In the 2022 MLB Draft, Gavin Cross was taken ninth overall by the Kansas City Royals. The Virginia Tech outfielder had just wrapped up an outstanding three-year career with the Hokies.
In his “freshman” season in 2020, he started all 16 games and hit .369, recording seven multi-hit performances before the pandemic cut the season short.
His next season was considered his true freshman campaign, and he became the first freshman in program history to earn All-ACC First Team honors. He also led the team with a .345 batting average. The talent was obvious, and he looked destined for the big leagues. After another strong season, the Royals selected him ninth overall.
Cross carried that success into his first professional season, slashing .312/.437/.633 between the ACL and Columbia with the Fireflies.
At that point, he appeared to be moving quickly through the minors, with the potential to become the next big thing in Kansas City. He opened the 2023 season in High-A Quad Cities and even reached Double-A Northwest Arkansas by year’s end. However, he struggled mightily, hitting just .206/.300/.383.
It didn’t add up. How does a hitter who had posted .300-plus seasons for four straight years suddenly look lost at the plate?
The answer came later. Cross made three separate trips to the emergency room before doctors diagnosed him with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, a serious tick-borne illness. Though he was treated with antibiotics, the disease left him physically drained and effectively derailed his season.
The illness is relatively rare, affecting only a few thousand people in the United States each year, according to the CDC.
In other words, a rare condition cost Cross one of the most important developmental seasons of his career and set him back on his path to the majors.
Since then, Cross has somewhat rebounded, spending the last two seasons in Double-A and putting together respectable numbers, hitting .261 and .241 with 32 combined home runs.
Now entering his age-25 season, time is beginning to feel like a factor. Prospects such as Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen have surged up the system, and Cross has faded from the spotlight.
However, with players away for the World Baseball Classic this spring, Cross received an extended opportunity in Arizona—and he made the most of it. He hit .281/.324/.500 with two home runs. The 14 strikeouts are a concern, but elevated strikeout rates are common in today’s game.
He won’t open the season in Kansas City. More likely, he returns to Double-A, though he seems close to breaking through to Triple-A Omaha.
And given the Royals’ outfield struggles over the past two seasons, opportunities could arise. If players like Starling Marte or Lane Thomas fail to produce, or if injuries hit, Cross could finally get his chance to reach the majors and live up to his draft status.
It would make for a compelling comeback story, especially after the lost season caused by Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. The earliest realistic timeline for a call-up would be late July or early August, but he’s an easy player to root for, and one who still has a chance to fulfill the expectations placed on him four years ago.
15 years ago today, and just two weeks after returning to the field following lat surgery, Jake Peavy was sidelined by rotator cuff issues. | (Photo by John Gress/Getty Images)
1900 The still-minor league White Sox purchase second baseman Dick Padden from the Washington Senators. In truth, Padden was sold to Detroit, but in some transaction lost to time, Padden ended up on the South Side, as the White Sox’s first player-manager. (Charles Comiskey is regarded as the 1900 team’s manager, but player-managers were the norm at the time, so at most the two men co-managed the White Sox.)
Padden, then 29, had his best season — unsurprising having moved “down” from the National League to the then-minor American. He hit a career-best .284 with another career high, 36 steals, while playing in 130 of Chicago’s 135 games.
Oh, and Padden led the White Sox to the first AL pennant, with an 82-53 record.
When the White Sox moved into the major leagues in 1901 and enticed pitching ace Clark Griffith to jump to the AL, part of the proviso was granting Griffith the manager’s role. Thus Madden re-jumped back to the National League, and the St. Louis Cardinals.
2006 The White Sox pull off what turns out to be a terrific deal, in a swap of blue-chippers. Seattle sends its ballyhooed southpaw Matt Thornton to Chicago for outfielder Joe Borchard.
Borchard was a first round (No. 12 overall) pick in 2000 but beyond hitting what is still the longest home run in new Sox Park history (504 feet) in 2004 never had a single positive-WAR season. He lasted for six games in Seattle before being placed on waivers in May.
Thornton, the No. 22 overall pick in 1998 by the M’s, fell under the tutelage of pitching coach Don Cooper, conquered his control issues, and became a dominant reliever for the better part of a decade. Right away, he contributed to White Sox success, with an outstanding 1.7 WAR and 3.33 ERA in 2006. Over his seven-plus years in Chicago he tallied a 3.28 ERA/3.02 FIP and 10.8 WAR over 512 games, and was named an All-Star in 2010.
2009 The White Sox swapped shortstop Sergio Santos — signed as a minor league free agent on January 12 — to the San Francisco Giants. Whether explicitly plotted or not, this deal seemed to be predicated on giving Santos one final shot to make it in baseball as a hitter. Support for this hypothesis comes in the form of Santos failing to make an impact with San Francisco at the end of Spring Training and getting shipped back to Chicago on April 1 — at which point his transformation from hitter to relief pitcher began.
Just one year later, Santos broke north with the White Sox — as a key setup man in the bullpen.
2011 Just two weeks after his unprecedented return to the field after lat surgery, Jake Peavy’s rotator cuff put his status to make the Opening Day roster in question. He’ll end up missing the first month-plus of the season with soreness, allowing Philip Humber to make his mark on the season. The rotation pitches so well in Peavy’s absence that upon his return the White Sox briefly adopt a six-man rotation, novel for the time.
