NEW YORK — Jen Pawol will umpire during spring training for the third straight year but the major leagues’ first female umpire did not get one of the permanent staff openings.
Tom Hanahan and Brian Walsh were promoted Friday to replace Mark Carlson and Phil Cuzzi, who are retiring. Carlson will become an umpire supervisor.
Jordan Baker, who worked the plate in Game 7 of last year’s World Series, will replace Carlson as a crew chief.
Pawol, 49, became the first female major league umpire Aug. 9 and worked a total of five big league games last year. In 2024, she became the first woman to umpire big league spring training games since Ria Cortesio in 2007. Pawol has been a minor league ump since 2016 and has worked at Triple-A since 2023.
Walsh, 41, has worked 339 major league games as a call-up umpire and Hanahan, who is 35, has worked 329. Both made their major league debuts in 2023.
The 56-year-old Carlson made his major league debut in 1999 and has been a crew chief since 2021. He worked the World Series in 2015, 2020 and 2024, and he was behind the plate for a no-hitter by the Los Angeles Angels’ Jered Weaver on May 2, 2012.
Cuzzi, 70, worked his first major league game in 1991 and worked the World Series in 2017. He was the plate umpire for no-hitters by St. Louis’ Bud Smith on Sept. 3, 2001, and by Philadelphia’s Cole Hamels on July 25, 2015.
TAMPA, Fla. — Gerrit Cole reached 96.9 mph in his first session against hitters since the New York Yankees ace underwent Tommy John elbow surgery last March.
The right-hander threw about 20 pitches of batting practice Friday, facing Trent Grisham, Aaron Judge and Jasson Domínguez at the Yankees’ spring training facility. He threw his first bullpen session a week earlier.
New York expects Cole to be ready at some point from May to September, which would fit the recovery range of 14 to 18 months that the 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner has said was the target all along.
“It sounds like it was really good,” manager Aaron Boone said before the Yankees’ exhibition opener against the Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota.
The 35-year-old Cole has altered his windup, putting his hands over his head. Before he was hurt, he stopped at his chest.
Cole’s last official outing was in Game 5 of the 2024 World Series that Oct. 30. He pitched in two spring training games in 2025, the last on March 6. Surgery was five days later.
CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 19: Nolan Traore #88 of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 19, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It wasn’t a pretty return from the break, and it won’t get any easier on Friday. The injury report is stacked on both sidelines. Second night of a back to back only means the tank engines get a little louder! The Flatbush Five remains the Flatbush Four with Saraf on Long Island.
🏀 KEY INFO
WHO: Brooklyn Nets (15‑39) @ Oklahoma City Thunder (42‑14) WHEN: 8:00 PM ET WATCH: YES Network
🩹 INJURY REPORT
Nets
Nic Claxton
Ziaire Williams
Ben Saraf
Josh Minott
Tyson Etienne
Chaney Johnson
E.J. Liddell
OKC
Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander
Jalen Williams
Ajay Mitchell
Thomas Sorber
📰 GAME PREVIEW
“For the Nets, they’ve had to consistently find ways to pick themselves up from blowout losses. Four out of their last five losses have been by at least 16 points. You learn a lot during the course of a long season, and for this young Nets team, they hope the lessons (and losses) from this year will carry them into 2027 and beyond.” – Brian Fleurantin
💬 DISCUSSION
Share your thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.
SARASOTA, Fla. — Pete Alonso homered in his spring training debut for the Baltimore Orioles, providing the only runs in a 2-0 exhibition victory over the New York Yankees on Friday.
In his third plate appearance in a big league uniform other than the New York Mets, Alonso pulled a first-pitch curveball over the fence in left-center field against right-hander Bradley Hanner in the sixth inning.
Most of the regulars had exited the spring training opener, but Alonso wanted another trip to the plate and some more work at first base.
“He wanted it, and he made the most of it,” first-year manager Craig Albernaz said. “It speaks a lot. Pete just wants to play.”
Alonso spent his first seven major league seasons with the Mets before signing a five-year, $155 million contract with the Orioles in December. The 31-year-old was a fan favorite in New York.
“Obviously, hitting homers feels amazing, doesn’t matter what time of year. Happy to break the seal,” Alonso said. “I feel honored to wear (this uniform). I feel great in it, I feel like I look good in it. So, it’s fantastic. I honestly couldn’t feel any better.”
