Mar 14, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Garrett Stallings against the San Francisco Giants during a spring training game at American Family Fields of Phoenix. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Baseball is back!
The Milwaukee Brewers kick off their Cactus League slate Saturday afternoon in Phoenix as they’ll welcome the Cleveland Guardians in a battle of the two two-time reigning Managers of the Year in Pat Murphy and former Brewer Stephen Vogt.
Today’s game is one filled with non-roster invitees, including a few you may see in the World Baseball Classic in just a few weeks. On the mound, right-hander Garrett Stallings, 28, is slated to start after appearing in 30 games (15 starts) at Triple-A Nashville last season.
Brett Wichrowski, Tyson Hardin, Jaron DeBerry, Will Childers, Blake Holub, Manuel Rodríguez, Mark Manfredi, and Stiven Cruz are all slated to pitch as well. Cruz is among those WBC players, as he’ll represent Nicaragua.
In the lineup, Brice Turang leads off and starts at second base, followed by Jackson Chourio at DH, Akil Baddoo in left, and Joey Ortiz at shortstop batting cleanup. Tyler Black bats fifth at first base, Brandon Lockridge is in center, and new Brewers David Hamilton and Reese McGuire start at third and catcher, respectively. Prospect Luis Lara rounds out the order and starts in right.
A few quick updates from spring camp, courtesy of Adam McCalvy and Todd Rosiak:
A few injury updates from Pat Murphy:
RHP Gerson Garabito had surgery for a broken bone in his foot and he's out for four months.
Brock Wilken has a shoulder impingement that's not believed serious (he's DHing today).
Brewers players and coaches are wearing “FC United” shirts today in support of Frank Cairone, the pitching prospect who was hospitalized in January after a car crash. Cairone recently resumed some light throwing. pic.twitter.com/zpKrkx1Mmq
Two other quick notes: Jaison Chourio, Jackson’s younger brother and a top prospect for Cleveland, is part of the Guardians’ travel roster today, meaning we may see him go head-to-head with his brother. The Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System is also in play today. Pat Murphy had this to say in a conversation with McCalvy.
First pitch is set for 2:10 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast on 620 WTMJ and statewide on the Brewers Radio Network.
Both the Orlando Magic and the Phoenix Suns are looking to claw their way out of the Play-In Tournament.
Only one can make progress toward that goal today.
My Magic vs. Suns predictions do not worry about the standings; instead, they focus on the value provided by injury, always a consideration in NBA picks, including in this afternoon's tip on Saturday, February 21.
Magic vs Suns prediction
Magic vs Suns best bet: Dillon Brooks Over 22.5 points (-120)
With Phoenix Suns’ cornerstone Devin Booker again sidelined, all focus goes to Dillon Brooks. He has excelled this season, in particular when Booker is out.
Brooks has cleared this prop in his last two games without Booker and in six of his last eight, averaging two points more per game without his backcourt partner.
Magic vs Suns same-game parlay
Brooks actually takes fewer 3-pointers without Booker in the lineup, averaging only 5.4 attempts from deep in 12 games without Booker compared to 7.4 shots per game in 37 games with Booker.
Magic vs Suns SGP
Dillon Brooks Over 22.5 points
Dillon Brooks Under 2.5 threes
Magic +1.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Magic in The Desert
While Phoenix has surprised this season and thus found its way well into the Western Conference postseason conversation, the Suns have lost four of their last five games.
Magic vs Suns SGP
Dillon Brooks Over 22.5 points
Dillon Brooks Under 2.5 threes
Magic moneyline
Magic vs Suns odds
Spread: Magic +1.5 | Suns -1.5
Moneyline: Magic +105 | Suns -125
Over/Under: Over 218 | Under 218
Magic vs Suns betting trend to know
Phoenix is 1-4 against the spread in its last five games, falling short of bookmakers’ expectations by an average of 11.1 points per game, even including the sole ATS victory. Find more NBA betting trends for Magic vs. Suns.
