The university announced Friday, March 13 that English would not return for a fourth season as Friars coach.
"We appreciate Kim and his staff for their efforts over the past three seasons leading our men's basketball team," Providence athletic director Steve Napolillo said in a statement. "We wish him and his family all the best in the future."
English went 48-52 in three seasons at the school, including a 15-18 mark this season that put Providence ninth in the 11-team Big East.
The 37-year-old English, a former all-conference player at Missouri who was a second-round pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, was brought in to replace Ed Cooley after his contentious move from Providence to Georgetown in 2023. English had previously gone 34-29 in two seasons at George Mason before being hired by the Friars.
On March 5, with his team at 14-16 after a 22-point loss at home against Marquette, reports emerged that English wouldn’t return to Providence.
After the Friars’ 85-72 loss to St. John’s on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament, English gave an impassioned response when asked about his job security and future.
"I don't want anyone's sympathy,” he said. “I don't like anyone's pity. Don't text me nothing sad, 'Hope you're OK, keep your head up.’ I’m not that guy. Kick me while I'm down. I'll get up. I've never been more proud standing in the locker room than I was after this season.”
Providence was an NCAA Tournament regular under Cooley, making the event seven times over nine seasons in which it was held from 2014-23, which was highlighted by a Sweet 16 run in 2022.
The Friars are one of three major-conference job openings in the northeast, along with Syracuse and Boston College. Candidates for the position are likely to include South Florida coach Bryan Hodgson, Utah State coach Jerrod Calhoun, Merrimack coach Joe Gallo and Yale coach James Jones, among others.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 16, 2025: Adrian Santana #6 of the Tampa Bay Rays looks on prior to a spring training game against the Washington Nationals at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 16, 2025 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Previous Winner
Adrian Santana, SS 20 | S/R | 5’11” | 155 A+ | .263/.324/.326 (94 wRC+) 409 PA, 2 HR, 47 SB, 8.6% BB, 12.0% K
Once a top-ten or so prospect in 2024, Santana fell off our site’s 2025 list after failing to clear as an honorable mention. Why? The switch-hitting slick fielding short stop was the Rays 31st overall pick in 2023 but has delivered sub-100 wRC+ each stop of his career, although that got closer than ever last season, his third as a professional and his third as a teenager in the Rays system. Could expectations be too high on his bat? He has plus athleticism, is learning to wheelhouse, and has “acrobatic” defense at the hardest position in the game, with 98 swiped bags over the last two seasons. What happens if he survives the test of Double-A breaking balls?
Rank
Player
Position
Votes
Total
Percentage
Last Season
1
Carson Williams
SS
14
25
56%
1
2
Brody Hopkins
RHP
19
25
76%
8
3
Jacob Melton
OF
14
28
50%
N/A
4
Theo Gillen
OF
14
26
54%
13
5
Ty Johnson
RHP
12
25
48%
15
6
Daniel Pierce
SS
13
23
57%
N/A
7
Jadher Areinamo
INF
15
28
54%
N/A
8
TJ Nichols
RHP
13
28
46%
N/R
9
Michael Forret
RHP
8
33
24%
N/A
10
Santiago Suarez
RHP
11
30
37%
16
11
Anderson Brito
RHP
7
28
25%
N/A
12
Xavier Isaac
1B
9
28
32%
3
13
Caden Bodine
C
10
25
40%
N/A
14
Brendan Summerhill
OF
11
27
41%
N/A
15
Slater de Brun
OF
10
25
40%
N/A
16
Nathan Flewelling
C
8
26
31%
N/R
17
Trevor Harrison
RHP
9
26
35%
10
18
Jose Urbina
RHP
13
26
50%
25
19
Tre’ Morgan
1B/LF
15
25
60%
4
20
Jackson Baumeister
RHP
12
27
44%
12
21
Aidan Smith
OF
17
29
59%
6
22
Homer Bush Jr.
OF
10
25
40%
21
23
Dom Keegan
C
10
28
36%
9
24
Gary Gill Hill
RHP
8
25
32%
11
25
Brailer Guerrero
OF
8
24
33%
14
26
Brayden Taylor
2B/3B
6
25
24%
2
27
Adrian Santana
SS
6
26
23%
N/R
Santana sneaks a win through despite three other prospects getting 5 votes in Overn, recently optioned Mesa Jr., and Valdez. Next round adds 2025’s top international signee.
Candidates
Fabricio Blanco, SS 17 | S/R | 5’11” | 161
A bat-first middle infielder, the Venezuelan is an elite prospect within the context of the international signing process, with some believing he’s the best Rays signee this off-season, despite gathering only a $1 million bonus. He can barrel up from both sides of the plate, but may settle into a right handed swing in the long term, with quick hands. He has the ability and instincts to stick at short, with a high-IQ approach and gritty demeanor.
Alex Cook, RHP 25 | 6’2” | 220 AA | 2.30 ERA, 2.29 FIP, 15.2 IP (13 G), 30.5% K, 5.1% BB
The Rays added Cook to the 40-man roster this off-season to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, despite only throwing 20 innings (if you include four appearances in the complex league) after a slow start to the season. Cook attempted to convert to starting in 2024 and succumbed to a should injury, but bounced back in the bullpen in 2025 throwing 99 mph — and he has shown up to camp continuing to pitch with confidence. He has plus control and command, with stuff that leans into his low release point, including a cut-ride fastball and two-plane slider, and an MLB average cutter to prevent platoon slit problems. He should slot into high leverage for Durham and ride the shuttle in 2026.
