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Game Preview #59 – Timberwolves at Trail Blazers

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - FEBRUARY 11: Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles the ball against Jrue Holiday #5 of the Portland Trail Blazers in the second quarter at Target Center on February 11, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Trail Blazers 133-109. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Date: February 24th, 2026
Time: 9:00 PM CST
Location: Moda Center
Television Coverage: Peacock
Radio Coverage: KFAN FM, Wolves App, iHeart Radio

The Timberwolves had a golden opportunity Sunday night. Denver lost. The Lakers lost. Houston stumbled. The Western Conference standings basically opened the door, rolled out a red carpet and said, “Hey Minnesota, would you like to be tied for the 3-seed?”

Instead, the Wolves got absolutely shellacked by the Philadelphia 76ers on their own floor. 135 points worth of shellacked, to be exact.

And yes, context matters. Rudy Gobert was suspended after the Marvin Bagley flagrant. Naz Reid was out with shoulder soreness. Julius Randle was apparently under the weather, though he gave it a go. When you remove Gobert and Naz from the equation, you’re not just losing size. You’re losing the defensive backbone and a key offensive release valve. That’s real. But even with that caveat, Sunday was ugly.

Because yes, Minnesota was undersized. Yes, they were missing their Defensive Player of the Year center. But the bulk of the damage didn’t come from post dominance or paint bullying.

It came from the three-point line. Philadelphia shot 57 percent from deep. Twenty-one made threes on 37 attempts. That’s not “Gobert is suspended” stuff. That’s perimeter breakdown stuff. That’s effort and communication stuff. That’s point-of-attack defense stuff.

Meanwhile, Minnesota went just 10-for-33 from beyond the arc. Do the math. That’s a 33-point differential from three alone. In a 27-point loss. That’s not bad luck. That’s a defensive collapse.

The Familiar Wolves Problem

This has been the maddening paradox of the 2025-26 Wolves. Even when Gobert is available, the defense has been suspect at times. But when he’s out, the floor drops out completely.

Against Philly, the Wolves looked like a team that assumed the Sixers would roll over. Philadelphia was on the second night of a back-to-back. If anything, Minnesota should have had the fresher legs and the hungrier mindset. Instead, it looked like only one team bothered to show up.

Tyrese Maxey and company got comfortable early. Minnesota’s closeouts were late. Rotations were sluggish. Shooters were wide open. The Sixers weren’t just making tough shots, they were getting clean looks in rhythm. When the Wolves fall into that trap, when they start trading baskets instead of defending, things spiral. They don’t have the offensive consistency to win 135-130 track meets every night. That’s not who they are, and that’s not how they’re built.

This loss stung even more because of the standings math. Denver dropped to Golden State. The Lakers fell to Boston. Houston stumbled against New York on Saturday. If Minnesota handles its business, they’re neck-and-neck with the Nuggets for the 3-seed.

Instead? They’re staring at the 6-seed again. Play-in territory hovering in the background like an unwelcome sequel nobody asked for.

The Good News (Yes, There Is Some)

The West is still jam-packed. The margin is razor thin. One good road trip flips everything. And here’s what’s ahead: Portland, then the Clippers in L.A., then a final showdown with Denver on March 1.

If the Wolves string together three wins on this trip, they’re right back in the mix and will have likely leapfrogged Denver. The three seed is sitting there. Waiting.

But this team doesn’t get credit for theoretical standings jumps. They get credit for showing up. So now we pivot to Portland…

Keys to the Game

1. Don’t Walk In Like It’s Wrapped Up

Minnesota just beat Portland before the All-Star break. And that’s the danger. Because if you rewind a bit further to opening night, it took fourth-quarter heroics from Anthony Edwards to avoid losing to this same Blazers team.

They’re young. They’re scrappy. They don’t know they’re supposed to lose. If Minnesota strolls in assuming this is a get-right game, they’ll find themselves in another fourth-quarter coin flip on the road. That’s not the recipe.

Show up. Focused. Determined. Play like a team that understands the stakes.

2. Protect the Perimeter — For Real This Time

Sunday was a clinic in what not to do defensively. Maxey and the Sixers got comfortable because the Wolves failed at the point of attack. No resistance. Lazy closeouts. Slow rotations. That can’t happen again.

When Jaden McDaniels, Anthony Edwards, and Jaylen Clark are locked in, they can be suffocating on the perimeter. We’ve seen it. We saw it against OKC earlier this season. We’ve seen them swarm and choke teams out. They have to bring that version. Keep Portland’s guards from living in the paint. Contest shooters with purpose. Rotate like it matters.

Because it does.

3. Reclaim the Paint

Gobert is back. Randle should hopefully be recovered from his illness. Naz Reid remains questionable, but even if he’s limited, Minnesota has a size advantage. The Wolves looked lost without their interior presence against Philly. That shouldn’t happen again.

Run the floor. Crash the glass. Establish physicality early. Feed Gobert on lobs. Let Randle bully his way into high-percentage looks. Clean up misses with putbacks. Portland should not win the rebounding battle. Period.

4. Reestablish Defensive Identity

This is bigger than Portland. Bigger than one night.

If Minnesota wants to be taken seriously in April and May, giving up 120-130 points can’t be the norm. Two years ago, this team routinely held opponents under 100. That edge, that pride, has flickered this season. When they get bored, when they assume their offense will carry them, they bleed points.

On the road, you cannot let a young team build momentum. You can’t turn it into a fourth-quarter scramble. Assert control. Make Portland earn every bucket.

Time to Get Real.

After the Dallas win, Edwards said he wanted to go 25-0 down the stretch. That every game matters now.

That sounded great.

Sunday didn’t back it up.

