Baltimore Orioles owner David Rubenstein, president of baseball operations Mike Elias and agent Scott Boras introduce new first baseman Pete Alonso at a news conference at Camden Yards on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Baltimore. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
You could make an argument that the Orioles were baseball’s busiest team this offseason. They did a lot!
Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward were brought in to add pop to the lineup. Blaze Alexander was a late addition to provide flexibility to the position group. Ryan Helsley and Andrew Kittredge should stabilize the bullpen. Zach Eflin and Chris Bassitt are solid depth for the rotation. And Shane Baz is an upside play that the team is seemingly very excited about long term.
But it was not a perfect winter. While the current rotation does feel a lot better than it did a year ago, the front office failed to land the bonafide ace type it seemed like they were targeting. The bullpen is also a huge question mark, including the new closer Helsley, who had a rough second half with the Mets. And the lineup has already been hit with injuries to Jordan Westburg and Jackson Holliday. Can the bench adequately absorb the time that they miss?
With all of that said, let’s present today’s question: What grade would you give Mike Elias for his work this offseason?
I would peg him at a B+.
The signing of Alonso is a big deal. Even though the team’s overall payroll hasn’t really changed, the willingness to fork over a bunch of money to a proven veteran that can help right now sends a message. It matters both inside the clubhouse and around the league. Alonso also brings a ton of power, which the lineup lacked in 2025.
And while the rotation did not get that one single infusion of top-tier talent, the overall group is impressive to me. They have six legitimate big league arms, two of which are Kyle Bradish and Trevor Rogers, who each have a recent Top 10 finish in Cy Young voting on their resumé.
My biggest gripe is the bullpen. I can see the vision for the current group, but I’m not totally convinced. It would be nice to have one more veteran that feels like a sure thing. Instead it seems like they might head into the season with a whole lot of potential and depth. At least a bullpen is a relatively easy thing to improve as the season goes on.
What do you think? Was it a near-perfect offseason? Or does the lack of an ace addition make it closer to a failing grade? Let us know in the comments.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 12: Iván Herrera #48 of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrates with Pedro Pagés #43 after hitting a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on May 12, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Cardinals defeated the Phillies 3-2. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
My Comparing the Cardinals Spring Training series moves forward to the other half of the battery as this week, I focus on the six… or seven… catchers that are trying to force their way onto the next great Cardinals team when this rebuild concludes. Speaking of rebuilds, this week, I had Sean Anderson from CHGO White Sox on to compare the two teams and to talk progress of the Sox. If you check it out, you’ll hear some things that sound similar to what the Cardinals are doing right now, like focusing on the “undercarriage” of the car, rather than the body. I think it was a great conversation, but that’s just me.
Back to the ‘Birds.
The Cardinals’ catching situation can go multiple ways in 2026
Last season, Cardinals’ backstops combined to put up a season that ranked 15th in baseball and 8th in the National League in terms of fWAR. That group was lead by Pedro Pages, who played 104 games behind the plate, with Yohel Pozo chipping in 39 games, Ivan Herrera suiting up for 14, and prospect Jimmy Crooks getting his first taste of the bigs with 12 games at catcher. In total, that group combined for a 2.7 fWAR and an 88 wRC+ season, although it admittedly felt way worse than that, at least to me.
St. Louis went into the season apparently ready to give Pages and Herrera a split of those catching duties, thanks to Herrera’s bat being top of the league potential, and Pages continuously being celebrated for his ability to handle a pitching staff. At risk of sidetracking too far, I found it funny how much the organization put into those compliments to Pages from the pitching staff when Gray, Mikolas, and Feddde put up mediocre seasons at best and were not even going to be around the next year. It was an interesting change of pace from when the pitching staff threw Contreras under the bus when he was catching, but still a talking point I felt was overblown because of that expected turnover and the long-term outlook of the Cardinals.
While Pages was lauded for his ability to catch and throw the ball, the offense left much to be desired. Outside of an absolutely scorching August where Pages put up a wRC+ over 200, that number did not surpass 82 in any other month and even dipped as low to a -19 value in July. By the end of the season, Pages ended up with a 77 wRC+, but ranked 7th in baseball for his defensive value. To me, that type of season and his expected progression puts Pages in the backup catcher category for me: great defender, can run into one every once in awhile, but does not move the needle enough with the bat to deserve five starts a week.
Pages’ role in 2026 relies a lot on Ivan Herrera’s progression, both in terms of his catching ability and his injury rehab. The latter part is more relevant for the short-term, as Herrera is missing the WBC due to insurance issues and his arm recovery is cloudy. At Winter Warm-Up, Herrera said he had not yet been cleared to hit or throw at 100%, which was a little surprising to us in the audience. Since then, though, we have seen videos from camp where he has thrown weighted balls and taken some swings. If he keeps moving in the right direction, the Cardinals appear ready to put Herrera behind the plate to maximize his value as a 25-year-old with above-average hitting ability.
