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Max Scherzer's 8-year-old daughter wanted her father back with the Blue Jays so much she wrote a letter to the team in December expressing her hope for his return to Toronto.

After the three-time All-Star agreed Wednesday to a $3 million, one-year contract, the pitcher's wife, Erica May-Scherzer, posted a copy of the handwritten note by Brooke. May-Scherzer said her daughter wrote the letter, dated Dec. 15, and asked her parents to mail it to the team.

“Dear Blue Jays,” the note began, "I am so sorry that you didn’t win the World Series. I hope that you win next time. I hope my dad is back on the team. My whole family loves spending time in Toronto with our dad. We loved the aquarium, the (CN) Tower and of course the stadium. I am looking forward to come back next season. Love, Max Scherzer daughter”

An eight-time All-Star, Scherzer is a 41-year-old right-hander with a 221-117 record and a 3.22 ERA for Arizona (2008-09), Detroit (2010-14), Washington (2015-21), the Los Angeles Dodgers (2021), New York Mets (2022-23), Texas (2023-24) and Toronto (2025). He ranks 11th on the career list with 3,489 strikeouts — 20 behind Hall of Famer Walter Johnson.

He was went 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA in 17 starts and 85 innings for the Blue Jays last season, and he made three starts in the postseason, beating Seattle 8-2 in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series. He started Games 3 and 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

We’re back! Welcome to the Celtics’ Top-5 Highest IQ Plays of the Week! 

Sure, we love the high-flying dunks and the deep, off-the-dribble step-back threes, but this is a place for the under-the-radar plays that might not get the credit they deserve. The plays that get the basketball sickos and nerds out of their chairs. The plays that even YOU could make in your weekly rec league game. 

Each week, the plays will be ranked from five to one—one being the smartest—and will only be taken from games that occurred within the past week. For this week, games from February 19th to February 26th are considered. The Celtics went 3-1 this week, with wins over the Warriors, Lakers and Suns, but a loss to the Nuggets. 

5. Simple but effective patience

This play seems simple, but I love Queta’s patience and greed when it comes to finding the best available pass. After bigs get offensive rebounds, so many of them have a tendency to kick it out to the first open shooter before thoroughly surveying their options. Here, though, Neemy forgoes pitches to both White and Pritchard before eventually finding Brown for the even-more-open three. It’s about going from an okay shot, to a good shot, to a great shot. The game is slowing down for him before our eyes.

4. Timely cut

I’m not sure whether Hauser is improvising here or this is a planned cut, but it’s a heady play nonetheless. When Pritchard’s ghost screen results in a brief moment of space, it’s Sam’s defender who’s responsible for a stunt at PP. But when Hauser 45 cuts (a cut from the wing), he forces even Porzingis to spend an extra split second worrying about his rim presence, which makes the Latvian’s closeout to Vucevic worse than it should be. Imagine what this play looks like if Hauser stays—or don’t, and I’ll spell it out for you. Sam probably gets swung the ball, but Porzingis is close enough to guard both him and Vucevic with their poor spacing, forcing him into either a contested shot or a poor extra pass with bad spacing. Beautiful cutting instincts  from Hauser here.

3. Rear view contest

The Celtics played a lot of drop coverage this week—which, more than any other pick-and-roll coverage, necessitates active and intense guard defense. It forces the player defending the ball-handler to usually trail the offensive player while still somehow affecting his pull-up jump shot. On this play, White effectively trails Cam Johnson and somehow gets a rear view block—something he’s better at than probably any other NBA player— even though he gets caught on the screen. Special recovery from White. 

2. Keeping everyone on their toes

Late night hoops 🔜@DraftKingspic.twitter.com/OrUWQs42Xx

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 25, 2026

As accurately presented by Bill Simmons on a recent podcast, Boston’s pathway to dominance this season has followed a clear formula: Brown+White+Pritchard+guys who work hard. But how do you find guys who will consistently play with above-average intensity and effort? You make nobody feel fully safe and comfortable in their role, and you randomly start Ron Harper Jr. over players who have regularly been in the rotation. Mazzulla’s willingness to shake things up and keep guys on their toes has been refreshing and fun, and I think it has forced players like Scheierman, Walsh, Gonzalez, and Hauser to do the little things if they want to stay on the floor, which has, in turn, made them better players. Baylor is all of a sudden an elite defender and rebounder? 

1. Hugo’s rising confidence

I like a couple of things that Gonzalez does on this highlight play. First, I appreciate the fact that he immediately extra-passes the ball to Harper Jr. without spending even a split second  considering a shot or drive—this gives Ron more time to operate and make a decision. Then, Hugo backpedals along the arc, giving Harper Jr. more space and forcing more difficult closeouts for both Podziemski and Porzingis, which then allows Gonzalez to attack space and show us some of what he has been working on with the developmental coaches.

