Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Ville Koivunen is a young player who the Metropolitan Division club is hoping will become a key part of their roster in the future. The 22-year-old forward struggled a bit when given the chance to play on Pittsburgh's roster this season, as he has two goals and five points in 27 games this campaign at the NHL level.
While Koivunen has not broken out with Pittsburgh this season, his play at the American Hockey League (AHL) level is very encouraging. The young forward is continuing to shine with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and it could open the door for him to get another chance on Pittsburgh's roster soon if he keeps this up.
In 25 games this campaign with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he has posted 10 goals, 21 assists, 31 points, and a plus-11 rating. He has also been staying hot as the season carries on, too.
In his last nine games with the AHL club, Koivunen has recorded five goals and 14 points. With numbers like these, there is no question that the Penguins prospect is thriving right now.
It will be interesting to see how Koivunen builds on his strong play with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton from here.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 28: Reynaldo Lopez #40 of the Atlanta Braves throws a pitch against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at Petco Park on March 28, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves will be continuing their spring training today as they face off against the Detroit Tigers in North Port, FL. What typically happens in these games is we get to see mostly players who are slotted to have significant playing time during the regular season.
Reynaldo López is making his long-awaited return after only pitching one game in 2025. With the Braves lacking starting pitching depth, a López return can potentially have a huge role in the success of the season.
Today we will see a lineup that we may see in the regular season on days that Drake Baldwin will get some rest (until Sean Murphy returns).
Outside of Jonah Heim, the rest of the players look to get significant playing time this season. What will be interesting to see if this is how the Braves will face LHP starters once the season starts.
With the Olympics completed and the NHL roster freeze lifted, the Islanders have swung a minor trade.
Isles general manager Mathieu Darche on Tuesday shipped veteran forward Julien Gauthier to the Blues for forward Matt Luff.
Matt Luff celebrates a goal during a December 2025 game. NHLI via Getty Images
The 28-year-old Luff has registered 14 goals and a team-leading 39 points in 42 games this season for Springfield of the AHL.
The 6-3 winger has netted 16 goals in 111 career games in the NHL with four teams, including one goal in five appearances this season for St. Louis.
The 28-year-old Gauthier, who played for the Rangers from 2020-23, only has appeared in one game for the Isles and 23 for AHL Bridgeport the past two seasons due to injuries.
The Isles are in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 69 points entering their first game after the Olympic break Thursday in Montreal.
Feb 19, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets catcher Chris Suero (96) poses for a photo during media day at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
If you like to have fun watching baseball, you should make a point to see some games that feature Chris Suero this year. Born in The Bronx in 2004, Suero joined the Mets as an international free agent after moving to his parents’ native Dominican Republic, and he got his professional career started as he played for the Mets’ team in the Dominican Summer League in 2022.
The short version of this story is this: Suero is a catcher who’s good at stealing bases. The vast majority of catchers in professional baseball aren’t all that fast, and even the ones who aren’t glacial on the basepaths don’t tend to attempt stolen bases.
In his age-21 season last year, Suero stole 35 bases and was caught stealing just eight times, and he hit .233/.379/.407 with 16 home runs in 475 plate appearances. And while he spends the majority of his time at catcher, he has experience in left field and at first base, as he’s logged some time at each of those positions since his move to stateside ball in Single-A Port St. Lucie and High-A Brooklyn in 2021.
Following a strong showing in Brooklyn to start the 2025 season—an .837 OPS with 13 home runs in 301 plate appearances—Suero earned a promotion to Double-A Binghamton, where he spent the remainder of the regular season. He struggled at the plate from there, as he managed to finish with just a .697 OPS in his time with the Rumble Ponies, but he fared much better in his stint in the Arizona Fall League following the season, as he hit .283/.353/.567 in the fifteen games that he played there.
While Suero is in major league camp as a non-roster invitee at the moment, he is certain to begin the year in the minors. Based on what transpired last season, it also seems incredibly likely that he’ll start the year back in Binghamton. If he shows significant improvement at the plate while continuing to be an incredibly fun player to watch, you’d have to imagine the Mets would bump him up to Triple-A Syracuse by the end of the season.
There’s no guarantee that will happen, of course, as players can stall out at either of the upper levels of the minors. Given his age and athleticism, though, it’s much more fun to buy in to Suero’s well-rounded skill set and go into this season looking forward to seeing what he can do. And if you’re able to catch a Rumble Ponies or Syracuse Mets game in person or on MiLB.tv this year, you should make a point to watch Suero play baseball.
