There’s very “last day of school” vibes around today, with the final spring exhibition before Opening Day tomorrow, wrapping up this two-game set with the Cubs from Arizona. After a one-inning, 10-pitch spring debut last week, Gerrit Cole will get the ball ahead of a likely rehab assignment to try and tune up for a May or June return. His outing last week against the Red Sox saw his fastball riding upper 90s with a slider at 91 mph, but I wonder if today will be more of a focus on control and command. We know that his arm can tolerate the velo, and that’s important, but Cole’s always been a tremendous mix of velocity and command, the latter of which is usually harder to build up after a procedure like Tommy John.
Edward Cabrera meanwhile is the shiny new toy for the Cubs, acquired from the Marlins in exchange for a prospect package led by Owen Caissie over the winter. The Yankees reportedly had no interest in the toolsy right-hander, who posted a 3.53 ERA in 137.2 innings in 2025. He features one of the best curveballs and changeups in baseball, but one of the very worst fastballs around. Unlocking that fastball is the difference between Cabrera being a five-win pitcher and a three-win pitcher, and the biggest challenge for Chicago in getting the most bang for their trade buck.
There’s more Opening Day starters in the lineup than I figured with just over 28 hours before the season starts, with Ben Rice leading us off, Jazz Chisholm Jr. batting and playing second, while Ryan McMahon and José Caballero man the left side of the infield. This game is audio-only, so tune in to WFAN for the call.
The Charlotte Hornets just keep winning games, and are going to be a team that no one wants to face in the playoffs.
The offense is buzzing, and they’re massive favorites for tonight’s matchup against the Sacramento Kings. That has my Kings vs. Hornets predictions locked in on a team total.
That and more NBA picks for this game set to tip off at 7:00 p.m. ET at the Spectrum Center on Tuesday, March 24.
Kings vs Hornets prediction
Kings vs Hornets best bet: Hornets team total Over 124.5 (-115)
The Charlotte Hornets are 11-3 in their last 14 games overall and have the second-highest net rating in the NBA over that span.
The last three games have been particularly good, with Buzz City averaging 130 points while shooting 52.9% from the floor, and there’s no reason to think they’re going to slow down in this matchup against the Sacramento Kings.
The Kings are just playing out the season at this point, with their recent wins coming against the likes of the Nets and Jazz. Sacramento has the third-worst defensive rating and ranks next-to-last in opponent eFG%.
Kings vs Hornets same-game parlay
The Hornets are so dangerous because they have so many great shooters, with LaMelo Ball being just one of them. And Ball is on fire right now.
The Buzz City point guard is putting up 25.2 points while shooting 42.1% from 3-point range over his last five games, scoring 29 or more three times.
Another reason why buzz is so big around the Hornets has been the development of Brandon Miller.
He’s shooting nearly 50% from three-point range on 7.8 attempts per game over his last 15 games. He has drained four or more threes in three straight games, and eight times over this 15-game stretch.
Kings vs Hornets SGP
Hornets team total Over 123.5
LaMelo Ball Over 20.5 points
Brandon Miller Over 3.5 threes made
Our "from downtown" SGP: Buzz 3-ball
Buzz City lets it fly against a Kings team that surrenders the second-worst opponent 3-point shooting percentage in the NBA.
Kings vs Hornets SGP
Brandon Miller Over 3.5 threes made
LaMelo Ball Over 3.5 threes made
Kon Knueppel Over 3.5 threes made
Coby White Over 2.5 threes made
Kings vs Hornets odds
Spread: Kings +17.5 | Hornets -17.5
Moneyline: Kings +1000 | Hornets -2000
Over/Under: Over 231.5 | Under 231.5
Kings vs Hornets betting trend to know
The Hornets have covered the spread in 34 of their last 50 games for +17.50 Units and a 32% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Kings vs. Hornets.
How to watch Kings vs Hornets
Location
Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
Date
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBCSCA, FDSN SE-CHA
Kings vs Hornets latest injuries
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BROOKLYN, NY - MARCH 20: Jordan Clarkson #00 of the New York Knicks shoots the ball during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on March 20, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Knicks are back on the schedule to face Zion’s Pelicans on Tuesday evening.
