The Memphis Grizzlies will be without Ja Morant for at least two more weeks.

The team announced Friday its All-Star point guard is continuing to experience discomfort from his UCL sprain in January and that follow-up imaging revealed “incomplete healing of the injury.” He will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Morant last played on Jan. 21 and has only played in 20 games this season. Injuries have plagued Morant in his career. Since his rookie season, Morant has failed to play over 65 games. In 2023, Morant only played in nine games after a 25-game suspension and season-ending shoulder injury cut his season short.

The 26-year-old point guard has averaged 19.5 points, 8.1 assists and 3.3 rebounds on 23.5% shooting from behind the arc. Most of Morant’s numbers are his lowest since his first few seasons in the league. Morant also does not look as explosive as he did during his early seasons.

Since Morant has gone down, the Grizzlies traded Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz and recently shutdown Zach Edey. Morant was also reportedly on the trade block but the team opted to hold on to him at the trade deadline.

Without Morant, the Grizzlies have relied on Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen Jr. and Cam Spencer at point guard. 

This article will be updated with more information.

The Colorado Rockies lost to the Milwaukee Brewers today, 10-8. For more details, click here.

And now to the postgame comments.

First, here’s manager Warren Schaeffer:

Starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen weighed in before heading out to play for Team Italy in the WBC:

And, finally, Tyler Freeman discussed his return to action:

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

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Few tournaments deliver baseball drama like the World Baseball Classic, and few are more fun to bet.

We’ll be updating this page every day throughout the 2026 WBC with our top baseball picks, best bets, odds breakdowns, and quick-hit analysis for every matchup, from the opening round to the championship game in Miami.

Today’s WBC best bets for Friday, March 6

Markets courtesy of Kalshi, a federally regulated exchange that allows users to trade on the outcome of real-world events using financial contracts. Come back soon for more analysis.

Japan vs Chinese Taipei prediction

Best bet: Under 7.5 runs (48¢)

The Japanese rotation won’t be as strong as it was in 2023, but it’s still anchored by Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Yamamoto’s dominant performance in the World Series led the Los Angeles Dodgers to back-to-back championships and earned him the Fall Classic MVP.

Chinese Taipei played in the tournament-opening game against Australia and managed just three hits, all singles, with nine strikeouts in a 3-0 shutout loss.

It’s hard to imagine them doing any damage against Yamamoto and this Japanese pitching staff.

The Samurai will score a handful of runs and call it a day, cashing the Under.

Read Andrew Caley’s full Japan vs. Chinese Taipei predictions.

Puerto Rico vs Colombia prediction

Best bet: Colombia +3.5 (15¢)

The Puerto Rico lineup took a major hit with insurance issues, and MLB staples Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, and Javier Baez won’t be playing in the World Baseball Classic.

As a result, I’m happy to take the runs with the Colombians.

Colombia has a veteran-heavy lineup with former MLB talents Gio Urshela, Harold Ramirez, and Jorge Alfaro leading the way, and starter Jose Quintana has 14 years in the majors.

This is also the first game of the WBC for both teams, so the Colombian bullpen will be rested and have all its best arms available to follow Quintana.

Read Neil Parker’s full Puerto Rico vs Colombia predictions.

2026 World Baseball Classic schedule

What is the World Baseball Classic?

Think of the World Baseball Classic as baseball’s version of the FIFA World Cup, but with more flair, louder horns, and way more bat flips. This isn’t your standard MLB grind; it’s a high-stakes sprint where players swap their club jerseys for their national colors, playing for pure pride for countries like Japan, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and the USA.

If you’re used to the slow burn of the MLB regular season, the WBC is a serious shot of adrenaline. For sports bettors, that mix of elite All-Star talent and “win-or-go-home” desperation creates a beautiful kind of chaos.

Between the electric crowds and the elimination game urgency, you get a level of volatility and raw emotion you just don’t see in a Tuesday night game in July. When every pitch feels like a Game 7, the betting value goes through the roof.

