MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 28: Brady Singer #51 of the Cincinnati Reds throws a pitch in the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on September 28, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cincinnati Reds got bogus news early in spring camp when Hunter Greene needed elbow surgery to remove bone spurs, setting back their ace until the All Star break in July. Aside from that doozy, though, things had mostly been OK on the injury front (aside from Caleb Ferguson’s oblique issue).
As the heat ramped up down in the desert, though, a plague of blisters descended upon Goodyear. Yesterday we found out Nick Lodolo had one (that was bad enough to need popping), and that came on the heels of Brady Singer dealing with one, too – not the kind of news you want on the eve of Opening Day when things had already been seemingly set with the pitching staff.
As things stand, though, it appears Singer dodged any blistering that was bad enough to set him back, and he’ll get the ball tonight in Milwaukee as the Reds face off against the Brewers in a pre-season exhibition game at American Family Field.
(It’s Miller Park. It’ll always be Miller Park.)
Cincinnati has effectively set their Opening Day roster, so there aren’t really any position battles still ongoing in camp. That said, there are still a handful of non-roster players who made the trip with the big league club, as each of Michael Chavis, Garrett Hampson, Hector Rodriguez, Tejay Antone, and Michael Toglia are available off the bench tonight.
Doug Gray of Redleg Nation once again was kind enough to relay the travel roster on Bluesky, which features a conscious decision by manager Terry Francona to let Ke’Bryan Hayes DH for the night from the #2 spot in the lineup.
If you’d like a reminder of how old you are, I’ll point out that lefty Aaron Ashby is on the mound for the Brewers tonight, and the Reds have put together a lineup featuring TJ Friedl (in LF) and an entire fleet of right-handed hitters behind him to counter. Ashby, of course, is the nephew of longtime big league righty Andy Ashby, who last pitched two years after Joey Votto’s professional career begin in the Reds system.
Sal Stewart will start at 2B, Dane Myers gets CF for the night, and Eugenio Suarez will man the hot corner with a glove for a turn.
First pitch is slated for 7:40 PM ET, and to answer your question…no, you cannot watch it on television. 700 WLW will have the radio feed, however.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - DECEMBER 25: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the Golden State Warriors on December 25, 2025 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors finish off their six-game road-trip with one final stop in the state of Texas as they take on the Dallas Mavericks. Tip-off is set for 6:30 PM PT in Dallas and can be watched on Peacock and NBC Sports Bay Area.
The Warriors fell to five games under .500 following Saturday night’s 126–110 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. It was a familiar script for Golden State throughout this road trip — a strong start followed by a sharp drop-off as the game progressed.
The offense held up early, with the Warriors trailing by just two points at halftime. But things unraveled coming out of the break, as Atlanta broke the game open with a dominant 39–20 third quarter.
“It's tough, tough time, for sure, for everybody, it's human nature to, you know, to kind of get down hang your head.”
Of course, much of the attention heading into the game centered on the matchup against former Warrior Jonathan Kuminga. However, Golden State kept him largely in check. Kuminga remained scoreless for most of the night, scoring his only basket on a layup midway through the fourth quarter with the game already out of reach. He finished with just two points on 1-of-9 shooting, along with four rebounds, two assists, one steal, and two turnovers.
While the reunion didn’t quite live up to the hype, it was a sign that both sides have begun to move forward with no more lingering bad blood between them.
The Warriors will look to end the road trip on a positive note against a Mavericks team that has been trending in a similar direction. Just like Golden State, Dallas has lost three straight games including eight of its last 10.
The difference, however, lies in the standings, where the Mavericks sit well behind the Warriors and have little incentive to push for wins — especially with this upcoming draft marking the final year they fully control their first-round pick until 2030.
There is some good news for Golden State. Kristaps Porzingis is listed as probable and appears on track to play after missing Saturday’s game with a back injury. He’s made a noticeable impact on both ends whenever he plays but his availability has been the main concern during his Warriors’ tenure thus far.
Warriors are 1.5-point favorites tonight against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Stephen Curry/Al Horford/Quinten Post/Seth Curry out for Golden State. De’Anthony Melton/Kristaps Porzingis probable. Moses Moody questionable.
TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Raptors signed guard Markelle Fultz to a 10-day contract, the team announced Monday.
