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Fantasy Basketball Weekend Streamers: Reed Sheppard ready to thrive in increased minutes

With Marcus Smart set to begin a three-game suspension on Friday, Reed Sheppard should be considered the priority streaming option for this weekend. That won’t bump Sheppard into the starting lineup, but he has been excellent this season when the minutes are there.

When Sheppard has played at least 20 minutes this season, he is averaging 13.2 points, 3.6 assists, 1.8 steals and 2.8 triples per game. Houston has more depth this season, which has limited Sheppard's role in his third season, but when he has gotten the opportunity, he hasn't disappointed. This is also a great opportunity for him to prove that he deserves a larger spot in the rotation for the rest of the season. For now, we'll just take baby steps and hopefully enjoy a strong three-game stretch of production.

The Hawks, Bulls, Cavaliers, Mavericks, Rockets, Pacers, Clippers, Grizzlies, Heat, Bucks, Pelicans, Knicks, Thunder, Kings and Spurs all play two games this weekend, so prioritize those teams if you’re looking to stream this weekend.

Here are nine other players I’d be comfortable streaming this weekend:

Kingston Flemings, G, Atlanta Hawks

Flemings is questionable for Friday’s game against the Bulls, but he has value for the rest of the season and is still available in far too many leagues. He has started four games for Atlanta and averaged 10.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. The steals haven’t been there yet as a starter, but he is a high-level defender that had two steals in their last game and four swipes in his last game as a reserve. It doesn’t seem like he’ll be giving this starting job up, and he should only get better as the season continues.

Meleek Thomas, G, Cleveland Cavaliers

Thomas has been fantastic this season as one of the best rookies in fantasy basketball. With Evan Mobley out on Friday with a toe injury and Sam Merrill out with an elbow issue, Thomas should see a nice boost in usage. He is averaging 13.1 points, 1.3 steals and 2.9 triples per game over the past two weeks, which includes a career-best 18 points earlier this week. He has been one of the best rookies in the league this season and is certainly looking like the best value pick of this past summer.

Aaron Wiggins, G/F, Atlanta Hawks

Wiggins is finding himself to be a regular on the list, mostly because he’s been awesome this season, but also because the Hawks continue to have a favorable schedule. Wiggins set season-highs earlier this week with five triples and six assists in a game, and he’ll continue to play a significant role off the bench for Atlanta. He has been an excellent addition for them and is a key piece to this team, giving him value beyond this weekend.

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Pelle Larsson, F, Miami Heat

Larsson replaced Andrew Wiggins as a starter two games ago, and the results thus far have been solid. He is averaging 12.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.5 triples across his two starts, though he was limited by foul trouble in the first one. Larsson was considered a late-round target for fantasy managers, with the idea he may eventually start in place of Klay Thompson. Well, Klay has played well, but Larsson has still gotten the opportunity to play an expanded role, and he may not relinquish it.

Patrick Williams, F, Chicago Bulls

With Caleb Wilson set to miss four-to-six weeks after fracturing his right hand, Williams has a chance to step into a starting role. Now, Williams has been disappointing since the Bulls took him with the 4th pick in 2020, but the opportunity is enough to stream him in. With how long Wilson will be sidelined, Williams could end up being worth the roster spot for a few weeks. Let’s hope Williams can take advantage of the opportunity before him.

Jaylon Tyson, F, Cleveland Cavaliers

As I mentioned earlier, Evan Mobley is set to miss a game for the first time this season. While we don’t know exactly what Kenny Atkinson will do, Tyson makes sense as a replacement in the starting lineup. Tyson returned from a six-game absence on Wednesday, and while he didn’t provide much value, he did play 23 minutes, which bumped Mario Hezonja out of the rotation. Tyson has also proven in the past that he is worth rostering when the minutes are there.

Julian Champagnie, F, San Antonio Spurs

Champagnie has been starting for San Antonio recently in place of Devin Vassell, who has missed the last two games with a groin injury. He’s questionable to play on Friday, as is De’Aaron Fox (hip), and if either were to miss the game, Champagnie would remain a starter. He ranks inside the top 100 this season and has scored in double figures in three straight games and has hit 10 three-pointers during that stretch.

Isaiah Stewart, C, Memphis Grizzlies

Zach Edey (ankle) and Quinten Post (concussion) have both been ruled out for Friday’s game, so Stewart should get the starting nod. Edey should be back on Saturday, but Post’s chances of playing in that game are smaller. Stewart should see a sizable role in both of the Grizzlies’ games this weekend while also getting at least one start.

Dylan Cardwell, C, Sacramento Kings

Things have been weird in Sacramento recently, specifically surrounding Domantas Sabonis and his role. That resulted in Cardwell seeing a big bump in minutes in their last game. Factor in that Precious Achiuwa is also questionable with an ankle injury, which is another path for Cardwell to take on more minutes, which could mean plenty of rebounds and defensive stats.

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Maro Itoje warns England not to sleepwalk into clash with Eddie Jones’s Japan

  • ‘Japan have a distinct way of playing,’ says captain

  • Steve Borthwick hails ‘weird and wonderful’ Jones

Maro Itoje has insisted England will be ready for any curveballs Eddie Jones may throw on Saturday, warning his side they cannot “sleepwalk” into battle against Japan.

Jones, England’s longest-serving head coach after his stint between 2015 and 2022, has strongly hinted he will set his side up to unsettle his former charges at Twickenham, warning that they do not like “unorthodox” rugby. The hosts are heavy favourites to back up last week’s record win over Australia with another emphatic victory and have never lost to Japan but Steve Borthwick has made 10 personnel and two positional changes, fielding an inexperienced side against that of his predecessor.

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England have licence to thrill against Japan after acing audition against Australia | Ugo Monye

Steve Borthwick has picked a team to excite fans – let’s see them beat the Brave Blossoms at their own game on Saturday

Based on England’s performance last week, there was part of me that thought about writing a piece that would light another fire under the squad. As predicted a week ago, England were galvanised by events leading up to the game against Australia and I cannot remember the last time when I came away from Twickenham so impressed by both the result and the performance.

Pretty much every box was ticked. It was a complete showing. Discipline was on point, the set piece went well and England scored all manner of tries. The question is, how does a much-changed team take a step up, continue to build momentum through the Nations Championship and drive things forward? It can be a challenge against a side like Japan – we only have to look back at England v Japan in 2018, it was like a cemetery for some players’ international careers.

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The Lakers are starting to find their way

Simply looking at the Lakers 11-2 record tells you they’ve been playing really well to start the season. Irrespective of the competition, you simply don’t win at this rate — including seven games in a row after Wednesday’s victory in Milwaukee — without doing way more things right than wrong.

That said, one of the benefits of watching a team on a day-to-day basis is that you gain perspective on what you’re watching, are better able to contextualize the results and can speak to the differences between, say, an 11-point win against the Bucks vs. a 10-point win against the Hawks against a six-point win over the Raptors.

The details from any one of those games matter and help provide the arc and narrative of where the team has been and, maybe more importantly, where they could be going. You can also find the themes that help you, even this early in the year, establish what the team actually is.

For example, the numbers tell you the Lakers are the best offense in the league and that Luka Dončić is on the sort of start to the season that forgest MVP campaigns. These things are related and are easily the top data point for why the Lakers have the record that they do.

Again, though, watching this team every day gives you access to more than what a visit to the NBA Stats page or Cleaning the Glass would tell you about the team. Those tools help contextualize what you watch, but they cannot replace what you observe with your own eyes. They also cannot prove the nuance of and aforementioned details that go into the progression — or in some cases, regression — that comprises the march through what is a marathon of an 82-game campaign.

Which leads me back to why I’m here in the first place.

While the Lakers are 11-2, I’d argue they are just now starting to find their way of what they are and who they can as a team. Because their record is what it is, I think it would be easy to conflate their success with them hitting the ground running, but that would be a mistake. It’s not that the team isn’t playing well — of course they are, look at their record! — but it’s more that the version of well they’re playing is just now beginning to become more well-rounded.

For example, when the Lakers’ winning streak started seven games ago, Luka was in full destroyer of worlds mode, scoring 45, 42, 40, and 53 points in consecutive games. If we’re being honest, the Lakers wouldn’t have needed much beyond Luka playing to that level for them to win, but they were still getting complementary performances from Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler — both of whom scored in double digits in all those games too — as well as other role players stepping up on any given night.

Over the last three games, however, things have started to diversify more, with Luka and Austin taking turns sitting out in the Sunday and Monday back-to-back games in Detroit and Atlanta. Add in Quentin Grimes missing the contests against the Hawks and Bucks, and the rotation has been stress-tested with different players needing to absorb usage while stepping into larger roles.

And, with those opportunities for others to step up, we have seen the Lakers begin to better establish the team they can actually become rather than simply rely on Luka going nuclear while fueling the NBA’s best offense.

Sandro Mamukelashvili’s uptick in production the past two games is a perfect example of this. Mamu was not necessarily playing poorly before these past two games against the Hawks and Bucks, but he was most helping the team by being a connective passer whose ability to drive and attack closeouts was helping grease the wheels of the team’s offense.

Against the Hawks and the Bucks, however, Mamu showed an uptick in offensive aggression, looking for his own shot more often and paying off those attempts with made baskets. After scoring a total of 16 points in wins over the Kings, Blazers, and Pistons, Mamu erupted for 23 points in both Atlanta and Milwaukee, bested by only Luka on both nights.

Following the win in Milwaukee, Mamu spoke about playing with more confidence and how it’s taken time to grow into believing in himself to the same degree the coaches and organization have believed in him by signing and putting him into the role he’s occupied.

Beyond Mamu, we’ve also seen a better play from Collin Sexton, both individually and in reestablishing his connection and chemistry with Walker Kessler. After missing all of training camp, Sexton has been up and down to begin the year, but the recent uptick in touches and playing as the lone lead guard on the court with Luka and Austin both missing games has not only given him more chances to lead the team’s offensive attack, but his placement into more units where he’s gotten to play with his former Jazz teammate, Kessler, has given him a familiar partner who he clearly has a feel for playing with.

In the last three games, the 42 minutes Sexton has played with Kessler is the most he’s been paired with any teammate. While their plus-minus together is only plus-six in those minutes, when you consider Sexton’s season-long plus-minus is a -22, this recent trend upwards is a huge shift from how his year began.

Much of this is fueled by them flashing an understanding of how to play off of each other, with Sexton seeking out and feeding Kessler for easy baskets on one end of the court and Kessler helping to insulate Sexton defensively by patrolling the paint and protecting the back line on the other.

When you add in that on any given night the team is also getting strong performances from Ziaire Williams offensively, well-rounded floor games from Jake LaRavia, defensive playmaking and shot making from Matisse Thybulle, hard-nosed defense and rebounding from Jarred Vanderbilt and mostly mistake-free minutes boosted by elite athleticism from Adou Thiero, the Lakers are looking more and more like a full team that is complementing each other instead of a one- or two-man show of Luka and Reaves that just so happens to be supported by a mostly anonymous group of role players.

To what degree the Lakers’ record can keep up with their great start remains to be seen. I absolutely do not think nor believe they’ll maintain an .800+ winning percentage all season. But that’s sort of the point here.

The Lakers may not ultimately be as good as their record through 13 games, but they’ve also been winning without playing nearly their best basketball. They’ve only very recently started to resemble a group that understands how to play together and what to do in the various scenarios different opponents offer with their specific game plans tailored to their own personnel.

And that, in and of itself, is exciting.

You can follow Darius on BlueSky at @forumbluegoldand find more of his Lakers coverage on the Laker Film Room Podcast.

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The Rockets have reinvented their offense

HOUSTON, TX - NOVEMBER 11: Alperen Sengun #28 and Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets high five during the game against the Golden State Warriors on November 11, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Houston Rockets have the third-best offense in the NBA.

Ostensibly speaking. We know that numbers can speak in half-truths. It’s undeniable that the Rockets have been the third-most efficient offense at this stage of the season. Whether they’re actually the third-best team in the NBA is something we won’t know until later in the year.

Pedanticism aside, this team looks good. It looks different.

Why?

The Rockets are playing a different game

Let’s start here: Alperen Sengun is having a career season.

Side note: I’ve grown tired of the discussion around “conserving energy” for one side of the floor or another. I know the modern game is different. It’s faster-paced. Injuries have become more common, etc.

You need to play both sides. That’s basketball. First it was Sengun, and now it’s Amen Thompson. It’s a flimsy excuse for poor play on either side. Unless you’re Nikola Jokic or maybe Luka Doncic, you don’t get to make up for one end on the other.

In 2026-27, Sengun is playing both sides of the ball. He’s defending well, but more relevantly here, he’s having a career-best playmaking season. Sengun is averaging 7.9 assists per game.

And I think that’s directly causally linked to the team’s improved approach.

Running actions through Sengun in the high post, out of dribble handoffs, and as a short roll passer just lends itself to motion offense. It’s partly a numbers game: When you’re getting assists from the five, you’re getting more assists. More broadly, it leads to extra passes, unpredictability, and overall good NBA offense.

It’s showing in the team-wide numbers. The Rockets are making 296.8 passes per game – 10th in the NBA. Last season, their 279.5 a night landed 23rd. That’s a stylistic overhaul.

They’re also reducing their isolation slightly, from 9.5% frequency last year to 8.1% this year. That’s likely part of why Kevin Durant, as the team’s best isolation scorer, has seen his load reduced.

It’s not that Alperen Sengun has become a better offensive player than Kevin Durant. More so, this is a more appropriate alignment in terms of playing to each other’s strengths. Sengun is a playmaker. Durant, at this stage in his career, should be a play finisher whose gravity is as important as his actual output.

A more cynical view may hold that the Rockets are just shooting better. So often, basketball reduces itself to a game of make or miss. So far, the Rockets have increased their three-point volume (34.3 from 31.5) and accuracy (37.4% from 36.4%). Plenty of Rockets – Alperen Sengun (47.6% on 2.1 attempts per game), Jabari Smith Jr. (42.1% on 6.3), and Marcus Smart (40.0%, 4.4) are having career seasons from beyond the arc.

For those of you getting deja vu, you’re not alone. The Rockets came out of the gates last year with hot shooting, and then cooled off. That could happen again, but as long as they maintain their revamped approach to offense, they maximize the odds that their offense stays strong.

Even if they slip a bit from third.

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Raisel Iglesias makes sense for the Washington Nationals as a 9th inning stabilizer

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 06: Raisel Iglesias #26 of the Atlanta Braves throws a pitch during the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game three of the National League Division Series at Truist Park on October 06, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Yesterday one of my favorite free agent relief targets came off the board. Evan Phillips signed with the Braves on a 3-year $35 million deal. I was enamored by Phillips due to his track record and how good he looked coming off of Tommy John. Based on the deal he got, the league seemed to agree with me.

It is a bummer to miss out on Phillips, but the fact he signed with the Braves opens up another opportunity. This move means that long-time Braves closer Raisel Iglesias is unlikely to return to Atlanta. I would not be surprised if the Nats pursue Iglesias pretty heavily for reasons we will get into.

The first reason Iglesias would be a target is because of his performance. He is a grizzled veteran with a ton of experience in the 9th inning. Iglesias has 287 career saves, so the moment will never be too big for him. While he turns 37 in January, Iglesias has shown no signs of slowing down.

Last season, the right hander posted a 2.55 ERA in 59 outings, while converting 34 of his 37 save attempts. Iglesias has been a good closer for a decade now, but his time with the Braves was the best of his career. In five seasons, Iglesias posted a 2.39 ERA with 131 saves. 

In addition to the performance, there is one other factor that makes Iglesias uniquely attractive. Due to his age, he is unlikely to command a multi-year deal. Reports have come out that the Nats are hesitant to give out multi-year deals to relievers. With Iglesias, they can get the best of both worlds. He is still a highly capable closer, but he is also limited to a one year deal.

Do not get it twisted, this does not mean Iglesias will come cheap. Last offseason, he signed a 1-year $16 million deal to return to the Braves. After another great year, he is likely to command a similar sort of contract. That might make the Nats braintrust a little uneasy, but I would give Iglesias that sort of deal.

We saw what it was like not to have a real closer last year, and it was not pretty. If Paul Toboni and the Nats are unwilling to throw out multi-year contracts, this is the best closer available to them. It is just a move that makes a ton of sense.

Iglesias gets his results due to a combination of funk, movement and enough raw stuff. He is a master at getting hitters to chase. The right hander has ranked in the 90th percentile or better in chase rate every year since 2020. This season, he was in the 99th percentile, with hitters chasing 39% of the pitches Iglesias threw out of the strike zone.

The primary driver of this is his nasty changeup. It has been a major weapon in his arsenal for many years now. Iglesias’ changeup tunnels so well off his mid-90’s fastball. Hitters think the pitch is a heater before it tumbles outside of the zone. Iglesias also has impeccable command of the offering.

That changeup is his money pitch, but Iglesias also throws a 4-seamer, a sinker and a slider. All these pitches come out of a funky, low slot delivery. For most of his career, Iglesias has had healthy strikeout numbers while not walking many people. That was no different in 2026, with Iglesias striking out 26.8% of batters while only walking 7.1%.

There has been talk the Nats are looking for late inning experience, but do not want to offer multi-year deals. If that is the case, there is no better candidate than Raisel Iglesias. There is some risk due to his age, but even if it does not work out, it would only be a one-year deal.

Paul Toboni should offer Raisel Iglesias a 1-year $16 million deal to stay in the NL East and close games for the Nats. Iglesias has proven his skillset can age gracefully and he has a ton of closer experience. The Nats can get their 9th inning guy without committing to a multi-year deal. 

If the team is competing for the wild card, Iglesias can be a rock in the 9th inning. Even if they fall out of the race, Iglesias would likely be a valuable commodity at the deadline. The fit is just so clear here, now we have to see if it actually happens.

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How Evan Phillips’ contract compared to some projections

Aug 21, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Evan Phillips (59) reacts at the end of the 10th inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Veteran relief pitcher Evan Phillips was the first Dodgers free agent to find a home for 2027, as the right-hander signed a three-year, $35 million contract with the Atlanta Braves on Thursday.

In terms of average annual value, Phillips at $11.67 million per year is right in line with the other notable relief signing this week, with Emilio Pagán getting $11.5 million on his one-year deal with the Detroit Tigers. But Phillips, two years and four months younger than Pagán, got two more guaranteed seasons on his deal.

Phillips was ranked has high as the 29th-best free agent on the market at MLB Trade Rumors, was No. 34 at CBS Sports, 36th at FanGraphs, 46th at Yahoo Sports, and No. 48 at both NBC Sportsand Baseball Prospectus. Phillips was not among the 50 free agents ranked by Kiley McDaniel at ESPN, nor was Phillips in the top 40 for Keith Law at The Athletic, nor the top 50 from Deesha Thosar and Rowan Kavner at Fox Sports.

One transaction does not a market make, but a three-year contract for Phillips after pitching half a season upon returning from Tommy John surgery suggests a strong earning potential for relievers this offseason. Last offseason, only three relief pitchers signed three-year deals:

  • Edwin Díaz (Dodgers): 3 years, 69 million
  • Devin Williams (Mets): 3 years, $51 million
  • Robert Suarez (Braves): 3 years, $45 million

Suarez saved 76 games in his two previous seasons before his contract, Díaz had 48 saves in his previous two years, and Williams saved 32 games in 2024-25 before joining the Mets. Phillips saved 42 games between 2023-24, but totaled two saves in his 38 total appearances over the previous two years.

Let’s see how some of these outlets projected what Phillips’ contract might have been:

Not getting ranked at ESPN, The Athletic (by neither Keith Law nor Tim Britton), nor Fox Sports really limited the contract projections for Phillips, compared to say Alex Vesia, who had a series of two-year projections and one three-year projection at near the AAV Phillips achieved with his deal.

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2026 Phillies Report Card: Bryce Harper

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 27: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies at bat in the first inning during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Citizens Bank Park on September 27, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images

To answer it right off the bat: no, Bryce Harper did not have an elite season. A good season, certainly. But not elite. There certainly will not be a repeat the rigamarole on the matter that followed the 2025 season, in part because the matter is somewhat tired at this point: you get one passive-aggressive t-shirt for a controversy, and no more, that’s in the collective bargaining agreement. Speaking of CBAs, that’s the other reason why we won’t likely be spending the offseason discussing the question of Harper’s eliteness. There are bigger fish to fry. And that frier may be located in a federal courtroom. But while the lawyers prepare to go to work, we can, and should, take a look at Harper’s 2026 season. We’ll look at the stats, and discuss, and provide a letter grade. We’re leaving adjectives out, though. You’ll have to provide one yourself.

2026 stats: 162 games, 269/.380/.485, 865 OPS, 29 HR, 87 RBI, 7 SB, 21.4 K%, 15.4 BB%, 135 wRC+, 3.3 fWAR

What went right

Much of the Phillies lineup struggled at the plate last year. Bryce Harper did not. He was just one of three qualified batters on the team to post a wRC+ above 100; his 135 in that category lead the team, and was 15th league-wide. He took a somewhat more patient approach at the plate, lifting his walk rate by 3.3%, while maintaining his power. And he did all this as an ever-present force in the lineup, playing in all 162 regular-season games. He also addressed a weak point from last year: in 2025, the best way to handle him was to throw him breaking balls(wOBA of .310 against, as compared to .405 for fastballs and .362 for breaking balls). His performance against the moving stuff was much better this year (wOBA of .342), chasing and whiffing on them less. The differences between Harper’s 2026 and his 2025 weren’t enormous. He was better in 2026, but not by a whole lot. Still, given that the baseline he was working with, slightly better than 2025 means “very good”. He received downballot MVP votes, finishing 15th in the Senior Circuit; that seems like a fair summary of his season.

What went wrong

Despite improvements at the plate, his 2026 fWAR wasn’t meaningfully different than the number he posted in 2025 (3.3 this season, 3.4 the year prior). That was due to a downturn in his glovework: he posted a -5 Outs Above Average and a Fielding Run Value that was -10 by FanGraphs’ numbers and -12 by Baseball Savant’s (vs. 1 OAA and -1 FRV a year prior). Among first basemen, only Spencer Torkelson of the Tigers posted a lower OAA, and none posted a lower FRV. His arm was good, but no first baseman was worse at receiving throws.

He also graded out as negative as a baserunner: his decisions on advancing and stealing ended up doing him more harm than good.

And while most of the news from his work at the plate was good, he did post a worrying downturn in his performance against offspeed pitches (wOBA of .294, down from .362). He swung at them less, but whiffed more often when he did. And when he did hit them, he didn’t hit them as hard as he had the year before. That’s part of a longer trend: his slugging percentage against offspeed pitches was .612 in 2024; now it’s .342. Not coincidentally, pitchers threw him more offspeed stuff than they had in 2025; he gave opposing hurlers an avenue of attack.

Final Grade: B

If we were grading by a universal standard, this would probably be higher. If you played well enough to pick up some MVP votes, you should probably be getting at least a B+/A-. But Harper, as a star and as the face of the franchise, is held to a higher standard, both by himself and those around him. His performance at the plate was good, though not on par with his best years. Fairly or not, Harper is expected to be superhuman and transformative for the team; him merely being very good with the bat in 2026 feels underwhelming, if only because we have so many memories of him being so much more. More fair is dinging him for his poor baserunning and lackluster fielding.

A Bryce Harper B-grade season is a better season than most players will ever produce. The B-tier work of an average player shows nothing to get excited about, while the B-tier work of a star shows the flashes of brilliance that remind us of their best work. You didn’t have to read this far to know that Bryce Harper wasn’t quite elite in 2026; not only did we state it at the top, but you saw it for yourself. But you’ve also seen enough to know he’s a player about whom the question will be asked. That’s an honor in itself.

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Yankees Birthday of the Day: Mel Stottlemyre

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 15: Mel Stottlemyre of the New York Yankees looks on during the game against the Oakland Athletics at McAfee Coliseum on May 15, 2005 in Oakland, California. The Yankees defeated the A's 6-4. (Photo by Michael Zagaris /MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Mel Stottlemyre had the misfortune of being one of the best Yankees’ players during one of the worst periods in Yankees’ history. Through no fault of Stottlemyre’s own, the Yankees slide down the standings during his tenure, mostly as a result of the disastrous CBS ownership period. He has the status of being on the shortlist of best ever Yankees’ players who never won a World Series.

However, Stottlemyre then had a coaching career that more than made up for it. He later became the pitching coach on the Yankees’ 1900s and 2000s dynasty, arguably getting more fame for that than his playing career. However, he was great at both and on this — what would’ve been his 85th birthday — let’s remember a legendary Yankee.

Melvin Leon “Mel” Stottlemyre
Born: November 13, 1941 (Hazleton, MO)
Died: January 13, 2019 (Seattle, WA)
Yankees Tenure: 1964-74

One of five children born to Vernon and Lorene Ellen Stottlemyre, Mel Stottlemyre was born in Missouri 1941. His father was a pipefitter and moved the family around to various states around the country before they finally settled in Washington state. There, Mel developed a love of baseball from his father, who would take him and his brother to local semi-pro games.

Early in his life, Stottlemyre’s playing of the sport was mostly limited to games in the backyard with his brother. He didn’t really play much organized ball until high school. Stottlemyre began to shine as a pitcher and shortstop for Mabton High School, where he was a multi-sport start and the student body president.

His high school career got Stottlemyre a scholarship to Yakima Valley Junior College, but things did not start great there. His first season was supposed to be in 1960, but poor grades led him to be declared academically ineligible. He eventually got that straightened out and returned for 1961, where he impressed and caught the eye of major league teams.

The then Milwaukee Braves gave Stottlemyre a workout, but came away unimpressed and rejected him for “not throwing hard enough.” Their loss would be the Yankees’ gain. Yankees scout Eddie Taylor signed Stottlemyre to the pitcher’s childhood favorite team in 1961.

After making quick work of the lower levels of the minors, Stottlemyre struggled in Triple-A in 1963. Having previously been one of the hottest prospects in the Yankees’ system, that led to him not getting an invite to big league spring training for 1964. However, after starting the season in the Triple-A bullpen, he battled his way back into the rotation and put in a monster season. By the end of the year, with Whitey Ford dealing with injury issues, Stottlemyre got a big league callup. Making his debut in August, Stottlemyre appeared in 13 games in 1964, putting up a 2.04 ERA in 96 innings. He helped rejuvenate that Yankee team, allowing them to eke out the AL pennant.

In that year’s World Series, manager Yogi Berra entrusted the rookie to make three World Series starts. Stottlemyre outdueled Bob Gibson in a Game 2 victory. Gibson and the Cardinals would get the better of Stottlemyre and the Yankees in the other two — including Game 7 — but there’s no way to not be impressed by what the 22-year-old had done that year.

Unfortunately, those would be the only postseason games Stottlemyre ever pitched in, through no fault of his own. Over the course of his 11-year career, Stottlemyre put up a 2.97 ERA, a 3.36 FIP, 40.7 rWAR, and 34.0 fWAR. He was named an All-Star on five occasions and won 20 games on three occasions. However, he also finished with double digit losses on eight occasions, as the pieces of the 1950s/early ‘60s dynasty aged out and a lot of the young non-Stottlemyre players couldn’t hold up their end of the bargain.

Eventually, the years of being one of the team’s few hopes and throwing 250+ innings caught up to Stottlemyre. Just as the team was beginning to turn the corner under a new crop of youngsters and was getting purchased by George Steinbrenner, Stottlemyre tore his rotator cuff. While he attempted to make a comeback, the team eventually released him in March 1975. He decided to end his playing career, just barely missing out on some great year in franchise history at either end of his years in New York.

Having moved back to Washington, Stottlemyre got into coaching with the Mariners in the early 1980s. The Mets eventually brought him back to New York as their pitching coach in 1984. Mentoring the likes of a young Dwight Gooden, Stottlemyre helped the Mets to their famous 1986 World Series championship. After that, he spent some years with the Astros before Joe Torre brought him back into the fold after being hired as Yankees’ manager in 1996.

Over the next many years, Stottlemyre finally got to be part of postseason success in the Bronx. As the Yankees’ pitching guru, he helped them to World Series championships in 1996, ‘98, ‘99, and 2000. He eventually retired after the 2005 season, in part likely due to frustrations over George Steinbrenner’s George Steinbrenner-ness. After a stint in the Diamondbacks’ organization, he returned to the dugout for one season as Mariners’ pitching coach in 2008 before retiring again.

Stottlemyre had two sons also make the big leagues as pitchers in Mel Jr. and Todd. Todd had a very solid 14-year career, winning the World Series with the 1992 and ‘93 Blue Jays. Mel Jr. only briefly played in the majors, but he followed his dad into the pitching coach field. He was mostly recently the Marlins’ pitching coach, departing that role after the 2024 season.

Mel himself returned to the pacific northwest after his baseball career was over. Having previously beaten the disease, Stottlemyre eventually passed away from cancer in 2019 at age 77. Thankfully before that, he got to return to Yankee Stadium on occasions. That included a 2015 appearance, where he gave an emotional speech after the team surprised him with a Monument Park plaque.

Mel Stottlemyre held two roles in his years with the Yankees and was great at both of them. He probably would’ve been great at other ones too.

See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

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Cubs trade target: Jarren Duran

If you didn’t like yesterday’s trade idea, Dylan Crews, here’s another outfielder who could be on the trading block and who could very well fit the Cubs’ need for an outfielder.

There are caveats here, so let’s look at them.

Jarren Duran had an outstanding 2024 season, posting 9.0 bWAR and leading MLB with 48 doubles and 14 triples. He batted .285/.342/.492, hit 21 home runs and stole 34 bases and finished eighth in AL MVP voting. The following year was good, but not at that level: .256/.332/.442, an AL-leading 13 triples, 16 home runs, 24 stolen bases and 4.9 bWAR.

Last year, Duran crashed to what wasn’t much more than replacement level: .207/.266/.361, a big decline in doubles and triples, though with 20 home runs and 21 stolen bases. His defense, which had previously been good, also suffered and he posted just 0.4 bWAR. Here’s an article that gives some good analysis of why this happened. Some of the decline came with a big drop in his BABIP, from .326 to .252.

Duran is 30 and made $7.7 million in 2026. He’s under team control for two more seasons. I’d think he could make a competent right fielder for a couple of years, perhaps until Josiah Hartshorn is ready. It should be noted that Duran didn’t play right field at all in 2026, though he has played the position in the past and at one time was a very good center fielder. If not right field, Duran could certainly play a competent left field.

There’s one other thing to consider regarding Duran, and that’s some controversies he’s been involved in. Before trading for a guy like this, you’d have to make sure those are in his past.

So why am I proposing this? Because I think there’s a match here of two disappointing players.

The Red Sox didn’t really have a regular second baseman in 2026. Matt Shaw’s best position is second base, and he’s obviously blocked there with the Cubs by Nico Hoerner. He can’t play third for the Cubs either, and his time in right field in 2026 was shaky. He doesn’t really have the arm for right field and would probably be better served as an infielder. Shaw is also a Massachusetts native.

So would the teams do this? A change-of-scenery deal, one-for-one, Shaw for Duran?

Who says no?

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Ojomoh and Pollock get their shot as England’s World Cup hopefuls aim to crush Japan

Steve Borthwick is ringing the changes and George Ford, despite his 108 caps, also knows he needs to perform

In Tokyo this week the police have been seeking to help newly arrived visitors from overseas. Several local bar and restaurant managers have been arrested for targeting and ripping off unwary tourists who had walked into their establishments in good faith. Unfortunately for Japan’s rugby players, as they prepare to enter England’s chilly lair, there is no such reciprocal deal to protect them from a collective south-west London mugging on Saturday afternoon.

Instead they will be required to fend for themselves, with the odds heavily stacked in the home team’s favour. England have racked up a half-century of points against the Brave Blossoms in both their two most recent meetings – and that was before rugby’s try-scoring rates began ratcheting upwards. Japan’s arrival also neatly intersects with their hosts’ desire to build on the momentum of last Sunday’s 45-22 win over Australia.

Continue reading...
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Devils Defeat Capitals 5-2 Behind Goals From Three Recent Call-Ups

The New Jersey Devils defeated the Washington Capitals 5-2 on Thursday in the opening game of a home-and-home series. New Jersey received offensive contributions from all three players recalled from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Utica Comets, each finding the back of the net. 

"It's a Utica hat trick," Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe said with a smile.

Evan Rodrigues scored  the game's opening goal on the power play while he was on the second unit with Dougie Hamilton, Luke Evangelista, Timo Meier, and Arseny Gritsyuk. It was the first of two points for the 33-year-old.

With four minutes remaining on Declan Chisholm’s penalty against Aliaksei Protas, Washington tied the game with a goal from Ryan Leonard. It was the Capitals' seventh shot on Connor Hellebuyck while on the man advantage.

Entering the game, Washington and New Jersey were tied for first in the NHL with seven total comeback wins this season.

A little over two minutes into the second period, the Capitals took a 2-1 lead off an even-strength goal by Pierre-Luc Dubois.

Lenni Hämeenaho tied the game with his first of the season after being recalled from Utica on Wednesday. Defenseman Brenden Dillon and Hämeenaho’s linemate, Cody Glass, picked up the assists.  

"Yeah, it wasn't a pretty one, but I'll take that every day of the week," Hameenaho said. "It was a good shot from Dilly, and I think it hit my glove and went in."

In his Devils debut, defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok, another call-up from Utica, scored the game-winning goal at the 6:27 mark of the third period. Thursday night marked the third game in three nights for the 25-year-old.

""I like to play, so I was actually pumped," Kolyachonok said.

With under three minutes remaining, Stefan Noesen scored to give New Jersey a 4-2 lead. Jack Hughes hit the empty net to secure the team’s seventh win in Newark.

Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck improved his record with the Devils to 6-0-0. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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Pinto's Overtime Birthday Gift Gives Senators 4-3 OT Win Over Colorado

Shane Pinto opened and closed the scoring on Thursday night as the Senators defeated the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 in overtime at Canadian Tire Centre.

The victory was the Senators' third in their last four games, a stretch in which they've collected seven of a possible eight points. The Sens improved to 12-6-2 on the season as they continue to bank valuable points in the Eastern Conference standings.

Jake Sanderson and Drake Batherson were both asked about Artem Zub on the day of his 400th career game..

Tim Stützle and Drake Batherson also scored for the Senators, who jumped out to a 2-0 lead before watching Colorado score three unanswered goals to take the lead in the third period.

Artturi Lehkonen, former Senator Parker Kelly and Gabriel Landeskog supplied the offence for Colorado, which overcame its early deficit but couldn't hold onto the lead.

The game also marked the return of Linus Ullmark, who made his first start since suffering a lower-body injury on October 21 against Florida. Ullmark stopped 25 shots to earn the victory, his seventh in as many starts this season.

The night started well for the Senators, with Pinto opening the scoring at 7:11 of the first period. After blocking a Brent Burns shot, Pinto raced down the ice, beat his man for the puck, then whipped it past Colorado goaltender Scott Wedgewood.

Stützle doubled the lead six minutes later, converting a setup from Fabian Zetterlund to give the home team a 2-0 advantage after 20 minutes. Stützle was all alone in front, patiently pulled the puck to his backhand and tucked it in.

But the Avs gradually worked their way back.

Lehkonen scored on the power play late in the second period, and then it was Kelly who tied the game with a shorthanded goal early in the third.

Things got worse for the Sens when Landeskog scored another power-play goal midway through the final period, giving the Avalanche a 3-2 lead.

Suddenly, a game the Senators appeared to have under control was slipping away.

But Batherson came to the rescue. With just 3:56 remaining in regulation, Batherson pounced on a loose puck in the crease and scored his 10th goal of the season to force overtime.

That set the stage for Pinto, who was celebrating his 26th birthday, and got a lovely gift from Parker Kelly.

At 2:08 of overtime, Pinto intercepted an errant pass from Kelly in the Colorado zone and fired a wrist shot past Wedgewood for his second goal of the night and the 4-3 victory. He finished the evening with three points.

For Colorado, the loss of the point in overtime pales in comparison with the potential loss of their two superstars. Nathan MacKinnon and defenceman Cale Makar both left the game in the second period with lower-body injuries and did not return.

MacKinnon was injured after a firm cross check in the rib area from Artem Zub, who was playing his 400th career NHL game. It wasn't a violent cross check by any means, but it obviously caught Mackinnon in a vulnerable spot.

As for Makar, he just looked like he tried to change direction too quickly and damaged something.

The Sens hit the 20-game mark at 12-6-2, which incredibly, isn't enough for a spot in the Atlantic's top 3, but the win does leave them six points inside of the playoff picture with the first wild card. It also extended their points streak to four games (3-0-1).

The Sens are back in action Saturday when they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

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Mariners News: Yordan Álvarez, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Evan Phillips

HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 29: Yordan Alvarez #44 of the Houston Astros bats in the third inning of Game One of the American League Wild Card Series presented by AbbVie against the Chicago White Sox at Daikin Park on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Good morning everybody and happy Friday!

With the GM Meetings now concluded, let’s dig into the latest from around baseball.

In Mariners news…

Around the league…

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Sugar Land Space Cowboys 2026 Season Review

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 15: Pascanel Ferreras #92 of the Houston Astros warms up during the eighth inning of a spring training game against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 15, 2025 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

The Sugar Land Space Cowboys had solid 2026 season including some good performances. Let’s take a look.

Sugar Land Space Cowboys 2026 Record: 74-75

Here are the team leaders (min 300 PA or 40 IP):

TEAM LEADERS
Hits – Cavan Biggio (99)
2B – Pascanel Ferreras (24)
3B – Cavan Biggio (6)
HR – CJ Alexander (21)
RBI – Cavan Biggio(64)
BA – Pascanel Ferreras (.305)
SB – Shay Whitcomb (23)
OPS – CJ Alexander (.850)
wRC+ – Pascanel Ferreras (121)

IP – Josh Hendrickson (113.2)
W – Josh Hendrickson (9)
SV – Roddery Munoz (12)
SO – Josh Hendrickson (106)
ERA – Roddery Munoz (3.06)

NOTABLES

Pascanel Ferreras, INF
Ferreras was the last pick of the 2023 draft, but he has made quite the climb as a prospect. After a slow start in Corpus Christi, he moved up to Triple-A where he really turned things on. In 71 games in Triple-A, Ferreras hit .305 with 24 doubles and 6 home runs. He would lead Sugar Land in batting average, doubles and wRC+. Ferreras did enough in 2026 that he could be a utility candidate in 2027.

Miguel Ullola, RHP
Ullola started the season as a starter but really struggled and the organization moved him to the bullpen. This move was a game changer for Ullola. Over his next 11 games he tossed 12 innings with 17 strikeouts allowing just 3 runs (all in one game). He eventually got some innings in Houston and performed well posting a 2.16 ERA with 16 strikeouts over 16.2 innings, allowing just 7 hits. He should be in the big league pen in 2027.

Cavan Biggio, INF
Biggio has been around the block for a while but ended up putting together a strong season for Sugar Land. The utility player batted just .230, but had a .387 OBP with 18 home runs over 123 games in Triple-A. He never received a call up, which was a little surprising given the issues in Houston, but he provided a pretty solid bat for Sugar Land in 2026.

Ethan Pecko, RHP
Pecko’s season got off to a slow start with injury but once he got healthy in Triple-A, he started to show why he was one of the Astros top pitching prospects. In June, the right-hander had a 2.48 ERA over 29 innings. He finished in Triple-A with a 4.94 ERA over 17 games and would eventually earn a call up to Houston. Pecko pitched in 8 games, 5 starts, for Houston and posted a 3.93 ERA over 34.1 innings.

Lucas Spence, OF
Spence, an undrafted free agent following the 2024 draft, came into the season with pretty high expectations. He got off to a slow start but turned things on in the middle of the season hitting .316 with a .928 OPS over 35 games between Double-A and Triple-A. He eventually earned a promotion to Houston where he had a late surge including a three home run game. Spence could be a factor on the major league roster next season.