Reds to place Nick Lodolo on injured list with blister issue

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 12: Nick Lodolo #40 of the Cincinnati Reds gets set to throw a pitch during a Spring Training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch on March 12, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The good news is that Cincinnati Reds lefty Nick Lodolo isn’t really injured, per se. He’s once again dealing with a blister issue on his left (throwing) hand, one that popped up in his final appearance of Cactus League action down in Arizona during a record-touching heat wave.

Apparently, though, it’s bad enough that they want to be careful with him – so careful that they’re going to place in him on the IL to begin the season. Gordon Wittenyer of The Enquirer relayed the news on Tuesday evening, noting that the Reds will use their deep set of starters to stack Rhett Lowder, Chase Burns, and Brandon Williamson in the rotation behind Opening Day starter Andrew Abbott and Brady Singer.

Given the decision to do the move to the IL right now, though, means that Lodolo will only miss the first 12 days of the regular season. That stretch of games includes a pair of days off, meaning the Reds are effectively going to skip him roughly one and a half times through the rotation (depending upon how they choose to line things up for a road trip that takes them first to Texas and then Miami.)

Is it great news? Obviously not.

Is it terrible news? Not really.

The Reds have five starting pitchers of incredible quality lined up right now to start the season despite the fact that Hunter Greene is on the 60-day IL and Lodolo, too, is now on the shelf. They’ll be able to carry an extra reliever now that their ‘six for five’ starting conglomerate has been thinned again, and while that’s a test of their depth to start the season it’s also an immediate testament to the depth they’ve built up.

The biggest hope here, of course, is that a blister issue that has haunted Lodolo multiple times already in his career has gotten itself out of the way right now, and won’t be a further problem down the road this season by taking the time right now to make 100% sure it’s right.

The fine folks at Razzball are still very much saying ‘giddy up’ about Cincinnati’s starting pitching.

The streak lives…for one more day

Aug 15, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants left fielder Heliot Ramos (17) fields a fly ball against the Tampa Bay Rays during the sixth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images | Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images

To start, and going against all the advice I give my students about constructing effective persuasive arguments, feel free to disregard this idea from the jump. Tony Vitello already has. I can hear his disembodied voice, sounding suddenly a lot like Graham Chapman, tutting in my ear as I write this: Stop that, it’s too silly

Yes, having Heliot Ramos anywhere but left field in the Opening Day roster would be a silly thing to do, especially if the sole reason for doing so is to maintain the San Francisco Giants’ freak-streak of starting a different Opening Day left fielder every year since Barry Bonds in 2007. 

Yet it is late March. Baseball blooms. The days widen. Flowers throw color from their petals, and I remember Nori Aoki.  

The Streak lives — at least, for one more day. And while I believe thatthe list of left fielders, repeated enough, becomes a poem, a mantra, tied to a breath, a reliquary, its names cupped around a sacred pearl, I don’t believe in the cosmic jinx. Ramos is penciled in as the Giants’ starter for Wednesday’s Opening Day, and no soliloquy or ode or incantation will change that.   

Roberts…Lewis…DeRosa… 

Parker…Pence…Joe… 

Each successive name represents the un-fillable void. Physical manifestations of the player to be named at the last minute, the who-cares? At some point, the surnames should’ve been struck from the back of their jerseys. Instead: Not Bonds.  Nearly two decades later, with Cy Youngs and an MVP award won, division crowns, three World Series Championships, a franchise regular season win-record, among other club accolades, Barry’s absence is still felt to this day. 

One more day.

Is this streak a living tribute to the best there ever was? A memorial? Or is it a dubious log of ineptitude? A curse, with its true consequences finally rearing its ugly head? 

As Bryan points out, the Giants stand at the threshold of franchise notoriety, with four non-winning seasons under their belt. Are they about to start a fifth? One could certainly argue now is the time to exorcize some demons and end the streak at 19 with Ramos. Willy Adames’s 30 home runs in 2025 slayed another weird franchise bogeyman, and with it brought some perspective: It’s better when players hit 30 home runs than not. It stands to reason a consistent left fielder rather than a carousel of players is better too. Change should be invited by a club with one foot so often stuck in the mud of nostalgia. This, I suppose, is a problem for many franchises. We want the glorification of a successful past to boomerang fans to thinking about a successful present. Check this out: One unbroken line of winning by winners. But for so many, the “remember those guys!” celebrations serve as a distraction from the uncomfortable “who are these guys?” populating the field now. 

Time to slash through these tired and tarnished artifacts that were so burdensome yet felt oddly comforting.

Yes, it’s possible I’m reading too much in the meter of Dickerson and Slater // Pederson and Sabol. Sometimes the only way we can exert some semblance of control over these weights on our backs is to make them heavier with meaning.

Brewers win final spring exhibition in 4-1 victory over Reds

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Sproat (23) stretches during spring training workouts Monday, February 16, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona. | Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Box Score

The Milwaukee Brewers picked up another win at American Family Field on Tuesday afternoon, winning their final spring exhibition over the Reds by a 4-1 final.