There are 24 games left. The 3-seed is within reach. It doesn’t take a miracle run, just professionalism and consistency. The Wolves don’t need to be perfect. They just need to stop stepping on rakes.

Portland is overmatched on paper. But so was Memphis. So was New Orleans. We’ve seen how that story goes when Minnesota assumes it’s entitled to the result.

This road trip could define the season. Three wins and they’re talking about home-court advantage and avoiding OKC’s side of the bracket. Another slip-up and they’re flirting with the play-in.

Anthony Edwards can say all the right things, but talk is cheap and it’s time to get real. The only thing standing in this team’s way is effort, focus, and whether they decide this matters. We’ll find out Tuesday night in Portland whether 24-0 is a mission statement… or just another sound bite.

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Bediako appeals NCAA eligibility decision to Alabama Supreme Court as season winds down

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Basketball center Charles Bediako is asking the Alabama Supreme Court to let him play the rest of the season for the Crimson Tide.

The recent NBA G-League player on Monday filed an appeal of Tuscaloosa Circuit Court Judge Daniel Pruet’s recent decision that ended Bediako's temporary playing status with the University of Alabama. While Bediako appeals the decision to the state Supreme Court, his lawyers asked Pruet to grant interim relief and allow him to return to play.

Bediako spent two seasons (2021-23) at Alabama, averaging 6.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks, and helped the Crimson Tide make the NCAA Tournament both years. He wasn’t selected in the 2023 NBA draft, but he played for the Motor City Cruise in the G League as recently as mid-January.

He returned to Alabama this season and filed a lawsuit against the NCAA after it denied Alabama’s request to allow him to return to collegiate competition. His lawyers argued that Bediako remains within his five-year college eligibility window. NCAA President Charlie Baker and SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey have opposed Bediako’s reinstatement.

A judge, who later recused himself from the case, issued a temporary restraining order that allowed Bediako to play while the case moved forward. But Pruet on Feb. 9 ruled against Bediako, writing that the player “failed to demonstrate that he is entitled to the injunctive relief that he seeks.”

On Monday, Bediako’s lawyers asked the judge to issue an interim order while the appeal is pending requiring the NCAA to reinstate Bediako as a student-athlete immediately eligible to compete in NCAA competition. They noted that the end of the season and collegiate tournaments are rapidly approaching, and it is unlikely that the Supreme Court will rule on the appeal before the season concludes.

“Without interim injunctive relief, the whole purpose for Plaintiff’s appeal — the ability to play basketball for the University of Alabama for the remainder of play in 2026 — will be null,” lawyer David W. Holt wrote.

Alabama’s regular season ends on March 7. The SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament takes place in mid-March, and the NCAA Tournament will be held from March 17 through April 6.

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JJ Redick felt the Lakers were ‘awful’ offensively against Celtics

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 22: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes for the basket against Sam Hauser #30 of the Boston Celtics during the second half of their game at Crypto.com Arena on February 22, 2026 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. (Photo by Luiza Moraes/Getty Images) | Getty Images

When you’re run off the floor by your rival, there aren’t many positives that can be taken away. Particularly with the way things played out in the fourth quarter, there was definitely a very sour taste in the mouths of fans walking away from that contest.

However, when looking at the box score, it wasn’t a total disaster for the Lakers. In fact, all things considered, it was one of the better defensive showings against a top team this year, even if every Payton Pritchard three felt like a dagger to the soul.

The problem for the Lakers came on the other end of the floor where they had arguably their worst offensive showing of the season.

“I think going against this team and their offense,” Redick said, “[when I] made the subs at 3:22 in the fourth quarter, they’ve got 105 points and they’re 12-for-32 from three and they’re shooting 47%. We did a good job limiting their fast break points [and] did a good job limiting their points in the paint under 50. So, we did enough defensively. We were just awful offensively tonight.“

Technically, the Lakers have had one game with fewer points this year, that coming in a mid-December loss to the Clippers. However, in that contest, Austin Reaves didn’t play and Luka Dončić left midway through the contest and didn’t return.

On Sunday, all three were healthy and the team laid a huge egg. While it’s fair to call the Big 3 a work in progress, there was no excuse for that performance against the Celtics.

For Reaves, while part of it came down to missing open looks, the process also wasn’t good, specifically in the first half, either.

“We missed some good looks,” Reaves said. “I think we could have done a better job in the first half playing with the pass [and] trying to create better looks in that first half. I thought [in] the second half, we did a good job of that. We missed some good looks and they capitalized on that.

“You’re going to have games where you don’t shoot it well or offensively play well. You got to find other ways to keep yourself in the game.”

The Lakers aren’t going to have the necessary time to figure things out. All of this is going to be rushed. But there is still a level of expectations that the team, and the Big 3 in particular, need to meet.

Sunday needs to be an aberration, though, based on how the season has played out, that might not end up being the case.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

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What Would Make the St. Louis Cardinals 2026 Season a Success for You?

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 22: Jordan Walker #18 of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrates with teammates in the dug out after scoring against the Houston Astros during the third inning of a spring training game at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on February 22, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images

I cannot remember going into a St. Louis Cardinals season with so many different expectations than what the team faces in 2026. I’ll ask a question that does not just have one good answer and that is what would make the St. Louis Cardinals upcoming season a success to your eyes?

A majority of the baseball metrics sites project the St. Louis Cardinals having a losing record in 2026 with the best-case scenario being around a .500 team. The season I hope to see is not connected to the win-loss record, though. One of my biggest gripes with the St. Louis Cardinals for the past 3 seasons was the lack of direction and clarity. Ownership and management were giving unclear signals from 2023 through the 2025 season about whether they planned to add to the current team or if some kind of teardown was required. For 2026, we now have that answer.

