The Florida Panthers resumed their NHL season on Thursday night when they hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs at Amerant Bank Arena.
It was the first game for Florida following the NHL hitting the pause button for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Prior to puck drop, Florida honored everyone on the ice who was a part of Team USA, a list that included Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk, General Manager Bill Zito and Head Equipment Manager Teddy Richards, as well as Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews who also wore the “C” for the United States.
The four Americans gathered at center ice, where Zito and Richards dropped a ceremonial puck between Tkachuk and Matthews.
It was a very cool moment for the gold medal winners, putting a bow on what was surely an incredible experience.
Later, during a first period TV timeout, Florida took a moment to recognize their other Olympians.
Three Panthers – Brad Marchand, Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett – won silver medals with Team Canada, while three others – Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen and Niko Mikkola – claimed bronze medals while representing Finland.
Florida’s Latvians – defenseman Uvis Balinskis and forward Sandis Vilmanis – as well as Finnish blueliner Gus Forsling, were also honored.
As for the game, the Panthers were already up 2-0 on Toronto when the game reached TV timeout number one.
The Florida Panthers resumed their NHL season on Thursday night when they hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs at Amerant Bank Arena.
It was the first game for Florida following the NHL hitting the pause button for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Prior to puck drop, Florida honored everyone on the ice who was a part of Team USA, a list that included Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk, General Manager Bill Zito and Head Equipment Manager Teddy Richards, as well as Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews who also wore the “C” for the United States.
The four Americans gathered at center ice, where Zito and Richards dropped a ceremonial puck between Tkachuk and Matthews.
It was a very cool moment for the gold medal winners, putting a bow on what was surely an incredible experience.
Later, during a first period TV timeout, Florida took a moment to recognize their other Olympians.
Three Panthers – Brad Marchand, Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett – won silver medals with Team Canada, while three others – Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen and Niko Mikkola – claimed bronze medals while representing Finland.
Florida’s Latvians – defenseman Uvis Balinskis and forward Sandis Vilmanis – as well as Finnish blueliner Gus Forsling, were also honored.
As for the game, the Panthers were already up 2-0 on Toronto when the game reached TV timeout number one.
Chelsea must keep their heads at Arsenal, Anthony Gordon faces his old club and a key return for Sunderland
Unai Emery has seen most things in this game but he has never won at Wolves. In three and a half years at Villa, he has lost two and drawn one of his three away games at Molineux. Twelve months ago they lost this fixture 2-0 and this week Emery shared his poor record to stress the difficulty of the challenge facing his side, particularly given they have won just one of their past five matches in all competitions. Emery even mentioned his visit to Wolverhampton with Arsenal in 2019, when his team trailed 3-0 at half-time and lost 3-1. For Emery, there is no better time to break his duck, with the schedule dictating that Villa could move nine points clear of fifth-placed Chelsea, who visit Villa on Wednesday, before Liam Rosenior’s side travel to Arsenal on Sunday. Victory would enhance Villa’s chances of returning to the Champions League but also pile pressure on a direct rival. Ben Fisher
Wolves v Aston Villa, Friday 8pm (all kick-offs GMT)
For the first time in six games, Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Emil Andrae will step back into the lineup, ending a prolonged stretch as a healthy scratch that, while difficult, may ultimately serve as one of the more important developmental checkpoints of his young NHL career.
Sam Ersson will start for the Flyers tonight vs. Rangers. Emil Andrae will draw back into the lineup.
For both Andrae and the Flyers, his return represents a recalibration of sorts—of expectations, responsibilities, and trust.
And maybe most importantly, it’s another test of whether Andrae can consistently differentiate himself from a promising call-up into a dependable, everyday NHL defenseman.
A Necessary Pause in a Promising Trajectory
When Andrae was first recalled earlier this season, he impressed straightaway.
He moved the puck decisively, drove offense, and played with the kind of assertiveness that belied his size. At 5-foot-9, Andrae will never overwhelm opponents physically, but he compensates with anticipation, mobility, and pure fearlessness. He closes gaps aggressively and can escape pressure cleanly. And when he does get the puck, he sees the ice like a player who has always been accustomed to controlling it.
