GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Cleveland Guardians third baseman José Ramírez was feeling much better Monday after the seven-time All-Star left a spring training game the previous day because of a sore shoulder, according to manager Stephen Vogt.
“We’re going to reassess him day by day. He should be just fine in a few days,” Vogt said Monday. “He knows himself really well. ... He came up from the on-deck circle and said, ‘I’m done.’ And that was really all I heard until later in the game.”
After Sunday’s game, Vogt said Ramírez had a sore left shoulder after jamming it while sliding into third for a stolen base. That came in the second inning after his double, and he was lifted for a pinch hitter in the fourth.
The 33-year-old Ramírez has played his entire 13-year career in Cleveland and is a lifetime .279 hitter with 285 home runs and 949 RBIs in 1,609 games. The $175 million, seven-year contract he signed during the offseason is the largest in franchise history.
Ramírez finished third in AL MVP voting last season after batting .283 with 30 homers and 85 RBIs.
The Los Angeles Kings (28-24-15) end their five-game road trip with a bounce-back 4-1 win over the New York Rangers (28-31-8), snapping New York's four-game win streak, after suffering that disappointing loss to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.
The opening period began with Drew Doughty snapping an impressive long-range shot through traffic to give LA the early 1-0 lead. The Kings once again played great defense to start, frustrating the Rangers on offense despite New York not drawing a penalty; they still struggled to score and generate shots on goal, holding the Rangers to just six. LA outshot the Rangers 8-6 during the quiet offensive period.
The second period began with the Kings remaining hot, scoring two goals in a span of 28 seconds in the first four minutes of the second period to hold a commanding 3-0 lead. It all began with Mikey Anderson putting in the rebound after Alex Laferriere was fed by Quinton Byfield in the slot. LA took advantage and cleaned up the shot on the 4-on-2 rush.
A few seconds later, the Rangers got called on their first power play of the game, and this time Alex Laferriere was able to get the shot up himself and put it through the net to give Los Angeles a 3-0 lead.
LAK Goal - Jersey Kid, New York Goal.
Laferriere scores early on the power play to put the Kings ahead by three. Byfield with his second helper of the night. 3-0 Kings.
Artemi Panarin also returned to Madison Square Garden for the first time since being traded to the Los Angeles Kings. The fans gave him a standing ovation, a much-deserved honor for the four-time All-Star.
Panarin finished the game with one assist and one point, while Alex Laferriere finished with one goal, one assist, and two points. Los Angeles also got help from their defenseman Mikey Anderson, who scored one goal, one assist, and two points, while Quinton Byfield had a nice night spreading the wealth with two assists and two points.
The dominance began in the second period, with the Kings outshooting the Rangers 16-3, once again putting in that defensive effort under D.J. Smith as interim head coach.
The second period would end with the Kings leading 3-0, in the perfect position to win this game.
New York did score on a power play goal to cut the deficit to 3-1 two minutes into the final frame, but couldn't generate goals. Despite outshooting the Kings by a big margin, 13-2, the Rangers had one chance to score and cut the deficit to 1, but hit the crossbar and never got back in the game.
With under two minutes remaining in the final period, the Kings sealed the deal with Trevor Moore capitalizing on the empty-netter to close out the Rangers 4-1 in MSG.
Trevor Moore picks the empty net.
The @LAKings will get the two points at MSG and head home with a 3-1-1 record on their five-game trip.
Overall, it was a great bounce-back win for the Kings in a must-win situation after dropping to sixth over the weekend. Los Angeles is now tied with Seattle for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
LA ends their five-game road trip with a 3-1-1 record and stays in the Western Conference playoff race.
The Kings will return to Crypto.com Arena on Thursday to host the Philadelphia Flyers at 7:30 PM PT.
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Pittsburgh Penguins received a statement performance from Evgeni Malkin in his return to the lineup, as the veteran tallied two goals and an assist in a commanding 7–2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena on Monday night.
Suiting up for the first time after serving a five-game suspension for slashing Rasmus Dahlin in a March 5 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, Malkin looked sharp from the opening shift and drove Pittsburgh’s offense throughout the night.
Brock Nelson defended Scott Wedgewood and said the team has to defend better in front of the net.
Erik Karlsson added a goal and two assists, while Bryan Rust, Elmer Söderblom, and Noel Acciari each recorded a goal and an assist. The Penguins (34-18-15) have now won two straight and improved to 2-1-1 through the first four games of their five-game road trip. In net, Artūrs Šilovs made 25 saves.
For Colorado, Nathan MacKinnon and Brent Burns scored, but the Avalanche (44-13-9) dropped their second straight and third in the last four.
It was a difficult night in goal. Scott Wedgewood was pulled after allowing three goals on five shots in the opening 13 minutes. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 12 shots in relief, but Pittsburgh controlled the pace from start to finish.
Jared Bednar “That start is not on Wedgie at all.”
The opening frame was chaotic from the outset, filled with early penalties, odd-man rushes, and a quick momentum swing in Pittsburgh’s favor.
Just 48 seconds in, Malkin was whistled for tripping Devon Toews, giving Colorado an early power play that failed to generate anything.
