WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 20: Dylan Crews #3 of the Washington Nationals poses for a photo during the Washington Nationals Photo Day at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on February 20, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Washington Nationals baseball is back folks. After six long months, the boys are back in town. It will be a much different vibe from the last time we saw the Nats play though. At the end of September, they were at the end of a long and unsuccessful slog. Now, they are at the start of a new era.
Everyone will have chances to prove themselves and roster spots will be up for grabs. I cannot remember a Spring Training where so much is up in the air. That is only natural because there is a new POBO, a new GM and a new manager. They are going to want to get close looks at these players.
Today, the new braintrust will have a chance to see a lot of different players, as the Nats are playing two games. There is a split-squad, with one group playing the Astros on Nationals TV, while the rest of the team is playing against the Cardinals in Jupiter.
Based on the lineups, the team in West Palm Beach is the stronger one. That team will feature the likes of CJ Abrams, Dylan Crews, Keibert Ruiz and Abimelec Ortiz. The Jupiter team has Harry Ford and other roster contenders like Joey Wiemer and Matt Mervis. Sam Petersen is an interesting prospect at the bottom of that lineup.
We are not going to see much in the way of well known pitching, at least to start. Jake Eder and Shinnosuke Ogasawara will be the starters today. Both are long shots to make the roster, but could get looks at some point this season. The reason they are the ones pitching today just has to do with their throwing schedules. I would not read much into that.
Spring starters set.
Jake Eder opens Grapefruit League play. Shinnosuke Ogasawara starts the split squad game in Jupiter.
More about schedules than roster locks, but baseball is back đ
However, it is still fun to see the team back on the field. This is the first time we will see the boys back in action in the Paul Toboni era. I am curious to see if we will be able to see any notable changes today. It is much easier to spot changes in pitchers than hitters in Spring Training though.
It is easier to identify changes with pitchers right away. You can see the velocity on the radar gun and the shapes of the new pitches. Speaking of the radar gun, we will have a better read on that this year. Every Spring Training site now has statcast, so we will be able to see all of that data. That is very helpful and it will be something I will follow.
It allows us to track things like the progress of Cade Cavalliâs new sweeper and whether Robert Hassellâs added muscle is allowing him to hit the ball harder. Shoutout to the MLB for adding statcast to all the spring sites.
Another thing statcast allows for is the ABS challenge system. With the challenge system coming to the MLB this season, catchers are going to need to learn what to challenge. Spring Training will give the Nats catchers important reps. Since it is so early, there are no main strategies for challenging. Spring Training will give catchers trial and error opportunities.
Most importantly, baseball is back. I am so excited to watch the first Nats game on Nationals TV. Some people say Ground Hogs day can be the start of spring, but in my opinion, the first game of Spring Training is when spring truly gets underway.
SARASOTA, FL - FEBRUARY 20: Trey Gibson (88) of the Baltimore Orioles delivers a pitch during a spring training game against the New York Yankees on February 20, 2026 at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Oriolesâ farm system might be past the point of boasting the consensus #1 prospect in baseball every year. Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday and the like have long since graduated to the majors. But thereâs still plenty to like about the Oriolesâ prospect pipeline. And there will be no shortage of promising youngsters whose progress we can follow throughout the 2026 season.
The one who most interests me is a guy we got a long look at in the Oriolesâ Grapefruit League opener yesterday: Trey Gibson. A year ago, Gibson isnât someone who was on my prospect radar, considering his unheralded background as an undrafted free agent signing who had just completed his first year of full-season pro ball. But Gibsonâs dynamic arsenal and stupendous 2025 season, highlighted by a 1.89 ERA in 10 starts at Double-A Chesapeake, have rocketed him to a status as arguably the Oriolesâ best pitching prospect. Heâs ranked as a top-100 prospect by ESPN, Baseball America, and FanGraphs. His intriguing arm was on full display against the Yankees yesterday as he pitched three scoreless innings to complete the Birdsâ shutout win. Gibson will begin this year at Triple-A Norfolk but has a great chance to contribute to the Oriolesâ rotation at some point this year.
What about you, Camden Chatters? Which Orioles prospect are you most excited to follow this season? Is it former first rounder Enrique Bradfield Jr., or 2025 breakout prospect Nate George? A power arm like Luis De LeĂłn? Perhaps one of last yearâs top draft picks, Ike Irish or Wehiwa Aloy? Or someone else? Let us know in the comments.
