CLEVELAND, OH - AUGUST 18, 2007: The Great Lakes Classic trophy is awarded to the winning team between the Cleveland Browns and the Detroit Lions following their annual preseason game was on display prior to the game on August 18, 2007 at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Detroit won 23-20. Great Lakes Classic Trophy07-1206979 (Photo by Diamond Images/Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
“The Battle for the Barge,” as fans would call the GLC, was regularly played between two teams who were only “Classic” in that they have both been around a long time, both were founded in Ohio (the Lions were originally the Portsmouth Spartans), and both have been classically bad since the Browns returned in 1999.
Detroit has seen a strong turnaround since 2022, with four straight winning records and two playoff appearances, while Cleveland has made the playoffs twice since 2020 but has seen four losing seasons in that timeframe as well.
According to Joel Walkowski, author of the book “Honolulu Blues: How The Detroit Lions Saved My Life,” fans of the Browns and Lions are 1a and 1b in having “the worst go of it of any franchise,” similar to the NBA’s GOAT debate between Michael Jordan and LeBron James:
“I exist on this planet to make the argument that the Lions fans have the WORST go of it of any franchise…”
“I gotta give a hat tip to the Cleveland Browns. That is the Jordan-LeBron debate of this…”
— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) July 28, 2026
Obviously, Walkowski has a bias, as we all do.
A look at the historical numbers between each team:
Record: CLE – 567-560-14, DET – 615-717-34
Winning %: CLE – 50.3%, DET – 46%
Championships: CLE – 8, DET – 4
Maybe Walkowski is on to something, big picture and in the long-term. For the more recent history, the Browns have been far more downtrodden and have had an organization that has made mind-numbing decision after mind-numbing decision.
Then again, Detroit and Cleveland are also the only two teams since the strike-shortened season of 1982 to have winless seasons, so both fan bases have gone through a lot.
Overall, which fan base do you think has it worse? Do you agree with Walkowski because of the whole history of the franchises or do you think it is the Browns given the history since The Return in 1999?
Join the conversation below in our comment section
With Summer League play in the rearview mirror and most of the major free agency decisions having been made, now is a good time to look back on some players whose fantasy values have been affected by the changes. Today's column focuses on those who stand to be more valuable to fantasy managers, starting with a Grizzlies wing heading into his second NBA season.
▶ Returnees
G/F Cedric Coward, Memphis Grizzlies
Coming off a shoulder injury that limited him to four games in his final college season, many were unsure what to make of Coward's fantasy value going into the 2025-26 campaign. As a rookie, he would appear in 62 games for the Grizzlies, averaging 13.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 three-pointers per game, finishing fifth in Rookie of the Year voting.
With the franchise moving on from Ja Morant and Santi Aldama this summer, Coward should be empowered to be one of the Grizzlies' leaders moving forward. He played well in Summer League, helping lead Memphis to the title game in Las Vegas, and has already established good chemistry with lottery pick Cameron Boozer. While Coward finished last season ranked outside the top-100 in fantasy basketball, his floor should be higher than that in 2026-27.
C Walker Kessler, Los Angeles Lakers
Kessler's time in Utah came to an end this summer, with the Jazz agreeing to a sign-and-trade with the Lakers. The 7-footer appeared poised for a breakout campaign in 2025-26, but a torn labrum in his left shoulder ended Kessler's season after just five games. In Los Angeles, he'll be asked to serve as the lob threat to play off Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. And the Lakers' defensive issues mean there are likely to be even more shot-blocking opportunities for Kessler, who has averaged 2.4 rejections per game in his four NBA seasons.
G Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets
This has been a summer of significant change for the Hornets, who bid farewell to LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges in two separate trades. The departure of the former should mean more time on the ball for Knueppel, last season's runner-up for Rookie of the Year, even with the Hornets re-signing Coby White. He started 80 of the 81 games he played in 2025-26, averaging 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 3.4 three-pointers per game. Already one of the best shooters in the NBA, more playmaking opportunities will raise Knueppel's fantasy ceiling next season.
G Egor Dëmin, Brooklyn Nets
Of the five players the Nets selected in the first round of the 2025 draft, Dëmin is the one who has shown the most promise. Remember when his perimeter shot was considered to be a significant question mark? Well, Dëmin was productive in both summer leagues the Nets appeared in. In Las Vegas, he averaged 21.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 3.0 three-pointers in three appearances. Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle will be the first options offensively for the Nets next season, but Dëmin's upside can't be ignored, especially with his improved shooting.
F/C Naz Reid, Charlotte Hornets
Reid's time in Minnesota came to an end this summer when the Timberwolves dealt him to Charlotte as part of the LaMelo Ball trade. However, the move east puts the former NBA Sixth Man of the Year in a position to start consistently, especially after the Hornets also traded Miles Bridges. A consistent top-100 player in fantasy basketball the last few seasons, Reid should be selected much earlier in drafts this fall due to the opportunity in front of him.
F/C Paul Reed, Detroit Pistons
Reed's play during the postseason was one of the bright spots for the Pistons, who were eliminated by the Cavaliers in the second round. And with Detroit trading Isaiah Stewart to Memphis, Reed will now serve as the backup center, provided the Pistons get a deal done with restricted free agent Jalen Duren. While he may not be a player worth selecting with a top-100 pick, Reed's consistent role makes him more valuable to fantasy managers than in the past, when he was little more than a streamer when someone was injured.
▶ Rookies
F AJ Dybantsa, Washington Wizards
Dybantsa only appeared in two games in Las Vegas, but even when considering the level of competition, he looked ready to make an immediate impact for the Wizards next season. In those outings, the former BYU standout averaged 25.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. Dybantsa did not shoot the ball well from three in Las Vegas, but that should not be a major concern once he's able to share the floor with Trae Young and Anthony Davis, among others, in the nation's capital.
F Caleb Wilson, Chicago Bulls
More active than most of the top picks who saw action in Las Vegas, Wilson was highly productive for the Bulls. In four games, he averaged 23.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 steals, 2.5 blocks and 3.3 three-pointers while shooting 50 percent from the field and 41.9 percent from three. Wilson did have some issues with turnovers, averaging 5.3 per game, but that should not be a major concern for fantasy managers once the regular season begins. He should be a force once the games truly count.
