SCOTTSDALE, AZ - MARCH 04: Ethan Holliday #18 of Team USA looks on during the 2026 World Baseball Classic exhibition game presented by Capital One between Team USA and Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Ethan Holliday (No. 2 PuRP) made his debut with the Colorado Rockies big league club on Saturday against the Chicago Cubs at Salt River Fields. The shortstop – who was drafted fourth-overall in the 2025 MLB Draft – played six innings and went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts at the plate, but also made a spectacular diving stop to nab first baseman Carson Kelly right before being lifted (the clip below doesn’t do it justice, but alas).
“It was a blessing to be out there with those guys,” Holliday said after the game. “I look forward to things like this in the spring. I was super fortunate to be able to go out there, enjoy some baseball and get better. It was fun.”
Holliday, of course, is the son of Rockies legend Matt Holliday and has grown up around the game. But that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s ready for MLB action quite yet. In 18 games with the Single-A Fresno Grizzlies in 2025, Holliday batted .239/.357/.380 with 14 runs scored, four doubles, two home runs and six RBI. He also walked 12 times (14.3%) and struck out 33 times (39.2%).
“You don’t really know how it feels until you experience it,” he said. “When you first get out there, the speed of the game gets on you a little bit, but take a deep breath and just remember you’re playing a game that you’ve always played, and it’s the same game you played back when you first started.”
He’s also taking camp one day at a time, “making adjustments, and [I] still have some time until the stats really matter.
“I’m just trying to improve my game every single day and trying to get my body healthy and get ready for it to be worked this season,” he continued. “And I’m just really trying to prepare for what’s ahead, but focus on the now and just try to improve every day.”
Holliday is in his first spring training, but it’s not his first experience with the Rockies – both from his dad’s time and his own short experience last summer after his draft. But he’s taking note of the new atmosphere surrounding camp.
“It’s been great [with] the new front office and a lot of new faces around here, even from when I was just here for the summer,” he said. “It’s been really cool to kind of get to know these people. And there’s a really cool buzz around this place right now, and it’s a super exciting time to be a Rockie and we’re in a really cool spot. So I’m super excited.”
In addition to his normal routines, Holliday has also been selected to represent the Rockies in the Spring Breakout game next weekend and was also selected to play for Team USA in their exhibition game against the Rockies on March 4.
“It was insane,” he said of the Team USA experience. “I walked out there and Clayton Kershaw was on the mound. You look around and you’ve got Hall of Famers all around you, and it’s an emotion you really aren’t ready for. But you get out there, and it was so much fun. I really enjoyed it, so it was a great experience.”
Even though he was surrounded by baseball giants, there was one player in particular he was excited to meet.
“Bryce Harper was pretty cool to meet,” Holliday said. “I’d heard a lot of things about him, and I’ve always looked up to him. I’ve always watched him since I was young, so it was really special to interact with him.”
But he added that, “all of the guys treated us like we were part of the team, so that really meant a lot.”
Finishing out the spring, Holliday said, “everyone’s goal is to get up to the big leagues fast and have success” but their timelines are out of their control.
“It’s one of those things where you work for it every day and you follow a process, but the answer people want is to get up there as fast as [they] can,” he said. “That’s what I want, so I’m going to work hard every single day and help the team win.”
“And I’ll be ready,” he continued. “When my time’s right, I’ll be ready.”
We always know that baseball is a family business a lot of the time, and Saturday was no different. Rockies bench coach Jeff Pickler served as the manager for one of the split squads, and his dad, Scott, served as his bench coach. It was a fun full-circle moment not only for the Picklers, but for many players and coaches who knew Scott from previous teams he coached them on.
Cade Horton looked damn good, throwing 10 Ks in five innings of work. The Cubs that were willing to ride the bus or unable not to did a good job, with Scott Kingery swatting a two-run homer and Matt Shaw making good contact. Brett Bateman made good contact as well, though his was against the center-field wall. Colin Rea also threw very well.
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RIP Tony Balsamo.
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SARASOTA, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: Taylor Ward #3 of the Baltimore Orioles hits a home run during the fifth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a spring training game at Ed Smith Stadium on March 11, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
My brain refuses to wrap itself around the fact of Taylor Ward being on the Orioles. I’m well aware that they traded for him since I wrote about that here on Camden Chat when it happened. It’s just not real yet. Spring training hasn’t done enough for the idea to sink in that the O’s have this guy – presumably an everyday corner outfielder – for the year.
Ward is coming off a 2025 season with the Angels where he socked a career-high 36 home runs. As we all remember quite well, the 2025 Orioles were lacking in home run threats in the lineup, with no one hitting more than 17 homers as an Oriole. Acquiring Ward was one part of Mike Elias’s plan to fix that. Maybe he’ll do something to make me happy to remember him as the season goes along.
Here’s how two of the big projection systems look at Ward for this season:
ZiPS (FanGraphs): .243/.328/.454 with 27 home runs, 2.7 WAR
PECOTA (Baseball Prospectus): .232/.317/.411 with 22 home runs, 2.4 WAR
We will all be hoping things turn out more like ZiPS for Ward than that PECOTA projection. If Ward hits only 22 home runs, not many people are going to fondly recall the trade, without even getting into what happens with Grayson Rodriguez in Los Angeles.
What do you expect from Ward this season? Do you think he’ll be bombing balls over Walltimore 2.0 for the year, or will he just be bombing his way out of the starting lineup?
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Iran’s Embassy in Mexico on Tuesday said the country is negotiating with FIFA to move Iran’s World Cup matches from the U.S. to Mexico after President Donald Trump discouraged the team from attending the tournament, citing safety concerns.
It was unclear whether such talks are happening with FIFA, which did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Iranian officials have previously said it is up to FIFA and the U.S. to keep the team safe during the World Cup.
The Embassy posted a statement attributed to Iranian soccer federation president Mehdi Taj saying Iran wants to move its group stage matches to Mexico to ensure the safety of players and officials.
“When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America,” the statement said. “We are currently negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran’s matches in the World Cup in Mexico.”
The World Cup is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Iran is scheduled to play against New Zealand on June 16 and Belgium on June 21 in Inglewood, California, before finishing group play in Seattle against Egypt on June 26.
