KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MARCH 30: Matt Quatraro #33 of the Kansas City Royals brings out the starting lineup against the Minnesota Twins on Opening Day at Kauffman Stadium on March 30, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In nine days, the Royals will begin the regular season against the Braves in Atlanta. We have a fairly good idea which players will be in Matt Quatraro’s starting lineup, barring injury. Familiar names like Salvador Perez, Bobby Witt Jr., and Vinnie Pasquantino will lead an offense that looks to improve on last year’s performance. But how exactly will they lineup?
Who should lead off for this team? Isaac Collins has battled injuries, Jonathan India is coming off a down year, and some feel Bobby Witt Jr.’s bat is too valuable to hit in the top spot. How would assemble the middle of this lineup? How do you fill out the bottom?
Edward Cabrera will start for the Cubs. Other Cubs pitchers scheduled today: Ben Brown, Gavin Hollowell and Corbin Martin.
Merrill Kelly will start for the Diamondbacks. Other D-backs pitchers scheduled today: Joe Ross, Taylor Clarke, Juan Morillo, Paul Sewald and Jonathan Loaisiga.
There will be a TV broadcast today via the D-backs channel AZ Video. No radio today.
Please visit our SB Nation Diamondbacks site AZ Snakepit. If you do go there to interact with D-backs fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
As we have done in the past, we’ll have a first pitch thread at five minutes to game time and one overflow thread, 90 minutes after game time. For today, that will be 3:05 p.m. CT and 4:40 p.m. CT.
These threads will not post individually onto the front page; instead, you can find links to them in the box marked ”Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page. There will also be a StoryStream on the front page with all the game thread links, as well as the recap after the game is over. The pitcher photos and regular-season stats will return on Opening Day.
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 14: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics handles the ball during the game against the Washington Wizards on March 14, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Will Boston be ready to compete?
This may sound like a dumb question, but there’s some merit to it. Will Boston be ready to compete against a Golden State team missing some of its biggest names?
Stephen Curry and Celtics champion Al Horford were both out in Golden State’s win against the Wizards on Monday.
Golden State started De’Anthony Melton, Brandin Podziemski, Will Richard, Draymond Green and Gui Santos. No disrespect to that group — they’re all solid role players, but they don’t have the talent to beat Boston if the Celtics take the game seriously.
In recent years, there have been games where opponents were missing two or three starters, yet the Celtics still struggled more than expected. At the end of the day, rotation players are still very good, and they’re competing for more playing time and potentially their next contract.
It’s imperative that Boston doesn’t look at the Warriors’ lineup and assume it will be a walk in the park. If they do, they could find themselves in trouble late in the game.
Will Jayson Tatum continue to play more than 30 minutes?
Since returning to the lineup, Jayson Tatum played exactly 27 minutes in each of his first three games against Dallas, Cleveland and San Antonio.
Against Washington, he checked out at the 27-minute mark, but head coach Joe Mazzulla reinserted Tatum and the starters as the Wizards made a run. That marked the first time this season Tatum surpassed 30 minutes.
On Monday, Tatum played 32 minutes in a win against Phoenix in a game that was close late. The question now is whether he will log 30-plus minutes for a third straight game.
The opponent could factor into that decision. If Boston builds a comfortable lead, it may make sense to limit his playing time. However, with playoff seeding still at stake, a close game could push the coaching staff to extend him and evaluate how his body responds.
It wouldn’t be surprising if Tatum is held under 30 minutes, but the team appears to be doing a deliberate job gradually ramping him up to ensure he’s in game shape for the playoffs.
Can Boston continue to protect home court?
After completing their road trip, this game marks Boston’s third straight home game before traveling to Memphis on Friday. The Celtics will then return to TD Garden for three more games against stiffer competition in Minnesota, Oklahoma City, and Atlanta.
Home-court advantage matters. If Boston hopes to catch Detroit in the standings, it must continue to win at home. The Celtics are currently 23-10 at TD Garden and have challenging matchups ahead against Oklahoma City and Minnesota.
