According to multiplereports, LSU is working on hiring McNeese athletic director Heath Schroyer for a senior administrator position in Baton Rouge that would oversee the Tigers' men's basketball program. The reported attempt to hire Schroyer is an important one for LSU's rumored plans of bringing back North Carolina State's Will Wade to lead the program.
This comes at a time that fourth-year coach Matt McMahon is still employed by LSU following his third losing record in his last four seasons at LSU. Since his hiring, LSU has never won more than 17 games in a season, never finished better than .500 in SEC play and has never made the Men's NCAA Tournament, advancing only as far as the first round of the 2024 Men's NIT.
Conversely, Wade just wrapped his first season at NC State, which saw the Wolfpack go 20-14 to finish tied for seventh in the ACC. Their season ended with a First Four loss to 11-seed Texas, which is still dancing in March Madness.
Wade, of course, formerly coached LSU from 2017-22, where despite on-court success he was fired for cause after the NCAA accused him of committing multiple Level I and Level II violations, including "lack of institutional control." Following a season in which he didn't coach, Wade took over at McNeese in 2023-24, going 50-9 and appearing in the NCAA Tournament twice in two seasons, helping him land the Wolfpack head coaching position.
Should Wade leave NC State to return to LSU, here is what he would owe the Wolfpack:
Will Wade buyout at NC State if Wolfpack coach leaves
According to Wade's contract, obtained by the USA TODAY Network, he would owe NC State $5 million if he were to leave the Wolfpack for another job, like LSU, before the end of his contract. That payout drops to $3 million on April 2.
There is a total of $14,756,250 million left across the remaining five years of Wade's contract with NC State, according to his contract that was obtained by the USA TODAY Network. Here is his year-by-year base salary, beginning in 2027:
GOODYEAR, AZ - FEBRUARY 22: Angel Martinez #79 of the Cleveland Guardians poses for a photo during the Cleveland Guardians Photo Day at Goodyear Ballpark on Thursday, February 22, 2024 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Cleveland Guardians have chosen their twenty-six players for Opening Day in Seattle.
Catchers: Bo Naylor, Austin Hedges, David Fry
Infielders: Kyle Manzardo, Rhys Hoskins, Brayan Rocchio, Gabriel Arias, Jose Ramirez and Daniel Schneemann.
Outfielders: CJ Kayfus, Steven Kwan, Chase DeLauter and Angel Martinez.
Bullpen: Peyton Pallette, Colin Holderman, Connor Brogdon, Tim Herrin, Matt Festa, Erik Sabrowski, Shawn Armstrong, and Cade Smith.
Hunter Gaddis, Andrew Walters and George Valera all open the year on the 15-day IL.
Johnathan Rodríguez was designated for assignment today. Condolences to CTC site user Ray Fosse. I hope someday that we will be able to say the biggest mistake Stephen Vogt ever made was starting Johnathan Rodriguez in right field against Tarik Skubal in a playoff game. It’ll be a nice piece of trivia and trauma.
What do you think about the roster choices? Let us know in the comments below
The Detroit Pistons are sending a clear message to anyone who thought they’d fall apart without Cade Cunningham, and they’ve got the Atlanta Hawks in their sights tonight at Little Caesars Arena.
While Atlanta is 9-1 in its last 10 games, the schedule has been favorable. My Hawks vs. Pistons predictions side with a Detroit team that’s won three in a row since Cade was ruled out.
Check out my NBA picks for a March 25 matchup that could yet be a first-round playoff preview.
Hawks vs Pistons prediction
Hawks vs Pistons best bet: Pistons -2.5 (-115)
The Detroit Pistons doubters have been loud at times this season, even before Cade Cunningham’s injury, but the Pistons just keep on winning.
After Monday’s impressive victory over the red-hot Lakers, they’re now 27-8 SU at home, and I’m picking Jalen Duren & Co. to cover this small spread tonight.
Detroit has won six of the past seven meetings with the Atlanta Hawks, including a 142-115 beatdown in December, and the hosts can match the Hawks’ recent surge.
Like Atlanta, the Pistons have made hay against weaker opposition, winning seven of their last eight games — six by a double-digit margin.
Of course, Cade’s absence hurts, but Daniss Jenkins continues to show he can handle big minutes, and his 30-point, eight-assist explosion was the catalyst for stunning the Lakers.
The Hawks’ loss in Houston last week may be an indicator of what happens when they face a physical defense, and the Pistons have held opponents to 110 points or fewer in seven of their last 10 contests. The visitors lean heavily on three guards in their starting five, and that could be a recipe for Duren feasting on the glass.
