The Dominican Summer League season wrapped up last week, and it was not a good one for the DSL Twins. They finished with a 19-35 record, allowing just under 9 runs per game, the 3rd most in the league. While its always good to win games, individual player development is prioritized in the minor leagues, and there are a handful of players that have stood out over the past few months.
The Pitching
As a team, the DSL Twins finished with a 9.33 ERA, totaling 374 walks and 372 strikeouts in 395.2 innings. While the staff completely lacked any amount of consistent production, there are a handful of intriguing arms that have the tools to turn into notable prospects.
Fernando Hernandez was the most reliable arm for the DSL Twins, posting a 4.05 ERA and 3.19 FIP and tallying 16 strikeouts and 2 walks in 13.1 innings. Still, this was in 1-2 inning stints with a 1.5 month absence in the middle. There is a solid sinker/slider combo, but with Hernandez standing at just 5’10” and turning 20 soon, this isn’t the young, raw pitcher with dreamy upside.
Enmanuel Mena and Josangel Braffit are 18-year-old righties with intriguing fastball/slider combos, but both struggled with command. Camilo Made was a late signing that showed off some impressive stuff with a plus fastball and a pair of nice breaking balls in limited action at 17 years old. Struggled a bit with command, but has long levers at 6’5” that could hold some nasty stuff if he can get his body in sync. These three have flashed some real potential, but need to find more consistent strike-throwing.
DSL Twins RHP Josangel Braffit struck out 7 over 4 scoreless innings this morning, the best outing we've seen from a DSL Twins pitcher this summer.
Fastball touches 97 with big run, ground ball machine. Slider looks above average. Changeup lacks feel but has elite specs. pic.twitter.com/sBMDqpGIC6
Right-handers Yolcar Garcia and Alam Soriano are the other two pitchers I want to mention, both being command arms with less explosive stuff. Garcia stands at six feet tall with a cut fastball around 90 MPH and a pair of average breaking balls. Soriano posted a 1.04 ERA and 3.20 FIP over his last 6 appearances after struggling with homers early on. His fastball pops at the top of the zone at 90-92. Slider gets solid spin and a little late bite. They are less exciting prospects with below average strikeout numbers, but the command feel gives them a significant edge over many of the other pitchers on the Dominican roster. If you look back at old rookie ball stats from current major league pitchers, size and command have a stronger tendency to translate than stuff and strikeout numbers.
Lots of 2-3 pitch repertoires in this group with a lack of changeup usage. This IFA crop lacks pitching talent, but there is no shortage of intriguing bats.
The $1.5 Million Man
The Twins’ top 2026 international free agent signing was infielder Enmanuel Merlo at just under $1.5 million. MLB Pipeline’s 34th ranked IFA signing showed off impressive tools in his first season as a pro. Merlo is 6’1” with some big power potential in his frame. Extreme ground ball rates limited his power production this year, but he consistently registered 100+ MPH exit velocities. As a switch hitter, he looked more polished from the left side, totaling more walks than strikeouts. Maybe a little more raw power, but also more whiff from the right side.
Merlo posted a 115 wRC+ on the season, but he slashed .403/.526/.581 over his last 20 games for a 175 wRC+ with 15 walks and 10 strikeouts. The contact numbers and approach have improved tremendously throughout the season as he looks more and more like a big league hitting prospect. With a strong frame and a talented bat that’s already showing great development at 17 years old, Enmanuel Merlo looks like one of the Twins’ top rookie ball hitters.
He split time between short and third this year, showcasing quality actions with an average arm. He has the type of frame that will typically beef up and turn into a bat-first corner infielder. He’s a little lumbery as a runner. Might make more sense as a first baseman if the arm doesn’t play enough at third. I’m seeing a Josh Bell profile with a high likelihood for more defensive value. His bat has a chance to push him through the minors very quickly.
The Walk Merchants
17-year-old 2B Jendy Martinez produced probably the most eye-popping statline on the team this year, tallying a ridiculous 58 walks to just 18 strikeouts. Martinez is a smaller switch-hitter with quick feet. He was primarily a second baseman, but mixed in a little center field. While he lacks raw power, the contact skills and swing decisions are looking incredibly advanced. His swing is smooth and simple from both sides of the plate. Over the last 20 games, Jendy slashed .403/547/.597 with 21 walks and 3 strikeouts. He mixed on 22 stolen bags on the season. He is a long ways out, but showing off a very fun profile in year one.
SS Daiyer Barboza cooled off after being one of the hottest hitters in the league for the first month or so. The 17-year-old has advanced spin recognition and contact skills from the left side of the plate while showing off quality power potential. He totaled 52 walks and 29 strikeouts on the season and smacked 4 homers while slashing .272/.487/.412. At 6’2” with a leaner frame, Barboza has room to add some muscle and grow into more power. He runs well and has played primarily shortstop so far, but may not have the quick twitch of a major league shortstop. Still, there is potential for positive defensive value somewhere in the infield.
Juan Holmann missed the last month of the season with injury, but his 170 wRC+ led the team as he slashed .310/.533/.535 in 27 games. Holmann has more whiff issues, but his patient approach led to him walking and striking out at a 29.5% clip. He looks a bit more muscular than the other two and generates excellent bat speed in his 6’0” frame. His swing reminds me a lot of Kaelen Culpepper. The righty infielder stole 14 bags and split time across the infield, showcasing a strong arm and quality defensive actions. At 17 years old, Holmann has hit tool concerns but is a high-upside bat with some advanced physical tools.
The DSL Twins have 18 runs through 5 innings and have jacked 3 homers off the bats of Abel Sosa, Juan Holmann, and Luis Suarez! pic.twitter.com/M5ALgzNQ2s
While Abel Sosa and Jhon Gonzalez finished with average production in their age 17 season, they are toosly and talented players that add some nice depth to the bottom of the system and have a real chance to reach the majors.
Abel Sosa played a mix of center and right field this year. The righty stands at 6’3” with a lean frame, but impressive bat speed and a chance to grow into some real power. His swing is efficient and fluid. He is a more aggressive hitter, but struck out at just a 14.9% clip this season. While the contact rates were good and he showed off some impressive power, the quality of contact lacked consistency. He slashed .293/.385/.420, which was good for a 98 wRC+. Also showed off some solid movement skills. Has a good arm and projects to fit nicely into a corner outfield spot. Sosa’s bat is raw but could be well worth the wait.
Jhon Gonzalez possesses an intriguing set of tools as well. The 6’0” lefty is an aggressive hitter that struggles with chase and has some bigger whiff concerns, but there is real power potential and some impressive athleticism. There are some moving parts in his violent swing which contributes to the whiff concerns, but his 21.2% strikeout rate remained respectable. Gonzalez has flashed solid bat speed and exit velocities for a 17-year-old, but high ground ball rates limited his power production. He stole 10 bags in 46 games and was the team’s primary center fielder, showcasing a good arm and some range. It’s early, but Jhon Gonzalez has impressive tools with potential to impact the game in multiple facets.
While the DSL Twins struggled to win games, it was a good season for the offense, which once again included a handful of notable bats. The 2025 IFA class fared extremely well in the Florida Complex this year, and that level will be an important checkpoint for this 2026 group when they head to the states next season.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have 35 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #35.
Let's take a look.
Jean-François Labbé - 2003 - Labbé was undrafted out of Sherbrooke, Quebec.
Jean-François Labbé played in 14 games with the Blue Jackets over the course of two seasons. He went 3-5 with an .890 SV%. He spent the bulk of his time playing in the AHL for the Syracuse Crunch.
He left North America in 2003 for Russia. He then played in Germany and Poland before returning to Canada in 2009. After playing a season for Sherbrooke Saint-François in the Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey, he retired.
Labbé was primarily an AHL goalie, playing 261 games. He had a record of 131-97-25 and had 13 shutouts. He has won numerous awards in the AHL, including Best Goaltender and Most Valuable Player. For his efforts, Labbé was inducted into the AHL Hall of Fame in 2016.
After retiring, he moved into coaching, where he was either a head coach or a goaltending coach at different stops.
Martin Prusek - 2006 - Prusek was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the 6th round of the 1999 NHL Draft.
Prusek played in 9 games for Columbus during the 05-06 season and had a record of 3-3. He also played 23 games for the Syracuse Crunch that year.
He returned to Europe after his time with Columbus, where he would play in Russia and Czechia until he retired in 2011. He moved directly into coaching, where he has been a goaltending coach in Czechia with various age levels ever since.
