The Canadiens picked up a 3-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night. Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson played a role in the victory, as he recorded an assist on Phillip Danault's eventual game-winning goal.
With this assist, Hutson has now made NHL history.
Hutson now has the most assists ever by an NHL defenseman within their first 150 games with 116. Sergei Zubov previously held the record, as the Hockey Hall of Famer recorded 115 assists in his first 150 career NHL games.
Setting this NHL record just shows how special of a talent Hutson is. He has been simply incredible for the Canadiens since his arrival, and he is only getting better as he continues to gain more experience.
In 63 games this season with the Canadiens, Hutson has 11 goals, 54 assists, 65 points, and a plus-28 rating. The 5-foot-9 blueliner is having a fantastic campaign with the Habs, and it will be fascinating to see how he builds on it from here after setting this new record.
Lane Hutson officially has the record for most assists by an NHL defenseman through his first 150 games 🤯
CHICAGO (AP) — Cooper Koch scored a career-high 19 points, Bennett Stirtz added 17 and the pair fueled a run of 21 straight points to help send Iowa to a 75-64 win over Maryland in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday.
Koch made 5 of 8 3-point attempts and Stirtz had eight assists and a team-high six rebounds for the ninth-seeded Hawkeyes (21-11), who snapped a three-game losing streak and will take on eighth-seeded Ohio State in a quarterfinal Thursday. Tavion Banks added 12 points and Cam Manyawu 10.
Darius Adams led the No. 17-seeded Terrapins (12-21) with 14 points. Isaiah Watts made four 3s for his 12 points and David Coit also scored 12 points. Solomon Washington grabbed 13 rebounds.
Koch hit a trio of 3-pointers and Stirtz — who had missed his first seven from the arc — added two more in the 21-0 run that ended with Iowa ahead 51-34 eight minutes into the second half.
Maryland rallied to get the deficit down to nine but Koch hit his fifth 3 to put the lead back into double figures where it remained for the final 6 1/2 minutes.
Watts came off the bench in the first half to make three 3-pointers and the Terrapins sank six straight shots in a 15-0 run for a 21-10 lead. But the Terrapins made just one of their last 12 shots — including nine misses from beyond the 3-point line — over the final eight minutes. Iowa took advantage, outscoring the Terrapins 15-5 to cut the deficit to 26-25.
Up next
Iowa beat Ohio State at home 74-57 on Feb. 25 in the teams' only regular-season meeting.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Quadir Copeland had 24 points and eight assists, Ven-Allen Lubin added 18 points and No. 7 seed N.C. State beat 15th-seeded Pittsburgh 98-88 on Wednesday in the second round of the ACC Tournament.
N.C. State (20-12) advances to play No. 2 seed and 10th-ranked Virginia in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
N.C. State led 51-50 at halftime as both teams shot over 60% from the field and had three players in double-figure scoring. The Wolfpack went 7 of 9 from 3-point range, while Pitt was 9 of 16.
N.C. State began the second half on a 12-2 run to extend its lead to 63-52 before Pitt made its first field goal at the 16:31 mark. Matt Able made the Wolfpack’s 11th 3-pointer — in just 15 attempts — for a 76-62 lead.
The officials upgraded to a flagrant-1 foul with 2:13 remaining after Lubin was pushed from behind on an alley-oop attempt. Lubin made both free throws to give N.C. State a 92-83 lead and Paul McNeil Jr. made it a four-point possession for an 11-point lead on an easy layup.
McNeil finished with 15 points, Tre Holloman had 14, and Darrion Williams and Able each scored 12 for N.C. State.
Cameron Corhen scored a career-high 27 points for Pittsburgh (13-20). Nojus Indrusaitis added a season-high 19 points and Omari Witherspoon also scored 19.
Pitt reached its season average for made 3-pointers in a game with 8:40 left in the first half when Indrusaitis made his third straight and the Panthers’ eighth in 12 attempts for a 34-25 lead.
The Panthers finished 12 of 27 behind the arc, while the Wolfpack went 13 of 23.
Up next
N.C. State lost both regular-season matchups with Virginia this season, most recently a 90-61 contest on Feb. 24.
Feb 19, 2026; PortCharlotte, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays infielder Brayden Taylor (80) poses for a photo during media day at Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Taylor entered 2025 as a top-100 prospect after demolishing High-A (154 wRC+), and left 2025 as an afterthought on prospect lists, although he was selected as an Arizona Fall League “Fall Star” in between, where he worked to keep his chase rate low and his hard hit rate high. The juice must have been worth the squeeze, as the Rays have elected to invite Taylor to major league Spring Training this year.
Rank
Player
Position
Votes
Total
Percentage
Last Season
1
Carson Williams
SS
14
25
56%
1
2
Brody Hopkins
RHP
19
25
76%
8
3
Jacob Melton
OF
14
28
50%
N/A
4
Theo Gillen
OF
14
26
54%
13
5
Ty Johnson
RHP
12
25
48%
15
6
Daniel Pierce
SS
13
23
57%
N/A
7
Jadher Areinamo
INF
15
28
54%
N/A
8
TJ Nichols
RHP
13
28
46%
N/R
9
Michael Forret
RHP
8
33
24%
N/A
10
Santiago Suarez
RHP
11
30
37%
16
11
Anderson Brito
RHP
7
28
25%
N/A
12
Xavier Isaac
1B
9
28
32%
3
13
Caden Bodine
C
10
25
40%
N/A
14
Brendan Summerhill
OF
11
27
41%
N/A
15
Slater de Brun
OF
10
25
40%
N/A
16
Nathan Flewelling
C
8
26
31%
N/R
17
Trevor Harrison
RHP
9
26
35%
10
18
Jose Urbina
RHP
13
26
50%
25
19
Tre’ Morgan
1B/LF
15
25
60%
4
20
Jackson Baumeister
RHP
12
27
44%
12
21
Aidan Smith
OF
17
29
59%
6
22
Homer Bush Jr.
