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There are new rule changes coming to MiLB in 2026

Jun 11, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers second base Andy Ibáñez (77) check swings and gets to first base on a fielding error in the fifth inning against the Washington Nationals at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images

More rule changes are coming to baseball — sort of.

On Monday, FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen reported the details of a document circulating in MLB front offices that is to be passed down to managers and coaches throughout each organization. Minor League Baseball will pilot several more new rule changes during the 2026 season, some of which are likely to remain in the lower levels of the game as player-development aids rather than eventually becoming major league rules.

Here’s the short and sweet of it:

  1. Complex League/DSL pitchers allowed to re-enter
  2. Expansion of ABS System and Check Swing Adjudication
  3. Pitch clock changes
  4. Second base positioning

Let’s go through each of these and break them down.

The first rule change involves pitchers re-entering games.

“Arizona Complex League, Florida Complex League, and Dominican Summer League games, the starting pitcher will be permitted to re-enter a game after being removed.”

No, this isn’t some reversion to Little League. It’s about “player health and development,” according to Longenhagen. If you’ve ever been to a Complex League Game, or even Single-A for that matter, you know things can get out of hand pretty fast when a starter doesn’t have it. Bullpens get used up throughout the week, inevitably leading to some second baseman who threw a couple of innings in high school finishing off the game.

So MiLB’s answer to this problem is removing a pitcher and letting them come back in at some point later on. Weird? Yes, but it makes sense. There are also a couple of stipulations that must be met. The pitcher “must throw at least 25 pitches in the inning during which he is removed,” to be eligible for re-entry, and he can only do so in the inning after his removal. This can be done once per game and only starting pitchers are allowed to do so.

The idea here is to limit that single-inning pitch count and spare a struggling youngster some wear-and-tear on his arm without completely removing him from the game. That was he can still get experience sitting between innings and going back out to start a fresh frame. How often will teams want to trot a guy who can’t get out of an inning back to the mound remains to be seen, but it’s a decent rule in theory, especially at the lowest level of professional ball.

BYB Says: Good for the game, kind of.

This next change shouldn’t be all that shocking. The Automatic Ball-Strike System (ABS) and Check-Swing Adjudication are coming to the Pacific Coast League.

“The Pacific Coast League will use the ABS Challenge system and follow the same rules that have been adopted at the Major League level for the 2026 season. Consistent with past seasons, MLB will monitor gameplay to determine if there is a desire to test changes at a later point in the season. Beginning on May 5, 2026, the batter, pitcher, or catcher may also appeal the umpire’s decision regarding whether the batter swung at a pitch. A swing will be considered to have occurred if the maximum angle between the bat head and the bat handle exceeds 45 degrees. This rule was tested in the Florida State League and Arizona Fall League in 2025.

This doesn’t really matter to Tigers fans. The Toledo Mud Hens are in the International League, which has already had ABS since 2024. The Check-Swing Challenge won’t be coming to the International League, but umpires will begin calling swings and no-swings based on the 45-degree threshold mentioned above, starting May 5. This is clearly to reduce strikeouts, and there will be very few checked swings ruled as swings with 45 degrees past the line of the fron of the place now the standard.

The Florida State League, in which the Lakeland Flying Tigers play, will have both systems in use as the PCL. “Teams have 2 challenges that may be used for ball/strike calls or swing/no-swing calls.”

With ABS making its way to The Show, one would think the Check-Swing Adjudication system is next. Testing it at higher levels matters, but these things take time. It’s also pretty jarring to see where the line is between a swing and no swing. Using the system to be sure is one thing, changing the definition of a check or no-check swing is a different matter entirely.

BYB Says: Robots are the future. Deal with it.

MLB is always trying to speed up the game. The introduction of the pitch clock helped, but that’s not enough… apparently.

This is a multi-parter, so break down the breakdown.

PitchCom Safe Harbor: Have you ever watched a game and thought, “Yeah, he’s lying about having a PitchCom issue to buy more time?” This is for you!

“In Triple-A teams will be assessed a mound visit if play is stopped for the purpose of addressing an issue with PitchCom.”

If a team doesn’t have a mound visit remaining, that’s an automatic ball. Take that, you cheats and liars!

Teams will probably need a dedicated employee responsible for keeping the PitchCom systems working perfectly if they don’t already. No more gaming the Coms!

Defensive Signals: This one is weirder.

“At all levels, the clock will no longer stop and reset when the catcher leaves his position to give defensive signals.”

So, if the catcher comes out to give bunt-coverage signals or first-and-third signals, he better do it fast. If he doesn’t get back in the catcher’s box with nine seconds left on the clock, that’s an automatic ball.

This feels unnecessary, but maybe it’s an issue that I’m not noticing. Defensive signals matter. Baseball is a strategic game and keeping the defense all on the same page in a high leverage situation is crucial. Rushing the mental aspect feels like it will upset the ancestors, but I suppose they aren’t around to grumble for a reason?

Mound Visits: Okay, this one is funny.

“At all levels, mound conferences must end and all coaches and players, other than the pitcher, must be off the dirt of the mound and moving toward their positions or the dugout before the mound visit clock reaches zero.“

I love it when a coach or manager has something they want to say to an umpire, so they wait for them to come out and break up the mound meeting, only to get an earful of whatever perceived grievance is ruffling feathers that day. It’s good stuff, but also let’s be adults and just shout at each other from the dugout when that needs to happen. Overall, this is good. Less stalling, even if it means a bullpen guy has to rush to get ready.

Batter Timeouts:

  • “Double-A & Triple-A. When a batter requests time, the home plate umpire will grant time, point at the batter, then immediately reset the Pitch Clock. Batters must return to the batter’s box and become alert to the pitcher before the clock reaches 8 seconds remaining.“
  • “High-A. Batters will only be permitted to request time with runners on base (i.e., batters will not be permitted to request time with the bases empty). Umpires may continue to grant time if a special circumstance applies (e.g., hitter is brushed back, there is bona fide equipment issue, or injury concern).“
  • “Single-A. Batters will not be permitted to request time. As in High-A, umpires may continue to grant time if a special circumstance applies (e.g., hitter is brushed back, there is a bona fide equipment issue, or injury concern).“

Single-A guys are getting the short stick here, but the umpire’s special circumstance discretion should be just enough to keep things reasonable. Sometimes, guys need a second to compose themselves, but keeping the game moving is important, especially at the low levels.

