MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 19: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the Miami Heat during the third quarter at Kaseya Center on March 19, 2026 in Miami, Florida. 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 Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Los Angeles Lakers are in the middle of a nine-game winning streak. LeBron James, during this stretch, is thriving as the second-fiddle for the first time in his life. Transitioning into a play-finishing wing next to another ball-dominant star might be the final evolution of LBJ’s career.
But would he be better suited to do this in LA, or back home with the Cleveland Cavaliers?
The answer to that question felt obvious less than two months ago.
Per Sam Amick of The Athletic, executives across the league were reaching a consensus on LeBron’s future as recently as late January.
“As recently as late January, not long after an ESPN report detailed so much of the dysfunction in James’ relationship with the Lakers organization, the widely-held consensus around the league was that there’s no way he’d be back in a Lakers jersey. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors were, and are, often mentioned by league executives as his most likely destinations.”
A lot has changed since then. James has gone from the odd-man-out in LA to fitting in nicely with the rest of his team. He’s emerged from his cocoon as a new player, showcasing that he’s able to embrace a new style even in his 23rd NBA season.
LeBron's isos and P&Rs are way down. He's holding the ball around half as long as he did at his peak. He's down to 1.29 dribbles per touch. And he's shooting 60% since he came back.
James is averaging 19 points on 60% shooting during the Lakers’ streak. He’s found chemistry with Luka Doncic, who just scored 40 points per game across a four-game stretch. This synergy between James and Doncic could reshape his future.
“It was the lack of synergy and consistent success with James on the court, above all else, that drove the idea of an unavoidable exit,” said Amick.
The Lakers are rolling, and James is fitting in more than fitting out. That’s opened a new door for him to remain in LA, where he already has everything he needs to compete. Of course, he could potentially take on the same role in Cleveland, joining another contending roster and playing off the backcourt of James Harden and Donovan Mitchell.
The fit in Cleveland looks better on paper. James is insulated by better defenders and fills a much larger need for the Cavs than he does with the Lakers. Then, obviously, there’s the storybook ending of winning one final title with his hometown. That’s hard to deny.
A Brief Rant on Social Media
I don’t know what James will do this summer. No one does.
All I can say for certain is that rumors aren’t always what they seem.
If you’ve seen Amick’s story aggregated today on Twitter, you might have assumed James already packed his bags and was ready to leave Hollywood. That’s because a handful of accounts have taken this report out of context, posting that James is “reportedly NOT expected to return to the Lakers.”
That, of course, was not at all implied in Amick’s story. In fact, I’d argue his story does the opposite. James seems more likely to stay in LA now.
I don’t have to explain to anyone why an account would intentionally (or unintentionally) frame the report this way. We all understand the concept of clickbait at this point. And, in fairness, even our lovely Fear The Sword has to blur the lines at times to keep the blog running. But the truth still matters — and there’s a difference between an engaging headline and straight-up lying.
So, let that be a lesson in social media aggregation.
If you read a report that surprises you, take the extra minute to find the original source and read it for yourself. Then take it a step further and mute any accounts that frequently mislead you. That’s what I do, at least.
Tyson Gross made his NHL debut on Sunday night, March 22, against the Tampa Bay Lightning, stepping onto the ice at the Scotiabank Saddledome for the first time as a member of the Calgary Flames.
The Calgary native logged 11 shifts for 8:07 of ice time and won his first career faceoff. Head coach Ryan Huska liked what he saw from the 23-year-old in his first outing.
“I thought he did a good job, you can tell he thinks the game well,” said Huska postgame when asked about Gross’ debut. “I thought he had a good first night … he did some good things.”
Before puck drop, Gross took part in the traditional rookie solo lap during warmups, circling the Saddledome ice alone in a moment years in the making. Having grown up watching games in the building, he was now in the lineup himself.
“It’s obviously extremely special,” Gross told the Flames media on Sunday. “I’ve watched a million games here, so to be able to be out there and actually play in one is a pretty crazy thing.”
Gross skated on a line with Adam Klapka and Martin Pospisil. He took a penalty in the first period, but the Flames’ penalty kill came through for the rookie.
Back on the bench afterward, Gross found himself seated between captain Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman. With more than 1,000 NHL games for Backlund and two Stanley Cups for Coleman, the two veterans offered guidance and encouragement for the rookie throughout the night.
It’s a snapshot of what the Flames are trying to build, with experienced players helping ease younger ones into the league.
“The young guys don’t get an opportunity to get better without the older players around them, because the older players have to take on the heavy minutes of playing against a Kucherov. That’s their job, when a younger player isn’t quite ready for that yet,” Huska explained. “So, those players are so valuable to help bring younger players along and that’s why we as a coaching staff are thrilled that Coleman’s with us and Backlund is with us.”
The 6-foot-3, 195-pound centre served as captain at St. Cloud State University this season, recording 18 goals and 23 assists for 41 points in 36 games.
