Sports News – Page 156 – Worldwide Sports News

February 20, 2026

Pack9 Opponent Preview: Princeton

CORAL GABLES, FL - FEBRUARY 23: Princeton infielder Tommy Googins (7) throws to first base in the fourth inning as the Miami Hurricanes faced the Princeton Tigers on February 23, 2025, at Mark Light Field at Alex Rodriguez Park in Coral Gables, Florida. (Photo by Samuel Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Who’s the Pack playing?

Opponent: Princeton

Mascot: Pooh’s Jumpy Friend | School Location: Eponymous, NJ | Conference: Ivy

2026 Record: 0-0 (0-0, T-1st) | 2026 RPI Rank: 285

2025 Record: 12-31 (8-13, T-5th) | 2025 RPI Rank: 270

2024 Record: 18-26 (12-9, 2nd) | 2024 RPI Rank: 182

When? Where? How do I watch?

Location: Doak Field at Dail Park (Raleigh, NC)

Game Time(s): Fri, Feb 20 @ 3:00pm | Sat, Feb 21 @ 2:00pm | Sun, Feb 22 @ 1:00pm

TV: Friday (ACCNX) | Saturday (ACCNX) | Sunday (ACCNX)

Live Stats: Stat Broadcast (Friday | Saturday | Sunday)

Tell me about this team

Last year was a rough go of it for Princeton, slogging their way to a 12-31 overall record with the underlying stats that say that record probably should have been worse. Collectively, the Tigers hit just .209/.320/.302 with a 11.7 BB% and 26.1 K%. Turns out that notching just 77 extra-base hits over 43 games is not an ideal way to score a lot of runs.

The pitching staff wasn’t any better, and was certainly hurt by the loss of staff ace Sean Episcope after just four starts (Episcope, a draft-eligible sophomore, ended up a 5th round pick of Milwaukee). That group had a combined 6.92 ERA with a 11.3 BB% and 15.8 K%, and didn’t help themselves either by plunking 94 opposing hitters.

This is a new year, though, and in the transfer portal era a team can rebuild itself quickly… except for military academies and Ivy League schools. Princeton brought in zero transfers, but does have an 8-man freshman class that looks promising. It’ll need to rely on them – as well as a couple arms that are returning from injury – if it’s going to rebound from last year’s subpar performance.

Pitching Matchups

Friday: LHP Ryan Marohn (JR) vs RHP Justin Kim (SR)

Saturday: RHP JacobDudan (JR) vs RHP Liam Kinneen (SO)

Sunday: LHP Cooper Consiglio (JR) vs RHP Brady Kaufman (FR)

Key Players:

Offense

INF Jake Koonin (SR) – .236/.385/.460, 6 2B, 8 HR, 14.5 BB%, 20.5 K%, 10-12 SB. Winston-Salem native who attended Mount Tabor HS. Had a down year in 2025 but is a bounce-back candidate based on his 2024 showing (.319/.402/.528, 22 2B, 4 HR, 7.9 BB%, 17.3 K%, 11-11 SB) in which he earned 2nd Team All-Ivy League honors.

UTIL Nick Shenefelt (SO) – .206/.308/.257, 3 2B, 0 HR, 12.1 BB%, 15.9 K%, 0-1 SB. Started 38 games as a freshman and the BB and K rates tell you he wasn’t overmatched, and the .248 BABIP last year tells you an upward regression is in the mix for 2026.

INF Jake Kernodle (JR) – .213/.333/.238, 3 2B, 0 HR, 13.1 BB%, 22.8 K%, 0-0 SB. Charlotte native has started 72 games over his Princeton career. While his 2025 was awful, like Shenefelt, he’s an upward regression candidate after posting a .286/.367/.429, 3 2B, 4 HR, 8.0 BB%, 29.3 K%, 4-6 SB line as a freshman. That 2024 triple slash with his 2025 BB% and K% would be a nice season for him.

Pitching

RHP Justin Kim (SR) – 2-5, 3 SV, 5.26 ERA, 49.2 IP, 9.6 BB%, 18.4 K%. Key reliever for Princeton during his freshman and junior years, while he also served as a starter his sophomore year but had issues with control and didn’t miss many bats (2-2, 4.66 ERA, 38.2 IP, 13.8 BB%, 8.6 K%). Will get another go at the starting rotation this year.

RHP Liam Kinneen (SO) – 3-5, 5.80 ERA, 49.2 IP, 13.4 BB%, 18.9 K%. Big 6’4, 210 lbs second year player who should make a nice sophomore jump if he can reign in the control. Spent his entire freshman year in the starting rotation and will be a mainstay again.

RHP Brady Kaufman (FR) – True freshman two-way player who will be making his college debut on Sunday, assuming he doesn’t play in the field ahead of time (he should). Solid build at 6’2, 190. The next earned run he allows will be the first against him since his junior year of high school.

RHP Elliott Eaton (JR) – 0-0, 8.71 ERA, 31.0 IP, 15.5 BB%, 16.8 K%. Good frame at 6’5, 210 lbs. Control issues are what keeps him back with 43 BB, 28 HBP, and 15 WP in 59.0 career innings.

RHP Will Sword (rJR) – Cary native who attended Thales Academy and missed all of the 2025 season due to injury. Prior to that pitched to a 2-4, 6.52 ERA, 48.1 IP, 12.3 BB%, 18.2 K% in 2024. Has made 13 starts over his 22 career appearances with the Tigers. Could be a key component to the bullpen this year.

Quick! Fun Facts!

Princeton coach Scott Bradley had that program rolling early in his tenure, taking the Tigers to five NCAA Regionals in a seven-year span from 2000 to 2006.

The Tigers have a daunting opening slate for 2026. They play three games in Raleigh this weekend, then head to Durham next weekend for a four-game series with Duke, and then head to Columbia the following weekend for a three-game set with South Carolina.

Despite having just 30 players drafted since 2000, seven Princeton baseball alums have made it to the MLB level: RHP Ross Ohlendorf, OF Will Venable, RHP Chris Young, RHP Danny Barnes, RHP David Hale, 1B Mike Ford, and RHP Matt Bowman. Each of those players had multi-year MLB careers.

