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Episode 53 of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast is officially live! With Opening Day just around the corner, Brett and I talk about the starting rotation and how each pitcher has looked this last week of camp (heavy focus on Jameson Taillon, as you can imagine). After that, we talk about the end of the WBC and the invaluable experience Daniel Palencia gained by closing down Team USA in the championship. After that, Brett gets one step closer to my secret phone contact. You can listen to episode 54 anywhere you get your podcasts, including Apple and Spotify, but I’ve also embedded the YouTube recording right here for your convenience! Enjoy! And once again, thanks to Ankin Law for sponsoring the BN Cubs podcast, making it possible! Oh, and please don’t miss our Cubs Podcast page right here on Bleacher Nation. BN Cubs Podcast Ep. 54

With all the mealymouthing and caveating in February and March, you can tell how rare it is for something to happen in a Spring Training game that is (1) surprising, and (2) actually meaningful. I guess I am still going to hedge a bit and say that the following is not NECESSARILY DEFINITELY meaningful, but I think you’ll agree with me that it’s at least eyebrow-raising. Yesterday, in a game started by Edward Cabrera, which featured five single-inning relief appearances, one of those relievers was Ben Brown. Brown, who has been starting quite successfully all spring, threw just 24 pitches while getting four groundballs and two strikeouts, and that was it for his appearance. The Cubs have hinted – actually, outright said – all along that Ben Brown would be stretched out this spring, and mostly he was, with the assumption being that he would head to Iowa to keep on starting if he weren’t going to be in the MLB rotation. So why the sudden switch to a one-inning appearance? A handful of possibilities come to mind: Maybe it was just something idiosyncratic with his schedule, and he either threw more on the side thereafter or threw before or it was an intentionally limited day. In other words, it was just a big nothing, and he’s still being stretched out. Buuuuut, it sure looked like a planned, real relief appearance, given that it was 24 pitches in a single inning, taking place in a game amidst other one-inning relievers, and featuring some of the only elevated velocity on a day when most other pitchers’ velo was down because of the extreme heat. Maybe it was a physical issue, and Brown was going to throw several innings but had to cut it short. Yeah, maybe, but typically you’d see a guy in that situation following the previous starter right away, piggy-back style, not coming after a couple other relievers. Then again, maybe because Cabrera’s day was only three innings due to long innings, Brown was not warming up in advance of Cabrera’s departure? He may have been expected to take over in the 6th inning all along. I still say this seems unlikely given the bullpen usage throughout the game (including two non-roster relievers following Brown and clearly expected to pitch that day (Corbin Martin was one of them, and I don’t see any way he was just held in reserve in case of injury)), and his elevated velocity in a one-inning burst. Obviously I hope an injury isn’t the explanation, but nothing in the circumstances suggest it. Maybe the Cubs were just picking a week to save some bullets for Brown, having seen how good he looks this spring. In that scenario, he’ll still be starting in the minors, but it’s possible his outings will be a little shorter than typical starts (three or four innings). That isn’t entirely uncommon early in the year for younger pitchers who may be needed more as the year goes on. I’m not sure doing just a one-inning spring appearance would be the way to start this process, but I suppose it’s possible. And then there is the big maybe: maybe Ben Brown is being converted to relief right now, in anticipation of being used in the big league bullpen sooner rather than later. We’ve always known that was a possibility for him, but it would nevertheless be a big surprise right now, given the emergence of his sinker as a true third pitch. It’s still valuable to have three pitches even for a reliever, of course, but Brown’s most valuable upside – if he can reach it – is inarguably as a starting pitcher. So we’ll see if this was something, or nothing. I expect we’ll find out via interviews soon enough, if not by the next time Brown appears. Tentatively, I get the allure of having Brown available out of the bullpen from the jump, given that he might be one of the best 13 pitchers available. So, you use him out of the bullpen right away, because there isn’t a rotation spot for him. Then, if innings open up, you just try to stretch him out on the fly – and, in the meantime, maybe you got some high-quality relief innings out of him at the level where it actually matters. The flip side, of course, is that if Brown is really close to getting that sinker locked in as part of a starter’s deployment (you use pitches differently when aiming for five+ innings, rather than just one), I’m a little leery about disrupting that whole process just to get, what, 10 or 15 good relief innings out of him in April and May? I’m not sure it wouldn’t just be more valuable to have him keep starting at Iowa.