Sure, Atlanta is scrapping to stay above the play-in line in an increasingly tight race, but no one loves a bruising battle more than Detroit. Plus, Jalen Johnson is listed as questionable with a shoulder issue, and the Pistons can turn to Ausar Thompson for any perimeter assignment.
It may not be pretty, but this one feels like a home win.
Hawks vs Pistons same-game parlay
I like the Pistons to grab a fifth straight win tonight, and the script has to start with a monster Duren outing.
He’s finished with 11 rebounds in four of his last five games, and he hauled in four offensive boards on Monday against L.A.
Duncan Robinson’s production — even without Cade to set him up — is an important ingredient, too. He’s made 10 3-pointers across his last three contests.
Hawks vs Pistons SGP
Pistons moneyline
Jalen Duren Over 10.5 rebounds
Duncan Robinson Over 2.5 3-pointers
Our "from downtown" SGP: Mr. MIP
Duren is the front-runner for the Most Improved Player award, and he’s embracing the chance to be Detroit’s lead dog. This SGP taps into his all-around production, and he’s shooting 67% from the field in March.
I'm also adding in the Over, which is 8-2 in the past 10 matchups between these teams.
Hawks vs Pistons SGP
Jalen Duren Over 22.5 points
Jalen Duren Over 10.5 rebounds
Over 228.5
Pistons moneyline
Hawks vs Pistons odds
Spread: Hawks +2.5 | Pistons -2.5
Moneyline: Hawks +130 | Pistons -154
Over/Under: Over 228.5 | Under 228.5
Hawks vs Pistons betting trend to know
The Pistons are 34-11 SU against Eastern Conference opponents this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Hawks vs. Pistons.
How to watch Hawks vs Pistons
Location
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Hawks vs Pistons latest injuries
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JULY 12: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Mets celebrates his two-run home run with Francisco Lindor #12 of the New York Mets in the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on July 12, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mets announced their 26-man roster for Opening Day earlier today. The Mets are carrying 13 pitchers and 13 position players, and there are no real surprises on the list, though the make-up of the bullpen has a somewhat unexpected choice or two.
Starting Pitchers:
Clay Holmes (RHP)
Sean Manaea (LHP)
Nolan McLean (RHP)
Freddy Peralta (RHP)
David Petesron (LHP)
Kodai Senga (RHP)
Relief Pitchers:
Huascar Brazobán (RHP)
Luis Garcia (RHP)
Richard Lovelady (LHP)
Tobias Myers (RHP)
Brooks Raley (LHP)
Luke Weaver (RHP)
Devin Williams (RHP)
Catchers:
Francisco Alvarez (R)
Luis Torrens (R)
Infielders:
Brett Baty (L)
Bo Bichette (R)
Francisco Lindor (S)
Jorge Polanco (S)
Marcus Semien (R)
Mark Vientos (R)
Jared Young (L)
Outfielders:
Carson Benge (L)
Luis Robert Jr. (R)
Juan Soto (L)
Tyrone Taylor (R)
The Mets also officially updated their current major league injured list.
Reed Garrett (60-Day, right elbow sprain)
Justin Hagenman (60-Day, rib fracture)
Tylor Megill (60-Day, right elbow sprain)
A.J. Minter (15-Day, left lat surgery)
Dedniel Núñez (60-Day, right elbow sprain)
And with the roster set, that means that infielder Vidal Bruján, left-handed relief pitcher Bryan Hudson and catcher Ben Rortvedt were all designated for assignment.
Freddy Peralta will start the first game of the season tomorrow against the Pirates at Citi Field at 1:15pm. LGM.
Nobody expected Ja Morant to return to the court this season, but now it is official.
Morant is out with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his left elbow and will now receive a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection to help speed the healing process, the team announced. That will sideline him for the rest of the season.
The Grizzlies explored the trade market for Morant at the deadline but didn't find a deal to their liking. He is expected to be back on the trade market and likely to be moved this offseason.
Also in that release, the team says centers Zach Edey and Brandon Clarke will be out for the remainder of the season as well. Edey hasn't played since December following ankle surgery (which was expected to keep him out the rest of the season), but now he has undergone a procedure to alleviate lingering discomfort in his left elbow. Clarke has only played in two games this season, missing the start of it recovering from knee surgery, then returning for two games before straining his calf. That calf injury continues to keep him out.
Memphis, 24-27, is headed to the lottery and currently has the seventh-worst record in the league. That would give them a 31.9% chance of landing a top-four pick in the draft and guarantees them a top-10 spot.
Three NHL teams moved up in the playoff races during a busy 15-game schedule on Tuesday, March 24.
The surging Buffalo Sabres can do the same during Wednesday night's two-game schedule.
