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Highlights: Dylan Harper and Devin Vassell light up from downtown in Spurs win over the 76ers

Mar 3, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) reacts to his three pointer against the Philadelphia 76ers during the third quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images


Poke the bear and you get the horns. Something like that. Everyone and their tax advisor knew that coming off their first lost in 10 games, the Spurs would come out swinging on Tuesday night. Boy howdy, did they wax the cow off that haystack.

Devin Vassell and Dylan Harper both had a game high of 22 points, while Victor Wembanyama slept walked his way to 10 points, 8 rebounds, with 3 steals and 6 blocks. 6 blocks. 6 blocks in 24 minutes of play. I couldn’t get 2 blocks on my daughter’s Fisher Price basketball goal in 6 years of play.

What a smooth shot. Devin Vassell, here, hoisted up a shot with such a perfect arch that even the CEO of McDonald’s was so impressed he forgot he was eating his own product that his company dispenses.

Filthy. Just filthy. So filthy, the dust cloud around Pig Pen spontaneously combusted from the sheer force of Victor Wembanyama’s slamma jamma.

Well, that’s just. That’s just rude, man. Stephon Castle just simply exorcising whatever demons he has onto the rim.

I am work shopping an alternative to “Area 51.” Don’t get me wrong, I love Area 51. But these two have an inexplicable mind meld going on whenever they share the court that it can only be described as ESP (extrasensory perception).

Hey, remember when I was just talking about ESP? Did you know that the late, great Dennis Hopper did a commercial praising the exploits of Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin? Well now you do.

Here, Devin Vassell channeled his inner Robin Hood and stole from the rich to give to the robo-advisors. On a team of Victor Wembanyams, Stephon Castles, and De’Aaron Foxes, it’s easy to forget that Devin Vassell is stacking together games played in this stretch run as he helps lead the Spurs to the playoffs.

Another day, another way for Stephon Castle to dunk his way into our hearts. He’s like Shia LeBouf in Transformers (2007): plucky, surprisingly good, and you really don’t mind the Linkin Park soundtrack even if hearing anything Linkin Park makes your ears taste Red Bull even if you like your Red Bull to taste like emo.

Look, I want to apologize from above for comparing our beloved Stephon Castle to Linkin Park. No offense to Linkin Park, but your nu metal/rap rock/alternative metal/electronic rock/pop rock is not enough to describe my love and admiration of Stephon Castle’s game. And I once went to a music festival (it was actually the State Fair of Texas) featuring Linkin Park with 30 Seconds From Mars opening for Linkin Park. But after my friend and I watched 30 Seconds From Mars (purely for Jared Leto) (it was the year when “Dallas Buyers Club” was an Oscar darling) open for Linkin Park, we skipped the main act (Linkin Park) to get a giant fried turkey leg because it’s Texas, and that’s what you do at the State Fair of Texas in 2014.

Dylan Harper out here in his bag waiting for us to say (in my best Stanley Tucci voice) “Girl, that Louis Vitton does not deserve to be hung off your arm.”

Julian Champagnie had no sense of dithering when he served up this soft lob to Luke Kornet to reward the big man for his block and hustle on the defensive end.

In a true display of overflowing of talent, the Spurs unleashed Carter Bryant to the tune of 25:35 minutes where he wreaked upon the basketball world a barrage of 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists in those almost 26 minutes. Feast your eyes as our young prodigy takes to the air in an aerial display of magnanimous marvel.

Nostalgia is just one heck of a PED. Now give us Ahmad Rashad hosting “NBA Inside Stuff.”

If you missed the game because you were too busy cataloguing your CD collection of Papa Roach, Limp Bizkit, and Evanescence, here are the full-game highlights:

Next up, the Spurs return home after a long road trip to take on the Detroit Pistons on Thursday, March 5, 2026.

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Grading the Mavericks: Klay Thompson got a raw deal, but he has taken it in stride

The Mavericks were 1-4 over the last week and remain in 12th place in the West. They beat Brooklyn (123-114), and lost four largely uncompetitive games to Sacramento (130-121), Memphis (124-105), Oklahoma City (100-87), and Charlotte (117-90). Naji Marshall led the team in scoring with 20.3 points per game. Cooper Flagg (foot) remains out, while Naji Marshall (finger), P.J. Washington (ankle), and Marvin Bagley (neck) all missed time.

Grade: C-

Cooper Flagg’s return cannot come fast enough. The Mavericks are playing multiple two-way guys every night and have rotation players in and out. This was one of the most meaningless stretches of basketball the Mavericks have played since possibly the 1980s, as they did not play well and did not improve their lottery odds by a single point. 

Max Christie and Khris Middleton played all five games. They averaged a combined 21 points per game on 38-of-101 shooting (37.6 percent). It was not a good showcase from them when they had an elevated offensive burden due to the injuries on the team. Dallas cycled point guards and centers and found nothing worthwhile in either category, outside of a remarkable stat line from Moussa Cisse against the Thunder: 12 rebounds, zero points, zero assists, zero blocks, and zero steals.

The Mavericks play three more road games this week, in Orlando, Boston, and Toronto. The talk is that Cooper Flagg could return in one of these games, and with him being from Maine, a homecoming in Boston could be on the horizon.

Straight A’s: Klay Thompson

Klay Thompson is in Dallas as a result of the falling out he had with Golden State over his role, and particularly with regards to coming off the bench. He came here to start alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, yet now he finds himself subbing in for Max Christie. Any player of his caliber and with his resume would have every right to demand a trade or pout. And yet, Thompson has not said a word. He has been a consummate professional, showing up to work every day and playing as well as he can. I am sure mentoring Cooper Flagg provides incentive to take a back seat on a bad team, but the fact that he hasn’t repeated the antics that led to an exit from the Warriors is commendable.