Anger remains after England’s heavy Ashes defeat and whatever happens next is on the ECB’s chiefs
Having endorsed Brendon McCullum’s continuation as men’s head coach after an Ashes defeat riddled with self‑owns and kept Rob Key above him as team director, the England and Wales Cricket Board could in one sense be viewed as having taken the path of least resistance.
McCullum’s contract runs to the end of 2027 and it would cost a pretty penny to cut him loose. The players enjoy the pair’s methods and tend to call the shots in the modern era. There may not be an all-format candidate for head coach out there. Besides, look over there: the Hundred returns in July, ready to overload your eyeballs with multicoloured content.
Strider will begin the 2026 season on the injured list with an oblique strain, Braves manager Walt Weiss told reporters Monday, yet another setback in Strider’s young career.
“l think we’ve gotten out in front of this thing to a degree,” Weiss said of Strider’s designation. “So we’re hoping it’s not going to be a big deal.
“It’s hard for (Strider) to feel it, but it is there when he throws. There’s a chance, if he would have went out and made a start today, it would have set him back further.”
Spencer Strider finished second in Rookie of the Year voting in 2022 and fourth in Cy Young voting in 2023. AP
Strider was scratched from his start Monday against the Pirates. There’s currently no timetable for his return, though Weiss mentioned Atlanta hopes he can return in a few weeks.
Strider is not the only issue with the Braves’ rotation. Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep are both on the 60-day injured list, while Joey Wentz suffered a season-ending ACL tear. They retained 2024 Cy Young winner Chris Sale in free agency, but the rest of the rotation currently includes Reynaldo Lopez, Grant Holmes and Bryce Elder.
And it’s the third major injury Strider has faced in the last three years.
In 2024, he missed nearly the entire season after he hurt his UCL and underwent internal brace surgery. Last year, he was sidelined for the first six weeks of the season, and when he returned, he was not up to his past standard. Strider made 23 starts and finished with a 4.45 ERA and 131 strikeouts.
Atlanta hopes Strider can return to his 2023 form, though — the best year of his career. Strider led the league in wins (20), strikeouts (281) and FIP (2.85), while finishing with a 3.86 ERA. He finished fourth in the National League Cy Young Award voting and made the All-Star team.
Spencer Strider started spring training with two wins in just over eight innings of work. Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Strider was in the midst of a hopeful spring training, going 2-0 with a 3.24 ERA over 8 1/3 innings.
The Braves faltered to fourth place in the NL East last year, ending the year at 76-86 and missing the playoffs. They fired manager Brian Snitker after the year and hired Weiss.
Their quest to return to the postseason is already off to a rough start in 2026 because of Strider and Co.’s injuries.
Besides the pitching staff, shortstop Ha-Seong Kim is sidelined with a hand injury he suffered while falling on ice in January. Outfielder Jurickson Profar will miss the entire season after testing positive for PEDs and receiving a suspension.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 22: Devin Booker #1 and Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns react after a basket during the second half against the Toronto Raptors at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 22, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 22nd week of the NBA season for the Phoenix Suns is finally over, and honestly, good riddance.
It was one of those strange weeks. Five games in seven nights, a heavy schedule that hit at the worst possible time. This team is already dealing with injuries across the roster, something that has defined the second half of the season, and then you layer that kind of workload on top of it. It is a tough formula.
They simply cannot get healthy. And when you are fighting for relevance in a packed Western Conference, that matters. Every game carries weight, every opportunity counts, and this was a week where Phoenix had a chance to make a move. The sixth seed was sitting there. That’s an important place in the standings. It keeps you out of the Play In, where one or two bad nights can undo an entire season. It matters because it gives you a cleaner path into the postseason. Avoiding that Play In game is everything when you have worked this hard to stay above water.
It also matters because of the matchup. If you land in that six spot, you are not staring at the top of the conference in round one. You are looking at the three seed, which right now is trending toward the Lakers. That is a different path, a different challenge, and one you would take every time over having to deal with the top tier right away.
Week 22 had that opportunity. And it slipped. So yeah, it was a long week, and I know people are probably tired of hearing me complain about the schedule. Especially when you look ahead to Week 23 and see a game on Tuesday, then nothing until Saturday. It makes you shake your head a little. But every team plays 82, and sometimes the calendar hits you at the wrong time. For the Suns, five games in one week came when they were already limping, and they quite literally staggered through it.
If you ask what we learned, it is hard to land on anything definitive. We learned the depth is real. Even with all the injuries, this team stayed competitive and gave itself a chance in nearly every game. We also saw how hard it is to close when you are missing that many key pieces. That is not a revelation as much as it is confirmation. We already knew it, we simply watched it play out over the course of a full week.
At least it ended on a high note. Snapping the five game losing streak matters, even if it does not change much in the standings. And that is where the focus begins to shift. With 10 games left, the Suns feel locked into the seventh seed. So this is no longer about climbing. It is about preparing. Get healthy. Get guys back into rhythm.
