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September 25, 2025

Ramp to Camp: Making bold award predictions for the 2025-26 Celtics

Ramp to Camp: Making bold award predictions for the 2025-26 Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Which Boston Celtics player will walk away with some hardware during the 2025-26 season?

With Jayson Tatum sidelined to start the new campaign, his run of four straight All-NBA First Team nods will end. Might someone else slot among the 15 best players in basketball this season? Is there a surprise nominee for a Celtics All-Star candidate? Can someone besides Derrick White muscle their way onto an All-Defense team?

For Day 19 of our Ramp to Camp series, we asked our panel to make one bold awards prediction involving a Celtics player.

Our intrepid pick: Josh Minott for Most Improved Player.

We checked out the odds over at DraftKings and there are six Celtics players on their preseason MIP board, and none of whom are nicknamed The Lawn Mower. You can get Payton Pritchard (+2200), Chris Boucher (+5000), Anfernee Simons (+5000), Derrick White (+6000), Neemias Queta (+7000), or Luka Garza (+15000). Quick aside: Queta at +7000, while potentially elevating to a starting role and after a rock-solid EuroBasket tournament, almost made us recast our selection.

But we’re sticking with a breakout year for Minott.

Given the Celtics’ need for size and rebounding, we can see Minott kicking down the door to heavy playing time. The 22-year-old has averaged 2.3 points and 1.0 rebounds over his three NBA seasons, meaning even a modest stat line this season is going to pop when comparing his year-over-year increases.

Sure, MIP typically goes to a more established player, often someone who went from key role player to All-Star presence. Maybe we’re a year or two early on Minott’s award. And maybe that’s why Pritchard is so high on the preseason odds list. But we’re staying bold.

We love Minott’s potential. We love his nickname. There’s a chance he can help fill the void in our heart that’s been vacant since Robert Williams III’s departure.

And we think Minott is going to start his climb to key contributor on Boston’s next title-contending team with his play this season.

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Darren Hartwell, Managing Editor

Jaylen Brown finally makes an All-Defense team.

Brown has long espoused the importance of playing on both ends and takes immense pride in his defense. While he’ll be expected to shoulder a larger offensive load this season, we could see Brown making a point to bring it on the defensive end, and with a larger spotlight on him, he’ll finally get rewarded for his efforts with an All-Defense nod.

Michael Hurley, Web Producer

I’m sure everyone would love for it to be Derrick White winning DPOY, but isn’t the most likely scenario Payton Pritchard winning a second straight Sixth Man of the Year? That just feels right.

Five players have won the award multiple times, but only three of them — Kevin McHale, Detlef Schrempf and Lou Williams — have won it in back-to-back seasons. Pritchard belongs there.

Plus, the Celtics are in a tie with the Clippers for most Sixth Man winners in history with five. Pritchard can break that dreaded tie and finally give the Celtics recognition as being a more successful franchise than the Clippers. This is massive.

Sean McGuire, Web Producer

Derrick White will be named an NBA All-Star for the first time in his career.

White, who deserved the honor last season, will take on a larger role without Tatum. I can’t help but think that will lead to his best season yet and, ultimately, the recognition that comes with it.

Josh Canu, Media Editor

Derrick White for Clutch Player of the Year.

Without Tatum, there will be a lot more end-of-game opportunities to go around, and I think most teams will look to contain Jaylen Brown. So, White seems like an obvious choice to step up. And I think he will be up to the task.

Kevin Miller, VP, Content

Jaylen Brown lands on one of the top two All-NBA teams.

I think there’s the possibility that Brown’s points-rebound-assist totals scale over 40 per game this season, with increased playmaking and rebounding. If he does that, then he’ll be on one of the first two teams.

Adam Hart, EP, Content Strategy

Joe Mazzulla wins Coach of the Year, because this award always goes to the coach whose team exceeds expectations.

Doc Rivers won Eastern Conference Coach of the Month THREE TIMES in 2007-08, and lost the entire season award to Byron Scott (one month as West Coach of the Month). It defies logic.

Anyway, Mazzulla will finally win the award he should’ve won in 2023-24.

Kayla Burton, Celtics Pregame Live host

Derrick White makes an All-NBA team.

I know it’s not hardware, but White actually rises to become the No.1 guy with Tatum out and makes more headlines than Jaylen Brown.

September 25, 2025

Doctor details Randy Rodriguez's lengthy injury rehab after Tommy John surgery

Doctor details Randy Rodriguez's lengthy injury rehab after Tommy John surgery originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Giants reliever Randy Rodriguez’s lengthy road to recovery officially has begun after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right throwing elbow Wednesday.

Stanford Medicine’s Marc Safran, M.D., spoke to NBC Sports Bay Area to provide more insight on the injury itself, a potential timeline for Rodriguez’s return and what the Giants could expect from the 26-year-old when he does get back on the mound.

Rodriguez initially sought out multiple opinions after the Giants placed him on the 15-day IL in late August. He had hoped to avoid surgery, but doctors made the recommendation to move forward with the procedure.

Dr. Safran detailed what goes into that recommendation to go through with the surgery versus opting out and seeking other options.

“It’s kind of shades of grey. Everybody’s a little bit different,” Dr. Safran said. “Some people are more loose-jointed than others. It’s almost always looser when I test that ligament on a professional player on their throwing side than their non-throwing side, even though they may be asymptomatic. So it’s really hard because there’s no objective measure that determines, ‘Oh yes, he definitely now needs surgery.’

“I mean, he’s been dealing with some elbow soreness, as most players, for a long period of time. And he’s had issues that date back to — I think even last season. It comes down to a point where they probably say, OK, well, we’ve tried all the nonoperative things that we would normally try: rest, strengthening, rehabilitation, maybe some injections. And if that doesn’t work and you still can’t get back to throwing the way you want to throw, then it’s time to go ahead and do the surgery.

