MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 17: Head coach Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the third quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on March 17, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a much different team now than they were at the beginning of the season.
They came into this year with Darius Garland, Lonzo Ball, and De’Andre Hunter as integral parts of the team. Those three were shipped out at the deadline in exchange for James Harden, Dennis Schroder, and Keon Ellis. In addition to that, Max Strus is working his way back into the lineup after making his season debut on Sunday.
Those are pretty drastic changes to the lineup. With a month to go before the playoffs, head coach Kenny Atkinson still doesn’t know who’s going to be in their postseason rotation.
“I probably have to get to nine [men in the rotation],” Atkinson said when asked afterward if he can play 10 in the playoffs. “I’m still evaluating who fits and who’s going to take the lead in terms of getting into that rotation. We haven’t made a clear decision on who those nine are.”
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Atkinson mentioned that you can play 10 in the first round, but you would eventually need to get down to nine or even eight as you advance in the playoffs.
One of the logjams is at the wing. Atkinson mentioned that’s a position he’s still evaluating. Even though he didn’t name any names, it seems like minutes at that spot could come down to Keon Ellis or Jaylon Tyson. Although limiting Schroder’s minutes could make room for both.
Strus will presumably be in the rotation. Atkinson said that he isn’t quite sure if Strus is going to enter the starting lineup once his minutes increase or if he’s going to be in a sixth-man role.
Additionally, he needs to figure out the closing lineups as well. The final spot on Tuesday was between Ellis and Strus. Atkinson opted for Strus, but mentioned that Ellis’s fourth-quarter three almost made him reconsider.
Regardless of whether Atkinson chose to close with Ellis or Strus on Tuesday, it’s fair to point out that Atkinson is opting to go with smaller groups with Allen sidelined. Atkinson closed with four players 6’5” or shorter, in Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Strus, and Sam Merrill sharing the floor, with the lone true forward being Evan Mobley.
“I felt like we needed grit and shotmaking, that’s what [Merrill and Strus] bring to the table,” Atkinson said about choosing to go with that lineup. “I obviously have a comfort level with them from last season.”
The Cavaliers have arguably 11 playable options in the postseason — depending on how you feel about Thomas Bryant. That’s a good problem to have. However, many of them have similar skillsets, and there aren’t many great options for matching up with bigger wings outside of Dean Wade. That could present challenges in certain matchups if they advance past the first round.
We’ll see how this all shakes out in the final month of the season. As of now, nothing is set in stone with the rotations.
Jace Bowen has legitimate five tools | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Over the past several seasons the San Diego Padres’ president of baseball operations, A.J. Preller, has traded from the team’s minor league talent pool to acquire major league players. In an effort to keep their window of contention open for as long as possible, the Friars have used their prospect capital to buy major league talent rather than develop that capital.
That has resulted in the present minor league system being the lowest-ranked in baseball by many evaluators. Although the internal evaluations usually differ from the wide view, it cannot be argued that upper-level position player prospects are largely missing. Preller spent most of his offseason signing free agent minor league players that the team believes will help in the present and the future.
Through the course of spring games, some of that talent has had an opportunity to show some of their abilities. Even though the Spring Training environment is not the same as the regular season, the quality of some of the players should give the organization some minor league depth that has been lacking in years past.
Position player options
The whole of spring has provided a platform for the bench competition that has multiple players vying for the last bench job available. When healthy, Sung-Mun Song will be the utility player for the Padres. He will start the season on the IL and will be built up as he recovers from a reoccurring oblique strain. The plan was to get him work at all the infield positions, as well as corner outfield spots, during spring workouts and games. That work will now have to occur in the minor leagues as Song is on the IL and recovers/rehabs.
This leaves a spot open for an opportunity while Song gets to where he needs to be for the Padres purposes. The leading candidates for that opportunity are Jose Miranda and Ty France. They have both distinguished themselves with Miranda hitting .325/.386/.575 with four doubles, two home runs and nine RBI in 40 at-bats. France has a .325/.372/.500 line with four doubles a home run and eight RBI in 40 at-bats. They both play first base and third base with France having experience at second base as well.
Both are on minor league deals but France has an opt-out on March 21 that allows him to leave and take a job elsewhere if he is not placed on the roster. If placed on the roster, neither can be optioned to the minors. If the Padres want to keep both, they can place France on the roster and Miranda can start in El Paso. The problem occurs when Song is activated as France has two more opt-outs during the season and can then choose to find another team.
No matter which way this ends up going, it provides the Padres with Miranda as depth to begin the season. They also have Nick Solak, Mason McCoy, Pablo Reyes and a currently injured Will Wagner for added infield depth available. Both McCoy and Wagner have less major league success and experience compared to France and Miranda.
It should be pointed out the outstanding performance by an infielder this spring belongs to prospect Romeo Sanabria. The first baseman is tied with outfielder Jase Bowen for the team lead in RBI with 11. He has hit all spring and opened some eyes during the early weeks of camp.
The outfield is also in good shape. Bryce Johnson has played well the past two weeks after starting slow. He has a .310/.356/.524 line with three doubles and two home runs with six RBI. He is a switch-hitter with speed and plays good defense. He is also the only other true centerfield talent besides Jackson Merrill. Ramon Laureano can play centerfield in a pinch but his range is not as good.
The minor leagues will boast Samad Taylor, Nick Schnell, Carlos Rodriquez and Bowen. Bowen is a legitimate five-tool player who has shown up this spring. He is hitting .289/.333/.667 with five doubles, four homers and 11 RBI (tied with Sanabria) while playing excellent defense with five-of-six stolen bases. He is also a centerfielder but is not on the roster and Johnson is out of minor league options. If Bowen was given the opportunity to start with the Padres, Johnson would have to clear waivers and choose to stay. At 25, Bowen still has plenty of time to prove he is a major league player and the Padres could use him as the season progresses.