Buffalo has a chance to move into the top seed in the Eastern Conference when it hosts the Boston Bruins, passing the idle Carolina Hurricanes if it wins.
The Sabres have gone 33-6-5 since Dec. 9. They replaced general manager Kevyn Adams with Jarmo Kekalainen two games into that run as they try to end a record 14-game playoff drought.
The Sabres lead the Tampa Bay Lightning by two points in the Atlantic Division race and will have played two more games by the end of the night.
Tuesday night, the Ottawa Senators moved into the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, and the Edmonton Oilers (Pacific) and Columbus Blue Jackets (Metropolitan) moved into second place in their respective divisions. They would have home-ice advantage in the first round if they finish the season that way.
Here's what to know about the NHL standings, tiebreaker procedures and playoff field for the 2025-26 season:
Who's in the 2026 NHL playoffs?
Eastern Conference: None
Western Conference: Colorado, Dallas
Who can clinch today?
No team can clinch today. But the New York Rangers will be eliminated from playoff contention if they lose to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
NHL games today (Wednesday, March 25)
Boston at Buffalo, 7:30
N.Y. Rangers at Toronto, 7:30
NHL Eastern Conference standings 2025-26
As of March 24. x-clinched playoff spot. z-eliminated
Metropolitan Division
Carolina Hurricanes (96)
Columbus Blue Jackets (87)
Pittsburgh Penguins (86)
Atlantic Division
Buffalo Sabres (95)
Tampa Bay Lightning (93)
Montreal Canadiens (88)
Wild card
Boston Bruins (86)
Ottawa Senators (85)
Sitting out of playoff position: New York Islanders (85), Detroit Red Wings (84), Philadelphia Flyers (80), Washington Capitals (79), New Jersey Devils (74), Florida Panthers (73), Toronto Maple Leafs (73), New York Rangers (65)
NHL Western Conference standings 2025-26
As of March 24. x-clinched playoff spot. z-eliminated
Central Division
x-Colorado Avalanche (104)
x-Dallas Stars (97)
Minnesota Wild (92)
Pacific Division
Anaheim Ducks (84)
Edmonton Oilers (79)
Vegas Golden Knights (78)
Wild card
Utah Mammoth (80)
Nashville Predators (77)
Sitting out of playoff position: Los Angeles Kings (74), Seattle Kraken (72), Winnipeg Jets (72), San Jose Sharks (70), St. Louis Blues (69), Calgary Flames (67), Chicago Blackhawks (67), z-Vancouver Canucks (50)
NHL Eastern Conference playoff bracket
Here is how the Eastern Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on March 24.
Carolina (M1) vs. Ottawa (WC2)
Columbus (M2) vs. Pittsburgh (M3)
Buffalo (A1) vs. Boston (WC1)
Tampa Bay (A2) vs. Montreal (A3)
The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second in the second round. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. Key: M - Metropolitan Division. A - Atlantic Division. WC - wild card
NHL Western Conference playoff bracket
Here is how the Western Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on March 24.
Colorado (C1) vs. Nashville (WC2)
Dallas (C2) vs. Minnesota (C3)
Anaheim (P1) vs. Utah (WC1)
Edmonton (P2) vs. Vegas (P3)
The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second in the second round. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. Key: C - Central Division P - Pacific Division. WC - wild card
NHL tiebreakers: What is the first tiebreaker in NHL standings?
If two teams are tied in points at the end of the regular season, here are the tiebreakers:
Regulation wins
Regulation and overtime wins (ROW)
Total wins
Most points earned in head-to-head competition: If teams had an uneven number of meetings, the first game played in the city that has the extra game is excluded.
Goal differential
Total goals
When does the NHL regular season end?
The NHL regular season is scheduled to end on Thursday, April 16, with six games.
When do the NHL playoffs start?
The NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs are expected to begin on Saturday, April 18.
Adam Sýkora is set to make his NHL debut for the New York Rangers on Wednesday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Rangers recalled Sýkora from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League on Tuesday.
During Wednesday’s practice, the 21-year-old forward slotted onto a line with Vincent Trocheck and Will Cuylle, indicating he’ll be given a middle-six role in his NHL debut.
Sýkora was selected by the Rangers in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft, and he’s spent the past three seasons playing in the AHL.
He has recorded 12 goals, 17 assists, and 29 points in 62 games with the Wolf Pack this season.
Throughout his time in Hartford, Sýkora has become quite the fan favorite and a player beloved by his teammates due to his relentless energy that he plays with and exuberant personality.
“My happiness through for him is through the roof,” Jaroslav Chmelař said of Sýkora. “I mean, he's the best person I've met. He's such a nice guy...We were kind of dreaming about it at the beginning of the year that we would love to play together one time. So hopefully that comes through.”
