While the San Francisco 49ers may not be undergoing a full-on rebuild this offseason, they have allowed several key contributors to walk and must now find ways to replace them.
Pass-rusher Leonard Floyd was among the departures, as he was released during the legal-contact window. The 49ers have yet to replace him and are still searching for a quality complement to edge-rusher Nick Bosa.
There was some speculation that San Francisco would try to pair Bosa with his brother, Joey, following his release from the Los Angeles Chargers. However, the elder Bosa signed with the Buffalo Bills instead, and it appears he was never particularly close to joining the 49ers.
“It didn’t sound like that got close at all, really, to happening,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said last month (h/t David Bonilla of 49ers Webzone).
The 49ers could look for their No. 2 pass-rusher in the draft—the B/R Scouting Department recently mocked Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart to San Francisco. With $40.3 million in cap space, they could also consider pivoting to Hendrickson.
San Francisco is equipped with two third-round picks—it was awarded a special compensatory selection for the external hirings of DeMeco Ryans and Ran Carthon. It could offer both selections, along with a fairly sizeable first-round jump, to Cincinnati for Hendrickson.
Ben Baby covers the Cincinnati Bengals for ESPN. He joined the company in July 2019. Prior to ESPN, he worked for various newspapers in Texas, most recently at The Dallas Morning News where he covered college sports. He provides daily coverage of the Bengals for ESPN.com, while making appearances on SportsCenter, ESPN’s NFL shows and ESPN Radio programs. A native of Grapevine, Texas, he graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He is an adjunct journalism professor at Southern Methodist University and a member of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA).
PALM BEACH, Fla. — The pause between words felt even heavier as Katie Blackburn’s sentence was suspended in the Florida humidity last Tuesday.
In her session with local reporters at the NFL annual league meeting in West Palm Beach, the Cincinnati Bengals executive vice president looked for the right word to describe defensive end Trey Hendrickson’s contract situation.
But after approximately 6.08 seconds, Blackburn finally found the right word.
“Unresolved, I guess you could say,” Blackburn said.
The statement was in response to a question about the team’s big offseason expenditures. In what seemed improbable six months earlier, the team signed wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to multi-year extensions worth a combined $276 million.
That context is pivotal when analyzing how the Bengals are building for 2025 and beyond. If Cincinnati is going to get back to the Super Bowl, it will be on the strength of the three players with the biggest deals — Chase, Higgins and quarterback Joe Burrow.
“We are going to have to figure out how to work the pieces around that,” Blackburn said. “It can be done.”
There are other pressing needs for a Bengals team that enjoyed career years from its best players in 2024 but still missed the playoffs for the second straight season. But the priority for the Bengals was making sure Chase and Higgins were part of the offensive attack moving forward.
Blackburn said “there’s no question” that the calculus of re-signing two players who will occupy a fifth of the team’s cap space in 2025 meant making decisions across the roster. That includes trying to resolve the Hendrickson dilemma.
The 31-year-old edge rusher led the NFL in sacks last season with 17.5. He and Chase were the team’s first All-Pro selections since 2015. And for the second straight year, Hendrickson requested a trade in order to get a long-term contract and a pay bump.
This offseason, Cincinnati granted Hendrickson permission to seek a trade. Blackburn said Hendrickson felt strongly about exploring options as Cincinnati ran into limitations while trying to get all of the deals done this offseason.
But given what the Bengals invested in Chase and Higgins and the market for edge rushers that currently has a ceiling of $40 million a year, Blackburn was asked if it’s feasible to get something done with Hendrickson at a rate everyone can be happy with moving forward.
“I think he should be happy at certain rates that maybe he doesn’t think he’d be happy at,” the executive vice president said.
Then Blackburn took a couple of seconds to pause.
“I think some of it is on him to be happy at some point,” Blackburn said. “If he’s not, that’s what holds it up sometimes.”
Hendrickson responded to those comments by lamenting the lack of communication from the Bengals to his agent, Harold Lewis. He said he was “disappointed” in the Bengals’ stance.
The Bengals have the No. 17 pick in the draft and could address the pass rush situation via that route.
Blackburn also pointed out that Hendrickson is current still a Bengal, with his contract set to run through 2025 with a base salary of $15.8 million. Blackburn, who is the one who negotiates and signs off on the team’s biggest contracts, also said the team has great respect for Hendrickson and hopes the two sides can work something out.
But ultimately, the Bengals have firmly made their decision. For this team to get back to winning at the highest level, it will be spearheaded by Burrow and his top playmakers.
Cincinnati believes the familiarity and consistency between Burrow and his top receivers should be a major strength this season.
“We did focus on trying to keep that offensive piece together because we think that gives us an opportunity to have the best chance to win,” Blackburn said.
That approach also factored into finding a potential starting offensive guard. The team released veteran Alex Cappa and brought in Lucas Patrick in free agency. Bengals coach Zac Taylor had effusive praise for Patrick and how well he matches up against the interior defensive linemen Cincinnati faces.
But on a one-year deal worth just $2 million, even that decision was built around Burrow, Chase and Higgins.
“We went through a process with our receivers and we wanted to make sure that they got paid first and foremost,” Taylor said. “Then we worked through (the guard market) as well.”
The expectations are clear for the upcoming season. Blackburn believes the team has the ability, talent and opportunity to do well in 2025. Now it’s a matter of living up to those aspirations.
Said Blackburn: “You have to take advantage of the opportunities we have this year and get the results we want.”
Brian Harman won the Valero Texas Open for his first PGA Tour title since the 2023 Open Championship. With his fourth career PGA Tour win, Harman collected $1.71 million. Ryan Gerard finished second, earning $1,035,500.
The final few holes proved to be a big loss for Andrew Novak — and not just on the leaderboard. He was challenging Harman for the win but bogeyed Nos. 15, 17 and 18. Leaving his par putt short on the 72nd hole dropped him into a tie for third with Maverick McNealy, a $285,000 difference between that and a two-way tie for second (nearly half-a-million less than solo second).
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Here’s a look at the prize money distribution of the $9.5 million purse at TPC San Antonio:
Current world champion and esports legend Lee ‘Faker‘ Sang-hyeok is about to hit yet another milestone, playing his 1,000th game in the LCK, according to the league’s official statistics.
Following his series against Gen.G in the opening week of the LCK Spring 2025, which became the most-watched match in LCK regular season history, the legendary mid laner will hit four digits in poetic fashion, against his old rivals KT Rolster in the famous Telecom Wars.
Before Faker hits Summoner’s Rift this upcoming Thursday, let’s relive some of his most iconic games played in the LCK.
Where It All Started – Faker’s Competitive Debut vs Ambition on Nidalee
Faker made his first appearance in professional play in 2013, going up against one of the top mid lane players at the time, CJ Blaze’s Kang ‘Ambition‘ Chan-yong. Playing for SKT T1’s secondary team, SK Telecom T1 K, Faker dominated the game from start to finish and even solo killed Ambition during the laning phase as Nidalee.
The casters were stunned: “I’ve never seen Ambition die like that,” said former LCK caster Christopher ‘MonteCristo’ Mykles after the play. A new era had begun.
God Mode Faker – LeBlanc Pentakill Against NaJin Sword, LCK Spring 2015
If pentakills are already a rare occasion in professional League of Legends, what are the odds of seeing a pentakill on LeBlanc?
Faker got it on one of his signature picks during the deciding game against NaJin Sword. While the game was quite one-sided from the start, Faker ended the game by taking his first and only official pentakill, bursting down the enemy Kalista with a swift play.
