ATLANTA, GA - JULY 14: Andrew Abbott #41 and Elly De La Cruz #44 of the Cincinnati Reds pose for a photo with Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 and Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves during the All-Star Press Conference at Coca-Cola Roxy on Monday, July 14, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
What a week, and it’s only Tuesday! This Tuesday morning was a momentous one within Braves Country as the team made back-to-back huge announcements. The first was that the long-rumored Braves TV network is real and figures to be spectacular. BravesVision will, in fact, be ready to go for the 2026 regular season and beyond.
On top of that huge news, the Braves proceeded to announce that they’d come to an agreement with Chris Sale on a contract extension that guarantees that he’ll be around here for 2027 along with a club option for 2028. Sale will now be getting paid $27 million for 2027 and then potentially $30 million for the season after that if all goes well.
Between the fact that the Braves are now once again masters of their own domain when it coms to TV and streaming and also the fact that they just made Chris Sale the highest-paid player on the team for 2027 (and very likely for 2028 if all goes well over the next two seasons), it’s pretty clear that we’ve entered into a new era when it comes to the Atlanta Braves and their position in baseball. The Battery has clearly worked out very well for this ballclub, and now they’ll have a self-owned and operated TV product to sell to distributors.
It’s pretty clear that finances won’t be a major issue for this franchise going forward. Now granted, it won’t be like they’re the Dodgers or the Mets where they can just hand out a blank check to anybody they want. If that was the case then we would’ve seen either Chris Bassitt or Lucas Giolito wearing a Braves uniform by this time during spring training. However, it does mean that if they want to go after someone in free agency and it makes even a moderate amount of sense, it’s totally feasible that this team could go out and make some splashes in free agency.
With that being said, it also means that their resources for keeping any of their core players via contract extensions should be expanded going forward. I think y’all know where I’m going with this.
The Braves still have some time left between now and the season where they’ll ultimately have to make sure this gets done, as they have a club option on Ronald Acuña Jr.‘s contract for both 2027 and 2028. With that being said, I do feel like any time before that 2028 season would be a great time to strike while the iron is hot and make sure that this guy stays here for as long as both parties deem it possible. I also know that this would be a very tricky undertaking, what with Acuña’s injury concerns and also the fact that he’ll be in position to try to maximize his earnings after taking the extremely team-friendly contract extension that he’s currently on. It’s not going to be as simple as “He’ll give the Braves a hometown discount” or “The Braves’ll just give him what he wants” and that’s something that needs to be acknowledged in any speculation that’s going on.
With that being said, the (well-earned) contract extension for Chris Sale raised an eyebrow from me for one reason and one reason alone (well, aside from the fact that Sale will be knocking directly on the door of Age-40 once 2028 rolls around): They’re going to be paying him $27 million for 2027 and potentially $30 million for 2028. As our friends over at Braves Today pointed out, the Braves have usually used $22 million as a sort of ceiling when it comes to their contract dealings. That number didn’t come out of nowhere, either — the one thing that Matt Olson, Austin Riley and Spencer Strider all have in common is that they’ll be getting paid $22 million for 2027 and 2028.
So, the fact that the Braves have broken that ceiling by $5 million for 2027 and $8 million by 2028 seems to indicate that that “ceiling” may no longer exist. Between that and the fact that the team only has $59 million committed to payroll (outside of team options) for the 2029 season, it feels like they could be eying that year as the one where they could potentially start Acuña’s contract extension and begin paying him what should/would be a substantial pay raise from what he’s currently bringing in. So really, 2028 could be the actual make-or-break year when it comes to either making sure Acuña stays around for a long, long time or if they’ll have to wave farewell to him like the handful of other former Braves stars who made their name here and made their real money elsewhere.
While those decisions in the past were painful, they were understandable in their own ways. Well, maybe the Freddie Freeman situation was the only one where it was truly a debacle but every other decision ultimately came down to dollars and cents. Again, this is purely speculation on my end but I do feel like the timing of the Chris Sale contract extension announcement immediately after the BravesVision announcement felt like a statement of intent from the franchise.
We’re still a bit away from when this needs to be a super pressing issue for both the Braves and Ronald Acuña Jr. but for now at least, I feel like there’s more hope of both parties being able to make some serious headway on any potential contract extension now than there was before. It also feels like something that’s actually tangible especially if the TV network takes off like the Braves figure it could. If they’re essentially printing money from The Battery and any TV distribution deals then the money should be there. It all comes down to whether both parties want it to happen.
