WEST PALM BEACH, FL - MARCH 03: Cristian Javier #53 of the Houston Astros pitches during the game between the Team Venezuela and the Houston Astros at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Lawrence Brown/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The latest updates on the Houston Astros from Spring Training:
Cristian Javier continues to strengthen his arm and get ready for the regular season. His velocity, while still not as high as it was pre-injury, has improved from his last outing:
Cristian Javier's velo was up a tick today vs. Marlins
Astros #1 prospect OF Kevin Alvarez made his first appearance of spring with the Astros in a Grapefruit League game. The 18-year old went 0-3 but did put a sting into this ball:
Yordan (Alvarez the Greater) also said he feels good about where his swing is currently:
After a weekend in which he hit his first home run of the spring, Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez says he's feeling "pretty good." https://t.co/Cfvc4GTPJr
Another of the Astros’ top prospects, Brice Matthews, has been getting some reps in CF as the team tries to find out how versatile he can be since he is blocked at his regular 2B position by Jose Altuve. He came into yesterday’s game and played LF, his first appearance at the position. It’s not out of the realm of possibility Matthews is a call up this season if he can also play OF, and that he could get a significant look.
Brice Matthews now playing left field in this game, with Kevin Alvarez moving to right field.
Jeremy Pena is feeling better and hopes to be ready by Opening Day. though that decision is still undecided:
Jeremy Peña is feeling good. He can juggle with nine working fingers. He's also fielding ground balls, throwing plyo balls, taking one-handed batting practice and still thinks he can be ready by Opening Day – https://t.co/25ACDjum0a
Spencer Arrighetti will throw a simulated game today before leaving the team for a few days for the birth of his twins:
Spencer Arrighetti will throw in a simulated game on Monday and then leave Astros camp and head back to Houston in anticipation of the birth of his twins. Arrighetti won't come back to Florida, but there's a chance he pitches against Sugar Land during the exhibitions in Houston
The Pittsburgh Penguins have made some changes to their roster ahead of their matchup against the Colorado Avalanche.
The Penguins have announced that they have recalled defenseman Jack St. Ivany from his conditioning stint with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. In addition, Pittsburgh shared that blueliner Alexander Alexeyev has been sent back down to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
St. Ivany played in three games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton during his conditioning loan, where he had one assist and a plus-1 rating. Now, after getting called back up to Pittsburgh's roster, he will be looking to make an impact.
St. Ivany has not played in a game for Pittsburgh since Jan. 25 due to injury. Yet, he is now ready to return for the Penguins and will look to build on his strong season with the Metropolitan Division club. In 17 games this season for Pittsburgh, he has a career-high seven assists and 40 hits.
As for Alexeyev, he did not make his Pittsburgh debut during his call-up. In 29 games this season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he has three goals, seven points, 15 penalty minutes, and a plus-4 rating.
Today marks the beginning of the last full week of MLB Spring Training before the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants kick off the 2026 regular season next Wednesday. As a result, with the season right around the corner, teams like the Athletics are beginning to narrow the amount of players in big-league camp, sending minor league prospects and non-roster invitees unlikely to make the team to minor league camp.
The Athletics reassigned left-handed pitchers Gage Jump and Matt Krook; right-handed pitchers Nick Hernandez, Brooks Kriske and Wander Suero; catcher Chad Wallach; infielders Leo De Vries, Michael Stefanic and Tommy White; and outfielders Henry Bolte and Cade Marlowe to their…
This roster-trim was expected as the majority of these players were not considered candidates to open the season with the A’s. However, them being reassigned will not prevent them from continuing to appear in the remainder of the team’s Cactus League games.
Speaking of which, the A’s have the chance to get back in the win column this afternoon following yesterday’s 12-6 loss to the Cleveland Guardians. In that game, top prospect Leo De Vries impressed again, hitting his third home run of the spring. However, A’s minor league pitching prospects Wei-En Lin and Zane Taylor each allowed six runs.
Veteran left-hander Jeffrey Springs will start on the mound for the A’s today against the Los Angeles Angels. Springs has had a rough spring so far, allowing six runs in 2 2/3 innings in his last outing against the Chicago White Sox. Carrying a 13.50 Cactus League ERA into his fourth start, Springs needs to pitch better today, especially with this potentially being his penultimate preseason appearance. For the A’s to have a chance at contending this year, Springs and right-hander Luis Severino, who pitched well last night for Team Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, need to put forth strong performances in the majority of their starts.
