Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo (17) fist-pumps his players before playing the Los Angeles Dodgers on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale. | Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
As I write this, I am watching the Great Britain baseball team take on Brazil in the World Baseball Classic. While both sides have been eliminated, there’s still something to play for here: the winning country will automatically be entered the next WBC, without having to go through the qualification tournament. So this is definitely a significant game. Right now, it’s proving a tense affair, with the game scoreless through four innings. Fingers crossed the British team can avoid the late-inning meltdowns which have been a bit of a feature in their previous three games. Meanwhile, on the domestic front, here’s the D-backs line-up this afternoon.
Lineup Update:
3B – Vargas CF – Barrosa C – Moreno 1B – Smith LF – Vukovich SS – Rojas 2B – Crisantes DH – Melendez RF – Ortiz SP – Gallen
We will see how deep Zac Gallen goes this time. After him, potential pitchers are: RHP Hayden Durke, RHP Taylor Clarke, RHP Gerardo Carrillo, RHP Andrew Hoffmann, RHP Juan Burgos and RHP Grant Holman. Hoffmann has been one of the spring standouts so far, with five strikeouts over three innings of one-hit ball. Also, be interesting to see whether Burgos can sustain his streak: all seven outs he has recorded so far have been by way of the K. He leads the team in that department. Unfortunately, over those 2.1 innings, there have been six hits and two walks as well.
No scheduled broadcast for this one, so see you in Gameday, providing GB vs. Brazil has finished! And as I write, the southern hemisphere has just taken the lead… [Update Britain roared back to win. D-backs prospect Wallace Clark walked twice and scored a run. See you again in 2029, WBC!]
With Opening Day about two and a half weeks away, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns met with members of the media to break down what he's seen so far this spring, while looking ahead to the regular season....
While Lindor has been sidelined from game action since undergoing surgery on his left hamate bone in early February, the expectation all along has been that the star shortstop would be back by Opening Day.
Stearns said on Monday that the plan hasn't changed.
"All indications we have is this is going as planned, and we have a similar level of optimism that he’ll be ready for Opening Day," Stearns said.
Stearns also added that getting Lindor in-game at-bats would be a must, saying that the team would not put him in the Opening Day lineup without getting some at-bats first.
"That would be a prerequisite. We wouldn’t have his first competition be Opening Day," Stearns explained. "We would ensure there are at-bats... I would expect Grapefruit League, but we haven’t mapped this out yet."
Roster questions left to answer
While the starting right field job has been in the spotlight throughout camp, Stearns explained that the Mets still have a few roster questions still to be answered, but also said the team makes sure all players are ready for the upcoming season.
"I think we have the right field question that we’re going to have to answer. There’s probably a bench question that we’re going to have to answer, and then one or two bullpen spots that we’re going to have to answer," said Stearns. "But for the most part, this is about getting our team and individual players ready for the season. I think we’re doing that. I think our coaching staff has done a really nice job of making sure this is a well-run, efficient camp, and we’ve done that so far. And it’s been good for me to see."
Clubhouse culture
Chemistry within the Mets clubhouse has been a talking point throughout the offseason, and when Stearns was asked what he's seen from this group early on, he explained that even with a team of veterans, the Mets are putting in the work every single day.
"I think guys are getting after it, and that’s been good to see. We have a very focused group in there," Stearns said. "As I mentioned earlier, the work has been really quality on the field, and that’s something you don’t see every spring. I think we have a group that is actively trying to get better every single day, and that can be somewhat unique with a team full of veterans. That’s not often the case.
"A lot of times you come to spring training with a veteran team and everyone’s really just got Opening Day circled and is just counting down the days until Opening Day. I think what we’ve felt here is guys are taking every single day seriously. They’re going out, they’re getting their work in, they’re working very well with our coaching staff, and it’s been very good to see."