Alonso’s parents attended the game a short drive from the five-time All-Star’s home in Tampa. His youth travel baseball team was the Sarasota Salty Dogs, and they played games at the Cal Ripken Complex across the street from Ed Smith Stadium, the Orioles’ spring home.
“As a kid, I remember riding shotgun, just getting ready, getting dressed,” Alonso said. “It’s really cool kind of driving by because I had many, many, many games and weekends over just right across the street at that complex. So it’s really special.”
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 15: AJ Dybantsa #3 of the BYU Cougars drives to the basket against Jayden Ross #23 of the UConn Huskies during the second half at the TD Garden on November 15, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Brooklyn Nets will not be tanking tonight in OKC. After resting one or both of Michael Porter Jr. and Egor Demin on back-to-backs for two months, both players will play vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder in OKC, start time 9:00 p.m. ET.
The organization certainly would be within its rights to sit them without facing outrage over violating the game’s core ethos: winning. It was the second time a little more than a week that the Nets could point to as an example of them being ethical. The night the Washington Wizards caught the basketball world’s ire by sitting nine players, Brooklyn presented the league with a clean bill of health.
Are the Nets getting nervous that they’re too often being lumped alongside the NBA’s most notorious tankers? Are they trying to be the good boy compared to the Wizards, the Utah Jazz and the Indiana Pacers, the latter two both being fined six figures earlier this month? Afraid of deeper sanctions? Or is it simply that MPJ and Demin are good to go or that Sean Marks, Jordi Fernandez, et al want to see how Demin does against the defending champs.
On the other side, of course, Joe Tsai is the only NBA owner to sorta admit his team is trying to get as high a pick in the 2026 Draft Lottery
“Well, I have to say that we’re in a rebuilding year,” Joe Tsai said at the start of the season . “We spent all of our (2025) picks — we had five first-round draft picks this past summer.
“We have one pick in 2026, and we hope to get a good pick. So you can predict what kind of strategy we will use for this season.”
On Thursday, things got more interesting when ESPN reported that Adam Silver was considering further rule changes, beyond those democratizing the lottery between winners and losers back in 2019. Shams Charania wrote this Friday afternoon, discussing Silver talks with owners in December and GMs Thursday:
Sources with knowledge of Thursday’s meeting as well as a late January competition committee meeting told ESPN that these concepts have been discussed to curb tanking:
First-round draft picks can be protected only for top-four or top-14-plus selections
Lottery odds freeze at the trade deadline or a later date
No longer allowing a team to pick in the top four in consecutive years and/or after consecutive bottom-three finishes
Teams can’t pick in the top four the year after making the conference finals
Lottery odds allocated based on two-year records
Lottery extended to include all play-in teams
Flatten odds for all lottery teams.
During Thursday’s GM meeting, Silver, the NBA office and the league’s 30 top team executives shared a desire to have ongoing discussions to safeguard the integrity of the sport.
None of these changes would effect what looks like a generational draft in June of this year. Any changes wouldn’t take place till 2027 or later. That said, the team with the most at stake in all this would be the team with the most draft picks: your Brooklyn Nets who have 13 first rounders (10 tradeable) and 20 seconds. They even have six picks in the 2032 Draft, two firsts and four seconds. If the Nets rebuild is going to succeed to the point that Tsai, Marks, Fernandez etc., hope, those picks will have to retain full value. So you’d think Brooklyn would oppose some of the more stringent measures being discussed.
Of course, the reason is that the 2026 Draft is seen as one of the best ever, challenging the 1996 and 2003 draft in both star power and depth. Somewhere between three and seven are seen as “franchise changing.” As Silver noted in his State of the League talks over All-Star Weekend, that’s led to an imbalance in fandom.
“I think there was a more classical view of that in the old days, where it was just sort of an understanding among partners in terms of behavior,” Silver said. “I think what we’re seeing is modern analytics, where it’s so clear that the incentives are misaligned. …The worst place to be, for example, is to be a middle-of-the-road team. Either be great or be bad, because then that will help you with the draft.
“In many cases, you have fans of those teams — remember, it’s not what they want to pay for to see poor performance on the floor, but they’re actually rooting for their teams in some cases to be bad to improve their draft chances.”
