March Madness is about moments. Buzzer-beaters and dramatic game-winners draw us in like nothing else in sports.
The 2026 NCAA Tournament has been no different. While the upsets have been in short supply and Cinderella missed her carriage to the ball, there has still been plenty of iconic moments through the first two rounds.
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 22: Julius Randle #30 of the Minnesota Timberwolves tries to hold up Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics from getting to a loose ball during the second quarter at TD Garden on March 22, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
#1 â Surviving thanks to Jaylen
At half-time, Jaylen Brown had scored or assisted on 50% of the Celticsâ points. As the Timberwolves have one of the best rim protections in the league, Brownâs ability to be somewhat efficient from the mid-range is what got the offense going.
The problem the Wolves sometimes have is that, because of Gobert, the spacing gets too crowded and their offense struggles. That is one of the reasons they were stuck at 14 points after the first quarter. In the second period, the Wolves were able to go on a run with the Frenchman out, thanks to better spacing but also more aggressive defense.
Yet, these moments without Rudy Gobert create another problem for the Wolves: Jaylenâs drives. In the first half, the Celtics were able to get to the rim thanks to Brown and make the most of the lack of rim protection. Here, JB first gets the switch he wants and goes for an impressive reverse drive.
But after a remarkable start, Jaylen Brown slowed down in the second half, going 3-for-13 from the field. And, like the rest of the team, he collapsed in the fourth quarter, when the intensity was at its peak for the Wolves.
#2 â A fourth quarter to forget
To start the last quarter, the Wolves decided to go small and be mobile rather than tall. They put pressure on the ball as early as possible in the possession and tried to disrupt the offense that the Celtics were trying to run. As Joe Mazzulla said, the Wolvesâ defense without their big man disrupted the Celticsâ offense even more.
For the @celticsblog I asked Joe Mazzulla why the Celtics struggled a little bit more against the Wolves defense when Gobert was out:
"A little bit more physical at the point of attack, a little more switching, higher pick-up points and that impacted the timing of our offense" pic.twitter.com/uqVCAllsxJ
On this drive from Jaylen Brown, we can see that the pressure on the ball comes much higher than in the first quarter, and the screen from Luka Garza isnât really set. The All-Star drives earlyâmaybe too earlyâand goes into a crowd of three Wolves ready to protect the paint.
Behind the Celticsâ collapse in the fourth, there was also a big shooting slump, going 0-for-7 from deep. Some of these shots were really well contested, and the Celtics werenât able to get the good 2-vs-1 situations they wanted.
These misses created another problem: the Wolves could attack much more in transition and didnât have to deal with the Celticsâ half-court defense.
#3 â The quickness off the bench
While the small-ball defense offers much more mobility for the Wolves, it also gave them an opportunity to run faster in transition and avoid being stuck in half-court situations. Without Anthony Edwards, the Wolves must avoid stagnant situations as much as possible because they lack the driving force that usually creates gaps.
So, as soon as they got a rebound, they ran. On the play below, you can see the willingness to push the ball up the floor as quickly as possible, with everyone running to offer passing options to the ball-handler until someone cuts to the rim.
With more speed off a miss, the Wolves could also force the matchups they wanted early in the possession. Here, Naz Reid gets a post-up against Brown while his normal matchup, Luka Garza, is far away from the ball. So this isnât strictly transition, but because the Celtics werenât able to get an offensive rebound or stop the break, Reid gets the ball exactly where he wants it against a favorable matchup.
As the Celtics kept missing, the Wolves had more and more opportunities to play fast, get away from half-court offense, and capitalize on their defensive intensity.
#4 â Getting Jayson Tatum in rhythm
The first half was a little brutal for Jayson, with one assist, one turnover, and four missed shots. But to get his groove back, the Celtics coaching staff involved him right away after half-time. A couple of play calls with Neemias Queta particularly stood out. They went to a Spain pick-and-roll action, with Sam Hauser positioned to bother Gobert. That gives a bit more space to JT after Quetaâs second screen to attack the rim.
Same play call on the possession below. This time, Jayson snakes the pick-and-roll, and we can see that Queta isnât fully used to that pattern. Yet, Tatum isnât bothered and can launch a triple like he used to when a defense is in drop coverage. Bang!
With this action putting a player behind Gobert, the Celtics could punish his presence on the court and give Jayson Tatum the momentum needed to get back on track. Still, Tatum needed Quetaâs screens, and the Portuguese big did a great overall job helping him attack the Frenchmanâs coverages.
#5 â Going around Mount Gobert
Before the game, Joe Mazzulla and Chris Finch talked about the central role of Rudy Gobert in the Minnesota Timberwolves. They both highlighted that the French center has improved his versatility and is doing a better job on the perimeter than earlier in his career.
The Wolvesâ coach also mentioned that, with Neemias Queta at center, the Celtics donât have the typical stretch-five they had with Al Horford or Kristaps Porzingis. However, recently, the Celtics have started using the Portuguese big man as a hub on the perimeter.
Before the game, Chris Finch said the Boston Celtics don't have a stretch-big like Kristaps Porzingis or Al Horford to take Rudy Gobert of the paint. Which is true.
HOWEVER, they have Neemias Queta whom they love to use as a hub recently.
With Quetaâs screen quality, the Wolves were sometimes forced to switch instead of staying in drop coverage. Here, Reid gets stuck in the screen long enough that Gobert has to switch on the perimeter, which opens a cut to the rim for Queta.
The Celticsâ defense is elite but still has a couple of weaknesses: quick guards and heavy wings like Julius Randle are among them. Going into the game, the Celtics knew they would have to adjust: do they let him play one-on-one, or send help and rotate behind his passing?
The biggest threat comes from his post-ups because of his frame, but also because his passing improves when heâs stationary. The Wolves knew that and started the game right away with a post-up for Randle. What I didnât expect was to see Hauser matched up with him. Yet, you can clearly see that the others are ready to help and willing to leave Jaden McDaniels open, for example.
With players like McDaniels and Gobert on the court, the Wolves made it easier for the Celtics to decide how to defend. As often, the goal was to protect the paint and leave below-average shooters open, as long as the drive didnât break the first defensive line.
This is another reason the Wolves went small later in the game. Reid is a much better offensive fit next to Randle. Here, he sets the screen, and Garza is stuck for a second protecting against a potential drive from Julius. This leads to more space for Reid when he catches the ball, and the shot is open.
As we said earlier, the Celtics struggle with quick guards and heavy wings. And while Julius Randleâs threat was well managed, the quickness of Bones Hyland was not. The guard, who was first signed on a two-way contract, is showing very good offensive potential for the Wolves. Not only was he fast in transition, but he also exposed the Celticsâ pick-and-roll defense.
But, as Joe Mazzulla mentioned after the game, it was his speed in transition that caused the biggest problems. On this play, he outruns everyone and gets to the rim in just a couple of seconds. Brown doesnât have time to get set, and the Wolves get another layup.
After the Thunder, the Suns, the Warriors, and now the Wolves, this is the fourth team in recent games trying to avoid the Celticsâ half-court defense as much as possible by pushing in transition.
While the three other teams mostly did it by forcing turnovers, the Wolves were able to combine speed off live rebounds with on-ball aggressiveness to disrupt the Celticsâ flow.
Opponents are now aware that the Celticsâ ability to take care of the ball can be used against them. They can attack more freely but also make sure they are set defensively. With the Thunder and the Hawks coming to town this week, it will be interesting to see how the Celtics adapt to that level of aggressiveness.
#9 â Losing the bet against McDaniels
In the second half, the Celtics paid the price for their bet on McDanielsâ shooting. We mentioned earlier that Celtics defenders were often helping off McDaniels because he was seen as the lesser shooting threat. However, he scored 9 points from deep in the second half, fueling the Wolvesâ run.
The defense would rather go under screens against him to protect the paint, but this gives him a chance to punish that approach if the shooting variance swings his way. It was a bold choice considering his efficiency from deep this season (41%), but the Celticsâ paint protection is sometimes worth the gamble. It just didnât work this time.
#10 â Too lackadaisical
After the game, Jaylen Brown spoke candidly and said, âwe didnât play Celtics basketball tonight,â and used a word I had never heard back in French school: âlackadaisical.â For those who, like me, hadnât heard it before, it means âlacking life, spirit, or zest.â And I think that perfectly captures the Celticsâ performance once the Wolves went small and attacked them with speed and intensity.
Jaylen Brown on tonightâs loss:
âWe didnât play Celtics basketball tonight.â
The Celtics will need to regroup and find their âzestâ again before Wednesday to be ready for the biggest game of the season: OKC Thunder at home, with Jayson Tatum and Jalen Williams back on the court.â
Mar 3, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) drives to the basket against Toronto Raptors guard Scottie Barnes (4) during the first half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
As the standings start to take shape, I believe the ideal scenario for the Knicks is to finish third, and for the Raptors to finish sixth. While an argumentâa strong oneâcould be made that the Knicks should chase the second-seed and secure home-court advantage in the second-round, being the third-seed and facing the Raptors would help them avoid the winner of the play-in game between the seventh and eighth-seed, which, right now, would be between the 76ers and the Magic.
I donât think the Knicks or their fans should be afraid of either team, but at their very best, they both pose a tougher matchup for the Knicks than the currently fifth-seeded Raptors.
