FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 19: Simeon Woods Richardson #24 of the Minnesota Twins poses for a photo during Spring Training photo days at Lee Health Sports Complex on February 19, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
First Pitch (CT):12:05 TV: Twins.TV Radio: NA Know Yo’ Foe: Bucs Dugout
What to watch: The backup SS/utility battle continues. Orlando Arcia gets his first start at 2B while Tristan Gray sees his first action at short.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 14, 2025: Carlos Carrasco #59 of the New York Yankees pitches during the first inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 14, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
It’s Spring Training Game Thread time again. Double wooooo.
It’s kind of weird that Carlos Carrasco is “starting” again, but I guess we’ve had enough games now, and every other actual rotation-member other than Spencer Strider has made their 2026 Grapefruit League debut. The Braves are clearly not sending any of their regulars on the 90-minute bus ride to Tampa.
This game is broadcast everywhere. That’s kind of wild to think about: remember when Spring Training games were essentially not televised? It wasn’t even that long ago.
Feb 19, 2026; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Tyler Cleveland (79) during spring training photo day in Peoria, AZ. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
After a dominant 2025 season across two separate levels, Tyler Cleveland joins our Mariner prospect ranks at #15 this season. Given a boost thanks to recent departures from the system, Cleveland represents the last of the true relief types on our list and carries some of the highest floor of any prospect in the back half of these rankings, though naturally comes with a somewhat limited ceiling. A consistent performer through pure funk, Cleveland should be one of the more interesting arms to monitor in Tacoma’s bullpen this season.
Tyler Cleveland throws a scoreless 8th inning. AquaSox 3 outs from the first half Northwest League title. 8-3 Frogs. pic.twitter.com/TId6cU44mr
Destroying both High-A Everett and Double-A Arkansas last season, the 26 year old submariner out of Central Arkansas worked to a season ERA of 0.87 over 51.2 IP, an obviously outstanding mark that is perhaps buoyed slightly due to his advanced age considering his level. Though his strikeout numbers aren’t out of this world, his 25.5% K% and 8.7% walk rate reflect a more than capable pitcher, especially given his submarine, soft-contact oriented approach on the mound.
The arsenal metrics don’t jump off the page, but everything with Cleveland requires context given how unique he is in his operation. Primarily using a three-pitch mix, the sinker typically tops out around 90 mph (I’ve seen the stadium scoreboard clock it as low as 86 at times), but the pitch gets good two-plane run and pairs well with his slow, sweeping slider that gets massive break gloveside. His final offering, a changeup, mirrors the fastball movement profile well and serves as a more than acceptable third offering he can use against lefties.
Cleveland is clearly not the flashiest prospect in the system and is likely limited to a middle-relief ceiling if everything works for him at the major league level, but it’s impossible to argue with his production as a professional thus far. In an age of 100 mph fastballs and sliders in the mid 90’s, perhaps Tyler Cleveland can be the change of pace the Mariner bullpen needs. Should he break through and debut in the big leagues this season, he’ll likely throw the best (only?) 87 mph heater you’ll see all season.
SURPRISE, AZ - FEBRUARY 17: Joc Pederson #3 of the Texas Rangers poses for a photo during the Texas Rangers photo day at Surprise Stadium on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Texas Rangers split squad lineup for February 26, 2026 against the Athletics:
Hey, we have a split squad lineup for today! Cal Quantrill is getting the start.
Adam Silver's latest crusade against tanking has him looking like Don Quixote, tilting at windmills.
Unquestionably, tanking has become part of the NBA landscape and annual discussion — and it is worse this year because of a particularly deep draft followed by what are projected to be down years. Silver argues that it is bad for the league's image and for its fans, though if you ask fans in Utah or Washington right now, they'd overwhelmingly be in favor of it this year. Ask Pistons fans now about tanking in 2020-21 and getting Cade Cunningham.
