Mar 30, 2023; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Bally Sports Midwest announcer Chip Caray and Brad Thompson wave to the fans during the second inning of an opening day game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Toronto Blue Jays at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
We finally have solid details of how the St. Louis Cardinals plan to make their games available for streaming for the upcoming season. The team says that Major League Baseball will produce and distribute all in-market St. Louis Cardinals games and they promise to do it with no regional blackout restrictions.
Here are the exact words shared by the St. Louis Cardinals in a press release shared today:
“Fans can purchase a Cardinals.TV streaming subscription when packages go on sale on February 10. Cardinals.TV can be purchased for $99.99 for the full season or $19.99 per month. Information on cable and satellite providers, including specific channel locations, will be announced at a later date.“
The St. Louis Cardinals are the 8th team to turn over their broadcast to MLB joining the Diamondbacks, Guardians, Padres, Rockies, Twins, Mariners and Nationals. There’s no mention who the broadcasters will be for the games, but they say those details will be provided in the coming weeks. I noticed the no blackout promise comes with an asterisk specifying “in Cardinals territory”. That seems to refer to the national exclusive broadcasts and not some odd state restrictions or so I hope.
“Our top priority is making sure that Cardinals fans can watch their team as easily as possible,” said Anuk Karunaratne, Cardinals Senior Vice President of Business Operations. “Whether you prefer cable, satellite, or streaming, you’ll have uninterrupted access to every in-market game through this new model. MLB brings world-class production capabilities, and we’re excited about what this means for the future of Cardinals broadcasts.”
There are a lot of reasons why the 2025-26 Pittsburgh Penguins are finding success that they haven't found in the last few years.
For one, they're getting contributions from up and down their lineup. They already have eight players with 10 or more goals - more are on the way, too - and seven players are on pace to score more than 20 goals (and, it could be eight if Rickard Rakell - injured for 20 games this season - gets hot, as he is currently on pace for 19). In addition, 10 players are on pace to clear 40 points this season.
In addition, they're getting solid and timely goaltending. Stuart Skinner has a combined .895 save percentage since he was dealt to the Penguins from the Edmonton Oilers in December, but that's including three shaky starts to begin his tenure in Pittsburgh. Since those three starts, he is 8-1-0 with a .916 save percentage. Arturs Silovs has been solid, too, going 5-1-2 with a .905 save percentage since the holiday break.
And, of course, the Penguins are playing better defense, as they are pretty much near the middle of the pack in most major defensive metrics - a step up from where they were at earlier in the season. They've gotten the most out of guys like Parker Wotherspoon and Ryan Shea on the back end, and Erik Karlsson is having a renaissance season.
But beyond personnel, the Penguins' new system under head coach Dan Muse and his staff is also doing them a ton of favors. So, too, is this team's ability to capitalize on momentem swings.
And that ability to not just capitalize on those swings, but outright dominate because of them, has been a pretty big factor behind this team's success.
"Hockey's a weird game, and when pucks go in, they go in in bunches sometimes," forward Tommy Novak said. "It seems like the next line up is always hungry for another one and to keep [the opposition] in the d-zone."
First thing's first: There is a glaring disparity between when the Penguins strike first this season in comparison to when the opposition does. Pittsburgh is 23-3-5 when scoring the first goal of the game this season as opposed to 5-11-6 when they allow it, which speaks to their ability to control play from the drop of the puck.
But, digging deeper, there are some pretty interesting figures behind the Penguins' quick-strike offense and their ability to keep piling on once they seize momentum.
Through 53 games this season, the Penguins have scored:
- Two goals within a minute 10 times - Two goals within two minutes 19 times - Three goals within 10 minutes eight times - Four goals within 20 minutes three times - Three-plus consecutive goals 25 times - Four-plus consecutive goals 11 times - Five-plus consecutive goals five times
In other words, this team is not only generating a lot of offense from different parts of their lineup, they are able to string together shifts where they dominate possession, roll four lines, and pile on offense in order to give themselves either a good chance at a comeback or some always-needed insurance.
So what's behind this team's ability to take full advantage of momentum swings within games?
The truth is, no one really knows why this team is able to do this as often as it does.
"I wish I could say it's something that's, like, planned," Muse said. "I have nothing to do with it. It's the guys on the ice. I think, sometimes, it's just a little bit of that momentum. You're feeling it, the bench is feeling good, so you get that next opportunity. On the flip side of it, for the team on the other side, when momentum's going against you, you're kind of back on your heels.
"You've seen it where it's the same line doing it twice, then another line doing it next. But, sometimes, when you're kind of on the right side of things, it's just continuing to build traction, continuing to go in the right direction. It's a credit to the group and that next line or that next pair that's jumping over the boards after a goal. Whether it's a goal or it's just another good offensive shift keeping the momentum on our side, it's always a good thing."
"Momentum" will certainly be a theme for the Penguins over the next month-plus, as they're the hottest team in hockey with three games left to play before the near-three-week Olympic break. They're currently on a six-game win streak, sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 67 points, and have scored 31 goals in their past six games.