Moving the games would be unprecedented less than three months before the start of the World Cup.
Trump said last week that the Iran team was welcome at the World Cup despite the ongoing war in the Middle East but “I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.”
Iran has sent mixed signals about its participation in the tournament after the U.S. and Israel launched attacks that killed the Islamic republic's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of other senior figures.
Sports minister Ahmad Donyamali told state TV last week that it was not possible to play "due to the wicked acts they have done against Iran.”
But after Trump's post the national team said on Instagram that “no one can exclude” it from the tournament and a government spokesman in Tehran stressed in it was the responsibility of FIFA and the U.S. as a co-host nation to keep players safe and secure.
“FIFA is the organizer of the World Cup,” Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said. “When warnings are issued at the highest level about the environment being unsafe for Iranian football players, this indicates that the host country apparently lacks the capacity and ability to provide security for such an important sporting event.”
Soccer is followed passionately in Iran, a nation of more than 90 million people which has qualified for seven men's World Cups and each of the past four editions. The team is ranked No. 20 in the world by FIFA and behind only Japan from Asia.
FIFA has not commented in recent days beyond an Instagram post by president Gianni Infantino last week that he'd received assurances from Trump that Iran was welcome at the tournament.
The Vancouver Canucks will take part in their fourth game of an eight-game home stand when they face the Florida Panthers later tonight. Both the Canucks and the Panthers’ last matchups came against the Seattle Kraken, with Vancouver losing by a score of 5–2 on Saturday and Florida losing by 6–2 in Seattle the day after.
Today’s matchup falls in Vancouver’s favour for a couple of reasons. First is the fact that the Panthers will be without their top-scorer in Sam Reinhart tonight. The Vancouver local leads his team with 29 goals and 32 assists but did not travel with the team on their current western conference road trip. Second is the fact that the Panthers only had one day between their two games, while the Canucks had two.
Vancouver’s power play has been fairly cold as of late, as their last goal on the man-advantage came on March 6 thanks to Brock Boeser. To make matters more difficult for their power play, Florida currently sits at seventh in the NHL in penalty kill percentage with 82.2%. If they are unable to convert on the man-advantage tonight, the Canucks’ power play goal drought will increase to five straight games.
Another interesting tidbit about tonight’s game is the fact that Canucks Head Coach Adam Foote could be coaching against his son, Nolan Foote, who is currently with the Panthers. The Florida forward did not play on Sunday but could dress against Vancouver tonight.
Players To Watch:
Kevin Lankinen
With Canucks Head Coach Adam Foote confirming that Lankinen will start tonight at yesterday’s practice, the goaltender will officially play in his 200th-career NHL game. The goaltender has had a run of rough results recently, having not won a game since January 21 against the Washington Capitals. Despite this, he has not entirely been to blame, as Lankinen has put up impressive efforts as of late — specifically against the Ottawa Senators and Winnipeg Jets.
Matthew Tkachuk
Since returning to Florida’s lineup on January 19, Tkachuk has played well for the Panthers. He currently has eight goals and 12 assists in 19 games played as well as seven points in his last five games. The forward is also coming off his sixth-career NHL hat trick after a three-goal performance against the Detroit Red Wings on March 6.
Dec 12, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Nils Hoglander (21) and Florida Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues (17) and defenseman Nate Schmidt (88) and defenseman Uvis Balinskis (26) watch as forward Brock Boeser (6) scores during the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Vancouver Canucks (20–38–8):
Points:
Elias Pettersson: 13–25–38
Filip Hronek: 7–31–38
Brock Boeser: 16–16–32
Jake DeBrusk: 14–18–32
Evander Kane: 12–16–28
Goaltenders:
Thatcher Demko: 8–10–1
Kevin Lankinen: 7–21–5
Nikita Tolopilo: 5–6–2
Jiří Patera: 0–1–0
Florida Panthers (33–30–3):
Points:
Sam Reinhart: 29–32–61
Brad Marchand: 27–27–54
Sam Bennett: 24–26–50
Carter Verhaeghe: 19–27–46
Anton Lundell: 17–26–43
Goaltenders:
Sergei Bobrovsky: 24–19–1
Daniil Tarasov: 9–11–2
Game Information:
Start time: 7:00 pm PT
Venue: Rogers Arena
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 650
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Feb 25, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees infielder George Lombard Jr (96) hits a two-RBI double during the fifth inning against the Washington Nationals at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
With the World Baseball Classic stealing the show this spring training, the spotlight in Yankees camp has turned to the team’s young prospects. Namely, manager Aaron Boone has been able to give plenty of looks to the up-and-coming trio of Jasson Domínguez, Spencer Jones, and George Lombard Jr. Lombard, who was named New York’s new top prospect for 2026 by MLB Pipeline, FanGraphs, and Baseball America, is gearing up for a vital season in his development — with eyes on becoming the next great Yankee shortstop in the next few years.
The precocious young infielder and son of a former big leaguer-turned-coach by the same name tore up the High-A South Atlantic League with the Renegades for 24 games to start the year before getting the call to the Patriots in May. His production there was unspectacular (.215/.337/.358), but he continued to showcase his stellar athleticism in the field and on the basepaths (24 steals). And ultimately, it wasn’t a terrible showing at the dish for the youngest qualified hitter at the Double-A level.
Lombard’s tools are loud; he should have far more thunder in his bat than Anthony Volpe, the previous heir apparent at shortstop. Acknowledging that this is a bit of a subjective, his talent jumps off the screen in a way that Volpe’s never really did, even though he was also once a highly acclaimed prospect. (And if you’ve ever seen Lombard’s glovework in person, you know just how dazzling it can be.) While his Grapefruit League results didn’t blow anybody away—he hit under .200 with a .740 OPS and just one homer—you see a sparkle of superstardom in every game he plays. Take that one spring homer: a leadoff comet off a 97-mph heater from AL Cy Young runner-up Garrett Crochet.
The former two-sport athlete credits his time as a top-flight soccer player in helping to develop his physical and mental game. Let that be a lesson to parents who want their kids to specialize in a sport right away!
