Virat Kohli stopped short of saying that the contentious umpire's call rule should be scrapped from the game, but did call for a relook at the rule because it creates "a lot of confusion". The final decision on the matter lies with the ICC's cricket committee, which recently deliberated on the matter, and has submitted its recommendations to the global body.

According to Kohli, there should not be any debates on what percentage of the stumps the ball is hitting when a decision is reviewed.

"Look, I have played a long time when then there was no DRS, right? If the umpire made a decision, whether the batsman liked it or not, it stayed like that; vice-versa if the umpire gave him not out and it was out it stayed like that whether it was marginal or not," Kohli said on Monday at a media briefing in Pune ahead of the fist ODI against England. "According to me, umpire's call right now is creating a lot of confusion. When you get bowled, as a batsman you don't expect the ball to hit more than 50% of the stumps to consider yourself bowled. So when the ball is shown as clipping the stumps, the bails are going to fall.

"So, from basic cricket common sense, I don't think that there should be any debates on that. If the ball is clipping the stumps, it should be out - whether you like it or not you lose the review. And that is how simple the game has to be: if it hits the stumps or it misses the stumps, it doesn't matter how much it is hitting and those kind of things. Because it is creating a lot of confusion."

The umpire's call is used in cases of the ball's impact with pad and then the stumps, reliant on ball-tracking technology and as a concept is rooted, essentially, in the on-field umpire's original decision retaining the benefit of doubt.

According to the current ICC protocols, for "a Not Out decision to be overturned more than half the ball now has to be impacting the pad within a zone bordered by the outside of off and leg stumps (formerly the centre of off and leg stumps), and the ball needs to be hitting the stumps within a zone bordered by the outside of off and leg stumps and the bottom of the bails (formerly the centre of off and leg stumps, and the bottom of the bails)".

Ever since the ICC introduced the umpire's call, a DRS tool that has been updated gradually, it has remained a tetchy topic and divided the cricketing fraternity. Recently the MCC said some members on its World Cricket Committee, comprising former international captains and match officials, echoed the exact sentiment expressed by Kohli, saying the umpire's call was "confusing to the watching public, particularly when the same ball could either be Out or Not out depending on the on-field umpire's original decision".

'Soft signal, another grey area'

Kohli remained unconvinced about another hotly debated decision-making tool, the soft signal, which he said along with the umpire's call was a "serious" issue the game's lawmakers needed to tackle.

The debate over the validity of an on-field umpire making a soft signal for a low catch in the outfield was reignited last week after Suryakumar Yadav was caught by Dawid Malan in the deep in the fourth T20I of the India vs England series.

KN Ananthapadmanabhan, the on-field umpire, gave the soft signal as out even as Virender Sharma, the TV umpire, remained unconvinced. Although the rulebook gives the TV umpire the authority to overrule the soft signal, Sharma upheld his on-field colleague's decision.

After the match Kohli reacted strongly, saying he failed to understand why there was no "I don't know" option the on-field umpire could use for cases where the evidence was not conclusive.

On Monday Kohli felt controversial dismissals like Yadav's also had the potential to trigger the spirit of cricket argument. "One more factor that needs to be considered is how the fielding team responds to a dismissal that is claimed is also somewhere you know defining soft signal as well," he said. "Again, you have to question what the spirit of the game is and what those guidelines are. Because if things like that happen with the Indian cricket team overseas, then you are talking about a totally different conversation about spirit of the game, and so on and so forth.

"Look, it is a serious, serious thing that needs to be considered because there is a lot at stake in future, there are big tournaments. And you don't want some grey areas factors of the game which leave you with no clarity to be the defining factors of those big tournaments and big games."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

Eoin Morgan says his eyes are set firmly on the bigger picture after England's 3-2 series defeat in the T20Is against India, with the opportunity to develop consistency and grow his team's pool of available players being his primary motivation going into the three-match ODI leg of the tour in Pune on Tuesday.

Despite their crowning glory at Lord's in 2019, Morgan acknowledged that England's record in ODIs since the World Cup final has been "average", but insists that this week's series is not merely a "consolation prize" for the tourists after their losses in both the T20Is and the Tests that preceded it.

In September, Australia condemned Morgan's 50-over team to their first bilateral series loss since their last tour of India in 2016-17, and in August, Ireland chased a record 329 to seal a memorable seven-wicket win at the Ageas Bowl. In all, England have won four and lost four of their completed ODIs since 2019, and had their most recent series, in South Africa before Christmas, cancelled without a ball being bowled.

In mitigation, England have not been able to call upon their first-choice XI in ODIs since the World Cup, with the constraints of Covid on the one hand and the prioritisation of the forthcoming T20 World Cup on the other leaving the 50-over team as more of a developmental squad. Ben Stokes, for example, has not featured in an ODI since his Player-of-the-Match performance in the World Cup final.

This week's squad will be weakened by the absence of Jofra Archer, whose troublesome right elbow is undergoing further treatment, while neither Joe Root nor Chris Woakes - two other integral members of the World Cup-winning XI - are currently involved in the 50-over squad due to the ECB's rest-and-rotation policy.

And as consequence, Morgan called on the fringe members of his squad, in particular, to embrace the learning opportunities in "alien conditions", both to push their names forward for the T20 World Cup in October, but also for England's long-term goal of defending the 50-over crown in India in 2023.

"We'll see guys given opportunities, more so than the T20 series," Morgan said. "It's going to be exciting, three games at the same ground against a very strong Indian side is a huge opportunity for everyone to get back out there, in the frame of mind and the pace of 50-over cricket, and for guys who want to make their case in both formats.

"With a World Cup around the corner, playing any cricket is a huge opportunity for guys who have been here on the fringes and not made selection so far. When you score runs or take wickets away from home, there is always a huge incentive to try and push your case forward."

The one player in England's set-up with the most to prove in the coming days is arguably Moeen Ali. He sat out the entire T20I series, despite having missed the final two Tests last month to prepare for the white-ball campaign, and has taken a solitary wicket in ODI appearances since losing his place in the starting XI during the 2019 World Cup.

Though Morgan was unable to confirm whether he would be a guaranteed starter in Tuesday's first match, he insisted that Moeen remains an integral member of England's white-ball set-up, and that the set-backs that he has endured this winter - including a positive Covid diagnosis in January that undermined his comeback to the Test team in Sri Lanka - had not reduced his importance to the team.

"He takes them in his stride," Morgan said. "The little period Mo spent at home before this series has done him the world of good. He has come back refreshed and with plenty of energy. He is a very relaxed guy who always has a reasonable perspective on life and sport and the role that it plays within society. So he is travelling really well.

"Anybody who is an all-rounder and makes the squad is extremely valuable to our side," he added. "I know he has not played but that's been circumstantial. The pitches we played on just haven't turned and that obviously limits the contribution a finger-spinner might make in the game."

Reece Topley, who made his ODI comeback against Ireland last summer, is another player who may be able to advance his case for October, having also been a non-playing member of the T20 squad this week, while Liam Livingstone - with his versatility as a spin-bowling allrounder - could come into contention for a middle-order berth, four years after his last England appearances.

"We see the 50-over format between the two T20 World Cups as a building block for our squad," Morgan said. "And that's not compromising performance at all. We feel we have an extremely strong squad outside of our final XI regardless of format, so it will present opportunities for guys like that.

"Trying to envisage where 50-over cricket will be in three years 'time is quite difficult," he added, of the challenge of planning ahead to 2023. "So the challenge for us is always trying to explore and push the limits as much as we can, given the conditions.

"In conditions that are a little bit alien to us, like India, it's nice to get out of your comfort zone and learn more about your team and your players, to make mistakes and learn from them."

Reflecting on the disappointing end to England's T20I campaign - in which India overturned a 2-1 deficit with back-to-back victories in the final two games - Morgan said that the experience had still been invaluable for his side's development, and that the urge to avenge that loss was not really a motivation for his team in the coming days.

