The revival of Matt Renshaw’s international career is set to the deliver the transformed batter a six-figure payday.
Barack and Michelle Obama attend 2026 NBA All-Star Game
The NBA All-Star Game is known for bringing together the most talented and notable players from around the league.
The game also attracts celebrities and public figures from across the country to gather and enjoy basketball.
Former United States President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were among those in attendance for the event, sitting next to basketball legend Julius Erving.
The game features two American teams and a World team at the Intuit Dome on Sunday, Feb. 15.
Obama is a known basketball fan who embraced the game and his fandom while he was in office. He would share his predictions for the NBA Finals or fill out a bracket for the NCAA college basketball tournament.
“There’s a lot of concern about the All-Star Game and not seeing effort (from the players),” Obama said during an interview with analyst Reggie Miller on the NBC broadcast. “Today we are seeing (that effort). Anytime you get Americans vs. International (teams), they want to bring it.”
The NBA has experimented with different formats for the All-Star Game in recent years. All three teams will play each other in a small tournament before the two teams meet in the championship game.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Barack, Michelle Obama attend NBA All-Star Game 2026
No. 2 UCLA routs Indiana 92-48 for 19th straight win
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kiki Rice had 17 points and nine rebounds, Lauren Betts added 16 points and 14 rebounds, and No. 2 UCLA beat Indiana 92-48 on Sunday to extend its win streak to 19 games.
UCLA (25-1, 15-0 Big Ten), which is unbeaten since a 76-65 loss to No. 4 Texas on Nov. 26 at the Players Era Championship, has the third-longest active win streak in the nation behind North Dakota State (21 straight) and UConn (43).
Betts had her 10th double-double this season and the 43rd in her career. Charlisse Leger-Walker and Gianna Kneepkens had 12 points apiece for the Bruins and Gabriela Jaquez scored 11. Sienna Betts and Lena Bilic each had 10 points.
Maya Makalusky led Indiana (14-13, 3-12) with 13 points. Lenee Beaumont added 11 points on 4-of-14 shooting and Nevaeh Caffey scored 10. Shay Ciezki, the Big Ten’s leading scorer who went into the game averaging 24.0 points (No. 5 nationally), left the game due to an apparent ankle injury late in the first quarter and did not return.
The Hoosiers shot a season-low 31% (15 of 48) from the field, 4 of 20 (20%) from 3-point range, and tied their season low for points in a game. Indiana went into the game shooting 47.9% this season, which ranked 14th nationally.
NO. 4 TEXAS 65, NO. 22 TENNESSEE 63
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Madison Booker scored 14 points while Jordan Lee and Rori Harmon each added 12 as Texas held off Tennessee.
The Longhorns (24-3, 9-3 in Southeastern Conference) led by as many as 10 points midway through the fourth quarter. The Lady Volunteers (16-7, 8-3) closed the gap to one with a 3-pointer from Janiah Barker and two 3-pointers by Talaysia Cooper.
Two free throws by Booker put Texas up by three with 16 seconds left. Cooper answered with a layup to make the difference 64-63. Lee made one of two free throws for a 65-63 score. Cooper, who led the Lady Vols with 29 points, had the ball stripped as time expired.
Barker added 12 points for Tennessee and Nya Robertson had 11.
The first half, which ended in a 34-34 tie was full of spurts. Texas had an 18-2 run from late in the first quarter to early in the second to lead by 14. Tennessee scored the last 10 of the second quarter to tie it up. Cooper led all scorers with 15.
GEORGIA 76, NO. 5 VANDERBILT
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Dani Carnegie scored 29 points to lead Georgia to an upset win over Vanderbilt.
Trinity Thomas made a mid-range jumper with 50 seconds remaining to give the Bulldogs (20-6, 6-6 SEC) a 75-74 lead. After forcing a turnover on the ensuing Vanderbilt (24-3, 10-3) possession, Carnegie split a pair of free throws to give Georgia a two-point advantage with 22.2 seconds remaining,
Vanderbilt had one final opportunity to force overtime, but Sacha Washington’s floater fell short off the front rim as time expired.
Carnegie scored 18 of her points in the first half to help Georgia build a 14-point advantage over the Commodores, before Vanderbilt closed the first half with a 16-3 run to create a tight game. Vanderbilt led by as many as five points in the fourth quarter, but Mia Woolfolk scored 11 of her 19 points to help the Bulldogs win.
NO. 7 MICHIGAN 86, NO. 13 MICHIGAN STATE 65
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Syla Swords had 24 points and Olivia Olson scored 23, helping Michigan beat Michigan State to sweep the season series.
Mila Holloway, who finished with 15 points, made a 3-pointer to give the Wolverines (22-4, 13-2 Big Ten) their first lead with 5:53 left in the first half and scored eight points in one minute to spark a 10-0 run.
The Spartans (20-6, 9-6) were outscored 26-9 in the second quarter and didn’t recover, losing for the fourth time in five games.
Michigan State’s Kennedy Blair scored 21, Jalyn Brown had all 11 of her points in the first half and Grace VanSlooten scored seven of her 10 points in the first quarter when the visitors led by as much as eight points.
NO. 9 LOUISVILLE 88, FLORIDA STATE 65
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Laura Ziegler scored 14 points for Louisville in a rout of Florida State.
The matchup between the Atlantic Coast Conference’s top scoring offense (Louisville, 81.9 ppg) and its next-to-last defense (Florida State, 76 ppg) played out that way as the Cardinals (24-4, 14-1 ACC) took control early and never trailed en route to their third straight win.
Ziegler scored the game’s first five points and Louisville used a 9-0 run later in the opening quarter to build a 16-5 lead with 2:45 remaining. Meanwhile, the Seminoles (9-17, 4-10) shot just 25.8% (8 of 31) in the first half as Louisville led 34-20 at halftime.
The senior forward opened the third quarter with a 3-pointer, and the Cardinals added to their lead throughout the second half, leading by as much as 80-51 midway through the fourth quarter. She also flirted with a triple-double, finishing with eight rebounds and seven assists before exiting the game with 6:37 remaining and the Cardinals up 71-49.