Brian Boucher - 2007 - Boucher was drafted in 1995 with the 22nd overall pick by the Philadelphia Flyers
On February 27, 2007, he was acquired on waivers by the Blue Jackets from the Chicago Blackhawks. He played in three games for Columbus and went 1-1. That would be the only games he would play for Columbus, as he would sign elsewhere the following season.
He played in the NHL until 2013, and then left for Switzerland, where he played one season before retiring.
Nowadays, you can find Boucher doing Flyers games on NBC Sports Philadelphia and doing between-the-bench work for TNT during National games. Boucher has turned into a very respected member of the hockey media.
Ty Conklin - 2007 - Conklin was undrafted out of Phoenix, Arizona.
Conklin's time in Columbus was short but somewhat eventful. He was signed by Columbus on July 1, 2006. He was expected to be the starter for the Jackets, but head coach Gerard Gallant went with Frederik Norrena instead. So, Conklin was put on waivers and sent to the AHL.
He was recalled by Columbus in December of that year when Pascal LeClaire went down with an injury. He played in 11 games and went 2-3-2 during his time with the CBJ. On February 27, 2007, he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres and immediately had a 42-save win. His last season in the NHL would be the 2011-12 season.
He moved into coaching, where he worked for the Blues and the University of New Hampshire for several years.
Jan Hejda - 2011 - Hejda was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the 4th round of the 2003 NHL Draft.
Hejda signed with Columbus in 2007 after playing one year with the Edmonton Oilers. In all, he played with Columbus for four seasons and totaled 302 games. He scored 11 goals and 67 points playing on the Columbus blue line.
He left for the Colorado Avalanche in 2011 when free agency opened. He would play there until 2015. He signed a PTO with the Lake Erie Monsters in December of 2015, was released in January of 2016, and retired.
Veini Vehviläinen - 2021 - Vehviläinen was drafted by Columbus in the 6th round of the 2018 NHL Draft.
Vehviläinen was supposed to be the goalie of the future in Columbus, or at least that's what many people thought. It turns out he was a forgotten goalie.
Due to COVID and the Blue Jackets having Elvis Merzlikins, Joonas Korpisalo, and Daniil Tarasov waiting in the wings, he never really had a chance. After appearing in just one relief appearance, he would never sniff the NHL again.
In March of 2021, he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He would play in a few games for the Marlies, picking up a single win, but that was it.
He left to play in Sweden in 2021 and now plays in his home country of Finland. After spending a season in Finland's second tier league, he's back in LIIGA for 26-27, playing for Jokerit.
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WINNIPEG, CANADA - NOVEMBER 1: Harrison Brunicke #45 of the Pittsburgh Penguins keeps an eye on the play during third period action against the Winnipeg Jets at the Canada Life Centre on November 1, 2025 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Jets defeated the Pens 5-2. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
We’re getting close to the end of this year’s list of the top young players in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ organization. Today, at No. 2, we see the organization’s prized young defensemen who turns full time this season and looks ready to take the next step in his journey.
The 2025-26 season was a wild one for Harrison Brunicke. He forced his way onto the NHL roster out of training camp – a rare feat for a teenaged defenseman. After nine games in the Show, next was a period of being a healthy scratch long enough to qualify for a loophole of an “AHL conditioning stint” for a 19-year old that by rule wasn’t allowed to play full-time in the top professional minor league due to his age. Following that, the Penguins assigned Brunicke to Team Canada for the World Junior Championships.
Out of sync, it wasn’t a good event that saw his ice time and role slashed drastically. A disappointing personal performance matched by a disappointing third place finish for the Canadians.
After that, the junior route was the only option that made sense. Brunicke was sent back to the WHL for the remainder of the season and told to focus on the areas that Pittsburgh wanted to see him improve on.
“It was unique,” Brunicke told The Athletic in June. “It was different. I bounced around a little bit. But going back to juniors, I was given things to work on by Kyle and Spez. Defending the rush, closing quicker, better gaps, stuff like that. Playing more minutes in juniors really helped me with that stuff. I just kept working on what the Penguins told me they wanted me to work on. And the communication was good and consistent the whole time. Early on, there was a ton of communication. They gave me stuff to work on and, honestly, that’s all I really have been focusing on.”
That ended up really growing his game, when Kamloops’ season was over there was one more change of leagues back to the AHL for Wilkes-Barre for the balance of the season. Brunicke emerged over three rounds of their playoff run as a legit top defender in the AHL.
“He was great for us,” WBS head coach Kirk MacDonald told the Tribune-Review. “He defended really hard. His skating ability really stands out, but I think just how he competes. His puck decisions really improved since the previous year, and even when he was with us for a conditioning stint in November. He’s a horse for us. He was playing huge minutes in every situation. Top power-play unit. Killing penalties. Every situation late in games. It was just really cool to see the process. I’ve gotten to know him as a player, and what he brought to the table on a long playoff run was great to see.”
Count his teammates as true believers.
“No one in the league can skate the way he can,” Wilkes-Barre forward Avery Hayes said. “And no one in the league can do the things from the blue line that he can do. I’m just having fun watching this guy play right now. Unreal hockey player.”
Coaches being coaches, MacDonald cut through the hype with what impressed him the most.
“Everyone talks about his skating ability,” MacDonald said. “And how he can move pucks. But did you see how many shots he blocked (in Game 4)? That, to me, is what separates him. The way he competes in the D-zone. He makes great players offensively for us at this level. But he’s great on the penalty kill. He’s great down low. Great stuff.”
Developing a consistent stopping game and refining his decision making is the final piece to the puzzle for Brunicke. It’s one of those things that only time and experience can fully unlock, by year’s end he was showing real payoff in strengthening his weak areas.
The question now is what comes next. Brunicke could take heart in the career path of Kris Letang — a defenseman who also forced his way onto an NHL roster as a teenaged for a brief debut at 19. Letang was reassigned to the AHL at age-20 in his first pro year but only stayed for 10 AHL games before getting called up and never seeing that league again.
In Brunicke’s case, more patience could be in store. The Pens are deep enough on the right side to where they could allow Brunicke more development time to settle in and keep growing in the AHL. It’s been a while since Brunicke had a full season to stay on one team at one level, without bouncing around up and down and all over the place. A little stability could go a long way to helping Brunicke’s progression.
That said, Brunicke had a great September last year, playing so well the Pens had basically no choice but to keep him. He is better now than he was 12 months ago. Numbers and veterans be dammed, there’s a case that Brunicke could show he’s among the top seven defenseman and work his way right back into the NHL group once again.
Regardless of the short-term placement, the Pens have to be thrilled about Brunicke’s performance in the AHL playoffs – where he looked like he could be a future big deal in the NHL one day. Between his size, skating, game control and now burgeoning defensive work, Brunicke has every single tool needed to become a top-pair defenseman. Now he just needs a little more time to keep putting it together as he seemingly finally transfers full-time into his pro career.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 11: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket against Myles Turner #3 and Jericho Sims #00 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the third quarter at Kia Center on February 11, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to Volume V of our “Choose Your Own Adventure” starter series, where we explore the Milwaukee Bucks’ options at each position. Read along, make your choice, and share your pick in the comments—if you dare!
The centre rotation is nowhere near as jammed up as the guard rotation with three viable options at the five: Myles Turner, Kel’el Ware, and Jericho Sims. With Giannis gone, suddenly each of these players—less so for Sims—will have a license to explore the studio space just that little bit more. The “shooting bigs” will also have the chance to roll, while Sims will have more opportunities in general because he no longer has to be separated from a non-shooting power forward in GA.
Go on to OPTION 1.
1. The turn-around trade bait: Myles Turner
As the “elder statesman” of the team, Turner is an obvious choice to start—and majority of fans agree—if only to revive his trade value. I feel like last year’s fit with Turner and Giannis was good in theory, but it did lead to Turner standing stationary on the three-point line a lot of the time as Giannis bulldozed, when he has way more to offer than that. Like, Doc really wasn’t creative at all with how he utilised Turner, and now that Giannis is gone, he will surely be more involved. Get him screening more, rolling, popping, setting flare screens—all the stuff that made him so valuable with the Pacers. I don’t know about you guys, but I think MT is in for a big season (for however much of it that he’s wearing a Bucks uniform).
If you’re willing to give second chances, choose Turner. If not, turn to OPTION 2.