Feb 18, 2026; Bradenton, FL, USA;Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Konnor Griffin (75) poses for photos as he walks around to photo stations during media day at Pirate City. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Shamelessly stealing this question from Jacob Hausdorf in the Moose Tracks yesterday because once Star Wars comes up, that’s just like tossing a package of snausages into a kennel, but I thought this question merited some focused discussion:
Which non-Mariners pitcher and hitter are you most excited to watch this spring?
Bonus if they’re in the same division and would potentially face each other (why yes I am still in my Heated Rivalry era, why do you ask).
You can approach this question any way you like, but I specified this spring to include prospects who likely won’t make their clubs’ Opening Day rosters. I have heard so much about superprospect Konnor Griffin that I am going to deliberately subject myself to Pirates baseball in order to see some of his at-bats. I’m curious if Griffin will be sort of like Kyle Seager was in Seattle: an unbreakable talent, someone good enough to transcend whatever messed-up player development or organizational decisions or whatever has caused this long stream of futility in Pittsburgh. With Griffin and Skenes, does that feel like enough to make even the hapless Pirates a contender? (And also Bubba Chandler. And Seth Hernandez! Are the Pirates…good?)
For pitching, my homer choice is Ryan Sloan. I’d like to think that even if I weren’t a Mariners fan I’d like the guy whose teammate described him as a “centaur,” if the man part of the centaur was a fifth grader who looked like he wanted to talk to you about dinosaurs and the horse part was a Belgian Draught. But I liked Andrew Painter back in the 2021 draft, and am excited to what he can do now that he’s healthy, so he’d be a good second choice.
Also, feel free to take this as a petty pick. If you want to see how washed Verlander is as a Tiger, Round Two, this is a safe space to say that.
TAMPA, FL - MARCH, 1998: Thirdbaseman Mike Lowell #14 of the New York Yankees during workouts prior to a Spring Training game in March, 1998 at the Yankees' minor league complex in Tampa, Florida. 98STTYCS24-33 (Photo by: Diamond Images/Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
There are very few people who walk planet Earth who can say they played on the best baseball team in history. So, for those who were able to appear on the 1998 Yankees team, they can take pride in having been a part of arguably the greatest squad MLB has ever seen. Not only did they make it to the best baseball league across the globe, but they had the privilege of putting on pinstripes and helping the club to a record-setting year.
There are so many recognizable names that span the roster. Of course, Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Bernie Williams, Paul O’Neill, and many others were the most prominent (and the guys who played the most), but even a team as stacked as that gets through a season with its fair share of names who play only a handful of games. For Mike Lowell, that season in which he only played eight games was the start of what was to be a solid and tenured MLB career.
Michael Averett Lowell Born: February 24, 1974 (San Juan, Puerto Rico) Yankees Tenure: 1998
Lowell was born in Puerto Rico and moved to the United States with his family when he was four years old, to Miami, Florida, to be exact. He played high school baseball and was good enough to earn a draft selection by the Chicago White Sox in the 1992 MLB draft, but he decided to go to school instead after earning a scholarship from Florida International University, where he graduated with a degree in finance following some excellent summers in the Cape Cod Baseball League and the Valley Baseball League. He was a three-time All-Conference player for the Panthers and even had his number retired at the school for his performance on the diamond. In the 1995 draft, the Yankees selected him in the 20th round, and he worked his way up through the minor leagues for the next three years before debuting in 1998.
On September 13, 1998, Lowell made his major league debut against the Toronto Blue Jays, recording his first MLB hit in his first at-bat. He was called up late in the regular season and did not play in the postseason, but he received a World Series ring for playing with the team that year. Overall, he played eight games and tallied four hits with one run scored, no RBI, and one strikeout in 15 plate appearances.
Lowell only spent that season with the Yankees in the majors, as he was shipped to the Florida Marlins in the polarizing trade that netted Mark Johnson and Ed Yarnall — one that Brian Cashman once stated was his most regretted as a GM, as he chose to ride it out with incumbent surprise World Series MVP Scott Brosius rather than gradually incorporate the Top 100 prospect Lowell at the hot corner. Before the 1999 season, Lowell underwent surgery for testicular cancer that would leave him out of the Marlins lineup for the start of the year. He returned on May 29 and played in 97 games, slashing .253/.317/.419 for an OPS+ of 90.