Here's the facts, folks: The Suns are now 4 games up from #8 and 4 games back from #6 with 11 to play. You're probably not moving up or down – get healthy! PERIOD, PERIOD, PERIOD
That is the real challenge. We watched how long it took Jalen Green to find his legs again, and there is a chance that same process is coming for others returning from injury. That is what these final games are for. Find some cohesion. Build some rhythm. Become as difficult as possible to deal with. Because if this team can get closer to whole, they might not be a favorite, but they can still be a problem.
Week 22 Record: 1-4
@ Boston Celtics, L, 120-112
Possession Differential: -1.1
Turnover Differential: -4
Offensive Rebounding Differential: +1
The Suns wandered into TD Garden and, for three quarters, it was pure cinema. Devin Booker went full scorched-earth, rattling off 23 straight points, keeping Phoenix breathing while Boston rained fire.
But then, the familiar late-game rigor mortis set in. The offense turned into a predictable slog, orbiting Booker until the Celtics’ defense simply swallowed him whole. A late Celtics’ run salted it away.
@ Minnesota Timberwolves, L, 116-104
Possession Differential: +3.4
Turnover Differential: -5
Offensive Rebounding Differential: +2
The Suns marched into Minnesota with a chance to shift the vibe, but instead, they got swallowed by a forest of Timberwolves’ limbs. Eleven blocks? That’s not basketball, that’s a SWAT team. Phoenix looked gassed, surrendering 16 fourth-quarter points in the paint as their defensive edge vanished like a mirage.
@ San Antonio Spurs, L, 101-100
Possession Differential: +1.4
Turnover Differential: -3
Offensive Rebounding Differential: +1
Losing a heartbreaker to the NBA’s silver-medal Spurs should make me want to throw my remote into the Gila River. Especially after blowing a ten-point lead and watching Rasheer Fleming’s missed free throws feed the ever-growing Wembanyama mythos. But honestly? I’m not even mad. Down five rotation players, the Suns played with actual, tangible grit.
vs. Milwaukee Bucks, L, 108-105
Possession Differential: +0.7
Turnover Differential: -5
Offensive Rebounding Differential: +4
The Suns’ five-game slide is officially a foul-smelling stew of CVS-receipt injury reports and late-game execution that resembles a dumpster fire in a hurricane. With Booker shooting a cold 4-of-17 and Jalen Green hoisting “heat check” bricks, this team is currently allergic to closing out winnable games.
vs. Toronto Raptors, W, 120-98
Possession Differential: -0.3
Turnover Differential: -3
Offensive Rebounding Differential: +7
The Suns finally traded their CVS-receipt injury reports for a shovel and buried that five-game skid by absolutely dismantling a fifth-seeded Raptors squad. Instead of the usual late-game “Booker-ball” cardiac arrest, Phoenix actually punched back and proved they aren’t just a collection of available bodies and good intentions.
Inside the Possession Game
Weekly Possession Differential: +4.1
Weekly Turnover Differential: -20
Offensive Rebounding Differential: +15
Year-to-Date Over/Under .500: +8
It is kind of wild when you look at the weekly possession battle graph, because on paper, the Suns had a good week. They won the possession differential, took care of the ball, and finished with 20 fewer turnovers than their opponents. They also grabbed 15 more offensive rebounds. Those are winning metrics. And yet, they went 1–4.
The culprit is clear. Late game execution in the fourth quarter.
In Week 22, the Suns struggled in that final frame. They averaged 22.2 points, which ranked 26th in the league for the week. They shot 28.9% from three, 20th, and 35.5% from the field, 29th. If not for a strong fourth against Toronto on Sunday, they would have finished dead last in plus/minus. Instead, they ended at -20.6, tied for 28th.
That tells the story. It reinforces what we have been seeing. This team needs to get healthy. And it also shines a light on Devin Booker’s fourth quarter performance this week. He averaged 4.8 points, shooting 30% from the field and 20% from deep, with a 1-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
There is context there. Part of it comes from not having his usual group around him. Fewer outlets, fewer options, more pressure. At the same time, part of it falls on him. When the roster is depleted, that is when your best player has to elevate and find a way to close. Right now, that balance has not been there.
Week 23 Preview
After an arduous week that saw the Suns play five games in seven nights, things slow down a ton. Only two games on the schedule this week, both at home, which feels like a much-needed reset.
It starts Tuesday night against the Denver Nuggets. Denver is a team that has had Phoenix’s number this season, and they are right in the middle of a tight race with Houston and Minnesota, all sitting 12.5 games back of first. That means urgency. That means focus. And it means they are going to come in ready, especially against a team they have handled well.
Then comes Saturday. The Suns face the Utah Jazz, who sit at 21–50 and have leaned fully into the tank. It is the most favorable matchup remaining on Phoenix’s schedule. Outside of Utah, the other lighter opponents left are Dallas, Memphis, and Chicago, but none present the same level of opportunity as this one.
So it is a lighter week in terms of volume. Not in terms of importance.