“Unfortunately, it’s not all black and white. It’s really based on how his elbow responds to the rest of the rehabilitation.”

Rodriguez’s estimated rehab is 12 to 14 months, but as Dr. Safran noted, it could be longer.

While each player is different, the checklist a player must go through to return to the mound is pretty standard.

“It’s a very long and drawn-out process,” Dr. Safran said. “It’s first letting the wounds heal, working on getting his range of motion back to the elbow, and it’s working on the elbow and wrist muscles to get them stronger. It takes several months before we even let them start to do a throwing program where they go through light toss, 30 feet with a limited number of throws, and just kind of arcing the ball, so it’s a long thing that has to be drawn out to where they start to throw more throws at a longer distance and at a flatter rate before they actually try to let the ball go.

“Sometimes it’s not uncommon to get some elbow soreness during that process, so we want to be conservative to not push them back too fast because the graft undergoes a breakdown process and a build-back process, and that’s part of what takes so long to get back.”

Most people hear the term “Tommy John surgery” and their initial reaction, understandably, is worry and concern.

But Dr. Safran explained how the evolution of the impact of the procedure has helped players avoid ending their careers, and he gave Giants fans a glimmer of hope with Rodriguez’s recovery.

“That injury was a career-ending injury in the 70s, but since the Tommy John operation, it’s not as career-ending anymore,” Dr. Safran said. “A lot of players get back at a very high rate. The majority do get back. And there’s even some people who feel they come back stronger because their elbow is tighter than maybe it was in the year or two before. Some people say, ‘Well, I can throw a couple miles per hour faster after the surgery than before.’

“I think that’s been a little bit debunked. I don’t think the majority of people gain much velocity on the ball, but players can get back and, in fact, many can get back not just their velocity but their spin rates can get back, so they can still have a good action on the ball. So it’s not the death sentence, if you will, if you have that injury anymore. There’s so many people in the major leagues that have had that ligament reconstructed and are pitching at the major league level very effectively.”

While the Giants certainly will miss their All-Star during the 2026 season, there’s reason to believe Rodriguez will return to the bump as the same dominant flamethrower.

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September 25, 2025

Ben Danford’s Stock Is Rising As Prospect Earns Recognition From Maple Leafs' Veterans

Ben Danford is getting more and more confident as Toronto Maple Leafs training camp rolls on.

After the 19-year-old missed the entirety of last year’s camp with a concussion, which he suffered during Toronto’s rookie camp, he’s entered this season with the belief that his game has taken a step forward.

Danford has played four games thus far, dating back to the Prospect Showdown in Montreal. And after every game, the coach (Marlies bench boss John Gruden or Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube) has spoken glowingly about his play.

“I thought Danford played a good, solid hockey game,” Berube said after Toronto’s opening pre-season win against the Senators on Sunday. “It’s not a flashy game by any means, but it’s just, first-pass, defending well, plays a hard game. Pretty much mistake-free. It was impressive.”

Danford’s last appearance came in Toronto’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Senators on Tuesday night. The defenseman had 15:55 of ice time, the lowest among players on the team’s back-end. However, he was playing with the Maple Leafs’ regulars, including Morgan Rielly and Chris Tanev, whom Danford got to train with this summer.

“He just had a good attitude. He worked hard, and he’s a great skater. He was just doing everything that I was doing, and it was a good skate,” Rielly told The Hockey News of skating with Danford.

“I think it’s nice when you've got a guy like that that’s motivated and has something on his mind that he wants to go out and prove. And I mean, he looks great, so I think he’s doing an outstanding job.”

Maple Leafs See Big Growth In Easton Cowan As Craig Berube Praises His Simplified GameHas Easton Cowan done enough through two preseason games to warrant serious consideration for the club’s opening lineup? While it may be too early to judge, Toronto Maple Leafs top prospect is making a strong case by doing all the right things.

Danford hasn’t been shy to voice that Rielly and Tanev are players he admires. “I’ve looked up to (Tanev) for quite a few years now. I feel like that’s someone I can really learn off of," the young defenseman said.

To skate with those players during a summer training is one thing. To get into game action with them during the pre-season is another. It’s a huge step for Danford, and he understands that.

“Last year, I didn’t get the full experience, so to get into a game with all those guys was really cool,” Danford said on Wednesday. “Last year, I didn’t really get to be around them that much, just having the injury. So to get to know them, play in a game with them, be on the ice with them in practice, they’re all great guys.”

'We're All Here For Him': Maple Leafs React To Joseph Woll Taking A Personal Leave of Absence, Lend SupportThe Toronto Maple Leafs revealed some unexpected news on Tuesday when they announced that goaltender Joseph Woll had stepped away to deal with a personal family issue.

There’ll be plenty of memories from Danford’s first game inside Scotiabank Arena. The fans and the atmosphere will surely be the number one thing. He’ll also remember returning to the bench and hearing the positive feedback from the Maple Leafs’ top defenders as well.

“All the guys I played with on the back-end (Rielly, Tanev, Brandon Carlo, Jake McCabe, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson), you come off for a shift and you had a good one, and they’ll make sure to let you know,” Danford said.

“They’re really good at being positive. That definitely helped last night. They were really positive when I made a good pass. That definitely helped my confidence throughout the game. They did a great job, and I look up to them.”

On Wednesday, Rielly reflected on when he was a young defenseman trying to make a name for himself in the league. He earned a full-time role with the Maple Leafs in the fall of 2013, following a season which was split between the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors and the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.

“It’s a strange feeling. You come in here and you’re trying to make the team. You’re essentially trying to take someone’s job and trying to prove yourself and start your career,” the 31-year-old said.

“It can be a little bit strange. You don’t have a ton of communication with the coaching staff, just because there’s lots happening. And so you just try to come in every day and work hard and perform and execute and do what’s asked of you. And I think all our young guys are doing that, so it’s been good to see.”