New York is just half a game behind the Celtics for the No. 2 seed in the East. Would you believe it!?
Here’s the latest.
Knicks say Landry Shamet OUT 2nd straight game Tuesday vs Pelicans – “tibial plateau contusion” right knee
“He’s shown time after time that he’s a high-level player. And he’s done it. I’ve been around many players who have gone through their ups and downs throughout the course of the season. And he works at it very hard. And he cares at a high level. Usually when you have that combination from a veteran guy that’s produced the way he’s produced in the NBA, it tends to lead to good results, eventually.”
On Tyler Kolek playing two games in one day:
“That’s an amazing feat. To play in a G-League game in the afternoon and come play in an NBA game, it’s gotta be a weird feeling. But these guys are pro athletes, they do a great job taking care of their bodies and our performance group does a good job with them in that area too. For them to be able to do that, to me, is an amazing thing. And then the group came out and I thought they played well. It was fun to see Tyler hit some shots and hear the crowd cheering his name.”
On Jordan Clarkson setting an example:
“One hundred percent. Not just for guys who are in a funk, but guys who are not playing. You might only play 20 minutes tonight — or may only get five shots. You may sit down here. But you’re talking about the former Sixth Man of the Year — that should tell anybody and everybody that if he can handle that as professional as he is, then anybody on this team should be able to handle it. From minutes to shots to whatever it may be. That should definitely send a message to everybody loud and clear.”
"I want [Kiyan] to play at a Shai pace, a Haliburton pace … you can be slim, but you also gotta know how to utilize the strength that you have."
Melo gets real about what Kiyan Anthony will be in the lab working on for next season 💯 pic.twitter.com/OdPlNRqN6e
“He’s been doing what’s been asked of him. And I’ve said it before — when you’re a guy who, for a year and a half with the Brooklyn Nets when you’re the No. 1 guy and he’s getting those plays called for him. Last year, he didn’t have many plays called for him. This year, he probably has even less plays called for him. So obviously there’s a mental hurdle he needs to get through and that’s something where some of us can help him. I think he gets some of that unfair flak just because he’s doing what’s asked of him. And if we were to sit there and say, go shoot 15 shots a game, he would be efficient and he could do it. But that’s not what’s been asked of him.”
On trying to help Bridges find his rhythm:
“Try to make sure to get him involved a little bit more, get him the ball when he’s running in transition, get him in position to be successful. He’s been doing what’s been asked of him.”
On Zion Williamson’s talent level:
“Extremely talented. When he’s locked in and he’s focused, he’s one of probably 15 or 20 top players in the league, if not better.”
On Williamson posing a challenge to the Knicks:
“He’s a freak of nature. I say that with all due respect. He’s obviously extremely explosive, the way he’s able to maneuver and contort his body, and he has a great touch around the rim. That’s going to be a challenge for us. We got to make sure we’re just solid. Don’t swipe down. Don’t smack down. And try to make him finish.”
On Williamson’s skill set and natural abilities:
“I think what’s really impressive is that first burst but also his second jump. When I first saw him, the way he shoots the ball around the rim, you’d think he has no touch. But he has an amazing touch. And the ones where he doesn’t, he has a quick enough second jump where he’s able to get the rebound and sometimes before guys even get off the ground.”
FROM WESTCHESTER TO MSG IN THE SAME DAY 👏
Earlier today, Tyler Kolek erupted for 42 PTS and 11 AST for the Westchester Knicks in an NBA G League game…
“It’s tough. He was able to play well down there and then came here and continued it. That’s just him being professional, that’s him being himself. We have a lot of guys on this team that are very high character, very good work ethic and he’s one of them. That’s just who he is.”
On Jordan Clarkson’s perseverance:
“It can be example for anybody. It doesn’t matter where you are in your career. Things may not be going your way and continue to work, continue to persevere. And you never know when things are going to fall into place.”
