PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 11: Luis Castillo #58 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates during a Spring Training game against the Colorado Rockies at Peoria Stadium on March 11, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s split squad action today in Peoria and at Salt River Fields. Both games are televised, so choose wisely.
Don’t get too attached to this Josh Naylor graphic; he was a late scratch. Luis Suisbel is now in the lineup, batting ninth and playing first base.
Also scheduled to pitch in this game: José A. Ferrer, Carlos Vargas, Casey Legumina, Andrés Muñoz
And in split-squad action:
Also scheduled to pitch in this one: Casey Lawrence, Yosver Zulueta, and probably some JIC-ys.
Injury updates:
J.P. Crawford is away from the team having his shoulder looked at by Dr. Meister. That sounds ominous, but Justin Hollander says the visit is evaluative not diagnostic, making sure everything is continuing to trend well for an Opening Day start.
No word on Josh Naylor’s absence, but a quick look at the weather in Peoria – 91 en route to 95 degrees – might suggest why Naylor, who’s been away at the WBC for several weeks, is being granted an off-day.
Roster updates:
The Mariners re-assigned LHP Kade Anderson to minor-league camp after his start on Friday; yesterday they re-assigned INF Michael Arroyo, RHP Charlie Beilenson, OF Jonny Farmelo, C Jakson Reetz, RHP Michael Rucker and RHP Ryan Sloan to minor-league camp. That doesn’t mean you’ve seen the last of them – Beilenson in particular will likely pop up in a few more big-league appearances this spring – but it is a signal that the Mariners are getting their main players back from the WBC and things are getting closer to Opening Day and the 26 players they’ll be bringing to T-Mobile Park.
Game information:
Home game:
TV: Mariners TV
Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports (delayed? It doesn’t say so in the game notes but they were talking about basketball when I checked my radio. Anyway, live on Gameday or the Seattle Sports app.)
After playing five games without their two best players, the Pittsburgh Penguins were finally set to have one of them back in the lineup when they took on the league's best team in the Colorado Avalanche on Monday.
Evgeni Malkin made his return to the lineup after serving a five-game suspension. And he made an impression early and often in this one.
The Penguins stomped the Avalanche, 7-2, to hand Colorado only its sixth regulation loss on home ice this season, and Malkin was a huge reason why. The 39-year-old forward registered the first goal of the game a tick more than three minutes into the contest, added another tally 10 minutes later, and notched a helper to give him three points on the night.
The Penguins are now 34-18-15 with 83 points, which puts them two ahead of the New York Islanders and just seven points behind the Carolina Hurricanes, who have a game in hand. Pittsburgh plays Carolina two more times this month.
Suffice to say, this was a big win. The Penguins have been holding their own without Malkin and Sidney Crosby, but having 71 back in the fold made things a whole lot easier on the rest of the group.
And a dominant effort against the league's best team is certainly something that will boost morale even more.
"It's a good confidence booster for our team," Anthony Mantha said. "Obviously, we know we're able to play with every team, and the way we played [Monday], it just shows how resilient our team is and how special we are in here."
Pittsburgh wasted no time setting the tone in this one - and neither did Malkin. On his first shift back from suspension, Malkin took a tripping penalty and went to the box. The Penguins' penalty kill - ranked second in the NHL - managed to kill off the two-minute penalty, and Malkin and Rust found themselves in a give-and-go entering the offensive zone.
Rust got it to Malkin in the low slot area, and he performed a no-look spin-o-rama move and buried the puck behind Avs goaltender Scott Wedgewood on the backhand to give Pittsburgh the early 1-0 lead. However, just over a minute later, star forward Nathan MacKinnon registered his 45th goal of the season with a snipe from the slot to tie the game.
But- as they've done all year - the Penguins responded so quickly it's as if the tying goal never happened. Mantha was sprung on a breakaway on a gorgeous stretch pass from Erik Karlsson, and he slid a backhand through the five-hole to score his career-best 26th goal of the season in what has become a deja vu kind of thing for him to restore the one-goal lead.