Having been with the Rangers’ organization since 2022, Sýkora has spent a long time waiting for this moment, and he'll look to provide a spark for a team and fan base in desperate need of something to be excited about.
This is Sýkora’s chance to etch his mark with the Rangers and build momentum going into the 2026-27 season.
“I know I’m a different player from those the New York Rangers have drafted,” Sýkora said in September. “So, that’s kind of my path — forecheck, backcheck, all the skating, hard work, that’s kind of my job that gets me here. And I want to put it all together to get to the next level. Defensive things, penalty kill, blocking shots and a team player, helping and supporting each other. Be alive on the bench and support the other guys here.”
The Chicago Blackhawks have a lot of stock put in their young players. Drafting and developing have been the biggest keys to their rebuild.
Connor Bedard was the prize of the entire process, as the Blackhawks earned the right to draft him by winning the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery. Since then, he has become an NHL superstar.
Other young players have come in since then, but few have had the excitement that Anton Frondell produced with his NHL debut on Wednesday. The third overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft has an incredible set of skills that will allow him to have a long career.
A strong season in the SHL and an elite showing en route to a Gold Medal at the 2025-26 World Junior Championships made Jeff Blashill comfortable throwing him into the fire right when he arrived in the NHL.
Frondell played his first NHL game on the first line and the top power play unit. Of course, that meant playing with Connor Bedard. Getting on a line with the team's top superstar is never an easy task, but Frondell was up to the challenge.
It was an impressive debut for Frondell, who collected his first NHL point with an assist on an Ilya Mikheyev goal. He had to use Connor Bedard as a decoy to spring Mikheyev, which required tremendous confidence as he's looking off one of the best players in the world.
On the ice, these two have the skills to feed each other. Bedard and Frondell each have an elite shot, but they use it in different ways. Each of them is also a tremendous playmaker, so defending against them will be difficult as they develop further.
Although Bedard is just 20 years old, he knows he already has a leadership role in the organization and takes it seriously. It isn't just about having an "A" on your sweater and playing the game at a high level. It is about making everyone around you comfortable.
Frondell's comments after the game made it clear that Bedard is doing the right things to help out those coming into the lineup.
“Connor sits beside me here," Frondell said. "A really good guy, giving me good tips and everything.”
Jeff Blashill started their line to open the game, and Bedard let Frondell begin his NHL career by taking the opening faceoff. The signs of two stars developing a friendship right away are there.
That relationship will enhance their ability to play together on the hockey side. Enjoying your teammates is important to winning hockey in the NHL, and these two young stars are winners who are beginning to enjoy each other.
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PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 27: A general view of Chase Field with Opening Day signage as members of the Arizona Diamondbacks stand for the the national anthem prior to the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday, March 27, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Arizona Diamondbacks announced their 2026 Opening Day roster with a series of roster moves. The 40-man roster is at 40.
RIGHT-HANDED PITCHERS (12)
19 Ryne Nelson
22 Joe Ross
23 Zac Gallen
32 Brandon Pfaadt
34 Michael Soroka
37 Kevin Ginkel
38 Paul Sewald
43 Jonathan Loaisiga
45 Taylor Clarke
56 Andrew Hoffmann
62 Juan Morillo
81 Ryan Thompson
LEFT-HANDED PITCHERS (1)
57 Eduardo Rodriguez
CATCHERS (2)
8 James McCann
14 Gabriel Moreno
POSITION PLAYERS (11)
1 Jorge Barrosa
2 Geraldo Perdomo
4 Ketel Marte
5 Alek Thomas
6 Ildemaro Vargas
7 Corbin Carroll
10 Jordan Lawlar
13 Tim Tawa
26 Pavin Smith
28 Nolan Arenado
41 Carlos Santana
Selected to Major League roster:
RHP Jonathan Loaisiga (No. 43)
RHP Joe Ross (No. 22)
INF Ildemaro Vargas (No. 6)
Placed on 10-day injured list:
C Adrian Del Castillo (retro. March 22; strained left calf)
INF Tyler Locklear (retro. March 22; recovery from left elbow surgery)
OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (retro. March 22; recovery from right ACL surgery)
Placed on 15-day injured list:
RHP Merrill Kelly (retro. March 24; left intercostal nerve irritation)
No real surprises here. We were more or less aware of the 26-man roster a couple of days ago, between roster moves and statements by Torey Lovullo. The lack of left-handed relievers is interesting: we’ll see how that works out, especially against the Dodgers who have some top left-handed hitters. Three non-roster invitees have been added to the roster as expected. Spaces for two were cleared by moving Mena and Walston to the IL, and DFA’ing Holman. The last was picked up off waivers from the Athletics on February 15, so will become a ghost D-back, never appearing for the team.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Trump administration gave San Jose State University 10 days to resolve what the U.S. Education Department has deemed are Title IX violations involving transgender athletes, saying the school will face legal action and the possible loss of federal funding if it fails to comply.
