Heat vs Hornets Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The Charlotte Hornets’ mid-season transformation has the team on track to compete for spot in the playoffs, and they’ll look to add a key victory over the visiting Miami Heat on Friday.

Charlotte has won six straight games, and my Heat vs. Hornets predictions expect them to extend that win streak and cover the spread as the home favorite.

Here are my best free NBA picks for this Eastern Conference showdown on Friday, March 6.

Heat vs Hornets prediction

Heat vs Hornets best bet: Hornets -7 (-110)

The Charlotte Hornets have won six in a row and covered in nine straight, and I expect them to extend those streaks with a comfortable win at home over the Miami Heat.

No team has been better ATS than the Hornets over the last 25 games, with a 19-6 record. Charlotte boasts a monstrous +308 point differential in that span, easily the best mark in the Association.

Charlotte’s 18-12 ATS mark at home is third-best in the NBA. The Hornets are 8-2 ATS across their last 10 home games, and have outscored opponents by 8.3 points per game.

Heat vs Hornets same-game parlay

The Hornets sport the sixth-best defensive rating (109.9) across the last 25 games. In that span, the Heat's 112.2 defensive rating ranks 10th-best.

Charlotte has hit the Under at home more times than any other team this season, doing so in 21 of 30 games at Spectrum Center.

LaMelo Ball is averaging 12.1 rebounds + assists on the season, and he's recorded 12+ in 29 of 53 games. He's reached that mark in five of his last eight and totaled exactly 11 in one more. Ball finished with 17 rebounds + assists in his first meeting with Miami.

Heat vs Hornets SGP

  • Hornets -7
  • Under 229.5
  • LaMelo Ball Over 11.5 rebounds + assists

Heat vs Hornets odds

  • Spread: Miami +7 (-110) | Charlotte -7 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Miami +240 | Charlotte -300
  • Over/Under: Over 229.5 (-110) | Under 229.5 (-110)

Heat vs Hornets betting trend to know

The Hornets have covered the spread in 33 of their last 45 games (+20.90 Units / 42% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Heat vs. Hornets.

How to watch Heat vs Hornets

LocationSpectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
DateFriday, March 6, 2026
Tip-off7:00 p.m. ET
TVFDSN Sun, FDSN SE-Charlotte

Heat vs Hornets 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.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Mavericks vs. Celtics predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 6

A mere ten months after tearing his Achilles, Jayson Tatum is expected to make his return to the court for the Boston Celtics (41-21) at TD Garden against the Dallas Mavericks (21-41) tonight.

 

Jaylen Brown and Boston (41-21) have thrived without the All-NBA forward. The Celtics lead the Atlantic Division by a game and a half over the Knicks. No doubt the addition of the six-time All-Star Tatum is a tremendous add to the lineup, but how long will it take the team to adjust to his return? How many minutes will he assume? How will he fit in Joe Mazzulla’s rotation?

 

Conversely, the Dallas Mavericks arrive in Boston sitting twelfth in the Western Conference and looking to snap a five-game losing streak. A bad team that has been especially bad on the road, the Mavericks did get a dose of good news yesterday with the return of Cooper Flagg. The standout rookie scored 18 points in 26 minutes last night in the Mavs’ 115-114 loss to the Magic in Orlando. Tonight will be a homecoming of sorts for the native of Newport, Maine.

 

Flagg was outstanding when these teams met earlier this season on February 3 albeit in a 110-100 loss, scoring 36 points and grabbing nine rebounds in 37 minutes. Jaylen Brown scored 33 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to pace the Celtics. Payton Pritchard added 26 off the bench.

 

The Celtics were blown out in their last game losing 118-89 at home to the surprising and surging Charlotte Hornets. As mentioned earlier, the Mavs were in action last night in Orlando, losing 115-114.

 

Ultimately, this game is all about the return of Tatum and how the Celtics handle all the emotions in the building and his minutes.

 

Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.

 

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

 

After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content. 

 

Game Details and How to Watch Live: Mavericks at Celtics

 

  • Date: Friday, March 6, 2026
  • Time: 7PM EST
  • Site: TD Garden
  • City: Boston, MA
  • Network/Streaming: ESPN

Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

 

Game Odds: Mavericks at Celtics

 

The latest odds as of Friday courtesy of DraftKings:

 

  • Moneyline: Dallas Mavericks (-1000), Boston Celtics (+650)
  • Spread: Celtics -14.5
  • Total: 224.5 points

 

This game opened Celtics -15.5 with the Total set at 225.5.

 

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!

 

Expected Starting Lineups: Mavericks at Celtics

 

Dallas Mavericks

  • G Cooper Flagg
  • SG Max Christie
  • SF Khris Middleton
  • PF Daniel Gafford
  • C PJ Washington

Boston Celtics

  • PG Derrick White
  • SG Baylor Scheierman
  • SF Jaylen Brown
  • PF Jayson Tatum
  • C Neemias Queta

Injury Report: Mavericks at Celtics

Dallas Mavericks

  • Marvin Bagley III (neck) has been ruled OUT of tonight’s game
  • Brandon Williams (quad) has been ruled OUT of tonight’s game

Boston Celtics

  • Jayson Tatum (Achilles) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game

Important stats, trends and insights: Mavericks at Celtics

  • The Celtics are 20-10 at home this season
  • The Mavericks are 7-20 on the road this season
  • The Celtics are 3-25-1 ATS this season / 15-15 at home
  • The Mavericks are 27-34 ATS this season / 10-17 on the road
  • The OVER has cashed in 28 of the Mavericks’ 61 games this season (28-33)
  • The OVER has cashed in just 22 of Boston’s 62 games this season (22-40)
  • The Celtics are 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 against the Mavericks
  • In 6 games since the All-Star Break, Jaylen Brown is averaging 25.5 points, 10 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game
  • Nikola Vucevic has pulled down a total of just 9 rebounds over his last 2 games

 

Rotoworld Best Bet

 

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

 

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Mavericks and Celtics’ game:

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Celtics -14.5 ATS
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 224.5

 

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

 

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

 

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)

Aicher finishes second in downhill to cut Vonn and Shiffrin leads in World Cup standings

VAL DI FASSA, Italy (AP) — With neither injured Lindsey Vonn nor Mikaela Shiffrin starting a World Cup downhill on Friday, Emma Aicher seized her chance to cut the American superstars’ leads in the season-long standings.