Silver and the league's owners are poised to act this summer to reduce the tanking "scourge." Except it's not a monster, it's another windmill — what Silver has done before and appears poised to do again this summer is treating the symptoms, not the disease. Teams turn to multi-year tanking because other paths to team building have been cut off or narrowed. The draft has always been the best way to land young talent, but now, for many small and mid-market teams, it's also the only reliable, viable option. Making it harder for those teams to get top players just extends how long they tank, it doesn't eliminate the need for it.
If Silver wants to change the NBA Draft Lottery to reduce tanking and help usher in more of the parity he craves, there is one clear way to do it that is fair:
Eliminate the Draft Lottery. Altogether.
Don't eliminate the draft, just revert to the pre-1985 system (or the NFL model): the worst team drafts first. It's not perfect, but it's much better than what the NBA is about to do.
NBA anti-tanking options
What Silver and the NBA really want to stop is what the Jazz and Wizards are doing this year, what Philadelphia most famously did with "The Process": multi-year tanking.
The problem is, the league's list of "solutions" only means teams will have to tank longer.
• Limiting traded draft pick protections to either 1-4 or the lottery. This one seems destined to pass, according to league sources, and deals with situations such as the Jazz's and the Wizards' this season, tanking to hold on to their top-eight-protected picks.
• Flattening the lottery odds. Again. Currently, teams with the three worst records have the same chance of landing the No. 1 pick (14%), and the odds slowly drop from there. The new plan will likely have the six, eight, or 10 worst teams have the same odds. Some have called for the older lottery system, the envelope era, where every team that misses the playoffs has the same odds. In whatever form it takes, it seems highly likely the odds will get flattened again.
• Teams cannot pick in the top 4 in consecutive years. We would not have this year's San Antonio Spurs with this rule, and small markets may well push back on it. (A modified version of this rule would be part of my plan to eliminate the lottery, laid out below.)
• Freeze the lottery draft positions at the All-Star break (or some other date). Sure, let's get teams tanking earlier, in the heart of the season. This is the worst idea on the table.
• Teams that make the conference Finals cannot draft in the top four. This seems oddly, specifically aimed at the circumstances that befell the Indiana Pacers this year. Which is not a real issue, this rarely comes up and when it does it's because a star player was injured or left the team (the Cavaliers got No. 1 after LeBron left, but was that wrong?). This rule seems pointless.
Why those solutions make the problem worse
Teams are tanking for multiple years because other paths to team building are closed off or narrowed, leaving only the draft as an option.
Free agency is largely dead for All-Star-level players. They don't get traded against their will (except for Luka Doncic, and we see how well that went in Dallas). They get a max contract from the team they are on then force their way out, or organize a sign-and-trade to where they want to go. Players have a lot of control over the process, which often leaves small- to mid-market teams out of the mix.
Trading for stars is also very difficult now. It took four unprotected first-rounders for Orlando to secure Desmond Bane last summer; it took five first-round picks for the Knicks to get Mikal Bridges — and neither one of them is an All-Star. That's not to say star players are not traded, they are — James Harden was traded earlier this month — but he had a lot of say in that (and it was about money in future contracts). It's a difficult spot for a small market team.
Which means teams need to focus on the NBA draft to improve (and for any successful franchise, scouting and player development are now more crucial than ever; for example, turning a No. 12 pick into an All-NBA player like Jalen Williams, as Oklahoma City did).
The problem with flattening the lottery odds is that it just makes the issue worse — teams have to be bad longer to get a top pick. It's random chance, not giving the worst teams hope.
For the past three drafts, the team with the worst record in the NBA drafted fifth. Not terrible, but look at Utah as an example: It had the worst record last season, drafted Ace Bailey fifth, but if it had drafted Cooper Flagg No. 1 it would be a very different situation in Utah, one where we were talking about making the play-in not tanking (for the record, their Jaren Jackson Jr. trade at the deadline was brilliant).
End the draft lottery (with a caveat)
The best solution is this: End the NBA Draft Lottery.
Not the draft. In a league where teams need to sell playoff glory or hope, the draft offers hope to struggling fan bases.