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 06: Manager Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers walks across the field before a spring training game against the Kansas City Royals at Camelback Ranch on March 06, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers look to snap their two-game losing streak as they take on the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Fields of Phoenix on Monday. Emmet Sheehan goes for the Dodgers while Aaron Ashby starts for Milwaukee.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 14: Aaron Ashby #26 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches during the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game two of the National League Championship Series at American Family Field on October 14, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s a rematch of the NLCS at American Family Fields of Phoenix as the Brewers take on the Dodgers Monday afternoon.
And just like the NLCS, on the mound for the Brewers will be Aaron Ashby to start things off. He’s continuing to get stretched out this spring training for a potential starting role. Following him will be offseason trade addition Shane Drohan and then non-roster invitee Jacob Waguespack. The Dodgers will have Emmett Sheehan starting on the mound for them.
In the starting lineup, the Brewers have a number of their key roster pieces in there today. Sal Frelick will lead off while playing in center field for a change, followed by Luis Rengifo and the 2018 MVP, Christian Yelich. Jake Bauers and Gary Sánchez fill up the middle of the order. Some of the spring breakout stars, Akil Baddoo and Brandon Lockridge, will follow while David Hamilton and Greg Jones round out the bottom of the order.
The Brewers did make a round of roster cuts today, optioning Jeferson Quero and Sammy Peralta and reassigning a number of non-roster invites to minor league camp, including top prospects like Jesús Made and Luke Adams. Jones has also been reassigned, along with Eddys Leonard, Darrien Miller, Ramón Rodríguez, and Matt Wood.
First pitch is at 3:10 p.m. CT and can be seen on Brewers.TV today with Brian Anderson, Bill Schroeder, and Tim Dillard in the booth. It’ll also be broadcast on WTMJ 620 and the Brewers Radio Network.
Jedixson Paez will get the start for this afternoon’s contest, and needs to bounce back from a disastrous outing last week. | (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images)
Just a day after the White Sox announced the former Rule 5 draft pick Shane Smith would be the Opening Day starter, another Rule 5 pick takes the mound against the Rockies. Jedixson Paez, who was picked up on December 10, 2025, and was assigned to the White Sox prospects on March 5, will get this afternoon’s start. Paez was previously with the Boston Red Sox organization, and unless the Soxes come to an agreement, Paez must be on the active White Sox roster all season long, or be returned to Boston; this start is crucial to his future in Chicago.
As for the players currently playing in the World Baseball Classic, there was not a lot going on yesterday. Seranthony Domínguez (Dominican Republic) and Kyle Teel (Italy) did not play. Curtis Mead (Australia) went 0-for-4, 2 K, and Munetaka Murakami (Japan) was 0-for-3, BB. Sam Antonacci (Italy) had a better day, with a final of 1-for-4, 3B, R, RBI, K.
Kyle Freeland will get the start for the Rockies today. We’ll also see our old friend Nicky Lopez starting at shortstop.
The game won’t be available to watch or listen to, but it starts at 3:05 p.m. CT.
Earlier today, the White Sox sent three more players out of major-league camp:
Murray had two homers in Cactus League play but not much else. González had gotten rocked pretty hard over four appearances, while Sandlin hadn’t appeared at all in Cactus League play.
League One side Port Vale will head to Stamford Bridge while Manchester City host Liverpool in last eight
In such situation I didn’t expect even Marco Silva to blame someone other than him, and yet:
A very bad day for us,” Silva said. “It is probably not the moment to be emotional. It is a moment for us to look deeper.
It is not just another defeat. We lost a big chance. If you want to be in a club that wants to get better your ambition has to always be there. If you are pushing to win a game there are certain standards you cannot drop. Some things are about mentality.”
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - MARCH 6: J.P. Crawford #3 of the Seattle Mariners at bat during a Spring Training game against the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium on March 6, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’re back, and so is J.P. Crawford.
The Mariners play the Diamondbacks in another rousing round of Spring baseball. Crawford is in the lineup and playing shortstop for the first time this Spring, after a slower start than usual while battling shoulder issues. Ryan Bliss and Brendan Donovan flank him on either side of the infield. Luke Raley gets another starter in center field, which is increasingly becoming a thing. Rob Refsnyder is in right and Victor Robles is at DH.
