In the meantime, assistant GM Shawn Horcoff is handling day-to-day responsibilities, though that does not extend to making trades.
Three weeks have passed since the Yzerman announcement that stunned the hockey world. While the Wings have missed the playoffs every spring during his time in the front office, the timing was odd: Yzerman had just gone through being in charge of the draft and free agency.
But this is where the Wings find themselves as August ages: Without leadership and possibly without a captain, as Dylan Larkin has not budged on the request to be traded that he made shortly after the season ended April 15.
Ilitch, and by extension the search firm, is believed to be looking for an analytics-driven person to take charge of the Wings, similar to how his Detroit Tigers plucked Scott Harris from the San Francisco Giants to guide the Tigers as president of baseball operations in September 2022.
This is the biggest hire Ilitch will make since his father, Mike Ilitch, died on Feb. 10, 2017. At that time, Ken Holland was GM. When Yzerman announced in fall of 2018 that he was stepping back in his role as general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning in what was the last year of his contract, it immediately became clear there was a path for Yzerman to return to manage the team he captained to three Stanley Cups. That happened the following April.
Yzerman inherited a team that was in shambles, and with that came a long grace period. But what appeared to be a storybook return soured as the years piled up and the playoff drought dragged on. Now it’s seven years later, and Ilitch is poised to bring in a fresh hire whose immediate tasks will be to deal with the Larkin situation, and how to shape the team into a product that will end what has grown to a 10-year playoff drought.
Ilitch and the search firm may well look to teams like the analytics-driven Carolina Hurricanes, who just won the Stanley Cup, following a two-season Cup run by the Florida Panthers fueled by the analytics department. That run was championed by then-assistant GM Sunny Mehta, who is now GM of the New Jersey Devils; he spearheaded their analytics department in 2014. The Colorado Avalanche and Buffalo Sabres are likewise deeply embedded in analytics.
The Wings have employed analytics within their hockey operations department, but it has been in an advisory capacity, not a decision-making one. But after 10 years of missing the playoffs and seven disappointing years under Yzerman, it appears the Wings are in for a significant change in management style as the 2026-27 season draws closer.
Philadelphia (61-53) won its fourth-straight game after beating the Nationals (55-60), 5-0 behind an inspired two-hit debut by Luis Arraez.
The Phillies have started August perfect with a 4-0 record with the fourth-most runs scored (24) and fourth-best batting average (.294). Philadelphia has an MLB-leading 0.84 ERA and 0.91 WHIP as well. The Phillies are 7-2 against the Nationals this season.
Washington has dropped seven consecutive games and scored more than three runs once in that span. The Nationals pitching staff hasn't been much better with a 5.26 ERA in the last week (25th). James Wood is on the 10-day IL, so the Nationals will need to find more firepower outside of CJ Abrams.
Let’s dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Nationals vs. Phillies
Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2026
Time: 6:40PM EST
Site: Citizens Bank
City: Philadelphia, PA
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, Nationals.TV, NBC Sports Philadelphia
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The Latest Odds: Nationals vs. Phillies
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Washington Nationals (+221), Philadelphia Phillies (+174)
· Trea Turner is 15-50 with 2 HRs over his last 12 games
· Luis Arraez collected two hits, a single and a double in his Phillies debut
· Bryce Harper has reached base safely in 9 straight games (9-32)
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Top Betting Trends & Insights: Nationals vs. Phillies
The Nationals are 66-49 on the Run Line this season
The Phillies are an NL-worst 46-68 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 62 times in Washington’s 115 games this season (62-48-5)
The OVER has cashed 48 times in the Phillies’ 114 games this season (48-60-6)
Expert picks & predictions: Nationals vs. Phillies
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Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s game between the Nationals and the Phillies:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Phillies on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Game Total OVER 9.5.
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LOS ANGELES - NOVEMBER 20: Opening credits of THE TWILIGHT ZONE episode, "Time Enough At Last." Original air date, November 20, 1959. Image is a screen grab. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images) | CBS via Getty Images
You have the entire class period to complete the quiz. Answers should be neatly written in the comment section. Do not fill in the “DO NOT FILL IN” section. When you’re done, you may sit quietly until the bell rings. If you have any questions, you’re in the right place. Good luck.
NAME: DATE: CLASS: PROF. MIRANDA — SUMMER SESSION
1) In today’s modern world, backwards thinking abounds: the Earth is flat; vaccines are bad, viruses are good; hate is a “side.” While most historians concur on June 13, 2026, the New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs towin the NBA championship, a small but vocal lot claim this to be a mass hallucination, that the Knicks never won the title. For the purposes of academic exericse, what if that were true? And instead of going six/fo’fo’/fi’, the Knicks went six/fo’/fo’/no? Remember to show your work.
1) Would Josh Hart’s missed lay-up late in Game 4 go down as more infamous than the Charles Smith play?
2) How warm would Mike Brown’s seat have grown if the Knicks lost the Finals? Would he be celebrated for unlocking such a dominant playoff run despite coming up short? Dismissed as a nice guy and great assistant coach who can’t lead a team all the way?
3) Would James Dolan refuse to enter the second apron if the Knicks blew a 2-0 Finals lead?
4) If Mitchell Robinson left after losing in the Finals, would Knicks fans be more worried about losing a key contributor or hopeful for a future with someone who shoots better than 30% from the line?
5) Staying with the bench, these are the Finals shooting percentages from the field and from three for Landry Shamet, Jose Alvarado, Jordan Clarkson and Miles McBride:
Shamet: 33%, 31%
Alvarado: 33%, 25%
Clarkson: 38%, 33%
McBride: 18%, 18%
Given the apron restrictions the Knicks were under and that quartet’s shooting numbers, would New York have brought all four back if they’d lost? If they were to let one or more depart, who would it have been? Who might they have looked to replace them with, either from further down the bench or a new addition?
