Tommy Reffell has been with Leicester Tigers since he was a teenager playing at academy level [Getty Images]
Leicester Tigers flanker Tommy Reffell has been ruled out for about eight weeks after suffering a throat injury in training.
Reffell was hurt when hit in the neck by "a stray boot" during a session in the days after leading Tigers to Prem Cup final success against Exeter Chiefs.
The injury could see the 26-year-old Wales international miss at least seven matches, not including further knockout ties in the European Champions Cup if they get past Bordeaux Begles in the round of 16 in April.
"We're gutted to lose Tommy to a very unfortunate injury where a stray boot has hit his throat," Tigers head coach Geoff Parling told the club website.
"He has been a real pest to the opposition, and we'll use this time to firstly get him fit and healthy and secondly get him ready and firing for the end of the season."
Reffell's injury means loanee Hamish Watson will come in for his Tigers debut against Bristol Bears on Sunday.
Watson rejoined Tigers, a club he played for at academy level, on a short-term deal from Scottish side Edinburgh earlier in March.
"This also presents an opportunity for Hamish to start and show his quality in a Tigers shirt in a full circle moment after leaving our academy 16 years ago," Parling said.
After a promising stretch of wins and a tightly contested loss to the Buffalo Sabres, the Vegas Golden Knights suffered a heavy setback on Thursday night, falling 4-0 to the Utah Mammoth. The defeat marked Vegas’ second consecutive shutout loss and the third this month, highlighting ongoing challenges both offensively and defensively.
Three unanswered goals in the first period from Utah runs Adin Hill out of the net 🫣 pic.twitter.com/fKAX10deWs
— Sports on Prime Canada (@SportsOnPrimeCA) March 20, 2026
Adin Hill Needs Help
Vegas goaltender Adin Hill was given a sixth consecutive start by head coach Bruce Cassidy, adding to a heavy workload accumulated over the past week. The decision, aimed at maintaining consistency in net, proved costly. Utah struck early, scoring three goals on three shots within the first eight minutes, putting the Golden Knights in a significant deficit that persisted for most of the game.
The first two goals were partly the result of defensive lapses, including leaving Clayton Keller unmarked, while the third highlighted Hill’s positioning, as he was unable to react quickly enough to a high-percentage scoring chance.
Hill was replaced following the third goal, with backup Akira Schmid stepping in. The early concession of goals underscored the need for a reliable goaltending tandem in Vegas. With Carter Hart reportedly nearing a return from injury, competition for the starting role could intensify in the coming weeks, though Hart’s injury history raises questions about his long-term availability.
Offensive Struggles Persist
Offensively, the Golden Knights were unable to generate consistent pressure against Utah. While expected goals models, such as Moneypuck, suggested over four scoring chances, the team struggled to convert zone entries into meaningful opportunities. Many shot attempts were blocked or misfired, and high-danger scoring chances were rare.
The power play, limited to just two opportunities, failed to make an impact, while the penalty kill remained a positive element, successfully neutralizing all Utah advantages with disciplined execution. Vegas also registered a few unlucky bounces, including shots off the post, further limiting offensive production.
Implications
The loss extends Vegas’ recent record to seven wins in the last 22 games, highlighting the team’s inconsistency. Since January 19, the Golden Knights are 0-12-1 when allowing the first goal, emphasizing the importance of strong starts and reliable goaltending. With playoff positioning still in contention, the team must address the defensive lapses and offensive inefficiencies exposed against Utah while managing the workload for Hill and Hart moving forward.
TORONTO, CANADA - DECEMBER 31: Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors handles the ball during the game against the Denver Nuggets on December 31, 2025 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Toronto Raptors continue their five-game road trip in the mile-high city tonight, facing the Denver Nuggets. This is their second and final matchup of the season, with the first ending in a called-off successful 3-pointer by Ingram as the clock expired that would’ve send the game to overtime on New Year’s Eve:
The last time they met, Denver’s roster looked very different. They were missing four of their five starters due to injury, but still managed to overtake Toronto. This will be the Raptors’ opportunity for redemption, but they will have to do it against a Nuggets team at full strength.
Currently in the league, their are 10 teams above the Raptors, with Denver a single spot ahead. So far this year, Toronto has struggled greatly when facing the League’s elite, with a record of 5-18 against those teams. Three of those wins came against the Cavs, one against Detroit and one against the Thunder.
Including this game, there are 14 left in the season. Only four of those are against top 10 teams. Now, more than ever, Toronto needs to see what they are capable as the postseason looms. Only four games separate Toronto in 5th from Charlotte in 10th in the East. They will need to view every game as must-win until they secure their spot and avoid the play-in.