Ivy League teams typically play a smaller schedule versus other D1 teams. Princeton has 42 games scheduled for this year compared to 56 for the majority of non-Ivy League schools.

The Key To A Series Win For State

Princeton doesn’t have the pitching depth to stay in this one, so a patient approach to work the pitch counts of the starters will get the Pack deep into a Tigers pitching staff that won’t be able to keep up. The key for State is simple: hunt your pitch at the plate and don’t swing at junk.

Prediction

The Wolfpack will score a bunch of runs and Princeton will not, but the Tigers will show more punch than they did in 2025.

Outcome: State sweeps

February 20, 2026

Canadiens Have 2 Potential Rangers Trade Targets

Once the NHL Olympic roster freeze lifts later this month, the Montreal Canadiens will be a team to watch very closely. The Canadiens are currently one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, so they are naturally expected to be buyers ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline.

Due to this, we recently kicked off our Canadiens trade targets series by looking at potential targets from the Nashville Predators. Now, in this latest edition of the series, let's focus on the New York Rangers.

Vincent Trocheck

Vincent Trocheck is a player who has been connected to the Canadiens this season, and it would not be surprising in the slightest if they at least had him on their radar. He would give the Canadiens a clear answer for their second-line center spot and would also work on both their power play and their penalty kill if acquired.

Trocheck's contract adds to his appeal, as he has a $5.625 million cap hit until the end of the 2028-29 season. With this, he would be a long-term addition to the Canadiens' roster.

In 43 games this season with the Blueshirts, Trocheck has recorded 12 goals, 24 assists, 36 hits, and 130 hits. That mixture of offense and grit would make him a nice pickup for the Habs.

Alexis Lafreniere

Alexis Lafreniere has been the subject of trade rumors since Rangers GM Chris Drury confirmed through a letter to fans that the club is rebuilding. It is clear that the 2020 first-overall pick could use a change of scenery, and it would be fascinating to see the Canadiens take a chance on the St-Eustache, Quebec native.

At just 24 years old, Lafreniere could be a good fit on a Canadiens club that is on the rise. This is especially so if the fresh start helped him tap into his potential more.

Yet, Lafreniere's contract would make him a risky addition for the Canadiens. This is because he has a $7.45 million cap hit until the end of the 2031-32 season.

In 57 games this season with the Rangers, Lafreniere has 12 goals and 32 points. His best season so far was in 2023-24, as he set career highs with 28 goals, 29 assists, and 57 points in 82 games.

February 20, 2026

2026 Chicago Cubs player profiles: Hunter Harvey

Today we look at the Cubs’ new flamethrowing reliever, a former first-round pick (#22 overall in 2013 by Baltimore), who has been in The Show since 2019.

Hunter Luke Harvey, son of former MLB reliever Bryan Harvey, came to the Cubs as a free agent, signing on New Year’s Eve, and is expected to take on a short relief/setup role, perhaps picking up save opportunities if Daniel Palencia is tired or unavailable.

In seven years split between Baltimore (where he was their No. 1 pick in 2013), Washington and Kansas City, Harvey has posted career numbers of 10-11, 3.11, with 11 saves, a 4.0 bWAR ( 3.6 fWAR) and a 1.10 WHIP. He is on a one-year, $6 million deal, with a 2027 mutual option. He’s had 201 strikeouts, 51 bases on balls, and 17 home runs in 185 innings, all of which are just fine, but he has struggled with injuries since 2024. That’s the risk, but he’s a high-reward-potential kind of arm and should serve the Cubs well with judicious use.

Keep him healthy and there will be returns. He’s a complementary arm but, as said, he brings the heat — one of his offerings was clocked at 99.8 mph, and he has consistently thrown in the 97-99 zone, with a n average of 95.7-96.1, with a very (+2000) spin rate. That’s good stuff, and a very different look for the Cubs’ bullpen, which hasn’t been very high-velocity, but seems to be turning that corner. He also throws a splitter (19.2 percent), slider (18 percent), and curve (9.6 percent).

He’s extremely likely to head north with the team after Spring Training concludes and presumably will be locking down the seventh or eighth in preparation for Palencia to step in and close the deal.

The 31-year-old will need careful handling. But high 90s with +spin is in vogue, and for good reason.

February 20, 2026

40 in 40: Cal Raleigh is ignorant

He's always in a cage, but you cannot contain him (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Instead of writing about Cal Raleigh’s 2025 season, I’d like to show you a few pitches that caught my attention.

April 17, bottom of the tenth

The Mariners had stormed back in the ninth inning to tie the game and send it to extras (thanks to a Cal Raleigh home run), which meant that Cal would have to wear the catcher’s gear for an extra inning.

In the 1930s, a catcher—either Muddy Ruel or Bill Dickey, depending on who you ask—referred to the mask, chest pad, and shin guards as “the tools of ignorance.” The irony was clear: anyone smart enough to play the position would be smart enough not to play it if he understood the risks.

You can see that phenomenon on display in this video as Andrés Muñoz spikes a slider that comes up and gets Cal Raleigh in the throat. The trainer comes out, but when the ump eventually asks if he needs more time, Cal just nods “nah, I’m good.”

A few days later, he hit a home run off the facing of the second deck.

May 29, top of the eighth

Here we see Cal catching a Matt Brash pitch that appears to jam his hand. He shakes it off, but one pitch after that, CJ Abrams fouls a ball back to the knob of Cal’s ankle, where there’s no protection. Former catcher Dave Valle is on the call, and you can hear the “believe me, that one hurts” tone in his voice. Cal takes a minute and grimaces, then gets back to it.

The next night, he hit a home run in the first inning. And then another one in the eighth.

June 23, bottom of the sixth

Another foul ball, this one to the inner thigh. Carlos Correa will never stop being hateable. Cal has to stand up and walk this one off, bouncing and hobbling around the plate for a moment. Three innings later, he hit his 32nd home run of the season.

