Happy Monday, everyone! We’ve gotten through the first series of the season (it could have gone better for hte Cubs, let’s just not talk about it), and the season is underway. We’ve already seen the ABS system getting used a bunch, often with game-changing impact, and we’ll get into that below, but it has especially made CB Bucknor look bad this weekend (I can’t be the only one that wishes we got just one season of Angel Hernandez and the ABS. Just one.)
With the return of baseball there’s plenty
going on to keep us busy so we’ll get right into today’s links, which include the Dodgers losing the plot with an insane souvenier cup promo (in this economy, what were they thinking?!), Bo Bichette already getting booed by Mets fans three games into the season, and the man, the myth, the legend that is Munetaka Murakami.
So let’s not waste time. Grab your morning coffee and let’s get caught up on the news.
- Michael Baumann looks at some prospects whose starts were so hot in 2026 it might only be downhill from her.
- Holy crackers, Munetaka Murakami! The Japanese slugger has homered in three straight games, proving he might be just as good as the hype predicted. Story by Scott Merkin.
- Madison Williams explains how the Dodgers dropped the ball on their refillable Shohei Ohtani souvenier cup, and had to backpeddle and adjust to appease angry fans.
- Jacob deGrom is feeling “better” and hopes to be back in action as early as this week. (ESPN)
- Blackouts have long been a bane for baseball fans, but Nationals fans might have had it worst of all when many were unable to watch Opening Day at all. Story by Spencer Nusbaum and Evan Drellich. (The Athletic subscription required.)
- Has baseball officially become America’s second most-watched sport? Story by The Athletic staff. (The Athletic subscription required.)
- ABS making some umpires look silly less than a week into the season.
- Theo DeRosa shares the two ABS challenges that turned around an entire game.
- Mets fans aren’t being shy about sharing their disappointment with Bo Bichette, and he gets it. Story by Anthony DiComo.
- Can a hug be an out? Ketel Marte and Freedie Freeman showed how in an usual out. Story by Madison Williams.
- Bradford Doolittle ranks where all the MLB teams stand in terms of how likely your favorite team is to make it to the World Series. (Spoiler: the Cubs rank 8th overall)
- Bill White, the newest Buck O’Neil award winner reflects on his career. Story by Keith Law. (The Athletic subscription required.)
- Melissa Lockard and Ken Rosenthal report that the Orioles have signed Shane Baz to a five-year extension. (The Athletic subscription required.)
- Baseball is BACK, baby.
- Adam McCalvy gets hyped for a career first: a Christian Yelich pinch-hit home run.
- Tim Capurso looks at where major league managers are sitting in terms of job security at the start of the 2026 season.
- Jimmy Traina explains how NBC got (almost) everything right in their return to MLB broadcasting.
- Blue Jays pitchers aren’t messing around, getting 50 strikeouts over their first three games of the season. (AP)
- Zack Wheeler had a rib removed, so the IronPigs had a fun rib-themed night in honor of his rehab start. Gotta love a player who can take a gentle ribbing. Story by Charlotte Varnes. (The Athletic subscription required.)
- Oh boy, that’s a choice.
And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster. Make it so.
