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March 3, 2026

Rotoworld Staff Mock Draft – Results and Analysis

Each year it seems as though the fantasy baseball season begins earlier and earlier. Most sharp players have already been drafting since the World Series wrapped up in October. We have seen the data on average draft position mold and take shape throughout the off-season as trades, free agent signings and injuries have shaped and reshaped the overall player pool.

Now that we have turned the corner into March, we are into the home stretch. Most fantasy managers have their biggest drafts on the horizon and are developing draft plans on how to build their championship winning rosters. Before those drafts kick into high gear though, we got the Rotoworld baseball crew (and several of our friends in the industry) together last to select players in standard snake-style fashion for a 12-team mock draft.

Follow along with our round-by-round analysis and develop some ideas for your own drafts.

For this draft, we utilized the basic 5x5 scoring that most fantasy managers are accustomed to: AVG, R, HR, RBI, SB on the hitting side, and W, ERA, WHIP, SV, K on the pitching side. And with the following position setup: C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, 3 OF, CI, MI, UTIL and 9 P.

The participants, in draft order …

1. Jorge Montanez (Rotoworld)
2. Nate Marcum (Reliever Recon)
3. Dave Shovein (Rotoworld)
4. Steve Gardner (USA Today)
5. Matthew Pouliot (Rotoworld)
6. Christopher Crawford (Rotoworld)
7. Frank Ammirante (Roto Baller)
8. Eric Samulski (Rotoworld)
9. James Schiano (Rotoworld)
10. D.J. Short (Rotoworld)
11. George Bissell (Rotoworld)
12. Lucas Biery (FTN Fantasy)

I’m going to examine things round by round for the first five rounds before diving into each team individually and exploring their roster construction.

Round 1

1.01 Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees
1.02 Shohei Ohtani, UTIL/SP, Dodgers
1.03 Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Royals
1.04 Jose Ramírez, 3B, Guardians
1.05 Ronald Acuña Jr., OF, Braves
1.06 Juan Soto, OF, Mets
1.07 Elly De La Cruz, SS, Reds
1.08 Julio Rodríguez, OF, Mariners
1.09 Paul Skenes, SP, Pirates
1.10 Tarik Skubal, SP, Tigers
1.11 Garrett Crochet, SP, Red Sox
1.12 Fernando Tatis Jr., OF, Padres

Round Analysis: And they’re off! Early ADP data has shown us that there’s a very clear top three players atop every draft, and while the order was switched up a bit with Aaron Judge going ahead of Shohei Ohtani, our drafters stayed true to the market and made them the first three names off the board. The same thing happened with the next three players: Juan Soto, Ronald Acuña Jr and Jose Ramirez, with each manager plucking a five-category stud off of the board. Frank Ammirante pulled Elly De La Cruz off the board at pick seven. He’s usually the next hitter off the board in early drafts, though he routinely goes behind Tarik Skubal. Eric Samulski followed with Julio Rodríguez before James Schiano shunned Skubal and made Paul Skenes the first pitcher selected in tis draft. Skubal and Garrett Crochet immediately followed, making the top 11 options by ADP the first 11 players selected in this draft. Lucas Biery wrapped the opening round by taking Padres’ multi-talented outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr.

They say that you can’t win a draft in the first round, but you can lose it. In this case though, there are no glaring picks that stand out as anything other than the industry standard. Nine teams are starting with a strong five-category base on the offensive side of the ledger while the other three have locked in one of the clear top three starting pitchers on the board. It’s where our fantasy managers decide to go from here that will start to define their overall chances.

2.13     Kyle Tucker, OF, Dodgers
2.14     Cal Raleigh, C, Mariners
2.15     Corbin Carroll, OF, Diamondbacks
2.16     Gunnar Henderson, SS, Orioles
2.17     Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, Blue Jays
2.18     Jackson Chourio, OF, Brewers
2.19     Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics
2.20     Pete Alonso, 1B, Orioles
2.21     Yoshinobu Yamamoto, SP, Dodgers
2.22     Cristopher Sanchez, SP, Phillies
2.23     Junior Caminero, 3B, Rays
2.24     Kyle Schwarber, UT, Phillies

Round Analysis: At a glance, the second round might look pretty straightforward, but there’s a whole lot going on here. Let’s try to unpack it. Lucas started things out with Kyle Tucker, starting his squad with two five-category studs in the outfield (Fernando Tatis Jr.). While it’s not the build that I typically choose to utilize, I can’t find any fault with it. George followed with Cal Raleigh. Some prognosticators are adamant that in a one-catcher league, that you don’t need to spend serious draft capital at the position. I’d argue conversely that Raleigh is such a huge edge at the position that he’s still likely to deliver a profit, even from that lofty draft cost. Our fearless leader D.J. Short went with Corbin Carroll at pick 15, showing no qualms about the surgery that he underwent to repair the hamate bone in his wrist. Historically, we have seen hitters’ power output be slow to come back following the procedure, and whether or not Carroll ends up delivering profit here may ultimately depend on how he responds.

Midway through the round we see three first baseman selected in the span of four picks with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Nick Kurtz and Pete Alsonso going at picks 17, 19 and 20 respectively. The recent ADP data actually has Kurtz as the top option at the position around pick 17, so it looks like Eric may not completely buy into the hype on the A’s young slugger – or he just trusts Guerrero a bit more. The only player that was selected in the first 24 picks that doesn’t reside in the top 24 by ADP, was Steve’s selection of Yoshinobu Yamamoto. This one agitated me, as I was going to be the one to take him with the very next pick. He’s far and away the fourth ranked starting pitcher on my board and I actually have him closer to the big three than I do to the next few names on the list. I see zero issue selecting him at pick 21 and actually would have taken him higher if I had been drafting elsewhere and wanted an SP there.

3.25     Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B/3B, Yankees
3.26     Trea Turner, SS, Phillies
3.27     Zach Neto, SS, Angels
3.28     Yordan Alvarez, UT, Astros
3.29     Logan Gilbert, SP, Mariners
3.30     Ketel Marte, 2B, Diamondbacks
3.31     Cole Ragans, SP, Royals
3.32     Francisco Lindor, SS, Mets
3.33     Manny Machado, 3B, Padres
3.34     CJ Abrams, SS, Nationals
3.35     James Wood, OF, Nationals
3.36     Chris Sale, SP, Braves

Things start to deviate a bit from ADP as we get into the third round. Chisholm is a very strong pick at the top by Jorge, and was the lone player from the top-24 that wasn’t taken in the first two rounds. Then we get a couple of five-category studs at the shortstop position. Turner offers a much higher average ceiling while Neto nearly went 30/30 in 2025 despite missing several weeks due to injury. I don’t love the roster construction that I was forced into starting with two shortstops in my first three picks, but I couldn’t pass on him there. Yordan Alvarez was pulled up the board a bit, as he’s 34^th by ADP over the past couple of weeks. If he manages to stay healthy and avoid the injured list, he’ll crush from that spot. That’s a big if though. Logan Gilbert, Cole Ragans and Chris Sale are the three starting pitchers selected in the round. Of the three, Ragans gives me the most reason for concern as I don’t trust that he’s healthy now or that he’ll be able to make 30 starts during the season. The talent is obviously there, he’s just someone that I can’t personally trust as my ace.

Francisco Lindor is another fascinating pick as he has seen his draft stock tumble on the news that he underwent surgery to remove his hamate bone. Like Corbin Carroll, I have concerns about Lindor’s power output upon his return, he does so much else across the board though that I think fantasy managers might have pushed him too far down. I really like his overall upside from that draft cost.