That early success confirmed the already favorable opinions he had garnered from previous NHL stints—at 24 years old, he's obviously not a finished product, but he does possess a heap of desirable qualities in a blueliner, and has oodles of potential for his coaches to work with as he continues developing.
But as the season wore on, the natural inconsistencies of a young defenseman began to surface. The reads that came easily in his first stretch required quicker processing, and the risks became more costly.
Head coach Rick Tocchet was candid in his assessment of where Andrae’s game had slipped before the Flyers' game against the New York Rangers on Feb. 26.
“I think he played his best hockey when he was first called up,” Tocchet said. “I think he was obviously good on the breakouts, good on wheeling the puck… It’s just stuff he tries too much—making passes in the middle of the ice or being out of position, things like that. But that’s growing as a young defenseman.”
#Flyers coach Rick Tocchet on what Emil Andrae needs to do to get back in: "Well, I think one of the reasons why we have to do this is our PK...That's the problem, he's not a PK guy. So actually, this week, he's worked on his [PK]. That's really what it's going to come down to." https://t.co/rD63WBHETa
Andrae’s absence wasn’t solely about performance. It was also about his fit in the overall lineup.
Tocchet pointed to penalty killing responsibilities multiple times, along with the importance of balanced right-left defensive pairings, as key factors in Andrae’s temporary removal from the lineup.
Defensemen must earn that trust incrementally. It comes through consistency, through reliability, and through proving that risk-reward decisions consistently favor the team.
Now, Andrae has a prime chance to make a case for his usefulness not just in 5-on-5 play, but on special teams as well.
“He might get some PK time tonight [against the Rangers],” Tocchet said. “So hopefully if he’s out there that he can help us out on the PK, too.”
Even limited penalty-killing usage would be an important step in signaling growing confidence from the coaching staff in both Andrae’s offensive instincts and his defensive discipline.
What Andrae Brings That the Flyers Need
Despite his recent absence, Andrae offers something the Flyers’ blue line doesn’t have in abundance: natural puck-moving fluidity.
They have offensive-minded in defensemen in players like Cam York and Jamie Drysdale, but Andrae adds a layer of relentlessness to that core of smaller offensive defensemen.
His skating allows him to escape pressure without defaulting to glass-and-out clears. His vision allows him to identify transition opportunities early, and his willingness to attack open ice forces opposing forechecks to hesitate.
Those traits are especially valuable for a Flyers team that relies heavily on structure and pace to generate offense. A clean breakout is often the first offensive play, and Andrae has shown he can initiate those sequences.
What he’s learning now is when to be aggressive and when to be simple—a crucial and delicate balance that separates promising young defensemen from reliable NHL regulars.
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Emil Andrae (36). (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)
A Critical Stage in His Long-Term Development
The six games Andrae spent out of the lineup may ultimately, in a twisted sort of way, benefit him in the long run.
From the press box, the game slows down. Patterns become clearer, making mistakes easier to recognize without the immediacy of competition. As frustrating as it is not to be on the ice, for young defensemen dealing with stagnation, those observational stretches can accelerate growth, allowing Andrae to return with both perspective and motivation.
He knows what earned him his initial opportunity. He also knows what cost him his place, and no doubt he understands what’s required to keep it.
The good thing is that Andrae doesn't have to scrap his whole game and start over. As Tocchet pointed out, the expectation is not for Andrae to completely reinvent his game, but to refine it and stay consistent with it. Keep the mobility; keep the confidence; keep the creativity. But going along with that, pair those clear strengths with restraint, positional awareness, and situational judgment.
A Meaningful Opportunity for Player and Team
For the Flyers, reinserting Andrae is more than just switching up the lineup in the hopes of taking three points away from New York. The team is simultaneously evaluating his nightly performance and his trajectory.
Can Andrae become a reliable puck-moving presence in their top six?
Can he handle defensive responsibility in critical moments?
Can he grow into a player they can trust in all situations?
