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The college basketball season is winding down, but for many teams the offseason has already started. The coaching carousel has changed the landscape, and while the transfer portal doesn’t officially open until April 7, many players have expressed their intentions. Let’s take a look at some of the top players who are set to hit the transfer portal. Tyler Lundblade commits to Tennessee Former Belmont forward Tyler Lundblade reportedly transferred to Tennessee, announcing his commitment on Wednesday. Lundblade was able to forgo college basketball’s new April 7 portal opening date because he is a grad transfer. He is an elite perimeter shooter, who led the nation in 3-point percentage (48.1) during his junior season at Belmont in 2024-25, and averaged 15.6 points per game last season. Lundblade began his college career at TCU, before transferring to Belmont, and now is onto his third school. Mouhamed Sylla plans to enter the transfer portal Georgia Tech’s 6-foot-10 freshman center plans on entering the transfer portal, per Joe Tipton. He had a solid freshman season. He averaged 9.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks each game. South Florida’s Wes Enis seeks the transfer portal upon opening Wes Enis will be entering the transfer portal with a ‘Do Not Contact’ tag, per On3. During the American Conerence tournament, he was averaging 21.5 points and 2.5 steals, also collecting a spot in the All-AAC First Team. Overall, he averaged 16.4 points, 2.4 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game, showing increased aggression on the boards. South Florida’s former coach Bryan Hodgson went to Providence, so Enis’ DNC could indicate he is following him there. Georgetown guard intends to enter transfer portal Malik Mack plans to enter the transfer portal after his second season with Georgetown. He had a solid season with 13.6 points and 4.1 assists. He also played for Harvard during his freshman year, averaging 17.2 points, 4.8 assists and 1.3 steals. Georgia’s star rim-protector plans to enter transfer portal Somtochukwu Cyril has plans to enter the transfer portal after leading the SEC in blocks per game with 2.3. This defensive-heavy season also included 9.3 points on the other end and 5.4 boards per game. Brant Byers plans on entering the transfer portal After stepping into a larger role this season with Miami (OH), he decided it was time to part ways. Byers will be entering the NCAA transfer portal. He averaged 14.2 points on an impressive 47.8% field goal percentage and 4.1 rebounds. He was also named ALl-MAC after his breakout season. Thomas Dowd plans to leave Troy The 6-8 junior is reportedly planning on entering the transfer portal. He had a great season, averaging 14.4 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.3 blocks each game, making the first team All-Sun Belt. Buffalo’s Star intends to hit the transfer portal Daniel Freitag plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal. This past season, he averaged 19.8 points per game, dishing out 3.8 dimes a game and grabbing 4.3 boards each game. Though his first season with Wisconsin didn’t go to plan due to an ankle injury, he came back and had a stellar season with the Bulls. Georgia Tech’s Baye Ndongo intends to enter transfer portal The 6-9 forward plans to enter the transfer portal, per Draft Express. He spent the last three seasons with the Yellow Jackets, averaging 12.6 points, 8.5 boards, and 1.1 blocks. This season, he was the second-leading scorer on the team behind senior forward Kowacie Reeves. Isaiah Harwell plans to leave Houston The No. 14 recruit coming out of high school spent a season with Houston and decided it was time to leave. He plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal after a lackluster season. In 2024, he tore his ACL, greatly affecting his ability to play at the highest level, as this season he averaged only 3.6 points and 2.0 rebounds. He did show flashes of success, having a 20-point performance against Jackson State. Sananda Fru plans to enter transfer portal The 6-11 center from Berlin, Germany, will be entering the transfer portal. The German center was ranked among the ACC’s top offensive rebounders and shot-blockers. He started 29 of his 35 games, delivering 9.0 points and 6.1 rebounds, all while shooting 75.3% from the field. Anthony Robinson plans to leave Missouri The 6-3 junior plans to enter the transfer portal. Starting over half of his 33 games played, he contributed a solid 8.9 points, 3 assists and 1.6 steals per game. His steal numbers earned him a spot in the SEC All-Defensive team last year. Georgia’s Jeremiah Wilkinson plans to enter transfer portal Georgia guard Jeremiah