a chance to secure a split of the four-game series, despite having scored a total of just four runs across the first three games. Indeed, including the 1-0 win in the finale of the sweep over Detroit, they have scored five runs over four. Mind you, there have been worse streaks. Just last season, Arizona went seven straight games scoring two or fewer runs at the end of July. This included a series against the Pirates where it took 29 innings for the D-backs to get their first run – and that came courtesy of the Manfred Man. The team scored a total of seven runs and batted a collective .179 over more than a week. So this is weak sauce as hitting slumps go.
Outside of Thursday’s blow-up though, the pitching has been solid, and that has led to some very quick games. Save Thursday, three of the last four games have finished in under two hours and twenty minutes. Up until recently, that’s something you just didn’t see very often before the rules changed towards “brighter baseball”. In 2022, the last year under the old rules, Arizona played just one game in less than 2:20. A little earlier, the Diamondbacks went almost three years without such a game (Sep 6, 2013 to June 7, 2016). To have three of them since Wednesday shows how much things have changed with regard to game times.
All told, I’d probably have a quick loss than a long, dragged out one. Though short games are typically also going to be close, without many runs scored on either side. There are exceptions though. On July 1st last year, we beat the Giants 8-2, and only needed 2:16 to do it. And in May 2014, the Tigers required just one additional minute to inflict a thumping 13-0 defeat on the D-backs. At the other end, we have only had a single game pass the three-hour mark – the 9-6 win over Detroit. Those are now the exception. In 2021, we had a run of sixteen consecutive games over three hours. Cannot say I miss that in any way.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 01: General view of action as starting pitcher Tarik Skubal #29 of the Detroit Tigers pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during third inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on April 01, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks defeated the Tigers 1-0. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Pitching has shown itself to be strong throughout this series, and the offense started with electric production to begin their first road trip…can the Atlanta Braves end on the same note?
Three consecutive series wins are a pretty sweet way to start the series; if not, the Arizona Diamondbacks can hit the road with a split under their belt, avoiding a series loss. In just a few hours, we’ll have an answer to this weekend’s outcome; until then, we’ll have to wait and see.
Kick your feet up, prepare your Easter Sunday dinner, and tune in at 4:10 p.m. EDT to watch the finale…or split your time watching the Women’s March Madness National Championship, also streaming now…both work.
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 03: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers prepares to bat prior to the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Friday, April 3, 2026 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Dodgers wrap things up in our nation’s capitol against the Washington Nationals on Sunday, looking to earn a three-game sweep.
Roki Sasaki makes his second start of the season against left-hander Foster Griffin.
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 30: Athletics pitcher Jacob Lopez (57) pitches during the MLB game between the Athletics and the Atlanta Braves on March 30th, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA.(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Our A’s and the Astros traded blowout wins in the first two games of the series. Today’s rubber match will determine who takes the series. The Athletics have an excellent chance to win their first of the year and get on the right foot before heading to New York.
Left-hander Jacob Lopez is set to get the ball for the second time this season. The 28 year old had a tough outing his last time out against the Braves, walking five and allowing theee runs in just four innings of work. On the bright side Lopez has been dominant against these Astros in his career so this could be the perfect matchup to get him going.
Off day for regular center fielder Denzel Clarke, with Lawrence Butler sliding over to take over up the middle. That means we’ll get Carlos Cortes in right field this afternoon. Other than that it’s all the regulars in their main spots in the batting order.
They’ll be seeing a familiar face in longtime Astro Lane McCullers Jr. The righty has dealt with plenty of injuries over the years but he seems healthy and he’s coming off a dominant outing in his first start of the year. The A’s will need to take advantage of the opportunities he gives them today.
The Houston starting lineup meanwhile shakes out like this:
Luis Castillo takes the mound for the Mariners for the second time this season, completing the second spin of the rotation of this season. Despite not earning the decision last time out, Castillo shoved against the Yankees for 6 innings of three-hit ball and tallied 5 strikeouts along with it. Castillo looks to continue his solid start to the season today against the Angels.
The hope today is that the Mariners can use this series and game to stabilize and gain some consistency, in particular from the offense, which, despite their best efforts last night, was held to a shutout by Jo Adell and his three-homerun robberies.
So far, the Mariners have had mixed results to start the season, dropping two out of 4 to the Guardians, including Opening Day, and then dropping two out of three to the Yankees, including a shutout loss. The Mariners have been shut out in two of their past four games. I wouldn’t say I’m worried, but I am anxious for the team to get on track and find a groove early in the season.
