Welcome back to A Pod of Their Own, an all-women led Home Run Applesauce podcast where we talk all things Mets, social justice issues in baseball, and normalize female voices in the sports podcasting space.
This week, we begin by discussing some notes out of Mets camp, including Ryan Lambert’s unhinged energy (complimentary), Nolan McLean and Freddy Peralta’s strong starts, the battle for the right field job, and more.
Next, we choose our Dudes for 2026—underrated players who we think may make a big contribution to the Mets this season.
Finally, we wrap things up with Walk-off Wins, where each of us talks about what’s making us happy this week, baseball-related or otherwise.
You can listen or subscribe to all of our wonderful Home Run Applesauce podcasts through Apple Podcasts, where we encourage you to leave a review if you enjoy the show. It really helps! And you can find us on the Stitcher app, Spotify, or listen wherever you get podcasts. You can also support our work by subscribing to our Patreon, which will get you bonus episodes, access to our Discord server, livestream experiences, an exclusive monthly playlist, and more!
You can follow A Pod of Their Own on Twitter, Instagram, and Bluesky (@apodoftheirown) and you can follow Home Run Applesauce on Twitter and Instagram (@HRApplesauce). You can also follow our co-hosts on Twitter and Bluesky: Allison McCague (@PetitePhD), Maggie Wiggin (@maggie162), and LindaSurovich (@LindaSurovich). You can also email the show at aa.apodoftheirown@gmail.com.
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Fans of the Detroit Red Wings could soon be getting a look at highly-touted prospect goaltender Sebastian Cossa at the NHL level for the second time in his professional career.
On Wednesday morning, the Red Wings announced that Cossa had been called up to the club under "emergency conditions" from the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Additionally, defenseman Erik Gustafsson, who cleared waivers, has been assigned to the Griffins.
UPDATE: The #RedWings have recalled Sebastian Cossa from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins under emergency conditions.
Goaltender John Gibson left Monday afternoon's victory over the Nashville Predators after the opening 20 minutes of play and was replaced by backup Cam Talbot.
While head coach Todd McLellan indicated that Gibson suffered a "stinger" on the arm, it appeared as though he wasn't seriously hurt.
However, because Cossa has been called up, the injury to Gibson could be more severe than initially thought.
Cossa, who has been one of the driving elements of the incredibly successful year for the Griffins, has gone 24-4-3 with an impressive 1.99 goals-against average, a .927 save percentage, and has also posted five shutouts.
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JUPITER, FL - FEBRUARY 12: Foster Griffin #22 of the Washington Nationals pitches in the bullpen during Spring Training workout day at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Thursday, February 12, 2026 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Lucas Casel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The first free agent signing Paul Toboni made was a bit of a mysterious one. He gave LHP Foster Griffin a 1-year $5.5 million deal after three excellent years in Japan. Griffin will get his first opportunity to test himself against big league competition tonight, in an exhibition game against Venezuela.
Foster Griffin was a first round pick for the Royals back in 2014. However, things did not work out for the southpaw in the Royals organization. He did make his way to the big leagues after a long trek through the minors, but never established himself as a regular. Wanting to continue as a starter, Griffin went to Japan following the 2022 season.
In his three years pitching in NPB, Griffin was dominant. He posted a 2.57 ERA in 315.2 innings over in Japan. Griffin had his best season in 2025, posting a 1.52 ERA, but injuries limited him to just 89 innings. When he was healthy, Griffin used his deep pitch mix and command to dominate NPB hitters.
Paul Toboni signs his first Free Agent as the Nationals GM and it comes in the shape of LHP Foster Griffin
A 1 year, $5.5M deal. He is signed out of the NPB, coming over from the Yomiuri Giants
Across 315.2 IP as a SP for Yomiuri he posted a 2.57 ERA & 1.03 WHIP. 318/70 K/BB… pic.twitter.com/TwUg4CgVmB
The biggest question mark for Griffin is whether his softer arsenal will translate to the MLB. His fastball averaged just over 90 MPH last season, which is why he could only get a relatively modest one-year deal despite elite production. As a lefty, it is easier to survive with less velocity, but it is a question mark.
Griffin made up for his lack of power with an extremely deep mix of pitches. He threw seven different pitch types last season. Griffin was able to have a different pitch mix against righties and lefties. Against righties, he leaned more on his cutter and changeup to go with the fastball. He also mixed in his sweeper, as well as a splitter and occasional curve. Griffin’s sweeper was his go to secondary against lefties. He also used a sinker to get ground balls. In Japan, Griffin learned to mix up his pitches beautifully.
Former Yomiuri Giants LHP Foster Griffin lands with Washington for one-year, $5.5M.
Great low-risk signing. He’s very much capable of overperforming the contract.
That is what we will see from him tonight against Venezuela. I actually think he will rely even more on his secondary pitches in the MLB. Nats pitchers are moving away from fastballs in general, and Griffin’s deep bag of pitches gives him plenty of non-fastball options. Griffin threw his 4-seamer about 40% of the time in Japan, and I expect that to go down even more in the big leagues.
Like a lot of guys that go to Japan, Griffin really learned to pitch over in the NPB. He talked about his evolution in an interview before he signed. It was pretty cool hearing him talk about his time in Japan. Griffin described it as a second chance at baseball. He also went into detail about some of the new pitches he learned. Like many pitchers who go to Japan, Griffin picked up a splitter. He also found a sweeper grip that worked for him over there.