Wilkinson plans to enter the transfer portal. The 6-1 sophomore had a stellar season offensively, delivering 17.4 points, starting 21 of his 31 games played. He played one season with the Bulldogs after spending his freshman year at Cal. He also had a solid offensive season there, averaging 15 points per game for the Bears. Andrew McKeever intends to enter transfer portal The 7-3 sophomore plans to enter the transfer portal after averaging 8.2 points and an impressive 9.2 rebounds coming off the bench. McKeever becomes the latest Saint Mary’s player to leave the school after head coach Randy Bennett took the job at Arizona State. Devin Royal plans to leave Ohio State The 6-6 junior forward will be entering the transfer portal. Devin Royal spent three seasons with the Buckeyes, averaging 10.6 points and 4.9 rebounds across his time with Ohio State. Kentucky’s Jaland Lowe plans to enter transfer portal Lowe will be entering the transfer portal when it opens. The 6-1 junior played only one season with the Wildcats, and only played nine games until he suffered a season-ending injury to his left shoulder. Though a limited sample size, he had eight points and 2.4 assists coming off the bench for the majority of his games because of lingering injuries. Fifth-year senior Frankie Collins intends to enter transfer portal Entering his last potential season of eligibility, Frankie Collins will need a medical hardship waiver to be available as a playe. He would be going into his sixth season as a college basketball player, previously playing with Michigan, ASU, TCU, and most recently, Vanderbilt. He averaged 7.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists, until the 9th game of the season where he suffered a torn meniscus. Isaiah Johnson plans to enter transfer portal The 18-year-old breakout star has announced his desire to enter the transfer portal. Receiving an All-Big 12 Honorable mention, and leading all the Power-4 freshman guards in scoring efficiency, he’ll be a coveted target for teams looking for a new point guard. He averaged 16.9 points, one steal, and three assists a game, all while starting only 15 of his 32 games played. He also broke Colorado’s all-time freshman scoring record with a staggering total of 540 points. SDSU’s Miles Byrd intends to enter transfer portal The 6-6 junior has declared his intention to transfer. Miles Byrd is entering his final year of eligibility after three seasons with the Aztecs. He contributed solid numbers, averaging 10.4 points, 2.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds, starting every game. SDSU finished the season 14-6, placing second in the Mountain West Conference tournament, just barely missing the NCAA tournament. Karson Templin plans to leave Utah State The Mountain West Conference’s sixth man of the year, Karson Templin, has announced his intention to enter the transfer portal. The 6-9, 230-pound forward added much-needed intensity off the bench and played a crucial role in their conference championship, as well as NCAA tournament qualification. He poured in 8.8 points and 4.2 rebounds, shooting 50.2% from the field. Utah State coach Jarrod Calhoun left for Cincinnati, which certainly impacted Templin’s decision, but it’s possible he returns to Logan. LSU’s Dedan Thomas Jr. plans to enter transfer portal Upon its opening, Dedan Thomas Jr. will be entering the transfer portal. The 6-1 junior averaged 15.3 points, 6.5 assists on 45.9 from the field. This season was cut short due to a left-foot injury causing him to play only 16 of the 31 games with the Tigers. Center Olivier Rioux intends to leave Florida Rioux is entering the portal, according to The Field of 68. The redshirt freshman, who’s listed as the tallest basketball player in the world at 7-foot-9, appeared in 11 games for the Gators this season, playing just 1.5 minutes per contest. After earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, Florida was eliminated by the Iowa Hawkeyes in the second round of the tournament. Virginia Tech’s Avdalis plans to enter transfer portal After starting every game for Virginia Tech his freshman season, Neoklis Avdalis will be entering the transfer portal. The forward averaged 12.1 points, 4.6 assists, and 3.1 rebounds in his debut with the Hokies. Avdolis, who was born in Greece, previously played internationally, for Greece’s HEBA A1 League. Twice in the 2025-2026 season he scored 30 points, and he was named ACC Rookie of the Week on two occasions, as well. Williams leaving Iowa State for portal In addition to the other Iowa State players already sent to enter the transfer portal, junior guard Jada Williams is also planning to leave the team for a new one next season. Per USA Today, Williams, who averaged 15.