On the season, Peavy is medicore, going 7-7 with 18 starts and a 1.1 WAR. His 4.92 ERA looks horrible until considering his 3.21 WHIP. In 2012, Peavy will come back and pitch the best non-Cy Young season of his career, with 5.0 WAR.
The Atlanta Hawks are the hottest team in the Association, and they’re emerging as a potential dark horse in the Eastern Conference. An 11-game winning streak is wild in itself, but the Hawks are also blowing out opponents lately.
They just beat the Dallas Mavericks by 15 points and the Orlando Magic by 12 points. Atlanta is 19-15 on the road, and while they’ve lost three straight to the Houston Rockets, the hosts have dropped two straight and aren't in good shape right now.
Hawks vs Rockets same-game parlay
Nickeil Alexander-Walker is having quite the campaign. He’s averaging 20.3 PPG, and in March so far, and 24 ppg on the season. He’s a big reason for this winning run.
The Canadian has cashed the Over in three straight, and he even erupted for 41 points on Monday against Orlando.
Jalen Johnson is an elite player in all aspects, and his playmaking cannot be overlooked. The Duke product is averaging 8.1 dimes, which ranks fourth in the NBA.
He’s hit the Over in assists in four consecutive appearances, and he’s averaging 7.8 dimes on the road in 2025-26.
Hawks vs Rockets SGP
Hawks moneyline
Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 18.5 points
Jalen Johnson Over 7.5 assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: McCollum Matters!
CJ McCollum is averaging 18.4 PPG since coming over to the Hawks. He’s cashed the Over in two of his last three, and just balled out for 24 on Wednesday against Dallas.
The Rockets’ stars haven’t been playing great lately, but Jabari Smith Jr. is still doing his part. The youngster has hit the Over in points in three straight outings, and he’s cashed the Over in two of his previous four home games as well.
Hawks vs Rockets SGP
Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 18.5 points
Jalen Johnson Over 7.5 assists
CJ McCollum Over 17.5 points
Jabari Smith Jr Over 16.5 points
Hawks vs Rockets odds
Spread: Hawks +3.5 (-110) | Rockets -3.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Hawks +135 | Rockets -160
Over/Under: Over 228 (-110) | Under 228 (-110)
Hawks vs Rockets betting trend to know
The Atlanta Hawks have hit the moneyline in 23 of their last 35 games (+13.55 Units / 17% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Hawks vs. Rockets.
How to watch Hawks vs Rockets
Location
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Date
Friday, March 20, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN SE-ATL, SCHN
Hawks vs Rockets latest injuries
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Knicks vs Nets best bet: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 19.5 points (-112)
Karl-Anthony Towns is definitely down a bit in 2025-26 compared to past seasons, but he’s still averaging 20 PPG for the title-chasing New York Knicks. The big man has been balling out lately, hitting the Over in points in four of his last five appearances.
Most notably, KAT has dominated the lowly Brooklyn Nets. Across three meetings, the Kentucky product is averaging 26.3 points per contest. He’s also averaging 19.8 PPG on the road this season.
Towns has also hit the Over in three straight road games, dropping 25,35, and 21 points. He’ll keep it rolling this evening in the Big Apple.
Knicks vs Nets same-game parlay
Jalen Brunson is the Knicks’ top playmaker, averaging 6.6 assists. Brunson has cashed the Over in two consecutive outings, and he’s hit the Over in five of his previous eight games. Brooklyn is allowing 9.0 dimes per contest to point guards.
Mikal Bridges is struggling lately. He’s barely averaging 10 PPG in March, but this is a revenge game for him, and he’s played well against Brooklyn this season. In three matchups, he’s averaging 14.3 PPG.
Knicks vs Nets SGP
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 19.5 points
Jalen Brunson Over 8.5 assists
Mikal Bridges Over 12.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: OG!
OG Anunoby is shooting the three at a 38% clip this season, averaging 2.2 makes on 5.8 attempts. He’s cashed the Over in three of his last five, and Anunoby just went 4-for-5 from long range on Tuesday against the Indiana Pacers.
New York is riding a 12-game winning streak against Brooklyn. They’ve covered tonight’s spread in two of the last three meetings, with their last matchup ending 120-66 at MSG. The Knicks will blow out the struggling Nets.
Knicks vs Nets SGP
Jalen Brunson Over 8.5 assists
Mikal Bridges Over 12.5 points
OG Anunoby Over 2.5 threes
Knicks -17
Knicks vs Nets odds
Spread: Knicks -17 (-110) | Nets +17 (-110)
Moneyline: Knicks -2222 | Nets +1100
Over/Under: Over 214.5 (-110) | Under 214.5 (-110)
Knicks vs Nets betting trend to know
The New York Knicks have covered the 4Q Spread in 26 of their last 40 games (+9.65 Units / 21% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Nets.
How to watch Knicks vs Nets
Location
Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
Date
Friday, March 20, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
MSG, YES
Knicks vs Nets 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.
The Portland Trail Blazers have made real strides this year, but tonight’s matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves will test whether they can make some noise in the play-in tournament next month.
