SARASOTA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 11: Dean Kremer #64 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches live during practice at Ed Smith Stadium on February 11, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Baltimore Orioles/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Two different sets of Orioles will be in action on Thursday down in Florida. They are squeezing in one last split-squad before the Grapefruit League schedule wraps up for them on Saturday.
The 1:05 game is on the road, with no local television or radio broadcast. I had not intended to set up a game thread covering both games since that first one isn’t being covered locally. However, the Orioles have chosen to send the A team on the road to play the Yankees here, which is interesting enough to me to note it.
Take a look at this lineup:
Taylor Ward – LF
Gunnar Henderson – SS
Pete Alonso – 1B
Adley Rutschman – C
Tyler O’Neill – RF
Ryan Mountcastle – DH
Coby Mayo – 3B
Colton Cowser – CF
Blaze Alexander – 2B
This is the first lineup all spring where I’ve looked at it and it 100% looks like it could be an Opening Day lineup. Now, part of this is because, with Henderson having been with Team USA in the WBC, there was no chance of having a full Opening Day lineup around. Another part though is that the Orioles just haven’t deployed all the rest of the expected regulars at once, until now.
If this is the Opening Day lineup, I don’t feel great about Ward, who had a .317 OBP last year, being the guy to lead it off. I don’t feel great about Rutschman as the cleanup hitter. But, as you know if you have been a Camden Chat reader for a long time, I generally never feel great about the Orioles, and it only goes badly when I do.
Dean Kremer is the starting pitcher for this road game. If the Orioles go with a five-man rotation, I wonder where Kremer fits. This is probably not a question that will be answered today, or even influenced by his performance today.
At 6:05, another set of Orioles will be at home in Sarasota against the Pirates. That game will air on MASN, with no radio broadcast. I’ll edit in the lineup for that one once there is one in a few hours.
Editor’s note: Leading up to Opening Day, our staff will share several predictions for the 2026 Red Sox season. In Part 3 of the season preview series,our three-person panel shared its boldest predictions for the upcoming campaign.
It’s officially prediction season with Opening Day just one week away. For the latest installment of our Red Sox season preview series, our staff got bold.
We went 2 for 3 in last year’s bold predictions, correctly predicting Boston to end its playoff drought and for three-plus Red Sox players to make the All-Star squad. This year’s bold predictions have a clear theme: young players blossoming into stars.
Here are our three-person panel’s bold Red Sox predictions for the 2026 season:
Justin Leger: Connelly Early is a Rookie of the Year finalist
Early shined in his first four MLB starts last season, posting a 2.33 ERA with 29 strikeouts and only four walks over 19.1 innings. Even if he isn’t in the starting rotation to begin the season, the prized left-handed prospect will play a key role for Boston in 2026.
Early’s success has continued in spring training, where he has amassed a 2.25 ERA in four games (12 IP). The soon-to-be 24-year-old projects as one of the best rookie pitchers in baseball next season, and he’ll earn national recognition as an American League Rookie of the Year finalist after earning a permanent spot in Boston’s rotation.
Nick Goss: Roman Anthony hits 40 home runs
The last Red Sox player to reach that milestone was J.D. Martinez in 2018. Before that, it was David Ortiz with 54 homers in 2006.
Anthony has the power required to hit 40. The key will be playing enough games to have a chance.
Darren Hartwell: Payton Tolle replaces Aroldis Chapman as the closer
Chapman was the best closer in baseball last season but just turned 38 years old, so we could easily see a regression coming. While Garrett Whitlock is the next-best pitcher in the bullpen, we could see Alex Cora keeping Whitlock in his setup man role and turning to Tolle, the colorful rookie who found success as a reliever last season.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 24: Washington Nationals outfielder Robert Hassell III (57) runs to second base during the game between the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies on August 24th, 2025 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
With Opening Day just a week away, I thought it was time to dive into the schedule, specifically how hard it is to begin the season. The Nats open their season with matchups against the Cubs, Phillies and Dodgers. All three of those teams made the playoffs last year and project to be fearsome foes once again in 2026.
