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Joey Wentz to miss season, per report

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Joey Wentz will miss the 2026 season with a torn ACL, according to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman and the AJC’s Chad Bishop. Wentz was injured in a Spring Training game on Sunday, March 8, 2026 when covering first base.

Wentz joins fellow starting pitchers Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep in missing at least a big part of the 2026 season, if all all of it, thinning Atlanta’s starting rotation options greatly.

Wentz, once a top Atlanta Braves prospect, re-joined the organization and found some success after being thrust into starting duty when injuries mounted during the 2025 campaign.

The injury to Wentz leaves Atlanta’s starting rotation thin – with Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Reynaldo Lopez and Grant Holmes in the the top four spots. Bryce Elder is the front-runner for the fifth spot with prospect JR Ritchie a potential option to start the season. Veterans Martin Perez and Carlos Carrasco are both in camp on minor league contracts. Veteran Jose Suarez, who pitched with Atlanta last season, and returned to the team this off-season after being designated for assignment, is another option.

Wentz debuted for the Detroit Tigers in 2022 and has also appeared for the Minnesota Twins and Pittsburgh Pirates during his career. He pitched in 14 games with Atlanta in 2025, making 13 starts.

This is a developing story.

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NBA power rankings 2025-26: Spurs, Thunder remain on top but Celtics trying to crash party

While the Thunder and Spurs are separating themselves from the field, and Boston is red hot, the most interesting race in the final month of the NBA season is the East 5-10 seeds. All those teams are within five games of each other, and a lot is on the line.

1. San Antonio Spurs

(47-17, last week No. 1)
San Antonio has gone 15-1 in this run, including thrashing the Houston Rockets by 25 on NBC's Sunday Night Basketball. However, it was a win over the Clippers on Friday that left Victor Wembanyama emotional — that game summarized how far this team has come. With just over nine minutes left in the third quarter, Los Angeles led San Antonio by 25, but the Spurs ended the game on a 66-47 run to earn the victory. "That was one of the best wins. That was one of the best games, best parts of my career, my basketball life," Wembanyama said afterwards. On Sunday, he was just putting on a show.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder

(50-15, last week No. 3)
It's not a coincidence that the Thunder are 5-0 since the return of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the lineup (although he did not play in one of those wins, vs. Chicago). The Thunder are getting even healthier this week with the return of reserve guard Ajay Mitchell after he missed 20 games. The Thunder will be tested this week. That starts Monday with a rematch against Denver (a game you can watch on Peacock), a physical, bad-blood showdown after Lu Dort was ejected from the last meeting for a foul on Nikola Jokic (a game the Thunder won in OT without SGA). That Monday matchup is not just a game between the two betting favorites to win the NBA title (via DraftKings) but also the two frontrunners for MVP, although SGA has created a little separation in that race as Denver has stumbled a little of late. After that, Oklahoma City has games against Boston and Minnesota.

3. Boston Celtics

(43-21, last week No. 4)
Boston is 2-0 since Jayson Tatum's return — including an impressive thrashing of Cleveland Sunday — and through two games he has averaged 17.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, playing 27 minutes a night. He's had some really impressive stretches, such as the first quarter against Cleveland, although he is still finding his shooting stroke (5-17 from 3-point range). "It was surreal…" Tatum said of his return. "I dreamed about this, and for it to finally happen… it was everything I could have dreamed of. It's been tough. Emotional. A lot of times, I doubted myself. A lot of nights, I spent crying. But I just tried to keep showing up every day." Big measuring stick game against the Spurs on Coast 2 Coast on NBC and Peacock Tuesday.

4. New York Knicks

(41-24, last week No. 6)
Since Jan. 15, a 25-game sample, the Knicks have the best defense in the NBA. What changed from early in the season? "We've had to make changes, both offensively and defensively, to adapt to our personnel... and it's just been a process…" coach Mike Brown said, referencing the players in and out of the lineup due to health. "So give a lot of credit with the incremental process that we made on the defensive floor. In terms of Xs and Os, the physicality has gotten better, for sure on the end of the floor, more than anything else." That defense has New York 1-1 through two games of a five-game road trip that includes some winnable games in Utah and Indiana this week.

5. Detroit Pistons

(45-18, last week No. 2)
Detroit dropped four in a row, but it was blowing a 23-point second-half lead to the tanking Brooklyn Nets that stands out as maybe Detroit's ugliest loss of the season. If you're asking how that can happen, that game is a reminder of the drop-off once Cade Cunningham is off the court (he was out for the night but played against Miami Sunday). Even against the Nets' lowly defense, Detroit struggled to consistently run its offense without Cunningham leading it. Boston is now within 2.5 games of Detroit for the No. 1 seed and the Pistons need to rack up a few wins in the coming weeks to secure that top spot.

6. Cleveland Cavaliers

(39-25, last week No. 5)
One of the things Cleveland needed to make a leap forward and be a threat to come out of the East this season was improved play from Evan Mobley on the offensive end. Since James Harden's arrival, we have seen a little more of that: In his last five games, Mobley is averaging 18.8 points, shooting 42.9% from 3-point range, and grabbing nine rebounds a night. With that improved Mobley, Cleveland beat Detroit but lost to Boston last week, splitting big measuring stick games. This week, the schedule lightens up.

7. Minnesota Timberwolves

(40-24, last week No. 7)
It remains hard to get a real feel for this team on any given night. Minnesota is 8-2 in its last 10, with quality wins in that stretch, including against Denver, but then you watch it lose to Orlando by 27 over the weekend and wonder if this team is any good. Both of the losses in the last 10 games are by 27 points, this is a team capable of losing focus on any given night and getting crushed. The Timberwolves are also capable of beating anyone. They need to be focused this week with a tough four-game, West road swing that starts in Los Angeles on Tuesday — part of NBA Coast 2 Coast on NBC and Peacock — and finishing next Sunday in Oklahoma City.

8. Denver Nuggets

(39-25, last week No. 8)
Denver just can't catch a break. Aaron Gordon made his return to the Nuggets lineup on Friday, only to have Jamal Murray leave that same game after rolling his ankle. While Murray's injury reportedly is not serious (he is questionable for Monday night), this team just needs to get healthy. Gordon returned after missing 17 games, and the Nuggets went 8-9 in those games (to be fair, Nikola Jokic and others missed time in that stretch, too). Denver may limit Gordon for a while. Remember, he first injured his right hamstring in November, missed 19 games, returned for a few weeks, then strained it again, missing more than a month in that second go-round. Denver needs him for the playoffs, the Nuggets' defense is 7.1 points per 100 possessions better when he is on the court. Big rematch with the Thunder Monday night on Peacock.