Only 5% of the community expected the Suns to go 1-4 in Week 22. The majority thought 3-2 was their destiny. Fewer options to choose from this week. Where do they end up?
For a few minutes on Monday night, the New York Rangers will suspend their season of heartache to celebrate former Ottawa Senator Mika Zibanejad.
Zibanejad, Ottawa's sixth overall selection in the 2011 NHL Draft, will play in his 1000th career NHL game. Of the 999 games he's played so far, it's hard to believe that 718 of them have been played in enemy colours. He's the second player (Ryan Nugent-Hopkins) from his draft year to play in 1000 games, with fellow Swede Adam Larsson to join them when he gets his silver stick in Seattle on Tuesday.
The Rangers are the worst team in the Eastern Conference and just about mathematically eliminated from playoff contention for a second straight season, so the celebration of Zibanejad's career will be a nice respite for the Blueshirts.
For Senators fans, who are far more concerned about the two points and their team's playoff chase, they'll probably spend a few moments thinking about the parallel NHL universe where Zibanejad didn't get traded from Ottawa ten years ago.
In July 2016, in one of his first acts as the club's new general manager, Pierre Dorion opted to send Zibanejad to the Rangers for a 2018 second-round pick in exchange for Derick Brassard and a 2018 seventh-round pick. Even Sens fans who were okay with the deal wondered why the Sens would also have to give up a second rounder in the deal.
The following season, the Senators went to the Conference Final and Brassard posted 11 points in 18 playoff games, while Zibanejad took a couple more seasons to get going in New York.
So all seemed right with the world in Ottawa.
But within two years, it was clear that Brassard was beginning to fade, while Zibanejad was taking flight. Brassard is three years into retirement now, save for a one-game stint in Switzerland this season, while Zibanejad is still hovering near a point per game. He leads the Rangers this season with 30 goals and 67 points in 69 games.
For a time, Dorion was credited with salvaging the trade by flipping Brassard to Pittsburgh for goalie Filip Gustavsson. But that was unravelled when he sent Gustavsson to Minnesota for one season of veteran goalie Cam Talbot, who wasn't re-signed.
Meanwhile, here are some of the things Zibanejad has been up to in New York (as per NHL.com)
- Holds franchise record for most career power play goals (122), the only active player to lead an original six franchise in power play goals.
- On Jan. 17, he tied Bill Cook for the franchise record for most hat tricks (9)
- He became the 14th player in franchise history to appear in 700 games with the Rangers.
- Recorded a five-goal game, tied for the franchise record, on Mar. 5, 2020
- Recorded a six-point period on Mar. 17, 2022, tying the NHL record
- Recorded the first-ever hat trick in the Winter Classic two months ago
But that's a deal that's ancient history now, nearly a full decade in the past. Sens fans are focused on Monday's game and getting the two points for the club's late, furious playoff chase.
But not before a quick tip of the cap to former Senator Mika Zibanejad.
Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was originally published at The Hockey News. For more Senators news, analysis, and features, visit the Ottawa Senators site at The Hockey News.
The Colorado Avalanche's special teams have been a two-sided coin this season, and it's been a topic of discussion about why it affects the team heading into the playoffs and their dreams of another Stanley Cup.
On one side, it's the penalty kill, which has been a staple of this team this entire season. Despite a little “skid” you could say recently, the penalty kill still sits third in the NHL at 82.8% while allowing the sixth-lowest shots on goal per game at 26.1. Though they have the lowest amount of short-handed goals (1) this season.
On the other side is the power play, a staple topic this entire season, with the team struggling to generate any chances, including the new bodies acquired at the trade deadline, to try to improve results. The team currently has the third-lowest power play in the league at 16.5%, only higher than the Philadelphia Flyers and the Calgary Flames. It also doesn't help that the Avalanche currently leads the league in most shorthanded goals allowed (12).
Though despite some outliers coming out of the 2026 Milan Olympic break, the special teams have seen a change and for the better, and if this trend continues, which it must if the team wants to succeed, this current showing could be a sign of things to come as the regular season comes down to the final stretch.
Power Play On The Rise?
Excluding injuries and the previous trade deadline additions, there was never any reason this power play should be in the bottom five of the league, especially when this team has finished with a power play percentage over 20% in the past five seasons. Since the 2021-22 season, each team has finished with a power-play percentage over 24%.
With 13 games left in the regular season, it's gonna take a miracle and stats I can't even comprehend to get their percentage chance to jump by eight percent, but they can still show signs of improving it, which they have been doing.
From the start of the season to the last day before the Olympic break, the Avalanche had 179 power-play opportunities and scored 27 of them. From their first game back from the Olympics to their last game against the Washington Capitals, they have had 48 power-play opportunities and scored 10. In 28 games, the Avalanche could end up scoring more than half, or even reach the 27-goal mark they achieved in 55 games.