Here’s how the A’s lineup versus the Angels looks this afternoon:
The Athletics have historically zigged when other teams have zagged. Traditionally, teams put their high-contact, on-base hitters near the top of their lineup in front of their power threats. The A’s are taking the opposite approach, batting sluggers Nick Kurtz, Shea Langeliers and Brent Rooker ahead of contact hitters Jacob Wilson and Jeff McNeil.
The only odd thing in today’s A’s lineup is second baseman Zack Gelof getting his first-ever start in right field. Yesterday, he started in center field for the first time, making a nice catch on the only ball hit to him out there. With Denzel Clarke back, Gelof slides to right as the A’s continue expanding his positional versatility. Lawrence Butler, the team’s starting right fielder, will make his spring debut tomorrow as the designated hitter before playing the outfield this weekend as he aims to be ready for Opening Day.
That lineup will be facing George Klassen, who is one of the Angels’ top pitching prospects. Klassen has had an impressive spring, going 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in three games played. He will look to further strengthen his candidacy for the Angels starting rotation with another solid outing today.
Superstar Mike Trout is one of several regulars in the Angels lineup this afternoon. Injuries have limited him in recent seasons, but he remains one of the most talented players of his generation. With him, Jo Adell and Logan O’Hoppe all starting, it should be a decent challenge for Springs and the Athletics. Should be a fun one in the desert. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. Let’s go A’s!
The Montreal Canadiens lost more than the game when they were beaten 4-3 by the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday night; they also lost forward Kirby Dach, once again. In the very early stages of the game, forward Jeffrey Viel blindsided Dach with a solid hit. The Canadiens’ player did not see the hit coming at all. He got back up, skating gingerly and headed to the bench; that was his second and last shift of the game.
During the first intermission, the Canadiens announced that he would not be back in the game because of an upper-body injury. The media asked for an update after the game, but there was no news to share. With the Habs benefiting from a day off on Monday, it’s unlikely that we’ll hear anything before morning skate on Tuesday ahead of the evening’s duel with the Boston Bruins.
Ever since he entered the NHL, Dach has been plagued by rotten luck with injuries. From the wrist injury at the World Junior Championships to the concussion with the Chicago Blackhawks and the two knee injuries with the Canadiens, he’s been through a lot. As if that wasn’t enough, he also suffered a broken leg earlier this season.
The Canadiens have not confirmed that he’s dealing with a concussion, but given how the play unfolded, it wouldn’t be surprising. The timing of this latest setback couldn’t have been worse for Dach, who is currently playing the last year of the four-year deal he signed when the Canadiens acquired him.
Of the 312 games the Habs have played since then, Dach has only played 149, for just 48% of the matches. As harsh as it seems to write this, it’s hard to see the Habs committing long-term to the 6-foot-4 and 221-pound forward. While there’s definitely some talent there, his body seems unable to sustain the rigours of an NHL career.
Montreal already signed Kaiden Guhle to a six-year deal, and the defenseman keeps missing time, putting the defence corps under pressure. In four seasons, he has played 195 games, out of a possible 328, which means the Canadiens have had him only 60% of the time.
It’s tough to build a team and need to have a plan B scenario ready at all times, especially given the constraints of the salary cap. Montreal already has to do that with Guhle, and doing it with Dach as well could hurt the team. At the end of the season, Dach will be an RFA but will become a UFA at the end of the 2026-27 season. If the Canadiens choose to give him yet another chance, I would be surprised if the contract had much term on it. It’s hard not to feel for Dach, but hockey is first and foremost a business at the professional level.
Mar 13, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; NBA Commissioner Adam Silver walks towards the exit at the end of the first half of the Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz game at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images | Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images
There have been murmurs for a few years now that the NBA has been considering an expansion from the current 30 teams to 32 teams.
While nothing has been confirmed yet, Shams Charania of ESPN reported on Monday morning that the league has decided to hold a vote at the Board of Governors meetings later this month to explore those ideas once again. If the proposal goes through, Las Vegas and Seattle would target the 2028-29 season as their inaugural campaign.
Just in: The NBA will hold a vote at the Board of Governors meetings March 24-25 to explore adding expansion teams exclusively in Las Vegas and Seattle, with the two franchises targeted for the 2028-29 season, sources tell ESPN. There is momentum for stakeholders to approve… pic.twitter.com/H6AYVdhh7S
Keith Smith of Spotrac also reported that potential rules could include teams being allowed to protect up to eight players, with none of them being allowed to be players who are restricted free agents or players on expiring contracts. Teams must also expose at least one player, and teams may not lose more than one player in an expansion draft.
