Posts

Posted on

Heat vs. 76ers: Odds, recent stats, trends and best bets for February 26

The Philadelphia 76ers (32-26) host the Miami Heat (31-28) tonight in a critical Eastern Conference matchup with significant playoff seeding implications. In the Eastern Conference, Philly sits in the No. 6 position and the Heat are just 1.5 games behind in eighth.  Philadelphia enters as a slight 2.5-point favorite and looks to build on a two-game winning streak, while Miami aims to bounce back from a loss Tuesday night in Milwaukee.

Statistically, the game features a clash of styles. All-Star Tyrese Maxey leads the 76ers' attack, averaging 29.1 points per game, and will be tasked with navigating a Miami defense anchored by Bam Adebayo, who is averaging nearly a double-double with 18.3 points and 9.8 rebounds.

That said, whenever Philly is involved, the availability of star power and specifically Joel Embiid is a defining factor in the game. Embiid is listed as probable despite managing right knee and shin soreness. The former MVP returned from a five-game absence on Tuesday to drop 27 points against Indiana. However, Philadelphia will remain without Paul George, who is currently serving 25-game suspension for the use of prohibited substances. The Heat have their own health concerns heading into this one. Key contributor Nikola Jovic is out with a back injury and point guard Davion Mitchell is questionable due to illness.

The Heat have historically performed well in this matchup, winning five straight head-to-head games since the start of the 2024-25 season.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content. 

Game Details and How to Watch Live: Heat at 76ers

  • Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026
  • Time: 7PM EST
  • Site: Xfinity Mobile Arena
  • City: Philadelphia, PA
  • Network/Streaming: FanDuel Sports Network Sun, NBC Sports Philadelphia

Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Game Odds: Heat at 76ers

The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Miami Heat (+130), Philadelphia 76ers (-155)
  • Spread: 76ers -2.5
  • Total: 239.5 points

This game opened Philly -2.5 with the Total set at 237.5.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule! 

Expected Starting Lineups: Heat at 76ers

Miami Heat

  • PG Davion Mitchell
  • SG Pelle Larsson
  • SF Norman Powell
  • PF Andrew Wiggins
  • C Bam Adebayo

Philadelphia 76ers

  • PG Tyrese Maxey
  • SG VJ Edgecombe
  • SF Kelly Oubre Jr.
  • PF Dominick Barlow
  • C Joel Embiid

Injury Report: Heat at 76ers

Miami Heat

  • Nikola Jovic (back) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game

Philadelphia 76ers

  • Joel Embiid (knee) is listed as probable for tonight’s game
  • Johni Broome (knee) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game

Important stats, trends and insights: Heat at 76ers

  • The Heat are 14-17 on the road this season
  • The 76ers are 15-15 at home this season
  • The 76ers are 31-25-2 ATS this season
  • The Heat are 34-24-1 ATS this season
  • The OVER has cashed in 31 of the Heat’s 59 games this season (31-28)
  • The OVER has cashed in 30 of Philadelphia’s 58 games this season (30-28)
  • Quentin Grimes has scored at least 10 points in each of his last 4 games and in 6 of his last 8
  • VJ Edgecombe has scored 24 and 23 points in his last 2 games
  • Kel‘el Ware has pulled down at least 12 rebounds in 4 of his last 6 games
  • Pelle Larsson has collected 5 assists in each of his last 2 games

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
 
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Heat and 76ers’ game:

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the 76ers on the Moneyline
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on Philadelphia -2.5
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 239.5

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar! 

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on Socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) 
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) 
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick) 
Posted on

Heat vs. 76ers: Odds, recent stats, trends and best bets for February 26

The Philadelphia 76ers (32-26) host the Miami Heat (31-28) tonight in a critical Eastern Conference matchup with significant playoff seeding implications. In the Eastern Conference, Philly sits in the No. 6 position and the Heat are just 1.5 games behind in eighth.  Philadelphia enters as a slight 2.5-point favorite and looks to build on a two-game winning streak, while Miami aims to bounce back from a loss Tuesday night in Milwaukee.

Statistically, the game features a clash of styles. All-Star Tyrese Maxey leads the 76ers' attack, averaging 29.1 points per game, and will be tasked with navigating a Miami defense anchored by Bam Adebayo, who is averaging nearly a double-double with 18.3 points and 9.8 rebounds.

That said, whenever Philly is involved, the availability of star power and specifically Joel Embiid is a defining factor in the game. Embiid is listed as probable despite managing right knee and shin soreness. The former MVP returned from a five-game absence on Tuesday to drop 27 points against Indiana. However, Philadelphia will remain without Paul George, who is currently serving 25-game suspension for the use of prohibited substances. The Heat have their own health concerns heading into this one. Key contributor Nikola Jovic is out with a back injury and point guard Davion Mitchell is questionable due to illness.

