Chase DeLauter’s family made sure phenom’s first homer counted before going wild

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Cleveland Guardians' Chase DeLauter jogs the bases after hitting a solo home run against Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert during the first inning of an opening-day baseball game, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Seattle. , Image 2 shows Cleveland outfielder Chase DeLauter's family was there to see him hit two home runs in his regular-season debut in the Guardians’ 6-4 win over the Mariners in Thursday's Opening Day matchup at T-Mobile Park on March 27, 2026.
Cleveland outfielder Chase DeLauter shined in his regular-season debut in the Guardians' 6-4 win over the Mariners in Thursday's Opening Day matchup at T-Mobile Park.

Guardians outfielder Chase DeLauter shined in his regular-season debut in Cleveland’s 6-4 win over the Mariners in Thursday’s Opening Day matchup at T-Mobile Park.

His family and his girlfriend, Isabella Fitzwater, couldn’t contain their excitement when DeLauter hit his first career home run in the top of the first inning to give Cleveland an early 1-0 lead.

But before they could celebrate, they had to make sure the hit was legit.

The broadcast focused on DeLauter’s family standing and waiting for the umpire to signal his finger in the air and circle it — and when he did, they began cheering, as seen in an X video by MLB.

The 24-year-old DeLauter went 3-for-5 with two home runs to become the first player in Cleveland franchise history to hit multiple home runs in his regular-season debut.

Cleveland outfielder Chase DeLauter’s family was there to see him hit two home runs in his regular-season debut in the Guardians’ 6-4 win over the Mariners at T-Mobile Park on March 27, 2026. X/MLB

The broadcast showed his family again cheering during his second homer to right field at the top of the ninth inning, which gave the Guardians a 6-4 lead over Seattle.

DeLauter became the seventh player in MLB history to hit two homers in his first regular-season game, and the first since Trevor Story in 2016, per the Elias Sports Bureau.

His girlfriend praised him in an Instagram Story post.

“AN OPENING DAY HOMERUN!!!!!” Fitzwater wrote, including a few teary-eyed emojis and a photo of him blasted on the scoreboard. “@chasedelauter you never fail to amaze me.”

After his second homer, she wrote, “ARE WE SERIOUS @chasedelauter the most deserving I love you.”

DeLauter’s dad, his stepdad, mom, brother, best friend and his best friend’s mom were all in attendance, according to MLB.com.

Cleveland Guardians’ Chase DeLauter jogs the bases after hitting a solo home run against Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert during the first inning of an opening-day baseball game, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Seattle. AP

He shared that his dad flew to Seattle from back home in West Virginia and had not flown in a while.

“It’s unbelievable,” his dad, Jason, said. “I know the debut in the playoffs, he was super excited about that. We were blindsided by it, to be able to get called up like that. He’s just worked. He’s continued to work. None of this was guaranteed.”

The Guardians and Mariners face off again Friday night at T-Mobile Park.

Opening Day is here as Chris Sale takes the mound for the Braves against the Royals

FORT MYERS, FL - MARCH 21: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Boston Red Sox at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on Saturday, March 21, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Izzy Rincon/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Opening Day for the Atlanta Braves is finally here and they will actually be playing a home game. The last time they had a home game to open the season was back in 2022 against the Cincinnati Reds where Max Fried gave up five earned runs, resulting in a loss.

Today they will be taking on the Kansas City Royals and their ace Cole Ragans. Ragans had a hard year last season with a groin injury and a rotator cuff injury which shortened his season to only thirteen starts. In 61.2 innings he struggled to a 4.67 ERA, but had a solid WHIP of 1.18.

Ragans is good example where a small sample size hurt his ERA. According to Statcast he had an expected ERA (xERA) of 2.67, which would be in the best 4.0 of MLB. He also struck out 38.1 percent of the hitters he faced, which is good for top 3.0 percent of all qualified pitchers. Hitters only had an expected batting average of .187. Needless to say, he showed many signs of his ERA dropping over time, even in an injury riddled season. The Braves may have their hands full trying to squeak out runs today, which is why it is odd that as of right now Jonah Heim is slotted to start.

Kyle Farmer is second on the ream with eleven at-bats against Ragans and has struggled to an OPS of .606, albeit with a .273 average. This may be why Heim is in the lineup and Farmer is not.  Mauricio Dubón leads the team with twelve at-bats and has been successful against Ragans with a .333 average and .916 OPS. He could be the key to winning this game.

Of all the other players that will start, no one has more than two at-bats. Austin Riley hit a two-run HR in his only at-bat against Ragans and Michael Harris had a double in one of his two at-bats. Everyone one else is hitless. Ragans’ lone appearance against the Braves was in 2023 as a member of the Rangers where he came in as a long reliever to pitch 3.0 innings and surrendered four ER.

Chris Sale will be getting the ball as the Opening Day starter for the Braves yet again this season. This is seventh time in his career to get that honor.  Three with the White Sox, two with the Red Sox, and two with the Braves.

Of the players that Sale will likely face today, no one comes close to the number of at-bats that Salvador Perez has against him. Perez has faced him an astonishing sixty-eight times. No one else on the Royals has faced him more than seven. In those sixty-eight at-bats Perez has one HR with a .265 average and .628 OPS. Lane Thomas and Starling Marte have each faced Sale seven times and have an OPS of .679 and .572 respectively.

With the Braves’ rotation being as depleted as it is, every Chris Sale start will have even more importance. Today is only the first game of many this season, but it would be encouraging to get a Chris Sale dominated start and prevent on the first day this season what happened last season when the Braves got swept to start the season.

The first pitch is at 7:15 EDT at Truist Park.

Game Notes

Time: Friday, March 27 at 7:15 p.m. EDT

Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, Ga

TV: BravesVission, Gray TV

Streaming: MLB.TV audio

Radio: 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan

Yankees Mailbag: Streaming headaches and bullpen musings

TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 25: Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. looks on during warm ups prior to Game Two of the 2025 World Series presented by Capital One between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Saturday, October 25, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Michael Chisholm/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Good afternoon everyone, it’s time to dive back into the mailbag and answer some of your questions. Remember to send in your questions for our weekly call by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.

ReadingYankee asks:I can’t possibly be expected to keep so many streaming services for the sake of watching a handful of baseball games in a season. Will all of this streaming of baseball games have a point where it stops expanding? Or, perhaps a better question is will we ever go back to a one-stop service where an out-of-market family can watch ALL the games in a season?