Penalty Kill Needs To Stay On Top
A crucial factor of this season has been the penalty kill. Yes, the 5-on-5 scoring has made up for much of the power-play production, but defense wins championships. Even though the 2021-22 Stanley Cup team had a 79.66% penalty kill heading into the playoffs, it finished with an 80.4%, which led to a championship.
The Avalanche has something here, and despite missing one of their best weapons on the penatly kill, that being Logan O’Connor, which should be making his debut any day as he hs been ramping up on the practices, skating, and traveling with the team, he on top of the addition to Nicolas Roy help make a diverse collection of players Head Coach Jared Bednar can deploy in his two units.
The month of March has been a bit shaky for the penalty kill, 32 opportunities given and seven capitalized on, but that also comes with the discipline of taking that many penalties.
Five against the Capitals, four against the Edmonton Oilers, four against the Stars, four against the Minnesota Wild. You can blame the officiating all you want, and I agree there were some bad calls, but the team is both lucky to know they have a really good system set up to kill those, and needs to keep their discipline high going forward.
Special Teams Importance In Playoffs.
The playoffs are a different breed when it comes to making the most of opportunities, such as a penalty kill or a power play. Last season in the playoffs against the Stars, 22 power-play opportunities were given, and only 3 goals were scored. The Stars saw 23 power-play opportunities and scored on seven of them. Penalties, good and bad, will be called on both teams; it's up to the Avalanche to capitalize on those calls by either scoring on the power play or killing the penalty.
The Avalanche, if they want to go far, are going to face teams that don't have a good penalty kill, like if they secure first and face a wild card team like the Seattle Kraken or the Los Angeles Kings, who sit in the bottom five in the penalty kill. In the same breath, they most likely are going to face one or more of the Stars, Wild, and Oilers, who sit in the top-10 in power play.
The Avalanche will need this stretch of hockey to confirm if their special teams are up for another deep Stanley Cup run, or more questions and concerns will be raised this summer if they aren't.
Feb 17, 2026; Surprise, AZ, USA; Texas Rangers pitcher MacKenzie Gore during media day at Surprise Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images | Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images
Texas Rangers lineup for March 23, 2026 against the Kansas City Royals: starting pitchers are MacKenzie Gore for the Rangers and Michael Wacha for the Royals.
Tonight is the first of two exhibitions between the Rangers at the Royals at the Shed. Apparently they enjoy each other’s company so much that even after spending the whole spring together at Surprise, they want more together time.
NORTH PORT, FL - MARCH 04: Matt Olson #28 of the Atlanta Braves looks on the game between the Team Columbia and the Atlanta Braves at CoolToday Park on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 in North Port, Florida. (Photo by Grace Hoppel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves took on the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton, FL today in their second to last Spring Training game. We got to see the continuation of Didier Fuentes’ fantastic spring, but it was not due to good circumstances. Spencer Strider was initially supposed to start this game but was scratched due to an oblique injury and will start the year on the IL.
The Braves are hoping Strider misses just a couple weeks. But there's always a lot of uncertainty with oblique strains
Fuentes continued to look sharp at the start of the game. In his first two innings he saw the minimum number of hitters. He did however give up his first hit of the spring in the second inning fittingly to former teammate Marcell Ozuna. Ryan O’Hearn grounded into a double play though and Fuentes continued his streak of scoreless innings at eleven after completing the second inning.
Interestingly, Fuentes had seventeen strikeouts in his first 9.0 innings of spring, but did not have any strikeouts through his first 3.2 innings today. He was able to get revenge on Ozuna by striking him out to end the fourth for his first strikeout of the day on an eight pitch at-bat.
Fuentes ended his scoreless streak by giving up his first earned run after 13.2 innings in the spring. The way he gave it up was not entirely his fault though, even the box score will show it that way. He was replaced by Samuel Strickland after walking Spencer Horwitz with two outs and the bases empty. Strickland then gave up a double to the first batter he faced that scored Horwitz.
Fuentes ended his excellent spring with 13.2 innings pitched, eighteen strikeouts, one walk, two singles, and one HBP while maintaining an ERA of 0.66.
Another positive pitching note is that Joel Payamps continued to look sharp yet again. He did give up a single, but had two strikeouts and zero walks in 2.0 innings pitched.
The Braves’ offense was mostly players who will likely see most of the playing time against RHP this season. They were facing Carson Fulmer who had yet to give up a hit in his 4.0 spring innings. That did not slow down the Braves as Matt Olson took him deep in the first and Eli White took him deep in the second. It should also be noted that Ronald Acuña Jr. doubled in the first, but got caught trying to steal third.
The long balls continued for the Braves as Mike Yastrzemski and Matt Olson both went deep in the top of the sixth off of Mike Clevinger. After his two HRs today, Matt Olson has six longballs this spring. This is encouraging considering it seemed that Olson had been trading his HRs for doubles the past few seasons.
The key takeaways from this game were that Ozzie Albies, and Michael Harris seem to continue to struggle while Matt Olson is continuing to heat up. Didier Fuentes was not as dominant today, but it is still clear he deserves a shot on the MLB team. With today’s injury to Strider he may even get some starts.