Fultz, the No. 1 pick in the 2017 draft, last played in the NBA in 2024-25 for the Sacramento Kings.
The 27-year-old Fultz averaged 2.7 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 8.8 minutes per game in 21 appearances for the Kings.
Fultz is averaging 9.8 points, 5.3 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 22.2 minutes in six games, all starts, with Toronto’s G League affiliate, Raptors 905, this season.
The 6-foot-4 209-pound guard has career averages of 10.4 points, 4.4 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 24.0 minutes in 255 NBA games, including 164 starts, with Philadelphia (2017-19), Orlando (2019-24) and Sacramento (2024-25).
BROOKLYN, NY - MARCH 20: Michael Porter Jr. #17 of the Brooklyn Nets arrives to the arena before the game against the New York Knicks on March 20, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
When the Nets traded Cam J0hnson for Michael Porter Jr. and the Denver Nuggets unprotected first rounder in 2032, there was much weeping and gnashing of teeth. Renting of garments. The whole biblical megilla. No excess verbiage was squandered. It was b-a-d, double-bad, bad.
Who can forget Bill Simmons? He seemed actually angered by the move.
“Did they have to even put Cam Johnson in the trade?” the Ringer founder said on his podcast. “I just think that trade, the more I thought about it over the last five days, is one of the worst trades of the decade. You have to attach a pick to get rid of Porter, and I also didn’t get anything for Cam Johnson? Nothing?”
Simmons also called the Nets situation among the league’s “bleakest.”
That latter conviction is still up for debate and on Monday, ESPN’s Zach Kram laddressed the former and included it on his list of “the 10 best and 10 worst moves” of the season, stretching back to the 2025 Draft. And there at No. 4 on the “best” side not the “worst” was the MPJ trade!
Why it’s on the list: Brooklyn traded Cameron Johnson to Denver for Porter and a 2032 first-round pick, and Porter has significantly outplayed Johnson this season. So Brooklyn got the best player in the trade and a future unprotected pick to add to its vast war chest.
Despite a massive increase in usage rate — Porter ranks 12th among qualified players this season with 30.4% usage, while his previous career high was 22.7% — on a worse team, Porter’s efficiency hasn’t dropped much. All those extra opportunities have boosted his scoring to a career-high 24.2 PPG, 5.2 points above his previous best.
What’s the potential playoff impact? None, with the Nets’ sights squarely on the lottery. But Brooklyn seeks to contend in 2026-27, with no control over its own draft pick next year, so Porter could be much more relevant then.
The only moves about the late June trade: Atlanta Hawks add Nickeil Alexander-Walker via sign-and-trade; Oklahoma City Thunder extend Ajay Mitchell and trade for Jared McCain; and at the top of the list: the Charlotte Hornets selection of Kon Knueppel at No. 4 in the NBA draft.
It is of course a justification for Sean Marks (not that this sort of stuff means much to him.) The pick is valuable because by the time it comes around, Nikola Jokic is likely to be admiring his statue outside Ball Arena while a group of young’uns rebuild the fanchise inside. Johnson, moreover, is having the opposite of Porter’s season. This will be the fourth straight Johnson won’t break 60 games played and is averaging a little less than half MPJ’s production at 11.9 ppg, his lowest since his second year in the league. He also 29 two years older. (Of course, if Denver winds up with the O’Brien trophy, there’ll have to be a recalculation.)
It’s the second time in about two weeks that a nationally recognized outlet has changed its mind on the deal. On the Third Apron podcast co-hosted by Yossi Gozlan of capsheets.com and Sam Quinn of CBS Sports, Quinn credited Sean Marks for his patience in making deals, waiting for a better deal, citing the MPJ deal as an example.
“They waited on Cam Johnson too. It might have cost them draft position in 2025. I think Egor Demin looks good. I’d be very excited to have him. Maybe they could have gotten higher up in that lottery, who’s to say. BUT they get an unprotected pick for Cam Johnson plus Michael Porter Jr. who’s better than Cam Johnson. That’s a killer trade,” said Quinn.
Beyond Simmons, other pundits around the league criticized the deal with one decision-maker telling ND that the Nets had chosen to go in a different direction than expected. “Where’s the seven firsts,” he said derisively at the time. He called the trade the worst of the summer.
