The Yankees defeated the Tampa Bay Rays by a score of 3-2 on Tuesday afternoon.
Here are the key takeaways...
-- J.C. Escarra, likely to make the Opening Day roster as the backup catcher, blasted a 438-foot solo home run in the second inning to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead.
Escarra went 3-for-4 at the plate and also threw a runner out trying to steal second base in the bottom of the seventh inning.
-- Will Warren continued his strong spring on the mound. The right-hander cruised through his first four scoreless innings, allowing just one hit. But he allowed a pair of singles to start the fifth, and with his pitch count in the mid-60s, his day ended there.
Cade Winquest allowed one of those inherited runners to score, so Warren's final line read 4.0+ innings, one earned run on three hits, four strikeouts, and one walk. His spring ERA is still very impressive at 1.77.
--It was a quiet day overall for the Yankees offense, until the ninth. Ben Rice, serving as the DH, went 0-for-4 with three runners left on base in his first four at-bats, but in a rare fifth spring at-bat, he ripped a single to give the Yankees runners at first and third with nobody out in the ninth inning. Coby Morales, a non-roster player, would drive in a pair to put the Yankees up late.
-- Jasson Dominguez went 0-for-3 with a walk. Ryan McMahon, starting at shortstop, went 1-for-4.
--Oswaldo Cabrera, continuing his recovery from last season's devastating ankle injury, went 0-for-2. He remains hitless this spring in eight at-bats.
Just weeks before Dillon Brooks was arrested for DUI earlier this month, cops in Arizona expressed serious concern about the NBA player’s driving.
An incident report, obtained by The California Post on Tuesday, shows a Scottsdale Police Department officer stopped Brooks on Jan. 12 after the Suns guard’s driving made them nervous about the possibility he could cause a “catastrophic collision” in a congested, pedestrian-heavy part of the city.
Brooks was going 85 MPH in a 45 MPH zone in a 2019 Rolls-Royce Wraith, according to the report, which caused the cop to become “increasingly concerned about the extreme risk of a catastrophic collision or the vehicle striking a pedestrian.”
Dillon Brooks was pulled over for reckless driving on Jan. 12, several weeks before he was arrested for DUI. Provided by the Scottsdale PD
“Several businesses in the area were open and operating,” the cop wrote in the report. “A collision at such speeds could have resulted in multiple fatalities or serious physical injuries.”
Brooks was pulled over just after midnight, and body cam footage from the stop shows he actually asked the officer, “You pull me over because I’m speeding?”
The cop responded yes, and after getting Brooks’ information, the basketball player was cited for reckless driving and released.
Court records show Brooks, 30, is now facing two misdemeanors over the issue -— one count of reckless driving and one count of exceeding speed limit by 20/45 MPH — and is due to appear before a judge in early April.
Dillon Brooks has played in 50 games for the Suns this season. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Brooks was later arrested by the Scottsdale Police Department on March 6 — some seven weeks after his January run-in with cops — after authorities alleged he was driving under the influence.
Body cam footage from that stop showed an officer accused Brooks of having a car that “smelled like a dispensary” before he was taken to jail.
Dillon Brooks has been out of NBA action since February while dealing with a broken hand. Getty Images
Whether or not Brooks faces criminal charges over that matter “is up to the City prosecutor’s office,” the Scottsdale Police Department said.
Brooks has played in 50 games for the Suns this season, though he’s been out since late February after suffering a broken hand.
A message to Brooks’ rep seeking comment on Tuesday was not immediately returned.
CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 8: The sneakers worn by Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the game against the Boston Celtics on March 8, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 11: St. Louis Cardinals manager O?li Marmol and St. Louis Cardinals assistant hitting coach Brandon Allen watch batting practice a MLB game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals on August 11, 2023, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
We spoke with St. Louis Cardinals manager Oli Marmol recently about the state of the team now including the progress of Nolan Gorman, challenges with Jordan Walker, the impressive Spring for Joshua Baez and his goals for the 2026 team.