While those games won’t be easy, playing at home provides an edge. The Warriors, however, present a potential trap game if Boston looks past them — and Memphis — with two Western Conference contenders looming.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27, 2026: Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch during the first inning of a spring training game against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Dodgers’ penultimate spring game in Arizona is their final night game of this portion of their exhibition schedule, hosting the San Diego Padres Friday night at Camelback Ranch.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto makes his final spring start this season, and his first since returning from the World Baseball Classic. This will be the final tuneup for the right-hander before he starts his second consecutive opening day for the Dodgers, on March 26 at Dodger Stadium.
The Pittsburgh Penguins captain will return to the lineup on Wednesday night against Carolina after missing nearly a month with a lower-body injury sustained while competing for Canada at the Milan Cortina Olympics.
“Excited to get back in it,” Crosby told reporters after the team's morning skate.
Crosby hasn't played since his right leg buckled during a collision with Czechia's Radko Gudas during Canada's quarterfinal win at the Olympics. The Penguins placed the 38-year-old on injured reserve after the Olympic break ended.
Pittsburgh, one of the league's biggest surprises this season, went 5-3-3 during Crosby's 11-game absence and is in second place in the Metropolitan Division with less than a month to go. The Penguins are eyeing a return to the playoffs for the first time since 2022.
“It’s never easy watching, but I think you gain even more appreciation when you’re up top, and you just see on a nightly basis, the way we compete, the way we work," Crosby said.
Crosby has 27 goals and 32 assists in 56 games this season, putting him on pace to extend his NHL record for most consecutive years averaging at least a point a game.
His return comes four weeks to the day since he was injured. He had been skating with the team recently and his comeback comes during a busy stretch in which Pittsburgh faces a series of quality opponents, including the division-leading Hurricanes.
Penguins coach Dan Muse credited Crosby's leadership even when he's out of the lineup as one of the reasons Pittsburgh has been able to hang in there.
Crosby's return comes a game after teammate Evgeni Malkin scored two goals in a romp over Colorado after serving a five-game suspension for slashing Buffalo's Rasmus Dahlin.
“To see him come in like that after missing five games was huge,” Crosby said of Malkin. "He set the bar high.”
PHOENIX — For several minutes on Monday, Miguel Rojas said his world “rumbled.”
For several minutes that afternoon, the baseball world thought he had tested positive for steroids.
In reality, of course. Rojas hadn’t.
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas against Team Mexico during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
But that day, a reporter from The Athletic incorrectly posted on social media that the Dodgers infielder had been suspended 80 games because of a banned substance — before quickly deleting the post and explaining his mistake.
Turned out, it was Johan Rojas of the Philadelphia Phillies who had been popped for PEDs, receiving an 80-game ban for testing positive for Boldenone.
“I’ve deleted a post incorrectly identifying who was suspended today,” the reporter later clarified. “It was Johan Rojas of the Philadelphia Phillies who was suspended.”
Two days later, Miguel Rojas was still voicing frustration over the situation, telling reporters in the Dodgers’ Camelback Ranch clubhouse that he had yet to receive an apology over the incorrect report.
“I’m not frustrated because of the report,” he said. “We’re all humans and we make mistakes.”
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas against the San Diego Padres during a spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
However, he quickly added, “I was expecting a little bit more of an apology. Not just to me, but the organization. Because it wasn’t just my name. It was pretty clear that he said, ‘Miguel Rojas from the Los Angeles Dodgers.’
“That’s the only thing that I’m kind of bothered by.”
An apology eventually came later on Wednesday, with the reporter, Evan Drellich, tweeting: “To Miguel Rojas and the Dodgers, I sincerely and publicly apologize. I’ve reached out to Miguel, the Dodgers and Miguel’s agent to say the same. Once again, I’m sorry.”
But by then, viral videos were already circulating of Rojas first discussing the situation in an interview with Chris Rose on Tuesday night, when he described the lack of an apology as “bulls–t.”
