PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 14: Logan Allen #26 of the Cleveland Guardians throws a warm up pitch during a Spring Training game against the San Diego Padres at Peoria Stadium on March 14, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Guardians gave up 20 runs to the Mariners last night. But it’s Spring Training so it doesn’t count. So there.
Logan Allen gave up 12 runs. I am always surprised when Allen doesn’t give up 12 runs, so nothing new here for me. Matt Festa got knocked around but hey it’s Arizona, it’s early, etc.
Jose Ramirez, Angel Martinez and Wuilfredo Antunez hit homers. CJ Kayfus doubled.
The team designated Nolan Jones for assignment to Columbus. MLB’s rules are opaque but I think he will either be claimed by another team or have to accept the assignment to keep his $2M contract because he is short of five years of service time. That Columbus team will be crowded with Jones, Johnathan Rodriguez, Petey Halpin, Kahlil Watson, Juan Brito and even potentially Stuart Fairchild in the outfield mix… with options like Antunez not far behind. Makes you wonder if we might see some small trades prior to Opening Day.
I think CJ Kayfus takes Valera spot as a right field option and Angel Martinez secures the fourth outfielder spot. With Gaddis on the IL, the Opening Day roster has come into focus, and I do think Parker Messick will beat out Logan Allen for the fifth starter role.
Jim Rosenhaus spoke to Chris Antonetti, Daniel Schneemann and Angel Martinez on the latest Guardians Weekly podcast.
After losing a must-win game in regulation against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night, the Montreal Canadiens’ lead over the Wings and the Boston Bruins has disappeared. All three teams have 84 points, but the Habs remain in third place in the Atlantic Division since they have a game in hand. However, Detroit and Boston will face off tonight, meaning one of them will have two more points, and the other could have one as well, should the game not finish in regulation.
In other words, Montreal needs the two points, but Saturday night’s visitors do as well. The New York Islanders are currently ninth in the Eastern Conference, just one point behind the Wings and Bruins, meaning Patrick Roy’s men should be playing with desperation tonight. The team that wants it more will come out on top, and if the Canadiens can’t play with urgency in those circumstances, one can wonder when they will.
The Isles are 6-4-0 in their last 10 games, while the Habs are 5-4-1 and both teams have lost their last game. New York has won the only game between the two sides this season, a 4-3 overtime win thanks to a Jean-Gabriel Pageau goal. Samuel Montembeault and Ilya Sorokin were in the net for their respective team.
Neither team has confirmed who will get the start in net, but given the importance of the tilt, it would be shocking if Roy didn’t elect to go with Sorokin. The Russian netminder has a 6-0-2 record against the Habs with a 1.83 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage, including a shutout. As for backup, David Rittich has a record of 2-3-1 with a 2.47 GAA and a .925 SV.
Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see who Martin St-Louis will give the nod to. Jakub Dobes started the last two games, and while he lost against Detroit, he played another great game, finishing the night with a .926 SV. Whoever St-Louis picks will be taking on the Islanders for the first time since Dobes and Jacob Fowler have never faced the Long Island outfit. Fowler last played on Sunday, in a 4-3 loss against the Anaheim Ducks. Given how well Dobes has done this week and the fact that he finds a way to win more often than not, the Czech netminder could get a third game in a row.
Brayden Schenn, who was acquired from the St. Louis Blues at the trade deadline in return for Jonathan Drouin, goaltending prospect Marcus Gidlof, and two picks at the next draft (a first and a third-round), leads the Isles in points against the Habs with 31 in 33 games. Ondrej Palat is in second place with 24 points in 37 games, and Bo Horvat wraps up the top three with 23 points in 31 games. As for the aforementioned Pageau, he has 20 points in 37 duels, including three shorthanded goals and four game-winning ones.
As for the Canadiens, Brendan Gallagher has the most points with 19 in 32 games, followed by captain Nick Suzuki, who has 16 points in just 15 games and is on a five-game points streak right now, just like Juraj Slafkovsky. Mike Matheson comes in third place with 15 points in 31 games. It’s worth mentioning that Cole Caufield has 10 points in 10 games and is currently on a four-game point streak.
The Islanders have won six of the last 10 duels between the two teams, including the last two. The Canadiens’ last win over the Isles came in March 2024.
The last time the two teams met, Matthew Schaefer showed just why he is the Calder Trophy favourite. The rookie blueliner trails Ivan Demidov and Becket Sennecke by two points in the rookie scoring race; he has 50, while they are both on 52. Demidov and fellow rookie Oliver Kapanen have been somewhat quiet of late, and they appear to be missing Slafkovsky on their line.
Montreal will hold a morning skate at 10:30, and we’ll know then if St-Louis is making changes to the lineup. The game is scheduled for 7:00 PM, and you can catch it on TVAS, CITY, SNE, and MSGSN. Chris Rooney and Peter MacDougall are set to officiate, while Matt MacPherson and Ryan Daisy will be the linemen.
Feb 22, 2026; Fort Myers, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox infielder Caleb Durbin (17) is congratulated by infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa (2) after he scored during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at JetBlue Park at Fenway South. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
At this point each season, everything is fresh and new, and nearly anything seems possible. For the Red Sox infield, the mystery of what the season holds is even more intriguing because the Red Sox have an almost completely new-look infield.
For the most part, the players are new to each other and to Fenway: Willson Contreras, Caleb Durbin, Isiah Kiner-Falefa (bench), and Andruw Monasterio (bench) are all new to the Sox. All but Kiner-Falefa have arrived from the National League. Durbin and Marcelo Mayer, the starting third and second basemen, are still new-ish to MLB, with both returning for just their second year in the big leagues. Mayer, in particular, is an unknown quantity since his first season was cut short by injury.
