By this time next week, a men’s college basketball season that began all the way back in early November will end with nets having been cut and a champion crowned.
The Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Tournament will begin this weekend at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, where Michigan, Arizona, UConn and Illinois will aim to add their names alongside some of the greatest, most revered teams in their sport’s history.
Though March and much of the month’s trademark madness is over, the most consequential and pressurized games of the season remain. This year, those high-stakes contests will take place between four teams that were all in the top 12 of the final USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll heading into the NCAA Tournament.
For millions of fans across the country, it’s not only a chance to see a champion be determined, but to get a final taste of the sport they love until a long, seven-month offseason begins.
Here’s what you need to know to watch the Final Four this weekend:
The Final Four will feature a pair of national semifinal games on Saturday, April 4, with No. 2 seed UConn taking on No. 3 seed Illinois in the first contest and No. 1 seeds Michigan and Arizona squaring off in the second and final game of the day.
Final Four schedule
All times are Eastern.
No. 2 UConn vs. No. 3 Illinois, 6:09 p.m.
No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 2 Arizona, 8:49 p.m.
The 2026 Final Four will tip off with a matchup between No. 2 seed UConn and No. 3 seed Illinois, which is scheduled to start at 6:09 p.m. That will be followed by a highly anticipated contest between No. 1 seeds Michigan and Arizona at 8:49 p.m., though the start time of that game could be pushed back depending on how long UConn-Illinois might run.
When is the Final Four?
Semifinals: Saturday, April 4
Championship: Monday, April 6
The three games of the 2026 Final Four will take place on what has become its traditional spot in the first week of April. The two semifinal games will be held on Saturday, April 4, with the winners advancing to face off in the national championship game on Monday, April 6.
The four teams competing in the 2026 Final Four are No. 1 seed Michigan, No. 1 seed Arizona, No. 2 seed UConn and No. 3 seed Illinois.
While the Huskies are seeking their third title in the past four years, the championship drought has been longer for the three other semifinalists. The Wildcats haven’t won a national title since 1997 and the Wolverines, who have lost in the NCAA championship game twice in the past 13 years, are looking to win it all for the first time since 1989. A championship would be the first ever for the Fighting Illini.
Where is the Final Four?
Location: Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)
The 2026 Final Four will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the home venue of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts.
It’s the first time Indianapolis has hosted the event since 2021, when the entire NCAA tournament took place in the state of Indiana during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mark Cuban says he has one big regret after cashing out of the Dallas Mavericks — and it’s not the sale itself.
“I don’t regret selling, I regret who I sold to. Yeah, yeah, I made a lot of mistakes in the process and I’ll leave it at that,” the billionaire entrepreneur said on an episode of the Intersections podcast published Tuesday.
Cuban, who spent nearly 20 years as one of the “shark” investors on “Shark Tank,” said the grind of owning an NBA franchise ultimately pushed him toward the exit, describing it as an all-consuming emotional rollercoaster that wore him down over time.
Former Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said he regrets who he sold the team to — and blasted the franchise’s decision to trade Luka Dončić without his input. Intersections Podcast/YouTube
“It’s a big emotional commitment, right? You hear the passion and everything — now imagine going up and down like that every single game. That’s hard,” he said.
The intensity of fan reactions — especially when the team struggled — made him wary of his children working in that environment and being subjected to what he described as abusive treatment, Cuban added.
“I got a text from a then-general manager and he said ‘Call.’ And I did and I thought he was asking me what I thought about a potential trade for Luka he was like, ‘No, Mark, it’s done,’” Cuban recounted.
Casino magnate Miriam Adelson leads the ownership group that bought a controlling stake in the Mavericks, a deal Cuban now says he regrets. Getty Images
“I was like, ‘What did we trade him for?’ And he told me — and no disrespect to Anthony Davis — but I’m like, ‘He’s hurt a lot.’”
The former owner said he immediately viewed the deal as a catastrophic mistake — one he had no power to stop.
“I called the new owner and he started telling me stuff that wasn’t true that he had been told as the reason why he approved it and I’m like, that’s not true — um, this is a mistake but nothing I can do,” Cuban said.
Cuban framed Dončić as a once-in-a-generation talent who should have been untouchable under any circumstances. he added.
Beyond basketball logic, Cuban suggested the decision was influenced by internal tensions and personal dynamics within the Mavericks organization.
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Dončić was traded in a stunning move that Mark Cuban called a “mistake,” saying generational players like him are untouchable. Getty Images
Cuban also pointed to former general manager Nico Harrison as a key figure in the decision-making process, arguing that personal relationships may have skewed the front office’s judgment.
He noted Harrison had been close with Anthony Davis, the former Lakers star who went to the Mavs in the Dončić swap, since Davis was about 13 years old, while head coach Jason Kidd also previously coached him.