Tampa Bay’s top signee from the 2025 international class, Coret reported tall and young with a lot of projection. His future depends mostly on his hit tool, with prospect evaluators divided on a player that has a long way to go, but the exit velocity (111 mph) and foot speed are plus for his age. Promisingly, after he had a hot start to his professional career, Coret saw his strikeouts elevate in July, but he got them back under control in the final month. A move to the complex league in 2026 would be aggressive.
Cooper Flemming, SS 19 | L/R | 6’3” | 190
One of the best high school bats in the 2025 draft, Flemming surprisingly fell into the Rays laps in the second round. He has a too-quiet swing that lacks the load necessary to hit for power, but he’s historically compensated for that with a high contact rate that would have rated him as first round material if his defense projected to stick. The Rays were able to convince him to forgo an education at Vanderbilt by going above slot ($2.3m, Comp-A money).
Taitn Gray, 1B/OF/C 18 | S/R | 6’4” | 220
The Rays 86th overall pick in 2025, Gray fell to the third round due to some concern about whether he will stick at catcher, but that buries the lead. Still just 17 at the time of the draft, Gray showed up to the Rays organization and proved his rumored power was real, running exit velocities up to 115 mph from both sides of the plate, although the left handed swing is sweeter. He has plus athleticism, which elevated his bat speed, foot speed, and fluidity — despite his size. It will be interesting to see where the Rays deploy him on defense, but it’s a great bat to dream on.
Victor Mesa Jr., OF 24 | L/L | 5’11” | 195 AAA (MIA) | .301/.368/.510 (136 wRC+) 171 PA, 7 HR, 4 SB, 9.9% BB, 16.4% K MLB (MIA) | 6 H (1 HR), 5 BB, 5 K (81 wRC+) 38 PA
This Cuban power bat already made his major league debut with Miami last year after bouncing back from a spring hamstring injury, and was dealt to the Rays in February. He profiles as a fourth outfielder but has an option remaining, so the organization may send him down for regular playing time and one last chance for something more in development. If not, he’s a center field capable on defense, which goes a long way for a platoon bat. In the running for the nicest guy in baseball.
Dean Moss, OF 19 | L/R | 6’0” | 180
Signed well above slot out of the 2025 draft at No. 67 overall, Moss’s family moved from California to the Tampa Bay Area to enroll Moss at IMG, and it earned him a new-home-town selection. A jack of all trades, Moss’s hit tool shades his best thanks to plus bat speed. His swing is clean, with and the projection for his power over time is major league average. He will have competition internally to stick at center, but may get the first nod in the rookie league.
Acquired in the Shane Baz trade, Overn was once a top draft prospect after committing to baseball over football at USC, but surprisingly struggled as a draft-eligible sophomore. That didn’t stop Baltimore from taking him in the third round (97th overall) in 2024. Now a professional, Overn overhauled his swing in the first half of 2025, and earned an early promotion to Double-A for his efforts, where he didn’t look overmatched. His biggest threat is his speed, which raises his floor and gives him an easy projection to a major league bench thanks to plus defensive instincts (BA gave 70’s to his run and field tools). His offensive profile is buoyed by his ability to work the count, but evaluators would like to see him punish fastballs more often for him to be considered a regular.
The Rays 58th overall pick in 2024, Pitre has risen on draft boards through a strong performance in the Cape Cod league in 2023, but the power was a real question mark on his profile. Now given a chance to develop as a professional, he wouldn’t be the first to add muscle. His run and hit tools are plus, with a well coiled swing and solid contact in and out of zone. He’s too old to return to High-A and it be viewed as positive. His power stroke will be the key to his success in 2026.
Victor Valdez, SS 17 | R/R | 6’1” | 186
A pretty swing with a low whiff rate earned Valdez a big payday this winter — $3.5 million — with as good of a power projection as you can reasonably ask for from a a teenage bat, having been given a 25+ home run projection by Baseball America, who also praise his plus foot speed, bat speed, and control of the zone. Reports say he has ever improving lateral movements on defense, with smooth actions and a strong arm. If it all clicks, it’s a middle-of-the-order bat on the left side of the infield. At signing, the Rays gave him a comp to Francisco Lindor. It will be interesting to see if his first professional season can solidify the five tool profile.
Each foot has two sesamoid bones that "act like pulleys inside the big-toe flexor tendon to reduce friction and increase the efficiency of push-off," according to Complete Orthopedics. Those can either become fractured or have small growths — usually in athletes and dancers because they push off and use this bone more — so the surgery removes the bone to both relieve pain and restore function.
Pippen had this surgery on his other foot in October and was out until Feb. 6. He played in just 10 games for the Grizzlies this season because of it. In the 10 games he did play, Pippen averaged 11.4 points and 4.7 assists per game.
Pippen, who has two years left on his contract after this one, will return to a Grizzlies team next season that will look very different, as it starts to undergo a rebuild.
Thursday night’s Hawks vs. Nets game was put on a brief pause after a referee was injured in a bizarre fashion.
With a little over eight minutes to go in the fourth quarter of Brooklyn’s matchup with Atlanta at State Farm Arena, Sha’Rae Mitchell ran into a camera operator and sustained a head injury.
NBA ref Sha'Rae Mitchell WENT DOWN with an injury after hitting her head on a camera operator
Mitchell was initially annoyed with the cameraman for being so close to the court in the middle of play, as lip readers noted she yelled, “Get off the court” following the incident.
But moments later, pain appeared to set in and she needed several moments to collect herself.