If they could get the second-seed, secure home-court advantage in the second-round, and have the Raptors win the play-in game between the seventh and eighth-seed, thatâs obviously the best-case scenario. And look, if the Knicks are looking to win it all, or at the very least, reach the NBA Finals, none of this should theoretically matter. They shouldnât, and likely donât, care about who they are playing.
There are still a few weeks left in the season and with the bottom half of the playoffs still looking very close, a lot can happen. But for now, as a fan hoping the Knicks can secure the safest and most ideal route to said Finals, Iâd root for whatever scenario most likely matches New York up with Toronto.
Overall, though, this is a very convoluted week of games, and this is just a general guide to who you could root for based on what could happen. With any given day, wins, losses, injury reports, and standing shifts, who to root for can change. And even that will likely differ from person to person based on who you want the Knicks to play, how good or bad you think certain teams are, and if you even care at all.
March 23rd
Kicking off Mondayâs slate of games is the Pistons, whoâll be hosting the red-hot Lakers. The Pistons are just 6-4 in their last 10 games, and will once again be without Cade Cunningham, who was diagnosed with a collapsed lung late last week. Root for the Lakers to continue their streak to make it 10 wins in a row, and the Knicks could pull to 4.5 games behind them.
The Magic will also be playing the tanking Pacers, with the Raptors playing the Jazz later on. If the Knicks end up overtaking the Celtics for the second-seed, theyâd play either the Magic or 76ers if the standings hold up the way they are right now. As I mentioned earlier, the Knicks shouldnât be avoiding anyone, but as a fan, Iâd rather them play the Raptors. Root for the Magic in this one, as it gets one game closer to passing the Raptors, unless you want to see the Magic take on the Pistons. In that case, root for the Pacers.
March 24th
Aside from the Pelicans vs. Knicks game, the Magic vs. Cavaliers game is the only one that has any real seeding implications in the Eastern Conference. For the reasons listed above, root for the Magic to win. That would not only put them another step closer to overtaking the fifth-seed, but it would also put a bit more breathing room between the Knicks and the Cavaliers. The only caveat is, if you really think that the Knicks canât take over the second-seed, and will finish the season third in the conference, and would rather face off against the Hawks than the Magic, then youâll be better off rooting for the Cavaliers in this one so that Orlando doesnât climb too high in the standings.
March 25th
In what could still end up being a playoff preview, the Pistons host the Hawks. With the Knicks still trying to overtake the Pistons, and with the Hawks being the prime candidate to leapfrog the Raptors, root for Atlanta in this one.
While that game is taking place, the 76ers will host the Bulls. Tyrese Maxey is still out, as is Joel Embiid, but neither has been ruled out for the season just yet. If they can ever get fully healthy, or even remotely close to it, they likely pose the biggest threat to the Pistons and Celtics out of the play-in teams. Root for them to win this one so they can stay a seventh or eighth-seed, giving them an extra life in the play-in stage.
A few minutes after those games, the Heat vs. Cavaliers game will also be tipping off. If you are still worried about the Cavaliers potentially catching up to the Knicks, or want the 76ers to match up with the Pistons, root for the Heat. A Miami win would further the distance between New York and Cleveland, while also allowing Miami to keep pace with Philadelphia. But if you just want the 76ers to have two lives, just hate the Heat, or want to keep the Heat in the lower half of the play-in bracket, root for the Cavaliers in this one.
That game, though, as good as it may be, will likely be on the back burner for many NBA fans, as the Celtics host the Thunder in one of the few premier matchups left in the regular season. This one not only has the potential of being a Finals preview, it also has standings implications. Root for the Thunder to beat the Celtics and clinch the season sweep.
And lastly, we have the Raptors, whoâll be headed out west to take on the Clippers. Root for Los Angeles to take this one in an attempt to get the Raptors down to the sixth or seventh-seed to set up the aforementioned matchup with the Knicks.
March 26th
The Pistons host the lowly PelicansâŠ. Root for the Pelicans. Good luck. The Pistons did drop a game to the Nets not too long ago, so you never know. Plus, the Pistons holding on to the first seed could be argued to be better for the Knicks? More on that later.
The Magic take on the Kings. By this point, the Magic could be up to the fifth-seed, and the Knicks could be the second-seed. That would line up nicely for the Knicks, as it would mean avoiding them in a possible playoff series. Again, not that Orlando should be feared, but if you are looking for the easiest path to the Finals, it would likely mean avoiding the very physical Magic.
But remember, thereâs a possibility that both the Hawks and Magic surpass the Raptors in the standings. If that happens, and the Knicks end the season as the third seed, they would play one of them. Weâll have to see how the standings look by Thursday, but there is a slight chance that fans will want to start rooting against the Magic (or Hawks) every now and then as well, to keep the Raptors matched up with the Knicks.
March 27th
The Cavaliers and Heat face off once again, and rooting guide for this one, while depending on how the standings look by this day, will mostly be the same as how it was on the 25th.
The Celtics also host the Hawks in another potential playoff preview. Most fans will root for the Hawks, as they should. But, as mentioned several times already, if you want to play things on the safe side, and secretly want to root for the Knicks to stay the third-seed, and avoid playing a potentially dangerous 76ers, or Magic team, secretly rooting for the Celtics to win and maintain the second-seed may not actually be the worst idea.
The Raptors will then host the Pelicans, in what should be a relatively easy win for them. But you never know. Root for the Pelicans to continue the Raptorsâ downward spiral into the sixth, seventh, or eighth-seed.
March 28th
In an exciting cross-conference game, the Timberwolves host the Pistons. The first-seed is still unlikely to be in the Knicksâ reach, and with the Heat, Hornets, 76ers, and Magic all maybe matching up with the Knicks better than the Raptors, it may be time to start rooting for the Pistons to maintain the first-seed? Is that weird? Yes. But if by this point, the Raptors have fallen into ninth or tenth-seed, maybe rooting for the Timberwolves still actually makes sense.
Not too long after that, the 76ers and Hornets tip off in a matchup where fans will have to decide themselves who to root for based on the standings at the time, and how they want the playoff bracket to look. If you want to see the 76ers maintain two lives to potentially (still only a very small chance) matchup with the Pistons or Celtics, root for them. If you think the Hornets, given their overall good play in the second half of the season and health, would prove to be a tougher challenge for the Pistons or Celtics, root for them.
And in the last meaningful game in the Eastern Conference seedings for the week, the Hawks take on the Kings. In case the Raptors have held on to the fifth-seed this far into the week, root for the Hawks to win what should be a relatively easy game against the very, very bad Kings. If, though, the Magic have made it all the way up to the fifth-seed, and the Raptors have dropped too low, rooting for the Kings to either allow the Raptors to catch back up, or hold the Hawks below the Magic, might not be a bad idea.
After a relatively slow start to the 2025- 26 off season, the Detroit Tigers finished off the winter with a flurry by signing starting pitchers Framber Valdez and bringing back future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander, bumping their payroll to itsâ highest level in franchise history, with an opening day payroll projected at $$203,747,859, and a competitive balance tax (CBT) payroll on target for $$242,091,505, according to Cotâs Contracts.
In 2025, the Tigers had a projected opening day payroll of $145,318,033, and wound up with a CBT payroll of $186,627,318. (The difference between the two is explained below.) So the club was about $55 million below the CBT threshold of $241 million for the season.
The lowest tier of the tax brackets is at $244,000,000 for 2026, meaning that the Tigers are within $2 million of paying a tax on any player salaries that go above that threshold. The tax itself wonât be a big deal to Chris Ilitch and the front office, since any tax is paid on the incremental amount that the club exceeds the threshold. So letâs say the Tigers pick up a player at the trade deadline that- with a pro rated salary pushes the payroll to $250 million. They would pay a tax on the $6 million that they are above the lowest tax threshold. As a first time âoffenderâ that would be 20 percent, or $1.2 million. Not such a big deal in the big picture.
What IS a big deal is how luxury tax payors are treated when it comes to how the system treats clubs who dare to cross the tax threshold. A CBT payor could lose a share of revenue sharing rebates the following season, and would suffer greater penalties should they sign a free agent who has declined a Qualifying offer. For example, the Tigers will forfeit their third highest draft choice for signing Framber Valdez, who declined a qualifying offer from the Houston Astros. If they made a similar signing as a CBT payor, they would lose their second highest draft choice AND lose $1 million in international signing bonus dollars.
We hasten to add that the collective bargaining agreement expires on December 1, 2026. We donât exactly know how next winterâs free agents will be treated under a new agreement, but there is a good chance that players who receive qualifying offers in November will be treated under the terms of the current CBA.
Cotâs calculations include estimates for injury replacements, team share of player benefits and bonus pool contributions, minor league salaries, option buyouts, and everything else that can be quantified. What they donât include is any mid season trades that either add or subtract from the payroll.
When we looked at the payroll back in November, before any qualifying offers were made and before any player or club options were picked up or declined, BYB took a gander at the clubsâ payroll heading into the off season. But then, Jack Flaherty exercised his player option for one season at $20 million, and Gleyber Torres accepted a qualifying offer of $22.5 million, rather than hit the free agent market, and the teamâs payroll was suddenly right back up to about where they started without making any additions.
