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March Madness upset picks: NCAA Tournament first-round surprises

The history books will rightfully remember last year's March Madness as a chalk, with four No. 1 seeds in the Final Four and three No. 2 seeds in the Elite Eight. But as the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament first round gets set to begin on Thursday, March 19, it's perhaps worth noting what happened to the bracket on the first two days of college basketball's biggest event in 2025.

Five double-digit seeds pulled off upsets in the first round, including four from non-power conferences. Only one (No. 10 seed Arkansas) advanced to the Sweet 16, which significantly reduced the brackets busted and eventually led to just the second Final Four featuring all No. 1 seeds since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985.

The 2026 NCAA Tournament field is also seen as top-heavy by college basketball experts, but there are several intriguing opportunities for a potential Cinderella to emerge this year. Here's a look at five March Madness first-round games that could produce an upset this week:

MARCH MADNESS: Predicting every Men's NCAA tournament game using AI

No. 11 VCU over No. 6 North Carolina

The school that went from the original First Four all the way to the Final Four 15 years ago is a potential Cinderella again in the South region of the 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket after a run to the Atlantic-10 Conference tournament championship. VCU has lost just once over the past two months and it slots ahead of UNC since Feb. 1 in the Torvik Rankings, which are based on offensive and defensive efficiency and weight recent performances more heavily than other predictive metrics. North Carolina, meanwhile, will enter the NCAA Tournament with back-to-back losses to Duke and Clemson and continues to be without freshman star Caleb Wilson. No game during Thursday's March Madness first-round action has a smaller spread than VCU vs. UNC (-2.5).

No. 11 South Florida over No. 6 Louisville

Only one team in this year's NCAA Tournament has a longer current winning streak than USF's 11-game streak entering its East region first-round matchup and six of the Bulls' past seven wins have been by at least 15 points. Guard Wes Enis has been held under 19 points just once in the past five weeks. Louisville also plays the same up tempo style as USF and the Cardinals are just 4-4 over their past eight games. They won't have star freshman guard Mikel Brown Jr. available again due to injury.

No. 11 Texas over No. 6 BYU

This West region first-round matchup will pit two teams with bad defenses that played much better earlier in the season. Now that Texas escaped with a buzzer-beater win over North Carolina State in the First Four, it gets a juicy upset chance against A.J. Dybantsa and BYU. The Cougars had a 7-9 record over the final two months of Big 12 play and uses one of the thinnest benches in the field. Though the Longhorns limped to the finish line with five losses in their final six games before Tuesday's NCAA Tournament triumph, they do have wins over Alabama and Vanderbilt on their ledger this season.

No. 12 Akron over No. 5 Texas Tech

Though Miami (Ohio) garnered most of the headlines out of the MAC with its undefeated run through the regular season, conference tournament champion Akron had the better offensive and defensive efficiency ratings and could take advantage of its draw in the Midwest region. Though Akron lost by 18 points to the only other power conference team on its schedule (Purdue), Texas Tech hasn't looked the same since star J.T. Toppin suffered a season-ending injury. The Red Raiders are 6-5 over their past 11 games, with three defeats in a row entering the NCAA Tournament.

No. 10 Missouri over No. 7 Miami

Missouri is a trendy pick in this West region first-round matchup because the game will take place in nearby St. Louis. The Tigers also had a strong surge through SEC play in February and early March, beating Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M to secure an NCAA Tournament at large berth. Missouri, however, has lost three in a row, including an SEC tournament quarterfinal setback to Kentucky. But the Tigers already beat Kentucky on the road earlier this season and the crowd should be on their side this week.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness predictions: Men's NCAA bracket first-round upset picks

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Rockets and Lakers battle it out in H-town round two electric boogaloo

Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Lakers

March 18, 2026

Location: Toyota Center — Houston, Texas

TV: ESPN

Radio: KBME Sports Talk 790

Online: Rockets App, SCHN+

Time: 830pm

Probable Starting Lineups

Rockets: Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun

Lakers: Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Lebron James, Marcus Smart, DeAndre Ayton

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The WBC is thriving. Rob Manfred says MLB might consider moving it to midseason

MIAMI — Having set attendance and broadcast viewer records, the World Baseball Classic will return in 2029 or 2030 and at some future point could be moved to midseason, when clubs would be less likely to restrict players.

Since the WBC’s inception in 2006, it has been played during spring training. Tournament rules include pitch count restrictions, and teams can demand tougher limits or deny players permission to participate.

“Obviously we have commitments to Fox in terms of the All-Star Game in the middle of the season through ’28,” baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said Wednesday during an interview with The Associated Press. “As the game continues to evolve, we have talked about midseason tournaments in general. And certainly if we decided to get serious about this, about a midseason tournament, this would be an ideal opportunity.”

Fan interest for the WBC continues to grow

This year’s WBC drew 1,619,839 fans for 47 games, a 24% increase over the previous high of 1,306,414 in 2023. The initial tournament in 2006 drew 740,451 for 39 games.

The most-watched 2006 matchup was Mexico’s second-round win over the U.S. at 2.46 million on ESPN.