“When he’s doing that he’s playing with that fire and that passion he has, there’s not many players in the NBA coming off the bench you feel better about.”
On ignoring the standings:
“Honestly, I’m not even looking at the standings. I didn’t even know that. I’m just focused on this locker room and this team. We can’t control Boston losing, Detroit losing.”
The Chicago Blackhawks begin a four-game swing on the East Coast on Tuesday, starting with a visit to the New York Islanders. This will be the second and final meeting between the two this season. New York won the first meeting at the United Center 3-2 in a shootout on December 30th.
Each team is NHL .500 in their last 10 games. The Islanders are 5-5-0 and the Blackhawks are 3-3-4. For the Islanders, they are in a battle for playoff positioning. One of the Wild Cards or one of the top two spots in the Metropolitan Division is available to them, but they must earn it over the final month.
Scouting New York
The New York Islanders, regardless of how this ends, should look at this season as a win. They were in a low place at the end of last season, until they won the lottery. They drafted Matthew Schaefer with the first overall pick, and he has completely transformed the franchise.
He is having the greatest season by a teenage defenseman in NHL history. Entering Tuesday’s action, Schaefer has 22 goals and 29 assists for 51 points in 71 games played. Being a responsible defensive defenseman doesn’t suffer in favor of his offense, either. Schaefer is the favorite to win the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie.
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Rittich
Everything on offense, defense, and special teams starts and ends with Schaefer. With that said, he doesn’t carry the team by himself. For one, Bo Horvat earned himself a spot on Team Canada with his play. His 29 goals lead the team. There is also Mat Barzal, who leads them with 64 points.
Other skaters like Anders Lee, Simon Holmstrom, and the recently acquired Brayden Schenn, amongst others, contribute in secondary scoring roles. There is a nice mix of styles throughout the lineup.
Ilya Sorokin, one of the league’s best goaltenders, will be the backup in this one. The Blackhawks will face David Rittich.
Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago
The Blackhawks are going to have Anton Frondell in the lineup for the first time as he is set to make his NHL debut. Without much time with the team outside of one morning skate, he is already on the top line and first power play unit.
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Soderblom
Frondell is taking the spot of Andre Burskovsky, who slides down to the third line with Ryan Donato and Ilya Mikheyev. This should be a solid veteran depth line going forward, with the young stars truly taking over the top-six.
Ryan Greene and Nick Lardis will continue in their roles that carry more offensive responsibility. Greene has been there for most of the year, while Lardis is new to a full-time top-six role.
Matt Grzelcyk is injured and will miss the entire road trip, so Ethan Del Mastro is getting more of a look again. Behind the defense will be Arvid Soderblom, who played very well in goal last time out.
Teuvo Teravainen is another veteran to see a demotion, but his place on the fourth line is necessary. That line can defend, play hard, and even create some offense based on the names there. It could get another boost when Sacha Boisvert makes his NHL debut on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Arvid Soderblom will start in goal for the Blackhawks. He played well on Friday night despite the team in front of him being outclassed by the Colorado Avalanche. It would have been much worse if he weren't excellent.
The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game, it can be found on CHSN locally. Nationally, it is available to stream on ESPN+. The puck will drop shortly after 6:00 PM CT.
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Tampa, Florida: New York Yankees' starting pitcher Luis Gil leaving the game against the NY Mets in the top of the 3rd inning during Spring Training at George Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida on February 21, 2026. (Photo by J. Conrad Williams, Jr./Newsday RM via Getty Images) | Newsday via Getty Images
Speaking to reporters ahead of the Yankees’ final spring training game, Aaron Boone confirmed the team’s plans for their Opening Day roster. Luis Gil will be optioned to the minors, while relievers Jake Bird and Brent Headrick will take the last spots on the team. Peter wrote a little while ago about Rule 5 pick Cade Winquest also making the big club.
New York had already announced that Gil would not open the season in the rotation, leading to speculation that he would ultimately begin the year in the minors. The move makes sense; the Yankees don’t need a fifth starter until April 11th, and starting Gil with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre allows the right-hander to stay stretched out at around 80-90 pitches in the meantime. It also gives Gil a chance to further refine his release point, something he and the team appear to have been tinkering with this spring.