NO. 10 OKLAHOMA 79, NO. 23 ALABAMA 71
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Raegan Beers scored 21 points and Payton Verhulst added 17 to help Oklahoma beat Alabama.
Oklahoma led by double digits on three separate occasions, but each time Alabama cut the deficit down to four points or less.
The Sooners (19-6, 7-5 SEC) rallied behind freshman Aaliyah Chavez’s nine points in the fourth quarter to win the game, she finished with 15 points, six rebounds and six assists.
Oklahoma had its struggles offensively- — missing five of its first six shots from the field and only shooting 23% from 3-point range and 58% from the free throw line for the game. Turnovers were also an issue with 19 which resulted in 15 Alabama points.
Alabama (20-6, 6-6) was led by Ta’Mia Scott’s 17 points and 11 apiece by Jessica Timmons and Ace Austin.
NO. 11 DUKE 72, NO. 21 NORTH CAROLINA 68
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Ashlon Jackson and Taina Mair scored 14 points each on their senior day and Duke edged North Carolina, the Blue Devils’ 16th consecutive win.
After a back-and-forth first half that saw 16 lead changes, Duke led 41-33 at halftime and never trailed in the second half. The Blue Devils’ lead was only 56-54 with 30 seconds left in the third quarter but the Tar Heels got no closer.
Delaney Thomas’ layup made it a six-point game with 30 seconds remaining. Nyla Brooks hit a 3 for North Carolina with 15 seconds left, but Jackson added a free throw for the final margin.
Riley Nelson scored 13 points and Toby Fournier grabbed 12 rebounds for Duke (19-6, 14-0 ACC). Mair finished with seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals.
NO. 12 BAYLOR 93, UCF 63
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Taliah Scott scored 26 points and Baylor breezed to a bounce-back win, defeating UCF.
The Bears fell a half-game out of first place in the Big 12 on Thursday when they lost at home to No. 17 TCU 83-67. Baylor plays at TCU on March 1.
Led by 12 points from Scott, Baylor rolled to a 27-13 lead through the first quarter against UCF, which lost by 50 points against Big 12-leader West Virginia last time out. Baylor led 52-23 at halftime after shooting 65% in the first half compared to 37% for UCF.
Scott made 7 of 8 shots and had 21 points by halftime. She finished 8 for 10 for the game with 3 of 4 3s and 7 for 7 at the free-throw line.
Jana Van Gytenbeek had 11 assists and 10 points for her first double-double of the season to go with the triple-double she had on Dec. 9 against Alabama State. Kayla Nelms scored 12 points off the bench, Bella Fontleroy scored 11 and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs 10 for the Bears (22-5, 11-3 Big 12).
NO. 17 TCU 59, NO. 19 WEST VIRGINIA 50
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Marta Suarez and Clara Silva both finished with 14 points to help TCU beat West Virginia and take over the top spot in the Big 12 Conference.
TCU (23-4, 11-3), which won the regular-season and conference tournament titles last season, is tied with No. 12 Baylor, but the Horned Frogs have the tiebreaker advantage after beating the Bears 83-67 before taking care of the Mountaineers. Baylor visits TCU to close out the regular season on March 1.
TCU has won 40 straight games at Schollmaier Arena, tying No. 4 Texas for the longest active streak. West Virginia was the last team to win there, beating the Frogs 77-52 two years ago.
Suarez made 6 of 10 shots with two 3-pointers and Silva sank 7 of 12 shots with eight rebounds and two blocks. Olivia Miles pitched in with 12 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Taylor Bigby added 10 points and four assists as the starters did all the scoring.
NO. 18 KENTUCKY 74, NO. 14 MISSISSIPPI 57
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Clara Strack had 28 points and nine rebounds, Tonie Morgan added 14 points and nine assists, and Kentucky beat Mississippi.
Asia Boone scored 10 of her 15 points in the second quarter for Kentucky (20-7, 7-6 SEC).
Latasha Lattimore scored four points and Cotie McMahon the next five in a 9-0 spurt that trimmed the Rebels’ deficit to 57-51 with 6:45 left in the game, but Strack scored eight consecutive points over the next three-plus minutes before Morgan made a layup to give Kentucky a 16-point lead with 2:59 to play.
Ole Miss (20-6, 7-4) had won four of its last five, the lone loss in that span coming at then-No. 21 Alabama, 64-63, on Feb. 5.
McMahon led the Rebels with 18 points but made just 4 of 18 from the field. Lattimore finished with 15 points, on 6-of-17 shooting and added 11 rebounds and three blocks.
NO. 20 MARYLAND 76, NO. 8 OHIO STATE 75
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Oluchi Okananwa had 17 points and 10 rebounds, Yarden Garzon added 17 points and Maryland rallied from a 19-point deficit in the first half to beat Ohio State.
It is the Terrapins largest comeback since Nov. 13, 2019, when they were down 19 in the fourth quarter at James Madison before posting a 70-68 victory.
Addi Mack had 14 points and Saylor Poffenbarger 13 for Maryland (21-6, 9-6 Big Ten), which beat a Top 10 team for the first time since it defeated Ohio State in the Big Ten quarterfinals two years ago.
It is also Maryland’s first win over a Top 10 team on the road since 2022 against Notre Dame.
Jaloni Cambridge had 29 points and Chance Gray a season-high 25 for the Buckeyes (22-4, 11-3), who had a four-game winning streak snapped.
NO. 25 WASHINGTON 51, OREGON 43
SEATTLE (AP) — Sayvia Sellers scored 17 points to help Washington beat Oregon.
Sellers made 6 of 16 shots with three 3-pointers for the Huskies (19-7, 9-6 Big Ten Conference). Avery Howell pitched in with nine points and nine rebounds.
Sarah Rambus scored 12 off the bench on 5-for-7 shooting to pace the Ducks (18-9, 6-8), who have lost two straight following a four-game winning streak.