'My Goal Was To Leave No Stone Unturned': How Morgan Rielly's Summer Could Set Him Up For Success With Maple LeafsShortly after the Toronto Maple Leafs were eliminated by the Florida Panthers in May, Morgan Rielly and general manager Brad Treliving sat down to review the year.

As Rielly watches Danford, he sees a younger version of himself: a prospect with plenty of upside, who’s just trying to navigate the early goings of his hockey career. And even when Rielly is preparing for a massive season ahead personally, he sees the importance of guiding Danford along.

“I think you just want to support your teammates. But also for a young guy, you want him to build confidence, and you also want to make him feel good about himself. It’s not easy being in that position. I’ve been there,” Rielly said.

“I’ve had relationships with guys that are very supportive, and I’ve had relationships with guys that are kind of s****y to you. You look back at those, and I don’t want to be one of those guys. I want to be someone that can support the young guys, and he’s doing a great job for us. I think all of us, between O (Ekman-Larsson), myself, Caber (McCabe) and Tany (Tanev), we’re just really impressed with him, so I think it’s worthwhile to tell him.”

Danford added, “I’m just trying every day here at training camp. Trying to put my best foot forward, not overdo things. Just take it day by day. And to hear that, it’s obviously great feedback, but I just got to keep rolling, just keep taking it day by day, keep getting better every day.”

'The Issue Has Been The Number': Maple Leafs, Anthony Stolarz's Camp Reportedly Continue Going Back And Forth In NegotiationsWith just over two weeks until the beginning of the regular season, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Anthony Stolarz’s camp are reportedly still grinding away at getting a deal done.

It’s not often you get a defensive prospect who makes this much of an impression at camp, especially at his first. He has another year of junior under his belt after being picked in the first round (31st overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft. But still, it usually takes a defender several years to develop into a meaningful player at the NHL level.

Danford might have another season with the OHL’s Oshawa Generals coming up, but he might be a step closer to the NHL than previously thought.

“Hockey IQ and feet,” said Berube, of why Danford has fit so seamlessly into the team’s game. “I watch him play; he just knows what he’s doing. He knows where the puck’s going. He’s simple. He doesn’t overcomplicate it.

“I’m not saying he doesn’t ever, but for the most part, he sees the outlet, makes the play, and he’s a good defender. He plays with a little bite, too, like he’s a physical guy and plays with some edge. But I love his feet, and I love that his head’s up all the time seeing the play, and he’s a pretty smart player.”

Maple Leafs' Nick Robertson Credits John Tavares For Lessons On Recovery Nick Robertson had a standout performance in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ first scrimmage on Saturday, scoring the only two goals of the session. While it may have been just a scrimmage, this kind of success is a welcome boost for the 24-year-old, who is fighting to earn a consistent spot in the lineup.

At such a young age, how has the defenseman made such a strong impression on the entire organization?

“I think a big one is I’m keeping it simple out there, not overdoing things. I think my play style is just not overdoing things on the blue line, the offensive blue line,” Danford said.

“I’m having a really good first pass. I’m playing hard defense. I’m not trying to be that flashy player because that’s not who I am. I’m a guy that’s going to lock down the back-end, so that’s what I’m trying to do right now.”

How long Danford stays with the team remains to be seen. Usually, with prospects who are destined to return to junior, teams like to give them a couple of games to gain an understanding of the pro game.

Danford is different than the other prospects who are heading back to junior. He’s a player who’s put himself in the conversation of being a legitimate part of the Maple Leafs over the next few years.

“I mean, this training camp has been a really good experience so far. I just want to stay here as long as I can. Just keep putting my best foot forward, and we’ll see what happens.”

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September 25, 2025

Where Are The Canadiens In The Power Rankings?

THN’s Jason Chen just released his latest article on the NHL power rankings, and he has the Montreal Canadiens in 16th place. Given the fact that they made the playoffs but were eliminated in five games, faster than anyone else, it makes sense to see them in that spot. Mind you, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the New Jersey Devils also bowed out of the first round in five games, but are ranked 11th and 14th, respectively, ahead of the Ottawa Senators, who lost their first-round series in six games.

There have been some changes in Montreal since that loss in five games to the Washington Capitals, though. Out are Christian Dvorak, Joel Armia, David Savard, Emil Heineman, Cayden Primeau, and Logan Mailloux. In are Noah Dobson, Zack Bolduc, Joe Veleno, Samuel Blais, Kaapo Kahkonen, and Ivan Demidov are in from the start. Youngsters Oliver Kapanen, Owen Beck, and Florian Xhekaj are knocking on the door.

Canadiens: Demidov Shuts Down Michkov Comparisons
Canadiens Return A Prospect To His Junior Team
Canadiens: The Xhekajs Have Got The X Factor

The penalty kill took quite a hit, but on the other hand, the power play got quite a helping hand. Kent Hughes went talent hunting and found some, which will give Martin St-Louis something he hasn’t had on the man-advantage since he first took charge of the Canadiens: options.

On paper, Hughes has made significant changes, and they look good, but you don’t win games on paper; you win them on the ice. So far, the Canadiens have won their two preseason games, but neither of the teams they faced had a full NHL lineup, and even if they did, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers are not expected to be contenders this year.

As the regular season gets nearer and cuts start happening, we’ll get to see, slowly but surely, how good Hughes’ moves really were. There’s another unknown in the equation, though: surgically repaired Kirby Dach will be getting yet another kick at the second center can, and this time, he’s done everything he could this summer to get ready.

Drafting power rankings is always a complex exercise, but even more so when there are so many unknowns around the league. Let’s check in those rankings after a week of regular season, when we’ll at least have some answers to the big questions.

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September 25, 2025

Ex-Flyers Goalie Quietly Dominating NHL Preseason

It may only be two games of NHL preseason action, but this former Philadelphia Flyers goalie has been dominant in limited ice time.

