The Los Angeles Lakers honored former coach Pat Riley during a ceremony outside Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, Feb. 22. The ceremony concluded with the unveiling of a bronze statue of the legendary coach’s likeness.
It’s the 15th statue put up outside the arena, joining a list of notable figures from Lakers history, including Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Riley’s statue is nearly eight feet tall and weighs 510 pounds and is located between the statues of Abdul-Jabbar and Johnson, his two star players on the "Showtime" Lakers of the 1980s.
Riley did not have head coaching experience when he was promoted to head coach of the Lakers during the 1981-82 season. But Riley became the perfect fit for the Lakers during the 1980s and the "Showtime" Lakers went to seven NBA Finals under Riley, winning four championships (1982, 1985, 1987, 1988).
“This right here is off the charts of being honored,” Riley told CBS Los Angeles.”I am just so privileged to have this here.”
Riley spent 24 years as a head coach and compiled 1,381 regular-season and playoff victories, which ranks fifth in NBA history. He has a regular season record of 1,210-694 (.636 winning percentage). In addition to his four championships with the Lakers, Riley won another title with the Miami Heat in 2006 and has added two more rings as an executive.
Is Pat Riley in the Basketball Hall of Fame?
Riley was enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.
Feb 19, 2026; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners outfielder Jared Sundstrom (89) during spring training photo day in Peoria, AZ. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
If you turned this game off in the second inning, that’d be understandable. Maybe you are one of the many people who woke up incredibly early to watch the US men’s hockey team gold medal match against Canada. Also, this lazy Sunday game was the first radio-only affair of the spring, held down by the broadcast crew of Rick Rizzs, Gary Hill Jr., and the affable Charlie Furbush. And by the end of the third inning, the Mariners were down 8-2. Totally get it if you went to do something else.
But if you turned the game off, you missed some fun stuff. Especially if you like [sparkle fingers] challenges. Because the fate of this game turned on Mariners prospect Jared Sundstrom making a good challenge, and butterfly-effect style, making a new game, one where the Mariners emerged victorious, 14-8.
Another story of this game: the sheer amount of pitches the Mariners batters made Reds pitching throw. The Reds used 11 pitchers, who threw a combined 240 pitches. The Mariners drew 10 walks. Mariners pitching? Issued zero walks. Mmmm, that’s some good Controlling of the Zone.
Once again, the Mariners drew first blood, foreshadowing the level of Problem this lineup could be this season. The Mariners forced Reds starter Jose Franco to throw 30 pitches in the first inning, scraping a run out on a trio of singles: a leadoff one from Luke Raley, a hard-hit one from Julio Rodríguez (99.9 EV), and a magnificent hard-won RBI from Randy Arozarena, who took the ninth pitch of an at-bat right back up the middle (107.7 EV) for a run-scoring single. Randy was wearing the number 75, because he’d forgotten his jersey back in Peoria, and you know what, Randy? Relatable.
But that early lead quickly turned into a deep deficit. Randy Dobnak had a rough Mariners debut, working around an Elly De La Cruz double in the first but unable to escape the second inning, giving up six straight hits. All but two of those hits were on the sinker, which got torched by the Reds hitters. The Mariners had to bring in one of their “jicky” (Just In Case) minor-leaguers to mop up the inning, and Ryan Hawks, 2023 eighth-rounder, took care of De La Cruz and Eugenio Suárez, buttoning up the inning by striking out Geno with a slider.
Casey Legumina picked up where Hawks left off, taking care of his three hitters 1-2-3 for a clean third inning and ending on a strikeout of Ke’Bryan Hayes, a good showing for the Bean Man in his spring debut. Maybe that energy transferred to the offense, as the Mariners got one back in the fourth thanks to a two-out double by Will “Willy” Wilson followed by a Brock Rodden triple.
I will take one ticket to the Brocketship, please and thank you.
But Ryan Loutos, making his Mariner debut, gave that run right back and then some. Loutos just wasn’t able to miss many bats: the Reds were able to contact everything he put on the plate, and by the time the next jicky came in to stop the bleeding—this time Marcelo Pérez—the score was 8-2. Once again, the minor-league callup stepped up; Pérez struck out Geno chasing after a slider and coaxed a groundout from Spencer Steer to cap the damage.
But the Mariners battled back in the second half of the game. It started in the fifth, when the Mariners played some small ball against former Mariner prospect Connor Phillips. The big hit came from Julio, who scorched a double (104.2 EV) off a sweeper well below the zone. Arozarena worked another walk, this time with two outs, bringing up Dominic Canzone, who singled to score Luke Stevenson, pinch-running for Julio. Michael Arroyo then turned in yet another polished plate appearance: he’d gotten some bad luck earlier in the game, a 107.6 mph lineout and a groundout that came off the bat at 103.2; this time he worked a walk, refusing to chase anything out of the zone, to load the bases. The defense remains an issue – he mishandled a routine throw and let a ball go past his glove today at second – but his production in the box will force him into the lineup somehow. Will Wilson then worked a bases-loaded walk of his own to cut the deficit to 8-4.