To make matters even worse, the first two series against the Cubs and Phillies are on the road. Both of those series will likely be played in chilly temperatures in front of fired up home crowds. Even if the Dodgers are the defending champions, the idea of going to sunny Los Angeles sounds more fun than a cold afternoon in Wrigley.
This will be a tough first test for new manager Blake Butera. I am intrigued to see how he navigates this, and if the Nats are able to keep their heads above water. In the Davey Martinez years, sluggish starts became the norm, even when the team was loaded with talent. Hopefully this new regime will have the team more locked in from the jump.
They will have to be, or else they could fall behind the 8 ball quickly. Nats fans are already frustrated after all the losing. The last thing you want is for the team to be 1-5 heading into the home opener. Fans just want to see encouraging signs, and holding their own in this stretch would be great.
Honestly, I feel the best about the series against the Dodgers at home of the three. Yes, the Dodgers are the best team in baseball and the back to back champs. However, they already have a couple injuries and can afford a sluggish start because they can turn it on whenever they want. I am not sure the Dodgers will be up for the fight on a 50 degree night at Nats Park the way they are in October.
We have seen this play out over the last couple of years. Last April, the Nats took two out of three against the Dodgers at home. James Wood had a couple really impressive homers and Brad Lord announced himself by getting his first career strikeout against Shohei Ohtani. A repeat of that is certainly not out of the question.
James Wood extends the Nationals lead over the Dodgers! 💥
However, a slow start should not shock anyone. There is so much new in this Nats organization and they are going up against the cream of the crop in the NL. The rest of April is a bit more forgiving, with series against the Cardinals, Pirates and White Sox. However, they still have trips to Milwaukee and New York that will be tough.
It is going to be trial by fire for the new look Nats. Paul Toboni and Blake Butera are not getting an easy touch to start their first seasons in DC. Speaking of Butera, I am interested to see his managerial decisions in regular season games. It is tough to get a feel for what the manager is thinking in Spring Training, so I want to see how he uses his bullpen and sets his lineups.
Seeing three juggernauts to start the season is scary, but it is also an opportunity. It will be a good test to see where the Nats are this season. Will they be a true basement dweller or will they be more scrappy than expected? We will find out before too long.
You’re probably busy with your bracket today, but if you want to build up that bankroll for March Madness betting, I’ve got some slam dunk plays in the NBA player prop market for today.
My best bets include Evan Mobley dominating the paint against the Bulls, and Victor Wembanyama continuing his block party when he faces the Suns.
Those and more NBA picks for Thursday, March 19 below.
The Cleveland Cavaliers need Evan Mobley to play his best basketball if they want to make a deep run in the playoffs. Luckily, he seems to be peaking at the right time.
Mobley is averaging 21 points and 10.2 rebounds over his last nine games and has scored 24 or more in three of his last six. I’m betting he keeps getting buckets tonight against the Chicago Bulls.
The Bulls have turned their attention to next season and are surrendering 120.5 points per game over their last 11 games and now allow the fourth most opponent points in the paint per game.
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, CHSN
Prop #2: Victor Wembanyama Over 3.5 blocks
+115 at bet365
As long as sportsbooks keep giving me plus money for the Over on Victor Wembanyama blocks, I’m going to keep betting it.
The Alien has been out of this world when it comes to protecting the rim in the second half of the season. Wemby is averaging 4.0 blocks over the 14 games since coming out of the All-Star break, which includes rejecting four or more shots 11 times during that stretch.
The block party continues when the San Antonio Spurs face the Phoenix Suns. Wemby has blocked at least four shots in his two previous meetings against the Suns this season.
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: KTVK, FanDuel Sports Network-Southwest
Prop #3: Kyle Filipowski double-double
+235 at bet365
More drama brews with the Milwaukee Bucks as Giannis doesn’t want to sit out the remainder of the season, but he’s at least out tonight against the Utah Jazz.
That means a team that already has the third-worst rebounding rate will be without one of the best rebounders in the NBA.
That has me looking at Jazz big man Kyle Filipowski to have a big night stuffing the stat sheet. Since becoming a regular starter, Filipowski is averaging 14.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.
