WEST PALM BEACH, FL - MARCH 19: Joseph Sullivan #19 of the Houston Astros bats during the game between the Miami Marlins and the Houston Astros at Cacti Park of the Palm Beaches on Thursday, March 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Kelly Gavin/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Yesterday, Astros prospects took on the Marlins in the Spring Breakout game, and rather than provide a traditional recap, the focus here is on the positives and the players who stood out. The Astros came away with a 7-6 win in an entertaining matchup.
James Hicks
Hicks got the start for the Astros and, after a breakout Arizona Fall League, he turned in a nice performance on Thursday. The right-hander allowed zero earned runs over 2 innings while striking out 4. The defense committed three errors behind him, so two runs scored unearned, but it was a good performance for him. He topped out at 94.8 MPH with the sinker and got three whiffs with his changeup.
Cole Hertzler
Hertzler was drafted by the Astros in the 5th round of the 2024 draft, and despite having just 21 professional innings, the upside is clearly there. The right-hander was up to 95.5 MPH with the fastball, but his curveball and slider were the real weapons. He threw nine curveballs and three sliders and got six whiffs. He finished the day striking out 5 over 3 scoreless innings.
Leomar Rosario
Rosario is a 22-year-old relief pitcher in the system who pitched in Single-A last year but had some command issues, as he walked 40 in 49 innings. He has an electric arm and was sharp on Thursday. In one inning of work, Rosario got 5 whiffs and struck out the side as his fastball hit 100.2 MPH and sat at a 99.7 MPH average.
Alimber Santa
Santa has gotten some decent run this Spring Training and got the 9th inning of the game on Thursday. In his one inning, he allowed zero runs and struck out 2 batters, hitting 96.8 MPH with his fastball and generating 2 whiffs on the sweeper.
Xavier Neyens
This was the first bit of action we saw from Xavier Neyens, the Astros’ first-round pick in 2025. While he had some miscues early defensively, he did draw three walks in five plate appearances, and keep in mind he is just 19 years old.
Chase Call
Call was the Astros’ 16th-round pick in the 2025 draft, and while he only got two plate appearances Thursday, he made the most of them. In his first appearance, he connected on a 108.6 MPH single, the hardest-hit ball of the day for either team. In his second appearance, he drew a six-pitch walk.
Joseph Sullivan
Sullivan had a breakout 2025 season, and in yesterday’s game, he did what he did all last year. While he didn’t get a hit, he ended up drawing two walks and stealing three bases. He stole 42 bases last year.
Lucas Spence
Spence, also a breakout prospect from 2025, received three plate appearances and went 0-for-1 with 2 walks. But his one batted ball was the second-hardest-hit ball of the game on a 106.2 MPH groundout. He also added a stolen base.
Arturo Flores
Flores has kind of flown under the radar, but after a solid year in 2025 making it to Single-A at 19, he found himself on the Spring Breakout roster. He only had one at-bat but made the most of it, connecting on a 101.0 MPH 2-run double to help cut the lead to just one run
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 11: The Milwaukee Brewers celebrate after winning game five of the National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs at American Family Field on October 11, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This time one year ago, the notion that three of the National League’s playoffs teams would have come from the Central was farfetched, and yet, by the time the post-season began, the division champion Milwaukee Brewers were joined by the Wild Card entrants Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds.
The NL Central featured several 2025 award winners including Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates (Cy Young) and the Milwaukee Brewers duo of Pat Murphy (Manager of the Year) and Matt Arnold (Executive of the Year). In addition, the Chicago Cubs won the team Gold Glove Award.
Coming into the 2026 season, the Central looks be just as competitive as it was in 2025, and although the Cardinals finally embraced a re-build, the Pirates actually spent money on free agents. Here’s a preview of the division.
It was a third consecutive NL Central title for the Brewers in 2025, winning 97 games along the way. The team’s high impact position players return in 2026, led by catcher William Contreras, outfielder Jackson Chourio, infielder Brice Turang and designated hitter Christian Yelich. They also have one of the top prospects in the game, Jesus Made, who will turn 19 in May and could force his way to Milwaukee before the year ends. Jett Williams, the top infield prospect picked up from the New York Mets in an off-season trade, may also impact the big league team this season.
The starting rotation lost Freddy Peralta, who the team dealt to the Mets for Williams and pitcher Brandon Sproat, which will impact the rotation but jettisoning a pitcher who is headed for free agency is a common strategy used by the team’s front office, and thus one they were prepared to accommodate.
Starter Brandon Woodruff signed his qualifying offer, somewhat surprisingly, but his return gives the team’s rotation a veteran presence that also includes Chad Patrick, Jacob Misiorowski, Kyle Harrison and Aaron Ashby – at least to start the season. Quinn Priester will begin the season on the IL and prospects Sproat, Logan Henderson and Robert Gasser could all factor into the rotation sooner than later.
The bullpen’s top arms, Trevor Megill – who saved 30 games for the team last season – and Abner Uribe, who may take over as the team’s primary closer, are supplemented by returning relievers DL Hall, Rob Zastryzny and Grant Anderson.
Questions in their rotation notwithstanding – and the loss of Peralta is no small one – the Brewers are still the team to beat in the Central, with Pat Murphy’s squad of position players all under 30 (outside of Yelich) and prospects knocking on the door. Andrew Vaughn, who had a career renaissance after joining the team mid-season, has to prove his 64 outstanding games as a Brewer wasn’t a fluke.
The Brewers have been one of the best-run small market clubs for the last decade. They’ve finished worst than 2nd in their division only once (4th in 2020, but still made the playoffs) and only twice missed playing in the postseason during this run.
Can the Brew Crew make it four-in-a-row in 2026 with another division crown? It’s tough to bet against them.
