Newly-appointed New South Wales coach Brad Haddin believes young opener Sam Konstas was thrown into the Test arena “too early”, outlining his plan to produce the next generation of Australian cricket superstars at the Blues.
Golden State Warriors (33-35) at Boston Celtics (45-23) Game #69 3/18/26
Golden State Warriors (33-35) at Boston Celtics (45-23)
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
7:00 PM ET
Regular Season Game #69 Home Game #34
TV: ESPN, NBCSB, NBCSBA
Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, 95.7 the Game, Sirius XM
TD Garden
The Celtics host the Golden State Warriors for the 2nd, and final, game between them this season. The Celtics won the first game 121-110 at Golden State on February 19. These two teams tied the series last season with each team winning on the road. The Celtics are 212-141 overall, all time against the Warriors and 118-40 in games played in Boston.
There are plenty of story lines surrounding this game. Warriors coach, Steve Kerr, coached the last Olympics team and he treated Jayson Tatum shabbily, not playing him in 2 games and limited minutes in others. We could also talk about the 2 former Celtics on the team. Al Horford left Boston expecting to have a better chance at another ring but it hasn’t turned out that way. Kristaps Porzingis joined the Warriors at the trade deadline and although he has played in just 22 games this season, he played in the Warriors’ 1st game against the Celtics and is expected to play in this game as well.
The Celtics are 2nd in the East, 4 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are 1 game ahead of 3rd place New York, 3.5 games ahead of 4th place Cleveland, 6.5 games ahead of 5th place Toronto, 7 games ahead of 6th place Orlando, and 7.5 games ahead of 7th place Miami. The Celtics are 16-9 against Western Conference opponents. They are 23-10 at home and 7-3 in their last 10 games. They have won their last 2 games.
The Warriors are 9th in the West, 20 games behind the 1st place Thunder, 8 games behind 6th place Minnesota, 6 games behind 7th place Phoenix, and 1 game behind the 8th place Clippers. They are half a game ahead of 10th place Portland and 9.5 games ahead of 11th place Memphis. They are 14-20 on the road and 3-7 in their last 10 games. They are 11-13 against Eastern Conference opponents and they are coming off a win in their last game.
After this game at home against Golden State, The Celtics will play one game at Memphis before a 3 game home stand against Minnesota, Oklahoma City and Atlanta. Then it’s back on the road for a 4 game trip through Charlotte, Atlanta, Miami and Milwaukee. They will then play two games at home against Toronto and Charlotte before one game on the road at New York. They will finish the season with 2 games at home against New Orleans and Orlando.
The Warriors are playing in the 3rd game of a 6 game road trip. They will finish it playing at Detroit, Atlanta and Dallas. They will return home for games against Brooklyn and Washington before one game on the road at Denver. They will then have a 5 game home stand where they will host San Antonio, Cleveland, Houston, Sacramento, and the Lakers. They will finish the season on the road against Sacramento and the Clippers.
The Celtics have just one player on the injury report at this time. Nikola Vucevic remains out after surgery to stabilize a fracture in his right ring finger. The Warriors have 5 players out and another 2 players questionable. Jimmy Butler (knee), Seth Curry (thigh), Stephen Curry (knee), Al Horford (calf), and Moses Moody (wrist) are all listed as out. LJ Cryer (hamstring) and Quinten Post (foot) are both questionable. Finally, Gary Payton II (tibia) is listed as probable.
Probable Celtics Starters
PG: Derrick White vs De’Anthony Melton
SG: Jaylen Brown vs Brandin Podziemski
SF: Sam Hauser vs Will Richard
PF: Jayson Tatum vs Gui Santos
C: Neemias Queta vs Draymond Green
Celtics Reserves
Payton Pritchard
Hugo Gonzalez
Luka Garza
Amare Williams
Jordan Walsh
Baylor Scheierman
Max Shulga
Charles Bassey (10-Day)
2-Way Players
Ron Harper, Jr
Injuries/Out
Nikola Vucevic (finger) out
John Tonje (G-League) out
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Warriors Reserves
Pat Spencer
Gary Payton II
Kristaps Porzingis
Omer Yurtseven (10 Day)
2 Way Players
LJ Cryer
Malevy Leons
Nate Williams
Injuries/Out
Jimmy Butler (knee) out
Seth Curry (thigh) out
Stephen Curry (knee) out
Al Horford (calf) out
Moses Moody (wrist) out
Quinten Post (foot) questionable
LJ Cryer (hamstring) questonable
Gary Payton II (tibia) probable
Head Coach
Steve Kerr
Key Matchups
Derrick White vs De’Anthony Melton
Melton is averaging 13.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. He is shooting 42.5% from the field and 29.8% from beyond the arc. He is coming off a game where he finished with 27 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. In the first game against the Celtics, he finished with 18 points, 3 rebounds 1 assist and 1 steal while shooting 53.8% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc.
Jaylen Brown vs Brandin Podziemski
Podziemski is averaging 13 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. He is shooting 44.7% from the field and 36.9% from beyond the arc. In the first game against the Celtics, he finished with 11 points 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 block and 1 steal while shooting 62.5% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc.
Honorable Mention
Luka Garza vs Kristaps Porzingis
This is a battle of big men off the bench. Porzingis has played in just 5 games for Golden State this season and in 17 games for the Hawks before being traded. He is averaging 17.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists. He is shooting 45.8% from the field and 34.5% from beyond the arc. He is coming off his best game as a Warrior in which he finished with 30 points, , 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks. In the first game against the Celtics,he finished with 12 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist while shooting 55.6% from the field and 40% from 3.
Keys to the Game
Defense – Defense is always the key to winning. The Celtics are 5th in the league with a defensive rating of 111.8. The Warriors are 13th in the league, with a defensive rating of 113.4. The Celtics are 2nd with an offensive rating of 119.7 while the Warriors are 14th and have an offensive rating of 114.3. The Celtics need to play lock down defense consistently. The Celtics need to especially defend the perimeter as the Warriors are 1st in the league making 16.2 threes per game. They are 26th with 44.6 points in the paint per game. Of course, their biggest 3 point threat, Steph Curry is out for this game, but the Celtics can’t let up on defense because of it since other Warriors are capable of hitting shots as well.
