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Why can’t all nights of fighting be like this? Why do we get swept up in trashy melodramas when we instead could stimulate our minds and endorphins with a night of fighting such as what we just witnessed at UFC 266?

Saturday night had everything.

Alexander Volkanovski stood up to another challenge in the main event, as he quietly has been doing for years, waiting for someone to notice. The Aussie’s 20th straight victory, a bloody battering of featherweight challenger Brian Ortega, was a five-round battle in which the champ twice had to escape tight submission attempts by a fighter best known for his jiu-jitsu game. Even with two recorded victories over Max Holloway, this win ought to finally draw a little more deserved attention to “Alexander The Great.”

Another great put on a show in the co-main event. Valentina Shevchenko showed off why she is perhaps the sport’s most dominant champion, thoroughly outclassing flyweight challenger Lauren Murphy in a fourth-round TKO. No fighter is above being defeated on a given night, but there simply is no 125-pounder who appears capable of hanging with Shevchenko. And even as a -1,500 betting favorite, she was thrilling to watch — right down to when she addressed the fans in four languages. What can’t she do?

The night’s starriest attraction, though, was Nick Diaz. During his six-year absence from fighting, we might have forgotten that he is a wizard at drawing from all of us every emotion we’re capable of experiencing. He reminded us by engaging in a battle with Robbie Lawler that turned back the clock a little. Not to their first meeting 17 years ago, but surely to a time when Lawler wasn’t mired in a four-fight losing streak and Diaz’s desire to fight wasn’t being questioned.

Neither Diaz nor Lawler looked to be in his prime, but neither was this sad spectacle some might have feared. Lawler got the TKO in the third round after a relentless back-and-forth that had T-Mobile Arena reach deafening heights. Here’s hoping both men took in the fan adulation gushing from every corner of the building. They’ve always kept it real, and Saturday night was no different.

Those three bouts were just the culmination of a night that was essential for combat sports. In a time when the YouTuber-as-boxer trend is inching its way from the distant fringe to at least a tributary of the sports mainstream, a night of real fighters doing real fights is no longer a luxury. It is a necessary ingredient for MMA to sustain its place in the landscape — and boxing, too. Earlier in the day, Oleksandr Usyk dethroned heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua in front of 66,000 fans in London.

But UFC 266 was a sustained feast of fighting. Prior to the two title bouts and the Diaz return, there were clashes between ranked fighters at both heavyweight (Curtis Blaydes dominated Jairzinho Rozenstruik) and women’s flyweight (Jessica Andrade knocked out Cynthia Calvillo). We also saw Merab Dvalishvili pull off an astounding comeback, surging from the brink of being knocked out by Marlon Moraes to turn things around for a TKO win of his own — on the strength of a triple-digits barrage of unanswered strikes.

And there was even more. This was one of those nights that would have made late-night TV infomercial huckster Ron Popeil proud. That’s an old-time reference, to be sure, but maybe it’s appropriate on a night that was something of a throwback to the days when fight cards were packed with the right kind of drama. And real fights.

Diaz showed signs of his old self, but it’s time to step away

Raimondi: I was one of the first people in the world to watch Nick Diaz’s raw interview with Brett Okamoto earlier this week. And I’ve maintained for the last several days that I wasn’t overly concerned with what Diaz was saying. We’ve known about Diaz’s mixed feelings about the sport of MMA for a decade now. Diaz has never been shy about telling us he never liked to fight, it was just something he did out of necessity. He was born to do it, even though it was something he ultimately loathed. Even after Diaz bowed out of his UFC 266 fight with Robbie Lawler in the third round, I don’t feel too much differently than I did before the fight.

Let’s be clear here. Diaz didn’t look slower than normal and in worse shape than normal because of anything he said in that interview. Those were because he’s 38 years old and had not fought in almost seven years. Diaz brought the fight to Lawler. He landed more significant strikes — 150 to 131, according to ESPN Stats & Information — and landed the most significant strikes in a loss in a bout that ended as early as this one did in UFC history. Diaz’s punches were slow, but he landed a bunch of combinations and won at least one round against Lawler.