Bryan Woo is on the mound for his third start of the Spring. I expect he’ll work a bit deeper than last time, and probably exit around the fourth inning, as he continues to ramp up.
Game information
Game time: 1:10 PT
TV: No
Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports, the Seattle Sports app, or Gameday
PEORIA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 22: Randy Vasquez #98 of the San Diego Padres delivers a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Peoria Stadium on February 22, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers at San Diego Padres, March 8, 2026, 1:10 p.m. PST
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SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Starting pitcher Kyle Freeland #21 of the Colorado Rockies throws a warm-up pitch during the first inning of the MLB exhibition game against Team United States at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 04, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In his first spring training action of 2026, Kyle Freeland faced the daunting task of pitching against Team USA in an exhibition game on March 4. He gave up a solo homer to Aaron Judge in a two-hit, one-strikeout performance in one inning.
Today, Freeland and the Rockies (8-6-1) will take part in his first Cactus League action against the White Sox (10-7) at Camelback Ranch. The Rockies are 5-2 on the road this spring vs. 3-5-1, including the showdown vs. Team USA, at Salt River Fields.
Today’s game represents a rematch of a Feb. 23 showdown where the Rockies beat the White Sox 5-4. Chicago will send Jedisxson Paez to the mound to start the game. The 22-year-old RHP will be making his third spring appearance. He’s posted a 23.14 ERA in 2 1/3 innings over two starts with six earned runs, six hits, including one homer, three strikeouts and one walk. Former Rockie Drew Romo will be starting at catcher for the White Sox.
On Sunday, four pitchers combined to throw five scoreless innings and Kyle Karros and Tyler Freeman each had two-hit performances in the Rockies 4-4 tie with Cleveland. Even though it’s only spring training, the Rockies offense has been much improved thus far. The Rockies rank among all Major League teams this Spring in: on-base percentage (.381, T-1st), home runs (23, T-4th), average (.287, 3rd), HBP (14, T-2nd), slugging (.492, 3rd), OPS (.871, 3rd), runs scored (98, 5th), RBI (91, 6th) and total bases (254, 6th).
Earlier on Monday, the Rockies released a new motto for the 2026 campaign: “New era. At altitude. We are here for the climb.”
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - MARCH 3: Ryan Bergert #38 of the Kansas City Royals gets set to throw a pitch during a World Baseball Classic exhibition game against Team Cuba at Surprise Stadium on March 3, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After taking a loss to the White Sox yesterday, the Royals will play another division rival in the Cleveland Guardians today. We’ll get another look at Ryan Bergert, whose appearances thus far in Spring Training have been relatively quiet. He’s thrown only three innings of one-hit ball.
Cleveland sends Parker Messick to start. Messick is another one of those “I’ve never heard of this guy” pitchers that Cleveland seems to manufacture every year. He threw 39.2 innings across seven MLB starts last season and accumulated 1.0 fWAR with a solid 2.72 ERA and 2.98 FIP. He was the 54th overall pick in 2022 by Cleveland.
With the WBC going on, we’re definitely going to see some guys in the lineups today.
The game starts at 3:05pm US Central. You can listen on KWOD 1660.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 08: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after scoring against the Charlotte Hornets during the second half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 08, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Hornets 111-99. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Week 20 arrived at the perfect time for the Phoenix Suns.
This is a team that had been searching for traction. The numbers tell the story. Phoenix had not posted a positive net rating in five weeks. The last time it happened was Week 15 when they sat at +2.8. Since then, the stretch looked rough. Week 16 at -0.1. Week 17 at -28.7. Week 18 at -14.4. Week 19 at -9.1.
Injuries played a large role in that slide. The roster has taken hits across the rotation, forcing Phoenix to lean heavily on younger players and redistribute minutes to guys now operating outside their usual roles.