Tarleton State basketball is moving on from coach Billy Gillispie, according to multiple reports on Friday, Feb. 27.

Gillispie, 66, has been Tarleton State's coach since 2020, and has led the school to a 78-74 record in five seasons. The former Texas A&M, Kentucky and Texas Tech coach has been sidelined since Jan. 15 due to health issues.

Coaching carousel: College basketball coach firings, changes

Gillispie has dealt with myriad health-related problems in recent years. He was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2017 before receiving a transplant, and also missed the 2023-24 season at Tarleton State after undergoing a blood pressure-related procedure. He also cited health issues after resigning from Texas Tech in 2012, his lone season at the school.

Gillispie was placed on temporary administrative leave Oct. 3, 2025, due to an anonymous complaint being filed to the school. He has faced concerns in the past for how he treated players across other jobs.

Associate head coach Glynn Cyprien has been Tarleton State's acting head coach during Gillispie's absence. The Texans are 14-15 this season.

Gillispie led UTEP to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2003-04 before being hired by Texas A&M, which he led to the Sweet 16 in 2006-07. He spent two seasons at Kentucky from 2007-09 but failed to advance past the first round of the NCAA Tournament before being fired.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tarleton State basketball moving on from Billy Gillispie as head coach

Unfortunately, these potential Detroit Pistons statement games keep turning into who’s available games. The Pistons take on the new-look Cleveland Cavaliers tonight, but this won’t be the team Detroit might see in a seven-game series.

Cleveland’s best player, Donovan Mitchell, is out tonight with a groin designation. Cleveland’s new addition, James Harden, is questionable with a thumb injury. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley are critical Cavs pieces; they are two of the best rim protectors in basketball. While that’s true, those guards are the reason many see Cleveland as a legit threat.

Detroit will be without its backbone in Isaiah Stewart again tonight. With those pivotal pieces potentially missing tonight’s game, this probably isn’t a true statement game, but there is one message the rugged Pistons can send to Allen and Mobley.

Game Vitals

Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan

When: Friday, February 27, 7:00 pm EST

Watch: ESPN or Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit

Odds: Detroit (-6)

Analysis

This could be another individual statement game from Jalen Duren. When the Oklahoma City Thunder ruled out Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein on Wednesday, Duren did exactly what he was supposed to do on the offensive end.

Duren made the Thunder look like those 8th graders in his early hoop mixtape. Dominating Allen and Mobley the same way would be very impressive. Duren has that in him; he went straight through Victor Wembanyama a few nights ago.

It would have been a fun matchup seeing Cade Cunningham guarding Mitchell or Harden. Blocks and steals aside, Cade is showing qualities of an elite defender.

We knew he was solid or good on that end, but he has a shot to be a premier two-way threat at his best. The size, willingness to slide his feet, and constant engagement on that side separate him from star guards like the Cavs have.

Former Piston Dennis Schröder and Keon Ellis were other in-season Cavalier additions. Both are listed as day-to-day and questionable tonight. Those two add to the Cavs’ depth. Schroder can change the pace in a playoff matchup, and Cleveland is +16.6 with Ellis on the floor. He’s always been an impactful scrapper who’s had good shooting stretches.

The Cavs have other snipers who can get going. Sam Merrill has been one of the league’s top flame throwers this season. He’s shooting 46 percent on over seven 3-point attempts. Merril erupted from deep, going 9/10 against the Washington Wizards earlier this month.

The Pistons obviously aren’t the Wizards. It’s hard to find a team that rotates on the perimeter better than Detroit does. Before even needing to get into rotation, Merrill and the other Cavs role players will need to get by the sturdy Pistons perimeter defenders — no easy task.

Detroit’s role players match up nicely with those Cavs role players. Ron Holland, Javonte Green, and Paul Reed are not the preferred matchups for NBA players. You’re in for a long night of active hands and constant bumps if any of those three are assigned to you.

That nonstop pressure is a team-wide trend on both sides of the ball for Detroit. Cleveland could get beat up in the paint even though they’ll trot out a massive frontcourt.

Detroit averages the second-most points in the paint, and Cleveland has the fifth-best points in the paint team defense. Per PBP stats, opponents shoot 50 and 52 percent with Allen and Mobley at the rim, respectively.

Duren, Cade, the scrappy role players, and the perimeter drivers can show the Cavs why they’re different tonight. Maybe the star guards don’t suit up for Cleveland, but Detroit can still send a message to Cleveland’s double-big lineup.

