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MLB Pipeline drops Arizona Diamondbacks prospect list

PEORIA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: Ryan Waldschmidt #86 of the Arizona Diamondbacks warms up before the spring training game against the Seattle Mariners at Peoria Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images

While there have been other prospect rankings, from the likes of Fangraphs and 1500 Prospects, the list put out by MLB Pipeline is always seen as one of the most highly-regarded. Well, they just dropped the Diamondbacks list for the start of 2026. 30 prospects are ranked there, and here’s what they have, along with their position and age:

  1. Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, 23
  2. Kayson Cunningham, SS, 19
  3. Slade Caldwell, OF, 19
  4. Tommy Troy, 2B/OF, 24
  5. Demetrio Crisantes, 2B/3B, 21
  6. JD Dix, 2B, 20
  7. Daniel Eagen, RHP, 23
  8. David Hagaman, RHP, 22
  9. Patrick Forbes, RHP, 21
  10. LuJames Groover, 3B, 23
  11. Cristian Mena, RHP, 23
  12. Kohl Drake, LHP, 25
  13. Jansel Luis, INF, 20
  14. Mitch Bratt, LHP, 22
  15. Cristofer Torin, SS/2B, 20
  16. Druw Jones, OF, 22
  17. Carlos Virahonda, C, 20
  18. Ashton Izzi, RHP, 22
  19. Dean Livingston, RHP, 19
  20. Brandyn Garcia, LHP, 25
  21. Yassel Soler, 3B, 20
  22. Brian Curley, RHP, 22
  23. Yilber Díaz, RHP, 25
  24. Wellington Aracena, RHP, 21
  25. Daury Vasquez, RHP, 19
  26. Ivan Luciano, C, 19
  27. Jose Fernandez, SS, 22
  28. Mason Marriott, RHP, 23
  29. Avery Owusu-Asiedu, OF, 22
  30. Gavin Conticello, OF, 22

No great surprise at the top, where Ryan Waldschmidt (top) retains the #1 position he had last year. He was also named at the head of the Fangraphs and Prospects 1500 lists. Behind him, Kayson Cunnigham moves up one place from the final ranking of 2025, and is preferred here to the other two systems, which both ranked him lower (Fangraphs at #7, P1500 at #4). The biggest jump is by pitcher David Hagaman, who came over from Texas in the Merrill Kelly trade, and moves up from #15 to #8, entering the top ten for the first time. Catcher Carlos Virahonda also improved by seven spots, and is at #17. Though Yilber Diaz is ranked for the first time, coming in at #23.

In the other direction, Yu-Min Lin is likely the biggest bad news candidate. He was ranked 20th, but is no longer listed. Fellow pitchers Yordin Chalas (#21 last time) and Hunter Cranton (#29) have also dropped out, with Jose Fernandez and Mason Marriott joining Diaz in entering the top thirty. Fernandez, in particular, has seen his stock rise rapidly, first being added to the D-backs’ 40-man roster, and then making a strong impression in spring training. He has a .934 OPS across eight games so far.

Overall, it’s clear that there’s still work to do by Mike Hazen, in terms of improving the pitching situation on the farm. While the arrival of Hagaman, Kohl Drake (#12) and Mitch Bratt (#14) from Texas was certainly helpful (that trade, for two months of Merrill, could turn out to be a real steal for the D-backs), there isn’t much in the way of top-tier talent. It’s equally obvious what Hazen is attempting to do lately. Eight of the top thirty came to Arizona in trades, going back to Cristian Mena in 2023. Of those, only one – outfielder Avery Owusu-Asiedu – is a position player, and he’s only just on the list, coming in at #29.

I can certainly see several names graduating from the list this year, as they come onto the major-league roster. Waldschmidt is the obvious top candidate, but we could potentially also see Tommy Troy, Drake, Bratt, Diaz and Fernandez lose their rookie status in 2026. That’s why any team needs to work on having a constant stream – a pipeline, one might say – of prospects coming through the system. What do you reckon about the D-backs farm system? Where does it stand, and which prospects are you particularly excited about following this season? Tell us in the comments!

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Sentnor scores in 1-0 USWNT victory over Canada in the SheBelieves Cup

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ally Sentnor scored in the 55th minute and the United States beat Canada 1-0 on Wednesday in the SheBelieves Cup tournament, the Americans' seventh straight shutout.