The Yankees will spend the extra roster spot on relief pitching, meaning the Opening Day roster includes nine relievers. The first five spots were all but spoken for: David Bednar, Camilo Doval, Fernando Cruz, Tim Hill, and Ryan Yarbrough. Paul Blackburn seemed like a good bet to make the team after returning on a major league deal over the winter, and as Peter wrote up earlier, Cade Winquest made the club, on the strength of an interesting arsenal and his Rule-5 status, if not his spring training performance.
Bird and Headrick now both have a chance to audition for a longer stay with the club prior to Gil’s potential call-up in mid-April. The right-handed Bird was dreadful after coming over from Colorado last summer, but pitched reasonably well in spring and still has the kind of stuff that convinced the team to acquire him in the first place. Headrick gives the Yankees another lefty out of the pen, and a fairly powerful one at that, with his 94 mph fastball playing up due to his 6-foot-6 frame.
With that, the roster is all but officially set. What do you think? Is this how you would have deployed the extra roster spot with Gil sent down?
Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters on Tuesday that right-hander Luis Gil will begin the season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
This was an expected move, as the Yankees won't need a No. 5 starter through the first couple of turns through the rotation due to off days in the schedule. The Bombers have four scheduled off days through April 6.
There had previously been some thought that Gil could stay in the majors and be used in piggyback situations, but the Yankees clearly want him to stay in a routine of starting games.
Boone previously announced that Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, and Ryan Weathers will start the team's first four games, in that order.
The Yankees of course, will eventually see Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, and Clarke Schmidt return to the rotation, which will give them plenty of starting options.
Gil, 27, was terrific in 2024, winning AL Rookie of the Year thanks to a 3.50 ERA and 10.1 strikeouts per nine. Last year was a different story, though, as Gil was limited to just 11 starts due to a lat strain suffered before the season.
He was up and down this spring, posting a 4.66 ERA. He had one very tough outing, allowing seven earned runs and three home runs in 3.0 innings against the Detroit Tigers on March 15.
Cade Winquest makes team
Boone also told reporters that right-handed reliever Cade Winquest has made the team, along with fellow relievers Jake Bird and Brent Headrick.
Winquest was a rare Rule 5 Draft pick by the Yankees from the St. Louis Cardinals this past March. In order to retain him, the Yankees had to keep him on their 26-man roster. If Winquest were to clear waivers, the Yankees would have to offer him back to the Cardinals.
Winquest was the first player selected by the Yankees in the Rule 5 draft since 2011, when they selected right-hander Brad Meyers from the Washington Nationals. Meyers spent the entire season on the IL and was later returned to Washington.
Winquest pitched to a 7.20 ERA in nine games this spring.
TAMPA, FL - MARCH 19: Osvaldo Bido #56 of the New York Yankees pitches during the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Thursday, March 19, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Izzy Rincon/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Braves made a roster move on Tuesday, claiming RHP Osvaldo Bido off waivers from the Yankees.
The #Braves today claimed RHP Osvaldo Bido off waivers from the New York Yankees, and placed LHP Joey Wentz on the 60-day injured list with a right knee ACL tear.
To make room on the roster, the Braves added LHP Joey Wentz to the 60-Day IL. This is the result of Wentz tearing his ACL a few weeks ago, which will cause him to miss all of 2026.
Bido has bounced around teams (6 total) all off-season, including being previously claimed and waived by the Braves a few months ago. While his production in 2024 was intriguing, he fell off quite a bit in 2025. The interesting note with Bido is that he is without minor league options.
With the Braves having now claimed Bido twice this offseason, it certainly seems they see something in his arsenal that could lead to untapped potential. With all the injuries that have occurred to the pitching staff, it will be worth watching to see if Atlanta makes any further moves before Opening Day.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 16: Joey Ortiz #3 of the Milwaukee Brewers stands at the top of the dugout during a Spring Training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch on March 16, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here we are! The last day of spring training as the Brewers will take on the Reds in their second of two exhibition games at American Family Field. Then, after an off day tomorrow, the Brewers will welcome the White Sox to open the season on Thursday afternoon.
Brandon Sproat is slated to start in this one, with Kyle Harrison also expected pitch. Sproat has made three appearances this spring, spanning nine innings with five runs allowed on 10 hits and a pair of walks while recording 10 strikeouts. His last outing came against the Rockies on March 14, when he went 4 2/3 innings and allowed two runs with three strikeouts. Harrison has made four appearances this spring (though only three officially, as the first of those came against Great Britain in an exhibition). Over 12 2/3 innings, he’s allowed 12 runs (eight earned) on 14 hits and four walks with 17 strikeouts.
Most of the regulars will once again start in the lineup, with Jackson Chourio returning to the outfield after an appearance at DH yesterday. Brice Turang bats second, followed by William Contreras and Christian Yelich (who replaces Chourio at DH). Andrew Vaughn, Jake Bauers, and Sal Frelick follow, with David Hamilton and Joey Ortiz rounding out the order. They’ll face Cincinnati right-hander Chase Burns.
In roster news, the Brewers acquired right-handed reliever Jake Woodford from the Rays, sending right-handed prospect K.C. Hunt and cash considerations back the other way. Outfielder Akil Baddoo, who suffered a quad injury earlier this month, was also placed on the 60-day IL to open the season.
Woodford, 29, is a former first-round pick by the Cardinals who has appeared in 111 MLB games (25 starts) over the last six years, with a career 5.10 ERA and 4.84 FIP over 256 innings. He spent 2025 with the D-backs, appearing in 22 games with a 6.44 ERA, 4.26 FIP, and 23 strikeouts over 36 1/3 innings. A non-roster invite by the Rays this spring, he made four appearances (two starts) with them, pitching to a 1.23 ERA with five strikeouts over 7 1/3 innings. He’ll seemingly replace Easton McGee as a depth righty in the bullpen.
And just like that, Spring Training is over. Just one game stands between the Dodgers and the start of the 2026 season.
In the Freeway series so far, the Dodgers have scored 20 runs, and the high-powered offense looks ready to go.
On the pitching side, Shohei Ohtani also makes his last start before the regular season. Ohtani has only had one start so far this spring, pitching 4.1 innings, allowing one hit, hitting one batter himself, and striking out four. His fast ball topped out at 99.9mph.
Shohei pitched 61 pitches in his first outing and should be looking to extend that pitch count to five innings, 75 pitches. With his start on Tuesday, it slates his first start of the season to be next Tuesday against the Cleveland Guardians.
Justin Wrobleski was thought to have been a piggyback partner for Ohtani if he didn’t get built up in time, but since Roki Sasaki’s starts have been suboptimal so far this spring, that may not be the case.
Jack Kochanowicz will start for the Angels.
Tuesday game info
Teams: Dodgers vs. Angels
Ballpark: Dodger Stadium
Time: 5:10 p.m.
TV: SportsNet LA, Fan Duel Sports Network West (Angels), MLB Network (out of market)
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 13: Tomoyuki Sugano #11 of the Colorado Rockies delivers a pitch during a spring training bullpen at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 13, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Kyle Cooper/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images)
We’re almost there, folks.
It’s time for one last hurrah at Salt River Fields before the Colorado Rockies ship out to Florida to open the 2026 season up against the Miami Marlins. Opening Day is almost here!
To wrap up spring training, the Rockies will face off against the Detroit Tigers for the second straight game, following yesterday’s 6-5 win.
Taking the mound for the Rockies is Tomoyuki Sugano. The offseason acquisition looked solid in his limited work this spring, posting a 0.00 ERA and giving up one unearned run on four hits with a strikeout in his lone start. Hunter Goodman will slot in at DH today and utility man Willi Castro will take first base. Jake McCarthy will lead things off, with Ezequiel Tovar batting cleanup.
Justin Verlander, returning to Detroit this season to finish his career where it began, will pitch for the Motor City Kitties. The 43-year-old vet is set to pitch fourth in Detroit’s rotation. He posted a 5.40 ERA in 10.0 innings across three starts this spring, giving up nine hits (five of which were home runs) with 15 strikeouts.
The Rockies hope to head into the regular season with one last win. See you on the other side!
PEORIA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: Felnin Celesten #93 of the Seattle Mariners throws to first during the eighth inning of the spring training game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Peoria Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Following on the heels of Julio Rodríguez and Noelvi Marte, Felnin Celesten was supposed to be the Mariners’ next big international signing success story. The Mariners gave him $4.7M to sign Celesten out of the Dominican Republic in 2023, the largest signing bonus they’ve ever handed out in IFA. However, injuries have slowed Celesten’s development and he only just completed his first full professional season in 2025, a fine-but-not-spectacular season in Low-A with Modesto.
It’s not the incandescent rise the Mariners nor Celesten himself might have imagined for a player nicknamed “The Phoenix,” although it’s a name that’s becoming more apt as Celesten battles back from one injury after another. In a conversation with Celesten this past summer while he was at Everett for a short while, Celesten spoke about how the various physical challenges and injuries he’s gone through have taught him how to take better care of his body, prepare himself better for the demands of the season, and know himself better in a general sense.
“I know what I need now,” he said through translator Hecmart Nieves. “That’s the biggest thing. I need the training room. I need to take care of my body, to stay healthy on the field. That’s been the biggest adjustment…Injuries, it’s probably not the best way to find out what you need, but it’s definitely helped me to know myself better and what things I need to improve on.”
Part of taking care of his body was also taking care of his mind, something Celesten said the Mariners helped him with. Instead of allowing feelings of frustration to overtake him or viewing his injuries in a negative light, Celesten, who comes from a background of deep Christian faith, asked himself: what does God want me to learn from this? How can I come back better from this?
“Baseball is a hard game, and it comes with ups and downs. I’m proud of how I’ve handled myself this season, not letting the lows get too low and overcoming whatever gets in the way. Everything that has happened to me is like God giving me a message, opportunities to grow, and that’s the way I see the game and my life.”
With the WBC in action, Celesten got several opportunities to play with the big-league club this spring, getting into six games and collecting three hits. While the slight-framed shortstop doesn’t seem like he’s going to grow into a power hitter, he’s been working on putting the ball in the air more while still hitting the ball hard, and continues to hit from both sides of the plate, putting up near-identical lines against both lefties and righties.
While there’s a chance a stronger and more durable Celesten, removed from the hamstring injury and broken hamate bone that plagued him early in his career, can hit for more power, it seems like much of his prospect value will remain in his glove.
Celesten is a natural shortstop but has at times not made the routine plays, something he looked to have cleaned up during the Spring Breakout game. Playing behind a dominant Ryan Sloan, who induced groundball after groundball, Celesten ranged around the six, showcasing smooth footwork and clean mechanics.
He then went on to boot a routine ground ball in the Mariners’ final spring training game, because development isn’t linear, and Celesten is a prime example of that. His 2026 will be about, first and foremost, staying healthy; beyond that, continuing to maximize his modest power while spraying the ball all around the field and letting his plus speed do the rest. Easy to say, difficult to do, but Celesten’s early-career struggles have set him up to know just how hard, exactly, the task is ahead of him, and what he needs to do to best prepare himself to accomplish it.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced that they have recalled forward Ville Koivunen from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Koivunen was just sent down to the AHL by Pittsburgh over the weekend. Now, with this latest news, Koivunen will be heading right back to the NHL roster.
Koivunen getting called back up comes with star forward Evgeni Malkin being sidelined day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
Koivunen has appeared in 33 games this season with Pittsburgh, where he has recorded two goals, five assists, seven points, and a minus-5 rating. This is after he had seven assists in his first eight career NHL games during this past season.
While Koivunen has had some struggles at the NHL level this season, he has been continuing to show off his potential in the AHL with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. In 29 games this season with the AHL club, he has 11 goals, 22 assists, 33 points, and a plus-7 rating.
The former England captain and head coach argues that elite stars need a proper training block to peak at 2027 World Cup – but warns even best-laid plans get ripped up
England’s legendary World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson says the current management should consider resting key players this summer to boost the chances of history being repeated in Australia next year. Johnson was among several senior squad members who did not tour Argentina in the buildup to their 2003 global triumph and suggests a similar policy could assist England’s 2027 campaign.
In 2002 England beat the Pumas 26‑18 in Buenos Aires with only eight of their subsequent World Cup-winning squad involved. Johnson is fully aware that post-game recovery and conditioning techniques have moved on significantly but believes the current captain, Maro Itoje, and others require careful handling if they are to prosper in 2027.
John Calipari is quite proud of Darius Acuff Jr. and others for getting their own signature shoe. It helps that the Arkansas star is partnered with Reebok and Allen Iverson.
In addition to Acuff, Calipari mentioned that he had numerous players with mega shoe deals and worth a lot in endorsements. While speaking on the Pat McAfee Show, Calipari was eager to talk about the partnership, but also get ready for Arkansas’s next game in the NCAA tournament against Arizona.
“Having a signature shoe with AI, who I coached when we were in Philadelphia. And I love him. He and I have stayed in touch,” Calipari said. “I got about 10 guys that have signature shoes. And, you know, I have them all in my office. We have 13 all-stars, two MVPs, $6 billion in salaries, I mean, and the guys I have on this team, they’re going to be NBA players because they deserve to be.
“Now, they got the challenge of their lives with Arizona. Tommy’s done an unbelievable job with his team. And so we’re going in like, let’s go, let’s see who we are. Probably have to make adjustments as the game unfolds, because of how they’re going to play, and seeing what they’ll do defensively to us, because we’re a good offensive team. We score 90 a game. And so they’ll probably do some different things. We’ll have to see.”
Acuff Jr. originally signed an NIL deal with Reebok last May, joining Tennessee freshman Nate Ament and Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese on the brand’s roster. Following a stellar freshman campaign, which saw him become just the second freshman in the past 13 seasons to win SEC Player of the Year, he now earns his first signature shoe before landing on an NBA team.
The Detroit native averaged 23.3 points, 6.5 assists, and 3.1 rebounds this season for John Calipari‘s Razorback team. He has been even better in the postseason play, averaging 30.2 points in five SEC Tournament/NCAA Tournament games this season.
The announcement comes as Reebok continues to invest more in basketball after legends Shaquille O’Neal and Allen Iverson joined the company in 2023. Angel Reese is a key part of the roster and launched her own signature shoe last September, as part of an extension with the brand. The company added other stars such as Dink Pate, Matas Buzelis and DiJonai Carrington, as well.
Port St. Lucie, Florida: New York Mets pitcher Devin Williams during a spring training workout, February 20, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Alejandra Villa Loarca/Newsday RM via Getty Images) | Newsday via Getty Images
If you still don’t know who Devin Williams is, you’ve definitely seen him pitch before. You’ve seen him throw the same pitch, in fact, over and over again—rocking back and firing a changeup on the lower-outside corner which Pete Alonso connects with the other way as the Mets’ dugout erupts and Howie Rose delivers the call of a lifetime. In the time it took for you to read that sentence, you probably could have watched the highlight another couple of times.
So, who is Devin Williams? To the Mets, he used to be the man who gave up Alonso’s iconic 2024 homer in the Wild Card Series. Now, he’s the new face of their bullpen. But to the rest of the league, Williams has simply been one of the best relievers in baseball for the better part of a decade.
The Mets signed the 31-year-old Williams to a three-year, $51 million deal, marking the first of two ex-Brewers whom president of baseball operations David Stearns would reunite with (along with Freddy Peralta) this offseason. Williams was signed in early December, back when he was expected to be the setup man to Edwin Díaz; but Díaz, of course, broke for Los Angeles to join the back-to-back champion Dodgers, leaving Williams slotted into the closer spot on the roster. It’s a role Williams has played before. Over the course of his six scintillating seasons in Milwaukee from 2019-2024, Williams oscillated between the role of setup man and closer depending on whether bullpen-mates like Josh Hader or Trevor Megill had the job at a given time. One thing that remained consistent was Williams’ spectacular performance. From 2020-2024, Williams put up a 1.70 ERA (the second-lowest among qualified relievers in that span) while posting a 14.64 K/9 rate (second only to — you guessed it — Edwin Díaz). Along the way, Williams earned two All-Star selections, two N.L. Reliever of the Year Awards, and a Rookie of the Year Award for his absurd 2020 season in which he pitched to a 0.33 ERA while striking out 53 of 100 batters faced.
Despite what the Alonso homer may have led you to believe, Williams’ calling card has always been his un-hittable changeup, better known as the “Airbender” pitch. From ’20-24, Williams’ changeup produced an incredible 46.8% Whiff rate while yielding just a .135 opponent batting average, both marks ranking the best in baseball for any pitch among right-handers (min. 2000 pitches thrown). Since 2020, no single pitch by a reliever has produced as many strikeouts (284) as Williams’ Airbender.
But after being traded from the Brewers to the Yankees following the 2024 season, the ever-consistent Williams had a confusingly ineffective season. In 2025, he pitched to a 4.79 ERA while recording -0.3 bWAR. A look at his underlying metrics don’t reveal all too many problems — in fact, they seem to bear all the signs of a usual dominant season from Williams. His changeup still had its good break, while his Chase%, Whiff%, and K% all ranked in the 97th percentile or higher. Most perplexing of all, Williams’ xERA (expected ERA) was 3.02, almost two full runs-per-nine below his actual ERA.
So…who is Devin Williams really? Is he the dominant arm from his Milwaukee days, or the struggling Yankee trying to avoid further damage? The most likely answer does actually seem to be the most promising one, though perhaps also the least satisfying: it really was just a fluke. The baseball gods with their small sample sizes and unpredictable balls in play may have just done a number on Williams’ numbers, while the expected stats and underlying metrics tell the true story of a still-elite reliever.
There are statistical deep dives arguing the above point with far greater precision, but for a perhaps more digestible piece of evidence: Williams did put up good traditional numbers for significant stretches of the season. From May 7 through July 13, he pitched to 1.90 ERA in 23.2 IP. From September 7 on, he threw nine scoreless innings in nine appearances. That’s about three months of the season where Williams wasn’t only getting great results, but elite results — the kind he’s become accustomed to over the course of his career.
This spring, Williams gave up a solo home run to Cardinals prospect J.J. Wetherholt on the first pitch he threw: a new cutter that he’s been developing with the Mets’ coaching staff. Since that swing, he’s allowed no runs and two hits in four more spring appearances, striking out six batters and utilizing his signature changeup to record four of those (one in each appearance). It’s a hard thing to truly believe in a bounce-back season, especially after a player puts up negative WAR with an ERA near 5.00, but if there ever was a time to do so it’s now. The predictive stats are there. The not-so-cherry-picked traditional stats are there. The spring stats are there. And perhaps most importantly, Williams is here. The Mets committed to having him in their bullpen for three years — not a carefree expenditure, especially for a reliever — after seeing the numbers he put up last year. That should be a sign to any who trust Stearns’ front office that they firmly believe his 2025 season was an anomaly, and that he’ll be ready to deliver high-quality, high-stakes innings in 2026 and beyond.
So, one final time: Who is Devin Williams? He’s no longer a show-stopping rookie, but he’s not necessarily past his prime. He’s coming off an ugly season, but not a damning one. He’s not Edwin Díaz—nobody is—but he doesn’t have to be. He’s been one of the best relievers in baseball, all signs point to him continuing to be one of the best relievers in baseball, and he’s the Mets’ closer for the next three years. Even if he’ll forever be “the guy who gave up the homer to Alonso,” maybe we haven’t yet seen the most famous Williams changeup in Mets history.
