The Los Angeles Dodgers are back-to-back World Series champions, but they may not have back-to-back White House visits.
Bill Plunkett of the OC Register has all of the details of how a trip to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave may or may not happen.
The main roadblock is that the Dodgers are playing the Washington Nationals in D.C. the first weekend in April, which also coincides with Passover and Easter. Furthermore, the games are all day games making the visit that much more difficult.
As Bill covers in the article, they have an off day the Thursday before they start the series with the Nationals, and they have an off day between a New York and Philly road trip in July. None of those dates are without issues, however.
It remains to be seen if they go to Washington at a later date.
Japan to Dodgers pipeline?
During the last World Baseball Classic in 2023, Team Japan had three future Dodgers playing for them – Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki. Dylan Hernandez of the California Post wonders if there are any other current Team Japan players that may become Dodgers in the future.
One player is Hiroto Takahashi, a 23-year-old righty who pitched in the WBC three years ago and got some people talking. He also in pitching this year but doesn’t seem to have improved nor declined on the last three years. The Dodgers are known for their pitching coaching staff, and they could help Takahashi take the next step. He is not expected to leave Japan for the States for at least two more years, and scouts currently have him as a number 3 or 4 starter.
So many questions
Katie Woo published the annual Dodgers Spring Training mailbag in The Athletic. Main topics of discussion include what will Roki Sasaki’s role actually look like this season, and what will Tommy Edman’s role be when he returns.
Most interesting to me was the discussion of who Edman’s replacement will be to start the season, and who of the three of Alex Freeland, Santiago Espinal, and Hyeseong Kim will make the 26-man roster to start the season. Spoiler alert – Freeland is the odd man out. Espinal, Kim and Miguel Rojas could be on rotation to cover the second base position, just as we all thought at the beginning of Spring Training.
Most years, the outcome of the NBA Draft Lottery doesn't impact the top of the draft board too much — Cooper Flagg was going No. 1 last year and didn't matter which team the ping pong balls favored. Most years are like that.
This year is different. With three (some might say four) players in the top tier of the draft, which team wins the lottery could go a long way in deciding which player gets selected first. Here is the first NBC Sports Mock Draft of the year — there will be more coming (future ones working with the strong team of writers at Rotoworld).
[Note: This was done without consideration of which team will be drafting in which spot, a pointless exercise before the draft lottery.]
1. AJ Dybantsa (BYU)
It's not just the impressive season-long stats — 24.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists per game — or the way he showed out in big games (36 points against Baylor, 35 against Arizona, 28 against Houston), or even that he's maybe the best athlete in the draft as a 6'9" wing player, the archetype most in demand around the NBA right now. What has impressed most is the way Dybantsa can get downhill, create space and hit tough shots when needed. This isn't new, a year ago at the Nike Hoops Summit, he didn't push it in the first half, let the game come to him, then in the third quarter took over, getting to the rim or his spots at will. He has great footwork for a young player, and a comfort level shooting contested shots — and his decision making on when to pass out of those tough shots to open teammates seems to be improving, according to scouts who spoke with NBC Sports. His jumper is also looking better. Who goes No. 1 may ultimately depend on the NBA Draft Lottery and which team lands that pick, but right now Dybantsa seems to be on top of a lot of boards.
AJ Dybantsa just WENT OFF in his Big 12 Tournament debut
The question isn't Peterson's talent or potential — it's elite, he is the best playmaker in this class (even if Kansas has him off the ball more), and there are plenty of scouts who still have him atop their draft board — but his health and availability have become talking points. When NBC Sports talked to scouts and team officials about Peterson's yo-yo availability, the cramping that has kept him from finishing some games, and concerns that he is not looking as explosive as he did a year ago, the response is always a variation of "we want to see the medicals." At the NBA Draft Combine, Peterson will undergo a full medical workup, and teams are being patient until then, with many believing the tests will show he was slowed by trying to play through something that is not a long-term issue.
Peterson's talent is unquestioned. He's averaging 19.9 points a game this season while shooting 38.7% from beyond the arc, plus grabbing 4.2 rebounds a game. The 6'5" guard is an incredible shot creator and maker, and a lot of scouts feel Peterson has been held back with the Jayhawks because of their system and lack of floor spacing. Unless the medical reports start waving red flags, Peterson is almost a lock as a top-two pick.
3. Cameron Boozer (Duke)
Boozer plays with the polish and feel for the game you might expect from someone who grew up the son of a very good NBA player (Carlos Boozer was a two-time All-Star). Of the top players near the draft, Boozer has the highest floor — he is going to be a very good, productive pro. He just does everything well: Shooting, rebounding, setting picks, using angles, passing, all of it. When I saw him a year ago at the Nike Hoops Summit, he had 22 points (with a couple of 3-pointers), 16 rebounds, six assists, and a block. That game played into Boozer's reputation as just a winner — the USA would not have beaten the World without Boozer's all-around contributions.
While there are scenarios where Boozer might go No. 1, most likely he goes third because many scouts are not convinced his ceiling is as high, or even that he is a true No. 1 option on a championship team (and as a big he doesn't create his shot the same way as Peterson or Dybantsa). The comp I have heard scouts use is young Kevin Love, but in terms of impact, he may be more like Pau Gasol next to Kobe. That said, whoever lands Boozer is going to get a very good player who can help immediately.
Cameron Boozer went off in his final regular season game against UNC
Wilson was in the midst of a breakout season with the Tar Heels — averaging 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds a game on 57.8% shooting — until a fractured hand ended his season. Before that injury, he was consistently impressive all season, including dropping 24 on Kansas and 23 on Duke and outplaying Peterson and Boozer in those games. Wilson is a 6'10" forward who is athletic, powerful, and while he needs to develop his shot (25% from 3-point range), his motor and upside have scouts very intrigued, and he likely is the first guy taken after the top three.
5. Kingston Flemings (Houston)
Before this season tipped off, Fleming was in the mid-20s or lower on most draft boards — the kind of player who often stays in college another season because the NIL money is similar to what an NBA salary would be. However, his play has pushed him way up draft boards and now he is a lock one-and-done. He's always been explosive and able to get to the rim, but he's shown a good pull-up jumper this season. Flemming, at 6'4", also has the physical build of a good two-way guard. He's averaging 16.5 points and 5.4 assists a game, and is shooting 37.6% from 3-point range. In what will be a string of guards taken between five and nine, Kingston seems like the safest bet.
6. Mikel Brown Jr. (Louisville)
I am slightly higher on Brown than the consensus. I fell in love with his game and his skill as a scorer and shot creator — especially with his use of ball-screens — after watching him at the Nike Hoops Summit. I believe his game is better suited for the pace and space of the NBA than what is happening in Kentucky. The question with Brown has been consistency (and missing eight games with a back issue didn't help things), but when he is rolling — like his 45 points with 3-pointers against NC State — he is dynamic offensively. Brown has to get stronger, play better defense and be consistent, but I believe he is a player teams may regret passing on.
Nobody has shot up draft boards like the 6'6" guard from Illinois, a guy who was not in the top 100 in his class a year ago is now projected to be taken in the top six or seven. He's thrived as a point guard for Illinois and, for the season, is averaging 17.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game, while shooting 41% from 3-point range. He needs to get stronger and prove he can defend at the NBA level, but he can play on and off the ball and has shown he has room to improve.
8. Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas)
The SEC Player of the Year just keeps on silencing critics with his play on the court — how hard and smart he plays is going to have coaches pushing to pick him. Acuff is averaging 22.2 points and 6.4 assists per game, he is an old-school true point guard who is a great floor general but can also get a team a bucket. The concerns are that he is just 6'2" — smaller guards have struggled in the NBA of late — and he is the worst defender in the lottery. That said, it's easy to envision him thriving when running an NBA offense, and he could help a lot of teams drafting in this range.