Fuentes is easily a better option than some of the other slated starters.
Braves likely rotation to start the season: Chris Sale Reynaldo Lopez (FB averaged 89.4 mph yesterday) Grant Holmes (MRI showed UCL tear in August) Bryce Elder (5.30 ERA in 2025) Jose Suarez (More teams (2) than starts (1) since start of 2025)
The Braves took this game 5-2 and continued to have the best run differential amongst all MLB teams in spring training. Of course, spring numbers don’t truly matter, but it does show the offense has had life, at a minimum. Although there is bad news today with Strider, the good news is the there is only one more spring game, and then it is Opening Day.
The Braves will finish up their spring training tomorrow against the Tampa Bay Rays where newly minted number three rotation arm Grant Holmes will take the mound at 1:05 at EDT.
PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 11: Luis Castillo #58 of the Seattle Mariners takes the field during a Spring Training game against the Colorado Rockies at Peoria Stadium on March 11, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s the last game of spring training and I thought it started at one but it started at noon, whoops sorry. Talk about it here!
Luis Castillo pulls the final start of the srping, which feels bookend-y.
Call this the “we’re just trying some things” lineup. Garver at first? Sure.
Game information:
Game time: NOW
TV: No, which feels rude for the final day of spring but whatever
MLB Detroit Tigers catcher Josue Briceno | Mike Watters-Imagn Images
We’ve talked quite a bit about the Detroit Tigers’ long-term drought in the international free agent market throughout our spring prospect coverage. Players like Wenceel Pérez and Keider Montero have at least provided some value the past few seasons, but it’s been a long time since the Tigers found a really good major leaguer outside the draft or the trade market. Scott Harris has revamped the scouting and player development work, and the Tigers’ recent class is probably their best regarded ever between catcher Manuel Bolivar and tooled up outfielder Randy Santana, among others. It may not take that long for the Tigers to find their next IFA star, however. Josue Briceño’s future at the catcher position is still up in the air, but his combination of power, contact ability, and plate discipline are primed to make him a very dangerous hitter at the major league level in the years to come.
The Tigers signed the then 17-year-old Briceño for $800,000 in their January 2022 signing class. Hailing from the fascinating town of Colonia Tovar, a sort of mini-Bavarian village set high in the mountains of north central Venezuela, the young catcher got off to a decent start playing in the Dominican Republic, and then came stateside in 2024 and broke out in a big way in 2024.
Our first real looks at Briceño came from Single-A ball with the Lakeland Flying Tigers that spring. The young catcher was a little sluggish behind the plate, but his bat was already making a ton of noise when a PCL sprain in his right knee in mid-May cost him most of the season. He returned for the final two weeks of regular season action but only as a DH, but it was already clear this wasn’t a different player to the one who hit the injured list. Briceño worked his tail off in his rehab work, trimming down while building a lot of strength and flexibility. His legs were much stronger, and he and the Tigers made some adjustments to help him generate more power from his lower half. With that came a good amount of natural loft, and suddenly the ball was exploding off his bat to all fields. Briceño went out for work in the Arizona Fall League just after his 20th birthday, and despite only a brief look at even the Single-A level, he tore the Fall League apart in October.
He announced his coming out party with a dead center bomb off top pitching prospect Andrew Painter’s 98 mph heat early on, and then continued to maul far more experienced pitching than he’d ever faced before en route to a league MVP award. To keep pressure off his repaired knee, the Tigers only had him DH out there, and Briceño went on to hit 10 home runs, posting a .433/.509/.867 line in 105 plate appearances.
That performance opened everyone’s eyes nationally, and Briceño found himself a consensus top 100 prospect last offseason. His reign of terror continued at the High-A level in 2025, as he spent nearly four months with Kevin McGonigle and Max Clark setting the table for him as part of one of the best offenses in Midwest League history.
In 55 games for the Whitecaps, Briceño walloped 15 home runs, showing plus power to all fields. He hit .296/.422/.602 with a 16.8 percent walk rate outpacing his 16.4 percent strikeout rate. The discipline, contact, and raw power were extremely impressive, and what stood out beyond the numbers was that despite his fairly long limbs, he was able to delivery great batspeed even on pitches away, staying through those balls for some real tape measure blasts to left and left-center field. All that while still retaining the ability to crush anything on the inner half to the pull field.
By midseason, with Thayron Liranzo sidelined from catching duties by a shoulder issue, Briceño took over more work behind the plate. After the injury shortened 2024 campaign, he wasn’t quite up to the task and seemed to wear down somewhat over the final two months of the year. His on-base percentages were still great and he topped .800 OPS in both August and September, hitting five homers in 45 games, but he finally did start expanding the zone against better offspeed and breaking stuff, and his strikeout rate popped to 23.7 percent in that stretch for the Erie SeaWolves. Still, he was still pretty good, just not great, and enthusiasm wasn’t at all diminished. He didn’t even turn 21 until the season was over, and he’d both destroyed High-A pitching and still had a reasonably good start at the Double-A level.