Everyone is looking ahead to the 2027 season and the labor dispute that’s sure to boil over into a lockout, and with good reason, but the media rights landscape that MLB is navigating may just be the second-biggest issue facing the sport right now. The league is pushing streaming heavily these past couple of years, securing deals with Apple, Amazon Prime, and now Netflix among the biggest names to get a foothold on covering regular season games. They’re hardly the only league to be doing so, but MLB faces the dual issue of being a more regional broadcast sport compared to the others in the North American big four, and those regional networks are struggling right now. Turnover from bankruptcy has seen the likes of Bally Sports and the FanDuel Network already come and go in a lot of places, leaving many franchises in a bit of a bind with their day-to-day broadcasts.

The Yankees haven’t felt this side of the issue as much, thanks to the success of the YES Network freeing them up to be one of the few flagship stations that’s thriving. However, that success then gets cut into by the league forcing a foothold for streaming, because any media rights deal is going to demand to see a premier franchise like the Yankees on their site. This leads to a massive headache for the fans, and at the same time isn’t even pulling many new eyes towards the league — but it is bringing in a wave of revenue. I don’t know how they can remedy these issues, but one thing is for sure: the league isn’t slowing down on this front anytime soon, unfortunately.

Russo Radio asks: Why are we holding onto Blackburn as a sure ‘pen member? What am I missing? It looks to me like he gave up basically five runs a game for years and still does the same now!

The simple answer is that bullpen depth is bullpen depth, and the team sees enough in Paul Blackburn to give him some room to throw in the bottom of the ‘pen — at least to start the year out. He’s only been with the team since the back-half of last year, but his numbers largely showed improvement since coming over from the Mets: his strikeout rate spiked from 16.4 percent to 24.6 percent, his walk rate dipped a bit to 6.2 percent, and while his ERA remained high at an unsightly 5.28 his FIP was a much more manageable 4.39, while his expected rates were significantly lower than that mark at 2.92 and 3.54 respectively. That’s enough to showcase room for tinkering with Matt Blake and company, so while the early reserves of the pitching staff are being used to support the starting rotation with three regular members still out, Blackburn can stick around and work with the mop up role. There’s the potential that he earns his way into some middle leverage, but at worst-case the Yankees move on once pitchers start to return and push the fringe starters back into the bullpen.

treatycity asks:This applies to Winquest. Drafted as Rule 5 player the Yanks must keep him on their MLB roster the entire season, so he’s on their 40-man. Let’s just say that he stays on their 40-man the entire season, would he have three options available starting next season, if they need/want to use them?

To clarify, it’s not enough for Cade Winquest to sit on the 40-man roster all year — he has to stay on the active 26-man roster, barring IL stints, all season in order for the Rule 5 restrictions to be lifted. Should he accomplish that, and log more than 90 days on the active roster in the case of a long-term IL trip, then he’ll be freed up to the larger 40-man roster and regain the options in his rookie contract starting next year.

NBA Picks: Our Boosted NBA Moneyline Parlay Bet for March 27

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Finding the right value on a Friday night slate is all about identifying trends and mismatches before the market catches up. For this March 27 lineup, I’ve put together a four-leg moneyline parlay that balances momentum with favorable matchups.

My NBA picks focus on some Western teams facing full-blown tankers, along with two of the titans in the Eastern Conference.

Best of all: This parlay has been BOOSTED by our friends at bet365.

NBA moneyline parlay for March 27

img src="https://img.covers.com/betting/sportsbooks/2/bet365.svg" alt="bet365 Logo" loading="lazy" width="194" height="62"

Clippers Clippers

Celtics Celtics

Cavaliers Cavaliers

Rockets Rockets

s+219/s strong+260 /strongat bet365

Clippers Los Angeles Clippers vs Pacers Indiana Pacers

  • Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
  • TV: NBA League Pass, FDSN SC, FDSN IN
  • Pick: Clippers (-380)

Los Angeles is listed as an 8.5-point favorite, but I see clear value on that number — I make it closer to -11.5. The matchup strongly favors the Clippers, starting with their five-out offense and elite floor spacing.

With John Collins and Brook Lopez stretching the floor, Indiana’s defensive structure gets pulled apart. That’s especially problematic for Jay Huff, who’s forced to defend on the perimeter, leaving the paint unprotected and exposing the Pacers at the rim. Once the lane opens up, it creates easy opportunities for players like Darius Garland and Kawhi Leonard to attack off the dribble and score efficiently in isolation.

The market seems to be overreacting to the win against the Magic — and the Pacers' backdoor cover against the Lakers — giving Indy more respect than it deserves in this spot.

Hawks Atlanta Hawks vs Celtics Boston Celtics

  • Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Location: TD Garden
  • TV: NBA League Pass, FDSN SE-ATL, NBCSB
  • Pick: Celtics (-205)

I don’t care how hot the Atlanta Hawks are — the Boston Celtics are the best team in the Eastern Conference, and they’ll prove it again tonight.

The edge in this game is largely determined by the injury report, with Neemias Queta still listed as questionable. Jaylen Brown has been ruled out, but with Derrick White available, I'm still backing the Celtics.

Heat Miami Heat vs Cavaliers Cleveland Cavaliers

  • Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Location: Rocket Arena
  • TV: NBA TV, FDSN SU, FDSN OH
  • Pick: Cavaliers (-220)

The Cavaliers represent the smallest edge among the teams in the parlay, as I have them priced as 6.5-point favorites while they’re currently listed at -5.5.

Cleveland was blown out by the Miami Heat in its most recent game, but that was a tough scheduling spot — the second night of a back-to-back, with the first game being a competitive matchup against Orlando.

With Jarrett Allen expected to return, I like the Cavaliers in the rematch.

Rockets Houston Rockets vs Grizzlies Memphis Grizzlies

  • Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
  • Location: FedExForum
  • TV: NBA League Pass, SCHN, FDSN SE-MEM
  • Pick: Rockets (-900)

This matchup heavily favors Houston, starting with Alperen Sengun against Olivier-Maxence Prosper at center. At 6-foot-11 vs. 6-foot-8, it’s a clear size and strength advantage, and the Rockets should look to establish Sengun early and often inside.

