Clay Holmes is getting closer to seeing actual game action.
After watching Holmes have a successful live in Brooklyn on Tuesday, interim manager Andy Green said the right-hander looked like himself before giving a positive update on the Mets starter.
"Assuming everything moves forward, he’s inching closer to going out to an affiliate and pitching in a rehab assignment," Green said. "Everything depends on the day-to-day, but he’s inching closer to that."
Green didn't have a target date for the rehab, but said Holmes' next step depends on how he recovers and how he feels. Holmes will throw a side between his live on Tuesday and whenever he sees game action, but once he checks every box, the organization and Holmes will commit to the start of the rehab assignment.
However, Green said they are not rushing Holmes to come back, and if the 33-year-old needs more time, they'll give it to him.
"Nothing wrong with taking a couple of extra days [before rehab begins]," Green said. "[Holmes is] doing well."
Before his injury, Holmes was the Mets' most consistent pitcher. He pitched to a 4-4 record and a 2.39 ERA.
Green also gave a short update on Luis Robert Jr. The outfielder is working out with the Syracuse Mets on Thursday before he plays in Friday's game.
If everything looks good and Robert comes out of it okay, the first-year Met could rejoin the team "relatively soon."
Apr 3, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; F-16 ’s fighting falcons of the 140th wing of the Colorado Air National guard fly over Coors Field before the opening day game between the Philadelphia against the Colorado Rockies. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Earlier this afternoon, the Colorado Rockies announced their preliminary 2027 schedule.
Assuming there is no interruption due to negotiations between the MLBPAA and the owners, Opening Day is slated for March 25th.
The Rockies are set to begin the year on the road once again, but this time they are on the West Coast, facing the San Francisco Giants in a three-game set right out of the gate followed by another three-game set against the San Diego Padres.
They will then return home on April 1st for a four-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers and a three-game set against the Miami Marlins. This will mark the fifth time in franchise history that the Rockies have faced the Dodgers at Coors Field for the Home Opener, and the first time since 2022 where they lost 5-3. They then took the next two games 3-2 and 9-4, though, respectively.
As always, the Rockies will play 13 games against the NL West. They will also play one home and one road series against the other teams in the NL, and at least one series with each AL team. The Rockies will host the New York Yankees for three games on July 26-28, and will welcome the Chicago Cubs to Coors Field for Father’s Day weekend (June 18-20). The Toronto Blue Jays will spend July 4th in Denver.
In addition to hosting the Yankees and Blue Jays, the Rockies will also have interleague matchups at home against the not-Oakland Athletics, Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, Houston Astros, Chicago White Sox, and Los Angeles Angels. In fact, the Pittsburgh Pirates series from May 17-19 is the only home NL series in May.
Finally, the All-Star break will take place at Wrigley Field in Chicago from July 12-15.
Opening Day is only 252 days away! Which series are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments!
Opening Day always brings optimism. The White Sox will hope the excitement at Rate Field on April 1, 2027, carries all the way to a return to the postseason. | (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
All right, White Sox fans, grab a pen and brace yourselves: Major League Baseball just dropped the 2027 schedule. Opening Day is set for a Wednesday night, March 24, with an exclusive Netflix game, though nobody knows who’s actually playing. It will be the earliest Opening Day in MLB history. The rest of the league gets going the next day, March 25. Of course, with a lockout looming, don’t bet the house on baseball actually happening that night, but hey, dream big.
Opening Day is scheduled for Thursday, March 25, 2027, in Detroit, where the White Sox will start the 2027 season against the Tigers. The South Siders last opened a season in Motown on April 8, 2022. Chicago lost 5-4 when closer Liam Hendricks blew the save in the ninth. Good times.
Funny enough, that 2022 opener was supposed to be at home against Minnesota, but a lockout shuffled the deck and sent the Sox to Detroit instead. Sound familiar?
Opening at home vs. Milwaukee
The Good Guys will head back to Chicago for their home opener at Rate Field on Thursday, April 1, against the Brewers. The last time the White Sox hosted the Brewers on Opening Day was April 9, 1990, at Old Comiskey Park. It was the final Opening Day ever played there before the wrecking ball took the old girl down. The South Siders won 2-1 in front of a crowd of 40,008 with Bobby Thigpen getting the first of his eventual record-setting 57 saves that season.
Crosstown Series vs. Cubs
The 2027 Crosstown Series against the Chicago Cubs includes two sets: the White Sox will visit Wrigley Field from Friday, July 16 through Sunday, July 18, before hosting the Cubs at Rate Field from Friday, August 6 through Sunday, August 8. The Cubs currently hold a slim edge, 77-75, in the Crosstown Classic since interleague play began in 1997. Fortunately, three games remain this season, so bragging rights are still up for grabs.