OF
10
25
40%
21
23
Dom Keegan
C
10
28
36%
9
24
Gary Gill Hill
RHP
8
25
32%
11
25
Brailer Guerrero
OF
8
24
33%
14
26
Brayden Taylor
2B/3B
6
25
24%
2
Brayden Taylor fell from on high but not off the list entirely, with his slide ending at No. 26. An off-season Fall Star, Taylor had a regular season to forget and will be looking to right the ship in 2026. Adding Dean Moss.
Candidates
Fabricio Blanco, SS 17 | S/R | 5’11” | 161
A bat-first middle infielder, the Venezuelan is an elite prospect within the context of the international signing process, with some believing he’s the best Rays signee this off-season, despite gathering only a $1 million bonus. He can barrel up from both sides of the plate, but may settle into a right handed swing in the long term, with quick hands. He has the ability and instincts to stick at short, with a high-IQ approach and gritty demeanor.
Alex Cook, RHP 25 | 6’2” | 220 AA | 2.30 ERA, 2.29 FIP, 15.2 IP (13 G), 30.5% K, 5.1% BB
The Rays added Cook to the 40-man roster this off-season to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, despite only throwing 20 innings (if you include four appearances in the complex league) after a slow start to the season. Cook attempted to convert to starting in 2024 and succumbed to a should injury, but bounced back in the bullpen in 2025 throwing 99 mph — and he has shown up to camp continuing to pitch with confidence. He has plus control and command, with stuff that leans into his low release point, including a cut-ride fastball and two-plane slider, and an MLB average cutter to prevent platoon slit problems. He should slot into high leverage for Durham and ride the shuttle in 2026.
Cooper Flemming, SS 19 | L/R | 6’3” | 190
One of the best high school bats in the 2025 draft, Flemming surprisingly fell into the Rays laps in the second round. He has a too-quiet swing that lacks the load necessary to hit for power, but he’s historically compensated for that with a high contact rate that would have rated him as first round material if his defense projected to stick. The Rays were able to convince him to forgo an education at Vanderbilt by going above slot ($2.3m, Comp-A money).
Taitn Gray, 1B/OF/C 18 | S/R | 6’4” | 220
The Rays 86th overall pick in 2025, Gray fell to the third round due to some concern about whether he will stick at catcher, but that buries the lead. Still just 17 at the time of the draft, Gray showed up to the Rays organization and proved his rumored power was real, running exit velocities up to 115 mph from both sides of the plate, although the left handed swing is sweeter. He has plus athleticism, which elevated his bat speed, foot speed, and fluidity — despite his size. It will be interesting to see where the Rays deploy him on defense, but it’s a great bat to dream on.
Victor Mesa Jr., OF 24 | L/L | 5’11” | 195 AAA (MIA) | .301/.368/.510 (136 wRC+) 171 PA, 7 HR, 4 SB, 9.9% BB, 16.4% K MLB (MIA) | 6 H (1 HR), 5 BB, 5 K (81 wRC+) 38 PA
This Cuban power bat already made his major league debut with Miami last year after bouncing back from a spring hamstring injury, and was dealt to the Rays in February. He profiles as a fourth outfielder but has an option remaining, so the organization may send him down for regular playing time and one last chance for something more in development. If not, he’s a center field capable on defense, which goes a long way for a platoon bat. In the running for the nicest guy in baseball.
Dean Moss, OF 19 | L/R | 6’0” | 180
Signed well above slot out of the 2025 draft at No. 67 overall, Moss’s family moved from California to the Tampa Bay Area to enroll Moss at IMG, and it earned him a new-home-town selection. A jack of all trades, Moss’s hit tool shades his best thanks to plus bat speed. His swing is clean, with and the projection for his power over time is major league average. He will have competition internally to stick at center, but may get the first nod in the rookie league.
Acquired in the Shane Baz trade, Overn was once a top draft prospect after committing to baseball over football at USC, but surprisingly struggled as a draft-eligible sophomore. That didn’t stop Baltimore from taking him in the third round (97th overall) in 2024. Now a professional, Overn overhauled his swing in the first half of 2025, and earned an early promotion to Double-A for his efforts, where he didn’t look overmatched. His biggest threat is his speed, which raises his floor and gives him an easy projection to a major league bench thanks to plus defensive instincts (BA gave 70’s to his run and field tools). His offensive profile is buoyed by his ability to work the count, but evaluators would like to see him punish fastballs more often for him to be considered a regular.