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, a steal and a Big 12-leading 7.7 assists per game joins junior forward Addy Brown, sophomore guard Reagan Wilson, freshman guard Reese Beaty, sophomore guard Aili Tanke and junior center Lilly Taulelei, as was already known, along with another newly announced Cyclones player in junior forward Alisa Williams and freshman guard Freya Jensen. Five Iowa State players set to enter portal Five Iowa State women’s players, including one of its stars, Addy Brown, are planning to enter the transfer portal on April 7 per the Des Moines Register. Brown played in just 21 game this season thanks to an unnamed lower-body injury, but at the initial time of her absence she was second on the Cyclones in points, rebounds and assists per game – the versatile star was missed in-season, and the forward’s absence for her senior season will leave a hole that Iowa State must fill, as well. Brown averaged 31.5 minutes, 13.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists and just 1.8 fouls per game over her three years for Iowa State. Brown isn’t the only Cyclones player to announce her intentions to play elsewhere in 2026-2027, however. Sophomore guard Reagan Wilson, freshman guard Reese Beaty, sophomore guard Aili Tanke and junior center Lilly Taulelei will also enter the portal. All of those besides Beaty averaged 9 minutes per game or fewer in 2025-2026, but those are still openings that have to be filled by a team that will now be without the player whose absence helped to crater what had been a promising campaign. San Diego State guard BJ Davis plans to enter transfer portal After starting 31 games in his sophomore season, Davis took a step back, coming off the bench as a junior at San Diego State. With starting point guard Elzie Harrington continuing to progress, Davis plans to go elsewhere for his final season of eligibility. Saint Mary’s forward Paulius Murauskas plans to enter transfer portal After head coach Randy Bennett left Saint Mary’s for Arizona State, Murauskas was the first domino to fall. He played one season at Arizona and two at Saint Mary’s, where he led the team in scoring with 18.4 points per game this season. The Gaels made the NCAA Tournament in each of Murauskas’ two seasons. He has one year of eligibility remaining. Georgetown guard KJ Lewis plans to enter transfer portal For a second straight season, Lewis will enter the transfer portal. He played two seasons at Arizona before coming to Georgetown, and will now finish out his collegiate career at a third stop. North Dakota guard Greyson Uelmen plans to enter transfer portal After a valiant effort fell short in the Summit League Tournament title game, North Dakota guard Greyson Uelmen will enter the transfer portal. Uelmen has two seasons of eligibility remaining. Oregon stars plan to enter the transfer portal After a 12-20 season, Oregon has lost two of its top players. Forward Kwame Evans Jr. and point guard Jackson Shelstad plan to enter the transfer portal. Evans will have one year of eligibility remaining, while Shelstad will have two because he played only 12 games due to an injury to his right hand. North Dakota State guard Damari Wheeler-Thomas plans to enter the portal After three seasons at North Dakota State, Wheeler-Thomas plans to enter the transfer portal. He averaged 14.5 points in his junior season, and helped the Bison earn an NCAA Tournament automatic bid as a 14-seed. South Carolina guard Eli Ellis plans to enter portal Ellis, 6-foot, averaged 8.6 points per game, coming off the bench for the Gamecocks in his freshman season. He has three years of eligibility remaining. Robert Morris forward DeSean Goode plans to enter portal Goode averaged 15.2 points and 8.7 rebounds during his sophomore season at Robert Morris, and won Player of the Year in the Horizon Conference. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

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Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) – The booming drum beat from Portugal fans was a helpful reminder to anyone who might have been unaware: the World Cup is a mere two months away. That means it’s nervy times for players who are anxious to make a roster, even if they don’t show it. The U.S. men’s national team wrapped its last camp on Tuesday night in Atlanta with an unimpressive 2-0 defeat to Portugal in front of an announced crowd of 72,297 people, many of whom were wearing Cristiano Ronaldo jerseys (even though he did not make the trip). The result came a few days after a humbling 5-2 loss to Belgium. USA manager Mauricio Pochettino will announce his final 26-man roster on May 26 in New York City, and now the only thing players who may be on