Sellers hit two 3-pointers and scored eight in the first five minutes as Washington jumped out to a 13-1 lead. Sellers added another 3-pointer and the Huskies led 22-9 after one quarter.
Mia Jacobs’ three-point play capped a 15-0 run for Oregon and the Ducks rallied to take a 28-27 into halftime. Washington did not score after Elle Ladine sank a jumper to give the Huskies a 14-point lead with 8:29 left in the quarter.
Howell and Sellers had back-to-back baskets to begin the second half and Washington moved back in front. The lead changed hands three times before Sellers and Howell had the final two baskets of the quarter for a 37-34 advantage.
Freshman Brynn McGaughy had a three-point play to begin the final period for a six-point lead and the Huskies stayed in front from there. Sarah Rambus scored in the paint to cut the deficit to two before the Ducks went scoreless over the final 3:47.
Mariners Spring Training Broadcast Schedule
Spring Training games start this week, meaning we are on the clock for an Opening Day countdown. We’ll be wrapping up the 40 in 40 series this week, finishing our prospect rankings, and rolling into Opening Day with our analysis of the other squads in the AL West. In the meantime, we have actual spring training games to watch starting this week. The Mariners will be airing 16 of those games for free on Mariners.TV, the new streaming service the team is offering. The available spring training games will be free to watch, but fans can sign up for regular-season games at the same site ($99.99/year). There is also a monthly option; monthly subscriptions will be available starting on March 23, for $19.99/month. Fans can also stream the games on Mariners.com.
Radio broadcasts will be available live on the Seattle Sports App, which is available to fans living in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, British Columbia, and Alaska. 20 of the 30 Spring Training games will air live on 710 AM Seattle Sports, with 10 airing later that evening on tape delay. Out-of-market fans can also listen via the MLB app. All radio broadcasts begin 10 minutes before game time.
The Mariners kick off their spring training schedule this Friday, February 20th, as they always do: against their Peoria complex-mates the San Diego Padres (the Mariners will be the home team this year). That game will be televised on Mariners TV. Saturday’s game will also be televised.
Here’s the full slate of televised Mariners spring training games:
- Feb. 20 vs. San Diego (12:10 pm PT / 1:10 pm MT)
- Feb. 21 vs. San Francisco (12:10 pm PT / 1:10 pm MT)
- Feb. 24 vs. Chicago White Sox (12:10 pm PT / 1:10 pm MT)
- Feb. 26 vs. Cleveland (12:10 pm PT / 1:10 pm MT)
- Feb. 27 vs. Arizona (5:10 pm PT / 6:10 pm MT)
- Feb. 28 at San Diego (12:10 pm PT / 1:10 pm MT)
- March 1 vs. Texas (12:10 pm PT / 1:10 pm MT)
- March 3 vs. Los Angeles Angels (12:10 pm PT / 1:10 pm MT)
- March 4 at San Francisco (Giants feed) (6:05 pm PT / 7:05 pm MT)
- March 5 vs. San Diego (12:10 pm PT / 1:10 pm MT)
- March 7 vs. Chicago White Sox (12:10 pm PT / 1:10 pm MT)
- March 17 vs. San Diego (1:10 pm PT)
- March 18 vs. Milwaukee (1:10 pm PT)
- March 20 vs. Milwaukee Prospects – Spring Breakout Game (MLB Network feed) (1:10 pm PT)
- March 21 vs. Chicago Cubs (1:10 pm PT)
- March 22 at Chicago White Sox (White Sox feed) (12:05 pm PT)
And the radio games schedule, with delays noted:
• Friday, Feb. 20: Mariners vs. Padres, 12:10 p.m.
• Saturday, Feb. 21: Mariners vs. Giants, 12:10 p.m.
• Sunday, Feb. 22: Mariners at Reds, 12:05 p.m.
• Monday, Feb. 23: Mariners at Dodgers, 12:05 p.m. (Tape delayed to 7:05 p.m. on 710 AM)
• Tuesday, Feb. 24: Mariners vs. White Sox, 12:10 p.m. (Tape delayed to 7:10 p.m. on 710 AM)
• Wednesday, Feb. 25: Mariners at Royals, 12:05 p.m. (Tape delayed to 7:05 p.m. on 710 AM)
• Thursday, Feb. 26: Mariners vs. Guardians, 12:10 p.m. (Tape delayed to 7:10 p.m. on 710 AM)
• Friday, Feb. 27: Mariners vs. Diamondbacks, 5:10 p.m.
• Saturday, Feb. 28: Mariners at Padres, 12:10 p.m.
• Sunday, March 1: Mariners vs. Rangers, 12:10 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 3: Mariners vs. Angels, 12:10 p.m. (Tape delayed to 7:10 p.m. on 710 AM)
• Wednesday, March 4: Mariners at Giants, 6:05 p.m.
• Thursday, March 5: Mariners vs. Padres, 12:10 p.m. (Tape delayed to 7:10 p.m. on 710 AM)
• Friday, March 6: Mariners at Rangers, 12:05 p.m.
• Saturday, March 7: Mariners vs. White Sox, 12:10 p.m.
• Sunday, March 8: Mariners at Brewers, 1:10 p.m.
• Monday, March 9: Mariners at Diamondbacks, 1:10 p.m. (Tape delayed to 7:10 p.m. on 710 AM)
• Tuesday, March 10: Mariners vs. Royals, 1:10 p.m. (Tape delayed to 7:10 p.m. on 710 AM)
• Wednesday, March 11: Mariners vs. Rockies, 1:10 p.m.
• Thursday, March 12: Mariners at Cubs, 1:05 p.m. (Tape delayed to 7:05 p.m. on 710 AM)
• Friday, March 13: Mariners vs. Dodgers, 6:10 p.m.
• Saturday, March 14: Mariners at Angels, 1:10 p.m.
• Sunday, March 15: Mariners vs. Reds, 1:10 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 17: Mariners vs. Padres, 1:10 p.m. (Tape delayed to 7:10 p.m. on 710 AM)
• Wednesday, March 18: Mariners vs. Brewers, 1:10 p.m.