This year’s most-viewed game through Sunday was the Americans’ semifinal victory over the Dominican Republic at 7.37 million on FS1 and Fox Deportes. That topped the previous high of 5.2 million for the 2023 final on FS1, Fox Deportes and Fox Sports streaming services. Numbers for Tuesday's final aren’t yet available.

“There’s no resemblance to where we started in 2006,” Manfred said. “This one, I feel like it went to a different level. We set an attendance record after the early play. By the time we got into the semis and the final it was all gravy.”

The Ohtani effect has been key

Shohei Ohtani striking out then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout for the last out of the 2023 WBC was a seminal moment. A sport that emerged in the U.S. in the 19th century took until the 21st century to establish a truly global competition.

“The WBC is kind of a springboard for the rest of our international efforts,” Manfred said. “It gives you kind of a cornerstone to work from in terms of making long-term business relationships with sponsors, broadcasters and whatnot.”

Fans from baseball-mad countries like Japan, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela have watched the tourney closely since its inception. Japan has three titles, while the DR and Venezuela have each won once.

The U.S. also has just one title, in 2017, despite using an All-Star roster this year led by captain Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper and Paul Skenes. Judge was appointed U.S. captain last April and his early commitment sparked other top players to join.

Judge called the WBC crowds “bigger and better than the World Series.” Italy’s run to the semifinals this year awakened baseball interest in a soccer-crazed country, even though games started in the middle of the night.

“I just told the guys that they are the champions of this tournament,” Italy manager Francisco Cervelli said after the Azzurri were eliminated by Venezuela, the eventual champion. “They revolutionized Italy. They put another sport on the map.”

A midseason tournament likely would lead to fewer stars declining or being held back. Two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal agreed with Detroit to be limited to one appearance, and the U.S. started 24-year-old rookie Nolan McLean in the final. The U.S. lost 3-2 to Venezuela, which rallied in the ninth inning against Garrett Whitlock to win its first title.

Closer Mason Miller was held out by DeRosa, who promised the San Diego Padres he would be used only in a save situation.

“Certainly if it was moved to the middle of the season, I don’t think you would have any nos for competing in it,” DeRosa said.

Could the Olympics be next?

MLB and the players’ association are negotiating over having big leaguers participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The six-nation baseball tournament, which includes the U.S.. Dominican Republic and Venezuela, would be played during an extended All-Star break. That event could impact the decision on when the seventh WBC will be played.

MLB and the players’ association have matching equity shares that are the most in the WBC, with Nippon Professional Baseball, the Korea Baseball Organization and the World Baseball Softball Confederation owning minority stakes.

“The issue for us is whether we do it in ‘29 or in ’30, three years or four years? I’m getting a lot of email from people today saying don’t make us wait four more years for this,” Manfred said. “I do think a three- or four-year cycle is probably about right for the event. The timing is going to turn on what we do with respect to related sorts of international efforts. I remain optimistic about the Olympics and obviously if we play in the Olympics it’s a short time from July of ‘28 ’till the spring of 29 and that’s something we’ll have to take into account. I’m not saying it’s outcome determinative, but it’s something we’ll have to think about.”

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GameThread: Tigers vs. Pirates, 6:05 p.m.

Mar 15, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson (20) smiles against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Detroit Tigers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

Time/Place: 1:05 p.m., Joker Marchant Stadium – Lakeland, FL
SB Nation Site: Bucs Dugout
Media:Tigers Radio Network

Today’s Lineups

TIGERSPIRATES
Matt Vierling – DHOneil Cruz – CF
Kerry Carpenter – RFBrandon Lowe – 2B
Riley Greene – LFBryan Reynolds – LF
Spencer Torkelson – 1BMarcell Ozuna – DH
Dillon Dingler – CSpencer Horwitz – 1B
Kevin McGonigle – SSNick Yorke – RF
Javier Baez – 2BTyler Callihan – 3B
Zach McKinstry – 3BJoey Bart – C
Trei Cruz – CFKonnor Griffin – SS
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Yankees' Gerrit Cole passes first test, but one outing won't speed up timeline for return

TAMPA, Fla. – More than a decade has passed since Gerrit Cole had anything to prove on mid-March afternoons, but the inning he threw against the Boston Red Sox Wednesday afternoon meant something anyway.

The last time Cole pitched in a game was March 6 of last year, an outing in which he was so ineffective that he and the Yankees guessed correctly that his elbow was not right.

So Wednesday’s outing was both an affirmation and an evaluation: The fact that Cole was throwing in a Grapefruit League game a year after surgery was the latest indication that his recovery is going well. That he showed his usual velocity and showcased secondary stuff in a quick scoreless inning meant that his elbow withstood the very Grapefruit League test it failed this time last year.

“I just wanted to enjoy all of it. That was my goal for today. No reservations. Try not to judge yourself too hard,” Cole said. “Just have fun. No thoughts about wanting to take a little bit off. Just go ahead and let it fly.”

It was just 53 weeks ago Wednesday, Dr. Neal ElAttrache cut into Cole’s elbow, reconstructed his ulnar collateral ligament, and inserted an internal brace to support it. By all accounts -- and most importantly Cole’s -- everything since has gone as well as anyone could ask. 

