What former Royals player would fit perfectly on this roster?

ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 26: Mike Moustakas #8 of the Kansas City Royals is congratulated by teammates Eric Hosmer #35 and Lorenzo Cain #6 of the Kansas City Royals after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game between the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Kansas City Royals at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 26, 2016 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Royals made some improvements to the roster in the offseason, but did not make the big move that fans may have wanted. Maybe that one big player wasn’t really available. But let’s imagine we aren’t just limited to players in the game right now. What if we could add a player to the roster from Royals history?

If you could pluck one former Royal at the height of his powers and drop him onto this team, who fits like the final puzzle piece? I’m not necessarily talking about the biggest star, although George Brett could certainly fit on any roster. I’m talking about a player who would be the perfect fit for right now for this roster.

Here’s your time machine – who are you bringing to 2026?

Jurickson Profar reportedly set to receive 162-game suspension for PED usage

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 26: Jurickson Profar #7 of the Atlanta Braves during batting practice before a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Truist Park on September 26, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Brett Davis/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jurickson Profar missed essentially the entire first half of the 2025 season after he tested positive for using performance-enhancing drugs. Unfortunately for him and the Braves, it’s déjà vu all over again in the worst possible way.

Jeff Passan of ESPN is reporting that Profar has once again tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug and is now facing a 162-game suspension. For those of you kids keeping track at home, that’s the full season.

To keep it real with y’all, this is a hot mess. It’s one thing to get caught one time. In that case, you have the benefit of the doubt where it could’ve been a mistake or a brief lapse in judgment that led to a bad decision being made. A second time is absolutely inexcusable and there’s no way to wave this away. The Braves not having Jurickson Profar for the entire 2026 season is a pretty major blow to their current plans for their lineup and it’s absolutely dreadful that this is how they’ve lost him for another extended period of time.

The only silver lining is that this now means that Mike Yastrzemski is now an everyday player for this team but just like the Ha-Seong Kim injury forced Mauricio Dubón into everyday player status, it’s a silver lining but it’s certainly not ideal. The best way forward for this squad was to have Profar serve as a DH while Yaz started against right-handed since Yaz over the course of his career is a much better hitter against righties than lefties. Losing Profar for the entire season hurts their plans for DH and the outfield as well, so this just stinks all around.

The only other positive that comes out of this is that PED suspensions are unpaid suspensions as well, which means that that’s now $15 million that the Braves have freed up to use because Profar decided to be a big dummy and use PEDs again. It’s safe to assume that the Braves are going to dip their toes back into the outfielder/DH market but as you can imagine at this point in the baseball calendar, there’s not a lot of quality out there that could come close to replacing the level of production that Profar could’ve provided.

So once again, this is a hot mess. The Braves have now lost their starting shortstop until (hopefully) May, one of their primary catchers until (hopefully) May, one of their starting pitchers for who knows how long, one of the prime candidates for the fifth starting position for who knows how long and one of the key players in their lineup for the entire season. Opening Day isn’t until March 27 so let’s hope nothing else completely absurd happens between now and then! Good grief!

UPDATE [2:00 p.m. ET]: Ken Rosenthal from The Athletic is reporting that the MLBPA is planning to challenge Profar’s suspension and file a grievance on his behalf. I’d imagine that this is strictly procedural on the union’s part but there’s that.

Is It Time Astros Pivot from Trading Paredes to Trading Walker?

HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 09: Isaac Paredes #15 of the Houston Astros celebrates with Christian Walker #8 after the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Daikin Park on May 09, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic calls the current situation untenable.

MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic believes the Astros must trade 3B Isaac Paredes and get a lefthanded hitting outfielder.

It’s a great idea in theory, one Astros GM Dana Brown has been trying to execute for several months. There’s just one slight problem with the plan: another team has to have a player you want and they have to be willing to trade them to you for Paredes.

Who knew such a small problem would be such a thorn in the Astros’ side in trying to make a deal?

Entering the offseason, there seemed to be two deals that made a ton of sense for the Astros to make:

  • trade Christian Walker to the Mets for SP Kodai Senga.
  • trade Isaac Paredes to the Red Sox for Jarren Duran.

They did neither.

Instead Senga is buried as the Mets’ 5th/6th starter and talks between the Red Sox and Astros are dead (at least for now) as Rosenthal said the two clubs haven’t been in recent contact.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7081393/2026/03/03/houston-astros-dana-brown-isaac-paredes-trade/

Key snippets from Rosenthal’s article:

The necessary move is to trade third baseman Isaac Paredes for a left-handed-hitting outfielder, an idea the Astros have discussed most thoroughly with the Boston Red Sox, according to people briefed on the discussions. Talks stalled, however, and the clubs have not been in recent contact.

