While the spotlight was on the spring return of Gerrit Cole, another right-hander made waves in the Yankees' win on Wednesday afternoon.
Pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange shut out the Red Sox for four innings, allowing two hits, one walk and striking out four. He extended his scoreless streak to 11 innings and lowered his spring ERA to a minuscule 0.66.
The 22-year-old entered the preseason as the team's No. 2 prospect and continues to show why. And while his status for the Opening Day roster is still up in the air -- albeit very unlikely -- his teammates continue to take notice.
“I don’t have any doubts he could help us right now,” catcher Austin Wells told reporters, including Bryan Hoch, in Tampa after the game. “I don’t know what the process is or what that’s going to look like, but the way he pitched today, he could definitely get a lot of outs for us.”
When asked if he believes he's ready for the big leagues, the 6-foot-7 Lagrange simply said, "yeah."
“Attacking the zone, being able to execute with two strikes more consistently, staying calm on the mound regardless of the situation,” Lagrange said through an interpreter. “I think doing that gives me a good idea that I’m ready to compete.”
What could impede Lagrange's promotion is the stacked rotation the Yankees have and the experienced bullpen arms they expect to bring with them to San Francisco when the season begins March 25.
The organization will likely want Lagrange to get more seasoning in the minors to start -- he has yet to pitch in Triple-A in his career -- and he was solid with High-A and Double-A a year ago. In 24 games, Lagrange pitched to a 3.53 ERA and struck out 168 batters across 120.0 innings.
New York could surprise folks and bring the youngster on to start the season, but as manager Aaron Boone said during Wednesday's game, he and the organization are thinking about Lagrange's long-term.
"Carlos has been so impressive," Boone said. "You see the stuff, but the makeup matches it. We’re really excited about his future. We not only feel like he has a chance to impact us in the long haul, but it could be sooner than anyone expects to. He’s really close to being ready and he has a bright career in front of him."
Mar 3, 2026; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers (9) reacts after walking against Great Britain in the third inning at the American Family Fields. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
The Brewers dropped both ends of split-squad action today. At home, the “varsity” squad faced the Los Angeles Angels with Kyle Harrison the first guy on the mound. Harrison had to leave early because of a blister, but got beat up a little bit to the tune of four runs — only one earned — in 2 2/3 innings. The bullpen did their job, and the Brewer offense nearly fought all the way back, but they couldn’t quite complete the comeback and lost 4-3. In Peoria, the “JV” team faced the Seattle Mariners behind starting pitcher Carlos Rodriguez. For the first few innings, it was a see-saw affair, but Seattle scored three in the fifth to take a 7-3 lead, and the score didn’t change after that.
Today wasn’t a great outing for Harrison, a guy trying to make an impression on the folks who make the roster decisions; his fastball sat 92-93 (down a little bit from usual) and while he was still missing bats (10 whiffs, three strikeouts) he gave up four hits and four runs in his outing, though only one of those runs was earned — three of them came when Jeimer Candelario popped a three-run homer immediately following a two-out fielding error by Luis Rengifo. I would assume the blister that forced him from the game early will not be a lingering issue.
The rest of the Brewer pitching staff fared better against the Angels. After Jesús Broca finished the third, Garrett Stallings was fortunate to not allow more runs in the fourth: Denzer Guzman and Randy De Jesus led off the inning with a double and single, respectively, but Guzman was retired on a fielder’s choice, Candelario struck out, and with two outs De Jesus was gunned down at home by Garrett Mitchell after a Donovan Walton single. So Stallings allowed three hits in the inning but no runs.
As for offensive notables in the Angels game, Jake Bauers was 2-for-4 with a double and his fourth spring homer (110 mph and 432 feet, no cheapie), Luis Rengifo was 1-for-3 with a solo homer (his second), and Andrew Vaughn was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Against Seattle, Tyler Black, Blake Perkins, Cooper Pratt, and Marco Dinges all had multiple hits; Black had a two-RBI triple and a sac fly, giving him three RBIs on the day. Dinges had the team’s only other extra-base hit, a double.
The other “headliner” pitchers in this game performed quite well. Aaron Ashby pitched two hitless innings, allowing only a walk while striking out two. His spring training ERA is down to 1.35, and his fastball reached 97.7 mph in this one. DL Hall also threw two scoreless innings; he allowed a two-out double in his second inning, but retired the side on the next batter. Hall struck out three, didn’t walk anyone, and his fastball topped out at an encouraging 95.1 mph, though most of his fastballs were in the 93-94 range. Brian Fitzpatrick finished things off by striking out the side in the ninth after the leadoff hitter reached on an error.
In the Seattle game, Rodriguez got beat up a bit, as he allowed four earned runs on three hits and three walks in four innings, including homers given up to Brendan Donovan and Luke Raley. Easton McGee also got banged around to the tune of three runs on two hits and a walk (and some bad sequencing) in his one inning; Randy Arozarena hit a two-out, two-run homer after Raley had already doubled in a run. Sammy Peralta, Drew Rom, and Peter Strzelecki all pitched scoreless innings after that.