Chicago Cubs 2025 record: 92-70, 2nd (Wild Card)
The Cubs enjoyed a 90+ win season in 2025 – manager Craig Counsell’s second season at the helm. Winners of the team Gold Glove, the team’s core position players return – minus the departed free agent Kyle Tucker – and with the addition of Alex Bregman to play third base. First baseman Micheal Busch paced the team with 34 home runs while infielders Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson provided excellent defense with above average offense while both also stealing 20-or-more bases. Carson Kelly had a career-best season behind the plate with the Cubs in his 10th big league season.
Outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong had a 30/30 season and was electric in the first-half of the season, his second full-time year in the big leagues. Seiya Suzuki posted another above-average season with an MLB-career best 32 home runs. Ian Happ rounds out the outfield with another 20+ home run bat.
The team’s starting rotation will be without Justin Steele for most of the first half of the season, but 2025 All-Star Matthew Boyd and 2024 All-Star Shota Imanaga will be joined by new addition Edward Cabrera and veteran Jameson Taillon in a rotation that includes 2025 National League Rookie of the Year runner-up Cade Horton. Collin Rea, who made 27 starts for the Cubs last season, may find himself in the bullpen.
Closer Daniel Palencia is coming off of a dominate showing in the World Baseball Classic where he picked up the save in Venezuela’s championship winning game against the United States. Behind him will be some new names after the team lost Drew Pomeranz and Brad Keller to free agency and Ryan Pressly to retirement. Caleb Thielbar does return and will be joined by newcomers Hoby Milner, Hunter Harvey, Phil Maton and Jacob Webb.
The Cubs should compete for a Wild Card while battling the Brewers for the top spot in the division.
When the New York Mets collapsed down the stretch in 2025, the Reds were able to claim a Wild Card birth. The Reds may be hard-pressed to repeat last season’s winning season with staff anchor Hunter Greene out until July after having chips removed from his elbow.
The team’s starting rotation does return the excellent Andrew Abbott and Nick Lodolo, but after Nick Martinez left during free agency, the team will look to fill out their rotation with a handful of pitchers – including one of their top prospects, Rhett Lowder
Emilio Pagan returns as closer with top set-up man Tony Santillan. New addition Pierce Johnson should help fortify their depth along with Graham Ashcroft, but the back-end of their bullpen has more questions than answers heading into the season.
Eugenio Suárez returns to the team he spent seven seasons with earlier in his career as the team’s designated hitter. He also add a veteran leader and power bat to a position player group under-performed in 2025. Shortstop Elly De La Cruz played in all 162 games, but struggled in the season’s second half. The team will be counting on top prospect Sal Stewart after a strong September showing as the team’s first baseman. After missing the 2024 season, Matt McClain struggled last year, and his ability to return to the offensive output similar to what he produced during his rookie campaign in 2023 would be a boon to the team’s lineup.
The team return their veteran catchers while their outfield will include Noelvi Marté Spencer Steer, who both spent much of last season on the infield.
If everything goes right for the Reds, the could stay in the Wild Card race into September, but they aren’t a sure thing to repeat their winning record from 2025.
St. Louis Cardinals 2025 record: 78-84, 4th
Finally, the Cardinals have embraced the rebuild. Gone are starting pitchers Sonny Gray and Miles Mikolas as well as first baseman Willson Contreras, second baseman Brandon Donovan and third baseman Nolan Arenado.
The team will start the season without outfielder Lars Nootbaar who is recovering from heel surgery. The team will need former top outfield prospect Jordan Walker to rebound from a disappointing 2025 and the infield will need to see Masyn Winn take a step forward offensively and hope his new double-play partner, top prospect JJ Wetherholt, can contend for NL Rookie of the Year. Nolan Gorman will get a chance to stick at third base while Alec Burleson – who posted the best offensive numbers of any returning player – can build on a strong 2025.
The team’s starting rotation will be led by Matthew Liberatore but the Cardinals rotation depth will be banking on a the buy-low Dustin May and Kyle Leahy, who will work out of the rotation after making 61 relief appearances last year. The bullpen returns presumptive closer JoJo Romero but has more questions that the rotation.
St. Louis will be in for a rough 2026 season and could threaten to fall below the 71-win mark the team posted in 2023 – the lowest win total in a 162-game season since 1990.
Pittsburgh Pirates 2025 record: 71-91, 5th
Could this be the year the Pirates finally return to the post-season?
After years of ownership failing invest in the major league team via free agency, Pittsburgh added outfielder Ryan O’Hearn on what is the largest position-player free agent contract in the organization’s history. They also added designated hitter Marcell Ozuna late in the off-season and hope he can provide a higher ceiling offensively that the departed franchise icon Andrew McCutchen. The team also swung a trade for veteran infielder Brandon Lowe, who will likley slot into second base, but has the positional versatility to move around the diamond, if needed.
The Pirates also have to top prospect in baseball in shortstop Konnor Griffin who is fighting for a spot on the big league roster despite only playing 21 games at Double-A last season. The outfield returns Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz, both of whom had disappointing 2025 seasons, as well a first baseman Spencer Horwitz. The team’s catching duo of Joey Bart and Henry Davis are both still searching for a break-out season to match their once top-prospect billings.
The team added Gregory Soto to the team’s bullpen behind Dennis Santana but the rest of the team’s relievers are nondescript.
The starting rotation is where the Pirates shine with reigning Cy Young winner Paul Skenes as the team’s ace. Mitch Keller, Bubba Chandler and Braxton Ashcroft solidify the top four spots in the rotation with Jose Urquidy – who has pitched in only two big league games since 2023 – a possibility for the fifth starter’s spot.
The Pirates raised their floor offensively for 2026 and while it likely wasn’t enough to put them in position to challenge for the division title, barring injury, the team should be in the hunt for a Wild Card spot deep into September.
