Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton said on Wednesday that Israel must allow aid trucks into Gaza, a day after he visited the Rafah border crossing in Egypt.
Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, arrived in El Arish on Tuesday, where he was briefed on how aid is prepared and coordinated before it is sent into Gaza, as he toured the Rafah crossing and the Egyptian Red Crescent’s aid warehouses.
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX - AUGUST 05: Adam Serwinowski #27 of the Tulsa Drillers pitches during the game between the Tulsa Drillers and the Corpus Christi Hooks at Whataburger Field on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 in Corpus Christi, Texas. (Photo by Kyra Blundell/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
One of several prospects the Dodgers acquired as part of some roster reshuffling over the past few seasons—working around the margins—Adam Serwinowski did not necessarily live up to the promise of an exciting end of the year in High-A last season. Promoted to Double-A to begin the 2026 campaign, Serwinowski went through the baptism of fire of the Texas League, just like various talented prospects before him and plenty more in the future.
This was Serwinowski’s first full season in the Dodgers’ organization, acquired during last year’s trade deadline in a three-team deal that saw the Dodgers send catcher Hunter Feduccia to the Rays. Drafted in the 15th round of the MLB Draft by the Reds back in 2022, the 6-foot-5 left-hander had a slow development, falling short of 30 innings in his first two seasons as a pro in Rookie ball.
One of the workhorses for a Drillers team that smoked through the competition to earn an 88-50 record, Serwinowski not only led his team in strikeouts with 150 but also was number two in that category in the entire Texas League. The Dodgers’ left-handers stood behind only Daniel Eagen (157) of the Diamondbacks.
It’s easy to see that 5.31 ERA in a different light in the context of the extreme hitter-friendly Texas League and all the obstacles it brings to the table. There were moments of brilliance sprinkled throughout the year, like when he tossed seven scoreless against Corpus Christi in a one-hitter in late June, but usually the challenging outing to inflate that ERA back over five was just around the corner.
Speaking of challenges, the Springfield Cardinals—the team responsible for eliminating Tulsa in the semifinals—certainly had Serwinowski’s number in 2026, including in the playoffs. After scoring 12 runs against the tall left-hander in just 11.2 regular season innings, the Cardinals got on him for four runs in as many innings in an eventual 9-7 defeat for the Drillers.
As things currently stand, the Dodgers have a decision on their hands regarding Serwinowski, who for the first year in his career will be eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. Whatever concessions we might make regarding the Texas League, the left-hander does not look ready for a promotion to the big league club in the near future, meaning LA would need to burn a 40-man spot to maintain its asset.
The alternative would be to do something that’s become common for this team in recent years: move a prospect for an even younger one and trade proximity to the majors for convenience since roster moves and playing time at and near the top require some sacrifices. Serwinowski is one to keep an eye on in any potential trade talks this offseason.
Having faced the Wichita Wind Surge five times in 27 starts, it’s no wonder some of Serwinowski’s most dominant performances came in this matchup, including his only double-digit strikeout game. In late May, Serwinowski held the Wind Surge to just one run through seven innings, allowing five baserunners (three hits and a walk).
NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 6: Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup on November 6, 2026 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As a former teacher, conferences were always a bit of a mixed bag. On the hard side were the additional four hours of work tacked on top of a school day and the social anxiety of having the first in-depth conversations with parents, never fully knowing what kind of energy they would bring to the conversation. However, whether a student was struggling or thriving, the majority of the time, the conversations were very beneficial in getting everyone on the same page.
Each conversation really came down to the three main points:
Something the student is doing well
An area of improvement
The question of “Is there anything I can be doing as a teacher to better support them?”
In our season-long grading project, this is the first opportunity to track progress and get a look at how the categories, statistical ranges, and grade direction are shaping up. These stats reflect the first 11 games of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ season, so the sample size is small, but large enough to begin to get a sense of the good, the bad, and to see if there are better ways to capture what each player is doing on the floor in their role.
Buckle up, it’s conference time.
A few reminders as always:
1. These grades are roles-based, so the stats I’m looking at for each player are different and meant to highlight their team role.
2. Roles on the team can change as the roster and playing time changes—I will alter or add statistical categories throughout the season as needed. Especially in a preseason article, the expectation is that some of these initial stats will change as we get to know the team better.
3. The grade ranges and their correlation to stats are educated speculation based on previous career averages, team role, and minutes expectation. Like the categories themselves, if there is a range that is clearly missing the eye test, expect some tweaks as the season goes along.
LaMelo Ball:B (86%)
First off, the fact that you are well on your way to a perfect attendance award is remarkable. While the season is long and nobody is going to count any chickens before they hatch, going 11/11 in games played deserves an immediate gold star. Well done!
You know what else deserves a gold star? The team offense. Despite losing the team’s most important offensive cog, you’ve helped hold things together and guide the squad to the seventh-best offensive rating in the league, a number that, wherever it ends up after thirty-ish games, will probably be the floor of the season.
Now let’s talk about rebounding. Honestly, it turns out this may just be a bad stat to track for you on this team. The team is rebounding fantastically to start the season as other players have stepped up. I mean, if you are an English major, who cares about your math scores, right? So maybe we need to focus on something else going forward…
Ah, yes. There it is. Four turnovers a game. 5.2 turnovers per 36 minutes, which would be the second-worst in the NBA for rotation players. That number is getting alarmingly close to being one that could soft-launch a bakery. Let’s clean that up a bit and bring it closer to your career average of 3.2 going forward, okay?
Anthony Edwards:Incomplete
*Sigh* There isn’t much that can be said with just a four-game sample size of numbers, so I’ll just use this space to opine for a moment.
This Wolves team is the most excited I’ve been about a group since the 23-24 squad had their meteoric rise and won over our hearts and minds with defensive grit and intensity. This season’s squad is flashing that kind of defensive performance too… but only with an offensive ceiling to mirror it, assuming a healthy Anthony Edwards.
Teams that have both a top-five offense and defense often play a lot of basketball deep into the month of May and beyond. Get healthy soon, Ant!
