Feb 20, 2026; Peoria, Arizona, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Justin Yeager (70) throws in the third inning against the Seattle Mariners during a Spring Training game at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images | Justin Yeager - Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images
San Diego Padres at Kansas City Royals, February 21, 2026, 12:05 p.m. PST
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 21: Jack Perkins #50 of the Athletics delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at Target Field on August 21, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Athletics defeated the Twins 8-3. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BASEBALL IS BACK BABY!!!
Okay, maybe it’s just Spring Training and today’s games will likely feature mostly backups, depth players and prospects, but baseball is baseball damn it. We got a game today against the Chicago White Sox to kick off our spring schedule, the first of 32 exhibition contests including a few split-squad contests (plus a Prospects Breakout Game). Things are about to ramp up quickly and before we know it it’ll be Opening Day in Toronto with our A’s on the first base line listening to the national anthems.
The first game begins just after noon and will see righty Jack Perkins beginning the game for the Athletics. It’s going to be a quick outing for Perkins, who is surely looking to prove that he’s more than a swingman. There’s value in that role but Perk wants to start and his path in that regard begins with a strong outing this afternoon.
After Perkins’ inning of work we can expect Wei-En Lin and Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang to come after. The left-handed Lin is one of the better prospects in the A’s system and could be an option this summer so impressing the coaches today could speed up that promotion a bit. Zhuang is another starter prospect that has shown some promise and could also be an option sooner than later,
The A’s starting lineup for their first game of 2026:
The only sure-fire everyday starter in today’s lineup is center fielder Denzel Clarke, who will bat leadoff this afternoon. We all know about his elite defense in center field, now we need to see some production with his bat. Infielders Max Muncy and Darell Hernaiz are both in today’s lineup as they fight over the right to third base. Muncy seemingly has the edge because he’s getting the nod at the hot corner but Hernaiz could end up being the option because he’s capable of handling shortstop if the worst happened to Jacob Wilson. The battle for the hot corner begins!
Elsewhere in the starting lineup we see speedy/powerful outfielder Junior Perez getting the start in center field this afternoon, alongside fellow top prospect Henry Bolte in right field and Colby Thomas in left. The outfield situation is quickly getting crowded so these starts will be big for Perez to remind the coaching staff not to forget about him. He was, after all, added to the 40-man roster this offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. Time to start showing how smart the front office is.
Here’s how the White Sox will line up for today’s start to Cactus League games:
Second baseman Marcus Semien, traded to the Mets by the Rangers in November, fields some Spring Training Q&A from Post columnist Steve Serby.
Q: What is the ceiling for you and Francisco Lindor as a second base-shortstop double-play combination?
A: I would say our goal is to be known as the best middle infield in the league … taking away as many base hits and runs as we possibly can to help our team win every single game we can.
Q: Over the years, what impressed you most about Lindor?
A: Just how smooth he is at shortstop. He makes the game look easy over there. You look at him as a hitter, how clutch he is and how he posts every day. I know playing the shortstop position producing on offense like he does and playing platinum glove defense is not an easy thing.
Q: Having been teammates in Toronto in 2021, what is your favorite Bo Bichette memory?
A: I think just watching him as a young kid, having a career year, playing in the All-Star game with Bo — we got to play a couple of times, the coolest one was being to play up the middle with him in the All-Star Game in 2023, although I was a Ranger, he was a Blue Jay. It felt like old times for us.
Marcus Semien practices base running during Spring Training at Clover Field, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Port St. Lucie. Corey Sipkin for tNY Post
Q: How is he going to handle third base?
A: He’s looking great over there. He’s a really good athlete who can adjust, he’s got a strong arm, and he’s just working on different angles and different things that he’s gonna see over there that at shortstop he may have a little more time to see the ball come to you, so just reaction time and different things like that are gonna be something he’s working on right now.
Q: What have you observed about Carson Benge?
A: I got to hit in the cage with him. He’s got a powerful bat. He gets everything he has into his swing, but his hand-eye coordination looks really good. So it’s a scary combination.
Q: Nolan McLean?
A: I got to face Nolan my first live at-bats this spring. He’s a guy who’s coming right at you with six different pitches and high velocity and really good stuff, and he’s a competitor on the mound. He’s definitely gonna be a superstar in this league, he’s showing that already.
Q: What makes Freddy Peralta an ace?
A: He’s got that deceptive windup with a very, very, very good fastball. It looks like it’s right down the middle and it just rises right above your barrel. That makes it tough. Then you feel like you have to cheat to his fastball and he’s got a great changeup and great slider off of that.
Q: Would you consider one day being a manager?
A: I don’t know. … I definitely want to give back to the game any way I can. I know I owe it to my family and my kids to at least manage their baseball team first (laugh). If the opportunity ever came, that would be something I would consider for sure, but I haven’t thought too much about it yet.
Q: Describe your new manager, Carlos Mendoza.
A: Seems like a great person, a leader, the way he talks to the group, he really believes that we are going to be a great team and he has us all believe that. That’s a great mentality to have.
Marcus Semien throws during Spring Training at Clover Field, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Q: Does winning a World Series with the 2023 Rangers whet your appetite to win another one?
A: Every single day. I think when you make it at the top of this game, and that is the top of this game, winning a World Series, every year you show up after that you expect to do that. It’s definitely not that easy and you know how hard it is. I think the biggest thing is understanding that it’s a long season, and it’s about getting hot at the right time and making sure that you’re firing on all cylinders once you get to the postseason.
Q: How critical is clubhouse chemistry?
