According to multiple reports, the Philadelphia Flyers have made another trade, again subtracting from their group of forwards.
With just over an hour to go until Friday's 3 p.m. NHL trade deadline, reports indicate the Flyers have traded veteran enforcer Nick Deslauriers to the Metropolitan Division rival Carolina Hurricanes.
The writing was on the wall for Deslauriers, 35, when the Flyers signed fellow tough guy Garrett Wilson to a one-year, two-way contract to make him eligible to jump from the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms to play NHL games in Philadelphia.
PHLY's Charlie O'Connor reports that the Flyers have received a conditional 2027 seventh-round pick from the Hurricanes in exchange for Deslauriers's services.
Hearing the return isn't anything much on Deslauriers, as expected. 7th rounder in 2027, and I believe there are conditions on it.
Deslauriers finishes his Flyers career with nine goals, 11 assists, and 20 points in 195 games across four seasons. In 20 games for the Flyers this season, the aging veteran recorded one point - an assist - and 33 penalty minutes.
The Flyers are now down two forwards, having traded Bobby Brink to the Minnesota Wild for defenseman David Jiricek earlier on trade deadline day.
Wilson and top forward prospect Alex Bump are expected to fill in the roster spots created by the losses of Deslauriers and Brink.
By moving on from Deslauriers, the Flyers have freed up an additional $1.75 million in cap space that they can leverage in another potential deal before the 3 p.m. deadline.
TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 19: General view of the Tokyo Dome during the pre-game ceremony prior to the MLB Tokyo Opening Series between Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome on March 19, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Gene Wang/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If it is not obvious, the Dodgers and the United States are merely borrowing Shohei Ohtani, as most recently evidenced by Ohtani’s recent batting practice session at the Tokyo Dome in preparation for the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
With that in mind, in November 2025, MLB announced a documentary film about the 2025 Tokyo Series, titled Homecoming: The Tokyo Series. The documentary is billed as an examination of baseball in Japan with intersecting stories involving the five Japanese players who participated in the 2025 opening series: Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki, Shota Imanaga, and Seiya Suzuki.
Baseball might be America’s pastime, but it is also an omnipresent part of everyday life in Japan.
Never was that more clear than during Major League Baseball’s Tokyo Series between the Cubs and Dodgers that opened the 2025 regular season this past March. That two-game series — headlined by Japanese superstars Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki, Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki — and the impact of baseball all around the country is the focus of a new documentary that will be coming to movie theaters soon.
“Homecoming: The Tokyo Series” celebrates the intersection of culture and global sport, illuminating how baseball unites beyond borders. Produced by Supper Club and in coordination with MLB Studios and BD4, Banijay Americas’ premium documentary label, the documentary will be shown in theaters on Feb. 23 and 24, distributed by Fathom Entertainment.
The documentary had a two-day limited theatrical run in theaters in late February 2026. For those who missed the documentary in theaters, CNN announced that the network would exclusively bring the documentary to its new streaming offering on March 27.
As we have covered, the 2025 Tokyo Series was both a massive cultural event in Japan and a runaway financial hit, leaving the sport wondering when Tokyo Series 2: Electric Boogaloo will happen with the Cubs and Dodgers.
There has been only one review of the film by Shikhar Verma of High on Films, who rated the film 3.5 out of 5. True Blue LA was provided with a screener of Homecoming: The Tokyo Series, and I watched the 90-minute documentary twice for this review.
Review of Homecoming: The Tokyo Series
The film barely scratches the surface of what it was like to experience the 2025 Tokyo Series. If I had to describe the film in a single sentence, it would be “atmospheric but light in substance.”
This criticism is not to say that the documentary is bad or not worth watching. The documentary suffers greatly from not deciding on a focal point, of which there are many. If you want a coherent story or narrative from this documentary, you will be disappointed. Here is how the film was described in its theatrical release:
Homecoming: The Tokyo Series explores Japan’s deep bond with baseball, culminating in the 2025 MLB Opening Day games in Tokyo as hometown heroes Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki, Shota Imanaga, and Seiya Suzuki return to where their baseball dreams began. Through the lives of those shaped by the game, the film reveals how baseball bridges generations, connects nations, and reflects the balance between tradition and modern life. More than a chronicle of a sporting event, it is a portrait of a nation’s enduring love for baseball and the pride of watching its stars come home.
I would have loved to have watched that film, because the film I watched does not match this synopsis.
What happens when you do not pick a lane
The best way to describe Homecoming: The Tokyo Series is a mish-mash of two films with little overlap. If Director Sterman could pick a lane, I think the documentary would be infinitely more coherent.
On the one hand, you have a series of slice-of-life vignettes between a mother and adult son, Yasuko and Toru Tanahara, running a youth baseball team in Osaka, a player on the team and his father in Osaka, respectively Kanato and Shogo, superfan and salon owner, Hironobou Kanno, in Oshu (Ohtani’s hometown), owner of a glove restoration business, Re-Birth, Tomohiro Yonezawaya, in Ota (a ward inside Tokyo), master craftsman of bats for Mizuno, Tamio Nawa, in Yoro, discussing their individual stories and love affairs with baseball in Japan.
None of these threads end up at the Tokyo Dome to watch the Tokyo Series, or even overlap, which is a shame given the passion involved and appropriateness of the conclusion, considering the gravity of the homecoming happening in the literal background. The closest we get to an overlap of our cast and Tokyo Series is when Mr. Kanno is shown watching Game 2 of the Tokyo Series at home. Given how little the Tokyo Series is discussed or covered in this portion of the movie, you can excise it entirely and still have a lovely, atmospheric documentary on Japanese baseball, both in its place in Japanese culture and history.