The St. Louis Cardinals made manager Oli Marmol available to us for over a half-hour late last week which included about a dozen online writers and podcasters representing multiple brands. During that time we and others asked him numerous questions which included the progress (or not) of prospects, the expectations for the pitching staff and what Oli would consider a successful season for 2026. Here are a summary of all the questions and a snapshot of his answers to each. He started with an opening statement which included this:
“Our audience experiences our team…a lot of it through the work that you guys do and I feel like when you put out work…I want to give you guys the opportunity to have direct access…rather than sometimes guessing as to how we’re thinking about things or how I’m thinking about things.”
How excited are you about the young Cardinals arms you have and how do you balance opportunity with allowing young players with enough runway to make adjustments?
“We almost have to take the approach we did with Libby with some of these guys where he wasn’t looking over his shoulder every start trying to figure out if I’m going to make my next one and I think that helped him see it as I have enough of an opportunity…there’s always gonna be urgency. None of these guys are taking the mound thinking…I have plenty of time to figure this out. But, it is nice for them to know that as I’m working towards becoming the best version of myself, I have the ability to make mistakes and then correct them…I really do believe that’s what helped Libby because he had to work through some things last year that weren’t easy and him knowing that if he had a bad outing that he was going to have a bullpen session two days after and be able to work on it and give it another shot…I think when you look at someone like Leahy who I really do want to see in the rotation because I think he can fit a little bit of what Libby did where because of how diligent he is with it and I mean when I say this dude is thoughtful in his preparation…it’s impressive.”
What type of things have you been doing with Nolan Gorman that have led to less strikeouts and better at-bats?
“He’s an interesting case because there has been opportunity, but it has been broken up at times because of having to give others opportunity…and bounce back and forth there based on having Arenado here and some others. It hasn’t panned out exactly the way you would want it laid out, but it has been broken up by injury…just having that real opportunity where it’s not choppy and you can see what he’s capable of doing. When you talk about what we’re doing with him and what he’s doing in order to prevent that from changing…more contact, not doing that at the expense of bat speed. You have to start somewhere and that’s why I wanted to lay that out last year….the bat speed is going to drop a little bit while we try to figure out how to get him through the zone and impacting the baseball at a higher rate. We saw bat speed drop. We saw contact go up. As he gets comfortable with that new move, then that allows for him to make more contact while still impacting the baseball…that’s what we’re seeing in Spring. It is more walks, more contact, but it’s not at the expense of him swinging the way he wants to swing…the counting stats…I don’t look at it in Spring as much…because you’re looking under the hood at the things you name that lead to sustainable success…are you controlling the strike zone? When you swing, are you making contact and are you hitting it hard?…You can be fooled in Spring Training by someone that has really good numbers, but it’s not sustainable.”
We know this is a different type of year and you’ll try to win every game, but how will you balance that with player development?
“It’s gonna be tough, but that’s part of the gig. If we’re trying to make decisions based on…we need to look long term, but we’re not giving anything away today. I think that’s how you build a winning culture…when I was coming up through the minor leagues…all the way through. We always talked about developing winning players. When we think about this group that is young and hungry…you’re going to have times where you have to make decisions that isn’t strictly to win that game, but it is to teach them what winning habits…look like. The goal is you do that often enough, then you just start winning. We could put a timeline on this and say…we’re gonna be good in 2028 or 2029…(but) try to be good today. I don’t know the timeline…these guys may come out and surprise the heck out of people…they may not. We’ll find out a lot about who can and who can’t. Our job is to create a framework for them to operate in, do it really well…hold them accountable and hold our staff accountable to it and move this thing as quick as possible in the right direction…our staff is in the mindset that it’s today.”
Who are some prospects that have really impressed you this Spring behind the scenes?
“I think you would agree with…Baez…that was fun to watch and not just because of the skill set. His demeanor…sometimes guys come up here and you can tell that they are putting on a front as far as looking confident when they’re really spinning inside and they’re just trying to control it. This dude had a quiet confidence to him that was pretty impressive. The way he carried himself in the clubhouse was really good. The way he communicated with the staff was really good…his overall presence on the field is felt. That’s not always the case. He’s one of the ones that you can get pretty excited about what’s to come…and the way he’s working now…there’s an urgency to it. He knows it’s close.