The Heat have historically performed well in this matchup, winning five straight head-to-head games since the start of the 2024-25 season.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content. 

Game Details and How to Watch Live: Heat at 76ers

  • Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026
  • Time: 7PM EST
  • Site: Xfinity Mobile Arena
  • City: Philadelphia, PA
  • Network/Streaming: FanDuel Sports Network Sun, NBC Sports Philadelphia

Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Game Odds: Heat at 76ers

The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Miami Heat (+130), Philadelphia 76ers (-155)
  • Spread: 76ers -2.5
  • Total: 239.5 points

This game opened Philly -2.5 with the Total set at 237.5.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule! 

Expected Starting Lineups: Heat at 76ers

Miami Heat

  • PG Davion Mitchell
  • SG Pelle Larsson
  • SF Norman Powell
  • PF Andrew Wiggins
  • C Bam Adebayo

Philadelphia 76ers

  • PG Tyrese Maxey
  • SG VJ Edgecombe
  • SF Kelly Oubre Jr.
  • PF Dominick Barlow
  • C Joel Embiid

Injury Report: Heat at 76ers

Miami Heat

  • Nikola Jovic (back) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game

Philadelphia 76ers

  • Joel Embiid (knee) is listed as probable for tonight’s game
  • Johni Broome (knee) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game

Important stats, trends and insights: Heat at 76ers

  • The Heat are 14-17 on the road this season
  • The 76ers are 15-15 at home this season
  • The 76ers are 31-25-2 ATS this season
  • The Heat are 34-24-1 ATS this season
  • The OVER has cashed in 31 of the Heat’s 59 games this season (31-28)
  • The OVER has cashed in 30 of Philadelphia’s 58 games this season (30-28)
  • Quentin Grimes has scored at least 10 points in each of his last 4 games and in 6 of his last 8
  • VJ Edgecombe has scored 24 and 23 points in his last 2 games
  • Kel‘el Ware has pulled down at least 12 rebounds in 4 of his last 6 games
  • Pelle Larsson has collected 5 assists in each of his last 2 games

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
 
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Heat and 76ers’ game:

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the 76ers on the Moneyline
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on Philadelphia -2.5
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 239.5

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar! 

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on Socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) 
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) 
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick) 
Posted on

“We just didn’t convert”: Nuggets took advantage of Celtics’ missed opportunities, turnovers

DENVER, COLORADO - FEBRUARY 25: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics drives against Cameron Johnson #23 and Christian Braun #0 of the Denver Nuggets in the first half at Ball Arena on February 25, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After the Celtics took a slim 67-66 lead with just under two minutes left in the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets Wednesday night, the wheels fell off. 

The Nuggets ended the third on a 11-0 run, which bled into the fourth and helped them run away with a 103-84 win to break Boston’s four-game win streak. 

The Celtics struggled to find the bottom of the net, shooting 35% from the field and 28% from the 3-point line, and combined with 14 turnovers, the Nuggets were able to get out in space with 14 points off said turnovers along with 14 off fast breaks. 

“I think that’s how their best offense was, in transition, so we’ve got to do a better job offensively. It’d help if we made a couple shots,” Derrick White told reporters after the game. 

Boston has committed more than their league-best 12 turnovers per game in both matchups with the Nuggets, losing the ball 14 times in both contests. Joe Mazzulla said on a given night, 10-15 possessions can be looked at as chances for better execution. Against Denver, it felt closer to 30. 

“You have to give them credit, they were physical at the point of attack,” Mazzulla said. 

Mazzulla emphasized misread rim-reads, live-ball turnovers and, simply, misses on open looks for creating that transition advantage for Denver. During their third quarter run, missed layups from Jaylen Brown and Nikola Vucevic sparked fast break opportunities. On Brown’s miss, only Vooch was left back to defend as Denver looked like a team practicing a three man weave. 

When Vucevic couldn’t convert on a drive past Nikola Jokic, Denver’s pace created a two-on-one for Spencer Jones to take advantage of. And to close out the quarter, an errant Brown pass into the backcourt allowed KJ Simpson a free swing at an uncontested dunk. 

View Link

“We had a tough time tonight converting,” Brown said. “I thought we had a lot of great looks, open catch-and-shoots, and we just didn’t convert.”

Boston made just five of their 19 3-point attempts in the second half, including four wide-open misses created by the team’s ball movement. 

Ending their four-game west coast trip on a back-to-back, the Celtics return home for their next two games against Brooklyn and Philadelphia, where coach Mazzulla can get a sense of the team’s response from their first true off night since the All-Star Break. 

“We’ll see how we approach our preparation for our next game, and that will dictate how well we’ve handled today,” Mazzulla said. 