Rebound – Rebounding is always a key to winning as you need the ball to score and a good way to get it is to grab rebounds. It takes effort to grab rebounds and the Celtics must make an extra effort to crash the boards and beat the Warriors to rebounds. If they put out extra effort on the boards, that usually carries through to the rest of their game. More rebounds gives them extra possessions and limits the possessions for the Warriors. The Warriors are 22nd with 42.9 rebounds per game while the Celtics are 4th with 46.2 rebounds per game.
Three Pointers – Both of these teams shoot a lot of 3 pointers. The Celtics are 3rd in the league, shooting 42.5 threes a game. The Warriors are 1st, shooting 45.2 threes a game. The Celtics shoot 36.2% from beyond the arc while the Warriors shoot 35.7% on threes. With Steph Curry out, they don’t shoot quite as many 3’s or quite as well but they still are dangerous from the perimeter. The Celtics are tough to beat when their 3’s are falling but they struggle when they aren’t They need to stay focused on taking and making good shots and if the 3’s aren’t falling they should take a page from Jaylen Brown’s book and drive into the paint.
Move the Ball Carefully – The Celtics play the best when they move the ball and find the open man. They struggle more when players try to do too much and when the ball sticks with one player too long and when they take quick shots without looking for the best shot. The Celtics are 30-2 when they have at least 25 assists and they are 16-0 when they have at least 29 assists. They need to look to share the ball and not over dribble or try to take over at the expense of open teammates. They have to be careful with their passes as the Warriors average 19.4 points off turnovers per game.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics need to be the more aggressive team from start to finish. They need to be aggressive in going to the hoop, in crashing the boards, in fighting for loose balls and in running the court. They also have to be more aggressive on defense. The Warriors are short handed and will be playing hard to make up for that. The Celtics can’t slack off and expect an easy game because key Warriors are out. Effort and being more aggressive will likely be the difference in this game.
X-Factors
Home Game vs Road Fatigue – The Warriors have won 1 and lost 1 game on this road trip and have 3 more games to go on the trip after this one.. The Warriors are away from family and home and have the distractions of staying in a hotel and playing in an unfamiliar arena in front of a (very) hostile crowd. Hopefully the Celtics crowd will be loud and rowdy and give the Celtics extra energy to avenge Kerr’s treatment of Tatum in the Olympics along with their loss in the 2022 Finals.
Officiating – Officiating always has the potential to be a factor in every game. Every officiating team calls the game differently. Some call it tight and others let them play. Some favor the home team while some call it evenly. However the game is called, the Celtics must adjust to it and not allow the officiating to take away their focus on playing the game. They need to play well enough that a few bad calls won’t make a difference in the game.
How James Harden and Evan Mobley are starting to show ‘nice synergy’ in pick-and-roll
Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden is the best pick-and-roll player of this generation. He’s developed seemingly instant chemistry with his various pick-and-roll partners throughout his career.
The key to Harden’s success is two-fold. First, he’s incredibly skilled. Harden can make every pass on the court, creates space with his lateral quickness, has excellent touch, and has the strength to initiate and finish through contact. Additionally, he processes the game at an incredibly high level.
That second part is what head coach Kenny Atkinson believes makes him such a good pick-and-roll player.
“The number one thing I’m usually frustrated with coming out of watching game film is decision making,” Atkinson said. “Even the really, really good players, you get frustrated. ‘Man, there’s three choices here, why did you pick the wrong one?’ I’m not sure I’ve had one of those with James yet.”
Despite how well Harden sees the game, there can still be an adjustment period when you’re working with a new pick-and-roll partner.
Jason Kidd, one of the premier point guards of his generation and now head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, said that it would take him up to half a season before he really felt comfortable with playing alongside a new big. “You have to be able to understand and be truthful to your teammates about what their abilities are if you want to have success,” Kidd said.
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Harden is working through that process with Evan Mobley. The duo has been watching film together, trying to figure out how to best make their pick-and-roll game work. It hasn’t always been smooth sailing, but Tuesday’s win over the Milwaukee Bucks showed that the Cavs can have success with that duo.
It’s important to acknowledge Mobley’s strengths and weaknesses. He’s not a physical screen setter. That isn’t a part of his game and won’t be unless he puts on considerably more muscle.
Mobley’s athleticism is what made him an All-NBA player last season. He has a quick first step and solid ball skills for someone his size. This allows him to be effective as a cutter and attacking one-on-one in space.
That profile has lent itself to him being more comfortable slipping screens (going up and setting a screen like normal, but moving before initiating complete contact) instead of making firm contact. You can still run an effective pick-and-roll with someone who more often slips screens; the process of doing so is just different.
“It’s just a feel, because you have to lead the defense more than anything,” Kidd said when asked what’s most important when playing with a big who likes to slip screens. “If I know that you’re going to slip, then I have to understand who’s guarding you and who’s guarding me to be able to get you the ball.”
Figuring out the correct way to get Mobley the ball in these actions has been an issue for Harden. Plays like the ones below show why.
Mobley needs to either set a hard screen or slip the screen more quickly for the action to work. In this clip, Harden is turning the corner with Mobley behind the play. Because there isn’t solid contact on the screen, the two defenders involved in the action are also on the same level as the ball, even though Mobley’s defender drops. This leaves the paint congested, and there’s no need for help defense to come.
The goal of a pick-and-roll is to create a brief advantage for the offense so that you’re effectively playing with an extra man for a split second because one of the defenders is taken out of a play. Setting a hard screen does that, but so does decisively slipping the screen instead of just floating.
This is a good example of that. Mobley gets downhill before his defender can react. The guard coming down isn’t able to take the pass away due to Mobley’s height advantage and the quality pass from Harden. By the time the opposing center comes to help, it’s too late.
Screens force defenses to make a decision. The Bucks decided to trap the ball handler when the Cavs set a screen. Mobley quickly getting away from that situation created an advantage on the backend.