The department in January found that the university had discriminated against women by letting a transgender athlete play on the women’s volleyball team. The department issued its ultimatum in a Tuesday letter.
Kimberly Richey, assistant secretary for civil rights, said the administration had provided the university with multiple ways to resolve the violations, including separating “male” and “female” athletes based on the administration's definitions of those terms.
"Yet, SJSU remains obstinate, choosing a radical ideology over safety, dignity, and fairness for its own students,” she said. “With today’s action, the Department is putting the university on notice: comply with the law or risk losing its federal funding.”
Title IX is a 1972 gender equity law.
A spokesperson for the California State University system directed The Associated Press to a web page in which the system and university say they disagree with the department's legal position and findings.
In a letter to the department, the university said Title IX prohibits discriminating against transgender individuals.
The Education Department has taken action against a series of states, schools and colleges that allow transgender athletes to participate on sports teams, something President Donald Trump has promised to end.
The investigation into San Jose State was opened in February 2025 alongside a similar one at the University of Pennsylvania. Penn later agreed to a deal similar to the one being offered to San Jose State, modifying school records set by a transgender swimmer and apologizing to other athletes on the swim team.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Members of Team United States stand on the foul line during the national anthem prior to an exhibition game against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 04, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Kyle Cooper/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images)
And now we find respite from our troubles. It’s a new season of Major League Baseball, one of the best pain relievers known to humankind. Unless your team is on the receiving end of some bad baseball luck. But we won’t talk of such things, not in this opening paragraph. Let us embrace the joy of possibility inherit in every Opening Day Night.
The San Francisco Giants will host the New York Yankees in San Francisco at Oracle Park for the first Opening Night in MLB history. It’ll be a Netflix-themed event as the broadcast will only be available on the world’s most popular streaming service. If you don’t have a Netflix subscription or if your internet goes down right before first pitch, you can still listen to the familiar voices of Giants broadcasters on KNBR, at least.
The biggest story of this new season is that the Giants franchise has never gone more than four years without a winning season. This would be the fifth consecutive non-winning season if they can’t manage to get to 82 wins. That’s the pressure new manager Tony Vitello finds himself under before he logs a genuine inning of a major league game. That’s right — the Giants are a winning franchise, and breaking an internal streak of their own that helps define that winning way is a really big story. A new manager making the leap from the college ranks to the big leagues, like some sort of NBA coach, is probably the second-biggest story of this season.
His first task will be juggling a nebulous relief corps that would seemingly have every defined role in an open audition. To some extent, a baseball game is a baseball game, and in-game managing for either an SEC game or an NL West game would prove very similar at many points. But how will Vitello handle the pressure late in the game when it’s Aaron Judge stepping into the box and the Giants are clinging to a 4-3 lead?
Ah, and then there’s the Aaron Judge of it all. The Giants host the New York Yankees for this opening series and outside of the Los Angeles Dodgers, this is an intense first test for a first-time MLB manager as well as a roster hoping to sneak into the Wild Card. This is where Rafael Devers comes in.
During the runup to this Opening Night on Netflix, the advertisements touted Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees versus Rafael Devers and the San Francisco Giants. That’s a big change from recent years and having a figure with national name recognition and as a sort of lineup anchor is a redefinition of the team. With his bat in the middle of the order, the lineup takes shape. This is one of the few times in recent years where the lineup has a lot of expectations on it, with the bare minimum being league average. That’s a big shift from recent years, when it was basically “if it could just be league average, the team will be in good shape.“
The Yankees have a great bit of expectation on them as they always do. They’re expected to win the AL East, as tough as a division as the NL West the Giants find themselves in. Last season, they had the best lineup in the sport (+34.3 fWAR — 1st, 849 runs scored — 1st) and this season they’ll be returning basically the same group of hitters. That helped cover for a decidedly average pitching staff (+16.3 fWAR — 14th, just ahead of the Giants at +15.7 fWAR), which is more or less where the team will find itself to start the season, as their two most expensive rotation pieces — Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon) aren’t set to return until around May or June.
