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Should Astros Be Worried About Cristian Javier?

WEST PALM BEACH, FL - MARCH 03: Cristian Javier #53 of the Houston Astros pitches during the game between the Team Venezuela and the Houston Astros at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Lawrence Brown/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Javier’s results in spring have been solid, but his peripherals don’t back it up.

Astros SP Cristian Javier just finished his final outing of the spring. His stat line was solid:

5 innings, 1 earned run, 4 hits, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts, 1 solo HR. Threw 40 of his 70 pitches for strikes.

You’d think he had just shown he is ready for the regular season. However, there are a couple of issues with that line of thought:

  1. He is still facing lineups with a lot of weak hitters.
  2. His velocity on his fastball and sinker are not only below par, but fall as the game goes on.

Now, every pitcher will face a lot of lineups that have backups and minor leaguers in them, and that is the far lesser of the two concerns.

The main issue is that Javier, now nearly two years removed from Tommy John surgery, still has not recovered his velocity. To make matters worse, his velocity falls even further as the game goes on.

While he has gotten away with low velocities in spring, when the regular season starts and you have to face quality lineups every start, those velocities will not hold up.

Much as we saw last year with Lance McCullers Jr. as he struggled with his velocity last season, MLB caliber hitters will wait you out, sit on a pitch and punish you when they get it if they have no fear of your ability to beat them with a fastball.

Javier, like McCullers, has tremendous breaking stuff. The impact of that stuff will be negated if there is no fastball to get quick outs with.

While Javier’s stat line today was strong, his velos were not, and they progressively got worse.

Here’s a breakdown of the velocity of Javier’s four-seams/sinkers by inning today (per MLB.com):

1st: 91.7, 91.8, 92.1, 92.6, 93.2, 92.9, 92.4, 92 – Avg 92.3 MPH

2nd: 90.6, 91.6, 91.3, 91.1, 91.3, 90.7, 91.2, 91.2 – Avg 91.1 MPH

3rd: 92, 90.4, 92.1, 91.6, 90.2, 88.9, 89.4, 90.6, 90.5, 91.3 – Avg 90.7 MPH

4th: 92, 91.4, 90.9, 90.7 – Avg 91.3 MPH

5th: 91, 90.1, 89.8, 89.4, 91.4, 89.9, 89.7, 90.1 – Avg 90.2 MPH

For the whole game, he averaged 91.1 MPH. He gave up an absolute rocket HR on a pitch 91.6 upper middle zone to Jordan Walker, who blasted it at 111.3 MPH and 413 FT to CF. Javier loves to live high in the zone. When you get caught at those velos high in the zone, the ball is going to fly very far.

He had a high mark of 93.2 in the 1st, and a low mark of 88.9 in the 3rd.

His final 11 four-seamers & sinkers maxed at 91.4 MPH. Those are not velocities that are going to translate to long term success at the MLB level for a righthanded pitcher.

While dealing with low and inconsistent velocity last season, Javier posted a career high 4.62 ERA in 8 starts after returning from Tommy John surgery. An offseason to continue strengthening his arm and refining his mechanics was supposed to help him regenerate his prior velocity. So far, he looks very much the same as he did last season.

The Astros entered this season expecting to count on Javier to be one of their top three starters. Mike Burrows and Tatsuya Imai will now take those places behind Hunter Brown.

What can the Astros count on Javier for? Javier has always been a bulldog on the mound. He will battle and fight with every pitch.

Over 162 games, if he can’t regain his velocity and maintain it, is the bulldog in him going to be enough?

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Washington Nationals acquire Yankees infielder Jorbit Vivas for pitching prospect Sean Paul Linan

TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 19: Jorbit Vivas #90 of the New York Yankees looks on during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 19, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Washington Nationals made a late trade right before the season. Paul Toboni traded 21 year old pitching prospect Sean Paul Linan to the Yankees in exchange for infielder Jorbit Vivas. This move will bolster the Nationals infield depth. Vivas will be on the 40-man roster, so the Nats will have to make a corresponding move.