How to watch Magic vs Suns
Location
Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, AZ
Date
Saturday, February 21, 2026
Tip-off
5:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBA TV
Magic vs Suns 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.
Feb 19, 2026; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners shortstop Colt Emerson (85) during spring training photo day in Peoria, AZ. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
And we’re back.
Yesterday we got our first taste of Mariners baseball for 2026 , which is a great milestone to mark off the calendar. The pomp and circumstance may be somewhat lesser today, but we do get our first reminder for the steady rhythm of the season: the Mariners play every Saturday from now until Oct. 10, when the schedule makers offer a rest day before the ALCS. Hopefully it works out that way.
The Mariners roll out a lineup with dueling Emersons: Colt Emerson gets his first at bats of the spring and plays third base, while Emerson Hancock takes the mound for the first time. Both are looking to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 27: Cody Freeman #39 of the Texas Rangers looks on prior to a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on September 27, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Texas Rangers infielder Cody Freeman has been diagnosed with a stress fracture in his back, the team announced today. He is expected to miss four to six weeks.
Freeman, who the beats say gave the team an injection of energy when he came up last August, was in the mix for a bench spot to start the season. This would seem to lock Ezequiel Duran in for the backup infielder spot, which, barring injury, would mean that one spot is still open among position players, given that Sam Haggerty appears to be a given.
The team also announced that Winston Santos has a fracture in his non-throwing hand, a result of being hit by a comebacker while throwing batting practice. He won’t be facing batters for the next four weeks, but he will be able to throw in that period, so once his left hand heals he should be able to get back into action pretty quick.
Santos missed most of the 2025 season due to injury, making only 6 starts — five for Frisco, one for Round Rock — before throwing 18 innings in the Arizona Fall League. I would expect he’ll start the season in Round Rock, though he could go back to AA Frisco to start the year.
SAN ANTONIO, TX -FEBRUARY 19: De'Aaron Fox #4 and Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs goes through a pre-game ritual before the start of their game against Phoenix Suns at Moody Center on February 19, 2026 in Austin, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Before the latest NBA season began, I wrote a piece entitled End of Summer Disjointed Basketball Thoughts. Now that we are past the All-Star break, and teams have played about two-thirds of their schedules, I thought it was a good time for a follow-up, especially with all the knowledge we have gained since last August. But with that knowledge, “disjointed” doesn’t sound like the right term. What is the opposite of disjointed? Jointed? Or is disjointed one of those works without an opposite? You will hear about disgruntled employees, but you don’t fix that problem by making them “gruntled”. Yeah, that sounds worse. And if a team’s season unravels (see, for instance, the Sacramento Kings), they don’t hope to “ravel” or “re-ravel” in the following season.
Perhaps this is one of those unsolvable issues with the English language. I could go Bad Bunny and write this in Spanish, but unfortunately, no hablo Español. So I will proceed with my post-All-Star game jointed thoughts in English.
My first disjointed thought in my post from last August addressed the three-guard conundrum the Spurs had purportedly created by drafting Dylan Harper when they already had DeAron Fox and Stephon Castle. I think I nailed this one:
“The basketball universe unanimously approved the Spurs’ selection on Dylan Harper as the clear second best player in the 2025 NBA draft. The only concern I have heard is that Harper’s skills overlap with those of the anticipated starting backcourt of De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle.
“Having coached a bit, I know that having three good guards for the two backcourt spots is a good thing, not a bad one. The reason is simple — players don’t play all 48 minutes. Indeed, the Spurs’ best player last year (you know his name) averaged just 33 minutes per game. In 17 games with the Spurs, Fox averaged 34 minutes while Castle averaged 27. If Fox and Castle play the same amount this season, they will play a total of 61 minutes out of the 96 minutes available. That leaves 35 minutes for Harper or others — for instance. if Devin Vassell splits his time between the 2 and the 3. Harper will be not be 20 years old until March 2026 — and 20 is probably about the right number of minutes for such a young player in his rookie season.”