Just let the team with the worst record draft first. No lottery, no ping-pong balls or fancy math. This is how it was done until 1985, and it's still how the NFL and other sports do it. If Sacramento has the worst record this season, it gets the No. 1 pick. End of story.
Well, not quite the end because there needs to be one rule: The team with the No. 1 pick cannot pick in the top four (or five) in consecutive years. Or, maybe make that ban two years. To stick with the Utah example from earlier, if it drafted No. 1 a year ago and got Flagg, it couldn't draft higher than fifth this season.
Would this end tanking? No. But in a sport where drafting one elite player — Flagg, Victor Wembanyama, Cade Cunningham, Anthony Edwards, just to name a few recent ones — changes a franchise, there is no way to eliminate it completely.
What eliminating the lottery would do is eliminate long-term tanking projects — teams would get their top pick, then could not be in the top five for another year or two.
Also, eliminating the lottery would limit tanking in any given year. Every year, a couple of teams are going to be bad from the start, but the mid-season pivot to a tank in hopes of improving lottery odds goes away. Two or three teams a year may tank, but not 10 like this year.
(It has to be noted that this year's especially deep draft would have led to more tanking than usual regardless of the system in place. This is just a perfect storm of a season for tanking.)
In the modern world of analytics, there is no way to completely eliminate tanking and still give the fan bases of the worst teams real hope for the future. The league has to sell hope.
For years, Salvador Perez has been the Royals’ mainstay behind the plate. If he’s been healthy, he wants to catch, and catch he has.
But the past several years have seen an aging, albeit still productive Perez shift more to first base and designated hitter. Last year, he appeared in 92 games behind the plate with a combined 68 appearances coming elsewhere. The year before that: 91 games catching, 49 at first, 24 with a DH appearance. Perez hasn’t caught more than 100 games in a season since 2021.
Thankfully, the Royals have allocated resources to succeeding Perez, and the first true step occurred last year when Carter Jensen reached the Majors.
Royals manager Matt Quatraro on MLB's No. 18 prospect Carter Jensen:
“He's a rat. He's going to do everything in his power to be as good as he can be… you've gotta think sky is the limit [for him].”
Jensen, a 2021 third-round pick out of Park Hill High School, collected 69 plate appearances in 20 games at the end of 2025. He performed so well that I believe the Royals accelerated their plan in supplanting Perez as the full-time catcher. Not only did Jensen prove his worth defensively and build a rapport with the pitching staff, but he also slashed .300/.391/.550 with half of his hits being worth extra bases.
Incredibly, doubled up Perez in bWAR—0.8 to 0.4.
Jensen, a left-handed hitter, is not the only highly rated catching prospect in the Royals system. Sure, he’s the first to reach the Majors, but the organization has another two catchers in the wings who could, one way or another, help the Royals down the line.
First, let’s take a look at the prospect rankings. Max wrote an article some weeks ago breaking down where the current prospects land for the Royals in the big Top 100 lists. Jensen made all three of the big lists—No. 1o according to The Athletic’s Keith Law, No. 11 according to Baseball America, and No. 18 according to MLB Pipeline.
Next is Blake Mitchell, the Royals’ former first-round pick from 2023. Mitchell, like Jensen, bats left and throws right. He did not make Baseball America’s Top 100 but landed at No. 75 with MLB Pipeline (down from No. 48 a year ago) and No. 57 according to Law. Law concluded his report on Mitchell by writing that “[h]e still projects as an everyday catcher who might hit .230 or so with 20 homers and plus defense, which is a regular for almost every team in baseball.”
MLB Pipeline ranks Jensen as the game’s No. 2 overall catching prospect with Mitchell at No. 10.
But wait, there’s a third catcher raising eyebrows in the farm system. Ramon Ramirez, signed out of Valenzuela, is the youngest of the group, and while he didn’t make any of the Top 100 lists, he’s still worth a concentrated eye. Law ranks him as the Royals’ #9 prospect, noting that the young man has power but also seems to lack focus.