Sentnor scored her seventh international goal off a corner from Rose Lavelle, gathering the ball on a bounce before punching it past two defenders and Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan.

The U.S. hasn't allowed a goal since a 3-1 win over Portugal last October, a stretch of 714 minutes.

“Honestly, our goal was just to win the game,” Sentnor said. “I think going into a rivalry game, we knew what was going to happen. It was going to be on the line and Canada gave us an incredible performance, and we really had to work for this win.”

The United States sat atop the SheBelieves table with two wins, ahead of Canada and Colombia with one each. The Colombians defeated Argentina 1-0 in the early match Wednesday at ScottsMiracle-Gro Stadium.

The United States is 55-4-9 against Canada since their first meeting in 1986. The U.S. won the last meeting 3-0 in July.

The Canadians' last win in the series came at the Tokyo Olympics. Jessie Fleming converted a penalty in a 1-0 semifinal victory. Canada went on to win the gold medal.

U.S. coach Emma Hayes included Trinity Rodman in the starting lineup despite Rodman taking a hit in the back late in Sunday's 2-0 SheBelieves victory over Argentina in Nashville. Rodman struggled with a nagging back injury last year.

Canada, which defeated Colombia 4-1 in the tournament opener, was without captain Fleming because of an illness.

The game was scoreless after the first half despite the United States dominating possession by nearly 70%.

Sentnor, who plays professionally for the Kansas City Current, broke the stalemate with her third goal of the year. The 22-year-old was named U.S. Soccer's young player of the year in 2024.

Canada coach Casey Stoney felt her team showed “huge progress” from the last time the Canadians faced the United States, but was disappointed about conceding on a set piece.

“I think we were competitive throughout the game. I think we kept our distances better, we had good discipline,” Stoney said. “I think we had moments in their box where we can have a little bit more composure."

Colombia will play the United States on Saturday in the tournament finale in Harrison, New Jersey. Canada plays Argentina in the early game.

It is the 11th annual SheBelieves Cup hosted by the United States. Canada was making its fourth appearance in the tournament.

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

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Wizards announce F Kyshawn George has a partially torn UCL in his left elbow

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Wizards announced Wednesday that forward Kyshawn George partially tore the UCL in his left elbow Monday against Houston.

The team says the 22-year-old George will be re-evaluated in three weeks.

George, a first-round draft pick in 2024, has started all 48 games he has appeared in this season. He's averaging 14.8 points and shooting 38% from 3-point range.

The Wizards host Utah on Thursday night in what is expected to be newly acquired point guard Trae Young's debut with Washington after he was traded from Atlanta in January.

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AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA

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JJ Redick explained way Pelicans game was unlike recent wins for Lakers

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 14: JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the second half of a game against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on December 14, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images

All season long, the Lakers have proven that if they are leading entering the fourth quarter, they will finish the game strong and win.

This year, Los Angeles is 27-1 when in front entering the final period, by far the best winning percentage in the Western Conference.

But what about when they are trailing as the game enters the last 12 minutes? In that category, the Lakers are a woeful 9-22.

So, the Lakers finding a way to come back and beat the Pelicans on Tuesday was a nice change of pace. Sure, the deficit was just one point as the fourth began, but they won with some great team defense and it was the type of victory that could galvanize LA, helping them to go on a run.

After the game, Lakers head coach JJ Redick talked about what made this win unique.

“Frankly, that’s not a win we’ve had since probably November, where we’re down late,” Redick said. “A lot of those early wins when we started 15-4, we had a number of double-digit deficits in the second half and just stuck with it and kept playing. It was a good win for our group to be able to do that again.”

The Lakers had a couple of these kinds of wins early on that met Redick’s criteria.

They rallied in the fourth to beat the Spurs 118-117 on Nov. 5, and in December, they trailed the Sixers in the second half and found a way to win.

Constantly winning in the NBA is hard. And to win when you aren’t playing your best and trailing late in a game is even harder. As Luka Dončić said postgame, the Lakers played an ugly game against New Orleans, but good teams find ways to win those contests as well.

If the Lakers keep stacking wins and finding ways to win when losing seems like the most likely outcome, then they should begin to rise in the Western Conference standings.

And if they can accomplish that, then this season still has the potential to be something special.