• Thursday, March 19: Mariners at Athletics, 6:10 p.m.
• Friday, March 20: Mariners at Guardians, 2:10 p.m.
• Saturday, March 21: Mariners vs. Cubs, 1:10 p.m.
• Sunday, March 22: Mariners at White Sox, 12:05 p.m.
• Monday, March 23: Mariners at Padres, 12:10 p.m.
Big East suspends Providence's Powell 2 games, giving him a 3-game penalty from fight-filled game
NEW YORK (AP) — Providence forward Duncan Powell was suspended two additional games by the Big East on Sunday, meaning he will miss three games for his flagrant foul that sparked a fight in a game against St. John's.
Powell already faced an automatic one-game ban for fighting by NCAA rules, but the conference tacked on an additional penalty stemming from the 17th-ranked Red Storm's 79-69 victory Saturday that featured seven ejections.
It started when Powell flagrantly fouled Bryce Hopkins — who played three seasons in Providence — from behind as he went up for a fast-break layup. Powell was automatically ejected for the flagrant 2 foul.
“Providence College holds its student-athletes and coaches to the highest standards,” athletic director Steve Napolillo said. “We fully support the suspension that the Big East has issued to Duncan Powell. His actions were unacceptable and do not reflect the values, discipline, or sportsmanship expected of anyone representing Providence College.”
The Big East said in its ruling that officials determined that Powell “engaged in additional combative actions that constituted a fighting act subsequent to the flagrant foul.”
He will sit out next Saturday at DePaul, followed by a Feb. 24 home game against Xavier and a game at Creighton on Feb. 28.
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‘Third time lucky’ for Alex de Minaur as he lifts one of biggest titles of his career
Australian produces some fine tennis to win Rotterdam Open
First indoor title comes after 6-3, 6-2 win over Felix Auger-Aliassime
Alex de Minaur sealed a landmark week by delivering a masterful performance to defeat the red-hot Felix Auger-Aliassime and finally land one of the biggest titles of his career at the Rotterdam Open.
The Australian produced some of his finest tennis on Sunday (Monday AEDT) to crush the Canadian world No 6, who had won the Montpellier Open just a week earlier and whose service had been seemingly unbreakable.
Continue reading...No. 10 Oklahoma holds off No. 23 Alabama 79-71 after late fourth-quarter surge
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Raegan Beers scored 21 points and Payton Verhulst added 17 to help No. 10 Oklahoma beat 23rd-ranked Alabama 79-71 on Sunday.
Oklahoma led by double digits on three separate occasions, but each time Alabama cut the deficit down to four points or less.
The Sooners (19-6, 7-5 SEC) rallied behind freshman Aaliyah Chavez’s nine points in the fourth quarter to win the game, she finished with 15 points, six rebounds and six assists.
Oklahoma had its struggles offensively- — missing five of its first six shots from the field and only shooting 23% from 3-point range and 58% from the free throw line for the game. Turnovers were also an issue with 19 which resulted in 15 Alabama points.
Alabama (20-6, 6-6) was led by Ta’Mia Scott’s 17 points and 11 apiece by Jessica Timmons and Ace Austin.
The Crimson Tide featured a more balanced scoring attack with six players with at least eight points, but couldn’t hold off the Sooners down the stretch to secure a second win over a top 10 team this season.
Alabama rallied to take a 57-54 lead in the third quarter by using an 18-4 run — its first advantage since early in the opening quarter. However the Crimson Tide only made three of 15 shots the rest of the way and were outscored 21-11 in the final quarter.
Oklahoma had 14 offensive rebounds which led to 19 second chance points and was plus-20 on the boards for the game.
Up next
Oklahoma travels to Georgia on Thursday.
Alabama hosts No. 3 South Carolina on Thursday.
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Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes responds to Manny Machado, Bryce Harper comments about spending
Coming off an offseason in which the Dodgers spent over $300 million on just two free agents, the two-time defending champions’ luxurious spending has undoubtedly been a topic of conversation and consternation around Major League Baseball.
However, when asked about the Dodgers’ record-setting payroll Sunday, the Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper and the San Diego Padres' Manny Machado were complimentary of the way the Dodgers do business.
“I love it,” Machado told reporters at the team's facility in Peoria, Ariz. “They figured out a way to do it. ... I think every team has the ability to do it. I hope all 30 teams could learn from that.”
Machado spent a half of a season with the Dodgers in 2018 before inking a $300-million contract with the Padres. That same winter, the Dodgers met with Harper, who eventually signed a $330-million contract with the Phillies. Harper shared the same sentiment as Machado when he spoke with reporters in Clearwater, Fla.
Read more:Plaschke: Yoshinobu Yamamoto must remain the calm in the Dodgers' storm
“I love what the Dodgers do, obviously,” Harper said. “They pay the money, they spend the money. I mean, they’re a great team. They run their team like a business, and they run it the right way.”
Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes, while speaking with media at Camelback Ranch Sunday, made it clear that his organization isn’t searching for approval from any outside sources.
“We’re not looking externally for validation,” Gomes said. “The validation is winning championships and putting out as good a team as we can each and every year, and all we’re trying to do is get a little bit better each and every season, with the goal of winning championships. [Our] coaching staff, our players I think view it as that. Good, bad or indifferent, the external stuff is something we can’t worry about.”
Gomes also credited Dodgers ownership for providing the financial resources to help the front office continue to bolster its roster each winter.
“[We’ve had] incredible support from ownership,” Gomes said. “We’ve always [been] in the position to address the needs that will help us go out and win another championship, so I think a lot of it is looking at what’s needed in the roster and what’s available. We’ve been in the fortunate position to be able to acquire guys that fit that really well.”
Roki Sasaki throws live BP
Right-hander Roki Sasaki took the mound in front of hundreds of fans Sunday at Camelback Ranch, throwing live batting practice to teammates Hyeseong Kim and Seby Zavala as he readies himself for his second season with the Dodgers.
