Sep 10, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; General view of the helmet used by the Milwaukee Brewers before the start of the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images | Stan Szeto-Imagn Images
Greetings, Brew Crew Ball community. The Brewers dropped their first two games in Atlanta over the weekend, but they bounced back nicely to win the series finale before sweeping the Reds in Cincinnati to extend their division lead. After a well-deserved off day yesterday, they’re now set to begin an 18-game gauntlet over the next 17 days leading into the All-Star break, including series against all four of their division rivals. This could very well be the most important stretch of the season when we look back in late September.
Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-baseball sports, the Brewers, you name it. As long as it’s appropriate and is allowed by our moderators, it’s fair game here.
Happy birthday to Rodney Myers, and a mighty host of others.
Today in baseball history, in 1960 – At Forbes Field, Cubs rookie Ron Santo, making his major league debut, leads Chicago to a sweep of the first-place Pirates. Santo is 3 for 7 and drives in five runs as the Cubs win, 7-5 and 7-6, and other stories as well.
Today in baseball history:
1938 – Carl Hubbell wins his 200th game, as the Giants beat the visiting Cubs, 5-1, and stretch their lead over the second-place Reds to two games.
1961 – At Los Angeles’s Wrigley Field, Yogi Berra collects his 2,000th career hit, all as a Bronx Bomber. To celebrate the achievement a huge cake is rolled out.
1966 – Ron Santo singles in the first and his next time up is struck in the face by a Jack Fisher pitch that fractures his cheek. Before Santo’s at bat, the Mets’Ron Hunt and the Cubs’ Adolfo Phillips had both been hit by pitches. Santo will be operated on the following day but will return to action in a week. The injury ends his consecutive game streak at 390, but his hitting streak continues.
1970 – Frank Robinson belts two successive grand slams during a 12-2 Oriole romp over the Senators, just the seventh major leaguer to ever accomplish the feat. They will be Robby’s only grand slams for the O’s.
1977 – On Jersey Day in Minnesota, every fan receives a jersey with #29 on it, Rod Carew‘s number. Carew responds by going 4 for 5, scoring four runs, and raising his average to .403. One of the hits is a grand slam and he will hit another slam on July 4th.
1987 – You gotta give him credit for trying. Paul Noce of the Cubs ties a major-league record (tied 11 days ago) in the third inning by twice being thrown out trying to steal. A dropped ball leaves him safe at second base after he is caught, then he is thrown out trying to steal third. Pittsburgh beats Greg Maddux and the Cubs, 5-2. Maddux will finish 6-14, his last losing season until 2005.
1994Kirby Puckett passes Rod Carew with his 2,088 hit as the Twins’ top hit leader.
2003 – Edgar Martinez, who already holds the Mariners’ all-time records for games played, at-bats, hits, doubles, total bases, extra-base hits, walks and runs scored, passes Ken Griffey Jr.‘s mark for team career RBIs. His two-run homer in the Mariners’ 10-6 victory over the Angels gives the All-Stardesignated hitter 1,153 RBIs – one more than Junior.
1894 – Karl Benz of Germany receives US patent for gasoline-driven auto.
1927 – The Cyclone roller coaster opens on Coney Island.
1959 – Ingemar Johansson of Sweden floors Floyd Patterson seven times in the third round in NYC to win the world heavyweight boxing title.
1963 – US President John F. Kennedy gives his famous “Ich bin ein Berliner” (intended to mean “I am a Berliner”, but may actually mean “I am a doughnut”) speech in West Berlin.
1974 – The Universal Product Code (UPC) is scanned for the first time to sell a package of Wrigley’s chewing gum at Marsh Supermarket in Troy, Ohio.
1977 – Elvis Presley appears in concert at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana; unknowingly the last performance of his career.
2018 – Hello Kitty bullet train unveiled by the West Japan Railway.
2024 – European Space Agency creates Lego ‘space bricks’ by 3D printing Lego out of meteorite dust, part of a project to learn how to build a base on the Moon.
The Detroit Tigers officially reached the halfway mark of the 2026 regular-season schedule on Thursday night after dropping the opener of a four-game home series with the Houston Astros, 2-1. Troy Melton looked sharp, recording a career high six strikeouts, but the offense went AWOL until a solo homer in the ninth by Dillon Dingler.
AJ Hinch’s squad looks to even things up on Friday night behind right-hander Keider Montero, who continues to be a steady presence in the rotation for the Olde English D. The 25-year-old’s last outing against the Chicago White Sox was no exception, allowing three runs on six hits (one home run) while issuing zero walks for the second straight game and striking out three over seven innings in what eventually resulted in a 5-4 win in extras.
Montero saw the Astros a couple of outings ago in his only relief appearance of the season. It did not go well, though, as he surrendered a pair of runs (one earned) on two hits and no walks while striking out two over 1 1/3 innings to earn his fifth loss of the 2026 campaign.
Up against him for Houston is fellow righty Spencer Arrighetti, who has also been an important presence on the Astros’ pitching staff this year. However, the 26-year-old has struggled in June to the tune of a 6.95 ERA but a less offensive 4.42 FIP stretching across his last four games and 22 innings of work. He missed the Tigers when they were in town last week, so this will be his first appearance against them this year.
Here is how those two righties match up on Friday night at Comerica Park.
Detroit Tigers (34-47) vs. Houston Astros (40-43)
Time (ET): 6:40 p.m. Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan SB Nation Site:The Crawfish Boxes Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 82: RHP Keider Montero (3-5, 3.68 ERA) vs. RHP Spencer Arrighetti (7-3, 3.13 ERA)
The 2026 NBA Draft has concluded, and the free agency period serves as the next phase of the league’s offseason.
Rumors across the league have continued to appear, including the reports in the moments following the draft that California native LaMelo Ball could have been on the move.
Trade rumors continue to develop, involving some of the league’s most notable players, including Kawhi Leonard and Jaylen Brown.
Will Kawhi Leonard be traded?
Leonard remains a focal point for team owner Steve Ballmer and the Clippers, but that hasn’t stopped the reported trade interest from other teams from happening.
A few teams, including the Golden State Warriors, might be closely monitoring Leonard’s status and could be interested in trading for him, according to ESPN.
The Warriors reportedly checked in with the Clippers about Leonard leading up to the trade deadline in February, but Ballmer did not want to move Leonard, in contrast to what the team did with Ivica Zubac and James Harden during that same time period.
With the Boston Celtics clearly having some interest in acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks, Brown was rumored to be at the center of the return package.
Brown, who spent time with the Cal Golden Bears before the NBA, took on a starring role on his own in Boston for a good chunk of the season while Jayson Tatum was rehabbing a ruptured right Achilles tendon.
Brown still has three years left on a five-year, $285.4 million extension he signed with Boston back in 2023. The All-Star is eligible to sign a two-year, $141.9 million extension on July 26.
"My speculation is that there is another list with other teams that they'll be talking to and I would believe that there's a very good chance Jaylen Brown is elsewhere to start the season," Brian Windhorst said during ESPN’s draft coverage.
Will Lakers find a center?
The Los Angeles Lakers would greatly benefit from acquiring a highly talented center to complement Luka Doncic on the roster.
Doncic had reportedly requested an "A-List" center, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
Deandre Ayton joined the Lakers on July 6, 2025, signing a two-year deal. He does have a player option for the upcoming season.
The former No. 1 overall pick averaged 12.5 points and eight rebounds in 72 games for Los Angeles this past season.
The Lakers would need an athletic and defensive-minded big man to help alleviate some of the team’s struggles defensively, especially with Doncic and Austin Reaves still being considered liabilities on defense.
