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Welcome to MLB Opening Day!

All 30 teams were scheduled to be in action Thursday before rain postponed the scheduled Milwaukee BrewersNew York Mets and Atlanta BravesPhiladelphia Phillies openers to Friday.

The Los Angeles Angels and Baltimore Orioles got things started with new O’s ace Corbin Burnes on the mound at 3:05 p.m. ET. Soon after, things really heated up with seven games scheduled to begin at 4:10 p.m. ET — highlighted by a New York Yankees vs. Houston Astros showdown in Texas.

Later, the Texas Rangers will raise the first World Series banner in franchise history before taking on the Chicago Cubs in manager Craig Counsell’s team debut (7:35 p.m. ET on ESPN). And, if that wasn’t enough, there are a trio of late-night games on the West Coast, including Luis Castillo and the Seattle Mariners against the Boston Red Sox at 10:10 p.m. ET.

What are we looking for as the season gets started? Our reporters give their pregame takes from the ballpark, plus we’ll post lineups as they are announced and live updates throughout the day, including takeaways from each game as it concludes.

Season preview: Power rankings | Predictions | Moves that rocked offseason
MLB Rank 2024: Who are baseball’s 100 best players? | Snubs, surprises
ESPN+: Passan’s bold predictions, breakout stars | 2024 MLB payroll tiers

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Live updates | Storylines & lineups

Postponed games: MIL-NYM, ATL-PHI

Live updates from every Opening Day game

What to watch, lineups for every Opening Day game

First pitch: 3:05 p.m. ET
The pitching matchup: Patrick Sandoval vs. Corbin Burnes

The big storyline: The best regular-season team in the American League last year unveils its newest star while the team that lost the biggest one in the game starts anew. Burnes’ Baltimore debut is the main attraction of the afternoon, though after the Orioles ran roughshod through the Grapefruit League, the biggest question is: How good can they be? Extremely is the answer, particularly with the No. 1 overall prospect in baseball, Jackson Holliday, starting the season at Triple-A after slashing .311/.354/.600 in spring training.

Sandoval gets his first Opening Day start after Shohei Ohtani got the nod the past two years. Ohtani’s absence hangs over the Angels, whose lineup includes the return of Mike Trout from the hamate bone injury that kept him out all but one game over the season’s final three months and a menagerie of top prospects and high draft picks.

One fun fact to impress your friends: In his NL Cy Young-winning 2021 season, Burnes started the year with 58 strikeouts before yielding his first walk. He surpassed the previous record of 51, held by Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen. The streak broke another mark: 56 consecutive walk-free strikeouts at any point in the season, held by Gerrit Cole and Curt Schilling. Against the 127th batter he faced, St. Louis utilityman Tommy Edman, Burnes walked him on five pitches. — Jeff Passan

Angels lineup

Anthony Rendon (R) 3B
Aaron Hicks (S) RF
Mike Trout (R) CF
Taylor Ward (R) LF
Brandon Drury (R) 2B
Nolan Schanuel (L) 1B
Miguel Sano (R) DH
Logan O’Hoppe (R) C
Zach Neto (R) SS

Orioles lineup

Gunnar Henderson (L) SS
Adley Rutschman (S) C
Ryan Mountcastle (R) 1B
Anthony Santander (S) RF
Austin Hays (R) LF
Jordan Westburg (R) DH
Cedric Mullins (L) CF
Ramon Urias (R) 3B
Jorge Mateo (R) 2B


First pitch: 4:10 p.m. ET
The pitching matchup: Tarik Skubal vs. Garrett Crochet

The big storyline: The Tigers have been rebuilding for a long time — their last winning season came way back in 2016 — but maybe this is the season they finally break through. They have a couple of interesting rookies joining the lineup in second baseman Colt Keith (the No. 40 overall prospect) and center fielder Parker Meadows (No. 45). Keith is more bat over glove while Meadows is a tooled-up 6-foot-5 plus defender. But the Tigers’ playoff hopes may rest on a dominant season from Skubal, who went 7-3 with a 2.80 ERA and 11.4 K’s per nine in 15 starts last season. His fastball averaged 96.4 mph in his final spring training game and he could be a Cy Young contender.

One interesting fact to impress your friends: Crochet is one of the most unlikely Opening Day starters in MLB history, which tells you what to expect from the White Sox in 2024. He’s made 72 appearances in the majors, but all those came in relief, making him just the third pitcher since World War II to make his first career start on Opening Day. The others: Tanner Scheppers for the Rangers in 2014 and Fernando Valenzuela for the Dodgers in 1981. — David Schoenfield

Tigers lineup

Andy Ibanez (R) 3B
Spencer Torkelson (R) 1B
Riley Greene (L) LF
Mark Canha (R) DH
Matt Vierling (R) RF
Colt Keith (L) 2B
Jake Rogers (R) C
Javier Baez (R) SS
Parker Meadows (L) CF

White Sox lineup

Andrew Benintendi (L) LF
Yoan Moncada (S) 3B
Luis Robert Jr. (R) CF
Eloy Jimenez (R) DH
Andrew Vaughn (R) 1B
Paul DeJong (R) SS
Kevin Pillar (R) RF
Martin Maldonado (R) C
Nicky Lopez (L) 2B


First pitch: 4:10 p.m. ET
The pitching matchup: Pablo Lopez vs. Cole Ragans

The big storyline: One of these teams won the division last year, but fell in the ALDS. The other team matched a franchise record with 106 losses, finishing 31 games out of first place. One of these teams made around $110 million in free agent commitments this offseason; the other just $6.2 million. Who was who? Well, it was the bottom-feeding Royals who spent big over the winter while the Twins … not so much. Can Kansas City possibly close a 31-game deficit in one offseason? It’s a tall order, obviously, but at least the Royals behaved like a team trying to change its fortunes.