To play Devil’s Advocate for a moment, tickets to the Tokyo Series were notoriously hard to get, even with all the efforts made to make the tickets available for Japanese locals. The face value for my Game 1 ticket was 32000 yen (about $212.84). Even with an anti-scalping law on the books, I paid exponentially more; therefore, gathering tickets for as many subjects as the film had was likely not feasible.
In the film’s other part, you have American expatriates like Jason Coskrey of The Japan Times, Jim Allen, a longtime freelance columnist, and Meghan Montemurro, Cubs domestic beat writer for the Chicago Tribune, discussing the nuances and characteristics of Japanese baseball with the backdrop of the Tokyo Series. In what had to be a logistics-driven decision, this portion of the film is largely Cubs-centric, with Montemurro going to the Cubs’ team dinner before the series and an off-site visit to a Japanese elementary school with former Cubs Derrek Lee and Kosuke Fukudome on March 19.
However, the inarguable main story of the Tokyo Series is Ohtani’s return to Japan, but the documentary is either unwilling or unable to give the topic the attention it deserves. Ohtani in Japan is a cross between The Beatles, Michael Jordan, and Babe Ruth: a blend of cultural zeitgeist and omnipresent history. One cannot overstate the imprint Ohtani has made and continues to make in Japan. One can see this impact in the sheer volume of advertisements in which Ohtani appears, which is not surprising given that he made $100 million from advertisements last year, leading all athletes worldwide in 2025.
Put another way, in the days leading up to the Tokyo Series, thousands of fans filled the Tokyo Dome just to watch the Dodgers and Ohtani practice. Not play, practice.
Per Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register on March 14, 2025:
MLB put tickets on sale for Friday’s workouts at the 55,000-seat facility known as “The Big Egg” and capped the crowd at approximately 10,000. Tickets priced at 2,000 yen (about $13) were gone within an hour and 10,507 showed up to watch their favorite team – say it in your best Allen Iverson voice – practice.
The Dodgers’ Tokyo Series opponents, the Chicago Cubs, worked out earlier in the day Friday in front of a much smaller crowd. For the Dodgers’ workout, the fans showed up, indeed painting the lower level of the seating area in Dodger blue.
A group of Japanese fans seated behind the Dodgers’ dugout were so ardent in their support they called out the names of players as they jogged out of the dugout onto the field, regardless of their stature – from All-Star outfielder Teoscar Hernandez to relief pitcher Anthony Banda…
When the star of the show, Ohtani, emerged from the dugout to do some running drills – he rarely takes batting practice on the field and didn’t Friday – his appearance drew a gasp from the crowd and then loud applause. His every move on the field during his brief appearance was shown on the large video board in center field.
“I really feel the excitement of the country with the games being played here,” Yamamoto said.
One would be oblivious to these facts if relying solely on Homecoming: The Tokyo Series. With no disrespect to Yamamoto, Sasaki, Suzuki, or Imanaga, if any or all of these players were not present, the Tokyo Series would have still gone on with nary a blip. Not so for Ohtani, as he’s that central to the overall narrative.
While Tokyo was gripped by Tokyo Series fervor, folks recognized my Dodgers cap and surmised I was there, even though I was as far away as Kumamoto. The U.S. equivalent is someone being able to figure out what you are doing in the country based on your appearance in Portland, Oregon, or Salt Lake City, Utah, for a contemporaneous event at Dodger Stadium.
In the documentary, Ohtani’s hometown is briefly featured, and a snippet of the media day press conferences is included. Accordingly, Ohtani’s absence is omnipresent in the documentary, except when the actual Tokyo Series is shown. In the vignettes about Japanese baseball, his absence, except as a figure of admiration or motivation, makes sense, since famous athletes are generally not daily fixtures in our everyday lives.
But for the portion of the film focusing on the lead-up to the Tokyo Series, it is an utterly inexcusable decision.
To further illustrate this point, imagine a hypothetical documentary about the 2025 World Series, but set from the Toronto Blue Jays’ point of view. Further imagine that the focal point was not Vladimir Guerrero Jr. or Ernie Clement (who both had a stellar series), or even Jeff Hoffman (the tragedy of the closer who blew it), but rather Kevin Gausman (the pitcher who got beat twice) or Brendon Little (he was there largely as an observer except for one solitary moment).
This hypothetical documentary would be a confusing watch because of an inherent flaw in its construction stemming from the wrong focus; instead, say MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Anecdotally, I saw far more Dodgers gear and fans than Cubs fans, and if pressed to estimate, I would put the split at around 85/15 in favor of the Dodgers during the weeks I was in Japan.
Homecoming: The Tokyo Series has the same faulty construction of viewpoint; whether to make the Cubs the focal point of the Tokyo Series coverage was a choice between logistics and directorial discretion, and it remains open.
Playing fast and loose with the truth
Ultimately, the documentary’s odd lack of focus is not its only flaw. In many ways, the regular-season games between the Dodgers and the Cubs are arguably an afterthought. The fact that Ohtani et al. returned to Japan to play games is more important than the actual results, which saw the Dodgers sweep.
The real story is that the Tokyo Series happened at all and, in general, was a celebration of and for Japan. Accordingly, Japanese players are becoming more common in MLB. To its credit, Homecoming: The Tokyo Series gets these facts correct during this portion of its runtime.
However, Coskrey, Allen, and Montemurro discuss the unique characteristics and energy of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), which is generally a loud, musical, and energetic affair. Japanese baseball can almost be thought of as a martial art, with an emphasis on small-ball fundamentals over the three-true outcome currently embraced in MLB.
This rowdy energy from the crowd was certainly present during the exhibition games between the Dodgers, Cubs, Tokyo Giants, and Hanshin Tigers.