9. Miami Heat

(36-29, last week No. 12)
Winners of five in a row and quietly one of the hotter teams in the NBA — Miami's streak includes beating Houston, Charlotte and Detroit. Over their last 15 games, the Heat are 10-5 with the fourth-best offense and sixth-best defense in the league. That improved offense has seen the Heat slow the pace a little and set a few more ball screens, but with Tyler Herro and Norman Powell leading the way, this team has found its groove at just the right time. Big game this Saturday against Orlando, the team just above them in the standings.

10. Houston Rockets

(39-24, last week No. 9)
Houston spent the past couple of weeks alternating wins and losses (3-3 in its last six), but the losses sting. There was getting blown out on national television Sunday by San Antonio. Then there was the overtime loss to the Warriors — Houston is 17-18 with a -6 net rating in the clutch this season (games within five points in the final five minutes). Make that within three points in the final three minutes and things look marginally better — a 14-14 record with a +4.2 net rating — but this is not a team that is at its best in the biggest moments. Big showdown Wednesday at Denver.

11. Orlando Magic

(35-28, last week No. 13)
The theory of the Magic before the season (and before injuries hit them hard) was that Desmond Bane would improve the offense, but their winning was built on the foundation of an elite defense. That foundation was crumbling much of the season, but the Magic have found their footing of late — Orlando has the second-best defense in the NBA over the last 10 games. Not so coincidentally, Orlando is 7-3 with a +10.9 net rating in those games, helping it hold off Miami and Philadelphia for the No. 6 seed and avoiding the play-in. Huge game Saturday against that hot Miami squad.

12. Los Angeles Lakers

(39-25, last week No. 14)
Los Angeles holding New York to 97 points on Sunday was the latest sign in a trend — the Lakers are playing better defense of late. The multiple efforts are there, rotating quicker and drawing charges. "Down the stretch, I think we had three or four possessions where we end up with either deflection or steals. All of that was on multiple efforts. We were able to sustain that for all four quarters…" JJ Redick said after the win. "We're 15-9 in our last 24. We're a top-10 offense and a top-15 defense. That's what we wanted coming into this season with this group, and that's where our group is right now." Watch that defense get put to the test Tuesday night on NBA Coast 2 Coast on NBC, when they take on Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves. Maybe that game will feature more Luka magic.

13. Phoenix Suns

(37-27, last week No. 17)
Devin Booker is back and had 17 points in his first game, a soft landing against Sacramento. It's only gotten better from there, he's played 30+ minutes in each game, scored 30+ in in the last two, and most importantly the Suns are 3-1 in those games as they try to chase down a top-six seed (Phoenix is just two games back of the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver for the 5/6 seeds, and 2.5 games back of Houston for the No. 4 slot, but the Suns are going to need help to reach that goal (Denver has the toughest remaining schedule of all those teams).

14. Charlotte Hornets

(32-33, last week No. 16)
Before running into Chicago (of all teams), Charlotte not only had a six-game winning streak, but won each game by 15+ points — the last team to do that was the Kevin Durant/Stephen Curry-era Warriors. The Hornets are 16-5 since Jan. 22, the second-best record in the league in that stretch, and with the best offense in the league in that time. Charlotte is 21-4 in games in which LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, Kon Knueppel, and Moussa Diabate start. The question now for the No. 10 seed Hornets is how high they can climb in the standings in the final month of the season. Charlotte is three games back of No. 8 seed Philadelphia and four games behind No. 6 seed Orlando.

15. Toronto Raptors

(36-27, last week No. 10)
Toronto's season can be summed up best this way: It is 21-7 against teams below .500 and 15-20 against teams over .500, which includes going 3-8 against the four teams above them in the East. The Raptors are a good team that beats the teams below them but can't really compete with the best the league has to offer. This week, Toronto gets three of those good teams: Houston, Phoenix, and Detroit.

16. Atlanta Hawks

(33-31, last week No. 18)
Winners of six in a row, but the key ones were victories over the Bucks (a team chasing them for a spot in the play-in) and Philadelphia (a team now just 1.5 games ahead of them for the No. 8 seed). Part of the improvement is Dyson Daniels looking more comfortable in his role at the three for this team. Three more winnable games coming up for Atlanta this week in Dallas, Brooklyn and Milwaukee.

17. Philadelphia 76ers

(34-29, last week No. 11)
The 76ers just can't stay healthy. All-Star Tyrese Maxey is out at least a couple of games with a sprained finger (and Philly fans need to hope it's not longer), Joel Embiid remains out with an oblique strain, and Paul George is still suspended. Philadelphia has a -19.6 net rating this season when none of those three is on the court. Even with Maxey, the 76ers couldn't break 100 points against the Celtics or Spurs lately, and this week Cleveland and Detroit are on the schedule. Philly needs wins to hold on to that No. 6 seed, and those wins will be hard to come by until this team gets healthy.

18. Los Angeles Clippers

(31-32, last week No. 19)
It took three games for Darius Garland to be in the Clippers' starting lineup, and through three games in LA, he is averaging 15 points and 5.3 assists a game, including 21 points as a starter against Memphis. If you're looking for a sign of how hard the Clippers are playing for Ty Lue, look at last week's come-from-behind wins against the Warriors (17 down) and Memphis (19), and we'll just ignore that blown 25-point lead against the Spurs. The Clippers have a five-game home stand coming up, but it starts with tough ones against the Knicks and Timberwolves (although in both cases those teams played the Lakers the night before).

19. Golden State Warriors

(32-31, last week No. 15)
The good news is Kristaps Porzingis made a return from illness and played for the Warriors on Saturday night. The bad news is that Stephen Curry remains out with his runner's knee and will miss most, if not all of this week. Golden State is 5-8 in this stretch without Curry on the court (or Jimmy Butler) and are going to have to fight to maintain their No. 8 seed and hold off the LA Clippers — who the Warriors lost to this week and have just a one-game lead over (Portland is just 2.5 games back as the No. 10 seed).

20. Portland Trail Blazers

(31-34, last week No. 20)
It was so good to see THAT Scoot Henderson on Sunday, dropping 28 points off the bench and looking like what so many of us hoped he could be as the No. 2 pick. Consistency matters, but that was a promising sign. Also good to see Deni Avdija back after a 7-game absence, he is in the mix for an All-NBA spot and could use a strong finish to the season.