Aicher, the Olympic downhill silver medalist, placed second — just 0.01 behind first-time winner Laura Pirovano, pushing Olympic champion Breezy Johnson down to third — and reduced Vonn’s lead in the downhill points race to just 14 with two races left.

Vonn’s hugely successful World Cup season at age 41 was ended by a nasty crash one month ago at the Milan Cortina Olympics that wrecked her left leg.

Aicher’s 80 World Cup points Friday also reduced Shiffrin’s lead in the overall standings to 139 ahead of another downhill scheduled Saturday.

The tightening race for the giant crystal globe trophy with eight races left could see Shiffrin make a rare start in a super-G Sunday. Chasing a sixth career World Cup overall title. Shiffrin has so far accrued all her points in slalom and giant slalom.

Friday’s race was a replacement for the downhill five weeks ago at Swiss resort Crans-Montana, abandoned after Vonn crashed and tore the ACL in her left knee.

Pirovano was a popular winner on home snow getting a first win, also a first podium finish, in her 125th World Cup start.

The 28-year-old Italian has been a model of consistency reeling off top-10 results this season and sixth place in the Olympic downhill at nearby Cortina d’Ampezzo.

An elusive first victory lifted Pirovano to third in the downhill standings, trailing 64 behind Vonn and 50 back of Aicher.

Pirovano was among the few racers to top 130 kph (81 mph) on a sunny, still and freezing day that was ideal for the marquee speed discipline.

Two former Olympic champions dropped out of contention after losing time on the bottom half of the 2.3-kilometer (1 2/5-mile) course.

Corinne Suter, the 2022 Olympics gold medalist, looked set to match her win last weekend at Soldeu, Andorra, but placed eighth, 0.49 behind Pirovano.

Sofia Goggia, the 2018 champion and bronze medalist at Cortina last month, was 0.90 back in 17th.

___

AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing

Daniels’ defensive problem solving is latest proof of worth

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 04: Dyson Daniels #5 of the Atlanta Hawks fouls Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the third quarter at Fiserv Forum on March 04, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Hawks came into Wednesday night four games up on the Milwaukee Bucks in the race for the Eastern Conference Play-In tournament. As added stakes, the Hawks famously own the pick that will turn out to be the better pick between the Bucks and the New Orleans Pelicans.

A win here essentially means both progress towards a postseason appearance AND a better draft pick. So, the importance of this one game out of 82 really couldn’t be overstated.

At the same time, one of the (if not THE) greatest slashers in of all NBA history had just come back from a calf injury, and so the Hawks had their hands full cutting off his path the basket.

The defensive gameplan was, initially, what it usually is when Onyeka Okongwu starts: put Okongwu on Giannis Antetokounmpo and have Jalen Johnson check the stretch center instead (in this case, Myles Turner). But the former matchup very quickly appeared one-sided.

One thing was very evident early on: Okongwu didn’t want to pick Antetokounmpo up outside of the three-point line. Even though he’s obviously not a threatening three-point shooter, it’s still not necessarily the right move to give ground and allow Antetokounmpo momentum heading into the paint.

Here is a classic example of what happened a lot in the first half:

Okongwu has defended Antetokounmpo well at times in the past, but he didn’t seem up for the task on Wednesday. In this one, he tries taking a charge at the free throw line. He had just picked up his first foul and didn’t want a second minutes into the game.

But it’s still just a poor decision from him, and frankly he knew it was just as the Greek Freak slithered by him for an easy dunk:

And a third example where Okongwu just slowly cedes ground until he gets blown by once again:

Something had to change. It was at this point that the coaching staff made a big gamble.

The plan they concocted: what if we put our point guard on Giannis?

Dyson Daniels isn’t just some point guard, of course. He finished second in Defensive Play of the Year voting a season ago. But to put your best perimeter defender on a guy who is three or four inches taller and outweighs him by some 40-odd pounds? That’s a risk.

To that point, the Bucks had scored 56 points in 18 minutes of game time, and Antetokounmpo led that charge with 12 points on 6-for-8 (75%) shooting.

The Bucks’ offense continued rolling after the assignment shift until halftime, shooting 62% from the field and 11-for-19 (58%) from three in the opening half en route to 71 points on a Milwaukee offensive rating of 148 — all truly ugly marks for the Hawks defense.

But the second half was a different matter — and it started with Daniels’ brilliance. The Hawks forced the Bucks to go 1-for-10 in their first ten shot attempts by cutting off the head of the snake.

Atlanta would live with Ousmane Dieng trying to replicate his hot shooting start — a start he did not replicate. Meanwhile, Giannis hardly saw the ball from great ball denial from Daniels off the ball.

On his first shot attempt of the second half, Daniels here picks Antetokounmpo up right at the top of the key (a big difference to how Okongwu handled the matchup), muscles with him in close quarters, and forces him into a fadeaway baseline jumper through great lateral movement:

Defense is a team effort, of course. Even after being switched off his main assignment, Okongwu along with others stayed focused in chipping in to double or wall off Antetokounmpo when needed.