One interesting fact to impress your friends: According to ESPN BET, this pitching matchup pits two of the top seven AL Cy Young candidates. Lopez finished seventh a season ago while the emergent Ragans would have been a prime contender if he had put up his Kansas City-only numbers over a full season. Ragans was traded from Texas on June 30 and only four AL starters produced a lower ERA than his 2.64 mark after the All-Star break. — Bradford Doolittle

Twins lineup

Byron Buxton (R) CF
Ryan Jeffers (R) C
Royce Lewis (R) 3B
Carlos Correa (R) SS
Carlos Santana (S) 1B
Max Kepler (L) RF
Kyle Farmer (R) 2B
Willi Castro (S) LF
Manuel Margot (R) DH

Royals lineup

Maikel Garcia (R) 3B
Bobby Witt Jr. (R) SS
Vinnie Pasquantino (L) 1B
Salvador Perez (R) C
MJ Melendez (L) LF
Hunter Renfroe (R) RF
Adam Frazier (L) 2B
Nelson Velazquez (R) DH
Kyle Isbel (L) CF


First pitch: 4:10 p.m. ET | ESPN+
The pitching matchup: Nestor Cortes vs. Framber Valdez

The big storyline: This is a meeting between two rivals expected to compete for the American League pennant. Both rosters are loaded with stars. Both feature intriguing young talents. Both teams splurged on premier talent from San Diego during the offseason (Juan Soto via trade on one side, Josh Hader via free agency on the other). The heated history, of course, is there.

But Thursday’s matchup in particular is as much about who isn’t playing. Former Astros teammates Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander would have been the opening day starters if not for injuries. Cole is dealing with nerve irritation and edema in his right elbow. Verlander had a setback with his right shoulder. Two left-handers looking to rebound from disappointing seasons will take the ball in their places.

One interesting fact to impress your friends: The Astros have reached the last seven American League Championship Series, one shy of the longest LCS streak in history. The Braves set the record in the ’90s, advancing to eight straight NLCS. Atlanta won one (1) World Series during that span. The Astros have won two. Yankees fans, of course, would argue that the title in 2017 would’ve been theirs if the Astros weren’t banging trash cans. New York instead hasn’t won a championship since 2009. It’s the franchise’s longest title drought since going without a parade between 1978 and 1996. — Jorge Castillo

Yankees lineup

Gleyber Torres (R) 2B
Juan Soto (L) RF
Aaron Judge (R) CF
Giancarlo Stanton (R) DH
Anthony Rizzo (L) 1B
Anthony Volpe (R) SS
Alex Verdugo (L) LF
Jose Trevino (R) C
Oswaldo Cabrera (S) 3B

Astros lineup

Jose Altuve (R) 2B
Yordan Alvarez (L) DH
Kyle Tucker (L) RF
Alex Bregman (R) 3B
Jose Abreu (R) 1B
Chas McCormick (R) LF
Yainer Diaz (R) C
Jeremy Pena (R) SS
Jake Meyers (R) CF


First pitch: 4:10 p.m. ET
The pitching matchup: Mitch Keller vs. Jesus Luzardo

The big storyline: Oneil Cruz is back at shortstop for the Pirates after fracturing his ankle nine games into 2023 and he’s looked good in spring training with seven home runs, including several monstrous blasts. Henry Davis, the first overall pick in the 2021 draft, struggled as a rookie last season while moving from catcher to right field, but an offseason injury to Endy Rodriguez has Davis back behind the plate and he’s also had a good spring. Other young Pirates include pitcher Jared Jones, the team’s No. 3 prospect who cracked the Opening Day rotation, and Paul Skenes, last year’s No. 1 overall pick who shouldn’t need much time in the minors. If that group delivers, the Pirates have a chance to become this year’s Marlins as a surprise playoff team.

One interesting fact to impress your friends: It’s been a rough spring training for the Miami rotation as Braxton Garrett (shoulder), Eury Perez (elbow) and Edward Cabrera (shoulder) will all begin the season on the IL (on top of Sandy Alcantara already being out for the year). Luzardo will have to step up and he’s a sleeper Cy Young candidate after finishing in the top 10 among NL starters in ERA, strikeout rate and fWAR. — Schoenfield

Pirates lineup

Connor Joe (R) RF
Bryan Reynolds (S) LF
Ke’Bryan Hayes (R) 3B
Andrew McCutchen (R) DH
Henry Davis (R) C
Oneil Cruz (L) SS
Jared Triolo (R) 2B
Rowdy Tellez (L) 1B
Michael A. Taylor (R) CF

Marlins lineup

Luis Arraez (L) 2B
Josh Bell (S) 1B
Bryan De La Cruz (R) DH
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (L) CF
Jake Burger (R) 3B
Jesus Sanchez (L) RF
Tim Anderson (R) SS
Nick Gordon (L) LF
Nick Fortes (R) C


First pitch: 4:10 p.m. ET
The pitching matchup: Logan Webb vs. Yu Darvish

The big storyline: It’s a matchup of perhaps the two biggest curiosities in baseball this season. The Giants went from a projected fourth-place finish in the NL West to the third-best team in the NL by PECOTA’s projected standings with the signings of reigning Cy Young winner Blake Snell and third baseman Matt Chapman. San Francisco had a big winter — but was it really enough to turn them into a playoff team after two disappointing seasons?

The Padres are $60 million lighter in payroll with the trade of Juan Soto and free agent exits of Snell, Josh Hader, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Nick Martinez and more. They added Dylan Cease and Michael King, bulked up their bullpen, continued their positional musical chairs and, after splitting their season-opening series in Korea with the Los Angeles Dodgers, have nearly the same question to answer: Was it really enough to turn them into a playoff team after a disappointing season?

One interesting fact to impress your friends: Like his former Kiwoom Heroes teammate Ha-Seong Kim, new Giants center fielder Jung Hoo Lee spent seven seasons in the Korea Baseball Organization before entering the posting system as a 25-year-old free agent. Kim walked (four-year, $28 million contract, which expires after this season) so Lee could run (six-year, $113 million deal). Lee has not been the home run hitter in Korea that Kim was, but a .340/.407/.491 line and impeccable pedigree — his dad is Korean baseball legend Jong-Beom Lee, nicknamed Son of the Wind — made the so-called Grandson of the Wind one of the KBO’s most popular players. Oh, and he slashed .414/.485/.586 this spring, so the hype may be real. — Passan

Giants lineup

Jung Hoo Lee (L) CF
Jorge Soler (R) DH
LaMonte Wade Jr. (L) 1B
Matt Chapman (R) 3B
Mike Yastrzemski (L) RF
Thairo Estrada (R) 2B
Michael Conforto (L) LF
Patrick Bailey (S) C
Nick Ahmed (R) SS

Padres lineup

Xander Bogaerts (R) 2B
Fernando Tatis Jr. (R) RF
Jake Cronenworth (L) 1B
Manny Machado (R) DH
Ha-Seong Kim (R) SS
Jurickson Profar (S) LF
Luis Campusano (R) C
Tyler Wade (L) 3B
Jackson Merrill (L) CF


The pitching matchup: Miles Mikolas vs. Tyler Glasnow
First pitch: 4:10 p.m. ET

The big storyline: The Dodgers opened their season in South Korea last week and, assuming you woke up really early, you’ve already seen what their lineup looks like with Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman atop it. But since then Ohtani has been embroiled in major controversy while at the center of a betting scandal in which he claims his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, stole millions of dollars from his accounts and wired them to a bookmaker who is under federal investigation.

