The Cubs’ final spring training game was a clunker, an 8-3 loss to the Yankees at Sloan Park. So this is going to be a very short game recap, as the team’s focus turns to the 2026 season opener Thursday at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs scored both of their runs on solo homers.
That was Bregman’s fourth of the spring and his second in as many days. Of course, spring stuff doesn’t usually carry over to the season, but let’s hope Bregman hits the ground running beginning Thursday.
Personally, I think Amaya is ready to have a breakout year, presuming he can stay healthy. That would be a huge bat to have, along with his good defense.
Edward Cabrera started this one, his final tuneup of the spring. It wasn’t a great outing, as he served up three home runs to Yankees hitters over 4.1 innings. Ben Rice took Cabrera deep twice. Hopefully this is just a one-off and Cabrera will also hit the proverbial ground running, whenever his first start is (I suspect it will be against the Angels in the season’s second series). Here’s more on Cabrera’s outing [VIDEO].
All the starting players in this game had a couple of at-bats and then left for the late afternoon flight to Chicago.
Attendance watch: 13,880 attended this afternoon’s final spring game of 2026 at Sloan Park. The Cubs again led the Cactus League in attendance, with the season total at 239,459, or 13,303 per date.
The Cubs open the 2026 season Thursday at Wrigley Field against the Washington Nationals. Matthew Boyd will take the mound for the Cubs, his third Opening Day start (also twice with the Tigers) and Cade Cavalli will go for the Nats. Game time is 1:20 p.m. CT, TV coverage is via Marquee Sports Network… and the temperature is forecast to be in the 70s!
The Yankees socked three home runs, including a long drive by Jasson Dominguez, and GerritCole struck out three as New York scored an 8-3 win over the Chicago Cubs in Mesa, Arizona, in the final game of spring training on the eve of Opening Day.
Here are the takeaways...
- Cole got another turn in the spring as he continued his rehab from Tommy John, with May as his target return date. And the right-hander looked good to start, getting the first two batters on 97 mph heaters at the knees, first Pete Crow-Armstrong swinging and Michael Busch looking.
With two down, Alex Bregman got a 1-0 sinker at the bottom of the zone and launched it 413 feet to center for a home run. Facing a third lefty in the inning, Cole got a familiar result, with a 97 mph 3-2 fastball on the inside corner freezing Ian Happ to strike out the side.
Cody Bellinger made a nice play in the gap to give Cole an out to start the top of the second on a ball off Nico Hoerner's bat. The Yanks' ace allowed another hard-hit ball on a hanging knuckle-curveball as left fielder Dominguez ran down a sharp liner (105.2 mph off the bat) from Dansby Swanson. That was the end of the day for Cole after two pitches found the middle of the zone and were hit well, his final line: 1.2 innings allowing just the one run on the homer with three strikeouts on 26 pitches (17 strikes).
- Dominguez, who will begin the season at Triple-A, opened the top of the second by cracking a sharply hit single to left (105.2 mph). He didn’t stay at first for long, swiping second with a head-first dive and came around to score two batters later.
In the fourth, Dominguez got a slider on the inner-half of the plate and turned on it for a 434-foot homer to right, just clobbering it 109.1 mph. He grounded into a fielder’s choice and was caught trying to steal second in the fifth. The left fielder finished 2-for-4.
- Randal Grichuk, likely the final man on the Opening Day roster, made it back-to-back homers to start the fourth, driving a 2-1 fastball deep to center field for his first home run of spring. He went 1-for-2 with a walk in his final time up in the sixth.
- Ben Rice got the green light on a 3-0 pitch in his second at-bat and smashed the center-cut 97 mph fastball 431 feet to center field off Chicago starter Edward Cabera. The ball was just tattooed, 111.4 mph off the bat, and was a no-doubter. The first baseman finished 1-for-2.
- Bellinger, after going down swinging on three pitches in his first at-bat, singled up the middle on a sharply hit ball (106.9 mph) in the third, finishing 1-for-2.
- Ryan McMahon had a sac fly to right to score the Yanks' first run in the second. He lined out on a sharply hit ball (110.1 mph) to center his second time up, finishing 0-for-2 with a strikeout swinging on a slider in the sixth.
