Luis Díaz hat-trick helps Bayern thump RB Leipzig 6-1
Barcelona’s La Liga juggernaut rolled into Seville on Saturday and left with the scoreboard smoking, as the leaders beat Real Betis 5-2 to make it nine wins from nine and stretch their blistering league tally to 39 goals.
Lamine Yamal lit the fuse with a dazzling opener before Rodri, Gabriel Jesus, Eric García and substitute Dani Olmo joined the party, while Valentín Gómez and Ez Abde replied for Betis, who played much of the second half with 10 men after Facundo Bernal was sent off for headbutting Lamine Yamal.
The four Premier League clubs playing in the lesser continental competitions face each other on Sunday – but three are struggling domestically
The sun shone. The temperature was in the high 20s. There was a mood of great conviviality. If you were struggling with the official allocation, it turned out you could just email the president of Torreense and he’d sort you out. Were these “Nuno-tickets” real? It turned out they were. Not only that, but you could sit anywhere you wanted in a stadium too big for the game and, if you happened to have gravitated to the comfortable hospitality seating at the back of the lower tier, the beer was inexplicably free.
Locals in Leiria seemed bewildered but could hardly have been more accommodating. A beer pump had been installed outside a patisserie on the Praça Francisco Rodrigues Lobo, whose owner soon found fans happy to help stack empty barrels if that facilitated the free flow of Sagres. “There was a meeting at the town hall to explain these are not hooligans,” said the owner of a radical leftist flammkuchen restaurant between the square and the cathedral. “They told us the club comes from the labour movement and I found that very interesting.” And how had she found the fans? “Noisy, but with a quirky sense of humour.”
There is a reason why Aston Villa were so desperate to hijack Johan Manzambi’s proposed summer move from Freiburg to Newcastle. The tall, quick, tricky, clever and perfectly balanced 21-year-old Switzerland attacking midfielder looked worth every penny of the record £50m plus fee Villa ended up paying and duly delighted in showing Tynesiders what they missed.
For Newcastle and their disconsolate manager Matthias Jaissle there was a cruel irony that Manzambi ended up heading the winner on a day when the Premier League’s CEO, Richard Masters, was in the directors’ box to watch arguably the two teams most affected by the spending rules imposed during his tenure.
The day after Ottawa's pro football team ended their long winless streak, Sens fans would rather not see another winless team end its drought on Saturday night.
After the Redblacks snapped their 0-16 start with a dramatic, last-second 40-39 victory over the Toronto Argonauts on Friday night, the Senators are in Philadelphia to face the winless Flyers.
The Flyers will hit the 10-game mark of their season on Saturday night, and they're still looking for their first victory. At 0-6-3, Philadelphia has endured a miserable start, one that's already set a franchise record for the longest winless streak to open a season.
And the pressure is mounting on head coach Rick Tocchet.
After guiding the Flyers to their first playoff appearance in six years last season, nobody would have expected the 2024 NHL Coach of the Year to be feeling the heat this early. But that's what happens when a team opens with nine straight losses.
The Flyers' biggest problem has been their offence. They've scored just 11 goals in nine games, making it awfully difficult to win regardless of how well the defence or goaltenders perform.
Despite their record, the Flyers will be a desperate team on Saturday, and earlier this month, they gave the Senators all they could handle. But the Sens eked out a 2-1 win at Canadian Tire Centre on October 8.
Carter Yakemchuk scored the winner on a third-period power play in that game, blasting home a one-timer to break a 1-1 tie. It was also the game in which William Eklund suffered his ankle injury. He'll be out 10-12 weeks after surgery this week.
The Flyers' latest disappointment came Thursday night in Detroit, where they fell 2-1 to the Red Wings.
The Senators enter the game with a 6-2-0 record after Thursday's 2-1 shootout victory over the New York Islanders at Canadian Tire Centre.
Long Island native Shane Pinto scored the only goal of the shootout, while Linus Ullmark continued his outstanding start to the season, improving to 6-0-0. The victory was a welcome response to Tuesday's ugly 7-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues.
The Senators welcomed back defenceman Artem Zub, who made his season debut after missing the opening seven games with an injury. They'll now get another healthy body back on the blue line with Nikolas Matinpalo returning from an upper body injury.
But they remain without Jake Sanderson (lower body) and as long as they keep banking wins, they can afford to be conservative with his return to play. Sanderson has already reinjured himself twice this season, once in the preseason finale and again in the season opener.
The Flyers may be without some key players too. Forward Owen Tippett has an upper-body injury and did not take the morning skate. Tocchet says he's a game time decision. Rasmus Ristolainen and Cam York were also absent so they're likely not ready to return.
Ottawa's Oliver Bonk, son of former Senator Radek Bonk, will play in his fifth career NHL game, paired with Canadian Olympian Travis Sanheim.
Here's how Philly lined things up at practice, as per Jordan Hall NBCS Philadelphia.:
The Redblacks finally shook off their drought at home on Friday. The Senators would like to prevent the Flyers from producing a similar story 24 hours later.
By Steve Warne The Hockey News Ottawa
This story first appeared at The Hockey News Ottawa. For more Senators coverage from THN Ottawa's Steve Warne, click one of the headlines below:
LOS ANGELES — After their earliest postseason exit in three years, the Los Angeles Dodgers head into the offseason facing uncertainty over next year.
Shohei Ohtani was dogged by injuries to his left knee and right biceps over the second half and into the playoffs that rendered him ineffective at the plate. The two-way superstar also didn’t pitch after the All-Star break.
Whether Ohtani needs offseason surgery remains to be seen, although he acknowledged it’s possible after Thursday’s loss to the Brewers that completed Milwaukee’s sweep of the NL Championship Series. If he does, would the recovery bleed into the start of next season?
A potential MLB lockout is looming with the current collective bargaining agreement set to expire on Dec. 1. Team owners have proposed a salary cap — something the sport has never had — and the players’ union has adamantly rejected the idea.
A work stoppage would give Ohtani extra time to heal, although during such time the Dodgers would be cut off from communicating with any player, leaving Ohtani to rehab either from possible surgery or from his injuries on his own.
Communication between Ohtani and the team on his health during the season was “awesome,” Andrew Friedman, president of baseball operations, said last month, but he added: “The fully sharing exactly how he’s feeling, maybe not so awesome.”
Ohtani said he plans to resume pitching next year, when he’ll turn 33 in July. He’s already had two Tommy John surgeries.
“What he’s doing is unprecedented, and it takes a real toll,” Friedman said. “And as you get older, I think us just being very dialed is going to be really important.”
Roster turnover is likely, even without big changes in MLB spending rules
The Dodgers had baseball’s second-highest opening day payroll this year at $323.3 million, behind the New York Mets at $358.4 million. If a salary cap were to be imposed, the Dodgers’ spending would be constrained when play resumes.
Some of the roster could look different next year, too, with nine players set to become free agents after the World Series, led by two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, who is expected to command a huge deal.