Been there, as Nets fans have long been divided on social media between tanking and anti-tanking contingents.
There are some, like Ricky O’Donnell of SB Nation, who’ve opined that the depth of the tanking is unlikely to become an entrenched phenomenon. The 2027 Draft, he (and others) note, is seen as mediocre. No need to distort the game if the reward is simply not worth the effort.
[T]he 2027 NBA Draft doesn’t look like it’s worth tanking for. While we knew prospects like Victor Wembanyama, Cooper Flagg, and Cameron Boozer were studs by the time they were sophomores in high school, there’s no one that looks the part of a future NBA superstar yet in the current senior class. I’d say the top prospects in 2027 right now are Tyran Stokes, Caleb Holt, and Anthony Thompson, but none of them are even close to a sure thing. The 2028 NBA Draft also doesn’t have an obvious top prospect at this point.
Things, he believes, will resolve itself.
Also, and this isn’t talked about. With the board of governors about to approve expansion, presumably to Seattle and Las Vegas, the league will have to schedule an expansion draft. Does the NBA basketball operations personnel want to plan for both a newly configured NBA draft and an expansion draft?
Meanwhile, at HSS Training Center, the scouting staff is inputting reports from the field whether the NCAA, or the NBL in Australia or the Chinese Basketball Association. This year’s picks – an almost certain high lottery pick and picks at the top and middle of the second round – will be unaffected.
Is all the tanking worth it. Just Thursday, Brian Windhorst of ESPN said in talking to NBA executives that the overall No. 1 pick in the draft could be worth $100 million … if the NBA rules didn’t limit cash considerations.
And Brian Lewis did some math and just how different the top of this year’s class is from previous ones.
Box plus-minus (which estimates a player’s total contribution to team performance) is considered a great indicator of future NBA success, with the elite starting between 8.0 and 10.0 (per Basketball Reference) and the truly transcendent reaching over 13.0. Since 2010-11, only 11 freshmen — so, less than one per year — have recorded a 12.0 or better, with all but two becoming top-3 picks.
This season alone, a staggering half-dozen freshmen stars are currently above 12.0: Boozer (19.4), uber-athletic North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson (13.9), Peterson (13.5), two-way Houston point guard Kingston Flemings (12.9), sharpshooting Illinois guard Keaton Wagler (12.8) and Dybantsa (12.3).
For perspective, Boozer’s historic freshman campaign trails only Zion Williamson and is ahead of the aforementioned Davis and Cooper Flagg, all top overall picks. Meanwhile, even the last of that sextet grades out ahead of Brandon Miller, the No. 2 pick in 2023 and currently thr No. 32-rated player on The Ringer’s latest NBA Trade Value Rankings.
No Net cracked the top 81 in that list, not even leading scorer Michael Porter Jr.
So better to focus on the 2025 rookies or the 2026 draft.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 19: Infielder, Kyle Karros, top left, and Infielder/Outfielder, Chad Stevens, top right, point to the next field they need to go to during spring training for the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Field at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 19, 2026. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) | Denver Post via Getty Images
The Colorado Rockies lost their spring training opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2. For more details, go here.
We’re not yet to the point in the season where we’re doing game recaps, but we wanted to share manager Warren Schaeffer’s postgame comments.
Elmer Rodriguez throws a pitch during his Grapefruit League opener Feb. 20.
SARASOTA, Fla. — Watching the Yankees’ veteran pitchers in his first week of big league camp, Elmer Rodriguez noticed their presence on the mound and how calm they looked.
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Tasked with a notable assignment of his own Friday — starting the Grapefruit League opener against an Orioles lineup full of regulars — the 22-year-old Rodriguez took a page out of their books and continued to show why the Yankees are so high on his future as one of their top pitching prospects.
Rodriguez tossed three shutout innings against the Orioles, flashing his six-pitch arsenal and navigating a nearly full-strength lineup without much issue.
“First inning, the adrenaline was high in the moment,” said Rodriguez, who scattered three singles, struck out one and recorded seven of his nine outs on the ground. “But I was able to channel it and use it to my advantage. I felt like I was executing well and felt good.”
