Feb 20, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard AJ Green (20) drives against LA Clippers guard Bogdan Bogdanovic (10) in the first half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
There are just a dozen games left in the Milwaukee Bucks’ season and the first of them takes place tonight at Intuit Dome against the LA Clippers. Coming off a gritty win against the Phoenix Suns on Saturday, the Bucks continue their west-coast road-trip against a Clippers team that has been staggering to the play-in, going 1-4 over their last five games. Despite being the 71st game of the Bucks’ season, tonight’s is the first against the Clippers, with another to come on March 29.
Where We’re At
This Bucks season might’ve felt like Cormac McCarthy’s TheRoad—post-apocalyptic, sorrow at every turn, death ever-present—but, like in the novel, there’s just enough positivity to keep hope alive; just enough promise that next year will be better. Saturday’s win over the Suns is the most recent example of this, Ryan Rollins and Ousmane Dieng coming up clutch in the fourth in a glimpse of what could be for years to come—dynamic guard and dynamic wing. Of course, like the ending to The Road, nothing is for certain. Hope exists, but it’s fragile, conditional, unproven.
The Clippers’ future is also unclear, with the team shipping off stalwart centre Ivaca Zubac at the trade deadline and relying heavily on an older trio of Kawhi Leonard (34), Brook Lopez (37), and Kris Dunn (32). Yet, they also have in-his-prime Darius Garland (26) and entering-his-prime Bennedict Mathurin (23). Unlike the Bucks, the Clippers have weathered the storm of their season—a brutal 6-21 start and recent 1-4 skid—to be in the thick of postseason action; Los Angeles currently sits 35-36 and is all-but-guaranteed a play-in performance. Most recently, they won 138-131 in overtime against the Dallas Mavericks behind a season-high 41 points and Clippers-high 11 assists from Garland, to go along with 34 points and five assists from Leonard.
Injury Report
For the Bucks, Giannis (Left Knee; Hyperextension; Bone Bruise) and Kevin Porter Jr. (Right Knee; Synovitis) remain out, while Kyle Kuzma (Right Achilles) is questionable, and Gary Harris (Left Groin; Contusion) is probable.
For the Clippers, Bradley Beal (Left Hip; Fracture), Bennedict Mathurin (Right Toe; Injury Recovery), and Yanic Konan Niederhauser (Right Lisfranc Ligament; Tear) are all out. In addition, Kawhi Leonard (Left Ankle; Sprain) is questionable, while John Collins (Left Ankle; Sprain) is probable.
Player to Watch
Despite being waived, Cam Thomas came to Milwaukee with expectations. And he did not disappoint in his first few games, going off for 34 points against the Orlando Magic and 27 points two games later against the New Orleans Pelicans—both wins. In fact, he was so prolific that—for a stretch—he was second in the entire league in points per minute:
But after another efficient night in a blowout loss to the Toronto Raptors, Thomas’ minutes reduced from the low 20s to the mid teens and he soon found himself collecting DNP-CDs. Part of this is a cold shooting stretch, part of it is his singular focus on scoring, and part of it is his defensive struggles. But these were all well-documented prior to Milwaukee signing him and the Bucks have been thin in the backcourt, especially with KPJ in and out of the lineup. Over the last two games, Thomas has been re-activated, putting in 14 points and four assists vs. Utah and seven points—including an important foul-drawing cameo to start the fourth—against Phoenix. So, with just 12 games left and next season’s roster almost certainly in a state of flux, it’ll be worth monitoring Thomas’ role and if he can be part of it. That is, of course, unless a decision has already been made.
How To Watch
Tune in at 9:30 p.m. CDT on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.
Inter dropped more points at Fiorentina but young striker showed yet again that he can step up and deliver for club and country
Is Francesco Pio Esposito immune to The Fear? Even as Inter threw away another two points on Sunday night, drawing 1-1 at Fiorentina and giving fresh encouragement to their rivals in a title race that was supposed to have been done and dusted by the end of February, their 20-year-old striker remained untouched by it.
He opened the scoring inside the first minute at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, rewarding Nicolò Barella’s cross with a firm header past David De Gea. When the ball reached him again in the dying seconds of injury time, Esposito once again met the occasion, keeping his feet as Luca Ranieri grabbed at him with both hands, and turning brilliantly to fire towards the bottom corner. This time, however, the goalkeeper was equal to it.
The Yankees followed up their first World Series appearance in 15 years with a season that fell far short of expectations.
Sure, injuries marred what would have been an incredible starting rotation featuring Gerrit Cole, Max Fried and Carlos Rodon, but that same rotation crumbled in the postseason, and the Yanks could not even make it back to the ALCS, falling to the eventual American League winners, the Toronto Blue Jays.
It's a tough pill to swallow for GM Brian Cashman and the rest of the organization, especially after Aaron Judge put together his second consecutive MVP season -- and his 2025 was arguably the best season he's ever had.
But many saw the flaws in the 2025 Yanks before the ousting, disregarding key injuries to Cole and the departure of Juan Soto in free agency. To Cashman's credit, he addressed those issues at the trade deadline, and the Yankees were healthy and near-complete headed into the postseason. But they could not get it done.
Entering 2026, Cashman and the brass saw that the team that lost to Toronto in four games and essentially decided to run it back.
Whether you agree or not, this is what the Yankees are starting the season with. Don't forget, this is the team that finished tied with the Blue Jays for the most wins in the AL (94) and were 18-8 in September -- the second-best record in baseball.
Will the "run-it-back" Yanks get over the hump this time?
With the Yankees starting the season on the road in San Francisco to take on the Giants, here are five big storylines to watch...
Returns of Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon
The Yankees made it through 2025 without their ace throwing a pitch in the regular season. A big part of that was Fried's dominance and Rodon having his best season in pinstripes -- along with the emergence of some young hurlers.