The Red Sox, even after acquiring Caleb Durbin from Milwaukee, still look like the best fit for Paredes — they could play him at third and Durbin at second without needing to rely on Marcelo Mayer. The Astros are not getting back Wilyer Abreu, whom they traded in 2022 for catcher Christian Vázquez. A deal constructed around Jarren Duran should remain within reach. By moving Duran, the Red Sox would create DH at-bats for Masataka Yoshida and eventually Triston Casas, who could return in May from a ruptured patellar tendon in his left knee.

The problem is that the Red Sox’s trade for Durbin improved their negotiating position while weakening the Astros’. Brown, then, might need to get creative, possibly involving a third team, possibly pivoting from the Red Sox entirely.

Now, I don’t fully understand why the Astros are allegedly so averse to a player like Duran in LF, who has led the AL in triples back to back years (27 total) hit over 40 doubles back to back years, hit 37 HRs in that span as well as stolen 58 bases. He seems like a pretty good offensive player. He also graded out with 11 defensive runs saved last season in LF per baseball reference, although statcast graded him at -5 outs above average.

Duran also makes $7.7M this season (so less than Paredes) and has 2 years of team control. Duran is also the OF the Red Sox were looking to move. The Astros were set on their former prospect Wilyer Abreu, whom the Red Sox have no interest in parting with.

As you look around the league, there aren’t a lot of quality lefthanded hitting OFs that are either available or on teams that would be willing to make a deal for a player like Isaac Paredes, who is a win now type of offensive impact player making $9.35M this season.

So if the Astros can’t find the deal they feel gives the equivalent value for Paredes, is it time to pivot to trading Walker?

Now, there has been little interest in Walker this offseason, partly because he’s coming off a down season (although a solid 2nd half) and partly because of the remaining 2 years and $40M on his contract.

I don’t know how much the Astros would be willing to eat on his deal, but the longer they wait to pull a deal to clear the logjam in the infield, the less leverage they are going to have unless they decide to wait out injury – a risky proposition because there is no guarantee a team that suffers an injury will still make a trade.

If the Astros value Paredes as much as they claim to, and they can’t get what they think is the right value, then they should pivot to dealing Walker, and be flexible on the money they have to eat. Maybe it’s half. Maybe its 75%.

The Padres don’t have a real 1B, they currently have a left fielder listed at 1B on their depth chart. They looked into acquiring Nolan Arenado and playing him at 1B. Clearly, Walker would be a better option than Arenado. Just at what price point for the Astros (salary pay down) and the Padres (return).

About a month ago, David Schoenfield of ESPN had posited a trade idea of Walker to San Diego in exchange for RP Bradgely Rodriguez.

From Schoenfield’s article: This would be an alternate trade option to Paredes for Houston, with him then playing first base. Walker didn’t have a good first season in Houston, his OPS+ slipping from 120 to 97, although he hit 27 home runs and Statcast still viewed him as a plus defender at first base. (Other metrics weren’t as generous, but Walker won three straight Gold Gloves from 2022 to 2024, so I would be more inclined to go with the Statcast evaluation.)

After finishing 28th in home runs in 2025, the Padres need more power, and with Walker at first, they can slide Jake Cronenworth on a full-time basis over to second base. The current alignment doesn’t project well, with the Padres ranking 28th in FanGraphs’ projected WAR at first base (a mix of Gavin Sheets and Cronenworth) and 20th at second base (a combo of Cronenworth and Sung-Mun Song). Rodriguez is a big-league ready reliever who can help a Houston bullpen that is a little thin from the right side beyond Bryan Abreu, and while the Astros would have to pay down some of the $40 million owed to Walker the next two seasons, trading him would still clear some payroll to make another move.

Rodriguez isn’t currently listed on the ESPN Depth Chart for the Padres, but he finished 2025 as the Padres #6 prospect. He throws a high 90s fastball that can touch 101, and a devastating change in the mid-to-high 80s. If Josh Hader were to be out for an extended time, Rodriguez has the kind of stuff to be the bridge to Abreu, and he’s only 22 (and CHEAP!).

The Astros may not want to pay down however much of Walker’s contract to get a deal done, but in a case like this, they should be open to paying down as much as $14M per year. A fireballing young RHP in the pen is exactly one of the deficiencies in their roster.

Now maybe that deal isn’t available – but it’s the kind of deal they should be looking for when moving Walker.