J.P. Crawford is back in the lineup full-time now after starting the season on the injured list and looks to keep the momentum going after recording his first hit and walk of the season last night. Also, he should have had his first home run, but we all know how that went. Cal Raleigh will DH today, with Mitch Garver behind the plate. Garver frequently takes up catching duties on a day game following a night game, and today is no exception. Brendan Donovan will be sitting for the second night in a row after leaving the game on Friday in the 7th inning. The team does not expect Donovan to spend any time on the IL and is currently managing Donovan’s groin strain on a day-to-day basis. In the meantime, Leo Rivas will continue to man third, but the Mariners will be short-handed should anything happen over the next few days.
No Donovan in the lineup again today for the Mariners. Will run through pregame drills on the field. Says he wants to be cautious after double sports hernia surgery last year. Pleased the MRI came back clean.
No shiny lineup graphic from the Angels today, perhaps distracted by the callup of their latest rookie:
The Angels will be handing the ball over to George Klassen this afternoon. Klassen will be making his major league debut today. Klassen impressed in spring training and is regarded as one of the Angels’ top prospects. Klassen sports a deadly cocktail of fastball, slider, and cutter that grade out at 55, 60, and 60, respectively. The 24-year-old spent much of this spring working and refining with Greg Maddux and could be in the mix for a permanent spot in the rotation this year. Read more on Klassen from John in the AL West preview here.
Today in Mariners History
1999 – Ken Griffey Jr. hits his seventh career opening night home run, the second-highest total in Major League history.
2000 – Jay Buhner smacks a three-run homer in his first at-bat of the season in Seattle’s 9-3 win over Boston.
2010 – Mariners beat Oakland 5-3 on Opening Day…Ken Griffey Jr. becomes 27th player in Major League history to play in 4 decades.
Brett Baty was surprisingly scratched from the Mets' starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the San Francisco Giants, but fortunetly, manager Carlos Mendoza said there isn't a cause for long-term concern.
Baty is dealing with a jammed thumb that occurred on his slide into second base following a seventh-inning double in Saturday's win.
"Last night on that head-first slide at second base, he jammed that left thumb," Mendoza said. "He was able to finish the game, little sore afterwards. And then this morning, basically the same. We're just trying to be smart about it, and that's why he came out of the lineup."
The skipper added: "No. After talking to him, he's probably a day or two [away]. Should be good to go on Tuesday. We're not planning on doing any imaging or anything like that, he's just day-to-day. "
Mendoza also noted that Baty jammed his left thumb, which is more good news, as he previously needed surgery to repair a UCL tear in his right thumb, which caused him to miss the last month of the 2022 season.
"No, it's a different one, it's the other one," Mendoza said. "That's the one thing he said last night, that he didn't feel like the one he hurt before where the ligament was involved."
New York's original starting lineup for Sunday had Baty in right field and Carson Benge playing left field with Juan Soto still out as he's dealing with a minor calf strain. Instead, Jared Young will play LF and Benge will continue to play in RF. Mendoza also made it sound like Baty could be available off the bench as a pinch hitter if the team needed.
The manager went on to discuss the lineup change and explained why he's confident in both Baty and Benge playing different spots in the outfield.
"Bottom line, I feel comfortable with Baty everywhere," Mendoza said. "After talking to some of the coaches, just kinda keeping Baty, spring training he was in right field the whole time. With Bengey, he's used to playing everywhere. So it was just more like keeping Baty in a position where, since we're asking him a lot, move him around, just kinda keep him in a comfortable spot.
"I could go back and forth, depending on matchups, ballpark. Could go with Brett playing left, Brett playing right, Bengey playing all three. Continue to talk about versatility, that's what we got there."
The Mets are off on Monday and begin a three-game series at Citi Field with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.
Mar 25, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Malachi Smith (18) drives past Golden State Warriors guard De'anthony Melton (8) during the second quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images | John Hefti-Imagn Images
After going undrafted in 2023 and then being shipped off to four different NBA G League teams, former Gonzaga Bulldog guard Malachi Smith has secured a roster spot with the Brooklyn Nets for the rest of the season and potentially further. Smith’s two-year deal comes after two 10-day contracts with the organization.
He made $73,153 on each of his two 10-day contracts and will now be earning $65,838 for the remaining five games of the 2025-26 season.