What about the issues with Jordan Walker?
“This has been one that…keeps us up at night. We have to figure it out. When I say I’m committed to it, I need to think of a stronger word to make sure that this dude figures it out…with us…because there’s a real skill set there, but I do feel like we missed some time in getting to where we’re at now. I wished we would have gotten to this point sooner. What I mean by that where there’s real vulnerability of what has actually happened…how do we feel…how are we gonna get on the other side of this to create real change…not just say we’re working on something, (but) six months later it looks very similar. I feel like we’re finally at a point where that’s happening. It could be a month before we feel good about it…it could be three months before we feel good about it…I may feel good about it in 3 hours….I don’t know. I like where we’re at with what’s taking place. There’s a real responsibility on both ends here…on mine, on Brownie and that whole hitting department…to unlock what he’s capable of…and there’s real responsibility on (Jordan’s) end, too…of carrying the work that he’s doing into the game. We’re doing everything possible for that to be the case…but this is one that has not gone well and we need it to go well. All hands on deck for this one.”
Big thanks to Oli Marmol and the St. Louis Cardinals for allowing us direct access. We’re assured that this will happen again more frequently moving forward so we can get the thought process of the President of Baseball Operations and his team and the manager as they navigate the St. Louis Cardinals forward through this rebuild of what we hope will be a team that returns to its winning ways sooner rather than later.
"It's something he's been dealing with. It just had been getting worse. He gutted it out last game and I think you could see he was favoring it late… It's something we're going to take time with."
Stewart has been one of the better defensive big men in the league this season and a key part of the Pistons' second-ranked defense, plus he is averaging 10 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. He is absolutely in the mix for an All-Defensive team, but with this injury he may well not meet the 65-game threshold to qualify for a postseason award (he has played in 55 games, the Pistons have 15 games remaining). Some of the time he missed this season was due to a seven-game suspension for leaving the bench during an on-court altercation between the Pistons and Hornets.
Expect this to mean more run for Paul Reed, who has averaged 13.9 points and 7.8 rebounds as a starter this season (eight games).
Eberechi Eze and Declan Rice scored pearlers as Arsenal eased into the quarters, where they’ll face comeback kings Sporting Club
Arsenal v Bayer Leverkusen. Arsenal make two changes to their starting line-up in Leverkusen. Ben White comes in at right-back for the injured Jurriën Timber, while Leandro Trossard replaces the benched Gabriel Martinelli. Kasper Hjulmand names the same starting XI.
The comeback’s definitely on now! Geny Catamo sprays a lovely ball down the right wing for Luis Suárez, who delivers an inch-perfect low cross into the middle. Pedro Gonçalves, steaming down the inside-left channel, doesn’t need to break stride before blasting home from 12 yards. Lovely sweeping move!
Bernardo Silva was sent off for handball and Vinicius Jr scored the resultant penalty, then added another in injury time, with Erling Haaland bagging between times
On the telly, they’re talking about this game. It’s up there with Juventus 2-3 Man United as the best European performances British teams have delivered in my lifetime.
Email! “Pep’s kinda washed and we should just say it,” says Christopher Flaherty. “Hemming and hawking about staying, no clear vision for the future ... further decline is more likely than another revolution.”
There are three late games on the spring training schedule tonight, which suits me just fine.
My MLB picks for Tuesday, March 17, highlight moneyline predictions for all three games, including the Cincinnati Reds toppling the Cleveland Guardians.
Spring Training predictions for March 17
Pick
Odds
KC moneyline
+115
CIN moneyline
-125
LAA moneyline
+130
Pick #1: Royals moneyline
This is a pure value play. The Kansas City Royals are still without Bobby Witt Jr. and Maikel Garcia (playing in tonight's WBC Final) and Vinnie Pasquantino (whose team was just eliminated on Monday), so it makes sense they're underdogs against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
But until he can prove otherwise, I have no faith in Roki Sasaki finding the strike zone with any consistency. The right-hander has issued five walks across 3 1/3 innings this spring while surrendering seven earned runs and five base hits.
