USA shuts down powerful Dominican Republic lineup to reach World Baseball Classic final in thriller

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows David Bednar #53 of Team United States celebrates after recording the final out of the seventh inning against Team Dominican Republic, Image 2 shows Gunnar Henderson gestures to his teammates after hitting a home run

MIAMI — Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony each hit solo home runs in the fourth inning and Team USA’s pitching kept the mighty Dominican Republic lineup in check enough to secure a 2-1 victory in a World Baseball Classic semifinal on Sunday night.

“That was high-level baseball at ‌its finest,” USA manager Mark ​DeRosa said. “Just a game that we’ll remember forever. It was three solo shots that decided the game.”

The United States advanced to its third WBC final in a row and will try to win its second Classic championship and first since 2017 when it takes on the winner of the Venezuela-Italy semifinal on Tuesday night in Miami. Venezuela and Italy play their semifinal game on Monday night in Miami. DeRosa confirmed that right-hander Nolan McLean will start Tuesday’s final.

United States pitcher Paul Skenes walks back to the mound during the fourth inning of a World Baseball Classic semifinal game against the Dominican Republic, Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Miami AP

The Dominican Republic fell short in its bid to win its second WBC title and what would have ⁠been its first since 2013.

“It’s a bitter drink but we knew that someone would be happy and the other side would be sad,” Dominican Republic manager Albert Pujols said. “We have to keep our heads up ⁠because we did a tremendous job.”

A lineup, which came in averaging 10.2 runs per game in the tournament, was held to just Junior Caminero’s two-out solo home run over the left field wall on an 1-2 count in the bottom of the second inning off USA starter Paul Skenes (2-0), the reigning National League Cy Young winner.

David Bednar #53 of Team United States celebrates after recording the final out of the seventh inning against Team Dominican Republic at loanDepot park on March 15, 2026. Getty Images

Caminero’s homer was his third of the Classic and 15th for the Dominican Republic, breaking the record for most home runs in a single WBC.

“The DR is the toughest lineup I’ve ⁠ever faced, that’s for sure,” said Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates ace. “I think they would say the same thing about us.”

USA closer Mason Miller struck out Caminero to open the bottom of the ninth, then walked Julio Rodriguez, who advanced to second on a wild pitch. Rodriguez moved to third on ⁠a groundout by pinch hitter Oneil Cruz. But Miller struck out Geraldo Perdomo looking to end the game and pick up his second save of the WBC.

“I don’t want to focus on the last pitch. Obviously, it didn’t go our way,” Pujols said. “Disappointed about the way the game ended, but I don’t want to criticize. It just wasn’t meant to be for us.”

Miller said: “When you go into a game with a lineup of guys that are staples in the middle of every order around the league and some of the best players in that game, you’ve got to be at your best.”

Dominican starter Luis Severino pitched 3 1/3 innings and allowed the tying home run by ​Henderson to lead off the top of the fourth. Severino gave up five hits but struck out ‌six and did not issue a walk.

Anthony then gave the U.S. a 2-1 lead when he blasted a solo ⁠homer 421 feet to right center off reliever Gregory Soto (0-1). Anthony, who grew up in South Florida, played ​his first game at loanDepot park as a pro and first ⁠since 2018 when he played there with his high school, ⁠Majory Stoneman Douglas High from nearby Parkland, Fla.

“For me, I was here the last time around watching the championship game heading into my first spring training and heading into my first full year of minor league baseball, so it’s a bit of a full-circle moment,” Anthony said. “It was a dream of mine since as long as I can remember. … Just being around these guys and competing with these guys, ⁠day in and day out. It’s unbelievable.”

United States’ Gunnar Henderson gestures to his teammates after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a World Baseball Classic. AP

USA’s bullpen allowed only two hits over 4 2/3 shutout innings.

Aaron Judge helped keep the Dominican Republic from adding to its lead in the third when the right fielder ‌threw out Fernando Tatis Jr. ⁠at third base trying to advance on Ketel Marte’s single.

Skenes ran into trouble in the bottom of the fourth when he gave up a double to Vlad Guerrero Jr., and an infield single to Manny Machado. After a fielder’s choice out at second, Skenes ​hit Rodriguez with a pitch to load the bases. But Skenes got Austin Wells to fly out to left to end the threat.

Skenes lasted 4 1/3 innings, struck out ⁠two, walked none and allowed six hits overall.

“It makes it a lot ⁠easier to be a starting pitcher when you ‌can get to the fifth inning — and that’s the nature of this tournament,” Skenes said. “The innings are limited for starting pitchers — and you can hand the ball off pretty confidently that the bullpen is going to get ​the job done. They’ve done a great job.”

Tatis Jr. and Marte knocked Skenes out of the game after hitting consecutive singles in the fifth with one out. Tyler Rogers replaced Skenes and induced Juan Soto to ‌ground into an inning-ending double play.