Following that first year in Florida, Lowell established himself as one of the best third basemen in the National League. He spent another six years with the Marlins from 2000 to 2005, posting a slash line of .273/.341/.466 for an OPS+ of 111. His best season was 2003, when he finished 11th in National League MVP voting, collected his second All-Star appearance, and won his first Silver Slugger award. However, he did have to miss some time after suffering a broken hand against the Montreal Expos. After his 32-game recovery, he came back as strong as ever with the Marlins surging toward a Wild Card berth. They breezed past Barry Bonds’ Giants in the NLDS and Lowell got them off on the right foot in what would be an infamous seven-game NLCS against the Cubs by beating them in extras with a homer at Wrigley.
During the World Series against his former team, he had five hits with excellent glovework as always, helping Florida nail down the championship at Yankee Stadium. In 2004, he earned his third All-Star appearance, and in 2005, he won his first career Gold Glove at the hot corner, despite having a miserable season at the plate.
On November 21, 2005, Lowell was traded to the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees’ archrival received Lowell, Josh Beckett, and Guillermo Mota in exchange for Hanley Ramírez, Aníbal Sánchez, Jesús Delgado, and Harvey García. At the age of 32 in his first season with Boston, he wasn’t expected to be much of anything, but Lowell delivered on expectations at the time and more. He was an above-average hitter and played solid defense, but it was his second season in 2007 when he took the reins at third base and exceeded expectations. Finishing with an .879 OPS — two points off the highest of his career — he was given his fourth and final All-Star nod. And by season’s end, he finished fifth in American League MVP voting, with Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez taking home the award and Lowell finishing one spot back of his Red Sox teammate, David Ortiz. In the 2007 World Series, Lowell’s dominance continued, as he hit .400 with a home run and four RBI’s, earning him his second World Series ring and a World Series MVP trophy. He was the second Puerto Rican player to be named the MVP of a World Series, with the only other being Roberto Clemente.
Lowell continued his career until 2010, after being marred by injury problems, and a potential deal with the Texas Rangers was cancelled after the Rangers learned that Lowell had surgery on his right thumb. Following the injury issues, he was played as a backup infielder at third and first base, with his last game coming against the Yankees, where he had two at-bats and two hits in a 6-5 New York win in extras.
After his career, Lowell went into broadcasting and now works as an analyst for MLB Network. In terms of Yankee lore, he goes down as a great Coulda-Been, a player that developed into All-Star elsewhere after being unceremoniously sent out of town. In his own right, Lowell put together a more than fine career, contributing to a couple of championship teams Yankees fans certainly hated to see coming out on top.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
CHICAGO, IL - FEBRUARY 22: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks shoots a free throw during the game against the Chicago Bulls on February 22, 2026 at United Center in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Knicks are a good team. They may not always look or play like it. But they are. At 37-21, they have a top-five record in the league, have a top-three offense, a defense that has been on the cusp of being top 10 in defensive rating, and remain top five in net rating as well. Despite all of these things being true, though, it’s not a stretch to say that this team, one that has had championship aspirations from day one, has also been among the most disappointing ones in recent memory.
They can’t beat the Pistons, the one team that has consistently been ahead of them in the Eastern Conference standings. Their bench has been an inconsistent question mark for much of the season. Mikal Bridges continues to have stretches where he seemingly disappears. And the starting lineup, despite posting better stats this year, still struggles against great defenses. Among the most alarming concerns this season, though, has been the disappointing season that Karl-Anthony Towns has had… Or that’s at least what the majority of the fanbase wants to think. But is that a fair assessment?
Now, some of the frustrations are warranted. Over his first 10 years in the league, Towns earned a reputation for being one of the most efficient scorers in the league. During that span, the big man averaged 23.1PPG on 52.4% shooting from the field, and 40% shooting from three. His rare combination of size, post-up skills, and shooting allowed him to be as good as he is despite his very obvious and frustrating shortcomings on the defensive end.
This year he has looked and performed like a shell of himself. We may never know if there was an underlying injury issue or if it was just the new offense Mike Brown installed last summer. But the version of Towns we have seen for the overwhelming majority of this season has been one of hesitation, disappearance, and uncharacteristic struggles.