Elmer Rodriguez throws a pitch during his Grapefruit League opener Feb. 20. Charles Wenzelberg
Rodriguez, acquired from the Red Sox last winter in exchange for catcher Carlos Narváez, broke out last season while posting a 2.58 ERA across three levels, with 176 strikeouts in 150 innings.
Depending on which scout you talk to, Rodriguez and Carlos Lagrange are, in some order, the organization’s top minor league arms — Rodriguez with a higher floor as a starter but Lagrange perhaps with a higher ceiling, both with plenty of potential.
And while the stakes are about to get higher for Rodriguez when he goes to pitch for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, the Yankees were still interested to see how he handled Friday’s environment.
“That was pleasantly surprising for Elmer, just because you never know what it’s going to look like the first time you get on the major league mound with a major league lineup up there,” pitching coach Matt Blake said. “That’s borderline their ‘A’ lineup there, minus one or two pieces. But to have some poise out there, to control the strike zone, to move some different shapes around and just see that his stuff’s going to play in the zone versus these types of hitters, that was really encouraging.”
Blake described Rodriguez as having “a good, crafty arsenal” that he could use on all hitters.
The right-hander used his sinker most often, sitting 94-97 mph, but also mixed in a changeup, cutter, curveball, slider and four-seam fastball.
“I thought he was great,” catcher Austin Wells said. “He mixed it really well, hit the spots when he needed to and got some big ground balls. … He’s got a lot of really good pitches, got the talent and he’s just got to go do it.”
Rodriguez, who is likely to start the year at Triple-A as long as the Yankees get through camp relatively healthy, indicated that it was at least a somewhat difficult decision whether to leave his first big league spring training for the WBC.
Elmer Rodriguez reacts during the second inning of his Feb. 20 Grapefruit League start for the Yankees. Charles Wenzelberg
But he has always wanted to represent his country, which he will do in a starting role, and believes he can continue to show the Yankees what he is capable of on an even bigger stage than he would be facing in the Grapefruit League.
“Just trying to use everything to my advantage,” he said. “Get some experience there, learn from guys here, learn from guys there. Having the experience to play there against good competition, just trying to learn as much as I can and get the most experience.
“I feel like it’s probably going to be higher-intensity games. Everybody says it’s like playing in the playoffs.”
It will only add to it that Puerto Rico is serving as a host for pool play, allowing Rodriguez to pitch in his native country.
Before then, Rodriguez passed his first test in big league camp.
“Very much under control,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Obviously running up against a pretty real lineup there. The poise that we continue to see is something you like, even though it’s not that big a deal, but first time in a big league spring training game, kicking off the spring, handled it well.
“I really think he’s got a bright future,” Boone added. “So he’s going to get some run down here.”
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - FEBRUARY 19: Nickeil Alexander-Walker #7 of the Atlanta Hawks defends the play during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on February 19, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Hawks (27-30) kick of a (frankly very winnable) five-game homestand against the Miami Heat (29-27).
Starting lineup:
PG Dyson Daniels
SG Nickeil Alexander-Walker
SF Zaccharie Risacher
PF Jalen Johnson
C Onyeka Okongwu
Please join in the comments below as you follow along.
Where, When, and How to Watch and Listen
Location: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
Start Time: 7:30 PM EDT
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Southeast (FDSNSE)
Radio: Sports Radio 92.9 the Game (WZGC-FM)
Streaming: FanDuel Sports Network app, Fubo (out of market), NBA League Pass (out of market), Youtube TV (NBA League Pass out of market)
So that’s good. That came after Austin Hays homered off Jameson Taillon in the top of the first. Taillon also served up another homer, a two-run job, in the second. I’m not concerned about that sort of thing this early; often, pitchers work on various things in spring outings and sometimes throw nothing but fastballs.
Of a bit of concern: Porter Hodge looked awful in facing six batters in the fourth inning. He walked four of them and allowed a two-run double to new Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami. It might have been more runs, but Grant Kipp induced an inning-ending double play.
Hopefully this was just Hodge “working on something” because he wasn’t anywhere near the strike zone most of the time, throwing only eight strikes in 25 pitches.
Gavin Hollowell, who also might be in the bullpen mix because he has options, struck out all three batters he faced in the sixth. Two of them (Hays and Murakami) are MLB hitters and the third is top Sox prospect Braden Montgomery. So Hollowell might be someone to watch going forward.
