TORONTO, CANADA - FEBRUARY 4: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles against Brandon Ingram #3 of the Toronto Raptors during the second half of their NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on February 4, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Toronto Raptors, by just about any measure, are enjoying a highly successful season. At 35-26, they’ve surpassed all reasonable expectations for a team that picked up just 30 wins last year. They have two All-Stars, and are well on their way to a playoff appearance.
And yet, Tuesday’s loss to the New York Knicks cemented a concern that’s been on many Raptors fans’ minds: They can’t seem to beat good teams.
The Raptors are currently just 4-16 against the 10 teams ahead of them in the NBA standings. Three of those four wins came early on against the then-struggling Cleveland Cavaliers who had not yet added James Harden. Four of the losses, meanwhile, have come against the Knicks, each by a margin of 16 or greater.
On the flip side, the Raptors are a dominant 31-10 against the 18 teams beneath them in the league standings. Beating bad/mediocre teams is not a useless exercise: Those results make a big difference when it comes to fighting for playoff seeding.
But as the playoffs draw closer, the Raptors’ woes against top teams are becoming an increasingly worrying indicator that they’ll struggle in the postseason.
Their recent results bear out this trend. Toronto is 3-3 in their last six games: The losses all came against teams in a playoff spot, while each win was against a team outside of the playoff picture.
Tonight, the Raptors will have their work cut out for them as they head to Minnesota to take on the 39-23 Timberwolves, at 8 p.m. EST on Sportsnet.
These two teams last faced each other about a month ago, when the Wolves won 128-126 led by a 30-point performance by Anthony Edwards. The Wolves have been especially hot since the All-Star break, winning seven of their last eight games. Meanwhile, the Raptors could be without their top scorer as Brandon Ingram is questionable with a thumb injury.
Ingram scored 25 and was a +2 in their loss against the Wolves. And following Tuesday’s loss to the Knicks, in which Toronto came within two points with six minutes left only to end up losing by 16, Ingram spoke about the need to overcome their persistent issues executing in the fourth quarter.
“I think every time we play a good team, they know exactly where they want to go in the fourth quarter, and they do it over and over again,” Ingram said.
He added, “The good thing is, we’re in the games. But we got to figure out how to finish the game.”
That fourth quarter execution issue was on full display when the Wolves overcame an 18-point deficit to beat the Raptors in February.
The Raptors may be down their top scorer in their rematch against the Wolves, but they’ll have a new weapon for the rematch: Jakob Poeltl missed that first game and will be active tonight. While sometimes looking diminished as he returns from his back injury, Poeltl has been valuable for the offense as a screener, and his size will be key in matching up against Rudy Gobert. Collin Murray-Boyles remains out.
The Raptors have some things to clean up outside of fourth quarter execution. Their defense looked at times lethargic against the Knicks, and they made a number of mistakes and miscommunications that led to rapid scoring opportunities that may very well have cost them the game.
The Timberwolves have the league’s sixth-rated defense which features Gobert, a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate/winner down low, and Jaden McDaniels, one of the league’s premier perimeter defenders. The Timberwolves have also added guard Ayo Dosunmu since their last matchup.
Scottie Barnes may need to shoulder a larger offensive load if Ingram is out – and he may also draw the assignment of guarding Edwards, one of the league’s most dynamic and athletic scorers.
It won’t be easy for the Raptors. But if they want to change the narrative about facing good teams, they’ll have to win some tough ones.
Joining the Golden State Warriors hasn’t been as glamorous as Al Horford hoped.
The veteran was supposed to be a complementary piece on a championship contender, but with injuries ravaging the Dubs, Horford is carrying more of the load lately.
My Warriors vs. Rockets predictions and NBA picks for Thursday, March 5 bank on “Big Al” to battle on the boards.
Don't miss tip-off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
Warriors vs Rockets prediction
Warriors vs Rockets best bet: Al Horford Over 5.5 rebounds (-112)
Al Horford’s floor time jumped in the past seven outings, logging more than 26 minutes and hauling in an average of 5.2 rebounds.
He’s snagged six or more boards in four of those showings, and his rebounding chances spiked to 9.2 in that frame — up from 7.7 before that uptick in action.
He could face less competition on the glass vs. a Houston Rockets frontcourt missing a ton of size, with its top four rebounders either questionable or out Thursday.
Projections sit north of six rebounds from Horford, with Over 5.5 priced as high as -130 at other books.
Warriors vs Rockets same-game parlay
Houston is back home after a road-heavy schedule. The Rockets are trying to hold on to the No. 3 seed in the West, while the Golden State Warriors are sinking like a stone with two wins in the last seven games and little motivation to make the postseason cut.
Horford is getting more run with the Dubs roster depleted, and Houston’s frontcourt could be running thin, with several forwards dealing with ailments.