This is an interesting little trade that came out of left field. Linan just joined the Nats organization in July in a deal that sent Alex Call to the Dodgers. However, Toboni must not have loved what he saw. I am a bit surprised they traded him for an infielder with no options, who has a lot of overlapping skills with Jose Tena.

I would not be surprised if this move could mark the end for Tena. Vivas is an infielder who mainly plays second and third base. He is also out of options, so he will have to be on the big league roster. Clearly, Toboni prefers Vivas over Tena or maybe even Nasim Nunez.

While Vivas struggled in his first taste of big league action in 2025, he did show some intriguing traits. He only went 9/56, but showed solid contact skills and a good approach. There is not much power in his game, but he can go deep every once in a while. 

Vivas will have to hit a decent amount in the MLB because he is a fringy runner and an average defender. Honestly, I do not really know if he is a huge upgrade over Tena and I probably would have kept Linan. However, there is a reason Toboni has the job and not me.

Linan is an intriguing pitching prospect, but there are reasons to be bearish about him. He has a phenomenal changeup that is one of the best pitches in the minors. However, he is a bit of a one trick pony. His fastball is pretty ordinary and his breaking balls are fringy. Linan was able to dominate A ball with his changeup, but how far will that one weapon take him?

Clearly, Toboni was not a Linan believer given this return. After this move, I wonder if the Nats are done. I would not be surprised if they tried to see if they could get an arm for Jose Tena. The 24 year old should have at least a bit of value. Some team would probably want to give him a shot as a utility guy.

This is a bit of a weird move, but it is not a massive one by any means. Toboni must value Vivas’ contact and plate discipline a lot. Having worked for the Red Sox for many years, Toboni is likely to have seen a lot of this Yankees prospect. Vivas has a solid track record in the minors and is now likely to get some run in the big leagues with the Nats.

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March Madness? More like March Blandness in as NCAA Tournament has too much chalk

Oh, great. Another snoozefest of an Men's NCAA Tournament.

Any hopes for the chaos that makes this event so raucously entertaining are officially over, buried under a pile of chalk dust. For the third consecutive year, no seed 12 or higher will make the Sweet 16. For the fourth consecutive year, only one-double digit seed will survive the first weekend.

And you can’t count Texas as a plucky underdog. Just ask Longhorns coach Sean Miller.

March Madness scores, highlights: An upset, near-misses alter Sweet 16 bracket

“I don’t think we ever want to sign up to be the Cinderella story because we are the University of Texas,” Miller said after his 11th-seeded team beat Gonzaga on Saturday, March 21. “We represent the SEC as well.”

The beauty of March Madness has always been, well, the Madness. Little schools no one’s heard of knocking off teams from the power conferences. Kids who won’t go further than the local rec center when their college careers are done knocking down shots that would be the envy of NBA players.

There was one glorious stretch from 2008 to 2014 when three or more double-digit seeds reached the Sweet 16 in all but one year. Four years ago, 15th-seeded Saint Peter’s crashed the party into the Elite Eight.

But whether it’s NIL, the great players getting even greater, or simply the cycle of things, March Madness has been more March Mildness of late.

Sure, an 11 seed made the Final Four in 2024, but it was NC State, a team from the mighty ACC. For the last time a true little guy made it to the Final Four, you have to go back to 11th-seeded Loyola of Chicago — and everyone's favorite nun — in 2018.

Things have gotten so chalky that all four No. 1 seeds made the Final Four last year for only the second time since the tournament began seeding teams in 1979. While it remains to be seen if that happens again this year, all the teams remaining are from power conferences (except Utah State, who plays No. 1 Arizona later Sunday). Where’s the fun in that?

There was, for about half a day, eagerness that this year’s tournament might be headed sideways. In the best way possible, of course.

High Point, a 12th seed making only its second appearance in the NCAA tournament, knocked off Wisconsin. VCU, an 11 seed, dug its way out of a 19-point hole to stun North Carolina in the largest comeback ever in the first round of the men’s tournament.

Siena even threatened to pull off the upset of all upsets against overall No. 1 seed Duke. But Duke hung on, and the tournament returned to its chalk-outlined form.

Boooorrrring.  