Those answers won’t come after one game, but they’ll begin to emerge now, as he steps back onto the ice—not as the wide-eyed up-and-down kid from his first stints with the big club, but as a more mature and experienced young defenseman who has felt both the momentum of early success and the humility of stepping back.
For the first time in six games, Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Emil Andrae will step back into the lineup, ending a prolonged stretch as a healthy scratch that, while difficult, may ultimately serve as one of the more important developmental checkpoints of his young NHL career.
Sam Ersson will start for the Flyers tonight vs. Rangers. Emil Andrae will draw back into the lineup.
For both Andrae and the Flyers, his return represents a recalibration of sorts—of expectations, responsibilities, and trust.
And maybe most importantly, it’s another test of whether Andrae can consistently differentiate himself from a promising call-up into a dependable, everyday NHL defenseman.
A Necessary Pause in a Promising Trajectory
When Andrae was first recalled earlier this season, he impressed straightaway.
He moved the puck decisively, drove offense, and played with the kind of assertiveness that belied his size. At 5-foot-9, Andrae will never overwhelm opponents physically, but he compensates with anticipation, mobility, and pure fearlessness. He closes gaps aggressively and can escape pressure cleanly. And when he does get the puck, he sees the ice like a player who has always been accustomed to controlling it.
That early success confirmed the already favorable opinions he had garnered from previous NHL stints—at 24 years old, he's obviously not a finished product, but he does possess a heap of desirable qualities in a blueliner, and has oodles of potential for his coaches to work with as he continues developing.
But as the season wore on, the natural inconsistencies of a young defenseman began to surface. The reads that came easily in his first stretch required quicker processing, and the risks became more costly.
Head coach Rick Tocchet was candid in his assessment of where Andrae’s game had slipped before the Flyers' game against the New York Rangers on Feb. 26.
“I think he played his best hockey when he was first called up,” Tocchet said. “I think he was obviously good on the breakouts, good on wheeling the puck… It’s just stuff he tries too much—making passes in the middle of the ice or being out of position, things like that. But that’s growing as a young defenseman.”
#Flyers coach Rick Tocchet on what Emil Andrae needs to do to get back in: "Well, I think one of the reasons why we have to do this is our PK...That's the problem, he's not a PK guy. So actually, this week, he's worked on his [PK]. That's really what it's going to come down to." https://t.co/rD63WBHETa
Andrae’s absence wasn’t solely about performance. It was also about his fit in the overall lineup.
Tocchet pointed to penalty killing responsibilities multiple times, along with the importance of balanced right-left defensive pairings, as key factors in Andrae’s temporary removal from the lineup.
Defensemen must earn that trust incrementally. It comes through consistency, through reliability, and through proving that risk-reward decisions consistently favor the team.
Now, Andrae has a prime chance to make a case for his usefulness not just in 5-on-5 play, but on special teams as well.
“He might get some PK time tonight [against the Rangers],” Tocchet said. “So hopefully if he’s out there that he can help us out on the PK, too.”
Even limited penalty-killing usage would be an important step in signaling growing confidence from the coaching staff in both Andrae’s offensive instincts and his defensive discipline.
What Andrae Brings That the Flyers Need
Despite his recent absence, Andrae offers something the Flyers’ blue line doesn’t have in abundance: natural puck-moving fluidity.
They have offensive-minded in defensemen in players like Cam York and Jamie Drysdale, but Andrae adds a layer of relentlessness to that core of smaller offensive defensemen.
His skating allows him to escape pressure without defaulting to glass-and-out clears. His vision allows him to identify transition opportunities early, and his willingness to attack open ice forces opposing forechecks to hesitate.
Those traits are especially valuable for a Flyers team that relies heavily on structure and pace to generate offense. A clean breakout is often the first offensive play, and Andrae has shown he can initiate those sequences.
What he’s learning now is when to be aggressive and when to be simple—a crucial and delicate balance that separates promising young defensemen from reliable NHL regulars.
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Emil Andrae (36). (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)
A Critical Stage in His Long-Term Development
The six games Andrae spent out of the lineup may ultimately, in a twisted sort of way, benefit him in the long run.