2026 NL Central Division Prediction
Milwaukee Brewers (Division Champions) Chicago Cubs (Wild Card) Pittsburgh Pirates (Wild Card) Cincinnati Reds St. Louis Cardinals
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Houston Astros left-hander Bennett Sousa will begin the season on the injured list, manager Joe Espada said.
Sousa, 30, strained his left oblique in a Grapefruit League game against the Washington Nationals. Sousa returned to Houston for further testing, but Espada said he would “be down for a while.”
“We’re going to not have him throw until that pain goes away,” Espada said.
Last year was a breakout season for Sousa after sitting out the 2024 season due to injury. He appeared in 44 games in 2025, and posted a 2.84 ERA across 50 2/3 innings with 59 strikeouts. But Sousa landed on the injured list on Aug. 20 with left elbow inflammation and didn’t return.
The loss of Sousa is the latest blow to Houston’s bullpen. Espada said All-Star closer Josh Hader will begin the season on the 15-day injured list. Hader did not appear in any spring training games, and his buildup will extend past the Astros’ opener against the Los Angeles Angles on March 26.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — San Francisco Giants pitcher Hayden Birdsong will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the 2026 season.
The right-hander had felt soreness in his throwing elbow after pitching in a Cactus League game on March 10. After the Giants diagnosed Birdsong with a forearm strain and ulnar collateral ligament sprain, Birdsong met with Dr. Keith Meister.
Birdsong, 24, went 4-4 with a 4.80 ERA last season while making 21 appearances, including 10 starts. He struck out 68 batters over 65 2/3 innings.
The upsets have already started in the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament as High Point, a No. 12 seed, stunned Wisconsin, a No. 5, and VCU, which also knows a thing or two about being a Cinderella, beat blueblood North Carolina as a No. 11.
As the action moves forward in the first round, the potential for more upsets exists as 13-seeded Hofstra, led by head coach Speedy Claxton, takes on Alabama in the Midwest Region.
Hofstra is making its fifth appearance in the NCAA Tournament, while the Crimson Tide has been to the dance in each of the past six years. The Pride is making their first March Madness appearance in 25 years, and with hopes to score the biggest victory in the school's history.
Here is what to know about Speedy Claxton and Hofstra:
What is Speedy Claxton's real name?
Claxton was born Craig Elliott Claxton on May 8, 1978, in Hempstead, New York. He is 48 years old. Claxton played at Hofstra during his college career and was a two-time America East Conference Player of the Year before he was selected with the 20th overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers.
His No. 10 jersey was retired by Hofstra and he was inducted into the Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010.
Speedy Claxton's NBA career
Claxton is one of only six players from Hofstra University to play in the NBA. Claxton made his NBA debut on Oct. 30, 2001, and played seven seasons for the 76ers, San Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors, New Orleans Hornets and Atlanta Hawks, making his last NBA appearance in 2009.
He won an NBA championship in 2003 with the Spurs and averaged 9.3 points, 4.3 assists, and 2.5 rebounds in 336 career games. Claxton was a scout with the Golden State Warriors before joining Hofstra's staff in 2013 as a special assistant.
Where is Hofstra?
Hofstra is located in Hempstead, New York, about 25 miles east of New York City.
The private college was founded in 1935, and its nickname for its sports teams is the Pride. They were known as the Flying Dutchmen until 2000.
Speedy Claxton's coaching record
Claxton has a 105-62 record in five seasons with Hofstra, winning 20 or more games four times. The Pride went 24-10 this season and won the Coastal Athletic Association Conference Tournament championship to receive an automatic bid to the tournament.
Hofstra's NCAA Tournament record
This is Hofstra's fifth appearance in the NCAA Tournament, following bids in 1976, 1977, 2000 and 2001.
The Pride have never won a tournament game, and lost 61-48 to UCLA in the first round in its last appearance in 2001.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — With a black sweatshirt pulled over his head and a glove in hand, Tony Vitello blends in almost as if he’s one of the Giants players.
San Francisco’s new manager grabs a piece of gum from a dugout basket then heads out onto the grass at Scottsdale Stadium and gets to work. He lingers for a while in right field, surveying the scene, before making his way to the indoor cage. A short while later, he’s all the way back to home plate, leaning on the right side of the cage, where he fist bumps Heliot Ramos after one of the left fielder’s rounds of batting practice. Vitello moves several feet to his left and takes in more hitters’ work.
“He’s everywhere,” shortstop Willy Adames said. “He has a lot of energy. He likes to be watching everybody, making sure that everybody is working right and doing the right things. He’s just trying to push the guys to work hard and to be better and I think that’s something that’s going to help the guys a lot and I think that’s something we needed.”
All eyes are on Vitello as he takes over one of baseball’s most storied franchises without a professional baseball backstory of his own. Giants executive and former catcher Buster Posey made the unconventional hire, entrusting the top dugout step to someone with no major league experience as a player or coach.
And everybody will be paying attention for his high-profile managerial debut when the Giants host the New York Yankees in baseball’s season opener March 25.
“As ready as I’ll be if you ask me that question before the season starts,” Vitello said ahead of the club’s Cactus League opener. “I don’t think you’re ever really ready to do something until you get to do it. ... Inevitably something pops up in where you’re like, ‘I wish I could go back in time and know that.’”
An avid swimmer who aspires to one day complete the famous event from Alcatraz in San Francisco, Vitello scans his various baseball zones much like a lifeguard with eyes up, observing everything and everyone.
He also has committed to taking in the wisdom from former managers he has surrounded himself with, such as Dusty Baker and Bruce Bochy, and also new Giants infield coach Ron Washington.