Catchers
Catching depth is an issue for the Padres. Freddy Fermin will be the primary catcher but has never played a whole season as the No. 1 and will need a 1-B. As of now, Luis Campusano is the only other catcher on the 40-man roster. He has spent the spring working on his catching skills and developing a working relationship with the pitching staff. It is not surprising that his hitting has suffered. The reality is that he has yet to establish himself as a major league hitter. His lack of success over multiple seasons ends this year if he wants to be considered a major league catcher.
Manager Craig Stammen and the Padres are expressing unwavering faith in him in order to bolster his confidence and provide him with the best environment to succeed. If he doesn’t come through, there is no fallback option.
Blake Hunt was signed during the offseason to be the safety valve and he was injured early in camp and has not played in a game. Rodolfo Durán, 28, has played the most next to Fermin and Campusano. He has 19 at-bats and has a double and two home runs for a .263/.462/.632 line. Should either Fermin or Campusano get injured, a catcher would have to placed on the roster in order to be called up.
Pitchers
This is where the organization has its most and least depth. For the starters, the depth does not go very far. While Joe Musgrove and Griffin Canning work their way back from surgical rehab, the Padres will have to rely on Michael King, Nick Pivetta, Randy Vasquez and the two pitchers who win the spring battle for the rotation.
At this point, it seems likely that Walker Buehler and Germán Márquez will be those two pitchers. Buehler has been very good and easily gets the fourth spot. Márquez has been up and down but really excelled in his start on Tuesday, completing five innings with nine strikeouts and allowing three runs, including two home runs. He commanded his knuckle-curve exceptionally well and his velocity on his fastball was up to 95 mph at times.
They both have one more Cactus League start before the season begins.
The rest of the depth is shaky with Musgrove and Canning unavailable. Triston McKenzie is wild but has exceptional velocity on his fastball. He is a project and will need more time. JP Sears is a workhorse but with very unreliable command up to this point. Marco Gonzales hasn’t fooled anyone and needs pinpoint command as his fastball tops out in the low 90s.
Matt Waldron pitched two innings on Tuesday versus the Seattle Mariners, showing increased velocity on his fastball (up to 95 mph) and good use of his off-speed, including his knuckleball. He will start on the IL and be built up to starter status. Unfortunately, he is out of options and has to be promoted to the Padres or they will lose him.
The minor leagues otherwise have lefty Jackson Wolf, who has pitched very well this spring but is not on the roster. Miguel Mendez is on the roster but still has command issues to work out in the minors.
The emergency option would be to deploy either Kyle Hart or Logan Gillaspie, both of whom are being used as “bridge” pitchers currently. Gillaspie is not on the roster and is out of options. Hart is a lefty who has pitched very well, so well that his ERA is still 0.00 after 11.2 innings pitched.
This is the area of most concern for the organization. When everyone is healthy, there will be a logjam with both Buehler and Márquez being veterans with opt-outs and/or no options. Baseball has a way of working these issues out and injuries always figure into these situations. You can never have too many starters but keeping them all on the team could be a challenge.
Bullpen depth
The bullpen, on the other hand, is the biggest strength on this team. There will be very good pitchers who don’t make this roster, probably more than one.
The for sure choices?
Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon, Jeremiah Estrada, Wandy Peralta and some combination of Kyle Hart, Ron Marinaccio or Logan Gillaspie as the long/bridge pitchers. Marinaccio is out of options and Gillaspie is not on the roster.
It appears Jason Adam and Yuki Matsui will begin the season on the IL to recover/rehab from their injuries. The options to fill out the bullpen are David Morgan, Bradgley Rodriquez, Alek Jacob and Ty Adcock. Adcock just came back from an oblique injury and the team announced Tuesday he was optioned to El Paso.
If they keep Marinaccio and Gillaspie, not wanting to lose major league quality arms, then both have to be on the roster and can’t be sent to the minors. But Hart is the only lefty besides Peralta, and Matsui is down until he recovers from his groin strain.
If there are no trades then the bullpen has room for Hart and one other, besides Gillaspie and Marinaccio. That means either Morgan or Rodriquez break with the team, but not both.
When Matsui and Adam are ready, there are more decisions to be made and losing pitchers without options remains a real possibility.
Having too much pitching should never be complained about. Preller and his team will have lots of decisions to make before March 26. The roster has to be set that morning. Those final cuts could be painful.
The upside of all this is that the depth of this team is the best we have seen for years. After depleting the minor league system over the past three to four years, Preller made some great moves this offseason to bolster the minor league options while adding to the major league team.
The competition is still on and the final decisions will prove to be difficult.
Jan 24, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Knicks guard Miles McBride (2) brings the ball up court against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
When Deuce McBride initially underwent surgery to repair what is commonly known as a sports hernia, the big question was whether he was going to be ready for the playoffs. Many fans cosplayed, to the best of their abilities, as a detective, searching timelines for the injury online.
But with so few updates and the Knicks generally being quiet about injuries, many were unsure, and borderline concerned, about if the pivotal backup guard would be ready for the highly anticipated playoffs.
While we still don’t have a concrete timetable, reports surfaced Tuesday night that McBride has returned to doing on-court work and has also started taking contact.
This isn’t a guarantee that he’ll be back in the regular season, but with about a month to go before the playoffs, the fact that he’s progressing well seems like signs are pointing towards a pre-playoff return.
Mike Brown said Miles McBride has progressed to taking contact in his rehab from sports hernia surgery. The Knicks say McBride is doing on-court work, taking contact and progressing well. No reason at this point to think McBride won't be fully ready for the postseason.