With Brandon Sproat on the mound for one last tune-up outing, he worked around a Matt McLain walk for a scoreless first, including strikeouts of Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart. Righty flamethrower Chase Burns did him one better in the bottom of the inning, striking out Jackson Chourio, Brice Turang, and William Contreras in order.

Sproat worked around another walk in the second, picking up another strikeout and a double play to end the inning. In the bottom of the inning, the Spring of Jake Bauers continued, as he crushed a two-out solo homer 401 feet over the wall in right-center to give Milwaukee a 1-0 lead. It marked Bauers’ seventh homer of the spring.

Sproat worked another strong inning in the third, picking up a pair of strikeouts to work around a two-out single. Milwaukee went down in order once again in the bottom of the inning, while Sproat had yet another solid frame in the fourth, giving up a single to Eugenio Suárez but nothing else.

That would mark the end of the day for Sproat, as he went four scoreless frames with two hits and two walks allowed, striking out five.

After Milwaukee went down 1-2-3 against Burns in the fourth, Kyle Harrison took over on the mound for the Brewers. He allowed a walk and a single but picked up two strikeouts as Milwaukee’s lead held at 1-0 halfway into the game.

The Brewers tacked on another in the bottom of the inning, as Bauers doubled and later scored on a David Hamilton single. Hamilton also stole second, his seventh of the spring, but he’d be stranded there.

In the sixth, Harrison allowed a leadoff homer to De La Cruz to cut the lead to 2-1. After Stewart followed with a single, Harrison settled in to get a strikeout, a groundout, and a lineout. Rhett Lowder took over for Burns in the bottom of the sixth and worked around a William Contreras single and an error that allowed Andrew Vaughn to reach.

Harrison allowed another single and hit a batter in the seventh, but didn’t allow either runner to come around. In the bottom of the inning, Sal Frelick reached on an error to begin the inning and Joey Ortiz singled two batters later. Frelick was replaced by Cooper Pratt, Luis Lara took Ortiz’s place on the basepaths, and both pinch runners came around to score on a two-run single by Brandon Lockridge to make it 4-1. Gary Sánchez also singled, but the inning would end on a pair of groundouts.

The eighth and ninth innings came and went without much excitement — Harrison picked up a double play in the eighth, the Brewers went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning, and Brian Fitzpatrick picked up the final two outs in a scoreless ninth.

Bauers was once again the star, going 2-for-4 to finish his spring with a stellar .462/.571/1.154 line with seven homers, six doubles, nine RBIs, and 14 runs across 15 games. No other Brewer finished with multiple hits, as six others had a single apiece.

On the mound, Sproat took the win while Harrison got a hold over 4 1/3 innings of one-run ball, allowing five hits and a walk with five strikeouts.

Opening Day is on deck this Thursday, as the Brewers will take on the White Sox in Milwaukee. Jacob Misiorowski gets the start in that one, with Shane Smith starting for Chicago. First pitch is at 1:10 p.m.

Brian Snitker to be inducted into Braves Hall of Fame on April 25

HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 27: Brian Snitker #43 of the Atlanta Braves looks on from the dugout prior to Game 2 of the 2021 World Series between the Atlanta Braves and the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday, October 27, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Atlanta Braves will inducted former manager Brian Snitker to the organization’s Hall of Fame on April 25, 2026. The third winningest manager in franchise history with 811 regular season victories, Snitker also led the team to the 2021 World Series championship – the organization’s first since 1995.

Snitker, who joined the organization as a player in 1977, began his coaching career in 1980 in the Braves minor league system garnering his first managerial opportunity in 1982 in the South Atlantic League. For the next four decades, he was a manager or coach with the organization in the minor leagues or with the big league club.

Snitker replaced Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez during the 2016 season on a interim basis. He would go on to manage the team through 2025, winning six consecutive National League East Division titles from 2018 through 2023 and making the post-season in seven of the nine season’s he was at the helm of the team for the entirety of the year.

After the end of the 2025 regular season, Snitker announced he would retire from managing. He is now an advisor in the organization.

The ceremony will take place prior to a game with the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. Snitker will be the first inductee to the Braves Hall of Fame since 2024.

Cavs vs. Magic open gamethread

ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 11: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Thomas Bryant #3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers high five during the game against the Orlando Magic on March 11, 2026 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers will try to push their winning streak to four games as they take on the Orlando Magic on national TV.

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Dealing with a busted bracket?

The Sweet 16 is almost here – who’s still alive? We’re reviewing the week that was in the first week of the NCAA tournament and turning our focus to remaining teams. How bad (or good!) is your bracket? Join us in the SB Nation March Madness Feed and let’s talk about who’s most likely to make a run to glory.

Go Cavs!

Kenny Atkinson provides update on Jarrett Allen

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 01: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on March 01, 2026 in New York City. 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 Jordan Bank/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Cleveland Cavaliers head coachKenny Atkinson provided an update for injured center Jarrett Allen, and it was an encouraging one.