While Cole is still weeks away from returning, his recovery from Tommy John surgery is, by all accounts, going swimmingly. Cole pitched in a Grapefruit League game and was effective, showing he still has a high-90s fastball, which is very encouraging. But baseball fans know returning from TJS is always tricky.
How much can the Yanks depend on Cole, and how do they plan to limit his workload?
Luckily for the Yankees, they have more than enough starters to perhaps even use a six-man rotation. With days off, it will be a four-man rotation to start, with Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, and Ryan Weathers. The Yankees also have Luis Gil, Ryan Yarbrough and even Paul Blackburn.
Oct 1, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon (55) reacts after a double play during the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox during game two of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
On a similar note, Rodon will also start the season on the IL.
The southpaw has an expected return date sometime in April.
Rodon had a bone spur shaved down and loose bodies removed from his throwing arm, so it's not as intensive as Cole's recovery, but getting Rodon back and seeing if he can return to his 2025 form will be something to look out for. Don't forget, Rodon had a 3.09 ERA across a career-high 33 starts.
Anthony Volpe's future
Volpe is another starter who will begin the season on the IL, but this is a different situation from Cole and Rodon. Those two have their spots in the rotation ready for them when they return. The same can't be said for Volpe.
Sure, the Yanks will likely give Volpe back the starting shortstop job -- barring insane production from Jose Caballero -- but that leash won't be as long as it was last season.
Volpe regressed both offensively and defensively in 2025, and although the youngster played through a shoulder injury that likely affected his play on both sides of the ball, he'll need to show something when he returns. With his shoulder fixed, Volpe will need to hit the ground running, or at least show that his Gold Glove-level defense has returned.
A season ago, Volpe committed a career-high 19 errors, and the play of Paul Goldschmidt at first base certainly kept that number from eclipsing 20.
In addition to Caballero, the Yankees have George Lombard Jr. lurking in the minors. The Yankees' top prospect has shown this spring that his defense is major league ready, and if he can do some damage offensively in Triple-A, his timeline could be pushed up. There's also the trade market to solve the team's shortstop problem if Volpe proves he can't be reliable as an everyday starter.
A CJ Abrams deal with the Nationals could be possible. Abrams batted .257 with an OPS of .748 to go along with 19 home runs, 60 RBI and 31 stolen bases last season. While not a perfect player, Abrams would give the Yanks lineup a lift, especially at their left-hander-friendly stadium.
Perhaps a deal for an established shortstop like Abrams or someone else at the deadline could spell the end of Volpe's tenure.
Aaron Judge MV3?
There have only been two players in MLB history to win three consecutive MVP awards, the most recent being Shohei Ohtani (2023-25). Barry Bonds (2001-04) was the first, but Judge could add his name to that illustrious list this season.
Why not?
Judge followed up a crazy 2024 campaign, where he launched 58 homers and drove in 144 runs, with a 2025 season that was arguably better. A year ago, Judge batted .331, winning the AL batting title, smashing 53 homers and driving in 114 runs. The captain has not shown any sign of slowing down, and with his closest peers (Ohtani, Soto, etc.) being in the National League, who could pry the MVP away from him?
Aug 26, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Aaron Judge (99) and second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) celebrate after defeating the Washington Nationals 5-1 at Yankee Stadium. / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Bobby Witt Jr. of the Royals is an intriguing option. He was runner-up to Judge in 2024 and the young infielder could see his production increase with Kansas City bringing in its outfield walls. The Royals could also return to the postseason after missing out in 2025, and Witt would be a big reason why. And then we had Cal Raleigh in 2025. The Mariners catcher gave Judge his best shot, breaking all sorts of MLB records while hitting 60 homers as a catcher and helping Seattle capture the AL West title.
Barring any injuries to Judge, if a record-setting performance from Raleigh couldn't knock Judge off his perch, it might take something truly special -- or voter fatigue -- to unseat him.
Follow-ups to justify the run-back
One key factor to the "run-it-back" mantra is that a lot of young and surprise players stepped up in 2025. However, if they want to get back to the World Series, they'll need a follow-up that matches or exceeds what they did prior.
First and foremost, the rotation to start will have youngsters the club will need to keep the ship afloat until Cole and Rodon return. A lot is expected of Warren, Schlittler, and Gil, and those expectations are warranted.
Gil won the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year before injuries nearly wiped out his entire 2025. The right-hander will need to find his groove again, as spring training was not kind. Taking his last spring start out, Gil pitched to a 6.28 ERA.
Warren was the opposite of Gil, pitching the entire 2025 season without injury -- to varying degrees of success -- and the second-year starter has had a magnificent spring. Heading into his final spring start, Warren has allowed just four earned runs while striking out 16 batters across 20.1 innings.
And then we have Schlittler, the hero of the Wild Card round last year.
The electric right-hander had a setback early in spring, but since his return, he's just as advertised. He's allowed just one run and struck out 11 batters across 9.2 IP (three starts).
Oct 8, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) pitches during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during game four of the ALDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
On the offensive side, Ben Rice will be given the reins at first base. The left-handed slugger had a great second half last year, and continues to show his plate discipline and power this spring, all while showing more comfortability playing the position.
Austin Wells is entering his third year and took a step back in his sophomore season. While his defense behind the plate is still very good, the Yankees hope to get more out of him -- he has 20-homer power -- to lengthen the lineup. Wells showed that potential playing for Team DR in this year's WBC, hitting .267 and smashing two home runs, including a walk-off.
And while Trent Grisham isn't a youngster, the Yanks will see if they'll get similar production out of the 29-year-old. Now, it's unreasonable to expect the 34 home runs and 74 RBI out of the leadoff spot they got from Grisham a year ago, but the Yankees hope their $22 million man can produce. If not, it'll be interesting to see how patient the team will be before Jasson Dominguez or even Spencer Jones gets a shot.