The club also picked up Drew Anderson as a free agent, at a $7 million salary on a one year deal. And then, thereâs âthe decisionâ. As it turned out, Tarik Skubal won his arbitration case and will be paid $32 million for the 2026 season.
PAYROLL SUBTRACTIONS:
The Tigers, for the most part, didnât lose any players that would be disruptive to their plans going forward. Coming off the books are Alex Cobb and his $15 million deal, Kenta Maedaâs $10 million contract, Tommy Kahnle, John Brebbia, Jose Urquidy and Charlie Morton are gone, saving the club $37 million after taking out Torresâ $15 million salary for 2025. Gleyber and Flaherty will consume that much and a bit more.
The Tigers then doubled down by resigning part time closer Kyle Finnegan for two seasons with an average annual value (AAV) of $9.5 million, plus an option for a third season with a buyout of $2.5 million. The club then signed closer Kenley Jansen for one year at $9 million, plus an option for $12 million or a $2 million buyout, for an AAV of $11 million.
WHATâS THE DIFFERENCE between major league (opening day) payroll and CBT payroll? There are three major differences between the two numbers.
-One is that, for tax purposes, player salaries are calculated using the average annual value (AAV), rather than just what they will be paid for the current season. So for example, Framber Valdez has a salary of $36.523 million for CBT purposes, although he will earn $22.826 million this season.
-The second difference is that all the players on the 40 man roster are included in CBT payroll, including those on injured reserve. The 14 minor league players add just under $4 million to the total.
-The third major difference is that each team pays about $18 million per season toward player benefits, plus $1.67 million toward the pre arbitration bonus pool, which are included in the CBT payroll number.
Most of the 14 players who are on the 40 man roster but not the major league roster will receive minor league pay, and accounts for less than $2.7 million in salaries, barring any players with guaranteed big league contracts who have been optioned. Cotâs does account for an average number of major league players being injured and replaced by others earning near major league minimum salary of $790,000. It does not account for in season moves, such as acquiring or trading away players during the season. Thatâs where the Tigers could put themselves into tax territory.
Following is a chart that shows the Tigersâ 2026 major league roster, salaries, and option status for the players on the 40 man roster.
-The major league minimum salary is $780,000 for the 2026 season, in the last year of the current collective bargaining agreement. That is an increase of $20,000 from 2025.
This does NOT include pre- arbitration bonuses that were earned, for example by six Tigersâ players for the 2025 season:
These bonuses are paid out of a pool which is funded by all 30 MLB clubs.
The Tigers had 25 players on the 40 man roster in 2025 who earned near league minimum while in the majors, and minor league salary while optioned to the minors. That number is down to just six players on the major league roster plus another 14 players on the 40 man roster, projected for the 2026 season.
The Tigers will have at least three players- Jackson Jobe, Troy Melton and Reese Olson, who will start the season on the 60 day injured list, which will open two spots on the 40 man roster. Jobe may return later in the season, but Olson isnât expected back until 2027. Melton could return by the end of May.
Options
A player may be optioned in three seasons in his career without clearing waivers. Only one option is used per season, so once a player on the 40-man roster is sent down, they can be freely moved between the majors and minors (after the requisite 10-day waiting period) up to five times in a given season. A player must be on optional assignment for at least 20 days to be charged with an option year.
Three Tigers are âout of optionsâ, meaning that they can not be sent to the minor leagues without first being designated for assignment and clearing waivers. Those players are Zack McKinstry, Jahmai Jones, and Drew Anderson. Expect those players to have an edge on making the team versus a player who has options left.
In addition, any player with five years of service time may not be sent to the minor leagues without his consent. The ten Tigers in that category are Javier Baez, Justin Verlander, Gleyber Torres, Tarik Skubal, Jake Rogers, Framber Valdez, Casey Mize, Jack Flaherty, Kenley Jansen, and Kyle Finnegan.
Players with at least five years of major league service time canât be optioned without their consent. They are noted with âNAâ in the options column above. Detroit has eight players who have reached the five year milestone.
Players optioned this spring will not have their option counted until they remain in the minor leagues for 20 days. Those numbers will change shortly for those players unless they are called up to Detroit.
Outright Assignment
When a player is out of options, he must be taken off the 40-man roster, designated for assignment, and clear waivers before he can be sent outright to the minor leagues. A player who has been previously outrighted at any time in his career may decline the assignment and become a free agent immediately, or after the season if he is not returned to the 40 man roster.
For example, Jahmai Jones has not only used up his quota of options in his career, but he was also outrighted in 2024 by the New York Yankees, so he has the right to decline an outright assignment for the remainder of his career, either immediately or at the end of the season- the latter provided that he is not returned to the clubâs 40 man roster.
A player who declines an outright assignment may lose any non guaranteed salary remaining on his contract.
Payroll
This would not be the first time that the Tigers paid a luxury tax. In 2008, which was Miguel Cabreraâs first season in Detroit, the club had a payroll of $ 161.8 million with a tax threshold of $155 million, so they paid a 22 percent tax on the overage for a penalty of $1.3 million. For the duration of Dave Dombrowskiâs tenure in Detroit, the club avoided paying a luxury tax. In the first two seasons under Al Avila, as general manager, in 2016t and 2017,the club paid a taxes of $4 million and $3.66 million. For the record, the payroll was under the tax threshold prior to Avilaâs signings in his first two seasons as GM.
While the Tigersâ payroll ranks 10th among the 30 MLB teams in 2026- both for opening day salaries and CBT payroll, the remainder of teams in their division rank in the bottom half of MLB. The Royals rank 18th and $143million. The Twins are 23rd, the White Sox 28th and Cleveland 29th with a payroll of just $77 million for opening day, or $94 M for CBT calculations. The median team payroll in major league baseball is around $200 million.
The 2027 class of Tigers free agents is a significant group, with Tarik Skubal, Casey Mize, Gleyber Torrez, Jack Flaherty, Jake Rogers, and Justin Verlander all eligible for free agency barring a contract extension. The 2027 arbitration class potentially includes 13 players.
Javy Baez, Framber Valdez, Kyle Finnegan and Colt Keith are the only Tigers with guaranteed contracts after the 2026 season, so the team will have a ton of payroll flexibility into the future. Obviously theyâll also have a lot of work to do to build a new starting rotation for 2027.
PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 14: Gavin Sheets #30 of the San Diego Padres jogs to the dugout during a Spring Training game against the Cleveland Guardians at Peoria Stadium on March 14, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres suffered an 11-1 drubbing at the hands of the Arizona Diamondbacks in their Cactus League meeting at the Peoria Sports Complex on Sunday. Walker Buehler took the mound for his finals start of spring and looked good through two innings despite allowing a run. He ran into trouble in the third and fourth innings, allowing three runs in each inning as Arizona jumped out to a 7-0 lead after four innings. San Diego added its lone run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning when Gavin Sheets blasted his fourth home run of the spring to make the score, 7-1. Buehler completed 3.1 innings and allowed seven runs on 11 hits with one walk and three strikeouts. The real concerning part of the outing for Buehler was he allowed four home runs during his time on the mound. Matt Waldron was also touched up by the Diamondbacks. He allowed four runs on three hits with three walks and four strikeouts over three innings pitched. San Diego plays its final game of spring against the Seattle Mariners at the Peoria Sports Complex at 12:10 p.m.
Sung-Mun Song was signed as a free agent out of Korea and was expected to fill the utility infielder role for San Diego. Song has been working through an oblique injury for much of the offseason and will start the year on the IL, which means the Padres will have a different look to their roster than what was expected at the outset of Spring Training.
The Padres have seen the benefit of scoring runs early; it takes pressure off the offense and gives the pitching staff room for error and the ability to pitch with a lead. San Diego has to figure out how to do so more consistently as the Padres prepare for the start of the 2026 season.
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced Sunday that the Yankees will employ a four-man rotation to start the season, which means Luis Gil does not have spot in the rotation after Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren and Ryan Weathers. He could potentially start the season in the minors.
Craig Kimbrel had a difficult spring with the New York Mets and will not make their Opening Day roster. In other Mets news, free agent signee Mike Tauchman had surgery to repair a meniscus tear, which means prospect Carson Benge should be on the Opening Day roster.
DUNEDIN, FLORIDA - MARCH 14, 2026: Tarik Skubal #29 of the Detroit Tigers walks off the field after the fourth inning of a spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark on March 14, 2026 in Dunedin, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Tigers are the presumptive favorite to win the American League Central in 2026. After an offseason that saw the rest of the division make relatively little noise in free agency, the Tigers landed one of the biggest fish on the market, catapulting themselves atop every predictorâs division favorite, but is there trouble in paradise?
ADDITIONS
Offensively, the Tigers were mostly quiet. Detroit retained Gleyber Torres who accepted his qualifying offer to remain a Tiger, and then they nabbed short side platoon outfielder Austin Slater on a minor league deal.
On the pitching side of things, they were much louder. The Tigers went out and made upgrades to their rotation and bullpen, bringing back 43 year-old Justin Verlander for what seems to be a swan song in a Hall of Fame career. A late Spring injury to Troy Melton has made Verlander more of a necessity than depth. However, their big spending came by way of Framber Valdez, an infamous ghoul in the nightmares of Guardians fans, who inked a three year, 115 million-dollar contract with the Tigers earlier this year.