Many pitchers returning from elbow surgery experience setbacks, or do not see their velocity return until several months or even a full season after their return. Cole touched 98 MPH with both fastballs Wednesday, and Yankees manager Aaron Boone said multiple times he feels his ace’s command seems to have returned.

In the first six weeks of camp, Cole ramped up from throwing regular bullpens to live batting practice sessions. He threw 35 pitches in what amounted to two innings while facing Yankees hitters five days ago. When his body bounced back successfully from that outing, Cole and the Yankees faced a choice.

“Throw more pitches in the same environment, or elevate the environment,” Cole said. “And based on what we had accomplished in the four [live batting practices] before that, the next step was to elevate the environment and see how things respond.”

Cole didn’t treat Wednesday like a regular start. He and catcher Austin Wells didn’t talk gameplans beforehand. Wednesday’s game was not meant to test Cole’s ability to work through a proven big league lineup – and, in fairness, the Red Sox did not exactly send one.

Mar 18, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) throws a pitch against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Mar 18, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) throws a pitch against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. / Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Instead, what Wednesday’s outing offered was unpredictability. And when speedy Red Sox outfielder Braiden Ward bunted the first pitch Cole threw up the first base line, the 35-year-old sprinted and slid to try to field it – moves he hasn’t had to execute in quite some time. A few batters later, Cole sprinted back over to receive a throw from Jazz Chisholm Jr. that retired the side.

“I missed the big [pitcher fielding practice] group today because I had to pitch today for the first time,” Cole said. “It’s the first set of PFPs that I missed, and I ended up getting my work in so it was all good.”

While the initial sprint and slide paused hearts in the Yankees dugout, Cole survived the whole experience so effortlessly that he went to the bullpen afterward to throw three more three-pitch sequences. Combined with warmups for his inning and those bullpen batters, Cole’s day finished right around 30 pitches, in line with his outings in recent weeks.

“It was exciting. Had the nerves over there, too, knowing obviously who he is to our team and what he means to us,” Boone said. “The long road, another part of the journey back. I thought he looked good.”

The next step in Cole’s journey is not clear. He said he will pitch a bullpen a few days from now, then will plan to make another game-like outing at some point in the next six or seven days, in keeping with his schedule so far. He said he will not travel with the Yankees to San Francisco for their opener next week, but does plan to be in New York for the home opener April 3; The minor league season begins around then anyway, and Cole will need several rehab outings with affiliates before he returns to the majors.

The Yankees open their regular season one week from Wednesday. Obviously, Cole will not be active when they do. Neither will Carlos Rodon, who is working his way back from shoulder surgery and is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session Thursday. Clarke Schmidt, who underwent Tommy John surgery a few months after Cole, threw an extensive flat ground session with cameras watching his every move. 

All three would likely be in the Opening Day rotation if healthy. But this Yankees season will probably depend as much as what they do during April and May anyway.

Because as untouchable as Cam Schlittler was in October, as sturdy as Will Warren was in his first year of full-time service, and as much potential as newly acquired Ryan Weathers flashes at his best, a rotation built around them and anchored by Max Fried – like the Yankees will be to start the season – is not exactly a sure thing.

A rotation with Schlittler, Warren, Weathers, and Schmidt behind Cole, Fried, and Rodon, meanwhile, looks as deep as any starting rotation this side of Dodger Stadium. The key for the Yankees, then, is to make sure that nothing happens in the next two months of Cole’s rehabilitation process that will compromise what happens in the months after his return.

And speaking of that return, Cole and his manager insist that even with perfect progress, nothing about his timeline has changed. They have targeted June 1 for weeks, and one healthy Grapefruit League inning will not inspire a rush to return sooner.

“I wouldn’t commit to it. Nothing has changed,” Cole said. “Still on track. Hoping it plays out that way. I’d be thrilled if it did.”

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Updated NBA standings: How would playoffs look if season ended today?

The NBA playoffs are just around the corner. Sure, there is still time for teams on the cusp to make one final push for the postseason, but for the most part, we know which teams are competing for an NBA title.

That said, many of the teams in the middle of the pack in each conference are jumbled up, so close together that a bad or good stretch could determine whether they get home-court advantage in their opening series or the conference semifinals.

As it stands right now, as of the afternoon of Wednesday, March 18, the Eastern Conference's No. 2 seed Boston Celtics are just eight games ahead of the No. 8 seed Atlanta Hawks. In the West, the No. 3 and 6 seeds are within 1.5 games of one another.

A lot could happen between now and the end of the regular season that could shape the postseason. That said, it's still interesting to look at where each team would fall if the season ended today.

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama grabs a rebound during the third quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center.

NBA playoff bracket

Records and standings through games played on Wednesday, March 18

*-indicates play-in team

Eastern Conference

  1. Detroit Pistons (49-19)
  2. Boston Celtics (45-23)
  3. New York Knicks (45-25)
  4. Cleveland Cavaliers (42-27)
  5. Toronto Raptors (38-29)
  6. Orlando Magic (38-30)
  7. Miami Heat (38-31)*
  8. Atlanta Hawks (37-31)*
  9. Philadelphia 76ers (37-32)*
  10. Charlotte Hornets (35-34)*

Western Conference

  1. Oklahoma City Thunder (54-15)
  2. San Antonio Spurs (51-18)
  3. Los Angeles Lakers (43-25)
  4. Houston Rockets (41-26)
  5. Denver Nuggets (42-27)
  6. Minnesota Timberwolves (42-27)
  7. Phoenix Suns (39-30)*
  8. Los Angeles Clippers (34-34)*
  9. Golden State Warriors (33-35)*
  10. Portland Trail Blazers (33-36)*

When does NBA regular season end?