Here’s an example of Daniels cutting off a drive — with a straight up double from Nickeil Alexander-Walker to force a pass out. Jalen Johnson closes out to the shooter with the remaining defenders in good position on the backside in case of a skip pass. Another empty possession forced:

And the Great Barrier Thief always has fantastic hand and eye coordination, using his quick mitts to strip Antetokounmpo to force a stop (this was registered as a block and not a steal):

These efforts helped the Hawks roll to a very satisfying 133-116 win.

The second half alone, the Hawks scored 65 points while allowing just 42 points and an 86 defensive rating. Giannis Antetokounmpo only scored six points on 3-for-6 (50%) shooting while being held to just one assist in that time period as well.

“It’s hard to come up with the superlatives for him defensively,” head coach Quin Snyder said after the game. “The fact that he can guard across different positions. You’re not going to stop Giannis, but you can try to make it hard.”

Daniels has gotten a lot of flak this season for a year in which some people believe is a step back for him. His issues shooting threes as a guard is very notable, and he’s taking by far the fewest three-point attempts per 100 possessions of his career.

After a historic season swiping the ball, his per-game steals mark has dropped from 3.0 to 1.9. He’s scoring less overall and less efficiently despite having the ball in his hands a lot more in the post-Trae Young world.

But both the eyes and the advanced stats should be able to see how incredibly valuable he is as a basketball player.

When you can go from shutting down the other team’s small guard to shutting down a 6-foot-11 behemoth and top five player in the world all while handling the ball on offense, that worth in versatility is something that is impossible to capture in any sort of data.

Did I mention he has also played the 15th most minutes in the NBA (as of Thursday afternoon) and has only missed three of 63 contests this season?

Put plainly: Dyson Daniels has a special skillset. He works extremely hard day in and day out, is always available, and operate key functions on both ends of the floor.

On offense, he’s been incredibly cautious but effective as a lead playmaker as of late:

And on defense, by adding strength to his frame over his years of development, Daniels can now take on all sorts of defensive matchups — although his bread and butter remains smaller perimeter ball handlers. But to do that while taking over point guard duties midseason after Trae Young’s departure is nothing short of incredible.

In fact, as of yesterday afternoon, Daniels is the 16th best qualified player (and best Hawk) in plus-minus on-off splits. Over the course of the season, the Hawks are 8.8 points per 100 possessions with Daniels on the court compared to off the court:

Daniels starts a four-year, $100 million extension this offseason. If you simply read box scores and peruse his meager scoring numbers, it would be easy to assume his play this season should give Hawks fans pause about that price tag.

But the tape reveals a game-changing defensive player who can capably guard just about any player he’s assigned to guard.

So, it’s a major win that the Hawks have Daniels locked up for the foreseeable future. This kind of rare versatility gives the Hawks a number of solutions to in-game problems that few players, if any, possess on their own.

The Suns needed urgency against the Bulls. Instead they got a layup line

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 05: Tre Jones #30 of the Chicago Bulls lays up shot ahead of Oso Ighodaro #11 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 05, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Bulls defeated the Suns 105-103. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Two storylines arrived at the same building on Thursday night. Two very different roads that somehow crossed at the same intersection.

On one side, you had the Chicago Bulls. A team whose fan base is staring at the draft lottery like it is a lighthouse in the fog. They want losses. They want ping pong balls. They want the chance to grab a high pick in what everyone says is a loaded draft class. Development is not the priority right now. Evaluation is not the priority either. Injuries have piled up, tank mode is humming along quietly in the background, and they rolled into Phoenix ready to play hard, although not exactly carrying the burden of expectation.

Then you have the Phoenix Suns.

They are a team with injuries of their own. A team that has spent the entire season clawing and scratching to stay above the Play-In line, but cannot seem to overcome it. A team that built its identity on effort, disruption, and the belief that if they played hard enough for forty eight minutes, they could walk off the floor with a win.

Home court. Stakes on the table. A game they needed. And somehow the script flipped.

Because the Suns looked like the team that had nothing to play for. They looked like the team that could shrug and find a silver lining in a loss. The defense was abhorrent. Truly. It felt like watching a layup line that never ended. Chicago poured in 68 points in the paint, and if you were sitting in the arena, it probably felt like 120. Every drive found daylight. Every cut felt clean.

Collin Sexton treated the defense like a set of traffic cones. Tre Jones joined the party. The two guards combined for 51 points and only three made threes between them. They did the damage the old-fashioned way. They attacked downhill, over and over again, straight to the rim. The pattern repeated itself like a broken record. Chicago drives. Layup. Phoenix fires from three. Miss. Chicago rebounds. Pushes. Attacks again. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

This Suns team built a reputation this season on making life uncomfortable for opponents. They swarm passing lanes. They pressure the ball. They turn possessions chaotic. None of that showed up. And on the other end, the offense drifted into quicksand. Phoenix shot 28.3% from deep on 48 attempts. The rhythm never arrived. The energy never arrived either. They never led in the game against one of the worst teams in the league.

Yes, it is one game in an eighty-two game season. There is barely time to process it before the next tip off arrives. Another struggling opponent waits on the schedule tonight. Although a small whisper of concern creeps into the room after a night like that. Because when you fail to handle your business once, the margin for error tightens immediately. And this team is fighting for something real right now. Playoff positioning. Stability in the standings.

You cannot sleepwalk through games like that when the stakes are sitting right in front of you.

Bright Side Baller Season Standings

It has taken far too long for Oso Ighodaro to notch his second Bright Side Baller award. He has been one of many genuine, sun-soaked surprises of this season. But in a way, the delay fits exactly who and what he is.