I will look back at the 2026 season as a success for the St. Louis Cardinals if there is clarity about which players (if any) are worth building around for the next few seasons. I want to see Masyn Winn add offense to his prolific defense and have a relatively injury-free year. Can JJ Wetherholt make the major league roster and establish himself as the St. Louis Cardinals everyday 2nd baseman? Will Alec Burleson follow up his Silver Slugger year with another great offense campaign and is there a place for him on the team moving forward? What about Ivan Herrera as a catcher and/or DH? Don’t even get me started on the Nolan Gorman and Jordan Walker development question. I also want to see where Matthew Liberatore and Michael McGreevy settle into the rotation. Is Liberatore capable of being a #1 starter? I have hopes and questions.

I also want to see what Chaim Bloom will do with the roster now that the first big teardown is complete. Will he make smart trades at the deadline this summer? What free agents will he be able to lure into the organization once the Cardinals want to add and compete again? I’ll admit that this past offseason was just a honeymoon period. Now, the roster building begins and we’ll start to learn more about what type of builder Chaim Bloom is. I also want to see another year of Oli Marmol managing to decide if he’s the type of leader this team needs to take it back to contention. While I think I’ve seen enough to know how I feel about Oli, 2026 will be another year to observe and measure.

Yes, I would love it if the St. Louis Cardinals shocked the baseball world and contended in 2026, but I think the season can still be a success if they don’t. If I more clearly understand the core group of players that will be a part of this team for the next 3 years or so, I’ll consider the 2026 season a success. What is your measuring stick for a successful Cardinals season? I expect the answers will vary wildly and it will be fun to look back after the season is over to compare notes on how this plays out.

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Mikko Rantanen injury update: Stars place top scorer on injured list

Another NHL player will miss some regular season time because of an injury that he suffered at the Olympics.

The Dallas Stars placed forward Mikko Rantanen on the injured list with a lower body injury, retroactive to Feb. 20. That means the earliest he could return is Feb. 27 and he will miss at least one game and possibly more.

Rantanen, the eighth-leading scorer in the NHL, sat out the bronze medal game at the Olympics, in which Finland beat Slovakia, 6-1, for its fifth medal in Winter Games involving NHL players. He was on the ice after the game for the medal ceremony and team photo.

Mikko Rantanen injury update

Mikko Rantanen was placed on the injured list by the Dallas Stars because of a lower-body injury he suffered at the Olympics with Team Finland.

Mikko Rantanen stats

Mikko Rantanen leads the Stars and is eighth in the NHL with 69 points in 54 games.

Other Olympians injury updates

Five NHL players were hurt in Milan, the most serious being Switzerland's Kevin Fiala (broken leg), who will miss the rest of the regular season for the Los Angeles Kings.

Pittsburgh Penguins/Team Canada captain Sidney Crosby was hurt in the quarterfinals and missed the semifinals and gold-medal game. Coach Dan Muse said Monday that Crosby was traveling and they'd have to wait until doctors could see him before getting a clearer picture on whether he'll miss time.

Winnipeg Jets/Canada defenseman Josh Morrissey didn't play after being hurt in the opening game. Coach Scott Arniel said Morrissey would miss the team's Feb. 25 game and "we'll see where we go from there."

Buffalo Sabres/USA forward Tage Thompson missed the third period after blocking a shot in the semifinals but played in the gold medal game.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mikko Rantanen injury update: Stars forward goes on injured list

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Padres conquer Brewers, ABS challenge system

First baseman Romeo Sanabria | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The San Diego Padres had a late start to their practice routine on Monday, before they played the Milwaukee Brewers at Peoria Sports Complex. The players had their MLBPA union meeting as well as their normal team meetings and didn’t appear on the practice fields until 10:30 a.m. or later.

That did not seem to slow down the minor league players that rallied late in the game to score six runs in the eighth inning for a come-from-behind 7-5 victory. Nor did it affect catchers Freddy Fermin and Ethan Salas, who combined for four challenges that were upheld by the ABS system, all overturning umpire calls.

Jose Miranda came in as a sub for Miguel Andujar, after he hit his first home run of the spring in the bottom of the fourth inning and got the Padres on the board, contributing to the eighth inning rally and challenging a called strike that was changed to a ball and earned a walk. He scored on Romeo Sanabria’s bases loaded double that cleared the bases.

Overall, the Padres challenged five times, winning all of them. The Brewers challenged twice and lost both.

The system appeared to work flawlessly to those of us in the stands, with the calls coming very quickly after the appeal and the umpire’s request for a review. The game was not slowed by the system even though it did end up being a three-hour and one-minute contest.

For the experts who have declared the Padres farm system dead, they should have watched as outfielder Pablo Reyes started off with a walk and was followed by a Luis Campusano single, a Miranda walk, the Sanabria double and a Salas walk. All of which were topped off by outfielder Samad Taylor’s second hit of the day. There was a Brewers pitcher balk called in there as well.

Ramon Laureano and Fernando Tatis Jr. were the only regulars to start this game, with neither getting a hit. The damage was done by Andujar’s home run, and the rally in the eighth inning.

Padres pitching did not have its best day. JP Sears started and couldn’t get out of the first inning, allowing four runs on four hits as well as a hit-by-pitch. He got two outs and was followed by Carlton Loewen who struck out the next hitter. David Morgan, Mason Miller, Wandy Peralta and Jeremiah Estrada did not allow a run over the next four innings but there were walks and/or hit batters by everyone but Morgan.