Baseball America ranks Ramirez as the team’s No. 8 prospect. They note that he signed with the Royals as an outfielder and also missed a chunk of time last season due to left-hand inflammation. Still, “[h]is body looked firmer in 2025, increasing his chances of staying behind the plate.”
The Royals find themselves with three stellar catching prospects and only one catching position.
Jensen is already in Kansas City and seems to have the upper hand when it comes to locking down the position for the next five to seven years. Mitchell has a chance to bounce back this year and prove the organization’s faith in him when they drafted him so high three years ago. And Ramirez, with seemingly the lowest skill level of the trio, could still make it as a dependable backup catcher who can also play the outfield.
Now, I’m not here to advocate for the Royals to trade a certain one of these young men. But with all of this in mind, the Royals should definitely cash in on one of these three chips.
Spring Training trades are not unheard of, but I think we’re more looking at a deal occurring around the trade deadline, once the Royals figure out which position needs tinkering. Of course, there’s nothing from stopping the team from making a trade before then. Perhaps I’m overestimating things, but in a trade for one of these three battery mates, the Royals should be able to land a player under team control instead of settling for a rental.
While the Royals’ farm system is on the rise, it still isn’t in the top half of the league. Despite that, the Royals have managed to develop three catchers who could, in the near future, start for a Major League club. With the big league roster still needing work, trading one of Jensen, Mitchell, or Ramirez could help shore up things.
Oct 31, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixth inning during game six of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The Jays and Marlins play in Dunedin at 1:00 Eastern today. We have a bunch of regulars in the lineup. It actually could be close to the lineup they would put out against a lefty starter.
And Kevin Gausman gets his first time out there this spring. Gausman set a personal record for innings pitched last year. Not bad considering he was in his 13th season and 34 years old. I’d like them to take it a little easier on him this year. But, we do have a few starters that will have to be handled gently, at least to start the season. But then we have roughly 37 guys who could start games (I might be exaggerating, my wife has told me a million times that I tend to exaggerate).
“I was a very big piece of that process, getting to that World Series run,” Manoah added. “I wasn’t able to be there like I wanted to.”
The rest was very normal, nothing inflammatory. I’m almost sure that if Alek had time to think about what he was saying he would have found better words.
“Those are all my friends,” Manoah said. “A lot of those guys I called my brothers. I rooted for them 100 percent. I wanted them to win it all.”
The story also says that he is “down to” 285 lb (on his 6’6” frame).
“No, man,” Manoah said, when asked if there was a mental anxiety element to his strike throwing struggles. “I don’t know. I don’t think I’ve dealt with any of that.
“I think for me it’s more when, mentally, you don’t have your best stuff, I know for me, I’m going to go out and compete with what I’ve got.”
Ken Rosenthal tells us that Max Scherzers incentives are $1 million for each of 65, 75, 85, 95, 105, 115, 125, 135, 145 and 155. I’m quite willing to bet he won’t get to 155 innings. We could have a poll:
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 21: Brice Matthews #0 of the Houston Astros looks on during a spring training game against the Washington Nationals at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on February 21, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Astros travel to Jupiter, FL to take on the St. Louis Cardinals. The Astros will be playing a split squad game.
Peter Lambert gets the start for Houston. This is his first start of the spring and his second appearance. In his first appearance, he pitched one scoreless inning while allowing 2 hits and striking out 1.
Astros top prospect Brice Matthews will play 2B today and lead off, Carlos Perez starts behind the plate and Astros #3 prospect Walker Janek will DH.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Thursday, February 26, 12:10 p.m. CST
Location: Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, Jupiter, FL
PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 19: Nolan McLean #26 of the New York Mets poses for a photo during the New York Mets Photo Day at Clover Park on February 19, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Mets lineup
Marcus Semien – 2B
Mike Tauchman – RF
Bo Bichette – 3B
Mark Vientos – 1B
Ronny Mauricio – SS
Luis Torrens – C
Jared Young – DH
Tyrone Taylor – CF
MJ Melendez – LF
SP: Nolan McLean
Astros lineup
lineup to follow
Broadcast info
First pitch: 1:05 PM EST Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM
Minnesota Twins vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, February 26, 2026, 1:05 p.m. ET
Location: LECOM Park, Bradenton, FL
How to Listen: 93.7 The Fan, 100.1 FM, AM 1020 KDKA, Sports Net Pittsburgh app SNP 360, How to Watch: Sportsnet Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Pirates are at home today against the Minnesota Twins looking to grab a win.
