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Pitchers’ duel!
See you in the comments.
“We’ve got to start honing in on the pitching side of things, and we’re wanting to see guys commanding the baseball, commanding their secondary stuff, attacking the zone, filling up the zone.” — Torey Lovullo, 7 March
To the extent that Torey Lovullo’s comment reflects Diamondbacks’ pitching that is less than what it’s got to be, (and he is a straight-shooter), bullpen battles are incendiary. Spring training may add fuel to the fires. Let’s look at spring training data through 10 March.
To increase comparability between pitchers, pitches are segregated into fastballs, breaking balls, and off-speed pitches.
To shed light on “filling the zone’ and ‘commanding the baseball’, let’s look at two things. First, what percentage of pitches are in the attack zone, and what percentage of pitches are in the combined attack zone / shadow zone per Baseball Savant? Second, what percentage of those pitches do not become balls in play? Instead, they are called strikes, whiffs, foul balls, and sometimes called balls (based on umpire judgement).
After this comparison, to add insights the pitchers will be also compared on more common (and all-inclusive for all pitch types) measures such as on-base percentage (OBP), slugging (SLG), wOBA, and hard hit percentage (HH%).
The two pitchers were Jonathan Loaisiga and Kade Strowd. There are good reasons to be confident that Loaisiga will be on the opening day roster per this AZ Snake Pit article.
5 Bullpen Metrics. Kade Strowd’s hard hit percentage is one of the best in the Majors. In 2025 Strowd was better than Loaisiga in 4 of 5 metrics, per this AZ Snake Pit article.
For a second time, comparing those 5 metrics (in spring training through 10 March instead of last season), the picture is very different. The two pitchers were close to equal, with possibly Loaisiga having a slight edge. The following table shows the five metrics:
Filling the Zone. In spring training through 10 March, Loaisiga had higher percentages of fastballs and breaking balls that filled the zone. Also, Loaisiga when fastballs and breaking balls filled the zone, Loaisiga had less of those become balls in play. Details are in the following table.
4 Pitching Metrics. In addition, in spring training Loaisiga was better than Strowd in four more common metrics. For details see the following table.
Based on the comparisons, both pitchers are great with Loaisiga showing best in spring training.
Let’s look at Brandyn Garcia, Mitch Bratt, and Kohl Drake. Although the last two players were optioned to the minors on 8 March, the comparison may shed light on which pitcher is more likely to be called up if Garcia is injured or traded. Although Bratt and Drake might eventually be rotation pitchers, that doesn’t preclude them being called up to pitch in the bullpen.
Filling the Zone. Perhaps surprisingly, in spring training the three pitchers filled the zone close to the same percentages for both fastballs and breaking balls. Looking at whether those pitches became balls in play, there were differences. For fastballs, they were all great, but for in the attack zone they ranked Garcia (best), Drake, and Bratt. For in the combined attack zone and shadow zone, the rankings of Drake and Bratt switched. For breaking balls, Garcia and Bratt were great, with Drake at the bottom. Details are in the following table. It includes data from spring training through 10 March.
4 Pitching Metrics.
In spring training, Garcia had by far the best OBP, SLG, and wOBA. Bratt had the best HH%. So that may be a factor in why Garcia looks like he will be on the opening day roster.
Comparing Bratt and Drake, Bratt had the better SLG and HH%, while Drake had the better OBP. About equal was wOBA.
Details are in the following table. It includes data from spring training through 10 March.
Based on the comparisons, during the season it’s not clear to me whether I would call up Bratt or Drake. Maybe it would depend on which team the Diamondbacks were playing against, with one having the better matchups against opposing batters.
Despite being a left-handed He was not included in the 3-pitcher comparison. Last season, after an incredible rise from a+ to AA to AAA to MLB, he pitched 3.2 innings in the Majors with a 4.91 ERA.
Perhaps he has “big league stuff” and he would benefit from adding a “couple ticks” to his fastball velocity.
In spring training his average fastball velocity was 91.3 MPH. In spring training through 10 March, he filled the zone without allowing BIPs. “It’s possible the team could go with both [Garcia and Abner], if Torey Lovullo wants two lefties.”
Details are in the following tables. They include data from spring training through 10 March.
Bullpen battles are incendiary, with filling the zone a factor.
Arguably, Jonathan Loaisiga and Kade Strowd will be in the opening day bullpen. Based on several comparisons, both pitchers are great with Loaisiga showing best in spring training.
Brandyn Garcia will likely be the left-handed pitcher in the bullpen on opening day.