From the press box, the game slows down. Patterns become clearer, making mistakes easier to recognize without the immediacy of competition. As frustrating as it is not to be on the ice, for young defensemen dealing with stagnation, those observational stretches can accelerate growth, allowing Andrae to return with both perspective and motivation.
He knows what earned him his initial opportunity. He also knows what cost him his place, and no doubt he understands what’s required to keep it.
The good thing is that Andrae doesn't have to scrap his whole game and start over. As Tocchet pointed out, the expectation is not for Andrae to completely reinvent his game, but to refine it and stay consistent with it. Keep the mobility; keep the confidence; keep the creativity. But going along with that, pair those clear strengths with restraint, positional awareness, and situational judgment.
A Meaningful Opportunity for Player and Team
For the Flyers, reinserting Andrae is more than just switching up the lineup in the hopes of taking three points away from New York. The team is simultaneously evaluating his nightly performance and his trajectory.
Can Andrae become a reliable puck-moving presence in their top six?
Can he handle defensive responsibility in critical moments?
Can he grow into a player they can trust in all situations?
Those answers won’t come after one game, but they’ll begin to emerge now, as he steps back onto the ice—not as the wide-eyed up-and-down kid from his first stints with the big club, but as a more mature and experienced young defenseman who has felt both the momentum of early success and the humility of stepping back.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 11: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks with Dennis Schroder #8 during the second half against the Washington Wizards at Rocket Arena on February 11, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Unfortunately for the Cavs, things haven’t gone well since that day. The team announced that James Harden broke his thumb in the win, Donovan Mitchell was added to the injury report with a groin strain, and the Cavs lost to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday due to poor perimeter defense.
A loss in the standings wasn’t the only thing the Cavs suffered that day. Three new rotation players have been added to the injury report. Keon Ellis has broken his left index finger, Dean Wade has a right ankle sprain, and Dennis Schroder also has a right ankle sprain.
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The severity of any of the new injuries isn’t known at this time.
The most concerning part of the injury report is Mitchell missing his second game in a row with a groin strain. It seems like Mitchell has battled some kind of injury in late February/early March for the past few seasons. This groin strain is the latest one.
The Cavs need Mitchell at his best if they’re going to meet playoff expectations. Shutting him down for several games, if needed, would be in their long-term best interest. We’ll likely find out more information about his injury on Friday evening when head coach Kenny Atkinson speaks with the media.
The three new names on the injury report of Ellis, Wade, and Schroder are concerning. Each fills a vital role for this team that isn’t easily replaced.
We’ll see which of the questionable players are available to play. At the very least, it’s disappointing that the Cavs will be without their best player and could be missing several key contributors in Friday’s matchup with Detroit.
Bruce Froemming, a major league umpire for 37 consecutive years who worked the third-most games in big league history and a record 11 no-hitters, died Wednesday, his son said. He was 86.
Froemming fell just after midnight Tuesday and hit his head on the hardwood floor at his home in Mequon, Wisconsin, and was taken to Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital in Milwaukee, according to Froemming's son, Steven.
He had brain bleeding that medical personnel could not stop because Froemming was on blood thinners, leading to his death.
Froemming was a semipro baseball player and started his umpiring career in the minor leagues in 1958 at age 18. He worked his way up and joined the National League staff in 1971. He shifted to the unified major league staff in 2000 and retired in 2007 having worked 5,163 games, second at the time to Bill Klem's 5,373. They were both surpassed by Joe West, who worked 5,460 games before retiring in 2021.
Froemming started his umpiring career at a minor league game in Waterloo, Iowa.
“I thought I was in heaven — on the ballfield, professional athletes, I was starting my professional career,” he told The Associated Press days before his retirement. “But never did you dream at the time, ever even think of going to a big league ballpark, because you had so far to go through the minor leagues to even get a chance.”
He concluded that being a good umpire required “probably being patient with yourself. ... You’re going to make mistakes early on.”
Among the most famous of the no-hitters he worked was on Sept. 2, 1972. Milt Pappas of the Chicago Cubs retired his first 26 batters and went to a 1-2 count on pinch-hitter Larry Stahl before walking him. Pappas then retired Garry Jestadt on a popup.