That’s not to say there haven’t been good, and entertaining, games. Kentucky’s OT win over Santa Clara in the first round was a straight shot of adrenaline. Nebraska’s win over Vanderbilt in the second round was all kinds of fun.

Even Arkansas’ win over High Point in the second round was way more of a nail-biter than the score indicated.

“We competed with the SEC champs, lottery picks, guys who are the best of the best. Our university, our team showed out. We showed out,” High Point coach Flynn Clayman said.  “We were expected to be good, but I don't think anybody expected to do what we did here, win 31 games, get to the Tournament, advance, push the SEC champs.

“We made history,” Clayman added. “And I just couldn't be more proud of these guys. What a ride.”

It’s just too bad it didn’t last longer.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Underdogs ushered out of Men's March Madness as its nearly all chalk

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Yankees trading Jorbit Vivas to Nationals for pitching prospect Sean Paul Liñan

As the Yankees rounded out their 2026 spring training schedule on Sunday afternoon against the Phillies, the Bombers also pulled off a trade.

The Yankees are trading infielder Jorbit Vivas to the Washington Nationals for right-handed pitcher Sean Paul Liñan, according to multiple reports.

Vivas, 25, was out of minor league options. Since he was not going to make the Opening Day roster, the Yankees elected to trade him.

Vivas appeared in 29 games with the Yankees last season, slashing .161/.266/.250 with one home run and five RBI.

Liñan, 21, was ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Nationals’ No. 27 overall prospect. Formerly an international free agent who was signed by the Dodgers, Liñan has worked as a starter and reliever. He spent the majority of his 2025 season in High-A ball, but he also made a pair of Triple-A starts.

By trading Vivas, the Yankees have also opened a spot on their 40-man roster.

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Dodgers option Hyeseong Kim, paving way for Alex Freeland

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 23: Alex Freeland #76 talks with Hyeseong Kim #6 of the Los Angeles Dodgers between innings 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

The Dodgers on Sunday optioned Hyeseong Kim to Triple-A Oklahoma City, which decides the lone position-player battle still remaining in camp. This means Alex Freeland will make the opening day roster.

Kim and the switch-hitting Freeland were vying for the lefty-batting side of a platoon at second base while Tommy Edman continues to rehab in the early part of the season after right ankle surgery in November.

Kim had 11 hits in 27 at-bats with a home run this spring, hitting .407/.448/.519 with a team-leading five stolen bases without getting caught. He had one hit, a home run, in 12 at-bats for Korea in the World Baseball Classic.

Freeland homered on Saturday but otherwise has struggled at the plate this spring, with five hits in 43 at-bats, hitting .116/.286/233 with a team-leading 11 walks. Fabian Ardaya at The Athletic reported Sunday that Freeland was informed he will be on the opening day roster.

So this obviously wasn’t a decision based solely on spring training stats, at least not of the traditional variety. The concern with Kim, who signed a three-year contract with the Dodgers last January after eight years in the Korean Baseball Organization, was how he would fare against high-velocity pitching in the major leagues.

Dave Roberts on Friday at Camelback Ranch talked about this battle for a roster spot, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register:

“It’s one of those things that you could argue both sides of either decision, as far as Alex or Hyeseong. And so I just don’t think it’s clear cut,” he said. “We still haven’t seen Hyeseong a bunch. Alex, I think he’s taken great at-bats, the numbers, the surface line certainly isn’t there, but it’s still spring training. There’s just deeper conversations that are going to be had.”

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Randy Arozarena apologizes to Seattle teammate Cal Raleigh over comments after handshake snub at WBC

Randy Arozarena has apologized to Seattle Mariners teammate Cal Raleigh after Arozarena cursed out the catcher for not returning a handshake at the World Baseball Classic.

“I understand that with Opening Day a few days away, I don’t want it to be a distraction. Cal and I have talked and I apologized for what I said after the game," Arozarena said in a statement issued by the Mariners. “Nothing in the WBC takes away from the fact that we are brothers and teammates. He’s family, and we are both focused on helping the Mariners win the World Series.”

The incident between the two took place on March 9 when Arozarena reached down to greet Raleigh in his catcher’s squat at home plate, and Raleigh declined to offer his hand back in a game in which the Americans beat Mexico 5-3.

