One of the rituals for Major League Baseball’s players every spring is to pose for team and media photographers. These shots get used in a variety of ways; you’re probably most used to seeing them on player pages on various websites, or in the pitcher previews I do here at BCB.
If you think this kind of work is easy, think again. The players had to report to Sloan Park before dawn Monday to begin the shoot at 7 a.m. As a result, some of the poses turn out to be quirky, fun or otherwise notable and those are the photos I’ve chosen to share with you above. If a player doesn’t appear here, it means his poses were… pretty ordinary.
Enjoy the selection below of a couple dozen photos from Monday’s shoot, taken by Chris Coduto of Getty Images and Rick Scuteri of Imagn Images. You’ll see a good cross-section of the spring roster here, including some guys you know well and others… you might not.
I’m pretty sure Alex Bregman is recognizable without the note.
A pensive Dansby Swanson.
Phil Maton shows off his grip.
Jameson Taillon concentrates on that baseball.
Now this guy, you’d probably need the ID for.
Carson Kelly is ready to throw a runner out.
Can you guess the name of this Cub with a big bat? It’s Justin Dean.
Do you recognize Daniel Palencia from his eyes only?
A tip o’ the cap from Caleb Thielbar.
Another cap tip from Seiya Suzuki.
Ian Happ says, “Write your own caption.”
You can see the Jaguar design on Kevin Alcántara’s bat.
“I’ll be back soon,” says Justin Steele.
Another pitcher grip view, from Shōta Imanaga.
Jordan Wicks flips a baseball.
Nico Hoerner shows off his bat.
Just what is PCA thinking right here?
A big grin from Michael Busch.
Matthew Boyd, as if he’s staring down a hitter. Also, in this photo you can see the jersey “vent” that’s been restored for 2026, as MLB goes back to the pre-2024 jersey style.
Cade Horton and his tattooed arm are ready for the season.
The Cubs’ newest starting pitcher, Edward Cabrera, and his glove honoring his Dominican Republic home.
A new addition who might be in the Cubs outfield this year: Dylan Carlson
New Cubs left-hander Hoby Milner smiles for the camera.
Miguel Amaya, ready to hit.
The skipper, looking a lot younger than his age (55).
Athletics Spring Training facility at HoHhokum stadium. | Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images
As Spring Training kicks into second gear, we have our first game of the season to look forward to on Saturday. It will be our first glimpse of the arms, the bats, and the gloves that our hopes and dreams this season will rest upon…but no pressure guys. There has been a flurry of ‘minor signings” that may add some competition that we didn’t see coming, but I think we’ll largely see what we expected come opening day with a few interesting twists. Of course, the qualifier that always comes into play is real, and that is “barring injury.”
An early projection for A’s Opening Day roster
Last week, A’s Beat Writer Martín Gallegosgave his thoughts on the opening day lineup. With all due respect for a guy who knows this team better than anyone, there are no bold or wild predictions, just solid insights into the roster skipper Mark Kotsay will likely use to start the season.
No surprises at catcher, we can expect Shea Langeliers to be the starter with veteran Austin Wynns serving as primary backup.
First base belongs to Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz. If heathy, I expect a monster year with no sophomore slump in sight.
Second base will surely go to one of this off-season’s trade acquisitions Jeff McNeil. Coming over from the Mets, he brings a multi-positional resume but will be a real upgrade offensively and defensively over Zack Gelof so until something drastically changes the job at second is his.
The biggest battle this spring will be for third base. We can expect a true competition between Max Muncy, Darell Hernaiz, and Brett Harris. My gut tells me that before his sweet contract extension expires that we might see Jacob Wilson over at third, but I seriously doubt that it will be this season.
Jacob Wilson is pretty much a lock for starting the season at shortstop. The ROY runner-up put together a solid season at the plate and should build on that for 2026. His range is somewhat limited so he may not be there forever but expect him to play a solid short and contribute nicely to the ever-improving offense.
I think we can safely expect Tyler Soderstrom, Denzel Clarke, and Lawrence Butler to roam the outfield on opening day. Soderstrom’s defense was one of the biggest surprises of 2025 having just moved from first base and yet being a finalist for a Gold Glove award. Clarke is a walking highlight reel in centerfield and if he stays healthy will be web gem superstar. Butler is evolving into a team leader and with more plate discipline will continue to grow as an offensive asset to this team. Expect three additional names to battle for the backup outfield roles: Carlos Cortes, Colby Thomas, and Junior Perez.
Veteran Brent Rooker will likely have a lock on the Designated Hitter role, his job for all but twenty-seven games in 2025. With McNeil likely leading off and setting the table for him, I expect Rook and Kurtz to drive in more runs this year than last.
With Andy Ibáñez picked up off waivers from the Dodgers, Max Schuemann was traded to the Yankees. That likely means that Ibáñez will take over the role of super-utility guy for Kotsay.
The starting rotation is far from settled, but all indications are that Luis Severino, Jeffrey Springs, Luis Morales, Jacob Lopez, and recent acquisition Aaron Civale will be the starting five. Civale effectively bumped J.T. Ginn to the bullpen, but it’s a long season so he may still get his shot.
The bullpen will have two fresh faces to start the season. We’ll see Mark Leiter Jr. and Scott Barlow join with Hogan Harris, Justin Sterner, Michael Kelly, Tyler Ferguson, Elvis Alvarado, and Jack Perkins. No closer has been officially named so we can expect a closer-by-committee at least as the season opens.
Only time will tell if this is truly how the A’s start the season, but the great news is, the first pitch is just three days away!
KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 27: Kansas City Royals pitcher Cole Ragans (55) throws a pitch in the fifth inning of an Opening Day MLB game between the Cleveland Guardians and Kansas City Royals on March 27, 2025 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
At the end of January, I wrote an article about the Kansas City Royals potentially moving a starting pitcher for prospects. The Royals have enviable depth, and I think there are six guys – Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Kris Bubic, Noah Cameron, and Ryan Bergert – who really should be in an MLB starting rotation on Opening Day. Stephen Kolek, the Royals’ presumptive #7 going into next season, would be a great back-end of the rotation guy for other teams as well.
My thought when writing the article was that no major league help was coming in a trade for a starting pitcher, and that the Royals would not consider using a six-man rotation during the year. Royals manager Matt Quatraro, however, revealed to Jack Johnson that the team has at least held discussions about using a six starters during the upcoming year:
Asked Q about a potential 6-man rotation:
“Yeah, it’s certainly something we talked about this offseason. It’s tough to manage when you don’t have a ton of relievers to option. But it is something we’ve talked about, especially in longer stretches of games.” #Royals
Quatraro’s answer on this is interesting for multiple reasons. Regardless of whether the Royals decide to try out a six-man rotation this year, it’s great that the team is having the conversation about it and is willing to be transparent with the public that they are thinking through these things. As someone who thinks about the Royals probably more than I should, I’m comforted by the fact that the people running the team are thinking about them even more.
