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The first series of the 2026 MLB season are complete. Don\u2019t panic if your favorite team is 0-3 and don\u2019t get too high and mighty if your team is 3-0. There are five of each. Rookies have certainly made an impact to begin the season, with Chase DeLauter<\/a> (Cleveland Guardians<\/a>), Kevin McGonigle<\/a> (Detroit Tigers<\/a>) and Munetaka Murakami<\/a> (Chicago White Sox<\/a>) standing out. Whether they are able to keep up their hot starts is another thing. There were only 12 games Sunday as the season-opening schedule gave teams an option to have the day off, which felt weird.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Today\u2019s Headlines<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Brewers Doing Brewers Things Already<\/p>\n If you are doing a game-by-game comparison of seasons, the Milwaukee Brewers<\/a> are already plus-3 in the win column from last season. You remember that, don\u2019t you? Torpedo bats and all, the Crew were embarrassed by the New York Yankees<\/a> in a three-game sweep 36-14 (and beaten by the Kansas City Royals<\/a> in the fourth game 11-1). But thanks to Christian Yelich<\/a> doing something he had never done before, the Brewers have reversed their start of 2025. Yelich came off the bench to hit a go-ahead three-run homer during a six-run eighth inning as the Brewers upended the Chicago White Sox<\/a> 9-7. The Brewers completed a three-game sweep by erasing a 7-2 deficit in the third inning. The pinch-hit homer was the first of Yelich\u2019s career. The comeback put a damper on White Sox rookie first baseman Munetaka Murakami becoming the fourth player in MLB history<\/a> to homer in each of his first three games. Chase DeLauter<\/a> of the Cleveland Guardians<\/a> accomplished it the night before (four homers in three games), while Trevor Story<\/a> of the 2019 Colorado Rockies<\/a> and Kyle Lewis<\/a> of the 2019 Seattle Mariners<\/a> also did the deed.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Challenges Pay Dividends For Orioles<\/p>\n There is a debate about when to use the automatic ball-strike challenges. The Baltimore Orioles<\/a> might have provided all the evidence needed to save them for late-game situations. Clinging to a two-run lead in the ninth inning vs. the Minnesota Twins<\/a> and the tying run at the plate, the Orioles TWICE used an ABS challenge and won both, turning a would-be walk (both times) into a strikeout for the second out in what wound up an 8-6 Baltimore win. Catcher Adley Rutschman<\/a> called for the first challenge on a 3-0 pitch that was called a ball, then closer Ryan Helsley<\/a> pulled the rare pitcher challenge when his 3-2 offering was ruled a ball. By the way, those were the ninth and 10th challenges between the Twins and Orioles in the game. Pete Alonso<\/a> singled home the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, and Tyler O\u2019Neill<\/a> hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning as the Orioles overcame an early 4-0 deficit.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Caissie\u2019s Hot Marlins Start Includes Walk-off HR\u00a0<\/p>\n It felt like it was going to be tough for Owen Caissie<\/a> to crack the Chicago Cubs<\/a>\u2018 outfield. So he was traded to the Miami Marlins<\/a> along with two others for starting pitcher Edward Cabrera<\/a>. Caissie is showing early that the Marlins made a good move, capping a three-hit game with a two-run walk-off homer to give Miami a 4-3 win over the Colorado Rockies<\/a>. Caissie went deep off right-hander Victor Vodnik<\/a> to give the Marlins their first 3-0 start since 2009. Caissie is 5-for-10 with two doubles, a homer and four RBIs.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Mariners\u2019 Hancock Struts In Season Debut<\/p>\n The first \u201cSunday Night Baseball\u201d game of the season on a new carrier, NBC-Peacock, surely lived up to the billing of two of last year\u2019s playoff teams. At least it did for Emerson Hancock<\/a>. The Seattle Mariners<\/a> right-hander struck out nine over six hitless innings in an 8-0 victory over the Cleveland Guardians<\/a>. Brendan Donovan<\/a> hit his second homer with his new team, and Randy Arozarena<\/a> doubled and drove in a pair of runs. Hancock, the No. 6 starter in a very good rotation, got the opportunity due to Bryce Miller<\/a>\u2019s injury. He did walk one, which was the only blemish on his night. Right-hander Cooper Criswell<\/a> replaced Hancock, who had thrown 97 pitches, to begin the seventh and gave up a leadoff single to Chase DeLauter<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n By The Numbers<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 50 The Toronto Blue Jays<\/a> pitchers struck out 50 over the first three games, setting an MLB record<\/a>.<\/p>\n 8 Joey Wiemer<\/a> of the Washington Nationals<\/a> has reached safely in his first eight plate appearances with his new team, tying the record<\/a> of the expansion era (since 1969). Wiemer went 3-for-3 and walked once in a 6-3 win over the Cubs.<\/p>\n 5 Yandy D\u00edaz<\/a> of the Tampa Bay Rays<\/a> matched his career high with five hits in an 11-7 win over the St. Louis Cardinals<\/a>.<\/p>\n 10 Cincinnati Reds<\/a> rookie first baseman Sal Stewart<\/a> became the third-youngest player in MLB history<\/a> to reach base 10 times in the first three games of a season. Stewart is 22 years and 112 days old.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Best Moments From Yesterday<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n How To Handle A Troll<\/p>\n New Texas Rangers<\/a> outfielder Andrew McCutchen<\/a>, who played three years with the Philadelphia Phillies<\/a>, hit a three-run homer against Philly. He had a simple response to a fan at Citizens Bank Park who didn\u2019t appreciate the blast.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 64 For Springer<\/p>\n It is easy to name Rickey Henderson<\/a> as the player who hit the most career leadoff homers (he did it 81 times). But did you know that George Springer<\/a> of the Blue Jays is No. 2? He crushed his 64th leadoff homer to begin a 5-2 win over the A\u2019s.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Injuries and Other Moves<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u26be The Marlins acquired<\/a> infielder Leo Jim\u00e9nez<\/a> from the Blue Jays for minor-league infielder Dub Gleed<\/a> and $250,000 in international bonus pool money. Jimenez had been designated for assignment after failing to make Toronto\u2019s Opening Day roster. Right-hander Garrett Acton<\/a> was DFA\u2019d to make room for Jimenez on the 40-man roster.<\/p>\n \u26be Outfielder Johnathan Rodr\u00edguez<\/a> was traded<\/a> by the Cleveland Guardians<\/a> to the Orioles for minor-league right-hander Carter Rustad<\/a>. Rodriguez had been DFA\u2019d after not making the Opening Day roster. The O\u2019s also acquired left-hander Jayvien Sandridge<\/a>, who was also DFA\u2019d, from the Los Angeles Angels<\/a> for cash.<\/p>\n \u26be The Minnesota Twins<\/a> signed a pair of right-handed relievers, John Brebbia<\/a> and Drew Smith<\/a>, to minor-league contracts<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Articles You Should Read<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Could slumping Giants use advice from Bonds?<\/a> \u2014 John Shea, San Francisco Standard<\/p>\n New-look Ortiz shines for Brewers with bat and glove<\/a> \u2014 Michael Trzinski, Brewer Fanatic<\/p>\n Red Sox have a plan to get Yoshida more playing time<\/a> \u2014 Tim Healey, Boston Globe<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Fantasy Baseball Coverage<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Starting Pitcher Roundup<\/a><\/p>\n Hitter Performances<\/a><\/p>\n