“For six minutes, (it) kind of rumbled my whole world, and got so many people around me and around us, the team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, worried because of one guy making a mistake,” he said then. “I’m totally OK with making mistakes. But at the end of the day, I was expecting an apology.”
However, Rojas also said he wanted to move on from the story, trying not “to make it a big deal” or “make it about myself.”
“I just feel like whenever the tweet was deleted and the clarification was trying to be made, I think we all deserve a little bit of an apology there,” he said. “Because it wasn’t just my name. It was the organization that I represent too. And that’s really important to me.”
Five years on and little progress made, says judge
Litigants have until October to choose 28 lead claimants
The judge overseeing the pretrial phase of the two landmark litigation cases about brain injuries in rugby has issued another rebuke to the legal teams on both sides over their lack of progress.
Senior Master Jeremy Cook started the latest round of case management hearings by reminding both the defendants and the claimants that “it won’t have escaped anybody’s notice that some of these claims are now over five years old, and we haven’t made much progress”. Since the cases involve claims of degenerative brain diseases, Cook said, time is at a premium.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 17: Eugenio Suárez #7 of Team Venezuela reacts after hitting an RBI double against Team United States during the ninth inning at loanDepot park on March 17, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Diamondbacks News
Eduardo Rodriguez Leads Venezuela over Team USA Eduardo Rodriguez turned in just the sort of performance Arizona was hoping to see out of him regularly when they signed him after the 2023 season.
Evaluating Rodriguez’s Night In anything other than a championship game like last night, Rodriguez probably goes another inning or two at least. The veteran lefty put together a commanding performance in one of the biggest games of his life.
NL West Outlook: Second Place or Better Likely Necessary for October Baseball The NL West is already stacked against the Diamondbacks, what with the Dodgers being in the same division. But preseason projections make it look like Arizona will need to finish no worse than a strong second in order to punch their ticket to the playoffs in 2026.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Gerrit Cole returned to a mound to pitch in a game after a 377-day absence and threw a scoreless first inning Wednesday for the New York Yankees in an exhibition game against the Boston Red Sox.
Cole threw 10 pitches, seven for strikes, including six four-seam fastballs that averaged 97.1 mph, ranging from 98.7 mph 96.1 mph. He threw two sliders and a pair of knuckle-curves.
His first pitch, a 96.6 mph fastball to Braiden Ward, was bunted to the right side for a single as Cole slid toward the base trying to field it. Ward stole second, held as Kristian Campbell flied out and was caught stealing third by catcher Austin Wells.
Jason Delay lined a 1-2 fastball into left for a single, and Nathan Hickey grounded out on a first-pitch knuckle-curve.
Pitching with a slight beard — the Yankees relaxed their facial hair policy last year — Cole showed his altered windup, in which he puts his hands over his head.
A 35-year-old right-hander, Cole had Tommy John surgery on March 11 last year with Los Angeles Dodgers team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
Cole is signed to a $324 million, nine-year contract through 2028. He has a 153-80 career record and 3.18 ERA over 317 starts with Pittsburgh (2013-17), Houston (2018-19) and the Yankees (starting in 2020).
LAKELAND, FL - MARCH 16: The scoreboard displays a Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge sponsored by T-Mobile during the spring training game between the Detroit Tigers and the Philadelphia Phillies at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on March 16, 2026 in Lakeland, Florida. The Tigers defeated the Phillies 13-6. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
While it feels like the baseball gods have laid low every Detroit Tigers pitcher under the age of 22, that’s not strictly true. One of the best stories at the A-ball levels last summer was the emergence of right-hander Kelvis Salcedo. While there is certainly relief risk present in his frame and delivery, Salcedo arguably boasts the nastiest set of pitches in the whole farm system already, so we’ll kick off our 45 FV tier with a pitcher who will have a lot of eyes on him in 2026 as he looks to build on a breakout campaign.