9. Nate Ament (Tennessee)
Ament is a great pick at No. 9 — a 6'10" forward who can dribble, pass and shoot. He can face up on the perimeter and has a quick first step to get into the lane. He averaged 17.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game for the Volunteers, although he has been out since late February with a leg injury. He has the tools to be an All-Star in the NBA, but he's got to get stronger, improve his shot creation, and become more consistent. That said, players with his size and skill set tend to stick around in the NBA for a long time.
10. Koa Peat (Arizona)
There is a drop off after the top nine in this draft, but there are still good players with real potential, and Peat is at the top of my list. However, he could slide down this draft board because he is a polarizing prospect and whoever takes him is betting on his potential and their player development program. He's a 6'8" forward who scored 30 in the first game of his college career (against a good Florida team) and 25 in his last one (Colorado), and is averaging 13.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He's a 6'8" forward who is a physical rebounder, is a good passer, but has had injuries and is shooting just 31.6% from 3-point range this season. Teams expect a 6'8" forward to knock down 3s. If a team can develop him, Peat will be a great pick.
11. Brayden Burries (Arizona)
Burries has been one of the real risers in this draft, a 6'4" guard who leads the Wildcats in scoring, a player who isn't flashy but is efficient. What scouts NBC Sports spoke with like about him is that he can play on and off the ball, he can knock down catch-and-shoot jumpers but also attack closeouts, and he gets downhill off screens and has a midrange pull-up game. The question is how well his game translates to the next level, he's an undersized two-guard at the NBA level and not the kind of explosive athlete teams seek. He's a top-20 pick in this draft, but he could slide a little on draft night depending on which teams are doing the selecting.
12. Thomas Haugh (Florida)
One impact of the current CBA and its apron is that teams from the late-lottery onward are taking a hard look at older players who can step in and help immediately. Enter 22-year-old junior Thomas Haugh of Florida. As anyone who watched him help Florida to a national title last year will remember, he has a well-rounded game, is a 6'9" forward, and is exactly the kind of player who can play minutes off the bench for a team next season. He is a high-motor player who makes plays on both ends of the court, can be physical inside, and has improved his perimeter game, hitting 34.4% from 3-point range. He's averaging 17.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game; he's fantastic in transition and is a straight-line drive kind of guy. He's not creating his own shot, but he can fit in a system and help.
13. Braylon Mullins (UConn)
You can't go wrong taking the best shooter in the draft. Mullins is a 6'6" two guard who has an incredibly quick release and is shooting 36.4% from 3-point range this season despite teams loading up on him. Injuries led to a slow start to the season, but he is averaging 12 points a game. The questions about him on the next level are all about defense, if he can't defend well enough it's hard to keep him on the floor. If, after the pre-draft process, he doesn't think he's going in the lottery, Mullins could return to UConn, star for them and go higher a year from now in what is considered a thinner draft.
14. Jayden Quaintance (Kentucky)
This is the point in the draft when rolling the dice on a raw player with all the physical tools is a good plan. Quaintance is exactly that, a 6'10" big man with the potential to be a defensive force in the NBA. He's also played just four games, 67 total minutes this season, as he recovers from a torn ACL suffered last season. He pushed to try to get back, but those four games showed he was not ready. Where Quaintance gets drafted will all come down to the medical reports out of the draft combine and his workouts with teams, but it only takes one team to fall in love with his potential to see him go in the lottery.
I’ve been thinking about this for a while now. Some people might call me crazy, but one question keeps coming back to me: could Phoenix actually have the best backcourt (PG/SG) in the league…in terms of depth? I’m sharing my thoughts here, hoping we can maybe reach a conclusion together.
Important clarification right away: Phoenix doesn’t necessarily have the best guard duo, nor the biggest star power. What they do have, though, is something extremely rare. A full-on army in the backcourt. That’s exactly why I consider them one of the strongest guard groups in the league as a whole. So the real question remains: when we talk about depth, could they simply be the best?
A Backcourt Built on Completeness
We can already talk about Phoenix having the most complete backcourt in the league, thanks to a rare diversity of profiles. Seven players who are all technically different, and all playable on a team that expects to make the postseason. The Suns have a backcourt that can adapt to anything the NBA throws at them.
Devin Booker is the star, the leader of this seven‑headed hydra. Every year he gains maturity: his game is calmer, less one‑dimensional, more oriented toward creation. He’s no longer just a three‑level scoring threat. He’s a complete half‑court weapon, capable of creating for himself and for others, with efficiency and cleanliness that are more than respectable for his volume.
To complement this duo of offensive creators, the Suns have Collin Gillespie, who was in the 6MOY conversation before injuries and is now on track to finish high in the MIP race. He’s probably the best pure basketball player of the seven, the one who “respects the game” the most, the most pro. Strong in impact metrics (DPM, RAPM), clean and efficient (89th percentile in rTS%, 99th in 3‑point percentage, 84th in oTOV), he adapts to multiple systems, controls tempo, and reads the game at high speed thanks to elite IQ and execution.
Fire and Ice
Behind the Booker – Gillespie duo, which brings stability and structure, Phoenix can shift into a much more aggressive mode with the Jalen Green – Grayson Allen tandem.
Green is pure athletic spark. This season he’s averaging 14.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 22.8 minutes (including 25 points, 5 rebounds and 59 TS% over his last three games). He constantly pressures the rim and can flip the tempo of a game in just a few possessions. His inconsistency can be frustrating, but his impact is mostly about the offensive energy he injects into every game.
Allen, on the other hand, is the metronome. With 17.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 30.1 minutes, he brings the outside volume and reliability Ott’s system needs, taking nearly 10 threes per game at 35.5%. His off‑ball movement, discipline (even if he still carries his “dirty” reputation), and 1.5 steals make him one of the most reliable guards in the league. Together, they’re the fire and ice of this team.
The Guard Dog
Then you have Jordan Goodwin, the guard dog, the catalyst, the low‑volume player with maximum impact. He’s one of the best players in the league in a very specific — and often overlooked — area: generating extra possessions through offensive rebounds and steals. Beyond that, Goodwin is an excellent on‑ball defender, capable of being a POA stopper or an elite disruptor in passing lanes. His lack of offensive efficiency (89 TS+) keeps him from having a bigger role in the team’s creation, but he remains one of the best role players in the league. And there’s no doubt Phoenix will have to fight to keep him.
PVAL : Possession Value /100 possessions: Measures how much a player helps their team win the battle for possessions.
The Finishing Pieces
Finally, Phoenix can rely on a nice duo to close stretches, absorb minutes, or step in when someone needs rest or gets injured: the surprisingly impactful Jamare Bouyea and rookie Koby Brea. Bouyea is more established, averaging 15 minutes per game and firmly in the rotation, while Brea represents the future — only five games played so far, but flashes of a future rotation‑level shooter.
A Backcourt That Can Become Anything
We’ve gone through the profiles one by one, and they’re all unique. That’s what allows Jordan Ott to deploy an extremely wide range of systems, lineups, and tactical approaches. Among the 12 lineups with 100+ possessions this season, seven feature a different backcourt — and with Green returning, that number will likely rise. Phoenix has seven playable guards, whether as starters or rotation pieces.