The Rays 58th overall pick in 2024, Pitre has risen on draft boards through a strong performance in the Cape Cod league in 2023, but the power was a real question mark on his profile. Now given a chance to develop as a professional, he wouldn’t be the first to add muscle. His run and hit tools are plus, with a well coiled swing and solid contact in and out of zone. He’s too old to return to High-A and it be viewed as positive. His power stroke will be the key to his success in 2026.
Adrian Santana, SS 20 | S/R | 5’11” | 155 A+ | .263/.324/.326 (94 wRC+) 409 PA, 2 HR, 47 SB, 8.6% BB, 12.0% K
Once a top-ten or so prospect in 2024, Santana fell off our site’s 2025 list after failing to clear as an honorable mention. Why? The switch-hitting slick fielding short stop was the Rays 31st overall pick in 2023 but has delivered sub-100 wRC+ each stop of his career, although that got closer than ever last season, his third as a professional and his third as a teenager in the Rays system. Could expectations be too high on his bat? He has plus athleticism, is learning to wheelhouse, and has “acrobatic” defense at the hardest position in the game, with 98 swiped bags over the last two seasons. What happens if he survives the test of Double-A breaking balls?
Victor Valdez, SS 17 | R/R | 6’1” | 186
A pretty swing with a low whiff rate earned Valdez a big payday this winter — $3.5 million — with as good of a power projection as you can reasonably ask for from a a teenage bat, having been given a 25+ home run projection by Baseball America, who also praise his plus foot speed, bat speed, and control of the zone. Reports say he has ever improving lateral movements on defense, with smooth actions and a strong arm. If it all clicks, it’s a middle-of-the-order bat on the left side of the infield. At signing, the Rays gave him a comp to Francisco Lindor. It will be interesting to see if his first professional season can solidify the five tool profile.
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: A shot of a baseball on the mound in the bullpen before a spring training game between the Athletics and the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Royals have impressive depth in the starting rotation, and that’s by design. J.J. Picollo has talked before about the need to have eight, nine, or even ten starting pitchers to get through a season, recognizing the high attrition rate among pitchers. The Royals have three recent All-Stars in Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, and Kris Bubic, as well as veteran (and former All-Star Michael Wacha).
Noah Cameron finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting, which you would think would lock up a rotation spot for him. But pitcher Ryan Bergert has been so impressive you have to wonder if there is a rotation spot up for grabs. Or perhaps both make the rotation and Bubic moves back to the bullpen? And oh, by the way, Stephen Kolek isn’t too shabby either. And Bailey Falter has had a solid season as a starter before, and is out of options. And Matt Quatraro thinks Luinder Avila has the chance to become a frontline starter. Perhaps the Royals even go to a six-man rotation?
It really is an embarrassment of riches, but who would you have in the rotation to start the year?
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The head priest and dean of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Pittsburgh is facing charges after being accused of stealing more than $1,000 in baseball cards from a Walmart.
The Very Rev. Aidan Smith was arrested Feb. 27 by police just after leaving the Walmart in Economy Borough, just outside Pittsburgh, with 27 packs of baseball cards concealed under his clothing and in a cardboard box, according to court records.
Smith, 42, was charged with receiving stolen property and retail theft.
Police responded to a call from Walmart security, who said Smith was in the store again after having stolen from it in previous days. Police said Walmart security video shows Smith also taking baseball cards each of the four previous days and leaving without paying.
Walmart valued the stolen baseball cards at $1,099.99, police said.
In a message last week to the cathedral's members, the Right Rev. Ketlen Solak, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, said diocese officials will investigate the situation and follow the church canons that lay out the process for handling clergy misconduct.
“I have spoken with Aidan and assured him of our prayers for him in this difficult time. Please pray for Aidan, for Melanie and their children, for the entire cathedral congregation as we grieve this news, and for everyone involved in this hard situation,” Solak wrote.
Smith had been on administrative leave since late January, Solak's message said. The diocese did not explain why. Smith's defense lawyer declined comment.
While seemingly every player in Los Angeles for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game was counting down the minutes until they could hop on a plane, fly somewhere warm and spend a few days on vacation, Paolo Banchero was the opposite.
Banchero was already in the Bahamas, but wished he were inside the Intut Dome. Banchero, who made the All-Star team in his second season but not the past two, opened up about that to Marc Spears of Andscape.
"I looked in the mirror first. Over the All-Star break, I watched a lot of film over the early part of the season. I just wasn't happy with what I put out. Some of that had to do with me being injured and coming back...
"I could've had a better mindset, and that was part of it. But I know I'm an All-Star in this league. My confidence is still the same. It's about being honest with yourself and realizing that you didn't really deserve to be an All-Star, honestly. It's about taking that with a grain of salt and being better in the second half of the season."
Banchero haș been good this season, averaging 22.2 points, 8.6 rebounds and five assists a game (he had similar numbers before the break), with a 56.8 true shooting percentage that is right about league average.
What hurt his All-Star case with the coaches who picked the reserves was that he missed 10 games with a groin strain in December and was just coming out of that as the voters got serious, plus the Magic were 28-25 at the break and not coming close to living up to preseason expectations. The Magic were considered a disappointment, and it was tough for Banchero to overcome that.
Since the All-Star break, Banchero has been healthy and better: 26.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game while shooting 50.8%.