Mazzulla has remained even-keeled throughout the team’s recent highs of the road trip, and that remained constant even in a low point. How they respond against Brooklyn on Friday will tell the story of this group’s response to this 19-point loss. 

“The story’s not done,” he said after their Lakers win on Sunday. “We are only a product of what we do tomorrow, what we do the next day, and that’s just the story.”

“And if we would have lost this game by 1, tomorrow’s film session has to be as detailed and as disciplined as it is going to be with the result that we had. And so that’s the story. It’s not done yet, and we haven’t done anything.”

Posted on

Former Islanders Defenseman Noah Dobson Impressed By Rookie Phenom Matthew Schaefer

Former New York Islanders defenseman and current Montreal Canadiens blue-liner Noah Dobson was asked about rookie phenom Matthew Schaefer.

"I'm watching hockey every night. I check in to see how the guys are doing," Dobson said to begin his answer. "[Schaefer] has stepped into the league, and it's looked like a seamless transition from junior. It's been super impressive. As an 18-year-old defenseman, it's not an easy league to come into that young. Especially as a defenseman, to see what he's doing, it's been great. And obviously, he's given the team a big boost. So it's been cool to see for him."

Dobson broke into the NHL with the Islanders at the age of 19 after being selected 12th overall in 2018. He went through his ups and downs during his development. 

After six seasons on Long Island, Dobson, a pending restricted free agent, was dealt to the  Canadiens for the Habs' 16th and 17th selections in the 2025 NHL Draft, along with forward Emil Heineman.

The Islanders turned those picks into forward Victor Eklund and defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson. 

Dobson signed an eight-year extension worth $9.5 million annually and has 38 points (10 goals, 28 assists) in 57 games this season. Heineman signed a two-year extension worth $1.1 million annually.

Heineman has set career highs in goals with 15 and points with 23, tying his career high with eight assists through 58 games on Long Island.

Posted on

Game Thread: White Sox (4-2) at Dodgers (5-0)

Munetaka Murakami looks to hit his first Glendale homer of the spring before heading off to represent Team Japan in the WBC | (Ric Tapia/Getty Images)

The high-octane offense that has defined the South Siders for most of this spring is packing its bags and heading across the complex today for a showdown at Camelback Ranch. The White Sox enter Thursday’s action still pacing the league in several hitting categories, proving that their aggressive, contact-first approach wasn’t just a weekend fluke. They’ve traded patience for production, and while it’s a complete 180 from the stagnant offenses of years past, today they’ll have their work cut out for them as they face a star-studded Dodgers squad.

This afternoon, we’ll get a glimpse of the “dual-threat” dynamic behind the plate. Both Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero are penciled into the lineup today, a configuration that manager Will Venable will often have to juggle with throughout the 2026 season. While Quero has been the statistical darling of the spring with that gaudy .667 average, he’s still going to have to answer questions about his glove. Seeing how he and Teel split the defensive and DH duties this spring will be a major subplot as the roster begins to take its final shape.

The youth movement doesn’t stop with the catchers, as Braden Montgomery finally gets his first start of Cactus League play. The switch-hitting outfielder has been an intriguing prospect since coming over in the Garrett Crochet swap. After a few late-inning spring cameos, today we’ll see how he fits into the outfield puzzle.

Munetaka Murakami, who is likely making his final appearance in a Sox uniform for a few weeks, gets one more afternoon in the desert sun. The Japanese superstar will soon head off for the World Baseball Classic, and fans are hoping for at least one Glendale moonshot before he represents his home country.

On the mound, the Good Guys turn to lefty Sean Newcomb. The veteran, who is effectively auditioning for a permanent rotation spot, will need to be sharp against a Dodgers lineup that rarely lets any pitcher off the hook. The former Round 1 pick (No. 15) of the Los Angeles Angels made the Red Sox big league squad out of camp on a minor league deal last season, only to be DFA’d and traded to the Athletics for cash in May despite a decent start. He reinvented himself with the A’s, turning in an impressive 1.75 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP over 51 1/3 innings out of the pen. Now, he’s looking to prove that late-season dominance was no fluke.

Los Angeles counters with Tyler Glasnow, who was highly effective when available last season, posting a 3.19 ERA and a 4-3 record despite being limited to 90 1/3 innings due to shoulder inflammation. He’s looking to prove he’s past the health hurdles and side soreness that cropped up late in their 2025 World Series run.

Here is how the managers line up their teams this afternoon.

Skipper Will Venable’s White Sox:

And for Dave Roberts’ Dodgers:

Once again, it’s not easy if you want to catch the action today. You’ll need an MLB.TV (out of market) or SNLA+ subscription to tune into the Dodgers’ broadcast at 2:05 p.m. CST. Let’s cross our fingers and see if the “Good Guys” can fire up the bats and bring another win.