Currently Failing: Watchability

The Mavericks were already teetering on the edge of tolerable when Cooper Flagg was playing, but now that he has been out for an extended period of time, it’s clear where the joy from those games came from. It’s not even that Dallas is hurt or bad; it is that most of the guys they have healthy are either old or playing for their NBA lives. There are no future implications when Flagg does not play. This is not a Wizards or Nets situation, where they have loads of young guys that could be the core moving forward. This is as close to an existential crisis as basketball fandom gets. 

Extra Credit: Khris Middleton

Middleton will be a Maverick for the rest of the year. There were reports of Denver having interest, but ultimately, it will be Dallas where the former champion will play out his 2026 season. Regardless of reasoning, the Mavericks will benefit from his decision. He is another winning vet that can help guide Dallas’ young star rookie and prevent a losing culture from seeping in. It also speaks to the quality of guys behind the scenes, at least to some degree, that he would want to play relatively meaningless basketball in the latter stages of his career when the option to ring chase was on the table. Khris Middleton, we will not forget what you have done here.

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Milwaukee Bucks vs. Atlanta Hawks Preview & Game Thread: Play-in showdown

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 19: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on January 19, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Todd Kirkland/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Milwaukee Bucks face off with the Atlanta Hawks tonight as both teams battle for play-in positioning. The Bucks (four games back) sit at 11th, while the Hawks are tied with the Hornets for 10th; a Bucks win means they would gain a full game on the Hawks. This will be the second matchup between these teams this season, with Milwaukee taking the first on MLK Day in Atlanta. With just one more matchup to come, the Bucks can claim the season series tonight.

Where We’re At

As I explained on today’s episode of Deer Diaries, the Bucks have lost three straight because their offence—which had been sustaining them—has deteriorated rapidly. Their defence has been consistently weak all season (even during the recent winning streak), so that was never going to bail them out. If they can’t recover their previous level of offensive efficiency, they’re finished. On the positive side, Giannis returned and, while he appeared rusty, I thought he looked solid athletically. Hopefully, he continues to improve in all facets as the games progress.

The Hawks are in a much better spot than they were when these teams last met, having won five of their last six games (granted, three of those came against the Wizards and Nets). The newly acquired Jonathan Kuminga has shocked everybody with his performance since getting dealt to Atlanta at the deadline, scoring a combined 64 points in his three games in a Hawks uniform (again, though, two came against the tanking Wiz). They’re also finally getting solid contributions from CJ McCollum, who had a rough start with the team since arriving.

Injury Report

For the Bucks, Taurean Prince (neck) is out. The Hawks have a clean bill of health.

Player To Watch

Giannis. Not because he’s the best player on the team, but because he’s coming back off a long injury-induced break. While GA looked decent athletically in his return, he went 7/18 from the floor (including some bad misses) and had three turnovers. How does he look tonight with the return game out of the way?

How To Watch

ESPN and FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin at 8:30 p.m. CST.

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Jazz vs 76ers Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

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The Utah Jazz are in the City of Brotherly Love to face the Philadelphia 76ers, with tonight's tipoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. 

Keyonte George is coming off a massive performance, and my Jazz vs. 76ers predictions are eyeing him to show out in Philly. 

Read more in my NBA picks for Wednesday, March 4. 

Jazz vs 76ers prediction

Jazz vs 76ers best bet: Keyonte George Over 20.5 points (-105)

Keyonte George is having a career year, averaging 23.8 points per game, substantially higher than last season’s 16.8 PPG. George is proving to be a key piece alongside Lauri Markkanen in the Utah Jazz rotation. 

The Finnish star is sidelined with a back injury, so it was on George to pick up the offensive slack on Monday. While Utah still lost, he dropped 36 points. The Baylor product has hit the Over in points in two of his last three contests on the road as well. 

George is averaging 23.8 PPG on the road and 26.5 points post-All-Star break.

Jazz vs 76ers same-game parlay

Ace Bailey is averaging 12.1 PPG, but he’s cashed the Over in three of his last five, and poured in 18 points on Monday. 

Bailey also dropped 26 points last Thursday against the Pelicans, and with Markkanen sidelined, that means more shots to go around. 

Brice Sensabaugh is averaging 2.4 makes from downtown since the All-Star break, and he’s hit the Over in triples in two of his last four contests. Opponents are shooting nearly 40% from deep against the Philadelphia 76ers across their last three games.

Jazz vs 76ers SGP

  • Keyonte George Over 20.5 points
  • Ace Bailey Over 16.5 points
  • Brice Sensabaugh Over 2.5 made threes

Our "from downtown" SGP: Music to My Ears

The Sixers have lost two in a row, and Utah only lost to the Nuggets by three points on Sunday. Their young guns will help make this one close. 

Jazz vs 76ers SGP

  • Keyonte George Over 20.5 points
  • Ace Bailey Over 16.5 points
  • Brice Sensabaugh Over 2.5 made threes
  • Jazz +9.5

Jazz vs 76ers odds

  • Spread: Jazz +9.5 (-110) | 76ers -9.5 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Jazz +325 | 76ers -425
  • Over/Under: Over 240 (-110) | Under 240 (-110)

Jazz vs 76ers betting trend to know

The Utah Jazz have hit the Game Total Over in 31 of their last 50 games (+10.10 Units / 18% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Jazz vs. 76ers.

How to watch Jazz vs 76ers

LocationXfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
DateWednesday, March 4, 2026
Tip-off7:30 p.m. ET
TVKJZZ, NBC Sports Philadelphia

Jazz vs 76ers latest injuries

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There is no battle for the final spot in the Red Sox rotation, as Connelly Early, Payton Tolle seem destined for Worcester

We live in a world that’s increasingly predetermined. From the results in your search engine, to the next spoon-fed video YouTube recommends, to the advertisements you’ll see in this very article (which by the way you’ll see a lot less of if you sign up for Over The Monster and join our little community). Equations and algorithms run our life.