It also couldn’t hurt for them to see what they can do when they go toe-to-toe with tougher competition. Luckily for Toronto, they’re coming into this matchup with momentum. On Wednesday, the Raptors steam-rolled the Bulls in a 30-point victory that showed what Toronto is capable of. They did everything right. Passing. Shooting. Defence. Now, if they can channel that energy again, they should have a chance against Denver too.
The biggest challenge in overcoming the Nuggets is Jokic. Not just because of his ability to score and take over games, but also the way he facilitates for his teammates. He is often doubled by defences, leaving someone open. Jokic capitalizes and finds the open man for the easy basket. Even without him in their last matchup, that’s the system Denver ran. Cutting, driving, and kick-outs for open shooters to pick apart defences.
The Raptors know this, so they will have to be fully engaged tip to buzzer. Help defence will need to be active and mobile. Players will need to do a better job following their man to prevent back-cuts. They may even need to utilize a single coverage on Jokic, which they have options for. Poeltl is back, Mamu has good size as a backup, and should-be DPOY candidate Scottie Barnes will likely end up with some coverage against him too.
Canadian Jamal Murray will also draw some attention as he is able to find his shot from all over the floor. His long-range shooting is one of his best assets that often help him run up the score. Keeping the ball out of his hands helped the last time out, but will be a bit more of a challenge now that he doesn’t need to be their primary ball handler. Even still, the less he touches the ball tonight, the better for the Raptors.
While the rosters are different than the last matchup, the script is the same. Let’s just hope for a different outcome.
Probable Starters
Toronto: Immanuel Quickley, Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl, Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett
Denver: Cam Johnson, Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Christian Braun
Injury Report
Toronto: Chucky Hepburn (Out: G-League), A.J. Lawson (Out: G-League), Alijah Martin (Out: G-League), Collin Murray-Boyles (Doubtful: Thumb sprain).
Denver: DaRon Holmes II (Out: G-League), Curtis Jones (Out: G-League), KJ Simpson (Out: G-League), Peyton Watson (Out: Hamstring strain)
It could have been a night to forget. Goal after goal after goal was called back on coaches’ challenges—a series of gut-punches that might have rattled even the most seasoned competitors.
Yet the Calgary Flames stayed composed. They stuck to the game plan, and in the end, they walked away with two points from their homestand opener against St. Louis two nights ago.
Tonight, the team hopes to reproduce that success, though anyone in the locker room would likely prefer a cleaner 60-minute performance.
A beautiful goal from Morgan Frost.
“We do have good character, we have good people in our room,” Flames Head Coach Ryan Huska said after the St. Louis game when asked about his team’s resilience. “I thought we stayed with it, even though the three (goals) were taken back.
“And I thought we stood up for each other as well, which was maybe the most important thing for me, was the way they kept connected on that side of the game.”
Zary Continues to Impress
Forward Connor Zary was a bright spot Wednesday against the Blues. The Saskatoon native not only scored the game’s first goal, but his slick stick handling also set up a Yegor Sharangovich goal that was later overturned by video review.
Huska noted that Zary has steadily improved throughout the season, particularly after battling injury setbacks in the second half of 2024-25.
Zary is precisely the type of player who could cement a bigger role as the regular season winds down, and that’s exactly what Huska wants to identify: players who can elevate their performance and help the team move forward.
Panthers On Winning Streak
Florida comes to Calgary following a 4-0 shutout of the Edmonton Oilers Thursday night at Rogers Place. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped all 21 shots for the win, while Cole Reinhardt, former Flame A.J. Greer, Anton Lundell, and Carter Verhaeghe supplied the offense.
The victory marked the 454th of Bobrovsky’s NHL career, tying him with Curtis Joseph for seventh-most wins by a goaltender in league history.
Despite being three games over .500, the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions remain 13 points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Injuries have plagued the roster all season: Captain Aleksander Barkov has not played since last June’s Stanley Cup Final, and key forwards Brad Marchand and Sam Reinhart did not make the trip west.
Reinhart leads the team with 61 points this season, while among the players on Thursday’s ice in Edmonton, former Flame Sam Bennett tops the lineup with 53 points. Florida’s win marked their first on a four-game Pacific Division road swing, which concludes in Calgary tonight.
Flames Seek Series Sweep
Although the Panthers carry some momentum into tonight’s game, Calgary will look to complete a season-series sweep after a 5-3 victory at Amerant Bank Arena in late November. That Black Friday matchup saw five different Flames find the scoresheet—including Yan Kuznetsov, who recorded his first NHL goal—helping the team erase an early 2-0 deficit.
The Flames have now won six consecutive home games against Florida, a streak that dates back to the 2018-19 season.
Flames to Keep an Eye
After 23 games this season, Zayne Parekh has tallied just two assists, highlighting the growing pains of adapting to the NHL. While his offensive instincts show flashes of potential, his overall game is still developing, and he has yet to find the consistency needed to make a sustained impact at the professional level. Despite the obvious struggles, he has been steadily increasing his ice time in recent weeks, so we'll see if the additional playing time improves his game. If not, it might be time to send him down to the AHL.