Despite some loathsome language on various podcasts, including some earlier the month, the Nets brass seem generally pleased with Porter Jr. with more than one pundit suggesting that the Nets plan on keeping Porter Jr. as they transition from rebuild to a build this summer. There has also been media speculation that Porter could help in the wooing of the Nuggets’ 23-year-old rising star Peyton Watson who will be a restricted free agent this summer. The two were close in Denver.
The Nets did not place in the 10 worst trades (always a danger,) but the Milwaukee Bucks decision waive and stretch Damian Lillard to sign Myles Turner got top billing.
TEMPE, ARIZONA - MARCH 05, 2026: Luis Morales #19 of the Athletics throws a pitch during the first inning of a spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium on March 05, 2026 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
You just don’t want to read too much into spring training results. The ball flies in the desert air, pitchers are building up arm strength and sometimes even working on secondary pitches they haven’t mastered, the adrenaline isn’t pumping like it will be on Friday.
Then again, when a pitcher comes to camp showing the exact weaknesses that have plagued him prior, it can be informative. Such was the fate of the talented-but-wild Jack Perkins who came into camp with the question of “Will he be put into the rotation or maybe slotted in as the closer?” The answer, as it turns out, is “No.” Perkins has been optioned to AAA to continue working on throwing more strikes.
Still standing, and presumed to be in the A’s rotation when camp breaks, is another highly talented, but also raw, RHP in Luis Morales. Now 23, Morales got a taste of the big leagues in 2025 and generally acquitted himself well putting up a solid 3.14 ERA albeit it with less gushing underlying metrics (4.42 xERA, 4.54 xFIP).
Morales has a plus fastball and a wicked slider, but not always the ability to throw them where he wants to. This leads both to high walk totals and also centered pitches that can get whacked around. The hope, of course, is that with experience Morales can throw more and more quality strikes and harness the terrific arm he brings to the mound.
So far so bad.
Morales got knocked around again today, mostly thanks to a bases clearing double that followed 3 walks to load the bases. His final line today? 2.1 IP, 1 hit, 3 ER, 4 BB, 2 K. To get just 8 outs, Morales threw 61 pitches of which only 34 were strikes.
This only continues a trend from throughout the Cactus League. Here’s where Morales’ numbers stand at the end of spring training:
2-2, 7.58 ERA, 19 IP, 21 hits, 16 ER (3 HR), 14 BB, 17 K. For those of you scoring at home that BB/9 IP rate is 6.63.
Here’s where if the A’s had “too many starting pitchers” (a baseball oxymoron) they would probably send Morales to join Perkins at AAA to start the season. But with the only alternatives being JT Ginn, who faded terribly the second half of spring training, and Luis Medina, who has returned from Tommy John surgery electric and wild as ever (7.1 IP, 9 BB), it appears that Morales’ spot is safe and that he will most likely face the Toronto Blue Jays or Atlanta Braves on the first road trip.
Watching Kade Morris carve up the #1 farm system yesterday, he looked far more ready to toss 6 quality big league innings than Morales currently does. Morris threw just 56 pitches in his 4 innings, 37 for strikes (that’s 2/3).
Without question Morales has big time talent and stuff — there’s no question you would want him in your organization over any of the alternatives that could make starts in April. But whether that means he’s going to be at all effective in the big leagues now? You wonder.
Hopefully the natural talent wins out, but far more electric arms have been taken to the cleaners because they couldn’t find the strike zone or couldn’t stay out of the middle of it. Count me as one fan who will watching anxiously as he (presumably) toes the rubber in Atlanta. He doesn’t look ready to me — but ready or not here he comes.
England coach Brendon McCullum will keep his job despite the team’s Ashes debacle, with cricket chief Richard Gould insisting he can “adapt and evolve”.
The Pittsburgh Penguins brought in several new players during the 2025 NHL offseason. Among them was defenseman Parker Wotherspoon, as the Penguins signed him to a two-year, $2 million contract.
This signing did not get a ton of attention when it was announced, as Wotherspoon was primarily a depth defenseman during his time with the Boston Bruins. However, since joining the Penguins, the left-shot blueliner has taken his game to a new level in a major way.