He is the guy who doesn’t always scream for the spotlight. He doesn’t hunt the stats that lead to the headlines or the hardware. Instead, he just does the work. He does the little things. The screen assists, the dirty work in the paint, the rotations that coaches love and casual fans overlook. He is the glue holding the second unit together, an annoying fly on the wall for opposing offenses.

Bright Side Baller Nominees

Game 62 against the Bulls. Here are your nominees:

Devin Booker
27 points (9-of-21, 2-of-7 3PT), 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 4 turnovers, +2 +/-

Grayson Allen
21 points (6-of-19, 5-of-16 3PT), 2 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, +9 +/-

Oso Ighodaro
10 points (5-of-5), 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover, +3 +/-

Amir Coffey
12 points (3-of-4, 2-of-2 3PT), 4 rebounds, 4-of-7 FT, +3 +/-

Ryan Dunn
6 points (3-of-7), 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block, +7 +/-

Jalen Green
12 points (5-of-20, 1-of-8 3PT), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, -5 +/-


Who is worthy?

Phillies notes: Aaron Nola, Kyle Backhus, Andrew McCutchen

Feb 11, 2026; Clearwater, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola (27) runs a drill during spring training at BareCare Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images

The pool play for the WBC begins in earnest today, which means as I write this, Shohei Ohtani hits a grand slam to open the scoring for Samurai Japan.

Because of course he did.

On to the links.

Phillies news:

MLB news:

Chicago Cubs history unpacked — March 6

The Hawk* signs a blank check, Kirby Puckett departs this vale,and other stories.

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Bleed Cubbie Blue is pleased to present a Cubs-centric look at baseball’s colorful past. Here’s a handy Cubs timeline, to help you follow the various narrative paths.

“Maybe I called it wrong, but it’s official.” — Tom Connolly, HoF Umpire.

Today in baseball history:

Cubs Birthdays:Hal MauckBill SweeneyTed AbernathyTerry AdamsJake ArrietaLeonys Martín. Also notable: Lefty Grove HOF, Willie Stargell HOF.

Today in history:

  • 1521 – Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan discovers Guam.
  • 1788 – The British First Fleet arrives at Australian territory of Norfolk Island to found a convict settlement.
  • 1831 – Edgar Allan Poe court-martialed and dismissed from West Point military academy for gross neglect of duty and disobedience of orders.
  • 1836 – Battle of the Alamo: After 13 days of fighting, 1,500-3,000 Mexican soldiers overwhelm the Texan defenders, killing 182-257 Texans including William Travis, Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett.
  • 1857 – Dred Scott Decision: US Supreme Court rules Africans cannot be US citizens.
  • 1869 – Dmitri Mendeleev presents the first periodic table of the elements to the Russian Chemical Society.
  • 1918 – US naval boat “Cyclops” disappears in Bermuda Triangle. The ship was traveling from Barbados to Baltimore — it has never been found.
  • 1964 – Boxing legend Cassius Clay joins the Nation of Islam and changes his name to “Muhammad Ali”, calling his former title a “slave name.”

Common sources:

*pictured.

Some of these items spread from site to site without being fact-checked, and that is why we ask for verifiable sources, in order to help correct the record.

2026 Red Sox Bullpen Preview: Middle Relief

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 9:Luis Guerrero #99 of the Boston Red Sox reacts as he walks to the bullpen before a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

I’m almost out of pitchers to write about, I swear. We’re moving on to the middle relievers. The guys who sometimes need to take it on the chin, who rarely get the credit they deserve, but oftentimes make or break close games.

The Red Sox’ starting rotation depth and quality should help keep this group fresher than they’ve been in the recent past. Right now, I think this group might be on the light side, but relievers spring up out of nowhere and are available at the drop of a hat, so a trade or the addition of a DFA’d arm from another team could add quality to the bullpen. Here’s a look at way too many pitchers who might get a chance for the Red Sox this year.

Justin Slaten

Justin Slaten’s 2025 was disappointing, in large part because he was unavailable for most of the middle part of the season. He posted a 4.24 ERA with an 18.2% strikeout rate and 7.3% walk rate. Those numbers were a large step down from his rookie season, but the underlying stuff was just as good.

His fastball in particular was excellent. It has solid vertical movement and great velocity with big extension. In 2025, the swinging strike rate was among the best in the league at 15.6%, while the ideal contact rate was a great 31.3%. His cutter was a reliable strike-getter and also limited hard contact. Slaten struggled to put lefties away in 2025 due to leaving his curveball in the zone with two strikes too frequently, but better command should see the pitch return strikeouts. His sweeper was useful in putting away righties and should continue to be a weapon for him.

The issue for Slaten was getting out of trouble. His left-on-base rate of 55% was remarkably low and should rise to a normal rate over a full season. His 2024 rate was 71%, and there’s little reason to believe it shouldn’t normalize given his stuff. Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock are the top dogs in the Red Sox bullpen, but Slaten will be asked to handle high-leverage situations regularly.

Greg Weissert

Dear Alex Cora, I know navigating the middle innings can be difficult, particularly in a tight game. Hopefully, your rotation gives you six innings often enough that nobody in the pen needs to be overworked. I’m writing to you today to plead that you don’t give the ball to Greg Weissert every night. I know it’s tempting, but don’t do it.

Each of the last two seasons, Weissert has been near the top of the league in appearances through June, and then seen his performance tail off in the summer before reemerging at the end of the season. Weissert commands his fastball at the top of the zone, where it plays well due to its flat approach angle. Against righties, he uses a sinker and slider/sweeper to great effect. Lefties are a problem, with nothing else besides a fastball to get strikes with, though. He’s best used matching up with righties in a one-inning spot, and shouldn’t be asked to do much more.