The Tigers signed 20-year-old Kelvis Salcedo back in January 2023, as he was turning 17. He hails from Santa Barbara del Zulia, Venezuela in the northwestern corner of the country. Salcedo wasn’t a big bonus prospect in a class where catcher Enrique Jimenez and outfielder Anibal Salas were the big names at the time, but he’s already outpaced them in terms of future major league projections.
The young right-hander stands 6’0” but while his official weight is 180 pounds, he’s clearly bulked up since that weigh-in and has filled out in his chest and legs significantly. He looks like he’s probably touching 215 pounds or more. That additional muscle now powers a fastball that can clip 99 mph at max effort. It’s a fairly high effort delivery, but as he continues to develop things may come more easily for him. There really isn’t any physical projection left, and the program for him is more about building more functional strength rather than filling out any further.
Salcedo will sometimes utilize a rock step with the bases empty, but either way it’s a simple motion and he’s basically pitching out of the stretch most of the time already. Like most with a higher arm slot, he has to pull his head hard to the first base side to create space for his arm path to get to that high three-quarters position, and as a result he will spin off to the first base side at times. Still, while he’ll occasionally sail a fastball or have his cutter and slider back up on him somewhat, he’s already an effective strike thrower who pounded the zone very well for his age and didn’t walk too many batters. He hides the ball well and that delivery makes it hard to pick up his release point until a hitter has seen him a few times.
A delivery with a good deal of visible upper body effort to throw hard is something scouts tend to key on as a poor sign for a future starting pitching role, and Salcedo isn’t the long-limbed, lanky 6’3”-6’5” with big extension that teams favor these days in a starting role. As a result, Salcedo gets high relief risk marks. Of course, you can tell that to Max Scherzer and many other high effort starters around the league. It’s just up to the player to put the work in to get in the best shape possible by the time they reach the major leagues. Salcedo may well be able to keep repeating his delivery with better efficiency as he builds up reps into his early 20’s. So, right now it’s just a note of caution as to his future role, and we’ll see how well he holds up to full seasons of pro ball the next two years.
The right-hander worked with fourseam fastball, cutter, and splitter last season, though he will mix in a slider and sinker as well, per Statcast. He can really spin the baseball to go with the raw velocity, and has a pretty intriguing fourseam fastball shape. In Lakeland last summer, Salcedo’s average fastball was already 95.4 mph and he topped out at 98.5 mph. The deception in his delivery helps balance out his below average extension, but it’s still not a huge, whiff generating fourseamer. The movement is more deceptive than explosive. It looks like a fourseamer in terms of spin alignment on the ball, but instead it has some late cut and drop that routinely had hitters breaking bats and beating it into the ground last summer. Hitters don’t swing and miss at it much, but they really struggled to barrel it up.
Salcedo backs the heater with a nasty 88-89 mph cutter that averaged 2711 rpms of spin last year. It plays off the fastball well with sharp late break to his gloveside and average depth. He drew a whopping 50 percent whiff rate on the cutter last year. His slider moves like the cutter but with a little more depth in the mid-80’s, and Salcedo tended to turn to it once he already had a hitter down and was trying to get them to chase down. It too produced a huge whiff rate, but it’s inconclusive whether these are even two distinct pitches as they blur together often. He might do better adding a spike curveball from that arm slot for a change of pace and something with more downward action.
His best pitch is a pretty spectacular changeup that looks like a splitter although the grip hasn’t been confirmed. It’s a mid-80’s offspeed pitch and Salcedo really kills the spin on it to go with the velocity separation, getting serious late drop and armside run on it. This is already a consistent plus pitch and drew a 60 percent whiff rate in Lakeland. When he’s really commanding it well it’s better than plus and you won’t see a nastier changeup anywhere in the minor leagues.