This is a story that is poised to hover over the Dodgers all year, as if they weren’t already getting enough attention. How an exceedingly private, global superstar like Ohtani handles it — while living up to the pressure of a $700 million contract and being without Mizuhara, who took care of many aspects of his life since Ohtani came to the United States more than six years ago — will be fascinating to watch. It starts now.

One interesting fact to impress your friends: The Cardinals rewarded Mikolas, a crucial innings-eater in an unstable rotation, with a three-year, $55.75 million extension last March, then watched him navigate a down year that mirrored that of the team around him. Mikolas’ ERA jumped from 3.29 in 2022 to 4.78 in 2023, and it wasn’t just bad BABIP luck. His expected slugging percentage rose to .499, within the bottom 6% of the league. Mikolas has always been a pitch-to-contact guy, but he allowed way too much hard contact last year. His 226 hits allowed led the majors. — Alden Gonzalez

Cardinals lineup

Brendan Donovan (L) LF
Paul Goldschmidt (R) 1B
Nolan Gorman (L) 2B
Nolan Arenado (R) 3B
Willson Contreras (R) C
Alec Burleson (L) DH
Jordan Walker (R) RF
Victor Scott II (L) CF
Masyn Winn (R) SS

Dodgers lineup

Mookie Betts (R) SS
Shohei Ohtani (L) DH
Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
Will Smith (R) C
Max Muncy (L) 3B
Teoscar Hernandez (R) LF
James Outman (L) CF
Jason Heyward (L) RF
Gavin Lux (L) 2B


First pitch: 4:10 p.m. ET
The pitching matchup: Jose Berrios vs. Zach Eflin

The big storyline: Two teams that are trying to shake off recent playoff disappointment and figure out how to get a little better in October — but in the AL East, you have to get there first. The Jays were swept in the wild-card series the past two seasons and including the wild-card series in 2020, are now 0-6 in the playoffs this decade. The bottom half of their lineup looks a little soft and closer Jordan Romano is beginning the season on the IL with elbow inflammation. The Rays were also swept in the wild-card series the past two seasons and lost in the ALDS in 2021, giving them a 1-7 record the past three postseasons since their run to the 2020 World Series. The Rays have an entire rotation on the IL, although Eflin is coming off a 16-win season. He’ll need another big season given the concerns with the rest of the rotation.

One interesting fact to impress your friends: Everyone — especially the Blue Jays — is wondering whether Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can hit again like he did in 2021, when he hit 48 home runs with a 1.002 OPS and finished second in the AL MVP voting. That was the year the Jays had to play more than half of their home games in Dunedin and Buffalo — and Guerrero absolutely raked in those two parks, hitting .364 with 21 home runs in 44 games. His road numbers the past three seasons have been pretty stable and he really struggled at Rogers Centre in 2023, hitting .238 with a .716 OPS. — Schoenfield

Blue Jays lineup:

George Springer (R) RF
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (R) 1B
Bo Bichette (R) SS
Justin Turner (R) DH
Daulton Varsho (L) LF
Alejandro Kirk (R) C
Kevin Kiermaier (L) CF
Isiah Kiner-Falefa (R) 3B
Cavan Biggio (L) 2B

Rays lineup

Yandy Diaz (R) 1B
Brandon Lowe (L) 2B
Randy Arozarena (R) LF
Harold Ramirez (R) DH
Isaac Paredes (R) 3B
Richie Palacios (L) RF
Jose Siri (R) CF
Jose Caballero (R) SS
Rene Pinto (R) C


First pitch: 4:10 p.m. ET
The pitching matchup: Josiah Gray vs. Frankie Montas

The big storyline: The last time this much excitement accompanied a Reds Opening Day was in 2013, with Cincinnati coming off an NL Central-best 97-win season. A new generation of Reds are here, and while infielder Matt McLain and outfielder TJ Friedl will start the season on the injured list and third baseman Noelvi Marte on the suspended list following a positive PED test, plenty of talent remains: Elly De La Cruz, Spencer Steer, Christian Encarnacion-Strand and a deep, young rotation. The Reds spent more than $110 million on free agents, including Montas, and they’ll face a Nationals team that is simultaneously growing up with shortstop CJ Abrams and catcher Keibert Ruiz while biding their time until the arrivals of highly touted outfielders James Wood and Dylan Crews as well as third baseman Brady House.

One interesting fact to impress your friends: Gray, starting his first Opening Day, went to Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York, where he mostly played shortstop before transitioning to the starting rotation as a junior. Gray punched out 105 in 93.1 innings and was drafted in the second round in 2018 by … the Cincinnati Reds. They dealt him to the Dodgers in a trade that was ostensibly supposed to be a salary dump for Los Angeles, which two and a half years later moved him to Washington with Ruiz in the Max ScherzerTrea Turner deal. — Passan

Nats lineup

CJ Abrams (L) SS
Lane Thomas (R) RF
Jesse Winker (L) LF
Joey Meneses (R) DH
Joey Gallo (L) 1B
Keibert Ruiz (S) C
Eddie Rosario (L) CF
Nick Senzel (R) 3B
Luis Garcia Jr. (L) 2B

Reds lineup

Jonathan India (R) 2B
Will Benson (L) CF
Christian Encarnacion-Strand (R) 1B
Jeimer Candelario (S) 3B
Jake Fraley (L) RF
Elly De La Cruz (S) SS
Spencer Steer (R) LF
Nick Martini (L) DH
Tyler Stephenson (R) C


First pitch: 7:35 p.m. ET | ESPN
The pitching matchup: Justin Steele vs. Nathan Eovaldi

The big storyline: Both teams have large-font narratives generating heightened interest in their openers. For the Rangers, it’s a celebration as Texas will raise its first World Series banner before the game. Meanwhile, the Cubs usher in a new era in which the face of the team may well be its new manager, Craig Counsell, who became the highest-paid skipper in history after jumping from one of Chicago’s chief division rivals in the Brewers. Counsell got paid based on a deserved reputation as one of the game’s most well-rounded skippers. Yet when that banner rises, he’ll be admiring the exploits of his opponent, Bruce Bochy, who will be participating in his fourth title celebration as a skipper, or three more titles than the Cubs have won over the last 115 years.

