Deadspin | Coming off big wins, Reds, Marlins look to continue strong starts 
Mar 31, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Janson Junk (26) delivers a pitch against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images The Cincinnati Reds are on the rise.
Cincinnati, which will open a four-game series at the host Miami Marlins on Monday, is coming off last year’s playoff berth — the franchise’s first such non-shortened-season achievement since 2013.
On Sunday, the Reds completed a three-game road sweep over the Rangers, allowing Texas to score just four runs all weekend.
“We did a good job,” Reds manager Terry Francona said.
The Reds on Monday are set to start lefty Brandon Williamson, who is off to a slow start (0-1, 11.57 ERA). However, in his only career appearance, a start, against Miami, Williamson is 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA. He throws a fastball (93-96 mph), changeup, curveball, cutter and sweeper.
Bigger picture, Williamson is part of a Reds pitching staff that ranks fifth in the majors in ERA (3.25). That’s great production on the mound, especially considering that Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo are on the injured list. Greene, an All-Star in 2024, has some of the best sheer stuff in baseball, and he’s only 26.
As for their position players, shortstop Elly De La Cruz already is a two-time All-Star at age 24.
De La Cruz so far this season is hitting .243 with three homers, five RBIs and a .786 OPS, and Francona wants him to be aggressive.
“We don’t want our good hitters taking,” Francona said.
In the past two years, De La Cruz — who has a great arm and superior speed — has averaged 103.5 runs, 52 steals and 23.5 homers.
Another good Reds hitter is first baseman Sal Stewart, a former Miami prep star who is hitting .367 with a 1.167 OPS. Since his MLB debut last year, he has seven homers in 26 games.
Meanwhile, the Marlins are coming off a wild 7-6 win over the host New York Yankees in a game that withstood a 3 1/2-hour rain delay.
“We’re going to try to get some rest, go home and play some good games,” Marlins corner infielder Graham Pauley said after the long day/night was over.
Added Marlins manager Clayton McCullough: “Long rain delay after losing the first two games of this series … trailing by three runs early. … This was a great team win.”
The Marlins will be facing a lefty starter for the third straight game. The Marlins split those two previous contests.
Miami won’t have closer Pete Fairbanks, whose wife is expecting. Because labor will be induced on Monday, Fairbanks was put on paternity leave after being used as an opener on Sunday.
Without Fairbanks, the Marlins might be a bit short on quality relievers on Monday. On Sunday, they used four true relievers: Andrew Nardi, Calvin Faucher, John King and Anthony Bender. King earned the win, and Bender picked up his first save of the season.
All four of those relievers have pitched two straight days and may be unavailable on Monday.
Righty Janson Junk (0-0, 4.15) will get the start. He didn’t get a decision against the White Sox last Tuesday, allowing two runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings. He got the win and didn’t allow a run in his only career start against the Reds last July.
Offensively, the Marlins are getting good performances from second baseman Xavier Edwards (batting .471 with a 1.147 OPS); third baseman Javier Sanoja (batting .429 with a 1.000 OPS); shortstop Otto Lopez (batting .333 with a .921 OPS); and outfielder Owen Caissie (batting .296 with a .926 OPS).
–Field Level Media
#Deadspin #Coming #big #wins #Reds #Marlins #continue #strong #starts
Mar 31, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Janson Junk (26) delivers a pitch against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images The Cincinnati Reds are on the rise.
Cincinnati, which will open a four-game series at the host Miami Marlins on Monday, is coming off last year’s playoff berth — the franchise’s first such non-shortened-season achievement since 2013.
On Sunday, the Reds completed a three-game road sweep over the Rangers, allowing Texas to score just four runs all weekend.
“We did a good job,” Reds manager Terry Francona said.
The Reds on Monday are set to start lefty Brandon Williamson, who is off to a slow start (0-1, 11.57 ERA). However, in his only career appearance, a start, against Miami, Williamson is 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA. He throws a fastball (93-96 mph), changeup, curveball, cutter and sweeper.