While it doesn’t address the lefthanded OF situation, it does address another need on the roster, it gets Paredes in the lineup every day, and I think giving Zach Cole an opportunity is something the team should be heavily considering.

If Joey Loperfido has truly made adjustments in his swing that have garnered improved results as Dana Brown said when they re-acquired him in trade, I have no issue in giving him a chance either.

If Cam Smith shows he isn’t ready, then give him the season in Triple-A he should have gotten last year. That would give the Astros two lefthanded bats in the corners who are both plus defenders with big arms., it keeps Yordan primarily at DH, and gives the Astros one of the best defensive outfields in the game. It’s a lot easier to survive with guys like Shay Whitcomb or Zach Dezenzo as 4th/5th OF guys (who can also play some IF for you as well) who play the short side of a platoon. It’s not hard to get a righthanded hitting platoon OF either, they are cheap and readily available.

As the spring goes on and the Astros leverage in dealing Paredes wanes, the more I would be inclined to eat the money and move Walker.

A lesser return for Walker means paying less down, but the right return for Walker, I think Houston should consider paying as much as 70% of Walker’s deal.

They’ve backed themselves into this corner. I’d rather buy my way out than surrender one of my better hitters on a discount.

Would you rather the Astros move Walker at this point? Let us know in the comments below.

2025 Season in Review: Nathan Eovaldi

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 27: Nathan Eovaldi #17 of the Texas Rangers looks on from his dugout during the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Field on August 27, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With the 2025 Texas Rangers season having come to an end, we shall be, over the course of the offseason, taking a look at every player who appeared in a major league game for the Texas Rangers in 2025.

Today we are looking at starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi.

Nathan Eovaldi makes me happy.

I bet you feel the same way.

Just look at the photo that goes with this post.

(Yes, I know, there’s a video playing at the top of the post, but you know what I mean. Go back to the main page if you need to remind yourself of the photo that goes with this post.)

He is a good pitcher. He is, by all accounts, a great person and a great teammate, someone who makes a point of connecting with the other pitchers on the staff, mentoring and supporting and generally being a great hang.

He throws strikes, he doesn’t walk guys, he keeps runs off the board.

Nathan Eovaldi had arguably his best season in 2025, at the ripe young age of 35.

I kind of want to take “arguably” out of that sentence. Not kind of, in fact. I do want to take it out.

But while he’s never had a bWAR better than the 4.3 he put up in 2025, he did match that number in 2021. And his 2021 fWAR of 5.7 is much better than his 3.7 fWAR in 2025, the second-highest mark of his career.

So I’m resisting. I’m resisting the urge. As much as my right hand wants to move away from the keyboard and take the mouse and move up three paragraphs and do a big ol’ DELETE, I’m not going to do it.

Bad hand.

Nathan Eovaldi put up a 1.73 ERA in 2025. It looked like he was going to be vying for the ERA title until a rotator cuff strain in late August ended his season.

It was going to be a close call anyway as to whether he’d get to the 162 innings necessary to qualify, since he missed a month earlier in the season, but it seemed likely he’d have cracked that threshold if he had stayed healthy the rest of the season. Instead, he ended the year with 130 innings over 22 starts.

And, look, we know this about Nathan Eovaldi. He has always struggled to stay on the mound. He made his major league debut all the way back in 2011 — with the Los Angeles Dodgers! — and has qualified for the ERA title just three times. We know Eovaldi is going to have injury issues, is going to have an i.l. stint or two in any given season, and we accept that.

But when Eovaldi took the mound, you could count on him. Only three times did he not go at least five innings. Once was in late May, when he left after two innings and ended up on the injured list. Once was in late June, his first game back from the injured list, when he was on a pitch count. And once was his second start of the year, when he was pulled with two outs in the fifth. He went at least 6 innings in 14 of his 22 starts.

Eovaldi allowed more than three runs in a game just once in 2025, that one being an August start against Arizona where he gave up five runs on three homers. He allowed two earned runs or fewer in 19 of his 22 outings. He walked more than two hitters in a game just twice. He issued zero or one unintentional walks in 18 starts.

He was even the rare 2025 Ranger pitcher who was better on the road than at home in 2025, with a 1.39 ERA away from The Shed and a 2.15 ERA at home.

He has a fun mix of pitches, throwing his splitter, fastball, cutter and curve all at least 20% of the time, and all of them are pitches that he gets good results with. His occasional sinker is a good pitch. The slider he throws very rarely isn’t all that, but that’s okay, because he hardly ever throws it.

I was unenthused about the Rangers signing Eovaldi in the 2022-23 offseason. I now want him to retire a Texas Ranger.