It is worth noting that the Tigers won both of their exhibition games against the Cubs and Dodgers by shutout. And one would expect that energy to be present during the actual Tokyo Series, except it was not.
In a decision to fudge with the facts to support the narrative that NPB is loud and rowdy, Homecoming: The Tokyo Series decides to play fast and loose with the facts, pumping in crowd noise during the game sections and weirdly festishing the pregame activities by playing around with the chronological order of things.
First, while the exhibition games did live up to NPB’s reputation, the Tokyo Series had more in common with COVID-era baseball or The Masters through the aggressive, omnipresent silence from the crowd for most of the series, especially Game 1. This observation is not criticism, as the crowds were respectful and excited when any of the Japanese players played.
The first at-bat of the season was Shohei Ohtani. One would expect this crowd to be rowdy in rapturous joy. Instead, the atmosphere was generally quiet, rapt awe, as demonstrated below, which persisted for large portions of both games. Generally, fans did loosen up as the games went on, but it was a far cry from what I had come to expect from an NPB stadium.
As an aside, fans watching Ohtani practice and play at the Tokyo Dome now have loosened up considerably, even though restrictions on amateur or non-official videography and photography have emerged.
The oddest thing about seeing Ohtani in Japan is that instead of the stadium getting ear-splittingly loud when he steps into the box, it’s almost deathly silent. And THEN the oendan kicks in. pic.twitter.com/leNFBK7Ubg
I was expecting a rowdy, NPB-like atmosphere with bands, chanting, singing, and general tomfoolery over two days. Instead, I got two nights at The Masters.
The observation is not a criticism but a realization that I had an imperfect understanding of Japanese baseball fans. If you wanted to experience what NPB is known for in the Tokyo Series, your best bet would have been to watch the exhibition games against the Hanshin Tigers or Yomiuri Giants.
In my observation, the local fans were far more invested in the returning players, most notably Shohei Ohtani. They would react when any of the five returning Japanese stars were in the game or in a pinch. The rest of the time? Not so much.
During the highlights of Game 1, Homecoming: The Tokyo Series makes the bizarre decision to show the pregame festivities of Game 2, featuring taiko drums and traditional Japanese garb, as if they were part of Game 1, which is factually incorrect.
Game 1’s actual festivities? A celebration of baseball and Pokémon, complete with five-foot-tall Pikachu wearing road grey Los Angeles jerseys and home white Chicago jerseys. Each starting player was introduced with both his name and an associated, unique Mega Pokémon. For example, Ohtani had Mega Garchomp, Pete Crow-Armstrong had Mega Lucario, and Max Muncy had Mega Gengar.
Eventually, Homecoming: The Tokyo Series uses footage from Game 1, where you can see the Pikachus in the background, so there was no reason to fudge the timeline of events.
Final Score
For what it’s worth, Homecoming: The Tokyo Series never rises to meet the sum of its parts, which is a disappointment. Those unaware of the film’s faults will likely leave cinemas wondering what they just watched.
The film promised a story worth telling that I would greatly like to see on the screen someday. For its scope, the film has only generalities and slice-of-life vignettes rather than a cohesive narrative, much to its detriment.
For those who wish to re-experience what it was like in Tokyo during those days, I would recommend visiting my previously submitted essays, the Talk Dodgers to Me podcast’s Tokyo episode on the adventures of hosts Melissa Myer, Jaclyn Ruiz, and Aly Parker, and journalist Molly Knight’s Substack essays on the topic.
Cascade, Iowa-born Colin Rea is a well-traveled player, having had stints as a Padre, Marlin, Cub, Brewer, and Cub again. In seven years in the majors, he’s amassed a 1.9 bWAR (4.4 fWAR), a record of 37-27, a 4.41 ERA, 91 home runs, 182 bases on balls, 493 strikeouts, and 2 saves in 126 games, with 103 of them being starts.
He didn’t play very much with San Diego, who picked him in the 12th round in 2011, and was injured after going to Miami in 2016. He didn’t play in 2017-2019, resurfacing with the Cubs in 2020, where he didn’t really distinguish himself but showed enough for the Brewers to pick him up for the 2021 season. He spent 2022 in Japan and returned to Milwaukee, where he pitched quite a bit, and turned in decent seasons — especially his 2024 season, when he posted a 16-7 record, with a 4.29 ERA and 1.9 bWAR (0.8 fWAR).
He pitched for the Cubs in 2025, turning in an 11-7 record with similar statistics, and is expected to once again post similar stats, with his innings count is expected to be about half of that of the previous three years, in the 80 to 85 range, providing insurance against injury to the members of the Opening Day rotation. He is not expected to start as often as previously. (The exception is ZiPS, who expect overall similar performance.)
His SO/9 is usually in the 7-7.5 range. He doesn’t walk too many people, doesn’t give up a ton of home runs, and can be depended on to keep his team in the game. Most of his WAR stems from the last three years, lending credence to the view that his time in Japan really helped his cause. He’s 35, will be 36 in July, and who knows how much more time he has in The Show, but for now, he’s a perfectly cromulent sixth or seventh man, paired with Javier Assad, who fills a similar role.
Rea has all the pitches. He throws a four-seam fastball that sits 94-95, and in 2025 also fired a splitfinger, a sinker, slider, sweeper, curve, and cutter, in order of frequency. He throws a lot of first-pitch strikes.
Nick Foligno is joining his brother Marcus with the Minnesota Wild, who started off NHL trade deadline day by making two moves they hope will finally deliver some playoff success.
Minnesota acquired Foligno from the Chicago Blackhawks ahead of the deadline Friday, sending future considerations back to a rebuilding organization doing its 38-year-old captain a favor by giving him a chance not only to play with his brother but chase the Stanley Cup.