July 12, bottom of the first

Detroit’s first batter tips one straight back to Cal’s wrist. But don’t worry. It’s not like you need your wrists for hitting. The umpire gives him a minute, knowing Cal’s got an entire game left of this. Two days later, Cal became the first catcher to win the Home Run Derby.

August 9, top of the ninth

In some ways, this isn’t really an article about Cal Raleigh. It’s about Andrés Muñoz’s slider, and Matt Brash’s curveball, and Logan Gilbert’s splitter, and Carlos Vargas’s entire arsenal. Cal catches a lot of pitches where the hurlers will be the first ones to tell you they’re not entirely sure where they’re going. In this clip, we get another spiked Muñoz slider, this one knocking dirt into Cal’s eye.

The next day, Cal Raleigh hit a home run.

August 20, bottom of the fifth

Alec Bohm hits a foul directly back into Cal’s mask, bouncing off his face and skull. He takes less than two seconds before reaching his glove out for the next ball. When I was in college, sometimes I would stay home from class because I “felt icky.”

That weekend, Cal hit two home runs in a game. The first traveled 448 feet and tied Salvador Perez’s record for most home runs by a catcher in a season. The second one, also over 400 feet, broke it.

August 24, top of the seventh

Later on in the game where Cal broke Salvy’s record, he catches Carlos Vargas. One of his pitches comes in wide off the plate. After 114 games behind the dish, this pinwheel is taking its toll.

Cal catches the wayward pitch awkwardly, has to drop his glove, and shake out his hand. In the first inning of the next day’s game, he hit his 50th home run.

September 16, bottom of the second inning

Logan Gilbert overthrows a curveball that bounces off the spring of home plate’s rubber and catches Cal in the throat. In the replay, you can see the flesh ripple. But four minutes later—four minutes later—Cal Raleigh hit a home run. About half an hour after that, he tied Ken Griffey Jr. for the franchise record.

ALDS Game 1, top of the 11th inning

After catching 1,072 innings in the regular season, having caught at least 1,000 in each of the last three years (the only player to do that), Cal takes a foul ball straight back into his face in the extra innings of a playoff game. 24 hours later, he doubled and scored the winning run for the Mariners’ first home playoff win in a quarter century.

You know what Cal Raleigh did last year. 60 home runs, just the fourth guy not connected to PEDs to do that. The most home runs by a catcher, as a catcher, by a switch hitter, by a Mariner. The first player to hit at least 20 home runs from both sides of the plate. And he did it while taking shot after shot while squatting with 15 extra pounds of gear in the summer heat. He’s smart enough to lead the Mariners pitching staff but too ignorant to understand why that’s a terrible idea. For Mariners fans, it’s bliss.

February 20, 2026

Australia wrap up failed T20 World Cup campaign with rapid win over Oman

Oman 104; Australia 108-1. Australia won by nine wickets
Victory completed with more than 10 overs to spare

Australia demolished Oman by nine wickets to win the final Twenty20 World Cup group encounter in Pallekele on Friday in emphatic style, . Both teams were already eliminated from the tournament.

Chasing a modest target of 105, Mitchell Marsh was in no mood to hang around and ruthlessly dispatched Oman’s bowlers, bringing up his half-century off 26 balls inside the first powerplay.

February 20, 2026

Clippers vs Lakers Same Game Parlay for February 20

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The Battle of Los Angeles takes center stage tonight at Crypto.com Arena, and while the Clippers are settling into their own home, this remains a Purple and Gold city. With the Lakers entering as 7.5-point favorites, there’s no better time to capitalize on their dominance with a three-leg same-game parlay.

My NBA picks expect Luka Dončić to continue his MVP-caliber campaign alongside the timeless brilliance of LeBron James, who thrives under the bright lights of this rivalry. Between Luka’s playmaking and LeBron’s efficiency, the Lakers appear primed to defend their home court tonight.

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Clippers vs Lakers same game parlay for February 20

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Luka Dončić 10+ assists

LeBron James 20+ points

Lakers moneyline

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Los Angeles Clippers vs Los Angeles Lakers

Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
Location: Crypto.com Arena
TV: ESPN, ESPN Unlimited, FDSN, SPECSN

While this is his first game back from a hamstring strain—and you’d normally expect some form of minutes restriction—Luka Dončić played in the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday and then had extended time off to continue his rehab. Because of that, I don’t expect any restriction to be particularly limiting. The Clippers love to blitz Dončić and force the ball out of his hands, and with the Lakers fully healthy on Friday, he’ll have no shortage of capable teammates to convert those potential assists.

With Ivica Zubac no longer anchoring the middle and Brook Lopez expected to start at center, the Clippers are likely to rely more on deep drop coverage, which should open up plenty of passing lanes for Dončić.

In their previous matchups with the Clippers this season, Rui Hachimura and LeBron James have converted the most assists from Dončić, with five each. With the Clippers blitzing Dončić to get the ball out of his hands, that should open up driving lanes for James, who will be operating off Dončić’s gravity. The spacing for James to get downhill should also be there, as the Lakers are fully healthy and the roster is filled with shooters and scorers like Austin Reaves and Hachimura.

When you bet an alternate over on the assists of a primary creator like Luka Dončić, pairing it with the team’s moneyline often makes a lot of sense. If Dončić gets to 10+ assists, it means his teammates are converting shots—likely including open threes and easy finishes from role players. With the Clippers playing on the second night of a back-to-back, there’s also a realistic chance we gain additional edge if their starting lineup changes closer to tip-off due to the scheduling spot.

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February 20, 2026

Cavaliers vs. Hornets predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends and best bets for February 20

The Cleveland Cavaliers (35-21) look to extend their six-game winning streak as they hit the road to face the Charlotte Hornets (26-30) on Friday night at the Spectrum Center. Coming off a dominant 112-84 victory over Brooklyn on Thursday in their first game after the All-Star Break, Cleveland is playing the second night of a back-to-back, having integrated James Harden successfully into a lineup that now features a healthy Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. The Cavaliers enter as 5.5 to 6.5-point favorites, seeking to at a minimum solidify their fourth place standing in the Eastern Conference.