After going through nine pitchers to get through eight innings, Padres manager Craig Stammen gave the ball to Garrett Hawkins to close out the ninth. He got two quick outs before allowing a hit and a walk but then got the final out on a strikeout. The 6-foot-5-inch reliever that was added to the roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft before the winter meetings, got his first save of the spring. Reliever Manuel Castro, who pitched the top of the eighth, got the win.

All-in-all, a pretty typical Spring Training game but enjoyable for Padres fans, although the umpire certainly did not enjoy his afternoon.

As a side note, Tatis Jr. came out into the autograph signing area for a prolonged period during practice today. He did have a member of security with him but fulfilled the desires of multiple fans by signing for many minutes before continuing with his game prep for today.

The Padres travel to Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz. on Tuesday for a game against the Chicago Cubs. Most of the regulars do not travel during away games in the spring but tomorrow could be an exception as all but Laureano and Tatis Jr. got today off for the home game.

With many of the WBC attending players set to leave this coming weekend, more playing time in Arizona could lead to an unusual lineup for tomorrow’s game.

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Jaylen Brown knows why he is being overlooked in MVP conversations

The seemingly bad conditions were perfect for Jaylen Brown.

The Celtics were left for dead after Jayson Tatum suffered a torn Achilles last postseason. Then they lost Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday and Al Horford from the 2024 championship team. They were expected to have a gap year. No one thought they’d be competitive.

But what was overlooked in all of this is Brown’s superpower: The more he’s discounted, the more he thrives. 

Brown is having a career-best season as his superstar teammate, Jayson Tatum, recovers from an injury. NBAE via Getty Images

Brown has led a team that was supposed to tank to second place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 37-19. The Celtics are one of the NBA’s biggest surprises of the season. And Brown is one of the most notable success stories. 

Only one person saw this coming. 

“I always knew I was one of the best players in the world,” Brown told the California Post in an exclusive interview after the Celtics beat the Lakers on Sunday, 111-89. “I always felt like that. And on top of that, the opportunity presented itself because we got guys that got traded and injured. So, I’m just grateful to be able to have great teammates that allow me to lead them.”

Brown loves proving people wrong. It’s how he has made a name for himself in the league.

When Celtics fans booed him after the franchise selected him with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 draft, he transformed himself into a star. When pundits questioned whether he deserved the then-richest contract in NBA history in July 2023 (a supermax worth up to $304 million over five years), he responded by carrying Boston to a championship in 2024 and winning Finals MVP. 

And when everyone crossed off the Celtics, he circled them, transforming his game to a new level. 

This season, he’s averaging career-highs in points (29.2), rebounds (7) and assists (4.9). Heading into the All-Star break, he led the Celtics to have the same seeding (second) and net rating (third) that they had last year at that time. 

Jaylen Brown goes in for a slam against the Lakers. NBAE via Getty Images

When asked directly if he should win the MVP Award this season, Brown didn’t hesitate. 

“Me?” he questioned. “I’m the best two-way player in the world.”

Brown is currently sixth on the NBA’s MVP ladder, behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Cade Cunningham and Victor Wembanyama. 

It has left some people perplexed, including LeBron James, who advocated for Brown to be included in the MVP conversation on Sunday. It was a notable endorsement considering James also pointed out in the same media availability that he remembers cameras catching Brown saying his son, Bronny, wasn’t a pro at summer league in 2024. 

“This whole MVP thing, I don’t understand why his name is not getting talked about some as well,” James said. “Like, nobody gave them a shot to start the season. And he’s averaging what, 30? Just under 30? It’s a popularity contest sometimes, I tell you.”

As for Brown, when asked if he’s surprised he’s not getting more recognition, he didn’t hesitate. 

“No. I don’t know what the criteria is,” Brown said. “But I don’t always follow the rules, so that comes with consequences. So, I get it. But I’m just going to keep doing what I do. And we’ll see what happens.”

LeBron James has advocated for Brown to be in the MVP conversation this season. Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

This isn’t the first time Brown has felt as though he were snubbed. 

Brown believes he was excluded from the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris because he was critical of Nike, a key sponsor of Team USA. Most notably, after Nike co-founder Phil Knight said Kyrie Irving “stepped over the line” by sharing a link to an antisemitic film in 2022, Brown posted on X, “Since when did Nike care about ethics?” 

Recently, Brown has made headlines for standing up against the city of Beverly Hills after police shut down his event over All-Star weekend. The city later issued an apology to Brown, saying police had cited inaccurate information. Brown responded by thanking the city in a post on X, but added that it “embarrassed me and my brand” and asked “what about resources / partners lost?”  

Despite all of the drama, Brown hasn’t lost focus on what he’s doing on the court.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla isn’t surprised by Brown’s growth. In fact, he believes regardless of Tatum’s injury and the team’s offseason moves, the 29-year-old would’ve made leaps this season. 

“I would expect to see something like this, just the evolution of Jaylen, regardless of the environment around him,” Mazzulla said. ” I think he’s the type of guy who relishes in getting one percent better in whatever that looks like. And he just cares about winning.”

With Tatum out, Brown has stepped up. Getty Images

Payton Pritchard echoed that, pointing out that what Brown has been doing in the shadows has come into the light this season.

“He’s always been a great leader,” Pritchard said. “But it’s showing more this year because we’ve had such a veteran team. Now it’s a young group of guys thinking it’s going to be a gap year and stuff like that. And he’s leading us and doing a hell of a job.”

While everyone assumed the Celtics would let go of the rope, Brown held tight and pulled with all his might. It’s what he has done his entire career when the cards seemed stacked against him. 

Not good enough? Overrated? Second fiddle to Tatum?

He has systematically erased those narratives, as well as the most recent one about the Celtics not being contenders.