Max Strus has a new perspective after seven months away from basketball

CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 15: Max Strus #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates after scoring during the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Rocket Arena on March 15, 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

CLEVELAND — Max Strus was the last Cleveland Cavaliers player in uniform after the game was long over. Maybe that was just a coincidence, but it didn’t feel like it. This was a man who was glad to be back playing basketball after not doing so in an NBA game since May 11.

Once Strus finally got his jersey off, he took questions from the media — an activity he’s known for not always outwardly enjoying — but this time was different. After making it through five minutes of answering questions, he finally broke down.

“I worked my ass off,” Struss said.

Then, he had to take a second to collect his thoughts and regain his voice that had started to waver.

“It was a long road, but I only know one way to work, and that’s as hard as possible. I did that every single day. … I’m just happy to be playing.”

It didn’t take Strus long to make his presence felt on the court. After receiving a raucous ovation after entering the game for the first time this season, he knocked down a contested three off a James Harden feed on his first offensive possession in almost a year. Then, he did the same thing on the next trip down the court, only this time from a Dennis Schroder dish.

The first triple got the crowd on their feet. The second sent them into a frenzy.

Strus wasn’t just back, he was better than ever.

“It was a pretty amazing performance after seven months of not playing in an NBA game,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said afterward. “Maybe the best I’ve seen.”

CLEVELAND, OHIO – MARCH 15: Max Strus #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates after scoring during the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Rocket Arena on March 15, 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Strus certainly did have an amazing performance. He went on to nail his first four threes before finishing the night going 6-7 from beyond the arc in his 24-point performance in 20 minutes.

“That’s the Max Strus we know,” Donovan Mitchell said afterward. “The shooting was there, but it was the little things [that were impressive].”

Strus looked like he hadn’t missed a beat in Sunday’s loss to the Dallas Mavericks. He was able to impact the game in all the little ways he’s continually done since coming to Cleveland. He was effective at attacking closeouts off the dribble, getting teammates involved as a secondary playmaker, and making an impact on the glass. All of which are things the Cavs have desperately missed in his absence.

The journey back to the court has been more grueling than expected. “It wasn’t meant to be this long, but I can’t control the way my body heals.”

The initial estimates after the injury in August had him returning around Christmas, but it took three months longer than expected. Strus mentioned that he could’ve just shut it down for the entire season. That would’ve been an easier option, but he isn’t exactly known for taking the easy way out when presented with that choice.

“He’s put in so much time and effort [into his recovery],” Mitchell said. “It’s easy for a guy to get discouraged, but he’s not the type to give up.”

Strus credits his family with getting him through this process. This ordeal has also led him to seek a different outlook. One more focused on being positive and grateful for everything that he has.

Life has a way of testing us in uncomfortable and unexpected ways. These last seven months have been incredibly difficult for Strus, but he’s come out on the other side with a better grasp of who he is.

“You learn a lot about yourself when something is taken away from you,” Strus said. “I think I understand how important this is and how much it does mean to me that I want to be back. I want to make an impact. I want to help this team win. I do love basketball. I do love doing it with a good group of guys.

“I’m just happy to be back.”

Thunder use balanced attack to win 8th straight, beat Timberwolves 116-103

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 20 points and 10 assists, and the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-103 on Sunday for their eighth straight win.

Gilgeous-Alexander barely extended his record streak of games with at least 20 points to 128. He had just 10 points heading into the fourth, and he re-entered the game with 7:10 left after resting.

He scored on a stepback against Anthony Edwards with 1:46 remaining and was fouled to reach 19 points. With the crowd standing and chanting “M-V-P!” he drained the free throw to keep the streak alive and push himself further past Wilt Chamberlain’s old mark of 126.

Chet Holmgren had 21 points and nine rebounds and Isaiah Joe added 20 points for the Thunder, who improved to a league-best 53-15.

Julius Randle scored 32 points and Edwards added 19 for the Timberwolves.

The Thunder forced 22 turnovers while committing just seven. Oklahoma City attempted 101 shots while Minnesota tried 77.

MAVERICKS 130, CAVALIERS 120

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cooper Flagg scored 27 points, Naji Marshall added 25 and Dallas bounced back from a 33-point loss to Cleveland two days ago to defeat the Cavaliers.

The Mavericks, who were routed 138-105 on Friday night, pulled away in the second half to snap a seven-game losing streak against the Cavaliers.

P.J. Washington had 20 points and 11 rebounds for Dallas, which won for just the second time in 11 games.

It was the 12th time this season Flagg has scored at least 27 points. The top overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft was 10 of 17 from the field and also had 10 assists and six rebounds in 33 minutes.

RAPTORS 119, PISTONS 108

TORONTO (AP) — Brandon Ingram had a game-high 34 points and Toronto defeated Detroit.

RJ Barrett added 27 points and six rebounds for Toronto, which has won back-to-back games.

The win helped the Raptors hang on to sixth in the Eastern Conference.

Jakob Poeltl and Scottie Barnes each had a double-double. Poeltl finished with 21 points and a season-high 18 rebounds while Barnes added 14 points and 10 rebounds for Toronto.

Cade Cunningham had 33 points and nine assists as the first-place Pistons had their three-game win streak snapped.