Faker’s Riven Strikes the Rift – SKT T1 vs KT, LCK Summer 2015 Finals
Speaking of swift plays, League of Legends fans from the old guard won’t forget Faker’s Riven. Often considered obsolete for professional play, the mid lane legend picked her up against KT Rolster’s Kim ‘Nagne’ Sang-moon.
Faker made an incredible, split-second dodge, quickly avoiding Cassiopeia’s ultimate during a dive, which led him to snowball the game and claim the LCK title.
The Unkillable Demon King – T1 vs KT, LCK 2023 Summer Playoffs
Even though Faker’s iconic champion is Ryze, Azir has been the one that defined him in professional play over the past ten years.
Aside from the incredible ‘Shurima Shuffles’ at crucial moments during the international stages (who can forget the play on Ruler at Worlds 2023), Faker pulled off some brilliant plays against KT Rolster in the LCK 2023 Summer Playoffs. In particular, escaping from a two-man gank by the enemies’ support and jungler — truly unkillable.
The Play that created a legend – Zed vs Ryu 1v1 Game 5
Even if you have never touched League of Legends, you probably have seen or heard of Faker’s Zed play against KT Rolster Ryu ‘Ryu’ Sang-wook.
Back in the OGN days, teams used to blind pick champions during the deciding fifth game, and both mid laners ended up choosing Zed. Despite the disadvantage, Ryu was looking to punish an overextending Faker in the mid lane… and well, the rest is history.
The Pinnacle of the Telecom Wars – SKT T1 vs KT, LCK Spring 2017
While most of Faker’s iconic matches have all been decided by one key play, the Telecom Wars during the LCK 2017 Spring Split regular season was explosive from start to finish.
Back then, 2022 world champion Kim ‘Deft’ Hyuk-kyu was playing on KT, making the series not only between the two Korean organisations, but also between two symbolic pros who used to study in the same high school.
KT, who put together a super team with the hopes of dethroning SKT T1 (who had just won back-to-back world championships), kicked off Game 3 with a substantial lead that Faker and his team recovered. After a gruelling 53-minute game, SKT T1 managed to defend their base with only the Nexus remaining, acing KT and taking the victory.
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Commonwealth communities are still facing threatening floodwaters as rivers and streams across Kentucky continue to rise following several days of rain.
Some communities have already seen its rivers crest Sunday and Monday, with the water exceeding its flood stage by multiple feet. Four deaths have been confirmed as a result of ongoing weather, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear previously said, with several regions to see worsening conditions in the next few days.
WEDNESDAY UPDATES: Ohio River in Louisville set to crest Wednesday amid historic Kentucky floods
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said the Ohio River is expected to crest at more than 35 feet at the upper portion of the McAlpine Locks and Dam near the Falls of the Ohio by mid-week, rivaling levels last seen in 2018. The lower portion of the dam is expected to crest at 68 feet, which could pose threats to west and southwest Louisville, officials said.
Here’s the latest information around Louisville and Kentucky.
Jefferson County Public Schools will operate on a nontraditional instruction day again Wednesday as flooding continues to impact Louisville, district officials said.
All extracurricular activities and athletics are canceled.
It will be the district’s third straight day of nontraditional instruction, following spring break last week.
District spokesperson Carolyn Callahan said the flooding has rendered hundreds of JCPS bus stops unsafe and inaccessible, impacting thousands of students who attend more than 60 schools across the district.
Gov. Andy Beshear confirmed Kentucky’s fifth flood-related death Tuesday afternoon was a Bullitt County man.
Earlier Tuesday, Bullitt County Coroner Dave Billings confirmed authorities had found the body of 50-year-old James Dishon Jr. in floodwaters off Lee Booth Road and State Highway 61 in Lebanon Junction. The body was sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Louisville for an autopsy.
“This has been a tough few days,” Beshear wrote in a Facebook post. “Let’s show everyone hurting that we love them and we’re there for them.”
Bullitt County authorities are investigating after a man was found dead in a flooded area Tuesday.
James Dishon Jr., 50, was located by law enforcement agencies and first responders off Lee Booth Road and Highway 61 in Lebanon Junction, Bullitt County Coroner Dave Billings said. No cause of death has been confirmed yet, as the body is set to be examined in the State Medical Examiner’s office in Louisville.
The Courier Journal has reached the Lebanon Junction Police Department for comment.
Jeffersontown City Council approved a motion to waive permit fees for businesses requiring demolition or repairs after an EF-3 tornado struck the area Thursday.
The resolution will waive demolition fees for three months and building permits for six months to provide some financial relief for the more than 100 businesses impacted by the tornado. Louisville Emergency Management operations coordinator Amy Rose said at least 35 businesses were significantly impacted or destroyed by the tornado, with 91 others potentially impacted by interruption to operations or damages.
Total damage estimates are still being calculated, but Rose said the property value assessment for 38 of the affected businesses totaled more than $100 million.
Jeffersontown Mayor Carol Pike said the city intends to help those affected by the tornado in the Bluegrass Commerce Park recover and rebuild.
“I want them to know that we care and we need them, whether anybody believes or not,” Pike said. “We need them, and we need this park, and they are the reason that Jeffersontown exists today.”
Rose said she has been in contact with the state about setting up a disaster recovery center inside Jefferson City Hall, which would serve as a one-stop shop for businesses to access recovery resources.
“These people are devastated over there, and they don’t know which direction to go in,” Pike said. “So we had to have something that was on the bus line and so we decided that City Hall would be the best place to be.”
Locations around Louisville are excepting storm debris and are currently operating as drop-off sites. The site locations are for tree debris and city residents only and are as follows. They will be open from 2-7 p.m. through Friday with hours slated for 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday.
Shawnee Park at 4501 W. Broadway.
Tom Sawyer Park (Enter from Tom Sawyer Drive).
Charlie Vettiner Park (Enter from Mary Dell Lane).
Highview Park (Briscoe Lane entrance).
Fern Creek Park at 8703 Ferndale Road.
Hubbards Lane Recycling Center at 595 N. Hubbards Lane.
535 Meriwether Ave.
Fairdale Recycling Center at 10618 W. Manslick Road.
Public Works Yard at 10500 Lower River Road (Enter from Bethany Lane).
Galt House Hotel officials have started processing refund requests for Thunder Over Louisville tickets and hotel rooms after the event was canceled Saturday,
The historic riverfront hotel is “working diligently to ensure that all refund requests are completed promptly and efficiently,” Chief Marketing Officer Lance George said in a statement.
“We fully understand the disappointment this causes to our community, as Thunder Over Louisville holds a special place in the hearts of many,” George said. “However, we encourage everyone to continue showing support for the Kentucky Derby Festival, which has worked tirelessly to create a series of remarkable events for the city.”
The Galt House has also extended its storm relief rate for guests impacted by floodwaters, George said. Discounted rates, which include complimentary self-parking, start at $119 before tax, the company previously announced.
“We hope this small gesture can help ease the burden on our neighbors during this difficult time,” George said.
Crews have found “extensive” flooding at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort after an initial assessment Tuesday morning following the cresting of the Kentucky River Monday.
According to a news release, flood levels at the distillery were the highest ever recorded and while floodwater levels remain too high for a detailed assessment on the impact, the damage is likely significant.
“Because Buffalo Trace Distillery has survived in its location on the Kentucky River for over 200 years, we have, unfortunately, experience in flood management and recovery,” Sazerac & Buffalo Trace Distillery CEO and President Jake Wenz said. “We initiated a preparation flood plan ahead of the surge. We were able to implement that plan late last week and are hopeful in doing so we will have mediated at least some of the damage.”