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PORT CHARLOTTE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 24: Cedric Mullins #31 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates scoring a run against the Minnesota Twins during a spring training game at Charlotte Sports Park on February 24, 2026 in Port Charlotte, Florida. (Photo by Mark Taylor/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The only coverage today is courtesy of the Boston Red Sox radio team
The Penguins went into the Olympic break on a high note after a 5-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Feb. 5 and will try to carry that momentum into the stretch run of the 2025-26 season.
They will play a struggling Devils team that has lost four in a row and will be on the second half of a back-to-back. They fell to the Sabres 2-1 on Wednesday night and are now 11 points out of a playoff spot.
The Penguins and Devils have split their two meetings this season, with the Penguins winning the most recent one, 4-1, on Jan. 8. This will be the third of four games between the two teams this year.
Despite a tough season, the Devils still have some great talent, including Jack Hughes, who recently scored the golden goal for Team USA at the Winter Olympics. His goal gave Team USA its first Gold Medal in men's hockey since 1980.
Hughes has compiled 12 goals and 37 points in 37 games this season. Jesper Bratt has been solid again this season, racking up 13 goals and 42 points in 58 games. Nico Hischier also has 42 points in 58 games, 19 of which are goals.
This is a Devils team that still has Timo Meier and Dawson Mercer up front as well. Goaltender Jake Allen started on Wednesday, meaning Jacob Markstrom is in line to start on Thursday.
The Penguins' lines will look a tad different without Sidney Crosby in the lineup. Crosby will be out for a minimum of four weeks with a lower-body injury he suffered during the Winter Olympics.
Rickard Rakell will center the top line with Bryan Rust and Avery Hayes as his wingers.
Here's a look at the full projected lineup for Thursday's game:
Forwards
Hayes-Rakell-Rust
Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin
Mantha-Kindel-Brazeau
Dewar-Lizotte-Acciari
Defensive pairs
Wotherspoon-Karlsson
Girard-Letang
Shea-Clifton
Arturs Silovs will start in goal after he was the first goaltender off during the morning skate.
Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'
Tempe, AZ - February 18: Outfielder Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels poses for a portrait during photo day at Diablo Stadium on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 in Tempe, AZ. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The Angels are stuck. Stuck with an aging Mike Trout, signed through 2030 with nearly $200 million left on his 12-year contract he signed in 2019. Stuck with paying out nearly $40 million on Anthony Rendon’s disaster of a free agent contract signed in 2020. Stuck with an owner who doesn’t even recognize that winning should be a priority for the franchise. Stuck with the consequences of short-sighted, win-now decisions over the last decade when the need for a complete tear down and rebuild was so obvious from the outside.
Los Angeles is essentially running things back this year, though at least the moves they made have the potential for some higher rewards if things break their way. Gambling on guys like Grayson Rodriguez and Alek Manoah could have some solid payoffs if they’re healthy, though bringing in four high-leverage relievers with an average age of 36 is a lot less defensible. There are a handful of bright spots to cling to: Zach Neto is one of the best young shortstops in baseball and Jo Adell finally broke out in his sixth big league season. Still, just look at the table below and you’ll get a sense for how bleak things are for the Angels.