A: It is critical. I think clubhouse chemistry is a general term, but in terms of knowing your teammates, knowing how they react in certain situations, knowing their background and their family, it makes you care about them even more when you’re out there competing. … Get a runner over so your teammate after you can get a base hit to score a run or a sac fly to get him an RBI, those things matter for everybody.
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A: Juan is as hard a worker as I’ve seen in a superstar. I see dedication to his craft, I see discipline, I see a guy who has fun, and just a guy that is preparing to be a Hall of Famer, what it looks like to me.
Q: Do you miss batting leadoff?
A: Yeah, batting leadoff was fun. You get into the routine of it. You get a lot of plate appearances. I was hitting leadoff for a good offensive team, getting five plate appearances a night. All of a sudden I had 835 total plate appearances in 2023, so that was definitely a fun year.
Q: Any idea where you’ll be batting in the lineup this year?
A: No, I don’t know yet. My goal is to put myself in a position where I’m swinging the bat very well to contribute to this team in a good way offensively.
Q: How dynamic can this Mets lineup be?
A: Very dynamic. We have guys who can run, and we have guys who can hit for power and put the ball in play and make it tough on a defense. We have to do our best to be relentless night in, night out, and any given day there’s somebody in our lineup who can beat you. It’s gonna be fun to be a part of a deep group of talented hitters.
Q: David Stearns talked about your impact will primarily be defensively, but do you have something to prove offensively?
A: I do. I just want to be the best version of myself as a player. Over the years, there’s been some offensive production there that I want to replicate, and I’m working extremely hard to do those things and continue to improve on defense and get as complete a player as I can possibly be.
Marcus Semien takes batting practice during Spring Training at Clover Field on Feb. 17, 2026, in Port St. Lucie. Corey Sipkin for tNY Post
Q: You hit 45 home runs with Toronto in 2021.
A: I was on time for the fastball. I was able to handle high velocity up in the zone and connect with it over and over. That’s something we always focus on because high-velocity pitching is everywhere in the game now.
Q: Where is your swing and approach now?
A: I’ve been overall happy with how I’ve been competing in the box, and as we get further along and get to, let’s say, 100 plate appearances total, I think we should have a better idea of what we’re doing up here.
Q: What would you tell young players about what it takes to win a Gold Glove?
A: I’ve been fortunate enough to be out there and play a lot of games and play good defense at a high level. I take ground balls every single day, that’s something that’s important to me no matter if it’s a day game or a night game. It’s something I feel like is part of the routine to get you going, get your body in shape and work on your skills, so never stop working on your skills.
Francisco Lindor watches Marcus Semien of the New York Mets field during spring training workouts at Clover Park on February 16, 2026 in Port St. Lucie. Getty Images
Q: Do you miss shortstop, or no?
A: I do, but I found a home at second base. It’s almost even now how many years I’ve played shortstop and second.
Q: What’s your comfort level at second?
A: I’m still learning something new every day, but in terms of the angles, the baseball coming off the bat and turning double plays, and just certain plays you see on the right side of the infield, I’ve gotten a lot more comfortable, for sure.
Q: Were there second basemen you studied when you moved from shortstop?
A: I really just put my head down and tried to work as hard as I could every single day. Guys that I would say I admire now at the position, Ketel Marte, Andrés Giménez, I think he might be playing shortstop again now, but those are some of the smoothest guys I’ve seen over there.
Q: Describe your on-field mentality.
A: I guess grinder. I want to play every single day, I want to give it all I have no matter how I feel. I run the bases hard and I play the game hard.
Q: You can’t be an Iron Man unless you play hurt. What’s the most hurt you ever played?
A: I probably have to say through a fractured wrist for about a month that I didn’t know at the time. That was in Oakland, 2017, just trying to grind through that one. Eventually I had to get a surgery, but I tried my best.
Q: What does it take to be an Iron Man, and how proud are you of being one?
A: It definitely takes a lot of work behind the scenes in the weight room, in the training room, staying consistent with your work so you stay in shape, you want to get in good baseball shape. While we’re here in spring training, you want to maintain that and get even stronger throughout the year. And it takes a lot of mental strength as well. I’d say that just being able to handle the ups and downs of the game, and the pressures of playing at this level, you need to find a release or something that keeps you calm off the field so you can show up with the most positive attitude every day.
Marcus Semien during the 2023 World Series. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Q: What keeps you calm off the field?
A: For me, it’s my family. I get to come home to five kids and my wife, Tarah. It’s definitely been a great journey for my wife and I through baseball and raising kids. They allow me to just get away from the game when I get home and just enjoy them growing up.
Q: Tell me about Tarah.
A: We’ve been together since high school [St. Mary’s in Albany, Calif.], we went to the same high school, the same college [Cal] and we both played sports. Tarah was one of the top volleyball players in the world, she played professionally while I was in the minor leagues. And then she had a knee injury that ended her volleyball career, and we ended up having our first child and getting married while I was in Oakland. And now we have five children, and time flies.
Q: The oldest is Isaiah.
A: Isaiah’s 9, Joshua’s 7, Eli’s 5, Amelie is 2 and Capri is 3 months old.
Q: What is it like being a father of five?
A: It’s fun. Something new every day. There’s a lot of teaching moments, there’s a lot of just helping these little ones grow up to be respectful people. That’s always my wife and I’s goal.
Q: What is the biggest adversity you’ve overcome?
A: I’d probably say my first full season in the major leagues [2015 with the A’s], just having some defensive struggles, trying to play the shortstop position for a new team in my hometown and going through some struggles. It really just took hard work on taking extra ground balls and finding a new routine that made me confident in the game to get me out of that rut.
Q: What is the emotional low point in your major league career?