Detroit re-signed Kyle Finnegan to a two-year deal and also went out and nabbed another potential future Hall of Famer in the twilight of his career in Kenley Jansen to shore up the back of their bullpen. Jansen, 38, is coming off a solid season for the Angels, racking up 29 saves, putting him just 24 away from the all elusive 500 Save Club. Jansen saw diminished stuff in 2025 while posting career worst hard hit rates, strikeout rates, and home run rates.
SUBTRACTIONS
Detroit didnât lose much at all in the grand scheme of things. Chris Paddack signed with the Marlins after a brutal second half of 2025 with Detroit, Tommy Kahnle signed with Boston, and Paul Sewald went back to Arizona. Suffice to say, Detroit upgraded significantly across the board with their pitching.
STORYLINES
THE SKUBAL SAGA
There are three main questions for the Detroit Tigers in 2026, and they all revolve around one man. Are they willing to pay Tarik Skubal what he wants? If theyâre doing what theyâre projected to and leading the division by the trade deadline, how aggressive are they in pursuing offensive upgrades? Lastly, what if they underwhelm?
That first questionâŠwe seem to have an answer already. The aforementioned upgrades to the pitching staff have a top tier frontline duo with aces Skubal and Valdez leading the charge, but with Detroit willing to pay big money in the short-term for Valdez with the way the contract is laid out, the writing seems to be on the wall for Skubal despite his best intentions of wanting to stay. Valdez will sit at roughly 36.5 million dollar AAV with a 2028 player option and 2029 mutual option, and, per Spotrac, Valdez will be lighter on the books in 2026 at just $22.8M before vaulting up to a price tag north of $40M in 2027, coinciding with the likely departure of Tarik Skubal.
The second question becomes paramount as Detroitâs pitching should lead them through the AL Central with inadequate pushback, so for this answer, weâre operating under the assumption that they do just that. With one of the deeper farm systems in baseball rich with bats, Detroit has a chance to make a big splash for a big bat this coming deadline to vault themselves into serious World Series discussions. That being said, even if they played their hand ultra aggressively, Kevin McGonigle is likely off the table. McGonigle has become a consensus top three prospect in all of baseball with the best bat across the entire minor leagues. He will not only not play a part in any trade talks, but he likely factors into Detroitâs success in 2026 in a big way, most likely at shortstop.
From there, the big trade pieces immediately become centerfielder Max Clark and shortstop Bryce Rainer. Among the very best prospects under 21 in all of baseball, no team in the sport outside of the Dodgers wield chips with that kind of power. Detroit will likely be looking for outfield upgrades, and they boast plenty of other pieces worthy of luring in such as catching prospects Josue Briceño and Thayron Liranzo as well as infielders Jordan Yost, Max Anderson, and Hao-Yu Lee. On top of that, a necessity to be aggressive stems from the extreme likelihood that Skubal doesnât re-sign, and theyâll want to push all these chips into the middle of the table for one big run.
Lastly, what does this look like if they falter? Skubalâs clock to clock out is only winding down. Should Detroit sit around .500, struggling to grasp a stronghold of the AL Central or worse come the end of July, that ticking clock begins to sound more and more like a time bomb as the trade deadline approaches, and whichever direction they go will define their front officeâs tenure.
A Skubal trade, after signing Framber Valdez and bringing Verlander back for One Last Rideâą, would signify a waiving of the white flag for 2026 and mark a colossal failure after already failing to capitalize on their success both last offseason and last deadline before their embarrassing collapse cost them the AL Central. Yes, they were a game away from the ALCS, but coming from a Guardians fan, that rebuttal isnât good enough and never has been.
Every team has needs it has to be willing to address, and while GM Jeff Greenberg and President of Baseball Operations sat on their hands and made small, cost-friendly moves to add depth to their pitching staff (Finnegan, Morton, Paddack, Sewald, Montero) last deadline, it was their offense that fell off a cliff after signs of a nose dive were met with blind eyes from their front office. That canât happen anymore if Detroit has its eyes on bigger prizes with such little time to reach them with their best player. While they have built a strong farm system, nothing is ever a guarantee, so I would expect Detroit to be aggressive at the deadline regardless of their positioning in the standings.
The Detroit Pistons have been able to stay afloat without star Cade Cunningham in the lineup the last two games.
Monday’s home matchup with the scalding-hot Los Angeles Lakers will be the toughest test for a shorthanded Detroit squad, which needs small forward Ausar Thompson to step up his scoring against this high-octane L.A. offense.
Thompson’s touches and field goal attempts spiked last time out, and our Lakers vs. Pistons predictions and NBA picks see him playing a bigger role tonight, which so happens to be “Ausar Thompson Bobblehead Night” at Little Caesars Arena.
Lakers vs Pistons prediction
Lakers vs Pistons best bet: Ausar Thompson Over 9.5 points (-120)
Ausar Thompson grabbed a shovel last time out, with his touches increasing alongside his shooting activity. He finished just 4-for-10 for eight points over 25 minutes in a one-sided win against Golden State.
Thompson has been on a minutes restriction since returning from a sprained ankle earlier this month, but with Cunningham out and the L.A. Lakers' high-octane offense on deck, Detroit needs his defensive and offensive output.
Player forecasts all sit north of 9.5 points from Thompson, with a ceiling of 13.3.
Lakers vs Pistons same-game parlay
The Pistons are outgunned against the Lakers without Cunningham. Game models call for a close L.A. victory, with the Purple and Gold extending their winning streak to 10 games.
Meanwhile, Luka Doncic is making a late push for MVP, scoring 30+ in nine straight games. The Pistons will focus their energy on taking the ball away from Luka. His projections still call for 30 points — just not 33.
Lakers vs Pistons SGP
Lakers moneyline
Ausar Thompson Over 9.5 points
Luka Doncic Under 32.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Get your motor running!
With Cunningham out, Detroit needs others to pick up the scoring slack. On top of Thompson’s added touches, Daniss Jenkins is getting more minutes and looks from long range. Game models have this non-conference clash tipping the total and going Over 226.5.
Lakers vs Pistons SGP
Pistons +2
Over 226.5
Ausar Thompson Over 9.5 points
Daniss Jenkins Over 1.5 threes
Lakers vs Pistons odds
Spread: Lakers -2 | Pistons +2
Moneyline: Lakers -130 | Pistons +110
Over/Under: Over 226.5 | Under 226.5
Lakers vs Pistons betting trend to know
The Pistons are 10-2 SU and ATS as underdogs this season, including 3-1 SU and ATS as home pups. Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Pistons.
How to watch Lakers vs Pistons
Location
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date
Monday, March 23, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Spectrum SportsNet, FDSN-Detroit
Lakers vs Pistons latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 22: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics tries to get untangled from Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second half at TD Garden on March 22, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BOSTON â Everyone has something to say about Jayson Tatumâs return to the court. Thatâs the reality of the world we live in, after all: basketball is consumed by millions of fans worldwide, and the mediaâs job is to discuss the most hot-button topics, sometimes ad nauseam.
Tatum gets it worse than most: he plays for the Celtics, on one of the brightest stages in basketball, and in a city where athletesâ every moves are especially-scrutinized. Heâs long been one of the sportâs best players. And, heâs coming back from whatâs widely regarded as one of the worst injuries in basketball. So, itâs no surprise that his rehab and return have been one of the biggest stories in the NBA this season.
As a member of the media, Iâve had to speculate about, talk about, and write about Tatumâs journey back to basketball for more hours than I could possibly count. I recognize the irony of a media member sharing this message, but Iâll share it anyway:
Now is not the time to scrutinize Jayson Tatumâs on-court play.
Thatâs not because he canât handle the scrutiny; he can, and he knows itâs a part of the job. But, itâs because dissecting his every move â his shooting numbers, his efficiency, his usage â completely loses sight of the big picture.
The big picture is this: Tatum tore his Achilles tendon last May and returned to the floor less than 10 months after suffering the injury. Heâs been back on the court for less than three weeks. The choice to re-acclimate (and, unavoidably, struggle) in the public eye was a brave one, and, though itâs not unheard of to do so, itâs also very uncommon for a player of his caliber to return as quickly as he did.
Take a look at three other former NBA All-Stars who suffered the same injury in 2025: Dejounte Murray (injured in January), Damian Lillard (injured in April), and Tyrese Haliburton (injured in June). Lillard and Haliburton were immediately ruled out of the 2025-2026 season, while Murray rehabbed for 13 months â nearly four more than Tatum â before returning to the floor.
Tatum did not give himself that same grace; he opted to work tirelessly to lace up for the Celtics this season, knowing that a playoff run was ahead. A part of why he was able to pull that off is because, by all accounts, he has a wonderful training and medical staff around him â Celtics trainer Nick Sang is the mastermind behind his rehab, and his surgeon, Dr. Martin OâMalley, is considered to be among the best in the world.
But a big reason why he is where he is is due to his courage. Tatum recognized the Celtics were in position to make a real run at a championship, and decided heâd give whatever he could to the team, even if it wouldnât always be perfect. The Celtics held the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, and Tatum knew that he could come back and contribute, even if it wasnât seamless right away.