Previously:

Gerson Garabito

Tyler Mahle

Kyle Higashioka

Adolis Garcia

Luis Curvelo

Alejandro Osuna

Blaine Crim

Jake Burger

Jacob Webb

Nick Ahmed

Jon Gray

Carl Edwards Jr.

Josh Jung

Leody Taveras

Dustin Harris

Marc Church

Luke Jackson

Danny Coulombe

Wyatt Langford

Dylan Moore

Michael Helman

Evan Carter

Cole Winn

Rowdy Tellez

Dane Dunning

Marcus Semien

Billy McKinney

Jose Corniell

Jonah Heim

Cody Freeman

Sam Haggerty

Jacob deGrom

Merrill Kelly

Caleb Boushley

Justin Foscue

Canadiens Predicted To Trade For This Big Need

The Montreal Canadiens are among the top teams in the Eastern Conference, so they should be buyers at the 2026 NHL trade deadline. Due to this, they are now being predicted to address a specific roster need.

In a recent article for The Athletic, Arpon Basu predicted that the Canadiens would trade for a right-shot defenseman ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline.

"It is bold because the right-shot defensemen seemingly available on the market are in high demand, and one just came off the board with Connor Murphy’s move to Edmonton. When demand is higher than supply, prices generally inflate, and the Canadiens are unlikely to want to overpay. But it could happen because it represents a clear area the Canadiens can improve, balancing out their left-shot-heavy defense corp," Basu wrote.

It is no secret that the Canadiens could use another right-shot defenseman, so predicting that they will acquire one ahead of the deadline makes sense. They have already been connected to Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. A few other interesting names floating around the rumor mill who could make sense for the Canadiens include Justin Faulk, Zach Whitecloud, MacKenzie Weegar, Braden Schneider, and Brandon Carlo. 

Ultimately, with the Canadiens needing another impactful defenseman on their right side, they should not be afraid to swing a deal for a new blueliner. It will be interesting to see if they do just that from here. 

Bucks Reacts Survey: Do you even want to make the play-in?

Mar 2, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) comes out of the game near the end of the second quarter and walks past Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers as they compete against the Boston Celtics at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Bucks fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Giannis returned to the Bucks’ lineup last night, but it wasn’t enough to take down the East’s current second seed. Monday’s defeat caps off a three-game losing streak that has them eight games under .500 with 22 games remaining, exactly where they were when Giannis’ most recent injury occurred on January 23rd. They’re 3.5 games back of Charlotte (with whom they hold a tiebreaker) for 10th and four games behind Atlanta (who the Bucks could gain the tiebreaker over with a victory tomorrow) for ninth. Orlando and Miami (season series with each is tied 1-1) are 5.5 games ahead.

Not impossible hills to climb, but ones that only get harder the further back they slip as the season gets closer to its conclusion. This all begs the question: do we, as fans, even want a play-in/playoff spot at this point? Unfortunately, losing/tanking doesn’t really help Milwaukee, as they’re pretty certain to finish no ”better” than 10th in the lotto standings, especially with a healthy Giannis. Chicago, Memphis, and Dallas are “ahead” of them because they leaned into tanking post-deadline while Giannis-less Milwaukee was surprisingly thriving. So… what are they playing for here?

Mavericks vs Hornets Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

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You need a long memory to remember the last time the Charlotte Hornets were this fun, and they’ll look to keep building the buzz against the Dallas Mavericks tonight.

Charlotte has rattled off four straight wins to stay within reach of the Top 6 in the East, and my Mavericks vs. Hornets predictions expect Brandon Miller to cash in, with his sharpshooting tormenting Dallas’ undermanned defense.

Cooper Flagg’s foot injury means we likely won’t see him go head-to-head with Kon Knueppel in a rookie-of-the-year showdown, but my NBA picks look at other storylines for this March 3 clash.

Mavericks vs Hornets prediction

Mavericks vs Hornets best bet: Brandon Miller Over 22.5 points (-115)

With this Charlotte Hornets offense now ranking just outside the Top 10 in points per game, the hype around the Brandom Miller, Kon Knueppel, and LaMelo Ball trio feels justified.

Miller, in particular, has been on a heater lately. He’s gone past this O/U number in his past three outings — and he’s 17-for-32 from downtown in that span. Going back further, Miller's averaging 24.3 ppg across his last eight contests.

The Hornets dropped 123 points on the Dallas Mavericks in a late-January matchup, and Miller finished with 23 points that night. Sign me up for a repeat performance.