Moments after exiting the box, Malkin made an immediate impact. Rust found him in stride, and he slipped a backhand past Wedgewood at 3:01 to open the scoring.
Colorado answered quickly. Off a clean breakout led by Cale Makar, Martin Nečas carried the puck into the zone before feeding MacKinnon, who wired a shot past Šilovs to tie the game 1–1.
The deadlock lasted just 15 seconds.
Brock Nelson was quick to come to the defense of Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood in tonight's 7-2 loss:
"I'm sure people are saying goaltending with a number like that, but there's none of them that are on them. We have to be better in front."
Karlsson launched a stretch pass to Anthony Mantha, who broke in alone and restored the lead with a backhand finish.
Colorado’s power play struggled to find rhythm, failing again after a cross-checking penalty to Ville Koivunen.
Midway through the period, Pittsburgh extended the lead. On a 2-on-1, Parker Wotherspoon fed Malkin, who snapped home his second of the night to make it 3–1.
That goal ended Wedgewood’s night, prompting head coach Jared Bednar to turn to Blackwood.
The change didn’t help.
On the first shot he faced, Söderblom buried a rebound off a shot from Connor Dewar to push the lead to 4–1.
Burns responded late in the period, blasting a point shot over Šilovs’ glove with 5:09 remaining to cut the deficit to 4–2.
Despite being outshot 17–7, Pittsburgh capitalized on its chances and carried a two-goal lead into intermission.
Second Period
Colorado had opportunities early but couldn’t solve its power-play issues.
Mantha was called for holding Josh Manson just 3:30 into the period, but the Avalanche came up empty again.
At 10:36, Karlsson fired a shot through traffic that beat Blackwood to make it 5–2. At that point, Pittsburgh had scored five goals on just 10 shots.
Brock Nelson was quick to say that the did not do enough to support their goaltenders. Said their checking game was not good enough and they gave Pittsburgh too many easy looks.
A tripping penalty to Šilovs—served by Egor Chinakhov—gave Colorado another chance, but the power play continued to sputter, dropping to 0-for-4.
Moments later, Pittsburgh got its own opportunity when Nic Roy was sent off for hooking Ryan Shea. Colorado killed that penalty but immediately took another for too many men, extending the Penguins’ advantage.
That sequence proved costly.
Rickard Rakell intercepted a pass in the offensive zone and fed Malkin, who quickly sent Rust in alone. He finished the breakaway to make it 6–2, capping a clinical stretch for Pittsburgh.
Third Period
The Avalanche showed some push early in the third, generating pressure and attacking the net.
Nazem Kadri led the charge with a strong zone entry and a spinning shot, but Šilovs turned it aside.
At 9:06, Pittsburgh added one more. Söderblom delivered a spinning pass that deflected off Acciari and into an open net, with Gavin Brindley and Nick Blankenburg unable to clear the puck.
That made it 7–2 and effectively put the game out of reach.
Notables
Bednar said the injured players will be evaluated at the end of the week to see about their availability for the upcoming eight-day road trip. Those players include Gabriel Landeskog (Upper-Body), Artturi Lehkonen (Upper-Body), Ross Colton (Upper-Body), and Logan O'Connor (Upper-Body).
Next Up
The Avalanche wrap up their homestand Wednesday against the Dallas Stars at 7:30 p.m. MT. The game will air on TNT, HBO Max, and Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM.
PORT ST. LUCIE — Cristian Pache started in center field against the Nationals on Monday at Clover Park, but his future seems destined for Triple-A Syracuse, where the Mets hope to unlock some tools on offense, as Pache has already proven himself as a stellar defensive outfielder.
His prowess in center is no surprise, considering his history.
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Pache, 27, signed with the Braves out of the Dominican Republic in 2015 and went on to wear No. 25 in the majors with Atlanta in 2021.
The decision to wear that number was easy for Pache — who spent all of last season with Arizona’s Triple-A Reno affiliate.
“When I was young, my dad was a big fan of Atlanta and used to have me watch a lot of Andruw Jones videos,” Pache said recently through an interpreter. “From a defensive standpoint, I took after him.”
As far as models go, that was a pretty good choice, as Jones is headed to Cooperstown largely because of how well he played center over a 17-year major league career spent mostly with the Braves.
After signing with the Braves and coming up through the minor league system, Pache got to work with Jones, who was an instructor with Atlanta following his playing career that ended with the Yankees in 2012.
Cristian Pache has already proven himself as a stellar defensive outfielder. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Jones will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this summer.
“After I met him, we had a good relationship, so I figured I’d wear his number,” Pache said.
“In my first spring with the Braves, he was there and gave me advice and told me how to work on skills and tricks to help improve my ability on defense.”
Andruw Jones is headed to Cooperstown largely because of how well he played center over a 17-year major league career spent mostly with the Braves. Getty Images
He signed a minor league deal with an invitation to big league camp in December and has so far looked good with his new team.
Pache entered Monday 11-for-25 with three extra-base hits in 11 Grapefruit League games, as the Mets remain hopeful he has the tools to become a player in the majors.