A: Definitely those early years. … I had some tough games in a White Sox uniform my first September or the next year. You work so hard to get to the major leagues and then you get there and you get punched in the mouth a couple of times, and you face the best of the best and you say, “OK, am I really good enough to stay here?” And the longer you think about it and play, you realize that every young guy goes through that. Now I get to watch a lot of young guys come up, and I know that there could be success early on, but there’s gonna be a lot of ups and downs, and you have to figure out how to adjust from there.
Q: Was there someone you turned to for support?
A: In the baseball world, I think it was Ron Washington in Oakland as my infield coach; Bob Melvin, manager; Darren Bush, hitting coach in Oakland. I grew up in the major leagues with those coaches. In terms of players, Jed Lowrie was a guy who really helped me a lot on defense, and then when those young guys came up behind me, seeing how good they were and how much fun they had really kind of put some life into me to keep it going.
New York Mets infielder Bo Bichette (center) speaks to infielder Marcus Semien (left) and third base coach Tim Leiper (right) during spring training at Clover Park. Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Q: What was it about Derek Jeter you admired so much?
A: Right-handed hitter … I just kind of watched the way he moved, I feel like it reminded me of what I could be one day. He comes from a similar, I guess, ethnic background — his mom being white, his dad Black, similar to me — and he played shortstop. So I kinda looked for somebody who was kinda similar to me background-wise, and he was “the guy” for a while, so he was fun to watch.
Q: A quote from your former manager Bob Melvin: “There’s certain guys you don’t want to see in a different uniform.”
A: When I got traded to Oakland, I got to play for Bob Melvin for six straight years. I felt like Bob was another father figure for me, somebody who believed in me and let me work through my ups and downs. I tried to be the best teammate I could be when I played for him, and I think that’s probably a little bit of what he meant. But he shaped a lot of where I am today.
Q: A quote from Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins: “Marcus is so good for baseball.”
A: He brought me in on a one-year deal after I had a tough 2020 season. They believed in me, they showed a lot of confidence in me. They made me feel welcome when I got there, and I had a lot of fun playing for the Toronto Blue Jays. We had a crazy [COVID] year because Canada was not open and we went through a lot as a team. That’s a really good organization over there, and I’m happy he felt that way about me.
Q: What was it like riding BART to Giants games with your grandmother?
A: My grandma, Carol Phillips, my mom’s mom, I was her first grandson. She had three [grand]daughters, and I was born, and she loved sports. We made that connection very early when I was a young kid, and growing up in the Bay Area, we had San Francisco Giants games, we had Golden State Warriors games, and my grandma loved baseball and basketball. As I got older and continued to play sports, my grandma would be at every single game that I had, she’d also take me to the pro games, and that’s how I learned to love sports.
Q: What was it like watching Barry Bonds’ 700th home run in person?
A: That was great. I think we were in the third deck. I’m pretty sure he hit that ball to like left center, and just the power that he showed in that ballpark, which is a pitcher’s ballpark, he made that park look small. All of us young kids and fans at those games, every Barry Bonds at-bat we were locked in to, and even when they were on TV we were just locked in to his at-bats.
Q: Did you grow up wanting to be a San Francisco Giant?
A: Of course. It’s cool to see young kids now that I’m at this level, the teams that I’ve played for, the young kids in the area just aspiring to be a major league player for their favorite team. That was definitely me.
Q: Who was your favorite Warrior, Curry?
A: [Steph] Curry’s been a fixture for a long, long time. Klay Thompson, Steph Curry, when Kevin Durant was there, like that was a lethal combination. But just watching how that Steve Kerr system has been so good for a long time, and watching Steph Curry shoot the ball with such precision and excellence, you get spoiled as a Warrior fan.
Q: You were a Jason Kidd fan, too.
A: I actually got a chance to connect with Jason this offseason in Texas. He’s a University of California-Berkeley guy, and Dallas Mavericks head coach.
Q: What was it like meeting Rickey Henderson?
A: While I was playing for Oakland, he was the special assistant with the organization. Basically, he came into the clubhouse and he was just one of the guys, he’s playing cards with the guys, he’s talking baseball, talking baserunning, of course, hitting. I got to take ground balls during batting practice, and Rickey Henderson would catch my throws at first base, so every time my dad would come to batting practice he thought that was the craziest thing because that was his favorite player (chuckle). It’s so sad to see him go at such a young age. I think about him all the time.
Q: Alexei Ramirez, tell me about him.
A: He was a shortstop when I got called up to the major leagues, and just watching him play 161, 162 games year after year and grind through a season … whether I was not playing that day, or playing up the middle with him, he was always a guy I looked up to, and he gave it everything he had on the field.
Q: What will it be like playing on the New York stage?
A: It’s something I’ve always wondered about and wanted to do. I think just coming into New York as a road player, you feel that energy immediately, so now I get to do it for 81-plus games. The energy in the ballpark brings the best out of most of us players, and something I’m looking forward to.
New York Mets hitting coach Jeff Albert speaks with Marcus Semien during Spring Training at Clover Field, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: Martin Luther King [Jr.], Jackie Robinson, Barack Obama.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: “Remember the Titans.”
Q: Favorite actor?
A: Denzel [Washington].
Q: Favorite singer/rapper/entertainer?
A: Lil Wayne.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: Steak.
Q: Your goals for this season?
A: My goal is to be on a World Series championship team. My goal is to stay healthy, play 162 games of good baseball, offensive and defense, score 100 runs, and maybe win another [third] Gold Glove.
Q: What are you most proud of about your career?
A: Getting the 10 years of service time was definitely something I was proud of. Winning a World Series, and just making an impact on my teammates that have been around me.