Memphis’ pace also works in Houston’s favor: The Grizzlies like to push the tempo, but that plays right into the hands of the Rockets — especially for Amen Thompson, who thrives in transition and adds another layer to their offense in an up-tempo game.

From a game script standpoint, Memphis being on the front end of a back-to-back only adds to the risk of a blowout. They’re already limiting minutes, and if things get out of hand, there’s even more incentive to pull starters early. All signs point to a strong Houston performance — I make this line closer to -15.5.

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NBA lottery changes could combat tanking: Inside three ideas

At the NBA Board of Governors session earlier this week, the league presented three NBA Draft lottery reform concepts to ownership in an ongoing attempt to combat tanking.

A person with direct knowledge of the matter told USA TODAY Sports that the session was akin to a brainstorm and that the concepts discussed were not considered formal proposals that would be presented to the Board of Governors for voting — at least not yet. Before it gets to that stage, the NBA’s executives want to hear more feedback from team front office personnel prior to elevating any concept as a formal proposal.

The person also said that the concepts could be tweaked further, or that new concepts could be raised in the future. To that effect, the March 25 discussion with NBA ownership was not the first meeting the group has had on these issues. In essence: the league’s efforts against tanking are fluid and evolving.

The person spoke under the condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter.

During a March 25 press conference at the end of the Board of Governors meeting, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver characterized discussions with NBA owners about tanking as “lengthy” and vowed that the league is taking the matter seriously.

“We are going to fix it, full stop,” Silver told reporters in the press conference. “I want to say that directly to our fans.”

Given that the 2025-26 NBA season is nearly complete, the NBA does not necessarily need to rush this process, because any potential changes would not impact the bottom of the standings this year. Still, the league is prioritizing the anti-tanking effort and wants to enact changes sooner rather than later.

The NBA will convene a special session of the Board of Governors to vote on any formalized proposals for the 2026-27 season.

“This meeting was not about pointing fingers at any team in particular,” Silver said. “Again, I understand where the incentives are. We understand why it results in certain behavior. I will say it seemed unanimous in the room that we needed to make a change and we needed to make a change for next season. Exactly what that change is, we’re continuing to work on. No votes were taken today.

“I think there’s also unanimous agreement that we need to make this change in advance of the draft and free agency this year so all the teams understand the rules of the road going into next year.”

Here's a look at the concepts presented:

Concept No. 1: Expand NBA draft lottery eligibility to play-in teams

In this scenario, 18 teams would qualify for the lottery. The 10 teams with the worst records would have the same chance, 8%, to win the lottery. The eight teams that qualify for the Play-In Tournament would then divvy up the remaining 20% of odds, in descending order, from Nos. 11-18.

Concept No. 2: WNBA-style weighted lottery

This concept blends some facets of the way the WNBA operates its lottery. In this scenario, 22 teams would be lottery-eligible. This would include the same 18 teams as the scenario above, while adding the four teams that lose their first-round playoff series.

Then, similar to the way the WNBA ranks teams for its lottery, the NBA would weight teams by their combined records over the most recent two seasons.

Concept No. 3: 18-team lottery most similar to current system

This concept is closest to the way the lottery is set up right now, with some tweaks.

In this version, 18 teams would qualify for the lottery: the teams with the 10 worst records, plus the eight play-in teams. This concept would give the teams with the five worst records — as opposed to the teams with the three worst records in the current setup — the same odds to win the lottery.

Then, odds would go in descending order for the teams ranked sixth through 18th.

Similar to the current lottery system, this concept would have some protections in place to prevent for statistical aberrations: the lowest fall one of the five worst teams could have would be the No. 10 pick.

How does the NBA come up with anti-tanking concepts?

Feb 14, 2026; Los Angeles, CA, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks to the media during a press conference before 2026 NBA All Star Saturday Night at Intuit Dome.

It starts with ongoing discussions and ideas. These can come from team operations or from people within the league office, but the NBA is trying to curate options that appear to have the most traction in a comprehensive list.

The effort to curate and distill these ideas into concepts is being led by NBA executive vice president of basketball strategy and analytics Evan Wasch, NBA president of league operations Byron Spruell and executive vice president, head of basketball operations James Jones. Those three are in constant contact with the NBA’s competition committee so that when the concepts are presented to NBA owners, they’re listed clearly and concisely.

Would any change be permanent?

Almost certainly not. During his press conference, Silver said he believed the league’s previous efforts to combat tanking with lottery reform had worked, but he acknowledged that changes in collective bargaining and changes in analytics and behavior rendered the previous reforms obsolete.

“The world changes, behavior changes,” Silver said. “I don’t necessarily think the changes we made over the last 40 years or so were necessarily wrong. I think in some cases they worked for a period of time. Math is math. When we make those changes and change odds, you know exactly statistically where you’re going to come out.

“What’s changed is behavior around those odds. It may be as the value of franchises has gone up, as the analytics have gotten more sophisticated, as pressure has come from fan bases to engage in behavior that even team ownership or GMs are not proud of, that’s where we find ourselves.”

He also cautioned against the framing of any upcoming lottery reform as a “forever fix” and vowed that the league would continually look at potential changes to the lottery as league economics and league dynamics changed.

“If I’m the one standing at the podium (in five years), I want to make it clear that I recognize things may change also because there also may be changes that we see through collective bargaining or other changes to the system that may impact what we’re doing now,” Silver said. “Certainly going into next season, the incentives will be completely different than they are now.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA tanking conversation turns to three draft lottery reform concepts

Novak Djokovic pulls out of the Monte Carlo Masters

MONACO (AP) — Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the Monte Carlo Masters after having skipped the Miami Open with a right shoulder injury.

“We send him our best wishes and hope to see him back on court very soon,” the clay-court tournament wrote Friday in announcing Djokovic's withdrawal in an Instagram message.

The post didn't specify the 38-year-old Djokovic's reason for pulling out, but the 24-time Grand Slam champion hasn't played since losing in three sets to Jack Draper in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open two weeks ago.

A year ago at Monte Carlo, Djokovic lost in the second round to Alejandro Tabilo.

Djokovic, ranked No. 3, has not commented on his social media channels about the withdrawal.

___

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Guardians vs Mariners Prediction, Odds & Home Run Pick for Tonight's MLB Game

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Reigning division champs collide again at T-Mobile Park as the Cleveland Guardians and Seattle Mariners lock horns — and it’ll take some special hitting to top last night’s home run blitz.