Then, with seven minutes remaining in the first, Malkin and Egor Chinakhov - playing on the wing opposite Malkin with Tommy Novak sandwiched in between - gained the zone. Breaking down the right wing, Chinakhov threaded a nice seam pass to Malkin breaking down the left, and he put it home to register his second of the game and 15th of the season to make it 3-1 and prompt a goaltending change by the Avs.
And again, less than than a minute later - Karlsson got the puck to the net, where newest Penguin Elmer Soderblom was waiting at the net front. He tapped the puck in behind new Colorado goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood to earn his first with his new team and make it 4-1.
The Penguins did give up a goal less than a minute later to veteran blueliner Brent Burns, which cut their lead to 4-2. After a somewhat sloppy first period, however, the Penguins had goaltender Arturs Silovs to thank for carrying the 4-2 lead into the second, as he stopped 16 of 18 first-period shots by the Avalanche to preserve his team's lead despite Pittsburgh only amassing nine shots on goal.
From there, however, the Penguins went on cruise control.
Pittsburgh put on a clinic in the final 40, limiting Colorado to just a few high-danger chances and outscoring them the rest of the way, 3-0. It started with a floating wrister by Karlsson from the right point that found its way home midway through the second to make it 5-2, and the Penguins just kept coming.
After a nice play by Rickard Rakell in the defensive zone to pick a pass on a Penguins' power play, he got it to Malkin, who sprung Bryan Rust for a breakaway with about three and a half minutes to go in the middle frame. Rust beat Blackwood to make it 6-2, and the score remained that way until Noel Acciari potted his ninth of the season approaching the midway point of the third period to seal the 7-2 victory.
Here are a few quick thoughts and takeaways:
- This was a brilliant all-around effort from the Penguins. It was much different than the brand of hockey they have played over the last handful of games where they've come back in them and earned at least a point.
No, not this time. This time, they ragdolled the best team in the NHL on home ice, and they're still without the services of their best player. Getting Malkin back was only part of the puzzle, but he made a significant impact on the Penguins' ability to comfortably roll four lines again like they have been for much of the season.
This one was a statement, and boy, the Penguins delivered. This is a very good hockey team, folks.
- Speaking of "very good," I can't say enough about how otherwordly Erik Karlsson has been playing for the Penguins since the Olympic break.
He notched another three points in this one, giving him 14 points in his last 10 games. He has stepped up in a massive way this entire season, but his play down the stretch without Crosby and, for five games, Malkin has been nothing short of phenomenal.
This is the Erik Karlsson Kyle Dubas and the Penguins were hoping to acquire back in the summer of 2023. This is the Erik Karlsson that was, bar-none, the best NHL player in the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs for the Ottawa Senators. This is the Erik Karlsson that the Penguins desperately needed to see, and as an added bonus, he has pretty drastically improved his defense and is a mainstay on a successful PK unit this season.
It has been all-hands-on-deck for the Penguins all season long. But, if I'm picking a team MVP at the end of the season - and Pittsburgh ends up making the playoffs - Karlsson is that guy for me.
He's not just been their best player lately. He's been their best player for a good chunk of the 2025-26 season. And Penguins' fans are certainly in for a treat if we get to see the playoff version of Karlsson unlocked this time around.
- Silovs was magnificent in this game, especially early on. There was nothing he could do on either goal by the Avs, and he quite literally was responsible for the Penguins carrying the two-goal lead into the second period.
Something both Silovs and Stuart Skinner have been doing for the Penguins is coming up with big saves in big moments. One of those moments occurred in the third period of Monday's game, when Silovs made a nice glove save to rob Nazem Kadri of a goal that would have made it 6-3 early in the third period.
Silovs is a gamer, and he shows up in big moments. That has always been his track record. If the Penguins can continue to get this kind of goaltending from both guys, they shouldn't have much issue making the playoffs.