“I know everybody was counting us out,” Brown said. “But I knew it would make for a perfect story if we were able to figure it out. So, my mentality was being aggressive, play with a chip on my shoulder. But also lead my group through adversity, through the tough times to make sure we could come together at the right moments.”

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Giants’ Bryce Eldridge faces big expectations, takes message from veterans to heart: be yourself

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Early on at spring training, Giants veterans Willy Adames and Matt Chapman pulled some of the young position players in camp aside with a simple message: just be yourself.

It hit right at home for Bryce Eldridge. There are tall expectations on the San Francisco first baseman, among the tallest position players in the major leagues at 6-foot-7 — “and some change,” Eldridge shared of what he was told during his official measurements.

Hearing from Adames and Chapman only helped put Eldridge more at ease in his second major league spring.

“They were just saying, ‘be yourself, don’t try to be anyone else,’” Eldridge said at his locker Monday. “I think that was a good message to me. If I try and do more, I’m a power guy, I’m not going to wow anyone on the basepaths. I’m going to make the plays at first. If I try to be a slap hitter or bunt, I’m going to try and be myself, not go outside of that and not compare myself to others. I think that’ll keep me in a good space.”

The 21-year-old Eldridge is trying to take in everything and committing himself to learning less than three years after being selected 16th overall in the first round of the 2023 amateur draft out of James Madison High School in Vienna, Virginia.

After going through his pregame routine Monday, Eldridge spent about 10 minutes signing autographs for kids near the Giants dugout.

The infielder made his major league debut last Sept. 15 and went 3 for 28 with a pair of doubles and 13 strikeouts over 10 games.

“It’s been awesome,” he said. “Compared to last year I was kind of on my toes a little bit, a little nervous, uncomfortable just being around a lot of new guys and being in a new situation for the first time. But this year I feel really relaxed. Getting to play with them last year in spring and at the end of the year last year was huge for me just to get comfortable with the people around here and the staff. Definitely a lot more relaxed this year, just trying to continue to be myself and not be anyone else.”

Buster Posey, San Francisco’s president of baseball operations, hasn’t said firmly one way or the other where Eldridge will begin the year.

It very well might be at Triple-A Sacramento to provide him with more experience and repetitions for what is expected to be a greater role with the Giants very soon — likely as a middle-of-the-lineup hitter given his raw power.

Eldridge’s average exit velocity during his September stint with the Giants was 95.6 mph. He exhibits elite bat speed and plate discipline but also regular swings and misses.

In addition, he only has 321 total plate appearances over 74 games at Triple-A over the past two years.

Manager Tony Vitello can’t wait to see continued progress by Eldridge in the coming months, saying “as his feet get better” the rookie’s defense will catch up, too.

Infield instructor Ron Washington has already applauded Eldridge’s strides.

“He takes it all in,” Vitello said Monday. “I think for a kid who was drafted where he was drafted and all that, he could approach things differently with his teammates and kind of be like, ‘I got it,’ but he seems to be wanting to soak up information. When you’re like that, then people want to go to you even more, and so I think all of his teammates do a good job of looking after him and providing advice.

”... On top of it, he’s pretty gifted. If you give him something to work on or something to do, he takes to it pretty quick.”

For now, Eldridge leans on his deep faith and strong connection to family — he lived at home in Virginia this offseason — to stay grounded and maintain perspective each day.

“It kind of just goes back to my faith, my family’s very big on faith,” he said. “Just not letting baseball be my entire life.”

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Quick Recap: Jays Lose To Mets

Feb 23, 2026; Dunedin, Florida, USA; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto (7) rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the second inning against the New York Mets at TD Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images

The important news is that Kazuma Okamoto homered, a two-run shot.

Beyond that, Jose Berrios pitched 2.2 innings, allowing 3 hits, 2 earned, 1 walk with 2 strikeouts. It doesn’t sound great, but he allowed them in his third inning of work. And I think he’s the first Jay to throw more than two innings in a game this spring.

Other pitchers:

  • Connor Larkin got the last out of the third.
  • Braydon Fisher threw one inning with a hit, walk and two strikeouts.
  • Mason Fluharty: 1 inning, 2 strikeouts.
  • Jorge Alcala: 1 innings, 1 unearned run, 1 walks and a strikeout. He got the loss, because of a C.J. Stubbs throwing error trying to catch a stealing baserunner.
  • Josh Fleming gave up a hit (a home run, walk, earned run, with a strikeout in his 1.1 innings.
  • Chad Dallas got the last five outs, four of them strikeouts.

Hitters, starters:

  • Andrés Giménez: 0 for 2, k.
  • Ernie Clement: 0 for 1, k and a hit by pitch.
  • Vlad Guerrero: 0 for 1, walk.
  • Alejandro Kirk: 0 for 2.
  • Addison Barger: 0 for 1 walk, k.
  • Daulton Varsho: 0 for 2.
  • Nathan Lukes: 0 for 2, k.
  • Davis Schneider: 0 for 2, k.

Others:

  • Ben Cowles: 0 for 2, k.
  • Carlos Mendoza: 2 for 2.
  • Sean Keys: 0 for 2.
  • C.J. Stubbs:1 for 1.
  • Geovanny Planchart: Walk.
  • RJ Schreck: 1 for 2, double, k.
  • Charles McAdoo: 1 for 2, RBI. He’s been in all three games and has a .500 BA. I’ve liked his defense.
  • Eloy Jiménez: 1 for 2, k.
  • Jay Harry: 0 for 2.
  • Yohendrick Pinango: 0 for 1, k.

So we are 1-2 on the spring.

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4 Blackhawks Storylines To Watch For Post Olympic Break

The Chicago Blackhawks will return to action on Thursday. This follows a couple of weeks away for the Olympic break. Teuvo Teravainen was the team’s only Olympian, and he captured a Bronze Medal with Team Finland.

