Sports
Spring training roundup: Early HRs off Justin Verlander lead Yankees past Tigers
Mar 12, 2026; Lakeland, Florida, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander (35) throws during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images Detroit Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander gave up back-to-back home runs to Jasson Dominguez and J.C. Escarra in the first inning and the New York Yankees came away with a 4-3 victory at Lakeland, Fla.
In his second start of the spring, Verlander allowed three solo home runs in 3 1/3 innings (61 pitches). The 43-year old, who has returned to Detroit after spending parts of nine seasons pitching for the Houston Astros, the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants since departing, had five strikeouts. He has allowed five runs with nine strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings this spring.
Yankees right-hander Will Warren continued his outstanding spring, allowing two runs on twi hits over six innings with no walks. He gave up a home run to the Tigers’ Zach McKinstry to shave the Yankees’ lead to 3-2 in the fifth inning.
Detroit tied the game in the bottom of the eighth on a Jude Warwick sacrifice fly, but a bases-loaded walk to Yankees minor leaguer Joshua Moylan pushed across the game-winning run in the top of the ninth.
Seth Brown also homered off Verlander with one out in the second inning.
Cardinals 3, Mets 1
Nelson Velazquez hit a two-run home run off New York starter Sean Manaea in the bottom of the first inning as St. Louis edged the Mets in Jupiter, Fla.
New Mets infielder Jorge Polanco greeted Cardinals starter Michael McGreevey by launching a solo home run as the second batter of the game. it was the only run allowed by McGreevey, who gave up four hits and one walk with three strikeouts in five innings.
St. Louis first baseman Alec Burleson added an RBI single in the second inning. Nolan Gorman doubled and tripled off Manaea, but was stranded on both occasions.
Phillies 8, Blue Jays 5, 8 innings
Philadelphia roughed up a pair of Toronto minor league pitchers, scoring eight runs over the first three innings for the victory in Clearwater, Fla.
Phillies’ All-Star shortstop Trea Turner contributed a two-run RBI double to right in the second inning and Alec Bohm blasted a 422-foot solo home run in a four-run third.
Philadelphia starter Jesus Luzardo, who just signed a five-year contract extension worth $135 million on Tuesday, gave up a first-inning home run to Blue Jays’ backup catcher Tyler Heineman and allowed three runs in 3 2/3 innings. Heineman reached base three times, with two hits and a walk and scored three runs.
Twins 8, Red Sox 5
Rayne Doncon hit a three-run triple with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning to snap a 5-5 tie as Minnesota prevailed over Boston in a battle of teams based in Fort Myers, Fla.
After Twins infielder Orlando Arcia hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning for a 4-3 lead, the Red Sox pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the eighth to retake the lead. The lead changed hands four times over the final four innings.
Boston shortstop Trevor Story went 3-for-4, scored a run and increased his spring average to .400.
Twins’ starter Bailey Ober, who is trying to rebound from an injury-plagued 2025 season, continued his slow ramp-up to the regular season by throwing 2 1/3 innings and allowing one run on five hits. Ober had two strikeouts with one walk in 53 pitches during his second outing of the spring.
Ryan Jeffers was one of four Twins with two hits and drove in runs in the first and third innings.
Cubs 7, Mariners 3
Michael Busch and BJ Murray each had two hits and Chas McCormick hit a home run as Chicago turned a four-run seventh inning into a victory over Seattle at Mesa, Ariz.
Cubs right-hander Edward Cabrera started and gave up one run on four hits over 3 2/3 innings with no walks and three strikeouts. Four different relievers each contributed a scoreless inning.
Colin Davis hit a three-run home run for the Mariners in the eighth inning. Seattle right-hander Emerson Hancock gave up two runs on four hits over four innings.
Rangers 7, Athletics 6
Wyatt Langford hit a three-run home run in a six-run second inning and Texas held on for the victory over the Athletics at Surprise, Ariz.
Willie MacIver added a three-run double in the second inning and right-hander Jack Leiter gave up two runs on five hits over five innings with no walks and six strikeouts.
Max Muncy and Henry Bolte each hit home runs for the Athletics, while right-hander J.T. Ginn gave up four runs on four hits over 4 2/3 innings with three walks and five strikeouts.
Rockies 13, Diamondbacks 2
TJ Rumfield and Adael Amador each had two-run singles in an eight-run sixth inning and Colorado rolled to the victory over Arizona at Scottsdale, Ariz.
Rumfield also had RBI singles in the fourth and fifth innings during a three-hit day. Jose Cordova hit a home run for the Rockies and left-hander Sean Sullivan gave up two runs on three hits over four innings.
Tim Tawa hit a two-run home run to give the Diamondbacks an early first-inning lead. Right-hander Taylor Clarke opened with two scoreless innings for Arizona, but Drey Jameson, Brandyn Garcia and Casey Anderson combined to allow 11 runs while recording six outs.