“You talk about confirmation bias, that there’s there was some of that, as well,” Cuban said, suggesting those ties contributed to the decision to trade away Dončić.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are “California Dreamin'” of a better playoff spot when they visit the Los Angeles Lakers tonight.
Cleveland has won six of its past seven games to climb back up the Eastern Conference standings, and the recent return of center Jarrett Allen is stoking this late-season surge.
My Cavaliers vs. Lakers predictions see Allen posing a big problem for the Los Angeles defense, and our NBA picks like him to light up La-La Land inside.
Cavaliers vs Lakers prediction
Cavaliers vs Lakers best bet: Jarrett Allen Over 11.5 points (-125)
Jarrett Allen missed about a month with a knee injury, but he looked fantastic in his first game back last Friday.
The Cleveland Cavaliers center put in just 18 minutes against the Miami Heat, but he still went 8-for-10 from the floor with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Allen took the night off against Utah yesterday, the first of back-to-back road contests, giving him a full three days of rest and recovery before tonight's contest with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers are on the second leg of a back-to-back and have major defensive issues inside. Their star-studded backcourt leaves DeAndre Ayton, Jaxson Hayes, and Maxi Kleber as middling options in the paint.
The Purple and Gold are left black and blue by bruising interior attacks like Cleveland, which ranks Top 4 in touches in the key. The Lakers have allowed 53 points in the paint per game this month and didn’t have an answer for Allen in their most recent run-in with the Cavs.
He finished 8-for-11 for 17 points in 24 minutes during a 129-99 blowout of L.A. in late January. All of Allen’s field goal attempts came inside the paint, and all but two were directly at the rim.
Allen is expected to see an uptick in minutes, and his player projections sit north of 12.5 points, with a ceiling flirting with 15.
Cavaliers vs Lakers same-game parlay
As much as the Cavaliers need to keep rolling, the Lakers are caught in the middle of their own postseason push.
Los Angeles was able to take care of Washington last night, and Luka Doncic has fresh legs after serving a one-game suspension.
Doncic is back in the mix, playing the role of primary ball handler and dishing out dimes. Forecasts call for as many as nine assists against a Cleveland defense sitting 27th in opponent assist rate.
Cavaliers vs Lakers SGP
Lakers -2
Jarrett Allen Over 11.5 points
Luka Doncic Over 7.5 assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: Center of Attention
With a few days off since returning to play, Allen will see his minutes trend back toward his usual workload.
Boasting a high ceiling, projections call for as many as 15 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and a shot swat against a weak L.A. interior defense.
Cavaliers vs Lakers SGP
Jarrett Allen Over 11.5 points
Jarrett Allen Over 6.5 rebounds
Jarrett Allen Over 1.5 assists
Jarrett Allen Over 0.5 blocks
Cavaliers vs Lakers odds
Spread: Cavaliers +2 (-110) | Lakers -2 (-110)
Moneyline: Cavaliers +115 | Lakers -135
Over/Under: Over 236.5 (-110) | Under 236.5 (-110)
Cavaliers vs Lakers betting trend to know
Los Angeles has come through as a moneyline winner in 15 of its last 17 games (+14.10 Units / 21% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Lakers.
How to watch Cavaliers vs Lakers
Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Tip-off
10:30 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN-OH, SPECSN
Cavaliers vs Lakers latest injuries
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Neither the New York Knicks nor the Houston Rockets can afford to slip a game in the NBA standings at the moment, yet one of them will tonight.
My Knicks vs. Rockets predictions and these NBA picks look at Houston’s most inconsistent piece as reason enough to trust New York on Tuesday, March 31.
Knicks vs Rockets prediction
Knicks vs Rockets best bet: Alperen Sengun Under 8.5 Rebounds (+102)
The New York Knicks and the Houston Rockets have one thing in common: rebounding. The two lead the NBA in rebounding rate in March, both at 54.8%.
This has been a season-long emphasis for both, though more the Rockets. Up until March, Houston led the NBA in rebounding by snagging 54.5% of available boards, while New York was No. 5 at 51.7%.
Going against an equally-quality team on the glass, one led by Karl-Anthony Towns, Mitchell Robinson and Josh Hart, should expose Alperen Sengun for his inconsistencies. The Turkish big man has an All-NBA career in front of him, but in his fifth season, he still too often puts forth a dud.
Rebounding is the one area Sengun should contribute no matter anything else, no matter the opposing defensive game plan, no matter if his shot has abandoned him for a night.
Yet he has fallen short of this modest prop in two of his last three games and in seven of 13 games in March despite the Rockets’ overall surge on the glass.
The Knicks’ frontcourt has too many dedicated rebounders. Expect Sengun’s inconsistency to rear its head tonight.
Knicks vs Rockets same-game parlay
Sengun’s struggles should be Karl-Anthony Towns’ and Mitchell Robinson’s gains.