I don’t bring it up for nothing: that mental maturity manifests in his plate discipline. While most young hitters are overly aggressive hotshots at the dish, Lombard’s outstanding walk rate shows he has a discerning eye and won’t make pitchers’ lives easier with poor swing decisions. The key will be making sure he doesn’t become overly passive and spot them extra strikes by waiting for the perfect pitch to hit. Lombard himself said as much: “I think the most important part is just competing, having competitive at-bats and not giving any free ones away,” he told MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch.
However, what he does outside the zone is less important than what he does within it. With that, we must discuss his greatest weakness as a prospect. From MLB Pipeline’s latest scouting report writeup:
“Despite an efficient right-handed swing and a patient approach, Lombard has persistent issues making contact against in-zone fastballs.”
That’s a pretty big warning sign which threatens to undermine the strides he’s made in taking walks and hitting the ball in the air.
With the wealth of data all young players have access to, Lombard and his camp have probably already diagnosed the issue and formulated a plan to improve. This season will be a referendum on whether his strategy works. If Lombard can take a major step forward in Bridgewater, he could be on the fast track to the Bronx; as every prospect buff knows, the jump from Double-A to Triple-A is significantly smaller than High-A to Double-A.
Last week, Lombard was sent to minor-league camp to continue preparing for this consequential campaign. He had no realistic shot of battling for a roster spot, though the Yankees have been effusive about his work ethic and his defensive bona fides. Brian Cashman went as far as to say he “could play defense in the big leagues right now”—they’re just waiting for the bat to come along.
The Yankees don’t have quite as many blue-chip prospects as they did when the Baby Bomber era began a decade ago. But when they do come along, Cashman and his braintrust tend to give them every possibility to succeed. Lombard will get plenty of opportunity to make their jobs tougher if he takes a big step forward in 2026. Even with Volpe, José Caballero, and Ryan McMahon already covering the left side of the infield, it’d be hard to argue against bringing him into the fold if the complete version of GLJ starts to shine.
With their two losses against the San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim Ducks this weekend, the Montreal Canadiens have put themselves in quite a pickle. They are still third in the Atlantic with 82 points, but now, the Boston Bruins, who are in the first wildcard spot, are catching up. They now sit just one points behind the Habs, while the Detroit Red Wings, who are in the second wild card spot, also have 80 points, but they’ve played more games.
This week, the Canadiens will be facing the Bruins in Montreal on Tuesday night and the Red Wings in Detroit on Thursday night. Needless to say, those games will be do-or-die affairs. Montreal absolutely cannot afford another debacle against divisional rivals. Back in January, the Habs lost three of four games to divisional rivals over two weeks, and that had serious repercussions for the standings.
Given how the Canadiens have played since returning from the Olympic break, it’s hard to believe that they will be able to take care of business. Thankfully for Martin St-Louis and his men, the two teams don’t exactly have great records over their last 10 games. Still, if the Canadiens put on the same display we’ve witnessed on defence over the weekend, it will be hard for them to come away with the much-needed four points.
While Jacob Fowler has already shown that he can have a great impact, even he cannot stop everything when the defence is hemorrhaging scoring chances. With the Canadiens having a day off on Monday and a simple morning skate on Tuesday, it’s hard to imagine that many adjustments will have been made.
For a long while, it looked like the Canadiens would easily qualify for the postseason, but with their recent performances, they are letting other teams catch up, including the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are currently ninth in the conference and only three points behind the Habs. If this doesn’t give you a sense of déjà vu, I don’t know what will.
It’s time for the Canadiens to buckle up and get to work the right way, before they fall out of playoff contention.
If the Philadelphia Flyers have gotten one thing right in their rebuild, it's been their pro scouting and ability to buy low on struggling players. It might be time to check in with the Anaheim Ducks once again.
Trevor Zegras and, against the odds, Jamie Drysdale, have been success stories for the Flyers since arriving from the Ducks in the last two seasons, respectively.
Zegras was their first attempt at going out of their way to add a proven talent to the roster, and now the Flyers will have the opportunity to do something similar.
On Monday, the Ducks made center Mason McTavish a healthy scratch for their game against the Montreal Canadiens, which inevitably raised questions about his role and future with the team.
McTavish, 23, has just 13 goals and 32 points in 61 games for the Ducks this season and is a -11, and considering he had a career-high 22 goals and 52 points last year, the 2021 No. 3 overall pick is now going in the wrong direction amidst the worst season of his career.
If the Ducks do wish to move on from McTavish just as they did Zegras, who also started strong before being forced out, nothing will prohibit them from doing so.
McTavish is in the first year of the six-year, $42 million ($7 million AAV) contract he signed with the Ducks on Sept. 17, but he won't see his 15-team no-trade list kick in until 2029-30.
So, if the Flyers were to reunite the talented center with one of his old Ducks teammates, nothing is stopping them aside from a potential bidding war and meeting Anaheim's asking price, if there is one.
From 2022-23, Zegras and McTavish held an expected goals-for percentage of 47.5% at 5-on-5, according to Natural Stat Trick, and while that is objectively a bad number, the Ducks were a bad team. The bottom line is that the two were better together.
McTavish, without Zegras, was at an even lower 44.57%. Zegras without McTavish was a tad lower at 43.74%. The Ducks without either of those two at 5-on-5? Just a dreadful 42.75%.
It's worth noting, too, that when paired together, McTavish, Zegras, and the Ducks scored 14 high-danger goals to their opponents' 12. There's untapped potential there if the Flyers can reunite the two former top draft picks in a better, fresher, and friendlier environment.
In the summer, when McTavish was an RFA, I advocated against the Flyers trading for him due to his lack of speed and production. These are still true, as McTavish is not particularly useful in the transition game and is now scoring points at the worst rate of his career.
At the same time, though, his $7 million cap hit is modest enough to make the risk worth the trouble for the Flyers, especially as they continue to drift towards another middling draft pick and may or may not make the playoffs.
The Flyers will need to find talented top-six centers one way or another, and it sure would be fun to see McTavish reaching his full potential playing with agitators like Zegras and Porter Martone, Travis Konecny, or Matvei Michkov.