6) Stephon Castle attempted 21 free throws in the Finals. Mikal Bridges attempted 25 throughout the postseason. Had the Knicks lost to the Spurs, how much heat would Bridges have received?
BONUS QUESTIONS
*) What is the following sentence?
Dennis, Nell, Edna, Leon, Nedra, Anita, Rolf, Nora, Alice, Carol, Leo, Jane, Reed, Dena, Dale, Basil, Rae, Penny, Lana, Dave, Denny, Lena, Ida, Bernadette, Ben, Ray, Lila, Nina, Jo, Ira, Mara, Sara, Mario, Jan, Ina, Lily, Arne, Bette, Dan, Reba, Diane, Lynn, Ed, Eva, Dana, Lynne, Pearl, Isabel, Ada, Ned, Dee, Rena, Joel, Lora, Cecil, Aaron, Flora, Tina, Arden, Noel, and Ellen sinned.
*) If two typists can type two pages in two minutes, how many does it take to type 18 pages in six minutes?
*) What nine-letter word can you make unscrambling these letters?
E C P R U A T H A
*) If you count from 1 to 100, how many 7’s will you pass on the way?
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 17: Marcell Ozuna #24 of the Pittsburgh Pirates walks to the dugout before the game against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on June 17, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates have released designated hitter Marcell Ozuna amid months of poor performance with the team.
The Pirates signed Ozuna in the offseason to be their everyday DH following their decision to not resign Andrew McCutchen. The 35-year-old former Silver Slugger signed to a one-year, $12 million deal with Pittsburgh with a mutual option attached for 2027. Unfortunately for the Pirates Ozuna never found his stride with the Pirates.
PNC Park is notoriously difficult to adjust to for right-handed hitters, and Ozuna who historically struggled there throughout his career never seemed to come around at the plate. He ends his season with Pittsburgh with a line of .203/.286/.613 and just eight homers. Over the course of his career Ozuna has played in 65 games at PNC Park and has a .229 batting average with seven homers. As a Pirate the team went 28-42 when Ozuna was in the starting lineup.
As the season went on Ozuna was called upon less and less as his performance had not reached the full potential that the organization had hoped for. He played in his last game for the Bucs on Aug. 1 where he went 1 for 4 with a double in a Saturday contest against Cincinnati. His slash line was 31% worse than league average, by measure of wRC+ and had a career worst 28.6% strikeout rate. The leash was too long and this is an issue that should’ve been solved well before the second half of the season.
To replace Ozuna the Pirates are calling up prospect Ronny Simon to the active roster. This season Simon has been incredible at the plate with Triple-A Indianapolis. This year the switch hitter leads the International League with a .330 batting average. Simon has also knocked in seven home runs this season along with 63 RBIs and 33 steals as well. Simon is a versatile defender who has seen time at second base, as well as all three outfield positions for Indianapolis this year.
Given that the league has moved past the trade deadline period, Ozuna will be released and the Pirates will not be able to move on from his contract. He leave Pittsburgh with a -1.0fWAR.
Once again, there’s a chance of rain in Chicago Wednesday afternoon, though chances are decreasing. Just in case, here’s the local radar for you to keep handy:
Wednesday notes…
GOING FOR A SWEEP: This is the 11th of the Cubs’ 37 series this year in which they won the first two games. They won the third game, too, in six of the previous 10. They last swept the Dodgers in three games at home in 2021. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
DAY vs. NIGHT: The Cubs are only 24-23 in day games this year. They are 17-13 at home, including 8-4 after night games. Last year, they were 43-32 in sunshine everywhere and 29-20 at home but 7-8 in day games at home after night games. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
COMING FROM BEHIND: Last night’s win was the Cubs’ 25th this season after their opponent scored first, one less than they had all of last year, when they won 26 and lost 52. They have lost 34 this year.
They are 14-19 at home when they opponent scored first. They finished last year just 9-29. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
GOING DEEP: The Cubs have hit four and two home runs the last two games. They had not had back-to-back games with multiple homers in their previous 25 games, since they hit five and a team-record eight at home against the Padres on June 30 and July 1. They have hit at least two homers in two consecutive games five times. They did it in three straight games April 15-18 and June 20-24, and in five games in a row April 21-25. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
Shōta Imanaga, as you know, had a great start to his 2026 season, then had a horrific four-start run, then followed that with another great run. Currently over his last nine starts: 2.09 ERA, 1.065 WHIP, seven HR in 51.2 innings, excellent walk rate (4.5 percent).
He was charged with five runs (four earned) against the Dodgers April 26 at Dodger Stadium, though one of those runs scored after he left the game. Current Dodgers are batting .247 (20-for-61) against him with six home runs, three of those by Tommy Edman. Note to Shōta: Don’t feed meatballs to Edman!
Roki Sasaki was originally scheduled to start this game, but with the Dodgers’ addition of Tarik Skubal, Sasaki has been pushed back and instead, lefty Eric Lauer will go for L.A. this afternoon.
Lauer was pitching for the Blue Jays earlier this year and not well — 6.69 ERA and 1.486 WHIP in eight games (six starts). The Dodgers got him for cash considerations in May and poof! He’s throwing very well for them. In nine games (eight starts) he has a 2.69 ERA and 0.987 WHIP. In his last outing, July 29 vs. the Mariners, he threw six one-hit innings.
He hasn’t faced the Cubs since April 2, 2023 when he was with the Brewers and I post that boxscore link mostly for amusement value, because a lot of those guys aren’t on the team anymore. Current Cubs are batting .265 (18-for-68) against Lauer with two home runs (Nico Hoerner, Michael Conforto).