We’ll see what happens down the road — things could certainly get complicated if Acuña suffers another serious injury between now and serious contract talks or he has another monster season that causes tomorrow’s price to no longer be yesterday’s price. There’s no telling what the future holds but at least for now, Atlanta’s future with Acuña may not have as many financial hurdles as previously anticipated.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 18: Jason Alexander #54 of the Houston Astros throws a bullpen session during spring training workouts at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on February 18, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Astros will return from an off day Monday to take on the New York Mets in another Grapefruit League matchup. The Astros dropped their first two spring matchups, falling to the Nationals and the Cardinals. Right-hander Jason Alexander will make his spring debut for Houston in Tuesday’s matchup. Righty Jack Wenninger will get the start for the Mets.
Alexander is a 32-year old right-hander who saw action with the Athletics and Astros last season. The Astros claimed him off waivers in May from the Athletics and he went on to make 14 appearances for Houston where he posted a 3.66 ERA and a 4.65 FIP in 71.1 innings. He’s in camp competing for an Opening Day roster spot.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Tuesday, February 24, 12:10 p.m. CST
Of note, Cam Smith will play centerfield today, with Joey Loperfido in right field. Shay Whitcomb will play 2B and Nick Allen will play 3B. 2B has been Whitcomb’s best position thus far, and Nick Allen has only played 5 career games at 3B. It would appear Astros giving Allen a look at 3B to see how well he can handle the position.
Everyone starting today at least has a realistic shot of being on the Opening Day roster except 1B CJ Alexander. Alexander is a 29-year old career minor leaguer with 25 MLB ABs. In seven minor league seasons, he is a .254 hitter with a .321 OBP and .776 OPS. Last season, he hit a combined .254 with a .335 OBP and .783 OPS across stints with the Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders (IL – NYY), Las Vegas Aviators (PCL – ATH) and Oklahoma City Comets (PCL – LAD).
Ryan Waldschmidt running in the outfield. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) | John E. Moore III/Getty Images
What are the expectations?
FanGraph Depth Chart projections show two Diamondback outfielders with above average power: Corbin Carroll and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (proj-SLG>.404 and proj-HR/PA>.031). Because they are injured, their above-average power is not assumed. What is assumed is they will play on the outfield corners when they return from the injured list. The biggest question is who will play center field.
Ryan Waldschmidt and Jordan Lawlar are probably not ready to play full-time center field due to youth (each is 23 years old) and lack of experience in center field (Waldschmidt had 38 games at the AA level, and Lawlar had 3 games in the offseason).
On the other end of the age spectrum, this season may be the last chance for Jorge Barrosa and Alek Thomas to have a breakthrough performance.
Jorge Barrosa has good plate discipline but hits below his potential, especially last season. His defense at center field is above average (2 OAA last season).
In the last four seasons, Alek Thomas had below average batting except for 2024 (when he had only 103 PAs). His defense at center field was great in 2022 and 2023, then average and terrible in the last two seasons.
The expectation is that Tim Tawa’s most valuable role is as a utility player off the bench. Last season, he played 20 games at first base, 23 games at second base, 3 games at third base, 14 games at left field, 18 games at center field, and 3 games at right field.
The following table shows FanGraphs Depth Chart projections for these outfielders.
What could exceeding expectations look like?
Corbin Carroll. The foundation of exceeding expectations is that his defense continues to be exceptional (10 OAA last season).
Three projections predicted regression for Corbin Carroll’s batting. They each projected his homers and hits to drop (the one exception expected him to have 5 more hits than last season).
My 2026 Outlook was more optimistic. One reason was that Carroll, at 25 years old, was younger than the typical peak in batter performance, which occurs between age 27 and 29. My projection was 34 homers and 160 hits. See this player review.
Then Corbin Carroll broke his hamate bone. He may not be ready by opening day. Also, his injury could possibly lower his batting power for months after his return. If he exceeds his projection AND reaches my optimistic outlook, then he will have definitely have exceeded expectations. If he again wins a Silver Slugger (like he did last season), he will have been truly extraordinary.
Ryan Waldschmidt.
