SCOTTSDALE, AZ - MARCH 19: Chase Petty #61 high-fives Alfredo Duno #6 of the Cincinnati Reds during the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on Thursday, March 19, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
While the AAA Louisville Bats got their 2026 regular season underway last week just like the big league Cincinnati Reds, the lower minors affiliates will begin their campaigns later this week. With that on the docket, the rosters for the respective Opening Days for the High-A Dayton Dragons (Thursday evening against the Lansing Lugnuts) and AA Chattanooga Lookouts (Friday against the Columbus Clingstones) have been finalized.
The Lookouts will feature top prospects like Cam Collier, Leo Balcazar, and Carlos Jorge among their position player ranks as well as former 1st round picks like Austin Hendrick and Jay Allen II. The pitching staff will be spearheaded by Jose Acuna (who returns after firing 71.2 IP of 3.64 ERA ball there last year) as well as veteran Kevin Abel, while Jose Montero (3.93 ERA in 103.0 IP with High-A Dayton in 2025) will also make the jump up a level into the rotation.
The Lookouts revealed their entire roster this morning, which you can see below.
Meanwhile, top prospect and catcher of the future Alfredo Duno will headline the roster of the Dayton Dragons, as the Reds pointed out on Twitter earlier in the day.
Dayton’s roster is largely comprised of players who spent considerable time with the club last year, though Duno is clearly the exception to that rule. He destroyed Florida State League pitching as a 19 year old in 2025 (.287/.430/.518 with 18 HR and a 95/91 BB/K ratio) before heading off to the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League and showing out there, too.
What’s similarly interesting about Dayton’s roster, though, is who isn’t on it. Top prospect Tyson Lewis will apparently not be making the jump up a level to begin 2026 after he hit .268/.347/.417 there in 144 PA to finish 2025, his strikeout problems (51 in that time) likely something he’ll be asked to work on a bit first. Similarly, former NCAA dinger champ Mason Neville will not begin with Dayton after hitting .247/.333/.442 in 90 PA with Daytona last year, his own K-rate (34.4%) also a pretty glaring issue, while Arnaldo Lantigua will also seemingly stick around Daytona after 129 PA with them in his age-19 season.
The same is apparently true for Sheng-En Lin, who threw 16.2 IP for Daytona last year and is still focusing on pitching only after having been a two-way player prior to 2025.
The Daytona Tortugas have not yet released their roster, so we’ll need to wait for confirmation from them at some point later this week. It’s also worth pointing out that a number of names we otherwise would have seen on these rosters will begin the year on the minor league 60-day IL, with notable pitchers like Luke Holman and Carson Spiers there alongside infielder Ricky Cabrera.
The following players have been placed on the minor league 60-day IL: • RHP Carson Spiers • RHP Luke Holman • LHP Hunter Hollan • RHP Logan Tanner • SS Ricky Cabrera • C Connor Burns • RHP Owen Holt • LHP Christian Lopez • LHP Khristian Guevara •…
Joel Quenneville Postgame Press Conference 3/30/26
With eight games and two weeks left on the 2025-26 schedule, the Anaheim Ducks sit atop the Pacific Division standings and four points ahead of the second-place Oilers.
With the additions of roster players like Chris Kreider, Mikael Granlund, and Ryan Poehling, along with a brand new coaching staff, the Ducks were expected to build on their 21-point improvement from the 2023-24 season into the 2024-25 season.
This season has been one that many young teams crave as their franchise climbs out of the depths of an elongated rebuild. Young players entering their primes like Jackson LaCombe and Lukas Dostal continued to build on their breakout seasons from a year ago.
Meanwhile, core point producers like Cutter Gauthier and Leo Carlsson have established themselves as future elite players in the NHL and have shown they can be among the best at what they do at their positions.
Even players like Olen Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov, though they have gone through several ups and downs this season, have greatly improved their 200-foot games and have shown they still possess the potential to be impactful offensive players in the NHL.
Perhaps the most pleasant surprise, and the one that’s been the most positively impactful, has been the emergence of rookie forward Beckett Sennecke. He’s currently tied with Montreal Canadiens forward Ivan Demidov for the rookie lead in points with 57 (22-35=57) in 74 games. His presence on the roster has rounded out the top six, and he’s found ways to translate what made him special at the junior level to the NHL on a nightly basis.
However, the coaching and system changes didn’t and haven’t meshed with every roster player. Former top-six players Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano have had difficulties adjusting to the tempo and/or the required decision-making to carve out a depth role on the roster. Strome was traded at the March 6 deadline after a string of healthy scratches, and Vatrano is in the midst of his own cluster of healthy scratches.
Perhaps the greatest benefit to the young players on the Ducks roster this season has been head coach Joel Quenneville and his staff’s willingness to enable them to play freely while expanding and exploring the reaches of their offensive potential.
The youngest and most talented players projected to make up the core of the team when competitive have been placed in a system beneficial and conducive to their collective skillset, have been allowed to make mistakes, and have been given roles in which they can succeed.
However, as the season has progressed and the finish line is in sight, Quenneville’s perceived tolerance for critical errors has shrunk, as has the leash for those young mistake-prone players.
Griffin Hooper-Imagn Images
Mason McTavish (23) is having his worst statistical season in his four-year NHL career and has produced just 34 points (14-20=34) in 67 games, a .51 points-per-game average and a significant drop from last season’s .68 points/g pace.
McTavish’s output had dropped low enough to earn him back-to-back healthy scratches on March 15 against the Montreal Canadiens and on March 18 against the Philadelphia Flyers. In his six games since being reinserted into the lineup, he’s scored two points (1-1=2) while playing five of those six games as the fourth-line left winger.