One interesting fact to impress your friends: The magic number for wins in Texas is 102. That’s a high bar but these are the defending champs, after all. If the Rangers hit that total, Bochy’s career total would jump to 2,195 and he’d leap over Joe McCarthy, Bucky Harris, Dusty Baker and Sparky Anderson into sixth on the all-time wins list. And if the Rangers repeat as champs, he’d join McCarthy, Casey Stengel and Connie Mack as the only managers with at least five World Series wins. Yet, from the did-you-know category: Bochy enters the season eight games under .500 for his regular-season career. — Doolittle

Cubs lineup

Cubs lineup Ian Happ (S) LF
Seiya Suzuki (R) RF
Cody Bellinger (L) CF
Christopher Morel (R) DH
Dansby Swanson (R) SS
Michael Busch (L) 1B
Nico Hoerner (R) 2BNick Madrigal (R) 3B
Yan Gomes (R) C

Rangers lineup

Marcus Semien (R) 2B
Corey Seager (L) SS
Josh Jung (R) 3B
Adolis Garcia (R) RF
Wyatt Langford (R) DH
Jonah Heim (S) C
Ezequiel Duran (R) 1B
Evan Carter (L) LF
Leody Taveras (S) CF


First pitch: 10:07 p.m. ET
The pitching matchup: Shane Bieber vs. Alex Wood

The big storyline: It’s the familiar existential question: If a big league baseball game is played in an empty stadium, does it make a sound? With the A’s on their way out of town, diehard Oakland fans have chosen Opening Day as a way of making a statement. Last year was the year of the Reverse Boycott, where fans showed up en masse on select occasions to show their visceral disregard for ownership. This year, after the team’s decision to abandon Oakland for Las Vegas, the fans have chosen a different approach, the UnReverse Boycott, or Reverse UnBoycott, where they hang out in the parking lot to show ownership they still care — without paying to prove it. The A’s have taken steps to mitigate the bad publicity by opening the parking lot just two hours before game time, but angry A’s fans have proven their resourcefulness.

One interesting fact to impress your friends: Stephen Vogt is the Guardians’ new manager. Stephen Vogt is also a cult hero in Oakland, where the chant “We Believe In Stephen Vogt” — accompanied by the drumbeat from the diehards in the right-field bleachers — became an earworm of the last of the Oakland glory days. — Keown


First pitch: 10:10 p.m. ET
The pitching matchup: Brayan Bello vs. Luis Castillo

The big storyline: Call this the battle of two playoff contenders who decided not to spend any money this offseason — leaving two very unhappy fan bases. Boston’s payroll is down about $21 million from last season while Seattle’s is down about $1 million. The Red Sox ran the highest payroll in the sport when they won the World Series in 2018 but may not crack the top 10 this season. The Mariners missed the postseason by one win but simply retooled the roster rather than making significant additions. Still, with Julio Rodriguez and what could be one of the sport’s best rotations, the Mariners could challenge for their first division title since 2001 — and maybe even their first World Series appearance.

One interesting fact to impress your friends: Rodriguez had 60 home runs and 62 stolen bases over his first two seasons. Only six other players in MLB history reached 60-60 through their age-22 seasons: Alex Rodriguez, Mike Trout, Ken Griffey Jr., Ronald Acuna Jr., Andruw Jones and Cesar Cedeno. Rodriguez will have his sights on a 40-40 season in 2024. — Schoenfield

Red Sox lineup: TBA

Mariners lineup

J.P. Crawford (L) SS
Julio Rodriguez (R) CF
Jorge Polanco (S) 2B
Mitch Garver (R) DH
Cal Raleigh (S) C
Mitch Haniger (R) RF
Dominic Canzone (L) LF
Ty France (R) 1B
Josh Rojas (L) 3B


First pitch: 10:10 p.m. ET
The pitching matchup: Kyle Freeland vs. Zac Gallen

The big storyline: From a national perspective, pretty much all the interest in this game surrounds Arizona, a breakout team in 2023 that won’t be sneaking up on anyone this time around. The Diamondbacks are defending an NL pennant for the second time in their history and as a club built on a foundation of a surfeit of young, high-upside players, they should in theory be better. But can they be improved enough to keep pace in the high-powered NL West? Getting off to a strong start will be a challenge as Arizona is dealing with key injuries in its pitching staff. That list is led by key free agent signee Eduardo Rodriguez (lat strain) and closer Paul Sewald (oblique).

One interesting fact to impress your friends: Arizona star Corbin Carroll is a great all-around player and one of the games’ best young hitters. But where he breaks the scale is on the basepaths. On the surface, you see that he scored 116 runs in 2023 while racking up 10 triples and recording a 54-for-59 success rate on steals. Add it up and Carroll’s plus-12 runs above average in the baserunning component of bWAR was five runs better than any other player in baseball last season, ranked as the best-ever total for a player 22 or younger and was tied for the 12th-best single-season figure in history. You can’t take your eyes off him. — Doolittle

Rockies lineup: TBA

Diamondbacks lineup

Ketel Marte (S) 2B
Corbin Carroll (L) RF
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (R) LF
Christian Walker (R) 1B
Gabriel Moreno (R) C
Eugenio Suarez (R) 3B
Blaze Alexander (R) DH
Alek Thomas (L) CF
Geraldo Perdomo (S) SS

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Quenneville: Lessons learned before Ducks hire

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Quenneville: Lessons learned before Ducks hire

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Joel Quenneville returned to hockey Thursday with contrition. He acknowledged mistakes and said he accepted full responsibility for his role in the Chicago Blackhawks sexual assault scandal.

The second-winningest coach in NHL history said he is a changed man after nearly four years away from the game. As he took over behind the bench of the Anaheim Ducks, he vowed to continue to educate himself about abuse, to expand his work with victims, and to create an unimpeachably safe workplace with his new team.

Quenneville also realizes that’s not nearly enough to satisfy a significant segment of hockey fans that believes his acknowledged inaction during the Blackhawks scandal should have ended his career forever.

“I fully understand and accept those who question my return to the league,” Quenneville said. “I know words aren’t enough. I will demonstrate (by) my actions that I am a man of character.”