Please visit our SB Nation Dodgers site True Blue LA. If you do go there to interact with Dodgers fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 10: Dalton Rushing #68 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on during the sixth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium on July 10, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Melina Pizano/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing went from minor arm irritation to the injured list with elbow inflammation, to now a slight tear in his ulnar collateral ligament that will sideline him for at least a month.
Manager Dave Roberts confirmed to reporters on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field that MRI results Monday showed a “slightly torn” UCL in Rushing’s elbow. From Jack Harris of the California Post:
Roberts expounded after Tuesday’s game by saying Rushing will remain on a hitting program, but is set to be shut down from throwing for up to potentially 4-6 weeks.
That could leave his status as a catching option in doubt for the stretch run of the year, and potentially the playoffs.
“Don’t know what that looks like for the rest of the season and throughout the postseason,” Roberts said. “Fortunately, it happened the day before the trade deadline. So… today we’re looking at two new catchers.”
An update from Wednesday morning:
Dave Roberts said he thinks there’s a “very small” chance Dalton Rushing catches again this year. They want to keep him as an option as a left-handed bat, though. https://t.co/kAeiRUwnac
It’s similar to last September when Smith had a hand injury and Rushing injured his shin. Rortvedt went from relative obscurity to starting 19 out of 25 games, including four postseason games before Smith returned. Now, it’s Rortvedt and Feduccia for the foreseeable future behind the plate, perhaps until Smith might return in either late August or September.
The former Cub has been tormented by left-handed hitters all season long. Over the last 30 lefties he's faced, they've produced a 23.8% barrel rate and 76.2% elevation rate while posting a .405 xBA, .735 xSLG, and .400 xwOBA.
Alvarez enters today with one of the highest matchup ratings of the day on Batters-Box while covering 100% of Taillon's pitch mix. Through 37 elite-rated games this season, the big fella has gone deep in 29.73% of them.
At home, that number jumps to nearly 40%, homering in seven of his 18 elite-rated games.
No matter how obvious this spot may seem, you can't overthink it. Alvarez has been on an absolute tear all season, and this is one of the best home run spots on the board.
Over his last 30 plate appearances against right-handed pitching, Murakami has posted an .852 SLG, 1.252 OPS, .523 wOBA, and .519 ISO. He's also generated a 70.6% hard hit rate and nearly a 30% barrel rate during that span.
Murakami draws veteran Red Sox righty Sonny Gray, who has hit a few speed bumps over his last three starts. During that stretch, Gray owns a 5.00 ERA while allowing a 45% hard hit rate.
The last 30 left-handed hitters he's faced have produced a 43.5% hard-hit rate and 43.5% line-drive rate while posting a .605 xSLG and .361 xwOBA.
The White Sox star enters tonight with an elite Batters-Box rating, covering more than 84% of Gray's pitch mix. In his 22 elite-rated road games this season, Murakami has gone deep in nearly 32% of them.
I'd play this down to +225.
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: CHSN, NESN
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 90-338, +3.7 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Who will win Pirates vs Brewers tonight: Brewers (-126)
It’s never easy to fade Paul Skenes, but he is in poor form right now. The Pittsburgh Pirates ace owns a 5.24 xERA across his last two outings, having allowed a 50% hard-hit rate and 18.2% barrel rate.
The Milwaukee Brewers counter with Kyle Harrison, who makes his first appearance since early July after recovering from injury. Harrison may be on a short leash, but Pittsburgh has struggled against lefties, posting just a 90 wRC+ compared to a 112 mark vs right-handers.
The Brewers’ home offense gives them enough upside to get to Skenes, while Harrison can keep Pittsburgh contained.
Playable to -140.
COVERS INTEL: The Brewers own a 111 wRC+ at American Family Field this season, compared to a 98 wRC+ on the road. They should be able to cause trouble for Skenes.
Pirates vs Brewers Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-131)
This total sits at 7.5, and the Under looks like the better angle.
Harrison may not work deep in his return, but Milwaukee’s bullpen has been solid, posting a 3.03 xERA over its last 22 frames. Pittsburgh’s bullpen has also been reliable with a 2.97 FIP over the last week.
This profiles as a lower-scoring game, even if Skenes allows traffic.
I'll play this to -140.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 42-54, -17.82 units
Over/Under bets: 53-41, +5.23 units
Pirates vs Brewers weather
Conditions in Milwaukee look cool and damp tonight, with overcast skies early and temperatures falling from the low 70s into the upper 60s.
There's a moderate chance of rain early, but conditions should improve later in the day with light winds throughout.
Worst-case scenario, expect the retractable roof to be utilized at American Family Field.
Pirates vs Brewers odds
Moneyline: Pirates +117 | Brewers -126
Run line: Pirates +1.5 (-186) | Brewers -1.5 (+178)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (+122) | Under 7.5 (-131)
Pirates vs Brewers trend
Milwaukee has hit the game total Under in 30 of its last 50 games (+9.40 Units / 17% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Pirates vs. Brewers.
How to watch Pirates vs Brewers and game info
Location
American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Wednesday, August 5, 2026
First pitch
7:40 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Pirates starting pitcher
Paul Skenes (9-9, 3.90 ERA)
Brewers starting pitcher
Kyle Harrison (8-2, 3.01 ERA)
Pirates vs Brewers latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JUNE 01: Roki Sasaki #11 of the Los Angeles Dodgers prepares for a game against the Arizona Diamonddbacks at Chase Field on June 01, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After dropping two series in a row, the Dodgers move on to face the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are fighting for a wild card berth.
Roki Sasaki takes the ball in the series opener on Friday night at Chase Field in Phoenix, where the roof will be appreciated with triple-digit high temperatures in the forecast all weekend in the desert.
The Diamondbacks, who swept the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium from July 10-12, enter Wednesday with 15 wins in their last 22 games and are 32-23 at home this season. The Dodgers won two out of three games at Case Field from June 1-3.
