Daily Report – 3/7/25

Greetings,

Here is today’s report and weekend roundup:

Yankees

On Tuesday afternoon, the Yankees beat the Phillies in Clearwater 12-3 thanks to home runs from Spencer Jones, Paul Goldschmidt, and Jasson Domínguez.

Yesterday afternoon, the Yankees fell to the Twins in Tampa 8-4. Gerrit Cole, Luke Weaver, and Fernando Cruz struggled with the long ball, surrendering a combined four home runs.

Next, Brian Cashman met the media in the Yankees dugout yesterday and provided updates on Giancarlo Stanton and Luis Gil.

Stanton received a second round of PRP injections earlier this week in New York, and he will return to Tampa this weekend. He is indefinitely sidelined from engaging in baseball activities, and if his PRP injections don’t heal his dual-elbow tendinitis, then he might have to undergo surgery. That would be the “last resort,” per Brian Cashman.

According to Cashman, Luis Gil is currently in New York for additional testing on his lat strain. He will miss at least three months.

Next, regarding the situation at third base, Cashman said, “Boonie will play with what he’s got.” I assume a trade for a third baseman is still possible, though. DJ LeMahieu was diagnosed with a Grade 1 or 2 calf strain earlier this week, and he will miss baseball activities for two or three weeks.

Finally, left-handed reliever Tyler Matzek is nursing an oblique strain, but he is asymptomatic and may throw again on Monday. Also, Clayton Beeter is recovering from a shoulder injury.

Tonight at 6:35 PM (5:35 PM CST), the Yankees will host Toronto (YES). RHP Marcus Stroman (1-1, 9.82 ERA) will take the mound against RHP Yariel Rodríguez (1-0, 18.00 ERA).

Here is tonight’s starting lineup for the New York Yankees:

1. C Austin Wells

2. RF Aaron Judge (C)

3. CF Cody Bellinger

4. 1B Paul Goldschmidt

5. DH Trent Grisham

6. LF Dominic Smith

7. SS Oswald Peraza

8. 2B Jorbit Vivas

9. 3B Andrew Velazquez

P: RHP Marcus Stroman (1-1, 9.82 ERA)

Available position players:

LHH:

• Jackson Castillo

SH:

• Juan Matheus

• Alexander Vargas

• Tyler Wilson

RHH:

• Cole Gabrielson

• Tyler Hardman

• Alex Jackson

• Garrett Martin

• Hans Montero

• Everson Pereira

• Jesus Rodriguez

Available pitchers:

LHP:

• Ryan Anderson

RHP:

• Michael Arias

• Cole Ayers

• Colten Brewer

• Geoff Hartlieb

• Eric Reyzelman

• Trent Sellers

• Luis Velasquez

• Jordany Ventura

The Yankees will visit the Astros in West Palm Beach tomorrow at 7:05 PM (6:05 PM CST), and on Sunday at 1:05 PM (12:05 PM CST), they will visit the Cardinals in Jupiter (Gotham Sports).

Rangers

Happy NHL Trade Deadline Day! The NHL trade deadline is approaching at 3 PM ET this afternoon, and the Rangers have already made some moves.

Yesterday, the Rangers traded Reilly Smith to Vegas for forward Brendan Brisson and a third-round pick. Brendan Brisson is a 23-year-old forward who has scored two goals and registered six assists in 24 career NHL games. Reilly Smith was acquired from Pittsburgh last offseason to play left wing alongside Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. However, the Rangers have experimented with countless line combinations this season and have decided not to retain Smith. He will return to Vegas and contend for another Stanley Cup.

Late yesterday afternoon, the Rangers traded the third-round pick they received from Vegas to Vancouver in exchange for veteran defenseman Carson Soucy. The 30-year-old defenseman has 10 points this season and ranks second on Vancouver in blocked shots (92) and fifth in hits (86). At 6 feet 5 inches and 208 pounds, Soucy will enhance the Rangers' defensive lineup. He is set to join the Blueshirts in Ottawa tomorrow and could soon replace Ryan Lindgren alongside Adam Fox.

The Rangers lost to Washington in overtime on Wednesday, with a final score of 3-2. Despite the loss, I commend them for their strong defensive play, which secured them a point in the standings. They struggled in the third period, allowing Ovechkin to score his 885th career goal on the power play, but they had an opportunity to win in overtime. However, they failed to shoot the puck after winning the opening faceoff.