The distillery will be closed through Thursday at a minimum and additional updates will become available as damage assessments become clearer.
“Our hearts are with the rest of the community that has also been impacted by this devastation. Buffalo Trace Distillery will support relief efforts in the coming weeks to help Frankfort residents through this difficult time,” Wenz said. “We also want to say a heartfelt thank you to our dedicated team members, consumers, city and county officials, and vendor partners who have offered an incredible amount of support during this time. And finally, please accept our regrets to our fans that planned visits to the Distillery this week.”
Tornado damage consistent with an EF-2 storm touched down in Washington County, Indiana, Wednesday night, officials with the National Weather Service in Louisville stated.
Preliminary findings were released Monday following storm surveys in the area. NWS officials also reported EF-3 damage on Ampere Drive in Jeffersontown earlier Monday. National Weather Service Meteorologist C.J. Padgett said Monday the survey team would work to determine the path of the Jeffersontown tornado in the coming days.
A survey team also visited New Albany, but said the damage from Wednesday is believed to be from straight-line winds.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg shared flooding updates Tuesday, about a day before waters are expected to crest in Kentucky’s largest city. Local officials called the floods “historic” and compared them to the ones Louisville faced in 1997.
As of Tuesday morning, water levels at the upper McAlpine locks are at 35.7. The typical water level is just 12 feet, Greenberg said.
Officials expect the water to rise at least another foot before it begins receding, with Greenberg saying this would be “a top 10 flood in Louisville’s history.”
Greenberg remained firm in the city’s decision to cancel Thunder Over Louisville, saying that Ohio River levels are still expected to be at about 30 feet on Saturday.
As Louisville reaches it’s peak water levels, the Louisville mayor encouraged the public to abide by all barricades and road closures. He also called on people to not go out into the water.
“These are not safe conditions to be in,” Greenberg said. “Please do not kayak, canoe, or boat in these floodwaters at this time. You put yourself and first responders at risk.”
Yesterday, Louisville first responders rescued dozens of people from Candlewood Suites and helped evacuate others from nearby apartments. Greenberg does not expect additional evacuations to be necessary. More flood walls have been installed at 8th and 11th streets since Monday, he added.
The city is already anticipating significant efforts needed to clean up from the floods, with crews from solid waste management to public works to first responders preparing to work overtime. Greenberg said there will be opportunities for members of the public to assist with volunteer work and that they should expect more information about how to get involved in the coming days as the waters start to recede.
Gov. Andy Beshear said Tuesday morning that so far this week, there have been 142 rescues across the commonwealth and 272 evacuations by boat, requiring the use of 87 boats. Included in the numbers are two in Frankfort and the rescue of more than 60 people from Candlewood Suites in Louisville.
“Again, the biggest concern that we have right now are cars driving through water, are people going around barricades,” he said. “When you do that, you not only put your life in danger, you put the lives of everybody who’s coming to rescue you in danger. We need people to wait this out.”
At least four people have died as a result of the flooding as of Tuesday, including the deaths of 27-year-old Lee Chandler of LaCenter and a 65-year-old from Trigg County announced Monday.
Beshear said the Kentucky River is cresting in Frankfort and is expected to recede in the coming days. Area residents should soon be able to access their homes and the pumping of water has been restored by the Frankfort Plant Board as of Monday night, officials said.
The wastewater services at the treatment plant in Frankfort are not currently operational, along with four others in the commonwealth, and 29 plants are on limited operations. Nearly 870 connections across the commonwealth remain without water with 22 utilities under limited operations.
Beshear said now that the worst of flooding has concluded in Frankfort, teams and resources will start to move west along the Ohio River in locations like Henderson and Owensboro and to the Green River. Emergency teams from Maryland are moving to Henderson and may look at starting operations in the area beginning Wednesday.
Many Kentucky roads have reopened with 457 remaining closed. Of these, 440 are near high water and 17 are closed due to rock or mudslides. Less than 2,500 customers are without power and more than 50 shelters are open to Kentuckians with 35 households sheltered currently.
Beshear said 357 members with the National Guard are offering aid with state agencies and numbers will likely to drop to about 200 by the end of Tuesday. Kentucky State Police answered 18,897 calls for service and there have been no additional reports of missing individuals.
More: Crews rescue more than 60 people from east Louisville hotel
The Kentucky Humane Society is lending a hand to various shelters across the commonwealth impacted by recent flooding.
Kentucky Humane Society spokesperson Andrea Mattingly said the organization transported 20 dogs to the East Campus shelter Monday from Franklin County Humane Society and Carroll County Animal Shelter to make room at the shelters for animals displaced during the floods. East Campus is currently acting as an “emergency hub” and is temporarily closed to the public.
The transportation on Monday follows the transportation of nearly a dozen cats to Louisville Thursday. Mattingly said Kentucky Humane Society’s KY Initiatives Director Kat Rooks received a call from Hopkins County Humane Society after the roof had been torn off their building the previous night due to tornadoes and strong winds that swept through the area. Other organizations from neighboring states and counties, as well as animal welfare groups, sent vehicles and crews to help relocate the animals.
According to a Facebook post, the Frankfort Plant Board Water Treatment Plant is operational after equipment was reconnected Monday night. While the intake pumping building is still surrounded by water, operators and other staff members helped get the location back to operation and worked overnight to fill the storage tanks.
The equipment was initially shut off Sunday night when water levels rose to a point that would impact the equipment used to pump water from the river. Customers were encouraged to limit their water usage and told services would return depending on the crest of the river.
7:20 a.m.: What’s the forecast in Louisville?
Tuesday
Sunny and mostly clear with a high near 48 and low around 30. North winds of 6 to 8 mph become light and variable.
Wednesday
Chance of precipitation is 80% with new precipitation of between a tenth and a quarter of an inch possible mainly after 2 a.m. Cloudy with a high near 59 and low of 49 and south winds of 5 to 9 mph.
Thursday
Chance of precipitation is 60% to 80% with showers likely and thunderstorms also possible after 2 p.m. and through Thursday night. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67 and low around 43. West winds of around 8 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, but possibly higher amounts in thunderstorms.
Even with sunny skies in place, cool northerly winds will limit high temperatures to the 40s for most across southern Indiana and central Kentucky. A few areas in southern Kentucky could see the low 50s. pic.twitter.com/RmDGshL4ut
“American Idol” called it the “Showstopper” round, and the show did stop for one Alabama contender. At least one other faces a do-or-die duet challenge coming up Monday night.
Sunday night brought the season’s second brutal Hollywood episode, one of three that will winnow the field of more than 150 down to a final 24. Those 24 will soon be seen in episodes airing from Hawaii.
Going into Sunday’s episode, we knew of two Alabamians who’d made it at least this far: Crews Wright of Samson, Ala., a 17-year-old champion of traditional country music; and Isaiah Moore, a 22-year-old, just-married worship leader from Oneonta. Two others, Janae Patterson of Birmingham and Tyler Nichols of Pell City, said on social media that their runs had ended.
At least two more, Anna McElroy of Mobile and Dawson Slade of Moulton, also made it to Hollywood, but whether they’re in the running remains unclear. At this stage in the “Idol” process, not every candidate is seen in every episode.
Sunday’s episode featured its share of standout performances, but none of the Alabama singers was featured. The end of the episode brought a twist in format that made for a bit of a roller-coaster ride.