The 24-year-old Sasaki threw a smooth 16 pitches, punching out the right-handed hitting Zavala, and inducing a pair of groundballs to shortstop from the lefty Kim.
“I feel healthy,” Sasaki said through interpreter Will Ireton. “And also, my mechanics are in a way better spot from last year, so I felt really good in the bullpen and in today’s live BP.”
Sasaki is hoping to add to his pitch mix. He’s been experimenting with a pitch that he describes as a “cutter-slider-ish pitch.”
“I did throw the cutter-slider-ish pitch [today],” Sasaki said. “[I’m] still not really sure what direction I want to take with the cutter-slider, but the feedback from the pitching coaches is that it was very good, so I’d like to take this time during spring training to really hone in on the direction of my cutter-slider.”
Gomes has confidence that Sasaki will see success with a third pitch in 2026.
“He’s fully capable of it,” Gomes said. “We’ve seen a lot of really good [stuff from him], like the sinker, the cutter that he’s throwing… Last year, I don’t think he was ever in a great spot health-wise, really until the end of the year. All of the stuff we’ve seen so far, he’s looked really, really good. I mean, the bullpens have been exceptional. The pitch movements. He’s throwing the cutter, sinker. He’s having an expanded arsenal.”
Injury updates
Just days before opening camp, the Dodgers re-signed Kiké Hernández and Evan Phillips to one-year contracts as they both recover from elbow injuries.
On Sunday, Gomes provided updates on both of their recoveries.
Read more:Edwin Díaz responds to Steve Cohen comments, settles into Dodgers' 'really good clubhouse'
“Kiké’s progressing well,” Gomes said of Hernández, who had surgery to repair his left elbow in November. “He’s in a place where he should start swinging here pretty soon. We’re going to be really mindful of how we progress to this and making sure that when he comes back, that he’s not only healthy, but he’s healthy and ready to go. So, we’ll kind of check it out week by week.”
On Phillips, who had Tommy John surgery last June, Gomes said: “Same thing. Sometime probably midseason. It all depends on how the build-up goes and if there are any slow-downs or hiccups, depending on once he gets going into the mound progression and the full [Tommy John] stuff, but he’s feeling really good. Throwing looks great. Body looks great, so I think it’s just being mindful and viewing him almost as like a trade-deadline acquisition in some way, shape or form. That's kind of how we have it in our heads."
Staff writer Anthony Solorzano contributed to this report.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Dodgers spending is ‘f–king great for the game.’ Manny Machado, Bryce Harper not complaining
PHOENIX –– Turns out, not everybody in baseball reviles the Los Angeles Dodgers’ record-breaking spending.
On Sunday morning, two of the game’s biggest veterans, Bryce Harper of the Phillies and ex-Dodger Manny Machado now of the San Diego Padres, were asked about trying to compete with the defending two-time World Series champions.
And rather than voicing the typical complaints –– about how the Dodgers are ruining baseball, and disrupting competitive balance with their $400 million-plus payroll –– the two sluggers struck a decidedly different, almost defiant tone.
“I f–king love it,” Machado told reporters at Padres camp. “I love it. I mean, honestly, I think every team should be doing it. They’ve figured out a way to do it, and it’s f–king great for the game.”
“I love what the Dodgers do, honestly,” Harper echoed at Phillies camp. “They pay the money. They spend the money. They’re a great team. They run their team like a business. And they run it the right way.”
In much the same way the Dodgers have downplayed external critiques over their roster construction in recent years, they didn’t indulge in Sunday’s contrasting comments from Harper and Machado, either.
“I don’t really pay any attention to that at all,” Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said later Sunday morning at Camelback Ranch. “We’re not looking externally. The validation is winning championships and putting out as good a team as you can each and every year.”
Still, the points Harper and Machado raised illustrate another perspective about the Dodgers that many in the sport quietly maintain.
Both argued that other teams (and, reading between the lines, ownership groups) have the capabilities to challenge the Dodgers better and replicate their organizational approach.
“I think every team has the ability to do it,” Machado said. “So, I hope all 30 teams can learn from that.”
“Each team in baseball has an opportunity to do the same thing,” Harper added. “Maybe not at the upper echelon of money. But they can draft, they can develop, they can trade. I don’t know, I think a lot of teams can do that in baseball. And they should.”
Harper further highlighted the Dodgers’ developmental system, calling it something “people don’t look at” when complaining about the club.
“Their draft and their development is unbelievable,” he said. “Then they trade those guys for big-name guys, and they can spend the money. So I don’t know, it bothers me when everybody talks about, ‘The Dodgers are spending money.’ No, they draft, they develop, they do it the right way, they understand what it takes to be the best team in baseball.”
Gomes cited that kind of organizational harmony when reviewing the team’s latest blockbuster winter on Sunday. He said that while the team was “in the fortunate position to be able to acquire guys that fit really well” this winter –– referencing the arrivals of Kyle Tucker and Edwin Díaz –– he also noted “those guys being able to choose here, I think, speaks to (our) culture.”
The Dodgers were a topic elsewhere around the baseball world Sunday, including at Arizona’s spring camp, where Diamondbacks owner Ken kendrick was also asked about trying to compete with them as a National League West division rival.
Kendrick didn’t deny the Dodgers’ current standing atop the sport, calling them the “900-pound gorilla” in MLB’s current hierarchy.
However, he also sidestepped any criticisms over their spending, instead making the case that “the way it works in the jungle, the gorilla doesn’t win every fight.”
That, fittingly, is the same message the Dodgers have been preaching among themselves so far in camp. They know how the rest of the sport views them. They know they are expected to complete a World Series three-peat. But they also know they’re not invincible –– that for however much money they spend, baseball still offers no guarantees.
“I don’t know,” Gomes said when asked if he believes in so-called World Series hangovers. “I mean we did OK last year. I wouldn’t say we played our best baseball all year. But I think a lot of it is coming in, making sure our guys are focused. It’s incumbent upon all of us to continue to mind the little things and make sure that the attention to detail is there so there is no drop-off in intensity.”