Q: What is your message to Mets fans about Marcus Semien?
A: I’m a hard-working baseball player, a family man, and somebody who just really loves the game of baseball, and I’m blessed to be able to play in front of these fans.
Q: Your message to fans about this Mets team?
A: This Mets team is a group of hungry players who are ready to do whatever it takes to make it to the World Series and win a ring. That’s everybody’s goal, and that will remain the same throughout the season.
In a surprising turn of events, the Vancouver Canucks have been faced with yet another case of bad injury news. As per Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK TV, Canucks prospect Jonathan Lekkerimäki will reportedly undergo shoulder surgery that will keep him out for the remainder of the 2025–26 season.
Lekkerimäki had been off to a fantastic season in the AHL despite bouncing up and down from Vancouver to Abbotsford. The forward had 13 goals and seven assists in 21 games played with the Abbotsford Canucks while also tallying two goals and one assist in 13 games at the NHL level.
Injury-wise, the Canucks prospect’s season did not get off to the most ideal start, as the forward left Vancouver’s game on October 19 against the Washington Capitals due to injury and did not end up returning to play until around a month after. He missed some more time near the end of December leading into the start of January as well.
Vancouver returns to action on February 25 with a home-matchup against the Winnipeg Jets. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT.
Jan 31, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Jonathan Lekkerimaki (23) during a stop in play against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 14: Colby Thomas #32 of the Athletics celebrates hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Sutter Health Park on September 14, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A seasoned center fielder camps under a lazy fly ball, drifting with it as it gets carried by a strong wind. Suddenly blinded by the intense desert sun, at the last moment the center fielder ducks and covers his head with his glove as the ball falls a few feet behind him on the outfield grass. Official scorer ruling: double.
That is just Exhibit A as to why spring training stats should be taken with a grain of salt — and then discarded. Exhibit B is the parade of A and AA players on the field by the 5th inning, Exhibit C the way the ball carries in the desert air, Exhibit D the helpless feeling a pitcher gets watching playable ground balls work their way through a B-squad infield.
Don’t get me wrong: spring training can indeed be a place jobs are won or lost. But not on numbers, by the many eyeballs focused on players who are on the bubble for a position or roster spot. So as the Cactus League opens today, here are some things to watch/listen for in the quest for the starting job at 3B or a bench role filling out the roster:
Max Muncy
Does he look more fluid and comfortable at 3B than when he learned it on the job during the 2025 season?
Can he maintain accuracy with his throws, something which has plagued Muncy whether at 2B, SS, or 3B?
Is he hitting the ball with more authority than the low exit velocities and squared up percentages he showed in 2025?
Is he more relaxed and patient at the plate, rather than jumpy as he was in his first go around with the big league club?
Regardless of what Muncy’s batting average, OBP, slugging percentage, or number or errors look like, the answers to these questions likely will inform whether he wins the 3B job that appears to be his to lose coming in.
Brett Harris & Darell Hernaiz
Muncy’s main competition for 3B, Harris and Hernaiz share the same ‘deadly flaw’ they are hoping to show coaches they have conquered at least to some degree: they simply don’t slug or drive the ball nearly enough.
If either player shows up to the Cactus League truly having adjusted his swing to where he can drive the ball more consistently, suddenly you have a far more legitimately 3B candidate on your hands.
Colby Thomas
Fighting for a bench spot, probably vying with Carlos Cortes for that 4th OFer role, Thomas needs to show that he can hunt strikes and not just “most pitches”. Thomas has the reputation of feeling like he can drive most any pitch, but in order to be successful at the big league level he is going to have to develop more discernment.
Nobody questions that when Thomas makes contact, the ball flies off his bat with impressive authority. But the chase rate, the tendency to put balls in play early in the count — these are qualities you can still thrive with against MiLB pitchers but not so much against MLB arms.
Junior Perez
Perez is starting in CF for the A’s in their opener and he might get a lot of looks with Denzel Clarke soon leaving to represent team Canada in the WBC.
We all know Perez is a gifted CFer, so how he fares against the Arizona sun and wind isn’t all that important. What matters is whether he looks like the hitter who thrived upon being moved up to AAA Las Vegas last year or whether he looks at all like the confuzzled and “in his own head” mess he was at AA Midland prior. A lot of that will be seen in approach and swing decisions as well as the ability to square up pitches in the zone.
There’s a sampling of relevant specifics worth following — it’s only position players leaving room for similar analysis with pitchers another day. Any to add? Or any modifications you would suggest for the areas I have identified for these players?
Play ball! Jack Perkins gets the start at 12:05 PST but I’m guessing he won’t go all 9.
Mar 14, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Garrett Stallings against the San Francisco Giants during a spring training game at American Family Fields of Phoenix. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Baseball is back!
The Milwaukee Brewers kick off their Cactus League slate Saturday afternoon in Phoenix as they’ll welcome the Cleveland Guardians in a battle of the two two-time reigning Managers of the Year in Pat Murphy and former Brewer Stephen Vogt.
Today’s game is one filled with non-roster invitees, including a few you may see in the World Baseball Classic in just a few weeks. On the mound, right-hander Garrett Stallings, 28, is slated to start after appearing in 30 games (15 starts) at Triple-A Nashville last season.
Brett Wichrowski, Tyson Hardin, Jaron DeBerry, Will Childers, Blake Holub, Manuel Rodríguez, Mark Manfredi, and Stiven Cruz are all slated to pitch as well. Cruz is among those WBC players, as he’ll represent Nicaragua.
