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Blackhawks and Senators to play games in Duesseldorf as the NHL looks to grow hockey in Germany

NEW YORK (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators will play two games in Duesseldorf later this year as part of the NHL and NHLPA’s efforts to grow hockey in Germany, the league announced Friday.

The Global Series games on Dec. 18 and 20 at PSD Bank Dome are the second and third regular-season games the league has staged in the country, along with several exhibitions. The Buffalo Sabres and Los Angeles Kings played in Berlin in 2011.

Overall, the league has played 42 regular-season games in Europe since 2007.

Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly called the commitment to grassroots development in Germany “a critical next chapter for the NHL.”

Rob Zepp, the union's Director of International Strategy and Growth, played several years in Germany and represented the national team as a goaltender during his career and said it “is a wonderful country with an avid, sophisticated hockey audience that is eager to engage with the NHL.”

Senators forward Tim Stützle is expected to be the big star of the event. Stützle grew up just outside Duesseldorf in Viesen and led Germany in goals at the Milan Cortina Olympics with four.

"I think German hockey has been growing a lot, and there are a lot of great players from there,” Stützle said. “Hopefully it gets even more people to play hockey in Germany. It’s really exciting news.”

Germany, with Stützle, 2020 NHL MVP Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers and emerging star Moritz Seider of the Detroit Red Wings, lost in the quarterfinals at the Olympics. The country's team went on an improbable run to the final at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, with now-Boston Bruins coach and retired player Marco Sturm behind the bench.

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

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Oilers vs Blues Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NHL Game

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We’ve got only two games on the NHL betting slate tonight, including a Western Conference clash between the Edmonton Oilers and St Louis Blues.

I’m expecting a bounce back from the Oilers forgetting walloped by the Stars last night. 

The Oilers' team goal total will be the feature for Oilers vs. Blues predictions and NHL picks for Friday, March 13. 

Oilers vs Blues prediction

Oilers vs Blues best bet:Oilers TT Over 3.5 goals (-110)

If there’s one thing the Edmonton Oilers have done well this year, it’s score goals. Edmonton averages 3.53 goals per game this season, tied for the second-most in the league. 

The Oilers’ posted goal total tonight is set at 3.5, which is a number they’ve eclipsed in six of their last eight contests. 

After losing an important match to Dallas last night, I’m expecting a bounce back against the St. Louis Blues tonight, a team with an .883 SV% this season, and the seventh-highest GAA in the NHL. 

Oilers vs Blues same-game parlay

I'll back Connor Ingram to go over 21.5 saves. The Oilers have allowed 25+ shots against in eight of their last 10 outings. 

Lastly, I’ll add Over 0.5 assists for Evan Bouchard. The Oilers defenseman has an assist in seven of his last eight games, and leads all NHL blueliners with 74 points, 56 of which count as assists. 

Oilers vs Blues SGP

  • Oilers TT 3.5 goals
  • Connor Ingram Over 21.5 saves
  • Evan Bouchard Over 0.5 assists 

Oilers vs Blues odds

  • Moneyline: Oilers -155 | Blues +136
  • Puck Line: Oilers -1.5 (+157) | Blues +1.5 (-180)
  • Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-115) | Under 6.5 (-105)

Oilers vs Blues trend

The Under is 7-3 in the last 10 contests between the two teams. Find more NHL betting trends for Oilers vs. Blues.

How to watch Oilers vs Blues

LocationEnterprise Center, St. Louis, MO
DateFriday, March 13, 2026
Puck drop8:00 p.m. ET
TVHulu

Oilers vs Blues latest injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Radko Gudas to have suspension hearing for kneeing Auston Matthews

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas will have a disciplinary hearing on Friday, March 13, for his knee-on-knee hit that injured Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews.

Matthews, who was also the captain of the gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic team, left the game after the hit at 15:47 of the second period on Thursday night. He was unable to put weight on his left leg.

Gudas received a five-minute major and a game misconduct.

Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube called it a "dirty play" and said Matthews would be looked at on Friday.

Gudas has been suspended four times in the NHL for a total of 21 games, including a 10-game suspension in 2017 for slashing.

He delivered a hard, but clean, hit that injured Sidney Crosby at the Olympics. The Pittsburgh Penguins captain has yet to return.

Will Radko Gudas be suspended?

Yes, the NHL has scheduled a hearing for the Ducks captain and will factor in his disciplinary history. It's a phone hearing, so the maximum would be five games.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Radko Gudas faces suspension hearing for kneeing Auston Matthews

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Celtics’ Jaylen Brown bemoans NBA’s ‘foul baiting’ problem after loss to Thunder

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Jaylen Brown handles the ball against Luguentz Dort, Image 2 shows Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket against the Boston Celtics

Jaylen Brown isn’t a fan of what’s going on in the NBA.

The Celtics star, who scored 34 points in a 104-102 loss to the league-leading Thunder on Thursday night, spoke to reporters for the first time since his ejection for arguing a non-foul call earlier in the week.

“I don’t know, maybe it all works in the end, but I just don’t foul bait,” Brown said. “I’m not looking to flop or anything like that, but it’s almost like you got to. It’s almost like, because there’s a couple of plays in the fourth quarter where I felt like I drove strong, went up strong, and I didn’t get the benefit of the doubt. But maybe if I would have flopped, maybe I would have been able to sell that call. And those decide games.”

Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) handles the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Lu Dort. AP

In a road loss to the Spurs on Tuesday, Brown argued with officials after San Antonio’s Stephon Castle bumped him out of bounds while he was dribbling, but failed to get a call.

Instead, the 29-year-old earned a pair of technicals and an ejection for his troubles.

In Thursday’s matchup with the reigning NBA champions, Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander broke Wilt Chamberlain’s record with his 127th straight game with at least 20 points.

His 35-point effort was aided by hitting seven of his eight free-throws.

The 2024-25 MVP has drawn the second-most fouls this season and is often derided by fans as a “free-throw merchant” for his penchant for getting calls.

Thursday’s loss came on a pair of free throws by OKC center Chet Holmgren, who drew a foul on Boston’s Sam Houser with 0.8 seconds remaining.

Brown did not address the the call on Houser or Gilgeous-Alexander’s game specifically, but pointed to the larger problem he’s seeing.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket during the game against the Boston Celtics. NBAE via Getty Images

“It’s like, we commend players for playing the game the right way, but we give the benefit to those who necessarily are trying to manipulate the game into their advantage,” Brown, who has drawn the sixth-most fouls this season, said. “I just don’t think it’s basketball. Let’s just play basketball. All the foul baiting, I think it’s whatever for me.”

Brown hit 13 of his 14 free throws on the night.

After Thursday, the Celtics sit in second in the Eastern Conference with a 43-23 record, 4.5 games behind the top-seeded Pistons and 1.5 games ahead of the Knicks.

They’ll face the Thunder, winners of seven straight, again in 12 days with a shot at revenge.

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Texas Rangers lineup for March 13, 2026

SURPRISE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 17: (ALTERNATE CROP) Josh Smith #8 of the Texas Rangers poses for a portrait during photo day at Surprise Stadium on February 17, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Texas Rangers lineup for March 13, 2026 against the Colorado Rockies.

Texas heads to Scottsdale to take on the Rockies of Colorado. Sam Haggerty is playing second base and Josh Smith is at third, as Josh Jung continues to be unavailable. Jacob Latz is starting.

The lineup:

Nimmo — RF

Langford — CF

Seager — SS

Burger — 1B

McCutchen — DH

Jansen — C

Carter — LF

Smith — 3B

Haggerty — 2B

3:10 p.m. Central start time.

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Deandre Ayton continues to show why he’s the Lakers’ X factor

Deandre Ayton knew what he was doing wasn’t working. 

With the Lakers in the midst of a push for playoff seeding, and the collective sense of urgency of the team rising, the 7-foot big man knew he needed to pick it up. 

Being left behind wasn’t an option.

And not only has Ayton “caught up with the team,” as he put it after the Lakers’ win over the Bulls on Thursday, but he’s delivering in the ways the Lakers are needing.

Hustling on the glass.

The Lakers big man had 23 points versus Chicago. NBAE via Getty Images

Setting physical screens.  

Rolling to the rim hard after pick and rolls. 

Taking advantage of favorable offensive matchups inside of the paint.

Being a presence as the last line of defense. 

“[I] felt like I picked up my energy and my focus,” Ayton said on Thursday night. “And I finally caught up with the team. That’s about it.”

The difference in Ayton’s play and the impact on his counting stats were easier to see when the Lakers hosted the Bulls.

He finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds for his 12th 20-10 game of the season. 

Over half (six) of Ayton’s rebounds came on the offensive glass, which tied a season-high, 

But the difference in the way Ayton played over the last three games and the way he was playing the week before sitting out of the March 6 home win over the Pacers is different. 

He’s chasing rebounds and rolling to the rim harder. There’s a greater intensity and sense of urgency to his game.

“If something’s not working, you’re gonna fix it,” Ayton said. “Just gotta get up and fix it. That’s all. There was nothing that led to it.”

Regardless of the reason, Ayton is putting together a level of consistency in how he plays that hasn’t been seen since the early couple of months of the season. 

“As a team, we have been trying to find and build towards consistency – that’s the individual, that’s the group,” coach JJ Redick said. “We know what DA is capable of. I think Austin [Reaves] said this recently: he is an X factor for us, if not the X factor. Because him playing at a high level raises our ceiling. It changes the makeup of our team.”

Ayton’s status as the Lakers’ X factor was already known – evident by the fact they’re 27-8 when he grabs at least eight rebounds. They’re 24-9 when he takes at least eight shot attempts. 

And when Ayton has at least eight rebounds and eight shot attempts in the same game, the Lakers are 22-6. 

But why is he the team’s X factor?

Ayton is putting together a level of consistency in how he plays that hasn’t been seen since the early couple of months of the season.  AP

Because for as athletic and an ideal fit that backup Jaxson Hayes may be alongside Luka Doncic, who likes playing with rim-running centers, Ayton has the talent, size and strength to neautralize team’s other big men, like Ayton’s done to Rudy Gobert when the Lakers played the Timberwolves this season, sweeping the regular season series, 3-0.

Because when the Lakers’ best players aren’t in a rhythm as scorers, he can create offense for himself in ways most of them don’t: rolls to the basket, quick seals on smaller plays or crashing the offensive glass.

“He saw a small guy and he was just playing bully ball down there,” Doncic said of Ayton against the Bulls. “Kind of fed him a couple times. He’s been doing an amazing job.”

Ayton adds layers to the Lakers, diversifying the way they can win sequences of a game. 