So what would be the potential upside of a six-man rotation? In theory, the starters would be more effective when they pitched and able to go deeper into games. Mike Petriello pointed out at the beginning of 2025 that more pitchers are pitching on five days rest than four days rest anyway, even if a few teams are actively employing a six-man rotation. The Los Angeles Dodgers are planning on using a six-man rotation this year, as that helps Shohei Ohtani manage his two-way load while also being more familiar with World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Houston Astros are also considering using a six-man rotation throughout the season, particularly in their jam-packed beginning of the year. The Astros will be incorporating Tatsuya Imai from the NPB to their team, and pitchers in NPB pitch once a week, so a six-man rotation should make his adjustment to MLB smoother.
The 2024 Royals showed how valuable having starters able to be effective and go deep into games was, as that proved to be a key ingredient to the team’s success. The 2025 rotation battled more injuries, particularly at the top of the rotation, and was saved by Cameron’s remarkable rookie season. Can Ragans and Lugo be more effective than they were in 2025 and remain able to pitch all year if they get an extra day of rest between starts? If you are just trying to get your best 26 players on the team, can you really leave out a healthy Bergert?
The potential downside of a six-man rotation is that your best pitchers get fewer starts and have less ability to positively impact your season. Ragans is likely to get five fewer starts in a six-man rotation, assuming that every guy goes on five days’ rest in order. Cameron and Bergert are both great options for the back end of a rotation, but a healthy Ragans is still bette,r and your team is likely to win more games with Ragans starting. In a winnable AL Central, every game matters, which might make the Royals loath to have their best guys pitch less frequently.
Quatraro also mentioned that it is difficult to manage the bullpen if you have six starters and not a lot of relief pitchers with minor league options. Right now, Roster Resource projects the Royals to have eight relievers and five starters; teams are only allowed to carry thirteen pitchers on their roster. Of the eight relievers that Roster Resource projects to make the Opening Day roster, only three have options remaining: Lucas Erceg, Daniel Lynch, and Alex Lange. Something will have gone terribly wrong if the Royals are sending Erceg to Omaha. So if you have seven relievers instead of eight, presumably one of Lange or Lynch will be in Omaha to start the year, and the other one is the only guy who could safely go down if you need more bullpen help.
Roster Resource does project Bailey Falter to make the team, and he is out options, so if the Royals really wanted a six-man rotation, they might have to try and sneak Falter through waivers or be willing to let another team claim him for their staff. An extra pitcher in your starting rotation should make the long reliever more of a luxury than a necessity. The Royals, however, were very willing to shuffle out the back end of the bullpen in 2025 and clearly would like to be able to do so again in 2026.
I did think it was interesting that Quatraro mentioned that the Royals might use a six-man rotation during longer stretches of games. Bergert, Cameron, and Kolek (along with newly acquired Mason Black) all have options remaining and could stay stretched out in Omaha when the Royals have more off days. The Royals have an early stretch, from April 5th to April 27th, where they play 21 games in 22 days. It’s early in the season, so rainouts are certainly possible, but that’s a long stretch right out of the gate. More pitcher injuries happen before the season and early in the season rather than later in the year, so keeping your starters from overtaxing themselves and getting hurt right out of the chute could be a prudent choice. The team also plays 29 games in 31 days from the end of May to end of June, which seems like another stretch where the team could consider going to a six-man rotation.
It’s certainly possible that injuries will render this entire conversation moot. It’s also possible one of the starters will struggle and no longer be deserving of a rotation slot. Still, I’m glad that the team is talking about a potential six-man rotation, and I will be very curious to track if we see one during the busiest stretches of the season.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 16, 2025: Robert Calaz #76 of the Colorado Rockies bats during the ninth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch on March 16, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
At the end of 2024, Calaz seemed to be on a rocket ship toward the big leagues after a season in which he was named the MVP of the Arizona Complex League and tore up the Low-A California league in a small sample. Instead, the 2025 season saw the 6’2” toolsy right-handed 20-year-old Dominican outfielder repeat in the California League and perform at an above-average (but not elite) level as one of the youngest players in the league. Calaz, who was 24th on MLB.com’s international amateur free agent prospect rankings for 2023, received Colorado’s top international signing bonus in the 2023 January period at $1.7 million, which is similar to what fellow PuRP Sean Sullivan received as a second-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft.
Mid-season 2025 Rank: 3
High Ballot: 3
Mode Ballot: 4, 6
Future Value: 45, second division regular corner outfielder
Contract Status: 2023 International Free Agent, Dominican Republic, Rule 5 Eligible After 2027, three options remaining
MLB ETA: 2028
Calaz began his professional career with a bang in the Dominican Summer League, producing a 149 wRC+ and playing center field with a bit of right field mixed in. In 2024, Calaz came stateside to play with the Arizona Complex League and flat-out murdered the ball. In 210 PA with the ACL team, Calaz hit ten homers among his 27 extra-base hits with 12 steals in 13 attempts en route to a monster .349/.462/.651 line, good for a 172 wRC+. He led the ACL in several major offensive categories (AVG/OBP/SLG/OPS/HR/RBI/TB) en route to a well-deserved league MVP award. The Rockies promoted Calaz to Low-A Fresno after the ACL season in early August, where he was 3.1 years younger than league average. That didn’t stop Calaz — he hit .327/.386/.571 with two homers, two triples, two doubles, and three steals in 57 plate appearances (147 wRC+).
In 2025, the Rockies chose to send Calaz back to Fresno for a longer run, where he was still 2.2 years younger than league average. The season started inauspiciously, as Calaz suffered an injury in the first game of the season that knocked him out for three weeks. In 424 plate appearances, Calaz hit .259/.338/.399 with ten homers among his 29 extra-base hits. Calaz performed above average offensively (105 wRC+), but not nearly as high as Rockies fans were expecting considering his performance in 2024 at the same level.
Additionally, Calaz struck out in 26% of plate appearances (9% walks), which is pretty high for low minors pitching (though he improved his contact % from 66% to 70% year over year). It is of course important to remember that Calaz only faced a younger pitcher than him in 6% of plate appearances in 2025, but at some point Calaz will need to figure out how to beat upper minors pitching that can execute a scouting report. In the field, Calaz split time between right field (71 games, five assists, nine errors) and center (25 games, two errors).
