Leaders Arsenal host Everton on Saturday while struggling Tottenham head to Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday
Saturday 3pm Venue Turf Moor
Continue reading...The three regulars in the Cincinnati Reds lineup
Trying to jump into the mind of Terry Francona might actually be a little easier than those of many Major League Baseball managers. To be clear, that’s no knock on the intellect of the future Hall of Famer – rather, it’s an admission that the man speaks pretty openly about what it is he would really like to accomplish with his club.
He’s sold on TJ Friedl as his leadoff guy. He’s going to hit Elly De La Cruz in the #3 spot almost every single day, though he’s on record all over the place saying he’s going to get him some more breaks this season.
Despite the former 1st rounders struggles with injuries and underperformance the last two seasons, Matt McLain is a Tito favorite. He’s drawn Dustin Pedroia comps before, and the manager still seems more than willing to bat him 2nd in the lineup once again.
Those three things sure appear to be the fixed tenets on this otherwise malleable, flexible roster. So, it’s not a surprise that when I asked you earlier this week how many Cincinnati Reds hitters would top the 600 PA mark in 2026, you overwhelmingly responded with 3…or more.
The 600 PA threshold may seem arbitrary, but it’s a pretty decent measure of what a player who bats atop his team’s order almost every single day should cross. Those are numbers of a ‘regular,’ and in 2025 only two players – Elly and Friedl – cleared that mark.
They cleared it by a ton, too, as Elly finished with 699 and Friedl with 685. It was actually that kind of blowing past the 600 mark that made me consider the question in the first place, as last year – despite a lot of flexibility up and down the roster – injuries, trades, and positional rotation caused a lot of players to get PA often, but not exactly be ‘regular.’
McLain (577 PA) didn’t get there due to getting dropped in the order and sat here and there amid his struggles. Spencer Steer (568) sure felt like a regular all year, but didn’t get there, either.
This year, it sure feels like Steer, and Sal Stewart, and Eugenio Suárez should be regulars, but someone in this exercise is going to have to hit 6th, and that just simply doesn’t stack the PA the way hitting up top does. There’s also Ke’Bryan Hayes in there siphoning PA while hitting 9th for most of every game before getting pinch-hit for late, and Noelvi Marte still assumed to be the everyday RF at this point of the spring despite some recent struggles (and quality depth behind him).
The 2025 Seattle Mariners had four players with more than 600 PA (including a trio with more than 700), with the New York Mets sporting the exact same. The Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals, meanwhile, had zero, for reference.
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The Washington Nationals are aiming to be more versatile in 2026
One thing that has been noticeable this spring is that Blake Butera wants his players to be versatile. A number of Nats players have been playing multiple positions this spring. Between James Wood playing right field and Nasim Nunez playing third base, players are being exposed to new spots.
Blake Butera admitted that the team is still working out how they will align their plethora of outfielders. However, he said that “I don’t see ourselves pigeon-holing either guy. That is the goal, to have flexibility on the roster”. The Nats want their players to be able to play multiple spots. We may have to view James Wood as just a corner outfielder, rather than a right or left fielder.
I like this idea, and think it will be important this season. Having positional flexibility allows managers to build the best possible lineups. For the Nats to over-achieve this year, they will have to win on the margins. Having guys who can play at multiple different spots is a way to do that.
The outfield is not the only place where we are seeing this push for versatility. Nasim Nunez and Luis Garcia Jr. are examples of infielders who have played multiple spots this spring. Garcia has played first and second base, while Nunez has played shortstop, second base and third base.
Before this spring, Nunez had never played third base. While Nunez is a great defensive infielder, third base has its own nuances. Blake Butera mentioned that Nunez was working with Victor Estevez on his positioning. As a utility man off the bench, the more positions Nunez can play, the better.
Despite being a smaller guy, Nunez easily has the arm strength to play at the hot corner. He has a comfortably plus arm, and that is part of what makes him such a good defender at shortstop. I like that Nunez can be an option at third. While Brady House has been red hot this spring, he is unproven. Jose Tena is also more comfortable at second base than third. That makes Nunez a strong candidate to get some reps at third this season.
However, it is not just the hitters that will be versatile this season. The pitching staff will have more fluid roles as well, especially in the bullpen. Butera did point out that it is “Important for a handful of our guys to have some clarity about what they are going to do every night”.
However, I would not expect the Nats to have a true closer. Butera said he likes to view bullpen roles as “Leverage vs non-leverage rather than having specific innings for guys”. This is a very modern view, and it has some merit. There are times where the highest pressure spot comes in the 7th or 8th against the heart of a lineup, rather than the 9th inning.