With this pool, Ott can shape his team based on context, opponent, or game momentum. He can go with a scoring‑heavy backcourt like Booker/Green (+13.9 net rating), which imposes pace and pressure. He can choose control and management with Booker/Gillespie (+7.5). For maximum spacing, Gillespie/Allen (+1.1) stretches the floor. For defensive impact, Goodwin/Gillespie (+11.9) brings aggression and discipline. For balance, Booker/Goodwin (+9.7) is a natural option. And for speed, small‑ball, and quickness, Bouyea/Gillespie (+2.3) offers a totally different dynamic.
These are just examples — there are more combinations — but very few teams can claim such richness in the backcourt, with six duos already capable of fulfilling a precise mission while being both reliable and effective.
Let’s go back to the initial question. Do the Suns have the best backcourt in the league? As we’ve seen, they don’t have the flashiest or most powerful guard group. But in terms of depth, variety, reliability, and adaptability…it’s hard to find anything better in today’s NBA. And in that specific category, Phoenix does have the best backcourt in the league in my eyes. OKC and the Spurs are strong contenders too — dangerous, well‑built — but are they as versatile? I don’t think so.
In the end, this is just one question among many that crossed my mind. And realistically, it’s not the sheer number that matters. It’s the versatility and depth across all tiers. Three, four, or five guys are enough to build an effective, reliable backcourt. What about you ? How do you see it?
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 20: A general view stadium view prior to the game between the Surprise Saguaros and the Salt River Rafters at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
The San Francisco Giants will take on the visiting Chicago White Sox tonight at 6:05 p.m. PDT, with broadcasts on both NBC Sports Bay Area and KNBR.
In the meantime, we are just under two weeks out from Opening Day, which is the best news I’ve heard in a long time. The Giants are having a strong spring, once again. And while their Cactus League record isn’t necessarily an indication of how the season will go (just look at last year), having a strong start is still preferable to the alternative.
As we enter the last couple of weeks of Spring Training games, the Giants (and more accurately the front office) will be watching very carefully because they’re going to have some tough decisions to make in terms of who will be on the Opening Day roster.
So I wanted to find out what you all think are the positions/players to watch over the next two weeks.
Personally, I can’t argue with Alex Pavlovic’s assessment over on NBC Sports Bay Area. He notes that Bryce Eldridge is easily the biggest question remaining this spring, and I agree.
I think I would be fine with either direction the team goes on this. Eldridge is young, which isn’t a bad thing, but he could benefit defensively from more time with Triple-A Sacramento. That said, I would be perfectly happy to see him start the season with the team. So that’s what I will be watching closely over the next two weeks.
Who are you keeping an eye on over the last two weeks of spring?
WEST PALM BEACH, FL - MARCH 09: Deniel Ortiz (91) of the St. Louis Cardinals prepares to slide at third base during a spring training game against the Houston Astros on March 09, 2026 at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
I am genuinely kind of surprised Ortiz is this low and it’s not necessarily because I disagree with his ranking so much as he certainly felt like a prospect that would be ranked a lot higher based upon the last three top 20s I’ve run. Speaking for myself, I think what hurts him is that he seems like a bat-only prospect. From what I can tell, his bat is going to be need to be great because he’s probably a 1B – and yeah also the lack of belief from scouts and his strikeout issues, but mainly just that it seems like he’s set up to “need” a 120 wRC+ unless his defense is better than I’ve been reading about.
JJ Wetherholt
Liam Doyle
Rainiel Rodriguez
Quinn Mathews
Jurrangelo Cjintje
Joshua Baez
Leonardo Bernal
Jimmy Crooks
Brandon Clarke
Tink Hence
Tekoah Roby
Tanner Franklin
Brycen Mautz
Nathan Church
Cooper Hjerpe
Ixan Henderson
Yairo Padilla
Deniel Ortiz
New Add
I strongly suspect I could stop adding guys and it wouldn’t make a lick of difference. There are more players than spots left in the top 20 of players who one could argue rather easily belong in the top 15 – someone is getting left out who will elicit “wow he didn’t make the top 20?” With all that said, congratulations, your voting singlehandedly vaulted Andrew Dutkanych IV into the voting – I thought I was high on the dude, I was proven wrong – he was honestly not even on my radar to be added to the voting. But he kept winning his comparable player polls. So onto the list he goes.
And honestly, I want more names in the mix just to see how they perform, so I’m going to be removing Colton Ledbetter, dead last in the voting, for another outfielder, Chase Davis. Is this a shuffling of deck chairs? Yes. But despite Davis losing a couple votes to people on this list, he never did get blown out. And with 0.9% of the vote, I just can’t see Ledbetter being a serious contender to being voted onto the top 20 honestly.
Scouting (FG): 30/45 Hit, 35/50 Game Power, 50/55 Raw Power, 40/40 Speed, 40/45 Fielding
Ironically, the last time I remember being so incredibly tired of writing a profile about a prospect in this feature is…. Joshua Baez. Yeah he was the #11 prospect three years ago, I added him pretty quickly and then nobody voted for him the entire time. With Joshua, I was being careful but probably agreed with you guys at the time. With Jesus, I was also being careful, but I added him too early, I did not think he would he would not make the top 20, which is a very distinct possibility.
Scouting: 30/35 Hit, 30/45 Game Power, 60/60 Raw Power, 50/50 Speed, 45/55 Field
Davis started as a power-hitting outfielder when the Cardinals drafted him in the 1st round back in 2023 draft. That advertised power has never really come and really disappeared last year, although as we saw in spring training, it might be in there somewhere. Not necessarily advertised for his defense, it seems like it’s going to be better than originally expected, which is certainly considered his bat has been worse than expected.
Drafted in the 7th round of the 2024 draft, Dutkanych was drafted injured. He had undergone Tommy John surgery earlier that year and most of his appearances in 2025 were effectively rehab appearances. He did max out at 3.2 innings pitched in his last appearance, and allowed no runs for his troubles. He will presumably be on some sort of pitch innings limited, but I’m not real sure what that limit will be.
Fajardo is getting more scouting love, but he kind of reminds me of Deniel Ortiz to an extent, where stats are certainly there and the age is certainly there, but the scouting is a little behind where I would expect given how much they dominated their two levels and the age when they did it. I suspect if he at all duplicates his performance at a higher level – same with Ortiz – the scouting will probably follow.
I was hesitant to add Luis Gastelum to the voting, but I think the voting results say I made the right decision. Now, he might not end up making the list, but that was unlikely for anybody I added. It’s always hard to know how to value a prospect like this, who has zero shot at starting, and in his specific case, arguably just one really great pitch. Now that Mexico has been eliminated, I wonder if we’ll see any more of him in spring training games.
What I find particularly fascinating about Hansen’s scouting report is that one would think Fangraphs was low on him, but they aren’t. They definitely aren’t. They ranked him 10th in the system last season. But that 35 fastball grade kind of pops out at you. It’s the kind of grade you give to a prospect that you aren’t typically high on, so I suppose it provides an insight into what FG thinks of the importance of command. You don’t usually see 60 command prospects.
Scouting: 40/50 Hit, 40/50 Game Power, 60/60 Raw Power, 30/30 Speed, 40/45 Fielding
I’m very interested in seeing what Jordan can do in AAA this year. Obviously, his spring has not gone very well, but it’s important to remember that spring training does not matter and also that nobody expected him to be MLB ready right now anyway. If they did, he would have been protected from the Rule 5 draft or drafted in the Rule 5 draft.
I am curious where Lin is assigned in the minor leagues. I am pretty sure he’ll still be tried as a starting pitcher, but he could plausibly be put in High A or AA. He was aggressively promoted to Springfield last season for a reason. But had some control problems to say the least, not to mention injury problems, and I could also see him beginning the year in High A with the hope and idea for a quick promotion.