Mike Brown shared his own take on Deuce’s status before the win over the Pacers on Tuesday, without revealing much and stopping short of issuing comeback timelines.
“I try not to hear the updates though, because does that mean he’ll be back in two weeks? Three weeks? A week? 10 days? I don’t know.
“Deuce was playing well for us when this happened. It’s part of the season, so keep fingers crossed, allow our medical crew who has done a fantastic job, and when he comes back we’ll all be excited.” — Mike Brown
It still won’t give him too many games to get back in rhythm, but considering there was uncertainty surrounding his availability for a first-round series just a month ago, this has to be encouraging for McBride, the Knicks, and their fans.
If he can indeed be back for the playoffs, and the Knicks maintain their current health, it could be the healthiest they’ve entered the playoffs in some time. With a new coach, a revamped bench, and health on their side, New York could be poised for a deep run. But to do so, they’ll need McBride to not just be back, but close to the elite role player he was prior to the injury.
Thankfully, the updates suggest he’ll have some time to get back there.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 06: Pitcher Sam Moll #50 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches against the San Francisco Giants during the fifth inning of a spring training game at Scottsdale Stadium on March 06, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The knowns about the Cincinnati Reds pitching staff for next week’s Opening Day game against the Boston Red Sox are, for now, the following:
Andrew Abbott is the scheduled starter for Opening Day, and he’ll be backed by Nick Lodolo and Brady Singer
With Hunter Greene on the shelf following elbow surgery, each of Chase Burns, Rhett Lowder, and Brandon Williamson have made the Opening Day roster – that’s six starters who’ll work through five roles
Only seven true bullpen roles remain open, and lefty Caleb Ferguson will miss the start of the season with his own injury issues
Based on contracts and easy assumptions, each of Emilio Pagan, Tony Santillan, Graham Ashcraft, Pierce Johnson, and Brock Burke are locks to form the bulk of the bullpen on Opening Day, and we learned yesterday that Connor Phillips has earned a spot on it, too. That leaves just one open spot in the bullpen, and MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon relayed on Tuesday that both Kyle Nicolas and Hagen Danner are now out of the running for it.
Sam Moll, who is out of options, is likely the leader in the clubhouse for the final spot, as he’s a perfect situational lefty that will help ease the pain of losing Ferguson. Williamson and Burke are the other two lefties already on the staff with yet-to-be-defined roles, but Williamson will get treated more like a starter and Burke’s lack of platoon splits means he’ll be used more like a traditional reliever (and face plenty of righties). Zach Maxwell and Luis Mey are still in the hunt, in theory, but their ownership of options means they’ll likely begin at AAA and be the first wave of support should something go awry.
That’s more or less the story with Hagen Danner, who pitched brilliantly this spring. He’s not on the roster and out of options should the Reds ever choose to add him, so the risk of losing him on waivers is heightened. He’s going to get his chance this year at some point unless the wheels fall off, but the Reds are going to simply be much more strategic about when they begin the administrative tightrope of promoting him.
Nicolas, on the other hand, is simply behind schedule. The early March deal that brought him in from the Pirates organization came when he was already at World Baseball Classic duties with Team Italy, and he simply didn’t get enough game action while at the WBC to be 100% ready to begin a big league season next week. Cincinnati clearly has high hopes for him after dealing Tyler Callihan to acquire him, but they’ll use an option on him and let him build up both in Arizona and potentially AAA Louisville before he joins the mix.
What’s clear here is that the Reds certainly expect that they’ll need a ton more than 13 pitchers this season – last year, 28 different pitchers threw in games for the Reds. These moves are the best combination of getting the best possible group for Opening Day while also baking in the most depth to get them through 162 regular season games (and beyond, hopefully). You can never have too much pitching depth, and that’s what helped fuel these moves today.
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - MARCH 06: Jose Quintana #62 of Team Colombia pitches against against Team Puerto Rico during the first inning at Hiram Bithorn Stadium on March 06, 2026 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s no World Baseball Classic championship game, but the Colorado Rockies are back in action this afternoon. The Rockies are putting tires to the road and heading to Goodyear, Arizona for a match-up against a split squad Cincinnati Reds.
Veteran lefty and off-season acquisition Jose Quintana will be making his third start of camp for the Rockies. After a quick single inning taste before the World Baseball Classic and strong work on the mound for Colombia during the tournament, Quintana struggled in his return to Rockies camp against the Texas Rangers last week. In 3 1/3 innings he allowed five earned runs on four hits and struggled with his command. He walked six batters and hit one, though he also tallied five strikeouts.
Much like his other veteran teammates, it’s difficult to read too much into these performances during the spring. Quintana is likely tinkering with grips and mechanics as we near ever closer to Opening Day and his spot in the rotation is essentially secured.
Starting for the Red Legs is the right-handed Brady Singer, coming off a four inning shutout appearance against the Giants last week. Singer is a high extension pitcher with a one-two punch slider and sweeper combo to back up his low 90s sinker. He also throws a cutter and a four-seam fastball.
First Pitch: 2:05 PM MDT
TV: Reds.tv
Radio: Reds Radio WSAI 1360
Lineups:
Update: Tyler Freeman (back tightness) has been scratched from today’s lineup. Jake McCarthy will start in left field while Cole Carrigg will bat second and play center field.
The 2026 MLB rookie crop is deep, offering a little bit of everything for fantasy managers, with several bankable fantasy prospects looking like favorites to break camp with their respective teams.
Even some of those who won’t break camp will offer significant value to fantasy squads in 2026.
Since playing time has a huge impact on our rankings, the rookies appearing on this list are players we believe will have greater opportunities to produce and even end up on the opening-day roster with prominent roles for their respective clubs.