Moving quickly and decisively is the key for Mobley. In this next clip, he makes more contact with Harden’s defender, but the advantage comes because he’s diving to the basket before the defense can react, not from any of the contact he made with the defender. And if Mobley gets a head of steam, he’s typically going to be able to finish well at the rim.
The goal of these actions is to create advantages for the offense. Mobley created that in this play below. By diving hard and then stopping at the free-throw line to keep a passing lane open, he caused the defense to collapse. This allowed Harden to find Dean Wade for a wide-open three.
It’d be premature to say that Harden and Mobley have figured things out because they both played well — scoring 27 each — in a win over a bad Bucks team that was without its two best defenders in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Myles Turner. However, from a process perspective, this is the most on the same page the duo has been.
Even though it’s looked clunky at times, it’s important to acknowledge that the Cavs have thrived when Harden and Mobley share the floor.
The Cavs have scored 124.2 points per 100 possessions (96th percentile for offensive rating) and have outscored their opponent by 10.3 points per 100 possessions (92nd percentile for net rating) in the 250 minutes both have been on the court.
Mobley isn’t the typical, physical big man who has thrived with Harden in the past. However, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t able to make it work. The duo just needs to be on the same page and understand what the other is trying to do on that end of the floor.
And fortunately for the Cavs, the partnership is heading in the right direction if Tuesday’s game is any indication of things.
“They’re really starting to get some nice synergy in the pick-and-roll,” Atkinson said.
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CJ Abrams Has Made A Major Stride At The Plate This Spring
CJ Abrams is in the midst of his 4th spring training as a Washington National, and his 6th spring training overall. The 25-year-old shortstop has certainly become accustomed to the buildup to the regular season that occurs in March, but this time around, it’s different, with an entirely new coaching staff and technology around him.
Everyone on the Nationals roster is being challenged by the new staff to work on something new this spring to improve their game, and as for Abrams, he’s adapting as well as anyone to this. While Abrams overall numbers are nothing to write home about, he has made major strides in one area this spring.
It’s no secret that Abrams is a free swinger at the plate, finishing below average in chase rate every year he’s been in the big leagues. While it’s helped him tap into his power better, hitting 18 or more home runs each of the last 3 seasons, it’s limited his on-base capabilities, as Abrams .315 OBP in 2025 was the highest of his career, not ideal for a top of the lineup hitter.
One of the goals of manager Blake Butera and hitting coach Matt Borgschulte for Abrams this season is certainly to get on base at a higher clip, allowing him to wreak havoc on the base paths with his speed and be in position for bats like James Wood and Daylen Lile to drive him in.
While conclusions should hardly ever be drawn from spring training stats, certain outliers are worth keeping an eye on, and for Abrams this month, his chase and walk rate is one of those outliers. In a 37-plate-appearance sample size, Abrams’ chase rate ranks in the 85th percentile among all hitters with at least 25 plate appearances, a far cry from his 19th percentile chase rate during the 2025 regular season.
Factors such as facing worse pitching during the spring and minor league hitters increasing the sample size and bumping up Abrams’ ranking are at play, but they don’t fully explain how Abrams could go from near the very bottom in chase rate to near the top.
What does help explain the sudden change is the addition of Trajekt pitching machines at the Nationals’ spring training facilities, a high-tech device that can mimic the pitch arsenals and speeds of big league arms to better prepare hitters for games. According to Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic, Abrams arrived early to spring training this season specifically to train with this new technology, and the results are already beginning to show.
Abrams also had a strong chase rate in spring training 2025, ranking in the 79th percentile, but the difference this time around is that he’s turning them into walks at a much, much higher clip. Abrams’ walk rate last spring was 3.4%, just below his 5.8% walk rate during the 2025 regular season and right about in line with his 2021-2024 spring training walk rates.
This spring, Abrams is walking at a whopping 16.2% clip, leagues above where he’s been in the past. Abrams is swinging as a whole much less, and it’s leading to not only fewer swings and misses at pitches outside of the zone, but fewer mishits, which turn into weak groundouts or flyouts, when those at-bats could’ve ended in walks or extra-base hits.
37 plate appearances in February and March don’t dictate how Abrams 2026 season is going to look, but they may offer some insight into what we can look for, and in Abrams case, it might be more free passes, meaning more opportunities to swipe bags and let the hitters behind him do damage.
If Abrams can take more walks and get on base at even a slightly higher clip than he has in years past, it opens up lineup construction for Blake Butera in a big way, as he can experiment with all sorts of hitters in different spots because he can trust Abrams in the leadoff spot to start the rallies. Even though Abrams is only hitting .226 with a .706 OPS, this spring gives me optimism for the Nats shortstop.
Arizona Diamondbacks Spring Training Gameday Thread, #26 vs. Cubs
After last night’s dramatic World Baseball Classic final, Eduardo Rodriguez will be returning to Salt River Fields in triumph, having started the game for the winners, and pitched a gem against a stacked American line-up. With all respect to the Cubs, this afternoon is going to be something of a let-down in comparison. But, cheer up! A week from tomorrow, it’ll be the end of meaningless baseball. It feels like spring training has gone by quite quickly this year. Normally, 26 games in, I’ll be thoroughly fed-up of the whole endeavor. This year, though, it hasn’t been too bad.
After Merrill Kelly, scheduled to pitch will be RHP Joe Ross, RHP Taylor Clarke, RHP Juan Morillo, RHP Paul Sewald and RHP Kade Strowd. Kelly’s first start of spring was a bit rough, allowing six hits over 1.2 innings, with no walks and one strikeout. But results there were probably less important than health, and Merrill reported coming out of it feeling fine. He is still likely to start the year on the injured list, but it hopefully will not be for long. Could even end up missing less than 15 days of the season, if the team opts to backdate his IL stint the permitted three days before Opening Day.
Livestream today on dbacks.com, with Chris Garagiola & Cole Tucker on the call.
Tuskegee basketball coach put in handcuffs will sue Morehouse, police
A Division II men's basketball coach removed from the court in handcuffs earlier this season is planning to file a lawsuit against Morehouse College and two of its campus police officers, according to the coach's attorneys.
