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Player Grades: Cavs at Magic – James Harden dices mismatches in loss

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts in the first half of the game against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center on March 11, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. 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 Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t have enough tonight against the Orlando Magic.

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

James Harden

30 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, 4 turnovers

Harden was in full maestro mode tonight. He abused Orlando’s defense for 30 points on 11-16 shooting, showing no signs of trouble against Paolo Banchero. The Cavs maybe would have benefited from treating this like a retro-Rockets game from Harden. He was the only creator in the offense that felt consistently good.

With that said, I have to crush both Harden and Mitchell for their defense. The point of attack has been a massive weakness recently. It starts with the backcourt.

Grade: B

Donovan Mitchell

25 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 turnovers

This is one of those games where I felt the stats were worse than they looked for Donovan. He had some great highlights, including a filthy windmill gather over Banchero. But he also galringly missed Evan Mobley under the basket at one point. And he attempted some shots that I can only describe as rushed. His 25 points came on 24 field goal attempts (granted, a few of them were taken in desperation at the end of the game).

As mentioned, both Mitchell and Harden take a hit for their defense tonight.

Grade: C-

Evan Mobley

18 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks

The first quarter was a weird one for Mobley. He missed a few easy shots and got into early foul trouble. The fouls remained an issue, but he eventually found his touch. Still, it’s obvious how much the Cavs miss Jarrett Allen to help protect the paint. Mobley can only do so much on his own.

Grade: B

Jaylon Tyson

4 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists

Not a good one from Tyson. He shot 1-4 and only played 18 minutes. I think he should have gotten a longer leash, but he didn’t do anything in his minutes to make Kenny change his mind.

Grade: D

Dennis Schroder

0 points, 2 assists

Yikes. This might have been the worst game Schroder has played as a Cavalier. He picked up 4 fouls and shot 0-5 in just 18 minutes.

Grade: F

Sam Merrill

13 points, 2 assists, 4 rebounds

Merrill wasn’t great at containing the point of attack defensively. He did, however, nail 2-5 three-point attempts while converting all of his attempts inside of two-point range.

Grade: B–

Keon Ellis

20 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block

Ellis has scored 39 points across his last two games. He shot 5-8 from downtown tonight and delivered a barrage that nearly stole this from Orlando.

Grade: A+

Dean Wade

0 points, 5 rebounds, 1 block

A classic stinker from Wade. We’ve seen this type of game before, even if I maintain that Wade is an otherwise positive contributor more often than not. These nights still happen.

Grade: F

Thomas Bryant

12 points, 5 rebounds

Bryant gave the Cavs everything he could in 19 minutes. They needed him to contribute with Mobley in foul trouble and Allen on the bench. Can’t ask for much more.

Grade: A

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Winners and Losers: Cavs at Magic – Three-point surge comes too late

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic shoots against Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first half of the game at Kia Center on March 11, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. 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 Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the Orlando Magic 128-122 in a game that didn’t feel as close as it looked. Let’s go over today’s winners and losers.

LOSER – Foul Trouble

Do you like free throws?

If you answered yes, then the last two nights of NBA basketball must have been a dream. As for the rest of us, this is getting old.

I’m not here to complain about the whistle. Refs miss calls all the time, though, I will point out that Cleveland has had to (successfully) use both of their challenges more than a few times recently. Simply getting it right the first time would be preferable. Not T’ing up a player for being upset about the umpteeth incorrect call is even better.

And if you really want to do your job, maybe get a crucial out-of-bounds call right at the end of the game. There are a million cameras in the arena. We review countless plays each game. Why does Kenny Atkinson need a third challenge to get the correct call?

Now that’s out of my system, let’s talk about where the Cavs are at fault.

Protecting the paint starts with securing the perimeter. Free paths to the basket can put your helpside defense into awkward positions. Orlando’s runway drives to the rim took full advantage of this tonight. The Cavs couldn’t seal the gaps, and Evan Mobley was routinely tasked with having to clean things up. That resulted in four fouls to start the third quarter for Mobley.

Naturally, the game changes when your defensive anchor is in foul trouble. Not having Jarrett Allen makes it worse. The Magic continued to attack the paint, knowing that Mobley was at a disadvantage. And the game grew chippier as it went on.

WINNER – James Harden vs The Mismatch

Orlando opened this game with Paolo Banchero defending James Harden. It’s honorable for the opposing team’s best player to accept a defensive challenge like this. Was it a good idea? Probably not.