BOSTON — Adley Rutschman still was adjusting less than 24 hours after being traded for the first time in his career.
Being in playoff contention may make for a smoother transition once the three-time All-Star catcher is ready to take the field for the Red Sox after spending his first four-plus seasons with the Baltimore Orioles.
“Just from playing here, the city loves baseball. It always has a great atmosphere and I’m excited to play in it,” Rutschman said at Fenway Park before the Red Sox hosted the Chicago White Sox. “They’re playing the game the right way and doing things right. It was cool to watch from a distance. Now being here, like I said — just trying to fit in and help out any way I can.”
Rutschman joined his new club on the injured list with left wrist inflammation. He and Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said Rutschman would meet with the team’s medical staff to determine what’s next in his rehabilitation and how soon he could be back behind the plate.
Tracy said Rutschman already is swinging a bat and the Red Sox were hopeful to add him to their lineup soon. Boston also wasn’t about to rush the recovery of a player that cost it a handful of top prospects in a deal pulled off shortly before the trade deadline.
“It’s been feeling good. I’ve got to get with the medical staff here and kind of just see what the next steps are moving forward,” said Rutschman, who’s been on the IL since July 20. “I don’t exactly know just what kind of timeline and how all that goes.”
Rutschman moved from the Orioles, who are 12 games back in the AL East and on the fringes of the wild-card race, to the Red Sox, who are 5 1/2 games out of the division lead and in position for a wild card after winning 24 of their last 27 games.
The Orioles stopped Boston’s franchise record-tying winning streak at 15 games last month, but reaching the playoffs appeared less likely for Baltimore without Rutschman, the top overall pick in the 2019 draft.
“I played my entire career there and there’s been a lot of unbelievable memories. Just made a lot of great friends for life,” Rutschman said. “It’s tough goodbyes. But we’re on to the next thing. And excited to be here and playing. It’s all part of the game.”
Rutschman said part of his down time will include getting to know Boston’s pitchers, although there was already some familiarity.
“I’ve seen a lot of these guys pitch and faced them,” Rutschman said. “I kind of understand how they attack guys but I’m definitely going to have some more in-depth conversations, just make sure that we’re on the same page and it flows smoothly when we get out there.”
Whenever that is, Boston will be glad to have him.
“I think it’s a strong statement to the group with a player like that,” Tracy said. “We went out and got a huge addition to our lineup and behind the plate. So it means a lot. We’ll work through getting him healthy and getting him out there. But his history speaks for itself and who he is as a catcher and as an offensive player. So it’s a big add for us.”
Playa Vista, Calif. — Tuesday, 25 NBA players gathered in the Los Angeles area for an offseason run. Nothing unusual about that, it happens nearly every day around L.A. in the summer, most famously at UCLA but plenty of other spaces as well. With so many league players choosing to spend their offseasons in the city, it's to be expected they get together.
What was different about this is that this run was at the PLYRS UNTD performance center — a new state-of-the-art training facility opened this week by PLYRS UNTD, the commercial arm of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA).
There's a new energy around the NBA players' union, with former Warriors executive David Kelly taking over as executive director, and with a largely new board led by veteran guard Fred VanVleet as president. This is a group with a lot of ideas — and a focus already on the next Collective Bargaining Agreement — and the new PLYRS UNTD performance center in Los Angeles is part of that.
"The response has been phenomenal…" Kelly said, with about 80 players coming through for workouts or recovery the first week it was open. "I think it ties into what we're trying to do with our larger brand in the launch of PLYRS UNTD, and that is create spaces that are by and for the guys. Get feedback from the guys on what they would want to see inside of that space. Get them to authentically engage inside of that space, and then there's any number of commercial and opportunities that can flow from that."
The NBPA talked to the players and what they wanted was a one-stop training shop: A fully equipped athletic training room, weight room, recovery room (which includes a sauna, steam room, massage therapy room and more), multiple official NBA-sized courts, fully staffed kitchen that can make recovery smoothies and a rotating menu of healthy, customizable meals, and spaces for family members to wait — or children to play — while their family member works out.
It's not done being built out, more is coming. During the soft openings this summer, the union put up a whiteboard with sticky notes and asked players what they wanted, then tried to add it. For example, they added a turf area, including weighted sleds, for guys who want that as part of their workout. While the NBPA has workout facilities at its headquarters in New York as well as The Sanctuary — a PLYRS UNTD offseason performance retreat for NBA players in Andalucía, Spain — the goal with the new facility was to meet players where they are.
"There wasn't a spot like that in L.A. that had everything in one and was like full courts, all that stuff…" said the Pelicans' Trey Murphy III, an NBPA board member who was part of the official first run this week and worked out there other times.
"Here we have regulation courts. We have a weight room. We have a sauna. We have a cold tub. We have turf. We have everything here. We literally do not have to go anywhere else to work out, and then you also have all the players here in one spot… I had one of my best workouts I've had, and I've shot it really well because I knew there's other people watching, and it's important to have that.
"It's like iron sharpening iron."
There will still be other runs all around Southern California, but the goal with the PLYRS UNTD facility is that it's full-service and open only to NBA players. And it's available 24/7.
"You walk in the gym, and your mind starts going like, all right. I see a lot of NBA players, and I have to lock in and make sure they know that I've been working too," Murphy said.
Future focus is on next CBA
While Kelly's NBPA is focused on player-serving and PLYRS UNTD commercial ventures in the short term, in the longer term, the union is already looking ahead to the next CBA negotiation.
"Just preparing for the CBA that is coming up soon…" Murphy said when asked what the future holds for the new union leadership. "Obviously it doesn't seem like it's coming soon, but for us it is coming up soon. And so we have to be prepared to push back, or give our opinions on what we want."