Like he did during the first quarter with his interior play against the Knicks on Sunday. Or the second quarter of Tuesday’s win over the Timberwolves, when he had 12 points and five rebounds in the quarter. Like he did throughout the win over the Bulls.

Doncic, Reaves and LeBron James may be the driving forces for the Lakers’ success. But Ayton and the determining factor of much success the team will ultimately achieve in a Western Conference filled with talented big men.

It’s one of the biggest reasons the last several days have been so encouraging for the Lakers.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s NBA record streak is more proof he’s the best player in the world

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MARCH 9: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the game against the Denver Nuggets on March 9, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t mean to define an all-time great NBA career with a throwaway line after a regular season win two years ago. It just worked out that way.

“My whole life is consistent,” Gilgeous-Alexander said in front of ESPN’s cameras following a March 2024 win over the Miami Heat. “Everything I do. From what I eat, to when I sleep, to my recovery, to my loved ones, everything is consistent. It’s a routine for me at this point.”

Gilgeous-Alexander’s comment became a meme as his teammates began hooting and hollering in the background. At the time, he was just starting to enter the MVP race, and the Thunder were in their first year as an elite team. While that season would end in disappointment in the second round of the playoffs, SGA and OKC would both get the salvation they were looking for the next year: his first MVP award and the franchise’s first NBA championship.

It’s easy to think back to Gilgeous-Alexander’s suddenly infamous quote after he broke an impossible NBA record on Thursday night. As the Thunder beat the Boston Celtics in a possible 2026 NBA Finals preview, SGA scored 20 or more points in his 127th consecutive regular-season game to break the NBA record held by Wilt Chamberlain. While basically no one was aware of Chamberlain’s record before SGA threatened to break it, it’s a remarkable feat from a remarkable talent who feels suddenly feels like he’s surpassed Nikola Jokic for the mythical title of Best Player in the World.

How wild is Shai’s record? Consider this:

  • Michael Jordan’s longest streak of scoring 20+ is 72 games.
  • LeBron James’ longest streak of scoring 20+ is 49 games.
  • Kobe Bryant’s longest streak of scoring 20+ is 63 games.

In fact, Gilgeous-Alexander hasn’t even needed all four quarters to get to 20 points in the vast majority of his games. About 89 percent of the time, SGA has reached 20 points before the fourth quarter.

Gilgeous-Alexander is peaking at an all-time high level at 27 years old, and he’s about to force some uncomfortable conversations. He’s lapped Jokic in my preferred all-in-on advanced metric EPM (which estimates a player’s total impact on team performance per 100 possessions): SGA leads the league at +9.6 right now, Jokic is second at +8.9, and Victor Wembanyama is third at +7.6.

That’s just the start of it. SGA is the best player in the world right now, but he’s also quickly becoming one of the best guards of all-time. Here’s how SGA rates against some of the greats by DPM, which again measures a player’s impact on team performance per 100 possessions. He’s the blue line in this graph, and only trails Steph Curry:

Gilgeous-Alexander’s peak has clearly surpassed Kobe and James Harden, and just about lines up with Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade, who I didn’t include for the sake of clarity. Play with the tool yourself here.

Shai is better than ever this year, too. Long known as a mid-range assassin with a special ability to get to the foul line, he’s now added a newly improved step-back three that makes him even harder to guard. He’s had multiple three-point daggers to win games this year, including one earlier this week to beat the rival Denver Nuggets.

Some fans like to reduce SGA’s success to flopping, but that’s crazy talk. Yes, he gets a lot of free throws, but so does every all-time great. Luka Doncic averages one more free throw per game than Shai, but he doesn’t get called a flopper nearly as often. If you go by free throw attempts per 36 minutes, SGA is tied with Deni Avdija. Yes, he does regularly exaggerate contact to get to the line, but that’s not why he’s so great.

This is a guard in complete mastery of his game: his handle is extremely tight, his mid-range game is money every time, and he’s a solid defender. At 6’6 with a 7-foot wingspan, Shai has the same measurements as Michael Jordan, and it gives him a shot that’s extremely hard to contest when he rises and fires. Like MJ, SGA is also sneaky strong and can discard defenders when he needs to. Like MJ, he’s quickly becoming known for a push-off.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the NBA’s Joe DiMaggio with this streak, but he’s even more than that. He’s becoming one of the best we’ve ever seen, and that will be more apparent if OKC can break the NBA’s parity era to become the first team to win back-to-back championships since Kevin Durant’s Golden State Warriors in 2017-2018.

There’s no reason to diminish what SGA is doing right now. It should be celebrated at the highest level. If Wilt Chamberlain was playing against plumbers and milkmen when he set the streak in 1961-1963 — which isn’t true, either — what SGA is doing at an average NBA height is just absurd, historical stuff. Appreciate his greatness while you can.

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We’re all just waiting for the Play-In Tournament now

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 10: Trendon Watford #12, Joel Embiid #21, and Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers sit on the bench during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 10, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Meaningless basketball is back in Philadelphia.

Watching the 76ers lose to the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night felt like a harkening back to the Process days of yore. With nearly the entire roster injured or suspended, the Sixers rolled out a group against the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons that contained rookie VJ Edgecombe, Quentin Grimes and nine guys who were originally undrafted, on a two-way contract, playing in Europe a month ago, or more or less a coach. Oh yeah, and the Sixers literally had no centers, ironic for a franchise that we once joked could start an entire lineup of centers.