Diaz told Okamoto this week that he would regret not taking this chance to return now before it was too late. He said he wasn’t sure how he’d feel about himself if he didn’t at least take the opportunity. Well, now he has done so. And, despite having some decent moments against Lawler, it’s time for him to hang up the gloves for good. Outside of a few aging legends like himself, I’m not sure how comfortable I’d be with watching Diaz against someone else the UFC might line up for him next. Lawler was an excellent matchup, another aging warrior whose best days are in the rear-view mirror.

In the end, this wasn’t a complete disaster, nor was it a rousing success. It was somewhere in the middle. I’m glad Diaz knew when to say he was done. He had that presence of mind before things started to go downhill quickly. Hopefully, he can now be at peace with retirement with no potential regrets about his MMA career. He’s given us all enough and now it’s time for him to take a step toward the rest of his life.

Diaz has given us nearly two decades of fighting entertainment. He’s not one of the greatest fighters of all time. But he’s one of the most popular fighters of all time, because you always knew what you were going to get — an absolute war. That’s what it was against Lawler on Saturday night and Diaz knew when to wave the white flag. It’s time to do the same with regards to his storied career.

Appreciate Valentina Shevchenko, even if she’s erased the drama in a sport that relies on it

Okamoto: For the record, I think we do appreciate Shevchenko. I do believe this sport is aware of just how uniquely special she is. This sport gives Shevchenko her due.

But it’s not always easy, right? It’s easy to overlook her, because we, as viewers, want the unknown. Of course we admire greatness, but there’s only so much dominance we’re willing to take before our interest wanes. And right now, Shevchenko could be headed into that territory. She’s demolished every flyweight she’s faced, and she’s already taken out the best challengers available to her.

If we squinted real hard, and used our imagination, maybe we thought those challengers had a chance. The Joanna Jedrzejczyks and Jessica Andrades of the world. Shevchenko ate them up. Now, just to get new matchups, we’re going to keep heading down the 125-pound rankings. And the betting odds are going to stay very, very high in Shevchenko’s favor. And as viewers, sometimes that’s going to be hard to get up for.

But the way Shevchenko has honed her craft, and continues to dedicate herself and improve in a sport that demands so much — that is worth paying attention to. So, keep watching Shevchenko. And keep admiring her for what she is. Even if it’s like seeing a movie you’ve already seen 100 times over.

Dan Hooker should get big name next

Legaspi: The fight happened, which was a big enough deal in and of itself. Both fighters’ visas arrived at the last moment, and we got a dominant display from Dan Hooker over Nasrat Haqparast. Neither requested a catchweight — it was important for Hooker to stay at lightweight in order to prove that he belongs close to the top 5 in the division again.

Michael Chandler‘s early knockout over the New Zealander made a lot of people forget that Hooker was part of some of the best fights of 2020. Two 25-minute wars, against Paul Felder and Dustin Poirier, got Hooker into title contention talks, and he should stay there after what we saw on Saturday. He had less than 72 hours to fly from Auckland to Las Vegas, make weight and beat Haqparast. He was great on the feet, and put together a decent performance on the ground with his much-improved wrestling.

It might be a good time for him and some of his City Kickboxing teammates, like middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, to make a short-term decision to spend more time in the U.S., because quarantine protocols and embassy shutdowns will continue to complicate efforts to lock down big fights in a stacked division. Rafael dos Anjos, Tony Ferguson and Beniel Dariush would each be great matchups. Hooker can also be a great test for the up and coming Arman Tsarukyan.

After all the trouble he had getting to Las Vegas this fight, Hooker was one of the biggest winners of UFC 266. And he deserves a reward for his performance in the form of another big fight.

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NHL playoff watch: Who will emerge from the Eastern wild-card chaos?

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April 3, 2025

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NHL playoff watch: Who will emerge from the Eastern wild-card chaos?