Harden didn’t appear bothered at all by Banchero. In fact, he actively hunted him in isolation. Harden accelerated around PB multiple times in the first half en route to 16 points on 6-9 shooting. We saw some classic drives to the basket and stepback jumpers from Harden along the way.

The Cavs’ offense never felt like it was fully rolling tonight. The Magic did a fine job of turning this game into a rock fight. Harden delivered the only moments that felt smooth. He felt little resistance getting around Banchero and was just as successful whenever he drew Wendell Carter Jr. onto the perimeter, too.

Harden finished with 30 points (11-16 shooting) and 8 assists.

Drawing and beating mismatches will prove valuable in the playoffs. We’ve known for a full decade that Harden thrives in those scenarios. It’s good to see it in Cleveland, even with a loss.

LOSER – Spacing

Okay, listen, you’re gonna have to bear with me on this. Because if it wasn’t for a late surge of three-point shooting from the Cavs, this category would have made perfect sense.

Before Cleveland’s near comeback in the final minutes, the Cavs had been shooting 12-35 from downtown. Not too shabby, but certainly not great.

Now let’s add more context.

Orlando made their goal pretty clear tonight. Pack the paint defensively and funnel to the ball to Cleveland’s role players. That put pressure on Dean Wade, Jaylon Tyson, Dennis Schroder, and even Evan Mobley to space the floor and make plays. They all combined to sh00t 0-5. That speaks for itself.

Other players did step up. In fact, it was Keon Ellis going ballistic in the final frame that snapped the Cavs back to life. Sam Merrill and James Harden were plenty efficient, as well. But if you focus on the players whom Orlando dared to beat them — you can see why the Magic had success.

Cleveland’s offense sputtered throughout the night. Sometimes, you just need a barrage of three-pointers to get you out of the ditch. That barrage came just a few minutes too late.

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Netflix’s plans big splash for MLB Opening Night

Oracle Park in San Francisco

Details have started to emerge about Netflix’s plans for MLB Opening Night, and the streaming giant apparently wants to make a splash with its baseball debut.

Literally.

Netflix is set to make a big splash in MLB’s season-opening game between the Giants and Yankees. AP

Netflix reportedly plans to station 73 red kayaks in McCovey Cove behind Oracle Park’s right field wall for the March 25 game between the Giants and Yankees that marks the official start of MLB’s regular season.

The plan, first reported by the San Francisco Standard, is an homage to Barry Bonds’ single-season home run record the Giants legendary slugger set during the 2001 season.

Nine of Bonds’ 73 bombs that season reached the San Francisco Bay — and 35 of the 108 ever hit by a Giant, despite only playing seven seasons in a ballpark that celebrated its 25th birthday last year.

Bonds, who rarely grants interviews, has been rumored to be targeted by Netflix to appear as an analyst on the broadcast. His name was not among the seven members of the broadcast team revealed on Wednesday, but the announcement did tease an eighth, yet-to-be-named “special guest.”

Matt Vasgersian, recently named the voice of the weekly Sunday morning game on Peacock/NBC, will provide play-by-play with popular former players from each side serving as color analysts.

Hunter Pence will provide the Giants’ perspective, while CC Sabathia will represent the Yankees. Pence, a folk hero from the Giants’ World Series dynasty, still lives in San Francisco and has done commentary for NBC Sports Bay Area, as well as Apple TV. Sabathia went in to the Hall of Fame wearing a Yankees cap, but he was born and raised in Vallejo, about 30 miles northeast of Oracle Park.

The broadcast will also feature a live set on site hosted by Elle Duncan with another Hall of Famer, Albert Pujols, commentating with Anthony Rizzo, the former Yankees and Cubs first baseman. Lauren Shehadi will report from the field and the teams’ dugouts, and comedian Bert Kreischer will reprise his role from Netflix’s NFL broadcast.

Former Giants player Barry Bonds might make a special appearance on Netflix’s MLB Opening Night. UPI

The streamer made football its first foray into the major American sports market when it aired its first Christmas Day game in 2024. With its global audience, Netflix has recently been speculated as a natural landing spot for the NFL’s increased slate of international games.

Netflix’s baseball strategy appears to follow its football footprint, targeting high-profile keystone events.

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In addition to Opening Night, Netflix acquired the rights through 2028 to air the Home Run Derby and one “special event” per season, beginning this year with the Field of Dreams game set for Aug. 13.

The Bay Area-based company appears to be going above and beyond the typical broadcast.