With Juan Soto in left field, Luis Robert Jr. in center and Carson Benge potentially the future in right, there might not be room for Pache in Queens.
But he’s still managed to impress.
“He’s an elite defender,” Carlos Mendoza said. “Offensively, we’ve seen him hit the ball hard up the middle and run the bases. There are a lot of tools there. It’s good to see him getting results.”
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - MARCH 09: Carson Benge (93) of the New York Mets hits a triple to drive in a run in the second inning during a spring training game against the Miami Marlins on March 09, 2026 at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
In a see saw game on Monday night at Clover Park, the Mets fell 12-6 to the Nationals thanks to Washington’s six-run eruption in the ninth inning. It was the Mets’ ninth loss of the spring to go along with their 11 wins and one tie. The Mets return to action tomorrow afternoon as they travel to Jupiter to face the Marlins. Sean Manaea will take the ball in that game as he looks to secure his spot in the team’s rotations ahead of Opening Day.
David Peterson started for New York and had an uneven outing. He allowed two runs in the first and two runs in the fourth. He was charged with four earned runs on five hits, with two walks and two strikeouts over four innings.
The Mets got a pair back in the bottom half of the frame against Zach Penrod. Carson Benge led off with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Francisco Alvarez drove Benge home on a double down the left field line, and then came around to score on a Ronny Mauricio two-out double.
Cristian Pache launched a solo home run in the second to give New York their first lead of the night. The Mets extended their lead in the third, as Mauricio singled home Jared Young.
Washington’s Riley Adams singled home two runs in the top of the fourth to knot the game up at four apiece.
After Peterson’s outing was complete, Devin Williams took the ball and hurled a scoreless fifth inning. The Mets’ closer struck out one and walked one as he lowered his ERA on the spring to 1.80
Cristian Scott came in and pitched three-plus innings for New York, allowing three earned runs on five hits. Scott struck out four and did not walk a batter.
Washington went ahead in the sixth when CJ Abrams led off with a triple and came around to score on a wild pitch. They added a run in the seventh on a James Woods leadoff home run.
The Mets pulled even on a Christian Arroyo two-run home run in the eighth, his first of the spring for the Mets.
The wheels came off for New York in the ninth inning, ultimately leading to their demise in this one. Woods doubled off Scott to lead off the inning, which ended the right-hander’s night. Douglas Orellana came in to try and hold the Nationals off the scoreboard, but he immediately allowed a double to Joey Weimer, which brought the pinch runner Luis Arias home. Later in the inning, Orellana threw a wild pitch, which brought home the eighth Washington run. Viandel Pena drove home two runs with a single past the third base bag, and another run came home on a Murphy Stehly run-scoring single.
That spelled the end of the night for Orellana, who could not escape the ninth inning. Gregori Louis came in and allowed another run-scoring hit, which made it six runs in the inning for Washington as they batted around. He recovered to retire Luis Arias for the final out of the nightmarish ninth.
Benge had another great night, going 2-for-2 with two walks and a run scored. He raised his spring average to .406 and his OPS to .972.
Alvarez and Mauricio each had good nights for New York. Alvarez went 1-for-3 with a walk, a run scored, and a one driven in, while Mauricio had two hits in four at-bats while driving in two of New York’s six runs.
Pache also had a two-hit night, with a double to go along with his home run.
On the flip side, Mark Vientos had another brutal showing, going 0-for-4 with a strikeout. His average has now fallen to .040 on the spring, which isn’t counting his tough stint with Nicaragua in the World Baseball Classic.
The Mets were defeated by the Washington Nationals 12-6 on Monday night at Clover Park.
Here are some takeaways...
- Carson Benge continues to solidify his case for the Mets' Opening Day RF spot. The youngster reached safely in all four of his plate appearances on the night -- walking in the first, lining an opposite-field double in the second, walking again in the fourth, then lacing a 107.6 mph single in the seventh.
Benge is riding a six-game hitting streak, helping bring his average to .406 on the spring.
- It was a good night for two of the regulars in the Mets' starting lineup, as well. Francisco Alvarez reached twice with a first inning RBI double and a five-pitch walk in the third, and Ronny Mauricio laced a pair of opposite-field run scoring knocks, both of which came from the right-side against left-handed pitchers.
Mauricio is now hitting .313 on the spring, and Alvarez is up to a 1.107 OPS.
- Cristian Pache also continued his strong spring at the plate, reaching twice including a solo homer. The 27-year-old hasn't found much success to this point in his big-league career, but he'd give the Mets quality depth if he can continue this offensive surge to begin the season in Syracuse.
Pache, a career .181 hitter, is hitting .464 with a 1.302 OPS on the spring.
- Mark Vientos, on the other hand, continues to struggle and run into some tough luck offensively. He laced a 106.4 mph lineout right at the left fielder in the bottom of the first, broke his bat and softly lined out to third in the third, flew out to the warning track in the fourth, and struck out with a man on in the seventh.
The slugger remains hitless since returning from the WBC, and is hitting just .040 in camp.