In order of projected fantasy impact, here are this year’s top 15 most impactful rookies:
Top 2026 MLB rookies for fantasy baseball
1. 1B/3B Sal Stewart, Cincinnati Reds. Stewart made his MLB debut last September, slashing .255/.293/.545 with five home runs in 55 at-bats. This line came after he slugged 20 homers and hit 34 doubles across upper-level affiliates. Stewart, 22, had his breakout season fueled by higher hard-contact rates and a willingness to sit middle-in to slug pitches over the left-field fence without compromising his natural, opposite-field gap approach. He should produce more of the same, likely as the Reds starting first baseman.
2. SS Konnor Griffin, Pittsburgh Pirates. A loud 2025 season, across three levels, propelled the 19-year-old to the top spot on nearly every prospect list this winter. The ninth overall pick from the 2024 draft, Griffin destroyed minor league pitching in his debut, slashing .333/.415/.527 with 21 home runs and 65 stolen bases. Griffin’s hit, power and speed tools should carry him to impactful production in most fantasy formats.
3. RHP Nolan McLean, New York Mets. A former two-way player, McLean, 24, dazzled in his late-season big-league debut in 2025. In 48 innings, McLean went 5-1 with a 2.06 ERA, 1.042 WHIP and 57 strikeouts. Not bad for someone who became a full-time pitcher in June 2024. McLean throws a kitchen sink assortment of pitches, relying more on overall stuff and movement than precise command.
4. OF Justin Crawford, Philadelphia Phillies. Crawford, the son of former MLB All-Star Carl Crawford, posted his best season in the minors last season in Class AAA, slashing .334/.411/.452 with seven homers and 46 steals. The 22-year-old improved his ability to elevate the ball, though he’ll still likely turn in high ground-ball rates. Defense and speed are his carrying tools. With likely a solid average, Crawford’s ability to swipe bases will sustain high fantasy value.
5. 1B/3B Munetaka Murakami, Chicago White Sox. The White Sox signed Murakami to a two-year, $34 million contact after a successful career in Japan. A slugger by trade, the 26-year-old is known for his pristine plate discipline, his exceptional hard contact rates and his dismal contact rates. Despite struggling with injuries in 2025, Murakami still slugged 22 home runs in 56 games with the Yakult Swallows. A third baseman in Japan, he is slated to be Chicago’s opening-day starter at first.
6. RHP Bubba Chandler, Pittsburgh Pirates. Like McLean, Chandler is a former two-way player, who committed full time to pitching after the 2022 season. The 23-year-old had an up-and-down season in Triple-A before a late-season promotion to Pittsburgh. He left his struggles with command in the minors and proved his stuff, especially his high-riding fastball, against big-league competition.
7. OF Chase DeLauter, Cleveland Guardians. DeLauter has the tools to be a significant fantasy producer. The 24-year-old has been a fixture on the injured list, dating to before he was a first-round pick in the 2022 draft. When he’s on the field, he has dominated. In 138 career minor league games, DeLauter slashed .302/.384/.504 with 20 homers and 40 doubles.
8. 2B/SS JJ Wetherholt, St. Louis Cardinals. The seventh pick in the 2024 draft, Wetherholt has a tremendously high floor. The 23-year-old is known for his double-plus hit tool, which overshadows the rest of his toolshed. Last year, Wetherholt slashed .306/.421/.510 with 17 home runs, 23 steals, and nearly as many walks as strikeouts (72 BB,73 SO). The sneaky power and sneaky speed should play right away.
9. 3B Kazuma Okamoto, Toronto Blue Jays. The 30-year-old Okamoto, like Murakami, is not really a prospect, though he’s an MLB rookie, having come over from Japan. With the Yomiuri Giants last year, he slashed .327/.416/.598 with 15 homers in an injury-shortened season. Power production likely doesn’t follow Okamoto to the big leagues, but the hit and on-base tools should play.
10. OF Dylan Beavers, Baltimore Orioles. Beavers enjoyed a breakout 2025, mostly spent at Triple-A before a late-season promotion took him to Baltimore. The 24-year-old slashed .304/.420/.515 with 18 home runs and 23 stolen bases in 94 games. Beavers’ ability to get on base is his calling card but his double-plus speed doesn’t carry exceptional stolen base skills. His average power should play in the big leagues.
11. SS Kevin McGonigle, Detroit Tigers. McGonigle’s hit tool is exceptional, which carries his profile, but don’t sleep on his power, which is plus. In 88 games, McGonigle slashed .372/.462/.648 with 19 home runs, walking 59 times and only striking out 46 times. The 21-year-old has struggled with injuries the last three seasons and has yet to appear in 100 games.
12. OF Carson Benge, New York Mets. The Mets drafted the former two-way player in the first round in 2024. Benge, 23, had a stellar season, showing the ability to work the gaps. In 116 games across three levels, Benge hit .281/.385/.472 with 15 homers and 22 steals.
13. C Carter Jensen, Kansas City Royals. Jensen is an offense-first backstop who rode loud contact rates to his big-league debut in 2025. The 22-year-old hit .290/.377/.501 with 20 home runs across upper-level affiliates and continued to show on-base skills and power during his MLB debut. He and Salvador Perez likely split reps between DH and catcher in 2026.
14. C Samuel Basallo, Baltimore Orioles. The 21-year-old Basallo was overmatched during a late-season big-league call-up after bullying minor league pitching. It’s a double-plus power tool, fueled by exceptional bat speed and feel for barrel. Basallo is still figuring out launch angles though. The hit tool fuels batting average with a chance for more.
15. RHP Trey Yesavage, Toronto Blue Jays. The unexpected hero of Toronto’s American League championship run, Yesavage, 22, will be splitting innings with one of the deepest rotations in baseball. His split finger is a true double-plus offering, especially when commanding his flat-angled fastball. Even the slider is capable of getting whiffs.
