If you thought the Utah Jazz’s overall record was bad, their mark against division rivals is even worse – and it’s not likely to get any better tonight against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
This feels like a hopeless task for a Utah team that’s 1-11 against the rest of the Northwest Division and firmly in full tank mode, but my Jazz vs Timberwolves predictions target one of the visitors’ youngsters getting a chance in the spotlight.
Check on my NBA picks for this clash on Wednesday, March 18.
Jazz vs Timberwolves prediction
Jazz vs Timberwolves best bet: Cody Williams Over 20.5 points + rebounds + assists (-115)
The Utah Jazz don’t seem focused on boosting their win total, but the coming weeks give them a chance to evaluate their roster. That’s good news for Cody Williams, who has played 36+ minutes in six straight games, hitting this combo Over in five of them.
Williams posted an eye-popping 34-7-7 stat line on Sunday and should be active again as Utah navigates games without Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George.
Even though the Minnesota Timberwolves can be elite defensively, Williams doesn’t need to match his season averages to make this prop a winner.
Jazz vs Timberwolves same-game parlay
Even on the second night of a back-to-back set, the T-Wolves have the defensive studs to keep Utah at bay, but the offense will largely be in the hands of Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.
Randle is coming off back-to-back 32-point outings, and I expect DiVincenzo to bounce back from last night’s 0-for-8 dud, as he boasts a 39% mark from downtown.
Jazz vs Timberwolves SGP
Timberwolves -13.5
Julius Randle Over 25.5 points
Donte DiVincenzo Over 14.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Stifle Tower
No one needs to tell the Jazz about Rudy Gobert’s impact.
This SGP jumps on the Frenchman’s presence around the rim at both ends of the floor, and he’s coming off a monster effort last night, finishing with 19 rebounds and four blocks.
Naz Reid’s absence should also mean an uptick in minutes for Gobert.
Jazz vs Timberwolves SGP
Rudy Gobert Over 12.5 points
Rudy Gobert Over 13.5 rebounds
Rudy Gobert Over 2.5 blocks
Timberwolves -13.5
Jazz vs Timberwolves odds
Spread: Jazz -13.5 (-110) | Timberwolves +13.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Jazz +550 | Timberwolves -800
Over/Under: Over 230.5 (-110) | Under 230.5 (-110)
Jazz vs Timberwolves betting trend to know
The Timberwolves are 8-2 SU in their last 10 meetings with the Jazz. Find more NBA betting trends for Jazz vs. Timberwolves.
How to watch Jazz vs Timberwolves
Location
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Date
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN North, KJZZ
Jazz vs Timberwolves latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
There have not been many bright spots for the New Jersey Devils this season.
With a record of 34-31-2, the 2025-26 season can be easily labeled a disappointment. With only 15 games remaining, the one player having a career season is Cody Glass.
On Saturday night, against the Los Angeles Kings, Glass scored his 15th goal of the season. At the 7:58 mark of the first period, his snap shot from the left hash marks deflected off Kopitar and in to give New Jersey a 1-0 lead.
It marked the first time in his professional hockey career that he had scored over 14 goals.
“It is an awesome feeling," Glass said. "The puck has been finding me, and it is a good feeling when that happens."
The 26-year-old has been on a line with rookies Arseny Gritsyuk and Lenni Hämeenaho, prioritizing defense and allowing the youngsters to play their game.
“I let (Gritsyuk) and (Hämeenaho) do their offensive skill type thing, and just find the right areas,” he continued. “(...) I keep trying to tell them to do their thing. I will be the responsible one, I don’t care. You guys turn over pucks, I will backcheck for you.”
Glass was traded to New Jersey by the Pittsburgh Penguins with Jonathan Gruden for Chase Stillman, Max Graham, and a third-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft on Mar. 7, 2025. He has played 69 games for the Devils and has earned 29 points (17 goals, 12 assists).
A first-round pick in 2017, Glass has taken hold of the Devils' third-line center position this season. Showcasing a hardworking, positive attitude, he appreciates every opportunity he has to play in the NHL.
“The mindset I have always had is to work as hard as you can because you never know when your last game is going to be.”
Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 26: Jesús Rodriguez #79 of the San Francisco Giants bats during the seventh 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
The San Francisco Giants have a whole lot of camp cuts to make in the next week. They entered Wednesday with 49 players still in Major League camp; next Wednesday, that number needs to be 26.
But they’re slowly chipping away at it. After cutting a pair of players on Tuesday, the Giants sent four more packing on Wednesday: left-handed pitcher Carson Whisenhunt and catcher Jesús Rodríguez, who were optioned, along with third baseman Parks Harber and infielder Buddy Kennedy, who were reassigned to Minor League camp. The difference in wording between those two is mostly inconsequential: it just means that Whisenhunt and Rodríguez are on the 40-man roster, while Harber and Kennedy are not.
Whisenhunt was always a long shot to make the Opening Day roster: he remains one of the team’s top starting pitching prospects, so the Giants likely want him to continue developing in that role, and he lacks the fastball velocity of some of his teammates like Hayden Birdsong, Blade Tidwell, and Keaton Winn, making him less of a fit in a bullpen role. His spring was up-and-down: on the one hand, he showed increased life with his fastball, boosting his velo and striking out 14 batters in 9.1 innings. On the other hand, he had trouble with location, and his fastball was often way too hittable: he gave up some of the loudest contact in camp, while allowing eight hits and eight walks, resulting in a 9.64 ERA and a 3.26 FIP. He’ll surely be up at some point this year.
Rodríguez was the favorite to win the backup catcher job when the offseason began, but that changed when the team added Daniel Susac in the Rule 5 Draft. But Rodríguez had as good of a spring as he could have hoped for, going 12-34 with one home run, four doubles, three walks, and just five strikeouts, for a .964 OPS and a 148 wRC+. The defense behind the plate — which is his biggest question mark — was solid, and earned strong reviews from his coaches. And he showed off not just his versatility, but the team’s desire to get his bat in the lineup by spending a not-insignificant amount of time playing both second base and left field. He also stole a pair of bases in as many attempts. He seems likely to play a big role this year, it will just have to wait a while.
As for the non-roster invitees, Harber — who has flown up the team’s prospect list ever since the Giants acquired him in the Camilo Doval trade — impressed mightily. Despite having never taken a bat in AA, let alone AAA, Harber posted mesmerizing exit velocities in the Cactus League, and hit 10-28 with a home run, three doubles, two walks, and just five strikeouts, good for a .996 OPS and a 154 wRC+. Unfortunately, he suffered a hamstring injury a few games ago, and will be out for 4-6 weeks. He’ll presumably begin the year with AA Richmond, but he could move very quickly. A debut this season is unlikely, but not out of the question.
Kennedy — a 27-year old who signed as a Minor League free agent — also had an exceptional spring. The right-handed hitter went 9-26 with two home runs, a triple, a double, four walks, and five strikeouts, which gave him a 1.112 OPS and a 173 wRC+. He’s struggled to hit at the Major League level in four years of scattered appearances, but you never know when it might click for a player. He’ll be important depth with AAA Sacramento, and could come up to fill in if someone gets injured.
With these four cuts, the Giants now have 37 rostered players in camp, and eight non-roster invitees.
The question was never whether it would be best for the Milwaukee Bucks to shut Giannis Antetokounmpo for the season after his knee hyperextension and bone bruise — it would have been best to shut it down after his previous injury and give them a chance to improve their draft status (making it easier to put a contending team around him in the long run).
The Bucks, per league sources, have made it clear to their franchise centerpiece that it would be in their shared interest for him to sit out with the team currently 6 1/2 games behind the Charlotte Hornets for the final Play-In Tournament spot. While injuries have forced Antetokounmpo to miss 32 games already this season, league sources tell The Athletic the 10-time All-Star forward has informed the team he has no desire to cut his season short.
Antetokounmpo is one of the most competitive players in the league, something he wears on his sleeve. It's part of his identity, part of his story of rising from the streets of Athens to the peak of the NBA.