- David Peterson endured a bit of an up-and-down outing. Washington made him pay in the first, turning two walks and two hits into a pair of runs, before he settled into a groove. The left-hander retired the next nine hitters he faced before the Nats turned three fourth-inning singles into two more two-out runs.
Peterson's spring ERA is now 5.63 after allowing four runs on five hits and two walks over four innings.
- Devin Williams continues to look in mid-season form. The Mets' new closer worked around a leadoff walk and stolen base in the top of the fifth, striking out one, as he put together his fourth consecutive scoreless appearance since allowing a homer on his very first pitch he threw this spring.
Williams has now struck out six and is down to a 1.80 ERA in Grapefruit League play.
- Christian Scott was hit around a bit in his third outing back. The righty gave up a triple to the first batter he faced in the sixth before allowing him to score on a wild pitch. James Wood then jumped him for a homer leading off the seventh. Wood would lace a leadoff double in the ninth to end Scott's night.
Scott gave up three runs on five hits and struck out five while stretching out to 56 pitches.
- Infielder Christian Arroyo evened things up with his first homer of the spring in the bottom of the eighth, before Washington regained command with six runs against Douglas Orellana in the top of the ninth.
TORONTO — It’s been over three months since the Islanders were out of a playoff spot, allowing for the illusion of security.
This Islanders team is, plainly, much better than the last two that made the playoffs and which took until Games 81 and 82 to secure passage into the tournament, respectively, before bowing out quietly in the first round. Nevertheless, it may take this year’s outfit just as much time to clinch a spot.
As they flew north to start a three-game road trip with stops in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal on Monday, the Islanders were mired in a five-team race for four spots — two in the Metropolitan Division and both wild-card spots — with the Penguins, Blue Jackets, Bruins and Red Wings.
With 81 points, the Islanders were one spot below the Penguins, who started the day with just as many points before playing the Avalanche, but guaranteed to stay ahead even with a loss, as they have four more regulation wins. Columbus was two points back and out of a spot; the Bruins and Red Wings were both on 80 points and occupying the two wild-card spots. Montreal, it’s worth noting, could easily fall into this race as well; currently, the Canadiens are in third in the Atlantic Division, but just two points ahead of Boston and Detroit.
The most important teams for the Islanders to watch are the Penguins and Blue Jackets, as whoever finishes first of those three will have home-ice advantage in the first round. In that respect, the Islanders do have a schedule advantage.
Pittsburgh — which has been without the injured Sidney Crosby since the Olympic break, though he is on the Penguins’ current road trip and could return soon — has the hardest remaining strength of schedule out of any team in the league. The Blue Jackets have the third toughest and, just for good measure, the Bruins are in between them.
Bo Horvat #14 of the New York Islanders skates against the Los Angeles Kings. NHLI via Getty Images
It’s not all good news though. The Islanders are right behind that trio with a .595 remaining strength of schedule.
The Red Wings, at .575, have by far the easiest strength of schedule out of the quintet, but they’re also dealing with the toughest injury situation. Their top two centers, captain Dylan Larkin and Andrew Copp, both got hurt right after the trade deadline and were expected to miss at least two weeks.
Remaining strength of schedule, though, does omit a key bit of context: once they get back from Canada, the Islanders have just two road games in their last 12 to close out the season. So, yes, they’ll face some tough opposition, but given the frantic pace of their travel schedule since January, the Isles are probably OK with the trade-off. Their remaining games against the Blue Jackets (March 22) and Penguins (March 30) are also both at UBS.
Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the Vegas Golden Knights. NHLI via Getty Images
Even going into this road trip, the Islanders had the most remaining home games left in the league, a considerable advantage, if they can just get through their last few road games unscathed.
If the Islanders do close out strong and make the playoffs, the ideal scenario is anything that gets them home ice in the first round. Beyond that, the Blue Jackets might be the opponent they’d most like to face, though there’s certainly no such thing as an easy matchup.
Pittsburgh has played the Islanders tough in two games they’ve split, plus Crosby would be an intimidating first-round opponent, especially with the potential of this being Evgeni Malkin’s last season. Carolina beat the Islanders in 2019, 2023 and 2024 — there’s no way the Islanders want any part of the ’Canes and a raucous Lenovo Center in another first-round series.
Buffalo doesn’t have any playoff experience, a plus for any potential opponent, but the Sabres are red-hot and being on the Atlantic side of the bracket, with Tampa or Montreal looming in the second round, isn’t exactly ideal.
Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) controls the puck as Los Angeles Kings right wing Adrian Kempe (9) trails. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Isles are 2-1 against Columbus through three games and it’s been six years since the Blue Jackets have been in the playoffs. That wouldn’t be an easy series either, but it’s one the Isles could reasonably expect to get through.
GOODYEAR, ARIZONA - MARCH 3: Carter Kieboom #31 of the Cleveland Guardians gloves a bouncing ground ball during the sixth inning of the spring training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Goodyear Ballpark on March 3, 2026 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jose’s shoulder is ok, that’s all that matters. Here’s today’s lineup:
MESA, AZ - MARCH 03: Mark Leiter Jr. #38 of the Athletics pitches during the game between the Team Brazil and the Athletics at Hohokam Stadium on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Tom Wilson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Athletics put forth arguably their best pitching performance yet this spring, shutting out the Los Angeles Angels 3-0. This afternoon marked the first time the team kept its opponent off the scoreboard in this year’s Cactus League.