Position
Angels Projected WAR
Mariners Projected WAR
Edge
Catcher
1.5
6.1
Mariners
First Base
1.7
2.9
Mariners
Second Base
1.5
2.7
Mariners
Shortstop
4.4
2.8
Angels
Third Base
1.9
3.0
Mariners
Left Field
1.0
2.2
Mariners
Center Field
1.9
6.0
Mariners
Right Field
1.4
2.0
Mariners
Designated Hitter
1.3
1.6
Mariners
Starting Pitching
11.0
14.2
Mariners
Relief Pitching
1.9
3.4
Mariners
Total
29.7
46.8
Mariners
The only position the Angels have an advantage over the Mariners is at shortstop, where Neto projects to be third best in the American League at that position. Everywhere else is below league average and not in a “the sum is greater than it’s parts” kind of way. Nearly every part of this roster needs an overhaul, and if you read John’s summary of Los Angeles’ farm system, it’s pretty clear that future improvement isn’t present in the organization yet. It feels like you can boil down the Angels approach to roster building to “make it 2019 by science or magic,” which wouldn’t be so sad if you didn’t know that the last time they made a playoff appearance was 2015.
So here they are, caught in no man’s land, neither competing for even a Wild Card spot nor tearing things down to build for the future. Just existing in the cellar of the AL West. Stuck.
2026 FanGraphs Depth Charts projections: 72.5-89.5, 5th in AL West, 5.4% playoff odds
2026 PECOTA projections: 66.4-95.6, 5th in AL West, 0.5% playoff odds
If it all goes right
As he stepped into the Rate Field batter’s box on March 27, 2025, Mike Trout took a deep breath and said to himself, “Fuck it. This one’s for me.” Knowing that his (still mystifyingly) beloved Angels were going nowhere, he spent the year chasing his lost ceiling, but it cost him something. To stay healthy, he spent 106 games at DH and the mere 22 games he played in the field came in right. To chase his old batting line, he sold out for power, whiffing and striking out at unprecedented rates.
So when he picked up a baseball for the first time over the offseason, he looked at it, tossed it in the air, caught it, and said to himself, “This time, for the real me.”
And that’s what we saw from wire to wire over 2026. Gone was the 2016-2023 version of himself that was trying to drag his team to the promised land. And gone was the 2024-2025 version of himself that was trying to etch his name more firmly into the record books. Returned again was the 2014-2015 version of Mike Trout who played simply for the love of the game. No longer playing like he was trying to prevent an injury, he just let himself go, leaving his status up to the baseball gods that once shined on him so brightly. And that turned out to be exactly the sacrifice they’d asked for.
Trout once again played with a preternatural ease and a too-simple-to-have-other-interests joie de vivre. At the plate, he hadn’t lost a step with his skills last year—the bat speed, the eye, the swing path, they were all still clearly there in the peripherals. He’d just made a bad change in approach. No longer selling out for power, he was able, ironically, to access more of it. And a vintage Mike Trout in the 2026 Angels lineup resulted in opponents intentionally walking him at a rate not seen in MLB since Barry Bonds. So he ended up hitting .288/.430/.575, the best hitter in baseball for the first time since 2019.
His speed was never coming back, but he’d clearly learned a thing or two about baserunning and pitcher tells across his 2,900 times on base, so he still stole 29 bases, just shy of a second 30-30 season.
He asked to get put back in centerfield, where he always belonged. He’d lost his range to the ravages of time, but no longer caring about whether he was going to be sore tomorrow, he made a few high-effort web-gem plays that made his youth, and our youth, flash before our eyes. When he robbed Julio of a home run at T-Mobile Park on September 25th, even the Mariners fans—in a forgiving mood after clinching a playoff spot the night before—gave him a standing ovation in tribute.
All told, his 9.1 fWAR took him past Wade Boggs, Al Kaline, Albert Pujols, Cap Anson, Cal Ripken Jr., Carl Yastrzemski, and Eddie Matthews to get to 22nd all-time.
The Angels finished 80-82. —ZAM
If it all goes wrong
The real battle over the past six years hasn’t been him vs. Verlander, or Price, or Iwakuma, even. Not even the WBC matchup with Ohtani that’s been analyzed from every angle, replayed in YouTube videos and TikToks through tiny, tinny speakers. No, the battle he fights every day is older, Biblical: spirit vs. flesh. The sense memory of gliding across outfield grass, thick and springy beneath his feet as he chases after a ball, easily picking out the small white orb from the California sky. The reality of how his knee protests every sharp turn and slide, the fifteen minutes he puts in every morning rolling his back out, the lingering ache in his thumb that worsens in the rain. He always knows when it’s going to rain.