Minnesota has won the past four meetings with Portland but there’s no Anthony Edwards for this one, so my Trail Blazers vs. Timberwolves predictions shift to another All-Star talent primed to shine.
Check out my free NBA picks for this March 20 battle, where the Timberwolves will try to pad their impressive home record.
Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves prediction
Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves best bet: Deni Avdija Over 12.5 rebounds + assists (+100)
Deni Avdija has now played six games since returning from a back issue. While his scoring has been erratic and he’s ice-cold from three-point range, he’s averaging 6.3 RPG and 7.0 APG in that span.
So I like this combo Over, with Avdija cashing this number in three of his last four outings, and the Portland Trail Blazers are thinner on the wing without Shaedon Sharpe.
Even while sharing playmaking duties with Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson, Avdija is Portland’s No. 1 creator, and his rebounding will be critical against a Minnesota Timberwolves team that crushed the Indiana Pacers on the boards in midweek.
Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves same-game parlay
The T-Wolves are 8-2 SU in the past 10 meetings between these teams, and I’m buying into their 24-12 record at Target Center.
Look for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to fill the Edwards void. Randle dished eight dimes against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, while the sometimes-streaky DiVincenzo has knocked down 3+ three-pointers in two of his last three games.
Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves SGP
Timberwolves moneyline
Julius Randle Over 4.5 assists
Donte DiVincenzo Over 2.5 3-pointers
Our "from downtown" SGP: Dime central
With Randle and Avdija at the controls, this playmaking SGP has nice upside, and Scoot has chipped in with nine assists across his last two outings.
These teams combined for 53 dimes in their late-February clash, and there’s a case for a similar script tonight.
Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves betting trend to know
The Blazers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 contests. Find more NBA betting trends for Trail Blazers vs. Timberwolves.
How to watch Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves
Location
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Date
Friday, March 20, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
KUNP, FDSN-NO
Trail Blazers 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.
When Montreal Canadiens’ GM Kent Hughes heard Noah Dobson was available to be had on the trade market, he didn’t hesitate, and he acquired the right-shot defenseman on draft day, even though it meant trading his two first-round picks and promising young forward Emil Heineman. After 68 games with the Sainte-Flanelle, the blueliner has shown Hughes that he was right to make the move, especially given the Canadiens’ lack of depth when it came to NHL-ready right-shot defenseman.
Dobson has put up 45 points in his first 68 games with the Habs, and he’s on pace for a 54-point season, which would be a big improvement on his totals from last year. Of course, when Hughes acquired him, it was because of how offensively gifted he is, but there’s more to his game than just that.
While he’s not as defensively sound as he is offensively gifted, he’s still fully committed to the defensive side of the game. Right now, he’s second in the league in blocked shots with 163, just two behind the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Jake McCabe. He’s on pace for 197 blocked shots on the season; last year, he only had 126 with the New York Islanders.
He currently has a plus-10 rating, a significant improvement from the minus-16 he posted for the New York Islanders last season. Of course, there’s still room for improvement when it comes to his defensive game; he could definitely stand to throw his body around a bit more and use that big frame of his (6-foot-4, 200 lbs).
He’s only got 45 hits so far this season (14th on the team), and he’s able to dish out more than that. In 2023-24, he registered 84, and the Canadiens aren’t the most physical team out there, so they could use it. He could also use a bit more intensity in his net front battles; clearing the goaltender’s sightline is always a plus. Still, one must admit that Dobson is having an impressive season with the Canadiens and that he thrives in Martin St-Louis’ brand of hockey.
USA - CIRCA 1980s: Paul Mirabella of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches circa 1980s. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images) | Sporting News via Getty Images
Paul Mirabella pitched in the big leagues for 13 years, tossing nearly 500 innings for six different teams, mostly in relief. He was never an All-Star, never a league leader, never a closer, and never appeared in the playoffs. Considering those facts, his longevity is a remarkable achievement and a testament to power of a lefty arm that teams can dream on.
Paul Thomas Mirabella Born: March 20, 1954 (Belleville, NJ) Yankees Tenure: 1979
Mirabella was born just 20 miles from his future home at Yankee Stadium, in Belleville, NJ. A standout at Parsippany High and Montclair State University, the Rangers made the youngster their first-round pick in the 1976 MLB Draft. Mirabella rose quickly through their system, making his big-league debut in his third professional season. He struggled in a cup of coffee with Texas, allowing 18 runs in 28 innings.
That offseason, the 24-year-old would be a central figure in a blockbuster deal. Despite winning the Cy Young Award in 1977, the following season Sparky Lyle lost his closer job to Goose Gossage, making him expendable (and personally interested in a change of scenery regardless). The Yankees spun the reliever to the Rangers in a nine-player trade that also brought back Dave Righetti, who would spend 11 years in New York, winning Rookie of the Year honors in ’81, throwing a no-hitter in ’83 and making two All-Star teams after converting to closer a few years later.
Central to the deal was Mirabella himself. With Lyle departing, the Yankees needed to replace the sole lefty in their bullpen. And, while Mirabella could not reasonably be expected to replicate the three-time All-Star’s performance on the mound, he helped the Yankees fill an area of need.