21. Milwaukee Bucks

(27-36, last week No. 21)
Giannis Antetokounmpo is back on the court but that was not enough. In a week the Bucks needed wins, they lost critical games to the Hawks and Magic at home, and Milwaukee now sits four games out of the play-in with just 19 games left in the season (and it is chasing hot Charlotte and Atlanta teams). After three injuries sidelined him this season, Antetokounmpo realizes he may have to change how he plays a little now and in the future. "I've just got to be smarter moving forward, because things that I was able to do in the past maybe I'm not able to do now. I've just got to be more methodical with my rehab…" Antetokounmpo said after his first game. "I'm not old, but I'm older, for sure. I'm not 24 years old anymore. I'm 31."

22. New Orleans Pelicans

(21-45, last week No. 22)
Since his return to the lineup, Dejoute Murray is averaging 16 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists a game, and the Pelicans are 3-3 in the games he's played. This team is finally healthy, but that just exposes the concern along the front line as the tallest player in interim coach James Borego's starting five is 6'8" Saddiq Bey (or maybe Herb Jones is the five at 6'7"), and rookie Derik Queen is now the sixth man. The Pelicans are home for five of their next six games.

23. Memphis Grizzlies

(23-39, last week No. 23)
While the Grizzlies are technically the No. 11 seed in the West, they are 6.5 games back of No. 10 Portland — the play-in is not happening this season. Not that it was a surprise, with Jaren Jackson Jr. traded away at the deadline and Ja Morant still sidelined (elbow), the rebuild is underway in Memphis. Rough week ahead for the healthy Grizzies players, with four games in five days (due to schedule changes around the league).

24. Chicago Bulls

(26-38, last week No. 25)
In their last 15 games, the Bulls have the worst offense in the NBA, with an offensive rating of 105 (for comparison, the league median for that stretch is 114.5). Chicago still has games where everything comes together, like last week's upset win over Phoenix, but it's now a tanking team that's going to have more rough nights than good ones. The Bulls are on the road out West, taking on the Warriors, Lakers, and Clippers this week.

25. Dallas Mavericks

(21-43, last week No. 24)
Cooper Flagg returned this week and looked rusty through three games (but played 25+ minutes in each one). While he scored in the high teens in each game, Flagg shot 33.9% in those games and is 2-of-11 from 3-point range in those games. He was not able to snap Dallas' losing streak, which has now reached seven games. Tough week for the Mavericks, who have four games in five days to make up for a postponement, including a home-and-home against Cleveland.

26. Utah Jazz

(19-45, last week No. 26)
The fans in Utah are (wisely) already looking ahead to next season, and part of the reason to be optimistic about that is Ace Bailey is looking better and better each game. The No. 5 pick last June dropped 32 on the Wizards this past week, helping Utah snap a seven-game losing streak. Whatever Utah's future looks like, Ace Bailey is going to be part of it.

27. Brooklyn Nets

(16-47, last week No. 30)
There will be changes coming to Brooklyn this offseason, but Michael Porter Jr. would like to stick around, he said on the Emily Porter Show. "I'm enjoying my time here. It's obviously different than Denver, but um, you know, I'm 27 now. And to have this time of my life to embrace this different opportunity. I'm all about it. So, I'm excited for not only the remainder of this year, but going forward hopefully with Brooklyn."

28. Sacramento Kings

(15-50, last week No. 29)
Russell Westbrook used his beef with the Sacramento media as fuel for his best game of the season, a 23-point triple-double (with 12 assists and 11 rebounds) with no turnovers as the Kings beat the Bulls. It's going to be interesting to see where Westbrook lands this offseason (he will be a free agent).

29. Washington Wizards

(16-47, last week No. 27)
Trae Young made his Washington debut, playing in two games with a minutes restriction (currently set around 20), and he scored 17 against the Pelicans and a dozen against the Jazz (both Washington losses). Even with Young back, the Wizards have dropped eight in a row and their next eight games are all against teams over .500.

30. Indiana Pacers

(15-49, last week No. 28)
Coach Rick Carlisle said that center Ivica Zubac will play at some point this season, he has been out since before being traded to the Pacers with an ankle sprain. It would be ironic if Zubac — an underrated center in the league — came back and helped the Pacers win a few games, increasing the odds the Pacers' first-round pick in June goes to the Clippers (Indiana keeps it if it's 1-4, after that it goes to LA). Because of that potential, don't expect to see a lot of Zubac this season, but it sounds like he will play.

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Preview: Wizards play Heat on Tuesday

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 08: Bilal Coulibaly #0 of the Washington Wizards handles the ball against the Miami Heat at Capital One Arena on February 08, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Washington Wizards are on the road tomorrow night and will play the Miami Heat.

Game info

When: Tuesday, Mar. 9 at 7 p.m. ET

Where: Kaseya Center, Miami, Florida

How to watch: Monumental Sports Network, League Pass

Injuries: For the Wizards, Kyshawn George (elbow), Tristan Vukcevic (thigh), Jamir Watkins (ankle), Anthony Davis (hand, groin), Cam Whitmore (shoulder), Alex Sarr (hamstring), and D’Angelo Russell (not with team) are out.

For the Heat, Nikola Jovic (back), Norman Powell (groin), Simone Fontecchio (groin) and Terry Rozier (administrative) are out.

What to watch for

The Wizards will look to avoid a ninth straight loss today. Things just haven’t gone particularly well, even with Trae Young now playing and with some others like Juju Reese having strong individual performances.

The Heat have won five straight heading into tonight and are fighting to get the Southeast Division title. It will be a tough one for Washington to win, but you never know what happens tomorrow night!

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James Madison women beat Troy 69-52 for 2nd Sun Belt Tournament title since joining league in 2022

PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — Peyton McDaniel scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Ashanti Barnes also had a double-double with 19 points and 12 boards, and No. 4 seed James Madison beat second-seeded Troy 69-52 on Monday to claim its second Sun Belt Tournament championship since joining the league in 2022.

James Madison (26-8) was appearing in its fourth consecutive Sun Belt title game, the first program to do so since Middle Tennessee went to eight straight from 2003-10. McDaniel scored 30 points the last time JMU won the title in 2023.

Four different James Madison starters scored during a game-opening 13-0 run that included six straight made field goals. Troy missed its first 11 shots.