The pair of 7-footers make New York a unique matchup nightmare for everyone else in the league, their games different enough to allow some overlap in their minutes while their mere existences provide the Knicks a 7-footer on the court at pretty much all minutes.
There will be nowhere for Sengun to hide.
Knicks vs Rockets SGP
Alperen Sengun Under 8.5 rebounds
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 10.5 rebounds
Mitchell Robinson Over 7.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: New York's Defensive Rebounding
A not insignificant number of basketball coaches liken rebounds to forced turnovers; they end an opponent’s possession.
Towns and Robinson crashing the boards tonight should serve to undercut Houston’s offense. The Rockets are No. 1 in the NBA in offensive rebounding rate. Severing some of those second chances will diminish Houston’s effectiveness.
Knicks vs Rockets SGP
Knicks moneyline
Under 217.5
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 10.5 rebounds
Mitchell Robinson Over 7.5 rebounds
Knicks vs Rockets odds
Spread: New York +1 | Houston -1
Moneyline: New York -110 | Houston -110
Over/Under: Over 217.5 | Under 217.5
Knicks vs Rockets betting trend to know
Houston is 2-8 against the spread in its last 10 games. Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Rockets.
How to watch Knicks vs Rockets
Location
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Date
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock
Knicks vs Rockets latest injuries
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.
Tonight's Coast 2 Coast Tuesday lineup features an exciting NBA doubleheader on NBC and Peacock. The action starts at 8:00 PM ET, when Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks take on Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets. Then, at 11:00 PM ET it's the Portland Trail Blazers vs LA Clippers. Live coverage begins with NBA Showtime at 7:00 PM on Peacock. See below for additional information on how to watch each game.
Follow all of the NBA action on NBCSN and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.
Portland Trail Blazers vs LA Clippers Game Preview:
The Trail Blazers are looking to make their first playoff appearance since 2021. Currently ninth in the Western Conference and 1.5-games behind the Clippers, Portland is locked in Play-In Tournament position.
Tonight's contest is the first of two late-season matchups between the two teams, and the third of four meetings this season, with the Clippers leading 2-0.
The Trail Blazers need to win both remaining matchups (tonight and April 10) and finish with a better conference record to earn the tiebreaker.
“I don’t really look at the standings. I’m not stressed about where we’re going to finish… Even if we’re 10th, we’ve got to play two games and win two games. I believe in us," said Portland guard Deni Avdija on March 11.
The Clippers, currently on a five-game win streak, are eighth in the West, 6.5 games back of the Rockets.
Kawhi Leonard is on pace for a career high in scoring (28.2 ppg). He leads the team in points, rebounds (6.3 ppg), and steals (1.9)
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. Sunday Night Basketball coverage will also be available on NBC and Peacock. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
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Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.
NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule:
Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.
For bench and role players in the NBA, March nights can feel like auditions.
Not the spotlight-soaked kind that is only reserved for superstars, but the raw, flickering moments that are held in the shadows of an 82-game grind, when the margins become razor-thin, the rotations unstable, and the cracks begin to show.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James and forward LeBron James defend on the court in the second half against the Washington Wizards at Crypto.com Arena. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The latest five-game stretch for the Lakers has been exactly that: a stress test disguised as survival.
At least one player has been missing in the starting lineup, and in some cases several. Day-to-day isn’t just an injury update, it’s a Facebook status.
With no guarantee of who’s available for the Lakers from one night to the next, bench and role players need to step up and seize the opportunity.
Different names. Different nights, but the same end goal.
Let’s start in Orlando on March 31, where Luke Kennard authored a moment that felt like it belonged in June. Off the bench, and still relatively new to the locker room, he dropped 13 points and buried a buzzer-beating three that didn’t just win a game, but introduced him to Lakers lore.
LUKE KENNARD HITS THE GO-AHEAD 3 TO WIN IT FOR THE LAKERS
“He’s a problem,” head coach JJ Redick said. “He’s very steady and very consistent in execution and effort. He’s just been a terrific decision maker for us.”
Kennard isn’t supposed to be a savior. He’s supposed to be a three-point specialist. But in that moment, he became something else: a glimpse of what this Lakers team might need off the bench when the floor shrinks in the postseason and the stars inevitably get swallowed by series-long defensive schemes.
In Indiana a few days later and without two starters, including sixth man Rui Hachimura, the Lakers normal rotation was bent out of shape. One of those missing starters was center DeAndre Ayton. That thrust backup big man Jaxon Hayes into the starting lineup. He finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks.
Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes reacts after making a three-point basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards Monday, March 30, 2026, in Los Angeles. AP
By the time the team returned home from their six-game road trip to face the Wizards, the situation had tipped from inconvenient to borderline absurd.
Luka Doncic was suspended after picking up his 16 technical foul against Brooklyn. No Marcus Smart. A backcourt held together with duct tape and opportunity for other guys to shine.