The final day of the regular season is exactly two weeks away, but the race for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot remains open for five contenders.

Two of those teams are in action Thursday night. The Montreal Canadiens host the Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+), and the Columbus Blue Jackets welcome the Colorado Avalanche (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+).

As play begins Thursday, the Canadiens hold the second wild card with 79 points and 25 regulation wins through 74 games; the New York Rangers are tied in standings points (and ahead in RW, with 32), but have played more games. The Blue Jackets are two behind in points, and one behind in regulation wins. The idle Detroit Red Wings (75 points, 26 RW) and New York Islanders (74 points, 25 RW) round out the quintet.

The Stathletes projection model likes the Canadiens’ chances to make the playoffs the most, at 51.7%, followed by the Blue Jackets (25.5%), Rangers (19.0%), Islanders (3.1%) and Red Wings (2.3%). How will this all shake out? Thursday’s pair of games featuring these teams will provide our next set of clues.

With the regular season ending April 17, we’ll help you track it all with the NHL playoff watch. As we traverse the final stretch, we’ll provide details on all the playoff races, along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2025 NHL draft lottery.

Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.

Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Today’s schedule
Yesterday’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Florida Panthers
M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Montreal Canadiens
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils

Western Conference

C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 St. Louis Blues
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Minnesota Wild
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers

Thursday’s games

Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).

Boston Bruins at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.
Colorado Avalanche at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7:30 p.m.
Pittsburgh Penguins at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m.
Nashville Predators at Dallas Stars, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Kings at Utah Hockey Club, 9 p.m.
Anaheim Ducks at Calgary Flames, 9:30 p.m.
Winnipeg Jets at Vegas Golden Knights, 10 p.m.
Edmonton Oilers at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu/Disney+)

Wednesday’s scoreboard

New York Rangers 5, Minnesota Wild 4 (OT)
Carolina Hurricanes 5, Washington Capitals 1
Toronto Maple Leafs 3, Florida Panthers 2
Colorado Avalanche 3, Chicago Blackhawks 2 (SO)
Seattle Kraken 5, Vancouver Canucks 0

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Points: 96
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 7
Points pace: 105.0
Next game: vs. CBJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 93
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 103.1
Next game: @ OTT (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 92
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 7
Points pace: 100.6
Next game: @ OTT (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 8
Points pace: 93.1
Next game: vs. TB (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 98.6%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 87.5
Next game: vs. BOS (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 51.7%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 83.1
Next game: vs. CAR (Friday)
Playoff chances: 2.3%
Tragic number: 13

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 77.6
Next game: vs. TB (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 8

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 75.4
Next game: @ MTL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 5

Metro Division

Points: 105
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 7
Points pace: 114.8
Next game: vs. CHI (Friday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 96
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 106.4
Next game: @ DET (Friday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 6
Points pace: 93.9
Next game: vs. NYR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.8%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 86.4
Next game: @ NJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 19%
Tragic number: 15

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 86.5
Next game: vs. COL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 25.5%
Tragic number: 17

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 82.0
Next game: vs. MIN (Friday)
Playoff chances: 3.1%
Tragic number: 12

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 77.6
Next game: @ STL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 7

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 76.6
Next game: @ MTL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 5

Central Division

Points: 106
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 7
Points pace: 115.9
Next game: @ VGK (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 102
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 113.0
Next game: vs. NSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 96
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 6
Points pace: 103.6
Next game: @ CBJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 96.0
Next game: @ NYI (Friday)
Playoff chances: 93.7%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 96.0
Next game: vs. PIT (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 96.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 80
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 87.5
Next game: vs. LA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0.7%
Tragic number: 6

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 67.8
Next game: @ DAL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 52
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 56.9
Next game: @ WSH (Friday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

Points: 98
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 8
Points pace: 108.6
Next game: vs. WPG (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 93
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 8
Points pace: 103.1
Next game: @ UTA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 91
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 100.8
Next game: @ SJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 90.9
Next game: vs. ANA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 6.4%
Tragic number: 10

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 88.6
Next game: vs. ANA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 2.4%
Tragic number: 7

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 82.0
Next game: @ CGY (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 2

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 75.5
Next game: @ SJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 55.4
Next game: vs. EDM (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Note: An “x” means that the team has clinched a playoff berth. An “e” means that the team has been eliminated from playoff contention.

