Against the Cleveland Guardians it’ll be Wei-En-Lin getting the start, making his first appearance back with the A’s since leaving to go represent Taiwan in the World Baseball Classic.
Speaking of World Baseball Classic – – that’s exactly where you can find the second A’s pitcher. Luis Severino is set to lead the Dominican Republic into battle against USA. The winner of this matchup will go on to the championship, facing whoever comes out on top in the Venezuela / Italy matchup scheduled for tomorrow evening.
Two A’s pitchers starting in one day where a split squad situation isn’t happening? That’s crazy! What’s even crazier is that Mark Kotsay has Zack Gelof penciled in as the leadoff and CENTER FIELDER in today’s lineup!
Check out how the rest of the order will unfold behind our new outfield option…
After the mainstays put on an absolute clinic against the Royals yesterday, it looks like Kotsay’s going to be giving some of the young guns a little moment in the sun.
Which means the legend of Cade Marlowe continues! He and the switch-hitting Leo De Vries stand as the only lefty bat options in the starting nine, in a game against right-hander Tanner Bibee, who went 3+ with 6Ks in his last outing against the San Francisco Giants.
PARIS (AP) — Lyon's winless run in the French league was extended to a fourth straight game by 10-man Le Havre on Sunday.
Despite playing a man down from the 56th minute, the hosts were the better team in the 0-0 draw and Lyon now lags two points behind third-place Marseille in the Ligue 1 standings.
Stephan Zagadou received a straight red card after fouling Endrick. Le Havre, which moved 10 points away from the automatic relegation spots, hit the woodwork twice.
Marseille won 1-0 against struggler Auxerre on Friday. Second-place Lens lost 2-1 at Lorient on Saturday, missing the chance to move back to the top of the standings.
Paris Saint-Germain, which did not play this weekend, has a one-point lead at the top and a match in hand. Nantes agreed last month to postpone their scheduled game on Sunday in order to give PSG more time to prepare for the Champions League second leg against Chelsea. PSG is leading 5-2 from the last-16 first leg.
Fernandez-Pardo is scorer and provider
Lille beat Rennes 2-1 away and moved within five points of Marseille.
Matias Fernandez-Pardo scored the opener for Lille and then assisted Hákon Haraldsson early in the second half. Estéban Lepaul was on the scoresheet for Rennes, reducing the deficit from close range.
It was Rennes' first defeat since coach Franck Haise took charge last month.
Two groups of supporters of Rennes and Lille had clashed Saturday night on the eve of the match.
Radio France reported that police used tear gas and that one fan was injured. Between 100 and 150 people were involved in the fight.
Elsewhere, Mario Sauer scored the winner deep in added time as Toulouse heaped more misery on Metz.
Sauer's goal sealed Toulouse's 4-3 win and extended last-place Metz's winless run to a 14th match.
“It was a crazy game,” Sauer said. “We deserved it today, and this win was so important for us.”
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Defender Brayan Ceballos scored two goals in the first half to spark New England to a 6-1 romp over FC Cincinnati on Sunday in the Revolution's home opener.
Ceballos scored in the 25th minute to tie it after Gerardo Valenzuela scored six minutes earlier to give Cincinnati a 1-0 lead.
Dor Turgeman gave New England the lead in the 31st minute before Ceballos scored three minutes into stoppage time for a 3-1 advantage at the half. Ceballos had one goal in 29 appearances as a rookie last season. Turgeman has four goals and two assists in six career appearances dating to last season.
Alhassan Yusuf scored on a header in the 53rd minute for a three-goal lead. Cincinnati keeper Roman Celantano deflected but couldn't corral a shot by Carles Gil and Yusuf took advantage for his first goal this season and his third in 44 career appearances.
Valenzuela was tagged with a red card in the 69th minute, leaving Cincinnati a man down.
Griffin Yow scored in the 87th minute and Peyton Miller found the net two minutes later to complete the rout after the pair subbed into the match in the second half. Yow's first netter of the season is his fourth in 35 career matches. Miller also scored for the first time after two goals in 26 appearances last year.
Matt Turner saved seven shots in goal for the Revolution (1-2-0). Turner is back with the club after making 102 appearances from 2016-22.
Celantano finished with three saves for Cincinnati (1-3-0).
Cincinnati posted a pair of 1-0 victories over the Revolution last season.