The Nats relievers will have roles, but it will be more about leverage rather than innings. For the non-leverage relievers, it will be important for them to go multiple innings. The Nats have guys who can do that, most notably Brad Lord. One great thing about Lord though is that he has the stuff to slide into higher leverage spots if needed.
Versatility will be something that is a big theme this year. Whether that is where you play on the field, or what inning you pitch, roles are going to be more fluid this year. This is not a huge surprise given Blake Butera’s background. The Tampa Bay Rays have been on the cutting edge of all this stuff, and that is where Butera got his baseball education.
Some of the mixing and matching may seem whacky at first, but I think there is a method behind the madness. The Nats are going to have to find every small edge they can this season, and this is one way to do it. Blake Butera is going to mix things up, and Nats fans are going to have to be prepared for that.
Spring Training Game Thread #19: Milwaukee Brewers (8-10) vs. Athletics (9-11)
The Milwaukee Brewers are back in action today against the nomad Athletics. It’ll be their first day game after a night game this spring following a 1-0 loss to the Guardians last night.
On the bump today the Brewers will have Kyle Harrison continuing to build up. Harrison is in a strong position to land a spot in the initial starting rotation, especially with the news that Quinn Priester will start the year on the IL. Following Harrison will be Craig Yoho, Trevor Megill, and Carlos Rodriguez. This will be Rodriguez’s first Cactus League action in a while as he was with Team Nicaragua in the WBC. Gage Jump gets the start for the A’s.
In the lineup today the Brewers continue to plug in a bunch of their regular starters with less than two weeks to Opening Day. Sal Frelick is leading off, followed by Blake Perkins, Jake Bauers, and Andrew Vaughn. Garrett Mitchell is the DH today batting fifth followed by Luis Rengifo. The bottom of the order is rounded out with David Hamilton, Reese McGuire, and Cooper Pratt who is at second base.
First pitch is at 3:10 p.m. CT and the game will be broadcast in Milwaukee on 620 WTMJ and the Brewers Radio Network.
Will the Toronto Raptors fight back against the Phoenix Suns?
What happened against the New Orleans Pelicans can’t be swept under the rug.
In what was arguably the most embarrassing moment of the season, the Toronto Raptors allowed the Pelicans’ Dejounte Murray to punk Jamal Shead.
But despite the Raptors moving on to their next game against the Phoenix Suns on Friday, the rest of the NBA world, and especially Raptors fans, are justifiably stuck on this viral moment that perfectly captures the essence of this iteration of the team.
Always have your teammates’ backs.
It’s a rule in sports, both at the professional and amateur levels. It’s actually written in bold.
With tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on TSN, the Raptors have an opportunity to silence the deafening criticism with a win over a Suns team on a four-game winning streak.
Warming up the hot seat
There’s a complexity to coaching in the NBA that only those lucky enough to experience it can truly understand. For Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic, it’s difficult to gauge his coaching acumen. The organization has hidden behind a marketing strategy centred on it being the second year of a rebuild. There’s also the argument that Rajakovic doesn’t have the players to fit his pass-heavy and quick-decision-making system. It’s also easy to spot flaws in this roster, particularly the spacing issues.
All of these narratives make sense.
But for Rajakovic, there has to be a breaking point of some sort. If there isn’t, then what’s the point of playing out the rest of the season?
The Raptors’ commitment to Rajakovic’s system was obliterated when the front office traded for Brandon Ingram. There were earlier signs of a disconnect when Toronto traded for a guard more suited to play off-ball in Immanuel Quickley, and a bully-ball type of wing in RJ Barrett.
Adding rookie Collin Murray-Boyles and free-agent Sandro Mamukelashvili was an attempt to course-correct, but the core of the team is counterintuitive to what Rajakovic wants to do.
If the season still matters, the Raptors must commit to a play style that properly weaponizes the team’s best players, and that’s on Rajakovic. Scottie Barnes needs to spend less time in the corner. The Raptors shouldn’t exhaust a majority of the shot-clock trying to force-feed a specific look.
On the defensive end, something needs to change too.
The Raptors are a poorly constructed offensive team, but it was supposed to even out on the other side of the court. That’s why it’s depressing when the Raptors give up 122 points on 51 per cent shooting to a lowly-Pelicans offence.
Something has to change, especially if the Raptors aren’t going to show fight when opposing teams aren’t afraid to bully them.
The blame doesn’t fall exclusively on Rajakovic and the coaching staff. As the faces of the franchise, the change must begin with Ingram and Barnes. There has to be a level of takeover from the two All-Stars, especially if the game-planning approach remains the same. It’s not fair to compare Ingram and Barnes to the NBA’s upper echelon, but players like Kawhi Leonard and Lebron James have boiling points. When it’s reached, those types of players veto play calls, put the teams on their back, and live with the consequences.