Then it was time for the Brock Star again. Facing new pitcher Julian Garcia, Rodden shot a ground ball just out of reach of former Mariners prospect Edwin Arroyo to bring in another run. Jonny Farmelo struck out to end the inning, but the game now stood at a manageable 8-5.
In the middle innings, it was time for some more Mariners debuts. Robinson Ortiz made his Mariners debut in the fifth with a clean 1-2-3 inning of three weak-contact outs (one was a little more adventurous than it needed to be thanks to a poor throw from Arroyo, but Josh Naylor was able to clean it up). Ortiz’s fastball hung out around 93 mph and he primarily threw his four-seam with a couple of sliders mixed in. In the sixth, it was time for Cole Wilcox. Wilcox definitely won the stuff battle, hanging out at 97 on his sinker and touching as high as 98.5 while collecting two strikeouts.
The Mariners added another pair of runs in the seventh against Lyon Richardson. Arozarena—wearing number 75 because he apparently forgot his jersey, oh Randy—singled in his final plate appearance. New LL heartthrob Brennen Davis worked a walk, showing some solid strike zone awareness. Blake Rambusch and Luis Suisbel then hit back-to-back singles to bring the Mariners within a run, 8-7.
The turning point of the game came in the eighth inning. With two outs, the Reds had challenged a pitch on Carson Taylor; the call was upheld, and Taylor walked. That brought up Jared Sundstrom, who was initially called out in a 1-2 count on a 98.1 mph fastball on the inside edge. Sundstrom immediately challenged, and the call was reversed. Sundstrom would go on to work a walk as Reds pitcher Zach Maxwell’s command further disintegrated. Brennen Davis and Blake Rambusch would go on to work back-to-back walks, tying up the game at 8-8.
Obviously playing for the win, Dan Wilson left Jhonathan Díaz out for the bottom of the eighth after he had worked a clean seventh. That set up the Baby Mariners for the win in the ninth: two highly-touted Mariners prospects delivered leadoff doubles, with Felnin Celesten doubling in his first at-bat of the spring and then sprinting home on a Jonny Farmelo double to give the Mariners their first lead since the first inning. Josh Caron followed that with a single to put runners on the corners with no outs, and Luke Stevenson worked the Mariners’ tenth walk of the day. Sundstrom then came through again with a two-run single into left, setting up Brennen Davis for the kill shot. Davis demolished a middle-middle fastball at 114 mph for a three-run home run to make the score 14-8, and that’s where the game would end as Domingo Gonzalez worked a 1-2-3 inning in his Mariners debut.
In a game that featured nine challenges, none was more impactful than Sundstrom’s, leading to the Mariners tying the game. With the ABS system, players have an opportunity take more ownership over their at-bats, but the risk is significant; those who have an impeccable sense of the zone will find themselves advantaged by the challenge system. The Mariners went 2-for-3 in their challenges today, but more importantly, they won the battle in the zone on both sides of the ball. The Reds recorded 12 hits, striking out eight times and, as mentioned, walking none; the Mariners recorded 17 hits, and while they did strike out 12 times, they also earned 10 free passes. No matter what innovations come to the game, commanding the zone is timeless.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 22: The Los Angeles Lakers honor Pat Riley with the the unveiling of his statue before the game against the Boston Celtics on February 22, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
From the moment JJ Redick was hired as the Lakers’ head coach, he was compared to Pat Riley.
While some of it was just overzealousness and an attempt to hype the new man in charge, Redick does share some similarities with Riley.
For starters, both were former players who transitioned from the court to the media and then became Lakers head coaches with zero experience in that role.
Both also use a ton of hair products to keep their hair styled and, in their first season in charge, they each won 50 games.
Still, Riley thinks the world of Redick and spoke highly of him during his press conference following the ceremony.
“I love JJ,” Riley said. “I really do. We competed against him. My teams competed against him in various teams that he played with. He’s a fiery guy. He can shoot the hell out of the ball. He was tough as nails. Sometimes I look back and I remember myself at that time and I look at JJ and I think they picked the right person.
“There’s just a quality about him, I think, that goes above and beyond. And they have a hell of a team for him right here, right now, with [Luka] Dončić and [Austin] Reaves, and, obviously, with LeBron [James]. I think Rob [Pelinka] will continue, along with the new ownership, to build that team, to complement those players. But they have a great opportunity and I think JJ will be a great coach for them.”
That’s high praise from Riley, and similarly, Redick has nothing but great things to say about him.
“I grew up watching ‘90s basketball and those Knicks and Heat teams and just how physical and tough-minded they were,” Redick said before LA took on the Clippers on Friday. “Then, obviously, played against Riles in Orlando when he was still coaching. Just the – the culture word is overused – but just a sustainable level of consistency that Miami has had since he’s been there
“What he was able to do as a head coach for the Lakers, I think it’s the North Star for any coach to be in one place for basically close to a decade and win a bunch of championships. That’s all we can ask for.”