Despite his status as the team’s lone lefty reliever, Mirabella was not guaranteed a spot on the Yankees’ roster out of spring training camp, instead competing with several others for a final bullpen slot. “If I do get sent on to Columbus, I’m going to be disappointed,” said Mirabella at the time. “It will be a letdown, but I’d have to pick up the pieces and do well. Whatever decision they make, I’ll accept it. I won’t fight it. I won’t tell them I’m going to go home. I’ll do what they say.”
He would win out, debuting in the season’s fourth game on April 10th. Brought on to face the left-handed Al Bumbry, he allowed a single that loaded the bases and was promptly removed. It was a sign of things to come. As our own Matt Ferenchick detailed a few years back, Mirabella’s time in New York was a disaster. He allowed 14 earned runs in 14.1 innings, putting up an astonishing -1.0 bWAR in limited action, and would end up spending most of the year down at Triple-A Columbus after all.
That offseason, Mirabella was once again involved in a memorable transaction. This time, he joined erstwhile playoff hero Chris Chambliss and up-and-comer Dámaso García in shipping up north to Toronto in a deal that brought back catcher Rick Cerone, a fellow New Jersey native who would finish seventh in MVP voting the following season and end up spending seven years with the team. (Incidentally, Cerone would be dealt for Brian Fisher, who by sheer coincidence, we profiled two days ago for his birthday.) For his part, Mirabella would embark on a nomadic career that took him back to Texas, then to Baltimore, then Seattle, and finally Milwaukee. It was on that last stop that he posted a career year in 1988 at the age of 34, recording a 1.65 ERA in 60 innings for a Brewers squad that missed the playoffs by just two games.
Mirabella hung up his cleats after the 1990 season. While his time in New York was a lowlight in his career, the left-hander bounced back admirably to have a long run in the show. Join us in wishing a happy 72nd birthday to Belleville’s own, Paul Mirabella.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
St. Louis Blues rookie defenseman Theo Lindstein is experiencing his first bit of life in the NHL to end the 2025-26 season, and he’s showing he’s up for the task.
It’s been just five games, but the 21-year-old has shown a level of comfort that the Blues are more than pleased with.
In these five games, Lindstein has recorded one assist, fired five shots on goal, thrown two hits, and blocked two shots while averaging 14:06 of ice time. His counting stats indicate he has impacted the game across multiple facets, and his analytics show he is helping guide the Blues to success.
According to naturalstattrick.com, the Blues are outscoring their opponents at 5-on-5, 3-2, with Lindstein on the ice. Additionally, they own 64.94 percent of the expected goals, 60 percent of the high-danger chances, and own a 57.72 CorsiFor percentage.
Coach Jim Montgomery has done a solid job of putting Lindstein in advantageous situations, yet he’s feeling more comfortable putting him in defensive situations. Through his first five games, Lindstein has started eight shifts in the offensive zone, 18 in the neutral zone, and 14 in the defensive zone, while 64 have started on the fly.
When looking at Lindstein’s AHL numbers with the Springfield Thunderbirds, some may have been deterred or thought he wasn’t ready. His six goals and 14 points in 56 games aren’t exactly eye-popping or league-shattering, but the six-foot defender was in the process of getting accustomed to North American hockey while trying to learn a new system.
The adjustment took some time, but once he found his game, he excelled, and now, he’s proving it at the NHL level.
Lindstein has played nearly every second of his NHL career alongside Colton Parayko. While they might be different players physically and stylistically, Parayko is a great defender for a rookie to start his career with and learn from. While the lessons he can learn from Parayko are worth it on their own, the fact that their numbers are great together is a positive sign.
With Justin Faulk gone, there’s a vacancy on the blueline, and Lindstein is showing that he is ready for it. He’ll have to prove himself in training camp before next season, as players like Adam Jiricek are expected to compete for that roster spot, but his play during this call-up is showing a lot of positive signs to coach Montgomery.
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Mar 19, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Lakers team celebrates Luka Doncic (77) after 60 point game against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Isabella Frias-Imagn Images | Isabella Frias-Imagn Images
As Luka Dončić stood at the line to put the finishing touch on his 60-point masterpiece, “MVP!” chants rained down from the stands of the Kaseya Center in Miami.
In any situation, a road arena showering praise upon a visiting opponent would be notable. That it came on the same floor Bam Adebayo scored 83 points not even two weeks ago makes it feel a bit extra notable.
“It was pretty impressive,” Luka said of the chants. “Especially an away game in Miami, you hear the whole crowd chanting “MVP!” I think every player wants to hear it. I got goosebumps. It was pretty special.”
The moment represents the growing crescendo of noise around Luka’s MVP case, which has shifted into overdrive over the last week, mirroring what has taken place on the court. For most of the season, Luka’s case was centered around just being on the ballot of the five players that each voter submits.
Now, though, the case is, instead, that he belongs in the conversation for the award itself.
“I don’t know why not,” Austin Reaves said of whether Luka deserved to be in the MVP conversation following Thursday’s win over the Heat. “[He’s] leading the league in scoring. I seen something [that] he was leading the league in a lot of things. We’re third in the West. I don’t know.