Race for the No. 1 pick

The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process are here. Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL’s Erie Otters, is No. 1 on the draft board.

Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14

Points: 52
Regulation wins: 18

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 23

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 26

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 26

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 20

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 20

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 23

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 25

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 26

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 24

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 32

Points: 80
Regulation wins: 26

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 26

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 26

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‘Reason he’s here’: Crochet delivers for Red Sox

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7 hours ago

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April 3, 2025

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'Reason he's here': Crochet delivers for Red Sox

  • ESPN News Services

Apr 2, 2025, 10:27 PM ET

BALTIMORE — Garrett Crochet gave the Boston Red Sox an immediate return on their investment.

In his first start since agreeing to a $170 million, six-year contract, the left-hander pitched a career-best eight innings as the Red Sox shut out the Baltimore Orioles 3-0 on Wednesday night. Crochet also threw 102 pitches, one shy of his career high.

“My first start in college I went eight, and I haven’t sniffed it since,” Crochet said.

Crochet (1-0) gave up four hits and a walk while striking out eight in his first victory since the offseason trade that sent him from the Chicago White Sox to Boston.

“That’s the reason he’s here,” manager Alex Cora said after the game. “That’s the reason we committed to him.”

Crochet went 6-12 with a 3.58 ERA last season, a bright spot on a Chicago team that lost 121 games. He threw 146 innings, which was double his previous career total since his debut in 2020.

Then Crochet was dealt to the Red Sox, and they made their long-term commitment to the 25-year-old earlier this week.

“Going back to when the trade went through, we knew Boston was a place where we would love to be long term,” Crochet said. “Credit to the front office for staying diligent, and my agency as well.”

Now the question is less about where he’ll pitch and more about how well. He’s off to a nice start in that regard.

“I can’t think of the last time I played baseball for pride. In college, you’re playing to get drafted, and once you’re in the big leagues, you’re playing to stay in the big leagues,” Crochet said. “So to have this security and feel like I’m playing to truly just win ballgames, it takes a lot of the riff-raff out of it.”

The news all around was good for Boston on Wednesday.

It reached a $60 million, eight-year deal with young infielder Kristian Campbell, and he went out and doubled twice against the Orioles.

And Rafael Devers ended a 21-at-bat hitless streak to start the season with an RBI double in the fifth inning. He finished with two hits and no strikeouts.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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Ohtani’s walk-off pushes Dodgers to historic 8-0

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7 hours ago

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April 3, 2025

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Ohtani's walk-off pushes Dodgers to historic 8-0

  • Alden GonzalezApr 3, 2025, 01:43 AM ET

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      ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the L.A. Rams for ESPN from 2016 to 2018 and the L.A. Angels for MLB.com from 2012 to 2016.

LOS ANGELES — Aside from his ability to pitch and hit and stretch the boundaries of imagination, Shohei Ohtani has displayed another singular trait in his time in the major leagues: an ability to meet the moment. Or, perhaps, for the moment to meet him.

And so on Wednesday night, with his Los Angeles Dodgers looking to stay unbeaten, the score tied in the bottom of the ninth, and more than 50,000 fans standing and clenching the Ohtani bobbleheads they lined up hours in advance for, Ohtani approached the batter’s box — and his teammates expected greatness.

“He’s going to end this right here,” Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy said he thought to himself.

“We knew,” starting pitcher Blake Snell said. “It’s just what he does.”

Validation came instantly. Ohtani stayed back on a first-pitch changeup from Raisel Iglesias near the outside corner and shot it toward straightaway center field, 399 feet away, for a walk-off home run, sending the Dodgers to a 6-5, come-from-behind victory over the reeling Atlanta Braves.