For now, it’s just good to see that the Lakers can win in multiple ways and that they still have the opportunity to play their best basketball during this final stretch of the season.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

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Blackhawks Trade Jason Dickinson & Colton Dach To Oilers For Andrew Mangiapane, 1st Round Pick

The Chicago Blackhawks are an active seller ahead of the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. It started on Monday, when they sent defenseman Connor Murphy to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a second-round pick. 

Kyle Davidson made a deal with his old boss, Stan Bowman, to get an asset for Murphy, who is currently operating on an expiring contract. 

On Wednesday, the two sides came together for another trade. The Blackhawks traded Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach to the Oilers in exchange for Andrew Mangiapane and a protected 2027 first-round pick. 

The Blackhawks are, like they did with Murphy, going to retain 50 percent of Dickinson's cap hit. That is their third and final retention spot allowed. 

In Dickinson, the Oilers are getting a third-line center whom they can trust in all three zones. With Ryan Nugent-Hopkins likely playing wing full-time, having Dickinson behind Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl down the middle makes them one of the deepest teams at center in the NHL. 

Andrew Mangiapane is a cap dump for the Oilers. Getting him off their books is the main purpose of his inclusion in the trade. 

Mangiapane, who turns 30 in late April, has the rest of this season with a cap hit of $2.45 million and next year at $2.375 million. In 52 games played this season, he has seven goals and seven assists for 14 points.

If he plays games with the Blackhawks, he is hoping to revive his career in the way that a couple of other depth forwards have in recent years. Mangiapane may never be the 35-goal scorer that he was in 2021-22, but there is room for him to get back to being a 15-20 goal man.

There is also a chance that the Blackhawks buy him out at some point, which is easier for them to do as they finish their rebuild than it is for the Oilers, who are right in the middle of their contention window. 

Colton Dach moving in this deal was unexpected, but it's a sweetener along with Dickinson to get a first-round pick out of the Oilers, along with taking Mangiapane on. 

Dach, an Edmonton native, has been in and out of Chicago's lineup, but he may be a great depth option for the Oilers going forward. With all of the young prospects coming up for Chicago, this is an opportunity for him to go to his hometown instead of dealing with a crowded forward group in Chicago. 

The first round pick in this deal is top-12 protected. Although the 2025-26 Florida Panthers have taught the hockey world never to assume things, it is unlikely that the Oilers will be a bottom-12 team in 2026-27. 

If the Panthers do finish in the bottom 10 and push their first-round pick going to Chicago by a year, the Hawks will have three first-round picks to work with in 2027. 

That is another leader and defensive-minded player subtracted from the Blackhawks' starting lineup, but another elite-level draft pick is banked for a pending unrestricted free agent. 

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Indiana hits 10 3-pointers, routs Minnesota 77-47 to end 4-game skid

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Sam Alexis scored 17 of his 23 points in the first half to help Indiana jump out early and cruise past Minnesota 77-47 on Wednesday night that ended the Hoosiers' four-game losing streak.

Lamar Wilkerson added 16 points for Indiana (18-12, 9-10 Big Ten). Tucker DeVries chipped in with 13 points and Nick Dorn scored 11. The three combined for 10 of the Hoosiers' 24 3-point attempts.

Indiana held a double-digit lead the entire second half. The Hoosiers shot 57% (31 of 54) overall. Alexis and DeVries each grabbed nine of their 37 rebounds.

Cade Tyson scored 21 points and Isaac Asuma added 13 for Minnesota (14-16, 7-12). The Golden Gophers shot 26% (6 of 23) in the second half and 32% overall.

Indiana built a double-digit lead early before Minnesota pulled within three points midway through the first half. The Hoosiers ended the half on a 10-2 surge that included Wilkerson's 100th 3-pointer of the season, followed by a DeVries 3-pointer and dunk for a 43-28 lead at the break.

With 11:23 to play, Indiana began a 14-0 run that lasted about five minutes to turn it into a rout. Dorn and DeVries each hit a 3 during the stretch.

Up next

Minnesota hosts Northwestern in a regular-season finale on Saturday.

Indiana ends its regular season at Ohio State on Saturday.