Foster Griffin, who's been pitching in Japan the last few years, feels like he's gotten a second chance at baseball.
Don’t get it twisted, Foster Griffin is not going to come back to the MLB looking like an ace. However, his new found craftsmanship gives him a chance to be a solid back of the rotation starter. If anything, Griffin will be tough on hitters because they don’t have the book on him yet. Hopefully, Griffin can take advantage of that and get off to a hot start. If that happens, the Nats could potentially move him at the deadline.
Griffin has been held back so far this spring, but he is finally getting a chance to show what he’s got tonight. All we have seen from Griffin is videos from live BP sessions. It is not much to go off of, but he seemed to really befuddle CJ Abrams in the one video we have of him throwing.
Venezuela will be a major first test for Griffin. They have a lot of star power in their lineup. The Venezuelans feature the likes of Ronald Acuna Jr., Salvador Perez, Eugenio Suarez and Jackson Chourio among others. This lineup is as good as any he will see in the MLB.
I will be watching to see what his pitch mix looks like and if he is able to find a tick or two of velocity. Griffin was asked to go deep into games over in Japan. Maybe, he could tick up to 91-92 if he does not have to conserve himself as much. Every tick matters for pitchers, especially when you don’t have a ton of velocity.
Overall, Griffin is an interesting story and someone I am curious to watch. He is very likely to be in the rotation, so I want to see what the lefty has got. Griffin made a few big league appearances in 2020 and 2022. However, with his new pitches, Griffin is a different guy now. I really do not know what to expect.
Entering the season, Griffin is the wild card of the rotation. There is a chance his stuff does not translate to North America. However, the track record of pitchers who dominate in the NPB coming to the MLB is pretty strong.
While both are soft-tossing lefties, Nats fans should not confuse Griffin for Shinnosuke Ogasawara. Griffin was much more productive in Japan, with far more swing and miss in his game. The Nats will be counting on Griffin to be a solid starter, and it is an intriguing gamble to take. I am excited to see what he has got tonight against a tough lineup.
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 27: Jurickson Profar #7 of the Atlanta Braves ducks out of the way of an inside pitch during the MLB game between the Pittsburg Pirates and the Atlanta Braves on September 27, 2025 at TRUIST Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
You know the saying — yeah, that one. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice—if you fool me you can’t be fooled again.
Erm, anyway.
Look, I’m no stranger to, “You did what?“ I live in a house with two children under eight, a male orange cat (if you know, you know), two dogs that were rescued from not-so-great situations that don’t quite know how to be dogs, and, well, me. Even so, you have to think that ”take a PED-related sanction in MLB basically a calendar year after you took a prior PED-related sanction in MLB” is its own special case of a bruh moment.
What’s done is done at this point, and the Braves now need to scramble (again, for the same reason). But, technically, Jurickson Profar isn’t banned for 2027. Assuming there is a 2027 MLB season, anyway. Will the Braves just cut Profar for his duplicate transgressions? Will they somehow retain him and actually use him in 2027, even though he’ll have played for like three months in the span of over two years?
What do you think? To be clear: not what you think they should do, but what they will do.
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 3: Justin Champagnie #9 of the Washington Wizards drives to the basket during the game against the Orlando Magic on March 3, 2026 at Kia Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Wizards lost another one — this time a reasonably competitive game (at least for a while) against the Orlando Magic. The final margin: 17.
That 17-point final gap sounds big for the words “reasonably competitive,” and those words in this case are not intended to convey the idea that the Wizards ever had a serious chance of winning. They did play Orlando about even in three of the four quarters, though it always felt like the Magic were just better and would eventually go on a run.
Will Riley goes for a layup in the team’s loss to the Orlando Magic. | Getty Images
That happened in the third quarter, which the Magic “won” by 13.
Although I’ve written variations of this next point many times the past couple years, it bears repeating: this kind of loss is by design. I mean, they gave 33 minutes to JuJu Reese, 31 to Leaky Black, and 20 to Sharife Cooper. This is not to slander any of them — if they work very hard and smart, each of them has the ability to be on NBA rosters and maybe in a team’s rotation for the next several years.
Possibly.
At this point, they’re G-Leaguers, 10-day, and two-way guys. Which is to say, not ready to offer serious competition to a professional team making a push to get their collective stuff together in time for the playoffs. Maybe that will be the Wizards in the future.
Thoughts & Observations
Trae Young will make his Wizards debut on Thursday against the Utah Jazz. Expect a tight minutes restriction, especially if he’s playing well. This one — and Sunday’s game at the New Orleans Pelicans are must lose for the Wizards.
After deploying a tiny lineup that got bludgeoned inside by the Houston Rockets, Washington opened even smaller. Kyshawn George was out with a “sprained elbow,” so head coach Brian Keefe started Will Riley, who’s…yet to develop muscles. Somehow, the Wizards (slightly) out-rebounded the Magic.
Coulibaly picked up two fouls in the first two minutes of the game. Keefe left him in, and he committed his third foul with five minutes left in the period. Given the team’s goals, and the reality that he wasn’t going to play more than 24 minutes, I thought Keefe should have let him continue playing — even with three fouls in the first quarter. Let him get the experience of defending through foul trouble.
The Wizards struggled frequently to get shots in the halfcourt. They had back-to-back shot clock violations in the first quarter. In the second, they committed consecutive backcourt violations.