Even with last night’s loss at home to the Rockets, the Hornets have still won eight of their last ten to climb into tenth in the Eastern Conference and the final spot in the Play-In Tournament. They are just four games behind the Magic in the Southeast Division and 4.5 games behind Philadelphia and the 6^th seed in the East. The Hornets are 9-2 in the second half of back-to-backs. As far as individuals are concerned, Brandon Miller has taken a significant leap as a scorer for Charlotte, averaging 20.5 points this season, and Kon Knueppel is challenging for Rookie of the Year honors (18.8PPG).

This is the fourth meeting of the season between these teams. The Hornets took the season opener, but the Cavs have taken the last two.

Lets take a closer look at the matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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Game Details and How to Watch Live: Cavaliers at Hornets

Date: Friday, February 20, 2026
Time: 7PM EST
Site: Spectrum Center
City: Charlotte, NC
Network/Streaming: FDSN Ohio, FDSN Southeast

Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Game Odds: Cavaliers at Hornets

The latest odds as of Friday courtesy of DraftKings:

Moneyline: Cleveland Cavaliers (-225), Charlotte Hornets (+185)
Spread: Cavaliers -6.5
Total: 230.5 points

This game opened Cavaliers -4.5 with the Total set at 235.5.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!

Expected Starting Lineups: Cavaliers at Hornets

Cleveland Cavaliers

PG James Harden
SG Donovan Mitchell
SF Dean Wade
PF Evan Mobley
C Jarrett Allen

Charlotte Hornets

PG Lonzo Ball
SG Kon Knueppel
SF Grant Williams
PF Brandon Miller
C Ryan Kalkbrenner

Injury Report: Cavaliers at Hornets

Cleveland Cavaliers

Nai’Qwan Tomlin (calf)is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
Max Strus (foot) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game

Charlotte Hornets

Liam McNeeley (ankle) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
Grant Williams (knee) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
Coby White (calf) is listed as doubtful for tonight’s game
Miles Bridges (suspended) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Moussa Diabate (suspended) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game

Important stats, trends and insights: Cavaliers at Hornets

The Hornets are 12-15 at home this season
The Cavaliers are 16-10 on the road this season
The Hornets are 34-22 ATS this season / 16-11 at home
The Cavaliers are 24-32 ATS this season / 13-13 on the road
The OVER has cashed in 26 of the Cavaliers’ 56 games this season (26-30)
The OVER has cashed in just 21 of the Hornets’ 56 games this season (21-35)
Each of these teams is 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games

Rotoworld Best Bet

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Hornets and Cavaliers’ game:

Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Cavaliers -6.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 230.5

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

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February 20, 2026

Game Preview #57 – Timberwolves vs. Mavericks

DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 28: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves is defended by Caleb Martin #16 of the Dallas Mavericks during the third quarter at American Airlines Center on January 28, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks
Date: February 20th, 2026
Time: 6:30 PM CST
Location: Target Center
Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network – North
Radio Coverage: KFAN FM, Wolves App, iHeart Radio

The All-Star break is officially in the rearview mirror. The beach towels are folded. The sunglasses are back in the drawer. And the Wolves return to Target Center sitting in the Western Conference’s 6-seed, a respectable address, but not exactly the penthouse suite they’ve been eyeing all year.

Twenty-six games remain. That’s it.

If the Wolves want to climb out of the Play-In danger zone and secure something meaningful, like, say, actual home-court advantage in the first round, it’s going to require a level of consistency and maturity we’ve only seen in flashes over the first 56 games.

Because let’s be honest: this season has been a roller coaster designed by someone who hates stability. One night they look like a team capable of going toe-to-toe with Oklahoma City and punching a ticket to June. The next night they look like a group that accidentally showed up to the wrong gym and decided to wing it anyway.

That’s the problem. The Wolves have been both world-beaters and sleepwalkers, a team with championship upside and “what are we doing?” energy, sometimes within the same week. Now they open the final stretch against an injured Dallas Mavericks team that, on paper, simply does not measure up to Minnesota’s roster. Which means this game isn’t about talent. It’s about tone. If this team is serious about climbing the ladder they’ve been hovering beneath all season, it starts with beating teams like this, cleanly, decisively, and professionally.

Key #1: Come Out Like You Mean It

There are no excuses here. None.

Only Anthony Edwards played competitive basketball during the break. Everyone else got a week-plus to recharge. Meanwhile, Dallas rolls into Target Center without Kyrie Irving (done for the season), without Cooper Flagg (foot injury), without Anthony Davis (traded), and possibly without Daniel Gafford.

This isn’t Dallas’s A-team. It’s not even their B+ team. But this is a group that, if you let them hang around, will absolutely make you regret it.Minnesota cannot treat this like a glorified practice. They cannot “feel it out.” They cannot play with their food for three quarters and decide to turn the jets on in the fourth. We’ve seen that movie. It ends poorly.

They need to come out of the gate with urgency. Defensive pressure. Fresh legs. Purpose. Make it clear within the first six minutes that this is not going to be the night for a scrappy Dallas upset. This game should feel uncomfortable for the Mavericks from the jump.

Key #2: Dominate the Paint Like You’re Supposed To

This is where the Wolves have no excuse. With Anthony Davis gone and Gafford questionable, Minnesota’s frontcourt advantage is overwhelming. Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, and Naz Reid should feast. This needs to be paint pressure. Offensive rebounds. Lob threats. Putbacks. High-percentage looks. Physicality. Impose-your-will basketball.

The Wolves’ size advantage should show up on the glass. It should show up in second-chance points. It should show up in shot quality. If Minnesota’s bigs get outworked or outhustled in this matchup, that’s not a talent issue, that’s an effort issue. And effort issues are no longer acceptable with 26 games left.

Key #3: Make It Five-Headed, Not Hero Ball

Anthony Edwards just lit up the All-Star Game. He looked like the face of the league. He stole the show. It was awesome. But this is not the All-Star Game.