Orlando appears headed to the play-in as the No. 7 seed in the East, although they have won four in a row, are 7-3 in their last 10 and are 1.5 games out of the No. 6 seed. Still, barring a surprise deep postseason run, changes are expected with the Magic next season. That may well start with coach Jamahl Mosley, who reportedly is at odds with Banchero. Coaches rarely win disputes with a team's star and max player (Bancheros' five-year, $240 million contract kicks in next season). While some around the league question the fit between Banchero and the Magic's other max player, Franz Wagner, Orlando has spent big to bring this group together and may want to give another coach a chance to make it work before making major personnel moves.
For his part, Banchero is all in with this roster, he told Spears.
"I have faith with the guys we have in the locker room. We have a load of talent on this team. We got two NBA All-Star-level players [Wagner and Jalen Suggs] sitting out and coming back from injury. As you see, we're competing with some of the better teams. I've seen it. We've all seen it. There is no reason not to believe, but at the same time, we have to continue to get better and stay hungry.
"We've had two years of experience of losing in the first round. We don't want to taste that again. We're preparing for that."
New York Yankees Bobby Abreu is congratulated by Derek Jeter after hitting his 4th HR as a Yankee vs the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada September 19, 2006. (Photo by Jay Gula/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you were to rank the Yankees’ all-time best in season trades, the deal that brought Bobby Abreu to the Bronx in 2006 would rank up there. For what ended up being basically nothing in terms of prospects sent the other way, the Yankees got two and a half seasons of a very good hitter, who fit like a glove with the rest of their lineup.
With today being Abreu’s 52nd birthday, let’s take a look back at the trade, his stint in pinstripes, and the rest of his baseball career.
Bob Kelly “Bobby” Abreu Born: March 11, 1974 (Maracay, Venezuela) Yankees Tenure: 2006-08
The second of six children, Abreu was born in Venezuela in 1974. His love of baseball came from his father, who had played locally. From early on, Abreu showed an aptitude for playing himself, and that got him signed by the Houston Astros in 1990.
Right from making his debut in the Gulf Coast League in 1991, Abreu showed a talent at what would become his greatest skill: getting on base. Even as his other skills needed more time develop, he OBP’ed .358 that season, and he would spend pretty much the rest of his career in that range or higher. By 1994, the rest of his game caught up, and he posted OPS marks of .898, .911, and .847 from ‘94-96. He was already pretty well regarded in the Astros’ system, but that got him truly on the radar and got him a call up in 1996.
Abreu didn’t light the world on fire in his cup of coffee in 1996, but he did get recalled to be Houston’s starting right fielder in ‘97. However, another slow start and then a wrist injury limited him to just 59 games and an 87 OPS+ that year. Following the ‘97 season, Houston left him unprotected for the expansion draft, with the Devil Rays and Diamondbacks set to come into the league, instead opting to protect Richard Hidalgo.
Tampa Bay took advantage of that and selected Abreu in the expansion draft. They then made a pretty bad mistake themselves with the outfielder. The Devil Rays immediately flipped Abreu to the Phillies that day, in exchange for longtime Philadelphia shortstop Kevin Stocker. Those choices proved to be disastrous ones for both the Astros and now Rays.
In Philadelphia, Abreu hit the ground running. In his first real full season in the majors, he hit .312/.409/.497 with 17 home runs and 19 stolen bases. Over the next nine seasons in Philadelphia, Abreu became a consistently excellent player for the Phillies, posting 47.2 fWAR over his career there. However, his on-base skill wasn’t fully appreciated yet, as evidenced by the fact that he didn’t make an All-Star appearance until 2004, having already put up multiple 6+ WAR seasons. He made it back the next year, and proceeded to put on a show in that year’s Home Run Derby in Detroit.
The next year, the Phillies got off to a slow start, and general manager Pat Gillick decided to tear down a little bit. Age-wise, Abreu didn’t quite fit with the Phillies’ up-and-coming young core of Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and others, so Gillick decided to try and send out Abreu. However, the outfielder also had a full no-trade clause, and said he would only waive it for a few teams, one of whom happened to be the Yankees.
Meanwhile in the Bronx, the Yankees were looking for some kind of solution in right field. Gary Sheffield had gone into the year in the spot, but he had injured his wrist earlier in the season, eventually forcing him to undergo surgery. With Sheffield out, the Yankees were really struggling to find someone to play right in what was otherwise a pretty stacked lineup. Eventually, they came to a deal with the Phillies, sending prospects C.J. Henry, Jesus Sanchez, Carlos Monasterios, and Matt Smith to Philadelphia in exchange for Abreu and pitcher Cory Lidle. At the time, Henry was ranked as one of the best prospects in the Yankees’ system, but in Philadelphia, the trade was still bemoaned as “The Great Gillick Giveaway.”
While the season wouldn’t end as hoped, Abreu helped galvanize the Yankees down the stretch in 2006 with a stellar .330/.419/.507 showing in 58 contests, good for a 138 OPS+. He drove in plenty of runs himself (including seven in one game against the D-Rays on September 12th), but Abreu also became a very helpful table-setter in the lineup, leading the league in walks that year, while seeing an average of 4.4 pitches per plate appearance.
The following year, Abreu overcame a bit of a slow start to still end up with a .818 OPS and over 100 RBI, though playoff success continued to elude the mid-2000s Yanks and they went out in another four-game ALDS. He posted a 120 OPS+ in 2008, and was the last person to record a stolen base at old Yankee Stadium. After that season, in which the Yankees missed the playoffs, the team decided to retool and focused their free agent spending elsewhere, eventually letting the likes of Abreu and fellow OBP machine Jason Giambi walk.