JUPITER, FLORIDA - MARCH 09: Joshua Baez #22 of the St. Louis Cardinals rounds the bases after hitting a home run during a spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles at Roger Dean Stadium on March 09, 2026 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cardinals are in the midst of a fascinating rebuild. Unlike most rebuilds, this one does not involve tanking. Quite the opposite, the 2026 Cardinals find themselves in the #1 wild card slot at the time of writing. Some of you might rightfully argue that the rebuild really began at the trading deadline late in the 2023 season, had a brief lull when they tried to compete on the “pitching, pitching, pitching” premise of 2024 and then restarted the rebuild in 2025 when it had become painfully obvious that the now dismantled 2022 offensive juggernaut was no more.
So here we are in mid-2026 and one of the most vexing challenges in major league baseball continues to … vex. When is the right time and what is the right approach to incorporate a young prospect onto the major league roster?
First, I want to discriminate between a “prospect” and a depth (or role) player. The depth player promotion decisions, while also not easy, involves some attributes not found in the prospect player promotion decision.
Depth/role players often don’t come with service time calculation concerns. They are often a bit on the older side (see: Velazquez, Torres) and many have a non-zero clock already. For prospects, whom teams can see the possibility of significant future value, when to start their service clock in a not uncommon consideration. I’m not suggesting the Cardinal’s practice service time manipulation (they do not appear to, ever), but they are not blind to such situations like waiting until Aug 15 to promote Baez would preserve the potential of a PPI pick in future years if he emerges as hoped for. I think of this similarly to how they handled Masyn Winn’s original promotion in late 2023.
While all players need a 40-man spot to get promoted, teams can be more sensitive about pushing aside talent to add a depth/role player. On the flip side, when ready, prospects pretty easily push aside someone at the tail end of the 40-man.
Depth/role players who get promoted are just that … role players. They will fit in certain role and with that will not come a team commitment to a minimum amount of playing time. Prospects, on the other hand, often don’t get promoted until the team is certain (and willing) they can allocate a significant amount of playing to said prospect. Generally, teams view it as preferable that a “prospect” play every day at AAA and not sit on the bench in MLB, unlike the role players such as Fermin, Saggese, Velazques, Torres.
While everyone goes through an adjustment period when promoted, depth/role players don’t get a lot of luxury in this regard. There won’t be a lot of tolerance for the ups-and-downs that come with adjusting to MLB competition. If you are a RH hitter, you will be expected to hit the lefties and the opportunities may not come in bunches, so take advantage of them when you get them. If you are prospect, the team will be prepared to adopt a “develop at the MLB level” approach and will live with the ups-and-downs, ala. Walker, Gorman. To a point.
Exposure is a key issue. Every player has strengths and flaws and how they will get exposed and leveraged at the MLB level is somewhat projectable, but this is not an exact science and sometimes teams just have to jump in the pool and hope it’s not too cold. Depth/role players have an advantage here, because their exposure will be tuned to leverage their strengths and avoid their weaknesses. Prospects are anticipated to emerge as everyday contributors, so they will not get such protection. Are they ready to handle this and the struggles that may come with it?
This is not an exhaustive list, but I felt the need to draw the distinctions. I will address Joshua Baez’s case as a prospect, and I won’t be comparing him to a Nelson Velazquez or Bryan Torres who are role players. Baez, when brought up, will not be brought up to replace their role. He may displace one of them on the 26-man roster, but he will also displace at least one other player who gets significantly more playing time now than they will when Baez arrives.
This is crucial to embrace, because it is easy for fans to look at a player like Velazquez and wonder why they don’t bring up Baez. Baez is probably already the superior player, both offensively and defensively, so why not bring him up? Why? Because of the considerations listed above. Baez vs. Velazques is a red herring, or perhaps more appropriately, an apples-to-oranges discussion that misses the key considerations management thinks about and tries to balance as they seek to introduce a prospect into the major leagues.
The Cardinals want Baez to succeed. He brings a mix of talents that begin to approach the coveted 5-tool player label. 4-tool players aint bad, either. The potential and value are obvious to all. But the success is not guaranteed and so the risk is equally obvious. For every supporter that sees a future star, there is a detracter that sees a future less than Joey Gallo. Will he hit? What about the K-rate and BB-rate? How do they translate?
A Cardinal executive recently described Baez’ promotion as inevitable and after that, time will tell on the strikeouts and the walks and the power output he will bring. I do think there are a couple of key questions to answer before the “inevitable” promotion occurs, though.
Where would he play?
Some will say let him play all 3 outfield positions rotationally, and DH some. Mathematically, it is possible to envision such a rotation providing enough PAs to allow him to adjust, grow, develop. Practically, the burdens of adjusting defensively to three positions simultaneously is not a strategy conducive to facilitating his success. Throw in the DH penalty and the adjustments of that role, and they’d be essentially putting challenges in his way on top of the one main one he will encounter – can he hit MLB pitching like his does MiLB pitching? Why put obstacles out in front of him? Won’t he have enough?
So, where? Some will say LF, displacing Nootbaar, who is nearing the end of his time in the Lou anyways, with his own service time and contract status. Fair point. Quite possible that is the decision that getsmade, either that the trade deadline or the off-season. But take a look at Baez’ story and see how many times he has played LF. Not many. While he is unlikely to struggle the way Jordan Walker struggled with the third-to-outfield position change, there would still be a new hurdle to cross for him. Are you ready to introduce that into a pennant race?
Well, then how about CF? He has played there a lot recently but does not have a long history there. Defensively, it is a position where instincts, reads, routes and jumps are crucial. Is he ready for that? His offensive profile could be fascinating in that position and tolerance for ups-and-downs would be higher, since that position hasn’t really been a fountain of offensive production since …. Bader? Offensively, the bar is lower, ostensibly facilitating an easier pathway to success. But can he it handle defensively? I have no clue. My experience is that the defensive features players bring to MLB are often significantly different than what is described in scouting reports. Bader himself was such an example – a guy with question marks about his D turned out to be Gold Glove caliber (or near it, anyway). We are also watching Blaze Jordan make plays at third base that seem to surprise everyone. So who knows until we see it? But are they willing to commit Baez to CF? This would push Church to a 4th OF role, which may be best suited for him (or may not).
How about RF? Oh, there is another guy there. Someone named Jordan Walker.
Another key question…
How will his profile influence the overall line-up construction?
To-date, the strength of the Cardinals has been their somewhat tenacious offense. It is not a juggernaut, but strong enough that they are top ten in MLB in several key categories (not power) and that is without Nootbaar for much of the season. Strong enough to overcome some poor pitching. Key attributes of that offense are low K-rate and pretty good OBP. So, they get on base, and they have more productive at bats than most other teams. They have good hitters but could use some more HR pop.
But where does he hit? To start with, if he displaces either Church or Nootbaar he will upset the L-R-L algorithm and make this a more right leaning line-up. Seems likely he would get the 6th spot behind Nootbaar. We know from his history that he tends to K a lot as he adjusts to a new level, so expect that to continue into MLB. He isn’t terribly selective, running O-swing % in the same neighborhood as Alec Burleson but without the plate coverage Burly gets, running an O-contacts% about half of Burleson. He doesn’t walk a ton, but he doesn’t refuse the walk with a BB% of ~8%. His likely contribution to the line-up will be to increase the K-rate of the line-up, lower the OBP but raise the S part of OPS. The HR park factor for Busch III for RH hitters could bite him, as it runs a 78 (100 is average). In other words Busch suppresses RH power by 22%. That is a stiff premium. How does that affect the recipe as a whole? Will this offense remain tenacious and benefit from extra pop, or will there now be too many guys that strike out with runners in scoring position?