- J.C. Escarra ripped a two-out triple with a smashed liner (112.2 mph) off the first baseman's glove in the fourth. The catcher went 1-for-4 with a strikeout swinging.
- Spencer Jones, who will also begin the season at Triple-A, worked a walk, stole second, and came around to score on minor league catcher Payton Henry’s single to right with one out in the fifth. The big outfielder went hitless in his next two times up.
- Amed Rosario added a two-RBI single to right, going with a pitch for a two-out single in the sixth. He went 1-for-3 with a hard-luck lineout in his first at-bat.
- Some other notable Yanks: Jazz Chisholm Jr. went 0-for-1 with a walk, Paul Goldschmidt went 0-for-2 with a strikeout swinging, and Jose Caballero went 0-for-2 with a strikeout swinging.
- Out of the bullpen: After Harrison Cohen got Moises Ballesteros looking to end the second, Ryan Weathers put two men on in the home half of the third with a one-out double and a two-out walk, but kept the Cubs off the board. The left-hander had a 1-2-3 fourth, but got tagged for the longest homer of the day, 446 feet by Miguel Amaya, on an over-the-plate slider in the fifth.
Weathers, facing Cubs minor leaguers, retired six straight after the home run with two strikeouts before a one-out single in the seventh. His final line: 5.0 innings, one run on four hits with a walk and four strikeouts on 80 pitches (57 strikes).
What's next
They count for real beginning tomorrow as the Yankees open the 2026 MLB season in San Francisco. Left-hander Max Fried gets the Opening Day start and will face off with Giants righty Logan Webb. First pitch is set for 8:05 p.m. ET.
After an impressive sweep of a three-game road trip, the Flyers failed to build on it.
They lost to the Blue Jackets, 3-2, Tuesday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
In a meaningful game, it was another disappointing home loss for the Flyers.
Sean Couturier and Jamie Drysdale scored the club’s goals. Drysdale’s marker came late in the third period as the Flyers emptied their net for the extra attacker.
The Flyers (34-24-12) again couldn’t win four games in a row. They haven’t won more than three straight in over two years. The last time they did it was Feb. 6-12 of the 2023-24 season.
“There’s still a lot of hockey left, we still believe in our group,” Couturier said. “We’re going to refocus, get ready for next game, move on and try to get another winning streak going.”
Rick Tocchet’s club dropped to seven points back of the Blue Jackets (38-22-11), who took over second place in a tight Metropolitan Division. The Flyers went 0-2-1 against Columbus this season.
“It’s not like we were going to win out the rest of the year,” Travis Konecny said. “We lost one game against an opponent that was above us, it’s frustrating. But it is what it is. You just regroup. There’s nothing else you can do.”
• Dan Vladar made 16 saves on 19 shots.
The Flyers spoiled a strong first period by surrendering two goals in the opening 2:28 minutes of the second period.
“Couple of mistakes and now you’re chasing the game,” Tocchet said. “But the first period was great, it should have been 3-0.”
It looked like the Flyers had a poorly-timed line change on Mathieu Olivier’s game-tying goal. Zach Werenski handed the Blue Jackets the 2-1 lead when he skated through the slot untouched for a wide-open look.
“You come out for the second, you’ve got to be ready to play the same way and the same style that was working for you in the first,” Travis Sanheim said. “We got away from that and the structure.”
Mason Marchment dealt the Flyers a blow 4:38 minutes into the third period as he cushioned Columbus’ advantage. At that point, the Flyers were in a real hole and the energy in the building was gone.
Blue Jackets netminder Jet Greaves stopped 24 of the Flyers’ 26 shots.
In the first period, he denied Owen Tippett on a breakaway and Noah Cates on a penalty shot to keep the game scoreless.
But Couturier later put the Flyers ahead 1-0. He did an excellent job to win a puck race and keep the Flyers in the offensive zone before being rewarded with the goal.
The Flyers, though, let the momentum go early in the middle stanza.