Reclaiming the AL East
The Blue Jays were a bad matchup for the 2025 Yankees, it was as simple as that. However, if the Yanks won the division and had home-field advantage, then perhaps the series could have been different.
While we can talk hypotheticals all day, the road back to the World Series is easier as a division winner and preferably as the top seed. New York used that advantage in 2024 and they should do whatever it takes for that again.
Now, the AL East is going to be more difficult than a year ago -- at least on paper.
The Red Sox will have another year of experience for their youngsters, while they acquired Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez to build a rotation on par with the Yankees. The Blue Jays have a similar team to a year ago, but did add Dylan Cease and Kazuma Okamoto, who could be in the Rookie of the Year conversation.
The Orioles signed Pete Alonso, are healthier and still have some of the most talented youngsters (Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday) in the league. And the Rays will also be a pest and somehow always find a way to be in the mix.
It'll be tough, but it's imperative that the Yankees win the division. Scoreboard watching will be a daily routine this season.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 21: VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers rushes the ball up the court during the second half of their game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center on March 21, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah.(NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After an ugly yet ultimately victorious night against the Jazz on Saturday, the Sixers have gone 4-1 in their last five games. Sure, it may have included a few opponents trying to tank, but it isn’t too bad considering the Sixers have been missing all their stars. Crucially, it’s kept them alive in the playoff picture at seventh in the East, rather than slipping any further down the incredibly tight conference standings.
The story might be a little different on Monday, though: they’re welcoming the best team in the NBA to Philly.
Even though the Pistons and Spurs are within three or four wins of the Thunder, OKC still sit atop the league with their 56-15 record.
The Sixers are going to have to compete shorthanded yet again too. Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Johni Broome all remain out. And as if they weren’t already down enough rotation players, Dominick Barlow is only doubtful to return after suffering a left ankle sprain against Utah.
For the Thunder, the notable absence is starting guard Ajay Mitchell, who’s suspended one game following the Wizards-Thunder altercation.
Meanwhile, the the Thunder are getting more firepower back — as if they even needed it for this game. 2025 All-Star Jalen Williams, who was having another quality season this year before being out since mid February with a hamstring injury, is now available.
With an excellent offense and the league’s top defense, stellar top-end talent and unbeatable depth, the Thunder comfortably have the league’s top net rating at a ridiculous +11.0 — way ahead of the second-place Pistons and Celtics, tied at +8.0.
There are obviously going to be nightmare matchups across the board in this one. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is yet again playing like an MVP-level force this season after winning the award last year. His scoring has somehow become even more efficient, as he’s racking up 31.6 points per game with improved three-point accuracy (39.0 percent), an absurd career-high of 60.0 percent from two-point range (including 76.2 percent within three feet) and, unsurprisingly, a career-high 66.5 true shooting percentage as a result.
Shai is going to get his points against anyone, but it’s good experience for VJ Edgecombe to compete his hardest, utilize his athleticism, and see if he can disrupt some of Shai’s possessions at least.
First-time All-Star Chet Holmgren is having his best season yet too, and will give these smaller Sixers (and Adem Bona and Andre Drummond when he’s at center) plenty of work to cover ground against his mobility, size, and range from the arc. Paired with Isaiah Hartenstein’s skill, size and strong rebounding at center, the Sixers’ frontcourt is really going to be bullied without Embiid around.
With a host of other talent in their guard and wing rotation as well, providing shooting and/or top defense — from Cason Wallace to Lu Dort and Alex Caruso — there really is no letup when facing the Thunder.
And then finally, there’s the other guard we have to mention… Jared McCain. He was always going to thrive in an offense with as much balance, playmaking, and spacing as OKC’s, and he hasn’t hesitated to do just that with the solid play time he’s had already. McCain already has four 20-point games in his brief spell with OKC, compared to a mere one with the Sixers this season.
He’s averaging 12.3 points on a 62.0 true shooting percentage through his first 19 games there. McCain looks right at home in the Thunder offense with the way he’s getting open off the ball, running off screens, and creating off the bounce for himself. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him bring a bit of extra fire against the team that foolishly traded him away.
As special as Edgecombe’s arrival has been for the Sixers this season, and as good as he’s looked over the last two games with his career night against the Kings and 22-point, 13-rebound double-double against Utah, trying to lead the way against this Thunder defense is another kind of game altogether. That said, even if (when) the Sixers get crushed, Edgecombe delivering against the NBA’s best defense would be a fun statement for the rook to come away with.
Hopefully for the Sixers, Quentin Grimes can keep his strong play rolling after averaging 24.6 points over the last five games. And if Justin Edwards can find the kind of groove he had in his 32-point, seven-triple outburst against Kings too, that’ll make things a little more interesting.
None of that will really matter much in this one, though. It’s hard for any team to beat the Thunder on a good day, let alone the Sixers in their current state.
At least last week was a success for the Sixers’ place in the East. And once they get through what will likely be a brutal loss on Monday, life will at least get easier for them for the rest of the week with the Bulls then Hornets for their next two games.
Game Details
When: Monday, March 23, 7:00 p.m. ET Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - MARCH 19: Members of the New York Mets warm up on the field prior to the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Mets at Clover Park on Thursday, March 19, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
LAKELAND, FL - MARCH 12: Cade Winquest #80 of the New York Yankees pitches during the spring training game against the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on March 12, 2026 in Lakeland, Florida. The Yankees defeated the Tigers 4-3. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Among decisions to be made throughout spring training, the ones that can change the most as the preseason progresses is the bullpen. Often, the low-leverage arms will be the 25th or 26th guys on an Opening Day roster, and are not immune to trips back-and-forth to the minors. For the Yankees, Cade Winquest may end up fitting the spirit of that description quite well — albeit with a catch.