Salcedo had a really good Dominican Summer League season in 2024, and arrived stateside last year to pitch in the Complex League. He dominated there, and then moved over to the Single-A side to pitch for the Lakeland Flying Tigers in August and early September. He was already boasting an ERA under 2.00 in Complex League action, with really good strikeout to walk ratios, but things clicked into another gear in full season ball as he finished the year with a flourish. Salcedo only spent about a third of his season there, but he put up a 1.54 ERA with a downright crazy 39 percent strikeout rate against a walk rate of just 7.3 percent. He threw strikes, he didn’t give up hard contact, and the cutter and changeup generated tons of whiffs. If he was a young college draft pick this would be outstanding, but when you also consider that Salcedo only turned 20 in January of 2026, that’s particularly eye-popping.
Salcedo made 10 starts and had 18 appearances in 2025, throwing a combined 68 2/3 innings between Complex League ball and the Florida State League. He finished with a 1.83 ERA and a 2.88 FIP and a combined 33.5 percent K-rate. So, we have a very young pitcher here doing all the things we were hoping to see from recent top picks like Owen Hall, Paul Wilson, Zach Swanson, Ethan Schiefelbein, among others.
Like any young starter, Salcedo has to refine his game and prove he can hold up to a starter’s workload over the next few seasons. His frame and delivery raise some red flags for relief risk, but even as a reliever he’s got a good chance at a long career in high leverage work. On the other hand, the stuff is already overpowering from an A-ball standpoint and he had no real issues throwing a lot of strikes. As long as he’s handling the workload, the Tigers will rightfully continue to develop him as a starter. There’s a chance that Salcedo turns out to be a really good one. If they decide to convert him to relief at some point, Salcedo already has closer caliber stuff when he airs out the fastball. He could prove a really great weapon for the Tigers’ bullpen.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 06: Harry Ford #1 of Team Great Britain celebrates in the dugout with props after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning during a World Baseball Classic game against Team Mexico at Daikin Park on March 06, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It felt like it was trending this way for a little while, but Harry Ford was officially optioned to Triple-A this afternoon. Paul Toboni acquired Ford in a trade that sent Jose A. Ferrer this offseason. At first, I thought Ford would have a good chance of cracking the Opening Day roster. However, as camp progressed, it was clear the new regime wanted to give Keibert Ruiz another chance.
The Nationals have made the following roster moves:
Optioned to Triple-A Rochester: -C Harry Ford -1B/DH Abimelec Ortiz
Reassigned to Minor League camp: -C Riley Adams
— Nationals Communications (@NationalsComms) March 18, 2026
That is an understandable decision, especially considering the service time ramifications for Ford. However, I cannot say I am fired up about a Keibert Ruiz and Drew Millas catching tandem. The Nats had the worst catching situation in baseball last season, yet they still did not give Ford a spot on the Opening Day roster.
Yes, we will see plenty of Harry Ford this season, but I am still bummed out that he did not make the Opening Day roster. I really hope Ruiz’s contract doesn’t give him a longer leash than he deserves. While Ruiz showed promise in 2022 and 2023, the last two seasons have been disastrous for the Venezuelan catcher. As a bat first catcher, he has posted a .619 and .595 OPS the last two seasons.
Harry Ford should be given the benefit of the doubt in the Nats catching competition, not Keibert Ruiz https://t.co/kFAEVi6a3S
His contract which runs through the 2030 season and a solid spring have given Ruiz another shot behind the plate. However, his leash is going to be shorter this time. With Ford in the fold, he has real competition for the first time in DC. Hopefully, he can rise to the challenge, but I have my doubts. Ruiz has serious flaws on both sides of the ball which have persisted for years.
Ford is far from a perfect player himself, but he would provide new blood. He also represents a big investment from Paul Toboni. Ford had solid WBC and an up and down spring, but he showed why the Nats got him. He walked a lot this spring, which is a big part of his game. Ford also showed off some power for Great Britain at the WBC.
I do not think sending Ford down is an irrational decision by any means, it is just a bit of a bummer. Fans were excited to see him, and now they are going to have to wait a little longer. Ford already has a strong track record in AAA with a .283 average and .868 OPS at the level last year.