A debate has broken out in Sixers circles about whether or not the team should tank. Folks, they don’t need to. This broken-down roster will take care of things for itself. They may catch the stray Cam Payne heater here and there to beat a tanking team like Memphis, but the losses are coming.

However, unlike true tanking days when we fans had to wait until the NBA Draft Lottery to see the fruits of the team’s labors, the Play-In Tournament now looms as the next meaningful moment for the franchise. With 16 games remaining, the Sixers are 2.5 games back of the sixth-seeded Heat, and 7.5 games ahead of the 11th-seeded Bucks, so they are almost assuredly Play-In-bound.

The Play-In seems a fitting place for Philadelphia, a nexus of not-quite Playoff Basketball that represents a ‘can’t lose’ proposition for Sixers fans. In one scenario, the Sixers could be defeated in the Play-In Tournament, and everyone can root for the something like four percent chance that the ping pong balls will bounce our way and get this organization back on track after this back half of the season has been completely derailed. That’s very familiar ground, and honestly, probably the best hope for the franchise long-term, even if it’s a long shot.

In another scenario, the Sixers could revert to the team from the first half of the season. Tyrese Maxey’s pinky heals just fine. Joel Embiid finds another pocket period of reasonably good health. Paul George will be back from suspension (which, by the way, I feel like people should have carte blanche to pursue mental health by whatever means necessary while being in the orbit of the Sixers organization). They could very plausibly have the normal roster back, win the necessary game or two in the Play-In Tournament, and once again become the team ‘nobody wants to face’ in the first round. If nothing else, playing against that Pistons group with a full roster would make for a fun two weeks. Imagine all the Tobias Harris jokes we could get off!

So yes, this last month or so of the season will likely be very meaningless. It’s perfectly reasonable to use the time to get outside or reconnect with family rather than grind film from blowout losses to determine whether MarJon Beauchamp deserves a standard NBA contract (and if that’s your thing, that’s cool too!). But unlike prior years when meaningful basketball was at best returning in the fall, we only have to wait until mid-April.

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Mets 2026 Season Preview: Who is the real Mark Vientos?

PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 13: Mark Vientos #27 of the New York Mets looks on during spring training workouts at Clover Park on February 13, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Mets need to know who Mark Vientos is, and 2026 is likely the last opportunity they will have to find out.

Is he the 27 home run impact bat who lit up the 2024 playoffs? Or is he the guy who in ten more plate appearances in 2025 hit ten fewer home runs and saw every offensive rate stat drop precipitously?

If he’s the former, Vientos would be an incredibly useful right-handed designated hitter and sometimes corner infielder who would bolster and deepen the Mets’ lineup. If he’s the latter, he’s at best a part time player and might be a square peg for the club even in that instance.

Vientos was drafted by the Mets in 2017 out of high school and tore up the lower levels of the Mets’ system. As he reached higher levels, Vientos would often start the years cold, but never stopped hitting. This paved the way for call-up in 2022 and 2023, but neither showed much of the prospect that we had raved about year after year.

Never a defensive specialist, this is what our Steve Sypa wrote about him ahead of his MLB call up:

Though initially drafted as a shortstop, Vientos does not have the ability to play up the middle. He was moved to third base in 2018, and at the present is stretched even there. While not unathletic, Vientos is a low-energy guy that lacks explosive quick twitch muscle, resulting in a slow first step and below-average lateral quickness. His average-to-above-average arm and solid instincts allowed him to handle the routine plays fine at third fine initially, but the pace of the game increased as he worked his way up the minor league ladder, and Vientos is a well-below-average defender at third base as a professional at the highest level. He played limited innings in the outfield in 2021 as the Mets explored the best way to give both him and Brett Baty playing time, but the experiment ended and was not resumed in 2022; while there is enough data to make any conclusive, definitive remarks about his ability there, based on how he looked visually along with the fact that he has not played in the outfield at all in 2022, it is safe to conclude that the experiment will not be resumed again. Instead, the Mets actually have shifted Vientos down the defensive spectrum, giving him more play at first base and DH this season than ever before.

Steve was fairly prescient in his write up, as Vientos has struggled mightily in his time in the big leagues. Not only has third base looked downright rough, but the Mets seemingly don’t believe that he’d be much better at first or in a corner outfield spot. His left-handed counterpart, Brett Baty, has proven to be a better defender all over the diamond, and so has more of a roster fit for himself with the Mets.

But that bat! When Vientos is hot, like in late 2024, he’s someone who drives the ball with authority and has impressive natural power. Sure, he strikes out more than you’d like and doesn’t quite walk enough, but those are workable issues if he’s really projecting to hit 30+ home runs over the course of a season.

But we’ve seen more of the cold Vientos than the hot, and there is a limited amount of time that the Mets, or any team, will wait to see if Vientos can consistently produce. If he’s his 2025 self, a slightly below league average hitter with some pop (.233/.289/.413 with an OPS+ of 97), it’ll be hard to justify giving him too much playing time. This is a year where Vientos will likely get some opportunities to show that he can play some first base as well as extended opportunities as a designated hitter. He’s going to get one last shot to show that he can handle big league pitching with any consistency.

If he can do so? The Mets’ lineup gets a right-handed power boost, the Mets have a backup plan if Jorge Polanco can’t make the transition to first, and the fans will get another taste of Swaggy V. That would be a really nice outcome.