4 ways WBC betting differs from MLB betting

The World Baseball Classic may feature plenty of MLB stars, but betting these games is nothing like betting a regular-season big league matchup. Here are four key ways they differ:

1. Pitcher usage: Starters often work on tighter pitch counts, shorter leashes and less predictable schedules, which means bullpens can take over much earlier than expected. That can flip the script on full-game sides and totals in a hurry, and it puts even more value on first five innings markets.

2. Roster makeup: MLB teams are built for six months. WBC teams are built to survive a short, high-pressure sprint. Some lineups are stacked with superstar talent but have real holes in the lower half. Others don’t have the same star power, but they’re deeper, cleaner defensively and more reliable on the mound. In this format, depth can be just as valuable as headline names.

3. Pool-play chaos: Pool-play games don’t always play out like standard baseball games because managers are managing to advance, not to conserve for tomorrow. Bullpen aggression, pinch-hit moves, defensive substitutions, and even run differential can all impact late-game strategy.

4. Variance is king: In MLB, the long season usually smooths everything out. In the WBC, one crooked inning, one elite reliever or one superstar swing can decide everything. That creates more upset potential, more momentum swings, and more value if you’re paying attention to matchup context instead of just brand-name players.

What is Kalshi and how does it work?

Kalshi is a federally regulated U.S. exchange where you trade directly on the outcome of real-world future events. Instead of traditional bets, you trade “Event Contracts” which are simple Yes/No questions like “Will the Eagles win this Sunday?” These events are priced between $0.01 and $0.99, and the prices reflect the market’s estimated probability of that event occurring. For instance, $0.55 equals a 55% chance. If your prediction is correct, the contract pays out exactly $1.00; if not, it settles at $0. Kalshi is essentially a stock market for reality.

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.

Feel free to also discuss Australia vs. Czechia starting at 10am ET below, but here is your Guardians’ lineup vs the White Sox starting at 8pm ET:

CF Martinez

SS Rocchio

LF Valera

C Hedges

RF Jones

1B Kayfus

2B Brito

DH Rodriguez

3B Genao

P Bibee

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Pool C play continues in the World Baseball Classic with Colombia visiting Puerto Rico at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Friday, March 6.

My Colombia vs. Puerto Rico predictions and World Baseball Classic best bets expect the Colombians to hang around in a low-scoring game.

Puerto Rico vs Colombia prediction

Puerto Rico vs Colombia best bet: Colombia +3.5 (-115 at DraftKings)

The Puerto Rico lineup took a major hit with insurance issues, and MLB staples Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa and Javier Baez won’t be playing in the World Baseball Classic.

As a result, I’m happy to take the runs with the Colombians.

Colombia has a veteran-heavy lineup with former MLB talents Gio Urshela, Harold Ramirez, and Jorge Alfaro leading the way, and starter Jose Quintana has 14 years in the majors.

This is also the first game of the WBC for both teams, so the Colombian bullpen will be rested and have all its best arms available to follow Quintana.

Puerto Rico vs Colombia same-game parlay (SGP)

In addition to the lineup hits to the Puerto Rico lineup, ace Seth Lugo stands to hold the Colombians in check.

Lugo was the 2024 American League Cy Young runner-up, and he’s spun a tidy 3.51 ERA and 1.19 ERA over 609 2/3 innings across the past five MLB seasons.

Puerto Rico vs Colombia opening odds

• Moneyline: Puerto Rico -425 | Colombia +310
• Run line: Puerto Rico -3.5 (-110) | Colombia +3.5 (-115)
• Over/Under: Over 9.5 (-110) | Under 9.5 (-110)

How to watch Puerto Rico vs Colombia and game info

Puerto Rico vs Colombia weather

Expect a warm, sticky night in San Juan with temperatures in the mid-to-upper 70s°F (mid-20s°C). There’s a slight chance of passing showers and light winds, typical for evening games at Hiram Bithorn Stadium.

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.