Coming out of the All-Star break, Fox was averaging 32 minutes per game, Castle was at 30, and Harper was at 22 minutes per game. A total of 84 minutes out of the 96 available. And to quote Teri Hatcher — those minutes have been real and spectacular. As predicted, Vassell surely soaked up about 12 minutes per game playing the 2-spot on the rare occasions the Spurs play only one of their spectacular guards.
I also addressed the log-jam at the forward spots:
“The three man rotation may not work as well for the Spurs frontcourt because the Spurs have five players competing for those minutes: Vassell, Harrison Barnes, Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan and Julian Champagnie.”
The Spurs “solved” that log-jam by essentially not playing Sochan, and then electing to not play him right out of town. We all hope he does well with the Knicks — he just didn’t get significant time this year with the Spurs. The rest of the group are all part of the regular rotation, with Vassell averaging 30 minutes per game (which includes his time at the 2), Champagnie starting with 28 minutes per game, Johnson thriving in the Sixth Man role at 24 minutes, and Barnes (who has forgotten how to shoot) now coming off the bench – still averaging 28 minutes but with a downward arrow.
For the post guys, I said this:
“After Harper, the Spurs’ second most important addition was Luke Kornet, signed away from the Celtics. Although I have not watched very much Celtic basketball, my Celtics’ fan friends (easier to have those friends once I abandoned the Lakers) all really like him. Sticking with the minutes theme, Kornet averaged just over 18 minutes per game, which fits nicely into the minutes that Victor is not on the floor. If you double Kornet’s counting stats, over 36 minutes Kornet averaged 12 points, 10 boards and 2 blocks — much more productive than anyone who filled the back-up 5 role for the Spurs last season.”
Because of some minutes restrictions and missed games by the Spurs main post guy (you know who that is), Kornet has averaged 23 minutes per game, more than the 18 minutes I projected. But the predicted productivity has been there – over 36 minutes, Kornet is at 11, 10 and 2 – and some very effective and bone-crushing screens to free shooters.
All in all, I think my pre-season disjointed thoughts about the Spurs were actually pretty jointed. Other jointed thoughts:
The Spurs are now closer to the first place Thunder than they are to third place. Raise your hand if you predicted that before the season started. All of you with your hands up, I don’t believe you, but yes, you can use the restroom. I could ask the same question about whether you predicted the Spurs’ 4-1 record against the defending champion Thunder, but people probably don’t need to use the restroom twice. (If you do, think about going to Urgent Care.)
Speaking of second and third place, if the Spurs don’t overtake OKC, they really need to stay in that second slot in the West. With their almost total lack of play-off experience, the Spurs would greatly benefit from a fairly easy first-round series to get their feet wet. Coming in second allows such a series. The teams presently in those slots are likely to remain there because (1) they aren’t good enough or healthy enough to move up and out of the 7-10 slots and (2) the teams below those four teams both stink and are trying to stink even more, also known as “tanking”. (Portland, in 10th place, has six more wins than 11th place Memphis.) Coming in third would mean a first round series against a playoff-tested team like the Timberwolves or the Lakers — or even a Denver team with championship experience. No thank you. The second simple reason to prefer the second slot is obvious. If the Spurs get through the first round, they would much rather have home court advantage against who ever they play next— likely the Nuggets or Rockets.
Rooting for the Spurs to come in second puts me in the unusual position of rooting against a team I generally like – the Nuggets. Thursday night was especially tough, because that meant rooting for the LA Clippers in their stunning one-point win over the Nuggets. And that win came playing a bunch of guys I have never heard of and one I have — Kawhi Leonard. To avoid the whiplash, I decided to just turn off the TV and go read a book.