“I’ve talked with those guys, they’ve been awesome,” Vitello said. “A lot of little things. When Boch says it, not only do you hear it but you hear it in that thunderous voice. I’ve taken notes from all those guys. I don’t think there’s been one drastic thing said to me, like, ‘Holy cow, reinvent the game’ or anything like that. It’s just been a lot of consistent help.”
Bouncing between fields during spring training has been one of the biggest adjustments for the 47-year-old Vitello.
When he addressed the full team on Day 1, Vitello aimed to just be himself — “hopefully it didn’t sound like a speech, more of a conversation,” he said.
Everybody realizes there will be a large learning curve, but Vitello has already made a strong impression on his players.
“Tony’s passion for baseball is something else,” outfielder Jung Hoo Lee said. “Just being around him, I feel like my passion grows more with him. It’s really nice being around Tony.”
Near the end of one spring training practice last month, Vitello squatted with hands on his thighs watching Washington work with Adames.
“That’s going to help him a lot,” Adames said of all the support. “He’s got Bochy that’s going to be around and Dusty that’s going to be around and Buster is always around. We’ve got a lot of people who have a lot of experience in baseball and have a lot of people who have a lot of experience being a manager, and I think that’s going to help him a lot.”
Ex-Padres manager Jayce Tingler is Vitello’s good friend and now bench coach, too. Vitello only announced his coaching staff at the start of spring — months after many other teams — because that’s how much thought he put into who he wanted by his side.
And because not doing everything himself has been a process. Previously, there was recruiting, planning road trips, monitoring studies and all of the other demands in the college game.
“I think get more comfortable with delegating, but about nine years ago I definitely warmed up to it with the group of people that I was around,” he said.
First-year San Diego Padres manager Craig Stammen understands the questions about inexperience and that scrutiny comes with the job.
“He’s a baseball guy, so I’m going to respect him the same way I respect somebody that played 20 years in the big leagues,” Stammen said of Vitello. “I think he’s earned the right to be a manager in the big leagues. Some people will question me if I earned the right to be a manager in the big leagues. His track record in college is very successful, so he’s going to have the opportunity to bring that track record to MLB.”
Vitello acknowledges there have been some early hurdles — and knows there will be plenty more along the way. He replaces three-time Manager of the Year Bob Melvin, a 22-year managerial veteran who was fired after two years and the Giants’ fourth straight season out of the playoffs.
“I don’t think it’s been too wild. I think everything that was a precursor to here was the key,” he said. “FanFest, just how welcoming everybody is. It might sound silly, but just interacting with the 49ers group a few different times and other people in the Bay Area, it made you feel like you were in high school instead of a freshman. I still remember freshman year in high school was kind of nerve-wracking.
“So I think there was a little bit of momentum for myself coming in. Seamless is a high standard. I think there’s been some snags, but it’s kind of been like, ‘OK, I get how this goes now.’”
Feb 23, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Seattle Mariners shortstop Colt Emerson against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The annual Spring Breakout game has arrived! A relatively new feature to the MLB spring training schedule, the spring breakout is a prospect-only bout pitting one organization’s best against another, providing fans an easy way to get familiarized with the team’s top farmhands. The Mariners have one of the more potent rosters in the league but will be facing a talented Brewers team littered with elite talent, setting up what should be one of the more exciting matchups this event has to offer. If you’re at all interested in what the (not so distant) future of the Mariners could look like, I can’t recommend this game enough.
Kade Anderson, Charlie Beilenson, Tyler Cleveland, Casey Hintz, Lucas Kelly, Po-Chun Lin, Brock Moore, Robinson Ortiz, Mason Peters, Ryan Sloan
Anderson and Sloan, the team’s top two pitching prospects, will deservedly catch most of the headlines for this pitching staff. Both feature premiere pedigree and are top ten minor league pitchers in baseball, though Sloan’s immense frame and bullying arsenal provide an interesting contrast to Anderson’s deception and pitchability. Regardless of their differences on the mound, they are both immensely talented players and are sure to get into game action this afternoon.
Though not nearly as elite as Anderson or Sloan, both Lucas Kelly and Mason Peters deserve to be highlighted ahead of tonight’s game. Members of last year’s draft class, Peters (4th round) and Kelly (6th round) were both relievers in college and feature big time stuff that gives them a great shot to move quickly. Peters, who should be a starter this season, is a low launch lefty with a fastball that plays well at the top of the zone and a devastating array of breaking balls he can spin with the best of them. He’s got a slight frame, but the arsenal should be fine as a starter if the body can hold up. Kelly, who’s a pure relief prospect, is a high octane side-armer that’s touched triple digits with his heater and gets big extension down the mound from his 6’4 frame. It’s primarily a fastball-slider profile that could move through the minors as fast as just about anybody in this system.
Po-Chun Lin is a fun inclusion to this roster. We’re yet to see his debut, but he’s gotten good reviews from scouts who have seen him. A stout lefty from Taiwan, Lin has found success in international play and is a name to monitor for the real prospect sickos.
Catchers
Josh Caron
Luke Stevenson
Caron is looking to bounce back after a disappointing first season in the pro ranks, but Stevenson, who was last year’s Comp A selection, looked superb at the plate last summer and should be one of the more exciting prospects to follow this season. His blend of defense, power, and leadership is enviable for such a young player, and he looked to be finding his hit tool with regularity in his debut with Modesto.
Infielders
Michael Arroyo, Nick Becker, Felnin Celesten, Colt Emerson, Charlie Pagliarini, Brock Rodden, Austin St. Laurent, Luis Suisbel
This group is headlined by Colt Emerson and Michael Arroyo, two players who got a healthy amount of run with the big league squad this spring and more than held their own. They’re both likely to debut in the majors this year and figure to be key factors for this organization moving forward. Rodden, another guy who’s had a really nice spring in his own right, is finally back healthy and raking, a fantastic sign for a guy who could easily fill in as a utility guy at some point in the near future. He’s something of a Leo Rivas/Dylan Moore hybrid, though he might end up having a better offensive game than both of them.
