The Winnipeg Jets have activated defenseman Josh Morrissey from injured reserve as the team begins to get healthier heading into an important stretch of the season.
In addition to Morrissey’s activation, Winnipeg has recalled forwards Brad Lambert and Isak Rosen from the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League.
Morrissey had been sidelined with a lower-body injury suffered while representing Canada men's national ice hockey team during the opening game of the Olympic tournament against Czechia men's national ice hockey team. The injury forced the Jets’ top defenseman out of the remainder of the event.
Since returning to Winnipeg, Morrissey has missed five consecutive games, but the Jets have managed to stay on track in his absence. During that stretch, the club posted a 3-0-2 record, including a surprising 4-1 victory Thursday over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Josh Morrissey is likely to return to the lineup Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks. Depth forwards Brad Lambert and Isak Rosen, who was acquired in the trade that sent Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn the other way, could also draw into the lineup. The two may help fill the gaps left after Tanner Pearson was dealt to the Buffalo Sabres at the trade deadline and with Nino Niederreiter still on injured reserve.
Rosen, 22, is a former 14th overall pick at the 2021 NHL Draft and has been unable to carve out a roster spot, recording eight points in 31 NHL games. The Swedish winger has spent most of his time playing in the AHL, where this season he has been a standout with 25 goals and 18 assists for 43 points in 37 games.
Lambert, 22, was hoping to be moved at the deadline after feeling stuck within the Jets organization but after being recalled on Friday, he may finally get long runway to earn a main roster spot. So far this season, Lambert has a goal in four NHL games as well as 13 points in 34 AHL games with the Manitoba Moose.
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In a final bit of business ahead of Friday's NHL trade deadline, the Rangers dealt forward Brennan Othmann to the Calgary Flames and defenseman Derrick Pouliot to the Chicago Blackhawks.
New York will add RW Jacob Battaglia in the deal with Calgary, and LW Aidan Thompson from Chicago.
Othmann, 23, appeared in 17 games with the club this season, scoring just one goal (minus-4) while averaging 9:53 time on the ice.
Selected 16th overall by the Blueshirts in 2021, Othmann tallied just three points (one goal, two assists) and a shade under 10 minutes of ice time over his 42 career games with the club.
The return will be Battaglia, a 19-year-old who Calgary took in the second round (62nd overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft. He has been with the OHL's Kingston Frontenacs for the last three seasons before being sent to the Klint Firebirds midway through this year. He had been the captain with Kingston before being dealt.
Pouliot, 32, hasn't played in the NHL since the 2023-24 campaign, and never suited up for the Blueshirts. He had signed a two-year, $1.55 million deal last July.
Thompson, 24 as of last month, was the 90th overall selection (Round 3) by the Blackhawks in 2022. He was on the Denver Pioneers when they were the collegiate champions in 2023-24.
The two moves cap a busy period for Chris Drury and the Rangers after dealing Sam Carrick to the Sabres on Thursday, Artemi Panarin to the Kings, and Carson Soucy to the Islanders. But the club held onto Vincent Trocheck.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 28: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Golden State Warriors in the first half of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on February 28, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
All of a sudden, the Lakers’ upcoming contest against the Pacers looks like a much tougher game. Los Angeles is playing on the second night of a back-to-back and will be taking on Indiana without LeBron James, Deandre Ayton and Maxi Kleber.
The trio was ruled out on Friday afternoon. The Lakers will now have to find a way to win without two of their starting players.
LeBron James, Deandre Ayton and Maxi Kleber are all out for LA’s game tonight against Indiana. pic.twitter.com/hOK6gN6xVd
While Maxi Kleber has missed the past two games with this back injury, James and Ayton are new additions to the injury report.
Ayton exited LA’s game against the Nuggets with a knee injury after playing for just five minutes. Considering that the Lakers are playing the day after he got hurt, it’s no surprise he will be unavailable.
While Ayton has been struggling as of late, he’s been an important player for the Lakers. Ayton is averaging 12.6. points and 8.2 rebounds per game while starting in all 54 games he’s participated in.
LeBron also got injured playing against the Nuggets.
He fell in the fourth quarter, hurting his elbow in the process. James was able to complete the game, but said his elbow felt “pretty sore” during his postgame media availability. Now, he’s officially been ruled out with a left elbow contusion.
LeBron’s value cannot be overstated. He continues to be one of the team’s best offensive producers, averaging 21.4 points on 50% shooting.
LA losing both LeBron and Ayton to injury in their defeat to Denver makes the result that much more painful.
