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As you know, Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki suffered some sort of knee injury playing for Japan in the World Baseball Classic.
It’s really hard to tell exactly how the injury happened. Suzuki walked gingerly off the field and was still limping when he reported back to Cubs camp, wearing a soft knee brace.
He had an MRI on Monday and results were expected to be announced to the media later today. I’ll update this survey post when those MRI results become public, but in the meantime, this week’s SB Nation Cubs Reacts survey question is: Who do you think should replace Suzuki in right field if he’s out for a while?
Vote in the survey and I’ll have the responses later this week.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: Dustin May #3 of the St. Louis Cardinals throws a pitch against the Washington Nationals during the first inning of a spring training game at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 11, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a rare day off, the St. Louis Cardinals are back in action on St. Patrick’s Day Tuesday as they travel to the Washington Nationals Spring Training home. According to MLB.com, Dustin May will make another start for the Cardinals while Jake Irvin takes the mound for the Nationals.
Mar 15, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Detroit Tigers left fielder Riley Greene (31) hits a home run during the third inning against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Long before he became an NBA Hall of Famer, Paul Pierce was a senior at Inglewood High School thrilled to be chosen to play in the 1995 McDonald's All-American Game, a nationally televised showcase that has brought together 24 of the best prep players in the country every year since 1978.
The McDonald's all-time scoring record of 30 points had been set in 1981 by (who else?) Michael Jordan a month after his 18th birthday. Fourteen years later, Pierce scored at a blistering pace, yet because someone had stolen his jersey, he played a portion of the game with the name "McCoy" on the back.
Broadcasters credited "McCoy" with several baskets and apparently the scorekeeper couldn't keep track either. In the box score, Pierce was credited with 28 points. In his mind, he was certain he had more than 30.
He painstakingly watched the game tape and, sure enough, he had scored 31 points. Yet the official McDonald's record book didn't recognize it, and Jordan continued to hold the record until Jonathan Bender put up 31 in 1999.
That is just one of the delightful, insightful stories included in the feature-length documentary "Meal Ticket," an exhaustively researched labor of love by co-directors Corey Colvin and Carlton Gerard Sabbs of production company Stony & Yates. The film will premiere Thursday on Prime Video.
Meanwhile, Jordan had his own beef with McDonald's — or at least his mother did. He was not given the John R. Wooden Award as Most Valuable Player in that 1981 game even though he set the scoring record and made shots during the East team's last five possessions, including the winning basket in a 96-95 victory.
Chase Budinger, left, and Kevin Durant, co-MVPs of the 2006 McDonald's All-American High School basketball game, hold the MVP trophy in front of legendary coach John Wooden, center. (Denis Poroy / Associated Press)
Deloris Jordan was not happy. On the elevator leaving the arena, she told broadcaster Billy Packer, "Poor Michael. My poor son Michael. He never gets any recognition. He never gets any respect."
Soon, of course, her son would get his due, first for leading North Carolina to the NCAA title as a freshman — again sinking the winning shot — then for leading the Chicago Bulls to a record six NBA titles in eight years while winning 10 scoring titles. Michael Jordan is widely considered the greatest basketball player of all time.
Produced by Roc Nation, Known Originals and Creative Control, "Meal Ticket" chronicles the 49-year history of the McDonald's All-American Games. Nearly 50 Naismith Hall of Famers were participants, and many reminisce for the documentary.
For most, the showcase was their first time on national television. At 17 or 18 years old, they were fresh-faced, eager and ultra-competitive. Colvin, 41, and Sabbs, 39, dug deep into archives of games and surrounding activities provided by McDonald's and ESPN, and the result is a balanced blend of action footage and fond memories.
"We tried to illustrate the parallel between the McDonald's game and the growth of the sport," Colvin said. "I honestly feel it’s a power hidden within the McDonald's game that people haven’t paid attention to. If you want to know where basketball is going, watch the McDonald's game."
Among the key developments was founder Bob Geoghan expanding the event to include girls' basketball, launching a doubleheader format with the boys beginning in 2002 that proved immensely popular.
Two years later, Candace Parker won the annual Slam Dunk Contest, defeating, among others, JR Smith and Josh Smith, both of whom would be NBA first-round picks within months. Parker's achievement was so unlikely that her own brother hung up on her when she called to tell the family, according to the documentary. Just another nugget unearthed by Colvin and Sabbs.
The creative careers of the Chicago South Side products began with directing branded content, and their mentors, directors Coodie Simmons and Chike Ozah, helped them make a pitch to McDonald's in 2022 for an independent documentary.