In the lineup, Brice Turang leads off and starts at second base, followed by Jackson Chourio at DH, Akil Baddoo in left, and Joey Ortiz at shortstop batting cleanup. Tyler Black bats fifth at first base, Brandon Lockridge is in center, and new Brewers David Hamilton and Reese McGuire start at third and catcher, respectively. Prospect Luis Lara rounds out the order and starts in right.
A few quick updates from spring camp, courtesy of Adam McCalvy and Todd Rosiak:
A few injury updates from Pat Murphy:
RHP Gerson Garabito had surgery for a broken bone in his foot and he's out for four months.
Brock Wilken has a shoulder impingement that's not believed serious (he's DHing today).
Brewers players and coaches are wearing “FC United” shirts today in support of Frank Cairone, the pitching prospect who was hospitalized in January after a car crash. Cairone recently resumed some light throwing. pic.twitter.com/zpKrkx1Mmq
Two other quick notes: Jaison Chourio, Jackson’s younger brother and a top prospect for Cleveland, is part of the Guardians’ travel roster today, meaning we may see him go head-to-head with his brother. The Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System is also in play today. Pat Murphy had this to say in a conversation with McCalvy.
First pitch is set for 2:10 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast on 620 WTMJ and statewide on the Brewers Radio Network.
Both the Orlando Magic and the Phoenix Suns are looking to claw their way out of the Play-In Tournament.
Only one can make progress toward that goal today.
My Magic vs. Suns predictions do not worry about the standings; instead, they focus on the value provided by injury, always a consideration in NBA picks, including in this afternoon's tip on Saturday, February 21.
Magic vs Suns prediction
Magic vs Suns best bet: Dillon Brooks Over 22.5 points (-120)
With Phoenix Suns’ cornerstone Devin Booker again sidelined, all focus goes to Dillon Brooks. He has excelled this season, in particular when Booker is out.
Brooks has cleared this prop in his last two games without Booker and in six of his last eight, averaging two points more per game without his backcourt partner.
Magic vs Suns same-game parlay
Brooks actually takes fewer 3-pointers without Booker in the lineup, averaging only 5.4 attempts from deep in 12 games without Booker compared to 7.4 shots per game in 37 games with Booker.
Magic vs Suns SGP
Dillon Brooks Over 22.5 points
Dillon Brooks Under 2.5 threes
Magic +1.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Magic in The Desert
While Phoenix has surprised this season and thus found its way well into the Western Conference postseason conversation, the Suns have lost four of their last five games.
Magic vs Suns SGP
Dillon Brooks Over 22.5 points
Dillon Brooks Under 2.5 threes
Magic moneyline
Magic vs Suns odds
Spread: Magic +1.5 | Suns -1.5
Moneyline: Magic +105 | Suns -125
Over/Under: Over 218 | Under 218
Magic vs Suns betting trend to know
Phoenix is 1-4 against the spread in its last five games, falling short of bookmakers’ expectations by an average of 11.1 points per game, even including the sole ATS victory. Find more NBA betting trends for Magic vs. Suns.
How to watch Magic vs Suns
Location
Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, AZ
Date
Saturday, February 21, 2026
Tip-off
5:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBA TV
Magic vs Suns latest injuries
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Feb 19, 2026; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners shortstop Colt Emerson (85) during spring training photo day in Peoria, AZ. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
And we’re back.
Yesterday we got our first taste of Mariners baseball for 2026 , which is a great milestone to mark off the calendar. The pomp and circumstance may be somewhat lesser today, but we do get our first reminder for the steady rhythm of the season: the Mariners play every Saturday from now until Oct. 10, when the schedule makers offer a rest day before the ALCS. Hopefully it works out that way.
The Mariners roll out a lineup with dueling Emersons: Colt Emerson gets his first at bats of the spring and plays third base, while Emerson Hancock takes the mound for the first time. Both are looking to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 27: Cody Freeman #39 of the Texas Rangers looks on prior to a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on September 27, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Texas Rangers infielder Cody Freeman has been diagnosed with a stress fracture in his back, the team announced today. He is expected to miss four to six weeks.
Freeman, who the beats say gave the team an injection of energy when he came up last August, was in the mix for a bench spot to start the season. This would seem to lock Ezequiel Duran in for the backup infielder spot, which, barring injury, would mean that one spot is still open among position players, given that Sam Haggerty appears to be a given.
The team also announced that Winston Santos has a fracture in his non-throwing hand, a result of being hit by a comebacker while throwing batting practice. He won’t be facing batters for the next four weeks, but he will be able to throw in that period, so once his left hand heals he should be able to get back into action pretty quick.
Santos missed most of the 2025 season due to injury, making only 6 starts — five for Frisco, one for Round Rock — before throwing 18 innings in the Arizona Fall League. I would expect he’ll start the season in Round Rock, though he could go back to AA Frisco to start the year.
SAN ANTONIO, TX -FEBRUARY 19: De'Aaron Fox #4 and Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs goes through a pre-game ritual before the start of their game against Phoenix Suns at Moody Center on February 19, 2026 in Austin, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Before the latest NBA season began, I wrote a piece entitled End of Summer Disjointed Basketball Thoughts. Now that we are past the All-Star break, and teams have played about two-thirds of their schedules, I thought it was a good time for a follow-up, especially with all the knowledge we have gained since last August. But with that knowledge, “disjointed” doesn’t sound like the right term. What is the opposite of disjointed? Jointed? Or is disjointed one of those works without an opposite? You will hear about disgruntled employees, but you don’t fix that problem by making them “gruntled”. Yeah, that sounds worse. And if a team’s season unravels (see, for instance, the Sacramento Kings), they don’t hope to “ravel” or “re-ravel” in the following season.