Now, they’ll have to figure out a way to get back on track with two starters out.
Luckily, even though the Lakers will be shorthanded, they should still be able to beat the Pacers. Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves are healthy and should be able to step up in this situation, generating enough offense to overwhelm their opponent.
Indiana has the second-worst record in the NBA and has lost seven straight games. Considering that the Lakers are fighting for a playoff spot and the Pacers are tanking, even with these key players missing, LA has to find a way to win.
TAMPA, FL - MARCH 3: An general view of George M. Steinbrenner Field during a game between the New York Yankees and Team Panama at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 3, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
First pitch against the New York Yankees is at 6:35 at Steinbrenner Field and the Rays will be providing TV and radio coverage.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza provided some updates prior to Friday's game against the Marlins...
What Benge needs to do to secure spot
Carson Benge has been extremely impressive so far this spring in his bid for a roster spot.
While the right field competition is very crowded to this point, the team is simply looking for him to keep doing his thing in order to lock-up his Opening Day spot.
“There are a lot of things out of his control, but he’s having a good camp,” Mendoza said. “He’s controlling the zone, I like the quality of at-bats especially against lefties -- we saw it the other day going the other way with two strikes -- the defense, the way he’s running the bases. Still a long ways to go, but he’s having a really good camp.”
Heading into Friday’s game, Benge is hitting .312 with a homer and a .357 OBP on the spring.
He also made a diving catch and has shown off his plus-arm in right.
Ewing impressing, as well
Benge hasn’t been the only young standout earning praise early in camp.
Outfield prospect A.J. Ewing has also been very solid so far on both sides of the ball.
Asked about the 21-year-old on Friday, Mendoza simply described him as “a ball player.”
“There’s a lot of different ways he can help a team win baseball games,” the skipper said. “Whether it’s with the way he plays defense, the way he runs the bases, his good at-bats -- just putting the ball in play, driving the ball.
“He’s another kid who I don’t think people talk much about, but he’s another good one.”
Ewing didn’t crack SNY's Top 30 prospect list last season, but rose all the way up to No. 3 this year, and is already among the Top 100 prospects in the sport.
So far, the youngster looks ready to continue his rapid rise.
Feb 17, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets outfielder Luis Robert Jr. (88) looks on from the field during spring training at Clover Park. / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Other surprises
Along with Benge and Ewing, there have been plenty of others who have caught Mendoza’s eye thus far in camp.
That includes both young talent and the vets.
“A lot of them,” Mendoza explained. “We mentioned Ewing, [Chris] Suero, [Ryan] Lambert, and then just a lot of our established players, the way they showed up to camp.
“[Kodai] Senga, I’m really looking forward to watching him pitch. Sean Manaea put in a lot of work, Luis Robert on the backfield continues to crush pitching, and just the professionalism from some of the new players -- there are a lot of good things we’re seeing in camp.”
LuBob leaves the yard
Speaking of Robert's backfield appearances, the skipper said he successfully completed another on Friday.
The slugger again appeared in center, and he lifted a homer.
Following the plan put together by the training staff, he’ll get back out there on Sunday, and play on alternate days leading up to the off day next Wednesday.
If he continues checking boxes leading up to that point, Mendoza said that there’s a pretty good chance he’ll be set to make his Grapefruit League debut.
Robert could be a difference-maker for this lineup, if they can keep him healthy.
Stock down at the WBC
Robert Stock will no longer pitch for Team Israel in the WBC.
The right-hander is officially back with the Mets after reporting right shoulder discomfort following his exhibition appearance against the Marlins earlier this week.
He was set to undergo a series of tests on Friday so that the training staff can see what they are dealing with.
Stock faced an uphill battle for a roster spot in camp, but he’d gotten off to a relatively strong start, putting together back-to-back scoreless appearances.
The 36-year-old was throwing noticeably harder, touching 98 on his fastball.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Elsa Lemmila had 17 points and 11 rebounds, Jaloni Cambridge also scored 17, and No. 11 Ohio State beat No. 19 Minnesota 60-55 on Friday in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament.
Fourth-seeded Ohio State (26-6) plays No. 1 seed and second-ranked UCLA — which beat the Buckeyes 82-75 on Dec. 28 — in the semifinals Saturday.
Cambridge added six assists, five rebounds and three steals. Chance Gray hit three 3-pointers and finished with 13 points.
Mara Braun hit a 3-pointer that cut Minnesota's deficit to 58-55 with 1:32 left in the game. Neither team scored again until Cambridge made a jumper with 16 seconds left.