BUCKS 134, PACERS 123

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 31 points and pulled down 14 rebounds before leaving the game with an injury, and Milwaukee beat Indiana.

Antetokounmpo landed awkwardly as he completed a dunk late in the third quarter. He briefly remained in the game and dunked again on Milwaukee’s next possession. He got fouled the possession after that and attempted a pair of free throws before heading to the locker room.

Antetokounmpo also had eight assists while Bobby Portis scored 29 points and added 10 rebounds. Ryan Rollins shot 8 for 12, including 3 for 5 from beyond the 3-point line, to finish with 20 points, seven assists and three steals.

Aaron Nesmith led the Pacers with 32 points. Indiana also got 16 points and two blocks from Jay Huff.

76ERS , TRAIL BLAZERS

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Quentin Grimes scored 14 of his season-high 31 points in the fourth quarter as short-handed Philadelphia beat Portland.

The Sixers were playing without Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr. due to injuries.

Justin Edwards scored 21 points, and VJ Edgecombe had 18 points and a career-high 12 rebounds for the rookie’s third double-double this season.

Deni Avdija led Portland with 25 points, and Jerami Grant added 20. But the Trail Blazers shot just 17 for 53 from 3-point range (32.7%). Donovan Clingan added 11 points and 15 rebounds.

KNICKS 110, WARRIORS 107

NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Brunson had 30 points and nine assists, and New York rallied from a 21-point deficit against a patchwork Golden State lineup to beat the Warriors.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks, while OG Anunoby and Jordan Clarkson both had 14 points. The Knicks took a while to wake up in their return home from a five-game road trip before eventually picking up their third straight victory.

The Knicks led briefly in the opening minutes of the game and then not again until the final minutes of the third quarter after back-to-back baskets by Brunson.

Brandin Podziemski scored 25 points for the Warriors, who had Stephen Curry and most of their recognizable names on the bench in their season-high fifth straight loss. Quentin Post had a career-high 22 and Gui Santos finished with 20.

Curry missed his 17th straight game with right knee pain and inflammation. Younger brother Seth Curry is out at least a week with a left groin strain and veteran forward Al Horford has a left calf strain that will also sideline him at least a week.

KINGS 116, JAZZ 111

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — DeMar DeRozan scored a season-high 41 points and had 11 assists to help Sacramento hold off Utah.

DeRozan, who passed Hall of Famer Tim Duncan last week for 18th place on the NBA’s career scoring list, was 11 of 21 from the floor while reaching 40 points for the first time since Feb. 2, 2025. It’s the 417th time he has scored 20 or more points while shooting at least 50 percent.

Precious Achiuwa added 20 points and 11 rebounds in the matchup of the two worst teams in the Western Conference. Killian Hayes, who signed an extension with Sacramento earlier in the day, had 16 points and eight assists. Nique Clifford and Daeqwon Plowden each scored 10.

The Kings (18-51) have won four of five.

Cody Williams scored 34 points for the Jazz (20-48). Brice Sensabaugh had 22 points and Isaiah Collier 21.

3 notes before the Mavericks complete four games in five days at the New Orleans Pelicans

NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 22: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks dunks the ball during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on December 22, 2025 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Fresh off a surprising 130-120 win on Sunday at the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Dallas Mavericks (23-45) will play their fourth game in five days on Monday against the struggling New Orleans Pelicans (22-46) at Smoothie King Center. Tipoff in New Orleans is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The Mavericks have lost two of three against the Pelicans thus far this year, most recently dropping a 119-113 decision in New Orleans on Dec. 22. Monday’s game will be the fourth and final meeting between these two teams this year.

The Pels had won seven of 10 until their 107-105 loss at the Houston Rockets on Friday.

Whats left in the tank?

The Mavericks may not have much left to give in the second back-to-back set in the last five days, but, hell, how much gas did they have left traveling to Cleveland on Sunday for their third game in four days? That stunning win was evidence that anything can happen in an NBA game.

Dallas is at the tail end of a brutal scheduling stretch that will see them play nine games in just 14 days. The Mavs have gone 2-6 in their first eight games of that stretch and will have traveled more than 2,000 miles criss-crossing the country when it comes to an end after Monday’s game in New Orleans.

The Pelicans, meanwhile, have been twiddling their feathers, waiting on the Mavericks to arrive since they got home following Friday’s loss at Houston.

Cooper gets on the good foot

Cooper Flagg has been on a tear in his last two games after struggling a little in his first five games back from a foot sprain. He scored 25 points and dished five assists in Friday’s 138-105 loss to the Cavaliers at American Airlines Center, then one-upped himself the second time around with 27 points and 10 dimes in Sunday’s win. He’s shot 18-of-33 (54.5%) from the field in those last two, compared to 33-of-94 (35.1%) in his first five games since returning from the foot injury.

He’s had huge second halves in both of those last two games as well. It’ll be interesting to see if he can get going a little earlier against the Pels on Monday. Flagg has scored 20 or more in two of the three games the Mavs have played against New Orleans so far this year. His 29-point, seven-rebound game against the Pelicans on Nov. 21 was one of the first “wow” moments of his impressive rookie year.