Mavericks vs Hornets same-game parlay

Miller’s 3-point shooting has helped him post big point totals despite playing fewer than 30 minutes in four of his last five games largely because of Charlotte's big fourth-quarter leads. He’s knocked down 4+ triples in five straight outings.

Charlotte enters as a big favorite, and I’m undeterred by the double-digit spread. The hosts are 9-1 ATS in their past 10 contests, while a depleted Dallas squad has lost eight of its last 10 games.

Mavericks vs Hornets SGP

  • Brandon Miller Over 22.5 points
  • Brandon Miller Over 3.5 threes
  • Hornets -13

Our "from downtown" SGP: Moose on the loose

There’s never any doubt about whether Moussa Diabate is on the court. The man they call “Moose” gives the Hornets a spark on both ends of the floor, and he’s coming off a 13-11-5 effort against the Trail Blazers.

Diabate has logged 11+ rebounds in four of his last six games, and his assist numbers have spiked with 14 dimes across his past three contests.

Mavericks vs Hornets SGP

  • Moussa Diabate Over 9.5 points
  • Moussa Diabate Over 9.5 rebounds
  • Moussa Diabate Over 2.5 assists
  • Hornets -13

Mavericks vs Hornets odds

  • Spread: Mavericks +13 | Hornets -13
  • Moneyline: Mavericks +500 | Hornets -700
  • Over/Under: Over 230 | Under 230

Mavericks vs Hornets betting trend to know

The Mavericks are just 10-16 ATS on the road this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Mavericks vs. Hornets.

How to watch Mavericks vs Hornets

LocationSpectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
DateTuesday, March 3, 2026
Tip-off7:00 p.m. ET
TVKFAA, FDSN SE-Charlotte

Mavericks vs Hornets latest injuries

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Best NBA Player Props Today for March 3: Guess Who's Back

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There are a whopping 10 games on tonight’s NBA schedule, so the player prop markets are packed with options.

My top plays include Ty Jerome, the Memphis Grizzlies’ best (and arguably only) scoring option, and locking in Dejounte Murray’s point totals before sportsbooks fully catch on to his form.

Read more in my NBA picks for Tuesday, March 3.

Best NBA player props today

PlayerPickbet365
Magic Wendell Carter Jr.Over 8.5 rebounds+100
Grizzlies Ty JeromeOver 17.5 points-112
Pelicans Dejounte MurrayOver 13.5 points-120

Prop #1: Wendell Carter Jr. Over 8.5 rebounds

+100 at bet365

Wendell Carter Jr. has been dominating the glass lately, and the Orlando Magic big man will have a great opportunity to continue that against the Washington Wizards.

Carter is averaging 9.2 rebounds over his last 10 games and has pulled down nine or more boards in five of his last seven outings.

Meanwhile, the Wizards struggle on the glass, ranking dead last in both rebounding rate and opponent rebounds per game.

  • Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Monumental, FanDuel Sports Network Florida  

Prop #2: Ty Jerome Over 17.5 points

-112 at bet365

The Memphis Grizzlies are short on scorers right now, and Ty Jerome has stepped up as the last man standing.

Since returning from injury at the end of January, the Grizzlies shooting guard has played eight games, averaging 19.6 points while hitting 41.2% of his shots from beyond the arc.

Tonight, he faces the Minnesota Timberwolves, who rank 16th in opponent 3-point percentage and might ease off in a game with a 14.5-point spread.

As long as sportsbooks offer reasonable lines on Jerome, betting the Over remains a solid play.

  • Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network Southeast-Memphis, FanDuel Sports Network North

Prop #3: Dejounte Murray Over 13.5 points

-120 at bet365

I wouldn’t blame you if you forgot that Dejounte Murray now plays for the New Orleans Pelicans, having spent over a year sidelined recovering from an Achilles injury.

But in his three games back, Murray's already starting to look like the player we remember, putting up 15.6 points per game with a .545 effective field goal percentage. It won’t be long before sportsbooks fully adjust to his form.

His point total against the Los Angeles Lakers is set at 13.5. The Lakers rank 22nd in defensive rating and 27th in opponent eFG%.

  • Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: GCSEN, SPECSN

These props are available now at bet365, one of our best betting sites.

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Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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Victor Wembanyama pleads for help after friend disappears at Chicago airport

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Collage of Victor Wembanyama in a San Antonio Spurs uniform and a man with a curly afro and goatee

Victor Wembanyama needs all hands on deck.

The two-time NBA All-Star is calling for help in locating a friend, 23-year-old Elijah Hoard, who was reported missing over the weekend in Chicago after his family stated he did not board a flight back to France.