Enter the Red Sox rotation, which like our lives, feels increasingly preprogramed. There SHOULD be an intriguing little battle between Johan Oviedo, Connelly Early and Payton Tolle for the final spot behind Garrett Crochet, Ranger Suarez, Sonny Gray and Brayan Bello — but is there?

Yesterday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive did an outstanding job of outlining the factors at play, and by factors I mean the reason Oviedo is almost certainly going to get the first crack at the rotation over both Early and Tolle, no matter how fabulous their stuff looks on the mound down in Fort Myers. In short, Early has to spend 35 days in the minors for the Sox to gain an extra year of control of his services in 2032, and Tolle needs to spend 46 days down there to get that same extra year of control in 2032. So guess where they’re going come April?

Last week, we did our quarterly approval polling here at Over The Monster, and one of the questions asked “Do you believe the Red Sox will play service time manipulation games with Payton Tolle and / or Connelly Early?” A whopping 77% of respondents answered “yes” to that question, which is kind of astounding when you think about it. We can see what’s happening, and we know what’s about to transpire, but few cry foul because we’re slaves to the most “efficient” way to run a ballclub.

And of course, there’s also just enough plausible deniability where a couple of things could go off script and the kids end up breaking through anyway. The first of course is injury, and that’s partially how Early and Tolle got their shot last September. The rotation thinned, the other obvious options were clear losers, and the club needed fresh arms to get to the finish line. This spring, I see five arms in front of Early and Tolle and nearly a month to go before Opening Day, so it’s not impossible a slot opens up. Stuff happens!

Secondly, Early or Tolle could agree to a team friendly contract. Look no further than last spring when Kristian Campbell made the Opening Day roster over both Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer despite not looking nearly as good as either of them in camp. And wouldn’t you know it, just days after the season started, Campbell and the club agreed to an eight-year, $60 million deal. (What an amazing coincidence! I’m sure there’s no possible way that was agreed to before camp ended and influenced who made the roster.)

In any case, those are the two most likely ways I see Early and/or Tolle making the roster out of the gate, but as far as actually pitching their way into the rotation through good ol’ fashion merit? Well, let’s just say my cynical ass has some serious doubts. In fact, the better these guys look, the more likely the Sox are to to try and wrestle away that extra year of control. It’s all part of that Cobra Effect we talked about last year with Anthony and Mayer, just playing out with a new cast of characters.

Now of course, the Prospect Promotion Incentive (PPI) is still right there, and in theory it should work to get these guys up in Boston right away, but Cotillo even notes in his piece, this scenario remains quote “unlikely.”

So here’s how this probably plays out: If everybody stays healthy through March, Early and Tolle will need to “work on a few more things in Worcester so they’re truly ready for major league lineups.” However, if injuries pop up, then the Sox will be “so impressed” with one or both of them and they couldn’t leave them off the roster. Here, they will have “earned” that rotation spot.

Oh, and if Early or Tolle somehow do make the rotation the first swing through without any injuries, bet the farm on a contract extension being magically agreed to within days of the season starting. I mean, just look at how the big name prospects were called up last year for refence:

Kristian Campbell: Agreed to a long-term, team friendly contract in the spring, and he got a shot right away.

Marcelo Mayer: Called up in May when Alex Bregman went on the IL with a quad injury.

Roman Anthony: Called up in June when Wilyer Abreu went on the IL with an oblique injury.

Payton Tolle and Connelly Early: Called up at the end of the summer when Dick Fitts hit the IL, Walker Buehler was released, and Dustin May got injured within a couple weeks of each other.

The pattern is clear. Why would this year be any different?

Over the weekend, Payton Tolle did an interview with the Section 10 guys, and in it he mentions a recent interaction with a fan where upon confirming Tolle’s concentrating on a starting role, the fan said something along the lines of “oh, so you’re going to be starting the season in Worcester?” And I couldn’t help but laugh because that fan could easily be from one of two possible extremes — Both of which seem amazing well represented among Red Sox fans:

  1. He could be your classic New England a-hole who has no problem telling anybody how much they suck to their face.
  2. He could be somebody who knows exactly how service time manipulation works, how the Red Sox use it, and why Tolle is a prime candidate to experience it in 2026.

The is no in-between here!

But at the end of the day, despite that amusing little story, doesn’t this suck? Sports are supposed to be one of the last remaining bastions of spontaneous, unpredictable things in life where the human element still rules the show. And yet, when it comes to who fills out the first few trips through the rotation, we’re likely stuck with a preprogrammed script. On one hand, I get it, but on the other hand, I’m really, really underwhelmed by it.

Now, a couple final thoughts before I wrap this up.

One: I actually do think Tolle needs to spend some time in Worcester to work on his secondary pitches. He needs this better secondary stuff to complement his electric fastball and keep hitters off balance. Connelly Early however should have a real chance at getting major league starts. While not as flashy as Tolle, he has a much deeper arsenal and already knows how to use it.

Secondly, because I need to scratch this itch, I believe the bloated, oversaturated playoff field is a huge problem when it comes to treating players properly. When fewer teams make the postseason, and there’s fewer division winners to reward, there’s more pressure on clubs to put the best team possible on the field from day one. Do you remember what April and May games felt like as recently as the early 2000s when fewer teams made it to October and you had to get out of the gate hot to keep up with the Yankees and the top Wild Card team?

Part of the reason why it’s inefficient to play young players who may be better, more productive roster fits is because the sport’s overlords have devalued the 162 game season to the point that you can kind of get away with this chicanery. Not giving another inch in terms of more teams in the postseason (or even pushing to reduce the number of postseason teams) is a sneaky huge issue I’d stand firm on if I were the players in the upcoming war with the owners next winter.

In the meantime, Early and Tolle should start looking at short-term rental options in Worcester.

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Sixers host Utah Jazz on second leg of back-to-back

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - DECEMBER 28: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives into Cody Williams #5 of the Utah Jazz during the second half of a game at Delta Center on December 28, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Sixers are coming off a rough one — getting blown out at home by the San Antonio Spurs, 131-91. The good news is they won’t have long to stew on it. Philadelphia hosts the Utah Jazz tonight on the second leg of a back-to-back, giving them a quick chance to bounce back.