With 62 aspiring stars waiting to learn their fate, the judges called forward a group of eight for what Richie described as “the toughest decision we are ever going to make.”
“Congratulations on your talent,” he said. “Unfortunately, I’m sorry to tell you all that your journey ends here.”
Four competitors were then called up for a classic “Idol” fake-out, in which judge Luke Bryan made it sound like they were cooked but then told them they’d made it to the final 24. The lucky few were Canaan James Hill, Gabby Samone, Zalie Windsor and Mattie Pruitt.
Then another group of eight, including Moore, were called forward.
“Every single person in this room is on a journey,” said judge Carrie Underwood. “For this chapter of your story, it’s a ‘no.’ But turn this ‘no’ into something incredible.”
Moore said on Facebook that he’d had “the GREATEST experience ever” and talked about how his Christian faith had factored into it.
Moore’s wife, Abby Grace Moore, shared some backstage photos and posted: “To say I’m one proud wife is an understatement! Isaiah Moore I am BEYOND proud of you and all that you have accomplished! I know this journey on American Idol has come to an end but I know the Lord has so much in store for you. His plan is far greater than ours! It’s been an honor to be able to stand by your side and support you! I will always be your biggest fan! I love you so much.”
The math works out to 42 competitors and 20 remaining spots in the Top 24. Wright was visible among them, and may well be the only competitor left from the Alabama contingent.
Crews Wright of Samson, Ala., right, shares the “American Idol” stage with Cam’ron Smith of Georgia. (Eric McCandless/Disney)Eric McCandless/Disney
“We’re calling this next round the head-to-head round, and it starts tonight,” said Bryan. “You get to pick someone to sing with, and you’re going to do a duet by tomorrow. Because tomorrow we’re going to pick our next 20 to be in our Top 24.”
“It’s going to be a long night,” said Underwood.
“American Idol” airs at 7 p.m. on ABC. Previously aired episodes can be seen on Hulu.
A major Western leader announces an unorthodox economic policy, panicking the financial markets, driving down the country’s currency and fueling a blizzard of warnings about the dire long-term consequences.
President Trump did all this with his across-the-board tariffs, announced last week, but before him, there was Liz Truss, Britain’s former prime minister, with her rollout of sweeping tax cuts over 44 turbulent days in the fall of 2022.
The parallels between Mr. Trump and Ms. Truss are striking, but for one crucial difference: She was forced to rescind the tax cuts within days, and forced out of office by her own Conservative Party in little more than six weeks, the shortest tenure for a prime minister in British history.
To some analysts, that difference is a tribute to the flexibility of Britain’s parliamentary government and a salutary distinction between Britain and the United States. So far, Mr. Trump has vowed to stick with his tariffs, no matter the carnage they wreak in the markets or whether they trigger a recession, and there seems to be little anybody can do to force him to change course.
“Truss could really only damage the United Kingdom,” said Jonathan Portes, a professor of economics and public policy at Kings College London. “Ultimately, U.K. institutions, in particular Parliament and the media, were enough to ensure that the system worked.”
“Whether that is the case in the U.S. remains to be seen,” he added. “If it isn’t, the whole world will pay the price.”
Britain, which Mr. Trump hit with a tariff of 10 percent, is already acting like a country on the brink of crisis. In a bid to shore up the British auto industry, the current prime minister, Keir Starmer, announced he would relax rules for luxury carmakers like Aston-Martin and McLaren requiring them to phase out gasoline and diesel-powered cars by 2030.
Yet when Mr. Starmer was asked on Monday whether he would stick to his government’s fiscal rules that put limits on public borrowing, even in the wake of Mr. Trump’s tariffs, he invoked Ms. Truss’s misbegotten tax cuts as a cautionary example.
“Liz Truss tried an experiment with this country of putting aside fiscal rules and checks and balances,” Mr. Starmer said. “And that caused a massive impact on the lives of working people as inflation and interest rates went through the roof.”
Like Mr. Trump and his fascination with tariffs, Ms. Truss was ideologically committed to trickle-down tax policy. And like him, she was an outlier.
Her tax cuts, which she had planned to fund by increasing borrowing, were viewed skeptically by economists. She was proposing an inflationary policy at a moment when Britain and other countries were battling rising energy prices and a cost-of-living crisis. And she declined to submit her plans to scrutiny by the government’s fiscal watchdog, the Office of Budget Responsibility.
The markets responded by torpedoing shares of British companies and pushing the pound down to near parity with the American dollar. The International Monetary Fund warned of Britain’s financial instability.
As a smaller economy, Britain was more vulnerable to these gyrations than the United States. Yields on government bonds spiked under Ms. Truss, stoking fears of a credit crisis and ultimately leading to her downfall.
Yields on Treasury bills declined even as Mr. Trump’s tariffs were rolling out, reflecting the United States’ traditional status as a haven for investors and protecting the president from some of the pressure faced by Ms. Truss. Though on Monday, they, too, began to rise.
Within days, Ms. Truss withdrew the tax cuts and dismissed her chancellor of the Exchequer, Kwasi Kwarteng, a key architect of the supply-side policy. The Bank of England intervened to prop up British bonds and the market turmoil subsided. But Ms. Truss’s credibility was shattered. After senior members of her party told her she had lost their faith, she handed in her resignation.
“Like Truss, the market reaction is not just driven by the actual policy changes, damaging as they were in both cases, but by their attempt to destroy the institutions that normally constrain policy,” Professor Portes said.
For all of Ms. Truss’s missteps, some economists argue that her tax cuts could be considered less radical than Mr. Trump’s tariffs. In a different fiscal environment, her supply-side agenda would have been relatively conventional for a right-of-center government. But in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which stoked inflation and led the central bank to raise borrowing costs rapidly, the tax cuts were badly timed and poorly communicated.
“The biggest similarity is a crisis of competence,” said Kenneth Rogoff, a professor of economics at Harvard. “Liz Truss’s policies may have made sense in some other world. But they just came out of the blue, so they didn’t have any credibility.”
Professor Rogoff said Mr. Trump’s tariffs had even less credibility among economists, not least because they seem disconnected from any strategy. “Trump has not articulated where we’re going,” he said, “and it’s hard to find anyone who’s not a paid publicist for him who thinks this is a good idea.”
I think I speak for many Raptors fans when I say that watching the Jamal Shead experience unfold over these last few months has been a very pleasant sight.
No rookie season is perfect, and that’s the whole purpose of transitioning from college to the pro ranks; adversity is inevitable. Shead has faced his share of challenges this season. He’s always been a hustler and a game-time competitor ready to tackle any opposition, but he has experienced some inconsistent performances while trying to carve out a solid role in the lineup.
Well, there’s nothing that signifies you’re an important piece to the Raptors, quite like Jamal Shead securing a notable accolade in his career and the franchise history books.
In the Raptors’ last outing on April 6 against the Brooklyn Nets, Shead recorded an important stat late in his rookie campaign, continuing to build on what has already been a tremendous second half of the season for the former Houston Cougar.
His shooting efficiency on the night wasn’t great, with a 27% field goal percentage, but you can’t judge Shead’s effectiveness based solely on that.
He made up for it in other ways.
Shead reached a new career-high with 12 assists in the matchup against the Nets, and his impressive team-high +31 in plus/minus serves as a reminder of how crucial the 22-year-old guard is to the Raptors’ success, even if this season hasn’t been a winning one.