Grace Grocholski led No. 5 seed Minnesota (22-9) with 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Sophie Hart had 12 points and a career-high 19 rebounds and Amaya Battle added 10 points. Hart has 1,000 career points, 966 for the Gophers. Tori McKinney had two points on 1-for-4 shooting in just 16 foul-plagued minutes.
Kennedy Cambridge had six of Ohio State's 12 steals and added five points, four assists and three rebounds.
Ohio State, which lost 71-64 at Minnesota on Feb. 18, has won 10 of 11 against the Gophers and leads the series 66-17, 11-2 at neutral sites.
British No 1 snaps losing streak with 6-1, 6-3 victory
Former coach Mark Petchey returns to her corner
Emma Raducanu enjoyed a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Anastasia Zakharova to reach the last 32 in Indian Wells.
Raducanu arrived at the WTA 1000 tournament on a three-match losing streak and eager to rediscover form after her January split from coach Francisco Roig.
The Calgary Flames have traded the 35-year-old center back to the Colorado Avalanche, TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston reports.
In exchange for Kadri, Colorado gave up forward Victor Olofsson, prospect Max Curran, a conditional 2028 first-round pick, and a conditional 2027 second-round pick. The Avalanche also receive a 2027 fourth-round pick.
Calgary is retaining 20% of Kadri’s contract, meaning Colorado will carry a $5.6 million cap hit for him through the end of the 2029 season.
TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reported that the Flames and Avalanche had previously explored a Kadri deal and revisited talks Friday, ultimately finalizing the trade.
The biggest goal of Nazem Kadri's career that put the Avs within one win of a Stanley Cup championship. Broken thumb? No problem.
Kadri, who played three seasons with Colorado from 2019 to 2022, was a key contributor to the Avalanche’s first Stanley Cup in 21 years in 2022, recording seven goals and 15 points during the playoff run. This season, he has 12 goals and 41 points in 61 games with Calgary.
“Super excited. The team at the very top of my list. Man, I can’t wait,” Kadri told TSN after the news broke.
Nazem Kadri becomes the first Muslim-born player to hoist the Stanley Cup — which makes it an emotional day for me. pic.twitter.com/MrUfSzuHRZ
The 6-foot center is in the fourth season of a seven-year, $49 million contract, carrying an annual cap hit of $7 million. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2028-29 campaign.
Drafted seventh overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2009, Kadri has 319 goals and 751 points in 1,046 career games, split between Toronto, Colorado, and Calgary. He has represented the Avalanche and Flames at the NHL All-Star Games in 2022 and 2023, respectively, and played for Canada at the 2014 World Hockey Championship, where the team finished fifth.
Flames Add Strome
Earlier on Friday, Calgary acquired forward Ryan Strome from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a fourth-round pick.
Strome, 32, has struggled to stay in Anaheim’s lineup this season, posting three goals and nine points in 33 games. The 6-foot-1 centre, on the fourth season of a five-year, $25 million contract with a $5 million cap hit, has recorded 41 points in each of the past three seasons. He will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this campaign.
MILWAUKEE, WI - March 2: The sneakers worn by Pete Nance #35 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the game against the Boston Celtics on March 2, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
Islanders center Jean-Gabriel Pageau (44) shoots the puck against Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson.
LOS ANGELES — The Islanders announced a three-year extension with pending free agent Jean-Gabriel Pageau minutes after the trade deadline passed on Friday.
The deal carries a $4.85 million AAV, per a source. It has a full no-trade clause for the first two seasons and a 16-team no-trade clause for the last year, according to PuckPedia.
Mathieu Darche held off on engaging Pageau’s camp in extension talks earlier in the season, but evidently did so recently.
Islanders center Jean-Gabriel Pageau (44) shoots the puck against Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson. David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Pageau will be 34 next season when the extension kicks in, but has shown little sign of slowing down with age. He has 29 points this year and has been a key part of the penalty kill.
He also regularly takes on a mentorship role in the dressing room, and has excellent chemistry alongside Simon Holmstrom.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau #44 of the New York Islanders celebrates his goal against the Minnesota Wild. NHLI via Getty Images
The Islanders’ desire to re-sign him even after trading for Brayden Schenn, a similar player who is a year older than Pageau, shows that he is still viewed as a key part of the core.
Boston stumbled badly against Charlotte on Wednesday, getting blown out 118–89 in one of their roughest games of the season. Turnovers piled up, the shots never fell, and the defense didn’t really settle in. It was the type of performance that could linger for a couple days. Friday night at TD Garden won’t allow it. The return of Jayson Tatum and the arrival of Cooper Flagg give this one serious juice.