F Cameron Boozer, Memphis Grizzlies
Viewing Boozer as a "high floor" player may be selling him short, especially when considering how well he played in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. He played in all six of Memphis' games in Sin City, averaging 18.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.3 three-pointers while shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 77.3 percent from the foul line. This season marks the official beginning of a new era in Memphis, and Boozer is expected to be one of the leaders. He's got the ability to take on that role.
F Yaxel Lendeborg, Golden State Warriors
One of the questions lingering over the Lakers this summer was whether they could land LeBron James in free agency. Well, he picked Philadelphia, which gave Lendeborg's fantasy value as a rookie a boost. The Most Valuable Player of the Vegas Summer League, he filled the stat line on most days, averaging 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.7 three-pointers per game. With Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody set to begin the season on the sideline as they recover from knee injuries, Lendeborg may find himself in the starting lineup as a rookie. And his versatility should mesh well with a lineup headlined by Stephen Curry.
G Brayden Burries, Milwaukee Bucks
During his lone season at Arizona, Burries spent most of his time off the ball due to Big 12 Player of the Year Jaden Bradley running the point. The Bucks put the ball in his hands quite often in Las Vegas, and Burries delivered. In four appearances, he averaged 23.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.0 blocks and 2.0 three-pointers, shooting 50 percent from the field.
Milwaukee's backcourt is a bit crowded following the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, with Tyler Herro joining a rotation that already had Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr. and Gary Trent Jr. However, with Burries showing that he's capable of playing either guard spot, there should be no lack of opportunities for the rookie. That said, fantasy managers may have to exercise some patience due to the veterans in front of him.
G Meleek Thomas, Cleveland Cavaliers
Thomas put on a show in Las Vegas and appears ready to provide needed scoring off the bench as a rookie in Cleveland. In four games, the second-round pick averaged 27.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.0 steals and 3.5 three-pointers, leading the entire Summer League in scoring. The opportunity to play off James Harden and Donovan Mitchell should benefit Thomas, as the offensive gravity of both veterans can open up the floor for their teammates.
F Allen Graves, Toronto Raptors
After drafting Collin Murray-Boyles last summer, the Raptors may have another potential category league star on their hands. Graves may have come off the bench during his one season at Santa Clara, but he was an advanced-stats darling in the pre-draft process for his ability to contribute in multiple areas.
In four games in Las Vegas, he averaged 16.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.3 steals, 1.0 blocks and 2.8 three-pointers on excellent shooting splits (51.0/50.0/100). The lingering Kawhi Leonard situation makes it somewhat challenging to project Graves' value in redraft leagues, but managers in dynasty leagues should not hesitate to select him if available.
The Mets (45-62) and the Braves (62-44) continue their three-game series tonight at Citi Field. New York ripped Atlanta in the opener last night, 14-3.
Atlanta struck first in the opening inning when Ronald Acuña Jr., playing his first game after missing 37 games with a strained hamstring, singled and eventually scored on an Ozzie Albies RBI infield hit. The Mets answered immediately when Francisco Lindor ripped an RBI triple off the wall in right field.
Lindor put New York ahead in the third inning with a two-run homer off Braves starter Martín Pérez, but Atlanta responded in the fourth. Albies launched a two-run homer to left-center field, his 18th of the season, tying the game at 3-3.
The game remained tied into the sixth inning before New York finally broke through against the Atlanta bullpen. Marcus Semien crushed a two-run homer off Connor Thomas to give the Mets a 5-3 lead. The floodgates then opened. In the seventh, Tyrone Taylor continued to swing a hot bat, blasting a three-run homer to extend the lead to 8-3. Bo Bichette later added a sacrifice fly, and the Mets sent the game completely out of reach with a five-run eighth inning. Lindor capped the outburst with his second homer of the night, a three-run shot that gave him six RBIs on the evening.
New York pounded out 19 hits, with Lindor, Semien, Taylor, Bichette, and rookie A.J. Ewing all enjoying three-hit games. Zac Thornton earned the victory after allowing three runs over 6⅓ innings, while Atlanta reliever Connor Thomas suffered one of the roughest outings of the season, surrendering 11 earned runs on 10 hits in just 2⅔ innings.
Tonight, Atlanta turns to its ace, Chris Sale (11-6, 2.19 ERA) with an eye on evening the series. Sale has once again been one of the National League's most dominant starters. Over his last eight starts, the veteran has allowed 12 earned runs in 44 innings.
The Mets counter with Christian Scott (3-2, 3.13 ERA), who has quietly put together a strong season. Since the start of May, the 27-year-old has pitched 62 innings and allowed just 21 earned runs.
Lets dive into tonight's matchup and find a sweat or two.
Game Details and How to Watch: Braves vs. Mets
Date: Tuesday, July 28, 2026
Time: 7:10PM EST
Site: Citi Field
City: Queens, NY
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, BravesVision, SNY
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The Latest Odds: Braves vs. Mets
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Atlanta Braves (-163), New York Mets (+135)
Spread: Braves -1.5 (+109), Mets +1.5 (-131)
Total: 7.5 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers – Braves vs. Mets for July 28
Braves: Chris Sale Season Totals: 111.0 IP, 11-6, 2.19 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 134K, 26 BB
Mets: Christian Scott Season Totals: 63.1 IP, 3-2, 3.13 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 78K, 29 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Braves vs. Mets
Marcus Semien is 6-18 (.333) with 3 HRs against Chris Sale
With 3 hits last night, Semien is 6-28 (.214) in July
Francisco Lindor is 16-41 (.390) with 2 HRs against Sale
Lindor went 3-5 last night to snap a 1-12 skid over his previous 3 games
Michael Harris II is 4-5 (.800) in his career against Christian Scott
Harris has hit in 5 straight games (7-21)
Drake Baldwin has hit in 6 straight games (8-23)
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Braves vs. Mets
The Braves are 56-50 on the Run Line this season
The Mets are 49-58 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 52 times in Atlanta’s 106 games this season (52-48-6)
The OVER has cashed 48 times in New York’s 107 games this season (48-50-9)
Expert picks & predictions: Braves vs. Mets
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
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Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s game between the Braves and the Mets:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Braves on the Run Line.