Sunday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves wasnât perfect. Tatum was scoreless in the first half â a rarity in his career â but found his rhythm in the third quarter, when he erupted for 13 points. He finished the game with 16 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, converting on 6 of 16 field goal attempts.
Throughout the game, there were moments where the Celtics star was clearly frustrated, particularly early on. Asked whether he was giving himself grace during this stretch, he was honest.
âI didnât know how this shit was going to be,â Tatum said. âItâs tough in the moment, right? You try not to think about it. You just want to be Jayson Tatum and feel like yourself again. Iâm not Superman, so itâs obviously gonna take some time. I think the next day, I can give myself a little more grace over certain things, but in the moment, itâs frustrating.â
Asked Jayson Tatum if he feels like heâs giving himself grace throughout this stretch:
âItâs tough in the moment, right? You try not to think about it. You just want to be Jayson Tatum and feel like yourself again. I'm not Superman, so it's obviously gonna take some time. I⊠pic.twitter.com/b2pugYNgNn
Thatâs only human, and itâs commendable that Tatum is willing to give us a glimpse into his mindset as he learns to regain full trust in his body. At the same time, itâs our responsibility to recognize that the fact heâs even able to be out there is incredible and a testament to his work ethic â 7 months ago, he was in a boot, and now heâs dunking in an NBA game, battling against some of the greatest athletes on this planet.
His teammates recognize that he could have just taken the summer to get his on-court reps in in private. Jaylen Brown praised Tatum for making the decision to return to the Celtics as soon as he was able to.
âHim even wanting to come back is an unselfish act,â Brown said on the Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady podcast earlier this month, just a few days before Tatum made his debut. â[Heâs] putting potentially his body on the line in order for us to accomplish something great.â
Thatâs exactly the way that we on the outside need to assess Tatumâs long road back to being Jayson Tatum.
Tatumâs rehab occurred behind closed doors, in private, in an empty gym, away from the gaze of the public. We didnât see every struggle, only what he chose to include in his docuseries. But his on-court re-acclimation is taking place on national television (and it seems like every day, another one of the Celticsâ games is being flexed onto national TV).
He didnât give himself much time to re-acclimate in private.
Tatumâs first real 5-on-5 scrimmage came on February 9th, when the Maine Celtics came down to Boston for a special game at the Auerbach Center. Less than one month later, he took the TD Garden parquet in a March 6th game against the Dallas Mavericks, in one of the most highly-anticipated games of the NBA season.
There have been some great moments since his return, and some struggles. He had a 12-point first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers, displayed hot outside shooting against the Golden State Warriors last week, and showed some flashes of tremendous defense.
Heâs been a beast on the glass â heâs already re-established himself as the Celticsâ leading rebounder â and some stretches where heâs displayed the playmaking chops that make him one of the most versatile players in the game.
âHeâs giving the game what it needs,â Joe Mazzulla said last week of Tatum.
There have also been some stretches where Tatum has looked a bit tentative, where his timing and rhythm has been noticeably off. That could be a result of his own physical and mental hurdles, and it could also be a result of the team trying to figure out how to implement him best (Does he have the ball enough? Is he getting it in the right spots? Itâs hard for me on the outside to say for certain, because Iâm not privy to the conversations going on behind closed doors).
Tatum, for one, is letting it all come to him.
âIâm just taking it day-by-day. I had probably the worst injury you can have. I came back in 10 months and am getting better, [I have a] better feel each game. I want it to be perfect â First Team All-NBA Jayson, like that,â he said, snapping his finger. âI didnât rush the rehab, so I canât rush this. Itâs all going to work out.â
For what itâs worth: Tatum is averaging 19.1 points â second-most on the team â and still drawing plenty of double-teams when the ball is in his hands. Yes, his efficiency is down; heâs shooting 38.8% from the field and 29.3% from three. But the sample on those numbers is so small that, in my view, they are pretty much irrelevant.
His usage rate is down from last season, but not by as much as youâd think â last year, Tatumâs usage was a 31.1%, this yearâs itâs slightly dipped to 30.2%. Though it feels like a noticeable decline, heâs attempting 17.4 shots per game, only 0.4 fewer than his career averages.
And, while in totality, he hasnât looked exactly like pre-injury Jayson Tatum yet, the most encouraging thing is that, in spurts, he has. Those moments, those plays where he does fully look like himself? He points them out to Sang, one of his closest friends and confidants, for reference.
âThereâs a lot of things I talk to Nick about, just things that I notice throughout a game â certain plays, certain moments of contact, explosion, attacking, getting downhill, the pace and speed of certain plays that just felt really normal, felt really good, or I didnât think about it at all,â he said. âJust finding more and more moments of those from game to game â that gets me really excited.â
The NBA playoffs are less than a month away. And, Tatum will continue to ramp up his minutes and play in the days ahead. Heâll do so in the public eye, where every missed shot is at risk of becoming the front story on ESPN, where every sigh and emotion will be dissected by viewers at home.
He knew that would be part of the deal, and he opted to return anyway, even though his first five months of 5-on-5 scrimmaging could have occurred in private. He made the courageous decision to return anyway, because heâs a competitor. Because he loves basketball. Because he knows he can elevate this Celtics team even further.
For now, heâs leaning on those around him â his mom, his 8-year-old son Deuce, his medical staff â as he continues to publicly work through whatâs undoubtedly been the biggest hurdle in his basketball career.
âThatâs the first time I went through something like this,â Tatum said. âItâs been a long time â a long time before I could shoot a basketball, before I could walk.â
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 30: Sidney Crosby #87 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
The Pittsburgh Penguins March schedule was always going to be daunting, and they are almost through it. So far, all things considered, they have handled it mostly okay, especially given the absences of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for a significant part of it. I said at the beginning if they could just play .500 or better hockey, they should be fine and maintain their playoff position. They have done that. At least to this point.
Even the past five games have been a pretty significant success. Sundayâs game against the Carolina Hurricanes was a total no-show, but even with that they still managed to get seven out of a possible 10 points. That is more than enough, and if they get seven out of the next 10 points they are still going to be in great shape.
I said on social media on Sunday you need to do yourself a favor and not look at every individual game as a must-win game and ride that roller coaster, but look at these games as groups of games and accumulated point totals. You get seven out of every 10 points, you are in. Even if they get six out of every 10 points, you are probably in.
I know it seems like nobody in the Eastern Conference ever loses, and that none of these teams will ever lose again, but I promise you, they are. If for no other reason than a lot of them play each other quite a bit over the next few weeks. Everybody around the Penguins also plays one of the toughest schedules in the NHL.
Right now the playoff cut-line in the Eastern Conference is 98 points. I suspect it might even come down a little bit as the next few weeks progress and some of these teams actually lose some games (and they will). But letâs just say 98 points is what you need. That is six more wins for the Penguins. That is not an overly high bar, even with the schedule (which, after getting through the past week, is now only the 11th toughest remaining schedule in the NHL instead of the absolute toughest).
They also, at the moment, hold the tie-breaker over almost every team behind them and chasing them.
So letâs just look at this as a math problem and what every team behind them would need to do record-wise (the required points percentage is in parenthesis) to pass them if they win between four and seven more games the rest of the way.
Realistically speaking I think this is a race between the Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Islanders Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings. Four of those five teams are going to make the playoffs. All the Penguins have to do is not finish in last among that group. Again, not an overly high bar. It is reachable. All of those teams have more difficult remaining schedules, and there are also a LOT of head-to-head games in there for all of those teams. The Penguins play the Islanders and Red Wings one more time each. Those games can go a long way toward determining things. Detroit plays Columbus and Ottawa one more time each, and Philadelphia three more times. Somebody is going to lose those games. Columbus plays Boston twice, along with its game against Detroit, and that does not get into the two games it also has against Carolina and its two road games at Montreal. Somebody is going to lose THOSE games.
The Ottawa Senators are lurking on the fringes. Maybe they can keep playing their way back in, but that is still a lot of work to do.
The Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals just seem like they have way too much ground to make up. The Flyers would probably have to sweep all three of those games against the Red Wings, preferably (for their sake) in regulation.
You can follow sports however you want, but instead of sweating the standings every night and with every result, just focus on a target goal. Basically, if the Penguins win six more games and get to 98 points, they most likely get in. Especially if one or two of those wins come against the Islanders and/or Red Wings. If they win seven more games, get to 100 points, and somehow still do not make the playoffs I would not know what else to say except, âthatâs just messed up and some really bad luck.â In the salary cap era no team has ever had even 98 points and missed the playoffs. Only two teams have ever had 96 points and missed the playoffs.
Can they start stacking some more of those wins this week?
Well, that is going to be tough, because it is another daunting week on the schedule.
It begins on Tuesday night with their second game against the Colorado Avalanche in a little more than a week. The Penguins won the first meeting in Colorado by a 7-2 margin in a game that I am not quite sure was as lopsided as the final score would indicate. They are almost certainly going to get a much better effort from the Avalanche in this game, and they better be ready for it. Performances like they had over the weekend (even in the win against the Winnipeg Jets) are not going to be good enough. The one thing to take into account here is that Colorado has looked a little more mortal in recent weeks. After starting the season 31-2-7, the Avalanche are 15-11-3 in the 29 games that have followed. Still good. Just not quite as dominant. They look a little more beatable right now.