Ryan Mitchell, 19 – OF
No stats
Scouting: 25/55 Hit, 25/50 Game Power, 40/55 Raw Power, 60/60 Speed, 25/50 Fielding
Speaking of curious where they assign a player, I wonder where Ryan Mitchell will be assigned. He was sent down but assigned to “St. Louis Cardinals Prospects.” He could be sent to rookie league, which would be the “conservative” option, the play it safe option. Or they could send him to Low A, which would be the #1 sign for me that we are underrating him. Especially if he doesn’t fall flat on his face. Until games are played though, we’re relying entirely on scouting.
Scouting: 20/30 Hit, 30/50 Game Power, 50/60 Raw Power, 60/60 Speed, 45/55 Fielding
I remember my consternation about not being able to add Tai Peete into the voting because I kept finding other players who to me made more sense to add, and I was 100 percent correct, but it is funny in hindsight that I put any worry at all in adding him too late given how the voting for him has gone. For understandable reasons, if a guy ain’t performing, you guys aren’t voting for him. Peete is missing that all-important hit tool, but he has shown power, has speed, and should have defense on his side. Just needs to make contact.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 17: A general view of the entrance to the Rockies training facility at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 17, 2024 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Kyle Cooper/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In March the sun rises in Arizona just before 7:00 a.m. It varies slightly from team to team but, for decades spring training work has generally been expected to start around that time. Just last month the Arizona Diamondbacks social team showed off their players arriving to camp in darkness:
With work starting as the sun is coming up, everyone needs to be waking up significantly before dawn to get ready and travel to the complex.
As soon as the regular seasons starts, most games are played in the evening. This leads to a yearly sleep schedule whiplash right as game results start counting.
Teams are in full control over the start time of their home games. It’s easy to envision being frustrated at being asked to go through this yearly shift change when your boss could just decide not to require it.
This year, the Rockies are attempting to be ahead of the curve… by showing up later.
“We’re pushing the guys’ morning schedule back and giving them time to get ready for the day, and not having to wake up at 5 a.m.”
There isn’t an obvious conclusion to be made as to immediate performance effects, however, Brenton Doyle made it clear that he believed the schedule change is a net positive:
“I’m glad things have changed, and the schedule is much better than in the past. ‘Schaeff’ has given us time to get warmed up and get ready, so that when we do go on that field, it doesn’t feel rushed.“
Sleep & athletes
While the exact impact on baseball performance specifically hasn’t publicly been quantified with a meaningfully large dataset (though some smaller studies have been done), the overall benefits of sleep on generic athletic performance are non-controversial.
This has always seemed like a fixable problem but year after year teams have continued to stick to the same existing schedule. The 2026 Rockies just happen to have had all the correct ingredients in place to both motivate the change.
Warren Schaeffer is a young manager in his first spring training. He isn’t beholden to the way things have been done and is looking at the process of getting his team ready for the season with a fresh set of eyes.
This is a relatively young team filled with many players that may not have had a chance to develop personal routines to prepare for the schedule shift that comes with the regular season.
This is a new front office that has openly talked all offseason about wanting to experiment and try new things. They are looking to find every unique edge they can.
This change won’t make the Rockies good this year. Most folks outside the organization will likely have forgotten the Rockies ran camp this way by May. That, however, is an important contributing factor as to why the Rockies are perfect to give this a try.
If a team with actual expectations of winning tried this first they’d risk a slow start being blamed on having not “put in the work” in spring training. Sports talk radio would be up in arms and jobs could become less secure than if they’d lost without first rocking the boat.
This is just one specific example of how the extreme lack of expectations for the 2026 Rockies will allow the new leadership team to take small experimental risks. They do not need to worry about hardly anyone outside the team even noticing while they search for unique advantages.
A rundown about how team Italy, after a great start from Michael Lorenzen, bested team USA last night. The thrilling win briefly put team USA in danger of failing to advance to the quarterfinals of the WBC.
Mark Knudson chronicles the Rockies history of opening day starters at first base. He posits that the battle this spring is one that the franchise has previously been able to avoid for a long time.
Thomas Harding catches up with Ryan Feltner about his outlook and plans this spring. Feltner goes into the various changes he is experimenting with even while his spot in the rotation remains up in the air.
Mar 4, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Team Mexico shortstop Joey Ortiz against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
I would not exactly be breaking news to inform you that Joey Ortiz had a rough year in 2025. The infielder who was part of the return for superstar pitcher Corbin Burnes had an extremely promising rookie season in 2024, but to call the step back he took at the plate in 2025 “significant” would probably be understating it. He was a disaster.
We’ll get more into the details below, but for the purposes of this preview, we will simply point out that by having a brutal sophomore slump, Ortiz opened a door that seemed pretty tightly shut when the 2025 season started: a door to the possibility that if he doesn’t improve at the plate, the Brewers might look for alternative options.
Do the Brewers have any viable alternatives in 2026? That’s arguable, and depends a little bit on how ready you think the 18-year-old with superstar potential (who’s looked pretty darn good this spring) in the Brewer minor league system is. But that point is likely moot; even if merely for service time reasons, we are not going to see Jesús Made in the major leagues this season.
But does that mean the Brewers won’t explore other options if Ortiz looks as rough at the plate through the first two months as he did for most of last season? No, it certainly does not. Let’s dig into it.
Joey Ortiz
As we sit here on March 11, I am comfortable saying that Ortiz (who is off playing for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic at the moment) will be the starting shortstop on Opening Day, and likely almost every day after that.
It’s not difficult to see why. For roughly the first 120 years of organized baseball, shortstops were expected to do one thing: play defense. For every Ernie Banks or Vern Stephens who helped his team out offensively, there were 10 Juan Uribes or Rey Ordoñezes. Some of the players in that mold — all defense, little-to-no offense — turned into superstars and even got into or near the Hall of Fame. Say hello to Ozzie Smith, Pee Wee Reese, Bert Campaneris, and Omar Vizquel.
That model has changed somewhat since the 1990s, though. Teams finally realized that having a complete black hole in the lineup is not great, and that model of player is increasingly disappearing; it’s difficult for anyone, at any position, to get reps in the lineup if they’re a total zero on offense, no matter how good they are defensively. Look at the case of Andrelton Simmons, who for 11 years played some of the best defense that major league baseball has ever seen, but who was out of the league before he turned 33 because he could no longer hit at all. Simmons’ career OPS+ of 87 is exactly the same as Ozzie Smith’s.
Simmons’ career 87 OPS+ is also 21 points higher than Joey Ortiz’s in 2025. It was a brutal offensive season. There were warning signs in the second half of 2024; Ortiz finished that season as essentially an exactly league-average hitter, but he hit just .211/.283/.362 after the All-Star break (bringing his OPS down from .817 in early July to .726 at the end of the season). That slide coincided nearly perfectly with a neck injury that landed him on the 10-day IL just before the break in early July, and while he seems to have recovered, there are some questions as to whether he adjusted his approach at the plate to relieve pain in his neck and somehow screwed himself up.
Or maybe he just hasn’t been able to adjust to the fact that the rest of the league has the book on him, now. Either way: 2025 was a horror show. Ortiz seemed to be not swinging at the good pitches to hit and swinging at the bad ones, a bizarre display of bad plate discipline — we usually just think of bad plate discipline as “not being able to not swing at pitches off the plate,” but we don’t always think of the flipside, the “I need to be swinging at the pitches in the zone I can do damage on.”