“He’s ramped it up in the last few days,” Atkinson said before Tuesday night’s game against the Orlando Magic. “Trending positive, watched him yesterday on the court. I think we are in the last stage of getting him ready.”

Allen has now missed nine games in a row, having first felt discomfort on March 3 against the Detroit Pistons. The team has described it as tendonitis, though there has been a bit of ambiguity since it was first thought to be a banged knee. But his impending return would be a boon for the Cavs, who have missed the pick-and-roll dynamism and rim protection. That has not stopped the Cavs from finding ways to win games, however.

Evan Mobley has filled the role of center admirably with more confidence and force of late, though his inability to hit free throws leaves a lot to be desired. But the overarching theme is that his play is translating in a way that should persist even when his front-court mate is back in the starting lineup.

“When he (Mobley) goes back to the four when Allen is back, I anticipate him playing better,” Atkinson continued. “I feel like post-All-Star, Evan has just been a different character.”

Sure enough, Mobley is shooting nearly 10% better from the floor after the All-Star Break compared to prior while maintaining similar rebounds, steals, and blocks. The return of Allen will impede those numbers, surely, but the bigger question for Mobley has been aggressiveness and confidence. If that manages to continue even with Allen’s return, it would be a very positive development for the Cavs as they head toward the postseason.

Warriors Moses Moody diagnosed with torn patellar tendon in left knee, out for season

Everyone knew it was bad from the moment it happened. An MRI confirmed it.

The Warriors' Moses Moody has suffered a torn patellar tendon in his left knee and is out for the season, the team announced Tuesday.

The patellar tendon attaches the kneecap to the shinbone and is crucial in helping straighten out a leg. This tear is more common among football players (especially linemen), but it has also happened in the NBA to Jeremy Lin, Victor Oladipo, and Dante Exum, among others. Full recovery can take anywhere from nine months to a year, meaning Moody will miss at least some of next season.

The injury occurred in overtime, when Moody stole the ball from Dallas' rookie Cooper Flagg near midcourt and was going in for the exclamation point dunk when his knee gave way.

This is the second knee injury to a Warriors rotation player that will bleed into next season. Jimmy Butler's torn ACL will force him to miss a portion of next season.

Moody had a solid season for the Warriors, averaging 11.9 points per game while shooting 40.2% from 3-point range. This was Moody's first game back after missing 10 games with a sprained wrist.

Moody is in the first year of a three-year, $37.5 million contract signed this past summer. He will make $12.5 million next season and $13.4 million in the 2027-28 season.

Avalanche Explode For Four-Goal First Period, Cruise Past Penguins

Martin Nečas delivered a statement performance with two goals, while Nathan MacKinnon continued his torrid scoring pace with his NHL-leading 46th of the season, as the Colorado Avalanche rolled to a commanding 6–2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night.

The game turned decisively in the closing minutes of the opening period, when Nečas, Sam Malinski, and Parker Kelly struck in rapid succession—three goals in just 1:55—to blow it open and silence the Pittsburgh crowd. The outburst not only seized momentum but also served as emphatic redemption for Colorado, which was on the wrong end of a lopsided loss to Pittsburgh just a week earlier in Denver. Cale Makar factored into the surge as well, recording an assist on Nečas’ first goal to bring his career point total to 499, putting him on the doorstep of another milestone.

A beauty of a goal from Nathan MacKinnon.

Colorado never looked back from there. MacKinnon’s goal further underlined his MVP-caliber season, while Ross Colton added an empty-net tally late to cap off the dominant effort.

Between the pipes, Scott Wedgewood was steady and composed, turning aside 27 shots to backstop the league-leading Avalanche. The win marks their third straight on a four-game road trip, with the finale set for Thursday in Winnipeg.

For Pittsburgh, Egor Chinakhov and Rickard Rakell provided the lone offensive breakthroughs. Kris Letang added a secondary assist on Chinakhov’s career-high 17th goal, reaching a significant personal milestone in the process—becoming just the 21st defenseman in NHL history to record 800 career points.

Artūrs Šilovs, meanwhile, endured a difficult start and was unable to recover, finishing with 23 saves as Colorado’s early surge proved too much to overcome. The loss is Pittsburgh’s third in its last four games, a setback that further complicates its position in an increasingly tight Eastern Conference playoff race.

The Penguins were also without veteran center Evgeni Malkin, who remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury. The 39-year-old had been instrumental in Pittsburgh’s dominant showing against Colorado last week, scoring twice in his return from a five-game suspension, making his absence all the more noticeable in this rematch.

First Period

At 3:57 of the opening frame, Colorado’s defensive coverage briefly unraveled, allowing Tommy Novak to slip undetected into open ice. He found himself in alone with a clean look, but Wedgewood stood tall, squaring up and turning aside the chance with a calm, technically sound stop to keep the game scoreless.