It was the first victory for New England coach Marko Mitrović in his first season. The Revs were outscored 5-1 in a pair of road losses to begin the season.
Cincinnati had posted 2-1 and 1-0 victories in its last two trips to Gillette Stadium. The venue had freshly-laid grass in preparation for the FIFA World Cup. The Revs hadn't played on grass at home since they switched to turf in 2006.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 14: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Denver Nuggets on March 14, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nick Tomoyasu/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
To win a basketball game, it takes a combination of skill and luck. The Lakers had both elements working for them in their overtime victory over the Nuggets.
Austin Reaves missed a free throw on purpose in the closing seconds of regulation, grabbed the rebound and made the shot that sent the game to overtime.
And Luka Dončić won the game for the Lakers with a tough jumper over Spencer Jones.
The NBA’s Last 2 Minute Report revealed that the officials called a foul on Spencer Jones with 9.2 seconds left in the fourth, which was an incorrect decision.
Here is the foul call on Spencer Jones that the NBA’s Last Two Minute Report states was incorrect.
This is the NBA’s statement on the play:
“Jones (DEN) extends his right hand and cleanly dislodges the ball away from Reaves (LAL) after he received the inbound pass.” pic.twitter.com/hkewwtDlzK
Jones (DEN) extends his right hand and cleanly dislodges the ball away from Reaves (LAL) after he received the inbound pass.
If the call were correct, Austin Reaves would not have gone to the free throw line. Instead, the Lakers would have inbounded the ball again, down by three. Given how close this game was, this is admittedly a bad call that hurt Denver.
However, all things considered, the officials only getting one thing wrong during a game this tight is pretty good. Sure, Nuggets fans might be upset about this call going against them, but it still would’ve been Lakers ball. Even if the call had been correct, there’s no telling whether it would’ve changed the game’s outcome.
During an 82-game season, good and bad breaks happen and it generally evens out in the end.
This error helped LA, but there have been moments this year where blown calls have hurt them in losses.
In February, the officials missed a controversial travel call on the Suns’ game-winner against the Lakers, which was never addressed or explained.
Overall, the Lakers have won these tight games regardless of the officiating. On the season, they are 18-6 in clutch games, the best record in the NBA.
In this Lakers-Nuggets matchup, LA led most of the way, executed better down the stretch and had a little luck on its side. That sounds like all the ingredients needed to have success in a fierce Western Conference.
When does 2026 March Madness start? NCAA Tournament schedule
The 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament will take place over the next three weeks, which will end with the Final Four and the national championship game in Indianapolis.
Here’s a rundown of the schedule for the 2026 NCAA Tournament:
TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 13: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns looks on against the Toronto Raptors during the first half in their NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on March 13, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The week closes with the Phoenix Suns walking away 2–1, which on paper sounds perfectly respectable. A winning week, a positive record, another step forward. Yet it still feels like something was left on the table.
If you zoom out and look at the past two weeks together, Phoenix is 5–2. A strong stretch of basketball. Still, part of your brain keeps drifting back to the same thought. This could have been 7–0. The losses to Chicago and Toronto linger. Those are the ones that stick in your mind when you glance at the Western Conference standings and see how tightly packed everything remains. Every game carries weight in that traffic jam.
But this is not the “what if” business. The record is the record. The standings are the standings. Phoenix sits at 39–28, eleven games over .500, which in most years would feel comfortable. In this conference, it still places you in the middle of the knife fight. That is life in the Western Conference. In the East, this exact same record would have Phoenix sitting in the fifth seed. Instead, they continue to battle for position and attempt to climb out of the Play-In conversation.
Oh well. No sense living in the land of what if.
It was an interesting week for Phoenix while they were out on the road, because it came with a noticeable scoring surge from both Devin Booker and Jalen Green. And let me say this up front, this is a good thing.
Jalen Green looks like himself again. The confidence is back. The rhythm is back. You can see the upside talent that made him such an intriguing addition in the first place. Coming off the hamstring injury, there were some rough nights, the type that make you stare at the box score and wonder when the burst will return. Over time, it has. He now sits at 17.4 points per game on 41/31/76 shooting splits, which is a healthy step forward from where things began.
The more interesting element now is the dynamic between him and Devin Booker.
Both have started to figure out how to operate alongside one another, and the scoring reflects it. When those two get rolling, the offense can look explosive. This week, through the lens of offensive rating, was the best the team has posted all season. The Suns had an offensive rating of 125.3 in Week 21.