Sixer fans know a tank job when they see one, and the Jazz are running a familiar operation this season. Utah is near full tank mode, banged up across the roster and sitting comfortably in the lottery race. That said, the pieces are starting to come together. The blockbuster acquisition of Jaren Jackson Jr. at the trade deadline gives them a legitimate cornerstone to build around, and he’ll eventually slot in alongside a frontcourt that already features Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler — the latter a pending restricted free agent.

Surrounding that frontcourt is Keyonte George, a guard in the middle of a genuine breakout. In 50 games, George is averaging 23.9 points and 6.4 assists on 46.1/37.3 shooting splits. His decision-making and efficiency have taken a leap, and he’s quickly establishing himself as one of the more exciting young guards in the West.

Beyond the headliners, Utah has quietly built some depth despite the losing record. Fifth overall pick Ace Bailey has put together a productive rookie campaign, and the roster is dotted with intriguing young pieces in Kyle Filipowski, Brice Sensabaugh and Isaiah Collier. The foundation is real — once they get healthy and stay healthy, they’ll be a threat in the West sooner than people expect.

On the Sixers side, things are trending in the wrong direction. The Spurs loss wasn’t just a bad night, the team looked gassed and disjointed from the opening tip. VJ Edgecombe exited that game after a hard fall and did not return, with the team citing back soreness. His status for tonight is worth monitoring. Joel Embiid and Paul George are both out, and Kelly Oubre — who missed the Spurs game with an illness — is also questionable.

The Jazz are several tiers below San Antonio, but this is shaping up to be another shorthanded night for Philly. Calling a regular season game a must-win is a strong statement, but this one is close. The Sixers are just 0.5 games ahead of the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat for the sixth and final playoff spot, and with the play-in looming, dropping a winnable home game against a depleted Utah squad would sting.

For Utah, Jackson Jr., Kessler, Markkanen, Jusuf Nurkic and Vince Williams are all out tonight. Keyonte George is expected to play. Philadelphia’s full injury report won’t drop until early afternoon, but Embiid and Paul George are confirmed out. Edgecombe and Oubre are the names to watch as tip-off approaches.

Can the Sixers stop the bleeding and secure a win against a team that’s actively trying to lose? Let’s find out.

Game Details

When: Wednesday, March 4th, 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

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Sabres Reportedly Out On Thomas, Are The Canadiens Still In?

With barely 55 hours left until Friday’s 3:00 PM trade deadline, TSN Insider Darren Dreger reports that the Buffalo Sabres have gone the distance in trade talks with the St. Louis Blues on center Robert Thomas and that Jarmo Kekäläinen is ultimately not willing to meet the high price tag set by Doug Armonstrong.

Meanwhile, after their defeat against the San Jose Sharks, the Montreal Canadiens woke up in the first wild card spot, one point behind the Detroit Red Wings and three points behind the aforementioned Sabres, with a game in hand on both. The 7-5 defeat was the Habs’ last game before the trade deadline, and Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes, who are on the West Coast trip with the team, looked deflated taking in the game last night.

If Armstrong refused to lower the price tag on his prized centerman with the Sabres, it’s unlikely he’ll be willing to do it with the Canadiens. The Blues’ GM reportedly wants the equivalent of four first-round picks in assets, and it is believed that any conversation with the Habs starts with the inclusion of Michael Hage.

Canadiens Lose Thrilling Game In San Jose
Former Canadiens First-Rounder Traded To New Team
Canadiens Would Need A Fantastic Offer To Net Robert Thomas

While the Blues are willing to move Thomas, they don’t absolutely have to move him, and they are probably more than willing to wait until the offseason to do it if they do not get an offer to their satisfaction. If the Sabres truly are out of the running, the pressure to overpay might be off for the Canadiens.

Seeing the Sabres land Robert Thomas a year after landing Josh Norris could have been a disaster for the Canadiens; seeing a direct divisional rival improve its center line twice while the Habs swung and missed would not have pleased Geoff Molson.

Even though Hughes is a shrewd negotiator, when GMs are moving major pieces like Thomas or Noah Dobson last summer, they tend to stick to their demands when they’ve identified their main trade target. Back in June, New York Islanders GM Mathieu Darche was adamant that, on top of the first two round picks, he needed Emil Heineman to pull the trigger. Hughes wasn’t keen on letting the winger go, but he eventually had to. It’s hard to imagine what the Canadiens could offer to make Armstrong forget about a player with so much hype as Hage right now.

Just like the Blues, the Canadiens don’t have to make a move right now; they have the luxury of waiting, and judging by what we’ve seen from Hughes in the past, he doesn’t lack patience. It may just be that the Habs have a quiet deadline and settle on just moving Patrik Laine and shoring up their blueline.

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

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In The Lab: Astros Left Field Offense

Let’s start off by being honest. Left field is a bit of a quagmire for the Astros as they aren’t sure if Yordan Alvarez will get a majority of the starts out there or if they can follow through with their plan to DH him. I should not that in the Hall of Fame Index I did not have a DH position, so Yordan would be categorized as a left fielder anyway. We will undoubtedly see Zach Cole there on occasion, Zach Dezenzo on occasion, and Joey Loperfido on occasion. For our purposes here, we will look at just Alvarez and Dezenzo.

However, I am throwing in one more name that is not and probably never will be an Astro. I insert him as a frame of reference. One of the things I have found is that analytics requires any number of frames of reference. I usually talk about the averages for each number we look at it, but sometimes it is informative to look at what the very best are doing. So, I am including a player that I believe to be the best overall hitter in baseball. I’m certain I will get pushback there, but I have my preferences which I will go into.