For so long, he’s kept watch in the garden. He’s been the steady heartbeat at the center of this lineup, attempted to keep his teammates alert, drag them kicking and screaming over the precipice of the playoffs. He’s been a faithful servant to this team, this fanbase, this city. It’s all he knows: faith and family, showing up for people, doing the right thing.
And in exchange, management brought in…some players who should have worked, actually. Talented guys who maybe just needed some new scenery, a little sunshine. Grayson Rodriguez, Alek Manoah, Vaughn Grissom, Matthew Lugo, Oswald Peraza – all promising players who went by the wayside somehow. Diamonds in the rough, some rougher than others. As a plan, it left a lot to be desired. But he’s learned how to live with not getting what he wants.
Initially, it’s great. Manoah, a burly bear of a man he likes quite a bit, declares the squad Misfit Island, a reference that he’s not sure most of the clubhouse understands but makes a good t-shirt anyway. He’s not sure when Mike Trout, the Mike Trout, became a misfit, an underdog, an afterthought, but he puts those thoughts out of his mind. Maybe, just this once, someone else can take over the watch.
It starts small — a delayed start to the season for Grayson, which stretches into a missed month, then two. Then the injuries come for the pitchers in the bullpen whose birthdates have an 8 as the third digit. Offensively, the health is better, but the strikeouts gradually stack up, alongside the losses. You don’t get the reward without the risk, but sometimes buying low just means you paid less, got less.
It happens at the end of April, towards the end of a Midwest road swing. Chicago is cold and miserable that spring, the streets still pockmarked by mounds of fossilized snow, the field soggy after weeks of heavy rain-snow mix. They’re on a good run early in the season, even not at full strength due to some injuries, and he’s getting to play right field – a compromise between himself and his new skipper, who still remembers him in his golden era, a not-misfit.
The ball jumps off Mongtomery’s bat with a crack but hangs up in the wind, suspended, before plummeting downwards like someone shot it out of the air. There’s no way he’ll get there in time. In his prime, he probably couldn’t have gotten there in time. But he has to try. He’s wired for loyalty, the flesh mortal but the spirit indomitable, ever-vigilant.
He feels it in his plant leg immediately, his foot sinking too deep in the spongy grass, the knee joint catching like an old lock; can picture the cartilage shearing back, but it’s too late, he’s already in motion, chasing, one last time, a quickly disappearing dream, an angel falling out of the sky. —KP
PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 24: Grayson Allen #8 of the Phoenix Suns shoots a free throw during the game against the Boston Celtics on February 24, 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 Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The numbers since the All-Star break are difficult to ignore.
Phoenix has not scored more than 100 points in regulation in four straight games: 94 against San Antonio, 96 against Orlando, 77 against Portland, and 81 tonight against Boston. In a league built on pace, space, and scoring, that stretch stands out for all the wrong reasons.
The Suns have lost 6 of their last 8 games. Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks aren’t returning anytime soon. And don’t forget Jordan Goodwin, who is also out and without a timetable. They have won games while being down a key piece or two all season long, but this time it feels different.
As Grayson Allen stated: “There is work to be done on that end of the floor.”
Grayson Allen spoke to a handful of things he noticed were lacking from the Suns offensively tonight.
Injuries are part of the story, so no, we will not ignore that.
Booker and Brooks have been sidelined through essentially all of this stretch, and their absence reshapes the entire offensive ecosystem. Booker’s presence bends a defense before he even attacks. Help defenders shade in his direction. Weakside shooters gain airspace. Driving lanes feel wider. Brooks brings that force and edge that defenses can’t ignore. When both are unavailable, roles shift, and responsibility becomes more evenly distributed across the roster.
That context matters. It also exists alongside other issues that have surfaced over the past several games. It’s no coincidence that the Suns’ offense has fallen off a cliff without their top two scorers.