The regular season will end on Sunday, April 12. The play-in tournament will start just two days later on Tuesday, April 14 with games played through Friday, April 17.

The classic NBA postseason will begin on April 18.

How does NBA play-in tournament work?

The tournament is divided into three games for each conference.

The first game will see the No. 7 seed host the No. 8 seed with the No. 7 seed in the playoffs on the line. The loser will face the winner of the game between the conference's No. 9 and No. 10 seeds.

Whoever loses that third game will be eliminated from the postseason, while the winner will claim their conferene's No. 8 seed and a date with the No. 1 seed in the first round of the playoffs.

NBA playoffs schedule

  • Play-in tournament: April 14-17
  • First round: Begins April 18
  • Second round: Expected to start early May
  • Conference finals: Expected to start late May
  • NBA Finals: June 3 - June 10/17 (dependent on series lengths)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who's in, out of NBA playoffs if the season ended today?

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What Tony Vitello learned from San Francisco Giants’ starring roles in WBC

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Heliot Ramos is back from the World Baseball Classic and still bleach blond, the hairstyle adopted by all of the Puerto Rican team. He plans to keep it.

“F— it,” the Giants outfielder declared upon his return to the team. “I want to do braids.”

Heliot Ramos of Team Puerto Rico looks on after the game against Team Italy at Daikin Park on March 14, 2026 in Houston, Texas. Team Italy defeated Team Puerto Rico 8-6. Getty Images

Still, some of Ramos’ teammates will have an even more lasting way to remember the tournament. Luis Arraez, Jose Butto and Logan Webb all had a little extra weight in their luggage returning from Miami.

Arraez and Butto earned their gold medals with key contributions in Venezuela’s 3-2 win in the championship game Tuesday night over Team USA inside a sold-out loanDepot Park. Webb helped the Americans reach the title game but settled for silver.

Back in Scottsdale, Giants manager Tony Vitello watched the game with some members of his coaching staff as the team enjoyed a day off.

“It was a phenomenal final game of the tournament,” Vitello said. Bryce Harper tied the score at 2 with a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth, which Vitello called “a pretty magical moment, even despite the loss, I think that will still be remembered as such.”

Harper’s game-tying homer set up Arraez to lead off the top of the ninth. He was hitless in three at-bats when he came to the plate against Garrett Whitlock. The typically aggressive Arraez worked a walk and was replaced by a pinch-runner who scored what became the decisive run.

“As soon as Bryce hit that homer … the first thing I said was, ‘Our guy’s leading off, so they’d better score,'” Vitello said. “He found a way to get on base. You kind of knew even more so that he’d get on base because he hadn’t (yet). I feel like determination climbs as the situation grows for him.”

José Buttó of Team Venezuela pitches against Team United States during the sixth inning at loanDepot park on March 17, 2026 in Miami, Florida. Getty Images

Aaron Judge came to the plate as the potential tying run with Venezuela leading 2-0 in the sixth inning, and Butto got the Yankees slugger to ground out to end the inning. The Giants’ bullpen hopeful didn’t allow a run over 5 2/3 innings in the tournament, and Vitello sees him as a high-leverage option.

“It makes sense that when you go out there and the crowd is the loudest baseball crowd arguably ever and the hitters are all major-league All-Stars,” Vitello said. “He is incredibly pro-like in his work everyday. Almost one of our more militaristic — not that he doesn’t have personality — but how he handles his business.”

Manager Tony Vitello #23 of the San Francisco Giants looks on during the first inning of the spring training game against the Colorado Rockies at Scottsdale Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Getty Images

The Giants were the only team in the majors represented more than once on the All-WBC team. Webb, who made two starts and allowed one run over 8 2/3 innings, was one of three pitchers selected. Arraez, who batted .308 with a 1.059 OPS and drove in 10 runs, earned the lone honor at first base.

Jung Hoo Lee helped Korea advance out of the group stage for the first time since 2009 — when he was 10 years old — and Ramos started all five games for Puerto Rico, which also made it to the quarterfinals.

Venezuela Luis Arraez reacts after he grounds out during the third inning in the championship game of the World Baseball Classic against the United States, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami. AP

Vitello hopes the Giants can reap the benefits all their representatives took away from the tournament. Dave Groeschner, their head trainer, joined Webb on Team USA. Longtime coaches Ron Wotus and Dave Righetti were part of Team Italy’s coaching staff.

“More than I think there’s a story to tell for all those teams,” Vitello said. “Venezuela obviously had the passion going. Italy had kind of a cool little culture going on. Webby and Groesch will be able to tell us about what is it like to manage that many stars in one dugout.”