  • Chase rate: This is the percentage of balls a player swings at outside of the zone. The league average normally lives around 30 percent, but we will be looking at three year intervals and we should notice trends more than where a player is in relationship to the league average.
  • Hard hit percentage: This is simply the percentage of balls that a player hits hard. Hard hit balls become hits and extra base hits more often than softer contact. Typically 35 percent is around the league average in this category.
  • BABIP: This is batting average on balls in play. Home runs are obviously excluded since they are not in play. The league average tends to hover around .300 but it will largely depend on hard hit percentages and breakdowns between groundballs, flyballs, and line drives.
  • Contact percentage: This is the percentage of swings that turn into contact. Typically 75 percent is around league average.
  • HR/FB percentage: This is the percentage of flyballs that result in home runs. Ten percent is typically around the league average.

Yordan Alvarez

ChaseHardhitBABIPContactHR/FB
202327.852.2.30679.521.2
202431.349.7.31781.316.0
202528.052.9.29578.49.5
Aggregate29.051.6.30679.715.6

Coming into last season, Yordan had two superpowers. He hit the ball really hard and more of his flyballs turned into dingers than any other Astro. Obviously, those numbers dipped last season in the power department, but we can probably chalk it up to the hand thing and move on. However, his chase and contact rates are also slightly above the big league average, so the key to his game is that he doesn’t have any glaring weaknesses at the plate.

Keep that socked away in your mind when we look at what to expect from him but also where to categorize him in the game. If there is a significant bounce back candidate on this squad it is Yordan. He was starting to come back late last season, but then injured his ankle running the bases (stepped funny on home plate) and was lost for the season. Just for fun, let’s compare him with the best hitter in baseball.

ChaseHardhitBABIPContactHR/FB
202317.255.3.29681.924.5
202418.456.1.29879.825.0
202516.255.1.27079.925.1
Aggregate17.355.7.28880.524.9

These are Juan Soto’s numbers. I will grant that Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani will likely have singular categories better than Soto. Luis Arreaz makes more contact than Soto. However, that is not what makes Soto the best hitter in baseball. What makes him the best hitter in baseball is the microscopic chase rate. There is no player in baseball more adept at getting on base than Soto and he succeeds in making people pay when they do come in the zone.

What strikes me is that Yordan is not that far away from Soto historically. The only category that is wildly different is the chase category. Yordan hits the ball just as hard. When you go back beyond these three seasons you see that he also has similar power numbers. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck then it is probably a duck. If you put up underlying numbers that match the best hitter in baseball then you are one of the best hitters in baseball. Yordan has an opportunity to be THAT guy again. If he is THAT guy then the Astros offense becomes viable again.

Zach Dezenzo

ChaseHardhitBABIPContactHR/FB
2023—-—-.38270.818.8
202423.151.4.37175.714.3
202521.641.0.37369.38.3
Aggregate22.446.2.37571.913.8

These are mostly the minor league numbers for Dezenzo and as we can see, he did not play above AA in 2023. This hitting profile is becoming all too familiar. It looks almost identical to what Brice Mathews is bringing to the table. Not to spoil any future articles, but we will see it again with Zach Cole and Joey Loperfido. Dana Brown has a type. He likes selective hitters that hit the ball hard and have good power. Unfortunately, that usually comes with some hit and miss.

I only have the numbers to go on, but I would assume the idea is that hopefully one or two of them will make enough contact to be viable big league hitters. Most hitters are not Juan Soto or Yordan Alvarez. Those guys are the guys that get megadeals. Most hitters have a hole. The question is where do you want your hole? The Astros have chosen contact for most of their upper level prospects. Is that right way to go? What do you think?

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Prosecutors Close To Extending Several Plea Deals In Chauncey Billups Poker Case

Chauncey Billups rigged poker case
IMAGN/Brant James illustration

Federal prosecutors in the alleged rigged poker case involving NBA Hall of Fame player and on-leave Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said in court documents filed Tuesday that they expect to extend formal plea agreements to 12 defendants “in the coming days.” Negotiations are underway with several more.

“The government has had productive conversations with counsel for at least nine other defendants, and the government is reasonably optimistic that those conversations will lead to pretrial resolutions as to those defendants,” said the document.

A formal status hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Eastern District of New York courthouse in Brooklyn.

Thirty-one people were indicted on Oct. 23 on multiple wire fraud and conspiracy charges in what federal prosecutors described as a sprawling, Mafia-backed conspiracy to lure high-dollar players into poker games with famous athletes like Billups, then bilk them using tables fitted with sophisticated cheating mechanisms. 

rigged-poker-indictment

Will Billups get a plea deal?

While it is unknown which players will be offered deals, a former U.S. attorney told Casino Reports that the evidence against Billups from the indictment did not appear to indicate knowledge of the conspiracy.

Those arrested included members of the Bonanno, Gambino, and Genovese organized crime families and Damon Jones, a former NBA player with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat.

According to New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the scheme collected at least $7 million. Beginning in 2019, games were held in the Hamptons, Las Vegas, Miami, and Manhattan, according to U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr., and were found to have ensnared wealthy former athletes and amateur players.

“The scheme targeted victims known as ‘fish’ who were often lured to participate in these rigged games by the chance to play alongside former professional athletes who were known as ‘face cards,’” Nocella said at an Oct. 23 press conference. “The so-called face cards included the defendant Chauncey Billups, who at the time of the scheme was a former NBA player and is currently the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, and also Damon Jones, a former NBA player and coach.”

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Allen's record-breaking century earns New Zealand big win over South Africa in T20 World Cup semis

KOLKATA, India (AP) — New Zealand opener Finn Allen smashed the fastest-ever century in a T20 World Cup game to help the Kiwis defeat favorite South Africa by nine wickets in the first semifinal on Wednesday.

Allen’s blistering unbeaten 100 off 33 balls featured 10 fours and eight sixes and propelled New Zealand to 173-1 in only 12.5 overs to end South Africa’s hopes of reaching its second successive final.