In case you have been stuck under a rock for the better part of three weeks, the Atlanta Hawks have rattled off a recent streak of winning not seen since the days of Paul Millsap and Al Horford.
With their 10th straight win over the Orlando Magic on Magic City Night Monday night, Atlanta has laid claim to the longest win streak since the end of January 2015 — 4,065 days ago from today as I write this on Tuesday.
Clearly, many things are now working for this team that just a few weeks ago sat at 27-31.
Here are my top 10 reasons why the Hawks are streaking.
Jalen Johnson made his first All-Star Game this season, and deservedly so for his absolutely bonkers numbers so far.
Those numbers bear revisiting: per-game averages of 23.0 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 8.1 assists on 59% true shooting. Only four players in NBA history have ever hit those points, rebounds, and assists per game benchmarks in a season: Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Russell Westbrook, and Nikola Jokic.
But his biggest contribution of late has been in finishing off opponents within sniffing distance in fourth quarters. Johnson is sixth in the league in points in the fourth quarter on 60.3% true shooting. His real superstar turn may be in taking over when the brightest lights are on him.
Dyson Daniels doesn’t need a three-point shot to absolutely wreck opposing teams’ gameplans. So far this season, he’s fourth in deflections per game with 4.2, third in total deflections with 269, and second in loose balls recovered with 62 (all stats per the NBA’s tracking numbers).
Plays like this one last night where he goes all out for the ball are almost a nightly basis:
Or this tip rebound as he heads out of bounds leading to a score:
As of Tuesday morning, ‘NAW’ is fourth in the league in made threes with 205, and he’s converting at a 39% clip. Last night, he set a new career high with 41 points behind 9-for-14 (64%) shooting from deep.
But these haven’t been the product of simply standing in the corner. Rather, he works hard for these looks by moving off the ball to find openings. Watch him sprint from the strong side corner for this look — an effort level that Desmond Bane simply doesn’t match:
How he does this for 33 minutes a game in 65 games to this point while handling the ball more than ever, giving tons of effort on the defensive end, and generally excelling in a much larger role than he’s ever had, I’ll never know.
Inserting CJ McCollum into the starting lineup for Zaccharie Risacher raised some eyebrows initially, but the Hawks immediately rattled off on their winning streak ever since. It’s beyond fair to say that move has worked.
But this lineup isn’t just passing the test — they’re acing it with flying colors. The new starting lineup is boat racing opponents to the tune of +29.1 points per 100 possessions in 217 minutes this season, by far the highest margin of all NBA lineups with at least 100 minutes played.
The Hawks are in the middle of a historical season in terms of sharing the ball. Currently, they are second in assist percentage (the percentage of made field goals that are assisted) with 70.2%, second in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.13), and tops in assist ratio (the percentage of possessions that ended with an assist) at 20.5%.
The teams’ offensive ethos has been ‘random basketball’ where dribble-handoffs and off-ball screens create tons of confusion for defenses, and the many willing passers on this team have cashed in tons opportunities to create easy looks for each other.
The in-season additions of Gabe Vincent, Corey Kispert, Jonathan Kuminga, and Jock Landale have given the bench many options to mix and match as needed. Gone are the days of the dreaded Keaton Wallace-Luke Kennard-Vit Krejci lineups. Now the Hawks can stagger one of the starting guards with bigger and more physical presences at hand.
The Hawks had difficulties extending possessions early in the season, and it was clear the tradeoff of bodies back in transition defense wasn’t quite worth it. Prior to the All-Star break, the Hawks were 27th in the NBA in offensive rebound rate (the percent of available offensive rebounds secured) at 27.3%
Now, with the likes of Dyson Daniels and Zaccharie Risacher crashing the glass relentlessly, post-All-Star break the team has been fourth in the entire league over that stretch with an offensive rebounding rate of 34.4%.
The story is similar on the defensive side of the ball. The week layoff and homestand has helped the Hawks put up more of a physical fight for box outs and positioning on the glass as of late.
The team went from 21st in defensive rebounding rate (68.9%) prior to the break all the way to first in the NBA (76.4%) since. Now that’s what I call a turnaround.
I wrote about Quin Snyder putting Dyson Daniels on Giannis Antetokounmpo when it was clear the matchup was problematic. Two games ago, Snyder inserted Mouhamed Gueye in Jock Landale’s place in the second half bench unit against the Brooklyn Nets.
And last game, he used double big lineups with Jalen Johnson at the 3 (although to not a great effect).