Bigger picture, Williamson is part of a Reds pitching staff that ranks fifth in the majors in ERA (3.25). That’s great production on the mound, especially considering that Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo are on the injured list. Greene, an All-Star in 2024, has some of the best sheer stuff in baseball, and he’s only 26.
As for their position players, shortstop Elly De La Cruz already is a two-time All-Star at age 24.
De La Cruz so far this season is hitting .243 with three homers, five RBIs and a .786 OPS, and Francona wants him to be aggressive.
“We don’t want our good hitters taking,” Francona said.
In the past two years, De La Cruz — who has a great arm and superior speed — has averaged 103.5 runs, 52 steals and 23.5 homers.
Another good Reds hitter is first baseman Sal Stewart, a former Miami prep star who is hitting .367 with a 1.167 OPS. Since his MLB debut last year, he has seven homers in 26 games.
Meanwhile, the Marlins are coming off a wild 7-6 win over the host New York Yankees in a game that withstood a 3 1/2-hour rain delay.
“We’re going to try to get some rest, go home and play some good games,” Marlins corner infielder Graham Pauley said after the long day/night was over.
Added Marlins manager Clayton McCullough: “Long rain delay after losing the first two games of this series … trailing by three runs early. … This was a great team win.”
The Marlins will be facing a lefty starter for the third straight game. The Marlins split those two previous contests.
Miami won’t have closer Pete Fairbanks, whose wife is expecting. Because labor will be induced on Monday, Fairbanks was put on paternity leave after being used as an opener on Sunday.
Without Fairbanks, the Marlins might be a bit short on quality relievers on Monday. On Sunday, they used four true relievers: Andrew Nardi, Calvin Faucher, John King and Anthony Bender. King earned the win, and Bender picked up his first save of the season.
All four of those relievers have pitched two straight days and may be unavailable on Monday.
Righty Janson Junk (0-0, 4.15) will get the start. He didn’t get a decision against the White Sox last Tuesday, allowing two runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings. He got the win and didn’t allow a run in his only career start against the Reds last July.
Offensively, the Marlins are getting good performances from second baseman Xavier Edwards (batting .471 with a 1.147 OPS); third baseman Javier Sanoja (batting .429 with a 1.000 OPS); shortstop Otto Lopez (batting .333 with a .921 OPS); and outfielder Owen Caissie (batting .296 with a .926 OPS).
–Field Level Media
![Three Teams That Screwed Up 2026 NFL Draft | Deadspin.com The Jacksonville Jaguars’ first-round pick, Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver and defensive back Travis Hunter, left, answers questions as General Manager James Gladstone, right, sits next to him during a press conference Friday, March 25, 2025 at Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] Not every team can take home a prized draft pick, especially if they are throwing darts nowhere near the top of the board.We can’t say enough great things about the Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets and their stadium co-tenants, the Giants. From top to bottom, there’s a lot to love about the Panthers’ draft, too.But we have no worldly idea what a few other teams were thinking over the three-day NFL draft completed Saturday in Pittsburgh.Jacksonville JaguarsFrom all splash and sizzle in 2025 to … what-was-that vibes in 2026, maybe this is life with a 30-something general manager. We can’t say Travis Hunter, which cost Jacksonville a 2026 first-round pick in the deal with the Browns on draft night ’25, was a home run. Or even an infield single. And now we can’t say much at all about what the Jaguars did in this draft. The franchise is drafting “culture” and we’re anxious to find out how that computes year over year.San Francisco 49ers Dec 14, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) prepares to pass the ball during the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images A jumbo receiver who would’ve been on the board 20 picks later De’Zhaun Stribling (Ole Miss) wasn’t entirely unexpected. But the 49ers signed Mike Evans and 2025 first-rounder Ricky Pearsall is being panned as a lead receiver. If these things compute internally, what’s the reward with Stribling? This isn’t a division where drafting depth over difference-makers can be a survival mode. Indiana RB Kaelon Black also would’ve been on the board later and he’s a niche player at best as long as the 49ers have the McCaffrey guy. So two of the top three picks are bit players in a division where everyone north of Arizona will be hyper