Perhaps the Olympic break is coming at a tough time for this team, especially because they have so much momentum. But the key for the Penguins is continuing to build on the formula that has made them so successful this season.
"Every line's able to bring some offense," Mantha said. "And if there's one goal, you know the next line's going to be able to hop on the ice and do the same thing.
"It's maybe a little bit of luck, it's maybe the good work we're putting in. But, at the end of the day, it's good for our team."
Seattle Kraken winger Jared McCann has been named the NHL’s first star of the week.
The 29-year-old was dominant, notching four goals and seven points in three games. He picked up points in all three games, including two goals and two assists against the Washington Capitals, a goal and an assist against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Kraken won all three games with McCann leading the way.
McCann has missed a large part of the season dealing with several lower-body ailments. The Kraken haven’t indicated whether they are all separate issues or the same, but he’s been on injured reserve multiple times because of lower-body injuries.
Despite all the game action he’s missed, McCann has recorded 16 goals and 29 points in 30 games, ranking second in goals and sixth in points on the Kraken.
"McCann registered 4-3—7 in three games to lift the Kraken (26-19-9, 61 points) to a perfect week and into third place in the Pacific Division. He notched his second career four-point performance (also Feb. 22, 2024 vs. VAN: 1-3—4) with 2-2—4, including his 26th career game-winning goal, in a 5-1 victory over the Washington Capitals Jan. 27. McCann then posted 1-1—2, his sixth multi-point effort of the campaign, in a 5-2 triumph versus the Toronto Maple Leafs Jan. 29. He capped the week by scoring his 200th NHL goal (and 134th with Seattle) in a 3-2 win against the Vegas Golden Knights Jan. 31. The 29-year-old McCann, the Kraken’s all-time leader in goals and points, ranks second on the team with 16 goals and sixth with 29 points despite only playing in 30 of Seattle’s 54 total contests this season (16‑13—29)."
Joining McCann as stars of the week were Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andre Vasilevskiy, who was named second star after posting a 3-0-0 record, a .930 save percentage, a 1.95 goals-against average, and a shutout. The third star of the week was Philadelphia Flyers winger Travis Konecny, who scored five goals and seven points in four games.
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Jan 28, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) celebrates with forward Keldon Johnson (3) after Johnson scores a basket during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Welcome to Week in Review: a Monday feature that looks back at the week that was for the San Antonio Spurs, takes a look at the week ahead, and more. Enjoy!
Week 14: Consistency continued to plague the Spurs in January as they alternated wins and losses. After opening the week with a comfortable home victory against the Jazz, they went out on the road, where they proceeded to blow a 16-point first-half lead to their rival Rockets after getting outscored by 15 points in the fourth quarter. The same almost happened again in Utah, but Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox saved the day by playing like superstars when it mattered most. Unfortunately, complacency struck again at home against an improving Pelicans team, and while the Spurs came back from 20 down to take a late lead, they couldn’t hold on, giving away another winnable game to split the week.
In a complete 180 from their match-up the week before, when the Spurs started hot before the Rockets exploded in the second half, this time it was the Rockets who were off to a hot start. With the Spurs down by as much as 16 while looking careless and uninterested, they suddenly flipped the switch midway through the third quarter and started playing with more physicality and discipline. What started as a frustrating game for the Spurs turned into to them blowing by the Rockets on their way to victory, giving them a 2-1 series lead and a key victory for seeding and tie-breaker purposes.
With the Hornets playing well above their record lately, plus the game being moved back to a morning tip-off with the hopes of getting the Spurs out before the winter storm hit (news flash: they didn’t), this was destined to be sneakily tough trap game. That ended up being the case, and despite winning three of four quarters, one horrific stretch to close the second ended up putting the Spurs in just a deep enough hole that they couldn’t climb all the way back out, despite cutting what had been a 20-point lead to two late in the game.
If the Spurs were ever going to be forgiven for a loss, this would have been it. After sitting on the tarmac for two hours in Charlotte just to have to stay overnight, they then experienced engine trouble and had to make an emergency landing in Atlanta to switch planes. As a result, the tip-off for this game was moved back twice, and the Spurs had to go straight to the arena from the airport. Perhaps being back on non-frozen terra firma gave them new life, but despite another ghastly second quarter, this time getting outscored 40-23, the Spurs dominated the first and third and didn’t let the physical, trash-talking Magic (mainly Desmond Bane) get in their heads in one of their more admirable victories of the season, considering the situation.
The Spurs have alternated wins and losses for their last seven games, a stretch that includes one of each in Houston. They came back from 16 points down to beat the Rockets on Wednesday and are sending their coaching staff to L.A. for All-Star Weekend.