2. The Kryptonian: Kel’el Ware
By starting Ware at centre—and thus probably moving Turner to the bench—you are making the decision to go all-in on the future. Feed Ware all the reps that he didn’t get in Miami, and see what you’ve got: give him more back-to-the-basket opportunities and try to expand his game at the rim. After all, if there was one player the Bucks got back in the Miami trade—excluding Nate Ament—who you could say has a chance to be that “blue chip prospect” that everyone said the Bucks didn’t get, it would be Ware. Frankly, he’s one of the more unique players I’ve seen. At 7’0”, he’s explosive at the rim, has real touch in the paint, can block shots, and make threes at a 40% clip. There just aren’t many players who can do all of those things. As I’ll deep dive in an upcoming article, there have been major questions about Ware’s motor, but if he can sort that out—and it’s a huge if—he could be special. Look, I don’t hate the idea of starting Ware at centre from the jump, but I do get nervous about him being the full-time defensive anchor at this stage. Maybe those concerns are misguided, though—let me know in the comments.
If you’re ready for a new flame, choose Ware. If not, turn to OPTION 3.
3. The fleet-footed finisher: Jericho Sims
I feel like Sims is somewhat polarising, but my dirty little secret is that (whispers)… I thought he was straight-up better than Myles Turner for a good portion of last season. Yes, you aren’t getting much offensive versatility with Sims, but his ability to switch on defence is mind-boggling. Like, the number of times a guard would “try him” last season, only to back away and make the next pass because they simply couldn’t shake him was amazing. I truly believe the league missed by not offering him more than the minimum; his defensive ability is special. As long as there’s shooting at the other four spots, I think Sims could do a great job in a starting role. Now do I think that’s actually going to happen? No way. For various reasons, Turner and Ware need to play a lot, but I truly believe the Bucks must keep investing in Sims long term. His foot speed on defence is an outlier skill at the centre spot, and it’s only a matter of time until the league figures that out.
QUICK! Make a decision, you’re near the end. Choose Sims if you like your centre to rebound, set screens, and throw it down hard. Otherwise, pull a rabbit out of your hat and tell us who it is in the comments.
Send in your questions now for this week’s episode of The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast to discuss everything Pistons. Submit your question in the comments section here or on Twitter to @TheRealWesD3 and/or @RobbieBettelon. If you’re on BlueSky, you can also send to @RobbieBettelon.bksy.social.
Join us live on Thursday night as Wes and Robbie discuss Pistons news late into August. What questions would you like to add to the show?
Plus, The Pindown has a phone line where you can leave a message and hear your voice on the show. Call (313) 355-2717 and leave us a voicemail with your question. Please try to keep the message around 45 seconds or less so we can fit everyone into the show.
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 16: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic goes up for a shot as he is defended by Jalen Johnson #1 and Onyeka Okongwu #17 of the Atlanta Hawks during the second quarter at State Farm Arena on March 16, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’re roughly a month away from training camp starting around the NBA, as teams will be getting back into the flow of things as they begin a new journey this season. For now, fans are still trying to enjoy what’s left of the offseason, and the schedule release a few weeks ago gave them some excitement.
The Atlanta Hawks have some interesting matchups that fans should look out for this season, and here are a few that could be enticing to mark on the calendar.
Oct. 21 vs. Orlando Magic
Not only is this the season opener, but this is against a team that has basically rivaled the Hawks over the past two seasons. It all started two years ago when the Magic injured Vit Krejci and Larry Nance Jr. in the same game, and from there, the mayhem began. The Magic defeated the Hawks in the play-in tournament that year, but last season, they got their revenge.
The Hawks swept the Magic last season, but they also injured another key player on the team, Jock Landale, who ultimately missed the remainder of the season and the playoffs because of it. There’s no doubt there’s still some hate brewing between these two teams.
Nov. 6 vs. Washington Wizards
The Hawks would have played the Wizards a few days before this, but this one holds more weight. First, it’s the start of the NBA Cup games, which means these matchups mean a little more. Second, this will be the official return of Trae Young playing against his former team. Young already received his video tribute last season after he was traded, but he wasn’t playing due to injury.
The Wizards should be coming into this season fully healthy, and Young is going to want to put on a show against the team that drafted him in 2018.
Nov. 18 @ Oklahoma City Thunder
This will be a return for Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins after they were traded from the Thunder this offseason. They helped the Thunder win their championship two seasons ago and there’s a good chance they’ll be getting their video tributes in this game.
This is also a game where the Hawks match up against one of the better teams in the Western Conference. They’ve played them close on the road for two straight seasons but haven’t been able to get the win in the end, and it would be big if they could walk out with a victory this time.
Nov. 29 @ New York Knicks
The first time the Hawks see the Knicks since the first round of the playoffs should be special, and it comes two days after Thanksgiving. The Knicks didn’t make many changes to their roster over the offseason, so the Hawks should know this team pretty well after seeing them several times the past season.
Dec. 27 @ San Antonio Spurs
This is also another game where the Hawks have come close on the road the past two seasons but haven’t been able to walk out with the win. The Spurs should once again be a top team in the Western Conference this season, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they were better this year.
This game comes at the end of the calendar year, and it would be big for the Hawks to close out 2026 strong against a really good team.
Jan. 4 vs. Philadelphia 76ers
This will be the second time in the season when the Hawks will face the 76ers, and the one and only time at home. It’ll be interesting to see how the 76ers look by this point, but it will also be interesting to see how the Hawks have fared throughout the first few months of the season.
This game will be the second to start the year 2027, and just like the Hawks should want to end 2026 strong against the Spurs, they should want to do the same against the 76ers when the calendar flips.
Feb. 8 vs. Miami Heat
This game comes days before the trade deadline, and there’s no telling what has already happened by this time. Depending on where the Hawks stand, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see if they had made a move or two to improve the team. At the same time, there is a chance they wait until the actual deadline day to make a deal, and a win or loss around this moment could change a lot.
Feb. 26 @ Toronto Raptors
This could be a random game near the end of February, but it could also mean a lot to the Hawks. It was no secret that they struggled against the Raptors last season, and it could be big if they could turn that tide this season.
Mar. 29 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
This game could absolutely have no importance for the Hawks internally, but fans are always excited when the Timberwolves come into town, and it’s because of Anthony Edwards. The hometown player will be coming toward the end of the season, and it’ll be interesting to see how they’ve done over the course of the season after the moves they made this offseason.
As for some Hawks fans, they’re still holding out hope that Edwards finds his way on the Hawks soon.
Apr. 11 @ Cleveland Cavaliers
The last game of the season always comes with some sort of playoff implications, and with how deep the Eastern Conference is supposed to be this season, it wouldn’t be a surprise that a lot of things were determined on this day. To make things even better, the Hawks will playing a team that is supposed to be in the Eastern Conference gauntlet, and this game could mean a lot too them as well.
Either these two teams are fighting for positioning by this time, or they’re resting their starters.
Kevin Durant On LeBron’s 76ers Move, the Knicks Ring, Westbrook Retiring, & His NBA Future
In a special episode of Boardroom Talks, Durant sat down with Speedy Morman for one of the most candid conversations of his career.
Kevin Durant has been one of the most scrutinized, analyzed, and debated athletes of his generation. So when Speedy Morman sat down with the 38-year-old future Hall of Famer at KD's home for the latest episode of Boardroom Talks, the conversation that unfolded wasn't the one you might expect. It was looser, funnier, and more revealing than any press conference or postgame media scrum has ever managed to produce.
It started, as so many KD conversations do these days, with something that went viral for the wrong reasons. The Nobu bush photo -- Durant's beanie barely visible over a hedgerow, an image the internet immediately ran with as proof that the greatest scorer alive was hiding from paparazzi -- got addressed quickly and dispatched just as fast. He wasn't hiding: "Why would I hide behind the bush? Why do I need to hide? I wouldn't have went to Nobu then because Nobu is the paparazzi capital." He admitted the photo was funny and then they moved on. Which is exactly what KD did with the whole thing once the AI video of him jumping over the bush started circulating; some jokes you just have to let run their course.
From there, the conversation moved through KD's childhood in the DMV, the 2007 NBA Draft, NIL, the New York Knicks' championship run, Russell Westbrook's retirement, and LeBron James heading to Philadelphia. Durant's verdict on the Sixers was unambiguous. "That's going to be a juggernaut," he said, pointing to the championship-caliber front office and coaching staff around James, Embiid, Brown, and Maxey. "I think it's not no ifs, ands, or buts about it."