4.37     Bryan Woo, SP, Mariners
4.38     Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF, Cubs
4.39     Bryce Harper, 1B, Phillies
4.40     Brent Rooker, OF, Athletics
4.41     Brice Turang, 2B, Brewers
4.42     Wyatt Langford, OF, Rangers
4.43     Hunter Brown, SP, Astros
4.44     Mason Miller, RP, Padres
4.45     Hunter Greene, SP, Reds
4.46     Edwin Diaz, RP, Dodgers
4.47     Max Fried, SP, Yankees
4.48     Cade Smith, RP, Guardians

We’re getting into the part of the draft where it’s much more acceptable to deviate a bit more from the established ADP in order to get your players. This round frustrated me specifically though and destroyed the draft plan that I was attempting to execute here. Brice Turang is my guy, he is someone that I’m actively targeting in all of my drafts this year and I believe he’ll end up being the class of the second base position. Coming into this draft, his ADP was 50^th and the highest that he had gone in any draft was pick 42. I had been hopeful that he would be there for me to take at pick 44, but Eric had the same idea and grabbed him at pick 41 instead. That one pick would have serious reverberations in my total draft plan.

I wound up pivoting there and went with Edwin Diaz, one of three closers taken in the round. I’m of the belief that I like to make it out of every draft one of the top-tier options at the position along with a second established guy – or a couple of guys I feel good about later. By locking in Diaz, it gave my flexibility on how I needed to attack the position in the rest of the draft.

I also want to go on record saying that I really like the Brent Rooker pick. I think fantasy drafters are overlooking the fact that he’s no longer only UTIL eligible and can now be played in the outfield from day one. He has slugged 30 homers in each of the past three seasons and should do so again in 2026 while hitting in the middle of an interesting young A’s lineup.

5.49     Jesus Luzardo, SP, Phillies
5.50     Andres Munoz, RP, Mariners
5.51     Matt Olson, 1B, Braves
5.52     Rafael Devers, 1B, Giants
5.53     Austin Riley, 3B, Braves
5.54     Logan Webb, SP, Giants
5.55     Maikel Garcia, 3B, Royals
5.56     Jacob deGrom, SP, Rangers
5.57     Jhoan Duran, RP, Phillies
5.58     Roman Anthony, OF, Red Sox
5.59     Mookie Betts, SS, Dodgers
5.60     Freddy Peralta, SP, Mets

It’s more of the same in the fifth round with nothing to egregious jumping out from an ADP standpoint. The two closers specifically – Jhoan Duran and Andres Munoz – look like terrific values to me. We’re starting to run thin on the pure five-category hitters, which is why you’re seeing more of the power types like Matt Olson, Rafael Devers and Austin Riley start to come off the board. Both Maikel Garcia and Roman Anthony are extremely dynamic talents and if anyone is going to jump up into the first or second round from this group in terms of overall value this season, I’d wager it’s one of them.

Now that we have taken a look at the top 60 picks, let’s break it down team by team and see how each fantasy manager chose to attack this draft:

Team 1 – Jorge Montanez

Position	Player	Pick	ADP	Difference
C	Shea Langeliers	96	55.38	40.62
1B	Alec Burleson	216	176.54	39.46
2B	Gleyber Torres	193	253.46	-60.46
SS	Dansby Swanson	144	152.15	-8.15
3B	Jazz Chisholm Jr.	25	19.54	5.46
CI	Caleb Durbin	240	219.69	20.31
MI	Nico Hoerner	97	108.62	-11.62
OF	Aaron Judge	1	1.92	-0.92
OF	Jarren Duran	73	67.77	5.23
OF	Jo Adell	145	121.85	23.15
UTIL	Kyle Schwarber	24	23.77	0.23
P	Jesus Luzardo	49	75.15	-26.15
P	Joe Ryan	72	88.77	-16.77
P	Nick Lodolo	120	124.85	-4.85
P	Emmet Sheehan	121	118.08	2.92
P	Nathan Eovaldi	169	147.38	21.62
P	Jack Leiter	217	232.08	-15.08
P	Cade Smith	48	40.85	7.15
P	Seranthony Dominguez	168	199.15	-31.15
P	Abner Uribe	192	159.08	32.92

Taking a look at Jorge’s team, it appears to me that he’s going to have a very strong offense. Putting all of the teams through my personal projections, he checks in with the second best offense in the league overall – behind only my team, and I’m at a huge advantage because they’re my projections. It’s just quality production up and down the lineup and maximizing at-bats across the board. The question with this squad will come down to whether or not he has enough pitching to back it up. Personally, I wouldn’t be thrilled heading into a season with Jesus Luzardo and Joe Ryan as my top two starters – especially in a 12-teamer. If Nick Lodolo and Emmet Sheehan take that next step forward though, perhaps there’s enough there to make it work. I like the Seranthony Dominguez pick as well and was looking there myself before Jorge Sniped him in the round that I was going to pull the trigger.

Team 2 – Nate Marcum

Position	Player	Pick	ADP	Difference
C	Samuel Basallo	215	181.92	33.08
1B	Yandy Diaz	122	137.38	-15.38
2B	Ozzie Albies	167	151.23	15.77
SS	Trea Turner	26	26.77	-0.77
3B	Junior Caminero	23	16.15	6.85
CI	Ben Rice	95	54.85	40.15
MI	JJ Wetherholt	191	222.15	-31.15
OF	Oneil Cruz	71	93.38	-22.38
OF	Teoscar Hernandez	119	132.08	-13.08
OF	Mike Trout	170	178.38	-8.38
UTIL	Shohei Ohtani	2	1.23	0.77
P	Max Fried	47	52.92	-5.92
P	Nolan McLean	74	90.31	-16.31
P	Nick Pivetta	98	96	2
P	Bubba Chandler	146	161.77	-15.77
P	Brayan Bello	218	319.54	-101.54
P	Jeffrey Springs	239	#N/A	#N/A
P	Andres Munoz	50	41	9
P	Dennis Santana	143	147.77	-4.77
P	Roki Sasaki	194	239.46	-45.46

Looking at Nate’s squad, you can see like many teams in this league he wasn’t afraid to shun ADP to go and get his guys. Whether or not that will end up working out for him remains to be seen, but I’m glad that he stuck to his convictions. Jeffrey Springs isn’t showing an ADP because he hadn’t been selected in an NFBC Online Championship draft over the past couple of weeks, but that’s not to say he won’t be a viable fantasy contributor this season. The pitching staff here is quite strong, it’s the offense that worries me. I have him with the fewest at-bats in the league, based somewhat on the uncertainty around Wetherholt, how much action Basallo will ultimately see and the healthy of Mike Trout. His counting stats get dinged because of that and I think he’s also a bit light overall on speed.

Team 3 – Dave Shovein

Position	Player	Pick	ADP	Difference
C	Agustin Ramirez	99	81.15	17.85
1B	Matt Olson	51	49.08	1.92
2B	Jose Altuve	94	115.85	-21.85
SS	Bobby Witt Jr.	3	2.92	0.08
3B	Kazuma Okamoto	147	201.54	-54.54
CI	Josh Naylor	75	66.31	8.69
MI	Zach Neto	27	27.54	-0.54
OF	George Springer	118	94.38	23.62
OF	Lawrence Butler	142	156.23	-14.23
OF	Jurickson Profar	166	198.62	-32.62
UTIL	Adolis Garcia	238	220.62	17.38
P	Cristopher Sanchez	22	25.23	-3.23
P	Framber Valdez	70	88.15	-18.15
P	Trevor Rogers	123	142.38	-19.38
P	Luis Castillo	171	172.54	-1.54
P	Jack Flaherty	195	222.46	-27.46
P	Justin Verlander	219	357	-138
P	Edwin Diaz	46	32.69	13.31
P	Bryan Abreu	190	190.85	-0.85
P	Robert Garcia	214	245.46	-31.46

Clearly this is the best team in the league and doesn’t warrant any further discussion. In all seriousness though, there are a lot of things that I struggled with during this draft that hurt the overall roster construction. I missed out on top targets Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Brice Turang. I wasn’t able to land a solid second closer and had to bet against Josh Hader’s health. While I like all of the arms on my pitching staff, I feel like I’m one SP2 or SP3 short of where I need to be. That’s something that can be fixed in season, but I don’t completely love it on paper. That being said, I do dig the offense. I think the power and speed are there and spades and I was able to get both without sacrificing batting average or counting stats. I think this team would be a contender.