Early fears that the fast-food colossus would be overly brand conscious and dictate content were allayed. Mickey D's not only gave the directors the rights to tell the story, but also provided game footage while steering clear of editorial meddling.
Bronny James of the West team talks to his dad, LeBron James of the Lakers, at the 2003 McDonald's All-American Game in Houston, Texas. (Alex Bierens de Haan / Getty Images)
"You’d think with McDonald's, they'd be very hands-on to position and push the brand," Sabbs said. "But they were good partners. We were even concerned about the name, 'Meal Ticket,' because it's kind of edgy, a quadruple entendre. Would McDonald's approve it? They stood by us. Nobody micromanaged us. And when they were around, we knew we’d be getting some french fries."
The closest Sabbs and Colvin came to deviating from McDonald's sanitized version of events came when the directors recognized the role Geoghan played in launching the Games. Amateur basketball luminaries Wooden — the legendary former UCLA coach with 10 national championships — Sonny Vaccaro and Sonny Hill were drawn into promoting the Games largely because Geoghan earmarked profits for the Ronald McDonald House Charities.
The documentary team immersed itself in the 2022 McDonald's All-American Games, shadowing two boys and two girls throughout the weekend. Part of that story was the outpouring of emotion for Geoghan, who died at 87 in February 2022 and was honored at the Games a month later.
"When we were filming in 2022 we saw how deeply everyone respected Bob," Sabbs said. "They did a tribute on the Jumbotron before the game and put a Bob Geoghan jersey and a dozen roses on the seat where he watched games.
"Bob never wanted to get rich off the McDonald's Games. He was a humble guy who some said died penniless. I hope this film helps him and his family get some recognition for what he contributed to basketball. He really ought to be in the Naismith Hall of Fame and I hope that happens."
Geoghan redirected attention to the court and the sheer number of precocious youngsters who went on from the showcase to legendary professional careers. California has produced the most McDonald's players on both the boys' and the girls' teams. And simply considering those who eventually made their marks with the Lakers is staggering.
Magic Johnson starred in the first McDonald's game in 1978. James Worthy played alongside Isiah Thomas, Dominique Wilkins and Ralph Sampson the next year. Shaquille O'Neal was MVP in 1989. Kobe Bryant made highlight reel plays in 1996. JJ Redick was 2002 MVP and won the three-point shootout. LeBron James was MVP in 2003.
Bryant and James, of course, were among the elite players to jump straight from the showcase to the NBA, skipping college. Another player who did so, Amar'e Stoudemire, was physically dominant even when sharing the court with other future greats.
"I was a different kind of beast, man," Stoudemire says in the documentary. "I'm not doing a finger roll off the glass move. I'm attacking the basket and I'm shaking the whole backboard. I think from that point on, everyone knew, 'Stoud, he's going to the NBA. He ain't going to college.' By the time we left, I'm sure there were a few screws and hinges that had left the rim."
JR Smith realized he was going to skip college for the NBA after dominating the McDonald's Game in 2004, scoring 25 points on an assortment of dunks and long-range jumpers. He was committed to North Carolina but made no secret that he didn't want to go to school.
Upon returning to the hotel after the game, Smith began running through the halls, yelling, "I'm going to the league!"
This year's Games will take place March 31 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Ariz. The West boys' roster will include Southern California products Brandon McCoy Jr. and Maximo Adams from Sierra Canyon, Christian Collins from St. John Bosco and Jason Crowe Jr. from Inglewood. Jerzy Robinson from Sierra Canyon and Cydnee Bryant from Corona Centennial will play in the girls' game.
Even with NIL money seeping into players' bank accounts, Sabbs and Colvin haven't noticed a change in how the best of the best approach the McDonald's All-American Games.
"All you hear are these stories from all-star games that the players don’t care anymore because there's too much easy money," Colvin said. "But these guys are competing, playing defense, diving on the floor. The McDonald's Games are still a precursor for where the game is going, from elevating the girls to NIL, and we hope that comes across in the film."
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA - MARCH 17: A closeup view of a New Era Philadelphia Phillies St. Patrick's Day hat during the seventh inning of a spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at BayCare Ballpark on March 17, 2025 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Here are the lineups for today’s matchup against the Twins. Let’s discuss.