Tuskegee University coach Benjy Taylor was never charged with a crime despite being escorted off the floor after a 77-69 loss at rival Morehouse and he will announce on Friday, March 20 in College Park, Georgia that he's seeking further legal ramifications from the incident. Taylor is being represented by well-known civil rights attorneys Harry Daniels, John Burris, Gerald Griggs and Gregory Reynald Williams.
Taylor's attorneys wrote in a news release announcing their intention to officially file a lawsuit this week that the treatment Taylor received "sparked national attention and outcry." In addition to Morehouse College, campus police officers "R. Clark and M. Roberson" were named by Taylor's legal team as defendants in the impending civil case. Daniels previously said Taylor had retained him to explore "all legal avenues."
The incident occurred as players from Tuskegee and Morehouse shook hands after a Jan. 31 game at Forbes Arena in Atlanta, with an HBCU Gameday video widely shared on social media showing Taylor initially confronting security.
According to Taylor and Tuskegee athletic director Reginald Ruffin, Taylor asked the security officer to follow conference rules and help remove a group of Morehouse football players — who Taylor said were yelling obscenities — from the handshake line. Instead, after a brief interaction, the security officer handcuffed Taylor and walked him off the court.
“I am at a loss for words and I am upset about how I was violated and treated today," Taylor said in a statement to multiple outlets in the immediate aftermath of the incident. "For my players, my family and people of Tuskegee to witness that is heartbreaking for me. I was simply trying to get the football team out of the handshake line as they were following right behind me and the team yelling obscenities! It was a very dangerous situation.”
Trying to sort out what happened at the end of this HBCU rivalry game 👀
— HBCU Gameday (@HBCUGameday) January 31, 2026
Here is what we know: https://t.co/eDyEz8cuSKpic.twitter.com/en5f6Qq3Oj
The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), of which both schools are members, subsequently fined Morehouse an undisclosed amount. An investigation by the conference into the situation determined Morehouse, "did not satisfy the required security standards for a host institution, specifically as it relates to crowd control and ensuring the safe entry and exit of visiting teams and game participants."
Tuskegee also lost to Morehouse, 66-56, in the SIAC championship game on March 7. The two teams played three times this season, including a 67-55 Tuskegee win on Dec. 1. Morehouse lost to Nova Southeastern in the first round of the NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament on March 14.
Taylor recently finished his seventh season at Tuskegee. He was previously the head coach at Chicago State and interim head coach at Hawaii, and served as an assistant coach at Tulane, CSU-Bakersfield and Missouri State during a career spanning 35 years.
Tuskegee president Dr. Mark A. Brown has stated Taylor has “our full, unequivocal, and unwavering support.”
“It would be bad for a police officer to treat anyone like this," Daniels said last month. "But to do it to a man like Coach Taylor, a highly respected professional and role model, to put him in handcuffs, humiliate him and treat him like a criminal in front of his team, his family and a gym full of fans is absolutely disgusting and they need to be held accountable.”
-USA TODAY Sports reporter Craig Meyer contributed to this story
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tuskegee basketball coach Benjy Taylor to file lawsuit vs. Morehouse
Astros News & Notes: Paredes, Pena, Pitching, More. 3/18/2026
SS Jeremy Pena has already resumed throwing, and will begin swinging a bat this weekend:
Pena has NOT been ruled out yet for Opening Day:
UT Zach Dezenzo will be limited to DH duties for a little while:
So far, there’s no structural issues with Dezenzo’s elbow:
Manager Joe Espada intended to give his starters some run in today’s game vs. St. Louis, but wet field conditions changed that plan:
SP J.P. France started for the Astros today, working 4 innings of one run ball. He allowed 3 hits, struck out 4, and did not walk a batter. He threw 38 of his 51 pitches for strikes. He primarily worked 91-92 MPH with his fastball/sinker, and hit exactly 93 MPH one time. He also threw his cutter, curve, and change.
France projects as minor league depth for the Astros this season. Despite his low velocity since returning from shoulder capsule surgery, he has shown a willingness to battle and has worked hard to set up his pitches for efficiency and effectiveness. His best role is likely long relief, but it could give France another crack at the majors after undergoing an incredibly difficult surgery for pitchers that is known to decrease velocity.
Relievers Steven Okert, A.J. Blubaugh and Kai-Wei Teng all threw shutout innings today. Okert threw 16 of his 25 pitches for strikes, did not allow a hit, walked one and struck out 1. Blubaugh threw 5 of 9 pitches for strikes and started an inning-ending 1-4-3 double play. He did not allow a hit, walked one and struck out one. Teng threw 6 of his 9 pitches for strikes, did not allow a hit or a walk, and struck out one.
Okert is a lock to make the bullpen. Blubaugh and Teng are in the mix for a pen role and both should make the Opening Day roster as righthanded options in the pen.
UT Shay Whitcomb entered the game in the top of the 6th, pinch hitting for Yordan Alvarez, as Espada was unhappy with the wet fielding conditions and was removing starters early. Yordan was supposed to play LF today, but that plan was scrapped roughly two hours before the game.
Whitcomb went 0x2, but drove in the only Astros run of the day with a groundout. Whitcomb utilized situational awareness, and hit a ground ball to the right side, allowing James Nelson to score and Tommy Sacco to advance to 3rd with one out. Situational hitting was a major problem for the Astros in 2025, which is why it is being noted here.
Unfortunately the Astros would not further capitalize, as Riley Unroe flew out to shallow center and Sacco was thrown out at the plate trying to tag up and score.
Whitcomb is unlikely to make the Opening Day roster, but has shown improved defense at multiple positions, had a solid showing in the WBC and is currently hitting .267 for Houston this spring. He will be minor league depth and could be called up during the season as a injury replacement/bench player.
Nelson, Sacco and Unroe are not likely to see MLB time in Houston this season.
Dodgers vs. Giants game chat
The best baseball player on the planet prepares for what will hopefully be another successful campaign with the Dodgers—Shohei Ohtani makes his first start this spring training, pitching against the Giants.