Arraez, Butto and Webb were all expected back in camp Wednesday. As long as there were no travel complications, Vitello said he expected Webb to make his next Cactus League start on Thursday.

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3 Players Making a Difference Since the All-Star Break

Throughout the season, we have used FTN’s new NBA StatsHub to help separate surface-level production from true impact. Those advanced metrics have provided the necessary context to effectively identify emerging stars, analyze trades, give insight into awards races, and provide analysis on the league’s top playoff contenders.

Now, as the regular season enters its final stretch, the focus shifts to identifying which stars are peaking at the right time. Using NBA StatsHub, let’s take a look at a few players who are playing at a high level since the All-Star break.

Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets

In the coming days, Kevin Durant will surpass Michael Jordan for the fifth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Yet, the 37-year-old Durant, who suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the middle of his prime, isn’t just stat-padding his Hall of Fame resume.

Since the All-Star break, he’s averaging 25.9 points on only 17.5 field goal attempts per game. He’s the only player in the league averaging 25+ points while shooting 50%-plus from the field, 40%-plus from 3-point territory and 90%-plus from the free throw line.

He leads the NBA by a substantial margin in Points Over Expectation (+5.5) in that span, with Luka Dončić (+4.1) and Anthony Edwards (+3.8) a distant second and third, respectively.

Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets

Earlier this season, we examined the league’s most underrated scorers using Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation and came away wondering if Kon Knueppel could be the NBA’s next superstar.

Since that point, he’s averaged 19.7 points per game while shooting 49.3% from the floor, including 44.0% from 3-point territory. Since the All-Star break, he ranks sixth in the entire NBA in Points Over Expectation. He’s been Charlotte’s most valuable player during that stretch, with an incredulous +22.4 Net Rating.

Knueppel was +500 in the Rookie of the Year race when we wrote Feb. 18 that he has been the NBA’s most impactful first-year player. One month later, he’s -200 to win the award, looking like a clear and obvious favorite if he can stay healthy during the final month of the regular season.

James Harden, Cleveland Cavaliers

Immediately following the Cavaliers trade for James Harden, ESPN gave Cleveland a B grade for the deal. CBS Sports gave Cleveland a C. Bleacher Report was the most critical, giving the Cavaliers a D+.

We gave Cleveland an A+ for the trade, arguing that Harden is still a high-impact player.

Since the trade, the Cavaliers own the second-best offensive rating in the NBA, despite Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen both missing substantial time due to injury.

A big reason for their success has been the play of Harden, who ranks 7th in the league in Points Over Expectation since the All-Star break. The team has a +4.7 Net Rating with him on the floor, benefitting from his playmaking ability, efficient scoring and veteran leadership.

The Cavaliers have emerged as the primary threat to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference. If healthy, they have their best chance to return to the NBA Finals since LeBron James left for the Lakers nearly a decade ago.

The Takeaway

Kevin Durant, Kon Knueppel and James Harden haven’t simply been filling the stat sheet on a nightly basis because they take a lot of shots or operate in a high-usage role for their respective team. These players are offering measurable, sustainable benefits to their club at the most important time of the season.

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Spring Training Game #26: Detroit Tigers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

LAKELAND, FL - MARCH 13: Konnor Griffin #75 of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on during batting practice prior to the start of the spring training game against the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on March 13, 2026 in Lakeland, Florida. The Pirates defeated the Tigers 7-5. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Detroit Tigers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, March 18, 2026, 6:05 p.m. ET

Location: LECOM Park, Bradenton, FL

How to Listen: KDKA-FM 93.7

The Pittsburgh Pirates are at home today against the Pittsburgh Pirates looking to grab a win against the Detroit Tigers in Spring Training.

Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines.

  • Don’t troll in your comments; create conversation rather than destroying it
  • Remember Bucs Dugout is basically a non-profanity site
  • Out of respect to broadcast partners who have paid to carry the game, no mentions of “alternative” (read: illegal) viewing methods are allowed in our threads
  • The commenting system was updated during the summer. They’re still working on optimizing it for Game Day Threads like ours. If you don’t like clicking “Load More Comments”, remember that the “Z” key can be your friend. It loads up the latest comments automatically.

BD community, this is your thread for today’s game. Enjoy!

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Jazz vs Timberwolves Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

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If you thought the Utah Jazz’s overall record was bad, their mark against division rivals is even worse – and it’s not likely to get any better tonight against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

This feels like a hopeless task for a Utah team that’s 1-11 against the rest of the Northwest Division and firmly in full tank mode, but my Jazz vs Timberwolves predictions target one of the visitors’ youngsters getting a chance in the spotlight.

Check on my NBA picks for this clash on Wednesday, March 18. 

Jazz vs Timberwolves prediction

Jazz vs Timberwolves best bet: Cody Williams Over 20.5 points + rebounds + assists (-115)

The Utah Jazz don’t seem focused on boosting their win total, but the coming weeks give them a chance to evaluate their roster. That’s good news for Cody Williams, who has played 36+ minutes in six straight games, hitting this combo Over in five of them.

Williams posted an eye-popping 34-7-7 stat line on Sunday and should be active again as Utah navigates games without Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George.

Even though the Minnesota Timberwolves can be elite defensively, Williams doesn’t need to match his season averages to make this prop a winner.