“Be strong at the net, want the puck,” Quenneville said of what he’s expecting from McTavish when he returned to the lineup on March 20. “(Be) defensively responsible just like we want with everybody, basically, every night.
“Possession with the puck. He’s a centerman with good instincts, and he can make plays. He’s got a good shot. So we want to see some of that. At the same time, there’s the other side as well.”
In Monday’s 5-4 OT loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, a game that saw multiple injuries to forwards and a slew of penalties, McTavish only saw 14:01 TOI, and he didn’t see the ice following the Leafs’ go-ahead goal with three minutes left in the third, where he may have given a less-than-spectacular backchecking effort.
For however great a season Beckett Sennecke (20) is having, as the season winds down, he’s becoming more mistake-prone in his end, making poor puck decisions that lead to odd-man breaks the other way.
Though he’s understandably a volatile, high-risk/high-reward young forward, that volatility is now costing the Ducks points on the scoreboard and points in the standings. In their March 18 game against the Flyers, in overtime, he attempted a between-the-legs, cross-ice pass on a 2v1 with backchecking pressure that was disrupted and that sparked a rush to win the game for the Flyers.
With 17:38 to go in the third period of the Ducks’ 5-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks, he attempted a drop pass to a trailing forward, the fourth player into the offensive zone on the rush, which missed its target and sent the Canucks on a 2v1 that they converted, tying that game at three. He didn’t see the ice for the remainder of that game.
During Monday’s loss to the Leafs, he attempted a slip pass to a teammate at the point, with the far defenseman activated, which was broken up and which sent William Nylander on a breakaway to tie that game at three with 9:46 remaining in the third period. Sennecke didn’t see the ice for the remainder of that game either.
“Every day is a new day, and every day we learn,” Quenneville said after Monday’s game. “Every day, we address. We give him the freedom to do a lot of things offensively. You don’t want to take away from him, but that’s sometimes where the trouble starts. So, I think we've got to find that balance.”
With still a relatively comfortable lead (for now) in the Pacific Division standings, Quenneville can afford to prioritize lessons over an extra standings point. If either (or both) McTavish or Sennecke had played in the overtime frame on Monday, it’s possible, or even likely, that the Ducks would have come away from that game with two points instead of one, as the Ducks are 17-5 in overtimes and shootouts.
McTavish’s poor season could be attributed, in part, to a lengthy contract negotiation that lasted well into Ducks’ training camp in late September. The details of his game haven’t improved enough (or at all) away from the puck to counterbalance his lack of production. If the Ducks are to realize their potential this season and in future seasons, they’ll need Mason McTavish to play a pivotal role in their middle six and have an impact on every shift.
Sennecke has a special ability to manufacture instant offense out of thin air. However, that style will inherently be tied to taking risks with the puck. Becoming more selective with when and how to unleash or rein in those abilities will come in time. He’s a rookie, and rookie mistakes are to be expected. However, they’re beginning to cost the team vital points at a crucial time in the season. The Ducks can’t afford to allow him to make those mistakes when they matter the most: the playoffs.
The Ducks are on the precipice of achieving something they’ve been starved for for eight years. By extending a long leash early in the year and shortening it down the stretch upon lack of improvement in certain areas, Quenneville and the coaching staff are taking both a long-term and short-term approach to get the most out of important young pieces on their roster.
George Springer has been doing damage at the top of the Toronto Blue Jays lineup, and I’m expecting that trend to continue with Ryan Feltner on the mound for the Colorado Rockies.
I explain why Springer matches up well in my free Toronto Blue Jays vs. Rockies predictions and MLB picks for Tuesday, March 31.
Rockies vs Blue Jays predictions
Rockies vs Blue Jays best bet: George Springer Over 0.5 RBI (+145)
It’s been a bit of a slower start to the year for George Springer, but he’s still finding ways to drive in runs with an RBI in three-straight games.
Springer has also had a lot of career success against the Colorado Rockies, with a 1.012 OPS and eight RBI in 45 at-bats. He can add to that tally against Ryan Feltner, who has a career strikeout rate of 19.5% and struggles to limit damage.
The confidence in his pick is coupled with the belief that the bottom of the order will reach base for Springer to drive them in. The Jays’ 7-9 hitters have been the most productive to start the season, combining for 18 hits and six walks through the first four games this season.
COVERS INTEL: Feltner has a 33% usage rate on his four-seamer, a pitch that Springer handled well with a .307 batting average last season and an xSLG rate of .746.
Rockies vs Blue Jays same-game parlay (SGP)
Jesus Sanchez has faced Feltner more than any other Blue Jays batter, going 4-for-11 with two homers against him.
Max Scherzer takes the bump for Toronto, and I’m expecting the Jays’ high strikeout trend to continue with him on the mound. He racked up 10 strikeouts against this lineup last season in 20 at-bats, and he may be asked to work deeper into the game after Cody Ponce was forced to leave Monday's game with an injury.
Rockies vs Blue Jays SGP
George Springer Over 0.5 RBI
Jesus Sanchez Over 0.5 hits
Max Scherzer Over 5.5 strikeouts
Rockies vs Blue Jays home run pick: Jesus Sanchez (+510)
In addition to owning Feltner with a 1.273 OPS, he has done the bulk of his damage against right-handed pitching. Sixty-five of his 74 career home runs have come against righties.
2026 Transparency record
Best bets: 1-2, -0.65 units
SGPs: 1-2, +1.5 units
HR picks: 1-2, +1.05 units
Rockies vs Blue Jays odds
Moneyline: Colorado +225 | Toronto -280
Run line: Colorado +1.5 (-145) | Toronto -1.5 (+125)
Over/Under: Over 9 (-120) | Under 9 (+100)
Rockies vs Blue Jays trend
The Toronto Blue Jays have hit the Game Total Over in 85 of their last 148 games (+23.75 Units / 15% ROI) Find more MLB betting trends for Rockies vs. Blue Jays.