Abreu ended up signing with the Angels, and had a couple good years there, although they did fall to his old Yankees’ team in the 2009 ALCS. After a slow start in 2012, the Angels released Abreu, as they had some outfielder named Mike Trout up and coming. Abreu went on to play for the Dodgers later that year, and had a brief run with the Mets in 2014 before retiring.
In recent years, people have begun to make a case that Abreu should be in the Hall of Fame. While he was never quite talked about in that way during his career, the things he was excellent at have been seen in a new light thanks to more advanced analytics and WAR. He reached 30.8 percent in the most recent ballot, which was 11 percentage points higher than 2025. If that trend continues, Abreu might very well end up in Cooperstown in the coming years.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 02: Jhancarlos Lara #92 of the Glendale Desert Dogs pitches during the game between the Surprise Saguaros and the Glendale Desert Dogs at Camelback Ranch - Glendale on Sunday, November 2, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Now that we are just over two weeks away from Opening Day for the 2026 MLB season, it is time to start picturing what the Atlanta Braves roster could look like. That also includes factoring in which of the Braves prospects have a real chance to reach Atlanta this year, as things stand today, and what we may be able to expect out of them this season.
Players listed in this article are guys who still have remaining prospect eligibility, so no Nacho Alvarez or Hurston Waldrep, and have at least a 50% chance of seeing the big leagues this season – which means guys who would need everything to break right, like a Luke Sinnard, will not be included. Some of these guys, namely Didier Fuentes and Hayden Harris, have already spent some time in the big leagues, but since this is about projecting what we can expect out of them in 2026, they will be included.
Lucas Braun, RHP
Braun has 37 appearances in Double-A and three starts in Triple-A on his resume heading into 2026, which when combined with the injuries to the Braves pitching staff and health questions surrounding the remaining options, makes him a candidate to see Atlanta at some point this year. Braun is likely a bit down the options to earn a big league start, but a 24-year-old with good command and pitchability will potentially be able to handle a few spot starts without hurting the team much. It’s hard to picture him having a bigger role in Atlanta this season, but the Braves would likely be happy with him getting a few decent starts from him as they get him ready for more next year.
Blake Burkhalter, RHP
As a 25-year-old with 31 innings of experience at the Triple-A level, Burkhalter is an excellent candidate to see Atlanta at some point this year. He has moved to the bullpen full time, but he would be a guy capable of either pitching in middle relief or giving some multi-inning outings this year. He is a guy who could potentially be up for good at some point this year.
Didier Fuentes, RHP
If we are being honest, Fuentes’ time in Atlanta last year didn’t go well. The good news there is that is mostly because he was promoted before he was truly ready for it because of injuries to other arms. A year later and the now 20-year-old has looked great in limited spring training action. Through two innings of big league spring training work, he has four strikeouts with no hits or walks. The Braves may want to be extra careful with him to not end up rushing him again, but he could be ready for a backend of the rotation job by the end of this season.
Hayden Harris, LHP
Harris appeared in three games last year for the Braves, and has been excellent this spring. In his first five innings he has a 1.80 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 12 strikeouts to just two walks. Harris is competing for a big league job out of camp, and even if he doesn’t get one he could be ready soon after the start of the season. Harris could factor in as a solid lefty out of the pen earning middle relief innings quickly this season.
Jim Jarvis, INF
Jim Jarvis may not be a big prospect, but he’s an upper level minor leaguer who brings plenty of versatility and experience. He is a guy who could get a chance to be promoted and help off the bench in short stints, especially seeing how the Braves have sent him to the Arizona Fall League and have given him 14 big league at bats so far this spring.
Jhancarlos Lara, RHP
Lara spent 51 innings in Gwinnett last year, and the now 23-year-old reliever went and had a solid showing in the Arizona Fall League after the season. Although he was already sent down, he will get a chance to earn his way to Atlanta this season as a power armed reliever. He may not be ready for a late-inning role this year, but I fully expect to see him get a taste of the big leagues this year in some capacity.
David McCabe, 1B
After McCabe saw 28 games in Triple-A last year and considering he turns 26 later this month, he will be a candidate to be promoted at some point this year. It’s hard to see him getting a major role in the big leagues based on his inconsistent power production in the minors, but with his on base ability he could be a candidate for some spot starts at first base or DH if the need arises.
JR Ritchie, RHP
Ritchie reached Triple-A last year and is off to a very strong start to his spring. With his 11 starts at Gwinnett last year, followed by his stuff looking even sharper this spring en route to a 3.38 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and eight strikeouts in eight innings, he is trying to compete for a spot in the initial rotation ahead of Opening Day. While the odds aren’t fully in his favor, the injuries have stacked up and he has done everything he could to show he is close to ready. It’s fair to expect Ritchie to spend a good chunk of his season in Atlanta, being a solid back of the rotation option for the Braves.
