PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Travis Konecny and Trevor Zegras scored in the second period and the Philadelphia Flyers rallied to beat the Washington Capitals 4-1 on Wednesday night.
Washington has lost four of its last five games and is tied with Philadelphia at 71 points. Both teams are seven points behind Boston in the race for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.
The Flyers fell behind early when Washington’s Ryan Leonard took a pass from 40-year-old Alex Ovechkin and shot it through a screen past goalie Sam Ersson 9:21 into the game.
Through 64 games this season, it was the 44th time the Flyers had allowed the first goal. And, Philadelphia was 6-15-5 this season when trailing after the first period.
Konecny, celebrating his 29th birthday, took a pass from Travis Sanheim in the right circle and scored past Washington’s Logan Thompson at 4:23 of the second for a 1-all tie.
Owen Tippett then picked off a pass, stepped around Washington’s Tom Wilson and broke, 2-on-none, with Zegras. The two passed back and forth before Zegras lifted the puck in for a 2-1 lead.
Philadelphia added to its lead in the third period on a terrific play by Noah Cates. Tied up behind the Capitals’ net during a 4-on-4 situation, he one-handed a pass into the slot, where defenseman Jamie Drysdale shot it past Thompson for a 3-1 lead.
Tippett finished up the scoring with an empty-net goal with 1:03 left. Ersson stopped 21 shots for the Flyers.
CANADIENS 3, SENATORS 2
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Ivan Demidov broke a tie with 7:20 left, Jacob Fowler made 32 saves and Montreal beat Ottawa for their third straight victory.
Demidov scored off Alex Newhook’s rebound and Montreal held on a night after beating Toronto 3-1 at home.
Juraj Slafkovsky and Alexandre Texier also scored for Montreal, with Demidov assisting on Slafkovsky’s power-play goal in the first period.
Texier tied it at 2 on a wraparound with 2:31 left in the second.
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Ivan Demidov broke a tie with 7:20 left, Jacob Fowler made 32 saves and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Ottawa Senators 3-2 on Wednesday night for their third straight victory.
Demidov scored off Alex Newhook's rebound and Montreal held on a night after beating Toronto 3-1 at home.
Juraj Slafkovsky and Alexandre Texier also scored for Montreal, with Demidov assisting on Slafkovsky's power-play goal in the first period.
Texier tied it at 2 on a wraparound with 2:31 left in the second.
Observations from Yankees spring training on Wednesday:
Two strong
Giancarlo Stanton hit a projected 826 feet worth of home runs.
Giancarlo Stanton belts a two-run homer off Eric Lauer in the third inning of the Yankees’ 8-1 exhibition win over the Blue Jays. It was the first of two homers in the game for the veteran slugger. AP
In the third inning of the Yankees’ 8-1 spring training win over the Blue Jays, the Bombers DH demolished one to left-center against Eric Lauer before crushing a Lazaro Estrada slider over the wall in center field during the sixth.
Stanton owns an impressive 1.546 OPS through four Grapefruit League games.
McMahon down
Working with a different batting stance, Ryan McMahon is statistically off to a slow start, his 0-for-2 with a walk dropping him to 3-for-25 in the Grapefruit League.
Caught my eye
Trent Grisham, who stole 15 bases with the Padres in 2023 but has rarely run with the Yankees, swiped his first bag of the spring.
Toronto Blue Jays infielder Rafael Lantigua (72) attempted to tag out New York Yankees center fielder Trent Grisham (12) as he stole second base during the fifth inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Thursday’s schedule
Will Warren will face Justin Verlander and the Tigers in Lakeland, Fla., at 1:05 p.m.
For months, the play had been argued, analyzed and debated in baseball’s collective memory.
Frame by frame. A lifted spike. A desperate slide.
Blue Jays fans stare at the replay the way gamblers stare at dice still rolling across the felt, convinced that somehow the outcome might change if they watch long enough.
Baseball fans argue that Isiah Kiner-Falefa should have taken a bigger lead. Their anger and ire directed at him until he revealed it was the third base coach who drew a line in the dirt and told him how big of a lead to take.
Dodgers catcher Will Smith forces out Blue Jays runner Isiah Kiner-Falefa during Game 7 of the 2025 World Series. AP
Millions watched from home believing that the outcome of the 2025 World Series was determined by inches.