“I think we played well,” said Mika Zibanejad. “There are a lot of things we did right. […] We’ll take the point and move on.” The Rangers have struggled with giving up early goals, with 12 goals allowed in the first two minutes of games, which leads the NHL.

Last year, the Rangers won the President’s Trophy and swept Washington in the first round of the playoffs. This year, if they qualify for the playoffs, they will likely face the now top-seeded Capitals. The dynamics have shifted.

Interestingly, Charlie Lindgren, Ryan Lindgren’s brother, tended his team’s net with a chip on his shoulder on Wednesday after the Rangers traded his brother to Colorado. Another intriguing moment occurred when notorious Rangers antagonist Tom Wilson spoke with Matt Rempe during warmups, advising him, “Don’t hit [Ovechkin]! Don’t do that to Ovie! Don’t hit Ovie,” to which Rempe replied that he would hit anyone he wanted. In the second period, John Carlson slammed Brennan Othmann into the boards, and young Ranger Juuso Parssinen responded by fighting the 35-year-old defenseman. The Rangers jumped from the bench to congratulate Parssinen as he stepped into the penalty box.

I also want to highlight Zac Jones’s strong performance lately, particularly on the power play. Whenever he’s had a chance to play this season, he has proven to be a dynamic defenseman with offensive skills. Although he hasn’t directly contributed to a power-play goal during Adam Fox’s recent injury absence, he has created numerous scoring opportunities for his teammates, especially on Wednesday. Midway through the first period, Jones intercepted a pass in the low slot ahead of Igor Shesterkin and passed it to Alexis Lafrenière. Lafrenière then rushed up the ice, crossed the blue line, and dropped the puck back for Jones at the right point, who took a wrist shot from above the right circle that Artemi Panarin tipped into the net. Jones also recorded the Rangers’ only shot on goal in overtime.

Finally, the Rangers extended defenseman Urho Vaakaneinen this afternoon for two years at $1.55 million AAV.

Tomorrow at 12:30 PM (11:30 AM CST), the Rangers will visit Ottawa (MSG). The Rangers, to an extent, get to dictate their fate in this game because they are tied with Ottawa for the third Eastern Conference Wild Card spot (67 points). Then, on Sunday at 6 PM (5 PM CST), the Rangers will host the Columbus Blue Jackets, who sit just one point ahead of them in the Eastern Conference standings.

Knicks

Everybody, breathe! Jalen Brunson is NOT out for the season. He only sprained his ankle.

The Knicks led the Lakers by 13 points last night, but Los Angeles came back to tie the game. With just a few seconds left in regulation, Josh Hart had a chance to win the game for the Knicks, but he got tangled up while driving to the net, so he released his shot too late.

In overtime, Jalen Brunson scored eight points for the Knicks before he got tangled with his friend Austin Reeves midair and landed with his right ankle turned 90 degrees. It was scary to witness. It was a nightmare in the making. But then Brunson made two free throws before heading to the locker room.

Sources claimed last night that Brunson’s injury is just an ankle sprain. Hopefully it will heal soon.

The Knicks will visit the Clippers tonight at 10:30 PM (9:30 PM CST). Hopefully they can overcome this massive offensive blow, but players like Deuce McBride and Cameron Payne will have to step up tonight.

Mikal Bridges has not been as strong defensively as I had hoped before this season, but with Brunson out, he needs to be more consistent. He needs to adjust his shooting arsenal because the game has found his fadeaway jump shot.

Brunson’s injury is an opportunity for other players to find their game offensively. That’s the bright side.

And now, here is your weekend roundup:

Schedule:

Tonight 3/7:

• 6:35 PM (5:35 PM CST): 2025 Spring Training – NYY vs. TOR; YES; SP: RHP Marcus Stroman (1-1, 9.82 ERA)

• 10:30 PM (9:30 PM CST): NYK at LAC; MSG

Saturday 3/8:

• 12:30 PM (11:30 AM CST): NYR at OTT; MSG

• 7:05 PM (6:05 PM CST): 2025 Spring Training – NYY at HOU; TBD

Sunday 3/9:

• 2:05 PM (1:05 PM CST): NYY at STL; Gotham Sports

• 6:00 PM (5:00 PM CST): NYR vs. CBJ; MSG

That will conclude this report. Have a good weekend!