We’ve signed Malachi Smith to a multi-year contract.
Smith has averaged 7.3 points on a shooting split of 52.7 percent from the field/54.5 percent on three-pointers/100.0 percent at the free throw line, 2.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.0 steals per game in 10 appearances across two 10-day contracts with the Nets after playing for the team’s G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, and now lands a full standard deal.
Along with most bottom-tier franchises at this point in the end of the regular season, Brooklyn took a shot on someone from their development team. Smith used that opportunity and proved his worth amongst the world’s best.
Quick instincts from Malachi Smith. Making the most of his second 10-day contract. https://t.co/NpEMNhmtXM
— The Slipper Still Fits (@slipperstillfit) April 4, 2026
He fought through the grind that is the G League to get in this position. Smith had stops with the G League’s Rip City Remix, Wisconsin Herd, Memphis Hustle, and Long Island over the last three years.
Smith started his collegiate career with the Wright State Raiders from 2018-19, transferred to the Chattanooga Mocs from 2020-22, before making his way to Spokane, Washington. He was named the West Coast Conference Sixth Man of the Year in 2023 before entering his name into the 2023 NBA Draft, bypassing his final season of college eligibility.
This further proves not only how much professional talent that Few has been able to bring through the program, but players that are willing to work their way to this uber-selective pool of talent. Smith could have opted out of the G League and shipped himself over to Europe or Asia, but had trust in his abilites and work ethic to continue to get better over the course of these last three years.
Shows a lot about the type of players that the Zags search for and want to be involved with what they have built in the 21st century.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
The New York Rangers appear to be locked in on utilizing three goaltenders to close out the 2025-26 season.
On March 20, the Rangers recalled Dylan Garand from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League, with Jonathan Quick dealing with an upper-body injury.
Through Quick’s seven-game absence, Garand played in two games, posting a 1-0-1 record, 1.44 goals against average, and .954 save percentage.
Since Garand notched his first NHL win on March 27, we haven’t seen him play in a game, which begs the question: Will the Rangers keep him around for the remainder of the season?
As of right now, it does not appear that the Rangers have any intention of sending Garand down to the AHL, but Sullivan hasn’t given confirmation whether or not Garand will get another start.
“Would we like for Dylan to get another start? Potentially, yes,” Sullivan said. “We'll see how it goes moving forward. We have a game plan for him.”
Having three goaltenders up at the same time creates some complications in terms of finding opportunities for all three of them.
Garand served in a backup role behind Shesterkin for much of Quick’s absence, being a healthy scratch for the past two games upon Quick’s return to practice.
Each goalie has been a participant in practice, but it’s difficult to split the repetitions equally, with Shesterkin and Quick receiving most of the work.
Through conversations with Rangers president and general manager Chris Dury as well as goaltending coach Jeff Malcolm, Sullivan has formulated a plan to navigate the three-goalie rotation.
“We have a game plan,” Sullivan said of the Rangers’ three-goalie rotation. “Chris Drury and I have had a conversation around this, so we're very much on the same page on what we think is best and why. That was a lengthy discussion. It's not a decision that we make lightly. I've talked to Shesty, Quickie and Dylan around a tentative game plan on what we think this whole thing might look like...
“Sometimes certain guys go out before practice, and they get repetition. Sometimes it's after practice. Certain guys split the net during the formal practice, depending on what that looks like. The point is, the logistical aspect of that (Jeff Malcolm) and I have had discussions around.”
Sullivan has made clear that, despite the Rangers being eliminated from playoff contention, Shesterkin is still the starting goaltender.
The Rangers have five games remaining this season, and with no back-to-backs in store, it’s possible Shesterkin starts every game to close out the 2025-26 campaign.
Even with the lack of opportunity to get game action at the NHL level, Sullivan believes there is value in keeping Garand with the Blueshirts and allowing him to learn under Shesterkin and Quick.
“I think Quickie and Shesty have been great mentors for Dylan Garand right now,” Sullivan emphasized. “I can see that relationship developing. The example that those two guys set for a guy like Dylan, it's great for Dylan to be around these guys... I think a guy like Dylan right now being around these guys, I think there's huge value in that, and a huge benefit in that.”
The Rangers’ backup goaltending position is up for grabs come next season, and given Garand’s breadth of experience in the AHL and the fact that Quick’s one-year, $1.55 million contract will expire on July 1, it isn’t far-fetched to assume that Garand could take over the position backing up Shesterkin and replace Quick.