Is it too soon to start looking at Eastern Conference records? I earlier pointed out that the Celtics have been the one team even more surprisingly successful this season than the Spurs. And it looks like Jason Tatum will be joining the team in March, with enough time to ramp up before the playoffs. As of Saturday, the Celtics are three games back of the Spurs. If that holds up, the Spurs would have home-court advantage in a Finals match-up with the Celtics. Am I predicting that? No. But if that happens, I will certainly come back to this post and make some small adjustments to make the answer: “Yes, and you saw it here first!!”.
Tarik Skubal is fresh off a record-setting $32 million dollar arbitration win and is one of the eight players on the MLB Players Association executive subcommittee, so his hands have been full this summer.
Skubal is also coming off back-to-back Cy Young awards and an absolute dominate showing in 2025. The 29-year-old LHP had a 2.21 ERA, 13-6 record, and career-highs in WHIP (0.89), WAR (6.6) innings pitched (195.1) to go along with 241 strikeouts to 33 walks. Looking over his baseball savant page, Skubal couldn't have really been better, unless he was a video game character playing on easy mode.
Tarik Skubal baseball savant page
Skubal is renown as the best pitcher in all of baseball, not just the AL, and a third-straight Cy Young would make him the sixth player to accomplish this feat after Greg Maddux, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martínez, Sandy Koufax, and Jim Palmer. Barring injury, Skubal will be a top-two candidate to win the AL Cy Young all season, and all trade rumors should be put to rest. The Tigers would be fools to deal Skubal.
2. Garrett Crochet, Boston Red Sox (+425)
The leash was off of Garrett Crochet last year in his debut season with Boston and it resulted in as second-place finish for the AL Cy Young. Crochet totaled four first-place votes and 26 second-place votes last year finishing behind Tarik Skubal and ahead of Hunter Brown, Max Fried, and Bryan Woo.
Crochet led all of baseball in strikeouts (255), was second in wins (18), second in innings pitched (205.1), sixth in ERA (2.59), eighth in WHIP (1.03), and 12th in OBA (.217). Crochet matched his 2024 season with 32 games started, but tripled his wins from 6 to 18 and added almost 60 more innings pitched going from the White Sox to the Red Sox. The 26-year-old LHP is entering his prime and is the biggest contender to Skubal.
I bet Crochet last year to win AL Cy Young and he came as close as possible despite Skull's fantastic season. I will run it back and bet on Crochet to win the award, as it's difficult to win three consecutive Cy Young's and pitch 190-plus innings in three straight years.
3. Max Fried, New York Yankees (+1700)
In his first season with the Yankees, Max Fried led the MLB in wins (19) and set a career-high in victories, plus innings pitched (195.1), strikeouts (189), and games started (32). The 32-year-old picked up where he left off in 2021 and 2022 with the Braves and dominated the regular season.
The last time we saw Fried, he was bombarded for seven earned runs on eight hits against the Blue Jays in a Game 2 loss, which I'm sure added some fuel to the fire for this upcoming season. Fried finished fourth in AL Cy Young voting last season with six third-place votes, 20 fourth-place votes, and three fifth-place votes.
The Yankees get Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon back from injuries this season, so New York's rotation won't rely on Fried as heavily. I think a third-place finish is likely for the lefty and his odds should be a little shorter to match Hunter Brown (+1300), Cole Ragans (+1300) and the next pitcher on my list.
Before we get there, her are the top candidates for American League Cy Young courtesy of DraftKings.
American League Cy Young odds via DraftKings
4. Jacob deGrom, Texas Rangers (+1300)
Last season, Jacob deGrom recorded his most wins, innings pitched, strikeouts, and more since 2019. After being riddled with injuries over the last five seasons, with the Mets and Rangers, the 37-year-old won American League Comeback Player of the Year.
deGrom had the second-best WHIP (0.92) behind Skubal, the fifth-best OBA (.196), and the 12th-best ERA (2.97). If he posts similar numbers, drops the ERA a bit, and can give Texas more than 172 innings of work, then he should be a top five contender for the Cy Young. deGrom won back-to-back Cy Young awards in the 2018 and 2019, which were the last healthy seasons for the veteran.