The Dodgers acquired Skubal from Detroit just before the trade deadline in August. The left-hander was 5-2 with a 2.61 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 10 regular-season games for his new team. In the postseason, he was 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA and 14 Ks. Skubal didn’t want to discuss his future Thursday, although he expressed enthusiasm for the organization, his teammates and the fans.
Other impending free agents are infielder Miguel Rojas, utility player Kiké Hernández, and relievers Kris Bubic, Brusdar Graterol, Eric Lauer, Evan Phillips, Blake Treinen and Alex Vesia.
As expected, Rojas announced his retirement Thursday, saying, “This is it, guys. That was my last game played.” He’ll still be around, though, to work in a player development role.
Dodgers add a bit of youth with De Paula
The Dodgers got a glimpse of the future when they promoted Josue De Paula directly from Double-A to the majors in September. His energy and at-bats at designated hitter during Ohtani’s stint on the injured list made an impression, and the 21-year-old was added to the postseason roster as a pinch-hitter.
The team will look to De Paula to further improve as an outfielder in 2027, although finding playing time for him will be challenging given the trio of veteran starters: Teoscar Hernández, Andy Pages and Kyle Tucker. De Paula is also blocked at DH by Ohtani.
“I think the experience he got being up here and watching what our guys do on a daily basis just helped connect some dots for him,” Friedman said. “And so, physically, he is capable of being a good corner outfielder, and we’re going to continue to tap into that.”
Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Ohtani, Tucker, Max Muncy and Will Smith will remain the Dodgers’ veteran core. But some supporting players could be offloaded, like Kiké Hernández. Playing on a one-year deal, the 35-year-old was limited to 41 games while recovering from injuries and he didn’t provide his usual postseason pop.
Manager Dave Roberts refused to blame an aging lineup for getting swept by the Brewers, whose 103 regular-season wins were three more than the Dodgers.
“We got beat,” he said. “There’s no because we’re too old or whatever. Every facet of the game, if you kind of unpack it, we were bested.”
There’s drama off the field, too.
Owner Mark Walter was noticeably absent from the team’s playoff games. He is facing multiple federal investigations into his business empire for possible financial improprieties involving insurance companies he controls. Walter has denied any wrongdoing. Since August, he sold his controlling interest in the Los Angeles Lakers and last month he unloaded his share in Chelsea of the Premier League.
Let's be honest with ourselves: Part of the concern basketball fans have with LeBron James' helicopter commute to Philadelphia games and practices is a shared PTSD from the tragic death of Kobe Bryant. Those emotional scars remain.
While fans in Philadelphia and beyond have made a big deal of LeBron commuting from a home in New York to Philadelphia via helicopter, his comments downplayed it, via Tony Jones at The Athletic.
"Yeah, I've done it before," James said. "Just another, just another way of transportation. That's all."
LeBron has been using a helicopter — provided by the sports apparel company Fanatics, according to Pablo Torre Finds Out — to commute from New York to the 76ers practice facility in Camden, N.J.
As the Dan LeBatard show pointed out, LeBron chose the 76ers, not Philadelphia. For Philly fans, that's not much of a distinction, but it is one. LeBron isn't the first person to do this commute, as noted by Jones former 76ers guard and current Lakers coach JJ Redick used to live in New York, although he hired a car service to do it. That drive is around two hours (more on bad traffic days), by helicopter, it's more like half an hour.
LeBron isn't changing his plans, and he is unconcerned about the discourse around his commute.
Check out LeBron's official debut as a 76er on Tuesday when he makes a shorter commute to Madison Square Garden with his teammates for the season opener, trying to spoil ring night for Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks, a game you can watch on NBC and Peacock. It's the anchor game of a triple-header — Celtics at Pistons at 3 p.m. Eastern, and Thunder at Spurs at 9:30 p.m. Eastern — with all the games shown on NBC and streaming on Peacock.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick has not committed to his starting five for the season opener on Wednesday against the Golden State Warriors, particularly at power forward. (Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)
After five preseason games, the Lakers open their regular season Wednesday at home against the Golden State Warriors. The preseason offered some promising moments, other confounding connections between new teammates and a strong foundation for the new-look team hoping to keep growing through an 82-game season.
“You’re always trying to get better,” coach JJ Redick said Friday after the Lakers lost their final preseason game to the Denver Nuggets. “And even later in the season, you tweak plays, you tweak the offense and you tweak coverages. It’s constantly evolving. There’s no, like, ‘oh, we’re done. Now we’re going to go play.’ But we’re ready to go.”
Here are five things we learned during the Lakers’ training camp and five preseason games:
Ziaire Williams makes his case
Lakers forward Ziaire Williams, left, tries to prevent Kings guard Emanuel Sharp from scoring in the lane during a preseason game earlier this month. (Sara Nevis / Associated Press)
Ziaire Williams played in only two of the five preseason games, but the 6-foot-9 forward emerged as one of the biggest winners of training camp. The Sierra Canyon High alumnus might go from veteran minimum contract to first-day starter. He was a perfect five-for-five shooting from three-point range during two preseason appearances — both starts — and averaged 13.5 points while taking on a prominent defensive role.
During his first two years as the Lakers coach, Redick admired Williams’ intent on the defensive end from afar and commended the forward’s willingness to defend other teams’ star players. And somehow, Williams, then playing for Brooklyn, always seemed to hit shots when he played against the Lakers.
Now seeing Williams every day, Redick has come away even more impressed by the 25-year-old’s character and leadership qualities.
“Everybody in our building that has been around him for the last, you know, six to eight weeks just recognizes what a special human being he is,” Redick said. “I really believe in him as a player, and I think he’s got a lot of room to grow still, which is exciting for all of us.”
While Williams might be the first choice to start at power forward, several contenders had strong preseasons at the position. Jake LaRavia is playing and shooting with confidence again. Sandro Mamukelashvili awed with his versatile offensive game. Adou Thiero showed significant growth from his injury-plagued rookie season. The position remains one of the team’s biggest unknowns, but the preseason could offer some confidence that the Lakers have options.
Mamu was breakout star of the preseason
Lakers forward Jake LaRavia, left, and Sandro Mamukelashvili try to stop the Kings' Jonathan Mogbo from scoring in a preseason game earlier this month. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
It won’t be long before chants of “Ma-muuuuuuuu” fill Crypto.com Arena. The Georgian forward will quickly become a fan favorite if he continues to provide the all-around offensive game he flashed during the preseason.
Mamukelashvili averaged 13.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting 55.6% (25 for 45) from the field and 54.2% (13 for 24) from three-point range. Late during the third quarter against Denver, Mamukelashvili dazzled with a three-pointer, a cutting dunk and a defensive rebound that led to an assist to Quentin Grimes for a three-pointer — all in 99 seconds.
President of basketball operations Rob Pelinka said before the season that he and Redick wanted to intentionally build a cast of role players who could pass, dribble and shoot. Mamukelashvili checks all the boxes.
“Anytime he gets a rebound, we’re encouraging him to push the pace,” guard Austin Reaves said. “He’s a good basketball player, so we’re very excited for what he brings to the team.”
How long will rebounding woes linger?