Wotherspoon has been fantastic for the Penguins this season, and the truth is in his stats. In 70 games this season with Pittsburgh, he has set new career highs with three goals, 23 assists, 26 points, 103 blocks, and 147 hits. He also has a plus-12 rating.
Wotherspoon is not slowing down as the season carries on, either. In his last five games alone, the 28-year-old defenseman has recorded six assists. With this, Wotherspoon has been playing some strong hockey for the Penguins down the stretch.
Wotherspoon's excellent play this season has also helped him find a home on the Penguins' top pairing and penalty kill. With this, he has certainly become a big part of the Penguins' blueline, and it is clear that they made the right decision signing him.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MARCH 21: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up prior to a game against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center on March 21, 2026 in Orlando, 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 Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you’re wondering, “Didn’t we just have a conversation about LeBron’s future last week?” then the answer is yes.
But this ongoing discussion isn’t going away anytime soon. This won’t be the last time we wonder what the future holds for LeBron and the reasons the conversation is worth having again is that the dynamics are rapidly changing with the Lakers.
Not even a month ago, the narrative around the Lakers was that they were better without LeBron, both in the present and future. On Monday, Sam Amick of The Athletic wrote about how, as recently as six weeks ago, the assumption around the league was LeBron was playing his final games in Los Angeles.
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.
Upon his return, he’s adopted a much different role that has allowed both Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves to be on the ball more while still allowing him to contribute in meaningful ways.
It’s not a coincidence that the Lakers have stopped losing during that stretch either. LeBron is most certainly not the main reason for that as Luka playing some of the best basketball of his life has been the driving force. But LeBron has one of the most consistent pieces of their current win streak.
Now, the conversation feels a bit different about LeBron and the Lakers moving forward. Granted, the necessary caveat to mention is that the Lakers can’t overreact to a couple of weeks of good play. Is this sustainable for LeBron and the Lakers alike? Is he even open to this role long-term, serving as the third fiddle behind the team’s star backcourt?
If he’s willing to take a backseat role on the court, is it easier to see him getting his swan song in purple and gold?
The reality is that no situation makes clear sense for LeBron next season. While the Warriors and Cavs are mentioned, both have equal or greater reasons as to why it may not work out.
Golden State’s main selling point is a chance to team with an aging Steph Curry — and Warriors team in general — for one last ride. But does LeBron want to end his career on a team that was his main rival for years in a city he has no connection to?
He definitely has connections to the Cavs and Cleveland, but there are plenty of hurdles there, too. Cleveland would need to still do a fair amount of cap gymnastics just to open up room to offer him a contract. They’re also a team with title aspirations. Do they want to have LeBron’s retirement tour running in parallel with that? To say nothing of the team needing to adapt to him and vice versa on his send off?
That former point stands for the Lakers, too. With Luka firmly in his prime, they, too, will have title aspirations. But they don’t have to integrate LeBron into a system. They know how to play around and with him already. And they’re doing it at a high level right now.
It’s not the Lakers’ problem that LeBron doesn’t have a clear landing spot for next season and it’s not their responsibility to offer one. But President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka said the team wanted LeBron to retire as a Laker. And the team is playing well right now because of him. This wouldn’t some charity offering.
Actions speak louder than words. Pelinka said the thing that cooled temperatures most in that moment earlier this year. Do the Lakers really feel that way? Can they really move into the Luka era with LeBron on the team?
At one point this season, very recently, it felt like a foregone conclusion that LeBron was leaving. But as they barrel toward the postseason playing their best basketball of the season, have they found a solution for the present and the future?
Feb 27, 2026; Jupiter, Florida, USA; St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter JJ Wetherholt (77) rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the New York Mets during the fourth inning at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
This is not something that I would categorize as a surprise, but at least we have confirmation of what the St. Louis Cardinals Opening Day roster will look like in its final form. MLB Trade Rumors has confirmed that JJ Wetherholt, José Fermín, Thomas Saggese and Nathan Church will all head to St. Louis with the Cardinals while Nelson Velázquez will be sent to Triple A Memphis.
This is the video that the St. Louis Cardinals just dropped on social media as a tease of the JJ Wetherholt promotion.
Going into the 2026 campaign, the San Diego Padres are seeking to stabilize their starting rotation. Joe Musgrove and Griffin Canning will open the season on the injured list, while Yu Darvish’s elbow surgery will cause him to miss the entire 2026 campaign.