Just over a minute later, the Avalanche capitalized on a costly turnover. MacKinnon anticipated a pass from Parker Wotherspoon, jumped the lane, and exploded up ice on a breakaway. With confidence, he snapped a shot that rang cleanly off the crossbar and down across the goal line, giving Colorado a 1–0 lead with his league-leading 46th goal.

Pittsburgh responded 3:12 later in a sequence layered with irony. Samuel Girard—facing his former club after a deadline deal—helped initiate the play that led to Chinakhov’s equalizer. The winger stepped into a one-timer from distance and beat Wedgewood clean to knot the game at 1–1.

The tie didn’t last. With 4:36 remaining, Malinski restored the Avalanche lead with a determined individual effort. After being denied earlier in the shift by a sharp blocker save, he stayed engaged in the play, found a shooting lane through traffic, and snapped a shot past Šilovs for his first goal in 27 games.

Moments later, discipline issues proved costly for Pittsburgh. After Noel Acciari was sent off for tripping Josh Manson, Colorado’s power play struck with ruthless efficiency—needing just five seconds. Makar won the draw sequence and quickly fed Nečas, who hammered a one-timer past the goaltender for his 33rd of the season, extending his road goal streak to eight games.

Before the Penguins could regroup, the Avalanche struck again. Just 35 seconds later, Kelly capped off a relentless offensive surge, finishing a crisp one-timer off a feed from Logan O’Connor. The goal—his career-high 16th—pushed the lead to 4–1 and underscored Colorado’s overwhelming pace. For O’Connor, the assist marked a meaningful return, recording a point in his first game back after nearly a year sidelined by a second offseason hip surgery.

By the end of the period, the Avalanche had seized complete control, pouring in four goals and outshooting Pittsburgh 15–12 in a dominant, momentum-shifting frame.

Second Period

At the 7:05 mark, Wedgewood delivered arguably the save of the night, sprawling across the crease to rob Ben Kindel with a spectacular diving glove stop. Kindel—fresh off his heroics in the earlier NHL 26 simulation—could only look skyward in disbelief.

Moments later, Justin Brazeau appeared to cut into the deficit, jamming home a loose puck while down on his knees. However, after a brief review, officials overturned the goal, ruling his left skate had entered the crease before contact from Devon Toews disrupted the play and knocked the goaltender off balance. The decision drew visible frustration from the Penguins bench and head coach Dan Muse.

Colorado faced a test midway through the period when Nazem Kadri was assessed a double-minor for a high stick on Novak. Despite the extended penalty, the Avalanche penalty kill held firm, limiting quality looks and preserving the three-goal cushion.

Nečas struck again late in the period, capitalizing on a rebound opportunity with 2:31 remaining. After a point shot from Toews created chaos in front, he pounced on the loose puck and buried it to extend the lead to 5–1.

Third Period

The final period took on a chippy, penalty-filled tone. Manson and Brent Burns were sent off, giving Pittsburgh a 5-on-3 advantage. Colorado managed to kill off one of the penalties, and shortly after, O’Connor and Anthony Mantha exchanged roughing minors as tensions escalated.

Pittsburgh’s discipline continued to falter, with Letang toecalled for tripping Gabe Landeskog and Bryan Rust for hooking Brock Nelson, handing Colorado a brief 5-on-3 of its own. This time, however, the Avalanche power play came up empty.

Rakell eventually broke through for Pittsburgh, making it 5–2 after an unusual bounce sent the puck over the back of the net. Sidney Crosby reacted instantly, one-touching a pass to Rakell, who finished before Wedgewood could reset—an opportunistic play the goaltender had little chance to stop.

With under four minutes remaining, Pittsburgh pulled Šilovs in a last-ditch effort, but Colton sealed the outcome with an empty-net goal, putting the finishing touches on a decisive 6–2 Avalanche victory.

Avs Extend Central Division Lead

The Avalanche not only picked up two points with the win, but also got help in the standings as their Central Division rivals both lost. The Dallas Stars fell 6-4 at home to the New Jersey Devils, while the Minnesota Wild dropped a 6-3 decision on the road to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Colorado now holds a 104-97 point advantage over Dallas, with Minnesota sitting in third place at 92 points.

Next Game

The Avalanche (47-13-10) square off against the Winnipeg Jets (30-29-12) at Canada Life Centre on Thursday. Coverage begins at 6 p.m. local time in Denver.

Image

In Anaheim and Sacramento, a two-front challenge to the Angels' Los Angeles name

Fans enter Angels Stadium before a baseball game.
Fans enter Angels Stadium before a baseball game between the Angels and the Houston Astros in April 2022. (Ashley Landis / Associated Press)

Two decades after owner Arte Moreno decided the Angels should play under the Los Angeles name, elected officials representing Anaheim are pursuing two paths toward getting their hometown back into the team name.

Assemblyman Avelino Valencia, whose district includes Angel Stadium, has introduced state legislation that could require any sale or new lease of the stadium property be conditioned upon the team reverting to the Anaheim Angels name.

Meanwhile, Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken has asked the city attorney to explore whether the Angels have violated their current lease by dropping the Anaheim name from legal documents.