According to the Standard, Netflix will also host a “pop-up bullpen,” where fans can test their arms. The kayaks, branded in Netflix red, will reportedly be available for use by fans.

McCovey Cove, one of the sport’s iconic attractions, figures to be on center stage.

Whether Netflix gets its wish and truly makes a splash remains to be seen. The water sits about 20 feet behind a 25-foot brick wall in right field, and San Francisco’s marine layer only adds another obstacle.

The entirety of the Giants’ projected 26-man roster has combined for three splash hits. Nobody on the Yankees has ever done it. The mightiest slugger of them all, Aaron Judge, would seem to be a natural candidate — but only one right-handed hitter has ever splashed down on the fly.

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Cavs’ defense lets them down in 128-122 loss to Magic

Mar 11, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) defends Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) during the second quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images | Mike Watters-Imagn Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers dropped a chippy game to the Orlando Magic 128-122 due to their inability to defend the paint and clutch shot-making from Desmond Bane.

The Magic have a bad offense. They can’t shoot from the outside and don’t have many playmakers. They do, however, have size, and that was an issue for a Cavs team that desperately missed Jarrett Allen, who sat out this game with a knee injury.

Orlando set the tone early, scoring 38 points in the first quarter while going 11-12 in the paint and attempting seven shots at the free-throw line. They were able to consistently outmuscle the Cavs’ smaller defenders, which became a theme for the entire evening.

The Cavs were able to take advantage of their smaller, faster lineup on the other end of the court at the beginning of the night, but they weren’t able to keep pace for 48 minutes.

The three-ball being average for most of the evening and leaving far too many points at the free-throw line (17-26, 34.3%) eventually did the offense in. After scoring 35 points in the first quarter, they were held to just 27 the next two, which wasn’t enough considering how poorly their own defense was playing.

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The Cavaliers went into the second half tied, but lost their grip on the game at the start of the third quarter. Bane’s 12 points on 4-4 shooting in that frame had a lot to do with that. Orlando pushed its lead to 10 at the end of the third quarter.

The Magic carried that momentum into the fourth. They extended their advantage to 12 at the halfway point of the final frame, before the Cavs attempted a comeback that was far too late in the making.

Cleveland cut the deficit to two with threes on four-straight possessions to make it a two-point game with 39 seconds left. They needed one more stop to give themselves a chance to tie or take the lead, but Bane had other ideas. He hit a tough, off-balance triple with a hand in his face late in the shot clock to put the game away.

Earlier this week, Kenny Atkinson said he wanted to see the role players step up to claim a spot in the playoff rotation. Ellis seems to have taken that message to heart. He was the unquestioned best Cavalier on the defensive end and more than did his job offensively. Ellis poured in 20 points on 6-9 shooting with 12 of them coming in the fourth quarter.

James Harden led Cleveland in scoring with 30 points on an efficient 11-16 shooting with eight assists and four turnovers.

Donovan Mitchell wasn’t able to establish his usual rhythm and was inefficient in the clutch. He went just 2-8 from the field in the final quarter. Mitchell finished the game with 25 points on 9-24 shooting with five assists and three turnovers.

Evan Mobley had a solid night from the field, but being in foul trouble and not being able to convert from the free-throw line (2-7) kept him from being as effective as you’d like. He ended the evening with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists.

Bane led the Magic with a game-high 35 points on 12-19 shooting. Paolo Banchero provided 25 points in the victory.

The victory extends the Magic’s winning streak to five. The Cavs are now up 2-1 in the season series against Orlando. Their final meeting of the regular season will be Tuesday, March 24.

The Cavs are back in action on Friday when they head on the road to take on the Dallas Mavericks. Tip-off is at 7 PM.

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Former Michigan linebackers coach Chris Partridge sues university over firing

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Former Michigan linebackers coach Chris Partridge sued the university, its board of regents and its athletics director Wednesday for firing him in 2023 while the NCAA investigated allegations of in-person scouting and sign-stealing.

Partridge's lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Michigan argues that his “termination was wholly unjustified and without legitimate cause," saying that the school violated his Fourteenth Amendment right to due process.

“The University of Michigan unjustly terminated Partridge’s employment and spread false and damaging information regarding his professional conduct, tarnishing Partridge’s hard-earned reputation and inflicting irreparable harm on to his career and personal well-being,” the lawsuit said.

Michigan did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press requesting comment. The Big Ten declined to comment on the lawsuit.

Partridge was fired from Michigan in November 2023 as the NCAA investigated allegations that former university staffer Connor Stalions purchased tickets to scout the school's opponents and sent people to those games to record teams signaling in their plays. In-person scouting is banned by the NCAA. Stalions resigned earlier that month.