Among the six players, his batting projection is second best. Especially noteworthy is his projected on-base-percent. Despite an unorthodox swing, if his batting in the Majors reaches his high potential, that will be the foundation of exceeding expectations. Building on that foundation, if despite his very limited experience in center field, his defense in center field is at least average (and perhaps above average), that will be the capstone in his exceeding expectations.
“Along with assigning him a 50 FV, our prospect team wrote that the 23-year-old outfielder in the Arizona Diamondbacks system “does just about everything you want at the plate and he looks the part of a bat-first future regular in the box.” — David Laurila
Jordan Lawlar.
Last season, he injured his hamstring. In the last couple seasons, he played fewer games than most prospects, which raised doubts about his ceiling. Can he avoid injury? Avoiding injury will be a third of him exceeding expectations.
Last season in the Majors, in 28 games his batting was poor (OPS+ of 51). If his batting in the Majors reaches above average, that will be a third of him exceeding expectations.
He has near-zero playing time in center field. If he can quickly learn the new position if he can almost reach average defense, while showing progress, that will be a third of him exceeding expectations.
“I’ve heard Lawlar described as prospect bust, but I vehemently disagree with calling any player a bust based on a 108 game sample spread out over 2¼ seasons , especially a player with Jordan Lawlar’s prospect pedigree and strong track record in the Minor Leagues.” — C Wesley Baier
Jorge Barrosa. The foundation of exceeding expectations is that his defense continues to be great (2 OAA last season).
Last season, he made an adjustment to his swing. His FanGraphs projection for batting is the lowest of the outfielders that we are considering. If he gets his swing right, and his batting reaches league average, that would be the main part of exceeding expectations.
“In Reno, Barrosa is a borderline full-time starter with a high walk rate (11.8%) and a serviceable strikeout rate (20.8%). This sort of plate discipline and Barrosa’s acuity with the glove will almost certainly get him another look in the Majors in 2026.” — James Attwood
Alek Thomas.
He does not have a trend of improving every season. If Alex Thomas bats like he did in 2024, and if he defends center field like he did in 2022 and 2023, then he will have exceeded expectations.
“At this point, expecting Thomas to anchor center field for a competitive Diamondbacks club feels optimistic. His tools suggest upside, but four seasons of stasis on offense and regression on defense tell a different story.” — Jeff Irving
“While his [Thomas] OPS+ of 82 was a personal high, it still ranked Thomas 163rd of the 177 players to receive 450+ PA in 2025. With his defense also less impressive – there was no Gold Glove nomination for Thomas this season -he ended up basically at replacement level.” — Jim McLennan
Tim Tawa. If he can bat so far above average that the Diamondbacks need him as an everyday player, he will have exceeded the expectation that he is most valuable as a utility player off the bench.
Summary.
As an everyday outfielder, any of these six players could most exceed expectations.
Corbin Carroll seems the most likely to most exceed expectations. And I’d be thrilled if Ryan Waldschmidt was promoted this season and exceeded exectations. With good fortune, maybe two of these players could most exceed expectations.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 23: Alex Freeland #76 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws to first base for an out during the second inning of a spring training game against the Seattle Mariners at Camelback Ranch on February 23, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There are still four weeks of exhibition games to determine things, but thus far Hyeseong Kim has started at second base twice, and Alex Freeland starts there on Tuesday after a pair of starts at shortstop. If the Dodgers run a platoon at second with Edman out, Kim or the switch-hitting Freeland could take the bulk of at-bats against right-handed pitchers, with Miguel Rojas at the ready against lefties. Kim has the disadvantage of having a potential early runway of spring playing time cut short by his pending departure for the World Baseball Classic.
Non-roster invitees Santiago Espinal (started at third base twice so far this spring) and Ryan Fitzgerald (two games, one start at second so far; Tuesday is his second game and first start at third base) are also in the mix.
Again, this is way too early, but let’s take the pulse of where we are at right now. Who will win the second base job in Dodgers camp? We’ll check back later in spring
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons have informed quarterback Kirk Cousins they plan to release the 14-year veteran when NFL free agency opens next month, new general manager Ian Cunningham said Tuesday.
“What he’s done in his career, we owe that to him just to allow him some clarity going into free agency,” Cunningham said at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.