Acquired this offseason, the 25-year-old righty has not pitched in The Show to this point in his career, and has worked primarily as a starter in various levels of the Cardinals’ organization. In the 2026 season, both are likely to change. Although he won’t be getting any high-leverage appearances out of the ’pen (especially early on), he’s likely to get some work, and the Yankees clearly had enough interest to bring him aboard back in December.
In the 2025 Rule 5 Draft, the Yankees selected Winquest from the Cardinals. Again, he has no MLB experience as of yet, but has been a respectable run preventor between A-ball and Double-A, relying on a solid fastball-curveball combination that clearly sparked a baseline level of interest from New York in the righty, if they already considered them potentially big-league ready.
During the 2025 season between High-A and Double-A in the Cards’ system, Winquest worked easily the most innings of his professional career with 106. He did so while striking out more than a batter per inning, and did enough to warrant the Yankees taking him via the Rule 5 in December. Almost any player acquired in this fashion is a flier, but in this case, there is a good chance that Winquest will see MLB time in his first season in the Yankees organization.
New York partially rebuilt the back end of their bullpen at the trade deadline last year, when they acquired David Bednar, Camilo Doval, and Jake Bird. All three righties remain with the Yankees for 2026, and at least Bednar and Doval figure to get plenty of high-leverage work, not to mention the presence of Fernando Cruz and Tim Hill, who played key roles in out of the ’pen in 2025.
Winquest is the youngest pitcher projected to be a part of the Opening Day bullpen, and the only one with under three years of service time. All of that considered, along with the talent at the top of the depth chart, meaningful innings may be hard to come by for Winquest. That being said, there’s a reason bullpens run so deep, assuming he’s actually in the fold, he’ll get his opportunities.
It is theoretically not out of the question that Winquest makes a spot start here or there as well, but there are several others in the projected bullpen with starting experience, namely Paul Blackburn and Ryan Yarbrough. Tellingly, the Yankees haven’t started him once this spring, preferring to use him in relief.
The right-hander did a solid job last season, managing a 3.57 FIP in over 100 innings as a starter, though that was in the lower levels of the minors, and big league lineups could prove to be an issue for him. He features a solid curveball, with a fastball and slider that leave some room to be desired, as well as a cutter, all of which the Yankees will likely try to develop and optimize while he’s in the Bronx. His eight spring training appearances have been forgettable, as he’s allowed six runs and three homers, but it’s a small enough sample that hope hasn’t completely run out. At worst, Winquest offers immediate depth, and if they don’t like what they see when the games count, then they can just return him to the Cardinals (he will have to stick with the Yankees all year to remain in the organization past 2026). It’s a relatively low-risk endeavor, and the Yankees’ decision to roster him or not will be a signal about what they think about his stuff.
Getting any meaningful or high-leverage work will be an uphill battle for Winquest with the Yankees this season, but their acquisition of him says something of their interest. He will surely get some looks in the early part of the season; the onus will just be on him to capitalize on the rare opportunity to be an impactful Yankees Rule 5 pick.
Following a 2025 season where the Mets went from the team with the best record in baseball to one that missed the playoffs, president of baseball operations David Stearns overhauled the roster, which included trading or letting go of a bunch of its core players.
While the club led in part by Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, and Jeff McNeil helped make New York go during its magical run to the 2024 NLCS, that group was also part of the incredibly disappointing 2025 season, the massive failure that was 2023, and the 2022 team that squandered the division lead late and was eliminated in the Wild Card Series at home to the Padres.
Also gone from the recent core is Edwin Diaz, though his departure seemed less intentional from the Mets' end and more like a negotiation gone wrong.
In any event, out are Diaz, Alonso, Nimmo, McNeil, and most of last year's bullpen.
With the Mets opening the regular season this week at Citi Field against the Pirates, here are five big storylines to watch...
Is the starting rotation a strength?
It was the rotation that was largely responsible for the Mets' downfall last season.
While injuries impacted things, the starting staff in 2025 was a debilitating combination of ineffective and allergic to pitching deep into games.
The group heading into 2026 has been bolstered in a big way by the addition of Peralta, and should be further transformed by getting a full season from Nolan McLean -- who made eight starts toward the end of last season in what was his first taste of the bigs.
Back are Clay Holmes and David Peterson, with the latter's struggles late in 2025 possibly attributable to fatigue as he tossed a career-high 168.2 innings.
Also back: Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea, whose campaigns last year were marred by injury and underperformance.
Mar 7, 2026; Jupiter, Florida, USA; New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) pitches in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. / Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
Senga looked terrific in spring training, with his fastball routinely reaching the high-90s, and Carlos Mendoza repeatedly said Senga simply looks like a healthy player again.
Manaea's spring was up and down, with his decreased fastball velocity (which hovered around 88 mph) being the main focus.
If you squint just a bit, you can see a staff that could have three top-of-the-rotation starters and three solid mid-rotation starters.
But it's fair to wonder how Manaea's stuff will play in the regular season and whether Senga will stay healthy. And the Mets are seemingly wondering about Manaea, too, with the lefty in a bullpen/piggyback role to start the season.
Fortunately for the Mets, their depth is very good, including Christian Scott (who is healthy after recovering from Tommy John surgery), Jonah Tong, and Jack Wenninger.
While the Mets haven't announced Benge is on the team, it will be a massive shock if he doesn't come north. He has earned the right field job and is the clear best option.
Stearns said last November that Benge would get a real chance to win a starting job out of camp, and held that position all throughout the offseason and spring training, including when Juan Soto unexpectedly shifted to left field.
And Benge, who has played just 24 games above Double-A, looked the part all spring.
It wasn't just the results (which were great). It was Benge's approach at the plate, his long at-bats, his ability to hit the ball with authority to all fields, his defense, and his demeanor.
