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Theegala finds a fairway and leads LA to late victory over Jupiter for 1-0 lead in TGL final

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Sahith Theegala picked the right time to find a fairway, setting up a two-putt birdie on the final hole Monday night to flip the match and give Los Angeles a 6-5 victory over Jupiter Links and a 1-0 lead in the TGL finals.

Match 2 is Tuesday night at the SoFi Center, followed immediately by Match 3, if necessary.

LA was without Collin Morikawa, who suffered a back injury at The Players Championship.

Tiger Woods heads the Jupiter team but has sat out all year as he recovers from back surgery last fall. Jupiter had been using Akshay Bhatia as an alternate, but Bhatia is playing the Hero Indian Open this week in New Delhi on the European tour.

That put Kevin Kisner — who has been in the broadcast booth for NBC during the Florida swing on the PGA Tour — in the lineup for Jupiter for only the second time since Feb. 2.

Theegala twice hit tee shots out of play, and hit another drive into a bunker that kept LA from reaching the green in two on a par 5. He also missed a 3-foot putt that cost his team a point. But he wound up hitting a winner.

Jupiter led 5-4 going to the par-5 closing hole and LA threw the hammer, meaning the hole was worth two points. Theegala ripped his drive into the fairway to set up a second shot to 35 feet. Kisner found the rough off the tee, the rough on his second shot and a wedge came up short of the green. His birdie chip from 20 feet to tie the hole — and win the match — narrowly missed.

Jupiter had taken a 3-2 lead after alternate shot involving all three players through nine holes.

LA won the first two holes of singles for the lead, only for Kisner to hit driver onto the green at No. 12 after Theegala had gone into a hazard. That tied the match at 4.

Jupiter regained the lead at 5-4 when Justin Rose three-putted from long range. Tom Kim hit his tee shot on a par 3 to 6 feet and Jupiter threw the hammer. LA accepted, meaning if it lost the hole it would lose the match. Tommy Fleetwood responded with a tee shot to 4 feet for matching birdies.

That sent it to the 15th and final hole, and Theegala's length — and accuracy — was the difference.

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

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Cubs news: Cubs, Pete Crow-Armstrong agree to 6-year, $115 million extension

HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 10: Pete Crow-Armstrong #4 of Team United States rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run against Team Italy in the sixth inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic at Daikin Park on March 10, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Tonight, ESPN’s Jeff Passan broke the news that Cubs fans have been waiting for.

We have no details as of yet on the length of the deal or how much money Pete Crow-Armstrong will get. Bob Nightengale reports that it will be more than $100 million, which is a safe report, honestly.

Most observers have used the extension that Corbin Carroll signed with the Diamondbacks before the 2023 season as a point of reference: eight years and $111 million. However, there has been three years of contract inflation since then and PCA has accomplished more at this point than Carroll had before 2023, so I’d expect whatever Crow-Armstrong signed to be north of that.

Crow-Armstrong has said before that he loves Chicago and that he wants to be a Cub long-term. The Cubs have indicated that they’d like him around for a while. It looks like both sides got their wish.

UPDATE: We now have the terms of the deal.

So this may not be as extensive as some of us may have hoped. It’s quite similar to what Ian Happ and Nico Hoerner signed back in 2023, although those were three-year deals. Basically, the Cubs get cost certainty over Crow-Armstrong’s arbitration years and they buy out two years of free agency. There are some escalators which complicate things from the Cubs point of view. Crow-Armstrong will be a Cub through the 2032 season. It also doesn’t put them on the hook for a ton of money after PCA turns 30, which, presumably, will be his decline years.

For Crow-Armstrong, he gets a guaranteed deal with life-changing money and can still hit free agency at age 31.

Of course, this deal also gives the Cubs and Crow-Armstrong six more years to come up with a second extension if they wish. It will also give more time for the Cubs and PCA to establish what those years past 2032 should be worth. We could be in a completely different economic framework by then.

But for Cubs fans, the good news is that Crow-Armstrong should be patrolling center field for the next six seasons.

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Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki struggles again in exhibition start against the Angels

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki had another rough spring training start Monday night.

Sasaki issued six walks while allowing five runs in two-plus innings against the Los Angeles Angels at Dodger Stadium. He threw 66 pitches, 32 for strikes.