Lineups

Detroit Pistons (43-14): Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Cleveland Cavaliers (37-23): Dennis Schröder (?), Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Question of the day

Has Detroit’s offensive paint dominance or team defense been more impressive?

There are wins that feel like oxygen, and then there are wins that feel like you can finally unclench your jaw. Thursday night against the Los Angeles Lakers was the latter for the Phoenix Suns, a game that washed over the fan base and let everyone breathe a little deeper as they look ahead to Sacramento on Tuesday. When you do not play again for a few days, a performance like that lingers in the best way. It rides shotgun with you through the weekend. It hums in the background while you mow the lawn or rewatch possessions on League Pass.

Injuries have reshaped the rotation, and when that happens, space opens up. Minutes are not handed out, they are claimed. Opportunity sits there waiting for someone with the nerve to grab it. On Thursday night, that someone was Rasheer Fleming, the rookie out of Saint Joe’s. He stepped into his window and looked comfortable doing it. He did not float through the game. He impacted it. And on a night when Phoenix needed contributions from everywhere, he answered the call.

Rasheer Fleming looks fantastic

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) February 27, 2026

When you see Rasheer Fleming step onto an NBA floor, your eyes do not have to work very hard to understand the intrigue. He looks the part immediately. 6’9”. A 7’5” wingspan that seems to blot out light. 240 pounds on a frame that carries it with ease. When he extends those condor arms into a passing lane or rises to contest at the rim, it is not a mild inconvenience for the offense. It is a problem that has to be solved in real time.

This season has not been about rushing him. It has been about building him. He arrived raw, the kind of prospect who makes you lean forward in your seat during Summer League and whisper to yourself that if it ever clicks, watch out. You could see the outlines of something meaningful in Vegas, yet on the offensive end, he would drift, processing a half-second late, thinking through reads instead of reacting to them.

Time has a way of sanding down those rough edges. Reps in the G League matter. Film sessions matter. The unglamorous minutes matter. And with each stretch of action, he has started to look more comfortable, more decisive, more in tune with where he is supposed to be and when he is supposed to be there.

There is also the draft context that lingers in the background. A second round pick, yes, although taken 31st overall, which is as close to the first round as you can live without technically being invited to the party. That slot carries its own subtle message. It says the league saw something. It says the gap between him and the traditional first-rounder was thin. Three spots behind Ryan Dunn the year before, which is less a separation and more a technicality.

Now the physical gifts that made you believe are starting to align with the on-court feel. And when that happens, when body and brain begin to sync up, that is when a developmental project starts to look like a rotation player in the making.

What we witnessed on Thursday felt like another mile marker in Rasheer Fleming’s growth chart. It was another reminder that this stretch of opportunity for the young guys is something you cannot properly measure with a box score or a spreadsheet. Development does not move in straight lines. It moves in minutes, in trust, in moments that stack on top of each other until a coach starts to lean your direction without hesitation.

Fleming had logged 266 minutes entering the matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers. That is not nothing, although it is not a featured role either. Lately, the runway has been longer. He has approached 20 minutes in five of the last six games he has appeared in, including Thursday night, and those minutes have not been accidental. They have been intentional.

Jordan Ott has started to weave him into the fabric of the game earlier, slipping him into the rotation in the first quarter, letting him feel the tempo while the contest is still finding its shape. It gives Phoenix a different look, more length, more switchability, and more chaos on the defensive end. It asks the opponent a new question.

Thursday followed a familiar script at first. Fleming checked in with 4:22 left in the opening quarter. That timing tracks. He entered with 3:15 left in the first against the Boston Celtics. He stepped in with 4:59 left in the first against the Portland Trail Blazers. The pattern is there.

What shifted against the Lakers was the leash. In prior games, his first stint had a defined endpoint. Against Boston, he exited with 6:22 left in the second quarter. Against Portland, his run ended at the start of the second. On Thursday, after the mandatory mid-quarter timeout, Ott let him stay out there. He kept Rasheer on the floor.

Fleming up to 10 minutes and is staying in after the timeout. This will be his longest shift in the rotation so far. Well deserved.

— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) February 27, 2026

That detail matters. Coaches show belief in increments. An extra rotation. A few more possessions. Trust revealed not in words, but in substitution patterns. And on a night when Phoenix needed energy and length and a little bit of fearlessness, the rookie was given more room to breathe, which is how growth becomes real.

Ott saw the disruption. He saw Rasheer Fleming make life uncomfortable for Luka Doncic and LeBron James, and when that timeout hit, he did not reach for the substitution pattern he had been following in previous games. He let it ride. Why? Because Fleming earned it.