Sha’Rae Mitchell was initially annoyed at the camera operator after she bumped into him during a play.
The 40-year-old, who played college basketball at UC Santa Barbara and became a full-time official in 2023, walked over to the scorer’s table and sat down in an attempt to recover.
For around a minute, she held her head in her hands and looked dazed.
Fortunately, she was able to shake it off and finish out the game.
Sha’rae Mitchell needed several moments to collect herself after bumping her head on a camera during a bizarre play in the Hawks vs. Nets game.
The Hawks had the lead at the time of the delay, but the Nets ended up going on an immediate 8-3 run when play resumed.
Atlanta, though, was able to hold off Brooklyn to win, 108-97. Jalen Johnson led all Hawks scorers with 21 points. He added nine rebounds and nine assists.
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HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 08: Jarren Duran #16 of Team Mexico celebrates his solo home run with teammate Randy Arozarena #56 in the second inning against Team Brazil during a 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool B game at Daikin Park on March 08, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Alex Cora was right. The Red Sox should win some sort of award for getting their guys ready to play entering the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Boston’s bats hit .310 during pool play and contributed to some of the tournament’s best performances thus far. The most impactful of all entering 2026? Jarren Duran balling out for Team Mexico.
Watching Roman Anthony start every game and contribute at a high level for Team USA is super encouraging. But if the Red Sox are going to be a playoff team in 2026, Duran has to perform like an All-Star caliber offensive weapon. He’s done that so far this spring.
Here are three reasons the Red Sox should feel great about Duran with two weeks to go before Opening Day.
The Power Surge
Duran has left the yard six times so far this spring. His two most recent homers came against Matthew Boyd in Team Mexico’s pool play battle with Team USA, emphasizing the 29-year-old’s sizzling start to competitive action this season.
Duran hit 21 homers in his All-Star 2024 season, but dropped back down to 16 home runs in 2025. The left-handed bat flashed raw power as a prospect, though the ability to bring that thump consistently in the big leagues hasn’t always been there. Swing changes and approach tweaks have reshaped Duran’s offensive identity, but he can contribute to the 20+ home run club that’s become a major talking point around the Red Sox lineup.
Put it this way: the math looks great. Across 27 total spring training and WBC at-bats, Duran homered in nearly a quarter of them. Only Vinny Pasquantino joins the Red Sox outfielder with a trio of WBC long balls.
Lefties? No problem.
For the Red Sox to produce at an efficient level in 2026, their young left-handed bats have to meet the matchups against southpaws. That especially goes for Duran, Roman Anthony and Wilyer Abreu.
Duran felt the dropoff against lefties in 2025 with just a .211 batting average and .600 OPS. He has to be better and voiced his intention to make the right adjustments in 2026:
Jarren Duran on having better at-bats against lefties in 2026:
“I did pretty good against lefties in 2024, right? So ‘25 they adjusted. So then ‘26 I can adjust to them.” pic.twitter.com/2CWI5mV2OO
Well, he’s mashing lefties this spring. THAT is the storyline of his strong start. If Duran holds his own left-on-left, Boston’s offense could reach a completely different level.
Oh, and about that power surge we talked about above: of those six homers, four came against left-handed pitching.
Leaning into athleticism
Duran’s defense was concerning at times in 2025 (-4 OAA, 18th percentile), headlined by his inability to secure an Aaron Judge line drive that led to the Yankees taking the lead in Game 2 of the American League Wild Card series.
The Red Sox outfielder already turned in a quality defensive moment for Mexico when he started a timely relay to cut down USA’s Anthony at the plate early in the pool play matchup.
This week on Sunday Night Basketball, the Golden State Warriors take on the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Live coverage begins at 7:00 PM ET with Basketball Night in America on NBC and Peacock. See below for additional information on how to watch the Warriors vs Knicks game and keep up with all of the NBA action on NBCSN and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.
Sunday's game marks the second and final meeting between the Knicks and Warriors this season. The last time these two teams met was on January 15, when the Warriors defeated the Knicks at Chase Center, 126-113.
The team announced on Wednesday that the two-time MVP will miss at least six more games and will be re-evaluated on March 21. Curry has been dealing with a lingering runner's knee injury. He is averaging 27.2 points this season.
The Knicks return to the Garden and look to build consistency after a five-game stretch on the road.
How to watch Golden State Warriors vs New York Knicks:
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. Sunday Night Basketball coverage will also be available on NBC and Peacock. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
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NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule:
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Feb 20, 2026; Sarasota, Florida, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Trevor Rogers (28) throws a pitch in the first inning against the New York Yankees during spring training at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
With 13 days to go before Opening Day, the Orioles have their starting pitcher. The team announced before Friday’s spring training game against the Phillies that the dominant star from last year, Trevor Rogers, is getting the nod for the first start of the season.
On one hand, it’s no surprise that the guy who had a 1.81 ERA across 18 starts last season, who accumulated 5.5 bWAR in only 109.2 innings, is getting lined up as the #1 starter for the season. If he had performed like that over a full season, he would have been an easy winner for the AL Cy Young award.
On the other hand, it’s at least a tiny surprise, if only because there’s also Kyle Bradish, who is longer-tenured with the team and still looked pretty ace-like in his return last year from Tommy John surgery. By starting Wednesday’s spring training game, Bradish appeared to be lined up for Opening Day on regular rest. The team has gone in another direction.