Perhaps this is one of those unsolvable issues with the English language. I could go Bad Bunny and write this in Spanish, but unfortunately, no hablo Español. So I will proceed with my post-All-Star game jointed thoughts in English.
My first disjointed thought in my post from last August addressed the three-guard conundrum the Spurs had purportedly created by drafting Dylan Harper when they already had DeAron Fox and Stephon Castle. I think I nailed this one:
“The basketball universe unanimously approved the Spurs’ selection on Dylan Harper as the clear second best player in the 2025 NBA draft. The only concern I have heard is that Harper’s skills overlap with those of the anticipated starting backcourt of De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle.
“Having coached a bit, I know that having three good guards for the two backcourt spots is a good thing, not a bad one. The reason is simple — players don’t play all 48 minutes. Indeed, the Spurs’ best player last year (you know his name) averaged just 33 minutes per game. In 17 games with the Spurs, Fox averaged 34 minutes while Castle averaged 27. If Fox and Castle play the same amount this season, they will play a total of 61 minutes out of the 96 minutes available. That leaves 35 minutes for Harper or others — for instance. if Devin Vassell splits his time between the 2 and the 3. Harper will be not be 20 years old until March 2026 — and 20 is probably about the right number of minutes for such a young player in his rookie season.”
Coming out of the All-Star break, Fox was averaging 32 minutes per game, Castle was at 30, and Harper was at 22 minutes per game. A total of 84 minutes out of the 96 available. And to quote Teri Hatcher — those minutes have been real and spectacular. As predicted, Vassell surely soaked up about 12 minutes per game playing the 2-spot on the rare occasions the Spurs play only one of their spectacular guards.
I also addressed the log-jam at the forward spots:
“The three man rotation may not work as well for the Spurs frontcourt because the Spurs have five players competing for those minutes: Vassell, Harrison Barnes, Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan and Julian Champagnie.”
The Spurs “solved” that log-jam by essentially not playing Sochan, and then electing to not play him right out of town. We all hope he does well with the Knicks — he just didn’t get significant time this year with the Spurs. The rest of the group are all part of the regular rotation, with Vassell averaging 30 minutes per game (which includes his time at the 2), Champagnie starting with 28 minutes per game, Johnson thriving in the Sixth Man role at 24 minutes, and Barnes (who has forgotten how to shoot) now coming off the bench – still averaging 28 minutes but with a downward arrow.
For the post guys, I said this:
“After Harper, the Spurs’ second most important addition was Luke Kornet, signed away from the Celtics. Although I have not watched very much Celtic basketball, my Celtics’ fan friends (easier to have those friends once I abandoned the Lakers) all really like him. Sticking with the minutes theme, Kornet averaged just over 18 minutes per game, which fits nicely into the minutes that Victor is not on the floor. If you double Kornet’s counting stats, over 36 minutes Kornet averaged 12 points, 10 boards and 2 blocks — much more productive than anyone who filled the back-up 5 role for the Spurs last season.”
Because of some minutes restrictions and missed games by the Spurs main post guy (you know who that is), Kornet has averaged 23 minutes per game, more than the 18 minutes I projected. But the predicted productivity has been there – over 36 minutes, Kornet is at 11, 10 and 2 – and some very effective and bone-crushing screens to free shooters.
All in all, I think my pre-season disjointed thoughts about the Spurs were actually pretty jointed. Other jointed thoughts:
The Spurs are now closer to the first place Thunder than they are to third place. Raise your hand if you predicted that before the season started. All of you with your hands up, I don’t believe you, but yes, you can use the restroom. I could ask the same question about whether you predicted the Spurs’ 4-1 record against the defending champion Thunder, but people probably don’t need to use the restroom twice. (If you do, think about going to Urgent Care.)
Speaking of second and third place, if the Spurs don’t overtake OKC, they really need to stay in that second slot in the West. With their almost total lack of play-off experience, the Spurs would greatly benefit from a fairly easy first-round series to get their feet wet. Coming in second allows such a series. The teams presently in those slots are likely to remain there because (1) they aren’t good enough or healthy enough to move up and out of the 7-10 slots and (2) the teams below those four teams both stink and are trying to stink even more, also known as “tanking”. (Portland, in 10th place, has six more wins than 11th place Memphis.) Coming in third would mean a first round series against a playoff-tested team like the Timberwolves or the Lakers — or even a Denver team with championship experience. No thank you. The second simple reason to prefer the second slot is obvious. If the Spurs get through the first round, they would much rather have home court advantage against who ever they play next— likely the Nuggets or Rockets.
Rooting for the Spurs to come in second puts me in the unusual position of rooting against a team I generally like – the Nuggets. Thursday night was especially tough, because that meant rooting for the LA Clippers in their stunning one-point win over the Nuggets. And that win came playing a bunch of guys I have never heard of and one I have — Kawhi Leonard. To avoid the whiplash, I decided to just turn off the TV and go read a book.
Is it too soon to start looking at Eastern Conference records? I earlier pointed out that the Celtics have been the one team even more surprisingly successful this season than the Spurs. And it looks like Jason Tatum will be joining the team in March, with enough time to ramp up before the playoffs. As of Saturday, the Celtics are three games back of the Spurs. If that holds up, the Spurs would have home-court advantage in a Finals match-up with the Celtics. Am I predicting that? No. But if that happens, I will certainly come back to this post and make some small adjustments to make the answer: “Yes, and you saw it here first!!”.
Tarik Skubal is fresh off a record-setting $32 million dollar arbitration win and is one of the eight players on the MLB Players Association executive subcommittee, so his hands have been full this summer.
