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• Veteran MLB umpire C.B. Bucknor, 63, left Wednesday's game early after a foul tip struck his facemask while umpiring behind the plate. • The incident came one day after Bucknor's viral erroneous call on Tuesday, ruling Jake Bauers did not touch first base despite his cleat hitting the bag center. • Bucknor faced intense scrutiny in the ABS era, where plate umpires are under the biggest microscope amid increased video review.

• The New York Yankees, led by 2025 AL MVP Aaron Judge, face the Seattle Mariners and star catcher Cal Raleigh in a heavyweight American League matchup this week. • Judge and Raleigh competed for the 2025 MVP award before Judge won his third career MVP, and both players were teammates on Team USA in the World Baseball Classic that saw the U.S. lose to Venezuela in the finals. • Judge has started strong in 2026, homering in each of his last two games as the Yankees seek to establish early division dominance.

• Cincinnati Reds face the Boston Red Sox on Opening Day March 26, 2026, at Great American Ball Park, starting at 3:40 PM airtime on 103.9 WRBI. • All-Star left-handers Andrew Abbott for Reds and Garrett Crochet for Boston headline the matchup; Reds reliever Caleb Ferguson placed on 15-day IL retroactive to Sunday due to oblique strain. • This season opener marks the start of the 2026 MLB campaign in Cincinnati, drawing local excitement for the homestand.