“Our friend Elijah has been missing from Chicago O’Hare since February 27. If you have any information please reach out to local authorities,” Wembanayama wrote Monday on an Instagram Story, where he tagged notable Bulls stars such as Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, as well as the Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard.

Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the New York Knicks on March 1, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NBAE via Getty Images

Hoard was last seen on Friday at O’Hare Airport, according to a missing person bulletin shared Sunday by Chicago police, which added he was dressed in a “brown hooded sweatshirt, black sweatpants, and cream colored shoes.” Authorities stated Hoard “may be in need of medical attention.”

Hoard’s father, Antwon, spoke about his son’s 10-day trip with a local outlet and how things shifted as the stay came to a close.

“Everything seemed pretty normal the first eight days, but the last two days his whole mood had swung, and he was really adamant about not going back home, and he didn’t want to go home,” Antwon said.

Hoard never checked in for his flight, according to his father, who theorized, “He could possibly be floating around the airport or something.”

Wembanyama will not return to Chicago this season with the Spurs.

Victor Wembanyama’s friend Elijah Hoard, who went missing. Chicago Police Department
The FAA air traffic control tower at O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago, Illinois, US, on Friday Oct. 10, 2025 Bloomberg via Getty Images

The team’s 11-game hot streak was ended by the Knicks Sunday with a 114-89 loss.

The Spurs’ first chance to get back on track comes Tuesday in Philadelphia against the Sixers.

San Antonio is second in the Western Conference at 43-17.

Grizzlies vs Timberwolves Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

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This Minnesota Timberwolves era started with a frustrating first-round loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, hinting at a budding rivalry.

Instead, Memphis has reshaped its roster, leaving Minnesota as a two-touchdown favorite tonight.

My Grizzlies vs. Timberwolves predictions expect Minnesota to excel at the rim, a conscious roster-building decision sparked by that playoff loss four years ago.

Find out more in my NBA picks for Tuesday, March 3. 

Grizzlies vs Timberwolves prediction

Grizzlies vs Timberwolves best bet: Rudy Gobert Over 11.5 points (-112)

Rudy Gobert continues to thrive on the boards for the Minnesota Timberwolves, averaging 15.7 rebounds in his last three games.

And more often than not, Gobert's rebounding leads to putback opportunities.

Against an undermanned and undersized Memphis Grizzlies’ lineup, the Timberwolves should feed Gobert early and often.

Grizzlies vs Timberwolves same-game parlay

Gobert has grabbed at least 13 rebounds in each of his last four games, and against such a depleted Grizzlies’ front line, more of the same should be anticipated. 

Meanwhile, not much should be expected from the 7-foot Santi Aldama in his first game since Feb. 4.

Grizzlies vs Timberwolves SGP

  • Rudy Gobert Over 11.5 points
  • Rudy Gobert Over 12.5 rebounds
  • Santi Aldama Under 5.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: Shooting Into Consistency

Jaden McDaniels’s shooting from deep has yo-yo’ed a bit lately, but he has still shot 44.3% from beyond the arc this season.

A looming blowout should be an opportunity for him to put up four or five 3-pointers to regain his rhythm.

Grizzlies vs Timberwolves SGP

  • Rudy Gobert Over 11.5 points
  • Rudy Gobert Over 12.5 rebounds
  • Santi Aldama Under 5.5 rebounds
  • Jaden McDaniels Over 1.5 threes

Grizzlies vs Timberwolves odds

  • Spread: Grizzlies +14 (-110) | Timberwolves -14 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Grizzlies +575 | Timberwolves -850
  • Over/Under: Over 237.5 (-110) | Under 237.5 (-110)

Grizzlies vs Timberwolves betting trend to know

Minnesota is 20-11 SU at home this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Grizzlies vs. Timberwolves.

How to watch Grizzlies vs Timberwolves

LocationTarget Center, Minneapolis, MN
DateTuesday, March 3, 2026
Tip-off8:00 p.m. ET
TVFDSN SE-Memphis, FDSN North

Grizzlies vs Timberwolves latest injuries

Not intended for use in MA.
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Dodgers Post podcast: Is it time to worry about pitching injuries?

On this episode of The Dodgers Post, Jack Harris and Dylan Hernández get you caught up on the latest from Dodgers camp.

They start by evaluating the Dodgers’ pitching injuries this spring –– including to Gavin Stone and Blake Snell –– and debate how much of a concern it should be.

They break down what they’ve seen from Roki Sasaki so far, and why improving his fastball command remains his biggest priority.

Dylan discusses his visit to Team USA camp ahead of the World Baseball Classic, and why Clayton Kershaw seems perfectly content with his life post-retirement.