The coaching staff has had to constantly tinker during a season of wild roster turnover, and they’ve now found solution after solution during this latest stretch.
After every big play, you see locker room vet Buddy Hield and others engaged and cheering. The home crowds in State Farm Arena are providing ample energy.
The locker room continues to reference a vibes shift in recent weeks, and the wins have followed.
After the game yesterday, Jalen Johnson said it himself, “I think the best way to describe it is we’re resilient. We’ve been through a lot of ups and downs. Team has looked different at times. But at the end of the day, we remain together. With us remaining together, that allows us to stack these types of wins, go on a winning streak like this, get a big win like tonight against Orlando. Just the little things that’s we’ve been doing off the court, in practice, have a created a sum. This is the result.”
The fact that the Sixers trying to keep their own pick this year has become a real conversation is astounding.
To say it’s been a rough couple of weeks for Philadelphia is an understatement. Thanks in large part to having four different starters go down for an extended period of time with injury, they’ve plummeted down the Eastern Conference standings into the Play-In tournament.
The skid, combined with the uncertainty of when those guys may be back, has made the topic of the Sixers trying to retain their top-4 protected first round something seriously considered.
The good news is unlike last season, the Sixers won’t be completely screwed if they happen to fall into the lottery and the slim odds don’t break their way. They of course own the Houston Rockets’ first-round pick from a trade you might have heard about.
SB Nation’s CBB expert Mike Rutherford and resident bracketologist Chris Dobbertean will answer all your questions this week and help guide you to bracket glory!
Drop in SB Nation’s March Madness Feed all week long and we’ll have both on hand! (All times ET)
Houston had another tough week in which they posted another 1-2 record. They squeaked out a win over the New Orleans Pelicans but dropped their games against the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers.
Unfortunately for the Sixers, that hasn’t resulted in any movement for the pick — it’s still 24th overall, where it was a week ago. The early 20s remains a very tight bunch though. The Rockets are just a half game behind three teams that are tied for the 21st spot.
Another reason to think about the draft is March Madness is about to start. This very blog may have something in the works about prospects to keep an eye on in the tournament. For now, Iowa State, Alabama, Arizona and Michigan may all be teams worth keeping an eye on from a Sixers perspective. All four of those teams are high seeds as well, with the potential to make a deep tournament run.
The Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild are set to square off for the third time this season. Each of the first two went beyond regulation, but the Wild won both 4-3.
The Blackhawks were beaten soundly by the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday night, and this is their opportunity to bounce back against another good team. Although the Wild have had a magical season so far, they are currently in a slump, going just 4-4-2 in their last 10.
As an angry team also looking to get back on track, the Wild presents a great challenge to a young Blackhawks team trying to have a strong finish to another developmental year.
Scouting Minnesota
The Minnesota Wild are making their first visit to the United Center with Quinn Hughes. Hughes was on the team when the two met up in St. Paul in January, but this will be his first trip to Chicago since the trade.
Kaprizov - Yurov - Boldy
Zuccarello - Hartman - Tarasenko
Johansson - McCarron - N Foligno
Trenin - Sturm - Fabbri
Hughes-Faber
Brodin-Spurgeon
Middleton-Petry
Gustavsson
The Minnesota Wild are going to start Filip Gustavsson in net against the Blackhawks. They run an elite duo in goal, and Gustavsson will get the nod in this one.
Their top center, Joel Eriksson Ek, is out with a lower-body injury. This gives the Blackhawks an edge down the middle of the ice.
The problem for the Blackhawks will be the stars, including Hughes, that the Wild have elsewhere. Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy drive the bus offensively, and Vladimir Tarasenko, Mats Zuccarello, Ryan Hartman, and Marcus Johansson provide depth.
Nick Foligno, projected to play on the fourth line, will make his first return to Chicago since being traded to Minnesota. As a guy who played with the Hawks for just a few years, he will get a warm welcome for the impact he had.
Paired with Hughes will be Brock Faber, also a US Olympian who won gold in Milan. He can shut people down, create offense, and impact the game up and down the ice. Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin are the veterans on the blue line to support them, so creating a strong forecheck will be a key to victory.
Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago
The Blackhawks had an optional morning skate on Tuesday, so we will see if they go with 11/7 or a traditional lineup during warmups.
Greene-Bedard-Burakovsky
Bertuzzi-Nazar-Teravainen
Mangiapane-Donato-Mikheyev
Lardis-Lafferty-Slaggert
Vlasic-Levshunov
Kaiser-Rinzel
Del Mastro-Crevier
Grzelcyk
Knight
Soderblom
Based on the way practice was conducted, Matt Grzelcyk may be the healthy scratch if they dress 12 forwards. If they go with 11 forwards, Sam Lafferty is the best bet for the scratch.
Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom are each rested enough to start, so we will also see what they decide there during warmups.
Sacha Boisvert is not ready to make his NHL debut yet due to visa issues. If he is able to clear that before their next game, also against the Wild, he should be ready to play if he gets a practice in.
How To Watch
The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game, it can be found on TNT and HBO MAX. The puck will drop shortly after 6:30 PM CT.
Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.
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The Charlotte Hornets have clearly turned the corner from also-ran to up and comer. Getting past the Miami Heat might be another step in that development.
The Heat visit Charlotte Tuesday night, looking for their fifth straight win over the Hornets, and their eighth win in nine games overall.
Despite that dominance, injuries to the visitors have my Heat vs. Hornets predictions and free NBA picks backing the home team on March 17.
Miami is punching at the door of the East’s top six, starting the day just a half game back of both the Raptors and Magic.
The Miami Heat are scoring 124.1 points per game on their current 7-1 streak, which ranks second in the NBA.
But Bam Adebayo (calf) is questionable Tuesday, while Andrew Wiggins (toe) has already been ruled out.
That might be enough for the Charlotte Hornets to end their skid vs. Miami. They have just three losses in their last 11, and are holding teams to 105.1 points per game, which is third in the NBA over that time.
Kon Knueppel has topped his 18.5 scoring line in four of his last six starts, and he’s gone for at least 27 in each of his last two starts against the Heat.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. has led the team in assists in four straight games, and he’s had five or more assists in four straight, and in two of his last three against Charlotte.
Let’s ride the rookie to fill out this SGP.
Knueppel has grabbed six boards in back-to-back games, and had an 8-rebound game against the Heat earlier this season.
His 2.5 assist line is gettable: Knueppel has hit the Over in all three games vs the Heat, and has had at least three dimes in five of his last seven games.
Charlotte is 18-13-0 ATS at home this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Heat vs. Hornets.
| Location | Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC |
| Date | Tuesday, March 17, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | FDSN-Sun, FDSN-Charlotte |
Not intended for use in MA.
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It didn’t take long for Aaron Judge’s WBC comments to reverberate through the Bronx.
Voice of the Yankees Michael Kay was admittedly surprised to learn that New York’s captain said the World Baseball Classic was “bigger and better than the World Series,” following Team USA’s 2–1 semifinal victory over the Dominican Republic in Miami.
“I am somewhat taken aback when they go that ‘this is bigger than winning a World Series,’” the longtime play-by-play voice said during Monday’s episode of “The Michael Kay Show.”
“I’m just saying that I’m not advanced enough or evolved enough to wrap my mind around it,” he added.
Judge, 33, swapped out the Pinstripes for the Stars and Stripes this spring, captaining the U.S. juggernaut in his first ever run with the national team.
The reigning back-to-back American League MVP played a starring role in Sunday’s nail-biting victory between two of the greatest lineups ever assembled, firing a 96-mph rocket from right field that nabbed Fernando Tatis Jr. on his dash to reach third base.
As one Connecticut caller outlined to Kay, what Judge was referring to wasn’t the competition, nor was it the prize at the end of the road.
It was the weight of the WBC — the marriage between baseball and national identity — that surges through a nation like the D.R. but can often be lost on Americans.
While hardwired into viewing the World Series as baseball’s apex, Kay appreciated the perspective and repeatedly praised the WBC as a “great, great” tournament that underscores baseball’s persisting global impact.
But he also raised a counterargument in the most literal sense, claiming that the WBC stage can’t be “bigger” than Judge’s Fall Classic experience because loanDepot Park’s capacity of 36,000 pales in comparison to that of Yankee Stadium or Dodger Stadium.
Judge wasn’t talking about paid attendance, but spectacle — the unmatched intensity from a crowd, roaring with the passion of an entire nation.
To No. 99, that’s something that can’t be topped.
Judge and the U.S. will compete for their first WBC title since 2017 in Tuesday’s championship game against Venezuela.
Say this for Kentucky basketball: At least the ‘Cats will be well-rested, after a quarterfinals exit in the SEC tournament. While the Wildcats prepped for the NCAA Tournament, former coach John Calipari and his Arkansas Razorbacks cut down nets in Nashville.
Now, after a season filled with inconsistency, the pressure’s on second-year Kentucky coach Mark Pope to achieve something in March Madness — or, at least last as long as Calipari does.