How to watch Rockies vs Blue Jays and game info
Location
Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON
Date
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
First pitch
7:07 p.m. ET
TV
COLR, Sportsnet
Rockies starting pitcher
Ryan Feltner (2025: 0-2, 4.75 ERA)
Blue Jays starting pitcher
Max Scherzer (2025: 5-5, 5.19 ERA)
Rockies vs Blue Jays latest injuries
Rockies vs Blue Jays weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 13: Al Horford #20 of the Golden State Warriors shoots a three-point shot against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first half at Chase Center on March 13, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA announced the six finalists for the 2025-26 NBA Sportsmanship Award on Tuesday. The award is given to the player who “exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship on the court with ethical behavior, fair play, and integrity.” The league names one finalist from each division. Golden State Warriors big man Al Horford was among the finalists, representing the Pacific Division. Horford has not previously won the award. He would be the first Warrior to win the award since Steph Curry won following the 2010-11 season.
Boston Celtics guard Derrick White, Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell, Miami Heat big Bam Adebayo, Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes comprise the other five nominees for the award. The award has historically gone to All-Star caliber players or popular veterans late in their careers. While Horford fits the latter category, Adebayo and White seem like stronger potential candidates.
In his first season with the Warriors, Horford has appeared in 43 games (12 starts), averaging 8.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 21.7 minutes per game. The 39-year old has shot 42.4% from the field (53.5% from two and 36.0% from three) and 84.6% from the free-throw line.
The middle game of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ series against the Cleveland Guardians will be the first pitching start for Shohei Ohtani, who coincidentally is the second in a series of Japanese pitchers.
Roki Sasaki pitched in Monday night’s game, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto will pitch in Wednesday afternoon’s finale.
Because of the World Baseball Classic, Ohtani only pitched in two games in Spring Training. He went 1-1 with a 3.24 ERA, striking out 15 batters across 8.1 innings of work. 11 of those K’s came in his last outing a week ago against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. After that outing, both Ohtani and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts felt good about where Ohtani was in his preparation for the regular season.
This will be the first in what Ohtani and the Dodgers organization hope will be a fully healthy season for Shohei that will see him take the mound 25 times. Ohtani called every Dodger pitcher making 25 starts “ideal” after his first outing in Arizona.
For how long this first outing will last, Roberts said the plan was about six innings.
“Honestly, with Shohei, you’ve got to be willing to adapt,” Roberts said. “Because if he’s really efficient, then you’re still trying to win the game. And if it makes sense, I’m not going to just pull the plug just because of a certain number.”
Ohtani would also like to see the Dodgers offense give him some run support. The team has yet to have the first lead of the game in the four they have played so far. The first three saw them able to mount a comeback, but in Monday night’s game they could only muster two runs in the bottom of the ninth, which were not enough to beat the Guardians.
Miguel Rojas and Andy Pages are the only two Dodgers so far that are hitting with any great consistency. The Dodgers will be facing right hander Tanner Bibee, who pitched the first game of the Guardian’s season against the Seattle Mariners, going 5.0 innings and allowing three earned runs while striking out seven.
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 04: Jordan Poole #13 of the Washington Wizards and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors interact after the game at Capital One Arena on November 04, 2024 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Before we get into this one, a quick reset on what this bracket actually is. This isn’t about who was better, or who disappointed you more. It’s about which version of belief stayed with you longer; the player you kept holding onto, even when it stopped being easy.
Jordan Poole — The Chosen Son
This isn’t a question about Jordan Poole’s career. You already know how it went. It’s whether you can put yourself back in the moment before all of it, back when the belief was clean and the ceiling felt limitless, and feel what that was like.The Poole era, before the complications set in, was one of the most alive things Dub Nation felt in the two-timelines stretch. He wasn’t a project you were squinting at through the fog of hope. You could already see it.
I was in Las Vegas for Summer League 2019 when he first suited up as a Warrior. KD had just left. The dynasty that everyone outside the Bay had been praying would end had finally started to wobble. And right in the middle of all that noise, this 19-year-old kid from Michigan was out there attacking closeouts, drawing fouls, playing like the moment owed him something.
The G League bubble in 2021 is where it clicked for everyone. Pre-bubble, he was averaging 5.5 points on 42.6% shooting in under 10 minutes a game. Post-bubble: 14.7 points on 43.3% in 23.5 minutes. Same player, just more rope. Give him space to operate and he’d make you look like a genius for believing in him.
Then 2022 happened. Four 20-point games off the bench in the playoffs at 22 years old, on a team that went on to win a championship. He was serving up Poole Parties on the biggest stages in the sport and doing it without hesitation. The shimmy was fully loaded. The free throw line had become a personal ATM. And Dub Nation didn’t just decide he was good, we saw him as the answer to the question nobody was ready to ask yet: what happens to all of this after Steph?
It wasn’t in the stat lines. It was in the feeling that the dynasty didn’t have to die when Steph’s career eventually wound down, because the kid right next to him could keep it breathing.
Then Draymond Green punched him in practice, and the whole thing started to shift.
The season that followed was genuinely complicated to watch and even harder to write about. He showed moments of Steph-like brilliance. And turnovers that made your eyes water and a 2023 playoff shot chart against the Lakers that looked like a crime scene. Steph threw his mouthguard in frustration at a Poole decision in a must-win game. That image said more than anything I could put in a season review.
That summer, he was traded to Washington for Chris Paul. He was 23 years old.