It's been a rough go for Zayne Parekh. Credit: Sergei Belski
Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman have been key contributors for Calgary against the Panthers in recent matchups. Backlund has tallied one goal and two assists over his last three games versus Florida, while Coleman has added a goal and an assist during the same stretch. Florida has dropped two of their last three meetings with Calgary, though in the second-to-last contest on March 1, 2025, the Panthers earned a 3-0 shutout victory.
The No. 15-seeded Royals are set to take on No. 2 Purdue in the first round of March Madness on Friday, March 20, from Enterprise Center in St Louis. Queens won the ASUN Conference Tournament for the first time in program history to qualify for the tournament.
While just appearing in Friday's game will be a historic moment for the school, which is just in its fourth-year competing at the Division I level, you can imagine that the Royals enter the game with a bigger goal: an upset of the Boilermakers.
For those tuning in to see Queens making history, here's what to know about Queens before it takes on Purdue heading into the NCAA Tournament:
Where is Queens located?
No, your first guess of "on the western end of Long Island in New York" is not correct.
Queens is a private school located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The school has an approximate undergraduate figure of 1,900 and it was founded in 1857 as the Charlotte Female Institute.
In 2025, Queens and Elon University (located in Elon, North Carolina) announced the two universities would be merging, which is expected to be completed in August 2026.
Queens NCAA Tournament history
Friday's matchup against Purdue will be the NCAA Tournament debut for the Royals. The program first fielded a men's basketball team in the 1989-90 season.
Queens has been a Division I team since July 1, 2022.
What conference does Queens play in?
Queens competes in the Atlantic Sun (ASUN) Conference, a member since July 1, 2022. The ASUN has members in Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, North Carolina and Georgia.
The Royals competed in the Conference Carolinas from 1995 to 2013, then joined the South Atlantic Conference in 2013, before moving up to Division I in 2022.
Queens won its first ASUN Conference tournament championship this past season, qualifying them for the NCAA Tournament for the first time as a Division I school. The Royals also won the Conference Carolinas three times (1996, 1998, 1999) and the South Atlantic Conference twice (2017, 2022).
PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 14: Jake Cronenworth #9 of the San Diego Padres runs towards first base on a single during a Spring Training game against the Cleveland Guardians at Peoria Stadium on March 14, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Michael King, like his last time out, was hurt by the long ball when he and the San Diego Padres played the Chicago White Sox at the Peoria Sports Complex on Thursday. Fortunately for King, the Padres had their full compliment of All-Star players in their lineup, and they were able to overcome the White Sox and earn a 13-6 win.
King allowed three runs in the first inning, two of which came on a two-run home run by Lamonte Wade Jr., a run in the second inning on a sacrifice fly and two runs in the fifth inning which came on back-to-back home runs by Curtis Mead and Wade Jr., and left the game after five innings of work with the score tied 6-6.
San Diego exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Jake Cronenworth hit a bases clearing double after three consecutive walks to start the inning and Jackson Merrill followed two batters later with a ground-rule double to put the Padres up 10-6. Ty France followed Merrill and with two runners on, he again cleared the bases with a three-run home run to give San Diego a 13-6 lead en route to the win.
The Padres return to action today with a meeting against the Los Angeles Dodgers at 6:05 p.m.
Padres News:
With Fernando Tatis Jr. and Mason Miller back at the Peoria Sports Complex after their time with their World Baseball Classic teams, both players were asked about the matchup that could have happened when the Domincan Republic faced the US in the semi-final. Miller got the third and final out of the game while Tatis stood in the on-deck circle leaving everyone to wonder, “What would have happened?”
Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune focused his report on Padres reliever Jeremiah Estrada and the motivation he has to be successful with San Diego after his departure from the Chicago Cubs.
Padres.TV color analyst Mark Grant signed and extension with the San Diego organization that will ensure he and play-by-play announcer Don Orsillo remain in the booth, together, for years to come.
Baseball News:
The Spring Breakout Series started Thursday and several games were played, giving top prospects a chance to showcase their abilities. One of those players delivered a 101-mph fastball, at 18 years old, to the No. 5 MLB prospect.
After falling 3-2 to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night, the Islanders find themselves out of a playoff spot, giving every game going forward that must-win feeling.
Islanders head coach Patrick Roy, in tandem with goaltending coach Sergei Naumovs, has a major decision to make about who starts each game.
Now, there are a few different mindsets.
With the Blue Jackets now the team the Islanders are trying to catch in the standings, giving Sorokin that game feels automatic.
So that would mean backup David Rittich should get Montreal, right?
Not exactly.