More than likely, the Flyers have assets to make a potential deal worth Anaheim's while,
CLEARWATER, FL - MARCH 13: Baltimore Orioles Pitcher Infielder Pete Alonso (25) talks with Philadelphia Phillies Infielder Trea Turner (7) during the spring training game between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies on March 13, 2026 at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
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MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 15: Gunnar Henderson #11 of Team United States hits a solo home run against Team Dominican Republic during the fourth inning at loanDepot park on March 15, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
Friends, if you haven’t been following the World Baseball Classic, you have been missing out. This year’s tournament has been as thrilling as always, and the drama has ratcheted up this week. From Team Venezuela knocking out defending champion Japan, to Team USA eking out a nail-biter over the Dominican on a controversial game-ending called strike, we’ve seen plenty of exciting baseball even before the MLB regular season begins.
Last night, Venezuela punched its ticket to the championship for the first time, riding a late-inning comeback to overtake Italy, the previously undefeated Cinderella team of the tournament. That sets the stage for the WBC finale tonight between the U.S. and Venezuela. And here in Birdland, there’s one question we’re particularly invested in: will Gunnar Henderson be in the starting lineup?
Gunnar’s playing time hasn’t been easy to come by amid a stacked USA roster. With Bobby Witt Jr. at shortstop and Alex Bregman at third, Henderson has started just three games. But he’s certainly made the most of his opportunities. He’s gone 6-for-14 and crushed two home runs, tied for the most on the club, including his mammoth, game-tying dinger in the win over Team D.R. on Sunday.
Coming off a somewhat down year (for him) in 2025, Gunnar is playing like a guy with something to prove. Starting 2026 by being thrown into a high-octane, pressure-packed tournament like the WBC is certainly a different vibe than playing meaningless spring training games, and Henderson has risen to the occasion. With any luck, he’ll bring that kind of intensity back with him to the Orioles as they prepare to start their season next week. Meanwhile, his O’s teammates have been watching Gunnar’s sterling performance and are hoping he’ll be starting tonight.
Listen up, Mark DeRosa: do the right thing. Put Gunnar Henderson in the lineup.
After back-to-back rainouts, the Orioles are scrambling to get enough innings for their pitchers before Opening Day. Any chance Team USA needs some extra arms tonight?
I’m pleasantly surprised that the Orioles rank fourth. FanGraphs is projecting both a modest bounceback by Adley Rutschman and a solid rookie season for Samuel Basallo. I’d take that in a heartbeat.
Melewski takes a look at the Orioles’ best non-Basallo international prospects. A 22-year-old lefty throwing high-90s heat? Yes, I will jump aboard the Luis De Leon bandwagon, thank you very much.
This spring the O’s have tended to take a conservative approach with their ABS challenges, preferring to save them for important late-inning at-bats. That game-ending strikeout for the Dominican WBC team is a good example of why.
He’d darn well better be. All this guy does is hit dingers on Opening Day! Bench him for the next 161 games for all I care, but you can’t have an Opening Day lineup without O’Neill.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! And happy 36th birthday to current Orioles reliever Andrew Kittredge, although it’s probably not that happy, considering he’s out with shoulder inflammation and will miss the start of the season. And happy birthday as well to newly minted Orioles Hall of Famer Chris Davis, who turns 40 today. Other former Orioles with St. Patrick’s Day birthdays are right-hander César Valdez (41) and catcher Raúl Chávez (53).
In the entire 72-year history of the Orioles, they’ve made only one roster move on March 17. That was in 1955, their second year of existence, when they acquired right-hander Erv Palica from the then-Brooklyn Dodgers for first baseman Frank Kellert. Palica, who had debuted in the majors at age 17, spent two years with the Orioles as a swing man, going 9-22 with a 4.28 ERA. What’s your favorite Erv Palica memory, O’s fans?
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Mar 16, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) controls the puck in the first period against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Evgeni Malkin returned from his five-game suspension Monday night with a stellar game against the Colorado Avalanche and after the game, the veteran Penguins center said he and Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas are expected to talk this summer about his contract situation.
After Monday’s 7-2 throttling of the Colorado Avalanche, Malkin spoke at length about his return from being suspended and also addressed his contract situation, but wasn’t able to provide many specifics outside of when the two camps might meet again.
“I can’t say anything,” Malkin told The Athletic’s Josh Yohe.
Malkin said that he and Dubas talked a couple of weeks ago with Dubas telling Malkin the two would talk this summer.
Geno on his contract situation: "I can't say anything. We (Malkin and Dubas) talked probably two weeks ago. He told me we would talk this summer. I'm OK with that. We have 15 games left, I hope playoffs. I want to just play. He asked if I wanted to play next year. I said yes. He…
According to Moneypuck, the Penguins have an 85.3% chance of making the postseason for the first time since 2022, when the team lost to the New York Rangers in the first round of the playoffs.
BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 24: Viktor Arvidsson #71 of the Boston Bruins celebrates his goal with Kaiden Guhle #21 during the second period against the Montréal Canadiens at TD Garden on January 24, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Nick Suzuki: 23G-55A-78PTS; Lane Hutson: 11G-56A-67PTS; Cole Caufield: 39G-27A-66PTS
Jakub Dobes: 21-7-4, 2.97 GAA, .891 save percentage
Game notes
It’s a March hockey game between the Bruins and Canadiens with big playoff implications! Feels like it’s been quite a while since we had one of these.
This is the final regular season meeting between these two teams, with the Bruins winners of two out of three thus far. The B’s won the last match-up, 4-3 at TD Garden in late January.
Montreal has lost two games in a row, but they won three in a row before that. Ups, downs, etc.
After sneaking into the playoffs as the second wild card last season, the Canadiens have spent most of this season comfortably in playoff position. While they’re still a good bet to make it, it’s worth pointing out that they’re currently closer to the wild card chaos than they are to first in the division. They’re tied in points with Detroit and just a point ahead of the Bruins.
Montreal has employed a pretty healthy goalie rotation this year, with some of that due to injuries. Jakub Dobes leads the way with 32 GP, but Samuel Montembeault has played 25 games and Jacob Fowler has played 12.