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But as the clock ticks down to the Aug. 3 deadline, teams are getting even more anxious to make deals that could potentially help them win a 2026 World Series ring.
First off, there are the most obvious trade candidates − players who are in the final year of their contracts and players who could benefit from a change of scenery.
Who will be dealt and who will stay put? We have six days to find out the answers.
When is the MLB trade deadline?
Teams must have their trade details finalized and submitted to the league office by the deadline in order for any acquired players to be eligible for the playoffs. After that, players on 40-man rosters can't be traded.
When: Monday, Aug. 3
Time: 6 p.m. ET
Yankees badly need outfield help
Cody Bellinger's hamstring injury is the latest in the New York Yankees' recent string of painful losses. They now have an entire outfield on the IL with Bellinger joining Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.
GM Brian Cashman is desperately in search of depth at the position, but complicating matters is the fact that two of the team's best trade chips − Spencer Jones and Jasson Dominguez − are outfielders. And both are currently starting.
The New York Post's Jon Heyman suggests the Royals' Lane Thomas, the Reds' Spencer Steer, the Angels' Jo Adell and Jorge Soler, and the Blue Jays' George Springer could be possible trade targets.
Steer, however, is currently on the injured list with a partially torn tendon in his right wrist. And Springer, a longtime Yankee nemesis, would seem an unlikely match coming from an AL East rival.
The Yankees are also in search of catching help, which could take away resources they might otherwise need to acquire an outfielder.
What will Tigers do with ace Tarik Skubal?
Don't expect a final answer to this question until the last possible moment.
The Tigers have the talent to make the postseason. They've been playing much better since Skubal returned from elbow surgery in mid-June. But they're not quite in playoff position just yet ... and likely won't be by the deadline.
The question is how close do they need to be to keep the two-time defending Cy Young award winner. Or how far back do they need to be to sell. At 50-57, Detroit is currently four games out of the third AL wild-card spot.
On the heels of a three-game losing streak, USA TODAY Sports' Bob Nightengale writes the Tigers now "have no choice but to trade Skubal." He also expects No. 2 starter Casey Mize to be dealt as well.
This Week in the Minors is our weekly look at notable performances from all over the system, from big-name prospects and less-heralded guys alike. The mission is to answer this simple question: “Who had a good week?”
Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers (48-53, 11.5 games back)
The Storm Chasers won 5 of 6 against the Salt Lake Bees on the road. At the plate, Gavin Cross went 12-for-27, with 5 homers, 2 doubles, 2 triples, and 10 runs batted in, and was named International League Player of the week. After a horrific start to the season at the plate, Cross is now up to .249 on the season, with 10 homers and 21 stolen bases. Kyle Isbel will probably be returned from his rehab assignment soon, but I’d like Cross to get some time with the Royals late this season. Elsewhere, John Rave went 11-for-22, with a homer and 3 doubles. Drew Waters was 9-for-22 with a homer as well.
On the mound, Aaron Bummer threw 2.1 scoreless innings, striking out 5. Matt Moore threw 2.2 scoreless innings striking out 5, and Justin Topa threw 3.2 scoreless innings, striking out 5. These are the veteran guys the Royals have been signing lately, with the deadline looming and trades possible, these three would be the first replacement call ups more than likely. Mitch Spence threw 5 innings of 1 run ball in his lone start of the week, striking out 6.
Gavin Cross is the 3rd Triple-A Omaha player since 2005 to homer in 5 straight games.
Cross is the 4th full-season @MiLB player to do so this year, but he's the first to do so in 5 consecutive *DAYS* ‼️ https://t.co/sNJj5mNUNc
The Storm Chasers return home this week to take on the St. Paul Saints. The series runs Tuesday through Sunday.
Northwest Arkansas Naturals (40-54, 20 games back)
The Naturals lost 4 of 6 to the Springfield Cardinals. On the mound, Hunter Patteson made 2 starts, totaling 10 innings, allowing 7 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, striking out 11 hitters. Felix Arronde went 6 innings, allowing 2 hits, no runs, striking out 5 in his lone start of the week. Oscar Rayo threw 5 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, striking out 5 hitters.
At the plate, Luke Pelzer, who was just promoted from Quad Cities, went 10 for 24, scoring 3 runs as well. Daniel Vazquez went 7-for-21, with a double. Vazquez is a 22-year-old shortstop from the Dominican Republic. Sam Kulasingam went 6-for-23, with a homer.
— Northwest Arkansas Naturals (@nwanaturals) July 26, 2026
The Naturals hit the road to take on the Tulsa Drillers, the series runs Tuesday through Sunday.
Quad Cities River Bandits (45-47, 11 games back)
The River Bandits lost 5 of 6 to the Beloit Sky Carp. At the plate, Blake Mitchell went 4 for 20, with 3 RBI’s and 3 stolen bases. Jose Cerice went 6 for 17. Cerice is a 21-year-old infielder from Cuba. Derlin Figueroa was 4 for 22 with a homer and a double.
On the mound, Kendry Chourio went 6 innings, allowing 4 hits, 1 run, striking out 4 in his lone start of the week. Tanner Jones threw 4 innings of scoreless ball, allowing 2 hits, striking out 3. Jones was the Royals 6th round draft pick in 2024 out of Texas A&M. Blake Wolters threw 5 innings of 1 run ball, allowing 1 hit and striking out 7.
Kendry Chourio allows 1 run or fewer in his 5th consecutive start for the @QCRiverBandits 💎
The River Bandits return home this week to take on the Dayton Dragons. The series runs Tuesday through Sunday.
Columbia Fireflies (50-46, 6.5 games back)
The Fireflies won 5 of 6 from the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. On the mound, Ryan McDonagh threw 6 scoreless innings, allowing 1 hit, striking out 6 batters. McDonagh threw a no-hitter for 5.2 innings. McDonagh is a 20-year-old right hander from Canada. Jose Gutierrez threw 5.2 innings, allowing 4 hits, 1 run, striking out 3. Shane Van Dam threw 6 innings, allowing 4 hits, 1 run, striking out 7 in his lone start of the week.
At the plate, Sean Gamble went 7-for-20, with a double and home run. Gamble has battled back from a brutal start to the season and has raised his average to .203. Josh Hammond went just 3-for-21, cooling him off from the great month of July he’s having. Yandel Ricardo went 8-for-17, with a double and a triple.