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The Spurs are at their best when Wembanyama doesn’t force things

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 3: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs handles the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 3, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Spurs are back to their winning ways after a stumble in New York. They demolished the shorthanded 76ers in a 40-point blowout that saw eight players finish with 10 points or more.

Among those 8 players, Victor Wembanyama was the closest to not reaching double digits. The big man only took five shots in 25 minutes, yet the Spurs outscored Philadelphia by 41 points with him on the floor, the highest numbers on the team. As J.R. Wilco and I previously discussed, Wemby is dominating games without having to score, which is a fantastic development.

A blowout win is not the best data point, but the win against the Pistons also showed this dynamic. Wembanyama had five points in six shots in the first quarter. He took 10 shots the rest of the way and racked up his points from the free throw line and by scoring late against a scrambling Detroit defense. Wembanyama was a monster on the boards, finishing with 17. He blocked six shots and walled off the paint, and he dished out four assists. He had a usage in the mid-20s, and he passed the ball on a two thirds of his total touches. He didn’t force things or hold on to the ball.

Let’s compare it with the loss to the Knicks. Wembanyama led the team in scoring and field goal attempts and had seven turnovers. He took seven three-pointers and made just one. His usage was in the low 30s while no one else got more than the very low 20s, and he passed the ball in about half of his touches. The final stat line is not that dissimilar. Against Detroit, Wemby finished with 21 points on 16 shots and four assists to three turnovers. Against New York, he finished with 25 points on 17 shots and four assists to seven turnovers. The main difference is how much more in the flow of the offense he played in the Pistons game and some recent others.

Now, Wembanyama being the clear first option on offense is not a bad thing in itself. There are also different ways he’s guarded, some of which only work if he’s passive. By no means is the suggestion here that The Alien needs to be a defense-only role player instead of using his impressive offensive tools. The main point is that Wemby, despite occasionally falling into old habits, seems to be doing a better job of reading what the defense is giving him and recognizing when others might have a better matchup. He only took five shots against the 76ers because he only had to take five shots for the team to win in a blowout.

You can see the new approach in action when you watch him. The Spurs don’t have the most sophisticated offensive playbook, so they stick to a few plays to get Wemby a good look, usually involving an off-ball screen or having him as a screener. When those plays are executed well and the defender doesn’t stick closely to Victor, he can act as a finisher. Then you have the isolations at the mid-post or the elbow, and the inverted pick-and-rolls that turn him into a shot creator. Finally, there are the threes that Wemby has the green light to attempt whenever he wants.

There are games when he simply doesn’t get good looks off those plays, mostly because the defense sells out to stop him, but he tries to make something happen anyway, to normally bad results.

The drives that end in turnovers, the fadeaway twos out of balance, the rushed threes, the pleas for a call as he falls won’t ever be fully eliminated from his game, because he’ll never be perfect. But they can be limited. When Wemby has a center sticking on him, he can simply screen or space the floor and let the guards drive into an open paint. When he has a big wing on him to match his agility or is single-covered, he can hunt switches that will lead to doubles or rotations and just move the ball.

The offense can and should revolve around him most of the time he’s on the court, but he doesn’t have to make tough buckets and get crazy assists to be useful on that end. We’ve seen it, and he’s realizing it.

What makes Wembanyama special is that he can be Rudy Gobert 2.0 on defense but also bring the scoring, spacing, and connective passing of offensively gifted bigs. He can drop 40 if the defense doesn’t have the personnel to stop him or when his shot is going in. But some days, he can just dominate so thoroughly defensively that playing a less central role on offense is the best way for him to contribute to winning. It may seem counterintuitive, but playing the decoy to give an opportunity to the rest of the Spurs’ offensive weapons, might just be what’s necessary to open things up for him to score more.

The fully realized version of Wemby will likely be unstoppable on offense, but for now, he can be an elite finisher and an opportunistic creator who picks his spots. It’s what he’s done in some of the recent wins, and it bodes well for the upcoming playoff run and the near future, when San Antonio’s already impressive guards progress to the point of needing more touches, just like Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili did back in the day.

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Khady Leye sinks winning layup in Auburn women's 50-49 win over Texas A&M

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Kaitlyn Duhon scored 14 points, Harissoum Coulibaly added 11 and Khady Leye sank the go-ahead layup with 5.2 left on the clock for No. 15 seed Auburn in a 50-49 win over No. 10 seed Texas A&M in the first round of SEC Tournament on Wednesday night.