Batters can wait until he gives in and crush him.
I'll take the plus money on the underdogs in case Sasaki digs himself, and the Dodgers, too big of an early hole.
Pick #2: Reds moneyline
The Cleveland Guardians lineup remains unimpressive, especially with Jose Ramirez likely sitting again with an injured shoulder.
I'm high on Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo, who was occasionally brilliant last season, even if his overall output was uneven.
With Cleveland sending lefty swingman Kolby Allard to the hill, I like the Reds to do enough early damage to preserve a win.
Pick #3: Angels moneyline
Chicago Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga faded down the stretch last season, and there are plenty of questions surrounding whether or not he can be a viable part of this rotation.
On paper, I like Imanaga more than Los Angeles Angels starter Mitch Farris, but not enough to ride with -155.
The Angels can stack the order with right-handed bats like Jo Adell and Mike Trout. If this were at Wrigley Field, I'd be less inclined to take the upset, because the wind often suppresses fly balls, helping Imanaga keep his ERA low, especially in colder weather.
In Arizona, he's much more susceptible to the long ball.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Tonight's Coast 2 Coast Tuesday features another exciting slate of NBA action. First, at 8:00 PM ET, it's the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. the Milwaukee Bucks. Then, at 10:00 PM ET, the Philadelphia 76ers take on the Denver Nuggets. Live coverage tonight begins at 7:00 PM with NBA Showtime on NBC and Peacock. See below for additional information on how to watch tonight's games. Follow all of the NBA action on NBCSN and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.
Philadelphia 76ers vs Denver Nuggets Game Preview:
Before the All-Star Break, the 76ers were sixth in the Eastern Conference, in the final guaranteed playoff spot. But injuries and inconsistent play over the last month have dropped Philadelphia to ninth place, where they currently sit in Play-In tournament position.
Joel Embiid is out with an oblique injury, Paul George is still serving a 25-game suspension, and Tyrese Maxey has missed the last five games with a tendon injury in his right pinky.
With three of its top scorers sidelined, Philadelphia will look to VJ Edgecombe to lead the way. Edgecombe leads all rookies in total steals (89) and is third among rookies in scoring (15.4 ppg).
The Nuggets are currently fifth in the Western Conference, having won four of their last seven games. As the playoff race heats up, Denver will need more consistency to build momentum in a tightly packed West.
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. Sunday Night Basketball coverage will also be available on NBC and Peacock. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
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NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule:
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Peoria, Ariz. - March 05: Bryce Johnson #29 of the San Diego Padres is congratulated in the dugout after scoring a run against the Seattle Mariners during spring training game at the Peoria Sports Complex on Thursday, March 5, 2026 in Peoria, Ariz.(Photo by Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
San Diego Padres at Seattle Mariners, March 17, 2026, 1:10 p.m. PST
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Luis Morales takes the mound today against the Chicago White Sox in Glendale, Arizona. It will be his fifth spring outing this year. | Diamond Images/Getty Images
With just more than one week before opening day, The Athletics will take on the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona today at 1:05 PM. The A’s come into today with a 12-13 record and matchup against a Chicago team currently 13-11 this spring.
Twenty-three-year-old righty Luis Morales will take the mound for the A’s this afternoon. Morales has made four spring appearances, three starts and has a 2-1 record in twelve total innings. He’ll go up against 30-year-old lefty Anthony Kay. Kay has pitched 11.2 innings this spring, going 2-0 with a 2.31 ERA. He hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2023.
Kay will face off against this lineup for the A’s today:
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 15: Max Strus #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Rocket Arena on March 15, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Cavaliers 130-120. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | 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 Cavs fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
It’s hard to believe the 2025-26 NBA regular season is already approaching an end. As of writing, the Cleveland Cavaliers only have 14 games remaining, with a match against the Milwaukee Bucks tonight. Where does the time go?
Keeping that theme in mind, our first question for this week’s survey focuses on the end of the season. With only a handful of weeks left in the schedule, do you believe Max Strus can work his way back into the starting lineup before the playoffs start?