Potential NBA expansion draft rules
-Existing teams are allowed to protect up to eight (8) players
-Players eligible to be protected are players who are not on expiring contracts and Restricted Free Agents
So with all of that being said, what exactly could this mean for the Knicks? Well, as it pertains to the expansion draft, it’s difficult to say as there’s really no way to predict what the Knicks’ roster and contracts look like heading into the 2028 off-season. Between now and then, trades are bound to happen, and despite the Knicks’ unpredictable drafting patterns and lack of picks, they will have new faces by then.
Then there’s Karl-Anthony Towns, who will be one year removed from his $61 million player option in 2027. If, and I’d say it’s a relatively big if, he’s still a Knick, then chances are, it’s because the Knicks have won a championship, or gotten incredibly close to doing so. And in that case, chances are he’s also protected. That brings the number up to four.
Then you have Josh Hart, who, regardless of what the fans want or think, will likely be a Knick until Brunson is no longer a Knick. And in the chance that he wears a different jersey, you can bet it won’t be because they didn’t protect him in an expansion draft. That’s now five. Here is where it starts to get a bit tricky.
If you go up and down the roster right now, the three guys you want to be a Knick for as long as possible have to be Mitchell Robinson, Deuce McBride, and Mohamed Diawara. All three of those guys are going to be free agents this upcoming summer. New York, which has become one of the most cap-aware and salary-savvy front offices in the league, has surely been planning on this and has done whatever it can to give itself the best shot at retaining all three. If they can manage to do so, the question then becomes, how long will they be signed for?
If they are all signed for three or more years, then they should round out the last three to be protected. But if, for one reason or another, they aren’t a Knick by then, the Knicks are kind of out of players they need to keep. Sure, one of their picks in the late first-round or second-round could surprise us as Diawara has. Tyler Kolek, Ariel Hukporti, and Pacome Dadiet have all shown some flashes. And, given that there will be trades between now and then, whatever player the Knicks bring in may make that list.
But regardless of what happens, the one good thing about having a team with depth without being overly deep is that you have guys you aren’t necessarily sad to lose for free. Think of a team like the Thunder right now. If they were to only protect eight guys, their conversations and choices would be much more difficult than the ones the Knicks will likely have to make.
The other piece of the puzzle, were an expansion to be agreed on, is the potential changes to the division. The NBA could get rid of divisions altogether. But they could also go through with a realignment. With the Grizzlies or Timberwolves rumored to be the ones entering the Eastern Conference, we could see a situation in which Memphis joins the Southeast Division, or one in which Minnesota joins the Central Division. If that happens, instead of having the current three divisions of five teams, we could just have four divisions of four teams in both conferences.
The Knicks could then see a world in which the Sixers get removed from their division as they head a bit south to a division with, say, the Wizards, Cavaliers, and Pacers. Or a scenario in which the Raptors head out west and join the Bucks, Pistons, and Bulls in a division. Either way, if the league decides to stick with divisions, scheduling may change a bit. But overall, given the Knicks’ roster and contract situation, the proposed expansion and rules don’t seem like they’ll matter much to New York as things currently stand. Obviously, with plenty of time between now and then, roster changes, additional rule proposals, and or scheduling updates could have a larger impact on the Knicks and other teams as well.
Tonight's Peacock NBA Monday slate features an exciting tripleheader. First, at 7:00 PM ET, the Orlando Magic go head-to-head with the Atlanta Hawks. At 9:30 PM, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers take on the KevinDurant and Houston Rockets at Toyota Center, followed by a San Antonio Spurs vs Los Angeles Clippers match up at 10:00 PM ET. Live coverage begins at 6:00 PM with NBA Showtime on NBC and Peacock.
See below for additional information on how to watch tonight's tripleheader. Follow all of the NBA action on NBCSN and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.
Ten days ago, the Spurs overcame a 25-point deficit in the the second half to defeat the Clippers 116-112, in a game that tied for the largest comeback in the NBA this season. Tonight, both teams meet again for the second of three meetings this season.
San Antonio, currently second in the Western Conference, has won 17 of it's last 19 games and is looking to snap a six-season playoff drought.
The Clippers currently sit eighth in the West. They've won six of their last eight games and are 28-12 in their last 40 games, a major turnaround from starting the season 6-21.
Kawhi Leonard has been leading the charge for the Clippers. The 14-year NBA veteran is averaging a career-high 28.3 points per game, while also leading the team in rebounds.