Related: a recurring entry in my game notes was something along the lines of “nice move (or shot), but…” and the “but” would be followed by something about how hard the Wizards had to get a difficult shot. I made that note about Coulibaly, Tre Johnson, Will Riley, Bub Carrington, and Jaden Hardy.
Related-related: Difficult shot-making is valuable and necessary. But it cannot be the foundation of an efficient NBA offense. Much more valuable is the ability to generate easy shots. The Wizards aren’t there right now. It’s something that may come — they’re gaining experience, and they can improve with work on their bodies, skills, and decision-making.
From what I’ve seen so far, Reese has a very long ways to go to have an NBA career. He’s an undersized center whose best skill seems to be passing. He’s not a rim protector (by aptitude or athleticism). He was ineffective as a switch defender. He’s not nearly strong enough to bring high-level physicality.
Riley scored on a first-quarter possession that involved some fine moves and aggression. And it drove me nuts because it should have been illegal. On the move, I thought he double-dribbled once and committed at least three carries. Good move based on the way the NBA is currently officiated. It should have been a turnover.
From the notebook: Orlando’s offense is an incoherent mess.
Jaden Hardy is very confident in his ability to make shots.
Orlando shot 1-12 from three in the first half. They finished the game 10-25, which means they hit 9-13 in the second half. The quality of looks didn’t seem to change — just the result.
Coulibaly has been more aggressive offensively the past few weeks. One possession last night was a bit worrisome — he tried to post up on Tristan da Silva, got forced into a weirdly contorted fling, and got his shot blocked.
Every time I see Orlando play, I’m a bit underwhelmed by Paolo Banchero. That was true even last night when he had 37 points and 6 assists with very good efficiency. He seems heavily reliant on difficult shots and inefficient mid-rangers. Last night, he took mid-range faders when being defended by Riley — where Banchero has big size and strength advantages. I think center is the best position for Banchero and the Magic, except that his lack of rim protection might undermine their defense more than he’d benefit their offense.
Going by the Game Score metric on basketball-reference, this was the fifth best game of Jett Howard’s career. He scored 12 points on six shots.
Four Factors
Below are the four factors that decide wins and losses in basketball — shooting (efg), rebounding (offensive rebounds), ball handling (turnovers), fouling (free throws made).
The four factors are measured by:
eFG% (effective field goal percentage, which accounts for the three-point shot)
OREB% (offensive rebound percentage)
TOV% (turnover percentage — turnovers divided by possessions)
FTM/FGA (free throws made divided by field goal attempts)
FOUR FACTORS
WIZARDS
MAGIC
LGAVG
eFG%
50.5%
61.8%
54.3%
OREB%
27.1%
9.4%
26.1%
TOV%
12.2%
8.2%
12.8%
FTM/FGA
0.174
0.421
0.207
PACE
98
99.4
ORTG
111
129
115.3
Stats & Metrics
PPA is my overall production metric, which credits players for things they do that help a team win (scoring, rebounding, playmaking, defending) and dings them for things that hurt (missed shots, turnovers, bad defense, fouls).
PPA is a per possession metric designed for larger data sets. In small sample sizes, the numbers can get weird. In PPA, 100 is average, higher is better and replacement level is 45. For a single game, replacement level isn’t much use, and I reiterate the caution about small samples sometimes producing weird results.
POSS is the number of possessions each player was on the floor in this game.
ORTG = offensive rating, which is points produced per individual possessions x 100. League average so far this season is listed in the Four Factors table above. Points produced is not the same as points scored. It includes the value of assists and offensive rebounds, as well as sharing credit when receiving an assist.
USG = offensive usage rate. Average is 20%. Median so far this season is 17.7%.
ORTG and USG are versions of stats created by former Wizards assistant coach Dean Oliver and modified by me. ORTG is an efficiency measure that accounts for the value of shooting, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers. USG includes shooting from the floor and free throw line, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers.
+PTS = “Plus Points” is a measure of the points gained or lost by each player based on their efficiency in this game compared to league average efficiency on the same number of possessions. A player with an offensive rating (points produced per possession x 100) of 100 who uses 20 possessions would produce 20 points. If the league average efficiency is 115, the league — on average — would produced 23.0 points in the same 20 possessions. So, the player in this hypothetical would have a +PTS score of -3.0.
Players are sorted by total production in the game.
CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 27: Cleveland Monsters goaltender Zach Sawchenko (36) traps the puck as Cleveland Monsters defenseman Will Butcher (39) defends Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins left wing Bokondji Imama (14) during the third period of the American Hockey League game between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Cleveland Monsters on February 27, 2026, at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins took a split this past weekend in Cleveland, winning the first game and losing the second in overtime. WBSPenguins.com with the review:
Friday, Feb. 27 – PENGUINS 3 at Cleveland 2 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton took the lead with a pair of quick goals and never looked back to defeat Cleveland in a spirited bout to start the weekend. Atley Calvert and Ville Koivunen scored 45 seconds apart to put the Penguins up 2-0 in the first period. Aidan McDonough buried one 23.8 seconds before the second intermission, keeping the team ahead 3-1. The Monsters made it a one-goal game in the third, but Joel Blomqvist was a fortress late, ensuring Wilkes-Barre/Scranton got the win.