The Habs have been pretty good at Bell Centre this season, posting an 18-13-2 record.
Occasionally maligned first overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky is having his best season as a pro, with 25 goals and 55 points. He has already exceeded his previous career best by four points.
Speaking of career bests, Cole Caufield is on the cusp of being a 40-goal scorer for the first time, with three of those goals coming in his last five games.
Speaking speaking (2x) of career bests, Oliver Kapanen has burst onto the scene for Montreal this season. He jumped right from the Swedish Hockey League to the NHL for a cup of coffee last season, but has been excellent in his first full NHL season, putting up 20 goals and 13 assists in 66 games.
The Canadiens have the league’s second-most potent offense, putting up 3.5 goals per game.
For the Bruins, they’ll be looking to bounce back after an entertaining but ultimately damaging OT loss in New Jersey on Monday night. Jeremy Swayman will be back in net for the B’s.
If you’re planning to head out and enjoy your St. Patrick’s Day, don’t forget to mix in a water or two so you make it to game time.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - MARCH 27: A general view of the stadium before Opening Day between the Minnesota Twins and the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on March 27, 2025 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Earlier in the spring, I took a swing at predicting how the final roster was going to be constructed for opening day, and it’s important to note that the roster on March 26th could wind up looking a lot different on May 1st or even August 3rd. This exercise is intended to take a snapshot of where the roster currently stands with the context we have gathered from decisions and comments gathered from decision makers. I’m certain that not everyone will be happy about how I see the final roster looking 9 days from now, when the clydesdales are galloping around the warning track, and the DeWitt’s are standing at home plate shaking the hands of the men carrying on the tradition of Cardinals baseball for the 2026 season.
Analysis: Matthew Liberatore came into spring as the favorite to lead the rotation to open 2026 after trading away staff ace Sonny Gray in the offseason. Liberatore has done nothing to fall short of that expectation in Spring action, and he has also added a split-finger fastball grip to his arsenal that should help further neutralize right-handers. The key will be putting two full halves of a season together in 2026, similarly to Alec Burleson in 2025, when questions lingered about his ability to perform at a high level for a full season. This is the next step for Liberatore, and I believe he is poised to take it.
Dustin May came into Spring camp 20 pounds heavier than he was when he finished the 2025 season in Boston, and that is very encouraging, given that his velocity was down 2-3 MPH after suffering an esophageal tear that put his life in danger. May, in his 2 outings so far this Spring, has sat 97 MPH on his FB and has touched 99 on several occasions. He appears on track to be the Dustin May of old; the only question will be health and his ability to hold up for the first 4 months of the season. The Cardinals had a lot of luck and success in regulating pitcher workloads last season, and the possibility exists that May has the most healthy and successful season of his career so far in 2026.
Michael McGreevy enters the regular season as a young, reliable innings-eater type who will provide a solid floor for the big league club, as a command and control righty of yesteryear we commonly found ourselves watching during the John Mozeliak era. Mired as the 6th starter for a team capable of being a big league contributor behind a staff that saw no injuries in 2025 is no longer a factor, as McGreevy found himself all but penciled in before the season began. A full season of results will be of great intrigue to follow.
Andre Pallante has had a solid spring training, and after he told us at Winter Warm Up about his struggles with build-up before the 2025 season, that was going to be a point of emphasis heading into this season. The probability of him regaining his 2024 form, where he was 2nd in most fans’ eyes in terms of confidence in pitchers in the rotation. I keep coming back to that point because it’s not like I, or the Cardinals, are trying to convince you this is Miles Mikolas who “still has something left in the tank.” Down years happen for young players, especially those who take on foreign workloads when it comes to regular rest and recovery with that grind. I have a reasonable expectation that Pallante will be a reliable back-end starter through the duration of the 2026 season.
Kyle Leahy earns the final spot in the rotation, and I was pretty convinced he was going to be the 6th man/swing starter, much like Steven Matz was in 2025, until we had the opportunity to speak with Manager Oliver Marmol this past Friday were he laid out what he is seeing from Leahy and his lofty personality comparisons he used when describing the same level of competetitor Leahy has displayed. Therefore, it’s my belief he will be in the rotation and be given a real shot and extended opportunity (those who said runway in their heads owe a dollar to the swear jar.)
Bullpen
CL – Riley O’Brien
SU – JoJo Romero (L)
SU – Matt Svanson
MRP – Ryne Stanek
MRP – George Soriano
MRP – Matt Pushard (R5)
MRP – Justin Bruihl (L)
SP6/LRP – Richard Fitts
Analysis: Riley O’Brien would be the odds-on favorite to close out games early in the season. With 4 years of control remaining and the high-octane stuff he works with, that’s the type of reliever contending teams will pay significant price tags on at the deadline for. At 31 years old, O’Brien is nearing the end of his physical peak, and projecting forward, the Cardinals would be smart to try and parlay 4 strong months of 2026 on top of a strong 2025 performance into added prospect capital.
Speaking of relievers who are destined to move at the deadline, JoJo Romero and veteran Ryne Stanek enter the season as the expirienced grizzled vets of the group that will lead and foster the young arms as they ascend to the major leagues. Romero had a sparkling 2.07 ERA in 2025, but his underlying stats severely underwhelmed when it came to comparing against peers in a similar bracket. 2026 will be important, not only getting guys out, but how he does it that will dictate a deadline return. You should expect to see him get some save opportunities in games that feature a lefty-heavy lane in the 9th inning, but I don’t anticipate him being penciled in as that primary closer unless things change (and they always do, so who knows)
Matt Svanson enters 2026 looking to build on a very impressive rookie campaign that has him positioned as the clear heir to the closer’s role as early as the 2nd half of 2026. Svanson will likely be deployed similarly to how Kyle Leahy was a season ago in a fireman-type high-leverage role as Oliver Marmol’s “queen-like” chess piece; he can move up or down based on in-game need. Armed with an upper 90’s sinker and hard-biting slider, Svanson is the exact prototype right-handed hitters have nightmares trying to adjust to late in games.