That’s the Poole story. The bracket seeded him first because the peak belief was the highest of anyone in this field, and the fall from that peak was the sharpest. It wasn’t that he failed. It was that we watched him arrive, watched him ascend, watched him win a ring, watched it come apart from the inside, and then watched him leave at 23 with the best basketball of his life allegedly still ahead of him somewhere else.
That unresolved feeling is why he’s still here.
Trayce Jackson-Davis — The Quiet Revelation
Trayce Jackson-Davis was the 57th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. He was a four-year college big man whom the conventional wisdom had already written a clean, tidy obituary for: too slow, too limited, too old-school for the modern NBA.
He showed up to Chase Center and immediately looked like he’d been running pick-and-rolls with Stephen Curry his entire career.The screen timing was perfect. The roll angles were textbook. The finishing around the rim, with either hand, in traffic, on the short roll, was seamless. Warriors fans started falling for TJD without consciously deciding to. One game he was the guy you were cautiously pleased about. A few weeks later, you were actually upset when he didn’t play.
That’s the quieter version of basketball love. No single moment where the fanbase collectively lost its mind. Just a gradual accumulation of evidence until one day you realized you were already fully invested.
The fit wasn’t something you had to project forward or hope would develop. It was already functional. Already real. You could watch him in the second quarter of a random regular season game in January and feel good about things.
Then they traded him to Toronto.
No incident. No drama. No complicated feelings about turnovers or locker room dynamics or shot selection. Just a clean, sharp loss of something that was had legs, packaged into a deal and shipped out before it ever got to breathe. Warriors fans processed it mostly in silence because the grief was too specific to be loud. This wasn’t a projection that didn’t work out. This was a fit that did work, and they let it go anyway.
That’s the TJD story. Not heartbreak in the traditional sense. More like reaching for something on the shelf and realizing someone already moved it.
The Matchup
This one isn’t about who gave you more. They gave you different things entirely.
Poole made the post-KD era feel like it could be spectacular. The belief he generated wasn’t cautious or qualified, it was the full version, the kind where you’re already writing the next chapter in your head before the current one is finished. There’s something irreplaceable about that feeling, even knowing how it ended. Maybe especially knowing how it ended.
TJD made the present tense feel survivable. Not spectacular, not dynasty-level, but real and functioning and worth showing up for. The fit was so clean it hurt when it was gone. There was no what-could-have-been with him because you could already see exactly what it was. That clarity is its own kind of grief.
One version of believing in a player is screaming at the TV in 2022 because this kid is built different. Another version is quietly updating your expectations upward game by game until one day you realize you’d be pretty upset if he wasn’t here. Both are real and legitimate.
The question isn’t which player was better. Instead, it’s which version of hope you hold onto longer.
Former Dallas Mavericks majority owner Mark Cuban says he regrets selling the team to the Adelson and Dumont families. Cuban made the deal in December 2023, maintaining a minority share within the organization, but now says that he wishes he could take it back.
During an interview on the "Intersection" podcast Tuesday March 31, Cuban said, "I don't regret selling," then clarified, "I regret who I sold to. I made a lot of mistakes in the process, and I'll leave it at that."
At the time of the deal, Cuban was adamant that he would remain involved with the team's basketball operations. However, that hasn't happened. It is well-known how furious Cuban was with former GM Nico Harrison's decision to trade away star guard Luka Doncic in February 2025. ESPN reports that Cuban was also among the people telling Dumont to fire Harrison after the deal was done.
How much did Cuban sell the Mavericks for?
The deal was for $3.5 billion. While Cuban maintains that he believed he would still be involved in basketball operations and action within the organization, there have never been reports that Cuban's continued involvement was part of the deal for the sale.
Why did Cuban sell the team?
Cuban sold the team amid pressure to build a contender, something he didn't believe he could do as a "middle-class billionaire." He also believed his "emotional commitment" to the team had become too much of a burden.
Cuban said on the podcast, "You hear the passion and everything. Now imagine going up and down like that every single game. That's hard."
At the time of the deal, Cuban believed the real estate expertise brought by the Adelson family would be a huge boon to the team, while still keeping Cuban's basketball savvy on for advice. Of course, the latter part of that deal never amounted to anything.
How have the Mavericks done since Cuban's departure?
Immediately following Cuban's sale, the Mavericks reached the NBA Finals, nearly winning their first title since 2011. Since then though, the team has struggled mightily.
That said, between trading away superstar Luka Doncic and a 24-51 record this season, the team did get rather lucky, securing the No. 1 overall pick despite only a 1.8% chance to earn that pick via the lottery and selecting Rookie of the Year candidate Cooper Flagg in the 2025 NBA Draft. Clearly though, Flagg's presence has not led to the win totals that Harrison and company had hoped for after they traded Doncic to Los Angeles.
Furthermore, the key piece the Mavericks got in return for Doncic, forward Anthony Davis played just 29 games for Dallas before being traded to Washington at this year's trade deadline.
Episode 27 of Hockey, Actually is filled with milestone chatter as Izzy and Nicolleta talk about Evander Kane’s 1000th NHL game as well as Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson both climbing their way up the franchise’s record lists. After discussing Canucks Head Coach Adam Foote’s approach to the season, the two talk about Vancouver’s young Canucks and their extracurricular fighting practice. The episode wraps with some early regular-season awards for both the Canucks and the Goldeneyes.
Continue reading for timestamps as well as a link to episode 27.