Big Tankathon game

The Mavs come into Monday’s game with the seventh-worst record in the NBA, and the Pelicans are one game worse than Dallas, sitting at sixth in the Tankathon standings. The Mavericks would move past New Orleans in the race for better NBA Draft Lottery odds with a loss on Monday, due to losing the season series with the Pelicans, 1-3.

A win on Monday would inch the Mavs ever closer to the Memphis Grizzlies, who are in the eighth slot in the Tankathon standings. It seems a little perverse to root for your team to lose, but if ever there were a game you wouldn’t mind Dallas to lose, it would be Monday’s at New Orleans.

How to watch

The Mavericks and the Pelicans will tip off at 7 p.m. CDT from Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. The game will be televised locally on KFAA Channel 29 and on sister stations throughout the Mavs’ regional viewership area. The stream will be on MavsTV and on NBA League Pass where available.

Monday's Time Schedule

All Times EDT

Monday, March 16

MLB - Spring Training

Philadelphia vs. Detroit, at Lakeland, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Pittsburgh vs. Minnesota, at Fort Myers, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Tampa Bay vs. Atlanta, at North Port, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Toronto vs. Miami, at Jupiter, Fla., 1:10 p.m.

L.A. Angels vs. Athletics, at Mesa, Ariz., 4:05 p.m.

Milwaukee vs. L.A Dodgers, at Phoenix, 4:05 p.m.

Cincinnati vs. Arizona, at Scottsdale, Ariz., 4:10 p.m.

San Francisco vs. San Diego, at Peoria, Ariz., 4:10 p.m.

Boston vs. Baltimore, at Sarasota, Fla., 6:05 p.m.

Washington vs. N.Y. Mets, at Port St Lucie, Fla., 6:10 p.m.

Chicago White Sox vs. Texas, at Surprise, Ariz., 8:05 p.m.

Chicago Cubs vs. Cleveland, at Goodyear, Ariz., 9:05 p.m.

NBA

Golden State at Washington, 7 p.m.

Orlando at Atlanta, 7 p.m.

Phoenix at Boston, 7:30 p.m.

Portland at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m.

Dallas at New Orleans, 8 p.m.

Memphis at Chicago, 8 p.m.

L.A. Lakers at Houston, 9:30 p.m.

San Antonio at L.A. Clippers, 10 p.m.

NHL

Boston at New Jersey, 7 p.m.

Calgary at Detroit, 7 p.m.

Los Angeles at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.

Utah at Dallas, 8 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Colorado, 9:30 p.m.

_____

Aaron Judge has home run robbed by Julio Rodriguez two innings after making spectacular defensive play

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Aaron Judge of Team United States batting against Team Dominican Republic, Image 2 shows Julio Rodríguez and Juan Soto celebrating on the field, Image 3 shows Julio Rodriguez robbs Aaron Judge of a home run in the WBC semifinals

The Baseball gods giveth and taketh away. 

Aaron Judge showed off his defensive prowess and then had a home run taken away from him by an impressive defensive play by Julio Rodríguez.

Aaron Judge of Team United States flies out against Team Dominican Republic during the fifth inning at loanDepot park on March 15, 2026 in Miami, Florida. Getty Images
Julio Rodriguez robbed Aaron Judge of a home run in the WBC semifinals. @

The Yankees slugger looked as though he was about to extend the Americans’ lead in the World Baseball Classic semifinal against the Dominican Republic at loadDepot Park on Sunday night. 

Judge hit a blast that was headed over the center field wall before Rodríguez leaped and snagged it for the second out of the top of the fifth. 

Rodríguez let out a massive celebration before sending the ball back into the infield. 

Earlier in the game, Judge reminded everyone why trying to run on him just isn’t a good idea. 

The Yankees star showed off his arm when Fernando Tatis Jr attempted to reach third after Ketel Marte hit a line drive into right field in the bottom of the third inning. 

Judge quickly scooped the ball and launched it in an attempt to throw out Tatis, firing the ball perfectly to Gunnar Henderson to get the third out of the inning. 

Julio Rodríguez of Team Dominican Republic celebrates with Juan Soto after catching a fly ball hit by Aaron Judge. Getty Images

It was the second time in the tournament that Judge had shown off his arm and made a similar play in the United States’ win over Mexico. 

A ball hit to right field was played by Judge and led to him throwing out a runner at third to end the inning. 

The United States had been trailing 1-0 after Junior Caminero had hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second. 

The Americans turned the game around in the top of the fourth after Henderson hit a home run in the fist at-bat of the inning to tie things 1-1. 

Roman Anthony gave the United States a 2-1 lead two batters later when he hit a solo home run of his own.

Cutter Gauthier breaks late tie in the Ducks' 4-3 victory over the Canadiens

MONTREAL (AP) — Cutter Gauthier scored with 2:30 left, Leo Carlsson had two goals and an assist and the Anaheim Ducks beat the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 on Sunday night to regain the Pacific Division lead.