On Thursday the Penguins have a big Eastern Conference game at Ottawa. Even though I am not quite sold at the moment on the Senators still being *in* the playoff race, they are better than their record indicates and they have given the Penguins fits in their two previous meetings this season. The Penguins also never seem to win in Ottawa. This would be a good game to have, especially since it is sandwiched between two extraordinarily tough Western Conference games.
After playing in Ottawa on Thursday, the Penguins return home on Saturday to play the Dallas Stars who will be in the middle of a four-game, Eastern Conference road trip. Dallas is one of the best teams in hockey, and has quite honestly been the better team between them and Colorado over the past two months, even with some big injury issues. The Penguins outplayed Dallas in their first meeting this season (in Dallas) only to give up a late third period goal and lose in a shootout. In all honesty, I would take that result again in this game. Every point matters.
After playing Dallas on Saturday, they have another huge Eastern Conference game on Monday night against the New York Islanders to open the next week.
This is going to be a tough week, and arguably just as tough, if not tougher, than the past week. If they can get three out of these six points I would consider that a win for the week. With this schedule you just have to get through it. Especially when a lot of the teams in the playoff race are all playing against each other this week. Somebody is losing. Just maintain what you are doing. They mostly have.
If they are going to continue that, they are going to need a few things. The first is better goaltending than they have been getting over the past few games. The second is better defensive play in front of those goalies and way fewer turnovers and mistakes. That is kind of why I think Sundayâs game could have been something they needed. Some bad habits had been developing in recent games, but they were still getting results. Eventually bad process turns into a bad result. They got that on Sunday. It needs to be a lesson.
Pacers vs Magic best bet: Desmond Bane Over 20.5 points (-120)
Desmond Bane is averaging 20.4 PPG across 70 appearances in his first season with the Orlando Magic. In March, he’s averaging exactly 21 points per night.
The guard has cashed the Over in four of his last seven appearances, and he has played better at home, averaging 22.5 PPG compared to 19.5 on the road. Most notably, he’s averaged 24.5 PPG against the Indiana Pacers this season, who are losers of 16 straight contests.
Bane will have no issues delivering a big performance against an Indiana defense that ranks Bottom-4 in defensive efficiency.
Pacers vs Magic same-game parlay
Orlando is averaging 115.3 PPG, but it's up against a Pacers team allowing a minimum of 127 points across their last four contests.
Also, in their last matchup in January, the Magic dropped 135 points. Indiana is hopeless defensively, and this is a prime opportunity for Orlando’s offense to find their best again.
Jalen Suggs is averaging 5.3 dimes this season, and he’s cashed the Over in four of his last six outings. He’s averaging 5.8 assists at home compared to 4.5 on the road.
Pacers vs Magic SGP
Desmond Bane Over 20.5 points
Magic team total Over 122.5 points
Jalen Suggs Over 5.5 assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: I Put a Spell on You
Wendell Carter Jr. is averaging 12 PPG across two meetings with the Pacers in 2025-26, and he’s hit the Over in points in four of his last five. Two of those contests have been at home. He just scored 13 on Saturday against the Lakers.
Paolo Banchero has cooked Indiana this season, averaging 28.5 points and 4.5 assists against them in two matchups. Banchero is averaging 24.3 points and 5.0 dimes this month.
Pacers vs Magic SGP
Desmond Bane Over 20.5 points
Magic team total Over 122.5 points
Jalen Suggs Over 5.5 assists
Wendell Carter Jr. Over 11.5 points
Paolo Banchero Over 30.5 points + assists
Pacers vs Magic odds
Spread: Pacers +13 (-110) | Magic -13 (-110)
Moneyline: Pacers +575 | Magic -850
Over/Under: Over 233 (-110) | Under 233 (-110)
Pacers vs Magic betting trend to know
The Orlando Magic have hit the 3Q Game Total Over in 16 of their last 23 games at home (+9.00 Units / 34% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. Magic.
How to watch Pacers vs Magic
Location
Kia Center, Orlando, FL
Date
Monday, March 23, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN-Indiana, FDSN-Florida
Pacers vs Magic latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 21: Ezequiel Duran #20 of the Texas Rangers reacts after hitting a double during the second inning of the spring training game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 21, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Jeremy Chen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning.
Shawn McFarland checks out what we learned from the Texas Rangers over the last week as they left Arizona following a pretty smooth spring training.
Zach Crizer writes about some notable things the projection systems believe about the Rangers ahead of the 2026 season.
Evan Grant writes that the Rangers are entering their pitching era and that fledgling venture has been spearheaded by Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob deGrom.
McFarland writes that the Rangers and Skip Schumaker still have a few roster choices to make with Surprise in the rearview mirror.
MLB dot com notes the lessons learned from each teamâs spring camp with the Rangers seeing an uptick at the plate after moving away from many of the World Series-winning parts in the lineup.
Ahead of Opening Day, the ESPN baseball writers crew takes a look back at notable offseason moves, which included a couple of big trades from the Rangers.
Dayn Perry ranks the top 100 players ahead of the 2026 season with Texas landing four in the top 100, including three in the top 50.
And, after a breakout season in 2025, McFarland lists big right-hander Caden Scarborough as the No. 2 Rangers prospect on the DMNâs top 30 list.
Feb 20, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard AJ Green (20) drives against LA Clippers guard Bogdan Bogdanovic (10) in the first half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
There are just a dozen games left in the Milwaukee Bucksâ season and the first of them takes place tonight at Intuit Dome against the LA Clippers. Coming off a gritty win against the Phoenix Suns on Saturday, the Bucks continue their west-coast road-trip against a Clippers team that has been staggering to the play-in, going 1-4 over their last five games. Despite being the 71st game of the Bucksâ season, tonightâs is the first against the Clippers, with another to come on March 29.
Where Weâre At
This Bucks season mightâve felt like Cormac McCarthyâs TheRoadâpost-apocalyptic, sorrow at every turn, death ever-presentâbut, like in the novel, thereâs just enough positivity to keep hope alive; just enough promise that next year will be better. Saturdayâs win over the Suns is the most recent example of this, Ryan Rollins and Ousmane Dieng coming up clutch in the fourth in a glimpse of what could be for years to comeâdynamic guard and dynamic wing. Of course, like the ending to The Road, nothing is for certain. Hope exists, but itâs fragile, conditional, unproven.
The Clippersâ future is also unclear, with the team shipping off stalwart centre Ivaca Zubac at the trade deadline and relying heavily on an older trio of Kawhi Leonard (34), Brook Lopez (37), and Kris Dunn (32). Yet, they also have in-his-prime Darius Garland (26) and entering-his-prime Bennedict Mathurin (23). Unlike the Bucks, the Clippers have weathered the storm of their seasonâa brutal 6-21 start and recent 1-4 skidâto be in the thick of postseason action; Los Angeles currently sits 35-36 and is all-but-guaranteed a play-in performance. Most recently, they won 138-131 in overtime against the Dallas Mavericks behind a season-high 41 points and Clippers-high 11 assists from Garland, to go along with 34 points and five assists from Leonard.
Injury Report
For the Bucks, Giannis (Left Knee; Hyperextension; Bone Bruise) and Kevin Porter Jr. (Right Knee; Synovitis) remain out, while Kyle Kuzma (Right Achilles) is questionable, and Gary Harris (Left Groin; Contusion) is probable.
For the Clippers, Bradley Beal (Left Hip; Fracture), Bennedict Mathurin (Right Toe; Injury Recovery), and Yanic Konan Niederhauser (Right Lisfranc Ligament; Tear) are all out. In addition, Kawhi Leonard (Left Ankle; Sprain) is questionable, while John Collins (Left Ankle; Sprain) is probable.
Player to Watch
Despite being waived, Cam Thomas came to Milwaukee with expectations. And he did not disappoint in his first few games, going off for 34 points against the Orlando Magic and 27 points two games later against the New Orleans Pelicansâboth wins. In fact, he was so prolific thatâfor a stretchâhe was second in the entire league in points per minute:
But after another efficient night in a blowout loss to the Toronto Raptors, Thomasâ minutes reduced from the low 20s to the mid teens and he soon found himself collecting DNP-CDs. Part of this is a cold shooting stretch, part of it is his singular focus on scoring, and part of it is his defensive struggles. But these were all well-documented prior to Milwaukee signing him and the Bucks have been thin in the backcourt, especially with KPJ in and out of the lineup. Over the last two games, Thomas has been re-activated, putting in 14 points and four assists vs. Utah and seven pointsâincluding an important foul-drawing cameo to start the fourthâagainst Phoenix. So, with just 12 games left and next seasonâs roster almost certainly in a state of flux, itâll be worth monitoring Thomasâ role and if he can be part of it. That is, of course, unless a decision has already been made.
How To Watch
Tune in at 9:30 p.m. CDT on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.
Youâre nipping at the heels of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the NBA MVP Award. Youâve led the Lakers to nine straight wins, the franchiseâs longest winning streak since the 2019â2020 season when it won a championship.
And youâre going to get in your own way now?
Lakers guard Luka DonÄiÄ argues a call during Thursdayâs game against host team Heat. AP
DonÄiÄ picked up his 16th technical foul Saturday after he and Magic reserve Goga Bitadze exchanged words as he shot free throws with 1:19 left in the third quarter of the Lakersâ 105â104 win. (Bitadze was also assessed a technical.)