Not exactly a day to write home about. The Brewers have a rare spring training night game tomorrow, when they’ll take on the Rangers at 8:10 p.m. CT. Brandon Woodruff is expected to start that game, his second outing of the spring.
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 17: Alex Caruso #9 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates during the game against the Orlando Magic on March 17, 2026 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Good news, tankers: The Nets are playing the Thunder tonight. That alone should provide some solace, but you never know in today’s NBA. OKC just clinched the postseason last night, their 13th since 2010. If only the Nets could have some of their fortunes come this May (and June).
🏀 KEY INFO
Who: OKC Thunder (54-15) at Brooklyn Nets (17-51) When: 7:30 PM ET Watch: YES Network
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 16: Santiago Espinal #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers holds his bat on the field prior to a Spring Training game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Camelback Ranch on March 16, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Pretty much since the day he signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers, Santiago Espinal was talked about in camp as someone very much in the mix for making the opening day roster. On Wednesday, the Dodgers made it official, selecting the contract of the veteran infielder.
Two and a half weeks later, Roberts told reporters in Arizona, “It’s hard to imagine [Espinal] not being on the team.”
Espinal later that night hit two home runs, and has been getting fantastic results in spring training, with 16 hits in 39 at-bats, including four doubles, and five walks, hitting .410/.447/.667.
But his making the roster doesn’t feel like an overreaction to spring stats, but rather seeing proof of concept of someone who was signed for a specific role. After all, he was used all spring like a veteran getting ready for the season, not necessarily in a dogged fight for a job. He started all 16 of his games thus far, mostly at third base, with a little bit of second base, first base, designated hitter, and right field.
For his career Espinal has played mostly second and third base, with a smattering of corner outfield. A career .291/.344/.409 hitter with a 107 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers, Espinal figures to face a lot of southpaws, much like the perceived role intended for fellow right-handed-hitting infielder Andy Ibáñez, who signed a one-year deal in January but was designated for assignment a few weeks later before getting claimed by the A’s.
Jan 25, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (3) celebrates in the second half against the New Orleans Pelicans at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Victor Wembanyama seems like a lock to win Defensive Player of the Year and get an All-NBA spot if he is eligible. Is there a chance he could also win MVP if the Spurs stay hot?
Marilyn Dubinski: The MVP hype is definitely on the rise for Wemby, but I can’t see him winning both in the same season this early in his career for a few reasons. One is that voters may fear future voter fatigue will eventually set in, so they don’t want to give him too much, too early. I also believe many voters have a block against giving players more than one award per season. (I believe this is the same reason Tim Duncan never won DPOY: voters already had him on their MVP ballot.) This is not to say Wemby will never win both in one season, but he’d be just the fourth player to ever do it, along with Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, which leads to my final reason why it won’t happen this season. Knowing the media, they’ll want Wemby to prove himself in the playoffs before putting him in that esteemed group (even if they are regular-season awards).
Bill Huan: I love Wemby to death, but MVP is out of reach. Shai has locked it up, and rightfully so: he’s been the best player in the league this year (and that’s also coming from a Jokic “glazer”) while also playing on the best team, and the narrative is on his side too after breaking Wilt’s 20-point streak. Wemby’s time will come, maybe as soon as next year, but for now, it’s Shai’s.
Devon Birdsong: As Marilyn has very accurately pointed out, the MVP- DPOY double has only happened thrice in the history of both awards existing. It’s incredibly rare to begin with. Does Wemby have an argument for both? Yeah, I think he does. But so did David Robinson and Tim Duncan, with 1995 and 2002 both serving as perhaps the most glaring examples of seasons deserving that distinction. You can call it media bias, you can call it voter fatigue, you can call it a certain degree of veiled pettiness, but I just don’t see it happening this season (unless the games-played threshold is exceeded by the frontrunners). And in all fairness, both of Dave and Tim’s seasons were better than this season for Wemby. I absolutely see it happening in the future, perhaps even more than once, but I think we’ll all have to satisfy ourselves with the knowledge that Wemby is already good enough on both ends to be having this conversation at all. Besides, with the way things are going, there’s a chance that Wemby could pull off an even rarer feat: becoming only the 2nd player to ever win DPOY and Finals MVP in the same season.
Jeje Gomez:I don’t think it will happen this season, unless he’s the only one out of the contenders to be eligible for the award. A lot of the conversation about the Spurs in the media, even among some apologists, is that their success is impressive, but they’ll need to show how good they are in the playoffs. I feel like they likely feel the same is true for Wembanyama. It’s not the most reasonable of takes, but I can understand the fear of anointing someone the most valuable player in the league only to see them flame out early in the postseason. Plus, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander actually does have a stronger case after putting together an even more efficient scoring season than last, while likely leading the Thunder to the league’s best record despite Jalen Williams’s long absence.
Keldon Johnson has a strong case for Sixth Man of the Year, and Stephon Castle should get consideration for an All-Defensive team. Will they get the distinctions?