Interleague play
Interleague play means 16 three-game sets for the Sox, half at home, half on the road. Here’s the rundown:
Home series against
Milwaukee Brewers (April 1, 3-4), San Francisco Giants (April 16-18), St. Louis Cardinals (May 3-5), Miami Marlins (May 14-16), Philadelphia Phillies (June 7-9), Arizona Diamondbacks (July 9-11), Chicago Cubs (August 6-8), and San Diego Padres (September 24-26).
Road series against
Los Angeles Dodgers (April 26-28), Pittsburgh Pirates (May 21-23), Cincinnati Reds (June 29-30, July 1), Chicago Cubs (July 16-18), Colorado Rockies (August 13-15), New York Mets (August 27-29), Atlanta Braves (September 10-12), and Washington Nationals (September 17-19).
Holiday baseball
Memorial Day brings the Tampa Bay Rays to Chicago on May 31. For Independence Day, the Sox head to Texas to tangle with the Rangers on July 4.
Regular-season finale
The regular season wraps up with a three-game home series against the San Diego Padres from September 24-26.
2027 All-Star Game in Chicago
The 2027 MLB All-Star Game will be played on Tuesday, July 13, at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
Tickets & broadcast information
Dates, times, and complete broadcast information will be released in the coming months. Deposits for 2027 season tickets can be placed now by calling 312-674-1000 or visiting whitesox.com/seasontickets.
NOTE: As always, the schedule remains subject to change throughout the offseason.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 09: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers has words with a fan sitting in the front row during their game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on April 09, 2026 in San Francisco, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s all of our biggest fear. Could LeBron James duck another return to the Cleveland Cavaliers in favor of the Golden State Warriors?
ESPN’s Shams Charania seems doubtful.
In what has been an endless loop of reporting, Charania provided yet another update on James’ desires for his next team. The latest? James is still favoring a handful of teams over the Warriors.
“[The Warriors] are, to my knowledge, behind other teams such as Miami, Cleveland, and Philadelphia,” Charania said on ESPN today.
This tracks with what we’ve previously heard. It was reported earlier this week that multiple Western Conference execs believe LeBron is headed East. Marc Stein says that many of these execs feel that Cleveland is the ‘scenario to beat’ in chasing LeBron.
That should speak for itself.
Joining the Warriors would be the most controversial thing James could do this summer (in terms of basketball). There is no other team in the association that has been a bigger rival or cost him more titles. Choosing to end his career with the franchise that will be remembered as his greatest foe would be quite the decision.
There’s natural interest in teaming up with Stephen Curry. The two were a dynamic duo in the 2024 Olympic Games and would be finishing their careers with a bang. Yet, that scenario feels like something you’d accept in NBA 2K. Not real life. Most fans outside of California would feel conflicted watching James in a Golden State jersey.
James wouldn’t face much backlash if he joined any other team. He already has a relationship with Miami and there’s relatively zero animosity between him and Philadelphia. Both fan bases would welcome him with open arms, and neutral fans would mostly accept his decision.
Of course, Cleveland is the overwhelming favorite from a narrative perspective. Call me biased — but I don’t see how a final homecoming can be topped by any other scenario. This is the storybook ending that’s been discussed for years.
We won’t know the answer for some time still. Though James recently promised that he wouldn’t leave us hanging much longer. Until then, we can only scroll social media and wait for more updates.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 3: Christian Scott #45 of the New York Mets pitches against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at Truist Park on July 3, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Brett Davis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Mets lineup
A.J. Ewing – CF
Juan Soto – LF
Bo Bichette – 3B
Francisco Lindor – SS
Carson Benge – RF
Jorge Polanco – DH
Jared Young – 1B
Brett Baty – 2B
Francisco Alvarez – C
Christian Scott – RHP
Phillies lineup
Trea Turner – SS
Kyle Schwarber – DH
Bryce Harper – 1B
Brandon Marsh – LF
Alec Bohm – 3B
Bryson Stott – 2B
J.T. Realmuto – C
Gabriel Rincones – RF
Justin Crawford – CF
Aaron Nola – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 6:10 PM EDT TV: ESPN Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
For the White Sox offense, it has become a tale of two hands. | (yourtherapysource.com)
The homestand before the All-Star break went to wild extremes. Sure, being swept in the first series was in part because Boston is a pretty good team despite its record. And sweeping the second one was in part because the A’s are awful, especially with their best hitters out or slumping.
But the handedness thing was something else again. It was only a few years ago that the White Sox killed lefties. Now they just roll over and play dead. That final week painted a vivid picture of the situation.
The Red Sox started three back-of-the-rotation lefties. The White Sox scored one run, zero runs, and one run.
The Athletics used a lefty opener in the first game, and he retired all five batters he faced. Then they brought in a righty — the constipation-relief-sounding bulk reliever — and the Sox scored 14 runs. In the next game, against a regular left-handed starter, the White Sox scored one run. In the finale, against a pretty decent right-hander, they scored nine.
Even stranger, the Sox lineup without Munetaka Murakami doesn’t, on the surface, explain the wide disparity of handedness.
Or does it? Let’s take a look.
THE TWO EXTREMES
GRAND CANYON WIDE: Anyone who wonders why Will Venable will sit .300+ hitting All-Star left-handed hitter Tristan Peters for far-below-the-Mendoza-line Junior Perez against southpaws need only take a look at Peters’ platoon splits, which are as wide as they come:
Vs. RHP: .324/.376/.523, for an amazing .899 OPS, a batting average that would be third in MLB
Vs. LHP: .111/.172/.111, for an abysmal .284 OPS, which is less than half the lowest OPS in the majors this year
Note that his three hits against lefties are all singles and were probably all bunts. Maybe they don’t have lefty pitchers in Banana Ball.
BACKWARDS: When Colson Montgomery bashes a lefty, Steve Stone is inclined to act surprised. He shouldn’t be, because lefty Colson has reverse splits, and pretty big ones at that:
Vs. RHP: .206/.294/.433, an OPS of about-average .727
Vs. LHP: .250/.319/.546, a fine OPS of .866, with a higher percentage of homers and doubles, but also more K’s per AB
How can that be? Maybe because his main weakness is high heat, which doesn’t have a handedness factor. Or maybe because he also has trouble with breaking balls under his hands, which are harder for a southpaw to throw.
LET’S LOOK AT THE REST
Overall, in big-league ball, platoon splits are actually quite small, statistically. It’s no doubt because managers play the righty-lefty game so much and don’t bat especially vulnerable players like Peters. Still, right-handed batters hit righty pitchers for a .692 OPS and lefties for .750, only slightly more. Same small difference for lefty hitters, .679 OPS against lefties, .731 vs. righties.
For the White Sox, in descending bWAR order, bearing in mind that WAR is a cumulative stat, so those with fewer games played will be at a disadvantage:
Miguel Vargas, 3.3 bWAR, All-Star, bats right-handed, power hitter you’d expect to have large splits
Vs. RHP: .233/.338/.454, .792 OPS Vs. LHP: .272/.395/.583, .978 OPS
Fairly pronounced splits, but no real weakness either way.
Chase Meidroth, 1.9 bWAR, bats right-handed, contact hitter you’d expect to have small splits
Vs. RHP: .247/.325/.342, a satanic .666 OPS Vs. LHP: .320/.381/.466, nifty .847 OPS
Bit of a surprise, right?
Munetaka Murakami: 1.8 bWAR despite losing time, bats left-handed, a pure power hitter
Vs. RHP: .250/.383/.595, sky-high .978 OPS Vs. LHP: .190/.342/.413, still an above-average .754 OPS despite low BA thanks to homers and walks
Pretty much what you might expect, especially since the fear he couldn’t hit heat was misplaced, but he does have a problem with breaking pitches unless they hang, in which case they travel very, very far.
Sam Antonacci: 1.6 bWAR despite starting season late, bats left-handed, mostly a contact hitter
Vs. RHP: .314/.405/.475, nifty .881 OPS in part thanks to 11 doubles Vs. LHP: .193/.292/.211, really bad .503 OPS
Did you realize Antonacci was that bad against lefties? I sure didn’t. Helps explain the team’s failures in that direction since he’s the spirit of the outfit.
Vs. RHP: .204/.200/.388, OPS. 588 Vs. LHP: .273/.319/.591, very solid .910 OPS
Yet somehow, he, Vargas, and Meidroth aren’t enough to close the handedness gap.
Braden Montgomery: 0.1 bWAR, but only up for 29 games so far, switch-hitter
Vs. RHP: .233/.325/.438, above-average .761 OPS Vs. LHP: .226/.242/.290, very poor OPS .532
An important note is that he draws lots of walks from righties, but, in a small sample size of 31 trips to the plate, has just one walk the other way, against 10 strikeouts.
Kyle Teel: 0.0 bWAR, bats left-handed, only 51 AB, so too small a sample size to count, but he does have pretty big splits in the normal direction, as he also had last year.
Andrew Benintendi: -0.2 bWAR, bat left-handed
Vs. RHP: .251/.313/.458, OPS .772 Vs. LHP: .182/.229/.212, but he’s rarely allowed to bat against lefties, just 33 AB
Interestingly, Benintendi has a career OPS of .703 against lefties, and had big reverse splits last year. Maybe he forgot how to hit them, or they learned how to pitch him.
Luisangel Acuña: -0.2 bWAR, contact hitter, speedster, bats right-handed, even though Chris Getz thinks he’s a switch-hitter
Vs. RHP: .229/.286/.277 for a .563 OPS Vs. LHP: .258/.265/.288 for a .553 OPS
Note the much higher average against lefties, as you’d expect. But almost no walks from them, so almost the same OPS either way.
Junior Perez and Drew Romo: Not worth worrying about
SO, WHAT DID WE LEARN?
Well, there are reasons the White Sox hit right-handed pitchers better, but there sure aren’t enough reasons to explain the huge difference on the team level. They just have to hope opponents don’t decide to bring lefties up from the minors or out of the bleachers whenever the Sox are on the schedule. Or that they learn how to hit lefties better.
Freddy Peralta could be one of the starters the Cubs pursue in trade | | Getty Images
The All-Star Game in the rear view mirror, and the Cubs have played their way to a 54-42 mark on the season so far. It’s not quite good enough for a lead in their division, that belongs to the 59-37 Milwaukee Brewers, but it does have them in sole control of the first Wild Card spot, one game in the loss column ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies. It’s a pretty miraculous record when you consider they have a pretty elite rotation and bullpen sitting on the injured list, and have for much of the season. I mean, just look at this:
While some of those pitchers seem slated to return soon-ish (Jameson Taillon is on a rehab assignment and Edward Cabrera and Daniel Palencia are throwing), many are out for the year. It’s a team tailor-made for the trade deadline, which believe it or not, comes up on Aug. 3, just 18 days from now.
Cubs fans would be forgiven for being a bit skeptical that reinforcements are on the way at the deadline, however. Last year saw them add Michael Soroka, who immediately hit the injured list, along with Andrew Kittredge and utility man Willi Castro. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and PJ Mooney put the outlook for this year’s deadline pretty bluntly yesterday:
Hoyer’s front office trusts the team’s pitching coaches, and Counsell believes they can maximize pitchers who might not look like obvious contributors.
“The job in a game is to get 27 outs,” Counsell said. “It doesn’t matter what the names are — just get 27 outs. That’s the pitching staff’s job, to somehow put together 27 outs every day. So it doesn’t matter how you do it, or what you’re called when you do it. It matters that we do it better than the other team.”
A pessimist would doubt the front office’s willingness to go all in at the trade deadline for a likely wild-card team; a pessimist would probably also doubt the club’s ability to stay healthy. An optimist would look at all the potential in the names on the injured list and the opportunities to improve the team through transactions before early August.
Bruce Levine was even more blunt on a now-deleted Tweet that was surely meant to be a DM or text message that surfaced over the break:
It seems fans are not alone in feeling that the Cubs front office has been a bit too cautious at adding players to this roster.
To my eye, a reunion with Kittredge (or a similar pitcher) could make sense. While his ERA and FIP look less stellar than last season (4.32 ERA off a 4.06 FIP in 2026 v. 3.45 ERA off a 3.52 FIP prior to the trade in 2025) the underlying numbers are similar: about a strikeout per inning, low walk rate and a 51.3 percent ground ball rate that is better than what he put up in 2026.
That said, while the Cubs should add to the back end of the bullpen, what they really need is starting pitchers. MLB Trade Rumors has a solid write-up of the arms who might be available, which include everyone from Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, old division foe Freddy Peralta, the Twins’ Joe Ryan and Sonny Gray of the Red Sox. Cubs fans are certainly familiar with Gray from his time in the NL Central with the Reds and Cardinals.
Unfortunately for Cubs fans, among the teams the Cubs could trade with above, the Twins, Red Sox, Orioles and Tigers are all within 3.5 games of a Wild Card spot in a lackluster American League, so all of those teams could take it down to the last minute before deciding to sell this trade deadline. That could mean a lot more waiting (and fretting) for fans anxious to see the Cubs try to make another run at the Postseason in 2026.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 21: General view of Chase Field before the MLB game on May 21, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The D-backs’ 2027 Home Opening Day on Friday, April 2 vs. Miami Marlins kicks off the home slate and a 6-game homestand against the Miami Marlins (April 2-4) and Los Angeles Dodgers (April 5-7). The second homestand, from April 16-21, will feature 3-game sets against the San Diego Padres (April 16-18) and Chicago Cubs (April 19-21).
Fan-favorite home holidays return with Mother’s Day Weekend against the Texas Rangers (May 7-9), Father’s Day Weekend against the Boston Red Sox (June 18-20) and 4th of July Weekend against the San Francisco Giants (July 1-4).The 2027 home schedule will wrap with a much-anticipated, season-ending, 6-game divisional showdown against the San Diego Padres (Sept. 21-23) and Los Angeles Dodgers (Sept. 24-26).
The D-backs will open the season on the road with a week’s worth of divisional matchups against the San Diego Padres (March 25-28) and San Francisco Giants (March 29-31). The remaining NL West road showdowns are at the Los Angeles Dodgers (May 24-26), Colorado Rockies (June 21-23), San Diego Padres (August 9-11) and Colorado Rockies (August 20-22) before ending the season’s road schedule with a 7-game roadtrip to face the San Francisco Giants (Sept. 13-15) and Los Angeles Dodgers (Sept. 16-19).
The road slate also features visits to the New York Yankees (April 9-11), Philadelphia Phillies (April 23-26), Atlanta Braves (May 14-16), Milwaukee Brewers (May 28-30), Toronto Blue Jays (June 8-10), Chicago White Sox (July 9-11) and Chicago Cubs (August 16-18).
It’s kinda hard to look at the schedule and figure out what sections might be tough or not. I recall everyone looking at this year’s calendar and deciding they had “a brutal early schedule.” Turns out that the Tigers, Mets, Orioles and Blue Jays – currently eight, seventeen, five and six games below .500 respectively – were not exactly the tough opposition predicted. The Diamondbacks went 9-3 against those opponents. So I’m a little reluctant to make any predictions when we are still more than sixty games from the end of this season, never mind any changes which may then get made during the winter.
However, based on current standings, it looks like it may be difficult to get out of the gate quickly. There’s an early 12-game stretch where we face the Marlins, Dodgers, Yankees and then back to the Marlins again. Based on the current standings, that would be a tough couple of weeks. It’s then then followed by ten more against the Padres (still at .500, though well off their early page), Cubs and Phillies. All told, that’ll be 22 games where all but three are against teams currently – again, a lot of water under the bridge between now and then – in the top eight of the MLB standings. Though the Marlins are probably gonna Marlin and sell everyone off for 2027.
After that though, I wasn’t seeing too many other cases where we have more than two consecutive series against teams currently with winning records. Maybe we’ll have Corbin Burnes back as Opening Day starter? Let’s wait and see there though.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - May 13: Casey Schmitt #10, Jung Hoo Lee #51 and Luis Arráez #1 of the San Francisco Giants prepare for the game at Dodger Stadium on May 13, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Suzanna Mitchell/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The MLB draft and All-Star festivities are over and we San Francisco Giants fans don’t have much to look forward to other than the looming trade deadline.
Of course, the Giants should be one of the busiest teams during the next couple of weeks as they sell away the bitter memories of lost season. Depending on who you believe, we could see a massive fire sale with most of the current 26-man roster available if the price is right. So, it could get wild as San Francisco has a chance to add some real firepower to an already much improved farm system. Yes, reading updated top 30 prospect lists has become much more enjoyable than scouring the MLB standings.
Still, there are some veteran players I’d like to see the Gaints resist dealing. Lets take a look:
Luis Arráez
I was excited when Arráez mentioned last week that he’d like to stay with the Giants. I’ve been screaming for weeks that Buster Posey needs to extend him, not trade him. Arráez is the type of player who the Giants can easily build around in the next half decade. He likely won’t be unbearable to absorb financially and he is just 29 years old. He is such a special player with the bat and his drastic defensive improvement shows he is still an ascending player who cares. You keep these types of players. Also, I wouldn’t expect another team to part with a top prospect for a non-power hitting middle infielder on an expiring contract. Just sign him now and move forward.
Jung Hoo Lee
The Lee rumors ramped up when ESPN recently included him as one of the more likely players to be dealt at the deadline. I have my doubts the Giants will actively shop him and that’s my hope. He was signed two years ago to be a core player and after some growing pains in MLB and some injuries, that’s exactly what he has become. At 27, Lee has a chance to be a premier hitter for the next several years. Now that he is the player tge Giants envisioned him becoming when the signed him out of KBO. Why would they cut bait now? He and Arraez give the Giants some serious OBP juice. Why mess with that? Let’s see this guy become an all-time San Francisco Giant.
Rafael Devers
Look, I’m as disappointed in the outcome of his trade last year as you are and his body language drives me nuts. But let’s just move on with Devers. Let’s face it; the Giants won’t get much if they give up on Devers either in player return and financial burden relieved. So, they might as well just embrace having him and move forward. Yes, he hasn’t been as good as advertised and he’s been frustratingly streaky in his 13 months as a Giant. But, there is no denying the guy can hit and he will hit for the next decade. Let’s bookend him with Bryce Eldridge for the next several years and enjoy it. Let’s forgive the shortcomings and just hope breaks the streakiness and rakes regularly like he can.
Los Angeles’ crosstown rivalry reignited Tuesday about 300 miles away from their respective arenas.
A potential highlight transition dunk from Adou Thiero turned into a hard foul, deemed reckless enough to be upgraded to a flagrant. Some extra pushing and shoving followed, resulting in technicals.
Thiero and the Summer League Lakers brushed off the mini scuffle and went on to win their fifth straight game, including three in a row to remain undefeated in Las Vegas. The purple and gold’s 36th overall pick from a year ago finished with 13 points, six rebounds, a steal and a block in 27 minutes.
As has been the case all summer, the numbers don’t do justice to the impact of his athletic force on both ends of the floor. With the Lakers roster clearly devoid of athletic wings, it gives way for Thiero to make his case for a real potential spot on the floor.
Even while entering only 25 games last year due to injuries, Thiero has played 100 more minutes than the next-closest player on the Summer League roster. In this summer exhibition environment, experienced second-year players are relied on to lead their teams.
On offense, there’s not much coloring outside the lines. It’s a simple but effective diet of relentless drives to the basket as he’s determined to get downhill with force at any opportunity. Without many playmakers to accompany him, Thiero is relied on as a main creator to manufacture paint touches and kickouts. In Vegas, he’s second on the team in assists.
He’s oscillated between being a screener and operating in the short roll and running actions as the ball handler, as shown below. Watch as he gets a ghost screen from fellow summer standout Cameron Carr. A bump of the shoulder sends his defender flying before he dips into his bag for a hard gather crossover finish at the basket.
These drives and paint touches collapse the defense, creating ample opportunities to be a playmaker. After a few rough games in the California Classic while getting his feet under him, Thiero’s shown much better poise on his drives. Rather than force off-balance shots at the rim, he opted to find teammates for kick-out threes or cutters at the rim.
His downhill force and highlight-dunk finishing ability have teams walling off the paint against him. Watch below as he comes off a screen action in the corner, splits the defense with an under-control spin and flings the pass back out for a wide open 3-pointer.
Where he’s unstoppable is on the break and it’s not hyperbole to say Thiero is the best transition athlete currently on the Lakers. Listed at 6’5, 220 pounds, he walks around with a trampoline to launch from for lobs and thunderous dunks.
Watch below as the Lakers force a turnover and Thiero acts as the trailer in the play. Once he gets momentum going downhill, the seas part and he finishes with a powerful slam.
As with any young player on a team hoping to be in contention, Thiero’s minutes will be determined by his ability to lock in on the defensive end. Projecting him into the Lakers’ rotation, his potential as a predator on defense is an enticing fit.
His five steals in Vegas leads the team, picking players from behind with great hands and turnovers with ball pressure. Offensive players have even chosen to avoid attacking him, moving the ball or calling for a screen to switch to a different defender.
The Arkansas product has used his athletic powers to recover for some impressive chase-down blocks. Watch below as the offensive player hears footsteps and gets engulfed at the apex of his jump. Thiero goes up with two hands, prepared for the takeaway on either side.
His three blocks in Vegas are second behind center Anton Watson.
Thiero is still a very raw prospect in many aspects, evidenced by his refusal to take any shot outside the paint. The drives toe the line between force and recklessness, showing a clear need for development in reading the defense and improved spatial awareness. Athletic advantages won’t be as pronounced against NBA competition, and, as with most young players, his defensive focus on and off the ball can fade in interest.
With all that being said, the Lakers are starved for uber-athletic wings to pair around Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, as proven by reports of interest in potentially adding Jonathan Kuminga and signing Ziaire Williams to a minimum contract.
Barring a carryover of health issues from last season, Thiero’s two-way athletic profile provides a hopeful road map to a run at minutes next season in year two.
The Chicago Blackhawks have released their schedule for the 2026-27 season, which is a slate of 84 games, up from 82. The full schedule came out on Thursday after every team announced its home opener on Wednesday.
The Blackhawks will visit every building in the NHL at least once, and every team will come to the United Center at least once. From late September to early April, these 84 games will see the Blackhawks attempt to take a step in their rebuild.
Every game will be something special in its own way, but some games stick out more than others when it comes to the "must-see" mentality. These are the five to circle right away on the calendar:
September 29th - @ Vegas Golden Knights
The Chicago Blackhawks will open their season on the road with a match against the Vegas Golden Knights, who happen to be the reigning Western Conference Champions.
Right off the bat, the Blackhawks have as tough a test as they will face. The Golden Knights will kick off their 10th season in the NHL with this game, and the Blackhawks will be hoping to catch them at a vulnerable time to kick off their 101st season with a win.
October 6th - vs St. Louis Blues
After playing Vegas, the Blackhawks have two more road games against the Utah Mammoth and Buffalo Sabres before coming home to face the St. Louis Blues in their home opener on October 6th.
It is always a special time for the players, organization, and fanbase to return to the United Center for a fresh season, which is why this game is worth circling on the calendar.
October 10th - vs Carolina Hurricanes
On October 10th, the Chicago Blackhawks will welcome the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes to the United Center for their first and only visit. Like Vegas, the team that Carolina defeated in the Final, this is a great test for the young Blackhawks early in the season. All of the games up to this point will be played without Connor Bedard.
December 18th/20th - vs Ottawa Senators in Germany
The Chicago Blackhawks will face the Ottawa Senators for two games in Germany this season as part of the NHL Global Series. This initiative allows fans from across the world to see NHL hockey in person, and the Blackhawks are one of the teams this year. Connor Bedard should be back by this point.
January 30th - @ San Jose Sharks
The last game for the Chicago Blackhawks before their 10-day break for the All-Star Game will be in Northern California against the San Jose Sharks. This will be Connor Bedard's first meeting of the season with his friend and player rival Macklin Celebrini.
The funny thing is that their return game following the break is also against the Sharks in San Jose. Then, later in the season on March 16th, the Sharks will make their one trip to the United Center.
Before long, this is going to be a premier rivalry in the Western Conference because both teams are on the come-up at the same time, and it will be a treat to witness the matchup in 2026-27.
Potential For More
All of these are relatively early in the season. If there is going to be more intrigue later in the campaign, it would likely mean that the Blackhawks were having a good season, causing these games to be more exciting. If people are circling more games on their calendar late in the year, that means the team (or someone on the team) is doing big things.
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The Detroit Red Wings closed the book on one of the most significant eras in franchise history on Wednesday, as Steve Yzerman stepped down from his role as general manager and executive vice president of Hockey Operations, transitioning into a senior advisory role.
The move brings an end to what was ultimately a lackluster stretch for the organization, one defined by a lengthy rebuild that never fully delivered.
Yzerman, who spent 22 seasons as Detroit's captain during his playing days, left the Red Wings organization years ago to build a winner elsewhere, taking the reins of the Tampa Bay Lightning and constructing an eventual Stanley Cup contender.
His roster reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2015, and with additional tweaks from successor Julien BriseBois, that same core would go on to win back to back championships. While it's difficult to measure exactly how much credit belongs to Yzerman versus BriseBois for those titles, Yzerman had already proven he could build a winner from the ground up.
That track record made him an obvious target when the Red Wings came calling, and Yzerman returned to Detroit in April of 2019. What became known around the league as the "Yzerplan" was billed as a methodical, multi-year approach built on drafting and developing young talent while making calculated additions along the way, eventually forming a true contender.
Instead, the plan never fully materialized, and the Red Wings missed the playoffs for a tenth consecutive season this past year.
In many ways, the approach mirrored the Philadelphia 76ers' infamous "Process," banking on years of difficulty in exchange for sustained future success. Now, with Yzerman's tenure as GM officially over, it's worth looking back at some of the moves that defined his time running the franchise, for better and for worse.
Best: Locking Up Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond
Signing elite young talent never comes cheap, but Yzerman's belief in Seider and Raymond paid dividends. Seider has developed into one of the league's premier defensemen, and his $8.55 million cap hit through 2031 already looks like a bargain. The same goes for Raymond, who signed for $8.075 million through 2032 and has since become a point-per-game player.
Worst: Trading Jake Walman for Future Considerations
On June 25th, 2024, Detroit shipped defenseman Jake Walman to the San Jose Sharks for future considerations, a deal widely attributed to cap clearing amid reported friction between Walman and the organization.
The trade has aged poorly, as Walman broke out with San Jose, posting 32 points in 50 games as an offensive defenseman. The Sharks would later flip him to the Edmonton Oilers for a conditional 2026 first-round pick, a return Detroit could have used for themselves, not to mention losing a talented piece on their blue line.
Best: The Alex DeBrincat Trade
On July 9th, 2023, the Red Wings sent Dominik Kubalik, Donovan Sebrango, a 2024 conditional first-round pick and a 2024 fourth-round pick to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Alex DeBrincat.
The move paid off in a big way, as DeBrincat has been one of Detroit's top offensive weapons over the past two seasons, leading the team with 66 goals to go along with 71 assists for 137 points, third-most on the roster in that span.
Meanwhile, Kubalik was eventually moved to Chicago, Sebrango has made little impact at the NHL level, the fourth-rounder became winger Javon Moore, and the conditional first eventually became forward Dean Letourneau, who is now in the Boston Bruins system.
Worst: The Justin Holl Signing
Heading into the 2023 offseason, the Toronto Maple Leafs were more than happy to part ways with underperforming defenseman Justin Holl, who they had been paying $2 million per season.
Detroit not only added a player who had struggled against one of their fiercest rivals, but gave him a raise with a $3.4 million cap hit over three seasons. The deal played out largely as expected, with Holl managing just 13 points in 111 games over the first two seasons before spending the final year of his contract entirely in the minors, eventually being dealt to the St. Louis Blues as part of the Justin Faulk trade.
For a young and developing roster, adding a veteran presence like Patrick Kane proved to be an ideal fit. Over three seasons in Detroit, Kane helped mentor younger players like Lucas Raymond while still producing on the ice, tallying 57 goals and 106 assists for 163 points in 189 games.
Worst: The Justin Faulk Trade
At the 2026 trade deadline, Yzerman sent Justin Holl, prospect Dmitri Buchelnikov, a 2026 first-round pick and a 2026 third-round pick to the St. Louis Blues for rental defenseman Justin Faulk.
The move was widely criticized after Detroit stumbled to a 6-10-3 finish, missing the playoffs and surrendering a valuable first-round pick in the process. Faulk remains under contract for next season and could still provide value as a veteran mentor for young defensemen like Seider, Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Simon Edvinsson.