Through his first 49 games, Towns averaged 19.7PPG, while shooting 46.3% from the field, and 35.3% from three, while attempting just 14 field goal attempts per game. All of those marks would be the lowest, or second lowests of his career.
Some of it has been him simply missing shots he usually makes. But it’s been deeper than just him missing shots. As evident by his field goal attempts, he’s been featured less as a scorer in the Knicks’ new offense. Instead of having his number called, he is now required to read defenses more and find the best times for him to attack, something he and his teammates have both struggled to do.
Towns has seemed to have turned things around a bit tough. Towns has scored 20 or more points in five straight games, which is the longest streak of the season. And during the stretch, he is averaging 23.4PPG, while shooting 56.6% from the field, and 47.8% from three. He’s been more aggressive, evident by his 15.2 field goal attempts per game, and overall, he’s looked more comfortable, and just as importantly, more decisive.
But it’s clear that this isn’t, and never was, a strictly Towns problem. As mentioned earlier, his teammates have struggled to find Towns, especially when he pops screens. Lately, though, there’s been more of an effort by his teammates, and more specifically, by Jalen Brunson, to get him involved. While the two still lack the two-man game fans dreamed of when they were first paired up, Brunson has looked for his center noticeably more as of late.
Going back to the earlier question, I’d confidently answer that the blame Towns has gotten has been disproportionate and unfair. Towns still deserves some criticism for the way he has shot the ball, the amount he complains (although some of that is warranted given his horrendous whistle), his somewhat improved, but still frustrating defensive miscues, and most importantly, his offensive fouls that make you want to pull your hair out. But the numbers point to him being one of the Knicks, and believe it or not, the league’s most impactful players.
This season, Karl-Anthony Towns has:
* More rebounds than Nikola Jokić or Victor Wembanyama
* More points than Stephen Curry or LaMelo Ball
* More made 3-pointers than Devin Booker or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
I am firmly on the side of analytics and stats not being absolute. And that they can be deceiving, and or misused. But, hear me out. As seen above, Towns currently has more rebounds than Nikola Jokić or Victor Wembanyama, more points than Stephen Curry or LaMelo Ball, more made 3-pointers than Devin Booker, more steals than Evan Mobley or Rudy Gobert, more double-doubles than Luka Dončić or Cade Cunningham, more assists than Amen Thompson or Isaiah Hartenstein, and h higher plus/minus than Jaylen Brown and Anthony Edwards. Those names and stats, especially since they are totals and not averages, can be cherry-picked to fit a narrative.
Only 4 players in the NBA have a 90th percentile or better O-EPM AND D-EPM:
But, according to EPM (estimated plus-minus), which is a newer adjusted plus-minus metric that quantifies expected impact, Towns has been great. As of February 23rd, Towns is just one of four players in the league that rank in the 90th percentile or higher in both offensive EPM and defensive EPM.
According to Cleaning the Glass, the Knicks are now 10.7 points better per 100 possessions with Karl-Anthony Towns on the court this season.
That ranks 1st among 45 players who have seen at least 1600 minutes of court time. pic.twitter.com/1xkn7gfwDh
Are those numbers still not enough? Towns, despite his flaws, remains the team leader in plus-minus this season, with an impressive +336. Brunson is second at just +266. And as mentioned above, the Knicks are now 10.7PPP better with Towns on the court, which happens to rank first in the league among players who have played 1600 or more minutes.
I am not here to tell you that Towns is the Knicks’ best or most impactful player. You can take the data and the eye test and decide for yourself. I’m also not here to tell you that he’s a perfect player. Or that he’s had an amazing season. But I will tell you that despite all of his flaws and despite his not being able to play up to his usual standards, Towns has still had a solid season. He deserved a fair share of the blame for his shortcomings and his offensive inconsistencies. But he doesn’t deserve to have everything blamed on him. He can’t control how much Josh Hart mucks up offenses against good defenses, how bad the bench has been at times, how much Brunson struggled to get him the ball at times, especially in crunch time, or how Bridges occasionally goes MIA. This team, as we’ve all seen, has some clear weaknesses, despite being a very good team. And Towns can’t, and shouldn’t be held accountable for all of them.
I will say this: If the Knicks want to ultimately raise the Larry O’Brien trophy, it’s still on Towns. While he’s been solid and better than many realize, he still has the most to show and improve on as far as performance vs. expectations go. If he and his teammates can get the best version of Towns to show up in the playoffs, this team could take another much-needed leap.