Disengagement Limit: This feels like the most important one of the bunch.

“In Double-A, the Disengagement Limit will be reduced from 2 to 1. When there are runners on base, pitchers may pickoff or step off once during a plate appearance without penalty.”

No one likes to watch 15 pickoff attempts in a row, but there are speedsters who warrant a throw or two to keep them honest. In my opinion, this is too easy to exploit. One pickoff attempt and then a guy can take a much, much bigger lead and swipe a bag. It’s going to make runners more aggressive, and maybe that will lead to some fun plays by catchers, but it feels like a slippery slope. Testing it at one level is smart.

BYB Says: Does baseball need to be this fast? Maybe the minor leagues do…

Last but certainly not least is the positioning of second base change.

“International League second base will be placed entirely within the perimeter of the infield diamond during the second half.”

First off, terrible wording. The “second half” refers to the second half of the season, and the language about where the base is actually moving is unclear. The short answer is that the back of first and third base line up with the middle of second base. The goal is to move the base in a bit to make the diamond an actual diamond and shorten the distance between the bases, which encourages stealing.

Maybe this image will help, courtesy of the Official Baseball Rules 2021 Edition:

This decreases the distance between first and second, and second and third, by 9 inches, which is double what MLB did by increasing the size of the bases.

BYB Says: Every inch matters.

Alright MLB, we get it. You want more balls in play and more offense in general, and you’ll do anything to get what you want. Other than forcing teams to cut their infield grass, apparently. All these things are just being tested, so we’ll have to see how teams react to their minor league implementation, but they really are forcing it at this point.

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I sat down with Jaylen Brown in July. On Monday, his words rang true.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 14: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the first half against the Washington Wizards at TD Garden on March 14, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images) | Getty Images

BOSTON — Jaylen Brown always knew he could do this.

In July, on the last day of his annual educational camp for Boston youth — the Bridge program — I spoke with the Celtics star.

The team had just lost Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday to trades and Al Horford and Luke Kornet to free agency. Jayson Tatum was on crutches, and for the first time in years, the feeling around basketball in Boston was somber.

In that lengthy conversation, Brown shared how, over the years, he sometimes took a back seat, something he felt most players of his caliber in the NBA haven’t had to do. But, as he stressed multiple times, he was okay with it: it was all in pursuit of a championship, the thing that was most important to him in the world.

“I’m extremely grateful that we won a championship,” Brown said then. “I’m extremely grateful that we’ve been able to have success, and that’s what it’s about.”

But, when it came down to leading a Celtics roster devoid of superstars for the very first time, Brown had no doubt that he was up for the challenge.

We sat across a round table at the MIT building where the Bridge camp was based. Dozens of high school students filed out as the day’s sessions concluded; some gave Brown a fist bump on their way out, others a wave.

After the room emptied, Brown cleared his throat and unexpectedly broached the topic of the year ahead.

“I feel like I’m very talented,” he said. “I’m one of the talented people in this league, on this planet, I feel like. I’m looking forward to showing the world more.”

What would more look like?

I wasn’t even sure.

The Celtics star already had a Finals MVP under his belt, a Second Team All-NBA selection, and four All-Star appearances. He’d averaged at least 20 points per game for six consecutive seasons, while often taking on the Celtics’ most difficult defensive assignments.

As my mind wandered, I took note of how he had phrased that sentence: “I’m one of the talented people in this league.”

He skipped over the word most, likely an intentional choice, but though he omitted it, it still hung in the air, framing our conversation. Brown didn’t need to say it for me to know exactly what he meant.

It was clear as day that Brown had long felt like he was one of the world’s best basketball players, even coming off a season in which his shooting numbers substantially declined as he played through a partially torn meniscus. So, though outside expectations around the Celtics lowered, Brown was eager to show everyone else what he already knew to be true.

Not everyone believed.

The conversation around the 2025-2026 Celtics season was framed around the organization taking a “gap year” with Jayson Tatum sidelined. The word “tanking” came up for the first time in over a decade. Even the most optimistic fans struggled to envision how the Celtics could again find themselves near the top of the Eastern Conference, let alone be one of the NBA’s best teams.

But, just like he said he would, Brown has pridefully steered the ship. On the season, he is averaging 28.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists — all career-highs. His shooting numbers across the board are up from last year, and his 79.2% clip from the free-throw line is the best mark of his career. He’s locked down some of the league’s top stars, taken over in the clutch, and set a franchise record for most consecutive 30+ point games (9).

Brown has tallied six 40+ point games this season, the latest coming on Monday night in a 120-112 win over the Phoenix Suns.

Once again, he was the best player on the floor, outdueling another one of the NBA’s brightest stars. That’s something he’s done countless times in a season filled with masterclass performances.

As MVP chants echoed across a raucous TD Garden, Brown erupted for 18 fourth-quarter points, finishing the night with 41 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists.

“It’s pretty cool, not gonna lie,” Brown said on Monday night. “It’s pretty awesome to be at my this point in my career and be able to get that love from the fans.”

This year, Brown was named an All-Star starter for the first time in his career. He also earned his first Player of the Month selection, collecting the award for his strong play in January. Those accolades aren’t what drive him, but they indicate the outside world sees what he’s long felt: he’s among the best players in all of basketball.

What has driven Jaylen Brown’s career season?

Most players don’t make a leap at age 29, but Jaylen Brown is now a proven exception.

“I’ve always felt like I could be one of the top players in the world, given the opportunity,” Brown said Monday. “And I feel like I got to display that this season.”