Chris Blessing writes about minor league prospects for Baseball HQ. For more in-depth fantasy baseball stats and analysis subscribe to BaseballHQ.com.
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Kyle Harrison throws a pitch against the Seattle Mariners on March 8 at American Family Fields of Phoenix. | Curt Hogg / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Brewers are in split-squad action this afternoon against two of the teams alongside the Brewers near the bottom of the Cactus League standings. In one of the games, Milwaukee will send a group to play the Seattle Mariners, who are in last place with a spring record of 7-17, while the other half of the squad will stay at American Family Fields of Phoenix to take on the 12-14 Angels.
Kyle Harrison will make the start in the home game vs. the Angels. Harrison has allowed a bunch of runs this spring — eight of them, seven earned, in seven innings — but he’s also struck out a ton of batters (12 of them in seven innings) and his stuff has generally looked good. Given the injury to Quinn Priester and the slow ramp up for Brandon Woodruff, Harrison has a good shot at sticking in the rotation, so he’ll be looking to build on that. Scheduled to follow Harrison on the mound today are the team’s two lefty swingmen, Aaron Ashby and DL Hall.
In Peoria against the Mariners, Carlos Rodriguez will get the start. It’ll be Rodriguez’s second appearance with the Brewers after returning from duty with Nicaragua’s World Baseball Classic team last week; he threw two innings last time out. Also scheduled to pitch for the Brewers in this game are Easton McGee and Jacob Waguespack.
The stronger lineup is pretty clearly the one at home versus the Angels; all nine players in that lineup should make the Opening Day roster. The Mariners game, which can be seen on Brewers.TV, features another player freshly back from the WBC, Tyler Black, leading off, along with an interesting team of young players including Jett Williams, Brock Wilken, Luis Lara, Cooper Pratt, and Marco Dinges.
First pitch in both games is at 3:10 p.m. CT, and as mentioned, the away game against the Mariners can be seen on Brewers.TV. The Angels game, with the varsity squad, can be heard on WTMJ and the Brewers Radio Network.
Feb 24, 2026; Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; New York Mets right fielder Mike Tauchman (50) runs onto the field before the game against the Houston Astros at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
With an off day for the Mets in Grapefruit League action today, there are just four days’ worth of games left before Opening Day next week. After spring training concludes, I will post a final poll with all of our candidates’ cumulative spring training stats and KoST point totals and we will determine a winner. In the meantime, let’s see where things stand with our field of KoST candidates as we approach the final stretch in the 2026 KoST contest.
Cristian Pache – .464/.516/.786 in 28 ABs
With just four days’ worth of spring training games left to go before Opening Day, Pache shares the team lead in hits with Carson Benge with 13. One of the hits he amassed since our last update was a home run, his second one this spring.
“He’s an elite defender,” Carlos Mendoza said of Pache, who has impressed on both sides of the ball this spring. “Offensively, we’ve seen him hit the ball hard up the middle and run the bases. There are a lot of tools there. It’s good to see him getting results.”
He is not likely to make the team, but he is definitely a KoST favorite as a guy who perfectly embodies the spirit of the contest: someone who came out of nowhere and turned some heads. He will be useful depth for the Mets to have in Triple-A.
KoST Points: 4 Total KoST Points: 12
MJ Melendez – .364/.364/1.000 in 11 ABs
No updated stats for MJ Melendez, who was optioned to minor league camp yesterday in a flurry of cuts. His sample size is probably not large enough to be a serious KoST contender due in part to his participation in the World Baseball Classic, but he is a worthy mention for having made an impression during his brief time in camp.
KoST Points: 0 Total KoST Points: 4
Austin Barnes – .313/.389/.500 in 16 ABs
Barnes has logged just two at-bats since our last update, but he got a hit in one of them, which improves his already impressive overall Grapefruit League batting line slightly.
KoST Points: 1 Total KoST Points: 4
Mike Tauchman – .280/.419/.520 in 25 ABs
Mike Tauchman continues to be in the starting lineup most days for the Mets in Grapefruit League action and it’s becoming increasingly likely he may make the Opening Day roster even if Carson Benge also earns a spot. Something that is working in his favor is that he holds an opt out for March 25, so if he doesn’t make the roster, the Mets risk losing him altogether.
Could a healthy Francisco Lindor open the door for the Mets to carry five outfielders? Here, I suggest there's room for both Carson Benge and Mike Tauchman (who holds an opt out for March 25, per league sources): https://t.co/elCjU7Vv1j
Tauchman has been productive this spring and although he has more of a major league track record than some of our other KoST candidates, he deserves a lot of consideration if he forces his way onto the roster with his spring performance—an outcome that was perhaps unexpected at the start of spring training. Of Tauchman’s seven hits in Grapefruit League play, four went for extra bases, including a home run. He also walked four times and drove in six runs.
KoST Points: 3 Total KoST Points: 8
Vidal Bruján – .231/.375/.231 in 26 ABs
Another player who continues to get looks is Vidal Bruján, who has an outside chance of making the team if the Mets decide they need an infielder instead of a fifth outfielder. But as Francisco Lindor continues to progress and remain on track for Opening Day, Bruján’s chances of making the roster decline. Also in decline is his statistical output since our last update when he was first added to the KoST field.
KoST Points: 1 Total KoST Points: 5
Tobias Myers – 1.86 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 12 Ks in 9 2/3 IP
Myers continues to be excellent overall this spring, even if his most recent outing against the Marlins wasn’t as stellar as his other appearances. His 12 strikeouts are tied with Freddy Peralta for the second-most on the team behind Clay Holmes. The Mets are tinkering with Myers’ arm angle and his repertoire and the results have spoken for themselves so far, particularly when it comes to the induced vertical break on his fastball. Myers is a lock to make the bullpen as the Mets’ long man, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he ends up in the rotation at some point if he continues pitching well.