Three takeaways
1. The Spurs held the Rockets to just 23 points on their final 39 possessions (0.59 per) as they came back from 16 points down on Wednesday. They’ve trailed only 17 of their 49 games by double digits and are now 6-11 in those games, with five of the wins having come against Houston (twice), Denver, New York and Oklahoma City. 2. The Spurs still rank third in defensive rebounding percentage, but they grabbed just 61.7 percent of available defensive boards over their last three games of January, with second chance points being much more than the overall difference in their recent losses to the Pelicans (outscored 27-9 on second chances) and Hornets (18-4). They began February by holding the Magic to one of their worst offensive rebounding games of the season. 3. Devin Vassell re-entered the starting lineup on Saturday afternoon and, interestingly, he replaced Harrison Barnes instead of Julian Champagnie. It was the first time in more than 10 years that the 33-year-old Barnes (one of three Spurs that have played in every game) came off the bench in a regular season game, but he was on the floor (instead of Champagnie) down the stretch and committed a damaging foul on a Miles Bridges 3-point attempt with a little more than a minute left.
Coming up: The last time the Thunder were in San Antonio, the Spurs had a rest advantage and won by 20. They’ll have a rest advantage again for the fifth (and final) regular season meeting on Wednesday.
The Spurs earned an elevated trip in these standings mostly on the strength of a comeback win in Houston, and head coach Mitch Johnson will join Victor Wembanyama at the All-Star Game. The Spurs have a lot of interesting scenarios, but I do wonder what happens at power forward. You can never have too much shooting, so I have a Jeremy Sochan for Hauser swap here; I’m sure there would be some outgoing picks from San Antonio to complete a deal like this. Just keep an eye on the power forward spot for the Spurs, whether that’s Sochan or even starter Harrison Barnes.
The Spurs have alternated wins and losses over their last six games and have struggled to find consistent offensive production at times, which led to disappointing losses to the New Orleans Pelicans and Charlotte Hornets.
Before the trade deadline, the Spurs are said to be seeking extra frontcourt depth next to Victor Wembanyama and Luke Kornet. Jeremy Sochan is expected to be moved, and there has been chatter about possibly moving Kelly Olynyk as well for a key upgrade.
Coming up: Wed. 2/4 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (39-11); Thurs. 2/5 at Dallas Mavericks (19-30); Saturday 2/7 vs. Dallas Mavericks
Prediction: 2-1 —This is becoming a boring cycle of predicting 2-1 every week, but the strength of schedule and the Spurs’ lack of consistency make it hard to predict anything else. They get a chance for revenge against a Thunder squad that has had similar issues lately and that the Spurs are uniquely built to challenge. They then have that dreaded away-home miniseries that no one likes against the improving Mavs. This isn’t the same deer-in-the-headlights Mavs team they blew out to open the season (Cooper Flagg has grown a lot since then), but they’re still missing Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis, so the Spurs should at least get the in at home, if not both.
BRIDGEWATER, NJ - APRIL 09: Moisés Chace #12 of the Reading Fightin Phils warms up before the game between the Reading Fightin Phils and the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 in Bridgewater, New Jersey. (Photo by Matt Kipp/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Moises Chace may have lost some time to injury this year, but maybe it will hasten the time to putting him in his best spot: relief pitching
Moises Chace – 53 Matthew Fisher – 32 Jean Cabrera – 12 Cade Obermueller – 9 Carson DeMartini – 8 Keaton Anthony – 8 Alex McFarlane – 5 Griffin Burkholder – 4 Mavis Graves – 1
There are whispers that the team is still going to try and make Chace a starter this season as he returns from Tommy John surgery. Based on a lot of the scouting reports available, I’m not sure why. The stuff he possesses seems to lend itself towards being a reliever, so why not try and expedite the process? Plus, with the possibility that the team will need different arms throughout the summer to reinforce the bullpen in case of injury, Chace seems like the perfect candidate to figure into that mix.
However, if they want to continue his developmental path down towards being a starter, let’s hope it works out.
2025 stats (w/ Reading)
6 G (6 GS), 16 2/3 IP, 25.3 K%, 16.0 BB%, 1.62 HR/9, 31.8 GB%, 3.24 ERA (5.51 FIP)
It seemed plausible that Chace, who was put on the 40-man after the 2024 season, could play a very important role in Philly in 2025, even if that was as the team’s setup man or closer. Instead, Chace’s velocity tanked into the low 90s, his walk rate regressed to his problematic, early-career levels, and after six starts, he was shut down and needed Tommy John toward the end of May. The injury not only casts doubt on how Chace’s stuff might look when he returns, but also robs him of valuable reps needed to develop the durability, control, and secondary pitches of a starting pitcher.
Chace’s slider flashes late, hitter-freezing, two-plane bend, but it doesn’t do so consistently. At times, his changeup has ridiculous tailing action and can steal strikes running back over the glove-side corner of the plate, but again, this is rare.
With each new post, we’ll reveal who won the voting for that particular slot, then post new players for you to vote on, adding another one to the list each time until we get to our final tally of 20. Once we get to 20 top prospects, we’ll do an honorable mention post at the end. If a player gets traded to another team, we’ll just chuck him right on outta here and all the players will move up a spot. If a prospect gets acquired, we’ll ask where he should go on the list.