When Morman brought up Jalen Brunson's famous decision to leave $113 million on the table, Durant didn't pretend he would've done the same. "I don't think I would be advised to do that," he said. "I probably would've been like, 'All right, I'm cool with it.' And then I'd have sat down and talked to all my people — Rich, all my friends — and been like, 'What? You serious? Why do you need to take that risk when this dude's a billionaire?'" He paused. "But for him to make that decision and it come out the way it did, kudos to him."
Some of the most illuminating moments came when Durant talked about the parts of his life that rarely make headlines. His best teammates, for instance, aren't the names you'd expect — alongside James Harden and Nick Collison, he listed Nasi Muhammad and Daniel Marshall, guys whose families he knows, players he's stayed close with long after the locker room days ended. And then there are the friends he made playing video games, people he's now known for almost a decade, invited to his home, trusted completely. "I can call right now," he said of one of them. "He going to pick the phone."
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The CeraVe deal came up, the one that turned his legendarily ashy legs into one of the most memorable brand campaigns in recent memory. Durant's explanation for why he refuses to lotion before games was delivered with complete seriousness: The ball gets slippery, the sweat mixes with the lotion, and suddenly you're fumbling passes at the worst moments. The ashiness was simply an occupational hazard. "He knew what he was doing," Durant said of the original photo that launched the whole thing, then laughed.
Near the end, Morman asked KD what comes next. The answer was characteristically direct and unexpectedly revealing: He wants to keep making content, build relationships, and see what falls from them. But one goal stood above the rest. "One of my main goals is to be the GM of the Team USA," he said. "One of these Olympics, one of these years. I want to do that job one time."
He's got time. He's still, by his own account, got buckets left in him.
Drafting has long been a point of contention for the Philadelphia Flyers and their fans, and another one of their recently selected prospects has already flamed out and signed overseas.
Several former Flyers players who recently played for the organization have signed with clubs in different countries to continue their playing careers.
Most notably, veteran forward Kevin Hayes, who emerged as a controversial figure at the end of his Flyers tenure and again during the Cutter Gauthier saga, signed with the KHL's Ak Bars Kazan.
Defenseman Egor Zamula bounced around this season before winding up back home in Russia with CSKA Moscow, and winger Anthony Richard signed in Switzerland with his NHL opportunities with the Flyers greatly decreased.
Now, a former Flyers second-round pick is joining that group of castaways, heading over to Sweden's SHL for at least two seasons.
Earlier this month, once-promising Flyers prospect Samu Tuomaala signed a two-year deal with Linkoping HC, flaming out of North American hockey just five years after being drafted.
Tuomaala never made NHL debut, must fight to save his career
(Photo: Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports)
Tuomaala, 23, is still fairly young, though injuries have stalled his development and decimated his chances of cracking an NHL roster in the past few seasons.
Drafted 46th overall by the Flyers in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft, Tuomaala was picked ahead of the likes of Logan Stankoven, Aatu Raty, Matthew Knies, J.J. Moser, Oliver Kapanen, and Jackson Blake, and only 10 players drafted ahead of him (excluding Chaz Lucius, who medically retired) have also yet to appear in an NHL game.
Winger Danila Klimovich is one of those 10, and the Flyers just picked up the Vancouver prospect in free agency.
At the end of the day, skating and shooting were the two hallmarks of Tuomaala's game, but the shooting never quite came as the Finn scored just 26 times in 118 games across three seasons with the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Then, after a scoreless three games with the Phantoms this year, the Flyers traded Tuomaala to the Dallas organization for defenseman Christian Kyrou, who tore it up for the Phantoms but was subsequently let go as well.
Putting those two players in a Venn diagram, they play different positions, of course, but both Kyrou and Tuomaala played skilled games as undersized players. Their problem was that they did not project to fill those premier roles at the top level, and so there was no fit for them left in the Flyers organization.
"We are very pleased to welcome Samu to LHC on a two-year deal. With Samu, we get another right-handed forward with good speed and a really good shot. He gives us more options in the power play and fits well into the hockey we want to play. We believe his best years are ahead of him and look forward to seeing him continue to develop and become an important player for us over the next two seasons," Linkoping GM Broc Little said in a press release.
In Sweden, Tuomaala will reunite with former Phantoms teammate Cooper Marody, who also left the Flyers organization during the previous season.
The Golden State Warriors' Zaza Pachulia (27) reacts after he was called a foul against him on San Antonio Spurs' Kawhi Leonard in the third quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, May 14, 2017. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) (Photo by RAY CHAVEZ/MediaNews Group/Bay Area News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Over the past 80 years, the NBA had evolved. From the addition of a three-point line to the 14-second clock resetting with an offensive rebound, the league implements rules to make the game more challenging, fair, and interesting.
The post below listed a few of the changes that were specific to players. Even early on, the league has adapted everything from the design of the court to the durability of the rim to the way fouls are called. Check out how these players changed the game.
The first two mentioned involved enlarging the lane. The first time was a response to George Mikan, the second was due to Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell. Three of the biggest names from those early years. No wonder their talent shaped the game.
Dunkers have influenced the rim as durability has been tested time and again. Darryl Dawkins found that if he pulled down hard enough when dunking, the backboard shattered. Shaq called Dawkins “the father of power dunking” and referred to himself as “his best son.” He wasn’t wrong, as the league later reinforced basket supports to handle his powerful slams as well.
How about timing, you ask? Well the five second rule was designed because Charles Barkley and Mark Jackson dominated shot clocks backing guys into the paint. And the 0.3 second rule on getting a shot off is attributed to Trent Tucker.
And then there are the custom alterations to fouls. Kevin Durant’s rip through, Reggie Miller’s leg kick out, and James Harden swing through have all been changed to honor integrity of the game, not the foul-baiting aspect that many players utilize. The rip through is no longer a shooting foul, a crazy leg kick out may result in an offensive foul, and Harden’s methodology is now checked. Most of what he does counts as common fouls and no longer instigates free throws.
Shaq makes another appearance in the namesake rule that is probably the best known on the list. The Hack-A-Shaq is an away-from-the-play foul meant to send a not-so-great shooter to the free throw line, ultimately stealing an offensive opportunity away from their opponent. While the practice still exists, it garners a free throw and possession in the last two minutes, allowing dominant big men with limited free throw range to stay on the court when the game is at its apex.
Of course, the most famous Hack-A-Shaq in Spurs history:
And of course every Spurs fan has knowledge of “The Zaza Rule.” On May 14, 2017, during Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, Golden State Warriors big man Zaza Pachulia slid his foot into the landing spot of Kawhi Leonard, reaggravating an injury. The Spurs commanding lead withered without Leonard and the Warriors stole the game. Leonard was out for the remainder of the series and the Spurs were swept by the Warriors. Now, the exact tactics used by Pachulia to not allow a safe landing are reviewed by officials and can be upgraded to flagrant fouls.
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Jun 7, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Fernando Cruz (63) pitches in the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
There’s no need to reinvent the wheel, so what was it that I said about the Yankees’ bullpen yesterday morning before we knew of the latest roster moves?
The Yankees’ bullpen deserves a lot of credit for exceeding expectations in 2026. There was plenty of eye-rolling in the offseason when it became clear that they were going with pretty much the same bunch that ended 2026, minus Luke Weaver and Devin Williams. Minimal offseason improvements were made.
And yes, there were absolutely misses. Camilo Doval and Jake Bird were terrible; they’ve since been traded. But while David Bednar’s success was expected … Brent Headrick, Paul Blackburn, and Fernando Cruz 2: Electric Boogaloo? They’ve helped this pitching staff stand up and carry the team during a wretched stretch for the bats. The bad news is that because said bats were, again, so wretched for so long, the Yankees were always playing close ballgames, and Aaron Boone had to ride the bullpen’s best like mid-2000s Joe Torre or else risk close games falling into the hands of Doval, Bird, Ryan Yarbrough, or whoever the 26th man happened to be that day.
Well, now the worm has turned. It’s more apparent for Cruz, who has surrendered 11 runs and five homers across his last 13.2 innings, but Headrick got hit hard last night as well. There is very little wiggle room at this point in the AL East race for the Yankees to be giving away ballgames when the offense actually shows up, but that’s what happened.
A few hours after that posted, the Yankees announced that Cruz was going on the IL with ominous right elbow discomfort. Annnnnd a few hours after that, Aaron Boone told reporters in the postgame that Cruz had a partially torn UCL. Zoinks. Cruz and Headrick were two of the 18 relievers in MLB to reach 60 appearances already, and barring a miracle, it doesn’t sound like the former will be adding to his total for the remainder of 2026.