The Phoenix Suns posted an offensive rating of 125.3 in Week 21, their highest offensive rated week of the season pic.twitter.com/kDHyZXANnn
At the same time, there is a delicate balance that every team in the league wrestles with. When two players dominate the scoring load, the rest of the group can drift to the edges of the offense. The ball finds fewer hands. The rhythm of the other players can cool. That balancing act shows up every night in the NBA.
Still, I will take this version over the alternative every time. I would rather see confidence and scoring aggression than watch a talented player wander through possessions searching for his rhythm. Green has found his groove again. Now the next challenge is consistency. And balance.
Green averaged 23 shot attempts per game this past week. His career average sits around 16.5, which tells you he probably lived seven shots above his natural range. It is a strange thing to analyze because those shots were falling, and when they fall, the offense hums. Yet those attempts have to come from somewhere. A handful of them can flow to other players in the system, most notably Collin Gillespie, who has been one of the pleasant surprises of the season when the offense runs through him in spurts.
So Week 21 accomplished something important. Jalen Green looks confident again. He is playing with energy, attacking the rim, and knocking down shots. His efficiencies are climbing, and that is good news for Phoenix. Now comes the next step. Harness that confidence. Spread it across the roster. Let the ball breathe a little more.
Because a good offense has multiple cooks working the stove, not two guys trying to run the entire kitchen.
Week 21 Record: 2-1
@ Milwaukee Bucks, W, 129-114
Possession Differential: -2.0
Turnover Differential: -5
Offensive Rebounding Differential: 0
The Suns opened their road trip in Milwaukee like a team that remembered how to score again, dropping 129 on the Bucks and winning their third straight. Giannis did his usual freight train routine, whistles and all, but Phoenix leaned into its identity when it mattered. Defense.
The Suns held Milwaukee to 17 points in the fourth while three players topped 20 for the second straight game. A couple of weeks ago, this team struggled to reach 80. Now they’re stacking wins and rhythm. Meanwhile, in NBA chaos, Bam Adebayo dropped 83. Basketball is weird.
@ Indiana Pacers, W, 123-108
Possession Differential: +0.7
Turnover Differential: -4
Offensive Rebounding Differential: 0
On a night in Indiana against the league’s worst team, the Suns finally saw the vision come to life. Devin Booker dropped 43, Jalen “Guac” Green poured in 36, and the backcourt combo served up 79 points of offensive spice. Green’s fourth straight 24+ performance showed the efficiency Phoenix has been waiting for, while Booker orchestrated the chaos like the veteran conductor he is.
@ Toronto Raptors, L, 122-115
Possession Differential: +1.4
Turnover Differential: +2
Offensive Rebounding Differential: -2
The Suns spent most of Friday night looking like a team with things under control, cruising with a lead until the Raptors decided the paint belonged to them. Toronto shot 14-of-22 in the fourth, dropped 36 points, and bullied Phoenix inside while the Suns stuck with a small lineup that suddenly looked like a bad idea at the worst possible time. Devin Booker and company had the game in hand until the final 2:34. Then it slipped away.
Inside the Possession Game
Weekly Possession Differential: +0.4
Weekly Turnover Differential: -8
Offensive Rebounding Differential: -2
Year-to-Date Over/Under .500: +11
Time for your weekly graph!
It is funny when you stare at the graph long enough. Lines go up. Lines go down. Turnovers spike one week. Offensive rebounds dip the next. Possession differential swings around like it is riding a roller coaster through the desert. There are plenty of things to analyze when you track a team for 21 straight weeks.
Yet there is really one line that matters. That pink line.
For the most part, the Suns have done a solid job winning the possession battle throughout the season. You can see the moments when injuries hit, and the roster turned into a rotating cast of new combinations. During those stretches, the possession numbers dipped. The team lost that battle more often. The graph shows it clearly.
Still, that pink line keeps creeping upward. Slowly. Quietly. One step at a time.
And that is the one that counts, because that line represents cumulative games over .500. When the week closed, the Suns sat at +11, which happens to be their highest mark of the season at the end of any week. So yes, we can dig into turnover differential. We can debate offensive rebound rates and possession swings until our eyes cross. But when the dust settles, the only number that really matters is that pink line continuing to climb.