“I think we just didn’t execute the first five minutes of that second, it cost us the game,” Couturier said. “Other than that, I thought we played a good game, it was tight game out there. It was just a bad couple of minutes there to start the period and it cost us.”
• The Flyers have too often come up short in big games on home ice.
They gain some steam, but then they lose it.
This month, they’ve dropped four of five games (1-3-1) at Xfinity Mobile Arena and have scored just 1.80 goals per game.
“You’ve got to embrace it, get the crowd on your side,” Tocchet said. “Don’t be nervous. I think especially the first period, I thought they were cheering for us, we were getting pucks on net, we had breakaways. That’s the stuff I think you get fans excited about; you’ve just got to sustain it.”
The Flyers had a chance to gain ground in the standings because a lot of scores went their way on a busy Tuesday night around the league. They’re five points back of the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot and six back of third place in the division.
“We’re in a fun spot, we’re playing in high-pressured games,” Konecny said after morning skate. “We know that there’s a good chance that if we keep playing the way we do, we could actually get in. At this point, we know that the teams ahead of us have the pressure and we’re chasing them. Just keep applying it, keep putting it on them and just enjoy the games.”
• Couturier (upper body), Denver Barkey (upper body) and Luke Glendening (lower body) all returned to the lineup after missing the last two games with injuries.
Tyson Foerster, while wearing a non-contact jersey, participated in morning skate and had rehab work after it. The 24-year-old winger is recovering from surgery he had on his arm in December.
Tyson Foerster, wearing non-contact jersey, getting in rehab work after participating at morning skate.
Foerster is recovering from arm surgery, which has him out for the rest of the season. But it looks like he’s making good progress. pic.twitter.com/0mCLvBYm3q
The Detroit Red Wings are once again proving their impact on the NHL’s growing popularity, setting another major benchmark in television viewership. For the second time this season, Detroit has played a central role in delivering one of the league’s most-watched games.
Saturday night’s matchup between the Red Wings and the Boston Bruins drew an average of 1.3 million viewers and peaked at 1.5 million. That audience made it the third-most watched NHL game of the season, continuing a trend of strong national interest when Detroit is in the spotlight.
The Red Wings were already responsible for the previous season high earlier this month, when their game against the New Jersey Devils brought in 941,000 viewers. That broadcast stood as ESPN’s most-watched NHL game in five years, excluding Opening Night and outdoor showcase events.
ABC delivered the 3rd most-viewed #NHL game this season
In a statement, ESPN highlighted the league’s broader growth across its platforms. NHL on ABC viewership is up 51 per cent compared to last season, while NHL games across ESPN networks are averaging 800,000 viewers through 37 broadcasts, which is a 26 per cent increase year over year.
Detroit’s role in those gains is no surprise as they've been long considered one of hockey’s marquee franchises, the Red Wings continue to show that when the team is competitive, fans across the continent pay attention.
That momentum could carry into another major audience draw on Tuesday night, when the Red Wings face the Ottawa Senators in a game loaded with playoff implications. With postseason stakes rising, Detroit may once again find itself at the center of one of the NHL’s most-watched broadcasts as the race intensifies.
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The National Basketball Players Association had some words to say about Cade Cunningham’s award eligibility.
Cunningham has played 61 games this season, but a collapsed lung might hold him from reaching the 65-game threshold required to be considered for major awards like MVP and the All-NBA team.
ESPN reported last week that the injury could sideline him for an “extended period of time” and that he’d be re-evaluated in two weeks.
Cade Cunningham has played 61 games this season, just short of the threshold for MVP. Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
He also narrowly misses the 62-game injury exception for season-ending injuries, which goes into effect if players play more than 85 percent of their team’s games before the injury and reach 62 contests.
“Cade Cunningham’s potential ineligibility for [end of] season awards after a career-defining season is a clear indictment of the 65-game rule and yet another example of why it must be abolished or reformed to create an exception for significant injuries. Since its implementation, far too many deserving players have been unfairly disqualified from end-of-season honors by this arbitrary and overly rigid quota.” the NBAPA’s statement read, as first reported by The AP.