As much as Judge is the face of the Yankees and the national media has installed Devers as the face of the Giants, it’s Logan Webb who is the Main Giant, and he’ll take the ball on Opening Night. Now, he’s faced the Yankees in game 1 before, right after Aaron Judge turned down the Giants’ massive contract offer in free agency, and it was memorable for 12 strikeouts but still a loss. He did finally defeat the Yankees last season (career: 1-2, 5.50 ERA in 18 IP), but Aaron Judge has never stopped tormenting our favorite team. In 9 games against the orange and black, he’s hitting .484/.590/1.000 with 5 home runs. So, that’s something to keep in mind.
Also worth keeping in mind: both participated in the World Baseball Classic, and Logan Webb was great for Team USA while Aaron Judge was not. He might be The Kid Who Only Hit Homers against the Giants, but in world competition and, like, the World Series, he’s a non-entity. So, take some solace in that, I suppose. Logan Webb? He’s pretty great all the time. Maybe the Giants can get him into the postseason before he’s gone. Though, to be clear, Aaron Judge is 3-for-7 against him, with a pair of homers and a double (but also 3 K and 2 BB).
The Giants did not win the Cactus League again, but they did place second. Last year, they stormed out of the gates following their success in the spring. Can they do the same here against a quality opponent? Whatever the outcome, baseball is back, and at least for the first couple of games, that’s good enough.
Series overview
Who: New York Yankees (94-68 in 2025) vs. San Francisco Giants (81-81 in 2025) Where: Oracle Park | San Francisco, California When: Wednesday at 5pm PT, Friday at 1:35pm PT, Saturday at 4:15pm PT — that’s right. No Sunday game. National broadcasts: Wednesday (Netflix — yes, the streaming service; and, it’s exclusive), Saturday (FOX TV)
Projected starters Wednesday: Max Fried (LHP) vs. Logan Webb (RHP) Friday: Cam Schlitter (RHP) vs. Robbie Ray (LHP) Saturday: Will Warren (RHP) vs. Tyler Mahle (RHP)
Players to watch (besides Logan Webb & Aaron Judge)
Yankees
Trent Grisham: The Yankees got him in the Juan Soto trade as a way to balance the finances for the Padres, but he was considered a throw-in. But then, last season, he hit 34 home runs and posted an .811 OPS in 581 plate appearances; so, the Yankees tagged him with the qualifying offer, which he accepted ($22.03 million). Is he a $22 million dollar player? No. Have I forgotten (or forgiven) him for hitting that walk-off home run at Oracle Park during the 2020 season? Also no. He is not a thorn in the team’s side as he was in 2020 & 2021 (29-for-95, 4 HR, 19 RBI, 9 2B, 3 3B), with just just 21 hits (1 HR, 2 2B) in his last 95 at bats against them and 3 walks against 30 strikeouts, but you’ve always got to keep an eye for that dude who is not the lineup’s main dude (Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, Jazz Chisholm, Ben Rice), and he’ll be one of the guys the Giants’ carousel of lefty relievers will have to perform well against.
Camilo Doval: We will see if the Giants’ former closer starts off his first full season with the Yankees on a hot streak. We know how wild he can be, but also how effective his velocity is.
Ben Rice & Paul Goldschmidt: Two players at opposite ends of the career spectrum, but Rice’s 26 home runs and left-handed swing should give Giants pitching some problems while Paul Goldschmidt figures to still be a Paul Goldschmidt in the Giants’ side.
Giants
Luis Arraez: It’ll be a big first test for the Giants’ new second baseman as the Yankees offer some speed on the basepaths and a lot of hard contact. He also has the chance to flare some balls all over the field and delight those Giants fans who never stopped believing in batting average as the sole measure of a hitter’s capabilities.
Patrick Bailey: The Yankees’ speed showed up as 134 stolen bases last season (8th in MLB) and so on top of defending against the running game, he’ll also have to deal with the hitters — even as the dugout will be calling more pitches for him this season. And then there’s the ABS Challenge System, which has the chance to spotlight just how effective of a catcher he is, either by showing umpires that he didn’t dramatically frame something or simply that he understands the strike zone enough to know when a pitch has been missed.
Rafael Devers: He should hit at least 3 home runs in this series. He has 31 home runs in 119 career games against the Yankees and a triple slash of .270/.348/.533 to go with it.
Tony Vitello watch
The Vitello era kicks off with a matchup against the New York Yankees and… Aaron Boone. Now, Boone is considered to be a great clubhouse manager, but the knock on him is that he’s not a good in-game strategist. That sort of criticism has lost its impact here in the 21st century, though, as front offices typically provide the manager with so much information that the guy standing on the top step doesn’t really need to think for himself. He just has to manage the human beings around him.