–Field Level Media
Sports
NHL Free Agency 2026: Why This Year’s Market Looks Surprisingly Thin
For those who love transactions and the excitement around them, we have bad news.
If you thought the NHL’s trade deadline was lacking intrigue, prepare to be suitably underwhelmed when free-agency kicks off July 1.
What was already a thin market took another hit a few days ago when Nick Schmaltz re-signed with the Utah Mammoth, inking an eight-year, $64-million pact and forgoing a chance to hit the open market.
Now, we can understand if the more casual fans are not versed in what Schmaltz can bring to the table, but rest assured there would have been plenty of clubs interested in signing the center.
Schmaltz, who has netted a career-high 24 goals and with 59 points is only a handful back of his best season, would but a top-liner on many teams. Certainly he would be a fantastic scoring second-liner on the truly elite clubs.
This has been quite the year of seeing skilled players, especially forwards, re-sign instead of hitting free agency. Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers), Kirill Kaprizov (Minnesota Wild), Jack Eichel (Vegas Golden Knights), Artemi Panarin (Los Angeles Kings, shortly after being acquired from the New York Rangers), Adrian Kempe (Kings), Martin Necas (Colorado Avalanche) and Kyle Connor (Winnipeg Jets) signed extensions and scuttled what could have been an incredible free-agency class.
Even middle-lineup players such as Kiefer Sherwood of the San Jose Sharks and Mike Matheson of the Montreal Canadiens decided to re-sign.
What does that leave us with?
There are a bunch of players who appear most likely to stay with their current team, a list that includes the likes of Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitals), Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins), Anders Lee (New York Islanders), Jacob Trouba (Anaheim Ducks), John Klingberg (Sharks), Patrick Kane (Detroit Red Wings), Claude Giroux (Ottawa Senators), Radko Gudas (Ducks) and Rasmus Andersson (Golden Knights).
Plus there are some who would be best-served staying where they are, such as Anthony Mantha (Penguins) and Jack Roslovic (Edmonton Oilers).
Which leaves, frankly, not much.
Alex Tuch of the Buffalo Sabres could be the most sought-after skater, certainly the most impactful forward as he heads toward his third 30-goal season.
After that, the group of forwards are mainly players who are middle-line skaters, such as Bobby McMann (Seattle Kraken), Boone Jenner and Charlie Coyle of the Columbus Blue Jackets), Vladimir Tarasenko (Minnesota Wild) and Michael Bunting (Dallas Stars).
The player with the most potential to return to stardom is Patrik Laine of the Montreal Canadiens, but that may require a “show-me” contract.
The defensemen actually provide more buzz, but we are not talking top-tier, proven stars. Andersson may re-sign in Vegas, but would be a boon to clubs wanting a big-minute two/three blueliner, although he is not lighting it up with the Golden Knights.
John Carlson was traded to the Ducks from Washington (which may be a catalyst for Ovechkin to move elsewhere if he continues his career) and Anaheim would like to keep him in the fold as their team climbs back toward Stanley Cup contender. But even with age, Carlson would command attention.
The true wildcard would be Darren Raddysh of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who at age 30 has exploded offensively with 17 goals and 58 points. You can understand him wanting to see what others will pay for his services, but it is hard to imagine a better fit than what he already has in Tampa.
Either way, the hottest action when free agency opens may be at your barbecue.
Sports
Why Duke and Michigan Are Dead Even Entering Selection Sunday
It has been more than a decade since there was such a small difference between college basketball’s best two teams as Selection Sunday beckons.
Look at the metrics. Look at the gambling futures. Look at the evidence on our TV screens. It’s nearly impossible to say whether the Duke Blue Devils or the Michigan Wolverines are the favorite to win it all.
If you go by predictive metrics like KenPom, Duke ranks as roughly a half-point favorite over Michigan. If you go by results-based metrics like Wins Above Bubble, Michigan is a smidge ahead of Duke. If you go by online sportsbooks like Caesars, Duke is listed at +325 to cut down the nets on April 6 in Indianapolis at +325 — but Michigan sits at +325, too.
If you prefer to go by something absurd like on-court results, Duke edged Michigan 68-63 in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 21 in a game where neither team led by more than eight.
In essence, if this year’s tournament turns into nothing more than Duke and Michigan on an inexorable collision course from opposite sides of the bracket (to be unveiled at 6 p.m. ET Sunday), then we’re destined for an amazing three weeks.
The only way it might be greater is if we get a replay of the last NCAA Tournament with its top two teams virtually indistinguishable — because that was the last time a wholly unexpected squad stormed to the NCAA title.
That was way back in 2014, when NCAA Tournament committee members were still such troglodytes when it came to metrics that Louisville entered the tournament ranked as KenPom’s No. 1 overall team — yet received a No. 4 seed.