Posted on

New York Yankees vs. Atlanta Braves: Elmer Rodríguez vs. Carlos Carrasco

Sarasota, FL: New York Yankees' Elmer Rodriguez throwing in the top of the 4th inning against the Baltimore Orioles in a pre-season game during Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Florida on February 20, 2026. (Photo by J. Conrad Williams, Jr./Newsday RM via Getty Images) | Newsday via Getty Images

Almost a full week into Spring Training, the biggest story coming out of the Yankees’ camp has been starting pitching. Each of the first six games of the Grapefruit League schedule have seen impressive performances from a starter—from Elmer Rodríguez posting three scoreless frames on the first game of the spring last Friday to Ryan Weathers lighting up radar guns last night. This afternoon, Rodríguez will get his second turn with the ball and try to keep the good times on the bump rolling against the Braves.

Don’t forget: Elmer is on the roster for Team Puerto Rico in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. It’s not entirely clear how big of a role he’ll play for manager Yadier Molina’s squad, but his confidence must be very high after his first spring start, in which he faced an Opening Day-caliber Orioles lineup and shut them down over three innings. The Atlanta lineup he’ll face today is … not quite that, as it doesn’t seem like manager Walt Weiss brought a single likely starter on the road to Tampa. The only player on the Braves’ projected Opening Day bench is utilityman Brett Wiseley. Shout-out to long-ago Baby Bomber Ben Gamel though, still getting after it as an NRI and batting cleanup.

If we make comparisons to last year’s rookie starters, Elmer is closer in terms of profile to Will Warren, as opposed to fellow hotshot prospect Carlos Lagrange with his more Cam Schlittler-esque wipeout stuff. Rodríguez has already shown a knack for sequencing, allowing him to stay a few steps ahead of his opponents and allowing his stuff to play up. Still, it’s not like he can’t throw hard: his sinker reached 97 mph last Friday.

The Braves will send veteran and recent Yankee Carlos Carrasco to the hill today. Carrasco struggled in eight appearances with the Bombers last year, pitching to a 5.91 ERA before being cut loose. He joined Atlanta later in the year and was hit even harder, surrendering 15 runs in three games. Still, while he hasn’t registered a positive WAR figure since 2022, that’s not really the point with Carrasco. He’s a highly experienced, well-regarded clubhouse figure who clearly still has the competitive fire. The soon-to-be 39-year old righty pitched well in his first spring start, with two scoreless frames against the Rays.

Cookie will face a plethora of his former Yankee teammates this afternoon. The first eight lineup spots are essentially the full regular season order. Trent Grisham, Aaron Judge, and Cody Bellinger, all playing in the outfield, will get us started. Jazz Chisholm Jr. will man the keystone, Paul Goldschmidt anchors first, and Austin Wells will don the tools of ignorance. Ryan McMahon and José Caballero are your left-side infielders with former A’s power bat Seth Brown pulling up the rear at DH.

How to watch

Location: George M. Steinbrenner Field — Tampa, FL

First pitch: 1:05 pm ET

TV broadcast: YES Network, Gray TV (ATL), MLB Network (out-of-market)

Radio broadcast: ESPN 103.7 WIFN 1340 (ATL)

Online stream: Gotham Sports App, MLB.tv

Posted on

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

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The Charlotte Hornets will try to run their road trip winning streak to three games as they visit the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night.

Indiana hasn’t come close to covering in any of its last four games, so I’m taking a surging Charlotte squad to win big in my Hornets vs. Pacers predictions for tonight.

Let’s take a deeper look at this Eastern Conference matchup in my free NBA picks for Thursday, February 26.

Hornets vs Pacers prediction

Hornets vs Pacers best bet: Hornets -13 (-110)

The Indiana Pacers have lost four straight games and have failed to cover in any of them, losing by 21 as an 11.5-point underdog to the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday. Indiana is allowing 119.2 ppg on the year and has allowed more than 130 points to each of its last three opponents.

The Charlotte Hornets have covered in nine of their last 10 games, including its last five games as a favorite. The Hornets are averaging 130.0 ppg on their current road trip and have too many weapons for the Pacers to handle. I’m taking Charlotte to cover as a big favorite tonight.

Hornets vs Pacers same-game parlay

Both teams have played to totals of 230+ points in each of their last three games, and they’re averaging a total of 235.5 in their first two meetings this year, so I’m confident in including the Over in my SGP.

I’ll also take Hornets rookie Kon Kuneppel to score Over 17.5 points, something he’s done in each of his last three games.