Before the Nets-Raptors broadcast on Sportsnet, a graphic displayed the most assists by a rookie in Raptors history. Jamal Shead had already secured the second all-time spot with 290 assists, surpassing Jose Calderon, who had 288, and Scottie Barnes, who had 256.
Raptors rookie Jamal Shead makes history with assists
At the top of the list is former Rookie of the Year Damon Stoudamire, who holds an incredible all-time record of 653 assists from his 1995-96 campaign. Still, for Shead to etch his name among these northern greats is a remarkable achievement in its own right.
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) April 6, 2025
While the season may be winding down, Shead has the potential to add to that total as he wraps up what is already a historic run for someone small in stature but big in heart. I guess the next chapter is waiting to see if Shead’s promising rookie run earns him a spot on an All-Rookie team at the end of the season.
Regardless of what happens, the future looks bright with the assist machine Jamal Shead firmly embedded in the Raptors’ plans moving forward.
This now looks like it’s happening. The Titans have spent a lot of time with him and seem to be coming to the conclusion that taking him can change the course of the franchise. Unless some team wows them with an offer, it looks like it will be Ward.
Colorado
• Jr
• 6’0″
/ 188 lbs
Projected Team
Cleveland
PROSPECT RNK
1st
POSITION RNK
1st
REC
96
REYDS
1,258
YDS/REC
13.1
TDS
15
He is the best player in the draft and the Browns could use help at receiver. They pass on a quarterback to take a player who can be a star at receiver or corner.
Penn State
• Jr
• 6’3″
/ 250 lbs
Projected Team
N.Y. Giants
PROSPECT RNK
2nd
POSITION RNK
1st
The Giants would take Hunter if he were there, but in this one he isn’t. So they take the edge player from Penn State to add to their front seven. They won their last two titles because of the front seven.
LSU
• Jr
• 6’6″
/ 319 lbs
Projected Team
New England
PROSPECT RNK
4th
POSITION RNK
1st
He might never be an All-Pro player, but the Patriots need a left tackle. Campbell has a guard look to me, but for the Pats he would be their starter on the left side. Think a Matt Light type of career.
Boise State
• Jr
• 5’9″
/ 211 lbs
Projected Team
Chicago
PROSPECT RNK
10th
POSITION RNK
1st
RUYDS
2601
YDS/ATT
7
REYDS
138
TDS
30
The Jaguars trade out of this spot as Ben Johnson goes up to get the feature back for his offense. He moves ahead of the Raiders to do so. Jeanty can do it all. The Jaguars drop to No. 10 to get more picks so they can add more players, which they need.
Texas
• Sr
• 5’11”
/ 194 lbs
Projected Team
Las Vegas
PROSPECT RNK
13th
POSITION RNK
1st
Look at their corner room. There isn’t much there with Jack Jones on his way to being released. Barron would be a nice fit in their defense. He can play nickel, which Pete Carroll needs.
Michigan
• Jr
• 6’3″
/ 296 lbs
Projected Team
N.Y. Jets
PROSPECT RNK
5th
POSITION RNK
1st
They need another inside player to go next to Quinnen Williams. Graham would be the pick here. They pass on taking a tackle for the offense to go with Graham to help the middle of their defense.
Michigan
• Jr
• 6’6″
/ 248 lbs
Projected Team
Carolina
PROSPECT RNK
11th
POSITION RNK
1st
REC
56
REYDS
582
YDS/REC
10.4
TDS
5
They need to add pass-catching help for Bryce Young. The offensive line is good in front of him, so it’s time to get him some weapons. It’s too high for the receivers here, so let’s give him the best pass-catching tight end in the draft.
Colorado
• Sr
• 6’2″
/ 212 lbs
Projected Team
New Orleans
PROSPECT RNK
27th
POSITION RNK
2nd
PAYDS
4134
RUYDS
-50
INTS
10
TDS
41
How much longer can the Saints go with Derek Carr? At some point they need to address this position with a young player. Sanders could sit for a bit before he takes over this coming season.
Arizona
• Jr
• 6’4″
/ 219 lbs
Projected Team
Jacksonville
PROSPECT RNK
6th
POSITION RNK
1st
REC
84
REYDS
1319
YDS/REC
15.7
TDS
8
They move down and then add a receiver who can help upgrade their passing game. With Brian Thomas Jr. in as the top guy, McMillan would make for a nice 1-2 punch with his size and ability to make the 50-50 plays.
Georgia
• Jr
• 6’1″
/ 243 lbs
They tried to keep Dre Greenlaw, but he went to Denver in free agency. Walker can play off-the-ball linebacker, and he can also rush the passer. They need help in that area as well.
Texas
• Jr
• 5’11”
/ 191 lbs
Projected Team
Dallas
PROSPECT RNK
21st
POSITION RNK
3rd
REC
58
REYDS
987
YDS/REC
17
TDS
9
The Cowboys have to get another option to go with CeeDee Lamb. Golden can fly and will be a nice complement to Lamb to help get this offense going again with Dak Prescott healthy.
Ole Miss
• Jr
• 6’4″
/ 296 lbs
Projected Team
Miami
PROSPECT RNK
17th
POSITION RNK
2nd
Their defensive interior needs help to go with Zach Sieler. They have to take one or two in this draft. Corner is possible here, but I will give them Nolen, who has a ton of quickness and power. Offensive line is also a consideration.
Penn State
• Sr
• 6’6″
/ 256 lbs
Projected Team
Indianapolis
PROSPECT RNK
26th
POSITION RNK
2nd
REC
104
REYDS
1233
YDS/REC
11.9
TDS
12
They lack a true threat at tight end, which Warren would be. He could go higher than this, but in this mock he is taken behind Loveland, which leads to the Colts getting him. He would be a nice security blanket for either Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones, two quarterbacks who need that.
Texas A&M
• Jr
• 6’5″
/ 267 lbs
Projected Team
Atlanta
PROSPECT RNK
22nd
POSITION RNK
3rd
They signed Leonard Floyd to help the pass rush, but they need more than that. Stewart is a freaky athlete who didn’t have the production in his career, but the skills are there. Doesn’t it seem like the Falcons have needed edge help for two decades?
Missouri
• Jr
• 6’4″
/ 332 lbs
Projected Team
Arizona
PROSPECT RNK
7th
POSITION RNK
2nd
A lot of mocks have him going higher, but I hear a lot of differing opinions on him from league people and he isn’t viewed as highly by teams as the draft cult ranks him. He is a great athlete for the position, but there are flaws. He is only 20 years old, so there is growth potential. The Cardinals need a a young right tackle, so this would be a great spot.
Georgia
• Jr
• 6’5″
/ 260 lbs
Projected Team
Cincinnati
PROSPECT RNK
25th
POSITION RNK
5th
The Trey Hendrickson contract situation is still unsettled, and he isn’t a kid anyway. They need to draft a young pass rusher to go with Hendrickson for the short term and then maybe take over. Williams is a big-bodied player who didn’t have a great season in 2024, but the tools are there.
Texas
• Jr
• 6’5″
/ 315 lbs
Projected Team
Seattle
PROSPECT RNK
8th
POSITION RNK
3rd
They have to improve their offensive line and Banks could do that. Some teams think he could be an All-Pro guard, but he could also play either tackle spot. This makes sense.
Alabama
• Jr
• 6’3″
/ 235 lbs
Projected Team
Tampa Bay
PROSPECT RNK
16th
POSITION RNK
1st
Lavonte David might be in his last year, and they have SirVocea Dennis coming off an injury. Campbell is a speedy player who would fit perfectly into what they need for the Todd Bowles style of defense.