One major factor behind this leap is that this season, Brown has overwhelmingly been the Celtics’ primary creator for the first time.

“I’ve been able to be in this in a role where I’ve been able to control things, and everybody’s kind of playing off me,” Brown said. “I’ve been in those roles seldom over the years, but this year, for an extended amount of time, I’ve been able to be in that position.”

To viewers at home, the difference between being the primary creator and the secondary creator might not look as stark as it feels. But, for Brown — a player who sometimes very clearly enters a flow state on the offensive end— it’s night and day.

“People are going to have their critiques and their criticism, but it’s just a completely different flow when people play off you, or when you play off others,” he said. “It’s two completely different things. For people watching the game, you just think, like, ‘just roll the ball out, and everything’s supposed to work great. Players are all supposed to fit together.’ It doesn’t always work like that. Sometimes, you got to take a backseat, or sometimes you got to play more off-ball. So, everything shifts.”

“I’ve been able to play at my own pace. And I’ve been able to control my own destiny.”

Still, as well as things have gone, he feels like he has a lot of room to grow.

“I feel like even now, over the last couple of games, I’ve adjusted my game,” he said. “And I’m still continuing to get better in my playmaking ability, seeing the floor, taking my time, all of that stuff is still continuing to improve.”

Brown’s offensive production may soon take a hit — and that’s okay

With Jayson Tatum back in the lineup, he’ll once again share the floor with his co-star. Brown is candid: accepting that his role will change as a result takes humility, and isn’t always easy.

But he understands that what’s at stake is a championship.

“JT is extremely important to us for what we want to do,” Brown said. “Obviously, I’m having a great season, but then I have to just think: what’s the big picture?”

And, just like he told me back in July, as much as he feels confident in his own abilities, individual accolades aren’t what drive him.

“I always put the team first and what the bigger picture is first,” Brown said.

Only 14 games remain in the Celtics’ season. They currently sit at 45-23, good for the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. Already, they’re the betting odds favorites to come out of the East.

But Brown still feels like his team has another gear it can reach.

“Everybody has to be patient,” he said. “This is not the best version you’re watching right now.”

NBA fans may want to take heed of that warning — because Jaylen Brown has been right before.

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Seiya Suzuki back at spring training with Cubs after injuring knee in World Baseball Classic

MESA, Ariz. — Seiya Suzuki was back at spring training with the Chicago Cubs and went for an MRI on his right knee that he injured while playing for Japan in the World Baseball Classic.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters that the team was waiting for the MRI results, and wouldn’t speculate on the extent or nature of the injury for their designated hitter and outfielder.

“Let’s get the information, and then we should be able to tell you that,” Counsell said.

Suzuki got hurt in the first inning of Japan’s 8-5 loss to Venezuela in a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal in Miami. He appeared to hurt his right knee when he was caught stealing while going headfirst into second base. Suzuki walked gingerly as he returned to the dugout, accompanied by an athletic trainer, and was replaced in center field after the end of that half-inning.

Suzuki had a soft brace on his right knee when walking slowly through the Cubs clubhouse in Arizona, where he was also examined by a team doctor.

The 31-year-old Suzuki is going into the final season of a five-year, $85 million contract. He has hit .269 with 87 home runs and 296 RBIs in 532 games for the Cubs.

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Steve Kerr makes history with 600th win as NBA head coach

Phil Jackson. Pat Riley. Gregg Popovic.

Only those legendary Hall of Fame coaches reached 600 wins as head coaches faster than Steve Kerr, who hit the milestone on Monday night when the Warriors beat the Washington Wizards.

"It's surreal to hear my name in that group, but I can tell you that it's one thing that bonds us all together, those names and mine," Kerr said after the win, via NBC Sports Bay Area. "It's talent. It's talent. I mean, you can't win in this league without great players, and I was blessed from the day I took this job with incredible talent with Steph [Curry] and Klay [Thompson] and Andre [Iguodala] and Andrew Bogut and down down the list ...

"All these guys are just amazing, and so I owe the honor to incredible talent and a great organization. Just to work for the Warriors, to be part of this amazing group of people that [Warriors owners] Joe Lacob and Peter Guber put together. Just to be a part of this, I'm so blessed, and most organizations are not this strong and this aligned, and I'm very, very lucky."

There are 28 coaches who have reached 600 wins, but Kerr does it with four titles and coaching the team of a generation. Kerr won rings as a player for Jackson and Popovich and served as a bridge from that era to the modern game — which his Warriors helped form.

This current Warriors team — with both Jimmy Butler (ACL) and Stephen Curry (knee) — out injured is struggling to hold its position in the West and appears headed for the play-in. The Warriors did get Kristaps Porzingis and Draymond Green back for the win in Washington.

Kerr is in the final year of his contract but has put off discussing his future with the team until this season ends. That said, around the league, the expectation is that he will be back coaching the Warriors next season.

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Brewers to broadcast 10 regular season games on over-the-air stations in Wisconsin

Barrel Man, one of the Brewers mascots operates a TV camera before the Milwaukee Brewers faced the Colorado Rockies for the home opener at Miller Park in Milwaukee, April 6, 2015. Barrel Man was originally the Brewers logo from 1970-1977. He became an official mascot in 2015. | Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Milwaukee Brewers have announced their plan to air 10 games on over-the-air stations in Wisconsin in 2026, anchored by WITI Fox 6 in Milwaukee.

Those games include Opening Day on Thursday, March 26 against the White Sox, with a first pitch at 1:10 p.m. Other simulcasts will all occur on Tuesday night games, with the full schedule included below.

  • Thursday, March 26 vs. White Sox (1:10 p.m.)
  • Tuesday, March 31 vs. Rays (6:40 p.m.)
  • Tuesday, April 28 vs. Diamondbacks (6:40 p.m.)
  • Tuesday, May 12 vs. Padres (6:40 p.m.)
  • Tuesday, May 19 @ Cubs (6:40 p.m.)
  • Tuesday, June 2 vs. Giants (6:40 p.m.)
  • Tuesday, August 4 vs. Pirates (6:40 p.m.)
  • Tuesday, August 18 vs. Mariners (6:40 p.m.)
  • Tuesday, August 25 @ Mets (6:10 p.m.)
  • Tuesday, September 8 vs. Cubs (6:40 p.m.)