A’s left-hander Jeffrey Springs put together his best performance and now seems ready for the season to start. He threw 84 pitches over 4 2/3 scoreless innings, only allowing three hits while striking out four. Springs found himself in trouble early as the Angels loaded the bases with two outs in the first inning on two hits and a walk. He escaped that jam by getting Angels’ catcher Logan O’Hoppe to fly out to left. Following that early scare, it was mostly smooth sailing for Springs until he was removed for reliever Nick Anderson after allowing Mike Trout’s fourth double of the spring with two outs in the fifth inning.
Returning to the first inning, buoyed by the Angels leaving the bases loaded, the A’s offense struck first against Los Angeles pitcher George Klassen. Following Nick Kurtz getting hit by a pitch and a Shea Langeliers single, Tyler Soderstrom grounded into a double play, which nearly killed the rally. Fortunately, Brent Rooker hit a two-out RBI single to score Kurtz who had moved to third base on the previous play. Rooker stole second base and then scored on Jacob Wilson’s single to right field.
Klassen and the three Angels relievers did a good job of subduing what was a red-hot A’s offense. The A’s finished the game with only four hits. Their only other run came courtesy of Max Muncy’s fourth Cactus League home run, a solo shot to right field in the fourth inning.
Out of all of the team’s candidates to play third base, Muncy seems to have the most offensive upside and has been getting the most playing time at the position, which suggests he will likely start there Opening Day in Toronto. Muncy has the offensive ability to further strengthen an already stellar lineup, although he will hopefully not make too many crippling defensive errors if given the chance to play third base daily.
With the team up 3-0, it was down to the A’s relievers to protect their team’s slim lead. Right-handers Nick Anderson, Mark Leiter Jr., Michael Kelly and A.J. Causey did their job and more, combining to keep the Angels from inching closer.
Anderson, who curiously was not reassigned alongside fellow non-roster invitees Wander Suero and Nick Hernandez, got the last out of the fifth inning and then worked around allowing a leadoff double the next inning. Free-agent acquisition Leiter Jr. will likely pitch in many high-stress, late-game moments this season for the A’s. This afternoon, he worked his way out of a first-and-third, one-out situation in the seventh inning, striking out Mike Trout for the second out and then getting the next Angels hitter to ground out to end the inning.
Kelly also worked out of trouble the next inning and then Causey, who has a shot to make his MLB debut this year, slammed the door in the ninth, collecting his first save in an A’s uniform.
All spring, the A’s have been winning games by simply outscoring their opponents, so today it was nice to see the team win thanks to strong pitching and defense. Speaking of defense, Zack Gelof caught every ball hit his way in right field. If anyone was at the game, how does he look in the outfield and is it a realistic possibility to see him out there in the regular season? Share in the comment section below.
— Bill Moriarity – A's Farm (@AthleticsFarm) March 16, 2026
The Athletics will try to make it two wins in a row tomorrow as they travel to Glendale, Arizona to play the Chicago White Sox. Luis Morales will start for the A’s, looking to build on his solid performance in his last outing and cement his spot as one of the A’s five starting pitchers in their season-opening rotation. At the moment, the White Sox have yet to list their scheduled starter for that Cactus League matchup between two teams looking to take a step forward this season.
(Original Caption) 6/6/1964-Philadelphia, PA: King of the Mount Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers knocks off the last of the Phillies' batters during the game here 6/6. In addition to downing the Philadelphia team 3-0, Koufax scored the third no-hitter of his career.
While Koufax and soon Yamamoto are the only Dodgers to follow the last pitch of a championship and the first pitch of the next season, eight others in modern franchise history threw the Dodgers’ final pitch of one season and the first pitch of the next.
Then Drysdale beat the Phillies in the same stadium with seven strong innings to open the 1961 campaign. That was the fourth consecutive opening day start for the then-24-year-old Drysdale, who would start seven opening days in his career.
Nobody knew it at the time, but Ramón Mártinezshutting out the Cincinnati Reds on August 11, 1994 was the Dodgers’ final game of the season. Before this start, Mártinez was briefly back home in Glendale for the birth of his daughter.
“They were saying to me, ‘Have another kid,” Martínez said, laughing, to Maryanne Hudson of the Los Angeles Times.
The players’ strike began the next day, and labor strife escalated enough to cancel the World Series that year as well as lop one-ninth of the 1995 schedule as well. Once an accord between players and owners was finally reached and a shortened-spring training got folks ready, Martínez pitched six strong innings to beat the Florida Marlins in Miami in the Dodgers’ first game.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 17: Head coach Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks with Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half at Rocket Arena on November 17, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tuesday’s matchup will be the fourth and final time the Cleveland Cavaliers will take on the Milwaukee Bucks. So far, the Cavs have only had to deal with Giannis Antetokounmpo in one and a half of those games. They could be avoiding him again on Tuesday.