Trevor Story holds a special place in the infield; at this point, he’s the only infielder who returned from the 2025 team and is not on the IL or in the minors. As such, he’s the anchor, though even he brings some question marks with him related to health and age.
What are these infielders capable of, individually and as a group? With as many unknowns as there are, it would be foolish to make predictions but there are certainly goals.
Stabilize the Infield Defense
This is foundational goal and must be considered a bare minimum for the season. Veterans Story and Contreras will lead the way here, facilitating the transition out of the chaos of recent seasons.
The organization’s new focus on defense will be stabilizing in its own right because it’s given the front office a mission. By signing a number of glove-first utility players, the team should be able to significantly reduce the errors that have plagued them for too long, and shut the revolving door on the procession of Quad-A players who were needed due to poor roster construction and lack of depth.
Stay (or Get) Healthy
This might be considered a stretch goal, as injuries are a way of life in professional sports and the Red Sox have had their share recently.
Romy González and Triston Casas could be contributors this season but they begin the season on the IL, recovering from their respective surgeries (shoulder and knee). Brendan Rodgers, who wasn’t likely to make the MLB roster anyway, is likely out for the season due to surgery.
With Story and Mayer, who have been defined in many ways by their injuries in recent years, fingers are crossed. For Mayer especially, finishing the year on the field—something he hasn’t done since 2021, the year he was drafted—is crucial. He has never played more than 100 games in a season as a professional and needs to prove what he’s capable of. He will surely want to shut down the speculation, which only reignited when he experienced “soreness” late in spring training.
Unlike recent years, there is a versatile bench to draw from—to allow Alex Cora to execute his matchups, to keep starters fresh, and to step in when infield injuries arise.
Manufacture Enough Runs to Quiet the Talk About the Missing Power Bat
This is absolutely a stretch goal.
This task doesn’t fall only to the infield, of course, but since first and third base are typically seen as power-hitting positions, the battle lines are drawn. Contreras has amassed 172 HRs in his career, though never more than 24 in a season. His bat is one of the strongest on the entire team, not only among infielders, which speaks to the lack of overall power. There are other ways to score runs, of course, but in working to create those opportunities throughout the batting order, they find themselves operating outside of the long-time Red Sox identity. Contreras has decent power and hits to the gaps. His goal is to hit close to 20 homers and consistently drive in runners with doubles off the wall, or other well-placed hits.
Durbin (.256/.334/.387) is known for slapping singles, not for pop. He has speed and baserunning smarts, with 18 stolen bases in 2025. His part of this collective goal? Continue to get those hits, work walks, and turn on the speed to stretch some of those hits into another bag. Once he’s done that, the mission becomes swiping bases and racing home to score. He seems like a player who would find his groove in this hard-working, keep-the-pressure-on style of play.
Story rebuilt trust with Red Sox Nation and resurrected his career in 2025, as he hit 25 homers, drove in 96 runs, and stole a career-high 31 bases. At 33 and with his injury history, it’s unclear if he can maintain that pace, though he has spoken about managing his routines as a means of staying healthy and fresh. He will need to do just that and be a major offensive contributor, as he was last year.
Mayer has plenty of room to grow at the plate, slashing .228/.272/.402 with eight doubles, a triple and four home runs in 44 games. In the small sample size of 136 plate appearances over 44 games, he struck out 41 times (a rate of 30%) and walked eight times (a rate of 5%). Alex Cora has challenged him to improve his batting eye and plate approach, and in many ways, Mayer can only improve from here.
When González returns later in the season, he will hopefully be ready to do his share by mashing off the bench. Casas’ future in the infield or on the roster is unclear at this point, but if there’s any hope that he can resume the production he’s showed flashes of, he’ll be welcomed back with open arms.
Later this week, the infield will get the chance to prove itself in real games that matter. The foundation is there to build on, and the infield looks better, on paper at least, than any the Red Sox have rostered in several years.
Danny Welbeck and Yankuba Minteh were the stars of a deserved win for the Seagulls, as Liverpool once again stumbled in their pursuit of a Champions League spot
Arne Slot speaks frankly to TNT. “You cannot compare a home game, a Champions League night against Galatasaray, to Brighton away … but you have to take the positives … we know we face a different opponent today … we have to be even better to get a result here today … [Brighton] have good players … their manager is always able to come up with a very good game plan … his players are able to execute that plan … very intense … only play once a week … they can train on that game plan … it is important to have two very good goalkeepers and we have that … there is hardly any room for error any more … we have made quite a few errors this season … the main ones was dropping points in extra time … now we are in this situation … though I don’t think we have to win eight, we have to play every game as a final … get the most out of the game possible … let’s see what it is today.”
Mar 3, 2026; Goodyear, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) talks with coaches during the fourth inning of the game against he Cleveland Guardians at Goodyear Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images | Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
Roki Sasaki has struggled with command this spring training, all while adding new pitches to his repertoire. The Dodgers have been exceedingly patient with the 24-year-old right-hander, insisting all spring that he will start the season in the starting rotation, rather than get optioned to the minors to continue his work in progress.
“There’s obviously a big gap between Triple-A and the big leagues,” Friedman said. “With certain really talented young players that we really believe in, we think that last mile of player development is generally better served at the major-league level.
“That said, even with our established guys it’s one of continued player development. Now for some guys, that’s more on the margins. For other guys there’s more involved. But we believe very strongly that he is going to be a very successful major-league starter. Just how quickly that comes to be is a fair question. Obviously we’re going to pour everything we can into making that happen sooner rather than later and we’ll go from there.”