Team 4 – Steve Gardner

Position	Player	Pick	ADP	Difference
C	Hunter Goodman	100	63.08	36.92
1B	Rafael Devers	52	59.62	-7.62
2B	Bryson Stott	196	183.46	12.54
SS	Geraldo Perdomo	69	79.92	-10.92
3B	Jose Ramirez	4	5.77	-1.77
CI	Spencer Torkelson	213	181.23	31.77
MI	Jose Caballero	237	197.08	39.92
OF	Cody Bellinger	93	83.85	9.15
OF	Brandon Nimmo	124	145.08	-21.08
OF	Ian Happ	189	187.38	1.62
UTIL	Yordan Alvarez	28	32.92	-4.92
P	Yoshinobu Yamamoto	21	28	-7
P	Hunter Greene	45	43.62	1.38
P	Tyler Glasnow	117	118.54	-1.54
P	Brandon Woodruff	141	138.08	2.92
P	Robbie Ray	148	164.77	-16.77
P	Tanner Bibee	172	181.31	-9.31
P	Merrill Kelly	220	280.46	-60.46
P	David Bednar	76	63	13
P	Trevor Megill	165	146.38	18.62

Running my numbers on the offense for Steve’s squad, he finishes in the middle of the pack overall, being brought down by his home runs and batting average. Individually, I like a lot of his picks though. Brandon Nimmo is someone that I routinely target in drafts and wanted to grab here, but he was pulled before I could get there. I also think he got terrific value late on both Spencer Torkelson and Jose Caballero, which was set up by knowing which positions he could push until the end of the draft. I won’t forgive him from sniping me on Yamamoto, but overall I think that Steve did a nice job constructing this team.

Team 5 – Matthew Pouliot

Position	Player	Pick	ADP	Difference
C	Gabriel Moreno	236	179.38	56.62
1B	Pete Alonso	20	23.54	-3.54
2B	Jackson Holliday	221	205.46	15.54
SS	Jeremy Pena	77	89.08	-12.08
3B	Austin Riley	53	63.54	-10.54
CI	Noelvi Marte	149	142.92	6.08
MI	Ezequiel Tovar	188	211.62	-23.62
OF	Ronald Acuna Jr.	5	5.62	-0.62
OF	Jackson Merrill	68	69.23	-1.23
OF	Michael Harris II	92	103.23	-11.23
UTIL	Ivan Herrera	173	154.69	18.31
P	Logan Gilbert	29	35.69	-6.69
P	Blake Snell	101	150.54	-49.54
P	Jacob Misiorowski	116	123	-7
P	Joe Musgrove	140	213	-73
P	Gerrit Cole	164	245.62	-81.62
P	Bryce Miller	197	250.38	-53.38
P	Mason Miller	44	28.77	15.23
P	Josh Hader	125	127.69	-2.69
P	Riley O'Brien	212	257	-45

The first thing that jumps off the page to me on this team is the overall talent on the pitching staff. I don’t know how healthy it’s all going to be, but if Josh Hader, Blake Snell and Bryce Miller spend more of the season off of the injured list than on – and if Gerrit Cole is his true self upon his return from elbow surgery – then this group has a chance to be special. I do have concerns on the hitting side, as I’m not sure there’s enough speed here to compete and Matthew checks in last in my projections in terms of runs scored. Part of that is getting dinged for the Jackson Holliday injury though and having to have a second catcher in the initial lineup until Ivan Herrera qualifies. The power base is strong and is certainly something that can be worked with. Given his managing capabilities, I would expect Matthew to field a competitive team throughout this season.

Team 6 – Christopher Crawford

Position	Player	Pick	ADP	Difference
C	William Contreras	78	52.38	25.62
1B	Nick Kurtz	19	18.23	0.77
2B	Ketel Marte	30	33.23	-3.23
SS	Konnor Griffin	126	138.23	-12.23
3B	Alex Bregman	91	115.23	-24.23
CI	Isaac Paredes	235	233.54	1.46
MI	Jacob Wilson	163	180.92	-17.92
OF	Juan Soto	6	4.92	1.08
OF	Randy Arozarena	67	88.15	-21.15
OF	Steven Kwan	187	166.77	20.23
UTIL	Dylan Crews	198	169.77	28.23
P	Hunter Brown	43	36.31	6.69
P	Logan Webb	54	58.92	-4.92
P	Spencer Strider	102	105.08	-3.08
P	Cam Schlittler	150	128.46	21.54
P	Cade Horton	174	180.54	-6.54
P	Zac Gallen	211	223.62	-12.62
P	Carlos Estevez	115	104.77	10.23
P	Kenley Jansen	139	136	3
P	JoJo Romero	222	344.08	-122.08

When running all of the offenses from this draft through my projections, Christopher’s squad grades out as the third best offense in the league behind only myself and Jorge. That’s saying something considering how bearish I am on the playing time of both Konnor Griffin and Isaac Paredes. The overall bones of this team are very solid. If I had to nitpick anywhere it would be trusting Spencer Strider as an SP3, but then again if he’s right he’s an ace and this team could jump to the top of the league. This was a job very well done.

Team 7 – Frank Ammirante

Position	Player	Pick	ADP	Difference
C	Adley Rutschman	199	154.62	44.38
1B	Sal Stewart	138	187.62	-49.62
2B	Ceddanne Rafaela	127	128.31	-1.31
SS	Elly De La Cruz	7	8.46	-1.46
3B	Maikel Garcia	55	67.85	-12.85
CI	Munetaka Murakami	162	206.15	-44.15
MI	Trevor Story	114	113.38	0.62
OF	Jackson Chourio	18	19.31	-1.31
OF	Wyatt Langford	42	42.69	-0.69
OF	Heliot Ramos	175	226.46	-51.46
UTIL	Bryan Reynolds	234	209.54	24.46
P	Cole Ragans	31	45.15	-14.15
P	Kyle Bradish	66	74	-8
P	Eury Perez	79	84.85	-5.85
P	MacKenzie Gore	151	156.38	-5.38
P	Shane Baz	186	189.15	-3.15
P	Connelly Early	210	256.54	-46.54
P	Mitch Keller	223	338.38	-115.38
P	Ryan Helsley	90	83.23	6.77
P	Jeff Hoffman	103	97.77	5.23

Another manager that wasn’t afraid to go and get his guys ahead of ADP if he had to, which hurt me in my pursuits of Maikel Garcia and Sal Stewart specifically. There’s an abundance of speed on the offense, in fact there might be too much. Frank grades out as the top team in the league in stolen bases while finishing near the bottom of the pack in home runs and RBI. That’s something that could be balanced out a bit in season, but he also has concerns in batting average that he’ll have to contend with. I’d have a hard time trusting Cole Ragans to be my SP1, but I like all of the arms that he assembled here. This team feels more boom or bust than some in the league, but if he hits on a couple of key picks, he would be in the mix at season’s end.

Team 8 – Eric Samulski

Position	Player	Pick	ADP	Difference
C	Alejandro Kirk	233	151.85	81.15
1B	Vladimir Guerrero Jr.	17	19.15	-2.15
2B	Brice Turang	41	50.92	-9.92
SS	Francisco Lindor	32	27.62	4.38
3B	Eugenio Suarez	80	98.92	-18.92
CI	Willson Contreras	137	165.92	-28.92
MI	Matt McLain	200	183.62	16.38
OF	Julio Rodriguez	8	9.54	-1.54
OF	Seiya Suzuki	89	87.15	1.85
OF	Taylor Ward	152	150.92	1.08
UTIL	Max Muncy	185	256.08	-71.08
P	Jacob deGrom	56	50.62	5.38
P	George Kirby	65	65.54	-0.54
P	Ryan Pepiot	113	127.15	-14.15
P	Sandy Alcantara	128	150	-22
P	Tatsuya Imai	176	167.62	8.38
P	Kodai Senga	209	237.31	-28.31
P	Raisel Iglesias	104	97.46	6.54
P	Ryan Walker	161	154	7
P	Will Vest	224	333	-109

This is another team that is particularly interesting to me. I like so much of what he did on the pitching side, as all six of his starting pitchers are in my draftable player pool and deGrom/Kirby makes for one of the best 1-2 punches in the league. I like a lot of the hitters as well, and the overall base that he compiled by starting with Julio Rodriguez, Vladimir Guarrero Jr. and Brice Turang is very impressive. I think he lost sight of the offense a bit after that though. I have him finishing near the top of the league in both power categories on offense, but coming in near the bottom in batting average and stolen bases. I think there are just a few too many all slug and no speed guys, where more balance would have made this team incredibly dangerous to compete against.