These teams combined for six dingers in yesterday’s season opener, with Cleveland picking up a 6-4 win, and my Guardians vs. Mariners predictions expect Jose Ramirez to lead the charge for the visitors in this rematch.

Get the lowdown on this clash with my free MLB picks for Friday, March 27.

Guardians vs Mariners predictions

Guardians vs Mariners best bet: Jose Ramirez Over 1.5 total bases (+140)

If you’re in the market for consistent production, look no further than Jose Ramirez. His hit totals for the past four seasons read: 168, 172, 173, 168 – and there’s no sign of decline for the wily veteran.

Ramirez thumped a two-RBI double last night to turn the contest in the Cleveland Guardians favor, and he’s had success against Seattle Mariners starter George Kirby to the tune of a 6-for-12 record, with three doubles and a homer.

When the Mariners go to the bullpen, it’s worth noting that Ramirez also has a pair of hits against key relievers Gabe Speier and Andres Muñoz.

Covers COVERS INTEL: George Kirby allowed a .264 average to left-handers last season, and that lines up nicely for the switch-hitting Ramirez and the other lefties in the Guardians lineup

Guardians vs Mariners same-game parlay (SGP)

I’ll take the run line with a pesky Cleveland offense that’s packed with lefties, while trusting that Gavin Williams – coming off a 3.06 ERA last year – can match Kirby.

The visitors, and they’ve got a real lead-off weapon in rookie Chase DeLauter, who marked his first regular season outing with two solo dingers last night.

Then it’s all about the elite hitting on show. Ramirez has already opened his RBI account for 2026, and Julio Rodriguez can point to three career hits against Williams. J-Rod went 0-for-4 yesterday, but he finished with 174 hits and 95 RBIs in 2025.

Guardians vs Mariners SGP

  • Guardians +1.5
  • Jose Ramirez Over 0.5 hits
  • Julio Rodriguez Over 0.5 hits

Guardians vs Mariners home run pick: Cal Raleigh (+290)

After a magical run last year, Cal Raleigh didn’t do himself any favors during the WBC, but look for his bat to do the talking tonight. Another regular season with 60 homers might be a stretch, but I’m wagering on The Big Dumper to mash his first long ball of the year here.

2026 Transparency record
  • Best bets: 1-0, +0.65 units
  • SGPs: 0-1, -1 units
  • HR picks: 0-1, -1 units

Guardians vs Mariners odds

  • Moneyline: Cleveland +143 | Seattle -158
  • Run line: Cleveland +1.5 (-150) | Seattle -1.5 (+130)
  • Over/Under: Over 7 (-105) | Under 7 (-115)

Guardians vs Mariners trend

The Over is 7-3 in the past 10 meetings between these teams. Find more MLB betting trends for Guardians vs. Mariners.

How to watch Guardians vs Mariners and game info

LocationT-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA
DateFriday, March 27, 2026
First pitch9:45 p.m. ET
TVApple TV
Guardians starting pitcherGavin Williams
(2025: 12-5, 3.06 ERA)
Mariners starting pitcherGeorge Kirby
(2025: 10-8, 4.21 ERA)

Guardians vs Mariners latest injuries

Guardians vs Mariners weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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2026 Minor League Preview: Syracuse Mets

Jonah Tong throws a pitch in a blue Mets uniform with white pants and an orange hat during a spring training game at Clover Field in Port St. Lucie
Jonah Tong | (Photo by Tanner Gatlin/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

First Half Record: 31-44 (7/10, International League East Division)

Second Half Record: 46-29 (2/10, International League East Division)

When the 2025 season began, the Syracuse Mets had an assortment of the Mets’ top prospects and an additional nineteen players with major league experience. Syracuse had ended the second half of the 2024 season as one of the worst in the International League, but with so much talent on board, expectations were that the team would turn things around.

All in all, the team got off to a sluggish start and struggled to really build momentum, with the promotion-and-demotion of players augmenting the Mets’ lineup really having an effect on the team. They ended the first half with a 31-44 record, 7th in the International League East Division, 16.0 games behind the first place Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, and were one of the bottom teams in all of Triple-A baseball. In the second half, Syracuse benefited from promotions from Double-A Binghamton, with top prospects such as Carson Benge, Jett Williams, Jonah Tong, Nolan McLean, and Ryan Clifford all suiting up for Syracuse. Additionally, a handful of players who had otherwise struggled in the first half righted the ship to some degree. The team went 46-29 in the second half, their magic number running out in the last week of the season.

Dick Scott will be returning as team skipper, his fourth year as manager. Joining him will be John Nogowski, who will be serving as bench coach, A.J. Sager, who will be serving as pitching coach, and Nate Irving, who will be serving as hitting coach. Nogowski will be replacing 2025 bench coach J.P. Arencibia, while Sager will be reprising his 2025 role and Irving will be replacing 2025 hitting coach Rick Guarno.

The 2026 season will be Dick Scott’s thirteenth year in the New York Mets organization. Besides coaching Syracuse for the last four, he also served as Coordinator of Coaching Development and Instruction in 2021-2022, New York Mets bench coach in 2016-2017, Director of Player Development in 2012-2015, and was a Minor League Field Coordinator in 2011-2012.

The 2026 season will be John Nogowski’s first season not just with the Mets, but as a coach. The infielder attended Florida State University and was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 34th round of the 2014 MLB Draft, the 1,032nd player selected overall. He was released in 2017, signed a contract with the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association a few months later, and then was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals a few weeks later. He remained in their organization for the next few years, making his MLB debut in 2020, and was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for cash considerations in July 2021, getting released by them at the end of the season.

A.J. Sager will be returning to the role that he held last season for Syracuse and will be returning to the Mets for his sixth season. Prior to serving as pitching coach for the Syracuse Mets, he was the pitching coach for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies in 2022-2023 and was pitching coach for the Brooklyn Cyclones in 2021. Before he was a coach in the Mets organization, he was a coach for twenty years with the Detroit Tigers.

The 2026 season will be Nate Irving’s first season as Syracuse hitting coach and will be his second season with the Mets. In 2025, he served as Binghamton Rumble Ponies hitting coach. Prior to joining the organization, he coached in the Cincinatti Reds system, serving as hitting coach for the Single-A Daytona Tortugas in 2024, the ACL Reds in 2023, and as bench coach for the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts in 2022. Additionally, he served as a hitting coach for the Bravos de Margarita of the Venezuelan League during the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 seasons.