If he can’t, and loses at bats to the Mike Tauchmans, the MJ Melendezes, and the Jose Rojases of the world? Then this will likely be his last season as a Met.

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Royals Take the World Stage: WBC Drama, Vinnie’s Leadership, Spring Updates

International baseball drama, rising Royals stars, and spring training momentum — this episode has it all.

In the latest episode of the Royals Rundown Podcast, hosts Jacob Milham and Jeremy Greco break down the Kansas City Royals’ strong presence in the World Baseball Classic, highlighting standout performances and unforgettable moments from the tournament. From Vinnie Pasquantino’s leadership and celebratory espresso shots to Jac Caglianone’s eye-catching performances, the hosts explore how Royals players are making an impact on the global stage.

The conversation also dives into the evolving dynamics within Team USA, including player camaraderie, competitive tensions, and the high-energy environment surrounding the tournament. Jacob and Jeremy analyze key matchups, tournament rules like pitch limits and scheduling constraints, and offer predictions for upcoming quarterfinal games.

Back on the Royals front, the episode covers recent roster updates, including Michael Wacha’s return, bullpen outlooks, and injury news affecting both major league contributors and emerging prospects. The hosts also discuss the growing culture of international baseball, the significance of WBC collectibles and memorabilia, and how weather and logistics could impact the lead-up to Opening Day.

Whether you’re following the Royals’ players on the global stage or preparing for the upcoming MLB season, this episode provides insightful analysis, entertaining moments, and a passionate discussion of baseball’s international spotlight.

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Need your Royals fix? Head to royalsreview.com for news, analysis, and to engage with Royals fans around the world! Follow us online:

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Yankees Birthday of the Day: Home Run Baker

(Original Caption) Frank "Home Run" Baker (left), who was once as bright a star with a bat as Mickey Mantle is today, poses with Mantle at the Yankee Stadium as the old-timers had their inning today. Former stars of the Yankees and the Chicago White Sox donned their uniforms and enjoyed the roar of the crowd once again before the game between the Yankees and the Chisox. The Mantle bat is a special job.

When you see someone dubbed with the nickname “Home Run” and then compare that to their career total of 96 homers, you might think that was an ironic title. Maybe it was a joke like when a big guy gets nicknamed “Tiny.” However for his time Frank “Home Run Baker” was a prolific slugger, leading the league in homers on four occasions. It’s just that his era was directly before and then overlapping a certain Babe Ruth, who proceeded to blow Baker and everyone else’s tallies out of the water.

However, Baker was very rightly a star of his era and was eventually inducted into the Hall of Fame, for his work with the Yankees and the then-Philadelphia Athletics. Today is also his birthday, so let’s look back on the man dubbed “Home Run.”

John Franklin “Home Run” Baker
Born: March 13, 1886 (Trappe, MD)
Died: June 28, 1963 (Easton, MD)
Yankees Tenure: 1916-19, 1921-22

Baker was born in 1886 in a town on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, not far from the Chesapeake Bay. He was born into a farming family, and spent many years of his youth working the farm. Doing all that hard work on the farm helped Baker develop into a muscular young man, who first started to make waves on the baseball field while playing for his high school.

In high school, Baker was a pitcher and an outfielder, and caught some scouts’ eyes. He was signed by a local semipro team, where he was moved to third base, which would become the only defensive position he would ever play in the major leagues.

After a couple seasons playing semipro ball, Baker received a tryout with the then-minor league Baltimore Orioles of the Eastern League in 1907. While a run with Baltimore wasn’t on the card, Baker did sign professionally for 1908, joining the Reading Pretzels of the Tri-State League. Putting up a .299 batting average and a .417 slugging percentage, Baker was noticed by Philadelphia Athletics legendary manager Connie Mack. With Hall of Famer Jimmy Collins nearing the end of his career, Mack was looking for a young third baseman to take his place, and gave Baker a try, purchasing his contract from Reading in September. In eight games at the end of 1908, Baker hit just well enough for Mack to not only keep him around, but to install him as the regular third baseman for the A’s in 1909.

In Philadelphia, Baker would become a star and one of the key cogs in the A’s dynasty of the early years of the World Series. In seven seasons from 1908-14, he put up 40.9 fWAR and 42.2 rWAR, including a 1912 season that was worth 9.1 and 9.3 respectively. He led the league in home runs every year from 1911-14. It’s just that, again, the highest of those totals was 12 as it was the Deadball Era. The A’s won four AL pennants in that time and won the World Series title in 1910, 1911, and 1913. In all three of those victories, Baker OPSed over 1.000 for the series. Had the World Series MVP Award existed then, he would’ve had an especially good argument in ’11, as he hit a couple crucial home runs (the real spark for his amusing-in-hindsight nickname), including one in their clinching Game 6 win that ended up providing the series-winning runs.

After a World Series loss in 1914, Mack began to sell off several of the pieces from the previous championship teams. While he attempted to keep hold of Baker, the slugger was looking for a pay raise, having been one of the heroes of the A’s recent successes. However on the other side of the negotiating table was the notoriously stringy Mack. Both sides were also quite stubborn and stuck to their guns. In the end neither side budged, and Baker ended up sitting out the entire 1915 season. Eventually, AL president Ban Johnson put some pressure on Mack to try and resolve the situation of one of the league’s stars, which ended with Baker being sold to the Yankees ahead of the 1916 season.