Peoria, AZ - February 19: Yuki Matsui #1 of the San Diego Padres pitches during a spring training practice on February 19, 2026 in Peoria, AZ. (Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
The San Diego Padres started their Cactus League season against the Seattle Mariners in Peoria, Ariz. and the game ended with the Friars falling, 7-4. Players often say the result of the game is not the focus in Spring Training, instead they focus on their results. If that is the case, Jose Miranda is pleased after he recorded a two-run home run and a double in his first game with the San Diego organization. Miranda is one of several players looking to make an impression early and often in an effort to make the big-league roster. Thomas Conroy of Gaslamp Ball said the final bench spots are one of the three questions the Padres need to answer before the conclusion of Cactus League play.
Padres News:
Much has been said and written about the depleted San Diego farm system, but the starting pitcher for the first game of spring for the Padres, Jagger Haynes, showed enough potential to elicit a vote of confidence from Lincoln Zdunich of Gaslamp Ball.
Craig Stammen wasted no time differentiating himself from former Padres manager Mike Shildt. Stammenâs first lineup had Xander Bogaerts leading off with Fernando Tatis Jr. batting cleanup. Itâs the first lineup and the first game of Cactus League play, but AJ Cassavell of Padres.com thinks it might be a sign of things to come under Stammenâs tenure.
Stammen revealed reliever Yuki Matsui suffered a groin injury during a live batting practice session on Thursday, which could cause him to miss the World Baseball Classic. While Matsui will have to determine how best to rehab and recover from his injury, his bullpen mate Jason Adam continues his quest to return to the field with fielding drills to test the stability of his repaired quadriceps tendon.
Baseball News:
The ABS challenge system was put to the test with the first Spring Training games of the season. Brent Maguire of MLB.com says there were 23 challenges and 13 calls overturned. Two of the overturned calls were made by Luis Campusano and one call that was not overturned was Cal Raleigh who challenged a called ball against Jackson Merrill that was confirmed as a ball.
Pete Alonso introduced himself to his new Baltimore Orioles fanbase with a home run in his first Spring Training action.
Munetaka Murakami almost missed his debut because he was stuck in traffic on his way to the stadium. He arrived just in time to make the start and recorded two hits in the game.
Major League Baseball and Major League Baseball Players Association are each preparing for a work stoppage by setting aside money to deal with a prolonged absence of games.
The Minnesota Twins will officially be without starter Pablo Lopez for the 2026 season after it was reported he will undergo Tommy John surgery next week.
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) â Pakistan and New Zealand's opening Super Eights match at the T20 World Cup was abandoned on Saturday because of rain without a ball being bowled.
The rain started at Colombo's R. Premadasa Stadium as soon as Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and chose to bat first.
The persistent rain eventually led to the umpires calling off the Group 2 game with the teams awarded a point each.
Tournament co-host India plays South Africa in Ahmedabad in the first Group 1 match on Sunday, when co-host Sri Lanka and England meet in Group 2 in Pallekele.
Once the NHL Olympic roster freeze lifts, the Philadelphia Flyers will be a team to keep an eye on. With the Flyers currently being eight points behind the Boston Bruins for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, there is a chance that they will be sellers ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline.
If the Flyers decide to be sellers, they will have some trade candidates to keep an eye on. One of them would be defenseman Noah Juulsen.
Juulsen is a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) and could end up generating some interest leading up to the deadline. It is no secret that contenders are always looking for big right-shot defenseman, and the 6-foot-2 Juulsen fits that description.Â
Juulsen could be a solid addition for a playoff club looking to improve its defensive depth. The 2015 first-round pick also plays a physical game, so that also could make him an interesting target for contenders.Â
Juulsen's contract also adds to his appeal, as he has a cheap $900,000 cap hit. With this, several teams would be able to afford him with ease.Â
Ultimately, with playoff teams always looking for extra defensemen, it would not be particularly surprising if Juulsen generated some interest if the Flyers do not extend him by the deadline. It will be interesting to see what happens with the 28-year-old defenseman from here.Â
In 42 games this season with the Flyers, Juulsen has recorded one goal, nine points, 87 hits, and a plus-2 rating.Â
NEW ORLEANS, LA - APRIL 6: Ryan Rollins #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on April 6, 2025 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Fresh of the All-Star break, the Milwaukee Bucks continued their resurgence, running away with it against the New Orleans Pelicans. It was the Bucksâ triumvirate at guard that led the way, with Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr., and Cam Thomas each going for 25-plus points in a game that offered strong performances across the board. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.
Rollins was phenomenal all night but set the tone early, calming the Bucks with his first of seven threes after the team had two poor possessions to open the game. He was aggressive but played within the flow of the offence, and his work as a student over the past two years has clearly paid offâhis Lillard-esque step-back game was on full display. Want more? Without Myles Turner, Rollins turned rim protector too, coming up with two huge swats at the rim, and hounded New Orleansâ ball handlers all night, finishing with four takeaways. Heâs become so reliable his glow-up is probably under appreciated.