In 2025, the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions determined that Stalions had orchestrated a scouting scheme for years. It also found recruiting violations and fined the school millions of dollars. Partridge was largely cleared of any wrongdoing.

But just after Partridge's firing, rumors swirled about why he was let go. He took to social media at the time to say that he had no knowledge of any scouting scheme and that he was fired for failing to abide by the school’s directive to avoid discussing the inquiry with “anyone associated with the program.”

“Additionally, at no point did I destroy any evidence related to the ongoing investigation,” he had said in an online post.

Partridge went on to serve as outside linebackers coach for the Seattle Seahawks, helping them clinch a Super Bowl win last month.

The lawsuit states that Partridge was told by the university that he was fired for telling a player that he should “get an attorney," despite being instructed not to communicate with the athletes during the investigation.

Partridge confirmed that he did say that to a player. But, he said in the lawsuit, the football staff was never told to stop communication with players, which would have caused the football program to “come to a screeching halt.”

“Partridge was a scapegoat who was wrongly fired simply because he told a player he had the right to have counsel,” the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit also said that the school smeared his reputation, including when some athletics department employees and at least one Board of Regents member told a sportswriter that Partridge was fired for “destroying evidence." That information was then reported by several news organizations, including the AP, which cited reporting by Yahoo Sports that Partridge "allegedly tried to cover up evidence."

Partridge was fired just before the Wolverines became football national champions. One day after he was fired, the school and the Big Ten Conference agreed that then head coach Jim Harbaugh would serve the final two games of his three-game suspension in return for the conference ending its investigation into the sign-stealing allegations.

The lawsuit seeks damages to be determined at trial, along with clearing Partridge’s name and reputation.

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Diamondbacks Reacts Survey: Closing time

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 04: Paul Sewald #62 of the Detroit Tigers looks on prior to game one of the Division Series against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on October 04, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Diamondbacks fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

It looks as if, once again, the Diamondbacks will be going into the season without a regular closer. Strengthening the bullpen was one of the major concerns this winter, after it proved such a problematic area in 2025. But it appears that is happening across other spots, rather than closer. Given the expected return of A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez at some point in the first(ish) half of the season, I can kinda see the point in not splashing out big-time on a closer. But, let’s be honest, we were all expecting better than Taylor Clarke and Paul Sewald as major-league signings this off-season, no offense intended to those two.

While it seems likely that manager Torey Lovullo will play match-ups, rumblings indicate that Paul Sewald may be the main man to be leaned upon in save situations, on the back of improved velocity this spring. Sewald has played down any such notion, telling Arizona Sports 98.7, “They’ll pitch me when they decide to pitch me.” But fans may be a little gun-shy of this idea, considering we have been here before. Sewald was the closer out of the gate in 2024, but was relieved of the role after a terrible July, where he had a 10.80 ERA and went 0-2, with four blown saves. You’re forgiven if putting him back in the roles seems almost like the definition of insanity.

However, this poll is designed to find out less what you think the team will do, and more what you think they should do. Outside of Sewald, there are a number of possible candidates, though all of them come with question marks of varying sizes. For example, Kevin Ginkel has closing experience with 16 career saves. But he had a rough go of things last year, posting a 7.84 ERA. There’s no obvious and outstanding candidate, which is why even a non-roster invitee like Jonathan Loáisiga could be in the mix. We saw this work out very well last year, with non-roster invitee Shelby Miller, who ended up leading the team in saves by the end of the season.

So what we have below is a list of potential candidates. Which one would you LIKE to see occupy the closer’s position for the D-backs, until the more established names of Puk and Martinez come back? Or if you feel the “closer by committee” thing is a good idea, that would be “other”, I guess. As ever, you can explain your decision in the comments below…

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McCray leads surging Florida State past Cal setting up ACC quarterfinal matchup with Duke

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Robert McCray V scored 30 points and Florida State continued its winning ways beating California 95-89 in the second round of the ACC Tournament on Wednesday.

The eighth-seeded Seminoles (18-14) advance to play top-seeded Duke on Thursday in the quarterfinals.

McCray finished shooting 10 of 17 — including a thunderous windmill dunk off a steal. Lajae Jones scored 15 points, Chauncey Wiggins 14 and reserve Kobe MaGee scored all of his 13 in the first half.