As of this writing, there has not been any official indication from manager Craig Albernaz about how he might line up his other starting pitchers. Given that there are six starting pitching candidates, he hasn’t even announced whether he will do a six-man rotation. For now, my best guess is that things will line up with Rogers followed by Bradish, Shane Baz, Chris Bassitt, and Dean Kremer, with Zach Eflin getting something like a two-week rehab stint at the start of the season to fully build up from last year’s back surgery.
The team has continually not indicated Eflin is behind schedule, though, so I’m starting to doubt that as the resolution. If nobody gets hurt between now and Opening Day, are they going to put Kremer in the bullpen? Send him to the minors? Though the #1 spot is resolved, many questions remain here. The Orioles probably have an idea internally what they’re going to do about these things, but they haven’t showed their cards yet.
Jordan Wicks has been a bit of an enigma for the Cubs. When he first came up, he was an effective lefty starter, but those results haven’t been consistent, and he keeps getting hurt. He’s starting this season on the IL, along with Porter Hodge, who didn’t look good. Neither injury is said to be long-term, but you never know. Wicks hasn’t pitched yet this year.
Wicks is still just 26 but the clock is running and the luster has been worn off of the #21 overall pick in 2021. He’s pitched to a lifetime 6-6 record, with a ghastly 5.21 ERA and 1.516 WHIP and 0.5 bWAR (0.3 fWAR).
It’s hard to pinpoint what exactly the problem is. His stuff is not bad. He clearly puts in the effort and the coaches says he puts in the work. His K/9 is in the eights. He gives up around 1.5 HR/9.
Projections have him as a spot starter, and that’s probably his future, if he gets into major-league games at all. Wicks might be better off in another organization where he’ll have more chances to throw in the bigs, but he’s a tough sell right now, and teams hate to give up on first-rounders historically, because of their potential.
Wicks has a five-pitch mix — FB, sinker, slider, curve, change. He’s also thrown a cutter in the past but not in 2025. Let’s hope that the Cubs’ coaches can determine what the issue(s) is/are, and Wicks can regain the effectiveness that got him drafted in the first round.
CLEARWATER, FL - MARCH 07: Philadelphia Phillies Pitcher Andrew Painter (76) delivers a pitch to the plate during the spring training game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Philadelphia Phillies on March 07, 2026 at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Here are the lineups for today’s Grapefruit League matchup. Let’s discuss!
Sep 21, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Christian Yelich (22) is showered with beer and champagne after the Brewers clinched the 2025 National League Central Division Championship following a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
The National League Central could be the most highly volatile, wide open division of the 2026 season.
The Central was red hot in 2025, producing three of the six playoff teams in the NL. It looked like the year that the Chicago Cubs might finally dethrone the Milwaukee Brewers, but the Brew Crew rocketed up the standings from third place on June 1st to a 97 win season and a three-peat as division champs. The Cubbies finished with 92 wins and clinched the 4 seed, joined by the Cincinnati Reds who snuck in as the final Wild Card team.
The year ahead could yield wildly different results.
The PECOTA Standings are projecting major swings for three teams, predicting an 11-game improvement for the Pittsburgh Pirates, while calling for the Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals to be 16 and 11 games worse, respectively. Anchored by rising superstar Paul Skenes, the Pirates seem to be trending in the right direction and could push for a playoff spot, or escape the basement at the very least. On the other hand, the Cardinals are facing the reality that they may not be perennial contenders anymore.
It feels likely that the Central will have two representatives in the postseason. If things break right, they may get three again. But who those two or three teams could be feels very up in the air in a wide open division.
Key Additions: 3B Alex Bregman, SP Edward Cabrera, RP Hunter Harvey
Key Departures: OF Kyle Tucker, RB Brad Keller
The NL Central may be competitive and could come down to the wire like last year, but the Cubs are heavy favorites as things begin. Chicago brings back a very talented lineup on both sides of the ball, with Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner, and Ian Happ.
That core group will be bolstered by one of the splashiest offseason signings, as the team finally got their long-pursued free agency target, signing Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million contract. Bregman will hold down third base and add a strong bat and a Gold Glove, along with World Series experience and a veteran presence. The Cubs also re-signed Shota Imanaga on a qualifying offer, keeping him in the North Side for another year.
Chicago has done an excellent job of fostering a roster of both home-grown talent and smart acquisitions, which has been rewarded with slow but steady improvement since 2021. They now feel like they’re at the place to add some final big pieces to compete regularly. With a balanced attack, they hope to continue their upward trajectory and perhaps avenge last year’s NLDS result, climbing a step higher in 2026.
Key Departures: INF Gavin Lux, OF Austin Hays, 3B/OF Miguel Andujar
On the back of a strong finish and a New York Mets collapse, the Reds finished 8-3 in their last 11 games — including a four-game sweep of the Cubs — to make the playoffs with some Game 162 luck across the NL. Their success came with a slight down year for their star Elly De La Cruz, who dropped in home runs (from 25 down to 22) and stolen bases (plummeting from 67 to 37) between 2024 and 2025, despite playing all 162 games.
Cincinnati floated right under the league average in most team batting and pitching statistics last year. Despite that, the Reds didn’t tinker with the roster much in the offseason, opting for stability. Still, there will be noticeable change as their key offseason pickups, Suárez and Bleday, are projected to slot right into the starting lineup at DH and left field, respectively.
As is, they’re likely to finish right around where they did last season, so their floor is steady.
However, they bring back a pitching rotation with upside. A strong year from that group plus an offensive boost from their newcomers and a return to 2024 form for De La Cruz keeps their ceiling high. Consistency throughout the year could once again set them up for a Wild Card push if things begin to click.