Probably the most important thing about this whole process – please vote. Give us a few minutes of your time, just click a button and then we can discuss other players and things in the comment section, but don’t forget – VOTE!
It’s officially February now, which means that we don’t have too much longer to wait until we start hearing the crack of the bat and baseballs hitting mitts under the Florida sun.
Before that can happen and before even pitchers and catchers can report, all of the equipment needs to get down to the spring training facilities first. That process got underway here on Monday, as the Braves had their annual Truck Day at Truist Park. Again, it’s not quite as exciting as seeing the players report to camp but it’s still exciting enough since it’s the clearest sign yet that baseball is coming very, very soon.
The Braves (via a press release) laid out the details of just how much stuff they’ll be taking with them from the Atlanta Metro area down to North Port, Florida.
Stood end to end, the number of baseballs (9,000) being sent to Spring Training would stand over 2,175 ft. in height – or more than five times as tall as the TK Elevator test tower, located in The Battery Atlanta, which is the tallest elevator test tower in North America.
If stacked end to end, the number of bats (432) would extend more than 1,100 feet – or the equivalent of approximately 160 Bloopers.
574 hats laid brim-to-brim would span nearly 300 feet – almost completing a full lap around the bases at Truist Park.
65,000 fluid ounces of water and Powerade — more than 500 gallons — is enough liquid to fill over 50 standard MLB dugout drink coolers, enough to line the entire dugout rail with coolers, end to end, with some to spare.
More than 2,000 pieces of gum is enough for one individual to chew a piece every day for nearly five and a half years.
I was able to go down into the depths of Truist Park in order to get a look at one of the trucks that was being loaded up to head down to North Port.
Blooper even got in on lending a helping hand, though it’s tough to say if he was working hard or hardly working down there.
The trucks officially departed for Florida at Noon E.T. on Monday, so I suppose you could say that the countdown to spring training can officially begin in earnest after that particular milestone. Pitchers and catchers are set to report on February 10, with the full squad being required to report by February 15. Considering how the past couple of seasons have gone for the Braves, I’d imagine that everybody involved with the squad is probably champing at the bit to get down there and get to work on what should hopefully be a bounce-back season for this ballclub.
The Braves also unveiled some of the giveaways that they’ll be handing out to fans over the course of this 81-game season. DJourn posted a link to the 2026 Giveaway Schedule over in The Feed Of course there’s the expected selection of bobbleheads but the Braves have also decided to reach out to fans of different sports across Braves Country with some wearable giveaways as well.
There will be a football jersey giveaway with a design inspired by what the Georgia Bulldogs wear on the field, there will be an Atlanta Hawks-inspired basketball giveaway, a hockey jersey giveaway that’ll likely coincide with the Nashville Predators visiting Truist Park during June (in response to the Predators having a Braves Night this March) and then there will be a soccer jersey giveaway with the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup in mind.
Atlanta Braves Director of Marketing and Advertising Jori Palmer was on hand for a press scrum explained the thinking behind the crossover jerseys. “[Crossover jerseys] are getting a lot of traction in the sports world,” said Palmer. “A lot of people have a Braves jersey, so [we] put a little spin on it and remixed it. We’ve got a football jersey featuring Michael Harris [II] because he’s a great football fan, a hockey jersey featuring Drake Baldwin because they guy’s good at everything (including hockey), a basketball jersey with Ronald Acuña Jr. on it because he’s good at everything (including basketball) and then a soccer jersey…with the number 26 on the back, which represents 2026 and the fact that Atlanta is hosting some FIFA World Cup games.“
The coolest giveaway on display (in my opinion) was the Chris Sale “Bobblecard.” This is a new idea that, as the name suggests, merges together the worlds of bobbleheads and trading cards. There’s a bobblehead and torso model of Chris Sale in the front and it’s contained within a box that has Sale’s stats on the back. I’d imagine that this is going to be a hot commodity once it drops on April 29 and Palmer made sure to mention that this won’t be the only “Bobblecard” given away during this season.
“It’s supposed to look like the front of a baseball card,” said Palmer. “And then on the back, you’ve got all the history, the stats, All-Star appearances…so it’s kind of like a 3D baseball card.”
So, with the trucks officially heading down to Floriday ahead of spring training and the giveaways for 2026 being laid out, are y’all excited yet for baseball? Between this and the club’s solid offseason (which Jim Bowden of The Athletic graded out at a B+, for what it’s worth), the smell of baseball is starting to float into the air once again. Ervin Santana isn’t with the team to see or smell it but you can still start getting excited for Braves baseball, nonetheless.
DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 21: Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal during pregame warmups prior to the Detroit Lions versus the Pittsburgh Steelers game on Sunday December 21, 2025 at Ford Field in Detroit, MI. (Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic Detroit had the scoop on Monday morning. The arbitration hearing between Detroit Tigers’ ace, Tarik Skubal, and the club will take place on Wednesday, February 4. The arbitration panel will have 24 hours to rule in favor on one party or the other.