Redick has a lot of work left to do to reach Riley’s level of infamy. But the respect is there, as is the love, and it’s great to see the current Lakers coach receiving so much adoration from one of the best to ever do it.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - FEBRUARY 22: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks to pass the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 22, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers fought hard to erase an early 23-point deficit, but they weren’t able to keep up with the Oklahoma City Thunder’s hot outside shooting. The Thunder prevailed 121-113.
The starting lineup doesn’t work in every context; this is one of them. Lu Dort and Cason Wallace‘s size and strength made it difficult for Donovan Mitchell and James Harden to attack off the dribble. The rest of the starters weren’t able to do much as Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen are all play finishers and not play creators. This hurt the Cavs and was part of the reason why they turned it over seven times before the first subs entered the game.
I’m in favor of Wade starting in most situations. His defense and rebounding add a different dimension for this team. However, there are some matchups where Cleveland would be better served starting someone like Jaylon Tyson or Sam Merrill. This is one of them.
The Cavs lost the five minutes the starters shared the floor by 14. They won the other 43 minutes by six.
You don’t want to over-index one game, but outings like this are why it’s fair to wonder if Wade can be a difference maker in the playoffs.
As mentioned, this wasn’t a great matchup to use Wade as a starter. There wasn’t a player that they specifically needed him to defend. When he doesn’t have that, his utility goes down, which only highlights how he can be a limited offensive player.
The Cavs needed players who could shoot or provide some level of ball handling. Wade was hesitant to pull the trigger and isn’t an on-ball creator. He had just one field-goal attempt in 18 minutes despite the defense being more than okay to cheat off him. You’re completely handicapping your offense if neither he nor his teammates trusts him to be an active part of the offense.
The Cavs wouldn’t start Wade if they played the Thunder in a seven-game series. They’d just use him off the bench as a backup. So, again, you don’t want to make too much of this one game. But there are other matchups, like against the Detroit Pistons, where the Cavs need Wade to guard the opponent’s best player. Wade can only be placed in a spot to do so if he provides something offensively.
The Cavs need to find alternative ways to get Allen involved. After spending the last few weeks talking about how they need to get him the ball early, he took just one shot in the first quarter. As has been the pattern, this carried over for the entire game as Allen had just six field goal attempts in over 28 minutes.
The Thunder deserve some credit for this. They did a great job of collapsing passing lanes and sending help whenever Allen did get the ball. Cleveland’s poor outside shooting allowed them to gamble as much as they did. That said, the Cavs’ offense didn’t really have a way to get him the ball besides just trying to force-feed him in the pick-and-roll.
Teams know that Allen is the key to getting their offense involved, especially after the addition of Harden. Allen’s rim pressure opens the floor up for the guards and for shooters on the perimeter. But if it gets shut down, things can become stagnant like it did in Oklahoma City.
Not every team has the ability to stop Allen with a drop big as good as Isaiah Hartenstein and the perimeter defender the Thunder have. It’s not like it’s the most replicable strategy. At the same time, a team like the Pistons — who the Cavs could face in the playoffs — can do something similar with their defensive personnel.
Allen needs to be a bigger factor than he was. There’s just not many situations where the Cavs are going to beat an elite opponent if he’s held to just six shot attempts.
Keon Ellis continues to impress with his defensive effort. He finished with two steals and was once again incredibly disruptive.
There aren’t many players of his size who can alter defensive possessions as he does. Plays like the one below are an example of that.
Ellis rotates like he’s going to contest Chet Holmgren’s drive. Holmgren assumes that Ellis is going back to the wing, but instead, he comes down and forces Holmgren out of his shot. It’s not often a 6’4” guard forces a 7’1” center out of a jumper.
It’s difficult to keep someone this impactful defensively off the court.
There’s room for more Merrill and Harden two-man screening actions.
Merrill is a good screener and had his shot working on Sunday as he went 6-10 from three. Only one of those six triples was assisted by Harden, but the ease with which the shot was created makes you wonder why they don’t use it more often.
Here, a simple ghost screen from Merrill creates a wide-open look due to how much attention Harden draws to the ball. It helps that Harden can make behind-the-back passes with ease.
These two have shown a natural chemistry in their first six games together. They should lean into that much more than they currently are. This has the potential to be as lethal a combination as Harden and Allen.
The spacing principles with Harden need work.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson is trying to find ways to keep elements of his movement offense while working in the isolation sets that Harden is comfortable with. In the previous five games, the Cavs were able to make that work. They weren’t on Sunday as Harden turned it over five times, with a few coming because the spacing just isn’t where it needs to be.
We talked about the starters not providing much spacing. This is an example of that. Four defenders are in the paint along with three Cavaliers when Harden committed the offensive foul.
And here, Dennis Schroder is stuck trying to relocate to the corner in the middle of Harden’s drive, which disrupts the spacing, leading to the turnover.
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The Thunder are a tough matchup for Cleveland’s backcourt. There aren’t many teams that have more disruptive guard defenders than Dort and Wallace. They don’t give up many 30+ point games from an opposing guard. That means that the rest of the offense needs to be in sync, and they weren’t.