Skubal is also coming off back-to-back Cy Young awards and an absolute dominate showing in 2025. The 29-year-old LHP had a 2.21 ERA, 13-6 record, and career-highs in WHIP (0.89), WAR (6.6) innings pitched (195.1) to go along with 241 strikeouts to 33 walks. Looking over his baseball savant page, Skubal couldn't have really been better, unless he was a video game character playing on easy mode.
Tarik Skubal baseball savant page
Skubal is renown as the best pitcher in all of baseball, not just the AL, and a third-straight Cy Young would make him the sixth player to accomplish this feat after Greg Maddux, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martínez, Sandy Koufax, and Jim Palmer. Barring injury, Skubal will be a top-two candidate to win the AL Cy Young all season, and all trade rumors should be put to rest. The Tigers would be fools to deal Skubal.
2. Garrett Crochet, Boston Red Sox (+425)
The leash was off of Garrett Crochet last year in his debut season with Boston and it resulted in as second-place finish for the AL Cy Young. Crochet totaled four first-place votes and 26 second-place votes last year finishing behind Tarik Skubal and ahead of Hunter Brown, Max Fried, and Bryan Woo.
Crochet led all of baseball in strikeouts (255), was second in wins (18), second in innings pitched (205.1), sixth in ERA (2.59), eighth in WHIP (1.03), and 12th in OBA (.217). Crochet matched his 2024 season with 32 games started, but tripled his wins from 6 to 18 and added almost 60 more innings pitched going from the White Sox to the Red Sox. The 26-year-old LHP is entering his prime and is the biggest contender to Skubal.
I bet Crochet last year to win AL Cy Young and he came as close as possible despite Skull's fantastic season. I will run it back and bet on Crochet to win the award, as it's difficult to win three consecutive Cy Young's and pitch 190-plus innings in three straight years.
3. Max Fried, New York Yankees (+1700)
In his first season with the Yankees, Max Fried led the MLB in wins (19) and set a career-high in victories, plus innings pitched (195.1), strikeouts (189), and games started (32). The 32-year-old picked up where he left off in 2021 and 2022 with the Braves and dominated the regular season.
The last time we saw Fried, he was bombarded for seven earned runs on eight hits against the Blue Jays in a Game 2 loss, which I'm sure added some fuel to the fire for this upcoming season. Fried finished fourth in AL Cy Young voting last season with six third-place votes, 20 fourth-place votes, and three fifth-place votes.
The Yankees get Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon back from injuries this season, so New York's rotation won't rely on Fried as heavily. I think a third-place finish is likely for the lefty and his odds should be a little shorter to match Hunter Brown (+1300), Cole Ragans (+1300) and the next pitcher on my list.
Before we get there, her are the top candidates for American League Cy Young courtesy of DraftKings.
American League Cy Young odds via DraftKings
4. Jacob deGrom, Texas Rangers (+1300)
Last season, Jacob deGrom recorded his most wins, innings pitched, strikeouts, and more since 2019. After being riddled with injuries over the last five seasons, with the Mets and Rangers, the 37-year-old won American League Comeback Player of the Year.
deGrom had the second-best WHIP (0.92) behind Skubal, the fifth-best OBA (.196), and the 12th-best ERA (2.97). If he posts similar numbers, drops the ERA a bit, and can give Texas more than 172 innings of work, then he should be a top five contender for the Cy Young. deGrom won back-to-back Cy Young awards in the 2018 and 2019, which were the last healthy seasons for the veteran.
With only a few years left before retirement, deGrom's last chance to join the elite ranks of an AL and NL Cy Young trophy is running out. Since 2000, only Max Scherzer has won a Cy Young in the AL and NL. Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens are two more stars who accomplished this feat in the 1990's. With Skubal and Crochet in their primes, I personally don't see deGrom winning this season, but anything can happen.
A sleeper for this award is deGrom's teammate, MacKenzie Gore (+4000). Gore joins the Rangers after a 5-15 season with the Nationals and a 4.17 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and 159.2 innings pitched. The trio of deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, and Gore will be one of the most fun pitching rotations in baseball this year.
5. Framber Valdez, Detroit Tigers (+2200)
This may come as a surprise having Framber Valdez as my No. 5 pick for Cy Young, but the move to Detroit was massive. Valdez has five-straight seasons of double-digit wins, four consecutive of 176-plus innings pitched, and at least 169 strikeouts over the past four years.
While Valdez is coming off his worst ERA (3.66) since 2020, the former Astro posted the second-best WAR of his career (3.8) and tied for the most games started (31). Valdez is durable and he will join Tarik Skubal, Justin Verlander, Jack Flaherty, and Casey Mize in one of the best rotations in not just the American League, but all of baseball. That rotation will boost Valdez's status and he won't be playing indoors as often like he was with Houston.
Detroit has hitters all over the lineup and I fully expect Valdez to post another double-digit win season and a sub 3.00 ERA like he did in 2022 and 2024. Winning the award is a different story though with Skubal in the lineup, but Valdez could be a top-five finisher for Cy Young and beat out guys with better odds like Hunter Brown (+1300) or Cole Ragans (+1300).
MLB Futures Card
3 units: Pittsburgh Pirates Over 76.5 Wins (-115) 1 unit: Pittsburgh Pirates to win NL Central (+800) 1 unit: Paul Skenes to win NL CY Young (+250) 1 unit: Garrett Crochet to win AL CY Young (+425) 0.5 unit: Konnor Griffin to win NL Rookie of the Year (+600) 0.5 unit: Bubba Chandler to win NL Rookie of the Year (+1200)
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PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint Germain returned to the top of the French league on Saturday thanks to a favor from Champions League playoff opponent Monaco.