There are layers to this question. First, you need to believe that Strus belongs in the starting lineup, to begin with. I think this part of the equation is more straightforward, as Strus has had success in the starting five since joining the Cavaliers three seasons ago. If he’s healthy, that role is likely his. Though you can argue for someone like Jaylon Tyson, if you wish.
Second, and more importantly, can Strus get back into postseason shape this quickly? He just made his season debut on Sunday. That’s a short window to ramp up and get ready for the intensity of a playoff run. Strus scoring 24 points in his debut probably makes you feel more confident. However, he did look gassed at various points in that game. Something to keep in mind.
As for our other question, we want to know who you believe will finish the season with a higher three-point percentage? Jaylon Tyson (45.7%) or Sam Merrill (44.5%).
Of course, we understand that Merrill attempts more difficult shots than Tyson. But the fact that this is even close is a testament to the season Tyson is having. So, who are you rolling with down the stretch?
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 15: Max Strus #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers waits during the second quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Rocket Arena on March 15, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Max Strus finally returned to the court for the Cleveland Cavaliers this past Sunday after missing the entire season to this point with a Jones fracture. While it didn’t come in a win, his return looked about as positive an outcome as the team, the player, and the fans could have hoped for.
Average Player Grade: A+
Stats last week: One game, 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 assist
“You learn a lot about yourself when something is taken away from you. I think I understand how important this is and how much it does mean to me that I want to be back. I want to make an impact. I want to help this team win. I do love basketball. I do love doing it with a good group of guys. I’m just happy to be back.”
The performance sent the arena into a frenzy. Strus was lights out shooting beyond the perimeter, going 6-7 in 20 minutes. Strus compiled this performance while also showing the skill set that made Cavaliers fans fall in love with him in the first place. Strus showed his on-ball abilities, being able to get around the rim, and showed how much easier his life can be in this James Harden iteration of the Cavaliers.
Strus’s return also allows the Cavaliers to unlock a more free-flowing version of their offense — one that mirrors the style that originally drew the team to him during his Miami Heat days. In past seasons, Strus often felt like an essential component of the Cavaliers’ ability to get rolling offensively, but that level of responsibility sometimes worked against what makes him most effective. The Cavs should be able to put him in the proper context now.
Shooters like Strus operate at their best when they are able to operate within their own systems. The Cavs desperately have needed these types of role players. Outside of Sam Merrill, this has been an archetype the team has sorely lacked.
A lot of times, the Cavalier of the week is based on a stretch of games to earn the hardware. When it comes to this week, I think acknowledging the road Max Strus took to have the debut he did is worth the award itself.
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 23: Bobby Witt Jr. #7 of the Kansas City Royals warms up before the first inning of a Spring Training game against the Chicago Cubs at Surprise Stadium on February 23, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Once again, the AL Central isn’t looking like the strongest division in all of baseball. With that being said it’s definitely an interesting one. There’s only one team that seems completely hopeless, while the other four have varying degrees of realistic hope and hope that’s feasible but may require some of the optimistic delusion that abounds during this time of year.
Now it’s time to take a look at what this division may have to offer here in 2026. Will the Guardians maintain their tenuous grip on the divisional title? Will the Tigers finally emerge to claim the title after they knocked Cleveland out of last year’s Postseason? Will the Royals step it up and take the crown, themselves? Will the Twins recover from a disastrous 2025? Will the White Sox recover from a disastrous existence in general?
Chicago White Sox
2025 Season: 60-102
Notable Additions: INF Luisangel Acuña, RP Seranthony Domínguez, SP Erick Fedde, OF Austin Hays, RP Jordan Hicks, RP Anthony Kay, INF Munetaka Murakami, SP Sean Newcomb
When will they play the Braves: Tuesday, June 9, Wednesday, June 10 and Thursday, June 11, al at 7:40 p.m. ET at Rate Field
Well, they should be better than they were last season? Granted, that’s not saying much since 102 losses in 2025 was actually an improvement itself after their historically-bad 2024 campaign but hey, progress is progress, right? Unfortunately for Chicago, it’ll likely be slow progress since this is still looking like a last-place team for not just the AL Central but the American League as a whole.