"Even though we didn't pick up the trophy, we learned a huge amount," Morgan said. "It has been an extremely productive tour so far in white-ball cricket, the biggest picture always being the World Cup in both white-ball formats. You don't always have to win every series in order to win a World Cup. You continuously need to get better, need to be tested as a side, need to fail in order to learn. That involves losing, which isn't fun but it is part of the journey."

Big picture

In the year of the T20 World Cup and the inaugural World Test Championship final, most bilateral ODI series are expected to fly under the radar and this India-England series is no different. After being close to their full-strength in the T20I leg of the India tour, England will be without three of their 2019 World Cup heroes - Joe Root (rested), Jofra Archer (injured) and Chris Woakes (rested) - for the three-ODI series. It's not an entirely context-free series, though, with World Cup Super League points up for grabs.

This is a chance for England to take their first steps towards prepping for their 50-over World Cup defence in 2023 in India and test out the likes of Moeen Ali, Sam Billings, Liam Livingstone and Reece Topley, who didn't feature in the T20I series at all. In the absence of Root, their second-highest scorer behind Eoin Morgan in ODIs, England need to choose between Ali, Billings, Livingstone and Ben Stokes for the No. 3 spot.

Livingstone, who is uncapped in ODI cricket, looks a decent bet, having opened for Lancashire and more recently for the Perth Scorchers in their run to the Big Bash League final. But then again, England could bump Stokes up to No. 3 and slip in Billings as a finisher, something that Dinesh Karthik suggested on Sky Sports during the T20I series.

Matt Parkinson, Livingston's Lancashire team-mate, has been in England's bubble since January for the subcontinent tour of Sri Lanka and India, but hasn't got a game yet. Sure, Parkinson is a legspinner who doesn't have too many attacking variations like Adil Rashid, but is he good enough to be England's second spinner?

Likewise, Kuldeep Yadav has got very limited game-time since the last IPL in the UAE - eight matches to be precise, including a tour game in Sydney. Yadav hasn't played together with fellow wristspinner Yuzvendra Chahal since Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow picked them apart when England and India last met in this format, in that World Cup match at Edgbaston.

Since then, MS Dhoni has retired from international cricket and Kedar Jadhav has been axed from the set-up. The absence of a Jadhav-like player - a batsman who can pitch in with the ball - proved a thorny issue for India in Australia. The selectors and the team management have addressed it by bringing Washington Sundar and Krunal Pandya back into the mix. Hardik Pandya bowled short, sharp spells in the T20Is, but India may manage him more carefully as far as the longer formats are concerned in a T20 World Cup year.

Suryakumar Yadav, who made stellar contributions with the bat in the T20Is and impressed Virat Kohli with his "X-factor", could be the latest entrant in India's middle-order roulette in ODI cricket.

Form guide

Completed matches, most recent first

India: WLLLL
England: LWLLW

In the spotlight

T Natarajan's ability to nail yorkers, often on demand, makes him a compelling white-ball prospect, but this ODI series and the following IPL will be a test of his fitness more than anything else. Having emerged from a tennis-ball background, Natarajan hadn't played as much with the cricket ball on the bounce as he did in 2020-21. R Ashwin revealed on his YouTube channel that the left-arm seamer had a tibia issue on his knee during the Australia tour and has since returned to the side after undergoing rehab at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.

Sam Curran batted as low as No. 9 in the T20I series decider, with Morgan putting it down to a tactical move to perhaps break up the bevy of left-handers in the England line-up. On the whole, Sam Curran was under-utilised by Morgan - both with ball and ball. He got to bat in two other innings, scoring 3 and 6* from No. 7, and got to bowl just ten overs in five outings. In the absence of Archer and Woakes, Sam - or his elder brother Tom Curran - could potentially be given greater responsibility in the ODIs.

Team news

In the deciding T20I on Sunday, India left KL Rahul out to "bring in a good balance with bat and ball". He could miss out again if they lean towards a sixth bowling option for the ODI series opener. Kohli has also confirmed that Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan would start the ODI series as openers. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is set to lead the seam attack in what will be his fourth ODI since the 2019 World Cup.

India (possible): 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 Rishabh Pant (wk), 6 KL Rahul/Krunal Pandya/Washington Sundar, 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9 Shardul Thakur, 10 Yuzvendra Chahal/Kuldeep Yadav, 11 T Natarajan

Morgan hasn't guaranteed a return for Ali and if he doesn't make the cut, Livingstone may make his ODI debut on Tuesday. Billings, who has excelled in his role as a finisher since his return to the ODI team in 2020, is likely to play his first match of the tour.

England (possible): 1 Jason Roy, 2 Jonny Bairstow, 3 Ben Stokes, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Jos Buttler (wk), 6 Sam Billings, 7 Moeen Ali/Liam Livingstone, 8 Sam Curran/Tom Curran, 9 Adil Rashid, 10 Reece Topley, 11 Mark Wood

Pitch and conditions

The MCA Stadium in Pune has traditionally rolled out pitches that favour batsmen. The venue has hosted only four ODIs so far, with 300 having been breached thrice. The last time England faced India in Pune, Jadhav and Kohli cracked centuries to hunt down 351 in January 2017. The weather is expected to be fine for the duration of the match. All three ODIs will be played behind closed doors.

Stats and trivia

• Stokes is set to play his first ODI since the 2019 World Cup.
• Both India and England come into this series on the back of 2-1 ODI series defeats at the hands of Australia.
• Among teams that have played at least ten ODIs since the last World Cup, India have the poorest record in the powerplay with the ball: six wickets at an average of an average of 144.16 and economy rate of 5.76. During this period, England's bowlers have taken 17 wickets in the powerplay at an average of just under 23 in nine games.
• Since 2010, India have lost only three bilateral ODI series at home. They had suffered defeats to Pakistan in 2012, South Africa in 2015 and more recently to Australia in 2019.

Quotes

"Even though we didn't pick up the trophy, we learned a huge amount. It has been an extremely productive tour so far in white-ball cricket. The biggest picture always being the World Cup in both white-ball formats. You don't always have to win every series in order to win a World Cup. You continuously need to get better, need to be tested as a side, need to fail in order to learn. That involves losing, which isn't fun, but it is part of the journey."
Eoin Morgan embraces defeats in preparation for twin World Cups in India

Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan will start as openers for India in the upcoming ODIs against England, captain Virat Kohli has confirmed. After all the talk around India's opening combinations during the recent T20I series, Kohli said there were no "issues or doubts" about Sharma and Dhawan opening in ODIs, and that they had been "amazing" in the past few years.

"There are a couple of things that internally we have discussed that we're going to keep an eye on," Kohli said during a press conference on the eve of the ODI opener. "As far as the opening combination is concerned, yeah, Shikhar and Rohit will definitely start; when it comes to one-day cricket I don't think there's any issues or doubts over Rohit or Shikhar opening together. They have been amazing for us for the past few years. Yeah, so we'll start with that and other factors… it will be interesting because there are a few younger players who are getting an opportunity in the one-day set-up for the first time, so I am really keen to see how they go about executing their skills against a very, very strong England side."

Dhawan had opened in all three games the last time India played ODIs - in Australia - and averaged 40 with scores of 74, 30 and 16. He then played the domestic T20s and one-day tournament in India for Delhi, and even though he registered a string of low scores of 0, 0, 6 and 0 across the two formats, he ended the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy with a knock of 153 off 118 balls, followed by a 50-ball 44.

"We are going to back our players and try and give them a good mental space."

Kohli on KL Rahul's ongoing lean patch

Over the last three years, the Sharma-Dhawan opening combination has been the third-most prolific in the world with a tally of 1479 runs, only behind Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy at the top (1831) and Aaron Finch and David Warner second (1512).

The India squad for the ODIs also saw the return of Rishabh Pant, who had been left out of the Australia ODIs, and maiden call-ups for Suryakumar Yadav and Krunal Pandya. With a packed middle order comprising other options in Shreyas Iyer and Hardik Pandya, and Pant roaring back to form in recent times, it again raises the question whether or not an out-of-form KL Rahul will get a place in the XI. What may not work in his favour are his recent scores of 14, 0, 0 and 1 while opening in the T20Is against England and that he had crossed 15 only once - with a 76 in the second ODI in Sydney - while batting at No. 5 in the three ODIs in Australia. Kohli did not confirm if Rahul would get to start in the XI or not, but said the management would back such players and give them a good mental space.