Jaden McDaniels:A (97%)
Don’t tell the other students, but you continue to be my favorite. Efficient shooting from deep and midrange, and being a key component of the number one defense in the league? Night in and night out, this team knows exactly what it is going to get out of you and, quite frankly, it’s phenomenal.
Sometimes you have a conference that is short and sweet because nothing about the student’s effort and production needs to be changed. Keep doing what you are doing, and we’ll do everything we can to get you your first All-Star trip!
Jonathan Kuminga: B+ (88%)
Welcome to Minnesota, Mr. Kuminga! Much like Jaden McDaniels, your work on the defensive end has been astounding. It is a wholly un-Wolves-like experience to go into matchups with the variety of power forwards there are in the league and feel as though you have a matchup for them. Raising your defensive EPM to an 86th percentile defender is JUST what the doctor ordered for this roster.
Here’s the curious thing – you are shooting 40% from deep and yet have a near career low in true shooting percentage? Let me check the numbers here… ah okay. There it is. 52.5% from the free throw line. Have you been spending too much time with Mr. Gobert outside of class? As a career 70% shooter from the line, let’s clean that up a bit and you’ll see your grade in the “A” range in no time!
Rudy Gobert: C+ (77%)
Let’s talk about the good first – you are the anchor of the number one defense in the league through 11 games. For everything else that we are going to talk about, that’s the most important thing, and it’s the reason that you are on this team. You are one of the greatest defenders to ever play the game, and once again, anchoring a top defense in the league is truly a special career achievement.
It is really important that you understand how much we all appreciate your defense before anything else is said, okay?
But my God, has the goatee grown so thick that it is affecting your peripheral vision and ability to hit a layup? A non-rookie season career-low of 50% from the floor? Just 1.7 dunks per game despite having one of the best passing point guards in the league? This was supposed to be an apex offensive Gobert season!
I should note that your turnover numbers are at a non-rookie season career low… which is something… but that something may be YOUR INABILITY TO CATCH A PASS, INCREASING EVERYONE’S TURNOVERS AROUND YOU!! If the league tracked fumbled passes, you’d be having A WILT CHAMBERLAIN-ESQUE RUN!!!
Okay, I just had to get that out of my system. It had been brewing for a while, and conferences are a time for honest feedback, right? Plus, my therapist told me I should let it out so I’d stop mumbling “catch the damn ball, Rudy” in my sleep. Please re-read the first paragraph to know what is most important, and then let’s just be better on the offensive end, okay?
Ayo Dosunmo:A- (92%)
An “A-” grade that mostly reflects the slow-cooking EPM metrics. If you were to keep consistently playing the kind of basketball you are, that EPM will be in the green in no time!
That points-per-shot-attempt number continues to be elite, and if this NBA season plays out similarly to previous ones, it would be a 95th percentile number, which is remarkable considering the increased offensive load and defensive focus. That PIE number (player impact estimate) would put you inside the top forty players in the league – quite the value for a player making $19 million this season.
Since the Anthony Edwards injury, no one has upped their usage more and with that, you’ve been the team’s leading scorer over the past seven games, averaging 21.6 points per game. Turns out the “As You Wish” bench superstar is just a fantastic basketball player.
Joan Beringer:B+ (87%)
A B+ grade in your role to start the year because you are doing EXACTLY what is needed. Incremental steps of improvement to earn minutes, flashing an elite skill (offensive rebounding), and utilizing hustle to minimize mistakes and earn the coaching staff’s trust.
Would I like to see a few more blocks per game? Sure, but it is clear that part of your game is being intentionally restrained to help you stay out of foul trouble as you keep getting your feet wet. Like a good stew, we’re just going to keep letting you cook in a limited role that will pay dividends later in the season.
TJ Shannon:B (84%)
Before we begin, I need to ask you a question. Have you been turning in your “finishing at the rim” homework? Because the numbers here tell me that we’re actually on pace to finish worse than last season’s 52.9%, which was an area of improvement we had marked over the summer.
You’re thriving within the concept of team defense (a huge jump from the preseason’s -1.1 mark!), and you are getting to the rim and drawing fouls at more than twice the level of any time in your career. Talk about excelling in your role!
The only thing that is missing is a bit more of that deft touch around the basket to complement your elite downhill first step. Far be it from me to try to activate a healthy inter-team competition, but here’s where the rest of the roster stands when finishing within 5ft of the basket:
Maybe everyone on the team should be spending more time with Trey Lyles. Speaking of…
Trey Lyles:A- (90%)
I’ll be honest with you, Mr. Lyles – when you transferred here, the only real sense of your skill set I had was a player who could space the floor with shooting and not much else. It is a testament to how wrong I am that the shooting really hasn’t come around yet, and you are being a player who is consistently driving winning.
The defensive rating and defensive EPM (1.1) are really encouraging. In fact, that EPM number is fourth on the team, only behind Gobert, McDaniels, and Kuminga!
Know what else has been surprising? Your ability as a rebounder and, dare I even say it, a dunker?! Like most Timberwolves fans, these first 11 games have invoked a lot of “I was not familiar with your game” utterances. Start hitting those threes, and you could be hunting the ever-elusive A+ grade.
Bones Hyland:C (73%)
Let’s talk about the scoring. That 25.1 points per thirty-six minutes is astounding. It would put you within the top twenty-five of the league on a list that includes mostly current NBA All-Stars. That you are doing it from more than just beyond the arc is the other really encouraging thing! This Wolves team needs a flamethrower scorer while Anthony Edwards is out, and you’ve stepped up to be just that.
I cannot explain the pace number being so low, but I am keeping it for now as a stand-in for the rest of your game. Despite the scoring inferno, you are the only rotation player to have a negative net rating (-10.1), a 15-point swing from the next closest rotation player. Because of this, your EPM numbers have dropped more than anyone else on the team, which means there is probably quite a bit lacking on the defensive end. An elite offensive game with a bad defensive game will land you comfortably in that “C” range.
Jaylen Clark:A (94%)
I really don’t want to jinx this, so I’m just going to whisper it between us, okay?
… Did you know that you are shooting 38% from deep this season on over two attempts per game? If this were to be maintained, when partnered with your defensive splash/hustle plays, it may turn out that there is a real and consistent role in the rotation for you. A player who has a limited role, steps into it, and goes beyond to earn more minutes? That is a role-based “A” if I’ve ever seen one!