So yes, Week 20 was needed.
This was a stretch where the Suns realistically could have finished 4–0. Had it not been for a lethargic performance against the Chicago Bulls, Phoenix would have walked away undefeated. That is basketball. Some nights, you steal a game that had no business landing in the win column. Other nights, you drop one that felt secure. Over the long arc of a season, the truth usually reveals itself. Good teams rise. Bad teams fade.
And even with the injuries piling up and the rotations shifting almost nightly, the Suns continue to show that they belong in the group of teams capable of rising.
The Suns sit at 37–27 following their Week 20 performance. They remain two games back of the sixth seed in the Western Conference, although they are only three games away from the third seed. With 18 games remaining on the schedule, the standings can shift quickly. All it takes is one team catching fire and another team cooling off for the picture to change.
That creates an interesting opportunity for Phoenix. The conversation can begin drifting away from the Play-In discussion and toward the postseason itself. That is where the real intrigue begins, when you start looking up the standings rather than over your shoulder. The Suns are positioned well enough to think that way. The teams currently sitting in eighth through tenth place are clustered tightly together. The Golden State Warriors hold a one-game lead on the Los Angeles Clippers, while the Clippers sit one game ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Phoenix, meanwhile, stands 4.5 games clear of that group. That cushion provides breathing room, although the real opportunity lies ahead of them. With a strong final stretch, the Suns can shift the focus away from Play-In scenarios and toward the question that matters far more in the long run. Who might they face when the postseason begins?
Standings aside, this was a refreshing week for Phoenix. The best-case scenario continues to quietly unfold. Injuries are never something a team hopes for, although they have opened the door for something valuable. Opportunity. Opportunity to evaluate the youth movement that Phoenix has been slowly trying to cultivate. And this past week, the young players responded.
Khaman Maluach averaged 17.4 minutes across his three appearances. In that time, he scored 3.3 points on 62.5% shooting, grabbed 5.7 rebounds, and averaged 2.3 blocks per game. The stat line is modest offensively, although the defensive impact and the activity around the rim continue to stand out.
Then there is Rasheer Fleming.
In four games this week, he averaged 8.8 points on 65% shooting, including 60% from beyond the arc. That number carries weight when you realize he attempted 15 three-pointers during that stretch. He also added four rebounds per game while playing 15.8 minutes a night.
So Week 20 became a productive one for Phoenix. The Suns finished 3–1, the rookies received real run, and they rewarded the opportunity with strong play. Phoenix still has work to do. The climb out of the Play-In conversation will require continued effort over the final stretch of the season. The hope is that reinforcements begin returning soon. Jordan Goodwin could be back this week. Mark Williams may be another week or two away. Dillon Brooks still appears to be three to four weeks from returning.
March might represent the turning point. The Suns are trying to regain health, stabilize the rotation, and continue developing their young players at the same time. If those paths meet at the right moment, the final stretch of the season could become very interesting for Phoenix.
Week 20 Record: 3-1
@ Sacramento Kings, W, 114-103
Possession Differential: +1.6
Turnover Differential: +5
Offensive Rebounding Differential: +8
The Suns looked like they were trying to jumpstart themselves, and ultimately they had the ability to do so. Phoenix outscored Sacramento 68-45 over the second and third quarters, and that was enough to get the win.
vs. Chicago Bulls, L, 105-103
Possession Differential: +2.6
Turnover Differential: +2
Offensive Rebounding Differential: +5
Same script as the game against the Kings, but the Suns couldn’t get jump-started. They had a late run, but it was too little, too late. It wasn’t the worst loss of the season, but it may be the most lethargic.
vs. New Orleans Pelicans, W, 118-116
Possession Differential: +1.2
Turnover Differential: -2
Offensive Rebounding Differential: -1
Phoenix was in control the majority of the game, but the Pelicans made it quite uncomfortable in the end. It took a record number of three-pointers attempted — 58 by the Suns — to beat New Orleans by 2 points. Time will tell whether that is concerning.
vs. Charlotte Hornets, W, 111-99
Possession Differential: -6.2
Turnover Differential: -5
Offensive Rebounding Differential: -3
Well, this was a nice little surprise, wasn’t it? The Suns closed out the week with a win over one of the hottest teams in the NBA. How? 3o points and 10 assists from Devin Booker, 24 points from both Collin Gillespie and Jalen Green, and a 16-point performance from rookie Rasheer Fleming. And same damn good defense.