In this case, it also feels performative. Antetokounmpo has talked countless times about how he wants to play his entire career for Milwaukee, how he loves the city, and how the people of Wisconsin embraced him and his family. If he wants the Bucks to build a team around him that can compete for a title, their 2026 draft pick is key to that — either trading it for a star player, or lucking out in the lottery and being able to draft that player (Milwaukee currently has the ninth-worst record in the league and a 17.3% chance at a top-four pick). There is still time for the Bucks to marginally improve their odds in that lottery (they have a worse record than New Orleans, a team still actively trying to win games).
As noted above, the Bucks are 6.5 games out of the play-in with 14 games left to play, they are not making the postseason. If the Bucks were close to the postseason, this could be a different conversation. Instead, Antetokounmpo is pushing to get back on the court because... he has to show everyone how much he wants to compete? I hear the argument that Antetokounmpo's competitiveness is not a switch he can flip on and off, that's not how it works. That said, there are times the bigger picture beats out personal ego for a handful of games.
Milwaukee, as an organization, has bent over backwards for years to accommodate Antetokounmpo and his desires. They have won a title in part because he pushed them, so the franchise went and got Jrue Holiday. Now, his desire to get back on the court could be hurting the Bucks' chances to put the best team possible around him.
All of this will likely bubble up again this offseason, when the Bucks talk to Antetokounmpo about a max contract extension and, with that, his future in Milwaukee.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 17: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks sits on the bench during the second quarter at Fiserv Forum on March 17, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Yesterday’s announcement that Giannis Antetokounmpo would miss some time with a hyperextended left knee probably came as a relief to many Bucks fans. Milwaukee is 6.5 games out of the East’s 10th seed with 14 games remaining, making it essentially impossible to climb back into the race, so there are plenty who feel the star should be—or should already have been—shut down. The temptation to tank and improve lottery position remains, even as other teams that exited the playoff hunt earlier already tanked harder. Though the Bucks are just 2-6 since Giannis returned from his calf strain, they have only just now moved into a tie for the ninth spot with the Bulls.
Today, we have a report from The Athletic’s Eric Nehm—later echoed by ESPN’s Shams Charania—that Giannis and the team are “at odds” about what to do moving forward. The Bucks, probably on the same side as most fans, want Giannis to remain sidelined as the year ends. A fair ask, considering he’s missed 32 games this season with a variety of lower-body injuries and the team isn’t really battling for seeding. Ever the competitor, Giannis doesn’t want to do that, though: he wants to play, presumably when/if he’s cleared.
Whether the team’s medical staff clears him anytime soon is unknown. Yesterday’s report stated he’d be reevaluated in a week, so nothing appears imminent, but it’s not just the knee: he also sprained his ankle last week. Add that to the calf strain that hampered him from December into March, plus a groin strain in November, and it’s not hard to see him as less than 100% on the floor, no matter what he’s self-diagnosed. To the organization and fans, Giannis’ health is a top—probably the top—priority.
The issue here is weighing what makes Giannis happy. Even if they’re far removed from the race, he clearly wants to be playing. I don’t think the Bucks’ sole motivation here is necessarily to lose more games and move into a higher lottery position, even though this from Nehm might suggest that’s the case:
The Bucks, per league sources, have made it clear to their franchise centerpiece that it would be in their shared interest for him to sit out with the team currently 6 1/2 games behind the Charlotte Hornets for the final Play-In Tournament spot. While injuries have forced Antetokounmpo to miss 32 games already this season, league sources tell The Athletic the 10-time All-Star forward has informed the team he has no desire to cut his season short.
And later in the same article:
Bucks leadership has already approached Antetokounmpo about the idea of not playing another game for Milwaukee this season, which the franchise’s all-time leading scorer firmly rebuffed, league sources told The Athletic Tuesday.
“Shared interest” can merely just mean “we want you healthy, you want to be healthy” with no regard towards the standings. After all, it’s going to be tough for Milwaukee to move further down: at 28-40, they could stay in ninth depending on how Chicago finishes, but they are at least 4.5 games clear of other teams. Memphis is in eighth, with Dallas and New Orleans—who own the right to swap picks with Milwaukee—tied in sixth. All have 23 wins and either 44 or 46 losses. Even without Giannis, it will be nearly as hard to surpass those teams as it would be to make the playoffs. Those franchises are also trying to tank. On the flip side, they are 4.5 games clear of Portland in 11th, so the 9–10 range seems all but guaranteed, regardless of how long Giannis misses.