Sean Gamble hit this one really, really, really far.
Jonathan Cannon 6 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 9 K Mason Adams 5 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 5 K Duncan Davitt 5 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 4 K Shane Murphy 5 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 4 K Shane Smith 4 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 3 K Peyton Pallette 4 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 4 BB, 5 K Tanner McDougal 2 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 4 K Hagen Smith 2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 3 K
After a slow start to the second half, the Knights are trending in the right direction again. Since the All-Star break, the Knights have won six of nine, and that includes a 5-1 series against the Tides (36-64).
Infielder Andy Weber, 29, who primarily plays shortstop, has been terrific lately. Against Norfolk, Weber, whom the North Siders drafted in the fifth round in 2018, could not be stopped. Weber is still looking to make his MLB debut, but he went 8-for-19 with three homers, two doubles, a walk, eight RBIs, and a stolen base in his only attempt. The White Sox acquired Weber in February via free agency, and in 52 games since being promoted from Birmingham to Charlotte, Weber has slashed a solid .273/.316/.464.
2026 Charlotte Knights Players of the Week Korey Lee (March 27-April 5) Oliver Dunn (April 6-12) Shane Smith (April 13-19) Jarred Kelenic (April 20-26) Oliver Dunn (April 27-May 3) LaMonte Wade Jr.(May 4-10) Jacob Gonzalez(May 11-17) LaMonte Wade Jr.(May 18-24) Jacob Gonzalez(May 25-31) Braden Montgomery(June 1-7) Ryan Galanie(June 8-14) Kyle Teel(June 15-21) Korey Lee(June 22-28) Caden Connor(June 29-July 5) Nolan Jones(July 6-12) Andy Weber (July 13-26)
Barons Player of the Week Caleb Bonemer .353/.421/.824, 17 at-bats
Alec Briley .360/.385/.560, 25 at-bats Colby Shelton .409/.417/.682, 22 at-bats Anthony DePino .368/.429/.579, 19 at-bats Samuel Zavala .300/.364/.600, 20 at-bats Grant Magill .333/.385/.583, 12 at-bats Boston Smith .100/.379/.300, 20 at-bats
Dylan Cumming 5 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 2 K Lucas Gordon 5 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K Jake Palisch 5 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 4 BB, 2 K Carson Jacobs 4 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 4 BB, 6 K Jackson Kelley 4 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 3 K
Since the All-Star break, the Barons’ performance has been OK, at least by 2026 Birmingham standards. After taking two of three against Rocket City (48-47), the Barons dropped four of six against Montgomery (48-47) in a full-length series.
Infielder Caleb Bonemer, 20, was very difficult to retire, and he displayed a lot of power against Montgomery. This is Bonemer’s fourth weekly award of the season and his first with the Barons. This week, Bonemer went 6-for-17 with two homers, two doubles, four RBIs, and a walk. More impressive is that Bonemer did all of his damage in just three games, as on Friday he was beaned in the head and was removed from action for the rest of the contest, as well as Saturday’s action. That resulted in a weekly OPS of 1.245, and after 29 games with the Barons, Bonemer is slashing .267/.374/.476. Birmingham has been a large hurdle for many White Sox prospects over the years, especially hitters. However, although it is early, the top White Sox prospect is not slowing down during his dash toward the majors.
Drew McDaniel 7 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, 4 BB, 9 K Grant Umberger 5 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 7 K Jake Curtis 5 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 3 K Justin Sinibaldi 5 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 3 K Tommy Vail 4 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 6 K Max Banks 3 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 4 K
The Dash have had a rough time since returning from the All-Star break, only winning three of nine games since then.
Outfielder Ely Brown, 22, who mainly plays center, was unstoppable during a 3-3 series against Greensboro (59-37). During that series, Brown went 8-for-16 with a triple, three doubles, seven RBIs, three walks, and a steal in his only attempt. That resulted in a series OPS of 1.392, as he reached base in more than half of his plate appearances. Brown has shown that he can reach base with ease at the lower levels of the minors. Brown posted a .417 OBP in 27 games with Kannapolis in 2025, and this year, he is slashing .268/.411/.353 in 84 games, all with the Dash.
2026 Winston-Salem Dash Players of the Week Caleb Bonemer (April 6-12) Colby Shelton (April 13-19) Colby Shelton (April 20-26) Caleb Bonemer(April 27-May 3) Colby Shelton(May 4-10) Boston Smith(May 11-17) George Wolkow (May 18-24) Morris Austin(May 25-31) Caleb Bonemer(June 1-7) James Taussig(June 8-14) Kyle Lodise(June 15-21) George Wolkow(June 22-28) Kaleb Freeman(June 29-July 5) Ryan Burrowes (July 6-12) Ely Brown (July 13-26)
Cannon Ballers Player of the Week Steven Lancia .583/.615/.583, 1-for-1 stolen bases, 12 at-bats
Jaden Fauske .318/.444/.364, 1-for-3 stolen bases, 22 at-bats Alexander Albertus .375/.474/.688, 16 at-bats Nick McLain .238/.238/.381, 21 at-bats Javier Mogollón .227/.227/.318, 22 at-bats Billy Carlson .211/.286/.263, 1-for-1 stolen bases, 19 at-bats
Gabe Tanner 6 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 2 K Truman Pauley 5 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 1 K Carlton Perkins 4 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 8 K Alexander Martinez 3 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 1 K Blaine Wynk 3 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 4 K
The Cannon Ballers won four of nine since we last checked in, and they are now exactly .500 in the second half and overall this season. Kannapolis wrapped up a six-game series in Columbia against the Fireflies on Sunday. That series went poorly, with the Cannon Ballers only winning one game, and that was on Sunday, as Kannapolis narrowly avoided getting swept.
Catcher Steven Lancia, 23, was on fire all week against Columbia. Lancia only played in four of those games, but Lancia made his time on the field count. Lancia went 7-for-12 with an RBI, a stolen base, and a walk (that sole RBI came from a game-winning single in the 10th inning). Lancia, who played his first game of the season on June 22, is seeing the ball quite well since his return. Between a five-game rehab stint with the Complex Sox and 10 games with Kannapolis, Lancia is slashing .415/.490/.537 with a homer, a triple, and 10 RBIs.
