⚾️MLB: The Dodgers couldn’t complete the sweep against the Oakland A’s, losing 4–3 in extra innings yesterday. To make matters worse, center fielder Cody Bellinger missed his second straight game with an unlucky calf injury, and his status remains TBD. Sigh.

• Woes aside, our defending champs receive their championship bling at tomorrow’s home opener — in front of fans. Put a ring on it.
• Meanwhile, the trash cans and Oscar the Grouch aren’t coming with the Angels when they hit the road with a four-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays of Florida starting today at 7:07 p.m. ET/4:07 p.m. PT. 

🏀NBA: The Lakers are just trying to survive without their stars, slipping to fifth in the Western Conference standings. Hopefully new guy and three-point specialist Ben McLemore will be a difference-maker against the Miami Heat tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT.

• The other new guy, Andre Drummond, should return from the toe injury he sustained in his Laker debut last week. Even better news? The better known “AD”, Anthony Davis, might be close to suiting up for the Purple and Gold. Is that hope in the air?
• Meanwhile, the Clippers are gearing up for tonight’s 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT top-three Western Conference clash with ex-Clipper Chris Paul and the Phoenix Suns. Tune in.

⚾️MLB: The Dodgers couldn’t complete the sweep against the Oakland A’s, losing 4–3 in extra innings yesterday. To make matters worse, center fielder Cody Bellinger missed his second straight game with an unlucky calf injury, and his status remains TBD. Sigh.

• Woes aside, our defending champs receive their championship bling at tomorrow’s home opener — in front of fans. Put a ring on it.
• Meanwhile, the trash cans and Oscar the Grouch aren’t coming with the Angels when they hit the road with a four-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays of Florida starting today at 7:07 p.m. ET/4:07 p.m. PT. 

🏀NBA: The Lakers are just trying to survive without their stars, slipping to fifth in the Western Conference standings. Hopefully new guy and three-point specialist Ben McLemore will be a difference-maker against the Miami Heat tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT.

• The other new guy, Andre Drummond, should return from the toe injury he sustained in his Laker debut last week. Even better news? The better known “AD”, Anthony Davis, might be close to suiting up for the Purple and Gold. Is that hope in the air?
• Meanwhile, the Clippers are gearing up for tonight’s 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT top-three Western Conference clash with ex-Clipper Chris Paul and the Phoenix Suns. Tune in.

⚾️Sox: The Sox are as hot and cold as 2008 Katy Perry. The South Siders won by a margin of six runs in each of their first two games against the Seattle Mariners this week, only to give up seven runs in the sixth inning to lose by eight in their final matchup yesterday. Sigh. 

• The series highlight? First baseman José Abreu’s grand slam on Tuesday night, which marked his 200th homer with the Sox. Someone’s been eating their Wheaties. 
• Hopefully the Sox will snap back to their Tuesday energy for their home opener against the Kansas City Royals today at 4:10 p.m. ET/3:10 p.m. CT. 

Cubs: The Cubs lost two of three games to the Milwaukee Brewers this week, including yesterday’s 4–2 snoozer. Luckily, Cubbies center fielder Joc Pederson woke us up when he hit a homer  — his first hit with the franchise — and was gifted the Cubs’ traditional waffle maker. Love it. 

• The boys are back this afternoon when they take on the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park at 1:35 p.m. ET/12:35 p.m. CT. 

🏐Notre Dame: After going 14-3 in the regular season and taking second place in the ACC, the Irish women’s volleyball team was selected as one of 48 teams for the NCAA Tournament. Fans are already counting down until the first round next week. Let’s go Irish! 

⚾️Nationals: The Nats opened their delayed season on a high note, raising their championship banner in front of 5,000 fans and defeating the Atlanta Braves 6–5 on Tuesday thanks to a walk-off single by star right fielder Juan Soto. The best hitter in MLB is so back. 

• But the Nats lost both of yesterday’s doubleheader games, including wasting pitcher Stephen Strasburg’s six scoreless innings in the second game. But with nine players on the injured list presumably for COVID-related reasons, one out of three ain’t bad.

⚽️Spirit: More from us on the NWSL Challenge Cup opener tomorrow *wink wink*, but the Spirit will be missing five players on Saturday due to national team duties. Spirit captain Andi Sullivan, along with defenders (and Spirit newbies) Kelley O’Hara and Emily Sonnett, are playing for the USWNT in two upcoming international friendlies.

That’s not all. We’ll have to wait a little longer for the NWSL debuts of midfielder Saori Takarada and forward Mariana Speckmaier while they’re away with the Japanese and Venezuelan national teams, respectively, this week. Patience.

⚾️Red Sox: Oh how the turntables. After being swept by the Baltimore Orioles in their season-opening series, the Sox broke out brooms of their own, adding an exclamation point to their sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays with a 9–2 win yesterday. Pitcher Nathan Eovaldi tossed a seven-inning gem, allowing just one run and striking out seven batters.

• And there’s more good pitching news where that came from. Eduardo Rodríguez will get a belated birthday gift when he makes his season debut today as the Sox head to Baltimore for another round with the Orioles. First pitch is set for 3:05 p.m. ET. 

🏀Celtics: Looks like the C’s heard NBA legends Shaq and Dwyane Wade’s slights loud and clear. They bounced back from Tuesday’s 106–96 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers with a 101–99 win over the NY Knicks last night. Jaylen Brown continued to shine in his breakout season, notching a double-double with a team-leading 32 points and 10 rebounds.

• The up-and-down Celtics are in need of another stabilizing win, and lucky for us their next opponent is the league’s last place team, the Minnesota Timberwolves. Tip-off is tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. ET.