Here is a look at Calaz from 2025 in Fresno, including some slow-mo looks at his swing:
Keith Law of the Athletic ranked Calaz 11th in the system earlier this month:
Calaz got a lot of attention after he hit .349/.462/.651 in the Arizona Complex League in 2024, but he did so mostly on physical ability rather than a feel for the game, and that deficiency caught up to him in Low A last year. Still just 19, he hit .259/.338/.399 in Fresno with a 26 percent strikeout rate driven by high whiff and chase rates, including a 34 percent swing-and-miss rate just on fastballs. He wasn’t ready for the level and probably needed short-season ball — he would have put up stupid numbers in Grand Junction — so take some of that with a grain of salt, but his baseball instincts just aren’t that advanced yet. He’s going to be big and strong with 30-homer upside in an outfield corner, with a lot of work to do on approach to get there.
Calaz stands 6-foot-2 with room to add more strength to an already-mature frame. He brings explosive raw power to the plate, though his game remains a bit unrefined. Swing-and-miss concerns have followed him since signing—a common caveat with young, power-first hitters—but they’ve become more pronounced. Calaz’s swing starts with an extremely high hand-set, and he sometimes rests the bat on his shoulder before using a waggle to start his trigger.
Calaz seemed a pretty easy scout last year, but nevertheless we underranked him. He hit the ball incredibly hard for a 17-year-old, but his contact rate in the DSL suggested better pitching would really undo his swing. Well, he came stateside and hit the ball incredibly hard for an 18-year-old, but made more contact than we expected in the process, making it all the way to full-season ball by the end of the 2024 season. It’s a pretty simple setup with a high back elbow creating a steep swing path that can really do damage in the air when he barrels one in the zone, but while Calaz’s ‘A’ swing is impressive, there’s really no ‘B’ swing a lot of the time, which can lead to in-zone whiff if the pitch isn’t where he expects, or topped/mishit contact even when he tracks it all right.
The thing is, even Calaz’s mishits sound loud, and there just aren’t a lot of teenaged prospects with this combination of damage potential and minor league production, even if it’s come only in the complex and Cal League. I think there is more in the tank here, too. Calaz has already reshaped his body some from last season—not really a surprise for a 17-year-old getting his first couple seasons of professional S+C work—and I’m more confident he will add even more strength and stick on the grass than I was at this time last year. It’s far more likely to be right field than center—he split time at both in 2024—but that’s better than first base or DH, and while the contact rate is still concerning, if he can maintain even this for another year at a higher level, Calaz will be one of the premier outfield prospects in baseball.
Calaz continues to show impressive power for his age, now we just need to see if he can hit upper-minors pitching in a year or two. That’s not that hard, tell ‘em Wash.
[Calaz] managed to win the ACL Triple Crown without really having an idea of what he’s doing at the plate yet. Already strong and physical, Calaz hits the ball about as hard as anyone in the system, posting elite-level exit velocities, with tremendous raw power he’s still learning to tap into. He draws walks but still needs to tone down his swing tendencies as he is susceptible to breaking stuff away and out of the zone in particular.
The Rockies feel like Calaz is starting to show the makings of being a five-tool player and he’ll continue to get reps in center field. Most feel that his 6-foot-2 frame will continue to fill out and he’ll slow down more, necessitating a full-time move to right field, where his power production should profile perfectly.
Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs ranked Calaz as a 40+ FV player (eighth in the system) last January, highlighted by a plus-plus future grade on his raw power, a plus arm, and even a plus future fielding grade:
The power aspect of Calaz’s profile is for real. Perhaps what is most absurd is how much thump he can generate without a leg kick — he starts with a very wide stance and uses just a little toe tap to get going. A very loose athlete, Calaz rotates with verve and ferocity, but in order to do so, his hips often clear very early, leaving him vulnerable to sliders away from him. This is a pretty serious issue already. Calaz ran a paltry 66% contact rate in 2024, worse than all but one qualified big leaguer (Zack Gelof). There are a handful of very toolsy whiff-prone power hitters in that contact rate area, including Christopher Morel and Logan O’Hoppe, both of whom are sound build/frame comps for Calaz. And Calaz projects to have raw power similar to other players in that group, like Brent Rooker and Adolis García. There’s 35-homer ceiling here, but there’s also a lot of bust risk because of how many rookie-level strikeouts we’re talking about.
Calaz is settling more into a right-field role than center and has some big contact rate questions. Still though, plus right-handed power is tough to come by, and the big signing bonus Calaz got is proof positive of its market value. Calaz is clearly a high-ceiling player who at least a couple years away (my bet is a late 2028 debut at age 22) and we’ll see how his plate approach develops as the opposition improves. The recently designated for assignment Yanquiel Fernández has some similar traits and in multiple cases took steps forward in repeat assignments.
Calaz will likely spend 2026 in High-A Spokane as a 20-year-old. I ranked Calaz fourth on my list as a 45 FV player because of the performance, signing bonus, and his ability to stick in the outfield, though I am leery of the contact rate struggles.
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 22: Chris Stewart #19 of the New York Yankees connects on a sixth inning run scoring ground out against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on August 22, 2013 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For a team so accustomed to competing at the very top level, it’s easier for the worst of times to stand out more than the best of times. No offense, but if you ask a Colorado Rockies, it’s probably not hard to bring to mind an example of a player who earned a starting role despite underwhelming production. With the Yankees, and with most regularly contending teams, those kind of instances stand out. All of this is a way to introduce the next player in our Birthday of the Day series, who’s likely best remembered as being a particularly underwhelming starter for this team once upon a time.
Christopher David Stewart Born: February 19, 1982 (Fontana, CA) Yankees Tenure: 2008 and 2012-13
A 12-year veteran in the big leagues, Stewart spent the majority of his career in a backup role, floating around between teams wherever there was a need as a defensive specialist—especially lauded for his framing, even if not all aspects of his defensive work quite lived up to the expectation of a glove-first player. For one particular campaign, though, Stewart was the primary starter, even if not a full-time starter, and it came under a very unflattering set of circumstances, filling in as the Yankees’ primary backstop back in 2013. But before we get to that, let’s run through Stewart’s career from the beginning.
Stewart started his path with a year of raking in community college in Riverside before being selected by the White Sox in the 12th round of the 2001 MLB Draft. Initially assigned to Rookie ball, Stewart progressed through the minors with Chicago for five seasons until his first cup of coffee in the majors in 2006—his time in the bigs that year was minimal, with only a little over a handful of plate appearances off the bench.