Cousins played two seasons with the Falcons with mixed-at-best results, signing a $180 million contract about six weeks before they drafted Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick in 2024. Penix won the job in 2025, before a season-ending knee injury made Cousins the starter again down the stretch.
Cousins still started 22 of 34 games over the past two seasons, but he was just 12-10 as a starter. He threw a league-most 16 interceptions in just 14 games in 2024. The 37-year-old is 88-77-2 as a starter with Washington, Minnesota and Atlanta.
With his recently reworked deal, Cousins would have his 2027 salary ($67.9 million) fully guaranteed if he were to remain on the roster by the third day of the new league year.
The Falcons also plan to place their franchise tag on tight end Kyle Pitts and keep him from becoming a free agent, Cunningham confirmed.
Pitts, the fourth overall pick in the 2021 draft, had a career-high 88 receptions and five touchdowns last season. His 928 receiving yards were the second most among all NFL tight ends. The franchise tag value for tight ends this year is expected to be about $16 million.
DUNEDIN, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: Andrew Morris #78 of the Minnesota Twins delivers a pitch during the first inning of a spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark on March 11, 2025 in Dunedin, Florida. (Photo by Mark Taylor/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Game 1: Twins vs Orioles
First Pitch (CT):12:05 TV: NA Radio: Audacy App Know Yo’ Foe: Camden Chat
What to watch: Arcia, Gray, and Kreidler are battling it out for the backup SS/utility role. All three are in action this afternoon.
Twins
Orioles
SP: Andrew Morris
SP: Albert Suarez
1. Byron Buxton, CF
1. Leody Taveras, CF
2. Kody Clemens, 2B
2. Samuel Basallo, C
3. Josh Bell, 1B
3. Jeremiah Jackson, 2B
4. Trevor Larnach, LF
4. Coby Mayo, 3B
5. Victor Caratini, C
5. Heston Kjerstad, DH
6. James Outman, RF
6. Luis Vazquez, SS
7. Gio Urshela, DH
7. Ryan Noda, 1B
8. Orlando Arcia, SS
8. Will Robertson, RF
9. Tristan Gray, 3B
9. Reed Trimble, LF
Game 2: Twins vs Rays
First Pitch (CT):12:05 TV: NA Radio: Rays – TB Audio Know Yo’ Foe:DRaysBay
What to watch: Culpepper’s path to immediate MLB impact will be positional versatility, like Brooks Lee showed in his debut in 2024. This is his first professional start at a non-SS position.
Spring training marches on, and I'm eyeing three games on Tuesday, February 24.
The St. Louis Cardinals moneyline headlines my MLB picks alongside a pair of totals from today's slate.
Spring Training predictions for February 24
Picks
/ Over 11
-105
Cardinals moneyline
+102
/ Under 10.5
-102
Pick #1: White Sox vs. Mariners - Over 11
-105 at DraftKings
George Kirby could still be an ace, but an uneven 2025 brought on by a delayed start due to injuries may linger a bit. At the very least, it may limit his exposure today.
With Anthony Kay on the bump for the Chicago White Sox in his return from overseas, I expect the Seattle Mariners' bats to come alive.
Given both scenarios, that has me eyeing the Over on a lofty total.
Pick #2: Cardinals moneyline
+102 at DraftKings
The St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Nationals may compete with the Rockies for the worst record in the National League during the regular season, but that doesn't mean squat in preseason.
The St. Louis youth movement will be on full display, and I like the Cardinals at slight plus money opposite right-hander Cade Cavalli, who has yet to live up to his prospect hype for a variety of reasons.
I'm interested to see if Jordan Walker can finally play up to his potential, and if J.J. Wetherholt is as polished as he's touted to be.
Pick #3: Guardians vs. Dodgers - Under 10.5
-102 at DraftKings
The Los Angeles Dodgers clearly have enough thump in the lineup to clear this total on their own, but I am bullish on Cleveland Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams and the bullpen behind him this season.
Beyond Jose Ramirez, Cleveland's offense is still a shambles, and until it can prove otherwise, I'll happily fade it.
DETROIT, MI - FEBRUARY 23: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates during the game against the Detroit Pistons on February 23, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Regular season basketball is a funny thing because there was a moment near the end of the first quarter when Tobias Harris threw down a hellacious dunk in traffic and I thought to myself, dramatically, “This is it. This is how the dream dies.”