The next two games at home will likely serve as valuable insight into what the rest of the season could look like.
Players to Watch
Expect a gritty game from Shead. The home crowd is well aware of what happened to the backup point guard. If Shead can leverage the crowd’s appreciation for him, it could lead to one of the better moments of the season.
For Phoenix, Jalen Green has seemingly figured something out during their winning streak. Green is averaging 27.5 points on 50.1 per cent shooting in the last four contests. The explosive guard is getting the All-Star type of volume that fits his chaotic offence, and the Suns are benefiting from it.
2025 Season in Review: Tucker Barnhart
With the 2025 Texas Rangers season having come to an end, we shall be, over the course of the offseason, taking a look at every player who appeared in a major league game for the Texas Rangers in 2025.
Today we are looking at catcher Tucker Barnhart.
It says Tucker Barnhart…
But have you ever considered…
Bucker Tarnhart?
It has a certain ring to it, doesn’t it?
Bucker Tarnhart sounds like the name of a hobbit, someone who attended Bilbo Baggins’ eleventy-first birthday party and drank beer and ate and had a merry old time before diving under the table when the dragon fireworks went off.
Just like every team needs more than five starting pitchers to make it through the season, every team needs more than two catchers to make it through the season. Catchers get banged up, they hurt things, they start just not playing well. They go on paternity or bereavement leave.
And when that happens, a team is going to summon a catcher up from AAA to fill in. Sometimes the filling in is just for a day or two. Sometimes it is for a week or ten days. Sometimes it is multiple weeks. You never know with these catchers. You might even have a situation where the catcher called up from AAA to replace the unavailable catcher temporarily gets hurt, and then you have to find a fill-in for the fill-in.
So if you are a catcher with a modicum of ability, you can hang around for a long time. Not necessarily in the majors, of course. At least, not for a full season, or necessarily even if a definitive period of time. But every team needs a lot of catchers to catch pitchers in spring training, and every team needs players at AAA who, if not exactly capable, are not so inept that they can’t be called upon to be a band-aid for a bit in the bigs.
Which brings us to Tucker Barnhart. Barnhart was, once upon a time, a starting catcher. He was the Reds’ regular catcher from 2016 through 2021, won a couple of Gold Gloves, had a random 3.6 bWAR season fueled by a National League leading 3.1 dWAR, never had a bWAR as high as 1.0 in a season otherwise.
After catching 116 major league games for the Reds in 2021, he was traded to the Detroit Tigers after the season, with the Tigers picking up the $7.5 million club option for 2022 that the Reds were passing on. I remember there being carping from certain circles when that happened, the Reds being ripped for being cheap and just dumping salary, but, well, its Tucker Barnhart we are talking about. Not wanting to have to pay a 31 year old Tucker Barnhart $7.5 million to play for you in the year of 2 thousand and 22 seemed fairly reasonable at the time.
Barnhart promptly put up a 554 OPS in 94 games for the Tigers, went to the Cubs for 2023, only played 43 games, and saw his OPS drop to 541. Games played and OPS dropped again in 2024, with the D-backs, to 31 and 497, respectively.
So last year, Texas brought him to camp, and he was sent to Round Rock to be the catcher behind the glass that you break in case of emergency. Emergency struck at the end of April, when Kyle Higashioka’s hamstring issue necessitated getting a functional catcher on the active roster. Barnhart managed to stick around until the end of May, even once Higashioka and Jonah Heim were both healthy, though he only played in eight games — three as the starting catcher, four as a mid-game replacement at catcher, and one as a relief pitcher.
Barnhart was DFA’d at the beginning of June when Nathan Eovaldi’s injury resulting in Codi Heuer being summoned, with Barnhart being the 40 man roster casualty. He was released, re-signed, spent June in Round Rock, and then retired. His final season in the majors saw him slash .231/.333/.231 in 15 plate appearances.
Given that inoffensive veteran catchers are always needed for the purpose of stashing in the minors, Barnhart could have hung around a while longer, I imagine. However, per B-R, he has earned over $30 million in his major league playing career. I can see why a guy who was a regular for a number of years, who made a lot of money in his career, and who is playing out the string might decide going home and spending time with his family was preferable to trying to hang on as a AAA journeyman.
Previously:
Kansas State hires Belmont's Casey Alexander as next men's basketball coach
The first major-conference job to come open on this year’s men’s college basketball coaching carousel has officially been filled.
Kansas State has hired Belmont’s Casey Alexander to be its next head coach, the university announced March 13.
Alexander has signed a five-year contract, which will pay him $3.3 million during the 2026-27 season before he receives a $50,000 base salary increase each remaining year on his deal.