For this season, I believe this plan makes the most sense as the Cardinals sort through their roster depth and determine who has or does not have a future with the organization, either because of poor performance or to maximize trade value. In Herrera’s case, 80-100 games behind the plate with near league-average defensive numbers could launch him even further up the Top 10 Catchers Right Now conversation, as he already cracked the Top 100 across the league without a clear position. If Herrera can stay healthy and maintain his effectiveness with a near-everyday role, I believe that he could be an annual front runner for the Silver Slugger Award at catcher, and even earn some down ballot MVP votes. In the unfortunate circumstance that Herrera is either not healthy or ineffective behind the dish, I am firmly in the camp that should then force him to full-time DH this season. I understand and can partially support the fans that clamor for him to pick up a first base or outfield glove, but as we have seen, it is extremely difficult to learn a new position at the major league level. If he cannot handle catcher, then I am all about a position switch, as long as he begins some behind the scenes work this season and can fully focus on that transition during next offseason as opposed to when the games actually matter (for teams other than the Cardinals).
If Herrera did not work out, that would shift Pages back to his 100-110 starts behind the plate and open up a very interesting competition for his backup. Fan favorite and trimmed up Yohel Pozo is back on the 40-man roster on a split major league deal, but he was mostly used as a pinch hitter who finished the game behind the plate last season. He performed well in those spots, with FanGraphs showing that Pozo hit an astounding .533 with a 255 wRC+ in 16 high leverage plate appearances. Because of that, Pozo could squeeze his way onto the back end of the roster, regardless of the catching conundrum, and simply be that late game replacement.
The inclusion of Pozo on the 26-man roster could spell problems for former top prospect Jimmy Crooks. As the only lefty hitter of the group, if Pages were to be the starter, Crooks could work his way into a platoon role. This would allow Pages to still be there for the pitchers who so dearly need him, while also allowing Crooks to learn at the major league level and not take reps away from those in the minor leagues who need them. That is not to say that Crooks is a finished product, in fact, he is far from it. But with the progression of the other catchers in the organization, and the fact that Crooks has already made the majors, a move back down to Memphis could be seen as regression. The depth in the Cardinals’ catching setup is envious, and I also wrote a story earlier last season about how trading Crooks or Pages could allow the organization to start pushing the prospects up the minor league ladder and see who sticks, rather than play the waiting game with all three promising minor leaguers. For me, assuming Pages grabs the starting role for one reason or another, I am a fan of putting Crooks in that 50/50 split role as a way to 1. limit Pages’ at-bats and 2. keep Crooks fresh but also seeing consistent enough playing time for a rookie backstop who has to manage a pitching staff and learn to hit MLB pitches.
The FIFTH and final catcher on the St. Louis 40-man is switch-hitting catcher Leonardo Bernal, who has put together an impressive resume since being signed out of Panama and debuting as a 17-year-old. I would say I am more excited for Bernal than Crooks, and that is not meant to discredit the solid MLB player I believe Crooks will develop into. It is a testament to Bernal, who took the challenge of becoming an improved receiver behind the plate and went a step further. At the end of last season, the switch-hitter won the Minor League Gold Glove Award for the work he did behind the plate. Over the past two years, Bernal has thrown out 67 out of 165 baserunners trying to swipe a bag, good for an amazing 40.6% caught stealing rate. While the arm plays, a little further look saw an increase in errors, up to 10 from seven the year before, as well as jumping from just five passed balls allowed in 2024 to 13 in 2025. Award voters were obviously not too put off by those numbers, though, and Bernal also added some more pop at the plate, knocking 13 homers, without sacrificing walks or strikeouts. After spending all season in Double-A, Bernal was added to the 40-man roster this offseason, so I would expect the Cardinals to get a little aggressive with him and push him up to Memphis, either to be the everyday guy or split time with Crooks.
Moving further down the organizational ladder is one of the most exciting prospects in the system that many still may not know about. Of course, the vast majority of you know and are pumped about Rainiel Rodriguez, who is ranked as MLB Pipeline’s 37th-best prospect despite only playing A-ball. The 19-year-old took off immediately last year, hitting six homers in his first 10 games in the Complex League. By the end of his second professional season, Rodriguez was bumped up to High-A and compiled a .276 batting average with 20 homers and nearly as many walks as strikeouts. Behind the plate, he threw out 30% of would-be base stealers, but did commit nine errors for a .985 field percentage. Picking the negatives in the surging prospects’ game is tough because for one, there are few, and two, the information and data on him is light compared to his peers because of being so young and at lower levels. Assuming the catchers above him all moved up in the pecking order, Rodriguez could start the season in Springfield, potentially sharing time as he continues to get acclimated to pro ball, before eventually taking over full time. By the end of the season, it is very possible that Rodriguez slides into the top 20 prospect rankings and becomes a national name. If that were to happen, the rest of the Cardinals’ catching corps could have different futures in store, ranging from trade bait to position changes, as all six of these backstops have potential to be something at the big league level.