After months of anticipation, the best roster ever assembled by USA Baseball gathered for the first time this week in Arizona in preparation for the sixth edition of the World Baseball Classic. There was Aaron Judge, towering over his fellow superstars, setting the tone with his mere presence. There was Paul Skenes, ]

The roster also has representatives from both sides of what was a World Series for the ages: Blue Jays utilityman Ernie Clement, fresh off setting the record for most hits in a single postseason, and Dodgers catcher Will Smith, whose home run in the 10th inning of Game 7 helped secure back-to-back championships for Los Angeles. 

And there’s more on the mound. After all the consternation surrounding the quality of the 2023 pitching staff — some deserved, some overblown — it’s undeniable that this year’s group of American hurlers is a considerable upgrade. The assortment of pure stuff speaks for itself, but the headliners — including Mets phenom Nolan McLean, after just a handful of major-league starts, and Padres closer Mason Miller, one of the hardest throwers the game has ever seen — cannot be overstated. 

Then there’s Skubal. The sensational southpaw seeking his third consecutive AL Cy Young award will be participating in only the first round of the tournament, scheduled to start against Great Britain in Team USA’s second game of pool play. This news was met with some level of disappointment after Skubal’s inclusion on the roster sparked fantasies of Team USA handing the ball to the two best pitchers on the planet for the semifinals and the championship. But make no mistake: That Skubal is participating at all at this critical juncture of his career — ahead of a consequential season for the Detroit Tigers, months away from a historically lucrative free agency and after an offseason in which his name dominated headlines with a record-setting arbitration case — adds another layer of grandeur to Team USA nevertheless. 

All of these individual storylines are now woven into one roster with one objective.

“This isn’t about our organizational baseball right now,” Schwarber deflected Thursday when asked if the WBC could be a venue for players to recruit for their respective MLB teams. “This is about the three letters across our chest.

“We are looking forward to the journey ahead — seven wins. That’s our goal right here, one at a time.”

[Watch Yahoo Sports Network]

Granted, a two-week tournament in March is hardly the most objective way to determine international baseball supremacy. Such a compressed competition invites the possibility for chaos, even if advancing out of pool play is a virtual certainty for Team USA. The caliber of opponent will elevate as the tournament progresses, with the softer matchups against Brazil and Great Britain scheduled before the more potent squads representing Mexico and Italy.

After that, the single-elimination bracket beckons, with clashes against other proud baseball powerhouses on deck. Team USA’s encounters with other teams loaded with upper-echelon MLB talent — notably Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and, of course, Japan — are not to be taken lightly, but the Americans are embracing the challenge with confidence. 

“Respect for everybody. Fear nobody,” DeRosa said.

No matter the sequence of opponents, Team USA isn’t hiding from the opportunity — or the pressure that comes with the roster assembled for this year’s tournament. 

“I think the expectation,” DeRosa said, “is to win the whole thing.”

After months of anticipation, the best roster ever assembled by USA Baseball gathered for the first time this week in Arizona in preparation for the sixth edition of the World Baseball Classic. There was Aaron Judge, towering over his fellow superstars, setting the tone with his mere presence. There was Paul Skenes, ]

The roster also has representatives from both sides of what was a World Series for the ages: Blue Jays utilityman Ernie Clement, fresh off setting the record for most hits in a single postseason, and Dodgers catcher Will Smith, whose home run in the 10th inning of Game 7 helped secure back-to-back championships for Los Angeles. 

And there’s more on the mound. After all the consternation surrounding the quality of the 2023 pitching staff — some deserved, some overblown — it’s undeniable that this year’s group of American hurlers is a considerable upgrade. The assortment of pure stuff speaks for itself, but the headliners — including Mets phenom Nolan McLean, after just a handful of major-league starts, and Padres closer Mason Miller, one of the hardest throwers the game has ever seen — cannot be overstated. 