The Wild, who have not advanced beyond the first round since 2015 and have only one trip beyond the second in franchise history back in 2003, have been active all week. Before getting Foligno, they acquired forward Bobby Brink from Philadelphia, sending defenseman David Jiricek to the Flyers.
Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin, fresh off constructing the U.S. roster that won gold at the Milan Cortina Olympics, has been active all week. He claimed forward Robby Fabbri off waivers from St. Louis and made trades with Nashville for center Michael McCarron and Florida for defenseman Jeff Petry, filling a handful of depth needs and getting better at faceoffs, one of the Wild’s biggest weaknesses.
They’re not the the only ones adding.
Tampa Bay is acquiring Corey Perry from Los Angeles, according to a person familiar with the trade. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been finalized.
Perry, who turns 41 in May, has reached the final and lost in five of the past six years, including 2022 with the Lightning. The pesky winger has a Cup ring from 2007 with Anaheim and gives coach Jon Cooper’s team veteran experience and an edge.
It’s a seller’s market on deadline day
With the likes of Vincent Trocheck, Nazem Kadri, Justin Faulk and maybe even Robert Thomas still on the market, sellers appeared to be in control, with prices high and leaving playoff-contending buyers weighing a range of options.
Trocheck remains with the New York Rangers, who traded Sam Carrick to Buffalo. Toronto has multiple players on the block. And St. Louis is open for business with almost everyone on its roster gettable at the right price, from Thomas and Faulk to Colton Parayko and Jordan Binnington.
Toronto sat three players — forwards Scott Laughton and Bobby McMann, and defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson — for its past two games to prevent them from getting injured. Any or all of the three could get traded before 3 p.m. EST.
John Carlson to the Ducks headlined the overnight trades
John Carlson is going to the Anaheim Ducks as part of a surprising deal from the Washington Capitals agreed to just after midnight. Anaheim sent a conditional first-round pick in either this or next year’s draft plus a 2027 third-rounder to Washington for Carlson, a 36-year-old defenseman who has only played in the league for the Capitals since 2009 and helped them win the Stanley Cup in 2018.
Carlson is a pending free agent without a contract beyond this year but was not expected to get moved before the deadline. He joins the Ducks as they look to end a seven-year playoff drought.
“John Carlson brings leadership, character, a high hockey IQ and a presence to our lineup,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said. “We are very excited to add a Stanley Cup winner to complement our group and make a big push down the stretch.”
Also overnight, the Sabres added defensemen Luke Schenn and Logan Stanley from Winnipeg, while the Blue Jackets won a bidding war to get winger Conor Garland from Vancouver.
Poised to end an NHL-record 14-year playoff drought, the Sabres sent forward Isak Rosen, defenseman Jacob Bryson, a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2027 second-rounder to the Jets for Schenn and Stanley. They also got Carrick for third- and sixth-round picks.
Though they struck out on finalizing a deal with the Blues for Parayko, who invoked his no-trade clause in rejecting a trade to Buffalo, the Sabres have already shored up plenty of depth needs without affecting their core roster.
Columbus sent a third-round pick in the draft this year and a 2028 second-rounder to the Canucks for Garland, the soon-to-be 30-year-old who drew interest from multiple Eastern Conference contenders.
Which teams are still looking to make moves?
Much of the action Friday could be in the Eastern Conference after most of the top teams in the West did their shopping earlier this week. Back-to-back Stanley Cup finalist Edmonton is expected to be done after shoring up its defense with Connor Murphy and getting shutdown center Jason Dickinson in separate trades with Chicago; Dallas made moves for Tyler Myers and Michael Bunting; and league-best Colorado filled its biggest need at center by getting Nicolas Roy from Toronto.
Minnesota has added around the edges, though the Wild remain on the lookout for a top-six center who can help them match up with the Stars and Avalanche to get through a gauntlet of a Central Division.
Carolina and Tampa Bay are atop a wide-open East and, along with Detroit, would seem to be in the running for Trocheck and others. The Sabres, who swung big and missed on Parayko and Blues teammate Robert Thomas, also could be active.
The Utah Mammoth, trying to get into the playoffs for the first time since moving to Salt Lake City, got better on defense by acquiring Mackenzie Weegar from Calgary, but also have tons of draft picks, prospects and salary cap space to make another big splash.
Two-time defending champion Panthers have players available
Florida, after winning the Stanley Cup back to back and making three trips to the final in a row, is heading toward missing the playoffs, the first time for a defending champ since Los Angeles in 2015. Captain Aleksander Barkov’s torn ACL started a series of injuries that derailed the Panthers’ season and made them unexpected sellers.
As such, they are a team to watch in the final hours. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is a pending free agent, though depth forward A.J. Greer appears more likely to get traded, along with a handful of others.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Yanic Konan Niederhauser tore a ligament in his right foot, putting an early end to his rookie season with the Los Angeles Clippers.
The 7-foot Swiss center was injured Wednesday night in a 130-107 win against the Indiana Pacers. Niederhauser was diagnosed with a Lisfranc injury in his right foot and will require surgery, the team said. The injury involves damage to the ligaments or bones in the mid-foot.
Niederhauser averaged 4.3 points and 2.9 rebounds in 41 games. After being selected 30th in last year's NBA draft, he began the season in the G League, but after the Clippers traded Ivica Zubac last month, he was earning more minutes.
In his last five games, Niederhauser was shooting 52% from the floor and averaging 8.2 points and 6.2 rebounds while playing 18 minutes a game.