Suddenly, here’s what the Yankees’ bullpen looks like at the moment:
RHP David Bednar LHP Brent Headrick RHP Paul Blackburn LHP Tim Hill RHP Yerry De los Santos RHP Michael Fulmer RHP Justin Topa LHP Ryan Yarbrough
So that’s different! Further tweaks could be on the horizon, as Clarke Schmidt and Ryan Weathers are working their way back from injury as relievers and the team is tentatively expecting both to play a role. Luis Gil and Angel Chivilli could make returns from the minors as well. But even with Cruz’s recent scuffles, that group seems less reliable without him. There’s reason for optimism with Matt Blake’s apparatus here, but it’s hard to predict how, say, Schmidt and Weathers fare when neither have been relievers for a hot minute.
I think Schmidt and Weathers are talented enough to make it work if they are healthy enough to return to the big-league roster, and even Gil could provide some innings now that he’s been converted. Maybe it’s just a one-game one-off, but hell, even Fulmer looked good in his Yankees debut on Monday night. It’s hard to strike out a hitter as gifted as Triple Crown threat Yordan Alvarez on accident.
I go back and forth on this topic. I have enough confidence in the overall operation that I’ll say I’m not too worried yet. On a scale of 1-5, I’ll say about a 3.5 in terms of confidence. If neither Schmidt nor Weathers can be effective in a relief comeback, then it’s certainly dropping to a three or worse.
Regardless, I am still worried at how much Headrick and Bednar have had to pitch in 2026, and as alluded in the earlier excerpt, I am forever scarred by the playoff impact of Torre’s overuse of guys like Tom Gordon, Paul Quantrill, and Scott Proctor. Yes, it’s been a very long time since then, and even at their apex, Aaron Boone does not use his arms quite as freely. Hopefully, the 24 runs scored across the last few games portend a long-awaited offensive rebound and the bats can give the most-used arms at least a couple extra days off here and there.
Today on the site, Andrés will profile new Yankees reliever Justin Topa, Sam will run through the Rivalry Roundup, Jonathan will celebrate what would have been the 80th birthday of forgotten catcher Ed Herrmann, Peter will break down his Sequence of the Week, and Michael will recall some niche Yankee killers in recent memory.
It’s August and news may be slow, but that won’t stop us from fretting. We can always fret.
Islanders News
The Islanders will have 10 games on U.S. “national” coverage (so: ESPN and TNT), whatever that means in today’s disconnected hybrid streaming world. [Isles]
In a related note, a few of the previously announced start times have changed. [Isles]
And here’s the schedule for promotional nights, including Schaefer and Sorokin bobblehead nights, and a night for the Salvadorans. [Isles | Newsday]
Former Isles prospect will subject himself to the KHL. [THN]
Dan and Mike check in with a mid-summer Islanders Anxiety to cover the third jersey contest(…???) and the Athletic’s front office fan confidence thing. [LHH]
Eslewhere
Here’s the full U.S. national coverage schedule. [NHL]
The 10 most impactful moves of the NHL summer. [Sportsnet]
An interview with Bryan McCabe on his transition from can-opener player to front office executive. [Sportsnet]
Here’s the Leafs getting the 32 in 32 treatment. [NHL]
And here are some lingering questions for the Lightning. [NHL]
One of them, Victor Hedman, says he’s fresh and ready to go though. [TSN]
The Oilers addressed their goaltending woes by signing oft-injured Frederik Andersen…who will miss training camp while rehabbing an injury. #thatsSoOilers [TSN]
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 17: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics holds up the Larry O'Brien trophy after Boston's 106-88 win against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
NBA history spans 80 seasons, and as CelticsBlog readers well know, the Boston Celtics have won a league-high 18 championships. This month, we are recapping each of those title years.
The 2023-24 Boston Celtics and the quest for Banner 18 could be best exemplified by Thomas Wayne’s famous quote from the criminally underrated — if only due to the astronomical success of its sequel — Batman Begins: “Why do we fall, Bruce? So we can learn to pick ourselves up.”
Heading into the 2023 offseason, it seemed like the Celtics were destined to fall flat on their faces every year, only picking themselves up enough between each tumble to ensure the next collapse would hurt more than the last.
Every high point since the Big 3 won in 2008 had been marred by disappointment — a feeling Celtics fans would come to know well over the next 16 years.
The Big 3 only got back to the Finals once more, in 2010, and lost Games 6 and 7 in devastating fashion after taking a 3-2 lead against Kobe’s Lakers, allowing LA to win their second championship in a row and their 16th overall (if you count the Minneapolis titles).
The next year, LeBron joined the Miami Heat and formed a newer, younger Big 3 that immediately stole the spotlight and cruised past Boston 4-1 on their way to the Finals. When the Celtics met the Heat again in the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals, they lost the first two games before roaring back with three consecutive wins to take a 3-2 series lead heading back to Boston. Everything was perfectly teed up for the aging C’s to make one last triumphant run to the Finals before Rajon Rondo could lead the team into a new era. Unfortunately, LeBron put up one of his greatest performances ever in Game 6 and sealed the deal in Game 7 while on his way to winning his first ring. And just like that, the balloon popped and the dream of a happy ending for Boston’s Big 3 was over.
Danny Ainge blew up the team after a 4-2 series loss to the New York Knicks in the first round of the 2013 playoffs and traded fan favorites Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Brooklyn Nets. While we know better now, many NBA fans at the time thought Boston had been fleeced. They traded two Celtics greats for a hodgepodge of players — at least one of which who didn’t even want to play in Boston — and a handful of draft picks that few thought would become valuable since the Nets had a 29-year-old Deron Williams and 25-year-old Brook Lopez to steer them into the future.
That rumored Celtics-Nets trade is so bad for Boston that Doc Rivers just quit on the Celtics again.
Nevertheless, the picks turned out to be valuable and the Celtics only struggled for a few years before topping the East once again in 2016-17 under new head coach Brad Stevens. Isaiah Thomas led a valiant charge through the first two rounds, highlighted by a memorable a 53-point explosion in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Washington Wizards the day after the death of his sister. However, Thomas’ hip gave out two games into the ECF, and Boston’s season once again came to an end at the hands of Lebron.
That summer, Ainge traded Thomas for Kyrie Irving, signed Gordon Hayward in free agency, and drafted Jayson Tatum with one of the picks conveyed in the Pierce/KG deal with Brooklyn. Despite the discomfort of parting with Thomas, the Celtics were now equipped with a pair of proven stars in Irving and Hayward, a star role player in Al Horford, impressive depth in Marcus Morris and Terry Rozier, and an exciting young core of Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart. Going into the season, they had the third-best odds to win it all, only behind the Golden State Warriors — who now had Kevin Durant — and LeBron’s Cavaliers. Those odds came crashing down only 5 minutes into the regular season, when Hayward broke his ankle coming down from an alley-oop attempt.
However, the team still finished with 55 wins, good enough for second place in the East, and made it to the 2018 ECF without Kyrie, who missed the playoffs due to season-ending surgery. The youngsters even led the team to a 3-2 lead over the Cavs, sparking fanciful hopes that a rookie JT and sophomore JB could topple LeBron’s longstanding reign and bring about a new era in the East. Nope. LeBron put up a monstrous 46-point performance in Game 6 to tie the series, then brought Cleveland back from a halftime deficit in Game 7 to win the series.
After the Kyrie era ended with a beyond-disappointing 1-4 series loss at the hands of Giannis and the Milwaukee Bucks in 2019, the Celtics retooled by getting Kemba Walker via sign-and-trade with the Charlotte Hornets. Boston wasn’t a title favorite heading into the 2019-20 season, but the team — now firmly led by the Jays, who had both blossomed into 20+ points per game scorers — finished third in the Eastern Conference and entered the 2020 Bubble with hopes of contention. After embarrassing the Sixers with a first-round sweep, then topping the Toronto Raptors in a grueling 7-game series, they were once again back in the ECF. While the young Jays put up a good fight, they ended up losing the series 2-4 to Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat.
The Celtics struggled their way to a 36-36 record during the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season, in which the team battled with injuries and Kemba’s deteriorating play before losing Brown to an injury ahead of the 2021 playoffs. Tatum exploded for 50 points to almost singlehandedly won Game 3 in the first round against the Nets, who now had Kyrie, Durant and James Harden, but that was Boston’s only win of the postseason.