The channels participating in the simulcasts are as follows:

  • Milwaukee: WITI Fox 6
  • Madison: WISC-TV, TVW
  • La Crosse-Eau Claire: WKBT-TV
  • Marquette, Michigan: WJMN-TV
  • Duluth-Superior: KDLH-TV, KBJR-TV
  • Wausau-Rhinelander: WSAW-TV, WZAW-LD, WYOW
  • Green Bay: WGBA-TV, WACY-TV
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The disappearance of Mikal Bridges

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 13: Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks walks off the court after the game against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 13, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With just 13 games left to go in the regular season, it’s go time for the New York Knicks. The boys in orange and blue have won their last three outings, and after a lengthy west coast road trip, should be excited to stick around the eastern time zone for their next few games.

As the playoffs become more and more in focus, it’s imperative that the Knicks are playing the best ball towards the end of the year. You want to be peaking at the right time. Brunson, Towns, and Anunoby have all been playing up to their standards. Mitchell Robinson has been attacking the glass hard. The bench has had a lot of different contributors as of late.

The most noticeable absence from that list, of course, is Mikal Bridges. And what a glaring absence it is.

Over his last six games, Bridges is averaging 6.5 points per outing. 

That’s not a typo. Soak it up. 6.5 points. That’s nearly a first-rounder given up per point at that rate. Are we serious?

Bridges, shooting 32% from the floor and 21% from three over that span, has been playing just over 26 minutes per night over the same period of time. He’s been benched in the fourth quarter multiple times. While he still delivers a steadying presence on the defensive end, the man who once averaged over twenty points per game has now turned into an offensive afterthought.

In general, it’s indicative of a season-long regression. Bridges’ average points have decreased from 17.6 to 14.8 between his two years as a Knick – still very solid, but for the blockbuster price New York paid for him, they just had to be expecting more. He has little to no aggression with the ball in his hands, and when the fadeaway jumpers aren’t falling, things get ugly fast.

Remember, Bridges was hailed as the missing piece when New York traded for him. He was the last of the Nova Knicks, destined to become a part of Madison Square Garden lore and propel the Knicks into championship contention.

Yes, New York may be viewed as a contender, but the reality of the situation is that it’s not because Bridges came in and elevated the level of play.

After last year’s playoffs, we’ve seen Bridges show up in the biggest of moments while under immense scrutiny. I’ll take any opportunity I can get to link these.

You could argue that the two plays above made the trade worth it alone. I don’t know if you’d be right, but you certainly could argue it, and I certainly would have to smile as I imagined the first two games of the Knicks-Celtics series last year. Bridges is a dog. He has it in him. We all know it. However – and most importantly – if this year’s Knicks want to win a championship, they’ll need Bridges to at least revert to the levels he played at last postseason to go on a true run.

The fate of New York may be in his hands, and a championship push might ultimately be dependent on which version of Mikal Bridges shows up in the playoffs. He has thirteen more games to figure it out before we see for ourselves.

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Islanders vs Maple Leafs Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NHL Game

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Toronto Maple Leafs games have featured significantly less offense without Auston Matthews in the lineup.

With an excellent goaltending matchup between Ilya Sorokin and Joseph Woll, my Islanders vs. Maple Leafs predictions expect goals will once again be hard to come by.

Let’s break down my NHL picks for Tuesday, March 17.

Islanders vs Maple Leafs prediction

Islanders vs Maple Leafs best bet: Under 5.5 (+115)

The Toronto Maple Leafs have played in much lower scoring games with Auston Matthews sidelined. Those contests have averaged 5.37 goals, well below the 6.78 when Matthews is in the lineup.

That trend should continue against the New York Islanders, who slot 4th in goals allowed and will be starting Vezina candidate Ilya Sorokin.

He sits atop the league in Goals Saved Above Expected (+26.2) and allows just 2.5 goals per game.

Joseph Woll is also in good form. He has posted a .900+ save percentage in six of eight, setting him up nicely heading into a matchup with the 22nd ranked offense.

Islanders vs Maple Leafs same-game parlay

John Tavares has averaged 3.8 shots on 7.4 attempts through four home games without Auston Matthews this season. Those are Matthews-like outputs. Playing the 1C role against his former team, Tavares is a strong candidate to lead the Leafs in shots.

Brandon Carlo blocked multiple shots only once over his first six games. Since that point, he has averaged 2.1 and managed a 62% hit rate. The Islanders rank Top-10 in 5-on-5 shot generation over their past 10, giving Carlo plenty of pucks to jump in front of.

Islanders vs Maple Leafs SGP

  • Under 6
  • John Tavares Over 2.5 shots
  • Brandon Carlo Over 1.5 blocks

Islanders vs Maple Leafs odds

  • Moneyline: New York -135 | Toronto +115
  • Puck Line: New York -1.5 (+175) | Toronto +1.5 (-215)
  • Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+115) | Under 6.5 (-135)

Islanders vs Maple Leafs trend

The New York Islanders have hit the Game Total Under in 16 of their last 25 away games (+8.45 Units / 30% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Islanders vs. Maple Leafs.

How to watch Islanders vs Maple Leafs

LocationScotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
DateTuesday, March 17, 2026
Puck drop7:00 p.m. ET
TVMSGSN, TSN4

Islanders vs Maple Leafs latest injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Game Preview: Knicks vs Pacers, March 17, 2026

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 13: Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks and T.J. McConnell #9 of the Indiana Pacers battle for the ball during the second quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 13, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images

They’re back at it again. Thankfully, for the fourth and final time this season, the Knicks (44*-25) will face the Pacers (15-53). Just two games ago, New York had to extert more effort than expected to knock of these cellar dwellers in Indiana. Tonight, they take the floor at Madison Square Garden in the first of seven remaining regular season home games.