Team USA defeated Team Canada in overtime of the Gold Medal Game for their first Olympic victory in men’s hockey since 1980. Now, following this wonderful tournament, the NHL will get back to business as they push toward the trade deadline and postseason. 

The Chicago Blackhawks are coming back with a record of 22-26-9. They are far from the worst team in the league, or even their conference, but they currently sit 10 points below the playoff line. 

So what is the goal for this team? What is their plan for the rest of the season? These are the four storylines that will mostly define the stretch run to the off-season. 

1. Decisions Ahead Of Trade Deadline

The Chicago Blackhawks have a handful of veterans who are currently pending free agents. Guys like Nick Foligno, Ilya Mikheyev, Jason Dickinson, and Connor Murphy are all in the trade rumors, but will Kyle Davidson move all four?

Will any of them get extended, and if so, when? The decisions that the Blackhawks make ahead of the deadline (March 6th) will shape how their roster looks for the rest of the season and possibly going into next year. 

2. Prospects Joining NHL Lineup

If they trade multiple of those players, they will certainly call on a handful of prospects to take roster spots. Seeing what they have in a handful of these guys is important. 

Kevin Korchinski is already up while Wyatt Kaiser works his way back, but could he spend the rest of the season in the NHL if Murphy is moved? 

As far as the forwards, Nick Lardis, Anton Frondell, and multiple college prospects could be looking for spots when their seasons end.

In the case of Frondell, an addition like that to the lineup would add some juice to the hype around the team. As their 2025 third overall pick, there are expectations that he will be a great NHL player. 

Nick Lardis already proved that he can fit into an NHL group when Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar were out, but a roster spot has to open up again for him to join full-time. That may be coming for him (and others) sooner than later. 

3. Where Will Chicago Land In The 2026 NHL Draft?

If the season ended today, the Blackhawks would have the 6th-best odds of winning the NHL Draft Lottery. If everything stayed in place, they'd make the 6th overall pick. They are likely going to land within the top-ten, so a highly touted prospect will be coming to Chicago in June. 

They also have the first round pick of the Florida Panthers, but it is top-ten protected. Down the stretch, we will see where they land.

Right now, they would have the 10th-best odds of winning the lottery, meaning if it all stayed the same, that 10th overall pick would transfer to 2027. With rumors swirling that a handful of their best players may be shut down following the Olympics, that pick very well could be held until 2027. 

Both of Chicago's potential first-round draft picks are worth keeping an eye on as the season winds down. Who knows, maybe they'll even land another first ahead of the deadline. Then, the team that gave them that pick would be added to the "must-watch" list. 

4. What will Connor Bedard and Tyler Bertuzzi's goal total look like?

Tyler Bertuzzi currently leads the Blackhawks with 25 goals. Connor Bedard is right behind him with 23. Bedard would probably be firmly in front if he never sustained his injury, but there is no doubting the overall individual success that both men have had this year. 

So will they each reach the 30-goal plateau? It looks like it. Do either of them have the ability to push it to 40 with 25 games left? Bertuzzi needs 15, and Bedard needs 17. It's possible, but it may come down to the wire, and both would probably have to play every game. 

For obvious reasons, the Blackhawks would like to see Connor Bedard close out the year with a massive goal-scoring streak. He must continue to drive the bus offensively for the team to have any kind of future. As for Bertuzzi, he is going to be happy with his output regardless, but he would like to finish strong, as would anyone. 

As a side note, Connor Bedard currently has 53 points in 44 games played. He is on pace to finish the season with 83. Over the course of an 82-game season, it is a 98-point pace. In next year's 84-game season, it's a 101-point pace.

Bedard is, if healthy, sure to surpass his career high of 67 points, but by how many? That will also be a big talking point, along with his goals. 

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Celtics injury report reveals star could miss game vs Phoenix Suns

Dec 7, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown (7) and Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) talk during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images | Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images

PHOENIX — Jaylen Brown could be sidelined when the Celtics face the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night. Brown is listed as questionable on the Celtics’ injury report with a right knee contusion that he was icing in the locker room on Sunday night.

Brown tallied 32 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists in a blowout Celtics win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. The Celtics star is averaging 29.2 points, 7 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game this season, and he’s missed five games this season.

The only other player on the Celtics’ injury report is Jayson Tatum, who continued to be sidelined as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles tendon. Joe Mazzulla wouldn’t say whether Tatum practiced with the Celtics on Saturday, but Tatum did practice with the G League earlier this month and has continued to progress in his recovery.

The Suns, meanwhile, will be very shorthanded. Dillon Brooks is out for the next 4-6 weeks with a broken left hand, and Devin Booker is out with a hip strain for at least the next week. Jordan Goodwin (calf) and Haywood Highsmith (knee) are also both out.

The Celtics are on the first night of a back-to-back on Tuesday, which could factor into their decision to rest Brown. They’ll face the Denver Nuggets in Denver on Wednesday.

How the Celtics and Suns stack up entering the match-up

The Celtics have won 8 of their last 9 games and currently have the Eastern Conference’s second-best record at 37-19. They have the NBA’s fourth-best record, fourth-best net rating, and third-best offense.

The Suns, meanwhile, have dropped 6 of their last 10 games as they deal with a myriad of injuries. At 33-25, they currently have the 7th-best record in the Western Conference.

The Suns have had the NBA’s 9th-best defensive rating at 112.5 (the Celtics have the 8th-best defensive rating at 112.2). Something else to note is the Suns’ ability to crash the offensive glass; they have the 6th-best offensive rebound percentage at 33.2%.