While the current CBA agreement between the league and the union runs through 2030, there is an opt-out in October of 2028, which either side can trigger, and it would end the CBA in the summer of 2029. As happened with the current CBA, the negotiations between the league and NBPA will start well before that with the goal of a seamless transition where a new CBA is in place before the old one ends, avoiding a lockout or strike.
That doesn't mean those negotiations will be smooth.
Kelly has been clear in public comments that he is no fan of the second tax apron and what that is doing to teams, and by extension players in his union.
"We are not fans of the second apron," Kelly said in Las Vegas during Summer League (via ESPN). "We did not propose the second apron. We should have done a better job of fighting back against the second apron. In the future, we will have a much more unified union, and we will do a better job of fighting back...
"We're seeing it decimate teams and force decisions to be made that are not basketball decisions."
Kelly was referring to Boston's decision to trade Jaylen Brown this offseason because, as team president Brad Stevens put it, having two players taking up 70% of the salary cap made it impossible to build out a champion in the apron era. While Boston is the latest example, there are many more on the horizon (tough decisions are coming to Oklahoma City and San Antonio eventually, for example).
For his part, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said the apron system was working as intended and touted the parity it has helped bring to the league. If the owners like it — and they appear to — then Silver will fight to keep it.
However, the more interesting part of Kelly's comment was saying they would have a "much more unified union." Murphy said he sees his role on the board as part of that.
"I feel like I look at things a little differently than a lot of players, just mainly because I didn't know for sure if I was going to be in the NBA growing up..." Murphy said. "I've had every role. Like I've been the guy that didn't play my rookie year. I've been the guy that just came off the bench. I've been the guy that's just been a starter, and now I'm at a point where I'm one of the better players on the team...
"I feel like there's a lot of times where you'll see the Karl-Anthony Towns, the Jaylen Browns... A lot of guys that they've always been 'the guy.' They may not have the same experience of being the guy at the end of the bench and how they were treated and how they maybe didn't have the same access to different things. I have those experiences... And it's very important to me to speak for everybody when it comes to the union because it's not just for the top guys; it's for all 450."
Those potentially contentious CBA negotiations are a little ways down the line. For now, the focus is on the PLYRS UNTD training facility in Los Angeles.
And if Tuesday was any indication, it's going to be a very busy place between now and the start of training camps.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 24: Jack Suwinski #14 of the Oklahoma City Comets bats during the fifth inning against the Sacramento River Cats at Sutter Health Park on July 24, 2026 in Sacramento, California (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As the clock ran out on the MLB trade deadline, the Rays made one final move by sending C Hunter Feduccia and minor league RP Jacob Kmatz to the Dodgers for Triple-A OF Jack Suwinski and international bonus pool money. The Rays have been linked to several popular IFA guys in the 2027 class (including an 80-grade name right-handed pitcher Mussumbay Navarro) so that bonus pool money will be valuable, but Suwinski immediately becomes one of the more intriguing outfielders in the organization and is not to be overlooked.
Suwinski is a left-handed hitting outfielder with nearly 400 games of MLB experience with the Pirates from 2022-2025. He was DFA’d by the Pirates before being claimed by the Dodgers in February of this year. He went to work with the Dodgers Triple-A affiliate to work on his swing without sacrificing power — and he succeeded.
Suwinski’s swing change has two main components: a shorter bat bath with less barrel movement and a flatter bat angle. First, we’ll look at the swing length. He has reduced the amount his hands needed to travel to get his bat on the ball. Suwinski previously employed a bit of a hitch and barrel tip that added length and power to his swing, but at times his swing was too long and it resulted in a lot of whiff. This is evident in his 72.8% contact rate in the majors and 69.0% in AAA prior to the 2026 season. Suwinski’s shorter swing this season has allowed him to maintain a much more playable 79.6% contact rate. While all of that nearly 11% increase is unlikely to translate to major-league pitching, most of it should given the underlying mechanical adjustments that have allowed him to get to this point. This isn’t a hot streak or luck; it’s meaningful adjustments that allow him to handle advanced pitching.
Next, well look at his bat angle. Suwinski tweaked it to be less vertical and more “flat.” This change further supports his ability to make more contact. A steeper bat angle does produce more loft so Suwinski could be susceptible to ground balls, but so far this hasn’t been an issue. The images below are both on pitches that were low in the zone, so we can see how drastic the difference is in his bat angle when he begins his swing as he plants his front foot.
The result is a more balanced ability to handle different pitch types. To compare apples to apples, we’ll look at just the difference in his AAA data between 2022-2025 and the 2026 season so far:
Contact% and wOBA 2022-2025
Contact% and wOBA 2026
>= 95mph
64.4% contact, .421 wOBA
86% contact, .411 wOBA
Breaking balls
65.7% contact, .220 wOBA
75.5% contact, .401 wOBA
Offspeed
70.5% contact, .368 wOBA
73.1% contact, .427 wOBA
Of course the sample size is different, but the exact numbers here are less important than the trends. Suwinski seems to have meaningfully improved his ability to handle secondaries without losing his ability to punish velocity.
On the defensive side, Suwinski is a fine defender in a corner outfield spot. Both his arm and speed are roughly average. The Rays are one of the better teams at improving outfielder jumps, so I am interested to see if they could improve his defense. Although that point is secondary as his bat is what could get him in a lineup everyday against righties.
Suwinski appears to be a nice depth option for the Rays with a few more years of team control. Left-handed outfield depth is relatively thin with both Fraley and Melton battling injuries most of the year, so the team rightfully saw some risk with the major league outfield depth. Suwinski doesn’t need a 40-man spot at the moment, and will not become a free agent until 2030. His adjustments have helped him find a new level of his game, and now he just needs an opportunity. That could come in 2026, but may be more likely in 2027.