Dubinski: While both are equally deserving, I think Castle stands a better chance at All-Defense than Keldon does at Sixth Man. I’ve been hyping Keldon’s case all season, but his impact seems to go relatively unnoticed by outsiders, and the odds have consistently had him behind Naz Reed, Jaime Jaquez and even Reed Sheppard at times. Probably the fact that the Spurs’ second unit is so deep, combined with players like Dylan Harper stealing some spotlight from intrigued viewers, is not helping his case, but the good thing is, like Manu Ginobili before him, he doesn’t care.
Huan: I don’t think that there is any chance Keldon actually wins 6MOY, and I’d still bet on Castle getting on an All-Defensive team over Keldon being a finalist for 6th man. Currently, there are 12 names I’d say are fighting for 10 All-Defense spots, while Keldon seems to be behind the likes of Naz Reid, Isaiah Stewart, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and even Reed Sheppard for 6th man. Whether or not that’s fair is a separate discussion, but those are the reasons why I’d bet on Castle over Keldon.
Birdsong: Keldon was arguably the frontrunner for the first two-thirds of the season, but his performances have been more uneven since his shoulder injury, and it’s been noticeable in the games the Spurs lost against the Knicks and Nuggets. The reality is that now more than ever, you really need a narrative to sell for awards, and Keldon’s isn’t the flashiest of sells. He’s not leading the other candidates in scoring and the Spurs are still really good without him, whereas the Heat and Timberwolves are more visibly dependent on Jaquez and Reid. The sixth-man award has long been a scoring award, which is part of why Manu had so few. Like Manu, Keldon has some advanced stats that show his value, but they’re no longer obscene, so my guess is that it goes to Reid, especially if Minnesota secures a Top 4 seed in the West. Castle, on the other hand, should be a lock for All-Defense. The only question (in my mind) is whether it’s first team or second. My guess is he lands on the second, though it should arguably be the first. Good luck getting two Spurs on the first team, though, since it’s only ever happened once (Duncan and Bowen in ‘07), which feels insane.
Gomez: I think the fact that 10 guys make the All-Defensive Teams while only one player gets 6MOY gives Castle a clear advantage. He definitely deserves a spot, and I’d be shocked if he wasn’t picked, assuming voters have been paying attention, which is not a given considering how some in the media still mispronounce Wembanyama’s name. Since Wemby is going to be in the first team, I feel like Castle is likely going to be on the second team. For Keldon to get some hardware, he would have to go on a tear in this last stretch, and he might have the opportunity with the Spurs resting some players. But I doubt Johnson would force the issue, and he might be getting rested as well at some point. Hopefully, he’ll at least be one of the finalists.
Mitch Johnson is leading the Spurs back to the playoffs while surpassing expectations. Can he win Coach of the Year, or do others have better cases?
Dubinski: I certainly think he has one of the best cases, but again, from what I’ve seen from the media, it might go to the Celtics’ Joe Mazzula for the job he’s done keeping them near the top of the East after most figured it would be a “gap” year, with Jayson Tatum missing most of the season and Boston having to salary-dump a lot of key players from their 2024 championship team. Is he more deserving than Mitch? I don’t feel like it since they’re already a proven commodity and still have another MVP-level player in Jaylen Brown and a borderline All-Star in Derrick White, but I would understand the logic if Mazzula won over Mitch.
Huan: I’d firmly place Johnson in the second tier of Coach of the Year candidates, with Joe Mazzulla and JB Bickerstaff fighting for first. Johnson is up against the likes of Charles Lee, Jordan Ott, and Mark Daigneault for that third and final spot, and there are credible arguments for each of them to be nominated. Even with my Spurs bias, I think Mazzulla is the obvious choice given what he’s accomplished with an undermanned Celtics roster this year, so Johnson won’t (and shouldn’t) win. Like Wemby, though, his time will come.
Birdsong: I certainly think that he *can*, but I’m not sure it’s likely unless the Spurs go on another prolonged tear. Most of the conversation seems to favor Mazzula in Boston and Jordan Ott in Phoenix. I think all three are deserving, but Ott’s is perhaps the most shocking, and Mazzula’s features the most well-known injury. If Mitch had, for instance, gotten the team to 50+ wins with Victor out most of the season, that probably would have earned him the award, but that’s just the kind of season it is. Consider that Pop only won three, and two of them came in championship seasons. The national media always wants the flashiest story, and that’s almost never the Spurs. My guess is that Ott is going to take it, especially if the Suns manage to get close to 50 wins and avoid the play-in.
Gomez: All awards are about narratives, and Johnson has been, fair or not, almost a footnote in what has been Wembanyama’s big comeback season after the deep vein thrombosis. It seems that Mazzula and Ott are getting rewarded for overachieving without a top player, and that doesn’t fit what Johnson has done, which is keep a young group engaged on both ends and playing selflessly despite this being just his first year as a head coach. Bickerstaff, meanwhile, will get consideration if the Pistons finish first, which is not something that the Spurs are likely to replicate in the West. It just doesn’t feel like it will happen for Mitch, unfortunately, but he at least got to coach an All-Star team.