Lakers center Walker Kessler, left, powering his way to the basket against two Nuggets defenders, will be the anchor to the team's defense, which will look to improve their rebounding deficiencies. (Ben Liebenberg / Associated Press)
Williams scanned the box score in front of him after the Lakers’ preseason finale Friday. He was looking for reassurance about how the Lakers ended the 121-106 loss to the Denver Nuggets.
“We did get outrebounded a little bit,” he said, glancing at the Lakers’ 49-44 rebounding deficit. “But not as bad.”
The Lakers’ 39.4 rebounds per game ranked second-to-last during the preseason. Defensive rebounds could be a weak point this season for a team still trying to solidify its backup center behind Walker Kessler. Three preseason games without Kessler reinforced to Redick that the Lakers needed to keep two big wings — any combination of Williams, LaRavia, Thiero, Matisse Thybulle or even Doncic, who is a strong rebounder for a guard — on the court to keep pace on the glass.
“We can’t just rely on Walker to get 30 rebounds a game,” Williams said of how the team has to approach rebounding. “It’s just not how the game works. So just every person just contributing to it and wanting it more than the other team.”
Kessler, standing nearby during Williams’ postgame news conference, poked his head out from behind a black curtain and gave his teammate a thumbs-up. He had 15 rebounds in two games, including 11 defensive boards. The Lakers were outrebounded by one in the two games with Kessler compared with a minus-23 rebounding differential during the first three preseason games.
Even the offense needs time
Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, pulls up in the lane for a shot against the Nuggets in the final preseason game Friday. (Ben Liebenberg / Associated Press)
Doncic, Reaves and Kessler only played one half together, and Doncic and Reaves only played in the same game twice. During one Laker fastbreak in the first quarter against Denver, while Reaves was taking a steal coast-to-coast for an easy layup, Doncic kept Kessler back on defense and pointed out tactics while they stood in the paint.
“There’s going to be some growing pain, just lack of reps together so far,” Reaves said of the chemistry between the team’s new “big three.” “... More than likely going to pick up on it sooner than later. So we’ll continue to grow that over the next couple days and be ready for opening night.”
The Lakers averaged 23 turnovers per game during the preseason. Guard Collin Sexton’s absence because of a lower leg injury showed up in the Lakers’ turnover struggles. Even two of the premier guards in the league won’t be enough to handle all of the Lakers’ ball-handling, especially if Bronny James continues to struggle as he did during the preseason.
James, after working into the injury-laden postseason rotation last year, averaged just 16.4 minutes per preseason game with 2.2 points per game on one-for-eight shooting from three. He had 12 rebounds, 14 assists and 12 turnovers during the five games.
The roster isn’t done changing
The Lakers have to cut their roster to 15 by the opener. Pelinka mentioned the possibility of consolidation trades to reach the maximum number, but no transactions have materialized, especially with the Lakers trying to cling to their limited draft assets. They don’t control their own first-round pick until 2032 and don’t have a second-round selection until 2031.
If the Lakers can’t pull off a deal, forward Dalton Knecht could be at risk of being waived. Since getting traded as a rookie and returning when the transaction was rescinded, the 17th overall pick in the 2024 draft has never carved out a steady role with the Lakers. Early, he looked like he could be the steal of the draft when he averaged 18.9 points per game during a nine-game stretch in November 2024, including a two-game, 64-point heater in which he hit 14 of 24 three-pointers. He scored more points in his 19 NBA games (231) than he did all of last season (228).
“I think the biggest thing is the team changed,” Redick said before Friday’s game of Knecht’s career arc. “The team changed. The needs changed, the fit changed. I think he got better as a player over the last two years. I think each guy has, particularly last year, each guy got plenty of opportunities with the amount of injuries we had. So I just think coming into this year, we added a lot of wings and he’s in a tough spot right now.”
Forward Jarred Vanderbilt, who has about $25 million left on his contract over the next two seasons, did not suit up for Friday’s preseason finale.
After joining the team through a trade from Washington this offseason, guard Jaden Hardy understood that roster moves would continue through training camp. On the fringe of the rotation, he said he didn’t let it bother him.
“I just came in [with a] clear head, clear mind, new situation, new opportunity,” said Hardy, who has a $6-million salary this season and a team option for next year. “I feel like it’s a blessing to be here and I’m just coming in here every day working, taking care of my business.”
He stated his case for a roster spot with 13 points in 14 minutes Friday.
Oct 15, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers (9) celebrates with the MVP trophy after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four of the NLCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Brewers’ sweep of the Dodgers in the NLCS was a complete team effort. While there were heroes in each game and throughout the series, almost every position player stepped up at some point in the series and made a big play for the team. Let’s take a look at each position player’s contribution in the NLCS, as well as their biggest moment in the series.
Gary Sánchez
Did not play
We’ll start with Sánchez, because unfortunately, there’s no moment for him. He did not play at all in the NLCS, and only has one plate appearance in the postseason so far (a ninth-inning pinch hit in Game 2 of the NLDS). It was a good plate appearance, as he drew a walk to extend the inning for Jackson Chourio’s walk-off hit.
Game 2 was Contreras’ big game of the series, where he went 3-for-4 with a walk, home run, and three RBI. The biggest of those plays was his game-tying home run in the fifth inning, which tied the game at 4-4. That home run was a massive shot off the scoreboard, hit 438 feet with an exit velocity of 106.3 mph. It was worth +.160 WPA according to FanGraphs. While his sixth-inning single put the Brewers ahead for good, it was only worth +.100 WPA.
4 games, 4-for-14, 1 double, 1 home run, 3 walks, 6 RBI, 1 run scored, +.383 WPA
As the NLCS MVP, Bauers had plenty of big moments in the series. While his Game 4 two-RBI double and RBI walk helped secure the series sweep, his most impressive and biggest moment came in Game 3. Two days after working a 12-pitch walk against Yoshinobu Yamamoto, he had an 11-pitch battle against Blake Snell. He won the battle with a two-run home run to right-center, hit 412 feet with a 109.4 mph exit velocity. It flipped the game from a 2-1 deficit to a 3-2 lead and was worth +.320 WPA.
While Turang had an overall positive series, he didn’t have much for big moments in it. His biggest moment came in Game 1 of the series, when he got the Brewers on the board. A leadoff home run in the fourth inning started the scoring off Tarik Skubal, tying the game at 1-1. It just cleared the fence in front of the bullpen, flying 384 feet with a 102.5 mph exit velocity, and was worth +.136 WPA. Even though he didn’t have much for big moment, he was consistently on base and scored six runs in his nine times on-base. He also added plenty of value on defense, helping turn three double plays in Game 1.
The numbers weren’t kind to Pratt in the season, as he overall had a negative WPA throughout the series. His only game with a positive WPA came in Game 3, where he went 3-for-4 with a stolen base. Pratt provided more value on defense, as he was part of the three double-plays the Brewers turned in Game 1. He also had a nice play on a hard-hit ball in the ninth inning of Game 4, helping finish the clinching game of the NLCS. It was a good recovery from his three errors committed in the NLDS.