Then there’s Skubal. The sensational southpaw seeking his third consecutive AL Cy Young award will be participating in only the first round of the tournament, scheduled to start against Great Britain in Team USA’s second game of pool play. This news was met with some level of disappointment after Skubal’s inclusion on the roster sparked fantasies of Team USA handing the ball to the two best pitchers on the planet for the semifinals and the championship. But make no mistake: That Skubal is participating at all at this critical juncture of his career — ahead of a consequential season for the Detroit Tigers, months away from a historically lucrative free agency and after an offseason in which his name dominated headlines with a record-setting arbitration case — adds another layer of grandeur to Team USA nevertheless. 

All of these individual storylines are now woven into one roster with one objective.

“This isn’t about our organizational baseball right now,” Schwarber deflected Thursday when asked if the WBC could be a venue for players to recruit for their respective MLB teams. “This is about the three letters across our chest.

“We are looking forward to the journey ahead — seven wins. That’s our goal right here, one at a time.”

[Watch Yahoo Sports Network]

Granted, a two-week tournament in March is hardly the most objective way to determine international baseball supremacy. Such a compressed competition invites the possibility for chaos, even if advancing out of pool play is a virtual certainty for Team USA. The caliber of opponent will elevate as the tournament progresses, with the softer matchups against Brazil and Great Britain scheduled before the more potent squads representing Mexico and Italy.

After that, the single-elimination bracket beckons, with clashes against other proud baseball powerhouses on deck. Team USA’s encounters with other teams loaded with upper-echelon MLB talent — notably Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and, of course, Japan — are not to be taken lightly, but the Americans are embracing the challenge with confidence. 

“Respect for everybody. Fear nobody,” DeRosa said.

No matter the sequence of opponents, Team USA isn’t hiding from the opportunity — or the pressure that comes with the roster assembled for this year’s tournament. 

“I think the expectation,” DeRosa said, “is to win the whole thing.”

Opening Day for the 2026 Major League Baseball season is about three weeks away (beginning officially with a standalone game between the Yankees and Giants on March 25), and while there are several former Tigers already in the Big Leagues, LSU’s pipeline to The Show is alive and well.

On Thursday the MLB announced preliminary rosters for the third annual Spring Breakout Games. If you’re unfamiliar, this showcase is a chance for the best prospects across the MiLB to show why they’re the next crop of stars and LSU will be all over these games.

In total, 15 former Tigers made the preliminary rosters to compete for their respective clubs, highlighted by Seattle’s Kade Anderson, Houston’s Ethan Frey, and Boston’s Anthony Eyanson. LSU and Tennessee tied for the most preliminary selections; the final rosters, consisting of 23-27 players, will be announced on March 18.

As it stands right now, here are the 15 former Tigers that made the preliminary rosters.

• Javen Coleman, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays
• Tre’ Morgan, 1B/OF, Tampa Bay Rays
• Thatcher Hurd, RHP, New York Yankees
• Luke Holman, RHP, Cincinatti Reds
• Tommy White, 3B, Athletics
• Gage Jump, LHP, Athletics
• Griffin Herring, LHP, Colorado Rockies
• Daniel Dickinson, 2B, Milwaukee Brewers
• Ethan Frey, OF, Houston Astros
• Chase Shores, RHP, Los Angeles Angels
• Kade Anderson, RHP, Seattle Mariners
• Anthony Eyanson, RHP, Boston Red Sox
• Fidel Ulloa, RHP, Colorado Rockies
• Jacob Mayers, RHP, Boston Red Sox
• Eric Reyzelman, RHP, New York Yankees

The Royals will get ready for their close up on TV tonight, under the bright lights of Surprise Stadium. The big name players are at the World Baseball Classic, so tonight it’s…..Lane Thomas! Brandon Drury! Josh Rojas! All the remaining stars on one stage!

Hey, you can see Cole Ragans and Carter Jensen, that’s not nuthin’.

The Rangers start left-hander Mackenzie Gore, who they acquired from the Nationals this offseason. They have a few starters in the lineup too – Wyatt Langford, Corey Seager. It’s probably too soon to see Andrew McCutchen in a Rangers uniform.

Watch tonight on Royals.TV!