Gui Santos is enjoying an uptick in offensive touches due to the Warriors’ injury issues. Before a bad outing vs. the Clippers, he scored 13 or more points in nine of his last 10 games and is projected for 14.4 points tonight.
Warriors vs Rockets SGP
Rockets moneyline
Al Horford Over 5.5 rebounds
Gui Santos Over 12.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Draymond vs. Durant
There’s no love lost between these former teammates. Draymond Green gets the Golden State offense going while Kevin Durant comes up short on his scoring total, but helps pick up the slack on the glass.
Houston is the best home Under bet in the NBA, going 9-17-1 Over/Under inside Toyota Center. Find more NBA betting trends for Warriors vs. Rockets.
How to watch Warriors vs Rockets
Location
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Date
Thursday, March 5, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Warriors vs Rockets latest injuries
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Andrew McCutchen turns 40 this October. Yet his desire to extend his Major League Baseball career runs deep enough that he's willing to try and make a team to keep it going.
McCutchen agreed to a minor-league contract with the Texas Rangers, the Dallas Morning News reported, ending a three-season rekindling of his relationship with the Pittsburgh Pirates in which the club could not rekindle its days of playoff contention when the outfielder was in MVP form a decade ago.
Though McCutchen batted just .242 in his three-season reunion in Pittsburgh, he remained a league average hitter for the stint, posting a .736 OPS and 104 adjusted OPS as the Pirates continued to struggle creating a contender. This season, the seemingly open invitation McCutchen had in Pittsburgh faded away, as the club signed Ryan O'Hearn to be their primary right fielder.
It seemed a lane might exist for McCutchen to get at-bats against left-handed pitchers, but trades with Boston and Tampa Bay that added Jhostnyxon Garcia and Jake Mangum, respectively, closed that off.
So, McCutchen will aim to win a job out of the Rangers' camp in Surprise, Arizona. The club has emerging star Wyatt Langford, oft-injured Evan Carter and recently acquired Brandon Nimmo as their primary outfielders, but several iterations remain where McCutchen is a fit, particularly against left-handed pitching.
McCutchen won the 2013 NL MVP for the Pirates and has hit 332 homers that also included stops with San Francisco, Philadelphia, Milwaukee and the New York Yankees.
Those assets give the Bruins extra firepower to make moves ahead of this year’s deadline if there’s a player(s) that interests Sweeney.
The top player rumored to be available is St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas. He is a first-line caliber center early in his prime at just 26 years old.
Thomas is an elite playmaker who has tallied 60-plus assists and 80-plus points in each of the two previous seasons. He also averaged 21.25 goals scored over the last four seasons. A potential first-line duo of Thomas and David Pastrnak would be a lot of fun to watch.
Thomas’ production this season has been down a bit. He has scored 13 goals with 24 assists in 44 games. But he has missed 17 of the Blues’ 61 games.
A No. 1 center has been the Bruins’ top roster need since Patrice Bergeron retired in 2023. Elias Lindholm is a very good player, but he’s not a true No. 1 center. Fraser Minten is having the best season of his young career, but it’s no guarantee he develops into a top-six center on a contending team.
Bringing in Thomas would bolster the Bruins’ biggest weakness. And it wouldn’t be a rental, either, because Thomas is signed long-term. His contract runs through the 2030-31 season with an $8.125 million salary cap hit, which isn’t steep at all when you consider how much the salary cap is projected to rise in the near future.
The cost to acquire Thomas via trade is understandably very high.
The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford, on Feb. 26, reported it to be “three first-half-of-the-first-round assets. For example, that could mean an established young player, a drafted prospect and a draft pick who were all selected or could be taken in the first 15 or so picks.”
Based on Rutherford’s parameters, a hypothetical trade package from the Bruins might have to include a first-round pick and a top prospect such as James Hagens or Dean Letourneau, plus another asset or two, to satisfy the Blues’ asking price. Hagens was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and is having a fantastic season for Boston College. Letourneau, who was the No. 24 overall pick in 2024, is having a great season for BC, too. Both players are Hobey Baker Award nominees this year. Boston’s best young players with NHL experience are Minten, Mason Lohrei and Matt Poitras.
The question the Bruins must ask themselves is how soon can Hagens develop into a valuable contributor? Will Hagens ever develop into a player of Thomas’ caliber?
The Bruins’ core is Pastrnak (29 years old), Charlie McAvoy (28), Jeremy Swayman (27), Morgan Geekie (27), Hampus Lindholm (32), Elias Lindholm (31), Pavel Zacha (28) and Fraser Minten (21). Most of the core is still in its prime, but outside of Minten, they’re not necessarily young, either. How old will Pastrnak and McAvoy be by the time Hagens is a key part of the team? Can the Bruins afford to wait that long with this group?
Thomas, at 26 years old, fits the age timeline of Boston’s core players. He’s already a legit top-six forward, and he still has room for improvement. He would accelerate Boston’s journey toward being an elite team again.