In New York, Baker hit the ground running, putting up a 130 wRC+ in 1916, even with having sat out the entire previous season. He continued to be a very steady bat for them over the next several seasons, as the Yankees turned from a cellar dweller in the early 1910s to a contender by the end of the decade.

Portrait of Franklin Baker in Baseball Uniform

Tragedy struck in 1920, as during that offseason, Baker’s wife passed away after a scarlet fever outbreak. Devastated, Baker sat out the entire season, which was also Babe Ruth’s first in the Bronx. Towards the end of that year, he eventually began to get the itch again, and eventually rejoined the team for the 1921 season.

However this time, taking an entire season off led to some rust. The now 35-year old Baker was a below average hitter for the first time in his career, although he did help the team to their first ever AL pennant in 1921. Despite his previous postseason heroics, Baker struggled this time around, recording just two hits as they lost to the Giants. He returned to the Yankees the following year, but in more of a bench role. He again helped the Yankees to the World Series, but got just one at-bat in another series loss.

After that season, Baker decided to hang it up, just narrowly missing the Yankees finally getting over the hump in 1923. Still, he had been a major part of the team building up to get in position to win the championship. Over his six seasons in New York, he put up 19.2 fWAR and 20.6 rWAR. Following his playing career, he returned to his native Maryland and spent some time as a minor-league manager, including giving a pro debut to future Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx and helping connect him with Mack, his old A’s skipper. He was later voted into the Hall himself, by the Veterans Committee in 1955. He eventually passed away in 1963.

It’s somewhat funny that someone got the nickname “Home Run” immediately before there was a huge jump in homers, making his record look paltry. Make no mistake though, for his era, Home Run Baker was absolutely a feared slugger.

See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

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Bulls vs Clippers Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

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The Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Clippers meet for the second time, but there won't be many familiar faces. Chicago won on Jan. 20 and dealt away players that combined for 78 points in that game. The Clippers traded away 39 points of production.

The makeover served the Clippers well. L.A. is on a hot streak, while Chicago has gone in the other direction. 

That trend line should continue, as my Bulls vs. Clippers predictions and NBA picks see the Clips covering.

Bulls vs Clippers prediction

Bulls vs Clippers best bet: Clippers -13.5 (-110)

Trading away or parting with James Harden, Ivica Zubac, and Chris Paul has revived the Los Angeles Clippers' offense. L.A. has improved its record by 16 games since a late-December low point, a record midseason turnaround.

L.A. has covered seven of the last eight, including a 153-point outburst on Wednesday, while bullying lesser teams, winning their last five games favored by double-digits by an average margin of 26.4.

The Chicago Bulls, who traded Ayo Dosunmu, Coby White, Kevin Huerter, and Nikola Vucevic, are 3-3 since snapping an 11-game skid, have covered just two of the last five as double-digit dogs.

Bulls vs Clippers same-game parlay

The Clippers have gone Over in five straight and eight of the last 10. Chicago has the third fastest pace in the league, which plays right into the Clippers' hands.

Kawhi Leonard has been on a heater. He's led the team in scoring in 16 of the last 18 and has averaged over 30 points since Dec. 20. His lowest point total in the last five was 28.

Bulls vs Clippers SGP

  • Clippers -13.5
  • Over 234.5 points
  • Kawhi Leonard Over 29.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Points Parade!

Bennedict Mathurin has quickly become Los Angeles' second scoring option since arriving from Indiana at the deadline. He's scored 21 or more in four of the last five and has hit 4-of-9 from three over the last two games.

The Bulls will get plenty of possessions in this shootout, and Josh Giddey should reap the benefits as Chicago's top remaining scorer. He's topped 20 in three of the last five and averaged 19.4.

Bulls vs Clippers SGP

  • Over 234.5 points
  • Kawhi Leonard Over 29.5 points
  • Bennedict Mathurin Over 21.5 points
  • Josh Giddey Over 18.5 points

Bulls vs Clippers odds

  • Spread: Bulls +11 (-110) | Clippers -11 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Bulls +415 | Clippers -550
  • Over/Under: Over 233 (-110) | Under 233 (-110)

Bulls vs Clippers betting trend to know

The Chicago Bulls have hit the Game Total Over in 25 of their last 40 away games. Find more NBA betting trends for Bulls vs. Clippers.

How to watch Bulls vs Clippers

LocationIntuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
DateFriday, March 13, 2026
Tip-off10:30 p.m. ET
TVFDSN So Cal, CHSN

Bulls vs Clippers latest injuries

Not intended for use in MA.
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Desperation and destiny on the line when Wales and Italy collide in Cardiff

Two sides on different recent trajectories meet with Steve Tandy finding cause for optimism despite another wooden spoon looming

Which is the sharper motivator, the avoidance of fresh humiliation or the attainment of new heights? Cardiff could be the place this weekend for any students of psychology more interested in such nuances than anything so obvious as an actual attempt to win the title.

Suffice to say, neither Wales nor Italy can win the Six Nations this weekend, nor exert any influence on its outcome. It is mathematically possible for Wales to knock England into last place for the first time in the extended championship’s history, but students of mathematics needn’t bother. For the record, Wales would need to win with a bonus point and, in concert with France, who play England, cover their current deficit of 100 in points difference.

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Senators At Risk Of Being One Of The Best NHL Teams Ever To Miss The Playoffs

So close, yet still so far.