Inside the Possession Game
Weekly Possession Differential: -0.8
Weekly Turnover Differential: 0
Offensive Rebounding Differential: +6
Year-to-Date Over/Under .500: +10
The first thing I notice when looking at this week’s graph is that pink line. The Suns are sitting 10 games over .500 to close out the week. It is only the second time this season we have finished a week that high, with Week 15 being the only other instance.
Take a look at that pink line. It hasn’t dipped below the .500 mark since Week 2. This team has been at .500 or better since November 8. They spent a total of 7 games under the water this entire season. I hope we appreciate that. I really do.
We are talking about a team that Vegas pegged for 30.5 wins. We are talking about a franchise that spent 37 games looking up at the .500 mark just one season ago. The scars from those years don’t just vanish, but this is how you heal them. We are focused on a postseason push, and that is exactly where our energy should be.
But I want to pause and appreciate the fact that we are even in this position. We have a team that is fighting to win. We have a roster that isn’t finding creative ways to lose anymore. There is hope. There is progression. There is a core.
The Suns finally started cleaning up the glass this week, and the results speak for themselves. A 3-1 stretch is exactly the kind of “get right” week this team needed. While the possession game slipped a bit, you have to look at this Phoenix defense to see the real story.
Even with the roster currently held together by bandages and spare parts, this group posted a 109.9 defensive rating over the last four games. When you couple that grit with the way the ball is moving, it’s clear something is clicking. Their 68.8% assist percentage was 7th 7th-best in the league this week. It is proof that Jordan Ott’s system is cerebral and, more importantly, transferable. It doesn’t matter who is on the floor, the identity remains.
Of course, it didn’t hurt that the schedule-makers tossed the Kings, Bulls, and Pelicans our way. You play who is in front of you, but beating up on the basement dwellers is a requirement for any team with playoff ambitions.
Week 21 Preview
And so begins the road trip.
The Phoenix Suns hit the road for a 10-day stretch that includes six games and two back-to-backs. Week 21 features the first three stops along that journey, thankfully without the back-to-backs arriving yet. It starts tomorrow night when Phoenix travels to face the Milwaukee Bucks.
Milwaukee is a team floating somewhere in the middle of the Eastern Conference sea. They have not played well for long stretches this season, which explains why they currently sit in 11th place and outside the Play-In picture looking up. Giannis Antetokounmpo is back on the floor for them, which always changes the temperature of a game. How long he continues playing before the organization considers shutting him down is something only time will answer.
The Bucks rank in the bottom third of the league in offensive rating, defensive rating, and net rating. On paper, that suggests an opportunity for Phoenix. Still, Milwaukee carries size across its lineup, and size has a way of bothering the Suns when it begins to crowd the paint.
Next on the schedule are the Indiana Pacers, who currently hold the worst record in the Eastern Conference. Phoenix handled Indiana earlier this season, winning by 35 points back in November. Since the All-Star break, the Pacers have not recorded a win and appear to be navigating a reset year while Tyrese Haliburton works through an Achilles injury.
The third stop sends Phoenix north to face the Toronto Raptors. If you are looking for an Eastern Conference team that resembles the Suns in some ways, Toronto fits that description. The Raptors have exceeded expectations this season and present a roster that values ball movement and care with possessions. They move the ball well, they limit mistakes, and they defend at a high level. Toronto currently sits with the eighth-best defensive rating in the NBA.
In other words, this stretch of the trip offers three very different challenges. Milwaukee brings size. Indiana brings opportunity. Toronto brings discipline.