Zack Kelly

I don’t think I’ll ever be able to quit Zack Kelly.

See?

The stuff is just too good not to work. His four-seam averages 96 mph with seven feet of extension. The pitch has a flat approach angle, though I wonder if it’s a little “dead zoney”, because righties have been able to handle it. It was primarily a two-strike pitch and returned whiffs due to solid command, but the contact against it was hard. Early in counts, he used a sinker and a cutter that each earned strikes and limited damage. His sweeper also punched out hitters, but like the four-seam fastball was hit hard. Lefties got four-seams and cutters for strikes, with changeups deeper in counts. The slow ball strike rate was an abysmal 49% to lefties, and needs to see improvements to become a viable weapon.

Kelly’s approach against righties is sound, while he needs an “out-pitch” against lefties. Despite this, his OPS allowed was .831 against right-handed hitters and just .604 against lefties. I’ll chalk this up to bad luck. He struck out 29.3% of righties compared to 15.7% of lefties. His batting average on balls in play was over 0.400 against righties and is sure to come down to a more normal rate. His left on base percentage is also sure to come up, unless there are some underlying issues with the stretch that I’m not seeing. If you’re out on Kelly, I don’t blame you. After looking into the numbers, I’ll go the other way and predict that Kelly will be a key member of the Red Sox bullpen by the end of the season.

Ryan Watson

Ryan Watson was a Rule 5 draft pick, which gives him a solid chance to break camp with the team. He won’t be used in high-leverage spots, which means his job is to throw strikes. If he can throw strikes and handle low-leverage work, he’ll potentially be used in more meaningful spots later in the season. In the minors, he used a fastball, sinker, slider, and curveball. His four-seam hasn’t missed bats in the minors, but his low-release and above-average extension should allow the pitch to play at the top of the zone. His slider and curveball have each shown the ability to create whiffs as well. In his first spring training outing, he featured a low-90s cutter as well that has potential. The stuff doesn’t jump off the page, but he has weapons to attack both sides of the plate and provide an inning or two of relief at a time.

Kyle Keller

Of the non-roster invitees, Keller has the best chance to make the roster given the financial commitment. He’s in line to make $1.8 million if he breaks camp with the team. I don’t know a ton about Keller; he’s spent the last several seasons in Japan, most recently with the Yomiuri Giants. He has a fastball, cutter, curveball mix, with the four-seam making up the bulk of his arsenal. It comes in at 151.7 kilometers per hour, which sounds pretty fast, but is actually about 94 mph. His secondary pitches were used in a small sample, as far as I can tell, with middling results. He also walked three men in his second spring training outing, which you can’t afford to do as one of the lower-leverage arms in the bullpen. The Red Sox are willing to pay him if he makes the roster, so there’s clearly something they like, though.

Tayron Guerrero

Tayron Guerrero wasn’t a name I knew until Christopher Smith wrote about his journey to Boston, but now I’m all in. He’s a 6-foot-8 righty with massive velocity and command issues. He started playing baseball in 2007 after watching the Red Sox win the World Series, and was in the major leagues less than 10 years later. He hasn’t been able to stick with a big league team, bouncing around from organization to organization and spending time overseas, but his velocity gives him a chance to be special if he can find the zone. He’s using a four-seam and a two-seam that each get up to 100 mph, a splitter, and is working on a gyro-slider as a way to be in the strike zone more often. He’s on a minor league deal and is unlikely to make the opening day roster, but if he proves the ability to throw strikes, he could climb the bullpen trust tree and end up in high-leverage spots. Of the names at the bottom of this list, Guerrero has the highest ceiling.

Seth Martinez

Did you like John Schreiber? If so, you’re gonna love Seth Martinez. Martinez spent last season with the Marlins, primarily in Triple-A. Before that, he made 111 appearances for the Astros from 2021 to 2024, registering a 3.93 ERA over that time. He’s a side-armer with big extension who tops out about 90 mph, using a sinker, cutter, four-seam, sweeper, and changeup. His fastball is super flat, and in theory, should play at the top of the zone, while his sinker can work to jam righties. His sweeper and changeup have each shown bat-missing ability in the past, but his lack of velocity caps his ceiling and makes command paramount. He’s another non-roster invitee with an outside shot to make the team.

Noah Song

Mexico v USA - WBSC Premier 12: Bronze Medal Final

He exists! He’s thrown a few single innings in relief so far this spring, and his slider looks sharp. His fastball has high vertical movement, and his changeup shape is super interesting. *Insert Rick Reilly-style joke comparing the length of Noah Song’s story to a Grateful Dead song.* It’s probably a long shot at this point, but I could be convinced.

Vinny Nittoli

Aye! I’m relievin’ here! Nittoli is a non-roster invitee with some major league experience. He uses primarily a cutter that doesn’t actually cut, from a low arm angle. It’s not something I’ve seen before, which could be a classic case of survivorship bias, but it could also provide a look that hitters haven’t seen before. He uses a sinker, changeup, and sweeper as well. He’s kind of like Cooper Criswell, but more Italian-sounding.

Devin Sweet

Having different looks out of the bullpen is important. The Red Sox have an affinity for low-slot pitchers, while Devin Sweet is the opposite. He’s got a very high arm angle that creates a ton of vertical movement on his fastball. He also has a cool changeup shape that has a huge velocity and movement separation from that fastball. Early Spring Training hasn’t gone well for him, and he’s had problems throwing strikes, but there’s some real swing and miss stuff if he can harness it.