Jarred Vanderbilt stretched beyond his usual 17 minutes into something closer to responsibility. Bronny James Jr., a name still carrying more expectation than experience, logged a season-high 26 minutes — not as a novelty, but as a necessity.
And other role players? They didn’t just hold the line — they pushed it forward.
Hachimura returned with 14 points. Kennard caught fire again with 19, drilling four from deep like a man who suddenly knows exactly where he belongs. Hayes stayed perfect — 8-for-8 from the field, casually adding a three-pointer to a résumé that, until recently, didn’t include one.
“I’m an NBA player. I can’t just work on dunks all day,” joked Hayes of his three-point shooting prowess.
This wasn’t a one-off.
Rui Hachimura of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on March 27, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NBAE via Getty Images
Nobody knows more about that requirement than the man who has the most wins in NBA history —both regular season and postseason combined — the architect of four NBA titles, LeBron James.
James has seen this before.
He’s lived it. He’s won because of it. He knows these moments for these players can pay dividends during the postseason.
“In the postseason it can be a different guy every night,” James said, cutting straight to the truth. “Luka [Doncic] and AR [Austin Reaves] are going to do what they do, but every given night… you can have a different guy step up and make impact plays. It definitely helps to have moments like they’ve had.”
Jarred Vanderbilt of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a free throw during the game against the Washington Wizards on March 30, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers will only go as far as Doncic, James, and Reaves will take them, but playoff games could be determined by nights like these.
By whether Kennard’s confidence holds when the lights get hotter. By whether Hayes’ evolution is real or just a well-timed stretch. By whether Vanderbilt and Bronny can make the most of smaller minutes in bigger moments.
Repetition is the mother of learning, and right now, the Lakers bench and role players are cramming for an exam they know is coming.
The postseason doesn’t ask politely. It demands answers.
And for the first time in weeks, the Lakers might actually have a few more of them.
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PHOENIX — Another day, another record-setting contract extension for a prospect who has yet to even set foot in the major leagues.
The Seattle Mariners have reached an agreement on a guaranteed eight-year, $95 million contract – that includes a club option for a ninth year with prized 20-year-old shortstop prospect Colt Emerson, a person with direct knowledge of the deal told USA TODAY Sports.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Mariners had not yet announced the deal.
It is the largest contract given to a player without any major league experience in history, eclipsing the eight-year, $82 million contract the Brewers gave outfielder Jackson Chourio in December 2023. Emerson is currently playing for Triple-A Tacoma.
The Mariners are planning on Emerson to be their shortstop of the future, replacing J.P. Crawford, whose contract expires after the 2026 season.
The deal comes on the heal of the Brewers locking up shortstop Cooper Pratt, their fourth-best prospect to an 8-year, $50.75 million contract with two club options on Monday. Pratt has played only three games at Class AAA.
Emerson, 20, hit .285 with 16 homers and an .842 OPS last season across three levels, and has played just nine games above Class AA.
Pratt, 21, hit .238 with eight home runs and 31 stolen bases last season for Class AA Biloxi, but is valued for his defense.
The pre-debut extensions show that the small- and mid-sized markets are doing quite well. It’s not a case of the Dodgers or Yankees or Blue Jays taking a gamble on players who have barely played above Class AA – but smaller-market clubs who don't usually rank high in payroll.
Indeed it was, and it it won't be the last time Lindstein, or a slew of other defensemen, will get schooled by arguably the greatest player on the planet, Connor McDavid. And it won't be the last time seeing him on the ice, and that's a good thing, because it means the 21-year-old is a mainstay in the NHL.
Here comes McDavid, with speed of a freight train, barreling down on Lindstein. What does he do in that moment? Probably what the majority of NHL defensemen do -- hope and pray.
"It's a pretty big deal when you see Connor McDavid comes up with speed," Lindstein said. "... It was just cool to play against the best player in the world."
What's sort of defined the Galve, Sweden native's game is that even after that humbling moment that at the time, gave the Edmonton Oilers a 2-0 lead in the third period, he came right back in the ice for his next shift and pinched in on a play that helped lead to a Pius Suter goal not even 2.5 minutes later.
He wasn't in awe of the moment. He put his head right back down and went back to work.
There are ebbs and flows to playing the position, and there will be wow moments and there will be learning moments.
But when Lindstein, who earned his first NHL point in his debut -- an assist -- against the New York Islanders on March 10, played in his 10th game on Monday against the San Jose Sharks, he potted his first NHL goal:
Who is happier about Theo Lindstein's first NHL goal?
And quite frankly, the Blues couldn't have drawn up a better start to an NHL career. It's been surprisingly quite seamless.
There's a calmness, a coolness to his game so far, not being overwhelmed and in awe of the moment.
This bodes so well moving forward, much more so than what the defenseman admitted he was expecting when he first arrived.