- One of the highlight moments of this game actually came courtesy of defenseman Connor Clifton.
During the third period, Colorado's Jack Drury has repeatedly cross-checking Malkin on the back, and Malkin began to retliate a bit. But before things could escalate, Clifton stepped in and challenged Drury to a fight, sticking up for his star teammate.
This is something we just haven't seen much of from the Penguins over the last several seasons, and it was kind of nice to see. It speaks to not only the kind of teammate Clifton is, but also to the chemistry of this particular locker room that guys are stepping up in this way.
Good stuff. Oh, and he won the fight pretty decisively, if you ask me.
- This was, by far, Soderblom's best game as a Penguin up to this point. He was bumped down to fourth-line duties in the absence of Blake Lizotte, who will miss four weeks with an upper-body injury. He earned two points and used his size well in this one at the net front, creating space and opportunity for himself and his linemates in Acciari and Connor Dewar.
The more I see from this guy, the more I like him. And the more I think he'll be a nice guy to have going into a potential playoff run.
- Mantha set a new career-high in goals with his 26th in there in the first period.
Won't spend time on this because I've already written about him at length. But what a remarkable season he's having. It's truly a marvel to watch.
- I mentioned this before, but this next game against the Canes on Wednesday looms large.
Some say the division is probably out of reach. I disagree. Carolina will lose its game in hand on Pittsburgh with a Tuesday night matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are currently four points behind the Penguins in the standings.
It's easy to root for Carolina in this one, but if they lose - and the Penguins manage to win Wednesday - that will put them just five points behind them with another head-to-head set for Sunday in Pittsburgh.
Either way, this win set the Penguins up pretty nicely. It's probably best to keep some separation from Columbus. However, if the Canes do lose, it will present the Penguins with a massive opportunity to chase their first division title since 2014.
Buckle up, folks. This is going to be a fun final 15 games of the regular season. And this sure is a fun hockey team to watch.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards will miss the next several games with inflammation in his right knee, with the team in the thick of the race for playoff position in the Western Conference.
The Timberwolves announced before their game on Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns that Edwards would be re-evaluated in one to two weeks, after the sixth-year guard underwent an MRI exam. That means Edwards will miss at least four games, with the Timberwolves playing four times in a six-day span. A two-week absence would cost him seven games.
Edwards will finish the season with a career low in games played, having already missed four games with a right hamstring strain and a total of six games over three different stretches with a lingering right foot injury.
Edwards, who played in 79 games in each of the three previous seasons, is averaging a career-best 29.5 points per game. Minnesota entered Tuesday in a tie for fifth place in the West with the Denver Nuggets, two games ahead of the Suns for the cut to avoid the play-in tournament.
The Atlanta Braves faced off against the Boston Red Sox as spring training is winding down with Reynaldo López taking the mound against arguably the best lineup he has faced since his injury.
The Red Sox brought in most of their starters, and the Braves brought mostly hitters fighting for final bench spots.
The Braves got the scoring going in the third, but almost had it started earlier in the second if it was not for this great play made against Camargo.
Three of the players that seem to have at least a small chance to make the Opening Day roster now that Profar will not be on the team are Kyle Farmer, José Azocar, and Brett Wisely. They were all responsible in the third inning for scoring the go ahead runs. Azocar led off the inning with a walk, and after Mateo doubled, Wisely knocked in Azocar. Kyle Farmer then continued his hot spring by having a single of his own to knock in a run.
The Braves were able to load the bases in the fourth, but this was not due to the players mentioned to keep your eyes on. Azocar lined out right after Sonny Gray was replaced, and Wisely grounded out for the third out with the bases loaded.
There was virtually no other offense of note by the Braves until the ninth inning other than a few singles and a double by Jair Camargo that led pinch runner Steel getting to third. Yes the pinch runner was Jake Steels, who will go down as one of the best pinch-runner names of all-time. In the ninth the Braves’ backup squad squeaked in another run, but it was still too short to win the game.