The Mets announced their roster of prospects for the 2026 Spring Breakout game ahead of Thursday's exhibition.
The 25-man roster is filled with growing stars, including seven of SNY contributor Joe DeMayo's top 10 in the system, per his updated top 30 prospect list that was released earlier in March.
A.J. Ewing, Ryan Clifford, Elian Peña, and 2025 draft pick Mitch Voit are some of the position players, while Jack Wenninger and Jonathan Santucci headline the group of pitchers.
New York's prospects will take on the Tampa Bay Rays' prospects on Thursday, March 19, at 7:10 p.m. from Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Here is the full roster, with SNY's Mets top 30 ranking in parentheses:
MLB Los Angeles Dodgers starter Shohei Ohtani | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
It was all about Shohei Ohtani today, making his first start this spring and showcasing the stuff that makes him one of the filthiest pitchers in the game—Ohtani pitched into the fifth inning when he was relieved by Edgardo Henríquez, helping Los Angeles on their way to a 5-1 win over the Giants. Possessing one of the more vast arsenals in the game, Ohtani sat roughly a mile per hour slower on his two fastballs (sinker and four-seamer), which is to be expected. The more surprising bit was that all of his off-speed pitches came significantly slower than usual, not that it had any negative effect on his performance. For instance, the sweeper came in at an average of 82.8 MPH, 2.2 lower than his average last season.
Other than a couple of free passes, not finding the zone quite so frequently with his four-seam fastball, Ohtani didn’t give the Giants much of a chance, allowing only a hit in his 4.1 innings of work. Keeping track of his workload, Ohtani left the game on 61 pitches, pretty much ready for the start of the regular season.
It’s only spring training, but don’t tell Freddie Freeman that. The Dodgers’ star first baseman has been on fire this spring and managed his first long shot, going down below the zone to connect on a curveball against Landon Roupp. Reaching base safely twice against Roupp, Freeman is now hitting .423 in 28 at-bats, the second-highest mark among Dodger regulars. Freeman only trails Teoscar Hernández, whose outstanding spring offers a bit more hope that he can turn the page on what was a disappointing regular season in 2025. The Dodgers’ starting left fielder was responsible for one of the five RBI from the Dodgers.
Maybe it was Freeman who was hot, or perhaps just his spot in the lineup, given that his replacement proceeded to hit the second Dodger home run of the game. Former Red Nick Senzel went yard, thus raising his OPS this spring above 1.000.
The Giants’ sole run of the game came on a solo shot allowed by Tanner Scott in the eighth inning. The latest victim of Victor Bericoto, one of the standout performers for the Giants this spring.
Up next
The Dodgers are off on Thursday, returning to action against another divisional opponent on Friday as Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start against the San Diego Padres, his last start before the beginning of the regular season. The first pitch is at 6:05 PM Pacific time.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Harrison Bader was born in New York, raised to root for the Yankees and hasn’t come within a hundred miles of Half Dome in his nine years in the big leagues.
“I’d play the same way if I was in Yosemite,” Bader told The California Post when asked about corralling the spacious, angled outfield at Oracle Park. “If anything, there’s more room to go make some plays. I’m excited. It’s gonna be a challenge, so I can’t wait.”
Harrison Bader was born in New York, raised to root for the Yankees, and now will roam center field for the Giants.
Even the most routine fly balls seemed to be a challenge for the Giants at times last season. By any metric, their outfielders ranked among the worst in the majors.
Whether you look at Outs Above Average or Defensive Runs Saved, the Giants possessed the worst defenders at their positions in two of the three outfield spots.
“Ultimately my job is to understand what was happening last year and try to make or create a better spot to put our outfielders in,” said Shane Robinson, who was promoted from the Triple-A staff to serve as manager Tony Vitello’s first base coach and outfield coordinator.
“I think guys are on board with maybe some more aggressiveness and a little bit of tweaks when it comes to outfield positioning and jumps. Easy things to correct that, if we do, we should be in a better spot as a team.”
Will Brennan, another offseason addition to the outfield mix, described Bader as “a wizard” in center field. He brings more than his own defensive prowess — responsible for the fourth-most Defensive Runs Saved among all active outfielders.
With him roaming center, Jung Hoo Lee will slide over to right field, and Heliot Ramos won’t have to worry about so much ground in left.
Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee will slide over to right field this season. Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
The two metrics rated Ramos the worst left fielder and Lee the worst center fielder in MLB last season. The eye test, for the most part, backed up the numbers.
Bader sees it differently.
“I don’t think those guys really need help, man,” he said. “Honestly, I’ve been watching them. Listen, they move great, they’re instinctual, they have tools like crazy. They don’t need my help. I just think we need to focus on where we’re positioning.”
The Giants, under Bob Melvin last season, shifted their defenders at the lowest rate of all 30 clubs, according to Statcast data. Their outfield positioning was tied for the fourth-least effective in the majors, by Defensive Runs Saved.