Nick Becker and Felnin Celesten are the names that are most probable to make major moves on ranking boards this season, though which direction is yet to be seen. Celesten is entering a “prove it” type of year after last season’s let down, but he’s shown he can be an elite performer when healthy and remains just 20 years old. Becker, who briefly debuted last summer after signing as the team’s second rounder, has a bundle of tools that gives him immense ceiling, but he’ll have to get everything dialed in if he wants to ascend up the rankings like many think he can.
Outfielders
Yorger Bautista, Korbyn Dickerson, Jonny Farmelo, Carlos Jimenez, Lazaro Montes, Jared Sundstrom, Aiden Taurek
Both Montes and Farmelo have been atop prospect lists for several years now and feature immense potential, though neither seems all that likely to debut in the big leagues this year due to a variety of reasons. Farmelo has missed over a year and a half of his professional career due to injury and desperately needs reps to prove what he can do, and Montes, who’s performed well throughout his professional career, started to get exposed a bit in Double-A after a torrid start to his promotion. They both remain immense pieces to the future of this organization and will have every opportunity to keep their place near the top of our rankings.
A sleeper name to know, Aiden Taurek could not stop hitting last summer in Modesto and looks like a tough AB on pitchers. He’s an OBP first bat that could be an interesting name to follow in the AquaSox lineup.
PHILADELPHIA - JANUARY 24: Andre Iguodala #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers stretches before the game against the New York Knicks on January 24, 2009 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
New York has a 13-game winning streak and it will read 14 by midnight.
Don’t believe it? Ask Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Here’s the latest from the Knickerbocker universe.
“Jose has been fantastic for us. The time that he’s been here, he’s given us a lift energy-wise. And he’s a veteran. He knows the league, the league knows him. And he has a respect level for what he’s accomplished already that’s helped us tremendously.”
On not overthinking the Alvarado-McBride rotation yet:
“I’m not sure. I’ve thought a little bit about it but I haven’t put a ton of thought into it because I’m not exactly sure when Deuce is gonna get back. But Jose has been fantastic for us. The time that he’s been here, he’s given us a lift energy-wise. And he’s a veteran. He knows the league, the league knows him. And he has a respect level for what he’s accomplished already that’s helped us tremendously.”
On the Miles McBride-Jose Alvarado comparisons:
“They’re different players. Deuce might be a little taller than him, I’m not sure, but they’re both smaller guards. But they’re both quick. Deuce obviously shot the mess out of it. Jose’s speed is up there at the top of the league. Deuce kind of has a medium game. They both get to the ball. Jose picks up full-court a little different than Deuce. They bring some different things to the table, which you like that diversity on the team.”
On still tinkering with roles and rotations:
“[Roles are] closer to being defined, but there’s still some things I’d like to tinker with, from certain things we do defensively to a couple of things offensively to even some rotational stuff.”
“Absolutely, it helps the team no matter what. You kind of wish he was on the court because he’s a little bit quieter than on the bench. He does so much for this team on and off the court. It’s constant energy. Kind of regardless of how he’s playing, he always has the energy. That’s a skill, that’s a skill that makes someone last in the league a long time. It’s great to have him.”
On potentially pairing Alvarado and McBride:
“They are definitely different, but they both are very viable. They bring intangibles to the game, the intensity. They both do things that help the team win and they complement each other. It would be great to see, once Deuce is back, how that group plays together. I’m really excited to see that.”
On the Knicks’ 13-game winning streak against Brooklyn:
“No comment. We’re gonna focus on winning the game then moving on from there. I don’t care about the streak.”
On maintaining a short-term focus:
“You have to be ready to go. Short-term memory. No matter what the result is, you gotta come ready to play next time you play, next game, whatever it is. We gotta look past it, we gotta look forward. It’s 0-0, new game.”
“I didn’t think that growing up, but as I got closer, into college and going into my NBA career, it’s definitely — it keeps me in the NBA. That’s one of the reasons I got to the NBA, and it separates me from being just in the NBA, if that makes sense. I just figured out that’s what God blessed me with, and I’ve just got to do it at a high level.”
On playing alongside Miles McBride:
“[It would be] dope. Whatever the situation is, when we’re on the court together we’re going to be really good. I’ve seen Deuce play a whole bunch of times. I know how good he is. And to be quite frank, he needed somebody to get it rolling. He’s obviously a really good shooter. So me getting downhill is going to make it a little bit more easier for him. It’s all going to work out. I think this team has got a whole lot of firepower. Once we start clicking, I think we will be fine.”
On landing his first commercial after joining the Knicks:
“That’s what New York can do for you: get you in commercials. My agent called me and said, ‘We’ve got a special thing, do you want to be in a commercial?’ I said ‘Yeah,’ I didn’t know who was going to be in the commercial at first. But the commercial came out pretty dope.”
Andre Iguodala
On CJ McCollum’s work as the head of the NBPA:
“I want to talk about CJ McCollum. He’s been getting a lot of flak for the second apron, and I always ask guys, what would you want CJ to do differently? Because we know what lockouts are like, and we don’t want guys to lose money. We reach out to guys all the time, and what do guys say? I’m busy, I don’t want no extra work.”
On Mikal Bridges’ and Josh Hart’s lack of involvement with the NBPA:
“When I talk to other guys, like we need you at these meetings. ‘I want to play Call Of Duty, I want to go out.’ Mikal… that’s my young boy. I’m like, ‘Mikal dog, if you’re one of the smart players in the league, him too (Josh Hart), we need y’all.’”
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 18: Manager Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers speaks to the media prior to a Spring Training game against the San Francisco Giants at Camelback Ranch on March 18, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We are 27 games into spring training, and the Dodgers have only two more days in Arizona before returning home to Southern California to finish off the exhibition slate against the Angels.