However, the new regime clearly thinks he needs more seasoning. I would not be surprised if a big reason for the demotion is to work on his defense. While Ford has steadily improved on that side of the ball, there is still more work to be done.
Another reason for this demotion could be service time related. If teams keep a player in the minors long enough, they can gain an extra year of team control. That deadline usually comes sometime in mid to late April, so it would not be a surprise to see Ford called up around then.
I cannot say I am excited about this decision, but it is understandable. Keibert Ruiz has looked better this spring, but he still has a lot to prove before he can regain faith from the fanbase. Hopefully we see Harry Ford sooner rather than later.
Shane Smith comes off a strong rookie campaign to head the rotation, eyeing a second All-Star nomination and looking to improve upon a strong 7-8 record, 3.81 ERA, and 1.20 WHIP. If Smith can keep his performance at a similar level and tack on a few more starts, he’ll take significant pressure off a bullpen that now needs more help than expected.
Last year’s Opening Day starter Sean Burke gets the No. 2 spot, which is a strong testament to Venable’s confidence in him. His six quality starts and ability to pitch deep into games make him a logical choice to back up Smith, helping build in a lighter workload for relievers.
Anthony Kay, slotting in third, is not at all shocking upon closer inspection. His lefty arm breaks up the two straight righty starters. Additionally, his reformed sinker ball and emergence as a strikeout pitcher from playing in Japan offer a dynamic and natural deviation from Smith and Burke’s styles. His 1.72 ERA, 130 punchouts in 24 games, and veteran presence almost serve as a palate cleanser before getting to the back half of the bullpen.
Davis Martin at fourth is a bit interesting, considering he was Venable’s second rotation arm in 2025, but with the first half set, it’s difficult to put him anywhere else. Martin’s pitching wasn’t mind-blowing last season, but he showed glimpses of brilliance. He lasted at least five innings in 23 of his 26 games, and he recorded two runs or fewer in 11 of his games. His range, from a durable innings eater to an effective strikeout-seeker, offers plenty of upside with a tolerable amount of risk. Sensible for a fourth pitcher.
Finally, the prodigal son, Erick Fedde, brings up the rear. Venable is justified in prioritizing young guys and newcomer Kay in the rotation over a veteran traded away in 2024. Zach Bove and Co. should be carefully dissecting Fedde’s command issues and dramatic decline from a 3.30 ERA in 2024 to a 5.49 ERA last year. Perhaps he missed pitching for Chicago so much, or maybe it’s because he didn’t have Ethan Katz whispering in his ear during mound visits. The southpaw is looking to squeeze a couple more years of baseball out of that arm, and the Sox are hoping they don’t have to go to the pen before the fourth inning when he starts.
All told, it’s a rotation built on balance more than flash — a clear blend of upside, durability, and just enough experience to stabilize things early. If the top half delivers as expected and the back end holds its own, this group should give Chicago a fighting chance to stay competitive while the rest of the roster finds its footing.
A new Lamar Odom documentary is promising to shed new light on all the ups and downs of Lamar Odom’s life.
“Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom” is slated to air on Netflix on March 31, and it’ll address his near-death experience in Las Vegas, his NBA career, his addiction and his relationship with Khloe Kardashian.
An 88-second teaser for the project, which dropped earlier this month, shows Odom talking about his first encounter with cocaine.
A new documentary is promising to shed light on all the ups and downs of Lamar Odom’s life. NBAE via Getty Images
“That first hit of cocaine was amazing,” he said, before adding, “but you unlock a vault that you can’t really control.”
Kardashian can also be heard in the preview recalling times where Odom would “escape rehab and go on a drug bender.”
Odom also gave his thoughts on the afterlife in the clip.
Odom’s attorney, Kevin Coburn, submitted a not guilty plea on the former NBA player’s behalf inside a Las Vegas court room on Tuesday.
Pro Tem Justice of the Peace Bruce Nelson listens during an arraignment for former NBA player Lamar Odom on a DUI charge in Las Vegas Justice Court at the Regional Justice Center on March 17, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Getty Images
At the proceedings, Coburn also requested a bench trial for his client, which was set for July 7.