James Madison opened the third quarter on a 14-4 run to take a double-digit lead for good at 48-34. The Dukes added an 8-0 run to begin to the fourth to pull away.

McDaniel, who was named the Sun Belt most outstanding player, finished 11 of 23 from the field, including 5 of 12 from behind the arc. She also had 10 rebounds and four assists for JMU, which became the first four-seed to capture the Sun Belt championship since Troy did so in the 2015-16 season.

Fortuna Ngnawo led Troy (25-7) with 18 points and 12 rebounds before leaving the game late in the fourth with an injury. Emani Jenkins made Troy's first 3-pointer of the game — in nine attempts — with 5:27 left in the fourth.

The Trojans were seeking a fourth Sun Belt title (2021, 2017, 2016).

James Madison, which has won 12 straight games, will make the program's 14th appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

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Washington Nationals prospect Ronny Cruz puts himself on the map with Spring Training home run

The Nationals have a stockpile of young infielders. That means 19 year old Ronny Cruz can get lost in the shuffle sometimes. However, he showed off what he can do yesterday in his first at bat of the spring. The youngster launched a home run off of big leaguer JP France, which gave the Nats the lead in their Grapefruit League clash with the Astros.

Hopefully this home run could prove to be a bit of a coming out party for Cruz. He is going to have to stand out because the Nats have so many 18 to 20 year old infielders all coming through the system at the same time. Cruz is more of a project than some of these other guys, but he has a ton of potential if everything clicks.

Despite a slender 6’2 170 pound frame, Cruz has big time raw power, as we saw yesterday. He is also a good athlete and a strong defender. Cruz plays shortstop right now, but with all the young infielders in the system, he is likely to play all over the infield. In the game yesterday, he played second base. 

It is clear that Cruz is held in high regard by the organization. When asked about which minor leaguer has impressed him the most, Cruz was Paul Toboni’s answer. With the depth of talent in the Nats system, that tells you a lot. 

Cruz is actually an interesting story. He grew up in the Dominican Republic, but after an IFA deal fell through, he moved to the US for his last two years of school. Cruz impressed enough on the field in those two years to be drafted by the Cubs in the third round. That is despite suffering a knee injury in his senior year.

With all of this in mind, it is understandable that Cruz is a bit raw. He has some swing and miss issues, and his swing decisions are not great. However, the raw talent is undeniable. There is also more to dream on once he fills out his frame. That is why the Nats took a flier on him as part of the Michael Soroka deal last deadline.

They took one safe, lower upside prospect in Christian Franklin and shot for the stars with Cruz. There is a chance that Cruz just does not pan out. His numbers in rookie ball were only average, and his raw power did not translate to games. 

However, with all the buzz surrounding him this spring, it is clear that Cruz got a lot better in the offseason. The fact he homered off an experienced arm is a great sign. Cruz is just scratching the surface, but some of his gifts are starting to show.

Seeing guys like him is one of my favorite parts of Spring Training. It gives you a taste of the next generation of players. That home run will stick with me when thinking about Cruz. With guys like Devin Fitz-Gerald, Gavin Fein, Coy James and Eli Willits joining the organization in the last year, Cruz gets a bit overshadowed. However, he has my attention now.

It will be interesting to see what they do with him this season. With all of these infielders, finding playing time for them could be tough. I think Cruz should start the year in Low-A, but he will have to compete with guys like Fein, Willits, Angel Feliz and potentially Luke Dickerson. 

Having all of these mouths to feed forces these guys to be versatile, which could be a good thing in the long run. It also creates healthy competition. If you do not perform, the guy next to you is there to take your spot. There are not going to be enough spots for all of these guys to make it, so only the cream of the crop will rise.

Cruz is behind a lot of these players in the pecking order, but if he continues to perform, he will make it. He has as much raw talent as any of these guys, but he is rough around the edges. If he can refine his game, Mike DeBartolo may have found a diamond in the rough in his only trade deadline as an MLB GM.

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Astros Roster Projections as of March 9

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 12: Houston shortstop Carlos Correa (1) embraces left fielder Zach Cole (16) after he hit a two-run home run on the first pitch in his MLB debut during the MLB game between the Houston Astros and the Atlanta Braves on September 12th, 2025 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

There’s some interesting decisions that have to be made. Where could the Astros be leaning as of today?

This article updates my previous roster projection: https://www.crawfishboxes.com/houston-astros-analysis/72007/astros-2026-roster-and-depth-chart-projections-as-of-february-1

Let’s start with the rotation:

  1. Hunter Brown
  2. Tatsuya Imai
  3. Cristian Javier
  4. Mike Burrows
  5. Spencer Arrighetti
  6. Lance McCullers Jr/Ryan Weiss

Now, Arrighetti hasn’t been sharp, and his velocity hasn’t been consistent. He’s also only pitched twice, so there’s time.

Weiss went 2.1 IP in his first appearance. He’s also coming off a year where he threw over 170 IP and that durability/reliability should matter. Weiss went 3 innings today in his second appearance of the spring, allowing 1 run on 2 hits, walked 1 and struck out 6. By performance, he should be in the rotation, but we know there’s more to it than that. He will be on the roster in some fashion.

Jury is still out on Lance McCullers Jr. He’s only pitched one time, and he threw all of 8 pitches. The good news was that his velocity was significantly up from last year on his fastball/sinker. It’s the difference between him being a major leaguer or not.

The bad news is he’s only pitched once, and threw all of 8 pitches. Astros are understandably being cautious with Lance considering his injury history, and he has thrown a simulated game for 2 innings, the details of which are not public outside of the fact he threw “about 40 pitches”. That happened March 4, so 5 days ago.

McCullers gets the start tomorrow against Baltimore in an outing that could very much determine his future going forward with the Astros.

A strong outing could put him into a rotation slot, likely bumping Ryan Weiss to the pen even though Arrighetti hasn’t performed well as yet. A tough outing could have the team reevaluating his timeline and his role. Whether or not McCullers can maintain velocity inning to inning is a very big question that needs to be answered.

Considering Lance threw 40 pitches in a simulated game 5 days ago, I would expect he’s looking at something between 50-60 pitches tomorrow.