Valencia’s bill — dubbed the “Home Run for Anaheim Act” — aims to mandate what the city of Anaheim could not negotiate in its ill-fated deal with Moreno in 2019: If a team owner wants to develop the parking lots around the city stadium, the team should carry the city’s name.

Read more:Angels, with longest playoff drought in MLB, turn to first-time manager Kurt Suzuki

“The Angels have been supported by the city and its residents for 60 years,” Valencia said. “I think it’s rightfully owed to the residents that, if the team wants to play in Anaheim and be in partnership with Anaheim when it comes to future developments of that stadium and surrounding property, then the name should also resemble that.”

Angels spokeswoman Marie Garvey said the team had no comment.

The Angels’ current stadium lease extends through 2032, with the team holding options to extend the lease through 2038.

The city and team had agreed on a deal in which the Angels would remain in Anaheim through 2050, with the team buying the 150-acre stadium property for $150 million, renovating or replacing the stadium, and building a ballpark village atop the parking lots.

The state objected, however. The Surplus Land Act requires public property up for sale must first be made available for affordable housing, and the city negotiated only with the Angels. The city agreed to a $96-million settlement.

The Anaheim City Council ultimately killed the deal three years later, after an FBI investigation uncovered — and former mayor Harry Sidhu acknowledged in a plea agreement — that Sidhu provided confidential information to a team consultant “so that the Angels could buy Angel Stadium on terms beneficial to the Angels” and that he “expected a $1,000,000 campaign contribution from the Angels.” The government has not alleged any wrongdoing by the Angels.

Valencia’s bill was developed in consultation with city leaders and publicly endorsed by Aitken and former Mayors Tom Daly and Tom Tait.

Under the bill, if the city can obtain an exemption from the Surplus Land Act, the team could not buy or lease Angel Stadium unless “materials refer to that team as the Anaheim Angels.”

The bill would only apply to Anaheim, and its provisions would not take effect “if the city of Anaheim is able to come to an agreement with the Major League Baseball team known as the Los Angeles Angels about their affiliation.”

Valencia said the city could make a case for an exemption because he believed the Surplus Land Act was designed for smaller properties like school sites and municipal office buildings. He said the community should have the primary say in how such land should be used, even if that might mean less housing on the Angel Stadium site.

“We definitely need more housing because it’s so dang expensive to live, but the amount of housing [in Anaheim] that has gone up in the last 10, 15 years, I think, mitigates some of that,” Valencia said.

“I think folks in Anaheim think that Anaheim is doing their fair share of developing housing. I don’t want to muddy the concept by saying Anaheim is saying, ‘We don’t need any more housing. We have been so proactive in that space. But I think people are going to be thrilled that we want to make the Angels have Anaheim back in the name.”

In 2005, after city officials declined Moreno’s request to change the team name from Anaheim Angels to Los Angeles Angels, the owner adopted the “Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim” name. The city sued and lost, with a jury finding that the Angels had not violated a stadium lease requirement that the team name “include the name Anaheim therein.”

Read more:Shaikin: Angels should match Zach Neto's loyalty and give him a long-term deal

When the city sued the Angels and asked for an injunction to stop the name change pending trial, Orange County Superior Court Judge Peter Polos denied the request. He did, however, warn the Angels he would grant the injunction if the team dropped the “of Anaheim” and simply called themselves the Los Angeles Angels.

In 2006, after the city had lost its lawsuit, Polos ruled the team could market itself by whatever name it wished. By 2016, the team called itself the Los Angeles Angels. In state records, the legal entity is Angels Baseball LP.

“When it comes to official designations, and to how they’re registered, I want us to look into how Anaheim is being used by the team in any official filings,” Aitken said, “and what their requirements are to do so.”

When Aitken asked City Atty. Robert Fabela to investigate, Fabela said the matter would be discussed in closed session as a “potential litigation item.”

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Astros Leadership Under the Microscope: A Defining Year for Dana Brown and Joe Espada

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 05: New Houston Astros player Tatsuya Imai poses for a photo with Houston Astros manager Joe Espada, General Manager Dana Brown, Houston Astros owner Jim Crane and agent Scott Boras after signing his contract at Daikin Park on January 05, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images

As the Houston Astros prepare for another season with championship expectations, two of the most important figures in the organization find themselves in uncertain territory. General manager Dana Brown and manager Joe Espada are both entering the final years of their contracts, and owner Jim Crane has offered little clarity about their futures.

In an organization where the standard is not just contention but championships, that uncertainty carries weight. Performance this season may ultimately determine whether either, or both, remain part of the Astros’ long-term vision.

High Expectations, Limited Security

Both Brown and Espada have publicly expressed a desire to remain in Houston long term. But as is often the case in professional sports, the decision isn’t theirs to make. Crane has consistently maintained that the Astros’ championship window is “always open,” a philosophy that places constant pressure on leadership to deliver results.

