The injury bug continues to bite Jordan Westburg and the Orioles.
The talented, yet oft-injured third baseman has been diagnosed with a partial ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) tear in his right elbow, Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias told reporters Friday.
He is set to receive a platelet-rich plasma (PR) injection Friday, but will miss all of April with the injury and his timeline is uncertain, according to MLB.com.
Jordan Westburg will at least miss April. Diamond Images/Getty Images
This injury is a tough blow for both the player and the team, and it’s possible the situation could worsen should the PRP injections not work and Westerburg has to undergo surgery.
The 2020 first-round pick is productive when healthy, but staying on the field has been an issue.
He appeared in just 68 games in his rookie season in 2023, 107 in his second season in 2024 after suffering a fractured right hand and 85 this past season while battling multiple injuries during a disaster campaign for the Orioles that resulted in a last-place 75-87 finish.
Westburg had been dealing with a tweaked right oblique in camp he suffered in January, which left him “physically unable to participate” in camp before this reveal.
“Right now, he’s physically unable to participate,” Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said Thursday, according to MLB.com. “He’s getting evaluated by a medical team, and also outside people, to make sure we have a plan in place and see what’s going on with Jordan and get him going.”
Westburg, when healthy, has slashed .264/.312/.456 with 38 homers and 127 RBIs in his career, producing 18 long balls and 63 RBIs in his 107-game season in 2024.
This injury now leaves the Orioles without half of their projected starting infield, with Jackson Holliday already sidelined with a broken right hamate bone.
Jordan Westburg at third base during 2025 game. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Coby Mayo stands to potentially benefit from Westburg’s absence, per MLB.com.
The Orioles had an aggressive offseason to rebound from their 2025 flop, adding Pete Alonso, Taylor Ward and Chris Bassitt, among other moves.
In head-to-head leagues, it all comes down to the weekend. You can have a comfortable lead in multiple categories or by a bunch of points, but if you don’t make the most of the weekend, you can walk out with a loss.
Only eight teams play once this weekend, including the Celtics, Pistons, Warriors, Rockets, Kings, Spurs, Raptors and Jazz. Avoid those teams if you’re looking to maximize your games played.
That’s often what it comes down to in standard points and category leagues, but that’s not always the case. Leagues with some sort of games cap or best ball formats like Yahoo!’s High Score leagues aren’t just looking for volume, though having two chances at a big night is a good strategy in best ball leagues.
The Pacers should have two goals over the final two months of the season. First, ensure their pick doesn’t land in the 5-9 range since it will be sent to the Clippers as part of the Ivica Zubac deal. Second, see what they have in Jarace Walker. The former top-10 pick has gotten a chance to play this year, but he struggled early on. However, he has been solid over the past month, averaging 17.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.8 triples per game while shooting 48.2 percent from the floor, which is a big step up from his 40.2 percent shooting this season.
This weekend, they take on the Wizards and Mavericks, two teams that have struggled on defense and played at a fast pace recently, which is a recipe for fantasy production. They took on the Wizards on Thursday as well, and Walker set season highs for both rebounds (14) and assists (7).
Guards:
Ayo Dosunmu, Minnesota Timberwolves
Dosunmu hasn’t started for Minnesota, but he has been productive off the bench. In three games for the Timberwolves, Dosunmu has averaged 14.7 points, 2.7 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.7 three-pointers in 27.9 minutes per game. They take on the Mavericks and 76ers this weekend, with both teams struggling on defense recently, and Dallas playing at a fast pace.
Collin Gillespie, Phoenix Suns
Devin Booker exited early on Thursday with a hip injury, and while that doesn’t guarantee he’ll miss this weekend’s games, Gillespie would benefit in a big way if he does. They take on the Magic and Trail Blazers on Saturday and Sunday, with Portland struggling on defense recently. Gillespie has been starting regardless, though he has struggled recently. However, he had 30 points, 10 assists and eight three-pointers in his last game against the Blazers.