“I don’t think anybody didn’t expect him to hit a walk-off home run there,” Dodgers utility man Tommy Edman said. “It’s just a question of where he’d hit it.”

The Dodgers are now 8-0, topping the 1933 New York Yankees of Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth for the longest winning streak to begin a season for a reigning champion. The Braves, meanwhile, are 0-7, the type of record no team has ever recovered from to make the playoffs. And Ohtani, with three home runs and a 1.126 OPS this season, just keeps meeting moments.

“He’s pretty good, huh?” Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez said. “It’s Shohei. He’s going to do that. He’s going to do things better than that.”

On Aug. 23 last year, Ohtani reached the 40/40 club with a walk-off grand slam. Five days later, the Dodgers staged a second giveaway of his bobblehead — one that saw his now-famous dog, Decoy, handle the ceremonial first pitch — and Ohtani led off with a home run. On Sept. 19, Ohtani clinched his first postseason berth and ascended into the unprecedented 50/50 club with one of the greatest single-game performances in baseball history — six hits, three homers, two steals and 10 RBIs. Barely two weeks later, he homered in his first playoff game.

When Ohtani came up on Wednesday, he had what he described as a simple approach.

“I was looking for a really good pitch to hit,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. “If I didn’t get a good pitch to hit, I was willing to walk.”

Of course, though, he got a good pitch.

And, of course, he sent it out.

“You just feel that he’s going to do something special,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “And I just like the way he’s not pressing. He’s in the strike zone, and when he does that, there’s just no one better.”

The Dodgers began their much-anticipated season with a couple of breezy wins over the Chicago Cubs from Japan, even though Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman did not play in them. They returned home, brought iconic rapper Ice Cube out to present the World Series trophy on one afternoon, received their rings on another and swept a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers. Then came the Braves, and the Dodgers swept them, too — even though Freeman, nursing an ankle injury caused from slipping in the shower, didn’t participate.

The Dodgers already have two walk-offs and six comeback wins this season.

Wednesday’s effort left Roberts “a little dumbfounded.”

A nightmarish start defensively, highlighted by two errant throws from Muncy, spoiled Snell’s start and put them behind 5-0 after the first inning and a half. But the Dodgers kept inching closer. They trailed by just two in the eighth and put runners on second and third with two out. Muncy came to bat with his batting average at just .083. He had used the ballyhooed “Torpedo” bat for his first three plate appearances, didn’t like how it altered his swing plane, grabbed his usual bat for a showdown against Iglesias and laced a game-tying double into the right-center-field gap.

An inning later, Ohtani ended it.

“Overall, not just tonight, there is a really good vibe within the team,” Ohtani said after recording his fourth career walk-off hit. “I just think that’s allowing us to come back in these games to win.”

The Dodgers’ 8-0 start has allowed them to stay just ahead of the 7-0 San Diego Padres and the 5-1 San Francisco Giants in the National League West. Tack on the Arizona Diamondbacks (4-2) and the Colorado Rockies (1-4), and this marks the first time in the divisional era that an entire division has combined for at least 25 wins and no more than seven losses, according to ESPN Research. The Dodgers’ and Padres’ starts mark just the fifth season in major league history with multiple teams starting 7-0 or better, and the first time since 2003.

The Dodgers famously overcame a 2-1 series deficit to vanquish the Padres in the NL Division Series last year, then rode that fight to their first full-season championship since 1988.

That fight hasn’t let up.

“It feels like this clubhouse is carrying a little bit of the attitude we had last year that we’re never out of a game and we’re resilient, and we’ve been carrying it into this season,” Muncy said. “It’s been fun to watch. The guys don’t give up. Bad things have happened, and no one’s really been down or out on themselves. Everyone’s just, ‘All right, here we go, next inning, let’s get after it.’ The whole team, top to bottom, has been doing that. It’s been making it really, really fun to play.”

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