Dillon Thieneman continues to be a name to watch as a possible Chicago Bears first-round target in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Bears are a team with plenty of needs, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. And while plucking a defensive lineman might be the ideal move in the eyes of fans, the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs has the team going in a different direction in his first mock draft. Instead of taking a defensive tackle (such as Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald or Clemson’s Peter Woods) or a defensive end (Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell), Biggs sends Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman to the Bears. Here is his explanation: Edge rusher looms as the greatest need, and Zion Young would be a really interesting fit for defensive coordinator Dennis Allen if he’s available. If not, Thieneman is very intriguing if available as the Bears would have a dynamic young player to pair with Coby Bryant. This isn’t the first time Dillon Thieneman has been on our radar as a possible Bears target in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. Back in January, long-time NFL Draft insider Daniel Jeremiah pegged Thieneman to go to Chicago in his first mock draft. The initial reaction to that post from a vocal segment of Bears fans wasn’t too positive. But the conversation around the Oregon prospect seemed to change when he performed well at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. With that in mind, I will be curious to see the feedback on Biggs’ mock draft. I also find it interesting that Biggs name-checked Zion Young. The Mizzou edge rusher prospect was Chicago’s selection in the most recent Mel Kiper Jr. ESPN mock draft exercise. Seeing multiple insiders come up with the same names is useful information as we try to build out an accurate target list for the Bears based on what reporters in the trenches have to say. Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman. © Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Bears Could Target Dillon Thieneman in 2026 NFL Draft — But What If They Don’t? Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman was a standout performer at the NFL Scouting Combine. But is he a fit for the Bears’ defense? On the surface, yes. Because even after signing Coby Bryant to a multi-year deal early in free agency, Chicago’s football team still needs to find a starting safety to pair with their newcomer. What better way to balance the books than by teaming a high-priced free-agent addition with a draft pick on a rookie-scale contract? That just makes sense. However, safety is not the only need the Bears need to fill on their roster. With that being said, Brad Biggs seems confident that Chicago will focus its energy on defense in the upcoming draft. He said as much in a recent radio hit on 104.3 The Score: .@BradBiggs is "pretty confident" the Bears will use their 1st-round pick on a defensive player.And he shares the fact that the Bears haven't used a 1st-round pick on the defensive side of the ball since taking Roquan Smith at No. 8 overall in 2018. pic.twitter.com/uG3xpzaCWO— 104.3 The Score (@thescorechicago) March 18, 2026 More from Biggs: “I feel pretty confident that’s gonna be a pick that is made on the defensive side of the ball. Some people wondered about left tackle. I don’t think that’s going to happen. The Bears haven’t used a first-round draft pick on a defensive player since Roquan Smith was taken at No. 8 in 2018. And in the last two drafts, the top three picks were offensive players.” That is an astute observation by Biggs to point out that Roquan was the last defensive player the Bears drafted in Round 1. And that pick was made by a different general manager (Ryan Pace) and was a top-10 selection. To go deeper into Bears draft lore, the team hasn’t used a first-round pick on a defensive back since 1996, when it used the 13th overall selection on Mississippi State cornerback Walt Harris. And because you are probably curious, Chicago hasn’t used a first-round pick on a safety since taking USC’s Mark Carrier sixth overall in 1990. It should go without saying, but the NFL has evolved a ton since those picks were made in the 90s. All things considered, taking Dillon Thieneman would be OK with me. It would not register as my favorite pick, but it is one that would make sense. A first-team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten performer in 2025, Thieneman was also the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Year, a second-team All-Big Ten player, and a third-team All-American in 2023. That is quite the résumé for a defensive back whose career started at Purdue in 2023. I will continue monitoring Dillon Thieneman (and other potential Bears draft targets) as the spring rolls along. Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images THE BN BEARS PODCAST: Apple | Spotify | YouTube

You can claim a theScore Bet promo code for a $1K offer as a new user. Let’s break down the offer that you can claim for games like North Carolina vs VCU today. Claim theScore Bet Promo Code New users can claim theScore Bet promo code today. Here is how to claim. You can see more terms and details for this offer at the bottom of this post. Sign up using the promo code BNEWS. Make a deposit. Add a bet to your slip. Add a stake of up to $1,000. If you lose, you will get the money back as bonus bets. New to betting? See our guides What is a $1K Bet Reset? A $1,000 bet reset is just a fancy way of saying your first bet is protected if you lose. Make your first wager up to $1,000. If you lose, you will receive bonus bets from theScore Bet to cover it. If you win, you will receive a payout based on the odds of your wager. Does This Offer Including College Basketball? Yes, this promo code offer includes college basketball games. You can wager on any game or sport, including tournament