This isn’t about Ant dropping 45 for the vibes. This is about building cohesion. The Wolves are at their best when Ant and Randle operate as dual threats, scorers and facilitators. When the ball pops. When Donte DiVincenzo gets clean looks. When Naz spaces the floor. When Jaden McDaniels finds rhythm inside the flow of the offense.

When Minnesota plays like a five-headed monster, they are hard to guard. When it devolves into iso-heavy, late-clock bailout possessions, they make life way too easy for an inferior opponent.

Dallas cannot match Minnesota’s depth or offensive variety. But they can hang around if the Wolves shrink themselves into a one-man show. The mission here is simple: play connected basketball.

Key #4: No Freebies on the Perimeter

The only way Dallas stays in this game is if Minnesota gifts them confidence. That means lazy closeouts. Blow-bys. Miscommunications. Rotations a half-step slow. Open threes.

We’ve seen this script before: Wolves control the talent battle but turn into a defensive revolving door. Suddenly a team that shouldn’t be able to score 110 is sitting at 102 midway through the fourth quarter and the arena is nervous.

It starts on the perimeter. Guard the ball. Provide resistance. Funnel drives intelligently into Gobert instead of asking him to bail out breakdown after breakdown. If Minnesota defends with purpose, Dallas simply does not have the firepower to keep up. But if the Wolves get casual, they invite drama.

And they’ve had enough drama this season.

Key #5: Treat This Like the Beginning of Something

This isn’t just Game 57. This is the start of tune-up mode.

The Wolves are integrating Ayo Dosunmu into the mix. They’re recalibrating rotations. They’re building toward April. Chemistry doesn’t magically appear in Game 1 of the playoffs. It gets built in February and March.

That means playing focused. Playing together. Communicating defensively. Trusting the extra pass. Understanding spacing. Learning tendencies. This stretch is about laying groundwork for May and June. You don’t flip a switch in the postseason unless you’ve wired it properly beforehand.

There are numbers floating around in my head — 17–9.

That’s roughly what Minnesota needs over these final 26 games to realistically put themselves in position for the three-seed. Maybe even better.

You don’t get to 17–9 by dropping “gimme” games at home. You don’t get there by coasting. You don’t get there by assuming the opponent will roll over.

This is about professionalism now. The Wolves have talked about contender status. They’ve tasted Western Conference Finals basketball. They know what’s at stake. Now they have to show it.

The runway is there. The schedule is manageable. The talent is undeniable. The only question left is whether this team finally decides to be consistent. It has to start tonight.

No excuses.

February 20, 2026

MLB Spring Training Picks and Predictions for February 20: Royals and Rockies Roll

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The first Spring Training games of 2026 get underway today! Grapefruit League play begins with Yankees vs. Orioles, and we'll see four all-pro matchups in the Cactus League out west.

Find out why I'm targeting a pair of plus-money teams in my MLB picks for Friday, February 20.

Spring Training predictions for February 20

Picks
Royals moneyline	+110
Rockies moneyline	+114
Padres vs. Mariners Over 11	-105

Pick #1: Royals moneyline

+110 at DraftKings

The Texas Rangers are likely favored due to the name value on the mound with Nathan Eovaldi taking the ball vs. Stephen Kolek. But I wouldn't be surprised if Eovaldi only lasts one inning in his first Cactus League start of 2026.

Eovaldi pitched only two innings in his initial Spring Training outing in 2025, coughing up two runs.

The Kansas City Royals were a robust 20-12 in exhibition play last season, scoring an MLB-best 204 runs.

Pick #2: Rockies moneyline

+114 at DraftKings

Antonio Senzatela gets the nod for the Colorado Rockies, and although his regular season stats were dismal in 2025, he was a force to be reckoned with in Spring Training, authoring a 1.21 ERA over 22 1/3 innings.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are playing things close to the vest, having yet to name a starter or announce a starting lineup. I don't think the recently-signed Zac Gallen will get the nod, which would be the only reason to wait for this line to jump in the right direction.

Pick #3: Padres vs Mariners Over 11

-105 at DraftKings

Runs came fast and furious in Seattle Mariners games last spring, as they scored 199 (second-most) and surrendered 202 (most). The San Diego Padres were also a poor defensive team in Cactus League play last year, allowing 180 runs (tied for fifth-most).

Neither starter will put fear into the hearts of their opponents today, with San Diego rolling with unproven rookie Jagger Hayes, and Seattle countering with journeyman Dane Dunning.

The announced starting lineups are dotted with stars, with the likes of Fernando Tatis Jr. and Cal Raleigh written in toward the top.

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February 20, 2026

The four things the Penguins need most after Olympic break

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 30: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins looks on against the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG PAINTS Arena on December 30, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

The 2026 Men’s Olympic Hockey tournament concludes this weekend, which means the 2025-26 NHL season is getting closer to returning from its Olympic break. The Pittsburgh Penguins next game will be on Thursday, February, 26 against the New Jersey Devils. Overall, they have 26 regular season games remaining. So let’s talk about the four things they need the most the rest of the way.

1. Sidney Crosby

This is the biggest concern at the moment given his injury at the Olympics. There has been no official update on what exactly his injury is or the severity of it, and we only know that he tried to skate before Friday’s semifinal game agains Finland and was then ruled out for the game. All of the reporting so far seems to indicate it is not anything season-ending, but it seems likely he is going to miss at least something when the Penguins return from the break.

On one hand, the Penguins have surprisingly strong depth this season and still have enough to stay competitive if Crosby deals with a shorter-term injury.

They have played extremely well without him on the ice this season, and even though him being out of the lineup would move people up the depth chart they should still have enough depth to stay competitive and win games.

If they are going to actually make the playoffs and then have a chance to do anything when they get there, a healthy Crosby is eventually going to be a must.

2. The power play to rediscover its groove

Overall the Penguins power play has been excellent this season and a significant part of their success. For the season as a whole they are converting on 25 percent of their attempts, good enough for the fourth-best mark in the NHL.