With Booker and Brooks both sidelined, Grayson Allen, Collin Gillespie, and Jalen Green become the players to watch. Allen (17.3 points, 3.9 assists) is Phoenix’s best-available scorer, while Gillespie (13.4 points, 4.7 assists) and Green (13.3 points, 2.4 assists) have also been key contributors.

Celtics-Suns will tip off at 9pm ET at the Mortgage Matchup Center.

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George Lombard’s growing pains not dimming his — or Yankees’ — belief

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows New York Yankees Shortstop George Lombard Jr. at bat, Image 2 shows New York Yankees shortstop George Lombard Jr. warming up

BRADENTON, Fla. — George Lombard Jr.’s makeup, physicality and even defense are often cited as being beyond his years.

But after the shortstop showed those off in his first big league camp last spring, then crushed it in his first month of the season at High-A, the Yankees decided to challenge Lombard just shy of his 20th birthday, promoting him to the Double-A Eastern League, where the pitchers’ average age was 24.7.

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The club’s top prospect went on to hit just .215 with a .695 OPS, eight home runs and 24 steals in 108 games for Double-A Somerset, though the growing pains did little to dim the organization’s view of him as he continued his development.

“Under the hood, he was much better than the surface stuff said,” manager Aaron Boone said Monday before Lombard came off the bench to record a walk, strikeout and stolen base in a 6-2 win over the Pirates at LECOM Park.

“Like, we even had him hitting a bunch of home runs with a major league ball that for whatever reason at Double-A, it’s a little different. But yes, I think a [bump] up in class as a young man, gaining experience, hopefully he just continues to develop that hittability.”

Asked if the Yankees could really measure such a thing — the baseballs used in the majors have lower seams and are wound tighter than ones used in the minors, so they fly differently — Boone chuckled.

“I mean, we think so anyway,” he said.

New York Yankees Shortstop George Lombard Jr. at bat during a spring training game. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Either way, Lombard’s power is not his calling card, but an American League scout who saw him at Double-A indicated that the surface numbers did not tell the full story.

“He has a good chance to be a solid everyday player,” the scout said. “Can stay in the middle infield and is [a] better-than-average defender at both spots. Good swing mechanics and carries himself well. Just didn’t have the results as a 20-year-old at [Double-A].”

Lombard himself agreed that there was an adjustment period to the step up in competition, one that should benefit him in the long run.

Yankees shortstop George Lombard Jr. warming up before a spring training game. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

“That’s kind of one of the bigger jumps in the minor leagues, getting to that league and playing in the Eastern League,” he said. “Facing guys that are a little bit older, know what they’re doing and making that adjustment. The game’s a little cleaner, the game’s a little quicker. So I would say overall, just getting used to the league, getting used to the game and getting accustomed to how I get pitched and how they attack me.”

The first-round pick in 2023 is expected to return to Double-A to begin this season, which in all likelihood will not yet include a debut in The Bronx, even as questions linger about Anthony Volpe’s future. Brian Cashman said over the winter that Lombard is already major league-ready defensively but that he still needed more time offensively.

In the meantime, Boone gushed about Lombard’s physicality, at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, along with his defense, recalling a tough play in the hole that Lombard — a former standout soccer player, which he acknowledged helps with his athleticism — made Saturday, even making it look easy and smooth.

S George Lombard Jr. looking up at an infield pop-up. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

“Ball comes out really well, he’s really springy, moves well,” Boone said. “Shows real signs of controlling the strike zone and having the ability to impact the ball with his size and how strong he is. For him, it’s just that next layer of hittability now of hopefully putting it all together.

“He’s just consistent, great work habits, all about baseball. Just a real focused, disciplined kid that’s come pretty fast and has continued to develop.”

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3 up, 3 down: FSU struggles to lock down identity during inconsistent week

Feb 21, 2026; Arlington, TX, USA; Florida State Seminoles vs Auburn Tigers during the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

Last week, I guessed that even after a strong start to the season, FSU likely wouldn’t look exactly like the Seminoles of the past two years, when the year started with double-digit win streaks (15 in 2025, 19 in 2024).

My prediction was proven correct, just earlier than expected.

After winning the first two games of the week, including the opening matchup of the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series against Michigan, by a combined score of 19-4, FSU’s weekend fell apart with back-to-back defeats to Auburn and Nebraska, leaving Link Jarrett’s team .500 on the week and 4-2 on the season.

Losses are a part of baseball, and we’ve known that the lineup and bullpen were always going to be a work in progress to begin the year, so sounding the alarm bells six games into the year is not needed. However, the way Florida State was outclassed by both the Tigers and Cornhuskers does raise eyebrows.

Both of those squads knew what they were, with their lineup and decisions reflecting that. Florida State, on the other hand, lacks a true identity right now. Jarrett believes his team will be buoyed by its pitching and defense, yet each made numerous mistakes over the weekend and was the main culprit of the two defeats.

At the plate, the lineup lacks the veracity to continue flipping over, leading to inconsistent at-bats and a team that is not working together to break down opposing pitching staffs. Auburn and Nebraska fired secondary pitches over and over again, and nobody in the batting order found a response or a way through.

Jarrett does not know his best nine players right now, where they fit in the field and how they should work together. And while there’s confidence that he eventually will, until he does, more losses like the ones on Saturday and Sunday will be in the picture.

Three up

No. 1: Wes Mendes

While the roster is littered with question marks, Wes Mendes is providing an answer on the mound. A week after going 5.0 shutout innings to begin the year, the junior fired 5 1/3 innings on Friday without allowing a run, running his scoreless streak to 10/3 innings to begin the season.

“The slider and changeup were definitely in play,” he said of his performance. “I got a lot of weak contact, a lot jams, some foul balls. Everything felt great, really.”