On the pitching side of things, López was clearly a guy to keep an eye on. Unfortunately, he struggled in this one. He gave up a walk and a single in the first inning but was able to get out of the inning by getting back-to-back strikeouts, but it was clear he was not having his best stuff. In the second inning he had a clean inning while picking up two more strikeouts. He gave up a triple in the third inning to Trevor Story, but got out of the inning unscathed.
The fourth is when the wheels fell off for López. He gave up a double to new Red Sox third baseman Caleb Durbin, followed by a walk. He was able to pick up his sixth strikeout, but then gave up a single to load the bases. After a groundout that produced a run, and a single that scored two, he was replaced by Dylan Dodd after 3.2 innings. He ended the day with five hits to include a double and triple, three earned runs, and two walks with six strikeouts.
Hopefully today was just an off day or him just working on specific mechanics. He has been fantastic before this outing, but this is the first time he faced a mostly MLB roster this spring.
On the good news side of things Dylan Dodd was able to relieve López and put in 1.1 innings of work without giving up a hit. He struck out one and walked one. The Braves did give up another, but it was by Kyle Nelson who will likely not make the Opening Day roster or even be brought to the MLB club at all this season.
Ultimately the Braves fell short 3-4 in a game that had only a few players of note to keep an eye on.
As a side note, Spencer Strider also pitched today, but was not an official spring training game.
Strider pitched five innings against a group of Red Sox Minor Leaguers today. FB was 93-95. Touched 96 in the first. Got out of a bases-loaded jam with a 1-2-3 DP in the third. Only run came via a leadoff walk and outfield misplay in the second
The Braves will face off against the Phillies tomorrow in North Port at 1:05 ET. Martín Pérez will take the mound in hopes of earning a rotation spot on the Opening Day roster. At the time of this writing, the Phillies have not announce who will pitch for them.
The Mets tied the Marlins, 5-5, on Tuesday as their spring training slate continued.
Here are the takeaways...
- Sean Manaea got the start and tossed four perfect innings while striking out four -- a big improvement over his rough outing last Thursday.
Manaea used his fastball liberally and kept the Marlins' hitters off balance with a steady diet of secondary offerings.
While the results were encouraging, Manaea's fastball velocity was still down -- it maxed out at 89.9 mph and sat mainly around 88.
During his start last week, Manaea's fastball topped out at 90.4 mph.
Last season, while dealing with multiple injuries, Manaea's fastball averaged 91.7 mph.
Manaea's two-seamer averaged 92.4 mph in 2024, while his four-seamer that season averaged 92.2 mph.
- Francisco Lindor, playing in his second Grapefruit League game since returning from hamate surgery, lined a single to right field while batting left-handed his final time up. He finished 1-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Bo Bichetteripped a two-run double down the left field line his second time up. In the seventh inning, Bichette lofted a three-run, opposite-field homer -- his first of the spring.
- Brett Baty went 1-for-4 and has a .967 OPS this spring.
- Marcus Semien had a big day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a walk.
- Tobias Myers,whose spot in the bullpen is locked up, worked 1.1 innings while allowing one run on one hit as he walked two and struck out three. HIs ERA in Grapefruit League play is 1.86.
- Mike Tauchman went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
Tauchman has been in competition with Carson Benge for the starting right field job, though it seems that gig will be going to Benge. There's a chance Tauchman still cracks the Opening Day roster, though, especially if the Mets opt to not carry a backup shortstop.
- Craig Kimbrel wasn't sharp in his inning of work.
The right-hander gave up a run on one hit and one walk and also allowed two stolen bases. His fastball velocity topped out at 92.6 mph.
Kimbrel, who is on a minor league deal, is competing with Bryan Hudson and others for the final spot in the Opening Day bullpen.
The DP World Tour starts its Asian Swing at this week's Hainan Classic, but the most familiar face in the field for Chinese fans might be someone who played in the NBA.