The Bucks have listed Antetokounmpo as questionable for Tuesday’s game with a left ankle sprain. Antetokounmpo left the Bucks’ win over the Indiana Pacers in the second half on Sunday with an injury that head coach Doc Rivers called a likely hyperextension at the time.
The Bucks’ goals for the remainder of the season are unclear. Antetokounmpo has been heavily involved in trade rumors at the deadline. All signs point to him being dealt in the summer. And if that’s the plan, there’s no point in having him play in what seem like meaningless games.
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Right now, Milwaukee is five and a half games behind the Charlotte Hornets for the 10th seed, which is the final spot in the Play-In. Additionally, the Bucks have won just two of their last 10 games. It certainly doesn’t feel like there’s much to really play for at this point, especially if it puts Antetokounmpo in harm’s way before a possible trade.
On the season, Antetokounmpo is averaging 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game on 62.4% shooting. Milwaukee has been 11-20 without Antetokounmpo this season and 17-19 when he suits up.
Antetokounmpo isn’t the only player the Bucks could be missing. Starting center Myles Turner is questionable for Tuesday’s game with a right calf strain. Additionally, Ousmane Dieng is questionable due to an illness.
The Cavs will be without Jarrett Allen (knee) for the sixth game in a row. Craig Porter Jr. (groin) and Tyrese Proctor (quad) are also out. Sam Merrill (hamstring) is questionable to return. Jaylon Tyson (ankle) is probable for Tuesday’s game.
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - MARCH 11: Starting pitcher Tyler Mahle #54 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning of the spring training game at Surprise Stadium on March 11, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A day after flirting with perfection, the Giants were perfectly inept at capitalizing on scoring opportunities.
In their 3-1 loss against the San Diego Padres, San Francisco bats went hitless in a baker’s dozen worth of at-bats, including three duds in the 9th inning after Osleivis Basabe’s lead-off triple. Tyler Fitzgerald’s sacrifice fly in the 7th accounted for the Giants’ solitary run, so “perfectly inept” isn’t exactly right — just near-perfect once again.
While it was a team effort in this regard, Luis Matos, a sub for Jung Hoo Lee in right in the 7th inning, particularly struggled. His two at-bats of the day each came with a runner in scoring position. With a man on first and second and one-out, he chased after an inside cutter and popped it up to short. In the 9th, he was called out on strikes on the sixth pitch of the at-bat: a four-seam fastball in the corner pocket that froze him completely. He had fouled off three previous pitches out of the zone to put him in the two-strike hole.
The spring slump continues for Matos and based on some of the swing decisions today, his eagerness to swing his way out of it is doing more harm than good.
All three of San Diego’s runs came against reliever Spencer Bivens in the 6th inning. Chalk this unseemly frame up to a 50/50 mix of tough-luck and self-inflicted trouble. The Padres peppered three singles off Bivens, two of them grounders finding holes, and two of them probably corralled by second baseman Casey Schmitt on a better day. What made those tough breaks hurt was the traffic supplied by Bivens by way of a walk, a hit batter, and a wild pitch. It also didn’t help that he didn’t properly back-up the catcher on Christian Koss’s overthrow home on Miguel Andujar’s sacrifice fly. The error was attributed to center fielder Koss, but if Bivens was positioned better, the runner on first would’ve been prevented from advancing into scoring position on the play.
But it wasn’t all bad!
Tyler Mahle went toe-to-toe with Padres starter Walker Buehler and Tyler Mahle through the early innings. Buehler scattered 3 hits and 2 walks over 5 innings pitched while bailing himself out of trouble by way of 7 strikeouts. Mahle had started the day with an unblemished ERA but struggled with command, having walked 7 batters against 6 strikeouts over his previous 6 innings of work. Over four innings against San Diego, Mahle doubled his K-total while allowing just one baserunner and preserving his scoreless Spring.
While the typical 1-2 punch of his four-seam and splitter were present today (accounting for 4 of his 6 strikeouts), Mahle evened out his mix on the day to focus on his slider.
Historically the offering has probably been his worst pitch. It’s an underwhelming specimen in regards to movement. The pitch is a little sluggish for a slider, nor does its glove-side run distinguish itself from his cutter, and only by virtue of being a couple of beats slower on the radar gun does the offering get more of vertical lilt.
Mahle tossed 13 of these sliders, about a quarter of his overall pitches, and most were offered to right-handed batters. Two of his six K’s came on the pitch. He threw four consecutive sliders in the 1st inning, and all of them were elevated in the upper-third of the zone or higher. While this feels like a location mistake for this pitch-type, because Mahle is such a north-south thrower, he seems to be able to get away with spotting his breaking ball at the belt. Xander Bogaerts, who spun around one on the 8th pitch of his at-bat in the 1st, was clearly timed-up for the fastball and thought he got one reading the ball out of Mahle’s hands. In their next match-up, Mahle served up a 2-1 slider (his last of the afternoon) to a similar spot that Bogaerts somewhat mis-hit, directing the pitch into the ground but striking it hard enough to coax a fielding error from shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald.