Leye finished with 11 points and 15 rebounds for the Tigers (15-16). She committed a blocking foul on the previous possession that sent Janae Kent to the free throw line with 11 seconds to play for Texas A&M. Kent sank both shots to take a 49-48 lead.

Leye slipped through the screen and drove to the basket to put up the shot. The Aggies didn't have enough time to get the shot they wanted and airballed their last attempt. It is the first time the Tigers have beaten the Aggies in the postseason tournament, and it snapped Texas A&M’s five-game winning streak.

The Aggies (14-12) were led in scoring by Ny'Ceara Pryor with 25 points.

Up next

Auburn will play No. 24 Ole Miss in the second round on Thursday. The Rebels are the No. 7 seed in the tournament.

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NHL trade candidates generating buzz before March 6 deadline

New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck could be the team's next player who moves in a retool.

He already has let his son know about the possibility.

"If I get traded, I'm fine," he told reporters earlier this week. "I'm not worried about myself. I'm more worried about my family."

Though the Rangers' struggles has led them to trade Artemi Panarin, Trocheck showed his value while winning a gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics. He helped Team USA go 18-for-18 on the penalty kill, including a 5-on-3 Canada power play in the final.

Trocheck, whose contact runs through 2029, said he has a 12-team no-trade list and he told reporters that the list includes Western teams.

“Family’s important to me, and my family’s on the East Coast,” he said.

Here's a look at other players who are generating trade buzz before the 3 p.m. ET deadline on Friday, March 6 (contract details from puckpedia.com):

Center Ryan O'Reilly, Nashville Predators

O'Reilly is a former playoff MVP who has another year left on his contract. He has no trade protection, but the Predators will clear any move with him. He took a high stick to the face on March 3 and while the team said in a statement that he is expected to be fine and an update would be provided on Thursday, March 5.

Defenseman Justin Faulk, St. Louis Blues

The Blues have struggled this season and could be shopping plenty of players. Faulk is a right-shot defenseman with another year left on his deal. He has hit double digits in goals for the sixth time in his career. He has a 15-team no-trade list. Defenseman Colton Parayko is being mentioned as another candidate.

Center Nazem Kadri, Calgary Flames

He won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022 but wasn't re-signed and got a seven-year deal with the Flames. He has a 13-team no-trade list. Flames forward Blake Coleman is also being mentioned.

Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Toronto Maple Leafs

He sat out Wednesday's game, along with pending unrestricted free agents Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton. Ekman-Larsson has a Stanley Cup ring with the 2023-24 Florida Panthers and can put up points. He is signed through 2028 at a reasonable $3.5 million cap hit and has a 16-team no-trade list.

Forward Jake DeBrusk, Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks have moved out Quinn Hughes, Kiefer Sherwood and Tyler Myers. More could be coming for the NHL's last-place team. Jake DeBrusk told the Vancouver Province that a rebuild "is not something I would be OK with or accepting." The 29-year-old is in the second year of a seven-year contract.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL trade deadline candidates who could move before Friday

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Wallace, Jackson help Illinois women beat Wisconsin 82-70 at Big Ten Tournament

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Berry Wallace scored 22 points, Destiny Jackson added 21, and No. 10 seed Illinois beat 15th-seeded Wisconsin 82-70 on Wednesday in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.

Cearah Parchment scored 14 points for Illinois (20-10) and Lety Vasconcelos — the tallest player in program history, listed at 6-foot-7 — scored a career-high 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting

Wisconsin (13-17) has lost 10 in a row, including a 92-60 loss at Illinois on Feb. 11.

Gift Uchenna tied her season high with 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting, Kyrah Daniels scored 17 and Laci Steele 12 for the Badgers. Destiny Howell, who went into the game averaging a team-leading 14.1 points per game, finished with six points on 2-of-12 shooting.

Uchenna scored seven points in a 12-3 run that cut Wisconsin's deficit to a point a little more than four minutes into the third quarter, but the Illini scored 16 — eight by Vasconcelos — of the next 19 to take a 62-48 lead with 41 seconds left until the fourth.

Illinois shot 83% from the free-throw line, where the Illini outscored Wisconsin 24-10.