“It’s hard to steal a base if you have a s—ty lead. It’s hard to catch a ball if you’re in a bad position,” Bader said. “I think if we just focus on that and why we were positioned the way we were last year and focus on proper positioning this year, I think it gives us a better chance of just making routine plays.”
Bader’s presence in center also frees up the corner outfielders to take more chances. Through a club interpreter, Lee said he thought Giants outfielders showed “a lack of aggressiveness.”
Ramos sought out Robinson and new bench coach Jayce Tingler this offseason looking to improve from last season. Vitello described him as “a man on a mission.”
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Communication was one issue Vitello diagnosed. “A lot of it is just them taking charge and responsibility for that part,” he said. Another was familiarity. It was Lee’s first full MLB season, the second for Ramos, and right field fixture Mike Yastrzemski was traded at the deadline.
It wasn’t such an issue that it prevented the Giants from asking Lee to shift positions. But it would seemingly not make it any easier for the new position group to jell when all three missed chunks of time in camp representing their countries at the World Baseball Classic.
Harrison Bader, in his first season with the Giants, played for Team Israel at the World Baseball Classic. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
There was never a doubt in Bader’s mind that he would compete for Team Israel, even while adapting to a new team.
“You get an opportunity to represent people and culture, something so much bigger than just baseball,” he said. “It’s my culture, my background. It’s part of me.”
Lee was able to get some reps in right field because Korea “has our own Harrison Bader,” he said. But he added that he would still like to get more experience at the position.
Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos won’t have to worry about covering so much ground in left with Harrison Bader in center. Getty Images
Still, after helping Korea advance out of the group stage for the first time since 2009, Lee didn’t view the outfielders’ side quests for their national teams as anything but a positive.
“I feel like there’s going to be a synergy effect,” he said.
With attention turning to Opening Day, now just more than a week away, Bader acknowledged, “I wasn’t expecting to feel so rushed when I came back.” He said he’s focused on “maximizing every day” for the remainder of camp.
He’s not too worked up about the Giants’ opponent March 25.
“They’re a very talented team. I have a lot of respect for a lot of guys over there,” Bader said of the Yankees. “But it’s a baseball game. I’ve played a million baseball games in my life. Prepare and attack accordingly. Go out there and have some fun. It should be a really special experience.”
DENVER — Two decades after his highly controversial departure from the Detroit Red Wings, Sergei Fedorov stood on the podium at his jersey retirement ceremony and openly admitted that the way he handled his exit was "a huge mistake."
At the ceremony, Fedorov hinted that his perspective had shifted since leaving the Red Wings, the team with which he won three Stanley Cups. He credited his personal life for grounding him, saying that meeting the love of his life, Corinna, helped reshape his outlook. Today, the couple shares two children: a daughter, Aleksandra, and a son, Viktor.
Matt Duchene speaks with The Hockey News and a slew of other reporters.
Matt Duchene may not command the same legendary status as Fedorov, but for the Colorado Avalanche, he was undeniably a cornerstone of the franchise’s modern era. Drafted third overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Duchene spent more than eight seasons with the Avs, producing some of the most memorable years of his career.
His best season came in 2013–14, when he recorded 23 goals and 47 assists in 71 games. He followed that with a career-high 30 goals the following year, though by his final full-time campaign with the team, his production had dipped to 18 goals, 23 assists, and 41 points.
Nearly a decade has passed since Duchene was traded to the Ottawa Senators as part of a three-way deal that also involved the Nashville Predators. Colorado received a substantial return, including then-rookie defenseman Samuel Girard, forward prospect Vladislav Kamenev, and a second-round pick from Nashville, along with center Shane Bowers (a 2017 first-round selection), goalie Andrew Hammond, and both a first- and third-round pick from Ottawa.
A Difficult Departure
Duchene had been on the block for some time after requesting a trade from the Avalanche the previous year. While he clearly showed frustration at still being in Colorado at the start of the 2017–18 season, he reported to camp and worked hard—though his expressions betrayed a player ready to move on.
Duchene shortly before being traded. Credit: Jerome Miron
Since the trade, Duchene has played for three other NHL organizations, landing with the Dallas Stars in the 2023–24 campaign. Despite appearing in 69 career playoff games, a Stanley Cup has eluded him—unlike several Avalanche teammates who stayed in Denver long enough to hoist the trophy in 2022.
Like Fedorov, Duchene is now a devoted family man. He is married to his wife, Ashley, and together they have three children: a son, Beau, and two daughters, Jayme and Ellie.
It took Red Wings fans and the organization a very long time to forgive Fedorov. Credit: Lou Capozzola
After some light-hearted clarification from The Hockey News about how having a family can change your perspective, Duchene was asked if there was anything he would have done differently regarding his departure from the Avalanche.
Being the straightforward person that he is, Duchene said he had no regrets with the way he handled things.
"No," Duchene said. "I think at that point in my career, it was best for me to (move on). Obviously, it was one of the hardest things I've ever done; I grew up idolizing this team. When you have to ask your hero for a trade, it's tough.