Arozarena, speaking to Mexican journalist Luis Gilbert in Spanish, said Raleigh “has to thank God that he has nice parents, well educated,” and added he recently hugged them during a friendly greeting at the team hotel.

He then used profane Cuban and Mexican slang to insult Raleigh before pivoting to English and saying Raleigh could shove his “good to see you” in his rear. Arozarena was born in Cuba but defected to Mexico to pursue an MLB career.

Soon after, Raleigh called Arozarena a baseball “brother,” while explaining there was no tension between the teammates.

“I love Randy, I do,” Raleigh said. “I hate that this is a thing. There’s no beef when we get back to Seattle. He’s my brother. We’re family.”

On Saturday night after their spring training game, Raleigh reiterated his feelings.

“We talked it out, and everything went great,” Raleigh said, according to MLB.com. “Randy knows that I love him, and he’s a brother, and it’s in the past and none of us are carrying this forward. We’re in a good spot.”

The Mariners open the season Thursday against the Cleveland Guardians.

Seattle is coming off a season in which it won the franchise’s first AL West title since 2001. Raleigh helped lead the way by becoming the seventh different player in major league history to hit 60 homers in a season.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

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C.J. Cox injury update: Purdue guard hurts knee, leaves March Madness game

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional information.

C.J. Cox suffered what appears to be a knee injury during Purdue basketball's NCAA Men's Tournament against Miami.

The sophomore guard drove for a layup early in the second half, was fouled on the attempt, and quickly went down grabbing his knee. Replays appeared to show Cox's knee buckling as he went up for the layup, before he was fouled.

REQUIRED READING: Purdue vs Miami live updates: March Madness game score, highlights

C.J. Cox injury update

Cox was down for a couple of moments, uttering expletives heard on CBS mics. He was helped off the court by the Purdue trainers, but was able to walk off on his under his own power to the locker room.

According to CBS sideline reporter Jon Rothstein, Cox is questionable to return to the game. He was reported to be running lightly in the locker room to determine whether he could return. Cox was able to return to the Boilermakers' bench, per the CBS broadcast.

Cox had 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting at the time of his injury. He hit three 3-pointers in three possessions for the Boilermakers to end the first half, to keep them within two points of Miami at halftime.

On the season, Cox is averaging 8.4 points per game on 44.8% shooting from the field and 37.4% from 3-point range. He is third on the team with 58 3-pointers entering play on Saturday.

This story will be updated.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: CJ Cox knee injury: Purdue G leaves March Madness game with injury

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Sunday exhibition game thread: Orioles vs. Nationals, 1:35

BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 23: Exterior view of the home plate entrance to Oriole Park at Camden Yards before a baseball game between the Houston Astros and the Baltimore Orioles on August 23, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It’s Opening Day! …Well, not for the Orioles, but for Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Today the O’s will unveil the many upgrades to their home ballpark to fans for the first time, as they host the Nationals for the opener of a two-game exhibition set (to be followed by tomorrow’s spring finale in D.C.). Most noticeably, the Orioles have a huge, new, center field video screen and an upgraded sound system throughout the park. They’ve also added some new social areas, including an “exclusive” club behind home plate, shifting the press box over toward the third base side.

They’ve also promised additional TV screens throughout the concourse so that fans who aren’t in their seats can still watch the broadcast of the game. That had been one of my biggest complaints — that if you’re walking the concourse, there are large stretches where you have no idea what’s going on in the game that you paid to attend — so I’m glad they seem to have addressed it.

Hopefully the Orioles’ 2026 season will be as much of an improvement over last year as their ballpark is. Their batting order today looks almost like an Opening Day lineup, with only Taylor Ward and Samuel Basallo missing (and Dylan Beavers still sidelined by a knee injury). Kyle Bradish is on the mound, lining him up to start the second game of the season on Saturday. Today’s game will air on MASN.

In just four days, the Orioles will host the Twins for the first game that counts. In the meantime, enjoy the preview this afternoon.