With the way Roy works — most NHL teams, really — the focus is always on the next game on the schedule, nothing else.
The Islanders aren't focused on Columbus. All their focus is on beating Montreal.
So, Sorokin should get that game and go from there.
There is a world where Sorokin gets both games of the back-to-back.
It's not a decision that will be made prior to Saturday's result. But the reality is, Sorokin gives the Islanders the best chance to win, even on short rest.
Sorokin has not played both games of a back-to-back this season, while Rittich did so on Dec. 27 and Dec. 28, when Sorokin was out injured.
However, Sorokin has played both games of a back-to-back before. Last season, Sorokin played both games of a back-to-back four times, going 2-2-0 on the front ends and 3-1-0 on the second ends.
Analytics has any number of practical uses, but the best and original use is to verify feelings that we may have when we watch the games. Emotional responses are often rife with bias. We often remember what we want to remember and forget what we want to forget so that we can forward the narrative we have built up in our minds. As you can see by the title, we are looking at Astros efficiency. So, what exactly is efficiency?
To explain it simply, it is the percentage of runners that end up crossing home plate. However, one of the things we have neglected when looking at efficiency is the pitching end of it. The best numbers are numbers that serve as a mirror image of each other. If it is good for a high percentage of runners to score then it is also good if we prevent a high percentage of runners from scoring.
We call this segment the lab because the numbers are what they are, but the key comes in how we interpret them. So, we end up running a bit of an experiment where we set up a hypothesis and test it. In this case, we would postulate that good teams plate a higher percentage of their runners and prevent a higher percentage of the other team’s runners. For our purposes, base runners can be interpreted as hits + walks + hit by pitches. Obviously, we have situations where runners also reach on errors and fielder choices, but it is usually best to keep this as simple as possible.
So, if our hypothesis is correct then the teams with the highest run differentials would also have the positive gaps in efficiency. So, we will set up our table with runs scored and runs allowed, offensive efficiency and defensive efficiency, and run and efficiency differential. We know that teams with higher run differentials are the better teams. Will they also have higher positive differentials in efficiency? Let’s find out.
Offensive vs. Defensive Efficiency
Runs
Runs Allowed
Off Eff
Def Eff
Run +/-
Eff +/-
2017
896
700
.415
.367
+196
+.048
2018
797
534
.395
.321
+263
+.074
2019
920
640
.409
.378
+280
+.031
2020
279
275
.403
.383
+4
+.020
2021
863
658
.405
.356
+205
+.049
2022
737
518
.382
.316
+219
+.066
2023
827
698
.401
.363
+129
+.038
2024
740
649
.377
.352
+91
+.025
2025
686
665
.358
.365
+21
-.007
If you felt like the Astros were leaving a small village on base last season then your perceptions were backed up by the numbers. Their .358 efficiency rating was the worst in the World Series era. This becomes particularly acute when you look at the aggregate numbers over the time period. The pitching side saw worse years than last year, but the net result had the first negative differential in the time period.
Our hypothesis was that the best teams would have the best efficiency differential. There wasn’t a perfect correlation here because there never are in human endeavors. However, the club had four seasons with a +200 or better run differential. Three out of four of those seasons also were amongst the four best efficiency differentials. The notable exception was 2017 which saw the fourth best efficiency differential, but the fifth best run differential. That’s still pretty damn close.
The null hypothesis would suggest that efficiency is more or less dumb luck. It would be the intellectual equivalent of Lou Brown (from “Major League”) uttering, “I know he hasn’t done much against this guy, but I gotta hunch he’s due.” Serendipity is certainly a thing, but it also is not an action plan. The more intelligent fan out there would call that regression to the mean. In essence, as an analyst I have always considered intangibles to be something we haven’t figured out how to measure yet.
We used to consider clutch hitting an intangible. We used to consider pitch framing an intangible. Over time we figured out how to measure it. In short, the more you can measure the less uncertainty there is. When you can minimize the unknown you can also minimize risk. As the correlation above shows, you can’t completely eliminate it, but you can minimize it.
What do these numbers mean?
I start by looking at the hitting and pitching numbers independently. Do we see any patterns? The offensive numbers have more patterns than the pitching numbers. They simply fell off the side of the cliff the last two seasons. This is probably the main reason why the hitting coaches were jettisoned. The hope is that new voices can make them more efficient.
On the pitching side, the numbers were more scattershot. 2018 and 2022 stick out like a sore thumb in a positive sense. 2018 was the single best pitching season for any American League team since the DH was instituted in 1973 up to that point. 2022 was obviously both even better and the World Series season with the best bullpen in franchise history. The other seasons saw them give up 640 or more runs and all of them had efficiency ratings between a .352 and .383 in efficiency.