A video of Jaylen Clark doing a Jaylen Clark thing is a perfect way to close out these first conferences because it encapsulates so much of what we’ve loved about this team so far. I’ll be back in ten games with the finalized first-quarter report cards!
MESA, Arizona — I generally like attending at least one Arizona Fall League game each year, a way to get a bit of a baseball fix before the winter with no baseball sets in (and this winter might have a much longer period with no baseball, as you know).
So I attended Wednesday’s AFL game between the Mesa Solar Sox (where Cubs prospects play) and the Salt River Rafters at Sloan Park, won by the Rafters 12-4.
Holy hell, that was an awful baseball game. And there’s a reason for it, which I’ll get to after I describe why this game was so bad. First, because the game had no impact on the AFL playoffs, which begin today, it was scheduled for seven innings.
Even so, it ran three hours and three minutes. Why was that? Because the teams combined for 22 (!) walks and threw a total of 343 (!) pitches. That would be a lot even for a nine-inning game. The Rafters pitchers were slightly less bad than the Solar Sox pitchers. They walked only seven.
The Solar Sox pitchers, who included Cubs prospect Jhon Cabral, walked 15 — and also struck out 13. Put another way: The Rafters sent 46 men to the plate. Only 18 of them put the ball in play.
Cabral, who was signed to a minor-league deal by the Cubs after the Marlins let him go in June, faced five batters. Not one of them put the ball in play. He struck out two and walked three, 30 pitches, 12 strikes. Here’s an example of how he threw:
So, Cabral throws hard but has no idea where the ball was going. Note that pitch 4 could have been challenged — it was clearly out of the zone — but the Rafters were out of challenges by then.
Cabral is 21. A guy who throws that hard — maybe the Cubs can refine that and help him throw strikes. Otherwise he’ll wash out of the system in a couple of years.
I was discussing this with Josh and he said, “It’s kind of like what Low-A has become. Teams just don’t send any pitching prospects to the AFL anymore.”
It’s not like that anymore — and it’s not just the Cubs. I met up with Samantha Bradfield, who runs the SB Nation Rockies site Purple Row (and who also helped us out with our interview with Miguel Useche), at the game and she mentioned she had heard from Rockies director of player development Chris Forbes:
“The Fall League in probably a 10-year span has really changed. It’s not quite the pedigree that it used to be. Where it used to be guys are going and next year they’re probably going to debut, and this year, as we were picking through it – reward, like, Fidel Ulloa. That’s a good reward for a kid that’s been pretty steady and a reliever. And a reliever, Hunter Mann, that’s emerged this year as a two-plus guy. But from Konner Eaton, there’s a command plan for him. We need just a little bit more time with him. And then Stu Flesland III, who had an amazing year, they’ve got this velocity thing they’re trying to do with him, and they’re going to do that and then try to get him to try it in a game. So I think Sean’s our only starter, and guys like Stu will be coming out of the bullpen with just his plan in place.“
Last week, Jim McLennan, who runs our SB Nation Diamondbacks site AZ Snakepit, had this similar comment about an AFL game he attended, quoting a D-backs beat writer:
The game ended 5-3 to the Javelinas and was… interesting. It wasn’t very well-played, to be honest. Was chatting to Jack Sommers about it, and he said, “The quality of the AFL has gone down in recent years. There are fewer and fewer good pitchers, and it has skewed towards younger, less developed position players. Fifteen years ago it was much better quality.”
So, if you go to an AFL game, the sort of baseball you’re going to see is… different… from what it used to be. Whether this is good or bad is in the eye of the beholder.
Two Cubs hitting prospects had decent games Wednesday. Kade Snell, who is gaining some attention in the system, went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base. Outfielder Harrison Feinberg went 2-for-3 with a sacrifice fly.
One reason for the lopsided score, besides all the walks issued by Solar Sox pitchers, is that catcher Davis Diaz simply got run on by just about everyone. The Rafters stole 11 (!) bases and on a couple of the attempts, Diaz didn’t even attempt a throw. Diaz is a conversion guy, drafted by the A’s in the eighth round in 2024 out of Vanderbilt. He did not catch at all in college; the A’s are, well, trying to change that. Based on what I saw Wednesday, it’s not working.
The Solar Sox have prospects from the Cubs, A’s, Blue Jays, Red Sox and Angels. The Rafters have prospects from the Nationals, Diamondbacks, Rockies, Yankees and Twins.
It wasn’t great baseball, but it was baseball, the weather was gorgeous (80 degrees and not a cloud in the sky), and who knows when I’ll see players wearing Cubs uniforms on a field again… so it was still a worthwhile way to spend a Wednesday afternoon in November.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - NOVEMBER 08: LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at United Center on November 08, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Update, 1 p.m.: LeBron James has officially been ruled out with low back/sciatica management.
The Toronto Raptors have ruled out Scottie Barnes (left groin strain) and Trayce Jackson-Davis (illness). Kawhi Leonard remains out with a left knee injury.
As the Philadelphia 76ers gear up for tonight’s home game against the Toronto Raptors, we received a good sign on the availability of two of their stars. Joel Embiid and LeBron James both participated in morning shootaround after being placed on the injury report as questionable yesterday evening. Embiid even spoke to reporters, but could not provide any further information about whether he will suit up tonight.
Joel Embiid spoke to reporters after shootaround this morning. “I have no idea,” he said when asked if he would play tonight.
Nevertheless, you’d rather see the two of them out there than not. The Sixers could certainly use their two largest starters against Toronto, particularly with the handful of absences already in the frontcourt.
On that note, Dominick Barlow also participated in shootaround, but there is still no timeline for his return. Barlow has yet to make his season debut due to back soreness, but does appear to be getting closer. On the less optimistic side of things, though, backup center Adem Bona was said to have seen a specialist and will be out at least a week before being re-evaluated. He last played on Nov. 4 in Detroit, sitting out recent games due to a cervical spine sprain. Without Bona, the Sixers have been playing small in the minutes when Embiid sits. Nick Nurse has not opted to utilize two-way contract big man Tacko Fall, who has only appeared in three minutes of garbage time this season.