WASHINGTON, DC -SEPTEMBER 28: Jeff Hoffman #23 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 28, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With Bryce Harper getting past Luis Garcia and Cliff Lee outgaining Nick Castellanos, we’ve reached the final four of the tournament to decide who was the best “late” free agent signing in recent Phillies history.
Here are the semi-final matchups:
1.Cliff Lee, 2011
It’s a shame that Lee spent the final year and a half of his contract not playing baseball, but in a way, his injury was a blessing in disguise because it made the Phillies finally begin a rebuilding effort in earnest. Up until that point, they could talk themselves into thinking a rotation headed by Lee and Cole Hamels could sneak into the playoffs.
I’ve bashed Jeff Hoffman enough, so I’ll say he was a very good reliever for most of his time in Philadelphia and is definitively better than Jordan Romano.
Who should advance? Vote now!
2. Bryce Harper, 2019
Not that long ago, Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, and Juan Soto were members of the Washington Nationals. The Nats didn’t offer any of those players competitive long-term deals, but they did commit to Patrick Corbin and Stephen Strasburg. I realize pitching is important, but it feels like they might have miscalculated a bit.
6. Brad Miller, 2021
I figured there would have been more angst over Miller leaving the Phillies after 2021 considering he hit 20 home runs for them that season. My guess is that the offseason lockout and subsequent signing of a much better player in Kyle Schwarber helped mute most of the disconnect. It also didn’t hurt that Miller was very bad in 2022, racking up -1.7 WAR for the Rangers.
The Miami Heat will be searching for their fourth straight win tonight as they visit the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum.
Miami is hot, and my Heat vs. Bucks predictions expect the away team to keep rolling.
Read more in my NBA picks for this 8 p.m. ET tipoff on Tuesday, February 24.
Heat vs Bucks prediction
Heat vs Bucks best bet: Heat -6.5 (-110)
The Miami Heat remain in the playoff mix with a 31-27 record, and they’ve captured three straight victories heading into tonight’s clash.
Erik Spoelstra’s squad has beaten the Pelicans, Hawks, and Grizzlies, covering the spread in each game. In fact, they just blew out the Grizz by 16 points on Saturday, which means the Heat are well-rested.
Miami beat the Milwaukee Bucks by three points earlier this season, and Milwaukee just got blown out by 28 by the Raptors on Sunday. The Heat also have an impressive 19-11 ATS road record.
Heat vs Bucks same-game parlay
Andrew Wiggins is averaging 16.1 points per game this season, and he’s cashed the Over in two of his last three. The Canadian balled out for 28 on Saturday in the big victory over Memphis.
Bam Adebayo is averaging 2.9 dimes per game, but he’s comfortably cashed the Over in five straight.
The Heat star has 10 assists across his last two appearances, and the Bucks are allowing 3.9 per contest to centers.
Heat vs Bucks SGP
Heat -6.5
Andrew Wiggins Over 14.5 points
Bam Adebayo Over 2.5 assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: Tyler's Herro-ics
Tyler Herro has cashed the Over in triples in three of his last four games, and in his last road appearance, the guard was 2-for-4 from 3-point land.
Heat vs Bucks SGP
Heat -6.5
Andrew Wiggins Over 14.5 points
Bam Adebayo Over 2.5 assists
Tyler Herro Over 1.5 made threes
Heat vs Bucks odds
Spread: Heat -6.5 (-110) | Bucks +6.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Heat -245 | Bucks +200
Over/Under: Over 228 (-110) | Under 228 (-110)
Heat vs Bucks betting trend to know
The Miami Heat have covered the 1Q Spread in 30 of their last 40 away games (+19.80 Units / 43% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Heat vs. Bucks.
How to watch Heat vs Bucks
Location
Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Sun, FDSN Wisconsin
Heat vs Bucks latest injuries
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WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 13: Zach Cole #16 of the Houston Astros throws during spring training workouts at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on February 13, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be rolling out a series of prospect previews for Spring Training. This week we look at one possibly one of the highest potential players in the system: Zach Cole
Zach Cole was selected by the Astros in the 10th round of the 2022 draft after hitting .361 as a junior at Ball State. He signed for just $97,500, but the upside was evident. An elite athlete, the left-handed hitter and thrower possesses plus power and speed, tools that show up both on the bases and in center field.