That's because 7-footer Yi Jianlian is teeing it up in the event as an amateur. Sort of. In addition to the 72-hole tournament, there's also a 36-hole team event pairing one amateur and one pro.
If you're a basketball sicko, you surely remember the former first-round pick (No. 6 overall!) of the Milwaukee Bucks back in 2007. Over five seasons in Milwaukee, New Jersey, Washingtong and Dallas, Yi averaged 7.9 points and 4.9 rebounds. He then went back to the Chinese Basketball Association and dominated, winning six CBA titles and three Finals MVPs.
Apparently, the 38-year-old is an avid golfer now. He played in the 2024 Volvo China Open Pro-Am with Haotong Li and attended the Players Championship as a fan that year. And as the DP World Tour announced on Tuesday, he's competing in the team event at Mission Hills.
We don't know much about Yi's golf game, but that swing looks pretty smooth. Certainly a lot better than fellow Chinese basketball legend Yao Ming:
Anyway, good luck to Yi this week. If any pickup basketball games break out after, we know who we're backing.
The Yankees defeated the Tampa Bay Rays by a score of 3-2 on Tuesday afternoon.
Here are the key takeaways...
-- J.C. Escarra, likely to make the Opening Day roster as the backup catcher, blasted a 438-foot solo home run in the second inning to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead.
Escarra went 3-for-4 at the plate and also threw a runner out trying to steal second base in the bottom of the seventh inning.
-- Will Warren continued his strong spring on the mound. The right-hander cruised through his first four scoreless innings, allowing just one hit. But he allowed a pair of singles to start the fifth, and with his pitch count in the mid-60s, his day ended there.
Cade Winquest allowed one of those inherited runners to score, so Warren's final line read 4.0+ innings, one earned run on three hits, four strikeouts, and one walk. His spring ERA is still very impressive at 1.77.
--It was a quiet day overall for the Yankees offense, until the ninth. Ben Rice, serving as the DH, went 0-for-4 with three runners left on base in his first four at-bats, but in a rare fifth spring at-bat, he ripped a single to give the Yankees runners at first and third with nobody out in the ninth inning. Coby Morales, a non-roster player, would drive in a pair to put the Yankees up late.
-- Jasson Dominguez went 0-for-3 with a walk. Ryan McMahon, starting at shortstop, went 1-for-4.
--Oswaldo Cabrera, continuing his recovery from last season's devastating ankle injury, went 0-for-2. He remains hitless this spring in eight at-bats.
Just weeks before Dillon Brooks was arrested for DUI earlier this month, cops in Arizona expressed serious concern about the NBA player’s driving.
An incident report, obtained by The California Post on Tuesday, shows a Scottsdale Police Department officer stopped Brooks on Jan. 12 after the Suns guard’s driving made them nervous about the possibility he could cause a “catastrophic collision” in a congested, pedestrian-heavy part of the city.
Brooks was going 85 MPH in a 45 MPH zone in a 2019 Rolls-Royce Wraith, according to the report, which caused the cop to become “increasingly concerned about the extreme risk of a catastrophic collision or the vehicle striking a pedestrian.”
Dillon Brooks was pulled over for reckless driving on Jan. 12, several weeks before he was arrested for DUI. Provided by the Scottsdale PD
“Several businesses in the area were open and operating,” the cop wrote in the report. “A collision at such speeds could have resulted in multiple fatalities or serious physical injuries.”
Brooks was pulled over just after midnight, and body cam footage from the stop shows he actually asked the officer, “You pull me over because I’m speeding?”
The cop responded yes, and after getting Brooks’ information, the basketball player was cited for reckless driving and released.
Court records show Brooks, 30, is now facing two misdemeanors over the issue -— one count of reckless driving and one count of exceeding speed limit by 20/45 MPH — and is due to appear before a judge in early April.
Dillon Brooks has played in 50 games for the Suns this season. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Brooks was later arrested by the Scottsdale Police Department on March 6 — some seven weeks after his January run-in with cops — after authorities alleged he was driving under the influence.