The overall shot quality has gradually eroded. Against Boston, possessions frequently stalled into late-clock attempts over length. The Celtics dictated tempo and forced Phoenix into contested jumpers after actions failed to generate an advantage. The 11-point third quarter was damning. This graphic below is damning.
At least they’re league average in free-throw shooting? Right? This is Bright Side of the Sun, afterall.
Portland presented a different challenge, yet the result was similar. The ball stuck and early actions fizzled. Possessions turned into isolation without rhythm. Orlando’s size crowded the paint and disrupted driving angles, and the Suns struggled to counter with purposeful cutting or quick reversals. Are we giving too much credit to the opponents here? Probably.
There is a rhythm component that has slipped. Paint touches have declined. Free-throw attempts have dipped. Assisted field goals have become less frequent, and those elements are often connected. When the ball moves side-to-side and attacks north-south, the defense rotates. When the ball stays on one side and the attack comes late, the defense settles in. This offense has gotten away from all the things that made them work earlier this season.
Slump Solutions?
The tempo has lived in an uncomfortable middle ground. Phoenix has not consistently pushed off misses to manufacture easier points, and the half-court execution has not been crisp enough to thrive in slower possessions. That gray area can feel manageable when elite shot creation is available. It feels heavy when it is not. Right now, the slowed pace combined with rough, stagnant offensive possessions are stacking.
Rebounding has offered an opportunity, because there have been second chances. The conversion on those extra possessions, however, has not always followed. Resetting into another deliberate set can allow the defense to reorganize. The window for advantage closes quickly in today’s league. If you aren’t pushing in transition and your half-court offense is stalling, you are in deep trouble.
There is also the emotional weight of scoring droughts. Jalen Green’s return has thrown him into the wolves with Phoenix’s top two scoring options out as he gets his legs back under him. The efficiency has… not been there to say the least. Over his last three games, Green is shooting just 29.3% from the field.
In the last 3 games, Jalen Green is 17-of-60 from the field (29.3%) and 4-of-26 from three-point range (15.4%). pic.twitter.com/ItIFS6jGsp
When shots rim out early, confidence tightens. The extra pass becomes less instinctive. Open looks feel amplified because the team is searching for momentum. Against Boston, once the early attempts failed to drop, the pressure seemed to build possession by possession. It truly is a snowball effect that works against you.
Solutions exist, even within the current constraints. The ball movement HAS TO increase. Weakside activity, early-clock actions, and decisive cuts can create angles without requiring isolation heroball. Transition opportunities must be emphasized to generate easier looks before defenses are set. Making shots can be contagious, especially for role players. Teams go through slumps. It happens. Phoenix needs to find a way to snap out of it quickly, or things can get really ugly.
A clear role definition can stabilize lineups, so players operate with confidence rather than hesitation. Consistent rim pressure can produce free throws, which slow the game and steady an offense searching for footing.
The injuries remain real. Booker’s gravity and Brooks’ force change the geometry of the floor. At the same time, the Suns have defensive tools and connective pieces capable of helping the offense rediscover balance.
This stretch has revealed how delicate rhythm can be. It has also presented an opportunity. The coming games will show whether Phoenix can recalibrate, lean into structure and pace, and turn a difficult run into something instructive rather than defining.
Jordan Ott, it’s your time to shine.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 21: Head coach Jordan Ott of the Phoenix Suns gestures during the second half against the Orlando Magic at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 21, 2026 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. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 20: Tatsuya Imai #45 of the Houston Astros pitches during spring training workouts at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on February 20, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Astros (1-2-1) host the New York Mets (2-2-1) in a split squad game today in Palm Beach, FL.
Tatsuya Imai makes his first appearance of the spring in this game. Imai was the Astros top free agent signing of the offseason and currently projects as their third starter while offering number 2 starter upside.
3B Carlos Correa and 1B Christian Walker will also make their spring debuts in this game.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Thursday, February 26, 12:10 p.m. CST
Location: CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches, Palm Beach, FL