Mets announce Spring Breakout roster pool

A.J. Ewing | Photo: Diamond Images/Getty Images

One of the more exciting parts of spring training in recent years has been the annual Spring Breakout series of games in which top prospects across all levels of each of the thirty organizations square off. This year, Mets prospects will face Rays prospects on Thursday, March 19 at 7:10 PM EDT at Clover Field in Port St. Lucie. And here’s the Mets’ roster pool for the event. The list will be whittled down to twenty-something players by the day of that game.

Pitchers

  • Juan Arnaud, RHP
  • Channing Austin, RHP
  • Hoss Brewer, RHP
  • Nicolas Carreño, LHP
  • Saúl García, RHP
  • Brendan Girton, RHP
  • Cristofer Gómez, RHP
  • R.J. Gordon, RHP
  • Nathan Hall RHP
  • Noah Hall, RHP
  • Peter Kussow, RHP
  • Ryan Lambert, RHP
  • Camden Lohman, RHP
  • Douglas Orellana, RHP, NR
  • Jonathan Pintaro, RHP
  • Dylan Ross, RHP
  • Jonathan Santucci, LHP
  • Ben Simon, RHP
  • Zach Thornton, LHP
  • Cam Tilly, RHP
  • Will Watson, RHP
  • Jack Wenninger, RHP


Catchers

  • Daiverson Gutierrez, C
  • Chris Suero, C/OF
  • Julio Zayas, C


Infielders

  • Yunior Amparo, UTIL
  • Ryan Clifford, 1B/OF
  • Randy Guzman, 1B/OF
  • Yonatan Henríquez, UTIL
  • Antonio Jimenez, SS
  • Elian Pena, SS
  • Jacob Reimer, 3B/1B
  • D’Andre Smith, 2B
  • Trey Snyder, SS
  • Marco Vargas, INF
  • Mitch Voit, 2B


Outfielders

  • A.J. Ewing, OF/2B
  • Edward Lantigua, OF
  • Nick Morabito, OF
  • Eli Serrano III, OF

Don’t panic over Payton Pritchard’s slump

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 22: Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 22, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. 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 Nick Tomoyasu/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Payton Pritchard has become one of the most important offensive engines for the Celtics. Even with Jayson Tatum getting set to return, Boston needs him to produce.

Since Pritchard moved to the bench, the Celtics are 8-0 in games in which he scored 20+ points in and just 2-3 in games in which he scores 9 or less. Interestingly, Pritchard has not scored between 10-19 points since moving to the bench — it has been all boom or bust.

After trading Anfernee Simons, the Celtics don’t have the offensive juice to withstand bad performances from Pritchard, especially against good teams, which is when all of Pritchard’s duds seem to happen.

Yes, Jayson Tatum is coming back and he will help. That doesn’t change that if the Celtics are going to accomplish what they want to accomplish, they’ll need Pritchard to produce.

So why has he had these bad games?

A lot of these games are because he is taking less shots. Pritchard took 6 shots in the Nuggets loss, 4 shots in the Sixers game and 6 shots in the Hornets loss.

Confidence is a fragile thing that even the best players in the world deal with and Payton is no exception.

He isn’t taking a bunch of bad shots right now, either. The shots he is missing are the ones he usually makes.

He has to take and make these looks, because the Celtics are relying on him in a big way to be super productive. He can’t have these types of games when they matter in the playoffs.

For the season, Payton Pritchard is scoring 115.3 points for every 100 shots he takes. That ranks in the 70th percentile according to Cleaning the Glass. However, over the last 6 games, he is scoring 88.9 points per 100 shot attempts, which ranks in the 5th percentile.

He is also shooting 35.5% from two-point range over his last 6 games, which is among the worst in the NBA and down 20.8% from the 56.3% he typically is from inside the arc.

This is a slump, a major slump, but one that I have a lot of confidence he will get through.

I don’t think different coverages have created the recent struggles for Payton. I haven’t noticed any big changes as to the way teams are covering him.

You could chalk it up to bad shot luck. Pritchard is still getting good looks but he has just missed them in recent games. The NBA is a long season and you are going to have weeks that you struggle in and your confidence is a bit shaken.

However, there is one big question that remains: why does Pritchard struggle against good teams?

That seems like an oxymoron with a simple answer. Good teams have better players than bad teams do, which means they have better defenders, which makes it harder to score. If you are going to have an off night, it is more likely to come against a good team rather than a bad one.

Yet, I do think there are reasons to worry.

He has been bad against the Knicks this season, and that is a team the Celtics are probably going to play in the playoffs. Two of his worst games of the season came against the 76ers, a team that very well may be the Celtics first round opponent.

Boston is going to be relying on him in a big way to produce offense in the playoffs in ways they have never relied on him before.

His shooting percentages say that there isn’t any reason to worry about him in the playoffs. They are pretty constant, and good, in the regular season and the postseason.

I don’t think it is time to panic. Pritchard is a really good player that has been awesome for the last two seasons. However, I have my doubts and worries and this stretch has not eased those.

Maybe, this is a slump that he gets out of and he is awesome in playoffs. Maybe, we should be concerned and his play dips in the playoffs as the Celtics are bounced early. Either way, the playoffs always expose your biggest weaknesses and they will answer any questions we have about Pritchard in due time.

Did Clayton Kershaw retire? Why ex-Dodgers LHP is in World Baseball Classic

In 18 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers,Clayton Kershaw put together a rather impressive career that likely will make him a first-ballot Hall of Famer, all while quickly becoming one of the greatest left-handed pitchers of his generation.

It's a lengthy list of accomplishments that includes three National League Cy Young Awards, three World Series rings and 11 All-Star Game selections. He is also just one of 20 pitchers in Major League Baseball history to reach the 3,000 career strikeout mark, a feat he accomplished in July of last year.

He now looks to add another accolade to his Hall of Fame plaque: World Baseball Classic champion with Team USA.