The Japanese right-hander has a 15.58 ERA over four exhibition starts for the defending World Series champions. He has walked 15 in 8 2/3 innings, raising questions about his preparedness for the beginning of the regular season.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto starts for the Dodgers when they host Arizona in their opener on Thursday night.

Sasaki failed to get an out in the first. He hit Zach Neto with a 3-0 fastball before Mike Trout reached on a fielder's choice. Sasaki then walked three consecutive batters before he was replaced by Ronan Kopp.

The 24-year-old Sasaki returned for the start of the second. He hit Neto again and walked Trout before escaping the jam on a pair of grounders.

He issued a leadoff walk to Yoán Moncada in the third before striking out Jo Adell and Josh Lowe. Logan O'Hoppe then lined to second for the final out of the inning.

Sasaki was replaced by Ben Casparius after he walked Adam Frazier leading off the fourth. Frazier ended up scoring on Nolan Schanuel's sacrifice fly.

Sasaki signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers in January 2025, receiving a $6.5 million signing bonus because he was under age 25 and subject to international signing bonus pool rules. He had spent the previous four seasons in the Nippon Professional Baseball League in Japan.

Sidelined for much of last season because of a right shoulder impingement, Sasaki went 1-1 with a 4.46 ERA in eight starts and two relief appearances.

He returned in September and became a key piece of the bullpen during the postseason, giving up just one earned run over 10 2/3 innings and earning three saves to help the Dodgers win their second straight championship.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

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Craig Kimbrel will ‘stay ready’ for Mets despite Opening Day disappointment

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Craig Kimbrel (46) reacts in the fourth inning against the Washington Nationals during Spring Training, Image 2 shows Mets pitcher Craig Kimbrel (46) throws in the fourth inning against the Washington Nationals during Spring Training Clover Field, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026

PORT ST. LUCIE — For now, Craig Kimbrel is choosing Mets purgatory.

The 37-year-old, longtime shutdown reliever, who was informed Sunday that he will not be on the Opening Day roster, will remain in the organization and stay in Florida in hopes that his stuff will improve and a spot on the club will open.

Kimbrel could have exercised an opt-out from his contract. If a major league opportunity arises with another team, he would be free to pursue it.

But the plan for the time being is for Kimbrel to continue throwing, try to build his velocity and “stay ready” if the Mets need him, he said.

Mets pitcher Craig Kimbrel (46) throws in the fourth inning against the Washington Nationals during Spring Training Clover Field, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

“My goal was to make the Opening Day roster. I am a little disappointed in that, but that is all on me and what I showed this spring so far,” Kimbrel said Monday at the team’s spring facility. “It really came down to roster moves and how they wanted to construct it. … It was going to be a tough job to get onto this team. A lot of great arms and just so many spots.”

Kimbrel was competing for the final spot in the bullpen, which will go to lefties Bryan Hudson or Richard Lovelady (or a reliever who shakes loose from another camp).

Kimbrel allowed three runs on four hits and five walks in six innings while striking out five in the Grapefruit League. His four-seam fastball averaged 92.5 mph. He said he wants to work on “consistency” and strength to juice that number.

“If I can get my fastball velocity up a little bit, I think that makes everybody feel a little bit more comfortable,” said Kimbrel, a potential Hall of Famer. “I can pitch with what I got right now, but we’re in a game where guys are throwing 100 miles an hour out of the bullpen.”

Kimbrel said reporting to Triple-A Syracuse “might be an option” down the road, but he is hopeful he will have a major league job before accepting a minor league assignment.

Why is he staying with the Mets?

Craig Kimbrel (46) reacts in the fourth inning against the Washington Nationals during Spring Training. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

“Very pleased in what I see around here,” Kimbrel said. “The Mets have treated me with the utmost respect the whole time I’ve been here. I’ve been very transparent with that work relationship. … I just feel pretty comfortable where I am right now. I still feel like there’s an opportunity here at some point.”

Carson Benge will be the Opening Day right fielder, but the final spot on the bench is still being decided.

The Mets will bring infielder Vidal Bruján, outfielder Jared Young and catcher Ben Rortvedt to New York with them before deciding who will be their 26th man. It is possible none make the team and the Mets claim a player who is cut from another camp.

“We told them that this is probably going to [go] all the way to the end,” manager Carlos Mendoza said.