Ducks owner Henry Samueli and general manager Pat Verbeek strongly backed the 66-year-old Quenneville when they introduced him as the coach of a franchise stuck in a seven-year playoff drought and thirsting for the success Quenneville has usually orchestrated.

He won three Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks and took 20 teams to the playoffs during a quarter-century with four NHL clubs, becoming the most consistent winner of his era.

While Quenneville’s on-ice record was remarkable, his off-ice behavior in 2010 eventually led to his resignation from the Florida Panthers in October 2021 and a lengthy banishment from the league — a ban that many feel should be permanent.

“I own my mistakes,” Quenneville said, occasionally pausing in his delivery of a written statement. “While I believed wholeheartedly the issue was handled by management, I take full responsibility for not following up and asking more questions. That’s entirely on me. Over nearly four years, I’ve taken time to reflect, to listen to experts and advocates, and educate myself on the realities of abuse, trauma and how to be a better leader. I hope others can learn from my inaction.”

Quenneville and Blackhawks executives Stan Bowman and Al MacIsaac were banned from the NHL for nearly three years after an independent investigation concluded the team mishandled allegations raised by former player Kyle Beach against video coach Brad Aldrich during the team’s first Stanley Cup run. The trio was reinstated last July, and Bowman became the Edmonton Oilers‘ general manager three weeks later.

After an investigation and vetting process that lasted several days and included communication with Beach and other sexual assault victims and advocacy groups, the Ducks’ owners ultimately supported the decision made by Verbeek, Quenneville’s teammate in New Jersey and Hartford more than three decades ago.

Samueli and his wife, Susan, and their daughter, Jillian, all spoke at length with Quenneville. Henry Samueli said he is “absolutely convinced Joel is a really good person.”

“I think the four years that Joel spent out of hockey has really given him an opportunity to learn a lot,” Samueli said. “In my mind, he will be a model coach for dealing with situations like this. I think he will be a mentor to other coaches in the league who can come to him and talk to him. ‘How do you handle situations like that? What do you do?’ And they’ll trust him, because he’s old-school who’s changed. The fact that he comes from an old-school hockey culture, but now has transitioned and learned what it means to operate in 2025, not 1980 or whatever, I think that will make a big difference in how he operates.”

Quenneville said he understands just how badly his reputation and career were damaged by his role in the Blackhawks’ handling of the accusations against Aldrich. He remained out of hockey for another season after his ban ended, but became increasingly eager to continue his career last winter while watching games every night and staying closely informed on the league.

“I thought I had some work to do in growing as a person,” Quenneville said. “As far as doing work along the way, I felt I had progressed to an area where the education I had put me in a position where I know I can share some of these lessons and these experiences as well.”

Many people with a firsthand knowledge of Quenneville’s attempts to change himself supported his desire to return. Quenneville said he has spoken to Beach several times recently, including Thursday morning.

He has formed learning friendships with advocates including Chris Jensen, the former University of Wisconsin player and Maple Leafs draft pick who was abused by a coach as a teenager.

“I think most of the athletes that have played for him would argue that this guy has helped me be better,” Jensen said. “He brings all that expertise, and now he’s got additional perspective about how to be available to help people deal with emotional injury. I think he’s in a much better position to be successful.”

The Ducks’ charitable foundation is already involved in charitable and philanthropic work supporting survivors of sexual abuse, and Samueli expects Quenneville to support those efforts.

“I’m very confident that Joel will be a star when it comes to working with those organizations,” Samueli said.

Before his ban, Quenneville spent parts of 25 NHL seasons behind the benches of St. Louis, Colorado, Chicago and Florida, most notably leading the Blackhawks to championships in 2010, 2013 and 2015. His 969 career victories are the second-most in NHL history, trailing only Scotty Bowman’s 1,244.

Quenneville takes over a team with the NHL’s third-longest active playoff drought. Anaheim finished sixth in the Pacific Division this season at 35-37-10 after being in the bottom two for the previous four consecutive years.

He replaces Greg Cronin, who was surprisingly fired by Verbeek after leading the Ducks to a 21-point improvement in his second season.

Quenneville inherits an Anaheim team with an ample stock of young talent, and he was immediately impressed by their roster when he saw it in person during Anaheim’s road trip to Tampa Bay last January. He also coached Ducks captain Radko Gudas and forward Frank Vatrano in Florida.

“One of the best coaches I’ve ever had, and I always tell people that,” said Vatrano, who attended Quenneville’s introductory news conference. “As a person, he’s a great person, too. That’s what always draws me to Q. I’m a huge advocate for him, and I’m glad he’s here.”

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New coach Sullivan praises Rangers ‘leadership’

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New coach Sullivan praises Rangers 'leadership'

For Mike Sullivan, the latest coach of the New York Rangers, there will be many priorities in taking over a team that missed the playoffs a season after winning the Presidents’ Trophy.

Foremost will be communication.

“I have spoken to every player on the roster over the last three days,” Sullivan said Thursday at his introductory news conference. “I think there is a fair amount of leadership in that room. There’s a lot of character in that room.”

Sullivan, the 38th coach in franchise history and fifth since 2018, agreed to lead the Rangers on May 2 after parting ways with Pittsburgh, with whom he won the Stanley Cup twice.

He replaces Peter Laviolette, who was fired April 19 after the Rangers slid 29 points to miss the postseason despite their raft of talent. It will be up to Sullivan to resuscitate a power play that fell from the league’s top echelon to 28th overall in 2024-25 and help the defense improve in front of elite goaltender Igor Shesterkin, who is coming off his worst NHL season.

Sullivan spent four seasons as a Rangers assistant under then-coach John Tortorella from 2009 to 2013. He also coached current Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury during that time. They also worked together through USA Hockey at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February and will be part of the U.S. contingent for the 2026 Milan Olympics.

Sullivan will have top scorers Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad and Adam Fox on his side after years guiding Penguins stars Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang in Pittsburgh, where he won the Cup in 2016 and 2017.

“I’ve grown so much respect over the years for the talent that the Rangers have,” said Sullivan, who lost a seven-game first-round playoff series to the Rangers in 2022. “I look forward to the opportunity to get to know these guys on a more personal level. I look forward to the opportunity to work with them, both on the ice and off the ice, to try to become the most competitive team that we can become.”