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 05: Julio Rodríguez #44 of Team Dominican Republic films on his camcorder during the 2026 World Baseball Classic workout day at loanDepot park on Thursday, March 5, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Kelly Gavin/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Almost nine years ago to this day, I wrote about the history of the World Baseball Classic, fearing its end and opining for its more thorough embrace. I opened with this:
The World Baseball Classic (WBC) should, ostensibly, be important. It’s a huge tournament that occurs only once every four years and features some of the best Major League Baseball talents and national stars, all competing to best represent their country. The preliminary rounds take place throughout the world, which theoretically should make them more accessible to a wider audience, and a number of MLB’s greatest international talents first gained fame on the Classic’s stage.
So why is it nearly impossible to find in-depth information on the WBC? What is the fate of the World Baseball Classic beyond 2017? Would changes to the tournament give it greater success, and is it even worthwhile to implement those changes? Why have they considered ending the WBC after this year?
Reporting to you now from 2026, I’m blown away by how different things are. There is no shortage of content or information about the WBC; many of the game’s biggest stars are competing; there were exhibition games all over the world against MLB teams. Heck, you can watch the games with relative ease and even hear some good announcers while you watch! It is an unmitigated joy to witness global baseball elevated in this way.
Here at LL, our intent is to create some game threads for the tournament, where you can caterwaul to your heart’s content about anything from Eduard Bazardo facing Andruw Jones’ son, Fernando Tatis Jr. looking radiant in the República Dominicana colors, Cal Raleigh catching Tarik Skubal or any number of other beautifully absurd WBC phenomena. But in the meantime, we thought it might be helpful to assemble a one-stop shop for all your WBC links and information. Enjoy!
Brilliant Meet at the Mitt podcast listener Josh was inspired by our WBC talk in the latest episode and created this incredible site that allows you to easily click on an MLB team and see which players will be playing for which countries – and to then see what players might be playing on any given day. Plus a link to Gameday for said game. PLUS which network the game is being broadcast on!
It’s truly amazing.
Since this is a volcano blog Mariners site, here’s a quick (there are 16, tied for first-most in MLB, plus two in the pitching pool for later play, italicized) list of M’s players and their teams.
Pedro Da Costa Lemos – Brazil
Josh Naylor – Canada
Guillo Zuñiga – Colombia
Michael Arroyo – Colombia
Julio Rodríguez – Dominican Republic
Luis Castillo – Dominican Republic
Charlie Beilenson – Israel
Dominic Canzone – Italy
Miles Mastrobuoni – Italy
Dane Dunning – Korea
Andrés Muñoz – Mexico
Randy Arozarena – Mexico
Dylan Wilson – Netherlands
Abdiel Mendoza – Panama
Cal Raleigh – USA
Gabe Speier – USA
Eduard Bazardo – Venezuela
Jhonathan Diaz – Venezuela
Pool play began March 4 and runs until March 11. Quarterfinals and semifinals happen March 13 to 16 and the championship game is on March 17 at 5 p.m. PT. Here’s a simple link to the schedule.
Pool A (San Juan, Puerto Rico): Puerto Rico, Panama, Canada, Cuba, Colombia
Pool B (Houston): USA, Brazil, Italy, Great Britain, Mexico
Pool C (Tokyo): Japan, Chinese Taipei, Korea, Australia, Czechia
Pool D (Miami): Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Netherlands, Israel, Nicaragua
Curious about the rules within the tournament? Here’s a remarkably thorough breakdown of everything from player eligibility, to pitch limits (because yes, there are pitch limits. Gotta protect from The Sog), to tie break scenarios.
Michael Clair, of MLB.com, has been covering baseball on a global scale for many years now (including a brilliant book about Czechia’s magical 2023 WBC run) and has a great archive of articles and is an excellent follow on whatever your preferred platform may be.
Need some background music to get yourself jazzed for the WBC? Great news, they just dropped their first-ever WBC Soundtrack.
It was a long time coming for Detroit Red Wings forward Emmitt Finnie, who tallied his first goal since Dec. 23 during Monday afternoon's 4-2 victory over the Nashville Predators.
He followed that up in Detroit's subsequent game, a 4-3 overtime setback at Little Caesars Arena to the Vegas Golden Knights, with what was nothing short of a pure goal scorer's goal.
He picked the corner past the glove hand of Vegas goaltender Adin Hill from the top of the face-off circle, and looked as though he'd already done it 30 times before.
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) March 5, 2026
Finnie, one of only a handful of rookies to make Detroit’s Opening Night roster and remain with the club all season, has shown more pep in his step recently, according to head coach Todd McLellan.
"It's been a long time coming, he's had a few chances, but you can see that he's playing with a little more zip and belief in his offensive game," McLellan said following Finnie's second goal in as many games.
"Whether it was the first goal or (the second), he's got more in his game now, more substance," he continued. "That's the Emmitt we need, and his confidence should be higher now than it was a few weeks ago."
As his offensive touch has returned in recent games, Finnie said that he's trying to re-establish the kind of hard-nosed play that's made him a problem for the opposition to deal with.
"I mean, it's definitely nice to score; you want to continue in any way you can," Finnie said. "I feel like when I wasn't producing, I could have done a better job contributing in other ways, so I feel like I'm trying to get back to the style of game I play, which is fast and on the hunt. It's worked out with a couple of goals."
Seeing the puck go in will naturally raise a player's confidence, especially a young rookie.
"Obviously, when the puck is going in, you have more confidence, but I've tried to carry that with me throughout the season, even when I'm not scoring," Finnie said. "I'm just trying to stay sharp and make good plays."
At 20 years old, Finnie has only begun to get his feet wet at the NHL level, but he will continue to improve as he gains more experience.
"We sometimes forget that he's a rookie, too, and he's very young," McLellan said. "He's experiencing this time of year, the Trade Deadline, for the first time as well."
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It’s been a rather quiet deadline day so far, especially for the Montreal Canadiens. Still, insiders David Pagnotta and Marco D’Amico report that Kent Hughes and co. have been in talks with the Calgary Flames and that progress is being made.