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Rangers rookie pitcher finds out he made the team during a mound visit from manager

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The mound visit Carter Baumler received from Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker wasn't to take the rookie right-hander out of his last spring training game, but rather to let him know he made the opening day roster.

Schumaker came out of the dugout after Baumler retired the first two Kansas City Royals batters in the fifth inning Monday night. Texas catcher Danny Jansen and all four infielders were also on the mound when the new Rangers manager told the 24-year-old reliever he will start the season in the Texas bullpen.

“I wasn’t expecting it. I was like, why is he coming out here? And he got on the mound and told me I made the team,” Baumler said during an in-game TV interview on the Rangers Sports Network. “I mean, honestly, I thought I was like getting taken out of the game. ... Obviously, whenever the manager comes out, you’re usually done.”

Jansen patted his catcher's mitt on Baumler's chest and the infielders offered their congratulations. Baumler, looking to make his major league debut after never pitching above Double-A, had a big smile on his face but composed himself to strike out Isaac Collins swinging on a 96.8 mph fastball to end the inning.

In his eight spring training games, Baumler allowed one earned run and struck out 10 over 9 1/3 innings.

Baumler hugged Schumaker when he got back to the dugout after the third out, then was greeted by high-fives from teammates.

Baumler was selected by Baltimore in the fifth round of the 2020 amateur draft out of high school in Iowa and had Tommy John surgery soon after that. He pitched in the Orioles organization from 2022-25, but was left off their 40-man roster last fall. He was scooped up by Pittsburgh in the first round of the Rule 5 draft at the winter meetings in December and traded to Texas the same day.

“A few years ago I never would have expected this,” Baumler said. “Looking back ... I’m glad I kept my head down and kept hammering away.”

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

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Thunder beat short-handed 76ers for 12th straight win

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 22 points, Jalen Williams added 18 in his return to the lineup and the Oklahoma City Thunder won their 12th game in a row Monday night with a 123-103 victory over the short-handed Philadelphia 76ers.

Jared McCain had 13 points for the Thunder in his first game in Philadelphia since last month’s trade. The defending NBA champions improved to 57-15, the best record in the league.

VJ Edgecombe scored 35 points for the 76ers, who played without Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Paul George. Philadelphia began the day as the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament but was just a half-game back of fifth-place Toronto.

Williams was back in the lineup after missing 16 games with a right hamstring strain.

PACERS 128, MAGIC 126

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Pascal Siakam scored 37 points and blocked Paolo Banchero’s attempted layup in the final seconds to help Indiana end their franchise-record 16-game losing streak with a win over Orlando.

Banchero scored 39 points for the Magic, who have lost five straight.

Banchero drove to the basket with a chance to tie the game after Orlando won a jump ball with 6.4 seconds left. But 7-foot-1 Jay Huff and the 6-9 Siakam were under the basket, and Banchero could not get the shot over them.

Jarace Walker had 20 points for the Pacers, and Aaron Nemith added 19. Andrew Nembhard, who hit a 3-pointer with 1:33 remaining for Indiana’s final points, finished with 13 points, 14 assists and seven rebounds.

PISTONS 113, LAKERS 110

DETROIT (AP) — Daniss Jenkins scored a career-high 30 points, including six in the final 34 seconds, and Detroit ended Los Angeles' nine-game winning streak.

The Pistons overcame 32 points from Luka Doncic and 24 from Austin Reaves to win their fourth straight and seventh in eight games. Jalen Duren added 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Doncic was cleared to play Sunday after the NBA rescinded his 16th technical foul of the season, which triggers a one-game suspension.

LeBron James went scoreless in the first half, but finished with 12 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.

SPURS 136, HEAT 111

MIAMI (AP) — MIAMI (AP) — Victor Wembanyama scored 26 points as San Antonio beat Miami Heat for their sixth straight win.

Wembanyama added 15 rebounds and five blocks for the Spurs. Keldon Johnson scored 21 points while adding six rebounds. Dylan Harper went 9 of 14 from the field (3 for 5 from 3-point range) to finish with 21 points.

Norman Powell led the Heat with 21 points. Tyler Herro had 18 points.

HAWKS 146, GRIZZLIES 107

ATLANTA (AP) — Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 26 points and eight Atlanta players scored in double figures as the Hawks routed Memphis.