Body cam footage from that stop showed an officer accused Brooks of having a car that “smelled like a dispensary” before he was taken to jail.
Dillon Brooks has been out of NBA action since February while dealing with a broken hand. Getty Images
Whether or not Brooks faces criminal charges over that matter “is up to the City prosecutor’s office,” the Scottsdale Police Department said.
Brooks has played in 50 games for the Suns this season, though he’s been out since late February after suffering a broken hand.
A message to Brooks’ rep seeking comment on Tuesday was not immediately returned.
CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 8: The sneakers worn by Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the game against the Boston Celtics on March 8, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 11: St. Louis Cardinals manager O?li Marmol and St. Louis Cardinals assistant hitting coach Brandon Allen watch batting practice a MLB game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals on August 11, 2023, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
We spoke with St. Louis Cardinals manager Oli Marmol recently about the state of the team now including the progress of Nolan Gorman, challenges with Jordan Walker, the impressive Spring for Joshua Baez and his goals for the 2026 team.
The St. Louis Cardinals made manager Oli Marmol available to us for over a half-hour late last week which included about a dozen online writers and podcasters representing multiple brands. During that time we and others asked him numerous questions which included the progress (or not) of prospects, the expectations for the pitching staff and what Oli would consider a successful season for 2026. Here are a summary of all the questions and a snapshot of his answers to each. He started with an opening statement which included this:
“Our audience experiences our team…a lot of it through the work that you guys do and I feel like when you put out work…I want to give you guys the opportunity to have direct access…rather than sometimes guessing as to how we’re thinking about things or how I’m thinking about things.”
How excited are you about the young Cardinals arms you have and how do you balance opportunity with allowing young players with enough runway to make adjustments?
“We almost have to take the approach we did with Libby with some of these guys where he wasn’t looking over his shoulder every start trying to figure out if I’m going to make my next one and I think that helped him see it as I have enough of an opportunity…there’s always gonna be urgency. None of these guys are taking the mound thinking…I have plenty of time to figure this out. But, it is nice for them to know that as I’m working towards becoming the best version of myself, I have the ability to make mistakes and then correct them…I really do believe that’s what helped Libby because he had to work through some things last year that weren’t easy and him knowing that if he had a bad outing that he was going to have a bullpen session two days after and be able to work on it and give it another shot…I think when you look at someone like Leahy who I really do want to see in the rotation because I think he can fit a little bit of what Libby did where because of how diligent he is with it and I mean when I say this dude is thoughtful in his preparation…it’s impressive.”
What type of things have you been doing with Nolan Gorman that have led to less strikeouts and better at-bats?
“He’s an interesting case because there has been opportunity, but it has been broken up at times because of having to give others opportunity…and bounce back and forth there based on having Arenado here and some others. It hasn’t panned out exactly the way you would want it laid out, but it has been broken up by injury…just having that real opportunity where it’s not choppy and you can see what he’s capable of doing. When you talk about what we’re doing with him and what he’s doing in order to prevent that from changing…more contact, not doing that at the expense of bat speed. You have to start somewhere and that’s why I wanted to lay that out last year….the bat speed is going to drop a little bit while we try to figure out how to get him through the zone and impacting the baseball at a higher rate. We saw bat speed drop. We saw contact go up. As he gets comfortable with that new move, then that allows for him to make more contact while still impacting the baseball…that’s what we’re seeing in Spring. It is more walks, more contact, but it’s not at the expense of him swinging the way he wants to swing…the counting stats…I don’t look at it in Spring as much…because you’re looking under the hood at the things you name that lead to sustainable success…are you controlling the strike zone? When you swing, are you making contact and are you hitting it hard?…You can be fooled in Spring Training by someone that has really good numbers, but it’s not sustainable.”
We know this is a different type of year and you’ll try to win every game, but how will you balance that with player development?