Team 9 – James Schiano

Position	Player	Pick	ADP	Difference
C	Will Smith	177	101.46	75.54
1B	Tyler Soderstrom	81	84.08	-3.08
2B	Xavier Edwards	160	187.23	-27.23
SS	Gunnar Henderson	16	12.31	3.69
3B	Manny Machado	33	39.92	-6.92
CI	Michael Busch	105	106	-1
MI	Bo Bichette	88	96.08	-8.08
OF	Brent Rooker	40	47.85	-7.85
OF	Luis Robert Jr.	136	106	30
OF	Andy Pages	184	132.69	51.31
UTIL	Jac Caglianone	201	194.92	6.08
P	Paul Skenes	9	10.69	-1.69
P	Dylan Cease	64	75.46	-11.46
P	Zack Wheeler	112	111.54	0.46
P	Michael King	153	120.85	32.15
P	Aaron Nola	208	215.23	-7.23
P	Jose Soriano	225	312.85	-87.85
P	Andrew Painter	232	275.69	-43.69
P	Jhoan Duran	57	40.62	16.38
P	Daniel Palencia	129	104.85	24.15

I really like what James did on the pitching side of the ledger here, starting with Paul Skenes, Dylan Crase, Zack Wheeler and Michael King. If Wheeler is ready at any point in April, this team should finish near the top of the heap in pitching, even if I don’t love most of the back-end starters. The offense looks more middle of the pack than a team that’s going to take the league by storm though. I really like the strong base in batting average, which gives him something to work with as he looks to attack other categories and I think he’s actually fine in terms of power. It’s stolen bases and runs scored that come up a bit light here. If he were to be able to add a viable base stealer during the season without sacrificing much in terms of power, he would be in the mix at season’s end.

Team 10 – D.J. Short

Position	Player	Pick	ADP	Difference
C	Salvador Perez	111	93.77	17.23
1B	Bryce Harper	39	46.46	-7.46
2B	Luke Keaschall	82	126.15	-44.15
SS	CJ Abrams	34	63.69	-29.69
3B	Matt Chapman	130	167.69	-37.69
CI	Addison Barger	202	200.15	1.85
MI	Jorge Polanco	178	213.31	-35.31
OF	Corbin Carroll	15	14.54	0.46
OF	Roman Anthony	58	54.23	3.77
OF	Kyle Stowers	159	129.69	29.31
UTIL	Daylen Lile	231	208.46	22.54
P	Tarik Skubal	10	6.54	3.46
P	Sonny Gray	87	136.69	-49.69
P	Drew Rasmussen	106	145.77	-39.77
P	Ranger Suarez	154	171.46	-17.46
P	Shane McClanahan	183	205.08	-22.08
P	Matthew Boyd	207	223.92	-16.92
P	Aroldis Chapman	63	65.69	-2.69
P	Griffin Jax	135	151.62	-16.62
P	Kirby Yates	226	302.46	-76.46

I really like what’s going on with the pitching staff here. Tarik Skubal is a cheat code. The strong ratio and strikeout base that he provides just sets you up so well regardless of what you do next. D.J. didn’t rest on his laurels though, he surrounded Skubal with a ton of quality arms and built a strong bullpen to go with it. On offense, I like the strong batting average base and there’s more than enough speed to get the job done. My concern with this squad is power. While I have everyone on the team penciled in for 10 or more long balls, I don’t have anyone eclipsing 30, and just Bryce Harper and Kyle Stowers with more than 25. Of all the things to have to find on the waiver wire during the season, power may be the most plentiful though, so if you’re going to have a weakness somewhere, that’s a good place to have it. Nicely done.

Team 11 – George Bissell

Position	Player	Pick	ADP	Difference
C	Cal Raleigh	14	17.62	-3.62
1B	Freddie Freeman	62	67.69	-5.69
2B	Brandon Lowe	179	187.54	-8.54
SS	Mookie Betts	59	57.23	1.77
3B	Jordan Westburg	230	325.46	-95.46
CI	Jonathan Aranda	206	201	5
MI	Kevin McGonigle	203	283	-80
OF	James Wood	35	32.92	2.08
OF	Pete Crow-Armstrong	38	32.23	5.77
OF	Byron Buxton	83	72.38	10.62
UTIL	Riley Greene	86	74.85	11.15
P	Garrett Crochet	11	11.23	-0.23
P	Chase Burns	107	99.54	7.46
P	Kevin Gausman	110	122.23	-12.23
P	Trey Yesavage	131	155.23	-24.23
P	Gavin Williams	155	136.31	18.69
P	Kris Bubic	158	196.69	-38.69
P	Andrew Abbott	182	219.38	-37.38
P	Zebby Matthews	227	289.38	-62.38
P	Emilio Pagan	134	111.54	22.46

In terms of roster construction, George did something unique here compared to the rest of the draft. He started by taking Garret Crochet in the first round, then took hitters with each of his next seven picks to build a stellar base on offense. He then went back to pitching in full force – taking pitchers with each of his next six selections. The pitching staff looks very impressive, though he’s going to have to find another closer someplace to pair with Emilio Pagan as everyone else in the league is already rolling with two or three relievers. The offense looks great in four categories but checks in dead last in the entire league in stolen bases. I don’t know if that was by design or wound up being a formality based on how the draft played out. If he can address the stolen base deficiency, there’s enough talent here to compete for league prizes at season’s end.

Team 12 – Lucas Biery

Position	Player	Pick	ADP	Difference
C	Drake Baldwin	109	81.69	27.31
1B	Vinnie Pasquantino	85	80.15	4.85
2B	Marcus Semien	204	255.08	-51.08
SS	Corey Seager	84	97.54	-13.54
3B	Royce Lewis	157	187.08	-30.08
CI	Christian Walker	229	202	27
MI	Willy Adames	108	132.62	-24.62
OF	Fernando Tatis Jr.	12	14.08	-2.08
OF	Kyle Tucker	13	12.85	0.15
OF	Jakob Marsee	156	136.46	19.54
UTIL	Christian Yelich	132	127.46	4.54
P	Chris Sale	36	37.69	-1.69
P	Bryan Woo	37	36.08	0.92
P	Freddy Peralta	60	55.92	4.08
P	Edward Cabrera	180	179.85	0.15
P	Shota Imanaga	181	158	23
P	Carlos Rodon	205	203.69	1.31
P	Casey Mize	228	264.54	-36.54
P	Devin Williams	61	60.85	0.15
P	Pete Fairbanks	133	108.69	24.31

Overall, I can get behind what’s happening with the offense on this team. He looks to be strong in four categories with his only deficiency coming in batting average. My concern are the health scares that you get from rostering Royce Lewis and Corey Seager. If this offense can stay intact and avoid the injured list, he’ll have a shot. The pitching is really the prize on this squad though, as Chris Sale, Bryan Woo and Freddy Peralta make up the most fearsome trio in the entire league and he has two quality bullpen arms to go with them. If Carlos Rodon returns to any semblance of his former self, this team could be incredibly dangerous.

March 3, 2026

Antetokounmpo rusty on return as Celtics beat Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo, wearing number 34, dribbles the ball against Hugo Gonzalez, the Boston Celtics's 28 — Giannis Antetokounmpo (left) played 25 minutes in his first game since 23 January [Getty Images]

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo said he "did not play well" on his return from injury but the two-time NBA MVP was just "happy" to be back on the court.

The 31-year-old made his comeback after missing six weeks of action with a calf strain in a 108-81 defeat against the Boston Celtics.

He put up 19 points, 11 rebounds and two assists in 25 minutes in a defeat that left the 2021 champion Bucks 11th in the Eastern Conference with a 26-34 record.

Antetokounmpo said "we've got 24 games left - it's 24 fights" when asked about the Bucks' battle to reach the post-season.

"Obviously I did not play well, but at the end of the day, I'm just happy that I'm out there being able to help my team-mates in any way that I can and just do what I love, which is play basketball," he added.