The Illini have won seven of eight against Wisconsin and lead the series 44-43

Jackson had five assists moved past Jill Estey (154 in 1990-91) into second on the program's single-season assist list with 156. Alexis Smith set the record of 168 in 2012-13.

Up next

Wisconsin: Season complete.

Illinois: Plays seventh-seeded and No. 18 Michigan State in the second round Thursday.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

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Mariners Spring Training 2026, Game #12

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 01: Cooper Criswell #64 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Houston Astros during the first inning at Fenway Park on August 01, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With the start of the World Baseball Classic, many Mariners are on loan to their respective national teams. As such, get ready to see some weird looks from the M’s as the organization gives some unusual opportunities to top prospects.

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One of those unusual looks is right hander Cooper Criswell. The pitcher was in the Boston Red Sox organization last year, only to be DFA’d the Sox and claimed by the New York Mets. Just over a month after that, the Mets DFA’d him and the Mariners picked him up for cash. Tonight will be his third appearance this Spring but only his first start. He’s gone two innings in each of his last two outings, and it will be interesting to see how far he is pushed tonight. Probable pitchers to follow Cooper are Jose A. Ferrer, Carlos Vargas, Josh Simpson, Yosver Zulueta, and Ryan Loutos.

Also in the “weird” bucket is J.P. Crawford in the DH spot. He’s making room for Leo Rivas, who in turn is over at short to make room for Cole Young to play second and lead off.

SF lineup vs. Seattle 3/4/26 2 Willy Adames - SS 26 Matt Chapman - 3B 7 Will Brennan (L) - LF 10 Casey Schmitt - 1B 29 Luis Matos - RF 58 Grant McCray (L) - CF 61 Jake Holton - DH 18 Eric Haase - C 50 Christian Koss - 2B 38 Robbie Ray LHP

Over in the orange dugout, there’s also a healthy portion of prospects. Real heads will zero in on Robbie Ray, former Mariner, on the mound. Since his time on the Mariners, Robbie Tight Pants has done his best to add a third pitch, picking up his knuckle curve and changeup and using the slider much, much less. Tonight will be his third start of the Spring. Following him is likely to be Carson Seymour, Keaton Winn, and Michael Fulmer. Perhaps the short probables list means they intend for Ray to go deep.

Game Information:

Game Time: 6:05 pm PT

Radio: Seattle Sports 710 AM with Rick Rizzs, Gary Hill Jr. and Shannon Drayer on the call.

TV: Mariners.TV (maybe? Sound off in the comments if it’s working for you.)

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Isiah Kiner-Falefa meant no Yankees disrespect with ‘honest answer’ about ALDS preference

Boston Red Sox third baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa throws to first base.
Red Sox third baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa throws to first on a single by Atlanta Braves Jorge Mateo in the third inning of a spring training baseball game in North Port, Fla., Friday, Feb. 27, 2026.

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Isiah Kiner-Falefa was a part-time SS (shortstop) by the end of his time with the Yankees, but always a full-time SS (straight shooter).

So the more Aaron Boone thought about Kiner-Falefa’s comments earlier this spring — that the Blue Jays preferred to face the Yankees in the ALDS over the Red Sox because they thought it was a better matchup — the more he realized he probably shouldn’t have been surprised.

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“Because IKF is very honest and real,” Boone said Wednesday. “And I don’t think he meant any slap at us. I frankly didn’t take it that way.”

Kiner-Falefa, the Blue Jay-turned-Red Sox player, confirmed that he did not, in fact, mean it as a jab at his former club, even if it may have quickly endeared him to his new fan base. But he was asked a question in his introductory news conference here last month and did what he always does.

“I just gave the honest answer,” Kiner-Falefa said before the Yankees beat the Red Sox 4-0 at JetBlue Park. “It is what it is. I love the guys over there. I have nothing bad to say about anybody over there. It was just a matchup thing. [Garrett] Crochet’s an unbelievable pitcher and we did not want to face Crochet after he went eight innings against us [in late September].”

Kiner-Falefa did not join the Blue Jays until September, so he was not around to see them bludgeon the Yankees during a pair of series at Rogers Centre over the summer. But he had heard about their success against them during the season (8-5) and also knew that if the Red Sox had beaten the Yankees in the AL wild-card series, that would have meant having to face Crochet, the AL Cy Young runner-up.