"That's a part of my history playing for this team that I'm super proud of and it's amazing that I got to live that childhood dream...I wanted a new opportunity and I felt like I needed it personally and it was nothing personal against (anyone). I think I handled it fine; I showed up to camp; I worked hard; I played hard; I played well."
Stars vs. Avalanche: Division on the Line
Duchene led the Stars in points last season with 82, tallying 30 goals and 52 assists. His numbers are a bit down this year due to an early-season injury, but through 42 games, he has posted 13 goals and 19 assists for 32 points.
Tonight’s matchup between the Colorado Avalanche and the Dallas Stars at Ball Arena carries high stakes. The Central Division is red-hot, and this game could go a long way in determining not only the division champion but also a frontrunner for the Presidents’ Trophy. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:50 p.m. local time.
BUFFALO, NY – South Florida’s NCAA Tournament opener against Louisville marks a homecoming for first-year coach Bryan Hodgson, who was born in western New York, went to college in western New York and started his coaching career in western New York, eventually working under current Alabama coach Nate Oats at Buffalo from 2015-19.
An Olean, New York native who attended Jamestown Community College and Fredonia State, Hodgson said he’ll have 38 relatives in attendance for the No. 11 Bulls’ matchup with the No. 6 Cardinals. He’s also been texting with a group of college coaches who hail from the region, including Florida assistant Carlin Hartman, Texas assistant Adam Cohen, Army head coach Kevin Kuwik and Rice head coach Rob Lanier, talking Buffalo Bills football and the local food scene.
“This is home,” he said. “Just icing on the cake to be able to do that back here at home in western New York in front of friends and family, and really looking forward to the opportunity of playing against a very good Louisville team.”
The area is home — but this is only a visit.
Earlier on Wednesday, Hodgson turned down an offer to be the next coach at Syracuse, according to multiple reports. The Orange fired third-year coach Adrian Autry earlier this month and were attracted to Hodgson’s quick turnaround at 25-win USF, which took home the American Conference regular-season and tournament championships after posting just one winning season since 2019.
Ironically, the game against the Cardinals makes Hodgson the first coach from western New York to start tournament play in Buffalo since former Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim in 2014.
“When it comes to situations like these, we try to stay away from social media because everything is fake,” said senior forward Izaiyah Nelson. “Everybody goes on social media and says anything, and it's been happening for the last couple years. It's the same old things every year.”
USF heads into Thursday’s matchup on an 11-game winning streak, tied with Duke for the second-longest active run in the country. Known for a potent offense — USF ranks eighth nationally with 87.7 points per game — the Bulls’ defense has made huge strides of late, holding seven of their past nine opponents to under 67 points.
“Yeah, I'm just a firm believer that's just what good teams do. They get better and they play their best basketball in February and March,” Hodgson said. "Our guys have been locked in. They're very process driven. They're extremely selfless, and they wake up every morning with an intent to get better. That's really showed on the court.”
But the Bulls will face two serious tests in Friday’s matchup against the Cardinals. The first is Louisville’s own electric offense and talent level, which is beyond anything USF has faced since a road loss to Alabama in December.
The second is the drama over Hodgson’s future that may not die down anytime soon, not with his name now being drawn in connection with the opening at Providence.
This is the dilemma for all up-and-coming coaches outside the major-conference structure: While every successful season and tournament appearance raises the profile of the coach and his program, this same success raises the likelihood he’ll be poached by a deeper-pocketed suitor.
“Does it look like we pay attention to any of that? We're out here playing basketball,” said Nelson. “We don't get into those kind of things. We come out here every day, grinding, working hard, and just keeping our head down, worrying about the next game.”
To his point, the scrutiny on Hodgson’s future didn’t slow the Bulls’ push for the program’s first conference tournament championship since winning the Sun Belt in 1990. Autry was dismissed on March 11, four days before USF topped Wichita State in the American final.
“Yeah, I'll say this: Time of the year doesn't matter,” he said. “I can tell you that my sole focus is on winning basketball games and enjoying every single second with this group of young men I have right now.”
And Hodgson can lean on his experience as an assistant, when Oats coached Buffalo to successive tournament appearances in 2018 and 2019 — beating Arizona as the No. 13 seed in 2018 and Arizona State as a No. 6 a year later — when his name was bandied about in connection with major openings.
“Yeah, you come in with a chip on your shoulder and an edge,” said Hodgson. “When we beat Arizona, our guys got on that plane from the Buffalo airport full-heartedly believing we were going to go in there to win that game.
“My guys in that locker room right now feel the same way. We know that we're here because of the work we've put in. There's no luck. I've got a great group of young men that believe in their abilities. They're confident in their abilities because, quite frankly, they work, and for us confidence comes from work.”
The Bulls received a major boost to their upset hopes with the news Louisville freshman star point guard Mikel Brown Jr. will miss Thursday's first round game with a back injury.