That belt-high slider should’ve been a souvenir for a fan sitting on the hill beyond left field. Instead a bad pitch in a bad location got drilled into the ground. A veteran hitter like Bogaerts still couldn’t square it up because Mahle mixed it in so well. He knows his stuff and knows how to squeeze the most out of each offering — this is the benefit of signing veteran arms. You can bet when those two meet in the regular season, that slider is going to be top of Bogaert’s mind. Mahle, in the middle of March, was pitching for outs in June.
PEORIA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 22: James Tibbs III #98 of the Los Angeles Dodgers gets ready in the batters box against the San Diego Padres during a spring training game at Peoria Stadium on February 22, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Outfielder Michael Siani and reliever Paul Gervase are on the 40-man roster, so they were optioned to the minors.
Non-roster invitees Zach Ehrhard, James Tibbs III, Noah Miller, Zyhir Hope, Cole Irvin, and Ryder Ryan were reassigned to minor league camp.
Hope is the consensus top-100 prospect who remained the longest in camp, and through Monday leads the Dodgers with 22 games played this spring, though he hit just .179/.238/.231 with two doubles in 42 plate appearances.
Ehrhard and Tibbs, both acquired from the Boston Red Sox for Dustin May last July, each impressed this spring, and among Dodgers outfield prospects are older and closer to the majors than the rest, likely ticketed for Triple-A this season. Ehrhard hit .327/.389/.551 with five doubles and three triples in 20 games, while Tibbs hit .326/.392/.651 with three home runs, three doubles, and a triple in his 20 games.
With Irvin and Ryder Ryan sent down, the only two non-roster pitchers remaining in big league camp are right-hander Chris Campos and left-hander Antoine Kelly.
With these moves, the Dodgers have 43 players remaining in big league camp, including 23 pitchers and 20 position players.
DENVER — Can virtual NHL officiating be worse than real life? Let's dive in, shall we?
Jokes aside, the Pittsburgh Penguins skated away with a 3–2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche in our latest NHL 26 experiment, and the game was actually — gasp — fun to watch. If you missed it, you can check out the full simulation here.
Nathan MacKinnon and Parker Kelly provided the offense for Colorado, while Scott Wedgewood delivered a stellar performance between the pipes with 24 saves that bordered on video game legend territory.
Nathan MacKinnon hitting the net at morning skate.
For Pittsburgh, Bryan Rust scored twice and Justin Brazeau netted the late game-winner. Stuart Skinner was excellent as well, turning aside 33 shots to help secure the victory.
First Period
The Avalanche wasted no time electrifying the crowd at Ball Arena.
Just 29 seconds into the game, MacKinnon pounced on a loose puck along the boards, snapped it toward the net, and beat Skinner cleanly to give Colorado a 1–0 lead before many fans had even settled into their seats.
Pittsburgh quickly responded by cranking up the physicality. On the next sequence, Evgeni Malkin — appearing in his first game after serving a five-game suspension — leveled Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson during a gritty battle along the boards.
Manson bounced right back into the play. Moments later, off a faceoff win from Brock Nelson in Pittsburgh’s zone, the defenseman blasted a point shot that Skinner snatched out of the air with a spectacular glove save.
Nearly eight minutes into the period, Manson returned to the exact same patch of ice and fired another wrister toward the net. This time it beat the goalie but rang squarely off the post, drawing a loud, collective “Ohhh!” from the crowd.
About a minute later, Colorado went to the power play after Noel Acciari was whistled for holding Nelson. The man advantage generated chances, including a slap shot from Martin Nečas, but Skinner stood tall and kept the puck out.
Pittsburgh eventually found its breakthrough with 6:12 remaining in the period.
The sequence began when Parker Kelly mishandled the puck in the defensive zone, allowing Rickard Rakell to intercept the pass and quickly slide the puck into the slot. Rust took it from there, firing a precise shot past Wedgewood to tie the game 1–1.
The Penguins struck again almost immediately.
After crashing the net and forcing chaos around the crease, Parker Wotherspoon worked the puck free and sent it back to Rust in nearly the same shooting lane. Once again, he made no mistake, wiring it past the goaltender to give Pittsburgh a 2–1 lead.
Then came one of those classic EA Sports officiating moments.
Nicolas Roy was called for interference despite Anthony Mantha essentially skating directly into him. Thanks, EA. Fortunately for Colorado, the penalty kill held strong.
Late in the period, Wedgewood produced the save of the night.
With 1:29 remaining, Malkin uncorked a dangerous one-timer that looked destined for the net. Falling backward, the Avalanche goaltender somehow flashed the glove and robbed him in dramatic fashion.
After twenty minutes, the Penguins held a 2–1 lead and a 14–10 edge in shots.
Second Period
Colorado clawed its way back midway through the frame.
Nearly seven minutes into the period, Kelly capitalized on a quick passing play when Sam Malinski fed him in tight. Kelly attempted a backhand that caught Skinner’s blocker and fluttered awkwardly into the net, tying the game 2–2.