The dilemma Sullivan seems to have on his hands is wanting to offer Garand more opportunities in order to see what the organization truly has in him, while also giving Quick the respect he deserves, who could very well be playing in his final NHL season at 40 years old.
“Shesty is an important guy to us. He's the number one guy here, and arguably the best goal in the game. We've had a lot of conversations lately about Quickie and what he means to the New York Rangers,” Sullivan said. “Just his body of work, and certainly, we are respectful of that. We're trying to do the right thing by all of our guys.”
Sullivan has continued to be tight-lipped regarding this three-goalie rotation, so it remains a mystery how it will evolve over these last remaining games.
PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 5: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket during the game against the Chicago Bulls on March 5, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The quadruple dream may be dead but Arsenal are now just four games from achieving an unprecedented nonruple
And then there were two. As the clock ticked down at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday night even the stray yellow balloons on the pitch had begun to take on a weirdly mocking quality.
The balloons were almost too much, like metaphors-for-hire in an arthouse film, popping up in shot every time Arsenal tried to transform another spell of mechanical pressure into creative, incisive football. Your dreams? Your dreams are just air inside a polymer shell. Your dreams are a squeaky veneer. Even when you try to take agency over your dreams, or at least stamp on them before a set piece, they will scoot away and bobble about annoyingly near the corner flag.
WASHINGTON — The Los Angeles Dodgers placed shortstop Mookie Betts on the injured list Sunday with a right oblique strain and recalled Hyeseong Kim from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Betts left Saturday’s 10-5 victory over the Washington Nationals after walking and scoring in the first inning. Manager Dave Roberts said the Dodgers believe Betts was initially injured on a check swing during the at-bat.
While Roberts said he was hesitant to put a timeline on Betts’ return, he hopes it would be quicker than a 4 to 6 week absence.
“He’s actually in better spirits,” Roberts said. “He’s obviously disappointed, but just the way he feels today, I think he’s had some dealings with that before and said it’s better than he recalls in past experience, so that was encouraging.”
Betts is hitting .179 in Los Angeles’ first eight games. The 33-year-old hit .258 with 20 homers and 82 RBIs in 150 games last season.
Kim hit .280 with three home runs and 17 RBIs in 71 games as a rookie last season.
Roberts said Kim and Miguel Rojas will likely split time at shortstop while Betts is out. Rojas replaced Betts in Saturday’s game and is batting second on Sunday against the Nationals. Roberts said Kim is likely to start two of three games in the Dodgers’ series at Toronto that begins Monday.
The Dodgers’ lineup figures to have a different look as well. Betts hit in the No. 3 spot every game this season after spending much of last year batting second.
“He’s Mookie Betts, so it certainly changes,” Roberts said. “But that’s the great thing about having depth that a lot of teams don’t have. A platoon at short and you feel like you’ve got good matchups, it’s not all bad and it gives other guys opportunities. But it’s a blow, for sure.”
Barring an unexpected return far ahead of schedule, Cameron Payne won’t play again for the Sixers this regular season.
A team official said Sunday that an MRI confirmed Payne suffered a strained right hamstring during the Sixers’ loss Saturday night to the Pistons. He’ll be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks, the official said.
The Sixers’ final regular-season game will be next Sunday vs. the Bucks. With the Raptors’ loss Sunday to the Celtics, the Sixers are again sixth in the Eastern Conference standings at 43-35. The seventh through 10th seeds will participate in the play-in tournament, which is set to start April 14. Round 1 of the playoffs will begin April 18.
Payne had recently been on the edge of the Sixers’ rotation and didn’t play in two of the team’s last four games. His absence would make an injury to one of the Sixers’ healthy rotation guards — Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes — a bit more damaging. The next guard on the depth chart would be Kyle Lowry, who turned 40 years old last month and has only appeared in 13 games during his 20th NBA season.
The 31-year-old lefty has averaged 7.4 points, 2.6 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 1.1 steals in his second stint as a Sixer. He’s shot 37.6 percent from the floor, 33 percent from three-point range and 86.4 percent at the foul line.
Johni Broome (right knee surgery recovery) was the one other Sixer listed as out for the team’s Monday night meeting with the Rockets. Joel Embiid was not listed on the Sixers’ injury report after sitting out the second leg of their back-to-back vs. Detroit.