Louisville enters March Madness with a 7-5 record with Brown on the bench vs. a 16-5 record when he plays. Per CBBAnalytics.com, it averages 6.4 fewer points per 40 minutes (88.1 vs. 81.7) and shoots 4.8% worse from beyond the arc (38.2% vs. 33.4%) when he's not on the court.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 09: Moses Moody #4 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates his three point basket and foul with Al Horford #20 against the Indiana Pacers in the third quarter at Chase Center on November 09, 2025 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a much-needed win on Monday in Washington D.C., the Golden State Warriors head north to try to make it two straight Ws. Unfortunately, they’re playing a much, much harder team: the Boston Celtics. In case you haven’t been paying attention to the NBA this year, the Celtics have had a magnificent season, despite Jayson Tatum’s Achilles tear … and, just as importantly, Tatum has returned.
While the Warriors are still missing a lot of key players, they are mercifully getting healthier. Quinten Post, and Gary Payton II, who were listed on the initial injury reports with questionable health, are now listed as available. Draymond Green, who has been a staple of the injury report lately, is nowhere to be found. And not only is Kristaps Porziņģis absent from the injury report for what is the Dubs’ third-straight game against one of his former teams, but Steve Kerr revealed that the former All-Star is ready for a minutes increase.
That said, Boston is still the much healthier team. Here’s the full injury report.
Warriors
Out — Steph Curry (right patellofemoral pain syndrome)
Curry has been traveling with the team, and Kerr revealed that he went through a workout on Tuesday. Golden State will provide an injury update on Saturday.
Out — Jimmy Butler III (right ACL surgery)
Butler, who is out until probably January or February, surprised the team by joining them on their six-city road trip. Hopefully that means that his rehab is going well.
Out — Moses Moody (right wrist sprain)
It looked like Moody was close to a return, but sadly that no longer is the case. It’s looking like he’ll probably miss the entirety of the road trip.
Out — Al Horford (right soleus strain)
No updates on Horford. He’ll probably be out for a while, but hopefully is back in time to get in a rhythm before the play-in tournament.
Out — Seth Curry (left adductor strain)
Still just four games played this year for the younger Curry brother. What a bummer.
Out — LJ Cryer (left hamstring injury management)
It’s really such a bummer that Cryer has dealt with so many injuries at a time when there would be a bunch of minutes for him. He’s really impressed in the rare instances when he’s been healthy.
Celtics
Out — Nikola Vučević (right ring finger fracture)
Vučević was playing a key role for the Celtics after coming over in a deadline trade, but suffered a finger injury in his 12th game with the team. He’ll be re-evaluated shortly before the playoffs.
Enjoy the game, Dub Nation. It tips of at 4:00 p.m. PT on ESPN.
The history books will rightfully remember last year's March Madness as a chalk, with four No. 1 seeds in the Final Four and three No. 2 seeds in the Elite Eight. But as the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament first round gets set to begin on Thursday, March 19, it's perhaps worth noting what happened to the bracket on the first two days of college basketball's biggest event in 2025.
Five double-digit seeds pulled off upsets in the first round, including four from non-power conferences. Only one (No. 10 seed Arkansas) advanced to the Sweet 16, which significantly reduced the brackets busted and eventually led to just the second Final Four featuring all No. 1 seeds since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985.
The 2026 NCAA Tournament field is also seen as top-heavy by college basketball experts, but there are several intriguing opportunities for a potential Cinderella to emerge this year. Here's a look at five March Madness first-round games that could produce an upset this week:
The school that went from the original First Four all the way to the Final Four 15 years ago is a potential Cinderella again in the South region of the 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket after a run to the Atlantic-10 Conference tournament championship. VCU has lost just once over the past two months and it slots ahead of UNC since Feb. 1 in the Torvik Rankings, which are based on offensive and defensive efficiency and weight recent performances more heavily than other predictive metrics. North Carolina, meanwhile, will enter the NCAA Tournament with back-to-back losses to Duke and Clemson and continues to be without freshman star Caleb Wilson. No game during Thursday's March Madness first-round action has a smaller spread than VCU vs. UNC (-2.5).
No. 11 South Florida over No. 6 Louisville
Only one team in this year's NCAA Tournament has a longer current winning streak than USF's 11-game streak entering its East region first-round matchup and six of the Bulls' past seven wins have been by at least 15 points. Guard Wes Enis has been held under 19 points just once in the past five weeks. Louisville also plays the same up tempo style as USF and the Cardinals are just 4-4 over their past eight games. They won't have star freshman guard Mikel Brown Jr. available again due to injury.
No. 11 Texas over No. 6 BYU
This West region first-round matchup will pit two teams with bad defenses that played much better earlier in the season. Now that Texas escaped with a buzzer-beater win over North Carolina State in the First Four, it gets a juicy upset chance against A.J. Dybantsa and BYU. The Cougars had a 7-9 record over the final two months of Big 12 play and uses one of the thinnest benches in the field. Though the Longhorns limped to the finish line with five losses in their final six games before Tuesday's NCAA Tournament triumph, they do have wins over Alabama and Vanderbilt on their ledger this season.