Nightly out-of-town scoreboard watching has become an infuriating experience for the Senators organization and their fans. While the Senators find themselves in an incredible stretch of hockey, most of the teams they’ve been chasing have been on similar hot streaks.

Stingy defense, timely scoring, and improved goaltending don’t mean as much when your competition isn’t conceding ground. As of this writing on March 12, while the Senators have chipped away double-digit point deficits since the calendar turned to 2026, the catchable teams for the Senators in the Bruins, Red Wings, Canadiens, Penguins, Blue Jackets, and Islanders have a 32-14-14 combined record in their last 10 games, which means making up ground has been a slow process and the runway is starting to run out with 18 games left on the slate.

Atlantic leaders Buffalo and Tampa are virtually uncatchable barring a historic collapse by one of those teams, and even Buffalo’s crushing weight of historical losing won’t be enough for them to miss entirely this time. Montreal in particular has forged an identity as a team that regularly comes back late in games with last-minute heroics.

The Atlantic Division has only seen 9 regulation losses in the last ten games combined between Montreal, Boston, Detroit, and Ottawa. Five of those regulation losses belong to Detroit, which probably makes them the most catchable team for Ottawa considering their two games in hand and head-to-head matchup with the Wings remaining.

So in this bizarre season, you basically have 7 teams who are all on excellent stretches of hockey competing for 5 playoff spots between 3rd in the Atlantic, 2nd/3rd in the Metro, and the two wild card spots. In other words, two very good teams are likely not just going to hit the golf course in mid-April wondering what could have been, but actually compete with and break records set by the greatest teams of all time to miss the dance entirely.

In terms of sheer talent, Ottawa and company can’t compete with the 1969-70 Montreal Canadiens, who missed the playoffs with more than half their roster consisting of future Hall of Famers.

Count ’em, that year’s Habs had 11 future Hall of Famers on the roster, including Yvan Cournoyer, Henri Richard, Jean Beliveau, Serge Savard, and Guy Lapointe. That team missed the playoffs with 92 points (with no loser points) and 38 wins/16 ties in 76 games and a +43 goal differential! That year’s team missed the final spot to the Rangers, who had an identical record but a +57 differential, the tiebreaker used at the time.

It’s worth noting that this was after a recent six-team expansion in which all the “western division” teams were limping along with expansion rosters and cast-offs. In the West Division, the Pittsburgh Penguins made the playoffs in second place with a 26-38-12 record and a -56 goal differential. The Oakland Seals got the last playoff spot in the west with a 22-40-14 record and a -74 goal differential in that division. St. Louis claimed first place with one less win and 5 more regulation losses than Montreal had that year.

I’m sure Montreal fans took solace in the team’s two Cup wins in 1968 and 1969 before that season and six more Cup victories in the 1970s, including four straight from 1976-1979, so don’t feel too bad for them.

So there’s some comfort for anxious fans who aren’t seeing quality hockey translate to a comfortable playoff spot these days. The lopsided nature of the conferences used to be far more pronounced in a 12-team league where half the league was recent expansion franchises. The difference between West and East is huge this year, but it was far worse once upon a time.

Other teams had top-level talent and couldn’t close the deal. The 2012-13 Tampa Bay Lightning and 1948-49 Chicago Blackhawks had the league’s 1-2 scorers but missed the playoffs.

But what about in the modern, 30+ team NHL era?

The current record for points in a season without a playoff appearance is shared by four teams. The 2017-18 Florida Panthers, 2018-19 Montreal Canadiens (co-record holders at 44 wins for a non-playoff team), and 2024-25 Calgary Flames all finished with 96 points and were rewarded by cleaning out their lockers after game 82.

The fourth team? That would be the 2014-15 Boston Bruins, who lost their spot to the Senators during the historic Hamburglar run in the last week of the season. Senators fans can hang their hat on the fact that history could absolutely repeat itself with only a slight dip in play by the Bruins.

But not so fast. As good as the Senators have been, the Bruins have matched them save for save, goal for goal in 2026. The two teams were tied for the best goal differential in the last 20 games at 21 each before Wednesday’s NHL games. Ottawa’s goal percentage at 61.9 percent in that stretch is second in the league, second only to, yup, Boston’s 62.96 percent.

Luck and goaltending have been bigger factors than ever, considering Ottawa leads the league in expected goals in that same stretch at 56.94 percent while Boston sits 27th at 47.25. Also in Ottawa’s favor is that according to tankathon.com, Boston, Columbus, and Pittsburgh have the top 3 hardest schedules remaining, while Ottawa’s is 11th.

One or both teams that will miss the playoffs in this year’s east could very well break that aforementioned 96-point record. According to Moneypuck.com, the point projections for the East’s mid-range playoff contenders as of March 12 break down as follows:

Montreal (102.4)
Detroit (98.4)
Pittsburgh (98.4)
New York Islanders (98.4)
Boston (98.2)
Columbus (97)
Ottawa (95.3)

This has created an odd microcosm where Ottawa’s playoff odds (according to Moneypuck) on March 11th stood at 55.8 percent. But one loss to Montreal later has wildly dropped their chances to 40.6 percent to make the playoffs, but they're still in the top ten to win the Cup at 4.5 percent.

The Senators also boast the fourth-best odds to make the final out of the East at 7.9 percent, which is crazy considering they sit at least five points back of the eight teams in playoff positions.