The Bruins, as a result of last year’s trade deadline selling, would still have plenty of quality young players/prospects even if they gave up a lot to land Thomas. Boston’s prospect pool and draft pick stash would not have to be completely gutted to get him, despite the asking price for the Blues star being very high.
The B’s could still have a potential lottery pick in the 2026 NHL Draft (via the Toronto Maple Leafs’ first rounder, top-five protected), plus an extra first-rounder in 2027 from the Florida Panthers. Boston also owns all its future second-round picks and has three fourth-rounders in 2026.
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If the Bruins had to part with Hagens in a hypothetical Thomas trade, they’d still have Letourneau and North Dakota wing Will Zellers as prospects with the potential to be difference makers at the NHL level.
Parting with a couple awesome assets for Thomas would be tough for Bruins fans. There’s no doubt about that. But No. 1 centers are extremely difficult to find. You have to draft and develop them, or make a trade for one. They almost never get to free agency anymore. And players of Thomas’ caliber and age rarely are available via trade, either.
It’s a unique situation the Bruins should take advantage of. Adding Thomas wouldn’t immediately make the Bruins one of the top three Stanley Cup contenders this season, but it gets them a lot closer to being in that group.
It’s a jam-packed night of hoops action with nine games on the board, full of NBA player props for bettors to dive into.
I’ve found my three favorites for today, which include Devin Booker staying hot for the Phoenix Suns and Nikola Jokic dishing out the dimes against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Those and more NBA picks below on Thursday, March 5.
Prop #1: Wendell Carter Jr. to record a double-double
+290 at bet365
The Orlando Magic are fighting to avoid the Play-In, and that means taking care of business against a banged-up Dallas Mavericks team.
The Mavericks' injury list is long and includes No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, who is questionable with a foot injury. It’s also devastated their depth in the frontcourt, and teams have taken advantage.
Dallas ranks dead last in opponent points in the paint per game.
So, I’m targeting Wendell Carter Jr. He’s averaging 10 points and 10 rebounds over his last seven games, so getting him to record a double-double at +290 is great value tonight.
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: KFAA, FanDuel Sports Network Florida
Prop #2: Devin Booker Over 2.5 made threes
+140 at bet365
Devin Booker returned after missing 12 of 15 games and immediately let it fly against the Sacramento Kings, going 4-for-9 from 3-point range.
I’m betting the Phoenix Suns’ star guard stays hot in another great matchup against the Chicago Bulls.
The Bulls’ defensive effort has waned, as they rank 28th in defensive rating over the last 15 games. They are also surrendering the sixth-most opponent-made threes per game over that stretch.
At this price, I love backing Booker to have another big night from beyond the arc.
Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: CHSN, KTVK
Prop #3: Nikola Jokic Over 10.5 assists
+105 at bet365
The Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets are similar teams, which is probably why they’re battling in the Western Conference standings.
These are two excellent offensive rosters that aren’t giving the same effort at the other end. The Lakers, in particular, rank 22nd in defensive rating and allow the fourth-worst opponent effective field goal percentage.
The Nuggets obviously move the ball well, and the Lakers also rank 26th in opponent assists per possession. So, let’s not overthink this. Nikola Jokic averages 10.3 assists per game, and we are getting plus money for him to go Over a number he’s topped in five of his last 10.
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With the trade deadline upon us, rumours are swirling everywhere around the league, and there are a couple of big-name goaltenders reported to be on the market. Given how the Montreal Canadiens have struggled in net, could they try to bolster the position before tomorrow’s trade deadline?
Samuel Montembeault has struggled out of the gate this season and has a 10-8-3 record on the season with a 3.37 goals-against average, while rookie Jakub Dobes, who started the season as the backup, has a 19-6-4 record with a 3.04 GAA and a .889 SV. Despite not having great numbers, Dobes leads all rookie goaltenders in wins with his 19 triumphs. San Jose Sharks’ rookie Yaroslav Askarov also has 19 wins, but he earned them in 38 games, while Dobes saw only 29 games of action.
Despite the goalies’ underwhelming numbers, the president of hockey operations, Jeff Gorton, said in an interview with Sportsnet’s Eric Engels that the Canadiens are probably more comfortable than most people think with their goalies. But Kent Hughes and Gorton have both said in the past that Hughes has his fingers on the pulse of the trade market and that it’s his job to know what’s out there and how much it could go for. When Gorton spoke to Engels, the names of Sergei Bobrovsky and Jordan Binnington weren’t out there.
Now that the Florida Panthers are on their way to missing the playoffs after winning back-to-back Stanley Cups, and the veteran goaltender is in the last year of his contract, he could become a solid rental option. Despite being 29 years old, Montembeault has only played three playoff games in his career, just like 24-year-old Dobes, meaning the Canadiens could certainly use some experience in net.