Introducing a new hitter to the everyday line-up changes the nature of said line-up. I am curious the impact Baez will have on the overall output of the group. If I had to guess, this is a mystery enough that they’d prefer to see the answer come later in the season when the playoff position is more clear.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 14: Felix Okpara shoots a free throw during the game during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 14, 2026 at Wintrust Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On Thursday, the Washington Wizards introduced AJ Dybantsa in a major press conference. Today, they will introduce their second round draft pick, Felix Okpara at a ceremony this afternoon at the Rubell Museum at Navy Yard. The time of the ceremony is at 12 p.m. ET. Kevin Broom wrote about Okpara on Wednesday which you can access here.
With the Wizards moving past a traditional rebuilding direction, I’m pretty excited to see what Wizards General Manager Will Dawkins and Okpara have to say. Over the past three seasons, the Wizards have looked to acquire multiple draft picks and play them significantly. In the 2026 draft however, the Wizards have only acquired two players, Dybantsa and Okpara.
Because of the press conference, the museum will be closed until 2 p.m. ET for general visitors. We’ll have a link to the press conference, if available below.
TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 01: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers stands for the national anthem prior to Game Six against the Toronto Raptors in the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 01, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
James Harden is an easy punching bag for the Cleveland Cavaliers. The flaws in his game are pretty obvious, and his teams have yet to come through on the biggest stages throughout his 17-year career. Throw in that he was traded to Cleveland in exchange for a home-grown All-Star that’s 10 years younger, and it’s easy to see why the sentiment is what it is.
That said, the Cavs don’t make it to the Eastern Conference Finals this past season without Harden. In fact, they don’t advance out of the first round without trading for him. Despite the flaws in Harden’s game, he consistently elevated the play of the group. That shouldn’t be lost in any of the discussions about his performance.
Regular Season Stats
23.6 points
8 assists
4.8 rebounds
43.4% FG
37.5% 3PT FG
88.4% FT
Koby Altman mentioned in February that they traded for Harden to help in the postseason. He certainly did that.
The Cavs were 12.7 points per 100 possessions better with Harden on the court in the playoffs than they were when he was off. That was the highest mark on the team. This was because he blended well with the starters while still carrying hybrid bench lineups when both Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley were off the floor.
Figuring out how to survive the minutes without Mitchell was a problem all regular season and has hurt the Cavs in previous postseason runs. Being able to stabilize those minutes was incredibly useful and allowed the team to get as far as they did in the postseason.
The Cavs don’t make it past either the Toronto Raptors or Detroit Pistons if it weren’t for Harden. His ability to get to the line and continually get the bigs involved kept a Cleveland offense on schedule that often became too reliant on the three-ball. This led to the Cavs winning the minutes he played in 10 of the 14 games he played in the first two rounds.
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Things didn’t work out nearly as well against the New York Knicks. Jalen Brunson hunted mismatches against him down the stretch of Game 1 when the Cavs squandered a 22-point lead in the final frame. Most of that was good shot-making, but it also highlighted the weaknesses in Harden’s game.
The Cavs aren’t the undersized backcourt they were with Darius Garland alongside Mitchell. Harden’s size (6’5″) and strength mean that you can’t just shoot over him. But if you force him to defend in space without help around him, he’s going to be exposed. The same could be said for Mitchell.
This team needs Harden’s playmaking and ability to get the bigs involved because these are things Mitchell struggles with. At the same time, having both members of the starting backcourt as defensive targets puts a cap on how good you can defend against elite competition, even if you have three good defenders behind them.
Harden and Mitchell aren’t going to magically become better defenders at this point in their careers. Maybe there are things the Cavs can do from a scheme perspective to keep either from being targeted as much, but the cleanest path forward is just figuring out how to make the offense work better.
The pairing between Harden and Mitchell got off to a good start in the regular season — particularly late in games — but the chemistry didn’t carry over as much as you’d hope it would in the playoffs. It often turned into “your turn, my turn” with isolation attacks.
Harden and Mitchell were both in the top 10 for isolation possessions per game in the playoffs. They were both pretty good at this, with Mitchell scoring one point per isolation possession and Harden averaging 0.99. However, if your overall offense is that isolation-heavy, things can become stagnant quickly.
Turnovers were an issue for Harden. He deserves the blame for those giveaways, but it’s fair to point out that these were also the byproduct of a stagnant offense that didn’t have a cohesive plan of attack.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson drastically remade Cleveland’s offense over the final few months of the season. He did away with his preferred motion-based offense for a more stationary, spaced-out isolation attack to fit his best two players. However, they never quite found a way to maximize that approach.
More often than not, Cleveland’s role players would find themselves cutting into traffic when they should’ve stayed stationary, and staying stationary when they needed to cut. The floor balance wasn’t what it needed to be in order to make this work.
That’s excusable given the fact that Atkinson was trying to build the plane while flying it. Those same excuses won’t be there next season. The Cavs need to figure out how they want to play offensively and surround Harden and Mitchell with guys who can fit that mold.
Adjusting to a new team that late in the season is difficult. Harden handled the change well and helped elevate this core to heights they’ve never reached before. That’s exactly what he was brought in to do. From that perspective, it was a successful season for Harden.
At the same time, it’s fair to wonder how much higher the ceiling is for a Harden-led Cavs. Can Harden and Mitchell complement each other better offensively than they did in the playoffs? Will the defense be able to thrive with two below-average defenders on the perimeter? The answer to both questions will determine whether this core can take the next step forward.
Sep 29, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens talks to reporters during media day at the Auerbach Center. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II-Imagn Images
The NBA Draft has come and gone, the Giannis Antetokounmpo “to trade or not to trade” question has been answered, and the Boston Celtics find themselves with just about the same roster they had when their season ended at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers.
From Brad Stevens’ exit interview, it was clear that he was going to make some changes. “Our margin for error needs to get bigger, and at the same time, I don’t think we’re, like, way far away,” he said.
He did admit that the team has been in a similar spot before, though, and that Boston needs to level up to stay competitive and put themselves in the best position to win. Lately it’s been feeling like those changes will be a lot more drastic than anyone expected from a 56-win team that’s just two seasons removed from a championship.
Stevens wanted the team to do a better job of attacking and pressuring the rim. It was also clear that Boston’s frontcourt was not up to par in the Philly series. He recently commented about the team’s needs after night one of the NBA Draft, saying that the priorities are size and, if possible, adding someone with speed on the perimeter.
The obvious path was to use the Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception to sign either a veteran point guard or center to fill one of those needs, and then use all or part of the $27.7 million Traded Player Exception to address the other need. Brad instead was looking for a bigger swing, entering the Celtics into the Giannis sweepstakes.
By putting Jaylen Brown in trade rumors — and apparently trade offers for Giannis — it seems as though Brad has opened a can of worms. The vultures are swarming, and teams seem to think they can pry Brown away from Boston. It’s been reported by Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints that JB has not formally requested a trade at this time, and Brad Stevens has reiterated that he thinks the Jays can still win a championship together, but he also didn’t commit to keeping them together.
The rumor mill has been full effect, and several notable insiders like ESPN’s Shams Charania and Brian Windhorst, The Ringer’s Zach Lowe, and Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor believe that, while Jaylen is not being offered in outgoing trades, the Celtics are at least receptive to the calls that are coming in. Windy in particular is convinced that JB has played his last game for the Celtics already, and Lowe seems to be betting on the same, while Shams has been a lot more non-committal.