Luckily for DonÄiÄ and the Lakers, the technicals got rescinded Sunday, preventing him from having to serve a one-game suspension Monday against the Pistons.
But this should be a warning.
DonÄiÄ knew he was at the technical foul threshold. And he still opened his mouth. He needed to be better at that moment. Smarter. That was not worth it.
Especially not amid his breakthrough stretch, averaging an eye-popping 40 points, 8.4 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 2.6 steals over the last nine games.
His MVP odds have quadrupled over the last five days. He had a 51-point performance and a 60-point performance within a week. Oh, and he made a game-winning jumper in a 127â125 overtime thriller against the Nuggets on March 14. He has been playing brilliantly. He has been hustling on defense. He has been the best player in the league lately.
The Magicâs Goga Bitadze got into a verbal altercation with the Lakersâ DonÄiÄ on Saturday. NBAE via Getty Images
And he nearly allowed words from a player whoâs averaging 5.7 points over 15 minutes a game to get under his skin so deeply that it couldâve messed with his availability?
Thatâs self-sabotage.
âObviously, I let my team down getting that last tech,â DonÄiÄ said Saturday after finishing with 33 points, eight assists and five rebounds. âBut honestly, I wasnât trying to. He said at the free throw, he would fâk my whole family. And at some point, this is a basketball court. At some point, I just canât stand it. I gotta stand up for myself.â
Wrong.
That nearly cost him a game. It couldâve curtailed the Lakersâ momentum. All for what? So he couldâve spewed some venom back? Where would that have gotten him?
If anything, the incident showed other NBA players his kryptonite. It taught them that a taunt could make him lose his cool. It gave other players the cheat code on how to unravel him.
Whatâs the point of it all?
Bitadze claimed things went down differently. In a phone interview with ESPN and the Orlando Sentinel, the forward/center from Georgia said DonÄiÄ cursed at him in Serbian and he just repeated those same words back to him.
âHe said something about my mother, which, itâs really inappropriate,â said Bitadze, who played professionally in Serbia from 2016â2019. âWe donât say that stuff during the game. ⊠So I just said whatever he told me or [about] my mother [and] said it back.â
DonÄiÄ avoided a one-game suspension when the NBA rescinded his 16th technical foul of the season Sunday. Getty Images
Itâs tough because what makes DonÄiÄ great also makes him a liability. Heâs fiery, intense and as competitive as they come. He was assessed 16 technicals twice during his tenure with the Mavericks, but both times the 16th technical was rescinded.
Against the Bulls a little over a week ago, he used trash talk with Matas Buzelis to inspire his 51-point, 10-rebound, nine-assist explosion. He claimed Buzelis said something ânot very niceâ to him, and that woke him up.
Itâs funny because that situation was also a âhe said, he saidâ moment. DonÄiÄ claimed Buzelis trash-talked him first, while Buzelis insisted DonÄiÄ initiated things and he merely responded.
Again, the details donât matter. But thereâs a theme here.
Trash talk can bring out the best in DonÄiÄ. Or the worst.
And on Saturday, with his 16th technical foul and a one-game suspension looming, it wasnât worth him taking the risk.
He shouldnât have engaged.
He shouldâve put his head down and found a different form of motivation. He shouldâve shrugged off any insult. He shouldâve made Bitadze pay for his alleged indiscretion by going on a scoring tear.
With only 11 games left, a one-game suspension is the last thing a surging superstar and a team on a heater need.
DonÄiÄ got lucky this time.
But he canât put himself in this position again.
His team needs him too much.
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SARASOTA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 16: Manager Craig Albernaz #55, Bench Coach Donnie Ecker #53 of the Baltimore Orioles and Mike Shildt talk during practice at Ed Smith Stadium on February 16, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Baltimore Orioles/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Spring training only lasts about six weeks, but it can often feel much longer. The excitement over pitchers and catchers finally reporting in mid-Februrary has already worn off by the time March arrives. The World Baseball Classic gave us all something a little more interesting to watch this year, but nothing compares to seeing your local team on the field in games that actually matter. In just a few of days, we will get that back in our lives.
But before that can happen, letâs take a look back at the spring training that was, and churn up a few takeaways from the work the team did down in Florida.
Injuries are already a problem, of course
The Orioles entered camp with Jordan Westburg and Jackson Holliday already dinged up. They have since lost Andrew Kittredge to shoulder inflammation. None of them are expected to miss too much time, but who knows.
The Westburg elbow injury will need to be monitored all season long, and it could just be a ticking bomb. He has missed a lot of time due to injury recently, so the Orioles probably shouldnât have been counting on him anyway, but itâs never fun to miss a former all-star. The alternatives, like Coby Mayo, could end up perfectly fine, but none of them are as sure of a thing as Westburg, who is a decidedly above-average third baseman when healthy.
Holliday is making progress. He is already taking live at-bats and is expected to start a rehab assignment at Triple-A relatively soon after the season begins. What seems to be the bigger concern is how long it takes Holliday to actually bounce back fully. Hamate bones can linger and sap players on their power. Hollidayâs modest 17 home runs a season ago tied for the team lead. His replacement, likely Blaze Alexander, is unlikely to provide that kind of thump.
Kittredge may be the most costly injury out of the gate. The Orioles bullpen doesnât have too many proven arms. The veteran was one of the few, and in the current configuration was probably going to be used in a set-up role for Ryan Helsley. That wonât be possible anymore. But there is good news here. Kittredge believes he will be on the IL for the minimum number of days, so the bullpen shouldnât be without him for too long.
The front office believes in the pitching staff, at least to begin the season
This applies to both the starters and relievers.
Each of the six main starters are healthy, which is something of a shock. All signs seemed to be pointing to Zach Eflin opening the year on the IL just to give him more time to ramp up from his back surgery. Instead, he tossed 5.1 shutout frames in his last spring outing and is set to be in the rotation. Dean Kremer is the odd man out, for now anyway. The Orioles optioned him to Triple-A over the weekend. Mike Elias indicated that it will be a brief stint, simply taking advantage of off days early in the year to make the roster math work.
Trevor Rogers is getting the Opening Day nod ahead of Kyle Bradish, but those two should form an impressive 1-2 punch throughout the year. Rogers had a 2.51 ERA this spring while Bradish was down at 2.35.
In the bullpen, the Orioles will be relying on quite a few unproven names. Rico Garcia and Dietrich Enns are out of options. Garcia tossed 5.2 scoreless frames in the Grapefruit League, Enns served up eight runs in 6.2 innings. Both are expected to make the team. Grant Wolfram may have been the most impressive reliever in camp. The hard-throwing lefty was on the bubble, but his pristine ERA and 10 strikeouts over six innings likely clinch his spot. Jackson Kowar might make it as well. The 29-year-old was OK this spring (1.50 WRA, 1.50 WHIP), but he is also out of options and could be worth giving an extended tryout.
Helsley looked incredible in his final tune-up against the Nationals on Sunday. Although a bit wild, he was into the triple digits with his fastball, and struck out the side. As long as the Orioles can get him late-game leads with some regularity, they should be in a good spot.
So far, the club has not looked to supplement the arms with any late-spring additions. But they could be waiting to learn more about Keegan Akin. He was stopped from entering a late spring game due to some adductor discomfort. A short IL stint could be coming.
Coby Mayo has earned a long look at third base
The injury to Westburg hurts. We know he is going to miss some regular season time, and even when he returns it is unclear what his level of availability is going to be. That makes Coby Mayo the logical next man up, and boy was he good this spring.
The 24-year-old hit .389 with two home runs and a 1.039 OPS. And while he only worked two walks, he also only struck out four times. Thatâs a 10% K-rate. He struck out 28.6% of the time last season. Itâs only the spring, but that feels like a player that is seeing the ball better than ever before. If he really is rounding into form, that could push the Orioles offense to another level.
Itâs not as if Mayo was without competition this spring. Jeremiah Jackson, Bryan Ramos, and Luis VĂĄzquez have all been in camp and having success. None of them have Mayoâs upside, but they could be viewed as safer picks to take Westburgâs innings at third base. Mayo fended them all off for an extended look at the hot corner.
The outfield roles may constantly change
This Orioles roster is full of outfielders. Colton Cowser, Taylor Ward, Dylan Beavers, Tyler OâNeill, and Leody Taveras are all expected to make the Opening Day squad. Alexander and Jackson have also played outfield. And Heston Kjerstad had himself a big spring before a hamstring injury put him on the shelf early, so he is likely set for Norfolk.
But nothing is set in stone. The Orioles outfield was a weakness last year, largely due to injuries to Cowser and OâNeill. The front office clearly wanted to fortify that group in 2026, and they have done just that. But it has left the unit feeling a bitâŠambiguous.
Cowser should be the everyday center fielder, but he struggled badly in 2025 and has had issues with left-handed pitching. Thatâs where the right-handed hitting Taveras comes in. Heâs not exactly a world-beater against southpaws, but he can play center, run a little bit, and be serviceable at the plate.
The corner spots could be constantly shifting around. Ward is likely to play everyday in left field, but weird things can happen for a player joining a new team. OâNeill and Beavers are likely to share right field and get into the DH mix a bit. But itâs unlikely to be a straight up platoon. OâNeill makes too much money to sit against every right-handed pitcher.