We’ll await word closer to game time on the availability of Embiid and James. Either way, expect plenty of minutes for Dean Wade and Jabari Walker. Stay tuned.
The Warriors announced Thursday, Nov. 12 that an MRI confirmed Curry suffered an oblique abdominal tear and added that he would be reevaluated in two weeks. The injury took place Wednesday, Nov. 11 in an eventual 115-108 loss against the Houston Rockets.
Curry walked off the floor midway through the first quarter, clearly grimacing and favoring his right side.
The sequence took place just 5:35 into the game. Curry had scored 3 points on 1-of-3 shooting by that point. He did not return to the floor for the rest of the first quarter, and he was not back at the bench area to start the second period.
The Warriors announced minutes into the second quarter that Curry would not return for the rest of the game with right abdominal soreness.
After the game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said that Curry said he “tweaked something in his abdominal area,” which Curry told Kerr he had never done before. Kerr added that “concern is high” though he reiterated that he had no idea of the extent of the injury.
During the game, Curry did have a collision with Rockets forward Amen Thompson earlier in the game, when Curry had driven to the hoop on an attempted layup. Then, Curry had been fighting off a screen against Rockets center Alperen Şengün. As soon as that sequence ended, Curry once again grabbed his side.
Finally, just moments before he left the game, Curry curled around a screen and put up a 3-point shot. As soon as he landed and stepped backwards, he grabbed at his right side, near his hip.
Prior to suffering the injury, Curry was averaging 30.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game in nine appearances. He was converting 3-pointers at a blistering 45.7%, which would mark a career-high. His scoring total entering Wednesday night had ranked second in the NBA, behind only Luka Dončić’s historic 39.3 points per game, for all players with at least five games played.
The Warriors were already without Jimmy Butler, who has missed the start of the season as he rehabs the torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered in January 2026.
The NBA injury news continues to pile up as the Golden State Warriors announced that Stephen Curry has suffered an oblique abdominal tear and will miss at least two weeks.
Golden State's Stephen Curry has an oblique abdominal tear and will be re-evaluated in two weeks. pic.twitter.com/ihiO0kSlqb
The two-time MVP and 12-time All-Star suffered the injury early in the first quarter of Wednesday night's game against the Houston Rockets with a little under five minutes elapsed in the game. Curry came off a screen and hit a three-pointer but grimaced in pain as he released the shot. He immediately signaled to the bench and, after the Warriors were able to call a timeout, Curry went into the locker room in visible pain. By the second quarter, the 38-year-old guard was already ruled out for the remainder of the game with an abdominal injury and was sent for an MRI during the second half of the game, which the Warriors lost 115-108.
After the game. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said "there was a high level of concern" about Curry's status and relayed that Curry told him that this pain was something the 38-year-old had never felt before.
Steph Curry left the arena in the second half for an MRI, per Kerr. Curry told him it was a tweak in abdomen/side and something he hadn’t felt before. Said there was a high level of concern until they get test results back. pic.twitter.com/SYwin7wY1R
Given the level of concern the Warriors seemed to have at the end of Wednesday's game, the diagnosis could be taken as relatively good news. Curry will miss at least the next seven games, but there is a chance that's all. While the Magic's Paolo Banchero missed 34 games with an oblique injury last season, the most recent examples of NBA oblique injuries put the return-to-play timeline around 2-3 weeks. That means Curry could be back by the start of December.
While no injury to a player like Curry comes at a good time, this is a particularly tough moment for the Warriors to be forced to be without their star. Despite playing without Jimmy Butler (knee surgery), Moses Moody (knee surgery), and Kristaps Porzingis (illness), the Warriors had seemingly found their groove. They came into Wednesday night having won eight in a row. Curry was averaging 27.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game while shooting 50% from the field and 45.7% from beyond the arc. His elite play, along with the emergence of Yaxel Lendeborg, had made the Warriors a contender in the Western Conference, even without Butler.
It was a much-needed hot stretch after the Warriors missed the playoffs last year following a 37-45 season. Curry missed 39 games with injuries last season as well, and the Warriors were just 13-26 without him, which means they will likely have some work to do to make up ground once Curry is able to return.
In the meantime, even more will fall on the plate of Lendeborg, but Kerr will be cautious not to overload the rookie. Brandin Podziemski will be able to handle more of the scoring load, and it appears that De'Anthony Melton is the best bet to enter the starting lineup for Curry. In 25 minutes last night against the Rockets, Melton had 11 points, four rebounds, and four assists.
Given the significant injuries suffered by the Thunder, Trail Blazers, and Jazz, the Warriors, who are currently sixth in the Western Conference, remain very much in the mix. The team will just need to keep things afloat for the next two-plus weeks until their captain can return.
This article has been updated with the most recent news.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Philadelphia pitcher Zack Wheeler was voted National League Comeback Player of the Year and Houston designated hitter Yordan Alvarez earned the American League honor on Wednesday night.
Alvarez also was picked for the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award, ending a streak of five straight wins by Shohei Ohtani. Alvarez and Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs won Hank Aaron Awards as the most outstanding offensive performers.
San Diego’s Mason Miller was selected as the Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year and Tampa Bay’s Bryan Baker as the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year.
Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander was voted executive of the year for the second time following his win in 2019.
Wheeler, a 36-year-old right-hander, was 14-5 with a 3.00 ERA in 28 starts, striking out 193 and walking 47 in 162 innings. He was 10-5 with a 2.71 ERA in 24 starts last year, when he didn’t pitch after Aug. 15 and had thoracic outlet decompression surgery.
Alvarez, 29, won his first AL batting title, hitting .316 with 42 homers, 106 RBIs and a 1.033 OPS over a career-high 158 games. He was limited to 48 games in 2025 because of a broken right hand and sprained left ankle.
Voting was conducted by MLB.com’s 30 team beat writers.