It didn’t seem like something Boston wanted to reckon with this offseason given Brown’s MVP-level year. Now it’s something they’ll have to face head on. That’s also on top of the other needs which the team hasn’t been able to address yet.
Cenac is expected to sign a standard deal, while Mitchell will likely end up on a two-way. As for the team options, Queta, Harper Jr., Walsh, and Williams are probably locks, whereas Banton and Shulga probably won’t be retained, at least on standard deals. With all of that factored in, Boston will have filled 13 of the league’s minimum 14 standard roster spots. They can bring in up to two more players on standard deals after that. Assuming Mitchell ends up on a two-way deal, they will also have two more of those to offer to other players.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 23: NBA commissioner Adam Silver shakes hands with Chris Cenac Jr. after he is drafted twenty-seventh overall by the Boston Celtics during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Now, where does that leave the team?
The biggest thing on the agenda is to reckon with the fallout of the Jaylen trade rumors. Brad has to make a commitment one way or another. If the Celtics are serious about trading him, they shouldn’t rush a deal, but they need to know what kind of return they’re looking for.
Are there any players of his caliber in a different position of need that could be available in a swap? If you ask me, the answer is no, in part because of his $57 million salary this season. So, is there an assembly of players that you can expect back that works financially and addresses the needs? That’s another tough one. Through my perusals of the trade machine, I haven’t found anything especially compelling without a convoluted three-team deal, though I’d reckon that NBA GMs are a lot better at constructing these than I am.
So, if you don’t get a perfect assembly of players, can you at least get a litany of draft compensation along with one or two quality guys? That seems like the most straightforward path to completing a deal, but that probably doesn’t bring the Celtics any closer to contention for this upcoming season. And therein lies the crux of the issue. It’s not every day you find a Jaylen Brown in the NBA, so replacing his value can feel impossible for a team that’s trying to win now.
Ultimately, it seems as though Stevens isn’t the one shopping Brown, so it’s up to other teams to make an offer that at least captures Brad’s attention enough to reach the negotiating stage. It may be a while before that happens, which could improve the return for Boston, but complicate their overall construction.
Jake Fischer of The Stein Line seems to believe that the Celtics are not looking to move Jaylen unless it makes them better. That is likely the best course of action given that he has three years left on his deal.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 02: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the second quarter of a game against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game Seven of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at TD Garden on May 02, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Let’s assume JB doesn’t get traded. What’s next?
Well, we’d still have to address the areas of concern: a reliable, veteran paint presence, and a speedy guard. The free-agent market is pretty bare in both areas. For guards, Colin Sexton and Brandon Williams might be the only notable unrestricted free agents. Marcus Smart and Jose Alvarado both have player options, and Boston could offer one of them the MLE, which could give either up to a $10 million salary bump.
There are more options at center, but still nothing to write home about. Kristaps Porzingis, Jusuf Nurkic, Mitchell Robinson, Robert Williams III, Jock Landale, and Nick Richards are a handful of the unrestricted options. Walker Kessler and Jalen Duren are restricted, and it’s unlikely that Boston will outbid either of their teams, but a sign-and-trade could be on the table, at least for Kessler if the reports about him being unhappy with the Jazz have any validity to them.
The Celtics probably won’t be able to address both of their positions of need through free agency, so once they’ve made their choice, they’ll have to think about what, or who, they’re willing to part ways with to address the other. So far, the consensus seems to be that Sam Hauser is the player that a trade will be centered around, though Jordan Walsh could also be in the mix. They also have the Simons TPE to play around with and get themselves a higher caliber, or at least more expensive player, but that’s a chip for them, not their trade partner. They may have to sweeten a deal with picks depending on who they’re pursuing.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – OCTOBER 27: Trey Murphy III #25 of the New Orleans Pelicans is defended by Sam Hauser #30 of the Boston Celtics during the third quarter of the NBA game at Smoothie King Center on October 27, 2025 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. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Trey Murphy III is a player who has been floated pretty frequently in these talks. He fits perfectly into the TPE, but New Orleans has always been rumored to be looking for significant draft compensation in any deal for Murphy. It’s important to note, that the TPE can be split up among multiple players. That’s created the possibility of trading for more than one quality player. Someone like Daniel Gafford of the Dallas Mavericks is an option, and would leave about $10m of the TPE to use on a second player.
The Celtics are currently $13.2 million under the tax line, and $21.2 million under the first apron. If they do elect to use the TPE and/or the full MLE, they could likely end up as a tax paying team, and will also get hard-capped at the first apron. The expectation was that they would be under the first apron regardless, but if they don’t duck the tax line, they won’t be able to reset the repeater tax. If they want to stay competitive, that’s something they’re going to have to seriously consider.
One last nugget to keep in mind: Derrick White has appeared in a few trade rumors this offseason. It’s been reported that the Celtics are not actively shopping him, but other teams were inquiring about his availability. Making $30.3 million this upcoming season, he could be Boston’s most interesting trade chip aside from Jaylen if they do want to make a drastic move. And before anyone comments — no, neither I, nor the Celtics are going to be entertaining offers for Jayson Tatum. I have no source to corroborate that, but I would bet my life savings on it. (Don’t gamble, kids.)
This is going to be an offseason of hard conversations, and even harder decisions for Boston. It’s definitely the murkiest the waters have looked since 2023, and maybe even the murkiest in the entire Jays era. Prepare your hearts. Spend time with your loved ones. Take your mind off it and enjoy your summer. Us Celtics fans have had a lot of smooth sailing lately, but the waves seem to be getting bigger. Captain Brad Stevens has the wheel, and it’s up to him to get us back to shore safe and sound.
BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JUNE 25: Gavin McKenna attends the 2026 NHL Draft Top Prospects Media Availability on June 25, 2026 at the New Era Cap World Headquarters in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ahead of tonight’s NHL draft, let’s take a stab at how the first round could play out tonight. First, a moment of silence for our near miss last year – when we tried to predict that Kyle Dubas would go ‘off the board’ with a high pick on a WHL center that no one saw coming. So close, yet so far (we had Cole Reschny as the surprise pick, the Pens ended up making the choice of Ben Kindel instead. I’d say that worked out well).
Trades have rocked the 2026 draft, which could indicate something about how many teams are valuing this draft somewhat unfavorably. Two top-10 picks have been dealt. St. Louis enters the night with a whopping four picks. San Jose has three. Six other teams have two picks, 10 teams enter the night without a first round pick at all. Ottawa received a league punishment where they were assigned the 32nd pick (and cannot trade it today). That builds up to one of the more unpredictable and turbulent drafts in recent memory, with a high probability that the fireworks continue with even more transactions of teams jockeying around.
Toronto Maple Leafs – Gavin McKenna,LW, Penn State (NCAA): No surprise at the top, the Leafs add the top player and hope he will become a focal point in the years to come
San Jose Sharks – Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frolunda (SWE): Trading William Eklund solved the mystery of whether or not SJ would reach for a defenseman to help their prospect pool at No. 2, or just take the best player available. Probably wisely, the coast is now clear to have a spot in the future for Stenberg.
Vancouver Canucks – Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford (OHL): For some reason the Canucks have zeroed in on Malhotra, the sixth ranked North American skater from Central Scouting. Malhotra is considered the best center of the class but going third looks like a steep projection on draft day.
Buffalo Sabres –Chase Reid, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL): Buffalo has their pick of the defensemen in the class and Reid looks like the right handed, blue chip prospect to one day pair beside Owen Power or Rasmus Dahlin.