At the end of the 2006 season, Stewart experienced what would be the first of many moves in his big league career—he was traded from the White Sox to the Rangers, where he spent the entirety of the 2007 campaign, mostly in Triple-A, before getting released for the first time. The Yankees took a shot at him, and over a two-month period, he featured in all of one game in the bigs—starting behind the plate in late-April against the Detroit Tigers, a 6-4 loss with the veteran Kenny Rogers outdueling Phil Hughes in Yankee Stadium. In Triple-A, Stewart was a steady presence, maintaining his low .700 OPS.
Stewart’s first prolonged exposure to the big league level came in 2011. Then, with the San Francisco Giants, he was one of the players who had to step in to cover for Buster Posey, whose horrific injury helped lead to changes in the rules forbidding home plate collisions. Although his offensive numbers were pretty poor even for a glove-first catcher, Stewart did enough behind the dish to lead the Yankees to take a second crack at him. Right at the start of the 2012 campaign, the Yankees sent George Kontos to the Giants, a reliever who would become an important part of the Giants’ bullpen for several years.
It was perceived as at least a somewhat-curious choice at the time because it seemed like the Yankees had a fine backup to Russell Martin already in the 26-year-old Francisco Cervelli, who had appeared in 178 games from them across the previous three seasons. But while New York liked Cervelli, they believed even more in Stewart’s pitch-framing ability and wanted the depth, so the former went down to Triple-A. In 55 games for the 2012 Yanks, Stewart accumulated 1.7 fWAR despite a paltry 65 wRC+ — the same as his 2011 with the Giants, but if nothing else, drastically improving his batting average from .204 to .241. Then came his most important season as a big leaguer in 2013.
The year before 2013, the Yankees had Martin as their starting catcher, and the year after 2013, Brian McCann was one of the team’s biggest offseason signings to fill in that role. While neither of these players were their best selves during their time with the Yankees, they belonged in a completely different category than Stewart. The journeyman backstop found himself thrust into the starting role for the Yankees by way of need, if not desperation, for a Yankee team that was struggling to retool while also still trying to contend.
Even if he wasn’t vintage Yogi Berra and was about to turn 30, it was somewhat odd to see the Yankees let Martin walk in free agency without making much of an effort to retain him since he only settled for a two-year, $17 million deal with the Pirates. But that’s what happened, and they set up a battle between the defensively-minded Stewart and the still-well-thought-of Cervelli for the starting role. Both were career backups to that point, vying for the No. 1 spot.
Cervelli won the job for Opening Day and played well in April until his season came to what would be an abrupt end on April 26th, when he broke his hand on a foul tip. He never returned in 2013, as he suffered an elbow injury during his rehab and then got suspended amid the Biogenesis investigation that more famously ensnared Alex Rodriguez. So that meant the Yankees had little choice but to go with Stewart with another no-hit, defense-first option backing him up in rookie Austin Romine.
On the general topic of catcher defense, it’s much better quantified now than it was back in 2013. So while we can look back now and see that Stewart had 2.4 fWAR in 109 games—an honestly adequate personal outcome considering the shaky circumstances—it sure didn’t feel that way at the time. The fact that his hitting somehow got worse from 2012 only made matters more frustrating, as he hit a paltry .211/.293/.272 with a 59 wRC+, a dramatic change for fans who for years had grown accustomed to Jorge Posada’s switch-hit excellence and saw Martin belt 39 homers across the prior two seasons. (As the Yankees struggled, Martin helped the 2013 Pirates snap a 21-year playoff drought.) Even on defense, it didn’t help that Stewart’s 12 passed balls were second-most in all of baseball.
There was also the time that Stewart struck out on just two strikes. Really.
The Yankees themselves deserved the most blame in hindsight for getting too cute at such an important position for the benefit of trying to save Hal Steinbrenner a few bucks. Stewart was unfortunately just the man who had to wear it in front of the fans all year. By September, fans wanted someone, anyone — be it the backup Romine, prospect John Ryan Murphy, recent Double-A promotion Gary Sánchez, or maybe the guy hawking Cracker Jacks — to get a shot behind the plate instead.
McCann was signed in November 2013, and all of a sudden, the Yankees had a plethora of options to choose from as his backup, but obviously not enough room for all of them. Stewart didn’t show enough in his extended sample to move ahead of a now-healthy Cervelli on the depth chart. It was time to move on. As such, Stewart was shipped off to Pittsburgh for a player to be named later, where he filled the role as Martin’s and subsequently Cervelli’s backup as well — Cervelli became the Pirates’ starting catcher in 2015 after Martin signed a big contract with the Blue Jays.
Once he lost that backup role with the Pirates, Stewart bounced around a few teams’ minor-league systems, with his final stop coming with the El Paso Chihuahua in 2019, San Diego’s Triple-A squad. Following his release from the Padres organization in July of 2019, Stewart announced his retirement at age-37.
Reading up on the player, Stewart might’ve featured in the bigs at the wrong time—his most praised skill set was framing, one that didn’t receive the same value it currently does, or at the very least, wasn’t as easily measured. Maybe these days, he would’ve gotten a better overall shake despite his shaky bat.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 23: Nick Burdi #57 of the New York Yankees in action against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on May 23, 2024 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Mariners 5-0. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
You can never have enough bullpen options, and the Mets, like every other team during the offseason, searched far and wide to find some intriguing pitchers that they could sign and try out in spring training. One of those options is Nick Burdi, a former second-round draft pick who is looking to rebuild his career after undergoing thoracic outlet surgery and a second Tommy John Surgery within the past few years. He’s enjoyed some limited success in recent season, which he will be looking to parlay into a spot in the Mets’ bullpen.
Burdi, a 33-year-old right-hander from Hinsdale, Illinois, was a standout Downers Grove South High School. He was a quarterback on the football team while also sporting a 95 miles-per-hour fastball. After garnering attention for his athletic prowess, he entered the draft straight out of high school with dreams of getting selected in the higher rounds, but fell to the 24th round. Instead of signing, he opted to go to college, where he excelled as a closer at the University of Louisville, posting a 0.78 ERA in 34 2/3 innings as a sophomore and a 0.49 ERA in 37 innings as a junior.
Those numbers helped him climb 22 rounds in the 2014 draft, where he was taken 46th overall by the Twins—the same team that took him in 2011—and Burdi was quickly tagged as a top prospect. He never did appear in a game for Minnesota, however, and he was eventually taken by the Phillies in the Rule V draft and immediately traded to the Pirates, for whom he made his major league debut in 2018. After two appearances that season, he made the team out of spring training in 2019 and appeared in 11 games for Pittsburgh, allowing nine earned runs on 11 hits, with 17 strikeouts and three walks over 8 2/3 innings. He was sent down in April, and he eventually underwent thoracic outlet surgery in June, which cut his season short. He made three appearances for the club in 2020, but eventually underwent Tommy John Surgery, an operation he also had in May 2017.