On this basketball-themed episode of “SEC Football Unfiltered,” a podcast from the USA TODAY Network, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams weigh in on the SEC teams facing the most pressure in this NCAA Tournament, plus teams that were “snubbed.”
Then, they offer first-round upset picks, and they highlight a sleeper team from the SEC that could reach the Elite Eight. Finally, they give their Final Four picks! In a surprise twist, neither host picks an SEC team to reach the Final Four.
Adams: Kentucky. Ask me again next year, and my answer will be the same. Ask me again the year after that, well, you get the idea. It’s always Kentucky. You want to be Kentucky’s coach? You get the reins of a tradition-rich program with an elite fan base and excellent resources. You also get the maximum pressure. Calipari’s success at Arkansas does Pope no favors. This first-round draw does Kentucky little favor, either. No. 10 Santa Clara is good enough to slay a blue blood.
Toppmeyer: Of course it’s Kentucky. Big Blue Nation demands banners, not participation ribbons. Pope will have a new boss soon, with Mitch Barnhart retiring as athletic director and moving into a golden parachute role. Pope is good for now, but an early exit paired with new leadership spells Year 3 heat. Better to win a few games this March and show a hint of momentum.
Beyond the obvious of Kentucky, though, how about Missouri facing some first-round pressure after drawing a de facto home game as a 10-seed in St. Louis, against No. 7 Miami? The last time the Tigers appeared in St. Louis, they got embarrassed by Illinois. Missouri basketball took a bleak turn after joining the SEC. Instead of dominating a bunch of football-crazed Southerners, the Tigers went into a hoops tailspin. They’ve produced just one NCAA Tournament win in 14 years as an SEC member. Now, here’s a golden draw in front of a home crowd.
Adams: Arkansas. Get hot, stay hot. Darius Acuff is the SEC’s best player. He’s exactly the type of dynamic freshman you’d expect from a Calipari lineup.
Toppmeyer: Vanderbilt. The Commodores beat Florida in the SEC Tournament, a flash of what they can achieve when their shooters are hitting. Vanderbilt is fueled by multiple 3-point marksmen, including star guard Tyler Tanner. If their jumpers are falling, they could go deep.
Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's national college football columnist. John Adams is the senior sports columnist for the Knoxville News Sentinel. Subscribe to the SEC Football Unfiltered podcast, and check out the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pressure on Kentucky basketball in March Madness? That's nothing new
I need to put together my predictions for the Cleveland Guardians in 2026 and I am at a loss.
Inside me are two wolves: One wolf fiercely believes in this manager, this organization’s ability to get the most out of a little, in Jose Ramirez, and in Austin Hedges. The other wolf knows that projections doubt this starting pitching staff and the offense, which was 28th in wRC+ last season, will be relying almost entirely on internal improvements and prospect graduations to improve.
See, if David Fry can get back to being a 120 wRC+ bat against LHP and take late-inning at-bats from Austin Hedges (and Bo Naylor against tough southpaw relievers) and work his way back into right field reps, this team looks a lot better. But, if Fry is the 75 wRC+ hitter he has been since June 2024… not so much.
See, if Gabriel Arias can just manage a 90 wRC+ and play gold glove level shortstop defense, and if Brayan Rocchio is the 100 wRC+ and sparkling defender at second base he was from July-October, this middle infield would be suddenly competent. But, if both are the 75 wRC+ hitters, no amount of glove work is going to make up for that.
Now, if Arias and/or Rocchio flop, the Guardians do have Juan Brito and Travis Bazzana ready to play second base, potentially. Brito has elite pulled fly ball abilities and a good eye at the plate, and Bazzana has shown some signs of being an electric performer both at the plate and, surprisingly, in the field. But, also, Brito’s defense has looked incredibly shaky at times, he lacks elite exit velocity and has shown some contact issues in Spring Training at times. Bazzana, meanwhile, has flashes of brilliance at the plate, but also still seems far too passive and there are still questions if he will realize his potential.
See, if Kyle Manzardo can build on his 2025 and increase his home run and walk output, we can have a legitimate middle-of-the-order hitter! But, he still has a lot of swing-and-miss in his game and his defense at first base this spring has looked somehow even worse than last season’s efforts.
See, if Rhys Hoskins is the 120 wRC+ hitter he has been for his career, a lot of the Guardians’ issues are solved! Especially if he’s 130 wRC+ or more against LHP! But, he could also be more like a league average bat unable to punish fastballs as effectively now that he has entered his 30’s.