the bubble can do is wait. And wait. And after Tuesday’s loss, players didn’t have much time to chat after the match. Many were rushing out the stadium to catch international flights back home to rejoin their respective clubs. When a few of them were asked if they found any clarity about their place within Pochettino’s World Cup plans during this past week, they seemed exhausted. “I just try to block it out,” a fairly calm Sebastian Berhalter said off to the side of a crowded mixed zone following the Portugal loss. The 24-year-old midfielder played in both games during this window and is hoping to make his first World Cup roster. “Just focus on myself,” added defender Auston Trusty, who has only made five appearances for the national team and started on the back line vs. Portugal. “I can only control what I can control.” The ‘Painful’ Process of Picking a Roster The U.S. players are all in the thick of their respective club seasons, and this was a fully packed week in Atlanta. It wasn’t just about training and games, but also included other responsibilities like pre-tournament marketing opportunities and photo shoots. It can undoubtedly be taxing mentally to be part of those things when you don’t even know if you’re going to be on a World Cup squad. “Not too concerned with that, not too focused on that,” said goalkeeper Matt Freese, who made some quality saves against Portugal. Pochettino said the starting goalkeeper job is still open for competition, while Freese added that he has no inkling of whether it will be him or Matt Turner, who gave up five goals against Belgium. Pochettino said after Tuesday night’s game that he was still in the process of reviewing the player pool with his staff. “They know it’s going to be a competition,” Pochettino said. “They know that we are going to see [them play with their clubs] every single week, every single game, and we are going to assess one year and a half or more [of being with the team] and we are going to make the decision of 26 players being on the roster. “I think those who will be here will be happy, [and those] not on the roster will be sad.” Back in January, Pochettino said that for his team, the World Cup would begin in March. (the tournament’s actual date is June 11, with the U.S. opening group play on June 12 vs. Paraguay in Los Angeles). That comment insinuated that he had narrowed the group down somewhat, and he probably has. But following the Portugal match, he was asked how many players in his mind are still in contention. Are there 30 guys vying for 26 spots? Maybe 35? “Yes, yes,” Pochettino said, laughing. “Maybe a few more. It’s going to be painful in that process. Emotional. It’s going to be really difficult to pick 26 from 75 players.” To Get (or Not To Get) The Call Last Friday, Pochettino described his style that he’ll only call the players who make the team and not reach out to those who don’t. It’s a different approach to four years ago when former coach Gregg Berhalter called players who were going to Qatar and those who weren’t. “I haven’t heard anything about that,” Trusty said when asked about Pochettino’s approach, sounding a bit surprised. “That’s new information to me. I don’t have an opinion on that, really. Obviously, if you don’t get the call, I mean, it’s not a good situation regardless.” Some players would like to know either way. “I would, personally,” said midfielder Christian Roldan, who was part of the 2022 World Cup squad but didn’t play. “I think that I have so much respect for Pochettino and the coaching staff and look, they didn’t have to bring me in back in September, and they gave me the opportunity, and I’m extremely thankful for that opportunity. And I think that respect goes a long way. “So if I didn’t make the squad, I would love to hear from Pochettino the reason why or just having that man-to-man conversation that is difficult at times. But it definitely plays a part in your entire career, and it could impact the way you look at things.” Throughout this past week in Georgia, players spoke of how competitive and intense training sessions had been, as everyone knows no roster spot is guaranteed. Now, Pochettino has seen all he can from a national team perspective, and will spend these next few weeks putting the puzzle pieces together. “I think this camp is very positive,” Pochettino concluded. “It was the end of our cycle in preparation for the World Cup. The next roster is going to be the roster that is going to be involved [in the tournament]. “I am more positive than I was before because, seeing the team compete, we are not far away. It’s only details we need to improve. When we match the opponent in the areas that we need to match, we are going to have a possibility to beat them.”