Hornets vs Pacers SGP

  • Hornets -13
  • Over 229.5
  • Knueppel Over 17.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: A deep sting

Charlotte has no shortage of players who can fire away from deep, and I’m going to bet on three of them to hit their targets for my longshot parlay tonight. LaMelo Ball, Knueppel, and Brandon Miller have all hit this target in at least two of their last three games, and they’ve had plenty of nights where all three have done so at the same time, making this a realistic scenario in a high-scoring Hornets win.

Hornets vs Pacers SGP

  • Hornets -13
  • Ball Over 3.5 threes
  • Knueppel Over 3.5 threes
  • Miller Over 2.5 threes

Hornets vs Pacers odds

  • Spread: Hornets -13 | Pacers -13
  • Moneyline: Hornets -850 | Pacers +575
  • Over/Under: Over 229.5 | Under 229.5

Hornets vs Pacers betting trend to know

The Hornets are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games overall. Find more NBA betting trends for Hornets vs. Pacers.

How to watch Hornets vs Pacers

LocationGainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
DateThursday, February 26, 2026
Tip-off7:00 p.m. ET
TVFDSN SE Charlotte, FDSN Indiana

Hornets vs Pacers latest injuries

Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Posted on

Spring Training Game Thread: Twins vs Pirates

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 19: Simeon Woods Richardson #24 of the Minnesota Twins poses for a photo during Spring Training photo days at Lee Health Sports Complex on February 19, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

First Pitch (CT):12:05
TV: Twins.TV
Radio: NA
Know Yo’ Foe: Bucs Dugout

What to watch: The backup SS/utility battle continues. Orlando Arcia gets his first start at 2B while Tristan Gray sees his first action at short.

Lineups

TwinsPirates
SP: Simeon Woods RichardsonSP: Jose Urquidy
1. James Outman, CF1. Jake Mangum, RF
2. Josh Bell, 1B2. Spencer Horwitz, 1B
3. Royce Lewis, 3B3. Bryan Reynolds, LF
4. Matt Wallner, DH4. Marcell Ozuna, DH
5. Victor Caratini, C5. Oneil Cruz, CF
6. Alan Roden, RF6. Nick Gonzales, SS
7. Emmanuel Rodriguez, LF7. Joey Bart, C
8. Orlando Arcia, 2B8. Nick Yorke, 2B
9. Tristan Gray, SS9. Jared Triolo, 3B
Posted on

Mariners Prospect Rankings #15, RHP Tyler Cleveland

Feb 19, 2026; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Tyler Cleveland (79) during spring training photo day in Peoria, AZ. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

After a dominant 2025 season across two separate levels, Tyler Cleveland joins our Mariner prospect ranks at #15 this season. Given a boost thanks to recent departures from the system, Cleveland represents the last of the true relief types on our list and carries some of the highest floor of any prospect in the back half of these rankings, though naturally comes with a somewhat limited ceiling. A consistent performer through pure funk, Cleveland should be one of the more interesting arms to monitor in Tacoma’s bullpen this season.

Destroying both High-A Everett and Double-A Arkansas last season, the 26 year old submariner out of Central Arkansas worked to a season ERA of 0.87 over 51.2 IP, an obviously outstanding mark that is perhaps buoyed slightly due to his advanced age considering his level. Though his strikeout numbers aren’t out of this world, his 25.5% K% and 8.7% walk rate reflect a more than capable pitcher, especially given his submarine, soft-contact oriented approach on the mound.

The arsenal metrics don’t jump off the page, but everything with Cleveland requires context given how unique he is in his operation. Primarily using a three-pitch mix, the sinker typically tops out around 90 mph (I’ve seen the stadium scoreboard clock it as low as 86 at times), but the pitch gets good two-plane run and pairs well with his slow, sweeping slider that gets massive break gloveside. His final offering, a changeup, mirrors the fastball movement profile well and serves as a more than acceptable third offering he can use against lefties.

Cleveland is clearly not the flashiest prospect in the system and is likely limited to a middle-relief ceiling if everything works for him at the major league level, but it’s impossible to argue with his production as a professional thus far. In an age of 100 mph fastballs and sliders in the mid 90’s, perhaps Tyler Cleveland can be the change of pace the Mariner bullpen needs. Should he break through and debut in the big leagues this season, he’ll likely throw the best (only?) 87 mph heater you’ll see all season.

Posted on

Spring Training February 26 game thread: Braves at Yankees

TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 14, 2025: Carlos Carrasco #59 of the New York Yankees pitches during the first inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 14, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

It’s Spring Training Game Thread time again. Double wooooo.

It’s kind of weird that Carlos Carrasco is “starting” again, but I guess we’ve had enough games now, and every other actual rotation-member other than Spencer Strider has made their 2026 Grapefruit League debut. The Braves are clearly not sending any of their regulars on the 90-minute bus ride to Tampa.

This game is broadcast everywhere. That’s kind of wild to think about: remember when Spring Training games were essentially not televised? It wasn’t even that long ago.