0:50 — Milestone Chatter: Kane’s 1000, Boeser and Pettersson
0:56 — Evander Kane plays in his 1000th NHL game
1:54 — Brock Boeser becomes ninth all-time in points by a Canuck
2:38 — Elias Pettersson hits 500 points, registers ninth-most power play points by a Canuck
Mar 28, 2026; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames right wing Adam Klapka (43) get into a scrum with Vancouver Canucks players during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 11: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks is guarded by Kon Knueppel #7 of the Charlotte Hornets during a pre-season game on October 11, 2025 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
While the Mavericks haven’t given much to dig into over the last several weeks through their play, the development of Cooper Flagg remains priority. Along with that priority is a focus from the organization on securing the Rookie of the Year award for Flagg. Head coach Jason Kidd spoke about it pregame recently:
“I think it’s a big priority that the organization pays attention to this. But it’s not just the organization. This is a partnership, and Cooper has to be able to do his part. And he’s doing his part. He’s having a historic year as a rookie. When you put his numbers up against past rookies who have won the award, it’s clear-cut that it’s not even close that he is the one that will win Rookie of the Year.”
DALLAS, TEXAS – JANUARY 29: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks and Kon Knueppel #7 of the Charlotte Hornets talk after the game at American Airlines Center on January 29, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There’s been a back and forth between media and fanbases about this year’s rookie race. Flagg is averaging 20.3 points (1st among rookies), 6.5 rebounds (3rd), and 4.6 assists (1st) in 63 games this season. Those numbers have improved over the season, especially after a slow start while playing full time at point guard for the first time in his career. Since the end of January Flagg has boosted his scoring average to 23.6 points over 20 games, increasing across the board including a steal and a block per game.
But Charlotte Hornets sharpshooter Kon Knueppel has many fans across the league. He’s impressive, no doubt, having a historically efficient season offensively on a team currently in the play-in picture. His win-share outpaces the rest of the rookies considerably. And he’s second, seventh, and eighth in the above categories.
Knueppel also has a very defined role. He does not carry the burden Flagg does to generate offense for others, who often plays out of position and without a true point guard. So it’s really a “both things can be true” debate. Both players are playing at historic levels. Both players project to have monster careers. Kidd said as much:
“Everybody has their opinion on the vote, of popularity, of what the trend is. And so nothing against Knueppel. He’s having a heck of a season, too. But when you look at the numbers, just the strict numbers, Cooper’s are as good as anybody’s.”
It remains to be seen how the voting shakes out. A close race will not be surprising, and could go either way. And the result will not define either player’s career. But it’s encouraging to hear Kidd’s stance on the organization’s accountability to support Flagg.
Feb 20, 2026; Surprise, Arizona, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Carter Jensen (22) and right fielder Jac Caglianone (14) in the dugout prior to the game against the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The beginning of the season is often a time for signing young, pre-free agency-eligible players to long-term deals. Teams have increasingly become more aggressive signing players just as their careers are beginning, and in some cases, before they have even made their big league debuts.
This week, the Brewers signed infield prospect Cooper Pratt to an eight-year, $50.75 million deal, before he has even reached Triple-A. Pratt is ranked as the #62 prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline, but hit just .238/.343/.348 with eight home runs and 31 steals in Double-A last year. Meanwhile, the Mariners signed shortstop prospect Colt Emerson to an eight-year, $95 million deal. He has a better pedigree as the #7 prospect in baseball, and hit .285/.383/.458 with 16 home runs across three levels in the minors.
The teams are taking some risk, as neither player has made their MLB debut or reached their 22nd birthday. But if they become superstars, the team could save a lot of money, plus keep the player beyond when they would have been eligible for free agency.
Should the Royals do the same with their young hitters, Carter Jensen and Jac Caglianone? Jensen is ranked as the #11 prospect in the game by Baseball America and had an impressive debut last September, hitting .300/.391/.550 with three home runs in 20 games. The 22-year-old has a patient eye, solid power, and is a good defender behind the plate. The floor is lower with Caglianone, but the ceiling is much higher. The former first-round pick struggled in the big leagues, but hit 20 home runs in just 66 minor league games last year, hitting .337/.408/.617. Even though he hit just .157 with seven home runs in 62 MLB games, there were some impressive underlying metrics that suggest that if he could elevate more, he could have great success.
Of course, it all depends on how much it would cost. A good comp for Jensen may be the recent extension signed by Samuel Basallo. The Orioles catcher signed an eight-year, $67 million deal just a week into his big league career, after being anointed one of the top prospects in baseball.
Caglianone is a bit more difficult to comp, since he was amazing in the minors, but struggled in an extended look in the big leagues. In 2025, Lawrence Butler signed a seven-year, $65.5 million deal with a club option with the Athletics. He struggled in his initial stint in the big leagues, but came on to have a terrific 2024 season, justifying the deal. Caglianone’s ceiling may be higher, but the risk is also greater, since he hasn’t performed yet, which may make it difficult to come to an agreement.
What do you think? Should the Royals be signing their young hitters to long-term deals?
Alek Thomas. (Photo by Jessie Alcheh/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Playing the Dodgers was a challenge. Despite the challenge, some statistics provide insights to the remainder of the season.
The Positive Statistics.
The Diamondbacks were up to the challenge of playing the Dodgers. They lost the last two games by only 1 run. In each of those games, the game-deciding run was scored in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Batting.
Alek Thomas’ 3 RBIs leads the team. Perhaps this season will be a long awaited breakout season for him at the plate.
In the first two games, Perdomo continued his breakout from last season. He hit a homer! He continued to challenge opposing pitchers, with an average of 3.833 pitches per PA. More details:
Before the third game, when he put two balls in play on the first pitch, his average was 4.375 pitches per PA.
As a point of reference, last season his average was 4.176 pitches per PA.
His 19.0% O-Swings was about the same as last season’s 19.2% O-Swings.
His 14.3% Whiffs was equivalent to one whiff higher than last season.
Pitching.