In the meantime, the Padres will start Nick Pivetta on Opening Day and patiently wait for Michael King to return to form. If so, he will become the staff’s No. 1 starter. A young pitcher has the opportunity to prove his place in the rotation until Musgrove is ready to come back.
Vasquez could save Padres from starting pitching woes
Randy Vasquez has positioned himself to exceed everyone’s 2026 expectations with an outstanding Spring Training. It was enough to impress Friars first-year manager Craig Stammen to move Vasquez up in the rotation order. And if he continues to dominate opposing lineups, it will be tough to take the young right-hander out of the third starter’s role.
Vasquez has shown several flashes of success during his time in San Diego. Coming off a 3.84 ERA last season, he came into camp throwing with newfound velocity. His four-seam fastball gained nearly three miles per hour after throwing it at 93.5 MPH in 2025.
Often, Vasquez was hitting 96 MPH, as he posted 8.2 innings of shutout baseball in early Cactus League contests. The third-year pitcher allowed only two hits and struck out eight batters. His strikeout rate was above 30%, as the hitter’s chase rate was nearly 40% in Arizona. It was higher than his career rate.
Spring Training does not answer all the questions
However, Vasquez did struggle in the later stages of Spring Training. Granted, pitchers are refining and simplifying their pitching repertoire. Vasquez was working to improve the effectiveness of his sweeper and curveball, the latter of which ranked in the 98th percentile for spin rate last season.
However, it might be time for Vasquez to phase out the cutter, as the pitch was continually getting pounded by hitters. You cannot ignore that his ERA rose to 4.86 at the tail end of the spring schedule.
Nevertheless, Vasquez was a standout performer, as he had an impressive 1.04 WHIP and a 15-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 18.1 innings pitched.
To have a breakout season, Vasquez must continue to pitch with the confidence he found in Peoria, Ariz. It is time to translate potential into wins this season.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: James Wood #29 of the Washington Nationals at bat during a spring training game against the St. Louis Cardinals at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 11, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you have been watching the Nationals at all this spring, you would know that the offense has struggled. When you look at the box scores, most of the players OPS numbers begin with a 4, 5 or 6. The Nats hit just .194 with a .592 OPS this spring. As the team heads into the season, how concerned should we be?
Personally, I am moderately concerned, but not totally panicked yet. It is a bit alarming to see the struggles of guys like Dylan Crews and James Wood, but again, it is still Spring Training. The new regime is teaching these players a lot of new things, and clearly, it has been easier for the pitchers to translate those teachings into the game.
The pitching staff is the reason the Nats still finished this spring with a record above .500. The Nats were 29th in scoring this spring, averaging 3.5 runs per game. However, they only allowed 3.7 per game, which was 4th. The slate is clean when the regular season begins, but I would not be surprised if the pitchers were ahead of the hitters early on.
Nats drop the exhibition finale, 2-0. They scored 1 run yesterday in Baltimore. They finished the spring with 3.5 runs scored per game (29th out of 30 clubs). The pitching staff, though, only gave up 3.7 runs per game (4th out of 30 clubs).
It is a lot easier for a pitcher to add a pitch or tweak their mechanics than it is for a hitter to change things up. Pitching has become so scientific, while hitting is still more of an art. Some changes that sound good on paper could have adverse effects. Even if they do, it could sometimes be worth it to stick with those tweaks for a while to see if things click. Clearly, the transition to a new style of hitting has not been smooth so far.
For years, the Nats have been at or near the top of the league in ground ball rate, and that is something the new regime wants to change. However, trying to lift the ball comes with some tradeoffs like more pop ups and a bit more whiff. Finding a balance will be important for this team. This new regime also seems willing to experiment until they find the right combination.
One thing that Blake Butera said that I found interesting was that he thinks the offense will improve as they see guys more. He talked about how it can be tough to “fly blind” when you keep seeing different pitchers in Spring Training. Hopefully the Nats will be able to make those sorts of adjustments.
Blake Butera noted concerns with the offense, but said he believes they’ll benefit from having more info on pitchers and more at-bats off starters during the season.