"I was just expecting to come up here maybe to learn a lot from the guys up here and see the game up here, maybe play a couple games, but I feel good out there and I'm just going to keep playing my game to earn every bit of ice time and to play every game," Lindstein said. "Just have fun out there. Not a lot of games left in the season and make it as good as possible, take that with me for next year."
Blues coach Jim Montgomery didn't sugarcoat anything. There would be no coddling with the player. The Blues invested heavily into this player, the 29th pick in the 2023 Draft, and at the time of his recall, their season was in a bit of flux until this recent run that thrust them back into playoff conversation, so why not get a look at another piece to what is expected to be a big part of the future of the organization?
And the young man hasn't disappointed.
"I think his brain and his feet are NHL-ready," Montgomery said. "The position is hard on young players, and a lot of credit should go to Colton Parayko because he's made his life real easy. He's talking to him on every shift. I don't know exact words he's telling him, but he's probably saying, 'Don't be afraid to have a great gap. I'll cover everything up.' It's really reassuring when someone you're playing with is telling you to be aggressive, don't worry, I've got your back, and he can clean everything up because he's done it his whole career."
Lindstein and the 11-year veteran Parayko have been a pair since Lindstein arrived. The transition has been smooth, the match has fit like a glove. It's sort of the yesteryear match when a young Parayko was paired with the crafty veteran Jay Bouwmeester, quite the shutdown pair that was a big part of the Blues' run to the Stanley Cup in 2019.
We're not there yet with this pairing, but who better to be a teaching mechanism for Lindstein than a Cup winner who's been through so many moments in his career?
"Just trying to do that as much as possible," Parayko said. "Obviously I know what it's like to come into this league. It's a tough league. Just try and remember things I would think about, what I would think makes you a good player and makes sure that he sticks with w hat he does great and makes him a great player. If there's anything he sees, or anything of that, don't hesitate ... I know I've been in the league for 11 years, but guys are always seeing something different. Just try to build together. Not too big, not too small. Just mainly trying to make him feel comfortable and allow him to play his game and we can just start reading and build off each other.
"I've had some great mentors, I don't know however you want to put it, leaders that have kind of helped me a lot, kind of put me under their wing. It's special, just knowing that you have teammates there. It's not just myself, it's everybody. Obviously I get the chance to play with him, but everyone in the locker room has been coming together and it's been great. A lot of good players with a good vibe going on in the locker room. Guys are coming together. I think everybody's making him feel at home, it's not just myself. I think that's important too. I get the pleasure of playing with him, but it's a team thing for sure."
There have been those that have made comparisons to Logan Mailloux, how he had to endure struggles earlier this season before finding his game of late. You have to remember, Mailloux went the route of junior hockey and the American Hockey League; Lindstein took a different path to get here and adapting as quickly as he has can be attributed to the fact he spent three seasons with Brynas IF of the Swedish Hockey League, the top league over there, before making the move to North America to play in Springfield of the AHL this season, playing in 56 games (six goals, eight assists, minus-24) and playing big minutes to ready him for this moment.
His Corsi-for through 10 games is 161-100, a 61.24 percent clip, according to naturalstattrick.com and shots for-against is 69-38 with him on the ice and has been on the ice for six goals for, just two against. The numbers don't lie.
"I had to come over here and play on the small rink for sure," Lindstein said. "I've been playing in tournaments on small rinks, but to be here now and to play all season, it's another thing. That was the biggest part in the beginning. It goes a little bit faster over here because it's smaller. That's the biggest thing. You have to be smart out there all the time and be on your toes all the time because things are happening out there all the time.
"I feel like I started pretty good (in Springfield), but after a couple of games, I went down a little bit but just came back from that. It's been a tough year for Springfield. We have a really young team down there. But I think I learned a lot from it. I played a lot of minutes when I was down there. I think that helps me a lot for coming up here."
The Blues were not going to rush and usher Lindstein to the NHL prematurely. They picked their spot and to this point, it's worked out better than imagined.
"Even what helped more is getting used to the North American game for 50 games down in the American (Hockey) League, where it's a real grind," Montgomery said. "You've got to play tired, you've got to play 3-in-3, three in two-and-a-half. That league really teaches you how to manage your recovery, teaches you how to manage your physical and mental challenges that come your way. In the Swedish League, I don't think they even play back-to-backs."
Lindstein is a plus-4, is averaging 15:15 per game and has been utilized on a penalty kill that, prior to Monday, was first in the NHL since the Olympic break at 88.1 percent. Having a mentor like Parayko has been a godsend, though.
"I feel like I've been playing good so far. Colton has been helping me a lot out there," Lindstein said. "He's very loud out there and I hear him every time. He talks a lot to me. That helps a lot for me.
"We're two different players. He's a big, strong, good defenseman. He can skate too. He's a great skater. But I feel that I can play my game with him, join the rushes, be the fourth guy joining up in the rushes. Sometimes he's up there too and I'm standing back. It's situation by situation on how it goes. If I feel that I can jump up, I'm going to jump up and fall up in the rushes all the time. We're helping each other out there.