Green wasnât able to trouble the scorers, but it wasnât as if he had a bad gameâhis game-high +22 is a testament to that. As has been documented, his passing game has really improved this season and he dropped an absolute dime to a cutting Nance after curling around a screen and rising up into his shooting motion. As we know, Green will find the bottom of the net more often than not, but if he can continue to add to his peripheral skill set, heâll be that much more valuable a player.
Kuzma got the start at power forward and had quite a nice game overall. He finished explosively at the rim early and looked good on the short roll too, catching and making decisions in traffic. On one instance, he had a nice dump-off to Sims for a dunk. Like most of the Bucks, though, he offered little deterrence to New Orleansâ rim assault.
With Rollins and then Thomas cooking, Porter looked content to let the game come to him for much of the night. More often than not, he made the right pass and took the right shot. In the fourth, however, he took over, scoring 13 points and dishing two assists to put the game out of reach. In all, this was close to an ideal game from Porterâplenty of highs and very few lowsâand he finished with just one turnover.
Sims continued his yeomanâs work on the boards in the first half and even had a beautiful touch pass to Rollins for three. Early in the third, however, he picked up his fourth foul while setting a hard screen at half court, which forced him to the bench with 8:56 left in the quarter. Still, he made his minutes count, posting a plus/minus of +21, which tells you the sort of impact he was havingâeven if he wasnât quite the Zion stopper he was last time.
Thomas is just such a weapon to have off the bench and is perfectly suited to the role of microwave scorer. He absolutely dominated the second quarterâfour paint buckets, two from midrange, and his lone three (to go along with three free throws). His ability to draw fouls and get to the free throw line is such a positive, especially on this team. He wonât ever fill it up with boards or assists, but thatâs not what heâs on the court for. Really, you canât ask for more than over a point per minute on 65% shooting.
His opening dunk aside, it took a little while for the Ous to truly get loose in this one, but he got there. Diengâs game is just silky and his versatility continued to shine. His quick feet defensively forced a travelling violation. He had a great grab-and-go then find of Nance, which should have resulted in a bucket. He hit a nasty step-back from midrange in the fourth and followed that up by getting into the paint and kicking it to Nance in the corner for three. He got to the line too. Overall, it wasnât the explosion he had against the Thunder, but it was another quality outing. Heâs a baller.
If a game encapsulated the Bobby Portis experience, this was it: offence giveth, defence taketh away. He was efficient, hit the glass, and even showed some explosiveness with a dunk and a block at the rim. But his limitations as a defensive presence also stood out against a Pelicans teams that lives in the paint. Still, in a win as convincing as this one, itâs hard to knock him too much.
Iâm not sure anyone on this team plays the game the right way more than Nance. He does the little things well, moves off ball, and keeps balls alive. But itâs his processing speed thatâs most impressiveâhe doesnât hesitate, making decisions so quickly (and theyâre usually theyâre the right ones) that it creates opportunities for himself and others. He mightâve had the gameâs most important sequence too: up just six after a Zion basket, Nance helped force a turnover and then cashed a corner three on the other end. At this point, itâs clear as dayâthe Bucks need to find a way to make him a permanent part of the squad next year.
Grade: A-
Doc Rivers
Riversâ toughest decision likely came pre-game when he determined whoâd start. Given his recent performances, Dieng mightâve been unlucky, but the move was the right oneâmatch-up wise and as a reminder that if Dieng wants it he has to take it. His decision to bring Thomas off the bench also deserved (and deserves) some praise, as does the way heâs managed the rotations at the guard spots (including cementing Gary Trent Jr. to the bench and giving Gary Harris a DNP, which canât have been easy considering how valuable heâs been as a steadying force). Heâs had his struggles this year, but tonight Doc got it right.
Grade: A
Garbage Time: Gary Trent Jr., Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Andre Jackson Jr.
DNP-CD: Gary Harris.
Inactive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Myles Turner, Taurean Prince, Alex Antetokounmpo.
Bonus Bucks Bits
The break must have treated the Bucksâ bigs well because not only did Kuzma have two early flushes, but Bobby Portis jammed a put-backâjust his sixth dunk of the season.
With three minutes to go in the first quarter, the Pelicans had doubled the Bucksâ points in the paint (20-10). It should come as no surpriseâNew Orleans leads the league in that category on the season.
After a strong start by the Bucks, a 22-11 run gave the Pelicans the lead to end the first quarter.
Jordan Poole stepped onto the court for first-quarter action after receiving DNPs over the previous nine games. He finished with just three points (1/6) in 25 minutes.
Zionâs 14 points in the first quarter were a personal season high. Thomas took notice and dropped 18 in the second (a second-quarter career high). Yeah, heâs a bucket.
Rollins looked smooth from long-range, hitting 4/7 triples in the first half on his way to a career-high 7/10. On the other end, the Pelicans struggled, shooting just 1/10 as a team in the first half and finishing a paltry 4/25.