North Carolina
• Jr
• 6’0″
/ 220 lbs
Projected Team
Denver
PROSPECT RNK
39th
POSITION RNK
2nd
RUYDS
1660
YDS/ATT
5.9
REYDS
373
TDS
17
They don’t have a runner on the roster who gained over 600 yards last year. Hampton is the type of player who can be a a consistent 1,300-yard rusher. He’s a home-run threat who can also pass protect, which is key.
Ole Miss
• Sr
• 6’2″
/ 225 lbs
Projected Team
Pittsburgh
PROSPECT RNK
50th
POSITION RNK
3rd
PAYDS
4279
RUYDS
495
INTS
6
TDS
32
Even if they get Aaron Rodgers, they need a young quarterback to develop. Dart would be that guy. He could spend a season or two watching Rodgers and then take over.
Michigan
• Jr
• 6’4″
/ 331 lbs
Jim Harbaugh would be taking one of his former Michigan players to help the interior of the defense. Grant is a power player who also can push the pocket. The Chargers have had some turnover inside on the defensive line this spring, so he would be an ideal pick.
Michigan
• Jr
• 6’2″
/ 194 lbs
Projected Team
Green Bay
PROSPECT RNK
23rd
POSITION RNK
2nd
Johnson looked like a sure top-10 pick heading into last season, but he missed time with injury and his 40 time is a concern. Even so, the Packers have to address this position and his ball skills are outstanding.
Georgia
• Jr
• 6’1″
/ 197 lbs
Projected Team
Minnesota
PROSPECT RNK
14th
POSITION RNK
1st
Cam Bynum went to the Colts in free agency, so Starks would make sense as the pick. He is a rangy player who would fit in the Brian Flores defense. He has corner cover skills, too.
Alabama
• Jr
• 6’5″
/ 321 lbs
Projected Team
Houston
PROSPECT RNK
24th
POSITION RNK
1st
The offensive line has been revamped, but it’s still not good enough. Booker is a power player who can step in and become an immediate starter. He isn’t a great athlete, but he’s good enough.
Kentucky
• Jr
• 5’11”
/ 183 lbs
Projected Team
L.A. Rams
PROSPECT RNK
32nd
POSITION RNK
3rd
I think he’s the best corner in this class. He should go higher than this, but the Rams need corner help and he would be an immediate starter. He can run and he’s tough. He’s just slight of build.
Boston College
• Sr
• 6’3″
/ 248 lbs
Projected Team
Baltimore
PROSPECT RNK
42nd
POSITION RNK
7th
They need help off the edge, as their three top edge pass rushers all have expiring contracts after 2025. The Ravens have shown in the past they will take speedy edge players in the draft. This kid fits that perfectly.
Ohio State
• Sr
• 6’4″
/ 315 lbs
Projected Team
Detroit
PROSPECT RNK
38th
POSITION RNK
3rd
They lost their right guard, Kevin Zeitler, in free agency, so taking Jackson makes sense. He can also play tackle, which he did last year at Ohio State. But his top position is guard.
Ohio State
• Sr
• 6’1″
/ 202 lbs
Projected Team
Washington
PROSPECT RNK
31st
POSITION RNK
4th
REC
81
REYDS
1011
YDS/REC
12.5
TDS
10
They added Deebo Samuel, but they need more help than that. Egbuka is a smart receiver who runs better than he gets credit for doing. Jayden Daniels would come to love his game.
East Carolina
• Sr
• 6’2″
/ 194 lbs
Projected Team
Buffalo
PROSPECT RNK
36th
POSITION RNK
5th
Revel is a long corner at 6-foot-2 and a willing tackler, which the Bills need in their defense. They have a big hole opposite Christian Benford, so this makes sense. Revel is coming off a torn ACL suffered in October but should be ready for training camp.
Ohio State
• Sr
• 6’5″
/ 317 lbs
Projected Team
Kansas City
PROSPECT RNK
19th
POSITION RNK
4th
Simmons is coming off a torn patellar tendon, but he is the best left tackle in this class when healthy — and it’s not close. The Chiefs can afford to make this pick and wait with Jaylon Moore signed as a free agent.
South Carolina
• Jr
• 6’3″
/ 220 lbs
Projected Team
Philadelphia
PROSPECT RNK
20th
POSITION RNK
2nd
They traded Chauncey Gardner-Johnson to the Texans, so they replace him with a safety who can do a lot of things. Sydney Brown is still there, but this would be good competition for him — a player some compare to Derwin James.
We’re just one week into the 2025 MLB season — and what a ride it has been already.
Torpedo bats are taking baseball by storm. Both the Dodgers and Padres are undefeated, while another National League team with lofty expectations in the Braves are winless to start the season.
We’ve also seen both great individual performances — Aaron Judge’s three-homer game over the weekend; Mookie Betts’ walk-off three-run blast; MacKenzie Gore’s 13-strikeout Opening Day performance — and not so great ones — Rafael Devers’ historic strikeout streak — across the league.
Is your favorite team off to a dominant start — and more importantly, will it last? Or are you hoping the first week’s returns aren’t a glimpse of the future?
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, Alden Gonzalez and Buster Olney to weigh in with an observation for all 30 teams.
Preseason rankings
Record: 8-0 Previous ranking: 1
The Dodgers have played eight games this season. Either Freddie Freeman or Mookie Betts — or, in two instances, both — have been absent for six of them. And yet it hasn’t really mattered. The Dodgers’ offense has hummed right along.