Saturday, Feb. 28 – PENGUINS 1 at Cleveland 2 (OT) Another nail-biter between the Penguins and Monsters went to overtime, where Cleveland picked up its league-leading 10th OT win of the year. The Monsters struck first, but a power-play goal in the second period by Matt Dumba equalized. Koivunen posted an assist on the goal, running his point streak to six games. Sergei Murashov made 27 stops, including a save-of-the-year candidate when the game was tied 1-1.
Sergei Murashov helped the Penguins get to overtime in the Saturday game by flashing the glove with this save of the year caliber stop.
Unfortunately, Murashov would pickup the OT loss, his season stats are up to a 20-6-2 record with a .924 save% and 2.12 GAA and three shutouts. Joel Blomqvist picked up the win on Friday to move his season record to 10-4-3, as usual this year netminding has been a major positive factor in WBS.
There was more good news from the league office, forward Ville Koivunen was named AHL player of the month in February for his 16 point effort.
The picture in the standings remains positive, WBS is chugging along towards where they’ve been heading for a while: second place in the division and a bye for the first round of the playoffs with now only 17 games still to play in their 72-game regular season.
All eyes will now focus on the upcoming NHL trade deadline and what that might mean for the roster in Wilkes for the rest of the season. There can still be AHL level trades made after the NHL deadline, but all pro players must be on an AHL roster on Friday to maintain eligibility.
The biggest lingering question for Wilkes figures to be whether or not the NHL Penguins decide to make a transaction to send Avery Hayes back to the minor leagues this week, or come to a decision that Hayes will remain with the NHL team for the balance of the season. At this point it might look like the Ryan Graves AHL experience has come to an end, for this season at least as well. Other prospects and players within the team might be awaiting a call that has seen them included in a trade to send them out of the Pittsburgh organization.
Up ahead is a light two-game schedule this week, Wilkes plays at home tonight against Springfield and then travels for a Friday game against Syracuse. Both opponents are in good form, Springfield is in seventh place but is 3-0-1 in their last four games, Syracuse ranks second in the AHL’s North Division and is carrying a 9-1-0 record in their previous 10 games.
Look back at football’s defining moments and Cometti did them all justice – he didn’t miss a beat and always had the perfect one-liner ready to reel off
The late Tony Charlton, who called a dozen VFL grand finals and three Olympic Games, said sporting commentators should “produce words like bubbles in champagne”. There have been some sublime sporting commentators in this country. But no one in Australian broadcasting turned words into bubbles like Dennis Cometti. Few could match his repertoire of wit, timing and verve. And few were so professional, so versatile, so fully dedicated to their craft, so capable of meeting the moment.
In many ways, Cometti was an outsider. Yes, he’d played and coached in the WAFL. But he wasn’t a legend of the VFL who transitioned into commentary. He wasn’t from the eastern seaboard. He wasn’t some nuggety, phlegmatic former player. He looked like an Oscar Wilde character. He sounded like a man who’d just back-announced Boz Scaggs on the radio. He had to prove himself to audiences who’d never heard of him, and who weren’t used to such dulcet tones calling VFL football.
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 19: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on January 19, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Todd Kirkland/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks face off with the Atlanta Hawks tonight as both teams battle for play-in positioning. The Bucks (four games back) sit at 11th, while the Hawks are tied with the Hornets for 10th; a Bucks win means they would gain a full game on the Hawks. This will be the second matchup between these teams this season, with Milwaukee taking the first on MLK Day in Atlanta. With just one more matchup to come, the Bucks can claim the season series tonight.
Where We’re At
As I explained on today’s episode of Deer Diaries, the Bucks have lost three straight because their offence—which had been sustaining them—has deteriorated rapidly. Their defence has been consistently weak all season (even during the recent winning streak), so that was never going to bail them out. If they can’t recover their previous level of offensive efficiency, they’re finished. On the positive side, Giannis returned and, while he appeared rusty, I thought he looked solid athletically. Hopefully, he continues to improve in all facets as the games progress.
The Hawks are in a much better spot than they were when these teams last met, having won five of their last six games (granted, three of those came against the Wizards and Nets). The newly acquired Jonathan Kuminga has shocked everybody with his performance since getting dealt to Atlanta at the deadline, scoring a combined 64 points in his three games in a Hawks uniform (again, though, two came against the tanking Wiz). They’re also finally getting solid contributions from CJ McCollum, who had a rough start with the team since arriving.
Injury Report
For the Bucks, Taurean Prince (neck) is out. The Hawks have a clean bill of health.
Player To Watch
Giannis. Not because he’s the best player on the team, but because he’s coming back off a long injury-induced break. While GA looked decent athletically in his return, he went 7/18 from the floor (including some bad misses) and had three turnovers. How does he look tonight with the return game out of the way?
How To Watch
ESPN and FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin at 8:30 p.m. CST.
The Mavericks were 1-4 over the last week and remain in 12th place in the West. They beat Brooklyn (123-114), and lost four largely uncompetitive games to Sacramento (130-121), Memphis (124-105), Oklahoma City (100-87), and Charlotte (117-90). Naji Marshall led the team in scoring with 20.3 points per game. Cooper Flagg (foot) remains out, while Naji Marshall (finger), P.J. Washington (ankle), and Marvin Bagley (neck) all missed time.