"The biggest thing is all the players are better up here of course, and everyone is smarter, bigger, stronger."
When you're a 21-year-old who has a guy with Parayko pedigree pumping you full of confidence, it can only help his game grow, because that's how Parayko was taught.
"That's the thing I want to keep reiterating to him is just be confident, play your game," Parayko said. "If something goes wrong, I tell him I make mistakes, plenty of them and I've been in the league for 11 years. That's just the way it goes. I'm going to be there to support him. That's why we have three other forwards to support us and hopefully a goalie too. I feel like we'll just start thinking about it or trying to not make mistakes, and that's when things go the wrong way. Just be confident and make your play. There's good players around the league. There's other good players we're playing against. Just keep your head up and keep looking forward always.
"You've still got to go out and execute the whole game plan, but at the same time, I feel the more you talk to him, the more you feel more comfortable. That's for everybody. But I just reiterate that he's in this league for a reason. He's a good hockey player. Talking is a huge part of it all. Just trying to see what he's thinking, what I'm thinking and how do we mesh this together and make it work out.
"Be a sponge, keep learning, keep absorbing things. It's a lot. I'm still learning. You can say, quote-unquote, that I'm the guy that's mentoring him but it's funny because I'm still learning myself. Everybody's learning always. I think that's when it's important is when you can always keep an open mind, but at the same time, keep your focus. Know what you need to do and know what makes you good."
Lindstein is doing just that. There will be peaks and valleys, but the peaks are outweighing the valleys, surprisingly in the early going.
"There's a lot of good players in this league," Lindstein said. "To learn from all the players you see out there, it's just a dream-come-true to be out there."
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - AUGUST 26: Kyle Bradish #38 of the Baltimore Orioles reacts after giving up a home run in the third inning against David Hamilton #17 of the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 26, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Orioles fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The Orioles have only played four games out of a full 162-game season. They have won as many games as they’ve lost so far. It’s fine, for now. It would be nice if it was better, but it’s fine. Things just don’t feel fine since the losses and to some degree one of the wins are all continuing with stories that were problems for the team over the past season and a half.
Is the offense going to be good enough, with the offseason reinforcements it got, to reverse a trajectory of decline? Is a rebuilt starting rotation going to do the thing? Is a not-built bullpen going to cause continual problems? And then there’s the defense, good grief…
For this week’s survey, you have to pick only one. What’s your biggest concern for the rest of the season?
If you don’t see the survey above, view this article in Incognito Mode.
Results will be posted later in the week. In the meantime, you can head into the comments below to share your concerns.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 29: Jake Irvin #27 of the Washington Nationals delivers a pitch in the first inning of a game between the Washington Nationals and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on March 29, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Griffin Quinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Through 4 games under new pitching coach Simon Mathews, Nationals pitchers as a group are seeing somewhat of a renaissance in terms of their “stuff”, with many of them finding extra velocity, spin, or movement on their pitches. Chief among them in terms of major changes has been Jake Irvin, who demonstrated perhaps more changes than any pitcher in the big leagues from 2025 to 2026 during his 5-inning, 2-run performance on Sunday at Wrigley Field. Let’s break down these changes and what they mean for Irvin’s 2026 outlook.
Lost in my coverage of Sunday's games was a very encouraging performance by Jake Irvin. Starting with a drastically lower arm slot, Irvin's fastball sustained its ride to push it to a plus offering. He also altered his slider to give it more loft. He is a name to follow! pic.twitter.com/RsOKuVQgmn
The first thing of note is that Irvin’s velocity was up a tick in his first start of 2026 from 2025. His fastball was over 1 MPH faster than it was in 2025, and all of his breaking balls and offspeeds were up a few ticks of velo (except for one, but more on that later). Perhaps this was just a result of Irvin feeling fresh in his very first start of the year, and it will be back to 2025 levels in a few weeks, but velocity being down was a problem for Irvin from the start last year, so it’s certainly refreshing to see that not be the case this season.
Another change Irvin made was dropping his arm angle for the 4th consecutive season. Irvin had an average arm angle of 32 degrees when he entered the big leagues in 2023, and has dropped it all the way to 25 degrees now in 2026. The result is a complete overhaul in his pitch’s movement, with none of his arsenal having the same movement profile as when he entered the bigs.
The pitch that saw the most major change from the arm angle tweak, as well as a likely change in grip, was his slider, which lost nearly 2 MPH of velocity, and in exchange, had nearly 9 more inches of vertical break than it had in 2025, making the pitch more of a sweeper than a traditional slider. Pitch models are a big fan of the change to the pitch, with Thomas Nestico’s Stuff+ formula grading the pitch at 111, 9 points up from 2025, and in the top 50 for all sliders in baseball.