In his first full professional season, Cole hit .258 with 20 doubles, 19 home runs, 37 stolen bases, and an .869 OPS across two levels. The production was loud, though swing-and-miss concerns remained. The 2024 season proved more challenging, as injuries and adjustments at Double-A led to some growing pains.
2025, however, told a different story. After a slow start, Cole caught fire in Double-A, posting 19 doubles, 14 home runs, and an .868 OPS over 82 games. He earned a promotion to Triple-A and continued to rake, hitting .353 with five home runs in just 15 games before receiving a call-up to Houston, where he posted an .880 OPS with four home runs in 15 games. Overall, he totaled 22 doubles, seven triples, 19 home runs, and a system-leading 151 wRC+ across 97 minor league games. Read more on Cole here.
Do you think Cole will be a full-time player at the major league level?
Feb 12, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; A general view during live batting practice during spring training workouts at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
I’m going to post this early because I have to run out this morning, but I should be back about game time. We have an early start time: 1:00 pm Eastern.
The Jays are making the stressful bus ride from Dunedin to Tampa Bay to play the Yankees at Steinbrenner Field. I found the worst traffic I’ve ever seen doing that drive. But there was a Souplantation not far from the park, and I knew someone who said they had the best tomato soup there. It was ok, not all that much better than Campbell’s can soup, but it allowed the rushhour traffic to disappear. I see that Souplantation has gone out of business since.
The Jays have the touring company on stage today. Daulton Varsho is playing center, after a couple of days of DH. Jesus Sanchez and Davis Schneider are playing too. And the two guys fighting for a utility infielder role are both out there: Leo Jimenez and Ben Cowles.
The home team is using a bunch of the regulars.
Today’s Lineups
YANKEES
BLUE JAYS
Trent Grisham – CF
Myles Straw – RF
Aaron Judge – RF
Daulton Varsho – CF
Cody Bellinger – LF
Jesus Sanchez – LF
Jazz Chisholm – 2B
Davis Schneider – DH
Paul Goldschmidt – 1B
Leo Jimenez – 2B
Austin Wells – C
Brandon Valenzuela – C
Amed Rosario – 3B
Josh Kasevich – 3B
Jose Caballero – SS
Riley Tirotta – 1B
Marco Luciano – DH
Ben Cowles – SS
Will Warren – RHP
Grant Rogers – RHP
The beat reporters are talking up Eloy Jimenez, which makes me think the team is really considering him for a fourth or fifth outfielder role. A right-handed bat with power would be a useful thing.
Jose Berrios says that he feels ‘pretty healthy’ and ‘pretty strong’ after having doubts at the start of last spring.
Jose Berrios revealed he had ‘doubt’ about the health of his arm last spring. After his first outing this spring, he said a focus on using his lower half more helped him shed that concern, plus more from a Blue Jays loss to the Mets: https://t.co/wFEEoWQPkT
Chris Sale is authoring a chapter in Atlanta that may one day stand up to his legacies in Chicago and Boston.
The 2024 Cy Young Award winner and nine-time All-Star signed a one-year extension with the Braves that includes a club option for 2028, the team announced Feb. 24. Sale, who turns 37 next month, will make $27 million in 2027 and $30 million if the club picks up his option.
If so, that'd make it four years in Atlanta, which doesn't totally reach his seven years as a White Sox or his six as a Red Sox, a period that included the 2018 World Series championship.
But it's also far more than a veteran stopover on the way, potentially, to the Hall of Fame.
Sale edged Zack Wheeler for the 2024 NL Cy, when he led the circuit with 225 strikeouts and made 29 starts, the first time he stayed healthy enough to exceed 20 starts since 2019.
The injury bug bit again in 2025, when a rib cage fracture limited him to 20 starts, but Sale, at 6-6 one of the game's most imposing mound presences, remained dominant. In his two years in Atlanta, Sale has struck out 11.6 batters per nine innings, exceeding his career mark of 11.1, and posted a 168 adjusted ERA, well above his 141 lifetime plateau.
Sale's won 145 career games and has finished in the top six in Cy Young voting eight times.
Chris Sale contract detais
Sale has steadfastly avoided free agency throughout his career. He originally signed a five-year, $32.5 million extension as a pre-arbitration player with the White Sox in 2013; the deal included club options for 2018 and 2019.