The Tigers filed for a one-year contract of $19 million, while Skubal and agent Scott Boras filed at $32 million. The midpoint is $25.5 million, which is where the the three person panel will essentially make an over/under decision and award Skubal either $19 million or $32 million. The two parties could still work out an agreement beforehand but that seems out of the question by this point.
The difference of $13 million is the largest in the history of arbitration. Should the Tigers win, that decision may set a pretty firm cap on arbitration awards for now. Should Skubal win, he’ll set a record for the highest salary ever for an arbitration eligible player, surpassing Juan Soto’s $31 million a few years back. Soto’s deal was agreed without a hearing, so the Skubal decision, should it go his way, will also set a new standard for arbitration awards for the top players in the game. His would also be the biggest one-year increase in the sport’s history.
The Tigers initially offered $19.80 million, which was rejected. That amount would just break David Price’s 2015 record for a one-year salary for an arbitration eligible pitcher by $50,000, though again, that deal was negotiated to agreement by then GM Dave Dombrowski and Price’s representatives. It didn’t go to an arbitration panel. It’s fairly telling that 11 years later, the Tigers offered Skubal the same amount, and that is why many expect Skubal to come out on top in the hearing. That certainly isn’t guaranteed, however, as the size of the raise year over year would also be unprecedented should Skubal win through and receive the $32 million.
A minor war of words in the media has followed, as the two parties filed their initial numbers, each rejecting the others’ demands. At that point negotiations ceased, the two parties filed their numbers, and there have been no reported talks since. The Tigers came off looking rather poorly based on their offer just on the Price comparison alone. They did fire back a little through the media, suggesting that they were willing to negotiate from that point, but that Boras and Skubal cut off negotiations. Boras responded that he and Skubal were still willing to negotiate. And so it goes…
As big of a story as this is for Major League Baseball, particularly with the next CBA negotiations looming, we’ll have to see if this is actually that impactful for the 2026 Tigers or not. The $13 million may be the difference in terms of adding another depth starter or not, and the starting pitching market has ground to a halt over the last week or two, perhaps in anticipation of arb hearings around the league finalizing payroll numbers for numerous teams. But unless the Tigers are getting into the Framber Valdez sweepstakes, or waiting on the final number before actively engaging on talks to trade Skubal, which seems highly unlikely at this point, then they’re probably hunting for a cheaper, one-year starter either way.
Still, knowing Skubal’s number one way or the other at very least gives them that clarity. Another looming factor is that pitchers and catchers will report to spring training on Wednesday, February 11. At that point, the Tigers could move an injured player like Jackson Jobe to the 60-day injured list, allowing them to sign a player without designating anyone for assignment.
So the next two Wednesdays will be big for freeing up the Tigers as they look to finalize their roster for 2026. The question is whether they’re waiting on these two dates or not. If they’re actually planning to keep adding signficant talent to the roster once they have Skubal’s final number and can open a 40-man roster spot, we should find out over the next two weeks.
It’s a light night of action with just four games on the schedule, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of value to be found in the NBA player props market.
My favorites include LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards to get hot from downtown and cash us some even-money props in the process.
Those and more NBA picks for Monday, February 2, are below.
Ball has been a big part of the hype around this team, thanks to his 3-point prowess. The Hornets guard is shooting 43.8% from beyond the arc over his last six games.
The Pelicans' perimeter defense is putrid, surrendering the second-most 3-point attempts and makes per game.
At even money, Ball to drain 4+ threes is a great bet tonight, something he’s done three times over this stretch.
The only interesting thing about the Houston Rockets visiting the Indiana Pacers is that it’s one of the best rebounding teams in the NBA going against the worst.
The long and athletic Rockets lead the NBA in rebounding rate, while the Pacers have the fourth-lowest and surrender the fourth-most opponent rebounds per game.
The Rocket who lifts off on the boards here is Jabari Smith Jr. The 22-year-old is averaging 7.0 rebounds per game. That’s up to 8.2 over his last five games, and he’s hauled down eight boards or more four times over that span.
Anthony Edwards went off for 33 points in a win over the Memphis Grizzlies last time out, and he did it while not having a great shooting night.
Now, they go at it again tonight, and I’m betting that changes.
The Grizzlies’ injury report is something out of a horror show and is part of why they’ve lost 13 of their last 16 games. And now, they allow the fifth-most threes per game.
Ant went just 1-for-6 from three in that game, but is shooting 44.8% from deep over his last 12, hitting four or more 3-pointers eight times.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
The best version of the Houston Rockets belongs in any NBA championship conversation, but they’ll be without Kevin Durant tonight as they visit the Indiana Pacers.
Though Houston is within touching distance of the No. 2 seed in the West, my Rockets vs. Pacers predictions and NBA picks expect a real fight at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, with a healthier Indiana team showing signs of life.