Jazz vs Timberwolves same-game parlay

Even on the second night of a back-to-back set, the T-Wolves have the defensive studs to keep Utah at bay, but the offense will largely be in the hands of Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.

Randle is coming off back-to-back 32-point outings, and I expect DiVincenzo to bounce back from last night’s 0-for-8 dud, as he boasts a 39% mark from downtown.

Jazz vs Timberwolves SGP

  • Timberwolves -13.5
  • Julius Randle Over 25.5 points
  • Donte DiVincenzo Over 14.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Stifle Tower

No one needs to tell the Jazz about Rudy Gobert’s impact. 

This SGP jumps on the Frenchman’s presence around the rim at both ends of the floor, and he’s coming off a monster effort last night, finishing with 19 rebounds and four blocks.

Naz Reid’s absence should also mean an uptick in minutes for Gobert.

Jazz vs Timberwolves SGP

  • Rudy Gobert Over 12.5 points
  • Rudy Gobert Over 13.5 rebounds
  • Rudy Gobert Over 2.5 blocks
  • Timberwolves -13.5

Jazz vs Timberwolves odds

  • Spread: Jazz -13.5 (-110) | Timberwolves +13.5 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Jazz +550 | Timberwolves -800
  • Over/Under: Over 230.5 (-110) | Under 230.5 (-110)

Jazz vs Timberwolves betting trend to know

The Timberwolves are 8-2 SU in their last 10 meetings with the Jazz. Find more NBA betting trends for Jazz vs. Timberwolves.

How to watch Jazz vs Timberwolves

LocationTarget Center, Minneapolis, MN
DateWednesday, March 18, 2026
Tip-off8:00 p.m. ET
TVFDSN North, KJZZ

Jazz vs Timberwolves latest injuries

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Devils' Forward Reaches New Single Season Milestone

There have not been many bright spots for the New Jersey Devils this season.

With a record of 34-31-2, the 2025-26 season can be easily labeled a disappointment. With only 15 games remaining, the one player having a career season is Cody Glass.

On Saturday night, against the Los Angeles Kings, Glass scored his 15th goal of the season. At the 7:58 mark of the first period, his snap shot from the left hash marks deflected off Kopitar and in to give New Jersey a 1-0 lead.

It marked the first time in his professional hockey career that he had scored over 14 goals.

“It is an awesome feeling," Glass said. "The puck has been finding me, and it is a good feeling when that happens."

The 26-year-old has been on a line with rookies Arseny Gritsyuk and Lenni Hämeenaho, prioritizing defense and allowing the youngsters to play their game.

“I let (Gritsyuk) and (Hämeenaho) do their offensive skill type thing, and just find the right areas,” he continued. “(...) I keep trying to tell them to do their thing. I will be the responsible one, I don’t care. You guys turn over pucks, I will backcheck for you.”

Glass was traded to New Jersey by the Pittsburgh Penguins with Jonathan Gruden for Chase Stillman, Max Graham, and a third-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft on Mar. 7, 2025. He has played 69 games for the Devils and has earned 29 points (17 goals, 12 assists).

A first-round pick in 2017, Glass has taken hold of the Devils' third-line center position this season. Showcasing a hardworking, positive attitude, he appreciates every opportunity he has to play in the NHL.

“The mindset I have always had is to work as hard as you can because you never know when your last game is going to be.”

Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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Carson Whisenhunt and Jesús Rodríguez highlight 5th round of camp cuts

Jesús Rodríguez holding the bat up in the box.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 26: Jesús Rodriguez #79 of the San Francisco Giants bats during the seventh inning of the spring training game against the Colorado Rockies at Scottsdale Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The San Francisco Giants have a whole lot of camp cuts to make in the next week. They entered Wednesday with 49 players still in Major League camp; next Wednesday, that number needs to be 26.

But they’re slowly chipping away at it. After cutting a pair of players on Tuesday, the Giants sent four more packing on Wednesday: left-handed pitcher Carson Whisenhunt and catcher Jesús Rodríguez, who were optioned, along with third baseman Parks Harber and infielder Buddy Kennedy, who were reassigned to Minor League camp. The difference in wording between those two is mostly inconsequential: it just means that Whisenhunt and Rodríguez are on the 40-man roster, while Harber and Kennedy are not.

Whisenhunt was always a long shot to make the Opening Day roster: he remains one of the team’s top starting pitching prospects, so the Giants likely want him to continue developing in that role, and he lacks the fastball velocity of some of his teammates like Hayden Birdsong, Blade Tidwell, and Keaton Winn, making him less of a fit in a bullpen role. His spring was up-and-down: on the one hand, he showed increased life with his fastball, boosting his velo and striking out 14 batters in 9.1 innings. On the other hand, he had trouble with location, and his fastball was often way too hittable: he gave up some of the loudest contact in camp, while allowing eight hits and eight walks, resulting in a 9.64 ERA and a 3.26 FIP. He’ll surely be up at some point this year.