The result was that Ortiz was one of the very worst full-time hitters in baseball last year. On Statcast, he ranked in the bottom 3% of the league in all of xwOBA, xSLG, average exit velocity, and launch angle/sweet-spot percentage. He was in the bottom 13% in barrel percentage and hard-hit percentage. His walk percentage dropped from 11% (good!) in 2024 to 5.3% (bad!) in 2025, likely because pitchers just were not afraid of the contact he’d make. That plays out in another way: Ortiz remained very good at not swinging and missing in 2025, when he was in the top 15% of the league in whiff percentage and strikeout rate. But it does not matter if you hit the ball if you never hit the ball hard.
We’ll see if Ortiz can right the ship. His defense is good enough that if he gets anywhere close to league average offensively, he will be a clear net positive. Split the difference between 2024’s 102 OPS+ and 2025’s 66 OPS+, and you’ve probably got a player with close to 3.0 WAR. His spring stats are encouraging, I suppose: he’s only got one extra-base hit in six games (plus one more double in three games with Mexico), but he’s hitting .412. The samples are too small and against pitchers who are barely trying to get him out, but he is hitting the ball a little harder this spring.
While an Ortiz “renaissance” seems unlikely, I’m optimistic that he can get at least part of the way back. I don’t have a lot of data to back that up, except that his track record prior to last season has never suggested that he should be as bad as he was, and at least part of his struggles last year looked, to me at least, mental. Hopefully, the offseason has “cleared the cookies,” so to speak.
If not? We might have to start seriously thinking about one of the names below.
Who are the other options?
In terms of major league options, the most likely guy to take the most reps at shortstop if Ortiz were to either get hurt or play himself out of a job would be someone I talked in depth about in the third base preview, David Hamilton. Hamilton figures to be the team’s utility guy, the backup at all of second base, third base, and shortstop, but finding his way into the starting lineup three or four times a week at various positions. He can certainly handle shortstop defensively. His offense would bring many of the same questions that Ortiz’s does.
Were the Brewers looking for a long-term solution during the season, we can’t dismiss the idea that Brice Turang would move over — though I think it’s unlikely they would move Turang in the season, so I don’t really think this would happen. But I would have to think the first big minor league option would be Jett Williams (covered in the second base preview), who has played a bunch of shortstop but would probably be a worse defensive option there than Turang (or Hamilton). Might the Brewers opt to put Turang at shortstop and Williams at second base if they knew they were making that decision for the rest of the season? It’s possible.
Another minor league option might be Cooper Pratt, who is viewed as the best current defensive option at the position, and with the possible exception of Ortiz himself, maybe the best defensive option at shortstop in the entire system. But Pratt has a lot to prove with the bat after he was mildly disappointing at the plate in 2025, and he’s never played above Double-A. If he has a couple of solid months at Triple-A Nashville, though? I’d say it’s in play. He’d be young, but Pratt will be 22 by the end of the summer. (Or thought of a different way, he’s just a few months younger than Jackson Chourio, who will be close to completing his third full major league season at that point.)
Earlier in the offseason, I daydreamed a bit about whether there was a star middle infielder in the majors who the Brewers could acquire — someone like Ketel Marte or Zach Neto — who could jump into the lineup (either at shortstop or second, with Turang doing the other) and turn the significant weakness of Ortiz’s offense into a real strength. But here we are, Ortiz is in the lineup, and after watching Made for a couple of weeks, he suddenly feels remarkably close to the major leagues. If he’s on the Chourio path, which he has followed pretty closely thus far, that would put the 19-year-old Made in play for the Opening Day roster in 2027. And honestly, seeing him hit this spring has made me think that he might be the system’s best option as a starting major league shortstop today.
That’s not going to happen, but the future is bright, and it feels closer than ever.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 11: Vinnie Pasquantino #9 of the Italy celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run in the sixth inning against Mexico during the 2026 World Baseball Classic between Italy and Mexico at Daikin Park on March 11, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you didn’t watch the WBC game last night, Royals 1st baseman Vinnie Pasquantino saved Team USA’s bacon with his historic 3 home run game over Mexico.
It was quite the evening for Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, who put on a show for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic.
Pasquantino hit three home runs vs. Mexico on Wednesday evening, becoming the first ever player to accomplish the feat in the WBC.
Not only did Pasquantino make history, but his performance also helped Team Italy and the United States advance to the quarterfinals of the classic, thanks to a dominant win over Mexico.
Michael Wacha returned to the Royals’ Spring Training facility after his stint with Team USA, ready to get back to work with his Kansas City teammates in anticipation of Opening Day just over two weeks away. Wacha threw off the mound Wednesday and is scheduled for three innings in his next Cactus League start on Friday night against the D-backs.
“It was all around just a great experience,” Wacha said. “From being in the clubhouse with those guys to the atmosphere out there playing in those games, getting those juices flowing again. It really did just create a lot of excitement for myself getting this season started up. It’s a couple of weeks away now, and just fired up to be back here and get this season rolling.”
The Royals got swept in split squad action yesterday against the Cubs and Giants, but Gavin Cross, Brett Squires, Elias Díaz, Luca Tresh, Peyton Wilson and Blake Mitchell all homered.
Royals Keep asked if Michael Massey’s injury opens up a roster spot for Josh Rojas.
In other WBC news, the Dominican Republic beat Venezuela, Maikel Garcia went 4-4 with a walk as well. Former Royal Angel Zerpa threw a scoreless inning.
Chourio exploded onto the scene in 2025 with 63 strikeouts and only five walks across 51 1/3 innings while climbing from the DSL to Single-A Columbia. His mid-90s fastball and upper-70s curveball both receive strong reviews, but it’s the ability to command the ball that has Kansas City officials so excited about his future. It’ll also help him rank among the Minors’ top five in K-BB% (min. 70 IP) in just his age-18 season.
Netflix to have first MLB broadcast on Opening Day?
Here is your song of the day: Home Sweet Home by Motely Crue. My favorite rock band of all time!
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: Ketel Marte of the Dominican Republic hits a home run during the third inning against Venezuela at loanDepot park on March 11, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ah, the World Baseball Classic. The FIFA World Cup’s strange cousin who trades the English-invented soccer for an American invention with a stick and many strange rules based on the number nine. And just like how England gets consistently embarrassed by nations they technically exported soccer to, the United States looks well and truly poised to do the same with baseball (sarcastic applause).
It is very hard to predict who is going to win this thing because trying to predict the outcome of a single baseball game is of similar statistical merit to getting a hit: if you succeed 30 percent of the time, you’re doing pretty well! Baseball is shockingly random, and three of the teams remaining have bona fide god squads. To keep things exceedingly simple, the United States, Japan and the Dominican Republic have easily the best three rosters on paper — they’re also the only three nations ever to win the WBC. Whether or not any of that will translate to a victory is anyone’s guess. I’m going to guess anyway.
1. Dominican Republic
They aren’t the defending champions and they have arguably a worse roster than the United States on paper but come on man… this batting order is just outrageous.
Tatis Jr. leading off, never fun. Get through him and Ketel Marte cleanly you get Juan Soto. One of them gets on? Vlad Guerrero Jr. Heart of the order? Machado, Caminero, JRod. If you don’t understand what that means, it can easily be translated into two words: home run.
This team is power personified. It’s a walking bat flip. It’s every bit oozing with swag and intimidation as it is exit velocity and launch angle. There’s a reason most MLB home run derbies have a strong Dominican presence. There isn’t a single hitter to attack, and rock solid starting pitching to get them through the knockout rounds.
Why are they above the United States and Japan? Well, for one, how am I out here picking the United States to win after the week they just had (more on that below)? And for all the Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto awesomeness for Japan, this lineup is just way better one through nine. And among all the lineups, it is so easily the coolest. In a world where I am predicted one game series’, cool counts for something.
2. United States of America
So… not great thus far.