Get your popcorn ready. Arizona, Illinois, Michigan and UConn are the last four teams standing in this year’s NCAA men’s basketball tournament and the Final Four tips off Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. As somebody that grew up in Chicago and attended the University of Illinois, it’s impossible for me to give you an unbiased side in the first game. I’ll be rooting for the Illini but don’t feel responsible advising you to bet ‘em when I spent years drinking blue guys at Kams and making orange BORGs at parties. C’est la vie. Here are three bets I do like this Saturday: Illinois (-2, O/U 139.5) vs. UConn While I truly believe Illinois has the better roster, Danny Hurley’s squad has been a cash-making freight train the last few tournaments. The Huskies are 17-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last 18 tourney games, and now they are catching points in a game they could easily win. It should be obvious what I want to happen, but rooting and betting should never be parlayed together. Enter player props. After Braylon Mullins swished one of the most memorable shots in NCAA history to beat Duke, you’re paying a premium on his points prop. Sportsbooks are dealing him at O/U 12.5 juiced to the Under. He’s a sharpshooter with a bright future, but let’s be real — he’s UConn’s fourth option. I like Under 12.5 points at -130. On the other sideline, Andrej Stojakovic — yes, Peja’s kid — is a bucket getter. Thing is, the Huskies are so good defending the perimeter, and they do an incredible job harassing shooters. Sure, Stojakovic could score 20, but given his feast-or-famine range, I think the number is a smidge too high. He’s got the same line, albeit cheaper at -115. PICK: Braylon Mullins (-130) Under 12.5 pointsPICK: Andrej Stojakovic (-115) Under 12.5 points This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Michigan (-1.5, O/U 157.5) vs. Arizona This is the unquestioned game of the Tournament. Most pundits are calling it the de facto championship game, and it’s tough to poke holes in that assessment. Michigan and Arizona are complete teams that are dominant on both sides of the ball. Illinois has an elite offense, UConn has a top-tier defense. These two are extraordinary on both sides. As I wrote before March got mad, I love the Wolverines’ size, defense, shot making and experience. It’s the total package. They’ve been the best team from the nation’s best conference all season long, and there’s no player in America I trust more with the game on the line than Yaxel Lendeborg. Fundamentally, I refuse to lay 1.5 points in a college basketball game. My friend Bill Krackomberger always talks about paying the extra price to win these Tournament games and I wholeheartedly agree. I’ll pay the extra 10 cents just in case Arizona decides to bank in a 3 at the buzzer to lose by 1. Go Blue. PICK: Michigan (-120) moneyline

The group stage is the first step toward World Cup glory. Every participant for the 2026 World Cup has been decided, meaning the odds for group winners have also hit the sportsbooks. Let’s check out the latest odds at FanDuel Sportsbook, as of April 1. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Group A winner Mexico: +100 (bet $10 to win $20 total)Czechia: +260 (bet $10 to win $36 total)South Korea: +290 (bet $10 to win $39 total)South Africa: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total) Group B winner Switzerland: -110 (bet $10 to win $19.09 total)Canada: +260 (bet $10 to win $36 total)Bosnia: +270 (bet $10 to win $37 total)Qatar: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total) Group C winner Brazil: -290 (bet $10 to win $13.45 total)Morocco: +450 (bet $10 to win $55 total)Scotland: +700 (bet $10 to win $80 total)Haiti: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total) Group D winner USA: TBDParaguay: TBDAustralia: TBDTürkiye: TBD Group E winner Germany: -220 (bet $10 to win $14.55 total)Ecuador: +380 (bet $10 to win $48 total)Ivory Coast: +600 (bet $10 to win $70 total)Curaçao: +4500 (bet $10 to win $460 total) Group F winner Netherlands: -140 (bet $10 to win $17.14 total)Japan: +340 (bet $10 to win $44 total)Sweden: +430 (bet $10 to win $53 total)Tunisia: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total) Group G winner Belgium: -220 (bet $10 to win $14.55 total)Egypt: +390 (bet $10 to win $49 total)Iran: +700 (bet $10 to win $80 total)New Zealand: +1900 (bet $10 to win $200 total) Group H winner Spain: -450 (bet $10 to win $12.22 total)Uruguay: +500 (bet $10 to win $60 total)Saudi Arabia: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)Cape Verde: +7000 (bet $10 to win $710 total) Group I winner France: -175 (bet $10 to win $15.71 total)Norway: +250 (bet $10 to win $35 total)Senegal: +700 (bet $10 to win $80 total)Iraq: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total) Group J winner Argentina: -290 (bet $10 to win $13.45 total)Austria: +500 (bet $10 to win $60 total)Algeria: +650 (bet $10 to win $75 total)Jordan: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total) Group K winner Portugal: -210 (bet $10 to win $14.76 total)Colombia: +260 (bet $10 to win $36 total)DR Congo: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)Uzbekistan: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total) Group L winner England: -220 (bet $10 to win $14.55 total)Croatia: +340 (bet $10 to win $44 total)Ghana: +700 (bet $10 to win $80 total)Panama: +4500 (bet $10 to win $460 total)

FOX Sports college basketball experts reveal their brackets for the 2026 College Basketball Crown.