“I couldn’t see a reason why he’s not [in the MVP discussion]. I don’t think what I say is going to matter but he definitely should be in that conversation.”
Momentum is securely in Luka’s favor. Prior to the conclusion of Wednesday’s game in Houston, Luka was sitting somewhere around +5000 odds to win MVP, positioning him not just behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the presumptive favorite most of the season, but also a handful of other players.
After scoring 100 points in roughly a 24-hour period, Luka’s odds on FanDuel now sit at +1800. SGA is still far and away the favorite at -2000 odds, but the change is a tangible representation of how the narrative is shifting.
That shift has come as the Lakers have stacked win after win after win. They’ve won their last eight contests, nearly all of those coming against playoff teams across both conferences. Their only loss over the last 12 games came on the road in Denver in a close affair.
The Lakers are finding their groove as a team and Luka is at the center of it. During the eight-game win streak, Luka is averaging a staggering 40.8 points per game. He’s eclipsed the 40-point mark in half those contests. He’s scored at least 50 twice.
And on Thursday, he had his best game as a Laker yet.
“It’s a special run that he’s on,” head coach JJ Redick said. “We’ve seen all-time greats like him go on these runs and you just kind of got to embrace it and enjoy the moment. We’re 20 games over .500. Obviously, he’s missed time, LeBron’s missed time, [Reaves’] missed time.
“To the MVP point, we would not be anywhere near the position we’re in without him having the season he’s having. Particularly of late, he’s dominating right now.”
With only 12 games remaining on the schedule, it’s incredibly unlikely Luka can do enough to move past SGA, who is the leader of the team with the best record in the league and has had plenty of MVP-caliber moments of his own down the home stretch of the season.
But he’s certainly making it a conversation with each prolific scoring output he has, which is an increasingly common occurrence.
You can’t necessarily blame him: The Cavaliers' 6-foot-9, 238-pound forward was playing professionally for Bilbao Basket in the Liga ACB league, the top professional basketball division of the Spanish basketball league, just last season.
"When I was 17 and younger, I thought it was another tournament like others. I did some brackets when I was younger, but that was just for fun," De Ridder said.
It’s what makes the 23-year-old freshman from Brasschaat, Belgium excited to play in Virginia's first round game against No. 14 seed Wright State.
"Every time (there was) an American guy on my team (overseas), they always talked about March Madness," De Ridder said. "Now that I'm here, it's such an organization, and it just made me really excited to play here. Hopefully, we can do some great stuff."
Thijs De Ridder's path from Bilbao to Virginia
De Ridder's path to Virginia is an interesting one.
"The story is, I happened to be in Italy looking at another kid and was meeting with his (Thijs) agent, but not about Thijs. (It was) about another kid,” Virginia associate head coach Griff Aldrich told USA TODAY Sports. "Thijs came to mind, and it became apparent that he was open, so we said, 'Hey, we were very interested (in him),' and it snowballed to Thijs."
Aldrich mentioned De Ridder wasn’t playing in Italy at the time he was visiting, but the 6-foot-9 forward matched Virginia's values while bringing experience and physicality to the court.
"He competed at a very high level. So his experience, size, physicality, and versatility were so attractive to us," Aldrich said. "We really liked his ability to be a two-way threat, both shooting and scoring, and then being able to drive and play out of the post."
He appeared in 33 of 34 games in the 2024-25 season for Bilbao Basket, averaging 9.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while shooting 50.2% from the field and 39.1% from 3-point range. He also has international experience for Belgium in the FIBA U20 European Championship in 2022 and 2023.
For De Ridder, the opportunity to play at Virginia — 29-5 in Year 1 under Ryan Odom — gave him the chance to show NBA scouts and coaches how he would compete against collegiate competition.
"I was lucky enough to do some work in NBA workouts before this and they were all saying, 'Hey Thijs, we want to see you compare with college kids and (see) what you can do there,'" De Ridder said. “Now that I’m here, I got the feedback that I wanted to work on my game and the skill sets and aspects that I have to work on to get to the next level."
De Ridder has been one of the more impactful newcomers Virginia has added this past offseason. Named to the All-ACC first team and all-rookie teams, De Ridder leads the Cavaliers in scoring at 15.5 points per game, and finished the regular season with the league's 15th-best scoring margin at 15.9 points per game.
He enters the NCAA Tournament with 11 20-point games, including a career-high 32 points at Notre Dame. He ranks ninth in the ACC in field goal percentage (50.8%) and 17th in rebounding (6.2 rpg).
"He's incredibly composed," Wright State coach Clint Sargent said Thursday on De Ridder. “He's versatile offensively."
De Ridder’s success with the Cavaliers hasn’t come without some growth and adjustments to the different style of basketball in the United States.
"Thijs did not come in here saying, 'Hey, I played in the top pro league in Spain. You guys give me the ball and get out of the way and just listen to me.’ He has always been, 'I’m just a part of the team,'" Aldrich said.
Continued Aldrich: "He’s always been a younger guy who has played with older men. His role has always been a role player and not screw up. Where now it is, 'Hey, we actually need you to be an impact guy. We need you to be aggressive and be a playmaker and a scorer," Aldrich said. "It’s all things that I think he has really grown in just from a personality and an understanding of a new role."