The Syracuse Mets will be opening the 2026 season against the Worcester Red Sox at Polar Park this afternoon at 4:05 PM EDT. And here’s their full Opening Day roster.

Pitchers

  • Nick Burdi
  • Alex Carrillo
  • Bryce Conley
  • Daniel Duarte
  • Carl Edwards
  • Joey Gerber
  • Ofreidy Gomez
  • Dan Hammer
  • Joe Jacques
  • Ryan Lambert
  • Jonathan Pintaro
  • Anderson Severino
  • Joander Suarez
  • Jonah Tong
  • Austin Warren
  • Jack Wenninger

Catchers

  • Hayden Senger
  • Onix Vega

Infielders

  • Christian Arroyo
  • Ryan Clifford
  • Jackson Cluff
  • Yonny Hernández
  • Ronny Mauricio
  • José Rojas

Outfielders

  • JiHwan Bae
  • MJ Melendez
  • Nick Morabito
  • Cristian Pache

Fubo to carry BravesVision on multi-year deal

SAN ANSELMO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 06: In this photo illustration, the Fubo TV logo is displayed on a television screen on January 06, 2025 in San Anselmo, California. Disney announced plans to merge pay-TV streaming provider Fubo Hulu + Live TV which will have a combined 6.2 million North American subscribers. Disney will own 70% of the joint venture. (Photo Illustration by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) | Getty Images

There’s another television vendor that will be carrying BravesVision. An actual cable-like streamer, FuboTV, is part of the BravesVision family.

FuboTV and Braves has agreed a multiyear partnership to carry BravesVision, the Braves’ owned and operated network. BravesVision will be available for the customers in Atlanta’s television footprint, which contains Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and western North Carolina.

FuboTV has undergone a multitude of changes in the last decade. They attempted to carry all sports channels from Fox, Disney, NBC, and Paramount. They were blocked via their cable partners from doing so. Then they sued when Fox, Disney, and Paramount attempted to build Venu, which was to combine all their sports offerings. Now Disney owns 70 percent of the streamer. The BravesVision addition may be a swipe at fellow cableish streamer YouTube, who hasn’t carried the Braves for about a half decade.

So this might be good news for those wishing to watch the Braves on YouTube TV. But for now, BravesVision is on FuboTV. The recent BravesVision announcements haven’t stated which tier or what the price point will be. But like Spectrum and Xfinity customers, you have your option.

Iran's soccer team honors victims of deadly missile strike on elementary school

ANTALYA, Turkey (AP) — Players held small backpacks as Iran's national soccer team used a match against Nigeria on Friday to honor the victims of a deadly missile strike on an elementary school.

More than 165 people were killed, most of them children, when a Feb. 28 strike, likely launched by the U.S., hit the school in southern Iran. Neither the United States nor Israel has accepted responsibility for the attack, which has come under staunch criticism from the United Nations and human rights groups. The U.S. military is investigating and has said it would never target civilians.

During the national anthem Friday, the Iranian team honored the memory of the slain children by placing small pink and purple school backpacks in front of them.

Video of the ceremony also showed the players wearing black armbands in remembrance of those killed since the war began.

The match was played in Antalya, southern Turkey.

Nigeria won 2-1 in a game that was a World Cup tuneup for Iran, ahead of the tournament being co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The Islamic Republic's team is scheduled to play three group-stage matches in June in the U.S. The Iranian ambassador in Mexico City has said the country asked FIFA to move those three games to Mexico after U.S. President Donald Trump discouraged the team from attending, citing safety concerns.

Iranian government and soccer officials have said they do not want to boycott the World Cup but that it is not possible for the national team to go to the U.S. because of military attacks on Iran by Israel and U.S.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has dampened Iran’s attempts to move its matches, saying global soccer’s governing body wants the tournament “to go ahead as scheduled.”

Separately on Friday, Iran’s judiciary threatened to seize the property of soccer player Sardar Azmoun, two semiofficial news agencies said. The announcement follows threats from Iran’s hard-liner judicial chief that authorities planned to seize the assets of celebrities viewed as critical of the government.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Heat vs Cavaliers Computer Picks: Our Best Player Prop Projections for March 27

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Our NBA player prop projections are locked in for tonight’s Eastern Conference matchup between the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers, with the model highlighting several standout opportunities.

After digging into the data and lining it up against current market prices, we’ve identified the bets with the strongest value.

These Heat vs. Cavaliers predictions aren’t based on feel — they’re backed by the numbers.

If you’re putting together your card, these are the model’s top NBA picks for Friday, March 27.

Heat vs Cavaliers computer picks for March 27

Heat HeatCavaliers Cavaliers
Adebayo o20.5 points
-112
Mitchell u28.5 points 
-120
Powell o2.5 threes
-105
Allen o7.5 rebounds
-125
Herro o4.5 rebounds
-120
Harden u8.5 assists 
-135

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Heat computer picks

Bam Adebayo Over 20.5 points (-112)

Projection: 21.3 points

Bam Adebayo has been on a tear, averaging 28.8 points per game over his last 10 outings, a jump of 8.5 points above his season average.

With the Miami Heat playing at the fastest pace in the league this year, Adebayo is in a prime position to keep it rolling after clearing this points prop in eight of his last 10 games.

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Norman Powell Over 2.5 3-pointers (-105)

Projection: 3.1 3-pointers

Norman Powell has cleared this 2.5 made threes line in five of his last 10 games, and the underlying trends suggest he’s well-positioned to do it again tonight against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Powell thrives off catch-and-shoot opportunities and secondary actions rather than needing heavy on-ball usage. That’s key against a Cavaliers defense that tends to collapse into the paint to protect its interior, often conceding clean looks from beyond the arc to perimeter scorers.

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Tyler Herro Over 4.5 rebounds (-120)

Projection: 4.6 rebounds

Miami has quietly been one of the league’s strongest offensive rebounding teams on the road, ranking fourth over its last 15 away games.

Facing a vulnerable Cavaliers squad, that edge should translate into more board opportunities for Tyler Herro, who has already cleared this 4.5 rebound line in seven of his last 10 outings.