Allen’s ruthless power-hitting saw the right-hander smash Marco Jansen for 4-4-6-6-4 to reach one of the most memorable hundreds in the tournament’s history and lift New Zealand to only its second final.

West Indies great Chris Gayle had the previous record with his 47-ball hundred against England in the 2016 tournament.

South Africa, which came into the playoffs on the back of seven straight wins in the tournament that included seven-wicket win over the Kiwis in the group stage, had used Jansen’s unbeaten 55 off 30 balls to score 169-8 after Mitchell Santner won the toss and elected to chase at Eden Gardens.

“Just tried to get in good positions and perform for the team,” Allen said. “We wanted to start well and put them on the back foot early. Easy for me when Timmy is going like that … training is really important to get a feel of the wicket. We knew it would be black soil, we had that intel.”

And the chase was all over inside the first six overs when Allen and Tim Seifert (58) raced New Zealand to 84-0. Both batters smashed Jansen for two sixes and three boundaries in left-armer’s first two overs and then Allen rounded off the power play by smashing Corbin Bosch for 22 runs in the sixth over.

The return of Kagiso Rabada and leftarm spinner Keshav Maharaj also couldn’t stem the flow of runs as the pair swelled the opening stand to 117 in only nine overs. Rabada got the consolation wicket of Seifert when he knocked the top of leg stump, but Allen kept coming hard on the bowlers with his amazing power-hitting.

Jansen was punished by Allen and Seifert as the left-armer conceded 53 runs off his 2.5 overs. Bosch gave away 35 of his two overs while Maharaj (0-33) and Lungi Ngidi (0-22) were smashed for 55 runs off their five overs.

“Massive credit to Finn Allen’s knock and Seifert’s knock to kill the game off as early as they did,” South Africa captain Aiden Markram said. “We expected the wicket to play really well, looked really good to the eye. Maybe we had to try and scrape our way to 190 and we’d be in the game.”

Jansen leads South Africa recovery

Left-handed Jansen led the recovery in the second half of the innings after the top-order had slipped to 77-5 in the 11th over against off-spin of Cole McConchie (2-9) and the leftarm spin of Rachin Ravindra (2-29).

Santner was quick to gauge the matchup and his ploy to give McConchie the new ball brought New Zealand two wickets in two balls when Quinton de Kock (10) was caught at mid-on and Ryan Rickelton sliced a catch to point off the first ball he faced from the offspinner.

Markram (18) and David Miller (6) couldn’t capitalize on dropped catch and fell to Ravindra with Daryl Mitchell holding onto the catches of both batters in the outfield.

Jansen and Tristan Stubbs (29) revived the innings with a 73-run stand as Jansen raised his half century with back-to-back sixes against Lockie Ferguson and South Africa accelerated well in the death overs by scoring 68 runs of the last six overs.

“When you see how good South Africa are, to put on a performance like that in a crunch game is pretty pleasing,” Santner said. “I guess today was just about trying to keep pressure on throughout, and when you take wickets consistently it’s a challenge to keep going with the bat.”

New Zealand will take on the winner of Thursday’s semifinal between co-host India and England.

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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

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Mets Morning News: Exhibition win

Feb 27, 2026; Jupiter, Florida, USA; New York Mets second baseman Vidal Brujan (2) returns to the dugout against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Meet the Mets

The Mets beat Team Nicaragua 6-3 in an exhibition game before the World Baseball Classic begins. Jonah Tong made the start for the Mets, going 2.2 innings and giving up a run while striking out three. Brooks Raley and Craig Kimbrel also each gave up a run, while the other five pitchers on the Mets side escaped their appearances unscathed. It was an group effort on the offensive side as well, with Bo Bichette, Francisco Alvarez, Vidal Bruján, and Chris Cuero each driving in runs, with Bruján driving in two including the game-winning run.

After playing catch on Monday, Francisco Lindor will hopefully be able to take batting practice today, a good sign for his hope to return by Opening Day.

Nolan McLean is on the mend and with Team USA after suffering with some vertigo-like symptoms last week.

Not only is McLean likely to start for Team USA in the March 10 game against Team Italy, but he’s expected to start the final on March 17 (provided Team USA makes it).

Tom Seaver’s 1969 World Series ring sold for a tidy sum at an auction.

St. John’s University honored Shannon Forde, former Mets senior director of media relation until her untimely passing a decade ago, by presenting a jersey to her family.

Edwin Díaz went into more detail about his departure from the Mets, among other things.

Jon Heyman listed eight Mets who could make or break the Mets season.

Around the National League East

Jurickson Profar has tested positive for banned PEDs for the second year in a row and is facing a full 162-game suspension, which would encompass the entire 2026 season.

The MLB Players Association plans to challenge the suspension of Profar by the league.

Baseball Prospectus has published their season preview for the Miami Marlins.

Around Major League Baseball

MLB has compiled a guide to all the teams in each pool at the World Baseball Classic.

Behind every breakout at spring training is some eye-popping numbers.

Ken Rosenthal put out another notes article, including a dive into the special bond between two Team USA superstars.

David Schoenfield at ESPN ranked the most dominant positions in baseball.

There’s a very logical reason that would preclude Paul Skenes from pitching in a potential Word Baseball Classic Final game for Team USA.

Team USA is taking some inspiration from a all-time great American Olympian.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

Lukas Vlahos wrote about the sneaky good gamble the Mets have taken on reliever Bryan Hudson.

Steve Sypa previewed the ever-present Ronny Mauricio’s 2026 season.

Lukas Vlahos also graded the Mets’ minor league roster moves.

This Date in Mets History

Six different former Mets are celebrating birthdays today.

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Yankees 2026 Season Preview: Clarke Schmidt

TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 25: Clarke Schmidt #36 of the New York Yankees participates in a spring training workout at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 25, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Come Opening Day, the Yankees’ starting rotation will be far from full strength. Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole will both be on the injured list to begin the 2026 campaign, but the Bombers will also be without Clarke Schmidt for a significant stretch to begin the year. The right-hander is recovering from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent during last July with the newer internal brace procedure.