He missed all of 2021 while he recovered and was signed by the Padres ahead of the 2022 season, but he never made the team. Burdi eventually landed with the Cubs in 2023, where he allowed three earned runs in three outings before electing free agency at year’s end. His journey brought him to New York, where he signed with the Yankees. He enjoyed his most success at the big league level with the Bronx Bombers, posting a 1.86 ERA with 12 strikeouts over a career-high 9 2/3 innings. He finished the year with a career-best 0.3 bWAR after those 12 outings. He was fairly successful last year with the Red Sox, pitching 5 1/3 scoreless innings, with five strikeouts and two walks. He finished 2025 with a 0.2 bWAR with Boston.
The Mets signed Burdi early on in the offseason, the same day they also signed Robert Stock, Anderson Severino, and Jose Ramos as NRIs. The hard-throwing Burdi will get a chance to prove himself this spring, and given his recent track record and his former “top prospect” status, there is potentially some chance that he can make the roster. The bullpen, as it stands now, is fairly malleable and does have some spots that are left to be decided by the top performers this spring.
It’s far more likely that the 33-year-old Burdi will begin the year in Triple-A, if he accepts his post-spring assignment, and could find his way up to Citi Field later in the year if there are any injuries. But players like Burdi are never bad to have in Triple-A, and he could see some action for the club in 2026.
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 12: Donovan Mitchell #45 and Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers high five during the game against the Washington Wizards on December 12, 2025 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Kenny Giarla/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Harden has often thrived in predictable and perfectly spaced lineups. Adding a second big onto the floor will complicate that. It isn’t a configuration that Harden has had much recent experience playing in. Whether or not it works will largely come down to Mobley.
Mobley’s outside shot has regressed this season. He’s shooting just 30.4% from beyond the arc after connecting on 37% of them during the previous two seasons. This includes hitting just 21.1% of his outside looks since the beginning of December.
Unless the shooting drastically changes, Mobley will have to find other ways to take advantage of the double teams and micro advantages that Harden creates.
“I think just Evan, continuing to build up what he did last year, and obviously, earlier this season,” Mitchell said. “This year, I think he was more of a downhill [finisher] right before he got hurt. … Now, him being able to do that, but also be able to be elite in the half roll — elite in the pocket — and obviously at the rim. Those are the two biggest things.”
Mobley has been a good rim finisher this season. He’s converting 73% of his looks inside (75th percentile). That’s key to being able to attack mismatches in the short roll, but that isn’t everything.
This season, Mobley has improved as a passer. He has a career-high assist rate (17.9%, 86th percentile), which has led to four assists per game. The ability to finish as a scorer or passer inside isn’t a question. Whether or not he can do so quickly enough in the half roll still is.
Mobley has always been at his best when he’s decisive. When he reacts quickly and assertively in the short roll, good things happen. This has been talked about a lot with him as a scorer, but it extends to him as a facilitator as well.
Conversely, if his initial read gets cut off, he can run into some trouble. A lack of decisiveness is a problem whether he’s in the short roll specifically or not.
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That all said, we don’t exactly know how the two-big lineups are going to look with Harden yet.
Harden brings a much different dynamic to the offense than Darius Garland did, even though Garland was incredibly good at getting the bigs involved. Both guards do a lot of the same things functionally, but how they go about doing so is vastly different.
“Until you get out there and try it [you don’t know], especially with a new player,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said. “Donovan is kind of used to it (playing with two bigs). We’ll see with James. But James, again, his IQ is so great that I don’t anticipate the issues with it. I think he’ll find a way. But it could take a little bit.”
It’s also worth pointing out that the Cavs will continue to play most of the game with one big on the floor. On the season, Mobley and Jarrett Allen have only played an average of 15.4 minutes together per game. That will alleviate some of the bumpiness that integrating the two bigs together might cause.
“Kenny has done a great job, even last year, kind of staggering the two,” Mitchell said. “I think Evan and I get back to playing kind of how we’ve been doing. And with J.A. and [Harden], I think we really found something.”
Making this trade when the Cavs did was also a huge bet on Harden’s ability to just figure it out. The offensive talent on this roster hasn’t been an issue over the past few seasons. That’s undeniable. How that talent fits together has been at times, especially in the postseason.
So far, Harden has helped solve some of those problems, but working with the two-big lineup will be a different challenge. As of now, he doesn’t seem to be worried about making it work.
“There’s just so many opportunities man…the way the offense moves, you have rolling bigs that finish around the rim, when Ev comes back it’s gonna be even better,” Harden said last week. “Just figuring it out, when Ev comes back…we have two bigs so we got to figure out what works and what doesn’t work. But that shouldn’t take long.”
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JANUARY 25: Dalano Banton #45 of the Boston Celtics warms up prior to a game against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center on January 25, 2024 in Miami, Florida. 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 Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Celtics have signed Dalano Banton to a ten-day contract, HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto first reported.
Banton returns to Boston after spending most of the past two years with the Portland Trail Blazers. He was initially on the Celtics team that won the NBA title in 2024, but he was traded to Portland ahead of the trade deadline and finished out the year with the Trail Blazers.
Dalano Banton returns to Boston after bouncing around the NBA
The 26-year-old Banton has played for six different NBA teams since being drafted 46th overall in 2021. He’s a 6’8 guard who can score in a variety of ways, but has never been particularly efficient (for his career, Banton has shot 40.3% from the field and 30.4% from three-point range).
However, his shooting has trended upward lately, and he has had several fairly successful stints in recent years.
Banton spent the first two years of his career with the Toronto Raptors, who drafted him, before joining the Celtics. That season, he appeared in 24 games for the Celtics, averaging 7 minutes a night as a member of the Stay Ready crew.
He was traded to Portland at the midseason trade deadline, where he almost immediately began playing the best basketball of his professional career, averaging 16.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in Portland for the remainder of that season.
Amid that hot stretch in 2024, Derrick White praised Banton’s play.
“He’s always been talented,” White said. “A guy who can score the ball in many different ways. He’s getting a chance to show that for everybody else. It’s good to see him going out there, being aggressive, and showing the world what he can do. The NBA is kind of tough, where you’re at, your role, and your opportunity. He was always working hard – and he was ready for it.”
Banton returned to the Trail Blazers last season and was once again in the rotation, albeit with a reduced role, averaging 8.3 points and 2.4 assists in 16.7 minutes per game.