That pressure is magnified by the reality that neither Brown nor Espada had previously held roles of this magnitude before stepping into their current positions. With that comes an expectation of growth and inevitably, some growing pains and mistakes along the way.

Espada’s Steady Leadership

Espada’s leadership style has never been loud or overbearing, but it has been effective. Known more for his calm demeanor than fiery speeches, he has earned the respect of his clubhouse.

Last season may have been his most impressive work to date. Despite a roster plagued by injuries and constant lineup challenges, Espada kept the Astros competitive deep into the season, with the team remaining in the playoff hunt down to the final stretch.

There’s a strong case to be made that Espada is the right manager to guide this team forward. Still, in a results-driven environment like Houston, belief alone isn’t enough, he will ultimately be judged on what happens next.

Dana Brown’s Balancing Act

Brown’s situation is more complex.

While both he and Espada face scrutiny, evaluating Brown comes with an added layer of uncertainty. The internal dynamics of decision-making, particularly the level of control exerted by ownership, remain largely unknown. That makes it difficult to fully assess what roster decisions are truly his.

Publicly, Brown has often said what fans want to hear, especially when it comes to retaining star players. But the organization’s track record tells a different story. Time and again, key names have departed, and the Astros have shown a reluctance to commit to long-term, high-dollar contracts in free agency.

That disconnect has not gone unnoticed.

The looming contract situations of Hunter Brown and Jeremy Peña only add to the pressure. Brown has voiced a desire to keep both players in Houston, but fans remain skeptical, especially after similar assurances were made about Kyle Tucker before he was dealt to the Chicago Cubs.

A Roster Out of Sync

Beyond contracts, there are clear questions about the roster itself.

As the Astros approach Opening Day, the imbalance is hard to ignore. The infield appears crowded with talent, while the outfield lacks proven, high-level experience. That discrepancy leaves Brown with a critical decision: address the issue through trades or acquisitions, or trust that the current roster can compensate offensively for its shortcomings.

It’s a gamble either way and one that could directly impact how his tenure is judged. There are holes to be filled and problems to be addressed and to date, nothing has been done or attempted to resolve any of the current issues.

The Crane Factor

Hovering over everything is Crane.

The Astros owner has built a winning organization, but his level of involvement in baseball decisions remains a point of speculation. How much autonomy Brown truly has is unclear, and that ambiguity complicates any evaluation of the front office.

It also raises a larger question: does Crane prefer leadership that aligns with his vision, or is he willing to bring in more established voices who might challenge it?

Former manager Dusty Baker offered a different dynamic, an experienced, confident presence capable of pushing back when necessary. Brown and Espada, while more aligned with modern baseball philosophies, don’t yet carry that same weight of experience. It may never be known how much control either man has ever had or has at this point and time. We have heard all the stories, seen the brutal signings of Montero and Abreu and have had hunches about the limitations both men have had to deal with, but we may never know for sure just what they had to deal with.

A Season That Will Define the Future

Ultimately, this season feels like a turning point.

For Espada, it’s an opportunity to prove he can lead a team with championship expectations through adversity and into October. For Brown, it’s a chance to solidify his vision for the roster and show that he can align words with action.

And for Crane, it’s a decision point: stay the course with two leaders who fit his organizational style, or pursue bigger, more established names who might offer a different path forward.

The stakes are clear. The expectations are higher than ever.

Now, the results have to follow.

Game Thread: Knicks vs Pelicans, March 24, 2026

NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 29: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks handles the ball during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on December 29, 2025 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The New York Knicks (47*-25) host the New Orleans Pelicans (25-47) tonight at Madison Square Garden. This matchup gives the Knicks a chance to pad their Eastern Conference standing against a weak Western team that doesn’t always play like it. Zion broke 30 points when they played last, and Dejounte Murray has given the birds a little lift since returning 10 games ago. Underestimate them at your peril, Knickerbockers.

Tonight’s tip off is 7:30 p.m. EST on MSG and NBA TV. This is your game thread. This is The Bird Writes. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Be shining stars of humanity. And go Knicks!

* Should be one more, but NBA Cups have false bottoms.

Giants aiming to return to postseason with Tony Vitello leading the way

An image collage containing 5 images, Image 1 shows San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello, Image 2 shows Luis Arraez of the San Francisco Giants throws a baseball to complete a double play, Image 3 shows Rafael Devers batting for the San Francisco Giants during a spring training baseball game, Image 4 shows Patrick Bailey of the San Francisco Giants holds a baseball bat, ready to hit, Image 5 shows Landen Roupp of the San Francisco Giants throws a pitch

Only one team has dethroned the Dodgers in the NL West over the past dozen seasons. The Giants, however, have moved on to their third manager since claiming the 2021 division title. Outside of that 107-win season, they’ve racked up four straight finishes within two games of .500.

They shook things up in a big way by bringing back beloved former catcher Buster Posey to run their baseball operations before last season. Posey took an even bigger leap this winter by hiring Tony Vitello.

San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello against the Chicago White Sox during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The fiery former national champion at the University of Tennessee will become the first college coach ever to go straight into a major-league manager’s chair.