2026 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers Players of the Week Stiven Flores (April 6-12) Abraham Núñez (April 13-19) Javier Mogollón(April 20-26) Arxy Hernández(April 27-May 3) Javier Mogollón(May 4-10) Max Banks(May 11-17) Riley Eikhoff(May 18-24) James Taussig(May 25-31) James Taussig(June 1-7) Derek Cerda(June 8-14) Matthew Boughton(June 15-21) Ryan Schiefer(June 22-28) Christian Gonzalez(June 29-July 5) Jaden Fauske (July 6-12) Steven Lancia (July 13-26)
ACL White Sox Record 5-4 (last week), 19-41 (overall)
Complex Sox Player of the Week Frank Mieses .357/.471/.714, 14 at-bats
Justin Fuson 6 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 6 K Fidel Montero 4 IP, 5 ER, 3 H, 4 BB, 6 K Orlando Suarez 5 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 5 K Dylan Carmouche 3 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 4 BB, 4 K Jeremy Gonzalez 4 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 3 BB, 4 K
The rookie leagues did not have an All-Star break like the rest of the affiliates, and the ACL White Sox played nine games since we last checked in. Surprisingly, the Complex Sox finished their season strong, winning five of their last nine to salvage a win percentage above .300, at .317.
During the latter portion of the season, outfielder Frank Mieses, 18, was impressive. Overall, in 26 games in the Complex League, Mieses only slashed .172/.273/.293, but he ended the season on a high note to claim his first weekly award. Mieses went 5-for-14 with a homer, a double, and three walks, as he played a sizable role in the team’s strong finish this season.
2026 Complex Sox Players of the Week Alexander Albertus(May 4-10) Eduardo Herrera(May 11-17) Yordani Soto (May 18-24) José M. Mendoza(May 25-31) Yordani Soto(June 1-7) Landon Hodge(June 8-14) Tommy Vail(June 15-21) Yordani Soto(June 22-28) D’Angelo Tejada(June 29-July 5) Osniel Castillo (July 6-12) Frank Mieses (July 13-26)
DSL White Sox Record 3-5 (last week), 14-23 (overall)
DSL White Sox Player of the Week Nestor Pérez .500/.583/.800, 10 at-bats
Sebastian Romero .455/.600/.727, 11 at-bats Ronald Cardozo .400/.533/.500, 10 at-bats Fernando Graterol .273/.429/.273, 11 at-bats Hector Hernández .231/.412/.308, 13 at-bats
Yordany Marte 4 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 4 K Franchel Crisostomo 3 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 0 K Enmanuel Rodriguez 3 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 2 K David Colmenares 2 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K José Taveras 2 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 3 K
Like the Complex Sox, the DSL White Sox did not have an All-Star break, and they fit eight games in since the most recent weekly recap. Unlike the Complex Sox, the DSL White Sox had a subpar week, and their season goes until August 18.
Nestor Pérez, 19, heated up quite a bit, finishing 5-for-10 with three doubles and two walks since we last checked in. Pérez has played first base more than any other position this season, but he also has experience at third base and left field. Overall, Pérez has an unremarkable slash line by Dominican Summer League standards (.258/.355/.364, 77 wRC+), but he has taken a step forward this month. In particular, on July 25, Pérez went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs, and that outstanding performance went a long way during the team’s 8-7 victory.
2026 DSL White Sox Players of the Week Carlos Vielma(June 1-7) Sebastian Romero(June 8-14) Sebastian Romero(June 15-21) Ronald Kelly(June 22-28) Orlando Patiño(June 29-July 5) Ronald Cardozo (July 6-12) Nestor Pérez(July 13-26)
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JULY 10: Luis Castillo #58 of the Seattle Mariners delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on July 10, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 27: Ceddanne Rafaela #3 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates in the dugout after hitting a grand slam in the top of the sixth inning against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on July 27, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees took home an exciting win on Monday to kick off a series on the south side of Chicago. Ben Rice had a clutch hit in the seventh to give them the lead, and Ali Sánchez’s three-run homer put the nail in the coffin against the White Sox. With the Rays off for the day, it was a free mini-jump for New York in the East to 2.5 games behind Tampa Bay.
Despite the shorter schedule, there was still plenty of action to take in around the American League, so let’s take a look at what went down to open up the week.
Boston Red Sox (54-50) 4, Toronto Blue Jays (48-58) 2
With the Rays off for the day, The Red Sox game out in Sacramento was likely of chief concern for the Yanks. Things were tight for much of the evening, before one big hit propelled Boston to victory over the Athletics.
The A’s jumped ahead early, when Tyler Soderstrom belted a solo shot in the bottom of the first. The lefty’s 17th homer of the season gave his crew the lead, one they held on to for some time. Starter Jack Perkins pitched well to begin the game, keeping the Red Sox out of the run column for the first five innings of the game.
In the sixth inning, still trailing 1-0, the Red Sox finally made their move. A double from Connor Wong and a two-out walk to Willson Contreras ended the day for Perkins, and suddenly had the A’s on the ropes. José Suarez came on in relief, but found himself in even more trouble by immediately walking Wilyer Abreu. In the next at-bat, Ceddanne Rafaela broke the game open with a towering wall-scraper of a grand slam into left-center field.
Suddenly trailing, the A’s began to answer back with a Jonah Heim solo shot in the bottom half of the inning. His 10th long ball of the season cut their deficit to two runs, but wasn’t enough to help get his squad back in front. After a quiet seventh and eighth innings, the A’s were tasked with taking on Aroldis Chapman in the ninth.
They certainly kept the game interesting, as a hit from Colby Thomas and Nick Kurtz reaching on an error had the winning run at the plate for the Athletics. Chapman dialed it in under pressure, however, as the veteran flamethrower notched back-to-back strikeouts to bring this game to a close as a 4-2 Boston win. The Red Sox surge continues as they hold the second Wild Card berth in the American League with the win. There was some concern, however, as new acquisition Curtis Mead was forced to leave the game early after being hit by a pitch in the fifth. X-rays were at least negative. The team said that he is “day-to-day with a bruised wrist.”