Ex-Flyers goalie Ivan Fedotov, who was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a 2026 sixth-round pick back on Sept. 14, has been nearly perfect in parts of two preseason games for his new club.

Fedotov, 28, made his Blue Jackets debut against the St. Louis Blues on Sept. 21, starting the game and playing two full periods.

Across 40 minutes, the former Flyers draft pick stopped 14 of 15 shots (.933) and was credited with the win, as he was still in the game when the game-winning goal was scored by forward Luca Del Bel Belluz.

Two days later, on Sept. 23 against the Buffalo Sabres, Fedotov put together another masterclass, starting for the Blue Jackets again and making 24 saves on 25 shots (.960) in 40 minutes across two periods.

Overall, Fedotov earned one 4-1 win over the Blues, partook in a narrow 2-1 loss to Buffalo, and stopped a total 38 shots on 40 attempts in four periods of action (.950).

Again, it is preseason, and Fedotov has shown these flashes in a Flyers uniform before without backing it up with any kind of consistency.

As for the Flyers, they've enjoyed some solid performances from Aleksei Kolosov in their two exhibition games so far, and newcomer Dan Vladar has yet to take the ice for the Flyers in the preseason.

But, if Fedotov can continue this scintillating run of form, this might be a conversation worth revisiting in the near future.

September 25, 2025

Top Fantasy Basketball Teammate Duos to Draft in 2025-26

Targeting two players on the same team has long been a viable draft strategy when it comes to fantasy sports, and a fairly popular one at that. In football, taking a strong quarterback/wide receiver duo gives managers a foundation they can rely on in any given week. The same team-building concept applies to basketball. This article will highlight some of the best combos you should keep your eyes on when doing preparation for upcoming drafts/leagues.

Top Fantasy Basketball Teammate Duos

James Harden, PG/SG / Ivica Zubac, C - Los Angeles Clippers

Let's start with an obvious one. Yes, the Clippers added Brook Lopez and John Collins to their frontcourt and Chris Paul and Bradley Beal to the backcourt. The majority of the playmaking will still belong to James Harden, and the 28-year-old Ivica Zubac, who broke out with career-highs in scoring (16.8), rebounding (12.6) and double-doubles (59) in 80 games last year, will continue to dominate the minutes at center. The new arrivals will surely eat into playing time for this pick-and-roll nightmare, but that should mean less wear and tear over the course of the season that will keep them fresh when it matters.

Josh Giddey, PG/SG/SF / Matas Buzelis, SF/PF - Chicago Bulls

After a drawn-out negotiation period over the summer, Chicago brought back Josh Giddey on a reported four-year deal worth about $100 million. With that finally getting done, the Aussie can focus on leading an up-tempo Bulls offense that took the third-most three-pointers (42) in 2024-25. Remember, following the All-Star break last year, Giddey cooked to the tune of 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, 9.3 assists and 1.5 steals across 19 contests, racking up 15 double-doubles and five triple-doubles in the process. A similar run during the fantasy playoffs could be the difference in claiming a championship.

Buzelis, who didn't start a game until early February in his rookie campaign, is set to start from the onset of 2025-26. He's an explosive athlete at 6-foot-10, and with Giddey orchestrating an efficient offense, the Chitown native could be primed for a jump in Year 2.

Donovan Mitchell, PG/SG / Evan Mobley, PF/C - Cleveland Cavaliers

Donovan Mitchell will presumably be the starting point guard for the Cavs while Darius Garland continues to recover from offseason toe surgery. The 2024-25 All-NBA First Teamer will be tasked with running Cleveland's offense and providing a large chunk of it, too, as last year's starting small forward Max Strus will be out for a significant period of time after undergoing surgery for a Jones Fracture in his left foot in August.

Heading into his fifth season, Evan Mobley should be ready to carry the load while his teammates get back to full health. Last year, he registered a career-high 18.5 points with 9.3 boards, 3.2 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.6 blocks on 55.7 / 37.0 / 72.5 shooting splits. Don't be surprised if '24-25's Defensive Player of the Year goes above those numbers in 2025-26.

Luka Doncic, PG/SG / LeBron James, SF/PF - Los Angeles Lakers

After an eventful summer for the Lakers, Luka Dončić and LeBron James look poised to lead an upgraded roster back to the postseason in the stacked Western Conference. Dončić was happy to recruit Deandre Ayton to LA, giving him a talented 7-foot lob threat to work with from the start of training camp. The Slovenian looks to be in the best shape of his young career after guiding his country to a quarterfinals appearance in EuroBasket 2025.

James, who appeared in 70 games a year ago, decided that Father Time needs to wait at least one more year. The 40-year-old will be suiting up for what will be an all-time NBA record 23rd season in 2025-26. He averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 boards, 8.2 dimes, 1.0 steals and 0.6 blocks a season ago, and there's plenty of evidence suggesting the King will keep torturing defenses alongside his superstar running mate in Dončić.

De'Aaron Fox, PG / Victor Wembanyama, C - San Antonio Spurs

Assuming both De'Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama are healthy, this dynamic duo will spearhead a new era of Spurs basketball on both ends of the court. Fox only made 12 appearances for San Antonio after they acquired him at last year's trade deadline because of a left pinkie finger injury. Fox is locked in as the starting point guard alongside the Frenchman for their debut in 2025-26.

Wembanyama is expected to be ready to roll for training camp, a tremendous sign for the 21-year-old and the Spurs. Before being shut down for the 2024-25 season, 'The Alien' averaged 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals and an NBA-best 3.8 blocks per contest over 46 outings. It'll likely cost you a top two overall pick in your draft, but Wemby has all the opportunity and tools necessary to provide plus-production in nearly every statistical category.