Atlanta outscored the Grizzlies in the first three quarters and had an insurmountable 41-point advantage at 116-75 after three periods. The Hawks led by 10 points (32-22) after one and 25 points (71-46) at halftime on the way to their 11th straight home win and 13th victory in 14 games. Atlanta kept its lead around 40 points through most of the final period, which was won by the Grizzlies 32-30.

Onyeka Okongwu and Jonathan Kuminga scored 16 points apiece, CJ McCollum had 15 and Dyson Daniels 12. Corey Kispert, Zaccharie Risacher and Jock Landale each added 11 as the Hawks shot 49 for 92 (53%) from the field overall and 25 of 54 (46%) from 3-point range.

Atlanta (40-32) had its highest point total of the season. The Hawks entered the game in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind Toronto, which was playing at Utah later Monday.

GG Jackson scored 26 points, Tyler Burton added 20, Ty Jerome finished with 17 and Walter Clayton Jr. 16 for Memphis, which shot 33% (14 for 43) from 3-point distance.

BULLS 132, ROCKETS 124

CHICAGO (AP) — Matas Buzelis’ layup in the final seconds put Chicago ahead to stay and Collin Sexton came off the bench to score 25 points as Chicago beat Houston Rockets.

Houston’s loss, combined with San Antonio’s 136-111 win over Miami, allowed the Spurs (54-18) to clinch the Southwest Division.

The Bulls (29-42) led by as many as 22 points after scoring a season-high 41 points in the first quarter. But, Chicago trailed by four points late and needed Buzelis’ basket with 10.2 seconds remaining to move ahead to stay and post their first win over Houston in the teams’ last five games.

Kevin Durant fueled the Rockets’ (43-28) comeback by scoring 15 of his game-high 40 points in the fourth quarter. Durant was 15 of 23 from the field, marking the ninth straight game he shot 50% or better, which is the third-longest streak of his career.

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In-form Talia Gibson’s dream run ended by Elena Rybakina at Miami Open

  • Australian loses 6-2, 6-2 in last 16 against world No 2 Kazakh

  • Gibson had beaten five top-20 tennis players in three weeks

Talia Gibson’s impressive run at the Miami Open has come crashing down at the hands of world No 2 and two-time grand slam champion Elena Rybakina.

The in-form 21-year-old Australian, who came through two rounds of qualifying in Florida before upsetting Czech Sara Bejlek, Japan’s four-time slam winner Naomi Osaka and American teenage sensation Iva Jovic in the main draw, suffered a 6-2, 6-2 loss in her last-16 clash with Kazakh Rybakina.

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Victor Wembanyama dominates as Spurs rout Heat, win 6th straight

Mar 23, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat guard Norman Powell (24) falls down as San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) drives to the basket during the second half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images | Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

The Spurs are showing no signs of slowing down as the regular season nears its end. They went into Miami and dominated en route to an easy 136-111 win, their sixth victory in a row. Victor Wembanyama impacted the game on both ends in a way that few players have this season to help put the slumping Heat away early, finishing with an impressive stat line that somehow doesn’t represent how great his performance was.

Before the Spurs ran away with it, there was an entertaining opening quarter, in which both teams seemed to be sticking to their plan. Wembanyama walled off the paint, leading the Heat to rely on jumpers and their normal breakneck pace to avoid half-court offense, while the Spurs tried to get into the paint by using Wemby’s gravity to open up shots near the rim or open threes. The intensity was there from two squads that are known for playing hard. The differences were made at the edges. San Antonio dominated the glass, which helped them survive a zone defense that baffled them at times, and Miami got points in transition. It was a close, physical, occasionally sloppy but always entertaining first 12 minutes that ended with the Silver and Black up eight.

After that, the Spurs completely took over. While Wembanyama had a huge impact in the first quarter, mostly by deterring and changing shots and making the defense focus on him while his teammates feasted, he didn’t get the stats to show for it. It changed to start the second, as he blocked a couple of shots that allowed the Silver and Black to push the pace, finished a couple of dunks, and found Carter Bryant for an alley-oop dunk. Miami did its best to stick around, but the lead reached double digits, and there was no counter run. The Spurs did well to survive the minutes without Wembanyama and Fox on the floor, as the second unit vastly outplayed the Heat’s subs, and once Wemby returned, San Antonio found itself up 20 points. It was an impressive effort against a well-coached team that tried different lineup approaches to no avail.