Pagnotta says Calgary and Montreal are talking about a Nazem Kadri trade. "I'm told it might include Patrik Laine." #Flames#GoHabsGo#NHL
According to Pagnotta, the Habs’ main target would be Nazem Kadri, and the deal could include Finnish sniper Patrik Laine. Kadri’s name has been linked to the Canadiens a lot over the course of the season, and it’s already been established that Montreal is not a destination he would block with his modified no-trade clause (he has a 13-team no-trade list).
Come discuter sur @BPMSportsRadio le Canadiens on eu des discussions avec les Flames.
Rien de confirmé encore, mais les choses avancent.
Kadri won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022, recording 15 points in 16 playoff games. The 35-year-old is under contract for another three years with a $7M cap hit. In 61 games this season, he has gathered 41 points in Calgary, averaging 19:11 of ice time.
While the Canadiens could certainly use more experience down the middle, a move for the aging veteran would be surprising from Hughes, who typically targets younger players who can grow and improve with his team.
Earlier this week, it was also reported that the Flames were interested in defenseman Arber Xhekaj, and one has to wonder if the gritty defenseman could be involved in a potential deal. One thing is for sure, though: Calgary has plenty of cap room and would have no problem taking on Laine’s salary, even though they’ll likely still ask the Canadiens to retain part of his salary.
With less than an hour and a half until the deadline, talks will likely go down to the wire.
Boston Celtics’ superstar Jayson Tatum may make an audacious return to the court tonight against the Dallas Mavericks.
Only 10 months removed from an Achilles tear, the mere concept of Tatum playing tonight is certainly impressive.
Any Jayson Tatum odds and NBA picks have to keep in mind that this is all ambitious, and he should be on a strict minutes limit for Friday, March 6.
Jayson Tatum prop pick
Jayson Tatum best bet: Over 1.5 threes (-130 at bet365)
Damian Lillard proved a truth about recovering from an Achilles back at All-Star Weekend: Players can shoot throughout Achilles rehab.
For a significant stretch, that is all they are allowed to do: shoot from a standstill. Some players, like Timberwolves’ second-year guard Jaylen Clark, have later credited that rehab for improving their 3-point shot.
If there is any piece of playing basketball that Jayson Tatum has done an abundance of in the last 10 months, it is shooting stationary 3-pointers and improving every piece of his catch-and-shoot mechanics. As he gets back into game shape, his shooting should be the one piece his Boston Celtics' teammates can trust out of the gates.
While Tatum may shoot well from beyond the arc tonight, he should be cautious getting up and down the court, and the Dallas Mavericks should smother him with the ball, not overly concerned about his first step.
Mostly, though, taking Unders on Tatum props like points and assists tonight ties to the reality that we have no idea how many minutes he will play.
Boston needs to be exceptionally cautious with this bold return. Achilles injuries are ripe for re-injury, and they also expose a player’s calf to possible concern. The last thing the Celtics want is to increase the odds of another long-term injury for their franchise cornerstone.
Expect Tatum to take a handful of 3-pointers tonight and probably do little else.
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The Phoenix Suns will look to bounce back from a surprising home loss last night as they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday evening.
Both teams are playing the second half of a back-to-back, and that’s just one of the reasons why I like the Under in my Pelicans vs. Suns predictions.
Keep reading to see my full analysis of tonight’s game and get my free NBA picks for Friday, March 6.
Pelicans vs Suns prediction
Pelicans vs Suns best bet: Under 226.5 (-110)
The Phoenix Suns boast some of the lowest game scores in the NBA, averaging a game total of 223.1 ppg. Phoenix has hit the Under in its last five games, with totals of 223 points or less in each of its last seven contests.
Phoenix averages 99.4 possessions per game, making it one of the five slowest teams in the NBA.
The New Orleans Pelicans are an average team in pace metrics and rank 22nd in offensive efficiency (110.9), so they’re not going to force Phoenix to speed up. On the second night of a back-to-back for both teams, the Under is the play.
Pelicans vs Suns same-game parlay
The Pelicans are playing some of their best basketball of the year, and a big part of that is having their biggest stars playing at full health.
For my same-game parlay, I’m taking New Orleans to cover behind Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III, both of whom have scored 20+ points in each of their last two games.
Pelicans vs Suns SGP
Pelicans +5.5
Zion Williamson Over 19.5 points
Trey Murphy III Over 19.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: TREYS!
I like taking the Pelicans to win outright, as they’re 5-2 in their last seven games and 3-2 on their current road trip.
I’ll combine that with a mix of New Orleans-based prop bets: Murphy has hit these rebounding and three-pointer Over targets in each of his last two games, while Williamson has at least 28 PRA in 11 of his last 12 games.
Pelicans vs Suns SGP
Pelicans moneyline
Trey Murphy III Over 2.5 made threes
Trey Murphy III Over 4.5 rebounds
Zion Williamson Over 27.5 points + rebounds + assists
Pelicans vs Suns odds
Spread: Pelicans +7 (-110) | Suns -7 (-110)
Moneyline: Pelicans +192 | Suns -230
Over/Under: Over 227 (-110) | Under 227 (-110)
Pelicans vs Suns betting trend to know
The Under is 5-0 in Phoenix’s last five games overall. Find more NBA betting trends for Pelicans vs. Suns.
How to watch Pelicans vs Suns
Location
Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, AZ
Date
Friday, March 6, 2026
Tip-off
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
GCSEN, KTVK
Pelicans vs Suns latest injuries
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.
The Denver Nuggets cannot afford to take a night off if they want to secure a top-four seed in the Western Conference, but the NBA may be taking that a bit too literally, forcing Denver into the second leg of a back-to-back this evening.
Expect the New York Knicks to be the beneficiaries of the Denver schedule.