Others receiving NL votes included Miami right-hander Sandy Alcantara, Cincinnati reliever Tejay Antone, Padres infielder Ty France, Atlanta outfielder Michael Harris II, Pittsburgh right-hander Jared Jones, Milwaukee outfielder Garrett Mitchell and Arizona left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez. Others getting AL votes included New York Yankees right-handers Paul Blackburn and Gerrit Cole, Cleveland/Washington pitcher Foster Griffin, Tampa Bay left-hander Shane McClanahan and Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout.
Voters for the MLB reliever awards included Hoffman, Rivera, fellow Hall of Famers Rollie Fingers and Billy Wagner, and John Franco, Joe Nathan and Troy Percival. Earlier in the day, Miller and Toronto’s Louis Varland won the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s inaugural Relievers of the Year awards.
Balloting for the DH award was by team beat writers, broadcasters and public relations departments. Kyle Schwarber of the Phillies was second for the second straight season.
Voting for executive of the year was by the 30 teams, which cast ballots before the postseason. Milwaukee president of baseball operations Matt Arnold finished second after winning the previous two years.
Past winners and distinguished players voted on the Hank Aaron Awards.
Last month, the Montreal Canadiens traded defenseman Jayden Struble to the Nashville Predators in exchange for the Vegas Golden Knights' 2027 second-round pick.
The Canadiens' decision to trade Struble was understandable. While he was a solid defenseman for Montreal, their blueline was crowded. Thus, it made sense that the Canadiens flipped him for a second-round pick.
Now, Struble is making an impact for the Predators, as the former Canadiens defenseman just had a strong game for them.
During the Predators' most recent contest against the Anaheim Ducks on Nov. 11, Struble scored a goal and recorded an assist. With this, Struble has now recorded his first multi-point game in the NHL.
Struble's contributions for Nashville against the Ducks were also important. His goal tied the game at 1-1 during the first period, while his assist was on Nils Hoglander's goal that gave Nashville a 2-1 lead in the second period.
With this multi-point game, Struble now has three goals and one assist in 15 games for Nashville since being traded by the Canadiens. He is also making an impact with his physicality, as he has recorded 41 hits for the Central Division club.
It will now be interesting to see if the former Canadiens defenseman can build off his strong game for Nashville from here.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 23: George Kirby #68 of the Seattle Mariners delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park on September 23, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hot stove season is hitting it’s stride, and November 17th is one of the relatively hotter days for said proverbial stove in the MLB off-season calendar.
Rule 5 Draft Protection Date Deadline: Any minor-league players that are eligible to be drafted in the Rule 5 draft (have been in affiliated pro ball for 5 seasons if drafted at age 18 or younger, or 4 seasons if drafted when 19 or older) must be added to the 40-man by November 17.
Qualifying Offer Deadline: Any players tendered the 1-year, $23.1mm contract (known as a Qualifying Offer) must accept or decline by November 17. Teams that have a QO declined receive draft capital as compensation.
Owners Meetings: The Owners Meetings will also begin on November 17. These meetings are typically hotbeds of roster rumors and trade news. This year’s meetings will surely be colored by the pending expiration of the labor contract with the MLB Players Association (and associated owner-imposed lockout), so we might expect less trade activity than normal (or more!).
The Mariners have no obvious candidates for Rule 5 protection, per our prospect guru Max Ellingsen. Athletic-but-undersized outfielder Carlos Jimenez is the only top-30 prospect per MLB Pipeline (#25) that is Rule 5 eligible. Other long-shot candidates include a few pitchers: tantalizing-but-oft-injured Teddy McGraw, 29-year-old southpaw Peyton Alford, and recent Arizona Fall League All-Star Adam Smith..
As for the Qualifying Offer, that one is rather simple. Randy Arozarena, the anchor of the 2026 Mariners’ offense has been tendered his offer and is certain to decline it.
So, as is tradition, let’s burn some of our few hours of daylight by breaking down the current 40-man roster (as of November 12) by looking at each position group, see how this projects to a 26-man roster before this offseason’s free agent and trade acquisitions.
Pitchers: 22
Starting Pitchers: 7
Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, George Kirby, Kade Anderson (L), Emerson Hancock, Bryce Miller, Logan Evans
Not much has changed with the starting rotation from last season. Even after the mid-season trade of Luis Castillo, it is a position group that is ripe for trade rumors, for obvious reasons. The Mariners took several approaches to their embarrassment of riches, including a 6-man rotation, sending Bryce to the pen (and then back), and most notoriously, El Piggyback.
The working assumption is that Gilbert, Woo and Anderson are considered untouchable in these discussions, and Kirby, Hancock and Miller to be on the block. Evans underwent Tommy John surgery in January of 2026, leaving his availability for spring of 2027 in question, but he likely could be ready to provide rotation depth again once stretched out.
Relief Pitchers: 15
RHP: Eduard Bazardo, Matt Brash, C0oper Criswell, Nick Davila,Seranthony Domínguez, Isaac Mattson, Andrés Muñoz, Michael Rucker, Troy Taylor, Carlos Vargas, Cole Wilcox
LHP: José Ferrer, Gabe Speier, Robinson Ortiz
As usual and to be expected at this time of year, the bullpen section of the 40-man is a bit of a slop pile. There is a somewhat-clear top 7 of the depth chart here: Muñoz is the closer, Speier, Ferrer and Brash should be high-leverage options, while Domínguez, Bazardo and Vargas are solid arms to have as early-inning relief. But as the Mariners have seen over the last couple of years, it’s hard to go a full season without dipping deep into the 40-man for reinforcements for the bullpen. In particular, will Seattle run things back with Speier and Ferrer as the lone trusted lefties out of the pen, or will they seek to bolster their southpaw reserves?
Batters: 18
Catchers: 3
Cal Raleigh (S), Jhonny Pereda, Willie MacIver
The Mariners’ front office is likely satisfied with Pereda as their back-up for Raleigh. Raleigh will need to play a lot like more like 2025 & end-stage 2026 Cal, and a lot less like the nightmare that was most of his 2026. Seattle has ample catching depth just off the 40-man in their system, including Boston Smith and Luke Stevenson.