Key Additions: SP Brandon Sproat, SP Kyle Harrison
Key Departures: SP Freddy Peralta, C Danny Jansen, 1B Rhys Hoskins, INF Caleb Durbin
Projections are not being kind to a team looking for a fourpeat as NL Central champs.
It feels hard to bet against a team that’s won 90+ games and finished first in four the last five seasons. That bet feels especially risky given Milwaukee’s explosion last season. The team was unstoppable after the All-Star break, including a stretch where they went 15-1 in August.
The Brew Crew is well-rounded. On the mound, they had the second best ERA, gave up the third-fewest hits, the third-fewest homers, and were top 10 in saves. Offensively, they were third in runs scored, third in hits, second in stolen bases, and fifth in strikeouts against. For the cherry on top, they were a very strong fielding team, too.
By the numbers, they’re a top team and well-worthy of last year’s NLCS appearance as the 2 seed. So why the pessimism? Milwaukee heads into the season looking to prove that they can weather a number of key departures. Most notable might be the loss of their ace, Freddy Peralta. Peralta was a source of consistency, hitting the 30 game and 200 strikeout mark in each of the last three seasons. Brandon Woodruff, coming off an injury, is set to be the team’s new ace. Harrison and Sproat will mix into the rotation alongside some younger pieces who debuted in 2025: Jacob Misiorowski and Chad Patrick.
Milwaukee may be able to patch together a lineup to withstand some of their offensive losses. The loss of a 30-game starter and a reliance on more unproven pitching assets could cost make or break the team’s season and their hold on the division.
Key Departures: DH Andrew McCutchen, SP Johan Oviedo
The upcoming season will be a defining year for the Pirates. Some expectations place them in a tier with the Reds, firmly behind the Cubs and Brewers in the division pecking order. PECOTA is much more bullish, projecting them to finish ahead of the Brewers for second in the division, with a 43.3% chance to make the playoffs. Honestly, though, both a fight for second or a fight for third would both be a welcome sight for the Bucs, who have finished in last for five of the last nine seasons (and in fourth for the remaining four).
A competitive year in the Central would show marked improvement for the young squad.
Obviously, ace Paul Skenes is a reason for a lot of the buzz around this team. The 2024 NL Rookie of the Year turned 2025 Cy Young winner has been nothing short of phenomenal. He’s added to his young legacy with a brilliant World Baseball Classic debut, driving his stock even higher. With that, he’s obviously drawing interest from every other team in the league, but is under club control through 2029 and has denied any trade rumors. That window could force the club to strike while the iron is hot, so a successful 2026 could very well lead to an exciting offseason heading into 2027.
As for 2026, a sense of realism might check expectations for a jump from fifth to second. Pittsburgh will need to not only grow but make a big leap in a number of categories to meet their projected 11-win jump. In batting, the team was 28th in hits and batting average, bottom 10 in strikeouts, and dead last in home runs and RBI. That doesn’t inspire confidence. The Pirates acquired three new starters in the offseason (Lowe at second base, O’Hearn in right field, and Ozuna at DH). The trio will help, but will certainly have their work cut out for them.
To end on a positive, Pittsburgh’s success comes from its rotation. Last year, they were third in home runs allowed, seventh in ERA, and top 10 walks, The club brought back four of its five starters and kept the bullpen mostly unchanged. More pitching magic mixed with some new bats could help the Buccos reach new heights.
It’s hard to imagine a world where the Cardinals aren’t in the playoff mix after the team’s historical success for so many decades. But playoff misses in 2023, 2024, and 2025 might have been the final three nails in the coffin for the Cards. This offseason represented a full shift into rebuild mode, following the vision of new President of Baseball Operations, Chaim Bloom.
The team shipped out two pitchers from their starting rotation in Gray and Mikolas. They moved on from an all-star in Donovan. And they moved away from players like Arenado and Contreras, core veteran pieces that were brought in when the club felt firmly in contention. However, a few years of middle of the road finishes led the team to make those sweeping changes.
Given the commitment to the rebuild and the other strong teams in the division, the projected dip and last place finish make sense. While the Cardinals were neck and neck with the Reds at the end of July and even again in early September when they crawled within half a game of third, their dropoff from their most recent first place finish in 2022 warranted bigger changes.
They have moved to a younger roster, restocked their farm system, and added draft capital. Although they are a team who won’t be kept down for long, the growing pains and move to new talent are likely to keep them towards the bottom of the division this season.
After winning the division for three years in a row, will the Brewers really fall as far as they’re expected to? Is a Cubs crown feeling like a sure thing? Or do the Pirates have what it takes to go worst to first?
Let us know what you think the NL Central has in store!
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 10: Javonte Green #31 of the Detroit Pistons reacts during the second quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on March 10, 2026 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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 Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons are handling who’s in front of them. They’ve exploded offensively after a brief four-game rut. Detroit takes on the Memphis Grizzlies tonight. You need to scroll three times to view their full injury report.
Tonight’s matchup won’t be a battle between two playoff teams, but the Pistons are finding a rhythm from deep. Some of the most important strikers are trending in the right direction as the playoffs approach.
Game Vitals
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
When: 7:30 PM
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons (-15.5)
Analysis
The Brooklyn Nets and last night’s Philadelphia 76ers aren’t the most stout defensive teams, but making shots can do good for a player’s mental. Duncan Robinson went 8/10 from deep in the two demolitions. That type of hot streak needs to continue against the great teams.