The question on everybody’s minds as Vitello’s first Opening Day approaches: Can it work?

Most important hitter: Rafael Devers

The Giants swung the biggest blockbuster of last season six weeks before the trade deadline, but they skidded to a 40-50 finish after acquiring Rafael Devers from the Red Sox and missed the postseason for the eighth time in nine years. Now acclimated to San Francisco — and with his first-ever Cactus League spring training out of the way — Devers will be counted on to anchor what’s shaping up to be the Giants’ most stable lineup in years. It just might carry them back to October.

San Francisco Giants’ Rafael Devers strikes out against the Cincinnati Reds during the third inning of a spring training baseball game, Friday, March 13, 2026, in Scottsdale, Ariz. AP

Most important pitcher: Landen Roupp

Posey opted for duct tape over plastic surgery for a starting rotation that ended last season with three reliable arms, signing veteran journeymen Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser to short-term deals. The duo looks capable enough of holding down the third and fourth rotation spots behind Logan Webb and Robbie Ray. So the fate for the fifth spot falls on the Giants’ group of young arms. Landen Roupp, 26, looks to be the most promising candidate.

Will have a bigger year than expected: Patrick Bailey

Maybe not at the plate, but behind the dish, where Patrick Bailey will increase his value even more through the introduction of the Automated Ball Strike (ABS) challenge system. The Giants’ catcher already rated as the best defender in the game for his pitch framing. There was some concern a fully automated zone could negate that skillset, but the challenge system has had quite the opposite effect. Bailey’s understanding of the strike zone made him one of the best in Cactus League play at challenging balls and strikes.

Patrick Bailey of the San Francisco Giants hits a two-run double against the Kansas City Royals during the third inning of the spring training game at Surprise Stadium on March 11, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. Getty Images

Most likely to disappoint: Luis Arraez

With Jung Hoo Lee, the Giants already possess one contact-orientated table setter ahead of Devers, Willy Adames and Matt Chapman in the heart of their order. Signing Luis Arraez, the three-time batting champ, fit squarely in that vision. Asking him to play second base is where it goes awry, particularly with a pitching staff aced by one of the majors’ top sinkerballers. Arraez was a poor second baseman when he last played the position regularly in 2023, and the Padres mostly stashed him away at first base the past two years.

Key call up: Bryce Eldridge

It’s possible that Bryce Eldridge breaks camp with the big-league club, but the Giants would be smart to give the 20-year-old first baseman some more seasoning at Triple-A. The 6-foot-7 slugger has shown he can hit the ball harder than just about anybody. He needs to prove that he can do it consistently at the highest level. Eldridge has only played 84 games above Double-A. He spent the final two weeks of last season with the big-league club. It’s only a matter of time before he’s back for good. Then, the conversation turns to where he plays.

Luis Arraez of the San Francisco Giants throws to first to complete a double play during the third inning of the spring training game against the Colorado Rockies at Scottsdale Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Getty Images

Biggest managerial decision

Everything Tony Vitello does will be scrutinized under a microscope. That’s the reality of trying to go straight from NCAA baseball to the big leagues. Vitello’s players have been feeling out how he will manage the clubhouse throughout spring training, but even they admit, they don’t know what to expect in terms of in-game strategy until the games actually count. Even the Bay Area’s relatively friendly media will have a field day the first time he pulls the wrong lever or, worse, looks like he doesn’t belong.

Don’t be surprised if…

The Giants have not only one hitter with more than 30 home runs but multiple. Infamously, the organization went two decades without one player reaching the threshold until Willy Adames slugged his 30th on the final day of last season. The last Giant with 30 was Barry Bonds, in 2004. That almost sounds silly considering this year’s projected lineup features Devers, Adames, Chapman and Heliot Ramos, any of whom is capable of leaving the yard 30 times.

Landen Roupp of the San Francisco Giants throws a pitch in the fourth inning during a Spring Training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch on March 18, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. Getty Images

Sure to make fans grumble

There’s no appetite left for any of the poor fundamentals that seemed to snowball as the Giants faded from contention last season. Among National League clubs, only the Rockies committed more errors in the field. On the base paths, they generated less value than any other club besides Colorado by running into outs and missing opportunities to pick up an extra base. Any mistake will only be more magnified with a first-year manager in the dugout.

How their season will end: 88-74

Either in a heap of pitching problems or their first playoff berth since 2021. If their pitching depth holds up — and their rookie manager deploys it correctly — the Giants won’t catch the Dodgers, but they are well-positioned to take advantage of down years from the Padres and Diamondbacks. Logan Webb and Robbie Ray provide a powerful one-two punch in a hypothetical wild-card series, but the Giants probably lack the pitching to make a deep postseason run.


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Islanders’ first-rounder Victor Eklund coming stateside — and bringing ‘energy’ with him

New York Islanders forward Victor Eklund (73) runs a drill during Development Camp at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow, N.Y. on Monday, June 30, 2025.
New York Islanders forward Victor Eklund (73) runs a drill during Development Camp at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow, N.Y. on Monday, June 30, 2025.