With only a few years left before retirement, deGrom's last chance to join the elite ranks of an AL and NL Cy Young trophy is running out. Since 2000, only Max Scherzer has won a Cy Young in the AL and NL. Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens are two more stars who accomplished this feat in the 1990's. With Skubal and Crochet in their primes, I personally don't see deGrom winning this season, but anything can happen.
A sleeper for this award is deGrom's teammate, MacKenzie Gore (+4000). Gore joins the Rangers after a 5-15 season with the Nationals and a 4.17 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and 159.2 innings pitched. The trio of deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, and Gore will be one of the most fun pitching rotations in baseball this year.
5. Framber Valdez, Detroit Tigers (+2200)
This may come as a surprise having Framber Valdez as my No. 5 pick for Cy Young, but the move to Detroit was massive. Valdez has five-straight seasons of double-digit wins, four consecutive of 176-plus innings pitched, and at least 169 strikeouts over the past four years.
While Valdez is coming off his worst ERA (3.66) since 2020, the former Astro posted the second-best WAR of his career (3.8) and tied for the most games started (31). Valdez is durable and he will join Tarik Skubal, Justin Verlander, Jack Flaherty, and Casey Mize in one of the best rotations in not just the American League, but all of baseball. That rotation will boost Valdez's status and he won't be playing indoors as often like he was with Houston.
Detroit has hitters all over the lineup and I fully expect Valdez to post another double-digit win season and a sub 3.00 ERA like he did in 2022 and 2024. Winning the award is a different story though with Skubal in the lineup, but Valdez could be a top-five finisher for Cy Young and beat out guys with better odds like Hunter Brown (+1300) or Cole Ragans (+1300).
MLB Futures Card
3 units: Pittsburgh Pirates Over 76.5 Wins (-115) 1 unit: Pittsburgh Pirates to win NL Central (+800) 1 unit: Paul Skenes to win NL CY Young (+250) 1 unit: Garrett Crochet to win AL CY Young (+425) 0.5 unit: Konnor Griffin to win NL Rookie of the Year (+600) 0.5 unit: Bubba Chandler to win NL Rookie of the Year (+1200)
⚾️ Coming soon: MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.
How to sign up for Peacock:
Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You’ll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.
PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint Germain returned to the top of the French league on Saturday thanks to a favor from Champions League playoff opponent Monaco.
Désiré Doue, Bradley Barcola and Goncalo Ramos scored for PSG to defeat last-place Metz 3-0 and capitalize on Monaco’s earlier 3-2 win over previous leader Lens.
PSG moved two points clear of Lens with 11 rounds to play.
Lens had moved top the previous weekend with a 5-0 rout of promoted Paris FC while PSG lost 3-1 at Rennes.
But Lens’ hopes of a prolonged stay at the summit were dealt a bitter blow Saturday after it squandered a comfortable two-goal lead and conceded three goals to Metz after the hour-mark.
Lens stunned
Odsonne Édouard scored early with a volley for Lens and Florian Thauvin converted the rebound after Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Köhn could only parry a deflected shot early in the second half.
That was as good as it got for the home team.
United States forward Folarin Balogun scored against the run of play in the 62nd, Denis Zakaria equalized in the 70th and Ansu Fati pounced on another defensive blunder to make it 3-2 two minutes after that.
It was quite the reversal for Monaco, which led PSG 2-0 in the first leg of their Champions League playoff on Tuesday after two goals from Balogun, only to lose 3-2.
Lens’ evening was summed up when Saud Abdulhamid was booked for diving instead of getting a penalty that he felt he deserved.
PSG responds
Metz must have feared a rout when Doue scored after just two minutes of play after Warren Zaïre-Emery played a long ball in behind the high line of Metz defenders.
Ramos played the ball across goal for Barcola to head the second before the break.
The home team played it safe after it, when it failed to register a shot on target until Ramos got the third in the 77th.