“It’s gonna be tough, but that’s part of the gig. If we’re trying to make decisions based on…we need to look long term, but we’re not giving anything away today. I think that’s how you build a winning culture…when I was coming up through the minor leagues…all the way through. We always talked about developing winning players. When we think about this group that is young and hungry…you’re going to have times where you have to make decisions that isn’t strictly to win that game, but it is to teach them what winning habits…look like. The goal is you do that often enough, then you just start winning. We could put a timeline on this and say…we’re gonna be good in 2028 or 2029…(but) try to be good today. I don’t know the timeline…these guys may come out and surprise the heck out of people…they may not. We’ll find out a lot about who can and who can’t. Our job is to create a framework for them to operate in, do it really well…hold them accountable and hold our staff accountable to it and move this thing as quick as possible in the right direction…our staff is in the mindset that it’s today.”
Who are some prospects that have really impressed you this Spring behind the scenes?
“I think you would agree with…Baez…that was fun to watch and not just because of the skill set. His demeanor…sometimes guys come up here and you can tell that they are putting on a front as far as looking confident when they’re really spinning inside and they’re just trying to control it. This dude had a quiet confidence to him that was pretty impressive. The way he carried himself in the clubhouse was really good. The way he communicated with the staff was really good…his overall presence on the field is felt. That’s not always the case. He’s one of the ones that you can get pretty excited about what’s to come…and the way he’s working now…there’s an urgency to it. He knows it’s close.
What about the issues with Jordan Walker?
“This has been one that…keeps us up at night. We have to figure it out. When I say I’m committed to it, I need to think of a stronger word to make sure that this dude figures it out…with us…because there’s a real skill set there, but I do feel like we missed some time in getting to where we’re at now. I wished we would have gotten to this point sooner. What I mean by that where there’s real vulnerability of what has actually happened…how do we feel…how are we gonna get on the other side of this to create real change…not just say we’re working on something, (but) six months later it looks very similar. I feel like we’re finally at a point where that’s happening. It could be a month before we feel good about it…it could be three months before we feel good about it…I may feel good about it in 3 hours….I don’t know. I like where we’re at with what’s taking place. There’s a real responsibility on both ends here…on mine, on Brownie and that whole hitting department…to unlock what he’s capable of…and there’s real responsibility on (Jordan’s) end, too…of carrying the work that he’s doing into the game. We’re doing everything possible for that to be the case…but this is one that has not gone well and we need it to go well. All hands on deck for this one.”
Big thanks to Oli Marmol and the St. Louis Cardinals for allowing us direct access. We’re assured that this will happen again more frequently moving forward so we can get the thought process of the President of Baseball Operations and his team and the manager as they navigate the St. Louis Cardinals forward through this rebuild of what we hope will be a team that returns to its winning ways sooner rather than later.
"It's something he's been dealing with. It just had been getting worse. He gutted it out last game and I think you could see he was favoring it late… It's something we're going to take time with."
Stewart has been one of the better defensive big men in the league this season and a key part of the Pistons' second-ranked defense, plus he is averaging 10 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. He is absolutely in the mix for an All-Defensive team, but with this injury he may well not meet the 65-game threshold to qualify for a postseason award (he has played in 55 games, the Pistons have 15 games remaining). Some of the time he missed this season was due to a seven-game suspension for leaving the bench during an on-court altercation between the Pistons and Hornets.
Expect this to mean more run for Paul Reed, who has averaged 13.9 points and 7.8 rebounds as a starter this season (eight games).
Eberechi Eze and Declan Rice scored pearlers as Arsenal eased into the quarters, where they’ll face comeback kings Sporting Club
Arsenal v Bayer Leverkusen. Arsenal make two changes to their starting line-up in Leverkusen. Ben White comes in at right-back for the injured Jurriën Timber, while Leandro Trossard replaces the benched Gabriel Martinelli. Kasper Hjulmand names the same starting XI.
The comeback’s definitely on now! Geny Catamo sprays a lovely ball down the right wing for Luis Suárez, who delivers an inch-perfect low cross into the middle. Pedro Gonçalves, steaming down the inside-left channel, doesn’t need to break stride before blasting home from 12 yards. Lovely sweeping move!