Betts has found some surprising home run power since sitting out the Japan series because of a debilitating illness that prompted him to shed nearly 20 pounds; Tommy Edman has continued to be a crucial part of the lineup, no matter where he hits; and the likes of Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez, Will Smith and Michael Conforto have shown just how deep this offense can be, even when it is without one or two of its three best players. — Gonzalez
Record: 4-1 Previous ranking: 3
Cristopher Sanchez was one of the most talked about pitchers of spring training, as he added even more velocity to a sinker that already had more velocity in 2024 than in 2023. His first start backed up what everyone saw in the Grapefruit League as he gave up one run in 5⅓ innings with seven strikeouts in a no-decision against the Rockies. His sinker averaged 96.5 mph — up from 94.5 mph in 2024. The sinker isn’t going to induce a lot of whiffs, but if Sanchez can improve the batting average against it (.345 last season), he could have a big season in store. — Schoenfield
Record: 7-0 Previous ranking: 10
Jackson Merrill, the Padres’ 21-year-old budding superstar, signed a nine-year extension Wednesday morning that guarantees him at least $135 million. Later in the day, he crushed his second home run in a 5-2 win over the Guardians, pushing the Padres to a 7-0 start — the longest season-opening winning streak in franchise history. A continuation of this early surge will hinge largely on their superstars, a list that includes Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Xander Bogaerts, Luis Arraez, Dylan Cease and Yu Darvish. But Merrill is squarely in that group, too. — Gonzalez
Record: 3-2 Previous ranking: 7
To put Judge’s start into perspective: At the outset of 2024 — what turned out to be one of the greatest seasons ever for a right-handed hitter — it took Judge 19 games to reach 11 RBIs. This season, it took him three games, in what was the best start to any season in his career. Judge began 4-for-6 with three homers against left-handers, and with runners on base, he started 5-for-9 with a walk. A big question coming into this season was how much Judge would be affected by the departure of Juan Soto from the No. 2 spot, and in a very small sample, the initial answer is: not at all. — Olney
Record: 4-2 Previous ranking: 5
Last year, Eugenio Suarez slashed just .196/.279/.312 through the first three months. It wasn’t until July that he really got going. His slump coincided with that of Corbin Carroll. The D-backs’ offense languished until the pair got going. So if there’s one major sign of encouragement that can be gleaned from this first week, it’s that Suarez clearly isn’t waiting around this year. The D-backs’ third baseman has already homered five times and driven in 11 runs while putting up a 1.312 OPS through his first six games. And given the hot starts of the Dodgers, Padres and Giants in the NL West, Suarez’s hot start has been crucial. — Gonzalez
Record: 5-2 Previous ranking: 8
Jacob deGrom pitched only 10 innings against major league competition in spring training and gave up five runs and two home runs, so nobody knew quite what to expect in his 2025 debut, but he delivered five scoreless innings against the Red Sox, giving up two hits with five strikeouts. Though it wasn’t quite vintage deGrom, he averaged 96.7 mph with his four-seamer while relying more on his slider and changeup than he traditionally has (he threw 29 sliders and 11 changeups out of 73 pitches), but it worked. The Red Sox went 1-for-11 with six strikeouts against those two pitches. — Schoenfield
Record: 3-3 Previous ranking: 6
Baltimore is going to hit, especially once Gunnar Henderson returns to the lineup and joins a rejuvenated Adley Rutschman and the powerful Tyler O’Neill. The barometer all season for the Orioles could be the performance of their starting pitchers, and whether they can limit opponents and also assume enough innings to take pressure off what could be a good bullpen. In the first pass through the rotation this season, Baltimore’s starters combined for a 6.26 ERA, which ranks 28th in the majors. Zach Eflin had a good first outing though, giving up two runs over six innings. — Olney
Record: 3-3 Previous ranking: 4
It has been a rough start for the Mets’ offense, which scored only 17 runs in the first five games — 10 of those coming in one game against the Marlins. Juan Soto’s start has been fine, homering in a 3-1 victory over the Astros in the second game of the season. He’s also taking his walks, no surprise there. He did strike out to end the season opener, representing the go-ahead run with two runners on base in a 3-1 loss, whiffing on a nasty 3-2 slider from Josh Hader. Mets fans will be ready to give him a loud ovation for the home opener Friday. — Schoenfield
Record: 4-2 Previous ranking: 16
Rival managers in the AL East talked up the Rays in spring training, but as always with Tampa Bay, the team operates with a small margin for error, and this is why Shane Baz’s first start of the season was such a big deal. At a time when the Rays are without Shane McClanahan because of a triceps injury, Baz — a former first-round pick — threw six scoreless innings against the Pirates, striking out 10 without issuing a walk. The first time through Tampa Bay’s rotation, every Rays starter threw at least five innings, with the starters giving up only four earned runs in 29 innings. — Olney
Record: 2-4 Previous ranking: 11
Spencer Arrighetti’s first start might be a sign of great things to come. He gave up only one hit and one run in six innings in a win over the Mets. As a rookie last season, Arrighetti struggled in the first half (5.63 ERA, 1.60 WHIP), but the Astros stuck with him, and he came on strong with a 3.18 ERA and 1.17 WHIP over his final 11 starts. His sweeper and curveball were big weapons as a rookie, so the key will be fastball command — and he had it against the Mets, who went 0-for-10 with three K’s against his four-seamer. — Schoenfield
Record: 0-7 Previous ranking: 2
Everyone knew a season-opening road trip to San Diego and Los Angeles was going to be a tough one, especially with no Spencer Strider and no Ronald Acuña Jr., but the Braves stumbled their way to seven losses in a row to begin the season. Their nine runs in the first six games is tied for the fourth-fewest runs scored through a team’s first six games in the wild-card era (since 1995). The .137 average was also fourth lowest in that span. Oh, and along the way, Jurickson Profar was suspended for 80 games for a PED violation. — Schoenfield
Record: 5-1 Previous ranking: 22
The Giants, under new direction with Buster Posey, blitzed through spring training with a 21-6 record and drew praise from scouts who noted how sharp they looked. That has carried over into games that matter. Coming off a sweep in Houston, the Giants are 5-1, somehow keeping pace with the Dodgers and Padres in the NL West. A few of their key guys haven’t fully clicked yet — though Heliot Ramos surely has — but collectively they have an OPS of .941 with runners in scoring position. And their relievers have combined for a 1.74 ERA. — Gonzalez
Record: 2-4 Previous ranking: 9
Devers’ struggles in his first full week as a designated hitter are front and center for the Red Sox, which is understandable, given Boston’s investment in a star who thought he was the franchise’s third baseman. But Devers’ play has overshadowed the slow starts of others on the team, including Alex Bregman, who didn’t score or drive in a run in his first five games with the Red Sox; Walker Buehler, who gave up four runs and seven hits over 4⅓ innings in his first start; and first baseman Triston Casas, who had one hit (and no extra-base hits) in the first week of the season. — Olney
Record: 5-4 Previous ranking: 16
Justin Steele has acted as a steadying presence in the Cubs’ rotation over the past three years, winning 25 games, posting a 3.10 ERA and accumulating 427 innings. But the early part of this season has been a struggle. Through three starts, Steele leads the majors in hits (18), earned runs (12) and homers allowed (five). But that’s not entirely fair. He began his season before almost everyone else, on March 19 in Japan. None of his three starts — against the Dodgers, D-backs and A’s — have been terrible. It’s just that none of them have been all that good, either. — Gonzalez
Record: 2-4 Previous ranking: 11
With the team inhabiting a league that has strong lineups like that of the Yankees, Rangers and Orioles, Kansas City’s front office worked in the offseason to improve its offense. The Royals added Jonathan India to be their leadoff hitter, and just before the start of the season, traded for right-handed-hitting Mark Canha to help balance what appeared to be a left-handed heavy lineup.
In the first week of the season, the results are mixed: India is getting on base, but Hunter Renfroe, MJ Melendez and others manning the outfield have started slowly. So far, the Royals’ outfielders have a wRC+ that ranks in the bottom half of the majors. In a related note: Jac Caglianone, who showed big power in spring training, is starting this season at Double-A. — Olney
Record: 3-4 Previous ranking: 12
The Mariners scored only 15 runs in starting the season 2-4 while hitting .166 and getting five or fewer hits in five of the games. Here’s how bad things have been: Of those 15 runs, only two came on a non-home run RBI hit. They had two sacrifice flies, an RBI groundout, a run on an error and nine runs via the home run. The Mariners play 13 of their first 16 games at home, so they better figure it out, but it already looks like 2024, when they just hit .214/.307/.358 at home (only the White Sox had a lower OPS at home). — Schoenfield
Record: 2-4 Previous ranking: 18
With Parker Meadows out indefinitely because of a nerve issue, Matt Vierling on the injured list because of a rotator cuff injury and Gleyber Torres out because of an oblique problem, scoring runs will be a challenge on many days for the Tigers. The emergence of Spencer Torkelson has been a big help early, after Torkelson worked extensively in the offseason on his hitting mechanics. Torkelson had seven hits, including a home run, in his first 18 at-bats, plus five walks. This is a team with an opportunity for standouts to emerge in the everyday lineup, from Manuel Margot to Zach McKinstry. — Olney
Record: 2-4 Previous ranking: 20
.
Elly De La Cruz was a popular MVP pick at the start of the season, and it’s already clear why. Through his first six games, we’ve seen him turn in an impressive sliding catch in foul territory, produce 11 batted balls hit harder than 95 mph, steal two bases and launch four homers — including two Monday night, while debuting his torpedo bat.