After taking over for his former coach, Rick Byrd, Alexander went 166-60 in seven seasons at his alma mater. The Bruins won at least 20 games in each of his seven seasons there and won three conference regular-season championships.
This past season, Belmont went 26-6 and won the Missouri Valley regular-season title before being upset by Drake 100-79 in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament, almost certainly denying it a shot at the NCAA tournament. The Bruins never played in the NCAA tournament under Alexander, though they qualified for the 68-team field in 2020 before the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 53-year-old Alexander was previously the head coach at Lipscomb and Stetson, where he combined to go 137-120 in eight seasons.
Alexander’s teams have been known for their up-tempo style and offensive explosiveness. Six of Alexander’s seven Belmont squads finished among the top 100 teams in adjusted offensive efficiency, according to KenPom, an impressive feat from a small-conference program. He became known for his excellent player evaluation, which allowed Belmont to sign the likes of Wil Richard, Ja'Kobi Gillespie and Cade Tyson before each player transferred to a power-conference program.
"I'm incredibly excited to join the team at K-State and can't wait to get the journey started," Alexander said in a statement. "K-State has such a rich tradition and a wildly passionate fan base and I'm grateful for the opportunity provided by (Kansas State athletic director) Gene Taylor to be a part of it."
The 53-year-old Alexander replaces Jerome Tang, who was fired on Feb. 15 after four seasons at the school. The university fired him for cause, which Tang plans to fight in court.
Kansas State made the NCAA tournament nine times over a 12-season stretch from 2008-19, which included two Elite Eight appearances, but it has missed the tournament in five of the past six seasons in which it was held.
The Wildcats went just 28-37 over the past two seasons despite high-priced additions out of the transfer portal like P.J. Haggerty and Coleman Hawkins.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Casey Alexander hired as Kansas State men's basketball coach
The Phillies weren't letting Kyle Schwarber get away and Pete Alonso knows it
The Phillies weren't letting Kyle Schwarber get away and Pete Alonso knows it originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
CLEARWATER, Fla. – Shortly after the Phillies re-signed Kyle Schwarber in December, a team official was asked what Plan B was if the slugger had taken his talents elsewhere.
“There was none,” the official said. “We weren’t letting him get away.”
Pete Alonso, who would have made a lot of sense if the Phillies needed a Plan B for a slugging designated hitter, has no trouble believing that.
“There was a little bit of dialogue, very, very early, more of a ‘Hey, how you doing?’ type of thing,” said Alonso, who was also a free agent this winter. “But they were like, ‘All our eggs are with Schwarbs.’
“And they should have been. Kyle means a lot to that franchise and that clubhouse and I’m really happy for him because he’s in the right spot. He just fits really well with that group and that clubhouse. The Phillies got a good one in Schwarbs.”
Schwarber was pursued by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles. He returned to the Phillies on a five-year, $150 million deal. Twenty-four hours later, the Orioles signed Alonso to a five-year, $155 million contract. He will play first base for the O’s and bring a slugging bat to their lineup, just like he did for seven seasons with the New York Mets.
Alonso visited Clearwater with his new team Friday. He had a pair of singles against Phillies prospect Andrew Painter. He was booed like a Met. Phillies fans remember those 18 home runs and 62 RBIs he produced against their team in 104 games with the Mets.
“I love playing in Philly,” Alonso said. “The Bank is a fun place to hit. The ball flies. The fans are rowdy. They bring a lot of energy. And the Phillies always have a great team. They’re super talented. You’ve got to bring it when you play them.”
Alonso hit a majors-leading 53 homers as a rookie with the Mets in 2019, Zack Wheeler’s last season with that club. The Mets made little attempt to retain Wheeler when he became a free agent and signed with the Phillies before the 2020 season. Alonso can empathize. He averaged 41 homers and 113 RBIs in his six full seasons (minus the 2020 COVID season) with the Mets, and never played in less than 152 games in a full season. Despite this, the Mets were reluctant to give Alonso more than a three-year contract this winter. He turned 31 in December.
If Alonso’s time in Baltimore is as successful as Wheeler’s has been in Philadelphia, the Orioles will have made a good signing.
“I can’t think of Wheels as anything else other than a Phillie,” Alonso said. “Just like Schwarbs. As soon as he came over, it’s like, this is the best place for him, not just contractually, but the fit is right. He’s unlocked his true potential with the Phillies. He’s a top contender for the Cy Young every year. He’s been an absolute stud.
“As a player, I knew he was nasty because facing him in live at-bats in spring was never fun. I’m happy for him and his family. This is the best version of himself. They’ve been able to get the most out of him.”
Alonso also had high praise for Cristopher Sanchez, who has blossomed into an ace the last couple of seasons.