Cooper Pratt tonight:
🔵 Three hits 🔵 Raised his October AVG to .360 🔵 1 SB 🔵 Became second Brewer below age 23 with three-hit postseason game in franchise history pic.twitter.com/gPyXzYdXVH
It was also a rough series for Ortiz, who played in just two games and only recorded one hit. That hit was an insurance run in Game 3, giving the Brewers a 6-2 lead in the ninth inning. Since the Brewers already had a strong lead, that play was only worth +.019 WPA.
Though Hamilton only played in two games, he was a major player in both of those games. Not only was he regularly on base, his strong baserunning gave the Brewers more chances to score. His series was punctuated in the ninth inning of Game 4. A solo home run gave the Brewers a huge insurance run, increasing the lead to 6-4. It was hit 402 feet with an exit velocity of 105 mph, and was worth +.104 WPA.
4 games, 3-for-19, 1 home run, 1 RBI, 1 run scored, -.181 WPA
After putting together a very strong performance in the NLDS, Chourio took more of a backseat in the NLCS. He didn’t have much for big moments, only recording three hits in the series. However, he did give the Brewers an instant lead in Game 3 with his home run on the first pitch of the game, a 391-foot blast with an exit velocity of 106.1 mph to right-center that was worth +.098 WPA. His running catch in the ninth inning of Game 4 also secured the final out of the series, sending the Brewers to the World Series.
It’s a little hard to believe that Mitchell only had two hits in the series with how much of an impact he had. He had several great catches in the outfield to help keep the Dodgers at bay in each game. However, his two home runs, both off left-handed pitchers, were big moments in those games. In Game 3, his home run two pitches after Bauers’ home run gave the Brewers an insurance run. He topped that the next night, leading off the sixth with a solo home run to right-center to give the Brewers a 5-4 lead. It was hit 409 feet with a 105.2 mph exit velocity, and was worth +.162 WPA.
Frelick didn’t record a hit in his two starts in right field, but did walk twice. His highest positive WPA came from a walk in the fifth inning of Game 4, and followed that by stealing second. Those together were worth +.050 WPA, and started the rally that tied the game. He also provided some good defense during the series. One of his better plays came in the third inning of Game 2. He made a leaping catch to rob Freddie Freeman of extra bases, as well as keep the game tied for the moment.
Lara got the other two starts in right field, and had similar results to Frelick. He also provided some good defense in the outfield, ranging far for some catches. However, his one hit in the series was a big one. In the bottom of the fifth inning in Game 1, Mitchell was at second following a walk and sacrifice bunt from Pratt. Lara then singled to center, bringing in Mitchell and giving the Brewers a 2-1 lead. It ended up being the game-winning RBI and was worth +.121 WPA.
Vaughn came into the NLCS with a bit of rust. Due to a late-season illness, he spent the end of the season on the injured list and hadn’t made a start since September 19th. He did play in the NLDS, but only a couple of innings as a late-game replacement. Vaughn started in Game 1 and 3 of the NLCS, serving as the DH in both games. In the series, he drew two walks (one intentional), and his big moment was a double in the second inning of Game 1, the first Brewers’ hit of the game. It was worth +.046 WPA. He advanced to third on a groundout, but was left stranded there.
Christian Yelich
3 games, 2-for-10, 2 RBI, 1 run scored, -.039 WPA
Even though Yelich had a rough season, he’s stepped it up in the postseason so far. While he wasn’t as good in the NLCS, he still had a big moment in the series. In Game 2, he went 2-for-5 at the plate. The first of those hits gave the Brewers their first lead of the day. It was a two-RBI single to center field, and the Brewers led 3-2 at the time. The play was worth +.203 WPA.
Sep 5, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson (37) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during the sixth inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Tanner Pearson-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Change is coming to Philadelphia (we hope). If the NLCS, and to a lesser extent the ALCS, has taught us anything, it’s that the Phillies need to make things different for next year’s roster if they want to have a chance at competing for a World Series. There is a gap that currently exists between them and teams like the Dodgers or Brewers, so to close that gap, things need to be different.
What we’re going to do is look at all the positions the team has and try to come up with ways that perhaps a tweak or two could be made in the hopes that things can be better in 2027. Maybe some changes are drastic, maybe some are incremental.
Let’s start behind the plate.
Who they have
We all know that behind the plate, they have hitched their wagon to J.T. Realmuto. For better or worse, they have decided that the best path forward is to give a soon-to-be 36 year old catcher two more years guaranteed to at least be a major part of the plan. The wisdom of a such a move, likely done as a panic to losing out on the Bo Bichette sweepstakes, now looks even worse considering Realmuto just posted the worst offensive season of his career. What compounds the problem is that the team had no real other option as the backup to help take away some of the plate appearances Realmuto was using. Believing that either Garrett Stubbs or Rafael Marchan would be some kind of viable option to help give the team good production behind the plate is akin to believing that a human would be able to survive on Neptune.
Their farm system is even more barren. Their best catching prospect, Alirio Ferrebus, spent the bulk of the season in Clearwater, admittedly having a good season, but still showing that he is light years away from making an impact. Their other options that would loosely have the “prospect” tag given to them have not convinced anyone that there is a threat to Realmuto’s hold coming from within.
To give the tl/dr version, the Phillies catching situation both in the present and future is bleak.
Free agent options
To say that the free agent market for catchers is rough would be being kind. The best starter is going to be Ryan Jeffers and it’s not particularly close. He just spent this past season in Minnesota putting up a 128 wRC+ in nearly 400 plate appearances and is only going to be 30 years old, so teams that are in need of a solid starting option are going to be calling his agent.
The Phillies do not need, or apparently, want a starter. Committing to Realmuto for $15M AAV means they still want him to carry the bulk of the playing time, something their pitching staff also wants to see as well. Scouring the market for a backup makes things a little more tolerable to handle as there are a few options that might fit the bill. The key is going to be two things: a) is that catcher solid defensively, which is what they mostly value from their catching, and b) can he be a starter in case Realmuto succumbs to another injury? Those two things could lead to a couple of options.
Jake Rogers – Well if Stubbs or Marchan is your guy, then Jake Rogers might be for you! Given that Rogers had an OPS that started with a 5, his market would likely be something around nil or barely above. He was one four, yes four, teams this year, getting DFA’ed like there was no tomorrow. Is he great behind the plate? He’s not great, but he’s not going to hurt any team with his defense. For likely a minor league deal or, at most, league minimum, there are worse options.
Jonah Heim – A pretty astounding fall from grace here, Heim was once a catcher running a 107 wRC+ and giving his team really good defense. Now, he’s coming off a season in which he had a 62 wRC+ and has a significant amount of blue on his Baseball Savant page for both offense and defense. Bringing Heim aboard would be a roll of the dice that somehow, the team could recapture some bit of glory with him. Another one that likely wouldn’t cost more than a minor league deal with a spring invite, it would be a pretty large roll of the dice, but could also serve as depth that they aren’t exactly overflowing with.