Now the bullpen:

  1. CL Josh Hader (likely IL)
  2. SU Bryan Abreu
  3. LHP Bryan King
  4. LHP Bennett Sousa
  5. LHP Steven Okert
  6. RHP AJ Blubaugh
  7. RHP Ryan Weiss
  8. RHP Roddery Munoz (last spot if Hader on IL)

The final two spots in the bullpen are the ‘flex spots’. I have included Weiss here as well as the rotation because what happens with McCullers directly impacts Weiss.

With the Astros employing a 6-man rotation, they will need a couple of pitchers who can go multiple innings, which Blubaugh and Weiss can certainly do. Having a short pen and trying to protect Hader and Abreu from multi-inning appearances will require having guys who can go multiple innings all season.

Sam Carlson and Kai-Wei Teng have impressed in camp, but the Astros selected Munoz in the Rule 5 draft and like his power stuff. After a rough start to Spring Training, Munoz has settled in and shown that power stuff racking up 7K in 4 inning. Since the team has to keep Munoz on the roster all season or offer him back to his original team, if Munoz continues to pitch well I think that situation gives him a leg up in being the last man in the pen with Hader sidelined.

Peter Lambert has also impressed in camp, and threw 3 shutout innings today, allowing 2 hits with 2 BB and 3K. He has worked himself into the conversation as a non-roster invitee.

Josh Hader’s situation is still the most tenuous of any Astros player. Hader is one of the most irreplaceable players on the roster, and he is still only throwing bullpens after being shut down last year with a shoulder capsule injury and then biceps tendinitis he developed before Spring Training. Presuming the bullpen session goes well, Hader will throw live BP Friday.

At this current progression, it’s possible Hader doesn’t return to the roster until after April 15, perhaps closer to May 1 to sharpen his stuff and command after the offseason setback.

Pitchers recap:

Starters: Brown, Imai, Burrows, Javier, Arrighetti, McCullers Jr (pending Tuesday start)

Bullpen: Hader (IL) Abreu, King, Sousa, Okert, Blubaugh, Weiss, Munoz (with Hader sidelined for now)

Now let’s get to the lineup:

C: Yainer Diaz, Christian Vazquez

It’s clear Astros don’t like/trust Cesar Salazar to handle regular backup catching duties, nor do they think he’s capable of being an everyday player if Yainer were to be down for any length of time. They bring back Vazquez for his defense, preparation and leadership. Vazquez can’t hit a lick anymore, but Houston values his veteran leadership presence.

Walker Janek, who has torn it up in spring, still needs another year of minor league ball. He hasn’t played above high A ball. He is expected to start the season at Double-A Corpus Christi, but could be promoted to Triple-A Sugar Land with a strong first half.

IF: Christian Walker, Jose Altuve, Jeremy Pena, Carlos Correa, Isaac Paredes, Nick Allen

The first 5 of these players, barring a trade, are going to play a significant amount of time – meaning full time to very close to full time starter reps. How the Astros manage this is debatable, but they will all play the overwhelming majority of games. Allen is the backup SS/defensive replacement.

OF: Yordan Alvarez, Jake Meyers, Cam Smith, Zach Cole, Joey Loperfido

Yordan is expected to primarily DH, but how much time does he actually get in LF is still to be determined. If he played twice a week in LF, that would be 52 games. That doesn’t seem unreasonable. Three times per week would be 78 games, which would be a new career high and seems unlikely (at least for now).

Cole is a power LH bat with a cannon arm, and the team reacquired Loperfido because they like the adjustments he’s made to his swing and think it will make him more consistent. They always liked Loperfido’s defense.

Cam was the prize oft he Tucker trade and they expect him to take a big step forward this season, but they have the depth if he doesn’t. Meyers will play CF as long as he is an Astro.

Taylor Trammell has really played well this spring. Team loves his grit and hustle, he is a terrific defensive player as well. Trammell has always had the tools to be successful but he’s never hit at the MLB level. With Cam and Jake entrenched as the right handed OFs, there’s just no room for Trammell right now.

Shay Whitcomb and Zach Dezenzo are both playing in the WBC. Whitcomb went 2×4 for Team Korea with 2 HR in a start at 3B, and had a pinch hit double in today’s win over Australia. Dezenzo went 1×3 with a double for Team Italy in a start in RF. He also walked and scored twice.

However, both being right handed bats, neither seems to have a role on the current roster as neither can play SS at the MLB level, and the Astros have corner infield spots covered between Correa, Walker and Paredes. Both could be call ups during the season as injury replacements.

Best projected lineup:

  1. Pena – SS
  2. Alvarez – LF
  3. Altuve – 2B
  4. Correa – 3B
  5. Paredes – DH
  6. Walker – 1B
  7. Diaz – C
  8. Smith/Cole -RF (Smith vs LHP, Cole vs RHP)
  9. Meyers – CF

Paredes has only had a handful of innings at 2B this spring, so whether or not the Astros are comfortable with him at 2B is yet to be determined. However if they are, it would make more sense to DH Altuve, who posted his best offensive numbers last season while DHing. This lineup actually projects to be pretty good.

Now best projected lineup doesn’t equate to most likely projected lineup, as we know Yordan will not play LF often.

Here is what a Yordan at DH lineup looks like:

  1. Pena – SS
  2. Yordan – DH
  3. Altuve – 2B
  4. Correa – 3B
  5. Paredes/Walker – 1B
  6. Diaz – C
  7. Cole – LF
  8. Smith – RF
  9. Meyers – CF

This is still a solid lineup that should produce.

I also think that on days when Paredes spells Altuve or Correa, Paredes should slot into that player’s spot in the lineup and not change the entire lineup as a result. Espada is the King of Lineup Variations, but with a steadier reason for variations instead of playing injury mix-and-match, it may become more uniform in that regard.

Here is a maxed out lefthanded hitting lineup for Astros:

  1. Pena – SS
  2. Yordan – LF
  3. Altuve – 2B
  4. Correa – 3B
  5. Paredes – DH
  6. Cole – CF
  7. Walker – 1B
  8. Loperfido – RF
  9. Diaz – C

or Yordan at DH:

  1. Pena – SS
  2. Yordan – DH
  3. Altuve – 2B
  4. Correa – 3B
  5. Paredes/Walker – 1B
  6. Cole – LF
  7. Diaz – C
  8. Loperfido – RF
  9. Meyers – CF

Lineup Recap:

Regulars: Diaz, Walker, Paredes, Altuve, Pena, Correa, Yordan, Meyers, Smith

Bench: Cole, Loperfido, Allen, Vazquez

This team has a lot more depth than it had last season, and along with better health (how could it be worse than last year?) it should translate to more wins.