After a KPJ fast-break dunk late in the second, Wes Matthews said, âI remember when I was that athletic.â We love you, Wes, but come on now.
The Bucks went 29/49 (59%) from the field in the first half, while the Pelicans went 29/47 (62%). Good shooting or bad defence? Considering they finished 55/92 (60%) and 47/87 (54%), itâs safe to say it was the latter.
Portis started a perfect 7/7 from the field until finally missing oneâa driving layup attemptâwith about seven minutes to go in the third.
The Bucks took the lead with 6:45 left in the second quarter and never gave it back.
A seven-point game with eight minutes remaining in the fourth, Milwaukee went on an 20-8 run to put the game away.
Despite playing in New Orleans, there was a distinguishable âBucks in sixâ chant to end the game. I guess it is a city of culture.
Thomas now has 77 points in 79 minutes of action with the Bucks. Let that sink in.
Rollins, Porter, and Thomas combined for 79 points on 33/47 shooting (70%), while dishing out 15 assists and committing just five turnovers. They are 23, 25, and 24 years old. The Bucks picked up two of them after being waived and gave up just MarJon Beauchamp for the other. I wonât comment on CBSâs front office rankings. I just wonât.
Up Next
The Bucks are back in action Sunday, taking on the Toronto Raptors at home. You can find all the action on FanDual Sports Wisconsinâtip off is at 2:30 p.m. Central.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 04: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the first inning during the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, August 4, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Phebe Grosser/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Itâs been a few months since Phillies GM Dave Dombrowski made public comments questioning Bryce Harperâs status as an elite player. Harper certainly didnât have an elite season in 2025, but is that enough to demote a player entirely?
Harper has admitted to still being baffled by the comments, but the good news is that he often performs at his best when he has a chip on his shoulder.
So, what say you? Is Bryce Harper still an elite player?
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 13: Carlos Carrasco #59 of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the New York Mets during their game at Citi Field on August 13, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Major League Baseball doesnât have a long offseason by calendar days. But man, itâs been a long one this season. Itâs time for getting your nearly everyday baseball fix. Although, for the next few weeks itâs going to be more like Braves ânâ Friends. Weâre getting Mike Yastrzemski, Jonah Heim, Eli White, Jorge Mateo and the kids. And on the mound, itâs Carlos Carrasco. This is pretty good in that they have on the Braves uniform and everything. But you know what I want. At least weâll get to see John Gil.
Yesterday I repaired my HVAC insulation and watched ice hockey. And I liked it. You tell me how ready I am for first pitch.
Bill Mazeroski, the Gold Glove former second baseman of the Pittsburgh Pirates who danced around the bases after his bottom-of-the-ninth, solo home run beat the New York Yankees in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, died at the age of 89.
âThe author of one of the gameâs most indelible moments, Bill Mazeroski will be remembered as one of baseball's most respected figures â both for his character and for his brilliance on the field as one of the gameâs best second basemen," Baseball Hall of Fame chairman Jane Forbes Clark said.
"Maz remained humble about his career, even as he was celebrated in Cooperstown. On behalf of his Hall of Fame family, we send our deepest sympathies to his loved ones and to Pirates fans everywhere.â
Mazeroski was an amazing defensive player who could turn the double play in a blink. He was a shortstop when he signed with the Pirates in 1954, at 17, but Branch Rickey promptly moved him to second base.
Late Pirates broadcaster Bob Prince called Mazeroski "The Glove." He had the defensive statistics to back up his excellence, and they helped put him in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001.
But as a career .260 hitter, he also got a big boost in that induction from his monumental homer â still marked by a plaque on a Pittsburgh sidewalk where it cleared the left field wall at since-demolished Forbes Field. Today there is a statue of Mazeroski outside Pittsburgh's PNC Park.
Mazeroski was 24 on that Oct. 13, 1960, day when, at 3:36 p.m. ET, he blasted into baseball immortality against the Yankees. He was 64 and white-haired in 2001 when he got a private tour of his exhibit at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, a few days before his induction.
On that tour, he recalled to USA TODAY Sports that he was "floating" as he rounded the bases in 1960 after hitting a one-ball, no-strike slider for a home run off Yankees pitcher Ralph Terry. The ball barely cleared the ivy-covered wall.
"Fantastic. It's something unbelievable that you just never would expect to happen to you," Mazeroski said then. "All of a sudden, here it is. It gets a little overwhelming."
Who has the ball?
In 2010, on the 50th anniversary of the home run, Mazeroski told USA TODAY Sports' Mike Dodd that as the kid of a coal miner he grew up dreaming of hitting a home run to win a World Series: "But it was with a broomstick and a bucket of stones. I wore out a lot of broomsticks, (pretending), 'I'm Babe Ruth and I'm hitting a home run to win the Series.' "
While Pittsburgh partied that 1960 day, Mazeroski and his wife, Milene, went to a quiet park to savor the moment.
The home run ball won't be on display at the Hall of Fame. Several fans claimed to have it.
"Everybody wanted a hundred bucks," Mazeroski said. "There were so many of them, nobody knew for sure. I have one or two."
Unlike a typical Hall of Fame visitor, he alone knew just how that bat in a third floor display case felt in his hands when he used it to hit his World Series-winning homer against the Yankees.
"You can still see the spot on the seams where I hit the ball. It dug into the bat," Mazeroski said during his 2001 Hall tour.
Defense his calling card
Mazeroski didn't get close to 3,000 hits (2,016) or 300 homers (138).
But defense is part of the game, too. On his Hall of Fame tour, as he passed a wall of balls from no-hit pitching performances, he saw one from a 1970 no-hitter by former Pirate Dock Ellis against the San Diego Padres.
"I saved that one," Mazeroski said of the no-hitter. "Line drive up the middle. I dove and backhanded it about a foot off the ground."
He won eight Gold Gloves, but the gloves he actually used looked as if they wouldn't bring a buck at a yard sale.
âItâs pretty simple: He was the best I ever saw at turning a double play," Hall of Famer Joe Torre said of Mazeroski.
He figured he used about four gloves from 1956 to 1972, and they were barely gloves at all. He liked them small, and he always removed the padding from the heel for better feel. When a glove wore out, he got it fixed and kept using it.
The Hall has one which Mazeroski used at various times.
"This was one of the good ones," he said on the pre-induction tour, slipping on the mitt and pounding it. "When a ball hit in there, it just closed."
But the gloves also helped him get the ball out of his hands quickly on double plays. Balls bounced off the heel of his glove into his throwing hand. No second baseman turned as many double plays in a career (1,706) or a season (161 in 1966).
That skill didn't get him into the Hall in 15 years of eligibility on voting by baseball writers. He was elected by the Veterans Committee.
"I never thought that I hit enough to get in the Hall of Fame," Mazeroski said.
"I didn't think they would put defense in. I'm glad they did. ⌠I don't know everybody's (batting) average in the Hall of Fame. In fact, I don't know anybody's, really. I don't know if there's anybody worse than .260. Is .260 the lowest?"
No. Turn-of-the-century catcher Ray Schalk hit .253. Shortstop Rabbit Maranville hit .258. Harmon Killebrew, a home run slugger, hit .256.
"But defense wins as many games as offense wins or anything else," Mazeroski said. "You turn a double play, that's like hitting a grand slam sometimes."
As a Pirate, Mazeroski played two exhibition games in Cooperstown. The Hall has a score sheet from a 1959 game in which he homered twice.
"I didn't even remember that," he said. "I do remember we had a home run contest before the game, and I beat Ted Kluszewski."
His 1960 World Series homer triggered a massive celebration in Pittsburgh. At the Hall's archives, his wife spotted a photo of that day in Pittsburgh, its streets piled with paper.
"Bill, look at this picture," said his wife, a former Pirates secretary. "These cars are old. These buildings are old. Are we this old?" she asked with a laugh.
Mazeroski grew up in a one-room home in southeastern Ohio coal country in the community of Rush Run. Hall of Famers from nearby include baseball's Phil Niekro, basketball's John Havlicek and football's Lou Groza.
In retirement in the Pittsburgh area, Mazeroski enjoyed fishing and golf: "If I'm hitting the ball bad in golf, I go fishing. If I'm not catching any fish, I go golfing."
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 09: Amon-Ra St. Brown attends Netflix's Receiver Premiere at Netflix Tudum Theater on July 09, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix) | Getty Images for Netflix
Before we get into the present day discussion, I want to start things off by paying homage. Going back generations at this point, Detroit has always been a top-tier sports town. From Hall of Famers like Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders, to Stanley Cup Champion and current general manager of the Detroit Red Wings Steve Yzerman, there is no shortage of legends to choose from.
Thatâs part of what made that stretch several years ago so difficult for so many fans, myself included. When all four of the cityâs teamsâthe Lions, Pistons, Tigers, and Red Wingsâwere seriously going through it at once (think back to the year 2020), it understandably became a tough pill to swallow.
However, six years now probably feels like a lifetime ago for those players who are still on the present-day rosters, and during that time, more than a few superstars have been born in Motown. With that in mind, it felt like a good time to revisit this topicâwho is currently the biggest household name in Detroit sports?
My answer: I am going with Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham. Obviously, there are several bonafide options for the Lions, including players with national brand deals like running back Jahmyr Gibbs and defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. For the Tigers, Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal for the Tigers certainly has a case to be made, but baseball lacks the global appeal of basketball.
With some of the old guard of the NBA beginning to wind down their careers, it feels like Cunningham is aware of what is a bit of a unique opportunity, and is the biggest reason as to why the Pistons sit atop the NBA standings. On top of that, Cunninghamâs new signature shoe with Nike should help cement his status as a global star. And yes, maybe there is a bit of recency bias in-play here after Cunninghamâs dismantling of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
What about you? Who do you think is the biggest star in Detroit sports today? Let us know in the comments below.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 13: Carlos Carrasco #59 of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the New York Mets during their game at Citi Field on August 13, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The wait is finally over, and the Atlanta Braves kick off play in the Grapefruit League this afternoon. Right-hander Carlos Carrasco has been named todayâs starter against the Tampa Bay Rays. After just a few games with Atlanta last season, Carrasco looks to make an impression in his spring debut.
Mike Yastrzemski, Jonah Heim, Eli White and Jorge Mateo will also be getting in on the action and making an appearance in todayâs matchup. First pitch is slated for 1:05 ET.
More Braves News:
The television broadcast saga continues, and FanDuel Sports Network has officially announced the closure of its Atlanta office. The Braves have yet to announce their broadcast plan for the 2026 season.
Pitcher Jared Gridlinger has reclassified for the 2026 draft, and hereâs what that means for the Braves.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 19: Josue de Paula #95 of the Los Angeles Dodgers poses for a photo during Los Angeles Dodgers Photo Day at Camelback Ranch on February 19, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Josue De Paula is the highest-ranked Dodgers prospect on average and a consensus top-25 prospect in the sport heading into 2026. After playing the last week of last season with Double-A Tulsa, De Paula is one step closer to the majors and wonât turn 21 until May.
âLike really stressing the importance of defense,â president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. âReally, itâs one thing to stress it, itâs another to have deliberate work and being consistent with it.â
Friedman believes his time in major-league camp will be instructive.
âI think heâs seeing that (consistency) with some of our guys, and you really donât know what that means until you see it and experience it. So weâve challenged him with that.â
Andrew Friedman feels the concerns surrounding Kyle Tucker's passion for the game were unfairly voiced.
"Some guys will talk trash about it [his approach] if it doesn't line up with what they do instead of appreciating the individualized aspect." pic.twitter.com/finSg36RXP
Corner outfielder and first baseman Ryan Ward and left-handed pitcher Ronan Kopp were both added to the 40-man roster in November. Sonja Chen talked to the new Dodgers for MLB.com.
Mar 17, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) reacts during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
The Dallas Mavericks and their star point guard Kyrie Irving recently made it official â Irving would be out for the remainder of the season, looking for a fresh start in 2026-2027. While talking with fellow Mavs Moneyball contributor David Trink about what we could expect from Irving upon his return, I stated âIâm irrationally confident Kyrie is going to come back very much the same [as his pre-injury form].â Although David didnât quite share my inflated enthusiasm, we both thought the point/counterpoint was worthy of exploration.
To be clear, I freely acknowledge my belief is at least in part every bit as truly âirrationalâ as I said â I am not a doctor, nor do I have true insight on the severity of the injury or how the surgery went. That said, there are a few truths which inform my stance: There have been zero reports of any type of setback whatsoever; Irving is notoriously committed to his craft and has shared rehab videos via social media for months now; he is regularly seen on the practice floor (though not in five-on-five situations) putting in work; his return will come seven months after the high-end recovery period for an ACL injury, greatly maximizing his overall rehab. Irvingâs intent to return when he is 150% better will only be aided by the extended time off.
While one may argue these rationales are anecdotal, there is proof-positive evidence that a given player has every reasonable expectation of a return to form. Here is a look at other NBA players that experienced an ACL injury, only to immediately return to their pre-injury level of play.
Zach Lavine
Pre-injury per game stats 2016-2017: 18.9 PTS / 3.4 REB / 3.0 AST
Post-injury per game stats 2018-2019: 23.7 PTS / 4.3 REB / 4.5 AST
Lavine was only 22-years old when he tore his left ACL, prematurely ending his 2016-2017 season. He returned the following year, but only played in 24 games, with significant absences book-ending that season. Using 2018-2019 as his true return shows he improved across the board. Lavine had youth on his side and his game was still developing, so some of the improvements are expected, but his ACL has not impacted him again to this point and his best years were post-injury.
Kawhi Leonard
Pre-injury per game stats 2020-2021: 24.8 PTS / 6.5 REB / 5.2 AST
Post-injury per game stats 2022-2023: 23.8 PTS / 6.5 REB / 3.9 AST
Leonard suffered his ACL injury at the age of 30 (technically just days shy), which cost him the remainder of that yearâs Playoffs and entirety of the 2021-2022 season. His first season back saw him average a single point per game fewer than the season in which he was injured, the exact same rebounds per game, and a bit of a drop off in assists per game (though 2020-2021 was an outlier in its own right, as his career high in assists and the only season he averaged five or more).
Jamal Murray
Pre-injury per game stats 2020-2021: 21.2 PTS / 4.0 REB / 4.8 AST
Post-injury per game stats 2022-2023: 20.0 PTS / 4.0 REB / 6.2 AST
Murray suffered an ACL injury when he was 24 years old during the 2020-2021 NBA season. The injury caused him to miss the entirety of 2021-2022. Upon his return, Murray performed as though he did not miss a beat. He played in 65 total games that season and saw no appreciable change to his output, except for his assists, which actually increased by about 30%. The year he returned was also the year his Denver Nuggets won the NBA Championship.
Klay Thompson
Pre-injury per game stats 2018-2019: 21.5 PTS / 3.8 REB / 2.4 AST
Post-injury per game stats 2022-2023: 21.9 PTS / 4.1 REB / 2.4 AST
At 29 years old, Thompson suffered an ACL tear that cost him the following season in its entirety. Before he could spool back up, he then suffered an Achilles injury that kept him out yet another year-plus. Despite missing two-and-a-half seasons following two significant injuries, Thompsonâs first full season back saw him play in 69 games with nearly identical stats as he put up before the injuries.
Closing thoughts
In fairness to the above examples, Irving is the oldest of the players discussed. However, I wanted to provide some range of examples in the assessment, including a player who experienced a near-unprecedented sequence of injuries to afford us a solid range. In all cases, the players were as good or better than they were pre-injury. For what itâs worth, a 30-year-old Kevin Durant suffered an Achilles injury (widely considered much more severe than an ACL injury) that cost him a season, and he too returned to almost identical form upon his return.
Modern treatments and rehab regimens are truly next level for high caliber athletes like those in the NBA. There you have the basis for my hopeful sense that when Irving takes the court again, it takes him no time to return to the player we knew prior to his ACL injury.
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NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 3: Josh Hart #3 and Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks looks on during the game against the Houston Rockets on February 3, 2025 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In Thursdayâs loss to Detroit, every Knicks (35*-21) drive into the paint looked like a LaMelo Ball driverâs ed video. Tonight, they hope for better results when they host the Houston Rockets (34-20) at the Mecca.
This nationally televised tilt is a match-up of two third-place teams. The Knicks have gone 7-3 in their last ten games, while the Rockets have gone 6-4. When they last squared off, wayyy back on February 3, 2025, the Knicks beat Ho-Town 124-118. In that one, Jalen Brunson led New York with 42 points, while Amen Thompson paced Houston with 25 points.
The Rockets hold a defensive rating of 112.8, fifth in the league. Their offensive rating is 118, seventh overall. They average 114.6 points per game, which is just on the cusp of the leagueâs third tier. Ime Udokaâs club leads the league in rebounds at 48.6 per game and offensive rebounds at 15.8, but ranks 28th in pace and assists, and 29th in three-point attempts. (FWIW, Detroit attempted just 30 from downtown on Thursday, but made 40% of themâbecause defense.)
All-Star internet troll Kevin Durant averages 25.8 points per game and shoots 40% from three in his umpteenth season. Alperen ĹengĂźn averages 20.7 points and 9.4 rebounds. Thompson, whose twin Ausar helped to bruise up the Knicks on Thursday, averages 17.6 points and 7.6 rebounds. Jabari Smith, Jr. averages 15.2 points and shoots 36% from three, and sophomore Reed Sheppard averages 12.7 points and makes 39% from three.
Their starting five is expected to feature Thompson, Tari Eason (12.2 PPG), Smith, ĹengĂźn, and Durant. Steven Adams and Fred VanVleet are sidelined for the season with surgeries. Aside from Miles McBride, the Knicks have a clean injury report.
Prediction
ESPN gives New York a 60% chance to win. Okie dokie. Unfortunately, the Knicks have as many personalities as KD has burner accountsâyou never know which version of the team to expect, given their fluctuations of energy, effort, and discipline from night to night. Sure, a win against a top team might mitigate some of the malaise we feel after watching the Pistons (playing without key players) completely outmatch New York again. But another loss feels inevitable, no? We just saw one tall, physically imposing team manhandle the Knicks. Now here comes another. From what and where can we draw optimism?
Best case scenario, New York wins with authority, regains our confidence, and has a smooth flight to Chicago for tomorrowâs tilt with the Bulls. Worst case scenario? Imagine that and pull it back a few notchesâthatâs our prediction. Knicks lose by less than ten.
Game Details
Date: Saturday, February 21, 2026 Time: 8:30 PM ET Place: Madison Square Garden, NYC TV: ABC Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
Feb 20, 2026; Sarasota, Florida, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Elmer Rodriguez (76) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles during spring training at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
The first game of spring means baseball season is officially back, and the Yankees began their 2026 tune-up with an exhibition game in Sarasota against the Baltimore Orioles. They lost 2-0, with the only offense in the game coming from a two-run blast off the bat of Pete Alonso. The Oriolesâ new first baseman hit the towering shot off of non-roster invitee Bradley Hanner in the bottom of the sixth and carried Baltimore to victory. It was a silent showing for the Yankees offense, and arguably the biggest story of the day for the Bombers was Elmer RodrĂguez.
The Yankees handed the ball to their No. 3 prospect (per MLB Pipeline) and he was able to pitch three scoreless innings with one strikeout, three hits allowed, and no walks in his spring training debut. RodrĂguezâs line is more impressive than it looks given that the Orioles lineup looked almost identical to what we will likely see from them on Opening Day, missing just Taylor Ward and Dylan Beavers.
RodrĂguez, who spent all of 2025 in High-A and Double-A (with a couple starts in Triple-A at the very end of the season), was tasked with facing Gunnar Henderson, Pete Alonso, Adley Rutschman, Samuel Basallo, Colton Cowser, and more. It started off well, as he retired Henderson, Alonso, and Basallo in order in the first. RodrĂguez began the outing with a 97-mph sinker, and induced a groundball from Henderson on the fifth pitch of the at-bat. He needed just two pitches to retire Alonso, dotting a sinker on the inside corner to begin the at-bat and then getting Alonso to chase a slider away and roll over to second base. His only strikeout of the afternoon came against Basallo, who chased a high sinker to end the inning.
RodrĂguez began the second by falling behind in the count 2-0 against Tyler OâNeill and allowing a single to left field. He threw a strike on each corner against Cowser, then induced a ground ball on a 1-2 curve for a force out at second. A single from Rutschman put runners on the corners, but a changeup away to Heston Kjerstad turned into an inning-ending double play.
His third and final inning began with two more groundouts from Coby Mayo and Jeremiah Jackson. Gunnar Henderson jumped on a first-pitch sinker misplaced right down the middle, and Alonso stung a sinker towards the gap that was run down on an excellent play by center fielder Kenedy Corona. RodrĂguez ended his outing with 42 pitches, 30 of them for strikes.
The spring training outing also means public Statcast data for RodrĂguez is now available, and the results back up what we know about him so far. Heâs not a pitcher who will blow hitters away with electric stuff, but he possesses a deep arsenal and a mature ability to locate and sequences his pitches well beyond his years. Different models began publishing reports on RodrĂguezâs outing shortly after it ended, notably from TJStats and Pitch Profiler, both of whom put Stuff+ grades in the mid-to-low 90s (meaning slightly-below average) on all of his pitches, with the former putting a 101 grade on his slider and the latter putting a 102 grade on his curveball.
This type of profile provides RodrĂguez with a rock-solid base for a starting pitcher while also leaving room for him to grow. The below-average stuff grades are a bit concerning at first glance, but as evidenced by pitchers like Trevor Rogers (who RodrĂguez coincidentally faced off against in todayâs game), there are pathways to success without the sort of electric stuff weâre used to seeing from ace pitchers. Rogers pitched 109 innings in 2025 with a jaw-dropping 1.81 ERA, despite a mediocre 24.3-percent strikeout rate and just a 92 Stuff+ grade (per FanGraphs). He looked very similar today as he did last year, and held the Yankees scoreless through two innings with three strikeouts. RodrĂguez could look at todayâs counterpart as a model for success.
As far as the eye test, RodrĂguezâs start was impressive. His sinker was topping out at 97 mph, and he threw a few devastating 88-90 mph changeups (which appear to have fooled a few of the models that classified them as sinkers, which could potentially be throwing off his model for those pitches). He only induced five whiffs, but he was getting MLB hitters to chase all three of his off speed pitches and ended the day with a 70-percent groundball rate.
Last year was a breakout season for RodrĂguez, who pitched 150 innings across three levels and posted a 2.58 ERA between them. He had a 29-percent strikeout rate on the season, so one of the final steps for the minor-league development team will be finding a way to make his ability to miss bats translate at the highest level. He will almost certainly start the season in Triple-A, and is very likely to make his MLB debut in 2026. The Yankeesâ starting rotation is deep enough that they should be able to take their time with RodrĂguez (barring catastrophe), but he should be knocking around the door by summertime. He climbed all the way to the top of the organizationâs farm system last season, and heâll look to complete his journey in 2026.