Grade: C-
Cooper Flagg’s return cannot come fast enough. The Mavericks are playing multiple two-way guys every night and have rotation players in and out. This was one of the most meaningless stretches of basketball the Mavericks have played since possibly the 1980s, as they did not play well and did not improve their lottery odds by a single point.
Max Christie and Khris Middleton played all five games. They averaged a combined 21 points per game on 38-of-101 shooting (37.6 percent). It was not a good showcase from them when they had an elevated offensive burden due to the injuries on the team. Dallas cycled point guards and centers and found nothing worthwhile in either category, outside of a remarkable stat line from Moussa Cisse against the Thunder: 12 rebounds, zero points, zero assists, zero blocks, and zero steals.
The Mavericks play three more road games this week, in Orlando, Boston, and Toronto. The talk is that Cooper Flagg could return in one of these games, and with him being from Maine, a homecoming in Boston could be on the horizon.
Straight A’s: Klay Thompson
Klay Thompson is in Dallas as a result of the falling out he had with Golden State over his role, and particularly with regards to coming off the bench. He came here to start alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, yet now he finds himself subbing in for Max Christie. Any player of his caliber and with his resume would have every right to demand a trade or pout. And yet, Thompson has not said a word. He has been a consummate professional, showing up to work every day and playing as well as he can. I am sure mentoring Cooper Flagg provides incentive to take a back seat on a bad team, but the fact that he hasn’t repeated the antics that led to an exit from the Warriors is commendable.
Currently Failing: Watchability
The Mavericks were already teetering on the edge of tolerable when Cooper Flagg was playing, but now that he has been out for an extended period of time, it’s clear where the joy from those games came from. It’s not even that Dallas is hurt or bad; it is that most of the guys they have healthy are either old or playing for their NBA lives. There are no future implications when Flagg does not play. This is not a Wizards or Nets situation, where they have loads of young guys that could be the core moving forward. This is as close to an existential crisis as basketball fandom gets.
Extra Credit: Khris Middleton
Middleton will be a Maverick for the rest of the year. There were reports of Denver having interest, but ultimately, it will be Dallas where the former champion will play out his 2026 season. Regardless of reasoning, the Mavericks will benefit from his decision. He is another winning vet that can help guide Dallas’ young star rookie and prevent a losing culture from seeping in. It also speaks to the quality of guys behind the scenes, at least to some degree, that he would want to play relatively meaningless basketball in the latter stages of his career when the option to ring chase was on the table. Khris Middleton, we will not forget what you have done here.
Mar 3, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) reacts to his three pointer against the Philadelphia 76ers during the third quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Poke the bear and you get the horns. Something like that. Everyone and their tax advisor knew that coming off their first lost in 10 games, the Spurs would come out swinging on Tuesday night. Boy howdy, did they wax the cow off that haystack.
Devin Vassell and Dylan Harper both had a game high of 22 points, while Victor Wembanyama slept walked his way to 10 points, 8 rebounds, with 3 steals and 6 blocks. 6 blocks. 6 blocks in 24 minutes of play. I couldn’t get 2 blocks on my daughter’s Fisher Price basketball goal in 6 years of play.
What a smooth shot. Devin Vassell, here, hoisted up a shot with such a perfect arch that even the CEO of McDonald’s was so impressed he forgot he was eating his own product that his company dispenses.
I am work shopping an alternative to “Area 51.” Don’t get me wrong, I love Area 51. But these two have an inexplicable mind meld going on whenever they share the court that it can only be described as ESP (extrasensory perception).
Hey, remember when I was just talking about ESP? Did you know that the late, great Dennis Hopper did a commercial praising the exploits of Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin? Well now you do.
Here, Devin Vassell channeled his inner Robin Hood and stole from the rich to give to the robo-advisors. On a team of Victor Wembanyams, Stephon Castles, and De’Aaron Foxes, it’s easy to forget that Devin Vassell is stacking together games played in this stretch run as he helps lead the Spurs to the playoffs.
Another day, another way for Stephon Castle to dunk his way into our hearts. He’s like Shia LeBouf in Transformers (2007): plucky, surprisingly good, and you really don’t mind the Linkin Park soundtrack even if hearing anything Linkin Park makes your ears taste Red Bull even if you like your Red Bull to taste like emo.
Look, I want to apologize from above for comparing our beloved Stephon Castle to Linkin Park. No offense to Linkin Park, but your nu metal/rap rock/alternative metal/electronic rock/pop rock is not enough to describe my love and admiration of Stephon Castle’s game. And I once went to a music festival (it was actually the State Fair of Texas) featuring Linkin Park with 30 Seconds From Mars opening for Linkin Park. But after my friend and I watched 30 Seconds From Mars (purely for Jared Leto) (it was the year when “Dallas Buyers Club” was an Oscar darling) open for Linkin Park, we skipped the main act (Linkin Park) to get a giant fried turkey leg because it’s Texas, and that’s what you do at the State Fair of Texas in 2014.
Dylan Harper out here in his bag waiting for us to say (in my best Stanley Tucci voice) “Girl, that Louis Vitton does not deserve to be hung off your arm.”
Julian Champagnie had no sense of dithering when he served up this soft lob to Luke Kornet to reward the big man for his block and hustle on the defensive end.
In a true display of overflowing of talent, the Spurs unleashed Carter Bryant to the tune of 25:35 minutes where he wreaked upon the basketball world a barrage of 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists in those almost 26 minutes. Feast your eyes as our young prodigy takes to the air in an aerial display of magnanimous marvel.