Cam Spencer, Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies’ backcourt has started to get healthier, which has resulted in Spencer’s playing time dwindling. However, that won’t be the case against the Jazz on Friday night. Spencer and Javon Small will be the only available point guards, which means Spencer should start and be in for a productive night. Against Miami on Saturday, Spencer should still see a decent workload off the bench against a fast-paced team.
Forwards:
Naji Marshall, Dallas Mavericks
With Cooper Flagg (foot) still sidelined, Marshall will be a priority on offense for Dallas. In five games without Flagg this season, Marshall has averaged 19.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 triples per game. They take on the Timberwolves and Pacers this weekend, with both teams ranking in the top 10 in pace over their last 10 games.
Bennedict Mathurin, LA Clippers
Mathurin’s role with the Clippers has been different from his role with the Pacers. Indiana ranks near the top of the league in assisted field goal percentage, while the Clippers rank near the bottom. However, Mathurin has thrived with his new team, averaging 21.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 3.0 steals and 8.0 free throw attempts per game. He has been coming off the bench, but he was able to match his career high for scoring on Thursday. Now, they take on the Lakers and Magic this weekend. Not favorable matchups, but Mathurin has been too good to pass up on.
GG Jackson, Memphis Grizzlies
Jackson started the final five games before the All-Star break and averaged 13.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.0 block and 2.2 triples per game. With Memphis making moves at the deadline, Jackson has moved into a prominent role, which should allow him to be productive against two fast-paced teams this weekend, including a poor defensive one in the Jazz on Friday.
Centers:
Ryan Kalkbrenner, Charlotte Hornets
With Moussa Diabate serving the final two games of his suspension this weekend, Kalkbrenner will get two more chances to start. Friday’s game is against the Cavaliers, which isn’t ideal, but Sunday’s game against the Wizards is a favorable matchup. Washington ranks near the bottom of the league in defensive rating, rebounding percentage, points allowed in the paint and second chance points allowed over their last 10 games. Most of Kalkbrenner’s production comes on the glass and in the paint, so he should feast.
Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets
Nic Claxton (ankle) missed Thursday’s game, and this stream is dependent on him remaining out against the Thunder on Friday and the Hawks on Sunday. Sharpe wasn’t productive on Thursday, but that was against the Cavaliers, one of the best rebounding teams in the league. OKC and Atlanta fall on the opposite end of the spectrum, which should allow Sharpe to have a strong performance.
Kel’el Ware, Miami Heat
This weekend, the Heat take on the Hawks and Grizzlies, with both teams struggling mightily on the glass as of late. Ware started the final two games before the All-Star break and played well, though with the team getting healthier, there is a chance he moves back to the bench. However, even if his minutes are limited, he should dominate the paint during his time on the floor.
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.
Aug 2, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Bryan Reynolds (10) and third baseman Jared Triolo (19) and center fielder Oneil Cruz (15) talk in the middle of the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
The long wait is almost over. After an active offseason for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Spring Training is getting ready to kick off games this coming weekend, with the Grapefruit League getting rolling on Saturday afternoon. The Bucs will play 31 Spring Training games, running all the way up until March 23. They will play 16 home games and 15 away and open up on Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles.
This is all in leadup to the regular season Opening Day, when the Bucs take on the New York Mets at Citifield on March 26 at 1:00pm eastern. They have their home opener on April 3, taking on the Orioles once again, with a 4:00pm eastern start.
The Bucs will again play live on Pittsburgh Sports Net, and they are set to televise 15 of Pittsburgh’s preseason games, including 9 home broadcasts and 6 away. You’ll also be able to catch the Buccos on 93.7 The Fan, 100.1 FM, AM 1020 KDKA as well as the Sports Net Pittsburgh app, SNP 360.