Froemming was behind the plate for three other no-hitters, by Ed Halicki (1975), Nolan Ryan (1981) and José Jiménez (1999). He worked five World Series.
When he retired, Froemming became a special assistant to MLB's vice president on umpiring,
He is survived by his wife, the former Rosemarie Loch, whom he married in 1957; two sons, Steven and Kevin; sister Cathy Seizer; half-brother Johnny Froemming; and two grandchildren.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman would never let it happen in today's NHL President Clarence Campbell did 'way back when, and the Blueshirts were the victims.
It all took place in the 1959-60season, Rangers GM Muzz Patrick dealt defenseman Bill Gadsby and forward Eddie Shack to Toronto. In addition to Leafs defenseman Red Kelly, New York also would obtain forward Billy McNeill on Feb. 5, 1960
On the surface the exchange seemed reasonable all around. Gadsby and Kelly wound up in the Hall of Fame while Shack and McNeill proved to be useful second liners.
There was only one problem; the deal never was officially made. Kelly chose to retire than play for a Blueshirt sextet run into the ice – or ground, if you will – by Patrick.
"As it happened," said Associated Press reporter Shelly Sakowitz, "Kelly never intended to retire. He got an offer to play for Toronto and accepted.
Leafs boss Punch Imlach moved Kelly up to center and he helped Toronto win four Cups in six years."
Campbell killed the original deal while Gadsby later was traded to Detroit. Postscript: Gadsby played 20 years in the NHL but never for a Cup-winner.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman would never let it happen in today's NHL President Clarence Campbell did 'way back when, and the Blueshirts were the victims.
It all took place in the 1959-60season, Rangers GM Muzz Patrick dealt defenseman Bill Gadsby and forward Eddie Shack to Toronto. In addition to Leafs defenseman Red Kelly, New York also would obtain forward Billy McNeill on Feb. 5, 1960
On the surface the exchange seemed reasonable all around. Gadsby and Kelly wound up in the Hall of Fame while Shack and McNeill proved to be useful second liners.
There was only one problem; the deal never was officially made. Kelly chose to retire than play for a Blueshirt sextet run into the ice – or ground, if you will – by Patrick.
"As it happened," said Associated Press reporter Shelly Sakowitz, "Kelly never intended to retire. He got an offer to play for Toronto and accepted.
Leafs boss Punch Imlach moved Kelly up to center and he helped Toronto win four Cups in six years."
Campbell killed the original deal while Gadsby later was traded to Detroit. Postscript: Gadsby played 20 years in the NHL but never for a Cup-winner.
Back to work are the Detroit Red Wings following the Olympic break, which saw Dylan Larkin and Team USA capture the gold medal for the first time since the iconic Miracle on Ice squad of 1980.
Detroit’s first game out of the break will immediately pit Larkin and the Red Wings against his Team USA teammate Brady Tkachuk and the Ottawa Senators, who have been a thorn in Detroit’s side over the past three seasons.
Ottawa is currently fighting for its playoff life, while the Red Wings are looking to gain ground in the tightly packed Atlantic Division standings after slipping into the first Wild Card spot.
They are tied in points with the Montreal Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres, but both teams hold the tiebreaker.
Defenseman Mortiz Seider, who led all Team Germany defensemen in total ice time during the Olympics, is looking forward to getting back into the swing of things.
"It's going to be great, everyone is really excited," Seider said following Detroit's skate on Thursday morning. "It's been a while since we've worn the red and white jersey. Everyone is looking forward to having a good start, don't overcomplicate things, and get right back into action."
With 24 games left in the schedule, the onus is on the Red Wings to maintain a consistent level of play that allows them to get a leg up on their competition.
"They're going to be crucial, especially since we have a lot of four-point games ahead of us," Seider said of Detroit's remaining games. "We play a lot of divisional opponents, and those will be key. You can separate in those situations, and that's exactly what we had to do. Tonight will be a good challenge for us to do so."
Among the 24 games Detroit has left on the schedule are 10 against Atlantic Division opponents, beginning on Thursday against the Senators.