As was seen here, the Cavs’ offense has the potential to be good — and they were for stretches on Sunday — but they certainly aren’t fine-tuned yet. The spacing wasn’t great, they couldn’t find a way to get Allen involved, it’s fair to wonder where Mobley fits into the Harden offense, and the rotations are a work in progress. Games like this are going to expose those issues.
The Cavs are very much a work in progress. The talent is there, but they don’t know who they are and how they want to play enough to quite be on the Thunder’s level. In many ways, they’re trying to build the plane in the air.
Nothing from this game makes me think that the Cavs can’t reach that level. Even though the Thunder were without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, they shot uncharacteristically well from three. Making more than half of your outside shots is going to make any team incredibly tough to beat. The Cavs also didn’t do themselves any favors with the turnovers and poor shooting, yet they still had chances to win this one.
Even though they failed this test, going through struggles like this is necessary. The Cavs aren’t far off. The question is whether they have enough time to actually put all the pieces together.
PORTLAND, OREGON - FEBRUARY 03: Toumani Camara #33 of the Portland Trail Blazers lays up a shot defended by Royce O'Neale #00 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Moda Center on February 03, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Nick Boyd scored 27 points and Nolan Winter added 18 as No. 24 Wisconsin pulled away late for an 84-71 victory over Iowa on Sunday.
Bennett Stirtz’s layup trimmed Iowa’s deficit to 68-65, but Austin Rapp hit a pair of 3-pointers to fuel a 10-point Wisconsin run. Boyd’s layup put the Badgers ahead 78-65 with just under four minutes remaining.
John Blackwell hit four free throws after a deadball technical foul to extend the lead to 82-69 with 1:02 left.
Rapp scored 14 points and Blackwell had 13 for Wisconsin (19-8, 11-5 Big Ten), which bounced back from an 86-69 loss at Ohio State.
Stirtz had 23 points for Iowa (19-8, 9-7), which was coming off a 57-52 win at home over No. 9 Nebraska. Alvaro Folgueiras and Tate Sage scored 11 apiece.
Wisconsin shot 53.8%, including 10 of 24 beyond the arc. The Badgers hit 18 of 20 free throws, including 14 of 15 in the second half. Boyd shot 9 of 16 and Winter 8 of 11.
NO. 15 MICHIGAN STATE 66, OHIO STATE 60
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Carson Cooper scored a career-high 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead No. 15 Michigan State to a win over Ohio State.
Jeremy Fears added 11 points and eight assists for the Spartans (22-5, 12-4 Big Ten), who have won three of four, moving into a third-place tie in the Big Ten with No. 9 Nebraska and No. 7 Purdue.
The Buckeyes (17-10, 9-7) fell to 0-9 against Quadrant 1 teams, a statistic that may hurt their chances of earning an NCAA Tournament bid next month.
Ohio State had an opportunity to earn an impressive win, playing without the ill Devin Royal and injured John Mobley and missing the 29 points per game that they average.
Bruce Thornton tried to make up for it, scoring 32 points, but didn’t get much help from a teammate other than Christoph Tilly, who scored 10 points and missed only one shot.
The Sacramento Kings are looking to fill their roster after losing players to injury in the last few weeks.
Sacramento reportedly agreed to sign guard Killian Hayes to a 10-day contract deal, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania and Hoops Hype’s Michael Scotto.
Hayes most recently appeared in nine games for the Cleveland Charge, the G-League affiliate of the Cleveland Cavaliers. He averaged 22.4 points and 8.5 assists in nine games.
His last NBA appearance was during the 2024-25 season with the Brooklyn Nets, where Hayes averaged nine points in 27 minutes. He appeared in six games.
Who is Killian Hayes?
Hayes, 25, was drafted with the seventh overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft to the Detroit Pistons.
Hayes spent four seasons with the Pistons. His best season arguably came during the 2022-23 campaign when he posted career-highs in games played (76), points per game (10.3), assists (6.2), and steals (1.4).
Kings add more depth
Sacramento wasn’t done after the Hayes 10-day signing.
The team adds more depth to their roster following their announcement that recently acquired forward Deandre Hunter is ruled out for the season with ongoing left eye iritis, an injury that required surgery.
“Hunter was diagnosed with a retinal detachment in his left eye. This afternoon, Hunter underwent successful surgery to repair the injury,” the team said in a Feb. 20 news release. “Hunter is expected to make a full recovery and an update will be provided in approximately eight weeks.”
With the news of Hunter, who joined Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine to be ruled out for the final months of the season, they decided to add more depth.
The Kings signed Patrick Baldwin Jr. to a two-way contract deal.
Baldwin, 23, most recently played for the San Diego Clippers, G-League affiliate of Los Angeles.