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Cavaliers computer picks

Donovan Mitchell Under 28.5 points (-120)

Projection: 27.5 points

Cleveland has played at the fourth-slowest pace at home over its last five games, a tempo that doesn’t favor Donovan Mitchell in this matchup with Miami.

That trend aligns with his recent production, as he’s gone Under this 28.5-point line in eight of his last 10 games.

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Jarrett Allen Over 7.5 rebounds (-125)

Projection: 9.1 rebounds

Miami’s league-leading pace this season should create extra possessions for Cleveland, setting the stage for Jarrett Allen to stay active on the glass.

He’s been a force in that department, clearing this 7.5 rebounds line in eight of his last 10 games.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet allen Now at bet365!/span

James Harden Under 8.5 assists (-135)

Projection: 8.0 assists

James Harden has struggled to consistently hit the 8.5-assist mark lately, going Under in seven of his last 10 games.

Miami’s defense thrives on switching and disrupting passing lanes, which can force Harden into more contested or low-percentage looks when trying to facilitate.

The Heat often funnel the ball toward defenders in the paint while rotating quickly to cover shooters, limiting easy passing options and making it harder for primary ball-handlers to rack up assists.

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How to watch Heat vs Cavaliers tonight

LocationRocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
DateFriday, March 27, 2026
Tip-off7:30 p.m. ET
TVFDSN Sun, FDSN Ohio

Not intended for use in MA.
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Defeat not an option for Saracens’ McCall in crunch Northampton clash

Sarries need to bounce back from Bath hammering to stay in touch with the top when they face the Prem leaders

Prestigious Prem matches are scattered across the country on Saturday but none is more significant in the title race than Saracens’ date with Northampton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

By the time Sarries and Saints run out for their evening kick-off in north London, Gloucester will have played Leicester at Villa Park, before Bristol meet Harlequins at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

Continue reading...

Split Decision: Matthew Liberatore is Evolving

JUPITER, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 26: Matthew Liberatore #32 of the St. Louis Cardinals throws a pitch during a spring training game against the Houston Astros at Roger Dean Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Before we dive into an analysis of Matthew Liberatore’s arsenal changes from spring training, let me take a second to introduce myself. I’ve been reading VEB for as long as I can remember. It’s always been an awesome place for analysis and fan commentary. I hope, in some small way, to be able to contribute to that ethic and help grow this community. I’m looking forward to the journey!

Like any good Rachel Ray pie, I’m constructing this before opening day and so Libby has just pitched yesterday. So, he was awesome – all star game here we come! Or, break out the torches and pitchforks while we chant “We want Fitts!” (That felt like the safest thing to chant for him, by far.) Here’s the thing, either way, Libby is going no where as Grand Poobah Chaim Bloom is solidly in his corner.

The Cardinals organization has gone from a lonely western tumbleweed as a player development staff to a team beefed up with former Guardians, Mariners, Dodgers, and Rays employees. Can we notice anything different in Libby? The answer is a resounding yes. At least as far as spring training shows, Libby is evolving. Let’s go ahead and issue the small sample size boilerplate response here – I know spring training stats don’t matter, you know it, frankly everyone but Mike Matheny knows it. But sometimes a change in approach does carry over.

Over on the Redbird Rundown podcast (if audio/visual is your thing, we have a ton of fun diving into numbers over there), we quickly brought up Libby’s name in Cardinals that will define the season. Check it out here if you want – Apple or Spotify!

Here’s the thing, Libby’s arsenal has expanded. (I was considering an Iran reference here, but I’m not going to test the limits of the first amendment in my first article for this hallowed site) He has debuted a splitter that is designed as an additional weapon against righties. News flash: a majority of MLB hitters are righties. This is going to determine just what caliber of pitcher he can be.

The splitter debuted in spring training with some fairly good metrics. It measured 6.2 in. IVB (10.1 in. offset from fastball), 5.6 in. armside run (2 in. offset from FB), and 88.2 MPH (6.9 MPH offset from FB). If these metrics have you smelling a changeup, you’ve got a good smeller. In fact, Fangraphs is noting a distinct uptick in the changeup usage – the splitter is likely to be the cause of that. This gives Libby seven pitches to play with.

Now this is where things get downright fascinating. In spring training (yes, I still know it’s spring training and that he has to prove it on repeat), Libby’s fastball was more effective than it’s ever been. According to Fangraphs, his fastball had a 2.1 run value. That’s the only time in his career that it’s ever been positive. Libby has always been a use-the-fastball-to-set-up-his-breaking-stuff guy. Now, maybe he’s not? The interplay between his increased offspeed offerings, in this case with the shape of his splitter, and his fastball produced some very interesting early results. (Yes, I know it’s spring training still, kindly refrain from thinking I’m not aware)

The downstream effects of Libby having a plus fastball are like the butterfly effect. He struck out 33.9% of all batters he faced and, brace yourself here, only walked 3.6% of hitters. That’s Dylan Cease level strikeouts with Tarik Skubal walk rates. Are those sustainable? Probably not, but if the fastball keeps playing up then it’s obvious that he doesn’t have to nibble on the edges as much. 

You want more proof? You guys have a higher burden of proof than an Old Testament stoning. But here’s some more magic. Batters, in spring training, swung at rates that are average for Libby’s career. But their contact rates fell by 20%. His swinging strike percentage was double his career average. Yeah. Libby missed some serious bats this spring. Did you guys know the Cardinals need more swing and miss in their rotation? Huh, crazy.

There’s one last piece of Libby’s very strong spring that is intriguing. Batters made contact to the opposite field 42.9% of the time. His career rate is 26.7%. He’s baffling hitters into being behind and avoiding the deadly pull side contact more often than he ever has in his career.

Look, all this is likely to normalize. A leopard doesn’t change its spots often. But, the organization around Libby has certainly changed its spots and the very best development teams in baseball seem to be able to grow talent at will. Perhaps, just perhaps, this Cardinals franchise really is on the march back to relevance and will be powered by developing new talent and maximizing the guys they already have. So, it’s possible this new splitter is a weapon that will lead to a serious evolution in what Libby is capable of. I’m rooting for that. Shouldn’t you?

Regardless of how he pitched yesterday, the arsenal changes that Matthew Liberatore is making deserve our attention and, frankly, our respect. I’ll be watching that splitter closely going forward, but I think the secret is whether or not it continues to increase the effectiveness of his fastball or not.