Brett Sears, RHP
After a meteoric rise across four levels in 2025, Sears got himself to the doorstep of the big leagues. He doesn’t have a ton of Triple-A or upper level minor league experience yet, but he is a guy with 84 innings between Columbus and Gwinnett and already set to turn 26 in May. Sears will have a chance to earn some spot starts, or even some relief outings this year as an older, advanced pitchability arm. I wouldn’t expect him to have a huge role in the big leagues this year, but can really picture him helping in some manner.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 10: Michael Lorenzen #24 of Italy walks off the field in the fifth inning during the World Baseball Classic Pool B game between Italy and the United States at Daikin Park on March 10, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The group stage of the 2026 World Baseball Classic has reached it’s final day. Just three games remain in pool play before the knockout stage begins on Wednesday. How fitting it is that this final day of the group stage might also be one of the most impactful of the tournament.
Game No. 1: Canada at Cuba (República de Cuba)
Venue: Hiram Bithorn Stadium — San Juan, Puerto Rico
Team Canada (2-1) faces off against Team Cuba (2-1) in a win-or-go-home match to close out San Juan’s Pool A. With Puerto Rico having already punched their ticket to the quarterfinals, the winner of this afternoon’s game will advance to the knockout round.
On the bump for Canada is former Rockies righty Cal Quantrill. Quantrill is the son of former Canadian big league pitcher—and current Team Canada pitching coach—Paul Quantrill and will be making his first appearance of the tournament in today’s start. Rockies prospect lefty and 2025 draft pick Antoine Jean will also look to get into today’s game. At the plate, Rockies infielder Edouard Julien looks to get hot after notching his first hit of the tournament against Puerto Rico on Tuesday.
Left-handed pitcher Livan Moinelo will make his second start of the Classic for Team Cuba. The 30-year-old—who pitches for Nippon Professional Baseball’s Fukuoka Softbank Hawks during the regular season—worked a scoreless 3 2/3 innings his last time out with four strikeouts, two walks, and two hits given up.
First Pitch: 1:00 PM MDT
TV: FS2
Radio: MLB Audio; Sirius XM
Lineups:
RHP Cal Quantrill vs LHP Livan Moinelo
Game No. 2: Italy (Repubblica Italiana) at Mexico (Estados Unidos Mexicanos)
Venue: Daikin Park — Houston, Texas, USA
After Italy’s stunning upset of Team USA on Tuesday, the fate of three teams now hangs on this one game.
If the Italians (3-0) win this evening and complete the group stage with an undefeated record, they will advance along with the United States (3-1) and Mexico (2-1) will be eliminated.
If Mexico wins while scoring six or more runs, they will advance along with the United States and Italy will be eliminated.
If Mexico wins and scores five or fewer runs, they will advance along with Italy and the United States will be eliminated.
If Mexico wins and scores exactly five runs, they will advance and the final spot in Houston’s Pool B will depend on other tiebreaker scenarios.
Philadelphia Phillies right-handed starter Austin Nola will take the mound for Team Italy, making his first appearance of the tournament. Benji Gil and Vinny Castilla’s Team Mexico has yet to announce their starter.
First Pitch: 5:00 PM MDT
TV: FS1
Radio: MLB Audio; Sirius XM
Lineups:
RHP Austin Nola vs TBD
Game No. 3: Dominican Republic (República Dominicana) at Venezuela (Venezuela (República Bolivariana de Venezuela)
Venue: loanDepot Park — Miami, Florida, USA
Both participants in the final game of Miami’s Pool D have already clinched their places in the knockout stage with 3-0 records, meaning tonight’s group stage finale is for the pool’s top seed and for pride.
Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara will get the start for the Dominican Republic in his home ballpark, backed up by a lineup jam-packed with talent like Juan Soto, Julio Rodríguez, and Fernando Tatis Jr. Meanwhile, Rockies reliever Juan Mejia—who has already pitched a scoreless inning this tournament—and former Rockies reliever Carlos Estévez are primed to make appearances from the bullpen.
Arizona Diamondbacks lefty Eduardo Rodríguez will take the mound for Venezuela with his own murderer’s row behind him. Luis Arráez already has multiple extra-base hits—including two home runs—while Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr is 4-for-10 with a home run of his own. The pair are joined by Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, who is 3-for-3 with a double and a walk so far this tournament. Rockies right-handed pitcher Antonio Senzatela may have the chance to come out of the bullpen for his first appearance of the Classic as well.
It’s a light night of NBA action with just six games on the board, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of value to be found in the player prop market.
My favorites for today include OG Anunoby giving Jalen Brunson and KAT some support, and Brandon Miller doing more than just scoring for the Hornets.
Check out those and all my NBA picks for Wednesday, March 11.
The Raps’ are playing their second game in as many nights and will need his playmaking. Quickley is averaging 6.1 assists per game this season, but has that number up 8.8 per contest over his last five games.
The Pels struggle defensively, ranking 26th in defensive rating allow the fourth-most opponent assists per game. IQ has an assists prop sitting at 6.5 and has gone Over that in four of his last five games overall.
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Sportsnet, GCSEN
Prop #2: OG Anunoby Over 2.5 threes made
+115 at bet365
If the New York Knicks want to achieve their goals this season, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are going to need more support. OG Anunoby is one of those guys, and right now, he looks up to the task.
Anunoby has found his shooting rhythm, shooting 46% from three-point range on a big 7.1 attempts over his last seven games, and is putting up 19.4 points per game over that stretch.