After witnessing — either from afar on television/radio, or in person — Dodgers-related things for the last five weeks, let’s look back on Cactus League play.
Today’s question is what was your favorite moment from 2026 spring training?
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 19: Anthony Davis #23 of the Washington Wizards smiles before the game against the Detroit Pistons on March 19, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kenny Giarla/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Washington Wizards center Anthony Davis will be sidelined through the end of the month with a finger sprain, the team announced Friday.
Davis hasn’t played since early January when he suffered ligament damage in his left hand. The 32-year-old forward opted against surgery before he was later traded to the Wizards for a package that included five draft picks and four players.
The Wizards will have just seven games remaining when Davis is re-evaluated at the end of March.
It appears the Wizards' plan is to keep pushing back Anthony Davis' return until the season is basically over.
And I can't blame them for doing so. Not much incentive to bring Davis back when the goal of these final 13 games is to lose as much as possible.
With Washington — losers of 14 straight games — in full tanking mode, it’s looking increasingly unlikely that Davis makes his Wizards debut this season.
Mar 14, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Vj Edgecombe (77) reacts to his score against the Brooklyn Nets during the first quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
About a month removed from the NBA trade deadline, which largely fell flat for the Sixers, details of the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade talks are starting to leak out. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne recently mentioned two players the Milwaukee Bucks had interest in — one of them being VJ Edgecombe.
“Multiple sources across the league said the Bucks’ asking price was enormous, with an executive from a third team describing the Bucks’ process as “gauging the market” and their price as “all our draft picks and good young players.”
The Golden State Warriors offer included four unprotected first round picks in pursuit of Antetokounmpo, sources said, but never seemed to gain much momentum on a deal.
The Bucks’ rationale isn’t hard to figure out. If you’re trading Antetokounmpo, you’re kicking off a rebuild, and getting a younger, NBA-tested player accelerates that process. Both Edgecombe and Mobley fit that mold. A player of Antetokounmpo’s caliber hasn’t been traded in quite some time — the closest comparisons being the Suns’ deal for Kevin Durant and the Nets’ trade of James Harden, both of which netted an absolute haul of assets.
From a Sixers’ standpoint, things get messy fast. Matching Antetokounmpo’s massive salary would require at least one of Paul George or Joel Embiid to be included, and that’s before factoring in Edgecombe being packaged alongside them. A realistic offer probably looks like George, Edgecombe and a slew of draft capital — just to get Milwaukee to the table. You’d be locking in a Maxey-Antetokounmpo-Embiid core while giving up depth, future upside and flexibility to do it.
Despite the massive hurdles, the idea of Antetokounmpo ending up in Philly isn’t something to completely dismiss. Between this report of the Bucks openly fielding offers and an earlier report that Maxey was one of two players Antetokounmpo wanted to play alongside (the other being Anthony Edwards), there’s at least something worth monitoring here.
While the idea of Antetokounmpo in Philly is a fun fantasy, it’s likely just that. Antetokounmpo is advancing toward the twilight of his career, the injuries have been stacking up, and the trouble of pulling off that trade is probably more than it’s worth. The future of the NBA appears to be built around youth, and Edgecombe looks like a true franchise pillar for years to come. The Sixers have made it clear they had zero interest in moving him, and for good reason. This is a 20-year-old who has already been asked to do way too much in his rookie year, and yet he’s not only held his own against NBA veterans but stood out doing it. That isn’t too common for a rookie guard.
Maxey has gone to bat for him repeatedly, with this quote from January standing out in particular:
“We’re blessed to have him,” Maxey told reporters. “Super. Thank you, basketball gods, Lord, Baylor, I don’t know. Daryl Morey. Everybody.”
Antetokounmpo talks are bound to ramp up this summer, with the divide between both sides continuing to widen. Owner Wes Edens has even gone on record saying Antetokounmpo will be traded if he doesn’t accept their extension offer. For the Sixers, the smart play is to stay out of it if the price is their electric rookie. Edgecombe is exactly the kind of asset you build around, not the kind you throw into a blockbuster to rent a star on the back nine of his career.
ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 08: Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. looks on during the MLB and the Dominican Baseball Federation announcement at the 2025 Winter Meetings at The Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek on Monday, December 8, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mary Holt/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
If you have been concerned that there are not enough ways in 2026 to gamble on Major League Baseball, then I have good news for you. MLB entered into a partnership with prediction market Polymarket, first reported by Ben Horney of Front Office Sports and then later announced by both organizations. Polymarket gains the right to use official logos and marks, while MLB is reported to receive somewhere between $150 million and $300 million a year from the prediction markets.
Prediction markets, which are a relatively new product but rapidly increasing in popularity and visibility, allow users to bet on a whole host of things, from who will win the Kansas City Royals home opener to whether Jesus Christ return before 2027? These bets happen against other users through the buying and selling of contracts, similar to how a stock exchange works, instead of betting against the house as you do in a casino. This difference currently allows the markets to be regulated at the federal level by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission instead of at the state level, where traditional gambling is regulated. Theoretically, this makes these markets legal nationwide, although that is currently being challenged in court.
Unsurprisingly, Evan Drellich of the Athletic wrote an excellent article about the partnership. His treatise included quotes from Ari Borod, Polymarket president of sports business, that I think are both very revealing and very frustrating to someone like me who is ready to go full Temperance Movement on legalized gambling.
Borod, as does MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, frames this partnership as a way to protect the integrity of the game and help catch bad actors. Borod explained this to Drellich, stating:
“We will work collaboratively with MLB to identify what types of markets pose unreasonable integrity risks for the game of baseball, and try to get those out of the market, with the goal being, how do you protect customers?