After his season in the Swedish Hockey League with Djurgardens ended Saturday with a playoff loss to Malmo, first-round pick Victor Eklund will travel to North America this week and join the AHL Bridgeport Islanders, The Post has learned.

It’s not yet clear whether Eklund will make his debut over the weekend, with Bridgeport facing Laval on Saturday and playing in Providence on Sunday.

That will likely depend on how he feels after making the trip.

Eklund was quoted in a Swedish outlet, HockeyNews.se, after Djurgardens’ season ended, saying that he’d like to make the trip over and had spoken recently with Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche.

Coincidentally, his Djurgardens teammate and close friend, Anton Frondell, made his NHL debut with the Blackhawks in their 4-3 win over the Islanders on Tuesday night and had an assist.

Islanders forward Victor Eklund runs a drill during Development Camp at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow, N.Y. on June 30, 2025. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post

Frondell was the third overall pick in last summer’s draft; Eklund went 16th.

Eklund finished the season with six goals and 18 assists over 43 games in the SHL, his first year in Sweden’s top division.

After taking some time to adjust to the higher level, Eklund’s game took an upward turn after World Juniors, where he played a leading role in helping Sweden to a gold medal.

Victor Eklund is set to join the Islanders’ AHL squad. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post

“Vic, we’ve been playing together the whole year, we got to play with each other,” Frondell said. “Like always, he’s a hardworking guy. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone work as hard as him or like to compete as much.

“He’s not that big, he’s not that heavy, but he runs over guys in the SHL. Especially in the playoffs, the last games against Malmo. Just running over guys, creating a lot of energy. That’s something, playing with him, I feel like he’s creating so much energy.”


The Islanders inked goaltender Josh Kotai, an undrafted free agent out of Augustana University, to a two-year entry-level deal, the team announced. Per PuckPedia, it is a two-way deal carrying a $965,000 AAV at the NHL level and an $85,000 salary in the minors.

Kotai, 23, had a .938 save percentage and 1.99 GAA with Augustana this season. He measures 6-foot-1, 165 pounds.


Matthew Schaefer’s 31:59 of ice set an NHL record for a teenage defenseman and marked a career-high.

Pena’s Back! Astros vs Space Cowboys Exhibition Game Thread 3/24/2026

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 28: Jeremy Peña #3 of the Houston Astros warms up prior to a spring training game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on February 28, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jeremy Pena will lead off tonight and play shortstop as the Houston Astros play their final exhibition game of the spring, hosting the Sugar Land Space Cowboys tonight at Daikin Park.

RHP Lance McCullers Jr., who was named the Astros fifth starter yesterday, will get the start for the Astros tonight opposite prospect RHP Miguel Ullola and the Space Cowboys.

ABOUT MCCULLERS: RHP Lance McCullers Jr. is set to make his fourth official start of the Spring season. He last pitched a week ago on March 17 at PIT, when he allowed one run on three hits and three walks in 4.0 innings.

He made his return to the mound in 2025 after missing the entire 2023 and 2024 seasons due to a right flexor tendon injury that required surgery. He worked around four IL stints in 2025 to go 2-5 with a 6.51 ERA (40ER/55.1IP) and 9.92 SO/9IP in 16 games (13 starts).

ABOUT ULLOLA: RHP Miguel Ullola (pronounced oo-YOH-lah) enters the 2026 season as one Houston’s top pitching prospects. I

In 2025, he spent his first full season in the Triple A rotation and went 7-6 with a 3.88 ERA in 28 appearances (23 starts). Among PCL starters with 100+ innings pitched, he ranked first in ERA (3.88), first in BAA (.183), first in strikeout percentage (26.6%), first in strikeout-per-nine (10.37), second in strikeouts (131) and fourth in WHIP.

PENA BACK: Jeremy Peña is scheduled for six innings and three at-bats tonight. The Astros have an optional workout tomorrow and can get Peña live at-bats there as well, Joe Espada said. (from Matt Kawahara/Houston Chronicle)

ABOUT THE SPACE COWBOYS: The Space Cowboys, who play in the Pacific Coast League, are entering their fifth year as the Astros Triple A affiliate. The Astros officially acquired the franchise (then known as the Sugar Land Skeeters) in April of 2021, and sold the franchise this offseason. After the 2021 season, the franchise rebranded and the Space Cowboys were born.

YESTERDAY’S ROSTER MOVE: Prior to yesterday’s game, the Astros optioned RHP Spencer Arrighetti to Triple A Sugar Land. Arrighetti will remain with the Astros through tonight’s game before beginning the season in Sugar Land. Arrighetti is slated to be the Astros’ sixth starter when they expand the rotation approximately April 10.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Tuesday, March 24 7:10 p.m. CST

Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX

TV: Space City Home Network

Streaming: SCHN+

Radio: KBME 790 AM/94.5 FM HD-2; TUDN 102.9 FM