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Arizona Diamondbacks Spring Training Gameday Thread, #4 vs. Cleveland Guardians

GOODYEAR, AZ - FEBRUARY 28: A general view of the exterior of Goodyear Ballpark after the game between the Colorado Rockies and the Cleveland Guardians on Friday, February 28, 2025 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Caitlin O'Hara/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Diamondbacks will be hopping on the team bus, and whizzing on the 101 and 10, for the drive to Goodyear for today’s game. Probably a toss-up whether that or Camelback Ranch is the furthest ballpark from Salt River Fields, but either way, forty miles isn’t bad. It’s one way the Cactus League is definitely better than the Grapefruit League. Heck, even when Tucson was still in the mix, it was still less of a hike than some of the Florida parks. When the Astros play the Blue Jays, someone there is going to have to make the 217 mile trek between Dunedin and West Palm Beach, a solid four hours each way.

Here’s today’s D-backs line-up.

Also potentially pitching: RHP Juan Morillo, RHP Juan Burgos, LHP Adonys Perez, RHP Logan Mercado, RHP Luke Albright and RHP Alec Baker

Be nice if we could get both the offense and the defense working in the same game. We’ve had one game where the pitching worked (the 3-2 win in the opener), one where the hitting was good (yesterday’s 10-9 loss), and one which was not great in either department. Taylor Clarke starts for the D-backs. I was informed by kilnborn, that he is married to another Taylor Clarke. Researching this, I discovered they had twin sons, called… Sadly, not Taylor III and Taylor IV, but Bryce and Brody. Oh, well. We’ll also get our first look at Morillo and Burgos, both contenders for spots at the back of the Arizona bullpen.

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NBA power rankings: Are the Pistons emerging as title favorites?

Following the All-Star break, NBA play resumed, and there’s only a quarter of the season left before we get to the playoffs.

All of which means teams are largely split into two buckets: those trying to improve their seeding and standing in their respective conferences, and those who are shutting down players or sitting starters in the fourth quarter, seemingly in an attempt to tank to improve their draft positioning.

Yet, with a massive victory over the New York Knicks, the Detroit Pistons are maintaining their grasp atop this list. And, as Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, continues to miss games, it’s opening the door for Detroit All-Star Cade Cunningham to potentially take that honor, too.

Here are USA TODAY Sports’ NBA power rankings after Week 16 of the 2025-26 regular season:

USA TODAY Sports NBA power rankings

Note: Records and stats through Feb. 8. Parentheses show movement from last week’s rankings.

NBA Week 17 power rankings: Top 10

1. Detroit Pistons, 42-13 (—)

2. Oklahoma City Thunder, 44-14 (—)

3. San Antonio Spurs, 40-16 (—)

4. Boston Celtics, 37-19 (+1)

5.New York Knicks, 37-21 (-1)

6. Cleveland Cavaliers, 36-22 (+3)

7. Houston Rockets, 34-21 (—)  

8. Denver Nuggets, 36-22 (-2)

9. Los Angeles Lakers, 34-22 (-1)

10. Minnesota Timberwolves, 35-23 (+1)

With their beatdown of the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden, the Pistons sent a message that they are the dominant power in the East. Given their consistency and second-ranked defensive rating (108.3), the Pistons are also the top force in the league overall.

The Spurs have the NBA’s current longest active winning streak (eight games), and Victor Wembanyama is averaging 25.4 points, 11.4 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game over that span, and the Nuggets have Nikola Jokić back, but they’ve lost six of their last nine.

NBA Week 17 power rankings: Nos. 11-20

11. Toronto Raptors, 34-23 (-1)

12. Phoenix Suns, 33-25 (—)

13. Philadelphia 76ers, 31-26 (—)

14. Miami Heat, 31-27 (+3)

15. Golden State Warriors, 30-27 (-1)

16. Orlando Magic, 30-26 (-1)

17. Los Angeles Clippers, 27-30 (-1)

18. Charlotte Hornets, 27-31 (—)

19. Portland Trail Blazers, 28-30 (+1)

20. Atlanta Hawks, 28-31 (-1)

The Suns received some bad news with Dillon Brooks’ broken left hand, but the fascinating action is in the middle of the East, where just ½ game separates the No. 6 seed — which is an automatic entry into the playoffs — versus the No. 8 seed. Those teams — Philadelphia, Orlando and Miami — will not be able to afford careless losses down the stretch.

The Magic are still without Franz Wagner, while the Heat, who have won three consecutive games, got the much-needed offensive boost of Tyler Herro.

Bennedict Mathurin has been a stellar addition for the Clippers, but they’ve dropped two in a row, and the Hornets have cooled off a touch since they won nine consecutive.

NBA Week 17 power rankings: Nos. 21-30

21. Milwaukee Bucks, 24-31 (+1)

22. Memphis Grizzlies, 21-34 (+1)

23.Chicago Bulls, 24-34 (-2) 

24.Dallas Mavericks, 20-36 (—)

25. Utah Jazz, 18-39 (—)

26. New Orleans Pelicans, 16-42 (—)

27. Washington Wizards, 16-40 (+1)

28. Brooklyn Nets, 15-41 (-1)

29. Indiana Pacers, 15-43 (—)

30. Sacramento Kings, 12-46 (—)

Frankly, it’s hard to sort through this group. Many (most? All?) of these teams are seemingly sabotaging their current games to build for the future. The Bulls have lost nine consecutive. The Jazz and Pacers were fined for tanking. The Kings are shutting down players due to injury and have lost an NBA-worst 16 in a row.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA power rankings favor consistent Pistons, Cavs rise

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Dodgers vs. Mariners game chat

Tempe, AZ - February 21, 2026: Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Teoscar Hernández (37) hugs Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) after scoring in the first inning at Diablo Stadium, Tempe, AZ on February 21, 2026. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

The Dodgers play their first home game of the spring as they take on the Seattle Mariners at Camelback Ranch. Landon Knack gets the start for the Dodgers.

MONDAY GAME INFO
  • Teams: Dodgers vs. Mariners
  • Ballpark: Camelback Ranch
  • Time: 12:10 p.mm. PT
  • TV: SportsNet LA
  • Radio: KLAC AM 570 (simulcast), KTNQ 1020 (Spanish)

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Kean pounces early to give Fiorentina vital win in Serie A relegation crunch match

FLORENCE, Italy (AP) — Moise Kean scored for the third match in a row to help Fiorentina beat Pisa 1-0 and climb out of the Serie A drop zone on Monday.

The result lifted Fiorentina into 16th place and out of the relegation zone for the first time in months. It has the same amount of points as Cremonese and Lecce but was above both on goal difference.

Pisa, which has still won only once all season, was second to last with the same points as last-placed Verona. Both clubs were nine points from safety with 12 games remaining.

Kean followed recent goals against Torino and Como with an early strike from close range after a blocked shot fell kindly at his feet.

Pisa goalkeeper Nícolas made several fine saves while Fiorentina’s second win in a row was only its second clean sheet of the year.

Pisa has gone 15 matches without a league win.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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Scotty Pippen Jr., Myron Gardner get off light with $35,000 fines for altercation

It was an on-court altercation — if not a full-on fight — but this time the NBA did not bring the hammer down.

Memphis' Scotty Pippen Jr. and Miami's Myron Gardner were each fined $35,000 by the NBA for their roles in an on-court altercation over the weekend, the league announced.

The altercation came in the final minutes of Miami's win over Memphis. Pippen and Gardner were battling for rebound positioning under the basket, and Pippen tossed Gardner out of the way (no foul was called). With Gardner on the ground behind the play, the Grizzlies had a five-on-four advantage in transition, which is why the trailing Pippen was wide-open to knock down a 3-pointer. After he released the ball, Gardner came up from behind and knocked Pippen to the ground. Pippen got up, jogged down the court, then went straight at Gardner in a fight that spilled into the first row.

After the game, Pippen called it a cheap shot from Gardner, via 5 Reasons Sports.

"I thought it was kind of a cheap shot. He kind of hit me when I didn't see him. I thought it was a soft move. I just thought he needed a hug on the other end."

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Game Thread: White Sox (3-0) at Rockies (1-2)

Feb 17, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Chicago White Sox infielder William Bergolla Jr. poses for a portrait during photo day at Camelback Ranch.
Say hello to William Bergolla Jr., early contender for White Sox Cactus League MVP for 2026. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Sure, it’s too early to start counting on the calendar to determine which White Sox arm is in line for Opening Day on March 26 but … well, OK, I just did. And today’s starter, Shane Smith, going every five days lands him at March 25. So, as makes absolute sense, Shane Smith is your Opening Day starter.

In addition to Smith, Grant Taylor and Seranthony Domínguez are scheduled to pitch today. Though there could be surprises, that likely means any other arms (say, five innings’ worth?) will be from minor league camp.

Of additional interest is Munetaka Murakami getting a back-to-back start after playing half of the game on Sunday, slotting into the 3-hole and DHing. We’ll also get another look at the possible right side of the outfield in 2026, with Luisangel Acuña in center and Jarred Kelenic in right. Finally, camp sensation William Bergolla Jr. (who had Bergolla and Sam Antonacci as your second-half 2026 middle infield?) hits ninth, playing shortstop. Bergolla has gone 4-for-4 with two doubles, two runs, a steal and an RBI so far this spring.

So now, the bad news: It’s a Gameday view today, with no TV, webcast or even radio from Chicago or Colorado. You’re dependent on my take on the game … which will be through Gameday! See you then.

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Community Prospect List: Sabin Ceballos voted No. 43

Sabin Ceballos reaching back to make a throw.
RICHMOND, VA - JUNE 25: Sabin Ceballos #8 of the Richmond Flying Squirrels makes a throw to first base during the game between the Reading Fightin Phils and the Richmond Flying Squirrels at The Diamond on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Matthew Mitrani/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)

We have reached the final chapter in the 2026 Willie McCovey Memorial Community Prospect List! Just one more ballot must be submitted, and then we will have successfully ranked the top 44 prospects in the San Francisco Giants organization. And with time to spare, I might add!

The penultimate name on our list is someone who was opening a lot of eyes this time last year: it’s third baseman Sabin Ceballos, who has been voted as the No. 43 prospect in the system. That’s a drop of 25 spots for Ceballos, who made his CPL debut at No. 18 a year ago.

That paints the picture of someone who had a tough 2025, but that doesn’t quite do justice to the narrative arc of his prospectdom. The right-handed hitter was a third-round pick in the 2023 draft by the Atlanta Braves, and received a signing bonus in line with a mid-fourth round pick. He was coasting along in Atlanta’s system, playing decently but not making a lot of noise: during his first full season, in 2024, he had a .706 OPS and a 117 wRC+ for Atlanta’s High-A affiliate.

Then he was traded the Giants in the Jorge Soler deal. He stayed in High-A, heading straight to the Northwest League to join the Eugene Emeralds. That was a homecoming for the University of Oregon product, and it seemed that the refreshing Pacific Northwest air ignited something in Ceballos. He hit the cover off the baseball with the Emeralds, posting a .913 OPS and a 152 wRC+. After hitting just three home runs in 377 plate appearances in High-A at the time of the trade, Ceballos smashed seven dingers in just 140 plate appearances the rest of the way.

He quickly proved that the success wasn’t just due to a reunion with the state of Oregon. Ceballos popped over from Minor League camp to fill in for a handful of Cactus League games in 2025, and the results were mesmerizing. He appeared in 15 games for the Giants this time last year, and hit 9-20 with three extra-base hits, four walks, and just three strikeouts, leaving the desert with a 1.633 OPS, a 317 wRC+, and some serious prospect shine.

Those highs were very high, but what followed was not. The Giants assigned Ceballos to AA Richmond, where he spent the entirety of the 2025 season, and the results were not very good. He had a rough debut, barely staying above the Mendoza Line in April, and then things got very ugly.

In May, Ceballos hit just 12-70 with no home runs, for a .171/.301/.214 line. In June, he went 9-61 with no home runs, and a slash line of .148/.235/.180. He entered July with a .178 batting average, a .522 OPS, and just one home run.

But the good news is that the slump did not last all year, and Ceballos put in some serious work turning around his season. You certainly would not have been able to predict, as the calendar turned to July, that Ceballos would end the year with a triple-digit wRC+, but he did exactly that.

After two straight months well below a .200 average, Ceballos nearly hit .300 in July … and did in August. From July through the end of the year, he went 46-150 with 16 extra-base hits, including five home runs. That brought him all the way up to a .670 OPS and a 102 wRC+. Those numbers look even better when you account for age: Ceballos turned 23 towards the end of the season, making him roughly 1.5 years younger than his average peers.

While Ceballos ended the year on a tear, the overall numbers are still not particularly good. His overall line was carried in large part by his strong walk rate of 11.2%, which ranked 46th out of 134 Eastern League hitters who had at least 200 plate appearances last year. But his batting average of .232 ranked 72nd, while his isolated slugging of .106 was 91st.

Despite those poor numbers, Ceballos had little issue making contact in 2025. His strikeout rate was a very tidy 17.4%, which ranked 24th out of those aforementioned 134 hitters, and his swinging strike rate of 7.3% was 16th. He does a tremendous job of making contact … he just struggles to make good contact.

But wait! There’s even more optimism. Ceballos is not your prototypical Minor League third baseman, hoping that the bat can carry a no-place-to-put-him-throw-him-in-a-corner-and-hide-his-glove defensive profile. No, Ceballos was a bonafide defensive weapon at the hot corner last year. I’d stop short of calling him Casey Schmitt or Matt Chapman out there, but he’s very strong defensively. If the bat can rise to meet the glove, then he’ll be cooking, and have a Major League career ahead of him.

I would presume that he’ll be back in Richmond for a repeat of the level in 2026, though he’ll be sharing real estate with Parks Harber if that’s the case. And given how hot his second half was in 2025, it probably won’t take too many weeks of swinging the bat well to get a promotion to AAA where, as they say, you’re only one call away.

Now let’s vote on the final name for our list! As a reminder, voting now takes place in the comment section, using the “rec” feature.

The list so far

  1. Bryce Eldridge — 1B
  2. Josuar González — SS
  3. Jhonny Level — SS
  4. Bo Davidson — CF
  5. Dakota Jordan — CF
  6. Luis Hernández — SS
  7. Gavin Kilen — SS
  8. Carson Whisenhunt — LHP
  9. Blade Tidwell — RHP
  10. Keyner Martinez — RHP
  11. Jacob Bresnahan — LHP
  12. Trevor McDonald — RHP
  13. Argenis Cayama — RHP
  14. Luis De La Torre — LHP
  15. Trevor Cohen — OF
  16. Jesús Rodríguez — C
  17. Parks Harber — OF/3B
  18. Carlos Gutierrez — OF
  19. Drew Cavanaugh — C
  20. Daniel Susac — C
  21. Gerelmi Maldonado — RHP
  22. Josh Bostick — RHP
  23. Lorenzo Meola — SS/2B
  24. Will Bednar — RHP
  25. Yunior Marte — RHP
  26. Joe Whitman — LHP
  27. Joel Peguero — RHP
  28. Alberto Laroche — RHP
  29. Trent Harris — RHP
  30. Carlos De La Rosa — LHP
  31. Diego Velasquez — 2B
  32. Lisbel Diaz — OF
  33. Maui Ahuna — SS
  34. Cam Maldonado — OF
  35. Victor Bericoto — OF/1B
  36. Reid Worley — RHP
  37. Jack Choate — LHP
  38. Rayner Arias — OF
  39. Nate Furman — 2B
  40. Jakob Christian — OF
  41. Juan Sánchez — LHP
  42. Jancel Villarroel — C
  43. Sabin Ceballos — 3B

Note: Clicking on the above names will link to the CPL where they were voted onto the list.

No. 44 prospect nominees

Scott Bandura — 24.6-year old OF — .626 OPS/88 wRC+ in AA (186 PA); .838 OPS/136 wRC+ in High-A (373 PA)

Reggie Crawford — 25.2-year old LHP — did not pitch in 2025; 1.04 ERA/4.07 FIP in AAA in 2024 (8.2 IP); 4.66 ERA/4.93 FIP in AA in 2024 (9.2 IP)

Jose Ortiz — 21.7-year old OF — .803 OPS/134 wRC+ in Low-A (66 PA)

Jean Carlos Sio — 21.10-year old INF — .808 OPS/130 wRC+ in High-A (122 PA); .821 OPS/129 wRC+ in Low-A (385 PA)

Charlie Szykowny — 25.7-year old 3B/1B — .816 OPS/122 wRC+ in High-A (549 PA)

Tyler Vogel — 25.3-year old RHP — 18.00 ERA/6.47 FIP in AAA (2 IP); 1.13 ERA/2.42 FIP in AA (16 IP); 2.83 ERA/3.86 FIP in High-A (41.1 IP)

Note: Each player’s first name links to their Baseball-Reference page, and their last name links to their Fangraphs page. All stats are from the 2025 season.

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Spring Training Game Thread IV

SURPRISE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 19: Seth Lugo #67 of the Kansas City Royals poses for a portrait during photo day at Surprise Stadium on February 19, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Jeremy Chen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

In today’s spring training matchup, the Royals take on the Cubs. We’ll get our first look at Seth Lugo after his injury-plagued 2025 season. Lugo’s 4.15 ERA from 2025 outperformed his 5.09 FIP, and he pitched only 145.1 innings. The Royals gave Lugo an extension instead of trading him last season, so it’s crucial that he rebounds this season.

The Cubs will start Ben Brown. He’s been a starter and come out of the bullpen as the bulk guy for the past two seasons. He sports a high strikeout rate and a decent walk rate so far. If he can be consistent as a starter, he’ll be really good. He did pitch against the Royals on July 21st and gave up seven runs in four innings of work.

The game starts at 2:05pm Kauffman time (US Central). You can listen on 96.5 The Fan.

Lineups:

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Ja Morant had almost no trade market at deadline, but Bucks could have interest this summer

From Memphis' perspective, they were open to trading a two-time All-Star who has averaged 19.5 points and 8.1 assists a game this season. They wanted some value back in any deal.

That's not how other teams viewed trading for Ja Morant, whose injury and suspension history has limited him to 20 games this season, and he hasn't played six consecutive games in three years. Throw in the fact that he is owed $87 million over the next two years, and teams were only willing to take him on if it was essentially a salary dump, or if the Grizzlies included a pick, something Jake Fischer wrote about at The Stein Line Newsletter on Substack.

"Memphis' Ja Morant just didn't have much a trade market no matter how seriously the Grizzlies explored their options for sending him elsewhere.

"Sources say Sacramento only ever showed modest interest. I'm told Miami, too, only inquired about Morant with the idea of acquiring him in a deal similar to Washington's asset-light acquisition of Trae Young. And the Heat, sources say, were not actively pursuing Morant in the days leading up to the deadline because Antetokounmpo had become their primary target."

Morant will be back on the trade market this summer and one option could be a desperate Milwaukee Bucks team looking for a big swing trade that would inspire Giannis Antetokounmpo to sign his extension and stay in Milwaukee.

"One scenario that has to be filed away — for all the justified questions about fit — is the prospect of Milwaukee trading for Morant. Numerous teams came away from the deadline believing that the Bucks' interest in Morant was genuine … whether that was to install him as their eventual successor to Antetokounmpo as Face of the Franchise or because they believe they could actually make a Giannis-and-Ja pairing work."

Morant in Milwaukee seems an odd fit, but it's something to watch. This is going to be a wild summer in the NBA and Morant in a Bucks uniform would not be the craziest thing we will see.

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Canucks Recall Nikita Tolopilo, Re-Assign Aku Koskenvuo To ECHL

With the resumption of the 2025-26 NHL season on the horizon, the Vancouver Canucks have recalled goaltender Nikita Tolopilo from the AHL in preparation for Wednesday’s game. In a corresponding move, Aku Koskenvuo, who had been practicing with Vancouver through the past week, has been re-assigned to the ECHL. 

Tolopilo has played in nine games with the Canucks this season, putting together a record of 3–3–1. He has a 3.04 GAA and team-high SV% of .910%. Since being recalled to the AHL during the 2026 Winter Olympic break, Tolopilo has played in six games and posted three wins. 

Koskenvuo was initially re-assigned to the Abbotsford Canucks in place of Tolopilo, but was assigned to the Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL soon after. With Kevin Lankinen expected back soon after winning a bronze medal with Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Jiří Patera will likely end up joining Abbotsford soon, meaning that room needed to be made as Ty Young is currently also with the AHL Canucks. Both Tolopilo and Patera practiced with the Canucks at UBC today. 

Vancouver will return to play on February 25 against the Winnipeg Jets. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT. 

Jan 31, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Nikita Tolopilo (60) makes a save against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Jan 31, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Nikita Tolopilo (60) makes a save against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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Colorado Rockies spring training game no. 4 thread: Shane Smith vs. Michael Lorenzen

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 18: Michael Lorenzen #24 of the Colorado Rockies poses for a portrait during photo day at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 18, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Jeremy Chen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Walks came back to haunt the Colorado Rockies in their 9-5 loss to the Texas Rangers on Sunday. The minor league arms struggled to find the zone, but it was non-roster invite Parker Mushinski who struggled the most of the arms that day, walking three and giving up five runs in his 2/3 of an inning. Still, there are some worthwhile things happening with the offense and the pitchers, with a strong shot of making the roste,r so that is good.

Michael Lorenzen will make his Cactus League debut as he takes the ball against the Chicago White Sox. Signed to an $8 million deal, the Rockies are hoping that Lorenzen’s intellectual mind, deep mix of pitches, and desire to solve Coors Field will make him a valuable asset in 2026. He is embracing the challenge and welcomes the role of mentoring and teaching the young guys in the clubhouse. Unfortunately, you’ll only get to watch clips of him pitching after the game today since it isn’t available on television or the radio.

Shane Smith will take the mound for the 3-0 White Sox. Selected in the Rule-5 draft in 2024, Smith was a darling for Chicago in an otherwise forgettable season. He ended up making 29 starts and posting a solid 3.81 ERA with 145 strikeouts against 58 walks in 146 1/3 innings of work, and was named an All-Star in his first big league season while finishing 10th in Rookie of the Year voting.

On the position player side of things, the Rockies continue to experiment with new positions, as Ryan Ritter, who started at third base recently, is now getting some looks in the outfield as he starts in left field. As for the White Sox, Munetaka Murakami will continue getting exposure while their other new additions fill up what could be a fairly regular lineup for them come April.

First Pitch: 1:10 p.m. MDT

TV: None

Radio: None

Lineups:

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

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ST Game 4: Milwaukee Brewers at San Diego Padres

PEORIA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 22: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the San Diego Padres attempts to turn a double play as Noah Miller #88 of the Los Angeles Dodgers slides into second base during the fourth inning of a spring training game at Peoria Stadium on February 22, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Milwaukee Brewers at San Diego Padres, February 23, 2026, 12:10 p.m. PST

Watch: Padres.TV and MLB Network (Out of Market Only)

Location: Peoria Sports Complex – Peoria, AZ

Listen: None


Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines.

  • Don’t troll in your comments; create conversation rather than destroying it
  • Remember Gaslamp Ball is basically a non-profanity site
  • Out of respect to broadcast partners who have paid to carry the game, no mentions of “alternative” (read: illegal) viewing methods are allowed in our threads

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

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Spring Training Game #3: A’s vs. Giants Game Thread

In the wake of two lackluster performances to open their spring training schedule, the Athletics have another chance today to nab their first preseason win as they travel to Scottsdale to take on the San Francisco Giants.

The A’s starter this afternoon will be JT Ginn, a youngster who bounced between the starting rotation and bullpen last season. This appearance will be the first of many for Ginn in what could be a pivotal spring training for him. Ginn is in a similar situation as Jack Perkins, who started the A’s first spring training game. Both of these pitchers have the ability and experience of being starting pitchers, yet seemed to pitch better in the bullpen last fall. Also given the A’s current roster construction, they may have a better chance of making the team as long relievers or guys who can pitch the sixth inning or later. That may benefit Ginn, who seemed to tire as a starting pitcher last year, especially when facing batters for the third time.

After Ginn, things get exciting on the mound. Today will be the first spring training outings for A’s top pitching prospects Gage Jump and Braden Nett, the latter one of the return pieces in the Mason Miller trade. Both of those highly-regarded pitchers have a chance to impact the A’s pitching staff this season. Get ready to jump around today A’s fans! In addition, relievers Elvis Alvarado and Tyler Ferguson are lined up to pitch today, both hoping to have more success this year.

Here’s how the A’s starting lineup looks today:

It seems that manager Mark Kotsay intends to keep Nick Kurtz first, much to the chagrin of many in this community. The third base competition is front and center today, with all four candidates in the lineup as the A’s starting infield. In the outfield, prospects Henry Bolte and Junior Perez will get more playing time to make an impression. Having only scored two runs in their first two games, the A’s hope that this lineup will put some runs on the scoreboard.

Here’s how the Giants will line up for their game today against the Athletics:

That Giants lineup looks really close to their Opening Day lineup, so it will be a true test for Ginn. Catcher Daniel Susac, who the A’s lost in the Rule 5 draft, will be playing against his former organization in his bid to win the Giants backup catcher job.

Who is ready for more spring baseball? Time to secure that first win. Let’s go A’s!

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'Everybody's got an opinion on it:' Kansas' Darryn Peterson on injury narrative

One of the bigger storylines this men's college basketball season has been the health status of Kansas basketball guard Darryn Peterson, one of the sport's top players.

In an interview with ESPN's Myron Medcalf, Peterson spoke out on the current narrative, which has been sparked by social media, regarding his availability for games or coming out of them as he continues to deal with the numerous injuries he has sustained this season.

"Everybody's got an opinion on it," Peterson recently told ESPN. "But basketball is my life. If I could have been out there every game this year, I would have. If you would have asked me last year, what were my goals for this year, I would never mention missing games. So all this stuff kind of just happened, but I've got to deal with it."

REQUIRED READING: Who is rising, falling in latest March Madness bracket prediction?

Peterson's comments to Medcalf are some of his first public remarks this season, as he has not spoken in many availabilities this season.

The Jayhawks 6-foot-6 freshman guard has missed 11 games this season, including Kansas' loss to Duke in the Champions Classic and its win over then-No. 1 Arizona on Feb. 9, with the majority of those being due to a lingering hamstring injury. He has also not been able to finish games due to cramps from that hamstring injury.

However, in the 16 games that Peterson has played in, he has lived up to the hype and expectations that surrounded his name heading into the season. He scored 32 points in an overtime win over TCU, scored 26 points on 11-of-13 shooting against Baylor, and 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting against Oklahoma State before exiting due to injury.

Ahead of Kansas' eventual 84-68 loss to Cincinnati on Feb. 21, the Jayhawks' second loss at home this season, Bill Self told reporters that he wasn't buying into the false narrative surrounding Peterson's ongoing injuries. He doubled down on that following Kansas' 16-point loss to the Bearcats, their third-worst home loss in Self's tenure.

"There is a way to change the narrative — play, finish," Self said on Feb. 20. "Now, if his body allows him to, fantastic. If it doesn’t allow him to, then they’ll say something again the next game. But that’s the way to get people to quit talking.

"It’s not me saying it’s not fair, I don’t think that really keeps anybody from having an opinion at a national level or on this level or any level to be quite candid, but I do think it’s easy for everybody to say what’s happening within a situation that really doesn’t know the situation."

Is Darryn Peterson playing tonight for Kansas basketball vs Houston?

All signs point to a "yes" for Peterson's status against Houston on Monday. The Jayhawks enter Monday's critical Big 12 game with a 40-0 record on "Big Monday" games at Allen Fieldhouse under Self.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kansas basketball guard Darryn Peterson answers back on injury narrative