"When an individual is going through a tough phase - it's not like he forgets how to play, it's just that mental clarity isn't as good at the time - at that time if you know what things are being said and you're being told you're out of form, then you're bringing in another external factor into your system," Kohli said of Rahul's ongoing lean patch. "It's a simple game: you have to watch the ball and react and hit the ball. You have to be in the moment and all this outside talk, to be very honest, is completely nonsense.

"From the first to the last day of my career, all this outside talk has been nonsense to me. Who says what and why about a player, what's the motive behind it, what's the thinking behind it, it's better that all that remains outside because we're not going to let it enter our system even in the future. We are going to back our players and try and give them a good mental space."

In a year that's largely being used by teams to fine-tune their line-ups for the T20 World Cup in India later this year, India and England will now play three ODIs on March 23, 26 and 28 in Pune before the required players from both squads move to the IPL bubble for the tournament that will be played from April 9 to May 30.

India will then travel to England for the World Test Championship final against New Zealand from June 18 to 22 in Southampton before their five-Test series against England from august 4 to September 10. Kohli said while "scheduling is something that's not in our control," the players "need to be spoken to and consulted with all around" to strike a balance between scheduling and workload management, especially because of the recent restrictions the Covid-19 pandemic has brought with it and the mental toll it takes on players who move from one bubble to another.

"Along the way, scheduling and workload is something everyone will have to be very aware of and keep an eye out for, especially in today's day and age where you just don't know where restrictions might come in," he said. "Even in the future, you might have to continue to play in bubbles. I think it's very important to consider how much cricket you are playing and it's not just the physical side of things but mental side of things as well.

"The players need to be spoken to and consulted with all around. Otherwise it will be a case of whoever can last through the difficult times like these… players, if not, move away and someone else replaces that player. I don't think that's healthy for a cricket system and a cricket culture moving forward which we definitely want to make stronger and stronger going into the future for India."

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, whose team went on a free-agent binge that broke the NFL record for most guaranteed money spent on signings, described the aggressive approach as strategic.

"It's like investing in the stock market," Kraft said, according to the "Football Morning In America" column. "You take advantage of corrections and inefficiencies in the market when you can, and that's what we did here. We'll see. Nothing is guaranteed, and I'm very cognizant of that. But we're not in the business to be in business. We're in this business to win."

Kraft purchased the Patriots in 1994 for $172 million. In signing 19 free agents, some of whom played on the Patriots last year, he doled out about $162.5 million in guaranteed money (a number that will grow as details of a few more deals become known).

The richest deals, in terms of guaranteed money, were given to former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Matthew Judon ($32 million), former Tennessee Titans tight end Jonnu Smith ($31.25 million) and former Los Angeles Chargers tight end Hunter Henry ($25 million).

Kraft said: "In my 27 years as owner, I've never had to come up with so much capital before."

Kraft explained that the Patriots' abundant salary-cap space set the stage for the spending. Also, "instead of having 10 or 12 teams competing for most of the top players, there were only two or three" -- a result of the NFL's salary cap having dropped from $198.2 million to $182.5 million due to the pandemic.

On Friday, coach Bill Belichick had said in a statement: "We are excited about the additions to our roster so far this year. Whether by trade, free agency or re-signings, the group brings a good mix of offense, defense and special teams. It was great to see them in the building, including some familiar faces, and we are all looking forward to continue building toward the upcoming season."

The Patriots, playing without quarterback Tom Brady for the first time in two decades, went 7-9 last season and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

Speaking with Sports Illustrated, Kraft shared his first public thoughts on Brady winning the Super Bowl with the Buccaneers.

"Well, I was really happy for him," Kraft told SI. "He's a great guy and he gave us 20 wonderful years, and he made the choice to do what he wanted to do. Look, I wasn't that happy to see him leave, but we gave him that opportunity to do it. And I want to say if we're not going to win, and someone's got to do it, I'm happy for him. He deserves it."

LeBron James' high ankle sprain -- combined with Anthony Davis' continued right leg issues -- has a massive impact on the Western Conference playoff picture. What does it mean for our NBA Power Rankings moving forward?

Add the fact that the NBA-best Utah Jazz are showing signs of a midseason funk, the race for the No. 1 in the West is wide open.

In the Eastern Conference, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the streaking Milwaukee Bucks have rediscovered the formula that has led to back-to-back regular-season crowns. Milwaukee now sits just two games behind the Philadelphia 76ers for the East lead behind six straight wins, but the Bucks aren't the biggest story in the conference right now.

The Atlanta Hawks are winners of eight straight, including a victory Saturday over the Lakers in the game LeBron exited early. Can Trae Young & Co. hold on to a top-four seed?

Here's where our panel sees all 30 teams right now.

Note: Throughout the regular season, our panel (ESPN's Tim Bontemps, Nick Friedell, Andrew Lopez, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin, Eric Woodyard, Royce Young and Ohm Youngmisuk) is ranking all 30 teams from top to bottom, taking stock of which teams are playing the best basketball now and which teams are looking most like title contenders.

Previous rankings: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12 | Week 13

1. Philadelphia 76ers
2020-21 record: 30-13
Previous ranking: 4

Philly has maintained the top spot in the Eastern Conference without Joel Embiid for the past week, picking up three wins to stay a game ahead of the Nets. They head west this week -- including two games in L.A. against the Lakers and Clippers -- as president of basketball operations Daryl Morey weighs how big of a swing he should take to increase his team's chances of making it out of the East. -- Bontemps

This week: @GSW, @LAL, @LAC

2. Utah Jazz
2020-21 record: 30-11
Previous ranking: 1

Since Utah's 24-5 start, the Jazz are 6-6 and rank 21st in defensive efficiency during that span (113.9 points allowed per 100 possessions). "We need to understand that we haven't accomplished s---," Rudy Gobert said Thursday after a loss to the Wizards. "We get upset when people laugh at us on TV and disrespect us. It's on us to respect ourselves. We're not the champions. We're not a team that can just cruise and turn it on come playoff time. We have to stay hungry." -- MacMahon

This week: @CHI, BRK, MEM, MEM

3. Brooklyn Nets
2020-21 record: 29-14
Previous ranking: 2

Blake Griffin debuted Sunday against the Wizards, and he did the most important thing: He dunked. It's become a bit of a deal that he hadn't done his signature thing since 2019, and after assuring ESPN's Malika Andrews last week that he absolutely still could, the former Lob City mayor threw one down, and did it to score his first points as a Net. He played 15 minutes, took two shots, scored two points and grabbed two boards. His role will grow as he acclimates, but the Nets aren't in need of too much from Griffin. If he can turn back the clock even a little, that's a pretty big X factor to have off the bench. -- Young

This week: @POR, @UTA, @DET

4. Phoenix Suns
2020-21 record: 28-13
Previous ranking: 3

In Sunday's game against the Lakers, Suns point guard Chris Paul joined an exclusive club. With his ninth assist in the game, Paul became the sixth player in NBA history to reach 10,000 career assists, joining John Stockton (15,806), Jason Kidd (12,091), Steve Nash (10,335), Mark Jackson (10,334) and Magic Johnson (10,141). At his current average, Paul would get by Johnson later this season. -- Lopez

This week: @MIA, @ORL, @TOR, @CHA

5. Milwaukee Bucks
2020-21 record: 27-14
Previous ranking: 7

Sunday was a well-deserved off day for the Bucks. After Saturday's win over San Antonio, the Bucks have won six straight and 11 of their last 12 games as they take aim at getting back atop the Eastern Conference. With the recent success, the narrative around this team is will it translate into the playoffs, but for now that's fine with reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. "I kinda like that we're under the radar," he said after the Spurs game. -- Woodyard