George Soriano and Justin Bruihl are two beneficiaries of the rebuilding season, as both players are out of options and looking for an opportunity to latch on and find their major league footing. Soriano, acquired for Andre Granillo early in spring, has 4 unique pitches that offer an answer against both sides of the plate. The rationale behind swapping the two was that Soriano could handle both lefties and righties with his impressive changeup to offset the strong side platoon and mid-90s fastball and big slider to beat the righties. The Cardinals felt that Granillo did not have an answer against lefties in his repertoire, thus they executed that swap. Justin Bruihl came over in a cash deal from the Cleveland Gaurdians and he will give fans some John King vibes as the 2nd lefty out of the pen with a sinker primary but where as King had a less deceptive secondary slider offering Bruihl’s sweeper against lefties is a true swing and miss option that should give him a chance at marginal success greater than John King couldve offered. It’s important to note that the Cardinals are not married to either of these players in a sense, and if either doesn’t perform, they won’t be held onto for dear life the way the previous regime tended to do when confronted with a “path of least resistance” ideology.
Matt Pushard has had an okay spring, and I still think the Cardinals like what he has to offer, and I think they will be willing to carry him into the season and give him a shot. But, the pressure will be on him to show something worth keeping around, as referenced with Bruihl and Soriano, they have a bunch of options that will be waiting in the wings at AAA, ready for their shot if this trio does not perform or show tangible growth.
Richard Fitts has impressed in Spring action with the high-velocity fastball and pitch mix and looks to be someone who will have the opportunity to pitch multiple-inning outings for the Cardinals in 2026. What role that comes in will be dependent on several variables, but Fitts appears to have the inside track at a spot on the roster and will hold significant value when it comes to trying to get through a full season. Being that Fitts has remaining options, he may ride the Memphis shuttle a time or two just because they have the flexibility with him to do so.
I did want to acknowledge that both Chris Roycroft and Gordon Graceffo have had excellent springs, and should they carry that into the regular season with Memphis, they will likely have their opportunities in St. Louis this season as well. Ryan Fernandez appears to be more on a DFA trajectory, which is unfortunate, after the promise he displayed in 2024. The league, unfortunately, has seemed to figure him out, and he has been unable to this point to adjust back to it.
Starting Lineup
Vs. RHP Drew Rasmussen
2B JJ Wetherholt
SS Masyn Winn
1B Alec Burleson
DH Ivan Herrera
3B Nolan Gorman
LF Nelson Velazquez
C Pedro Pages
RF Jordan Walker
CF Victor Scott II
Analysis: In 221 PA in AAA JJ Wetherholt had a .416 OBP and .973 OPS, this spring, in 33 PA as I write this on Sunday the 15th, Wetherholt has a .455 OBP and a .955 OPS with 8 BB to only 5 K’s. Wetherholt might not only be the best lead-off option for the Cardinals in 2026. He might be their best CURRENT hitter on the team, and he’s never taken a big league at bat. The process is elite, the swing decisions are terrific, his ability to control the strike zone and do damage when pitches are in the zone, and to “not do too much” based on where the pitch is thrown means he will be happy to take his hits the other way. Normally, yes, you try to ease young players into roles, I think, and I believe the Cardinals think as well, that JJ has been preparing for this for over a year now and is ready to take on such an assignment. Normally, such small sample sizes are easily explained away, but when it’s an impressive continuation of what we had seen all of last year in the upper minors and in college previous to that, at some point, you have to just believe what you see and let it ride. Wetherholt should bat lead off opening day and if anyone is going to lead the team in PA this season, it SHOULD be Wetherholt. This guy is an elite processor, and the MORE reps he gets the better and better he will be.
Masyn Winn in the 2 spot, I know will give some fans heartburn, “his OBP is terrible, why would they put him at the top of the order!” Masyn himself has been very public about his approach over the last 2 seasons, and he admitted he was just up there trying to hit home runs and do as much damage as possible. When we talked to Oli on Friday, he told us that Masyn has made an important approach change, is focused more on spraying the ball all over the field, and picking and choosing where he takes his shots when trying to muscle up in favorable counts and against favorable pitchers as well as being more open to taking his walks and letting the guys behind him do the damage. You put Masyn Winn and his hit spray/ line drive approach behind JJ Wetherholt and Victor Scott II after the lineup turns over, and you’re really setting a table for your 4 most dangerous bats in Burleson, Herrera, Gorman, and Velazquez. The other point I will offer is that Winn has been the 2nd best baserunner on the team over the last 2 seasons, behind only Victor Scott II in terms of baserunning value according to Baseball Savant, and you want the faster/smarter/ more aggressive runners ahead of your production guys.
I don’t think I need to say much about Alec Burleson, steady, dependable, contact-oriented with 20+ HR pop, and I think he will impress a few people with how well he moves at 1B as a defender. Set it and forget it type player who will be a driver of offense all season long.
Ivan Herrera at DH more predominantly throughout the season will irritate some fans, and I hear you on that. According to Derrick Goold of the STL Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals dont view the Ivan Herrera catching question as one that was ever going to be decided before the season began, that also comes with the caveat that, Herrera wasnt likely to take the bulk of reps behind the plate throughout the season anyhow, and now with yet another lower body injury Herrera is working through in spring the question about a position switch continues to linger over his head and I’ve been adamant all along that if his catching gets in the way of his bat being in the lineup and his health is negatively affected in such a way that the carrying tool (Bat) is compromised then it’s not worth it. Herrera has enough athleticism to play a less demanding defensive position, such as 1B or even LF, and the offensive production he provides will certainly play in those positions. This will be one of the single most intriguing storylines for me to follow in 2026. Is Herrera able to overcome the nagging injuries and come out on the other side as one of the most valuable hitting catchers in baseball, or is it just not meant to be, and you still have a really impressive hitter on your hands who needs a less demanding spot on the field so that his true tools can shine?
Nolan Gorman, I have espoused my fair share of criticism over the last couple of seasons when it comes to approach and controlling the strike zone. The power has always been undeniable; the question has always been, will he hit enough to tap into it? This Spring Gorman has demonstrated an offseason approach change that he worked with a reported “mystery hitting Guru,” according to a piece written on MLB.com, and the work has been continued with hitting coach Brant Brown very diligently, which appears to be yielding positive results and reviews from Cardinals decision makers. Gorman could finally be on the verge of a breakout, and the Cardinals as an organization could be in positon to cash in on him as an asset should he do so.