Most of the focus has been on Benge's offense, but he's also a plus outfield defender, which includes a cannon of an arm.
While there will be pressure on Benge to perform, he should have a bit of a soft landing since he won't be viewed as a lineup anchor from the jump, with him likely hitting in the lower third of the order.
Lindor returned to game action over a week before Opening Day, as he completed his recovery from hamate surgery in his left hand.
The shortstop's presence in the lineup for the start of the season was never really in doubt, but it's fair to wonder how the surgery might impact his power -- at least in the short-term.
Mar 15, 2026; Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) hits a single in the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Clover Park. / Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
Earlier this spring, SNY spoke with Deepak Chona, MD, a Stanford and Harvard-trained orthopedic sports surgeon and founder of SportsMedAnalytics, to get insight regarding Lindor's surgery and what it could mean for his 2026 season.
"The amount of time varies," Chona said about the power aspect, "but generally projects to six weeks after returning."
In other words, while the impact to Lindor's power should not be significant, it could still be notable -- as was the case with Francisco Alvarez last season.
"Most likely, this timing correlates with the recovery of grip strength and control of the bat," Chona explained. "This dips after surgery (1) because of the generalized trauma/swelling to the muscles of the hand and (2) because the part of the bone (called the hook of the hamate) that they cut out to treat the fracture is involved in generating grip force as well."
Chona added:
"The area near the hamate sees greater force on a left hand when batting right-handed, so it’s possible – if not likely – that Lindor being a switch hitter may help him bounce back faster than other batters.
"Limited data exists, but we’d anticipate a greater effect when he bats right-handed early on in the recovery. By one-to-two months post-return, most data suggests he’d be near his baseline level from both sides of the plate."
The Mets' bullpen would undoubtedly be more fearsome if it had Williams and Diaz.
But Williams' relative struggles last season should not cloud the kind of reliever he was for his entire career before that.
Feb 27, 2026; Jupiter, Florida, USA; New York Mets pitcher Devin Williams (38) delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals during the fourth inning at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Over the first six seasons of his career, Williams had a 1.83 ERA (2.39 FIP) and 1.02 WHIP in 235.2 innings while striking out 375 batters -- a rate of 14.3 per nine.
While he didn't perform up to his standards in 2025, with a 4.79 ERA over 62.0 innings, pretty much all of Williams' underlying metrics suggest it was largely a fluke.
Specifically, Williams' 2.68 FIP was more indicative of how his stuff played than his top line numbers. Meanwhile, his WHIP, HR/9, BB/9, and SO/9 were all near his career rates.
As far as the stuff? Williams' fastball remained an above average offering, and his vaunted changeup was in the 95th percentile.
Put it all together, and it's fair to expect Williams to be elite again in 2026.
The first base plan
Jorge Polanco got lots of time at first base in spring training games as he learns a position he has yet to play in a regular season game.
And in those games, Polanco looked pretty comfortable.
However, Brett Baty also got a significant amount of burn at first base in Grapefruit League play as he also learns the position.
With Baty frozen out at third base byBo Bichette and at second base by Marcus Semien, it's fair to believe he'll be mainly at designated hitter or first base when he's in the lineup.
Add to that the mild health concerns surrounding Polanco and you get a situation where it might make sense to use Baty at first base and Polanco at DH more often than not -- if he handles the position as well or better than Polanco.
Mar 4, 2026; Clearwater, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott (5) scores a run during the fourth inning against Team Canada at BayCare Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Now that the roster is (unofficially) set, here is what we can find.
Phillies have a roster:
Realmuto, Marchán, Harper, Stott, Turner, Bohm, Sosa, Moore
There are a lot of moves here that are unsurprising. Much of this team has been set for a while now, but there are still at least maybe a few eyebrow raisers here. Among them
Dylan Moore getting to keep his 26th man spot, giving the team really only three true outfielders
Tim Mayza getting the nod over Rule 5 pick Zack McCambley as the last member of the bullpen to be added before either Orion Kerkering or Max Lazar come off the injured list
Rob Thomson coming to his senses and not keeping Garrett Stubbs over Rafael Marchan
I’m sure there are thoughts about this roster, so let’s share them. What thoughts do you have about this Opening Day roster right now?
NORTH PORT, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 20: Reynaldo Lopez #40 of the Atlanta Braves poses for a photo during Spring Training photo day at CoolToday Park on February 20, 2026 in North Port, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Results were not kind to Reynaldo Lopez in his final Spring start on Sunday. His velocity was down while the Twins production at the plate was up. Lopez has seen mixed results this Spring, including less than ideal velocity on his fastball. While there are no reports of injury, it is fair to wonder how effective Lopez can be as the season starts. Hopefully results will be better once the games start to count.
ELMONT, NY -- Once the final buzzer sounded on Sunday night, signaling the New York Islanders' 1-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, that meant one thing: The Islanders were back in a playoff spot with 11 games to go.
With the newfound two points, the Islanders leapfrogged the Detroit Red Wings to sit in the second wild-card spot with 85 points. The Red Wings, who have 84, do have a game in hand, but a game in hand only matters if that team wins the game.
After falling out of a playoff spot last Thursday following a devastating 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators, the Islanders had the chance to rebound against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night. However, they fell 7-3, making Sunday's game against Columbus, the team holding down the third seed in the Metropolitan Division, incredibly important in keeping their playoff hopes alive.
"That was probably one of the high-stress games of the year for our group," Islanders forward Bo Horvat said. "I mean, it was a hard-fought battle by everybody. Everybody was contributing tonight. All four lines were rolling, and obviously, Sorokin was phenomenal."