Most remain skeptical of Briceño’s ability to catch at the major league level, but confidence in his bat continues to grow. Even sites that expect him to move to first base full-time still have in the middle of their top 100 rankings nationally. Personally I still think it’s a bit early to judge with certainty. Because of the knee injury, Briceño still only has 67 games caught in full season ball. That’s a pretty small sample with which to come to a hard and fast conclusion.
Briceño has an average throwing arm for a catcher, and that certainly says that he’s not going to be an everyday catcher in the major leagues. However, he’s a smart, hard-working player whose blocking and framing has shown pretty steady improvement in two seasons worth of part-time work. He had a couple of rough stretches last year where he gave up a few passed balls, but he has enough athleticism to be good back there with more work, and the Tigers do an excellent job coaching up their catchers. In time, he’s still got a fair chance to be good enough to handle the backup catcher duties behind Dillon Dingler. The bigger question is whether the Tigers will give it the time required, as Briceño’s bat is quite far advanced already.
Briceño makes a ton of hard contact, he has plus power, and he doesn’t chase out of the zone too much. Better pitching at the Double-A level did challenge him, particularly advanced left-handers. So, he needs some more time to adapt to upper level pitching, but he’s ahead of the curve, and way ahead when you consider his age and limited experience in pro ball.
One challenge left is to develop more against left-handed pitching, and that’s mostly a matter of experience. Even in Erie, Briceño was really tough for advanced right-handers to deal with. However, hitters don’t see a regular diet of good left-handers with command until they reach the Double-A level, and while he held his own against them, his numbers were signficantly worse against southpaws. He didn’t chase and strikeout that much against them, actually whiffing more against right-handed pitching last year, but he also did most of his damage against right-handers, while lefties were able to get him reaching more on pitches down and away to pop him up and keep him on the ground more often. He could use a little more time to acclimate to the level, and he’ll spend most of this season in Erie when he returns from the injured list.
Ultimately, Liranzo has the higher upside as a defensive catcher, and so I expect that while the Tigers will keep Briceño working behind the plate a while longer, his future is mainly at first base. His 6’4” frame and good reach plays well there, and he already looks pretty good around the base, though he does need to improve his fielding on ground balls.
His timelines, both defensive and offensive, are both aggravated by the torn tendon in his wrist while taking a swing early in spring camp. The tear required surgery, and Briceño is pretty likely to miss half the season. This probably clarifies the defensive question, as he’s going to lose out on getting a lot more catching reps this spring. Expect him to return to Erie sometime around midseason, looking to get his full strength and timing back in the second half before probably getting a look at Toledo late this summer. In 2027 he should be playing first base for the Toledo Mud Hens, ready to make the jump as soon as his bat is ready.
The Tigers have a pretty good pure hitter here with plus power to all fields. His defense doesn’t need to carry him much at all, and sometime next year I expect him to be splitting time with Spencer Torkelson and taking plenty of DH days for the Detroit Tigers.
When July 1st rolls around, Doug Armstrong will no longer be the general manager of the St. Louis Blues, as he’ll become the full-time president of hockey operations while Alexander Steen steps in as GM.
Although Armstrong will still be an important part of the Blues organization, it’s a major change for the 61-year-old. Armstrong was named the Blues’ GM in 2010 and has held that role since.
In addition to serving as GM, Armstrong held the roles of director of player personnel before being named GM, then executive VP of hockey operations in 2010, and finally president of hockey operations in 2013. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more influential person within the Blues organization in the past 20 years.
But it was time for a change, and it’s a business plan that has been in the works for two years, something agreed upon by Armstrong and Blues owner Tom Stillman.
“I told the ownership group at the time that I love to manage, I enjoy the process, but I think there’s a shelf life for everything,” Armstrong said in an interview with The Athletic. “Having the same voice leading the franchise, for me, it had run its course. It wasn’t just the players, but it’s the trainers, the coaches, the marketing department, the finance department. The rhythms needed to change.
“I’ve been in St. Louis 18 years, 16 as a manager. It just felt the time was right to have a new voice come in. When I told Mr. Stillman my feelings, he then talked about what’s next. And I was a big Alex Steen fan.”
Following the trade deadline, Armstrong has finally been able to really sit and think about what he needs to do in his new role. He plans to reach out to Brendan Shanahan and Cam Neely, as well as Jeff Gorton, Jim Rutherford, and George McPhee, who were GMs and have transitioned to president of hockey ops.
Although Armstrong is loyal to the Blues and appreciative of their support, his answers to questions from The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun suggest that the spark and enjoyment of being an NHL GM still exist within him.
When asked about his role as a senior member of the GMs’ executive committee and even just the day-to-day camaraderie with GMs across the NHL, Armstrong said he would miss it dearly and that it will be a difficult adjustment.