See, if Bo Naylor has made some needed adjustments, he could be the #5 hitter the Guardians need and that he looked to be in September of 2025 and through most of this spring! But, if he is the mediocre defender and 85 wRC+ hitter he was for most of last season… the team will be hoping for Cooper Ingle to figure things out behind the plate QUICKLY.
See, if Chase DeLauter and George Valera can just be healt… well, you know the fears here.
See, if Steven Kwan can hold up playing centerfield, and either Stuart Fairchild or Angel Martinez can manage a 110-120 wRC+ against LHP… but none of that is at all a sure (or likely?) thing.
I feel very good about the Guardians’ bullpen, but Hunter Gaddis’s forearm scare has reminded me that the depth behind Smith, Armstrong, Gaddis and Sabrowski isn’t necessarily amazing…
Finally, the Guardians’ rotation… this group was a top 5 rotation to end the season and I truly think they have potential to be that, or at least top ten. But, is it the Arizona climate that has made Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee and Joey Cantillo look shaky, or is it some projections being unsure about them showing up? Is Slade Cecconi hurt, why isn’t he starting today? Are they really going to start Logan Allen over Parker Messick?
I don’t know why but I can’t remember feeling so conflicted about what to expect from a Cleveland Guardians’ team going into a season. I know what I will be rooting for, of course… another Hall of Fame season from Jose Ramirez, huge steps from the organization’s many exciting young potential stars, more accolades for Carl Willis as he leads another amazing season from the many exciting young arms on this team. And, a little extra joy for me each and every day I get to hear Tom Hamilton on the radio, see our boys light up my TV screen, pick out which of my dozen Guardians’ hats I’m going to wear to help them find all the luck they need, and I learn, yet again, to live and die with every pitch, every swing, and every new ballgame.
Ahead of today’s game against the Marlins, the Mets optioned MJ Melendez and Christian Scott to Triple-A. In addition to those moves, they Adbert Alzolay, Christian Arroyo, Nick Burdi, Jose Rojas, and Daniel Duarte to minor league camp. The Mets now have 46 players left at spring training with nine days to go until Opening Day.
Melendez was competing for a bench spot with the team and had enjoyed a pretty strong showing in Port St. Lucie. In 11 at-bats, he hit two home runs and scored four runs, hitting .364 with an 1.364 OPS. He also suited up for Puerto Rico in the WBC, going hitless in four at-bats with two walks and a run scored. The Mets had signed Melendez to a split deal back on February 8, which would be worth $1.5 million with $500K in incentives if he was on the major league roster. Melendez was a top prospect as recently as 2022, when he was a catcher. He has since played primarily as a corner outfielder and was competing for that role with the club.
Scott meanwhile, is looking to work his way back from Tommy John Surgery, which cost him his 2025 season. The right-hander, who allowed three earned runs in three-innings plus and took the loss in last night’s game against the Nationals, made two appearances for the Mets this spring and posted a 4.50 ERA with eight strikeouts in six innings of work. He will continue to get looks in Triple-A and could find himself back in the majors should anyone in the team’s rotation suffer an injury, or if anyone underperforms.
The Vancouver Canucks continue their homestand on Tuesday against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers. Like the Canucks, the Panthers are set to miss the playoffs this year as the organization has dealt with injuries all season. Here are the lineup notes for March 17, 2026.
Kevin Lankinen is the projected starter against Florida. If he does play, Tuesday will be the 200th appearance of his NHL career. This year, Lankinen has a record of 7-21-5 with a save percentage of .877.
As for the rest of the lineup, Vancouver will be changing up their forward group on Tuesday. That includes Nils Höglander coming in for Curtis Douglas. Jake DeBrusk is also projected to jump up to the first line while Evander Kane drops to the fourth line.
DeBrusk-Pettersson-O'Connor
Öhgren-Rossi-Boeser
Sasson-Blueger-Karlsson
Kane-Räty-Höglander
E. Pettersson-Hronek
M. Pettersson-Willander
Buium-Mancini
Lankinen
Tolopilo
Start time: 7:00 pm PT
Venue: Rogers Arena
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 650
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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Batter denies the team ‘weren’t fussed’ in Australia
28-year-old believes his ‘best batting years are to come’
Ollie Pope has challenged the perception England “weren’t fussed” during their troubled Ashes tour but accepts why it formed.
Ben Stokes’ tourists crashed to a 4-1 series defeat by Australia that is being reviewed by the England and Wales Cricket Board, with tour planning, preparation, individual performances and behaviour all under scrutiny.