The Islanders, who kicked off a stretch of 10 of the final 12 games on home ice Sunday, host the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night at 7 PM ET, a must-win as they continue onward with their playoff push.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 1: Alex Freeland #76 of the Los Angeles Dodgers participates in a fielding drill prior to a game against the Los Angeles Angels at Camelback Ranch on March 1, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In the third inning on Sunday night in Anaheim, the Dodgers plated 10 runs against the Angels thanks to seven walks (five in a row at one point) and four hits (Teoscar Hernández had the first two hits in the frame, including a home run).
The last time the Dodgers scored double-digit runs in an inning in a game that counted was June 2, 2021 against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium, putting up 11 in the first inning.
Hyeseong Kim was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday, with Alex Freeland earning the heavy side of a platoon at second base to open the regular season. Manager Dave Roberts explained the roster move on Sunday afternoon at Angel Stadium.
“There’s no doubt that Hyeseong at some point is going to come help us out. I think the driver, as far as at the outset, is giving Hyeseong an opportunity to play every day, play all over the diamond,” Roberts said Sunday, as shown on SportsNet LA. “He’s going to play some short, some center, some second base there. Whereas here, he wouldn’t have the runway to do that, to play more frequently.
“I think with Alex, with what he’s done in Triple-A already, he’s really played well. There’s nothing left for him to prove there. For us to give him a little bit of runway to see what we’ve got in him, to give him an opportunity to play here for us against right-handed pitching, and just kind of see where it goes.”
Dave Roberts spoke ahead of tonight’s #FreewaySeries opener about Alex Freeland earning his opportunity, evaluating spring performance, and maximizing Hyeseong Kim’s versatility. pic.twitter.com/59DgU8i7pG
While his stats haven’t really reflected it yet, his contact rate took a big dip in 2025, and a change in contact rate is one of those Statcast indicators that is predictive of big downside risk. I’m hoping this isn’t how things play out, but I think this might be the first year in a long time in which Freeman won’t have a case for being the NL’s best first baseman. Either way, I look forward to checking his name on a Hall of Fame ballot sometime in the 2030s.
Freeman walked twice and doubled in Sunday night’s win in Anaheim, his first game this spring not played at Camelback Ranch. He’s up to 44 total plate appearances this spring, for those of you keeping track of Project 47.
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 22: Gabriel Landeskog #92 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates a goal in the third period during a game against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on March 22, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by John McCreary/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Colorado Avalanche News
Landeskog needed a quick surgery after taking Makar’s slapshot to the family jewels. [TSN]
Avalanche defeat Blackhawks, become first team to clinch playoff berth. [NHL]
News Around the League
Alex Ovechkin joins Wayne Gretzky as only players with 1,000 career goals. [The Athletic]
Former Avs breaks through in win marred by ugly hit. [Yahoo]
Wild reporter Jessi Pierce and her three children are being mourned by the hockey community. [Sportsnet]
Oilers’ McDavid seemingly calls out their coach after a tough loss to the Lightning. [The Hockey Writers]
Hamilton to become new home of New York Islanders’ AHL affiliate. [CTV News]
Sidney Crosby speaks up on Olympic puck and makes Jack Hughes look rather petty. [Daily Hive]
Toronto hosts world’s largest blind hockey tournament at Mattamy Athletic Centre. [CP 24]
Maple Leafs vs. Senators: Toronto’s trouble starts with Anthony Stolarz scare before the opening faceoff in Ottawa. [Toronto Star]
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 23: A general view of play between the Bay FC and the Washington Spirit at Oracle Park on August 23, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/NWSL via Getty Images) | NWSL via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
Welcome to the first week of the regular season! It’s time to take a look at what’s on deck for the San Francisco Giants this week.
Monday
The Giants welcome the Sultanes de Monterrey to Oracle Park for an exhibition game tonight at 6:45 p.m. PT. The game will have television coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area and radio coverage on KNBR.
Tuesday
The exhibition series with the Sultanes continues Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. PT. The game will have television coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area and radio coverage on KNBR and KSFN.
Wednesday
OPENING DAY! The Giants will welcome the New York Yankees to Oracle Park for Opening Day at 5:05 p.m. PT. This will be the only game on Wednesday, which means you can only watch it on Netflix. Naturally. Radio coverage will be available on KNBR and KSFN.
Thursday
Off Day
Friday
The Yankees series continues on Friday, starting at 1:35 p.m. PT. The game will have television coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area and radio coverage on KNBR and KSFN.
Saturday
The final game of the Yankees series will start at 4:15 p.m. PT. This will be a national broadcast on Fox, with radio coverage available on KNBR and KSFN.
Sunday
An extremely rare Sunday off. What a weird schedule to start the season.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts enters his 11th season at the helm and is coming off two consecutive World Series wins. (Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
It's the Dodgers, and everyone else, in the National League West this season.
The two-time defending World Series champions ponied up a combined $309 million to sign two free agents, world-class closer Edwin Díaz and four-time All-Star corner outfielder Kyle Tucker.
The second-place San Diego Padres continued to cut payroll, bidding farewell to free agents Dylan Cease, Robert Suarez, Luis Arraez and Ryan O’Hearn. The San Francisco Giants' offseason highlight: becoming the first MLB team to make a college coach with no professional baseball coaching experience their manager. The 47-year-old Tony Vitello comes on board after coaching the Tennessee Volunteers for the past eight seasons.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are attempting to bounce back after following up a 2023 World Series appearance with two underwhelming seasons. And the Colorado Rockies are starting fresh yet again, replacing general manager Bill Schmidt with Paul DePodesta, who, after working for the Dodgers and other MLB teams, most recently served as the Cleveland Browns' chief strategy officer for the past 10 years.