Following the C’s first-round exit, Danny Ainge stepped down as the team’s President of Basketball Operations after 18 years at the helm, Stevens was promoted to take his place, and Ime Udoka was named Boston’s new head coach. Expectations were once again low for the squad heading into the 2021-22 season and, at first, they appeared to be accurate. The Celtics got off to a less-than-stellar start that resulted in a 18-21 record in early January and looked clunky under Udoka’s new leadership. However, Boston righted the ship and went 33-10 over the rest of the season thanks to a suffocating defense quarterbacked by Smart — who won DPOY for his efforts — on the perimeter and anchored by a double-big lineup of Robert Williams III and Al Horford in the paint.
The Celtics entered the 2022 playoffs as one of the hottest, if not the hottest, teams in the league, and immediately swept the Kyrie-Durant Nets in the first round. They then beat the Bucks in a 7-game series thanks to Tatum’s 46-point performance in Game 6 and a Grant Williams game for the ages in Game 7. Boston found itself in its second ECF against the Miami Heat in three years and, this time, they battled their way to a 4-3 series victory to secure their first Finals berth in 12 years. The run was magical, with the team seemingly conquering all of its demons in its battle through the East, and that magic carried into the Finals, as the Celtics won two of its first three games against Golden State. Curry ultimately ended that magic by manhandling Boston with 43 points in a devastating Game 4 that swung the momentum of the series. The veteran Warriors then won the next two games to wrap up the series in six.
Despite the Finals loss and the Udoka scandal in the offseason, which resulted in Stevens naming Joe Mazzulla as interim head coach less than a month before the 2022-23 season began, the Celtics started the campaign with the best title odds in the league (+500). They certainly looked the part throughout the regular season, too. The C’s finished with a 57-25 record, good for second-best in the whole league and six wins better than the year before. Both Jays put up their best seasons yet, as Tatum posted 30.1 points per game and finished fourth in MVP voting while Brown averaged 26.6 points per game and was voted onto the All-NBA Second Team. At the same time, Derrick White’s defensive chops had earned him a place on the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team, and offseason addition Malcolm Brogdon won the league’s Sixth Man of the Year award. Even the defense remained top-3 in the league without big minutes from Williams, who struggled with injuries and only played 35 games that season.
However, the Celtics didn’t look as impressive during the playoffs. The team lost two games to the seventh-seeded Atlanta Hawks in the first round and had a hard time guarding Trae Young and Dejounte Murray. In the second round against the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston lost Game 1 even though Joel Embiid did not play and allowed Philly to take a 3-2 series lead before they came back to win the series in seven games. The slippage was concerning, but it became embarrassing in the ECF against Miami, when the Heat took a dominant 3-0 series lead. JB couldn’t shoot, Williams couldn’t stay on the floor, and Brogdon was all but useless after sustaining an injury to his shooting arm in Game 1.
Nevertheless, Boston rattled off three straight wins, highlighted by a Derrick White buzzer beater in Game 6, to bring the series to a Game 7. The run sparked memories of the Red Sox’s historic 0-3 comeback against the Yankees on their way to a World Series win in 2004 and led fans to believe that maybe, just maybe, the Celtics could complete the first 0-3 comeback in NBA history. Those hopes were dashed in the opening possession of Game 7, when Tatum sprained his left ankle. Brown tried to lead the offense in his stead, but finished with 8 turnovers and dreadful shooting splits (34.8% from the field and 11.1% from three-point range) as the Celtics got blown out, 103-84.
Assembling the 2023-24 Team
BOSTON, MA – JANUARY 10: Kristaps Porzingis #8 and Jrue Holiday #4 of the Boston Celtics high five before the game against the Sacramento Kings on January 10, 2025 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After years of deep playoff runs ending in disappointment, Stevens decided to shake things up with a couple big moves in the 2023 offseason.
The first move was to trade Marcus Smart for Kristaps Porzingis and a pair of first-round draft picks in a deal with the Washington Wizards and Memphis Grizzlies. Smart was the longest-tenured member of the Celtics at the time of the trade and considered by many to be the heart of the team, but his offensive contributions were inconsistent and his defense was beginning to regress. On the other hand, Porzingis had always struggled to stay healthy, but he had just put up his best season yet over 65 games — tied for the second-most games he’d ever played in a single campaign — for the Wizards the year before. The 7’2” Latvian offered the unicorn combo of rim protection and outside shooting, but also something Boston had lacked in the Jays era: a potent inside scoring threat. Porzingis averaged 23.2 points per game in 2022-23 and had become elite at capitalizing on mismatches. If the defense messed up by switching an undersized player onto Porzingis, he could drag them into the post, get the ball and put up an almost unstoppable face-up jumper or turnaround over the shorter defender.
The next move was to trade Williams, Brogdon, and two first-round picks to the Portland Trail Blazers for Jrue Holiday, whom they had just acquired in the Damian Lillard trade. Jrue provided a lot of what Smart previously did for the Celtics — elite switchable defense, solid ballhandling and playmaking — but without some of the negatives that made Smart expendable. He could shoot at a solid clip, didn’t turn the ball over as much, didn’t require a large role to produce, and provided an unshakeable, calming presence that could only come from a championship-winning vet. And even though it looked like Boston gave up a lot of value for him, Williams’ injury problems were only getting worse (he played in only 26 games over the next two seasons) and Brogdon would also struggle to stay on the court following his injury against the Heat. He played only 63 games over the next two seasons, then retired early following the 2024-25 season at the age of 32.
Porzingis and Holiday would immediately slot into the starting lineup alongside White, Brown, and Tatum. If Porzingis wasn’t available, the ever-reliable Horford could start in his place with little drop off. While he didn’t provide the same level of offensive versatility as Porzingis, he remained switchable at the ripe age of 37 and helped maintain the team’s defensive pressure in lieu of the Latvian, all while hitting open shots with elite efficiency (he shot 44.6% from three-point range the season before). With everyone available, the top-6 had it all: every position had the ability to shoot, create scoring opportunities for themselves or others, and defend at a high level.
The starters also had elite depth to back them, with Payton Pritchard, a microwave scorer and deep shot master, Sam Hauser, a three-point shooting machine, and Luke Kornet, who provided solid fundamentals whenever Porzingis or Horford needed a rest. Even before the team played a single game, fans knew this squad was going to be impressive.
Regular Season
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 25: Kristaps Porzingis #8 of the Boston Celtics celebrates his three point shot in the first quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 25, 2023 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It didn’t take long for the Celtics to prove the fans right.
The team started the season off with a bang in an intense 108-104 battle against the New York Knicks, in which Boston got to show off one of its shiny new toys. While Tatum put up an impressive 34 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 stocks, it was Porzingis who stole the show against his former team. Porzingis scored 30 points on 53.3% shooting from the field, 55.6% from three-point range and 90% from the free throw line, and racked up 8 rebounds and 4 blocks, all while sporting a big, goofy smile. The performance immediately showed what Stevens saw in him, and how he could elevate the team to another level.
Only three games later, the Celtics rocked the Indiana Pacers to the tune of 155-104, a tremendous 51-point winning margin. Tatum once again led the way with 30 points, but the team was already firing on all cylinders: nobody in the starting five scored less than 13 points or played for more than 27 minutes. Three bench players finished with double-digit points — the same number of double-digit scorers the Pacers ended the game with.
The Knicks game was one of only a small handful of close contests throughout the season, as the Celtics blew most opponents out of the water and won by an average margin of 11.3 points per game. Using Mazzulla’s “Killer Whale Offense,” Boston would manipulate the opponents’ defense to get a weak or mismatched defender in a vulnerable position, then strike that weak point in isolation. If any off-ball defenders left their assignments to help, they would be leaving strong shooters open to bomb away. With five legitimate offensive weapons on the court at any time, there was no easy way to guard this loaded Celtics squad. You could try to pick your poison, but it was still a poison, nonetheless.
Steve Kerr and the Warriors discovered that while getting blown out during the teams’ second matchup of the season. Golden State went into the game with a strategy: let Boston’s weakest perimeter shooter, Jaylen Brown, take shots in an effort to minimize the number of shots available for the Celtics’ stronger shooters. They did this by playing off of Brown and allowing him to take open shots, almost at will. Brown capitalized on the lax defense and scored 19 points in just the first quarter, beginning a 58-13 run that secured a 35-point Boston lead by the half. Boston ended up winning the game 140-88, which was the Celtics’ third-largest winning margin ever and the Warriors’ fourth-worst loss in franchise history. And that was all without Porzingis, who missed the game with a quad injury.