Perth Scorchers representatives Maddy Darke and Mikayla Hinkley have put together the second-highest partnership in the history of women’s cricket, forming an unbeaten 484-run stand during a Western Australian Premier Cricket match on Sunday.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 10: A general view of the stadium during the sixth inning of the Spring Training game between the San Francisco Giants and the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 10, 2023 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Record: 1-2. Change on 2025: +1. 5-inning record: 0-3
Kohl Drake got the start, and it was a bit bumpy initially, as he walked the first two batters he faced. One of those came around to score, but Drake settled down nicely. He retired the next six men he faced, including strikeouts of established major-leaguers Travis D’Arnaud and Trey Mancini in the second. Arizona then got scoreless innings from two men who are competing for spots in the major-league bullpen, in Yilber Diaz and Kade Stroud, the latter disposing of the Angels on six pitches with a trio of groundouts. The D-backs tied things in the fourth, on a Nolan Arenado RBI double, but Junior Fernandez allowed the visitors back in front in the fifth, giving up two hits and a walk.
The sixth inning was… long and interesting. The Angels broke out with a four-run top half, all the runs being charged to Landon Sims while he retired two batters. But facing a 6-1 deficit, the Diamondbacks struck back in no uncertain fashion, putting up six runs in their half. Alek Thomas had a two-run double, and Jorge Barrosa later capped off the frame with a two-run homer, giving Arizona a 7-6 lead. Wholesale changes followed for Arizona, and they were unable to keep Los Angeles off the board in any inning after the fourth. A Jose Fernandez triple and LuJames Groover groundout made things interesting, but the D-backs came up just short.
Geraldo Perdomo reached base safely all three times he was up, on two singles and a walk, with Fernandez and Thomas each notching a hit and a base on balls. Tomorrow will see the Diamondbacks leave Salt River Fields for the first time this spring, heading past SnakePit Towers on their way to Goodyear, where they will take on the Guardians. Taylor Clarke will get the start for our boys, with Juans Morillo and Burgos among those expected to come out of the bullpen thereafter. It will be another 1:05 pm start.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 13: Luis Severino #40 of the Athletics pitching in the top of the fourth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Sutter Health Park on September 13, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Another lackluster effort from the A’s dropped their early spring record to 0-2 after a second straight loss, this time to a different AL Central foe in the Cleveland Guardians. The A’s couldn’t bounce back after a rough third inning and now they’re 0-2 to start 2026. Good thing spring stats and records don’t matter!
At “home” for the first time this season, the A’s went with their staff leader this afternoon, giving right-hander Luis Severino his first start of camp as they begin the ramp up process for their prized (and expensive) starting pitcher. The 32-year-old righty looked like he was in mid-season form as he tossed two scoreless innings, reaching 34 pitches. That’s about as encouraging a start as one could hope for from Sevy and we’ll all be hoping today was the start of a massive campaign for the could-be free agent.
Luis Severino’s spring debut:
2 IP 1 H 0 R 1 BB 3 K
Sevy flashed a 5-pitch mix with the heater hitting 97.8 MPH. The 2x All-Star will look to lead Team DR 🇩🇴 in his first WBC appearance.#Athleticspic.twitter.com/VwAARQQbks
We might only see Severino one or two more times before he departs the team to join Team Dominican Republic for the upcoming World Baseball Classic. That’ll essentially be his spring training continued, but you gotta put more stock into those outings than simple exhibition games in Arizona because you know he’ll be pitching for his team’s life. The A’s, and more or less every team in the league, will be watching that tournament closely for signs of things to come from all of their participating players.
Luis Severino looked sharp in his spring debut: 2IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB, 3K. 34 pitches, 23 strikes. Fastball maxed out at 97.8 mph.
Severino is gearing up to represent Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.
Cleveland apparently was very happy that Sevy only went a couple frames today. Once he was pulled it was right-hander Joel Kuhnel’s turn and the Guardians jumped all over him. Without managing to finish the frame he yielded four earned runs, only getting bailed out by Kenya Huggins at the end of the inning. That seemed like it might have done it right then and there, but we still had six-and-a-half more innings to go.
Meanwhile on offense the A’s looked lost against Cleveland’s relief depth. While none of the Guardians’ primary arms were on the bump today that didn’t seem to matter for them as the Athletics’ offense managed just four hits all afternoon, with two coming off the bat of a single player.
They did have one chance to break through early. Three straight two-out walks loaded the bases for the A’s in the bottom of the second but Denzel Clarke grounded out to end that scoring opportunity. Not a great start to his camp as he went 0-for-2 in his first game this spring.
Cleveland scored another run in the fifth off of some small-ball against right-hander Luis Morales, who is widely expected to land a spot among the starting five in the rotation. One can’t help but have questions about the right-hander’s ability to begin the season in the rotation and make every scheduled start for the next six months. Are the A’s going to be limiting his outings to shorter 3-4 inning stints to keep his workload down early on? Keep in mind he set a career-high in innings pitched last year at 139 between the minors and big leagues.
The A’s had one final chance to score a run in the bottom half of the sixth thanks to a pair of hits from prospects Tommy White and Henry Bolte, but again were unable to break through and prevent a shutout. The A’s went down quietly after that, going home losers of two straight to begin Spring Training.
Well, at least it was closer than yesterday’s matchup. The offense went silent for the second straight day, collecting just four hits and three walks while striking out 14 times. Meanwhile the Guardians rode a big third inning to the win this afternoon. On the plus side for the A’s a lot of that damage came against one pitcher who was always unlikely to make the Opening Day roster. Most of the A’s arms that took the mound had a positive day and have something to build off of moving forward, most of all Severino. If today helps him get right for the next six months then this loss will be a long-forgotten memory soon.
We do it all again tomorrow as the Athletics go on the road to take on the San Francisco Giants. The A’s plan to start right-hander J.T. Ginn for tomorrow’s contest, where he’ll be expected to get up to around 25 or so pitches. Ginn is in a similar boat as Jack Perkins: lots of people are expecting them to settle into more or a longman/swingman role, but they’re fighting to prove that they can be a viable starting option for the A’s as they emerge from this rebuild. For pitchers like Ginn, these games actually do matter for their future. We’ll all be pulling for him because the A’s need to see some growth from some of these guys this coming season. The Giants will go with veteran JT Brubaker to begin tomorrow afternoon’s contest.
Ginn is scheduled to be followed by (in no order) prospects Gage Jump and Braden Nett, and relievers Elvis Alvarado and Tyler Ferguson. Others will join in but we can expect to see those arms on the mound tomorrow against the hated Giants. Who else is especially hyped to see Jump and Nett in action against big league hitters??
Notes:
Nick Kurtz went 0-for-3 today with a punchout as the first hitter in the lineup, a spot he’s not unfamiliar with. Nothing to make you worry but we’ll be having this discussion all spring: does he really belong in the leadoff spot?
Reliever Michael Kelly had a great day as he faced three batters and struck all three out. He’s been mentioned as a possible option to close games. Could he make it a no-brainer with a fantastic spring?
Infielder Max Muncy didn’t start today’s game but pinch-hit for Brent Rooker in the sixth. He popped out there but later drew his first walk of the spring a couple of innings later. We did not see Darell Hernaiz take the field today…
Second baseman Jeff McNeil got his first hit as an Athletic!
But Jacob Wilson went 0-for-2. Thankfully no strikeouts, or else we’d really start worrying.
Outfielder Carlos Cortes and infielder Andy Ibanez both went 0-for-1 with a walk each. Both are fringe roster players but there’s a decent enough chance both end up joining the A’s in Toronto next month. Today didn’t help or hurt their chances.
Tommy White had two base hits today, displaying some of that hitting that is his calling card. If only he could manage a passable third base. Then we’d really be cooking with gas.
Two errors today, both from expected starters. McNeil messed up fielding a grounder in the second frame, while Kurtz messed up a throw during that wild top of the third. Get these easy mistakes out of the way now, guys.
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Olivia Miles scored 15 of her 26 points in the final 5:21 and finished with her fifth triple-double this season, rallying No. 12 TCU to an 80-73 victory over Iowa State on Sunday and extending the Horned Frogs' winning streak at home to 41.
TCU trailed 66-53 with 7:35 remaining before Miles took over to ensure the Horned Frogs (25-4, 13-3) tied Texas for the longest current home streak, while staying atop the Big 12 Conference with their fourth straight win.
Miles, who played at Notre Dame from 2020-2025, scored six straight points to ignite a 16-4 run capped by Taylor Bigby’s 3-pointer and TCU trailed 70-69 with 2:54 left.
Miles extended the run with a go-ahead jumper, two free throws and another jumper over the next two minutes for a five-point lead. She made 3 of 4 foul shots in the final 48 seconds as TCU outscored Iowa State 31-15 in the final quarter.
Miles missed 12 of her first 14 shots before making 6 of 7 in the fourth. She added 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Martz Suarez posted a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Clara Silva scored 11.
Audi Crooks had 22 points, six rebounds and four assists before fouling out for the Cyclones (21-7, 9-7). Jada Williams scored 15 on 6-for-23 shooting, adding 11 assists. Addy Brown chipped in with 11 points and seven rebounds.
Crooks had eight points and Iowa State led by as many as 10 in the first quarter before settling for a 24-16 advantage. Miles and Suarez both scored five in the second period to help TCU cut it to 40-34 at halftime.
Crooks had two layups in the final 1:28 of the third quarter and Iowa took a 58-49 lead into the fourth.
Peoria, AZ - February 22: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres hits a single against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game on February 22, 2026 in Peoria, AZ. (Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
Fernando Tatis Jr. appeared as the cleanup hitter for the San Diego Padres for the second time in three games. He seems to be adjusting to his new spot in the lineup, for now, as he recorded two hits in two plate appearances in San Diego’s 5-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Ariz. on Sunday.
Tatis came to the plate with two outs and Manny Machado at first base following a walk in the bottom of the first inning. He singled to right field to move Machado to second, but the inning ended on a Jake Cronenworth flyout to Dodgers center fielder Michael Siani.
Tatis returned to the plate in the bottom of the fourth inning and lined a ball to right field with one out in the inning, giving him his second hit of the game. The inning ended one batter later when Cronenworth grounded into a double play.
It was a tough day for the Padres outside of Tatis. They managed just three additional hits in the game with two of those coming in the bottom of the eighth inning when San Diego scored its lone run. Nick Solak hit a two-out double to left field that landed just beyond the glove of an outstretched Josue De Paula. Clay Dungan followed with an infield single that was thrown up the rightfield line allowing him to reach second base, making the score 4-1.
Los Angeles scored its fifth run of the game in the top of the ninth inning with three singles off reliever Ty Adcock. The Dodgers scored their first four runs in the top of the third inning against Triston McKenzie, who was making his debut with the Padres.
McKenzie walked two of the first three batters he faced and then allowed a one-out single to Will Smith that put Los Angeles ahead 1-0. McKenzie recorded a strikeout for the second out of the inning, but then allowed a double to Nick Senzel, which scored two runs to give Los Angeles a 3-0 lead. That ended the day for McKenzie, who was replaced by Michael Flynn. He did not fare much better and immediately threw a wild pitch, allowing Senzel to move to third base. Flynn then walked a batter and hit a batter to load the bases. The Dodgers scored their fourth run of the inning, which was charged to McKenzie, on another walk allowed by Flynn. He induced a pop out by Siani with the bases loaded to end the inning.
Randy Vasquez started on the mound for the Padres and completed two innings. He allowed one hit, one walk and 23 of his 31 pitches went for strikes.
Craig Stammen discusses Randy Vasquez’s performance, Sung Mun Song’s Cactus League debut, and Triston McKenzie’s work on the mound after today’s game against the Dodgers. pic.twitter.com/vy2FL59tZm
02/17/26: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani throws live batting practice during day five of spring training workouts at Camelback Ranch Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Photo By: Jason Szenes for CA Post
LOS ANGELES DODGERS SPRING TRAINING 2026
PHOENIX –– A devious smile crept across Shohei Ohtani’s face as he was presented with the hypothetical.
By all accounts, the Dodgers’ two-way star is not going to pitch in next month’s World Baseball Classic with Team Japan. Even after his first fully healthy offseason since undergoing a second career Tommy John surgery, he and the team decided it’d be best to save his arm for the grind of a long regular season.
But what if, Ohtani was asked Sunday, the opportunity arises to close out another WBC title, as he did by striking out Mike Trout for the final out in the 2023 edition of the tournament.
“I wonder,” Ohtani answered in Japanese, flashing his playful grin. “If Trout comes out at the end, maybe.”
Shohei Ohtani smiles after he threw live batting practice during spring training workouts at Camelback Ranch Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, Tuesday. Jason Szenes for CA Post
Tempting as it may be, the only pitching Ohtani is expected to do while he is away from Dodgers camp for the international event will be much more mundane –– and not just because Trout won’t play for Team USA this time.
Earlier Sunday morning, Ohtani faced hitters in a live batting practice session for the second time this spring, throwing 33 pitches over a two-inning outing that included a couple hard line drives but also strikeouts of Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts.
And now, as he prepares to depart spring camp to join Team Japan in the coming days, the Dodgers are hopeful he will be able to throw two more live BP sessions on off-days during the WBC, according to pitching coach Mark Prior.
That plan would keep Ohtani on track to be in the Dodgers’ rotation from the start of the regular season in late March, even though he might not pitch in a real game until the final week of spring training.
“We’ve talked about it, had conversations with him, and kind of mapped out some tentative schedules,” Prior said. “A lot of it will depend, as usual with him, on where he’s at, what are the logistics of everything (during the WBC) … But if we can get two more outings out of him, of him facing hitters, that would be ideal.”
To this point, everything else about Ohtani’s preparation as a pitcher has gone according to plan.
Coming off his first fully healthy offseason as a Dodger, he came into spring camp ready to face hitters right away. He is already incorporating his full mix of pitches more than he did last year, too, when he largely stuck to a fastball/slider/sweeper combination while returning from Tommy John in the second half of the campaign.
To Prior, the biggest difference has come behind the scenes.
“Last year’s bullpens, from a velocity and intensity (standpoint), he was very conservative,” Prior said. “I think now, he feels he’s far enough removed to where he’s been able to push it.”
Shohei Ohtani throws during live batting practice at Camelback Ranch Stadium. Jason Szenes for CA Post
Case in point: At the end of Sunday’s live session, Prior could feel Ohtani dialing up the intensity, noting how the four-time MVP hit 99 mph on one of his final pitches.
“It’s been a good week for him,” Prior said. “Obviously, he’s trying to compress a lot of stuff before he leaves.”
Staying on schedule as a pitcher will be more complicated once Ohtani departs for the WBC. He will first fly to Japan to train with his national team. The group stage portion of the tournament will include four games in a five-day span at the Tokyo Dome from March 6-10. And if Japan advances to the knockout round as expected, Ohtani will then go to Miami for as many as three more games –– including potentially the final on March 17.
That could leave little time for live pitching sessions, especially considering the narrow workout windows each team has during the event. And even if Ohtani gets all his pitching work in, it’s likely he will still begin the regular season less than fully built up, meaning his first few Dodgers outings could be on the shorter side.
That’s all fine by the Dodgers, though.
They’ve waited two years to have Ohtani available as a full-time two-way player. They remain impressed with the progress he’s already made this spring. And the fact he can even field hypotheticals like the one he got Sunday is just another sign of the promising form he continues to show.