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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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 08: Josh Hader #71 of the Houston Astros pitches during the tenth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 08, 2025 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As the calendar moves deeper into March, many baseball fans have found a welcome distraction in the World Baseball Classic. For Astros fans like me, it has been exactly that, a high-level brand of baseball played with passion and intensity at a time of year when we’re usually stuck parsing spring training box scores and trying not to read too much into them. The games have been competitive, the atmosphere electric, and the quality of play a reminder of just how great this sport can be.
But when the World Baseball Classic winds down, Astros fans will have to confront a reality that’s much closer to home. The regular season is less than two weeks away, and at least for me, General Manager Dana Brown and the Astros front office haven’t done much to ease the concerns that still linger about this roster.
At last check, there is still a noticeable imbalance on the roster. The Astros have a logjam of infielders while lacking the kind of left-handed bat in the outfield that could lengthen the lineup and provide better balance. That issue has been talked about all spring, yet here we are with Opening Day fast approaching and no clear resolution in sight It is also worth noting, unlike a year ago with Cam Smith, no one is really stepping up to take charge of an opportunity.
Behind the plate, I still believe the Astros could benefit from adding a veteran backup catcher. Even with the minor league signing of Christian Vázquez helping the organizational depth chart, there’s value in having experience and reliability backing up the starter over the course of a long season. Victor Caratini was huge for this team and he’s gone, can you replace him and his versatility?
Pitching is another area where additional depth wouldn’t hurt. A left-handed arm in the rotation or another arm in the bullpen would add versatility to a staff that will inevitably face the wear and tear of a 162-game season. And when you factor in that closer Josh Hader won’t be ready to start the season, the bullpen suddenly feels a little thinner than Astros fans might like.
None of this is meant to suggest that the Astros aren’t talented enough to compete. Quite the opposite. The roster as currently constructed should absolutely be capable of competing for another American League West title. The core of this team remains strong, and the expectation of meaningful baseball in Houston every year is something fans have come to appreciate.
But competing for the division and competing for another championship aren’t always the same thing.
Owner Jim Crane often says the championship window for this organization is always open. If that’s truly the case and the Astros have certainly operated that way in recent years, then there’s still work to be done to ensure this team is positioned to compete for more than just a division banner.
Dana Brown has been patient this spring, perhaps waiting for the right opportunity to present itself. But with Opening Day rapidly approaching, the clock is ticking. Standing pat may ultimately be the decision the organization makes.
If that’s the case, Astros fans will have to hope the talent already in place is enough.
Personally, I’m not quite comfortable yet and with time running out before the season starts, I can’t help but wonder if the Astros are leaving a few important moves on the table.
Let me know what you think, and until then, GO USA!
The Dallas Mavericks (23-45) are playing their second game in as many nights and their fourth in the last five days on Monday against the Pelicans in New Orleans. It is a tale of two tanks: one with real stakes, and a top-four pick on the line, and one with nothing to play for except the regret of dealing your pick for a lottery player last season. The Mavericks will have their main guys for the most part, and as of the time of writing, the Pelicans should have everyone as well. It won’t be a pretty game, but it should be entertaining. Let’s get into today’s picks to make some money on an ugly March contest.
Tipoff: 7:00p CT at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, LA
How to watch: The game will be televised locally on KFAA Channel 29, or streaming on Mavs TV for anyone in the Mavericks media market. For those outside of the viewing area, NBA League Pass will have you covered.
Cooper Flagg will likely garner all of the Pelicans attention defensively, and Marshall is in a great spot to take advantage of a weak New Orleans paint defense. Murray, as the lead guard, should tear up the Mavericks’ lack of perimeter defense.
Game sides
Mavericks +8.5 (-106)
Under 240.5 points (-112)
This should be a close game. Cooper Flagg is suiting up, which means the Mavericks should not be 8.5 point underdogs to anyone, really. Tired legs will keep scoring down late, as well as the absence of Klay Thompson.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Logan Webb showed once again in this World Baseball Classic that the Giants’ ace is built for the biggest stages. Shame he hasn’t had more of them.
Webb will finish the tournament allowing one run over 8 ⅔ innings after he held Canada in check into the fifth inning Friday night to send Team USA into the WBC semifinals.
He pumped his fist. Slapped his glove. Displayed October emotion in March.
US pitcher Logan Webb reacts after striking out Canada third baseman Abraham Toro. AP
For Giants fans, it was a pretty cool sight to see their guy on the international stage. But the fact that he wore red, white and blue instead of orange and black also served as a stinging reminder that the only organization Webb has known hasn’t granted him many similar chances.