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Back to work are the Detroit Red Wings following the Olympic break, which saw Dylan Larkin and Team USA capture the gold medal for the first time since the iconic Miracle on Ice squad of 1980.
Detroit’s first game out of the break will immediately pit Larkin and the Red Wings against his Team USA teammate Brady Tkachuk and the Ottawa Senators, who have been a thorn in Detroit’s side over the past three seasons.
Ottawa is currently fighting for its playoff life, while the Red Wings are looking to gain ground in the tightly packed Atlantic Division standings after slipping into the first Wild Card spot.
They are tied in points with the Montreal Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres, but both teams hold the tiebreaker.
Defenseman Mortiz Seider, who led all Team Germany defensemen in total ice time during the Olympics, is looking forward to getting back into the swing of things.
"It's going to be great, everyone is really excited," Seider said following Detroit's skate on Thursday morning. "It's been a while since we've worn the red and white jersey. Everyone is looking forward to having a good start, don't overcomplicate things, and get right back into action."
With 24 games left in the schedule, the onus is on the Red Wings to maintain a consistent level of play that allows them to get a leg up on their competition.
"They're going to be crucial, especially since we have a lot of four-point games ahead of us," Seider said of Detroit's remaining games. "We play a lot of divisional opponents, and those will be key. You can separate in those situations, and that's exactly what we had to do. Tonight will be a good challenge for us to do so."
Among the 24 games Detroit has left on the schedule are 10 against Atlantic Division opponents, beginning on Thursday against the Senators.
Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 27: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers battles for the ball against Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons during the second half at Little Caesars Arena on October 27, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers will look to pick up their second win this week against a team in the top half of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Cleveland has split its previous two games against the conference-leading Detroit Pistons, but its current team looks a lot different from the one that faced them in October and January. We’ll see how this version stacks up against one of the most consistent teams in the league.
The Pistons have been the best team in the conference by every statistical measure. They have the best record, best defense, and have been playing at a high level all season. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has gotten the most out of this group. Whether or not that translates to the playoffs remains to be seen.
Cavs injury report: Donovan Mitchell – OUT (groin), James Harden – QUESTIONABLE (thumb), Dennis Schroder – QUESTIONABLE (ankle), Dean Wade – QUESTIONABLE (ankle), Keon Ellis QUESTIONABLE (left index finger fracture), Max Strus – OUT (foot), Tristan Enaruma – OUT (G League), Riley Minix – OUT (G League)
Pistons injury report: Isaiah Stewart – OUT (suspension), Bobbi Klintman – OUT (G League), Chaz Lanier – OUT (G League), Wendell Moore Jr. – OUT (G League)
Cavs expectedstarting lineup: James Harden, Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
The Cubs lost to the Angels 5-4 in Tempe Thursday, but the big story of this one was Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd. Boyd had allowed five hits in less than two innings in his first spring start earlier this week.
Thursday afternoon in Tempe, Boyd was much better. He retired all nine Angels he faced — many of them expected to be on their Opening Day roster — and struck out three. He threw an efficient 34 pitches (23 strikes) and here’s how he struck out Mike Trout:
Boyd had seven swings-and-misses and looked really sharp. This is likely his last outing before heading to Team USA for the World Baseball Classic. Team USA is having a workout next Monday in preparation for an exhibition game against the Giants in Scottsdale next Wednesday. Then they will head to Houston to begin WBC pool play against Brazil a week from tomorrow.
The Cubs took an early lead on doubles by Jefferson Rojas and Dylan Carlson in the first inning, although Carlson got himself picked off second to end the inning.
Then the Cubs added a pair in the second. Chas McCormick doubled and went to third on a single by James Triantos. McCormick then scored on a sac fly by Pedro Ramirez. A double by Justin Dean and walk drawn by Scott Kingery loaded the bases, and the Cubs’ third run scored when Michael Busch was hit by a pitch.
Unfortunately, Jaxon Wiggins got knocked around in an inning and a third of work. He faced 10 batters and six of them had hits. The Angels scored one off Wiggins in the fourth and four in the fifth to take the lead, with five runs overall charged to Wiggins. So Wiggins’ first spring outing was… not one he’ll want to remember, except for learning purposes.