Myers is prepared for whatever role the Mets have for him. “To be DFA’d three times when you’re still starting your career really opens your eyes and makes you realize you need to go out there and get it,” Myers recently said to the New York Post. “I learned you’ve got to be good when called upon. You’ve got to commit and be available.”
KoST Points: 3 Total KoST Points: 7
Robert Stock – 0.00 ERA, 0.33 WHIP, 6 Ks in 3 IP
Obviously no new updates on Robert Stock, who is dealing with thoracic outlet syndrome. We will always remember his brief, shining KoST campaign.
KoST Points: 0 Total KoST Points: 3
Austin Warren – 2.25 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 2 Ks in 4 IP
Warren has not made any appearances since last week’s update, but remains in big league camp for now.
KoST Points: 0 Total KoST Points: 3
Matt Turner – 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 6 Ks in 5 IP
Matt Turner was reassigned to minor league camp at the beginning of the month and while he still logged some appearances in Grapefruit League action after that, he hasn’t appeared in any games since our update last week. He ends his KoST campaign with a perfect 0.00 ERA and has an intriguing KoST case if you want to get a little weird with it.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - FEBRUARY 19: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics dribbles the ball during the game against the Golden State Warriors on February 19, 2026 at Chase Center 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors will take on the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night. The game will be played at 4:00 PM PT in Boston and can be watched on ESPN and NBC Sports Bay Area.
Golden State snapped a five-game losing streak with Monday’s 125-117 win over the Washington Wizards. Kristaps Porzingis and De’Anthony Melton returned after missing the front end of the back-to-back and led the way for the Warriors’ offense, combining for 57 points. For Porzingis specifically, it was his best performance since joining the team, finishing with 30 points off the bench along with five rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and two steals.
The victory also marked a major milestone for head coach Steve Kerr. It was the 600th win of his career, making him the 28th coach in NBA history to reach the mark and the fourth fastest to do so.
Wednesday’s matchup against the Celtics presents a tough challenge for the Warriors. Boston enters the night tied for the fourth-most wins in the NBA with a 45–23 record. They rank among the league’s elite on both ends of the floor, sitting top five in offensive and defensive rating while placing second in overall net rating.
The Celtics have also welcomed back six-time All-Star wing Jayson Tatum, who missed most of the season while recovering from an Achilles tear. He has appeared in five of Boston’s last six games and has looked sharp given the severity of the injury, averaging 20 points in 29.2 minutes per game.
Tatum’s return adds another layer to an already loaded rotation. Alongside MVP candidate Jaylen Brown, who leads the team with 28.4 points per game, and additional scoring threats like Derrick White and Payton Pritchard, Boston presents a difficult matchup across the board.
For a heavy underdog team like Golden State, keeping pace offensively will be key. If their shots aren’t falling, this has the potential to turn into a long night against one of the league’s most complete teams.
Warriors wrapping shootaround at TD Garden, where they’re 11.5-point underdogs tonight against the Boston Celtics. Stephen Curry/Al Horford/Moses Moody/Seth Curry out for Golden State. Gary Payton II probable. Quinten Post/LJ Cryer questionable. Nikola Vucevic out for Boston: pic.twitter.com/8mpPyEPOPD
Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby is scheduled to return to the lineup on Wednesday, March 18 for the first time since he was injured at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Crosby has missed 11 NHL games since he suffered a lower-body injury on a Radko Gudas check during Canada's quarterfinal win against Czechia. He also missed the semifinal and the gold medal game loss to the United States.
The Penguins have gone 5-3-3 in Crosby's absence to remain in a playoff position, and during five of those games, they were without suspended Evgeni Malkin.
"When you see on a nightly basis the way we compete, the way we work, just coming back in games ... I just want to jump in there and contribute the best I can," Crosby told reporters.
Malkin had two goals and an assist when he returned from his suspension in the Penguins' last game.
"He set the bar high," Crosby said.
Sidney Crosby injury update
Penguins coach Dan Muse told reporters that Sidney Crosby will return from his 11-game absence on Wednesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. He was practicing on a line with Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell.
Sidney Crosby stats
Despite missing the 11 games, Crosby remains the Penguins' top scorer this season. He has 59 points in 56 games. This season, he passed Mario Lemieux to become the franchise's all-time leading scorer.
Heading into the third and final head-to-head matchup of the season between the Blues (27-30-10) and Flames (26-34-7), St. Louis has won eight straight dating back to Oct. 26, 2023, the longest current winning streak against any opponent and tied for the fourth-longest active streak in the NHL.
The Blues, who won at Scotiabank Saddledome, 4-2, on Oct. 11, then beat the Flames 3-2 on Nov. 11 in St. Louis, look to make it a clean sweep of the season series on Wednesday in Calgary at 8:30 p.m.
Dating to Dec. 22, 2018, the Blues have won 16 of the past 18 matchups (16-2-0) against the Flames.
But these two teams, currently on the outside looking in at the Western Conference playoff race, seem to be jockeying more for who will have a better chance at the lottery odds for the 2026 NHL Draft to be held in Buffalo June 26-27.
Currently, the Flames (59 points) are 31st in the league standings, which would give them the second-best odds of landing the No. 1 pick behind the Vancouver Canucks, who have 50 points and barring a late-season surge, would have the best odds at landing the top pick. The Blues (64 points), who have won five of six away from home and are 6-1-1 in March, are 28th overall but on the flip side, are seven points behind the Seattle Kraken for the second wild card in the West.
Each team has 15 games remaining, so how do you handle the situation of wanting to compete and play well, compared to giving yourself the best chance at possibly landing one of the top picks by finishing as low or near the bottom of the league standings.