Rockets vs Pacers prediction
Rockets vs Pacers best bet: Andrew Nembhard Over 2.5 rebounds (-140)
Without Tyrese Haliburton, this was always going to feel like a lost season for the Indiana Pacers. Still, a cleaner injury report is at least reigniting the spark that carried Indiana to the 2025 NBA Finals.
Andrew Nembhard is a perfect example. He’s been a difference-maker in recent wins over the Thunder, Bulls, and Hawks, and I’m banking on his grit for my best bet tonight against the Houston Rockets.
Even with Houston’s physicality on the glass, this rebounds O/U line feels too low for Andrew Nembhard. He’s grabbed 5+ boards in each of his last four contests, and this jumps out as a value pick, despite the heavy vig. Nembhard averaged 4.2 rebounds per game in January, and he’s consistently hitting the 30-minute mark in Rick Carlisle’s rotation.
With the visitors running a lot of plays through Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson, Nembhard likely won’t see much involvement in those assignments, and he should be well placed to clean up possessions on the glass.
Both these teams are missing their biggest offensive weapons, and some clunky offense could drive big rebounding numbers here. Don’t be surprised if Nembhard is in the middle of that action.
Rockets vs Pacers same-game parlay
The Under has been a winning ticket in nine of Houston's last 10 games, and now they’ll be trying to find good looks without having Durant as a bailout option. The Pacers have trended towards the Under in a big way this year, and Houston boasts the NBA’s fourth-stingiest defense, allowing just 109.9 ppg.
I’m expecting a solid stat line from Thompson, who should grab a chunk of KD’s shots and rebounds. He averaged 8.3 rpg in January, and he’s gone past this number in five of his past eight contests.
Rockets vs Pacers SGP
Andrew Nembhard Over 2.5 rebounds
Under 218.5
Amen Thompson Over 7.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: Spicy P strikes again!
Siakam’s All-Star nod on a 13-36 Pacers team says it all. He’ll be the hosts’ best path to buckets against a stubborn Houston defense, and he’s finished with 24+ points in six of his last eight games.
Rockets vs Pacers SGP
Andrew Nembhard Over 2.5 rebounds
Under 218.5
Amen Thompson Over 7.5 rebounds
Pascal Siakam Over 23.5 points
Rockets vs Pacers odds
Spread: Rockets -5.5 | Pacers +5.5
Moneyline: Rockets -225 | Pacers +190
Over/Under: Over 218.5 | Under 218.5
Rockets vs Pacers betting trend to know
The Under is 30-19 in Pacers games this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Rockets vs. Pacers.
How to watch Rockets vs Pacers
Location
Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Date
Monday, February 2, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
SCHN, FDSN-Indiana
Rockets vs Pacers 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
FORT MYERS, FL- MARCH 15: Taylor Rogers #55 of the Minnesota Twins pitches during a team workout on March 15, 2022 at the Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Twins kicked off the week with a surprising trade of former top prospect Edouard Julien and reliever Pierson Ohl for minor leaguer Jace Kaminski, who had missed all of 2025 with Tommy John surgery. They ended the week with a bombshell announcement that POB&BO Derek Falvey and the team were parting ways. While the move in a vacuum may not have been surprising, the timing of the move, considering pitchers and catchers report in a couple of weeks to spring training, was quite suspect. Now, the relentless pursuit of new heads of baseball and business operations begins.
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The Winnipeg Jets visit the Dallas Stars in a Central Division clash at the American Airlines Center on Monday, February 2.
My top Jets vs. Stars predictions and NHL picks are headlined by emerging Winnipeg winger Cole Perfetti.
Jets vs Stars prediction
Jets vs Stars best bet: Cole Perfetti Over 1.5 shots on goal (-105)
Winnipeg Jets winger Cole Perfetti has upped his shot volume out of the holiday break, recording two or more shots in 14 of 19 games for 39 total on 79 attempts.
I also value Perfetti being promoted to the No. 1 power-play unit in addition to pacing Winnipeg forwards in Corsi For percentage at 5-on-5 during the same 19-game stretch.
While the Dallas Stars limit opposing shots to the sixth-fewest per game (25.1), they also rank 30th in CF% at 5-on-5, so Perfetti is set to tilt the ice in his favor for stretches and generate shooting opportunities tonight.
Jets vs Stars same-game parlay
Dallas has only won by multiple goals once across its past nine games, and Winnipeg No. 1 Connor Hellebuyck has a sterling .926 save percentage and 2.28 GAA across his past four road starts.
The key to success for the Jets is to play solid defense in front of Hellebuyck, and Winnipeg has tidied up defensively with the eighth-fewest expected goals against per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 out of the holiday break. With Dallas allowing the fifth-fewest xGA per 60 at 5-on-5, I’m anticipating a close, low-scoring game.