Just as a rule, I’m not a fan of my manager going on TV and saying that the team had clinched a quarterfinal berth when it had not and then my team going out there against Italy to not clinch because Red Sox legend Greg Weissert fanned Aaron Judge on four pitches in the bottom of the ninth with a man on down two… only to then get bailed out by Italy the next day because they’re a juggernaut and beat Mexico to get Team USA a spot.
All that said, it is undeniable that Team USA is an absurd collection of baseball talent that can and should be the best team in whatever game they play. The problem is they just haven’t been so far; that game against Italy was legitimately alarming, and the offense couldn’t get a leadoff hitter on all night.
Pitching is so variable, and Team USA has amazing pitching even without Tarik Skubal. That said, the offense — and Aaron Judge, who has been a visible and obvious no-show in the WBC so far — needs to be better. There is no reason it shouldn’t be better, and it must be for the United States to achieve anything more.
3. Japan
Coming in at a very close second in coolness ratings behind the DR is Japan, boosted mightily by having the coolest dude ever leading off, the World Series MVP as your ace, newly minted Chicago White Sock Munetaka Murakami and Barry Bon… I mean Masataka Yoshida (who the Red Sox were or are still actively trying to trade) going crazy. Lots of other great MLBers too like Seiya Suzuki and Yusei Kikuchi, but Japan’s success comes, in truth, on the backs of their domestic league.
Japan is a country with a robust and professional baseball infrastructure, and they are the defending champions for a reason. One of the only countries in the world where baseball is the most popular sport and by far the most populous (for those who didn’t know yet, baseball is in third place in the United States… has been for a while now), Japan has shown an ability to develop talent and produce quality national teams for the entire existence of the WBC. They have the best player in the world and probably of all time on their team. 4-0 in the group.
Frankly, it’s all well and dandy. From an on-paper talent perspective, it isn’t as good as the USA or DR, but Japan could totally win. They literally won last time.
4. Italy
I have chosen, against my better judgment, to provocatively put Italy here, bucking the trend of basically going in order of who I think has the best team when Venezuela is definitely a better group. That is for one simple reason: Italy is playing Puerto Rico and Venezuela is playing Japan.
Italy, described by some as “American 2: Italy Edition” since 24 players on the roster were born in America and only three in Italy, has been playing like the best team in the world (for some reason) for this entire tournament, pretty soundly annihilating Team USA until the very end when it got close. Our guy Greg Weissert had it covered, though.
This is a very solid team with a deep list of professional hitters — captain Vinnie Pasquantino is a power slugger for the Royals and straight up has an Italian Beef Sandwich named after him called the Pasqwich that they sell at Royals games. I mean, come on now. How are we doing any better than that?
I would not be surprised if Puerto Rico beats Italy — I thought they were a better team coming in (everyone did). But it would be disrespectful to the 4-0 Italians to have them lower.
5. Venezuela
Second half of the provocative 4-5 slots is the second most populous country where baseball is the most popular sport: Venezuela, with a squadron of great players that is unfortunately playing Japan in the quarterfinals.
Venezuela has a bunch of great players: Acuña, Arraez, two Contrerases (contrari?) and legends like Salvador Perez. They just aren’t as deep as other teams and will have to beat three great teams in a row to win it all. They are a great team themselves, but it’s simply not as likely.
6. Puerto Rico
A decent team with professional talent but even less depth than Venezuela, Puerto Rico would have to beat Italy (which they could do) but then defeat two consecutive titans (don’t see that happening. They are missing some of their best players, too, with Francisco Lindor and Carlos Correa not playing in this year’s tournament. I will, however, take this moment to remind everyone that it’s not crazy for any team to beat any other team because this is baseball. I do not take responsibility if something crazy happens.
7. South Korea
Another team with lots of home league players, this team is also sneaky-solid. Jung Hoo Lee and Hyeseong Kim are the two players most MLB fans will have heard of, but South Korea took Japan the distance and could be an upset factor if their young hitting can get hot. That said, every team can be an upset factor if their hitting gets hot. And they’re playing the Dominican Republic, who was my number one. So…
8. Canada
Fun team, lots of fun players, two Naylors, my guy Abe Toro, major-leaguers all around the batting order. I just have a hard time imagining this team beating the United States with their pitching staff. They essentially do not have a single major league reliever, so unless they can go completely nuclear on offense, it’s a hard sell. Totally defensible to swap them with South Korea, too. You would not lose any points on the test if you did that.
British No 1 comes from behind in 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5) win
Hard-fought win keeps Draper’s title defence on track
Jack Draper was “overwhelmed” after beating Novak Djokovic for the first time to reach the quarter-finals in Indian Wells and keep his title defence on track.
Playing only the second ATP tournament of his comeback after eight months out with an arm injury, Draper came through a gripping battle lasting more than two-and-a-half hours in a deciding tie-break to win 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5).
The Colorado Avalanche are looking to make a crack at their next line of opposition.
The Avs open a two-game road trip Thursday against the Seattle Kraken looking to rebound after a narrow 4–3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers earlier this week. It will be the second of three meetings between the teams this season. Colorado won the first matchup 5–3 in Seattle on December 16, and the series will conclude April 16 at Ball Arena.
Colorado’s loss Tuesday at Ball Arena came in a game that featured momentum swings and several special-teams moments. Ross Colton opened the scoring just 32 seconds into the first period, wiring a shot from the point through traffic for his eighth goal of the season. The assist on the play gave Brock Nelson the 500th even-strength point of his NHL career.
Edmonton answered midway through the period when Ryan Nugent-Hopkins converted a power-play opportunity from the crease. Colorado regained the lead later in the opening frame when Martin Necas scored on the power play from the left circle, setting a single-season career high with his 29th goal of the year.
The lead was short-lived. Jack Roslovic tied the game late in the first before Nugent-Hopkins added his second of the night early in the second period to give Edmonton its first lead.
Colorado pulled even early in the third when Valeri Nichushkin redirected a right-point shot from Sam Malinski for his 14th goal of the season. But Edmonton’s star power ultimately decided the game. Connor McDavid buried a power-play one-timer from the doorstep at 9:03 of the third period, providing the eventual game-winner.
Despite the loss, Colorado continues to be powered offensively by Nathan MacKinnon, who leads the NHL with 43 goals and ranks among the league leaders with 104 points and 61 assists. MacKinnon’s impact has been even more pronounced at even strength; since the start of the 2023–24 season, he has recorded an NHL-best 250 points in five-on-five situations.
The Avalanche blue line has been equally productive thanks to Cale Makar, who remains one of the league’s most dynamic defensemen. Makar sits among the top scoring defensemen in the NHL with 66 points while adding 19 goals and 47 assists.
Necas has also been a key contributor during Colorado’s recent stretch. His seven goals since February 25 are tied for the most in the league over that span, helping propel him into the NHL’s top ten in scoring with 77 points.
Seattle enters Thursday’s matchup after a 4–2 loss to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday at Climate Pledge Arena. The Kraken jumped out to a 2–0 first-period lead on goals from Kaapo Kakko and Matty Beniers, but Nashville responded with three unanswered goals in the second period before Steven Stamkos sealed the game with an empty-net tally late in the third.
Offensively, Seattle is led by veteran forward Jordan Eberle, whose 22 goals and 44 points pace the club. Defenseman Vince Dunn leads the team with 29 assists, while Beniers ranks second in scoring with 40 points.
Historically, Colorado has enjoyed success in the matchup. The Avalanche hold a 9-3-1 record in 13 regular-season meetings against the Kraken and have also faced Seattle once in the postseason.