Jack Perkins gets the nod today in the Spring Training matchup against the Reds at Goodyear Ballpark in Arizona. | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Athletics take on the Cincinnati Reds this afternoon at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Arizona. The A’s come into this game fresh off a split squad sweep of the Angels and Dodgers yesterday.
Jack Perkins will take the mound to get the A’s started today. So far this spring he’s 1-2 in two starts with a 6.75 ERA. He’s only gone 2.2 innings, so the numbers are statistically meaningless. But I imagine Mark Kotsay will try to stretch him out a bit more today. Perkins will face off against 24-year-old Rhett Lowder for the Reds. Lowder is a 2023 first round draft pick who has pitched five innings this spring in both a start and relieving appearance. He has a 1.80 ERA and seven strikeouts so far.
Lowder will go face this lineup for Mark Kotsay’s Athletics:
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 23: Bobby Witt Jr. #7 of the Kansas City Royals runs up the line during the sixth inning of a Spring Training game against the Chicago Cubs at Surprise Stadium on February 23, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2025 Kansas City Royals were not bad. However, they also share a division with the Detroit Tigers (excellent in the first-half of the season) and the Cleveland Guardians (excellent in the second-half), so their 82 wins just weren’t enough to push them into the postseason.
Consider some of the details.
The good? Bobby Witt Jr. (8 fWAR), Maikel Garcia (5.6 fWAR), the pitching staff (3.80 ERA).
The bad? The outfielders couldn’t hit (like, at all, to the tune of a collective 73 wRC+), and the Royals (with the exceptions of Witt Jr. and Garcia) could not steal bases. They were ranked 26th in runs scored, so not good. Having an elite pitching staff and a terrible offense is not a combination known for postseason success. Our colleagues at Royals Review provide a nice recap here. But that’s all in the past, and now it’s time to see what the Royals could manage in 2026.
2025 record: 82-20 (3rd, AL Central) 2026 FanGraphs projection: 81-81 (2nd, AL Central)
The Royals shuffled things around with some modest moves to shore up an already solid team and address some problem spots, trading for Isaac Collins from Milwaukee and signing Lane Thomas away from a division rival in Cleveland on a one-year deal alongside more recently picking up Starling Marte on a $1 million deal to give their aforementioned struggling outfield some options. They traded away their main left-handed reliever Angel Zerpa in the deal for Collins, and to shore back up their bullpen the Royals flipped Jonathan Bowlan for Matt Strahm, a former Royal himself who has blossomed the last few seasons in Philadelphia.
On top of the roster changes, they also remodeled their stadium a bit, moving in the walls of Kauffman Stadium. The K has been a slighty-above average stadium offensively over the last three years, but it’s been one of the worst parks to hit one out of — now the corners will be nine-to-ten feet closer before tapering off to an unchanged center field, perhaps aiding their offense enough to kickstart them out of mediocrity.
Looking at the Royals’ infield, any team with Bobby Witt Jr. at short is already at an advantage. This year, he’ll be working with an increasingly elite Maikel Garcia as well as a servicable Vinnie Pasquantino. What happens at second remains a question: Will the Royals start Jonathan India there or use Michael Massey? Perhaps Brandon Drury has a bounce back? Stay tuned! Then there’s Salvador Perez, who is not longer young but still effective. Although he will probably give more catching days to Carter Jensen, Perez fits in at first base or DH as well. Extended for two more seasons this winter, the veteran of the clubhouse might have the deal in place to ride out the end of his career.
With Collins in the fold now, Kansas City could plug him into left field while rolling Kyle Isbel out in center and Jac Caglianone in right. Granted, Cags was not especially good in 2025, but he got important experience in his first shot at the majors after excelling in the minors, and his spring training numbers suggest he may be figuring things out.
Marte, as mentioned, was a last-minute addition, signed just a couple of weeks ago. Though often injured, Marte will bring some much-needed power and contact to the Royals (assuming he can stay on the field) and should toggle between the outfield and DH. Add into that Lane Thomas and Kameron Misner, and this looks like a better — if not awesome — outfield lineup.