Given those parameters, the 2025 staff exists at around the midpoint. The staff loses Framber Valdez, but hopes to be better with better health and more depth. I hate to keep beating this drum, but the key to the season will come at the plate. The aggregate in the time period for offensive efficiency was .394. That seems like a tall order to get to, but if the team can get back to a ,375 efficiency then that would have been 718 runs scored with the same number of base runners. That is an extra 32 runs on the season. Most sabermetricians look at ten runs as being the win mark, So, that’s an extra three wins. The Astros win the AL West with three wins. That’s especially true if one of them comes against the Mariners. Obviously, it’s a lot easier said than done. Ultimately, we are simply explaining something mathematically that we see with our own eyes and feel emotionally. Will the Astros get back on the right side of the efficiency battle? What do you think?
LAKELAND, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 23: Members of the Detroit Tigers take batting practice before a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on February 23, 2026 in Lakeland, Florida. (Photo by Mark Taylor/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Detroit Tigers have gone a long time without finding a big time player in the international free agent market. There have been signs of life from Wenceel Pérez and Keider Montero, and fourth ranked prospect Josue Briceño, but they’re still waiting for a star player to emerge. Teenaged outfielder Cris Rodriguez may be be their best hope.
The Tigers inked Rodriguez to a $3,197,500 contract as the lead member of their January 2025 signing class. The Dominican native had just turned 17 years old, yet he went out to the Dominican Summer League last year and had a really good season. Since Al Avila starting committing serious dollars to top IFA talent late last decade, most of the big names have been disappointments. Scott Harris and his staff have built an outstanding track record in the draft of snatching up the top prep hitters and proving correct, so times have changed. Hopefully, Rodriguez will prove another example of their prowess in evaluating teenaged hitters.
As a 17-year-old, Rodriguez hit 10 home runs in 50 games in the DSL, striking out a very reasonable 22.3 percent of the time. He didn’t walk much and he chased a lot, so there’s a long way to go. Rodriguez has the same power potential as a Junior Caminero but isn’t tracking as a hitter to the same degree. At least it’s comforting that Caminero was a pretty aggressive free-swinger at that age as well. Still Rodriguez’s well advanced raw power and sound swing with natural loft were death to fastballs, and he hit the ball very hard, very often. The young outfielder is already a pretty strong 6’3”, 203 pounds, but he’s still fairly lean with the frame to add another 20 pounds of good muscle. There’s a good chance he’ll boast 70 grade raw power by the time he’s in his 20’s.
In the outfield, Rodriguez can handle center field, but his speed is pretty average and he may lose a step as he fills out. Reports suggest that he has work to do to improve his jumps and route running, but that he’s a pretty sound defender who closes on the ball well and makes plays. That’s a pretty good foundation at his age. His plus arm makes him a good fit in right field, and that seems like his natural position. There’s a good chance that he’s at least an average corner outfielder in a few year’s time even if he ends up losing a little speed.
Per FanGraphs, Rodriguez EV90 in the DSL was 108 mph, which is pretty wild. His ten percent best balls in play by exit velocity averaged similar numbers to the hardest hit balls of Kerry Carpenter’s career, and again, he was 17 years old at the time. Rodriguez hit a ball 113 mph at his best last summer. The lack of an approach at the plate gives one pause, but it’s a big advantage just in pure hitting terms to have level of batspeed with the potential for more to come.
As with all young hitters, the issues to track in the years ahead are plate discipline, ability to recognize spin and offspeed, and development of his swing. Rodriguez chased out of the zone a whole lot in the DSL despite all the damage he did, and that’s going to have to improve rapidly as he plays Complex League ball this season. He’s still going to be facing a lot of wild young pitchers, and a 5.9 percent walk rate again would be pretty egregious. He hasn’t faced too much in the way of quality breaking stuff either, but that’s just par for the course at his age. It just means he’s young, and a long way from the major leagues.
We haven’t seen him other than a few game clips and BP sessions, so it’s hard to say how he looked at the plate in the DSL overall. FanGraphs notes that his hands fire from a dead stop and as a result he takes a little time to gather power. I take this to mean that he’s still something of a BP swinger without a lot of developed hitting rhythm in game. He’s certainly upright and a little stiff-legged in the box, and will benefit from more strength and flexibility through his hips and legs. Hopefully we’ll get some looks at him this summer if he gets to Single-A, and plenty of eyes will be on him as he makes his stateside debut today in the Spring Breakout game.
It’s hard to say much more. Rodriguez has enormous power potential and he already shows signs of being a pretty good fastball hitter. Obviously learning to handle guys with multiple plus pitches and good command is another matter, but that’s enough to be pretty excited about him already. It doesn’t hurt that he’s athletic and a good runner for his size even if that speed figures to diminish as he fills out, either. He should be a solid defensive presence, and if he gets to enough power the Tigers will have a pretty good player here. He has future star potential to a degree most prospects do not, so it’s worth ranking him pretty highly already.