Let me know what you’ve been seeing in the comments!

Who should the Knicks want to face in the first round?

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 26: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks shoots a free throw during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on March 26, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

There’s an old saying that we’ve all heard plenty of times throughout our lives:

“Be careful what you wish for.”

In sports, the saying can be applied to preferential matchups in the postseason. While there’s no such thing as being able to choose your opponent (yet), there have been situations where teams try to position themselves in such a way to get a favorable first-round matchup.

In 2024, the Eastern Conference was tightly packed, so much so that essentially nothing was solidified ahead of Game 82. To add further intrigue, a healthy Sixers team and the always-annoying Miami Heat were set to fight in the 7-8 play-in game, making the No. 2 seed a potential landmine with seemingly softer opponents in Indiana or Orlando awaiting the No. 3 and No. 4 seed.

As such, the Cavaliers mailed it in on the final day of the season, content with drawing the Magic in the first round. The strategy worked, as Cleveland won that series in seven games, but they then ran into a brick wall in the eventual champion Celtics. As we all remember, the Knicks won an overtime game with the Bulls to take the No. 2 seed, take on the challenge of the healthy Sixers, and win that series in six games.

You should never intentionally try to get the best possible matchup. Tempting the basketball gods is never a good idea, so regardless of how things look beneath the Knicks, they should be solely focused on getting the best possible seed, sitting a game back of the Boston Celtics for the No. 2 seed with eight to go.

But there are big, stylistic differences between the glut of six teams that could potentially match up with the Knicks. As they jockey for position, it’s only fair to wonder what would be the best path for the Knicks for a smooth pass through the first round and onto greener pastures.

Atlanta Hawks

Record: 41-32
Season series:
1-1
Record vs top-5 teams:
3-9
How hot are they?
Blisteringly hot

Our old foes seemed to have realized Trae Young was the problem and have surged since trading him to be Washington’s new tank commander.

But even immediately after formally handing the keys to Jalen Johnson, the Hawks were 26-30 at the all-star break and looked like a lock to be playing in the 9-10 play-in game. Of course, they’ve since gone a blistering 15-2, although most of these wins have been against tanking or injured teams.

Both season series meetings came within a week of each other around the New Year, with the Knicks surviving a torrid comeback effort in late December in Atlanta before getting trounced at MSG in early January during the 11-game stretch of hell.

Johnson is a wrecking ball who could easily average a triple-double in a playoff series. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is enjoying a great breakout season that should earn him Most Improved Player consideration. They’re a great shooting team that’s red hot. They have several long, lanky role players that will make Jalen Brunson’s life hell over a seven-game series. They have the scoring. Why would you want to face them?

Well, some of their shooting is deceiving. Luke Kennard and Vit Krejci are gone, and Jonathan Kuminga is shooting at a baffling 48% clip from downtown. The active roster threats are NAW, Keaton Wallace, and Asa Newell. You won’t be threatened much by Johnson (34.9%), CJ McCollum (34.7%), and especially Dyson Daniels (15.7%). Towns dominated Onyeka Okongwu in their only head-to-head matchup this season, and with the poise he’s been playing with lately? I’d count on it again.

They’d be a fine opponent, frisky, but not the most dangerous. Big risk-reward here. On one hand, you have to deal with another 2o21 if you lose, but if you win, you can effectively erase it.

Toronto Raptors

Record: 40-32
Season series:
0-4
Record vs top-5 teams:
2-11
How hot are they?
Very lukewarm

The Raptors are below .500 since their 14-5 start, which is the only thing keeping them out of the play-in at this point. We’ve seen them four times this season, and each time, the Knicks punked them. Sometimes they keep it close for a quarter, half, or even 40+ minutes, but they’ve given up a massive run to break the game open in all four meetings, going through stretches of putrid basketball.

Aside from stunning OKC on the road in January and a recent win against Detroit, they’ve been awful against teams with a better record. Their third-best win might be against a pre-Harden Cavaliers squad.

Their offense is completely reliant on Brandon Ingram, who’s cooked the Knicks all season long. Yet, in multiple games, he’s gone off early and been muted in the second half. Scottie Barnes has made tremendous strides defensively, but the offensive leap into superstardom has eluded him. OAKAAK’s RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley occasionally show brilliant flashes, but have been inconsistent.

If the Raptors are going to be competitive in the playoffs, they’ll do it on the backs of their defense, which has carried them at times this season. Rewatch the first seven-ish minutes of the last Knicks-Raptors game, and you’ll see what I mean. When they want to get nasty, they can get nasty.

Their downfall is multi-faceted. They don’t have enough shooting (23rd in 3PT%), they’re very reliant on Ingram, and maybe the most damning of all, rebounding. Jakob Poeltl’s return has muted some concerns, but he’s the only player on the roster taller than 6’9”. In every matchup with the Knicks this season, it’s been a bloodbath on the boards, and if these two teams square off, it’ll be the Mitchell Robinson show.

On paper, this is who you want to face, but again, be careful what you wish for. We’ve seen crazier things.

Philadelphia 76ers

Record: 40-33
Season series:
2-2
Record vs top-5 teams:
4-10
How hot are they?
Cold, but slowly warming

How do you judge the Sixers? They’re the most volatile team in sports.

When at full health, they’re as scary as they were in 2024, when teams tried to avoid facing them. Joel Embiid has looked close to MVP form when he’s been on the court, Tyrese Maxey is a full-blown star, and Paul George is back from suspension and playing team basketball. They have a great collection of role players that include OAKAAK Quentin Grimes, rookie phenom VJ Edgecombe, and sudden corner-3 aficionado Andre Drummond.

So why are they in the play-in? Well, they keep getting hurt.

Embiid has missed 39 games, and just when it felt like he was getting back in the groove after missing a month early on, knee soreness and an oblique issue cost him 16 of the first 18 after the all-star break. Maxey is recovering from a finger injury that might cost him All-NBA. George was suspended for PEDs. There are nights where Grimes is the first option, like last March.

To evaluate the Sixers, you have to see how healthy they are. The last time Embiid played in the playoffs, he barely made it through a six-game series with a re-injured knee and Bell’s palsy, and then essentially missed all of the next season. The Sixers remain a trainwreck without him, and he’s only played in five consecutive games once all season. Depending on how he feels, they could be a pushover or a force to be reckoned with.