Meanwhile, the Flames are coming off a road trip in which they lost four of five and are 2-7-1 their past 10 games, while the Blues are 7-2-1 since the Olympic break.
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Dylan Holloway continues to lead the way with nine points (three goals, six assists) in his last seven games, including his 14th goal on Sunday in a 3-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, and 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in 10 games since returning from his right high ankle sprain injury on Feb. 26. Jimmy Snuggerud, named the NHL's Third Star of the Week on Monday with six points (three goals, three assists) and a plus-5 rating in four games, and Robert Thomas, who had his personal nine-game point streak snapped on Sunday, has 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in his past 10 games. That top line has been an offensive driver.
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The Blues are making three changes to their lineup, with Jonathan Drouin and Otto Stenberg returning along with Tyler Tucker on defense, and making way out are Jonatan Berggren, Oskar Sundqvist and Justin Holl coming out.
With a plethora of bodies and no injuries to report, the team can afford to make changes and look at everyone.
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The Blues have allowed 1.88 goals against per game in March, the fewest in the NHL, and they lead the league with five wins and 10 points on the road in March.
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Blues Projected Lineup:
Dylan Holloway-Robert Thomas-Jimmy Snuggerud
Jake Neighbours-Pavel Buchnevich-Jordan Kyrou
Jonathan Drouin-Dalibor Dvorsky-Otto Stenberg
Alexey Toropchenko-Jack Finley-Pius Suter
Philip Broberg-Logan Mailloux
Theo Lindstein-Colton Parayko
Cam Fowler-Tyler Tucker
Joel Hofer will start in goal; Jordan Binnington will be the backup.
Healthy scratches include Nathan Walker, Matthew Kessel, Jonatan Berggren. The Blues report no injuries.
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Flames Projected Lineup:
Blake Coleman-Mikael Backlund-Joel Farabee
Matvei Gridin-Morgan Frost-Matt Coronato
Yegor Sharangovich-Ryan Strome-Connor Zary
Victor Olofsson-Martin Pospisil-Adam Klapka
Kevin Bahl-Zach Whitecloud
Olli Maatta-Hunter Brzustewicz
Joel Hanley-Zayne Parekh
Devin Cooley will start in goal; Dustin Wolf will be the backup.
Healthy scratches include Ryan Lomberg, John Beecher, Brayden Pachal,Yan Kuznetsov and Tyson Gross. Jake Bean (undisclosed), Samuel Honzek (upper body) and Jonathan Huberdeau (hip) are out.
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SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 28: Maui Ahuna #1 of the Scottsdale Scorpions throws to first base during an Arizona Fall League game against the Surprise Saguaros at Scottsdale Stadium on October 28, 2025 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Thursday night, a group of top prospects from the San Francisco Giants organization will square off against a group of top prospects from the Cincinnati Reds organization at Scottsdale Stadium. It’s the oh-so-exciting Spring Breakout game, back for the third year (though it’s just the second time the Giants have played the game, thanks to an untimely rainstorm in Arizona).
Almost two weeks ago, the 30 MLB teams revealed their initial roster. The Giants roster was full of exciting names, albeit not surprisingly: the initial rosters of 40 players are simply the 30 prospects in MLB Pipeline’s top 30 list for each team, plus 10 more youngsters of the team’s choosing.
But on Wednesday, on the eve of the game (which will be on MLB’s website and on MLB Network), teams were required to trim the initial roster to a smaller list of talent that will actually be available for the game — 27 players, in the Giants case.
Needless to say, it’s still an exciting list, though it’s not as exciting as it could have been. Notably, the consensus top two prospects in the organization — first baseman Bryce Eldridge and shortstop Josuar González — are absent.
For the former, that’s not surprising. Eldridge is still in Major League camp, and is fighting for a spot on the opening day roster. The organization is never going to send those players (a group that also includes Trevor McDonald and Carson Whisenhunt) to an exhibition game, so there was never really a chance of Eldridge playing.
González’s absence is more disappointing, as he would have been the star most worth watching. Unfortunately, he exited a game at Minor League camp a few days ago with a limp … and while it was thankfully diagnosed as a cramp, it has sidelined him for a few days, and will keep him out of the showcase … or so we think. In the write-up announcing the article on MLB’s site, González’s name is not listed, with beat reporter Maria Guardado writing, “is expected to miss Spring Breakout due to an injury.”
But in the announcement from the team’s official social media accounts, González is listed, taking the place of outfielder Bo Davidson to keep the roster at 27. So who knows.
Right-handed pitcher Keyner Martinez, one of the breakout stars on the farm in 2025, is slated to start the game. He’s one of many must-watch players, including infielders Luis Hernández and Gavin Kilen, and outfielder Dakota Jordan. Middle infielder Jhonny Level is absent from the roster, and I believe that’s due to a minor ailment he’s dealing with.
Mar 14, 2026; Miami, FL, United States; Venezuela left fielder Wilyer Abreu (16) rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run against Japan in the sixth inning during a quarterfinal game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
I was afraid of flying until a pilot with whom I grew up set me straight. A plane wants to stay in the air, he said, comfortingly. A plane’s wing can bend at nearly a 90 degree angle and not snap, he said, less comfortingly. A plane will only crash when a thousand things go wrong or someone’s trying to make it crash, the same way Major League Baseball games will be played minus a few hundred thousand raindrops stop it or a group of owners try to stop it from happening. Which, after the 2026 season, is exactly where we’re headed.
