Cal Raleigh led MLB with 60 home runs in a historic 2025 campaign.

Eleven games into the 2026 season, the Seattle Mariners slugger has now hit his first.

Raleigh battled Texas Rangers ace Jacob deGrom through 11 pitches in the first inning Monday night. He then sent deGrom’s 12th offering of the at-bat into the right-field bleachers.

The first-inning blast off a 99 mph, full-count fastball gave the Mariners a 1-0 lead.

Raleigh has struggled mightily on the heels of his historic season. He entered Monday’s game slashing .132/.233/.184 with 4 RBI and, of course, no home runs. He led the AL in both home runs and RBI last season.

The Mariners have gotten off to a slow start alongside Raleigh’s struggles. After winning the AL West and advancing to Game 7 of the ALCS last season, the Mariners entered Monday’s game at 4-6.

Raleigh almost hit his first home run Saturday, but had it pulled back for an out at the wall. That was part of Angels outfielder Jo Addell’s remarkable defensive night in which he robbed three home runs in a 1-0 Los Angeles win.

There was no robbing Raleigh’s blast off deGrom, which landed deep in the right-field stands. Mariners fans are hoping it’s a sign of things to come and the start of a turnaround from a slow start to the season.

Cal Raleigh led MLB with 60 home runs in a historic 2025 campaign.

Eleven games into the 2026 season, the Seattle Mariners slugger has now hit his first.

Raleigh battled Texas Rangers ace Jacob deGrom through 11 pitches in the first inning Monday night. He then sent deGrom’s 12th offering of the at-bat into the right-field bleachers.

The first-inning blast off a 99 mph, full-count fastball gave the Mariners a 1-0 lead.

Raleigh has struggled mightily on the heels of his historic season. He entered Monday’s game slashing .132/.233/.184 with 4 RBI and, of course, no home runs. He led the AL in both home runs and RBI last season.

The Mariners have gotten off to a slow start alongside Raleigh’s struggles. After winning the AL West and advancing to Game 7 of the ALCS last season, the Mariners entered Monday’s game at 4-6.

Raleigh almost hit his first home run Saturday, but had it pulled back for an out at the wall. That was part of Angels outfielder Jo Addell’s remarkable defensive night in which he robbed three home runs in a 1-0 Los Angeles win.

There was no robbing Raleigh’s blast off deGrom, which landed deep in the right-field stands. Mariners fans are hoping it’s a sign of things to come and the start of a turnaround from a slow start to the season.

NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men’s NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.

The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY’s latest mock draft , Duke’s Cameron Boozer  is expected to go in the first round. Here’s how USA TODAY currently projects the Forward’s draft night will play out.

Our draft order is based on ESPN’s projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.

Cameron Boozer 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 2 overall, Indiana Pacers

Kalbrosky’s Analysis:

Duke freshman Cameron Boozer was dominant during his first NCAA season, earning national collegiate player of the year. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, rival teams believe Boozer would be the “preferred selection” for the Pacers because of his “potential fit” alongside Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac. The ACC Player of the Year isnt a human highlight reel but he offers consistency and a diverse, impactful skill set. More importantly, he can bring a culture of winning after multiple championships in high school and an elite Duke team that made it to the Sweet 16 before a heartbreaking last-second loss.

See USA TODAY’s full mock draft 9.0 here

Cameron Boozer player profile

(all stats as of March 15)

• Position: Forward
• Current Team: Duke
• 22.5 points per game
• 10.2 rebounds per game
• 4.2 assists per game
• 56.5 field goal percentage
• 40.9 three-point field goal percentage

Indiana Pacers 2026 projected draft picks

• No. 1

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cameron Boozer NBA mock draft projection: Where Duke star is expected to land after March Madness

NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men’s NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.

The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY’s latest mock draft, UConn’s Braylon Mullins  is expected to go in the first round. Here’s how USA TODAY currently projects the Guard’s draft night will play out.

Our draft order is based on ESPN’s projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.