Through fWAR sorted by ZiPS DC on FanGraphs, Ivan Herrera is ranked just outside the top 10 in projections at number 11, and Pedro Pages projects to be the 28th-best catcher in the MLB. Herrera was ranked as a top 10 catcher by MLB Network, so if he truly can just catch and throw the ball, while maintaining his offensive production, the Cardinals could begin extension talks despite Herrera not being a free agent until the 2030 offseason.
SELF PROMO OF THE WEEK
As showed earlier, Cardinals on My Time talked White Sox and the rebuild. This week or so, I will have some Cubs creators on to do a little tour around the NL Central
Random Cardinal of the Week kept celebrating Black History Month with Shake and Bake before Ricky Bobby ever thought of it
Tonight at 6pm, Redbird Rundown talked about some 2026 storylines and were joined by the Podfather himself, Daniel Shoptaw (@c70 on socials). This was a fun one! Next weekend, we’ll be joined by Kareem to draft some prospects. Make sure you follow our Twitter, , YouTube, Spotify, and Instagram because there is going to be some expansion news for Redbird Rundown popping up this week!!!!
Up until the bronze medal game, Montreal Canadiens’ rookie Oliver Kapanen had not seen a second of action in the Olympic tournament. He was dressed for two games, but he had the best seat in the house as the Finns’ 13th forward, but then Mikko Rantanen was injured in the semifinal. Since the Dallas Stars forward couldn’t play, Kapanen was promoted straight to Finland’s top line alongside Sebastian Aho and former Hab Artturi Lehkonen.
Meanwhile, Juraj Slafkovsky was once again on the Slovaks’ top line with Adam Ruzika and another Hab, Tomas Tatar. With eight points ahead of the final dual, Slafkovsky once again carried the hopes of a country on his young shoulders. The winger had said the Slovaks would be ready and smiling for the bronze medal game and would go out and do it, but the Finns didn’t get the memo.
After being beaten 4-1 in the preliminary round by the Slovaks, the Finns had revenge on their mind, and Juuse Saros played his best game of the tournament in net, stopping 30 of the 31 shots he received. Unfortunately for the Slovaks, Finland took the lead early and never let up. Sebastian Aho scored less than five minutes in, and Erik Haula doubled their lead just before 30 minutes had been played. They learned from their defeat against Canada and kept pushing.
Tatar scored one for Slovakia before the end of the second frame, but Finland came right back with a couple of goals early in the third frame and added another two in an empty net to take the bronze with a 6-1 win.
While Slafkovsky didn’t get on the scoresheet, he gave his all in this ultimate game, spending almost 24 minutes on the ice, taking five shots on net, and being his usual imposing presence physically. Whenever he had the puck, though, the Finns wasted no time getting on him and not allowing him the time to pick his spot on shots.
While the big Slovak will no doubt be disappointed to go home empty-handed after winning Bronze four years ago, this tournament showed just how much Slovakia improved in the last four years. Finishing fourth in a tournament with NHL players should be seen as a success. Slafkovsky, Simon Nemec, Dalibor Dvorsky, and Pavol Regenda had a great tournament, and there’s plenty to be proud of.
On an individual standpoint, Slafkovsky is now the second-highest Olympic goal scorer in his country’s history with 11 lamplighters, only three behind Slovakian icon Marian Hossa. With the NHL having committed to participating in the next two Olympic tournaments as well, he should have at least two more tournaments to catch up to him. Furthermore, it doesn’t feel like he’s hit his ceiling yet, and this tournament has allowed him to improve even more. He’ll come back to Montreal better than he ever was.
As for Kapanen, he spent 16:23 on the ice and showed no sign of rust whatsoever despite not having played since the Canadiens’ last game before the break on February 4th against the Winnipeg Jets. He was credited with a single shot, but he hit the post twice, and while those don’t count as shots, he was so very close to finding the back of the net. He was on the ice for Finland’s first goal, right there at the front of the net, creating havoc. He also played on the Finns’ second power play and created a scoring chance. There’s no denying that he made the most of the opportunity he was given in this game, and he showed his country what they missed out on when he stayed on the bench in the other games.
After the game, in the handshake line, Kapanen and Slafkovsky hugged, and there’s no doubt that they’ll be asked what they said to each other in that moment in the days to come, when they return to Montreal and become teammates again.
Habs linemates Oliver Kapanen 🇫🇮 and Juraj Slafkovsky 🇸🇰 in the handshake line pic.twitter.com/OsaU4zlDii
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — South African golfer Casey Jarvis won the Kenya Open by three shots on Sunday to clinch his first title on the European tour.
The No. 195-ranked Jarvis rolled in an eagle putt on his 72nd hole to post 8-under 62 for the final round and finish on 25-under par for the tournament at Karen Country Club in Nairobi.
Jarvis also eagled the short par-4 12th hole Sunday, making a winding right-to-left putt over a ridge, on the way to shooting 30 in his back nine.
Jarvis shared the lead in each of the first three rounds — and each time with a different player — before finally pulling away.
American Davis Bryant (64) was alone in second place and Hennie Du Plessis (65) of South Africa was third.
Less than 24 hours after a tough 2OT loss, the Orlando Magic are back at it again as they visit the Los Angeles Clippers, where they’re pegged as 4-point underdogs in the NBA odds.
Based on the schedule and injury situations for both sides, my Magic vs. Clippers predictions and NBA picks are targeting the Under on Sunday, February 22.
Magic vs Clippers prediction
Magic vs Clippers best bet: Under 215.5 (-110)
It was a taxing night for the Orlando Magic in a 113-110 2OT loss in Phoenix. Six players logged at least 33 minutes, with Desmond Bane, Anthony Black, and Paolo Banchero playing 40+.
The Los Angeles Clippers just lost to the Lakers, where Kawhi Leonard (ankle) couldn’t finish the game. He is questionable tonight. John Collins and Darius Garland are also out for the fourth-lowest scoring team in the league.
Orlando has hit the Under in five of its last seven games, and the Under is 4-1-1 in the last six head-to-head meetings.
Magic vs Clippers same-game parlay
Bane is coming off a team-high 34 points against Phoenix, and he’s got a generous scoring line of 18.5 against the Clippers, considering he’s gone for 19 or more in 11 of his last 13.
It’s been good vibes for Bennedict Mathurin since being traded by Indiana. He’s topped his 22.5-point line in two of three games with L.A. With Kawhi questionable, he’s one legit offensive source for the points-hungry Clips.
Magic vs Clippers SGP
Under 215.5
Desmond Bane Over 18.5 points
Bennedict Mathurin Over 22.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Bank on Banchero
Banchero dished out eight assists vs. Phoenix, and has had 5+ assists in back-to-back games.
Brook Lopez is coming off his best rebounding game of the year with 10 boards against the Lakers. He’ll have more resistance against Orlando, but getting six boards shouldn’t be a struggle for him as the main big in the Clippers’ rotation.
Magic vs Clippers SGP
Under 215.5
Desmond Bane Over 18.5 points
Bennedict Mathurin Over 22.5 points
Paolo Banchero Over 4.5 assists
Brook Lopez Over 5.5 rebounds
Magic vs Clippers odds
Spread: Magic -3 | Clippers +3
Moneyline: Magic +122 | Clippers -144
Over/Under: Over 215 | Under 215
Magic vs Clippers betting trend to know
Orlando has win five straight games when playing with a rest disadvantage. Find more NBA betting trends for Magic vs. Clippers.
How to watch Magic vs Clippers
Location
Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
Date
Sunday, February 22, 2026
Tip-off
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Florida, FDSN SoCal
Magic vs Clippers latest injuries
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Fresh off a fourth-quarter heist at the Garden, the Knicks (36*-21) head to the United Center to face the Chicago Bulls (24–33). The matchup gives New York a chance to firm up its hold on third place against a Bulls team that has lost as many consecutive games as an octopus has arms. (That’s eight, buddy.)
The season series sits tied at one apiece. When they last met, the Knicks beat the Bulls 128-116 on November 2, 2025. Jalen Brunson led New York with 31 points. Josh Giddey paced Chicago with 23.
The Bulls are planning a massive offseason bender to forget this campaign. They rank 23rd in offensive rating at 114 and 26th in defensive rating at 118.1. They can score a bit, averaging 116.4 points per game, which puts them 11th in the league, but no team sees them on the schedule and says, Uh-oh, better double-knot my Nikes.
Aussie hair model Josh Giddey leads the brigade, averaging 18.4 points per game and spreading 8.5 assists. Matas “Line Drawing Face” Buzelis averages 15 points per game and shoots 36% from three. Their starting five will likely be Giddey, Anfernee Simons (20.1 PPG), Isaac Okoro (9.1 PPG), Buzelis, and Jalen Smith (10.2 RPG). Last night, with Simons out, our old pal Guerschon Yabusele was in the starting lineup. As I said, good times in Chicago!
On Chi-Town’s injury report, Simons is day-to-day with a wrist injury. Zach Collins is out for the season for the Bulls with a toe problem, as is Noa Essengue with a shoulder injury.
Prediction
ESPN gives the Knicks an 82% chance to win. Oh, they’d better. Last night, the Knicks opened the game strong, then looked dead in the water for two quarters until Jose Alvarado injected life into them. Is Jose your new favorite Knick, yet? Or do you still cling to Bridges like a weird old Teddy? (Bear, Ruxpin, Pendergrass—whatever you’re into.)
Chicago also played at home last night, in a 16-point loss to Detroit that would have been uglier if not for a 34-point fourth quarter. We doubt the Bulls are even playing for pride at this point, so the Knicks’ bench should take care of business and let the starters cool their heels. Knicks by a dozen.
Game Details
Date: Sunday, February 22, 2026 Time: 8 PM ET Place: United Center, Chicago, IL TV: MSG Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
* Should be one more, but the Cup final was just an acid flashback.
After a tough slate coming out of the All-Star break, the Charlotte Hornets look to get back on track as they battle the Washington Wizards on Sunday.
My Hornets vs Wizards prediction and free NBA picks expect the visitors to dominate the lottery-bound home team.
Hornets vs Wizards prediction
Hornets vs Wizards best bet: Hornets -11.5 (-110)
The Charlotte Hornets have played tough but come up short in close losses to both the Rockets and the Cavaliers, but they’ve remained a solid cover team, going 7-1-0 against the spread in their last eight.
The Washington Wizards swept a two-game home set against the Pacers, but Indiana had so many regulars out, it’s hard to imagine they’ll be able to match that effort when the competition levels up.
The Wiz did play the Hornets tough last game in a 4-point loss, but that’s the outlier: Charlotte has slammed them the two other times, winning by at least 17 points in each.
Hornets vs Wizards same-game parlay
Kon Knueppel has been lighting it up from distance of late, nailing at least four 3-pointers in six of his last nine games. Against the Wiz, he’s drilled five moneyballs twice in three games.
Brandon Miller’s scoring has dipped in February, scoring 24 points or more just twice in seven games. He’s yet to hit 24+ points in two meetings with Washington this year.
Hornets vs Wizards SGP
Hornets -11.5
Knueppel Over 3.5 threes
Miller Under 23.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Wizards feel the sting
Let’s roll out a big SGP for the rest of the Hornets’ starters that are on the board.
LaMelo Ball has gone Under 7.5 assists in six of seven games, but take the Over as he’s doled out at least nine dimes in each of the three games against Washington this year.
Ryan Kalkbrenner is coming off a season-high 13 rebounds in a season-high 36 minutes. With Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate still serving suspensions, he’ll be a prominent big man for Charlotte on Sunday.
Hornets vs Wizards SGP
Hornets -11.5
Knueppel Over 3.5 threes
Miller Under 23.5 points
Ball Over 7.5 assists
Kalkbrenner Over 7.5 assists
Hornets vs Wizards odds
Spread: Hornets -11.5 | Wizards +11.5
Moneyline: Hornets -602 | Wizards +450
Over/Under: Over 226.5 | Under 226.5
Hornets vs Wizards betting trend to know
Charlotte has nine straight wins as a betting favorite. Find more NBA betting trends for Hornets vs. Wizards.
How to watch Hornets vs Wizards
Location
Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
Date
Sunday, February 22, 2026
Tip-off
6:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Southeast Charlotte, Monumental SN
Hornets vs Wizards latest injuries
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 21: Actor Spike Lee reacts during the fourth quarter between the Houston Rockets and New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on February 21, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Knicks looked like they were about to put us into another deep depression…
…until they didn’t. Oh, boy, they didn’t.
Here’s everything to know about the night in which New York sent KD back to Twitter.
Mike Brown: "In the huddle to start the 4th KAT said 'Hey––at the end of the day it starts defensively'…And he led the charge on that end of the floor" pic.twitter.com/Y7vZwR5Srr
“We found a way, that’s what I’m most excited about; we found a way.”
On Towns’ role in the Knicks’ scoring hierarchy:
“Knowing that those two guys are our leading scorer, our second-leading scorer [Jalen Brunson and Towns], first-most shots, second-most shots; trying to fit those two guys in that order and then everybody else is what’s most important. I look at KAT and he’s probably right where he should be. Maybe he should be the leading scorer, I don’t know, but for sure the second-leading scorer — he’s that. He gets the second-most field goal attempts behind Jalen. … The No. 1 guy is probably gonna get the most stuff, because he’s the No. 1 guy. The No. 2 guy, he’s gonna get the second-most stuff because he’s the No. 2. So whatever you do, hopefully it averages out to you getting the second most, if you’re the No. 2 guy.”
On trying to simplify the offense:
“We’ve simplified it a lot. We’ve simplified it a lot to try to fit him in and everyone else at the same time. … Our offense is different now than it was in the preseason because I’ve had to try to adjust and make it fit everybody to where Jalen’s getting his first, KAT’s getting his second, then we go from there.”
On Brunson in crunch time vs. Houston:
“Jalen was in a groove. It didn’t matter who was on him; he found a way to score.”
On the fourth-quarter defense:
“In the fourth quarter, our guys found a way. They buckled down defensively.”
On Alvarado spark decision:
“[Assistant coach] Rick Brunson was the one that suggested throwing Jose in the game at the time, which was the right call. We threw Jose in, and he gave us a spark on both ends of the floor.”
On Jose and Tyler Kolek reps:
“Jose’s played, obviously. Jose’s played well for us. He’s given us a different look. Tyler’s been awesome, for Year 2. He has a chance to be a good pro, really good pro. He’s just gotta stick with it, and we gotta keep trying to help him by finding ways for him to get reps. So today was a good opportunity for us to find a way for him to get a rep.”
On evolving offense philosophy:
“If you watch us closely from the beginning of preseason until now, our offense is different. And it’s different because… it’s evolving to try and fit not just Jalen, not just KAT, but all of our guys. Knowing that those two guys are our leading scorer, our second leading scorer, first most shots, second most shots; trying to fit those two guys in that order and then everybody else is what’s most important.”
On Towns’ season evaluation:
“In a game, you can literally dissect every single game and say this guy didn’t get a shot. And yeah, that’s correct. It happens sometimes. That’s life. Sometimes OG [Anunoby] may have 15 shots and KAT may have nine shots and Jalen may have 26 shots. But as long as at the end of the day it averages out to what it needs to be or what it should be, I think that’s what the season’s about. (The offense is) a work in progress. You’ve gotta continue to feel and evolve as a group and hopefully you can do it around the guys that you need to knowing, ‘OK if this doesn’t work, I’ve gotta go and change this,’ and like I said earlier, our offense is different from now than it was in the preseason because I’ve had to try to adjust and make it fit everybody to where Jalen’s getting his first, KAT’s getting his second, then we go from there.”
On his time with the Warriors and the team’s ever-adjusting with Durant:
“Even our teams in Golden State, when we got KD, we had to change. It was a little different before KD, and KD gets here, we had to change it, and then as the season went along, we were like, okay this is not gonna work, we’ve gotta change it.”
“I just challenged our team to start the fourth. I said, ‘we can win this game and I’ve seen us do it and it starts with the first possession of the fourth quarter playing defense. We gotta get a stop.’ I wanted to do my part as well and glad I was able to find a way to get that stop and from then I wanted to set the tone for our team and set the intensity level that we needed to play for for 12 minutes if we expected to come out with a win.”
On the Knicks’ defense on Saturday:
“We got stops. We got turnovers and that translated into offense and it gave us a confidence boost, that momentum. The crowd was amazing, all 15 guys on the team were amazing.”
On prioritizing the championship over individual performances, in response to Shaq:
“Nah, for sure. But what you said, too, if we win a championship, they can talk about anybody as long as we all get a ring. That’s the most important thing. I don’t care about none of that.
“I wanna make sure we all understand that the biggest goal, the main goal here, is to win. It don’t matter about who gets the credit or whatever.”
“Didn’t like how I was playing. Decided that I had to switch it; that simple. It’s the mentality of trying to get downhill, make plays, not being hesitant, not being passive. If there are mistakes, they’re aggressive mistakes. Don’t want to be on your heels. I just feel like the first two quarters, I was.”
“It’s always gonna [feel] amazing. It’s kind of like a pride thing I got. It’s like when I play for my national team [Puerto Rico] or my country, I’m playing for my hometown, and I’m always gonna have to represent on another level, and just compete.”
On building rhythm with the team:
“Just getting a real rhythm. Like I’ve said, it just comes with spending time with the guys and being around them and slowly getting it. But we’re passing that, we’re in rhythm now so we’ve got a good stretch ahead of us and we’re trying to do something special here.”
On doing little things in the comeback:
“Sometimes it’s not gonna be shots falling and you gotta do the little things, get steals, and do that. But it’s always gonna be a different type of motor when I put that jersey on. I’m from here, and I gotta represent the best way I can.”
This Shaq/KAT convo got REAL awkward:
Shaq: If you guys win the chip, they'll talk about Brunson. You have to be dominant
KAT: They can talk about anybody as long as we get a ring thats the most important thing
“At the beginning of the game, I said you were playing soft because I’ve seen you at times when you play great. And what you must understand in New York, you need to be great for you guys to win the championship. It’s high aspirations. If you guys win the championship, of course, they’re gonna talk about [Jalen] Brunson, but it’s you and your play. You have to be dominant. You responded very, very well. You played well, you played in the paint, that’s how you should play. You should always play great. Being from Jersey, good ain’t good enough. You had a great game tonight. I’m proud of you.”
Jun 21, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; A detail view of a statue of Satchel Paige on display during a presentation at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
If you were faced to win one game, which nine players and starting pitcher would you have in a Cleveland starting lineup?
You can answer by sorting by WAR and wRC+, or by OPS and batting average. You can look and peak and longevity. You can go by your favorites and guys for whom injuries derailed promising careers.
Is it Jim Thome at first base and Jose Ramirez at third?
Is it Bob Feller, Satchel Paige or Corey Kluber on the mound?
Is it Lou Boudreau or Omar Vizquel at short?
Is it Tris Speaker, Kenny Lofton or Grady Sizemore in center?
Is it Travis Hafner or Eddie Murray or Andre Thornton at DH?
It’s one game for all the marbles so marshall your memories and tell us which 10 Cleveland Indians/Guardians you would be lining up to win it all!
Feb 21, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Cleveland Guardians right fielder Nolan Jones (22), left, is congratulated by Cleveland Guardians first baseman Kyle Manzardo (9) after hitting a 3-run home run in the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Fields of Phoenix. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The Guardians started off Spring Training 2-0, with wins against the Reds and the Brewers.
Nick has highlights here for you. Homers from Nolan Jones and Cooper Ingle headlined the day. Good at-bats from Travis Bazzana, David Fry and Gabriel Arias were also nice to see.
The Guardians play the Athletics at 3:05PM ET today. Baseball back on an everyday basis – what a joy!
SARASOTA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 16: Zach Eflin #24 and Chris Bassitt #40 of the Baltimore Orioles smile during practice at Ed Smith Stadium on February 16, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Baltimore Orioles/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hello, friends.
There are now 32 days remaining until Orioles Opening Day. They’ll be playing near-daily exhibitions from now until March 23. Yesterday’s game was an 8-2 loss to the Pirates, helped along by Dietrich Enns managing to give up six runs in one-third of an inning. The O’s hit the road for the first time today, with a 1:05 game coming against the Tigers. This will be broadcast on 98 Rock (97.9 FM) in the Baltimore area, with no local TV broadcast. The Tigers network is not doing a broadcast either.
Tough luck if you want to see anyone who is playing today. Or tomorrow or Tuesday. Although MASN is airing a lot more games this spring, there are gaps and those gaps are largely concentrated in the early games of the schedule. If you were watching yesterday, you got to see quite a few prospects get a little game action. Hope you enjoyed it while you could. There will be no live feed of Orioles baseball to help you feel warmer as it snows back in the home territory of Birdland today.
Not much to say about the exhibition games yet. The Orioles have played two fake games and they have one win and one loss. Probably not a ton to draw about today’s game either, since as a road game early in spring it’ll probably feature the bare minimum number of major league regulars required. There is an actual rule about this, which I believe was prompted because a number of years ago the Red Sox sent too many jabronis out on their early spring games and it was enough to make the commissioner’s office unhappy.
Notes on Eflin and Baz live BP, the plan for Kremer, and more (School of Roch) Zach Eflin and Shane Baz did live batting practice sessions before yesterday’s game. Roch notes that questions remain about whether Eflin will make the Opening Day roster.
Nothing of particular note is recorded on this day in Orioles history. Unless there’s bad news, that probably won’t change today.
One current member of Orioles camp has a birthday today. Happy 29th to pitcher José Espada, who pitched three scoreless innings in one game with the team last year. Former Orioles who were born today: 2016 reliever Brian Duensing, 2014 infielder Kelly Johnson, 2005 outfielder Ramón Nivar, 2006 pitcher John Halama, Maryland-born 1960-67 pitcher Steve Barber, and 1954 one-game pitcher Ryne Duren. Though he allowed two earned runs in two innings of his MLB debut with the Orioles, Duren made it back to MLB several years later and carved out a ten-year career.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: general and 1st president George Washington (1732), baseball Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson (1934), basketball Hall of famer Julius Erving (1950), actor Kyle MacLachlan (1959), actress Rachel Dratch (1966), and actress Drew Barrymore (1975).
On this day in history…
In 1076, pope Gregory VII, not the pope Gregory the calendar is named after, excommunicated the reigning Holy Roman Emperor, Henry IV, in response to Henry sending Gregory a letter demanding that Gregory abdicate the papacy.
In 1819, Spain and the United States signed the Adams-Onís Treaty, which provided that in two years time, Spain would sell Florida to the US for $5 million. The sale occurred two years later as indicated by the treaty.
In 1848, people in Paris sparked a revolution that, within three days, led to the abdication of the king, abolition of the revived monarchy, and the formation of the Second French Republic. This was the first of a wave of revolutions across Europe in 1848, though ultimately none were as successful in their goals as the French one.
In 1889, President Grover Cleveland signed the bill permitting the admittance of North and South Dakota, Montana, and Washington into the United States.
In 1980, the US men’s hockey team defeated the Soviet Union in Olympic competition by a 4-3 score, a game known in sporting lore simply as the “Miracle on Ice.” The American team went on to defeat Finland in the gold medal game. The 2026 men’s hockey team will play for a gold medal against the Canadian team today.
A random Orioles trivia question
I received a book of Orioles trivia for Christmas. I’ll ask a question each time it’s my turn in this space until I run out of questions or forget. The book gives multiple choice answers, which I typically think would be too easy for us but I’ll give you a chance at today’s question:
In what year was the B&O Warehouse built?
A. 1904
B. 1896
C. 1900
D. 1913
If you’re answering early in the day, please be considerate and use spoiler text in your comment so that others arriving later can still feel they get a fresh crack at the question. Thanks!
**
And that’s the way it is in Birdland on February 22. Have a safe Sunday.
The Milwaukee Bucks welcome the Toronto Raptors to Fiserv Forum on Sunday afternoon as both teams look to stay in the win column following the All-Star break.
Both teams will be missing key players today, but the visitors’ depth and defense will give them the edge.
I’ll break down the pick in my Raptors vs. Bucks predictions and NBA picks for Sunday, February 22.
Raptors vs Bucks prediction
Raptors vs Bucks best bet: Raptors -3 (-110)
The Toronto Raptors will be without Scottie Barnes, but the Milwaukee Bucks might be in even rougher shape with Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined and Myles Turner listed as questionable.
Milwaukee has the fifth-worst offense in the NBA, and they’ll be even more crippled without Giannis, who’s scoring 28 ppg — 25% of the Bucks’ points.
The Raps don’t need to outscore you to win — they’ve got the eighth-best defense in the league and have allowed just 108.5 ppg over their last six contests.
Toronto also has a 63% win rate on the road, tied for sixth-best in the NBA.
Raptors vs Bucks same-game parlay
Brandon Ingram scored 33 points in his first contest back from the All-Star Game, with his 26 field goal attempts tying his second-highest mark this season. He’s also hit Over 24.5 points in five of his last eight games.
With Barnes out, Ingram will be Toronto’s main man on offense again.
Raptors vs Bucks SGP
Raptors -3
Ingram Over 24.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Rollin' in the deep
The Bucks are 24th in opponent three-point percentage and 26th in threes allowed per game, so Ingram, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley should rain down plenty of points from downtown.
Ryan Rollins has been hot from long range for Milwaukee, hitting Over 2.5 threes in six of his last seven, while Cameron Thomas is averaging 1.6 threes per game this year.
Raptors vs Bucks SGP
Brandon Ingram Over 1.5 threes made
RJ Barrett Over 1.5 threes made
Immanuel Quickly Over 2.5 threes made
Ryan Rollins Over 2.5 threes made
Cameron Thomas Over 1.5 threes made
Raptors vs Bucks odds
Spread: Raptors -3 | Bucks +3
Moneyline: Raptors -150 | Bucks +125
Over/Under: Over 220 | Under 220
Raptors vs Bucks betting trend to know
The Raptors have hit the Under in 32 of their last 50 games (+12.20 Units / 22% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Raptors vs. Bucks.
How to watch Raptors vs Bucks
Location
Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Sunday, February 22, 2026
Tip-off
3:30 p.m. ET
TV
TSN, FDSN Wisconsin
Raptors vs Bucks latest injuries
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Alexis Mac Allister scored in injury time, after having a previous goal ruled out, to snatch a Liverpool win
Eric Peterson gets in touch: “I wouldn’t mind Wayne Rooney pulling on an old Everton kit and getting on some podcast to remind Arne Slot, “Easy there, sport. You say that the only thing you and Jurgen Klopp have in common is that you both won the league. That’s not true. You both won the league with Jurgen’s team. Whether you can build a champion of your own is a different question.”
Arne Slot just spoke to Sky, starting with Dominik Szoboszlai at full-back: “He needs to be because that’s what we need. We have our issues, especially in defence. Missing our 2 fullbacks, but Dominic has done that job really well. Last week, Curtis Jones, did his job really well. So that’s the good thing about midfielders, they are usually able to play in more positions than only in the midfields.
Tempe, AZ - February 21, 2026: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) pitches in the first inning at Diablo Stadium, Tempe, AZ on February 21, 2026. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Dodger baseball is officially back in session, and it began on Saturday with a thunderous 15-2 victory over the Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium.
Getting the nod for the cactus opener was the reigning World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who tossed 29 pitches over 1 2/3 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) while striking out three and allowing zero walks. For added benefit, his offense supplied him with a nine-run cushion entering his final frame of work.
The Dodgers’ six-run second inning gave Yamamoto a wide gap between innings, where he allowed the Angels’ only offense of the day. He remarked that he still felt great on the mound and is feeling well ahead of his next cactus start, per Sonja Chen of MLB.com.
“I was already feeling good,” Yamamoto said. “And then somehow I was able to carry that to today’s game, especially the first inning. I think I was great, but due to the gap between innings, that affected me a little bit.”
“Oh, is he?” a visibly surprised Roberts said before letting out a big laugh after Saturday’s 15-2 rout of the Angels. “I was in between, but then I was like, I didn’t want to miss him for sure. So that’s good that he confirmed that, that’s great.”
Links
With an open runway to assume the starting second base job at the beginning of the regular season, Hyeseong Kim made quite the impression on Saturday, going 2-3 with a pair of singles and three RBI. Kim spoke with Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA about his performance on Saturday, noting that he spent time this offseason working on his lower body movements.
“I spent a lot of time practicing my lower body movements, and luckily I was able to get some good results today.”
Hyeseong Kim (2-3, 3 RBI, R) discusses playing for Team Korea in the WBC, his strong start to Spring Training, his comfortability in year 2 and his skin care routine. @kirsten_watsonpic.twitter.com/wVOERvprCy
The Dodgers had a 50 percent success rate in using the new Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system, but don’t expect them to use it with high frequency. Anthony Solorzano of the Los Angeles Times writes about how the Dodgers will implement the ABS system, noting that they will take a more conservative approach when challenging balls and strikes.
“It’s good that we’re practicing in spring, but we’re having conversations about leverage and how to use it to our advantage.”