There’s almost certainly going to be a lockout after this year because Rob Manfred and his band of miserable men are sick of what the Dodgers have done to the sport: spent the most money, in the smartest ways, and built the best organization backing it up. They’ve won two World Series in a row, and it hardly matters to baseball as a whole that the second was by the skin of their teeth – what matters is they signed Kyle Tucker after signing Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman and Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki and Tyler Glasnow and
You get it. You might also intuitively understand that this is good for baseball, the same way it was when the Yankees did it in the late 90s and the Red Sox joined the fun in the early aughts. A rising tide lifts all boats, and the best way to raise the tide is with a hose full of money. (And PEDs, TBH, but that’s an issue largely consigned to the past, at least outside of the Profar household.) But here’s the thing about most baseball owners: they are very stupid and selfish, so they are intent on taking their frustrations out on the sport and its fans by depriving us of good baseball.
Make no mistake: Post-lockout, the sport will be worse for wear. Or the league will be, I should say. Baseball – the sport of baseball, not Major League Baseball – is just fine when done right, and the World Baseball Classic does it right. There’s nothing like it. If the plane that is MLB wants to stay in the air but is forced down, the WBC is its black box. You can’t make the whole plane out of it, but if you could, you would.
Last time around, we were treated to one of the single greatest at-bats to happen in the history of the sport to end the whole shebang, with Shohei Ohtani striking out then-Angels teammate and fellow league MVP Mike Trout on a 3-2 pitch to end it all. This year, in something of a synecdoche (if I’m using that word right, which I mightn’t be), the whole tournament seemed to have been made out of the Ohtani-Trout at-bat, with a breathtakingly close or raucous game happening every day.
All of that was reaffirmed last night, when Venezuela absorbed a momentous and aesthetically beautiful game-tying homer in the bottom of the 8th inning to rebound on the shoulders of Eugenio Suarez and defeat the country that kidnapped their leader months earlier on its home soil. From a pure baseball perspective, the Ohtani/Trout moment is fairly unstoppable, but internationally and locally, this one was more momentous. Internationally because of said kidnapping. Locally because this tournament and this game was teeming with current and former Red Sox. Roman Anthony – batting directly behind Kyle Schwarber and Alex Bregman – struck out to end it, in a game started by Eduardo Rodriguez, starring Wilyer Abreu, that was lost by Garrett Whitlock. It was dizzying. Plus Aaron Judge choked. What else could you want?
Well, you could do the thing dumbasses do when a plane crashes, and ask why they don’t make the whole thing out of the black box. And again, it’s simply because it’s not necessary. The plane wants to stay in the air. Baseball wants to thrive. The WBC is great because it’s scarce, but the sport shouldn’t suffer in its absence. It’s not suffering in its absence. If it’s suffering, it’s because the people running it want it to suffer. The WBC is a permanent reminder of what we stand to lose.
The Houston Rockets are riding the struggle bus, and Vernon Maxwell has pinpointed that the problem is Kevin Durant’s alleged burner account.
The Rockets legend, who won back-to-back NBA titles with Houston in 1994 and 1995, said on the “All The Smoke Podcast” with Matt Barnes that Durant’s alleged burner account, where he purportedly was talking about his teammates behind their backs, has killed the team’s chemistry.
“Like I said last year, all we need was KD,” said Maxwell, who once thought Durant was the missing piece to the championship puzzle. “We got KD, a guy to roll the ball out to get you a bucket.
“But now everybody [is] standing around watching KD.”
Kevin Durant acknowledged previously that he uses burner accounts. NBAE via Getty Images
The alleged Durant drama stems from X account @gethigher77, which claimed the future Hall of Famer was calling out his teammates, with accompanying screenshots.
“They said some s–t about some secret page KD did and talked about some of the players on the team, and it’s f–king split the goddamn guys up and guys don’t like to high five each other no more,” Maxwell said.
Whether the team’s chemistry is off is unknown, as no Rocket teammates have publicly called Durant out for the alleged burner account.
But Maxwell claims its evident.
Durant, 37, has a history of using burner accounts, which he acknowledged in 2023.
“No motherf–kers want to bump chest no more with each other,” Maxwell continued. “Everybody just split up the whole f–king team. So, I don’t know man. It’s a lot of s–t going on out there in Houston.”
Vernon Maxwell talks about Kevin Durant hurting the chemistry in Houston. All The Smoke Podcast
The Rockets enter Wednesday’s clash with the Lakers at 41-26 and in fourth place in the Western Conference, though they are just 8-7 in their last 15 games and 4-5 in their last nine.
Houston did lose center Steven Adams for the season, though, hurting their frontcourt depth dramatically, and guard Fred VanVleet is sidelined with an ACL tear.
MILWAUKEE, WI - SEPTEMBER 28: Brady Singer #51 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches during the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Sunday, September 28, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Kylie Bridenhagen/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Cincinnati Reds are in the middle of making their final roster decisions in the run-up to Opening Day, so it’s little surprise they’ve packed this portion of their spring schedule with as many games as possible.
That includes Tuesday, which will see Cincinnati send Chase Burns & Co. on the road to Tempe to take on the Los Angeles Angels while also playing host to the Colorado Rockies at home in Goodyear. Brady Singer will start for that Goodyear club as many of the team’s veterans got to stay at home for the day, while Burns will be backed by the likes of Will Benson, Noelvi Marte, Sal Stewart, and both JJ Bleday and Rece Hinds – the latter two being locked in a battle for one of the final spots on the roster.
Nate Lowe, who has also continued to impress while looking to fight his way onto the Opening Day roster, is in the lineup with the crew playing at Goodyear.
The good news is that you’ll be able to watch some of this. The bad news is that only the game against the Rockies in Goodyear is televised (via Reds.TV), while the Burns game in Tempe is radio only.
Singer will fire the first pitch in Goodyear at 4:05 PM ET, while Benson will lead off against the Angels with a first pitch set for 4:10 PM ET.