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France is atop the FIFA Men’s World Rankings for the first time since 2018. Here are the top 30 teams.

Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles) — Before Teoscar Hernandez ran out to patrol left field in the ninth inning last Friday night, he lingered in the dugout a while longer than usual. The game was almost over, but the show was about to begin. In the eighth inning against the Diamondbacks, Kyle Tucker roped a go-ahead single to put the concert in motion, setting the scene for the debut of the team’s other major offseason expenditure. Hernández wanted a front-row seat to take in the spectacle as closer Edwin Diaz jogged in from Dodger Stadium’s home bullpen for the first time. “Everyone was waiting for that moment,” Hernández said. “I wanted to watch everything — him coming out of the bullpen, getting all the way to the mound.” Díaz took his first step onto the newly-dubbed Uniqlo Field, patted his glove a couple times, then watched the Dodger Stadium fade into darkness as the bass in the sound system began to thump. In the left-field pavilion, trumpeter Tatiana Tate began to play “Narco,” the walk-out song that Díaz and musician Timmy Trumpet made famous in Queens. The live rendition in Los Angeles was a surprise touch that Díaz wasn’t expecting, but it added to the pageantry of the occasion. “It was bumping out there,” Tucker said. Everybody, Hernández said, was surprised this actually became a reality. No one thought the three-time All-Star closer would leave New York. But after a year in which the Dodgers’ unreliable bullpen was nearly their undoing, the back-to-back champs stayed persistent. And when they offered a few million dollars more than the Mets, giving Díaz three years and $69 million — the largest annual salary ever for a reliever — it was enough to entice the two-time National League Trevor Hoffman Reliever of the Year to leave the place he had called home for the last seven years. In Los Angeles, Díaz felt he had the best chance to win his first championship. He had only heard great things about the organization from his brother, Alexis, who made nine appearances for the Dodgers in 2025, and fellow Puerto Rico native Kiké Hernández, a fan favorite who now holds the Dodgers’ franchise record for most postseason games played. But even Dave Roberts didn’t think there was a chance of landing Díaz entering the winter. The Dodgers manager grew more optimistic while on vacation in early December, when the front office reached out to him about joining in on a call with Díaz. “We talked for probably, I’d say, 45 minutes on a Zoom,” Roberts recalled. “Afterwards, I told my wife, I go, ‘We’re gonna get him.’ I felt really good about it.’” Why was Roberts convinced? “It was just kind of selling ourselves and talking about how well we value him and the culture and the team and ownership,” Roberts said. “If you really want to win a championship, this is the place to be. Obviously talked to his wife and convinced her that moving West was a good decision. Yeah, and I also think that his brother being here last year was a big help. Having him here as a call-up from the minors, and us treating him like a superstar, I think that kind of helped the decision and comfort going forward.” Fast-forward three months, and everything the Dodgers envisioned was playing out as planned. On Friday afternoon, the Dodgers received their 2025 World Series rings. Díaz watched some of the ceremony from the dugout before retreating to the clubhouse to prepare for the game that night. If he wanted any extra motivation before his first performance for his new team, that was as good as any. “My goal for this year is being in that moment next year,” Díaz said. “I want to help this team to win. I know if this team stays healthy, we can do it again.” Hours later, the two players the Dodgers brought in to try to lift their chances of hoisting a World Series trophy for a third straight season — a feat that hasn’t been accomplished in more than a quarter-century — played their roles to perfection. Tucker, sandwiched between Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts at the top of one of the most decorated lineups ever constructed, reached base twice and knocked in the winning run. Díaz surrendered a walk and nothing more, striking out two batters in a scoreless ninth to secure his 254th save and first as a Dodger. One night later, Diaz entered again with a one-run lead again and promptly retired all three batters he faced to finish a sweep of the Diamondbacks. Stability in the late innings was a luxury these Dodgers weren’t accustomed to last year, when they ranked 21st in bullpen ERA, blew the ninth-most saves in the sport, saw the