I wouldn’t say our mindset is all that different. But obviously, when you’re in a moment in time with an incredibly talented roster, I think the mindset is, ‘Don’t sit back on your heels, be aggressive, and don’t be nonchalant about the opportunity that we have in front of us.’ And so it’s more the idea of pressing an advantage and being aggressive on that front.
Major League Baseball on Thursday announced that Polymarket is now the league’s official prediction market exchange, which is definitely a group of words that make complete sense together. Gabe Lacques at USA Today wrote about the potential pitfalls:
Manfred himself even has some control over the market.
The No. 2 search result after “2026 win totals” on Polymarket is “New MLB (collective bargaining agreement) by Dec. 1?” While Manfred has telegraphed a lockout by that date, the market believes there’s a 49% chance a deal will be struck between MLB and the players’ association by then.
BUFFALO, NY — The connection between Michigan and Saint Louis starts with coaches Dusty May and Josh Schertz, who once met up in Boca Raton, Florida, with plans to quickly watch film but ended up spending 10 hours talking shop inside May’s former office at Florida Atlantic.
“He's an absolute basketball junkie,” May said. “He's a savant. I've learned so much from him.”
They are coaches cut from a similar cloth: May and Schertz are film-chewing basketball devotees who started as head coaches on lower levels — FAU for May and Lincoln Memorial and Indiana State for Schertz — before ascending to Saturday’s second-round matchup in the Midwest region between the No. 1 Wolverines and No. 9 Billikens.
And they have constructed two teams built in similar ways, with similar styles and a desire to set the pace with fast-tempo offensive playbooks designed to push the score up, up and up.
“They kind of play like us, to be honest with you,” Michigan guard Roddy Gayle Jr. said. “Very similar to us. Honestly, I look at it like, how do we guard ourselves?”
Added forward Yaxel Lendeborg, “We really run the exact same way. I feel like that’s a blessing and a curse for us.”
There is almost no doubt that Saturday’s matchup will be among the most frantic and high scoring in this year’s tournament. Look for fireworks when Michigan meets Saint Louis, and look for each team to chase the 100-point mark in deciding which will advance out of Buffalo and into the second weekend.
“We have a lot of things in common,” said Michigan center Aday Mada. “We both know what kind of shots we want. We have a good efficiency on offense. We play at a high pace. I think we are pretty similar teams.”
The numbers tell the story:
Saint Louis ranks eight nationally with 87.7 points per game. Michigan ranks 10th at 87.2 points.
The Billikens and Wolverines were two of the three teams to score 100 points in Thursday’s tournament action, along with No. 3 Illinois against Pennsylvania.
The Billikens rank fifth in field goal percentage (51.2%) and Michigan ranks sixth (51%).
Michigan is fourth in assists per game (18.7) and Saint Louis is seventh (18.6).
The Billikens rank 19th in the country in adjusted tempo, according to KenPom.com, while Michigan ranks 22nd.
Both offenses love to attack the rim. Saint Louis scored 66 points in the paint in routing No. 8 Georgia 102-77, while Michigan dropped 52 points in the paint in a 101-80 win against No. 16 Howard.
But the teams are not quite the same, and it’s in these differences — and in how each responds to the other’s subtle advantages — that the matchup will be decided.
Saint Louis is far more adept from 3-point range, and much more willing to let things fly from deep. The Billikens are second nationally in 3-point percentage (39.8%) and 12th in long-range makes per game (10.9). On the other hand, Michigan are 114th in attempts (25.1) and 85th in 3-pointers made per game (9.1).
The Billikens are also even more effective in transition than the Wolverines. Saint Louis averages 16.9 fastbreak points per game, sixth in the country, while Michigan ranks 78th at 12.4 points per game on the break.
“If it gets to a game where it’s like a shootout, then we might not get the edge on that,” Lendeborg said. “Because that’s what they like to do. So we’re going to have to do the best we can to run them off the 3-point line and make them finish over our size.”
That’s easier said than done — just ask Georgia, which wilted early in its blowout loss and was looking for the exits before the end of the first half.
But the Wolverines do have two built-in advantages. One is the team’s obvious edge in talent, with former top-ranked recruits such as point guard Elliott Cadeau and two potential NBA draft lottery picks in Lendeborg and forward Morez Johnson Jr., who had a team-leading 21 points against Howard.
Another is experience with facing an up-tempo offense: Michigan defends its own scheme every day in practice, at minimum giving the Wolverines the stamina to handle the Billikens’ frenetic pace.
“It’s going to be easier for us because we’re going to defend things that we’re used to defense every day in practice,” Mada said. “But it’s going to be a tough game, because they’re really, really good and really talented.”
That goes both ways, though, since Saint Louis practices against the same style. And there’s no doubting the Billikens’ confidence after rebounding from a 4-4 close to the regular season.
“We’re so talented offensively, we can play with anybody,” Saint Louis forward Brady Dunlap said.
Michigan players pinpointed the “extremely important” key, said Gayle, of setting the tone early and getting off to a strong start. Saint Louis never trailed against Georgia and led by 14 points with seven minutes left in the first half, eventually pushing that edge to 17 points at the break and as much as 40 points in the second half.
On the other hand, the Wolverines were unable to put down Howard until about six minutes into the second half. The Bison made 10 3-pointers in the first half, and trailed 50-48 after the first possession out of the locker room.
Controlling the flow of this potential shootout would play into the Wolverines’ most discernable advantage: a defense that ranks among the best in the country. Michigan is second in field goal defense (38.5%), third in blocks per game (5.9) and sixth in defensive rebounds per game (29.0).
In the end, Michigan will do its thing on offense, and so will Saint Louis. Given that neither team is likely to be budged off its preferred style, whether the Wolverines advance back to the Sweet 16 might come down to whether they can get the key stops that will mean the difference in a game destined to be among the most explosive in this year’s bracket.