Nelson Velazquez has probably been the single most impressive performer not named JJ Wetherholt this spring, and as I’m typing this, he just belted his 4th spring home run to lead the team in that category. When you watch the plate appearances, he controls the strike zone, works counts, has impressive all-field power, and more specifically, he hits right-handed to offer some balance to what could have been a lefty-heavy lineup. It’s part of the reason why I see Lars Nootbaar putting more pressure on Jordan Walker early on than Joshua Baez. If Walker isn’t producing and Velazquez is, Nootbaar will slide into Walker’s spot and could cause the Cardinals to more seriously consider a demotion, and by midseason, if Baez is continuing to do what he showed in spring and all of last season, he could pass Walker by as well. If Velazquez doesnt carry over his impressive spring into the regular season, then Walker is afforded more time.
Speaking of Jordan Walker, it’s continued to be a struggle for consistent success this spring, and he has been working hard on the back fields with Cardinals coaches, trying to refine his approach. I asked Oli about Walker and Velazquez, and he told me, “Walker keeps us up at night.” The raw talent is obvious, the drive and desire to improve are there, a decision point is coming sooner than later for Walker, and it seems as though he’s really starting to feel the pressure of his opportunity. I’ve been reminded that pressure is privilege, and the people who feel it the most are the ones with the most to gain. Odds at this point are against Walker, but there is still an internal belief that they can unlock him, and he becomes the talent the organization hoped he could be when they drafted him.
Pedro Pages, because of his limited offensive ceiling, will draw unjust criticism from the fanbase when the offense struggles, because his value lies on the other side of the ball, even though if the Cardinals were to have a capable competetive offense on the field regularly Pages would not be nearly as much of a lightening rod if it meant the Cardinals were winning and he was contributing in a relative to league average way for catchers. Pages is viewed as a leader in the clubhouse, someone who is respected by the pitching staff, and has displayed flashes of offensive production. Could he take another step? Not impossible, but maybe most of the fan base would bet against it.
Victor Scott II will enter his 3rd major league season, after an offseason where he spent a large portion of it working with a bio-mechanical specialist who focused on making him more efficient with his swing and rebuilding it from the ground up. Vic also spent the offseason working on his bunting and will look for more ways to leverage his speed and athleticism into more consistent production. Manager Oli Marmol has talked about Vic as one of the guys whose spring stats don’t look very good, but the “under the hood” numbers are encouraging. Scott’s baserunning and defense are borderline elite tools, and if he can even get to league average offensively, that’s a real weapon and building block type talent for future contending Cardinals teams. This could be a very important season for Scott, and for Cardinals fans’ sake, it’s hopefully another positive step forward.
Bench
C/1B/DH Yohel Pozo
INF Ramon Urias
UTL Thomas Saggese
UTL Jose Fermin
Analysis: I caught some flak the first time around for projecting Yohel Pozo on the bench in the capacity that I described above, and that’s exactly how the Cardinals have deployed him this spring, and he lines up to be the backup coming into 2026 again. Pozo is beloved in that locker room, and he seems to have really flourished as a Cardinal. Pozo is an average-ish defender behind the plate, a solid framer, a decent blocker; the throwing arm seems to be below average, but the overall catcher profile you can live with as a backup. Offensively, he makes a ton of contact, avoids striking out, but doesn’t walk either. He has played some 1B in the minors and would seem to be comfortable enough over there should Burly need a spell from the lineup a few times this year.
Last time I did this, Bryan Ramos was on the roster, and I was admittedly intrigued by the potential he had untapped at the big league level. That seemingly didn’t matter when the Cardinals claimed Zak Kent for the 49th time and then subsequently DFA’d him again when they signed Urias. Ramon Urias has a gold glove to his name, and he can play all over the infield. He offers some right-handed pop to counter a tough lefty and will provide the “veteran leadership.” At least he projects to offer more offensively than Brandon Crawford or Matt Carpenter…
Thomas Saggese has added outfield to his list of credentials, and we could see him out there a fair bit. Could he be the next version of Brendan Donovan/Tommy Edman? Maybe. He’s still away at the WBC with the espresso-drinking Italian team that’s become the cinderella of this year’s classic. More ways to work Saggese into the fold isnt a bad thing and perhaps he could find a home in the outfield should an opportunity present itself.
Jose Fermin represents the 26th man on the roster and is out of options. Fermin works counts well and can reasonably play most defensive positions. I know this is probably a spot some fans would’ve liked to see Nathan Church grab. But I’ll get to him in a moment. Fermin came into spring with the opportunity to win a job in LF and early on looked like he was trending that direction. Velazquez has pretty much put that conversation to bed in the last week and a half, respectfully. Fermin is someone the organization is probably fine with being a bench piece, providing good clubhouse presence, and playing sparingly while they get extended looks at other guys they want to see on a nightly basis.
The aforementioned Nathan Church is someone who is starting to grow on me. I thought 4th outfielder at best, and thought that was a reasonable outcome. It seems as though Church might have more in the tank offensively, and if that’s the case and he projects as more than just a 4th outfielder bench bat type, then I want him playing every day in Memphis in CF as Victor Scott insurance and playing on a winning team between Josh Baez and Chase Davis every night rather than sitting the bench maybe playing twice a week, some would argue it shouldnt be that way, but in reality it would be, and if you believe there is more in the tank then the best thing for him to is keep playing and wait for his opportunity to play everyday in the big leagues.
Wetherholt and Velazquez will require 40-man spots to be added to the roster. There are a few relatively painless routes that could alleviate this. Nick Raquet, “Mr. Bulletproof” as I’ve jokingly referred to him, is someone who could reasonably be DFA’d and more than likely wouldn’t be claimed, but if he were, you still have 5-6 LH relief options in-house that the loss of depth isn’t heartbreaking. With the emergence of JJ Wetherolt and Bryan Torres, Cesar Prieto doesn’t appear to have a long-term fit with the Cardinals. This could be a trade opportunity or just a flat DFA gamble. But one way or another, it could solve one of your roster-related conundrums relatively pain-free.