The rotation remains the strongest part of this Royals core. Although ace Cole Ragans missed much of 2025 to injury, when he was in the rotation, he was good (as in 14.3 K/9 and a 2.42 FIP in 13 starts). Now he needs to replicate that for an entire season. Kris Bubic picked up his first All-Star nod last year as he moved back into the rotation, and the combination of Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, and Noah Cameron form a fearsome top to bottom rotation that offers no easy days for opposing lineups.
In addition to pure pitching skill, the Royals rotation started working as, essentially, a “pitching workshop” when Wacha joined the team. The rotation works closely together, observing each other’s bullpens and debriefing when they leave games. Lugo and Wacha are seasoned veterans helping mentor a group of youngsters. Plus, there’s more depth in the wings. Assuming everyone stays healthy, if the Royals struggle in 2026, it won’t be because of the rotation.
The bullpen remains reliable to round out the pitching staff. Carlos Estévez will return as the closer after an All-Star campaign, tying his career-best with a 2.45 ERA and working the second-most innings of his career. Add to that Lucas Erceg, John Schneider, Bailey Falter, and Alex Lange, and it’s a solid group. Strahm returns to the team that drafted him as a revamped pitcher, now relying on a mix of fastballs having incorporated a cutter and sinker to great effect, and Nick Mears and Alex Lange can provide further depth.
Will that be enough for them to jump back into contention for their division? It’s the AL Central, so who knows — the division could go any number of ways, as what appeared to be a runaway title for the Tigers slipped away on the final day of the season last year. Kansas City was in the running in 2024, taking a shot at the Yankees in the ALDS, but 2025 just didn’t break their way. The 2026 Kansas City Royals are trying to improve on the margins with hopes it’s enough to get them back to the postseason. If Bobby Witt Jr and Cole Ragans play to their potential, their odds are good.
More Pinstripe Alley MLB team season previews can be found here.
Tonight's Peacock NBA Monday doubleheader tips off at 7:30 PM ET, when the Denver Nuggets take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in a rematch of the Western Conference Semifinals. Then, at 10:00 PM, it's the New York Knicks vs LA Clippers at Intuit Dome. Live coverage begins at 6:30 PM with NBA Showtime on NBC and Peacock.
See below for additional information on how to watch each game and follow all of the NBA action on NBCSN and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.
Tonight's contest marks the second and final meeting between the Knicks and Clippers this season. New York defeated Los Angeles 123-111 on January 7.
The Knicks are looking to bounce back after a 110-97 loss to the Lakers on Sunday afternoon. Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 25 points and 16 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson added 24.
With 17 regular-season games remaining, New York is currently third in the Eastern Conference, 2.5 games back from the Boston Celtics.
The Clippers have won four of their last 5 games, including a 123-120 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.
Kawhi Leonard led the team with 28 points. Darius Garland and Bennedict Mathurin both finished with 21 points.
The Clippers are currently in position for the play-in tournament at 9th in the West. They sit 7.5 games back of both the Lakers (5th) and Nuggets (6th) for the final two guaranteed playoff spots.
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. Sunday Night Basketball coverage will also be available on NBC and Peacock. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
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Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.
NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule:
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The Golden State Warriors travel to Salt Lake City on Monday night to take on a Utah Jazz team dealing with a sickness that’s making its way through the team.
Isaiah Collier has already been listed as out, but now Ace Bailey and Keyonte George are among those on the Jazz roster who are questionable with illness.
The Jazz are 2-10 in their last 10 games, and currently have the fifth worst record in the league, which is the goal for a team that looks to add a top-3 pick to its playoff-ready roster next season.
The Warriors are firmly in the play-in, holding onto the 8-seed with 4.5 games separating them from the No. 7 Suns and 8.5 games away from the No. 11 Grizzlies. They will be without hall of famer Steph Curry on Monday night.
Raphielle Johnson