It was the kind of opportunistic scoring that highlights Colorado’s depth — the players who quietly deliver when the stars are tied up.
Nečas nearly pushed the Avalanche ahead later in the period with a booming slap shot from the top of the right circle, but the puck was partially deflected before Skinner calmly plucked it out of the air.
Neither team could break the deadlock before the intermission, sending the game to the third period tied 2–2. Pittsburgh held a razor-thin shots advantage at 22–21.
Third Period
The final frame opened with a little bit of everything — pressure, frustration, and plenty of iron.
About three minutes in, Mantha broke through Colorado’s defense and fired a wrist shot from the top of the left circle.
Doink.
Off the post.
Colorado controlled possession through much of the first half of the period, outshooting Pittsburgh 8–0 during one extended stretch. A turnover at the blue line created a chance for Gavin Brindley to drive the net, but his shot glanced off Skinner’s glove and stayed out.
Then came another moment of metallic misfortune.
With nine minutes remaining, MacKinnon received a slick pass from Nazem Kadri in the slot and quickly snapped a backhand toward the net.
Doink.
Right off the post again as Skinner sprawled across the crease stacking the pads.
Mantha later joined the unofficial “post club.”
On a clean 2-on-1 rush with 4:30 left, Kris Letang fed him perfectly in stride. Mantha ripped the shot…
Doink.
Again.
The forward covered his face before throwing his arms skyward in disbelief, seemingly wondering what kind of hockey spirits had cursed him.
Unfortunately for Colorado, the cruelest bounce of the night was still coming.
With just 35 seconds left in regulation, Brazeau snapped a shot from the slot that deflected off Zakhar Bardakov’s stick and fluttered past Wedgewood into the net.
An own goal.
A brutal break.
And a 3–2 Penguins lead.
Colorado pulled the goalie for a final push, but the rally never materialized. Pittsburgh held firm in the closing seconds to secure the virtual victory.
Now the only question left is simple:
What happens when these teams meet in real life tonight?
Of course, it takes only a sore arm for the equation to suddenly change, but the Mets have Brazobán, Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Brooks Raley, Tobias Myers and Luis García for six of the seven jobs.
The Mets would normally have eight relievers, but their plan to carry six starting pitchers subtracts from the bullpen.
And Mendoza doesn’t expect resolution on the final reliever until after the Mets break camp next Monday.
“Since I have been in this level, as a coach, bench coach or manager, that last part of the bullpen is usually not [decided] until hours before Opening Day because there’s so much that can happen,” Mendoza said. “We’re still a long way from having that conversation.”
Among the possibilities is a reliever from another camp will become available before Opening Day. But the Mets’ primary internal options for the final spot appear to be possible future Hall of Famer Craig Kimbrel and lefty Bryan Hudson, who was acquired in a trade with the White Sox at the start of camp.
Craig Kimbrel is looking to secure the final spot in the Mets bullpen. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Brazobán’s inclusion on the roster gives the Mets an option capable of pitching beyond one inning — Myers, who has stretched out in camp as a starter also fits the description.
Brazobán pitched 1 ¹/₃ scoreless innings with three strikeouts for the Dominican Republic on Sunday against Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.
Overall, the right-hander retired 12 of the 13 batters he faced in the tournament.
“I don’t know that we’re looking at results, even though it’s a pretty competitive environment, facing some of the best hitters in the world on that stage,” Mendoza said. “It was good to see him throw the ball the way he did. Not surprising.
“I think the biggest thing we were looking at was the buildup. Making sure the one plus that he ended up doing, close to 30 pitches. So, the fact that fortunately they lost and we’re going to get him back, but he’s coming back in a pretty good spot as far as buildup and us being comfortable using him for one plus when we need it.”
Brazobán, who has a minor league option remaining, pitched to a 3.57 ERA in 52 appearances for the Mets last season.
Bryan Hudson was acquired in a trade with the White Sox at the start of camp. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
How the Mets fill the final bullpen spot could be dependent on whether the team decides a second lefty is necessary.
Brooks Raley is the primary lefty to start the season and with A.J. Minter rehabbing until May from surgery to repair a torn lat, Hudson could be in position to claim the opening. Hudson struggled last season after thriving for the Brewers in 2024.
“I like the velo there, it seems to be back,” Mendoza said. “That is something he kind of got away with last year. I like the breaking ball.”
Kimbrel, 37, has pitched to a 2.25 ERA in four appearances this spring, but has struggled with control — he’s walked four and hit two batters in four innings of work.
“I guess it really depends on how I look the next week,” Kimbrel said of his chances. “I have got three outings until we get out of here, so just kind of turn it up and get ready for the season.”
Kimbrel, who arrived in a minor league deal — he will receive $2.5 million if he makes the major league roster — acknowledged there have been positives and negatives this spring in his attempt to extend a 16-year career in which he’s amassed 440 saves.
“The positive is I have been able to work out of some of the stuff that I have gotten into,” Kimbrel said. “The negatives are I have walked some guys, hit some guys. The guys I have hit have been pitches I have been working on, but just making steps and hopefully I can put that pitch [a cutter] into my arsenal and be more effective.”