Join the conversation!

Sign up for a user account and get:

  • Fewer ads
  • Create community posts
  • Comment on articles, community posts
  • Rec comments, community posts
  • New, improved notifications system!
Posted on

Texas Rangers lineup for February 26, 2026

SURPRISE, AZ - FEBRUARY 17: Joc Pederson #3 of the Texas Rangers poses for a photo during the Texas Rangers photo day at Surprise Stadium on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Texas Rangers split squad lineup for February 26, 2026 against the Athletics:

Hey, we have a split squad lineup for today! Cal Quantrill is getting the start.

The lineup:

Wade — RF

Pederson — 1B

Osuna — CF

Cauley — SS

Bride — DH

Martin — 3B

Herrera — C

Zavala — LF

Velazquez — 2B

2:05 p.m. Central start time.

Posted on

The only way to fix the NBA Draft lottery: Eliminate it

Adam Silver's latest crusade against tanking has him looking like Don Quixote, tilting at windmills.

Unquestionably, tanking has become part of the NBA landscape and annual discussion — and it is worse this year because of a particularly deep draft followed by what are projected to be down years. Silver argues that it is bad for the league's image and for its fans, though if you ask fans in Utah or Washington right now, they'd overwhelmingly be in favor of it this year. Ask Pistons fans now about tanking in 2020-21 and getting Cade Cunningham.

Silver and the league's owners are poised to act this summer to reduce the tanking "scourge." Except it's not a monster, it's another windmill — what Silver has done before and appears poised to do again this summer is treating the symptoms, not the disease. Teams turn to multi-year tanking because other paths to team building have been cut off or narrowed. The draft has always been the best way to land young talent, but now, for many small and mid-market teams, it's also the only reliable, viable option. Making it harder for those teams to get top players just extends how long they tank, it doesn't eliminate the need for it.

If Silver wants to change the NBA Draft Lottery to reduce tanking and help usher in more of the parity he craves, there is one clear way to do it that is fair:

Eliminate the Draft Lottery. Altogether.

Don't eliminate the draft, just revert to the pre-1985 system (or the NFL model): the worst team drafts first. It's not perfect, but it's much better than what the NBA is about to do.

NBA anti-tanking options

What Silver and the NBA really want to stop is what the Jazz and Wizards are doing this year, what Philadelphia most famously did with "The Process": multi-year tanking.

The problem is, the league's list of "solutions" only means teams will have to tank longer.

When Silver spoke to NBA GMs last week, a few ideas were floated as potential lottery changes for next season. Among them:

• Limiting traded draft pick protections to either 1-4 or the lottery. This one seems destined to pass, according to league sources, and deals with situations such as the Jazz's and the Wizards' this season, tanking to hold on to their top-eight-protected picks.

• Flattening the lottery odds. Again. Currently, teams with the three worst records have the same chance of landing the No. 1 pick (14%), and the odds slowly drop from there. The new plan will likely have the six, eight, or 10 worst teams have the same odds. Some have called for the older lottery system, the envelope era, where every team that misses the playoffs has the same odds. In whatever form it takes, it seems highly likely the odds will get flattened again.

• Teams cannot pick in the top 4 in consecutive years. We would not have this year's San Antonio Spurs with this rule, and small markets may well push back on it. (A modified version of this rule would be part of my plan to eliminate the lottery, laid out below.)

• Freeze the lottery draft positions at the All-Star break (or some other date). Sure, let's get teams tanking earlier, in the heart of the season. This is the worst idea on the table.

• Teams that make the conference Finals cannot draft in the top four. This seems oddly, specifically aimed at the circumstances that befell the Indiana Pacers this year. Which is not a real issue, this rarely comes up and when it does it's because a star player was injured or left the team (the Cavaliers got No. 1 after LeBron left, but was that wrong?). This rule seems pointless.

Why those solutions make the problem worse

Teams are tanking for multiple years because other paths to team building are closed off or narrowed, leaving only the draft as an option.

Free agency is largely dead for All-Star-level players. They don't get traded against their will (except for Luka Doncic, and we see how well that went in Dallas). They get a max contract from the team they are on then force their way out, or organize a sign-and-trade to where they want to go. Players have a lot of control over the process, which often leaves small- to mid-market teams out of the mix.

Trading for stars is also very difficult now. It took four unprotected first-rounders for Orlando to secure Desmond Bane last summer; it took five first-round picks for the Knicks to get Mikal Bridges — and neither one of them is an All-Star. That's not to say star players are not traded, they are — James Harden was traded earlier this month — but he had a lot of say in that (and it was about money in future contracts). It's a difficult spot for a small market team.