Also pressing for the 57-year-old Sullivan — who was drafted by the Rangers in 1987 and later played 709 NHL games for four other franchises — is how he will handle younger Rangers such as 22-year-old Brennan Othmann and 20-year-old Gabe Perreault, a first-round pick in 2023 who joined the team briefly at the end of last season.

“Part of coaching or the art of coaching, I guess, is trying to figure out what that daily recipe is that’s best for the player,” Sullivan said. “Sometimes it’s time in the American League as a young player, sometimes it’s time in the National League depending on the types of minutes that that player can play. What I will tell you is that I think it’s important that every player earns their opportunities, that no one’s entitled to an opportunity.”

Sullivan was joined Thursday by Drury, who was awarded a contract extension last month.

Drury’s previous two coaching hires — Laviolette and Gerard Gallant — each lasted two seasons. The 48-year-old executive expressed enthusiasm for the addition of Sullivan, the only U.S.-born coach with multiple Stanley Cup wins.

“The second Mike was available, we quickly and aggressively pursued him,” Drury said. “We are certainly thrilled that pursuit led us to this moment today. There’s a lot of work to be done.”

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MLB Power Rankings: Which red-hot AL team made its top-5 debut?

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MLB Power Rankings: Which red-hot AL team made its top-5 debut?

The battle between National League powerhouses for the No. 1 spot continues in Week 6.

The Dodgers, Mets and Padres are still duking it out for the title of best team in baseball, with Los Angeles retaking the top spot from New York on our list. The top five is rounded out by a new team, as well, with the Tigers breaking in at the No. 5 spot.

Detroit is the top American League team this week, with the Yankees coming in at No. 7, the Mariners cracking the top 10 and the Royals, the week’s biggest risers, at No. 11.

What else has changed in the span of one week?

Our expert panel has combined to rank every team based on a combination of what we’ve seen so far and what we already knew going into the 162-game marathon that is a full baseball season. We also asked ESPN MLB experts David Schoenfield, Jorge Castillo and Bradford Doolittle to weigh in with an observation for all 30 teams.

Week 5 | Preseason rankings


Record: 25-12
Previous ranking: 2

The Dodgers are suddenly scrambling in the outfield. Teoscar Hernandez was tied for the MLB lead in RBIs when he landed on the injured list because of a groin strain that manager Dave Roberts said would keep Hernandez out for “weeks.” James Outman replaced Hernandez on the roster and started in center field Tuesday with Andy Pages sliding over to right. Meanwhile, Michael Conforto continues to struggle. With Tommy Edman also out, Roberts says he sees a lot of platooning in the short term. At least Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman are both red-hot to carry the offense. — Schoenfield


Record: 24-14
Previous ranking: 1

When the Mets signed ex-Yankee Clay Holmes this past winter, it was a mild surprise. The bigger surprise was that he was inked to join the rotation. Holmes entered the 2025 season with four career starts, all during his debut season for Pittsburgh in 2018 — whereas he has played a relief role in 307 games over eight MLB seasons. Seven starts into his Mets career, Holmes looks like a bona fide rotation fixture. He’s 4-1 with a 2.95 ERA and 2.18 FIP. His strikeout and walk ratios are matches for what he posted last season as a reliever, and he has yet to give up a homer to 156 batters faced. — Doolittle


Record: 23-13
Previous ranking: 4

Michael King and Nick Pivetta continue to team for one of the best duos in the majors, going a combined 9-2 with a 2.12 ERA. King returned to the Bronx — where he played for the Yankees for four seasons — and pitched another gem Tuesday, giving up three hits and two runs in six innings (although the Padres’ bullpen had a rare meltdown and proceeded to give up 10 runs in the seventh inning). After a poor outing on Opening Day, King has a 1.71 ERA over his past seven starts. — Schoenfield


Record: 22-16
Previous ranking: 5

The Cubs’ offense has been a force, but the team is facing adversity among its starting pitchers. First, Justin Steele needed Tommy John surgery and was lost for the season. Then Javier Assad, out because of an oblique strain to begin the season, sustained another oblique strain during a rehab start and was shut down. Finally, on Monday, Shota Imanaga was put on the IL because of a strained hamstring. The Cubs haven’t provided a timetable for Imanaga’s return. It’ll be on Matthew Boyd (2.75 ERA), Colin Rea (2.43 ERA) and Jameson Taillon (3.86 ERA) to hold down the rotation for now. — Castillo


Record: 23-13
Previous ranking: 7

The Tigers have flourished in a number of ways during the season’s opening weeks but one thing that really stands out is the degree to which they have dominated at Comerica Park. They’ve started 13-3 at home with a net per-game differential of plus-2.81 runs, the best in baseball. To put it another way, that differential translates to an .819 expected winning percentage, or 133 wins over 162 games. Not unrelated: Detroit has also moved into the early lead in the chase for the AL’s top postseason seed, which of course carries with it home-field advantage in October. — Doolittle


Record: 24-14
Previous ranking: 6

Logan Webb just keeps rolling along as one of the most underrated starters in MLB. He led the majors in innings pitched in 2023, ranked second in 2024 and again ranks among the league leaders this season. He has given up only one home run in 48⅓ innings and is producing a career-high strikeout rate (up eight percentage points from last season). He has used his sweeper more this year, but his changeup has been much more effective than it was in 2024, perhaps because he’s throwing it less often. — Schoenfield


Record: 21-16
Previous ranking: 3

Max Fried has been exceptional as a Yankee, posting a 1.05 ERA through eight starts. Carlos Rodón has rebounded from a choppy early stretch and sports a 2.96 ERA in eight outings. Outside of those two, the Yankees’ rotation is iffy at best without Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil. Clarke Schmidt recorded his best start of the season Tuesday against the Padres after dealing with injuries. Will Warren has a 5.65 ERA. Carlos Carrasco was designated for assignment. Marcus Stroman is out indefinitely. While Gil is progressing in his recovery from a lat strain, the Yankees need Fried and Rodón to continue registering quality starts. — Castillo


Record: 21-15
Previous ranking: 8

Bryce Harper‘s homer during the Phillies’ wild 11-9 loss to Arizona on Tuesday ended a 13-game long-ball drought. That’s far from Harper’s longest homerless streak — he went 38 games without one in 2023 — but it still highlighted an uneven start for Philly’s marquee player. Harper has started every game thus far for manager Rob Thomson. Does he need a rest? Should the Phils be worried? Probably not. Harper’s BABIP has cratered but that’s one indicator that tends to regress to career norms. His power numbers are down but, per Statcast, his bat speed is actually up from 2024. He’ll be fine. — Doolittle