However, with his $10 M cap hit, Bobrosky would be tricky to acquire; the Canadiens would need the Panthers to be willing to take Patrik Laine and a goaltender in return, which doesn’t appear very likely. It wouldn’t be cheap to convince them to play ball, and the Habs have said in the past that they do not want to have to part with assets to move the big Finn.
Besides, it’s hard to imagine Hughes being willing to sacrifice assets for a very temporary solution. As for Binnington, he’s in year five of his six-year, $6M cap hit contract. The St. Louis Blues have been in a lot of trade rumours of late because of their abysmal results, and it’s not hard to imagine them being ready to move on from the netminder.
He has proven he can win, guiding the Blues to a Stanley Cup as a rookie in 2019 and winning the 4 Nations Face-Off with Canada last year. However, he is having an awful season; he’s 8-18-6 in 33 games with a 3.60 GAA and a .867 SV. Would a change of scenery instantly make him better? That’s doubtful.
There’s no denying that the Canadiens will soon have to make a big decision when it comes to their goaltending. Prospect Jacob Fowler didn’t look out of place in the 10 games he played in the big league this season, and he could very well end up starting the next season in Montreal, making one of Montembeault and Dobes surplus to requirements. Acquiring Binnington would probably delay his arrival, and if the Habs’ brass deems him ready, it would make very little sense. Unless, of course, they intend to move on from both Montembeault and Dobes, but that’s easier said than done.
It feels as if the Canadiens are likely to get reinforcements in net, they are more likely to come from the Laval Rocket than from outside. Giving Fowler some playoff experience would make much more sense than acquiring a band-aid solution.
MESA, AZ - OCTOBER 23: Yunior Tur #52 of the Mesa Solar Sox pitches during the game between the Salt River Rafters and the Mesa Solar Sox at Sloan Park on Monday, October 23, 2023 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
*In an effort to make the nomination voting easier for everyone, I will comment, “NOMINATIONS”, and you may reply to that with your picks and upvote the player you’d like to see on the next nominee list.
The voting continues and the winner of this round of voting is right-handed reliever Yunior Tur. A 26-year-old out of Cuba, Tur was always considered a large project as a pitcher but also one that has a high ceiling if he can learn how to pitch instead of throwing. His first couple years in the system were a big learning curve as he struggled to adjust to the States and better hitters, but Tur put up a solid season this past year, spent mostly at Double-A. The jury is still out on his ultimate role with the big league club in the future, whether that’s starting or relieving so watching his progress this coming year should provide answers on that front.
Joining the next list of nominees is outfielder Ryan Lasko. The Athletics’ second-round draft pick in the 2023 Draft, Lasko’s calling cards are his above-average speed and defense, though those also come with questions about his abilities in the batter’s box. That should provide him with a high floor as a possible defensive-oriented center fielder or fourth outfielder, but if he can show some improvement with the bat and unlock the power he’s shown he has in the past, Lasko would be yet another quality outfielder in the Athletics’ farm system.
The process for this public vote is explained below. Please take a moment to read this before participating:
Please only vote for one. The player with the most votes at the end of voting will win the ranked spot. The remaining four players move on to the next ballot where they are joined by a new nominee.
In the comments, below the official voting, the community will nominate players to be put onto the ballot for the next round. The format for your comment should be “Nomination: Player Name”.
If a prospect is traded, his name will be crossed out, and all other players will be moved up a space. If a prospect is acquired, a special vote will be put up to determine where that player should rank.
The voting continues! Time to vote for the 2nd-best in the A’s farm. Here’s a quick rundown on each nominee— the scouting grades (on a 20-to-80 scale) and scouting reports come from MLB Pipeline.
Núñez has an electric fastball that sits 97-99 mph and reached up to 101 last year, though the movement is somewhat lacking as hitters are able to see it a little longer. His upper-80s slider is his best pitch. It’s at least a plus offering that gets good depth and has posted high whiff and chase rates in the Minors. He occasionally throws a curveball, but that is a distant third pitch in his arsenal, leaving him with drastic handedness splits.
Núñez is inconsistent in his delivery at times, and that was evident with his inability to consistently throw strikes in his short time with the A’s last year. The arm talent is there to carve out a role for himself in a Major League bullpen, perhaps as a quality late-inning weapon, though he will always come with some volatility given his challenges with locating pitches.
Causey thrives with a fastball that hovers around 90 mph, but that’s because he has a funky sidearm delivery that helps him get crazy movement and deception with his arsenal. Causey excelled in his first full pro season, posting a 1.72 ERA across High-A Quad Cities and Double-A Northwest Arkansas. He’s a fast mover with a different look that could add to the Royals’ bullpen in the coming years.
Causey began the year with a sinker, changeup and sweeper, but he added a four-seam fastball this season to help him at the top of the zone. After years of working on adding a cutter, Causey finally found something that works with the four-seamer.