All-ACC First Team ✅ All-Rookie Team ✅
- Thijs De Ridder ranks 15th in the ACC in scoring (15.9 ppg), ninth in field goal percentage (51.3%) and 17th in rebounding (6.3 rpg) - He has reached double figures in scoring in 24 contests and has 11-20 point games - De Ridder netted… https://t.co/VbR0iZBJKSpic.twitter.com/6g3Nvf3nnY
— Virginia Men's Basketball (@UVAMensHoops) March 9, 2026
How Thijs De Ridder has become leader for Cavaliers
At 23 years old, De Ridder is further along in his development than some of his teammates and competition around the country. For him, the biggest adjustment in college basketball has been the "young energy."
"Everybody wants to prove themselves here," said De Ridder, who also mentioned he has tried to use his experience overseas to his advantage with his younger teammates.
De Ridder’s experience and versatility on the court stand out with teammate Malik Thomas.
"What he’s brought to this team has been very special," Thomas told USA TODAY Sports. "His experience playing in big games overseas, where their March Madness looks a bit different, has been great. He brings this toughness to this team and has been a great piece for us."
The Cavaliers will need De Ridder to continue bringing that toughness and physicality inside the paint not just tomorrow against Wright State, where they hope to snap a three-game losing skid in the NCAA Tournament, but also the entire tournament if they want to go on a run.
"He’s created a lot of disadvantages and mismatches for the other team," Thomas said. "... It’s been great to see his growth over here at the college level and we’re just excited about his growth and how he continues to be himself."
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After legendary Mets broadcaster Howie Rose announced his retirement Thursday, he took to social media to send a message to fans in Queens.
“Seriously, I am absolutely overwhelmed by your kind words and thoughts. I cannot even begin to articulate how deeply you’ve touched me, not just yesterday but over all these years. Let’s have a great time this season. You truly are the best. Much love,” Rose wrote Friday morning in a post on X.
Howie Rose has emceed events at Citi Field, such as number retirement ceremonies, in past years. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Rose, 72, will retire after the 2026 season and is scheduled to work only Mets’ home games this season, barring a postseason run.
He’s previously served as an emcee for certain on-field events and could remain in that capacity as well.
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“Trust me, I did not arrive at this decision to retire easily,” Rose said in a video posted by the Mets on Thursday. “I have been going back and forth in my mind about it for the last few years. But the simple reality is that I am 72 years old and my wife Barbara, who has sacrificed so much for so long, deserves to have her husband around a little more often — whether she likes it or not.
“Time is getting short for that, at least as far as I’m concerned…I have got to hit the gas here, but there is only so much that I can control,” he added.
Rose also revealed in the video that he won’t be making a “clean break” and wants to stay involved with the organization after this season.
For Gary Cohen, the Mets’ lead voice in its SNY booth since 2006, the news hit hard, even though the two had conversations about Rose’s retirement in recent years.
“It still hit like a ton of bricks because it’s such a huge piece of the Mets’ firmament that will be going away,” Cohen said.
Howie Rose will still call Mets home games and Subway Series games this season before he officially retires. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Rose has been a part of Mets broadcasts since 1987, eventually switching to radio in 2004.
He also called the NHL’s New York Rangers and Islanders at different points earlier in his career.
Across his career, Rose had numerous iconic calls, from Mike Piazza’s home run following the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001 to Pete Alonso’s go-ahead long ball against the Brewers in the 2024 Wild Card series.
MESA, AZ - NOVEMBER 09: Blake Mitchell #8 of the Kansas City Royals hits a double in the second inning during the 2025 Arizona Fall League Fall Stars game between the American League Fall Stars and the National League Fall Stars at Sloan Park on Sunday, November 9, 2025 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Royals fans can get a glimpse of the future this afternoon, as MLB hosts Spring Breakout games today. Top prospects like catcher Blake Mitchell, outfielder Sean Gamble, and pitcher Kendry Chourio are on the 27-man roster that will take on Texas Rangers prospects at 3 p.m. CT in Arizona. All Spring Breakout games will be broadcast live and fully available on MLB’s digital platforms (MLB.com, MLB.TV, and the MLB app).
The Royals will serve as the visiting team in their contest at Surprise Stadium. The original 40-man roster was narrowed to a 27-man active roster for today’s game, with a roster that also includes top pitching prospect Felix Arronde, hard-throwing Dennis Colleran, 2025 draft pick Justin Lamkin, speedster Asbel Gonzalez, former first-round pick Gavin Cross, and top hitting prospects like Ramon Ramirez, Yandel Ricarod, Daniel Vazquez, and Carson Roccaforte.
The future takes the field this afternoon in our 2026 Spring Breakout Prospect Showcase! pic.twitter.com/gNeWqGCz7D
The Florida Panthers are set to visit the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome tonight.
My top Panthers vs. Flames predictions and NHL picks are calling for Calgary to show up and keep things low-scoring on Friday, March 20.
Panthers vs Flames prediction
Panthers vs Flames best bet: Under 5.5 (+100)
The Calgary Flames draw the Florida Panthers on the second leg of a back-to-back road set after the Cats topped Edmonton in a Stanley Cup rematch on Thursday.