- Teams: Dodgers vs. Giants
- Stadium: Camelback Ranch, Glendale
- Time: 1:05 p.m. PT
- TV: SportsNet LA and MLB Network
- Radio: Dodgers Radio AM 570 & KNBR 104.5 FM
Mariners Spring Training Game #25 Game Thread
It’s a preview of the Spring Breakout game as the Mariners take on the Brewers in Peoria. Emerson Hancock gets the start as he continues to eye an Opening Day slot in place of the injured Bryce Miller.
Lineups:
Julio back! Julio back!
Injury news:
J.P. Crawford saw Dr. Kenneth Meister yesterday for his injured shoulder and received a cortisone injection. He should be able to resume baseball activity in a few days.
Roster move:
The Mariners optioned RHP Alex Hoppe to Triple-A Tacoma today.
Game information:
Game time: 1:10 PT
TV: Mariners.TV
Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports 710
Gerrit Cole returns to mound, Yankees eke out win over Red Sox
This afternoon, the Yankees proved that one of the most integral parts of the sport, the baseball bat, is completely unnecessary to win a baseball game. In a contest where pitchers on both sides looked dominant—including Gerrit Cole, who pitched the top of the first inning—the only run came on a throwing error caused by a double steal following a pair of walks. That delightful order of operations, as well as great pitching from Cole, Carlos Lagrange, and others, gave the Yankees a 1-0 spring training victory over the Red Sox.
Cole’s return to MLB action post-Tommy John was of course brief, but plenty encouraging. He threw 10 pitches in a scoreless first inning, working around a leadoff bunt single to retire the side. Cole threw his fastball, slider, and knuckle curve—the fastball sat comfortably in the high-90s while the slider hit 91 mph on a delivery to Kristian Campbell. We’re still not likely to get a full day’s work from Cole on a big-league mound until May or June, but it was great to see the progress in a live environment in front of real competition.
But the show on the mound continued even after the Cole Train’s departure. After a scoreless second inning from Harrison Cohen, the hard-throwing prospect Lagrange took over for the Yanks and had his way with the Boston offense—lack of MLB-caliber talent in the lineup notwithstanding. While regularly hitting 100 mph on the heater and pulling the string on his wicked sweeper, he attacked the zone consistently and finished players off in early counts. He completed four scoreless innings for a second straight Grapefruit League outing, striking out four Red Sox and throwing just 60 pitches. Plenty of eyes will be on Lagrange as he begins the minor-league season.
Not to be outdone, Boston lefty Connelly Early looked very impressive against the Yankees’ lineup. Last year’s starter for Wild Card Game 3 sliced and posted five straight zeroes on the box score before allowing a leadoff walk to Amed Rosario to start the sixth and leaving the game. Early racked up seven strikeouts with just one hit allowed and two free passes. It seems quite likely we’ll be seeing more from this Virginian southpaw in 2026.
The pitching clinic continued as neither offense managed to do much of anything through seven. Fernando Cruz danced around some loud contact ahead of the seventh inning stretch, and Red Sox lefty Tyler Samaniego picked up where Early left off with four Ks in two perfect frames.
It looked like Boston would finally win the staring contest in the top of the eighth when they got two men in scoring position with nobody out against Brent Headrick. But try as they might, they couldn’t break through. Kristian Campbell lined a ball that looked ticketed for the left field corner, but a leaping catch by Owen Cobb made it a harmless out. Following a strikeout of catcher Ronald Rosario and a walk to DH Nathan Hickey to load the bases, Headrick managed to induce a soft chopper to short from outfielder Allan Castro, who couldn’t beat Max Schuemann’s throw to first as the Sox left ‘em loaded.
Naturally, the rally which finally brought in a run in this game involved not a single bit of contact from a bat. Reliever Tyler Uberstine issued a pair of one-out walks in the eighth to Kenedy Corona and Cole Gabrielson, who decided to force the issue with a double steal. Their aggressiveness was rewarded as the catcher Rosario’s throw sailed into center field. Corona came home to score the one and only run of this extraordinarily preseason-y contest.
Angel Chivilli got the final three outs without incident to stamp an unforgettably forgettable win. I love it! Beating the Red Sox in the process is the cherry on top.
With officially one week left until the Yankees open the 2026 MLB season in San Francisco, only eight Grapefruit League contests (plus a Spring Breakout game on Saturday) remain on the horizon. Tomorrow is the final true split-squad day of the preseason, with one squad facing the Orioles at home and another hitting the road to Dunedin and facing the Blue Jays. Max Fried and Dean Kremer will be the pitching matchup for the former; Ryan Weathers will tango with Cody Ponce in the latter. Both games will start a little after 1 pm.
Lakers vs Rockets Computer Picks: Our Best Player Prop Projections for March 18
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The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Houston Rockets 100-92 on Monday, and now they're back for more at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, March 18.
Our computers have crunched the numbers to bring you NBA player prop projections for this quick rematch.
For more NBA picks, check out Zak Hanshew's Lakers vs. Rockets predictions ahead of tonight's 9:30 p.m. ET tip.
Lakers vs Rockets computer picks for March 18
 Lakers |  Rockets |
|---|---|
| Ayton o9.5 points -105 | Sheppard o12.5 points -120 |
| Doncic u31.5 points -110 | Eason o9.5 points -115 |
| Smart o2.5 rebounds +140 | Sengun u8.5 rebounds -135 |
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Lakers computer picks
Deandrea Ayton Over 9.5 points (-105)
Projection: 11.1 points
Deandre Ayton came up just short in Monday's contest, but we're going back to the well with the Los Angeles Lakers big man, who remains a steady presence in the paint.
The Lakers' superb 120.7 points per game rate sixth-strongest in the NBA over the last 10 games, and this is a low enough total that Ayton is appealing with his low ceiling but relatively high floor.
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Luka Doncic Under 31.5 points (-110)
Projection: 30.3 points
Yes, Luka Doncic scored 36 points on Monday, but this Houston Rockets defense is excellent and can't be expected to lay down again.
The matchup is a hard one; when the Rockets are playing at home, they have allowed the second-fewest points per game to the opposing team's starting PGs over the last 10 games.
The Lakers also rank as the second-worst offensive rebounding offense over the last 25 games (offensive rebounds maintain possession, and a lack of them can eliminate extra opportunities for scoring and assists).