What I think this ultimately comes down to is being on the same page with Giannis. Of course, neither party wants him to sustain a more catastrophic, long-term injury. For their part, the Bucks want Giannis to extend this summer: he’s the most important player in franchise history, and without him, their profits completely dry up along with whatever title odds employing him brings (which are never zero, as long as he’s here, healthy, and in his prime). Giannis wants to be back in the business of competing in the playoffs, which could happen in Milwaukee as soon as next year if the Bucks play their cards right this offseason. One-year gaps in contention are common: see Golden State in 2019–20, Philadelphia and Phoenix last year, etc.
For Giannis’ part, he needs to listen to the medical professionals. On Sunday, he told trainers he thought he could have reentered the game, but they convinced him it wasn’t worth it since they were up double-digits at the time. Good on him for taking their advice. He said after the game he didn’t think he needed any imaging, but the Bucks had him undergo it yesterday anyway. Those results came back clean, per Doc Rivers.
I was in that postgame huddle on Sunday, and Giannis seemed outwardly positive about his conversation with the trainers and respected their opinion. But that’s just a single game, not the remaining 14, and it’s a medical opinion not being relayed by the front office. I don’t necessarily think this is the high drama some will undoubtedly spin it as, but the Bucks have a delicate line to walk here. Tanking isn’t something Giannis wants, and he’s going to approach this offseason looking for reasons to stay in Milwaukee. Being told not to play when he’s medically cleared—which he currently is not, we can safely assume—probably won’t sit well with him.
I’m of the belief that when the medical staff clears him to play, the front office should acquiesce. It’s incumbent on those professionals to clear him responsibly, affirming that no, he won’t be risking significant injury to play NBA basketball, whenever that may be. Whether that’s in a week or two, or it’s the final week of the season, we don’t know. But since his presence is pretty unconnected from their record at this point, and assuming Giannis continues respecting trainers’ opinions (he’s never indicated he has anything less than complete trust in them), the Bucks should let him play when they say it’s safe. Shutting him down unnecessarily strains a player-team relationship that must be preserved entering the offseason.
The Pittsburgh Penguins added multiple players to their roster during the 2026 NHL off-season. Forward Anthony Mantha was among them, as the Penguins signed him to a one-year, $2.5 million contract in free agency. This was after Mantha was limited to only 13 games with the Calgary Flames in 2024-25, where he had four goals and seven points.
Now, fast-forward to today, and it is clear that the Penguins' decision to sign Mantha has been a real home run.
Mantha is currently in the middle of a career year with the Penguins. In 67 games with the Metropolitan Division club, he has already set new career highs with 26 goals, 26 assists, and 52 points. With the Penguins having 15 games left, the 6-foot-5 winger still has a decent amount of time left to build on his offensive totals, too.
Mantha is only getting better as the season rolls on, too. He is currently on a five-game point streak for the Penguins, where he has five goals and two assists over that span. With this, he has simply been playing some excellent hockey for the Penguins as they maintain their spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Given how well Mantha has played this season with the Penguins, they should be working hard to sign him to a contract extension. The fit between Mantha and the Penguins has been amazing, and it will be fascinating to see if they can lock him up to a new deal because of it.
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 16: The sneakers worn by Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns during the game against the Boston Celtics on March 16, 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
DUNEDIN, FLORIDA - MARCH 14, 2026: Jonatan Clase #8 of the Toronto Blue Jays runs out a ground ball during the seventh inning of a spring training game against the Detroit Tigers at TD Ballpark on March 14, 2026 in Dunedin, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Orioles 3 Blue Jays 2
The offense didn’t do much today, just five hits on the day.
Batters, starters:
George Springer: 1 for 2, k, double. .250. Nice to see his average coming up some.
Daulton Varsho: 0 for 3, k. .400. Made a very nice catch in the outfield.
Alejandro Kirk: 0 for 2, walk, k. .188. He was 1 for 3 on challenges.