Carson Kelly – Now we’re getting to actual options here. Having a wRC+ over 100 (103) as a catcher is going to look good on anyone’s resume. Kelly ended 2026 with 10 home runs and 58 RBI, all while entering a timeshare with Miguel Amaya at the end of the season. That means he’s already accustomed to the role. Obviously, the ideal would be a timeshare where the catcher complement each other on the batter’s box, one hitting right handed, the other left. Bringing Kelly in would not create that ideal as both he and Realmuto are right handed, but beggars, choosers, etc. He’s still decent behind the plate and would be an instant upgrade over both options the Phillies were using as part of a rotation in 2026. He might be a bit more of a financial expenditure than they’d like, but there needs to be an upgrade. Kelly would represent that.
Tyler Stephenson – The dream free agent target. Stephenson is the best free agent catcher behind Jeffers, meaning bringing him in would be the team turning the job over to him and relegating Realmuto to being a very expensive backup. That’s not really how the team would probably want to spend their money, but again, this is a position that is seeing a significant dropoff in production and needs to be something more than a lost at bat each team the spot comes up in the lineup. Stephenson would command less than what Jeffers would offer, so there’s at least that. He’s great at blocking baseballs in the dirt; just don’t ask about all the other things a catcher is supposed to do. Again, bringing Stephenson in is akin to pie in the sky hopes, but we can all have them, right?
Trade options
The trade market is probably as bad as the free agent market. Teams are very aware of the lack of truly capable catchers that would deserve major league playing time, so the market for them could be higher than what a team like the Phillies would want to pay. Instead of trading for a starter though, the Phillies are likely looking for a backup that doesn’t embarrass himself if a longer term need arises.
Hunter Goodman – This would obviously be the dream player to get for the Phillies if they were serious about upgrading the catching position. He hits for power, he plays an alright defense and isn’t all that expensive. Team control? You betcha. He’s also going to command at the minimum the Phillies’ top 2-3 prospect plus others. Is a catcher moving away from Coors Field what they’d want to spend their prospect capital on?
Mickey Gasper – The first thing to know about Gaspar is he’s hurt. He tore up his biceps muscle enough that he needed surgery, so he’ll be out a while. Maybe a team doesn’t want to part with prospects when the recovery from such a procedure would take time. Maybe the team isn’t really that impressed with him, not truly believing in his end of year power surge (10 HR in 225 PA) and thinking it’s a mirage. That would be the game the team is playing with a trade for him. Is he healthy? Is the power real? For the right price, the answers might be worth finding out.
Pedro Pages/Jimmy Crooks – The Cardinals are littered with catching prospects. They have Leo Bernal now, Rainel Rodriguez soon and these two are good. That means they have Pages and Crooks just sitting there, waiting to be poached. Giving one or the other the chance to work with Realmuto and grow into perhaps the heir apparent would be worth giving up a little more than just a wild card or relief prospect.
Predicted outcome
There are a litany of other options the Phillies could look into. They could probably also just bring back one of Stubbs or Marchan on a cheaper contract instead of the projected $1 million they are each to get. The guess is here is that Stubbs is brought back on a minor league deal to help in Lehigh Valley to get Gage Wood or any other prospect ready for the major leagues like they did with Andrew Painter while also addressing the backup spot through free agency. Carson Kelly only got 2 years and $11 million his last go ‘round on the market and if he were to take that same deal, the Phillies should probably be on that.
UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 08: J.T. Etheridge #33 of the Salt River Rafters pitches during the game between the Solar Sox and the River Rafters at Salt River Fields on Thursday, October 8, 2026 in Scottsdale, AZ United States. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
We’re two weeks down in the annual pilgrimage to the desert, and it’s been an up-and-down experience for the Yankees’ contingent and the rest of the Salt River Rafters. A very strong opening week shifted to a more challenging second week, one that saw several prospects struggle. As a reminder, if you want a quick rundown on who’s in the desert this month, check here.
October 9 (Rafters 13, Desert Dogs 9): Salt River started a rough week with a high-scoring win over Glendale, one where they led 7-1 after two innings. Only one Yankee got into a game, as Core Jackson walked thrice, hit a 100 mph single, and stole a base. He hasn’t had a great time in the desert through two weeks, but he’s shown flashes.
October 10 (Rafters 2, Scorpions 10): The pitching didn’t have a good week across the Salt River roster, but the main difference on Saturday was the lack of offense. It wasn’t really the fault of any Yankee, as Kyle West was the only one to play, and he walked in all three at-bats. The issues we saw with the pitching, though, involved Antonio Gomez. He started the sixth with a strikeout, but would allow three hits and two walks before being pulled with two outs. In the end, all five runners he allowed would score. Mack Estrada got the last three outs of the blowout loss in a solid outing.
October 13 (Rafters 6, Desert Dogs 5): The Rafters were off on Sunday and saw their game rained out on Monday, an extreme rarity out in Arizona. When they returned on Tuesday, three Yankees got into the game. Dax Kilby made his first appearance of the week, but went 0-for-4, albeit with a pair of stolen bases. Jackson went 1-for-4 with a couple of hard-hit balls, a walk, and two stolen bases. Chris Veach made his first appearance of the series, allowing one run in two innings.
October 14 (Rafters 3, Solar Sox 7): On Wednesday, the Rafters put themselves in an early four-run hole and never bounced back. Kilby went 0-for-3 with a walk on a quiet night, albeit with a 108.7 mph groundout. West went 0-for-3 with an RBI and a walk, while Anthony Mena made his lone appearance of the week with a choppy 1.2 innings.
October 15 (Rafters 9, Solar Sox 14): It was a light-night barnburner on Thursday night, as the Rafters led 9-8 in the ninth before a game-tying two-out infield single against Gomez tied the game. A five spot in the 10th after a small army of walks doomed them. Jackson went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, a stolen base, and a run scored. West entered as a late defensive replacement and hit a 103 mph groundout in the ninth. Estrada got two of the three batters he faced out, and while Gomez allowed two hits and had a blown save, he struck out a batter in a “scoreless” inning. He also tried out a new curveball.
October 16 (Rafters 0, Javelinas 10): What a crummy way to end the week. You can’t completely blame the Yankees for this one, though. Kilby went 2-for-4 with a 105 mph double, Jackson went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, and West went 0-for-3 with a strikeout. On the pitching side, we saw JT Etheridge strike out six in an up-and-down 3.1-inning start, while Veach struck out the side in order in the seventh.
MILWAUKEE — Now that the World Series-bound Milwaukee Brewers finally have translated their extraordinary regular-season success into the postseason, the same question that comes up every time they clinch a playoff berth is getting repeated again.
How do they keep doing it?
The Brewers play in Major League Baseball’s smallest market. They have a payroll in the bottom half of the majors. They typically trade away their big-name players a year before they reach free agency.
Yet they posted the best record in the majors for a second straight year, earned their eighth playoff berth in nine seasons and won a fourth straight NL Central title. It’s a stunning run for a franchise that had a 25-year playoff drought from 1983-2007.