Cunningham is averaging 24.5 points, 9.9 assists and 5.6 rebounds per game this season while shooting 46.1 percent from the floor and 34.6 percent from 3-point range
“Cade has delivered a first-team All-NBA season,” Cunningham’s agent, Jeff Schwartz, told ESPN. “If he falls just short of an arbitrary games-played threshold due to legitimate injury, it should not disqualify him from recognition he has clearly earned over the course of the season. The league should be rewarding excellence, not enforcing rigid cutoffs that ignore context. An exception needs to be made.”
His success has helped the Pistons to a 52-19 record, the best team in the Eastern Conference. Detroit sits five games ahead of the No. 2 seed Celtics in the conference and eight games ahead of the Cavaliers in the Central Division.
But Cunningham’s injury could hamper the Pistons as they finish out the regular season.
Cade Cunningham is averaging the second-highest points per game in his five-year career. NBAE via Getty Images
“Obviously, it’s tough,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said Thursday. “Tough for Cade to go through what he’s going through now. How important he is to the team, how important being with his team is to him doesn’t make it easy. He’s a huge part of what we do from a leadership standpoint.”
Across five years with the Pistons since being drafted with the first overall pick in 2021, Cunningham has proved his worth.
He’s averaging 22.6 points for his career, including a career-high 26.1 mark last season. He also snagged his first two All-Star selections in the last two years while finishing seventh in MVP voting in 2024-25.
Now, potentially his best season yet could result in no recognition.
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 19: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the game against the Miami Heat on March 19, 2026 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Lakers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Even by Luka Dončić’s standards, the run he’s been on recently has been something special.
Luka has been named Western Conference Player of the Week for back-to-back weeks, and with the Lakers now sitting at No. 3 in the West, he is being discussed more as an MVP candidate.
But with only a couple of weeks left, is it too late for him to make a run at the current favorite, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander?
For our SB Nation Reacts survey this week, we asked if you think Luka should be in the conversation for MVP and where he finishes in MVP voting.
Luka has a strong case as an MVP candidate. He’s an All-Star, the NBA’s leading scorer and undeniably the best player on a contending team.
The pushback he could face is that his defensive numbers don’t make a compelling case for him, and if the Lakers fall to fifth or sixth in the standings, critics will say he’s a great player on a mediocre team.
Still, voting hasn’t happened yet, so Dončić could still win. Also, if he keeps playing at this high a level the rest of the way, he could continue garnering support.
The KIA MVP Ladder has Luka at No. 2 in the MVP race, behind only SGA, and Nikola Jokić is third.
All three players have great cases. With the Thunder as defending champions and SGA having another great season, his individual reward might be another MVP.
Jokić remains the engine that keeps Denver running and he’s set to finish the year once again averaging a triple-double. Over the past five seasons, he’s won the MVP three times and the worst he’s finished in voting is second.
Can Luka make a push here and finish as a top vote getter in MVP voting or even win the award?
Share your opinion by voting and letting us know down below!
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: A general view of a Los Angeles Dodgers logo is seen before the game against the Detroit Tigers on Opening Day at Dodger Stadium on March 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After 32 exhibition games over the last five and a half weeks, things get real on Thursday for the Dodgers, who host the Arizona Diamondbacks on opening day at Dodger Stadium.
Los Angeles stalwart Keith Williams Jr. will sing the national anthem on Thursday, and Magic Johnson will throw the ceremonial first pitch. The opening ceremonies start at 4:45 p.m., and will include traditional opening day player introductions, plus the raising of the championship flag and 2025 World Series emblem at the stadium.
MESA, AZ — The Chicago Cubs and outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong have agreed to a six-year, $115 million contract extension, a person with direct knowledge of the deal told USA TODAY Sports, with a press conference scheduled for later this week in Chicago.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team has not yet announced the deal.
The contract extension begins in 2027 and takes Crow-Armstrong through the 2032 season — two years past his original free agent date. The deal includes no option years, enabling Crow-Armstrong to still hit free agency again at the age of 30. It also includes contract escalators that could make the deal worth as much as $133 million.
It’s the largest contract with no club options for a player with five or more years of control at the time of the signing, ranking among the top three contracts for a player not surrendering team control past the age of 30.
While Crow-Armstrong will still earn $894,000 in 2026, the Cubs have spent $347 million this winter, the most by any team in baseball.
“Look, young, very talented players, you want them to be in your franchise for a long time,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday morning. “I think that’s every franchise’s goal.”
Crow-Armstrong, who turns 24 on Wednesday, is certainly the Cubs’ most electrifying player and has been a fan favorite since his arrival from the New York Mets. He became the fastest player in Cubs’ history to reach 30 home runs and steal 30 bases last season, finishing with 31 homers, 37 doubles, 35 stolen bases and 95 RBI.
“He plays with an energy that the fans really appreciate,’’ Cubs veteran Ian Happ told reporters Tuesday outside the clubhouse. “Major League Baseball is like, ‘What do the fans want? They want more stolen bases. More triples. Highlight plays.’ He is everything that the fans want and that the fans enjoy watching. He feeds into that with the energy that he plays with on the field.
“It’s been really easy coming up as a top prospect for the fans to fall in love with him. Obviously, he loves Chicago and has really embraced that part of it.”
Crow-Armstrong, who earned an All-Star berth last summer, has emerged as one of the game’s brightest young stars, and perhaps the finest defensive center fielder in the National League. He was on an MVP-pace in the first half last season, hitting .265 with 25 home runs and 27 stolen bases, but tailed off the second half, hitting just .216 with six homers and eight steals.
“Pete is an incredibly entertaining player,’’ Counsell said. “That's a kind of a gift that he has. And you know he's, he's an emotional player. That's great for fans, but as long as fans can understand you're going to get the good and the bad with that. It’s not always the hip-hip hooray stuff, and that's part of it. I love that, and I think fans love it, too. It's just who Pete is.
“He's not trying to put on an act. Players have to be themselves, and a different player it wouldn’t work for, but it’s how Pete needs to play. One of the things I really hope for Pete is that the emotion that he plays with, he harnesses it a little in some better directions at times. But it’s always evident to the fans. I think it's a great thing, and it's a wonderful thing to watch. It really is.’’
Logan Webb always is in the picture for most innings pitched at the end of the year, but wins have been another story.
ESPN’s David Schoenfield weighed in on what the Giants can expect from Webb entering his eighth MLB season, all with San Francisco.
“It’s not bold to predict that Logan Webb will lead the National League in innings pitched,” Schoenfield wrote in a piece published Tuesday. “He has done that three seasons in a row.”
Webb barely had the edge on Garrett Crochet last season for innings pitched in the entire league with 207.1.
“The last pitcher to lead his league four consecutive seasons was Greg Maddux,” Schoenfield continued. “He did it five years in a row from 1991 to 1995. Before Maddux’s run, Robin Roberts was the last to do it from 1951 to 1955.”
Webb has been the ace in San Francisco for years now and has gained the respect of everyone in the clubhouse, from teammates to coaches. Schoenfield had a hot take that could age well when it’s all said and done this season.
“Let’s up the ante, though,” Schoenfield continued. “Webb also gets more run support than he’s used to and leads the NL with 18 wins — the first Giants pitcher to top the circuit since John Burkett tied with Tom Glavine in 1993 with 22 wins.”
Freddy Peralta led the NL in wins last season with 17, but Webb wasn’t too far behind. Going 15-11 last season, the run support for the Rocklin native was less than expected.
With the additions of Harrison Bader, Luis Arráez, and a full season with Rafael Devers, the Giants are expected to make a leap offensively this season.
If Webb is on the mound when the offense is clicking, 18 wins is an extremely attainable goal.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 10: Trendon Watford #12, Joel Embiid #21, and Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers sit on the bench during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 10, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Don’t look now, but the Sixers actually might have over half of their starting lineup available.
Philadelphia released their injury report ahead of their matchup with the Chicago Bulls, and there’s some potentially good news: Joel Embiid is listed as questionable. Embiid has yet to play in the month of March, suffering an oblique strain on Feb. 26 after a collision with Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware. Embiid has only played in five games since the beginning of February.
During this absence, there was a slight glimmer of hope he’d get on the court earlier. Embiid was briefly listed as doubtful for their March 19 matchup against the Sacramento Kings, but was ultimately ruled out hours before tip-off.
The Sixers didn’t hold an official practice Tuesday, but Nick Nurse said in a pregame availability the day before that Embiid would go through a heavier workout and the team would go from there. Given the upgrade in status, it would seem everything is going well so far.
Nurse says Joel Embiid had a “decent” on court workout after shootaround today.
Nurse says tomorrow should be a “heavier session” for Embiid and they’ll see where they’re at after it.
After being banged up for most of the month, the Sixers could suddenly get a lot of reinforcements back all at once. Regardless of if Embiid is able to go against the Bulls or not, Paul George will play in his first game back from his 25-game suspension. Despite the lack of practice, George did speak to reporters for the first time since the suspension.
Quentin Grimes, who missed the Sixers’ last game against the OKC Thunder with an illness, is only questionable against the Bulls. Dominick Barlow, who sprained an ankle two games ago in Utah, is not listed on the injury report.
Another reunion with an old friend isn’t likely for this one though. For the Bulls, Guerschon Yabusele is listed as doubtful with an ankle sprain. He didn’t play in their most recent matchup against the Houston Rockets. On top of guys they’re trying to shut down for the year, Anfernee Simons and Isaac Okoro are also doubtful for Chicago.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MARCH 12: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 12, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
When the Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder face off on Wednesday night, both teams will be at relative full-strength. Everyone is available for the Celtics, except for Nikola Vucevic, who first suffered a fractured right ring finger on March 6th and remains out.
Jayson Tatum, meanwhile, will appear in his 9th game for the Celtics; so far, he’s averaged 19.1 points and 8.9 rebounds.
For the Thunder, Jalen Williams will play in his second consecutive game; he’s coming off an 18-point performance on Monday night against the Philadelphia 76ers. Williams has appeared in only 27 games this season, dealing with a myriad of wrist and hamstring injuries.
How the Celtics, Thunder stack up
Despite having an injury-riddled season, the Thunder have been the NBA’s most dominant team all season. They currently have the league’s best net rating at a +11.1. The Celtics have the league’s third-best net rating at a +7.8.
The Thunder have won 15 of their last 16 games, and 12 straight.
Dealing with a busted bracket?
The Sweet 16 is almost here – who’s still alive? We’re reviewing the week that was in the first week of the NCAA tournament and turning our focus to remaining teams. How bad (or good!) is your bracket? Join us in the SB Nation March Madness Feed and let’s talk about who’s most likely to make a run to glory.
The Celtics, meanwhile, will look to bounce back from a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night. The Celtics have won 6 of their last 10 games, and are 6-2 with Jayson Tatum in the lineup.
Last time the two teams faced off, the Thunder came away with a 104-102 victory, thanks to game-winning free throws from Chet Holmgren off of an offensive rebound. But both teams were without key players in that March 12th game; the Thunder were without Jalen Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein, while the Celtics were without Tatum and Derrick White.
On Tuesday, the team released behind-the-scenes video of Benge finding out his fate. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza brought Benge into his office to give him the good news.
Mendoza first started his spiel.
“You carry yourself like a big leaguer. You play like a freaking big leaguer,” he told the rookie.
Then, he finished with one question.
“You come to Citi Field, you take batting practice, what was going through your head that day?” Mendoza asked.
“Well, guess what? On Thursday, you’re gonna get that opportunity,” Mendoza said. “You made the team, you’re gonna be in the lineup, you’re gonna be playing right field for the New York Mets.”
The decision came after Benge had a phenomenal spring training in Port St. Lucie, where he hit .366 with an .874 OPS in 14 games. His chances were also improved when outfielder Mike Tauchman suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee.
Carson Benge has hit over .350 in 14 Grapefruit League games this spring. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
In the offseason, the Mets also shipped off Brandon Nimmo to the Rangers, leaving an outfield of Juan Soto, Tyrone Taylor, Luis Robert Jr. and potentially Brett Baty.
“I am happy that I carried myself in a really good way,” Benge said. “I showed everyone what kind of person I am and I feel like that is what spoke the loudest for me.
“Joy over everything, I would say,” Benge later added of how he felt after receiving the news.
Last year, Benge split time between High-A Brooklyn, Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse. He had a batting average over .300 and on-base percentage over .400 at both High-A and Double-A but struggled in Syracuse, albeit in just 24 games.
Carson Benge will likely start next to Juan Soto and Luis Robert Jr. in the outfield on Opening Day. Getty Images
He slashed .178/.272/.311 in 103 plate appearances, though his improvement this spring outweighs those numbers.
As Mendoza alluded to, Benge will likely mostly play right field, but the Mets also said he could rotate into center when Robert needs a day off.
His first MLB action won’t be easy, though — he’ll face Paul Skenes and the Pirates on Opening Day Thursday.
With the Yankees just a day away from their Opening Night matchup with the San Francisco Giants, the club announced a trade on Tuesday afternoon.
The Bombers have traded veteran infielder Zack Short to the Washington Nationals in exchange for cash considerations.
Short, 30, had 18 at-bats for the Yankees this spring, hitting .278 with one RBI.
Signed to a minor league contract in December, Short had a chance to earn a bench role for the Yankees, but with the Opening Day roster now set, the Yankees sent Short to Washington.
Short has appeared in 241 career regular season games, including 10 games with the Mets in 2024.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 11: Morgan Rielly #44 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates with the puck against Mason Lohrei #6 of the Boston Bruins during the first period at TD Garden on November 11, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by China Wong/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
In normal times, this would be a nice early playoff preview, with the Bruins and Maple Leafs preparing to meet in the first round for the 1,399th consecutive year.
Instead, the Leafs are just about the only Atlantic Division team not in the playoff picture (along with Florida), while the Bruins are hoping to hang onto their spot.
If you said before the season that the Leafs and Panthers would miss the playoffs but the Sabres and Bruins would get in, you probably would’ve gotten some funny looks.
Anyways, that’s all a bit premature at this point. Tonight’s task is to secure two points against a Toronto team that is just about done with this season.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 20: Chris Campos #62 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch during a Spring Training game against the San Diego Padres at Camelback Ranch on March 20, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Kelly signed to a minor league deal by the Dodgers in November after pitching six minor league seasons in the Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers, and Colorado Rockies systems. The 26-year-old left-hander has yet to reach the majors, but it’s not hard to see that changing some time this season after his impressive spring.
Kelly led Dodgers pitchers in Arizona with nine appearances, with 11 strikeouts and a 34.4-percent strikeout rate in 8 2/3 scoreless innings. He allowed three hits and walked four, and was consistently pitching in the high-90s along with an effective slider.
“Big fastball, easy velocity, slider. He’s been filling up the strike zone. He’s had a tremendous camp. And I think as far as some guys that weren’t on our radar that are now, he’s one of them,” manager Dave Roberts said Monday. “For us, just getting him here on this trip was something that he earned, and we wanted him to kind of reward him with his spring. So yeah, he’ll go down to OKC, and won’t be surprised to see him at some point with us in a relief role.”
Campos grew up going to games at Dodger Stadium, born in Montebello and playing baseball at Damien High School in La Verne. He was a two-way player at St. Mary’s College, the same school that produced Corbin Burnes and Tony Gonsolin, to name a few.
Campos pitched almost exclusively as a starter or in bulk relief in his four professional seasons since getting drafted in the seventh round in 2022. This spring as a reliever, he allowed only a run on 11 hits in his 10 innings of work over seven appearances this spring. Campos didn’t walk a batter until issuing two free passes Monday night in his Dodger Stadium debut, and struck out 12 of his 43 batters faced (27.9 percent).
“I like him. He’s just very confident, and I wish everyone carried themselves the way he carries himself on the mound, with the confidence that he has,” Roberts said of Campos. “He’s not a high velocity guy, he’s a command guy. Uses three, four different pitches, and so just probably lets his stuff play up in a relief role and see how he can, you know, bounce back”
They didn’t make the opening day roster, but Kelly and Campos sure pitched themselves into consideration for a call-up at some point this season.