The matchup has also been productive for several of Colorado’s stars. MacKinnon has recorded 19 points in 12 regular-season games against Seattle and added seven more in the playoffs, while Makar has contributed 19 regular-season points against the Kraken along with five in six postseason contests. Necas has chipped in 11 points in nine career games against Seattle.
Defensively, Colorado has been particularly strong away from home this season. The Avalanche are allowing just 2.55 goals per game on the road, tied for the lowest mark in the NHL.
Even in Tuesday’s loss, the Avalanche believed their process was largely sound.
“I thought everybody had good legs tonight,” Makar said afterward. “I thought we had overall good forechecks. We struggled on the breakout a little bit early, but we were able to figure it out. I felt like we had some good chances but just didn’t finish sometimes.”
Colorado will look to convert more of those chances Thursday night as it continues its push through the final stretch of the regular season.
Florida Panthers - 32-29-3 - 63 Points - 2-8-0 in the last 10 - Won 2 - 7th in the Atlantic
Columbus Blue Jackets - 33-21-10 - 76 Points - 6-1-3 in the last 10 - Won 1 - 4th in the Metro
Team Notes Per CBJ PR
Columbus stretched its points streak to seven games (4-0-3) with a 4-2 win at Tampa Bay on Tuesday to tie a season long streak (7-0-0 from Jan. 22-Feb. 4). The club has earned points in 18 of its last 20 contests since Jan. 11 (15-2-3).
The Blue Jackets, who are 7-1-0 in their last eight road contests, began a stretch of 6-of-9 games played away from home through Mar. 26 on Tuesday.
Columbus finished 2-of-4 on the power play at Tampa Bay and rank seventh-T in the NHL in power play pct. on the road this season (25.0; 20-of-80).
Since Dec. 22, CBJ have gone 19-6-4 (42 pts, .724 points pct.) and rank second in the NHL in points, third in points percentage, fourth in penalty kill pct. (84.0), sixth-T in save pct. (.901) and goals-against/game (2.79) as well as eighth in goals for/game (3.55).
Player Notes Per CBJ PR
Charlie Coyle collected an assist on Tuesday to stretch his assists streak to four games (0-5-5) and points streak to seven consecutive (1-8-9). He has posted 6-15-21 and six multi-point efforts in the last 14 contests since Jan. 24.
Adam Fantilli has 6-9-15 in the past 14 GP and LW Mason Marchment has 11-8-19 in 22 GP with the Blue Jackets.
Conor Garland, who has multiple goals in each of the past two contests, is the first player with four goals in his first three games with the Blue Jackets.
Kirill Marchenko has notched a power play goal in back-to-back games and has collected points in six consecutive games (4-5-9) and in 11 of his past 12 contests since Jan. 24 (6-9-15).
Sean Monahan collected two assists against the Lightning and has points in five of the last six contests (2-4-6).
Zach Werenski registered two assists on Tuesday and has collected points in 24 of his past 27 games played since Dec. 11 (11-27-38, 12 multi-point efforts). He sits two points shy of his second-straight 70-point campaign (20-48-68, 57 GP).
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 20.5% - 17th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 78.0% - 23rd in the NHL
Goals For - 204 - 15th in the NHL
Goals Against - 204 - 23rd in the NHL
PanthersStats
Power Play - 19.4% - 19th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 82.2% - 6th in the NHL
Goals For - 191 - 18th in the NHL
Goals Against - 212 - 25th in the NHL
Series History vs. ThePanthers
Columbus is 27-21-0-7 all-time, and 10-14-0-3 on the road vs. Florida
Columbus has collected points in the past three meetings since Mar. 20, 2025 (1-0-2).
The teams have combined for seven-plus goals in nine of the last 14 meetings since Jan. 15, 2022.
The winning team has scored four or more goals in 17 of the past 20 games of the series going back to Mar. 9th, 2021 and in eight of the last nine at Florida since Apr. 19, 2021.
The winning team has won by multiple goals in 14 of the last 18 meetings of the series, including 11 instances by three-plus goals.
Columbus has scored a power play goal in both games of the 2025-26 series (2-of-7; 28.6 pct.).
The teams have combined for 60 shots or less in five of the past seven meetings of the series (59.7 avg.).
CBJ has recorded three shutouts in the all-time series (MR: Merzlikins, 1-0 OT win at CBJ on Feb. 4, 2020) and two hat tricks (MR: Werenski, 4-1 W at CBJ on Dec. 31, 2019).
Who To Watch For ThePanthers
Sam Reinhart leads the Panthers with 28 goals, 31 assists, and 59 points.
Brad Marchand 27 goals and 54 points.
Sergei Bobrovsky is 23-19-1 with a SV% of .876.
CBJ Player Notes vs.Panthers
Charlie Coyle has 17 points in 32 games vs. the Panthers.
Zach Werenski has 16 career points against Florida.
Mason Marchment has 4 points in 7 games against Florida.
Injured Reserve
Brendan Smith - Lower Body - Missed 26 Games IR - Out for the rest of the regular season.
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 170
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SAN ANTONIO, TX -MARCH 8: Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts after a three against the Houston Rockets in the first half at Frost Bank Center on March 8, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This is exciting news.
Spurs’ star rookie Dylan Harper is the face of a major new Foot Locker exclusive campaign titled "Unseen Hours," which officially launched this week. 👀
Dylan Harper is starring in a new Foot Locker ad campaign entitled “Unseen Hours” that recently dropped. In it, the recently named February NBA Rookie of the Month is seen waking at 4:00 a.m. to start his workout.
The youngest son of five-time NBA Champion Ron Haprer was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs last summer with the second overall spot.
Harper turned 20-years-old earlier this month. He recently had the opportunity to playt against his brother, Ron Harper, Jr. once at All-Star Weekend in the Rising Star Challenge and earlier this week when the Spurs hosted the Celtics.
The shoe seen at the end of the ad is from his partnership with Nike, resulting in exclusive player editions (PE) of the Nike G.T. Cut series.
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 07: Zach Whitecloud #2 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates against Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins at T-Mobile Arena on March 07, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Who:Pittsburgh Penguins (32-17-15, 79 points, 2nd place Metropolitan Division) @ Vegas Golden Knights (29-22-14, 75 points, 3rd place Pacific Division)
When: 10:00 p.m. eastern
How to Watch: Locally broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and Scripps, streaming on ESPN+
Pens’ Path Ahead: The Penguins continue the rhythm of their every-other-day road trip with a game in Utah on Saturday (9pm eastern start), then comes Colorado next Monday and the trip ends where it started back in Carolina next Wednesday.
Opponent Track: Vegas is just 1-5-0 in the month of March, starting with a 5-0 loss to Pittsburgh on March 1st. They’ve lost three games in a row, including a 2-1 nailbiter in Dallas on Tuesday in their most recent contest. This is the start of a four-game homestand for the Golden Knights, who should be playing with desperation now that they’ve slipped from first to third place in their division.
Season Series: As mentioned above, the Pens took the first game 5-0 last Sunday. Ben Kindel scored a goal and added an assist to be named the first star of the game, Arturs Silovs stopped all 22 shots he saw to earn the shutout.
Hidden Stat: Pittsburgh is 13-6-6 against Western Conference opponents this year, per Pens PR.
Getting to know the Golden Knights
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Ivan Barbashev – Jack Eichel – Braeden Bowman
Brett Howden – Mitch Marner – Pavel Dorofeyev
Reilly Smith – Tomas Hertl – Keegan Kolesar
Cole Smith – Nic Dowd – Colton Sissons
DEFENSEMEN
Brayden McNabb / Shea Theodore
Noah Hanifin /Rasmus Andersson
Jeremy Lauzon / Kaeden Korczak
Goalies: Adin Hill and Akira Schmidt
Potential scratches: Ben Hutton, Jonas Rondbjerg
Injured Reserve: Mark Stone, Carter Hart, Alex Pietrangelo, William Karlsson
As you might expect with a losing team lately, lots of changes and fluid forward lines with in-game adjustments are being frequently made, most notably joining Marner and Hertl together at times.