Week 22 Preview
Are you ready for a busy week? Because the schedule is about to hit full speed for the Phoenix Suns. After three games away from home, they will still manage to squeeze in two games back in Phoenix before the week is over.
It starts tonight at TD Garden against the Boston Celtics. You know the Celtics. The same team that had no problem handling the Suns the last time these two met. That was a Boston team missing both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and both of those guys are healthy and back in the lineup now. This version of the Celtics is a different challenge. Although, to be fair, the Suns were without Devin Booker. Tomato, potato.
The schedule does not slow down either.
Tomorrow night, the Suns head to Minnesota to face the Timberwolves. It is the first of two back-to-backs this week. The game carries some weight in the standings, although the head-to-head element is already settled. Phoenix has beaten Minnesota twice this season. The road trip wraps up Thursday in San Antonio against the Spurs. Phoenix leads the season series 2-1, although the most recent meeting was not exactly pleasant. The Spurs handed the Suns a 27-point loss on February 19.
Then the Suns return home.
On Saturday, they face the Milwaukee Bucks, the same team Phoenix defeated earlier this week. The homestand continues Sunday against the Toronto Raptors, a team the Suns also saw recently when they met on Friday the 13th.
Add it all together, and you get five games in seven nights. The only breathing room comes on Wednesday and Friday.
Grueling is a fair way to describe it. The schedule is compressing as the regular season winds down and the playoff picture begins to take shape. Where Phoenix lands in that picture will be influenced heavily by what happens over the next seven days. With less than a month left in the season, every result starts to carry a little more weight.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 08: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics yells to a teammate during the second quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on March 08, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Celtics will be near full-strength when they face the Phoenix Suns on Monday night. Jayson Tatum, who returned to action on March 6th, will play in his fifth game of the season and appears to continue to be trending upwards.
Additionally, Derrick White (knee contusion) and Baylor Scheierman (sprained ankle) are both not on the injury report after appearing on it ahead of Saturday’s game against the Washington Wizards. White missed one game with the knee injury — a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder last week — but he did not appear compromised on Saturday.
But Nikola Vucevic will miss his fifth straight game as he recovers from a fractured right ring finger. Vucevic was on the sidelines for Saturday’s game, with a large wrap around his hand. The Celtics said on March 7th that he was expected to be re-evaluated in 3 to 4 weeks, meaning he’s effectively out for the rest of the month.
Nikola Vucevic is here a week after having a procedure for a broken right ring finger
After taking Thursday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder off, Jayson Tatum played 32 minutes in Sunday’s game, eclipsing 27 minutes for the first time.
“I knew that my minutes would go up a little bit this week, and that’s just kind of the progression,” Tatum said. “I was playing 27 minutes the first three games, they go up a little bit for a week or so, see how you respond. Obviously, I’ve been responding really well and feeling great the next day and after the games. And we just go from there.”
For the Suns, Dillon Brooks continues to be sidelined after breaking his hand, while Mark Williams is out with a left foot stress fracture.
How the Celtics, Suns stack up
The Celtics are 44-23, owners of the East’s second-best record. They have the league’s third-best net rating (+7.8), its second-best offense (119.6 rating), and its fifth-best defense (111.7 rating).
The Suns are 39-28, and have the West’s 7th-best record. They have the NBA’s 14th-best net rating (+1.3), its 18th-best offense (114 rating), and its 9th-best defense (112.8 rating).
The Suns have been led by Devin Booker (25.4 points, 6 assists), Jalen Green (17.4 points), Grayson Allen (17.3 points, 4.2 assists), and Collin Gilespie (13.2 points, 4.8 assists).
The two teams have faced off once this season, on February 24th, with the Celtics coming away with a 97-81 win in Phoenix.
The Celtics are coming off a 111-100 win over the Washington Wizards; the Suns are coming off a 122-115 loss to the Toronto Raptors.
Celtics-Suns will tip off at 7:30pm ET on Monday night at TD Garden.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Capitals signed 19-year-old defenseman Cole Hutson to a three-year entry-level contract with an average annual value of $975,000.
The Capitals drafted Hutson in the second round in 2024, and he had 10 goals and 22 assists in 35 games for Boston University this season. He also represented the United States in the world junior championships in 2025 and 2026. When the U.S. won gold in 2025, he had three goals and eight assists, becoming the first defenseman to lead the tournament in scoring.