Alone in front of the net, Gauthier took Jeffrey Viel's behind-the-back pass and snapped a shot past goalie Jacob Fowler.

Troy Terry added a goal and two assists in his return from an upper-body injury to help Anaheim improve to 37-27-3 and move a point ahead of Vegas in the Pacific Division. Chris Kreider had two assists, and Lukas Dostal made 27 saves.

Terry missed nine games. He tied it at 3 with 4:21 left in the five-goal second period when his pass deflected off the skate of Montreal forward Josh Anderson and over Fowler’s shoulder.

Nick Suzuki had a goal and an assist for Montreal, Alex Newhook and Cole Caufield also scored. Fowler stopped 24 shots in his second start since being recalled from the American Hockey League’s Laval Rocket on Wednesday.

The Canadiens were coming off a 3-2 loss to San Jose on Saturday. They are third in the Atlantic Division, two points behind Tampa Bay.

Defenseman John Carlson finally made his Ducks debut after coming over in a trade-deadline deal with Washington. He played 23 minutes in his return from a lower-body injury.

Montreal forward Kirby Dach left early in game because of an upper-body injury after a high hit from Viel.

Viel caught Dach in Anaheim’s end three minutes in after the Montreal forward swatted at the puck with his arm but missed. Dach fell to the ice with his face in his gloves before gingerly making his way to the bench, and eventually to the dressing room. Viel was not penalized.

The hit came three days after Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas ended Toronto captain Auston Matthews’ season with a knee-on-knee hit. Matthews has a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee. Gudas was given a major penalty and ejected, then suspended five games for kneeing — the maximum the Department of Safety could levy because the hearing was by phone.

Up next

Ducks: Host Philadelphia on Wednesday night.

Canadiens: Host Boston on Tuesday night.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Arizona Diamondbacks 2026 Non-Roster Invitees, Part 8

Mar 6, 2026; Houston, TX, United States; Great Britain outfielder Kristian Robinson (59) reacts during the fifth inning against Mexico at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

And finally, the outfield. Due to the sheer number of non-roster invitees this spring (34 all told), it has been quite the process. The first part of this series was published almost six weeks ago, back on February 2. As a result, a fair amount of water has gone under the bridge between now and then. Indeed, none of the four players we will be covering here, currently remain in consideration for an Opening Day roster spot. All of them have already been re-assigned to minor-league camp. However, I would bet you we’ll see one or more of them on the D-backs at some point over the next six months. So they still deserve coverage.

Druw Jones (93)

Druw’s star has certainly dimmed, since MLB Pipeline named him the number fifteen prospect in all baseball, the season after the D-backs drafted him with the second pick in the 2022 draft, paying him almost $8.2 million, still a club record. Three years later, he doesn’t even rank that high in the Arizona system, coming in at #16 on the recently released Pipeline list. He had a sub-.700 OPS in Hillboro last year: even though he was aged just 21, you’d expect better. A variety of injuries have taken their toll, and mechanical adjustments haven’t had the hoped for results. The defense is as good as you’d expect given his lineage, but the bat needs seriously to come around if he’s ever to come close to that early hype.

Kristian Robinson (62)

This will be Robinson’s ninth season in the Diamondbacks’ farm system, in part for reasons that we really do not need to rehash once again. But he still only turned 25 in December, and put up decent numbers after a mid-season promotion to Reno. Over 41 games for the Aces, he had a line of .262/.393/.469 for an OPS of .862 – not bad for his first time in Triple-A. Of course, having been part of the Great Britain roster in the WBC, I am naturally obliged to root for Robinson. But even beyond national allegiance, it would be quite the story if he were to end up patrolling the outfield at Chase Field this summer.

A.J. Vukovich (95)

A fourth-round pick in the 2020 draft, Vukovich spent all of 2025 in Reno, where his 22 home-runs and 79 RBI led the team in both categories. Admittedly, so did his 111 games, nobody else reaching three figures. But at the age of 24, he was still considerably younger than average for the level. I was a bit surprised he didn’t appear on even the Fangraphs’ list, which goes down as far as the top 56 prospects for the team. The bat probably does need to be improved, but I’d not mind a long-term outfield for the Diamondbacks of Corbin Carroll, Jordan Lawlar, Vukovich and Ryan Waldschmidt. And, speaking of whom…

Ryan Waldschmidt (59)

It seems appropriate to finish off this round-up with the consensus top player in the the D-backs’ farm system, and our only widely agreed top 100 prospect. It’s remarkable that he was under serious consideration for a spot on the team’s Opening Day roster, despite having less than 150 professional games to his name – none of them above Double-A. It’s probably for the best that Lawlar seems to have slotted into center acceptably, so that will give Waldschmidt a chance to polish his skills in Reno for a bit. I would still bet we will end up seeing Ryan in a Diamondbacks uniform at some point this year, as an appetizer for 2027 and beyond.