Charlotte Hornets

Record: 39-34
Season series:
2-1
Record vs top-5 teams:
4-6
How hot are they?
Hypernova

Where did this even come from? The first two times we saw Charlotte, they were the same mess of young players who couldn’t put it all together as they stumbled to a 16-28 start.

Since then? They’re 23-6. They’ve been pummeling good team after good team and made yet another statement with a dominant effort against the Knicks on Thursday night. Their average margin of victory is literally the greatest in NBA history!!!

I haven’t watched them much, so last night was an eye-opener. They have such effortless shooting ability from almost everyone on the roster. The finally healthy LaMelo Ball is the head of the snake who handles the playmaking and gets the ball to Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller for open jumpers. Their offense is a well-oiled machine that’s so hard to stop because they’re good at everything. Since they turned their season around, they have a 121.5 offensive rating, best in basketball.

The defense has been surprisingly stout as well, ranking fifth in that span, and it makes sense. Between Miller, Miles Bridges, Moussa Diabate, Grant Williams, Ryan Kalkbrenner, etc, you have a lot of guys who can defend. They also don’t have any size disadvantages with Knueppel and Ball being taller than your average backcourt.

Speaking of size… I’ve never seen a team dominate the Knicks on the boards like they did last night. Since January 21, the Hornets have led the NBA with a 37 OREB% and 55.1% rebounding share. They effectively muted Robinson all night, and their size and length made KAT uncomfortable. It’s jarring how quickly Charles Lee has done this.

Knicks should want no part of them early. Nobody should. If Detroit’s struggles from deep continue in the playoffs and they draw the Hornets, they’re in serious danger.

Miami Heat

Record: 39-34
Season series:
2-2
Record vs top-5 teams:
4-6
How hot are they?
Cooling off

Miami won 10 of 12 around the all-star break, but then lost five in a row to suddenly be in danger of playing in the 9-10 game. Still, they’re more than close enough to make a run to face the Knicks with their… 83-point scorer? I keep forgetting that it actually did happen.

Miami’s issue has been getting everyone healthy at the same time, but they seem to have Tyler Herro finally in a groove alongside Norman Powell and Bam Adebayo. Erik Spoelstra switched the formula for this season and has turned the Heat into a high-paced cheetah that sees most of their games turn into shootouts.

Despite this, they’re fifth in defensive rating, still employing the same nastiness as ever, while wearing teams out in transition. They play clean basketball, they can shoot, they have enough avenues to score that diversify their offense, they can be tough.

The Knicks haven’t seen them in a few months, and the matchups have certainly been interesting. There’s history here from 2023, even if both rosters have been significantly turned over since. Rekindling an old rivalry wouldn’t be the worst thing.

Orlando Magic

Record: 39-34
Season series:
2-2
Record vs top-5 teams:
4-10
How hot are they?
Suddenly frosty

Orlando was floundering when March began, but rattled off seven consecutive wins to make it look like things were coming together. Then, of course, they immediately lost six in a row to fall to the back of the pack.

Their biggest enemy has been health once again, as Franz Wagner has played exactly four games since originally suffering a high ankle sprain against the Knicks on December 7. He’ll likely be back for the playoffs, but it’s hard to expect him to be playing at peak level after re-injuring that ankle twice in return attempts, not to mention rust. Paolo Banchero continues to refuse to acknowledge his physical strengths and keeps trying to be a shooter, so the absence of Franz looms large.

Speaking of shooting, they added Desmond Bane in the offseason to fix that glaring wart. How’s it been going? Well, they’re 25th in 3PT% so…

Bane and Tristan De Silva are snipers, but among healthy regulars, only Jett Howard is shooting above 34%. Even if they are still struggling to score enough points to win consistently, they still employ some absolute grinders that will slow down your offense, including Jalen Suggs, Anthony Black, Jevon Carter, and Wendell Carter Jr. (plus Jonathan Isaac, whenever he plays).

All four meetings between these two teams were before Christmas and were very annoying, but that’s a long time ago. With how Banchero has risen to the occasion in the last two postseasons, they could be a tough out, but if Franz isn’t healthy, they shouldn’t have much of a real pulse.

Blackhawks vs Rangers Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NHL Game

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The New York Rangers look to snap a six-game losing streak when they host the Chicago Blackhawks at Madison Square Garden tonight.  

My top Blackhawks vs. Rangers predictions and NHL picks call for Chicago rookie Anton Frondell to pick up a point for the third consecutive game. 

Find out more in my NHL picks for Friday, March 27.

Blackhawks vs Rangers prediction

Blackhawks vs Rangers best bet: Anton Frondell Over 0.5 points (-110)

The Chicago Blackhawks have forward Anton Frondell jumping onto the top line and No. 1 power-play unit alongside superstar Connor Bedard, and he hasn’t disappointed, recording a point in consecutive games.

With the New York Rangers losing six straight while allowing 4.0 goals per game, I’m expecting the Bedard and Frondell connection to have success again tonight. 

Frondell was the third overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft, and he’s also the first 18-year-old to record 20 goals in the SHL since Daniel Sedin in 1998-99.

Blackhawks vs Rangers same-game parlay

Sticking with the Chicago duo, Bedard has found the scoresheet in seven of his past 10 games, tallying five goals and five assists. 

In addition to Frondell recording a pair of assists through two NHL games, he’s also racked up six shots on 11 attempts. Meanwhile, the Rangers have allowed a healthy 31.7 shots per game during their highlighted skid.

Blackhawks vs Rangers SGP

  • Connor Bedard Over 0.5 points
  • Anton Frondell Over 0.5 points
  • Anton Frondell Over 2.5 shots

Blackhawks vs Rangers odds

  • Moneyline: Blackhawks +150 | Rangers -180
  • Puck Line: Blackhawks +1.5 (-170) | Rangers -1.5 (+140)
  • Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+110) | Under 6.5 (-130)

Blackhawks vs Rangers trend

Chicago has won eight of its last 20 road games (+4.75 Units / 24% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Blackhawks vs. Rangers.

How to watch Blackhawks vs Rangers

LocationMadison Square Garden, New York, NY
DateFriday, March 27, 2026
Puck drop7:00 p.m. ET
TVChicago Sports Network, MSG Sportsnet

Blackhawks vs Rangers 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.

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