Dai Dai Ames scored 27 points, Chris Bell 17, Justin Pippen 15, John Camden 11 and Lee Dort grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds for ninth-seeded Cal (21-11).

Cal darted to a 9-2 lead before the Seminoles took control. Florida State went on a on a 13-4 run and took the lead for good on a MaGee 3-pointer with 12:13 before halftime.

Florida State shot 53% (18 of 34) including 7 of 14 — after missing its first five — from 3-point range in the first half. Cal shot 41% (11 of 27) including a paltry 27% (3 of 11) from past the arc in the first half.

The Seminoles led 46-32 at halftime and stretched their lead to 56-39 with 16:31 left.

Florida State has won 11 of its last 14 against conference foes since dropping its first five to start ACC play.

Cal has lost three of its last four and now sweats its potential NCAA Tournament berth fate.

Up next

Florida State: Advances to the quarterfinals.

Cal: Awaits Selection Sunday.

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Malik Dia scores 23 points, Ole Miss hands Texas damaging loss at SEC Tournament

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Malik Dia scored 23 points, AJ Storr added 18 off the bench, and 15th-seeded Mississippi knocked off No. 10-seed Texas 76-66 in the second round of the SEC Tournament on Wednesday night.

Mississippi, led by former Texas coach Chris Beard, put a dent in the Longhorns' NCAA Tournament aspirations. The Longhorns (18-14) were thought to be among the last handful of teams in consideration for an at-large bid. After losing five of their last six games, their hopes are fading.

Texas, which trailed by 11 points at halftime got eight points from Jordan Pope in the early minutes of the second half and it was his 3-pointer that had the Longhorns within 53-48 about seven minutes into the half.

Like they did for much of the second half, the Rebels (13-19) answered the Texas push with a rally of their own. Ilias Kamardine scored six points in a 7-0 run that had Ole Miss up by double digits again at 60-48. Texas chipped away over the next six minutes — mostly at the free throw line —and it was 66-63 with four minutes remaining.

Storr then scored eight points over the final 2 1/2 minutes while Texas only managed a free throw from Dailyn Swain and a dunk by Nic Codie.

Texas made 12 of 15 free throws in the second half, 21 of 25 for the game.

Kamardine scored 16 points and James Scott had 10 for Ole Miss.

Swain had 22 points and 12 rebounds for Texas. Pope scored 16 and Matas Vokietaitis added 10.

Up next

Ole Miss moves on to play seventh-seeded Georgia on Thursday. No. 2-seed Alabama awaits in the quarterfinals.

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Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

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Quick Recap: Jays Lose To Yankees

TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: Arjun Nimmala #18 of the Toronto Blue Jays bats during the fourth inning of a spring training game against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 11, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark Taylor/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Blue Jays 1 Yankees 8

That didn’t go well.

Eric Lauer didn’t have a good time of it. He went 3.1 allowing 4 hits, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts, a home run, and 4 earned. His spring ERA is 8.64. I know spring doesn’t really matter for him, he’s going to make the team, but it would be nice to see him put up some zeros. Especially if he wants to be a starter.

Other pitchers:

  • Chase Lee: 2 outs, clean.
  • Jorge Alcala: 1 inning, 1 walk, 1 k.
  • Lazaro Estrada: 1.2 innings, 4 hits, 3 earned, 1 walk, 2 home runs.
  • Brendan Cellucci: 1 out.
  • Chad Dallas: 1 inning, 2 hits, 1 earned, home run, 2 k.

Starters:

  • Myles Straw: 0 for 3, k. .174 on the spring.
  • Nathan Lukes: 1 for 2, walk, k. .273.
  • Jesus Sanchez: 1 for 3, double, RBI, 2 k. .226. His defense in right field wasn’t impressive.
  • Eloy Jimenez: 0 for 3. .281. After a nice start to spring, he’s really slowed down. I can’t see him making the team unless he turns things around in a hurry.
  • Brandon Valenzuela: 0 for 2, k. .333.
  • Rafael Lantigua: 0 for 3, k. .458.
  • Sean Keys: 1 for 3. .208.
  • Arjun Nimmala: 1 for 2, k, steal. .263.
  • Charles McAdoo: 0 for 2 k.

None of the replacements had a hit.

Tomorrow the Jays play the Phillies in Clearwater. Jose Berrios starts (after not being able to play in the WBC for insurance reasons).

In the eighth inning of the Italy/Mexico game has Italy up 9-1.

It looks like Canada will play the US on Friday. And Italy will play Puerto Rico on Saturday, unless Mexico make a big comeback (they won’t). Vinnie Pasquantino has three home runs in the game for Italy.