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Howe calls Newcastle’s match with Barcelona ‘biggest game in club’s history’

  • Newcastle host Barça in Champions League last-16 first leg

  • Howe: ‘It’s an opportunity to grab a moment we never get again’

For Eddie Howe it was quite a statement. “Barcelona is the biggest game in this club’s history,” said Newcastle’s manager. “It’s massive.”

Given Howe usually seems allergic to exaggeration it was a surprising way to approach Tuesday night’s Champions League last 16 first leg with Hansi Flick’s side.

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Anaheim Ducks Injury Updates: Carlson, Terry

Following a nine-game homestand, with a two-and-a-half-week Olympic break between, the Anaheim Ducks will head on the road for a four-game road trip to Canada to face the Winnipeg Jets before taking on the three Eastern Conference Canadian teams: Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, and Montreal Canadiens.

The Ducks left Orange County on a sour note, losing 4-0 to the St. Louis Blues on Sunday, their fourth time being shutout this season and first time since Jan. 29.

The Ducks head on the road, sitting in first place in the Pacific Division, one point ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights and three points ahead of the Edmonton Oilers, with a game in hand on each.

Anaheim Ducks 2026 Trade Deadline Review

Takeaways from the Ducks 6-5 Shootout Win over the Canadiens

In perhaps the most surprising move during the NHL’s March 6 trade deadline and the days leading up to it, Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek seemingly recognized an opportunity to win their division and perhaps afford his team the easiest (on paper) road to the Conference Final of any of the four divisions when he parted with a first-round pick and a third-round pick in exchange for veteran defenseman John Carlsson from the Washington Capitals.

Carlson (36) is a pending UFA in the final year of an eight-year contract with an AAV of $8 million. When the trade was made, the Ducks were guaranteed a maximum of 21 regular season games with Carlson in the lineup, in addition to any number of potential playoff games they’d play this spring.

However, Carlson had sustained a lower-body injury on Feb. 5, when he was forced from the ice after logging 7:03 TOI in Washington’s game against the Nashville Predators. He missed the Caps’ three games heading into the Olympic break and the one they played upon return, before he was traded to Anaheim on March 5.

“As soon as we kind of agreed to the deal, in these types of situations, you’re always having the medical staffs reach out to each other,” Verbeek said following the trade. “We actually got permission to go through his medical records, which was important to us.

“We’re not too concerned about it. Hopefully, when we get going on the trip, he’ll be able to join sometime on the trip with us, to be 100% healthy. “When you get in these certain circumstances, would he be healthy enough to play in a playoff game? Yeah, probably. But we don’t want to get in those situations.

“We want to make sure that John’s 100% and ready to contribute to our group, which we’re really excited to add him to our group.”

Carlson has now been on the Ducks’ roster for two games, but was ruled out for each. Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville stated after Sunday’s game that Carlson will travel with the team on their upcoming four-game road trip, but isn’t expected to play until the end of it.

“I would say that we hope he can play at the end of the trip,” Quenneville said. “That’s what we’re kind of targeting.”

Carlson has played 55 games this season, scoring 46 points (10-36=46) and averaging 22:52 TOI per game.

Carlson will now likely play a maximum of 17 regular season games with Anaheim before his contract expires. Parting with a first-round pick, along with a third, for a player who is that limited in terms of output he can provide for a team is typically reserved for teams that feel they’re in contention to win the Stanley Cup that season. As stated, that may be how the Ducks view themselves at this juncture.

When acquired, Verbeek stated his desire to re-sign Carlson at the conclusion of the Ducks’ season. A contract extension would only further justify the price he paid to acquire Carlson at this year’s deadline.

Another Ducks player who will be unavailable for the foreseeable future is winger Troy Terry, who has only played six of the Ducks’ 23 games since the new year with a confirmed recurring upper-body injury.

He played in the Ducks’ two games leading into the Olympic break and the one following, but has been ruled out for the team’s last six. He’s been confirmed to be on the Ducks’ four-game road trip, but isn’t expected to play.

“Yes, he is,” Quenneville said when asked if Terry would join the team on the trip. “Not sure he’ll play.”

Despite having been sidelined for 16 games this season, Terry still ranks fourth on the Ducks in scoring, with 45 points (13-32=45) in 46 games and averages 18:21 TOI per game.

Ducks GM Pat Verbeek on 2026 Trade Deadline Moves

Ducks Acquire John Carlson from Capitals

Ducks Trade Ryan Strome to Flames

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Week in Review: From blowouts to comebacks, Spurs do it all in action-packed 4-0 week

Mar 8, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Carter Bryant (11) prepares to beat the drum after the game against the Houston Rockets at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images

Welcome to Week in Review: a Monday feature that looks back at the week that was for the San Antonio Spurs, takes a look at the week ahead, and more. Enjoy!

Week 19: Concluding the Rodeo Road Trip with an East Coast trip, the Spurs continued their undefeated February to extend their best winning streak in ten seasons to 11 by getting a big win in the home of the then (but not anymore) top team in the NBA in the Detroit Pistons, a flip-the-switch fourth-quarter rally in Tornoto, and finally a blowout win against the lowly Brooklyn Nets — all despite Victor Wembanyama having off nights offensively. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and in what is turning out to be one-off, the win streak was snapped in a blowout loss to the Knicks in MSG.

Week 20: 4-0 (47-17, 2nd in West)

131-91 win at Philadelphia 76ers

Even though a bounce-back win seemed imminent against a 76ers squad missing Joel Embiid and Paul George, likely no one saw this big of a blowout coming. (If they did, NBC wouldn’t have chosen this game for their big throwback occasion.) Everyone contributed, and things got so bad that the Spurs were on the brink of outdoing their 51-point victory over the “Trust the Process” 76ers from 10 years ago before the third string was outscored by nine-points in the fourth-quarter, so they “settled” for the 40-point victory to conclude the Rodeo Road Trip 8-1, tying their best mark from its inaugural version in 2003.

121-106 win vs. Detroit Pistons

The first game back from a long road trip is always a trap regardless of the opponent, but the Spurs didn’t let being home for the first time in a month relax them. Instead, they came out and proved their win in Detroit was no fluke, riding the hot hands of Wemby and De’Aaron fox, who combined to score 67 points in a thrashing of the top team in the East. (Of note, the Spurs have now passed them in the league standings, but that only matters if a) they keep it up and b) they make the Finals. Tougher tests will come first.)