The White Sox did manage to pull of a bit of a splash move for the first time in what feels like ages after they ended up signing Japanese posting Munetaka Murakami. Was this just a case of the White Sox swooping in on what ended up being a wildly depressing market for Murakami after it turned out that a lot of MLB scouts weren’t exactly confident in the lefty bat’s chances of transforming from NPB slugger to MLB slugger? Probably, since they ended up only getting him for two years and $34 million. With that being said, someone was going to give Murakami a chance and I applaud GM Chris Getz and the White Sox for at least trying.
That’s just about all the credit I can give them, though: The White Sox are trying! I believe that they have officially bottomed out from the absolute cratering that they suffered in 2024 and should at least be more than a speedbump for the contenders in the AL Central. I do like the additions of Seranthony Dominguez and Anthony Kay on two-year deals and the Austin Hays deal could end up being two years depending on how things go thanks to a mutual option. I can’t say that I’m too enthused about them signing Sean Newcomb and Erick Fedde for their pitching staff but hey, you gotta have arms and they are certainly arms.
As you can imagine with a team of this caliber, though, the main focus is going to be on the young big leaguers and prospects developing. The White Sox may have something with Colson Montgomery at shortstop (even though he’s apparently struggling through spring training right now), Miguel Vargas is starting to look like he’s going to be a solid third baseman, Chase Meidroth should provide solid defense at second and Kyle Teel also seems like he’ll be a reliable catcher as well (even though he’ll be out for a bit due to a hamstring strain). Add Murakami at first base and suddenly this is not a bad-looking infield at all! If there were any signs of life in the outfield or at the DH spot then this could’ve been a really interesting team!
Instead, Chicago’s likely to languish at the bottom of the AL Central yet again. At least they’ll have a handful of consensus Top-100 prospects to keep an eye on and they’ll also be picking first overall in this year’s draft. Also, notorious owner Jerry Reinsdorf is on the way out (not immediately but sometime in the future) so that alone is worth celebrating for White Sox fans. They just probably won’t have a lot to celebrate on the field any time soon.
Cleveland Guardians
2025 Season: 88-74
Notable Additions: RP Shawn Armstrong, RP Conor Brogdon, C Austin Hedges, OF Rhys Hoskins, RP Colin Holderman
When do they play the Braves: Friday, April 10 and Saturday, April 11 at 7:15 p.m. ET. Sunday, April 12 at 7:20 p.m. ET. All games at Truist Park.
The Guardians had a lowkey stinker of an offseason. They followed up a shocking AL Central win (despite that being three divisional titles out of the past four seasons for them) by doing little-to-nothing to add to their lineup in the offseason. Sure, they did make the Postseason last season as divisional champions but they somehow pulled that off with a run differential of -6. The Tigers ended up dumping them out of the AL Wild Card and theyr responded to that early exit by making Rhys Hoskins (on a minor league deal, no less) their “crown jewel” signing heading into the season.
That’s the main question for this team: Will the offense be able to pull their weight this season? On paper, it’s looking like this is going to be another season where they’ll be leaning heavily on their pitching staff while hoping that José Ramirez is the one who’ll be doing the heavy lifting at the plate. There’s really only two possibilities at play here: Either they figure that the offense should be a lot better than it was last season (despite not doing much to improve said offense) or ownership just decided to cheap out on the baseball operations. Considering that Ramirez is the only player on this team currently making more than $8 million, I think we know which one is the more likely possibility.
The pitching staff should be perfectly fine. Tanner Bibee has proven that he’s a very good starter, Gavin WIlliams isn’t too far behind and they’ve got a wealth of options for their rotation with Logan Allen, Joey Cantillo, Slade Cecconi and Parker Messick in the mix. Closer Cade Smith is done floating under the radar and is starting to get recognized as being one of the best closers in the game right now with a four-seamer that has proven to be nearly un-hittable. It’s going to be tough to score runs on this crew.