Since the start of January, however, that unit has struggled to consistently fill the net.

Since January 1 the Penguins are converting on just 15.9 percent of their power play attempts, a number that drops them to 29th in the NHL over that stretch.

Even more concerning: They are not generating a ton of actual chances on the power play, either.

Over that stretch of games they are averaging just 8.59 expected goals per 60 minutes of power play time. That is 22nd in the NHL during that stretch.

They are generating just 53.6 shots on goal per 60 minutes. That is 15th in the NHL over that stretch.

They are averaging just 59.1 scoring chances per 60 minutes. That is 20th in the NHL in those games.

They are averaging just 28.4 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes. That is 16th in the NHL during that stretch.

In other words, it has been a very average to below average unit for a significant chunk of the season. The Penguins are a good enough 5-on-5 team that they do not need a great power play to have a chance to generate offense, but that unit becoming a force again (or at least better than it has been since the start of January) would be a huge help for the offense and the team as a whole.

[Power Play Scoring Chance, Shot Rates And Expected Goal Data via Natural Stat Trick]

3. Defensive upgrade at the trade deadline

It seems very likely that, given their place in the standings, the Penguins are going to be in a position to add something before the March 6 trade deadline. Especially since they only play five games before the deadline. Their forward situation looks pretty settled with plenty of depth. Between their NHL roster and the options ready to go in the AHL (Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen, Avery Hayes, the potential return of Filip Hallander) they are probably 15-16 deep in terms of NHL capable forwards at the moment. The defensive depth is the question.

While the defense has been significantly better than we anticipated at the start of the season, especially as it relates to the left side of the defense, they could still use some help as it relates to the depth.

Kris Letang is 38 years old, missed some time this season, and showed serious signs of decline at times.

Erik Karlsson is 35 years old and just played four extra high-intensity games at the Olympic tournament.

The depth players like Connor Clifton, Jack St. Ivany, Ilya Solovyov and Brett Kulak have held their own, you still might like to see an upgrade for the playoffs or just simply have some extra depth. You probably need at least eight or nine capable NHL defensemen for a playoff run. I am not sure the Penguins have that right now. An upgrade would be nice. It also seems likely. It is just a matter of how big of an upgrade it is and how much the Penguins are willing to pay.

They are almost certainly still looking for any young talent that can help both now and in the future at any position, but if we are talking short-term upgrades the defense should be the focus. This team has raised its expectations for the season through its play and it deserves an addition.

4. Win 14 more games

We talked about this earlier in the week, but given where the Penguins are in the standings, what they have already done, what the teams around them have already done, and what it typically takes to make the playoffs, winning 14 more games, regardless of what they do in the other 12 (overtime loss, regulation loss, shootout loss, whatever the case may be) should be enough to secure a playoff spot.

The schedule is difficult. It is doable. The playoffs are within reach. Hope for the best with Sidney Crosby’s injury, get the power play back on track, keep getting some competent and capable goaltending, and get an upgrade on defense and that should be an attainable goal.

February 20, 2026

Dewi Lake calls on fans to back under-fire Wales while Italy eye another shock

Wales captain wants energy from home supporters
Galthié beefs up pack for visit of in-form Italy

The Wales captain, Dewi Lake, has urged fans in Cardiff to lift his side for the Six Nations meeting with Scotland on Saturday.

After last week’s record thrashing by France, Wales have lost 13 consecutive Six Nations matches, while Scotland arrive at the Principality Stadium in upbeat mood after their handsome Calcutta Cup triumph over England.

February 20, 2026

Weird Islanders: The Podcast! – Episode 81 – Rob Davison (with guest John Cullen)

Along with comedian, podcaster and new author John Cullen, we remember Rob Davison, who had one major moment against a marquee opponent in his very short stint on Long Island.

Like a lot of defensive defensemen, Rob Davison was not a player most people would remember. His job was preventing goals, not scoring them, for a very good San Jose Sharks team in the early 2000’s. When he was dealt to the Islanders at the tail end of the 2007-08 season, it barely registered with the fanbase and was more about filling a giant injury hole than anything else. He arrived late to his first game and would eventually leave the team after that playoff-free season.

BUT! In those 19-games, Rob Davison – of all people – scored a goal so crazy, so unbelievable, so memorable that we’re still talking about it 25 years later. In an otherwise pointless game at Nassau Coliseum between two teams going nowhere, Davison launched the puck 190-feet down the ice and ended up with one of the most ludicrous shorthanded goals in NHL history, forever tying him to former Sharks teammate Vesa Toskala in a moment of infamy no one who watched it will ever forget.

Instead of finding a Sharks fan to talk about Davison, we asked John – a fan of the hated Maple Leafs – to talk about that game, that goal and Toskala’s legacy in Toronto. Ironically, we all find a degree of sympathy for the goalie who faced an impossible play and whiffed on it the way just about anyone would have. We talk about his reaction to his friend Davison scoring a goal like that on him, and about how trading Davison helped the Sharks draft an upgrade, who has a goofy connection to the Islanders decades later. We also enjoy a rarely remembered fact about that famous game (that the Islanders still lost).

We can’t thank John enough for coming on. He’s a very busy man between his many podcasts, his new book – Curling Rocks! – being out (and recording its audio version) and his work for CBC covering curling at the Olympics. Check out his shows Broomgate, A Curling Scandal, What is…? A Jeopardy! Podcast (with Emily Heller), The POD Kast (with Bryan Quinby) and Blocked Party (with Stefen Heck).

A Weird Islanders Extra! bonus episode with us and John discussing the Islanders/Leafs/Tavares thing was released back in January.

WEIRD BONUS MATERIAL

After 176 mostly-quiet games and one Western Conference with the San Jose Sharks, Davison was traded to the Islanders for a seventh round pick that, ironically, turned into Jason Demers, another defenseman who played 200-plus games with the Sharks and an astute observer of the game.
On that same day, Garth Snow traded Chris Simon to Minnesota and Marc-Andre Bergeron to Anaheim. Replacing Bergeron with Davison is like replacing a fresh, sweet, juicy apple with an onion (in a complimentary way).
This man scored three (3) goals in his NHL career and this, from March 18, 2008, was by far the most memorable one (the Islanders lost 3-1). This was also the final NHL goal of Davison’s career.