"I'm just happy that I'm on the court. It doesn't matter if I play 18 minutes, 20 minutes, 22, whatever, I'm just happy that I'm out there."

Antetokounmpo missed 15 games through injury and says he has "got to be smarter moving forward because things that I was able to do in the past, maybe I'm not able to do now".

Rivers on Antetokounmpo return

Antetokounmpo's injury in January came shortly before the NBA trade deadline.

The deadline passed with him still a Bucks player, despite heavy speculation that he could leave.

Bucks coach Doc Rivers said before the game against the Celtics that he would ease Antetokounmpo back into action.

"I'm not going to overdo it," he explained. "It's not like we had a big practice or a shootaround on Monday morning, so it's not the ideal way of bringing him back.

"But the fact that he's available, you put him in and you figure it out."

March 3, 2026

Game Preview: San Antonio Spurs at Philadelphia 76ers

NBA: San Antonio Spurs at Philadelphia 76ers

After bottoming out last season with the 3rd worst record in the Eastern Conference the Philadelphia 76ers have been a fun, but flawed team this year, in large part due to yet another impressive leap from lead guard Tyrese Maxey as well as the promising potential of rookie shooting guard VJ Edgecombe. As for their notable vet, MVP Joel Embiid has played in more contests this year than last year but still has managed to appear in just a little more than half of Philadelphia’s contests and is sidelined once again, while Paul George is currently serving a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s antidrug policies. Their 33-27 record has them currently in 6th place in the East with more room to slide in the standings than there is for them to move up, which means they will likely be in a fight to avoid the play-in tournament through the end of the season.

Meanwhile, March has already been worse for the San Antonio Spurs than February was! The Spurs dropped their first game of the 2026 Rodeo Road Trip in a Sunday afternoon loss to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, their first loss after posting a perfect February. They’re still within striking distance of the Oklahoma City Thunder for the 1 seed, a very worthy goal to aspire to for a team as young as these Spurs are. There’s more than enough season left to make up that difference and with a much-needed nearly 2 week stretch at home coming up, San Antonio are well- positioned to potentially make up some of that narrow ground. Finishing the best Rodeo Road Trip in years off with a win would set them off running.

San Antonio Spurs (43-17) vs Philadelphia 76ers (33-27)

March 3 2026 | 7:00 PM CT

Watch: NBC | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spurs Injuries: Mason Plumblee, reconditioning (OUT), David Jones-Garcia, OUT

76ers Injuries: Joel Embiid, strain (OUT), Johni Broome, meniscus (OUT)

What to watch for

Even if Embiid was going to be out there to play foil to Victor Wembanyama, it’s possible that the match-up between Tyrese Maxey and Stephon Castle would be the most intriguing one heading into this game. Maxey, a very good shooter and 3-level scorer with a complete offensive package, has recorded a new career-high in points per game in each of the 6 seasons he’s played, while Castle has established himself as one of the very best perimeter defenders in just his 2nd season in the league. Castle has the physicality, toughness, and measurements to match-up with the best of the best, with the most recent example being his battle with Detroit’s Cade Cunningham. Maxey’s 29.1 PPG currently ranks 4th this season.

Taken with the 3rd overall pick last June, VJ Edgecombe has been a major bright spot for Philadelphia this season. He’s flashed potential as a two-way wing, contributing in multiple categories and making an immediate impact in his rookie season. Perhaps most significantly, he’s shown to be adept at creating for himself, a skill that should eventually develop into creating for others as well. He’ll have his hands full with San Antonio’s slew of defensive wings, including #2 overall pick Dylan Harper.

With Embiid on the sidelines for this one, veteran Andre Drummond should be Victor Wembanyama’s main match-up tonight. Drummond is 32 years old, but his best days are clearly behind him at this point. Wemby has struggled with his shot as of late, especially from 3. He’s shooting just 28.6% from behind the arc in the 6 games since the All Star break. He also had 7 turnovers in the loss to the New York Knicks he surely wants to make up for, his most in a game since having 8 turnovers in a loss to the Golden State Warriors back on November 12.

If you’d like to, you may follow along with the game on our Twitter profile (@poundingtherock) or visit our Game Thread!

March 3, 2026

Open Thread: Spurs Week Paris created some indelible memories

PARIS, FRANCE - JANUARY 24: The San Antonio Spurs poses for a team photo as part of the NBA Paris Games 2025 at the Eiffel Tower on January 24, 2025 in Paris, France. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

While the San Antonio Spurs were amassing one of the greatest months in franchise history, the Spurs Organization was over the pond in Paris, France building on the relationship launched last season.

Per a Spurs press release:

The San Antonio Spurs and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) held two sports leadership events as part of the ongoing “Spurs Week Paris” initiative. The Spurs and PSG hosted an executive learning session for their leadership teams, followed by the second iteration of Spurs Community Leadership Institute (SCLI) Paris, serving a diverse group of French women leaders in sport. This transformative collaboration is the result of the deep relationship that has grown between the two clubs, both known as leaders in the globalization of sport, which tipped off in 2025 with the Spurs competing in the NBA Paris Games.

The Spurs x PSG Executive Learning Session brought both organizations together offering a leadership development program with expert panels and hands-on workshops.

The Spurs Community Leadership Institute hosted a one-day leadership summit involving 50 women leaders in sports, government officials and community. The event centered on advancing women in sports, leadership development and leveraging sports as a catalyst for social impact.

Patricia Mejia, chief impact & inclusion officer for the San Antonio Spurs shared,

“From day one, our relationship with Paris-Saint Germain has been driven by innovative thinking, collaborative conversations and a shared commitment to community impact. Through innovative initiatives like these, in collaboration with highly regarded organizations like PSG, the Spurs will continue to build lasting relationships in France and inspire the next generation of leaders and changemakers in the global sports industry.”

Spurs Week Paris, a week-long in-person fan engagement activation across the city, continued to expand its presence in France on and off the court.

The Spurs commitment to growing the game of basketball globally involved a full week including a Spurs Skills Challenge Clinic, exclusive retail experiences, a newly renovated basketball court in Nanterre, and a public game watch party.

Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.

March 3, 2026

Recap: Kings no match for Colorado as Avalanche win 4-2

Mar 2, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Martin Necas (88) celebrates with center Nathan MacKinnon (29) after scoring a goal. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Colorado Avalanche secured a milestone victory on Monday night, defeating the Los Angeles Kings 4–2 at Crypto.com Arena to capture the franchise’s 1,750th regular-season win.

A late third-period goal from defenseman Devon Toews proved to be the difference, while Martin Nečas delivered a dominant three-point performance (one goal, two assists). Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog each contributed a goal and an assist as Colorado improved to 40-10-9 on the season. In net, Mackenzie Blackwood turned aside 19 of 21 shots to anchor the win.

What Happened

Colorado established control early.

MacKinnon opened the scoring just 4:27 into the first period, wiring a one-timer from the slot off a rush chance created by Nečas. The goal — his 41st of the season — extended his torrid offensive pace and immediately quieted the home crowd.

The Avalanche doubled their advantage at 10:13 of the opening frame. Landeskog buried a one-timer from the high slot for his eighth of the year after a crisp setup from defenseman Brent Burns, showcasing Colorado’s sharp puck movement through the neutral zone.

It looked like the visitors were going to cruise to an easy win but Los Angeles responded late in the period. Brandt Clarke cut the deficit to 2–1 with a power-play blast from the point at 17:20, beating Blackwood through traffic.

To begin the second period Martin Nečas had a goal wiped off the board due to a quick whistle. Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg didn’t have the puck secured and dropped it in the crease. But the officials deemed it no goal and play moved on.

The Kings carried that momentum of good fortune and evened the game at 8:32 when Angus Booth redirected a feed at the left doorstep, tying the contest at 2–2.

The game remained tightly contested until the closing minutes of regulation.

With 4:55 remaining in the third period, Toews broke the deadlock on his second goal of the season. MacKinnon controlled the puck high in the zone, skating from the point toward the right circle before threading a cross-ice pass into the slot. Toews stepped into the feed and snapped home his second goal of the season, restoring Colorado’s lead at 3–2.