Zhuang leans heavily on his four-seam fastball that he can change speeds quite a bit with, throwing heaters that range anywhere from 86-96 mph, though it generally sits in the low-90s. His low-80s changeup has emerged as his best secondary pitch. He also brings a mid-70s curveball, low-80s slider and mixes in a low-80s splitter, providing a decent starter repertoire.
Zhuang, nicknamed ‘Z-Man’ within the organization, did a good job of staying healthy last season to silence some previous injury concerns. But while he has above-average command and enough pitches to remain a starter in the Minors, questions still remain about the effectiveness of his offspeed stuff, especially against higher competition, which could eventually lead to him switching to a bullpen role where his fastball can play up in shorter stints.
Turley falls in line with similar A’s draft picks in recent years — like Denzel Clarke and Rodney Green Jr. — as a toolsy outfielder with some concerns about his ability to make consistent contact. He’s got big power and is able to drive the ball out to all fields with great bat speed, but his strikeout rates throughout his career with the Beavers were somewhat alarming. The question over whether he can hit enough to tap into that raw power is something he’ll have to prove early in his pro career. He has a tendency to chase breaking stuff often, though he mitigates that issue somewhat with his strong ability to draw walks.
A big knock on Turley coming out of college was poor defense, but the A’s believe he is plenty athletic and speedy enough to improve and envision that happening as he grows into his 6-foot-1 frame. His body type and look in the box remind some within the organization of Mark Canha, and he’ll look to move through the system as a power-hitting corner outfielder.
Lasko is still trying to learn his craft from an offensive standpoint. He brings good plate discipline and bat speed, but pitch recognition is something he’s still working to improve. The A’s have also worked with him to rein in his high intensity during games. The power element he showed in college has also yet to show up much in pro ball.
Defense is Lasko’s calling card. He’s a plus defender in the outfield with a great arm and plays center field fearlessly with high energy. His speed is evident in his range, as well as on the basepaths. He’s another talented center fielder in the A’s system who could one day provide stellar defense in the Majors, but the hit tool is something he’ll have to continue improving to become anything more than a fourth outfielder at the highest level.
* * *
Programming Note: Each CPL vote will run for around 48 hours, so don’t delay in making your
Daniel Jesus Palencia, the 26-year-old Venezuelan native, is the Cubs’ current closer. It’s his second year in the top spot, and so far he looks like he plans to stay there.
Palencia throws the ball hard and has evidenced decent control of his offerings. Last year, he had a losing record (1-6), but also logged a 2.91 ERA, with 22 saves and 61 strikeouts, in 52.2 innings in 54 games, good for 0.6 bWAR (1.0 fWAR). He have up 5 home runs and issued 16 bases on balls. That’s good stuff.
Projections generally have him throwing a few more innings but continuing in the same vein, which would be just fine with the Cubs, I would imagine. A 25 plus strikeout percentage, and a 10% or under BB% are other features that Palencia is predicted to gather.
Palencia threw three pitches in 2025, out of five he has on hand. His FB can reach triple digits and sits around 98 mph, his splitter travels around 88, and his slider is around the same. He abandoned his changeup in 2024 and his curve last year. He doesn’t seem to need them. He also throws a very occasional sinker, Baseball Savant says.
Palencia gets his power from his tree-trunk thighs and Cal Raleigh fundament. At 26, he should be able to keep those heaters coming for a while still.
Before leaving for his third World Baseball Classic, Paul Goldschmidt offered a simple, personal reason for participating.
“It’s maybe the most fun I’ve ever had playing baseball.’’
And maybe there’ll be a magic moment for the veteran Yankees’ first baseman, in the twilight of a fine career, on a talent-loaded Team USA – favored to win the gold.
As play begins, 13 Yankees are scattered about WBC rosters, the largest pinstriped collection since the tournament began in 2006.
Austin Wells: Faster start?
Perhaps the WBC can be a launch pad for Wells.
Offensively last year, Wells got off to a slow start and didn’t build on 2024, his first full MLB season.
At the plate, “I expect a lot more out of him. As does he,’’ Yankees manager Aaron Boone said recently, referencing Wells’ .219 average and .712 OPS in 126 games.
Playing in his first WBC, Wells is catching for Team Dominican Republic, honoring his mother’s heritage.
And as Goldschmidt said recently, WBC play “can help you prepare for the regular season,’’ by facing better competition in a playoff-type setting – a different ramp-up than the exhibition schedule.
“You can’t simulate these really meaningful (WBC) games,’’ said Goldschmidt. “I think that’s beneficial.’’
Elmer Rodriguez: Breakout star?
Rodriguez and fellow right-hander Carlos Lagrange are the most exciting pitching prospects in Yankees camp.