The last one would be a little more disheartening for Cardinals fans, and I don’t have a good updated timetable for Lars Nootbaar, but a 60-day IL trip could kick the can down the road on a roster decision, and perhaps the Cardinals wouldnt mind giving Lars the additional time until what would be May 25th at the earliest. That has to be an option the Cardinals’ front office is weighing as they continue to shrink the spring roster.
We’re just 9 days away from the return of Cardinals baseball. SINGLE DIGITS FOLKS, GO CRAZY!
Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Christian Yelich (22) hits a double during the first inning of their National League Division Series game against the Chicago Cubs Wednesday, October 8, 2025 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. | Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Brewers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
We’re back with another Brewers Reacts Survey, and in this week’s edition, we’re asking fans who they think will win the NL Central!
As we do every year, we’ll be providing a week full of staff predictions leading into Opening Day next Thursday, including standings in the NL Central. Last year, the Brewers stormed back to take the NL Central from the Cubs for the third straight season, finishing at an MLB-best 97-65 while the Cubs took the top wild card spot at 92-70. The Reds eked into the postseason as the final wild card team at 83-79, while the Cardinals finished at 78-84 and the Pirates finished in last place at 71-91.
For reference, last year’s Reacts Survey resulted in 82% of fans picking the Brewers to win the division, followed by the Cubs (12%), the Reds (4%), the Pirates (1%), and the Cardinals (1%). Will this year’s survey yield similar results?
Weigh in below and stay tuned for results later this week!
This means teams are running out of chances to make their final arguments for playoff seeding, just like players are running out of time to convince voters to select them for individual awards. It also means the best basketball of the year is in front of us, as the two-month marathon that is the NBA playoffs gets underway April 18.
But, before we get ahead of ourselves, this should make for a compelling finish to what has been an interesting season.
Here are the top five storylines to watch for the rest of the 2025-26 NBA regular season:
Can anyone catch the Pistons and Thunder atop the Eastern and Western Conferences?
Since the start of the season, the Oklahoma City Thunder have led the West wire-to-wire, even in the face of significant time lost due to injury. In the East, the Detroit Pistson took over sole possession of first on Nov. 7 and haven't looked back since.
Being practical, there are only two teams in the East — the Boston Celtics (3½ games back) and the New York Knicks (5) — who can potentially catch Detroit. And while it doesn’t help that Detroit has the 22nd-toughest remaining schedule (.485, per Tankathon.com) and that the Pistons don’t play either Boston or New York the rest of the way, Detroit has been more vulnerable recently, losing six of its last 12 games.
The case is perhaps stronger for the San Antonio Spurs, who are just 3 games back of Oklahoma City. San Antonio has the NBA’s fourth-easiest remaining schedule (.452), while the Thunder have the league’s 11th-toughest (.519). And while the Thunder are playing extremely well and should get Jalen Williams back soon, the Spurs have been the hottest team in basketball, losing just two of their last 20 games.
Will the 65-game rule disqualify any stars in the MVP, individual awards races?
Injuries early in the season to some of the game’s biggest stars have complicated the pathway for individual awards.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (12 games missed) appears to be safe, with the ability to miss up to five games while maintaining eligibility. Gilgeous-Alexander has been consistent and appears to be the odds-on favorite to win his second-consecutive MVP.
Nikola Jokić (16) can miss only one more game, and, as the only players averaging a triple-double, he has a very compelling case for MVP.
Victor Wembanyama (15) can sit out no more than two of San Antonio’s remaining games. The overwhelming favorite for Defensive Player of the Year, Wembanyama has an outside shot at MVP consideration.
In the East, the race to avoid the play-in will be tight
After Monday night’s games, just 1½ games separates the No. 9 seed in the East from the No. 5 seed. And, since the top six teams in the conference claim automatic playoff bids, the battle to stay out of the play-in picture should intensify as the season wears on.
Teams headed in the right direction include the Orlando Magic (38-29; winners of seven of their last eight), Miami Heat (38-30; winners of 10 of their last 13) and the Atlanta Hawks (37-31; winners of 10 consecutive). Teams headed in the wrong direction include the Toronto Raptors (38-29; losers of six of their last 10) and the Philadelphia 76ers (37-31; losers of nine of their last 16). Injuries to Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid obviously don’t help Philadelphia, either.
Who will tank hardest? And who will win the sweepstakes for the No. 1 pick?
The picture at the bottom of the standings looks altogether different. It has become clear, whether through shutting players down or through unconventional player rotations, that certain teams are doing all they can to improve their positioning in the 2026 NBA Draft. This is particularly magnified for teams whose picks carry protections, like the Indiana Pacers.
Indiana’s first-round selection is Top-4 and 10-30 protected, which means that if the lottery places the Pacers (15-53; worst record in NBA) in any slot No. 5 through 9, that pick will convey to the Los Angeles Clippers. The same goes for the Top 8 protected pick belonging to the Washington Wizards (16-51; second-worst record in NBA).
Teams have become creative with injury reporting and are relying on maintenance surgeries to shut players down. With a very deep draft class that has elite star talent at the top, look for the tanking to become even more pronounced.
Will the NBA and its officials ease up on enforcement of foul baiting calls?
Interestingly, the average number of personal fouls per game this season (19.9) is well off of the record mark for the modern era (26.2, in 1981-82), though it is a modest increase from last year’s total (18.6). Yet, somehow, the problem feels as worse as it has ever been.
Physicality and intensity always ramp up late in the regular season and postseason, and the NBA needs to determine whether its current strategy is viable. Certain players – Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Brunson, Jokić, Luka Dončić among them – resort to the maneuver when faced with tight defense.
Frankly speaking, it’s a copout. Granted, they typically are taking advantage of overzealous defenders, but it also leads to a disjointed and often frustrating viewing experience.
The league typically doesn’t like to make such drastic corrections in the middle of a season, so this may be an issue it looks at in the offseason. But the viewing experience would go a long way if officials stopped falling for the bait. Once the NBA stops rewarding players, eventually they will cease trying.