Here’s the Pittsburgh Pirates 2026 MLB Spring Training Schedule:
SURPRISE, AZ - MARCH 04: Peter O'Brien #7 of the Kansas City Royals at bat during the spring training game against the San Francisco Giants at Surprise Stadium on March 4, 2017 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hope springs eternal this time of year, particularly if you’re a hitter in the hot, dry air of Arizona. The Royals typically perform pretty well in the Cactus League, which means absolutely nothing since the games don’t count. But you can be excused for getting a teensy bit excited about a player who seemed to figure things out in spring training. Hope is a good thing, after all!
I am usually quite dismissive of guys launching bombs in Arizona. But I couldn’t help but get a bit excited about Peter O’Brien in 2017. I had liked O’Brien as a college player at Miami, and when the Royals picked him up, I thought there was a chance he could help the team. Then he got to Surprise and started launching bombs. He smacked seven home runs – the only players in all of baseball who hit more that spring training were Greg Bird and Bryce Harper. Could O’Brien be our Bryce Harper? No. O’Brien was sent to the minors and hit .162 with three home runs in 27 games before being released.
The next year, it was Frank “The Tank” Schwindel. He tied for the most spring training home runs in baseball with seven (Salvador Perez and Jorge Soler each hit six, giving Royals fans visions of a Murderer’s Row). His line of .366/.381/.976 wasn’t enough to make the team, so he hit 24 home runs for Omaha. He made the Opening Day roster the next year, but lasted just six games before it was back to the minors. He would find some limited success in 2021, hitting 14 home runs with the Cubs.
Hunter Dozier had a terrific 2019 season, and although his pandemic-shortened 2020 season had mixed results, he was rewarded with a four-year, $25 million deal in February of 2021. That seemed to be a potential steal when he destroyed Cactus League pitching that year, smashing five home runs with a line of .289/.373/.733. But it proved to be fool’s gold as he posted a career-worst OPS+ of 76 that year, part of a rapid decline that turned that contract into a dud.
Ruben Gotay, Mike Jacobs, and Kila Kaaihue are some other Cactus League MVPs. Who was your favorite performer in Royals spring training?
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 13: Dalton Rushing #68 of the Los Angeles Dodgers participates in a fielding drill during spring training workouts at Camelback Ranch on February 13, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Dalton Rushing got his first taste of the major leagues last season, and all of its ups and downs. Now, he heads into potentially his first full season in the majors.
As the backup to Will Smith, it’d be tough for anyone to find a rhythm at the plate playing once or twice per week behind the plate. That proved true for Rushing last year, hitting just .204/.258/.324 with a 37.4-percent strikeout rate in 155 plate appearances. His highest strikeout rate in the minors was only 21.5 percent, in Triple-A Oklahoma City before his call-up in 2025.
Dalton Rushing as a professional
2022: Class-A (all but two games), 134 PA, 213 wRC+
2023: High-A, 381 PA, 147 wRC+
2024: Double-A & Triple-A, 503 PA, 146 wRC+
2025: Triple-A, 149 PA, 143 wRC+
2025: MLB, 155 PA, 62 wRC+
Rushing’s calling card has always been his bat, and he found time in the minors to get more reps at the plate by playing first base, designated hitter, and sometimes left field in addition to catching. Now on the Dodgers, he joins a depth chart with those positions suitably filled, with Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman plus Kyle Tucker and Teoscar Hernández in the corners.
Rushing is in line to be the backup catcher behind Will Smith again, but Roberts would like to find ways to get Rushing more at-bats. That could mean using Rushing at first base on days when Freeman needs a spell. The outfield, Roberts said, will not be an option for Rushing.
Ohtani started 317 of 324 games at designated hitter the last two seasons, and while Freeman has been an ironman for most of his career, his last two seasons have proven more challenging. Freeman started 147 games in 2024, and 145 games in 2025.
That still leaves some time at first base for Rushing to at least occasionally play. Last season he played eight games and 28 total innings at the position with the Dodgers, but his lone start at first came in the final weekend of the season, the day after the team clinched the division.