There were three ABS challenges in the game. If you didn’t see it, here are all of them.
These calls were all made seamlessly, quickly by the players, announced at the park by the plate umpire and all completed within just a few seconds. This is exactly how the ABS challenge system is supposed to work and once it’s in place for regular-season games you probably won’t even notice. I would imagine there will be more challenges in Spring Training games than you’ll see in the regular season so that players get used to doing it.
It was a gorgeous, though a bit coolish (60 degrees at game time) afternoon in Sloan Park, with the berm getting a bit crowded as folks from seats in the shade came to get some sunshine. Announced attendance was 14,419, about 1,000 short of a sellout. It’s still very early, many people aren’t on spring break or taking vacations yet, and I’d expect the crowds to get larger as the spring goes by.
Matthew Boyd will start Saturday afternoon at Sloan Park against the Rangers. Kumar Rocker will take the mound for Texas. Game time is again 2:05 p.m. CT. TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network and there will also be radio broadcasts via The Score as well as the Rangers radio network.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - DECEMBER 23: Kyle Filipowski #22 of the Utah Jazz shoots a free throw during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on December 23, 2025 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies will have a tank-off their first game post all-star break and it will be mostly a competition of young guys in this one.
The flattened odds that Adam Silver set up are to blame for this game and situation. The Grizzlies would likely not care about losing games if it didn’t have real value to them to fall. Now the Jazz, who have a much worse record, have to tank hard to just lose this game for lottery positioning. And if you don’t think the positioning matters, it definitely does. The Mavericks are one game back of the Jazz in the lottery standings so every win or loss matters.
The injury reports reflect the importance of the tank-off game tonight.
This means that the Jazz will be having a likely big game from Isaiah Collier and Kyle Filipowski. We’ll see how tonight goes and who can come away with tanking glory. Utah NEEDS to lose these types of games because that pick protection is looming large. Utah also has a chance to jump closer to the top of the lottery the better they do with these games.
PHOENIX –– When it comes to the new ball-strike challenge system being implemented in Major League Baseball this year, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts doesn’t yet have any hard-and-fast rules for his players.
But on Friday, he offered a few general guidelines.
“I think right now, I feel comfortable with the catchers doing the challenges versus the pitchers,” Roberts said on the eve of the Dodgers’ Cactus League opener –– in which they will get to test the new automated ball-strike system (ABS for short) for the first time.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts doesn’t yet have any hard-and-fast rules for the new ball-strike challenge system. Jason Szenes for CA Post“I think right now, I feel comfortable with the catchers doing the challenges versus the pitchers,” Roberts said on the eve of the Dodgers’ Cactus League opener MLB Photos via Getty Images
And what if a pitcher decides to challenge a call?
“He’d better be right,” Roberts said, laughing.
Such is the new dynamic players will face with the advent of ABS. Starting this year, the automated reviews will give each team the opportunity to challenge at least two ball-strike calls per game. And unlike normal manager challenges on all other types of play, an ABS review can only be initiated by a hitter, catcher or pitcher –– who may do so by tapping their head within two seconds of each pitch.
Once a team loses two challenges, its players won’t be able to dispute any further calls in a game (unless there are extra innings, in which case teams will be awarded another challenge opportunity).
“I think it’s good that we’re practicing it in spring,” Roberts said. “We’re having conversations about leverage and how to use it to our advantage.”
The ABS system, which relies on Hawk-Eye ball tracking cameras within ballparks to determine whether a pitch was in the strike zone, has been a long time coming.
The ABS system, which relies on Hawk-Eye ball tracking cameras within ballparks to determine whether a pitch was in the strike zone, has been a long time coming MLB Photos via Getty Images
Since 2022, it has been tested in the minor leagues, where players and teams came to prefer having a limited number of challenges per game over allowing the system to make every pitch call, no matter what.
Last spring, MLB gave it a trial run in big-league spring training games, gathering feedback that was used to craft the specifics for its regular-season rollout now.
“I think it should benefit baseball,” Roberts said.
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One of the big points of previous dispute regarding ABS usage: the strike zone itself.
Veteran third baseman Max Muncy noted that, in early versions of ABS that he experienced while on minor-league rehab assignments in recent years, the top of the zone seemed atypically high –– differing significantly from the way many human umpires called the game.