Tonight, he takes on the not-so-subtly tanking Utah Jazz, who rank 29th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage and surrender the most made threes per game.
Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MSG, KJZZ
Prop #3: Brandon Miller Over 5.5 rebounds
-105 at bet365
Brandon Miller’s jump in development is a big reason why there is so much buzz around the Charlotte Hornets. And it’s not just because he’s putting up more than 20 points per game.
Miller’s putting in effort all over the floor, including on the glass. He is averaging 5.1 rebounds per game this season and has bumped that up to 8.0 over his last seven games. I’m betting he keeps that up tonight against the Sacramento Kings.
With Domantas Sabonis sidelined, the Kings have little to no presence on the boards. They have the third-worst rebounding rate in the NBA, and Miller has topped this number in five of his last seven games.
Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network-New Orleans, FanDuel Sports Network-SC
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INGLEWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 26: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves handles the ball during the game against the LA Clippers on February 26, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Clippers Date: March 11th, 2026 Time: 9:30 PM CDT Location: Aspiration Dome Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network – North Radio Coverage: KFAN FM, Wolves App, iHeart Radio
It’s a funny thing about ladders.
They take forever to climb. You’re careful with every step. You grip the sides, feel your way upward, and slowly gain ground. But all it takes is the tiniest misstep, one foot slipping, one loose rung, and suddenly you’re tumbling down faster than you ever climbed.
That’s exactly what happened to the Minnesota Timberwolves last night.
After spending the better part of two weeks clawing their way up the Western Conference standings to claim the three seed, the Wolves managed to fall two rungs down the ladder in a single ugly night in Los Angeles. Their loss to the Lakers, punctuated by a disastrous third quarter, sent Minnesota plummeting to the fifth spot in the standings, a reminder of just how fragile life is in the Western Conference playoff race.
And this wasn’t one of those losses where you shrug and say, “Well, Luka had one of those nights.” This was a bad game. Across the board.
The Wolves shot 25 percent from three-point range, which somehow managed to barely eclipse the shooting disaster they put on display against the Orlando Magic on Saturday. Anthony Edwards, who has carried the team offensively for much of the season, had one of his roughest nights of the year, finishing 1-for-10 from deep and getting completely overshadowed by Luka Doncic and, to add insult to injury, Austin Reaves.
But if you’re tempted to pin the whole thing on Edwards, don’t. His teammates didn’t exactly come riding in with cavalry support.
The Lakers Beat the Wolves at Their Own Game
Rudy Gobert had a nightmare matchup in the paint, getting outhustled and outworked by Deandre Ayton, who looked like the dominant big man Gobert was supposed to be in this game. For Wolves fans who remember Gobert absolutely demolishing the Lakers’ frontcourt during Game 5 of last year’s playoff series, watching him struggle like that was… unsettling. Naz Reid and Julius Randle didn’t offer much resistance either.
Meanwhile, the Lakers did exactly what good teams do when they smell weakness: they attacked the rim relentlessly. Minnesota’s perimeter defense cracked open again, allowing a parade of drives into the paint. When the Wolves tried to collapse the defense to help, the ball kicked out for open looks.
It was the exact script we’ve seen too often recently. Minnesota struggled to generate quality offense while making it far too easy for their opponent to score. Every Wolves basket felt like climbing uphill. Every Lakers possession felt like a fast break. By the time the dust settled, the Wolves had been run out of the building.
The Most Alarming Stat of the Season
Here’s the number that should make Wolves fans uncomfortable. Against the Lakers, Rockets, and Nuggets, the teams Minnesota is directly competing with in the crowded 3-through-6 standings race, the Wolves are now a combined 1–7 this season.
One win.
Seven losses.
Those aren’t just random defeats. Those are the games that determine tiebreakers. Those are the games that decide playoff seeding. Those are the games you absolutely cannot afford to keep losing if you’re serious about holding the three seed.
And yet Minnesota has consistently dropped them. The Wolves are essentially handing away leverage in the standings while giving their direct competitors the exact advantage they’ll need in April.
That raises an uncomfortable question. If Minnesota can’t beat these teams in the regular season, what happens when they meet them in a seven-game playoff series? Because barring a major collapse, the Wolves will find themselves playing in either the 3 vs. 6 or 4 vs. 5 matchup.
And the teams occupying those spots? Houston. Denver. Los Angeles.
The same teams Minnesota keeps losing to.
The Clippers Are Waiting
After getting embarrassed by the Lakers, the Wolves now face the Clippers on the second night of a back-to-back. If anyone thinks Minnesota is about to waltz into that building and grab an easy bounce-back win, they haven’t been paying attention.
The Clippers have already shown they can beat the Wolves, decisively, earlier this season. Minnesota did manage to get revenge in their most recent matchup in Los Angeles, but that game required a significantly better performance than what the Wolves showed against the Lakers.
If Minnesota plays like they did last night? I will undoubtedly turn into another long evening. So if the Wolves want to salvage this road trip before it spirals into something worse, they need to start by fixing the fundamentals.
Keys to the Game
#1 – Run an Actual Offense
It’s easy to say “the Wolves just need to shoot better.” Shooting in the low 20s from three isn’t going to beat anyone in this league, but the bigger problem is the offense itself.