This struggling Nats offense will be challenged right off the bat with series against the Cubs, Phillies and Dodgers. The Phillies and Dodgers in particular have very strong staffs that will happily feast on a lineup trying to find an identity. Now that Spring Training is over, it is time to lock in. Maybe some hitters should go back to what works best for them, at least in the short term. The two exhibitions against the O’s were not pretty offensively. The Nats better be ready because they will be challenged by some high end arms to start the season.
A couple weeks ago I talked about the Nats offensive concerns. I attributed a lot of the struggles to guys just getting going, but as we enter the regular season, I am a little worried. The Nats offense last year was not great by any means, but they showed some promise, especially in the first half. It has been really ugly so far this spring.
There have been a lot of positives for the Nats this spring but the offense has not been one of them. Should we be worried? https://t.co/f6vr4OBmK0
I would not be surprised if the trend of the pitching being better than the hitting continues into the season. Obviously the gap will not be as extreme, but I believe the pitchers will be ahead of the hitters. They seem to have responded to the new coaching better.
Hopefully this is all Spring Training noise and the offense can start the year hot. However, I do not think the bad offense is totally fluky. There are some real growing pains here. I hope things start to click as Matt Borgschutle gets more time with the guys because it has not been pretty so far.
PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 14: Nick Pivetta #27 of the San Diego Padres pitches during a Spring Training game against the Cleveland Guardians at Peoria Stadium on March 14, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s official. Nick Pivetta will start for the San Diego Padres this Thursday. They’ll put up their best fight on Opening Day against fearsome lefty Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers as they seek to return to the postseason for the third year in a row.
Pivetta will be the fourth starting pitcher in as many years to take the mound for San Diego’s Opening Day.
The unicorn year
Pivetta will pitch on March 26 for the Friars after having the best season of his career last year. Pivetta and Padres fans were waiting for manager Craig Stammen to announce the Opening Day starter. If Pivetta can retain anything from last year, the starting rotation will be a lot closer to elite than it is now.
There’s obviously upside, tremendously so, but it’s shaky. Pivetta has never had an ERA below 4.00 until last year’s 2.87 mark. Michael King and Joe Musgrove are coming back from injury, and the back end of the rotation looks a little messy.
Pivetta was a workhorse last year. He pitched 181 ⅔ innings and almost topped 200 strikeouts across 31 starts.
The Padres desperately needed him then and they may need him even more now.
Concerning news out of camp
A few weeks ago, Pivetta missed a start in Spring Training due to arm fatigue. Immediately questions of depth sprang up and San Diego fans everywhere lost their collective minds.
But then he started against the Cleveland Guardians with his fastball sitting around 94-96 mph and all was well again.
The hope is that even if Pivetta isn’t as much of a surprise ace pitcher as he turned out to be last season, he’ll still be serviceable and eat innings this season. There’s plenty of underlying metrics to suggest the turnaround he had will continue to be the case, but nothing will be sure until it’s proved on the mound this season.
However Pivetta’s season shakes out, the Friar Faithful can be excited to watch him duel it out against one of the best pitchers on the planet this Thursday. He has the stuff to dominate this Tigers lineup. And this Padres lineup has the ability to take Skubal out.
With Opening Day finally here, one thing’s certain: we’ll all be cheering for a San Diego win Thursday.
A significant college basketball coaching shift is happening on the West Coast.
Randy Bennett will be the new Arizona State coach, leaving Saint Mary's after spending 25 seasons turning the Gaels into a respectable mid-major program. His final game was a 63-50 loss to No. 10 seed Texas A&M in the first round of the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament.
The Saint Mary's job was Bennett's first head coaching role when he took it in 2001, taking over a program that had had little success. After just three NCAA Tournaments prior to his arrival, Bennett took the Gaels to the Big Dance 12 times during his tenure, including each of the past five seasons with at least 26 wins in each campaign during the run. The most successful run of Bennett's tenure was the trip to the Sweet 16 in 2010 as a 10th seed.
During his time, Saint Mary's elevated itself as one of the most successful mid-majors, competing with fellow West Coast Conference member Gonzaga and often taking down the powerful Bulldogs. By putting out quality teams for most of his tenure, the conference was able to send two teams to March Madness consistently, a rarity for mid-majors.