Orioles lineup:

SS Gunnar Henderson
C Adley Rutschman
DH Pete Alonso
RF Tyler O’Neill
1B Ryan Mountcastle
3B Coby Mayo
LF Colton Cowser
CF Leody Taveras
2B Blaze Alexander

RHP Kyle Bradish

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Joshua Jefferson injury update: Iowa State star out vs Kentucky in March Madness

Will Iowa State be without one of its key players in the second round of the NCAA Tournament?

The No. 2 seed Cyclones will take on No. 7 Kentucky on Sunday, March 22, and all eyes are on whether star forward Joshua Jefferson will be available against the Wildcats after suffering an injury in the first round. Jefferson hurt his left ankle early into the contest against Tennessee State, and wasn't able to return to the game.

It will be a key storyline with Iowa State trying to reach the Sweet 16 for the second time in three years. Here is the latest on Jefferson's status:

Will Joshua Jefferson play vs Kentucky?

No, Jefferson will not play. He is listed as out for Iowa State's game vs. Kentucky, per the NCAA injury report.

It's a tough break for the Cyclones as they hoped he would be able to suit up. A day prior, coach T.J. Otzelberger said it appeared unlikely he would be able to play. On Saturday, Jefferson in a boot and using a knee scooter.

"We've got so much confidence in this group and guys that can step up on a given night. Obviously when you have a guy like Joshua out, it's going to be imperative that other guys step in," he said.

What happened to Joshua Jefferson?

Jefferson was injured less than three minutes into the first round game contest, appearing to twist his ankle as he landed after going for a layup. He was helped off the floor by support staff as he was unable to put any weight on his left foot.

He was later seen on crutches and didn't return to the game.

Jefferson is a major contributor for the Cyclones, averaging 16.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. He also has two triple doubles on the season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Joshua Jefferson injury update: Will Iowa State star play vs Kentucky?

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Trail Blazers vs Nuggets Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

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The Portland Trail Blazers finish a five-game road trip at Ball Arena against the Denver Nuggets, looking to continue their hot streak.

Portland has won four of five, including the last three on the road. The Blazers have moved into eighth place and are looking to improve their seeding for the postseason Play-In tournament. 

My Trail Blazers at Nuggets predictions and NBA picks look for the Blazers to cover as a road dog on Sunday, March 22.

Trail Blazers vs Nuggets prediction

Trail Blazers vs Nuggets best bet: Trail Blazers +9 (-110)

In addition to winning three straight, the Portland Trail Blazers have covered their last two as underdogs.

The Blazers can get back to .500, highlighting their improvement since the calendar flipped to 2026. They started the year six games below .500, but have been revived by Donovan Clingan, who leads the NBA in rebounds and is second in blocks since January 1.

While the Denver Nuggets could have their lineup intact for the first time since Nov. 12, Peyton Watson might not be at 100%, and Nikola Jokic has struggled with turnovers and poor shooting with the constantly changing cast around him.

Denver may win, but it'll hardly be a blowout.

Trail Blazers vs Nuggets same-game parlay

Portland has the No. 8 pace in the league, but things have slowed down on this trip. Three of the Blazers’ four games have had totals of 212 or less, and Portland has gone Under in three of them. Denver is 22nd in pace, so it won’t be pushing the tempo. 

Deni Avdija is averaging 7.0 rebounds and has 19 in the last two games. He hasn’t had fewer than six boards in the last five. The odds for his rebounding prop seem unusually generous, so we’ll jump on that low-hanging fruit.

Trail Blazers vs Nuggets SGP

  • Trail Blazers +9
  • Under 239.5
  • Deni Avdija Over 6.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: Joker's Wild

With the starting five finally intact again, look for Jokic to be more comfortable on the floor. Before the injuries started in November, he was averaging 13.1 rebounds, 10.9 assists, and had scored 30 or more in five of six games.

Since then, he’s down half an assist and more than half a rebound per night, and he’s topped 30 just 17 times in 30 games. Getting the gang back should help him find his old form.

His turnovers, up to 4.7 a game in March, should come down, and he’ll be more productive. His 3-point shooting didn’t fall off as much as his 2-point accuracy, and he’s had three games with multiple threes in the last five.