This sets up as a great schedule spot for Calgary, which has allowed the fourth-fewest goals per game on home ice (2.7). Meanwhile, the Flames have also scored the fewest goals per game overall (2.44).
With Calgary also hitting the Under in 15 of its last 25 games, I’m expecting another low-scoring matchup between these two teams.
Panthers vs Flames same-game parlay
This is a potential letdown spot for a Florida roster that’s also missing multiple key veterans.
On the opposite bench, Calgary has a number of players pushing to establish NHL jobs for next season. The Flames are also a respectable 17-12-4 at home for the season.
Turning to Calgary rookie Matvei Gridin, he’s picked up two or more shots in 11 of his past 15 games. The 2024 first-round selection has made a quick jump to the highest level, and his consistent shot volume has been a spark for the Flames during a tough stretch.
Calgary has hit the Under in 15 of its last 25 games (+6.10 Units / 22% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Panthers vs. Flames.
How to watch Panthers vs Flames
Location
Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB
Date
Friday, March 20, 2026
Puck drop
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet West
Panthers vs Flames latest injuries
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ST. LOUIS – With Santa Clara’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in 30 years barely 24 hours away, Herb Sendek spent a lot of his Thursday morning media session looking backward.
The Broncos’ longtime head coach, 10 days removed from his 600th win as a head coach, split his news conference mostly between discussing his own team and reminiscing on his time as an assistant under Rick Pitino at Kentucky.
“That four years was just, it was magic,” Sendek said of his time in Lexington. “Big Blue Nation is one of a kind.”
With the 26-win Broncos enjoying their best season in decades, the most-experienced coach in this weekend’s pod might just be the one poised to deliver the weekend’s biggest upset. His team does not lack for belief in the possibility.
Sendek’s career is a testament to longevity in what has increasingly become a young man’s game.
Of the eight head coaches in St. Louis this weekend, only two — Sendek and Purdue’s Matt Painter — have been at it more than 11 years. Two here, Miami’s Jai Lucas and Tennessee State’s Nolan Smith, brought their teams to March Madness in their first years in their respective jobs.
Sendek’s story covers many more chapters.
Friday will be his 16th Tournament game as a head coach. Santa Clara is the fourth different program he’s brought dancing. Honored this winter as West Coast Conference coach of the year, Sendek has now won that award in four different leagues.
He invokes Pitino and Jim Valvano as comfortably as he talks about the way these Broncos succeed by “staying in the moment, all season long.”
Mostly, he talks like what he is — a coach’s son who never really considered making a living doing anything else.
“My dad was a coach. I have been in gyms since I have been in diapers. Literally,” Sendek said. “Now I look back on that and I realize, he was never too busy or going to be with somebody too important to have me tugging at his pants leg.
“He went out of his way to include me.”
The family business turned for Sendek into a lifetime spent in basketball.
He did not over-reflect on the past Thursday, though Sendek drew his share of knowing smiles when he picked out his “fondest” memory of his time in Lexington.
“I’d better answer that the right way,” he said, “and tell you I met my wife there. …
“Coach Pitino actually played cupid and set my wife and I up, and sure enough, 30-some years later, we’re here. So that would be memory No. 1.”
The memories Sendek spends his time on this weekend will be the ones Santa Clara hopes to make, starting with tipoff at 12:15 p.m. ET Friday.
Seeking their first NCAA tournament win since that Steve Nash-led team defeated Maryland in 1996, the Broncos lean on one of the nation’s most-efficient offenses. They shoot the ball well but rebound it better, perhaps as effectively as any team in the country on a per-possession basis.
That delivered not just 15 conference wins and a berth in the WCC title game, but also multiple nonconference victories over high-major opponents.
It was one of those, a 19-point Nov. 10 win at Xavier, that got Santa Clara believing this season could be something special.
“We went out there and competed, and we played well,” sophomore guard Christian Hammond said Thursday. “I just saw the fire and the hunger this team had.”
The Broncos’ eyes are trained on a bigger prize this weekend.
Sendek has coached too long, stood on these stages too many times, to worry about the conversation around this game. His players reflect that.
Soon, they might deliver for their coach another meaningful mile marker in a career already bursting with them.
“We just believe in us,” senior forward Elijah Mahi said. “We know if we go out there and play hard, like we’ve been playing all year, that we can beat any team out there."
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA - MARCH 13, 2026: Jhoan Duran #59 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch during the sixth inning of a spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles at BayCare Ballpark on March 13, 2026 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Good Phight will be previewing the 2026 season by going over each position on the field. We’ll talk about the players that will occupy them, the played behind them, their strengths and weaknesses and give a few takes about how we think the season will shake out.
The Phillies began 2025 betting on Jordan Romano to have a bounce-back season, for José Ruiz to look like a solid middle-inning reliever, José Alvarado to look like a high leverage reliever, and for Orion Kerkering to ascend into an upper tier right handed reliever.
None of that happened. Luckily, they were able to sign David Robertson and make a massive trade for Jhoan Duran but the bullpen still cost them in each of their losses against the Dodgers in the NLDS. The Phillies were never able to overcome an offseason plan going horribly wrong.