While the team did have some slipups — worst of all was a 135-102 drubbing at the hands of Giannis and the Bucks in January — it always rebounded strong on the back of the league’s top-rated offense and third-best defense. For instance, the Celtics followed up that embarrassing loss to the Bucks with a 145-113 blowout of the Houston Rockets, in which the Jays combined for 59 points and Pritchard scored 19 points off the bench.
Boston finished the season with a 64-18 record, the historic franchise’s fourth-best regular season record of all time, and the best record in the Eastern Conference by a whopping 14 games. Even the best Western Conference teams ended up seven games back. There was no doubt about it: the Celtics were the best team in the league, and it wasn’t particularly close. The team racked up a +11.6 net rating, which tied the superteam 2016-17 Warriors for the third-best net rating in NBA history, only behind the Bulls’ 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons with the GOAT at the helm. While the team did not have a traditional superteam led by a Big 3 of superstars, each of its parts worked so harmoniously together that it produced like one.
Eastern Playoffs
BOSTON, MA – MAY 21: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics scores the game tying basket during the game against the Indiana Pacers during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on May 21, 2024 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Celtics’ regular season domination continued into the playoffs, as it lost only two games on its way to the Finals.
In the first round, Boston faced a familiar foe: the Miami Heat. But this time, there was no Lebron James or Jimmy Butler to play spoiler. The Celtics won the first game by 20 points, with every starter but Holiday scoring at least 17 points. Surprisingly, Boston let Game 2 slip and lost by 10 points thanks to the Heat’s 23 three-point makes, a playoff franchise record, on 53.5% shooting from deep. The loss sparked painful memories for C’s fans who still harbored fears that the team lacked the mettle to go all the way. Nevertheless, Boston quelled those fears by winning the next three games by a combined margin of 68 points.
Unfortunately, one of the Celtics’ main storylines of the 2024 playoffs was the health of Kristaps Porzingis. The Latvian sustained a calf injury in Game 4 of the Heat series and was ruled out for Game 5. His uncertain status moving forward led people to question whether or not Boston could win without its new interior weapon, and left an otherwise dominant team with one 7’2” question mark.
Well, in the second round against the Cavaliers, that didn’t matter. The script from the first round almost repeated itself, even in lieu of Porzingis. The Celtics dominated game 1, winning by a 25-point margin, thanks to a combined 57 points between Brown and White. Boston let another Game 2 slip and lost by 24 points, as it struggled to contain the combination of Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley. They rebounded with a 13-point win in Game 3, as Tatum and Brown combined for 61 points and Mitchell left the game with a strained left calf near the end of the game. Mitchell missed the next two games of the series due to the injury, and the Celtics capitalized by winning both and ending the series in five games.
Interestingly enough, the tightest series on Boston’s run to the Finals was its only sweep of the postseason. Still without Porzingis, three of the Celtics’ four ECF wins against the Pacers came down to the wire and were decided by 5 points or less. Games 1 and 3, especially, were nail-biters. Game 4 was close, too, but by then the Celtics had a 3-0 series lead and the pressure on Boston was all but gone.
Despite Jrue Holiday’s season-best 28-point, 7-rebound, 8-assist and 3-steal performance in Game 1, the Pacers had a three-point lead over the C’s in the final 30 seconds of the fourth quarter. It looked like Indiana might steal a big one against the mighty Celtics, but Brown hit a game-tying three-pointer over Pascal Siakam with 5.7 seconds remaining. His heroic shot earned one of Mike Breen’s rare double bang calls and sent the game to overtime, where Tatum sealed the deal with 10 points, bringing his total to 36.
Game 2 wasn’t so stressful, as the Celtics won by 16 points, but Game 3 was another matter entirely. The Pacers were without Tyrese Haliburton, who strained a hamstring in Game 2, but the rest of the team stepped up without him. Andrew Nembhard had a career 32-point and 9-assist game, while Myles Turner, Pascal Siakam and T.J. McConnell all put up at least 22 points. They scored 69 points in the first half and, halfway through the third quarter, the Pacers had amassed a commanding 18-point lead. The Jays put up 15 combined points in the third to whittle Indiana’s lead down to 9 by the start of the fourth, but the Pacers maintained an 8-point advantage over Boston with only three minutes to go. But it wasn’t over yet. After Jayson Tatum made a ridiculous behind-the-back pass to Al Horford for an open corner 3, which brought the game to 109-111, it became the Jrue Holiday show. Holiday, fresh of Game 2 showcase, completed a three-point play by driving hard into Siakam for a layup. After hitting the foul shot to take a one-point lead with 38.9 seconds to go, Holiday finished the comeback by stealing the ball from a red-hot Nembhard with 4 seconds to go and knocking down a pair of free throws to put the Celtics up 114-111 with 1.7 second left. The Pacers missed their final three-point attempt, and Boston had secured an improbable win to take a 3-0 series lead.
Indianapolis, IN – May 25: Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday steals the ball from Indiana Pacers Andrew Nembhard in the fourth quarter of Game 3 of the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Despite 29 points from Brown and a 26-point, 13-rebound and 8-assist performance from Tatum, Game 4 also came down to the wire. Thanks to another explosive performance from Nembhard, the Pacers held a four-point lead (102-98) over the Celtics with about three-and-a-half minutes remaining, but Boston tightened the screws and shut down Indiana’s offense over the final stretch. The Jays made a couple buckets to tie the game with less than three minutes to go, and White hit a three-pointer from the corner with 43.9 seconds left to secure the lead and Boston’s ticket to the NBA Finals.
Brown, who averaged 29.8 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2.8 stocks per game and had a number of heroic moments over the course of the series, was named ECF MVP. Nevertheless, there was a debate over who should win the award, as the C’s had two other legitimate contenders. Holiday averaged 18.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.8 stocks per game and served as an instrumental piece for Boston, especially in clutch time. Meanwhile, Tatum had the best statistical output of all three, racking up 30.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.8 stocks per game.
Finals
Heading into the Finals, the Celtics were the betting favorites to win, but the Luka Doncic-led Dallas Mavericks had garnered some intense hype on their run through the Western Conference. Some called the combination of Doncic and former Celtic Kyrie Irving the best offensive backcourt in the history of the league, and thought they could win it all. Heck, 9 out of 17 ESPN panelists picked the Mavs to beat the C’s, including Tim Legler.
While Boston had sometimes struggled in years past with execution in the biggest moments, Doncic had made a name for himself in the clutch — including his famous step-back three-pointer over Rudy Gobert to beat the Timberwolves in the WCF — and was putting up ungodly averages of 28.8 points, 9.6 rebounds and 8.8 assists per game. Meanwhile, Mavs GM Nico Harrison had built a seemingly ideal surrounding cast for the young superstar. Kyrie Irving served as the perfect second-fiddle and secondary offensive creator behind Luka; the combination of Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II covered for his lacking defense by swallowing up shots in the paint and served as strong lob threats on offense; P.J. Washington and Derrick Jones Jr. both provided athletic defense on the perimeter while knocking down spot-up three-pointers, especially from the corners, at an efficient clip over the course of the playoffs. They had won 21 of their last 30 games, a run that eerily mirrored the Celtics’ magical 2021-22 run. There was a reason for the hype.
Game 1
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 06: Kristaps Porzingis #8 of the Boston Celtics dunks the ball during the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks in Game One of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 06, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
However, the tune quickly changed after Game 1 of the Finals, otherwise known as the Porzingis Game.
Porzingis returned from the injury he sustained against Miami with a gusto, and came off the bench to torch his former team to the tune of 11 points on 4/5 shooting from the field and 1/2 shooting from three-point range, as well as 3 rebounds and 2 blocks, in just the first quarter. He immediately stole the show upon entering the game and looked unstoppable, demonstrating that the Celtics — who were 12-2 at that point in the playoffs — had another level they could reach. After carving up Dallas for 7 more points in the second quarter, on 3/4 shooting, he led both teams in scoring and had helped Boston take a 63-42 lead by the half.
When Dallas cut the lead to 8 points in the third quarter, Boston silenced their momentum with a 14-0 run of their own and finished the game with a 107-89 win. The Celtics had an answer to just about everything the Mavs liked to do. Boston deflated Dallas’ lob-happy offense by neutralizing the benefits of the Mavs’ 1-5 pick and rolls by having Tatum guard Gafford or Lively and switch on screens. The C’s could switch every screen without exposing a singularly weak defender for Doncic to chew up. They sacrificed coverage on above-the-break threes to ensure the corners, where the Mavs’ role players shot best, were shut down. On offense, Boston targeted Doncic, both exploiting his weakness as a defender and wearing him down by forcing him to play active defense. Mazzulla had crafted an impressive strategy, and the Celtics were playing it to a tee.