Bennett's overall record is 589-228 and he won more than 75% of his conference games. The Gaels won seven West Coast Conference regular season titles and four tournament titles. He also developed future NBA championship players in Patty Mills and Matthew Dellavedova.
While it is a shock to see Bennett leave a role where he spent a quarter of a century, the 63-year-old coach is from Mesa, Arizona, just east of the Arizona State campus in the Phoenix metro area.
“It was going to take a special situation for us to leave Saint Mary’s, and I am energized, driven, and focused on taking over Sun Devil Basketball, a program I am very familiar with and grew up watching," Bennett said in a statement.
He will be tasked with trying to revive the Sun Devils, who were unable to sustain success in the 11 seasons under Bobby Hurley. During Hurley's time, Arizona State made the NCAA Tournament just three times — all as a No. 11 seed — and won two First Four games, with the program's last major achievement being a Sweet 16 run in 1995.
The task will only be more challenging with Arizona State in a crowded and loaded Big 12, with a losing conference record in its two seasons in the league.
"We are in the best basketball conference in the nation and I look forward to the opportunity and am excited to meet everyone who wants to help this program reach our goals in the new landscape. My staff and I will be ready for the challenge," Bennett said.
Bennett's departure also comes as Saint Mary's enters a new era of the West Coast Conference, which will be greatly affected by Gonzaga leaving for the Pac-12 next season.
MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 20: The sneakers worn by Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 20, 2026 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. 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 Grant Burke/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 22: Bryce Eldridge #47 of the Sacramento Rivercats reacts after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of an exhibition game against the San Francisco Giants at Sutter Health Park on March 22, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In the latest SB Nation Reacts poll, we learn that San Francisco Giants fans have a pretty sober view of the roster:
This question was asked before the Giants optioned Bryce Eldridge to Triple-A Sacramento; and, as you can see here, the majority saw which way the wind was blowing, given the performance of the top prospect. Maybe it didn’t take the powers of a fortune teller to foresee what was going to happen with a guy who needs some experience, but it speaks to some degree of integrity for voters that they didn’t vote what they wanted to happen.
Then again, maybe Giants fans don’t want a struggling prospect to struggle at the major league level right now. Maybe they want to see what the more experienced guys can do. That’s a perfectly reasonable perspective, and it’s plausibly what 63% of the voting body believes. Indeed, if you scan through the comments thread here on McCovey Chronicles after the SB Nation Reacts poll went live, you’ll see this sentiment:
PGBreaker I’m leaning against Eldridge breaking camp with the big squad. Half a season or more of AAA at-bats, then bring him up (if ready). I’m guessing Matos hasn’t done enough in Spring Training to make the 26-man. Ce la vie…
11 I said before Spring Training that he might start the season in AAA and I don’t think he’s done enough to make the roster. He has to cut down the K’s.
roberto96 I wish I could say I am sold on Eldridge, but I am not. When he’s not striking out he’s making loud outs. Great. Not at the expense of Matos or Encarnacion who are out of options not making the team. And with his speed and defense don’t wanna see McCray going down either.
RU_Sirius No. He’s not ready. He shouldn’t have been on the team last season. Felt like they brought him up just to get some fan interest because the Giants had slipped out of contention. I still believe he could be a really good player. Let him start at AAA – it makes other roster decisions easier, too.
With the regular season about 51 hours away, fans who called this Eldridge move and others throughout the Spring might be feeling confident enough to see if they can try their luck. It’s one thing to wager on an untested and very young prospect whose position(s) is (are) easily duplicated with literally Rafael Devers and a hodgepodge of experienced hitters, it’s quite another to see if there’s money to be made gambling on the rest of the team. How will the Giants do this season? Is there another Ryan Boruckiesque move coming up just before they finalize the Opening Night roster? This is the test of every fan every season. Is your gut on to something?
However you feel, at least the Giants are on the same page as the fandom in some respects. It would be quite something if the team was committed to making Bryce Eldridge stick at the major league level despite strong evidence at the moment to the contrary.
The latest national poll questions were about the World Baseball Classic, which saw such a viewership increase that it might’ve been a contributor to the stark decline in ratings for this year’s Academy Awards ceremony (which had popular films up for major awards). But enough about ratings. Here were voters’ thoughts:
Who knew that baseball fans liked to see competitive baseball during what’s normally quasi-competitive Spring Training?