That bouncing goal on Vesa Toskala of the Maple Leafs continues to be a core memory for those who saw it. Toskala and Davison were once teammates on the Sharks and, according to Davison, Toskala told him afterwards, ‘“If one guy was going to do it – I am glad it was you.”
Davison went on to have short stints with the Canucks (23 games) and Devils (1 game), and two seasons in Europe playing in Austria and Czechia. During his even more brief time with the Devils, Davison fought Islanders Micheal Haley and Matt Martin… in the same preseason game!
He signed a deal to return to the Sharks in 2013 but spent the season in the AHL with Worcester.
Since retiring, he’s had an extensive coaching career, winning a Calder Cup with the Toronto Marlies and back-to-back championships with Salzberg in Austria. He’s currently an associate coach with the OHL’s Guelph Storm.

What makes a “Weird Islander?”

We’re always open to suggestions about other Weird Islanders to discuss. Remember the criteria. Candidates must fulfill one of the two of the following:

Played one (1) season or less for the Islanders or very short stints over multiple seasons.
Be a veteran NHLer who is not generally associated with his time on Islanders.

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February 20, 2026

2025 Season in Review: Jacob deGrom

ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 24: Jacob deGrom #48 of the Texas Rangers pitches during a game against the Minnesota Twins at Globe Life Field on September 24, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Alexandra Carnochan/Texas Rangers/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With the 2025 Texas Rangers season having come to an end, we shall be, over the course of the offseason, taking a look at every player who appeared in a major league game for the Texas Rangers in 2025.

Today we are looking at pitcher Jacob deGrom.

Jacob deGrom made 30 starts for the Texas Rangers in 2025.

That, in and of itself, is a success of sorts. When the Texas Rangers signed Jacob deGrom after the 2022 season, there were many dire predictions that the Rangers wouldn’t get a full season from him, that he might not make 30 starts in the entirety of his Ranger career, much less in a single season.

The thing about the “deGrom isn’t durable” narrative is that went from non-existent to conventional wisdom in roughly 18 months. From 2017 through 2020, deGrom made 107 starts, tied with Jon Lester for the 6th most in MLB in that span. Gerrit Cole, Zack Greinke and Rick Porcello each had 110 starts, Patrick Corbin had 109 starts, and Lance Lynn had 108 starts. He was first in innings pitched in that span, with 690.1.

Then in 2021 he had one of the weirdest great seasons ever, putting up a 1.08 ERA in 15 starts. He followed that up with 11 starts in 2022. The missed time over those two campaigns resulted in deGrom going from a workhorse to unreliable in the public’s eyes.

Then 2023 and 2024 and deGrom made just 9 starts for the Rangers due to undergoing his second Tommy John surgery. The haters said deGrom couldn’t stay healthy. And they were correct. Honestly great call from the haters.

Until this past year, when deGrom made his 30 starts and threw 172 innings and put concerns — immediate concerns, anyway — about his ability to stay healthy to rest.

And that was the important thing, because if Jacob deGrom is healthy, he’s going to be really good. There was not really any question about that. Which is kind of funny, given his background as a ninth round pick out of Stetson who didn’t pitch until his junior year, someone who had his first Tommy John surgery soon after being drafted, someone who never was hyped coming up, who topped out at #10 on the BA Mets prospect lists.

A couple of digressions real quick…

First of all, something I’ve theorized before is that guys who transition from being a position player to pitching have a higher than usual risk of UCL damage right after making the switch. I haven’t studied this, its just anecdotal in nature, but it seems like we see a lot of instances of players converting to pitching, showing promise, and then having to go under the knife for Tommy John surgery. I would guess that the change in stress on the elbow for someone in their 20s makes them more likely to tear the UCL. That said, as I mentioned in the Sam Haggerty writeup yesterday, I’m not a doctor, and I don’t even play one on TV.

Secondly, Jacob deGrom made his major league debut one month before his 26th birthday. That’s incredibly late for a player who is legitimately great. Whenever deGrom retires, he’s going to have a fascinating Hall of Fame case. He’s not going to have big compiler numbers — hell, he doesn’t even have 100 career wins yet — but he still has the aura of a Hall of Famer, with a stretch of being historically dominant. His JAWS score, right now, is almost identical to Felix Hernandez, who looks like he’s going to get voted into the Hall in the next few years. (Though he does trail Johan Santana, and I’m still angry about him being one-and-done.)

Getting back on point…I think it is fair to ask, how good was Jacob deGrom, really, in 2025? Ace good, or solid mid-rotation starter good?

deGrom’s 2.97 ERA is impressive, the 13th best among the 70 major league pitchers with at least 150 innings pitched in 2025. His ERA+ of 123, however, ranked him 21st — a byproduct of B-R’s park factors treating the Shed as extremely pitcher-friendly. And his 2.9 bWAR had him tied for 27th in the majors, tied with Quinn Priester and, ironically, Merrill Kelly, and one slot behind his new teammate MacKenzie Gore, due to the credit that the Rangers defense (which B-R’s numbers have as easily the best in the majors in 2025) gets towards his run prevention.

Interestingly, deGrom didn’t allow an unearned run all season. Well, maybe that’s not interesting to you, but it is to me.

If you prefer fWAR, deGrom does better there, with his 3.4 fWAR being 21st in the majors among the 70 pitchers with at least 150 innings in 2025. And his xERA (3.36) ordinal ranking was even better, as he slotted in at 11th overall.