The one knock against the Brewers was their lack of postseason success. Nobody can make that criticism anymore, now that they’re in the Fall Classic for the first time since 1982 — and second time ever — after sweeping the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers out of the playoffs.
Conventional wisdom suggested this run of success would end for the Brewers after the departures of president of baseball operations David Stearns and manager Craig Counsell. Stearns stepped down after the 2022 season and left for the New York Mets a year later. Counsell left for the NL Central rival Chicago Cubs after Milwaukee’s 2023 playoff loss.
Instead, the Brewers promoted from within and got even better with Matt Arnold as president of baseball operations and Pat Murphy as manager.
Arnold, who also made it to the World Series while working in Tampa Bay’s front office in 2008, had served as Stearns’ right-hand man before taking over for him. He has utilized Milwaukee’s outstanding farm system by signing outfielders Jackson Chourio and Luis Lara, and shortstop Cooper Pratt to long-term deals before they had ever reached the major leagues. All three have played major roles this season.
Perhaps his best move was deciding on Murphy to take over as manager after Counsell’s departure. Murphy, who had been Counsell’s bench coach since 2016, was selected as NL manager of the year each of the last two seasons.
“He’s tremendous, I think, and well-rounded in a way where he has a great way about going about his business with the push-pull,” Arnold said. “He’s good at pushing when you need it and pulling back when you need it as well. He does a fantastic job.”
Here’s a chronological look at other major moves the Brewers have made over the last several years to produce a roster capable of winning their first World Series title.
Trading for Christian Yelich
Stearns’ greatest trade was acquiring Christian Yelich from the Miami Marlins in January 2018 for Lewis Brinson, Isan Díaz, Monte Harrison and Jordan Yamamoto. Yelich won the MVP in 2018, finished second in the voting in 2019 and signed a nine-year, $215 million contract in March 2020. He was named the first captain in Brewers history last month.
Brinson, Díaz and Harrison all hit below .200 in their major league careers. Yamamoto pitched in the majors from 2019-21 and posted a 6.05 ERA.
Drafting Garrett Mitchell
The Brewers selected Garrett Mitchell out of UCLA with the 20th overall pick in the 2020 draft. Mitchell, who has Type 1 diabetes, dealt with a multitude of injuries for much of his career but played 145 regular-season games this year and hit two homers in the NLCS.
Drafting Jacob Misiorowski
Jacob Misiorowski had committed to LSU when the Brewers selected the hard-throwing right-hander out of Crowder College in Neosho, Missouri, in the second round of the 2022 draft. Misiorowski could have teamed up with 2025 Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes on a Tigers team that won the 2023 College World Series. He instead joined the Brewers and developed into this year’s Cy Young Award favorite.
Misiorowski isn’t the only former Crowder College pitcher on Milwaukee’s roster. Aaron Ashby, who has thrown 12 1/3 scoreless innings in the playoffs, also pitched for Crowder before the Brewers drafted him in the fourth round in 2018.
Trading away Josh Hader
The Brewers led the NL Central when they dealt star closer Josh Hader to San Diego at the 2022 trade deadline in exchange for pitchers Taylor Rogers, Robert Gasser and Dinelson Lamet as well as outfielder Esteury Ruiz. This seemed at the time like the biggest misstep of Stearns’ tenure, as the Brewers faded afterward and missed the playoffs.
But after Tommy John surgery in 2024 slowed his development, Gasser developed into a major weapon late this season. The left-hander has allowed one run in nine innings in the playoffs.
This deal also indirectly led to the next move on the list, which proved much more fruitful.
Trading for William Contreras
William Contreras was coming off an All-Star season when Atlanta dealt him to Milwaukee as part of a December 2022 three-team trade in which the Braves also acquired Sean Murphy from the Athletics. All the Brewers had to give up was Ruiz, who went to the Athletics. Contreras has made two All-Star teams with Milwaukee and finished fifth in the 2024 MVP voting. He’s hitting .367 with a 1.157 OPS in this postseason.
Also in this deal, the Brewers acquired Joel Payamps, who played a key bullpen role for a couple of years. Ruiz, who is now with Miami, has hit .234 with 111 steals in 306 career major league games.
Trading for Trevor Megill
After the Minnesota Twins designated Trevor Megill for assignment in April 2023, the Brewers acquired the reliever for Taylor Floyd, who hasn’t appeared in a major league game. Megill has recorded 81 saves over the last three seasons and was an All-Star in 2025. He has pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings with four saves this postseason.
Trading for Jake Bauers
The Brewers acquired Jake Bauers from the New York Yankees for minor leaguers Jace Avina and Brian Sanchez in November 2023. Bauers returned to Milwaukee on a minor league deal in 2025 and is playing this season on a $2.7 million contract. Bauers broke through this year to post an .874 OPS in the regular season before getting named the NLCS MVP.
Avina and Sanchez haven’t yet reached the major leagues.
Trading away Corbin Burnes
Corbin Burnes had one year remaining until free agency when the Brewers sent the 2021 Cy Young Award winner to the Baltimore Orioles in February 2024 for infielder Joey Ortiz and pitcher DL Hall. Ortiz hit .270 with a .730 OPS in 134 games this season while alternating between third base and shortstop. Hall has pitched 5 1/3 innings of shutout relief in the postseason.
Trading for Andrew Vaughn
Andrew Vaughn had slumped so badly that he’d been sent to the minors before the Brewers acquired him from the White Sox in a June 2025 trade that sent pitcher Aaron Civale to Chicago. Vaughn has posted an .849 OPS in 168 games with the Brewers over the last two seasons.
Adding Kyle Harrison, Shane Drohan and David Hamilton
The Brewers traded third baseman Caleb Durbin and infielders Andruw Monasterio and Anthony Seigler to the Boston Red Sox in February after Durbin had finished third in the NL rookie of the year balloting last season. The Brewers acquired pitchers Kyle Harrison and Shane Drohan, and infielder David Hamilton in the deal. Harrison arguably was Milwaukee’s second-best starting pitcher before slumping late to finish 11-5 with a 4.20 ERA. Drohan was 7-5 with a 4.19 ERA. Hamilton stole 30 bases during the regular season and went 4 for 7 with a homer and three steals in the NLCS.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 25: Austin Wells #28 of the New York Yankees looks on against the Houston Astros at Yankee Stadium on August 25, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Automated Ball Strike (ABS) Challenge System was newly implemented in the majors this season and changed the game for the better.
José Caballero made MLB history on Opening Night, tapping his helmet after a questionable strike call to trigger the very first ABS challenge during the Yankees’ season opener against the Giants. Although the challenge was unsuccessful—as was a bit of a trend with Caballero in particular—the ball landed in the top right corner of the zone to uphold the call, it catalyzed a pivotal improvement to the game for the better. Cementing the historic moment in baseball history, Caballero’s helmet is set to be displayed at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
Tested for much of the decade at various levels of the minor leagues, the system tracks the specific location of each pitch, relative to the batter’s zone, which is calibrated to his height and measured to the fraction of an inch. Not meant to replace human umpires entirely, it’s meant to primarily correct human error in obvious misses. However, in cases where the call is challenged and upheld, it puts teams in difficult situations as they lose a challenge opportunity for the remainder of the game.