Whether Schmidt will even be among the top five starters when he is able to return remains to be seen, but nonetheless, the Yankees will be without another valuable arm for much of the campaign. He has missed ample time over the last two seasons, but his performance during that stretch has been the best of his career, so the Yankees would welcome a full return from their 30-year-old starter.

2025 Stats: 14 starts, 78.2 IP, 4-4, 3.32 ERA (123 ERA+), 3.95 FIP, 4.44 xFIP, 23.1% K%, 9.5% BB%, 1.03 HR/9, 1.09 WHIP, 1.3 fWAR

2026 FanGraphs Depth Charts Projections: 3 starts, 32.0 IP, 2-2, 3.99 ERA, 4.05 FIP, 23.1% K%, 8.0% BB%, 1.17 HR/9, 1.25 WHIP, 0.3 fWAR

Schmidt debuted for the Yankees back in 2020, and after forgettable cups of coffee in that season and in 2021, the right-hander got his first real look at action the following year. The 2022 season saw him pitch in 29 games, only three of which were starts, but it was a solid body of work — a 3.12 ERA in 57.2 innings. A year later, he was a full-fledged member of that starting rotation, making 32 starts, doing so as an average back half guy, managing a 4.42 FIP in his 159 innings of work.

More recently, Schmidt is coming off of some of his best work, albeit limited due to the elbow injury. In 85.1 innings, the now 30-year-old managed a 2.85 ERA in 2024, the lowest figure or his career. His strikeout rates increased to over 25 percent, and he kept the walks at bay. When on the mound, Schmidt had shown himself to be a fairly dependable, and at times good, Major League starter. Of course, the primary issue was his ability to only stay healthy for 16 starts, though he was active as a member of the playoff rotation en route to the 2024 Fall Classic.

The good times continued in 2025, as Schmidt was nearly as good in 78.1 innings of work last season, although the peripheral numbers were slightly worse. If nothing else, the continuation of that impressive stretch likely convinced the Yankees that he could be a dependable arm every fifth day. But, once again, the injury trouble resurfaced with his aforementioned Tommy John internal brace procedure — the second TJ of his career, following a pre-draft operation in early 2017. He was sidelined in July, and likely won’t be back until the later months of the 2026 campaign.

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As far as his ability is concerned, the Yankees should feel fine about Schmidt. He has posted three consecutive seasons of fine-to-very-good pitching, and has even shown flashes of excellent work on the mound. Expectations should be managed, considering the limited sample size and the significant injury, but it is fair to assume that he is a solid big-league pitcher.

The right-hander’s health, however, is the primary concern. Despite the impressive numbers, Schmidt has also posted consecutive seasons in which he basically pitched half of a full-time starter’s role. Between shoulder trouble and the elbow procedure, his health is far from a certainty. The Yankees will be without him for at least the first half of the season, and their first question will certainly be of whether he can stay on the mound for an extended period. Returning from a second Tommy John surgery only adds another hurdle. Schmidt will be familiar with the rehab grind, but one never truly knows how their elbow takes to the procedure until the possible return to game action gets closer and the intensity rises. Although we can be optimistic, the first year back—especially a partial year like this one will be—can be bumpy. A setback or two could potentially nix his 2026 as well. Will Schmidt be healthy enough for a starter’s workload by late summer?

They say you can never have enough pitching, and they say it for good reason. When Schmidt does eventually return, it will be welcomed by a Yankees staff that has several hurlers returning from significant injury. Baseball being baseball, others will likely be on the shelf by then, too. Until then, the Yankees will have to wait on Schmidt’s recovery. The latest updates say that Schmidt could be throwing bullpen sessions soon, and perhaps facing hitters in the coming month or two. Get well soon, pal.

See more of the Yankees Previews series here.

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Edgecombe joins list of sidelined Sixers, out with back injury

Edgecombe joins list of sidelined Sixers, out with back injury  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

VJ Edgecombe is the latest significant addition to the Sixers’ list of sidelined players. 

A Sixers official said Wednesday afternoon that an MRI on Edgecombe confirmed the rookie suffered a lumbar contusion during the team’s blowout loss Tuesday night to the Spurs. 

Edgecombe will miss the Sixers’ matchup Wednesday vs. the Jazz. He’ll be re-evaluated before the Sixers visit the Hawks on Saturday. 

The 20-year-old guard picked up his back injury when he thudded to the floor after being fouled by Carter Bryant on a three-point attempt with 0.2 seconds left in the second quarter. He was officially ruled out at halftime. Backcourt mate Tyrese Maxey went to the Sixers’ locker room to see Edgecombe in the third quarter. 

“No one likes getting hurt, but he was the same — smiling, happy,” Maxey said. “We had a good conversation. That’s my little bro. I’m going to check on him; I couldn’t continue the game without checking on him.”

Edgecombe’s played in 57 of the Sixers’ first 61 games and averaged 35.1 minutes. He’s posted 15.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 steals per contest during an excellent rookie season. 

The 33-28 Sixers will remain without Joel Embiid (strained right oblique), Kelly Oubre Jr. (illness), Paul George (suspension) and Johni Broome (right knee meniscus surgery recovery) against the 18-43 Jazz. Quentin Grimes started in Oubre’s usual spot on Tuesday and Cameron Payne opened the second half instead of Edgecombe.

Utah enters Wednesday on a six-game losing streak and down several key players, including Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Walker Kessler. 

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Luke Donald to return as Ryder Cup captain for Europe for 2027 competition

VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) — European players chanted, “Two more years!” when they won the Ryder Cup in New York, and Luke Donald listened. He was named captain on Wednesday for the 2027 matches in Ireland, making him the first captain in 30 years to lead in three straight Ryder Cups.

At stake for Donald is a chance to become the first Ryder Cup captain with three straight victories.

