Atlanta, GA

MLB power rankings: Perfect Padres throttle Braves to put Atlanta in early 2025 hole

Published

11 months ago

March 31, 2025

MLB power rankings: Perfect Padres throttle Braves to put Atlanta in early 2025 hole

Sure, the Los Angeles Dodgers are unbeaten in five games and the New York Yankees can’t stop hitting home runs, but let’s pause to consider what the San Diego Padres have pulled off.

It’s not even April, and they’ve already clinched the season series against the Atlanta Braves – and cracked the top five in USA TODAY Sports’ first power rankings installment.

Oh, it probably won’t matter, but it’s worth pondering that the most significant feat of this opening weekend was the Padres sweeping four games against Atlanta, marking six consecutive victories over them at Petco Park, dating to their wild-card steamrolling during last year’s playoffs.

Perhaps you might remember that: The Braves, New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks all had to wait until hurricane-delayed Games 161 and 162 were played to determine the final NL playoff spots. Sure, most tiebreakers don’t come into play, but with the Padres and Braves very likely slotting in wild-card spots this year, it’s not entirely meaningless.

Of greater note, San Diego’s throttling of Atlanta might at least force observers to recalibrate their expectations for both teams, with the Padres perhaps providing resistance to the Dodgers in the West, while the Braves are already a pace behind what should be an excellent three-team race in the East.

Then again, 158 games remain for both.

A look at our updated rankings:

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

You might say they, uh, torpedoed Brewers pitching.

3. Philadelphia Phillies

Jesús Luzardo wins first start as Phillie.

Bullpen allowed one earned run in 16 innings.

5. Baltimore Orioles

Blasted 10 homers in four games against Toronto.

6. Texas Rangers

Jack Leiter did enough to win first start; can Kumar Rocker follow suit?

7. Arizona Diamondbacks

Next time, just start the guy you just gave $210 million.

8. New York Mets

Oh, they’ll hit soon enough.

9. Houston Astros

Spencer Arrighetti picks up where he left off after strong 2024 finish.

10. Detroit Tigers

They’re definitely done with the Dodgers.

11. Boston Red Sox

Rafael Devers doing anything but designated hitting: 0 for 16 with 12 strikeouts.

Ah yes, three games at the Dodgers should wash that 0-4 start right away.

13. Cincinnati Reds

It’d be a shame if relief woes sank an otherwise solid and charismatic roster.

14. Chicago Cubs

Relief acquisition Eli Morgan has given up six runs in 3 ⅔ innings.

15. Seattle Mariners

After four-run opening day explosion, they score two, zero and two runs against A’s.

16. Cleveland Guardians

Jose Ramírez’s wrist is barking a little bit.

17. Kansas City Royals

Tough opening series ends on grim note when pitch strikes Jonathan India in face.

18. Tampa Bay Rays

They embrace the great outdoors with two wins over Rockies, including walk-off homer.

19. San Francisco Giants

Maybe this Old Guys Rule rotation will work out.

20. St. Louis Cardinals

So far, their “reset” has resulted in a perfect record.

21. Toronto Blue Jays

The Max Scherzer thumb saga already getting painful.

22. Washington Nationals

Dylan Crews hitless in 11 at-bats, with eight strikeouts.

23. Minnesota Twins

Top prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez with a three-hit night in Class AAA opener.

We feel confident in saying they will not see the New York Yankees again this year.

25. Los Angeles Angels

Tim Anderson gets a nice welcome in return to Chicago’s Southside.

26. Athletics (Sacramento)

Their Yolo County Era begins this week.

27. Miami Marlins

Griff Conine hits game-tying homer on night his dad is inducted into club Hall of Fame.

28. Pittsburgh Pirates

First three losses all walk-offs. So they’re coming close.

Chase Dollander watch: Strikes out five in four innings of first Class AAA start.

30. Chicago White Sox

Clip and save this for posterity: Their 1.00 ERA leads the major leagues

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

Source link

Click to comment

Atlanta, GA

Thieves steal dozens of bikes meant for underprivileged kids from Atlanta nonprofit

Published

8 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Thieves steal dozens of bikes meant for underprivileged kids from Atlanta nonprofit

March 5, 2026 / 5:10 PM EST
/ CBS Atlanta

An Atlanta nonprofit is asking the public for help after it was the victim of a brazen theft earlier this week.

Propel ATL said that thieves cleared out an entire trailer of bicycles meant for underprivileged kids sometime on Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning.