In this series, the Diamondbacks held the Dodgers scoreless in the first two innings. Great first innings can set the tone for each game.
Eduardo Rodriguez pitched five innings without allowing an earned run. After this start, he has pitched two consecutive starts against the Dodgers with zero earned runs. Perhaps he is kryptonite to the Dodgers.
In this series, six bullpen pitchers made scoreless appearances. Loaisiga and Thompson each did it twice. The others were Hoffman, Morillo, Ross, and Sewald.
Mostly great defense with runners on base. In this series, the Dodgers stranded 15 runners on base (7 were in scoring position). The Diamondbacks made 2 errors. The first error led to an extra base, but that runner did not score a run. The second error allowed an extra baserunner, who unfortunately scored a run after a stolen base and a hit. In addition, Lawlar made a great catch despite his very limited experience in the outfield.
The Negative Statistics.
Batting.
In this series, Diamondbacks batters had 5.4 strikeouts per walk. That compares poorly to their last season, which had 2.4 strikeouts per walk.
After overcoming a sore elbow, Pavin Smith played in two games. His only hit was a single. At least it earned him an RBI. Now, he is on the injured list with elbow inflammation.
How many games until Corbin Carrol gets an extra-base hit? [Answer: In the first game of the Tigers series, he hit a triple and a homer!]
Pitching.
In the first two games, Diamondbacks starting pitchers allowed 4 runs per game. On the other hand, I’m confident they will pitch better when not facing the Dodgers.
Bullpen pitcher Taylor Clarke has an ERA of 108.00. That statistic can only get better.
Baserunning.
In the first game, Geraldo Perdomo got caught stealing (although successfully stole a base in the third game). Also, Jordan Lawlar got caught off second base on a line drive. These two outs were not necessarily due to bad baserunning. But game two was a different story.
In the second game, two Diamondbacks were called out on attempted extra bases. First was Alek Thomas attempting to score from first base on an Alex Thomas double. Second was Alek Thomas over-slid third base when he attempting to stretch a double into a triple. Although the Diamondbacks rank high on extra bases, knowing when to make the attempts is part of that strength.
“We’ve got to figure that out. We run the bases very aggressively. We made an inning-and-a-third of outs in two games. That’s not D-back baseball. We take advantage of the right situations and advance 90 feet.” — Torey Lovullo
Summary.
Three players with breakout performances:
Geraldo Perdomo continued his breakout from last season.
Alek Thomas with 3 RBIs.
Eugenio Rodriguez allowed zero earned runs in 5 innings.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 26: Charlie Condon #66 of the Colorado Rockies rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of the spring training game against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Original photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) 2/26/2026
One of the spring training positional battles that Colorado Rockies fans watched took place at first base.
Would recent trade T.J. Rumfield get the nod or Rockies top prospect Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP)?
In the end, president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta went with Rumfield, sending Condon to Triple-A Albuquerque to continue his preparation. Before leaving camp, Condon was determined but philosophical about the assignment.
For Condon, his first spring training was a productive one as he focused on putting “intention” into his training. His spring training stats suggested that his approach worked, and it’s given him a foundation to build on going forward.
“I just think it’s about not trying to do more than I’ve already done,” Condon said, “just taking the same approach every day. I’m not going to try to go out in the season and try to be somebody that I know I’m not — just put my best foot forward every day and letting my work and actions speak for myself.”
For Condon, that meant taking advantage of setting his own schedule.
“Coming up playing baseball from the youth age all the way through college, you’re kind of always told what to do and where to be at all times,” he said. “So just being able to call your own shots a little bit has been an adjustment for me, but has been nice to be able to kind of dictate my routine and do what I need to do.”
Part of that time was spent refreshing his outfield skills given that he spent much of 2025 exclusively at first base.
“You know, it’s been a minute since I’ve played out there,” Condon said.
“That was kind of a hope and goal of mine this offseason to get out in spaces other than just first base, and not be pigeon-holed there,” he addded. “And then the more you play out there, the more balls you get, the more innings you spend out there, the more comfortable you’re going to be. And I felt like that was the case this spring.”
His focus was also on getting stronger.
“I’m young compared to a lot of the guys in that clubhouse. My body can handle a little bit more,” Condon said.
“I need to push myself a little bit more to continue to get stronger. I mean, a lot of those guys got grown-man strength and dad strength and all that stuff, which, at 22, I’m still working on, but just continue to push myself to be stronger.”
He also had a supportive clubhouse where he felt welcome despite being a non-roster invite.
“There’s a handful of guys I can give praise to,” Condon said. “Brett Sullivan, Nicky Lopez, Troy Johnston, Brenton Doyle . . . I mean, just countless guys that were really good and reached out and were making me feel comfortable on a day-to-day basis.”
Plus, Condon appreciates the value of competition.
“I was there to get the best out of myself, and then also get the best out of everybody in the clubhouse,” Condon said. “So I think that first base competition and everything we had going on there was really productive for a lot of guys.
It helps that his time in The Show coming.
“You know, we’ve got a really good squad up top so far this year, and I’m excited to watch some of those guys play and hopefully be a part of it later this year.”
He added, “Obviously I want to play in the big leagues, and I want to do everything I can to make that happen. But at the same time, I understand how baseball works. I understand the timelines and things like that. And I understand that I’m also not a finished product. I may have had a good spring — I may have hit well, I may have turned some heads — but I’m not done developing as a player, and I plan on being an even better player whenever I do make it up.”
If Saturday night’s Albuquerque Isotopes game is any question, Condon will be forcing his way into a Coors Field lineup sooner rather than later.
The Isotopes kicked off the season against the Oklahoma City Comets, the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Rockies were concentrated on improving the quality of depth at their highest farm team, stocking up the roster with 18 new faces, and featuring 15 players who have seen time in the Major Leagues.