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Could Astros Listen to Yordan, Keep Paredes?
There’s only one real way to make the current situation work, and that involves the Astros giving in to Yordan Alvarez’ desires.
We have reached a point that seemed impossible to navigate all offseason. The Houston Astros have fully opened Spring Training and both Isaac Paredes and Christian Walker are still on the team.
It has been a foregone conclusion one of the two would have been traded for other needs on the roster by the time Spring Training expanded to more than just pitchers and catchers. Yet, here we are.
Throughout interviews, all of the Astros players who could potentially be impacted by the infield logjam have towed the company line, saying they are only focused on playing their best and that everything else is up to management. They also all want to play everyday, and based on the plans laid out thus far by manager Joe Espada that doesn’t seem to be feasible.
Unless… Yordan Alvarez gets his way and gets to play LF a lot more?
It’s a point that has been made many times by both myself and my show partner Shaun Bijani on AREA45 on Sportsradio 610. Yordan has never gotten hurt playing the field, and he WANTS to play the field.
Now, Yordan does not grade well as an outfielder because he has very limited range, however he does have a strong and accurate arm. If the team was willing to try to live with Jose Altuve in LF, surely it can live with Yordan Alvarez in LF?
There are some caveats here are well. Notably, current projected CF Jake Meyers can run down anything, and is well versed in helping cover for whomever the Astros may have in LF on any given day when necessary. Having Cam Smith or Zach Cole in RF would also allow Meyers to be more concerned with LF because either of those 2 in RF can cover a lot of ground as well. Therefore, the team can mitigate the fact that Yordan has limited range.
Also, there is an offensive side to the coin. Yordan is a career .297 hitter, with a career .389 OBP and career .961 OPS, but his numbers are even better when he plays LF.
When Yordan plays LF, he is a career .330 hitter with a .415 OBP and a 1.046 OPS. That sample is over 769 AB and 896 PA, so it is a well represented sample size.
Is it possible the Astros listen to their superstar slugger and let him grab his glove a lot more often?
Alvarez playing LF opens up the DH slot for whichever among the infielders is getting the day off from their regular position. This would allow Paredes to DH, play 1B with Christian Walker at DH, play 3B with Carlos Correa at DH, maybe even play 2B with Jose Altuve at DH.
Whether or not Paredes can still play 2B at the MLB level is a legitimate question. He last played the position in 2023, and the metrics were not kind to him. Overall, he has started 53 games at 2B in his career, and the metrics overall show he’s been passable. It is unlikely he will be a better 2B than Jose Altuve, but if he is, Altuve hit his best last season in the DH role (.816 OPS at DH, .759 at 2B, .742 in LF).
Being able to rotate the DH spot would allow Espada to give days off without losing guys bats, and with players all saying how they want to play every day and play 150 games, this would be the most likely path to that happening.
While Yordan playing LF doesn’t necessarily change the fact the Astros are still very right-handed offensively, they do have the option of playing both Zach Cole and Joey Loperfido against righthanded pitchers to help balance the lineup out, and both of those players are capable of playing CF. It is also possible they make a deal for another lefthanded OF bat without surrendering anyone major from the lineup, and can play three lefty bats in the OF and maybe one at DH to have a highly balanced lineup. A trade like the one theorized by David Schoenfield of ESPN of Jake Meyers to the Angels for Josh Lowe would give the Astros three lefthanded OF bats (Cole, Loperfido, and Lowe) and two righthanded OF bats (Smith, Dezenzo) in addition to Yordan, creating lineup opportunities of 5 righties and 4 lefties in the lineup.
It is also possible that the team doesn’t want to listen to Yordan, but a deal for either Paredes or Walker doesn’t materialize, and they find themselves in a situation where they need to find a way to get all their best hitters in the lineup as much as possible. Giving Yordan more time in LF would certainly help them accomplish that goal. They could be forced to listen to Yordan because the other alternatives are just too inferior.
The Astros also start the season with 24 games in 26 days. It would likely be a pretty good idea to have a way to keep everyone fresh early, and not overplay someone into an injury due to fatigue. Correa has a long injury history, Altuve has a recent injury history and is about to enter his age-36 season, Walker has been plagued by oblique injuries in recent years and is about to enter his age-35 season, and Paredes is coming off a torn hamstring so not needing to push those guys hard early would be ideal.
Yordan has never played more than 56 games in LF in a season, and that was in 2022, a season he finished 3rd in MVP and helped lead the Astros to a World Series Championship. He played 53 games in LF in 2024, and it is his only other top-10 MVP finish. Perhaps Yordan is on to something? Perhaps playing him 80-90 games in LF would be a benefit to the team and to Yordan’s production?
If the Astros haven’t been able to find a viable trade for Paredes or Walker yet, maybe they should try listening to Yordan?
Let us know in the comments if you agree with Yordan and would let him play more in LF?
U.S. men's hockey rolls past Germany, closes Winter Olympics group play unbeaten
With NHL stars back in the Winter Olympics for the first time in 12 years, organizers of the Milan-Cortina hockey tournament have seemingly done everything they can to make the players feel at home.
A horn blast marks goals and the end of each period, an NHL tradition since the 1970s; foreboding organ music plays whenever a player is banished to the penalty box; and the songs used during breaks in play lean heavily toward American artists such as Dean Martin, Neil Diamond and The Black Eyed Peas.
They even brought in Kings’ organist Dieter Ruehle to complete the ambience. So it should be no surprise that the U.S. and Canada, whose rosters include only NHL players, have been the most comfortable in that environment, emerging from the three-game group stage Sunday as the tournament’s only unbeaten teams.
Canada blitzed France 10-2 behind two goals from the San Jose Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini to earn the top seed into Wednesday’s quarterfinals while the U.S beat Germany 5-1 to grab the second seed.
The Americans got two goals and an assist from Toronto Maple Leafs’ captain Auston Matthews and goals from Zach Werenski, Brock Faber and Tage Thompson in its win. The U.S. have scored at least five goals in each of its three games.