My Knicks vs. Nuggets predictions and NBA picks also recognize how familiar Karl-Anthony Towns is with playing in the Mile High City.
Tip-off comes at 9:00 p.m. ET from Ball Arena on Friday, March 6.
Knicks vs Nuggets prediction
Knicks vs Nuggets best bet: Knicks -1.5 (-110)
The New York Knicks should be favored in this game regardless of scheduling quirks.
They are playing cohesively and look more and more like the best team in the Eastern Conference, even if listed fourth in odds to win the conference at +400.
But add in that the Denver Nuggets are on the second night of a back-to-back, and this spread should suddenly favor the Knicks by more than a bucket.
Denver has not yet found health, still without both Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson, creating defensive liabilities that should be exacerbated in this spot.
Knicks vs Nuggets same-game parlay
Is Karl-Anthony Towns playing badly these days? He has hit multiple 3-pointers in just two of his last 11 games, part of why the Knicks have become an Under staple. They have fallen short of the total in six of their last seven games.
Is Karl-Anthony Towns playing well these days? He has cleared this rebounding prop in four straight and snagged double-digit rebounds in 15 of his last 17 games, part of why the Knicks have gone 13-4 outright in those games.
Knicks vs Nuggets SGP
Knicks -1.5
Under 229.5
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 11.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: Old Familiar Foes
Nearly two seasons after Towns was traded from the Minnesota Timberwolves, many have forgotten how often Towns and Nikola Jokic have played each other in their careers.
There is a distinct familiarity between them. Towns knows he needs his strength against Jokic, an underrated facet of his game when he chooses to rely upon it.
As Towns racks up rebounds, it is only logical to doubt the Nuggets’ superstar will do so, as well.
As the Knicks have fallen short of the total in six of their last seven games, they have done so by an average of 16.8 points even when including the sole Over. Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Nuggets.
How to watch Knicks vs Nuggets
Location
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Date
Friday, March 6, 2026
Tip-off
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
MSG, ALT2
Knicks vs Nuggets latest injuries
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.
The Florida Panthers are bringing back a familiar face.
Sort of.
Around two hours ahead of the 3 p.m. Trade Deadline, the Panthers announced they had acquired forward Vinnie Hinostroza from the Minnesota Wild for future considerations.
This season, Hinostroza played in 48 games with the Wild, accumulating three goals and 10 points on 46 shots and 30 hits, skating to a minus-8 on-ice rating to go with 15 penalty minutes.
Two of his five assists came on the power play, otherwise all his points were at even strength.
The 48 games are the most he’s played in the NHL since the 2021-22 season with Buffalo, where he picked up 13 goals and 25 points in 62 outings.
Hinostroza was also one of Panthers GM Bill Zito’s first free agent signings after he was hired by Florida in September of 2020.
When the fit wasn’t quite there - he played only nine games for Florida and was mostly a healthy scratch under then-coach Joel Quenneville - Zito found a way to trade Hinostroza to his hometown Chicago Blackhawks.
It’s something Zito has often tried to do while managing players, doing right by them where he can.
Now Hinostroza returns to a Panthers team struggling to reach the finish line after an injury-filled season.
He’s playing on an expiring contact that pays carries an AAV (average annual value) $775,000.
We’ll see if Zito has anything else cooking ahead of the 3 p.m. Trade Deadline.
Photo caption: Feb 26, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Minnesota Wild center Vinnie Hinostroza (18) controls the puck in the third period against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. (Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images)
Already down their best player in Sidney Crosby, it appears the Pittsburgh Penguins will be down yet another one of their key players.
It was announced that veteran forward Evgeni Malkin would have a phone hearing on Friday at 6:00 p.m. ET with the NHL's Department of Player Safety for his slash to the head of Buffalo Sabres' defenseman Rasmus Dahlin during the second period of Thursday's game between the two teams. Malkin and Dahlin were assessed matching cross-checking penalties on the play, while Malkin was given an additional five minutes for slashing as well as a game misconduct.
Since the hearing will take place over the phone, per the CBA, Malkin's suspension will be no more than five games.
This news comes at a fragile time for the Penguins, who are holding on to second place in the Metropolitan Division without Crosby. Malkin is the team's second-leading scorer behind Crosby, and the line of Malkin, Egor Chinakhov, and Tommy Novak has been the primary driver of offense in Crosby's absence since the Olympic break.
Our computer has crunched the numbers to come up with the best data-driven NBA picks for this premier matchup on Friday, March 6.
Knicks vs Nuggets computer picks for March 6
Knicks
Nuggets
Bridges o14.5 points -115
Gordon o10.5 points -110
Towns o17.5 points -120
Johnson o10.5 points +100
Robinson o4.5 points -125
Jokic u9.5 assists -105
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Knicks computer picks
Mikal Bridges Over 14.5 points (-115)
Projection: 16.2 points
Mikal Bridges has been up-and-down in the points department of late, clearing this prop in five of his last 10 overall. However, our projections see a +17.25% EV edge on his Over tonight, making this a four-star play.
Our system expects the New York Knicks shooting guard to take advantage of a positive positional matchup with the Denver Nuggets.
"Over the last 5 games when they are on the road, the opposing team's starting SGs have averaged 20.4 points per game (2nd-highest in the league) against the Denver Nuggets, branding this as a good matchup for offensive efficiency."
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Karl-Anthony Towns Over 17.5 points (-120)
Projection: 19.5 points
Karl-Anthony Towns has been streaky when it comes to scoring lately, clearing this Over five straight times before going on his current 1-4 O/U run. But our system suggests Towns will blow by this line by two full points tonight.
Offensive rebounding will tell the story of this play.