This week: IND, BOS, BOS, NYK

6. LA Clippers
2020-21 record: 27-16
Previous ranking: 6

Head coach Ty Lue moved Marcus Morris Sr. into the starting 5 with Nicolas Batum coming off the bench in an effort to get the Clippers to play more consistently, and they've held the last three opponents to an average of 100.6 points. The Clippers can use some help at point guard, especially with Patrick Beverley (knee) out, so it remains to be seen if they are able to do anything with their limited trade assets at the deadline. The Clippers, though, are in a stretch of playing 11 of 13 games at home, giving Lue's team more practice time as they wait for injured starters Serge Ibaka (back) and Beverley to return. -- Youngmisuk

This week: ATL, @SAS, @SAS, PHI

7. Los Angeles Lakers
2020-21 record: 28-15
Previous ranking: 5

The defending champions started Markieff Morris, Wesley Matthews, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma and Dennis Schroder on Sunday against the Suns, ending their weekend with back-to-back losses. Times are tough for the Lakers, with LeBron James out indefinitely with a high ankle sprain, Anthony Davis (calf strain and tendinosis) sidelined at least another week and Marc Gasol still working to get his wind back after missing a couple weeks because of health and safety protocols. "These challenges strengthen you throughout the course of a season ... and will benefit you come playoff time," head coach Frank Vogel said. -- McMenamin

This week: @NOP, PHI, CLE, ORL

8. Denver Nuggets
2020-21 record: 25-17
Previous ranking: 8

Nikola Jokic's MVP campaign continues to look stronger, especially with Joel Embiid and LeBron James sidelined due to injury. The Nuggets won three straight before losing to New Orleans despite another triple-double from Jokic. Before being held to 108 points by the Pelicans, Michael Malone's offense averaged 127 points during the streak. Michael Porter Jr. continues to have a hot hand, shooting 50% or better in 12 of his last 14 games. Denver, though, hits the road for three straight games this week, and the bench can use the injured Monte Morris back. -- Youngmisuk

This week: @ORL, @TOR, @NOP, ATL

9. Portland Trail Blazers
2020-21 record: 25-17
Previous ranking: 9

The Blazers are close to being whole again with CJ McCollum returning last week. It's a process in getting him all the way back, though, with reduced minutes and return to play management. But he showed all the signs the Blazers need with 32 points against the Mavs on Friday. Damian Lillard has shouldered so much of the load to this point that there's concern about late-season fatigue, especially as the schedule crunches. With McCollum, and possibly some of the more developed role players, that burden will be eased. -- Young

This week: BRK, @MIA, @ORL, @TOR

10. Dallas Mavericks
2020-21 record: 22-19
Previous ranking: 10

Luka Doncic scored 117 points over the last three games, shooting 59.5% from the floor and 54.5% from 3-point range in that span. It's the second-highest-scoring three-game stretch in franchise history, trailing only a 118-point, three-game run Doncic had last month. "When you feel like this, everything's great," Doncic said after scoring 37 points in three quarters during Sunday's rout in Portland, when he hit his first eight 3-point attempts. -- MacMahon

This week: @MIN, IND, @NOP

11. Miami Heat
2020-21 record: 22-21
Previous ranking: 11

The Heat had won 11 of 12 before dropping three straight to close the week. The surprise was that the re-energized group dropped back to back contests at home against the Pacers -- a team they swept out of the bubble playoffs last season. Miami needs Tyler Herro to get back on track -- he's just 16-for-55 (29%) over his last four games. -- Friedell

This week: PHO, POR, @CHA

12. San Antonio Spurs
2020-21 record: 22-17
Previous ranking: 13

San Antonio's Keldon Johnson had himself quite the performance on Thursday against the Cavaliers. Johnson finished with 23 points and 21 rebounds -- including 11 offensive boards -- in the Spurs' win. Johnson became the first Spur since Tim Duncan in 2013 to record a 20-point, 20-rebound game. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Johnson became the first player listed at 6-foot-5 or shorter to have 11 offensive rebounds in a game since Adrian Dantley did it for the Jazz on April 6, 1985. -- Lopez

This week: CHA, LAC, LAC, CHI

13. Atlanta Hawks
2020-21 record: 22-20
Previous ranking: 17

Atlanta continued its winning ways under new interim coach Nate McMillan with their eighth straight victory on Saturday in a win over the Lakers. McMillan's eight wins are the most for an interim coach after taking over for a team since Lawrence Frank started 13-0 for the New Jersey Nets in 2003-04. The Hawks are also doing it in a variety of ways, including stepping up their defense. Since McMillan took over on March 2, the Hawks have the league's second-best defensive rating at 105.2. -- Lopez

This week: @LAC, @SAC, @GSW, @DEN

14. Boston Celtics
2020-21 record: 21-21
Previous ranking: 12

After ugly losses to Cleveland and Sacramento, Boston bounced back and beat Orlando on Sunday. Now, the Celtics embark on a four-game road trip that includes a pair of primetime showdowns in Milwaukee on Wednesday and Friday with the NBA's trade deadline looming -- and everyone in Boston waiting to see if Danny Ainge is going to use the $28 million trade exception to improve the roster. -- Bontemps

This week: @MEM, @MIL, @MIL, @OKC

15. Golden State Warriors
2020-21 record: 22-21
Previous ranking: 14

A 2-2 week isn't bad given all the Warriors' injuries and COVID-19 issues. Stephen Curry missed two games because of a tailbone bruise. James Wiseman, Eric Paschall and Kevon Looney all missed time because of health and safety protocols. The good news: Second-year guard Jordan Poole continues to play well and is earning more minutes almost every time he hits the floor. Since returning from the G League bubble on March 1, Poole is averaging 20.9 points a game. -- Friedell

This week: PHI, @SAC, ATL

16. New York Knicks
2020-21 record: 21-22
Previous ranking: 15

All four games the Knicks played this week were within five points -- including a one-point win over Orlando Friday and a one-point loss to Philadelphia Sunday. In a difficult second-half schedule, every shot at a win matters, which makes the two games against Washington this week important, as New York tries to stay out of the play-in games in a compacted East playoff race. -- Bontemps

This week: WAS, WAS, @MIL

17. Charlotte Hornets
2020-21 record: 20-21
Previous ranking: 16

With LaMelo Ball expected to miss the rest of the season because of a fractured right wrist, the Hornets face the kind of injury that can derail a team's season. Not only was Ball the front-runner for Rookie of the Year, there was an excitement around his game that made the Hornets nationally relevant for the first time in years. With Ball out, it will be up to Terry Rozier and Gordon Hayward to pick up even more slack offensively. The issue for the Hornets, as it has been all year, is that their defense remains porous. They come into Monday's game against the Spurs having given up at least 116 points in four straight games. -- Friedell

This week: @SAS, @HOU, MIA, PHX

18. Indiana Pacers
2020-21 record: 19-22
Previous ranking: 18

Before an overtime win over Miami, Indiana had lost four of its last five games and eight of its last 10 as it searches for answers even with the addition of Caris LeVert. Indiana has dropped to ninth place in Eastern Conference -- it headed into Sunday's slate with a 54.4% chance to make the playoffs, according to ESPN's Basketball Power Index. -- Woodyard

This week: @MIL, DET, @DAL

19. Memphis Grizzlies
2020-21 record: 19-20
Previous ranking: 19

Ja Morant's jump shot is the glaring flaw in the developing star point guard's game. He's shooting only 22.9% on 3-pointers this season, the lowest clip by a significant margin among the 182 players with at least 100 attempts. That allows defenders to consistently go under screens when Morant runs pick-and-roll, daring him to shoot and mitigating the advantage of his rare explosiveness. According to NBA.com/stats, Morant is averaging 0.82 points per possession as a pick-and-roll ballhandler, ranking 36th in efficiency among 41 players with at least 200 such possessions. -- MacMahon

This week: BOS, @OKC, @UTA, @UTA

20. Chicago Bulls
2020-21 record: 19-22
Previous ranking: 22

All-Star guard Zach LaVine continued to play lights out with 19 30-point games this season, third most in the NBA behind Bradley Beal and Damian Lillard. However, the Bulls continue to tweak their lineup and rotations to try and find sustainable success, such using Tomas Satoransky and Thaddeus Young as starters instead of Coby White and Wendell Carter Jr. -- Woodyard