"I'm so excited to be here and be with this group. ... I Amazon'd all my gear. I'm ready, dude," Kershaw jokingly said on ESPN's "The Pat McAfee Show" on Monday, March 2. "I've been ready for a long time. I'm just so fired up to be on this team. And I told them, D-Ro (Mark DeRosa) and Andy Pettitte, our pitching guy, 'Whatever you guys want. I'll throw zero. I'll throw every game. It doesn't matter. I'm done after this. I'll do whatever you want.'"

But if Kershaw is retired from The Show, why is he playing in the WBC for Team USA?

Here's what to know about Kershaw:

Is Clayton Kershaw retired?

Yes, Kershaw is recently retired. The WBC is going to be the final competition that Kershaw will pitch in.

He announced his intention to retire after 18 seasons in Dodger Blue on Thursday, Sept. 18 at a news conference inside Dodger Stadium.

"I’m at peace with it and I think it’s the right time," Kershaw said. "It’s been a fun year and such a blast. I can’t think of a better season to go out, but we have a lot to accomplish."

Much like how Peyton Manning went off into the sunset after winning Super Bowl 50 with the Denver Broncos, Kershaw had a Hollywood ending, as the Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in extra innings of Game 7 of the World Series."It’s not a sad feeling. It really isn’t," Kershaw said following Game 7 of the 2025 World Series. "I will, forever, for the rest of my life, get to say, we won Game 7 of the World Series the last game I played. You can’t script it, you can’t write it up.

"Even if I was not throwing 88, I’d still be done. It’s just the perfect way to end it."

Is Clayton Kershaw playing in WBC?

Yes, the former Dodgers left-hander is competing in the WBC. It's the first time that Kershaw is playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, which is in its sixth iteration.

He is expected to come out of the bullpen for Team USA.

Why is Clayton Kershaw playing for Team USA in WBC?

In his appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" on March 2, the three-time World Series champion called being in the WBC and wearing the Team USA jersey a "bucket list" thing for him as a ballplayer.

"I've tried to be on this team a few different times and it hadn't worked out for numerous reasons. But now that I finally get to do it and represent the USA and get to play baseball, it's an amazing thing," Kershaw said. "We were all watching the Winter Olympics and seeing the (men's and women's) hockey teams win and just to kind of see the nation support them and be behind them, it was amazing.

"To get to do that in a baseball uniform for Team USA is a bucket list thing for me. I'm so grateful to get to be on the team, and it's going to be a blast."

Having the veteran southpaw on the roster was an important one for Team USA manager Mark DeRosa. His presence is perhaps even more important for Team USA heading into Pool C play in Houston, as back-to-back AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal is expected to make just one start before returning to the Grapefruit League with the Detroit Tigers, and New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean is dealing with an illness that stopped him from reporting to Team USA's camp in Arizona with everyone else.

"He was important to me," DeRosa said of Kershaw's roster spot, according to MLB.com. "The way the tournament is set up, if a starter was to falter and not be able to give you length … you needed kind of a break-glass-in-[case-of]-emergency kind of pitcher. There’s no one on an active roster that’s willing to come and sit here and maybe not get to pitch. When we put our heads together, he was one of the best to ever do it, the guys would want to be around him, learn from him, and in case of emergency, he’d be out there and kind of reset us.”

Clayton Kershaw stats 

  • 223-96 career record in 2,855 ⅓ innings with a career 2.53 ERA
  • 3,052 strikeouts
  • 3-time World Series winner (2020, 2024, 2025)
  • 2014 National League MVP
  • 3-time NL Cy Young Winner (2011, 2013, 2014)
  • 11-time NL All-Star

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fastDownload for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Clayton Kershaw retired? Ex-Dodgers ace playing in WBC for Team USA

Netherlands, Curaçao roster explained for 2026 World Baseball Classic

One of the darkhorses of the World Baseball Classic always turns out to be the Netherlands.

The Dutch placed fourth in the 2013 and 2017 WBC tournaments and return a strong team that can be a contender again this season. Of course, the Netherlands is managed by someone who comes from a winning background.

Former Atlanta Braves star centerfielder, class of 2026 Hall of Famer and Curaçao native Andrew Jones is the first-time manager for the squad, which also features his son, Druw Jones. The upstart group features a roster of current and former MLB players in Ozzie Albies, Xander Bogaerts, Didi Gregorius, Ceddanne Rafaela and Kenley Jansen.

One of the biggest feeders of the Netherlands' pitching staff and roster this season will be the home island of Jones, in Curaçao. Baseball is a major event in the Caribbean island, which is a constituent country of the Netherlands.

Curaçao places a total of eight players from the island nation on the roster for the Netherlands, a team that Jones played for in the 2006 and 2013 World Baseball Classics.

Here's what you need to know about Curaçao:

Curaçao population

The island national made news last November qualifying for the 2026 World Cup as the smallest country to ever do so, with a population of just 156,000.

A team led by current MLB players Jonathan Schoop and suspended Atlanta Braves infielder Jurickson Profar, led a Willemstad, Curaçao, team to the Little League World Series championship title in 2004.

Curaçao is located in the southern Caribbean just north of the Venezuela coast. It became an autonomous territory in 2010, in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Curaçao players on Netherlands WBC roster

Here's a look at the eight players from Curaçao on the Netherlands' roster. All of them are pitchers:

  • Jamdrick Cornelia, LHP
  • Jaydenn Estanista, RHP
  • Wendell Floranus, RHP
  • Kenley Jansen, RHP
  • Kevin Kelly, RHP
  • Shairon Martis, RHP
  • J. C. Sulbaran, RHP
  • Dylan Wilson, RHP

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: World Baseball Classic 2026: Netherlands, Curaçao roster explained

Why Nolan Arenado is playing for Puerto Rico in 2026 World Baseball Classic

There’s no point, Nolan Arenado figured, in waiting for a phone call that wasn’t likely to come.