Nečas sealed the victory in dramatic fashion at 19:59, scoring into an empty net on the power play for his 26th goal of the year to secure the 4–2 final.

Colorado now turns its focus toward sustaining momentum as the regular season enters its decisive stretch. Unfortunately they lost the services of Artturi Lehkonen early in the first period to an upper-body injury and Jared Bednar stated postgame that the Finnish winger will miss some time.

Upcoming

It’s a quick turn around as the Avalanche continue their road trip Tuesday night against the Anaheim Ducks, with puck drop scheduled for 8 p.m. MT. The game will be broadcast on Altitude, Altitude+, and Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM.

March 3, 2026

Washington takes on Orlando on 5-game skid

Washington Wizards (16-44, 13th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Orlando Magic (31-28, seventh in the Eastern Conference)

Orlando, Florida; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Magic -15.5; over/under is 227.5

BOTTOM LINE: Washington heads into the matchup with Orlando after losing five games in a row.

The Magic are 19-19 in Eastern Conference games. Orlando is eighth in the Eastern Conference in rebounding with 43.4 rebounds. Paolo Banchero leads the Magic with 8.5 boards.

The Wizards are 2-9 against opponents from the Southeast Division. Washington has a 4-29 record against opponents over .500.

The Magic average 11.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.3 fewer makes per game than the Wizards allow (14.0). The Wizards are shooting 45.9% from the field, 1.8% lower than the 47.7% the Magic's opponents have shot this season.

The two teams play for the third time this season. The Wizards defeated the Magic 120-112 in their last meeting on Jan. 7. Alex Sarr led the Wizards with 23 points, and Jase Richardson led the Magic with 20 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Desmond Bane is averaging 20.3 points and 4.1 assists for the Magic. Banchero is averaging 22.4 points over the last 10 games.

Kyshawn George is averaging 14.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists for the Wizards. Will Riley is averaging 12.7 points over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: 6-4, averaging 112.6 points, 41.9 rebounds, 26.4 assists, 10.7 steals and 6.2 blocks per game while shooting 45.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.4 points per game.

Wizards: 2-8, averaging 111.9 points, 39.0 rebounds, 24.0 assists, 9.4 steals and 6.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 125.1 points.

INJURIES: Magic: Franz Wagner: out (ankle), Anthony Black: day to day (quadriceps), Colin Castleton: out (thumb).

Wizards: Anthony Gill: day to day (illness), Anthony Davis: out for season (finger), Tristan Vukcevic: day to day (thigh), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), D'Angelo Russell: day to day (not injury related), Leaky Black: day to day (ankle), Alex Sarr: out (hamstring), Trae Young: day to day (knee).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

March 3, 2026

Hawks face the Bucks, look for 5th straight win

Atlanta Hawks (31-31, ninth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (26-34, 11th in the Eastern Conference)

Milwaukee; Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Atlanta is looking to extend its four-game win streak with a victory against Milwaukee.

The Bucks are 19-22 in conference games. Milwaukee gives up 115.6 points and has been outscored by 4.3 points per game.

The Hawks have gone 17-21 against Eastern Conference opponents. Atlanta is second in the Eastern Conference with 18.4 fast break points per game led by Jalen Johnson averaging 4.1.

The Bucks score 111.3 points per game, 6.1 fewer points than the 117.4 the Hawks allow. The Hawks average 14.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.1 fewer makes per game than the Bucks give up.

The teams meet for the second time this season. The Bucks won 112-110 in the last matchup on Jan. 19.

TOP PERFORMERS: Ryan Rollins is averaging 16.8 points, 5.4 assists and 1.5 steals for the Bucks. Kevin Porter Jr. is averaging 18.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, seven assists and 2.1 steals over the past 10 games.

Johnson is scoring 22.7 points per game with 10.6 rebounds and 7.9 assists for the Hawks. CJ McCollum is averaging 18.6 points and 2.9 rebounds while shooting 42.2% over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Bucks: 5-5, averaging 108.0 points, 41.8 rebounds, 23.1 assists, 7.1 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.7 points per game.

Hawks: 6-4, averaging 117.2 points, 48.8 rebounds, 28.9 assists, 9.3 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.7 points.

INJURIES: Bucks: Taurean Prince: out (neck).

Hawks: None listed.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

March 3, 2026

Indiana takes on Los Angeles on 6-game slide

Indiana Pacers (15-46, 15th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (29-31, ninth in the Western Conference)

Inglewood, California; Wednesday, 10:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Indiana aims to stop its six-game losing streak with a victory against Los Angeles.

The Clippers have gone 15-13 at home. Los Angeles is last in the Western Conference recording 23.5 assists per game led by Kawhi Leonard averaging 3.7.

The Pacers are 5-24 on the road. Indiana is 7-31 against opponents with a winning record.

The Clippers are shooting 47.9% from the field this season, 0.9 percentage points lower than the 48.8% the Pacers allow to opponents. The Pacers average 111.4 points per game, 0.7 fewer than the 112.1 the Clippers give up.

TOP PERFORMERS: Kris Dunn is averaging 8.1 points, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals for the Clippers. Leonard is averaging 26.0 points over the last 10 games.

Pascal Siakam is scoring 23.9 points per game with 6.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists for the Pacers. Jarace Walker is averaging 14.5 points and 7.4 rebounds while shooting 42.5% over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Clippers: 6-4, averaging 111.4 points, 41.4 rebounds, 23.0 assists, 9.4 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 48.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.3 points per game.

Pacers: 2-8, averaging 113.7 points, 40.0 rebounds, 28.6 assists, 7.9 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 124.1 points.

INJURIES: Clippers: Bradley Beal: out for season (hip), John Collins: day to day (arm).

Pacers: Pascal Siakam: day to day (wrist), Aaron Nesmith: day to day (ankle), Johnny Furphy: out for season (knee), Ivica Zubac: out (ankle), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles), Andrew Nembhard: day to day (back).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

March 3, 2026

Everton fans left in the dark with need to find home comfort at new stadium

Dockside site will transform club’s finances, but fans are frustrated with kick-off times and results at venue so far

David Moyes has numerous theories on why Everton do not yet feel completely at home at Hill Dickinson Stadium, beyond the fact that change is inevitably strange after 133 years at Goodison Park. Wins would be instrumental, but his team have managed only five in 16 matches. Supporters connecting to the magnificent venue through a new matchday routine would help too, but for many that is proving nigh on impossible.

One season-ticket holder, who lives in the south of England, said on social media recently that they expect to miss seven or eight home games this season owing to the curse of the modern fixture schedule. The club are aware that this is not an isolated case. The problem is not new nor confined to Everton, who of course reap the benefits of every game that is switched for live television purposes and, let’s be frank, have not held as much appeal for broadcasters in recent years as they do this season. But in their inaugural campaign at a new home, Everton’s schedule has proved to be peculiar and, in turn, detrimental to fans adapting to new surroundings.

March 3, 2026

Warriors vs. Clippers player grades: Nate Williams shows out

Nate Williams and Gui Santos boxing out Brook Lopez. — SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 2: Nate Williams #19 of the Golden State Warriors boxes out during the game against the LA Clippers on March 2, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Golden State Warriors fell apart in the second half on Monday night against the LA Clippers. After a very impressive first half, the extremely shorthanded Dubs saw their double-digit lead evaporate, and eventually turn into a double-digit deficit, finally culminating in a 114-101 home loss to a Clippers team they’re trying to stave off in the standings.

Let’s take a quick look at some grades for the players. As always, grades are based on my expectations for each player, with a “B” grade representing the average performance for that player.

Note: True-shooting percentage (TS) is a scoring efficiency metric that accounts for threes and free throws. Entering Monday’s games, league-average TS was 57.9%.

Draymond Green

31 minutes, 4 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, 4 fouls, 1-for-5 shooting, 1-for-5 threes, 1-for-2 free throws, 34.0% TS, -18

Like most of the Warriors, Green played fairly well in the first half and not so well in the second half. He brought good energy, and his defense on Kawhi Leonard was solid. But he was a non-factor scoring the ball, and his nice passing when largely negated by his poor passing.