His rebounding also didn’t fall off. He’s had eight games with a dozen or more in his 11 March contests, and he’s averaging 13 over the last five games.

Trail Blazers vs Nuggets SGP

  • Nikola Jokic Over 27.5 points
  • Nikola Jokic Over 10.5 assists
  • Nikola Jokic Over 1.5 made threes
  • Nikola Jokic Over 11.5 rebounds
  • Deni Avdija Over 7.5 rebounds

Trail Blazers vs Nuggets odds

  • Spread: Trail Blazers +9 (-110) | Nuggets -9 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Trail Blazers +320 | Nuggets -400
  • Over/Under: Over 239.5 (-110) | Under 239.5 (-110)

Trail Blazers vs Nuggets betting trend to know

The Portland Trail Blazers have hit the Game Total Under in 16 of their last 21 away games. Find more NBA betting trends for Trail Blazers vs. Nuggets.

How to watch Trail Blazers vs Nuggets

LocationBall Arena, Denver, CO
DateSunday, March 22, 2026
Tip-off5:00 p.m. ET
TVBlazerVision, Altitude

Trail Blazers vs Nuggets latest injuries

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Phillies reward Cristopher Sanchez with new $107 million contract

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Phillies ace Cristopher Sanchez, Image 2 shows Cristopher Sanchez World Baseball Classic Dominican Republic
After signing a modest $22.5 million extension in June 2024, it didn't take long for star southpaw Cristopher Sanchez to prove he was severely underpaid.

After signing a modest $22.5 million extension in the summer of 2024, it didn’t take long for star southpaw Cristopher Sanchez to prove he was severely underpaid.

It took even less time for Philadelphia brass to do something about it.

The Phillies and Sanchez have agreed to a new contract extension — a six-year deal with $107 million guaranteed, rewarding their ace for a breakout campaign in 2025, The Post’s Jon Heyman confirmed Sunday morning.

Phillies ace Cristopher Sanchez agreed to a new extension with the team. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

Sanchez, 29, was already signed through 2028 with team options for 2029 and 2030. Now, he’s inked through 2032, with a club option for 2033.

The lefty’s agent, Gene Mato, credited Phillies owner John Middleton and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski for taking care of their ace, when they certainly didn’t have to.

“John and Dave stepped up and decided to reward Cristopher with a deal more than commensurate with his abilities even though the club still had five years of control at minimal dollars,” Mato said, via The Athletic. 

“It’s really unprecedented.”

Cristopher Sanchez played for the Dominican Republic national team during the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Sanchez’s amended deal comes hot on the heels of a torrid 2025, when he finished second in the National League Cy Young race behind Paul Skenes. 

The sinkerballer with a filthy changeup boasted a 2.50 ERA with 212 strikeouts across 32 starts (202 innings) before hurling a pair of dominant October outings in the NLCS against the eventual champion Dodgers.

He later made World Baseball Classic history as the first pitcher to strike out four batters in a single inning in the tournament’s history, doing so while representing the Dominican Republic.

Sanchez’s 8.0 bWAR last season was greater than that of Skenes (7.7), Tarik Skubal (6.5), and Garret Crochet (6.3) — along with every other pitcher on the planet, for that matter. 

He’s now set to start Opening Day for the first time in his career at home against the Texas Rangers on Thursday.

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Washington Nationals vs Baltimore Orioles Game Thread

JUPITER, FL - MARCH 20: From left, Washington Nationals infielder Jose Tena (8), outfielder Christian Franklin (33) and infielder Andres Chaparro (87) smile as they pose in the dugout before a MLB spring training game against the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on March 20, 2026 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Grapefruit League is done and the Washington Nationals are headed up north. However, the regular season is not here just yet. The Nats have a pair of exhibition games with the Orioles, with the first one being this afternoon. As a final tune-up, the local rivals are playing at Camden Yards.

As you would expect with the season just a few days away, the Nats have a strong lineup. James Wood will be leading off and in left field. Interestingly, Drew Millas will be hitting second. CJ Abrams is hitting 6th, lower in the order than we are used to. Luis Garcia Jr. will be playing first base, a position he should see more action at this season. While Mitchell Parker has already been optioned, he is on the mound today. It will be a good chance for him to leave a good impression before heading to Rochester.