Here are three questions that could shape it.
BOSTON, MA – MARCH 2: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics shows his jersey to fans before their game against the Denver Nuggets at TD Garden on March 2, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What does Tatum’s return actually look like?
The moment Celtics fans have been waiting for is finally here. Tatum will officially make his season debut tonight at TD Garden, fulfilling the promise he made months ago that his first game back would be at home. After a ruptured Achilles and nearly ten months of rehab, he’ll reportedly be on a 20-minute restriction. It’s a meaningful first step, and a chance to begin the reintegration process ahead of the playoffs.
The early minutes will say more about Tatum’s conditioning and comfort level than the box score. There should be zero expectation that he jumps immediately back into a high usage role and dominates, but how they use him is worth tracking. Will he spend more time off the ball, or do they let him create to find a rhythm? How involved is he as a screener or ball-handler in the pick-and-roll? Do they give him isolation or post-up opportunities? The play type distribution should give a glimpse at how much of a load he’s ready to take on.
The same goes on the defensive end. It’ll be worth noting if he’s switching onto Mavericks bigs and guards, regardless of how he holds up in those matchups right away.
He’s stated that he’s not coming back to be a role player, but in the short term, he’ll be perfectly comfortable filling the gaps until his conditioning is where it needs to be. There’s no reason to overwork him, but there is a balance to hit that ramps him back up while sticking to what’s made the team successfully already. The good news is that he’s one of the most versatile stars in the league.
Joe Mazzulla will manage his role and minutes with care. The goal tonight isn’t a vintage Tatum performance. Seeing him absorb contact, and find confidence in his movements is an important part in the mental aspect of the rehabilitation process. You can’t replicate the value that real game reps provides.
He could have a thrilling 20+ point comeback, or an inefficient emotional game. Either way, it’ll be good to have him back. Even in limited minutes, he tends to find ways to impact the game.
Can Boston slow down Cooper Flagg on his homecoming?
If Tatum’s return is the story on one side, Cooper Flagg is the draw on the other.
The Maine native plays his only game of the season at TD Garden tonight, and the moment won’t be lost on him. Before a foot injury sidelined him, Flagg had been on a tear, averaging 32 points, 7.7 rebounds, four assists, and 1.2 blocks over a six-game stretch while shooting 52.6%. He returned Thursday against Orlando on a minutes restriction and looked like someone shaking off rust — 18 points on 7-for-22 shooting.
ORLANDO, FL – MARCH 5: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the Orlando Magic on March 5, 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
Now comes the second night of a back-to-back, in front of a crowd that watched his rise up close. Despite the loss, he was masterful in the previous matchup with the Celtics. Boston threw different looks at him, and he handled the pressure with the poise of a veteran.
Dallas sits at 21–40 and firmly in lottery territory. But that record doesn’t really describe the challenge Flagg presents. His size, pace, and confidence give him a well-rounded impact that’s reminiscent of Tatum in flashes.
Dallas may be playing out the schedule, but Flagg isn’t. He’ll have a ton of family, friends and fans in the building. If Boston can’t slow him early, he might be the only thing capable of pushing Tatum lower in the postgame headlines.
Has Mazzulla been quietly building toward this moment all season?
All season, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, and Hugo Gonzalez have cycled through Boston’s wing rotation. Some nights one starts. Other nights another closes. The roles have shifted constantly, and the team has kept functioning anyway.
The simplest explanation is merit. Each player has had stretches where they’ve earned more time, and Mazzulla has rewarded it. He’s building confidence in his young players, and making development a priority.
The fluidity of the rotation has also made the team more flexible. No single role has been rigid, as minutes can move without the offense or defense collapsing around them. That matters deeply now.
Boston, MA – January 28 – Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) lets the ball get loose as Boston Celtics guards Jordan Walsh (27), Hugo Gonzalez (28) and Baylor Scheierman (55) surround during the second half of a NBA game at the Garden. (Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images). | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Reintegrating a star forward who hasn’t played since last playoffs inevitably changes the rotation. But Boston has treated that fifth starting spot like a season-long revolving door. This group has been used to adapting night to night. Nobody was asked to be a Tatum placeholder, but to impact the game in the ways that they could. You can’t recreate what Tatum brings, and maybe this allows him focus more easily on being what he can.
Whether Mazzulla designed it this way or it was simply a product of his developmental approach, the result is the same. Boston enters one of the more anticipated nights of its season with a rotation already used to adjusting.