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Giancarlo Stanton homers twice as Yankees dispatch Blue Jays

TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning of the spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 11, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark Taylor/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Yankees defeated the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night in Tampa behind a big performance from Giancarlo Stanton, who launched two home runs and drove in three runs as New York continued its spring slate with an 8-1 victory.

The game turned quickly in the third inning when the Yankees’ offense came to life. Trent Grisham opened the scoring with an RBI double to right field that brought home minor-league catcher Ali Sánchez. Moments later, fourth-outfielder candidate Randal Grichuk followed with a sharp double of his own, plating Grisham to extend the lead.

That set the stage for Stanton, who delivered the biggest swing of the inning. The Yankees’ designated hitter launched a two-run homer to left-center field, pushing the lead to four runs and continuing a strong spring at the plate for Big G.

Toronto managed its only run of the night in the fourth inning when Jesús Sánchez lined an RBI double to right field to score Nathan Lukes, trimming the Yankees’ lead slightly. However, Cam Schlittler and New York’s pitching staff quickly regained control of the game, keeping the Blue Jays quiet the rest of the way.

Stanton added another highlight in the sixth inning when he connected for his second home run of the night, a towering solo shot to center field that extended the Yankees’ advantage.

View Link

The Yankees continued to add insurance runs late in the game. In the seventh inning, Jonathan Ornelas launched a solo home run to right-center field, his first of the spring. Later in the frame, Zack Short delivered an RBI single that scored Ernesto Martinez Jr. to further widen the gap. New York added one final run in the eighth inning when Cole Gabrielson went deep with a solo homer to right field.

On the mound, Cam Schlittler delivered an impressive outing for the Yankees. The right-hander worked 3.2 innings, allowing two hits and one run while striking out six Blue Jays hitters. Schlittler showed good command throughout the outing and consistently missed bats, an encouraging sign as he continues his development. That all-important pitch count reached 46 tonight with 36 crossing the plate for strikes.

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Relievers Kervin Castro and Carlos Lagrange followed with strong appearances of their own. Castro worked 1.1 scoreless innings, while the up-and-coming prospect Lagrange closed out the game tossing four shutout innings (averaging 101.5 mph, mind you) that resulted in a save the long way.

At the plate, the Yankees finished with 10 hits on the night. Stanton’s two home runs led the way, while Grisham, Grichuk, Ornelas, and Gabrielson each contributed key knocks as New York’s lineup continued to show depth during spring training.

Spring training games rarely tell the full story of a team’s season, but performances like Stanton’s and a strong showing from the pitching staff provide the Yankees with plenty of positives as they continue working toward Opening Day. They’ll be back at it tomorrow afternoon for a road game in Lakeland against the Tigers. Will Warren is set to face future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander with first pitch at 1:05pm ET.

Box Score

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Whitlock scores 18, Lehigh beats Boston University 74-60, wins Patriot League Tournament

BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP) — Nasir Whitlock scored 18 points, Joshua Ingram and Edouard Benoit each added 15, and second-seeded Lehigh beat No. 4 seed Boston University 74-60 on Wednesday night to win the Patriot League Tournament and clinch its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2012.

Hank Alvey added 14 points, nine rebounds, five assists and two blocks for Lehigh (18-16).

Ingram hit a 3-pointer and Whitlock followed with a step-back jumper to make it 13-12 and the Mountain Hawks led the rest of the way.

Ben Defty made 8 of 11 from the field and finished with 21 points and eight rebounds for BU (17-17). Michael McNair added 14 points, Chance Gladden 11 and Donte Tisinger Jr. 10.

Gladden hit a logo 3-pointer at the buzzer Sunday to help BU beat No. 1 seed Navy 73-72.

The Terriers won the 2020 conference tournament, but the ensuing NCAA Tournament was canceled due to COVID.

Up next

BU: Season complete.

Lehigh: Awaits its seeding and opponent for the NCAA Tournament.

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The race for relief spots

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 3: Kyle Hart #68 of the San Diego Padres pitches during a Spring Training game against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch on March 3, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The San Diego Padres have been known for one thing over the last few years. Whether the offense is “Slam Diego” or in a historical rut, whether the starting rotation is elite or strung together with Scotch tape, the bullpen is elite.

The Friars have been lauded by many to have the best relief corps in all of MLB. Heading into the 2026 season, the bullpen is by far the greatest strength in San Diego.