Infielders: 9
Josh Naylor (L), Cole Young (L), Brendan Donovan (L), Colt Emerson (L), Michael Arroyo, Ryan Bliss, Leo Rivas (S), Brock Rodden (S), Michael Toglia (S)
Naylor, Young, Donovan and Emerson looks a lot like your starting infield. Arroyo, the little positionless-hitter that could, impressed in his September call up, racking up 0.5 bWAR in 15 games while hitting .371. Expect Arroyo to see plenty of at-bats against left-handed pitchers, spelling Donovan or Young as necessary, or even slotting in to designated hitter. Depending on Donovan’s health and hitting, Arroyo could work himself into a platoon with the veteran infielder, a proposal made more challenging by Donovan’s similar positional uncertainty. Donovan might also project as the primary third baseman once again, but such a decision would be challenging with the club’s ostensible emphasis on defensive improvements.
Outfielders: 6
Julio Rodríguez, Dominic Canzone (L), Lazaro Montes (L), Brennan Davis, Grant McCray (L), Luke Raley (L)
Julio is the anchor here. Montes was as advertised in his September call-up – he struck out so much and hit the ball so far. He will likely rotate through the corners and DH, along with Canzone, who has finally played himself out of platoon jail with a breakout 2026. The fourth outfielder spot likely belongs to Luke Raley, who has shown the ability to hit between stints on the IL. One-time first-round pick Davis would be the 25th or 26th man on the roster today. Both Arroyo and Donovan will play outfield roles as well, as could some of their undersized infielders. Still, it’s worth noting Arroyo will likely miss the start of the season recovering from injury, while Davis, Raley, Donovan, and Canzone are far from bankably clean bills of health. Arozarena’s departure costs Seattle production, of course, but also reliability and availability.
Projected 26-man roster:
SP: Gilbert, Woo, Kirby, Anderson, Hancock, Miller
There is a glaring Randy-shaped hole in the lineup that most observers expect Seattle to fill via free agency or trade. Fellow QO-recipient, Seiya Suzuki, has been a name bandied about as an ideal fit for Seattle, including by our own John Trupin. However, given the proclivities of the front office, trading from the stores of starting pitchers seems more likely. This path makes even more sense given the imminence of Ryan Sloan.
More bullpen depth is needed as well, as there is a lot of question marks and churn-fodder beyond the top 7 or 8 arms. Running with a six-man rotation again seems hard to imagine given the cumulative consequences on the bullpen a season ago, but until a trade is made it’s hard to know if the club is willing to stick Bryce Miller in the bullpen again for a longer look.
If it looks like a questionable group, it seems reasonable that the M’s have been connected to several names already this winter. What it’ll shake out to be remains to be seen.
Our first debut on the ballot to immediately advance is the right-handed Frenchman twirler, jumping right into the fray and winning Round 7, with 43 of 78 votes (55%):
LaCombe, a 12th round pick in 2023, finished as our No. 14-voted prospect last year. He’s the first right-handed reliever to advance this season.
Past No. 7s in the SSS Top Prospect Vote 2026 Billy Carlson (52%) 2025 Mason Adams (20%) 2024 Jake Eder (20%) 2023 Norge Vera (28%) 2022 Yolbert Sánchez (34%) 2021 Jonathan Stiever (40%) 2020 Jonathan Stiever (51%) 2019 Micker Adolfo (35%) 2018 Zack Burdi (39%)
The DSL announces its presence in the form of outfielder Sebastian Romero, who joins our ballot this round.
South Side Sox Top-Voted White Sox Prospects for 2027
Kyle Casteel Right-Handed Starting Pitcher Age 19 2026 high level Butler Area (H.S.) Overall 2026 stats (H.S) 10-0 ▪️ 13 games ▪️ 65 ⅔ IP ▪️ 0.64 ERA ▪️ 103 K ▪️ 11 BB ▪️ 0.685 WHIP
Casteel is the sort of player you dream of getting to start off the $150,000 round of 10 picks: A player who the White Sox had been talking to regularly that, based on how the first round fell, now was draftable knowing the club could meet the prep’s demands. It’s undoubtable that Casteel is far better than the 315th pick (MLB had him ranked at No. 162 overall), and thus the White Sox pocketed a player who should have been selected in the fifth round. Casteel has power and control, and while the White Sox will bring him along with care, he has a rare profile in a pitching-starved White Sox system.
Kyle Lodise Shortstop Age 22 2026 SSS Prospect Poll ranking 24 2026 high level Winston-Salem (High-A) Age relative to high level 0.0 years Overall 2026 stats 111 games ▪️ 20 HR ▪️ 77 RBI ▪️ .230/.380/.440 ▪️ 42-of-51 (82.4%) SB ▪️ 92 BB ▪️ 141 K ▪️ .957 FLD%▪️ 3.6 WAR
Lodise made a return visit to Winston-Salem in 2026, and his first full professional season went extremely well. With a low average and slug to burn, the shortstop fits right in with the org profile of swinging hard, damn the contact. Thankfully, Lodise is selective enough at the plate to produce astronomical OBPs. And his power bat is showing better than advertised at this point.
Tanner McDougal Right-Handed Starting Pitcher Age 23 2024 SSS Prospect Poll ranking 33 2025 SSS Prospect Poll ranking N/R 2026 SSS Prospect Poll ranking 6 2026 high level Chicago (MLB) Age relative to high level -6.2 years Overall 2026 stats (High-A/AAA/MLB) 2-3 ▪️ 27 games (7 starts, 3 finishes) ▪️ 50 IP ▪️ 4.86 ERA ▪️ 53 K ▪️ 34 BB ▪️ 1.480 WHIP ▪️0.2 WAR
The good news is that McDougal was enough of a core piece to be promoted to Chicago in the second half of 2026. The bad news … well, where to start. McDougal’s presumptive march to the South Side rotation was stopped dead early in the season, when he was sidelined for weeks with forearm tightness. While the injury was thankfully not severe enough to necessitate a second TJS, Tanner was a relief arm for the rest of the season and not a stable one at that. His brief cameo in Chicago saw him rack up one out along with three walks.
Javier Mogollón Second Baseman Age 21 2026 high level Winston-Salem (AA) Age relative to high level -2.0 years Overall 2026 stats (Low-A/High-A) 91 games ▪️ 14 HR ▪️ 57 RBI ▪️ .262/.368/.448 ▪️ 36-of-44 (81.8%) SB ▪️ 53 BB ▪️ 123 K ▪️ .965 FLD%▪️ 2.5 WAR
The diminutive (5´8´´, 160) infielder wowed in rookie ball and though his climb has slowed, Mogollón has steadily risen up our ranks, from No.62 in our 2024 Top 100 to the cusp of the Top 10 today. That said, he’s seen two straight seasons shortened by hamstring issues. At least in 2026, Mogollón was able to return before season’s end, providing a clutch bat coming that provided a .313/.389/.813 slash and eight RBIs en route to sweeping to a SALLY title.
Cole Prosek Third Baseman Age 19 2026 High Level Magnolia Heights (H.S.) Overall 2026 stats (H.S) 41 games ▪️ 18 HR ▪️ 79 RBI ▪️ .545/.678/1.177 ▪️ 62 R ▪️ 7 SB ▪️ 31 BB ▪️ 12 K
Coming to Chicago as a second-rounder, Prosek seems more highly-regarded by evaluators than the guy picked ahead of him by the White Sox, low first round choice Landon Thome. That’s a curious thing, but Prosek dominated his prep competition even more thoroughly than Thome. Plus, while the White Sox regard Prosek as a second baseman, his prep time was spent significantly at the hot corner, and he has experience behind the plate as well.
Sebastian Romero Center Fielder Age 18 2026 high level DSL White Sox (Rookie) Age relative to high level -0.6 years Overall 2026 stats 52 games ▪️ 11 HR ▪️ 54 RBI ▪️ .277/.391/.538 ▪️ 7-of-10 (70.0%) SB ▪️ 18 BB ▪️ 61 K ▪️ .963 FLD%▪️ 1.6 WAR
The sexy international prospect for 2026-27 is Romero, who had a boisterous pro debut, flashing perhaps all tools but hit. Or, at least the bat control aspect of the hit tool, because 18 walks — just three more free passes than hit-by-pitches — indicates a willingness to swing at ANYTHING, as does his 61 Ks against woeful DSL arms. However, when contact is made, ball go boom.
Landon Thome Shortstop Age 19 2026 High Level Nazareth Academy (H.S.) Overall 2026 stats (H.S) 7 HR ▪️ 29 RBI ▪️ .545 AVG ▪️ 49-of-50 (98.0%) SB
How crazy is it to have two high school teammates (Thome and Jaden Fauske) on our first ballot of the voting year … or any ballot, ever? The White Sox were so hot to dip back into Nazareth’s roster that they dealt promising 2023 first-rounder Jacob Gonzalez to Pittsburgh to acquire the draft pick to snag him; clearly the club was not confident Thome would drop into the second round. Unlike his father, Hall-of-Famer and White Sox adviser Jim, Landon is better regarded for his speed and defense than his ability to put the ball over the fence. Slugging will come in time for junior, however.
Joey Volchko Right-handed starting pitcher Age 21 2026 high level University of Georgia (NCAA) Age relative to high level +0.1 years Overall 2026 stats 11-2 ▪️ 18 starts ▪️ 1 CG ▪️ 95 1/3 IP ▪️ 3.68 ERA ▪️ 119 K ▪️ 46 BB ▪️ 1.343 WHIP ▪️ 2.1 WAR
This big-armed righty can touch 100 mph with his fastball, but wildness concerns might have precipitated Volchko’s drop to the White Sox in the third round in spite of MLB ranking him as a second round (68th-best) talent. He’s a big-game pitcher who dragged the Bulldogs to their first College World Series win in 18 years with a complete-game effort over the University of Texas. There’s a chance Volchko ends up as a high-leverage bullpen arm, but he will get every chance to stick as a starter.
Alex Weingartner Right Fielder Age 19 2026 high level St. Augustine College Prep (H.S.) Overall 2026 stats 30 games ▪️ 7 HR ▪️ 36 RBI ▪️ .495 AVG ▪️ .817 SLG ▪️ 33 SB ▪️ 21 BB
Oddly enough, Weingartner may be a doppelganger for the player listed right below; both he and George Wolkow were prep plums selected lower than their skill and scout rankings indicated, and both players scored sweet bonuses from the White Sox to lure them from potential college commitments. Both have rocket arms (Weingartner, in fact, pitched for his St. Augustine Hermits in 2026) as well.
George Wolkow Right Fielder Age 21 2024 SSS Prospect Poll ranking 14 2025 SSS Prospect Poll ranking 13 2026 SSS Prospect Poll ranking 16 2026 high level Winston-Salem (High-A) Age relative to high level -2.0 years Overall 2026 stats 123 games ▪️ 22 HR ▪️ 100 RBI ▪️ .239/.317/.446 ▪️ 15-of-22 (68.2%) SB ▪️ 50 BB ▪️ 179 K ▪️ .971 FLD%▪️ 1.6 WAR
Wolkow sacrificed speed and what batting eye he had for power in 2026, and while that made for some impressive counting stats (22-100 plays on the back of any baseball card) the hole in his swing hasn’t been sewn. If the White Sox brass is having Wolkow bet on his best tool, power, at all others’ expense, he’s slipping into the Colson Category.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 11: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during the first quarter of the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on November 11, 2026 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. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The magical 8-game winning streak came to a crashing halt last night after Steph Curry left in the first quarter with an injury and today the season at large feels on the verge of collapse as the Golden State Warriors have announced that their franchise cornerstone is out with an oblique abdominal tear.
The timeline for his return ought to be an open question at this point, as their press release mentions that he’ll be reevaluated in two (2) weeks. That tracks with the reporting last night that he felt a pain he had never felt before.
This type of injury can be overcome without the need for surgery, but in that scenario, it’s usually a 3-4 week timeline for recovery… if it’s closer to a strain. But this is being described as a “tear,” which could very easily mean a couple of months recovery time. There’s a lot of fast and twisting upper body motion needed to get an open shot or disrupt a passing lane.
It was only a couple of days ago that the Warriors lost Steph’s backup to a hamstring strain, so the injury picture has grown from outsized to overwhelming. Steph, Brandon Williams, Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody, Gary Payton II, Will Richard, Kristaps Porzingis — it’s not as though Golden State had All-Star backups or were the deepest team in the association heading into the season, but there’s “testing a team’s depth” and there’s “Oops! All injured,” and, folks, we’re here.
There’s no making up for Curry’s ~28 a night and clutch shots, but if there is one throughline through this weird start to a season it’s that rotations have had a pretty solid flow to them in spite of the injuries. As Draymond put it last night:
“The spirit of this team is better,” Green said. “We’re more certain of who we are, what makes us a good team. I think that puts us in a better position to be successful without him as opposed to where we were last year. Then obviously [Yaxel Lendeborg], having a guy you can give the ball to and he can create an advantage. [Brandin Podziemski] is playing a lot better. … It puts us in a better position.”
This isn’t to suggest that Yaxel & Pods will each score 40 a night and everyone else who’s left will step up, but this puzzle that the team had been working hard to piece together already just has to keep up that effort and see what shakes out.
Hopefully, the Warriors are able to weather this surprise storm until Steph Curry returns.
The Avalanche are back on the road Thursday night, taking on the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre after picking up a 6-3 win over Toronto earlier this week.
Gabriel Landeskog scored twice, while Brock Nelson, Devon Toews, Artturi Lehkonen and Martin Necas also scored. 13 Avalanche players recorded at least one point, and Mackenzie Blackwood made 28 saves on 31 shots.
Colorado has been getting production throughout the lineup, with 13 players recording a point in Tuesday’s win. They’ll face a Senators team coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to Washington. Ottawa held a 2-1 lead in that game before Pierre-Luc Dubois tied it in the third period and Cole Hutson scored the winner in overtime.
Parker Kelly previously played for Ottawa.
The Senators beat Colorado 5-2 the last time these teams met, back on January 28 in Ottawa. That result was one of the exceptions in a matchup the Avalanche have generally controlled. Colorado has won seven of the last eight meetings, outscoring Ottawa 45-24 over that stretch.
Nathan MacKinnon has been particularly productive against the Senators, with seven goals in his last eight games against them. That includes the four-goal performance in Colorado’s 6-4 win on December 21, 2023. Cale Makar has 16 points in 11 career games against Ottawa, while Artturi Lehkonen has 20 points in 28 games. Lehkonen also leads the Avalanche with 13 goals this season.
Ottawa has some players capable of making things difficult, too. Tim Stutzle leads the Senators with 23 points and 14 assists, and his nine goals are tied with Drake Batherson for the team lead. Batherson has 18 points, while Shane Pinto is next with 14 points and seven goals.
Scott Wedgewood will start for Colorado. He’s had success against Ottawa over his career, going 5-1-0 with a 2.85 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage in seven appearances. His numbers this season haven’t been nearly as good, though. Wedgewood is 1-3-1 with a 4.02 goals-against average and an .867 save percentage. Mackenzie Blackwood has taken on more of the workload, leaving Wedgewood in a different role than he had a season ago.
Linus Ullmark is set to return for Ottawa, making his first appearance since October 21. He was off to a strong start before the injury, going 7-1 with a .945 save percentage. Ullmark has a 2-1-1 career record against Colorado, with a 2.64 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage. He hasn’t beaten the Avalanche in nearly four years.
The January meeting showed Ottawa can make Colorado pay when given the opportunity. The Avalanche have had the upper hand in this series, but they’ll be looking to avoid another result like that one as they continue their road trip.
Puck drop is set for 5 p.m. local time at Canadian Tire Centre.
Stephen Curry could miss closer to a month with an oblique abdominal tear, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on NBA Today, even though the Warriors announced he will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
Curry left Wednesday’s loss to the Houston Rockets midway through the first quarter and underwent an MRI after the game.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry leaves the court during a time-out against the Houston Rockets in Houston, Wednesday, Nov. 11th, 2026. AP Photo/Ashley Landis
He had reached for his right side after drilling a 3-pointer, then walked to the locker room during a time-out. The Warriors ruled him out with right abdominal soreness to start the second quarter.
Shams reported that Golden State is preparing for Curry to be sidelined for at least two to four weeks. The team expects to get a clearer sense of his recovery and rehabilitation after evaluating him again in about 14 days; his absence could stretch to three or four weeks or longer.
Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during the first quarter against the Houston Rockets in Houston, Wednesday, Nov. 11th, 2026. Getty Images
Curry finished Wednesday’s game with three points and a turnover in six minutes. Coach Steve Kerr said Curry told him he had tweaked something in his abdominal area that he had “never done” before. Curry spoke to his teammates at halftime before leaving the arena.
The injury interrupts a scorching stretch: Curry scored 34, 29, 41 and 25 points in his four previous games. He has started all 10 games this season, averaging 27.8 points, 3.9 assists and 3.7 rebounds.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) leaves the court during a time-out against the Houston Rockets in Houston, Wednesday, Nov. 11th, 2026. AP Photo/Ashley Landis
Curry’s absence would further test a team already dealing with injuries to Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody, as well as Kristaps Porzingis’ absence. Golden State went 13-26 in the 39 games Curry missed last season.
Injury crisis makes the job harder for Fabien Galthié whose side have beaten South Africa once in their last 10 meetings
The final of this inaugural Nations Championship is two weeks away, but regardless of who makes it through to the last match at Twickenham there’s an irresistible sense that the two best teams from either side of the competition will go head-to-head at the Stade de France this Friday night. France, back-to-back Six Nations champions, play South Africa, back-to-back world champions, and the one team that the French – and anyone else with dreams of becoming the world’s best team – need to find a way to beat in the 12 months before the Springboks take a run at winning a third consecutive World Cup.
France have been looking for one of those for a long time now. This is not an even-sided rivalry. South Africa have won nine of the 10 games the two teams have played in the past 15 years, including the last five in Paris. England, Ireland, even Wales all have better head-to-head records against the Springboks in that same stretch of time. France’s one win was in Marseille in 2022, and whatever good it did them was undone a year later when the Springboks knocked them out of their home World Cup in the quarter-finals.