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The 2026 World Baseball Classic final is here, and Team USA and Team Venezuela will go head-to-head at loanDepot Park in Miami on Tuesday, March 17.
Here are my top World Baseball Classic bets and USA vs. Venezuela predictions for tonight's tournament finale.
| Player | Pick |  |
|---|---|---|
 Eduardo Rodriguez | Under 4.5 strikeouts | -135 |
 Nolan McLean | 2+ walks allowed | +180 |
| Aaron Judge | 1+ walks | -115 |
-135 at DraftKings
Venezuelan lefty Eduardo Rodriguez has only pitched 2 2/3 innings in the tournament and sports a pedestrian 8.37 K/9 and 20.7 K% across 204 1/3 frames over the past two MLB seasons.
The veteran also posted a 5.02 ERA during the two years, and I’m not anticipating him pitching deep enough to pick up five or more strikeouts against the potent American lineup tonight.
Plus, Team USA has only fanned 48 times across six tournament games.
+180 at DraftKings
Control hasn’t been a calling card for United States righty Nolan McLean, and he posted a 3.96 BB/9 and 10.7 BB% in the minors last year before putting up respective 3.0 and 5.8% marks across 48 innings in the majors.
McLean also issued a pair of free passes across three innings during his lone tournament start to date.
Additionally, I expect the Venezuelans to have trouble doing damage against McLean, which will allow him to pitch deep enough into the final to serve up two or more bases on balls.
-115 at DraftKings
Team USA captain Aaron Judge has a .414 on-base percentage in the tournament, thanks in large part to drawing six free passes across six games. His two homers and .565 slugging percentage reinforce why opposing pitchers and managers are proceeding with caution with the three-time AL MVP, too.
| Location | LoanDepot Park, Miami, FL |
| Date | Tuesday, March 17, 2026 |
| First pitch | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | FOX |
| Venezuela starting pitcher | Eduardo Rodriguez |
| USA starting pitcher | Nolan McLean |
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ASB GlassFloor, the Swiss manufacturer behind the controversial glass basketball court installed—and then ultimately removed—during last week’s Big 12 basketball tournament, has since defended itself by citing a study of the surface commissioned by the NBA ahead of the 2024 All-Star weekend.
ASB’s LumiFlex flooring contains LED panels sealed beneath tempered safety glass, which are covered in ceramic dots that are designed to improve friction to prevent slipping.
But its high-profile collegiate debut at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo., proved rocky—or, critics say, too slick—after Texas Tech star guard Christian Anderson strained a muscle while slipping on the surface during a quarterfinal loss to Iowa State. Following Anderson’s injury and complaints from other players and coaches, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark announced that a traditional wooden court would replace the glass for the tournament’s final two rounds.
In an interview last week with CBS Sports, Benedikt von Dohnanyi, ASB’s CEO, touted the NBA’s study of his product, saying it scientifically concluded the glass court “plays the same as a wooden court,” including “from a grip perspective.”
However, the 50-page report by engineering consulting firm Rimkus—reviewed by Sportico—suggests a more nuanced conclusion.
While Rimkus concluded that its research and the available data did not suggest “increased risk of injury” for NBA’s intended use, it also acknowledged the significant limits of the analysis.
In the aftermath of the Big 12 tournament, an ASB spokesperson said company had launched “an active investigation” that included engaging an “independent scientific institution.”
“This process is our highest priority at this point to ensure we continue to meet the 100% satisfaction rate we have achieved at other high-profile venues,” a company spokesperson said in a statement.
Despite von Dohnanyi’s public comments last week, the ASB spokesperson declined to specifically address questions about Rimkus’ report, saying, “We generally do not comment on specific details in external studies not commissioned by us.”
The spokesperson added that the company has worked with “various independent test institutes globally,” and that its floors, including the one used in Kansas City, have undergone “strict, independent testing” as part of their certification for use by FIBA.
The Big 12 declined to comment, and a spokesperson for Rimkus did not immediately respond to an email inquiry.
The NBA retained Rimkus in 2024 to evaluate the safety of the court for limited use during All-Star Weekend events, including the skills challenge, 3-point contest and slam dunk contest. The firm assessed performance metrics such as force reduction, vertical deformation, ball rebound, surface friction, flatness and surface temperature—but only in the context of non-game use.
“It was beyond the scope of the assignment to address all possible sources of injury from the playing surface … so we are unable to opine on the overall safety of the court for full game use,” the study said. “Additional considerations, such as risk of skin abrasion, fall injury risk, and court-shoe traction may warrant additional tests if the floor is to be used on a frequent basis for training or competition.”