He’s recorded a double-double in three of his last six games.
Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin, KJZZ
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 16: Jordi Fernandez head coach of the Brooklyn Nets looks during the second quarter of the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Barclays Center on March 16, 2026 in 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 Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA tanking problem is an utter disaster, and the Brooklyn Nets are a symptom of the broken system.
The Nets on Wednesday night lost 121-92 to the Oklahoma City Thunder, by no surprise. That’s not being disrespectful towards the Nets either, it’s just common knowledge that their strategy is completely opposite from OKCs. One is trying to accumulate as many losses as possible, the other is trying to win as much as possible.
Sean Marks, Jordi Fernandez, Joe Tsai and the Nets have caught their fair share of praise and flack. But it’s not just leadership at play.
They’re navigating a system that rewards losing over competing.
They’ve tanked hard enough to be a bottom-3 team, but for some, it still hasn’t been egregious enough because they’re not the absolute worst team in the league.
For the Nets, it’s a conflict of interest and that conflict comes from balancing development and draft strategy with the desire to win. Marks and Fernandez both want to win. They have five rookies they need to develop, while scouting and praying they hit the lotto. Fernandez is in his second season as a coach so he’s naturally hungry to win and continue to improve.
The irony, of course, is that under the current system, math doesn’t even guarantee a miracle. Even if the Nets manage to secure one of the three worst records in the league, they are only rewarded with a 14% chance at the No. 1 pick. The league has created a system where teams are forced to torch their culture and disrespect their fans for a reward that is statistically unlikely to actually happen.
History bears that out: the Pistons had the best record three years running and finished fifth each time. The Mavericks and Hawks vaulted from the play-in to the overall No. 1. Of the top 28 picks in the last seven draft lotteries, since changes were instituted, 11 were won by teams with the seventh worst odds.
We aren’t just watching the Nets get blown out, we’re watching them gamble their dignity on a metaphorical dice toss where the house almost always wins. Take a look at last year.
This creates a bizarre disconnect when you look at the messaging. “He made it very clear ‘I’m going to try and win every game.’ I said great, go for it. The goal isn’t to not compete,” said Marks before the season. “The goal is go out there, develop a culture of competing, playing hard & playing the right way. And that’s what he’s done.”
It was a noble sentiment at the time, but on nights like Wednesday — it feels like a hollow one.
The score was 60-24 at halftime, the fewest points for any team since 2019. At that point they were shooting 1-of-16 from 3 and had three assists to 15 turnovers. Low effort isn’t a habit this team can afford to pick up — it only makes development that much harder. That’s where the frustration comes in.
“I think our readiness to play the game was not there,” Fernandez said after the game.
It’s only one game, but that isn’t exactly reassuring. These are young players who should be hungry every night, regardless of the opponent. Effort shouldn’t be the variable. That’s how bad habits start to form.
Still, there’s only so much blame they deserve. It was pitiful, even shameful – and almost as disrespectful as the game of basketball has been to its fans.
Adam Silver has been open about expansion, which could happen as soon as 2028-29. But while more teams enter the league, more teams are also tanking than ever. As the 2024-25 season wrapped up, five teams lost by 30+ points in one day. The total number of games decided by 30+ points hit 79 at that point, tying the league mark for such games set in 2021-22.
No matter how angry fans want to get at the Nets for tanking — or not tanking — this whole shtick is a necessary evil that’s just flat out wrong. It’s hardly a sport if you reward losing, yet it’s the only way the Nets can navigate this flawed system.
Marks inherited an awful product and we’ll be clear about that. Over the past 10 years, the Nets have lost 50+ games six times, including this season. They’re pushing their third potential 60-loss season during that span with a single playoff series victory to show for it.
This season, it’s impossible to dispute their tanking efforts. They’ve lost by 50+ points two times. It’s happened twice in franchise history before this season — once last year and the other in 1978. They’ve lost by 30+ points six times with 12 games remaining; 20+ points on 19 occasions. have had 12 games this season where they’ve been down 30 or more points at one point or another. Including two straight. It’s a franchise record.