Red Sox third baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa throws to first on a single by Atlanta Braves Jorge Mateo in the third inning of a spring training baseball game in North Port, Fla., Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. AP

“I was just hearing what everybody else was telling me,” said Kiner-Falefa, who signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Red Sox to serve as a utility player. “Obviously you know you have all the [Yankees] big bombers and [Aaron] Judge and all those guys. I’ve seen how good these guys are. It’s like, ‘Are you guys sure?’

“I didn’t mean to ruffle the feathers,” he added. “I forgot how it is back in a big market.”

The comment spread like wildfire, even if it had sound reasoning behind it. The Blue Jays had the Yankees’ number for most of the year and that carried over into the postseason, when they scored 34 runs in 34 innings against them, winning the ALDS in four games. Kiner-Falefa called the Blue Jays an “offensive juggernaut,” a lineup that was contact-oriented but had power, too, and was full of players who knew their role.

Aside from losing Bo Bichette, the Blue Jays are essentially returning the same lineup this season, meaning it remains a problem the Yankees will have to figure out — one of many challenges standing in their way in the AL East, which Boone perennially describes as the toughest in baseball.

“It doesn’t feel like everything has to go right for these teams to be good,” Boone said. 

Red Sox infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa (2) looks on against the Toronto Blue Jays during the second inning at JetBlue Park at Fenway South. Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

That includes the Red Sox, the spring version of which the Yankees got their first look at on Wednesday. Crochet, too, remains a problem, but Boone also said their offense could be better than they are getting credit for.

“I know Alex Bregman leaving them is a big loss or whatever, but it doesn’t feel like people are talking about [Willson] Contreras enough, from a production standpoint and how consistent he’s been throughout his career,” Boone said. “So it’s going to be a team that puts the ball in play, they’ve got athleticism, they’ve got some complementary parts. I think they’re going to be good offensively.”

Alex Cora, not surprisingly, was also complimentary of the Yankees – pointing to their pitching and getting “one of the best, if not the best pitcher in the big leagues” back in Gerrit Cole — even if much of their fan base was not satisfied with their winter.

“I got a lot of friends that are Yankee fans and some of them are happy, some of them are upset,” Cora said. “But at the end of the day, one of the things they always do is they’re in the dance, and that’s what you try to do. Just get in the dance and then see what happens.”

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Clayton Kershaw had brutal outing for USA. Why experience was 'worth it.'

SCOTTSDALE, AZ — He is the only retired pitcher on a World Baseball Classic roster.

He’s also the only one with three Cy Young awards, three World Series championships, and 11 All-Star appearances.

And is the lone WBC pitcher who can already make reservations for his Hall of Fame induction in five years.

Clayton Kershaw, who could have stayed home in Dallas after retiring on top of the world with back-to-back World Series titles with the Los Angeles Dodgers, strolled to the mound Wednesday one last time in a spring-training game.

The moment the public address announcer at Salt River Fields called out his name as he walked to the mound, he received a thunderous standing ovation by the sellout crowd of 11,803.

“That was so cool, I had chills out there with the standing O they gave that man,’’ USA teammate and Yankees three-time MVP Aaron Judge said after the USA’s 14-4 victory against the Colorado Rockies. “The crowd went crazy for him out there pitching. Just to see him back out there and get a chance to share a clubhouse with a guy like that, and so respected around the game. He’s accomplished everything in his career.

“It was pretty special.’’

The results weren’t pretty. Kershaw gave up a home run on the third pitch he thew, walked a batter, threw a wild pitch, didn’t throw harder than 87.2 mph, and struggled with his control, throwing just six of his 13 pitches for strikes.

Yet, just wearing the red, white and blue, and considering his arm and body still felt perfectly fine in his first outing since Game 3 of the World Series, he was ecstatic.

“It was so cool,’’ Kershaw said. “I played against Colorado and Arizona a lot, so to hear that was special. ... Just being on this team was a bucket list for me from the beginning, and so getting to do that, it was really cool.

“Obviously, I thought I was never going to throw a baseball again, so to get to do that with Team USA across your chest, and come back to that dugout, that team is really special.’’

Really, his USA teammates were more thrilled than Kershaw watching him in uniform for the final time before they open the World Baseball Classic on Friday against Brazil in Houston.