Look for a good debut in the Complex League, where he shouldn’t have too much trouble, and a full season move to Single-A ball in 2027. It will be a bit of a treat for prospect watchers to see him in the Spring Breakout game where a lot of the Tigers’ current crop of top hitting prospects have burst onto the scene in the past few years.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 01, 2026: Logan Webb #62 of the San Francisco Giants throws a pitch during the first inning of a spring training game against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on March 01, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
After a sojourn as not-quite world conquerors, Logan Webb re-donned the orange-and-black on Thursday, taking the mound in what should be his last Cactus League start before 2026’s Opening Day.
It wasn’t the glorious, dominant return he may have envisioned for himself. Webb stifled international talent across two starts (allowing 1 ER over 8 2/3 IP) on the global stage and earned a nod to the All-WBC team for his efforts, but back in the desert, the Rockies bats bugged and sweated him to no end.
Webb needed 86 pitches to record 13 outs, including a 2nd inning respite, and was bitten for 6 earned runs on 8 hits, a walk, and just 3 strikeouts. In true Webb fashion, 6 of those 8 hits were singles. The two extra-baggers came courtesy of new Western Division addition, Willi Castro, who doubled, then launched a game-tying solo shot in the 6th on the tenth pitch of the at-bat. Rising star Ezequiel Tovar (also named to the All-WBC Tournament team, representing world conquering Venezuela) ended Webb’s night by working an 8-pitch base-on-balls. Expectations are not mile-high for Colorado, but those types of nagging at-bats portend much hair-pulling and frustrated muttering to come for Giants pitchers. Something to look forward too…
In 2024, his final game in the Cactus League was a 9 ER blow-out against the Cubs, ballooning his ERA to 10.97. Exactly three years prior to Thursday’s start, he gave up 4 runs on 6 hits, including 2 homers, against the Angels. And in his final start before the 2022 regular season, Milwaukee got him for 4 runs on 6 hits again over 4 innings pitched. No alarm bells should be ringing. Nothing out of the ordinary here. If anything Webb seemed to pitch a bit off script, especially in the first couple frames, with a custodial concern for his down-ballot offerings. We saw more cutters and four-seams than you’d expect to see from him (both pitches accounted for 8% of Webb’s mix in 2025), including a first-pitch cut right down the middle to Castro in the 1st. Those pitches are used to raise the eye-line of the batter. They are not standalone features but splashes of color in the bouquet.
Colorado’s elevated rate of contact could be explained too by Webb’s average velocity being down across the board. Not sure why this was the case — perhaps the heat, or if this was by design. But it’s also a helpful reminder that despite his rise-to-prominence as a K-King last year, Webb relies on eliciting certain contact. With that approach, there’s always the risk of an inning like Colorado’s 2nd, in which four consecutive balls in play find holes in the infield and compound into an ugly crooked number. It’s all part of the experience. And if you’re still bothered by the final pitching line, perhaps there’s some solace to find in the fact that two of those six earned runs came when reliever R.J. Dabovich took the mound with two outs in the 2nd. It wasn’t all Webb’s fault!
Overall, it was a hit-happy kind of day in Arizona. Despite less than ideal pitching and some unfortunate defense in the later innings, the Giants slugged their way to a 14-11 win over the Rockies.
Leadoff man Drew Gilbert got into the swing of things with a 3-hit day including a triple off John Brebbia. Back-up catcher Daniel Susac launched his second homer of Spring off Brebbia in the 4th, and Christian Koss tacked one on later in the frame with his first longball.
Jerar Encarnacion continued to scorch the ball, collecting two hits, including a double and a pair of RBIs. Non-roster invitee Victor Bericoto continued to force the issue of his presence, as he’s done all Spring, with another 2-hit day while bagging his 14th RBI on a 2-out double in the 5th.
The Buffalo Sabres brought in multiple new players ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline. Sam Carrick was among them, as the Sabres acquired the veteran forward from the New York Rangers in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick.
Now, early on in his Sabres tenure, there is no question that Carrick is playing some strong hockey for the Atlantic Division club.
In seven games with the Sabres since the trade, Carrick has four goals, one assist, 11 hits, a 60.0 faceoff winning percentage, and a plus-3 rating. With this, he has been providing the Sabres with solid secondary scoring, grit, and help at the dot early on in his time with the club.
Carrick also just had a strong game for the Sabres in their 5-0 win over the San Jose Sharks, as he scored two goals.
With this, it is hard not to be happy with what Carrick is providing the Sabres early on. If he continues to play this well down the stretch, he will end up being an excellent addition for Buffalo.
Troy coach Scott Cross has emerged as the leading candidate in Georgia Tech's basketball coaching search, multiple people with direct knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports on Friday, March 20.