Player Grades: Cavs vs Mavericks – Defense disappoints again

CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 15: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers guards Khris Middleton #20 of the Dallas Mavericks during the second quarter at Rocket Arena on March 15, 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers lost this game on the defensive end.

All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.

James Harden

13 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, 6 turnovers

I think Harden played his best game as a Cavalier last week in Orlando. Today might have been his worst. He shot 4-12 from the floor and finished with six turnovers.

This was an example of all the classic Hardenisms. Careless turnovers. A total disinterest in playing defense. It’s the type of performance that’s bound to happen every once in a while when he’s on your team. Thankfully, this is only the first one we’ve seen in Cleveland.

Grade: F

Donovan Mitchell

26 points, 1 rebound, 11 assists, 1 turnover

It feels like the Cavs are leaning on Mitchell more than you’d expect, given the amount of weapons they have offensively. At times, he’s calling his own number; at times, it feels like no one else on the team wants it as badly as he does.

No one wants to see Mitchell take 10-24 shots on a night where he doesn’t particularly have it. And we definitely don’t want him to exert all of his energy on offense, leaving nothing to spare on the defensive end (though to be clear, I am not excusing Mitchell for his poor defense recently).

A better balance needs to be found soon.

Grade: D+

Evan Mobley

18 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks

The Cavalier defense has done Mobley no favors recently. Holes are popping up faster than anyone can plug them. That said, we know he’s capable of doing more on his own. A world-class performance would have helped patch some of the glaring issues this team currently has on defense. Instead, Mobley’s impact felt blunted despite his 4 blocks.

On the other end, this was a strong Mobley performance. He used his size early in the first half to punish Dallas in the paint, going 6-6 for 13 points in the second quarter. He finished with 18 points on 8-14 shooting.

Grade: C+

Max Strus

24 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist

Not sure you could have imagined a better return for Strus. He buried his first three three-point attempts and sent Rocket Arena into a frenzy. He finished with six three-pointers and was arguably the only thing keeping Cleveland alive at various points in the game.

Grade: A+++

Keon Ellis

5 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block

Ellis had been lights out recently from downtown. Packaging that with some of his defensive traits can be lethal. Neither his three-point shot nor his defensive tenacity was apparent today.

Grade: D

Nae’Qwan Tomlin

4 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 1 steal

Tomlin’s earned some extra opportunities recently with injuries to Jarrett Allen, Sam Merrill, and Jaylon Tyson. Today wasn’t much better than any of the games where he previously struggled, but it certainly wasn’t worse. I just think we’ve seen the ceiling for Tomlin this season.

Grade: D+

Dennis Schroder

8 points, 6 assists, 1 rebound

Schroder’s time in Cleveland has been erratic. This was one of the better games from him, as he scored efficiently and dished out 6 assists. His defense wasn’t anything to write home about, but I could say the same for pretty much anyone on the roster today.

Grade: B

Dean Wade

12 points, 0 assists, 5 rebounds

Wade started this game with a bang. He hit his first couple shots and even took his defender off the dribble for a tough hook.

Grade: C+

Thomas Bryant

10 points, 2 rebounds, 0 assists

The issues plaguing this team recently are above Bryant’s pay grade. He’s checked in and given them servicable backup big minutes. Anything more than that is not his job.

Grade: B

Julio Rodriguez makes ridiculous catch to rob Aaron Judge of extra bases at WBC

Dominican Republic center fielder Julio Rodriguez made a stunning catch to rob Aaron Judge of a home run in the fifth inning of the World Baseball Classic semifinal.

Judge, the New York Yankees' three-time MVP and captain of Team USA, drove a pitch from Juan Mejia to center at loanDepot Park in Miami and Rodriguez timed his leap perfectly at the wall to make the play.

An All-Star three times in four MLB seasons with the Seattle Mariners, Rodriguez popped up to celebrate and immediately while Judge could only smile after being robbed of extra bases.

The winner of the USA-Dominican Republic game advances to Tuesday's championship game against Venezuela or Italy.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Julio Rodriguez robs Aaron Judge with ridiculous catch at WBC

Sixers Bell Ringer: Big second half propels Sixers to win over Portland

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 15: Vj Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates a three-pointer during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 15, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer season standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 22
Joel Embiid – 9
VJ Edgecombe – 9
Paul George – 6
Justin Edwards – 4
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 4
Jared McCain :’( – 3
Dominick Barlow – 2
Andre Drummond – 2
Quentin Grimes – 2
MarJon Beauchamp – 1
Adem Bona – 1
Cam Payne – 1
Jabari Walker – 1
Trendon Watford – 1
15th roster spot – 1


The Sixers welcomed the Portland Trail Blazers to South Philly on Sunday night for a matchup of cross conference foes. The Sixers remain without their three best players as Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George continue to be sidelined. They came into the night in ninth place in the Eastern Conference while the Blazers are 10th in the west.

The Sixers got out to an early lead in the first quarter behind eight points each from Quentin Grimes and Justin Edwards. The Sixers held a 30-27 lead after the first frame.