Addison Barger: 1 for 2, home run. .281. He hit that one a long way.
Kazuma Okamoto: 3 walks. .333. I like seeing guys swing the bat in spring training, but showed he has a good eye at the plate. And he made a nice defensive play.
Nathan Lukes: 1 for 3, k. .300.
Davis Schneider: 0 for 3, 3 k. .094. I want him making contact.
Eloy Jiménez: 0 for 3. .275. He was fine at first base. His bat was terrific at the start of spring, but he’s hit nothing lately. He is streak hitter, but he’s not making a case for himself lately. We have a surplus of LHH outfielders, not as big a surplus of RHH outfielders. If he would just get hitting again, he’d have a shot. The team is likely looking at how hard hit the balls that are outs have been, but he’s a long shot.
Leo Jiménez: 0 for 2. .250. His BA isn’t as important as his glove and he looked fine with the glove.
Subs:
Jesús Sánchez: 0 for 2, walk, k. .211.
RJ Schreck: 0 for 1, walk. .158. Make a nice catch in foul territory in right field.
Tyler Heineman: 0 for 2. .294.
Myles Straw: 1 for 2. .200.
Josh Rivera: walk. .222.
Yohendrick Pinango: 1 for 1. Double. .160.
Riley Tirotta: 0 for 1, k. .226.
Josh Kasevish: 0 for 1, walk. .281.
Pitching:
Josh Fleming started, going 2 innings, the first was terrible. 3 hits, 2 earned, walk. The second inning was quick, 3 up, 3 down. He had 2 k.
Others:
Spencer Miles: 2 innings, 3 hits, 1 earned on a home run, 2 strikeouts.
Louis Varland: 1.1 innings, 3 strikeouts. He looked great.
Braydon Fisher: Got one out.
Brendon Little: 1 inning, 1 hit, 3 strikeouts. He was terrific.
Mason Fluharty: 1 inning, 1 k. A very nice inning.
Tomorrow the Jays host the Yankees. Cody Ponce starts for the Yankees. I’m surprised they aren’t hiding him from the Yankees. Ryan Weathers starts for the Yankees.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 20: Isaiah Collier #8 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 20, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Alex Goodlett/NBAE via Getty Images | NBAE via Getty Images
The Jazz have achieved 2 essential losses already on this quick road trip, and are looking to continue the trend Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, these are not the same Timberwolves we’ve gotten used to seeing in the Western Conference finals; they will be without star guard Anthony Edwards, who is projected to be out 1-2 weeks with right knee inflammation. This is unfortunate on 3 fronts. First; Anthony Edwards is consistently one of the most entertaining star players to watch in the league, and this contest will be worse without him. Second; a matchup with a player of Edward’s caliber provides very useful experience for the youngsters, who can use every minute of playtime versus star players in preparation for the Jazz 2027 playoff run. And, perhaps most importantly, third; the Jazz’s likelihood of pulling off a stunning win against the Timberwolves increases when Anthony Edwards is nursing a sore knee on the bench.
Nevertheless, the Timberwolves have every incentive to win – they’re currently tied for the 4th seed with the Nuggets and Rockets, so any separation in the race for home court advantage in the first round would be huge for them. And, on the other side of the same coin, the Jazz have a few incentives to lose. They are currently slotted with the 5th best lottery odds, which gives them a 99.4% chance of staying in the top 8 and keeping their pick in the loaded 2026 draft. However, they’re only 3 games behind the Sacramento Kings for the 4th worst record, which would guarantee their keeping the pick. This is to say that this game is enormously important for both parties.
Cody Williams will look to continue his momentum from his career high, 34 point night on Sunday versus the Kings. Additionally, Anderrson Garcia and Bez Mbeng will have another opportunity to show their defensive chops during their 10-day contract tryouts. If I had to bet on which Jazz player will have a big night, my money would be on Isaiah Collier – the combination of Keyonte George and potentially Ace Bailey (got whacked by Anderrson Garcia on a rebound all the way into the concussion report) out with injury, with the Timberwolves sometimes-shoddy guard point of attack defense, Isaiah will have the usage and matchups necessary to put up a big night statistically.