Nikola Jokic, C / Christian Braun, SG/SF - Denver Nuggets

It feels like all Nikola Jokić has done for the past five years is record one unbelievable season after the next. 'The Joker' has three league MVP awards and two second-place finishes since 2020-21. In 2024-25, he averaged a triple-double with 29.6 points, 12.7 boards and 10.2 assists across 70 outings, adding 1.8 steals and 0.6 blocks. There's no reason to put any sort of limit on Jokić's potential, especially when considering he's still in his prime at age 30.

Although Denver traded for Cameron Johnson and signed Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway, Jr. to bolster their second unit, Christian Braun remains the primary combo target if you're lucky enough to draft Jokić. The Nuggets swapped out Michael Porter, Jr. for Johnson, and despite him assuming the starting small forward spot, Braun has the benefit of pre-existing chemistry with Jokić and experience in Denver's system that gives him the edge. Across 79 games last season, he posted 15.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.1 spg and 0.5 bpg on splits of 58.0 / 39.7 / 82.7, numbers the fourth-year pro should be able to replicate in 2025-26.

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September 25, 2025

Bryce Eldridge reveals which Giants veteran has mentored him

Bryce Eldridge reveals which Giants veteran has mentored him originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

On Wednesday night, Giants rookie Bryce Eldridge showed a glimpse into why he’s one of MLB’s top prospects.

The 20-year-old first baseman contributed a 109.7 mph rocket for a double, plus an opposite-field single for his first multi-hit game in the big leagues during San Francisco’s 4-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Oracle Park.

After the game, Eldridge revealed which Giants veteran he has leaned on for advice since making his MLB debut last week.

“I’ve kind of just been trying to talk to [Matt] Chapman,” Eldridge told Bonta Hill and Shawn Estes on “Giants Postgame Live.” “He’s hilarious, he’s awesome and obviously he’s been around for a little bit. He knows what he’s doing.

“The biggest thing a lot of these guys have been telling me is just have fun. It’s the same game, and don’t get overwhelmed by it. These guys in the clubhouse have made it easy for me to not do that, and I’m enjoying every second of it. It’s been awesome, and it’s finally good to get a home win.”

Eldridge shares how Chappy and other Giants vets are helping him adjust to the big leagues 🤝 pic.twitter.com/aZp8PCjtRV
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) September 25, 2025

Chapman, an All-Star third baseman and five-time Gold Glove winner, certainly isn’t a bad mentor to have as Eldridge seeks to get his footing at the top level. Baseball’s No. 13 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, went just 1 for 20 in his first seven games with San Francisco before his two-hit night on Wednesday.

With just three games left in the 2025 season for the already-eliminated Giants, Eldridge will look to have a big series this weekend against the Colorado Rockies to end the year on a high note — perhaps acquiring some momentum heading into 2026.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

September 25, 2025

Two potential win-win outcomes for Jonathan Kuminga's stalemate with Warriors

Two potential win-win outcomes for Jonathan Kuminga's stalemate with Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

With the face-off between the Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga reaching Day 87 on Thursday, it’s apparent both sides are wading waist-deep through tedious self-harm. Their summer denouement never materialized, and they’ve plodded into an autumn of annoyance.

With both sides being salty if Kuminga signs the qualifying offer, the surest path to mutual contentment would be a sign-and-trade deal, with the Warriors replacing Kuminga with a player better befitting their win-now vibe and with JK landing in a place that would give him the freedom to chase stardom. Happy them, happy him.

Sign-and-trade options were pondered two months ago and then abandoned. But with training camp beginning next week, urgency induces revisiting. Trade conversations are restarting, according to two league sources.

Failing that outcome, however, conceivably would nudge both sides toward the Blame Game, in which substantive dialogue is overrun by fingers pointing in both directions. As we know from our national discourse, this produces few winners and many losers.

Golden State CEO Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy would be subjected to jobs and darts, as would Kuminga and his representative, Aaron Turner. No doubt a few strays would find their way to Warriors coach Steve Kerr. This is the nightmare scenario.

If Kuminga returns, regardless of contract details, the only way to avoid the toxicity of the blame game is for the Warriors to spend the first month of the season playing well enough to raise “caution” signs around the NBA. Get to Thanksgiving Day with a record no worse than 15-5 and decorated vets Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler III and Draymond Green productive and in sync. See the reserves punishing opposing second units and Kuminga contributing to success, flashing glorious smiles to convey contentment, if not bliss.

That would give Kuminga and the Warriors a layer of grace, likely enough to squelch the concerns certain to surround them when the ball tips off for the 2025-26 NBA season opener on Oct. 17.

“If he comes back to Golden State, and they get off to a hot start, this could work out,” one Western Conference front office executive told NBC Sports Bay Area. “A lot of things would have to go right, but winning early in the season works for both sides. Maybe Kuminga’s value goes up, and the Warriors – considering the clauses in the contract – can decide whether move him or keep him.”

On a roster with four starters age 35 or older, and athleticism below the league average, Kuminga’s strengths are at a premium with Golden State. He’s quick off his feet, speedy from baseline to baseline, and has enough agility and strength to defend at least three positions.

“There’s a place for him on [the Warriors],” an Eastern Conference scout said. “He’s the only one they have who you know can match up against the other team’s better athletes. Teams in the West like Houston and Minnesota and OKC. Even Portland now.”

Dunleavy entered the summer hoping Kuminga, as a restricted free agent ready to move on, was the chip to lead to someone who might have similar attributes but is more compatible with Kerr’s offense on one end and the team’s defensive schemes on the other. There was interest from at least three teams: Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings.

None of the proposals put forth by those potential partners satisfied the Warriors, which is why they pulled back. That was in July into August, and now it’s September. There is incentive to bring this impasse to a conclusion, as they want no part of opening training camp under a drama cloud.

Or, for that matter, the prospect of Kuminga being less than enthused about coming off the bench in a Warriors jersey.