Over their last 10 games, the Knicks have gone 7-3. The Pacers have lost 13 straight.

In their last meeting, on March 13, 2026, the Knicks won 101-92. Jalen Brunson led New York with 29 points and nine assists, while Mitchell Robinson hauled down a career-high 22 boards and OG Anunoby added 25 points. Jarace Walker led the Pacers with 18 points and nine rebounds.

The Pacers have had a dismal season defined by poor efficiency on both ends. Their offensive rating is last in the league and their defensive rating rates 25th. They average 111.2 points per game (27th in the league) and rank in the bottom 10 for wins, points allowed, field goal percentage, and net rating.

The best player on the Pacers is Pascal Siakam, who averages 24 points per game and shoots 36.2% from three while adding 6.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists. He’s missed four straight games, though, and Indiana might be inclined to shut him down for the remainder of the campaign. Andrew Nembhard contributes 17 points and leads the team with 7.3 assists per game. Bennedict Mathurin provides scoring punch at 17.8 points per game with 37.2% from downtown in limited appearances.[Editor’s Note: D’oh.] Aaron Nesmith adds 13.5 points and solid defense.

The Pacers are already without Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) and Johnny Furphy (ACL) for the season, and could be even more shorthanded Tuesday with Pascal Siakam (doubtful) and a long list of rotation players—McConnell, Nembhard, Nesmith, Toppin, Zubac, Sheppard, Jackson, and Potter—listed as questionable. For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson is listed as a game-time decision as he’s managing an ankle sprain and neck pain. And I have my suspicions about Landry Shamet’s neck.

Prediction

Quoth Vermont Knicks Fan, “I call BS on the Pacers injury report.” Indeed. It’s Indiana’s special duty to make our lives miserable every time they face the Knicks, and tonight will be no exception. ESPN.com gives the Knicks an 87% chance of winning, but if I were a betting man, I’d count on the Hoosiers to cover the spread.

Coach Mike Brown should rest Brunson. We’ll need Cap’s gas tank as full as possible when the playoffs start, and this would be a prime opportunity for the other point guards on the bench (Tyler Kolek, Jose Alvarado) to show what they can do. We don’t doubt that the Knicks will win, given that the Pacers focused on tanking. It just might not feel like a sure thing until midway through the fourth. The Kolek Game? The Diawara Game? The McCullar Game? Carpe diem, gents. Knicks by 12.

Game Details

Who: New York Knicks (44*-25) vs Indiana Pacers (15-53)
Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Place: Madison Square Garden, NYC
TV: MSG Network
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

* Should be one more, but NBA Cup wins lurk in the shadows

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Spring Training March 17 Game Thread: Braves at Red Sox

CLEARWATER, FL - MARCH 15: Atlanta Braves Infielder Kyle Farmer (15) at bat during spring training game between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies on March 15, 2026 at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Atlanta Braves are in their final countdown of their excellent spring showing and Reynaldo López looks to continue his ramp up before hopefully being a key member of a Braves 2026 rebound.

López has looked good this spring in his 9.0 innings pitched. He has only allowed six hits, and one earned run so far while striking out eight. Hitters are only hitting .182 against him thus far. The few areas that give pause is that he has walked four hitters and his groundout to air out ratio is only 0.36. If he wants to maintain success, he needs to keep the ball out of the air.

The Braves will face Sonny Gray in Ft. Myers. Gray has only pitched 5.1 innings this spring and has struggled in limited action. ERA in small sample sizes can be deceiving, but even if we look beyond his 6.75 we see that he has three walks to only five strikeouts while giving up four hits to include two HRs. Hitters have been able to maintain a .300 average against him. Again, small sample size and he will likely pitch much better in the regular season.

As the spring comes to a close, there are a few spots left on the bench that are not finalized for the Braves. Kyle Farmer, Dominic Smith, and José Azócar have all made strong cases if we are looking at this spring training in a vacuum. They carry an OPS of .986, .804, and .832 respectively. Based on their platoon splits, there are arguments to be made that both Farmer and Smith make the team on Opening Day.

Azócar and Farmer will both get the chance today to boost their case for making the Opening Day roster with each getting the start against RHP Sonny Gray.

There could be an argument to be made that Camargo and León may have an outside shot to win the backup catcher role over Heim, but the odds seem slim at this point even though Camargo has hit two bombs this spring.

López is going to get a good test today. In his previous starts this spring he has not seen many full time MLB starters. He will get that test in the game today as the Red Sox have many of their starters in the lineup.

As can be seen in the lineup above, many of these players in the lineup are having fantastic showings this spring. The good news is that in spring training the games are to ramp up and this will be a good training opportunity for López. Baseball Reference has this fun tool called OppQual to measure the difficulty of opponents in the spring. A 7.0 is AA level on average, 8.0 is AAA, and 10.0 is MLB. So far López is at a 7.5. That will change after today.

Game Notes

Time: 1:05 ET

TV: Gray TV

Radio: ESPN 103.7/WIFN 1340

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Presenting the 2026 Yankees Roster Season Preview

The long night of the offseason is approaching its conclusion! Pitchers and catchers report to the Tampa spring training complex in nine days as of the time that this post goes up, and we’ll have exhibition games beginning on February 20th against the Orioles. Opening Day in San Francisco is just over a month after that, on March 25th.

Whether you’re following all the early Yankees activity on social media or just waiting until Opening Day to tune in, Pinstripe Alley has you covered with our annual season preview series. Every weekday from now until the real action begins, we’ll delve into a player who is expected to be either on the Opening Day roster or a key part of the Yankees’ system. There are always some surprises in spring training and unexpected injuries, so the people we run through will be subject to change, but we will endeavor to hit the most important names in camp.

So follow along with us! This article will live near the top of our homepage throughout spring training and the first couple weeks of April, serving as the tracker for all of our season previews.