“It's kind of been familiar to an NHL-style environment, but with the pride of country,” said Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy. “So it's been a blast.
“The environment that they created here, I think they did an awesome job.”
Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson, who was still in college during the 2022 Olympics, played for the U.S. in front of an empty arena in the COVID-marred tournament in Beijing, where there was no environment. These Games are better, he said.
“The crowd's a little bit different than in NHL,” he said. “It's a little more rowdy, maybe that's just the European way. But it's amazing seeing the flags. Obviously, a lot of American flags, but flags from all over the world.”
McAvoy and Sanderson are two of 147 NHL players at the Milan-Cortina Games. All 32 teams sent at least one player and every country in the tournament, save host Italy, has an NHL player on its roster.
Italy, not surprising, lost all three of its first-round games, getting outscored 19-4.
NHL players were held out of the 2018 Olympics after the IOC announced it would no longer cover player-related costs such as insurance, travel and accommodations, and they missed the 2022 Games after a COVID-19 outbreak scrambled the league’s schedule, forcing it to withdraw its players from the Olympics six weeks before they were to leave.
In their absence, countries fielded teams of college players or professionals from lower-tier leagues while many NHL players figured their Olympic dreams would never be realized.
“We missed out on a couple. So I think it kind of went to the back of everyone's mind,” said Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper, who is playing in his first Olympics for Canada. “But then they announced that we're going to this one. I think everyone got really excited.”
“I dreamed about it growing up, like every other kid,” he continued. “Whenever we were playing mini-sticks or street hockey or on the outdoor rink, you were always playing for the Stanley Cup or playing for Olympic gold.”
Kuemper has already won a Stanley Cup. A title in Milan would complete the set.
“The two greatest honors in hockey,” he said. “Winning the Stanley Cup and winning Olympic gold.”
Canada will probably have to get by the U.S. to get Kuemper his medal and the U.S. looked beatable for most of a sloppy first period Sunday, one that saw two defensemen collide on a power play, knocking one another to the ice. Later in the period forward Jack Hughes tumbled to the ice untouched.
The Americans finally found their stride, going ahead to stay when Werenski, a defenseman with the Columbus Blue Jackets, took a pass from Matthews in the center of the right circle, stepped up and drilled a wrister past German goalie Maximilian Franzreb nine seconds before the first intermission.
Read more:Brock Nelson lives up to his family's Olympic hockey legacy in U.S. rout of Latvia
Matthews doubled the advantage 3:25 into the second period, poking the rebound of a Quinn Hughes’ shot by Franzreb for his second power-play goal of the Olympics. Faber, who plays in the NHL with the Minnesota Wild, made it 3-0 with less than 2:30 left in the second period, playing the puck off the boards near the blue line and flicking it on goal where Eichel got a stick up in front of Franzreb, distracting the goalie as he reached up unsuccessfully to glove the puck.
Thompson, of the Buffalo Sabres, and Matthews closed out the scoring for the U.S. with goals less than five minutes apart into the final period. Tim Stutzle of the Ottawa Senators finally got Germany on the board with his fourth of the Olympics with less than nine minutes to play.
Now for the U.S. it’s on to the quarterfinals, which is the Olympic version of the NHL playoffs.
“We'd be idiots to think anything other than the game in front of us,” McAvoy said when asked about facing Canada in the final. “We've said from the beginning ‘every single game, every single day.’ It’s just about winning one hockey game.
“We were able to accomplish our goal, get two wins, win the group. That was our goal coming into this and now we get some added some added rest, which is huge.”
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Tyler Reddick wins the Daytona 500 in a car owned by Michael Jordan
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Tyler Reddick wins the Daytona 500 in a car owned by Michael Jordan.
Padres elated to land 'baller' Nick Castellanos after his Phillies divorce
PEORIA, AZ — Nick Castellanos spoke calmly, evenly, almost emotionless Sunday after signing with the San Diego Padres, says there are no hard feelings for the way his tenure ended with the Philadelphia Phillies.
He also has no regrets.
Castellanos, released by the Phillies after attempting to trade him all winter, apologized in an open letter to Phillies’ fans for bringing a beer into the dugout during a game against the Miami Marlins in June after being pulled from a game.
"What I will learn from this is just letting my emotions get the best of me in a moment," Castellanos said. “Possibly if I see things that frustrate me, or I don’t believe are conducive to winning, to speaking up when I see it instead of letting things just pile up over time. Then, finally when I address it, it’s less emotional."
Yet, he has no remorse over publicly venting his frustrations.
“In the moment, I felt how I felt and I spoke from the heart," Castellanos said, “and I was honest in every word that I said. You know, it’s not like I was outwardly ever displaying that, like I kept it all inside. But when I was asked a question [by Phillies’ beat reporters in September], I shot straight.
“And then people perceived it how they wanted to."
When asked if he wished things had ended differently in Philadelphia, he shook his head, citing only the failure to win a World Series championship.
“I mean, I think winning solves everything," Castellanos said. “So, I think the one thing that I wish would have ended up different that we would have won."
Castellanos, 33, who was in the final year of a five-year, $100 million contract, was labeled as a malcontent, with several teammates privately calling him selfish in a report by The Athletic. When he openly criticized Phillies manager Rob Thomson for his lack of communication, the Phillies decided they didn’t want him back, and told every team that he was available.
A.J. Preller, Padres president of baseball operations, said he spoke frequently with Phillies president Dave Dombrowski about acquiring Castellanos beginning last November, while knowing that he likely would be released if he wasn’t traded. They stayed patient, and pounced Thursday when he was released.
The Padres immediately set up a Zoom call with Castellanos. Preller, GM Josh Stein and rookie manager Craig Stammen spoke to him, and determined that whatever problems he might have had in Philadelphia, he’d be just fine in the San Diego clubhouse.