“There were some pitches that, I’d go back and look at the iPad just to see (if they would be called strikes),” he recalled. “And there were ones literally at my eyes that it would say is a strike, just because of how the zone is measured.”
Veteran third baseman Max Muncy noted that, in early versions of ABS that he experienced while on minor-league rehab assignments in recent years, the top of the zone seemed atypically high. Jason Szenes for CA Post
Now, however, MLB has made some tweaks.
Compared with data compiled from actual umpires’ calls, the top and bottom of the ABS zone have been made slightly tighter (“That stinks a little bit,” Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow joked). The league has also been measuring players’ heights this spring for ABS purposes, so each batter will have a zone proportional to their size.
“They’re doing things to make it better, I think,” Muncy said. “But there’s no way to tell until we actually get it.”
For the Dodgers, that process will start Saturday, providing a new subplot to follow over the course of the season.
Now, just like batting average and on-base percentage, players will undoubtedly have their challenge success rate tracked –– by media, coaches and front office analysts most of all.
Their ability to judge the right time in a game to challenge calls will also be scrutinized, introducing a new strategic element to every at-bat.
“You really have to know when you should challenge and when you can’t,” Muncy said. “Like, if it’s the third inning, 0-2 count, two outs and there’s no one on, and there’s a pitch that’s called on you that’s maybe borderline –– even if you’re right, is that really gonna change that much? And if it’s the eighth inning, full count, bases loaded and a pitch is borderline, even if you’re wrong, to me that’s an OK time to challenge.”
And for pitchers like Glasnow, it means leaving the responsibility largely up to the catchers Jason Szenes for CA Post
To Roberts, it means that “some hitters have to be honest with themselves” in the heat of the moment and avoid risking challenges at the wrong time simply out of frustration with borderline calls.
“That goes with baseball IQ,” he said. “Understanding when you challenge, when you don’t.”
And for pitchers like Glasnow, it means leaving the responsibility largely up to the catchers, who have the best view of the zone from right behind the plate.
“Now, if it’s super obvious, I might (still challenge a call),” Glasnow added with a chuckle.
If he does, as Roberts cautioned, he just better be right.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - FEBRUARY 19: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers sits on the sidelines during the game against the Atlanta Hawks at Xfinity Mobile Arena on February 19, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well, this isn’t optimal.
Joel Embiid has been ruled out for the Philadelphia 76ers’ visit to the New Orleans Pelicans set for Saturday evening according to the team’s injury report. The news comes after the team announced back on Wednesday that Embiid had reported right shin soreness over the All-Star break and would be re-evaluated before this weekend. He is officially listed as out for both right knee injury management and right shin soreness.
This will be Embiid’s fourth straight game sidelined, missing two before the break and now at least two following it. The Sixers have gone 0-3 in the last three without him. Before this hiatus, the big fella had gone about a month of consistent playing without missing games unplanned (planned absences being one leg of each back-to-back).
This doesn’t bode well for the Sixers who have looked an absolute mess without Embiid. Earlier in the season, the squad was finding ways to win some games even without the star center. More recently? Not so much. Since Dec. 23 (when his most consistent playing stint began), Embiid has averaged 30.0 points on 52.7% field goal shooting with 8.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.0 block across 20 games. That’s not even to mention the non-statistical contributions his presence provides on the floor such as game-changing spacing thanks to the attention he commands from opposing defenses. Without him, the Sixers’ threats are limited, and it makes them much easier to defend against (as we’ve all seen as this point).
It certainly doesn’t help that Paul George is also unavailable to play due to his suspension, too, but it really feels like the Sixers squad had gotten very comfortable with specifically Embiid being out there with them. Now, they’re scrambling and struggling again without him, and it hasn’t been pretty. Most recently, on Thursday night, they lost to Atlanta, making the sub-.500 Hawks team look a lot better than they actually are in the process.
Saturday’s matchup against the Pelicans is the first leg of a road back-to-back for the Sixers, and there’s no word yet on whether the team is considering re-evaluating Embiid before the second leg visiting the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.
Either way, the rest of the team is going to have to figure out a way to put up some level of a fight without him.