Today’s question is how many non-catcher starts will Dalton Rushing make in 2026?
FT. MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 15: The sun rises against the Green Monster during a Boston Red Sox spring training team workout on February 15, 2024 at jetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Is the game on TV?
Yes! This is one that NESN never misses. Check it out at 1:05 PM.
What’s the lineup?
What should we watch for?
From an on-field perspective, the most interesting thing here is Kristian Campbell in centerfield, by far. But that’s not what today is about. Today is about looking away from the snow that’s still outside your window and drowning in the sounds of baseball. It’s back.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 13: A general view ahead of the first round during the 2025 MLB Draft at Coca-Cola Roxy on July 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
News came out today that California prep prospect Jared Gridlinger is set to reclassify and move from the 2027 MLB Draft into the 2026 MLB Draft. Gridlinger ranked as high as No. 3 overall and No. 1 prep player in the 2027 class, and adds another premium talent into what is already a strong draft class. This move comes after the deadline to make the move, though Gridlinger was able to secure a waiver from MLB to give him access.
The 2026 MLB Draft class just got better. Former 2027 eligible two-way player Jared Grindlinger has reclassified for 2026.
To give you a little more background on Gridlinger, he will be just 17 years and two months old at the time of the 2026 MLB Draft, making him especially young for the draft. As a player he is one of the most legit two-way prospects we have seen at the top of the draft since Brendan McKay back in 2017. He’s a 6’3”, 185-pound lefty at just 16-years-old presently, but is seen as a projectable pitcher with a fastball already up to 96 MPH and potentially both a plus slider and change. That goes with plenty of power and a feel for taking good at bats as a hitter. If his name sounds familiar, that would be because he is the younger brother of Tennessee freshman catcher Jared Gridlinger – a name you may remember leading up to the 2025 MLB Draft.
This impacts the Braves in a big way as it adds another premium talent to a loaded 2026 class that sees them pick twice in the first round and five times in the first 112 picks. While Gridlinger is the type of prospect capable of going in the Top 10 and pushing another guy, such as a Cam Flukey or AJ Gracia, down to the Braves at No. 9, it is more likely that as of today he has that impact with pick No. 26 instead. That is because scouts and front offices will have to play a little bit of catch up on him, and he has a long list of proven college players to push past to go Top 10.
Gridlinger is also a player who could appeal to the Braves themselves. They have taken their share of two-way guys from the likes of Austin Riley, Michael Harris, Owen Murphy, and even Cam Caminiti, and also their analytics models do like picking players who are young for the class. When you factor in that he is an arm with top of the rotation potential, or a premium bat, it’s hard to picture the Braves not at least tracking him closely.
PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka (AP) — Australia crushed Oman by nine wickets in a dead rubber at the T20 World Cup on Friday, reaching its winning total with more than 10 overs remaining.
Defeats against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka had already led to the shocked Australians exiting the tournament at the first stage.
Adam Zampa, who went wicketless against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, picked up 4-21 as Australia bowled out Oman for 104 in 16.2 overs after captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and chose to field.
Marsh then blazed a 26-ball half century inside the power play and motored Australia to 108-1 in only 9.4 overs for a consolation win. Marsh smashed seven fours and four sixes in his 33-ball unbeaten 64 and Travis Head scored 32 off 19 deliveries before he skied a catch when Australia needed 12 runs for victory.
Australia finished third in Group B while Oman rounded off its campaign with four defeats in four games and was last in the five-team group.
The indifferent form of Marsh’s men had encouraged Oman skipper Jatinder Singh to declare “it is the best time to crush” Australia on the eve of the game. Instead, Australian bowlers dominated.
Xavier Bartlett (2-27) crashed the leg stump of Aamir Kaleem off the very first ball and Singh also got clean bowled by Bartlett inside the power play after hitting three boundaries in his knock of 17.