first year of Tanner Scott’s four-year, $72 million deal go up in flames and were forced to use starters in relief to carry them through October. Now, in a scary reality for the rest of the league as the Dodgers embrace their status as baseball villains, the back end of the Dodgers’ bullpen looks daunting. Not only does Díaz give the Dodgers the shutdown closer they lacked, but Scott also appears to be finding his form again in a lower-leverage role. Roberts intimated this winter that Scott never felt right physically last season and believed the left-hander’s 2025 season, during which he went 1-4 with a 4.74 ERA, was an “outlier year.” At one point six months ago, at his lowest point after one of his 10 blown saves, Scott lamented that baseball hated him. By trying to be too perfect, he thought he got away from his strengths. He was missing his spots consistently. There were mechanical issues involved, too. The struggles became mentally exhausting. “I threw too many balls in the zone and paid for it a lot,” Scott said. “It was terrible.” But a new year brings a fresh slate. It’s a short sample, but Scott has retired seven of the eight batters he has faced in 2026, including three by strikeout, in three scoreless appearances. “There’s a physical component which certainly feels better,” Roberts told me in a scrum. “There’s a mental component where it’s a new year.” Scott’s fastball, which yielded nine home runs last season, is getting the swing-and-miss that wasn’t there a year ago when the pitch too often found the middle of the plate. His slider is coming in a tick harder, and though he told me that he hasn’t changed the grip on the pitch, he has done a lot of work with Dodgers pitching coaches Mark Prior and Connor McGuiness and bullpen coach Josh Bard to get the slider in a place where he trusts it. “Just going back to what I did in ‘23 and ‘24 and seeing the success I had and what I was doing with it,” Scott told me. “I kind of got away from what I was doing really good the previous two years. Baseball’s a grind. You’ve got to put in the time, and it’s paying off. But we’ve got to keep going.” Added Roberts: “The slider’s just a better pitch this year than it ever was last year.” Scott is careful not to get too far ahead of himself, especially given how last year went, but he’ll take the small wins. Everything, Scott said, feels good right now. It’s evident both in his presence on the mound and in the  “funky swings,” as Roberts described them, that he’s generating. “I think even with Tanner, who’s as good as anyone at washing the slate clean, you’ve still got to have success,” Roberts said. “When you’re not having success, it’s like, ‘Here we go again’ kind of mindset. So for him to get off to a good start, it’s important.” This time, the weight of finishing games has been lifted. The Dodgers have not had a single closer record more than 25 saves since Kenley Jansen departed after the 2021 season. The primary ninth-inning option has been a revolving door since then, from Craig Kimbrel in 2022 to Evan Phillips in 2023 and 2024 to Scott last season. With Diaz now cemented as the team’s shutdown closer, the Dodgers’ manager can deploy Scott, Alex Vesia and his other high-leverage options in more advantageous lanes as he sees fit in the innings prior. “It’s huge,” Roberts said. “I don’t think that there’s one way to manage a pen, but when you have a guy like Edwin Díaz as your closer, I do think it frees up other guys, myself included, not having to worry about matchups for the ninth. I think that’s freeing for me and allows for kind of getting the matchups we need in the prior innings.” Bullpen success can be volatile, but at least in the early going, the Dodgers’ most glaring weakness from last year’s team now looks like one of their many strengths — and that’s before the expected returns later this year of relievers Phillips, Brock Stewart and Brusdar Graterol. The top four hitters in the Dodgers’ lineup — Ohtani, Tucker, Betts and Freddie Freeman — are batting a combined .192 through five games, yet the Dodgers are 4-1 behind an elite rotation and a fortified bullpen that has started the year 2-0 with a 1.83 ERA and a new closer who has converted each of his first two save opportunities. Dîaz allowed his first run of the season in his third appearance Tuesday night, but Roberts attributed the result to the rainy conditions and a water-soaked mound. Díaz still rebounded to comfortably finish off the Dodgers’ win against the Guardians. The fact he’s there at all is still an almost unbelievable reality for those around him. “I just know I gotta keep doing my job,” Díaz said, “and hear the trumpets here in Dodger Stadium.” Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on X at @RowanKavner.