New York Rangers –Alberts Smits, D, Munchen (GER): Some think Smits could be the most NHL ready player in the draft as a 6’3, 210 pound defender that is rock solid and shined with Team Latvia. I think that fits what the Rangers will covet as a no-maintenance type of big player who could be a bedrock performer. With the top four picks considered somewhat set right now, the Rangers’ choice at No. 5 represents the first major split in the road for how this draft will play out.
Calgary Flames –Viggo Bjorck, C, Djurgarden (SWE): The Flames get a little saucy with this one, taking the upside of a 5’9, 180 pound center in a world where players like Brayden Point and Logan Stankoven have flourished. This profile of player usually drops on draft night, but Calgary opts to believe in what they could have here.
Seattle Kraken – Carson Carels, D, Prince George (WHL): Seattle has somewhat famously never selected a defenseman in the first round, but now Jason Botterill’s hands are fully on the wheel. A disciple of Ray Shero, a smooth skating, puck moving defender with upside fits the mold and needs of this franchise.
Winnipeg Jets – Keaton Verhoeff, D, North Dakota (NCAA): Winnipeg is in a nice spot to draft a quality player that falls to this pick, they’re pleased to add a 6’4″ defender compared to Aaron Ekblad. Verhoeff very well could be selected a few picks prior to this, having him available at 8th would be a great development for the Jets.
San Jose Sharks –Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert (WHL): Given team needs (and by taking Stenberg earlier), you’d have to think the Sharks will be in a position to grab the top defender available here at No. 9, depending on who among Smits, Carels, Verhoeff and Rudolph remain. It ends up being Rudolph, who has the frame, tools and ability to be a top-4 player and is exactly what San Jose needs at this point.
Nashville Predators – Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University (NCAA): New GM Chris MacFarland gets to work by adding one of the top centers available. Lawrence had a bumpy draft year but is well-regarded as a potential future impact player.
St. Louis Blues – Wyatt Cullen, LW, USA U-18 (NTDP-USHL): Matt’s boy had a recent growth spurt to 6’1 and has dynamic offensive ability. His future is very bright, the Blues are happy to grab him at this point.
New Jersey Devils –Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor (OHL): New GM Sunny Mehta is from the Panthers’ organization, he knows the value of a 6’5″, 230 pound monster winger that has an edge. Belchetz is headed to Michigan State and could be the next version of a Porter Martone type.
New York Islanders – Oliver Suvanto, C, Tappara (FIN): The Islanders have drafted well recently, Suvanto is one of the younger players in the class and already 6’3″, 213 pounds with a a strong two-way game.
Columbus Blue Jackets – Malte Gustafsson, D, HV71 (SWE): A 6’4″ defender with good reach, skating and first pass ability, the Jackets keep it simple here with a solid choice at this part of the draft.
St. Louis Blues – Alexander Command, C, Orebro Jr. (SWE-JR): Incoming GM Alex Steen adds a countryman with a solid center option for future depth.
St. Louis Blues – Ryan Lin, D, Vancouver (WHL): Wait, are the Blues really making all these picks? We already have them down for two forwards, they spread out here to grab an offensive minded right shot defender.
Los Angeles Kings – Oscar Hemming, LW, Boston College (NCAA): LA grabs a 6’4″ winger with offensive upside and a great shot.
Washington Capitals – Maddox Dagenais, C, Quebec (QMJHL): The Caps can use prospect help up the middle, Dagenais brings a 6’4″ frame and good offensive ability.
Utah Mammoth –Ilia Morozov, C, Miami (NCAA): The Mammoth go with a very young player and hope his game develops into his 6’3″, 205 stature.
Buffalo Sabres –Adam Novotny, LW, Peterborough (OHL): The Czech player excelled in the OHL, he has a nose for the net.
Philadelphia Flyers – Maksim Sokolovskii, D, London (OHL): A 6’7″, 240 pound physical, stay at home defender seems to fit the Flyers. They also tend to like London products (Oliver Bonk, Denver Barkey).
Pittsburgh Penguins – JP Hurlbert, LW/C, Kamloops (WHL): I think Hulbert checks almost all the boxes for the players that the Pens tend to take early on. He can play all three forward positions, he’s been complimented for his two-way play and attention to detail away from the puck, he’s a productive WHL player. There’s always the possibility they break pattern and go with a defender or different profile this year, but as a blind guess there’s a lot that points towards Hulbert if he’s available.
Boston Bruins –Nikita Klepov, RW, Saginaw (OHL): The Bruins go with a skilled forward to add to their group.
Vancouver Canucks – Elton Hermansson, RW, MoDo (SWE-2): The Canucks add a second forward in the draft.
Ottawa Senators – Liam Ruck, RW, Medicine Hat (WHL): The Senators go with a skill winger to be part of their future.
New York Rangers – Brooks Rogowski, C, Oshawa (OHL): When I look at Rogowski, I see Brian Boyle 2.0. Chris Drury was a teammate of Boyle’s, who once scored 21 goals with the Rangers. NYR will bank on Rogowski’s peak being a little longer/higher but his 6’7″ 235 pound frame is what literally stands out.
San Jose Sharks – Xavier Villeneuve, D, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL): The Sharks have enough draft capital with their third pick of the night to take a wild swing on the immense talents of Villeneuve, who comes with just as immense of a risk.
Montreal Canadiens – Jack Hextall, C, Youngstown (USHL): Montreal goes with a well-rounded center choice that they’ll hope develops well.
St. Louis Blues – Casey Mutryn, RW, USA U-18 (NTDP-USHL): Mutryn fits into a sort of Jimmy Snuggerud/Jake Neighbours/Dylan Holloway mold as a high-IQ, forechecking machine of a big winger.
Calgary Flames – Thomas Bleyl, D, Moncton (QMJHL):: The Flames use their second choice to target the blueline and get a right shot player with offensive upside.
Carolina Hurricanes – Mathis Preston, RW, Vancouver (WHL): The Hurricanes are always a strong candidate to trade back in the draft, our presumptions rule out trades so we’ll have them stick to type for a player with some dynamic offensive ability.
Ottawa Senators – Tobias Trejbal, G, Youngstown (USHL): The first goalie goes off the board with the last pick. Trejbal is a 6’4″ netminder with impressive athleticism for his size.
Let’s get some high numbers and preseason Devils action out here. | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Tonight’s the night…the first round of the NHL Draft takes place via conference calls and hopefully through less-awkward TV means than last year (though we’ll never forget that Matthew Schaefer moment).
Islanders News
With the 13th overall pick, the Islanders…will probably select someone. [Newsday]
This is the Islanders preseason schedule, feel the excitement. [Isles]
Some more mock drafts…Oscar Hemming enters the chat. [NHL]
Oh and here’s another mock draft, another one sending Tynan Lawrence to the Isles. [ESPN]
ERMEGRD, the Canadiens supposedly called the Isles about Bo Horvat and the Isles said no. {click} [THN]
Elsewhere
Here’s another draft ranking, a top 100. It has Stenberg above McKenna. [Sportsnet]
And here’s another mock draft. It has OHL LW Ethan Belchetz to the Isles. [Sportsnet]
Here are some random late thoughts about random top 100 prospects. [Athletic]
How do 13 NHL scouts feel about the top defensemen in this draft? [Athletic]
Rumor roundup: Buffalo isn’t done dealing, Blue Jackets will have conversations with Werenski. [Sportsnet | NHL]
The Blue Jackets sent three draft picks to Colorado for Valeri Nichushkin, who probably won’t be happy there and they’ll hope will stay out of trouble and off IR. [NHL]
The Flyers send asshat Garnet Hathaway to the Panthers for some late-round picks, and retain half his salary. [NHL]
Not the Draft
The Capitals have tampered done a sign-and-trade for 33-goal scorer Alex Tuch, inking him to an eight-year, $84 million contract. He is 30. [TSN | NHL]
The Predators and Avalanche swapped a bunch of That Guys. [TSN]
Why…why did the Blackhawks swing so big for Bowen Bryam? [Athletic]
Jason Robertson reportedly declined something like eight years and $15 million AAV from the poor Kraken. [Sportsnet]
He also reportedly declined interest from the Blues, who offered “multiple first-round picks” if they could do a sign-and-trade. [@JeffMarek]
The “ins and outs” of the NHL exploring expansion in Texas. [TSN]
Connor McDavid says the Oilers top players all agree it’s high time they have a coach who abuses them; enter Mike Babcock. [Sportsnet]
The Senators have another uphill climb after having to trade Brady Tkachuk. [Sportsnet]
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 25: Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees signs autographs before a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on June 25, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees dropped their series opener against the Red Sox in a rather sloppy effort, with several errors culminating in Cam Schlittler allowing a four-run fifth inning capitalized by a big two-run home run off the bat of former Yankee prospect Caleb Durbin. That blew what was a 2-0 New York lead up until that point, but despite clawing one of those runs back the Sox added some big insurance with two runs in the eighth and then survived an Aroldis Chapman jam in the ninth. A rough one to be sure, but there’s still three more games to be played out in Fenway before heading back to the Bronx.
We’ve got a loaded schedule on deck before the Yankees take the field again later tonight. Nick starts us off with a look at the rotation depth as June comes to a close, and then Sam has the Rivalry Roundup featuring the Rays gaining a game back in the standings after a dominating win. Josh takes the opportunity to regard Derek Jeter’s illustrious career in relation to his baseball fandom on the captain’s birthday, Peter examines Ryan Weathers’ latest start in the Sequence of the Week, Michael takes the June Swoon narrative under the microscope, and finally I’ll be back to open up the mailbag and answer more of your questions.
Today’s Matchup:
New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox
Time: 7:10 p.m. EST
TV: YES, NESN
Venue: Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Questions/Prompts:
1. Tonight will be the Yankees’ 81st game played. Will their second-half record eclipse the 48-49 wins they’ll have from the first half?
2. Did you believe that the old Aroldis Chapman was going to emerge in that ninth inning and blow it last night?
The Hens scored in the top of the tenth after a well pitched game, and reliever Jack Little slammed the door, striking out the side in the bottom half to win in Worcester on Thursday.
Sawyer Gipson-Long has pitched better of late, and he turned in a solid start on Thursday. The right-hander’s outing ended after he allowed a two-run homer to Tyler McGonough in the fifth, but he was nearly perfect otherwise, racking up seven strikeouts on the night. Ricky Vanasco and Woo-Suk Go each gave the Hens two scoreless innings of relief.
The Hens opened the scoring in the third when Andrew Navigato and Max Clark led off with singles. Trei Cruz struck out, but a fly out from Gage Workman was enough to get Navigato to third, and Clark then stole second. An infield single that pitcher Brayan Bello couldn’t handle scored Navigato for a 1-0 lead.
Brett Callahan singled with one out in the sixth and stole second and third, but Tyler Gentry and Jace Jung struck out. Finally in the eighth, Max Anderson tripled the opposite way off Kristian Campbell’s glove in the right field corner, and a blooper over the shortstop from Callahan was enough to get the run home and tie the game.
In the top of the ninth, with Cruz starting at second, Gage Workman walked, and a Max Anderson single to center scored Cruz to make it 3-2. Unfortunately, Callahan popped out and Gentry grounded into an inning ending double play.
So, Jack Little took over in the bottom of the 10th looking to hold the lead and wrap this up. He quickly punched out the first hitter on a bunt attempt, and then punched the second one out as well. A 95 mph heater above the zone blew away Micky Romero, and that was good work from Little to earn the save.
Anderson: 3-5, R, 2 RBI, 3B
Clark: 2-5, SB
Callahan: 2-5, RBI, 2 SB
Gipson-Long: 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 7 K
Coming Up Next: The Hens will look to make it five straight on Friday at 6:45 p.m. ET.
It was a pretty good night for the offense, but Max Alba and the pitching staff were not good in this one.
Peyton Graham reached on a force in the first and then stole second, scoring on a Chris Meyers single for an eraly 1-0 lead. It didn’t last as the Ponies got to Alba for five runs in the second and third innings combined.
In the bottom of the third, Seth Stephenson singled and scored on a Peyton Graham triple to left that should’ve been caught, but wasn’t. Thayron Liranzo walked, and Graham scored on a wild pitch that got Liranzo to second. He scored on a Meyers single to make it a 5-4 game, but that was as close as they’d get.
Catchers doing work. Luke Shliger and Thayron Liranzo both throw inning-ending darts to second base. pic.twitter.com/vKLYEwCkfh
Eric Silva allowed a run in the fourth, but the SeaWolves got that one back in the bottom of the fifth on an Andrwe Jenkins sacrifice fly that scored Meyers. Again it was 6-5 and a one run game, but the bullpen couldn’t shut the Ponies down. Johan Simon allowed two runs in the top of the seventh with aid from a Graham error at shortstop. Max Burt got those runs back with his first Double-A home run, a two-run shot, after taking over for Izaac Pacheco, who left with a leg injury.
Max Burt entered tonight’s game for Izaac Pacheco and promptly hit a 2-run blast to left to pull Erie within one run. @ZachSurdenik on the call. pic.twitter.com/YBYhDmAr39
Luke Taggart allowed two runs in the top of the ninth as the Ponies put this one to bed.
Graham: 3-4, 2 R, RBI, 2B, 3B, BB, SB
Meyers: 2-4, R, 2 RBI, BB
Bigbie: 2-3, R, BB
Alba (L, 1-3): 2.2 IP, 5 ER, 8 H, BB, K
Coming Up Next: It’s a 6:35 p.m. ET start on Friday with the SeaWolves up 2-1 in the series.
West Michigan Whitecaps 11, Dayton Dragons 4 (box)
Lucas Elissalt was pulled after a long first inning, allowing just one run but topping the 30 pitch mark that triggers the insta-hook. It mattered little as the offense raked and the bullpen did a solid job holding things down the rest of the game.
The Dragons led 2-0 early, but the ‘Caps seized control in the third. Singles from Caleb Shpur and Woody Hadeen were followed by walks to Andrew Sojka and Ricardo Hurtado, plating a run. A sac fly from Luke Shliger scored Hadeen, and then Clayton Campbell got a mistake pitch and pumped a three-run jack to left to make it 5-2 Whitecaps.
Clayton Campbell crushes a 3-run homer to left and the Whitecaps go up 5-2. It’s his 5th home run of the year. pic.twitter.com/DCLhFDfAno
In the fourth, Stephen Hrustich singled and scored on a Sojka single later in the inning. In the seventh, Sojka led off with a triple and scored on a Hurtado single. Shliger singled as well, and after Campbell flew out, Samuel Gil singled to shortstop to load the bases. Juan Hernandez plated two with a single, and Shpur and Hadeen came up with RBI singles to make it 11-4.
Preston Howey tossed three innings of one-run ball to pace the bullpen, while Ryan Harvey earned the win despite allowing a pair of runs in 2.1 innings of work.
Bryce Rainer had the day off.
Hadeen: 2-4, R, RBI, BB, K
Sojka: 2-4, 2 R, RBI, 3B, BB
Campbell: 1-3, R, 3 RBI, HR, BB
Harvey (W, 2-2): 2.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB, 2 K
Coming Up Next: It’s a 7:05 p.m. ET start on Friday with the Whitecaps down 2-1 in the series.
Malachi Witherspoon got wild after a good start to his outing, but it didn’t matter to this game as the Flying Tigers cranked out 14 hits and drew 7 walks to crush the Tortugas with ease.
Jordan Yost opened the game with a single but was erased on an Edian Espinal double play ball. That was too bad, as Beau Ankeney smoked his 11th home run for a 1-0 lead.
Beau Ankeney crushes a solo homer 414 feet to left to give Lakeland an early lead. It’s his 11th home run of the season. pic.twitter.com/VFf7YIc3C5
In the second, Zach MacDonald reached on a bunt single with one out and then stole second for his 20th steal on the season. Anibal Salas reached on an error and a wild pitched scored MacDonald. Hunter Robbins doubled in Salas, and Jack Goodman was hit by a pitch. An Espinal two-run single made it 5-0, and then Ankeney doubled in Espinal and scored on a Carson Rucker single to make it 7-0 through two innings.
Witherspoon gave up a solo shot in the third. In the fourth, he issued three walks and allowed three runs, with a Rucker error extending the inning and making them unearned.
An RBI double from Dobbins that initially looked like a homer scored MacDonald in the fifth. Ankeney singled in two runs later on in the inning to make it 10-4.
Xiomer Guacache got into a huge two-out, bases loaded jam in the bottom of the fifth, but MacDonald made a spectacular diving catch in center field to rob an extra base hit and probably save three runs.
Dobbins and Yost walked in the top of the seventh and advanced 90 feet on a passed ball. An Espinal two-run single made it 12-4. The bullpen leaked a run each in the seventh and eighth, but this was out of reach by then.
Ankeney: 3-6, 2 R, 4 RBI, 2B, HR, K
Espinal: 2-5, R, 4 RBI, BB, K
Dobbins: 2-3, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 2B, 2 BB, K
Yost: 2-3, R, 3 BB
Witherspoon: 4.0 IP, 4 R, 1 ER, H, 4 BB, 4 K
Coming Up Next: It’s a 6:35 p.m. ET start on Friday with the Flying Tigers down 2-1 in the series.
Alemain Cruz gave the Tigers a pretty good outing and the bullpen was alright, but they couldn’t put any runs up on the board. Michael Oliveto had a double for his first extra base hit in pro ball, and shortstop Angel de los Santos continues to hit and get on base, but otherwise it was a pretty weak effort in this one from the offense.
Draper to play sixth seed Taylor Fritz in first match
Ostapenko and Sabalenka drawn in Raducanu’s quarter
Serena Williams will face Australia’s Maja Joint at Wimbledon in her long-awaited return to singles competition after four years of retirement, a match between two players born nearly 25 years apart.
Joint, a talented 20-year-old who won Eastbourne last year, has struggled badly this year, compiling a 3-15 record. The winner of their first round match could face the in-form Filipino 25th seed, Alexandra Eala.
The high school baseball landscape across the country has been elite, to say the least.
In a perfect world, one might ask: in a winner-take-all state title contest, who and how would we craft a lineup featuring players from across the country?
For this list, we've crafted a roster of 20 seniors. The breakdown of the roster is as follows:
Pitchers (6)
Catchers (3)
Infielders (6)
Outfielders (5)
Here's the USA TODAY Sports Starting 9, along with a coaching staff we'd build below in a hypothetical state title game.
Eric Booth Jr., Oak Grove (Miss.) OF
Booth is the top prep outfielder available in this year's MLB Draft, and will be a contributor right away in pro ball for whichever organization he's in. With Oak Grove this season, Booth hit .481 with 20 extra-base hits, 31 RBI and 55 runs scored. He walked 45 times and swiped 23 bases, making him the ideal leadoff hitter in this hypothetical state title game.
Carson Bolemon, Southside Christian (S.C.) LHP
Bolemon was nearly unhittable this season for the Sabres, pitching to a 0.17 ERA over 41 1/3 innings pitched, allowing just one earned run. Over that span, he allowed just 11 hits and 13 walks while striking out 91 batters. Expect Bolemon to be a likely first-round pick, considering the emphasis clubs place on prep left-handed pitchers on a yearly basis.
Coleman Borthwick, South Walton (Fla.) RHP
Borthwick is a big fella at 6-foot-6, 255 pounds, but he can sling it from the right side with a fastball that has been awfully close to hitting triple digits. With South Walton this spring, Borthwick pitched to a 0.21 ERA, allowing just 18 hits and 7 walks over 65 2/3 innings, striking out 121 in that stretch. Borthwick could see himself break into the first round, but picks 31-40 seem a lot more likely should he choose to forgo his Auburn commitment.
Blake Bowen, JSerra (Calif.) OF
Bowen's a prime DH candidate in this starting lineup at 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, with a power grade of 60 by MLB.com. Bowen also played football for JSerra and has plenty of athleticism to make things happen in the outfield in his pro career. At the MLB Combine, he registered 15 hits that had an exit velo north of 100 MPH.
Will Brick, Christian Brothers (Tenn.) C
Brick gets the start at catcher on this roster, hitting .517 with 10 extra-base hits for Christian Brothers this season. Originally part of the 2027 class, Brick decided to reclassify after a highly successful stint with Team USA's 18U team, which competed in Japan in October, where he hit .333 while playing strong defense behind the dish. While the bat is a work in progress, many believe his defensive skills will translate to the next level.
Brody Bumila, Bishop Feehan (Mass.) LHP
While Bumila wouldn't start this game, he's an elite lefty who is poised to make the big leagues at some point in his career. His fastball has reached triple digits and features a lot of inverted vertical break, making life tough for hitters. At 6-foot-9, the arm slot is especially tough.
Trevor Condon, Etowah (Ga.) OF
The younger brother of former Georgia star and Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Condon, Condon had a stellar senior year for Etowah, hitting .504 with nine home runs, 42 RBI and 17 doubles in 36 games. His decision-making at the plate is strong despite being a teenager, making him a long-term player in many organizations that value that in their philosophies. With elite speed as well, expect Condon to make an impact on this squad.
Sean Dunlap, Crown Point (Ind.) C
Dunlap has largely been a consistent player behind the plate for Crown Point, and is very fast despite the toll catching takes on the knees. The 6-foot-3, 205-pounder hit .473 with nine home runs, three doubles, 11 doubles, and 45 runs batted in, adding 32 runs scored and with just six strikeouts over 112 plate appearances.
Grady Emerson, Fort Worth Christian (Texas) INF
Expected to be a top-three pick in this year's draft, Emerson's set to become the next big shortstop to come out of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Following the footsteps of Bobby Witt Jr., Emerson grades out near the top in hitting, power, running, arm and fielding, making him a franchise player for whoever drafts him.
Jared Grindlinger, Huntington Beach (Calif.) OF/LHP
Grindlinger's likely to go pro as a left-handed arm, but we're going to start him in left field. In a Huntington Beach uniform this year, Grindlinger hit .376 with a team-high 41 hits, adding 14 extra-base hits and 22 RBI, striking out twice in 125 plate appearances.