Mar 6, 2026; Jupiter, Florida, USA; New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea (59) pitches against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images | Rhona Wise-Imagn Images
Mets lineup
Francisco Lindor – SS
Marcus Semien – 2B
Bo Bichette – 3B
Jorge Polanco – 1B
Luis Robert – CF
Brett Baty – RF
Luis Torrens – C
Mike Tauchman – DH
Tyrone Taylor – LF
SP: Sean Manaea – LHP
Marlins lineup
Otto Lopez – SS
Agustin Ramirez – C
Connor Norby – 1B
Owen Caissie – LF
Christopher Morel – RF
Graham Pauley – DH
Esteury Ruiz – CF
Jacob Berry – 3B
Johnny Olmstead – 2B
SP: Sandy Alcantara – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 1:10 PM EDT TV: Not this time Radio: Marlins Radio
The Oklahoma City Thunder aim to push their winning streak to nine when they tip off against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center tonight.
All eyes will be on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and deservedly so, but I’ve got my eye on a Chet Holmgren prop in my Thunder vs. Magic predictions & NBA picks for Tuesday, March 17.
Thunder vs Magic prediction
Thunder vs Magic best bet: Chet Holmgren Over 8.5 rebounds (-112)
The OKC center has averaged 10.9 boards per game since the break – eighth-most in the NBA.
Holmgren has collected Over 8.5 rebounds in seven of his last eight outings, so we’re getting good value tonight.
The Orlando Magic are a middle-of-the-pack rebounding team, ranking 15th in boards per game (43.8), and starting center Wendell Carter Jr. is no match for the 7-foot-1 Holmgren.
Thunder vs Magic same-game parlay
Holmgren hasn’t just been a monster on the glass; he’s also scored Over 16.5 points in three of his last five games while averaging 18.8 ppg through that span.
The Thunder are also 5-0 in their last five games vs. the Magic and 8-2 ATS in their last 10 meetings.
Thunder vs Magic SGP
Chet Holmgren Over 8.5 rebounds
Chet Holmgren Over 16.5 points
Thunder moneyline
Our "from downtown" SGP: All hands on deck for Magic
The Thunder may be on a nine-game run, but they’ve only covered the spread once in their last eight contests. The Magic, meanwhile, are 4-2 ATS in their last six.
It’ll take a full team effort to keep this one close, but Paolo Banchero (25.6 ppg), Desmond Bane (22.8 ppg), Tristan da Silva (15.3 ppg), and Jett Howard (8.8 ppg) are each scoring well above their season average this month.
Thunder vs Magic SGP
Magic +9.5
Paolo Banchero Over 20.5 points
Desmond Bane Over 18.5 points
Tristan da Silva Over 11.5 points
Jett Howard Over 5.5 points
Thunder vs Magic odds
Spread: Oklahoma City 9.5 (-110) | Orlando +9.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Oklahoma City -450 | Orlando +350
Over/Under: Over 223 (-110) | Under 223 (-110)
Thunder vs Magic betting trend to know
The Thunder have hit the 1H Moneyline in 17 of their last 21 away games (+11.45 Units / 22% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Magic.
How to watch Thunder vs Magic
Location
Kia Center, Orlando, FL
Date
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN-Oklahoma, FDSN-Florida
Thunder vs Magic latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
FEBRUARY 28: Jose Canseco of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays during Spring Training on February 28, 2000. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images) | Sporting News via Getty Images
After the trade deadline in 2000, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays were looking to move on from the Hit Show as the duo of Vinny Castilla and Jose Canseco had failed to deliver any offensive impact over the season. The year prior, Canseco was looking like a possible MVP candidate and was pacing Mark McGwire’s newly set homerun record. However, a back injury stalled out his season and he didn’t get much better in 2000.
Tampa Bay placed Canseco on waivers in August and the New York Yankees were pursuing another title. However, several other teams had better records than New York and Yankee GM Brian Cashman was afraid that these teams might utilize Canseco against them. So Cashman made a claim hoping to block those teams and also thinking that Devil Rays GM Chuck LaMar would pull Canseco back off of waivers.
Two days later, LaMar called Cashman and told him Canseco was going to New York, no trade necessary. The Yankees already had Glenallen Hill and David Justice sharing the DH duties, so there was no where to play Canseco. Manager Joe Torre was asked how he would use Canseco and he responded bluntly, “I don’t know” and would also say he was “stunned” by the acquisition. Meanwhile owner George Steinbrenner made these remarks, I think they got caught up in something they didn’t think about, but I’m behind my people. I’m totally supportive of what they did. I’m happy the man is coming here, and I’m hoping he does the job for me.“
Regardless, Cashman had successfully blocked another contending team from acquiring the controversial Cuban slugger, so mission accomplished in a sense. Meanwhile, LaMar accomplished his goal of shedding payroll; “The Tampa Bay Devil Rays got the opportunity to give young players at-bats and save $2 million,” Devil Rays general manager Chuck LaMar said. “To them, it may not be nothing. To us it’s a lot.”