“Elly is really good at baseball,” new Reds starting pitcher Brady Singer said afterward. He sure is. And he’s just starting to show it. — Gonzalez
Record: 4-2 Previous ranking: 25
Nolan Arenado spent all offseason thinking he was probably going to be traded. Then he wasn’t. Then he showed up to Busch Stadium on Opening Day wearing a Cardinals uniform, homered in the eighth inning and came out to a curtain call. Since then, Arenado has looked a lot like the guy who generated MVP votes in 2022, not the one who struggled in the two seasons thereafter, slashing .391/.500/.609 while turning in some solid defensive plays. At some point, he’ll be elsewhere — unless the Cardinals surprise us all and keep on winning. — Gonzalez
Record: 5-2 Previous ranking: 20
The question of whether the Blue Jays and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will agree to a long-term deal has dominated Toronto’s spring, but shortstop Bo Bichette is in a similar situation as Guerrero: Bichette is eligible for free agency at season’s end, and has a ton riding on his 2025 production. So far, so good. Bichette came out of the gate with a league-high nine hits. If Bichette plays well in the first half of the season, he’ll have value for the Jays no matter the direction of the team — if Toronto decides to make trades in July and reload for the future, there would be a market for Bichette (hello, Atlanta?), and if it wants to retain homegrown anchors, it could take a run to sign him to a long-term deal. — Olney
Record: 2-4 Previous ranking: 19
Cleveland did this offseason what it has had to do so often — proactively manage its payroll. This is part of the reason why the Guardians shed Andres Gimenez and Myles Straw in separate deals with the Blue Jays, and why they moved Josh Naylor to the Diamondbacks. The trade of Naylor left rival evaluators wondering who, if anyone, would be able to make up for the loss of the first baseman’s production. Early on, DH Kyle Manzardo — acquired from Tampa Bay two seasons ago — is getting a chance to be that guy. He has done some damage, with four extra-base hits, three walks and three strikeouts to start the season. — Olney
Record: 4-2 Previous ranking: 27
One of the more interesting Opening Day roster decisions for any team was the Angels promoting reliever Ryan Johnson even though he never pitched in the minor leagues after getting drafted in the second round last year out of Dallas Baptist. Johnson’s debut was a disaster, as he gave up five runs and two home runs in the season opener, but in his next two outings he was pressed into service in extra innings and picked up a save and a win. Johnson is a 6-foot-6 right-hander with a funky delivery who dominated as a starter at Dallas Baptist (2.21 ERA, 151 K’s in 106 innings). He touched 100 mph in college but has averaged 94.2 mph on his sinker with the Angels, using a cutter that he has thrown 55% of the time as his primary pitch. — Schoenfield
Record: 2-5 Previous ranking: 23
The initial returns are Sutter Health Park might be a big test for A’s pitchers. After holding the Mariners to eight runs in splitting a four-game series in Seattle, the A’s gave up 25 runs in their first two games in their new home park. To be fair, the wind was blowing out in both of the games. But the game-time temperatures were also just 52 and 55 degrees — much cooler than it will be during the summer.
“I think it’s still too early to tell,” Brent Rooker said. “There have been guys who have hit some balls good, and it’s been windy. We’re going to need several more games before we can really tell how it’s playing. There’s been a lot of offense. Where that credit lies, I’m not really sure.” — Schoenfield
Record: 2-4 Previous ranking: 15
On Tuesday night, Chad Patrick, Jared Koenig, Abner Uribe, Joel Payamps and Trevor Megill took the mound at American Family Field in Milwaukee and combined to shut out the Royals. It was a welcomed sight. For the previous four games, a Brewers pitching staff that had been severely compromised by injury, with three starting pitchers added to the injured list last month alone, was suffering from a case of whiplash. The pitchers gave up a whopping 48 runs in 33 innings, including 20 in one game against the torpedo-bat-swinging Yankees. Opposing batters compiled 17 home runs against the Brewers. — Gonzalez
Record: 2-4 Previous ranking: 17
The constant refrain around the Twins in recent years has been that the team has potential if it can consistently field Carlos Correa, Byron Buxton and Royce Lewis, a trio of players who’ve had difficulty staying healthy. Lewis again got hurt late in spring training, pulling a hamstring, and while Correa and Buxton have been on the field, both had a rough first week. The pair combined to go 6-for-42 with three extra-base hits, three RBIs and nine strikeouts — though went 4-for-8 with a home run and a double in Wednesday’s win. Not surprisingly, the Twins are slow out of the starting gate, with two wins in their first six games. — Olney
Record: 4-3 Previous ranking: 29
The cardiac Marlins are back. Remember 2023, when they went 33-14 in one-run games, 7-3 in extra-inning games and had nine walk-off wins on their way to a surprising wild-card berth? Well, the Marlins had three walk-off wins in their opening series against Pittsburgh, rallying from a 4-2 deficit in the opener, winning 5-4 in 12 innings and then 3-2. Some shoddy Pirates defense certainly helped, but Kyle Stowers and Dane Myers delivered the walk-off hits with the other winning run coming on a wild pitch. For a team many predicted to lose 100 games, it at least has been a fun start. — Schoenfield
Record: 1-5 Previous ranking: 26
The Nationals received two strong performances on their first trip through the rotation. Gore fanned 13 Phillies in a brilliant Opening Day start, giving up only one hit and no runs in six innings. He became just the ninth pitcher with at least 13 strikeouts in a team’s first game (Randy Johnson did it twice, both times with 14). But it was not an Opening Day record for a Washington pitcher: Camilo Pascual of the Senators fanned a record 15 in 1960. Mitchell Parker then tossed 6⅓ scoreless innings to beat the Phillies. He’s coming off a rookie season in which he went 7-10 with a 4.29 ERA. — Schoenfield
Record: 2-5 Previous ranking: 24
Paul Skenes was profiled alongside his famous girlfriend, Livvy Dunne, in GQ on Wednesday morning, then he went about dominating the Rays, allowing three baserunners and an unearned run in seven innings to bring his ERA to 1.46. The Pirates absorbed the unfortunate news last month that fellow budding ace Jared Jones is nursing a UCL sprain, and though at this point it doesn’t seem as if surgery will be required, Jones will be reassessed Friday. Eventually, Skenes, Jones and Bubba Chandler will form a devastating rotation trio. For now, though, the Pirates will settle for employing the “it” pitcher in baseball. — Gonzalez
Record: 2-4 Previous ranking: 30
On the way to making ignominious history, the 2024 White Sox didn’t pick up their second win until the 11th game of the season. This year, they split their first four games, an early sign the White Sox are bound to be better. Andrew Benintendi, starting his 10th season on the roster, is among the most experienced White Sox players, and he’s off to a good start, with a couple of homers and six hits (.353 average) in his first five games. You’d assume that if anyone called the White Sox looking for outfield help, Chicago would be open to moving Benintendi. But he’s owed about $50 million over this season and the two that follow. — Olney
Record: 1-4 Previous ranking: 28
The Rockies’ propensity for strange is already showing itself. Case in point: Their starting pitchers have combined for a 1.61 ERA through their first five games, and yet they’ve won only once. So while German Marquez, Antonio Senzatela, Kyle Freeland and Ryan Feltner have combined to given up only five runs in 28 innings, Colorado’s bullpen has fashioned an ERA over 11.00. And its offense has combined for only a .189 batting average. — Gonzalez