The 18-point lead the Spurs had heading into the break was a nice buffer, but a slow start on offense opened the window for Miami to get back into it. The problem for the home team is that they had no way of scoring on an active San Antonio defense that had Wembanyama contesting everything close to him, and his teammates flying around to close out on jumpers. The Heat started the second half missing their first nine shots, the Silver and Black got their offense back on track, and the lead got to 30 midway through the third. The second unit wasn’t as good as it had been early, but it still found ways to get enough stops and buckets to prevent a run. The difference between the two teams was as big on Monday as the box score showed, as the visitors headed into the fourth up 27 and looking like they had an extra gear they could access if needed.

The Heat just didn’t have it in them to even attempt a fake comeback, which is understandable considering their recent struggles and San Antonio’s relentless play even while up big. There were some strange and sloppy moments in garbage time, mostly because Wembanyama seemed to be looking for new ways to torture Miami, but the Spurs largely took care of business, making sure the win was secured before emptying the bench.

Game notes

  • Wembanyama is reaching a new level. Ever since he understood that he doesn’t need the ball to make an impact on offense, he’s been as good as anyone, considering his defensive dominance. Wemby had four assists, but his mere presence got others open consistently. The threes weren’t falling, he made some wild drives, and he was still the best player on the floor by a huge margin. A true superstar.
  • The Spurs were at full strength and showed how deep they are. Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie, two starters, had quiet scoring games, and it didn’t matter, as the team had scored over 100 points by the end of the third quarter. Miami is in a bad stretch, especially defensively, but that’s still impressive.
  • De’Aaron Fox was solid, as usual, but the young guards were impressive. Stephon Castle had more free-throw attempts than field goal attempts, showing once again that it’s hard to keep him from getting to his spots without fouling. With Castle playing, Harper went back to the bench but scored over 20 for his second game in a row, bullying his way to the rim and hitting three three-pointers. All three guards had six assists. The three-headed monster is a problem.
  • Keldon Johnson completely outplayed fellow Sixth Man of the Year candidate Jaime Jaquez Jr. Keldon finished with 21 points and six rebounds while Jaquez really struggled to score. The Heat’s forward did have six assists, but some of those came after drives in which he refused to challenge Wembanyama. One game shouldn’t determine who gets an award, but hopefully the voters were paying attention.
  • Is Harrison Barnes slowly getting back to being a helpful player? The veteran forward is shooting 42 percent from three since the All-Star break, and the Spurs are outscoring opponents with him on the floor. He had 13 points after going 4-for-7 from beyond the arc and pitched in four rebounds. Carter Bryant, who had a highlight block, is there to step in for a few minutes if HB regresses, but having both as viable options would be ideal.

Play of the game

Some Wembanyama plays are demoralizing. Myron Gardner here runs back, reads that the alley-oop is coming, gets to Wemby to try to at least foul him and make him miss, but still ends up in a poster. Brutal.

Next game: at Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday

The three-game road trip continues with a visit to the Grizzlies, currently on a three-game losing streak and already thinking about next season. If the Spurs play with the appropriate fear, the win streak should reach seven.

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Rangers fall flat against Senators after honoring Mike Zibanejad’s milestone

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Ottawa Senators left wing Warren Foegele celebrates after scoring a goal, Image 2 shows New York Rangers player Mika Zibanejad waves to the fans after being honored for his 1000th career game

The Rangers hit the mark with their on-ice ceremony honoring Mika Zibanejad ahead of his 1,000th NHL game Monday night. 

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Once the puck was dropped on the Madison Square Garden ice, however, the Blueshirts struggled to hit the mark on anything. 

A 2-1 loss to the team that traded Zibanejad to New York on July 18, 2016, the Senators, was the result. 

The Rangers’ measly nine shots on goal matched a franchise low that dates back over 70 years. 

The Senators, already without two of their top four defensemen (Jake Sanderson and Nick Jensen), lost two blueliners to injury during the game and still had little difficulty containing the Rangers’ lowly offense. 

“It’s not that we didn’t have a good night, we just got outcompeted,” said captain J.T. Miller, who was held to zero shots on goal in the Rangers’ 25th loss in 34 games at home. “That’s the part that’s hard to live with that stuff. Like I mentioned, looking inward at yourself, you’re just not doing enough. We don’t do enough. Today you should have a fire lit under your ass to go play for your teammate. A guy that feels like a cornerstone of the organization. 