Canseco hit .243/.365/.432 with 6 HR over 37 games for New York and struck out in his lone plate appearance of the postseason; he’d receive a World Series ring and later reneged on a deal to sell it a private collector for $40,000.
Anyways…
First pitch against the New York Yankees is at 1:05 at Charlotte Sports Park and the Rays will be providing tv and radio coverage.
The Montreal Canadiens will face the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, March 17, in a game with massive playoff implications as both teams attempt to hold on in a competitive Atlantic Division.
My Bruins vs. Canadiens predictions and NHL picks suggest Cole Caufield will continue his torrid pace this calendar year as the league's hottest goal scorer.
Bruins vs Canadiens prediction
Bruins vs Canadiens best bet: Cole Caufield anytime goal scorer (+125)
No one has scored more goals in 2026 than Cole Caufield.
His 18 goals in 24 games this calendar year lead all skaters, and he's scored in all three games against the Boston Bruins this season, culminating in a hat trick on January 24.
He enters tonight on a two-game goal streak and faces a penalty-prone Boston team with a moderately weak defense (18th in goals allowed) and a poor penalty kill (T-23rd).
Bruins vs Canadiens same-game parlay
Unsurprisingly, Caufield isn't the only Montreal Canadiens winger who has seen an uptick in production.
Rookie phenom Ivan Demidov, typically a pass-first player, has 16 shots on goal in seven games since March 1. He's hit the Over in three straight and in four of the last six. Additionally, Boston ranks 29th in shots allowed.
Two of three meetings between these teams this season have hit the Over, as these teams rank second and T-10th in goals scored. Both teams are coming off 4-3 losses and will look to turn it around at the Bell Centre.
Two consecutive meetings and four of the last six have hit the Over. Find more NHL betting trends for Bruins vs. Canadiens.
How to watch Bruins vs Canadiens
Location
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
Date
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
NESN, TSN2
Bruins vs Canadiens latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Matt Hayes' bracket is go big or go home. He has seven double-digit seeds winning first round games.
He's got your typical 5-12 upsets, going with High Point to beat Wisconsin and McNeese beating Vanderbilt in the first round.
But he wasn't done. His prediction of 14-seed Wright State beating 3-seed Virginia in the Midwest Region was our boldest take.
Our biggest Sweet 16 surprise
12-seed Akron was picked to reach the Sweet 16 twice in the Midwest Region (Eddie Timanus and Jordan Mendoza are bullish on the Zips).
12-seed McNeese got a vote for the Sweet 16 from Matt Hayes. He picked the Cowboys to beat Vanderbilt and then Nebraska in the South Region.
Craig Meyer has 11-seed Texas winning Tuesday night's play-in game vs. NC State, then beating 6-seed BYU in Round 1 and shocking 3-seed Gonzaga in the second round before losing to Purdue.
10-seed UCLA got some hometown cooking from Jordan Mendoza, one of our L.A.-based reporters. He picks the Bruins to knock off 2-seed UConn in the second round of the East Region.
Blake Toppmeyer has BYU making the Elite Eight and beating former WCC foe Gonzaga in Round 2.
Paul Myerberg and Craig Meyer have BYU losing in the first round to the Texas/NC State play-in game winner.
Dark horse Final Four prediction
For the most part, there were no real surprises in our Final Four picks. Jordan Mendoza and Eddie Timanus went chalk, hoping to match last year's all-1-seed Final Four. The highest-seeded team picked by our staff to reach the Final Four was 5-seed St. John's, who Paul Myerberg picked to win the loaded East Region.
Most popular Final Four predictions
Arizona to win the West Region was picked eight times (80%).
Duke, Michigan and Florida were each picked six times to win their respective regions (60%).
Arkansas got two votes to win the West Region. Brent Schrotenboer and Craig Meyer are buying stock in John Calipari, and more likely Darius Acuff Jr.
Three teams got one vote. In addition to Paul's St. John's pick, Craig Meyer has UConn winning the East and John Brice predicts Illinois will win the South.
Most notably, Team USA closer Mason Miller's availability for the championship game is in question; it would be his third outing in five days, an aggressive path for this point of spring training. Manager Mark DeRosa figures he'll be available but the San Diego Padres, who sign Miller's paychecks, must sign off.
"Not ruled out, not decided," San Diego manager Craig Stammen said Monday at the Padres' spring training camp in Arizona. "How we do with every pitcher, we evaluate them after their outing, see how they feel and then calculate when their next outing's going to be. So he's in that same boat."