David Bednar
Cody Bellinger
Paul Blackburn
José Caballero
Oswaldo Cabrera
Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Angel Chivilli
Gerrit Cole
Fernando Cruz
Jasson Domínguez
Camilo Doval
J.C. Escarra
Max Fried
Luis Gil
Trent Grisham
Tim Hill
Aaron Judge
Ryan McMahon
Ben Rice
Carlos Rodón
Amed Rosario
Cam Schlittler
Clarke Schmidt
Giancarlo Stanton
Anthony Volpe
Will Warren
Ryan Weathers
Austin Wells
Ryan Yarbrough
Spencer Jones
George Lombard Jr.
Elmer Rodríguez
Dax Kilby
Ben Hess
Carlos Lagrange
Cade Winquest
Randal Grichuk

Player order and selection subject to change following any future Yankees transactions.

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What to expect from Shohei Ohtani pitching in 2026

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 16: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws in the outfield prior to a Spring Training game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Camelback Ranch on March 16, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Shohei Ohtani is back in Dodgers camp after the World Baseball Classic, and will likely be back in the Dodgers lineup later this week. We’re also nearing the point when he will pitch in an actual game, after doing his pitching build-up this spring on the backfields and before games.

Ohtani pitched four simulated innings last Friday in Miami on a World Baseball Classic workout day, which lines up for another potential start this weekend in an actual game. Whether that start will come at Camelback Ranch or during the Freeway Series against the Angels, Ohtani is much more built-up than last season, when he eased back into the rotation with short starts, beginning in June.

“Last year we had the plan to start from one inning, to keep him going active with us playing. I think this year we’re certainly north of that,” manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Tuesday in Arizona. “I don’t see how we wouldn’t be able to get to three or four innings in a major league game.That’s certainly a better jumping off point than last year.”

Ohtani had three seasons with the Angels (2021-23) during which he was a full-time two-way player for the entire season. He made at least 23 starts in each of those seasons, and topped out at 28 starts and 166 innings in 2022, when he finished fourth in American League Cy Young voting and second for AL MVP (behind Aaron Judge and his 63 home runs).

Ohtani as a two-way player truly showcases the impact he has on the sport. Baseball revolves around the batter-pitcher matchup, as he’s involved in more of those battles than anyone. From 2021-23 with the Angels, Ohtani had 13 different baseball months during which he was involved in at least 200 plate appearances either batting or pitching, topping out at 268 PA in September 2022. That year was nearly an even split for Ohtani, facing 660 batters while pitching and batting 666 times.

Last year, his busiest month with the Dodgers was in August, with 193 total plate appearances (121 batting, 72 pitching).

Today’s question is how many pitching starts will Ohtani make for the Dodgers in 2026?

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Kevin Durant says he ‘lost the game’ for Rockets vs. Lakers with second-half meltdown

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Kevin Durant double teamed by Austin Reaves and LeBron James, Image 2 shows Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant vs. Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James
Kevin Durant was his own harshest critic following Monday's deflating loss.

Kevin Durant was his own harshest critic Monday night.

The Rockets star was brutally honest with reporters after getting neutralized by late-game defensive adjustments, blaming himself for the Houston’s 100–92 home loss to the Lakers.

With its offensive engine hindered by a flurry of double-teams, Houston scored just 12 points on 4-for-16 shooting while committing nine costly turnovers in the final period. 

Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant blamed himself for Monday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Getty Images

“I just felt like I lost the game for us tonight,” said Durant, who scored just two of his 18 points in the second half and accounted for seven of Houston’s 24 turnovers. “It’s that simple. Of course we probably could make more 3s, but it’s on me. I mean, to be honest, I’m the offense and the opposing team is going to use all their resources and not let me get comfortable.

“First half, I got comfortable in iso, comfortable coming off of pindowns, pick-and-rolls and they decided not to let me get comfortable no more,” he added. “So I got to be smarter, better with the ball. I got to maybe shoot over some of them double-teams, but space out, be ready to catch and shoot, be ready to be a screener, just be in a dunker spot, just being able to be there as a resource for my teammates to provide space. I didn’t need to have the ball as much as I did tonight.”

The Rockets (41–26) have frequently struggled late in games when teams send reinforcements at Durant, but were further strained Monday night as All-Star center Alperen Sengun was sidelined to nurse lower back pain.

The Lakers (43–25) — who have won nine of their last 10 games behind an emerging defensive identity — planned accordingly, deploying several different coverages to disrupt Houston’s sole source of offense.

It proved a winning strategy for Los Angeles, which offset its own offensive struggles — save for Luka Doncic’s 36 points — by holding Houston to just 35 points and 15 forced turnovers, including six from Durant, after intermission.

Kevin Durant was hit with several double-teams during the second half of Monday’s loss to the Lakers. NBAE via Getty Images

“[Durant’s] one of the greatest players we’ve ever seen play obviously, so you’ve just got to try to show him different looks, try to keep him off balance,” said LeBron James, who scored 18 points.

“And when he shoots, hope he misses. He don’t miss many shots. So I thought we did a good job of having a game plan, but also just switching up our pitches. Can’t show a great like that too many of the same coverages just throughout the whole game.”

The Rockets — now 1 1/2 games behind Los Angeles for third place in the Western Conference — will host the Lakers again Wednesday night. 

Durant, who finished 8-for-16 from the floor but shot just 1-for-5 during the second half, would seemingly like to see Houston implement a different strategy in the rematch — questioning his effectiveness as the primary ball handler down the stretch.

“I just feel like it just makes us stagnant,” Durant said. “When I come across half [court] and then they waited on me to drive, but I know they’re coming to double, so I wait a split second. I just think the whole process is too slow.

“And I just think that it’s all on me, because the team, when they see me, it just feels like one-on-five, to be honest,” he added. “You know what I’m saying? Because I see two guys coming up out the corner to help at the elbows and guys at the boxes. It’s almost like a zone when I get the ball up top. When I try to post up anywhere, it’s going to be double-teams. So I’m just trying to find out ways to open myself up, open my teammates up.”