Now, Rodriguez has an opportunity to showcase his talent for Team Puerto Rico, in what MLB.com called the tournament’s most balanced of the four WBC pools.
Rodriguez is scheduled to start Puerto Rico’s second game of pool play, against Panama (with Yankees infielder Jose Caballero on the roster).
Canada, Cuba and Colombia are also in Pool A.
In the WBC leadup, Rodriguez tossed three scoreless innings Tuesday against his old organization; last year, the Yanks sent catcher Carlos Narvaez to the Boston Red Sox for E-Rod.
With a four-pitch arsenal, led by his fastball and slider, Rodriguez – who reached Triple-A by the end of last year – could impact the Yankees’ pitching staff at some point in 2026.
Jazz Chisholm Jr.: World stage advantage?
Yes, this looks like a brief WBC stay for the Yankees’ second baseman.
Chisholm is one of six players from the Bahamas on Team Great Britain, residing in Pool B with Team USA and Team Mexico.
The lefty-hitting Chisholm is Great Britain’s greatest player by far. And despite the tough draw, he’ll get a personal chance to display his talent and plus-personality before entering a key 2026 season.
This is Chisholm’s free agent walk year, and he’s already discussed following up his 30-homer, 30-steal season with a 50-50 campaign – with a substantial payday to follow.
If he stays healthy for the full season, anything’s possible. However it shakes out, Chisholm’s important year begins here.
Yankees relievers: Highlight innings?
Last year’s trade deadline acquisitions of David Bednar and Camilo Doval were also aimed toward fortifying the 2026 club.
Meanwhile, fellow right-hander Fernando Cruz, added via trade before the ’25 season, became an important end-game bridge.
Bednar (USA), Doval (Dominican Republic) and Cruz (Puerto Rico) are all participating in the WBC, with a chance to pitch some big innings, while Yanks’ lefty reliever Tim Hill could potentially enter as a Team USA alternate.
Naturally, the overriding WBC wish of Yankees Universe is returning their pitchers healthy and ready for the regular season.
How this trio emerges after the early, adrenaline rush of tournament play is one more thing to watch.
Aaron Judge: WBC MVP?
Here's the latest, big stage for the two-time defending AL MVP.
In his first WBC, Judge is also Captain America - the signature player on a USA team seeking just its second tournament title.
Judge recently spoke about the inspiration drawn from the recent men's and women's Team USA hockey gold medal performances, and how personally meaningful it is to finally play for his country.
Plus, "this room has a presence,'' said Judge, who's elevated 2025 postseason performance was something Yankees fans had long hoped to see.
Tops on that list is Judge leading the Yanks up the Canyon of Heroes. Before that, he can lead Team USA to a title.
"Tate and Jack are dating," the source said. "They started casually seeing each other late last year, so it’s still new, but they are exclusively seeing each other."
Hughes, who scored the winning goal in overtime against Canada in the gold medal game at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games, had been seen with McRae on several occasions since their first public appearance together last December.
The 22-year-old Canadian singer, who earned her first Grammy Award nomination last year for the soundtrack single "Just Keep Watching" from the film "F1," has also been spotted supporting Hughes at Devils games.
McRae is a big hockey fan, serving as a celebrity captain and performing live at the 2024 NHL All-Star Game in Toronto.
She is perhaps best known for her breakout hit "You Broke Me First," released in 2020.
McRae received some backlash from Canadians after her public support for Team USA at the Olympics, which led her to post on social media that she was still "Canada down."
Tate McRae responds to backlash over her supporting Team USA in a Winter Olympics ad:
The Florida Panthers are gearing up to play their final game before the NHL Trade Deadline.
With their playoff hopes dwindling following three consecutive losses, the Panthers are in Ohio for a matchup with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night.
About 17 hours later, the Trade Deadline will hit.
Unfortunately for Florida, a stretch of eight defeats in 10 games has cost them deadly, dropping the Panthers from three points out of a playoff spot to their current position, 10 points back with only 21 games left to play.
Columbus, meanwhile, is three points behind the Boston Bruins for that final Wild Card spot.
The Blue Jackets have points in 10 of their past 11 games and are 13-2-1 since Jan 11.
Florida has welcomed several long-injured players back into their lineup recently, and that may continue on Thursday night.
Defenseman Seth Jones, who has missed more than two months, is close to making his return, and that could come in Columbus or Detroit on Friday.
Over the past several games, Florida has welcomed back Dmitry Kulikov and Tomas Nosek as well, with forward Jonah Gadjovich, who has been out since late October, also nearing a return to the lineup.
Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Thursday’s battle with the Blue Jackets:
Carter Verhaeghe – Evan Rodrigues – Brad Marchand
Mackie Samoskevich – Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk
Photo caption: Mar 20, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner (38) reaches for the loose puck as Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) defends during the second period at Nationwide Arena. (Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images)
The Detroit Red Wings were unable to protect a two-goal lead on Wednesday evening against the Vegas Golden Knights, dropping a 4-3 overtime decision after having entered the third period with a 3-1 lead.