As the final games of Spring Training are played these next weeks, there are a few spots remaining for the Padres to fill.

Obvious roster inclusions

Most teams carry eight relievers on their 26-man roster. San Diego will probably do the same despite toying with the idea of a six-man starting rotation. Doing so would lose the bullpen depth they crave so it’s unlikely for that to be the case.

Some pitchers fill clear roles on the staff. Mason Miller will be the team’s closer. There’s a case to be made that he could be the best closer in all of baseball next year.

Adrian Morejon, Jason Adam and Jeremiah Estrada will all return and fill the same high-leverage roles they excelled in last season.

David Morgan figures to be included in that group as well after his fantastic rookie campaign last season. After a bumpy start, he finished with a 2.66 ERA across 47 ⅓ innings. 

Beyond that, Wandy Peralta will likely fill a similar role to last year’s as a lefty who can serviceably cover innings. But after that, the lines blur on who might join the relief corps.

The fight for the last two spots

That covers six of the bullpen spots. It gets tricky after that. The race has yet to be narrowed down and will be over the next two weeks. With Yuki Matsui possibly starting the season on the injured list, the current frontrunners are Kyle Hart, Logan Gillaspie, Bradgley Rodriguez and Jackson Wolf.

Kyle Hart

After winning the KBO equivalent of the Cy Young in 2024, Hart signed a deal with the Padres to be the club’s fifth starter in 2025. But he struggled with consistency as a starter and was sent down to Triple-A El Paso.

But later in the season he returned to San Diego as a reliever and pitched to much better results. So far this spring Hart has yet to allow a run across 8 ⅔ innings of Cactus League play. If he keeps that up he’ll be poised to fill out the bullpen given his ability to cover multiple innings.

Logan Gillaspie

Gillaspie impressed at the beginning of last season with a 2.57 ERA across 7.0 innings and was used as a reliever who could cover several innings. 

His problem was limiting walks and hits, with a below-average 1.57 WHIP. But he’s also yet to allow a run and has brought his WHIP down to 0.65 across 7 ⅔ innings.

Bradgley Rodriguez

Showcasing an impressive fastball, Rodriguez made his MLB debut late last season, making seven appearances for the big-league club. In that time he recorded a 1.17 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. 

But what was most exciting was his ability to limit opponents to a .160 batting average. That ability has carried over this spring, with Rodriguez lowering his WHIP to 0.50 and not allowing a run in 6.0 innings of Cactus League play.

The number six prospect for San Diego could factor in as a major part of the plans moving forward if he keeps pitching the way he is now.

Jackson Wolf

Wolf made his MLB debut in 2023 for the Friars, only making one start for the club. He’s been used mostly as a starting pitcher in the minors. But without a clear track to a starting opportunity it seems likely he could make some relief appearances.

Across a team-leading 9 ⅔ innings this spring, Wolf has logged a 1.93 ERA with seven strikeouts. If he can limit the walks it would force San Diego to call him up to the majors.

Whoever ends up with the final spots for the Friars, what’s certain is that they have a great problem on their hands: too many good options.

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Yankees’ Cam Schlittler in a ‘really good position’ for Opening Day after second strong spring start

Cam Schlittler was slowed down a bit early in camp due to a back issue, but the Yankees' young righty was magnificent, making his second start of the spring on Wednesday.

Schlittler started his night on a very high note, falling just one pitch shy of an immaculate inning, as he struck out the side on just 10 pitches in the top of the first. 

He continued cruising from there, retiring the first 10 batters before allowing a one-out single in the top of the third. 

Jesus Sanchez followed that with an RBI double for Toronto’s first run of the game. 

The 25-year-old got a groundout to bring his night to an end, before turning things over to righty Kervin Castro, who easily got a flyout to officially close his book.

Schlittler looked extremely sharp as he utilized his full arsenal to allow just the one run on two hits, while generating eight swing-and-misses and striking out six.

He stretched out to 46 pitches, 36 of which were for strikes, over 3.2 innings of work. 

“I thought it was great,” he told YES Network’s Jack Curry. “I was pretty efficient, just being able to get ahead in the count and get those putaway pitches -- still a little bit I can work on, but really happy with the results.”

What exactly he has left to work on, he thinks, is pretty simple. 

"Just continue to build up," Schlittler explained. "Making sure my body and arm is feeling good -- continue building six-to-eight pitches each outing, continue to refine my arsenal and just make sure I’m in the zone with all of those pitches.”

As far as his back, the youngster feels he’s in a really good position to be ready for Opening Day. 