The study also noted the testing was not conducted on a full court. Instead, Rimkus examined four panels—each measuring roughly 6.5 feet by 5 feet—that were placed atop a ceramic-tiled floor in the atrium of the NBA’s headquarters in Secaucus, N.J. The tests were conducted in an environment with an air temperature of 72 degrees and relative humidity of 20%.
Due to the small sample size, the study’s researchers said they lacked the ability to assess the “uniformity of a larger set of panels.” A more thorough examination would have included linear and rotational traction testing on the floor using a standard basketball shoe.
Rimkus noted that the rubber of the test foot it used was “rapidly worn down by” the ceramic dots on the floor.
“This resulted in rubber residue being left on the court, which may reduce the surface frictions,” the report said. “It would also be expected to wear down the shoe outsole and potentially reduce shoe-surface traction.”
According to Rimkus, the NBA lacked its own formal standard for assessing court performance, so the firm based its testing methodologies on guidelines from FIBA, ASTM International (formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials) and the Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association. The LumiFlex floors’ results were compared against practice and game courts used by the Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets and Milwaukee Bucks.
To measure surface friction, Rimkus used two methods: the ASTM standard (ASTM E303-22) and the British Pendulum Tester, also known as the XL Variably Incident Tribometer.
In dry testing conditions, the ASB glass court registered lower surface friction—meaning the court was more slippery—than any of the NBA hardwood courts under the ASTM standard, though it was still within the range considered slip-resistant. The glass court produced higher friction readings when measured using the British Pendulum Tester. The report noted the contradictions of these findings are “not typically seen for standard flooring and was not apparent among the NBA courts tested.”
When the surfaces were wet, Rimkus found the ASB glass court’s slip resistance held up better than that of the NBA hardwood floors.
When it came to force reduction, the level of shock absorption provided by the floor, and vertical deformation, or how much the surface deflects underfoot, Rimkus found that that the ASB floor “appears to be slightly stiffer/less shock absorbent” than the average NBA courts, but “within or very close” to their range.
“This would not be expected to pose an issue for the NBA All-Star Skills Challenge since players are not spending an extended time on the court,” the report stated. “However, should the court be used for training or game play on a frequent basis, additional considerations may be warranted.”
About a month prior to the conference’s public announcement on Feb. 12, the league briefed basketball coaches about its interest in using the surface in Kansas City and encouraged teams to check out a full-court model the company had set up at a court testing facility in Orlando while they were in the area to play UCF.
While the NBA-commissioned study was not the only factor, one Big 12 school official told Sportico that was among the materials discussed.
Beyond the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend, the court has been used for the 2023 FIBA Under-19 Women’s World Cup in Madrid, and it has also been employed by European clubs FC Bayern Basketball and Panathinaikos BC. The University of Kentucky used the floor for its “Big Blue Madness” event ahead of the 2024-25 basketball season, though no NCAA college game had been played on it until last week.
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The Sacramento Kings are looking for a little luck on St. Patrick’s Day when they host the San Antonio Spurs.
Sacramento heads into this homestand with some heat, winning four of its past five games while covering in all of those outings.
My Spurs vs. Kings predictions and NBA picks look at the pile of points being offered by oddsmakers and back Sacramento as a big home dog tonight.
The hell with tanking. The Sacramento Kings are on a roll, thanks in part to an extended home run and improvements on both ends of the floor. Defense is the most notable uptick, boasting the third-best rating in the NBA over the past five games.
While this push came against some fellow bottom feeders, Sacramento has surpassed the oddsmakers’ expectations and catches the San Antonio Spurs in a tough spot.
San Antonio is playing the second of a back-to-back and comes down in intensity after a slate packed with playoff-bound opponents.
Game models like the Spurs but by less than 12 points tonight.
The Kings’ defensive improvements and the Spurs’ road-weary legs will keep scoring low tonight. Forecasts come in around 234 points.
DeMar DeRozan isn’t packing it in. The veteran just dropped 41 points and has scored 107 points over his last three games. He’d love to stick it to his old team tonight.
If Sacramento could ever catch San Antonio sleeping, this is the game. The Spurs are playing back-to-back outings and have laid eggs against some terrible teams this season.
The Kings are 6-3 ATS as home underdogs of 10 or more points this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Kings.
| Location | Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA |
| Date | Tuesday, March 17, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | FDSN-Southwest, NBCS-California |
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