Now MLB has delivered the final verdict — and it’s not even close.
According to a recently released MLB report provided to The Associated Press, the infamous Game 7 play at the plate between the Dodgers and Blue Jays wasn’t decided by inches, a sliding foot or the controversial moment when Dodgers catcher Will Smith briefly lifted his spike off home plate.
Kiner-Falefa was already dead in the water.
“After reviewing all relevant angles, the replay official definitively determined the catcher’s foot was touching the plate when the ball contacted the interior of his mitt,” MLB wrote in the report.
Translation: The out happened the instant Miguel Rojas’ throw smacked Smith’s glove.
The play itself unfolded like chaos wrapped in tension. Bases loaded. One out. Bottom of the ninth in a 4-4 Game 7. Blue Jays third base coach Carlos Febles had drawn a conservative line in the dirt, telling Kiner-Falefa not to stray too far from third while Yoshinobu Yamamoto battled Daulton Varsho at the plate.
Varsho chopped a grounder. Rojas briefly stumbled at second before firing home. Smith caught it. The plate umpire barked the call: out.
“I just cared that he was out,” Smith said later.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa could have scored the game-winning run in Game 7 of the World Series, a breakdown pic.twitter.com/6g9dUft5vy
The Blue Jays didn’t lose the World Series by inches.
They lost it by 3 feet.
And hours later, Smith crushed the exclamation point — a towering home run in the 11th inning that helped seal the Dodgers’ second straight championship, while the most argued play in baseball history quietly slipped from controversy into cold, hard fact.
The California Post recently asked Smith if he had gone back to watch the play.
“I honestly haven’t rewatched it,” said Smith, who admitted he’s afraid the outcome might change if he did.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Trey Murphy III scored 28 points, Dejounte Murray added 27 and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Toronto Raptors 122-111 on Wednesday night, spoiling Brandon Ingram's return to the city where he played for six seasons.
Murray had his highest-scoring game since his return from a torn right Achilles tendon that sidelined him for more than a year. Zion Williamson added 19 points for the Pelicans, who have won seven of 10.
In his first game at New Orleans since he was traded to Toronto in February of last year, Ingram finished with 22 points. The 10-year veteran also surpassed 11,000 points for his career.
Immanuel Quickley scored 25 points for Toronto, which has lost six of eight. This defeat dropped the Raptors from fifth to seventh in the Eastern Conference, one-half game behind Orlando and Miami.
Murphy shot 8 of 12 from the field and 5 of 8 from 3-point range. Both teams made 14 3-pointers, but New Orleans did it on 29 attempts (48.3%) and Toronto needed 44 (31.8%).
The Pelicans led 60-58 at halftime and expanded their lead to 18 points in the third quarter. The Raptors got back within two early in the fourth, but New Orleans responded with an 8-0 run and Toronto never got closer than six the rest of the way. Murphy put it away when he hit a 3 with 2:19 left for a 116-101 lead.
During the first quarter, the Pelicans played a video tribute to Ingram, who averaged 17.6 points and made his first All-Star Game during his time in New Orleans.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts in the first half of the game against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center on March 11, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t have enough tonight against the Orlando Magic.
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
James Harden
30 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, 4 turnovers
Harden was in full maestro mode tonight. He abused Orlando’s defense for 30 points on 11-16 shooting, showing no signs of trouble against Paolo Banchero. The Cavs maybe would have benefited from treating this like a retro-Rockets game from Harden. He was the only creator in the offense that felt consistently good.
With that said, I have to crush both Harden and Mitchell for their defense. The point of attack has been a massive weakness recently. It starts with the backcourt.
Grade: B
Donovan Mitchell
25 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 turnovers
This is one of those games where I felt the stats were worse than they looked for Donovan. He had some great highlights, including a filthy windmill gather over Banchero. But he also galringly missed Evan Mobley under the basket at one point. And he attempted some shots that I can only describe as rushed. His 25 points came on 24 field goal attempts (granted, a few of them were taken in desperation at the end of the game).
As mentioned, both Mitchell and Harden take a hit for their defense tonight.