That’s sort of why Tony Vitello’s not going to be a total flop in the early going. Zack Minasian and the quants will have provided Vitello and his coaching staff with all the scouting reports and decision trees he’ll need to get through 9 innings, just as Brian Cashman has given Boone. Boone is 697-497 in 8 seasons. Given that, I’m sure he has earned the right to go “off script” and has probably developed some good instincts. Enough to outfox or fluster Tony Vitello, baseball rat? I doubt it. In case you forget, Boone had never managed anything anywhere when he got the call to manage the Yankees.
So, although it’s unlikely that either guy will make an obviously embarrassing decision, I’ll be watching to see if there’s anything that stands out and if Aaron Boone can out-manage Tony Vitello or vice versa.
Prediction time
The Giants did win their 3-game series against the Yankees last season. But! They are just 3-6 in the matchup since 2023, so let’s go with our favorite line on this site: Giants avoid the sweep.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 27: Jacob Latz #67 of the Texas Rangers throws a pitch during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on September 27, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the 2025 Texas Rangers season having come to an end, we shall be, over the course of the offseason, taking a look at every player who appeared in a major league game for the Texas Rangers in 2025.
Today we are looking at pitcher Jacob Latz.
The 2017 draft didn’t work out too well for the Texas Rangers.
Texas signed five picks to bonuses of at least $500,000.
First rounder Bubba Thompson got $2.1 million. He was fast and toolsy but didn’t hit. He did spend 109 games in the majors, and stole 27 bases, and got a ring because he was in the majors in 2023 with Texas. Thompson retired from baseball after the 2024 season, enrolled in South Alabama, and walked onto their football team as a quarterback. He was on the roster in 2025 but didn’t appear in a game, and transferred in January to West Florida.
Supplemental first rounder Chris Seise got $2 million. He impressed with his ability and makeup, and was considered at one point possibly the team’s best position prospect, but injuries and the pandemic meant he only played in 31 games from 2018-21, and he has been out of baseball since putting up a 591 OPS for Frisco in 2023.
Second rounder Hans Crouse got $1.45 million. After an impressive 2018 season he was appearing on top 100 lists, but he regressed, was traded to the Phillies in the Kyle Gibson/Spencer Howard deal, had a decent run for the Angels in 2024, was released by the Angels after 2 AAA appearances in 2025, and didn’t sign with another team until January of 2026, when he inked a minor league deal with the Orioles.
Third rounder Matt Whatley got $517,100. He got good marks for his makeup and glove, but didn’t hit. He became a minor league free agent after 2023, re-signed with Texas for the 2024 season, then signed with Toronto for 2025. Toronto released him in May, 2025, without him ever appearing in a game for their organization, and it appears he is out of baseball.
11th rounder Obie Ricumstrict got $500,000. He never hit and was released in 2022.
So the big dollar draft picks from 2017 didn’t pan out.
The Rangers did end up hitting on a couple of pitchers they selected that year, though.
One of them was John King, who got $10,000 as an injured 10th round senior sign out of the University of Houston. King pitched for the Rangers from 2020-23, then was traded to St. Louis as part of the Jordan Montgomery trade in 2023, so like Thompson, King got a World Series ring. He signed with the Miami Marlins this offseason, and made their Opening Day roster out of the bullpen, and will be out in the pen with fellow former Rangers Pete Fairbanks and Tyler Phillips, and teammates with Liam Hicks and Heriberto Hernandez.
The other was Jacob Latz, who got $386,100 as a fifth rounder out of Kent State. Well, kind of out of Kent State…King spent his first two seasons at LSU, redshirting his freshman season due to elbow surgery and pitching only 8.1 innings in 2016. He wasn’t eligible to pitch for Kent State as a junior, but showed enough in side work that the Rangers drafted him and gave him slot money*.
* I am assuming that was slot money for a fifth rounder in 2017. If not, it is close. I’m not going to go look it up.
Latz made his major league debut in 2021 without actually being on the 40 man roster, as he was a COVID replacement call up. He was added to the 40 man late in 2023, made three appearances in September, and earned himself a ring.
After doing good work in the major league pen in 2024, he started 2025 in AAA, but was called up in mid-April, and stayed in the bigs until the numbers game with the trade acquisitions resulted in his being sent down on August 1. He returned in mid-August and stuck around the rest of the season.
Latz had a rather interesting 2025 campaign for the Rangers. Used out of the bullpen early in the year, the team had him make a few spot starts in the middle of the season, and he acquitted himself well. Texas plugged him back into the rotation in late August during the Injurypocalypse, and he made four more respectable starts, went back to the pen for a couple of outings, and then started once more, in the next to last game of the season.
Latz is a four pitch pitcher, throwing his fastball half the time, his change and slider each a little over 20% of the time, and his curveball the rest of the time. His fastball and slider were both were his best pitches.