1 Sep 1993: Infielder John Olerud of the Toronto Blue Jays swings at the ball during a game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. Mandatory Credit: Otto Greule /Allsport | Getty Images
Today marks John Olerud’s 58th birthday.
John Olerud, born in Seattle, Washington, followed his father’s path—his father also named John—who played catcher for Washington State University and reached Triple-A in professional baseball. Olerud Jr. was picked by the Blue Jays in the third round of the 1989 draft out of Washington State, where he stood out as both a pitcher and a fielder, amassing a 26-4 record on the mound. Unusually, he started his pro career directly in the majors, only appearing in minor league games in 2005 while recovering form after joining the Boston Red Sox.
Olerud gained recognition for wearing his batting helmet while playing first base—a precaution after a health scare in early 1989, when he collapsed following a workout due to spinal column bleeding. A month later, he had surgery to remove a brain hemorrhage, leading him to wear the helmet in the field for extra protection.
After signing with the Blue Jays in late August, Olerud joined the major league roster as a September call-up, appearing in several games as a defensive replacement. In 1990, he made the team out of spring training, platooning at designated hitter while Fred McGriff played first base. Facing mostly right-handed pitchers, Olerud hit .265/.364/.430 in 111 games and finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting. That offseason, the Jays traded McGriff and Tony Fernandez for Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter, clearing the way for Olerud to become the starting first baseman.
In 1991, Olerud began the season in a platoon with Pat Tabler and later Ed Sprague. He posted a solid .256/.353/.438 line with 17 home runs. Bill James oncecompared him to a young Rusty Staub, though Olerud would go on to surpass that comparison. He played infive games during the ALCS loss to theTwins, collecting three hits in 19 at-bats.
In 1992, as the Blue Jays won their first World Series, Olerud became a full-time player, starting against both right- and left-handed pitchers. He played through a broken nose suffered during batting practice, yet improved at the plate, hitting .284/.375/.450. Olerud shined in the ALCS win over Oakland, batting .348 with a home run, and hit .308 in the World Series victory over Atlanta—though he appeared in only four of six games as Cito Gaston shifted Carter to first base when the designated hitter was unavailable.
Olerud’s breakout year was 1993, when he hit .363/.473/.599 with 24 home runs, 54 doubles, 200 hits, 114 walks, 109 runs, and 107 RBIs. He was batting over .400 as late as August 2. He led the league in batting average, on-base percentage, OPS (1.072), runs created (161), doubles, and intentional walks (33). That year, he was an All-Star, won the Hutch Award for competitive spirit, and finished third in MVP voting behind Frank Thomas and teammate Paul Molitor—though many believed Olerud deserved the honor. He also had a 26-game hitting streak and became just the 20th player in MLB history to record both 200 hits and 100 walks in a season. It remains one of the greatest single seasons by a Blue Jay.
Olerud remained productive in the postseason, hitting .348 with four walks in the ALCS win over the White Sox. Although he batted just .235 in the World Series win against Philadelphia, he contributed a home run and four walks. By age 24, Olerud already owned two World Series rings—a remarkable start to his career.
The next few seasons were disrupted by the lockout and strike, and the Blue Jays struggled to recreate their earlier success. Although Olerud didn’t replicate his 1993 numbers, he consistently posted an on-base percentage above .390 each year. He might have thrived as a leadoff hitter, but speed was considered essential for that spot at the time. In 1996, his final year with Toronto, Olerud hit .274/.383/.472 with 18 home runs in 125 games, as Cito Gaston increasingly favored Joe Carter at first base and Carlos Delgado emerged as a key player.
With Carter, Delgado, and Olerud all competing for playing time over two seasons, roster changes became inevitable. Delgado was young, inexpensive, and had a bright future, while Carter remained Cito Gaston’s favorite. Olerud was seen as not aggressive enough at the plate, and his stellar 1993 season had set expectations he couldn’t quite match. Despite being the youngest and arguably the best hitter and fielder of the trio, Olerud was the one the Jays decided to move.
If trading Olerud was a mistake, sending him to the Mets for pitcher Robert Person was an even bigger blunder by Gord Ash. Person went 8-13 with a 6.18 ERA in two-plus seasons with the Jays. Meanwhile, Olerud remained a terrific player for several more seasons, while Joe Carter did not. It was simply a bad trade, but Ash was a poor GM for the team.
Olerud enjoyed three great seasons with the Mets, then four and a half strong years with the Mariners. He later played half a season with the Yankees and wrapped up his career with the Red Sox in 2005. Over 17 seasons, he compiled a .295/.398/.465 batting line, 255 home runs, 1,230 RBI, and 1,275 walks (77th all-time).
Baseball Reference lists Olerud at 6’5” and 220 pounds—bigger than I remember. He had a picture-perfect left-handed swing and an excellent eye at the plate. He was strong defensively, winning three Gold Gloves as a Mariner. He probably deserved at least one Gold Glove as a Jay, but that’s how things go.
Matt noted that John hit better after leaving the Jays, even considering his one big season. This may have been because Cito insisted he become a pull hitter, even though Olerud’s real strength was hitting from foul line to foul line. Cito’s hitting philosophy worked for some players, but not for everyone.
John Olerud is married, lives in Fall City, Washington, and has a daughter. We saw him at the celebration for the World Series-winning teams in July. He looked like he could still play.
Happy birthday, John.
Today is Eric Hinske’s 49th birthday.
Eric Hinske was born in Menasha, Wisconsin. The Cubs selected him in the17th round of the 1998 draft from the University of Arkansas.
In March 2001, Hinske was traded to the A’s for Miguel Cairo. Later that year, he and Justin Miller were sent to the Jays for Billy Koch—a trade that clearly worked out in Toronto’s favor.