The phrase that really stood out to me is unreasonable integrity risk. I think this begs the question, what is a “reasonable” integrity risk? Integrity in the game of baseball is a fundamentally necessary component, at least for me, to continue investing my time and money into the Royals and other MLB teams. I don’t want there to be “reasonable” integrity risks that are not just tolerated, but actively in partnership with the league. I want the leaders of the sport to guard the integrity of the game of baseball like you would guard a nuclear power plant. You don’t want even reasonable risks to be involved where nuclear fallout could be the result of said risks going awry. I want the most reasonable risks and seemingly tolerable to be taken seriously and accounted for when the results of failure could be as spectacular and long-lasting for MLB as Chernobyl was for Ukraine.
Last season, prop bets, which are bets on micro events instead of the game at large, were considered reasonable enough to be legal, even encouraged, by MLB teams and their gambling partners. Then word leaked that Cleveland Guardians relievers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were being investigated and then indicted for allegedly rigging pitchers for financial gain. Clase and Ortiz have both said they are not guilty. Prosecutors for the case allege that Clase began this practice back in 2023, but Clase was not placed under investigation until 2025.
After the indictment, MLB and its gambling partners announced a $200 cap on prop bets, as well as forbidding the prop bets from being included in parlays. Parlays, which are a series of bets made at once that bring increased payouts if successful but fail if just one part of the bet doesn’t hit, are critically important to sports gambling companies’ bottom line. I think these steps are just a partial step towards what we need to do as a society, but I’m sure many people find them reasonable.
On one hand, I understand why MLB is attempting to get ahead of this and try to curb what contracts are allowed to be purchased. Pablo Torre recently aired an episode of his podcast, Pablo Torre Finds Out, about prediction markets titled “The Prop-Betification of Everything,” where he and author James Surowiecki discuss why prediction markets are useful tools, but also discuss the danger of turning anything that generates sufficient interest into a prop bet. If this went completely unchecked, we likely would see more incidents like Clase and Ortiz.
On the other hand, what if the very existence and popularity of sports gambling and prediction markets in particular are unreasonable risks to the integrity of the game? A key component of the Guardians’ pitcher scandal was essentially insider trading. Insiders, the pitchers themselves, knew that the pitch being thrown was going to be a ball because it was in their control. This ability to self-deal, allegedly for years, was critical to this scheme being pulled off.
Polymarket doesn’t explicitly ban insider trading, but has a broad ban on fraudulent bets. Borod paid lip service to avoiding props that have already proven to be a risk for the league, telling Drellich:
“I can’t share different specifics on parameters, but what I can share is that props that are easily susceptible to manipulation, or that, again, raise unreasonable integrity concerns, we want to keep those out of the game as well,”
Clearly, the phrase of the day is unreasonable integrity, but it’s a concern this time instead of a risk. Insider trading seems like it raises an unreasonable integrity concern, yet Polymarket founder Shayne Coplan apparently has a different perspective, viewing insider trading as a feature and not a bug. Here’s a summary of his point of view from a Forbes article about the topic:
Coplan has publicly supported the idea of using insider information to trade in prediction markets, framing “insider trading” in these markets as a public good that would enable the masses to get access to accurate information more quickly.
Insider trading is a key component to making these prediction markets as accurate as possible, yet it is also the very thing that makes them so susceptible to people with knowledge not available to the public enriching themselves at the expense of other people. Someone else and their money is at the other end of those contracts, not a massive entity like FanDuel or DraftKings.
The very existence of a market that, at the very least, implicitly encourages insider trading being allowed to carry MLB related product seems like an unreasonable integrity risk to me, no matter how much you try to police the worst elements of it. This seems like it’s going to end up in a whack-a-mole situation; another scandal will pop up around one of the products being offered, then there will be some change meant to address that specific product, rinse and repeat. How long until this process starts to completely erode public trust and start to hurt the bottom line in MLB remains to be seen. I would bet, however, you can wager on the outcome.
March Madness officially got underway with first-round games on Thursday, March 19. Sixteen games were played on "opening day" of the NCAA Tournament, with another 16 on Friday, March 20. And we had some shockers already.
The NCAA Tournament continues through April 5, when a national champion will emerge from the Final Four in Indianapolis. Second round coverage begins on Saturday, March 21 and continues through Sunday, March 22.
As March Madness continues to unfold, USA TODAY Sports will be on top of all the action. Here's a look at the March Madness results so far for men's March Madness:
March Madness results so far
First round
Thursday, March 19
East Region: (1) Duke 71, (16) Siena 65
Midwest Region: (1) Michigan 101, (16) Howard 80
South Region: (2) Houston 78, (15) Idaho 47
East Region: (3) Michigan State 92, (14) North Dakota State 67
South Region: (3) Illinois 105, (14) Penn 70
West Region: (3) Gonzaga 73, (14) Kennesaw State 64
East Region: (9) TCU 66, (8) Ohio State 64
South Region: (4) Nebraska 76, (13) Troy 47
West Region: (4) Arkansas 97, (13) Hawai'i 78
West Region: (12) High Point 83, (5) Wisconsin 82
South Region: 5) Vanderbilt 78, (12) McNeese 68
East Region: (6) Louisville 83, (11) South Florida 79
South Region: (11) Virginia Commonwealth 82, (6) North Carolina 78, OT
West Region: (11) Texas 79, (6) BYU 71
South Region: (10) Texas A&M 63, (7) Saint Mary's 50
East Region: (9) TCU 66, (8) Ohio State 64
Midwest Region: (9) Saint Louis 102, (8) Georgia 77
March Madness schedule: Today's games in men's NCAA Tournament
Midwest Region: (7) Kentucky vs. (10) Santa Clara | 12:15 p.m. | CBS (Fubo)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 19: Marat Khusnutdinov #92, David Pastrnak #88, Charlie McAvoy #73 and Fraser Minten #93 of the Boston Bruins celebrate the first-period goal against the Winnipeg Jets at the TD Garden on March 19, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
With a big divisional game against Detroit looming on Saturday night, you could be forgiven for worrying that the Bruins might overlook a home game against a fading Winnipeg Jets team.