This week: UTA, CLE, @SAS

21. New Orleans Pelicans
2020-21 record: 18-24
Previous ranking: 21

Once again, it was an up-and-down week for the Pelicans. On Tuesday, the Pelicans gave away a 17-point lead in the final six minutes to the Trail Blazers and then dropped an eight-point game to Portland two days later. They responded with a 113-108 victory at Denver on Sunday, bouncing back without their starting point guard Lonzo Ball (right hip flexor strain). Against the Nuggets, Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson each had 30 points. It was the third time they'd done so in the same game this season, tied for the most in the league among any duo according to ESPN Stats & Information research. -- Lopez

This week: LAL, DEN, DAL

22. Toronto Raptors
2020-21 record: 17-25
Previous ranking: 20

The Raptors have lost eight in a row, including a dispiriting loss to the Cavaliers Sunday after blowing yet another lead in the final two minutes Friday against Utah. After plummeting to 11th in the East, we'll see if Toronto will decide to move on from Kyle Lowry and Norman Powell between now and Thursday's trade deadline. -- Bontemps

This week: @HOU, DEN, PHO, POR

23. Oklahoma City Thunder
2020-21 record: 18-24
Previous ranking: 23

Sunday's game against the Rockets had an unstoppable force versus an immovable object kind of vibe to it, except the exact opposite. The Rockets were on a 19-game losing streak. The Thunder had four starters sitting and started the second youngest lineup in NBA history. Houston was still a 4.5-point favorite at tipoff, but if we've learned anything from OKC this season, they could start two members off their PR staff and probably still be competitive. Sunday, it was Lu Dort scoring 23 and coming up with a game-winning block. There's something about the Thunder's ability to play within a system and maximize their roster that has an extremely Spursian feel. -- Young

This week: @MIN, MEM, BOS

24. Sacramento Kings
2020-21 record: 17-25
Previous ranking: 25

More than halfway through the season, Kings rookie Tyrese Haliburton says Sacramento is still searching for itself. "I don't know that we've found our identity yet," Haliburton told reporters after a loss to Philadelphia on Saturday. "I don't know that we've found exactly what makes us play our best basketball." The quote is apt for the week the Kings had: going 2-2 amid their six-game road trip and finding out that Marvin Bagley III will not require surgery on his fractured left hand, but will still be out at least another month. Not the best, not the worst. -- McMenamin

This week: @CLE, ATL, GSW, CLE

25. Washington Wizards
2020-21 record: 15-26
Previous ranking: 24

The Wizards are heading in the wrong direction after appearing to turn their season around. Since winning seven of eight games in February, Washington has dropped eight of its last 10 games. And it doesn't get any easier: The Wizards' loss in Brooklyn on Sunday started a 14-game stretch, during which 10 games are on the road. They are five games out of the eighth spot and they'll be without sharpshooter Davis Bertans for the next few weeks due to injury. -- Youngmisuk

This week: @NYK, @NYK, DET

26. Cleveland Cavaliers
2020-21 record: 16-26
Previous ranking: 26

What you loved about the Cavs' win over the Raptors on Sunday was Collin Sexton (36 points, 4 assists, 2 steals) and Darius Garland (15 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds) filling up the boxscore. What you hated about Cleveland's young backcourt performance? The duo combined for 12 of the Cavs' 26 turnovers as a team -- a wild number that kept the Raptors within reach despite Cleveland being red-hot from deep (17-for-33 for 51.5%). -- McMenamin

This week: SAC, @CHI, @LAL, @SAC

27. Orlando Magic
2020-21 record: 14-28
Previous ranking: 27

Let's start with the good news. The Magic pulled off a surprise win over the Nets on Friday, which included 38 points in 36 minutes from Aaron Gordon and that snapped a nine game losing skid. The bad news: The Magic are now 14-28, above only the Pistons in the East. The biggest question left for this team this season may be whatever the front office decides to do before Thursday's trade deadline. -- Friedell

This week: DEN, PHX, POR, @LAL

28. Detroit Pistons
2020-21 record: 12-30
Previous ranking: 28

One of the highlights this week for the Pistons was handing the Rockets their franchise-worst 19th straight loss on Friday night. For a Motown franchise in the midst of rebuilding, they have to celebrate all of their wins and use them as opportunities for growth. Detroit also beat Toronto on Wednesday behind 28 points and 12 rebounds from rookie forward Saddiq Bey. -- Woodyard

This week: @IND, BRK, @WAS

29. Minnesota Timberwolves
2020-21 record: 10-32
Previous ranking: 30

Before the draft, the general feeling was there was no true No. 1 overall caliber prospect and the lottery in general was weak. But Anthony Edwards is looking every bit a top pick type of player. His 42 points against the Suns was the exclamation point on what's been a breakout month: "Ant-Man" is averaging 26.1 points per game in March, setting and resetting career highs almost nightly. -- Young

This week: OKC, DAL, HOU, HOU

30. Houston Rockets
2020-21 record: 11-30
Previous ranking: 29

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Rockets now own an unfortunate NBA record: the longest losing streak by a team that began the streak over .500. Houston has lost 20 straight since an 11-10 start. The spotlight leading up to Thursday's trade deadline is on Victor Oladipo, whose post-All-Star break performance (25.0 points and 5.6 assists per game, 46.4% from the floor) might boost his trade value. -- MacMahon

This week: TOR, CHA, @MIN, @MIN

To coincide with ESPN's ranking of the top 100 players in baseball for 2021, the exercise here is to predict who will be the next to make our MLB Rank list from each of the 30 clubs among those who did not this year.

For the most part, that means either they will make the list before the 2022 season or maybe the 2023 season, because every team will have players falling in and out of contention for the list every year. So it seems silly to project a minor leaguer who's years away from making the big leagues -- though there are circumstances where that makes some sense.

In 2019, 99 players posted 3.0 WAR or higher per FanGraphs, so that provides a tidy cutoff point. It's important to note that this doesn't mean posting one 3-win season, but being perceived as being a 3-win talent, which are very different things. Only a couple of relievers get to this level of performance, and even fewer are seen as likely to repeat it; same goes for players with more limited physical tools. For reference on some of the more unfamiliar names, here is my 2021 top 100 prospects list.

Who will be the best players of the 2021 MLB season?

As the countdown to Opening Day (Thursday, April 1) continues, we gathered ESPN's baseball experts to determine our annual MLB Rank list of the top 100 players in the sport.

To reach our final order, we presented our panel with pairings of the biggest names in the game and asked simply, "Which player will be better in 2021?" Below, you'll find the first set of results from this year's survey.

The bottom half of our list, ranging from No. 100 to No. 51, features a host of rising stars, veteran mainstays, a reigning Rookie of the Year and 2020's major league home run king.

For each of the players, a member of our panel has provided a relevant stat or storyline to put his position on the list into context. What about the players will determine how well they perform in 2021? What might hold them back? In other words: Why are they ranked where they're ranked?

We will reveal Nos. 50-26 on Tuesday. On Wednesday, we will count down the top 25.