Record: 22-14
Previous ranking: 11

And finally Cal Raleigh rested … almost. Raleigh had started the first 34 games of the season, either at catcher or DH. His two-homer, five-RBI game Saturday against the Rangers helped power the Mariners to their eighth consecutive series victory. Against the Athletics on Tuesday, Raleigh was on the bench … until the ninth inning. Trailing 3-2 with the bases loaded and one out, Raleigh pinch hit for Mitch Garver and delivered a go-ahead two-run single in a 5-3 victory. His 12 home runs are tied with Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber for the MLB lead. — Schoenfield


Record: 19-18
Previous ranking: 9

Geraldo Perdomo continues to rake, including a 4-for-5 game with two doubles and three RBIs in Sunday’s wild 11-9 win over the Phillies. Perdomo has more walks than strikeouts, is 9-for-9 stealing bases, has a 99th percentile ranking in outs above average at shortstop and has already produced 2.2 fWAR compared to 2.0 all of 2024. That figure puts him in a five-way tie for the third-highest fWAR — behind only Aaron Judge and Pete Alonso. — Schoenfield


Record: 22-16
Previous ranking: 19

The Royals’ offense has been moving in the right direction, aiding a recent torrid stretch that was driven by elite run prevention. Bobby Witt Jr. has produced all along but, as good as he is, he can’t do it alone. Help has arrived in the form of Maikel Garcia, whose surge has brought his season numbers into lockstep with Witt. Garcia’s swing decisions have improved by leaps and bounds, lowering his already-solid strikeout rate and lifting his walk rate well over league average. Garcia, who has started at four different positions, will merit All-Star consideration if he maintains this pace. — Doolittle


Record: 19-19
Previous ranking: 10

Boston received a huge blow over the weekend, losing Triston Casas for the season because of a ruptured patellar tendon. Now the Red Sox have to figure out who will play first base. The current answer is a combination of Romy Gonzalez and Abraham Toro, but that probably isn’t permanent — and Gonzalez exited Wednesday night’s win after a collision on the base path and is day-to-day. Boston could move Rafael Devers to first base and have Masataka Yoshida, who hasn’t played this season because a shoulder injury is inhibiting his ability to throw, as its DH. The Red Sox could shift rookie Kristian Campbell from second base. They could seek external help. They could even call up one of their top two prospects, Roman Anthony or Marcelo Mayer, to play first. They have options. — Castillo


Record: 22-15
Previous ranking: 16

The Guardians have stayed afloat in the standings thanks to a spate of comeback wins and one-run victories. Eventually they’ll need some of their underperforming positions to produce. Steven Kwan has arguably been the best at his position in left field but his outfield partners have collectively been among the worst. Right fielder Jhonkensy Noel has sputtered along with a sub-.500 OPS while, in center, Opening Day starter Lane Thomas had an OPS under .400 before hitting the IL because of a bruised wrist. Cleveland needs numbers from both before the close-game luck begins to run out. — Doolittle


Record: 17-19
Previous ranking: 13

As a group, the Braves’ outfield ranks in the bottom five by wins above average. The fixes: get Ronald Acuña Jr. back, get Michael Harris II going and navigate the weeks until Jurickson Profar returns from suspension. On the latter front, a promising left-field platoon might be taking shape in Alex Verdugo and Eli White. For now, both are needed to man the outfield corners, but that will change when Acuña returns. At the plate, Verdugo has a career .783 OPS against righties; meanwhile, after struggling early in his career against southpaws, White has crushed them in limited time the past two seasons. — Doolittle


Record: 19-19
Previous ranking: 14

The Reds’ season continues to be strange. Their plus-30 run differential ranks eighth in the majors and suggests a 22-16 record. Instead, they remain tethered to .500 territory. The offense’s inconsistency is the main culprit. After scoring 22 runs in a three-game sweep of the Rockies in Denver, Cincinnati tallied three or fewer runs in six of their next nine games. Jose Trevino and Gavin Lux have been crucial contributors in their first seasons in Cincinnati, but the Reds need more from Elly De La Cruz, one of the sport’s most dynamic talents who has been about a league-average hitter so far. — Castillo


Record: 18-18
Previous ranking: 12

As the Astros struggle to score runs, it won’t help that Yordan Alvarez landed on the IL because of hand inflammation. The All-Star slugger was already off to the worst start of his career, hitting .210/.306/.340 with only three home runs and seven extra-base hits in 29 games, when he was scratched from Saturday’s lineup and then didn’t play Sunday before the Astros finally put him on the IL. Alvarez isn’t the only Astros hitter struggling as Yainer Diaz and Christian Walker have sub-.300 OBPs, and Jose Altuve is scuffling with sub-100 OPS+, his lowest since 2013. — Schoenfield


Record: 19-19
Previous ranking: 18

Joey Ortiz, acquired before last season in the trade for Corbin Burnes, put together a 3.1 fWAR rookie campaign in 2024, hitting 11 home runs with a 104 wRC+ and good defense at third base. That’s what makes his production in 2025 so shocking. Now playing shortstop as Willy Adames’ replacement, Ortiz has compiled -0.6 fWAR in 37 games this season. He’s batting .175 without a home run and a .206 slugging percentage. His 27 wRC+ ranks 160th out of 161 qualified players and has hampered the offense, which as a whole has a 90 wRC+, the seventh-lowest mark in the majors. — Castillo


Record: 20-18
Previous ranking: 20

The A’s got to within one game of first place and had a chance to tie Seattle on Tuesday but blew a ninth-inning lead. It was the second blown save in four games for the A’s. On Saturday, Mason Miller had a rare bad outing, serving up a walk-off grand slam to Miami’s Kyle Stowers. With Miller unavailable Tuesday after throwing 55 pitches over three days, Tyler Ferguson came on for the save — his fourth appearance in four days — and gave up a 3-2 lead. It was the first time an A’s pitcher threw four days in a row since 2015. — Schoenfield


Record: 18-19
Previous ranking: 15

Looking to turn around a moribund offense, the Rangers hired former All-Star Bret Boone as the team’s hitting coach, while firing offensive coordinator Donnie Ecker. At the time of the move, the Rangers ranked 25th in the majors in batting average, 25th in slugging and 29th in both runs and walk rate. Previous hitting coach Justin Viele and assistant hitting coach Seth Conner remain on staff. Texas then erupted for 16 hits Tuesday in Boone’s first game, winning consecutive games for the first time since April 17. Evan Carter returned to the majors and went 2-for-5. — Schoenfield