Eric’s rookie year in 2002 was outstanding. He racked up 99 runs, 84 RBI, 24 home runs, 77 walks, and 13 steals (caught just once)—almost all career highs and most setting team rookie records, except steals. He hit .279/.365/.481 with a 119 OPS+ and posted a 4.7 WAR per Fangraphs. His defense at third base was the main drawback, with limited range and 20 errors for a .946 fielding percentage, though Fangraphs gave him a 2.8 UZR/150. He made an early impression with a two-run single against Pedro Martinez in his first major game, and it seemed the Jays had found their third baseman for years to come.
After that season, JP Ricciardi signed Hinske to a five-year, $14.75 million deal, buying out his arbitration years—a move that seemed wise at the time. In 2003, Hinske hit just .243/.329/.437 (OPS+ 97) with 12 homers, but he tallied 45 doubles (fifth in the AL) in 124 games and stole 12 bases in 14 tries. His defense remained an issue, leading the league with 22 errors and a .930 fielding percentage. A broken bone in his hand cost him a month, which was blamed for his dip in offense—at least initially.
Hinske’s 2004 season was rough. He hit just .246/.312/.375 in 155 games (OPS+ 76), though he did have a 16-game hitting streak. The only highlight was his improved defense: just eight errors and a .978 fielding average, which led the AL. After the season, the Jays brought in Corey Koskie and Shea Hillenbrand for third base duties, moving Hinske over to first.
In 2005, Hinske improved at the plate, hitting .262/.333/.430 with 15 home runs, but made seven errors at first base. An OPS+ of 100 wasn’t enough for a first baseman or DH, so after the season, Ricciardi acquired Lyle Overbay for first and Troy Glaus for third.
At the start of 2006, Hinske platooned in right field with Alex Rios, but Rios soon won the job outright thanks to his strong play. When Rios went on the DL with a staph infection in June, Hinske filled in. Later, after Shea Hillenbrand’s departure, a spot at DH opened up for Hinske.
Hinske was enjoying his best season since his rookie year, hitting .264/.353/.513 with 12 homers in 78 games, when, on August 17, the Jays traded him to the Red Sox for cash.
Hinske developed a reputation as a good luck charm. In 2007, he earned a World Series ring with the Red Sox. The following year, he was on the losing side with the Rays, making the final out of the World Series on a strikeout—his second postseason at-bat, the first being a home run. In 2009, he won another ring with the Yankees, though he only had one plate appearance, drawing a walk. In 2010, his Braves lost in the NLDS to the Giants, but Hinske still managed two home runs in seven playoff at-bats. He remained with Atlanta through 2012, then played for the Diamondbacks in 2013.
After retiring, Hinske became a scout for the Yankees, then joined the Cubs as first base coach before becoming their hitting coach. He earned his third World Series ring with Chicago. This year, he’s serving as the assistant hitting coach for the Mets.
Happy birthday, Eric.
Today is Rick Bosetti’s 73rd birthday.
Bosetti played for the Blue Jays from 1978, the team’s second season, through 1981.
In 1978, as the Jays’ center fielder, he hit .259/.299/.347 with five home runs in 136 games. The following year, he played all 162 games, batting .260/.286/.362 with eight home runs, 13 steals, and 12 times caught stealing.
In 1980, after Toronto brought in Barry Bonnell for center field, Bosetti’s playing time dropped. He appeared in 53 games, hitting .213/.277/.324. In June 1981, he was traded to the A’s for cash. As a Blue Jay, he hit .252/.289/.348 over 376 games in four seasons.
Rick played for the Phillies and Cardinals before joining the Jays, and later appeared in 15 games over two seasons with the A’s after his time in Toronto.
Happy birthday, Rick.
It’s also Bobby Kielty’s 50th birthday.
The Jays acquired Kielty in exchange for Shannon Stewart midway through the 2003 season. He played 62 games in the outfield, hitting .233/.342/.376. After the season, Toronto traded him to the A’s for Ted Lilly.
Kielty played seven seasons in the majors, hitting .254/.348/.408 with 53 home runs in 599 games. He spent time with the Twins before joining the Jays, and later played for the A’s and Red Sox.
Hey again, I’m Jon, and we’ve hit the seventh-inning stretch. This is a special, super-sized episode of The History of Charging the Mound, and unlike the others, it’s not about any particular mound-charging. Instead, I decided to call an intermission and take inventory of other once-hallowed baseball institutions that have faded from relevance like mound-charging has.
Something happened around 2010. That’s when mound-charges dropped off suddenly and precipitously. That’s also when players stopped posting ultra-high batting averages, hitting streaks became shorter, light-hitting ballplayers began to phase out, and pitchers would commonly get pulled from a game six or seven innings into a no-hitter. All these practices and achievements have something important in common: they do not perfectly correlate with the winning of baseball games. It seems that the turn of the 2010s was when optimization finally came for baseball.
Although it’s entirely possible that baseball is worse off for it – in at least a couple of ways in particular, I absolutely believe it is – I think the more honest framing is that baseball has entered a phase of accelerated evolution, and it is not finished evolving. Rather than worry too much about all that, though, I decided to have 45 minutes of fun slapping some numbers and charts on the wall.
Apr 5, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman (35) at bat against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Ever since the Red Sox traded for Adley Rutschman on Monday, I’ve been fascinated by the debate over how much having a solid stick behind the plate matters. On one hand, the bat is not your primary focus at that position, and most of the league stinks offensively at catcher anyway, so even if you have a catcher with a slightly above average bat there, he’s still not a true slugger in the vast majority of cases.
But on the other hand, this also makes it the easiest position to get a leg up on everybody else, and in some cases, a huge leg up. For the 2026 Red Sox specifically — who are getting paltry production from their combination of crummy catchers — it screamed the most obvious path for improvement.