“The first time I faced him was in ’22,” Alonso said. “Obviously, him throwing harder makes his off-speed stuff play better. The changeup is up there with the best.”
Starting pitching is a Phillies strength. The club led the majors with 84 quality starts last season. The starting staff’s 3.53 ERA was second-best in the majors. As a frequent opponent during his time in New York, Alonso believes catcher J.T. Realmuto has a lot to do with that.
“If you look at what he means to the pitching staff, he’s really an unbelievable asset to have,” Alonso said. “He’s managing games. He posts every day. His 145 games as a catcher are like a position player’s 190 games. What he does is incredible, how he manages the staff. Not just pitch-calling and game management, but he’s won Silver Sluggers and Gold Gloves. He’s the whole package, everything you want in a catcher.”
Alonso said he will miss the 13 meetings per year against the Phillies in the National League East, but he’s eager to feel the intensity of the American League East.
“I’m stoked for where I’m at,” he said.
That’s Baltimore.
But if the Phillies hadn’t been able to re-up Kyle Schwarber — who knows? Pete Alonso would have been a good Plan B, even if the Phillies never really had one.
Avalanche Dominate Kraken in 5-1 Road Victory
After a frustrating loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday, the Colorado Avalanche rebounded emphatically on the road tonight, defeating the Seattle Kraken 5-1 to kick off a two-game road trip. The visitors set the tone early, scoring consistently throughout the game to secure a commanding victory.
First Period
Colorado struck first as Martin Necas opened the scoring with his 30th goal of the season. Nathan MacKinnon orchestrated the play with a perfectly timed cross-ice pass, leaving Necas wide open for a clean finish past Joey Daccord.
Martin Necas comes to Colorado and becomes a 30 goal scorer! #GoAvsGopic.twitter.com/xLwwXCLPiR
— Mile High Hockey (@MileHighHockey) March 13, 2026
MacKinnon would add to the lead shortly thereafter. Necas returned the favor with a cross-ice setup, allowing MacKinnon to maneuver behind the Kraken net. Attempting a backdoor pass to Nazem Kadri, the puck deflected off a Seattle defender and into the net, giving the Avalanche a 2-0 advantage.
The period concluded with Nic Roy extending Colorado’s lead to 3-0 on the power play. Positioned right in front of the crease, Roy capitalized on a loose puck, finishing with precision just over a minute before the first intermission.
NIC ROY ADDS ANOTHER TO THE BOARD! pic.twitter.com/5CRbmuorHi
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 13, 2026
Second Period
Seattle managed to break through on the penalty kill, as Ryker Evans scored a shorthanded goal past Scott Wedgewood, narrowing the deficit to 3-1.
However, Colorado responded swiftly. Nazem Kadri recorded his first goal since returning to the Avalanche, restoring a three-goal lead with a tally that made it 4-1 heading into the third period. How about that for a dagger?
Third Period
The Avalanche sealed the victory early in the final frame when Joel Kiviranta deflected a shot from Josh Manson past Seattle goaltender Philipp Grubauer, bringing the final score to 5-1.
Looking Ahead
Colorado (44-11-9) concludes this two-game road trip on Saturday, traveling to Winnipeg to face the Jets (26-28-10). Puck drop is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. MT.
Stay tuned with The Hockey News for the latest.
Heat unapologetic in face of backlash to Bam Adebayo's historic 83-point game
Bam Adebayo's historic and wildly entertaining 83-point outburst has faced backlash online and from some in the media. Because of course it did. This is the world we live in, where backlash to anything and everything — often just to draw attention — has become a dominant force of American politics and culture. As if Kobe Bryant's legacy needs random people on social media defending it.
The Miami Heat were staunchly unapologetic in the wake of this backlash.
"I apologize to absolutely no one. Period," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after he left his star player in a blowout game to chase the record, and even ordered fouling in the final minutes to get Adebayo more shots.
"First of all, y'all are blaming me. You should be blaming that head coach [Washington's Brian Keefe]," Aderbayo said Thursday after the Heat beat the Bucks. "Get that first. I was not the one that let me go one-on-one the whole game until I had 70, and then started to send a double. At that point, I had 70 with, what, nine minutes left to go in the game? You think I'm not going for it?"
As Adebayo noted, going for it is exactly what Kobe would have done.
"I'm pretty sure if I had 81 and Kobe was on his way [to beating that record], he was not being like, 'You know what? I'm gonna check myself out with nine minutes left when I got 70.' Be serious," Adebayo said.
It was a game in which the tanking Wizards had no one who could slow Adebayo, and with leading scorers Norman Powell and Tyler Herro out for the night, Miami leaned hard into Adebayo. He was hot, and the Wizards could not slow him. While both sides changed tactics as the fourth quarter went on, there have been "shenanigans" in every crazy high-scoring game, including Kobe's 81.
Washington, for its part, was embarrassed, something Josh Robbins wrote about at The Athletic.
"It's not something you want to be a part of and things like that, but you see everybody's reaction and how he got it," [Washington's Trae] Young said. "We were all thinking the same way, how it was kind of weird, them fouling (with less than) two minutes (left) just to give him more possessions. It was a weird thing. It wasn't very Erik Spoelstra-like. He's an unbelievable coach and has done some great things.
"(Bam) scored a lot of points. You've got to give him credit. But the way it happened and the way it went down, you see the reaction from people around the league. Around everybody, it's kind of the same. So we had a similar mindset, but at the same time, we allowed it to happen in the first half and gave him a rhythm to even have the confidence to think he was going to get that."
Washington bounced back with a much better effort against Orlando on Thursday night, taking a hot Magic team to overtime. This is a Wizards team that understands where it is — tanking this season to hold on to a top-eight protected first-round pick. Next season, with Young, a healthy Anthony Davis (*knocks on wood*) and a strong young core boosted by whomever they draft in June, the Wizards should be a respectable team. The best Wizards team in years.
The kind of team that nobody is scoring 83 points on.
How Mercedes stole a march to dominate F1 season opener and why it may continue
George Russell and Kimi Antonelli took a one-two win in Australia and team’s ability to master dark art of energy management is paying off
As Formula One grapples with its new, controversial regulations, there is consensus at least that Mercedes are expected to be on top once more in the second race of the season on Sunday in Shanghai. The team have a fearsome car but most importantly in a formula dominated by the engine, appear to have also stolen a march in optimising the dark art of energy management.
George Russell and Kimi Antonelli claimed a one-two at the opening round in Australia last weekend. In qualifying Russell was eight-tenths quicker than Mercedes’ nearest rival, the Red Bull of Isack Hadjar and in the grand prix itself finished 15 seconds in front of third-placed Charles Leclerc having eased up in the final third of the race.
Continue reading...How The Vancouver Canucks Stack Up To The Rest Of The NHL: 65 Games In
The Vancouver Canucks are 65 games into their 2025–26 NHL season and, unsurprisingly, still sit at dead-last in the league. They are, however, coming off a 4–3 shootout win against the Nashville Predators that felt like the culmination of strong efforts from the team since the passing of the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. Now that the Canucks have weathered the trade deadline, here’s how they stack up to the rest of the NHL after 65 games.
Team Stats
The most surprising of Vancouver’s team stats may be their faceoff win percentage (48.7%, t-21st in the NHL), which has previously ranked pretty low. Surprisingly enough, it’s the Minnesota Wild (46.5%) and the Buffalo Sabres (45.2%) who sit 31st and 32nd in the NHL respectively when it comes to winning faceoffs. Another intriguing team that sits below Vancouver in this stat is the Tampa Bay Lightning with 47.3% (28th in NHL).
While it has suffered from dry spells at times, the Canucks’ power play currently ranks higher than some of the NHL’s top teams with a success rate of 18.1%, tying them with the Winnipeg Jets for the 22nd-most in the league. A few other teams currently in a playoff spot also rank behind Vancouver: the New York Islanders (16.2%, 30th), Colorado Avalanche (16.3%, t-28th), and (Utah Mammoth (16.6%, 26th).
Individual Skater Stats
Vancouver’s leading points-getters, Filip Hronek and Elias Pettersson, are currently tied with four other players for 141st in the NHL — Patrick Kane, Valeri Nichuskin, Christian Dvorak, and former Canuck J.T. Miller. On the goal front, it’s Brock Boeser who has taken the new lead for the Canucks in goal-scoring, having potted his 16th of the season against Nashville last night.
Since Kiefer Sherwood was traded back in January, Aatu Räty has held Vancouver’s lead in hits with 115 on the season, tying him with Andrei Svechnikov and Mackie Samoskevich. He may face some internal competition soon, however, as Hronek (107), Evander Kane (102), and defenceman Elias Pettersson (102) are not far behind. It’s highly unlikely that any of them catch up to Sherwood, however, as he currently remains second in the NHL with 260 hits made.
Goaltending Stats
Ironically enough, two of the Canucks’ goaltending stat leads are held by Thatcher Demko, who was ruled out for the remainder of the season and last played on January 10. This includes his eight wins on the season, which has remained a team-high since the 35-game checkpoint. His 2.90 GAA also remains a team-high.
The most intriguing stat remains Nikita Tolopilo’s .851 SV%, which is currently tied for the sixth-highest in the NHL. From solely the stat’s perspective, Tolopilo is tied with Andrei Vasilevskiy and ranks higher than goaltenders such as Brandon Bussi (.840%) and both Colorado’s Mackenzie Blackwood (.842%) and Scott Wedgewood (.835%). Having said that, Tolopilo has also faced the seventh-least high-danger shots (114) of goaltenders who have played in 10+ games this season. In that particular stat category, Kevin Lankinen leads the way with 293.
Vancouver will continue its current eight-game home stand with a matchup against the Seattle Kraken tomorrow night at 7:00 pm PT. They will then face the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, St. Louis Blues, Anaheim Ducks, and Los Angeles Kings before heading back on the road.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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Friday afternoon Orioles spring training game chat
Ahead of Friday’s spring training game against the Phillies, the Orioles delivered some news: Trevor Rogers is going to be the Opening Day starting pitcher.
Though we had some spring weather in Birdland home territory over in the week, things have headed in a colder direction today, so it’s nice that this game will be on MASN and you can watch some Orioles baseball happening in a warmer place. Tough luck for the announcers who are calling the game from Baltimore. That’s the way it goes. At least most games are getting broadcast this year, unlike the mess of recent years. No luck for you if you only have radio available, alas.
Orioles lineup
- Heston Kjerstad – LF
- Pete Alonso – 1B
- Samuel Basallo – C
- Bryan Ramos – 3B
- Leody Taveras – RF
- Jeremiah Jackson – 2B
- Thairo Estrada – DH
- José Barrero – SS
- Enrique Bradfield Jr. – CF
Cade Povich is the starting pitcher for this game. Pitchers who are expected to follow him are Yennier Cano, Jackson Kowar, Tyler Wells, and Grant Wolfram. They may not appear in alphabetical order by last name.
Although Opening Day is only 13 days away at this point, this lineup still strongly has “spring training road game” vibes. I guess those won’t start to be shaken for a few more days yet. Looking at the batters and starting pitcher, it’s quite possible that only two of these guys are in the Opening Day lineup and I would say at most three of them will even make the roster.
Alonso and Basallo are obvious. I don’t think Kjerstad and Taveras could both make it. I don’t think any of those other guys will make it. The set of relievers, at least, is likely to make up the Opening Day bullpen. Cano, Wells, and Wolfram seem like locks, and Kowar is a strong probable as long as the Orioles don’t have six starting pitchers on the roster.
Note that, while Ryan Mountcastle is not in this starting lineup after taking a ball off the hand in the last game, this was a scheduled day off for him and he said he will be ready to resume play tomorrow. That injury situation does not look like it is one that will affect the Opening Day roster composition.
Beeks signed, Diaz DFA’d
The Texas Rangers have signed lefthanded relief pitcher Jalen Beeks to a one year deal, the team announced today. To make room for him on the 40 man roster, the Rangers have designated relief pitcher Alexis Diaz for assignment.
So this is interesting. The news about Beeks being signed broke yesterday, and in our post, we discussed the ramifications of the signing, including the 40 man roster implications. I said that either Michel Otanez or Dairon Blanco would likely be dropped for Beeks, with offseason free agent addition Alexis Diaz potentially being squeezed out of spot on the Opening Day bullpen due to his spring struggles.
Instead, the Rangers opted to drop Diaz from the 40 man roster to make room for Beeks. Diaz is only set to make $1 million this year, having been released at the end of the 2025 season by the Atlanta Braves, the third of three teams he pitched for in 2025.
Diaz pitched poorly for all three teams, putting up in toto an 8.15 ERA in 17.2 IP over 18 appearances between the Reds, the Dodgers, and the Braves. He was the closer for the Reds in 2023 and 2024, and was rather good in 2022 and 2023, but the past two seasons have seen his walk rate jump and his K rate plummet. He also allowed six home runs in those 17.2 innings in 2025, which seems bad. He had a 5.61 ERA in 27 appearances for the three AAA affiliates of the three teams he pitched for in 2025, as well.
Diaz has options remaining, so I figured that he would simply be optioned to the minors. He’s been so bad though — as the Texas Rangers PR account helpfully noted, Diaz has allowed 8 earned runs over 1.2 IP in three Cactus League appearances this spring — Texas presumably figures that he will clear waivers and they can outright him, and even if another team claims him, well, no real loss.
In the movie Trading Places, there was a shady character named Clarence Beeks who worked for the Duke brothers. He was played by Paul Gleason. I will no doubt be making Trading Places references in regards to Jalen Beeks through the 2026 season.
Royals announce local and national TV schedule
The Royals announced today that all 162 games will be televised, including 13 as part of a national television package. The remaining 149 games will air on Royals.TV, the new channel created by the Royals after they ended their partnership with Diamond Sports, the group that owned FanDuel Sports Kansas City.
Here is where you can find Royals games that will air on national TV packages.
FOX
The Royals are scheduled to appear on FOX four times this season, starting with their second game of the year, the Saturday night, March 28 matchup in Atlanta against the Braves. The four games that will air are:
- Saturday, March 28 vs. the Atlanta Braves at 6:15 CT
- Saturday, June 13 vs. the Houston Astros at 6:15 CT
- Saturday, August 22, vs. the Detroit Tigers at 6:15 CT
- Thursday, September 17, at the Houston Astros at 6:15 CT
These games are part of regional coverage, so they will not air nationally. These games will air over-the-air on FOX channels. The Royals will also appear four times on FS1:
- Saturday, April 4 vs. the Milwaukee Brewers at 3:10 CT
- Monday, April 20 vs. the Baltimore Orioles at 6:40 CT
- Saturday, May 23 vs. the Seattle Mariners at 3:10 CT
- Saturday, May 30 at the Texas Rangers at 3:05 CT
The FS1 games will be simulcast on Royals.TV as well.
ESPN
ESPN will air 30 games this year, starting on April 15 when they air the Mets vs. Dodgers game for Jackie Robinson Day. The Royals will appear on the Worldwide Leader for an afternoon game on Memorial Day, May 25 at 2:40 CT, when they host Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees in a rematch of the 2024 ALDS. Other dates could be added as ESPN fills out its schedule.
Apple TV
Apple TV returns with “Friday Night Baseball”, and will include the “MLB Big Inning” whip-around show that gives live look-ins and highlights of action around the league. The Royals will appear four times in the first half schedule that has been released so far:
- Friday, April 3 vs. the Milwaukee Brewers at 6:45 CT
- Friday, May 1 at the Seattle Mariners at 8:45 CT
- Friday, June 5 at the Minnesota Twins at 7:15 CT
- Friday, June 19 vs. the St. Louis Cardinals at 7:15 CT
More games could be added in the second half. Games will be called by broadcast teams Wayne Randazzo (play-by-play), Dontrelle Willis (analyst), and Heidi Watney (sideline reporter); and Alex Faust (play-by-play), Ryan Spilborghs (analyst), and Tricia Whitaker (sideline reporter), with Rich Waltz, who will join the broadcast team to call select games during the season.
NBC/Peacock
NBC has partnered with MLB for the first time in 25 years, and will air 27 games on their platforms that include NBC, NBCSN, and Peacock. They will air Sunday Night Baseball, with the Royals appearing three times:
- Sunday, April 26 vs. the Los Angeles Angels at 6:00 CT
- Sunday, May 10 vs. the Detroit Tigers at 6:00 CT
- Sunday, September 6 vs. the Toronto Blue Jays at 6:00 CT
NBC will feature Jason Benetti and Matt Vasgersian on play-by-play, with studio coverage from Bob Costas, Ahmed Fareed, Clayton Kershaw, Joey Votto, and Anthony Rizzo.
KCTV5
Just like last year, the Royals will air ten home games on free, over-the-air television in the Kansas City area, including the home opener against the Twins. The games that will air on KCTV5 include:
- Monday, March 30 vs. Minnesota Twins at 3:10 CT
- Friday, April 24 vs. Los Angeles Angels at 6:40 CT
- Friday, May 22 vs. Seattle Mariners at 6:40 CT
- Friday, June 12 vs. Houston Astros at 7:10 CT
- Thursday, June 18 vs. St. Louis Cardinals at 6:40 CT
- Friday, July 17 vs. San Diego Padres at 7:10 CT
- Friday, Aug. 7 vs. Chicago Cubs at 7:10 CT
- Friday, Aug. 21 vs. Detroit Tigers at 7:10 CT
- Friday, Sept. 4 vs. Toronto Blue Jays at 7:10 CT
- Monday, Sept. 7 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks at 1:10 CT
These games will also be simulcast on Royals.TV.
Royals.TV
All remaining Royals games will air on Royals.TV, which returns the crew of Ryan Lefebvre, Rex Hudler, Jake Eisenberg, Jeremy Guthrie, with Joel Goldberg and Jeff Montgomery on pre- and post-game shows. The broadcast is also adding Eric Hosmer as an analyst and Bridget Howard as a sideline reporter.
Royals.TV will be available on many cable and satellite providers, although the Royals have not announced which ones. They are offering the service as a direct-to-consumer platform as well, available for fans inside the Royals’ home television territory for $19.99 per-month or $99.99 per year. Out-of-market fans can watch Royals games with an MLB.TV subscription for $149.99 per year. You can find more information on how to watch here with a map of the Royals in-market TV territory.
You can also watch two more spring training games for free at Royals.TV – the March 13 game against the Arizona Diamondbacks and the March 17 game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.