That’s one reason why Arenado, after twice playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, is representing Puerto Rico in this year’s edition.

His mother is the other driving force.

Arenado’s father is Cuban and his mother Puerto Rican, but the California native represented Team USA with distinction in two WBCs – as part of their 2017 championship squad, and then in 2023 contributing 10 hits and a 1.025 OPS for the squad that fell just short in the title game against Japan.

Arenado finished third in NL MVP voting in 2022, hitting 30 homers and driving in 103 runs for the St. Louis Cardinals; he was an easy pick as Team USA’s primary third baseman in 2023 and went on to an eighth All-Star Game selection that summer.

Yet his mid-30s plateau had arrived.

As his WAR dropped from 7.9 in 2022 to 1.3 as a 34-year-old in 2025, Arenado wondered if his old gig for Team USA had expired.

Sure enough, the Americans called on Alex Bregman and Gunnar Henderson to man the hot corner, leaving an opening for his former Cardinals teammate Yadier Molina, the manager of Puerto Rico’s WBC squad.

“I wanted to play for USA again, but I didn’t get the call," Arenado told USA TODAY Sports this spring. “Honestly, I didn’t deserve the call. And when Yadi called me about it, I felt a little hesitant about it because I played on USA, and I was recovering from a shoulder surgery.

“But my mom really wanted me to do it, and my family kept telling me to do it."

So, Arenado will don different shades of red and blue, on behalf of the Boricua.

Just like that, he’s by far the most accomplished player on his WBC squad, with Puerto Rico’s infield dotted with part-time major leaguers such as Emmanuel Rivera and Darell Hernaiz.

Still, Puerto Rico has a knack for WBC success – it joins Team USA, Japan and Cuba as the only countries to advance out of pool play in all five tournaments. And Arenado himself has participated in the past two championship games.

And, with Carlos Correa failing to obtain insurance for the tournament, Arenado will be at his familiar third base position, aiming to glean the benefits of full go baseball as he prepares for his first season with his third team, the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“I love it, for me, selfishly, it's the energy," says Arenado. “It gets you mentally ready for the season. Obviously, the stakes are high right away, which is tough, but it brings that intensity. It brings the focus that you only get when opening day of the season starts.

“I really think it’s beneficial."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Nolan Arenado is on Puerto Rican team after prior USA WBC service

2026 World Baseball Classic rules: Is there a ghost runner in extra innings?

Who doesn't love free baseball?

Fans at the 2026 World Baseball Classic will surely have no issues if the game they attend goes extra innings, providing more bang for their bucks on the tickets purchased. That means more time to soak in the environment at the top level of international baseball.

However, the organizers of the WBC may not be fans of potentially elongated games. With most MLB players only in early Spring Training mode, pitch count limits and mercy rule regulations have been put in place to protect the players.

One rule to limit an extra-inning game from going too long is the ghost runner being placed on second base in the extra innings. Here's what you need to know about the ghost runner in extra innings in the WBC:

Is there a ghost runner in extra innings in the World Baseball Classic?

There are no ties in baseball. That means a game must continue until there is a winner. So, yes, the World Baseball Classic will have the ghost runner rule for extra innings in 2026.

So starting in the 10th inning, a runner is placed on second base with zero outs. This rule is similar to the one in MLB, where the last out of the previous inning is placed on second to start the inning. Of course, this rule for MLB is in the regular season only.

This was a rule that was also in place for the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is there a ghost runner in extra innings the 2026 World Baseball Classic?

NBA standings: Who's in, out of NBA playoffs if season ended today?

It's wild that we are about three-quarters of the way through the 2025-26 NBA regular season. Pretty soon, we'll be seeing the best of the best go toe-to-toe night in, night out in an effort to claim the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

Are the Thunder fated to repeat as champions? Will the Eastern Conference produce another unexpected representative? Are the Spurs and Nuggets legitimate title contenders?

These are all questions that NBA fans have been dying to know for months now, but there is still more than a month to go before the postseason begins on April 14.

There's still time for your favorite teams to make a push for the play-in, and possibly shock the world. However, it's still nice to look ahead at what could happen, or what would happen if the playoffs were to begin today.

Here's what the postseason would look like if the season were to end today:

NBA playoff standings

Eastern Conference

1. Detroit Pistons (45-16)

2. Boston Celtics (41-21)

3. New York Knicks (40-23)

4. Cleveland Cavaliers (39-24)

5. Toronto Raptors (35-27)

6. Philadelphia 76ers (34-28)

Western Conference

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (49-15)

2. San Antonio Spurs (45-17)

3. Minnesota Timberwolves (40-23)

4. Houston Rockets (38-23)

5. Denver Nuggets (39-24)

6. Los Angeles Lakers (37-25)

NBA play-in teams

Eastern Conference

7. Orlando Magic (33-28)

8. Miami Heat (34-29)

9. Charlotte Hornets (32-31)

10. Atlanta Hawks (32-31)

Western Conference

7. Phoenix Suns (35-27)

8. Golden State Warriors (32-30)

9. Los Angeles Clippers (30-31)

10. Portland Trail Blazers (30-33)

When does the NBA postseason begin?

The play-in tournament will begin on April 14, running through April 17. The traditional NBA postseason begins a day later, on April 18, running through the rest of April, all of May and well into June. The NBA Finals are scheduled to start on June 3, with Game 7 happening as late as June 19 if necessary.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA standings, updated playoff picture if season ended today