When the dust settled in Arlington, Texas, 18th-ranked and No. 7 seeded Connecticut claimed the championship while eighth-seeded Kentucky also made the Final Four. Some would argue that’s way more fun than having only No. 1 seeds in the Final Four.
What else will happen on Selection Sunday?
What else can be learned from the 2014 NCAA Tournament that might be applicable as we try to predict what will happen on Selection Sunday? Well, that was the year Wichita State raced through the regular season and the Missouri Valley Conference tournament at 34-0 and was rewarded with a No. 1 seed.
Now, the Shockers played a significantly tougher schedule than the 2025-26 Miami (Ohio) RedHawks — Tennessee, Alabama (on the road), BYU, Saint Louis and Tulsa were among their non-conference conquests — and the MVC was tougher than the current-day MAC.
But for all those who believe the NCAA Tournament committee shouldn’t bow at the feet of an undefeated mid-major, Wichita State’s season ended in the second round when John Calipari’s Kentucky squad rallied for a 78-76 win.
Speaking of the Miami RedHawks, their perfect season went poof Thursday in the MAC quarterfinals against a Massachusetts squad that finished with a 17-16 record. After that flaccid finish, which followed multiple 2-point escapes, there will be howling no matter how the committee treats the 31-1 RedHawks.
Do they deserve the worst at-large seed, which is usually a 12? Does the committee force them into the First Four with an 11 seed, which would inadvertently punish their opponent because Miami’s Millett Hall is just 40.4 miles from University of Dayton Arena?
Or does the committee decide Miami doesn’t deserve a bid at all because it played such a putrid schedule? According to the NET rankings, the RedHawks played zero Quad 1 games and went 2-0 versus Quad 2 foes. Auburn, widely expected to fall short of the 68-team tournament field, went 4-13 versus Quad 1s and 3-2 vs. Quad 2s. Indiana, in a similar spot, went 3-10 versus Quad 1s and 3-4 against Quad 2s.
The prediction here? Miami (Ohio) receives a No. 10 seed — and faces seventh-seeded Miami (Fla.) in the first round.
Duke, Michigan, Arizona and Florida receive the No. 1 seeds. Iowa State, UConn, Houston and Michigan State get the No. 2 seeds. Santa Clara claims an at-large berth and none of the power-conference bubble teams get in.
Sports
Joaquin Niemann, Lee Westwood take lead at LIV Golf Singapore
Aug 17, 2025; Indianapolis,IN, United States; Joaquin Niemann of Torque GC lines up his putt on the 18th green during the final round of LIV Golf Indianapolis. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images Defending champion Joaquin Niemann shot a 66 to surge into a third-round tie for the lead at LIV Golf Singapore on Saturday.
The Chilean mixed seven birdies and two bogeys to tie Lee Westwood of England atop the leaderboard at 10-under-par 203 for the tournament, one stroke ahead of second-round leader Bryson DeChambeau and Richard Lee of Canada.
Westwood made birdies on three of the final four holes to finish with a 68 at the Sentosa Golf Club, which played tougher than it did in the first two rounds.
“I would say it’s a major championship-style golf course. It’s very demanding,” Westwood said. “Even though the rough isn’t that thick, it asks you to hit a lot of fairways, and it’s difficult to score from the rough. You don’t have as much control on the golf ball.”
Niemann agreed about the challenge the course presents.
“I’ve been hitting the ball really good. I think that’s the key,” Niemann said. “It’s a really stressful golf course, I’ll say. There’s a lot of danger off the tee, a lot of water on second shots. One way or the other, I feel like I’ve been kind of like stress-free after I hit the shot. Once I get on the tee, there’s some pressure there, and then once I hit the ball, it goes right where I’m seeing with my eyes, so it feels satisfying.”
DeChambeau followed his second-round 65 with a one-over 72, but he wasn’t dismayed despite bogeys at holes 8, 10 and 12.
“I played really well. The greens on 8, 9, 10, 11 got really slow,” he said. “For some reason, there wasn’t as much wind around there and I guess the greens got slower in that area and I three-putted a few of them and that cost me some momentum. Other than that, I played great golf. I almost played just as good as yesterday, just things didn’t line up.”
Lee, a LIV Golf wild card, birdied the final hole to record a 69 and tie DeChambeau.
Spain’s Jon Rahm shot an even-par 71 to stay within striking distance of the leaders, three strokes off the pace. Marc Leishman of Australia (71) stands alone in sixth place at 6-under par.
In the team competition, 4Aces are atop the leaderboard. Captain Dustin Johnson’s round of 68 sent the team to 16-under, two shots ahead of Ripper GC and Legion XIII, and put Johnson in a tie for seventh place with six others at 5-under.
–Field Level Media
NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 14, 2026
NYT Pips hints, answers for March 14, 2026