"Offensive rebounds continue possession and produce more chances for scoring and assists, and the New York Knicks grade out 5th-best in in the league with 13.0 offensive rebounds per game this year."
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Mitchell Robinson Over 4.5 points (-125)
Projection: 5.6 points
Mitchell Robinson sat out of Thursday's matchup with the Thunder in order to be ready for this date with Denver.
Robinson primarily plays as Karl-Anthony Towns' backup and has thrived in the role of late, clearing this line in 13 of his last 19 overall. That includes a 10-point effort vs. the Nuggets on February 4.
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Nuggets computer picks
Aaron Gordon Over 10.5 points (-110)
Projection: 12.5 points
Aaron Gordon has cashed this Over in nine of his last 10 overall, and he's projected to make it 10 of 11 tonight. In fact, our player prop projections believe he'll vault over this line by two full points, good for a +21.47% EV.
Look for Gordon to get some of those points at the foul line tonight.
"Over the last 5 games, the opposing team's starting PFs have attempted 5.2 free throws per game (5th-highest in the NBA) vs. the New York Knicks, succeeding in their efforts to draw fouls."
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Cameron Johnson Over 10.5 points (+100)
Projection: 11.6 points
Cameron Johnson is a game-time decision after not suiting up on Thursday. If he plays, he's a good bet to clear his point prop based on the positional matchup.
"The matchup against New York is a favorable one for three-point shots; when the Knicks are away from home, the opposing team's starting SFs have put up the highest three rate in the NBA this year (48.0%)."
Johnson's Over 1.5 3-pointer prop holds a +7.02% EV, but his overall point prop is at +16.66% EV.
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Nikola Jokic Under 9.5 assists (-105)
Projection: 8.9 assists
Nikola Jokic is slowing down in the triple-double department as the season hits the homestretch. Part of his downfall has been in the assists department, as he's gone below this line in five of his last eight games.
Our computer is calling for another slow night for Jokic, literally.
"The third-least up-tempo pace home offense in the NBA over the last 15 games has been the Denver Nuggets. The Knicks have played at the fifth-least up-tempo [pace] in the NBA over the last 25 games, which should lead to decreased opportunities for the Denver Nuggets."
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How to watch Knicks vs Nuggets tonight
Location
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Date
Friday, March 6, 2026
Tip-off
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
MSG, ALT2
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.
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 27: Justin Crawford #80 of the Philadelphia Phillies follows through on a swing against the Miami Marlins during the third inning of a spring training baseball game at BayCare Ballpark on February 27, 2026 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When Justin Crawford started out Grapefruit League games with a few strong games, there was a distinct sentiment that the rookie should not only be in the team’s starting lineup, but he should be batting at the very top of it from day one.
I understand the sentiment, because based on his performance in the minors last year, he is well suited to the leadoff spot. He had a .411 on-base percentage with 46 stolen bases.
The sentiment makes less sense when you remember that the Phillies already have a good leadoff hitter in Trea Turner, who is also very fast and won a batting title in 2025. But the move isn’t really about getting Turner out of the leadoff spot as much as it is getting Alec Bohm out of the cleanup spot.
One of the biggest narratives of the offseason was getting protection in the lineup for Bryce Harper in the three-hole. (This narrative has been partly fueled by Harper himself.) It’s clear that most people do not think that Bohm and his 15 home runs a year power belong in the cleanup spot, even though as has been written, the notion of what a “cleanup hitter” is has changed over the years.
Let’s take a look back to 1998. Back then, lineups were generally constructed as such:
Fastest guy on the team batted leadoff
Second was a guy without much power but usually put the ball in play
Three-hole was the overall best hitter
Cleanup was the biggest power hitter
Batting fifth was the second biggest power threat
The Phillies of that year had a young shortstop named Desi Relaford. Normally, manager Terry Francona (exhibit A for never hiring a rookie manager) batted Relaford low in the lineup. But Relaford theoretically matched the expectations of a two-hole hitter, so every once in a while, Francona would try him out in that role.
It generally didn’t go well. In 21 games batting second that season, Relaford put up a .144/.179/.189 slash line. I’m not sure if the move caused Relaford’s downfall, or he was always destined to fail. He batted almost exclusively lower in the lineup the following season and continued to hit poorly. (He was eventually moved to help make room for another shortstop prospect named Jimmy Rollins who actually did succeed at the top of the lineup. To his credit, Relaford had a couple of decent seasons as a utility man for the Mets and Mariners a few years later.)
Last year, the Phillies similarly tried to get a new hitter into the mix at the top of the order. From April 11 to the first week of June, Bryson Stott was the team’s primary leadoff hitter. It went well at first, but soon, Stott’s production cratered. He went into a slump that lasted three months, even after he was moved out of the leadoff spot.
bryson stott after the first week of the season and bryson stott hitting leadoff. what are we doing here pic.twitter.com/rSTofkMFA2
Did the lineup switch cause Stott’s slump? On one hand, he hit poorly throughout most of 2024 as well, so it isn’t like a lengthy slump was completely out of character. On the other hand, it’s possible that he was pressing a bit, trying too hard to justify his spot in the lineup? Or maybe he tried to be too patient at the plate, which isn’t necessarily a great strategy for a hitter with proven trouble hitting elite fastballs.
That is why I don’t necessarily want to rush Crawford to the top of the lineup. He’s got enough pressure as a rookie starter for a playoff contender. It isn’t that imperative to get Bohm out of the top four spots in the lineup to potentially harm a young player’s development.
Perhaps Crawford will start off the season strongly and replicate his minor league performance with the Phillies. If that happens, I could see them being tempted to move him up, especially if the Phillies’ offense isn’t doing well overall. But to avoid Crawford being another Desi Relaford, they need to be sure he can handle it, and the leash should be very short.
Knicks
Nuggets