Although his duties are done, Webb opted to remain with Team USA for the remainder of the tournament rather than return to Giants camp. Who can blame him?
The do-or-die stakes, playing for the ultimate prize, in front of an electric atmosphere: It’s something Webb has only experienced twice before in his career.
Back in the Bay Area, a telling debate took place on the Giants’ flagship radio station. Was Webb’s outing against the Canadians the most consequential of his career?
There was arguably more at stake on a Friday night in March than any other time Webb has taken the mound. Since 2021, there’s nothing arguable about it.
Webb has proven to be the ultimate competitor despite not pitching in the postseason since he ascended to ace status. With the Giants mired in mediocrity, Webb has had to go about it through other means: The man has never missed a start.
It’s been awhile since Logan Webb has been on the mound for postseason baseball. Getty Images
“I mean, prior to even having any conversations with Buster (Posey) or anybody else, you’re watching him and you want to be on his team because of the way he competes,” manager Tony Vitello said. “I’ve had a lot of buddies text me and talk about how big of a fan they are of him. It’s like, yeah, I know, I saw that before I even got here.”
Vitello is tasked with leading the Giants to finally holding up their end of the bargain. He became the third manager to name Webb his Opening Day starter the morning after his last WBC start. It will be the Rocklin native’s sixth time starting the season opener — all since his two increasingly lonely playoff starts.
Webb, 29, has accomplished a relatively rare feat as a starting pitcher. He’s the face of the franchise despite only taking the field every fifth day. But the distinction comes with an asterisk: This era of Giants baseball has played just five playoff games in Webb’s seven seasons.
To no fault of his own.
Logan Webb has been showing off his arm on the big stage during the World Baseball classic. Getty Images
Webb, then 24, flashed signs of what was to come in the second half of that 107-win season, a key reason why they became the only team since 2012 to dethrone the Dodgers in the NL West.
He took it to another level the first time the Giants ever faced their archrivals in October. Like one run over 8 ⅔? How about one in 14 ⅔? Webb walked off the mound in Game 5 to roars from 42,275 with the score tied at 1 after seven. They lost, 2-1.
Still, more than 1,600 days later, Webb’s career postseason ERA remains a pristine 0.61.
He’s proven to be arguably more valuable in the regular season: No pitcher in baseball has recorded more outs than Webb since 2021. And isn’t that what it’s all about?
So, no, the WBC quarterfinal wasn’t the biggest start of Webb’s career. Not when he was on a strict limit of 70 pitches and exited before the fifth inning was over.
But it could use some competition for third.
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With the Ottawa Senators down two of their regular defensemen due to injury, Carter Yakemchuk is making a loud statement in the AHL about what he'd like to see happen next.
The American Hockey League announced on Monday that Yakemchuk has been selected as the AHL Player of the Week for the period ending March 15, 2026. In his past three games for Belleville, Yakemchuk has a goal, eight points and a plus-8.
Yakemchuk assisted on six goals in his two games last week, helping the Senators to a sweep of their weekend visit to Hershey.
He becomes only the seventh Belleville Sens player to earn the player of the week honours. The others are Drake Batherson (October 28, 2019), Logan Brown (November 4, 2019), Josh Norris (April 19, 2021), Michael Carcone (December 6, 2021), Egor Sokolov (February 7, 2022), and Angus Crookshank (January 22, 2024).
Yakemchuk, the seventh overall selection in the 2024 NHL Draft, is still waiting to make his NHL debut for Ottawa, even though both Jake Sanderson and Nick Jensen are out with injuries. Their spots on the everyday roster have been taken by Yakemchuk's Belleville teammate, Dennis Gilbert, and Ottawa's seventh defenseman, Nik Matinpalo.
But that still left a need for a seventh defenseman in Ottawa, and the Sens also chose to bypass Yakemchuk for that role, calling up Lassi Thomson.
At the start of the season, if you told a Sens fan that the club would need nine defensemen in Ottawa at some point, they probably would have assumed Yakemchuk would be one of them.
But the fact of the matter is that the Senators want Yakemchuk to keep developing, keep playing big minutes, and come up to the NHL only when the time is right.
So far, so good.
On Saturday, Yakemchuk recorded four assists to help Belleville to a 6-3 victory. Then on Sunday, he added two more helpers in another three-goal Belleville win, this time, 5-2. Yakemchuk was named the First Star in both games.
On the season, Yakemchuk has recorded 35 points in 47 games, good for second among all AHL rookie defensemen.