“It was awesome,’’ said Paul Goldschmidt, the seven-time All-Star and former MVP, who faced Kershaw 67 times in his career. “I’ve been looking forward to playing with this guy instead of against him my whole career.

“He’s had the most amazing career anyone could imagine. It’s just awesome that he’s coming back and doing this.’’

Said two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal: “That was so awesome seeing that. ... That’s a big reason why I wanted to be part of this, to be with teammates like Clayton Kershaw.’’

Kershaw, who considers himself the emergency pitcher for Team USA, said that if his outing Wednesday was the last time he steps on the mound, “it was worth it.’’

Sorry, but USA manager Mark DeRosa isn’t going to let him sail off into the sunset of his magnificent career with his last outing being against the Rockies in a meaningless spring-training setting. Kershaw will definitely pitch sometime in the tournament when they play four pool games in five days in Houston, DeRosa says, even if it’s just in a mop-role to eat innings.

Kershaw, 37, deserves a send-off that is fitting for one of the greatest left-handed pitchers in baseball history, and pitching in a WBC game will be the perfect ending.

“I wouldn’t put on a uniform,’’ Kershaw said, “for anything else.’’

Kershaw, who spent his entire 18-year career with the Dodgers, badly wanted to pitch in the 2023 WBC. Yet, the WBC insurance wouldn’t cover him with his array of injuries, forcing him to miss the tournament.

Now, with his family getting to see him pitch one last time in Houston, this could be the perfect farewell.

“I was pretty much mentally shut down,’’ Kershaw said. “(DeRosa) called and I thought about it for a minute, and I was like, 'it’s not going to be fun to pick up a baseball again, but it’s worth it to be part of this group. …'

“It’s a great group. It’s been a lot of fun to get to know them.’’

And even as sensational as a Hollywood script it would be, Kershaw is already putting a stop to the idea he could be the one pitching the final out against former teammate Shohei Ohtani of Team Japan.

“I think for our country’s sake,’’ Kershaw said, “it’s probably better if I don’t.

“If they need me, I’ll be ready. It’s not going to be pretty, but I’ve got a lot of bullets. They just might not be quality bullets.’’

While Kershaw rules out any possibility of a future comeback after the WBC, he does have one more baseball stop before his career officially comes to an end.

He’ll be at Dodger Stadium on March 27.

He’s got a World Series ring to collect.

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Clayton Kershaw WBC exhibition went badly ... but was so worth it

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Reds trade Tyler Callihan to Pirates for Kyle Nicholas

CINCINNATI, OHIO - MAY 03: Tyler Callihan #32 of the Cincinnati Reds hits an RBI single during the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Great American Ball Park on May 03, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. This was Callihan's first career hit. (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates may well be National League Central rivals, but that hasn’t stopped them from swinging notable trades of late. Last summer, we saw the deal that sent Ke’Bryan Hayes from the Bucs down river to the Queen City, and on Wednesday evening we saw yet another deal between the two clubs.

This time, it sent infielder/outfielder Tyler Callihan up to Pittsburgh in exchange for right-handed reliever Kyle Nicolas. The Reds announced the move on Twitter.

Nicolas, 27, is an Ohio native from Massillon and a former 2nd round pick by Pittsburgh out of Ball State University from back in 2020. He’s appeared in 86 games at the big league level across the last trio of seasons, and since the start of the 2024 season owns a 4.27 ERA and 4.00 FIP in 92.2 IP with an 89/49 K/BB in that time. At the AAA level just last year he struck out 50 batters in 35.2 IP using a combination of a fastball that flirts with triple digits (and averaged 97.6 mph during his time in the majors), and he’s also recently added a sinker in early spring training action after working with a slider and cutter over the course of his career.

He’s got an option remaining and is still pre-arb, with his first year of arbitration eligibility due in 2028.

Callihan, meanwhile, is a former 3rd round pick of the Reds who Cincinnati coaxed into turning professional with a well above-slot signing bonus. His minor league career (and brief big league career) have been littered with injuries, his broken arm just last year while playing left field the most gruesome of the bunch. Still, he’s a left-handed hitter with polish who has hit everywhere he’s been when healthy (and not rusty), and his defensive versatility will give him a shot to make the Pirates roster come Opening Day in some form or fashion.