Though Miami (Ohio) garnered most of the headlines out of the MAC with its undefeated run through the regular season, conference tournament champion Akron had the better offensive and defensive efficiency ratings and could take advantage of its draw in the Midwest region. Though Akron lost by 18 points to the only other power conference team on its schedule (Purdue), Texas Tech hasn't looked the same since star J.T. Toppin suffered a season-ending injury. The Red Raiders are 6-5 over their past 11 games, with three defeats in a row entering the NCAA Tournament.
Missouri is a trendy pick in this West region first-round matchup because the game will take place in nearby St. Louis. The Tigers also had a strong surge through SEC play in February and early March, beating Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M to secure an NCAA Tournament at large berth. Missouri, however, has lost three in a row, including an SEC tournament quarterfinal setback to Kentucky. But the Tigers already beat Kentucky on the road earlier this season and the crowd should be on their side this week.
MIAMI — Having set attendance and broadcast viewer records, the World Baseball Classic will return in 2029 or 2030 and at some future point could be moved to midseason, when clubs would be less likely to restrict players.
Since the WBC’s inception in 2006, it has been played during spring training. Tournament rules include pitch count restrictions, and teams can demand tougher limits or deny players permission to participate.
“Obviously we have commitments to Fox in terms of the All-Star Game in the middle of the season through ’28,” baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said Wednesday during an interview with The Associated Press. “As the game continues to evolve, we have talked about midseason tournaments in general. And certainly if we decided to get serious about this, about a midseason tournament, this would be an ideal opportunity.”
Fan interest for the WBC continues to grow
This year’s WBC drew 1,619,839 fans for 47 games, a 24% increase over the previous high of 1,306,414 in 2023. The initial tournament in 2006 drew 740,451 for 39 games.
The most-watched 2006 matchup was Mexico’s second-round win over the U.S. at 2.46 million on ESPN.
This year’s most-viewed game through Sunday was the Americans’ semifinal victory over the Dominican Republic at 7.37 million on FS1 and Fox Deportes. That topped the previous high of 5.2 million for the 2023 final on FS1, Fox Deportes and Fox Sports streaming services. Numbers for Tuesday's final aren’t yet available.
“There’s no resemblance to where we started in 2006,” Manfred said. “This one, I feel like it went to a different level. We set an attendance record after the early play. By the time we got into the semis and the final it was all gravy.”
The Ohtani effect has been key
Shohei Ohtani striking out then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout for the last out of the 2023 WBC was a seminal moment. A sport that emerged in the U.S. in the 19th century took until the 21st century to establish a truly global competition.
“The WBC is kind of a springboard for the rest of our international efforts,” Manfred said. “It gives you kind of a cornerstone to work from in terms of making long-term business relationships with sponsors, broadcasters and whatnot.”
Fans from baseball-mad countries like Japan, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela have watched the tourney closely since its inception. Japan has three titles, while the DR and Venezuela have each won once.
The U.S. also has just one title, in 2017, despite using an All-Star roster this year led by captain Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper and Paul Skenes. Judge was appointed U.S. captain last April and his early commitment sparked other top players to join.
Judge called the WBC crowds “bigger and better than the World Series.” Italy’s run to the semifinals this year awakened baseball interest in a soccer-crazed country, even though games started in the middle of the night.
“I just told the guys that they are the champions of this tournament,” Italy manager Francisco Cervelli said after the Azzurri were eliminated by Venezuela, the eventual champion. “They revolutionized Italy. They put another sport on the map.”
A midseason tournament likely would lead to fewer stars declining or being held back. Two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal agreed with Detroit to be limited to one appearance, and the U.S. started 24-year-old rookie Nolan McLean in the final. The U.S. lost 3-2 to Venezuela, which rallied in the ninth inning against Garrett Whitlock to win its first title.
Closer Mason Miller was held out by DeRosa, who promised the San Diego Padres he would be used only in a save situation.
“Certainly if it was moved to the middle of the season, I don’t think you would have any nos for competing in it,” DeRosa said.
Could the Olympics be next?
MLB and the players’ association are negotiating over having big leaguers participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The six-nation baseball tournament, which includes the U.S.. Dominican Republic and Venezuela, would be played during an extended All-Star break. That event could impact the decision on when the seventh WBC will be played.
MLB and the players’ association have matching equity shares that are the most in the WBC, with Nippon Professional Baseball, the Korea Baseball Organization and the World Baseball Softball Confederation owning minority stakes.
“The issue for us is whether we do it in ‘29 or in ’30, three years or four years? I’m getting a lot of email from people today saying don’t make us wait four more years for this,” Manfred said. “I do think a three- or four-year cycle is probably about right for the event. The timing is going to turn on what we do with respect to related sorts of international efforts. I remain optimistic about the Olympics and obviously if we play in the Olympics it’s a short time from July of ‘28 ’till the spring of 29 and that’s something we’ll have to take into account. I’m not saying it’s outcome determinative, but it’s something we’ll have to think about.”