Irvin also refined his pitch usage in his first start of 2026, cutting his fastball and curveball usage and distributing it to other pitches. Against righties, Irvin used his sinker primarily, throwing it 30% of the time, and bumped up his cutter and slider/sweeper usage from 6% and 7% to 10% and 14%, respectively. He attacked outside all afternoon with his pitches, looking to miss barrels with his horizontal moving pitches, while occasionally coming inside with his fastball and sinker.
When facing lefties, Irvin drastically cut use of his fastball and curveball, with the heater usage dropping from 38% to 26% and the curveball from 33% to 23%. With that 24% drop in usage of his 2 main pitches in 2025, he filled it with a 16% increase in cutter usage, 4% increase in changeup usage, and 4% increase in slider usage. He kept his sinker below the zone, hammered inside with his curveball and cutter, and kept them guessing with fastballs on the outside corner.
To recap, through a velocity increase, refining of his slider, and optimization of his pitch usage, Irvin saw an overall improvement to his stuff and impressive results against an impressive Cubs lineup, with the only runs he allowed being solo shots in the wind turbine called Wrigley Field. If he can keep his velocity up and continue to attack hitters with a plan that fits his arsenal, we may be seeing a return to 2024 first-half Jake Irvin form.
Mark Cuban knew it was time for him to sell the Dallas Mavericks — and he doesn't regret that choice. His bank account swelling up with his share of the $3.5 billion team valuation has a lot to do with that, but he said at the time the NBA was moving from a technology business (his strength) to a real estate business, and he knew it was time.
"It's a big emotional commitment. You hear the passion and everything. Now, imagine going up and down like that every single game. That's hard. My kids, they were coming of the age where they are coming of the mindset that they might want to work at the Mavs. I did not want that for them. It can be abusive, a lot. If fans don't like what you're doing or the team's not doing well. You're the worst human being on the planet and they treat you that way...
"I don't regret selling. I regret who I sold to. I made a lot of mistakes in the process, and I'll leave it at that."
Cuban sold the Mavericks to Miriam Adelson — owner of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation — and the team is run by her son-in-law, Las Vegas Sands CEO Patrick Dumont.
The season that Cuban sold the Mavericks they played in the NBA Finals. By the middle of the next season, GM Nico Harrison had convinced Dumont it was time to trade Luka Doncic, a move that led to intense fan backlash and ultimately cost Harrison his job. After that season, the Mavericks got lucky in the NBA Draft Lottery and jumped to the top, selecting new franchise cornerstone Cooper Flagg.
Cuban said before the sale that he would stay on in some role with the Mavericks' basketball operations. That did not happen. Cuban is still a regular at Mavericks games.
The Mavericks, at 24-51, have the sixth-worst record in the NBA this season and will head into the NBA Draft Lottery with much better odds than they had a season ago.
One of the most intriguing baseball betting options is the “run first inning” market, where you can wager on whether there will be runs scored in the opening frame.
The San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres have been two of the worst-hitting teams to start the season, and my MLB picks expect their bats to get off to another cold start tonight.
Check out the rest of my free NRFI and YRFI bets for Tuesday, March 31.
Best NRFI/YRFI bets today
Pick
Odds
/ - YRFI
-130
/ - YRFI
-113
/ - NRFI
-120
Nationals at Phillies: YRFI (-130)
The Philadelphia Phillies are sending talented prospect Andrew Painter to the hill, but it’s unclear what we’ll get in his MLB debut.
Painter posted a 5.26 ERA across 26 minor league starts last year, and the Washington Nationals feature dangerous bats like James Wood and CJ Abrams at the top of their order.
Meanwhile, the Nats are using relief pitcher P.J. Poulin as an opener; he posted a 3.93 xERA over 24 2/3 innings last year. I don’t trust him against a Phillies lineup led by Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and Bryce Harper — especially with a stiff 13-mph breeze blowing toward the outfield at the hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park today.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MLB Network
Tigers at Diamondbacks: YRFI (-113)
Casey Mize struggled during the second half of last season, posting a 5.54 ERA over his final 13 starts for the Detroit Tigers. He now faces an Arizona Diamondbacks lineup loaded at the top with Ketel Marte, Corbin Carroll, and Geraldo Perdomo.
The Tigers also feature dangerous hitters at the top of their order, going up against D-Backs righty Brandon Pfaadt, who ranked in the bottom 10th percentile last year in barrel rate, exit velocity, and xBA (.285).
Pfaadt pitched to a 5.25 ERA across 33 starts in 2025, with that number ballooning to 7.31 in the first inning.
Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: DBacks.TV | Tigers.TV
Giants at Padres: NRFI (-120)
Logan Webb was roughed up in his season debut for the San Francisco Giants. That said, he’s a proven ace, posting a 2.94 FIP across 132 starts over the last four years, so I'll be looking for him to bounce back.