1 | Dodgers
2025 | 93-69, 1st in West
Last year in playoffs | 2025
The Dodgers will open the season with a record payroll, to go with sky-high expectations, as the team vies for baseball’s first three-peat since the New York Yankees won three straight World Series titles between 1998 and 2000. The Dodgers remain the steady favorites, but seven of their nine regular position players are on the other side of 30. Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernández all showed signs of regression last season. The Dodgers have been bitten by the injury bug over the past two years, especially in their rotation and bullpen. Pitchers Blake Snell, Gavin Stone, Brusdar Graterol and Evan Phillips will all open the season on the injured list. How will Roki Sasaki’s second try as a member of the pitching rotation go? With all this in mind, expect Dave Roberts to manage his club accordingly. Don’t expect the Dodgers to gun for the 2001 Seattle Mariners’ win record of 116. Expect load management, as the Dodgers pace themselves with the goal of a healthy roster entering postseason play.
2 | San Diego Padres
2025 | 90-72, 2nd in West
Last year in playoffs | 2025
Despite a middling September — the Padres went 14-11 in the final month of the season — the club finished only three games back of the Dodgers. Though the club lost some key pieces over the winter, the Padres still boast a lockdown bullpen featuring Mason Miller, and a potent lineup starring Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. After an impressive rookie season, Jackson Merrill struggled to find his footing in his second year, landing on the IL three separate times. Merrill could be this season’s breakout star in the National League. If he takes a leap and the Padres stay healthy, this club could surprise.
3 | San Francisco Giants
2025 | 81-81, 3rd in West
Last year in playoffs | 2021
Since the Chicago Cubs eliminated the Giants from the 2016 NLDS, the club has made the postseason just once. Newcomers Luis Arraez and Harrison Bader should provide length to their lineup. Bader enjoyed a resurgent 2025 where he slashed .277/.347/.449 while playing plus-defense, earning himself a two-year, $20.5-million deal. Arraez saw a 22-point dip in batting average last season from 2024, but maintained a low-strikeout rate (3.1%). Right-side infield defense will be a question mark with Arraez returning to second base and Rafael Devers manning first. The Giants should get good length out of starting pitchers Robbie Ray and Logan Webb. Webb led the National League in innings pitched for the third straight season.
4 | Arizona Diamondbacks
2025 | 80-82, 4th in West
Last year in playoffs | 2023
Since their miraculous run to the World Series in 2023 — a postseason in which they bludgeoned the Dodgers, outscoring their divisional foes 19-6 in a three-game sweep in the NLDS — the Diamondbacks have missed the playoffs in each of the last two seasons. The club will likely be without two of their best three starting pitchers to open the season, as Corbin Burnes works his way back from Tommy John surgery and Merrill Kelly deals with lingering intercostal nerve irritation. With manager Torey Lovullo entering his 10th season with the club and the final year of his contract, could his seat be heating up?
5 | Colorado Rockies
2025 | 43-119, 5th in West
Last year in playoffs | 2018
Under new president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta, the Rockies will look to turn the page from a season to forget in 2025. Having played just 170 games through his first four seasons with the Rockies — posting a minus-WAR (Wins Above Replacement) in three of them — Kris Bryant’s future remains in question as he deals with a degenerative disk disease. He will open the season on the 60-day IL. The club saw promise last year from 25-year-old catcher Hunter Goodman and 27-year-old Mickey Moniak. The club will hope to see continued growth from youngsters Ezequiel Tovar, Jordan Beck and Brenton Doyle, with top prospect and 2024 Golden Spikes Award winner Charlie Condon eyeing a potential big-league debut this summer.
BRADENTON, FL - MARCH 20: Max Clark #31 of the Detroit Tigers and Konnor Griffin #75 of the Pittsburgh Pirates greet each other after the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Pittsburgh Pirates at LECOM Park on Friday, March 20, 2026 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Of course, projecting the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens roster is also a sneaky excuse for one more final projection of the Detroit Tigers Opening Day roster. Nothing has really changed at the major league level. I expect Kevin McGonigle and Parker Meadows to be with the Tigers on Opening Day, and for some combination of Enmanuel de Jesus, Brant Hurter, Sean Guenther, and Brenan Hanifee to start the season with the three open spots in the Tigers’ bullpen.
We got news on Saturday night that second ranked Tigers’ prospect, center fielder Max Clark, will start the season in Triple-A Toledo. That move has consequences, indicating that almost certainly Parker Meadows has made the Opening Day roster. They can’t both play center field in Toledo, although it’s at least plausible that they could share center and right field duties or something. Trei Cruz will also need to stay sharp in center field, though he’ll also split some time at the shortstop position.
Either way, here is our crack at the players manager Gabe Alvarez and pitching coach Doug Bochtler will be working with to start the 2026 season. They can carry 28 players on the active roster.
The Hens open on Thursday the 26th, just as the Tigers do. They’ll be on the road as well, taking on the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in a short series to begin the regular season. Then they’ll spend a week in Syracuse, before returning to the Fifth Third Field on April 7th for their home opener against the St. Paul Saints.
Starting rotation
RHP Keider Montero
RHP Ty Madden
LHP Bryan Sammons
LHP Carlos Pena
RHP Dylan File
RHP Sawyer Gipson-Long – IL
RHP Troy Watson – IL
Sawyer Gipson-Long, and Troy Watson are all working their way back off the injured list. Gipson-Long suffered an oblique strain at the beginning of camp and is throwing bullpens. He should return shortly, perhaps in time to take the fifth spot in the rotation right out of the gate. Watson had arthoscopic surgery on his right elbow and may be a while longer.
We’ll probably see a pitcher or two released from the relief ranks before the season starts. Depending on Gipson-Long’s status, they will likely spot start their final rotation spot out of a deep group of veteran minor league relief arms until one of the two is ready to go.