After that a lot of the Cubs regulars departed. Riley Martin took over in the sixth and there was a brief delay while Craig Counsell and the Cubs trainer had a look at Martin after a pitch, but Martin stayed in the game. He threw a scoreless sixth.
Minor league plate umpire Louie Krupa had four calls challenged in this game and all four were overturned.
And that’s pretty much it from this game. Dylan Carlson had two hits and is 4-for-8 in the early spring going with three walks. It’s really hard to tell whether Carlson or McCormick has the “lead” in the fourth outfielder race, given the very small sample size. You can be sure, though, that both will get more opportunities, especially with Pete Crow-Armstrong departing soon for the WBC.
The Cubs return to Sloan Park Friday afternoon to take on the Cleveland Guardians. Game time Friday is 2:05 p.m. CT. Edward Cabrera will make his first spring start for the Cubs, and Logan Allen will go for Cleveland. No TV or radio coverage for Friday’s game.
Minnesota Timberwolves' guard Anthony Edwards has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for throwing the game ball "with force" into the stands during halftime of Minnesota's 124-121 road win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
The incident occurred at the end of the second quarter, when Edwards snagged a rebound off a Portland miss, then faked a heave to end the half. After the buzzer had already sounded, Edwards launched the ball toward the basket and struck someone standing nearby.
Edwards did not throw the ball out of anger or frustration, but the ball did clearly hurt the bystander.
WATCH: The heave that cost Edwards $25K
You can watch the full video of the incident here, on nba.com.
He's certainly no stranger to fines. Last year, Edwards was fined $420,000 across eight transgressions, mostly for foul language used in interviews with the press following games.
Has anyone else been fined for similar actions?
Funny enough, Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane was also fined $25K for throwing a ball into the stands "with force" during the team's Tuesday night win against the Los Angeles Lakers. Bane's incident occurred at the end of the game.
There were a lot of firsts in Thursday’s game against the Chicago White Sox, and all of them were good and promising.
Tyler Glasnow had his first outing of the season and is just another starter that looks like they are in mid-season form. He struck out the side first inning and had a ground out and two more K’s in the second inning.
Glasnow started the day with a two-inning/30 pitch limit. Since he finished the second inning with 29 pitches, he came out to start the top of the third where he gave up a base hit and called it a day.
Most promising was his fastball velocity. Last year, Glasnow’s fastball velocity averaged 95.7mph. In the first inning of Thursday’s game, it was sitting at a 97.1 average. Overall, for his 33 pitches, he averaged 96.7mph.
After his outing, Glasnow remarked that the uptick in velocity is something he had been working on over the offseason and has been very intentional about it. He feels like his mechanics are in a much better place and is feeling fully healthy. All that and the addition of 20 pounds on Glasnow’s long frame having him looking like he’s in a great spot to start the season.
In his first start of the season, Max Muncy grounded out to third in the first inning, followed by line drive base hit in his next at bat. He ended up going 1-3 on the day.
Muncy talked to reporters after the game and commented on why some of the older Dodgers are taking a slower approach in Spring Training. He noted that there was a conversation with several players, and it was “give your body as much rest as possible” mentality going into the season. The Dodgers have had to start back-to-back seasons with trips across the Pacific and have played more postseason games than any other team in the last two seasons. A slow start for the veterans is well deserved.
Blake Treinen also had first outing of spring where he set the White Sox down 1-2-3, with two strikeouts and a groundout using only 15 pitches.
The team finally broke their home run drought, with Will Smith hitting the first home run of Spring Training. He was followed later in the game by Keston Hiura and Hyeseong Kim who went back-to-back with solo homers of their own.
What the Dodgers did not have their first of, however, was a loss. They beat the White Sox 7-6 to remain the only undefeated team in spring. Does this mean anything? Of course not but it makes it a lot more fun.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto will have his second outing of the spring on Friday against the San Francisco Giants, before heading out to join Team Japan for the World Baseball Classis.