Senators left wing Warren Foegele celebrates with Ottawa Senators left wing Fabian Zetterlund after Foegele scores a goal during the second period at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York, USA, Monday, March 23, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST

“We go out and have four [shots] through two [periods]. At home, a place where we haven’t been desperate enough this season. That doesn’t sit well.”

After a moving tribute video narrated by Zibanejad’s wife, Irma, fellow members of the leadership group showered the longest-tenured Ranger and his family with hugs and forms of appreciation from the organization. 

Gifts included a trip to Greece for the whole family, a mini silver stick for his daughter, Ella, and a custom-engraved silver hockey stick for Zibanejad to commemorate the 1,000-game milestone. 

The heartwarming ceremony bled into a stiff opening 20 minutes for the Rangers, who have soiled themselves in front of their home crowd on an egregious number of occasions this season. 

The Senators got a power-play goal from Shane Pinto and hit two posts before the home team even put one puck on net. 

Mika Zibanejad waves to the fans as he is honored for his 1000th career game before the first period at Madison Square Garden i JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST

It was Juuso Pärssinen, playing in his first game since March 12 in Winnipeg, who finally recorded the Rangers’ first shot on goal with 6:11 left in the first period. 

The Rangers didn’t get another until they earned a power play later in the frame.

Pärssinen then flipped the puck over the glass — the first of two such bench minors committed by the Rangers — to ensure his team finished the first shorthanded. 

The Rangers could only funnel two more pucks at Ottawa goalie James Reimer over the next 20 minutes, finishing with a mere nine on the night. 

Four shots through two periods represented the fewest for a Rangers team since 1965-66, when the NHL started tracking shots per period. The last time the Rangers posted that few shots on goal in a game was on Dec. 11, 1955 against the Red Wings. 

While Conor Sheary got the Rangers on the board just over seven minutes into the final frame, the equalizer never came. 

“It’s disappointing because I feel like we’re not controlling what we can to set our team up for success,” head coach Mike Sullivan said. “I just think we lacked anticipation, on both sides of the puck…We didn’t win pucks. So we ended up spending a lot of time in our end zone for the first period, for sure. I thought the second period, the first seven minutes of the second period, we had a good push. And then for the next, I think, seven of the next 13 minutes, we were in the penalty box… I don’t think we’re playing the game with enough pace.” 

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Brewers win 9-1, look ready for season in second-to-last exhibition game

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 23: Luis Rengifo #13 of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts in front of Elly de la Cruz #44 of the Cincinnati Reds after hitting a double in the second inning against the Cincinnati Reds during the exhibition game at American Family Field on March 23, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Box Score

29 down, one to go for the Brewers’ spring season. The Milwaukee bullpen combined for a gem and the bats looked ready for primetime as the Brewers thoroughly defeated the Reds, 9-1, on Monday night at American Family Field in Milwaukee. It was the first of two final tune-up games against the Reds before the Brewers open the season against the White Sox on Thursday.

Aaron Ashby started this game but didn’t make it out of the first inning. Clearly on a pitch count, he was pulled with two on and two out in the first after 26 pitches—he’d walked two, struck out one, and gotten Elly De La Cruz to fly out. Blake Holub came out of the pen and struck out Eugenio Suárez to end the inning.

After Ashby’s mild hiccup in the first, the rest of the Brewers’ projected opening day bullpen mostly mowed down the Reds. Holub had a nice outing as he pitched a perfect second inning as well, and then literally every other pitcher (in addition to Ashby) that is expected to make the team’s bullpen pitched an inning. Six of those seven innings were scoreless. The only blemish was during Easton McGee’s inning, when TJ Friedl doubled and then scored on a Ke’Bryan Hayes single. Otherwise, DL Hall, Jared Koenig, Grant Anderson, Abner Uribe, Ángel Zerpa, and Trevor Megill combined for six shutout innings with only two hits allowed, two walks, and four strikeouts.

That’ll do it this spring for the opening day bullpen, as obviously none of them will pitch in tomorrow’s last spring game. The whole group will presumably be available Thursday.