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MLB The Show 26 review: Ground rule double

The latest iteration of the storied MLB The Show series is good, it’s really good — but it’s been good for years now. Routinely one of the best sports video games of the year, The Show is truly hitting the point of diminishing returns, and while MLB The Show 26 is the best iteration of the series, it’s also not that much better to the point of an overwhelming recommendation unless you’re a die-hard fan who keeps up with the live service elements of the game each season.

It begins with the on-field action, and to this end MLB The Show 26 still reigns supreme. No sports game feels as true to life as this series in capturing not just hitting, pitching, and fielding — but the minutia in between. Top pitchers will paint the zone with infuriating accuracy, hitters will manage to get the barrel on balls outside of the zone, and an elite shortstop will really shine through with their ability to create double plays and rifle incredible throws into first.

One big quality of life improvement for more casual players is the addition of “Big Zone Hitting,” this is a happy medium between the incredible ease of simple timing hitting and traditional zone hitting — generating more reliable contact if you’ve struggled with batting in the past. There’s enough granularity to feel like you actually need to locate the pitch, without the frustration of endless pop-up flies without perfectly guessing which zone the ball is going to.

On the pitching side the added drama of “Bear Down Pitching” amps up the drama in clutch situations. With a press of LT before the pitch crowd noise is drowned out, you can hear the pitcher’s heartbeat, and it offers greater accuracy on one key pitch. These can only be used a couple of times per game, so as not to be abused — but there’s nothing quite like having a tying runner on base in the 9th and activating Bear Down to get that critical out.

Along with these two features are a slew of new niche animations that add even more realism to the game. That said, glitches still happen — including this one where ___ bat became something rather lewd.

The bummer that is the World Baseball Classic

MLB The Show 26 is dripping in World Baseball Classic references, including the cover which boasted Aaron Judge along with the WBC uniform, and Team USA jersey. Unfortunately there isn’t a fully fleshed out WBC mode, or even the option to simply pick up and play the WBC.

Instead, it’s been tucked inside “Diamond Dynasty,” which is The Show’s equivalent of Ultimate Team as special challenges. There are licensing and timing realities that developer San Diego Studios have used to explain why there isn’t a fully-realized WBC mode, but especially releasing well before opening day it’s jarring not to be able to play the biggest international tournament in baseball inside MLB’s flagship game.

The Negro Leagues continue to be incredible

It’s astonishing to me that no other sports video game has played into the history of the game to the depth of MLB The Show. The mode has returned as an ode to the incredible players lost to time and prejudice who deserve to have their stories told. My nine-year-old daughter was glued to the screen as I was playing through the Negro Leagues, loving the real-life interviews woven with watercolor images from the past.

This year’s crop of stories from the Negro Leagues are:

  • Roy Campanella
  • Mamie “Peanut” Johnson
  • John Henry “Pop” Lloyd
  • George “Mule” Suttles

We need historical modes like this in other sports games.

Creating my baseball monster

“Road to the Show” is naturally back, and remains one of the best individual career modes in sports video games. The ability to take a player from high school, through college, the minors, and into the pros really highlights the brutal mountain prospective baseball players have to climb on the way to stardom.

This year adds more college recruiting options to choose from, expanding the roster to 19 possible schools to play for en route to The Show: Cal State Fullerton, TCU, Tennessee, South Carolina, UCLA, Texas, Vanderbilt, LSU, UNC, Stanford, Michigan, Florida, Arkansas, Virginia, FSU, Oregon State, Wake Forest, Clemson and Fresno State.

It’s a small addition, but a notable one. On the other end of the spectrum is new “Road to Cooperstown” integration, which formats specific goals when you’re in MLB to try and make the hall of fame and cement your legacy. Otherwise the mode has seen some general improvements in requesting trades, and position changes — but nothing that reinvents the wheel.

Thankfully you can still make absolute monsters as your created players, or scan your own face if you want to be in the game. I’ll let you decide what I did here.

Is MLB The Show 26 worth getting?

If you’ve taken a long break from baseball games and want to get back in then there’s absolutely no reason not to get MLB The Show 26. It’s a brilliant game in a series that always iterates, always gets better, and is constantly improving. Similarly if you enjoy the live service elements of the game like Diamond Dynasty, and that’s your main gaming focus of the year — then you more or less have to buy it to keep up with the player base.

However, if you bought MLB The Show 25 and only played casually, well, there’s nothing really here that reinvents the wheel. At best it will feel like small, iterative improvements that unquestionably make the game look, feel, and play better than ever — but there’s no huge leap over past titles in the series.

Overall, we have a great baseball game that feels like it’s been going back to the well a few times too many. The true lack of the WBC feels like an unforced error, and the core experience is largely the same.

8/10

MLB The Show 26 was reviewed on Xbox Series X using review code provided by Sony Interactive Entertainment

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Mariners Prospect Rankings #10, RHP Griffin Hugus

CORAL GABLES, FL - MAY 02: Miami right-handed pitcher Griffin Hugus (13) pitches in the fifth inning as the Miami Hurricanes faced the NC State Wolfpack on May 2, 2025, at Mark Light Field at Alex Rodriguez Park in Coral Gables, Florida. (Photo by Samuel Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

A lot has changed for Griffin Hugus since joining the Seattle Mariners organization.

Drafted in the third round for slightly under slot value, the University of Miami product checked every box of a “Seattle Mariner starting pitcher”. With an athletic 6’2 frame and a full arsenal of offerings at his disposal, Hugus paired intriguing underlying traits with good command and high-spin breakers, a profile the Mariners absolutely love to get into their development program. The heater, though typically in the low 90’s, has a good cut-ride shape and plays well at the top of the zone, and his cutter/sweeper/curveball combination all possess good movement and look like potential above-average offerings at the next level. His fifth offering, a changeup, still needs some fine tuning, but that isn’t necessarily atypical for a young pitcher. A clean operation down the mound and a burgeoning arsenal had Hugus on the rise, and the Mariners capitalized. If he was capable of adding the tick or two of velocity many scouts thought he could, Hugus would elevate his profile and look like a massive steal as a money-saving third rounder.