action. Bet on Games Like 11 VCU vs 6 North Carolina If you are looking for interesting matchups, 6 North Carolina takes on 11 VCU at 6:50 pm ET. North Carolina is a -2.5 spread favorite. VCU is getting a lot of buzz as a potential upset pick because North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson is out with a thumb injury. Wilson was scoring 19.8 points per game this season until he was injured in mid-February. Check out the odds below. MatchupSpreadTotalMLVCU+2.5 (-110)O 150.5 (-110)+120UNC-2.5 (-110)U 150.5 (-110)-140 North Carolina has covered its last 3 games and has covered 4 of its last 5. On the season, UNC is 19-13 ATS while VCU is 17-17. More Betting Markets on theScore Bet There are all sorts of betting markets available on theScore Bet. Check out some of the popular bets you will see on the site as you decide which bet to place first. Moneylines Spreads Totals Props Futures Live Betting More theScore Bet Promo Details Take a look at a few of the important details for this promo code from theScore Bet Sportsbook. $1K OfferTermsPromo:$1,000 First Bet ResetMax Bet:$1,000Min. Deposit:$10Age:21+States:AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MO, NC, OH, TN, VA Making Your First Deposit To get started, you will have to make a deposit. There are options like Apple Pay, Visa, and PayPal available. Take a look below at which options you can use to add money to your account. Take a look at the withdrawal options too. MethodDepositWithdrawalApple PayYesNoCheckNoYesDebit CardYesNoDiscvoerYesNoe-CheckYesYesMastercardYesNoPayPalYesYesPlay+YesYesTrustlyYesYesVisaYesNo New users only, 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Must be physically present in AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MO, NC, OH, TN, and VA in order to wager. Players must sign up using a specified Promotion code and then place an Eligible Wager on an Eligible Game during the Promotion Period. Please Gamble Responsibly. Responsible Gaming Resources

Cade Cunningham, the engine behind the top-seeded Detroit Pistons and one of the brightest stars in the league today, suffered an injury so gruesome that there isn’t even a timeline for his return. The 2025–26 NBA season has been filled with injuries, it almost feels like every NBA All-Star has missed significant time for one unfortunate reason or another. The hope has been that, by the time the playoffs arrive, every team would be healthy and every superstar would have the best possible chance to compete for a title. © David Reginek-Imagn Images What Injury did Cade Cunningham Get Diagnosed With? According to the Detroit Pistons, Cade Cunningham has been diagnosed with a left lung pneumothorax — essentially, a collapsed lung — and will be re-evaluated in two weeks. He suffered the injury during a game against the Washington Wizards while diving for a loose ball, when Tre Johnson fell on his back. Cunningham left the game just 5:20 in and did not return. This was the incident that led to Cade Cunningham’s collapsed lung. Wishing him a speedy recovery ❤️‍🩹 pic.twitter.com/eeejbN8C9B https://t.co/cO0j5RC0Ng— NBA Fantasy Bible (@NBAFantasyBible) March 19, 2026 The Pistons still went on to win that game and remain the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 49–19 record, the third best in the entire league. Cade had already missed seven games earlier this season, all against lottery or play-in teams, and Detroit went 5–2 in his absence. From now until the end of the regular season, the Pistons face only a handful of playoff teams, so their record may not take a significant hit without him. However, there’s no guarantee Cunningham will be available by the start of the NBA playoffs. Based on comparable cases, he could miss as much as the first round before being medically cleared to return. According to Kevin O’Connor, averaging the recovery timelines from the last five instances of this injury suggests Cunningham could miss at least 11 of the Pistons’ final 14 games. CJ McCollum dealt with this injury twice—once in 2023 and again in 2021—missing 12 games over 3.5 weeks and 18 games over six weeks, respectively. Other players, like Terrence Jones in 2015 (six games over two weeks) and Gerald Wallace in 2009 (seven games over three weeks), have also faced similar recoveries. @ Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images What Does this Mean for Cade and the Detroit Pistons? The biggest topic of discussion surrounding this unfortunate injury is Cade Cunningham’s All-NBA and MVP case. The NBA has a rule that requires players to appear in at least 65 of the 82 regular-season games to be eligible for All-NBA honors and major awards. Cade Cunningham has played 61 games so far, just four short of that threshold. But given the timeline of this injury, there’s a real chance he won’t reach the requirement, which would make him ineligible for accolades he very clearly deserves. The 65-game rule was introduced to curb load management, but this season has shown the other side of it. Players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, and LeBron James are already out of the running after falling short of the requirement. Meanwhile, Nikola Jokić, Deni Avdija, and Luka Dončić are right on the edge, any missed time could push them below the cutoff. In a worst-case scenario, several of the league’s best players could miss out, leaving the All-NBA teams looking weaker, and arguably less representative, because of this rule. And Cade Cunningham, the best player on the top team in the East, could be left out of what is a very real MVP case. For the Detroit Pistons, heading into the first round of the playoffs without their best player, the engine of their offense and one of the league’s best shot-blocking guards, could significantly raise the chances of a first-round upset. Their guard depth isn’t particularly strong, and without Cade, their entire offensive identity shifts. Prayers up for Cade Cunningham.