“We’ve got to lead with our defense,” Lendeborg said. “We’ve got to be disruptive. We’ve got to do the best that we can to kind of knock them down a little bit and play in transition like we always do. If we can do that, then we should be set.”
The Carolina Hurricanes’ social media team has earned their keep once again. Following their 4-3 overtime victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on at Scotiabank Arena on Friday, the Canes posted a meme on X that cut right to the chase with two simple words: “Say less.”
Accompanying the post was a cleverly edited image showing a Hurricanes representative on the ice directing a Simon Says game with several Maple Leafs players following suit. The text overlay reads “Simon says lose,” punctuated by the Canes logo.
What makes the troll even more biting is the origin of the base photo. It was captured during the Maple Leafs’ first-ever Fan Day event held the day before the game. The interactive afternoon at Scotiabank Arena featured on-ice activities, player meet-and-greets, and fun games for loyal supporters. In one highlight, players and staff took part in Simon Says, with goaltender Joseph Woll reportedly winning the light-hearted contest. It was a moment of levity amid what has been a trying 2025-26 campaign for a team sitting near the .500 mark and all but mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.
Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis each notched two points, setting the stage for Alexander Nikishin’s game-winning goal just 41 seconds into the extra frame. The Maple Leafs battled back from deficits, with William Nylander potting the equalizer late in the third period. However, for the umpteenth time this season, Toronto came up short in overtime, collecting just one point in a game where collecting zero could have done more to help their chances of keeping their 2026 NHL Draft Pick (top-five protected).
Professional Simon Says Caller Steve Max is in the house for Leafs Fan Day.
While social media wars are nothing new in the NHL, this one stings a bit more for Leafs faithful because it weaponized their own fan event. The Hurricanes have now taken points in recent matchups, and their social team isn’t shy about reminding Toronto of it.
The Hurricanes have had many memorable moments at Scotiabank Arena over the years, including six years ago when David Ayres suited up as an emergency backup goaltender for the Canes and picked up his first NHL victory. Ayres, at one point, was a Zamboni driver for the organization.
Britain's King Charles III greets Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, during an audience at Buckingham Palace in London on March 16, 2026. (Photo by Aaron Chown / POOL / AFP via Getty Images) | POOL/AFP via Getty Images
It is time for my favourite post of the year. It is fun to read about where everyone who comes here is from and their answers to the various questions.
Your mission, if you choose to accept, is to copy and paste these questions into the comment thread and give us your answers.
Name:
Location:
Favourite Current Jay:
Favourite All-Time Jay:
Favourite Non-Jay:
Favourite Blue Jays Prospect:
Metaphysical Position on the Diamond:
Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit:
Favourite Baseball Movie:
What was the best thing about your past year:
When Not Bantering, I:
On Twitter or BlueSky, I am:
Baseball Card Back Fun Fact:
Walkup Music:
Name: The One and Only Billy Shears
Location: Calgary. Surrounded by guitars and a mess. Or a mess of guitars.
Favourite Current Jay: Addison Barger
Favourite All-Time Jay: Depends on the moment. Let’s go with Jesse Barfield
Favourite Non-Jay: Former Red Sox outfielder Dwight Evans
Favourite Blue Jays Prospect: JoJo Parker, if his walk-up music isn’t ‘Get Back’, I’ll have to pick someone else. Jojo was a man who thought he was a loner, But he knew it couldn’t last
Metaphysical Position on the Diamond: Second base. Moved over from short since my arm isn’t good enough to make that Metaphysical throw from the hole. Me and Bo, if we stand close together, you couldn’t tell us apart.
Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit: Right now? Tokyo Dome. And I hope to get to in a few days.
Favourite Baseball Movie: Still Bull Durham. “Don’t think, it hurts the team”
What was the best thing about your past year: We had a vacation to Africa, that was amazing.
When Not Bantering, I: been playing tennis a lot, squash some and trying badminton, because why not.
On Twitter or BlueSky, I am: @bluebirdbanter
Baseball Card Back Fun Fact: I have my name on a bowling trophy. And no, it wasn’t for a record low score.
Walkup Music: Oh I don’t know, how about All Just To Get To You
Name: Tom M
Location: Calgary
Favourite Current Jay: Vlad
Favourite All-Time Jay: Jose Bautista
Favourite Non-Jay: Francisco Lindor
Favourite Blue Jays Prospect: I’m about to list 40 of them
Metaphysical Position on the Diamond: Crafty junkballing lefty starter
Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit: Fenway
Favourite Baseball Movie: Bull Durham
What was the best thing about your past year: I got published as lead author on an academic paper for the first time
When Not Bantering, I: take pictures, develop pictures, sometimes run marathons.
On Twitter or BlueSky, I am: silent
Baseball Card Back Fun Fact: I can tell the difference between butter and I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter
Walkup Music: Work to Do, Average White Band
Name: Colin C
Location: Edmonton
Favourite Current Jay: Alejandro Kirk
Favourite All-Time Jay: Carlos Delgado
Favourite Non-Jay: Bobby Witt Jr
Favourite Blue Jays Prospect: Gage Stanifer
Metaphysical Position on the Diamond: Guy who sits on the ball bucket and heckles the ump
Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit: PNC Park
Favourite Baseball Movie: Major League
What was the best thing about your past year: vacation to Mexico
When Not Bantering, I: Run around with my kid to all her different activities, play baseball and travel back and forth to Winnipeg a lot. (Editor: Because the mosquitos in Edmonton aren’t big enough??)
On Twitter or BlueSky, I am: A lurker
Baseball Card Back Fun Fact: Have played baseball in 3 different Arizona Spring Training complexes.