So, too, are Team USA's cadre of seventh-, eighth- and ninth-inning guys. Yankees closer David Bednar worked the seventh and Boston Red Sox set-up man Garrett Whitlock the eighth inning, passing the baton to Miller, in their 2-1 escape against the Dominican Republic on Sunday, March 15.
Venezuela is in a similar boat, however. The bullpen had to cover 7 2/3 innings of their semifinal victory over Italy – and the Venezuelans will not enjoy a day of rest between the semis and finals, like Team USA. While their key relievers all stayed under 20 pitches, top lefty Angel Zerpa and right-handers Andres Machado, Eduard Bazardo and Danny Palencia all worked to stave off Italy.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 16: De'aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs drives past the defense of John Collins #20 and Bennedict Mathurin #9 of the LA Clippers during the first half of a game against the San Antonio Spurs at Intuit Dome on March 16, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ok so let me walk you through how this night went for me and see if it tracks similarly for you.
I turn on my TV at 7:00 because I forgot it was a road game.
False start. That’s OK. We can recover from this. We’ll be fine.
The game starts when? 9:00? P.M.? That can’t be right. Wow. Pacific Standard Time, eh? We’re still doing that? I thought we voted to end PST just like we did Daylight Saving Time. Wait, we’re still doing that? I swear, this country has to get its act together.
Alright. 9:00. Here we go.
Spurs–Clippers. Last time we played it was one of the highlights of the season and I can’t wait to see what kind of fireworks we have in store tonight. Should be electric.
Kawhi’s out, eh? Shocking. Dylan’s still out? Bummer. And Kornet? Bummer. Well. Alright. Still might be fun.
Oh shoot, the game started already.
Let’s see. Peacock. Peacock. Where is Peacock?
No, I don’t want to watch Ted. Or Hamnet. Or Love Island All-Stars (it always gets boring near the end anyway).
Ok. Spurs–Clippers. Here we go.
WE’RE DOWN HOW MUCH?
I don’t need to watch this. This is… this is a throwaway game. We’re missing guys. They’re missing guys. It’s Monday night. It’s late. I’m just going to call it a night and see what happened in the morning.
Ok, nice dunk though Devin. I see you. I’m still going to bed though.
Alright, well. De’Aaron, that was nice. Steph, that was very nice.
The funny thing is, the Spurs had already started climbing back into the game while I was busy trying to convince myself to go to bed. And that’s kind of become their thing this year. Games get weird, momentum swings around, and they just calmly work their way back into it.
Stephon Castle was flying around for offensive rebounds and putbacks, and before long the Clippers’ 17–3 start had quietly started to fade. Wemby started controlling things defensively and almost effortlessly asserting himself on offense. Devin Vassell found space and knocked down a couple shots. Fox started getting downhill and bending the defense the way he does. The Spurs started getting stops, the pace flipped, and suddenly the whole thing felt different. By the time Jordan McLaughlin hit a three to tie it early in the second quarter, the entire game had reset.
And honestly, that kind of swing doesn’t even feel unusual anymore.
One thing that’s really stood out to me this year is that across the NBA, no lead feels particularly safe. It doesn’t matter who you are or who you’re playing. Twenty point leads happen all the time, and twenty point comebacks seem to happen just as often.
I don’t know if it’s because scoring is completely off the rails or because defense is now more of a suggestion than a requirement. Maybe the rules are too soft. Or too hard? Look, I honestly don’t know.
What I do know is that a quick 10-point lead doesn’t even register with me anymore when the Spurs have it. That’s nothing. That can disappear during a bathroom break.
For some reason that logic never applies when the Spurs are down, though. That still feels catastrophic. Just one of life’s little mysteries, I guess.
I’m fine. I’m actually the normal amount of anxious for a guy my age. Why do you ask?
The Spurs handled their business in this game. Even when it felt like they weren’t going to. Even when things got a little wobbly down the stretch and it briefly seemed like Darius Garland might have invented a floater that could somehow arc just high enough to evade Wemby’s outstretched arms enough times to pull the Clippers back into it.
But the Spurs were good. They were solid. They got the job done.
I don’t know if I give them enough credit for being professional like that. We talk all the time about their youth and inexperience, as if it’s a defining trait that’s inseparable from who they are. But for all that talk, they don’t really play like it.
They have their ups and downs. Stretches where things aren’t working the way they should. That part can absolutely be chalked up to youth and inexperience.
The key part, though, is what happens next.
They don’t spin out. They don’t let the rough stretch become the whole story. They just attack it like a problem that needs to be solved. A puzzle to figure out.