Zampa and Glenn Maxwell (2-13) struck regularly in the middle overs before Wasim Ali scored 32 off 33 balls and helped Oman reach the 100-run mark. Zampa grabbed his fourth four-wicket haul at T20 World Cups by claiming the last two wickets off successive deliveries.
The Super 8 stage of the tournament begins Saturday with Pakistan taking on New Zealand in Colombo in Group 2 that also features co-host Sri Lanka and England. The unbeaten teams in the group stage -- defending champion India, South Africa, West Indies and Zimbabwe – are in Group 1.
(061808 Boston, MA ) Boston Celtics Kevin Garnett held the championship trophy after the Boston Celtics beat the Los Angeles Lakers in game 6 of the FInals to seal the deal for banner 17 at TD Banknorth on Wednesday, June 18, 2008. Staff Photo by Matthew West. (Photo by Matthew West/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
The Boston Celtics face the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday (2/22 at 6:30 PM on NBC/Peacock) and it will be just another matchup between the sport’s greatest rivals. So I thought I’d take a moment to take a trip down memory lane and talk about the past. What was your favorite memory?
It is hard not to go straight to the Finals matchups. If you are old enough to remember Bill Russell and Bob Cousy taking down Jerry West and others over and over again, well bless your soul and thank you for still coming to this site.
I’m old enough to remember the pain of 1985 and the feeling that we were robbed of our revenge in 1986 where we surely would have rolled over them like we did the Rockets. I don’t have a lot of memories of 1984 unfortunately (I was just turning 9 at the time).
Obviously there was the ultra-glorious 2008 run. With Ray Allen breaking Sasha Vujačić’s ankles on the way to a series clinching layup. Paul Pierce hoisting the Finals MVP trophy. Kevin Garnett screaming “Anything is possibllllllllllllllllle!!!”
But there have been countless regular season matchups as well. Bird and Magic were on National TV any time they met in the 80’s, and for good reason. The Big 3 always battled Kobe well. And Tatum and Brown have continued the legacy, including a sweet blowout over LeBron in 2021.
What memories do you have of the rivalry? Share in the comments below! And Beat LA!
CORAL GABLES, FL - FEBRUARY 23: Princeton infielder Tommy Googins (7) throws to first base in the fourth inning as the Miami Hurricanes faced the Princeton Tigers on February 23, 2025, at Mark Light Field at Alex Rodriguez Park in Coral Gables, Florida. (Photo by Samuel Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Last year was a rough go of it for Princeton, slogging their way to a 12-31 overall record with the underlying stats that say that record probably should have been worse. Collectively, the Tigers hit just .209/.320/.302 with a 11.7 BB% and 26.1 K%. Turns out that notching just 77 extra-base hits over 43 games is not an ideal way to score a lot of runs.
The pitching staff wasn’t any better, and was certainly hurt by the loss of staff ace Sean Episcope after just four starts (Episcope, a draft-eligible sophomore, ended up a 5th round pick of Milwaukee). That group had a combined 6.92 ERA with a 11.3 BB% and 15.8 K%, and didn’t help themselves either by plunking 94 opposing hitters.
This is a new year, though, and in the transfer portal era a team can rebuild itself quickly… except for military academies and Ivy League schools. Princeton brought in zero transfers, but does have an 8-man freshman class that looks promising. It’ll need to rely on them – as well as a couple arms that are returning from injury – if it’s going to rebound from last year’s subpar performance.
Pitching Matchups
Friday: LHP Ryan Marohn (JR) vs RHP Justin Kim (SR)
Saturday: RHP JacobDudan (JR) vs RHP Liam Kinneen (SO)
Sunday: LHP Cooper Consiglio (JR) vs RHP Brady Kaufman (FR)
Key Players:
Offense
INF Jake Koonin (SR) – .236/.385/.460, 6 2B, 8 HR, 14.5 BB%, 20.5 K%, 10-12 SB. Winston-Salem native who attended Mount Tabor HS. Had a down year in 2025 but is a bounce-back candidate based on his 2024 showing (.319/.402/.528, 22 2B, 4 HR, 7.9 BB%, 17.3 K%, 11-11 SB) in which he earned 2nd Team All-Ivy League honors.