However, the B’s showed up and then some, jumping out to a 4-0 second period lead before eventually gliding to a 6-1 win at TD Garden.
The B’s got goals from six different players, including Lukas Reichel, who scored on a fortuitous bounce in his Bruins debut.
Jeremy Swayman made 23 saves in the win, earning himself a First Star for his efforts.
After a scoreless start to the first period, David Pastrnak got the scoring started when he collected a loose puck out of mid-air and beat Connor Hellebuyck to make it 1-0 Bruins.
Hellebuyck was in the spotlight for the next Bruins goal, when he failed to collect a wraparound that ended up on Reichel’s stick for a chip-in to make it 2-0 Bruins.
Viktor Arvidsson was the beneficiary of a puck that ramped off a stick and looped up and behind Hellebuyck to make it 3-0 Bruins late in the second period.
And that was that! Bruins win, 6-1, sweeping the season series with Winnipeg.
Game notes
While the final score makes the entire game seem like a blowout, it’s worth noting that this was a 2-0 game until the last two minutes of the second period. Swayman played well for the Bruins, making 16 saves in the first two periods, including a highlight-reel stop.
Those second and third goals by the Bruins are the kind of weird goals that feel like your team doesn’t get them when they’re struggling but does when things are going OK. I think back to weird moments like the stick-snap in the game against Florida that went against the B’s, or Charlie McAvoy blowing an edge in OT against the Devils. Tonight, the bounces went the Bruins’ way, but they also deserve credit for building on the lead after those bounces.
David Pastrnak is up to 4G-4A-8PTS totals in his last five games, as he had a goal and an assist tonight. Countryman Pavel Zacha is right on his heels in that same stretch, with 4G-2A-6PTS totals.
Lukas Reichel is so new to the B’s that he doesn’t even have a photo on the NHL website. SOMEONE GET THE KID A CAMERA. While he benefited from Hellebuyck’s misplay, he showed good speed and instincts to get himself into he right spot to make a play.
All six Bruins goals were scored at even strength, as they came up empty in one power play opportunity.
While we’re all tired of hearing about “this is a big game,” this was a pretty big win for the Bruins given other results. Ottawa, Detroit, Columbus, and Philadelphia all won on Thursday night, meaning the B’s didn’t really gain much ground. Both the Bruins and Red Wings are now tied on points with Montreal, while Columbus and the Islanders are a point behind. The Isles actually fell out of the playoff picture based on a games-played tiebreaker with Columbus, so…it’s getting tight!
The B’s will be back in action in Detroit on Saturday night, a primetime 8 PM Eastern start on ABC.
It’s hard to believe, but today we stand only six days away from the Cubs’ first 2026 regular season game, which will be next Thursday at Wrigley Field against the Washington Nationals.
A chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.
Honestly? That wouldn’t be too bad, as long as the “chance” turns into “nope.”
Here’s who I think will be standing on the third-base line to be introduced to the Wrigley crowd next Thursday.
Catchers (2)
Miguel Amaya, Carson Kelly
Nothing to really discuss here. These two are a solid catching tandem.
Infielders (5)
Michael Busch, Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson, Alex Bregman, Matt Shaw
I’m listing Shaw as an infielder even though he could very well be in right field on Opening Day if Seiya Suzuki’s injury forces him to the injured list, something that hasn’t yet been determined.
Outfielders (5)
Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, Dylan Carlson, Michael Conforto
With the possibility that Suzuki’s not available, Carlson and Conforto could both make the Opening Day roster. Incidentally, PCA and Bregman are expected back in camp today, but likely won’t play in a game until tomorrow or Sunday.
“I’ve suggested to the hitting coaches that they stay away from him,” Counsell said. “I did have a meeting with the hitting coaches at one point this spring. I called them all together, and they got a little nervous. I said, ‘You guys should stay away from Ballesteros.’
“Joking, you know, but they got the message.”
Ballesteros might never become more than an emergency/occasional catcher in MLB, but the man can hit. In Spring Training so far he’s batting .355/.394/.613 (11-for-33) in 11 games with two doubles, two home runs and eight RBI.
Starting pitchers (5)
Matthew Boyd, Edward Cabrera, Cade Horton, Shōta Imanaga, Jameson Taillon
We already know that Boyd will start the Opening Day game. Beyond that Craig Counsell hasn’t announced his rotation, so the rest are listed in alphabetical order.
For the record, I am not concerned about Taillon, who’s had a terrible spring. Nor am I concerned about Imanaga, who had an outstanding outing on Tuesday. I had written that he had 23 whiffs in that outing; the correct number is 25, which is the most by any Cub in any game, spring or not, since Yu Darvish had 26 in 2020.
Relief pitchers (8)
Daniel Palencia, Hunter Harvey, Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Caleb Thielbar, Jacob Webb, Colin Rea, Gavin Hollowell
It’s possible the Cubs keep Ben Brown in the pen to start the season, although he might also be sent to Triple-A Iowa to be stretched out to start. The same is true of Javier Assad, I think. Hollowell has had a good spring (24 batters faced, 11 strikeouts), but he is optionable, so it’s possible someone else might take that spot. One thing Jed Hoyer has been really good at is identifying scrap-heap relievers who have come to Chicago and succeeded.
Of the eight relievers listed above, only two (Rea and Thielbar) were on last year’s Opening Day roster and four (Harvey, Maton, Milner, Webb) were not in the Cubs organization at all in 2025.