Well, that was no bueno. At least the televised game started out well. I made a bad coin flip and started out listening to the Reds game. Boyd wasn’t exactly good Friday night. Taillon wasn’t much better. Miguel Amaya had some juice. Al will have details at 8 a.m. CT.
“I’ve suggested to the hitting coaches that they stay away from him,” Counsell said. “I did have a meeting with the hitting coaches at one point this spring. I called them all together, and they got a little nervous. I said, ‘You guys should stay away from Ballesteros.’
“Joking, you know, but they got the message.” — Patrick Mooney.
Four and a half games left, including the Spring Breakout Game. Cub Tracks is not in favor of ST night games. Or Eugenio Suárez in the Central.
*means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.
Andy Koval (WGN9*): PHOTOS: Cubs unveil new food for 2026 season at Wrigley Field. The teams’ respective 2026 journeys begin on March 26, when the Cubs will host the Nationals at 1:20 p.m. CT at Wrigley Field on Opening Day.
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
Kyle Freeland will take the ball for the Rockies on Opening Day in 2026 — the fifth Opening Day nod for a pitcher who has quietly built one of the most unique résumés in franchise history. By Baseball-Reference, he is already the Rockies’ all-time leader in WAR among starting pitchers (19.2), a reflection of both longevity and effectiveness in baseball’s most difficult pitching environment.
And yet, that same metric — WAR — is part of why Freeland is so often misunderstood.
Because here’s the reality: WAR doesn’t always evaluate pitchers at Coors Field particularly well. And Freeland is one of the clearest case studies of that disconnect.
His 2018 season is the most extreme example. FanGraphs credited him with 4.1 WAR. Baseball-Reference credited him with 8.4 WAR. Same performance, radically different value depending on the model.
That season stands out — an outlier peak — but it doesn’t stand alone. Freeland has put together multiple solid seasons in Colorado, just not always at that elite level.
Why Coors breaks clean metrics
Most public pitcher WAR (Wins Above Replacement) models rely on two approaches:
FIP-based WAR (FanGraphs) — built from strikeouts, walks, and home runs.
Both work well in most environments. At Coors, they don’t.
At altitude, air density is roughly 15–20% lower than at sea level. Pitch-tracking research shows fastballs can lose roughly 2–3 inches of movement in Denver.
Movement isn’t just reduced: It’s altered. That makes generating swing-and-miss more difficult and increases reliance on contact.
So pitchers adapt.
Freeland doesn’t overpower hitters — and that’s exactly what WAR tends to undervalue.
2018 shows the disconnect
Freeland’s 2018 line:
202.1 innings
2.85 ERA
3.67 FIP
4.1 fWAR
8.4 rWAR
That gap between fWAR and rWAR isn’t small — it’s philosophical.
One model saw a pitcher without dominant strikeout numbers. The other saw elite run prevention.
At Coors, Freeland threw 93.2 innings with a 2.40 ERA — not just surviving, but thriving.
Coors isn’t just hitter-friendly
Coors is often called “hitter-friendly,” but that undersells it.
Park factors are averages — one adjustment applied broadly.
It interacts with pitch shape, contact quality, and decision-making in ways that don’t scale cleanly. Two identical pitches can produce completely different outcomes depending on where they’re thrown. Even the humidor reduced but didn’t eliminate these effects.
In Colorado, the numbers rarely tell the whole story.
The skill that gets missed
Freeland’s profile won’t jump off the page:
Modest strikeout rates
Solid command
Heavy reliance on contact
But his value shows up differently:
Weak contact
Ground balls
Avoiding letting one inning break everything
At Coors, that last skill might be the most valuable.
WAR rewards outcomes that translate cleanly across environments. Freeland’s value comes from handling one that doesn’t.
There’s also a perception gap — call it the Coors credibility tax.
A 4.30 ERA in a neutral environment looks like back-end production. At Coors, that same performance can resemble mid-rotation value or higher.
If the Rockies are building around pitchers like Freeland, the question isn’t just whether they’re good enough: it’s whether we’re measuring them correctly.
So what is he actually worth?
On paper, a ~2 WAR pitcher looks replaceable.
In reality, it’s not that simple.
Freeland is owed $16 million in 2026, with a vesting option tied to innings in 2027. That reflects something the numbers struggle to capture: reliability in a uniquely difficult environment. A pitcher with similar “true talent” elsewhere might not translate to Coors at all. Freeland already has.
Kyle Freeland isn’t an ace in the traditional sense.
He’s something more specific:
A pitcher built to survive — and occasionally thrive — in baseball’s most difficult pitching environment.
Until metrics better capture environmental context and contact management at altitude, pitchers like Freeland will continue to look ordinary on paper and essential in reality.
So the next time you see a WAR total next to a Rockies pitcher, ask:
Is that number telling the whole story — or just the part that survives outside of Coors Field?
The Rockies’ spring training offered a mix of optimism and reality — some encouraging performances, but familiar concerns still lingering. A few players showed growth, especially on the offensive side, yet questions about pitching depth and consistency remain. In the end, the biggest takeaway is that spring can hint at progress, but proving it in the regular season is a different challenge entirely.
Ezequiel Tovar returned to the Rockies fresh off helping Venezuela capture a World Baseball Classic title, bringing both momentum and confidence back to Colorado. The young shortstop embraced the emotional weight of the moment, calling the experience meaningful not just for himself but for his country. Now back with the Rockies, the question becomes whether that energy — and his strong international performance — can carry over into a bounce-back season at Coors.