Texas Rangers (53-52) 7, Seattle Mariners (52-55) 4: The Rangers did the bulk of their work early in a big divisional game against Seattle on Monday. They scored all seven of their runs in the first three innings, all of which came one homers, with Joc Pederson, Pederson again, Ezequiel Duran, and Jake Burger all going deep in the surge. Kumar Rocker allowed just a pair of runs while striking out seven in his outing, which was more than enough to get by for Texas. Four different Rangers tallied multiple hits, with Pederson’s pair of homers being the highlight. It was an important win for them over their division rival, as the Rangers’ lead grows to 2.5 games with the Astros also passing the M’s thanks to a ninth-inning rally in Anaheim.
Jul 27, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe (left) is mobbed by teammates afterhitting a game winning RBI single to defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks in the tenth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Brandon Lowe delivered the game-winning single, as the Diamondbacks have dropped three straight games to fellow National League Wild Card contenders on what many players called the most important road trip of the season. Lowe’s walk-off knock off Taylor Clarke ricocheted off the glove of first baseman Ildemaro Vargas.
The Diamondbacks had their chance in the top of the 10th, as a throwing error from Pirates third baseman Nick Gonzales set up Arizona with runners on second and third with one out. Gabriel Moreno, the Diamondbacks’ hottest hitter, struck out looking on the 11th pitch of his at-bat. After an intentional walk to Ketel Marte, Max Kepler — who delivered three hits on Monday — hit a line drive to center field that hung up too long.
The Diamondbacks’ bullpen, which had a rough afternoon in Washington the day before, coughed up a 2-1 lead in the eighth inning. With two out, the Pirates got consecutive doubles from Brandon Lowe and Bryan Reynolds to tie the game off reliever Jonathan Loaisiga.
Reynolds’ at-bat was interrupted by the ejection of Pirates manager Donnie Kelly, who was thrown out by third-base umpire Ben May after ostensibly complaining about check-swing calls that went against Reynolds.
Piecoro went on to reveal that the Diamondbacks had spoken to the Red Sox about this type of deal. He did not state whether it was Early, specifically, who was on Arizona’s radar, but it’s a good bet that was the case.
But the Red Sox weren’t interested, and it had to do with the players the D-backs were able to give up in exchange. Boston reportedly preferred to land a more major-league caliber player, as opposed to hitters who were closer to being prospects than everyday major league bats.
Many Diamondbacks fans grew worried there was a rift between Ketel Marte and Arizona when the star second baseman wiped his Instagram feed almost entirely over the weekend.
As of Monday morning, the Diamondbacks are not looking to trade Marte, Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro said.
Marte, who was previously very active on Instagram, deleted all posts but one, including those related to the Diamondbacks and others that were not.
“First, I don’t even know what scrubbing is,” Lovullo told reporters, according to MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert. “I don’t get it. I mean, I’m a baseball manager. I’ve connected with Ketel just to find out how he’s doing. Everything is in a good spot. I know that everybody wants to make some drama that’s taking place here. It’s nothing like it seems.”
Max Scherzer’s second return from an IL stint this season went better than his first, enough so that he’s hopeful for what could still be ahead.
Scherzer labored through 2 2/3 innings on 75 pitches on his 42nd birthday, but he escaped by allowing only one run in his former home park in the Blue Jays’ 3-2 win over the Nationals in Monday night’s series opener.
It seems like, for much of the 2026 season, the top question in the National League — and Major League Baseball as a whole, really — has been: Who are the biggest threats to the Los Angeles Dodgers?
Atlanta and Milwaukee lead their respective divisions, while Chicago and Philadelphia hold the first and second wild-card spots, respectively. The Dodgers are cruising to another NL West title, with a 12-game edge over the second-place Arizona Diamondbacks, meaning they will likely make their 14th consecutive postseason appearance in 2026, tying Atlanta’s record of 14 straight playoffs from 1991 to 2005.
The Boston Red Sox and Washington Nationals kicked off trade deadline season in earnest on Saturday night, when Boston sent left-handed pitcher Connelly Early to the Nats for corner infielder Curtis Mead.
Most consequential trades this time of year involve a contender swapping one or more prospects for an established big leaguer. Not so this one. At the time of the trade, the Red Sox and Nationals were in similar positions in the standings: The Sox were 53-50, seven and a half games out of the division lead, but half a game up in the AL Wild Card race. The Nats were 53-52, eight and a half games out of first place in the NL East, but only two games out of a Wild Card spot. Both teams are playing with house money: Boston on account of being 14 games under .500 less than five weeks ago, and Washington on account of… everything that’s happened since the start of the 2020 season.
Detmers and rotation mate José Soriano are both under arbitration control through the 2028 season. The former is playing on a $2.625MM salary, a little over $775K of which will be owed after the deadline.
The Angels could seek multiple top 100 prospects to part with two and a half years of very affordable control over an above-average starter. They’re in an odd spot with interim general manager John Mozeliak running their deadline, but recent reporting suggests they’re more open to conversations on their controllable players than they’d been in prior years. The aforementioned two starters and shortstop Zach Neto would be their top trade candidates and could rejuvenate a weak farm system if the Halos are truly open to a rebuild.
Oscar Onley’s pre-race injury presaged three bleak weeks and new director of racing knows he has his work cut out
Crashes, punctures and injuries ensured that the 2026 Tour de France campaign was one of the worst ever for the beleaguered Netcompany Ineos team. From the first stage on, when Dave Brailsford’s team came close to winning the team time trial in Montjuic, the 2026 Tour was, in the words of their director of racing, Geraint Thomas, “tough going”.
“I’m happy to not be racing any more, because I suffered way too much,” said Thomas, who has taken Brailsford’s place as the team’s frontman. “But it’s good to still be involved in the nitty-gritty of it.”
The Yankees (60-46) continue their four-game series at Rate Field tonight looking to build on last night’s come from behind 9-5 win over the White Sox (55-50). New York remains 2.5 games behind the Rays in the AL East and comfortably atop the Wild Card standings. Thanks to the Guardians’ loss last night, the Sox remain two games up in the AL Central.