And, they talk about Mookie Betts’ new mindset, and whether they are buying into his hope of having a bounce-back season.

How The Vancouver Canucks Stack Up To The Rest Of The NHL: 60 Games In

The Vancouver Canucks are 60 games into their 2025–26 NHL season and sit comfortably at dead-last in the entire league. They have yet to win a game since their January 29 shutout against the Anaheim Ducks. With one game remaining before the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline, here’s how the Canucks stack up to the rest of the NHL at the 60-game mark. 

Team Stats 

Vancouver Canucks team stats 60 games into 2025-26.
Vancouver Canucks team stats 60 games into 2025-26.

Unsurprisingly, the Canucks rank dead-last in nearly all of their team stat categories including goals-against (222) and penalty kill (70.6%). Shockingly, they aren’t last in goals-for (149), faceoff winning rate (48.3%), or power play (17.7%). Those honours belong to the Calgary Flames for goals-for (146), the Buffalo Sabres for faceoff winning percentages (44.6%), and the Colorado Avalanche for power play efficiency (15.3%). Intriguingly, along with the Avalanche, Vancouver ranks ahead of two other teams currently in a playoff spot when it comes to power play success rate — the Utah Mammoth (15.9%) and New York Islanders (15.8%). 

Individual Skater Stats 

Vancouver Canucks individual skater stats 60 games into 2025-26.
Vancouver Canucks individual skater stats 60 games into 2025-26.

Vancouver’s current leading points-getter, Elias Pettersson, is tied with nine other players for 136th in the NHL including former Canuck defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Their new goal-scoring leader, Drew O’Connor, is tied with 17 other players in the NHL for the 121st-most goals this season with 14. Alongside him with 14 are former Canuck J.T. Miller, Edmonton Oilers centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Boston Bruins rookie Fraser Minten. Filip Hronek remains within the top-10 in the NHL in overall TOI with 1466:48; in the lead is Moritz Seider of the Detroit Red Wings with 1562:55, followed by former Canucks captain Quinn Hughes with 1528:20. 

Goaltending Stats

Vancouver Canucks goaltending stats 60 games into 2025-26.
Vancouver Canucks goaltending stats 60 games into 2025-26.

With Thatcher Demko sidelined for the remainder of the season and Kevin Lankinen coming off a bronze-medal win at the Olympics, Nikita Tolopilo has officially taken the lead for the highest SV% by a Canucks goaltender who has played in 10 or more games through the 2025–26 season. Ironically enough, compared to the rest of the NHL, he’s tied with Artūrs Šilovs in this stat with a .901 SV%. Impressively, the other category that Tolopilo leads his team in is high-danger SV% (.870%), which ranks third of all NHL goaltender who have played 10 or more games. Only Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (.878%) and Calgary Flames goaltender Devin Cooley (.877%) have registered higher. 

Vancouver’s final game before the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline is on Wednesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. After that, they’ll spend two games on the road against the Chicago Blackhawks and the Winnipeg Jets before returning home for an eight-game home stand. 

Mar 2, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Zeev Buium (24) and Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston (53) watch as goalie Nikita Tolopilo (60) makes a save in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Mar 2, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Zeev Buium (24) and Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston (53) watch as goalie Nikita Tolopilo (60) makes a save in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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A Red Sox love story turned tragedy, featuring Triston Casas

Fort Myers, FL - February 18: Boston Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas runs. The Red Sox held Day 9 of Spring Training at JetBlue Park on February 18, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images

When you think about the Red Sox as a team, as a collection players, as a drama, you have to think about Triston Casas. In the story of Tristan and Iseult, the knight, Tristan, is on a quest to bring the princess, Iseult, from Ireland to England to marry the king of Cornwall, his uncle. The tale, dating back centuries, is set even further in the past: Arthurian times. They eventually fall in love but, crucially, never marry and the two die apart. So too, in a way, have Triston Casas and the Red Sox.

In 2023, Casas, who made his MLB debut the prior season, was something of a revelation at first base. Over 132 games Casas hit .263/.367/.490 with 24 home runs. That’s an .856 OPS and 2.2 bWAR and earned him a 3rd place finish in the AL Rookie of the Year race. When you look at FanGraphs’ 2026 home run projections for Boston, that 24 seems mighty nice to think about. Of course, part of the reason he only hit 24 was that he ended the season on September 14th due to injury.

Casas took a bit of a step back in 2024. In his sophomore season, the first baseman slashed .241/.337/.462 With 13 homers. His season lasted just 63 games after another injury. I don’t know whether it’s proper to use “fluke” for this type of injury (tearing rib cartilage), but swinging so hard your body tears itself apart isn’t great. Hopefully with the swing mechanics team and training regimens this isn’t something that happens again.