This year, he is having a standout season in the G League, averaging 23.7 points, 5.9 assists, and 3.4 rebounds for the Texas Legends, the Dallas Mavericks’ G League affiliate. He signed one ten-day contract with the Los Angeles Clippers on February 8th, and appeared in two games (totalling 10 minutes) ahead of the All-Star break.
Now, Branton returns to Boston, where he still has fans almost two years later. The former Nebraska star will reunite with Joe Mazzulla and the rest of the Celtics coaching staff – as well as several old teammates from the Celtics’ championship team: Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Neemias Queta, and Jordan Walsh.
With Anfernee Simons no longer on the roster, Banton could serve as an emergency ball-handler for the Celtics in the wake of injury. He’s also someone the Celtics know and trust won’t be a negative in the locker room, something that Brad Stevens has routinely stressed is critical.
The Celtics are required to carry 14 players on their roster as of February 19th, and will need to add another player on Thursday in order to adhere to that requirement. Utilizing ten-day contracts will allow them to stay below the luxury tax, if they so choose.
SCOTTSDALE — Carson Whisenhunt has felt strong all spring, and since the start of camp, he has talked about his optimism that he’ll look much sharper than he did as a rookie. But early in a simulated game Thursday, a pitch felt different coming out of his hand. It felt just a bit better than the others, and he snuck a peak at the scoreboard.
“I was like, ‘I kinda want to see where I’m at,'” he said later. “I was not expecting to see 97.”
There were a lot of 97 mph fastballs for Whisenhunt in two innings against teammates, along with plenty at 96. As a rookie last year, Whisenhunt hit 95 mph just once, topping out at 95.3 mph but averaging 92.6 in five starts.
The velocity Thursday opened plenty of eyes in the seats behind home plate, where just about the entire front office was sitting. Even Whisenhunt was surprised. His velocity had been good in bullpen sessions, but he planned to be sitting around 95 mph in the simulated game.
“That was a little different,” he said, smiling. “I’m feeling a lot better than I did last year. I’m moving better (and) the mechanics, especially — everything is kind of flowing right now. I’m trying not to overdo it but it came out hot today.”
Whisenhunt dealt with a back strain late last season, but in the offseason he focused on making sure he was physically ready for what will be an important spring. He also made some mechanical adjustments to tap into more of the velocity he had in the minors. He was 94-97 mph throughout his first full professional season and topped out at 98.
“Last year I was sinking into my back hip a lot more and getting lower and I feel like it was kind of blocking velo, so to speak,” he said. “Now I’m a little more upright, not sinking as much, but still trying to get in my back hip a little bit, and then just kinda throwing the s— out of it. That’s the best way to put it.”
With the first spring games two days away, there is no obvious spot for Whisenhunt on the initial roster. The rotation is currently full and he’s probably too good of a starting prospect to be put in the bullpen in April. The Giants likely would want him to stay stretched out, and they have enough lefty relief options in camp at the moment.
But Whisenhunt certainly made a statement Thursday about how ready he might be when a starter is needed. In addition to the fastball, he showed off what has long been one of the best left-handed changeups in the game, getting three strikeouts on the pitch. He also mixed in his new cutter, a pitch he learned from assistant pitching coach Christian Wonders.
“I’m just trying to get a little bit more feel with it,” he said of the cutter. “It’s still new so I’m playing around with the grip a little bit and finger pressure on certain aspects of it. But it was good today.”
The NHL Olympic Break is coming to a close. The New York Islanders returned to practice, and now their first game back from break is just one week away.
The Islanders currently hold a four-point lead over the Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals for third place in the Metropolitan Division. Columbus holds two games in hand, while the Islanders have one in hand on the Capitals.
The Islanders are also just one point back of the Pittsburgh Penguins for second place in the division, with the Penguins holding two games in hand.
The standings are tight. The Islanders even play Columbus in New York's second game after the break in Columbus, on Saturday, February 28.
The Islanders will play a total of five games in eight days after break, all of which comes before the ninth day, which is also the NHL Trade Deadline.
Once everything resets and the roster freeze melts away, time's going to fly. The Islanders have a ginormous opportunity in front of them.
Not only do they enter with a playoff spot, but on Wednesday, Sidney Crosby suffered an injury while playing for Team Canada. He's been labeled as day-to-day, but it makes the Penguins that much more vulnerable.
So far in his nine months running the franchise, Islanders' General Manager Mathieu Darche has shown a willingness to make deals, but he's also been extremely calculated.
He made the Noah Dobson trade and got back a haul for the defenseman. He signed Maxim Shabanov and Jonathan Drouin, though neither have scored the way the franchise maybe hoped.
Alexander Romanov suffered a regular-season-ending shoulder injury, and Darche didn't rush into a deal. He allowed his younger plays to receive turns at trying to fill the hole, but it became apparent the Islanders needed a proper fix.
Darche then went out and acquired Carson Soucy for a third-round pick, a more-than-fair price for what the defenseman brings.
Meanwhile, it had become clear that the Islanders needed improved forward depth, ideally someone who could be versatile throughout the lineup. Maxim Tsyplakov was also on the outs, and with another year at $2.25 million, clearing his salary would help.
24 hours after the Soucy deal, Darche acquired Ondrej Palat, along with the New Jersey Devils' third and sixth round picks in 2026 and 2027 respectively.
Now's the time for the bigger splash. The Eastern Conference remains wide open. Ilya Sorokin is the favorite to win the Vezina Trophy. Matthew Schaefer is the heavy favorite to win the Calder Trophy and has two more seasons on an entry-level deal.
The Islanders need to acquire a game-breaking top-six forward. The Islanders have the second-fewest goals allowed in the Eastern Conference, trailing only the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Yet, the Islanders have the third-fewest goals per game and fourth-fewest actual goals in the Eastern Conference.
There's a multitude of options available. The St. Louis Blues are open for business, with Jordan Kyrou being the clearest, potentially best option. Kyrou's on a contract worth $8.125 million per year on the books.
Kyrou's scored 30+ goals in three straight seasons, but the Blues are potentially looking at a total rebuild. Kyrou's name has floated around these parts before, and there are ways to make this trade work:
Sticking in the Central Division, with Darche's ties to the Lightning already showing up in his acquisition of Palat, rumors of a deal for Steven Stamkos from the Nashville Predators sprang up, along with whispers about Michael Bunting:
Then, there's the dark-horse option. Returning to the negotiating table with the Canadiens, to look at acquiring Patrik Laine on the cheap.
Laine's biggest knocks are two-fold: he's been injury-prone, and his two-way game isn't the strongest. Laine's just now returning from an injury, too.
There's also the issue of his contract, with an $8.7 million AAV, but he's a pending UFA and the Canadiens have signalled a willingness to retain money.