Désiré Doue, Bradley Barcola and Goncalo Ramos scored for PSG to defeat last-place Metz 3-0 and capitalize on Monaco’s earlier 3-2 win over previous leader Lens.
PSG moved two points clear of Lens with 11 rounds to play.
Lens had moved top the previous weekend with a 5-0 rout of promoted Paris FC while PSG lost 3-1 at Rennes.
But Lens’ hopes of a prolonged stay at the summit were dealt a bitter blow Saturday after it squandered a comfortable two-goal lead and conceded three goals to Metz after the hour-mark.
Lens stunned
Odsonne Édouard scored early with a volley for Lens and Florian Thauvin converted the rebound after Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Köhn could only parry a deflected shot early in the second half.
That was as good as it got for the home team.
United States forward Folarin Balogun scored against the run of play in the 62nd, Denis Zakaria equalized in the 70th and Ansu Fati pounced on another defensive blunder to make it 3-2 two minutes after that.
It was quite the reversal for Monaco, which led PSG 2-0 in the first leg of their Champions League playoff on Tuesday after two goals from Balogun, only to lose 3-2.
Lens’ evening was summed up when Saud Abdulhamid was booked for diving instead of getting a penalty that he felt he deserved.
PSG responds
Metz must have feared a rout when Doue scored after just two minutes of play after Warren Zaïre-Emery played a long ball in behind the high line of Metz defenders.
Ramos played the ball across goal for Barcola to head the second before the break.
The home team played it safe after it, when it failed to register a shot on target until Ramos got the third in the 77th.
PSG could arguably have scored more but seemed more intent on conserving energy for Wednesday’s rendezvous with Monaco for the second leg of their Champions League playoff in Paris. The winner will go on to face Barcelona or Chelsea in the round of 16.
Also Saturday, Argentine teenager Julián Vignolo scored late as a substitute for mid-table Toulouse to draw 1-1 with promoted Paris FC.
Scotland pinch victory over spirited Wales five minutes from time in thrilling Six Nations contest in Cardiff.
Yes, we know the team is struggling, but the Principality Stadium looks incredible!
If you are a rugby fan and you’ve not visited this cathedral, get your accountant on the line and book yourself a trip.
I am not a confident Welsh fan. There are so many issues at the moment, it’s hard to know where to start. The WRU is spectacularly badly run. We were fortunate to have a couple of generations of genuinely World Class players between the mid 00’s and 2020ish, and considering the resources available, population, player base etc, that was always likely to drop off at some point. But I don’t think anyone expected the drop-off to be quite so drastic. We kept being told that it was a young side who would gained experience and improve. But that’s been a stuck record for 4 years or so. There’s no identity to the team. When you watch them, you often cant see what they’re trying to achieve. The basics, the flipping basics(!), are repeatedly falling apart. The first quarter against England was as bad a spell of international rugby as you’re ever likely to see. I don’t know where to go from here. It’s hideous.
Sacramento picked up De'Andre Hunter at the trade deadline in a three-team deal that gave it a little more size on the wing as it sent out Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder to Cleveland.
Two games into his Kings career, Hunter suffered an eye injury that kept him out of the final three games before the All-Star break and the first one after it. It is serious enough that he underwent eye surgery on Friday and will miss the remainder of the season, the team announced (a story first reported by Chris Haynes and Marc Stein).
Hunter joins Domantas Sabonis (knee) and Zach LaVine (hand) as key Kings players now out for the season due to surgery. The Kings are 12-45 on the season and have lost 15 games in a row.
Hunter averaged 13.7 points and 4.1 rebounds a game between Cleveland and Sacramento this season, shooting just 30.5% from 3-point range. Hunter is under contract next season for $24.9 million, after which he becomes a free agent.
SARASOTA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 11: Dean Kremer #64 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches live during practice at Ed Smith Stadium on February 11, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Baltimore Orioles/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Orioles’ Grapefruit League opener yesterday was a resounding success, at least if you’re a pitcher or Pete Alonso. The Birds’ newest slugger mashed a two-run homer in his O’s spring debut to provide all the offense in a 2-0 win over the Yankees. Trevor Rogers, Keegan Akin, Rico Garcia, Grant Wolfram, Jose Espada, and Trey Gibson combined on a three-hit shutout, with Gibson pitching the final three innings for the save. All of those guys except Gibson are either locks or strong candidates for the Opening Day roster, so it’s nice to see them all start well.
The O’s have a return engagement at Ed Smith Stadium today against the Pirates. Dean Kremer, who will soon be leaving the Orioles to pitch for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic, takes the mound today. It’s strange to think that Kremer might have to compete for a rotation spot, but that may be the case, as he, Chris Bassitt, and Zach Eflin (if healthy) are three candidates for two openings behind Rogers, Kyle Bradish, and Shane Baz.
Today’s game marks the Orioles debuts for Taylor Ward and Blaze Alexander, while Dylan Beavers and Ryan Mountcastle will also be starting for the first time this spring. Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson, the latter of whom will soon leave for the WBC as well, are the only Orioles from yesterday’s game who are starting again today. They’ll take on Pirates prospect Wilber Dotel. Former Orioles Ryan O’Hearn and Billy Cook are in the Pirates’ lineup this afternoon.
The game will be televised on MASN and on radio on 98 Rock.
Orioles lineup:
LF Taylor Ward C Adley Rutschman 1B Ryan Mountcastle 2B Blaze Alexander DH Gunnar Henderson RF Dylan Beavers CF Leody Taveras 3B Weston Wilson SS Luis Vázquez