In 2025 there wasn’t much to write home about at all. In just 32 games Casas hit (if you can call it that) .182/.277/.303 with 3 home runs. It was an absolutely dreadful start before another season-ending injury, thsi time rupturing his patella. What’s worse is that he was starting to have a better run: in his last 9 games of the season he was hitting .222/.364/.444 with 2 home runs, 5 walks, and 7 strikeouts. There might have been a turnaround in May that we were robbed from experiencing.

Over three seasons Casas went from 132, to 63, to 32 games played. He went from a home run every 5.5 games, to every 4.8 games, to every 10.6 games (that one barely means anything with only 1 homer in his first 23 games).

After the season, Craig Breslow wouldn’t commit to Casas as his first baseman. He spoke of acquiring multiple bats to upgrade the offense and the biggest, most notable bat acquired was Willson Contreras who plays first base. Casas is in his age-26 season, he’s played under a hundred games in two years, and he was coming off a devastating injury as Spring Training kicked off. In addition to having to battle for playing time he’s battling his own body.

His most notable moment since 2023 is the legendary interview in which he turned the tables on ESPN with a mid-game filibuster on Father’s Day 2025.

He’s just weird sometimes.

Alex Speier reported that Casas was taking some ground balls at third base in camp to help Isiah Kiner-Falefa get in some time at first.

Obviously the Sox aren’t carrying Casas as a backup first baseman (that’s IKF, Romy, etc.). Which sends him, most likely, to the minors. Until and unless Masataka Yoshida can’t hit well enough as the DH or something happens to Contreras. Or he’s traded.

But either way, the Red Sox Triston, like the Tristan of old, wants to be with the team he loves. And it just hasn’t worked out.

This New York Yankee Made a Hole-in-One on a Par 4—With a Range Ball

This New York Yankee Made a Hole-in-One on a Par 4—With a Range Ball

There's no way you can frame a range ball, right?

As a proud New Englander, it’s hard for me to write anything positive about New York, let alone the Yankees. But this is pretty cool.

On Monday, Yanks second baseman Jazz Chisholm posted a video to social to show off his improbable hole-in-one on a 328-yard par 4. The best part—well, maybe the worst part—is that he did it with a range ball.

Not a bad day off during spring training. Chisholm’s going to have some serious bragging rights in the dugout. The PGA TOUR even reposted the video noting that Chisholm's feat hasn't even happened on TOUR in 25 years. We'll have to do some extra digging to see if there is any data on how many baseball players in the MLB 30-30 club, like Chisholm, also have aced a Par-4—or use range balls in play.

But there’s only one way I’m going to end this: Go Sox!

Pittsburgh Penguins At Boston Bruins Preview: Lineup Changes, Where To Watch

The Pittsburgh Penguins' daunting March schedule continues with a matchup against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night.

This will be the second meeting between the two teams this year after the Bruins won the first matchup 1-0 back on Jan. 11. The Penguins couldn't generate much of anything in that game and lost on a game-winning goal from Viktor Arvidsson. 

Since that game, the Penguins are 10-1-4 and are in second place in the Metropolitan Division with 75 points. The Bruins are in the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 71 points and are coming off a 3-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. 

This is a very top-heavy Bruins team led by David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie. Pastrnak is one of the best players on the planet, compiling 22 goals and 72 points in 54 games. Geekie is having another outstanding season, racking up 33 goals and 55 points in 58 games. 

Outside of those two, Charlie McAvoy does it all on the backend, and the Bruins have gotten some depth scoring from other players in their lineup, including Elias Lindholm, Arvidsson, and Pavel Zacha. 

Jeremy Swayman will start in goal for the Bruins. He's having a better season this year compared to last year with 22 wins, a 2.89 goals-against average, and a .903 save percentage. He's also fourth among all goaltenders in goals saved above expected with 16.9. 

The Penguins will feature some new line combinations and pairings for this game. Blake Lizotte has been ruled out for this game with a lower-body injury, meaning Avery Hayes will center the fourth line. Ben Kindel will also center the top line after Rickard Rakell was in that spot for the last three games. 

Here's a look at the projected lineup:

Forwards

Rakell-Kindel-Rust

Malkin-Novak-Chinakhov

Mantha-K. Hayes-Brazeau

Dewar-A. Hayes-Acciari

Defensive pairs

Wotherspoon-Karlsson

Shea-Letang

Girard-Clifton

Stuart Skinner will start in goal for the Penguins. 

Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'


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