“I keep saying this: I just think if he is this important [to the Warriors], how do you not have him come in in a good mental space?” Turner wondered last week on the “Dubs Talk” podcast. “If he’s not important, let him go. But if he is this important, how do you bring him back not feeling good?

“It’s very confusing to me because it is not how you win in the NBA.”

As we said, there are only two ways this ends well for all parties. A sign-and-trade deal in the coming days, which both sides prefer. Or should that fail, a momentum-generating start that potentially increases the bargaining power of both the Warriors and Kuminga.

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September 25, 2025

‘I didn’t get empathy from Borthwick’: Ben Youngs on family trauma and why he rates Eddie Jones

Former scrum-half admits family illnesses made it difficult for him to embrace his achievement of being England’s most-capped player

“I found it hard, I really did,” Ben Youngs says as he explains why it was once so difficult to embrace his achievement of playing more times for England than any other men’s rugby player. Youngs won 127 caps and featured in four World Cups, but he used to look down at the ground whenever his longevity was mentioned.

Youngs retired from international rugby at the end of 2023, and played his last game for Leicester in the Premiership final in June, and so he can now give public voice to the trauma he carried for so long. While his sister-in-law Tiffany suffered for years with blood cancer, and his brother-in-law Jake endured motor neurone disease, Youngs played for England. He often felt as if he was putting himself ahead of everyone else while his brother and sister lost their partners to terminal illness.

September 25, 2025

Mariners' Cal Raleigh becomes 7th MLB player to ever hit 60 home runs in a season

Mariners' Cal Raleigh becomes 7th MLB player to ever hit 60 home runs in a season originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Cal Raleigh became the seventh player in Major League Baseball history to hit 60 home runs in a season Wednesday night, launching two solo shots for the Seattle Mariners against the Colorado Rockies.

“It’s crazy. Sixty is — I don’t know what to say,” said Raleigh, who leads the majors in homers. “I didn’t know if I was going to hit 60 in my life. Just tonight, what a way to do it.”

Batting left-handed in the first inning, the switch-hitting catcher connected off Tanner Gordon and sent a drive to right field that reached the top deck at T-Mobile Park for his 59th longball of the year.

“It was like a movie,” teammate Julio Rodríguez said of Raleigh’s moonshot. “I’m just so grateful that he’s on our team, that he’s able to do what he does. He’s so special, and I can’t say enough.”

Then in the eighth, batting left-handed again, Raleigh hit No. 60 off Angel Chivilli. Raleigh also had a two-run double in the second and finished with four RBIs to give him 125 this season, most in the American League.

With a 9-2 victory, Seattle clinched its fourth AL West title and first since 2001.

The only other players to reach 60 home runs in a season are Babe Ruth (1927), Roger Maris (1961), Mark McGwire (1998 and ‘99), Sammy Sosa (1998, ’99, 2001), Barry Bonds (2001) and Aaron Judge (2022).

It was the 11th multi-homer game for Raleigh this year, tied with Judge (2022), Hank Greenberg (1938) and Sosa (1998) for the MLB record.

With four games remaining in the regular season, Raleigh has a chance to pass Judge for the American League record. Judge hit 62 homers in 2022 to break the previous AL mark of 61 set by Maris in 1961.

Raleigh’s latest homers came four days after he surpassed Ken Griffey Jr. for the franchise record with his 57th homer of the season. Griffey hit 56 in both 1997 and 1998.

Raleigh also broke Mickey Mantle’s previous MLB record of 54 home runs by a switch-hitter that had stood since 1961. And the Seattle slugger has set a new standard for homers by a catcher, eclipsing the 48 hit by Salvador Perez in 2021.

Raleigh is four home runs ahead of Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber and six in front of Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani.

“When you look at how he has done it and the position that he plays — I was telling somebody earlier today that when you come off the field, you’re mentally and physically exhausted,” said Mariners manager Dan Wilson, a former major league catcher.

“And for him to do what he’s done offensively and to do what he does behind the plate, I honestly don’t think we’ve seen this before. It’s been incredible. I think he deserves the MVP, no question.”

September 25, 2025

Mariners' Cal Raleigh becomes 7th MLB player to ever hit 60 home runs in a season

Mariners' Cal Raleigh becomes 7th MLB player to ever hit 60 home runs in a season originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Cal Raleigh became the seventh player in Major League Baseball history to hit 60 home runs in a season Wednesday night, launching two solo shots for the Seattle Mariners against the Colorado Rockies.

With a 9-2 victory, Seattle clinched its fourth AL West title and first since 2001.

It was the 11th multi-homer game for Raleigh this year, tied with Judge (2022), Hank Greenberg (1938) and Sosa (1998) for the MLB record.

Raleigh’s latest homers came four days after he surpassed Ken Griffey Jr. for the franchise record with his 57th homer of the season. Griffey hit 56 in both 1997 and 1998.

Raleigh is four home runs ahead of Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber and six in front of Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani.

September 25, 2025

Kings reportedly back in play for potential Jonathan Kuminga trade

Sacramento and Golden State talked about a Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade this summer. The Kings reportedly offered Malik Monk (or maybe Dario Saric or another player) and a lottery-protected first-round pick. The Warriors shot that down, not having much love for Monk and demanding that the pick be unprotected. Talks eventually died off.

With less than a week before Kuminga either accepts one of the offers the Warriors have (or put) on the table, or he accepts the qualifying offer, the Kings have jumped back in the conversation, considering a sign-and-trade, reports Sam Amick at The Athletic.

Yet according to team sources, there's still another scenario in play here: A sign-and-trade deal with the Sacramento Kings. While the two teams went more than a month without discussing the matter during the later part of the summer, team sources said the talks between the two sides were renewed earlier this week. And while no significant progress was made in the talks, it's quite notable that the Kings — who have offered veteran guard Malik Monk and a lottery-protected, 2030 first-round pick for the chance to give Kuminga a three-year, $63 million deal — aren't giving up on the prospect of bringing him to Sacramento this season.

As Amick notes, the Warriors are not high on Monk, who still has three years and $60.6 million remaining on his contract (including this season), and they would want to flip him in another deal, but other teams are hesitant for the same reason the Warriors are. Ultimately, this may come down to whether the Kings are willing to make this an unprotected first-round pick or not.

The Warriors have made a few contract offers to Kuminga but two are really in play: A three-year contract worth $75.2 million, with a team option for the third year; or a two-year, $45 million offer, but with a team option on the second year and the Warriors are demanding Kuminga give up the no-trade clause that would come with this offer. Kuminga and his team don't like either one of those because they essentially make him a trade chip where he would have no control over where he lands. Which is why Kuminga has threatened to simply pick up the $8 million qualifying offer — a one-year contract with a built-in no-trade clause — and he would be a free agent next summer.

The retooling Kings would give Kuminga what he wants — an opportunity to have the ball in his hands and be one of the top two players on a roster (this is still a team with Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine on it, but Sacramento wants to move on from them and Kuminga would get the chance to prove he was the future.

Whatever happens, it will go down by Oct. 1, the deadline for Kuminga to pick up the qualifying offer.

September 25, 2025

Chytil Leads Canucks Past Flames in Preseason Action

Vancouver Canucks centre Filip Chytil (72) shoots the puck against Calgary Flames winger Matt Coronato (27) (Source: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images)

The Vancouver Canucks beat the Calgary Flames 3-1 in Abbotsford, BC in NHL preseason action.

This group of players did not consist of the veterans or star players that played the night before and it showed.

The first period started off poorly as the Canucks scored two goals by the first 7:12. Calgary couldn't get shots on target, looked messy and by the end of the first period, Vancouver outshot Calgary 9-4.

The Flames did come back in the second period strongly. However, a foolish roughing penalty by Joel Hanley at the 12:42 mark put the Canucks on the power play for the third time in the game. Filip Chytil would proceed to score a mere 25 seconds later, putting Vancouver up 3-0. At the 14:02 mark, the Flames would get some relief as the home team was called for a penalty for too many men. Connor Zary scored on the ensuing power play, reducing Calgary's deficit by two.

Vancouver kept pressing hard on gas pedal in the third and there was no coming back for Calgary.

The Canucks outshot the Flames in every period. The overall was 30-19.

The defensive pairings looked disoriented and not in quality shape. I will add Etienne Morin stood out amongst the blueliners.

Vancouver skaters pressured Calgary into producing giveaways and the home side capitalized on the opportunities. The Canucks were more aggressive and played more physical.

It didn't help that Vancouver fill-in goalie Nikita Tolopilo absolutely robbed Calgary of a goal with a terrific save in the middle of the third period that drew audible "Ooohs" from the crowd.

Coming into this game, the Flames were 7-for-7 on the penalty-kill and that became their undoing. They conceded two power play goals, ultimately going 2-for-4 on the penalty kill.

As mentioned earlier, Zary scored Calgary's only goal, going 1-for-5 in the Flames power play.

Calgary goalie Ivan Prosvetov made 27 saves, registering a save percentage of exactly 0.900.

Chytil was designated player of the game for his two points.

The Flames next preseason game will be on Saturday against the Jets in Winnipeg.

September 25, 2025

Preseason: Takeaways from the Ducks 3-0 Loss to the Kings

The Anaheim Ducks hosted the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night in their second of four preseason matchups between the Southern California rivals.

The Kings took the exhibition opener on Sunday in Ontario, CA, by a score of 3-1, but lineups in this game featured far more projected NHL roster players.

Quack of Dawn: Ducks Morning Report - 09/24/25

Preseason: Takeaways from the Ducks 6-1 Win over the Mammoth

Both the Ducks and Kings iced a full top-six forward group and potential top-four defensemen.

Lukas Dostal got his first action of the preseason, as he started this one and stopped 17 of 18 shots before he was pulled halfway through the second period, as was reportedly planned.

Dostal was replaced by Calle Clang, who stopped 10 of the 12 shots he faced in the second half of the game.

In the Kings’ net stood Darcey Kuemper, who earned the shutout by saving all 14 shots he faced in this one.

“Whether it was a power play, whether it was five on five, the puck wasn’t our friend tonight,” Joel Quenneville said after the game. “That’s got to be a strength going forward. There’s some things that we’re trying to work on. Just like the penalty kill and establishing certain things, it all starts with having the puck, and starting with the puck, and that didn’t occur too much.”

Here are my notes on this game (once again, it’s preseason, so everything is to be taken with a grain of salt):

Defensive Zone Coverage-While the Ducks didn’t get the early kills they are striving for in their new systems, they didn’t allow much penetration to the middle of the zone or second chance opportunities. When they were hemmed, and they were hemmed often, it remained nondisastrous.

Lukas Dostal-Dostal was in mid-season form early in this game. As stated, the truly dangerous chances were limited, but he was able to track pucks through traffic, as is becoming his trademark, and his rebound control was spectacular, deflecting those distance shots to the corners of the ice.

“Sometimes you have games where the puck sticks to your chest better than other games, but that’s been something that I’ve worked on this summer,” Dostal said after the game. “The last two seasons in the NHL showed me the guys are crashing the net quite a lot, so it’s something that I worked on this offseason to eliminate the rebounds and something I really focused on.”

Jacob Trouba-Trouba had a tough start in his first action of the exhibition season. He was directly involved in all three Los Angeles goals against; his gaps were too sizable, his closing speed wasn’t there, and he uncharacteristically struggled to properly box out Fiala on LA’s third goal.

The Ducks have a few days off, after which, they will next head to Bakersfield to take on the Kings again on Saturday for their fourth of seven preseason games.