When the Sens drafted him, he had just come off a 30-goal season with the Calgary Hitmen in 2023-24. But when he returned to the WHL last season to work on skating and his defensive game, his offensive numbers took a hit, but it looks like things are starting to trend back in a positive direction.
He did get a recent NHL taste, which he loved, coming up to practice with Ottawa during the Olympic break last month. Based on his recent performances, the kid looks like he's hungry for a lot more.
Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was originally published at The Hockey News. For more Senators news, analysis, and features, visit the Ottawa Senators site at The Hockey News.
A selfless gesture by Rangers outfielder Michael Helman yielded quite the reward on Sunday.
A few months after Helman agreed to give up his No. 24 to Brandon Nimmo following Texas’ blockbuster trade for the outfielder, Nimmo gifted his new teammate a Rolex that’s worth around $25,000.
The Rangers’ big offseason acquisition, whose in the middle an 8-year, $162 million contract, handed Helman the luxury watch in the middle of the team’s locker room, and Helman couldn’t have been more thrilled to receive it.
“Dude,” he said in a video showing him receiving the green box. “I appreciate you. You didn’t have to do that.”
Nimmo came over from the Mets in a swap for Marcus Semien, and following his arrival, he asked for No. 24 as a way to pay homage to his childhood hero Ken Griffey Jr., as well as his older brother, who also sported the number in high school.
Brandon Nimmo gifted his teammate, Michael Helman, a Rolex as a thank you for giving up his number.
Helman gave it up without any fanfare, leading Nimmo to go on a weeks-long search for the perfect thank you gift.
“Thanks to @larryflowersjewelry for helping me gift this ‘Bruce Wayne’ to @mj_helman01!” Nimmo wrote on Instagram. “Helman graciously gave me his number when I was traded, and I could not be more thankful to him
“As you can see from the video, he is an absolute gem of a human being! Enjoy buddy!”
Nimmo, 32, previously wore No. 9 with the Mets as No. 24 was retired in New York for Willie Mays.
PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 14: Jackson Merrill #3 of the San Diego Padres stands at-bat during a Spring Training game against the Cleveland Guardians at Peoria Stadium on March 14, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images
San Francisco Giants at San Diego Padres, March 16, 2026, 1:10 p.m. PST
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AUSTIN, TX - FEBRUARY 21: Infielder Jayden Duplantier #0 of the Texas Longhorns on the field before the college baseball game between Texas Longhorns and Michigan State Spartans on February 21, 2026, at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
For the second straight year, the ceiling for a Texas Longhorns baseball team off to a hot start is limited by a key injury in the outfield.
Last year, the loss of slugger Max Belyeu and the persistent injuries suffered by Jonah Williams left head coach Jim Schlossnagle’s team thin in the outfield.
This year, the news that Williams is undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery, combined with the shoulder injury of catcher Presley Courville sustained going through outfield drills, has left the Longhorns without ideal depth after the staff’s plans to bolster the outfield through the transfer portal suffered significant blows when commits Jack Moroknek and Kaleb Freeman signed professional contracts after the 2025 MLB Draft.
So where will Schlossnagle turn with Williams out for the season?
The long-term loss of Williams and the shorter-term loss of Courville impact more than just the outfield — those injuries also take away two options at designated hitter, where the Longhorns are in the unusual position of using that player at the bottom of the lineup, a commentary on the team’s depth situation.
In the outfield, the good news for Texas is the incredible start to season from freshman Anthony Pack Jr., who has gained almost 30 pounds of muscle since arriving on the Forty Acres, allowing his natural confidence to match up with his ability to execute in the batter’s box.
Benefiting from a swing refined by assistant coach Troy Tulowitzki, Pack has shown off unexpected power in hitting four home runs in 19 games, including a walk-off grand slam against USC Upstate. He’s also been able to use a mature whole-field approach to handle fastballs and off-speed pitches, ranking second on the team in batting average at .354 and leading the team in on-base percentage at .489.
A left-handed hitter, Pack’s bat-to-ball skills have helped him keep his strikeout rate under 17 percent and his ability to command the strike zone have allowed the California product to produce more walks than strikeouts. And he’s dangerous enough covering the plate that he’s been hit by a team-leading four pitches as opposing hurlers have struggled to find ways to get him out.
Without the remarkable start from the kid called Pack-Man, the Longhorns would be in the much worse position of needing to address two outfield spots in addition to designated hitter. Instead, calling Pack a potential future star at Texas would negate his credible argument that he’s already a star with his current level of play.
Pack switches between left and right field depending on the other outfield spot, which has developed into a platoon between senior Jayden Duplantier, who has the arm and speed to play right field, and junior Ashton Larson, who is limited to left field.