In an amazingly short amount of time, he did just that. With reports out of “gas camp” this winter indicating he was arguably the stuffiest pitcher present, the indication was he’d found some extra juice after beginning professional-grade strength training and instruction. Hugus had taken the leap the Mariners expected of him, positioning him beautifully for his debut season and prompting us to rank him rather aggressively prior to his debut season.

That debut, unfortunately, doesn’t look like it will be happening in 2026.

Our own Kate Preusser got word that Hugus appears to be heading toward Tommy John surgery, and though it isn’t yet a certainty, he’s expected to miss significant time regardless. It’s obviously a brutal blow for any young pitcher, but I have all the faith in the world that Hugus is in good hands with his recovery. Whenever he’s back healthy and ready to throw again, Hugus is sure to be an interesting arm for the Mariners development gurus to help maximize. Until then, however, all we can do is wish him a speedy recovery.

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2026 MLB Preview: Padres

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 14: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 and Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres celebrate a three run double from Jurickson Profar #10, to take a 6-3 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers, during the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium on April 14, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images

There is no doubting that the Dodgers have made themselves the juggernaut of the NL West and indeed all of baseball, winning back-to-back World Series and signing one of if not the top free agent every winter. The Rockies meanwhile don’t look close to shaking the label of worst team in baseball any time soon. The intriguing question for the division, therefore, is how the other three teams will place by the end of the season. For the first time in what feels like a long time, it looks like the Padres may finally be displaced from their perch as the perennial runners-up to the Dodgers, and appear at risk of missing the playoffs altogether.

2025 record: 90-72 (2nd, NL West)
2026 FanGraphs projection: 80-82 (4th, NL West)

They’ve got an incredibly top-heavy lineup — Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill, and Xander Bogaerts are expected to put up over 16 wins between them and should carry the rest of the offense on most nights. However, they have a billion dollars tied up in Tatis, Machado, and Bogaerts. While that’s not the worst trio to have that kind of money invested into, Machado and Bogaerts are both 33 while Tatis is excellent yet not exactly the slugger he was pre-PED suspension. Furthermore, Merrill has to prove he can bounce back from a disappointing sophomore campaign and once again establish a ceiling as a perennial future All-Star.

If anything should happen to that quartet, be it injury, regression, or failure to rebound, production will drop off precipitously. No other hitter on the roster is expected to reach a 110 wRC+ while Merrill is the only projected starter under the age of 30. That being said, I don’t expect the offense to be the unit that holds the Padres down.

That distinction belongs to the starting pitchers. There is a scary amount of injury risk in the rotation. Michael King re-signed for three years and $75 million after missing most of the season to a nerve injury in his throwing shoulder. Nick Pivetta is coming off a career-high in innings and has several major injuries in his pitching arm’s past. Joe Musgrove is expected to start the season in IL after suffering a setback in his Tommy John rehab. Yu Darvish’s status is at the very least “unlikely to pitch” after conflicting reports of his retirement over the winter. King’s fellow former Yankee Randy Vásquez has been healthy but is downright allergic to strikeouts. Germán Márquez, Griffin Canning, and Walker Buehler were all brought in on one year prove-it deals, all three having undergone major surgery in the last two years. There is a very real possibility that none of the players mentioned hits 100 innings in 2026.

The saving grace is that the Padres should continue to have the No. 1 bullpen in MLB. Led by flame-throwing closer Mason Miller, almost every late inning San Diego lead is safe. Jeremiah Estrada and Adrian Morejon were both terrific in 2025 and project to be the same in 2026 while Jason Adam could be ready for Opening Day after his excellent 2025 was cut short by a torn quad.

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All this being said, the biggest Padres story as Opening Day looms does not take place on the field but instead in the highest offices of the organization. Following former owner Peter Seidler’s untimely passing from non-Hodgkin lymphoma after the 2023 season, his brother and widow became embroiled in a toxic lawsuit over control of the team. His widow eventually dropped the bulk of her claims, but it created a pall over a team that should have been solely focused on its championship window. Seidler’s sons are now in the process of fielding bids for a team sale, with final bids expected to come in April as many around the industry predict that the franchise will top the record $2.4 billion that Steven Cohen paid to buy the Mets.

Thus, San Diego appears to be in somewhat of a no-man’s land as they await the finalization of the sale and the accompanying changes to the front office. They have one of the oldest rosters in baseball and shouldn’t expect any help to come from the minors given their status as the worst farm system in MLB, with only Kruz Schoolcraft cracking MLB Pipeline’s top-100 list at 88th overall. Given all this uncertainty about the short and long-term trajectory of the franchise, it’s understandable that the Padres were conservative when it came to external additions, preferring one-year deals near the league minimum for veteran players. Canning and Márquez joined the fold one one-year pacts and Buehler on a minor league deal with a spring invite while Nick Castellanos was claimed off waivers from the Phillies, San Diego only on the hook for the minimum portion of his salary. Even regarding King’s three-year deal, it has opt-outs, so if he fully gets back to his 2024 form, he’s probably out the door for a better dealafter 2026.

For Padres fans accustomed to their recent success, they could be in for a rude awakening in 2026. FanGraphs Depth Charts pegs them for a fourth-place finish with a losing record of 80-82 and just 22.3-percent playoff odds while PECOTA believes they will finish third at 81-81 with 30.6-percent playoff odds. It’s not that the teams around them have gotten better — though the Giants have made several marquee additions to the offense over the last two years — so much as the Padres being injury-riddled and a year older. It’ll be a three-way dogfight for second in the division, and even then that’s no guarantee of clinching a Wild Card.

More Pinstripe Alley MLB team season previews can be found here.