competitive.Atlanta Falcons Jan 4, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich on the sideline against the New Orleans Saints in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell brings immediate value and it’s fair to wonder if the Falcons are having buyer’s remorse over the trade of a first-round pick for James Pearce Jr. in 2025 given his off-field issues. The draft wasn’t deep enough to find high-end pass rushers or offensive tackles in the late rounds. Using their third draft pick this year on Kendal Daniels (Oklahoma) at No. 134 is evidence the Falcons are hoping to hit the lottery on upside. Where Daniels fits in this defense is nowhere near clear at the moment. #Teams #Screwed #NFL #Draft #Deadspin.com](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-1200/1777224369642 "Three Teams That Screwed Up 2026 NFL Draft | Deadspin.com The Jacksonville Jaguars’ first-round pick, Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver and defensive back Travis Hunter, left, answers questions as General Manager James Gladstone, right, sits next to him during a press conference Friday, March 25, 2025 at Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] Not every team can take home a prized draft pick, especially if they are throwing darts nowhere near the top of the board.We can’t say enough great things about the Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets and their stadium co-tenants, the Giants. From top to bottom, there’s a lot to love about the Panthers’ draft, too.But we have no worldly idea what a few other teams were thinking over the three-day NFL draft completed Saturday in Pittsburgh.Jacksonville JaguarsFrom all splash and sizzle in 2025 to … what-was-that vibes in 2026, maybe this is life with a 30-something general manager. We can’t say Travis Hunter, which cost Jacksonville a 2026 first-round pick in the deal with the Browns on draft night ’25, was a home run. Or even an infield single. And now we can’t say much at all about what the Jaguars did in this draft. The franchise is drafting “culture” and we’re anxious to find out how that computes year over year.San Francisco 49ers Dec 14, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) prepares to pass the ball during the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images A jumbo receiver who would’ve been on the board 20 picks later De’Zhaun Stribling (Ole Miss) wasn’t entirely unexpected. But the 49ers signed Mike Evans and 2025 first-rounder Ricky Pearsall is being panned as a lead receiver. If these things compute internally, what’s the reward with Stribling? This isn’t a division where drafting depth over difference-makers can be a survival mode. Indiana RB Kaelon Black also would’ve been on the board later and he’s a niche player at best as long as the 49ers have the McCaffrey guy. So two of the top three picks are bit players in a division where everyone north of Arizona will be hyper competitive.Atlanta Falcons Jan 4, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich on the sideline against the New Orleans Saints in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell brings immediate value and it’s fair to wonder if the Falcons are having buyer’s remorse over the trade of a first-round pick for James Pearce Jr. in 2025 given his off-field issues. The draft wasn’t deep enough to find high-end pass rushers or offensive tackles in the late rounds. Using their third draft pick this year on Kendal Daniels (Oklahoma) at No. 134 is evidence the Falcons are hoping to hit the lottery on upside. Where Daniels fits in this defense is nowhere near clear at the moment. #Teams #Screwed #NFL #Draft #Deadspin.com")
![Three Teams That Screwed Up 2026 NFL Draft | Deadspin.com The Jacksonville Jaguars’ first-round pick, Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver and defensive back Travis Hunter, left, answers questions as General Manager James Gladstone, right, sits next to him during a press conference Friday, March 25, 2025 at Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] Not every team can take home a prized draft pick, especially if they are throwing darts nowhere near the top of the board.We can’t say enough great things about the Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets and their stadium co-tenants, the Giants. From top to bottom, there’s a lot to love about the Panthers’ draft, too.But we have no worldly idea what a few other teams were thinking over the three-day NFL draft completed Saturday in Pittsburgh.Jacksonville JaguarsFrom all splash and sizzle in 2025 to … what-was-that vibes in 2026, maybe this is life with a 30-something general manager. We can’t say Travis Hunter, which cost Jacksonville a 2026 first-round pick in the deal with the Browns