The O’s also have a strong lineup, headlined by their new big money star Pete Alonso. Nats fans are very familiar with Alonso after his years with the Mets and now he will be just up the road. Familiar O’s stars like Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman are also in the lineup. Kyle Bradish, who is one of the O’s better starters will be on the mound.

Game Info:

Stadium: Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Time: 1:35 PM EST

TV: MASN

Radio: The Team 980

These next couple days will be a fun chance to see the Nats one more time before they start the season in Chicago. It is also fun to play a rival like the O’s. Hopefully these games are fun and the Nats come out on top. Follow along in the comments below and let’s go Nats!

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Cubs vs. Brewers at Mesa preview, Sunday 3/22, 2:05 CT

Sunday notes…

  • FORMER CUBS IN BREWERS CAMP: Trevor Megill, Rob Zastryzny. Reese McGuire was in Brewers camp but he opted out Friday.
  • CUBS ROTATION: We still don’t have Cubs starters listed past Opening Day, but given that Colin Rea started yesterday and Cade Horton is going today, it could be Horton following Matthew Boyd against the Nationals. Shōta Imanaga is going to start Monday vs. the Yankees, so he could follow that, and Edward Cabrera goes Tuesday against the Yankees. If I had to guess? Boyd-Horton-Imanaga-Cabrera-Jameson Taillon. As always, we await developments.

Here are today’s particulars.

Neither the Cubs nor the Brewers lineup was available at press time.

Cade Horton will start for the Cubs.

Chad Patrick will start for the Brewers.

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network, Brewers TV and ESPN Unlimited. There will be a radio broadcast on WSCR The Score.

MLB.com Gameday

Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.

Please visit our SB Nation Brewers site Brew Crew Ball. If you do go there to interact with Brewers fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

As we have done in the past, we’ll have a first pitch thread at five minutes to game time and one overflow thread, 90 minutes after game time. For today, that will be 2 p.m. CT and 3:35 p.m. CT.

These threads will not post individually onto the front page; instead, you can find links to them in the box marked ”Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page. There will also be a StoryStream on the front page with all the game thread links, as well as the recap after the game is over. The pitcher photos and regular-season stats will return on Opening Day.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

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Suns in Purgatory: A team stuck between competing and finishing

PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 21: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 21, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

We thought the Phoenix Suns had turned a corner coming out of the All-Star break. The start was shaky — they dropped three of their first five — but then things started to click. They put together a four-game winning streak, and over one stretch they took six of seven. It felt like they were finding something, like the version of the team we had been waiting on was finally showing up after a rough February.

And then it stopped. All at once, it felt like everything came back down to earth. Five straight losses, the longest losing streak since last season. The momentum is gone, replaced by the same frustrations that had been lingering earlier in the year.

It is worth noting, though, that last year’s team had multiple losing streaks of five games or more, and that group was largely healthy. This version of the Suns is not. That context matters as we watch poor execution and questionable decisions continue to cost them games.

When the injury report dropped prior to Saturday’s game against the Bucks, there was a sense of helplessness that came with it. You look at the opponent, and Milwaukee is a team that is not exactly pushing for wins right now. It is a group that has openly leaned into shutting down Giannis Antetokounmpo and embracing the chaos that comes with that decision, and you think this might be an opportunity. Then you look at your own roster and reality sets in.

Half the team is in street clothes. Three of your five starters are unavailable. Multiple rotation players are out. At some point, it becomes less about strategy and more about survival. And we got the answer to the question that follows. How are you supposed to win like that? You are not.

That does not erase the frustration, especially when it comes to Devin Booker and late-game execution. That has been a theme during this losing streak, and it is not new. It has shown up at different points throughout his time in Phoenix. There are levels to being an All-Star. There are players who can elevate everything around them when the pressure rises, and there are players who carry you through the flow of a game but can waver when it tightens.