The Pistons had not only erased a massive early deficit, but had now moved out in front by six. They were suffocating the Spurs, holding them to 4-17 shooting during that stretch, and everything felt like it was unraveling. The moment was too big. The opponent was too tough. The boys were too young. We were going to lose this game and we were going to lose it badly.
Or not!
In a massive twist that I’m sure no one could have seen coming, your guy over here was overreacting just a smidge to a moment that felt bad. Shock! The cool thing though is that I’m allowed to do that. You are too! All of us are allowed to roll around on the floor and wring our hands and shout to the heavens. We can scream about biased officials and annoying announcers and the cruel villains like Tobias Harris throwing down rude dunks that hurt our feelings. Not only is it allowed, it’s encouraged! Get in the mix, my friends. Feel something! Live a little! Viva la vida!
The important thing is that this Spurs team doesn’t do that. They get fired up and they express themselves, but they never seem to let the moment get the best of them. It’s a real “next play” mentality that I aspire to and consistently fall short of.
The Pistons very clearly wanted to rattle the Spurs in this one. It’s a playbook we’ve seen a lot this year and will likely see even more as the stakes get higher. Teams are increasingly realizing that the best way to beat the Spurs is to throw them off their game with, let’s call it, “physicality.” They don’t want to let the Spurs run. They don’t want the ball whipping around. They don’t want them comfortable, getting easy looks. They want the Spurs looking at the officials after every play and thinking about everything happening on the court except what actually matters.
I get it! It would absolutely work on me. Hand up, the Pistons would very likely beat me in a basketball game.
Lucky for us, the Spurs are built of sterner stuff than I am. They surfed the wave instead of getting swallowed by it. They matched the rougher play where they could and didn’t get distracted from their own game plan. Once it became clear they could absorb that physicality, it never really felt like the Pistons had a Plan B. They basically fell back on “we’re going to dare you to shoot,” and the Spurs were like, “deal.” That was that. It was a pretty even game in a lot of ways, but San Antonio kept knocking down shots and Detroit couldn’t match that kind of firepower. Fun game! Nice to see you! On to the next!
It was a mature performance from the team. They all count the same, but this one felt like it carried a little extra weight. National TV. Best team in the East. A group we don’t get to see very often. I don’t know. It just felt like more than “another road game.”
If there’s one thing that’s becoming a consistent trademark of the Wembanyama era of Spurs basketball, it’s that this team likes a test. They get up for it. They seem eager to prove themselves when the lights are on. They hear people saying, “The Spurs are close,” and you can almost feel them wanting to shout back, “We’re not close, we’re HERE.” I don’t even know if that’s fully true yet, but the fact that they believe it says a lot.
And that belief speaks directly to the character of their talisman. This urge to prove something feels baked into the team because it’s baked into Victor Wembanyama. He’s wired to show people. To show he’s the best. To show he cares. I was absolutely one of the people rolling my eyes at his whole, “I’m going to try hard at the All-Star game” thing, and now I’m one of the people sitting here with egg on my face. Victor’s career is going to be defined by the way he relentlessly turns doubt into belief. It’s what he lives for. It’s what he spends every day chasing.
Honestly, it’s breathtaking to watch.
I’m as prone to histrionics as I am to hyperbole, so the one thing you should absolutely not do is get too wrapped up in whatever nonsense I start spitting out once things escalate into playoff mode. But what I do want to say right now, in this brief moment of clarity and calm, is this: I don’t think this team is going to lose in the playoffs because the moment gets too big. Maybe their opponent will have a little more talent. Maybe a little more experience. Maybe a few of the breaks you need to win a championship won’t go their way. Impossible to say, obviously.
But the thing we can say with absolute certainty is that these guys are going to get tested, and they are chomping at the bit to take it. I’m just excited to be along for the ride.
Takeaways
Really fun game from Stephon Castle. Nothing in the box score super jumps off the page, but it felt like he met the moment in his matchup with Cade Cunningham and basically played Detroit’s star to a draw. He was picking him up near half court, fighting through absurd screens, and staying attached possession after possession. Wembanyama obviously played a huge role in making life uncomfortable for Cade, but the fact that he had to deal with Steph in his ear all night mattered a lot.