Which means teams need to focus on the NBA draft to improve (and for any successful franchise, scouting and player development are now more crucial than ever; for example, turning a No. 12 pick into an All-NBA player like Jalen Williams, as Oklahoma City did).

The problem with flattening the lottery odds is that it just makes the issue worse — teams have to be bad longer to get a top pick. It's random chance, not giving the worst teams hope.

For the past three drafts, the team with the worst record in the NBA drafted fifth. Not terrible, but look at Utah as an example: It had the worst record last season, drafted Ace Bailey fifth, but if it had drafted Cooper Flagg No. 1 it would be a very different situation in Utah, one where we were talking about making the play-in not tanking (for the record, their Jaren Jackson Jr. trade at the deadline was brilliant).

End the draft lottery (with a caveat)

The best solution is this: End the NBA Draft Lottery.

Not the draft. In a league where teams need to sell playoff glory or hope, the draft offers hope to struggling fan bases.

Just let the team with the worst record draft first. No lottery, no ping-pong balls or fancy math. This is how it was done until 1985, and it's still how the NFL and other sports do it. If Sacramento has the worst record this season, it gets the No. 1 pick. End of story.

Well, not quite the end because there needs to be one rule: The team with the No. 1 pick cannot pick in the top four (or five) in consecutive years. Or, maybe make that ban two years. To stick with the Utah example from earlier, if it drafted No. 1 a year ago and got Flagg, it couldn't draft higher than fifth this season.

Would this end tanking? No. But in a sport where drafting one elite player — Flagg, Victor Wembanyama, Cade Cunningham, Anthony Edwards, just to name a few recent ones — changes a franchise, there is no way to eliminate it completely.

What eliminating the lottery would do is eliminate long-term tanking projects — teams would get their top pick, then could not be in the top five for another year or two.

Also, eliminating the lottery would limit tanking in any given year. Every year, a couple of teams are going to be bad from the start, but the mid-season pivot to a tank in hopes of improving lottery odds goes away. Two or three teams a year may tank, but not 10 like this year.

(It has to be noted that this year's especially deep draft would have led to more tanking than usual regardless of the system in place. This is just a perfect storm of a season for tanking.)

In the modern world of analytics, there is no way to completely eliminate tanking and still give the fan bases of the worst teams real hope for the future. The league has to sell hope.

Which is why it should ditch the lottery.

Posted on

Royals have valuable trade chips in catching depth

For years, Salvador Perez has been the Royals’ mainstay behind the plate. If he’s been healthy, he wants to catch, and catch he has.

But the past several years have seen an aging, albeit still productive Perez shift more to first base and designated hitter. Last year, he appeared in 92 games behind the plate with a combined 68 appearances coming elsewhere. The year before that: 91 games catching, 49 at first, 24 with a DH appearance. Perez hasn’t caught more than 100 games in a season since 2021.

Thankfully, the Royals have allocated resources to succeeding Perez, and the first true step occurred last year when Carter Jensen reached the Majors.

Jensen, a 2021 third-round pick out of Park Hill High School, collected 69 plate appearances in 20 games at the end of 2025. He performed so well that I believe the Royals accelerated their plan in supplanting Perez as the full-time catcher. Not only did Jensen prove his worth defensively and build a rapport with the pitching staff, but he also slashed .300/.391/.550 with half of his hits being worth extra bases.

Incredibly, doubled up Perez in bWAR—0.8 to 0.4.

Jensen, a left-handed hitter, is not the only highly rated catching prospect in the Royals system. Sure, he’s the first to reach the Majors, but the organization has another two catchers in the wings who could, one way or another, help the Royals down the line.

First, let’s take a look at the prospect rankings. Max wrote an article some weeks ago breaking down where the current prospects land for the Royals in the big Top 100 lists. Jensen made all three of the big lists—No. 1o according to The Athletic’s Keith Law, No. 11 according to Baseball America, and No. 18 according to MLB Pipeline.

Next is Blake Mitchell, the Royals’ former first-round pick from 2023. Mitchell, like Jensen, bats left and throws right. He did not make Baseball America’s Top 100 but landed at No. 75 with MLB Pipeline (down from No. 48 a year ago) and No. 57 according to Law. Law concluded his report on Mitchell by writing that “[h]e still projects as an everyday catcher who might hit .230 or so with 20 homers and plus defense, which is a regular for almost every team in baseball.”

Blake Mitchell is the No. 10 catching prospect according to MLB Pipeline.

MLB Pipeline ranks Jensen as the game’s No. 2 overall catching prospect with Mitchell at No. 10.

But wait, there’s a third catcher raising eyebrows in the farm system. Ramon Ramirez, signed out of Valenzuela, is the youngest of the group, and while he didn’t make any of the Top 100 lists, he’s still worth a concentrated eye. Law ranks him as the Royals’ #9 prospect, noting that the young man has power but also seems to lack focus.