Hutson could represent the future of the Washington blue line after the Capitals, with their postseason hopes dwindling, traded John Carlson before this year's deadline.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 26: Hayden Birdsong #60 of the San Francisco Giants warms up during the fifth inning of the spring training game against the Colorado Rockies at Scottsdale Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hayden Birdsong’s tough spring just took a turn for the worse. The San Francisco Giants’ 24-year old right-hander entered camp hoping to earn a bullpen role as well as the job of next-man-up in the rotation, but his first two outings of the spring were a disaster, and far too reminiscent of his collapse during the 2025 season.
But after throwing a few sim games in Minor League camp, Birdsong returned to Cactus League play with a stellar showing in his third and final game of the spring, which featured the hardest-thrown pitch of his career, just a few ticks off of triple digits.
And now, after that upswing, things have gone quite downhill. The Giants announced on Saturday that Birdsong was dealing with forearm discomfort, which is never a good sign. And on Sunday they revealed the results of his MRI: a Grade 2 UCL sprain and forearm strain in his pitching arm.
Needless to say, that’s not good news, especially for a pitch.
Birdsong is headed for a second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister, and then he and the Giants staff will decide what course of action to take. Tony Vitello said that nothing is certain until they see what Meister has to say, but that the likely discussion is whether to have Birdsong head for surgery, or to have him rehab for a few months and see how his body responds. It seems overwhelmingly likely that we don’t see Birdsong until the summer at the earliest, and quite possible that he’ll be shelved for all of 2026.
It’s the unfortunate reality for pitchers, especially in the modern era, where everyone is taught to throw as hard as possible (it’s certainly a bit ironic, and perhaps not coincidental, that Birdsong’s injury popped up right after hitting his highest velocity). And while there’s no good time to be sidelined, it’s an especially painful timeline for Birdsong. According to Evan Webeck, pitching coach Justin Meccage had just told reporters that he thought Birdsong had put it all together following his recent outing.
Hopefully the second opinion results in good news for Birdsong, but sadly it looks like we won’t be seeing him for quite a while.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Taryn Barbot scored 23 points, twin sister Taylor added 16, and top-seeded Charleston defeated 10th-seeded Hofstra 68-56 on Sunday to win the Coastal Athletic Conference Tournament and reach women's March Madness for the first time.
The Cougars held each of their three opponents in the tournament under 60 points.
Grace Ezebilo scored 10 points and grabbed 16 rebounds for the Cougars (27-5) and Taryn Barbot hit four 3-pointers, as did Jami Hill, who finished with 14 points. Taylor Barbot had eight assists and four rebounds.
Emma Von Essen scored 13 points off the bench, Chloe Sterling 12, Alarice Gooden 11 and Nevaeh Brown 10 for Hofstra (11-22). Sandra Magolico collected 10 rebounds.
An 11-0 run toward the end of the first quarter helped Charleston take an 18-11 lead into the second quarter. Hofstra stormed back in the second quarter and outscored Charleston 22-12 for a 33-30 lead at halftime.
Charleston's 14-0 run to open the second half included 10 points in a row from the Barbot sisters. The Cougars outscored Hofstra 21-7 in the third quarter and led 51-40 heading to the fourth.
Taryn Barbot scored seven points in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter and the Cougars pushed their lead to 63-46. Hofstra hit a couple of 3-pointers in an 8-0 run to get within 63-54 with about three minutes remaining but the Pride would get no closer.
CORALVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Halli Poock scored 33 points, Shamecce Currie-Jelks added a double-double and top seed Murray State beat Evansville 91-70 on Sunday to win a second straight Missouri Valley Conference Tournament and an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.
The Racers (31-3) head to the main event on a 15-game winning streak under coach Rechelle Turner, who is in her ninth season. Murray State's only previous appearance before winning back-to-back championships came in 2008.
Poock made 12 of 19 shots from the floor, including 6 of 10 from 3-point range. Currie-Jelks finished with 12 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists.
Haven Ford hit four 3-pointers and scored 18 for Murray State, and Keslyn Secrist added 12 points.
Mireia Mustaros scored 16 off the bench to lead the 10th-seeded Purple Aces (10-25), who dispatched second-seeded Belmont in the quarterfinals and third-seeded Illinois State in the semifinals. Sydney Huber and Breaunna Ward scored 15 apiece. Camryn Runner scored 12.
Ford and Poock sank 3-pointers and Murray State used a 13-0 run to take a 16-4 lead in the first 5:15. Poock hit another 3 and had 13 points by the end of the quarter for a 21-10 advantage.
Currie-Jelks had the first two baskets and Ford followed with a 3-pointer as Murray State used a 7-0 run to up its advantage to 28-10 less than two minutes into the second period. The lead was 46-27 at halftime.
Murray State outscored the Purple Aces 24-17 in the third quarter to make it 70-44.
Mar 15, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Gil (81) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Summoning all the optimism a person can after a 12-1 run loss, the best I could offer in reference to Luis Gil’s disastrous Sunday performance is this: “At least he didn’t walk a boatload of people.”
The Yankees’ starter lined up to face a pretty strong Tigers lineup, and his inability to keep the ball in the yard led to a blowout loss. Even for those who are warned not to take spring results too seriously, this is the type of start that, at the very least, greatly enhances preexisting concerns about a talented arm, but one whose 2026 projections vary significantly depending on who you talk to.
Gil never got remotely close to a groove, trailing 3-0 by the end of the first inning thanks to a booming three-run shot from Spencer Torkelson after back-to-back singles to Kerry Carpenter and Colt Keith. The second inning was equally difficult, as following a leadoff walk, it was Matt Vierling’s turn to take Gil yard, this time on a cheaper home run that only went 358 feet.
Anxious to fill his quota of one home run per inning right away, Gil wasted no time in the third and left nothing to chance. Riley Greene was due up to lead off the frame, and after a called strike fastball at the top of the zone, Gil poorly located a second heater inside at the perfect height for Greene to thoroughly demolish it. It was the Tigers’ third home run of the game, securing a 7-0 lead quite early.
Somewhat surprisingly, each of the three home runs Gil allowed came on different pitches: Torkelson punishing a changeup that didn’t quite drop enough and Vierling getting ahold of a hanging slider inside. A fastball-reliant pitcher, Gil couldn’t rely on his heater that failed to miss bats (2 whiffs on 19 swings) and induced plenty of hard contact. The slider worked decently well, but the fastball and changeup were absolutely demolished, and even the breaking ball had its lousy moment, the Vierling homer, which, funny enough, didn’t even register as a hard-hit ball.
Perhaps in preparation for his likely role during the regular season, albeit with the caveat of facing a weak lineup once most of the starters had left, Ryan Yarbrough contributed three scoreless, efficient innings, needing only 35 pitches to do so. What was a 7-0 deficit when Gil left the mound got tacked on to 12-0 as the Tigers added five more runs against minor leaguer Zach Messinger in the top of the eighth. The highlight was a grand slam from Jordan Yost, the Tigers’ fourth home run of the day, one that helped Detroit complete the cycle of homers, with a solo shot, two-run homer, three-run blast, and the grand slam.
All that Gil failed to achieve, Framber Valdez had no problems with, pitching the type of game the Tigers brought him in for — even if, in this case, it was just a spring training affair. Reverting back to the pitch distribution he had early in his career with Houston, Valdez leaned into the sinker to frustrate Yankee bats for five scoreless frames with far fewer curveballs than usual.
In typical Valdez fashion, his success was helped along by an innate ability to keep the ball on the ground, where he recorded seven of his 10 outs on balls in play. Shut down by the Tigers starter, the only run the Yankees scored came in the ninth on a Jonathan Ornelas RBI single to avoid the shutout.
The other half of the split-squad Yankees will take the field tonight in Sarasota, as a lineup led by Jazz Chisholm Jr., Ben Rice, and Jasson Domínguez will take on the Orioles at 6:05pm ET. Baltimore will have the broadcast and it’ll be a battle of veteran starters as Paul Blackburn squares off against Zach Eflin. And of course, Aaron Judge will also be in action for Team USA as they face the Dominican Republic in what should be a must-watch World Baseball Classic semifinal. David Bednar, Paul Goldschmidt, and Tim Hill could also appear for the U.S., with Austin Wells, Camilo Doval, and Amed Rosario in play for the D.R. That will start on FS1 at 8pm ET; my colleague Peter will have a game thread available for both since they’ll overlap in play.
After the rain-shortened game, Lindor told reporters it was a successful first game back and he's happy with the progress he's made up to this point.