Almost everything that Mendes set out to work on in the offseason has borne fruit in his opening two starts. His fastball looks more lively and can attack both sides of the plate. He has a feel for multiple secondary pitches, including a nasty slider and changeup. With multiple pitches in play, and with the help of pitching coach Micah Posey, he methodically works through starts by showing different pitches at different times in his outing. On Friday, he went almost exclusively fastball the first time through the order, before going offspeed-heavy as the lineup flipped over. However, above all, Mendes appears to have the mettle this year to be a bona fide Friday-night ace and not let appearances spiral on him anymore. In the fourth inning on Friday, an error and another ball that could have been fielded put two Wolverines on with nobody out. The lefty bailed out his defense with a strikeout and back-to-back popups to retire the side.

Of course, it is early in the year, and the Tampa native still has to prove he can fill the massive shoes left by Jamie Arnold last season. But, to start the campaign, he has been Florida State’s best player, and that might be the most valuable development on the roster.

No. 2: Gabe Fraser

With so much uncertainty and turnover in the batting order, especially in the bottom half, Link Jarrett needs somebody to lock down a spot for themselves. Arkansas transfer Gabe Fraser took a step toward doing that this week.

After picking up an RBI in Tuesday’s midweek game against Jacksonville, Fraser put together his best performance as a Seminole on Friday, going 3-5, with two runs scored and finishing a home run shy of the cycle. A day later, versus Auburn, the sophomore was the only Florida State player to record a multi-hit game, going 2-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. He walked on Sunday to run his on-base streak to six games.

“There’s power to all fields. It’s plus arm strength. He can really run,” Jarrett said of Fraser’s three-hit day on Friday. “We just have to find the right spot for him and let him settle.”

While the defense is still a work in progress, it is hard not to get excited about the potential of Fraser at the plate. His extra-base hits on Friday were each to the opposite field, as he possesses the power and ability to spray the ball all over the yard. The infielder also plays an important role in the order as he offers Jarrett another left-handed bat behind Brayden Dowd and Myles Bailey.

It will be a lot for Fraser to play every day after recording only 52 at-bats a season ago, but Florida State needs him to reach his potential if they want to reach theirs.

No. 3: John Abraham

This is what John Abraham is supposed to look like.

The right-handed reliever made two appearances this week, against JU and Michigan, and overpowered whoever came to the plate. On Tuesday, Abraham went 2.0 innings while striking out three and allowing only one base runner. Three days later, in the series opener in Arlington, the Tampa native relieved Mendes and went 2.1 innings, a season-long, without giving up a run or hit, as he continued to shut down the Wolverine lineup. The piggybacking of Mendes and Abraham has been a successful partnership for Florida State, with opponents needing to deal with an LHP and an RHP back-to-back whose pitches profile differently. Abraham has also proven he can go multiple innings and run his pitch count to 40-50, helping shorten the game on the back end.

“Abraham continues to be sharp,” Jarrett said. “That’s a good mixture to go from Mendes to Abraham. I think that’s tough on any group of hitters.

Abraham has been plagued by inconsistencies during his career, but if this start to the year is true, FSU may finally have a trusted, high-octane arm out of the bullpen they desperately need.

Three down

No. 1: Quality of at-bat

Florida State’s weekend can almost perfectly be summed up as an awesome first 10 innings and a horrid 17 innings in 27 frames of play in Texas. As Brett Nevitt tweeted out on Sunday, FSU finished the final 17 innings in Arlington going 4-57 with 25 strikeouts and two runs scored, with one of those being a solo homer from Myles Bailey.

“The quality of at-bat was clearly not good enough,” Jarrett acknowledged after the Nebraska game. “Again, a lot of strikeouts…The ratio of good at-bats was not enough.”

Florida State did not work together to control the zone and struggled mightily against secondary pitches, mainly sliders. On Saturday, FSU struck out 13 times with four players punching out multiple times, with only two walks drawn. Sunday was a similar number as Florida State struck out 14 times with only three walks.

Sometimes teams have bad weekends, and that is certainly the case here, but the amount of swing-and-miss may be a feature and not a bug of the FSU lineup, with a number of players being asked to play in elevated roles for the first time in their careers.

No. 2: Defensive savviness

To describe strong defense, Link Jarrett often uses the word savvy instead of looking at obvious numbers like errors or fielding percentage.

The head coach knew that they fell short of that this week.

“We have to play cleaner,” he said after FSU’s win over Michigan. “There were some things that were unsettling for me in the infield, but we’ll keep working on it.”

Florida State committed an error on Tuesday before committing three more on Friday against Michigan. The Noles only had one error the rest of the weekend, but that did not tell the whole story. Multiple balls got over the heads of outfielders, Bryson Moore threw a pick-off attempt into center field, and the catchers struggled to block pitches in front of them, which allowed a free 90 feet to runners on base. Whether it was obvious errors like Cal Fisher’s woeful throw to first in the top of the fourth on Friday, or small mistakes, none of the defense felt clean throughout the weekend. Jarrett often told the press how worried he is about replacing the consistency of Alex Lodise and Drew Faurot, and to begin the year, Florida State has not done that.

No. 3: Leadership

Admittedly, this is hard to objectify, but being in Arlington this weekend, I felt like Florida State lacked someone to take the games by the scruff of the neck and pull the team into the fight. Obviously, that does not mean it needs to be a vocal leader, but nobody stepped up as the games got away from them. However, FSU did not have someone consistently loud on the bench or in the dugout, as Brennan Oxford was two years ago and Mason McDougall was last season. I felt that the Seminoles needed someone to provide more energy for them, and as the coaching staff sorts out the hierarchy on the field, it seems the players need to figure it out off of it.