116-112 win vs. Los Angeles Clippers

As solid as their win over the Pistons was, it was physically draining, and that showed as the Spurs hosted Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers the very next night. They looked dead in the water as the Clippers climbed up to a 25-point lead in the third quarter, but as they are wont to do, the Spurs found a second wind and flipped the switch for their second-largest comeback of all time. 17 points from Julian Champagnie in the third quarter kicked things off, and huge three-pointers, fast breaks and plenty of drama in the final seconds literally had Wemby crying tears of joy and relief afterwards, as he admitted how exhausted he was and thought he was going to pass out, making it was one of the hardest games of his life.

145-120 win vs. Houston Rockets

After opening the week with a semi-surprising blowout, the Spurs decided to one-up themselves with an even more surprising one against a hit-or-miss Rockets squad. The offense remained on fire from the Clippers game, with Wemby getting whatever he wanted on offense, and on defense, the Spurs were committed to making everyone but Kevin Durant beat them. After a hot first quarter, the strategy worked, and the Spurs methodically put their IH-10 Rivals away to win the series 3-1 and put an even wider gap between them and the next tier of the West.

Power Rankings

John Schuhmann, NBA.com — 1 (last week: 1)

OffRtg: 117.5 (5) DefRtg: 110.2 (3) NetRtg: +7.2 (3) Pace: 100.9 (13)

The Spurs are 15-1 since Feb. 1, a stretch that includes a sweep of the Pistons, an incredible comeback from 25 points down against the Clippers, and a thrashing of the Rockets on Sunday.

Three takeaways

1. Victor Wembanyama had a few quiet (and inefficient) offensive games at the end of the Spurs’ 11-game winning streak. And his offense wasn’t really needed in the Spurs’ 40-point win in Philadelphia on Tuesday. But he’s scored 94 points (on a true shooting percentage of 69%) in less than 91 minutes over the Spurs’ last three games. That includes 27 in less than 22 minutes (in the second game of a back-to-back) against the Clippers on Friday, when he had two go-ahead buckets (a pick-and-pop 3 and a leak-out dunk) in the final 70 seconds. Not coincidentally, it’s been the Spurs’ best three-game stretch of offense this season (129.1 points scored per 100 possessions), even though two of the three opponents (Detroit and Houston) have top-10 defenses.
2. With that, the Spurs are now a top-five team on both ends of the floor. They ranked in the top five on both ends three times under Gregg Popovich: 2006-07 (won the NBA Finals), 2013-14 (won the NBA Finals) and 2015-16 (lost in the Western Conference semifinals).
3. Wembanyama is also averaging 4.5 blocks over the Spurs’ 10 games since the All-Star break. He’s got more blocks than fouls for the third straight season, but he has been more physical this year, averaging 3.3 fouls per 36 minutes, up from 2.6 per 36 over his first two seasons. Of course, the Spurs still lead the league in opponent free-throw rate (23.3 attempts per 100 shots from the field).

Coming up: The Spurs and Nuggets last met in November, when they combined to score more than 136 points per 100 possessions in a three-point, San Antonio win that clinched a spot in the NBA Cup quarterfinals. They still have three more meetings left on the schedule, and the Spurs will have a rest advantage at home on Thursday, one of three very intriguing games this week.

Law Murray, The Athletic — 1 (last week: 2)

First quarter: B+
Second quarter: B
Third quarter: A

First, the grade: The Spurs have been an absolute problem to deal with in Victor Wembanyama’s minutes. He needs an alternative nickname, and I want to suggest “The Armoire.” It’s French, it’s tall, and it can hold the tools that Wembanyama brings to the table on both ends. For the season, Spurs foes shoot 41.8 percent from the field when Wembanyama is on the floor. Since Jan. 21, that figure is 41.2 percent. And the Spurs use that defense to blow out teams from the jump or to overcome massive deficits, such as the 25-point deficit San Antonio faced against the Clippers. Punctuating the week with a season-best scoring performance against the Houston Rockets sealed that regular-season series as well. They’re the best team in the league, and all they need is to figure out how to sustain it for a maiden playoff run.

Brett Siegel, Clutch Points — 1 (last week: 1)

It really isn’t difficult to call the San Antonio Spurs the best team in the NBA right now, which is why they sit atop the power rankings yet again. Aside from being the Oklahoma City Thunder’s kryptonite throughout the regular season, the Spurs have lost just once since the start of February.

If it weren’t for some injuries and consistency problems in January, this team would own the best record in the NBA and be alone at the top of the Western Conference standings.

The Spurs went 4-0 this past week, with a 40-point blowout win over Philadelphia, a commanding 15-point win over Detroit, and a statement 25-point win at home over Houston. Not to mention, the Spurs erased a 25-point deficit against the LA Clippers to come back and win on Friday. In this four-game stretch, the Spurs outscored their opponents by 84 points while averaging 128.3 points per game.

Coming up: Tues. 3/10 vs. Boston Celtics; Thurs. 3/12 vs. Denver Nuggets; Sat. 3/14 vs. Charlotte Hornets

Prediction: 3-0 — The gantlet that is this six-game homestand continues with a Celtics team that now has Jayson Tatum back, a Nuggets team that has MVP candidate Nikola Jokic and just got Aaron Gordon back (but may have lost Jamal Murray) and a Hornets squad that has come back to earth a bit in the last few games but has still been one of the hottest teams in the league this calendar year, along with the Spurs. All three of these games are just as losable as they are winnable, but the Spurs have shown their current form is for real with a 14-1 stretch, so I’m all bought in. Bring it on.

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Spring Training Game Thread: Texas Rangers at San Diego Padres

Peoria, AZ - February 19: A.J. Preller, Padres President of Baseball Operations and General Manager talks with fans during a spring training practice on February 19, 2026 in Peoria, AZ. (Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)

Today the Texas Rangers take a day trip over to Peoria, AZ for a Cactus League matchup against the National League’s San Diego Padres. Recent signee Andrew McCutchen is in the lineup at DH for his spring debut with the Rangers.

Taking the mound for Texas will be RHP Trey Supak, who is 29 years old and still trying to make it to the big leagues, opposite RHP Randy Vasquez for San Diego.