UTIL Nick Shenefelt (SO) – .206/.308/.257, 3 2B, 0 HR, 12.1 BB%, 15.9 K%, 0-1 SB. Started 38 games as a freshman and the BB and K rates tell you he wasn’t overmatched, and the .248 BABIP last year tells you an upward regression is in the mix for 2026.
INF Jake Kernodle (JR) – .213/.333/.238, 3 2B, 0 HR, 13.1 BB%, 22.8 K%, 0-0 SB. Charlotte native has started 72 games over his Princeton career. While his 2025 was awful, like Shenefelt, he’s an upward regression candidate after posting a .286/.367/.429, 3 2B, 4 HR, 8.0 BB%, 29.3 K%, 4-6 SB line as a freshman. That 2024 triple slash with his 2025 BB% and K% would be a nice season for him.
Pitching
RHP Justin Kim (SR) – 2-5, 3 SV, 5.26 ERA, 49.2 IP, 9.6 BB%, 18.4 K%. Key reliever for Princeton during his freshman and junior years, while he also served as a starter his sophomore year but had issues with control and didn’t miss many bats (2-2, 4.66 ERA, 38.2 IP, 13.8 BB%, 8.6 K%). Will get another go at the starting rotation this year.
RHP Liam Kinneen (SO) – 3-5, 5.80 ERA, 49.2 IP, 13.4 BB%, 18.9 K%. Big 6’4, 210 lbs second year player who should make a nice sophomore jump if he can reign in the control. Spent his entire freshman year in the starting rotation and will be a mainstay again.
RHP Brady Kaufman (FR) – True freshman two-way player who will be making his college debut on Sunday, assuming he doesn’t play in the field ahead of time (he should). Solid build at 6’2, 190. The next earned run he allows will be the first against him since his junior year of high school.
RHP Elliott Eaton (JR) – 0-0, 8.71 ERA, 31.0 IP, 15.5 BB%, 16.8 K%. Good frame at 6’5, 210 lbs. Control issues are what keeps him back with 43 BB, 28 HBP, and 15 WP in 59.0 career innings.
RHP Will Sword (rJR) – Cary native who attended Thales Academy and missed all of the 2025 season due to injury. Prior to that pitched to a 2-4, 6.52 ERA, 48.1 IP, 12.3 BB%, 18.2 K% in 2024. Has made 13 starts over his 22 career appearances with the Tigers. Could be a key component to the bullpen this year.
Quick! Fun Facts!
Princeton coach Scott Bradley had that program rolling early in his tenure, taking the Tigers to five NCAA Regionals in a seven-year span from 2000 to 2006.
The Tigers have a daunting opening slate for 2026. They play three games in Raleigh this weekend, then head to Durham next weekend for a four-game series with Duke, and then head to Columbia the following weekend for a three-game set with South Carolina.
Despite having just 30 players drafted since 2000, seven Princeton baseball alums have made it to the MLB level: RHP Ross Ohlendorf, OF Will Venable, RHP Chris Young, RHP Danny Barnes, RHP David Hale, 1B Mike Ford, and RHP Matt Bowman. Each of those players had multi-year MLB careers.
Ivy League teams typically play a smaller schedule versus other D1 teams. Princeton has 42 games scheduled for this year compared to 56 for the majority of non-Ivy League schools.
The Key To A Series Win For State
Princeton doesn’t have the pitching depth to stay in this one, so a patient approach to work the pitch counts of the starters will get the Pack deep into a Tigers pitching staff that won’t be able to keep up. The key for State is simple: hunt your pitch at the plate and don’t swing at junk.
Prediction
The Wolfpack will score a bunch of runs and Princeton will not, but the Tigers will show more punch than they did in 2025.