So if the cutoff is expected to be 96-98 points this season, Ottawa will need to win 13 of their remaining 18 games (or pull 26 points out of the 36 available), with added focus on winning as many of the head-to-head matchups as possible against Eastern teams in front of them like Pittsburgh, the Islanders (2), and Detroit.

So what does this all mean?

If you’re a fan of high-quality hockey decided by razor-thin margins that will end in euphoria for one team and utter heartbreak for another, then this is the season for you.

If you’re a fan of a Western Conference team in a playoff spot, you’re just grateful to avoid the knife fight going on in the Eastern standings.

And if you’re a fan of one of the Eastern teams that goes home after a stellar regular season, well, you’ll have to take solace in the fact that your NHL team will be considered among the greatest to ever miss the playoffs.

So... yay?

Andrew Sztein
The Hockey News

This article was originally published at The Hockey News. For more Senators news, analysis, and features, visit the Ottawa Senators site at The Hockey News.

More from The Hockey News:

- There’s No Replacing Jake Sanderson, But Senators Must Step Up In His Absence
- Were the Senators Chasing Robert Thomas At The Trade Deadline?
- Senators Acquire Former 67s Star At Trade Deadline
- Will Warren Foegele Prove To Be Worth The Price For The Senators?
- Linus Ullmark's Post-Game Media Availability Lasts 25 Seconds
- League Announces Senators Will Get A First-Round Pick In 2026 After All

Stay up to date with the latest Senators coverage at The Hockey News – Ottawa Senators.

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What to do with Anthony Mantha after this season

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 30: Anthony Mantha #39 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG PAINTS Arena on December 30, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

If we are being honest with ourselves, and if the Pittsburgh Penguins are being honest with themselves, forward Anthony Mantha was never supposed to be on the team at this point in the 2025-26 season. The plan with him was pretty obvious from the start. At least it seemed to be obvious.

  • This was anticipated to be more of a rebuilding year for the Penguins.
  • Mantha looked like he was going to be this year’s version of Anthony Beauvillier, a reclamation project veteran signed to a cheap one-year contract.
  • The Penguins would then give him top-six ice-time, let him score some goals and pad some stats and ultimately rebuild his value.
  • Trade him at the NHL Trade Deadline for a second-round pick to add to the pile of draft picks they have been accumulating.

That is what we all expected, right? That has to be what the Penguins expected.

But then a bunch of things started happening that maybe even the Penguins themselves did not fully anticipate.

Not only did the team start winning a lot of hockey games and play itself into playoff contention, but Mantha also ended up playing a major part in that success.

With his assist on Thursday he has already set a new career high in points. His next goal will match his career high (25) and there is a very good possibility that he ends up scoring 30 goals before this season is finished. He has been the best value free agent signing in the NHL this season. Given the way he has played, as well as the way the Penguins have played their way into contention, there is no way the Penguins were going to take that away from the locker room unless they were getting something significant back in return to help this season.

Obviously, that did not happen.

That now leaves the Penguins in a situation where Mantha is a pending unrestricted free agent after this season.

What do you do with him?

There is still a lot of hockey to be played between now and July, but given the way Mantha is playing, and with the way he has stepped up recently with some top players out of the lineup, it is a discussion worth having.

Do you shake his hand, thank him for his services, and wish him well in his next step?

Or do you do what would have been unimaginable at the start of this season and try to re-sign him and keep him?

As good as he has been, there is a definite risk with the latter approach.

While Mantha has been sneakily productive throughout his career, averaging around 24 goals and 50 points per 82 games, there is one big caveat that comes with it. It is the classic, “when healthy” line.

Health has been a big problem for Mantha throughout his career with pretty much every stop prior to Pittsburgh. This is quite honestly one of the first times he has really had an opportunity to play a regular role over the course of a full season (knock on wood) and that has to be taken into account. As does the fact he is going to be 32 years old.

There is also the fact he might actually be one of the top free agents available, coming off a career year, in a rising salary cap environment.

Somebody is going to pay him.

If you look at the potential unrestricted free agents going into this summer, the only player on the list that has more goals than Mantha is Buffalo Sabres forward Alex Tuch with 28. Alex Ovechkin has the same number of goals, but his options are returning to the Washington Capitals, returning to Russia, or retiring. I can not imagine he is going to be a serious option for anybody else.

After those guys, no other pending free UFA has scored more than 19 goals this season.

Salary cap space is not an issue for the Penguins. They are going to have to spend money on somebody, and given the current state of the open market I am not sure there is going to be a better player that comes in at a comparable price. They are also going to need at least one or two top-nine wingers. While you would like to see Rutger McGroarty or Ville Koivunen get more permanent roles, neither player is a lock to become an NHL regular. And even if they do next season, there would still be a potential need for another top-nine winger on the roster.

The obvious alternative — and perhaps the more likely path for the Penguins to follow — is the trade route. With their draft-pick capital, as well as an improved prospect pool, they could fill some of their needs via trade, and perhaps their biggest need (another young impact scorer).

I would not be opposed to another short-term deal (one or two years), even if it came with a high price tag. I would not go beyond that. But I am not sure a short-term gets it done given what the free agent market looks like and how it only takes one team to lose their minds and do something outrageous

The most likely path here is the one where the Penguins shake his hand, thank him for his services, and let another team take the risk with a long-term contract extension.

What would you do if you were Kyle Dubas? Try to sign him? And at what price and for how many years? Or let him walk?