“The last two Ryder Cups have meant a lot to me and my family," Donald said. "I didn’t imagine this third time would come. Celebrating on that Sunday night in New York after a pressure-packed week in a tough environment, I thought maybe my job was done.

“But maybe there is a little more story to tell.”

Donald, a former world No. 1 from England, was never meant to be captain in the first place. He seemingly lost out when Europe chose Henrik Stenson to be captain for the 2023 matches outside Rome. But then Stenson gave up the job when he joined Saudi-backed LIV Golf, and Donald stepped in and hasn't missed a beat.

Donald led Europe to a resounding victory in 2023, and then last September at Bethpage Black led his team to a seven-point lead going into Sunday singles. It held on to win while coping with a hostile New York crowd.

That prompted U.S. captain Keegan Bradley to say, “I think he’s the best European Ryder Cup captain of all time, Luke Donald."

The 2027 matches — the 100th anniversary of the Ryder Cup — will be at Adare Manor in Ireland. Europe has not lost on home soil since 1993.

Donald said he wanted time to soak up the big win at Bethpage Black, and it was only about a month ago that he began to consider whether he wanted the job again and whether to risk what already has been a stellar performance.

“You obviously do question the possibility of losing if you go again,” he said in a video call. "That is always the possibility in sports. You can only give yourself the best opportunity. Winning and losing is not something you can control. You can give yourself an edge and that’s what I hope to do.

“Again, you have those thoughts that, ‘What if this doesn’t go right and we are the first team to lose at home in 34 years?’ Does that taint anything?” he said. “I think there was many more pros than there were cons, and that’s ultimately why I’m sitting here.”

Now it's up to the Americans to decide who will go up against Donald. Tiger Woods again is the top choice to lead Team USA. Woods turned down the job last time, leading to Bradley being appointed just 14 months before the matches.

Woods has said he hasn't decided whether he has the time to do the job justice. He currently is leading an overhaul of the PGA Tour model. The Associated Press reported last week the PGA of America has encouraged Woods to decide within the month.

“Whoever the captain is, it doesn’t really change my role,” Donald said. “My role is to formulate a plan to give our team the best opportunity and what the U.S. are doing is kind of inconsequential to that. I look forward to whoever it is.”

Bernard Gallacher from 1991 through 1995 was the last captain to serve three straight times, winning his last one at Oak Hill.

Donald was seen as an obvious choice for 2027, part of that a product of LIV Golf because of other potential captains — Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell — who are with LIV. Justin Rose had said at the start of the year he was more interested in playing for the 2027 team. Francesco Molinari was viewed as another option.

“History is obviously important to me. As a team, as Ryder Cup Europe, we all play for history," the 48-year-old Donald said. "We talk about it a lot, about the guys who paved the way for us and the responsibility we have to inspire next generations. But I don’t think I have ever thought about history through a personal lens. I just try to enjoy the journey and the day-to-day work to create an environment that gives the players the opportunity for success. That is what I focus on.”

Walter Hagen was a winning captain four times for the Americans, while Ben Hogan led the U.S. team to three victories, though neither was in successive matches and those occurred in an era of U.S. dominance before Europe was part of the Ryder Cup.

Tony Jacklin was European captain three times, and his players left with the gold trophy all three times. The last one in 1989 was a tie, and Europe retained the Ryder Cup as the defending champion. At stake for Donald is the first to win outright three straight times.

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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

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Dodgers notes: Roki Sasaki, River Ryan, Jackson Ferris

GOODYEAR, ARIZONA - MARCH 3: Roki Sasaki #11 of the Los Angeles Dodgers heads to the dugout after being removed during the first inning of the spring training game against the Cleveland Guardians at Goodyear Ballpark on March 3, 2026 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After a disappointing regular season and a shoulder injury that cost him four months worth of time, Roki Sasaki was the saving grace for the Dodgers bullpen during their most recent title run.

Sasaski was finally able to show flashes of his promising potential that was heavily advertised the offseason prior, and after his brief bullpen stint, he is now set to return to the Dodgers rotation this upcoming season. Just like how his 2025 regular season began, Sasaki has struggled mightily on the mound over his first two starts of the spring.

Sasaki allowed three runs in his first start against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, following that up by allowing another four runs against the Cleveland Guardians via a grand slam from Kyle Manzardo on Tuesday. Although the Dodgers were able to salvage both games after the right-hander’s departures, the early results have painted a bleak picture on Sasaki’s outlook ahead of opening day. Despite the struggles, the plan is to keep him in the rotation come the Dodgers opening series on March 26, notes Sonja Chen of MLB.com.

“I think it can change. But I don’t think it’s gonna change before we break,” Roberts said. “Building him up, we see him as a starter, and giving him every opportunity for success. But again, we still gotta coach him up, and he’s still gotta continue to get outs and work ahead like Major League starters do.”

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River Ryan later came in relief during Tuesday’s contest against Cleveland, and tossed two scoreless innings while striking out three and allowing zero hits and one walk. Ryan’s stock for making the opening day rotation is rising with every appearance— especially with Blake Snell and Gavin Stone officially ruled out— but Dave Roberts won’t make any hasty decisions too early amidst the competition, per Courtney Hollmon of MLB.com.

“I think right now, where we’re at, I don’t think we need to really talk about a competition as far as the rotation. Once we get to the 21st of March, we’ll have a better idea once we break camp. But I think right now, there’s just too much that can happen.”

Dave Roberts spoke about the team’s top pitching prospect Jackson Ferris, as the left-hander has impressed with 2 2/3 scoreless innings so far this spring, per Jack Vita of the Los Angeles Times.

“I like Jackson,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said recently. “I like the player. He’s a good kid. A lot of talent. I think for me, it’s just trying to harness his arsenal. It’s a good fastball. He needs to continue to get ahead, be able to put hitters away with the secondary pitches, be efficient with his pitches per inning, but I like Jackson.”