Quentin Grimes continued his stellar play in the second quarter as he went to the half with 15 points on 6-for-12 shooting. Cam Payne’s nine points and aggressive play off the bench gave the Sixers a boost in his nine minutes of play. The Blazers closed the gap and took the lead into the intermission by a slim margin of 54-53.

The Sixers regained control of this one in the third period behind a big quarter from Edwards, who continues to once again assert himself amidst the absence of the Sixers’ stars. Edwards led all scorers with an efficient 19 points, including three treys, through three quarters. VJ Edgecombe’s activity was a major factor as well as he headed to the fourth quarter with a double-double. The Sixers took an 82-76 lead into the final stretch.

The Sixers used a big early run in the fourth quarter courtesy of Grimes, who made a living at the rim and in the midrange to propel them to a much-needed 109-103 win.

Time for Bell Ringer.

Quentin Grimes: 31 points, 11-for-22 from the field

March Quentin Grimes has once again arrived. Grimes, who carried the Sixers through the dog days of March and April last season, is back to his old ways. He got it going in this one by being a walking paint touch. Grimes got to the rim and his spots in the mi-range at will in this one. The Sixers will continue to need guard over the next few weeks as they look to stay afloat and improve their standing in the East.

Justin Edwards: 21 points, 9-for-14, 3-for-5 from three

PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 15: Justin Edwards #11 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 15, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Justin Edwards was extremely efficient tonight, whether it was his sweet shooting from three or throwing down a thunderous dunk. Edwards late-season surge could play himself into the rotation once the stars return because the Sixers do not have many guys that bring what he does at the forward spot when he is on.

VJ Edgecombe: 18 points, 12 rebounds, 8-for-18 from the field

VJ notched his fourth career double-double and was flying around the court on both ends like we have all come accustomed to seeing. Edgecombe’s energy upon his return has boosted the Sixers’ morale and helped steady the ship amongst the adversity. VJ continues to nail down his First Team All-Rookie case.

Luis Gil rocked again amid rough spring as Yankees rotation question lingers

New York Yankees pitcher Luis Gil throwing a pitch against the Detroit Tigers.
Luis Gil pitches during the Yankees-Tigers spring training game on March 15, 2026.

TAMPA — The search for the 2024 Luis Gil continues. 

There is still time to find it, but the Yankees right-hander will not have forever. 

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In his penultimate start of the spring, Gil had a game to forget Sunday, getting tagged for three home runs, nine hits and seven runs across three innings against the Tigers.

The former AL Rookie of the Year needed 68 pitches to get nine outs, and while his velocity took another slight tick up, he lacked command and overall crispness, making for a rough afternoon. 

“I feel like we’re closer right now [to Gil’s 2024 version] than we were last year, but ultimately these next steps are the big ones — really capturing the life on the fastball and then creating some space for the secondary,” pitching coach Matt Blake said after a 12-1 loss to the Tigers at Steinbrenner Field. 

Asked if Gil is a lock for the rotation, Aaron Boone described him as “one of the five guys.”

Luis Gil pitches during the Yankees-Tigers spring training game on March 15, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

But the Yankees have four off-days before their 10th game of the season, so they are still trying to figure out how to best manage the rotation in the first two weeks to keep everyone sharp.

Gil has a minor league option remaining, but the Yankees could also piggyback one starter with another if they decide to carry all five on the Opening Day roster (and that is before they eventually have to make space in the rotation once Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole return from the IL). 

That places some extra significance on Gil’s final start of the spring later this week, when he will have another chance to prove he is still capable of getting back to his 2024 form, when he was one of the more dominant pitchers in the first half of the season. 

Luis Gil is still trying to cement his spot in the Yankees rotation. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

“At the end of the day, I got to concentrate on what I need to do,” Gil said through an interpreter. “For me, [being consistent] is the focus and that’s the key, to control what I can control and work on my craft and be as consistent as possible. … It takes time to get there, to be at 100 percent, and I think that’s what’s important.”

Gil, who missed four months last year with a lat strain, averaged 95.8 mph with his fastball Sunday (up from 95.3 in 2025) and topped out at 97.5.

But he only got two whiffs on 19 swings against the fastball, after not generating any on 18 swings against it in his last outing. 

“That’s definitely something we’re looking into,” Blake said. “The profile from ’24 to now is slightly different. There’s a little bit less ride to it from a little bit slower slot. Sometimes that’ll play into the visibility of the pitch, the life above the barrel, those type of things. But the velos started to trend up as the spring’s gone on, so you feel like it’s improving. 

“Ultimately, the batters will tell you, so we got to find a way to get some miss and stay off the barrel with it.” 

Of the three home runs Gil gave up Sunday, one came on a changeup down the middle to Spencer Torkelson, one came on a slider on the inner third of the plate to Matt Vierling, and the last came on a 95 mph fastball on the inner third to Riley Greene.

He came away from the outing encouraged by the uptick on his fastball but displeased with his changeup. 

Boone, who acknowledged earlier this spring that he still wanted to see more from Gil, was asked if he has seen enough with a week left in camp. 