So its kind of complicated.

deGrom isn’t the same pitcher he was when he was with the Mets. His K rate — 27.7% in 2025 — is just great, not otherworldly (in that ridiculous 2021 season, he struck out 45% of the batters he faced). His walk rate is also great, not unworldly, though the combination of great K rate and great walk rate is still pretty special. His velocity is down a tad from his final years with the Mets (though higher, interestingly, than it was in his earlier years in New York), though with a fastball that average 97.5 mph in 2025 he’s still one of the hardest throwing starting pitchers in the game.

deGrom in 2025, though, did have issues with allowing loud contact. And, of course, he had issues with the long ball in 2025, allowing the highest HR/9 rate of his career, and the 16th highest of our 70 pitchers with at least 150 innings.

One of the interesting evolutions deGrom has undergone since joining the Rangers is that he has become a fly ball pitcher. That evolution has actually been in progress for a while — his first four seasons with the Mets, he had a ground ball rate of 47.4% to 48.0%. From 2019 to 2022 it dropped from 45.2% to 40.3%, and has been below 40% all three seasons with the Rangers, including 38.1% in 2025, per Statcast. As a point of reference, Statcast has the MLB average during deGrom’s career at 44.2%.

Really, deGrom’s homer issues didn’t become an issue until the back end of the 2025 season. Through the end of June, deGrom was sporting a 2.08 ERA and 3.08 FIP in 16 games, with just 9 homers allowed. For July through September, deGrom allowed 17 homers in 10 starts, resulting in a 4.07 ERA and a 4.34 FIP.

Weirdly, deGrom’s K rate actually improve somewhat in the final three months, while his walk rate stayed the same. His BABIP, which was miniscule all year — .230, 2nd best in our 70 pitcher sample — dipped slightly. He just went from giving up fewer than 1 home run per 9 innings in the first three months of the season to almost 2 bombs per 9 innings in the final three months.

Is it a cause for concern? Is this a trend, where we are going to be seeing deGrom feeding his gopher more and more often in 2026? Is it a matter of him just wearing down in his first season back after Tommy John surgery?

I do think its not unreasonable to think that the workload caught up to deGrom over the course of the 2025 season. The 172 innings he threw were more than he had thrown in the previous three seasons, majors and minors, combined. It was almost twice as many innings as he’d thrown in any single season, majors and minors combined, since 2019. And of course, he’s 37.

I’m not sure what to expect from deGrom in 2026. I expect he will be good. If he’s as good as he was in the first half of 2025, the Rangers will have one of the best pitchers in baseball.

I’d really like for that to be the case.

Previously:

The Good Phight’s Community Prospect list: #17 – Devin Saltiban

CLEARWATER, MEXICO - MARCH 14: Devin Saltiban #35 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on prior to the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Philadelphia Phillies at BayCare Ballpark on Friday, March 14, 2025 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Listen folks, we’re getting to the end of the list here, but c’mon. Even squinting doesn’t really make this one make sense.

Devin Saltiban – 88
Griffin Burkholder – 23
Keaton Anthony – 11
Carson DeMartini – 11
Seth Johnson – 10
Yoniel Curet – 8
Alex McFarlane – 7
Mavis Graves – 5
Ramon Marquez – 4
Zach McCambley – 2

Yeah, I don’t get this one. Probably a lot of fake voting going on here, but at least there are still plenty of people that like him. The below scouting report is at least mildly interested in him, as is Matt Winkelman, who has him 16th on his list. The “slow burn” description is probably rather apt at this point, but he’s going to have to show quite a bit of improvement this season, else he finds himself off a bunch of lists completely.

2025 stats (w/ Clearwater and Lakewood)

341 PA, .180/.259/.305, 7 HR, 26 RBI, 19 SB, 6.7 BB%, 27.9%, 72 wRC+

Fangraphs scouting report

He’s a plus runner and packs a powerful pull-side punch for a smaller guy, but Saltiban remains a high-risk prospect because of his strikeout issues, which stem from a lack of breaking ball recognition. Saltiban played second base in 2024, then a mix of second and center field in 2025. He is a flub-prone infielder and was still struggling to read the ball off the bat in center at the end of last season, but the timeshare and injury limited him to just 37 games out there. He only played center field in Australia and nearly doubled his career start total at the position. It’s imperative for his defense to improve out there; Saltiban needs to be able to make an impact in the field to give his strikeouts room to breath. This is a toolsy, slow-burning prospect who turns 21 in February.

With each new post, we’ll reveal who won the voting for that particular slot, then post new players for you to vote on, adding another one to the list each time until we get to our final tally of 20. Once we get to 20 top prospects, we’ll do an honorable mention post at the end. If a player gets traded to another team, we’ll just chuck him right on outta here and all the players will move up a spot. If a prospect gets acquired, we’ll ask where he should go on the list.

Probably the most important thing about this whole process – please vote. Give us a few minutes of your time, just click a button and then we can discuss other players and things in the comment section, but don’t forget – VOTE!

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February 20, 2026

Royals in Bloom: New Faces, New Broadcasts, New Season

Spring is back — and so is Royals baseball.

In this episode of the Royals Rundown Podcast, Jacob Milham and Jeremy “Hokius” Greco dive into the excitement surrounding Kansas City Royals spring training and what fans can expect as the new season approaches. From the buzz around camp to the practical implications of updated strike zone rules and broadcasting changes, the hosts unpack how the viewing experience — and the game itself — is evolving.

The conversation also highlights the Royals’ continued support of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, underscoring the organization’s role in preserving baseball history and strengthening community ties. Jacob and Jeremy break down recent roster updates, player movement news, and leadership changes within the MLB Players Association — exploring how those shifts could influence future negotiations and league dynamics.

To close, the hosts offer thoughtful cultural reflections through a review of Mr. Baseball, using film as a lens to examine how the sport intersects with identity, globalization, and tradition.

Whether you’re following roster battles, adapting to new broadcasting elements, or simply ready for baseball to return, this episode delivers insight, context, and enthusiasm for the Royals and the game at large.

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Email Jacob directly at: jm17971047@gmail.com

Need your Royals fix? Head to royalsreview.com for news, analysis, and to engage with Royals fans around the world! Follow us online:

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– Jeremy Greco: @hokius.fromthehawkseye.com
– Jacob Milham: @jacobmilhkc.bsky.social

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