Jets vs Stars SGP
Jets +1.5
Under 5.5
Cole Perfetti Over 1.5 shots on goal
Jets vs Stars odds
Moneyline: Jets +125 | Stars -145
Puck Line: Jets +1.5 (-200) | Stars -1.5 (+165)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-115) | Under 5.5 (-105)
Jets vs Stars trend
The Dallas Stars have only hit the Over in three of their last 10 games (-4.95 Units / -44% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Jets vs. Stars.
How to watch Jets vs Stars
Location
American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Date
Monday, February 2, 2026
Puck drop
8:30 p.m. ET
TV
TSN3, Victory+
Jets vs Stars latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
With the calendar turning to February over the weekend, we're one month closer to March — and that much closer to seeing a 68-team bracket that will end with the crowning of a men's basketball national champion.
As that stage awaits, a handful of teams are starting to separate themselves from the rest of the field of contenders.
Just behind the Wildcats, No. 2 Michigan continued a stellar second season under coach Dusty May with a pair of top-10 wins against No. 5 Nebraska — handing the Cornhuskers their first loss of the season — and at rival No. 8 Michigan State.
How does the rest of the landscape look nationally?
NEW YORK — On Feb. 1, 2025, the Lakers left Madison Square Garden with a 28–19 record, the fifth-best-winning percentage in the Western Conference, after a commanding win over the Knicks, and were in the midst of a playoff race that ended with them securing the No. 3 seed in the west after having a 50–32 record.
LA Lakers’ Luka Dončić puts up a shot over New York Knicks’ guard Josh Hart during the second quarter at Madison Square Garden in New York, Feb. 1. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
Exactly one year later, the Lakers are 29–19 for the No. 6 spot in the west after their first road loss to the Knicks since Nov. 21, 2021, and are in contention for a playoff spot just like the previous time they left the world’s most famous arena.
How little can change in a year despite so many differences, with one of the biggest, of course, being the Lakers’ trade for Luka Dončić.
And with Sunday being the one-year anniversary of the transaction that brought the 26-year-old Slovenian star to Los Angeles, there remains an obvious question: How should this Lakers squad be assessed when it comes to their ultimate goal of not just competing for a spot in the playoffs, but ultimately contending for the NBA championship?
“We’re in a good spot,” Dončić said. “Obviously, got some work to do. But I think we have a great group.”
Plenty of work needs to be done.
Because for as much as things have changed since Dončić officially became a Laker — roster adjustments; 68 regular-season games (and counting) of Dončić dawning purple and gold; a five-game first-round playoff exit to the Timberwolves; Mark Walter acquiring majority ownership of the franchise from the Buss family, and many more — a lot has stayed the same when it comes to the Lakers’ slim chances of competing for a title.
LeBron James echoed Dončić’s optimism about what this year’s team can accomplish, saying that he liked the group, before recognizing the ups and downs they’ve experienced and unknowns ahead of them.
“We’ve had some really good moments,” James said. “We have some not-so-good moments.”
He continued, “We got to continue to get better. And that’s good. We should want to get better. … It’s a tough Western Conference. It’s a tough league. It’s been tough all season as far as dealing with injuries. Guys in and guys out. Unfortunately, our All-Star two guard has been out for a minute and that’s a big piece of our team. So, it’s kind of hard to see what we can really, truly be.”
Lakers’ Austin Reaves competes against the Houston Rockets on Dec. 25, 2025 at LA’s Crypto.com Arena. NBAE via Getty Images
The player James referenced is Austin Reaves, who’s averaging 26.6 points, 6.3 assists and 5.2 rebounds on the season, but wasn’t named an All-Star in light of being sidelined for 19 consecutive games because of a strained left calf, including Sunday’s loss to the Knicks, and playing in less than half of the Lakers’ games.
Reaves was a game-time decision for Sunday’s game, but was ruled out after going through his pregame warmup, with Tuesday’s trip-ending matchup against the Brooklyn Nets the next opportunity to make his return to the floor.
“He’s day-to-day, game-to-game, however you want to phrase it,” Lakers’ Coach JJ Redick said, “We’ll hopefully have him for Tuesday, but he’s gotta feel 100% confident.”
But even when Reaves does return, with the Lakers going 10–9 during his absence entering Tuesday, it shouldn’t be assumed that the Lakers will vault themselves higher in the standings when they’re healthier.
Or, if they do, be a viable threat in the playoffs.
Because for as impactful Reaves has been, playing at an All-NBA level before his injury, he won’t cover up all of their issues: An imbalanced roster featuring more “one-way” players than true “two-way” players. A roster that doesn’t consistently play hard enough. Or maximize its talent.
“We’re right there in the playoff chase in the west,” Redick said. “Our guys have been great all season. They’ve really done a nice job of kind of responding to the ups and downs that a season presents that is natural to the NBA cycle. Whether you’re a [general manager], a coach, a player, you’re never gonna look at a roster and say, ‘This is a perfect roster, and all the pieces fit perfectly together.’ It just doesn’t really happen a lot.”