“I’ve seen a lot of good from Luis and again, it’s ticked up every time,” Boone said. “I want him to get back to where that first half of ’24, that next level of electricity with the heater. He’s still having trouble right now getting swing-and-miss with the heater. But it’s the whole package. But I also don’t want to ignore a lot of the good that’s gone on in some of the starts he’s had as well. So this was a rough one today, without question, but we got to get back and keep working on it.”

Not perfect — but still pretty good

SURPRISE, ARIZONA - MARCH 11: Tyler Fitzgerald #49 of the San Francisco Giants hits a single against the Kansas City Royals during the third inning of the spring training game at Surprise Stadium on March 11, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Is this an omen? Like Benny the Jet knocking the cover off a ball in “The Sandlot” — is Gregory Santos botching a perfect game with two outs in the 9th a sign of terrible things to come?  Is this 2026 bullpen going to be the death of the San Francisco Giants? Did not the soothsayer warn Julius Caesar to “beware the ides of March” before his assassination by the Roman senate? And here the Giants are, on the 15th, smack dab in March’s ides, bringing the Scottsdale faithful to their feet in the 9th only to have them slump down in their seats as a walk, followed by an RBI double claimed perfection, a no-hitter, and a shut-out in quick, successive stabs.

Disappointment in Spring Training, as Bryan points out, is never a good look… but so is getting carried away by Spring Training one-offs.

The perfect game would’ve definitely improved vibes in the moment, but losing the achievement on the 27th man hardly takes away from how well the Giants are playing as a whole. If Santos had sealed the deal, I doubt teammates would’ve flooded out of the dugout into a celebratory dogpile at the mound. The crowd in attendance would’ve cheered, strangers would’ve exchanged hi-fives, guffawed incredulously, and that would’ve been the extent of it. Fans at home would’ve checked the box score and smirked at the five-pitcher perfect-o. That’s kind of neat, some would think to themselves before seeking out more substantial things to sink their teeth into, like Robbie Ray’s 8-strikeout performance over 5 innings pitched, or Grant McCray’s beautifully caressed bunt up the third base line, or Jerar Encarnacion’s lumberjack cut in the 2nd. 

Nearly ten days ago, on March 6th, I wrote about how Encarnacion’s slow start meant “the big man was in serious danger of getting left behind” in San Francisco’s developing outfield race. The next day, after reading my post and resolving to prove me wrong, Encarnacion went 3-for-3 with a double and 2 runs batted-in in a game against Texas. Including those results and his mash from this afternoon, he’s now collected 9 hits over his last 20 at-bats, including 4 extra baggers, 9 RBIs and just 3 strikeouts.

Luis Matos, who was the hot hand a week-and-a-half ago, has cooled considerably. He’s gone 2-for-18 with no extra baggers, no RBIs, and has now seen his no-strikeout-spring blemished by two K’s, including one today. While Matos and Encarnacion are not mutually exclusive options for the Opening Day roster, their option-less inflexibility, as well as their right-handedness, puts them at odds with each other for many. While the Giants did beat the Brewers 7-1 today, the real competition of Spring Training are these internal battles. Matos had his moments with runners on base today and didn’t do much. He struck out with Matt Chapman on 2nd in the 1st, then rolled weakly to short with the bases loaded in the 2nd and can’t really take credit for David Hamilton’s two-run throwing error.

Meanwhile Encarnacion made a cutter disappear in a puff of smoke and won the day. Things are getting interesting.  

And on the mound, Robbie Ray looked regular-season ready in his fifth start of the Cactus League. He threw 64 pitches over 5 perfect innings while striking out 8 Milwaukee batters. The approach was simple and to the point: Heavy on the four-seamer with the hard slider peppered in just enough to keep hitters on their toes. He snuck a dozen fastballs by hitters for called strikes. 6 of his K’s came on the slider and 6 of the 8 swings taken at the pitch were whiffed. What made his outing so successful was not the swing-and-miss stuff, it was his efficiency. He fought back into counts and kept balls in play grounded, which are not necessarily well-established aspects of his game. 

Perfection was out of reach in today’s 7-1 win. But that’s okay. Ten days out from Opening Day, fans aren’t picky right now. Entertaining works, so does promising, or intriguing — descriptors that fit the Giants’ Cactus League performance so far.

Other things of note: 

Matt Chapman’s 3-for-3 day, including two more doubles, improved his Spring Training totals to 13-for-29 with 8 extra base hits (6 2Bs, 2 HR). He frankly looks bored at the plate.

Grant McCray singled twice with two stolen bases, before he was picked off from second attempting to swipe a third. That being said, the outfielder continues to put on a pointed display for Tony Vitello and the coaching staff. The Giants don’t need him to be a power-threat, they need him to be fast. So far, McCray has matured into this understanding: He’s walked more (7 BB) than he’s struck-out (6) so far, he’s bunting, he’s being aggressive on the bases. If he can show he can consistently get on base and turn dinky singles into scoring threats with his speed, he’s going to find his way onto the big league roster.