And no, I’m not just saying this now that the Sox landed Rutschman. I felt catcher should’ve been the target for the Sox even when most rumors were connecting them to a shortstop.
I'd rather target catcher. While shortstop is a mess with a bevy of broken candidates, I don't have to squint that hard to envision a scenario where Trevor Story, Marcelo Mayer, or even Franklin Arias is there at the end of the year and playing surprisingly well. Catcher? You're… https://t.co/oC7liKaael
So in any case, I started looking back at all the World Series winners over the last several decades and what type of offensive production they got from their catching. And you know what? The results are pretty fascinating. Here’s the raw data going back for the last 50 World Series (1975 to 2025, with 1994 missing because of the strike) and each catcher measured by OPS+.
(For this exercise, I used whatever catcher got the most plate appearance for their team during that championship season and their regular season OPS+. It’s imperfect if you want details, but it gets the job done as a broad overview, and the OPS+ metric being park and league adjusted over time brings everybody onto a level playing field, which is a must in this type of comparison.)
Doing it chronologically makes it easy to find certain guys and seasons, but you can glean even more from the results when you take that same data and organize all the seasons by OPS+. Since this is where some real patterns start to emerge, let’s see what that looks like below:
A few things jump out here immediately. First off, the 2018 Red Sox are a complete anomaly. They had not one, but two completely useless bats at catcher on that roster between Sandy Leon and Christian Vazquez. Together they played 89 and 80 games respectively, and posted an OPS+ of 37 and 46. In other words, if you use either guy for this exercise, you end up with the worst hitting catcher on any World Series team in the last 50 years.
Secondly, the example closest to the 2018 Red Sox almost doesn’t even count, for several reasons. First, we know Yadier Molina is better than that 53 OPS+ he posted in the 2006 regular season, and this was specifically illustrated by the fact he hit .358 with a .971 OPS in 16 games for the Cardinals during the 2006 postseason. Additionally, that 2006 Cardinals team only won 83 regular season games, so they literally only started acting like a World Series team once October started, which is also the precise moment they started getting explosive offensive production from behind the dish. So this is pretty much the exception that proves the rule.
Taking a broader view, above average offensive production from catching compared to the rest of the league tends to be a pretty serious championship building block. For reference, the average OPS+ among catchers in 2026 is 89, and if we look at the second table up there, 33 of the last 50 World Series winning catchers posted an OPS+ of 89 or higher (so we’re talking two thirds of the batch).
If I had to take a guess as to why this is the case, I’d guess it’s because the MLB postseason becomes a game of outs even more than a game of runs, and while many of the catchers on that list weren’t big boppers, they also weren’t automatic outs either, meaning the opponent found it just a little bit more difficult to collect 27 outs against them each night, and ultimately couldn’t do it without cracking over a seven game series.
However, the really fascinating data starts when you look at the names near the top of the table above. Specifically, when you hone in on the guys who posted an OPS+ above 120 during a World Series winning season. If you go from Jason Varitek’s 2004 upwards (121 OPS+ and higher), you get seven names (spanning eleven seasons). Here they are in bulleted form:
Buster Posey
Will Smith
Johnny Bench
Jorge Posada
Yadier Molina
Thurman Munson
Jason Varitek
Do you know what those seven guys all have in common? They all won the World Series more than once! And in Posey, Smith and Posada’s case, it was at least three times. So when you get to this level, not only does a big bat at this position help you win one World Series, it puts you in a hell of a position to eventually go for a second bite at the apple.
So now the question becomes, where does that leave the Sox with Adley Rutschman? Rutschman’s OPS+ right now is 115, and that’s true for both his 2026 season and his career mark. So if he can come back and get just a little bit of a bump from that number and start looking like the guy he was earlier in his career, you start playing with some extremely enticing numbers. (This is undoubtedly the vision the front office saw, and why they paid such a high premium for him.)
Then again, do you know what there’s almost no track record of on that list? A catcher as good as Adley Rutschman switching teams in the middle of a season and then leading that new team to a World Series title that same year. As far as that table is concerned, the biggest thing Monday’s deadline did was ship Carlos Narvaez’s 52 OPS+ out of town (a level of futility that only the 2018 Red Sox made work).
Then there’s also the concerning fact that Rutschman’s really only had two good months by OPS+ over the last two years (although both of those were downright excellent). Here’s his OPS and OPS+ numbers by month for the last ten months he’s tallied at least 50 plate appearances dating back to the middle of the 2024 season.
July 2024: OPS of .482 with an OPS+ of 35
August 2024: OPS of .625 with an OPS+ of 73
September 2024: OPS of .578 with an OPS+ of 68
April 2025: OPS of .694 with an OPS+ of 98
May 2025: OPS of .561 with an OPS+ of 57
June 2025: OPS of .890 with an OPS+ of 147
August 2025: OPS of .616 with an OPS+ of 69
April 2026: OPS of 1.067 with an OPS+ of 194
May 2026: OPS of .636 with an OPS+ of 81
June 2026: OPS of .717 with an OPS+ of 93
Outside of June 2025 and April 2026, that’s ugly stuff. So if the Red Sox don’t get some sort of bounce back here, they severely overpaid for Rutschman’s services. Then again, Rutschman’s been thrust into his best chance to win a World Series in years overnight, and we’ve seen situations time and time again in this sport where you put a dog in the kitchen where he can smell meat, and then all of a sudden they start to relearn old tricks.
So to bottom line all this, the stakes are extremely high. The Sox are in pretty uncharted territory trying to win with Rutschman as an in-season pickup, but history suggests there’s a pretty strong link between a good hitting catcher, and a good shot at a championship (maybe even multiple championships). So which guy did the Sox get? It will be fascinating to find out in the months ahead.
Yordan Alvarez
Munetaka Murakami
COVERS INTEL: The Brewers own a 