Latz’s fastball has average velocity, but it plays up due to his extension and vertical movement. Interestingly, Latz’s fastball showed three more inches of armside run in 2025 compared to 2024, going from having below-average horizontal movement on the pitch to above-average horizontal movement. His heat map shows he consistently located the fastball at the top of the zone.
Latz’s slider was his best pitch in 2025, as he allowed a .244 wOBA and .260 xwOBA against it. As one would expect, he threw the slider to lefties much more frequently than righties, but had success against both sides with it.
The changeup was Latz’s weakest pitch. As one would expect, he threw it mostly against righthanders, and generated a 41% whiff rate with it. When batters made contact, however, they hit it hard, resulting in a .362 wOBA and .343 xwOBA on the change.
As one would expect, in light of all that, Latz showed significant platoon splits in 2025. Righthanded hitters hit .250/.338/.382 against him, while lefties hit .170/.239/.302 off of him.
What is notable, though, is that the x-numbers on the splits are much closer than the raw numbers. Righthanders had a .316 wOBA and .318 xwOBA against Latz, while lefties had a .240 wOBA and .309 xwOBA against him. Latz also showed a sizeable split between actual and xwOBA against lefties in 2024, with a wOBA of .303 and an xwOBA of .339.
Latz is a fly ball pitcher who strikes out an average number of hitters and issues an above-average number of walks — his 10.6 walk rate in 2025 put him in the 15th percentile, per Statcast. While one would expect, given that, that Latz’s success is driven by avoiding hard contact, he actually is below average in that regard (31st percentile), although he did avoid barrels.
One would think that, given those peripherals, Latz would have especially benefitted from the Shed’s pitcher-friendly tendencies in 2025. Latz did have a superior ERA at home (2.23) as compared to the road (3.28), but he actually allowed a higher OPS at home (683) than on the road (642), with his slugging allowed being 38 points higher at home, which undercuts that theory.
Given all that, it is not surprising that Latz shows a big spread between his actual ERA in 2025 (2.84) and his FIP (3.72) and xERA (4.11). He benefited from both a .272 BABIP and an 81.1% strand rate, and, I suspect, the stellar outfield defense that he had behind him.
All this makes it hard to figure out what to expect from Latz going forward. He turns 30 in April, but also still has two options remaining, which gives the Rangers some flexibility. He didn’t make the rotation out of spring training, and is probably best suited for a role that allows the Rangers to take advantage of that versatility, spotting him against lefties sometimes, using him in a multi-inning role sometimes, and having him make the occasional spot start when needed.
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 21: De'Anthony Melton #8 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on March 21, 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 Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Golden State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
De’Anthony Melton’s first season with the Golden State Warriors didn’t go very well. He fit in with the team exceptionally well during the 2024-26 campaign, but in early November suffered a season-ending ACL injury. The Warriors later traded the veteran as they sought reinforcements and were able to use his salary to get something done.
His second pass through the Bay Area has gone much better. Melton re-joined the Warriors as a free agent this year and, after finishing up his rehab, hit the ground running. In 41 games with the Dubs, he’s averaged a career-high 13.0 points per game, along with 3.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.6 steals. He’s slid into a starting role with Steph Curry injured, and has played admirably.
He’ll be a free agent again this summer. The Warriors will certainly want to bring him back, but will he be a priority for them? And will he be in their price range?
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 22: Head coach Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics looks on against the Brooklyn Nets in Game One of the First Round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center at Barclays Center on May 22, 2021 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) | Getty Images
‘Make him say no,’ is always popular this time of year when discussing Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens and every single major college coaching job that opens up.
Gotta make Brad Stevens say no, which he will, but have to make him say no https://t.co/NEf4RODJBL
This year was no different when North Carolina moved on from Hubert Davis after five seasons. UNC made the call and Stevens, as expected, said no.
NEWS: Brad Stevens—who was atop the list of targets—has already removed himself from consideration for the UNC job, sources told @CBSSports. No surprise of course, but notable all the same as Carolina starts its search to replace Hubert Davis.
“As for Stevens, the news is anything but surprising yet still an important public update that allows North Carolina to sharpen its focus on realistic candidates,” wrote CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander. “An Indiana native, Stevens has turned down the Hoosiers job the past three times it opened since he left Butler for the Celtics. The 49-year-old hasn’t strutted the sidelines as a coach since 2021, when he pivoted to the organization’s front office as its chief decision-maker.”
There are rumors that Bill Self might retire from the Kansas job so if that happens, I’m sure another call will be lobbed into the Auerbach Center and greeted with a similar response.