Grade: C
Post-game bonus: Led the team in assists, worst plus/minus on the team.

Al Horford

27 minutes, 17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 2 fouls, 5-for-11 shooting, 4-for-8 threes, 3-for-5 free throws, 64.4% TS, -15

Horford’s 17 points were his second-highest total in a Dubs jersey, and his third time in the last four games scoring in double figures. With Trayce Jackson-Davis traded and Kristaps Porziņģis having only suited up once for the Warriors, I really don’t know what they’d do without Horford.

It wasn’t a flawless game by any stretch of the imagination, but he played well on both ends of the court. He was at the center of a brilliant defensive first half.

Grade: A-

De’Anthony Melton

27 minutes, 7 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 4 fouls, 3-for-14 shooting, 1-for-7 threes, 25.0% TS, -16

Not much to say about this one. Melton has been awesome for the last two months, but he was not awesome in this game. Not even remotely close to awesome. He just couldn’t buy a bucket, and couldn’t penetrate LA’s defense enough to set him teammates up, either.

Grade: D+

Moses Moody

25 minutes, 10 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 4-for-12 shooting, 2-for-8 threes, 41.7% TS, -1

Moody had a very strong defensive game, and a pretty poor offensive game. I still want to see him rebounding more, and being more aggressive with the ball in his hands. But he has greatly improved at sliding into the passing lane on the perimeter to increase both the quantity and quality of his three-point shots. But in all, the Warriors just needed quite a bit more.

Grade: C

Brandin Podziemski

37 minutes, 22 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, 9-for-18 shooting, 3-for-6 threes, 1-for-2 free throws, 58.3% TS, -13

Podz was nothing short of brilliant in the first half, when he fueled the team’s offense. He had 20 points in the opening act, and was the primary facilitator as the Dubs scored 56 points, while also playing strong defense.

It came crashing down in the second half, though, when he got shut down. He was held to two points in the back half of the game, and really couldn’t get anything going on offense for his teammates. A tale of two halves.

Grade: B
Post-game bonus: Led the team in points.

Malevy Leons

6 minutes, 0 points, 1 rebound, 0-for-1 shooting, 0.0% TS, -2

Steve Kerr inserted Leons into the lineup late in the third quarter when everything was going horribly for Golden State. It was an attempt to throw something at the wall, and while it didn’t stick, you can hardly blame Leons for that. He mostly ended up playing in garbage time.

Grade: B-

Gui Santos

31 minutes, 5 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, 2-for-8 shooting, 1-for-3 threes, 31.3% TS, -5

If anyone was wondering whether Santos was playing hard for a contract and would ease up once he got paid, well … we have our answer, and it’s “no.” You wouldn’t know that Santos had just inked a three-year, $15 million contract by his effort level.

The Clippers got the best of him on many possessions, and made it very hard for him to score. But he made a strong impact in defense, and an even stronger impact on the glass.

Grade: B
Post-game bonus: Led the team in rebounds.

Quinten Post

12 minutes, 9 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 4-for-8 shooting, 1-for-3 threes, 56.3% TS, +5

Headband Post! Now that’s a look I wasn’t expecting. It didn’t turn him into a deadeye shooter, but he did play well in his limited stint. Sure, he air-balled a three, but he also played pretty decent defense.

Grade: B+
Post-game bonus: Best plus/minus on the team.

Nate Williams

22 minutes, 18 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 5-for-8 shooting, 3-for-4 threes, 5-for-6 free throws, 84.6% TS, +1

Well hello there, Nate Williams! After making his Warriors debut on Saturday, Williams played a critical role on Monday, and was one of the team’s best players, despite it being just the 49th game of his career. He was Golden State’s best shooter, and most aggressive offensive option. I certainly did not see that coming, but it was awesome.

Grade: A+

Pat Spencer

21 minutes, 9 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 3-for-8 shooting, 1-for-4 threes, 2-for-2 free throws, 50.7% TS, -1

A little bit of a hot-and-cold game for Spencer. He struggled to create separation and clean looks, so he wasn’t much of a factor scoring. But he quarterbacked the offense well, and dished out five assists while turning the ball over just once. His defense wasn’t good, but it was fine.

Grade: B

Monday’s inactives: Jimmy Butler III, LJ Cryer, Seth Curry, Steph Curry, Gary Payton II, Kristaps Porziņģis, Will Richard

March 3, 2026

Canucks Collapse After The First Period, Fall 6-1 To The Stars

The Vancouver Canucks lost for the 35th time this season as they fell 6-1 on Monday to the Dallas Stars. Evander Kane scored the only goal while Nikita Tolopilo stopped 31 of the 37 shots he faced. With the defeat, Vancouver has now lost six games in a row and have just two win in their last 22 games.

After a balanced first period, the Stars took over and completely controlled play through the final 40 minutes. The Canucks registred just seven shots in the second, finishing with 14 on the net. For comparisson, Dallas recorded more shots in both the second and the third periods, as they finished with 15 and 16 in those periods.

Vancouver's lack of really anything in the final 40 minutes was concerning, especially considering that the Stars were missing both Roope Hintz and Mikko Rantanen. While the Canucks were not favoured in this game, some form of effort was at least expected, especially in front of the home crowd. Unfortunatly, it was another in a long line of nights this season where Vancouver just could not find any form of momentum.

The only positive to come out of this game was the play of Tolopilo. While the rookie goaltender did allow six goals, he came up with some massive saves in this one. In the end, if not for the play of Tolopilo, this game could have turned into an even bigger blowout.

"Ultimately, I mean, I thought we had a decent start, said Marcus Pettersson post-game. "Power play was clicking in the first and gave us some life. And then, you know, they started coming after us in the second. I thought we started, stolen pucks a little bit everywhere, and not helping each other get get out of our zone, and that allowed them to kind of get back at us. And then, I mean, we left Tolo out to dry today."

Mar 2, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tom Willander (5) checks Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn (14) in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

While tanking is the goal at this point of the season, the fans at Rogers Arena deserve to at least see a better effort on a nightly basis. The Canucks esentially gave up after te first period, which once again led to fans exiting early and empty seats scatter around the arena when the final horn blew. Something needs to change in Vancouver, and quickly as the effort this team has put forth, especially since returning from the Olympic break has made games virtually unwatchable.

Stats and Facts:

- Canucks record a season-low with 14 shots on net

- Marcus Pettersson led all players in ice time at 23:43

- Defenceman Elias Pettersson led the team with three hits

- Vancouver has just two wins in 21 games since the calander flipped to 2026

Scoring Summary:

1st Period:

7:57- VAN: Evander Kane (11) from Jake DeBrusk and Marcus Pettersson
17:40- DAL: Adam Erne (4) from Colin Blackwell and Lian Bichsel

2nd Period:

8:31- DAL: Lian Bichsel (2) from Ilya Lyubushkin and Sam Steel
9:41- DAL: Jason Robertson (34) from Matt Duchene and Miro Heiskanen (PPG)

3rd Period:

1:32- DAL: Matt Duchene (12) from Sam Steel and Miro Heiskanen
5:40- DAL: Colin Blackwell (3)
15:39- DAL: Lian Bichsel (3) from Mavrik Bourque (13), Jason Robertson

Up Next:

The Canucks wrap up their mini two-game homestand on Wednesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Wednesday will also be the final game before the 2026 trade deadline. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT from Rogers Arena.

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

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March 3, 2026

Cubs vs. Italy at Mesa preview, Tuesday 3/3, 2:05 CT

MESA, Arizona — Tuesday notes…

FORMER CUBS ON THE ITALY ROSTER: Jon Berti and Miles Mastrobuoni. Alex Maestri, a former Cubs prospect who was actually born in Italy, is one of two pitching coaches for the team (Dave Righetti is the other one).
CUBS 40-MAN PLAYERS ON WBC ROSTERS: Alex Bregman, Matthew Boyd, Pete Crow-Armstrong (USA); Javier Assad (Mexico); Miguel Amaya (Panama); Daniel Palencia (Venezuela); Seiya Suzuki (Japan); Jameson Taillon (Canada).
OTHER WBC EXHIBITIONS: There are 14 other exhibition games today between WBC teams and MLB squads. Here’s the complete schedule.