Braylon Mullins 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 15 overall, Charlotte Hornets

Kalbrosky’s Analysis:

Braylon Mullins, a five-star recruit and former McDonald’s All-American, was a breakout star in the NCAA mens basketball tournament after hitting one of the most improbable 3-pointers in March Madness history. Mullins continued to show a winning mentality, helping earn a spot in the collegiate national championship game. The Big East All-Freshman wing shot 40.7 percent on 3-pointers during his first 18 games in the starting lineup. He is a useful off-ball threat, which gives him an immediately practical role at the next level.

See USA TODAY’s full mock draft 9.0 here

Braylon Mullins player profile

(all stats as of March 15)

• Position: Guard
• Current Team: UConn
• 12 points per game
• 3.5 rebounds per game
• 1.4 assists per game
• 43.5 field goal percentage
• 34.5 three-point field goal percentage

Charlotte Hornets 2026 projected draft picks

• No. 13, No. 20 (via PHX) and No. 42 (via GS)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Braylon Mullins NBA mock draft projection: Where UConn star is expected to land after March Madness

Max Scherzer was pulled after two innings of his start against the Los Angeles Dodgers Monday, April 6, a development the injury-ravaged Toronto Blue Jays pitching staff cannot afford.

Scherzer, the 41-year-old future Hall of Famer, was facing the Dodgers in a rematch of his Game 7 World Series start in November, and gave up a two-run homer to Teoscar Hernández in the top of the first inning.

Something seemed to bother him in both innings, as cameras caught him telling the Blue Jays dugout, “I’m OK” on multiple occasions. Yet he seemed to expend a lot facing his last batter, Andy Pages, who worked him for 10 pitches before popping out to second.

Scherzer threw 36 pitches before getting replaced by lefty Josh Fleming in the top of the third. He re-signed on a one-year, $3 million deal to add depth to a rotation that faced question marks.

Just two weeks into the season, Jose BerrÍos, Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber, Cody Ponce and Bowden Francis are all on the injured list, most of them coming back from off-season maladies or out for extended periods. Now, they must dig out from a short Scherzer start.

The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports’ newsletter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Max Scherzer leaves Blue Jays games vs Dodgers after 2 innings

NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men’s NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.

The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY’s latest mock draft , BYU’s AJ Dybantsa  is expected to go in the first round. Here’s how USA TODAY currently projects the Forward’s draft night will play out.

Our draft order is based on ESPN’s projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.

AJ Dybantsa 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 1 overall, Washington Wizards

Kalbrosky’s Analysis:

The Wizards have the second-worst offense in the NBA and could instantly inject life into their offense by selecting AJ Dybantsa, the NCAA scoring champion and Julius Erving Award winner. He emphasized that point during his one game for BYU in March Madness, putting up 35 points and 10 rebounds. The Big 12 Rookie of the Year led the nation in unassisted points scored (680) by a wide margin this season, per CBB Analytics. The emerging star also had 40 points against Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament on March 10 and averaged 28.8 points per game over his final 17 appearances.

See USA TODAY’s full mock draft 9.0 here

AJ Dybantsa player profile

(all stats as of March 15)

• Position: Forward
• Current Team: BYU
• 25.3 points per game
• 6.7 rebounds per game
• 3.8 assists per game
• 51.3 field goal percentage
• 34.0 three-point field goal percentage

Washington Wizards 2026 projected draft picks

• No. 3, No. 53 (via MIN) and No. 60 (via OKC)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: AJ Dybantsa NBA mock draft projection: Where BYU star is expected to land after March Madness

The Phils open up a three-game series in San Francisco with Andrew Painter on the mound for his second career start. Here are the lineups, let’s discuss.

For the Phillies:

For the Giants:

The Chicago Bulls are cleaning house in the front office.

Executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley have been fired, team president and CEO Michael Reinsdorf announced Monday, April 6.