The White Sox traded him to the Red Sox before the 2018 season, and Sale signed a five-year, $145 million extension with Boston in March 2019, shortly before entering his final year under contract.
After a trade to Atlanta and before his 2025 club option kicked in, he-reupped for two years with the Braves in January 2024, a $38 million guarantee that included the $18 million club option that he'll play under in this upcoming season.
The Dallas Mavericks visit the Brooklyn Nets this evening, with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Dallas has been dominant against Brooklyn this season, and I’m targeting them to keep it up in my Mavericks vs. Nets predictions.
Read more in my NBA picks for Tuesday, February 24.
Mavericks vs Nets prediction
Mavericks vs Nets best bet: Mavericks moneyline (-130)
The Dallas Mavericks may be having a disappointing campaign, but they just ended a nine-game losing streak on Sunday with a road victory. They finish up their six-game road swing tonight against the Brooklyn Nets, who they’ve beaten a lot over the last few seasons.
Dallas has won both meetings with the Nets in 2025-26, and while the Mavericks are 6-19 on the road, Brooklyn is just 8-19 at home and has lost four straight.
The Mavericks demonstrably outrank the Nets in offensive and defensive efficiency, as Brooklyn is among the worst in the NBA in both metrics.
Mavericks vs Nets same-game parlay
P.J. Washington has been one of the Mavs’ top guys alongside Cooper Flagg. He’s averaging 14.3 points per game, and he’s cashed the Over in two of his last three. Flagg is sidelined with a foot injury, which means a bigger workload for Washington.
Max Christie's landing in Dallas has allowed him to thrive in a bigger role. He’s averaging a career-best 13.3 points, and the former Michigan State Spartan has hit the Over in four of his previous five outings.
The youngster scored 16 points in the win over Indiana on Sunday, and he’s cashed the Over in points in three consecutive road appearances.
Mavericks vs Nets SGP
Mavericks moneyline
PJ Washington Over 15.5 points
Max Christie Over 14.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Hands of Klay
Klay Thompson has cashed the Over in boards in two of his last three.
Mavericks vs Nets SGP
Mavericks moneyline
PJ Washington Over 15.5 points
Max Christie Over 14.5 points
Klay Thompson Over 2.5 rebounds
Mavericks vs Nets odds
Spread: Mavericks -2 (-110) | Nets +2 (-110)
Moneyline: Mavericks -130 | Nets +110
Over/Under: Over 225.5 (-110) | Under 225.5 (-110)
Mavericks vs Nets betting trend to know
The Dallas Mavericks have hit the Team Total Over in 23 of their last 35 games (+9.05 Units / 22% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Mavericks vs. Nets.
How to watch Mavericks vs Nets
Location
Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
Date
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
KFAA, YES
Mavericks vs Nets latest injuries
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The Associated Press national player of the week in men’s college basketball for Week 16 of the season:
Darius Acuff Jr., No. 20 Arkansas
The 6-foot-3 freshman guard and high-end NBA prospect had an all-timer of a performance in a 117-115 double-overtime loss at then-No. 25 Alabama, scoring 49 points to set an Arkansas single-game freshman record as well as the No. 2 total in program history by any player.
Acuff made 16 of 27 shots, 6 of 10 3-pointers and 11 of 12 free throws to go with five rebounds and five assists. He also committed just one turnover while playing all 50 minutes. The 49 points were the No. 2 output in Division I all year and broke Todd Day's 1992 program record for most points in a Southeastern Conference game, as well as standing as the most points by a John Calipari-coached player.
Acuff followed with 20 points, four rebounds and five assists in a win against Missouri.
Runner-up
AJ Dybantsa, No. 19 BYU. The 6-9 freshman swept the Big 12 player of the week and rookie of the week honors after two big outings against top-flight opponents. First he had 35 points and seven rebounds in a loss at then-No. 4 Arizona. Then he had a near triple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists with a block and a steal in a home win against then-No. 6 Iowa State. The nation's scoring leader (24.9) made 23 of 45 shots (.511), 4 of 10 3-pointers (.400) and 14 of 17 free throws (.824) in the two games.
Moustapha Thiam, Cincinnati. The 7-2 sophomore had a huge game in the Bearcats' surprise 16-point win at then-No. 8 Kansas, scoring a career-high 28 points to go with eight rebounds and two assists. He went 11 for 17 from the field and had two 3-pointers while committing zero turnovers in 30 minutes. That win marked Cincinnati's first on the road against a top-10 opponent since beating Louisville in January 1990. Thiam is averaging 19.3 points and 8.3 rebounds on 59% shooting in his last three games.