And if that’s all he was doing it would be enough, but he also quietly orchestrated a really steady offensive night. The Spurs shot well, sure, but Steph was the one pushing tempo, finding open guys, and acting like a metronome in the middle of what Detroit was trying very hard to turn into chaos.
Last Steph note here, but, he has this habit of catching it on the wing and loading up for a Manu-style skip pass across the court. I clock it every time because it’s one of my favorite plays in basketball, but last night, after like the second one, I had this thought of like, “Man, if I’m noticing this, probably safe to say the other team definitely is too.” Sure enough, at one point in the third quarter he got the ball out there and started pushing into the paint and winding up like he was going to sling it to Keldon in the corner. A Pistons defender was ready to jump it, and as I was having a full meltdown about it, Steph just calmly dumped it over the top to Kornet for an easy alley-oop instead. Fun times all around!
Always cool to watch Devin Vassell go off like he did tonight. He’s so smooth with the ball, and you can see how frustrating it is for opposing teams when they realize that the Spurs, like, fourth option is suddenly torching them and forcing an adjustment. Imagine spending all day figuring out how to slow down the giant French guy, kind of pulling it off, and then everything falling apart because you forgot about Young Dev. Tragic.
I’m not smart enough to expound upon the exact impact that assistant coach Sean Sweeney has had on the Spurs defense this year other than to say something like, “Hey! We hired this defensive wizard and we seem to be really good at defense this year! Cool!” However, I will say that I do consistently notice him getting super fired up on the bench when the Spurs do something good defensively and every time I do I think about “Oh yeah, that wizard we hired!” and it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.
WWL Post Game Press Conference
– Did you realize the Spurs were on their Rodeo Road Trip right now?
– You know what, I’m glad you asked that because I just really didn’t. Completely slipped my mind.
– Feels like it snuck up on us this year, right?
– Little bit! RRT, in the past, felt like one of those big looming milestones in the season that was always a big deal and caused lots of chatter. It was sort of legendarily when the team would bond and come together as a group and it all felt very romanticized and cool. Maybe I’m just seeing it through my rose tinted nostalgia glasses, but it just doesn’t seem like a big deal anymore.
– Well, they a little bit cheating by having two of the games before the All-Star break and then two “home” Austin games as a part of avoiding the rodeo.
– True. Maybe I don’t hear about it as much because I’m not in San Antonio and the Rodeo isn’t actually, like, consuming any of my day-to-day attention like it did growing up.
– Yea, maybe.
– Mmm hmm.
– Pretty civil conversation today, everything ok?
– Yea I mean, I can pick a fight if you want, just felt like after watching the Pistons fall on their faces all night doing that it just seems a little silly.
– For sure, would hate for us to embarrass ourselves like that.
TORONTO, CANADA - AUGUST 17: Wyatt Langford #36, Evan Carter #32 and Josh Smith #8 of the Texas Rangers celebrate at the end of their MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on August 17, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for February 24, 2025 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
We have a lineup that looks like what we might see on Opening Day, save for Alejandro Osuna playing in place of Brandon Nimmo, who is still doing his ramp-up, and Jacob Latz, who hopefully isn’t the Opening Day starters, as that would give me 2014 Tanner Scheppers, Opening Day starter vibes. Oh, and the 1B/DH spots would probably be switched.
Behind Latz, the Rangers are planning on having Carter Baumler, Austin Gomber, Alexis Diaz, Luis Curvelo and Patrick Murphy pitch.
HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 23: Jabari Smith Jr. #10 of the Houston Rockets dunks the ball during the game against the Utah Jazz on February 23, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Well, if any burner-account related insecurities are seeping into this team, they’ve yet to reveal themselves yet.
The Houston Rockets have played their first games since LB started tracking their 2026 first-round pick that is owed to the Sixers, going 2-1 in their first three games post-All Star break. That features wins over the Charlotte Hornets and Utah Jazz with a fourth-quarter collapse to the New York Knicks sandwiched in between.
The quality of opponent is what it is, but the team has been able to follow Kevin Durant’s lead in not getting into any of that Twitter nonsense. Jabari Smith Jr. was one of the Rockets roasted the most in those supposed leaks, and he was Houston’s leading scorer against Utah with 31 points on 17 shots.