If you missed the game because you were too busy cataloguing your CD collection of Papa Roach, Limp Bizkit, and Evanescence, here are the full-game highlights:
Next up, the Spurs return home after a long road trip to take on the Detroit Pistons on Thursday, March 5, 2026.
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 05: Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Johan Rojas #18 rounds second base during the Friday evening MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies on July 5, 2024 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Much news out of springtime is good. This player is debuting a new pitch. This player’s swing is looking good. This player is in—say it with me now— The Best Shape of His Life (TM).
But not all of it is. Yesterday’s news that Johan Rojas is looking at a suspension for a positive PED test is decidedly in the negative department. Unless his appeal should change MLB’s mind, Rojas may be out until June, and ineligible for the playoffs.
Rojas figured to get significant playing time for the Phillies this year. Without him, the Phillies’ already tenuous outfield situation gets even more so. That makes today’s question obvious, if unpleasant:
BRADENTON, FL - FEBRUARY 27: Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman (35) bats against the Pittsburgh Pirates on February 27, 2026, at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The spring training experience is different for everyone. Veteran players head down to shake off the rust and dive into a proven routine that works year after year. Bounceback candidates appreciate the opportunity for a fresh start. Prospects relish the chance to get in on the action, while some non-roster invitees treat it like a business trip.
I’ve left out one crucial category. In my opinion, the fans have the best spring training experience. Supporters flock to sunny Sarasota to watch their favorite players perform in an intimate atmosphere. The beers cold, the vibes are strong, and baseball is back.
I just returned north after spending a long weekend watching the Orioles play in Sarasota and Bradenton. It’s a trip that I can’t recommend highly enough to the sickos like us that think about baseball 365 days a year. I’ll stop bragging now and tell you what I saw.
Mountcastle looks unbothered
Ryan Mountcastle knows what it’s like to share first base. The 29-year-old watched his platoon partner Ryan O’Hearn emerge as an All Star last season. He took a back seat last September when the team wanted to provide Coby Mayo an extended look at first. Still, neither of those compare to the current roster crunch on the right side of the infield.
Baltimore inked Pete Alonso to a five year, $155 million deal to play the role of a power hitting first baseman. We’re not talking about Mayo or Samuel Basallo logging a few starts a week. This guy made 160 appearances at first last season, and the starting position clearly belongs to Alonso moving forward.
Mountcastle has heard his name in trade rumors, but he still works for the team that drafted him in the first round of the 2015 draft. The Orioles have yet to include him and any type of deal, and teams can do a lot worse than Mountcastle as a bench bat available late in games.
Mountcastle joked around with his former teammate O’Hearn before smoking a 104 MPH double down the left field line in Bradenton. He hit multiple balls hard and continued to look like a steady defender at first. Mountcastle served as the DH the following day and ripped a single up the middle.
Rutschman can still rip
With Basallo briefly sidelined (he’s since returned to game action), Adley Rutschman made consecutive spring starts behind the plate. He worked a walk in Bradenton, but he brought his big bat to the yard on Saturday. Rutschman doubled from the left side in his first at bat before launching a deep blast from the right side of the plate.
Everyone knows the boost Rutschman can provide if he returns to form at the dish. He entered today slashing .267/.353/.533 with a pair of walks in six appearances. For what it’s worth, Sam Huff is doing what he can to justify a spot as the third catcher. Huff went deep on Saturday, has a pair of doubles under his belt, and entered today hitting .333 in limited action.
The Honeycutt hype train is back
You’ve likely heard about Vance Honeycutt’s strong start by now, but the performance is worth repeating. Honeycutt has three official at bats so far this spring, and he’s 3-for-3 with three home runs. Honeycutt destroyed a hanging slider in his only AB of the day on Saturday.
The late innings of a spring game rarely feature the best competition, but the power surge is a reminder of what the former first-round pick brings to the table. Enrique Bradfield Jr. will receive the lionshare of the early attention, but look for Honeycutt to generate more buzz with a hot start to his minor league season.
McDermott faces uphill battle
Spring training often serves as a reminder that prospects don’t always develop. Non-roster invitees are often former top-prospects from other clubs that failed to develop. The spotlight on fresh faces like Ike Irish and Aron Estrada often steals some shine from forgotten favorites like Chayce McDermott and Jud Fabian.
McDermott became the first true camp cut yesterday along with some players not expecting to compete for a roster spot. McDermott struck out the side with some increased velocity back on February 24, but things fell apart on Saturday. The righty surrendered home runs on three consecutive pitches in the eighth inning. McDermott had thrown multiple different pitches, so this wasn’t a case of him just working on a fastball or anything like that.
There’s always a place in the bullpen for a hard throwing righty with options, but McDermott will have to earn his next opportunity at Norfolk.
Defensive versatility remains a priority
The Orioles emphasis on defensive versatility has continued under new skipper Craig Albernaz. Baltimore is providing Mayo a path to playing time at third base, and he looked comfortable at the hot corner on Saturday.
Albernaz had some fun with Mayo by shifting him to shortstop for an inning, but nobody should expect to see Mayo play the six in the regular season. But Dylan Beavers in center? That’s the type of defensive work that can prove valuable over 162 games.