The Timberwolves, who have struggled a bit without Edwards this year (7 wins and 4 losses), will likely funnel additional usage to Jaden McDaniels and Julius Randle. We will also get a good look at newest Timberwolf Ayo Dosunmu, acquired from the Bulls at the trade deadline, who took the open starting spot on 3/17 against the Suns with Edwards injured.
Which Jazz youngster are you hoping to see a big game from against the Timberwolves? Let me know below!
The Dodgers' Miguel Rojas high fives his teammates after scoring during a spring training game against the Cleveland Guardians last month. (Brynn Anderson / Associated Press)
Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas addressed an erroneous report from earlier in the week with understanding while also making his feelings clear.
On Monday, a senior baseball writer at the Athletic misidentified Rojas as the recipient of an 80-game suspension for the use of a banned substance on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. It was in fact Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas who had tested positive for Boldenone. The writer, Evan Drellich, quickly deleted the post and corrected it.
“I'm not frustrated because of the report, because we are all humans and we make mistakes,” Rojas said Wednesday morning in front of his locker at Camelback Ranch. “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 it says, ‘Miguel Rojas from the Los Angeles Dodgers.’ And I don't think anybody in this organization should be kind of freaking out and jumping out of their seats for the six or seven minutes that it happened.”
Rojas saw the correction post as an opportunity to issue that apology.
“It wasn't just my name, it was the organization that I represent too, and that's really important to me,” he said. “So that's the only thing that I'm kind of bothered [by].”
Later on Wednesday, Drellich followed up with another post: “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.”
In the midst of the fallout from the report, Rojas watched Team Venezuela, who he would have represented in the World Baseball Classic if it weren’t for insurance issues, win the tournament with a victory against the United States in Tuesday's final.
“It was really special to see my kids kind finding joy in that moment that the third strike was called,” he said, noting that his children were born in the United States. “And they felt Venezuelan the same as I did, and every other family in Venezuela.”
Rojas said he’d moved on after the insurance snag.
“When I made my last post, when I came to spring training, I made a decision of being another fan and supporting from any anywhere that I was going to be," he said. "Because I knew I wasn't going to be there anymore. So I had to kind of remove myself from the possibility of playing, and now I'm just becoming another Venezuelan pulling for a team that are getting ready and preparing for something like that.”
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - MARCH 10: Relief pitcher Kumar Rocker #80 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the third inning of the spring training game at Surprise Stadium on March 10, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for March 18, 2026 against the Kansas City Royals.
Opening Day creeps ever closer, and Kumar Rocker heads out to the mound tonight to try to help his case for being in the rotation when Opening Day arrives.
This game and the entire tie swung on a late first-half penalty … and how
1 min: Gordon dribbles down the left and spins Eric Garcia, who is fortunate not to get booked for a pull of the shirt. But it is a free kick in a dangerous position, just to the left of the Barca box. Tonali to take.
Newcastle United get the ball rolling. Whistles as they pass it about the back.
JUPITER, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 26: Walker Janek #84 of the Houston Astros at bat during a spring training game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Astros have released the roster and coaching staff for tomorrow’s spring breakout game against the Miami Marlins at 11:05 A.M. CT. The game will be available on Space City Home Network/SCHN+.
Time to shine.
The 2026 Spring Breakout game is tomorrow! Take a look at who's on the squad. pic.twitter.com/4vDvRx6GgD
PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 7: A general view Salt River Fields at Talking Stick during Pool D, Game 1 between Italy and Mexico in the first round of the 2013 World Baseball Classic at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Thursday, March 7, 2013 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Barry Gossage/WBCI/MLB via Getty Images) | MLB via Getty Images
After last night’s dramatic World Baseball Classic final, Eduardo Rodriguez will be returning to Salt River Fields in triumph, having started the game for the winners, and pitched a gem against a stacked American line-up. With all respect to the Cubs, this afternoon is going to be something of a let-down in comparison. But, cheer up! A week from tomorrow, it’ll be the end of meaningless baseball. It feels like spring training has gone by quite quickly this year. Normally, 26 games in, I’ll be thoroughly fed-up of the whole endeavor. This year, though, it hasn’t been too bad.