There’s a steely resolve when they hit a roadblock instead of panic.
I have no idea how or if this will play out in the playoffs. Every single person even tangentially associated with having an opinion on basketball is so quick to fall over themselves and breathlessly explain to you how “the playoffs are a completely different animal.” The intensity is different. The stakes are higher. The lights are brighter. All that jazz. I’m as guilty of doing this as anyone!
The truth is that I don’t know. Frankly, I don’t remember. It’s been a long time since the Spurs were in the playoffs and an even longer time since they were in there with a team full of guys who hadn’t been there before. I don’t know how any of this works anymore. I don’t know what any of these guys are capable of.
I know it will be different, and I know that they know it. They’re getting it from all sides just like we are. It’s not the last test they have to pass, but it certainly is the next one.
“They don’t have enough experience though”. That’s the story on this team. That’s the line you hear over and over again. The playoffs are different. The intensity is different. The stakes are higher. The lights are brighter. Remember?
But when I think about what this team has spent the entire season doing, I’m not sure the word “experience” means quite what people think it does. Because every night it feels like they’re running into something new. A weird game. A bad stretch. A matchup problem. A moment where things stop working the way they’re supposed to.
And every night they treat it the same way.
They slow down. They look at it. They start figuring it out.
They treat it like a puzzle.
The playoffs are a completely different test. It will expose things this team hasn’t seen yet.
But if experience is really just learning how to solve the problems in front of you, then this team has been getting plenty of it all year.
And so far, when these Spurs run into a problem, they don’t panic.
They solve it.
Takeaways
50 wins feels pretty good. What was our over/under for wins? like, 43? 50 is pretty good! I find this acceptable!
I feel like I could come in here after every single game and just make the whole thing about how much I enjoy watching Stephon Castle play basketball. I love the way he moves. He sort of lopes down the court with this really tall posture, like he’s almost teetering forward when he runs, and it creates this constant feeling that something unexpected might happen. He’s explosive, but not in the same way De’Aaron Fox is explosive. Fox is lightning fast. Castle is more like… sudden. Once he decides to go, everything just starts happening quickly. I realize I’m kind of spinning out trying to explain this, but he’s just an aesthetically pleasing basketball player to watch. The movements are fun. The chaos feels intentional. I saw someone on Twitter say he’s a consistent three point shot away from being Dwyane Wade and I nearly passed out.
It was nice to see the Spurs figure out a way to win without shooting particularly well from three. Obviously I’d prefer them to shoot well from three, but come playoff time that’s the kind of thing that tends to wax and wane a little. So: how to succeed in business without hitting many threes. Step one is you’ve got to grab somewhere in the vicinity of a million rebounds. Absolutely pound the boards. The Spurs did that. They were aggressive, especially on the offensive glass, and it never really felt like they were wasting possessions even when the shots weren’t falling. Step two is you put the clamps on defensively. (This is admittedly a little easier when Kawhi isn’t playing, but still. Odds are pretty decent that on any given night Kawhi won’t be playing.) If you can’t score, then they sure as hell better not be scoring either. Basketball is actually pretty simple when you think about it. As always, my door is open for any NBA consultancy opportunities.
Hi! This is Charlie’s anxiety talking now. For some reason the Clippers feel kind of spooky to me as a playoff matchup and I would simply prefer that we not do that. I know we’ve won these two games against them, but they play us really hard. They’re well coached, they’re disciplined, and they just seem to do a lot of things well. I don’t know. I don’t like the Kawhi storyline being something we have to hear about constantly. I would prefer to simply not experience that. That said, I could probably talk myself into every single possible matchup feeling spooky if you gave me enough time, so please feel free to disregard Charlie’s anxiety. Please feel free to disregard Charlie altogether, he really is just kinda making this up as he goes along.
WWL Post Game Press Conference
– Ok, so it seemed like you were about to do one of those old school running diaries here and then just bailed halfway through. Can you walk us through that decision?
– Yeah, sure. I mean, sometimes you sit down to write and you know your angle. You watched the game, it all made sense, you were in the flow and felt it coming together, and the only step left is pen to paper. Other times… nothing.
– And this was one of the nothing times?
– Yeah, for sure. The game ended so late last night and I really felt like I’d just find it in the morning. Then, sure enough, I sat down in front of a blank WordPress doc and it was crickets.
– So the running diary bit was maybe a way in?
– Yeah. There are a couple tricks like that in the arsenal that are really just a ploy to start writing. Get anything on the page. It’s stupid, but sometimes literally typing out what happened in the game can kickstart something. I don’t know. The biggest enemy of writing is not writing, so sometimes the only answer is to write.