Once the NHL Olympic roster freeze lifts later this month, the Montreal Canadiens will be a team to watch very closely. The Canadiens are currently one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, so they are naturally expected to be buyers ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline.
Due to this, we recently kicked off our Canadiens trade targets series by looking at potential targets from the Nashville Predators. Now, in this latest edition of the series, let's focus on the New York Rangers.
Vincent Trocheck
Vincent Trocheck is a player who has been connected to the Canadiens this season, and it would not be surprising in the slightest if they at least had him on their radar. He would give the Canadiens a clear answer for their second-line center spot and would also work on both their power play and their penalty kill if acquired.
Trocheck's contract adds to his appeal, as he has a $5.625 million cap hit until the end of the 2028-29 season. With this, he would be a long-term addition to the Canadiens' roster.
In 43 games this season with the Blueshirts, Trocheck has recorded 12 goals, 24 assists, 36 hits, and 130 hits. That mixture of offense and grit would make him a nice pickup for the Habs.
Alexis Lafreniere
Alexis Lafreniere has been the subject of trade rumors since Rangers GM Chris Drury confirmed through a letter to fans that the club is rebuilding. It is clear that the 2020 first-overall pick could use a change of scenery, and it would be fascinating to see the Canadiens take a chance on the St-Eustache, Quebec native.
At just 24 years old, Lafreniere could be a good fit on a Canadiens club that is on the rise. This is especially so if the fresh start helped him tap into his potential more.
Yet, Lafreniere's contract would make him a risky addition for the Canadiens. This is because he has a $7.45 million cap hit until the end of the 2031-32 season.
In 57 games this season with the Rangers, Lafreniere has 12 goals and 32 points. His best season so far was in 2023-24, as he set career highs with 28 goals, 29 assists, and 57 points in 82 games.
He's always in a cage, but you cannot contain him (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Instead of writing about Cal Raleigh’s 2025 season, I’d like to show you a few pitches that caught my attention.
April 17, bottom of the tenth
The Mariners had stormed back in the ninth inning to tie the game and send it to extras (thanks to a Cal Raleigh home run), which meant that Cal would have to wear the catcher’s gear for an extra inning.
In the 1930s, a catcher—either Muddy Ruel or Bill Dickey, depending on who you ask—referred to the mask, chest pad, and shin guards as “the tools of ignorance.” The irony was clear: anyone smart enough to play the position would be smart enough not to play it if he understood the risks.
You can see that phenomenon on display in this video as Andrés Muñoz spikes a slider that comes up and gets Cal Raleigh in the throat. The trainer comes out, but when the ump eventually asks if he needs more time, Cal just nods “nah, I’m good.”
A few days later, he hit a home run off the facing of the second deck.
May 29, top of the eighth
Here we see Cal catching a Matt Brash pitch that appears to jam his hand. He shakes it off, but one pitch after that, CJ Abrams fouls a ball back to the knob of Cal’s ankle, where there’s no protection. Former catcher Dave Valle is on the call, and you can hear the “believe me, that one hurts” tone in his voice. Cal takes a minute and grimaces, then gets back to it.
The next night, he hit a home run in the first inning. And then another one in the eighth.
June 23, bottom of the sixth
Another foul ball, this one to the inner thigh. Carlos Correa will never stop being hateable. Cal has to stand up and walk this one off, bouncing and hobbling around the plate for a moment. Three innings later, he hit his 32nd home run of the season.
July 12, bottom of the first
Detroit’s first batter tips one straight back to Cal’s wrist. But don’t worry. It’s not like you need your wrists for hitting. The umpire gives him a minute, knowing Cal’s got an entire game left of this. Two days later, Cal became the first catcher to win the Home Run Derby.