Last night, the Sox jumped Max Fried early scoring three times in the first inning, highlighted by RBI hits from Colson Montgomery and Braden Montgomery. New York rallied in the fourth. The Yankees plated four runs. Ben Rice drove in a run with a groundout before Jazz Chisholm Jr. delivered the biggest hit of the inning, a two-run double to tie the game. Spencer Jones closed the scoring that inning with an RBI groundout. Chicago tied it in the fifth before the Yankees blew it open with a run in the seventh and four more in the eighth. Backup catcher Alí Sánchez delivered the knockout blow with a three-run homer to left in that decisive eighth inning.
Chicago managed 10 hits, matching New York's total, but defensive miscues proved costly. The White Sox committed three errors which extended rallies and certainly did not help Chicago’s comeback efforts.
Tonight, the Yankees are expected to hand the ball to veteran ace Gerrit Cole (3-5, 3.92 ERA). Cole’s last outing was against the Pirates last Wednesday. He threw a season-best seven innings allowing four hits and three runs while striking out 11. Two of the four Bucs’ hits were home runs. Cole has now served up 11 home runs over his last 9 starts. Chicago is expected to counter with left-hander Anthony Kay (7-4, 4.21 ERA), who has been consistently good for much of the season. In July, Kay has given up seven runs in 18.1 innings of work. The issue has been stamina for the southpaw as Kay has not pitched more than 5.1 innings in any of his last 5 starts and has not reached the fifth in three of those five.
Lets dive further into tonight’s game and find a sweat or two.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Yankees vs. White Sox
Date: Tuesday, July 28, 2026
Time: 7:40PM EST
Site: Rate Field
City: Chicago, IL
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, YES, CSN
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The Latest Odds: Yankees vs. White Sox
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: New York Yankees (-135), Chicago White Sox (+112)
Spread: Yankees -1.5 (+124), White Sox +1.5 (-149)
Total: 8.0 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers – Yankees vs. White Sox for July 28
White Sox: Anthony Kay Season Totals: 98.1 IP, 7-4, 4.21 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 80K, 40 BB
Trent Grisham is without a hit over his last 5 games (0-15) and is 1-28 over his last 8 games
Jazz Chisholm Jr. snapped a 1-12 streak with 2 hits in 4 ABs last night
Gerrit Cole has averaged 8 strikeouts over his last 4 starts
Andrew Benintendi is only 5-21 (.238) against Cole is his career but 2 of the hits have been HRs
Munetaka Murakami has hit in 4 straight (6-16) and 6 of his last 7 games (8-25)
Luisangel Acuna is 2-9 over his last 4 games
Acuna is hitting .370 (10-27) in July
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Top Betting Trends & Insights: Yankees vs. White Sox
The White Sox are 61-44 on the Run Line this season
The Yankees are 52-54 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 60 times in Chicago’s 105 games this season (60-43-2)
The OVER has cashed 46 times in New York’s 106 games this season (46-56-4)
Expert picks & predictions: Yankees vs. White Sox
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s game between the Yankees and the White Sox:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Yankees on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Yankees on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 8.0
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Yankees vs White Sox Over/Under pick: Under 8 (-115)
Both teams rank Top 10 in runs, but I think this is a spot to zag.
Cole has been excellent of late, sporting a 2.56 xFIP, 2.42 SIERA, and 33.7% K rate over the last five starts. He walked just 2.1% of batters during that span.
He’s limiting quality contact effectively and issuing next to no free passes, which is a big plus facing a powerful White Sox offense.
Run line: Yankees -1.5 (+130) | White Sox +1.5 (-150)
Over/Under: Over 8 (-105) | Under 8 (-115)
Yankees vs White Sox trend
The Yankees have hit the moneyline in 20 of their last 30 away games (+9.15 units, 24% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Yankees vs. White Sox.
How to watch Yankees vs White Sox and game info
Location
Rate Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
First pitch
7:40 p.m. ET
TV
YES, CHSN
Yankees starting pitcher
Gerrit Cole (3-5, 3.92 ERA)
White Sox starting pitcher
Anthony Kay (7-4, 4.21 ERA)
Yankees vs White Sox latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 06: Sam Merrill #5 of the Cleveland Cavaliers guards DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Sacramento Kings during the third quarter at Rocket Arena on April 06, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Kings defeated the Cavaliers 120-113. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In a segment on NBA Today, ESPN’s Shams Charania noted that “DeMar DeRozan has interest from Cleveland”. Charania also mentioned that “Miami, Denver and Cleveland are among the teams interested in DeMar DeRozan”.
Shams Latest On Cavs Offseason:
“Miami & Cleveland have aspirations to compete for a championship in the eastern conference. That’s why they are trying to move swiftly on their next step…both teams have their own business to handle as well. Cleveland has to get James Harden… pic.twitter.com/IO47UVdRTy
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can buy the Believeland shirt HERE. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE.
The Sacramento Kings bought out DeRozan earlier this month. DeRozan will turn 37 by the time the season tips off in October. Age hasn’t hindered his ability to be a microwave scorer and availability averaging 18.4 points while shooting 49.7% from the field in the 77 games played this past season.
The Cavaliers clearly need wing talent after Dean Wade signed with the 76ers and Keon Ellis signed with the Brooklyn Nets. DeRozan projects as a more awkward fit for Cleveland’s roster given that he has been the primary scoring option for the majority of his career. The unknown of how he will find his spots on a team with the ball primarily in James Harden and Donovan Mitchell is yet to be seen.
A clear benefit for the Cavaliers in a DeRozan addition would be the pressure to the rim DeRozan provides, as well as being a sufficient scorer without support. The warts of the acquisition would be that DeRozan has never established a consistent outside shot.
Kenny Atkinson’s offense really allows three-point shooters to thrive i.e., Sam Merrill and Max Strus. There have not been many players like DeRozan who have come into the Cavaliers’ offense with his iso-mid-range heavy skillet. Caris LeVert was the closest comparison; however, LeVert was much more of a willing three-point shooter.
The common thread between DeRozan and fellow forwards attached to the Cavaliers and others is that the teams interested were those affected by the LeBron James sweepstakes. This could be a common theme for the remainder of the summer as teams try to find suitable replacements at the wing.
It’s worth noting that DeRozan and Harden grew up as childhood friends. We’ll see if that factors at all in these discussions.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JULY 26: Luis Rengifo #21 of the San Diego Padres looks on against the Miami Marlins in the third inning of the game at loanDepot park on July 26, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres have six games before the trade deadline on Aug. 3 and that means that each game will be critical to determine whether the team will be a buyer or a seller. The first of those six games is tonight against the Colorado Rockies, and the cellar-dwelling NL West rival would love nothing more than to take down the Padres in two games before the San Francisco Giants come to town for a four-game set.
San Diego is coming off a three-game sweep of the Miami Marlins, which allowed them to catch and pass a team they are battling with for a National League Wild Card position. There is still more to do for the Padres and while the games against the Rockies will not allow them to knock off another team in front of them winning these games is still of utmost importance.
San Diego gained a half-game on the Arizona Diamondbacks without even taking the field on Monday. The hope is the momentum gained from the way the Padres finished their 5-5 road trip can continue and send them into a deadline decision with their best winning streak of the season under their belt. San Diego will have an opportunity to continue that potential streak tonight against the Rockies at Petco Park at 6:40 p.m.
Now that the dust has settled on the initial shock and excitement of LeBron James announcing his signing with the Philadelphia 76ers, the discussion focus has shifted to how the King will mesh with his new team.
There are a ton of angles to look at this from, but one that has stood out to me as much more prevalent than expected is the prediction that LeBron joining the Sixers — alongside the rest of the now-stacked starting lineup — will be a massive detriment to the development of 2025 No. 3 overall pick VJ Edgecombe in his sophomore season.
Now, before we even dig in to the intricacies here, it is worth noting that some of the people peddling the idea of Edgecombe’s development being ruined by the presence of James are the same people that were certain James would never pick Philadelphia in the first place. So, there may be an element of just searching for the negatives here from some folks.
That being said, though, the development of a younger player like Edgecombe is of course a valid factor to consider when talking about a major shift in a lineup’s makeup. But the conclusion that playing alongside LeBron James (and Jaylen Brown, for that matter) will certainly derail the young guard’s progression… I’m sorry, I just don’t buy it for a number of reasons. In fact, I think the opposite will ultimately be true.
Look at the type of player we saw Edgecombe become throughout his rookie season in the NBA. Offensively, he excelled the most as an off-ball scorer — cutting to open space, scoring off screens, leaving opponents in the dust getting out in transition for quick buckets. The soon-to-be 21-year-old is incredibly speedy and athletic, with a keen awareness to know exactly what gaps to fill with precise timing, as well as a willingness to take advantage of the shot opportunities he gets with no hesitation.
All of these skills combined to make Edgecombe his most efficient when the ball wasn’t in his hands for too long. As his rookie regular season progressed, Edgecombe was a more efficient shooter on catch-and-shoots than he was pull-ups, from everywhere on the floor — he sank 38.7% (99-for-256) on catch-and-shoot triples compared for 31.1% (50-for-161) on pull-ups. On zero dribbles, Edgecombe sank 46.8% (171-for-365) from the floor when he didn’t put the ball on the ground. With a touch time of less than two seconds, he went 45.8% from the floor and 37.7% from long range.
I don’t see how the Sixers’ new stacked starting four around Edgecombe does not enable him to put those skills to immense use and continue to develop into a true sharpshooter. With Tyrese Maxey, Brown, Joel Embiid and Lebron all worthy of drawing a double-team or help defense at any given moment, there should be a lot of gaps created on the offensive floor for Edgecombe to cut to and receive passes from any of the very capable playmakers in the lineup for shooting opportunities. Not to mention that, because of that star quality surrounding him, Edgecombe is likely to be matched with every opponent’s fifth-best defender on the floor. One through four will have their hands full with the other guys.
(Perhaps I will look back on this and reflect differently if all four of his starting-line mates refuse to pass to him when he’s open for some reason, but I genuinely do not believe that will be the case.)
Edgecombe also shined in his debut season as an active, aggressive rebounder with some impressively solid defense. It doesn’t take much deep analysis into this roster to know that Edgecombe will still have plenty of opportunities to hone those specific skills even with the Sixers’ impressive newcomers.
So, in my opinion, the new starting five will work right into Edgecombe’s existing wheelhouse in a number of ways. Of course that begs the question, then, of when will he work on the things that are his existing weaknesses, such as some sloppiness and inefficiency as a ball-handler and facilitating point guard.
It’s true that he’s unlikely to get the best opportunities to work on these skills with the new starting lineup… but one has to remember that that’s not the only lineup he will be playing in. I hardly think Nick Nurse will be doing five subs at a time, and the bench unit will mesh in with the starting guys as the rotation develops throughout games. What Edgecombe doesn’t necessarily work on specifically from tipoff, he can work on more as the bench players get involved.
And none of this is even mentioning that with the addition of guys like LeBron and Brown comes their leadership and mentorship for Edgecombe, a kid that has already shown himself to be extremely coachable and adaptable to teaching. It’s one of those massive intangibles that should be considered just as important as the numbers or hypothetical “fit” on paper when talking about a player like Edgecombe.
It will never show on a stat sheet, but the young guard has already proven himself to have an incredible work ethic, an extremely confident approach to the game as well as an immense willingness to do whatever is asked of him to help his team or his game. Edgecombe wasn’t one to get down or mopey after making a mistake or going on a cold shooting streak. He showed himself able to pivot into different versions of himself based on what a game situation was calling for. He never seemed discouraged by having someone like Maxey or Nurse in his ear about something — in fact, he often seemed eager to learn from every little stumble.
I don’t see why any of those factors in Edgecombe’s personality would be different now that he’s playing alongside one of the greatest to ever do it. If anything, one would think Edgecombe would only be further encouraged to do whatever he can to make himself productive and useful among the best of the best. Hell, he handled the whiplash transition from a 19-year-old college kid to consistent NBA starter logging 3,030 NBA minutes (regular and postseason) in stride — I think he can handle perhaps a shift in expected role. And I bet he does it with a smile on his face.
So, could LeBron, Brown and the others change the way that Edgecombe’s game develops this season? Of course, there’s no doubt. But change — even within a Sixers franchise that has felt fully cursed at times — is not always a negative. The idea that Edgecombe’s development is now completely ruined or derailed by the organization’s recent fortune and the opportunity to learn from some of the best the game has to offer, feels overblown at best and completely disingenuous at worst.
COVERS INTEL:
