The Miami Heat have dropped four straight games, and they’ll look to get back on track Monday when they host the San Antonio Spurs, winners of five straight.
The home team will be close to full strength, and my Spurs vs Heat predictions expect Miami to keep it close against the powerhouse visitors.
Here are my free NBA picks for this cross-conference showdown from Kaseya Center on Monday, March 23.
Spurs vs Heat prediction
Spurs vs Heat best bet: Heat +4.5 (-110)
The Miami Heat have played great basketball at home this season, winning 23 and covering in 36 games at Kaseya Center. Miami sports the second-highest cover percentage as a home underdog, going 7-2 against the spread.
All three are expected to suit up, and they'll all play a part in helping the Heat's Top 10 home offense keep up with the San Antonio Spurs' explosive offense, while Bam Adebayo can focus on containing Victor Wembanyama.
Spurs vs Heat same-game parlay
The Heat rank 10th in offensive rating at home, while the Spurs rank ninth on the road.
Bam has been on a heater, and Miami has a plethora of scoring options to rack up points. The Spurs will have Stephon Castle back, and Devin Vassell could return as well, giving San Antonio extra firepower.
Since scoring a historic 83 points, Adebayo has averaged 25.3 points across his last four outings, going for 22+ three times. He leads the Heat in minutes in that span, clocking in at a whopping 39.1.
Spurs vs Heat SGP
Heat +4.5
Over 243
Bam Adebayo Over 21.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Bunch of buckets
Wemby has averaged 28.7 points across his last nine games, going for 27+ in six of them. He finished with 27 points in his first matchup with the Heat, and he’ll need to be at his best to keep up with a hot Miami offense.
Castle will return following a two-game absence, and Andrew Wiggins is expected to play after eight games on the sidelines.
Castle scored 21 against the Heat earlier in the season, and he averaged 21.8 points in five games before sustaining his hip injury. Wiggins scored 12+ in seven of eight contests before injuring his toe, and he dropped 24 in his first meeting with the Spurs.
Spurs vs Heat SGP
Bam Adebayo Over 21.5 points
Victor Wembanyama Over 26.5 points
Stephon Castle Over 16.5 points
Andrew Wiggins Over 11.5 points
Spurs vs Heat odds
Spread: Spurs -4.5 | Heat +4.5
Moneyline: Spurs -200 | Heat +165
Over/Under: Over 243 | Under 243
Spurs vs Heat betting trend to know
The Miami Heat have covered the first-half spread in 33 of their last 50 games (+15.85 Units / 27% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Heat.
How to watch Spurs vs Heat
Location
Kaseya Center, Miami, FL
Date
Monday, March 23, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock/NBCSN
Spurs vs Heat latest injuries
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It’s February 18th, and Martin Necas is still sweating profusely from a game that saw his Czechian side eliminated, but has enough breath to mention his national pride: “I am proud of what we have done, especially in this last game.”
The last game he is referring to was Czechia’s OT defeat at the hands of his Canadian and NHL teammates Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Devon Toews.
On the eve of Czechia and Canada, Martin Necas stole headlines yet again by jokingly commenting, “Yeah, we let them (Team Canada) win the first one because we knew we wouldn’t beat Canada twice in a row.”
The discourse following the games largely revolved around Team USA and Team Canada’s epic finale and rightfully so, but Martin Necas dominance of the entire tournament in the face of the world’s best competition wasn’t exactly a widely acknowledged truth.
Fast forward to March of 2026, and the Avalanche are making one last push for league and divisional supremacy, and who stands as the key contributor to Colorado’s persistence? Well, it is Martin Necas, of course, who hasn’t skipped a beat since displaying his talents in Italy.
It may not be the first thing people are talking about when they think of the Colorado Avalanche, with Hart hopeful Nathan MacKinnon and Norris mainstay Cale Makar dominating headlines throughout the season. But make no mistake, this has been Martin Necas’ year, and he’s earning every cent of this 92 million dollar contract.
Olympic Standout
The Olympics were something Martin Necas “had always dreamt of,” and he played like it, as a top 5 player in the tournament with 8 points (3G, 5A) in just five contests at 1.60 points per game—tied for one of the highest outputs by a Czech skater in an NHL-era Olympics. He powered his nation to a quarterfinal matchup with Team Canada, including a goal and assist in the 3-2 qualification win over Denmark that advanced them.
Necas and Czechia may have been a dark horse pick by Managing Editor Jackie Kay heading into the Olympics, but I don’t think anyone else really gave them an outside chance of standing up to the powers that be in international hockey.
Necas and his countrymen did that and then some, as it appeared they might actually upset Team Canada, when they held a 3-2 lead late in the third before Nick Suzuki tied it at three a side.
The overtime frame featured a breakaway chance for Marty himself, but a generous non-call on a pretty blatant hook from Devon Toews effectively slowed Necas enough for the pressure to affect his shot on net.
It would be Golden Knight Mitch Marner who would put that quarterfinal contest to bed with an OT winner.
I don’t know if it’s been talked about in the Avalanche locker room, but Necas surely could give Toews some grief for the fortune of not being penalized on that play.
Sure, no medal for Marty, but he was among the best players in the entire tournament, no matter what crest they wore.
The question then became. How long could the Marty party continue?
The Human Element
I don’t know how much the Olympic transition, its logistics, and its consequences truly resonate with most hockey fans. The mentality of this hockey arrangement likely hit European players the hardest, as they didn’t return to their homeland like their North American counterparts after the action subsided.
“It is weird because you don’t really go home, back to Czechia. You go back to your teams. It is different from when you play a world championship,” Necas said before getting his bags ready for travel back to North America for the rest of the NHL season.
The human element of all the travel and painstaking details can rattle even a lowly reporter from Colorado, much less a professional hockey player balancing life and the rigorous demands of competing at the highest level. Not Martin Necas, though—the professionalism, dedication, and pride we saw in Italy have continued here in Colorado with the Avalanche, where he’s exploded for double-digit goals in the month-plus since returning.
Party On?
So how long could the Marty party continue?
Answer, all the way into March.
Since the Olympic break, Necas has been on fire, collecting eight multi-point performances in his last 14 games while piling up 10 goals and 24 points overall in that stretch. He’s scored in eight of 10 contests, notched multiple points in five of his first six games back, and racked up four goals and four assists in his most recent six outings. Standout efforts include a three-point night (1G-2A, including two power-play assists) in a 4-1 win over Chicago on March 20 and two assists in a 3-2 OT victory over Washington on March 22.
Necas is at career highs across the board: 32 goals (surpassing his previous best), 84 points (topping his 82 in Carolina), an 18.9% shooting percentage on 169 shots, eight power-play goals, 11 power-play assists, and elite underlying numbers like 21:25 average TOI and a dominant +44 rating. His top-line chemistry with MacKinnon is evident—he’s producing at over a point-per-game clip and pacing toward his first 90- or even 100-point season.
Jobs Not Done
In the build-up to the 2026 Olympic Games, Martin Necas made it clear that he knew “it’s better to be on their side than against, obviously…” when asked about his teammates representing Team Canada, but I imagine they would echo the same compliment in his direction.
When Martin Necas put pen to paper at the team facility back in October of 2025, the detractors immediately compared the dollar figure to what another top-line winger in the Central had garnered after much fuss. Some questioned if he’d ever live up to the commitment the Avalanche made that day.
Fans should be pleased to note that the first thing that came out of Martin Necas following the deal was the following in an article with NHL.com:
Super excited. Happy to get this done. Excited for the times ahead. Now I can focus on winning hockey games and do whatever it takes to bring a (Stanley) Cup back to Colorado
That focus has shown.
Getting a 90-point, 40-goal scorer out of a deal that was heavily scrutinized should be the talk of the town as far as I’m concerned, but validation of the Mikko trade and Martin Necas key contributions to this Avalanche team have fallen on deaf ears.
I don’t suppose that will remain the case as Colorado begins its playoff campaign. With Necas carrying Olympic momentum into a career-year explosion, the Marty party will be front-page news if Colorado once again reaches the mountaintop in 2025-26.
Let us know what you think of Martin Necas’ year so far in the comments!
Knicks teammates Josh Hart (l.) and Mikal Bridges (r.)
Don’t blame Mikal Bridges for his paltry stats. Blame the role.
That was the message from teammate Josh Hart, who said the criticism of Bridges is “unfair” since he’s getting even fewer opportunities than even last season.
“He’s been doing what’s been asked of him,” Hart said. “And I’ve said it before — when you’re a guy who, for a year and a half [with the Brooklyn Nets] when you’re the No. 1 guy and he’s getting those plays called for him.
“Last year, he didn’t have many plays called for him. This year, he probably has even less plays called for him. So obviously there’s a mental hurdle he needs to get through and that’s something where some of us can help him. I think he gets some of that unfair flak just because he’s doing what’s asked of him. And if we were to sit there and say, go shoot 15 shots a game, he would be efficient and he could do it. But that’s not what’s been asked of him.”
Mikal Bridges (25) of the Knicks shoots over the Wizards’ Sharife Cooper (13) on March 22, 2026. AP
Indeed, Bridges is averaging fewer shot attempts, minutes and points than in his previous three seasons — including his 1 ½ years with the Nets as their top scorer. On the Knicks this season, he’s been the fourth or fifth option. But Bridges was also misfiring with his opportunities and stuck in a deep slump.
Since the All-Star break, entering Sunday’s win over the Wizards, he was averaging just 10.4 points on 40.6 percent shooting and 31.3 percent from beyond the arc.
And it was worse lately.
In the eight games before the Knicks’ win over the Wizards on Sunday, Bridges was down to averages of just 7.3 points on 33 percent shooting — including 25 percent on 3s. So he was taking fewer shots but missing them at a much higher rate since February.
On Sunday, coach Mike Brown reiterated his belief that Bridges would break out of the slump. The coach said his faith stems from Bridges’ attitude and his long history as a productive player. He had 14 points on 6-for-11 shooting against Washington.
“He’s shown time after time that he’s a high-level player. And he’s done it,” Brown said. “I’ve been around many players who have gone through their ups and downs throughout the course of the season.
“And he works at it very hard. And he cares at a high level. Usually when you have that combination from a veteran guy that’s produced the way he’s produced in the NBA, it tends to lead to good results, eventually.”
Still, Bridges’ slide felt more prolonged and severe than the run-of-the-mill funk. And Brown responded by giving Bridges fewer minutes, which was easier since Landry Shamet was surging as the backup.
One difference Sunday was that the insurance option — Shamet — was unavailable. The two-way guard sat for the first time since Jan. 14 because of a knee injury sustained in Brooklyn two nights earlier.
Shamet’s official injury designation was a sore right knee, which Brown said was banged. It meant opportunities were available for other bench players — specifically Mohamed Diawara and Jordan Clarkson — or potentially for Bridges to get more runway to break out of his slump.
“There are going to be some minutes to grab,” Brown said. Bridges played 30 minutes Sunday.
Knicks teammates Josh Hart (l.) and Mikal Bridges (r.) Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Hart wants to help where he can — but he also noted that Bridges’ reduced role shouldn’t be overlooked.
“Try to make sure to get him involved a little bit more, get him the ball when he’s running in transition, get him in position to be successful,” Hart said. “He’s been doing what’s been asked of him.”
The Milwaukee Bucks are still barely eligible for the Play-In tournament, while the Los Angeles Clippers are playing for seeding.
The 29-41 Bucks will be the best team the Clippers have faced in the last four games, but Milwaukee will be without Giannis Antetokounmpo and possibly Kyle Kuzma.
That’s why my Bucks vs.Clippers predictions and NBA picks look for L.A. to cover the big spread on Monday, March 23.
Many of their woes can be traced back to an awful start to the season. Overall, the Clippers boast the ninth-best offensive efficiency in the NBA, which will help against a Giannis-less Milwaukee Bucks team that can't stop anyone.
Milwaukee has struggled recently, particularly against good teams. It had lost six of seven before winning Saturday.
That win over Phoenix was the Bucks' first in 13 games vs. a team with a winning percentage above .300. They won't be remotely competitive in Inglewood tonight.
Bucks vs Clippers same-game parlay
Both teams rank in the Bottom 10 in pace of play, but the cutoff takes that into account. This is the lowest Over/Under Los Angeles has faced in the last 11 games. And it's gone Over seven times against those higher totals.
Darius Garland has blossomed since arriving in Los Angeles at the trade deadline, increasing his scoring by more than three points per game. He’s averaged 24.2 in the last seven and 25 in the last five. He’s also shooting 40 percentage points higher from the field and 130 percentage points higher from three.
Bucks vs Clippers SGP
Clippers -13
Over 222
Darius Garland Over 20.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: No Kawhi, no problem for Garland & Jones
Garland has averaged 3.9 made treys a game with Los Angeles and 4.7 over the last six, including five or more in four of those. He’s 28 for his last 52 from deep for a .538 percentage.
Derrick Jones Jr. has 23 assists in March, but nearly half (11) have come in the last three games. Jones has also been scoring, with double figures in 10 of 13 March games, including 37 across the last two. With Kawhi Leonard questionable, he’ll have more opportunities on offense.
Bucks vs Clippers SGP
Clippers -13
Darius Garland Over 20.5 points
Darius Garland Over 3.5 made threes
Derrick Jones Jr. Over 12.5 points
Derrick Jones Jr. Over 1.5 assists
Bucks vs Clippers odds
Spread: Bucks +13 (-110) | Clippers -13 (-110)
Moneyline: Bucks +575 | Clippers -850
Over/Under: Over 222 (-110) | Under 222 (-110)
Bucks vs Clippers betting trend to know
The Clippers have covered the Spread in 32 of their last 50 games. Find more NBA betting trends for Bucks vs. Clippers.
How to watch Bucks vs Clippers
Location
Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
Date
Monday, March 23, 2026
Tip-off
10:30 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN-Wisconsin, FDSN-SoCal
Bucks vs Clippers latest injuries
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Spectators look at artist Robert Vargas' work in progress on a 12-story mural of Dodgers Japanese stars (from top) Roki Sasaki, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani on Saturday at the DoubleTree Hotel in Torrance. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
The Los Angeles-based artist has embarked on one of his most ambitious murals. Titled "Samurai of the Diamond," it features the Dodgers' trio of Japanese stars — two-way player Shohei Ohtani and pitchers Roki Sasaki and Yoshinobu Yamamoto — in larger-than-life fashion on a 12-story wall of the DoubleTree Hotel in Torrance.
Artist Robert Vargas takes a break from painting Saturday to show his progress on his newest mural. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
As of early Saturday afternoon, Vargas still had a lot of painting to do in order to have the mural finished by the official unveiling at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Anyone familiar with Vargas and how he works, however, knows he will get it done.
"It may be finished at 9:59, but at 10 o'clock we will unveil this," Vargas said
Koreatown resident Diego Guerrero is one of those who knows Vargas' style. After witnessing the artist working on his massive Fernando Valenzuela mural in Boyle Heights during the fall of 2024, Guerrero said he had "full faith" Vargas would meet his deadline this time around.
“I know he’s got this," Guerrero said while visiting the DoubleTree site Saturday. "Last time he was doing this, it was raining and even that time he pulled it off. So I have no doubt he’ll finish it.”
The Dodgers signed Yamamoto during the same offseason and Sasaki a year later. Both pitchers played key roles in the team's 2025 postseason run. Yamamoto went 7-1 with two complete games and pitched for the final out in Game 7 of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays. Sasaki moved to the bullpen for the playoffs and recorded three saves and two holds.
“If [the Ohtani] mural was about ushering in a new era and a new face here in Los Angeles, this mural is about building a cultural bridge from Los Angeles to Japan and really emphasizing the greatness that these foreign-born Japanese players are contributing not only to the team, but to this community's identity," Vargas said. "And also inspiring to kids who can look up and see heroes that look like them from this community.”
Robert Vargas paints an image of Shohei Ohtani as part of the local artist's 'Samurai of the Diamond' mural Saturday at the DoubleTree Hotel in Torrance. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Known for its large Japanese American population and concentration of Japanese businesses, Torrance signed friendship city agreements with Bizen (Yamamoto's hometown) in August 2024 and Oshu (Ohtani's hometown) in October 2024.
Vargas, who has a home in Japan because of the frequent mural work he does there, came up with the idea of a Torrance mural honoring the Dodgers' Japanese stars around that time.
“I feel that they are examples of how to do things right on and off the field," Vargas said of the three players. "Their work ethic is really reflected in the culture. That's why Ohtani is so respected out there on the field, not just for what he's doing with the bat or with the baseball but just how he conducts himself. It's refreshing.”
His idea received support from local leaders, such as Mayor George Chen and city council member Jon Kaji.
"Ever since the Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani in December, 2023, the community has rallied around Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki giving us all a sense of pride," Kaji said in an email to The Times. "...'Samurai of the Diamond' exemplifies the unifying power of sports that transcends borders and nationalities."
Chen wrote in a separate email: "There are many Dodgers fans in the City of Torrance and the greatness of these 3 players have been great role models to young and old. They are performing at the highest levels in MLB, yet they have shown us that even great athletes and celebrities can maintain a certain level of maturity, respectful to others, picking up trash, not retaliating when attacked, and always showing great sportsmanship."
The wall will include an interactive feature: When visitors scan a QR code, they will see each player come to life and throw a strike, with animation provided by the AR Firm. Also, lights are being installed in the parking lot to illuminate the mural at night.
"It's going to be a destination," Vargas said.
DoubleTree general manager Linda Amato, who is also the executive chairperson of the Discover Torrance visitors bureau, said the hotel plans to create "opportunities for guests to gather outdoors, enjoying [Dodgers] games under the stars alongside the interactive mural."
"The response from the community has been incredible," Amato said in an email. "There’s a real sense of excitement — people are stopping by daily to watch the progress and engage with the project. It’s brought a new energy to the city. Robert Vargas has been amazing throughout the process, often speaking with visitors about his vision and techniques, which adds to the overall experience."
Vargas hand-picked the DoubleTree Hotel in Torrance as the location for his latest mural, despite the wall's deep ridges, which make it difficult to paint. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Vargas hand-picked the DoubleTree as the site, even though he said the hotel's exterior "presents the most difficult surface challenge" he has faced. The wall is lined with thick, vertical grooves, described by Vargas as "almost like a lattice surface because the corrugation is so deep."
Because of that, Vargas — who always works freehand and does not use spray paints — has to carefully paint each section with a brush, as even a roller will not work on that surface. He calls the process "very exciting."
Actor Edward James Olmos, who was visiting Vargas at the site Thursday morning, thinks his longtime friend is nuts.
"That’s the worst f— texture I’ve seen in my life," the 79-year-old "Stand and Deliver" actor said of the wall's surface. "Not one artist I’ve ever known would even want to try to do this. He chose it. I told him he’s off his a—. Have you ever seen that texture before? Never.”
Vargas he said he's not thinking about that or any other challenges when he's several stories in the air working on a project he knows will mean a lot to many people.
"When I'm up there and I think about the community that's down here and how excited they are to see an image like this — not only because of what the content is, but that it's happening here in Torrance and not just in Little Tokyo — they feel very, very proud," Vargas said. "So the wind conditions, the heat conditions, the scaling, all of that becomes secondary when you think about why you're creating it.”
On Saturday afternoon, East Los Angeles resident Edgar Reyes came out to see the super-sized artwork being created in real time.
"It’s just amazing to be able to witness it and see how people are coming together," said Reyes, who described himself as a "big Robert Vargas fan." "I think for Torrance this is a good thing because you see a lot of murals in the east side of L.A. because there’s a lot of graffiti artists and all that, compared to over here. So it’s something really huge for Torrance, I believe."
Koreatown resident Diego Guerrero, who also visited the site on Saturday, said it is "mesmerizing" to watch Vargas work and called the mural "mind-blowing."
"It’s so huge," Guerrero said. "You could see it from miles away. And it’s like, hey, I know them — they’re part of the Dodgers. But not just that. They’re part of the minority. They’re Japanese players, we’re Hispanics, but we’re the same. We want to feel like we’re represented and we’re here. The world will see us, you know?”
Robert Vargas plans to finish his 'Samurai of the Diamond' mural in time for its official unveiling Tuesday at 10 a.m. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Around midday Saturday, Vargas faced another delay when high winds caused him to temporarily come down from the wall. He had already made arrangements to be able to work through the night on Saturday and said he was prepared to work nonstop, if necessary, to be finished in time for the unveiling two days before the Dodgers' season opener Thursday against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
"I'm going to get it done," he said.
“My time frames are pretty ambitious, but I also know what I'm capable of when it comes to my speed," Vargas added. "And also I think that my process is really charged by my intention of why I'm creating these pieces, and that is what fuels me to completion.”
OK, it’s not quite like this now. But you don’t have to worry about Arizona heat up in Chicago. | fity club
It’s a morning game today — well, morning in Arizona — as the White Sox who end up making the team get packed up to fly to Chicago (where the wind chill will be 26° at game time, compared to about 70 degrees warmer in Phoenix).
It’s down to the wire to see if the Sox have a winning Cactus League record! Did you catch the excitement?
To try for that magic 16-15-1, White Sox are sending out a starting lineup that is mostly like what they’ll put on the field Thursday for Opening Day in Milwaukee — but with lefty Anthony Kay on the mound. Kay has had the best spring of any Sox starting pitcher, with a 2.20 ERA that shows (we hope) that the resurrection of his career in Japan last year wasn’t a fluke.
The A’s counter with righty Luis Morales, who had a fine rookie season in 2025 — 1.2b WAR on a 3.14 ERA — but is having a miserable spring, giving up 13 earned runs in 16 1/3 innings, much of the problem being 10 walks.
There is enough in the way of trips to the plate now for the extremely high or low batting averages of early spring to return toward normal, with the only one better than .300 being Luisangel Acuña’s hefty .405, and the only one short of .200 being Colson Montgomery’s .170.
The A’s also have most of their regulars in the game, led by Brent Rooker, who has a .348 average this spring, along with five homers.
First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. Central, with the early start in Arizona giving everybody heading north plenty of time to pack. This is a game where you’d normally see the starters leave after a few innings and start to haul their gear homeward. It also avoids the worst of the heat, though it’s not supposed to get hotter than the mid-90s in the Phoenix area, not the 100+ of recent days.
Or, you could see them hauling gear if the game was on TV, which it isn’t. Not on radio, either. So you’ll have to catch Gameday on occasion and use your imagination.
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Gavin Lux’s debut with the Tampa Bay Rays is going to have to wait.
The club is placing the veteran infielder on injured reserve with a right shoulder impingement. The move means Richie Palacios will make the opening day roster for Tampa Bay.
The Rays acquired Lux from Cincinnati in January as part of a three-team deal that sent outfielder Josh Lowe from Tampa Bay to the Los Angeles Angels. Los Angeles sent left-handed reliever Brock Burke to Cincinnati as part of the swap.
Lux, 28, hit .269 with five homers and 53 RBIs last season with the Reds. A career .256 hitter who won a pair of World Series titles with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Lux agreed to a one-year, $5.525 million contract shortly before being sent to Tampa Bay and can become a free agent after this year’s World Series.
Lux struggled a bit in his first spring training with Tampa Bay, hitting .190 in seven games and had been dealing with what manager Kevin Cash described as a “cranky” right shoulder in recent days.
DENVER — Two months ago, the Colorado Rockies assembled more than 300 of their scouts, coaches, business personnel and new baseball minds for a meeting at Coors Field.
First order of business: An introduction.
The main item: Getting everyone on the same page. Because turning around a franchise that has lost 100 or more games in three straight seasons (including 119 in 2025) doesn’t happen overnight.
Before change can occur, a front office now led by Paul DePodesta and Josh Byrnes wanted to identify specific traits that would come to embody the Rockies. That way, there would be a consistent message emanating from the major league level all the way through the minors. The Rockies are developing a blueprint from an exchange of ideas that took place in January — and before — with their baseball staff, some of whom journeyed in from the Dominican Republic.
“I would say the bones of it are already in place,” said DePodesta, the recently hired president of baseball operations.
Any sneak peeks?
“Probably not ready,” DePodesta said with a smile. “But I’m really excited about everybody’s reaction to it so far. It’s more about, ‘Hey, how are we going to work together? What is our pitching staff going to look like, not just at the big league level, but throughout? What do we like about hitters? How do all those things tie together?’”
It’s at least a step in a direction, any direction, and not just status quo for a Rockies team that hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2018. It’s part of a promise made to Colorado fans last season by executive vice president Walker Monfort, the son of owner Dick Monfort.
Hence, new leadership, a unified approach and enhanced reliance on analytics.
“They’re all very curious people. They want to find solutions,” Walker Monfort said of a front office brought in from the football/analytics world (DePodesta was with the Cleveland Browns) and a World Series-winning culture (Byrnes spent a decade with the Dodgers). “They want to embrace our challenges and figure them out. From that perspective, I couldn’t be more excited.”
Moneyball and DePodesta
Yes, Monfort has seen “Moneyball,” a movie based on the Michael Lewis novel about the 2002 A’s who captured the AL West despite a small payroll.
And of course, Monfort would like nothing more than to see the Rockies be the NL West version of it. Back then, DePodesta was a key figure among a new generation of analytical thinkers who changed the sport. He inspired the Jonah Hill character in the film that starred Brad Pitt as GM Billy Beane.
“Finding value where others are not, that’s intriguing,” Monfort said.
But taking that to a higher elevation at Coors Field will be an uphill climb. Colorado finished second-to-last in runs scored per game (3.69) in 2025. They also were at the bottom in ERA (5.97) and first in homers allowed (251).
Colorado started addressing some of the pitching needs by bringing in righties Michael Lorenzen and Tomoyuki Sugano, along with lefty Jose Quintana. They plugged holes with versatile infielder Willi Castro and by trading for outfielder Jake McCarthy.
“There’s a lot to the types of players we want,” said Byrnes, who spent the last 11 seasons with the Dodgers as their senior vice president of baseball operations. “And there are going to be preferences and philosophies behind that.
“Obviously, there’s a lot of work to be done.”
The road back to be competitive
For now, there are no radical approaches — like a six-man rotation — in the works to solve the pitching issues at Coors Field. What plays well at Coors seems to be high velocity. The Rockies, though, are pushing for expanded pitch repertoires. Lorenzen, for instance, throws seven different pitches.
“Big arsenals are going to be harder to game-plan against,” Rockies pitching coach Alon Leichman explained. “We think that’s an advantage. The more weapons you have, the more random you can be.”
The process of change
For now, DePodesta’s objective lies with building a solid foundation. They have a young nucleus in All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman and shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, who helped Venezuela to a World Baseball Classic title. On the horizon, there’s Ethan Holliday, the No. 4 pick in the amateur draft last season and son of Rockies great Matt Holliday, who led the team to their only World Series appearance in 2007.
There’s no rushing the process, though.
“It’s really trying to understand what the strengths are of the organization to begin with,” DePodesta explained, “as opposed to trying to change everything.”
Same sentiment for Byrnes, who worked with DePodesta in Cleveland in the 1990s. The specifics of their plan will factor into how the Rockies think about hitters in the draft, how they coach defense and base running throughout the organization and how they employ analytics with pitching discussions.
“There’s a lot of branches on the tree,” Byrnes said. “The Rockies way is being good at all of that. ... I don’t think there’s a short answer.”
The process may be involved, but the end result is rather simple for Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer.
“Winning,” Schaeffer said. “That should be non-negotiable.”
NEW YORK (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes and Seattle Kraken are set to play two games in Finland next season as part of the NHL’s Global Series.
The league and the players’ association announced Monday that Carolina and Seattle will face off Nov. 12 and 14 in the Finnish capital of Helsinki. The Kraken are heading abroad for the first time in their sixth season of existence and the Hurricanes for the second time and first since 2010.
Each team has a pair of Finns currently on its roster: Sebastian Aho and Jesperi Kotkaniemi for Carolina and Kaapo Kakko and Eeli Tolvanen for Seattle. All but Tolvanen are under contract for next season.
The NHL has staged 42 regular-season games in Europe since 2007 and has two more scheduled for Germany in December with Ottawa and Chicago set to play in Duesseldorf in December. Veikkaus Arena in Helsinki, formerly known as Hartwall Arena, has been the site of seven of the games, most recently in 2018 between Florida and Winnipeg.
NORTH PORT, Fla. — Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider will start the season on the injured list because of a strained oblique, the team announced.
Strider had been scheduled to start in the spring training finale against Pittsburgh before being scratched. Braves manager Walt Weiss told reporters the team is hopeful Strider will miss only a couple weeks.
The 27-year-old Strider is aiming to take another step forward now that he’s two years removed from right elbow surgery. Strider missed most of 2024 and returned to the majors last year, going 7-14 with a 4.45 ERA in 23 starts.
He went 2-0 with a 3.24 ERA in 8 1/3 innings of work in spring training for the Braves as he tries to regain the form he showed in 2023, when the All-Star led the majors with 20 victories and 281 strikeouts.
The injury is the latest setback for Atlanta’s pitching staff, which already has seen starters Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep placed on the 60-day injured list following elbow surgery.
Mar 19, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) celebrates after the game against the Phoenix Suns at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Week 21: The Spurs’ “return from the Rodeo Road Trip” six-game homestand continued against three more postseason-bound teams. After a tight first half against the Boston Celtics, who had Jayson Tatum back from last season’s Achilles rupture, the Spurs took control after Jaylen Brown got himself ejected, with Victor Wembanyama leading the way with 39 points on 8 three-pointers. He then missed the next game against the Nuggets with a sore ankle, and while the Spurs were in control most of the night, they went cold late in the third quarter, blowing a 20-point lead as Denver rallied back to end their five-game winning streak. Finally, they returned to form to get revenge on the Hornets for their January 31 winter storm debacle to finish the homestand 5-1.
Back on the road facing a Clippers squad missing Kawhi Leonard, the Spurs got out to a sluggish start, getting down 17-3 before surging back to take a 66-52 halftime lead. They would eventually get ahead by 24 points, but then the Spurs got complacent and let the Clippers, led by Darius Garland, back in the game, causing fears of a reverse outcome from a couple weeks prior. Fortunately, the Spurs did just enough to stay ahead and hit their free throws in the waning seconds to secure the victory.
The Spurs continued their season-long trend of dominating on the second night of a back-to-back, and they didn’t need much help against a lowly, shorthanded Kings squad. The Spurs were red hot from three, hitting a franchise-record 25 of them from 10 different players, and the game was essentially over by halftime. About the only thing of note that happened was Russell Westbrook passed Steve Nash on the all-time assist leaders board.
The Suns may have been missing Dillon Brooks, but they continued to show why they are a thorn in the Spurs’ side and potentially tough first round opponent. The Suns shooters were hot, and without Stephon Castle’s perimeter defense, the Spurs had trouble containing Collin Gillespie and Devin Booker. But like always, they fought back, with Wemby going into MVP mode to hit his first NBA go-ahead game-winner with a second left, after the Spurs had successfully forced the ball into rookie Rasheer Felmming’s hands on the other end, who missed both free throws. The thrilling victory secured the Spurs’ first playoff berth since 2019.
It wasn’t always pretty, but even without trying their hardest for much of the game, the Spurs were simply too talented for the severely shorthanded Pacers. With Castle and Devin Vassell sitting this one out, Dylan Harper got the first start of his NBA career and didn’t flinch, tying his career high of 24 points to go along with 4 rebounds and 3 assists, and Keldon Johnson led the bench with 24 points in a wire-to-wire blowout that wasn’t as close as the final score indicated.
The Spurs might not catch the Thunder, but they’re looking good to finish with the league’s second-best record. They’re 21-2 since Feb. 1, with 12 of those 21 wins coming against other teams with winning records.
Three takeaways
1. The Spurs ranked seventh offensively at the All-Star break, and they’ve had the league’s fourth-most-improved offense since the break. They’ve scored 124.7 points per 100 possessions over their last 11 games, with eight guys averaging double-figures over that stretch. Not all eight have played in all 11 games, but the offense has continued to roll, even though at least one of Dylan Harper, Stephen Castle or Devin Vassell has missed each of their last five. 2. The Spurs came back from 10 points down with less than five minutes left to beat the Suns on Thursday, with Victor Wembanyama draining the game-winning jumper with 1.1 seconds left. San Antonio is one of two teams – the Sixers are the other – with a league-high five wins (they’re 5-11) in games they trailed by double-digits in the fourth. Wembanyama is one of eight players with at least five buckets (he’s 5-for-8) to tie or take the lead in the final minute of the fourth quarter or overtime. 3. It’s worth remembering that the Spurs were one of four teams that were worse than average on both ends of the floor in each of the last three seasons. They’re now 10.3 points per 100 possessions better than they were last season (minus-2.8), which would be the eighth biggest season-to-season jump in the 30 seasons for which we have play-by-play data. (The Hornets have seen the second biggest.)
Coming up: The Spurs will play six of their next seven games on the road, but after visiting the Heat on Monday, they’ll play five straight games against teams with losing records. Both Castle and Vassell are listed as questionable for the game in Miami.
New players added after Week 1: C Mason Plumlee, PF Emanuel Miller (two-way) Departed players from Week 1: PF Jeremy Sochan, PF Riley Minix (two-way)
The Spurs are officially back in the playoffs for the first time this decade. They are 26-5 since they last lost back-to-back games (at Minnesota and Oklahoma City more than two months ago). And we all have our alien overlord Victor Wembanyama to thank. You all know what comes next, and that is all of you hating the Spurs again, if nothing else because of Wemby’s commitment toward farm-to-table ethical hoops. I’m fascinated to see what this group does starting next month. They are basically the 2024 Thunder, which means seeing Luka Dončiç in the second round is going to get spooky. Prepare for “lack of experience” narratives and the like. Yes, I know De’Aaron Fox and Week 1 starter Harrison Barnes are here. But Fox has won as many playoff series as you and I, and Barnes hasn’t won one since leaving the Warriors a decade ago. San Antonio even has former 2024 Thunderbuddy Bismack Biyombo to warn his new teammates about the upcoming playoff run, along with Mason (not Mike Muscala) Plumlee, who is here because Jeremy Sochan is not. Every first-time playoff team needs a lottery-pick scapegoat, and the Spurs figured to get off Sochan before the playoff run. See, the Thunder had to wait for the maiden playoff run to get off Josh Giddey. Maybe the Spurs really are ahead of the curve.
The Spurs’ recent string of success goes back even longer than the Thunder entering March. Since the start of February, the Spurs have gone 21-2, ranking first in win percentage and first in offensive rating and also leading the league in net rating. Their only two losses during this span were to the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets, two premier playoff threats in both conferences.
Aside from their depth and defensive toughness, what makes the Spurs a real title threat this season is none other than Wembanyama. He sets the tone for San Antonio on offense, and Wemby alters his opponent’s offensive mindset every play because of his defensive abilities and length in the paint.
Oh, and Wembanyama has made it his personal mission to step up and play his best basketball of the season heading into the playoffs.
“Right now, in my mind is taking great care of my body cause I also want to win the MVP and the DPOY,” Wembanyama stated recently. “So, I’m trying to press the gas from now until the end of the season. Really take care of my treatment, take care of my sleep, take care of my routine, and show up for my team.”
Just because they don’t have a whole lot of playoff experience doesn’t mean the Spurs won’t be successful in the postseason. This team has exceeded expectations all season, and we have yet to see them play their best basketball. Other than the Thunder, nobody else has the depth and size to be able to compete against the Spurs.
Coming up: Mon. 3/23 at Miami Heat (38-33); Wed. 3/25 at Memphis Grizzlies (24-46); Sat. 3/25 at Milwaukee Bucks (29-41)
Prediction: 3-0 — No reason to predict a loss here. While the Spurs embark on a stretch that will feature six of seven games on the road before they close on a four-game homestand, this is arguably their easiest of the remaining three weeks (not than any will be that hard) despite being entirely on the road. The Heat have gone 1-4 since Bam Adebayo’s (infamous?) 83-point game, in including losing four straight, but they are in a brutal standings battle between the 5th and 10th seeds, so the Spurs should expect their best effort. Beyond that, the Grizzlies and Bucks are all-but eliminated from the postseason, stars Ja Morant and Giannis Antentokounmpo are out, and former problem Grizzly for the Spurs Jaren Jackson Jr. was traded to Utah.
Feb 24, 2026; Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; New York Mets third baseman Bo Bichette (19) throws a baseball into the stands against the Houston Astros during the first inning at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Bo Bichette and the Mets were a match that was made for a variety of reasons.
Following the departure of Pete Alonso and trade of Brandon Nimmo, the Mets had some open plate appearances to fill in, to say the very least. Nimmo will almost certainly be replaced by Carson Benge, as the rookie hit well in spring training games and his main competition, Mike Tauchman, has an injured knee. Alonso, however, did not have a clean replacement lined up.
David Stearns signed Jorge Polanco to help fill the void at first base in the wake of Alonso departing to Baltimore, but the lineup was still lacking a right handed bat. The Mets chased Kyle Tucker—notably left-handed but extremely good all the same—who eventually decided to chase some rings with the Los Angeles Dodgers instead of taking the Mets’ ultra aggressive offer. They quickly pivoted to Bichette, signing him within 24 hours of missing out on Tucker. At first glance, the move was interesting.
In a world where the Mets did not acquire Luis Robert Jr. yet, the outfield was an unsettled group of Juan Soto, Tyrone Taylor, and Carson Benge. Bichette, a lifelong shortstop save for some second base innings last year, was not moving Francisco Lindor off his spot. Third base could have been handled by Brett Baty, and second base was occupied by Marcus Semien, who came over from Texas for Nimmo. The fit appeared weird.
But the fit is a little cleaner than people give it credit for. Bichette is an excellent hitter, as the 28-year-old comes to Queens with a 122 wRC+; and that is with his terrible, no good 2024 season which saw him have a 70 wRC+ while battling injury. While he is moving to a new position, it is a wise career decision for him to do so. He has a career -33 Outs Above Average at shortstop, and as he approaches 30 with some lower body issues, it is safe to say he would not improve defensively.
There also is the question of his contract, which I’d argue was the most enticing thing for the Mets. Under David Stearns, the Mets have shied away from medium-term commitments. They got Juan Soto on a massive 15-year contract, but the team has largely avoided those four-to-five-ish-year deals. They got out of Nimmo’s contract with five years left for the final three years of Semien’s deal. They shied away from Alonso, in large part due to the five-year commitment he received.
The Mets and Bichette agreed to the three-year deal, but in all actuality it is likely a one-year contract. Bichette, who will make $42 million this season, has player options for 2027 and 2028 at the same figure. In all likelihood, Bichette will perform well enough to forgo the $84 million left on his contract to chase long-term stability, which is part of the reason why the Mets were into him in the first place.
For the 2026 season, the Mets are getting a great bat in a very fun profile to watch. He does not strike out much, earning a sub-20% strikeout rate in each of the last four seasons. He also never walks, coming into the season with a career 5.7% walk rate. He relies on elite bat-to-ball skills, pitching in enough home runs (111 in 748 games) to be a hitter you who capitalizes on mistakes. He is cut from a different cloth than a lot of the modern game, focusing on putting the ball in play at an elite level instead of zoning in on the three-true-outcomes philosophy that dominates modern hitting.
This season preview comes with a bit of a warning label: Don’t get attached. Bo Bichette is an awesome and fun player, but the structure of his contract and the Mets’ preference on spending more money in the short term to keep the long term books relatively clean, this is likely a marriage of convenience rather than a long-term partnership. However, he makes the 2026 Mets better, the Mets allow him to showcase a newfound skill by playing third base, and perhaps they can create magic for a season together.
Rosters are getting pared down as spring training rapidly approaches its conclusion ahead of Opening Day this week. But we've still got a slew of betting options on today's spring training slate.
My MLB picks for Monday, March 23, are targeting a trio of moneyline picks, including the Los Angeles Angels at plus money over Roki Sasaki and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Spring Training predictions for March 23
Pick
Odds
SEA moneyline
-135
LAA moneyline
+120
CLE moneyline
+110
Pick #1: Mariners moneyline
Luis Castillo has been extremely shaky this spring, but San Diego Padres right-hander German Marquez hasn't looked much better.
With Brendan Donovan, Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez, Josh Naylor, and Randy Arozarena penciled in as the Seattle Mariners' first five batters in today's lineup, Marquez will be in for another rude awakening.
Castillo has been bitten by an abnormal number of home runs (five in 10 innings), and the gopher ball has not traditionally been an issue for the right-hander. With spring winding down, I expect a better performance from the rock-solid hurler en route to a win over the Padres.
Pick #2: Angels moneyline
Not to be a "hot-take merchant," but are we sure Roki Sasaki is a major-league starting pitcher? The Los Angeles Dodgers dumped him to the bullpen after a rocky start last season, and though they've treated him as a starter this spring, the results have been discouraging.
The strikeouts have been there, but he's issued nine walks in 6 2/3 spring training innings while also surrendering a pair of home runs. When he's not missing bats, he's giving free passes or getting hit around the ballpark.
The Los Angeles Angels aren't great, but they have some batters like Zach Neto, Jorge Soler, and, yes, even Mike Trout, who can do damage, especially when a pitcher is missing his spots. The potential for Sasaki digging the Dodgers an early hole makes the plus money worthwhile.
Pick #3: Guardians moneyline
Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly is headed to the injured list to open the season due to a lingering back issue, but he's still slated to start vs. the Cleveland Guardians tonight as he ramps up his workload.
Kelly has been largely ineffective in a super small sample size this spring, surrendering four runs on 11 hits in just 4 1/3 innings.
The rust combined with the injury makes Jose Ramirez & Co. an appealing option at plus money to win straight up.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays locked in their leadership group by extending manager John Schneider and general manager Ross Atkins.
Schneider’s new deal runs through 2028, while Atkins’ covers 2031.
The moves follow Toronto’s 94-win season, American League East title and a seven-game World Series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers last year.
Schneider, 46, has a 303-257 record since taking over in July 2022 and was runner-up for American League manager of the year last season. He is entering his fourth full season as skipper after the Blue Jays picked up his 2026 option last season.
“Schneids has been, and will continue to be, an exceptional leader and manager in professional baseball because of his unwavering commitment to players,” Atkins said.
Schneider is the 14th manager in franchise history and succeeded Charlie Montoyo in July 2022, helping guide Toronto to a wild-card berth that season.
The Blue Jays were swept in the wild-card round in 2022 by Seattle and again in 2023 by Minnesota before slipping to a 74-win season in 2024.
Toronto rebounded in 2025, securing the division title on the final day of the regular season and advancing to the World Series for the first time since 1993.
Schneider, who is from Princeton, New Jersey, has spent more than two decades with the organization after being drafted by Toronto in 2002 and working his way through the minor league system.
“I am ecstatic to continue leading the Blue Jays as we work to bring our incredible fans a championship team,” Schneider said. “It’s been a privilege to be part of this organization for nearly 25 years, and the work the Blue Jays continue to do excites me every day.”
Atkins, 52, was hired in December 2015 and is the second-longest tenured general manager in franchise history.
The Blue Jays reached the postseason five times under his leadership but won playoff games only in 2016 before last year’s run.
Toronto struggled through a rebuild that bottomed out in 2018 and 2019 before returning to contention during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
“Ross has done an outstanding job in building a deep foundation with an accomplished Baseball Operations team, best-in-class resources, and a collaborative culture,” said Mark Shapiro, Toronto’s president and CEO. “I am a strong supporter of stability and continuity, and Ross continues to make us better.”
Shapiro signed a five-year contract in December 2025, keeping him with the club through the 2030 season.
Atkins helped secure franchise cornerstone Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to a 14-year, $500 million extension in April 2025, one of the richest deals in team history.
The Blue Jays added pitchers Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce, along with third baseman Kazuma Okamoto, in a series of high-profile moves this offseason.
The club did lose star shortstop Bo Bichette in free agency in January after he signed a three-year, $126 million contract with the New York Mets.
The Blue Jays open the season against the Athletics at Rogers Centre.
The New York Rangers host the Ottawa Senators at Madison Square Garden in the lone game on the ice Monday, March 23.
My Senators vs. Rangers predictions and NHL picks expect Ottawa to show no mercy as it pushes to lock down a playoff spot.
Senators vs Rangers prediction
Senators vs Rangers best bet: Senators -1.5 (+130)
The Ottawa Senators are cruising along a 13-3-2 heater with a third-ranked Corsi For percentage and top-ranked expected goals percentage at five-on-five, while the New York Rangers respectively check in 27th in each with a 7-8-3 record during the same stretch.
Ottawa has also allowed the fewest goals per game (2.22) during the run and is battling for a postseason berth. It’s the exact opposite on the opposite bench with New York checked out in the Eastern Conference basement.
Senators vs Rangers same-game parlay
In addition to the highlighted statistical mismatches, the Rangers have also surrendered the second-most shots per game (32.5) out of the Olympic break, and the Senators have recorded the fourth-most (31.5).
So, I’m expecting New York starter Igor Shesterkin to see plenty of rubber tonight, and he’s also turning in another solid season with a .912 save percentage and the seventh-most goals saved above expected.
The Ottawa Senators have covered the puck line in 16 of their last 25 away games (+11.20 Units / 32% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Senators vs. Rangers.
How to watch Senators vs Rangers
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Monday, March 23, 2026
Puck drop
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
Prime
Senators vs Rangers latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
SEA moneyline
LAA moneyline
CLE moneyline