As for the hitters, they looked ready, too, for the most part. The Brewers struck first in the second inning when Christian Yelich singled, Luis Rengifo doubled, and Jake Bauers walked to load the bases, and after a Sal Frelick strikeout, David Hamilton doubled in Yelich and Rengifo. Bauers scored, too, when Garrett Mitchell grounded into a run-scoring fielder’s choice.

Brice Turang (who all five of your friendly BCB writers chose as this year’s team MVP) led off the bottom of the third with his third home run of the spring. The Brewers had some traffic on the bases in the fourth, when Frelick led off with a double, went to third on a Hamilton single, and then scored when Tyler Stephenson threw the ball away trying to catch Hamilton stealing second. Hamilton scored, too, when Mitchell hit another RBI groundout.

In the fifth, William Contreras hit a homer down the right-field line into the bleachers, and Andrew Vaughn led off the seventh with the biggest hit of the night, a 109 mph, 432-foot bomb to left. The Brewers’ last run came in the eighth, when the ice-cold Garrett Mitchell—who went just 1-for-4 tonight but only struck out once (looking) and knocked in three runs—hit a 108 mph RBI double.

Almost everyone in the Brewer lineup had a good day; the exception was leadoff hitter and designated hitter (I don’t think this will happen much once the games count) Jackson Chourio, who was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. But everyone else in the starting lineup had a hit save for Bauers (who was 0-for-1 with a walk), and several of the players who came in as subs later had nice nights too. Notably, Hamilton was 2-for-2 with a double and two RBI, Vaughn (off the bench) was 2-for-2 with a solo homer, and Rengifo, Frelick, Mitchell, Turang, and Contreras all had extra-base hits (doubles for the first three, homers for the latter two).

Wrap them up, let them chill tomorrow night, let’s get the games started.

The final game before the regular season is tomorrow at 4:10 p.m., again at American Family Field. Brandon Sproat will get a chance to make his last warm-up before his Brewers debut comes on Sunday. The Reds have not announced a starter.

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Rangers tie franchise-low with nine shots on goal in 2-1 loss to Senators

NEW YORK (AP) — Shane Pinto scored on the power play, Warren Foegele added his fifth goal in nine games since being traded and the Ottawa Senators made up more ground in their chase to make the playoffs by beating the New York Rangers 2-1 on Monday night.

The Rangers had just nine shots on goal, matching a franchise worst set on Dec. 11, 1955, in a defeat at Detroit. They lost for a 25th time in 34 home games this season.

Ottawa won its third in a row, improving to 14-3-2 since Jan. 25 and moving two points back of the second and final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 12 games to play.

The latest victory came at a cost of two more injuries to an already depleted defense. Thomas Chabot took a stick to the right arm from J.T. Miller in the final seconds of the first period and Lassi Thomson left his first NHL game since Nov. 25, 2022, during the second because of a lower-body injury. Neither returned.

The Senators, missing Jake Sanderson because of an upper-body injury and Nick Jensen following knee surgery, finished the game with four defensemen.

New York goaltender Igor Shesterkin stopped 31 shots and was the only reason the deficit wasn’t worse. Conor Sheary scored on the Rangers’ seventh shot to end James Reimer’s shutout bid with 13 minutes left.

Mika Zibanejad skated in his 1,000th regular-season game, his 719th with the Rangers after playing his first 281 with Ottawa. Zibanejad was honored in a pregame ceremony with a video narrated by his wife, Irma, and presented a silver stick along with a mini version for their young daughter, Ella.

Up next

Senators: Visit the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night in a matchup of Eastern Conference teams fighting to make the playoffs.

Rangers: Visit the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night.

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Padres Reacts Survey: How many wins will San Diego have this season?

PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 17: Manager Craig Stammen of San Diego Padres on the field during Spring Training workout at Peoria Sports Complex on March 17, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. The players are wear green hats in honor of St. Patrick's Day. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Spring Training has come to a close for the San Diego Padres and the rest of Major League Baseball will soon join them as they return to their home cities. Teams will have a few days to make final roster decisions before the 2026 season kicks off on Opening Day and the hunt for the postseason begins.

The Padres played 32 games throughout the spring season and although the final 26-man roster has not been officially announced, much of the Friar Faithful have an idea of who will be on the field and in the dugout when San Diego hosts the Detroit Tigers at Petco Park on Thursday at 1:10 p.m. PST.

Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball wrote in January about the Steamer and ZiPS projections for the Padres for the 2026 season. With a new manager and an incomplete roster, the projections were skeptical toward San Diego. Steamer projected 80 wins and ZiPS projected high 80s to a 90-win season.

The Friar Faithful have been able to see the team perform throughout the spring, some in person, some via Padres.TV or other media outlets, so they have more information than Steamer and ZiPS had when they gave their projections. The Padres Reacts Survey question this week on Gaslamp Ball is asking respondents to make their predictions about where San Diego will finish in the win column in 2026. Results of the poll will be provided later in the week and at season’s end, Gaslamp Ball will revisit the projections to see if the Padres are higher, lower or right where the majority of readers expected them to be.

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Tuesday's Time Schedule

All Times EDT

Tuesday, March 24

MLB - Spring Training

Tampa Bay vs. Atlanta, at North Port, Fla., 12:05 p.m.

Boston vs. Minnesota, at Fort Myers, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Kansas City vs. Texas, at Arlington, Texas, 2:05 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees vs. Chicago Cubs, at Mesa, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

Detroit vs. Colorado, at Scottsdale, Ariz., 3:10 p.m.

Cleveland vs. Arizona, at Phoenix, 3:40 p.m.

Cincinnati vs. Milwaukee, at Milwaukee, 5:10 p.m.

L.A. Angels at L.A. Dodgers, 8:10 p.m.

NBA

Sacramento at Charlotte, 7 p.m.

New Orleans at New York, 7:30 p.m.

Orlando at Cleveland, 8 p.m.

Denver at Phoenix, 11 p.m.

NHL

Carolina at Montreal, 7 p.m.

Chicago at N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.

Colorado at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

Columbus at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Ottawa at Detroit, 7 p.m.

Seattle at Florida, 7 p.m.

Toronto at Boston, 7 p.m.

Minnesota at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.

New Jersey at Dallas, 8 p.m.

San Jose at Nashville, 8 p.m.

Vegas at Winnipeg, 8 p.m.

Washington at St. Louis, 8 p.m.

Los Angeles at Calgary, 9 p.m.

Edmonton at Utah, 9:30 p.m.

Anaheim at Vancouver, 10 p.m.

PWHL

Vancouver at Boston, 7 p.m.

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Hawks erupt for 146 points, rout Grizzlies in dominant home win

ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 23: Nickeil Alexander-Walker #7 of the Atlanta Hawks drives to the basket during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 23, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Atlanta Hawks delivered one of their most complete performances of the season Monday night, rolling past the Memphis Grizzlies 146-107 behind a balanced offensive attack and relentless pace at State Farm Arena.

Atlanta (40-32) seized control early and never let up, outscoring Memphis in every quarter but the fourth while shooting efficiently and spreading the scoring load across the roster. The Hawks led by double digits before halftime and blew the game open with a 45-point third quarter that turned a comfortable lead into a rout.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker paced Atlanta with 26 points on an ultra-efficient 8-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range, while adding six assists. Onyeka Okongwu and Jonathan Kuminga each contributed 16 points, combining for 10 rebounds and providing energy on both ends.

Veteran guard CJ McCollum orchestrated the offense with nine assists to go along with 15 points, helping Atlanta rack up a high assist total and maintain constant ball movement. The Hawks finished with multiple players in double figures, including Dyson Daniels (12 points), Corey Kispert (11), and Zaccharie Risacher (11 points, eight rebounds).

Atlanta’s depth proved overwhelming. The bench unit kept the pressure on throughout, with strong contributions from Jock Landale (11 points), Keaton Wallace (nine), and others as the Hawks shot over 50 percent from the field and knocked down 3-pointers at a high clip.

Memphis (24-47) was led by GG Jackson’s 26 points, while Tyler Burton added 20 and Ty Jerome chipped in 17. However, the Grizzlies struggled defensively and could not keep pace with Atlanta’s scoring bursts, particularly in the second and third quarters.

The Hawks built a 32-22 lead after one quarter and extended it to 71-46 by halftime. Their 45-point third quarter effectively ended any chance of a Memphis comeback, pushing the margin beyond 30 points.

Atlanta’s performance showcased its offensive ceiling crisp passing, efficient shooting and contributions from throughout the lineup while also highlighting improved defensive activity, forcing turnovers and limiting Memphis’ rhythm.