After winning the season opener behind a fantastic pitching performance from Tanner Gordon, the pitching struggled in the next two games as the Isotopes were outscored 26-10 in those games. The worst of the pitching happened on Saturday after the Isotopes went up 6-1 at one point, but then surrendered 12 unanswered runs.
As for the offense, the Isotopes showcased an ability to make contact, a major benefactor in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, and draw walks. However, much like the big league club over the weekend, strikeouts were bothersome, and most of the lineup hasn’t settled into finding those extra-base hits quite yet.
⬆️ Stock Up:Charlie Muscle
After a strong spring training campaign, Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) carried the momentum into his weekend debut in Triple-A. He got his first hit on Friday before turning around a fantastic performance in the second game of the season. On Saturday, Condon went 2-for-3 with a pair of home runs and five RBI, along with a pair of walks. He added another pair of hits on Sunday to close out the series, and while the season is young, he leads the Isotopes with a .500/.643/1.100 slashline. Condon also got to showcase his defensive versatility, starting two games at first base and one in right field.
⬇️ Stock Down:
Collin Baumgartner has slowly moved his way up through the Rockies system since signing with the team in 2023 as an undrafted free agent in 2023. He finished the 2025 season as a member of the Isotopes and had a good run, posting a 2.47 ERA over 22 1/3 innings. Unfortunately, his first outing of the year was a bit of a rough one as he allowed four runs on four hits, including a home run, in his lone inning of work on Sunday. It was the three walks that hurt him in the end, a bit uncharacteristic of the abilities he has shown through his minor league career. Still, it’s just his first outing; there is plenty of time to right the ship.
Upcoming
The Isotopes kick off their first homestand of the year this evening, welcoming the Reno Aces (Arizona Diamondbacks). Gabriel Hughes (No. 12 PuRP) will take the mound in the home opener.
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - MARCH 16, 2026: Angel Genao #16 of the Cleveland Guardians in the field during a minor league spring training game against the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium on March 16, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The 2026 season for the Double-A Akron RubberDucks begins Thursday.
The RubberDucks released a preliminary roster today. Before we get started, some names are missing primarily due to injuries. They include pitchers Rodney Boone, Zach Jacobs, Davis Sharpe and Carter Spivey and position player Jonah Advincula. Here are the active players we have so far:
Pitchers:
Alaska Abney RHP, Dylan DeLucia RHP, Caden Favors RHP, Josh Hartle LHP, Matt Jachec RHP, Jack Jasiak RHP, Reid Johnston RHP, Zane Morehouse RHP, Carter Rustad RHP, Hunter Stanley RHP, Khal Stephen RHP, Adam Tulloch LHP, Matt Wilkinson LHP.
Analysis:
From the looks of things, the starting rotation will be a major strength of the team early on as it will feature one of Cleveland’s top pitching prospects in Khal Stephen, who was acquired from Toronto in the Shane Bieber trade. Also in the rotation will be Dylan DeLucia, Josh Hartle, Matt Wilkinson and Caden Favors. If Reid Johnston is ready to go, it will be his first appearance since 2023.
Catchers:
Jacob Cozart LHH, Cameron Barstad LHH.
Analysis:
Cozart was a defense-first catcher who had some pop, but he surprisingly put up above-average offensive seasons for himself at both High-A and Double-A while possibly being one of the best defensive catchers in minor league baseball. Barstad is a serviceable backup, but Cozart will be the feature and his prospect status will continue to rise if he can improve his offense.
Infielders:
Angel Genao SH SS, Ralphy Velazquez LHH 1B, Alex Mooney RHH 3B/SS, Christian Knapczyk LHH 3B, Tyresse Turner SH 3B, Juan Benjamin SH 2B/3B.
Analysis:
Two of the team’s top offensive prospects are featured here in Genao and Velazquez. Genao is hoping to bounce back after a shoulder injury caused an average offensive season in 2025 while Velazquez’s star erupted with one of the strongest second halves in recent memory that saw him break out, even after being promoted to Akron. Neither should stay in Double-A long if they get off to strong starts.
Outfielders:
Wuilfredo Antunez LHH RF, Jake Fox LHH CF, Guy Lipscomb LHH RF, Alfonsin Rosario RHH RF/CF, Joe Lampe LHH LF, Nick Mitchell LHH CF.
Analysis:
Most eyes will be on Alfonsin Rosario as one of the lone top right-handed hitting prospects in the entire organization who had a breakout year in 2025, but don’t forget about Wuilfredo Antunez, who had a major power spike in the past year and Nick Mitchell, one of the returns from Toronto in the Andres Gimenez trade who flashed some elite bat speed and exit velocities this spring after an impressive offensive season in 2025.
Akron is loaded with top 10 organizational prospects at nearly every position from its starting rotation to the infielders and the outfield. It should be destination viewing on both sides of the field.
Which players are catching your eye as the Double-A season starts? Tell us in the comments below:
The Houston Astros and the Boston Red Sox continue their series at Daikin Park tonight.
Houston is sending ace Hunter Brown to the hill, and my Red Sox vs. Astros predictions expect him to mow down Boston's lineup.
Here are my best free MLB picks for this American League clash on Tuesday, March 31.
Red Sox vs Astros predictions
Red Sox vs Astros best bet: Astros -0.5 F5 (-114)
The Houston Astros clobbered the Boston Red Sox 8-1 yesterday, and they hold a significant pitching advantage tonight.
Boston is starting right-hander Brayan Bello, who ranked in the bottom 25th percentile last year in xERA (4.48) and xBA (.258) last year.