While his pitch count will likely be a bit behind the rest of the starters over his first few regular season outings, he’s prepared to go out and do whatever he can to help the team.

“It’s a little disappointing not being able to get to that 90-mark and the max some of the other guys will have,” he said. “But whatever I can do -- if I only have 70 pitches, I’m going to try to do everything I can to make it a quality start.”

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Nick Martinelli scores 28 and Northwestern defeats Indiana 74-61 at Big Ten Tournament

CHICAGO (AP) — Nick Martinelli scored 28 points, Jake West added 18 and 15th-seeded Northwestern knocked off No. 10-seed Indiana 74-61 on the second day of the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday.

The Wildcats (15-18) trailed 37-36 at halftime then held cold-shooting Indiana to 24 points in the second half. Northwestern now has a seven-game winning streak against the Hoosiers (18-14).

Martinelli made 5 of 7 shots early in the second half while Indiana was mired in a 2-for-11 shooting slump, leading to a 57-47 Northwestern lead with 10 minutes remaining.

Jordan Clayton made one free throw for a 70-52 Wildcats lead with about 5 1/2 minutes left. Both teams limped home from there, with the Wildcats missing their last seven shots and Indiana making only 1 of 4 down the stretch.

At one point in the second half the Hoosiers went six minutes without making a shot and they went 3 for 15 from the field in the final 14-plus minutes.

Lamar Wilkerson scored 17 points and Tayton Conerway had 14 for Indiana. Tucker DeVries had eight rebounds and six assists but was only 2-for-9 shooting for six points.

Northwestern led only once in the first half, when Tyler Kropp's 3-pointer gave the Wildcats a 33-32 lead with 2:49 remaining before halftime. Nick Dorn responded with a 3 for Indiana and the Hoosiers went on to lead 37-36 at the break.

The Hoosiers have lost six of their last seven games.

Up next

Northwestern plays seventh-seeded Purdue on Thursday. No. 2 seed Nebraska awaits in the quarterfinals.

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Giancarlo Stanton rips two homers, Cam Schlittler sharp in Yankees' win over Blue Jays

The Yankees defeated the Toronto Blue Jays, 8-1, on Wednesday night at Steinbrenner Park.

New York is now 12-6 in Grapefruit League play.

Here are some takeaways...

- Cam Schlittler was terrific in his second outing of the spring. The young right-hander was in control from the get-go, setting down the first 10 hitters he faced before Toronto was able to strike in the third. They used a one-out single and double to bring in their first run of the game, but Schlittler got a groundout and Kervin Castro a flyout to end the inning. 

The 25-year-old closed his book with just the one run allowed on a pair of hits while striking out six. Three of those punchouts came when he finished just one pitch over an immaculate inning in a 10-pitch top of the first. He generated eight swing-and-misses, topped out at 99.8 mph, and his secondaries were sharp as he stretched out to 46 pitches. 

- Trent Grisham has had a bit of a rough time at the plate thus far this spring, but he put together two good at-bats in this one. The outfielder doubled home the first run of the game in a left-on-left matchup in the bottom of the third, then drew a five-pitch walk and stole a base in the bottom of the fifth. 

- Randal Grichuk showed exactly why the Yanks took a shot on him on a minor league deal. Also appearing in his second game of the spring, the veteran followed Grisham's double with a two-bagger of his own against Toronto lefty Eric Lauer, giving New York a 2-0 lead at the time. 

- That advantage was doubled just two batters later, as Giancarlo Stanton lifted a first-pitch middle-middle curveball 411 feet over the left-center field fence. And the big man wasn't done there, as he struck again in the sixth, this time launching a slider away 415 feet to left-center for a solo shot. 

All three of Stanton's homers this spring have come over the past two days. 

- Carlos Lagrange walked the first batter he faced, but quickly settled in from there. He got out of the inning with a strikeout on a 102.8 mph fastball and a double play, then retired the next nine batters he faced to close the ballgame. The youngster allowed just the one baserunner, struck out three, and topped out at 103.1 mph over four scoreless innings.

- Jonathan Ornelas and Cole Gabrielson lifted solo homers, and Zack Short singled home a run in the late innings.  

- Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Jose Caballero played five innings and went hitless in their returns from the WBC. 

Game MVP: Giancarlo Stanton

Big-G has had his power bat going over the past two days at Yankee camp.

Highlights

What's next

Will Warren looks to continue his strong spring as the Yanks travel to Lakeland to take on the Tigers. 

First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.