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Italy lineup:

Cade Horton will start for the Cubs. Other Cubs pitchers scheduled today: zzzz

some other guy will start for Italy. Other Italy pitchers scheduled today: zzzz.

No TV or radio today.

MLB.com Gameday

Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.

Here’s the complete Italy roster, and here’s a link to all the WBC team rosters.

As we have done in the past, we’ll have a first pitch thread at five minutes to game time and one overflow thread, 90 minutes after game time. For today, that will be 2 p.m. CT and 3:30 p.m. CT.

These threads will not post individually onto the front page; instead, you can find links to them in the box marked ”Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page. There will also be a StoryStream on the front page with all the game thread links, as well as the recap after the game is over. The pitcher photos and regular-season stats will return on Opening Day.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

March 3, 2026

Canucks Defenceman Pierre-Olivier Joseph Leaves Game Against The Stars With Upper-Body Injury

The Vancouver Canucks appear to be facing more injury issues, as the team announced mid-game that defenceman Pierre-Olivier Joseph would not return in a 6-1 loss to the Dallas Stars. Joseph finished the game with 10:36 minutes played.

Canucks Head Coach Adam Foote noted post-game that Joseph left due to an upper-body injury and that he would be getting X-rays. As of writing, there is no update on the severity of the injury or how long the defenceman could be out for.

In 23 games played with Vancouver this season, Joseph has a goal and four assists. While he has not been a consistent part of the Canucks' lineup, with Vancouver eyeing a potential Tyler Myers trade, Joseph has regularly skated with rookie Zeev Buium through the past three games.

With Joseph out, Vancouver will likely look to their organizational youth to round out their D-core. Buium, Elias Pettersson, and Tom Willander have already gotten their fair share of minutes as young defencemen in the organization. If Myers does not remain with the team, this could mean a player like Abbotsford Canucks defenceman Victor Mancini could be called-up.

Vancouver's final game before the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline is on Wednesday, when they'll take on the Carolina Hurricanes on home-ice. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT.

Dec 30, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph (7) handles the puck against the Philadelphia Flyers in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

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March 3, 2026

Stars beat Canucks 6-1 to extend winning streak to a franchise-record 9 games

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Lian Bichsel scored twice and the Dallas Stars beat the Vancouver Canucks 6-1 on Monday night.

Colin Blackwell, Jason Robertson and Matt Duchene each had a goal and an assist for the Stars (37-14-9), who extended their winning streak to a franchise-record nine games.

Adam Erne added a goal for Dallas and Miro Heiskanen and Sam Steel had two assists apiece. Jake Oettinger made 13 saves.

The Canucks opened the scoring midway through the first period when Jake DeBrusk drove into the offensive zone, put a shot off Oettinger’s right pad and Evander Kane deflected the rebound in from the side of the net for his 11th goal of the season.

Nikita Tolopilo stopped 31 of the 37 shots he faced in Vancouver’s net as the Canucks lost a sixth straight game (0-4-2).

The Canucks took an early lead with Kane’s goal 7:57 into the first period, but their offense stuttered in the second when Vancouver managed just four shots on goal.

Dallas took the lead 8:31 into the second when Ilya Lyubushkin sliced a pass to Bichsel, who blasted a wrist shot up and over Tolopilo’s shoulder from the slot to make it 2-1.

Heiskanen extended his point streak to six games with nine assists during the stretch.

The Canucks have not scored a power-play goal since Jan. 27, going 0 for 13 in their last seven games.

Up next

Stars: At the Calgary Flames on Tuesday.

Canucks: Host the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

March 3, 2026

Darius Garland debuts, leads Clippers to resounding victory over Warriors

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Kawhi Leonard of the LA Clippers playing defense against the Golden State Warriors, Image 2 shows Moses Moody falling over Darius Garland during an NBA game, Image 3 shows Kawhi Leonard looking to pass the ball while being defended by Draymond Green — Kawhi

SAN FRANCISCO — Plagued by slow starts, this time, the Warriors couldn’t finish.

After coach Steve Kerr called out the Warriors’ effort while falling behind early in their last game against the Lakers, they responded by jumping out to a 17-point first half lead against the Clippers.

It all fell apart after halftime in a 114-101 loss.

“The second half got away from us — all of us,” Kerr said. “It wasn’t one thing or one player. We struggled to score and they picked up their defensive intensity.”

Al Horford of the Golden State Warriors dribbles the ball during the game against the LA Clippers on March 2, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images

Kris Dunn drained a corner 3 on the first possession of the fourth quarter to give the Clippers their first lead since early in the first period and scored nine of his 16 points after halftime.

Matched up almost exclusively against Draymond Green, Kawhi Leonard’s 37-game streak of scoring 20 or more looked to be in serious jeopardy — until he exploded for 15 in the second half to finish with 23. Benedict Mathurin added 15 after halftime to finish with 17, and Darius Garland contributed 12 off the bench in his Clippers debut.

“They were great in the second half,” Kerr said.

Golden State was locked in from the get-go on defense, turning six turnovers into nine points and holding the Clippers to 7-of-24 from the field while jumping out to a 31-19 lead after one.

“Our defense was excellent,” Kerr said. “We were flying around, getting some good shots. And we didn’t foul. … They were really good defensively in that second half. We just couldn’t get anything to go.”

Brandin Podziemski poured in 20 points in the first half but added only two points to that total after halftime. Al Horford finished with 17 — a team-best 11 in the second half — but Golden State couldn’t pick up the slack.

The Warriors committed 10 turnovers that led to 17 points and shot 15-of-45 (33.3%) from the field as they watched a 56-42 halftime lead turn into a double-digit defeat.

Darius Garland of the LA Clippers dribbles the ball during the game against the Golden State Warriors on March 2, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images

What it means

There are now just 1.5 games separating the Warriors and the Clippers in the Western Conference playoff picture. LA is currently in ninth place and if Ty Lue’s squad can overtake Golden State, it would send the Warriors to the No. 9-10 play-in matchup.

The teams meet once more, on the final day of the regular season.

Turning point

When Green checked out with 4:37 left in the third quarter.

The Warriors managed to sustain their halftime advantage for most of the third quarter, but the tables turned when their best defender went to the bench.

“Draymond’s effort and energy defensively set the tone for the whole first half,” Kerr said. “He was all over the place, flying around. We really were able to contain Kawhi in the first half because of Draymond.”

Leonard had only 12 points on eight shot attempts at the time. He proceeded to pour in another 11 on 4-of-6 shooting as the Clippers outscored the Warriors 53-30 from then on.

The Warriors still held a 71-61 lead at the time Green checked out. By the time the fourth quarter began, Golden State’s advantage had been cut to 79-77.

The Warriors never reclaimed a lead after Dunn sank the 3 to start the fourth.

“He can’t play the whole game,” Kerr said of Green, who logged 31 minutes. “But that was the key stretch.”

MVP: Nate Williams

Who? The newcomer to the Warriors — signed to a two-way contract on Feb. 17 — scored a career-high points in 22 minutes in only his second game with Golden State.

The 6-foot-5 shooting guard who attended nearby Prolific Prep (Napa) also occasionally switched onto Leonard, even forcing a steal and a loose-ball foul that sent him to the foul line.

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard looks to pass the ball while being defended by Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green on Monday, March 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) AP

Stat of the game: -18

Kerr strategically staggered Green’s minutes to match up with the Clippers’ top option, and it mostly worked — for the first half. Green faceguarded Leonard all game, and Golden State was a plus-seven in his minutes before halftime — minus-2 for Leonard.

Just like the scoreboard, that flipped in the second half.

Green finished the game minus-18, while Leonard was plus-16.

Up next

The Warriors hit the road for three games, beginning Thursday at the Rockets. It will be difficult to win without Curry at Houston, or against the Thunder on Saturday, but they end the trip with a gettable game against the Jazz in Utah.

In addition to Curry, whose earliest return is March 13, it hasn’t been determined whether Kristaps Porzingis will make the trip after missing his fifth straight game with an illness Kerr described as “a little mysterious.”