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Marcus Smart Over 2.5 rebounds (+140)
Projection: 2.7 rebounds
Marcus Smart isn't your prototypical rebounder, but this is a low enough number that he's cleared in six of his last 10 games.
The matchup isn't super favorable, but that's accounted for with the +140 line.
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Rockets computer picks
Reed Sheppard Over 12.5 points (-120)
Projection: 14.6 points
Even though Reed Sheppard has been relatively quiet, going Under this total in three of his last four games, he had cleared 12.5 points in six straight before that.
The Rockets check in as the best offensive rebounding offense in the NBA this year (offensive rebounds maintain possession and can therefore provide added opportunities for scoring and assists).
Plus, Sheppard still played 31 minutes on Monday, so his floor time hasn't diminished.
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Tari Eason Over 9.5 points (-115)
Projection: 11.2 points
Don't fret the fact that Tari Eason has scored double-digit points just once in his last 10 games. Despite Monday's five-point dud on 2-for-11 shooting, including 0-for-3 from deep, this should generally be a positive matchup.
The Lakers are vulnerable from beyond the arc, and Eason put up 13 points against the Lakers when these squads met on Christmas Day.
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Alperen Sengun Under 8.5 rebounds (-135)
Projection: 7.9 rebounds
Alperen Sengun has sat out the Rockets' last two games with a lingering back issue and was limited to 24 minutes against the Nuggets when he last played.
While he's averaged 8.9 boards this season, that injury may keep his minutes low and prevent him from being at his best when he is on the floor. The Rockets also play at a sluggish pace, which will take away volume, especially if Sengun isn't playing his full share in his first game back.
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How to watch Lakers vs Rockets tonight
| Location | Toyota Center, Houston, TX |
| Date | Wednesday, March 18, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 9:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN |
Not intended for use in MA.
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Guardians Announce Roster for Spring Breakout Game
The Guardians have announced their roster for tomorrow’s spring breakout game. Here it is:
Pitchers:
Yorman Gomez, RHP
Josh Hartle, LHP
Braylon Doughty, RHP
Joey Oakie, RHP
Matt Wilkinson, LHP
Magnus Ellerts, RHP
Luis Flores, LHP
Jack Jasiak, RHP
Catchers:
Cooper Ingle, LHH
Jacob Cozart, LHH
Infielders:
Angel Genao, SH
Ralphy Velazquez, LHH
Jose Devers, RHH
Dauri Fernandez, SH
Dean Curley, RHH
Nolan Schubert, LHH
Gabriel Rodriguez, RHH
Milan Tolentino, LHH
Outfielders:
Kahlil Watson, LHH
Jaison Chourio, RHH
Alfonsin Rosario, RHH
Wuilfredo Antunez, LHH
Juneiker Caceres, LHH
Nick Mitchell, RHH
Jace LaViolette, LHH
Robert Arias, LHH
This is an exciting roster! Travis Bazzana will be still playing with the major league team, I’m assuming. I do find it curious that Kahl Stephen isn’t on the roster, but, other than that, it seems to be everyone I would expect to see. It will be exciting to see if folks like LaViolette, Arias, Rodriguez and Fernandez get some playing time.
Here’s what I’d expect to see as a starting lineup:
1. Watson, CF
2. Genao, SS
3. Velazquez, 1B
4. Rosario, RF
5. Ingle, C
6. Chourio, LF
7. Antunez, DH
8. Tolentino, 3B
9. Devers, 2B
And, maybe Doughty taking the start? In any case, tune in at 2PM ET on MLBTV to get a glimpse of a bright future for the Guardians! Let us know who you’re most excited to see in the comments below.
Game Preview #70 – Timberwolves vs. Jazz
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Utah Jazz
Date: March 18th, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM CDT
Location: Target Center
Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network – North
Radio Coverage: KFAN FM, Wolves App, iHeart Radio
For one night at least, the Minnesota Timberwolves managed to pull themselves back from the edge.
With word breaking Monday night that Anthony Edwards would miss the game against Phoenix and then the even more concerning follow-up that the absence could stretch one to two weeks, Tuesday night had all the makings of a game that could send a season spiraling. The Wolves entered it already walking the tightrope in the Western Conference standings, with the Suns lurking directly beneath them and the play-in line looming dangerously close. Lose that game, and suddenly Phoenix is right back in the mix, Minnesota’s margin for error is basically gone, and all of the bad vibes from the past week get amplified. Win it, and the team could buy itself some breathing room and a little bit of hope they can tread water until Ant returns.
Thankfully for the Wolves, they answered the bell.
Things did not start in particularly inspiring fashion. Minnesota came out in the first quarter and defended like a team that had not fully grasped the gravity of the moment. Phoenix was getting to the rim at will. The Wolves were coughing up turnovers. The effort level and the execution both looked shaky, and before long the Suns had pushed out to an 11-point lead. It had all the signs of one of those ugly nights where the Wolves spend the first half sleepwalking, then have to talk themselves into urgency after the damage is already done. By the end of the first quarter, Minnesota had at least stabilized enough offensively to climb back within 39-36, but let’s be honest, giving up 39 points was not exactly the kind of opening act that builds confidence.
But to the Wolves’ credit, they actually responded like a serious team. Over the final three quarters, Minnesota allowed just 65 points. That is an enormous course correction and, frankly, exactly the kind of defensive resilience this team needed to show if it wants to be taken seriously without Edwards in the lineup. The game flipped because the Wolves finally started acting like the bigger, more athletic, more defensively imposing team. The rim protection came alive. The rotations tightened. Phoenix stopped getting those easy runway looks that had fueled the first-quarter surge. Once the Wolves got the game onto their terms, the Suns simply did not have enough resistance to hold up over 48 minutes.
One of the biggest reasons Minnesota survived and then took control was Julius Randle, who once again stepped into the role of offensive centerpiece and delivered exactly what the Wolves needed. Randle finished with 32 points, building on the positive signs he had shown against Oklahoma City and looking much more like the early-season version of himself than the post-All-Star guy who had been drifting in and out of games. He attacked the paint, scored with force, and, most importantly, he looked like he understood that without Ant on the floor, this team was going to need him to be more than just a complementary scorer. It needed him to be the guy.