That is the ecosystem this roster is trying to build. Minutes are not gifted. They are claimed. You want to stay on the floor? Prove you belong there. On Thursday, Fleming proved it. His defense was active, physical, and aware. He used every inch of that wingspan to crowd air space, to shade driving lanes, to bother pull-ups. Disruption is his entry point into this league. If he hangs his hat there, the rest can grow around it.

The body has always been ready. The question was always whether the athletic gifts would align with the mental processing. That alignment is starting to show. He anticipates screens instead of reacting late. He navigates contact with balance. He keeps his hands high to deter passes, to alter sight lines, to make scorers think twice. These are not accidental habits. They are learned behaviors, signs that the game is slowing down for him.

Offensively, the confidence is creeping in as well. The three-point stroke looks clean, repeatable, unhurried. He went 2-of-3 from deep on Thursday night, stepping into those looks without hesitation. The season number sits at 27.6%, which tells part of the story. The recent stretch tells another. He is 7-of-17 over his last five games, good for 41.2%, and those attempts have come within the flow of the offense.

Rasheer Fleming is 7-of-17 (41.2%) from deep over his past 5 games pic.twitter.com/rmitfIffBc

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) February 27, 2026

For a young player, that blend of defensive impact and growing offensive comfort is how you carve out a role. Fleming is beginning to understand that, and more importantly, he is beginning to show it.

There is one layer you would still like to see him peel back.

When the ball finds Rasheer Fleming above the break, the first instinct is often to keep it moving, to swing it to the next option, to stay within the structure of the offense. There is value in that. It shows discipline. It shows he understands the scheme. Yet there are moments when you want him to pause for half a beat, read the defender in front of him, and consider that the advantage might be his.

Attack.

Not every possession. Not recklessly. Not in a way that hijacks flow. Although when an athlete with his physical abilities catches the ball in space, there is room to explore. We saw a glimpse of it when he rolled off of a screen towards the cylinder in the third. It worked. The defender gave ground. The lane opened. The finish followed.

That is the next frontier in his development. Trusting that his length can carry him past contests. Trusting that when he extends toward the cylinder, his length creates angles that most players cannot erase. He might surprise himself with how unblockable he can be once he commits to the drive.

It is a small adjustment, although an important one. Growth in this league often lives in those in-between decisions, the choice to swing the ball or seize the moment. For Fleming, learning when to turn a catch into pressure on the rim feels like the next step in a journey that is already trending upward.

“We always tell him he has no idea how good he can be,” Collin Gillespie said of Fleming after the game.

I am grateful he had the runway to play through mistakes, to settle in, to leave fingerprints on the game. I am also grateful the front office resisted the urge to chase a veteran power forward on the trade market or in the buyout aisle to soak up those reps. They stayed committed to the developmental arc, trusting that when the window opened, it would belong to someone like Rasheer Fleming. Thursday night, the window opened, and he stepped through it.

This is what patience looks like. You draft a player 31st overall, you invest in the reps, you live with the uneven stretches, and you allow the growth to compound. When opportunity arrives, it does not feel foreign. It feels earned.

As I have said before, growth is linear. It climbs, it dips, it steadies, it climbs again. The next matchup might not fit him as cleanly. He might run into a coverage he has not solved yet. He might have to process something new on the fly and learn in real time how to counter it. That is not a setback, that is the curriculum.

Development in the NBA is not about perfection. It is about exposure. See it once. Adjust. See it again. Respond quicker. Fleming is in that phase now, gathering experiences, stacking possessions, building a foundation that will support the next leap.

SILVERSTONE, England (AP) — Cadillac is naming its first Formula 1 car in honor of 1978 champion Mario Andretti, who calls it the “ultimate compliment” ahead of the team's inaugural race next week at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

F1's new 11th team announced on Friday its car will be the MAC-26, short for Mario Andretti Cadillac, for the most recent American F1 champion.

“Naming our first chassis MAC-26 reflects the spirit Mario carried into Formula 1 and the belief that an American team belongs on this stage,” said Dan Towriss, chief executive of Cadillac Formula 1 Team Holdings.

“His story embodies the American dream and inspires how we approach building this team every day.”

Andretti is an ambassador for the General Motors-backed Cadillac team, whose F1 entry originated with a bid fronted by his son Michael under the Andretti Global name.

The original bid was rejected by Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder of F1, amid prolonged wrangling. Michael Andretti stepped aside and the entry was restructured with Towriss at the helm and an increased role for GM.

“Racing has been the joy of my life. It is the ultimate compliment that Cadillac Formula 1 Team sees those years as meaningful and worthy of recording with this honor,” Mario Andretti said in a statement.

“I cherish the opportunity that it gives me to have a lasting board with F1 and am genuinely appreciative of everyone who continues to acknowledge my part in racing history.”

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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing