Sunderland drop points in 1-1 draw but stay unbeaten
VAR rules out Juventus winner in draw with Rennes
Celtic suffered more Europa League pain as Spanish side Celta Vigo came from behind to win 2-1 at Parkhead. After defeats by Ferencvaros and Benfica in their first two league phase fixtures, Martin O’Neill’s side struggled to impose themselves on the visitors who were neat and tidy without really testing Hoops keeper Sam Johnstone.
Germany midfielder Mika Baur fired the home side in front just over a minute into the second half to thrill the Celtic fans but Spain defender Javi Rodríguez scored twice in three minutes – a header then an unstoppable drive – to stun the home side who could not find a way back.
It was an unforgettable moment on Tuesday night in New York when the Knicks raised a championship banner to the rafters at Madison Square Garden for the first time in over half a century, and the members of last year’s title-winning team received their championship rings.
It was unforgettable for everyone involved in the franchise's first championship since 1973. Well, except for Mitchell Robinson.
The former Knick, who signed with the Boston Celtics this offseason, admitted on Thursday that he wasn’t watching.
“I didn’t watch it,” he said, adding that he was “still stuck” in his head from the Celtics game earlier in the day as Boston began its season by letting a 22-point second-half lead slip away in a 121-113 loss to the Detroit Pistons.
“I am proud of those guys; obviously, I was a part of it,” Robinson said of his former comrades. “I just didn’t really wanna watch it.”
A few days later, Robinson indicated that his focus remains on his new team as he shrugged off any talk about facing his former teammates this Friday in Boston.
"It doesn't matter that I'm playing my former team; it’s more so just trying to bounce back from what happened two nights ago,” he said, referencing the season-opening defeat.
“It's basketball; it's a business,” Robinson continued. “Got to play the team just like you play any other team."
Karl-Anthony Towns said it was "bittersweet" to see Robinson join the Celtics.
"You love Mitch, we've done so many historical things together here. To not see him in a Knicks jersey anymore... for all of us. We're a family unit," Towns said.
"It's gonna be amazing to see our brother, to be able to hug him, to be able to show him some love, and to, obviously, compete," he continued.
Earlier in the day, Josh Hart said he was "looking forward" to seeing Robinson.
"They cross match a lot, so I'm sure he'll be guarding me, so can't wait to shoot in that..." he said before stopping himself. "When I make a couple, I'm gonna let him know."
Asked specifically about facing Jalen Brunson coming down the lane, Robinson shrugged and said he is “just here to play basketball.”
“Same thing I’ll do with any other team, same thing I’ll do with them. It’s just all about basketball,” he said.
Robinson started and played 18 minutes in the Celtics' first game, scoring four points (2-for-2 from the floor, 0-for-2 from the line) with just three rebounds (one offensive), two blocks, a steal, an assist, and two turnovers to finish a minus-8.
“I use it as fuel, kinda have to,” Robinson said about getting past a rough night. “Last game we got demolished. As a big, can’t let that happen. I gotta take that on the chin and learn from it, watch the film, and get better, and just focus on the next one.”
"It's bittersweet. You love Mitch - we've done so many historical things together here. To not see him in a Knicks jersey anymore...we're a family unit. To not be able to have him with us on this journey after that amazing journey we went through is bittersweet. But it's going to be amazing to be able to see our brother, hug him, show him some love and compete playing basketball like we love to do. We made each other better. He brought the best out of me, and I feel that I was able to bring the best out of him. Mitch was a big part of this team winning a championship and probably has the most important offensive rebound in Knicks history." Karl-Anthony Towns on facing Mitchell Robinson and the Celtics tomorrow night:
The National Basketball Referees Association (NBRA), the official union of NBA officials, responded to the controversial traveling no-call by Minnesota Timberwolves guard LaMelo Ball, indicating that it should have been ruled as an infraction.
“For everyone asking, ‘how is this legal?’ It’s not!” the NBRA posted Thursday, Oct. 22 from its social media account. “He gathers with his right foot on the floor and would be permitted two steps by rule (left-right). He takes four steps after gathering the ball and travels.”
The play occurred with 8:19 left in the second quarter of Minnesota’s game against the Miami Heat. With the game tied at 39, Ball slipped past a screen toward the right side of the floor. Ball picked up his dribble and then took a gather step by shuffling to his right. The issue is that Ball then took four lateral steps before beginning his shooting motion. He would go on to lace the 3-pointer, one of his five successful conversions on the night.
For everyone asking, “how is this legal?” It’s not! He gathers with his right foot on the floor and would be permitted two steps by rule (left-right). He takes four steps after gathering the ball and travels. https://t.co/dSitGeRNSD
When reached for comment on the no-call, the NBA referred USA TODAY Sports to the statement issued by the NBRA.
This was the latest controversial traveling no-call early in the 2026-27 season. On opening night Tuesday, Oct. 20, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shuffled his pivot foot on a converted field goal, drawing a number of critical comments from fans and viewers on social media.
During the preseason, Boston Celtics guard Hugo González was on his way to an uncontested layup on a fast break when he collected the ball at the 3-point line and then took five steps before laying it in. That play was also not called for a travel.
The NBA and its officiating staff review every play during the season and assess the enforcement of its rules, so they may opt to take a closer look should they deem it a larger issue. At this point, however, the gather step and travels have not risen to that level.
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 21: Marcus Sasser #8 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots the ball during the game against the Houston Rockets on October 21, 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 Dallas Mavericks got blown out 128-110 against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night in their season opener. The game was actually quite competitive for three of the four quarters, but an abysmal second quarter saw the Mavs largely get dismantled. Only able to muster a paltry 12 points while yielding 38, Dallas couldn’t overcome the second quarter swoon despite outscoring Houston by 14 points in the second half.
Cooper Flagg looked amazing in a 32-point effort and his pairing with Kyrie Irving – who dropped 15 points of his own on 6-of-9 shooting – made for some enjoyable basketball. Aside from Flagg and Irving, Naji Marshall put together a solid game off the bench (16 points, 6 assists and 2 rebounds), but the performances largely fell off from there. Then there was Marcus Sasser.
Sasser was acquired in the large six-team deal that also netted Dallas Santi Aldama and Tarik Biberovic back in July. He was well-regarded when he entered the league during the 2023-2024 season with the Detroit Pistons, but saw his role progressively dwindle as his tenure in Detroit went on. His minutes per game dropped year-over-year, and along with that, his points, assists and rebounds per game decreased year-over-year as well. The emergence of Cade Cunningham certainly didn’t help Sasser’s cause, but what he would bring to the Mavericks remained a question mark.
A Red Oak, TX native, Sasser played college ball at the University of Houston, so even though the season opener was a road game, Sasser surely felt right at home. It’s reasonable to believe the venue contributed to his comfort level, but after missing the first three preseason games, his performance on Wednesday night was more than impressive.
First Quarter
With 6:50 remaining in the first quarter, Sasser checked in for Max Christie. Just over a minute later, he dished his first assist to P.J. Washington. 30 seconds after that, he canned his first shot; a three-pointer. He then checked out at the 3:37 mark.
Second Quarter
Sasser got about five minutes of burn and managed to get a steal in what proved to be a nightmare quarter for the Mavs. Even with little statistical output, he looked poised on the floor and showed he could orchestrate a bit.
Third Quarter
Sasser checked in, again for Christie, with 6:48 remaining in the frame and played out the quarter. He committed a foul, then drilled a three and showed off his midrange game with a made floater from 14 feet out.
Fourth Quarter
Coach May must have liked what he was seeing as the Mavs chipped away, because Sasser opened the fourth quarter. He missed his first shot from 19 feet, then canned another three. He then hit another floater from 12 feet, got fouled and hit the free throw for a personal six-point run. He had a heat check with a missed three on the next possession, but that was the last time he would miss a shot. He checked out, then returned with four minutes left in the game. From there, he committed a turnover, then grabbed a rebound which he turned into another three-pointer five seconds later.
On the night, Sasser dropped in 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting (4-of-5 from deep), and had a single rebound, assist and steal. All this in just under 24 minutes of play. Is it reasonable to expect this type of performance every night, or was this a byproduct of playing back in his old college town? We have 81 games left to find out, but what we saw Wednesday night was very promising. The Mavericks are somewhat guard-light and we should expect Irving to have his fair share of rest games throughout the season. They are going to need a true guard who can both fill that gap and otherwise come off the bench as a viable sixth man. After the small sample size of Wednesday, it’s not difficult to imagine Sasser bringing the heat in the second unit, and it’s especially intriguing to think of what he may be able to do alongside Marshall if the latter continues to come off the bench.
The cherry on top? Sasser had this to say about his highly efficient performance: “I feel like I could have played better defensively, especially impacting the ball a little more.”
Sasser has an insane 6’7” wingspan relative to his 6’1” height. The physical tools are there for a rangy defender, and the fact that his focus was on what he could have done better, as opposed to what he did well, also bodes well. Dallas may have unearthed a hidden gem from the team’s own backyard in Sasser.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - OCTOBER 20: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 20, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, 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 (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Spurs are tied for last place with a bunch of bad teams. Other winless teams the Spurs are tied with include the Bulls, Bucks, Nets, Pelicans, Suns and Kings. Not a group to be associated with. The Spurs are also tied with the “world champion New York Knicks”. Feels odd to write those words after 53 years. And because of Tuesday’s night’s game, the Spurs main rival is undefeated on the season.
And yes, the Spurs’ best player had a dreadful offensive game against the Thunder. Near the end of the second quarter, I asked my friend who was watching the game with me, “Does Victor have a basket yet?” The answer was “no”. And he didn’t actually make a “shot” all night – his one basket came in the second half on a dunk off a lob pass.
And yes, the Spurs second-longest tenured player, Devin Vassell, scored only 7 points in 31 minutes, on 25% shooting. Perhaps being forced to defend OKC bigs like Holmgren on the other end was a bit draining?
And yes, the Thunder’s best player had a great offensive game. I was surprised to see that the box score had SGA at only 13 for 27 from the floor. It felt like he didn’t miss any. It also felt like a bunch of shots were punctuated with “and one!” Which always sucks.
And yes, the Thunder’s bigs looked pretty good. Punching bag Chet Holmgren outscored Victor Wembanyama 14-12 and blocked his shot at least once, looking not at all like the cowering Chet from last season’s WC Finals. And the Thunder new kid, Aday Mara, played a very effective 12 minutes, making three times as many shots as Victor, and doing something never before seen: blocking a lob-dunk by our Frenchman. The Spanish dude might be a problem going forward.
And the Thunder defense looked very strong, not missing Lu Dort at all. Alex Caruso was his usual pesky self on D and also nailed both of this three-pointers. SGA was also great on D, getting three steals and three blocks – he is clearly ahead in the MVP race thus far in the season. (Though Anthony Edwards may want a word.)
Based on all of that, the consensus among the media, and presumably everyone who watched the game, is that the Thunder dominated the Spurs, “They just wanted it more”. An understandable conclusion, especially because of how the Thunder ended last season, having to watch the young Spurs emotionally celebrate after Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals on their own floor. And then hearing about it all summer.
I agreed with the consensus until I calmed down and looked at the box score, as coaches (and former coaches) like to do.
When I look at the box score, I first look at extra possessions by each team – turnovers and offensive rebounds. The Spurs had two more turnovers (13-11) and the same number of offensive rebounds (10). OKC took two more shots from the field, but the Spurs shot five more free throws. The Spurs also shot a bit better on those free throws – 88% t0 80%. On two-point shots, the Spurs shot better – 26-56 as opposed the Thunder’s 27-64. The Spurs also took more threes, 37-31. You can see where this is going. OKC won the game by 12 points because they shot significantly better on threes. They made four more threes than the Spurs on six less attempts. I checked my math with AI, and confirmed that four more three pointers equals 12 more points – the margin of victory in the game.
OKC outshot the Spurs from three largely because Jared McCain came off the bench to go 6-8 from three, with Caruso chipping in his two. If McCain shoots his career average, he only makes three three-pointers, not six. If Caruso misses one of his two, he is still at 50%. And if both of those things happen, OKC has 12 less points, the margin of victory in Game One of Eighty-Two. Not coincidentally, McCain was a game-high plus 20 in his 22 minutes, Caruso plus 16 in his 25 minutes.
All in all, despite the final score, with everything that went wrong for the Spurs and everything that went right for the Thunder, the game was actually quite even. So after carefully analyzing the box score, I felt a bit better about Tuesday night.
And then I looked at the Knicks-76ers box score, and felt worse again. Jalen Brunson shot 6-19 from the floor after seemingly making all his shots against the Spurs in the Finals. OG Anunoby went 1-10 from three, after shooting a bazillion percent from three (actually 50%) in the Finals. Now I am unhappy again. Stupid box scores.
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 20: The sneakers worn by Jordan Walsh #27 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Detroit Pistons on October 20, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
TORONTO, CANADA - SEPTEMBER 26: Matt McLain #9 of the Cincinnati Reds takes an at bat in his batting stance against the Toronto Blue Jays during the third inning in their MLB game at Rogers Centre on September 26, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cincinnati Reds have really backed themselves into a hole when it comes to the roster construction on their infield.
You may recall they’ve steadfastly stuck to the idea of continuing to throw millions at a right-handed, glove-first infielder who a) can’t really hit left-handed pitching all that well and b) can’t hit right-handed pitching at all. While you almost assuredly mumbled under your breath ‘yeah, Ke’Bryan Hayes,’ that’s not even who we’re talking about today.
Today, we dive into what’s become of Matt McLain.
The Reds doled out over $4.6 million to sign him after selecting him 17th overall in the 2021 MLB Draft, and he’d accrued enough service time by 2026 – a huge chunk of it while rehabbing various injuries – to earn over $2.3 million in his first trip through the arbitration process. The Reds have given zero indication that they’re going to cut ties with him despite his struggles, so it sure looks like he’ll go through arbitration again this winter and earn a modest raise on that $2.3 million salary for 2027, too.
All that despite – you guessed it – being a guy who’s become a glove-first infielder who hits from the right-handed side but can’t hit righties (and barely hits lefties).
There have been 267 big leaguers who have logged at least 600 PA since the start of the 2025 season, and McLain is one of them. Hayes, as you’d predict, owns the single worst wRC+ of the bunch at just 49, but McLain’s lackluster performance with the bat checks in at 15th worst at just 74. The thing is, though, that McLain has actually accrued 1073 PA since the start of 2025, and that’s hundreds of PA more than every single one of the 14 players who rank below him on this list – that’s because those players hit so poorly that their managers saw fit to keep them out of the lineup more often.
In fact, among the entire first page of that leaderboard (30 names), McLain is one of only two players with more than 1000 PA, the other being one of the best defensive catchers of his generation in JT Realmuto. Up the threshold then to 1000 PA and you’ll see McLain’s 74 wRC+ rank dead last among the 118 MLB players who you’d conceivably be able to call ‘regulars’ over the last two seasons, and Realmuto at 81 is the one ‘closest’ at 7 points clear.
If you aren’t yet a believer in wRC+, rest assured that McLain ranks last among those 118 in batting average (.204) and slugging percentage (.339), his .288 OBP ranking 2nd worst. Just about every way you look at the last two years, he’s been tangibly awful offensively.
To his credit is his work against LHP, which was at least within the realm of being serviceable in 2026. He hit .243/.347/.430 (.777 OPS) against them in 107 PA during the 2026 season, though that’s on the heels of hitting just .228/.328/.351 (.679 OPS) against them in 131 PA the season before. But if you look at his work against RHP over that same time, it begins to get a little ghastly.
154 MLB players logged at least 300 PA against RHP in 2026 alone, and McLain was one of them. He hit just .167/.249/.303 against them in 370 PA, and at this point you’ll be shockingly unsurprised to hear that he ranked dead last among the entire group in average, OBP, and wRC+ (52), his mark in slugging (3rd worst) within earshot of dead last.
His one potential saving grace: his .216 BABIP against RHP last year was far and away the lowest among his peers. That’s despite his soft-hit rate (15.2%) ranking 60th out of those 154 players, his 31.4% hard-hit rate a ‘reasonable’ 122nd (ahead of the likes of Kyle Tucker, Alec Bohm, Nolan Arenado, and even Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez last season). So, there’s at least a chance there was some simply awful bad luck involved here, even if the extremely mediocre .217/.291/.341 (.632) OPS he posted against RHP in 2025 came on a more feasible .284 BABIP.
Not even Statcast offers a potentially hidden solution for McLain’s woes. Everything continues to point towards the obvious, which is that the shoulder and oblique problems that derailed his 2023 and cost him all of 2024 simply handed back a completely different hitter, and that completely different hitter looks woefully overmatched at the plate against big league velocity.
His glovework is good. His baserunning is good. He’s the type of player that – at a certain cost – can still provide enough service to a Major League Baseball team even at this level of production. It’s just that the way the Reds have put together their infield, they haven’t baked in a way to maximize that skillset at all.
At 3B, they have a player in Hayes who should never set foot in a batter’s box and only plays 3B. At 1B, in Sal Stewart, they have the guy that should be their 3B. At SS, they have the best hitting player on their team at the position that, typically, you can get away with a glove-only guy since shortstop is the place where plus defense gets to be played more often, but there’s no way in hell you’re moving Elly De La Cruz off short just to maximize McLain’s glove. So, McLain gets shoved over to 2B where he doesn’t hit nearly enough to warrant playing there each and every inning.
Two infielders who should pretty much only be LIDRs and/or pinch-runners, neither of whom has enough experience to warrant being labeled as ‘potential outfielder in a pinch,’ either. Two players on the 26-man roster who you really don’t ever want to hit in any scenario. Two guys to whom the Reds will owe a combined $10 million to in 2027 who Cincinnati’s front office simply just can’t quit.
I wish I could make it make sense. Barring a miraculous turnaround in 2027, I think a third trip through the arbitration process might finally make it stop making sense for the frugal Reds, but that’s still one full year away.
PORTLAND, OREGON - OCTOBER 21: Devin Booker #15 of the Phoenix Suns reacts during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on October 21, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. 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. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The official debut of Devin Booker wearing number 15 is a game I’m sure he’d rather forget. His team lost by 41 points in the season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers, trailing by as many as 52. Hopefully I forget it too.
You can understand why Portland came out and blitzed the Suns. It was an emotional night for the fan base, one they’d been waiting more than a season to experience. After being bought out by Milwaukee in Bradley Beal fashion (the ‘ole 5-year waive and streeeeeetch), Damian Lillard returned to the Trail Blazers in the summer of 2025. But an Achilles injury kept him sidelined for the entirety of last season, leaving all that pent-up excitement surrounding the return of one of the franchise’s most beloved players waiting to be unleashed.
And unleashed it was. The Moda Center was in a frenzy. Add newly acquired Ja Morant making his Portland debut, and the recipe was ripe for an emotional tidal wave that the Suns would have to overcome. Overcome it, they did not.
“Incredibly emotional to start the game before the jump ball was even tipped,” head coach Jordan Ott said after the game. “They did the better job of using that to their advantage.”
Phoenix managed only 12 points in the opening quarter and posted its lowest point total in a season opener since 2017. Coincidentally, that team also lost to the Portland Trail Blazers, surrendering 124 points while scoring only 76. In that game, a third-year Devin Booker managed 12 points on 6-of-17 shooting, including 0-of-3 from beyond the arc.
And I know it probably doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things, but at least in that game, Booker attempted three-pointers. In this game? Not one. Zip. Zero. Not a single three-point attempt.
Does anybody else find that strange? Odd? Your team is getting its teeth kicked in, desperate for points, and…nothing? You’re supposed to be the tip of the offensive spear. You’re the $57 million man. And in a game where your team needs the hemorrhaging to be stopped, you don’t attempt a single shot from beyond the arc?
It was only the 17th time in Booker’s 738 career games that he failed to attempt a three-pointer, and the first time he’d done so since November 15, 2024. And wouldn’t you know it? That was another loss in which the Suns scored only 83 points. Fun Fact: That was the night that, following an abysmal performance and the fact that I watched it whilst waiting for the Mariah Carey Christmas Special to start, we introduced Mariah Carey as a Bright Side Baller option.
Perhaps the opportunities never presented themselves. Perhaps the smothering defense of former Suns draft pick Toumani Camara (palm, meet face) was too overwhelming for Booker to get a shot off. Perhaps he’s become trigger-shy after posting the second-worst three-point shooting percentage of his career last season (33.0%), compounded by the fact that he went 2-of-16 from deep during the preseason (12.5%). But when you juxtapose that against what we saw from Damian Lillard, who went 6-of-10 from beyond the arc on his way to 25 points, it only added to the embarrassment and frustration of the night.
I’m not asking Devin Booker to become Damian Lillard. I’m asking him to recognize what the team needs from him, especially when everything around him is falling apart. We know Booker is an elite midrange scorer. We know he’s never been a high-volume three-point shooter. But at what point does that become a limitation rather than an explanation? The NBA has evolved, and the best offensive players have evolved with it. Booker is entering his 12th season, and we’re still discussing his reluctance to consistently threaten defenses from beyond the arc.
“You can always do everything better in a loss like that,” Booker told Duane Rankin of AZ Central in the locker room post-massacre. “Trying to find the flow. We have some work to do and we have some things to learn from.”
There’s a significant difference between going 0-of-8 and never attempting one. One represents a willingness to take shots the offense needs, even if they aren’t falling. The other raises questions about why those shots aren’t being taken in the first place. I’m not advocating for contested 30-footers. I’m asking why a player of his caliber can’t generate or recognize opportunities from three over the course of 29 minutes.
My concern extends beyond a single game or a single statistical category. It’s about whether the version of Devin Booker we’re watching today is capable of being the offensive engine this team needs him to be. And after last night, I think that’s a perfectly reasonable question to ask.
Ultimately, this may have been the result of a bad matchup against a big, long, physical Portland team fueled by the emotional return of one of the franchise’s greatest and most beloved players. But it also brings to the surface some familiar concerns about who Devin Booker is and what he can provide from beyond the arc at this stage of his career.
Perhaps these are merely the ramblings and musings of a frustrated fanalyst who went to open his Christmas present, only to discover that instead of the gift he’d been hoping for, he received the proverbial lump of coal. All that excitement, all that anticipation surrounding the start of a new season, and it was immediately ripped away from the fan base.
Will Devin Booker have great scoring nights this season? Absolutely. Was this a one-game aberration? We certainly hope so. Maybe Wednesday was an aberration. But if the Suns are going to have any chance of making this season meaningful, they need Booker to be more than an elite midrange scorer. They need him to be a complete offensive threat, and that starts with being willing to take the shots the modern NBA demands.
Devin Booker’s debut wearing No. 15 was one to forget.
A 41-point loss. Down by as many as 52. And in a game desperate for offense, the $57 million man didn’t attempt a single three-pointer, just the 17th time in 738 career games he hasn't.#D15APPOINTINGpic.twitter.com/KtJvtCvtYK
Dmitri Simashev always has a smile every time he’s on the ice. Whether he was down in Tucson last season in the AHL or in Salt Lake City with the Utah Mammoth, the defenseman was always in a positive mood and always willing to chat with anyone who came his way.
This season, you could maybe catch him grinning ear to ear. He’s finally accomplished his dream of being a full-time NHLer, as he’s carved out a permanent spot in the Mammoth’s bottom pair alongside Andrew Peeke. Simashev couldn’t help but show his happiness when asked how he’s doing with a full-time job in Utah.
“There are no bad days in the NHL,” Simashev said.
Simashev didn’t get that NHL spot just because of his status as a first-round pick or a highly touted prospect. The defenseman earned that spot through his hard work and his growth over the past year, grinding in the NHL and the AHL.
The defenseman started the season in the NHL last year, and while it wasn’t a horrible start to his North American pro career, it wasn’t one that met his expectations. Simashev found himself playing under 15 minutes a night. He was making errors that needed correcting. Towards December, he found himself being healthy-scratched.
That’s when the Mammoth did the right thing and sent Simashev to the Tucson Roadrunners. It was never a permanent demotion. It was a chance to improve what needed to be improved in top defensive pairing minutes. Given those minutes, it was a big chance to gain more confidence, something that was clearly missing from his game.
“When you play like 26, 27 minutes in a night, and you play on the power play and PK, you see the situations like tough minutes,” Simashev said. “When you play power play, and in the last minutes when you play PK, you're just learning every game. You have confidence. You have the confidence to do something special on the ice, and it helps you in the future because every hockey mistake, you're doing this every game. It happens every day, and when you play a lot, you know what you can do in these situations in the future.”
The move to the AHL worked. Simashev played upwards of 23 minutes per night. He was making plays that no one had ever seen from him before. The defenseman was jumping forward and getting shots on net. He was scoring goals, including an overtime winner against the Bakersfield Condors in his fourth game with the Roadrunners.
At the end of the day, Simashev produced 35 points in 40 games. That was second among all Roadrunners defensemen and rookies. The defenseman also had the longest point streak among all Roadrunners. He ended up being named an AHL All-Star and was named to the AHL All-Rookie team.
“I just tried to help the guys to win the games, and we had a really good group of guys in AHL,” Simashev said. “When I start thinking about the AHL, I enjoyed my time there. It's a nice city. There are nice guys, and the AHL is a really good league.”
Keep in mind that before the 2025-26 season, Simashev had never played full-time in a North American-sized rink. He was also never relied on as an offensive player before, as that’s not a role defensemen typically play in the KHL.
Going into this season, it was obvious the Mammoth expected Simashev to make the roster full-time. They elected to trade Sean Durzi and let Ian Cole walk in order to make room for the young Russian.
Yet, that didn’t prompt Simashev to keep working hard. After being named captain of the Mammoth’s rookie camp team, the defenseman finished the rookie faceoff tournament with an assist in two games and was a key part of quarterbacking the power play and penalty kill.
So far with the Mammoth in the regular season, he’s got two assists across 10 games after only producing one in 28 games the prior season. Simashev’s been more willing to jump into the play and get to the front of the net. Part of the reason is that he knows what to expect after a year within the Mammoth organization. He knows how to handle the everyday life of an NHLer.
That, in turn, has also fed into the other part of the improvement behind Simashev’s game: the big growth in his confidence.
“I feel way more confident, way more,” Simashev said. “I already know what to expect in the games. Whenever you play against Edmonton or Pittsburgh, I know the players, the teams. I’m getting better every day. I'm a young guy. For every young player, you have to get better 1% minimum every day. I just try to play my game. Maybe spend more time with the puck, and coaches will trust me more this year.”
Head coach André Tourigny has seen the difference. It hasn’t been in just one area either. To him, Simashev has improved in a lot of key areas where he did well last season.
“I think Sima, for me, showed a really good thing last year in terms of speed, his ability to close and puck carry, his ability to skate with the puck, his ability to jump into plays,” Tourigny said. “It's the same thing this year. Just everything better, more mature, more in control.”
It’s been a great start for Simashev this season. He’s looked strong defensively, and you can tell the offense will come, especially if he keeps making the confident plays to move the puck up the ice and to the net.
For the defenseman, he’s happy to be with the Mammoth. As he said, there are no bad days in the NHL. This is what he’s always wanted to do, and being able to do it is unfathomable for him.
“I'm living my life and my dream,” Simashev said. “It's actually unbelievable to be around these players, to play against the best players in the world. Play against McDavid, Draisaitl, and Geno. He was my favorite player when I was a kid.”
Every day is a new day of growth for Simashev. He wants to find a way to improve in every game, every day of practice, every day of the NHL. Because while his dream might be accomplished, his goal isn’t. Simashev has his mind set on one thing, and that’s trying to be one of the best players in the league.
“For me, the game for me is slowing down every day, and I think every game I'm getting better because I want to be one of the best players in this league,” Simashev said. “I just want to be a good player here.”
If Simashev can continue working as hard as he’s been over the past couple of months, there’s no telling what his ceiling could end up being. As time goes on, he will climb up the blueline and more than likely be a top-three defenseman at some point.
However, no matter how far he gets, if you ever wonder how he’s doing, he’ll give you the same answer that he gave at the very beginning of his career with a smile; there are no bad days in the NHL.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 01: Garrett Mitchell #5 of the Milwaukee Brewers steals second base as Ben Williamson #15 of the Tampa Bay Rays takes the throw at American Family Field on April 01, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Forget the TV ratings, we’re about to be treated to a World Series between two of the most well-rounded, fundamentally sound teams from the 2026 season. For as much as the Brewers’ and Rays’ small TV markets and low payrolls will dominate narratives during the Fall Classic with the CBA expiration looming, this year’s World Series will feature the team with the best record in the NL taking on the team with the best record in the AL. What that says about the health of the sport overall and the owners’ push to ostensibly and artificially improve competitive balance I will leave for you to draw your own conclusions.
Over the next two days, we will preview the offenses and pitching staffs stacked up against one another. The Brewers and Rays met once in the regular season, way back in the second series of the year in the opening days of April. The Brewers won that three-game series at Miller Park handily, dropping the first game, 3-2, before recording back-to-back victories with score lines of 6-2 and 8-2. If that series is any indication of what we’re in store for, their could be fireworks in the coming days as the two teams combined to hit nine home runs across those three games.
Today, we’ll preview the offenses and tomorrow, we’ll cover the pitch side of things.
Milwaukee Brewers
103-59, 1st NL Central Defeated Padres in NLDS, 3-1 Swept Dodgers in NLCS, 4-0
The Brewers finished the regular season with the third-most position player fWAR in MLB at 26.1. They had a clear identity over the 162, working deep counts, drawing walks, and putting the ball in play. Their .258 team batting average and 10.6-percent walk rate were both tops in the majors while their collective 107 wRC+ placed them third. However, they also finished second-worst in the league with 154 home runs.
Interestingly, they have flipped the script on that narrative in the postseason. Their .250 postseason batting average is still tops among the 12 entrants, but their ten home runs lead all playoff teams as they are the only team to post a wRC+ above 100 in the postseason. Many of those home runs have come in high leverage moments, none bigger than Jake Bauers’ go-ahead two-run homer at Dodger Stadium late in Game 3 of the NLCS. Others have set the tone early, like Jackson Chourio’s homer to lead off that game against Blake Snell to become the franchise leader in postseason leadoff home runs at just 22 years old.
They have difference makers throughout the lineup, with five of their nine regulars hitting above a 100 wRC+ in the playoffs. Chourio leads the way with his seven RBI, but to my surprise has not done much else otherwise as his 48 wRC+ in 38 plate appearances would suggest — you just wonder how much more explosive the offense would be if he could really get it going. Instead, the burden has fallen on William Contreras and Jake Bauers to consistently shoulder the load. Contreras has the highest postseason wRC+ (212) of any player in the World Series and is the engine of their offense batting .367 with three home runs and five RBI. Bauers has been their most clutch hitter and a threat from the cleanup spot with one home run, six RBI, and a 151 wRC+.
Brice Turang finally got some hits to fall against the Dodgers after an anonymous NLDS against San Diego, but you still expect a lot more out of the player who led the Brewers offense with 5.9 fWAR. Christian Yelich and rookie Cooper Pratt have benefitted from some serious BABIP luck, while Sal Frelick, Luis Lara, and Joey Ortiz have been automatic outs at the bottom of the lineup. However, David Hamilton could be an X-factor, the former Boston speedster getting red hot against LA.
They will likely face the buzzsaw of Drew Rasmussen and ALCS MVP Freddy Peralta in the first two games, but are able to counter by packing their lineup with as many as six lefties against that pair of righties. However, the Rays starters could pose a unique problem to the Brewers lineup. Milwaukee usually grinds pitchers down by drawing walks thanks to the second-lowest chase rate in baseball. However, they tend to struggle against higher velocity fastballs. Rasmussen doesn’t issue walks while the Rays unlocked Peralta by convincing him to throw his fastball harder in the zone — both pitchers thrive pounding the zone with heat and that’s not a pitch the Brewers are best at handling.
Tampa Bay Rays
98-64, 1st AL East Swept Yankees in ALDS, 3-0 Defeated Guardians in ALCS, 4-2
The Rays’ offensive identity is similar in many ways to the Brewers. They tied the Brewers for the major league lead in average (.258), and finished right behind their soon-to-be opponents in fourth with 23.8 position player fWAR and tied for fifth with a team 104 wRC+. They hit 15 more home runs during the regular season but still finished in the bottom-third of the league. The biggest difference saw Tampa favor more of a bat-to-ball approach than a patient one. Whereas the Brewers led the league in walk rate while carrying a league-average strikeout rate, the Rays were bottom-third in walk rate but struck out the least of any team at just 18.8-percent.
As with any Kevin Cash team, this Rays team did their winning on the margins. They squeeze every last drop out of their roster through executing the fundamentals — moving the runner over, taking the extra base, getting the run home from third with less than one out, etc. It is how they were by far the largest over-performers of their Pythagorean expected win-loss of any team in baseball, winning eight more games than their +86 run differential would have suggested.
They faced more determined opposition than the Brewers did in the LCS, the Guardians pushing them to six games. It was a bit feast or famine in that series, the Rays scoring seven runs in two games but three or fewer in the other four. Like every other offense other than the Brewers, they have largely struggled against top-tier postseason pitching, with an 82 wRC+ across their nine games.
Tampa’s offense appears way more top heavy than the Brewers. During the regular season, they were powered by the three-headed monster of Yandy Díaz, Jonathan Aranda, and Junior Caminero, and two of the three have certainly brought it this postseason. Díaz is the unequivocal driving force batting leadoff, slashing .308/.341/.564 with two home runs, four RBI, and a 151 wRC+, his Game 6 home run putting the final nail in the Guardians’ coffin. Caminero hasn’t quite hit the heights of his regular season, when he became the first player since Eddie Matthews to post consecutive seasons of at least 40 home runs before turning 24, but his two-run homer in Game 6 was a dagger to raise his wRC+ to 127 in nine games.
Aranda’s 96 wRC+ might fall well short of his regular season mark of 123, but the Rays have discovered a new hero to take his place as an impact contributor. Richie Palacios has been a league-average role player in his five regular seasons but has exploded these playoffs with a .364 average and 141 wRC+ despite remaining the only Rays starter not to draw a walk yet in the postseason.
Otherwise, at first glance, it appears there are a whole lot more black holes in the Rays lineup than their opponents. Chandler Simpson, Liam Hicks, Jonny DeLuca, Victor Mesa Jr., and Taylor Walls all sit below a 65 wRC+ this postseason, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. While perhaps not productive in the main, the lineup has shown a remarkable knack for getting hits with runners in scoring position — Díaz, Caminero, Palacios, Aranda, Simpson, and Hicks have all driven in at least four runs across the two series they’ve won.
Unlike the Brewers, the Rays absolutely punish the fastball, particularly Díaz and Caminero. That should make for a blockbuster matchup against Jacob Misiorowski in Game 1, the presumptive NL Cy Young’s triple-digits fastball already getting knocked around by the Padres and Dodgers. It should also give them a distinct advantage against Milwaukee’s high octane bullpen, who were able to blow away LA’s aged, slowing bats with sustained gas.
Despite making the NHL roster out of training camp, the St. Louis Blues have placed Zach Dean on waivers for the purpose of being assigned to the Springfield Thunderbirds.
Dean had an impressive pre-season and training camp. He flashed his speed and skill on multiple occasions, earning a roster spot to start the season. He started the season as an extra forward, but due to injuries, found his way into the lineup.
Dean dressed in three NHL games but recorded no points. The 23-year-old averaged 9:58 of ice time, recorded no shots on goal, and won 41.7 percent of his faceoffs.
Dean will return to the Thunderbirds if he clears waivers. The former 2021 first-round pick has played 96 AHL games, scoring 14 goals and 32 points in his career.
Ultimately, Dean wasn't a factor in his limited appearances to warrant staying on the NHL roster. The Blues also likely felt Dean was better off playing in the AHL and continuing to develop, rather than watching games from the press box.
This week, the Blues recalled Aleksanteri Kaskimaki and Otto Stenberg, who are set to play their second consecutive game.
Currently, the Blues have six players on the injured reserve, but Alexey Toropchenko appears close to returning, as he's been skating with the Blues in non-contact. If Toropchenko is near a return, there is no need for Dean to be on the NHL roster.
Placing Dean on waivers carries some risk, but with most NHL rosters either at full capacity or at the salary cap limit, teams are less likely to claim players off waivers at this point in the season.
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Lakers head coach JJ Redick, on other hand, is often on the losing end when betting with his star guard.
The Lakers superstar dropped 28 points along with eight rebounds and and seven assists in Los Angeles’ 127-105 win over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.
Luka Doncic (77) of the Los Angeles Lakers smiles against the Golden State Warriors during a game at Chase Center in San Francisco, California, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
One of the seven shots Dončić made was a half-court heave that banked into the basket right before halftime.
“We have a silly fine system. [If] you’re a minute late to film, you’re two minutes late to the bus, $500, your personal cash goes in that pot, and we shoot for it every shoot around. And I think by far Luka has won it the most,” Redick said.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. NBAE via Getty ImagesLuka Doncic (77) of the Los Angeles Lakers prepares to shoot a free throw during a game against the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
“He’s yet to win it this year, but when he shoots a half-court shot —especially when he’s set like that and there’s no defender in front of him — you almost expect it to go in,” Redick added.
“Even when I was his teammate with the Mavs, I lost a lot of money to him. So I expected it to go in.”
Given that Redick was one of the league’s best sharpshooters, one would imagine that he held his own in these shooting competitions when he and Dončić were Dallas Mavericks teammates during the 2020-21 season.
Instead, it sounds like Luka’s half-court make last night was the byproduct of him making lucrative shots in practice.
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For Major League Baseball and its broadcast partners, it’s hard to imagine how this World Series matchup could have gone any worse. The Tampa Bay Rays versus the Milwaukee Brewers, two of MLB’s cheapest teams in two of its smallest media markets — glorious evidence against Commissioner Rob Manfred and MLB’s cash-lusting owners’ declaration that the league needs a salary cap to maintain competitive balance. The Rays and Brewers are glorified mom-and-pop shops, and just spent six months sticking it to the Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies and Dodgers. They would have also stuck it to MLB’s most expensive team, the New York Mets, had they not finished last in the NL East and missed the playoffs.
Like with the recent Indiana Pacers/Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Finals, market sizes will probably make this one of the least-viewed Fall Classics in recent years. But from a baseball perspective? This is the kind of World Series that us sickos dream about — we got random speculative developmental centerfielders finally tapping their raw power, bunts for days, relievers you’ve never heard of with special beam cannons for arms, Jake Bauers unlocking the secrets of the universe at age 31 … for some reason. It’s just every kind of epic, even if I don’t care for bunts.
It’s also the perfect summation of the 2026 season, with the American and National League top seeds throwing down as they should and fittingly getting their moment in the sun during a season in which nobody (myself included) would shut up about Tarik Skubal, the Dodgers three-peating and the incoming lockout. All the while, the Brewers and Rays just kept winning.
I don’t actually like postseason baseball — enjoy it? Sure, it’s often exciting, but I don’t actually like it as a representation of the season we just played when more often than not we have teams like the Brewers and Rays grind for 103 and 98 wins for months only to have their work disappear before they get a chance to face each other. I was open about my skepticism of the Rays, and did not think that their rotation would be this good with Freddy Peralta, but both teams have put in the work all season; I’m glad the two best teams made it here.
They did so with remarkably similar roster constructions — high contact, occasional but not relied-upon power and washout pitching that overwhelms every aspect of their opponent’s offensive gameplan. I’m still a home run enjoyer, but balls-in-play cabal is growing more powerful by the day, and I acknowledge that the Rays and Brewers have managed to mitigate an unbridgeable talent deficit by maximizing the value and minimizing the risk of each batted ball. As I explored in my bunt video, the Rays somehow got the run value of their bunts above that of their non-bunts, which is super-duper irregular.
It’s not like the Rays and Brewers won their league championships with bunts and sac flys, though. Ask the Dodgers about the back-to-back sonic booms in Game 4 that effectively ended their season; timely hitting has always been more important than repeatable hitting, and timely hitting is not repeatable. In the MLB postseason, you can’t believe how much better it is to be lucky than good.
Because of spending and talent pool limitations, both teams simply invested in what they could control: getting balls on the ground … and pitching. Pitching, pitching, pitching … and more pitching. For such cheap teams, these are gnarly staffs, each with a top-10 rotation and bullpen. The Brewers pen in particular have been downright otherworldly this postseason, with Aaron Ashby levitating out of his cleats and Abner Uribe frying hitters like turkey bacon. Both closers, Bryan Baker and Trevor Megill, are all world.
Then you have the starters, with the Rays leaning on a couple of former Brewers products — Drew Rasmussen and Freddy Peralta — while the Brewers rely on … a couple of other Brewers products in Jacob Misiorowski and Logan Henderson. Behind Misiorowski, the Brewers starters can get a little dicey with Brandon Woodruff’s status still up in the air, with Henderson in particular losing his mind in Game 2 against the Dodgers on two disastrous fielding errors; Dustin May and Robert Gasser make up the rest of the official four-man rotation. But it’s not like the Rays are infallible either with Nick Martinez and Griffin Jax.
Okay, that’s probably enough naming guys; who is going to win? Short, slightly snippy answer: someone new, because fun fact: neither of these teams has ever won the World Series. So that’s cool! Short, less snippy answer: the Brewers, and let’s say in six games. Milwaukee is a slight favorite on FanDuel, and my pick is for a few reasons. First, I think the Brewers have a better overall offense when we get down to brass tax. The Rays might actually have the two “best” (or at least the most complete) hitters in the series in Junior Caminero and Yandy Diaz, but the rest of their lineup has so many exploitable holes. The Brewers just spent a week showing the Dodgers there’s nowhere to pitch around … for Tarik Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blake Snell. Will the hot streak continue? I don’t know, but if it does, god bless Nick Martinez.
Baseball is stupidly, frustratingly random, and so you have to ask yourself: how do you fight that randomness? Well, you fight it with swing-and-miss stuff, which the Brewers have in droves out of their bullpen and it’s the one thing that I am willing to invest in when projecting such an even series. When push comes to shove, and push always comes, the Brewers have the arms to deal with it. It was their win condition last year, it’s their win condition this year. You saw what happened to an even slightly diminished Dodgers offense when they faced this bullpen — horrible things.
So give me the Brewers in six, though I would certainly love seven games. I would have no problem with the Rays winning even being a Red Sox fan, I don’t think our two teams have any real historical animosity even though we’re both in the AL East. But one thing before we go: Tropicana Field remains an absolute abomination to the sport of baseball and is one of the least attractive buildings on planet earth. No venue has ever created less hype for a sporting event period, and I’d certainly like if the Rays explored other options for future World Series engagements beyond The Trop. Thanks, and have a nice day.
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 21: Walker Kessler #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors on October 21, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Making his Los Angeles Lakers debut Wednesday night, Walker Kessler put on absolute show inside Crypto.com Arena for his new team and fanbase with 26 points on 12-of-12 shooting, nine rebounds, two blocks and one assist in 30 minutes. His sparkling effort helped Los Angeles rout the Golden State Warriors, 127-105, to kick off their season with a win.
Kessler’s perfect shooting night placed him alongside a couple of historic Lakers big men. His 12-of-12 outing was the second-best shooting performance in franchise history behind a 14-of-14 game from Wilt Chamberlain…
Walker Kessler checks out 12/12 from the field, the second-best shooting game in Lakers history behind a 14/14 performance from Wilt Chamberlain.
Despite the excellent debut, Kessler admitted to some pre-game jitters but thoroughly enjoyed his first regular-season appearance in a Lakers uniform and was glad to emerge victorious.
““Yeah, I would say it [lived up to expectations]. It was awesome,” he told reporters postgame. “Got the win, which was the most important thing. I definitely was a little nervous going to the game, but just so thankful and so grateful for how it went.”
Among Kessler’s 12 made field goals, five came courtesy of Luka Dončić, who’s been involved in the NBA’s last two double-digit dunk games, a testament to his wondrous playmaking aptitude.
With Dončić and Kessler on the floor together, the Lakers scored 56 points in 18 minutes, good for a hilariously stellar 151.4 offensive rating (small-sample theater is fun!), according to NBA.com.
“Very impressive game for him. I think he was 12-12, which is very impressive,” Dončić said. “But just the way he saw, when I was driving, he stepped up. When I was doubled, he played in the pocket. So a very impressive game for him.”
Head coach JJ Redick has previously talked about the expectations any notable Lakers big man may experience, especially ahead of their franchise debut. He’s made clear the support system around Kessler to guide him through any worries and was pleased with his center’s first performance of 2026-27.
“Whether he had played for the last year and a half or not, I think it’s a big deal when it’s your first game as a Laker,” Redick said. “We’ve had conversations. He understands what this is and the pressures that come with it. I think it was a good opening statement for him.”
ANAHEIM, CA - JUNE 02: Colorado Rockies pitcher TJ Shook (52) makes his pitching debut during an MLB baseball game against the Los Angeles Angeles played on June 2, 2026 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Welcome to the 2026 edition of Ranking the Rockies, where we take a look back at every player to log playing time for the Rockies in 2026. The purpose of this list is to provide a snapshot of the player in context. The “Ranking” is an organizing principle that’s drawn from Baseball Reference’s WAR (rWAR). It’s not something the staff debated. We’ll begin with the player with the lowest rWAR and end up with the player with the highest.
No. 37, TJ Shook (-0.1 rWAR)
TJ Shook was selected by the Rockies in the Triple-A round of the 2025 Rule 5 Draft from the New York Mets. The right-hander was originally signed by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2020 after going undrafted out of the University of South Carolina and worked his way up through the system before being traded to the Mets in 2024.
Shook began the year in Triple-A Albuquerque, where he made 22 appearances out of the bullpen.
After posting a 0.73 ERA through 12.1 innings in April and a 3.60 ERA through 15.0 innings in May, the Rockies selected his contract on June 1 when Welinton Herrera was transferred to the 60-day IL with his elbow injury and Zach Agnos was optioned to Albuquerque. Shook made his MLB debut the next day against the Los Angeles Angels, where he pitched a scoreless eighth and allowed just one hit on 10 pitches.
Shook made four appearances during his first stint in the majors, and pitched well for the first three. He didn’t allow a run until his third appearance — and his first at Coors Field against his former team — and was optioned on June 7.
He was recalled again on July 5 and made a two-inning appearance against the Giants on July 9 that did not go well. Shook allowed four runs on six hits, including a two-run homer to Rafael Devers, on 52 pitches (36 for strikes). He was once again optioned on July 11, and recalled again on August 17 when Michael Lorenzen was DFA’d.
In his final appearance for the Rockies in 2026, Shook pitched well against the Dodgers at home. The Rockies ultimately lost 11-5, but he pitched two innings of one-run ball with a walk and a strikeout.
Overall, it’s hard to say what TJ Shook’s future is on the Rockies. He pitched alright when he was on the MLB roster, and posted a 3.45 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in Albuquerque.
You can never have enough bullpen arms, especially at Coors Field, so we’ll see what the Rockies decide to do with Shook going forward.