But if the Red Wings miss the playoffs again next season, the trade will go down as the final costly misstep in Yzerman's tenure.
Best: First Five First-Round Picks (2019-2022)
Drafting and developing talent worked out early and often for Yzerman. His first five first-round selections as GM, Seider (sixth overall, 2019), Raymond (fourth overall, 2020), Simon Edvinsson (sixth overall, 2021), Sebastian Cossa (15th overall, 2021) and Marco Kasper (eighth overall, 2022), all look like hits.
All are already making an impact at the NHL level, aside from Cossa, who is expected to get his opportunity with the Utah Mammoth next season. Tasked with rebuilding the Red Wings with essentially only Dylan Larkin as a foundation, Yzerman quickly unearthed multiple franchise cornerstones.
Worst: Trading Sebastian Cossa for J.P. Hurlbert
It's still too early to fully judge the long-term impact of a trade made less than a month ago, but the optics are far from favorable. Despite Detroit's deep goaltending pipeline, Cossa looked like the franchise's presumptive goaltender of the future.
Instead of using him to bring back immediate help, Yzerman moved him to the Utah Mammoth for the 23rd overall pick, a selection lower than where Cossa himself was drafted, along with prospect J.P. Hurlbert.
If Hurlbert fails to develop into a full-time NHL contributor and Cossa emerges as Utah's franchise goaltender, this deal could end up looking like one of the final missteps of Yzerman's Detroit tenure.
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The start of Thursday's game between the Mets and Phillies -- and the official start of the second half of the 2026 season -- has been changed.
New York and Philadelphia will begin their three-game series at 6:10 p.m., an hour earlier than its originally scheduled time due to air quality concerns later in the evening, the Phillies announced.
"They had to meet about it at 4," Marcus Semien, who was activated off the IL prior to Thursday's game, said of the new start time. "Definitely the opposite of a delay. It's for the better, it looks pretty bad out there."
“There is some air quality alerts out there. MLB, city teams feel it's safe enough to play a baseball game. We surely hope it stays that way, interim manager Andy Green said of the conditions. "You can’t predict this kind of thing. We limited our outside exposure, very short time out there for our guys.”
Green said their schedule changed a lot with the new start time, as they received word a little before four o'clock, but the team got as much done as they could.
"We got the work done that needs to get done, just in a condensed format," Green said. "This is a typical day where you might have an elongated workout because guys are coming off a break. It’s an adjustment but baseball always tends to make us make them."
Christian Scott (2-1, 3.17 ERA) will take the mound for the Mets, who are looking to snap their three-game losing streak. The Phillies will send Aaron Nola (3-6, 5.75 ERA) to the bump as Philadelphia looks to extend its winning streak to three games.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Chaney Johnson #31 of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket during the game against the Sacramento Kings on July 14, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Well, that was fun! The Nets absolutely dominated on Tuesday with a 115-83 victory against the Kings. It was arguably the best we’ve seen the Flatbush Five play together, and certainly the best Brooklyn has played this summer. And that’s saying something.
They’ll move onto face the Houston Rockets in their final pool play match of Las Vegas NBA Summer League. There are 12 teams competing 12 for four semifinal spots, meaning the might or might not be the last game for another 3+ months. Enjoy!
📺 Watch
Watch: YES Network, Gotham Sports, ESPNU
Who: Nets vs. Rockets
When: Tip after 4:30 PM
💬 Discussion
Share your thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 12: Manager Craig Stammen #14 of the San Diego Padres looks on from the dugout before the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Petco Park on July 12, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The San Diego Padres made a last push to overcome their worst losing streak of the season with winning four of their last seven games against Arizona Diamondbacks and the Toronto Blue Jays. The two wins against the Blue Jays came on back-to-back days heading into the All-Star break. With only Mason Miller being named to the National League All-Star roster, the rest of the team got the week off to rest and reset before San Diego returns to the field against the Royals in Kansas City at 5:10 p.m. on Friday.
The back-to-back wins over Toronto ensured the Padres would have a .500 record at the ceremonial half-way point of the season. It was a far fall from the 11 games over .500 they had been earlier this season before an eight-game losing streak dropped them out of playoff contention. The expectation is that with 66 games to go before season’s end, San Diego should have an opportunity to push for playoff position. The Padres Reacts Survey poll question this week on Gaslamp Ball is asking respondents to determine if the Padres will compete in the postseason.
The answer to this question may be determined by how San Diego performs in the 16 games after the All-Star break leading into the trade deadline. Of course, it would make sense the answer is no if the Padres become sellers and it might be easier to say yes if they buy. Worse than either outcome is San Diego plays well enough to remain mediocre, convincing general manager A.J. Preller to hold onto potential trade pieces while adding on the fringes with players who have not stood out to their previous organizations.
The results of the poll will be posted in the near future.
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