Against both the Magic and the Lakers, Minnesota’s offensive flow completely disappeared. The ball stuck. Players stood around. Possessions devolved into isolation attempts or rushed threes late in the shot clock.
When things go wrong offensively, the instinct is to ask Anthony Edwards or Julius Randle to throw on the superhero cape and save the day. But that’s not how this team works at its best. Minnesota needs five players engaged in the offense, cutting, moving, swinging the ball, and forcing the defense to rotate. When the Wolves generate high-quality looks, the shots usually fall.
When the offense turns stagnant? The percentages start looking like they did the last two games.
#2 – Reestablish Dominance in the Paint
One of the most surprising elements of the Lakers loss was Minnesota getting beaten on the boards. That simply can’t happen again tonight. The Wolves still have a significant size advantage against the Clippers with Gobert, Randle, and Reid. That trio should control the glass, limit second-chance opportunities, and establish a physical presence in the paint.
Gobert in particular needs to bounce back. If he can protect the rim and dominate the boards the way he did against the Lakers in last year’s playoff series, the entire game flips.
#3 – Fix the Perimeter Defense
Doncic and Reaves absolutely torched Minnesota. Some of that is simply the reality of playing against elite shot creators. But too often the Wolves allowed easy penetration into the paint, which forced the defense to collapse and opened up scoring opportunities all over the floor.
Minnesota needs to rediscover the perimeter defensive identity that defined the team two seasons ago. That means strong containment from players like Jaden McDaniels, Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo, and Ayo Dosunmu.
And honestly? This might be a game where Jaylen Clark deserves some minutes. Clark’s defensive intensity has been one of the few bright spots when Minnesota has needed energy on the perimeter. With Kyle Anderson now in the rotation, Clark has been pushed deeper down the bench, but in games where opposing guards are cooking, a defensive spark might be exactly what the Wolves need.
#4 – Win the Hustle Plays
When shots aren’t falling, effort becomes the difference. Rebounding. Transition defense. Loose balls. Avoiding careless turnovers. Those are the plays that keep games from spiraling when the offense goes cold.
The Wolves didn’t make enough of those plays against the Lakers. They’ll need to against the Clippers.
#5 – Make the Game Easier
When things start going sideways, the Wolves have a tendency to increase the degree of difficulty instead of simplifying.
That has to stop.
High-efficiency offense should come from players like Gobert finishing around the rim, McDaniels cutting and attacking closeouts, and Edwards driving to the basket to collapse the defense.
Yes, Edwards should continue shooting threes, it’s a core part of his game. But the Wolves also need to get him downhill more often. When he attacks the rim, it bends the defense and creates opportunities for everyone else.
The offense has to return to Wolves Basketball 101.
Time to Re-Grip the Ladder
This road trip got off to the worst possible start. The Wolves slipped from the third seed to the fifth. Denver is creeping closer. The Play-In line isn’t as far away as Minnesota would like.
But here’s the thing. They haven’t fallen off the ladder entirely.
They’re still hanging on.
Now it’s time to stabilize, grab the next rung, and start climbing again.
Because if the Wolves slip one more time, the fall could get a lot steeper.
Mar 29, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Broadcaster Tricia Whitaker of Apple TV on the field before the game between the Houston Astros and the New York Yankees at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Apple TV announced their Friday Night Baseball lineup for the 2026 MLB season, and the Milwaukee Brewers will make a pair of appearances as they take on the Kansas City Royals on April 3 and the Chicago Cubs on June 26.
Both games are set to start at 6:45 p.m. CT, with the first game in Kansas City and the second game in Milwaukee. Apple only announced their FNB games through the end of June, so there’s always a chance the Brewers will make another appearance in the second half of the season.
For the fourth straight season, “Friday Night Baseball” games will be called by broadcast teams Wayne Randazzo (play-by-play), Dontrelle Willis (analyst), and Heidi Watney (sideline reporter); and Alex Faust (play-by-play), Ryan Spilborghs (analyst), and Tricia Whitaker (sideline reporter) with Rich Waltz, who will join the broadcast team to call select games during the season.
Apple TV will kick off the FNB slate on March 27 with a doubleheader, featuring the Angels taking on the Astros before the Guardians take on the Mariners. To view the full schedule for the first half of the season, click here.
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Robert Gasser (54) throws during the first inning of their game against the Cincinnati Reds Saturday, September 27, 2025 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. | Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
In a battle between two lefty starters, the Milwaukee Brewers are set to take on the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday afternoon, as Robert Gasser starts opposite Andrew Abbott.
The Brewers dropped their last game on Monday to the Dodgers, as the bullpen faltered late in that one. They had the day off yesterday but are back in action in Goodyear today.
After Gasser, the Brewers are also expected to deploy several relievers in the form of Grant Anderson, Craig Yoho, Trevor Megill, and Jared Koenig.
Sal Frelick leads off for the Crew, followed by Andrew Vaughn and Gary Sánchez. Luis Rengifo, Brandon Lockridge, and David Hamilton make up the middle of the order, with Reese McGuire, Luis Lara, and Jesús Made to round things out.
Also of note: Today is Jackson Chourio’s 22nd birthday, which means you’ll hear “he’s only 22?!” for the next 365 days.
First pitch is set for 3:05 p.m. CT and will be available via a radio broadcast from the Brewers website.
Immanuel Quickley
OG Anunoby
Brandon Miller