More: Next to make our list for all 30 teams (ESPN+) | 2020 top 100

100. Austin Meadows, DH, Tampa Bay Rays

2020 rank: 90

Why he's here: Meadows reported to Rays camp 10-15 pounds lighter and hopes to regain the form from his 2019 All-Star season after struggling to get going in 2020. He didn't make his season debut until Aug. 4 after testing positive for COVID-19 and hit just .205/.296/.371 in 36 games after hitting .291 with 33 home runs in 138 games the season before. -- Joon Lee

99. Ian Anderson, SP, Atlanta Braves

2020 rank: Not ranked

Why he's here: The third pick of the 2016 draft, Anderson burst on the scene during his first exposure to the big leagues late in the 2020 season. Including the playoffs, Anderson went 5-2 over 10 starts with a minuscule 1.59 ERA. It won't always be that easy for the dazzling righty, but with excellent command and a possibly elite changeup, Anderson has given Braves fans plenty of reasons to believe he's the real deal. -- Bradford Doolittle

98. Eugenio Suarez, 3B, Cincinnati Reds

2020 rank: 61

Why he's here: The extra time off during last season's shutdown should have helped Suarez, as he was recovering from shoulder surgery, but it never showed up at the plate in 2020. His OPS dropped to just .781 after a career-high .930 mark in 2019. At the very least, his home run totals should return to his previous levels in 2021. -- Jesse Rogers

97. Dustin May, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers

2020 rank: Not ranked

Why he's here: The 6-foot-6 right-hander with the big mop of curly red hair is still more potential than finished product at this point, although he owns a 2.98 ERA over 90 career innings. With an upper 90s sinker, high-spin curveball, cutter and changeup, the stuff is electric. Look for him to both start and relieve this season. -- David Schoenfield

96. Justin Turner, 3B, Los Angeles Dodgers

2020 rank: 68

Why he's here: Turner might be on the decline, but it is a slow one. During his age-35 season in 2020, he continued to be among the Dodgers' most consistent offensive producers, batting .307/.400/.460 during the regular season and posting an .804 OPS during the playoffs. After finally capturing a World Series championship for his hometown team -- and testing positive for COVID-19 in the midst of that pursuit -- Turner rightfully returned to the Dodgers over the offseason, signing a two-year, $34 million contract. -- Alden Gonzalez

95. Cavan Biggio, 3B, Toronto Blue Jays

2020 rank: Not ranked

Why he's here: The least hyped in Toronto's trio of sons of former big leaguers -- along with Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. -- hopes to build upon his 2020 campaign, in which he hit .250/.375/.432 with eight homers after hitting .234/.364/.429 in 100 games in 2019. -- Lee

94. Devin Williams, RP, Milwaukee Brewers

2020 rank: Not ranked

Why he's here: The 2020 NL Rookie of the Year after allowing only one earned run in 27 innings, Williams possesses perhaps the most unhittable pitch in baseball: a darting, diving changeup. Batters went 2-for-62 (.032) off it with 41 strikeouts and his 53% strikeout rate was the best ever for a minimum of 20 innings pitched. -- Schoenfield

93. Alex Verdugo, OF, Boston Red Sox

2020 rank: Not ranked

Why he's here: If there's going to be any player who makes Red Sox fans feel any better about the Mookie Betts trade, it's likely going to be Verdugo. Amidst a dreadful year for Boston, Verdugo provided one of Boston's few bright spots, hitting .308/.367/.478 with six homers in 53 games while providing a last-place team with a daily spark of energy. -- Lee

92. German Marquez, SP, Colorado Rockies

2020 rank: Not ranked

Why he's here: Marquez is 30-22 with a 4.14 ERA over the past three seasons and led the NL in innings and batters faced last season, but remains underrated since he has to pitch half his games in Coors Field. Since 2018, however, he's seventh in the majors with a 3.08 ERA on the road -- behind guys named deGrom, Verlander, Scherzer, Cole, Kershaw and Bieber. -- Schoenfield

91. Lance Lynn, SP, Chicago White Sox

2020 rank: Not ranked

Why he's here: Lynn has been perpetually underrated -- this ranking reflects that -- but his acquisition by the emergent White Sox over the offseason is a big reason the South Side now features a championship-caliber rotation. A 2021 version of a workhorse, Lynn is one of 11 pitchers to post more than 10 fWAR over the past three seasons. -- Doolittle

90. Patrick Corbin, SP, Washington Nationals

2020 rank: 33

Why he's here: Corbin was one of the best pitchers in baseball during the 2018 and 2019 seasons but struggled in 2020, posting a 4.66 ERA with a 1.57 WHIP over 11 starts. Those were his worst numbers since his 2017 campaign when he posted a 4.03 ERA with the Diamondbacks. In so many ways, 2020 represented an anomaly, and the Nationals hope the shortened season represents one for Corbin. -- Lee

89. Yordan Alvarez, DH, Houston Astros

2020 rank: 62

Why he's here: Alvarez's ranking is a statement of faith in one of baseball's most electric bats. After knee trouble wiped out Alvarez's 2020 season, he enters the new campaign as a health risk and a full-time DH at the age of 23. Yet Alvarez's presence at the plate is so foreboding and so devoid of weaknesses that his return is the main reason the Astros' offense should remain elite in the aftermath of George Springer's departure. -- Doolittle

88. Starling Marte, OF, Miami Marlins

2020 rank: Not ranked

Why he's here: Marte was a big, if not somewhat surprising, deadline acquisition for the Marlins last summer, so picking up his option was a no-brainer for this 2020 playoff team. He played in 61 regular-season games last year due to the midseason trade before a finger injury ended his postseason early. On a team whose strength is on the mound, Marte is a key ingredient near the top of the Marlins' lineup. -- Rogers

87. Dinelson Lamet, SP, San Diego Padres

2020 rank: Not ranked

Why he's here: Owner of a 97 mph fastball and wipeout slider, the 28-year-old Lamet had a breakout short season in 2020. After recovering from Tommy John surgery in 2018, he posted a 2.09 ERA with 93 whiffs in 69 innings. The concern heading into 2021: He missed the postseason with a sore elbow. -- Schoenfield

86. Will Smith, C, Los Angeles Dodgers

2020 rank: Not ranked

Why he's here: Smith has produced 2.9 FanGraphs WAR in his first 91 major league games and should only keep getting better. He's only 25, but he handles a pitching staff like a veteran and has already proved to be an elite hitter. -- Gonzalez

85. Yasmani Grandal, C, Chicago White Sox

2020 rank: 45

Why he's here: As a solid defender, outstanding hitter and positive clubhouse presence, Grandal is an full-service everyday backstop of the sort we just don't see much of these days. Over the past three seasons, Grandal trails only Philadelphia's J.T. Realmuto in fWAR among catchers. They both more than double the total of any other backstop. -- Doolittle

84. Michael Brantley, OF, Houston Astros

2020 rank: 93

Why he's here: Brantley remains one of the most consistent players of the past decade, regularly posting batting averages hovering around .300 while also providing pop from the outfield. Amidst a shortened season, Brantley hit .300/.364/.476 with five homers in 46 games, not far from his career marks of .297/.354/.440, before re-signing with Houston this offseason. -- Lee

83. Zac Gallen, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks

2020 rank: Not ranked

Why he's here: The Diamondbacks acquired Gallen from the Marlins in 2019 in a rare challenge trade of young players that sent shortstop Jazz Chisholm to Miami. Gallen has a 2.78 ERA over 27 career starts, and while he's not overpowering, his changeup and curveball are out pitches and batters have hit just .190 against his four-seamer. -- Schoenfield

82. Luke Voit, 1B, New York Yankees

2020 rank: Not ranked

Why he's here: Voit has said this spring he is ready to tone down his "football mentality" and aggressive playing style, which might help last year's MLB home run champion avoid the types of injuries that have limited him at times. Since joining the Yankees at the 2018 trade deadline, his 57 home runs lead the team. -- Marly Rivera

81. Nelson Cruz, DH, Minnesota Twins

2020 rank: 67

Why he's here: There's aging well, and then there's aging like Nelson Cruz. From 2014 to 2020, between the ages of 33 and 39, Cruz batted .286/.363/.557 with 260 home runs and 663 RBIs in 938 games. Only three players -- Mike Trout, Juan Soto and Aaron Judge -- had a higher weighted runs created plus during that stretch. Cruz is 40 now, will turn 41 on the first day of July, and there's no reason to think he'll be slowing down. -- Gonzalez

80. Dansby Swanson, SS, Atlanta Braves

2020 rank: Not ranked

Why he's here: Swanson was traded to the Braves in December of 2015, just six months after the Diamondbacks took him No. 1 overall in the draft. Last season was his fourth as Atlanta's everyday shortstop, but it was the first in which Swanson's production reflected his lofty draft status. He became a full-field line-drive hitter last season while also managing to tack on some power. Swanson's evolution has set him up nicely for the prime of his career. -- Doolittle