"It was a really good experience," Lindor said. "Felt like I was pretty much like myself and I finished the game healthy. Overall, it was a good day for me. I appreciate the trainers, they have pushed me for a very long time now to be here today. I feel good."
Lindor has been ramping up his rehab from hamate bone surgery on Feb. 11, recently facing A.J. Minter in a live BP and playing defense in games on the backfields, but Sunday was his first Grapefruit League game.
He explained there will be times he still feels the injury in his hand/wrist, and will continue to feel that for a while, but took today as a positive step.
"There's going to be moments, yeah, for sure," Lindor said. "That's something the trainers have said from day one that I'm going to feel something. There was a bone removed and there's a lot of nerves there and soft tissue stuff. So yeah, there's moments I'm going to feel it.
"Today, I felt like it was a good day overall. Especially that I was able to play the four innings I was supposed to and take the three at-bats I was supposed to."
Francisco Lindor says that today was a "really good experience" for him:
"Felt like I was pretty much like myself and I finished the game healthy. Overall, it was a good day for me." pic.twitter.com/JAqs5fz6SF
Lindor added that he's "checked every single box" up to this point and will need to continue to do so before Opening Day. He believes "everything is going in the right direction" after having two offseason surgeries, including getting his power back.
The shortstop even noted that he plans on playing every single game in the regular season and will not need rest days due to the injuries.
"I don't think it's going to take time for the power to be there," Lindor responded to a question about potential delays in his power hitting. "It's one of those where, I feel fine right now, I'm in a good spot. I spent the whole offseason trying to hit the ball over 100 mph, even before my wrist injury, and think I did it once. Then today I hit two balls over 100 (mph). Just got to get a good swing and get the right pitch, I'm sure the is going to go if it's supposed to go."
He added: "Yeah, there's a little bit of a difference, but I feel good from both sides (of the plate). There's going to be a test throughout the rest of spring training... I feel good. Bottom line, I feel good, I'm in a good spot. I'm still very optimistic about Opening Day. God willing everything works out in the right way so I can be there and play."
Lindor mentioned he's talked with catcher Francisco Alvarez about the recovery from hamate bone surgery and "appreciates his pointers" on what to expect in the future. The shortstop also said he felt good after making his first diving play of the spring, as it gave him some confidence going forward.
When asked what stood out from the All-Star's first game, manager Carlos Mendoza pointed toward his "aggressiveness" at the plate and said it looked like a "normal" Lindor.
"The aggressiveness, the way he attacked pitches, he was just letting it loose," Mendoza said. "Good to see him impacting the baseball because I know that's probably a question for a lot of people. I think it was 108 (mph), that foul ball, and then it was like 106, 104, something like that.
"But it's just how normal he looked today. No hesitation. Like I said before the game, watching him go through his pregame work the last few days, watching him on the backfields. Yeah, he looked like Francisco Lindor."
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — After his struggles to find the strike zone, Hayden Birdsong seemed to find a breakthrough in his last spring outing. Now, the promising young starter might be broken.
An MRI revealed a Grade 2 sprain in the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow, the Giants announced Sunday. Birdsong will fly to Dallas to seek a second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister, but the diagnosis is a common precursor to Tommy John surgery.
“Certainly not the best-case scenario,” manager Tony Vitello said. “But hopefully we can get the best-case scenario of the unfortunate circumstances.”
Giants pitcher Hayden Birdsong has a decision to make about his UCL. Getty Images
A Grade 2 strain typically means there is at least a partial tear in the ligament. Birdsong could attempt to rehab the injury and return this season without surgery. Reliever Randy Rodriguez pitched through a torn UCL but eventually needed to have it surgically repaired.
Birdsong was still around Sunday morning and “in good spirits,” according to Vitello, who had a brief conversation with him and the Giants’ medical staff. He said it would “probably be a day or two” before Birdsong decides one way or the other but added that “I would think” the 24-year-old right-hander would attempt to avoid surgery if possible.
“Obviously I’m not happy about it, but I feel like it’s one of those things where everybody kind of goes through it at this point,” Birdsong said. “Wish it wasn’t right now. I wish I could throw a couple seasons before something like this happens. Hopefully it’s not as bad as we think it is.”
Birdsong first reported discomfort in his elbow after throwing a scoreless inning Tuesday against the Guardians. He said that he felt a “pop” and a “rip” after a curveball to the last batter he faced.