The Yankees consistently used their allotted two challenges per game to their advantage and ended the regular season with a 54.7-percent total success rate, with Austin Wells proving to be especially adept at it behind the plate. Experimenting with the system early in the season, the Yankees were more aggressive with challenges and quickly accumulated a high success rate, overturning 10 of 11 calls in their first four games of the season. They were more successful on pitcher/catcher challenges, and Wells finished the regular season with the fourth-highest win percentage from the field.
The days of adhering to calls from pitcher-friendly and hitter-friendly umpires, and even from some with personal animosities, will soon be behind us as we expect more modifications to the system. The Pinstripe Alley community shared their thoughts on the topic, and it appears that the majority have more positive feedback on the challenge system and engaged in discussions on how it can improve going forward.
Some envision the league allowing three challenges per game, giving teams more opportunities to overturn questionable calls, and others support having at least one challenge available per inning. It will be very interesting to see the evolution of this challenge system within the majors, and it’s already made a lasting impact on the league.
ELMONT, NEW YORK - JANUARY 28: Spencer Martin #41 of the New York Rangers makes a third period save against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on January 28, 2026 in Elmont, New York. The Islanders defeated the Rangers 5-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Besides Nathan MacKinnon, there is one other member of the Colorado Avalanche’s 2013 draft class still currently on a NHL roster, which may come as a surprise. The unfortunate season ending injury to New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin meant that Spencer Martin was recalled from the minors to serve as Dylan Garand’s backup until further notice. There are a couple other former Avalanche draft picks and prospects appearing in net around the league, namely Nashville’s Justus Annunen and Minnesota’s Calvin Pickard, but Martin’s connection to the Avalanche has likely long since faded from memory.
Drafted in the third round in 2013 at 63rd overall, Martin was considered somewhat a top prospect as an acquisition by the Avalanche organization. After finishing his junior career with the Mississauga Steelheads in the OHL, Martin began his Entry Level Contract with Colorado in 2015 and spent a total of four seasons in their minor league system. Appearances wee mostly with the affiliate San Antonio Rampage but also as a member the 2018-19 inaugural Colorado Eagles’ AHL season in which at one point Martin recorded an astonishing 68-save shutout. Highlights during his tenure also included an appearance at the AHL All-Star game in 2017 as well as three games with the Avalanche in that fateful 2016-17 season.
At the conclusion of the 2018-19 season the Avalanche chose not to extend Martin his qualifying offer which made him a free agent but he wasn’t on the market long as the Tampa Bay Lightning signed him to a one-year two-way NHL contract. He would earn two more one-year contracts with the club though the netminder would never make an appearance in the NHL with the Lightning.
Before that third contract started, Tampa Bay traded Martin to Vancouver in the summer of 2021 for future considerations but it was the move he needed to get back to the NHL. On January 21, 2022, exactly five years to the day after his NHL debut with Colorado, Martin received his first opportunity to start in Vancouver and then a week later earned his first NHL win making 33 saves in a 5-1 victory over Winnipeg. At the end of the 2021-22 season Vancouver gave Martin a two-year one-way contract extension worth $1.53 million and he started 27 games in the 2022-23 campaign with a 11-15-1 record.
In the second year of that contract, however, Martin found himself on the move again first getting claimed on waivers by the Columbus Blue Jackets at the start of the 2023-24 season where he started ten games and accumulated a 3-8-1 record. The Carolina Hurricanes subsequently claimed Martin in January of 2024 on waivers as well and he then started six games for them with a 4-1-1 record. The Hurricanes decided to keep Martin around for another year in the 2024-25 season signing him to a $775k contract as he then split the season between Carolina, accumulating another seven NHL games and a 3-4-1 record, and the rest of the time with their AHL affiliate in Chicago.
The fall of 2025 brought a new challenge as Martin decided to play overseas for the first time in his career and signed a contract with CSKA in the KHL. He enjoyed a hot start there and over 14 starts compiled a 5-6-2 record, two shutouts and a .905 save percentage with a 2.69 Goal Against Average. That caught the attention of the New York Rangers who signed Martin to a two-year one-way contract worth $1.625 million to finish out the rest of the 2025-26 season. He made four starts in January of 2026 with an 1-4-0 record and he is currently playing out the second year of that deal.
Spencer Martin, in just his 2nd KHL start, makes 18 saves and records his first career KHL shutout for CSKA.
Now currently with the New York Rangers while the organization sorts their depth in net for the rest of the year, Martin made his first appearance this season in mop-up duty in a 7-1 defeat to New Jersey a couple nights ago. In that game Martin gave up three goals on 18 shots but didn’t take the loss. Should the Rangers make an acquisition or when veteran goaltender Joonas Korpisalo gets healthy, Martin then surely would go back to the Hartford Wolfpack in the AHL but for now he has a place in the Big Apple under the bright lights.
It’s been a long career for Spencer Martin spanning six NHL organizations, numerous minor league stints and even a couple months in the KHL. It takes a lot to earn the reputation as an insurance option in net even if he never established himself as a true NHL goaltender with career statistics of a 25-33-8 record, .881 save percentage and 3.60 GAA. The 31-year-old has been a steady presence in the minors with a 117-106-34 record, .903 save percentage and 2.87 GAA in the AHL, which is likely why NHL organizations want him as goaltending depth in their system. The fact that an Avalanche draftee is making NHL appearances 13 years later is worth spotlighting and all the best to Martin whether or not he is called upon for the Rangers this season.
Reidis Sena and Gage Ziehl of the Portland Sea Dogs are present after a Minor League Baseball game at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, United States, on May 1, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Colorado Rockies need pitching. Lots of it.
Finding it won’t be easy. Established free agents can be expensive, assuming the Rockies can convince them to pitch at Coors Field. The draft offers another avenue, but even successful picks typically need years of development. Trades, meanwhile, offer an opportunity to acquire pitchers who could contribute sooner.
Of course, acquiring talent means giving something up. Colorado has a crowded outfield, while former top prospect Adael Amador showed encouraging signs down the stretch and is one of several young hitters at the major-league level or in the upper minors who could be moved. Hunter Goodman, coming off a 41-homer season as a catcher, would represent a significant trade chip. There’s even the nuclear option of dealing top prospect Ethan Holliday, although that would require an extraordinary return.
The Rockies have options, but deciding which players to part with, and for what kind of pitching, is another matter entirely.
So, what’s realistic?
Inspired by a Baseball America article, I went searching for overlooked pitchers in other organizations. I focused primarily on arms outside their organization’s top 10 prospects and the national top 100, using strikeout rates, walk rates and fielding-independent pitching as starting points. I also included pitchers with interesting scouting profiles whose results haven’t necessarily matched their potential.
The goal is to identify possible contributors between 2027 and 2029, not predict the next Cy Young winner. I don’t know whether any of these pitchers are available or what their teams might want in return. But because they generally fall outside the highest prospect rankings, some could represent more realistic trade targets for the Rockies.