The Rockies reassigned top prospects Charlie Condon and Cole Carrigg to minor league camp, a move framed less as a setback and more as the next step in their development. Both impressed during spring training, with the organization emphasizing their strong performances and long-term upside. Ultimately, the decision reflects timing rather than talent — and reinforces that both remain firmly in the Rockies’ plans for 2026, even if their debuts will have to wait.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 15: A general view of Oracle Park before a MLB game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the San Francisco Giants on August 15, 2025 at Oracle Park in San Francisco, CA. (Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
We have officially reached the last weekend before baseball gets back! Opening Day for the San Francisco Giants is right around the corner. So this weekend, I wanted to get one last temperature check before the season starts.
Personally, I’m just excited for baseball to be back. I have a tiny, tiny bit of cautious optimism. I can’t help it. A new season is like the first day of school, full of potential and not yet tainted with disappointment and annoyance. A fresh start. A time where anything is possible because it hasn’t actually started yet.
It’s the best. I’m gonna ride that feeling right into the first series. Maybe even two, depending on how the Yankees series goes.
Welcome to Inside the Suns, your weekly deep-down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team. Each week the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — give their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.
Fantable Questions of the Week
Q1: Do you believe the Suns are essentially locked into the 7th seed in the Western Conference standings?
Diamondhacks: Locks are for canals and filing cabinets, but I’ve assumed for a while now that 7 was our most likely slot. We lack top-ready talent and availability to durably compete with WC top 6, but still have a competitive-looking meritocracy in place that elicits motivated performance.
Ashton: Anything can happen, but these last two months do not look good. 9-11 (right? Anybody call that?) since the beginning of February. I do not mind the recent three-game skid as it involved the Celtics and the Wolves, on the road, in a B2B.
So, I am going to say yes, the 7th seed is the ceiling. I am not sure when Brooks can even drive to MMC with a broken hand and a broken driver’s license. Mark Williams finally felt his injury concerns. I just do not see immediate help coming soon.
OldAz: Pretty much. 5 games up on the Clippers with very few left to play, and while they are only 2-3 back of 3,4, or 5, they also are missing 3 starting-level players. 7 seems like a lock, and we need to win game 1 of the Play-In to avoid an elimination game. I also think the Clippers are not hard for the sixth spot because the only difference between 6 & 7 is home court in a single, non-elimination game. Better for them to focus on being healthy for that game.
Rod: I believe it’s more of being locked out of the 6th seed than it is being locked into the 7th. Getting higher in the standings is impossible without a good deal of help (losses) from the teams currently ranked above us but slipping even further back, into the 8th, 9th, or even 10th seed isn’t out of the realm of possibility. The Suns’ remaining schedule is much more difficult than that of the three teams trailing us, and an extended losing streak by the Suns could lead to an even worse position in the play-in games.
Q2: What’s your opinion of where the Suns would be in the Western Conference standings if Jalen Green had remained healthy for most of the season?
Diamondhacks: I suspect we’d have been somewhat worse had Jalen been healthy, and that’s not based on his injury-riddled 2026, where basic holistic stats like VORP (Value Over Replacement) and Win Shares suggest that he’s been our worst performer on the entire roster.
It’s based more on his career best 2024-25, when he still missed the second-most field goals in the NBA. He mitigated that with great athleticism, and was ‘okay’ overall, but still likely a downgrade from our other guards (Gillespie and Booker certainly, probably Allen and Goodwin as well) – from whom he’d presumably grab most of his minutes.
Ashton: I have continually asked for a larger sample size from Green over the season in the Sun’s system, and we have it. He runs hot and cold, just like in Houston. This is not someone that I would trust as a playmaker, and some of the silly midcourt shots state he really does not know his role. Well, this sounds familiar over the last couple of years.
I think he is inconsistent. But I am still willing to say that the Suns would be at least +2 in the win column and maybe more.
OldAz: This is a great question that I really don’t have an answer for. We have seen moments where the Book and Green backcourt looks incredible, but it also has Ott playing too much small ball. That could also just be because of the front-court injuries. Green being healthy all year may also have stunted the emergence of Gillespie. I think they are likely about the same place, but that’s not saying much when 3-6 are only separated by a few games. I believe they would have gone through these current growing pains earlier, but would still be somewhere among this same group.
Rod: Jalen’s had his ups and downs but overall I see him as a positive for the team. As such, I really believe the Suns would at least be fighting to hang on to the 6th seed if he had not spent so much time out injured, and at best the Suns might be in the fight for the 3rd seed at this point. Just having the extra time to figure out how to best utilize his talents earlier in the season would likely have made the team better overall by this time and probably would have added a few more wins…which is currently the difference between the Suns fighting to stay in the 7th spot or battling for one of the 3rd through 6th positions in the standings.
Q3: Should the Suns continue playing with their current starting 5 of Gillespie, Book, Green, O’Neale, and Oso while Brooks and Williams are sidelined?
Diamondhacks: If fans had any idea how much evidence based analysis is brought to bear on lineups, along with internal and external considerations, there’d be a lot less criticism of coaches. At least one would think so…lol. But for someone like me, who just watches the games and loves basketball, to pretend I’m as informed as – or more insightful than – this particular coach is about his players and team dynamics seems a bit like killing a mockingbird.
Ashton: Let’s just roll with it. There are very few options outside of starting Fleming, and any one of them can really heat up at any given time. It would be nice to see three of them heat up at the same time for consistency, but these fourth quarter collapses are disturbing.
That is my short answer. I have some college games to watch, and maybe the Suns turn out to be the NBA Cinderella in the postseason.
OldAz: No. This lineup is simply too small and gets killed by any NBA starting-level center and even marginal power forwards. I don’t mind Oso starting, but I would move Gillespie to the bench to maximize his bench minutes when Oso is no longer available. I would also replace O’Neale with more size. Allen is passable at the wing when he is back, but I believe Fleming needs to be at the PF spot at least until Brooks is back. Williams being back in place of Oso does not change this logic either. Until Dillon Brooks returns, they simply need more size at PF. I would actually go with Dunn and Fleming and rely on Oso to facilitate and Book and Green to carry the offense against other starting lineups.
