As you know, Ballesteros has previously been known as a catcher who’s probably better off as a DH. It appears, to me at least, that being good at ABS challenges is a useful skill. So… maybe Ballesteros will see some catching time during the regular season. He’s getting opportunities now because Miguel Amaya is off at the World Baseball Classic.
I’ll get to the challenges shortly. Ben Brown, who started this game, struggled. He allowed three hits, walked three, hit two batters and was charged with all three Padres runs. That’s… not good. Brown will get more starting chances this spring. His future could be in the bullpen… or at Triple-A Iowa being stretched out to start. As always, we await developments.
Cubs relievers combined for 5.1 shutout innings in this game, allowing three hits, two walks and striking out five. The only one of those relievers likely to make the Opening Day roster was Jacob Webb. Also in this group were Collin Snider, Ethan Roberts, Ryan Rolison and minor leaguer Charlie Barnes.
The offense didn’t do much. Ballesteros had two hits, raising his spring BA to .372, and Matt Shaw also had a pair of hits. The Cubs also drew three walks and left nine on base, going 0-for-8 with RISP.
And that’s the tale of the first night game of the spring.
The Cubs will face the A’s at Sloan Park Saturday afternoon. Shōta Imanaga will start for the Cubs, and hopefully will keep the ball in the yard this time. Mason Barnett starts for the A’s. Game time is 2:05 p.m. CT. No TV today, but there will be a radio broadcast via WSCR/The Score.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 06: Aaron Judge #99 of Team United States stands for the national anthem with manager Mark DeRosa #9 (L) and teammates Bobby Witt Jr. #7, Bryce Harper #24, Kyle Schwarber #12, Alex Bregman #2 (R) before a game against Team Brazil during the 2026 World Baseball Classic at Daikin Park on March 06, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The World Baseball Classic ramped up into their pool play schedule yesterday, so let’s do a quick recap of what happened.
Japan 13, Chinese Taipei 0 (7 innings)
Listen, we’re all here for the Shohei Ohtani show in the WBC, so of course Shohei Ohtani crushed a grand slam in the second inning.
That was basically all she wrote for the game. I’m not sure if anyone in this pool can win a game against Samurai Japan.
Cuba 3, Panama 1
In a game that had some good pitching in it, Cuba was led by home runs from Yoelkis Guibert and Yoan Moncada to secure the victory over the Panamanian squad. I thought for sure that this was going to go Panama’s way considering the roster differences, but Cuba does just know how to win on an international stage.
Venezuela 6, Netherlands 2
Led by former Phillies pitcher Ranger Suarez, the Venezuelans picked up a pretty important win for them in a pool that has several teams that have a shot at moving on to the knockout stage. Suarez was good in only two innings of work, but it was the lineup that is pretty deep that did some damage. Luis Arraez picked up two RBI on a single and bases loaded walk while Willson Contreras delivered the big blow with a two-run single that basically ended the game.
Mexico 8, Great Britain 2
This was a fairly close game going into the eighth inning, where it was tied at one. That was until the pitching depth that the English lack showed when they surrendered seven runs in the final two innings to seal the deal. Gary Gill Hill, Tristan Beck and Graham Spraker – all affiliated with MLB clubs – just could not keep Mexico’s offense down for the entirety of the game.
Puerto Rico 5, Colombia 0
A game that showed the interesting pitching limits the WBC is played under, Puerto Rico rode a big fifth inning to take a game in their home stadium in San Juan.
Colombia had Jose Quintana on the mound to begin the game and he was very effective for three innings. However, he was removed after only 30 pitches, where the pitcher who succeeded him, Adrian Almeida, was charged with five runs allowed in that fifth inning that doomed Colombia. Why they pulled Quintana could have had something to do with his now being available after a single day’s rest, but that’s still a strange move to make that ended up costing them.
Dominican Republic 12, Nicaragua 3
You know, I watched a lot of this game next to the United States one (thank you, YouTube TV). I really thought Nicaragua was going to pull this one off once they had a lead and at least a share of a tie through five innings. But as we watched, I told my son, “it’s going to come down to pitching and Nicaragua just doesn’t have the octane to beat DR, I don’t think.”
Then Junior Caminero came up and hit a baseball that went about 200 miles per hour and about 20 feet off the ground for a backbreaker.
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 7, 2026
This Dominican team might be legit.
United States 15, Brazil 5
This shouldn’t have been this close.
Seventeen walks allowed by Brazil, to be expected of course, was just too much to overcome. Aaron Judge hit a titanic shot in the first inning to give the U.S. a lead they never gave back.
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 7, 2026
However, this game was 8-5 going into the ninth inning. That simply can’t happen if the U.S. wants to win anything in this tournament. Better clean it up.
Hey, Manny Ramirez’s kid hit two home runs. And Jose Contreras’ kid, a 17 year old kid still in high school, got Judge to ground into a double play. We’re all officially old!
Chinese Taipei 14, Czechia 0 (7 innings)
Taipei gets on the board with a win here, using a grand slam from Stuart Fairchild to power them to a mercy rule victory. I think the Czechia story is officially over.
How did the Phillies do?
Edmundo Sosa: 1-4, single Bryce Harper: 1-5, single, R, RBI, walk, strikeout Kyle Schwarber: 2-4, two singles, 2 R, 2 walks
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Oh ye of little faith.
Actually, you’re just realistic. Who can blame you for that? It’s best to remain grounded somewhere in the realm of reality. What’s what? What are we talking about?
Well, the results are in. SB Nation asked you how the Houston Rockets’ season would end. A stout 55% of you said that the team would flame out in the Conference Semifinals.
Rockets predicted to win one series
Frankly, this feels right on the money.
The Rockets currently sit fourth in the Western Conference. If the season ended today, they’d play the Nuggets. The Rockets’ 5.2 Net Rating comfortably edges Denver’s 4.4 mark. Nikola Jokic will give the Nuggets an advantage in any series, but for all their struggles, the Rockets have been the better team this year.
After that, they’d presumably play the Thunder. Article over.
Jokes aside, Houston can easily chase down the third seed heading into the postseason. That would likely pit them against the Spurs in the next round. San Antonio is a tough matchup for the Rockets. Victor Wembanyama’s ability to shut down the paint will mitigate a team that relies on two non-shooters like Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson.
Nothing is set in stone. Injuries happen. The Rockets could get hot at the right time. The Rockets still have a (very) outside chance of winning the NBA title this year:
But you shouldn’t bet on it.
On that note, if you do want to bet on your Houston Rockets, head on over to FanDuel, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.
The polls have closed and the votes are in! At Bucs Dugout, we polled how excited Pittsburgh Pirates fans were for the regular season after the team’s hot start to Spring Training. 82% of those who voted said that they are more excited than normal for the regular season after the Buccos dominated Grapefruit League play.
The Pirates as of Friday have a 10-4 record in Spring Training, and fans have a lot to be excited about ahead of the regular season. The story of the Pirates’ offseason of course has been how differently they’ve approached building their lineup. Signing All-Star slugger Ryan O’Hearn was a sign of good faith that the Buccos were looking to get serious. The organization also made a monster trade that saw All-Star Brandon Lowe and prospect Jake Mangum come over from Tampa Bay. Very quickly they completely transformed the lineup, and then kept adding when they signed Marcel Ozuna to be the team’s designated hitter.
The emergence of Konnor Griffin as the top prospect in baseball has dominated headlines, and to this point, he has absolutely looked like a future star in Major League Baseball. Other prospects like Jhostynxon Garcia, Braxton Ashcraft and Esmerlyn Valdez have also been turning heads in camp and have their own share of highlight moments.
Pittsburgh’s pitching rotation is what will get butts in seats this season, as they are projected to be one of the best in baseball. Paul Skenes is the reigning National League Cy Young winner and is primed to have another strong season. Bubba Chandler is still one of the most exciting pitching prospects in baseball, while Mitch Keller will provide the veteran leadership to keep the group on track.
FanDuel Sports Network has the Pirates at -520 odds to win 70 games in 2026. Pittsburgh won 71 games in 2025.
There’s a lot of reasons for Pirates fans to be more excited than usual for the upcoming season, and there should be no shortage of fireworks going off at PNC Park this year.
DUNEDIN, - MARCH 03: Brandon Valenzuela #59 of the Toronto Blue Jays makes a catch during the game between the Team Canada and the Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 in Dunedin, Flordia. (Photo by Grace Hoppel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Brandon Valenzuela is a 25-year-old switch-hitting catcher born in Hermosillo, Mexico (he has a good role model as a Mexican-born catcher in Kirk). The Blue Jays picked him up from the Padres in trade for Will Wagner. MLB.com has Valenzuela as #24 on their Jays top 30 prospect list. He was added to the Jays’ 40-man last November.
The Padres signed him as a 16-year-old in 2017 for a $100,000 signing bonus. He has all three options left.
Last year, splitting time between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A Buffalo, he hit .224/.309/.383 with 15 home runs. As a switch-hitter, he’s been pretty even on each side (last year a .725 OPS vs. LHP and .680 vs. RHP). He struck out a lot (24.0% of the time) but then walked a fair bit (10.9%). He has a bit of pop.
But offense isn’t what has put on prospect lists. His defense is what has him on the edge of a major league job. Last year, he threw out 34% of baserunners. He’s said to good at blocking balls in the dirt and that he calls a good game.
Baseball America says:
The switch-hitting Valenzuela is a glove-first catcher without a lot of offensive upside. Valenzuela’s righthanded swing is better than his lefthanded swing, leading to average results against lefthanded pitching. He shows below-average contact skills with an advanced approach that should lead to at least an average walk rate. There will be a fair amount of strikeouts as Valenzuela is a well below-average contact hitter against righthanded pitching. He hit 15 home runs in 2025 and shows fringe-average game power. To Valenzuela’s credit he has average exit velocity data with lofty launch angles. Behind the plate he’s a plus defender with an above-average arm that keeps runners in check
He’s having a good spring, with 4 hits and 3 walks, in 12 at-bats, and, to my eyes, has looked good behind the plate.
If Tyler Heineman hits like he did last year (and he’s also a good defensive catcher) and stays healthy, we won’t see much of Valenzuela, but if Heineman goes back to hitting the way he has in the past, well, the team is still likely to stay with the catcher they know. Then, catchers do tend to hit the IL at some point during a season, and Brandon would be next in line. Ali Sánchez got into 20 MLB games last year.
Valenzuela is nine years younger than Heineman. All things being equal, I’d rather have Valenzuela on the major league team than Heineman, but Tyler would likely either retire or look for a job with another team if the Jays wanted to send him down. Valenzuela pretty much has to do whatever the Jays tell him to.
Heineman didn’t get his first MLB at-bat until he was 28. And, before the age of 30, Heineman only played 20 games. If Brandon doesn’t get any major league time this year, he’s got lots of time to ‘make it’.
Steamer figures he’ll play 8 games this season, hitting .201/.272/.315 with 1 home run.
HAINAN ISLAND, China (AP) — Mi Hyang Lee made only five pars Saturday in a wild and windy round at the Blue Bay LPGA that ended with a 1-under 71, good enough to seize control with a three-shot lead as the South Korean goes after her first LPGA win more than eight years.
Lee put together seven birdies at Jian Lake Blue Bay, offset by enough mistakes — six bogeys — to keep her from an even larger lead.
She was at 12-under 204, three shots ahead of Hye-Jin Choi (68) and Yu Liu of China (73).
Defending champion Rio Takeda of Japan made a charge to get into the mix by playing her final 11 holes in 6 under for a 67 that left her four shots out of the lead.
“Yeah, a lot of up and down,” Lee said of her round. “But still finished under par, so really looking forward to tomorrow.”
Her last LPGA win was the Women's Scottish Open in 2017.
Adding to the difficulty of the wind was a nagging shoulder injury that first surfaced last fall during an LPGA event in Ohio. She wanted to finish the year at the season-ending Tour Championship and had two months off to rest.
“This is my third week, so I think a little overdoing for my shoulder,” she said. “Last night I couldn't sleep without my medication. So hopefully, just one more day for tomorrow.”
Choi, the No. 15 player in the women's world ranking, shot 31 on the front nine to get back into the mix. She was closing in on Lee until taking a bogey on the par-4 17th, and then failing to make birdie on the par-5 closing hole.
“Back nine, it was not a really good situation compared to the front nine, but I made a lot of good saves,” Choi said. “Because of the wind, I couldn't hit my second shot near the pin.”
Lee wasn't the only player with a roller-coaster round. Liu began the back nine with a double bogey on No. 10, and two holes later made up for that by holing out for eagle on the par-4 12th.
Auston Kim had another rough Saturday. The American was in contention last week at the HSBC Women's World Championship until a 73 in the third round. She shot a 74 at Blue Bay that left her five shots behind.
Blue Bay LPGA is the third straight LPGA event on its first Asia swing of the season. A week after nine of the top 10 in the world played in Singapore, the China field had only one of the top 10. That was Ruoning Yin of China, a former Women's PGA champion. She shot 74 and was nine shots back.
Mar 6, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets center Clint Capela (30) reacts to forward Kevin Durant (7) basket against the Portland Trail Blazers in the second half at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images | Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
The Houston Rockets were able to rebound from an ugly loss to the Golden State Warriors that featured some horrid play down the stretch by closing out the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night with a strong fourth quarter to come from behind and drop the Blazers 106-99.
Houston used a 23-4 run in the fourth quarter and held the Blazers to many misses in what was a turnaround from the fourth quarter and OT versus the Warriors. Alperen Sengun had 28 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and a block while shooting 11-for-15 from the field, while Amen Thompson had 26 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and a block. He barely missed, shooting 11-for-12 from the field.
Kevin Durant had 20 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists, but shot just 8-for-18 from the floor and had 8 turnovers. KD and Sengun combined for 14 turnovers between them. Reed Sheppard finished with 17 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal and 3 blocks. He was 3-for-8 from deep as Houston’s only player who hit more than one three-pointer. In fact, the Rockets had a very 90s-esque statline, shooting just 5-for-19 from deep for the game. Reed drew another start with Jabari Smith Jr. back to nursing his sore ankle.
The Rockets outshot Portland 54 percent to 40 percent, but Houston’s 22 turnovers kept the Blazers in the game until the decisive fourth quarter. Portland was led by Jermai Grant with 21 and Jrue Holiday with 20.
The Rockets move to 39-23 on the season and sit firmly in fourth place in the Western Conference. If playoff seeding was today, they’d be taking on the Denver Nuggets in the first round, an interesting matchup to say the least. They are also currently on a 51-win pace, or one game worse than last season’s team.
They’ll return to action on Sunday when they take on their Texas rival San Antonio Spurs.
TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 07: Shohei Ohtani #16 of Team Japangets tag out by Hyeseong Kim #3 of Republic of Korea in the fifth inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool C game between South Korea and Japan at Tokyo Dome on March 07, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Gene Wang - Capture At Media/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Early Saturday morning action in the World Baseball Classic gave us a battle between two Dodgers. Shohei Ohtani and Hyeseong Kim each homered, and Japan beat Korea 8-6 at the Tokyo Dome.
Japan joins Australia at 2-0 in Pool C in Tokyo, with two games left to play, with Korea falling to 1-1.
Ohtani walked and scored in the first inning, then hit a solo home run to tie the game in the third inning. With a runner on third base and two outs in the seventh inning, Ohtani was intentionally walked, and later scored in a three-run frame.
In two games so for in the WBC, Ohtani has reached base seven times in eight plate appearances, with two home runs, a double, and two walks, with four runs scored and six runs batted in.
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 7, 2026
Down 8-6 with two outs in the eighth inning, Kim batted with the bases loaded but struck out looking in Korea’s last threat of the game.
Edwin Díaz closed out Puerto Rico’s 5-0 win over Colombia with a scoreless ninth inning on Friday, following a leadoff single with three straight strikeouts. Díaz threw 24 pitches in his first game action since last Saturday for the Dodgers.
Díaz also came the game using his entrance music at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
On the mound to close it out for Puerto Rico: Edwin Diaz 💪
Lucas Ramírez, the 20-year-old son of former Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramírez, hit a leadoff home run for Brazil off Logan Webb in the first inning on Friday.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 20: Colorado Rockies Infielder, Kyle Karros steps up to the plate during the first 2026 spring training game at Salt River Field at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 20, 2026. The Arizona Diamondbacks went onto beat the Colorado Rockies 3-2. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) | Denver Post via Getty Images
Every spring training has roster battles. That part isn’t new.
What feels different about Rockies camp this year is who is competing — and why.
When ‘veteran presence’ replaces production
Last year, many roster decisions felt tied to something other than baseball performance. Several spots went to players whose value was often described in terms of ‘veteran presence’ or ‘clubhouse leadership.’ Players like Kyle Farmer, Thairo Estrada, Nick Martini, Sean Bouchard and Jacob Stallings (and later Orlando Arcia) were frequently framed as stabilizing influences for a young team.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with veteran leadership. Teams benefit from players who know how to prepare, handle adversity, and model professionalism for younger teammates.
But leadership only works when it’s paired with production.
The quintet of Farmer, Estrada, Martini, Bouchard and Stallings combined for 742 plate appearances in 2025 and produced -3.4 bWAR (per Baseball-Reference). That’s not exactly a formula for success.
The best version of the ‘veteran presence’ model looks something like this: productive core players, young contributors developing around them, and a few experienced veterans reinforcing professional habits and clubhouse culture.
Not every veteran on the 2025 roster was there solely for leadership. But as injuries mounted and on-field production declined, the narrative increasingly shifted toward intangible value.
That’s where the equation starts to break down. When leadership becomes the primary justification for playing time, its value quickly erodes. Leadership can amplify talent, but it can’t replace it.
A structural shift inside the organization
Structurally, things feel different for the Rockies this spring.
The organization’s evolving leadership structure — including the influence of president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta and general manager Josh Byrnes — has emphasized process, player development, and more modern decision-making. If that philosophy is beginning to shape roster construction, spring training is exactly where it would start to appear.
And this year, it does.
Competition based on baseball skills
The competitions in camp this year are largely centered around actual baseball skills and roster impact, not reputation or tenure. The players pushing for spots are younger, more athletic, and trying to establish themselves rather than simply extending their careers.
Players like Zac Veen (No. 9 PuRP), Ryan Ritter, Kyle Karros, and TJ Rumfield represent different kinds of roster pressure. They’re not competing for symbolic opportunities — they’re competing because their tools and upside could genuinely help the roster.
Even the possibility of someone like Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) pushing the timeline adds another layer to the competition. When prospects start forcing their way into the conversation, the roster naturally becomes more dynamic.
At the same time, the Rockies did bring in players with experience. But those additions feel fundamentally different from last year’s veteran-heavy approach.
Players like Willi Castro, Jake McCarthy, and Edouard Julien weren’t brought in to provide leadership speeches in the clubhouse. They were brought in because they offer specific baseball tools. They are all under 30 years old and are being looked upon for on-field contributions.
Castro brings versatility and athleticism. McCarthy adds speed and defensive range. Julien provides on-base ability and offensive upside.
Instead of simply filling up space until prospects arrive, these players give the Rockies flexibility while still allowing younger players to compete for real opportunities.
Where veterans still make sense
The one area where veteran presence is still noticeable is in the pitching rotation. But even there, the reasoning feels much more baseball-driven than narrative-driven.
Pitching at Coors Field is difficult, and stability matters. The veterans competing for rotation spots weren’t brought in simply to mentor younger pitchers or guide the clubhouse. They were brought in because they can absorb innings, stabilize games, and provide durability in a challenging environment.
That’s a baseball reason for having veterans.
In other words, the Rockies appear to be prioritizing function over reputation.
Why it matters
Several roster spots remain genuinely unsettled as camp progresses. First base, second base, third base, fourth outfielder/utility roles, the fifth starter spot, and the left-handed bullpen role are all still being sorted out.
None of those competitions involve superstar players. But they matter because they shape the architecture of the roster.
These decisions determine how athletic the team is, how much flexibility the bench provides, and how many opportunities exist for young players trying to establish themselves at the major league level.
Ironically, real competition often creates the best clubhouse culture.
When playing time is earned, not granted, it brings accountability, urgency, and energy. Those traits build stronger teams than any imported ‘veteran presence.’
That’s why this spring feels different. The roster battles feel real, and the outcomes feel tied to performance.
And for a team coming off a 119-loss season, that difference matters.
If the Rockies keep rewarding performance when the games count, this spring might represent more than just another camp. It might signal a meaningful shift in how the roster is built.
The real question is whether that philosophy will hold once the season begins. If younger players outperform veterans in April and May, should the Rockies commit to them or fall back on experience?
A Pirates fan at Last Word on Sports floated a hypothetical trade sending catcher Joey Bart to the Rockies in exchange for left-handed pitching prospect Sean Sullivan. The idea hinges on Pittsburgh’s crowded catching situation potentially making Bart available. Colorado would get a capable big-league catcher, while the Pirates add a young arm. It’s more of a thought experiment than a prediction, but an interesting one for both sides.
Ryan Ritter has been one of the Rockies’ early standouts this spring, swinging a hot bat and forcing his way into the roster conversation. The young infielder has delivered several big hits as Colorado sorts through its infield competition. If he keeps it up, Ritter could turn a strong camp into a real opportunity.
Ben Brown didn’t exactly put his best foot forward, allowing three runs in 2.1 innings against the Padres. He was a little wild.
The Cubs had those special bats with ball-avoidance radar. One run would have been enough to defeat them.
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HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 06: Gunnar Henderson #11 of Team USA tips his cap during player introductions prior to the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool B game presented by Capital One between Team USA and Team Brazil at Daikin Park on Friday, March 6, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Rob Tringali/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning Birdland,
The World Baseball Classic has been underway for a few days now, but Friday was the busiest slate so far. Eight games took place, including the opener for Team USA. They beat Brazil 15-5, although that scoreline is not reflective of just how close Brazil kept things for most of the evening. It was an 8-5 game going into the ninth inning, and that is where the US pulled away as Brazil was on its eighth and ninth pitchers of the contest.
But Brazil had more feel good stories than the US, for whatever that is worth. Lucas Ramirez, the 20-year-old son of Manny Ramirez, launched two home runs as Brazil’s lead-off hitter. Joseph Contreras tossed 1.1 innings for Brazil, which included getting Aaron Judge to hit into a double play. Contreras is just 17 years old, can touch 100 mph, and is in the middle of his senior year at a Georgia high school. Amazing stuff.
Team USA walked 17 times in the game while striking out only twice. Brice Turang led the team with three hits, two doubles, and four RBI out of the nine hole in the order. Judge also had a two-run homer and scored three times. Alex Bregman walked four times. Roman Anthony and Kyle Schwarber had two hits apiece.
There was no Gunnar Henderson in this one. He seems to be the backup at both shortstop and third base for Team USA. One would imagine he will get a start at some point, at least in group play, but who knows. If manager Mark DeRosa prefers his speed and left-handed bat coming off the bench, then that is the role he will handle. Hopefully it doesn’t have a negative impact on Henderson’s ability to ramp up to the regular season with the Orioles.
The Orioles also played a game on Friday. It did not go as well, particularly for Albert Suárez (L, 2.2 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 2 HR). They lost 10-2 to the Cardinals. But there were positives. Chris Bassitt gave up just one run and struck out two over three innings. Yennier Cano had another shutout inning. Ryan Mountcastle was 3-for-3. And although he did not hit a home run, Vance Honeycutt remained perfect this spring with a single in his lone at-bat.
The O’s will play two games today. It’s a split squad special. They will host the Twins in Sarasota, and they will head to Venice for a matchup with the Braves. Both games start at 1:05. MASN and local radio coverage will broadcast the game in Sarasota, but it looks like the Braves networks will cover the other game, so MLB TV subscribers should be able to watch/listen to that as well.
Links
Because You Asked – Another Simple Favor | Roch Kubatko Lots of bullpen questions in this one, and for good reason. Outside of Ryan Helsley, little is settled in the team’s relief corps. Andrew Kittredge dealing with shoulder inflammation doesn’t help. It seems inevitable that they sign…someone by Opening Day. But it’s common for Mike Elias to wait on that. He probably wants to see a little bit more from the guys in camp before adding a known commodity like a veteran reliever.
Polar Bear Q&A: Alonso on 1st half of camp, leadership, World Series aspirations, more | Orioles.com Pete Alonso has very quickly become the face of the Orioles franchise. He’s not their absolute best player, obviously, but he does seem the most comfortable with being the guy to talk to the media and guide the culture of the team. That’s something they needed. Hopefully it comes with a bunch of homers this season.
Nick Ciuffo turns 31 today. He spent two games as an Orioles catcher in 2021.
Joe Carter is 66 years old. A team legend with the Blue Jays, Carter’s time with the Orioles was less remarkable. He played half of the 1998 season in Baltimore.
This day in O’s history
1999 – It is announced that the Orioles will travel to Havana, Cuba for a March 28 exhibition game against the Cuban national team. It is the first time in 40 years that a team from the United States will play a professional game in Cuba.
June 27, 2014: San Francisco Giants fans hold a birthday sign during the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Cincinnati Reds at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California, USA. The Cincinnati Reds defeated the San Francisco Giants 6-2. (Photo by John Hefti/Icon SMI/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Happy weekend, baseball fans. How ‘bout them Giants? They’re cruising! Try to forget that the Cactus League is mostly meaningless, and live in a happy world of dominant Giants baseball.
Sami usually writes the BPs, but a combination of sickness and birthday celebration has put me on the duty for a few days. But, had she stayed in good health, her plan was to write about Giants birthday memories.
My birthday is right before Spring Training, so I’ve never had the joy of watching the Giants play on my increasingly terrifying special day (though today is my brother’s birthday, so everyone wish him a happy day please). But I can share Sami’s with you. Her lone notable Giants moment for her early-March birthday is an unfortunate one: Hunter Pence breaking his wrist in a Cactus League game.
And just like that, I’m no longer sad about not having a baseball birthday (I have, however, had the Super Bowl land on my bday a few times, for better and for worse).
Many of you are in the same boat as me, but the baseball season — especially if you include Spring Training — fills more than half the calendar. So the bulk of you should have baseball birthdays. A few of you might even have World Series memories from your annual celebration.
So what are you favorite Giants birthday memories?
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 08: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates against the Boston Bruins at Capital One Arena on October 8, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to Saturday, folks!
After a relatively quiet trade deadline, the Bruins are back in action today — and it’s a pretty important game in the playoff race.
As always, treat that 12:30 start time with an asterisk, as this is an ABC game.
We could place bets on what time puck drop actually happens. I’m going with 12:39 PM.
Anyways, the Capitals come into today’s game four points behind the Bruins in the race for the second wild card spot, though the Bruins do have two games in hand.
The Caps made one of the deadline’s bigger moves earlier this week, dealing longtime defenseman (and Massachusetts native) John Carlson to the Anaheim Ducks.
They also sent forward Nic Dowd out to Vegas.
The Caps also made a couple of acquisitions, bringing in David Kampf and Timothy Liljegren.
These moves aren’t necessarily a waving of the white flag, but they certainly weren’t a team loading up for a playoff run (though to be fair, the Caps weren’t really positioning themselves as contenders anyways).
The Caps are led by familiar faces: Alex Ovechkin (50PTS), Tom Wilson (49PTS), and Jakob Chychrun (49PTS).
They’ve also gotten good production out of Aliaksei Protas (20 goals) and Dylan Strome (49PTS).
On the Bruins side of things, I wouldn’t expect anything majorly different today.
David Pastrnak needs to get going, as his goal drought extends toward the “is there a bigger problem here?” territory.
Columbus is now just a point behind the Bruins, and the Blue Jackets play later on tonight, so there’s a little extra pressure in the standings now as well.
Hey, that’s what makes this a fun time of year, right?
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 06: Ronald Acuña Jr. #21 of Team Venezuela rounds first bases after hitting a double against Team Kingdom of the Netherlands during the first inning of a 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool D game at loanDepot park on March 06, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The World Baseball Classic continued on Friday, and this time, Ronald Acuña Jr. faced Ozzie Albies. Acuña Jr. and Team Venezuela came out on top, winning 6-2. The Braves outfielder set the tone early with a leadoff double and crossed the plate a couple of times.
Ronald Acuña Jr. jumps on the FIRST pitch and drills a double off the wall in the World Baseball Classic! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/sf2G3l1rAi
Albies and the Netherlands offense struggled to get much going in the matchup, with the Braves second baseman finishing the game hitless. Even so, the head-to-head between two Atlanta teammates added an interesting storyline to the early stages of the tournament, with Acuña getting the better of the matchup this time around.
More Braves News:
Reynaldo López threw four innings during a 4-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on Friday.
Lakers guard Luka Doncic scores in front of Indiana Pacers guard Quenton Jackson Friday at Crypto.com Arena. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
The Lakers 128-117 winwon, Luka Doncic dominated and then the conversation moved forward, because even though a 128-117 win over the slumping Indiana Pacers on Friday counts all the same in the tight Western Conference standings, it doesn’t say as much about the Lakers as what comes next.
Buoyed by four recent wins over struggling teams, the Lakers are still searching for a statement victory to announce themselves as legitimate contenders in the crowded Western Conference. The Lakers (38-25) are comfortably in sixth place in the West, but just 3-11 against teams that are .600 or better.
Two of the wins came in the first two weeks of the season. The losses have been ugly: an average margin of 19.9 points per defeat.
Now with five of their next six games against teams that are .600 or better — starting with Sunday’s 12:30 p.m. contest against the New York Knicks — the Lakers get a chance to prove their potential to make a playoff run.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves drives to the basket as he's chased by Indiana Pacers guards Quenton Jackson and Aaron Nesmith Friday at Crypto.com Arena. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
“You play teams that are playing winning basketball and [have] winning records, it definitely can build some confidence in the group,” guard Luke Kennard said Friday. “But I know even some of the close games we've lost just recently, I know we've done some really good things. … We know what we have in the locker room and in this group.”
Even a day and a win later, the Lakers were still ruing Thursday’s road loss in Denver. With a chance to jump to fifth place in the standings, they let the Nuggets (39-25) open the game on an 11-point run. Denver opened up a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter.
But unlike many of their other losses to playoff-contending teams, the Lakers answered Denver’s run. They cut it to one with 2:05 left before the Nuggets held on for the victory.
“That was a game that we’ve broken throughout the year, in games like that,” coach JJ Redick said. “And they made a number of runs that went to double digits and we just kept playing and had a chance. … I’m confident we’re going to find it. How we’re going to find it, that’s where it’s —”
Redick cut off his own thought as he searched for the words.
“You got to figure it out on a daily basis sometimes,” the coach concluded with a tight smile.
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes scores at the rim in front of Indiana Pacers guard Ben Sheppard Friday at Crypto.com Arena. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
The Lakers figured it out Friday behind a dazzling 44-point performance from Doncic, who leads the NBA with 10 40-point games this season. The NBA’s leading scorer didn’t even play during the fourth quarter of the blowout.
Doncic’s brilliance was more than enough against the bottom-feeding Pacers, who, at 15-48, are playing more for lottery position than postseason hopes. But the Knicks (41-23) have won four of their last five games, including convincing wins over San Antonio and Denver. The only recent loss was a three-point defeat to Oklahoma City.
Lakers forward LeBron James is expected to be available for Sunday’s marquee game after injuring his elbow late in the loss to the Nuggets and missing Friday’s game. Centers Deandre Ayton (left knee soreness) and Maxi Kleber (lumbar back strain) are day-to-day.
Led by Jalen Brunson’s 26.2 points and 6.5 assists per game, the Knicks have the NBA’s third-best offense. Conversely, the Lakers are 21st in defensive rating.
The Lakers emphasized the importance of team defense all season, but Marcus Smart is “the only one that consistently is just doing what he's supposed to do” on defense, Redick said Friday. Sometimes the former defensive player of the year is forced to overcompensate for his teammates’ mistakes.
Doncic’s defensive lapses are magnified, especially with the team’s recent inconsistencies. But Doncic’s oft-criticized defense has provided some bright spots, Redick said.
When he switches onto the ball, Doncic gives up the lowest number of points per possession among the Lakers' perimeter players, Redick said. He led the Lakers in rebounding Friday with nine boards, all defensive. Doncic had both of the team's blocks against the Pacers.
“He's shown that he can contain the basketball,” Redick said of Doncic’s defense. “He's obviously one of the best wing defensive rebounders in the NBA. He's able to generate steals and deflections. And, with some prodding, he's taking charges as well.”
Doncic has drawn 11 charges this season, the most for a single year in his NBA career.