Rodríguez was the favorite to win the backup catcher job when the offseason began, but that changed when the team added Daniel Susac in the Rule 5 Draft. But Rodríguez had as good of a spring as he could have hoped for, going 12-34 with one home run, four doubles, three walks, and just five strikeouts, for a .964 OPS and a 148 wRC+. The defense behind the plate — which is his biggest question mark — was solid, and earned strong reviews from his coaches. And he showed off not just his versatility, but the team’s desire to get his bat in the lineup by spending a not-insignificant amount of time playing both second base and left field. He also stole a pair of bases in as many attempts. He seems likely to play a big role this year, it will just have to wait a while.

As for the non-roster invitees, Harber — who has flown up the team’s prospect list ever since the Giants acquired him in the Camilo Doval trade — impressed mightily. Despite having never taken a bat in AA, let alone AAA, Harber posted mesmerizing exit velocities in the Cactus League, and hit 10-28 with a home run, three doubles, two walks, and just five strikeouts, good for a .996 OPS and a 154 wRC+. Unfortunately, he suffered a hamstring injury a few games ago, and will be out for 4-6 weeks. He’ll presumably begin the year with AA Richmond, but he could move very quickly. A debut this season is unlikely, but not out of the question.

Kennedy — a 27-year old who signed as a Minor League free agent — also had an exceptional spring. The right-handed hitter went 9-26 with two home runs, a triple, a double, four walks, and five strikeouts, which gave him a 1.112 OPS and a 173 wRC+. He’s struggled to hit at the Major League level in four years of scattered appearances, but you never know when it might click for a player. He’ll be important depth with AAA Sacramento, and could come up to fill in if someone gets injured.

With these four cuts, the Giants now have 37 rostered players in camp, and eight non-roster invitees.

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Reports: Milwaukee wants Giannis Antetokounmpo to shut it down for season, he's refusing

The question was never whether it would be best for the Milwaukee Bucks to shut Giannis Antetokounmpo for the season after his knee hyperextension and bone bruise — it would have been best to shut it down after his previous injury and give them a chance to improve their draft status (making it easier to put a contending team around him in the long run).

The question was whether Antetokounmpo would go along with it. The answer is no, according to multiple reports. Eric Nehm at The Athletic was the first to report on the topic.

The Bucks, per league sources, have made it clear to their franchise centerpiece that it would be in their shared interest for him to sit out with the team currently 6 1/2 games behind the Charlotte Hornets for the final Play-In Tournament spot. While injuries have forced Antetokounmpo to miss 32 games already this season, league sources tell The Athletic the 10-time All-Star forward has informed the team he has no desire to cut his season short.

Antetokounmpo is one of the most competitive players in the league, something he wears on his sleeve. It's part of his identity, part of his story of rising from the streets of Athens to the peak of the NBA.

In this case, it also feels performative. Antetokounmpo has talked countless times about how he wants to play his entire career for Milwaukee, how he loves the city, and how the people of Wisconsin embraced him and his family. If he wants the Bucks to build a team around him that can compete for a title, their 2026 draft pick is key to that — either trading it for a star player, or lucking out in the lottery and being able to draft that player (Milwaukee currently has the ninth-worst record in the league and a 17.3% chance at a top-four pick). There is still time for the Bucks to marginally improve their odds in that lottery (they have a worse record than New Orleans, a team still actively trying to win games).

As noted above, the Bucks are 6.5 games out of the play-in with 14 games left to play, they are not making the postseason. If the Bucks were close to the postseason, this could be a different conversation. Instead, Antetokounmpo is pushing to get back on the court because... he has to show everyone how much he wants to compete? I hear the argument that Antetokounmpo's competitiveness is not a switch he can flip on and off, that's not how it works. That said, there are times the bigger picture beats out personal ego for a handful of games.

Milwaukee, as an organization, has bent over backwards for years to accommodate Antetokounmpo and his desires. They have won a title in part because he pushed them, so the franchise went and got Jrue Holiday. Now, his desire to get back on the court could be hurting the Bucks' chances to put the best team possible around him.

All of this will likely bubble up again this offseason, when the Bucks talk to Antetokounmpo about a max contract extension and, with that, his future in Milwaukee.

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Giannis and Bucks reportedly disagree about approach to rest of season

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 17: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks sits on the bench during the second quarter at Fiserv Forum on March 17, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Yesterday’s announcement that Giannis Antetokounmpo would miss some time with a hyperextended left knee probably came as a relief to many Bucks fans. Milwaukee is 6.5 games out of the East’s 10th seed with 14 games remaining, making it essentially impossible to climb back into the race, so there are plenty who feel the star should be—or should already have been—shut down. The temptation to tank and improve lottery position remains, even as other teams that exited the playoff hunt earlier already tanked harder. Though the Bucks are just 2-6 since Giannis returned from his calf strain, they have only just now moved into a tie for the ninth spot with the Bulls.

Today, we have a report from The Athletic’s Eric Nehm—later echoed by ESPN’s Shams Charania—that Giannis and the team are “at odds” about what to do moving forward. The Bucks, probably on the same side as most fans, want Giannis to remain sidelined as the year ends. A fair ask, considering he’s missed 32 games this season with a variety of lower-body injuries and the team isn’t really battling for seeding. Ever the competitor, Giannis doesn’t want to do that, though: he wants to play, presumably when/if he’s cleared.