Those two wins, along with a Cleveland loss, were enough to bump the Rockets from 24th. where they were last week, to the 25th pick in the draft if the season ended today. Unfortunately for the Sixers, they have the chance to pile up some wins with their upcoming schedule as well. In the next week they’ll be taking on the Kings, Magic, Heat and Wizards.
So with the 25th pick in the draft, Tankathon has the Sixers taking forward Amari Allen out of Alabama. Iowa State’s Joshua Jefferson has also been mocked to the Sixers quite a bit as well. Anyone who wants to dive into Jefferson or other prospects that could be available in the mid-to-late 20s can now do so on this very blog as well.
Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong jokes with a fan after being hit by a pitch during game in August against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Chicago. (Paul Beaty / Associated Press)
What's not to love about Pete Crow-Armstrong? The young, talented Chicago Cubs center fielder is somehow simultaneously super cool and fiery. Nicknamed simply PCA, he should be an entertaining and accomplished player to watch for many years.
And he's Southern California born and bred, the product of esteemed diamond factory Harvard-Westlake High.
So why oh why did these words come out of his mouth during an interview for a 4,500-word article published Monday in Chicago Magazine?
“I love Chicago more and more,” he said. “It’s just an incredible city. The people are great. They give a [crap]. They aren’t just baseball fans who go to the game like Dodgers fans to take pictures and whatever. They are paying attention. They care.”
The love of Chicago and Cubs fans? Understood.
The dissing of all Dodgers fans as photo-obsessed, uncaring whatevers? Laughable.
The Dodgers became the first team to draw four million fans in 2025 and have exceeded 3.7 million paying customers every non-COVID season since 2013.
And it's a false narrative to suggest the devotion is merely a byproduct of back-to-back World Series titles and a star-studded lineup. Remember, the Dodgers didn't win a title from 1989 through 2019, a 31-year drought during which their attendance exceeded 3 million 25 times.
So, where did a baseball-loving future MLB star growing up in Sherman Oaks come to such a contorted conclusion?
Blame it on dad.
PCA penned a first-person article for the Player's Tribune in September that spelled it out:
"Growing up in L.A., my dad gave me a couple of rules. 1) I couldn’t root for the Dodgers. 2) I couldn’t root for the Cardinals.
"He’s from Naperville, just outside Chicago. He didn’t force me to be a Cubs fan, but let’s just say it was heavily encouraged."
The Cubs won the World Series for the first time in 108 years in 2016. PCA was 14, and he and his dad, actor Matthew John Armstrong, watched Game 7 together on television. Dad cried.
"I don’t think I fully got it in the moment, you know?" PCA wrote. "I was like, Dad, don’t be weird … stop crying. But I’m sure almost every Cub fan of a certain age had tears in their eyes that night. And now, a bit older, I get it."
PCA signed with the New York Mets after being drafted 19th overall out of high school in 2020. He was traded to the Cubs a year later for Javier Báez, Trevor Williams and cash and swiftly rose through the minor leagues, making his Cubs debut in 2023.
Last season he broke out as a bona fide star, becoming the first MLB player to accumulate 25 home runs, 25 stolen bases and 70 runs batted in during the first half of a season. He also cemented himself as the top center fielder in the game.
PCA slumped during the second half and finished with 31 homers and 35 stolen bases to go with a .247 batting average. Although the fans might not have noticed with all the picture-taking and whatever, he has done well in six games at Dodger Stadium, batting .333 with a home run and five RBIs.
But according to his teammate and close friend Nico Hoerner, PCA feels at home in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field.
“That’s one thing that is very cool about him that not a lot of younger players get,” Hoerner said. “He couldn’t have more of an appreciation for the history of the game and playing in Wrigley Field. He’s excited to be a part of the city of Chicago in a way a lot of guys don’t really understand.”
The Pittsburgh Pirates are on the road today against the Boston Red Sox looking to grab a win.
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Feb 19, 2026; PortCharlotte, FL, USA; Associated Press photographer Chris O’Meara takes photos of Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen (57) during media day at Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
No TV covereage today, but the game can be heard through the radio.
First pitch is 1:05 against the Minnesota Twins at Charlotte Sports Park.
Feb 22, 2026; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Adolis Garcia (53) celebrates after hitting a double against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
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Over 11
Cardinals moneyline
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Under 10.5