The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about Cross' candidacy. It wasn't immediately clear whether Cross, who led Troy to its second straight Men's NCAA Tournament berth this season, has been offered the job.
The Georgia Tech job came open when athletic director Ryan Alpert fired Damon Stoudamire on March 8 after the Yellow Jackets closed their season on a 12-game losing streak and failed to make the 15-team ACC Tournament. Stoudamire, an ex-Arizona star, lasted three seasons with the Yellow Jackets and posted a 42-55 record.
Cross and Furman coach Bob Richey were among the candidates thoroughly vetted by Alpert during Georgia Tech's search, with Cross emerging as the focus, multiple sources told USA TODAY Sports.
Richey coached Furman to its eighth March Madness berth this season and second since 1980. The 15th-seeded Paladins (22-12) will face No. 2 UConn (29-5) in the first round on Friday.
Why Georgia Tech is targeting Scott Cross
Georgia Tech is trying to revive a program that has lost 93 games the past five seasons and has just one NCAA Tournament berth since 2010.
In narrowing the focus on Cross, Georgia Tech is targeting a coach coming off a successful stint after spending more than two decades at the Division I level.
Cross, who has 19 years' experience as an NCAA head coach, led Troy to a Sun Belt Conference championship and 22-12 record this season, ending with Thursday's 76-47 loss to Nebraska in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — For Hunter Haight, the moment finally came after a long wait. Despite the loss, in the Minnesota Wild's (39-19-12) game against the Chicago Blackhawks (26-30-12).
Skating in just his sixth NHL game of the season, and his first in over two months, Haight recorded his first career NHL point. A milestone that every young player imagines long before it becomes reality.
“Yeah, definitely something you dream of as a kid,” Haight said. “It’s nice to get the first one.”
The buildup to the moment wasn’t without its quirks. Haight joked that he avoided a tough morning skate bag skate after being informed of his call-up ahead of time.
Kirill Kaprizov was on the ice for morning skate, testing out his injury. He came off the ice and later told the staff he was not going to play. The Wild then let Haight know to get off the ice and that he would be playing.
“They actually let me know before that happened, so I was able to get off the ice,” he said with a smile.
Once the puck dropped, Haight didn’t look out of place. In addition to his first point, he put together a couple of strong shifts and even drew a penalty, small details that reflect growing confidence at the NHL level.
Still, the milestone came in a losing effort, something Haight kept in perspective.
“I mean, I think we did a lot of good things,” he said. “At the end of the day, our chances didn’t go in and theirs did. Just move on to the next one.”
In the second period, he set up Nico Sturm for the goal, which put the Wild within one. It happeded to be the first ever point for the rookie in his second professional season.
“It’s great. Really happy for Hunter," Wild head coach John Hynes said. "He’s developed his game. I think (Greg) Cronin and those guys have done a good job down there with him and you’ve seen progressive growth from him. This is basically the end of his second year pro. So, he looked quick, strong and confident. He was pretty good in the faceoff circle."
Haight's mindset has been shaped during his time in the American Hockey League with Iowa, where Haight has spent the bulk of the last two seasons developing his game. While the numbers may not always jump off the page, the growth behind the scenes has been steady.
“Yeah, for sure, I think I’ve been developing these last two years pretty well,” Haight said. “The American League obviously helps with that. So, yeah, no, it’s good.”
For prospects like Haight, the AHL serves as a proving ground, a place to refine details, adjust to the pro pace and build the habits needed to stick at the NHL level.
His performance in this call-up, capped by that first point, is a sign that the development path is starting to translate.
"You see that with young players, where they get opportunities, then they go back down," Hynes said. "I think he’s put in some work. I think the coaching staff has done a good job with him, and it’s nice to see a young guy come up and play the way that he did. So, that’s good for him.”
It may have taken time to get back into the lineup, but for Haight, the first NHL point is now in the books and likely just the beginning.
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BRADENTON, FL - FEBRUARY 27: Baltimore Orioles pitcher Grant Wolfram (48) throws a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates on February 27, 2026, at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Hurray!
Opening Day is just a week out as the Orioles close out spring training and get ready for the upcoming season. To judge by the main Orioles-interested press outlets, there won’t be a ton of surprises in roster construction. This team is built with depth, and few holes. Manager Craig Albernaz maintains, “I am definitely not the decision-maker,” and that president of baseball operations Mike Elias takes an “organizational approach” to how roster decisions will be made.