Bernardo Silva was sent off for handball and Vinicius Jr scored the resultant penalty, then added another in injury time, with Erling Haaland bagging between times
On the telly, they’re talking about this game. It’s up there with Juventus 2-3 Man United as the best European performances British teams have delivered in my lifetime.
Email! “Pep’s kinda washed and we should just say it,” says Christopher Flaherty. “Hemming and hawking about staying, no clear vision for the future ... further decline is more likely than another revolution.”
There are three late games on the spring training schedule tonight, which suits me just fine.
My MLB picks for Tuesday, March 17, highlight moneyline predictions for all three games, including the Cincinnati Reds toppling the Cleveland Guardians.
Spring Training predictions for March 17
Pick
Odds
KC moneyline
+115
CIN moneyline
-125
LAA moneyline
+130
Pick #1: Royals moneyline
This is a pure value play. The Kansas City Royals are still without Bobby Witt Jr. and Maikel Garcia (playing in tonight's WBC Final) and Vinnie Pasquantino (whose team was just eliminated on Monday), so it makes sense they're underdogs against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
But until he can prove otherwise, I have no faith in Roki Sasaki finding the strike zone with any consistency. The right-hander has issued five walks across 3 1/3 innings this spring while surrendering seven earned runs and five base hits.
Batters can wait until he gives in and crush him.
I'll take the plus money on the underdogs in case Sasaki digs himself, and the Dodgers, too big of an early hole.
Pick #2: Reds moneyline
The Cleveland Guardians lineup remains unimpressive, especially with Jose Ramirez likely sitting again with an injured shoulder.
I'm high on Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo, who was occasionally brilliant last season, even if his overall output was uneven.
With Cleveland sending lefty swingman Kolby Allard to the hill, I like the Reds to do enough early damage to preserve a win.
Pick #3: Angels moneyline
Chicago Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga faded down the stretch last season, and there are plenty of questions surrounding whether or not he can be a viable part of this rotation.
On paper, I like Imanaga more than Los Angeles Angels starter Mitch Farris, but not enough to ride with -155.
The Angels can stack the order with right-handed bats like Jo Adell and Mike Trout. If this were at Wrigley Field, I'd be less inclined to take the upset, because the wind often suppresses fly balls, helping Imanaga keep his ERA low, especially in colder weather.
In Arizona, he's much more susceptible to the long ball.
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.
Tonight's Coast 2 Coast Tuesday features another exciting slate of NBA action. First, at 8:00 PM ET, it's the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. the Milwaukee Bucks. Then, at 10:00 PM ET, the Philadelphia 76ers take on the Denver Nuggets. Live coverage tonight begins at 7:00 PM with NBA Showtime on NBC and Peacock. See below for additional information on how to watch tonight's games. Follow all of the NBA action on NBCSN and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.
Philadelphia 76ers vs Denver Nuggets Game Preview:
Before the All-Star Break, the 76ers were sixth in the Eastern Conference, in the final guaranteed playoff spot. But injuries and inconsistent play over the last month have dropped Philadelphia to ninth place, where they currently sit in Play-In tournament position.
Joel Embiid is out with an oblique injury, Paul George is still serving a 25-game suspension, and Tyrese Maxey has missed the last five games with a tendon injury in his right pinky.
With three of its top scorers sidelined, Philadelphia will look to VJ Edgecombe to lead the way. Edgecombe leads all rookies in total steals (89) and is third among rookies in scoring (15.4 ppg).
The Nuggets are currently fifth in the Western Conference, having won four of their last seven games. As the playoff race heats up, Denver will need more consistency to build momentum in a tightly packed West.
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Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. Sunday Night Basketball coverage will also be available on NBC and Peacock. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
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NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule:
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KC moneyline
CIN moneyline
LAA moneyline
Kurt Helin
Vaughn Dalzell