Jazz vs 76ers best bet: Keyonte George Over 20.5 points (-105)
Keyonte George is having a career year, averaging 23.8 points per game, substantially higher than last season’s 16.8 PPG. George is proving to be a key piece alongside Lauri Markkanen in the Utah Jazz rotation.
The Finnish star is sidelined with a back injury, so it was on George to pick up the offensive slack on Monday. While Utah still lost, he dropped 36 points. The Baylor product has hit the Over in points in two of his last three contests on the road as well.
George is averaging 23.8 PPG on the road and 26.5 points post-All-Star break.
Jazz vs 76ers same-game parlay
Ace Bailey is averaging 12.1 PPG, but he’s cashed the Over in three of his last five, and poured in 18 points on Monday.
Bailey also dropped 26 points last Thursday against the Pelicans, and with Markkanen sidelined, that means more shots to go around.
Brice Sensabaugh is averaging 2.4 makes from downtown since the All-Star break, and he’s hit the Over in triples in two of his last four contests. Opponents are shooting nearly 40% from deep against the Philadelphia 76ers across their last three games.
Jazz vs 76ers SGP
Keyonte George Over 20.5 points
Ace Bailey Over 16.5 points
Brice Sensabaugh Over 2.5 made threes
Our "from downtown" SGP: Music to My Ears
The Sixers have lost two in a row, and Utah only lost to the Nuggets by three points on Sunday. Their young guns will help make this one close.
Jazz vs 76ers SGP
Keyonte George Over 20.5 points
Ace Bailey Over 16.5 points
Brice Sensabaugh Over 2.5 made threes
Jazz +9.5
Jazz vs 76ers odds
Spread: Jazz +9.5 (-110) | 76ers -9.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Jazz +325 | 76ers -425
Over/Under: Over 240 (-110) | Under 240 (-110)
Jazz vs 76ers betting trend to know
The Utah Jazz have hit the Game Total Over in 31 of their last 50 games (+10.10 Units / 18% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Jazz vs. 76ers.
How to watch Jazz vs 76ers
Location
Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
KJZZ, NBC Sports Philadelphia
Jazz vs 76ers latest injuries
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We live in a world that’s increasingly predetermined. From the results in your search engine, to the next spoon-fed video YouTube recommends, to the advertisements you’ll see in this very article (which by the way you’ll see a lot less of if you sign up for Over The Monster and join our little community). Equations and algorithms run our life.
Enter the Red Sox rotation, which like our lives, feels increasingly preprogramed. There SHOULD be an intriguing little battle between Johan Oviedo, Connelly Early and Payton Tolle for the final spot behind Garrett Crochet, Ranger Suarez, Sonny Gray and Brayan Bello — but is there?
Yesterday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive did an outstanding job of outlining the factors at play, and by factors I mean the reason Oviedo is almost certainly going to get the first crack at the rotation over both Early and Tolle, no matter how fabulous their stuff looks on the mound down in Fort Myers. In short, Early has to spend 35 days in the minors for the Sox to gain an extra year of control of his services in 2032, and Tolle needs to spend 46 days down there to get that same extra year of control in 2032. So guess where they’re going come April?
Last week, we did our quarterly approval polling here at Over The Monster, and one of the questions asked “Do you believe the Red Sox will play service time manipulation games with Payton Tolle and / or Connelly Early?” A whopping 77% of respondents answered “yes” to that question, which is kind of astounding when you think about it. We can see what’s happening, and we know what’s about to transpire, but few cry foul because we’re slaves to the most “efficient” way to run a ballclub.
And of course, there’s also just enough plausible deniability where a couple of things could go off script and the kids end up breaking through anyway. The first of course is injury, and that’s partially how Early and Tolle got their shot last September. The rotation thinned, the other obvious options were clear losers, and the club needed fresh arms to get to the finish line. This spring, I see five arms in front of Early and Tolle and nearly a month to go before Opening Day, so it’s not impossible a slot opens up. Stuff happens!
Secondly, Early or Tolle could agree to a team friendly contract. Look no further than last spring when Kristian Campbell made the Opening Day roster over both Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer despite not looking nearly as good as either of them in camp. And wouldn’t you know it, just days after the season started, Campbell and the club agreed to an eight-year, $60 million deal. (What an amazing coincidence! I’m sure there’s no possible way that was agreed to before camp ended and influenced who made the roster.)
In any case, those are the two most likely ways I see Early and/or Tolle making the roster out of the gate, but as far as actually pitching their way into the rotation through good ol’ fashion merit? Well, let’s just say my cynical ass has some serious doubts. In fact, the better these guys look, the more likely the Sox are to to try and wrestle away that extra year of control. It’s all part of that Cobra Effect we talked about last year with Anthony and Mayer, just playing out with a new cast of characters.
Now of course, the Prospect Promotion Incentive (PPI) is still right there, and in theory it should work to get these guys up in Boston right away, but Cotillo even notes in his piece, this scenario remains quote “unlikely.”
So here’s how this probably plays out: If everybody stays healthy through March, Early and Tolle will need to “work on a few more things in Worcester so they’re truly ready for major league lineups.” However, if injuries pop up, then the Sox will be “so impressed” with one or both of them and they couldn’t leave them off the roster. Here, they will have “earned” that rotation spot.
Oh, and if Early or Tolle somehow do make the rotation the first swing through without any injuries, bet the farm on a contract extension being magically agreed to within days of the season starting. I mean, just look at how the big name prospects were called up last year for refence:
Kristian Campbell: Agreed to a long-term, team friendly contract in the spring, and he got a shot right away.
Marcelo Mayer: Called up in May when Alex Bregman went on the IL with a quad injury.
Roman Anthony: Called up in June when Wilyer Abreu went on the IL with an oblique injury.
Payton Tolle and Connelly Early: Called up at the end of the summer when Dick Fitts hit the IL, Walker Buehler was released, and Dustin May got injured within a couple weeks of each other.
The pattern is clear. Why would this year be any different?
Over the weekend, Payton Tolle did an interview with the Section 10 guys, and in it he mentions a recent interaction with a fan where upon confirming Tolle’s concentrating on a starting role, the fan said something along the lines of “oh, so you’re going to be starting the season in Worcester?” And I couldn’t help but laugh because that fan could easily be from one of two possible extremes — Both of which seem amazing well represented among Red Sox fans:
He could be your classic New England a-hole who has no problem telling anybody how much they suck to their face.
He could be somebody who knows exactly how service time manipulation works, how the Red Sox use it, and why Tolle is a prime candidate to experience it in 2026.
The is no in-between here!
But at the end of the day, despite that amusing little story, doesn’t this suck? Sports are supposed to be one of the last remaining bastions of spontaneous, unpredictable things in life where the human element still rules the show. And yet, when it comes to who fills out the first few trips through the rotation, we’re likely stuck with a preprogrammed script. On one hand, I get it, but on the other hand, I’m really, really underwhelmed by it.
Now, a couple final thoughts before I wrap this up.
One: I actually do think Tolle needs to spend some time in Worcester to work on his secondary pitches. He needs this better secondary stuff to complement his electric fastball and keep hitters off balance. Connelly Early however should have a real chance at getting major league starts. While not as flashy as Tolle, he has a much deeper arsenal and already knows how to use it.
Secondly, because I need to scratch this itch, I believe the bloated, oversaturated playoff field is a huge problem when it comes to treating players properly. When fewer teams make the postseason, and there’s fewer division winners to reward, there’s more pressure on clubs to put the best team possible on the field from day one. Do you remember what April and May games felt like as recently as the early 2000s when fewer teams made it to October and you had to get out of the gate hot to keep up with the Yankees and the top Wild Card team?
Part of the reason why it’s inefficient to play young players who may be better, more productive roster fits is because the sport’s overlords have devalued the 162 game season to the point that you can kind of get away with this chicanery. Not giving another inch in terms of more teams in the postseason (or even pushing to reduce the number of postseason teams) is a sneaky huge issue I’d stand firm on if I were the players in the upcoming war with the owners next winter.
In the meantime, Early and Tolle should start looking at short-term rental options in Worcester.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - DECEMBER 28: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives into Cody Williams #5 of the Utah Jazz during the second half of a game at Delta Center on December 28, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Sixers are coming off a rough one — getting blown out at home by the San Antonio Spurs, 131-91. The good news is they won’t have long to stew on it. Philadelphia hosts the Utah Jazz tonight on the second leg of a back-to-back, giving them a quick chance to bounce back.
Sixer fans know a tank job when they see one, and the Jazz are running a familiar operation this season. Utah is near full tank mode, banged up across the roster and sitting comfortably in the lottery race. That said, the pieces are starting to come together. The blockbuster acquisition of Jaren Jackson Jr. at the trade deadline gives them a legitimate cornerstone to build around, and he’ll eventually slot in alongside a frontcourt that already features Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler — the latter a pending restricted free agent.
Surrounding that frontcourt is Keyonte George, a guard in the middle of a genuine breakout. In 50 games, George is averaging 23.9 points and 6.4 assists on 46.1/37.3 shooting splits. His decision-making and efficiency have taken a leap, and he’s quickly establishing himself as one of the more exciting young guards in the West.
Beyond the headliners, Utah has quietly built some depth despite the losing record. Fifth overall pick Ace Bailey has put together a productive rookie campaign, and the roster is dotted with intriguing young pieces in Kyle Filipowski, Brice Sensabaugh and Isaiah Collier. The foundation is real — once they get healthy and stay healthy, they’ll be a threat in the West sooner than people expect.
On the Sixers side, things are trending in the wrong direction. The Spurs loss wasn’t just a bad night, the team looked gassed and disjointed from the opening tip. VJ Edgecombe exited that game after a hard fall and did not return, with the team citing back soreness. His status for tonight is worth monitoring. Joel Embiid and Paul George are both out, and Kelly Oubre — who missed the Spurs game with an illness — is also questionable.
The Jazz are several tiers below San Antonio, but this is shaping up to be another shorthanded night for Philly. Calling a regular season game a must-win is a strong statement, but this one is close. The Sixers are just 0.5 games ahead of the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat for the sixth and final playoff spot, and with the play-in looming, dropping a winnable home game against a depleted Utah squad would sting.
For Utah, Jackson Jr., Kessler, Markkanen, Jusuf Nurkic and Vince Williams are all out tonight. Keyonte George is expected to play. Philadelphia’s full injury report won’t drop until early afternoon, but Embiid and Paul George are confirmed out. Edgecombe and Oubre are the names to watch as tip-off approaches.
Can the Sixers stop the bleeding and secure a win against a team that’s actively trying to lose? Let’s find out.
Game Details
When: Wednesday, March 4th, 7:30 p.m. ET Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