Rod: At this point, I’d really just move Gillespie to the second unit, put Fleming into the PF spot, and bump O’Neale over to SF. This would increase the starting unit’s size and put Gillespie in a better position to score rather than playing him alongside Book and Green. I know some would prefer Khaman over Oso in the starting 5, but I don’t think he’s ready for that yet. Size has been an issue for the Suns all season long, and I think Fleming has reached the point of at least getting an opportunity to start a few games while the team is dealing with all its injury issues.
As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!
Quotes of the Week
“We’ve just got to learn how to win together. Still a first-year group that’s dealt with injuries and not much time to go through these stretches earlier in the season together and figure out what works.” – Devin Booker
“It’s the cost of doing business sometimes when you’re trying to play physical defense, you’re going to get some ticky tack fouls, but got to find that balance and make smart fouls. Just make it as hard as you possibly can without fouling.” – Haywood Highsmith
“Win, lose, or draw, I’m 100% committed to the grind. We all are. We have the right group to continue to get better, and we’ll do that.” – Devin Booker
“It felt good. I didn’t feel the need to shy away from the ball. If I’m in that situation again, I’ll be ready to shoot them again. I’m not shying away from the ball.” – Rasheer Fleming on the Spurs game
Suns Trivia/History
On March 23, 2017, in a game against the Brooklyn Nets, the Suns had the youngest starting lineup in NBA history with 21-year-old Tyler Ulis, 20-year-olds Devin Booker and Derrick Jones Jr., 19-year-old Marquese Chriss, and 23-year-old Alex Len. The five had a combined average age of 21 years, 14 days. The Suns lost to the Nets 126-98.
On March 24, 2017, in Boston, Devin Booker (20 years old) became the youngest NBA player to score 70 points in a game in a 130-120 loss to the Celtics. By the end of the game, the Celtics’ home crowd realized they were witnessing something special and cheered whenever Booker scored. During this game, Booker also tied Michael Jordan’s record for most free throws made in a half (20) that had stood since Dec. 30, 1992.
On March 26, 1996, Phoenix’s A.C. Green played in his 800th consecutive NBA game – then the third-longest streak in NBA history – scoring seven points and grabbing nine rebounds during the Suns’ 102-98 win over visiting Sacramento.
On March 29, 1970, in just their second season, the Suns upset the Lakers 114-101 in Los Angeles for the franchise’s first-ever playoff win in Game 2, which evened the series 1-1. They would go on to win games 3 and 4 at home on April 2nd and 4th to take a 3-1 series advantage. Unfortunately, the Suns couldn’t get the 4th victory they needed to win the series and progress to the next round of the playoffs as the Lakers won the next 3 games. It was during this playoff series that Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn gave the Suns’ home, Veterans Memorial Coliseum, the nickname “Madhouse on McDowell.”
This Week’s Game Schedule
Saturday, March 21 – Suns vs Milwaukee Bucks (7:00 pm) NBATV Sunday, March 22 – Suns vs Toronto Raptors (6:00 pm) Tuesday, March 24 – Suns vs Denver Nuggets (8:00 pm) Peacock
This Week’s Valley Suns Game Schedule
Saturday, March 21 – Valley Suns vs San Diego Clippers (7:00 pm) Tuesday, March 24 – Valley Suns vs Mexico City Capitanes (7:00 pm) ESPN+ Wednesday, March 25 – Valley Suns vs Mexico City Capitanes (7:00 pm) ESPN+
Important Future Dates
March 28 – NBA G League Regular Season ends March 31 – 2026 NBA G League Playoffs begin April 12 – Regular season ends (All 30 teams play) April 13 – Rosters set for NBA Playoffs 2026 (3 p.m. ET) April 14-17 – SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament April 18 – NBA Playoffs begin
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell (11) and Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy (49) shake hands before the National League Division Series game on Saturday October 4, 2025 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. | Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Brewers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
In this week’s Reacts survey, we asked fans who they think will win the NL Central in 2026. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it really came down to two teams: the Brewers and the Cubs.
Here’s what the results showed:
The Brewers, who have won the division in each of the last three and four of the last five seasons, came away with 74% of the vote, with the Cubs coming in second at 22%. The Reds garnered 2%, while the Pirates and Cardinals each picked up 1%.
After a franchise-best 97-65 record last season, the Brewers return most of their roster, with the notable exceptions of Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers (traded to the Mets), Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, and Anthony Seigler (traded to the Red Sox), and Isaac Collins and Nick Mears (traded to the Royals). They also lost Rhys Hoskins, Jose Quintana, Erick Fedde, and Danny Jansen in free agency.
In terms of additions, the Crew added a lot of young guys, primarily through those trades. That includes pitchers Kyle Harrison, Shane Drohan, and Brandon Sproat, as well as utility players in David Hamilton and Jett Williams. The Collins/Mears trade also netted them another lefty reliever in Ángel Zerpa, and they added Akil Baddoo, Gary Sánchez, Luis Rengifo, and Reese McGuire in free agency.
Is this a team that can stay atop the NL Central for the fourth straight year? Weigh in in the comments! Thanks for participating in our Reacts survey, and be sure to use FanDuel Sportsbook for all of your sports betting needs.
Brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.
SARASOTA, FL - MARCH 20: Ethan Anderson #57 and Joseph Dzierwa #67 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrate after the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium on Friday, March 20, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning Birdland,
The final day of spring training has arrived! Huzzah! Kind of.