Robinson is shooting 35 percent from 3 against top-10 defenses, according to Cleaning The Glass. It makes sense that tougher defenses make shooters take more difficult shots, but maybe a hot stretch vs lesser opponents can trigger an overall parade from range.
Javonte Green’s shooting is always an extra. If he can make defenses pay consistently, his playoff minutes might increase. It’s no secret that teams are going to leave streaky shooters like Green to bottle up Cade Cunningham. Green was nails going 4-6 from 3 last night. This version of Green is a 3-and-D menace who seems up for the moment.
Marcus Sasser has stepped in as a shot taker and maker. He’s a sparkplug. He won’t start when Ausar Thompson eventually returns, but Sasser is another piece on the board JB Bickerstaff can play. Sasser has always shown he can get buckets, and there will be dry spots in the postseason where he could help the team.
Cade had it going from deep in three of the past four games. He only shot the ball six times last night. His off-the-bounce shooting could swing a playoff series one way or another. He has shot 36 percent on 3.5 pullup 3-point attempts for the season. Was last year more about poor pullup shooting or Cade seeing playoff defenses for the first time? I’d bet he’s better this time around.
The Grizzlies saw the playoffs last year, too, but they’re far from that type of team now. They’ve trotted out a very young roster over the last few weeks. 21-year-old GG Jackson has been one of their focal points lately. Ty Jerome has been too. He missed the last game with a calf injury.
This isn’t Jackson’s first time getting the keys over the final stretch of the year. During the last 18 games of the 2024 season, Jackson averaged 20 points. He had a 44-point bomb on the last day of the regular season.
Olivier-Maxence Prosper has been the Grizzlies’ big with Zach Edey out for the year. Prosper isn’t the force and paint beast Edey is, but he can shoot the rock. 38 percent of his shots are from 3, and he’s solid.
Javon Small, Jaylen Wells, and Rayan Rupert are other candidates who could play 30-plus minutes tonight. The Grizzlies are on a six-game losing streak with a minus-7.6 net rating in that span. They won’t win the Western Conference, but Detroit has to focus on itself. Don’t play down to your comp and continue to handle who is in front of you.
Lineups
Detroit Pistons (47-18): Cade Cunningham, Marcus Sasser, Duncan Robinson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren
MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 10: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 10, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
What’s the saying go? Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times, shame on both of us. Well, what’s four? Because we’re at that with Jalen Green.
He’s stringed together four straight 24+ point performances, all coming in Phoenix Suns wins. Last night’s victory against the Pacers was not just his best game of the win streak, but of his Suns’ tenure. The guard scored 36 points on 14-of-23 from the field and was tied for the team lead in plus/minus.
When Suns GM Brian Gregory said recently that Green and Devin Booker can be the NBA’s best backcourt, a game like last night can only further his belief in the idea. The two combined for 79 points, both going for season highs and accounting for more than 64% of the team’s points.
The key for Green is that he’s deferring to Booker. During Phoenix’s four-game win streak, the fifth-year guard is taking three fewer shots per game than Booker is, and his efficiency has been the best it’s been all season. He’s shooting 50.6% from the field, doing so by taking nearly five more shots per game than his season average.
One of the knocks on Green to start his career has been about his efficiency. No season as a Rocket did he shoot better than 42.3% from the field or 35.4% from three, low marks for an undersized guard that can be a liability on offense, takes a lot of shots, and has a thin frame.
In two of his last three seasons on the Rockets, Green led Houston in points per game, and all four years he was a member of the team, he led them in shots per game. That is not his role on the Suns. It’s a fundamentally different one than the one he played with his former team, especially when Devin Booker is playing.
When he’s sharing the court with Booker, Green is not the offensive team’s main perimeter focus. He has more room to operate, as well as put less consistent tax on his body as he recovers from his multiple hamstring injuries that could impact his energy. When Booker plays, Green shoots 44% from the field and is a +75. When he doesn’t, he shoots 29.8% from the field and is a -34. When Green is playing without Booker, he reverts back to the role he played during his time in Houston, where he was often a first option.
Amid all the injuries both have had, Booker and Green have played just 13 games together. Since Booker returned from his hip injury, the six-straight games the two have played is the longest streak they’ve gone this year playing with each other, and they’re finally hitting their stride. Both playing similar positions and sharing similar skillsets, the two have needed time to find their rhythm. Booker’s was always going to come first. He’s the team’s best player and leader. Green is starting to find his.
Mar 12, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) dribbles against Denver Nuggets guard Julian Strawther (3) in the second half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Coming off a tough win against the Boston Celtics, the Spurs battled the Denver Nuggets. It was announced before the game that Victor Wembanyama would not play due to ankle soreness. Nonetheless, the Spurs dominated the first half. They outscored the Nuggets 37-25 in the first quarter, led by as much as 20 points, and took a 14-point lead into halftime. However, the Nuggets’ offense began to wake up in the third. They outscored the Spurs 41-37 in the third and embarked on a 14-0 run in the fourth. The Spurs were ice cold shooting from three, outscored 42-25, and could not stop the onslaught brought on by Jamal Murray. The Spurs ultimately lost 136-131.
Stephon Castle led the way with a triple-double: 30 points (4-8 3PT, 12-13 FT), 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. This is Steph’s 3rd triple-double of the season. His four threes tied a season high from December 23rd against the OKC Thunder. Without Wemby, Steph was aggressive on offense. He drained 12 of his 13 free throws and dished out double-digit dimes for the 11th time this season. He had the tough assignment of guarding Murray, and he defended well in the first half. However, Murray caught fire in the fourth and was able to score on multiple defenders. Nonetheless, a performance like the one Steph put on shows his skyward potential for the 21-year-old.