Jake Miller is close to a return after a lost 2025 season in Erie with back issues and then surgery on both hips to correct the underlying labrum tears that contributed to his back trouble. The Tigers assigned him to Toledo back on March 6, but seem likely to send him back to Erie to get back into form before he makes the jump to Toledo. Fellow lefty starter Andrew Sears had some kind of issue that kept him from seeing major league camp, but is reportedly throwing bullpens. We’ll see how long it takes for him to get on the mound again, but he’s not too far from a promotion to Toledo either.
Bullpen
RHP Dylan Smith
RHP Tyler Mattison
RHP Tanner Rainey
RHP Jack Little
RHP Matt Seelinger
LHP Sean Guenther
LHP Konnor Pilkington
LHP Colin Poche
RHP Woo-Suk Go
RHP Ricky Vanasco
RHP Scott Effross- IL
RHP Tyler Owens – IL
LHP Bailey Horn – IL
RHP Dugan Darnell – IL
RHP Phil Bickford – IL
The bullpen is pretty full, though a veteran or two might end up opting out, but really only Dylan Smith and Tyler Mattison are notably exciting. Bailey Horn fits the bill in terms of good stuff, but he’ll be a little while before returning from right elbow arthroscopy. With minimal information available, it’s impossible to know when guys will come off the injured list. Sean Guenther has had a good camp and should get a look again this year and could possibly take a spot on the Opening Day roster instead, bumping Brant Hurter or Enmanuel de Jesus to Triple-A for a while.
Drew Sommers could be a quality lefty reliever if his command comes together, and he’s still young at 25 years of age. I expect he’s bound for Erie to start the year to keep working on his command. It’s just hard to imagine them carrying four lefties in the pen to start the year, and Pilkington, Poche, and Guenther feel like bigger priorities as major league depth until Sommers levels up a bit more.
RHP Cole Waites is still trying to rebuild his velo after his return from Tommy John last year. He used to be 98 mph, but was 92-93 mph for the most part in camp. I will guess he’s going to Erie until it comes back, but they could keep him in Toledo instead, and send RHP Woo-Suk Go to Erie instead. Otherwise it’s a collection of veterans with enough quality stuff to succeed, but not enough command, and in most cases, no huge carrying pitch to lean on if they don’t improve that command.
The Tigers have added minor league veterans like RHP Yendy Gomez, RHP Wandisson Charles, RHP Luke Taggart, RHP Jan Carabello, and RHP John Stankiewicz, along with a few younger free agent signings who will be in Lakeland. Since we haven’t seen them, it’s pretty impossible to know where the Tigers will play the older minor league veterans in that group. Gonez and Carabello are young though, and project for West Michigan or Erie to start the season.
Either way, leaving out the injured list guys, that gives them a five-man rotation and an 10-man bullpen to start with on the 28-man roster.
Position players
CF Max Clark
OF Wenceel Pérez
OF Ben Malgeri
OF Corey Julks
OF Cal Stevenson
1B Jace Jung
2B Max Anderson
SS Trei Cruz
3B Hao-Yu Lee
UT Chris Meyers
UT Gage Workman
C Tomas Nido
C/1B Eduardo Valencia
SS Trey Sweeney -IL
Obviously, we’re assuming Parker Meadows is with the Tigers on Opening Day, moving Wenceel Pérez, Trei Cruz, and Corey Julks to Toledo. It sounds like Hao-Yu Lee is just about healed from his oblique injury. If not, the Tigers could add a veteran minor leaguer like 1B/LF types, Chris Meyers or Justice Bigbie. Whenever Lee is ready, he and Anderson will split days between second and third base together.
We’ll see what the Tigers decide to do with John Peck. There’s a good chance he goes back to Double-A if only to keep both he and Trei Cruz playing shortstop most days. Still, Peck has had a great camp, and while he’s only spent about a month and change at the Double-A level, the Tigers clearly are impressed as he’s travelling to Arizona with the club for the final two exhibition games. I wouldn’t be shocked if he ends up in Toledo either, in which case veteran minor leaguer Chris Meyers can easily be bumped back to Erie. Peck can play all over the infield, and so if Cruz gets a lot of time at shortstop it isn’t going to hinder Peck’s development as a versatile right-handed hitting infielder who has some power and is pretty good at shortstop to boot.
If Peck is starting the year as the Hens’ shortstop, splitting some of that time with Trei Cruz, that might spell the end for Trey Sweeney. The Tigers will need a 40-man spot for Kevin McGonigle sooner rather than later, and it’s just hard to see Sweeney doing anything without a major overhaul to his swing. Of course, they could also drop Workman at this point and keep Sweeney as a utility infielder, and that’s probably more the move as Workman has aged out and couldn’t take advantage of his major league look with Cubs last year. Still, they’re both 26 this year, so pick your poison I suppose. They’re young enough not to totally give up on, but not important enough to worry about at the same time.
Overall, this is a really good group of position players with Clark as the headliner. Wenceel Pérez is a solid MLB caliber hitter who just doesn’t stand out in terms of power or defense. Anderson and Lee are just outside of top 100 consideration. Jung and Cruz are older minor league former prospects who had pretty good camps. Valencia isn’t much of a catcher in MLB terms but he bat did erupt in a big way last year and he could provide some power and lefty mashing depth to the Tigers along the way.
The Tigers have a far stronger supporting cast in case of injury or ineffectiveness from their position player group than we’ve really even seen before. It’s just unfortunate that they don’t really have an ace pitching prospect or at least a fearsome relief prospect waiting in the wings. Keider Montero may be able to help out, but until his command takes another step he’s still just quality depth for the rotation and bullpen. Tyler Mattison has the stuff, as does Tanner Kohlhepp, but they’re now deep into their mid-20’s and neither has been able to develop enough command to reach the major league level yet. Hopefully Troy Melton, and maybe by late July or August, Jackson Jobe, can ultimately provide some more impressive help, while top pitching prospects like Miller and Sears get in position to contribute spot starts or long relief work this summer.