Tomas Hertl's power-play goal gave Vegas the victory, and it was their first win over a team in a playoff position since Nov. 20.
While Emmitt Finnie scored his second goal in as many games for the Red Wings, who also got first-period goals from Simon Edvinsson and Alex DeBrincat, they sat on their lead and stopped attacking, registering only a single shot on goal through the first 12 minutes of the game's final frame while Ivan Barbashev and Mitch Marner eventually knotted the score at 3-3.
Detroit had a prime opportunity on the power-play with just over two minutes left in regulation, during which there was a concerning scene involving team captain Dylan Larkin.
Larkin took a cross-check from behind in front of the net from Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb and collapsed to the ice. Not only was there no penalty called on the play, but Larkin appeared to be injured and very slowly made his way off the ice while hunched over.
While he was eventually able to come back during the subsequent overtime, Vegas eventually secured the extra point thanks to Hertl, with Edvinsson in the box for slashing.
Afterward, Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan indicated that while Larkin was sore, it was a good sign that he was able to return during the game.
"Dylan is sore, I'm sure, and obviously, not very happy with the outcome," McLellan said. "He'll get looked at by the training staff right now, I'm sure, and we'll get an update. But, he was able to come back and play, which is a good sign."
The scene was reminiscent of a truly frightening incident in December 2023, when Larkin was cross-checked from behind by Ottawa Senators forward Mathieu Joseph, leaving him motionless on the ice for several moments. He missed the next handful of games.
Thankfully, in this case, the Red Wings may have avoided the worst-case scenario.
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The New York Islanders and Los Angeles Kings have both been kind to Under backers this season, scoring few goals at one end while limiting them effectively at the other.
My Islanders vs. Kings predictions expect another low-scoring game in the cards when they square off in Los Angeles.
Let’s break down my NHL picks for Thursday, March 5.
Islanders vs Kings prediction
Islanders vs Kings best bet: Under 5.5 (-115)
The New York Islanders sit tied for fourth in goals allowed per game, leading to low-scoring contests — particularly against sound defensive teams like the Los Angeles Kings.
Isolating matchups with Top-10 goal suppression teams, the Isles have played 10 straight games featuring five goals or fewer. An average of just 4.7 goals was scored along the way.
New York is unlikely to push the pace in a road back-to-back. It also saved star netminder Ilya Sorokin for this contest, who leads the NHL in goals saved above expected, and will make life difficult on a struggling Kings' offense.
Islanders vs Kings same-game parlay
Adrian Kempe has generated at least three shots on goal in four of five games with Artemi Panarin on his opposite wing. He's averaged 7.2 attempts against teams outside the Top 10 in shot suppression this season, which is the kind of output you’d see from someone with a 3.5 shot total.
Bo Horvat has generated three or more shots in five of six games with Ondrej Palat and Mathew Barzal as his two wingers, averaging 3.6 per night.
The New York Islanders have hit the game total Under in 17 of their last 25 away games (+10.65 Units / 39% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Islanders vs. Kings.
How to watch Islanders vs Kings
Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Thursday, March 5, 2026
Puck drop
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Islanders vs Kings latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
In 2025, a lot of ink was spilled on Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong, and understandably so. McLean started the season with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, posted a 1.37 ERA in 26.1 innings with them, then a 2.78 ERA in 87.1 innings with the Syracuse Mets, and then dazzled the baseball world with a 2.44 ERA in 48.0 innings at the major league level. Jonah Tong also started the season with Binghamton and posted a 1.76 ERA in 102.0 with them, then was promoted to Syracuse and did not allow a run in 11.2 innings, and then limped to the end of the season by posting a 7.71 ERA in 18.2 major league innings. A lot of people don’t realize this, but Jack Wenninger kept pace with both of them. Making 26 games for the Rumble Ponies, the right-hander posted a 2.92 ERA in 135.2 innings, allowing 114 hits, walking 42, and striking out 147 batters- tied for second most in the Mets minor league system in 2016 with R.J. Gordon.
Wenninger was drafted in the 6th round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the 186th player selected overall. At the time, he was an unheralded right-hander and one of a large group of day two pitchers that included Kade Morris, Wyatt Hudepohl, Austin Troesser, Zach Thornton, and Noah Hall (and Nolan McLean, though he was still a two-way player at the time and not a full-time pitcher). Unlike that other group of pitchers (once again excluding McLean), Wenninger has rocketed up past his peers, landing at 10 on Amazin’ Avenue’s 2026 Top 25 Prospects list.