The Leverage/Middle Relief Arms:Jhoan Duran, Brad Keller, José Alvarado, Jonathan Bowlan, Orion Kerkering, and Tanner Banks
Jhoan Duran will pitch his first full season as a Philadelphia Phillie after being acquired at the trade deadline last year. That means a full season of a set ninth inning and the Durantula throwing a ridiculous splinker while his intro music is still ringing in the heads of a sold-out crowd.
Personal opinion: it should be illegal for a closer to throw more than 3 pitches.
That’s not all to the bullpen in 2026. Brad Keller signed a two-year deal after a career-altering season with the Chicago Cubs. Keller pitched to a 2.07 ERA in 69.2 innings last season with a five-pitch arsenal. Given his .569 OPS allowed to left-handed hitters last season, Keller slots in as the primary setup option.
José Alvarado returns after his 2025 was defined by an 80-game suspension. The sinker and cutter have looked sharp in camp and there isn’t much left-handed relief depth behind him. He is the primary left handed option for Rob Thomson’s bullpen.
Jonathan Bowlan was acquired from the Royals in exchange for Matt Strahm. Bowlan finally got extended major league action as a reliever last season and showed some promising traits. His four-seam fastball generated a 43.5% whiff rate while his slider was at 40.2%. He also throws a sinker, curveball, and changeup to mix up the arsenal.
While it hasn’t been the best camp for Bowlan, there are still plenty of reasons to believe this was a very good trade for the Phillies given his upside and team control moving forward.
Orion Kerkering has a lot to prove in 2026. Beyond what happened in the NLDS, Kerkering took a step back in the 2025 regular season with a spike in walk rate and some bad tweaks with his sweeper. The pitch that got him to the major leagues did not have the same horizontal break and drop it had before and hitters looked a lot more comfortable against it. His whiff rate on the pitch declined by 7.5% and opponents hit it for more damage.
There is a world where Kerkering ends up as the second or third-best arm in the bullpen. He is working on a splitter, which could help him against left-handed hitters. It will still come down to how his sweeper performs in 2026 for him to reach his full potential.
No, Kerkering should not throw more fastballs.
Tanner Banks is comfortably the sixth guy in Thomson’s bullpen as a middle-relief/matchup arm against left-handed hitters. Banks limited lefties to a .456 OPS last season but struggled against righties. The Phillies are banking on him doing the exact same thing again.
This is the strongest the bullpen has looked since the end of the 2024 season. It will look more conventional than any bullpen in the Rob Thomson era. There is a set closer, there are set 7th and 8th inning arms, and there are set middle relievers.
The churn: Kyle Backhus, Zach Pop, Seth Johnson, Chase Shugart, Max Lazar, Nolan Hoffman, and Zach McCambley (for now)
The Phillies completely revamped the back of their 40-man roster with plenty of new relief options for depth. They traded for Kyle Backhus to bolster their left-handed reliever depth, bought some Pop, and claimed Shu(gart).
There are a lot more options for roster churn as the season goes on. Backhus, Zach Pop, and Seth Johnson stood out in camp. Shugart and Lazar look like options that can pitch more than an inning.
There are even some nice non-roster invite pickups here. Trevor Richards still throws a sick changeup, Jonathan Hernández has shown some stuff, and Daniel Robert throws a good sweeper.
Strengths: High end stuff and mix
The Phillies’ bullpen lacked swing-and-miss stuff, which is a necessity for high-leverage situations. Adding Duran for a full season, signing Keller, getting a full year out of Alvarado, and even trading for someone like Bowlan will go a long way in giving Thomson more high-end swing-and-miss stuff.
The Phillies also clearly prioritized pitchers, especially right-handed pitchers with deeper arsenals. Trading for Duran began the trend but Keller and Bowlan also have five-pitch arsenals and two different fastballs to help mitigate platoon advantages.
On paper, this is the kind of bullpen to feel good about taking to October.
Weaknesses: Left Handed Depth
The 40-man roster only carries three left-handed relievers in Alvarado, Banks, and Backhus. They added Tim Mayza and Génesis Cabrera to minor league stills but it’s still easy to see the group as a little thin.
Some of their right-handed relievers will mitigate some of this. Duran and Keller were very good at getting both righties and lefties out last season but it’s still easy to see why you could want a little more.
If Alvarado misses some time, you will need right-handed pitchers to make up for it in leverage spots. Banks and Backhus are very good at getting lefties out but do not profile well against righties.
Hottest take: Jonathan Bowlan is the 3rd best reliever in the bullpen
The four-seam fastball and slider combination will make for a big strikeout rate and his command is solid for a reliever. There could be some home-run issues here but he feels like the best guy outside of their top two arms to break through as a true leverage piece.
Realistic take: Duran earns a career high in saves
From 2023-2025, Duran recorded 82 saves with a career high of 32 last season. Those Minnesota Twins teams never won more than 87 games while he was there and the closer role is less valuable when the team doesn’t have as many ninth inning leads.
The Phillies won 95 games in 2024 and 96 last season. The general expectation for this group is to once again win the division and win roughly 93+ games.
From a math standpoint, it’s hard to imagine Duran finishing with fewer than 33 saves next season.