79. Kris Bryant, 3B, Chicago Cubs

2020 rank: 24

Why he's here: It's now or never for Bryant before he enters free agency this offseason. Like many, he had a 2020 season to forget, with injuries contributing to a down year. Healthy and at ease in potentially his final year as a Cub, could Bryant return to the .900 or better OPS levels that previously placed him much higher on our list? If he does, will it lead to a July trade deadline move from Chicago? -- Rogers

78. Mike Soroka, SP, Atlanta Braves

2020 rank: 42

Why he's here: After going 13-4 with a 2.68 ERA as a 21-year-old rookie in 2019, Soroka made just three starts in 2020 before tearing his right Achilles. He might not be ready for Opening Day but should return early in the season. The Calgary native relies on a sinker, slider and changeup, a precocious feel for pitching, and keeping the ball on the ground. -- Schoenfield

77. Giancarlo Stanton, DH, New York Yankees

2020 rank: 82

Why he's here: Injuries have kept Stanton out of nearly half of the Yankees' games during his three-season tenure with the team, which is why Stanton said his goal this spring will be to just "show up." He adjusted his offseason workout regimen to include more agility and flexibility training, and that, combined with the fact that he will mostly DH in 2021, should allow him to stay on the field. -- Rivera

76. Kenta Maeda, SP, Minnesota Twins

2020 rank: Not ranked

Why he's here: Maeda posted his best season in the big leagues in 2020 during his first year with the Twins, posting a 2.70 ERA and 0.75 WHIP in 11 starts, finishing as the Cy Young runner-up to Shane Bieber. Maeda posted the best walk rate of his career at 1.35 BB/9 and induced the highest ground ball percentage of his career at 49%. -- Lee

75. Yoan Moncada, 3B, Chicago White Sox

2020 rank: 87

Why he's here: Expect a big-time bounce-back season from Moncada. After validating his former status as possibly the game's best prospect with a star turn in 2019, Moncada contracted COVID-19 before last season and was never quite able to gain a foothold during the sprint that was the 2020 season. When he's right, Moncada flashes an elite combination of power, patience and speed. -- Doolittle

74. Jose Berrios, SP, Minnesota Twins

2020 rank: 75

Why he's here: The two-time All-Star has been consistent and reliable over his four full seasons, with his ERA ranging between 3.68 and 4.00 each year. His curveball was better than ever in 2020, as batters hit just .167 against it, and his fastball velocity increased, perhaps an indicator that 2021 will be his best season yet. -- Schoenfield

73. Shohei Ohtani, SP/DH, Los Angeles Angels

2020 rank: 34

Why he's here: All we have as proof that Ohtani can handle being a two-way player in the major leagues is two months, dating back to the start of his rookie season in 2018. Since then he underwent Tommy John surgery, then struggled mightily as both a pitcher and a hitter during the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season. But the Angels are exceedingly optimistic about what Ohtani can bring in 2021.

They tracked his progress through an aggressive, data-driven offseason in which he immersed himself in more game-like situations and have watched all of his undeniable talent come through on the mound and in the batter's box this spring. This might be Ohtani's last chance to prove he can handle the rigors of a two-way role. But if anyone can do it, it's probably him. -- Gonzalez

72. Zack Wheeler, SP, Philadelphia Phillies

2020 rank: 83

Why he's here: Big free-agent contracts for pitchers don't always work out. They are especially risky when they involve one with an injury history like that of Zack Wheeler. Happily, Wheeler justified the Phillies' investment in him with a fine 2020 season that saw him garner some down-ballot Cy Young support. He's poised to be the Robin to Aaron Nola's Batman for years to come. -- Doolittle

71. Randy Arozarena, OF, Tampa Bay Rays

2020 rank: Not ranked

Why he's here: There's the very rational thought that Arozarena can't possibly duplicate what he did in last year's postseason, batting .377 with 10 home runs over a span of 20 games that evolved into must-watch TV. But then you consider the solid numbers he put up during the 2020 regular season (.281/.382/.641 in 76 plate appearances), and the fact that he added a reported 15 pounds of muscle over the winter, and that he's only 26, with rookie eligibility remaining, and that he's oozing with tools. And then you think -- Arozarena might just be capable of anything. -- Gonzalez

70. Whit Merrifield, 2B/OF, Kansas City Royals

2020 rank: 77

Why he's here: The 2019 All-Star has played every game the past two seasons, led the AL in hits in 2018 and 2019, including 206 in 2019, and has played all over the field. The Royals have him slotted in for right field for 2021, but his versatility means he's also the backup center fielder and second baseman. -- Schoenfield

69. Josh Hader, RP, Milwaukee Brewers

2020 rank: 36

Why he's here: Hader leads all big league relievers in win probability added over the past three seasons, a period during which he has evolved into a more traditional one-inning stopper than the multi-inning beast he was at his peak. Last season, Hader became more slider-oriented and, related or not, suffered periodic command issues that contributed to a career-worst 3.79 ERA. Still one of the game's most feared relievers, Hader will be closely watched early in the season to see if last season's trends continue. -- Doolittle

68. Marcus Semien, 2B, Toronto Blue Jays

2020 rank: 35

Why he's here: During his time with the Athletics, Semien became a player whom sabermetric observers loved to tout as among the most underrated players in the game, posting a 4.7 bWAR in 2018 and 8.9 bWAR in 2019. Semien struggled in the shortened 2020 season, hitting .223/.305/.374, but hopes to regain his form in 2021 after signing a one-year, $18 million contract with Toronto. -- Lee

67. Kyle Hendricks, SP, Chicago Cubs

2020 rank: Not ranked

Why he's here: Elevated to the No. 1 spot in the Cubs' rotation, Hendricks is money in the bank. He has become one of the more consistent starters in the league with an ERA+ of 121 or higher each year over the past half decade. -- Rogers

66. Josh Donaldson, 3B, Minnesota Twins

2020 rank: 38

Why he's here: It's all about staying healthy for the former MVP. He played just 52 games in 2018 and 28 games in 2020, but with the Braves in 2019 he played 155 and was one of the best players in the league, hitting 37 home runs, drawing 100 walks and finishing 11th in the MVP voting. -- Schoenfield

65. Eloy Jimenez, OF, Chicago White Sox

2020 rank: Not ranked

Why he's here: In 2019, Jimenez showed as much potential as actual consistent production, but last season, he improved across the board and ended up with his first Silver Slugger award. Jimenez finished fourth among all hitters in barrels-per-plate-appearance percentage and fifth in hard-hit percentage. That trait -- the ability to flat-out mash -- will mark Jimenez's rise, as will the infectious smile he wears everywhere he goes. -- Doolittle

64. Ketel Marte, 2B/OF, Arizona Diamondbacks

2020 rank: 44

Why he's here: Marte's OPS dropped over 200 points from his career high of .981 in 2019, but he remains a versatile infielder/outfielder with the potential to be a strong all-around contributor. Despite that breakout season the last time MLB played a full schedule, Marte seemingly remains one of the lesser-known star players. -- Rogers

63. Max Muncy, 1B, Los Angeles Dodgers

2020 rank: 69

Why he's here: After back-to-back highly productive seasons, Muncy had a rough go of it throughout 2020, batting .192/.331/.389 with 60 strikeouts in 58 games. Despite maddening struggles, he still managed to reach base at a respectable level and still found his groove in the postseason, posting a .961 OPS in the final three rounds. Muncy is an advanced hitter who has made significant strides to improve his defensive versatility in recent years. A normal season could also normalize his numbers. -- Gonzalez

62. Max Fried, SP, Atlanta Braves

2020 rank: Not ranked

Why he's here: After a breakout 17-win season in 2019, Fried was even better in 2020, going 7-0 with a 2.25 ERA. He doesn't have the big strikeout rates of some other top starters and instead relies on inducing soft contact, ranking in the 98th percentile in hard-hit rate and allowing just two home runs in 56 innings. -- Schoenfield

61. Matt Olson, 1B, Oakland Athletics

2020 rank: 54

Why he's here: Olson represents the prototypical slugger of this particular era of baseball: someone who can hit the ball a mile while striking out a great deal of the time. He posted the highest strikeout percentage of his career in 2020 at 31.4% but also hit 14 home runs in 50 games. -- Lee