“I do think,” Prior said, “we’re seeing more of a regular version of him.”
Apr 9, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jose Alvarado (46) reacts after shaking hands with first base Bryce Harper (3) after the Phillies defeated the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Philadelphia Phillies left-hander José Alvarado announced on social media Sunday that insurance issues will prevent him from representing Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.
Alvarado wrote on his Instagram message the news “deeply saddens me.” He added “the insurance required for my participation was not approved. This is a situation that is beyond my control and without a doubt it fills me with sadness and is difficult to understand. I had the hope and commitment to once again wear my country’s jersey for the third consecutive time. Representing Venezuela has always been one of the greatest honors of my career.”
The tournament runs from March 5-17 in Tokyo, Houston, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Miami, where the final will be played.
Alvarado is the latest player to be blocked from participating in the World Baseball Classic by insurance issues. Francisco Lindor and Carlos Correa were left off Puerto Rico’s roster due to insurance. Jose Altuve also was not included on Venezuela’s roster.
The tournament is co-owned by Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association, and insurance is provided by National Financial Partners.
Alvarado, 30, had a 3.81 ERA and seven saves in 28 games for Philadelphia last season. He served an 80-game suspension for violating baseball’s performance-enhancing drug policy. He was suspended on May 18 following a positive test for an external testosterone.
Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said the positive test was caused by a weight loss drug Alvarado took during the offseason.
Dalton Rushing running the bases against the Angels during Saturday's 15-2 win. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
Dalton Rushing’s first year in the big leagues with the Dodgers didn’t go quite as planned.
Over 53 games after his May call-up, the highly regarded prospect batted .204 with a .258 on-base percentage, .582 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, four home runs and 24 RBIs. It was the only time in his baseball life — aside from his freshman year at the University of Louisville — that Rushing was not a regular fixture in his team’s lineup.
“It was very, very up and down,” Rushing said. “It was some good, some bad, some ugly. A lot of things were new to me; the scattering [of] playing time was tough. It was a little tough being able to stay on top of compete mode, keep the swing in a good spot."
"I got to win a World Series with this team," Rushing said. "And it’s hard to look back and think, ‘I’d take this back or I’d take that back.’ It went exactly how it was planned.”
With three-time All-Star catcher Will Smith in front of him, Rushing’s role is clear: He is the Dodgers’ backup catcher. Manager Dave Roberts feels good about Rushing’s progression.
“Dalton’s in a good spot right now,” Roberts said last week. “I want him to understand his role as a backup catcher, what that entails, really learn the pitchers, learn the swing that works for playing a couple times a week. He’s used to playing a lot more. But I think that [he’s] still maturing, because it’s not easy to not play every day when you’re used to [playing regularly]. I think that he grew last year, and I like where he’s at.”
Roberts plans to use Rushing at first base if Freddie Freeman comes out of the game or needs a day off. Rushing will not, however, play in the outfield, where he played a bit in the minor leagues.
“Outfield’s not on the table”, Roberts said. “I do think that there’s going to be some spots for him to come into games if Freddie’s out or if there’s a game he doesn’t play, we’ll see how that lines up. And I think right now for me, just seeing how the roster plays out as far as what are the options we might have at first base, but I do want to get him at-bats when I can.”
Rushing started Saturday's Cactus League opener against the Angels, driving in a run on a sacrifice fly in three at-bats. The 25-year-old said he’s fully embracing his spot on a club vying for its third consecutive championship.
“If I can keep myself ready to play two or three times a week, then it’s going to be easy to keep myself ready to play five or six," Rushing said. "To be able to go through something like this early in my career, where I have to not only earn the time on the field, but also navigate my way through my career, I think it’s a really good start to my career, to be able to understand how this game works.”
Rushing also views playing behind Smith as a valuable opportunity to learn from one baseball’s best catchers, something he believes will help him grow as a player.
“I have a spot to work behind the best catcher in baseball,” Rushing said. “And from there, I’m going to be given opportunities to see more time on the field, to get my bat in there as much as possible, and it’s up to me to take advantage of those opportunities and continue to put myself on the field as much as possible.”
Rushing says he does not have personal goals he hopes to reach. This season is about team success and winning.
“The main goal especially with this role is I’m going to win as many [games as] possible,” Rushing said. “Every game I’m on the field, I want to win. I want to win 110 games in the regular season as a Dodger. We’re fully capable of it. I think that’s a good goal to put for ourselves, and it just makes each and every game that much important.”
Shohei Ohtani throws live BP before departing for WBC
Before the Dodgers' 5-1 win over the San Diego Padres in Peoria, Ariz., on Sunday, Shohei Ohtani threw 33 pitches in a live batting practice session at Camelback Ranch and struck out Freeman and Mookie Betts.
"I felt pretty good about today in terms of volume," Ohtani said via interpreter Will Ireton. "While in Japan, I plan to do some sort of live BP, bullpen, some kind of simulation."
After the game, Roberts revealed the star two-way player was expected to depart either Sunday night or Monday to join Team Japan for preparations for next month's World Baseball Classic.