– Of course. So then it seems like you eventually found what you wanted to talk about, but you kept part of the diary bit. I’m not sure I understand that.
– Well, see, I kept it because I had already written it and didn’t want to erase it.
– Sure.
– I thought it was good! I always enjoy poking at Peacock as a streaming service. I thought the thing about dropping into the game down 17–3 was funny. The daylight savings bit?? That’s good stuff! And I really did forget that the game didn’t start until 9. Jokes aside, if I didn’t have to write about it I absolutely would’ve bailed. I don’t know, it felt like a pretty accurate portrayal of the watching experience and I wanted to keep it.
Makes sense. But you didn’t feel like doing it for the whole game?
– I think if you’re going to go full Bill Simmons and run back a Game Watchalong Diary, you have to commit from the beginning. If you want to do it well, you have to go into the game taking notes, workshopping jokes, feeling it in the moment. It’s really hard to fake that. People can tell.
AUSTIN, TX - MARCH 07: Catcher Carson Tinney #8 of the Texas Longhorns watches the ball after making contact during the college baseball game between Texas Longhorns and USC Upstate Spartans on March 7, 2026, at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
For the first time in almost 30 years, the Tarleton State Texans are coming to the Forty Acres for a Tuesday matchup against the No. 2 Texas Longhorns as junior catcher Carson Tinney tries to build on his best performance in burnt orange and white.
The Notre Dame transfer looked like a sure-fire star to replace Rylvan Galvan after leading the Fighting Irish in batting average (.348), runs (52), homers (17), RBI (53), total bases (119), walks (34), on-base percentage (.498), slugging (.753), and multi-RBI performances (17) in 2025.
The transition to Texas hasn’t been easy for the Colorado product, however — the 6’4, 240-pounder entered the opening series of SEC play batting .259 and without a weekend home run.
Between the 15-4 victory over Texas State in San Marcos and the weekend series against Ole Miss, Tinney and assistant coach Troy Tulowitzki spent time addressing Tinney’s mentality at the plate and making some physical changes to his swing.
Head coach Jim Schlossnagle had a simple message for his catcher.
“We’ve either got to take the swing that you show us in the batting cages and in practice, and just his ability to control his emotions and heart rate, we’ve got to take that into a game, or we’ve got to start practicing that massive uphill swing and learn how to hit the ball that way, right?” Schlossnagle said during his Monday appearance on the Around the Horns podcast.
Tinney’s adjustment to the large crowds at UFCU Disch-Falk Field and the increased pressure of the Texas baseball spotlight hasn’t gone smoothly, and it’s caused him to press.
“Sometimes you can care too much, and Tinney really cares. He’s a great, great guy. He wants to do well, he loves Texas, and you can care too much and and when you care too much and you want to do so well, then that leads to mental and that leads to physical things. In a game, the swing gets a little bigger,” Schlossnagle said.
For Tinney, who boasts prodigious pull-side power, the physical changes can be a change in his swing path trying to elevate the ball too much or an unwillingness to use the entire field to hit, causing him to roll over on outside pitches, leading to weak groundouts.
So when Schlossnagle saw Tinney line out to right field on Saturday, the outcome mattered less than the improved process, prompting the Texas head coach to turn to Tulowitzki and say, “It’s coming.”
It was, and on Sunday, Tinney had his best performance with the Longhorns, going 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI.
The home run was a monster blast that traveled 465 feet over the batter’s eye in center field with an exit velocity of 113 miles per hour.
“Once he starts staying on the ball, then he’s going to be able to keep the balls he hits to the pull-side fair, maybe get them on the barrel instead of off the end of the bat. He had two hits on the weekend where he just kind of gave something up and stayed through a ball and just spit the ball up the middle of the field. I think he may have had two of those,” Schlossnagle said.
Tinney will get his first opportunity on Tuesday against senior right-hander Brendon Carter, who has only pitched one inning this season against Houston Christian after recording a 5.96 ERA last season in 17 appearances, including two starts.
Texas will have a new midweek starter after moving freshman right-hander Sam Cozart to the weekend bullpen following four superlative performances on Tuesdays. Getting the nod over sophomore right-hander Jason Flores is junior right-hander Hudson Hamilton (0-0, 9.00 ERA), who is making his second career start and fifth appearance of the 2026 season. Hamilton didn’t allow a hit or a run over his first three appearances before a hit and a walk in 0.1 innings against USC Upstate resulted in two earned runs on Hamilton’s ledger.