The Islanders could likely acquire Laine for a mid-round draft pick, but it's a huge dice roll. Laine's only played five games this season, but what he'd bring would be undeniable.
The Islanders have craved someone who just shoots the puck religiously, and that's what Laine does.
What do all those players and options have in common?
They're scorers, and good ones at that. The Islanders can be smart. They've got just a hair over $6 million in cap space, and they're loaded with trade assets.
Whether Darche goes for a home-run swing at Kyrou, or a cheaper, but potentially perfect fit in Laine, he can't just stand pat, either.
There's a window open, one the Islanders can charge through and try to contend to win this year, right now. The Islanders know this, and surely have some internal plans ready to go.
In 15 days, we'll know exactly what plan it is and how it affects the Islanders now and later.
The Atlanta Hawks head north to face the Philadelphia 76ers for the third time this season as Eastern Conference foes go head-to-head at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Atlanta has been letting it fly this season, and in a high-scoring matchup, my Hawks vs. 76ers predictions expect Onyeka Okongwu to bury multiple triples.
Here are my free NBA picks for Thursday, February 19.
Hawks vs 76ers prediction
Hawks vs 76ers best bet: Onyeka Okongwu Over 1.5 threes (-165)
Onyeka Okongwu's ability to stretch the floor should be front and center tonight against a lackluster Philadelphia 76ers perimeter defense.
Across its last 10 games, Philadelphia has surrendered the fourth-highest 3-point percentage to opponents at 38.7%. With Joel Embiid out, Okongwu will get favorable matchups against Andre Drummond and Adem Bona.
The Atlanta Hawks have let it fly this season, averaging the 10th-most 3-point attempts (39.2). Okongwu has hit two or more triples in seven straight games and 18 of 28 road matchups.
Hawks vs 76ers same-game parlay
Nickeil Alexander-Walker leads Atlanta with three triples made per game. He's recorded at least that many 3-pointers in 18 of 30 games on the road, and he reached the mark in four of his last five away games.
The 76ers have hit the Over in 16 of 29 home games, and the Hawks have gone Over in 18 of 31 on the road.
Hawks vs 76ers SGP
Onyeka Okongwu Over 1.5 threes
Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 2.5 threes
Over 237.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Treys for days
Tyrese Maxey is averaging 3.3 triples this season, and he's knocked down four or more in 15 of 28 home games.
Hawks vs 76ers SGP
Onyeka Okongwu Over 1.5 threes
Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 2.5 threes
Tyrese Maxey Over 3.5 threes
Over 237.5
Hawks vs 76ers odds
Spread: Hawks +1 | 76ers -1
Moneyline: Hawks -105 | 76ers -115
Over/Under: Over 237.5 | Under 237.5
Hawks vs 76ers betting trend to know
The Atlanta Hawks have hit the game total Over in 16 of their last 25 away games (+6.10 Units / 22% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Hawks vs. 76ers.
How to watch Hawks vs 76ers
Location
Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN SE-ATL, NBCSP
Hawks vs 76ers latest injuries
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PEORIA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 18: Walker Buehler #10 of the San Diego Padres poses for a portrait during photo day at Peoria Sports Complex on February 18, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres have not added a big-name pitcher since the re-signing of Michael King earlier this offseason. Instead, the Padres have picked up players on one-year or minor league deals seemingly hoping that quantity will deliver quality. The Padres added Griffin Canning, German Marquez and Walker Buehler. Lincoln Zdunich of Gaslamp Ball believes that San Diego is looking for at least one of these arms to play a significant role in 2026.
Padres News:
Projected rankings for the Padres as a team and the individual players came out and Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball thinks San Diego may be being overlooked. In almost all areas the 2026 team has improved over the 2025 team that finished second in the NL West and made the postseason. The Padres have a chance to prove the projections wrong if they can make a return to the playoffs as they are not expected to do so.
The Padres had a busy holiday weekend making additions to the roster and extending general manager A.J. Preller and AJ Cassavell of MLB.com provides a recap of all the moves now that all the players have shown up in Peoria, Ariz.
Catcher Luis Campusano is out of options and potentially out of time with the Padres. HE has the support of new manager Craig Stammen, and the belief is that he has the support of his teammates as well. If Campusano can produce at the major league level he could have a significant role this season, but if he cannot, he may find himself with another organization.
Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune points out the fact that Walker Buehler in brown and gold is an odd sight considering all the time he spent in Dodger blue, but Acee also believes the Padres coaches and players are hoping Buehler can make the rotation. Although it will be strange to root for a player the Friar Faithful vehemently rooted against not too long ago, the odds of Buehler making the team could receive a boost if San Diego employs a six-man rotation.
Front office executives from around MLB were apparently not fans of newly acquired Nick Castellanos. Jayson Stark of The Athletic wrote an article where he spoke with executives about which player subtraction would benefit their former team. The answer he got was Castellanos and this poll was conducted prior to him being released by the Philadelphia Phillies.
Baseball news:
With the unceremonious departure of Tony Clark as the head of the MLBPA on Tuesday, the need for a new executive director became evident. The MLBPA named Bruce Meyer as the interim executive director, Wednesday.
The Atlanta Braves are already absorbing injuries to their pitching staff, and they have yet to play their first game of the spring. Spencer Schwellenbach had surgery to clean up his elbow which will land him on the 60-day IL. Hurston Waldrep is expected to have the same procedure and he rook will start the season on the 60-day IL.
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 10: Triston Casas #36 of the Boston Red Sox looks on during a spring training workout at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 10, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There was a long stretch of Red Sox history in which you could roll into spring training and write down the guy who would dominate the DH position in permanent ink.
For 14 years from 2003 through 2016, it belonged to David Ortiz. Then, after he retired and the Sox tried Hanley Ramirez there for a season in 2017, J.D. Martinez took over and led the team in games played from the position for five years from 2018 through 2022. Basically, if you wanted to get in the lineup and your last name didn’t end in a z, you’d better have a glove, and you better have spot where you could play every day.
But those days, much like the balls those guys hit, are long gone. Starting with Martinez’s final year in Boston in 2022, the Red Sox have now had four different guys lead the team in games from the DH slot in the last four seasons. And given the makeup of this roster going into 2026, we might be about to go five-for-five.
First up, here’s the guys who have played the most games at DH for the Red Sox over the last four years:
2022: J.D. Martinez (139 games)
2023: Justin Turner (98 games)
2024: Masataka Yoshida (101 games)
2025: Rafael Devers (RIP) (73 games)
Secondly, as a quick side note, not have having a permanent DH really changes the way you build a roster. Back in the days of Ortiz and Martinez, any other everyday position player signed or traded for had to make sense in some specific spot. But now, you can have overflow — because hey, “if both guys are good and you have extra at-bats, the other guy can just DH. Problem solved!”