“These decisions are never easy, especially when they involve people we respect both personally and professionally,” Reinsdorf said in a statement posted on the Bulls’ social media accounts. “We are grateful for their dedication and the work they’ve put in over the past six years. At the same time, we have not had the success our fans deserve, and it’s my responsibility to go in a new direction.”

The Chicago Bulls announced today that Artūras Karnišovas, Executive Vice President – Basketball Operations and Marc Eversley, General Manager have been relieved of their positions. pic.twitter.com/nFFK0U66ng

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) April 6, 2026

Karnisovas and Eversley were brought on at the beginning of the 2020-21 NBA season and posted a 224-254 record over six seasons. They took big swings early on, such as making a blockbuster trade for center Nikola Vucevic during that first year and signing DeMar DeRozan, Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball in the summer of 2021.

The Bulls looked like the team to beat in the East at times early that season and held a 38-21 record at the All-Star break until knee injuries to Ball derailed the team – and the core never really recovered together. Their lone playoff appearance under Karnisovas was a first-round exit against the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2021-22 campaign.

When the Bulls began to move off of their current core, they failed to recoup any significant draft capital for DeRozan, Caruso or Zach LaVine. Karnisovas sold at this year’s trade deadline, shipping off several talented players, including Vucevic, Coby White and Ayo Dosumnu, in what he called an attempt “to get out of the middle.”

NBA POWER RANKINGS: Where teams stand in final week of regular season

The Bulls currently sit in 12th place in the East with a 29-49 record, their fourth consecutive year without a playoff appearance. They have won just five of 29 games since Feb. 1.

“This move is about positioning our team for sustained success moving ahead,” Reinsdorf said Monday. “I want our fans to know that I hear you and understand your frustration. I feel it as well. I know this will take time, and I am fully committed to getting this right. At the Chicago Bulls, our focus remains on building a team that can compete at the highest level and ultimately contend for championships.

“We are committed to taking the necessary steps to move the Bulls forward in a way that makes our fans proud.”

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chicago Bulls fire GM Marc Eversley, vice president Arturas Karnisovas

1987 World Series champion Tom Nieto passed away March 27 after suffering a heart attack, per Nieto’s sister. He was 65 years old.

Nieto, a former catcher with the St. Louis Cardinals, Montreal Expos, Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies, played on teams that reached the World Series twice (1985, 1987) in his seven-year career.

Nieto’s MLB career

Nieto was a highly touted prospect before his MLB career; he was drafted in the third round of the 1981 draft. He endured a solid career in the minors, ranking high in the Cardinals’ system before finally joining the club in 1984.

Nieto helped the Cardinals reach the 1985 World Series, though the team ultimately lost to the Kansas City Royals in seven games. Nieto would return to the Fall Classic in 1987 though as a member of the Twins. This time, Nieto’s team would emerge victorious, taking down Nieto’s former team, the Cardinals, in six games.

Nieto’s final regular season came in 1990 as a member of the Phillies. While he did sign a minor league contract with the Cardinals for 1991, Nieto would spend most of the decade as a coach.

He began his coaching career with the Chattanooga Lookouts, a Cincinnati Reds affiliate, in 1992. He continued managing various teams including the Charleston Wheelers, Greensboro Bats, Tampa Yankees, and Palm Beach Cardinals through 2004.

Nieto returned to the big leagues in 2005, this time as the New York Mets‘ first base coach and catchers instructor. He stayed at that position until 2008. Afterwards, he would return to managing, becoming the manager of the the Twins’ Double-A affiliate New Britain Rock Cats in 2009 and their Triple-A affiliate Rochester Red Wings in both 2010 and 2011. His professional MLB career ended in 2013 after managing the New York Yankees‘ rookie-level affiliate GCL Yankees for two seasons.

Minnesota Twins react to Nieto’s death

The Twins organization mourns the loss of 1987 World Series champion, Tom Nieto.

Our thoughts are with the Nieto family in their time of grieving. pic.twitter.com/Cuvb17pISh

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) April 6, 2026

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: World Series champion Tom Nieto suddenly dead at 65