“Just a freak (thing), one pitch,” Birdsong said. “It feels fine right now. Extension feels a little iffy, hurts a bit. … It was weird. It didn’t hurt (initially). I felt really weird and I threw it, and I was like, ‘That didn’t feel right.'”
The hard-throwing right-hander entered camp in competition for one of the final spots in the starting rotation or as a swingman out of the bullpen. He won a job in the Opening Day bullpen last spring and went on to post a 4.80 ERA over 21 appearances, including 10 starts.
But he struggled to command his electric arsenal, issuing 37 walks in 65 2/3 innings. He had a 3.25 ERA before walking 17 batters and surrendering 16 runs the final four times he took the mound.
Pitching coach Justin Meccage said they made an adjustment to Birdsong’s delivery before spring, but the same issues cropped up when exhibitions began.
Birdsong put himself behind the eight ball with eight runs, seven hits and three walks in his first two Cactus League appearances, recording a total of four outs. Only 33 of his 58 pitches across the two outings landed for strikes.
Giants pitcher Hayden Birdsong was trying to earn either a rotation spot or as a swingman out of the bullpen. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
But after Birdsong’s last time out, Meccage said, “We were really encouraged about where he’s at [and] the progress that he’s made.”
Birdsong retired three of the four Cleveland batters he faced and threw 15 of his 21 pitches for strikes.
“It was 97 to 100 (mph) in the strike zone with four pitches,” Meccage said, later adding, “I think we’re to a point now where he’s feeling like, ‘OK, I can go out there and feel pretty good about what’s coming out of my hand.”
Then the discomfort started.
Straight from the department of bad timing.
“I don’t think the timing is ever good,” Vitello said before putting a positive spin on the news. “You can try to spin it [to him] as, ‘Now I can work on this’ … or ‘At least I have it behind me.’ He’s a pretty positive kid. … I think he’ll approach the whole deal the right way regardless of what it is.”
The Giants’ pitching depth was already a question after the only additions the team made over the winter were a pair of veteran starters on one-year deals, Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser.
President of baseball operations Buster Posey indicated the team was comfortable leaning on its assortment of young arms, beginning with Birdsong. The group also includes Roupp and McDonald, who appear primed to break camp with the big club, but also Carson Whisenhunt, Carson Seymour and Blade Tidwell, who haven’t necessarily looked like reliable depth options so far through spring.
Suddenly the stable of arms doesn’t look so stable.
“Yeah, I think a fair question of is there any doubt, or if you guys were going to throw out criticism, is: Is there the depth with the starting pitching when you remove a guy,” Vitello said. “But I think the depth, if you’re talking about the whole group, is still strong. …
“I would love to have Birdie be a part of that group because he does have a little bit of ability to swing back and forth between starting and bullpen. We’ll dive into who provides that depth on the starting roles but … I do feel good about the competitiveness and the depth.”
The Yankees fell to the Detroit Tigers on Sunday afternoon by a score of 12-1.
Here are the key takeaways...
-- Luis Gil was roughed up by the Tigers. After allowing four runs, including a three-run homer from Spencer Torkelson, in the first inning, the righty ended up allowing two more home runs in the next two innings.
Gil lasted just 3.0 innings (68 pitches), allowing seven earned runs on nine hits while walking one and striking out a pair.
-- On the bright side, Ryan Yarbrough, who previously was away from the team for the World Baseball Classic, pitched well in relief. The lefty went 3.0 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out two.
-- In the bottom of the sixth inning, with the Yankees trailing 7-0, the game entered a rain delay. But in classic Tampa weather fashion, the rain moved through quickly, and the tarp was off the field just a few minutes after the game was stopped.
-- Offensively, the Yankees couldn't do much of anything against Tigers offseason acquisition Framber Valdez. The lefty pitched 5.0 shutout innings, allowing just four hits while striking out three. Two of those hits came from 30-year-old Max Schuemann, who now has an OPS of 1.112 this spring.
-- Cody Bellinger went 0-for-2 and was replaced for a pinch-hitter in the sixth innings. Bellinger's spring average has now dipped just below .300 at .296. Meanwhile, Giancarlo Stanton went 0-for-2 with a strikeout as the Yankees designated hitter.
Next Up
The Yankees have another split squad matchup on Sunday evening, as they face the Baltimore Orioles at 6:05 P.M.