That doesn’t mean, though, that there are no slots left, or that spring had no impact on roster decisions. Spring training stats don’t count, of course, but they do matter for folks on the bubble. Some of the “risers” this spring are no-brainers: catcher Adley Rutschman (an .841 spring OPS), infielder Coby Mayo (14 hits in 31 ABs), and catcher Samuel Basallo (a .310 BA and .946 OPS), and, on the pitching side, the whole presumptive starting rotation. But dark horses have surprised, too: utility infield candidate Bryan Ramos (10 hits, 4 XBH, in 29 ABs), outfielder and offseason acquisition Taylor Ward (a .976 OPS in 29 ABs), relievers Eric Torres (8 Ks in 3.2 IP), Grant Wolfram (a 0.00 ERA in five IP), Cameron Weston (an 0.80 WHIP in five IP).
Injuries to infielders Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg, plus veteran reliever Andrew Kittredge, have opened up a couple of spots on the 26-man roster. I’ve surveyed the major O’s-related publications, and here is the consensus view on the Orioles’ projected 26-man roster for the 2026 season. In bold are people on the bubble:
LINEUP:
Gunnar Henderson – Shortstop
Taylor Ward – Left Field
Pete Alonso – First Base
Adley Rutschman – Catcher
Tyler O’Neill – Right Field
Samuel Basallo – Designated Hitter (DH)
Coby Mayo – Third Base
Colton Cowser – Center Field
Blaze Alexander – Second Base
BENCH:
First Baseman – Ryan Mountcastle Outfield – Dylan Beavers Outfield – Leody Taveras (Banner, WBAL) Utility – Jeremiah Jackson
Analysis: Injuries to Holliday and Westburg were a blessing in disguise for Coby Mayo, who will get an extended chance to show he can handle third base. It’ll be an adventure, but he’s shown the offensive upside this spring: a .452 average, .742 slugging, and 1.183 OPS in 31 at-bats. Blaze Alexander will fill in at second, but could find himself back on the bench when Holliday returns.
As for the utility players, Luis Vázquez has options remaining and could be reassigned. Although Jeremiah Jackson has cooled off after a hot start, he has a track record of MLB success that other candidates in this pool don’t. As for longtime Chicago farmhand Bryan Ramos, he’s a sleeper candidate to crack the roster, having torn the cover off the ball lately.
Turning to the outfield, there is a crunch, with five viable options in Colton Cowser, Taylor Ward, Tyler O’Neill, Dylan Beavers and Leody Taveras. Cowser and Taveras are the only true centerfielders, although Beavers has seen plenty of innings at that position this spring. Taveras’ versatility has several publications putting him on the roster. Kjerstad and Noel started off the spring hot, but have cooled recently, and have options remaining.
A question will be what will happen when/if Westburg returns from his partially torn UCL in his elbow. Mayo and Mountcastle would be the odd men out, and while Mayo can be sent to the minors with an option, Mountcastle would need to be designated for assignment(cut) or traded.
ROTATION:
Trevor Rogers
Kyle Bradish
Chris Bassitt
Shane Baz
Dean Kremer
Zach Eflin
BULLPEN:
Closer – Ryan Helsley Set Up – Yennier Cano Keegan Akin Tyler Wells Dietrich Enns Rico Garcia Albert Suárez (Banner)
DEPTH:
Jackson Kowar (SI, WBAL) Grant Wolfram (The Sun, Baltimore Baseball) Yaramil Hiraldo (The Sun, Baltimore Baseball) Hans Crouse José Espada Cameron Foster Chayce McDermott Anthony Nunez Cade Povich Brandon Young Eric Torres
Not much suspense at the top tier of the rotation: Trevor Rogers is looking to build on a season that saw him become one of the best pitchers in the league, while Kyle Bradish wants to stay healthy after Tommy John surgery, and ideally return to his 2024 form that saw him finish in the Top 5 for the Cy Young. The biggest wild card will be from newcomer Shane Baz. Crazy as it sounds, he could be the best pitcher in the rotation if he lives up to his potential and stays healthy.
This group looks dramatically different from last season, when Zach Eflin was the Opening Day starter. The righty, rehabbing from back surgery last fall, may not even make the rotation this season, depending on his return from injury and whether the team utilizes a six-man rotation. If he is still ramping up, the team could carry an extra reliever in Grant Wolfram.
The bullpen will be the biggest question going into the season. The locks include closer Ryan Helsley, signed in the offseason to fill in for Felix Bautista and veteran reliever Andrew Kittredge, although he will miss the beginning of the season. Tyler Wells was moved to the bullpen after being a starter last season.
The last slot or two are interesting. Jackson Kowar, a 29-year-old waiver claim, is showing electric velocity, but he’s out of options. So is Albert Suárez, back on a one-year deal. If he gets cut, other teams will get a chance at him on waivers. Grant Wolfram has pitched great this spring, but he has an option remaining. So does Yaramil Hiraldo, who pitched for the O’s last season and has had a mixed spring. There are other intriguing names in here, including lefty sidearmer Eric Torres and Luis de León, a prospect with electric stuff who was just sent down for more seasoning.