Jacob Lombard, Gulliver Prep (Fla.) INF
The younger brother of Yankees prospect George Lombard Jr., Jacob Lombard is primed to be even better than his big brother. With Gulliver this year, Lombard batted .477 with 10 home runs and 25 RBI, leading the way with 42 hits and 52 runs scored. His 1.471 OPS led the team, and he will be a likely top-five pick in this year's MLB Draft.
Bo Lowrance, Christ Church Episcopal (S.C.) INF
Lowrance's 6-foot-5 frame, at least on this team, makes him a likely first baseman despite primarily playing third. He has a solid left-handed bat at the plate and will be able to make an impact in pro ball. Whether or not he forgoes his Virginia commitment remains to be seen.
Taj Marchand, James Island (S.C.) INF
If you want all-around tools and defensive value, Marchand's your guy. His arm is elite, along with his bat, making him a second-round prospect with clear potential to make a splash. While he may not start on this squad with Emerson, Lombard, and others in the infield, it does not take away from the fact that he starts on virtually any other squad.
Cole Prosek, Magnolia Heights (Miss.) C/INF
Prosek simply couldn't be stopped this season for Magnolia Heights, hitting .585 (76-130) with 18 home runs, 19 doubles, a pair of triples and 79 RBI with 62 runs scored. He added 31 walks and had a 1.855 OPS against Mississippi competition. While he is currently a primary third baseman, Prosek could project as a catcher in pro ball and make this roster as one of three catchers.
Gio Rojas, Stoneman Douglas (Fla.) LHP
Rojas gets the nod as the starting pitcher in this theoretical state title game, and is the top left-handed arm on many draft boards. The Stoneman Douglas product transferred from the Denver area after his freshman year, helping the Eagles win three straight state titles. In a Stoneman uniform, Rojas was 28-1 with a 0.65 ERA with 285 strikeouts over 162 innings, allowing 73 hits and 36 walks against elite competition in South Florida.
Aiden Ruiz, The Stony Brook (N.Y.) INF
Ruiz is a fascinating prospect because he's a switch-hitter and an ambidextrous thrower, making him exclusive on this roster in that regard. His defense is the best on this team, grading out with a 70 in the field and a 60 arm. With Team USA's 18U team, his defense forced Grady Emerson over to third base, something we're replicating here. His speed and fielding are too good to keep on the bench.
Logan Schmidt, Ganesha (Calif.) LHP
Schmidt's young for his age here at 17 years old by the time the Draft rolls around, but that doesn't mean he isn't up there with Rojas and Bolemon in terms of quality. The California product can attack the zone but still has some room to grow, making him a secondary option out of the bullpen if need be.
Landon Thome, Nazereth Academy (Ill.) INF
The son of Hall of Famer Jim Thome, Landon Thome has an impressive bat from the left-hand side with exit velos in the high 90s and low 100s. With his power, much like his dad had with the Indians, Phillies, and White Sox, among others, Landon could see that it would come with maturity and a bigger build beyond the 6-foot, 177-pound frame he's currently in.
Kaden Waechter, Jesuit (Fla.) RHP
Kaden Waechter, another son of a former big leaguer (Doug Waechter), has starred for Jesuit since his sophomore year, making him a well-known product in the high school space. Waechter has delivered and then some for Jesuit over the years, pitching to a 13-5 record with a 1.01 ERA, striking out 135 over 104 1/3 innings. Over that stretch, his WHIP sits below 1.00, as he also generates ground ball and fly ball outs.
Noah Wilson, McCallie (Tenn.) OF
With McCallie, Wilson hit .385 as a senior with 45 hits, 17 extra-base hits, and 41 runs scored to go along with 23 stolen bases. Not many teams wanted to pitch to the prospect, as he walked 33 times as well. While he may not start on this team, he very well could come off the bench in a pinch-hit or pinch-running role, depending on the situation.
COACHES
Manager: Todd Fitz-Gerald, Stoneman Douglas (Fla.)
Fitz-Gerald's been around some elite prospects over the years, and joins this staff alongside his palyer Gio Rojas. The Stoneman Douglas coach has built a national dynasty in South Florida, winning six consecutive state titles in Florida's toughest classification. The Eagles defeated then-national No. 1 Venice 2-1 in the Class 7A title game behind a masterful effort from Rojas.
Assistant Coach: Rick Arnold, Trinity (Ky.)
Arnold's Trinity Shamrocks were deemed the MaxPreps and Perfect Game National Champions after a 41-3 season that concluded with a KHSAA Championship. Trinity scored 411 runs in 44 games and conceded just 85 runs.
Assistant Coach: Jared Halpert, Harvard-Westlake (Calif.)
One of two coaches from the Golden State on this staff, Halpert has been at the school for over a decade, churning out consistent results in the nation's largest state. The Wolverines went 26-6 this year and were the second best squad in California behind St. John Bosco.
Assistant Coach: Andy Rojo, St. John Bosco (Calif.)
Speaking of the Braves, Rojo's Bosco team was the best in California this year, going 27-6 with a CIF Southern Section Division I title over Norco. The Braves have eclipsed 20 wins in each of Rojo's first three seasons with the program.
Assistant Coach: Doug Rush, Tomball (Texas)
Rush and Tomball were virtually unstoppable all season long, going 44-1 with a UIL 6A DII State Championship, beating Houston Memorial 9-1. The Cougars conceded just 79 runs over 45 games, and scored 328 during that span.
Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X at @NP_AlexMartin or via email: amartin@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow @usatodayhss on Instagram and X.
In recent drafts, the Philadelphia Flyers have gone out of their way to draft big, strong, physical players to add to their prospect pool, and the 2026 NHL Draft is looking to be no different.
The Flyers, of course, could truly end up choosing anyone when they are first on the clock at Pick 21, whether it be a winger, a defenseman, or another center.
Not all of these prospects are cut equal, especially at the defense position, and that could cause some variance at the back of the draft order.
For example, The Athletic NHL prospect expert Scott Wheeler released his final NHL mock draft of the year, and he has the Flyers taking a big swing on defense... literally.
While not everyone may agree with the valuation, including Wheeler himself, the Flyers select defenseman Maksim Sokolovskii in the first round in this mock draft.
Sokolovskii is a 6-foot-8 defenseman who plays for the London Knights (shocker!), and he is widely regarded as the meanest player in the entire draft class.
"Sokolovskii’s name has been one of the most hotly discussed among NHL scouts over the past few months, and I expect he’ll be selected in the 20s now. He’s the biggest player in this class, he might be its most naturally aggressive and he can move. Those three things made him a source of intrigue for the scouts this year," Wheeler wrote.
"His steep development curve in the second half of this season sold the league on his prospects as the next Nikita Zadorov type, and the trust in the London Knights to get him there (coincidentally, they also developed Zadorov) is another confidence booster. I believe the Flyers are the start of his range."
The Flyers have made it no secret that they would like to get bigger and stronger on defense, and have admitted that the left side of their defense, where Sokolovskii plays, is far weaker than the right.
Passing, puck skills, and decision-making will be question marks for Sokolovskii, but the Kazakh rearguard is undeniably a punishing defender who can do it all in his own zone.
For myself, Sokolovskii is a harder sell due to the simple fact that I believe it to be easier to teach players to defend (Xavier Villeneuve) rather than to teach them how to pass, handle the puck, and make smart choices under pressure.
At the same time, Sokolovskii's size can't be taught either, and that makes him a true unicorn in the 2026 draft class.
Remember, just two years ago in 2024, Anton Silayev was expected to be a top-five pick, slid a little, and still went 10th overall to New Jersey.
Right or wrong, teams cover those players, and the Flyers understandably accept that risk in this latest mock draft.