PSG could arguably have scored more but seemed more intent on conserving energy for Wednesday’s rendezvous with Monaco for the second leg of their Champions League playoff in Paris. The winner will go on to face Barcelona or Chelsea in the round of 16.
Also Saturday, Argentine teenager Julián Vignolo scored late as a substitute for mid-table Toulouse to draw 1-1 with promoted Paris FC.
Scotland pinch victory over spirited Wales five minutes from time in thrilling Six Nations contest in Cardiff.
Yes, we know the team is struggling, but the Principality Stadium looks incredible!
If you are a rugby fan and you’ve not visited this cathedral, get your accountant on the line and book yourself a trip.
I am not a confident Welsh fan. There are so many issues at the moment, it’s hard to know where to start. The WRU is spectacularly badly run. We were fortunate to have a couple of generations of genuinely World Class players between the mid 00’s and 2020ish, and considering the resources available, population, player base etc, that was always likely to drop off at some point. But I don’t think anyone expected the drop-off to be quite so drastic. We kept being told that it was a young side who would gained experience and improve. But that’s been a stuck record for 4 years or so. There’s no identity to the team. When you watch them, you often cant see what they’re trying to achieve. The basics, the flipping basics(!), are repeatedly falling apart. The first quarter against England was as bad a spell of international rugby as you’re ever likely to see. I don’t know where to go from here. It’s hideous.
Sacramento picked up De'Andre Hunter at the trade deadline in a three-team deal that gave it a little more size on the wing as it sent out Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder to Cleveland.
Two games into his Kings career, Hunter suffered an eye injury that kept him out of the final three games before the All-Star break and the first one after it. It is serious enough that he underwent eye surgery on Friday and will miss the remainder of the season, the team announced (a story first reported by Chris Haynes and Marc Stein).
Hunter joins Domantas Sabonis (knee) and Zach LaVine (hand) as key Kings players now out for the season due to surgery. The Kings are 12-45 on the season and have lost 15 games in a row.
Hunter averaged 13.7 points and 4.1 rebounds a game between Cleveland and Sacramento this season, shooting just 30.5% from 3-point range. Hunter is under contract next season for $24.9 million, after which he becomes a free agent.
SARASOTA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 11: Dean Kremer #64 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches live during practice at Ed Smith Stadium on February 11, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Baltimore Orioles/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Orioles’ Grapefruit League opener yesterday was a resounding success, at least if you’re a pitcher or Pete Alonso. The Birds’ newest slugger mashed a two-run homer in his O’s spring debut to provide all the offense in a 2-0 win over the Yankees. Trevor Rogers, Keegan Akin, Rico Garcia, Grant Wolfram, Jose Espada, and Trey Gibson combined on a three-hit shutout, with Gibson pitching the final three innings for the save. All of those guys except Gibson are either locks or strong candidates for the Opening Day roster, so it’s nice to see them all start well.
The O’s have a return engagement at Ed Smith Stadium today against the Pirates. Dean Kremer, who will soon be leaving the Orioles to pitch for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic, takes the mound today. It’s strange to think that Kremer might have to compete for a rotation spot, but that may be the case, as he, Chris Bassitt, and Zach Eflin (if healthy) are three candidates for two openings behind Rogers, Kyle Bradish, and Shane Baz.
Today’s game marks the Orioles debuts for Taylor Ward and Blaze Alexander, while Dylan Beavers and Ryan Mountcastle will also be starting for the first time this spring. Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson, the latter of whom will soon leave for the WBC as well, are the only Orioles from yesterday’s game who are starting again today. They’ll take on Pirates prospect Wilber Dotel. Former Orioles Ryan O’Hearn and Billy Cook are in the Pirates’ lineup this afternoon.
The game will be televised on MASN and on radio on 98 Rock.