As an amateur, and prior to the 2025 season, the right-hander got by using a low-90s fastball, an above-average split changeup, and a fringy slider, cutter, and curveball. This past season, Wenninger added a little bit of velocity to his fastball, refined his cutter and slider- morphing the two into a sharper gyro slider- and began using a different curveball grip to give the pitch more bite. Both breaking balls are now average offerings, supplementing an average fastball and an above-average changeup. Tying his overall pitching abilities together, the right-hander is able to reliably command all four.
Where Wenninger fits into the Mets’ pitching puzzle in the immediate future is unclear. While the pitching rotation as it stands now certainly has plenty of volatility in terms of health and performance, Wenninger is so far down in the depth chart that he is likely a non-factor in 2026 unless something catastrophic happens with the starting rotation. A non-roster invitee to spring training, in addition to having to clear a spot on the 40-man roster to activate him, youngsters with MLB experience such as Tobias Myers, Jonah Tong, Christian Scott are likely ahead of Wenninger in the depth chart, with veterans such as Justin Hagenman and Jonathan Pintaro in contention for spot starts as well. As with any pitcher, he could be shifted into the bullpen, but a spot on the 40-man and active roster would need to be made for him. Regardless of his performance, Wenninger likely has his ticket stamped for Triple-A Syracuse to begin the season.
Feb 16, 2026; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals hall of fame Ozzie Smith (middle) talks with infielders Masyn Winn (0) and JJ Wetherholt (77) during spring training workouts at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images | Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
For a while now, it’s felt like most of the National League Central is just a step behind. In four of the last five seasons, the Milwaukee Brewers have walked away division champions, oftentimes by some distance. The only exception in the span was the St. Louis Cardinals, back in 2022. However, since that 2022 season, when the Cardinals posted a 93-69 record (and went two-and-out in the Wild Card Series to the Phillies), it has been a rather large fall from grace for the Redbirds.
Now, after a long (and active) offseason that saw the departure of a handful of veterans, St. Louis is looking to begin stacking up on young players and continuing to develop their young players already on the roster under Chaim Bloom.
The Cardinals, despite having some big names last season, weren’t able to make any major waves in the NL Central. And instead of keeping them around, the organization decided to move forward in a different direction with former Red Sox head honcho Chaim Bloom officially taking over for the departing John Mozeliak after a one-year apprenticeship behind the scenes in the front office.
Nolan Arenado was traded back to the NL West and the sunny state of Arizona with the Diamondbacks. Willson Contreras was traded to the Boston Red Sox for pitcher Hunter Dobbins and prospects Yhoiker Fajardo and Blake Aita. Former Yankees pitcher Sonny Gray also joined Contreras on the Sox, being traded in November for pitching prospect Richard Fitts, prospect Brandon Clarke, and cash.
Another notable departure from the roster include second baseman Brendan Donovan to the Seattle Mariners in a three-team deal that also included the Tampa Bay Rays. The Cardinals sent theutility man to the northwest for right-handed pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje, outfield prospects Tai Peete and Colton Ledbetter, and two 2026 Competitive Balance Round B draft picks.
These departures signal a new direction for a Cardinals team and franchise that is used to being in the driver’s seat in the NL Central. After a few seasons of treading water somewhat aimlessly, the club appears to have chosen a definitive direction. With these changes both at the helm of the franchise and with the names on the field comes a new crop of players that will begin to make their mark in a Cardinals uniform as soon as this coming season.
The biggest names to watch for the Cardinals include their most prominent free agent signing Dustin May, who came on with a one-year, $12.5 million deal to help lead the rotation and prove himself after a tough season split between the Dodgers and Red Sox. He could prove to be a useful trade chip for a retooling squad if he can bounce back. Elsewhere, there’s a host of young players that will take the reins, including JJ Wetherholt and Masyn Winn.
Last year with the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds, Wetherholt slashed .314/.416/.562 for an OPS of .978, and his play in 62 games at Double-A was just as good, if not better. His power helped him make waves in the minor leagues, and with his current spring training performance, smashing a 422-foot homer with an exit velocity of 105.4 mph against the New York Mets, according to our sister site, Viva El Birdos. If there was a player to watch for coming up, Wetherholt is the guy.
Winn is more established, with a solid body of work at the major league level. His last two seasons at the plate have been around average, but his defense is spectacular, and his wicked arm from shortstop helped him make an impression early both nationally and within the Cardinals organization.
The rest of the young talent on this roster is more of the post-hype variety. Jordan Walker, Nolan Gorman, and Alec Burleson were all Top 100 prospects once upon a time, but none has been able to put things together at the major league level. On the pitching side, St. Louis will hope that young starters Matthew Liberatore and Michael McGreevy can build on respectable 2025 campaigns.
While St. Louis is in a tough spot for now, they’re geared toward bigger and better things with the young talent they have on hand and are in the process of acquiring. They might have to go through some more growing pains in the interim, though.
More Pinstripe Alley MLB team season previews can be found here.
Wendell Carter Jr.
Devin Booker
Nikola Jokic