Meanwhile, Houston’s Hunter Brownfinished third in AL Cy Young voting in 2025, posting a 2.43 ERA with a .201 OBA.
Brown made his season debut last Thursday, striking out nine over 4 2/3 scoreless innings while walking four batters. Control wasn’t an issue for Brown last year, so expect him to settle in and mow down the Red Sox order.
COVERS INTEL: Although the Astros placed 15th in the majors in OPS (.714) last year, three-time All-Stars Yordan Alvarez and Carlos Correa missed a combined 225 games due to injuries. Houston's lineup is currently at full strength.
Red Sox vs Astros same-game parlay (SGP)
Despite having an injury-plagued 2025, Yordan Alvarez slugged .587 over 396 games in his previous three seasons. He’ll have the platoon advantage against Bello and is 3-for-5 with a homer and a double against the Boston righty in his career.
Brown ranked eighth in the majors in strikeouts last year (204), and his velocity looks even better this time around. He averaged 95.7 mph on his devastating sinker last season but touched 98.4 mph on the pitch in Spring Training.
The Astros ace racked up nine strikeouts in just 4 2/3 innings in his season debut, and Boston struck out 12 times last night.
Red Sox vs Astros SGP
Astros -0.5 F5
Yordan Alvarez Over 1.5 total bases
Hunter Brown Over 6.5 strikeouts
Red Sox vs Astros home run pick: Marcelo Mayer (+800)
There is fantastic value in backing Boston's Marcelo Mayer to hit a home run. The 23-year-old flashed power in his brief MLB stint last year, and his peripherals are outstanding to start 2026.
While Mayer hasn’t hit a homer so far, the Red Sox infielder has two doubles, and his hard-hit rate (57.1%) and barrel rate (28.6%) are elite.
Brown is a stud, but the hard-throwing righty allowed 10 homers in 14 home starts last year, and Houston’s bullpen is vulnerable to the long ball.
2026 Transparency record
Best bets: 2-1, +0.56 units
SGPs: 1-2, +1.72 units
HR picks: 2-1, +4.6 units
Red Sox vs Astros odds
Moneyline: Boston +130 | Houston -154
Run line: Boston +1.5 (-170) | Houston -1.5 (+140)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-114) | Under 7.5 (-106)
Red Sox vs Astros trend
Houston has covered the F5 run line in their last four games (+4.15 units / 91% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Red Sox vs. Astros.
How to watch Red Sox vs Astros and game info
Location
Daikin Park, Houston, TX
Date
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
First pitch
8:10 p.m. ET
TV
NESN, SCHN
Red Sox starting pitcher
Brayan Bello (2025: 11-9, 3.35 ERA)
Astros starting pitcher
Hunter Brown (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Red Sox vs Astros latest injuries
Red Sox vs Astros weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Chicago Blackhawks are set to host the Winnipeg Jets for the second time this season. The first time, on January 19th, was also the first time that Jonathan Toews ever returned to the United Center as a visiting player.
At that point, the Jets were lost and had no real thoughts about making the playoffs. It was heading down the trail of missing the postseason after being one of the best teams in the NHL one year prior.
This game is a different story. Since the Olympics, the Jets have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL. As a result, they enter Tuesday’s action just three points out of the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Although Toews will get another incredible reception from the crowd, the Jets are going to be all business.
Scouting Winnipeg
The Winnipeg Jets have a solid veteran group up front and in net. Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor are their two top stars up front, while Josh Morrissey is the top guy on the back end.
In net, they have one of the greatest goalies of all time in Connor Hellebuyck. Hellebuyck, who just played a key role in Team USA winning a Gold Medal at the Olympics, is the reigning Hart Trophy winner and a three-time Vezina Trophy winner. With him in the net, the Blackhawks have a heavy challenge ahead of them.
Connor-Scheifele-Iafallo
Perfetti-Lowry-Vilardi
Koepke-Toews-Lambert
Rosén-Zhilkin-Ford
Morrissey-DeMelo
Samberg-Pionk
Bryson-Salomonsson
Fleury-Heinola
Hellebuyck
Toews will be the third line center in this one with Brad Lambert and Cole Koepke. Winnipeg’s lineup is in the blender due to a handful of injuries, including forwards Vladislav Namestnikov and Nino Niederreiter. Those two have resumed skating in non-contact sweaters, but won’t play in this game.
Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago
The Blackhawks announced after the morning skate that Artyom Levshunov and Matt Grzelcyk will miss the remainder of the season. This gives Kevin Korchinski and Ethan Del Mastro a little bit of runway to earn looks in the future.
Greene-Bedard-Lardis
Bertuzzi-Frondell-Mikheyev
Donato-Nazar-Burakovsky
Teravainen-Lafferty-Slaggert
Vlasic-Crevier
Kaiser-Rinzel
Korchinski-Del Mastro
Knight
Connor Bedard, Anton Frondell, and Frank Nazar are going to be a 1-2-3 punch down the middle again. This looked good in terms of an attack on Sunday against the New Jersey Devils, and now Jeff Blashill will get a look at it with his matchup advantage at home.
Spencer Knight will start for the Blackhawks in goal. He has given his team a chance to win in every start, but sometimes the defense in front of him lets him down.
Sacha Boisvert is going to be a healthy scratch in this one. Jeff Blashill confirmed he'll play most games down the stretch, but not all of them. It's a development process for him. Sam Lafferty will draw in his spot as the fourth line center. The wingers remain intact from the last game.
How To Watch
The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game, it is available on CHSN locally. Nationally, it is available to stream on ESPN+. The puck will drop shortly after 7:30 PM CT.
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COVERS INTEL: Feltner has a 33% usage rate on his four-seamer, a pitch that Springer handled well with a .307 batting average last season and an xSLG rate of .746.