60. Brandon Woodruff, SP, Milwaukee Brewers

2020 rank: 96

Why he's here: Woodruff has the makings of a bona fide top-of-the-rotation starter. The only thing missing on his résumé at this point is a full season of being the Brewers' ace. Last season, Woodruff's arsenal beyond his outstanding four-seamer improved across the board. Listed at 6 feet, 4 inches and 243 pounds, and entering his age-28 season, Woodruff seems on the cusp of a run of All-Star-level seasons as a gobbler of elite innings totals, if only he can stretch out what he has done the past two seasons over a full 162-game slate. -- Doolittle

59. Mike Yastrzemski, OF, San Francisco Giants

2020 rank: Not ranked

Why he's here: Players like Yastrzemski are why we love baseball. He's a 14th-round pick who didn't debut until his late 20s and has quickly emerged as the catalyst for an up-and-coming Giants team. Yastrzemski somehow only improved off his surprising rookie season in 2020, sporting a .968 OPS to go along with a league-leading four triples. He was a joy to watch, played with a flair for the dramatic and ultimately failed to reach base in only seven of 54 games. -- Gonzalez

58. Jeff McNeil, 2B/OF, New York Mets

2020 rank: 76

Why he's here: He didn't reach the majors until he was 26, but McNeil can flat hit, thanks to one of the best contact rates in the majors. He has hit .329, .318 and .311 in his three seasons with the Mets and his .319 average is best in the majors since 2018 (minimum 1,000 PAs). -- Schoenfield

57. Jose Altuve, 2B, Houston Astros

2020 rank: 29

Why he's here: Altuve rode the wind of his 20s to this lofty rating despite the first season of his 30s ending up as the worst of his career. Altuve hit a paltry .219/.286/.344 during the regular season, then went 0-for-7 during Houston's wild-card series against Minnesota. Suddenly, the old Altuve re-emerged, as he hammered five homers over 11 games in the ALDS and ALCS, nearly boosting Houston to another pennant. Still, Altuve is on the wrong side of 30, always a perilous time for a second baseman, so the Astros will be watching him anxiously as he enters one of four more seasons left on his contract, each paying him $26 million. -- Doolittle

56. Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Chicago Cubs

2020 rank: 56

Why he's here: Rizzo's ability to hit 30 home runs as a lefty is a key to the Cubs' offense. He has accomplished that feat four times in 10 MLB seasons. Entrenched as the team's No.3 hitter, the hope in Chicago is that his down 2020 was just a blip in an otherwise very consistent career. -- Rogers

55. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B,Toronto Blue Jays

2020 rank: 74

Why he's here: The Blue Jays hope that Guerrero can live up to the astronomical hype that surrounded the 21-year old now that he lost 40 pounds this offseason. Amidst all the buzz around the first baseman's power, Guerrero struggled hitting the ball into the air over the past few seasons after hitting .262/.329/.462 with nine homers in 60 games in 2020. -- Lee

54. Brandon Lowe, 2B, Tampa Bay Rays

2020 rank: Not ranked

Why he's here: An All-Star as a rookie in 2019, Lowe finished eighth in the MVP voting in 2020 after swatting 14 home runs and slugging .554. His combined line over 138 games in 2019-20: .270/.347/.530 with 31 home runs. He just needs to do that over a full season and he moves into the top 50. -- Schoenfield

53. Michael Conforto, OF, New York Mets

2020 ranking: 100

Why he's here: Conforto is coming off arguably his best season, as evidenced by a .322/.412/.515 slash line and a career-best 30.3% line drive rate. His 128 weighted runs created plus from 2018 to 2020 is tied for 15th among major league outfielders. The Mets would probably love to lock him up before he begins his free-agent year, but Conforto also has the incentive of being by far the best player available at his position next offseason. -- Gonzalez

52. Luis Robert, OF, Chicago White Sox

2020 rank: Not ranked

Why he's here: He didn't win Rookie of the Year, but many in the game believe Robert can be an MVP candidate once he irons out a few things at the plate, starting with improving the .302 on-base percentage he posted in 2020. A 20/20 season is easily in his sights with 30/30 not out of the realm of possibility for one of the highest-upside young players in the entire sport. -- Rogers

51. Aaron Nola, SP, Philadelphia Phillies

2020 rank: 52

Why he's here: Nola is a throwback starter who would probably take the hill 40 or 45 times if only Joe Girardi would let him. (Which he won't.) Only Jacob deGrom has thrown more innings over the past three seasons, and no one has started more games. Only seven pitchers have compiled more fWAR, which suggests that his ranking here is low. He's durable, he's consistent and he keeps getting better. -- Doolittle

The 1992 Olympic champion answers your questions on switching from sprint to 400m hurdles, her finest moments and her favourite and least favourite training sessions

Glimpse into the lives of world-class athletes as they answer questions from YOU each week on ‘Ask the Athlete’.

This week AW is joined by Sally Gunnell – Olympic, world, European, two-time World Cup and five-time Commonwealth champion.

She chats to AW about the reason for changing from 100m hurdles to 400m hurdles, the insight into winning Olympic gold at Barcelona 1992, her favourite and least favourite training session and loads more!

Have a read of some of her answers below and then enjoy the full episode.

What does it mean to be one of the few British athletes to have achieved the grand slam of holding Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth titles at the same time? 

I think it’s not until you retire when you start looking back at all those things and what you achieved. I think I was very lucky to win the hardest one first which is that Olympics and the others just sort of rolled on. I just had an amazing three or four years where I was fit, healthy and I was able to do that. Sometimes I have to remind myself I was able to do all of those things and especially when you think of the group that you’re in, you realise how hard that is.

What made you switch from 100m hurdles to 400m hurdles. Was it your choice, your coach or someone else suggesting it? 

It was the choice of my coach. I’d just won the 100m hurdles in the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh and he told me that it was great but not world class – probably ranking me 20th in the world or something like that – and he was the one who thought I’d make a great 400m hurdler. I just remember thinking that it was a horrible event as it hurt! I’d done the heptathlon and that was horrible and it hurt and then I’d done the lovely 100m hurdles which was amazing!

I didn’t know whether I could do it or if I’d like it but we just tried it and he was so right. As I was technically good and I had the strength it just clicked within about three or four races. Whether he had that planned in his mind for years before I wouldn’t be surprised.

From all of your incredible achievements in athletics, what is the one moment/race that gave you the most satisfaction? 

Do you know what, there’s probably three really. One is obviously that Olympics. It’s the one I dreamt about. It’s the ultimate and it only happens every four years which means it’s hard to get. The following year [1993] I broke the world record and won the World Championship but there were so many things that went against me – being ill, the pressure and expectation – so I just learnt so much about myself, about mental strength and ability so that also blew me away. The other highlight was the World Cup in Gateshead and the final points in the relay, which was the most amazing feeling to be a part of that team and to captain the GB team.

What was your favourite and least favourite training session?

My favourite sessions are hill sessions and I still do them now because I just love them! I guess they hurt for a bit but I quite like the speed of them and the jog back. My worst session, which was horrible, was the long track session of the week. It was always the killer session on the training plan and the one that I looked at three months in advance and still dreaded. It would’ve probably been an up and down session starting at 200m and going up to 600m with about three or four minutes recovery at the top end and then a bit which was short on the way down.

Would you have rather won another individual or a team Olympic gold medal?

Definitely individual! I always remember at school playing in the hockey or netball and wondering why everybody wasn’t doing the same as me when it came to working hard. I was much more of an individual person and taking responsibilities for my own actions. Even though I had an amazing team of sports coaches and psychologists working for me, on the day it was me it was me that had to perform. If I didn’t, it was me that mucked up and I liked that feeling and took full responsibility. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the relay and after doing an individual event it was so much fun. You could look around, have the camaraderie and chat – although I never used to chat before races – and I just loved the relay. Medal though? Definitely individual.

Subscribe to Athletics Weekly on YouTube to ensure you never miss an episode.