Duplantier is the right-handed batter with historic positional versatility for the Longhorns who was thrust into extended action for the first time last season and struggled, batting .166 in 30 games, including 10 starts. The Houston product did manage to post a .345 on-base percentage by drawing some speeds and impacting defense’s with his speed, but he also had a strikeout rate of almost 35 percent, looking especially overmatched against SEC pitchers in batting .125 in conference play.
This year, however, Duplantier has improved at the plate in 18 games, including four starts, as Schlossnagle and his staff have limited his at bats against right-handed pitchers, helping him hit .333 with a .441 on-base percentage. There still isn’t much power in Duplantier’s bat with only one double among his nine hits, but the start for Duplantier is far from the worst-case scenario established in 2025.
A 6’2, 210-pounder from Overland Park (Kan.) St. Thomas Aquinas, Larson was the No. 78 overall prospect and No. 13 outfielder in the 2023 recruiting class, according to Perfect Game. Selected in the 20th round of that year’s MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins, Larson opted to honor his commitment to the Tigers.
In conference play, Larson was particularly good, batting a team-best .337 (28-for-83) in SEC regular-season games with eight doubles, three home runs, 10 RBI, and 16 runs. But injuries derailed Larson as a sophomore as he battled for playing time in a crowded outfield, receiving only five starts and hitting .256 in 39 at bats with a strikeout rate of 35.9 percent.
The torn quadriceps suffered by Larson has limited his athleticism, and he’s not exactly a slugging corner outfielder, but he is slashing .344/.463/.531 with three doubles and a home run. Like Duplantier, the left-handed hitting Larson benefits from favorable matchups against right-handed pitchers.
When Courville is able to return from his shoulder injury, he’ll factor in at designated hitter and could play in the outfield as well with fellow freshman Maddox Monsour currently serving as the fourth outfielder, typically in pinch-hitting or pinch-running opportunities. In a limited sample size, Monsour has been good at the plate, batting .429 with a triple and four RBI — high-level bat speed and a short swing should help the 5’11, 205-pounder become an effective college hitter over a larger number of at bats, but Monsour is unlikely to receive that many opportunities this year without further injuries.
As Texas tries to navigate the crucible of SEC play, the outfield looms as the team’s biggest potential weakness, one that Schlossnagle and his staff will have to manage for another season in hopes of achieving a higher ceiling and floor with the team’s 2027 outfield.
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Lakers computer picks
Deandre Ayton Over 9.5 points (-105)
Projection: 11.1 points
Deandre Ayton is a feast-or-famine player on offense these days, but he's cleared this number in two of his last three games, narrowly missing last time out with nine points even.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been the second-highest scoring offense in the league over the last 10 games. As long as Ayton gets his minutes, he should comfortably clear 10 points, as the computer has him projected for 11.1.
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LeBron James Over 5.5 rebounds (+120)
Projection: 5.7 rebounds
LeBron James may be a bit long in the tooth, but he still brings down boards at a solid clip, hauling in five-plus rebounds in four straight games.
The Over 5.5 has hit in six of his last 10 games, and he's projected for 5.7, giving us clear value at plus money.
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Rui Hachimura Under 1.5 made threes (-160)
Projection: 1.1 made threes
For the season, Rui Hachimura is hitting 1.8 threes per game on 44% shooting from deep.
The Lakers have played at the fifth-slowest pace in the NBA over the last five games on the road, while the Houston Rockets boast the second-most lethargic pace all season.
Plus, the Lakers have been the worst offensive rebounding offense in the league over the last 25 games. Offensive rebounds maintain possession, and a lack of them can therefore reduce additional opportunities for scoring, which works against Hachimura getting his long-range shot off.
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Rockets computer picks
Kevin Durant Over 26.5 points (-110)
Projection: 26.8 points
Kevin Durant has averaged a flat 26 points during his first season in Houston and has eclipsed that number in two of his last three games.
In contrast to the Lakers, the Rockets grade out best in the NBA with 15.2 offensive rebounds per game this year, which will help KD get those extra points down low.
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Amen Thompson Under 19.5 points (-120)
Projection: 17.7 points
Trends may suggest Amen Thompson is good to clear 20 points, something he's done in four of his last five games, but the computer projects 17.7, which is right around his season-long average.
This has more to do with Houston serving as the second-lowest scoring offense in the NBA over the last 20 games at home. Both teams play at a Bottom-5 tempo, which may limit Thompson's opportunities to thrive, especially if Durant is guiding the ship.