Jeremiah Jones, the nonprofit’s advocacy manager, said that someone broke into the trailer and took 26 bikes and 24 helmets.

Nonprofit Propel Atl said someone stole dozens of bikes and helmets meant to go to children from their trailer this week.

CBS News Atlanta

The equipment was part of a program that gives bikes to children from low-income schools and teaches them how to ride.

“My heart sank when I got the call that all the bikes were gone. I said, ‘Surely not all of them.’ And all of them are gone,” Jones said. “This class is solely for kids, and this crime is affecting them.”

Atlanta police are reviewing security footage from the area. Jones said you could see people taking the bikes out of the trailer, carrying them down a hill, and bringing them into a nearby parking lot.

The nonprofit is now trying to raise more than $10,000 to replace the bikes.

Propel ATL is also asking who may have information about the theft to contact them at programs@letspropelatl.org.

In:

Source link

Atlanta, GA

Man arrested for knocking kids off bicycles

Published

20 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Man arrested for knocking kids off bicycles

A man was arrested at a concert last week after he shoved two kids off their bicycles, causing one of them to fall into a fountain, Sandy Springs police said. FOX 5 Atlanta’s Brittany Edney reporting.

Posted March 5, 2026 5:42am EST

Source link

Atlanta, GA

Same DNA, new address: Muchacho expands to West Midtown

Published

1 day ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Same DNA, new address: Muchacho expands to West Midtown

Photo by Luke Beard

When Muchacho first opened along the Atlanta Beltline and Memorial Drive, it became known as a place shaped as much by its surroundings as by its menu. That site, housed in a 100‑year‑old train depot, set the tone for how the brand approaches expansion: start with the bones of a building, then let the space tell the story. The newly opened Muchacho West Midtown follows that same philosophy.

“We like to celebrate unique attributes of each property and work with the palette we’re given,” says founder and owner Michael Lennox. While the original Muchacho is defined by its long, narrow footprint and Spanish tile roof—features reminiscent of its former life as a train depot—the West Midtown location leans into an industrial past rooted in automotive culture: a former Meineke car care shop. Big windows reference former garage doors, while retro racing details appear inside.

Still, the connective tissue between the two locations is clear. Both spaces draw heavily from Muchacho’s Southern California skate‑and‑surf roots. At Muchacho West Midtown, familiar playfulness appears via a blue‑orange‑yellow racing stripe pattern, a three‑dimensional pegboard gallery wall used to hang art and plants, and vintage Meineke signage. A life‑size cardboard cutout of George Foreman, once the pitchman for Meineke, underscores Lennox’s willingness to lean into humor and nostalgia. “It’s a playful brand,” he says.

A functional halfpipe for skateboarding anchors the outdoor experience and will double as a performance space for bands and DJs. In about a month, a 4,000‑square‑foot “tropical secret garden” with tall bamboo lining the perimeter will open on the south side of the property. Another 1,500 square feet of patio space wraps the west and north sides, currently welcoming about 80 guests. Altogether, the West Midtown location will accommodate about 215 guests, making it comparable in size to the original, with a little more outdoor space.

Muchacho West Midtown opened with the same core menu that made the Beltline location a staple: tacos, breakfast burritos, coffee, cocktails, and beer. Standouts like migas, chilaquiles, carne asada, and al pastor continue to be available. Over time, however, Lennox says each location is expected to develop its own personality, driven by the chefs who have “a pretty wide creative latitude.” Chef Betty Aparicio, formerly of Chido & Padre’s, steers the kitchen on the Westside.

“We want to nurture some immediate familiarity while providing space for some special moments you can only have at each location,” Lennox says.

One of these special moments will take place April 4 at a grand opening party dubbed MuchachoFest. Expect bands, a fortune teller, a mini skate park in parking lot, food and drink specials, and giveaways. “It’s going to be a fun day in West Midtown,” Lennox says.

A third Muchacho location will debut in the old Revival space in Decatur this summer. In addition, the Electric Hospitality team is bringing Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall to the Westside. Slated to launch in May on 11th Street, the convivial restaurant and bar will feature a 5,000-square-foot courtyard with an airstream bar, stage, and Crepe Myrtles, and a 45-seat island bar inside. Formerly a single-story warehouse from 1950s or ’60s, Ladybird West Midtown will offer the same food and beverages as its Eastside sibling with room for the chef and mixologist to add their unique touches.

Source link