Anaheim Ducks Training Camp: Zellweger, Mintyukov to Benefit Most from New Coaching Staff, Systems

Anaheim Ducks Training Camp: Right Shot Defense Position Battle

September 25, 2025

Relievers Roki Sasaki, Clayton Kershaw help as Dodgers reduce magic number to 1

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 24: Roki Sasaki #11 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches in the seventh inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 24, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. Dodgers won 5-4. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) — Roki Sasaki pitches a scoreless seventh inning for the Dodgers on Wednesday. (Norm Hall / Getty Images)

If the Dodgers are going to win 13 games in October, they will likely have to master the playbook they ran Wednesday night.

Starting pitchers came out of the bullpen. Another late-inning collapse didn’t cripple their psyche. The offense delivered timely hits when it needed to. And the team grinded out a 5-4 extra-innings win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The story of the night, in an unexpected but entirely warranted late-season plot twist, was Roki Sasaki and Clayton Kershaw throwing scoreless innings of relief for a beleaguered Dodgers bullpen.

The theme, however, was improvisation with the roster and resiliency in the dugout, moving the team within a win of another National League West division championship.

“I know the word resilience gets thrown out a lot, but it was a resilient win and a resilient group,” manager Dave Roberts said. “We fought our tails off until the end. It didn’t look good at different points of the game. But Arizona fought as well. So it was a heck of a ball game … Really good stuff.”

The game wasn’t settled until the 11th inning, when Tommy Edman gave the Dodgers a lead with an RBI single and Justin Wrobleski closed out a rare stress-free save.

It never would’ve gotten there, however, without the contributions Sasaki and Kershaw provided out of the bullpen earlier in the evening.

After all the struggles from the Dodgers’ traditional relievers lately, it was the two starting pitchers who helped save the day.

Activated from the injured list shortly before the game, and making his first appearance in the majors since suffering a shoulder injury in early May, Sasaki flashed hugely promising signs with a scoreless frame in the bottom of the seventh — protecting a 3-1 lead the team had been staked to by Blake Snell’s six-inning, one-run start, and an early offensive outburst that included a two-run homer from Andy Pages.

Sasaki’s fastball averaged 98-99 mph, was located with precision on the corners of the strike zone, and even induced a couple key swing-and-misses, things he never did consistently while posting a 4.72 ERA in eight starts at the beginning of his highly anticipated rookie big-league season.

He paired it with a splitter that was also commanded much better than at any point in his initial MLB stint, when a lack of velocity and inability to attack the strike zone made his trademark pitch an ineffective weapon.

Sasaki needed only 13 pitches to retire the side in order, punctuating his outing with a pair of strikeouts on 99-mph four-seamers. As he walked back to the dugout, he glanced toward his teammates with a stoic glare. Just about all of them, including Shohei Ohtani, applauded in approval.

“One hundred, with a nasty split, OK Roki,” Snell joked afterward. “I think everyone’s going to be so excited for him. And if he can do that, that’s a big help for us. Big boost.”

As usual, disaster did eventually strike in the eighth, even after the Dodgers (89-69) extended their lead to 4-1 on Teoscar Hernández’s RBI double in the top half of the inning.

The bullpen’s lone season-long stalwart, Alex Vesia, ran into trouble by giving up a single to Ketel Marte, a walk to Geraldo Perdomo, and an RBI double to Corbin Carroll, all with one out.

Hard-throwing rookie righty Edgardo Henriquez couldn’t put out the fire from there, giving up one run on a swinging bunt from Gabriel Moreno in front of the plate that spun away from catcher Ben Rortvedt, then another when pinch-hitter Adrian Del Castillo stayed alive on a generous two-strike call (which was no doubt impacted by Rortvedt dropping the pitch behind the plate) before lifting a sacrifice fly to center.

It was the second three-run lead the Dodgers' bullpen had squandered in as many nights.

It was the latest example of their unreliable relief corps imploding even with ample late-game cushion.

So, to calm the waters, Roberts made another out-of-the-box pitching move with the score still tied at 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth.

In what was his first relief appearance since the infamous fifth game of the 2019 NL Division Series, Kershaw came trotting in from the bullpen and got the game to extras.

"It's an adrenaline rush, for sure,” said Kershaw, who retired all three batters he faced with the help of a diving catch from Edman in center. “I think relieving is just a different animal altogether. You kind of have to figure out how to maintain your heartbeat and get going. But it is a lot of fun, and it's fun to have success out there. So fortunate to get through that inning.”

Kershaw had volunteered to pitch in relief Tuesday night, effectively replacing his between-starts bullpen session ahead of what will be his final career regular-season start Sunday in Seattle.

Come October, however, his best fit on the roster might come in a full-time (and perhaps high-leverage) relief role, thanks to the Dodgers’ abundance of starting pitching options and lack of trustworthy late-game depth.

“I think that right now, you’re betting on people,” Roberts said. “For me, I trust Clayton.”

In extras, the rest of the bullpen finally held up. Blake Treinen inherited a bases-loaded jam with two out in the 10th, but got James McCann to fly out to shallow right field. Wrobleski (another pitcher who began this season as a starter) was handed a save situation in the 11th, after Edman singled home a run with his third hit of the night, and retired the side in order.

“That was like a playoff game,” Roberts said.

And once the actual postseason begins, it’s the kind of performance the Dodgers will have to replicate again and again.

Their traditional bullpen, after all, remains a mess. The need for alternatives like Sasaki, Kershaw and Emmet Sheehan (another starting pitcher likely to pitch in relief in the playoffs) has become immense.

It made Wednesday something of a trial run for how this year’s team will need to win games in October. It provided a sense of belief that, despite all of the recent relief problems, they can still piece together ways to mount a World Series defense.

"We're kind of at the point of at the point of the season where we're just doing whatever it takes to win ballgames,” Edman said. “I think that's what's great about our squad, is that we have a lot of guys who are no egos and just going to do whatever it takes."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.