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Jabari Smith Jr. Under 14.5 points (+100)
Projection: 14.4 points
The computer isn't bullish on many Rockets scorers tonight, and that includes Jabari Smith Jr., who is projected to come in just below his scoring prop.
Like with Thompson, Smith is expected to come up short due to the slowed pace, but also because the Lakers haven't been sending power forwards to the line.
Over the last 15 games, the opposing team's starting PFs have attempted 2.2 free throws per game (fewest in the NBA). This could result in a dud from Smith, who has cleared this prop in just five of his last 10 games.
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How to watch Lakers vs Rockets tonight
Location
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Date
Monday, March 16, 2026
Tip-off
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock
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Like the rest of the NBA knows, the perfect solution to snapping a losing streak is playing the Washington Wizards.
The Warriors ended their season-high five-game losing streak by extending the Wizards’ losing streak to 12 straight in a 125-117 win on Monday night at Capital One Arena.
In his fifth game as a Warrior, Kristaps Porziņģis scored 30 points off the bench. He went 8 of 13 from the field and drew seven fouls. The more the Warriors are seeing from Porziņģis, the better he has looked in his second straight game scoring at least 20 points.
Behind Porziņģis was De’Anthony Melton, who scored 27 points in a game where he took two 3-pointers and missed both. Gui Santos efficiently scored 18 points as a game-high plus-20, and Gary Payton II again was a spark off the bench with 15 points, six rebounds and two steals.
Here are three takeaways from a Warriors win that improved their record to 33-35.
Look At KP Go
Staring at a box score is a pointless exercise when evaluating Porziņģis. It’s all about the eye test. How is he moving? What’s his stamina? Does he fit the Warriors?
Those first two questions are even more important than the third. The Warriors always have known Porziņģis’ talent, size and skill set would be great in their system. How he was moving in his fifth game as a Warrior after sitting the previous night was a major positive.
Porziņģis in the first quarter played seven minutes and stuffed the stat sheet while moving with ease. In just seven minutes, he scored eight points and was a plus-10 with two rebounds, two assists, two blocked shots and a steal. By halftime, Porziņģis was the Warriors’ leading scorer with 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting in 13 minutes.
The second half was equally impressive for Porziņģis in the box score, and in the way he was moving. Porziņģis scored 15 of his 30 points in the second half. He played nearly 26 minutes and attempted half of the Warriors’ 28 free throws, going 13 of 14 at the line.
His 26 minutes played were Porziņģis’ most since Nov. 22 when he scored 30 points against the New Orleans Pelicans as a member of the Atlanta Hawks.
Follow Melton, GP2’s Lead
Settling for 3-pointers, even without the game’s greatest shooter, has been a problem for the Warriors. Melton and Payton were the perfect examples of the solution.
“Yeah, they got no rim protectors, so as long as we can keep diving and getting buckets at the rim – if it’s not broke, don’t fix it,” Payton said during his halftime interview.
Each had 13 points in the first half, going a combined 12 of 16 from the field. The Warriors as a team were a lowly 5 of 17 behind the 3-point line (29.4 percent), but not because of Melton and Payton. Melton took one three and missed, and Payton stayed completely away from the 3-point line one night after making three treys.
Look at the shot chart of De'Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II in the first half
Melton: 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting Payton: 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting
That should have been how the Warriors as a team were playing. They outscored the Wizards 36-24 in the paint through the first two quarters. Melton then scored another 10 points in the third quarter as he continued to find his way to the paint, and even threw down a crazy poster dunk.
How Melton and Payton played is what the Warriors did best. They scored a season-high 68 points in the paint on a night where the Warriors went 9 of 32 from deep (28.1 percent). Take note.
Gui Gets It Done Again
During the Warriors’ five-game losing streak, the finger couldn’t be pointed at the best story of the season. Plenty of blame could be had but not at Santos, who averaged 18.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.4 steals per game. That same kind of production followed Santos in getting Golden State back in the win column.
The Wizards cut their deficit to just seven points with nine minutes remaining, so Kerr called Santos’ number, who was a plus-23, to get off the bench and into the game to stop the bleeding.
Santos wound up playing nine minutes and 20 seconds in the fourth quarter, and the Warriors needed him the whole way down the stretch. The losing streak was full of heartbreak. Not this time, though.
Here’s how valuable Santos was: Melton had the second-highest plus/minus on the team at plus-10. Whenever Santos was on the court, the Warriors simply put were a much better team.
Raphielle Johnson
Lakers
Rockets