on draft night ’25, was a home run. Or even an infield single. And now we can’t say much at all about what the Jaguars did in this draft. The franchise is drafting “culture” and we’re anxious to find out how that computes year over year.San Francisco 49ers Dec 14, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) prepares to pass the ball during the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images A jumbo receiver who would’ve been on the board 20 picks later De’Zhaun Stribling (Ole Miss) wasn’t entirely unexpected. But the 49ers signed Mike Evans and 2025 first-rounder Ricky Pearsall is being panned as a lead receiver. If these things compute internally, what’s the reward with Stribling? This isn’t a division where drafting depth over difference-makers can be a survival mode. Indiana RB Kaelon Black also would’ve been on the board later and he’s a niche player at best as long as the 49ers have the McCaffrey guy. So two of the top three picks are bit players in a division where everyone north of Arizona will be hyper competitive.Atlanta Falcons Jan 4, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich on the sideline against the New Orleans Saints in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell brings immediate value and it’s fair to wonder if the Falcons are having buyer’s remorse over the trade of a first-round pick for James Pearce Jr. in 2025 given his off-field issues. The draft wasn’t deep enough to find high-end pass rushers or offensive tackles in the late rounds. Using their third draft pick this year on Kendal Daniels (Oklahoma) at No. 134 is evidence the Falcons are hoping to hit the lottery on upside. Where Daniels fits in this defense is nowhere near clear at the moment. #Teams #Screwed #NFL #Draft #Deadspin.com](https://i3.wp.com/images.deadspin.com/tr:w-1200/1777224369642?ssl=1 "Three Teams That Screwed Up 2026 NFL Draft | Deadspin.com The Jacksonville Jaguars’ first-round pick, Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver and defensive back Travis Hunter, left, answers questions as General Manager James Gladstone, right, sits next to him during a press conference Friday, March 25, 2025 at Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] Not every team can take home a prized draft pick, especially if they are throwing darts nowhere near the top of the board.We can’t say enough great things about the Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets and their stadium co-tenants, the Giants. From top to bottom, there’s a lot to love about the Panthers’ draft, too.But we have no worldly idea what a few other teams were thinking over the three-day NFL draft completed Saturday in Pittsburgh.Jacksonville JaguarsFrom all splash and sizzle in 2025 to … what-was-that vibes in 2026, maybe this is life with a 30-something general manager. We can’t say Travis Hunter, which cost Jacksonville a 2026 first-round pick in the deal with the Browns on draft night ’25, was a home run. Or even an infield single. And now we can’t say much at all about what the Jaguars did in this draft. The franchise is drafting “culture” and we’re anxious to find out how that computes year over year.San Francisco 49ers Dec 14, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) prepares to pass the ball during the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images A jumbo receiver who would’ve been on the board 20 picks later De’Zhaun Stribling (Ole Miss) wasn’t entirely unexpected. But the 49ers signed Mike Evans and 2025 first-rounder Ricky Pearsall is being panned as a lead receiver. If these things compute internally, what’s the reward with Stribling? This isn’t a division where drafting depth over difference-makers can be a survival mode. Indiana RB Kaelon Black also would’ve been on the board later and he’s a niche player at best as long as the 49ers have the McCaffrey guy. So two of the top three picks are bit players in a division where everyone north of Arizona will be hyper competitive.Atlanta Falcons Jan 4, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich on the sideline against the New Orleans Saints in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell brings immediate value and it’s fair to wonder if the Falcons are having buyer’s remorse over the trade of a first-round pick for James Pearce Jr. in 2025 given his off-field issues. The draft wasn’t deep enough to find high-end pass rushers or offensive tackles in the late rounds. Using their third draft pick this year on Kendal Daniels (Oklahoma) at No. 134 is evidence the Falcons are hoping to hit the lottery on upside. Where Daniels fits in this defense is nowhere near clear at the moment. #Teams #Screwed #NFL #Draft #Deadspin.com")
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