After Merrill Kelly, scheduled to pitch will be RHP Joe Ross, RHP Taylor Clarke, RHP Juan Morillo, RHP Paul Sewald and RHP Kade Strowd. Kelly’s first start of spring was a bit rough, allowing six hits over 1.2 innings, with no walks and one strikeout. But results there were probably less important than health, and Merrill reported coming out of it feeling fine. He is still likely to start the year on the injured list, but it hopefully will not be for long. Could even end up missing less than 15 days of the season, if the team opts to backdate his IL stint the permitted three days before Opening Day.
Livestream today on dbacks.com, with Chris Garagiola & Cole Tucker on the call.
WEST PALM BEACH, FL - MARCH 04: CJ Abrams #5 of the Washington Nationals scores a run during the game between the Team Venezuela and the Washington Nationals at Cacti Park at the Palm Beaches on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Lawrence Brown/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
CJ Abrams is in the midst of his 4th spring training as a Washington National, and his 6th spring training overall. The 25-year-old shortstop has certainly become accustomed to the buildup to the regular season that occurs in March, but this time around, it’s different, with an entirely new coaching staff and technology around him.
Everyone on the Nationals roster is being challenged by the new staff to work on something new this spring to improve their game, and as for Abrams, he’s adapting as well as anyone to this. While Abrams overall numbers are nothing to write home about, he has made major strides in one area this spring.
It’s no secret that Abrams is a free swinger at the plate, finishing below average in chase rate every year he’s been in the big leagues. While it’s helped him tap into his power better, hitting 18 or more home runs each of the last 3 seasons, it’s limited his on-base capabilities, as Abrams .315 OBP in 2025 was the highest of his career, not ideal for a top of the lineup hitter.
One of the goals of manager Blake Butera and hitting coach Matt Borgschulte for Abrams this season is certainly to get on base at a higher clip, allowing him to wreak havoc on the base paths with his speed and be in position for bats like James Wood and Daylen Lile to drive him in.
While conclusions should hardly ever be drawn from spring training stats, certain outliers are worth keeping an eye on, and for Abrams this month, his chase and walk rate is one of those outliers. In a 37-plate-appearance sample size, Abrams’ chase rate ranks in the 85th percentile among all hitters with at least 25 plate appearances, a far cry from his 19th percentile chase rate during the 2025 regular season.
Factors such as facing worse pitching during the spring and minor league hitters increasing the sample size and bumping up Abrams’ ranking are at play, but they don’t fully explain how Abrams could go from near the very bottom in chase rate to near the top.
What does help explain the sudden change is the addition of Trajekt pitching machines at the Nationals’ spring training facilities, a high-tech device that can mimic the pitch arsenals and speeds of big league arms to better prepare hitters for games. According to Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic, Abrams arrived early to spring training this season specifically to train with this new technology, and the results are already beginning to show.
Abrams also had a strong chase rate in spring training 2025, ranking in the 79th percentile, but the difference this time around is that he’s turning them into walks at a much, much higher clip. Abrams’ walk rate last spring was 3.4%, just below his 5.8% walk rate during the 2025 regular season and right about in line with his 2021-2024 spring training walk rates.
This spring, Abrams is walking at a whopping 16.2% clip, leagues above where he’s been in the past. Abrams is swinging as a whole much less, and it’s leading to not only fewer swings and misses at pitches outside of the zone, but fewer mishits, which turn into weak groundouts or flyouts, when those at-bats could’ve ended in walks or extra-base hits.
37 plate appearances in February and March don’t dictate how Abrams 2026 season is going to look, but they may offer some insight into what we can look for, and in Abrams case, it might be more free passes, meaning more opportunities to swipe bags and let the hitters behind him do damage.
If Abrams can take more walks and get on base at even a slightly higher clip than he has in years past, it opens up lineup construction for Blake Butera in a big way, as he can experiment with all sorts of hitters in different spots because he can trust Abrams in the leadoff spot to start the rallies. Even though Abrams is only hitting .226 with a .706 OPS, this spring gives me optimism for the Nats shortstop.