Hamilton will face a Tarleton lineup batting .298 overall and with some hot hitters — Rayner Heinrich boasts a 14-game hitting streak and has reached base safely in 15 straight, Slade McCloud is on a 10-game hitting streak, reaching safely in 11 straight, and Carson Lorch has reached base safely in all 19 games this season.
On the road this season, the Texans have a 4-0 record after a four-game sweep of the Lobos in Albuquerque.
First pitch is at 6:30 p.m. Central on SEC Network+.
LAKELAND, FL - MARCH 12: Will Warren #98 of the New York Yankees pitches during the spring training game against the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on March 12, 2026 in Lakeland, Florida. The Yankees defeated the Tigers 4-3. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The World Baseball Classic reaches its epic conclusion tonight with a battle between the United States and Venezuela at loanDepot park in Miami. Several Yankees still remain with the team, including Aaron Judge, David Bednar, Paul Goldschmidt, and Tim Hill. After tonight, they’ll head back up to Tampa for the final week of spring training. So, in a way, this St. Patty’s Day clash with the Rays in Port Charlotte is the final time before the Yankees will be whole again.
Will Warren is looking to keep the good times rolling with his second-to-last tune-up start of the spring. The 26-year-old right-hander was perfect into the fifth inning of his last start against the Tigers, but coughed up a two-run homer to Zach McKinstry in what was the only blemish of a strong outing that qualified as a rare spring quality start. Overall, he’s allowed just three earned runs in 16.1 innings this spring, but would love to get more strikeouts in this one. He tossed 64 pitches in his last start, so expect him to get close to 75 today.
Ryan Pepiot was sneakily the Rays’ ace last year, posting 31 starts of a sub-4 ERA with decent enough peripherals to boot. The 28-year-old, who was the centerpiece of the Tyler Glasnow trade, figures to be in the middle of a solid rotation that will hopefully feature healthier versions of Shane McClanahan and Drew Rasmussen. He’s thrown five strong innings across two starts this spring, albeit with six walks. Expect 60-75 pitches today.
Trent Grisham will lead off and hopefully start to get his bat going. Ben Rice, Jasson Domínguez, and Ryan McMahon follow him up, with the former Rockie getting another start at shortstop to see if the team can maximize the bench. Paul DeJong, J.C. Escarra, Oswaldo Cabrera, Max Schuemann, and Seth Brown round up the Yankees’ lineup.
For prospect-heads like myself, some under-the-radar guys figure to get an at-bat late in the game. Coby Morales, Cole Gabrielson, Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek, Hans and Willy Montero, and Enmanuel Tejada are among the prospects available off the bench. Kervin Castro, Geoffrey Gilbert, Yovanny Cruz, Gus Hughes, Jack Sokol, and Rule 5 pick Cade Winquest will be out in the ’pen.
As for the Rays, it’s a similar lineup to what you’ll see on Opening Day. Yandy Díaz, Jonathan Aranda, and a recently-returned Junior Caminero start it off, followed by a trio of acquisitions in Cedric Mullins, Jake Fraley, and Gavin Lux. Hunter Fedducia, Ben Williamson, and Jonny DeLuca, the other piece in the Glasnow trade, round out the lineup.
How to watch
Location: Charlotte Sports Park — Port Charlotte, FL
WEST PALM BEACH, FL - MARCH 12: Andrés Chaparro #87 of the Washington Nationals rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the game between the Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros at Cacti Park at the Palm Beaches on Thursday, March 12, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Phebe Grosser/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Washington Nationals finally had a big offensive performance last night, scoring 12 runs against the Mets. James Wood had a massive game, hitting rockets all over the yard. This afternoon, the offense will look to keep rolling with a different cast of characters.
The Nats lineup is very different to the one we saw last night. James Wood, Dylan Crews and CJ Abrams are out, while Brady House, Nasim Nunez and Keibert Ruiz are in. House has been the Nats hottest hitter this spring and he will look to keep that up today. We will also see Christian Franklin, who is battling for a roster spot. Jake Irvin will be on the mound as he fights to keep his spot in the rotation.
The Cardinals have plenty of their starters in this lineup. Rookie JJ Wetherholt is likely to make the team and he will lead off. We will also see the likes of Alec Burleson, Nolan Gorman and Victor Scott. The Nats saw new Cardinals signing Dustin May not too long ago and will be seeing him again today. May can be nasty when he is at his best.
This is a TV game for the Nats, so that is exciting. Most of the Nats stars are not in the lineup today, but we will get to see Brady House, the team’s hottest bat. Jake Irvin is also likely to go pretty deep into this game. Follow along in the comments below and let’s go Nats!