Baseball America ranks Ramirez as the team’s No. 8 prospect. They note that he signed with the Royals as an outfielder and also missed a chunk of time last season due to left-hand inflammation. Still, “[h]is body looked firmer in 2025, increasing his chances of staying behind the plate.”

The Royals find themselves with three stellar catching prospects and only one catching position.

Jensen is already in Kansas City and seems to have the upper hand when it comes to locking down the position for the next five to seven years. Mitchell has a chance to bounce back this year and prove the organization’s faith in him when they drafted him so high three years ago. And Ramirez, with seemingly the lowest skill level of the trio, could still make it as a dependable backup catcher who can also play the outfield.

Now, I’m not here to advocate for the Royals to trade a certain one of these young men. But with all of this in mind, the Royals should definitely cash in on one of these three chips.

Spring Training trades are not unheard of, but I think we’re more looking at a deal occurring around the trade deadline, once the Royals figure out which position needs tinkering. Of course, there’s nothing from stopping the team from making a trade before then. Perhaps I’m overestimating things, but in a trade for one of these three battery mates, the Royals should be able to land a player under team control instead of settling for a rental.

While the Royals’ farm system is on the rise, it still isn’t in the top half of the league. Despite that, the Royals have managed to develop three catchers who could, in the near future, start for a Major League club. With the big league roster still needing work, trading one of Jensen, Mitchell, or Ramirez could help shore up things.

Just gotta trade the right one.

Posted on

Spring Game #6 GameThread and Jays Notes

Oct 31, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixth inning during game six of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

The Jays and Marlins play in Dunedin at 1:00 Eastern today. We have a bunch of regulars in the lineup. It actually could be close to the lineup they would put out against a lefty starter.

And Kevin Gausman gets his first time out there this spring. Gausman set a personal record for innings pitched last year. Not bad considering he was in his 13th season and 34 years old. I’d like them to take it a little easier on him this year. But, we do have a few starters that will have to be handled gently, at least to start the season. But then we have roughly 37 guys who could start games (I might be exaggerating, my wife has told me a million times that I tend to exaggerate).

Kevin will throw 1 to 2 innings.

Today’s Lineups

MARLINSBLUE JAYS
Otto Lopez – SSGeorge Springer – DH
Kyle Stowers – LFDaulton Varsho – CF
Esteury Ruiz – CFVladimir Guerrero – 1B
Liam Hicks – CAddison Barger – RF
Owen Caissie – RFAlejandro Kirk – C
Deyvison De Los Santos – 1BKazuma Okamoto – 3B
Joe Mack – DHErnie Clement – 2B
Jacob Berry – 3BAndres Gimenez – SS
Jared Serna – 2BMyles Straw – LF
Braxton Garrett – LHPKevin Gausman – RHP

Alek Manoah said a rather unfortunate thing to a reporter from the Athletic:

“I was a very big piece of that process, getting to that World Series run,” Manoah added. “I wasn’t able to be there like I wanted to.”

The rest was very normal, nothing inflammatory. I’m almost sure that if Alek had time to think about what he was saying he would have found better words.

“Those are all my friends,” Manoah said. “A lot of those guys I called my brothers. I rooted for them 100 percent. I wanted them to win it all.”

The story also says that he is “down to” 285 lb (on his 6’6” frame).

“No, man,” Manoah said, when asked if there was a mental anxiety element to his strike throwing struggles. “I don’t know. I don’t think I’ve dealt with any of that.

“I think for me it’s more when, mentally, you don’t have your best stuff, I know for me, I’m going to go out and compete with what I’ve got.”

Ken Rosenthal tells us that Max Scherzers incentives are $1 million for each of 65, 75, 85, 95, 105, 115, 125, 135, 145 and 155. I’m quite willing to bet he won’t get to 155 innings. We could have a poll:

Posted on

Astros (SS) vs Cardinals 2/26/2026 Spring Training Game Thread

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 21: Brice Matthews #0 of the Houston Astros looks on during a spring training game against the Washington Nationals at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on February 21, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Houston Astros travel to Jupiter, FL to take on the St. Louis Cardinals. The Astros will be playing a split squad game.

Peter Lambert gets the start for Houston. This is his first start of the spring and his second appearance. In his first appearance, he pitched one scoreless inning while allowing 2 hits and striking out 1.

Astros top prospect Brice Matthews will play 2B today and lead off, Carlos Perez starts behind the plate and Astros #3 prospect Walker Janek will DH.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Thursday, February 26, 12:10 p.m. CST

Location: Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, Jupiter, FL

TV: No Local Broadcast

Streaming: MLB.tv (Cardinals audio only)

Radio: no local radio

(Image courtesy of Brian McTaggart on X)