Tonight is the first look at what that adjustment actually looks like with a superstar back in the mix.
MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 18: Lukas Reichel of Germany scores for 1-4 and celebrates his goal during the Men's Ice Hockey Quarterfinal match between Slovakia and Germany on day twelve of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 18, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by EyesWideOpen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a small move involving minor league players earlier on deadline day, the Bruins wrapped up their business with another minor move.
Just after the deadline had passed, the Bruins announced that they’ve acquired forward Lukas Reichel from the Vancouver Canucks.
(Side note: the press release used weird phrasing, which was “Bruins agree to acquire Lukas Reichel.” I’m not sure that means anything, but it was odd.)
The B’s will be sending a sixth-round pick in this June’s NHL draft to Vancouver in exchange for Reichel.
Reichel is a left-shot wing who has spent most of this season with AHL Abbotsford, where he had 6G-7A-13PTS totals in 23 games.
The 23-year-old forward had a decent showing for Team Germany at the recent Winter Olympics, recording 2G-1A-3PTS in 5 games.
The Canucks acquired Reichel from Chicago back in October, sending a 2027 fourth-round pick to Chicago in exchange.
At the time, Reichel had asked to be moved in search of a better fit, as he wasn’t getting much of a look with the Blackhawks.
Reichel will be a restricted free agent at season’s end.
He has played 188 NHL games over the course of his young career, recording 22 goals and 37 assists in that span.
His two best seasons came from 2023-2025 in Chicago, when he had a spot as an NHL regular and appeared in 65 and 70 NHL games.
The Blackhawks drafted Reichel 17th overall in the 2020 draft.
It looks like this move is probably a mixture of adding depth to Providence, adding some potential competition to the forward corps in Boston, and just taking a shot on a potential reclamation project.
A sixth-round pick isn’t nothing, but it’s not a ton to give up if you’re acquiring a kid who you believe has upside.
Reichel will presumably report to Providence.
He does require waivers to move between the AHL and NHL, but since he was already playing in the AHL, I’m guessing that doesn’t apply here.
Anyways, not exactly a thrilling move, but…depth, right?
Feb 27, 2026; Fort Myers, Florida, USA; New York Yankees shortstop George Lombard Jr. (96) hits a two-rbi single against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning during spring training at Lee Health Sports Complex/Hammond Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Good afternoon everyone, it’s time to dive back into the mailbag and answer some of your questions. Remember to send in your questions for our weekly call by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.
Don H. asks:I’m just so tired of the Yankees letting players languish in the minors, until their play by or sell by dates are expired. Lombard Jr. is playing shortstop and hitting leadoff this spring, and reminds me a little of Derek Jeter when he first came up. And makes you wonder why Yankee insiders think he needs more seasoning in the minors.
George Lombard Jr.’s development is a far cry from languishing in the minors, having just three seasons as a pro with his age-21 season coming up this year. It’s an understandable concern given the team’s tendency to call up their prospects more towards 25-26 for a variety of reasons (development time, major league players blocking them, etc.), but the clock is nowhere near started on Lombard’s future and he should be around for quite some time should he make a push to the majors soon. On top of that, most scouts and insiders project Lombard to be with the Yankees sometime in 2027, with a few giving him an outside chance of making an appearance this year — Lombard has the potential to be a fast riser in the organization, a great sign for a top prospect.
As for the Jeter comparisons, while his spring has been phenomenal so far it’s important to remember that it’s just that — spring training. Lombard’s track record in the minors so far is a player with excellent defensive potential and a bat that has promise but needs refinement, with his .983 OPS in a 24-game stint in High-A Hudson Valley thus far being an outlier to the rest of his minor league career. The jump up to Double-A Somerset challenged him, and his bat came back down to Earth with a .695 OPS in a 108-game sample size, much more indicative that there’s work to be done still before rushing him into matchups with major league pitching. For all of the vitriol that Anthony Volpe has gotten from Yankees fans for largely being a glove-only shortstop, it’d be naive to rush Lombard into a similar fate when there’s plenty of time for him to figure things out at the appropriate level. And, just to give a look at what Jeter was doing with the bat at that same time, he was crushing the ball to the tune of an .873 OPS in his age-20 season that saw him jump from Single-A to Triple-A, before spending his entire age-21 season in Triple-A slashing .317/.394/.422 before getting a cup of coffee in New York.
NYCKING asks:Should LCS and World Series go to 2-2-1-1-1 format like NBA and NHL does?