Odom is facing three misdemeanors in the case — one count of DUI, one count of speeding 41 MPH over posted speed limit and one count of failure to properly maintain travel lane — after authorities alleged he drove over 100 MPH while under the influence on a Las Vegas highway on Jan. 17.
Attorney Kevin Coburn speaks during an arraignment for his client, former NBA player Lamar Odom, on a DUI charge in Las Vegas Justice Court at the Regional Justice Center on March 17, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Getty Images
An incident report stated Odom was pulled over for going well over the posted speed limit of 65 MPH and he smelled of marijuana during the ensuing traffic stop.
Lamar Odom was hit with multiple misdemeanors following his January arrest in Nevada. Getty Images
The former Laker was then arrested after he allegedly failed field sobriety tests.
Coburn, according the Las Vegas Review-Journal, declined to comment on the allegations against Odom on Tuesday, though the attorney did confirm his client had completed rehab in the wake of the arrest.
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The road trip started in Raleigh last Tuesday and will end with another game against the Canes. This will be the third of four matchups between the two teams this season. The Penguins won the first game back on Dec. 30 before the Hurricanes won the second game in a shootout last Tuesday.
The Penguins have won two in a row coming into this contest, while the Hurricanes lost 5-1 to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night. They'll be playing the second half of a back-to-back with travel, while the Penguins had Tuesday off.
Sebastian Aho is having another strong season for the Hurricanes, compiling 24 goals and 68 points in 67 games. Andrei Svechnikov, who scored in the shootout against the Penguins last Tuesday, is also having a good season, racking up 25 goals and 59 points.
Seth Jarvis was on the Team Canada Olympic roster and has been fantastic this year, leading the Hurricanes with 28 goals. He also has 53 points and is steady every time he's on the ice.
Jaccob Slavin is one of the best defenseman in the NHL and is elite at suppressing chances in his own zone. He'll see a healthy amount of time against the Penguins' top line, which will look a bit different for this game (and going forward).
Brandon Bussi started in goal for the Hurricanes on Tuesday, meaning Frederik Andersen will likely replace him on Wednesday.
As mentioned above, the Penguins' top line will look a bit different because Sidney Crosby is officially back. He skated on a line with Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust during the morning skate and will return after missing 11 games.
Here's a look at the projected lineup:
Forwards
Rakell-Crosby-Rust
Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin
Mantha-Kindel-Brazeau
Soderblom-Dewar-Acciari
Defensive pairs
Wotherspoon-Karlsson
Shea-Letang
Solovyov-Clifton
Stuart Skinner will start in goal after Arturs Silovs started on Monday.
Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'
TAMPA — It was only a Grapefruit League exhibition, and only 10 pitches in one inning.
But 53 weeks after undergoing Tommy John surgery, Gerrit Cole returned to the mound for his first game action on Wednesday afternoon at Steinbrenner Field, checking off another significant box in his comeback toward potentially rejoining the Yankees by May.
Cole looked as sharp as one can while only throwing 10 pitches — he was set to head down to the bullpen afterward to throw about 20 more — flashing some life on his fastball, which topped out at 98.7 mph, in the scoreless frame.
Gerrit Cole threw 10 pitches across one scoreless frame in his return to the mound pic.twitter.com/EaXsEShsnG
The 35-year-old threw six fastballs (averaging 97.1 mph), two sliders and two knuckle curveballs.
He allowed two singles — one on a bunt up the first base line on the first pitch he threw — but also got some fielding work in when he covered first base on a groundout to end the inning.
Cole still has more hurdles to clear over the next two months before he could return to a big league mound, building up his workload and stamina after not throwing a single inning last season.
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole throws a pitch against the Red Sox during the first inning of a spring training game on March 18, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
But the Yankees are eagerly awaiting his return, and Wednesday’s tease only re-emphasized that feeling, allowing them to dream on what their rotation could look like with him in it.