So, for every 10 games that fans watch, roughly three out of 10 are lost by 20+ points. Here’s a look at the 20+ losses from Brooklyn’s season thus far:
Margin
Date
Opponent
-54
Jan 21, 2026
@ New York Knicks
-53
Feb 1, 2026
@ Detroit Pistons
-38
Mar 10, 2026
vs. Detroit Pistons
-37
Jan 25, 2026
@ LA Clippers
-37
Feb 27, 2026
@ Boston Celtics
-36
Nov 9, 2025
@ New York Knicks
-29
Mar 18, 2026
vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
-29
Dec 16, 2025
vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
-28
Oct 27, 2025
@ Houston Rockets
-28
Feb 19, 2026
@ Cleveland Cavaliers
-26
Dec 1, 2025
@ Chicago Bulls
-26
Mar 3, 2026
@ Miami Heat
-24
Nov 2, 2025
vs. Philadelphia 76ers
-24
Jan 1, 2026
vs. Houston Rockets
-23
Dec 23, 2025
@ New York Knicks
-22
Jan 18, 2026
@ Chicago Bulls
-20
Mar 16, 2026
vs. Portland Trail Blazers
-20
Feb 5, 2026
@ Orlando Magic
-20
Jan 2, 2026
@ Washington Wizards
Now, compare this to 20 years ago in 2005-06: the worst team in the league (the Blazers) still won 21 games. While they had their share of blowout losses, they never experienced the absolute disaster we see today. That team didn’t lose a single game by 50 points, a feat the Nets have already accomplished twice this season. They also only lost by 20+ points 12 times compared to Brooklyn’s 19. And that’s when bad teams had better odds to get the first overall pick!
It’s heartbreaking as a basketball fan because it’s deliberate, yet if they finish with a top-3 pick in the 2026 Draft, these games will become friendly reminders when Cam Boozer or AJ Dybantsa slams one home as Barclays Center goes berserk.
But until then, it’s all a dream.
The fact of the matter is that fans pay A LOT of money to watch NBA basketball. Nets basketball to be more specific. Entry-level season tickets are around $2,500 entering 2026-27 (for one of the worst teams in the league). On streaming (if it works), fans pay $299/year to watch Gotham Sports, $29.99/month for ESPN, $11.00/month for Prime Video, and $15.00/month for Peacock. Not to mention subscriptions to read around paywalls for so many sites. Fandom ain’t cheap.
The Nets didn’t create this system, but they’re operating within it and benefiting from it. That makes them part of the problem, too.
The real question is whether the NBA cares enough to fix a system that forces every team to compete. The league seems to have forgotten that the fan is its customer. Until then, every fan, every team, and every game is paying the price.
DUNEDIN, FLORIDA - MARCH 14, 2026: A view of an official Rawlings Major League Baseball base prior to a spring training game between the Detroit Tigers and the Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark on March 14, 2026 in Dunedin, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
That headline is a lie, it isn’t the Yankees, it is wannabe Yankees. They have a split squad day and all the ‘real’ Yankees are staying in Tampa.
I can’t really complain, the Jays do the same. There used to be, maybe still is, a rule that a certain number of ‘regulars’ have to be in every spring game, but team ignore it. It is still there:
Major League Baseball’s spring training road trip rules require that, for road games, clubs play “a minimum of four players who were regulars on the previous year’s Major League team or who were platooned on the previous year’s Major League team on a regular basis, or who have a reasonable chance to be regulars on the Major League Club’s squad during the upcoming season.” The regulars are supposed to play “a minimum of three complete innings.”
Team have, in the past, been fined for this. But then MLB team pretty much print their own money. Well, they would, but we give all of ours to them.
Today’s Lineups
YANKEES
BLUE JAYS
Amed Rosario – 3B
George Springer – DH
J.C. Escarra – C
Daulton Varsho – CF
Randal Grichuk – LF
Vladimir Guerrero – 1B
Seth Brown – 1B
Addison Barger – RF
Paul DeJong – SS
Alejandro Kirk – C
Yanquiel Fernandez – RF
Jesus Sanchez – LF
Max Schuemann – 2B
Kazuma Okamoto – 3B
Kenedy Corona – CF
Ernie Clement – 2B
Enmanuel Tejeda – DH
Andres Gimenez – SS
Ryan Weathers – LHP
Cody Ponce – RHP
Go Jays Go.
There is a Dunedin New Zealand. I’ve been there, it has the oldest Brewery in New Zealand, which was very cool. They had a funny story: The brewery uses water from a spring and they were given use of this water, with the condition that they have a tap for people of the town so they can use the watch too. One year a radio station, on April Fools day, said that, for that day, the tap would have beer running through it.
People lined up for blocks.
I mentioned this because, when looking for a picture of Dunedin, I got pictures of the other Dunedin. It is a beautiful place.
The Winnipeg Jets have to string together wins to make a playoff push, and they’ll look to do just that against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Thursday, March 19.
My top Jets vs. Bruins predictions and NHL picks call for a low-scoring game, with Winnipeg starter Connor Hellebuyck standing tall tonight.
Jets vs Bruins prediction
Jets vs Bruins best bet: Connor Hellebuyck Over 24.5 saves (-115)
Winnipeg Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck has built off the Olympics with a respectable .902 save percentage and 5.43 goals saved above average across nine games, and he should see enough volume to clear his saves total tonight.
The Boston Bruins have averaged 27.9 shots per game out of the break, with the Jets allowing 27.3 while treading water at five-on-five with a 49.5 Corsi For percentage.
Winnipeg is also without multiple veterans and dealt multiple blueliners at the trade deadline, while Boston has a healthy lineup pushing for a postseason berth.
Jets vs Bruins same-game parlay
Winnipeg continues to mount its own playoff push, sporting an active 5-2-1 run while allowing just 2.63 goals per game. With Boston scoring just 2.56 per during the same stretch, I like the Under to cash.
The final leg of this SGP turns to Winnipeg winger Gabriel Vilardi, and he’s recorded two or more shots in eight of his past 14 games, including piling up six last time out. Vilardi's also receiving consistent top-six minutes and jumps the boards with the No. 1 power-play unit.
Jets vs Bruins SGP
Under 5.5
Connor Hellebuyck Over 24.5 saves
Gabriel Vilardi Over 1.5 shots
Jets vs Bruins odds
Moneyline: Jets +115 | Bruins -135
Puck Line: Jets +1.5 (-215) | Bruins -1.5 (+175)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-130) | Under 5.5 (+110)
Jets vs Bruins trend
Winnipeg has hit the Under in 14 of its last 20 contests (+8.55 Units / 38% ROI), while Boston has played to the Under in each of its past five home games (+5.00 Units / 90% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Jets vs. Bruins.
How to watch Jets vs Bruins
Location
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Date
Thursday, March 19, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN3
Jets vs Bruins latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
TAMPA, FL - MARCH 14: Max Fried #54 of the New York Yankees high fives teammates in the dugout during the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 14, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The World Baseball Classic is over, and the players who participated are making their way back to their respective MLB teams. That’s because we’re still inching our way towards the regular season, which is now quite close.
However, we still have some spring training left, and for the Yankees, that includes today’s split-squad action against birds of a different feather. One half of the team will be in Tampa hosting the Orioles, while the rest will hit the road to take on the Blue Jays down in Dunedin. With both games happening somewhat simultaneously, we’ll be keeping an eye on all of the action today.
As you might expect, the roster for the home game features a few more expected MLB names (though no Aaron Judge back in the lineup just yet), including Max Fried taking the mound. There are still a couple heading to Dunedin—Amed Rosario, J.C. Escarra, and Randal Grichuk—as Ryan Weathers will toes the rubber in that one.
Here’s all the information for how to catch the action in either of today’s games.
Yankees vs. Orioles
How to watch
Location: George M. Steinbrenner Field — Tampa, FL
The first-year South Florida basketball coach has led the Bulls to an NCAA Tournament appearance following a 25-8 record, which included winning the American Conference tournament.
The 11-seeded Bulls are scheduled to take on No. 6 Louisville at 1:30 p.m. ET from KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.
For Hodgson, the game will have extra meaning. It serves as a homecoming for the Western New York native in a game that will serve as his debut in the NCAA Tournament as a head coach.
He will also have the opportunity to have his father, Larry, in the crowd to watch him coach for the first time. With the Bulls a popular pick to upset the Cardinals in the first round, here's what you need to know about Hodgson:
Who is Bryan Hodgson?
The current USF men's basketball coach played collegiate basketball at Jamestown Community College in Jamestown, New York. Following his playing career, he was hired as an assistant at Fredonia State in 2007 in Fredonia, New York. He returned to the Jayhawks in 2010 as an assistant before assisting at Midland Junior College (Texas).
Hodgson was hired by current Alabama coach Nate Oats as an assistant at Buffalo in 2015, his first opportunity as a Division I coach. He followed Oats to the Crimson Tide in 2019, when he became the lead recruiter.
He helped recruit Brandon Miller as part of the 2022 Alabama recruiting class, which was ranked third in the nation by 247Sports.
On March 22, 2023, Hodgson was named the head coach of Arkansas State. He went 45-28 in two years with the Red Wolves, leading them to the CBI semifinals in 2024 and the NIT second round in 2025.
South Florida named Hodgson its next head coach on March 24, 2025, replacing Amir Abdur-Rahim, who died on Oct. 24, 2024. He led the Bulls to their second American title in three years in 2026, reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time as a head coach.
Hodgson was born on April 11, 1987. That makes him 38 years old during the 2025-26 college basketball season.
Bryan Hodgson's coaching career
Here's a look at Hodgson's coaching career:
Head coach unless otherwise specified. Assistant role listed in parentheses
2007-10: Fredonia State (assistant)
2010-13: Jamestown Community College (assistant)
2013-15: Midland (assistant)
2015-19: Buffalo (assistant)
2019-23: Alabama (assistant)
2023-25: Arkansas State
2025-present: South Florida
Bryan Hodgson's coaching record
Here's a look at Hodgson's record as a head coach:
2023-24 (Arkansas State): 20-17, 11-7 Sun Belt
2024-25 (Arkansas State): 25-11, 13-5 Sun Belt
2025-26 (South Florida): 25-8, 15-3 American
Career: 70-36
Bryan Hodgson dad
For the first time in his coaching career, Hodgson will have his father, Larry, in attendance for a game he is coaching. Larry suffers from dementia. The first-round matchup against Louisville is being played at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.
During the 2024 NHL off-season, the Chicago Blackhawks signed forward Tyler Bertuzzi to a four-year, $22 million contract in free agency. In 82 games with the Blackhawks during the 2024-25 season, he had 23 goals, 23 assists, and 46 points. Overall, the 2013 second-round pick had a decent first season with the Blackhawks.
However, Bertuzzi has undoubtedly made a more significant impact during his second season with the Blackhawks. In fact, the 31-year-old winger is having one of the best seasons of his career and is inches away from hitting an impressive single-season milestone because of it.
In 64 games this season with the Blackhawks, Bertuzzi has 28 goals, 21 assists, and 49 points. With this, he needs only two more goals to hit the 30-goal mark for the second time in his career. He also needs only three more goals this season to set a new career high with 31.
With numbers like these, there is no question that Bertuzzi has been impressing with the Blackhawks this season. He has a decent amount of time to score his 30th goal of the season, too, as the Blackhawks have 15 games remaining. It will be interesting to see how many goals Bertuzzi has once the season is over from here.
Feb 24, 2026; Jupiter, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Aroon Escobar (86) fields a ground ball hit by Miami Marlins first baseman Dylan Jasso in the fifth inning at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images | Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
There is a lot happening today for the Phillies. They have a regular game and a Breakout Game game(?).
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 4: Elijah Hainline #08 of the Los Angeles Dodgers tosses the ball during a World Baseball Classic exhibition game against Team Mexico at Camelback Ranch on March 4, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers’ time in Arizona this spring training is almost done, with only two more days of games before heading back to Southern California. The opening day roster is close to finalized, with only a few more moves left to make.
Counting the 40-man roster and non-roster invitees, the Dodgers technically had 77 players in big league camp, which makes for a crowded clubhouse. But the player pool used to play in Cactus League games was much larger, with a few handfuls of players up for the minor league side of camp every single day.
Thus far in camp, 23 position players and 21 pitchers from the minor league side have appeared for the Dodgers in spring training games.
Every single Dodgers prospect to appear on a top-100 list has played for the Dodgers this spring, the bulk of them non-roster invitees. From the minor league side, outfielder Eduardo Quintero appeared in six games so far, and shortstop Emil Morales played twice. Outfielder Mike Sirota got into four games, including a start at designated hitter on Tuesday, and homered earlier this spring.
Pitchers from the minors to appear the most this spring are Antonio Knowles at six games, Cam Day in five games, and Cody Morse at four games.
Knowles struck out seven and walked three in his 4 2/3 innings, with one run allowed. Morse, drafted by the Dodgers in the 12th round in 2024, struck out seven of the 16 batters he’s faced in Cactus League play this spring. Knowles leads the Dodgers with two saves this spring, and Morse is one of seven pitchers with one save.
The most frequent position players from minor league camp this spring are Kyle Nevin with 11 games and Elijah Hainline at eight games. Logan Wagner and Austin Gauthier have gotten into seven games each.
Another quirk of such a full camp this spring is the Dodgers using the leading zero for many of the uniform numbers for the minor leaguers to wear when they temporarily join the big league spring team.
Players on the 40-man roster and the non-roster invitees all get jerseys with their names on the back for spring training. Players from the minor league side get generic uniforms with no name, and sometimes wear different numbers, most of them in the 80s and 90s. But with so many numbers already in use, rather than doubling up (the Royals used two players wearing 77 on Tuesday against the Dodgers, for instance, which wouldn’t fly in the regular season) the Dodgers have liberally used every number from 01 to 09 throughout this spring.
Gauthier this spring has worn 89 multiple times but has also suited up wearing 88 and 01. Kyle Nevin has worn at least 91, 93, 03, and 09.
Hainline, a seventh-round pick from Oregon State in 2024, has worn o5, o6, and 08, to name a few. Hainline impressed on defense in the middle infield this spring, and also hit a home run on March 2.
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Orel Hershiser pose for a photo after the ceremonial first pitch prior to Game Four of the 2025 World Series presented by Capital One between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, October 28, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
NBC on Thursday unveiled its announcer assignments for opening day, including a pair of Dodgers Cy Young Award winners on the broadcast for Dodgers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday, March 26 at Dodger Stadium.
Jason Benetti is the lead play-by-play baseball announcer for NBC Sports this season, and he’ll be on the call for Dodgers-Diamondbacks, with Orel Hershiser and Luis Gonzalez will join Benetti in the booth. For its ‘Sunday Night Baseball’ telecasts NBC plans to use analysts related to each team, similar to YouTube, Roku, and Peacock telecasts in recent years.
NBC will televise two games on opening day. The first is Pittsburgh Pirates at New York Mets, a 10:30 a.m. PT game called by Matt Vasgersian with analysts Neil Walker and Al Leiter.
TAMPA, FL - MARCH 1: Bobby Abreu of the Philadelphia Phillies stretches before a spring training game against the New York Yankees on March 1, 1998 at the Legends Field in Tampa, Florida. The Yankees won the game, 6-3. (Photo by Jonathan Kirn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There are couple of really bad trades in Rays franchise history and the Philadelphia Phillies are responsible for at least two of the them.
During the expansion draft, the Devil Rays sent Bobby Abreu to Philadelphia for Kevin Stocker. That move turned out badly, but at least Stocker was a competent shortstop for a bit and even led the league in batting average for a time in 1999. Then you have some other duds like sending Jose Alvarado and Wilson Ramos to the Phillies in seperate deals that didn’t give the Rays much of a return.
Lastly, there’s the Christopher Sanchez for Curtis Mead deal which may just turn out to be worse than the aforementioned Abreu trade.
Anyways…
First pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies is at 1:05 at BayCare Ballpark and the Phillies will be providing tv coverage.
Evan Mobley
Victor Wembanyama
Kyle Filipowski