Vegas opted to beef up their lower lines at the trade deadline since their last meeting with Pittsburgh earlier this month, adding C. Smith from Nashville and Dowd from Washington after previously getting Andersson a little before the deadline.
Mark Stone hasn’t played since he left mid-game against the Pens on March 1st. That was about the last thing this team needed to lose their captain, it’s unknown when he might be back, though the injury was not said to be overly serious.
Since the 5-0 loss to Pittsburgh, Hill is 1-2-0 with a 2.67 GAA and .867 save%. Schmid is 0-2-0 with a 3.59 GAA and .865 save%. The Knights need some goaltending, neither player has been sharp lately.
Pavel Dorofeyev is one of the more quiet star players around. He’s hit the 30-goal plateau for a second time in a row after notching 35 last season. Dorofeyev currently has more goals since the start of 2024-25 than players like Connor McDavid, Kirill Kaprizov, Sidney Crosby, Auston Matthews and Mikko Rantanen. Dorofeyev doesn’t do as much as a true superstar in the assist and playmaking department but his shot is an incredible weapon, especially on the power play where his 16 goals rank tied for second in the NHL this season.
No saves to be found
Vegas would easily be in first place in the weakest division in hockey, if they only had some goalie support. The white line plunging down in the upper right of this chart is more deflating than seeing the roulette wheel hit green for the second time in a row.
The Golden Knights have had to score a lot on the power play, and somehow coax out a good PK performance despite the lack of goaltending. They’re 2-6-0 since the Olympic break and lately their offense has dried up, in calendar March have been outscored 21-11 over the course of six games.
That leaves two schools of thought. Either the Penguins: A) are catching a vulnerable team at a good time (as they did earlier this month in a 5-0 shutout victory where the Knights only mustered 22 total shots) or B) are in for a tough one for a team that won’t want to lose a fourth straight game, are now at home while Pittsburgh traveled cross-continent and will make it a tough game. We’ll see which side of the coin it lands on, but there aren’t too many impressive signs out of VGK in recent days and weeks about the direction they’re headed in.
And now for the Pens
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Egor Chinakhov – Rickard Rakell – Bryan Rust
Anthony Mantha – Tommy Novak – Ville Koivunen
Elmer Soderblom – Ben Kindel – Avery Hayes
Connor Dewar – Blake Lizotte – Noel Acciari
DEFENSEMEN
Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson
Ryan Shea / Kris Letang
Ilya Solovyov / Connor Clifton
Goalies: Arturs Silovs and Stuart Skinner
Potential Scratches: Sam Girard (injured), Evgeni Malkin (suspended), Ryan Graves, Kevin Hayes, Justin Brazeau (out injured week to week)
IR: Sidney Crosby, Filip Hallander, Jack St. Ivany
The regular goalie rotation lines up really nicely for Silovs to be in net tonight to try and keep it going after shutting this Vegas team out last week. No official word on that just yet, but given the regular rotation that makes a lot of sense.
We’ll leave the lineup the same as last game, though there’s certainly chances for tweaks and improvements. Girard’s absence on the defense was felt, hopefully his day-to-day injury will have him back in the lineup sooner than later.
After a game that lacked emotion on Tuesday night, the Montreal Canadiens faced an intense rivalry night against the Ottawa Senators. Brady Tkachuk and co. are outside of the playoff picture, looking in, and they clearly intend to change that. While much of the attention before the game was on the fact that the Habs had recalled Jacob Fowler, before puck drop, it shifted to the fact that Arber Xhekaj was a healthy scratch against a rather physical foe.
Earlier in the day, Martin St-Louis mentioned he had a few game-time decisions to make, including whether to put Alexandre Texier back in for Cole Caufield, who was still battling an illness. Still, most people didn’t see the Xhekaj scratching coming.
The game started well for the Canadiens as they beat Linus Ullmark on their first shot, but the Senators turned up their physicality, rattling the Habs. Nick Cousins ran around like a guy who didn’t fear retribution and rocked Alexandre Carrier to kick off proceedings. Jayden Struble invited him to fight, which the pest declined, before Josh Anderson went to have a word as well with the same result.
It was shortly after that that he took a roughing penalty, which allowed the Sens to tie the game, before they took a 2-1 lead less than two minutes later. At the end of the first frame, hits were 19-13 Ottawa (they were revised down during the intermission; originally listed as 22-14). Drake Batherson, Michael Amadio, and Dylan Cozens had three hits apiece while Nick Cousins had two.
At the end of the game, hits were 33-31 for the Senators, so the Canadiens caught up, mainly because once the Senators took the lead, they stopped trying to rattle the Habs with hits and focused on actually playing hockey.
I don’t think St-Louis’ issue with Xhekaj is so much about his physicality; it’s about the way he reads the game. Players who thrive in the St-Louis style of hockey are very high in hockey IQ. The problem is, you’ll never manage to get six defensemen like that. If you did, you would have salary cap issues. Your bottom pairing is much more likely to be about grit than about talent, and there’s nothing wrong with that. You cannot have a team that’s incredibly rich in talent but lacks physicality; it’s been proven time and time again by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the last few seasons.
So Many Mistakes
It was a very tough night at the office for Mike Matheson and several other players. After 40 minutes, the veteran defenseman had five giveaways (it was revised to four) while Lane Hutson had three, Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky and Brendan Gallagher had two apiece.
Matheson’s stood out, though, as they were deep in his own zone and created scoring opportunities for the Senators. Thankfully for the veteran blueliner, rookie goalie Jacob Fowler was a picture of calm, poise, and focus in net, playing his last-line-of-defence role to perfection. His demeanour and confidence were just what the Canadiens needed on a night when they were particularly sloppy. At the end of the game, the Canadiens had committed 24 giveaways while the Senators had nine.
Evans Shines
Jake Evans had a point in a sixth consecutive game when he got an assist on Alexandre Texier’s game-tying goal, but he did much more than just that tonight. In a game that was quite physical, the centerman led both teams in hits with seven. He also had a blocked shot and a 56.3% success rate at the faceoff dot.
The point streak ties his career-long streak, which he established last season while playing in a contract year. Now, with three more years to go on his new deal, he’s not taking his foot off the pedal.
Another Lead Protected
While both teams played a prudent third frame, Ivan Demidov gave the Canadiens the lead with under eight minutes to go in the game, and the Habs were able to hang on. They protected the slimmest of leads, even though Ottawa attacked six-on-five, but they never would have been able to do so had it not been for Fowler’s brilliance.
In an intense last minute, the rookie goalie didn’t buckle under pressure; he played just as he had done since the start of the game, tracking the puck well, being positionally sound, and the Senators had no answer for his brilliance. Near, far, wherever the shots were coming from, he was there and ready. In the dying seconds, he made a jaw-dropping pad save that must have felt like a gut punch to Ottawa since the loss will really hurt their playoff hopes.
Absolutely unreal final minute from Jacob Fowler to seal the win.
While some will say the Canadiens didn’t deserve to win tonight because it was a sloppy game, the goaltender is part of the team, and Fowler certainly did deserve to win. In the second frame, after the Habs hit the post at one end, he made two saves on an Ottawa breakaway, which kept Montreal in the game.
The Tricolore will have a day off tomorrow before hitting the ice for practice at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard on Friday morning in readiness for the weekend’s back-to-back games against the San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim Ducks.