While he wouldn’t explicitly say that if a team came knocking, he would leave, there was a sense that he could be intrigued by an offer. He’s not reaching out to teams or making himself available, but LeBrun says he feels he may not be done as an NHL GM.
Doug Armstrong (Jeff Curry-Imagn Images)
Nevertheless, Armstrong is excited to work with Steen and believes that working in hockey ops will still allow him to be an influential part of the Blues organization.
“I’m excited about working with Alex,” Armstrong said. “I think there’s a job there for me. It’s not going to be an honorary job. There’s work I can do to help him. But I do love a lot of the things that managers do — the building of a staff, the crossing with different parts of an organization to behold something that’s sustainable, to working with the athletes, to working with the coaches. But it did run its course (in St. Louis).”
It might not happen this off-season, but it’s something to monitor as NHL teams undergo changes throughout their front offices. With the Toronto Maple Leafs struggling and Armstrong a native of Ontario, the Maple Leafs are a team to keep an eye on.
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.
The Houston Rockets have struggled to put together a functional NBA offense lately, but that may not matter tonight against a Chicago Bulls team heading for the draft lottery.
While Houston is just 6-5 this month, Chicago has lost five of its last seven contests, and my Rockets vs. Bulls predictions expect the visitors to do enough defensively to land a big road win.
Read on for my free NBA picks ahead of this March 23 matchup.
Rockets vs Bulls prediction
Rockets vs Bulls best bet: Rockets -8.5 (-110)
Despite some of the Houston Rockets' flailing crunch-time efforts this month, I’m not ready to write off Ime Udoka’s squad, especially when the Rockets are allowing just 109.9 PPG, the fourth-lowest mark in the league.
Defense is the visitors’ edge here, and Houston has won four straight meetings against the Chicago Bulls. This spread could be bigger when you look at Chicago’s recent blowout losses against the Raptors, Lakers, and somehow, Kings.
Though Josh Giddey is a threat, the Rockets have the perimeter hounds to limit his scoring, and they’re coming off encouraging victories over the Hawks and Heat.
Rockets vs Bulls same-game parlay
A Houston win tonight starts with Amen Thompson and Kevin Durant. Thompson has been a beast on the glass lately, with 11+ rebounds in four of his last five games, and KD’s latest masterpiece — 27 points against the Heat — took him past Michael Jordan in the all-time scoring chart.
Rockets vs Bulls SGP
Rockets moneyline
Amen Thompson Over 7.5 rebounds
Kevin Durant Over 25.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Amen to that
This is the matchup within the matchup. Thompson is averaging a monster 21.3 PPG and 9.5 RPG in March, while Giddey has dished double-digit dimes in four of his last five outings, even with the Bulls’ faltering form.
Rockets vs Bulls SGP
Amen Thompson Over 19.5 points
Amen Thompson Over 7.5 rebounds
Josh Giddey Over 9.5 assists
Josh Giddey Over 7.5 rebounds
Rockets vs Bulls odds
Spread: Rockets -8.5 | Bulls +8.5
Moneyline: Rockets -370 | Bulls +290
Over/Under: Over 229.5 | Under 229.5
Rockets vs Bulls betting trend to know
The Over is 9-1 in the last 10 meetings between these teams. Find more NBA betting trends for Rockets vs. Bulls.
How to watch Rockets vs Bulls
Location
United Center, Chicago, IL
Date
Monday, March 23, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
SCHN, CHSN
Rockets vs Bulls 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.
MLB New York Mets center fielder Carson Benge | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
This afternoon, the Mets announced that Carson Benge has officially made the Opening Day roster and will be playing right field when the Mets take on Paul Skenes and the Pirates on March 26 at Citi Field.
The team’s number 2 ranked prospect was impressive in camp, hitting .366/.435/.439 in 41 at-bats during Grapefruit League action. During the offseason, David Stearns made it clear that Benge would be given the opportunity to compete for a spot and the 23-year-old made the most of his opportunity. A path for him to the majors became even clearer when the team announced that Juan Soto would be moving to left field this year, which opened up a more natural spot for Benge.
Outfielder Mike Tauchman was having a strong spring and was also competing for the last outfield spot but, unfortunately for him, he tore his meniscus in his knee, which will put him out for a lengthy amount of time. But even before the injury to Tauchman, Benge had firmly placed himself in the conversation for the Opening Day roster.
On the flip side, veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel was told he did not make the team, but the 37-year-old is sticking with the organization in the minor leagues. He allowed three runs in six innings this spring and could be a useful piece to the bullpen if a spot opens up during the season.
19-year-old taken to hospital after loss in California
Knockout happened just 78 seconds into fight
The promoter and family of junior flyweight boxer Isis Sio say she is awake and breathing on her own after initially being placed in a medically induced coma following a knockout loss last weekend.
Sio is still in intensive care, but the 19-year-old is no longer on a ventilator, ProBox TV announced in a news release on Monday.