AND-ONE! Steph drives on Christian Braun, and he uses his patience for the tough and-one finish off the backboard!
De’Aaron Fox dropped 27 points (10-19 FG), nine assists, three rebounds, and two steals. Just like Steph, Fox was aggressive on offense. Besides dropping a near double-double, Fox drained four threes and got into the paint off of P&R’s and iso plays. He also picked pockets on defense. After playing well all game, Fox missed a crucial three-point attempt late and attempted to lock down Murray late in the game down by three. Unfortunately, he was called for a foul when Murray was clearly about to go out of bounds. Nonetheless, the two-time all-star will continue to play fast as the season dwindles.
SPLASHTOWN! Fox drains the three from the corner early in the first!
Harrison Barnes returned from injury and dropped 20 points (6-10 FG, 6-7 FT), seven rebounds, one assist, and one steal. After missing the last five games due to an ankle injury, HB returned with a bang. This is his first 20+ game since December 23rd against OKC. He played 27 minutes, which is his most since February 1st. Clearly, Mitch Johnson wanted HB to get extra burn after a week off. The 33-year-old will look to continue contributing to this young, contending squad as the playoffs are a month away.
Old man hustle! HB tracks down the loose ball and drives into the paint with a fake and a slam!
Devin Vassell dropped 18 points, three assists, two steals, and a rebound. It was not a 35-point explosion with seven threes like the last time Dev played the Nuggets, but he did have a near 20-point game thanks to four threes. He started hot, but cooled down in the fourth. As one of the x-factors on the team, Dev also played excellent off-ball defense, especially forcing steals on passes to Nikola Jokic. The two-way wing will continue to be a willing defender and knockdown shooter.
Dylan Harper dropped 13 points (6-12 FG), five rebounds, five assists, and a block. The rookie guard made the most of his 24 minutes, finishing with the highest plus/minus on the team with +9. With Castle and Fox combining for 57 points and 19 assists, Dyl did not play after the four-minute mark in the fourth. It remains to be seen if Mitch Johnson will play all three guards together in the fourth quarter, but for now, Dyl will continue to be a spark plug combo guard off the bench.
Block to assist! After swatting Braun’s shot attempt on one end, Dyl finds Steph for a side corner three-ball!
Carter Bryant dropped 10 points (4-6 FG), three rebounds, and an assist in just nine minutes. The rookie wing came to play and capitalized on his playing time, or lack thereof. He played fearlessly in the paint and hustled on both ends, including playing great defense on Jokic. Despite having the second-highest plus/minus with +7, Carter only played nine minutes. A clear explanation would be the return of Barnes. It will be curious to see how Mitch Johnson manages HB and CB’s minutes during the last month of the regular season.
VET MOVES! CB tracks down the offensive rebound and takes it back into Jokic in the paint for the tough finish!
In what would have been an outstanding statement win without their best player, this young team relinquished the lead they held for most of the game to a seasoned, contending team. The one-two punch of Jokic and Murray did most of their damage in the fourth, as it was clear a certain alien-like figure was missing in the paint that could have disrupted the Nuggets’ offensive game plan. Nonetheless, this team has defeated the Nuggets without Wemby before, so a loss like this only prepares them for their rematch in April.
Finally, here are the full game highlights.
The Spurs continue their homestand this Saturday against the Charlotte Hornets at 2:30 P.M. (CST) on Prime Video/FDSN-SW.
DUNEDIN, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 20: José Berríos #17 of the Toronto Blue Jays poses for a portrait during photo day at the Toronto Blue Jays Player Development Complex on February 20, 2026 in Dunedin, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I guess we’ve found out why José Berríos wasn’t allowed to pitch in the WBC. The team is saying he’s heading to Texas to talk to Dr. Keith Meister about ‘right elbow inflammation. We hadn’t been told that there was an issue. He was scratched from his start against the Phillies. This is one of those things that gives Tom a bad feeling in his stomach.
Apparently, an MRI didn’t show anything. I can’t imagine he’ll be on the roster out of spring training.
Beyond that:
Shane Bieber is throwing from flat ground and will continue doing that. In a few days they will decide if he is ready to pitch in a game.
Alejandro Kirk is back in camp. He’s catching tomorrow, when Max Scherzer throws next.
Scherzer has become more important now that Berrios isn’t going to be on the team and Trey Yesavage is a a long shot too, depending on how things go the next few days.
The Jays host the Twins today, 1:00 Eastern. Here’s the lineup. Cody Ponce starts. Use this as the GameThread:
Today’s Lineups
TWINS
BLUE JAYS
Alan Roden – CF
George Springer – DH
Brooks Lee – SS
Daulton Varsho – CF
Matt Wallner – RF
Addison Barger – RF
Eric Wagaman – 1B
Jesus Sanchez – LF
James Outman – LF
Brandon Valenzuela – C
Ryan Kreidler – 3B
Sean Keys – 1B
Tristan Gray – 2B
Rafael Lantigua – 2B
Gio Urshela – DH
Arjun Nimmala – SS
Alex Jackson – C
Carlos E. Mendoza – 3B
Mick Abel – RHP
Cody Ponce – RHP
And tonight we have two WBC quarter finals:
6:30 PM Dominican Republic/Korea
8:00 PM Canada/USA. Logan Webb and Mike Soroka are the starters. I think we’ll have a GameThread up.
AKRON, OHIO - AUGUST 23, 2025: Magnus Ellerts #34 of the Akron RubberDucks throws a pitch during the sixth inning against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at Canal Park on August 23, 2025 in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by George Kubas/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Guardians have some players who are doing well in Spring Training, so let’s talk about that.
The usual caveat applies here that in-game performance in Spring Training is a dangerous game. You never know exactly what is meaningful, what is not meaningful, and what is somewhere in between. With that said, here are some players catching my eye this Spring:
Pitchers: Slade Cecconi – 3.15 FIP, 9.95/2.13 K/BB/9 – Cecconi has come into camp looking a lot more confident in his new, Guardians-inspired pitching repertoire/pitch shapes than he did last year, and seems primed for improvements across the board.
Cade Smith – 0.96 FIP, 12/0 K/BB/9 – Despite missing the first part of camp with neck soreness, Smith looks absolutely locked in as the team’s established closer for 2026.
Magnus Ellerts – 0.63 FIP, 13.5/0 K/BB/9 – Folks, if Ellerts has corrected at least some of his walk issues he will be in the major league bullpen sooner rather than later because he has electric stuff and can hit 100 mph. He has the highest perceived velocity in Guardians’ camp this spring at 95.9 mph.
Daniel Espino – 0.65 FIP, 13.5/0 K/BB/9 – Ah, if he can only stay healthy… he looked special as always.
Jack Jasiak – 0.20 FIP, 15.43/0 K/BB/9 – Jasiak has been eating hitters alive with his sweeper. Can that continue? I guess we will see.
Peyton Pallette – 0.96 FIP, 21/6 K/BB/9 – Pallette has popped with some great velocity and pitch movement. We’re all rooting for him to make the Opening Day roster and stay with the club.
Erik Sabrowski – 1.38 FIP, 20.25/6.75 K/BB/9 – Sabrowski remains absolutely nasty for no good reason.
Will Dion – 2.05 FIP, 7.11/0 K/BB/9 – With Austin Peterson hurt, it’s important that Dion looks like a potentially viable fifth starter.
Connor Brogdon – 3.05 FIP, 10.29/2.57 K/BB/9 – Brogdon should get a chance to show he belongs with Hunter Gaddis likely building up for the season after experiencing forearm tightness.
Tim Herrin – 3.63 FIP, 10.8/5.40 K/BB/9 – Herrin has been building on some positives late in 2025 to show he belongs back in the bullpen.
Tanner Bibee – 3.15 FIP, 7.82/0 K/BB/9 – Bibee has very obviously been working on throwing strikes and getting his pitch mix right… stop throwing that four-seamer so much, Tanner.
Gavin Williams – 3.38 FIP, 10.13/1.13 K/BB/9 – Williams looks like the Opening Day starter and anchor to the rotation the Guardians need him to be.
Jack Leftwich – 0.90 FIP, 12.270 K/BB/9 – Leftwich is working his way into that long-man role and looking potentially viable there if called upon.
Some underlying numbers also look great for Joey Cantillo and Colin Holderman, they just need to hone in on control and command.
Hitters: Bo Naylor – 258 wRC+, 16.7/16.7 K/BB% (his OPS in the WBC is a shade below .700, which isn’t great but not bad, either).
Chase DeLauter – 188 wRC+, 5/10 K/BB% – If he’s healthy, the kid just HITS.
George Valera – 108 wRC+, 25.9/7.4 K/BB% – This can play vs. RHP.
Petey Halpin – 176 wRC+, 20.8/16.7 K/BB% – No way that Halpin can maintain this walk rate, but if he could cut his strikeouts closer to this and play great defense, he will be an excellent strong-side platoon centerfielder.
Ralphy Velazquez – 155 wRC+, 7.1/7.1 K/BB% – Ralphy definitely opened some eyes this Spring. He is getting steady “First Baseman of the Future” talk, but hopefully will make himself a left-field option.
Kahlil Watson – 213 wRC+, 31.3/12.5 K/BB% – Watson was a camp darling and you can see his approach was “swing the bat” and he made a lot of quality contact… but also had a lot of whiff.
Brayan Rocchio – 144 wRC+, 18.2/12.2 K/BB% – Rocchio has looked quiet, confident and effective at the plate. Him being an above average hitter would be a huge boon to this lineup.
Milan Tolentino – 185 wRC+, 14.3/33.3 K/BB% – Tolentino is not going to be a good major league hitter unless a miracle happens, but he is at least making himself look like he can do a Gabriel Arias approximation if the team FINALLY moves on there.
Jaison Chourio – 144 wRC+, 18.8/0 K/BB% – Good to see Chourio get some solid contact, but he’ll obviously need to take some walks to build back up his prospect status
Angel Martinez – 250 wRC+, 14.8/7.4 K/BB% – Angel has looked more confident in center and his K/BB% is what you want to see, along with – obviously – some good hitting. I think Angel has probably secured the 4th outfielder spot on the Opening Day roster, and good for him.
Juan Brito – 104 wRC+, 29.2/20.8 K/BB% – Just on the edge of missing this list, Brito had a couple terrible games defensively at third base, but has looked fine at second base. Really wish they’d give him a shot at Opening Day there and move Rocchio to short, but it looks like we are getting Arias at short and Rocchio at second for a while. Ah well.
As we’ve said several times, if the Guardians can finish camp mostly healthy, it will be a successful spring training. But, so far, with a couple weeks left, the team has also seen plenty of performances to be encouraged about as far as 2026 is concerned. Which of the names above has you most excited? Let us know in the comments below.
Kurt Helin