Next up was Bones Highland, who gave Minnesota exactly the kind of spark bench scorers are supposed to give but so rarely do on command. Bones poured in 22 points, injecting life into the second unit and helping keep the offense afloat during stretches where it might otherwise have bogged down. In a game where Minnesota desperately needed somebody other than Randle to create and convert, Bones stepped in as a microwave scorer.
The frontcourt also rediscovered its identity. Rudy Gobert, coming off a rough outing against the Thunder, reasserted himself around the basket and made the paint feel like a restricted government zone. Gobert finished with four blocks, and he wasn’t alone. Naz Reid also had four blocks, giving Minnesota a combined eight swats between its two most important interior defenders. More than the block totals themselves, it was the tone that mattered. The Wolves used their size, length, and rim protection to turn the game from a first-quarter track meet into a grind, and Phoenix never really recovered once that happened.
There’s not much time to savor it, though, because Utah is rolling into Target Center for the second night of a back-to-back. Under normal circumstances, a home game against a depleted Jazz team might feel like one you circle as a probable win and move on. But this Wolves team has spent the season proving that no game is actually easy if they decide to treat it like a formality. And with Edwards still sidelined, nothing gets to be taken for granted.
Utah, by all appearances, is actively angling for lottery position. They will be without Lauri Markkanen and Jusuf Nurkic. Keyonte George, who went on that scoring binge to steal the last game from Minnesota in Utah, is out as well. Ace Bailey is listed as questionable. On paper, it looks like a setup. On paper, the Wolves hold a clear talent edge even without their superstar. On paper, this should be a “take care of business and move on” type of night.
But Wolves fans have seen enough “on paper” games turn into disasters to know better.
So with that, here are the keys to the game.
#1 – The Wolves cannot play with their food.
This has to be the theme of the night. They cannot look at Utah’s injury report and mentally chalk up the win before the opening tip. That is how bad teams get confidence. That is how random role players start feeling dangerous. That is how you wake up midway through the fourth quarter in a one-possession game wondering how the hell this happened. Even a tanking team still has NBA players, and those players would absolutely love to walk into Target Center, get extra run, and prove they belong. The Wolves need to choke this thing out early. Strong team defense, good pace, and focused execution need to be present from the jump so this game does not become a fourth-quarter survival test on tired legs.
#2 – Dominate around the rim.
Phoenix came in shorthanded in the frontcourt and the Wolves eventually made them pay for it. Utah is bringing a similar setup. This should be a game where Gobert once again functions as a force field around the basket. He needs to rebound, block shots, and make every Jazz drive feel like a bad idea. Randle and Naz also have to carry over the physicality from the Suns game. If Minnesota’s big three in the frontcourt treats this like a paint war, Utah simply should not have enough size or interior talent to hold up over four quarters. This is one of those games where the Wolves need to look bigger, stronger, and more punishing than the other team, simply because they are.
#3 – The ball movement has to continue.
One of the more interesting byproducts of Edwards being out was how willing the Wolves were to move the ball and play team offense. That’s not meant as some shot at Ant, because everyone understands why he dominates the ball at times. He’s the star. He’s the bailout option. He’s the guy who can rescue possessions when everything else fails. But with him off the floor, the Wolves had no choice but to trust the pass, trust each other, and keep the offense from stagnating. That led to better involvement from Bones and Ayo Dosunmu, and it gave the offense a little more collective rhythm. That has to continue. Against Utah, the Wolves can absolutely survive without Edwards’ individual offense if they maximize possessions, create good looks, and stay unselfish.
#4 – Clean up the turnovers.
The Wolves were better against Phoenix than they had been against Oklahoma City, but only because it was nearly mathematically impossible to be worse. Sixteen turnovers is still too many. Without their best player, the Wolves cannot afford to hand away possessions and give the other team transition points. Against a Jazz team that shouldn’t be able to generate much easy offense on its own, the absolute worst thing Minnesota can do is gift-wrap opportunities. This is where professional basketball comes in. Take care of the ball. Finish defensive possessions. Hit your free throws. Don’t make life harder than it needs to be. If the Wolves handle the basic stuff, their talent advantage should take over.
#5 – Julius Randle has to keep being Big Julius.
This is probably the biggest swing factor during Edwards’ absence. Earlier in the season, when Ant missed time with his foot issues, Randle carried the scoring burden and looked like a true offensive hub. Then he hit that post-All-Star funk and became a shell of that guy. The signs against OKC were encouraging, and the performance against Phoenix was more than encouraging and exactly what Minnesota needed. Now comes the challenge of doing it again. Randle has to keep scoring efficiently, keep making the right play when help comes, and keep balancing his own offense with the playmaking element that makes him so dangerous. When he draws defenders and kicks to open teammates instead of stopping the offense, Minnesota becomes much harder to guard. Without Edwards, that version of Randle is not just useful, it’s essential.
This is the kind of game that is easy to dismiss because it probably won’t be pretty and it certainly won’t feel gratifying. But these are the kinds of games that determine whether you stay well above the play-in line or spend the last two weeks of the season sweating every scoreboard update. Tuesday against Phoenix was a must-win, and the Wolves treated it like one after the first quarter. Wednesday against Utah needs to be approached the same way. Then comes Portland on Friday. These are the games Minnesota has to bank, especially while Edwards is sidelined, especially before the schedule stiffens again, and especially because they’ve already made this season harder on themselves than it needed to be.
Nobody is asking for art here. The expectation isn’t some beautiful, flowing masterpiece of offensive basketball. This team just has to be mature, focused, and professional. It needs to be one of those nights where the better team comes out, takes care of business, and moves on.
Given this team’s history, that still feels like a bigger ask than it should.
But if the Wolves are serious about holding their ground in the West while Ant is out, it’s exactly what they have to do.