What seems likely to happen most games is that Taveras enters as a defensively replacement in left for Ward and Beavers finishes games in right, whether he started or not. Along with Cowser in center that gives the Orioles a solid defense to wrap up wins.
The value of spring training is not something that can be quantified, mostly because we donât have the full picture. We see the games and we get reports of what happens on the backfields, but there are a bunch of unknowns. Is a pitcher working on a specific offering? Is a batter tweaking their stance? Is the coaching staff experimenting with a new defensive alignment? We canât know. And that is why all of the results from the Oâs action down in Florida has to be taken with a boulder of salt.
What we can objectively say is that the Orioles are entering the 2026 season on a better foot than they began 2025. That doesnât guarantee success in a tough AL East, but itâs better than the inverse.
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: Denzel Clarke #1 of the Athletics walks into the dugout before a spring training game against the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images
No sooner was he back from the WBC, Denzel Clarke was greeting me in the dugout with a secret handshake only he knew about, grinning at my confusion and then plopping down onto the bench for an interview. Clarke was fresh off of playing for team Canada with cousins Josh and Bo Naylor and was about to turn his attention to being the captain of the Aâs outfieldâŠ
Nico: Iâm kind of doing this chronologically, so I want to go back to your youth, where I understand that you started baseball relatively late. And Iâm curious why and how you got into it, and then how you feel that affected your development arc coming to the present day.
Denzel: Yeah so my cousins, Bo and Josh, introduced me to baseball. I was a soccer player at first, I just needed a different sport and they recommended it so I gave it a shot and things kind of kept rolling from there. And coming from Canada we have a closed window amount of time to get some work done with all the cold snow and everything. So yeah, regardless, Iâm happy with my development, and Iâm just going to keep chipping away.
Nico: So how do you feel like it affected your development as you played with guys who were maybe your age but more experienced coming up? Did you pay a cost for that?
Denzel: Yeah, I think just a little bit behind starting later, not as much rest. But I mean, everything evens out at the end. And yeah, Iâm just excited to keep on working and keep getting better.
Nico: So obviously your defense is your calling card and you play with that reckless abandon. I donât know if you know the expression, âThe best ability is availability.â {Clarke nods yes} And now if thereâs anything standing between you and success, sometimes itâs just staying on the field. So Iâm just wondering how you manage that â you know, a fly ball to the wall, youâre going to want to get to it. And at the same time to help the team, you want to be on the field. So how do you do that?
Denzel: Yeah, for sure. Itâs just picking my spots. I think we were playing the Orioles in SAC. I mean, like, that was a big play. Can change the flow of the game. It was a close game, there was runners on, baseball in the gap that would have put them up by, I think, a couple of runs. So itâs just trying to pick my spots when to make plays. And I trust my teammates to get the jobs done the following inning. So, yeah, just being smart, again, picking my spots.
Nico: I just know that in the heat of the moment, itâs so hard for a player to ease up. Maybe itâs 11 to 1, but thereâs a ball that youâre used to going all out for. How capable are athletes of actually holding back when they need to?
Denzel: Yeah, I mean I think, again, going back to playing Baltimore, I think I had the awareness of just, like, I can let it (go) if I want to. But again, I was thinking about the situation, thinking about the game, and just, like, this could be a game-changing play. So I ended up going for it. But, I mean, mid-route, Iâm going for the ball. Iâm just, like, I can do this or I canât. So I made the decision to do it, and we ended up winning that game, which was huge.
Nico: Right. Going to your hitting and coming up to the big leagues for the first time. So, you know, thereâs the way it started, and thereâs the way that it was going when you got hurt. I always like to do the more personal angle, so Iâm really asking you more as a human being, not so much as an athlete. Those first 20 plate appearances, you struck out 16 times, and we know what it was like as fans, pulling for you, watching and so on. Can you give us an idea of what it was like for the person going through those first 20 PAs and what was going through your mind?
Denzel: Yeah, for sure. Just learned to make adjustments, I think. You know, you always hear, âOK, the big leap (to MLB) is a huge step,â and then those first 20 events proved it for me. At least proved the adjustments I had to make and how much better I needed to get. So yeah, thereâs nothing like experience, and failure is the best teacher. So I was really happy with, obviously not happy to fail, but happy with what I learned from that process and how I was able to start pick it up towards the end before I got hurt.
Nico: What were you telling yourself? You know, you walk back from the dugout, okay, now you know maybe Iâve struck out 13 of 16 or 15 of 18, it doesnât feel good, and yet you know, âFailureâs the best teacherâ. But what are you telling yourself at that point?
Denzel: I just, you gotta, I mean, no one is going to go up there and take your bats for you, you gotta go out there and just keep going, keep doing your best, and youâre gonna learn along the way. So itâs good.
Nico: So what changed? What was that adjustment?
Denzel: Experience. Experience and keeping things simple. Thatâs all it was and all itâs going to be.
Nico: Statistically, when you get in trouble, youâre hitting a lot of balls on the ground. When the ball starts getting in the air, suddenly all the numbers are rising. Do you know what the root cause is? Like whatâs going on there mechanically or in terms of approach?
Denzel: Yeah, the biggest thing, I mean, when things get crazy, my bodyâs got long arms, long legs, and again I just gotta keep things simple. And itâs gonna be something that Iâll work on my whole career. Just keeping things tight, keeping things simple, and looking to get as much success as I can.
Nico: You mentioned the Naylors and fans know both Bo and Josh, as well as Myles a little bit. How young were you when you first saw them play and got to know them as players?
Denzel: I think the first time we played together with Bo was maybe like 15, 14, 15 years old, which is really cool. And then from there, we played against each other, junior national and everything. WBC was my first time playing with Josh. And then I played with Myles last year. I think it was last year of the year before our spring breakout. So I got to play with all of them. Itâs been a real treat, real blessing.
Nico: Yeah, can you give a little bit of a snapshot of the WBC experience?
Denzel: Yeah, it was awesome. You know, I hear about Josh play, or see Josh play, but being able to be in the same clubhouse with him was really, really awesome. Me and Bo go way back, so that was really cool, but just to be able to get dinner a couple times and all, you know, just connect, sit down. It was really awesome just being in a clubhouse with him and with all the other guys. Team Canada is a really tight circle, so itâs fun being around a big squad of family.
Nico: Well, and I think you guys did better than expected. You got off to a great start.
Denzel: Yeah, we expected a lot of ourselves. We wish we could have gone farther. But yeah, we can chalk it up as the best weâve ever done as a country and I look forward to the next times.
Nico: Can you give an idea of how you see yourself just as a person, as a personality, maybe how it affects you as a baseball player, but also just maybe giving people an idea of who you are?
Denzel: Yeah, I think just for myself, I think for the most part Iâm an introvert. I think just being a baseball player comes with a lot of stuff. Youâre forced to be around people, which is kind of against my nature. But youâve got to learn to love, you got to learn to enjoy. And, you know, cameras in my face all the time, getting interviews and stuff. You learn to love, you learn to connect and really, yeah, just be around people in a different sense. So I love just making sure Iâm just feeling joyful. You donât get to be a pro baseball player often, so Iâm trying to enjoy it while I can and be joyful for myself and be joyful for others, too.
Nico: As a fellow introvert, I feel your pain. How does that impact you? I know introverts tend to like small groups of people they know and yet on a baseball team, it is kind of that way, and yet guys are coming and going all the time. So Iâm just wondering what that is like for you.
Denzel: Yeah, itâs an interesting vibe, but itâs just like, again, my job is just to go out there and play baseball, but just show everyone around me, Iâm around to show everyone thatâs around me love. I think people are gonna be cool if people remember some baseball stuff, but all I hear is people only remember how you treated them and the person you are, so thatâs the biggest thing. Thatâs the biggest thing is for me, I just try to show people love.
Nico: I think that maybe the most common thread for you throughout your professional career has probably been Lawrence Butler, right? I mean, you guys have been together a fair amount. And I donât know if that makes a difference that you guys are side by side in the outfield and how that affects the outfield play.
Denzel: Yeah, for sure. Lawâs a great personality. Lawâs one of my good friends, so itâs just great just being in the big leagues, having someone you know. But even with a lot of the guys Iâve played with, a lot of them throughout the minors at some point or another. So itâs like we have a young team, and itâs really exciting just to be up here connecting with the guys. So itâs pretty special.
Nico: So I try not to ask the questions that everybody asks, but Iâm going to ask one because I am curious. What are your more specific goals for the 2026 season? And where you think you can get to or where you want to try to get to?
Denzel: Yeah, no, for sure. I think for me, I made a splash defensively last year, I want to keep improving on that, keep providing consistency. The goal is to be on the field and make sure I can support the team throughout the entire season, including the playoffs. And then the other goal is just improve with base running. Just improve with everything. I want to take steps with hitting, take steps with base running. Thatâs how I decided to get at this level, just keep taking the steps to get better each and every year. So Iâm pretty excited for that.
Hopefully the majestic Denzelope can stay healthy throughout 2026, and hopefully you can stay healthy long enough to enjoy my final interview with Aâs OF prospect Henry Bolte on WednesdayâŠ