Arizona Diamondbacks Jordan Lawlar catches a fly ball during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale. | Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Record: 1-0. Change on 2025: +1. 5-inning record 0-1.
The Diamondbacks got off to a winning start this afternoon, coming from behind with a two-run eighth inning to prevail over their SRF-mates from Colorado. It was a day for the new guys, with all three Arizona runs being driven in by players who weren’t part of the organization at the end of last season. Nolan Arenado got the team on the board with the D-backs’ first home-run (below), giving them a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Then, trailing 2-1 in the eighth, shortstop Jacob Amaya singled home A.J. Vukovich with the tying run. Catcher Matt O’Neill then double home Amaya, with what proved to be the winning run for Arizona.
On the pitching side, the D-backs used eight different pitchers, seven of whom put up zeroes. The exception was Isaiah Campbell, who allowed both Rockies’ runs in the fourth, on a pair of hits. However, the defense didn’t help him on either of those. The first was an infield single to former D-backs Jake McCarthy, though Arenado’s attempt to get him at first… was not great. Playing left, Ryan Waldschmidt then got all turned around, with a very poor first step on a ball which ended up whistling over his head for an RBI triple. But otherwise, decent results, with Thomas Hatch and Andrew Hoffmann each getting two K’s in the first and second innings.
They were helped considerably by Gabriel Moreno using his ball-strike challenges effectively behind the plate. He got three reversals in a row, turning balls into strikes, before the end of the second. It was not a good day for home-plate umpire Alex McKay. All told six of seven challenges by the players ended up being successful. Also, in kneejerk reactions, Waldschmidt didn’t look great at the plate overall, though did scald the day’s hardest-hit ball at an impressive 115.6 mph. Nor did Druw Jones impress the SnakePit, but Tommy Troy had some decent at-bats. Alek Thomas reached base safely in both of his at-bats, on a walk and a hit.
We’ll be back tomorrow, facing the same opposition, with the Diamondbacks the home-team this time! It will be another 1:10 pm start at Salt River Fields, with Mitch Bratt making his Diamondbacks debut.
Inglewood, CA - February 15: Anthony Edwards was named the MVP after scoring 32 points across three games during the 75th NBA All-Star Game as part of the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend on Sunday, February 15, 2026 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The Dallas Mavericks (19-35) start off the post-NBA All-Star push on the road Friday night, this time matching up against the Minnesota Timberwolves (34-22). Dallas hasn’t won a game since January 22nd, so a win here would mean they can cut the streak at nine games and before it reaches a full month. Minnesota is looking to start a win streak after beating the pants off of the Atlanta Hawks and Portland Trailblazers before All-Star weekend.
WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Minnesota Timberwolves
WHAT: Road trippin’, still
WHERE: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
WHEN: 6:30 pm CST
HOW: ESPN
One would think that given a week off, the Dallas Mavericks injury report would be reasonable. That is not the case unfortunately. Cooper Flagg will miss this game due to a foot sprain. Max Christie was downgraded to doubtful a few hours ago. The two-way guys, Ryan Nembhard and Moussa Cisse won’t be playing.
With both Cooper Flagg and Luka Doncic out, this game probably becomes unwatchable for most Mavericks fans given the late start time. I do not blame them, but as I run a Mavs website, I try to watch all games. Caleb Martin and Daniel Gafford are each questionable. Naji Marshall is not on the report after hurting his foot against the Lakers a week ago.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have a clean bill of health in comparison.
Expect a huge game from Anthony Edwards. But if Dallas hopes to hang on and steal a win, they need to control the glass and get out in transition. Dallas has gotten stomped both games this season by the Timberwolves and unfortunately, this game might be more of the same.
Be sure to chime in with your predictions in the comments!
Consider joining Josh and me on Pod Maverick live after the game on YouTube, we should start LATE. Thanks so much for spending time with us here at Mavs Moneyball. Let’s go Mavs!
NORTH PORT, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 20: Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves poses for a photo during Spring Training photo day at CoolToday Park on February 20, 2026 in North Port, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
By this time tomorrow, the Braves will have gotten done with their first spring training game of the season. That’s pretty exciting, even if all that means is that the countdown to the Opening Day will officially be underway. Anyways, here’s hoping tomorrow goes well. The floor is now yours and here’s a random clip:
