Arizona Diamondbacks Corbin Carroll (7) flies out against the Athletics during a spring training game in the third inning on March 11, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale. | Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 06: Kevin Porter Jr. #7 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball against T.J. McConnell #9 of the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum on February 06, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks complete the second leg of their back-to-back today against the Indiana Pacers (or should I say “Tankers”). Yes, it’s pretty clear what result Indy wants today, so Milwaukee will just need to play semi-competently, and they should get across the line. The Bucks have won all three games in the season series thus far, and can complete the sweep today.
Where We’re At
The Bucks have now lost four straight and eight of their last nine, now 12 games below .500. Down Giannis, yesterday’s game was a tire fire; it featured a season-high 23 turnovers, and as Van pointed out in the rapid recap, there was a 30-14 points-off-turnovers disparity. Just ugly stuff all around. The season can’t end quickly enough.
As I alluded to, the Pacers—who were made to place 1-4 and 10-30 protections on their first-round pick in order to acquire Ivica Zubac—have been doing everything possible to give that pick the best chance of landing 1-4, shall we say. They have not won a single game since the All-Star break. Not one! I mean, this has been one of the most shameless tank jobs I’ve ever seen. A marasse of phantom injuries, illnesses, and unexplained substitution patterns. Maybe the most shameless has been how they’ve handled the aforementioned Zubac, who—before he was traded—was playing for the LA Clippers. However, when he landed in Indy, he mysteriously popped up on the injury report with an “ankle injury,” which he has only just returned from. Hmmm.
Injury Report
Having played yesterday, the Bucks’ injury report will come out at midday. Tyrese Haliburton and Johnny Furphy are out for Indy, while Pascal Siakam is doubtful. The following Pacers are questionable *clears throat*: Quenton Jackson, T.J. McConnell, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Ben Sheppard, Obi Toppin, and Ivica Zubac.
Player to Watch
Ryan Rollins has been much better over the last two games, dropping 22 points and eight assists (on 8/11 shooting) in their last one against Atlanta. Can he make it three straight awesome games?
How To Watch
FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin at 2:30 p.m. CDT.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Michael Harris II #23 of the Atlanta Braves bats in the seventh inning of a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Truist Park on September 28, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For a team with talent like the Braves have, Spring Training should be about only two things. One, staying healthy and two, letting the prospects shine for the entire organization. The numbers that the starters put up should be thrown away. Also, the 14-5 record should be ignored as well. But some of the starters are doing things that are hard to ignore. Mauricio Dubon is enjoying his time with Chipper Jones and the Spring numbers are good. Austin Riley might be stealing some bases this year thanks to some work with Antoan Richardson. But the big news out of Spring is that Michael Harris looks amazing.
Michael Harris’ 2026 Spring Training plate discipline numbers are completely different from last season. Last year’s 128/16 K/BB ratio has been replaced with a 3/4 K/BB ratio. O-Swing (swinging outside the strike zone) is down from 42.9 to 25.5 percent. Overall swing rate is down from 56.5 to 41.7 percent. He’s not trading power though. His wOBA is higher now than at any point in his career.
Yeah, it’s Spring Training. And plate discipline changes don’t really suggest anything until at least 50 plate appearances. But will Michael Harris’ Spring Training plate discipline roll over into the season? Maybe so. Plate discipline tends to be a lifestyle, good and bad. He could continue but he could easily slide the other way. He appears committed to it for now, though.
“[Plate discipline] is one of the main things I want to work on right now,” Harris said. “It’s one of the bigger things that will help elevate my game and help this team a lot. So, my focus now is making sure I’m swinging at pitches I can handle.”
The projections love Michael Harris for a reason. He has a great profile and amazing defense. It would be amazing for him not to repeat the summer of 4-3. It would be nice if 2025 was completely different altogether.
Build Your Winning Bracket!
SB Nation’s CBB expert Mike Rutherford and resident bracketologist Chris Dobbertean will answer all your questions this week and help guide you to bracket glory! Drop in SB Nation’s March Madness Feed all week long and we’ll have both on hand! (All times ET)
NEW YORK - CIRCA 1987: Mike Pagliarulo #13 of the New York Yankees looks on during batting practice prior to the start of an Major League Baseball game circa 1987 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Pagliarulo played for the Yankees from 1984-89. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The annals of baseball history abound with stories of vaunted prospects who never fulfilled their potential. Whether due to injury, work ethic, or simply misplaced projections, these figures serve as cautionary tales to temper our expectations whenever the next “sure thing” breaks onto the scene.
A story far less often told is of the player who had to hear over 150 other players names’ called before hearing his own, and yet who somehow manages to get a shot in the big leagues — and, against all odds, carves out a successful career for himself. This is the story of Mike Pagliarulo.
Michael Timothy Pagliarulo Born: March 15, 1960 (Medford, MA) Yankees Tenure: 1984-89
The man they called “Pags” grew up just outside Boston as a fan of his hometown Red Sox. Snatched up by the Yankees in the sixth round of the 1981 MLB Draft out of the University of Miami, he was considered a solid defender at third who was unlikely develop into a true prospect due to a lack of ability at the plate. His early returns in the minors were encouraging, if not spectacular. Still, he rose steadily through the ranks, making it to Triple-A in 1984.
Despite slashing a meager .212/.293/.404 in 169 plate appearances through early July, the Yankees called the 24-year-old up to try to fill the hole left when they traded captain Graig Nettles to the Padres before the season. Given his pedigree, he could have been expected to serve as a brief stopgap between that five-time All-Star and the next Yankees mainstay at the hot corner. Pagliarulo fared reasonably well under the circumstances, posting a .735 OPS along with 25 extra-base hits in 219 plate appearances. With little internal competition, this performance was enough to give him the inside track on a starting job heading into the 1985 season.
It was at this key inflection point that Pagliarulo decided to roll up his sleeves. Working with hitting coach Lou Piniella, he retooled his swing and developed the power stroke that would elevate his game. “Mike has worked very hard, and I mean very, very hard,” Piniella said at the time. “The big thing has been the time and effort he has devoted to improving. When he came up last year, his swing was basically wrong. Now he’s improved tremendously.”
Initially, the lefty’s success came only against right-handers — manager Billy Martin went so far as to order him to bat from the right side of the plate against a tough lefty in 1985. But, as the years went on, he developed from a platoon player to a true starter, appearing in 149 games in 1986 and 150 in ‘87. His 60 homers across those two seasons ranked third among all third basemen in the game, behind only inner-circle Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt and two-time Twins All-Star Gary Gaetti.
Throughout this period, the player who had worked his way up the ladder rung by rung became known for his hard-nosed approach to the game. “He comes out for extra hitting and he’s done with that and he wants extra hitting on top of the extra hitting,” said coach Roy White. “He says, ‘This feels good; I want to keep working on it,’ and he goes down to the cage. After a while, I try to stop him. There’s such a thing as overdoing it.”
“Some day, when I can’t play anymore, I can say I played as hard as I could play. I have no excuses. I’ve done the best I can do. I’ve worked as hard as I could work. In the past, I wasn’t polished. I figured the more I worked, the better I’d get. I figure now the guy who works the hardest is the guy who’s going to be the best. I want to work harder than anybody and I want to be better than everybody. That’s carried me so far, and it’s going to carry me the rest of my career. I can’t see being satisfied with what you’re doing because I figure once you’re satisfied, that’s it. You’re not going to get any better than that.”
Despite his hard work, by 1988 Pagliarulo’s bat began to trail off. The following season, the Yankees once again shipped their starting third baseman out to San Diego, this time for right-handed pitchers Walt Terrell and Freddie Toliver, neither of whom panned out in pinstripes. Pagliarulo’s time out west was a failure as well. In addition to posting just a .668 OPS in parts of two seasons, he drew the ire of teammates and fans for attacking Mr. Padre himself, Tony Gwynn, as a selfish player. “Donnie (Mattingly) would’ve kicked that guy’s ass the first day,” he told the Daily News in an interview of appallingly poor judgment, which won him no friends in San Diego.
Pags had a resurgence after leaving the Padres, carving out a starting role with the Twins on their 1991 championship team. The veteran showed out in what would be the only playoff action of his career, hitting .308 in 11 games with a pair of homers, one of which was the decisive blow in Game 3 of the ALCS in Toronto, off Mike Timlin.
Pagliarulo stuck around with Minnesota for parts of two more seasons before a brief stint with the Orioles. For the 1994 season, the 34-year-old joined the NPB, helping lead the Seibu Lions to the Japan Series, where they would be defeated by a Yomiuri Giants squad featuring a 20-year-old Hideki Matsui. He returned to the States the following year, appearing in 86 games with the Rangers before hanging up his cleats for good.
Pagliarulo has coached intermittently in the years since his retirement, most notably under his old pal Mattingly as the Marlins’ hitting coach from 2016-18.
For the sixth-rounder with a suspect bat, it’s been a remarkable baseball life. Happy birthday, Pags!
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - APRIL 25: Lars Nootbaar #21, Victor Scott II #11 and Jordan Walker #18 of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrate after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers at Busch Stadium on April 25, 2025 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jeff Le/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We are less than two weeks until Opening Day and despite most outlets choosing the St. Louis Cardinals to finish last in the NL Central, I am still feeling giddy for the first pitch of the season, likely to be delivered by Matthew Liberatore. Even with that short time to go until games actually matter in the standings, the Cardinals are still sorting through what was the biggest roster competition of the spring: who starts in left field?
The St. Louis Cardinals need to find an answer at all three outfield spots
The Cardinals have been trying to find some stability in their outfield after running through an established set of veterans for a handful of years at a time, but have not yet found that consistent building block. This can be evidenced by the fact that the last Cardinal outfielder to win a Silver Slugger came in 2010 when Matt Holliday did it, and before then it was Ryan Ludwick in 2008 and Jim Edmonds in 2005.
Not only does that show the offense has been lacking for years, it also shows that the Cardinals’ Devil Magic in the grass might have been gone for longer than we figured. Even though the outfield has been a cycle of names, it had been productive, finishing in the top 10 by fWAR for total production from 2010-2020. Then, I moved that timeline from 2021 through last season and it was a total bummer. The Cardinals outfielders since 2021 have ranked 19th-best in all of baseball, and when moving the timeline to 2023 for their first year of their missed postseason streak, they drop all the way down to being the fifth-worst producing outfielders in the MLB.
By games played, the players with the most appearances in the outfield during that time are all a part of the current roster. Lars Nootbaar’s 381 games played in those three seasons leads the group, with Jordan Walker (260), Alec Burleson (203), and Victor Scott II (184) grabbing the most playing time before getting to the departed Brendan Donovan. Now, Burly will be playing the vast majority of his games at first base, leaving Noot, Vic, and Walker to roam the grass. Let’s look at what that means for the 2026 Cardinals and last week, we had Redbird Farmhands on to discuss what he has seen or not seen from the outfield group.
Lars Nootbaar
I am going to call Noot the elephant in the room, but honestly, each of these three guys have some issues that need fixing that could all be considered the obvious items needing attention. Since 2023, when he has been healthy Nootbaar has been a productive player. Over that three year span, the outfielder has accumulated 5.6 fWAR, which ranks 31st in baseball during that time. When looking at the 30 players above him, Noot’s 37 homers in three seasons only slots above Steven Kwan, Christian Yelich, and Sal Frelick. Kwan is four fWAR better than Noot, Yelich has an MVP and a track record of success before being slowed by injury, and Frelick has 43 steals and above-average defense to help make up for the lack of power.
As we wait yet again for Nootbaar to prove that his Statcast measurements are more than just intriguing potential, someone else is going to have to step up and fill his spot while he is on the injured list for an undetermined amount of time. This is the real competition in camp.
We heard throughout the offseason that the Cardinals were interested in adding a righty power bat, but the only move close to that was a non-roster invite to former prospect Nelson Velazquez. After an impressive opposite field homer and another flyout to right that just missed going over, Velazquez is the newest talk of camp and fans believe he is an easy choice for the Opening Day roster. While I am impressed by what he has shown and the potential he had as a prospect, my only hangup is the 40-man roster spot. Not that I think anyone in spots 38-40 is untouchable, but those might be the guys that Chaim Bloom and Co. want to see what they have before a DFA or trade from the 40-man roster for an unknown in Velazquez.
Of course, there’s a reason some of those guys are even in that 40-man limbo and at the end of Spring Training, most teams are looking to subtract from their roster rather than add. In that case, the Cardinals may be able to sneak out-of-options guys through the waiver process and hold onto Velazquez for as long as he stays hot. More on the rest of the outfield later, but I had to give Velazquez a blurb of his own.
Victor Scott II
Before diving further into the question mark that is left field, the clearest outfield lock for Opening Day stands in center field in the form of Victor Scott II. Those with me for awhile know that I am not super high on VSII’s offensive potential, but I understand how small the sample size has been while remembering that Scott skipped Triple-A before making his MLB debut, a promotion usually saved for polished prospects with guaranteed playign time.
Before I harp too much on his offense, it is clear that VSII’s value rests in his legs and his glove. He made good on those tools last year, ranking among the league leaders in sprint speed and fielding value while stealing 34 bases and being named a Gold Glove finalist in centerfield. He set his personal goal for the season to be 70 stolen bases, and for a Cardinals team that stole 89 total last season while losing much of their power, this team is going to have to run.
For Scott’s part, though, he needs to find ways to get on base. Of the 17 center fielders in baseball who received at least 400 plate appearances, the St. Louis center fielder ranked 13th in fWAR and his .587 OPS was dead last by over 60 percentage points. That 72 wRC+ was only better than Brenton Doyle from Colorado and now leaves Scott with something to prove this year, despite only entering his age-25 season. So far this spring, the results have been mixed for the outfielder who spent time this offseason getting his swing studied and reworked.
In 23 at-bats, VSII has trimmed his strikeout rate while drawing more walks, but the end line results still leave something to be desired. Of course, Scott is going through massive swing changes, so the early .174 batting average and four total hits can easily be attributed to that. One thing that I am not as understanding of, though, is the fact that Scott leads the Cactus League in sacrifice bunts… in Spring Training. Scott is also working on bunting more, which is likely what he is going to have to do to get on base more often than when he swings away, but if the swing really underwent some reconstruction, I would rather have him working on that during games instead of bunts. Without being able to actually watch all of his bunt attempts on TV, his sacrifices may have been attempted drag bunts, but again, I feel there may be a better time to work on that in live game situations like in live bullpens or the backfields.
ZiPS projects an overall improvement on Scott’s final hitting line in 2026, but it is still a far cry from the .303 batting average and .794 OPS he put up in the minors in 2023 when he also stole 94 bases. The model estimates a 79 wRC+, .621 OPS, and 36 stolen bases for the speedy outfielder this season. A noticeable improvement, but nothing that would make me willing to go to the extension table or call him an untouchable piece, especially in a lineup that lacks pop. For what it is worth, manager Oli Marmol has shouted out VSII’s offensive approach and his progress with the bat, so when the lights turn on, we’ll see how that translates.
Jordan Walker
I will leave this one relatively short. While I said Scott needs to prove something, the same can be said for Walker but with exponentially greater future impact. The former top prospect is currently stuck in a failure to launch phase after experiencing success in the minor leagues. I used fWAR and OPS to compare VSII to his peers, and I unfortunately did the same for Walker. To spare you the eyesore of seeing it on FanGraphs, he ranked 17th out of 17 qualified right fielders in both measures.
We have heard it all before, launch angle, sliders, defense… There is really no arguing that Walker has not managed to take the step we all hoped as he expected him to fortify right field for the next decade. Now, he is fighting for his position on the major league roster and, at just 23-years-old, he only has one minor league option season remaining. Not so much here, because the baseball IQ is much greater than elsewhere, but the amount of people I see saying that Walker needs to be in Memphis seems a little wonky. If there was a second option remaining, AND someone waiting in the ranks (no, Josh Baez is not ready), then I would be more open to that idea.
For this year, Walker, for lack of better terms, deserves to be on the major league roster, but his leash is likely shorter than any other player who is expected to have a starting job. He is yet to hit 1,000 major league at-bats, number Nolan Gorman has far surpassed yet I believe the third baseman gets more leeway than Walker. ZiPS projects another negative fWAR season, but it again expects an improvement from what he did in 2025. Walker is projected to hit .232 with 14 homers and 58 RBI, good for an 88 wRC+. As mediocre as those numbers sound, all of those would be his highest output since his rookie season, with 58 runs driven in representing a career-high. If that season were to happen, Walker could possibly play his way into another “final chance” season in 2027. That would probably get an eye roll or seven from Cardinal Nation, but there is always the question of hold on too long or let go too soon?
The Starting Left Fielder
Who takes over for Noot? I teased the idea of Velazquez already, but even with 12 days until Opening Day, it might be too early to hand him a roster spot. Since a 40-man move would be required, be it DFA or 60-day IL usage, the Cardinals likely want to be sure Velazquez’s performance is validated, not just from his numbers, but also from the eye test and advanced metrics. Marmol continues to give the outfielder every opportunity to win the job, as he sits near the top of the team this spring with 10 games played, and his three homers lead the squad. The ball might be in Velazquez’ court for the starting job while Noot is out.
While his inclusion on the roster would necessitate some finagling elsewhere, FanGraphs currently has lefty Nathan Church penciled in as the starting option in left field. The 25-year-old lefty is already on the big league roster and received a teeny cup of espresso last season with the Cardinals. Church has performed well in Spring Training so far, hitting a double and homer in his 20 at-bats while also taking four walks. The lefty hit .329 last season in 86 games between AA and AAA, and set a career high with 13 homers and added 16 stolen bases. Church is a solid fielder with a great arm who could become a Nootbaar replacement straight up. Around the clubhouse, Church has been praised for his work ethic and his Brendan Donovan-esque demeanor. If Velazquez falters for the last week, Church could be ticketed to the Opening Day lineup when the team heads north.
Behind those two sit Thomas Saggese and Jose Fermin, both of whom looked to have a shot at winning an Opening Day job, with one in a utility role and the other expanding their bag of tricks to an outfield spot. Now, though, it may be one of those guys settling in on the bench and the other in Memphis after the Cardinals brought in Ramon Urias, along with the potential of adding Church and Velazquez to the squad. I was personally hoping Saggese would get a shot at consistent playing time, even if that did not mean a starting spot. With the Cardinals lineup lacking pop, Saggese at least showed some ability to hit the ball out of the ballpark with his minor league track record. Fermin is a faster, more athletic defender who probably fits a utility role better, but he has been limited with the bat in his 10 professional seasons. The inclusion of Urias makes one of these two expendable, since they are both young players that the organization has kept around. Fermin might have a slight advantage because he is out of options, but if Velazquez were to stay hot, the Cardinals may opt to risk Fermin hitting the waiver wire to open up a spot for the righty power bat.
Regardless of the direction they go, the Cardinals’ outfield may go a long way in telling us how long this rebuild might last. If none of the three above can maintain consistent production, the team will have to rely on Josh Baez to add a spark to the current team while Chaim Bloom may have to adjust any drafting plans and change his focus to the grass.
SELF PROMO OF THE WEEK
10 days until Opening Day, which means your time to enter Redbird Rundown’s May 4 Coca Cola ticket giveaway is nearing the end! Go to Patreon.com/RedbirdRundown, sign up for just $1, and you’re entered!
While Redbird Rundown covered the position battles with Farmhands, I sat down with Nate Schwartz of Pitcher List and Thomas Gauvain from Redbird Rants to talk about the rotation. Matthew Liberatore and Richard Fitts have been impressive, but what is their future?
Random Cardinal of the Week stayed super random this week as Jim featured Jason Simontacchi! He was one of the first players I remember responding to me as a kid in the bleachers of Busch Stadium during BP and how can you look past the high socks?!
Tonight at 6pm, our fearless VEB Podcast host Jake Wood joined the Redbird Rundown as we took a bunch of over/unders that were set for the Cardinals roster and we broke down our thoughts on each one. I had an inch of standing water in my basement and now have 15 industrial fans down there, so I recorded outside in 25º weather for you all! Make sure you hit the comments and let us know where you agree or disagree! Please follow on Spotify and YouTube to help us continue to grow!
This is not an appeal for sympathy. These are certainly not the worst problems I’ve encountered in my life. But, I will say that I have received literal death threats for observing that Alperen Sengun does not play defense very well.
If the internet is a cesspool, that points to broader issues with human nature. Is the internet a place where the confidence of anonymity emboldens people, or is that just a consequence of them taking their masks off?
Ugh.
Anyway, writing about the Houston Rockets necessitates writing about Alperen Sengun. Writing about Alperen Sengun, if you intend on preserving journalistic integrity, requires the occasional use of a critical lens. So here comes a piece that’s critical of Alperen Sengun.
Please don’t (threaten to) shoot the messenger.
Rockets’ best lineup does not feature their best young player
Per CleaningTheGlass, he’s not part of the Rockets’ best 2025-26 lineup.
That would be Clint Capela, Dorian Finney-Smith (yes, that Dorian Finney-Smith), Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson, and Reed Sheppard. That group is +38.4 in 154 possessions. That’s not a massive sample size, but it’s consequential enough to talk about.
So what’s going on here?
Let’s turn to the increasingly fashionable databallr. When Sengun and Sheppard share the floor, they’re +0.2 in 816 minutes. The Rockets shoot 35.1% from deep when they share the floor.
Remove Sengun, add Capela. The Rockets are +14.1 in 467 minutes. The team shoots 40.2% from deep. Hypothesis:
Sheppard plays better with a big man who does the big man stuff.
He shoots better when he’s on the floor with a big man who sets jarring screens. He’s easier to insulate on defense alongside a – here comes the dirtiest word in Rockets fandom – a rim protector.
It’s only a theory. It’s possible that, in more extended minutes, defenses would adjust their coverage. Capela’s total inability to do, well, much of anything other than dunk on the offensive end could prove problematic.
What’s the solution here?
Rockets need more grit from Alperen Sengun
This is not a trade Alperen Sengun piece. Or, at least, that’s not the only solution that will be presented.
It is an “Alperen Sengun needs to play differently” piece. As gifted as he is, he’s not quite prodigious enough to have the Luka Doncic mentality (and realistically, even Luka Doncic needs to change his mentality). He can’t absolve himself from the dirty work if this team is going to succeed.
Last year, Sengun made dramatic strides on defense. He improved so much that he forced me to eat crow. I praised him profusely in public. A wholesale mea culpa. Self-flagellation to the point of deep bruising.
Now, it feels like I’m eating crow again.
Sengun has regressed to “is this guy viable” levels on defense. He needs to get back to his 2024-25 level. If he can’t defend that well while conserving energy for a large offensive role, he’s not worth rostering. Luckily, he did it last year, and he should be able to do it again.
One thing he’s never done is properly screen for his guards. That needs to change. Functionally, the Rockets need Sengun to be basically Sabonis-with-defense. He should be leveraging his high basketball feel to operate as a dribble hand-off hub. His ability to score in isolation should be part of the Rockets’ package as well, but when it’s his primary role, it doesn’t do much to elevate his teammates.
Here’s a simple NBA principle: If you don’t complement your teammates, there is a threshold you need to meet for individual productivity. Sengun isn’t reaching that (exceedingly high) threshold, so he needs to complement his teammates. That means making their life easier on defense and screening for shooters. If he can’t do that, the Rockets may have to have some uncomfortable conversations.
The Indiana Pacers are trying to shake a 12-game losing streak when they visit Fiserv Forum and the Milwaukee Bucks in an NBA Central Division battle.
With both groups playing fast and loose, my Pacers vs. Bucks predictions and NBA picks expect a high-scoring mid-afternoon affair.
Pacers vs Bucks prediction
Pacers vs Bucks best bet: Over 228.5 (-110)
The Indiana Pacers have lost 12 straight games, but their defense has been the bigger story, allowing nearly 120 points per game and an even worse 125.4 over their last 10 games.
The Milwaukee Bucks aren’t exactly locking teams down either, giving up 119.4 per game during that same stretch.
Add in the Pacers’ fast pace and a Bucks team playing on no rest, and this game should have plenty of scoring chances. With both teams allowing so many points lately in an up-tempo game, the Over is the play.
Pacers vs Bucks same-game parlay
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s return to the lineup should fuel a convincing Bucks victory. He scored 31 points Thursday night at Miami, and Indiana's turnstile defense won’t be able or even willing to stop him.
Milwaukee has covered the number in two of its three meetings this season and faces a Pacers team that’s 1-9 ATS in its last 10 and 11-22 against the number as the road team this season.
Pacers vs Bucks SGP
Over 228.5
Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 29.5 points
Bucks -7.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Long-range Giannis
Indiana has struggled to defend the 3-point line, and while Giannis hasn’t made one in his last eight games, he's still been taking the shots.
He’s attempted at least two threes in four of his previous five games, so the opportunity is there and the price is right (+150) if one finally drops.
Pacers vs Bucks SGP
Over 228.5
Myles Turner Over 8.5 points
Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 0.5 threes
Bucks -7.5
Pacers vs Bucks odds
Spread: Pacers +7.5 | Bucks -7.5
Moneyline: Pacers +150 | Bucks -180
Over/Under: Over 236 | Under 236
Pacers vs Bucks betting trend to know
The Pacers have gone Over the total in 15 of their last 22 games for +7.3 units and a 30% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. Bucks.
How to watch Pacers vs Bucks
Location
Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Sunday, March 15, 2026
Tip-off
3:30 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN
Pacers vs Bucks latest injuries
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Hamilton ends long wait for top-three finish with Ferrari
Max Verstappen says new rules make F1 like ‘Mario Kart’
Lewis Hamilton said he is “back to his best” after he finished third at the Chinese Grand Prix to claim his first podium at Ferrari.
The 41-year-old Briton beat his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc after a thrilling duel and praised Formula One for delivering what he claimed was the best racing he had ever experienced.
MESA, ARIZONA - MARCH 14: Shea Langeliers #23 of the Athletics hits his second home run of the game during the third inning of the spring training game against the Kansas City Royals at Hohokam Stadium on March 14, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Jeremy Chen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Athletics offense picked up where it left off yesterday, taking advantage of the dry, hot Arizona air to bash four home runs in a 12-1 rout over the Kansas City Royals. This afternoon showed why the A’s could be a dangerous team this season: multiple hitters throughout the lineup can change a game with one swing, provided the pitching keeps them within striking distance.
Left-hander Jacob Lopez made his second start of the spring and looked sharp. Facing a Royals lineup missing most of its regulars, Lopez cruised through four scoreless, hitless innings, while striking out seven. He looks healthy and close to ready for the season, although it would be nice to see him face more MLB batters in his next Cactus League outing. If Lopez carries this form into the regular season, he could raise the ceiling of the A’s rotation.
The relievers who followed Lopez pitched well, with Tyler Ferguson the lone exception after allowing the R0yals’ only two hits and lone run. Offseason acquisition Scott Barlow struck out four of the five batters he faced. Later in the game, non-roster invitees Wander Suero and Joel Kuhnel each tossed a scoreless inning. Both are likely headed to Triple-A to start the year, but either could be promoted if the team needs bullpen depth.
Shea Langeliers was not only guiding the pitching staff behind the plate, but providing the fireworks at the plate as well. Langeliers faced Kansas City’s pitcher Ryan Berget three times and each time the result was the same: a solo home run. He now has six home runs this spring, the most of any hitter across the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues.
Reports circulated this offseason about the A’s showing interest in an extension with both Langeliers and Nick Kurtz, though neither player has reached an agreement yet. Given the lack of minor league catching prospects in the organization, it would make sense for A’s general manager David Forst to keep those conversations going in Langeliers’ case.
Kurtz also went deep in the fourth inning, hitting a solo shot immediately ahead of Langeliers as the A’s went back-to-back. Center fielder Henry Bolte contributed earlier with an RBI single in the second.
The A’s jumped out to a 5-0 lead, a score that would not change until the seventh inning, when the Royals finally got on the scoreboard. Having limited the Royals to one run, the A’s responded with two runs in the seventh and five in the eighth to put this game firmly out of reach.
Third baseman Tommy White and shortstop Leo De Vries both contributed once again, this time off the bench. White is now batting .500 this spring after collecting two more hits and two RBIs. De Vries is not far behind, as the 19-year-old is batting .400 after singling and later hitting a two-run double. Having turned 19 in October, De Vries appears on track to make his MLB debut well before his 21st birthday. If he continues playing this well, De Vries could force his way into the conversation this summer, which will cause an infield logjam that the A’s will have to deal with when the time comes.
Here’s how the box score looked today:
A’S TODAY (3/14) C Langeliers: 3-3, 3 HR 1B Kurtz: 1-3, HR RF Marlowe: 1-3, 2B, BB, SB, R SS De Vries: 2-2, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R 3B White: 2-2, 2B, 2 RBI LF Soderstrom: 1-2, 2B, BB LHP Lopez: 4 IP/0 H/0 ER/1 BB/7 K/Win RHP Barlow: 1.2 IP/0 H/0 ER/1 BB/4 K A’s win 12-1
— Bill Moriarity – A's Farm (@AthleticsFarm) March 14, 2026
The Athletics will aim to keep the bats rolling tomorrow against the Cleveland Guardians. Right-hander Jack Perkins will toe the rubber for the A’s, looking to improve on his last outing as he vies for a spot in the team’s rotation or bullpen. The Guardians will counter with arguably their best pitcher, right-hander Tanner Bibee. It should be another fun Cactus League matchup in sunny Arizona between two teams looking to exceed expectations this season.
The utter clown car episode that would become known as L’affaire LaRoche broke on this day, 10 years ago. | (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Washington Nationals/Getty Images)
1903 Possibly the weirdest roster snafus in a single season continue, as Harry Gleason (brother of future White Sox manager Kid Gleason) is signed by Chicago — but chooses to report to his former team, the Boston Red Sox (née Americans), instead!
The comedy of outlaw-player errors began when George Davis, after having doubled his salary by signing with the White Sox, jumping from the National (New York) to American (Chicago) League during the war between the leagues, chose to break his deal and remain with the Giants. That forced the White Sox to shift Lee Tannehill from third base to shortstop to cover … and opened a need at third base.
Gleason was the solution. He was no start, but was a warm body, and available for purchase from Boston. However, Gleason defied the sale and reported to his former team for spring training. It’s hard to determine whether his six games played for Boston in April-May 1903 were due to legal wrangling over his rights or the fact that he was a lousy player, but Gleason never showed up to play in Chicago.
As a result, it was Nixey Callahan that would man the hot corner for the White Sox in 1903, despite playing as a two-way pitcher-outfielder in 1902 and having logged just eight career games at third base over the first seven seasons in the majors. Callahan played in 102 games at third base for the White Sox, with 37 errors and an .895 fielding percentage (those numbers being a sign of the rocky-infield, worn-baseball, baby-gloved times, Nixey compiled 0.1 defensive WAR for those efforts and a 3.0 WAR season overall — not bad for an emergency insertion).
Coincidentally, on the day after this, Callahan was named White Sox player-manager.
1945 Due to World War II travel limits, the White Sox open spring training in Indiana, along with the St. Louis Browns, Detroit Tigers, Cleveland, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Chicago Cubs. More MLB teams end up training in Indiana than any other location.
1959 Future Hall-of-Famer and White Sox fan favorite, Harold Baines, is born, in Easton, Md. Baines was famously “scouted” at age 12, while in Little League, by Bill Veeck, who would in 1977 make Baines the only No. 1 overall draft choice in White Sox history to actually suit up for the team. Traded to Texas on July 30, 1989, Baines was so beloved in Chicago that his No. 3 jersey was retired by the White Sox on his next visit to Chicago with the Rangers, on August 20. (Only Phil Niekro and Frank Robinson have had numbers retired while still active players.) Baines, of course, also returned to the White Sox on two occasions as a free agent, and then served in various coaching roles with the team for a decade, and remains with the club in an ambassador role.
1971 The White Sox sent catcher Art Kusyner to California for reliever Steve Kealey and catcher Dave Adlesh. Kealey had two strong bullpen seasons for the White Sox, with a 3.61 ERA and 1.2 WAR over 94 games in 1971-72. His 1973 was a disaster on the South Side, however, with -0.8 WAR and a 15.09 ERA in just seven games before being dispatched in trade to Cincinnati. Adlesh retired, and yet somehow still gave the White Sox the better end of the backstop swap, as Kusyner played three increasingly-disastrous seasons with the Angels, totaling -1.5 WAR. “Cave” would return to the White Sox as a longtime bullpen coach for the club.
1976 After stepping in at the last minute to buy the franchise and prevent them from being moved to Seattle, Bill Veeck appears on the cover of Sports Illustrated. The headline read, “Baseball Couldn’t Shut Him Out.”Veeck owned the team for five years in his second stint — longer than his more storied tenure with the Go-Go White Sox.
Originally the other owners voted down Veeck’sbid, demanding that he change financial ownership terms in it. Amazingly, Veeck somehow got it done, and he was approved to purchase the White Sox.
2016 One of the most bizarre stories in the long, bizarre history of the White Sox breaks, as rumors circulate that Adam LaRoche will retire rather allow his young son Drake be subject to the supposed indignity of a partial ban from the clubhouse.
LaRoche signed a two-year, $25 million deal with Chicago before the 2015 season, supposedly in part because the club assured him that Drake would be able to serve as the de facto team mascot. Perhaps that was an easy promise to make to a slugger coming off of an excellent 26-homer, 82-walk, 2.4-WAR season in Washington. But after LaRoche crapped the bed in 2015 with a pathetic campaign (12 homers, 49 walks, -0.5 WAR), his flex had sagged. Couple that with multiple players (including a true clubhouse leader, newcomer Jimmy Rollins) stunned over the fact that he was lockering across from a young child day-in, day-out, and the White Sox forced LaRoche to make a choice: play daddy all day, or treat your job as if his $13 million salary for 2016 was riding on it.
LaRoche chose to forfeit $13 million and walk away from the game rather than subject his son to limitations on his MLB Spring Training freedom. LaRoche would make his ludicrous retirement official on March 18.
Mar 5, 2026; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; New York Mets catcher Ben Rortvedt (77) speaks to pitcher Justin Hagenman (47) against the Washington Nationals during the second inning at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Meet the Mets
Yesterday the Mets placed Justin Hagenman on the 60-day injured list with a rib fracture. In a corresponding move, the Mets claimed familiar face Dicky Lovelady off waivers from the Nationals and added him to the roster.
David Stearns is demonstrating that he has learned lessons from the failures of 2025, writes Laura Albanese of Newsday.
Mark Vientos’ numbers this spring—both in Mets camp and with Nicaragua in the World Baseball Classic—have not been pretty. But he’s not stressed about it.
Phillies ace Zack Wheeler continues to progress in his rehab and today’s milestone (facing live hitting for the first time) came with his family in attendance.
Kyle Stowers, who had been rehabbing a hamstring strain, started in left field and batted leadoff for the Marlins in yesterday’s Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.
Around Major League Baseball
Wilyer Abreu’s sixth inning three-run homer lifted Venezuela to a stunning 8-5 victory over Japan, handing the defending champions their worst ever result in a World Baseball Classic.
Italy staved off Puerto Rico 8-6 to advance to the semi-finals in the World Baseball Classic.
Team USA’s World Baseball Classic hopes now lay in the hands of ace Paul Skenes, who faces off against the fearsome Dominican Republic lineup tonight.
Since we’re in a World Baseball Classic year this year, we’ll take a look back at the 2009 World Baseball Classic when on March 15, South Korea pummeled Mexico 8-2 partially at the expense of former Mets Oliver Perez, Elmer Dessens, and Luis Ayala.
Build Your Winning Bracket!
SB Nation’s CBB expert Mike Rutherford and resident bracketologist Chris Dobbertean will answer all your questions this week and help guide you to bracket glory! Drop in SB Nation’s March Madness Feed all week long and we’ll have both on hand! (All times ET)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 15: Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks is guarded by Moses Moody #4 of the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter at Chase Center on January 15, 2026 in San Francisco, California. 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New York Knicks (43*-25) host the Golden State Warriors (32-34) tonight at Madison Square Garden. Tipoff is at 8 p.m., the game is on NBC. The Knicks are fighting to hold their spot in the East’s top three and remain a game and a half behind Boston, while the Warriors are clinging to a play-in position on the wrong side of .500. Over their last ten games, the Knicks have gone 6-4, while Golden State has won just three.
The teams last met on January 15, 2026, at Chase Center. The Warriors won, 126-113. Jimmy Butler III led everybody with 32 points on 14-for-22 shooting, adding eight rebounds, four assists and two steals. Stephen Curry finished with 27 points and a team-high seven assists, while Moses Moody buried seven three-pointers for 21 points. For New York, playing without an injured Jalen Brunson, Deuce McBride and OG Anunoby scored 25 points apiece, and Karl-Anthony Towns grabbed 20 rebounds to go with 17 points.
The Warriors rank 15th in offensive rating and 14th for defense. They score 115.2 points per game on 46% shooting and 36% from deep, rank third in assists and second in steals, but give away the rock more than 15 times per game.
Curry was leading the NBA in three-pointers made per game (4.5) and averaging 27.2 points before going down with right knee pain in late January. Butler tore his ACL on January 19 and is done for the year. In their absence, Brandin Podziemski has averaged 16.5 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists over his last 12 starts. Draymond Green averaged 8.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists before his back flared up. Gui Santos has averaged 6.8 points per game and has been given a starting role out of necessity.
Based on their last game against Minnesota, the Warriors’ likely starters tonight are Podziemski, De’Anthony Melton (1.5 SPG), Santos, Will Richard, and maybe Gary Payton II.
The Dubs will be severely depleted against the Knicks. “We’re going through it,” coach Steve Kerr said at NBA.com. “We’re about as beaten up as any team I can ever remember.” Their injury report has Green, Al Horford, Seth Curry, Porzingis, Moody, and Melton all ruled OUT, while Quinten Post is questionable with an ankle sprain. Curry remains sidelined with a knee injury expected to keep him out at least another 10 days, and Butler is out for the season after ACL surgery.
For New York, Miles McBride remains OUT, while Josh Hart (left knee soreness), Towns (knee), Jeremy Sochan (illness), Tyler Kolek, Pacome Dadiet, Ariel Hukporti, and Trey Jemison are all listed as questionable.
Prediction
ESPN gives New York an 82% win probability tonight. That tracks. Given the limited numbers of players available and their lack of Curry and Green, all indications are that they will be pushovers.
The Knicks, meanwhile, have won two straight unconvincing games against cellar dwellers. New York should blow this open early and let the bench crew ride it home with extended minutes. In recent years, Golden State has had their number, winning seven of their last ten head-to-head meetings, including three straight. New York will snap that streak tonight with a 12-point victory. We’ll forgive you for switching over to the Oscars at halftime.
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks (43*-25) vs Golden State Warriors (32-34) Date: Sunday, March 15, 2026 Time: 8 PM ET Place: Madison Square Garden, NYC TV: NBC / Peacock Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
* Should be one more, but NBA Cup wins disappear like farts.
Mar 14, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Kyle Tucker against the Chicago White Sox during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
On the surface, Kyle Tucker has struggled at the plate when only accounting for his batting average (.200, 3-15), but he has demonstrated great patience at the plate.
Tucker has only appeared in eight games so far this spring, as he missed a generous amount of time to tend to his wife for the birth of their newborn son. He demonstrated his “dad strength” on Friday by launching his first home run in a Dodgers uniform, but his value hasn’t come from his bat; it’s from his vision.
Tucker has walked six times compared to only two strikeouts. Combine those free passes with a hit by pitch, and Tucker has reached base in nearly half of his 22 plate appearances, good for a .455 on-base percentage. And that is exactly what Dave Roberts expects out of Tucker; to get on base at a consistent rate and set the table for the rest of the star hitters to follow, writes Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.
“For me, I just see him as a guy if he gets on base, however he gets on base, that’s the biggest – that’s something we’re looking for and something we’re counting on,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of the role he envisions for Kyle Tucker. “Having Mookie (Betts) and Freddie (Freeman) behind him and Will (Smith) – if he’s a guy who gets on base at a high, high clip, then everything else will kind of fall into place.”
Links
Although Kiké Hernández was unable to participate in this year’s World Baseball Classic for Team Puerto Rico, he remarked on participating in the tournament is more significant than playing in the World Series, per Jack Vita of the Los Angeles Times.
“I said it feels bigger,” Hernández said. “I didn’t say it’s bigger. Atmosphere, crowd, you’re representing your country. You’re not representing a city. You don’t always choose who you play for. Sometimes that’s out of your control and you know, when you’re representing your country, you’re playing along with your homies. Sometimes you’re playing along with people that you grew up with. Your people back home are rooting for you, at times.”
Sonja Chen of MLB.com breaks down what to expect from the Dodgers as they enter their final week of Cactus League play, with one subject in particular to monitor being the competition for the starting second base job to begin the season. Chen notes that it’s a two-horse race between Hyeseong Kim and Alex Freeland, with the former clearly leading the way.
Kim went 6-for-13 (.462) in four Cactus League games, but he was only 1-for-12 with a home run in the Classic. Freeland has shown some impressive plate discipline, but perhaps a tad too much. He’s drawn 10 walks but hit only 4-for-31 (.129) in 14 games. As Roberts sees it, the competition “hasn’t changed a whole lot” since Kim left.
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SB Nation’s CBB expert Mike Rutherford and resident bracketologist Chris Dobbertean will answer all your questions this week and help guide you to bracket glory! Drop in SB Nation’s March Madness Feed all week long and we’ll have both on hand! (All times ET)
Feb 22, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns center Khaman Maluach (10) defends against Portland Trail Blazers forward Kris Murray (24) in the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
I have to admit, I am not much of a cook. Oh, I can keep myself fed and alive all right. I would just be eating a lot of spaghetti a lot of the time. But I am getting better every day. Every time I cook, I learn a little bit more about why this dish should have paprika and that dish should have smoked paprika.
My wife, in contrast, is an excellent cook and has taught me all that I know about cooking. She and I come from different backgrounds, however. She started cooking at a much younger age than I did. My parents didn’t teach me how to cook when I was younger, and I joined the Army after I graduated high school. I said my wedding vows before I ever had a kitchen of my own to learn in.
I have all of the tools I need to become a great cook someday. My vision works well enough to read a cookbook. The internet is full of vast quantities of knowledge that I can lean on. I have a desire to get better and the opportunity to do so. Most importantly, I have an experienced teacher who knows what she is doing. The only reason I am not a great cook already is because of the amount of time I have been cooking.
I submit to you that Khaman Maluach will be a good cook someday. He has all the tools he needs to be great. God sent the game of basketball for people like Khaman Maluach, with a 7’1” height and a 7’7” wingspan. All he needs is time.
This season, he hasn’t gotten much playing time at the NBA level. Before Mark Williams’ foot injury, the only real minutes he got in competitive games were in the G League. Since the Mark Williams injury was announced on March 5th, things have looked…rough for Khaman Maluach. He has had a game with 5 blocks and another with 9 rebounds, but he has also had a game in which, in 15 minutes of game time, he recorded neither a block nor a rebound.
We are seeing why Jordan Ott hasn’t had confidence in him to get real minutes in real games before he was required to. But before you go smashing the “He’s a bust!” button, let’s look at some other rookies in recent memory that got almost no playing time in their rookie years but went on to be productive players.
Ivica Zubac
I know this might sound crazy, but I think Ivica Zubac is a great comparison for Khaman Maluach, and could be the best outcome for the Suns’ young center. Zubac was a 19-year-old rookie among a cast of young players who were yet to establish themselves as fixtures in the NBA. Much like Maluach, his per-36 numbers as a rookie made him look like he could be a productive center with enough minutes, but the eye test told you that he had a way to go.
I think if Maluach was getting the sixteen minutes per game that Zubac got in his rookie year, their numbers may look almost identical. Fortunately for Suns fans, Maluach is playing on a better team than Zubac was in 2017, leaving fewer minutes open for the development of teenage prospects.
Today, Zubac is a really solid starting center. He was second team all-defense in 2024-2025 and was traded to the Indiana Pacers to be their Myles Turner replacement next year as they attempt to go back to the NBA Finals.
The per-36 numbers for these two are even more interesting. Maluach averages 11.4 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per-36. In his rookie year, Zubac averaged 16.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Maluach isn’t as polished a scorer as Zubac was in his rookie year, but it can be argued that he already does the dirty work better.
I like Zubac a lot. I would love to have him on my favorite team. If Maluach becomes Zubac, I will be ecstatic with his development. It is worth noting that Maluach is just a little bit bigger than Zubac and has displayed more athleticism. I believe this can lead to a higher defensive upside than the Pacers center has.
Rudy Gobert
I invite you to join me in la-la land as I compare the Phoenix Suns’ struggling rookie center with one of the greatest defensive centers in NBA history. But I ask you, why shouldn’t I? Look at the rookie numbers for Rudy Gobert compared to Maluach:
Now, I cannot say I was locked into Utah Jazz games in 2014, as I was busy trying to pass eighth-grade algebra. But what I will say is that Rudy Gobert is no special athlete, and in his rookie year, nobody would have guessed he would go on to win four DPOYs. Everyone knows that he is completely deficient on offense, and the Timberwolves star has never jumped out of any gym.
What has made Rudy Gobert great is the fact that he is 7’ 1” and in the right place at the right time. Gobert is smart and has been used well by his coaches. When you marry these two ideas, you get a massive obstacle positioned in the right place to deter a lot of shots.
Gobert came into the league at 21 years old. By the time Maluach is 21 years old, I think he can be as good as 21 year old Gobert. I think he will probably be better. He might already be better.
The per-36 comparison is interesting here as well. As a reminder, Maluach averages 11.4 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per-36. Gobert averaged 8.6 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks. That puts rookie Maluach between Zubac and Gobert. Man Man is a better defensive player than Zubac, but a little worse on the offensive end. Compared to Gobert, he is a little better on offense but a little worse on defense.
Jordan Ott is a great coach. If Maluach works hard to learn as much as he can, if he continues to build his body up, and if his coaching staff continues to be really good at their jobs, Khaman Maluach has all the tools he needs to be Rudy Gobert.
Reed Sheppard
I want to leave you with the example that inspired my optimism about Maluach. Reed Sheppard is an odd comparison, I know. Two more different players may be hard to find. Sheppard is a small point guard. Maluach is a massive center. The only real comparison is that they were both top-10 picks (Sheppard went #3 to Houston) who didn’t have inspiring rookie seasons.
In fact, Reed Sheppard’s rookie year was a disaster. In a season where the Rockets put themselves back on the map in the post-Harden era, Sheppard could be found in the G-League or watching from the bench. When he did get in the game, it didn’t look good. An abysmal 35.1% shooting percentage is not what you want to see out of a rookie guard.
But this season, things changed. Sheppard is averaging 13.4 points and 3.2 assists on 42.8%/38.8%/80.5% splits. Is that a breakout star? No. Is it a 21-year-old finding his footing and turning into a viable NBA player? Yes.
This is the sort of sophomore season I am hoping to see out of Maluach. Maybe someday he will be a star, but next season I just want to see a viable backup center.
Khaman Maluach
Maluach has played great in the G-League this season. Does that mean he will turn into Rudy Gobert or Ivica Zubac? Of course not. He cannot pass the NBA test in the G-League, but failing in the G-League would’ve told us that he wasn’t ready for the NBA test.
Playing well in the G doesn’t mean everything, but it does mean something. Remember, Collin “Russell Westbrook” Gillespie once averaged 21 points, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds in the G-League.
Maluach can turn into a great player. Development doesn’t look the same for everyone. Some guys come into the league and dominate immediately. Others, like the three guys discussed, need a little more time. Give Maluach that time and watch as he grows.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: Tanner Gordon #29 of the Colorado Rockies delivers a pitch to the San Diego Padres in the first inning of a spring training game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 27, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Scottsdale, Ariz. — Tanner Gordon is in his third spring training with the Colorado Rockies and is in the mix for the fifth starter spot alongside Chase Dollander, Ryan Feltner and Antonio Senzatela. Gordon had a remarkable 2025 campaign and is looking to build on that in 2026.
“[There’s] a lot of good energy around the clubhouse and good energy in the hallways,” Gordon said. “Obviously, with a new regime, there’s always going to be a new taste to everything. So it’s been good. [The] energy levels are really high.”
Like many other pitchers, Gordon is working on some new pitches. A few weeks ago, he mentioned he was working on a two-seam fastball.
“It’s going (well),” he said. “I try to throw it in catch play as much as I can. It’s a one-seamer, technically, but it still moves the same way as a two-seamer. I’m just trying to mess with it as much as I possibly can.”
Gordon is also working to refine the pitches already in his arsenal, namely, “the slider, the cutter, mixing up a different changeup grip, so it almost has two different shapes.”
Since this has been something new pitching coach Alon Leichman has preached this spring, it’s not surprising that Gordon is also expanding his pitch mix. And so far, Gordon is liking the new staff and what they bring to the table.
“I think they’re great,” he said. “I think they bring a lot of knowledge to us, and definitely different viewpoints from what we’ve had in the past.
“And they’re able to relay more advanced things and make it easy for us to understand,” he continued. “Nobody wants to be out on the field thinking about a million things or be thinking about some super complex idea. So they simplify things and just make it easy for us (so) we can just go out there and play.”
Leichman has also passed along a new philosophy for the pitching staff.
“He just wants us to fill up the strike zone as much as we possibly can,” Gordon said. “3-2 strikes, and then go for the kill when we have two strikes, so it takes a lot of thinking off our plate.
“As a starter, you go through the lineup a few times,” he continued, “so you kind of have to start having to pitch the second and third time through, but just be on the attack the whole time. And I’ve thought of it that way, but it wasn’t my whole philosophy going into it.”
While the players are exploring expanded arsenals, Leichman has also experimented with calling pitches from the dugout. Some pitchers, like Ryan Feltner, are all for it. Gordon isn’t quite sure yet, but acknowledged, “What he’s said makes sense.”
“He has the scouting report right in front of him. He can look at it in real time and call what he wants,” he said.
“Then there’s also the game aspect of you being in the game and feeling out what you want to throw,” Gordon continued. “And there are probably going to be some times where, say, he calls a pitch and I don’t feel like that’s the right pitch for me. I don’t feel comfortable throwing that pitch. I want to throw this pitch. Then I’ll just call it off and throw the pitch I want to throw. And that’s what a lot of the guys talk about, too. I’m not leaning to one side of it.”
Gordon is also leaning on the veteran pitchers for support on and off the field.
“I worked out with [Kyle] Freeland all offseason here in Scottsdale,” he said. “And then when [Michael] Lorenzen came in, he’s super easy to talk to. He’s an open book. He’s helped me a ton, not even with baseball but also off the field – what he does for recovery, all that kind of stuff, and his mindset on that.”
But most of all, he’s finishing up camp with the goal to “remain consistent and control what [he] can control.”
“Obviously, there’s a bunch of new starters that we signed,” he said. “So keep the blinders on and have fun, enjoy spring training but also know that I have a job to do and we as a whole organization have a job to do moving forward.”
What storylines are you watching closest in the final weeks of spring training? Who do you think will be on the Opening Day roster? Let us know in the comments!