At 1 p.m. today, the Orioles will host the Phillies for their last game down in Florida. It will be broadcast on MASN and the Orioles Radio Network. Then, they will head north for a home-and-home of exhibitions with the nearby Nationals over the two days that follow. So, technically, they have a couple more “pre-season” games left on the docket before they actually open the season against the Twins on Thursday. But still, it feels like a significant landmark as we suffer through the final days without regular season baseball.
Friday featured the third annual Spring Breakout prospect showcase. The Orioles youngsters faced off with the Red Sox squad in a game in which the O’s prevailed 3-1. MLB.com’s Jake Rill recapped the action, but here are some of the highlights:
Trey Gibson started and tossed three shutout innings.
Joseph Dzierwa got the win and struck out eight over his three clean frames
Reed Trimble had two hits and stole two bases
Nate George and Ike Irish each doubled once.
How much can be gleaned from a single game full of well-regarded young players? Almost nothing at all. But it’s fun! And the final days of spring can be pretty dull, so it continues to be a welcome addition to the mix.
The big league Birds were also in action on Friday. They traveled to Tampa for a face-off with the Yankees, where they lost 3-1.
It was a pretty grim showing for the O’s offense, which collected just three hits, three walks, and struck out 11 times. Pete Alonso doubled, Douglas Hodo tripled, and Samuel Basallo had the lone RBI.
Things were better for the pitching staff! Zach Eflin tossed 5.1 shutout innings and struck out seven while throwing 70 pitches. It seems like he might be ready for Opening Day after all? Dietrich Enns got the final two outs of the sixth inning, and Rico Garcia worked yet another shutout frame. The only pitcher to get knocked around was Cohen Achen, a 24-year-old that has appeared in just two games above Double-A.
Outside of the game action, there are likely to be a flurry of roster moves around the league this weekend. Teams will start to make final cuts. Usually a few minor surprises crop up, which could make some bench or bullpen pieces available. The Orioles, like many teams, aren’t entirely settled in those departments. So, it is possible that a new name or two could make their way onto the Opening Day roster. But nothing has been reported on that front just yet.
Links
Buck Britton happy to be back on Orioles’ coaching staff after wild first season in majors | Roch Kubatko Britton as well as many of the pitching coaches are back despite the rocky 2025 for the big league club. Some level of continuity on the coaching staff seems like a wise choice for Craig Albernaz and the broader organization. Although Albernaz has gotten nothing but rave reviews since joining the club, connecting with every single player in a clubhouse is difficult. Having a few familiar faces around should help to bridge any gaps that exist.
Orioles’ Dylan Beavers: Scratched from lineup | CBS Sports Beavers was supposed to play against the Yankees on Friday. Instead, he sat out with right knee discomfort. There has been no reporting on the severity of the problem. It could be nothing. We should know more today.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
Chadwick Tromp turns 31 today. He was one of the many catchers to don an Orioles uniform in 2025. Ultimately he only played in six games for the Birds.
Jimmy Yacabonis is 34 years old. The righty spent parts of three seasons from 2017-2019 on the Orioles pitching staff, accumulating a 5.75 ERA over 101.2 total innings.
The late Tommy Davis (b. 1939, d. 2022) was born on this day. He played 18 seasons of big league baseball, including a four-year stint in Baltimore from 1972 through ‘75.
This day in O’s history
2018 – Just before Opening Day, the Orioles add former Rays hurler Alex Cobb on a four-year, $57 million deal.
The Florida Panthers played their final game of the season that will start outside of the Eastern Standard time zone on Friday night in Calgary.
Playing their fourth road game in six night, the Panthers put up an admirable fight, but ultimately they lost the game and possibly another key player, falling 4-1 to the Flames.
It wasn’t until nearly midway though the game that someone finally tickled the twine.
On what seemed like an innocent zone entry, a wrist shot from the half boards by Joel Farabee found its way through a screen and past Daniil Tarasov, giving Calgary a 1-0 lead with 12:16 left in the second period.
It took a little over two minutes for the Flames to double their advantage.
A nice backhand pass from below the goal line by Adam Klapka found a wide-open Victor Olofsson, and his one-timer sailed past Tarasov to make it 2-0 with 9:50 on the clock.
Florida finally got on the scoreboard early in the third, when A.J. Greer scored for the second consecutive game, sending a wrist shot from the right circle over the glove of Dustin Wolf to cut Calgary’s lead to 2-1.
That would be as close as the Cats would come.
Later in the period, with Florida killing a long Flames power play, Niko Mikkola was trailing as the Panthers entered Calgary’s zone on a shorthanded odd-man rush.
As Mikkola began to quick turn around to defend after Evan Rodrigues lost the puck, Mikkola collided with Calgary’s Ryan Strome and went down, clutching at his left leg/knee area afterward.
Mikkola hurt, grabbing his left knee after this knee-on-knee collision.
He would need help off the ice and did not return to the game.
Afterwards, Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice did not seem particularly optimistic about Mikkola's injury.
"We'll get him looked at when we get back (to South Florida)," Maurice said. "He plays and competes so hard for us every night, but he's been incredibly durable for us, but that's clearly the story of our season.
"They need him. We're in a tough one right now, so you need those veteran guys around, playing and leading. He's been a dominant man for us all year with the injuries we've had. He's played great for us so we're going to miss him. He's going to miss some time, I believe."
Morgan Frost and Matt Coronato added a pair of late power play goals to cement the victory for the Flames and send Florida home with a 1-3-0 road trip and tied for the ninth-worst record in the league.
Photo caption: Mar 20, 2026; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) get help off the ice after colliding with Calgary Flames center Ryan Strome (22) during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. (Sergei Belski-Imagn Images)