On the flip side, it’s going to be tough for the Guardians to score runs on anybody. Aside from Ramirez, Steven Kwan figures to be the only sure thing to provide some consistent help i the hitting department. There’s a lot of hype surrounding Chase DeLauter but like any other prospect, he’s going to have to prove it at the big league level. Outside of Kwan and potentially DeLauter, there is not a lot to get excited about when it comes to tis lineup. Maybe Rhys Hoskins will revive his career and deliver some consistent hitting as well? There’s just not too much hope for this lineup to improve over what they did last season and the pitching staff will have to be nails all season in order for this team to have a shot at retaining the AL Central crown.
Detroit Tigers
2025 Season: 87-75
Notable Additions: SP Framber Valdez, 2B Gleyber Torres, RP Kyle Finnegan, SP Justin Verlander, RP Kenley Jansen, RP Drew Anderson
When do they play the Braves: Tuesday, April 29 and Wednesday, April 29 at 7:15 p.m. ET. Sunday, April 26 at 1:35 p.m. ET. All games at Truist Park.
There’s a very good chance that this could be the best (and last) opportunity that the Tigers will have to make some noise in the Postseason while having Tarik Skubal in their employ. Detroit didn’t exactly seem enthused about paying Skubal a record amount of money via arbitration and once again, ownership’s willingness (or reticence) to spend seems like it’ll play a major factor in whether or not Skubal will stick around. With that being said, he’s still here and is going to be here for the rest of the season (assuming the wheels don’t fall off and they end up being sellers at the deadline) so again, this appears to be an all-or-nothing season facing the Tigers here in 2026.
They did a lot of work on their pitching staff and their rotation looks like it’ll be the best in the AL Central. Framber Valdez is a huge addition and bringing back Justin Verlander is more than just a nostalgia play. Having Jack Flaherty and Casey Mize as middle-of-the-rotation guys is about as good as it’ll get for a lot of teams — even if they’ll be missing Reese Olson for the whole season. The bullpen should be reliable enough, with Will Vest and new acquisitions Kyle Finnegan and Kenley Jansen helping to fortify the relief pitching for this squad.
Unlike in Cleveland, this lineup should definitely be able to pull their fair share of the weight. Riley Greene should lead the way at the plate as he’s turned into a solidly above-average hitter. Gleyber Torres and Dillon Dingle shouldn’t be too far behind with their offense as well. FanGraphs Depth Charts projections believes that top prospect Kevin McGonigle is the real deal and if he (and a potential arrival from other top prospect Max Clark) performs as expected then the Tigers will definitely have a shot at making this crucial year count in a big way.
Kansas City Royals
2025 Season: 82-80
Notable Additions: OF Issac Collins, OF Lane Thomas, OF/DH Starling Marte, RP Alex Lange, RP Nick Mears, RP Matt Strahm
When do they play the Braves: Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28 at 7:15 p.m ET. Sunday, March 29 at 1:35 p.m. ET. All games at Truist Park.
The Tigers may have the best pitcher in this division but the Royals absolutely have the best player in this division in the form of Bobby Witt Jr. Assuming everything goes like normal, Witt should be an MVP candidate yet again and he’s got all the tools to be one of those rare players who can leave a major impact on a game by himself. With that being said, this is the ultimate team sport and even the superstars in this sport will need help.
Fortunately for Witt, hep is here. Maikel Garcia is playing to Witt’s right at third base and that’s a very formidable side of the infield for any team to deal with. Jonathan India can be dangerous on his best day, Vinnie Pasquantino should be flying into the season after an encouraging performance in the World Baseball Classic and Salvador Perez still commands respect behind the dish. The outfield is especially intriguing with the most intriguing figure of all being Jac Caglianone. If Cags can live up to his potential then that could be huge for a team that is already pretty solid all-around. He’s got the potential to breakout and it would be massive for the Royals if this was the year where he did break out.
There’s also plenty to like about this pitching staff. Speaking of breakouts, Kris Bubic will be entering this season looking to prove that his breakout in 2025 is here to stay. Cole Ragans may have had his 2025 season curtailed by injuries but there’s plenty of reason to believe that if he stays healthy then he’ll be able to bounce back and return to the great form that he showed in 2024. Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo are both known commodities at this point and their veteran presence and steady mound production will keep this rotation afloat at times during this season. Noah Cameron should also be a very solid performer in this rotation as well.