Selection Sunday is fewer than three full weeks away, with a glorious 68-team bracket inching closer with each passing day.
Nearly half of that NCAA Tournament field will be composed of teams from outside of men’s college basketball’s five major conferences: the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Big East and SEC.
As the 2025-26 regular season winds down, several of those squads look capable of making some noise, whether it’s springing an upset over a national title hopeful or advancing deep into the tournament.
Who might some of those potential bracket-busters and second-week (and even Final Four) contenders be?
Here’s the latest power rankings of teams from outside of college basketball’s five major conferences:
College basketball mid-major power rankings
1. Gonzaga (27-2)
Since a stunning loss at Portland on Feb. 4, coach Mark Few’s team has rounded back into form with five straight wins by an average of 17.6 points. Senior forward Graham Ike continues playing at an All-American level, averaging 25.4 points per game over the Bulldogs’ past nine matchups.
2. Miami (Ohio) (27-0)
The RedHawks have convincingly continued their unbeaten run, with their past four wins coming by at least nine points and an average of 13.8 points per game. Luke Skaljac has thrived at point guard, a position he assumed only after a season-ending injury to Evan Ipsaro in December. He’s averaging 16.5 points and 6.3 assists per game over the past eight games.
🏀 Player of the Week 🏀
Luke Skaljac (@LSkaljac) propelled Miami to a pair of wins against UMass and Bowling Green this week to remain undefeated (27-0, 14-0 MAC). In 31.9 minutes per game, Skaljac averaged 20.0 points, 6.0 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.0 steal. He also shot… pic.twitter.com/pbZ5btzXPb
The Billikens finally took a loss in Atlantic 10 play, falling on the road to a middling Rhode Island squad to snap an 18-game win streak. They rebounded three days later, though, with a 13-point home win against VCU to complete a season sweep of the conference’s second-best team. Coach Josh Schertz’s team continues to be remarkably well-balanced offensively, with a different leading scorer in each of its past five games.
4. Utah State (23-4)
The Aggies squandered an eight-point lead with seven minutes remaining in an 80-77 loss at Nevada that ended an eight-game win streak. They’ll face a number of challenges the rest of the way, too, with three of their final four regular-season games coming against teams in the top five of the Mountain West standings.
5. Saint Mary’s (25-4)
The Gaels continue to just absolutely wear on opponents defensively, allowing only 62 points per game during their six-game win streak, with only one of those opponents averaging better than a point per possession. Their mettle will be tested in the final week of regular-season play, with home games against Gonzaga and Santa Clara.
The Lobos made a bit of history in their win against Fresno State on Feb. 21, rallying from a 22-point first-half deficit on their way to an 80-78 road victory. They outscored the Bulldogs 62-38 over the game’s final 25 minutes to earn their fourth-consecutive road win.
The Broncos have won 14 of their past 16 games and haven’t lost to a team other than Gonzaga since all the way back on Dec. 20. In their lone game last week, a 94-73 victory at San Francisco, senior Elijah Mahi had a career-high 30 points, along with seven rebounds and four steals.
8. Belmont (25-4)
The Bruins make their debut in the top 10 of the rankings as they continue a blistering run through Missouri Valley play. Coach Casey Alexander’s team has won 12 of its past 13 games, with the only loss coming on the road against a 19-win Bradley squad. Belmont is the only Division I team ranked in the top five nationally in both 2-point percentage (61.3%) and 3-point percentage (40.3%).
9. San Diego State (18-8)
The Aztecs are stumbling to the end of the regular season, with back-to-back losses to cap off a nine-game run in which they’ve gone just 5-4 following a 13-4 start. Their traditionally stout defense was picked apart in an 83-74 loss on Feb. 21 at Colorado State, a game in which the Rams made 13 of their 31 3s (42%).
10. VCU (21-7)
The Rams’ 10-game win streak came to a halt in a loss Feb. 20 at Saint Louis, a game in which they led by as many as 14 in the first half. The setback put that much more pressure on VCU to win the A-10 Tournament, with only one Quad 1 win and few, if any, opportunities left to pick up a signature victory to bolster its at-large resume.