August 9, top of the ninth
In some ways, this isn’t really an article about Cal Raleigh. It’s about Andrés Muñoz’s slider, and Matt Brash’s curveball, and Logan Gilbert’s splitter, and Carlos Vargas’s entire arsenal. Cal catches a lot of pitches where the hurlers will be the first ones to tell you they’re not entirely sure where they’re going. In this clip, we get another spiked Muñoz slider, this one knocking dirt into Cal’s eye.
The next day, Cal Raleigh hit a home run.
August 20, bottom of the fifth
Alec Bohm hits a foul directly back into Cal’s mask, bouncing off his face and skull. He takes less than two seconds before reaching his glove out for the next ball. When I was in college, sometimes I would stay home from class because I “felt icky.”
That weekend, Cal hit two home runs in a game. The first traveled 448 feet and tied Salvador Perez’s record for most home runs by a catcher in a season. The second one, also over 400 feet, broke it.
August 24, top of the seventh
Later on in the game where Cal broke Salvy’s record, he catches Carlos Vargas. One of his pitches comes in wide off the plate. After 114 games behind the dish, this pinwheel is taking its toll.
Cal catches the wayward pitch awkwardly, has to drop his glove, and shake out his hand. In the first inning of the next day’s game, he hit his 50th home run.
September 16, bottom of the second inning
Logan Gilbert overthrows a curveball that bounces off the spring of home plate’s rubber and catches Cal in the throat. In the replay, you can see the flesh ripple. But four minutes later—four minutes later—Cal Raleigh hit a home run. About half an hour after that, he tied Ken Griffey Jr. for the franchise record.
ALDS Game 1, top of the 11th inning
After catching 1,072 innings in the regular season, having caught at least 1,000 in each of the last three years (the only player to do that), Cal takes a foul ball straight back into his face in the extra innings of a playoff game. 24 hours later, he doubled and scored the winning run for the Mariners’ first home playoff win in a quarter century.
You know what Cal Raleigh did last year. 60 home runs, just the fourth guy not connected to PEDs to do that. The most home runs by a catcher, as a catcher, by a switch hitter, by a Mariner. The first player to hit at least 20 home runs from both sides of the plate. And he did it while taking shot after shot while squatting with 15 extra pounds of gear in the summer heat. He’s smart enough to lead the Mariners pitching staff but too ignorant to understand why that’s a terrible idea. For Mariners fans, it’s bliss.
Today we look at the Cubs’ new flamethrowing reliever, a former first-round pick (#22 overall in 2013 by Baltimore), who has been in The Show since 2019.
Hunter Luke Harvey, son of former MLB reliever Bryan Harvey, came to the Cubs as a free agent, signing on New Year’s Eve, and is expected to take on a short relief/setup role, perhaps picking up save opportunities if Daniel Palencia is tired or unavailable.
In seven years split between Baltimore (where he was their No. 1 pick in 2013), Washington and Kansas City, Harvey has posted career numbers of 10-11, 3.11, with 11 saves, a 4.0 bWAR ( 3.6 fWAR) and a 1.10 WHIP. He is on a one-year, $6 million deal, with a 2027 mutual option. He’s had 201 strikeouts, 51 bases on balls, and 17 home runs in 185 innings, all of which are just fine, but he has struggled with injuries since 2024. That’s the risk, but he’s a high-reward-potential kind of arm and should serve the Cubs well with judicious use.
Keep him healthy and there will be returns. He’s a complementary arm but, as said, he brings the heat — one of his offerings was clocked at 99.8 mph, and he has consistently thrown in the 97-99 zone, with a n average of 95.7-96.1, with a very (+2000) spin rate. That’s good stuff, and a very different look for the Cubs’ bullpen, which hasn’t been very high-velocity, but seems to be turning that corner. He also throws a splitter (19.2 percent), slider (18 percent), and curve (9.6 percent).
He’s extremely likely to head north with the team after Spring Training concludes and presumably will be locking down the seventh or eighth in preparation for Palencia to step in and close the deal.
The 31-year-old will need careful handling. But high 90s with +spin is in vogue, and for good reason.