“We did a lot of homework," Preller said. “We were just trying to get a grasp of exactly what happened. So we talked to a ton of people that have history with Nick, teammates, coaches, people have been around him. ... It was more about the clubhouse dynamic, getting information about work ethic and the love of the game and what kind of teammate he is."
Preller admits he was originally unaware of the beer incident. So, yes, they talked about that, too
“Obviously, everyone’s got their side of the story," Preller said, “but I think for us it was most important about getting face-to-face with him, hearing his thoughts."
Castellanos’ explanation was convincing enough for the Padres to go ahead and sign him.
“You know, I’ve made many mistakes on this job," Preller said, “and ultimately when people own up to those mistakes – and he did that in our call – it’s about giving guys another opportunity. He gets a fresh start here and a fresh opportunity."
Said Stammen: “You know, we just laid out expectations. He wants the truth. He wants to be direct. He's a direct person. And I think the more that I can be that way for him, and the Padres can support him in that manner, the better off we’ll be."
Preller convened with Padres chairman John Seidler and president Eric Gruepner, while also getting the blessing from several of their veterans – including third baseman Manny Machado – before offering Castellanos a job. Machado, a childhood friend of Castellanos growing up in Miami, immediately gave his blessing.
“I really don't know the details of what happened over there," Machado said. “Don't really care. Honestly, I'm just happy we got him for what we got him for, and he's going to improve our team tremendously. That's all that we care about, you know.
“At the end of the day, we want him to come out here and ball out. I know that he's a baller. He can play the outfield, play a little bit at first base. He can hit with the best of us in the big leagues. So, you know, to have him in our lineup is going to be huge. …
“I got my guy here with me, and it’s going to be a fun year playing together."
Castellanos, who has hit 250 homers with 920 RBIs and a .785 OPS in his 14-year career, says he’s looking forward to proving that he still is an everyday player. He has been to the postseason five times in the last six years, but has never won a World Series, believing that winning a title with Machado would be the ultimate dream.
And while Castellanos says San Diego is a perfect fit and is his son’s favorite city, he brought up the Padres’ close-knit relationship with players, believing that his deteriorating relationship with Thompson or coaches wouldn’t happen in San Diego.
“How they treat their players," Castellanos said, “and how they have their backs. Even if you know something goes a little awry, they still stand with them. They don’t deviate from their commitment to him as a person. So all those things come into account."
The way the Padres figure it, they’re adding a two-time All-Star who still hit 17 homers and drove in 72 runs, for virtually nothing. They are paying Castellanos just the $780,000 minimum salary with the Phillies picking up the remainder of his $20 million contract. (“I mean, talk about getting a $20 million player for pennies on the dollar," Machado said).
So, if Castellanos doesn’t perform well, turns out not to be a fit in the clubhouse, the Padres could easily dump him. No harm, no foul, and no risk.
“They’re giving me an opportunity, that’s all I can ask for," Castellanos said, “to be able to come here, be myself, work hard, make a club, earn my playing time, and just help really in any that I can ….
“I think this is a very talented team. There’s a lot of veterans here. And the city of San Diego has never won a World Series. So however I can contribute to that and help this team accomplish that goal, I’m more than willing to do so."
Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nick Castellanos Padres contract is fresh start after ugly Phillies divorce
No. 2 UCLA women beat Indiana 92-48 and extend win streak to 19 games
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kiki Rice had 17 points and nine rebounds, Lauren Betts added 16 points and 14 rebounds, and No. 2 UCLA beat Indiana 92-48 on Sunday to extend its win streak to 19 games.
UCLA (25-1, 15-0 Big Ten), which is unbeaten since a 76-65 loss to No. 4 Texas on Nov. 26 at the Players Era Championship, has the third-longest active win streak in the nation behind North Dakota State (21 straight) and UConn (43).
Betts had her 10th double-double this season and the 43rd in her career. Charlisse Leger-Walker and Gianna Kneepkens had 12 points apiece for the Bruins and Gabriela Jaquez scored 11. Sienna Betts and Lena Bilic each had 10 points.
Maya Makalusky led Indiana (14-13, 3-12) with 13 points. Lenee Beaumont added 11 points on 4-of-14 shooting and Nevaeh Caffey scored 10. Shay Ciezki, the Big Ten’s leading scorer who went into the game averaging 24.0 points (No. 5 nationally), left the game due to an apparent ankle injury late in the first quarter and did not return.
The Hoosiers shot a season-low 31% (15 of 48) from the field, 4 of 20 (20%) from 3-point range, and tied their season low for points in a game. Indiana went into the game shooting 47.9% this season, which ranked 14th nationally.
UCLA grabbed a season-high 23 offensive boards, outrebounded the Hoosiers 51-24 overall, and outscored them 28-2 in second-chance points. The Bruins committed just four turnovers and forced 13 by Indiana, which they converted into 25 points.
Up next
UCLA: Hosts No. 25 Washington on Thursday.
Indiana: Hosts Oregon next Sunday.
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2026 All-Star Game Thread
The 75th NBA All-Star Game will get underway on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET from the Intuit Dome, home of the Los Angeles Clippers. Returning to NBC for the first time in decades and also streaming on Peacock, this year’s All-Star Game will feature a round-robin tournament with four 12-minute games between three teams: two with United States players and one made up of players from across the globe.
Of particular note for Sixers fans, Tyrese Maxey will be suiting up for the “USA Stars” squad. Maxey, along with the likes of Cade Cunningham, Devin Booker and others, will play in the first game of the day against the World team.
The NBA has caught some flak for how its All-Star Saturday events went about, myself included, given its early start time, a lukewarm at best Slam Dunk Contest and just a general sense of “eh” about it all. The game’s biggest and brightest stars, however, have the opportunity to change the narrative of the weekend overall with a strong showing during this little All-Star tourney. I hope they do! It would be great for both the fans and the league.
As the basketball action unfolds, come chat in our open thread and talk about Maxey, the Sixers and anything hoops related (or unrelated, I guess). Soak it up given that the Sixers as a whole won’t return to the court until this upcoming Thursday when they host the Atlanta Hawks.