On the one-year anniversary of the Lakers trading for Luka Doncic, LAL is 29-19, No. 6 in the Western conference standings and fighting for a playoff spot.
JJ Redick told players that the current group that is enough to make the playoffs, according to Rui Hachimura, with Rui… pic.twitter.com/L9BFv3TNxB
But perfect shouldn’t be the enemy of better, which is what the Lakers, led by the franchise’s president of basketball operations and GM Rob Pelinka, should focus on achieving ahead of Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline.
Another seismic move, like the trade for Dončić or another star player, is unlikely to happen before Thursday. So is a move for, what most fans would consider, a game-changing player.
But if the Lakers want to get past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2023, a move needs to be made.
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Arizona remains at No. 1 with all 31 first-place votes. Michigan stays at No. 2 thanks to a pair of solid Big Ten wins this week. Connecticut and Duke remain at third and fourth respectively.
Gonzaga inherits the No. 5 spot, followed by a surging Illinois vaulting four positions to No. 6 after its Sunday defeat of Nebraska. Iowa State jumps ahead of fellow Big 12 contender Houston by just two poll points for the No. 7 position. Nebraska and Michigan State each fall back multiple spots but stay in the top 10.
There’s a strong Big 12 presence in the next five as Kansas is back up to No. 11 leapfrogging No. 12 Purdue. Texas Tech and Brigham Young hold the next two positions, and Vanderbilt now leads the SEC contingent at No. 15.
Texas A&M joins the rankings at No. 25. Thanks to last week’s tie there are actually two dropouts as Alabama and Iowa fall.
Japan starting pitcher Roki Sasaki (14) pitches against Mexico during the second inning of a semifinal game at the World Baseball Classic at loanDepot Park on Monday, March 20, 2023, in Miami. (Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas is heading into his final major league season and might have started things off by representing Venezuela in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. But like a number of players, Rojas was denied insurance coverage to be able to play in the international tournament this March.
Rojas expressed frustration at the process in talking to reporters Saturday at Dodgers Fest at Dodger Stadium over the process. From Alden González at ESPN:
“My only question is: Why is it just with our countries [in Latin America], like Venezuela, Puerto Rico, a couple Dominican players?” Rojas said. “I don’t see that happening with the United States or happening with Japan. And I’m not trying to attack anybody, or attack what’s going on … but at the end of the day, it feels like it’s just happening with the players that want to represent their country from Latin America. So, there’s a lot of things I would like to talk about with someone in control, with someone from MLB.”
On Friday, Mets star shortstop Francisco Lindor was also denied insurance to play for Puerto Rico in the WBC after offseason right elbow surgery, despite being cleared for spring training activity. Same for Astros star Jose Altuve, who won’t play for Venezuela.
“Due to the criteria for WBC insurance coverage, Jose Altuve was looking forward to participating in the WBC and representing Venezuela, but unfortunately is not eligible to do so,” the MLB Players Association said in a statement. “Jose is obviously disappointed in this result, but he is looking forward to getting to spring training and preparing himself for a successful season.”
The insurance policy pays back the major-league club for a player’s salary if the player gets hurt during the WBC. Players are not at risk of losing their salaries. For approved position players, the insurance covers 100 percent of their salary for two years, sources said. For pitchers, it’s four years.
No cap exists for how much salary can be covered in total across MLB, a source said, emphasizing there is not a game of musical chairs in which one player’s insurance approval could reduce the chances of another’s.
Trips to the 60-day injured list and recent surgeries such as Lindor’s are typically disqualifying. But the insurer reviews each player’s injury history case by case.
The insurance does not cover players once they are 37, a difference from previous WBCs, sources said. That will affect some players who are close to 37, as well. Major-leaguers are likely to be denied if they turn 37 in the two-year window for position players or the four-year window for pitchers.
Probably the most notable Dodgers instance of this was with Clayton Kershaw, who in 2023 was named to the United States roster for the WBC but was denied insurance at nearly age 35, within the window of being denied insurance. Kershaw will be a part of the 2026 roster for Team USA, partly because as a retired player, there is no MLB salary to insure.
Freddie Freeman said he is not playing in the WBC because of a personal situation. He said Team Canada was supportive
“I wasn’t (going to be) able to go out there and play and be in Puerto Rico (for the group stage games) and be that far from my family. I needed to be close to…
Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki missed over four months on the 60-day injured list last season with a right shoulder impingement. He was unlikely to be approved for insurance per the above criteria, and told David Vassegh of KLAC AM 570 on Saturday that it was the Dodgers’ decision that Sasaki wouldn’t pitch for Japan in the WBC.
Pool play for the World Baseball Classic starts on March 5. Players for Japan are expected to join the team in Tokyo for exhibition games on February 27-28 in preparation for the tournament.
UPDATE: New Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz, who suffered a season-ending injury during the 2023 World Baseball Classic, was announced on Monday as pitching for Puerto Rico.
LaMelo Ball
Jabari Smith Jr.
Anthony Edwards