Orioles lineup:
LF Taylor Ward C Adley Rutschman 1B Ryan Mountcastle 2B Blaze Alexander DH Gunnar Henderson RF Dylan Beavers CF Leody Taveras 3B Weston Wilson SS Luis Vázquez
CUBS vs. RANGERS: The Cubs will also face the Rangers in a Spring Training game Tuesday, March 10 at Surprise Stadium. The teams will play a three-game regular season series in Arlington, Texas May 8-9-10.
UPCOMING STARTERS: Colin Rea will start Sunday against the Giants at Scottsdale and Ben Brown will go against the Royals Monday at Surprise.
Matthew Boyd will start for the Cubs. Other Cubs pitchers scheduled today: Daniel Palencia, Hoby Milner, Luke Little, Jack Neely and Jeff Brigham.
Kumar Rocker will start for the Rangers. Other Rangers pitchers scheduled today: Cal Quantrill, Luis Curvelo, Carter Baumler and Patrick Murphy.
Today’s game will be on Marquee Sports Network. There will also be a radio broadcast on 670 The Score, as well as on the Rangers radio channel, Rangers 105.3.
Please note that during spring training, Gameday sometimes doesn’t go pitch-by-pitch as it does during the regular season — usually, it will update after each at-bat.
Please visit our SB Nation Rangers site Lone Star Ball. If you do go there to interact with Rangers fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
As we have done in the past, we’ll have a first pitch thread at five minutes to game time and one overflow thread, 90 minutes after game time. For today, that will be 2 p.m. CT and 3:30 p.m. CT.
These threads will not post individually onto the front page; instead, you can find links to them in the box marked ”Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page. There will also be a StoryStream on the front page with all the game thread links, as well as the recap after the game is over. The pitcher photos and regular-season stats will return on Opening Day.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander talks to pitching coach Chris Fetter after practice during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Feb 16, 2026; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals catcher Iván Herrera (right) and pitcher Matthew Liberatore (32) shake hands after pitching drills during spring training workouts at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images | Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 13: Jackson Ferris #93 of the Los Angeles Dodgers participates in a throwing session during spring training workouts at Camelback Ranch on February 13, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers on Sunday take on the San Diego Padres at Peoria Sports Complex for their second game of the spring schedule.
Jackson Ferris gets the start on the mound on Sunday. The Branch Rickey Award in 2024 as the Dodgers minor league pitcher of the year, Ferris struggled at times in Double-A Tulsa last season but rebounded down the stretch with a 1.95 ERA and three home runs allowed over his final 15 starts of 2025.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 20: Arizona Diamondbacks infielder, Nolan Arenado steps up to the plate during the first 2026 spring training game at Salt River Field at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 20, 2026. The Arizona Diamondbacks went onto beat the Colorado Rockies 3-2. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) | Denver Post via Getty Images
Diamondbacks News
Lawlar Gets Center Field Nod Once the team takes the field today, Jordan Lawlar will begin to make his case for or against all the faith that has been placed in him over the last few years.
Arenado Discusses Full Circle Home Run Jake McCarthy was wearing Colorado purple and Nolan Arenado was wearing Arizona colours. McCarthy showed he still has wheels. Arenado showed he still has pop in his bat. The veteran third baseman reflects on swatting a dinger against the club that brought him up.
Arizona’s Top Prospect Getting a Taste Arizona’s top prospect, Ryan Waldschmidt, is getting an opportunity to impress this spring. The slugging outfielder is unlikely to make the opening day roster, but this is an opportunity to put himself on the fast track to MLB promotion.
Bill Mazerowski Passes Away at 89 The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced that 17-year Pirate, and Hall of Famer, Bill Mazerowski passed away yesterday. As one of the greatest Bucs of all-time, he will be missed.
If you aren’t already familiar with the name Dax Whitney, get familiar with him ASAP.
2027 MLB Draft 1.01 candidate – and if he was in the draft this year, he would very much challenge UCLA SS Roch Cholowsky for that slot. #MLB#NCAA#MiLBhttps://t.co/bx6KNPyTJR