The bullpen got a major boost with the addition of Matt Strahm and then Kansas City will have Lucas Erceg and Carlos Estévez to reply on out of the pen as well. John Schrieber and Nick Mears should also be effective as well. This entire squad is just really solid all-around and I honestly wouldn’t be shocked at all if they ended up being the ones to come out of this division as champions. The Tigers are tough as well but the Royals have what it takes to keep up and possibly even surpass Detroit.
Minnesota Twins
2025 Season: 70-92
Notable Additions: 1B/DH Josh Bell, C Victor Caratini, C Alex Jackson, 1B Eric Wagaman, IF Tristan Gray, RP Taylor Rogers
When do they play the Braves:Monday, August 17 and Tuesday, August 18 at 7:40 p.m. ET. Wednesday, August 19 at 1:40 p.m. ET. All games at Target Field.
I can’t think of many more teams who had a more depressing end to the season than the Twins did. Minnesota made a real effort at contending in 2025 and then proceeded to sell off just under half of their big-league talent once things failed to materialize. As a result, they ended up losing 90 games for the first time since 2016 and are now looking like longshots to contend ten years later here in 2026.
That’s due to the fact that Minnesota’s offseason dealings left a lot to be desired. A lot of this had to do with the fact that ownership decided to get involved with the offseason moves — so it’s not a coincidence at all that the team got cheaper when it comes to payroll. Sure, the talent is here for the Twins to make a surprise run to the Postseason — Byron Buxton is still around and you can do a lot worse than having players like Royce Lewis, Luke Keaschall and Ryan Jeffers around. Joe Ryan is still a perfectly capable top-of-the-rotation hurler and the rest of the rotation may not be spectacular (with guys like Bailey Ober, Simeon Woods Richardson and Taj Bradley available) but it should be enough to make sure that the Twins aren’t terrible.
That’s basically what the Twins are going for this season — simply avoid losing 90 games again. Now granted, once you’re in the 80-loss territory then it’s a thin line between being mediocre and being a Wild Card contender so there’s certainly a universe where this all comes together for the Twins and they make a Postseason run. However, this is a team that’s going to need everything going their way and the stars aligning perfectly for them to bounce back from a 2025 teardown and a relatively inactive offseason to follow.
The final of the World Baseball Classic is stacked with star power. And speaking of power, don’t be shocked if we see a few home runs when Venezuela takes on the United States.
Aaron Judge, Ronald Acuna Jr., and Kyle Schwarber are the big bomber names, but who are the best bets to hit some dingers in what should be an epic WBC final? Check out my home run picks below.
There are some great power hitters on Team Venezuela — Eugenio Suárez and Sal Perez just to name a few — but the best pure power swing on this team still belongs to Ronald Acuna Jr.
What makes the Venezuelan’s star center fielder so dangerous is he’s got easy power to all parts of the field. He’s already gone deep twice in the WBC, and I love this value for him to go yard once again.
Acuna Jr. faces American starter Nolan McLean. The Mets' top pitching prospect began his MLB career with an impressive eight-game stretch at the end of last summer, but one guy who burned him was Acuna — who took him deep in an August 22 meeting.
USA home run pick
Alex Bregman (+425 at DraftKings)
It's been some of the young guns like Gunnar Henderson, Roman Anthony, and PCA that have powered the Americans to the final, but I’m betting on an old guard to go deep tonight.
One, the final seems like a spot for a veteran to step up. Two, the other thing those guys have in common is they’re lefty bats.
With that in mind, I expect Alex Bregman to get the start against Venezuela starter Eduardo Rodriguez, who, you guessed it, is a lefty.
Bregman also has solid career numbers vs. Rodriguez, going 9-for-27 with three home runs and a 1.160 OPS.
How to watch Venezuela vs USA and game info
Location
LoanDepot Park, Miami, FL
Date
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
First pitch
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
FOX
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.
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