Record: 16-20
Previous ranking: 17

Steinbrenner Field has not been very kind to the Rays so far. They’re 9-15 in their temporary digs and 7-5 elsewhere. The stadium has played as expected, as a hitters’ haven. Opponents have taken better advantage of that with 35 home runs and a .256/.313/.418 slash line. Meanwhile, the Rays have hit 22 home runs at home. They’re built to win games with pitching and defense. That combination so far hasn’t been suited for Steinbrenner Field. — Castillo


Record: 16-20
Previous ranking: 22

The Blue Jays made four major offseason acquisitions. Three — Anthony Santander, Andres Gimenez and Max Scherzer — have been colossal disappointments. Santander has a 75 wRC+ as the team’s primary DH. Gimenez is a defense-first second baseman, but he began the year as the team’s cleanup hitter and has a 68 wRC+. Scherzer has thrown three innings. But Jeff Hoffman has established himself as one of the top closers in baseball after two teams nixed agreements with him during the winter due to concerns about his shoulder health. The right-hander gave up two runs over his first 14 appearances, recording a 1.10 ERA, until his three-run hiccup Tuesday against the Angels. — Castillo


Record: 17-20
Previous ranking: 21

A Twins offense that has floundered for much of the season received a much-needed boost when oft-injured Royce Lewis finally made his season debut. Lewis went down because of a hamstring strain in mid-March and sat out the first five-plus weeks. That was nothing new for a talented player whose career high in games is 82. When he has played, he has produced, posting a 124 career OPS+ with 35 homers and 110 RBIs per 162 games played. Now that Lewis is back, the spotlight falls on shortstop Carlos Correa, who continues to limp along with career-worst percentages. — Doolittle


Record: 19-19
Previous ranking: 24

By most metrics, the Cardinals have by far deployed the best defense in baseball. In the middle of it is center fielder Victor Scott II. Coming off a disastrous rookie season in 2024, in which he posted a 40 OPS+ in 53 games, Scott is thriving as a contact-first speedster with elite defense at a premium position. He’s tied for fourth in the majors in defensive runs saved and outs above average while batting .289 with 11 steals in 12 attempts. At 24, Scott is solidifying himself as a centerpiece of the Cardinals’ rebuild. — Castillo


Record: 17-21
Previous ranking: 25

In the middle of April, the Nationals’ bullpen performance was so off-the-charts bad that manager Dave Martinez called a meeting in his office just to address the relievers. Did it work? At the time, their relief ERA was an astounding 7.21. Three weeks later, that number is … 7.22. The irony is that closer Kyle Finnegan, who was non-tendered by Washington last fall before signing back late in the offseason, has been pretty good (3.07 ERA over 15 appearances with 12 saves in 14 chances). That tells you a little about how badly the rest of the bullpen has struggled. — Doolittle


Record: 13-22
Previous ranking: 23

General manager Mike Elias took blame for the team’s ghastly start and voiced his support for manager Brandon Hyde last Friday. Elias’ offseason decision-making and the subsequent injuries have tanked the starting rotation, but the vaunted offense isn’t doing its part. Cedric Mullins, Jackson Holliday and Ryan O’Hearn have been bright spots, but Adley Rutschman, Ryan Mountcastle, Heston Kjerstad and Jordan Westburg all have an OPS+ under 100. Gunnar Henderson, slowed by an intercostal strain to begin the season, isn’t playing like the MVP candidate he was in 2024. Tyler O’Neill is on the IL again. Baltimore ranks 23rd in runs scored and that isn’t good enough to overcome the rotation’s warts. — Castillo


Record: 12-26
Previous ranking: 28

It has been a disastrous season for the Pirates, on and off the field. There was the controversy surrounding the franchise’s decision to replace a Roberto Clemente logo with a hard iced tea ad at PNC Park. Last week, a fan broke his neck, clavicle and back when he fell from the 21-foot-high Clemente Wall onto the field. This week, a video of a PNC Park usher fighting a fan went viral. On the field, the Pirates are in last place in the NL Central again with one of the worst offenses in the majors. — Castillo


Record: 14-22
Previous ranking: 27

The Marlins have been competitive in some facets this season, but the area that decidedly does not fit that bill has been a glaringly awful starting rotation. Miami’s 6.35 rotation ERA ranks ahead of only the 6-29 Rockies. The Marlins have always been built on strong rotations when they’ve been good — but in 2025, they’ve produced only five quality starts in 36 games. Surely their starter ERA will move in the right direction from here (right?), but if it doesn’t, the franchise nadir (a 5.58 rotation ERA in 2007) could be in jeopardy. — Doolittle


Record: 15-20
Previous ranking: 26

Part of the problem with the slumping Angels: a defense that ranks second worst in the majors in defensive runs saved (ahead of only the A’s). Catcher Logan O’Hoppe, first baseman Nolan Schanuel and third baseman Luis Rengifo all rank as the worst at their positions via defensive runs saved. Schanuel and Rengifo also rank near the bottom in Statcast’s outs above average, as does center fielder Jo Adell. (Kyren Paris has been getting more time there of late.) The Angels back up that bad defense with the worst team OBP in the majors. — Schoenfield


Record: 10-27
Previous ranking: 29

The White Sox aren’t what analysts would label as “good,” but their record would be less terrible if not for an amazing 2-10 start in one-run games. Five of the losses were last-inning road defeats, including Tuesday’s debacle that featured rookie Chase Meidroth getting bonked on the head by a routine pop-up. Chicago’s saves leader is Brandon Eisert — with one. That’s right: After six weeks of the season, the White Sox have recorded exactly one save. The late-game failings undermine a club that, by and large, has cleared the low bar of playing better than it did in 2024. — Doolittle


Record: 6-29
Previous ranking: 30

The Rockies actually won two games in a row last week, beating the Braves 2-1 behind a solid outing from Chase Dollander and then beating the Giants 4-3 with two runs in the eighth inning. Alas, the losing picked right back up and the Rockies’ wRC+ fell to 64 (100 is average). The MLB low since 1901 is 68 (by the 1920 Philadelphia A’s) and even last year’s woeful White Sox came in at 75. So, yes, we’re looking at one of the worst offenses of all time. — Schoenfield

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