Whether the team’s medical staff clears him anytime soon is unknown. Yesterday’s report stated he’d be reevaluated in a week, so nothing appears imminent, but it’s not just the knee: he also sprained his ankle last week. Add that to the calf strain that hampered him from December into March, plus a groin strain in November, and it’s not hard to see him as less than 100% on the floor, no matter what he’s self-diagnosed. To the organization and fans, Giannis’ health is a top—probably the top—priority.

The issue here is weighing what makes Giannis happy. Even if they’re far removed from the race, he clearly wants to be playing. I don’t think the Bucks’ sole motivation here is necessarily to lose more games and move into a higher lottery position, even though this from Nehm might suggest that’s the case:

The Bucks, per league sources, have made it clear to their franchise centerpiece that it would be in their shared interest for him to sit out with the team currently 6 1/2 games behind the Charlotte Hornets for the final Play-In Tournament spot. While injuries have forced Antetokounmpo to miss 32 games already this season, league sources tell The Athletic the 10-time All-Star forward has informed the team he has no desire to cut his season short.

And later in the same article:

Bucks leadership has already approached Antetokounmpo about the idea of not playing another game for Milwaukee this season, which the franchise’s all-time leading scorer firmly rebuffed, league sources told The Athletic Tuesday.

“Shared interest” can merely just mean “we want you healthy, you want to be healthy” with no regard towards the standings. After all, it’s going to be tough for Milwaukee to move further down: at 28-40, they could stay in ninth depending on how Chicago finishes, but they are at least 4.5 games clear of other teams. Memphis is in eighth, with Dallas and New Orleans—who own the right to swap picks with Milwaukee—tied in sixth. All have 23 wins and either 44 or 46 losses. Even without Giannis, it will be nearly as hard to surpass those teams as it would be to make the playoffs. Those franchises are also trying to tank. On the flip side, they are 4.5 games clear of Portland in 11th, so the 9–10 range seems all but guaranteed, regardless of how long Giannis misses.

What I think this ultimately comes down to is being on the same page with Giannis. Of course, neither party wants him to sustain a more catastrophic, long-term injury. For their part, the Bucks want Giannis to extend this summer: he’s the most important player in franchise history, and without him, their profits completely dry up along with whatever title odds employing him brings (which are never zero, as long as he’s here, healthy, and in his prime). Giannis wants to be back in the business of competing in the playoffs, which could happen in Milwaukee as soon as next year if the Bucks play their cards right this offseason. One-year gaps in contention are common: see Golden State in 2019–20, Philadelphia and Phoenix last year, etc.

For Giannis’ part, he needs to listen to the medical professionals. On Sunday, he told trainers he thought he could have reentered the game, but they convinced him it wasn’t worth it since they were up double-digits at the time. Good on him for taking their advice. He said after the game he didn’t think he needed any imaging, but the Bucks had him undergo it yesterday anyway. Those results came back clean, per Doc Rivers.

I was in that postgame huddle on Sunday, and Giannis seemed outwardly positive about his conversation with the trainers and respected their opinion. But that’s just a single game, not the remaining 14, and it’s a medical opinion not being relayed by the front office. I don’t necessarily think this is the high drama some will undoubtedly spin it as, but the Bucks have a delicate line to walk here. Tanking isn’t something Giannis wants, and he’s going to approach this offseason looking for reasons to stay in Milwaukee. Being told not to play when he’s medically cleared—which he currently is not, we can safely assume—probably won’t sit well with him.

I’m of the belief that when the medical staff clears him to play, the front office should acquiesce. It’s incumbent on those professionals to clear him responsibly, affirming that no, he won’t be risking significant injury to play NBA basketball, whenever that may be. Whether that’s in a week or two, or it’s the final week of the season, we don’t know. But since his presence is pretty unconnected from their record at this point, and assuming Giannis continues respecting trainers’ opinions (he’s never indicated he has anything less than complete trust in them), the Bucks should let him play when they say it’s safe. Shutting him down unnecessarily strains a player-team relationship that must be preserved entering the offseason.

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This Penguins Signing Has Been A Home Run

The Pittsburgh Penguins added multiple players to their roster during the 2026 NHL off-season. Forward Anthony Mantha was among them, as the Penguins signed him to a one-year, $2.5 million contract in free agency. This was after Mantha was limited to only 13 games with the Calgary Flames in 2024-25, where he had four goals and seven points.

Now, fast-forward to today, and it is clear that the Penguins' decision to sign Mantha has been a real home run.

Mantha is currently in the middle of a career year with the Penguins. In 67 games with the Metropolitan Division club, he has already set new career highs with 26 goals, 26 assists, and 52 points. With the Penguins having 15 games left, the 6-foot-5 winger still has a decent amount of time left to build on his offensive totals, too.

Mantha is only getting better as the season rolls on, too. He is currently on a five-game point streak for the Penguins, where he has five goals and two assists over that span. With this, he has simply been playing some excellent hockey for the Penguins as they maintain their spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Given how well Mantha has played this season with the Penguins, they should be working hard to sign him to a contract extension. The fit between Mantha and the Penguins has been amazing, and it will be fascinating to see if they can lock him up to a new deal because of it.