Booker has lived somewhere in between. He has had those moments where he takes over and lifts the team, and others where the consistency fades late. At the same time, he needs help. That part cannot be ignored. He is not without fault, but when the roster is this depleted, when the margin is this thin, asking one player to carry it all becomes unrealistic.

Injuries do not excuse everything, but they make winning feel a lot harder.

“We just want everyone back,” Suns head coach Jordan Ott said after the 108-105 loss to the Bucks on Saturday. “In a rhythm would be a blessing. We just want everyone back. Said it constantly. Tried to stay away from it the last couple of weeks. That’s what we’d like to do.”

And that is where the frustration lives, and you can feel it internally with this team as well. They are not healthy enough to win these games. They are healthy enough to compete, and that says something about the depth that has been built, but competing is not the same as finishing. Right now, it feels like the Suns are stuck in that in-between space. Not bad enough to fall apart, not whole enough to take the next step.

It feels like purgatory.

You can see where this is heading. The seventh seed is sitting there unless everything collapses, and the postseason is still out in front of them. So these final stretch of games become something else entirely. A waiting period. A place where frustration builds, even while knowing the version of the team on the floor is not the real version.

Because when this group is whole, it looks different. Dillon Brooks brings disruption and edge. Mark Williams changes the geometry of the floor. Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale space everything out and punish defenses from the perimeter. That version of the Suns is not something teams are excited to see in a playoff series.

This version is different. This is a team leaning on depth, playing guys in roles they were not originally meant to carry, trying to survive until reinforcements arrive. And those reinforcements still feel a week or two away.

So yes, the frustration is real. At the same time, it is tied to a version of the team that is incomplete. We are analyzing something that is not whole, watching a group grind through a brutal stretch that includes five games in seven nights.

The goal now is simple. Get to the other side. And when they do, it might not be perfect, it might not be everything, but it will at least feel like the version of this team you can believe in again.

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MLB Spring Training Picks and Predictions for March 22: Woo, Yeah!

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Spring training is starting to wind down, but there are still some key matchups to pinpoint with our MLB picks.

I'm looking at the Under on a lofty total and a pair of moneylines, including the Seattle Mariners over the Chicago White Sox, on Sunday, March 22.

Spring Training predictions for March 22

PickOdds
Reds/Guardians Under 11-110
Athletics A's moneyline-130
Mariners Mariners moneyline-155

Pick #1: Reds vs. Guardians - Under 11

Opening Day is less than a week away, so starters aren't aiming for one or two innings and calling it a day. They're looking to replicate the workload of an early-season start.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo and Cleveland Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams are poised to be front-end starters in their respective rotations.

And while both have inflated ERAs this spring, their peripherals have been encouraging (both have posted better xFIP numbers and have generally missed bats while not issuing a lot of walks).

Also, Cleveland has four left-handers in its starting lineup today, which seems at least somewhat counterintuitive against a top-flight southpaw like Lodolo. Runs will be at a premium here.

Pick #2: A's moneyline

It's tempting to take the Colorado Rockies at plus money, but with Michael Lorenzen and his 14.29 spring ERA on the mound, the A's could get into the bullpen early. It's a small sample size for the right-hander, but it hasn't been pretty, and the matchup couldn't be worse.

Even though leadoff man Nick Kurtz hasn't fully awoken yet, hitters 2-4, Shea Langeliers, Tyler Soderstrom, and Brent Rooker, each have an OPS north of 1.000 this spring. Lawrence Butler's .958 isn't far off, either.

A's lefty Jeffrey Springs has been uneven, thanks largely to a high walk rate, but he'll have better luck at keeping the opposing bats at bay.

I'd also consider Over 12.5 (-110), but that is a lofty number, especially if Springs pitches to his potential.

Pick #3: Mariners moneyline

Seattle Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo has pitched better than his 4.70 ERA (in 7 2/3 innings) suggests. He hasn't surrendered a home run and has only issued one walk.

Seattle also has the edge in any potential lineup comparison, with Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez, and Randy Arozarena all back from the World Baseball Classic. 

The Chicago White Sox will be better this season than in recent years, but they're still in a full-on rebuild, and Shane Smith has been crushed this spring, so I'll pay a bit of juice to get the better pick here.

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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