Well, Craig Breslow and company have taken that theory and pushed it to its limit as, right now, I don’t have a clue who is going to get the most at-bats at DH in 2026.
It could be Jarren Duran, who might get displaced from the outfield for most of the season if Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Wilyer Abreu stay healthy and anchor down at their positions.
It could be Masataka Yoshida, who, if healthy, may bounce back offensively and doesn’t have anywhere to go defensively on this roster.
It could be Triston Casas, who still has serious upside power after a pair of injury plagued seasons and is now a less obvious fit at first base with Willson Contreras on the roster.
It could even be Kristian Campbell, who, unlike the other three guys I just mentioned, is right handed. He might work his way into the lineup against left-handed starters if his retooled swing sticks better than his glove at any one position.
Or who knows — it could be somebody else who gets shuffled in the deck we’re not even thinking about right now. Who do you think will lead the 2026 Red Sox in games played at DH?
Talk about this and whatever else you’d like, and, as always, be good to one another.
The Orlando Magic begin a West Coast road trip this evening as they visit the lowly Sacramento Kings at the Golden 1 Center.
My Magic vs Kings predictions are targeting Jalen Suggs to pick apart Sacramento’s poor defense with his playmaking.
Read more in my NBA picks for Thursday, February 19, ahead of this 10 p.m. ET tip.
Magic vs Kings prediction
Magic vs Kings best bet: Jalen Suggs Over 6.5 assists (-110)
Jalen Suggs leads the Orlando Magic in assists with 5.5 per night. He was dropping dimes pre-All-Star break as well, cashing the Over in three of his last four contests.
The Gonzaga product dished out 10 assists in back-to-back games to end the first half of the campaign, and he also had 11 dimes only a few days before that against the Brooklyn Nets.
The Sacramento Kings’ perimeter defense is horrendous, allowing 9.1 assists per game to point guards. Franz Wagner is also out indefinitely, which means Suggs will need to facilitate the rock even more. Tonight’s matchup is an opportunity to cook.
Magic vs Kings same-game parlay
Paolo Banchero wasn’t playing great to end the first half, only cashing the Over in points once in six games. However, with Wagner out and Orlando up against a poor Kings squad, it’s a chance to start the second half on the right foot.
He’s also played a lot better on the road in 2025-26, averaging 23 points compared to just 19.5 at home. Banchero averaged 23.5 PPG across two meetings with Sacramento last season as well.
Desmond Bane has been the Magic’s best player this month, hitting the Over in points in four straight. That includes a 31-point eruption in his final contest before the ASG break.
Magic vs Kings SGP
Jalen Suggs Over 6.5 assists
Paolo Banchero Over 22.5 points
Desmond Bane Over 21.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Put it on Black
Anthony Black has hit the Over in triples in three of his last four, and he’s averaging 1.7 makes on the road.
Magic vs Kings SGP
Jalen Suggs Over 6.5 assists
Paolo Banchero Over 22.5 points
Desmond Bane Over 21.5 points
Anthony Black Over 1.5 made threes
Magic vs Kings odds
Spread: Magic -8.5 (-110) | Kings +8.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Magic -380 | Kings +300
Over/Under: Over 223.5 (-110) | Under 223.5 (-110)
Magic vs Kings betting trend to know
The Orlando Magic have hit the 1H Game Total Under in 29 of their last 45 games (+11.00 Units / 21% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Magic vs. Kings.
How to watch Magic vs Kings
Location
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Date
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN FL, NBCSCA
Magic vs Kings latest injuries
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.
SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 1: Head Coach Joe Mazzulla and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics high five during the game against the Sacramento Kings on January 1, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Celtics have a treat coming out of All-Star break: a four-game west coast swing that includes games at the Warriors, Lakers, Suns and Nuggets and a back-to-back.
Boston is set to face four teams that if the playoffs started today, would all be participating.
They all present different issues. The Warriors will be without Stephen Curry, but teams without their best player are always tough to play because you are not always sure what to prepare for. The Lakers have a dynamic offense that we have not seen a lot of but Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves all present a lot of issues for any defense. Phoenix is one of the toughest teams in the NBA and has found ways to win games all season. Finally, Denver has a lot of injuries but they keep winning ball games and they have the dynamic Nikola Jokic-Jamal Murray pick and roll which always gives the Celtics problems.
The Warriors and Lakers have some uncertainty around them.
As mentioned, Stephen Curry will not play in this game for Golden State due to a knee injury. Another guy who is on the injury report is former Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis, who was acquired by the Warriors at the deadline and has yet to play for the team. It is unclear whether or not he will play in the game but I am excited to see how Golden State will incorporate him into their lineup when he is back on the floor. It is his and Al Horford’s first game against their former team so there will be a lot of hugs postgame, I am sure.
For the Lakers, we just have not seen a lot of Doncic, James and Reaves this season with all three players missing time at different times. The trio has played just 152 minutes together this season. Of course, they can score but the Lakers can’t get a stop with those three guys on the floor, giving up 119.7 points per 100 possessions in the limited sample. How much will Lakers coach JJ Redick stagger them with having one or two of them on the bench?
The Phoenix Suns are one of the most unexpected storylines in the NBA this season and when push comes to shove, they just win ball games. 32-23 on the season, the Suns are currently 7th in the Western Conference. If the Suns are among the most unexpected stories in the NBA, Dillon Brooks is among the most shocking. He is still getting a lot of technical fouls but he has been the Suns 2nd best player this season. After being told he would not be brought back to the Grizzlies “under any circumstance” to see Brooks flourish with now his 3rd team is great. Phoenix is a tough team that will give Boston their best game.
Lastly, Boston heads to Denver on the 2nd leg of a back to back. This will be a tough one. In the altitude after traveling in late from playing the night before. The Celtics will face an uphill battle in this game. They won’t use that as an excuse, Joe Mazzulla teams are great on 2nd nights of back to backs, Boston is 36-13 in these instances since the 2022-23 season. Denver’s defense has been iffy to say the least. They give up a lot of shots at the rim and the Celtics don’t take many shots at the rim so it will be interesting to see if the C’s try and exploit that weakness.
West coast road trips are hard and even harder when you play four good teams in one trip. That doesn’t mean Boston is not up for the challenge. The goal, of course, is 4-0 but a 3-1 trip is something I would sign up for right now. It will be fun to see how the Celtics respond to this challenge coming out of the All-Star break.