The numbers jump off the page
Strong minor-league numbers don’t guarantee major-league success, but these pitchers have produced strikeout rates worth investigating.
(All statistics are combined 2026 minor-league totals; levels indicate each pitcher’s highest level reached. FIP- measures fielding-independent pitching performance adjusted for league and park (100 is average; lower is better). GB% is groundball percentage. Competition varies considerably between levels.)
Player
Age
Org.
Level
IP
K%
BB%
FIP-
GB%
Jacob Kisting
23
MIA
AA
110.0
29.1%
5.7%
59
38.7%
Cody Bowker
22
PHI
AA
95.1
32.3%
7.6%
76
34.2%
Cedric De Grandpré
24
ATL
AAA
129.2
29.0%
10.8%
88
46.2%
Miami’s Jacob Kisting has already changed organizations twice since November 2025. His 59 FIP- was exceptional, and his strikeout rate improved to 31.3% after reaching Double-A. Maintaining that production against more advanced hitters will be his next challenge.
Philadelphia’s Cody Bowker offers a particularly interesting fastball. His low release point and unusual carry help the pitch play above its velocity, contributing to impressive strikeout totals.
Bowker’s walk rate also improved from 11.8% at Single-A to 4.8% at High-A and 3.7% at Double-A. The final figure came over just 20.0 innings, but the progression is encouraging. Developing his secondary pitches will be important as hitters adjust.
Atlanta’s Cedric De Grandpré has reached Triple-A and maintained strong strikeout production, although his double-digit walk rate remains a concern.
Throw strikes and keep the ball on the ground
These pitchers offer a different combination of skills, pairing manageable walk rates with a greater tendency to generate groundballs. While that doesn’t automatically make them better fits for Coors Field, it’s another pitching profile worth exploring.
Player
Age
Org.
Level
IP
K%
BB%
FIP-
GB%
Gage Ziehl
23
BOS
AAA
122.0
24.7%
4.8%
90
52.1%
Ethan Bagwell
20
ATL
A+
108.0
24.4%
7.4%
75
48.9%
James Hicks
25
HOU
AA
119.0
20.6%
6.7%
91
49.6%
Boston’s Gage Ziehl combines above-average projected command with an encouraging groundball rate. His strikeout rate declined from 27.1% at Double-A to 19.6% at Triple-A, however, making his ability to generate outs against advanced hitters worth watching.
Atlanta’s Ethan Bagwell is only 20. His FIP- rose from 65 at Single-A to 91 at High-A, but he continued limiting walks and generating groundballs after his promotion.
Houston’s James Hicks also limits walks and generates groundballs, although his lower strikeout rate leaves less room for mistakes.
Close enough to help soon
Colorado needs pitchers throughout its system, but these four have already reached Triple-A and could offer more immediate help in 2027.
Player
Age
Org.
Level
IP
K%
BB%
FIP-
GB%
Blake Wehunt
25
BOS
AAA
100.1
24.8%
8.6%
89
48.7%
Connor Wietgrefe
24
PIT
AAA
151.1
21.3%
8.3%
82
41.2%
Lucas Braun
24
KC
AAA
132.0
21.3%
7.1%
92
39.7%
Jackson Nezuh
24
HOU
AAA
103.1
28.1%
11.3%
89
32.6%
Boston’s Blake Wehunt experienced a dramatic change between levels. At Double-A, he struck out 33.0% of hitters with a 3.62 FIP. At Triple-A, his strikeout rate dropped to 15.9% and his FIP climbed to 4.92. The question is whether Wehunt can rediscover that effectiveness against Triple-A hitters.
Pittsburgh’s Connor Wietgrefe handled 151.1 innings while maintaining respectable results. His strikeout rate declined at Triple-A, but that workload is appealing for an organization needing more starting pitching depth.
Acquiring one of these pitchers would mean betting on further development rather than established performance.
Player
Age
Org.
Level
IP
K%
BB%
FIP-
GB%
Julio Mendez
21
MIA
A+
110.0
32.3%
11.8%
78
44.5%
Mason Morris
23
CIN
A+
103.1
20.8%
12.8%
108
52.9%
Rafe Schlesinger
23
CLE
AA
117.1
24.9%
9.9%
93
46.9%
Miami’s Julio Mendez generates plenty of strikeouts, but his control needs work. The left-hander continued striking out more than 30% of hitters at High-A while walking 12.0%.
Cincinnati’s Mason Morris is particularly intriguing. FanGraphs assigns 60 grades to both his fastball and slider, but his statistical performance hasn’t matched the appeal of his arsenal.
FanGraphs projects Morris as a multi-inning reliever while also recommending continued development as a starter. MLB Pipeline sees starting potential, too, provided his command and changeup improve. Both paths remain interesting.
Cleveland’s Rafe Schlesinger reached Double-A with respectable results, but reducing his walk rate could make his profile considerably stronger.
Roster opportunities and second chances
Not every pitching acquisition requires a conventional prospect-for-prospect trade. Roster crunches, changing organizational priorities and pitchers who haven’t secured permanent major-league roles can create opportunities. That doesn’t mean either of these pitchers is available, but their paths illustrate how circumstances can change.
Player
Age
Org.
Level
IP
K%
BB%
FIP-
GB%
Jedixson Páez
22
BOS
AAA
70.2
29.9%
2.9%
78
47.8%
Blake Burkhalter
26
ATL
AAA
41.0
29.8%
8.3%
65
38.2%
Chicago selected Jedixson Páez from Boston in the December 2025 Rule 5 Draft, designated him for assignment April 1 and returned him April 4.
Back in Boston’s system, Páez walked just 2.9% of opposing hitters across 70.2 innings while maintaining impressive strikeout production, earning another major-league opportunity in September.
His low-90s fastball and vulnerability to home runs remain concerns, but that level of control, combined with his varied secondary offerings, makes him worth watching.
Atlanta’s Blake Burkhalter reached the majors in September after spending his MiLB career as both a starter and a reliever. His strikeout production in 41.0 minor-league innings in 2026 was encouraging, though the small sample size warrants caution. His arsenal could provide value in long relief.
Raising the floor
Not every name here is a realistic trade target. Some may be too valuable to their organizations, while others could cost more than Colorado is willing to offer.
Some pitchers offer impressive numbers, others have intriguing arsenals, and a few might be closer to contributing than their prospect rankings suggest. The Rockies need pitching at nearly every level, and finding it will require looking beyond the obvious names.
Wembanyama had 14 points, eight rebounds and a couple of blocked shots in his 17 minutes of work in the Spurs' final preseason game.
Wemby and the Spurs tip off the season with what feels like Game 8 of last season's epic Western Conference Finals, hosting Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder, starting at 9:30 p.m. ET, a game you can watch on NBC or stream on Peacock. That game is the final game of the night, part of a star-studded triple-header featuring Boston at Detroit (3 p.m. Eastern), then LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers trying to spoil ring night for Jalen Brunson and the champion New York Knicks, a game that tips off at 7 p.m. Eastern. Watch all of that triple-header on NBC or stream on Peacock.