Meanwhile, German Marquez makes his debut for the San Diego Padres and will be excited to pitch at Petco Park after spending his entire career at altitude.
Marquez gets a favorable matchup against San Francisco, which ranks last in the majors in OPS (.441) and sits in the bottom three in barrel rate and hard-hit rate. San Diego isn’t much better, sitting 28th in OPS (.512) and 26th in barrel rate.
Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBC Sports BA | Padres.TV
2026 Transparency record
NRFI/YRFI picks: 3-3, -0.25 units
What is a NRFI bet?
NRFI (No Run First Inning) and YRFI (Yes Run First Inning) bets add a thrilling twist to the start of an MLB game. A NRFI bet is a wager that no runs will be scored in the first inning. You're betting that the starting pitchers for both teams will get through the first inning without allowing any runs, whether by striking out batters, inducing ground balls, or through solid defensive play.
A YRFI bet is the exact opposite. You're betting that at least one run will be scored in the first inning. In this case, you’re hoping for an early offensive burst such as a leadoff walk, a timely hit, or even a home run.
NRFI and YRFI bets add excitement to the early part of a game and offer immediate gratification for bettors looking for a quick resolution.
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.
The Senators signed a pair of their drafted NCAA prospects on Monday, bringing both into the organization after their school's hockey seasons recently came to a close.
Penn State goaltender Kevin Reidler has signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Sens. The 6-foot-6, 206-pound netminder will report to the Belleville Senators on an amateur tryout for the rest of this season.
Reidler went 11-7-0 for the Nittany Lions this season, posting a 3.31 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage. The big Swede was originally selected by Ottawa in the fifth round (151st overall) of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
Meanwhile, Cornell defenceman Hoyt Stanley has also turned pro, signing a three-year entry-level contract with Ottawa. Stanley was a finalist for ECAC Hockey's best defensive defenceman award, which the NHL continues to overlook during its own awards season.
Like Reidler, Stanley will join Belleville on an ATO for the rest of the season.
Because the Sens dealt away their top three picks in the 2023 NHL Draft, Stanley was the first player they selected that year. He was drafted in the fourth round (108th overall) and has attended the last three development camps.
Stanley could make his professional debut as early as Friday, when Belleville visits Rochester to face the Americans. The B-Sens have seven games remaining in their regular season.
Maybe someday in Ottawa, Hoyt Stanley will hoist Stanley (I'll see myself out).
BALTIMORE — Shane Baz’s five-year, $68 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles would escalate by $12.5 million if he wins Cy Young Awards in 2028 and ’29.
Baz gets a $4 million signing bonus, half payable within 30 days of the contact’s approval by the commissioner’s office and half payable within 60 days, according to details obtained by The Associated Press.
His deal replaces a one-year, $3.5 million contract agreed to in January. The 26-year-old right-hander gets salaries of $1 million this year, $7 million in 2027, $10 million in 2028, $21 million in 2029 and $25 million in 2030.
Baz’s 2029 and ’30 salaries can increase based on his finish in 2028 Cy Young Award voting: $5 million for first, $2.5 million for second, $1 million for third, $750,000 for fourth and $500,000 for fifth.
His 2030 salary can escalate based on 2029 Cy Young voting at the same levels and amounts, but the maximum increase for 2030 is $7.5 million.
Baz has award bonuses for Cy Young in 2026 and ’27: $1 million for first, $500,00 for second and $250,000 for third.
For all years of the deal he would get $100,000 for World Series MVP, $50,000 for League Championship Series MVP, a Gold Glove and All-Star election or selection.
He would get a one-time $1 million assignment bonus if traded at a time after the end of the 2028 World Series — when he would have become eligible for free agency,
Acquired from Tampa Bay in December, Baz would have been eligible for free agency after the 2028 World Series. He gave up four runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings Sunday, getting a no-decision in an 8-6 win over Minnesota.
Baz was 10-12 with a 4.87 ERA last season in 31 starts last year, his first full season after Tommy John surgery.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees tosses his bat after he hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on March 27, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across Major League Baseball. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Yankees fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Last week, I had the Pinstripe Alley staff make predictions on the 2026 season, and one of them had to do with a certain three-time AL MVP who is already fourth on the all-time Yankees home run list behind some fellas named Babe, Mickey, and Lou.
I know that some of you already made predictions on Aaron Judge’s home run total after seeing our predictions, but now it’s time to submit them in Reacts survey form! We have a few different range options to select, so pick where you think he’ll land. He’s topped 50 in three of his last four seasons, and was on pace for 50 in 2023 had it not been for that damn Dodger Stadium bullpen fence.
Also, while we asked for predictions on what the Yankees’ playoff fate would be in 2026, we didn’t ask for a classic win total prediction. So there are some ranges in a question for that as well!
Vote in the poll and we’ll check out the results later this week.
Vaughn Dalzell
Kurt Helin
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- YRFI
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- YRFI
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- NRFI