Grade: C-
Evan Mobley
18 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks
The first quarter was a weird one for Mobley. He missed a few easy shots and got into early foul trouble. The fouls remained an issue, but he eventually found his touch. Still, it’s obvious how much the Cavs miss Jarrett Allen to help protect the paint. Mobley can only do so much on his own.
Grade: B
Jaylon Tyson
4 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists
Not a good one from Tyson. He shot 1-4 and only played 18 minutes. I think he should have gotten a longer leash, but he didn’t do anything in his minutes to make Kenny change his mind.
Grade: D
Dennis Schroder
0 points, 2 assists
Yikes. This might have been the worst game Schroder has played as a Cavalier. He picked up 4 fouls and shot 0-5 in just 18 minutes.
Grade: F
Sam Merrill
13 points, 2 assists, 4 rebounds
Merrill wasn’t great at containing the point of attack defensively. He did, however, nail 2-5 three-point attempts while converting all of his attempts inside of two-point range.
Grade: B–
Keon Ellis
20 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block
Ellis has scored 39 points across his last two games. He shot 5-8 from downtown tonight and delivered a barrage that nearly stole this from Orlando.
Grade: A+
Dean Wade
0 points, 5 rebounds, 1 block
A classic stinker from Wade. We’ve seen this type of game before, even if I maintain that Wade is an otherwise positive contributor more often than not. These nights still happen.
Grade: F
Thomas Bryant
12 points, 5 rebounds
Bryant gave the Cavs everything he could in 19 minutes. They needed him to contribute with Mobley in foul trouble and Allen on the bench. Can’t ask for much more.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic shoots against Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first half of the game at Kia Center on March 11, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the Orlando Magic 128-122 in a game that didn’t feel as close as it looked. Let’s go over today’s winners and losers.
LOSER – Foul Trouble
Do you like free throws?
If you answered yes, then the last two nights of NBA basketball must have been a dream. As for the rest of us, this is getting old.
I’m not here to complain about the whistle. Refs miss calls all the time, though, I will point out that Cleveland has had to (successfully) use both of their challenges more than a few times recently. Simply getting it right the first time would be preferable. Not T’ing up a player for being upset about the umpteeth incorrect call is even better.
And if you really want to do your job, maybe get a crucial out-of-bounds call right at the end of the game. There are a million cameras in the arena. We review countless plays each game. Why does Kenny Atkinson need a third challenge to get the correct call?
Now that’s out of my system, let’s talk about where the Cavs are at fault.
Protecting the paint starts with securing the perimeter. Free paths to the basket can put your helpside defense into awkward positions. Orlando’s runway drives to the rim took full advantage of this tonight. The Cavs couldn’t seal the gaps, and Evan Mobley was routinely tasked with having to clean things up. That resulted in four fouls to start the third quarter for Mobley.
Naturally, the game changes when your defensive anchor is in foul trouble. Not having Jarrett Allen makes it worse. The Magic continued to attack the paint, knowing that Mobley was at a disadvantage. And the game grew chippier as it went on.
WINNER – James Harden vs The Mismatch
Orlando opened this game with Paolo Banchero defending James Harden. It’s honorable for the opposing team’s best player to accept a defensive challenge like this. Was it a good idea? Probably not.
Harden didn’t appear bothered at all by Banchero. In fact, he actively hunted him in isolation. Harden accelerated around PB multiple times in the first half en route to 16 points on 6-9 shooting. We saw some classic drives to the basket and stepback jumpers from Harden along the way.
The Cavs’ offense never felt like it was fully rolling tonight. The Magic did a fine job of turning this game into a rock fight. Harden delivered the only moments that felt smooth. He felt little resistance getting around Banchero and was just as successful whenever he drew Wendell Carter Jr. onto the perimeter, too.
Harden finished with 30 points (11-16 shooting) and 8 assists.
Drawing and beating mismatches will prove valuable in the playoffs. We’ve known for a full decade that Harden thrives in those scenarios. It’s good to see it in Cleveland, even with a loss.
LOSER – Spacing
Okay, listen, you’re gonna have to bear with me on this. Because if it wasn’t for a late surge of three-point shooting from the Cavs, this category would have made perfect sense.
Before Cleveland’s near comeback in the final minutes, the Cavs had been shooting 12-35 from downtown. Not too shabby, but certainly not great.
Now let’s add more context.
Orlando made their goal pretty clear tonight. Pack the paint defensively and funnel to the ball to Cleveland’s role players. That put pressure on Dean Wade, Jaylon Tyson, Dennis Schroder, and even Evan Mobley to space the floor and make plays. They all combined to sh00t 0-5. That speaks for itself.
Other players did step up. In fact, it was Keon Ellis going ballistic in the final frame that snapped the Cavs back to life. Sam Merrill and James Harden were plenty efficient, as well. But if you focus on the players whom Orlando dared to beat them — you can see why the Magic had success.
Cleveland’s offense sputtered throughout the night. Sometimes, you just need a barrage of three-pointers to get you out of the ditch. That barrage came just a few minutes too late.
Details have started to emerge about Netflix’s plans for MLB Opening Night, and the streaming giant apparently wants to make a splash with its baseball debut.
Literally.
Netflix is set to make a big splash in MLB’s season-opening game between the Giants and Yankees. AP
Netflix reportedly plans to station 73 red kayaks in McCovey Cove behind Oracle Park’s right field wall for the March 25 game between the Giants and Yankees that marks the official start of MLB’s regular season.
Nine of Bonds’ 73 bombs that season reached the San Francisco Bay — and 35 of the 108 ever hit by a Giant, despite only playing seven seasons in a ballpark that celebrated its 25th birthday last year.
Bonds, who rarely grants interviews, has been rumored to be targeted by Netflix to appear as an analyst on the broadcast. His name was not among the seven members of the broadcast team revealed on Wednesday, but the announcement did tease an eighth, yet-to-be-named “special guest.”
Matt Vasgersian, recently named the voice of the weekly Sunday morning game on Peacock/NBC, will provide play-by-play with popular former players from each side serving as color analysts.
Hunter Pence will provide the Giants’ perspective, while CC Sabathia will represent the Yankees. Pence, a folk hero from the Giants’ World Series dynasty, still lives in San Francisco and has done commentary for NBC Sports Bay Area, as well as Apple TV. Sabathia went in to the Hall of Fame wearing a Yankees cap, but he was born and raised in Vallejo, about 30 miles northeast of Oracle Park.
The broadcast will also feature a live set on site hosted by Elle Duncan with another Hall of Famer, Albert Pujols, commentating with Anthony Rizzo, the former Yankees and Cubs first baseman. Lauren Shehadi will report from the field and the teams’ dugouts, and comedian Bert Kreischer will reprise his role from Netflix’s NFL broadcast.
Former Giants player Barry Bonds might make a special appearance on Netflix’s MLB Opening Night. UPI
The streamer made football its first foray into the major American sports market when it aired its first Christmas Day game in 2024. With its global audience, Netflix has recently been speculated as a natural landing spot for the NFL’s increased slate of international games.
Netflix’s baseball strategy appears to follow its football footprint, targeting high-profile keystone events.
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In addition to Opening Night, Netflix acquired the rights through 2028 to air the Home Run Derby and one “special event” per season, beginning this year with the Field of Dreams game set for Aug. 13.
The Bay Area-based company appears to be going above and beyond the typical broadcast.
According to the Standard, Netflix will also host a “pop-up bullpen,” where fans can test their arms. The kayaks, branded in Netflix red, will reportedly be available for use by fans.
McCovey Cove, one of the sport’s iconic attractions, figures to be on center stage.
Whether Netflix gets its wish and truly makes a splash remains to be seen. The water sits about 20 feet behind a 25-foot brick wall in right field, and San Francisco’s marine layer only adds another obstacle.
The entirety of the Giants’ projected 26-man roster has combined for three splash hits. Nobody on the Yankees has ever done it. The mightiest slugger of them all, Aaron Judge, would seem to be a natural candidate — but only one right-handed hitter has ever splashed down on the fly.
Mar 11, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) defends Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) during the second quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images | Mike Watters-Imagn Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers dropped a chippy game to the Orlando Magic 128-122 due to their inability to defend the paint and clutch shot-making from Desmond Bane.
The Magic have a bad offense. They can’t shoot from the outside and don’t have many playmakers. They do, however, have size, and that was an issue for a Cavs team that desperately missed Jarrett Allen, who sat out this game with a knee injury.
Orlando set the tone early, scoring 38 points in the first quarter while going 11-12 in the paint and attempting seven shots at the free-throw line. They were able to consistently outmuscle the Cavs’ smaller defenders, which became a theme for the entire evening.
The Cavs were able to take advantage of their smaller, faster lineup on the other end of the court at the beginning of the night, but they weren’t able to keep pace for 48 minutes.
The three-ball being average for most of the evening and leaving far too many points at the free-throw line (17-26, 34.3%) eventually did the offense in. After scoring 35 points in the first quarter, they were held to just 27 the next two, which wasn’t enough considering how poorly their own defense was playing.
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The Cavaliers went into the second half tied, but lost their grip on the game at the start of the third quarter. Bane’s 12 points on 4-4 shooting in that frame had a lot to do with that. Orlando pushed its lead to 10 at the end of the third quarter.
The Magic carried that momentum into the fourth. They extended their advantage to 12 at the halfway point of the final frame, before the Cavs attempted a comeback that was far too late in the making.
Cleveland cut the deficit to two with threes on four-straight possessions to make it a two-point game with 39 seconds left. They needed one more stop to give themselves a chance to tie or take the lead, but Bane had other ideas. He hit a tough, off-balance triple with a hand in his face late in the shot clock to put the game away.
Earlier this week, Kenny Atkinson said he wanted to see the role players step up to claim a spot in the playoff rotation. Ellis seems to have taken that message to heart. He was the unquestioned best Cavalier on the defensive end and more than did his job offensively. Ellis poured in 20 points on 6-9 shooting with 12 of them coming in the fourth quarter.
James Harden led Cleveland in scoring with 30 points on an efficient 11-16 shooting with eight assists and four turnovers.
Donovan Mitchell wasn’t able to establish his usual rhythm and was inefficient in the clutch. He went just 2-8 from the field in the final quarter. Mitchell finished the game with 25 points on 9-24 shooting with five assists and three turnovers.
Evan Mobley had a solid night from the field, but being in foul trouble and not being able to convert from the free-throw line (2-7) kept him from being as effective as you’d like. He ended the evening with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists.
Bane led the Magic with a game-high 35 points on 12-19 shooting. Paolo Banchero provided 25 points in the victory.
The victory extends the Magic’s winning streak to five. The Cavs are now up 2-1 in the season series against Orlando. Their final meeting of the regular season will be Tuesday, March 24.
The Cavs are back in action on Friday when they head on the road to take on the Dallas Mavericks. Tip-off is at 7 PM.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Former Michigan linebackers coach Chris Partridge sued the university, its board of regents and its athletics director Wednesday for firing him in 2023 while the NCAA investigated allegations of in-person scouting and sign-stealing.
Partridge's lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Michigan argues that his “termination was wholly unjustified and without legitimate cause," saying that the school violated his Fourteenth Amendment right to due process.
“The University of Michigan unjustly terminated Partridge’s employment and spread false and damaging information regarding his professional conduct, tarnishing Partridge’s hard-earned reputation and inflicting irreparable harm on to his career and personal well-being,” the lawsuit said.
Michigan did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press requesting comment. The Big Ten declined to comment on the lawsuit.
Partridge was fired from Michigan in November 2023 as the NCAA investigated allegations that former university staffer Connor Stalions purchased tickets to scout the school's opponents and sent people to those games to record teams signaling in their plays. In-person scouting is banned by the NCAA. Stalions resigned earlier that month.
In 2025, the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions determined that Stalions had orchestrated a scouting scheme for years. It also found recruiting violations and fined the school millions of dollars. Partridge was largely cleared of any wrongdoing.
But just after Partridge's firing, rumors swirled about why he was let go. He took to social media at the time to say that he had no knowledge of any scouting scheme and that he was fired for failing to abide by the school’s directive to avoid discussing the inquiry with “anyone associated with the program.”
“Additionally, at no point did I destroy any evidence related to the ongoing investigation,” he had said in an online post.
Partridge went on to serve as outside linebackers coach for the Seattle Seahawks, helping them clinch a Super Bowl win last month.
The lawsuit states that Partridge was told by the university that he was fired for telling a player that he should “get an attorney," despite being instructed not to communicate with the athletes during the investigation.
Partridge confirmed that he did say that to a player. But, he said in the lawsuit, the football staff was never told to stop communication with players, which would have caused the football program to “come to a screeching halt.”
“Partridge was a scapegoat who was wrongly fired simply because he told a player he had the right to have counsel,” the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit also said that the school smeared his reputation, including when some athletics department employees and at least one Board of Regents member told a sportswriter that Partridge was fired for “destroying evidence." That information was then reported by several news organizations, including the AP, which cited reporting by Yahoo Sports that Partridge "allegedly tried to cover up evidence."
Partridge was fired just before the Wolverines became football national champions. One day after he was fired, the school and the Big Ten Conference agreed that then head coach Jim Harbaugh would serve the final two games of his three-game suspension in return for the conference ending its investigation into the sign-stealing allegations.
The lawsuit seeks damages to be determined at trial, along with clearing Partridge’s name and reputation.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 04: Paul Sewald #62 of the Detroit Tigers looks on prior to game one of the Division Series against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on October 04, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Diamondbacks fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
It looks as if, once again, the Diamondbacks will be going into the season without a regular closer. Strengthening the bullpen was one of the major concerns this winter, after it proved such a problematic area in 2025. But it appears that is happening across other spots, rather than closer. Given the expected return of A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez at some point in the first(ish) half of the season, I can kinda see the point in not splashing out big-time on a closer. But, let’s be honest, we were all expecting better than Taylor Clarke and Paul Sewald as major-league signings this off-season, no offense intended to those two.
While it seems likely that manager Torey Lovullo will play match-ups, rumblings indicate that Paul Sewald may be the main man to be leaned upon in save situations, on the back of improved velocity this spring. Sewald has played down any such notion, telling Arizona Sports 98.7, “They’ll pitch me when they decide to pitch me.” But fans may be a little gun-shy of this idea, considering we have been here before. Sewald was the closer out of the gate in 2024, but was relieved of the role after a terrible July, where he had a 10.80 ERA and went 0-2, with four blown saves. You’re forgiven if putting him back in the roles seems almost like the definition of insanity.
However, this poll is designed to find out less what you think the team will do, and more what you think they should do. Outside of Sewald, there are a number of possible candidates, though all of them come with question marks of varying sizes. For example, Kevin Ginkel has closing experience with 16 career saves. But he had a rough go of things last year, posting a 7.84 ERA. There’s no obvious and outstanding candidate, which is why even a non-roster invitee like Jonathan Loáisiga could be in the mix. We saw this work out very well last year, with non-roster invitee Shelby Miller, who ended up leading the team in saves by the end of the season.
So what we have below is a list of potential candidates. Which one would you LIKE to see occupy the closer’s position for the D-backs, until the more established names of Puk and Martinez come back? Or if you feel the “closer by committee” thing is a good idea, that would be “other”, I guess. As ever, you can explain your decision in the comments below…
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Robert McCray V scored 30 points and Florida State continued its winning ways beating California 95-89 in the second round of the ACC Tournament on Wednesday.
The eighth-seeded Seminoles (18-14) advance to play top-seeded Duke on Thursday in the quarterfinals.
McCray finished shooting 10 of 17 — including a thunderous windmill dunk off a steal. Lajae Jones scored 15 points, Chauncey Wiggins 14 and reserve Kobe MaGee scored all of his 13 in the first half.
Dai Dai Ames scored 27 points, Chris Bell 17, Justin Pippen 15, John Camden 11 and Lee Dort grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds for ninth-seeded Cal (21-11).
Cal darted to a 9-2 lead before the Seminoles took control. Florida State went on a on a 13-4 run and took the lead for good on a MaGee 3-pointer with 12:13 before halftime.
Florida State shot 53% (18 of 34) including 7 of 14 — after missing its first five — from 3-point range in the first half. Cal shot 41% (11 of 27) including a paltry 27% (3 of 11) from past the arc in the first half.
The Seminoles led 46-32 at halftime and stretched their lead to 56-39 with 16:31 left.
Florida State has won 11 of its last 14 against conference foes since dropping its first five to start ACC play.
Cal has lost three of its last four and now sweats its potential NCAA Tournament berth fate.
The breeze from the Pacific Ocean drifted into the sun-drenched Manhattan Beach neighborhood of Lakers superstar Luka Doncic on Wednesday.
The NBA’s leading scorer and the most talked-about man in basketball this week arrived at his $25 million home — that he bought from tennis champ Maria Sharapova in September — in a black Cadillac Escalade and appeared unbothered by the off-the-court storm swirling around his personal life.
The California Post exclusively captured photos of Doncic arriving at his beachfront bachelor pad, stepping out in a black Lakers track suit, dark sunglasses shielding his eyes, and a black duffle bag. Flanked by personal security and his chief brand officer and business manager, Lara Beth Seager, the 27-year-old guard looked calm — almost serene — despite the drama with his ex-fiancée Anamaria Goltes.
The breeze from the Pacific Ocean drifted into the sun-drenched Manhattan Beach neighborhood of Lakers superstar Luka Doncic on Wednesday. Toby Canham for The California PostThe NBA’s leading scorer and the most talked-about man in basketball this week arrived at his $25 million home. Toby Canham for The California PostDoncic purchased the $25 million home from tennis star Maria Sharapova back in September. Toby Canham for The California Post
Doncic’s Tuesday morning began with the NBA fining him $50,000 for what the league called an “inappropriate and unprofessional gesture” directed at a referee during the Lakers’ 110-97 win over the Knicks on Sunday. Hours later, another headline detonated across the sports world: Goltes, a Slovenian model and influencer, had filed a petition for child support and attorney fees in a Los Angeles court.
The legal filing ignited a custody battle over their two daughters — Gabriela, born in 2023, and Olivia, born in Slovenia last December.
Doncic confirmed the breakup in a statement to ESPN later in the afternoon.
“I love my daughters more than anything,” Doncic said. “I’ve been doing everything I can for them to be with me in the U.S. during the season, but that hasn’t been possible, so I recently made the tough decision to end my engagement.”
Behind the scenes, the situation has been complicated and emotional for the Lakers star. According to sources, Doncic was surprised by the California filing, noting that one daughter spent only three months in the state while the other has never been there.
The relationship between Doncic and Goltes stretches back nearly a decade. The pair met in their youth and began dating in 2016 before the Lakers star proposed in July 2023.
Doncic confirmed the breakup in a statement to ESPN later in the afternoon. Toby Canham for The California Post
According to the court filing, Goltes moved back to Slovenia on May 5, 2025, and remained in Slovenia for the birth of Olivia last December. The fracture reportedly widened when Doncic arrived at Kranj Maternity Hospital on Dec. 6.
According to a police report obtained by ESPN, officers responded to a dispute between Doncic and Goltes after a disagreement erupted about travel plans for their older daughter. Police later concluded there was no criminal wrongdoing, and Doncic left peacefully before returning to the United States.
Since then, the distance has grown colder.
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Doncic hasn’t seen his daughters since that trip and recently filed an interim injunction in Slovenian court seeking immediate contact with them.
Yet through all of it, he’s dominated on the court.
Doncic hasn’t seen his daughters since that trip and recently filed an interim injunction in Slovenian court seeking immediate contact with them. Toby Canham for The California Post
Doncic leads the league with 32.5 points per game, and just hours after the child-support news broke Tuesday night, he poured in 31 points in the Lakers’ 120-106 victory over the Timberwolves.
Three straight wins. Helping the Lakers leapfrog into fourth place in the Western Conference.
Doncic leads the league with 32.5 points per game, and just hours after the child-support news broke Tuesday night, he poured in 31 points in the Lakers’ 120-106 victory over the Timberwolves. Toby Canham for The California Post
And on Wednesday afternoon, as he disappeared behind the doors of his Manhattan Beach home, Doncic looked exactly like he has all season.
Unbothered.
Focused.
And still very much in control of the game that made him a global superstar — even if the one off the court has suddenly become far more complicated.
The Lakers did not practice Wednesday but will take the court again on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Crypto.com Arena against the Bulls.
Luka Doncic arrives at his Manhattan Beach home on Wednesday.Toby Canham for The California Post The NBA star purchased the home from tennis star Maria Sharapova in September.Toby Canham for The California Post Doncic arrives home in Manhattan Beach after a workout.Toby Canham for The California Post He has been the subject of controversy amid drama with his ex-fianceeToby Canham for The California Post It was reported that Doncic and then-fiancee Anamaria Goltes got into an argument in December. Toby Canham for The California Post Doncic was seen at his Manhattan Beach home.Toby Canham for The California PostToby Canham for The California PostToby Canham for The California PostToby Canham for The California Post Doncic exits a Cadillac Escalade after a workout.Toby Canham for The California Post Doncic heads into his Manhattan Beach home.Toby Canham for The California Post Doncic was spotted at his Manhattan Beach home on Wednesday.Toby Canham for The California Post Doncic is seen with his business manager Lara Beth SeagerToby Canham for The California Post Doncic was spotted outside his Manhattan Beach home.Toby Canham for The California Post
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Malik Dia scored 23 points, AJ Storr added 18 off the bench, and 15th-seeded Mississippi knocked off No. 10-seed Texas 76-66 in the second round of the SEC Tournament on Wednesday night.
Mississippi, led by former Texas coach Chris Beard, put a dent in the Longhorns' NCAA Tournament aspirations. The Longhorns (18-14) were thought to be among the last handful of teams in consideration for an at-large bid. After losing five of their last six games, their hopes are fading.
Texas, which trailed by 11 points at halftime got eight points from Jordan Pope in the early minutes of the second half and it was his 3-pointer that had the Longhorns within 53-48 about seven minutes into the half.
Like they did for much of the second half, the Rebels (13-19) answered the Texas push with a rally of their own. Ilias Kamardine scored six points in a 7-0 run that had Ole Miss up by double digits again at 60-48. Texas chipped away over the next six minutes — mostly at the free throw line —and it was 66-63 with four minutes remaining.
Storr then scored eight points over the final 2 1/2 minutes while Texas only managed a free throw from Dailyn Swain and a dunk by Nic Codie.
Texas made 12 of 15 free throws in the second half, 21 of 25 for the game.
Kamardine scored 16 points and James Scott had 10 for Ole Miss.
Swain had 22 points and 12 rebounds for Texas. Pope scored 16 and Matas Vokietaitis added 10.
Up next
Ole Miss moves on to play seventh-seeded Georgia on Thursday. No. 2-seed Alabama awaits in the quarterfinals.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: Arjun Nimmala #18 of the Toronto Blue Jays bats during the fourth inning of a spring training game against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 11, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark Taylor/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Blue Jays 1 Yankees 8
That didn’t go well.
Eric Lauer didn’t have a good time of it. He went 3.1 allowing 4 hits, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts, a home run, and 4 earned. His spring ERA is 8.64. I know spring doesn’t really matter for him, he’s going to make the team, but it would be nice to see him put up some zeros. Especially if he wants to be a starter.
Chad Dallas: 1 inning, 2 hits, 1 earned, home run, 2 k.
Starters:
Myles Straw: 0 for 3, k. .174 on the spring.
Nathan Lukes: 1 for 2, walk, k. .273.
Jesus Sanchez: 1 for 3, double, RBI, 2 k. .226. His defense in right field wasn’t impressive.
Eloy Jimenez: 0 for 3. .281. After a nice start to spring, he’s really slowed down. I can’t see him making the team unless he turns things around in a hurry.
Brandon Valenzuela: 0 for 2, k. .333.
Rafael Lantigua: 0 for 3, k. .458.
Sean Keys: 1 for 3. .208.
Arjun Nimmala: 1 for 2, k, steal. .263.
Charles McAdoo: 0 for 2 k.
None of the replacements had a hit.
Tomorrow the Jays play the Phillies in Clearwater. Jose Berrios starts (after not being able to play in the WBC for insurance reasons).
In the eighth inning of the Italy/Mexico game has Italy up 9-1.
It looks like Canada will play the US on Friday. And Italy will play Puerto Rico on Saturday, unless Mexico make a big comeback (they won’t). Vinnie Pasquantino has three home runs in the game for Italy.