Venezuela wins their first World Baseball Classic championship
MIAMI, Florida — We’re going to need an entirely new lexicon to describe the celebration that unfolded at loanDepot Park as Cubs closer Daniel Palencia struck out one of Team USA’s hottest hitters, Roman Anthony to end a legendary final in the World Baseball Classic. The win resulted in the first World Baseball Championship for Venezuela and it sent the crowd of more than 36,000 fans into a frenzy. It sent millions of Venezuelans following the action at watch parties all over the country into raucous cheers. It sent Palencia’s glove higher in the air than any bat flip I’ve seen with the exception of one his teammate Willson Contreras sent soaring against the White Sox during the 2020 shortened pandemic season.
Nine innings before Palencia would put a capstone on a historic achievement for Venezuela the vibes were already elite. Even Yankees fans couldn’t resist joining the dance party:
Fans of both countries had every right to be fired up. From the time the teams entered to the moment Venezuela won a close game it was a historic night in Miami:
Venezuela jumped out to an early lead on this sacrifice fly from eventual Most Valuable Player of the World Baseball Classic, Maikel Garcia:
Wilyer Abreu, who also had an outstanding World Baseball Classic for Venezuela, padded that lead with this home run off Nolan McLean in the fifth:
It was a solid outing for McLean, much better than his start against the upstart team from Italy. But while 4.2 innings with four hits, four strikeouts, one walk and two runs, both earned, was better than last time it was not enough to best the outstanding work Eduardo Rodríguez did for Venezuela. E-Rod threw 4.1 innings of one hit, scoreless baseball for his country. The ovation was electric:
There were two innings late where the tension got the better of the vibes in the stands. As I walked through the concourse during the seventh inning stretch the dance party was a bit muted. When I returned to my seat you could almost feel 25,000 Venezuelan fans counting the outs and strikes until the end of the game. The two-run lead felt fraught. It didn’t seem possible that the capricious baseball gods would let Venezuela march to their first World Baseball Championship so easily. That feeling was ultimately correct as Bryce Harper tied the game with this no-doubt home run in the eighth:
And let’s be clear, Harper understood the assignment. The only item that traveled higher than his bat during this game was Palencia’s glove on the final out:
That home run ended an impressive scoreless run for Venezuela’s bullpen. They entered Monday night’s game against Italy with these stats:
It’s also worth pointing out that multiple sources reported that at least three organizations asked Venezuela not to use certain relievers on back-to-back nights. We have no word if one of those organizations was the Cubs, but we do know manager Omar Lopez lobbied to change their minds:
And of course he lobbied them to change their mind. This is an environment Aaron Judge described as better than the World Series. Venezuela is a baseball country. I don’t really know how to put this into words better than this post:
Whatever Lopez said to those organizations and whether they gave their blessing or not, Venezuela hasn’t given up at any point in this tournament. They did not give up when they were down against Japan or Italy. You could almost feel the crowd exhale as the eighth inning ended and the game was merely tied. Eugenio Suárez made sure the game wasn’t tied for long:
This set the stage for Daniel Palencia’s big moment. Even if the Cubs win a World Series while Daniel Palencia is closing for them, I imagine closing out this game will always mean more to him. You don’t have to believe me, just check out the watch party in his hometown and how they reacted to the final out:
I need to set the stage for this a bit. I was at a watch party the Cubs hosted at Gallagher Way during last year’s National League Championship Series against the Brewers. Admittedly, the Cubs got blown out in Milwaukee that day, but we had maybe 500 fans assembled to watch the game. Check out what last night looked like in Caracas:
This win was World Cup energy applied to baseball for a nation that eats, sleeps and breathes baseball. It was a moment of triumph for Venezuela at a point in time where it’s hard to imagine it mattering more. It was perfection.
The party continued long after the trophy presentation. We danced through the concourse. We chanted with fans from every nation represented at the World Baseball Classic. I saw fans in Japan jerseys, Dominican Republic jerseys and USA jerseys join in the festivities. I myself was in a Mexico jacket. It did not matter where we were from, the joy of the Venezuelans was contagious and all were welcome. This video is as my portion of the crowd began to exit an hour after the final official ceremonies:
At the risk of eliciting some ire in the comments, I’m not sure the United States could win any sport in any international competition that would generate the same level of national unity and pride. Our chanting tends towards the stoic and “USA! USA! USA!” just really doesn’t hit the same way as tens of thousands of people with drums who all know half a dozen common refrains. I was amused to see some United States fans in the lower bowl attempt to mimic the “ponche” (strikeout) chant every fan of Venezuela engaged in for every two strike count of every game I attended. It just didn’t hit quite the same.
I’ll leave you with this audio from Caracas. I imagine this what Wrigleyville must have sounded like after the Cubs won the World Series. Sometimes it takes a place built around baseball winning a championship to truly capture the vibes. Like this audio from Caricuao, Caracas:
Braves pull off late win vs Phillies in final Spring Training division matchup
It won’t be until mid-April that the Atlanta Braves face the Philadelphia Phillies again.
What started as a pretty underwhelming showcase today with the Braves turned into a late win (3-2) as the lineup couldn’t manage a hit to get on the board until the bottom of the seventh inning where Michael Harris II hit an RBI single to drive in Dalton McIntyre.
In the same inning, he was able to tie the score (2-2) by gaining a run of his own through a sacrifice-fly from Luke Williams. The Braves were able to get ahead by a run after a fielding error by Phillies’ third baseman (much to Phillies’ fans dismay) Garret Grubs. Outfielder Ben Gamel would get a run off of this error to take the lead (3-2).
As for veteran pitcher Martín Pérez, he was able to manage 3.2 innings and only allowing one run and six hits through switching out a few times with Jacob Kroeger.
Now, though Pérez didn’t show us a lot in today’s outing, one person that is fighting for an Opening Day roster spot—-with an impressive resume building as of now—-is Didier Fuentes. Watch the 20-year old’s improved command at the mound, along with his striking fastball amongst his arsenal that makes him a strong asset for the rotation.
The ABS system was used to his advantage in the top of the sixth and called a strike for the second out of the inning. With eight total strikeouts in today’s game, it’s safe to say that this might be a gem that the team needs to key in on for the long-run.
Could we be seeing another Braves’ Rookie of the Year this year?
The team is off tomorrow, but will be set to take on the Pirates on Friday.