Today’s Lineups

RANGERSPADRES
Brandon Nimmo – RFJackson Merrill – CF
Joc Pederson – 1BJake Cronenworth – 2B
Andrew McCutchen – DHNick Castellanos – RF
Evan Carter – CFGavin Sheets – 1B
Sam Haggerty – 2BTy France – 3B
Ezequiel Duran – SSBryce Johnson – LF
Mark Canha – LFNick Solak – DH
Tyler Wade – 3BLuis Campusano – C
Willie MacIver – CMason McCoy – SS
Trey Supak – RHPRandy Vasquez – RHP

The Padres will have a telecast and radio feed for this one but you can also follow along on Gameday. First pitch from Peoria Stadium is scheduled for 3:10 pm CT.

Go Rangers!

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Arizona Diamondbacks Spring Training Gameday Thread, #18 vs. Mariners

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo (17) fist-pumps his players before playing the Los Angeles Dodgers on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale. | Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

As I write this, I am watching the Great Britain baseball team take on Brazil in the World Baseball Classic. While both sides have been eliminated, there’s still something to play for here: the winning country will automatically be entered the next WBC, without having to go through the qualification tournament. So this is definitely a significant game. Right now, it’s proving a tense affair, with the game scoreless through four innings. Fingers crossed the British team can avoid the late-inning meltdowns which have been a bit of a feature in their previous three games. Meanwhile, on the domestic front, here’s the D-backs line-up this afternoon.

We will see how deep Zac Gallen goes this time. After him, potential pitchers are: RHP Hayden Durke, RHP Taylor Clarke, RHP Gerardo Carrillo, RHP Andrew Hoffmann, RHP Juan Burgos and RHP Grant Holman. Hoffmann has been one of the spring standouts so far, with five strikeouts over three innings of one-hit ball. Also, be interesting to see whether Burgos can sustain his streak: all seven outs he has recorded so far have been by way of the K. He leads the team in that department. Unfortunately, over those 2.1 innings, there have been six hits and two walks as well.

No scheduled broadcast for this one, so see you in Gameday, providing GB vs. Brazil has finished! And as I write, the southern hemisphere has just taken the lead… [Update Britain roared back to win. D-backs prospect Wallace Clark walked twice and scored a run. See you again in 2029, WBC!]

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Dodgers vs. Brewers game chat

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 06: Manager Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers walks across the field before a spring training game against the Kansas City Royals at Camelback Ranch on March 06, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Dodgers look to snap their two-game losing streak as they take on the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Fields of Phoenix on Monday. Emmet Sheehan goes for the Dodgers while Aaron Ashby starts for Milwaukee.

MONDAY GAME INFO
  • Teams: Dodgers vs. Brewers
  • Ballpark: American Family Fields of Phoenix
  • Time: 1:10 p.m. PT
  • TV: SportsNet LA, MLB Network (out of market)
  • Radio: none

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Spring Training Game Thread #16: Milwaukee Brewers (8-7) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (10-6)

Milwaukee Brewers
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 14: Aaron Ashby #26 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches during the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game two of the National League Championship Series at American Family Field on October 14, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It’s a rematch of the NLCS at American Family Fields of Phoenix as the Brewers take on the Dodgers Monday afternoon.

And just like the NLCS, on the mound for the Brewers will be Aaron Ashby to start things off. He’s continuing to get stretched out this spring training for a potential starting role. Following him will be offseason trade addition Shane Drohan and then non-roster invitee Jacob Waguespack. The Dodgers will have Emmett Sheehan starting on the mound for them.

In the starting lineup, the Brewers have a number of their key roster pieces in there today. Sal Frelick will lead off while playing in center field for a change, followed by Luis Rengifo and the 2018 MVP, Christian Yelich. Jake Bauers and Gary Sánchez fill up the middle of the order. Some of the spring breakout stars, Akil Baddoo and Brandon Lockridge, will follow while David Hamilton and Greg Jones round out the bottom of the order.

The Brewers did make a round of roster cuts today, optioning Jeferson Quero and Sammy Peralta and reassigning a number of non-roster invites to minor league camp, including top prospects like Jesús Made and Luke Adams. Jones has also been reassigned, along with Eddys Leonard, Darrien Miller, Ramón Rodríguez, and Matt Wood.

First pitch is at 3:10 p.m. CT and can be seen on Brewers.TV today with Brian Anderson, Bill Schroeder, and Tim Dillard in the booth. It’ll also be broadcast on WTMJ 620 and the Brewers Radio Network.

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Game Thread: Rockies (8-7) at White Sox (10-7)

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 17: Jedixson Paez #63 of the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch on February 17, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona.
Jedixson Paez will get the start for this afternoon’s contest, and needs to bounce back from a disastrous outing last week. | (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images)

Just a day after the White Sox announced the former Rule 5 draft pick Shane Smith would be the Opening Day starter, another Rule 5 pick takes the mound against the Rockies. Jedixson Paez, who was picked up on December 10, 2025, and was assigned to the White Sox prospects on March 5, will get this afternoon’s start. Paez was previously with the Boston Red Sox organization, and unless the Soxes come to an agreement, Paez must be on the active White Sox roster all season long, or be returned to Boston; this start is crucial to his future in Chicago.

As for the players currently playing in the World Baseball Classic, there was not a lot going on yesterday. Seranthony Domínguez (Dominican Republic) and Kyle Teel (Italy) did not play. Curtis Mead (Australia) went 0-for-4, 2 K, and Munetaka Murakami (Japan) was 0-for-3, BB. Sam Antonacci (Italy) had a better day, with a final of 1-for-4, 3B, R, RBI, K.

Kyle Freeland will get the start for the Rockies today. We’ll also see our old friend Nicky Lopez starting at shortstop.

The game won’t be available to watch or listen to, but it starts at 3:05 p.m. CT.

Earlier today, the White Sox sent three more players out of major-league camp:

Murray had two homers in Cactus League play but not much else. González had gotten rocked pretty hard over four appearances, while Sandlin hadn’t appeared at all in Cactus League play.

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FA Cup quarter-final draw: Chelsea v Port Vale, Manchester City v Liverpool – as it happened

League One side Port Vale will head to Stamford Bridge while Manchester City host Liverpool in last eight

In such situation I didn’t expect even Marco Silva to blame someone other than him, and yet:

A very bad day for us,” Silva said. “It is probably not the moment to be emotional. It is a moment for us to look deeper.

It is not just another defeat. We lost a big chance. If you want to be in a club that wants to get better your ambition has to always be there. If you are pushing to win a game there are certain standards you cannot drop. Some things are about mentality.”

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