The NBA and NHL format is a more “fair” approach from a home field advantage perspective, but there’s a key difference in how the baseball postseason operates that makes the 2-3-2 format feel more fitting for the sport. Introducing more travel would necessitate travel days off as well, allowing more rest for pitchers to recover and potentially allowing for teams to run with just three starters in a series, not to mention the benefits that it would give to high-end relievers whose number gets called in every close game their team finds themselves in come October. That’s not to say that it’d be bad if MLB chose to adopt this format, but it comes with tradeoffs — do you want the biggest stars to get the ball no matter what, or do you want the postseason to test the depth of your roster? On top of that, schedule-wise it would almost assuredly push the World Series further into November, which isn’t the biggest deal to some but might be to executives eyeing how much baseball can compete with football during the late fall ratings-wise.
russell1256 asks:With the Yankees farm system currently ranked in the lower half of baseball, next year, do you see a marked improvement in their ranking? Maybe based on their minor league pitching? They have multiple “studs” everyone is talking about. Carlos Lagrange, Elmer Rodríguez, Ben Hess, Bryce Cunningham, Chase Hampton, Brendan Beck to name a few.
It largely depends on how many of them are still in the system come next season — the group at large looks promising enough to catch the eyes of scouts if they continue developing, but they might also get dangled in front of general managers for upgrades at the deadline. It’s unlikely that the majority of the prospect core gets dealt out unless the team makes wholesale changes, but given the Yankees’ propensity to deal in quantity over quality because of how their top prospects rank relative to other organizations it might still be enough to prevent a major leap from the farm system overall. There’s also the chance for one or two names to end up playing a role in the 2026 campaign and graduating from the system, though there’d either need to be a remarkable run through the minors by them or a chaotic mess going on with the major league team for that to happen.
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Team USA’s 2026 World Baseball Classic run begins tonight in Houston, Texas.
The first of USA’s four games in five days will be against Brazil, with first pitch set for 8 p.m. ET.
The 2023 WBC runner-up, Team USA is bringing a stacked lineup to this year’s edition of the tournament, starting with “Captain America” and Yankees captain Aaron Judge, who will make his WBC debut after sitting out of the tournament in 2023.
The roster also includes Marines catcher Cal Raleigh, who hit 60 home runs and came second in MVP voting; Kyle Schwarber, who led the NL in home runs and RBIs for the Phillies; and MLB stars Alex Bregman, Bobby Witt Jr. and Bryce Harper.
Brazil enters the World Baseball Classic without a single MLB player on the roster.
2026 world baseball classic: what to know
Who: Team USA vs. Team Brazil
When: March 6, 8 p.m. ET
Where: Daikin Park (Houston, Texas)
Channel: FOX
Streaming: DIRECTV (try it free)
Giants ace Logan Webb will get the start for Team USA tonight; Webb has a career 3.38 ERA with 180 MLB games to his name. The rest of Team USA’s starting pitching rotation includes two-time AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, reigning AL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes and Mets rookie phenom Nolan McLean.
Team USA vs. Brazil WBC start time
Team USA vs. Brazil at the World Baseball Classic is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET tonight, March 6.
How to watch Team USA vs. Brazil for free
If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the World Baseball Classic for free.
DIRECTV is our favorite service for watching TV live for free — it has a five-day free trial and there are a ton of options for plans that include FOX, including genre packs that offer more flexibility at lower price points. FOX is part of the MyNews genre pack, which is currently discounted to $34.99/month for your first two months.
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World Baseball Classic 2026: Team USA roster
Pitchers: David Bednar (Yankees), Matthew Boyd (Cubs), Garrett Cleavinger (Rays), Clay Holmes (Mets), Griffin Jax (Rays), Brad Keller (Phillies), Clayton Kershaw, Nolan McLean (Mets), Mason Miller (Padres), Joe Ryan (Twins), Paul Skenes (Pirates), Tarik Skubal (Tigers), Gabe Speier (Mariners), Michael Wacha (Royals), Logan Webb (Giants), Garrett Whitlock (Red Sox)
Catchers: Cal Raleigh (Mariners), Will Smith (Dodgers)
Infielders: Alex Bregman (Cubs), Ernie Clement (Blue Jays), Paul Goldschmidt (Yankees), Bryce Harper (Phillies), Gunnar Henderson (Orioles), Brice Turang (Brewers), Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals)
Outfielders: Roman Anthony (Red Sox), Byron Buxton (Twins), Pete Crow-Armstrong (Cubs), Aaron Judge (Yankees)
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