Jaylen Brown had also carried over his momentum from his ECF MVP performance, and looked hungry for the championship. Despite Porzingis’ first-half explosion, Brown led the team in scoring with 22 points on 7/12 shooting. But that wasn’t his most valuable contribution. He also took on the role of guarding Doncic from the jump and did an impressive job forcing the offensive maestro to scrape and claw for every bit of leeway, even picking him up full court to further make his life hell. Brown was taking Luka’s cookies less than 4 minutes into the first quarter, for crying out loud! He finished the game with 3 steals and 3 blocks.
Game 2
Sadly, the Porzingis hype train died down in Game 2. He sustained a rare leg injury in the fourth quarter that would require surgery to repair, and he was noticeably hobbled before leaving the game with 12 points, 4 rebounds, an assist and 2 blocks. The Celtics’ not-so-secret weapon was gone, and it wasn’t clear when, or if, he’d be coming back.
Regardless, the rest of the team looked determined to grind out a series win. Jrue Holiday led the way with 26 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 stocks. The Jays both struggled with their shots, but contributed in other ways. Tatum racked up 9 rebounds and 12 assists. Brown finished with 7 assists and 3 steals as he kept up his defensive pressure on Doncic.
The Celtics two play of the game contenders came from none of them.
Payton Pritchard, who saw limited play in the Finals, stepped in to do what he does best near the end of the third quarter. Pritchard got the ball for a final possession of the period, dribbled it about six feet past the halfcourt line, then buried a buzzer-beating three-pointer to put the Celtics up 83-74.
The other play of the game contender was made by Derrick White, who ran the full length of the court for a chase-down block on a streaking P.J. Washington dunk attempt to maintain the Celtics’ five-point lead, 103-98, with less than a minute to go in the fourth.
BOSTON, MA – JUNE 9: Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics blocks P.J. Washington #25 of the Dallas Mavericks shot during the game during Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Finals on June 9, 2024 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Mavs — other than Kyrie, who stunk early in the series — looked a little better in game 2, as Doncic finished with an efficient 32-point triple double and every started finished with double-digit points. Regardless, they shot a putrid 23.1% from three-point range and failed to answer Boston’s gameplan. The Celtics win Game 2, 105-98.
Game 3
While Kyrie finally woke up against the Celtics in Game 3, it still wasn’t enough to secure a win — although it was a close call.
Kyrie and Luka both started hot, combining to score 22 points over the first quarter as Boston continued to guard both 1-on-1 in an attempt to limit Dallas’ role players from getting open shots. That scoring earned them an early 13-point lead in the opening period. Unfortunately for them, Tatum also shook off his shooting struggles from the first two games and scored 13 points on 4/7 shooting. By the end of the first, the Mavs’ lead had been whittled down to 1 point.
Dallas maintained that lead heading into the half, but the Celtics took over in the third quarter. Brown exploded for 15 points in the period, while Tatum, White, and Holiday each chipped in at least 5 points. Even Xavier Tillman Sr. contributed off the bench by knocking down a corner 3. They rode that wave into the early fourth quarter and took a 91-70 lead as a result of a 20-5 run.
That’s when things got sketchy. Dallas went on a 22-2 run of their own and brought the deficit down to 3 points before Doncic fouled out. Kyrie hit a jumper to narrow the lead to 1 point, but that was the closest it got. Without Doncic, the Mavericks’ offense sputtered and only scored 6 points over the last 2:32. Over that stretch, Brown, Tatum, and White combined to score the Celtics’ last 13 points of the game.
While Dallas’ duo of Kyrie and Luka finished the game with a combined 62 points, the Jays combined for 61 points of their own, and the Celtics’ surrounding cast — highlighted by White’s 16 points — outscored the Mavs’, 45-37.
Boston wins 106-99 and secures an untouchable 3-0 series lead on their way to their first title in 16 years.
Game 4
We’re not going to talk much about Game 4.
With a 3-0 series lead, the Celtics clearly took their foot off the gas and got their asses kicked from the jump. Maybe they wanted to return to Boston to finish the series, maybe they just sucked, but it wasn’t pretty.
What it looked like was that Dallas had finally figured out the Celtics. The Mavs got their lob game going again, stifled Boston’s offense, and broke out for the most lopsided win of the series, 122-84. Even if it was only one game, it was such a spanking that the talking heads started talking about Dallas’ chances of completing a potential 3-0 series comeback.
Game 5
BOSTON, MA – JUNE 17: Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics scores a buzzer beater during the game against the Dallas Mavericks during Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals on June 17, 2024 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On the Celtics’ side of things, the players remained cool, calm and collected in the face of media, but news that the still-injured Porzingis would return to play in Game 5 may have hinted at some level of scrambling in Boston.
However, no desperation was detected after the game had actually started. Boston’s starting five — with Horford in for Porzingis — scored 24 points on a balanced attack in the opening quarter, while Dallas’ could only muster 7. By the end of the first, the Celtics had taken a 10-point lead, 28-18.
With the Mavericks on the ropes, Boston pushed even harder in the second quarter. The Jays scored a combined 21 points in the period, but every Celtic who participated in the quarter scored at least once. By the time Pritchard made the play of the game — a buzzer-beating halfcourt shot to put the C’s up 67-46 at the half — the competition was all but over.
Despite 29 combined second-half points from Kyrie and Luka, the Celtics cruised to an easy 106-88 win with the help of 15 second-half points from Tatum, who finished with 31.
They had done it. After spending so long trying and failing, only to try harder and fail harder, the Celtics had finally secured Banner 18. They had done it without breaking up the Jays, who talking heads argued could never win together, or getting rid of Mazzulla, who people called for Stevens to fire following the 2023 ECF. Al Horford, a stalwart professional who had helped the Celtics make it so far so many times, had finally won his first ring in his 17th season in the NBA. Brown won Finals MVP for his two-way efforts, only a year after his left hand had been meme’d to death. After 16 years of struggle and disappointment, the Celtics had finally reached the summit of NBA basketball once more.
The Hens built an early lead and held on in a contest that featured a lot of traffic on the bases, but not a whole lot of run scoring.
The Hens missed an opportunity in the second, but in the third they opened the scoring in this one. John Peck drew a walk with one out and stole second. Trei Crus doubled him in and Max Anderson launched a two-run homer to center field for a 3-0 lead. That shot was Anderson’s 14th of the season to go with his .894 OPS and improved plate discipline. Hopefully we’ll see him up in September.
Austin Gomber got the start, and he was pretty solid, allowing just a run in the fourth before leaving the game in the fifth. Enmanuel de Jesus gave up a solo shot to Walker Jenkins in the sixth, But Brant Hurter, Ty Madden, and Luke Taggart locked it down the rest of the way, with Taggart earning his first Triple-A save.
They got a little help in the eighth, when Bennett Lee was hit by a pitch and Cal Stevenson, pinch-hitting for Peck, singled. Cruz stepped to the dish for another RBI double to make it 4-2 where it ended.
Trei Cruz smokes an RBI double into the right corner to put the Mud Hens up 4-2. pic.twitter.com/OBD0YlvApV
The bats were quiet in this one, while Lucas Elissalt struggled through a long first inning and was lifted early for pitch count reasons as Altoona cruised to victory.
Elissalt got the first out of the game, but needed 15 pitches for the next two hitters, surrendering a walk and a single. A pair of singles followed to score a run, and then Elissalt punched the next hitters and got a pop-up to end the inning. Unfortunately he was over 30 pitches and the Tigers have a strict policy of shutting down a starter after an inning that long.
Yoniel Curet took over and he was rocked for three runs in the second and one in the third. Meanwhile, veteran lefty Nick Dombkowski was cooking through the SeaWolves lineup with six perfect innings and six strikeouts. He finally left the game in the seventh, and Woody Hadeen and Zyhir Hope singled with one out before Thayron Liranzo ground into an inning ending double play.
In the eighth, E.J. Exposito led off with a double, and a pair of ground outs were enough to score him, but that’s all the SeaWolves could manage.
Exposito: 1-3, R, 2B
Hope: 1-4, 2 K
Coming Up Next: It’s a 6:00 p.m. ET start in Altoona on Thursday with the SeaWolves down 2-0 in the series.
Ben Jacobs was brilliant once again, but the bullpen blew a slim lead in the eighth to lose on Wednesday.
The lefty’s rapid rise toward the top of the Tigers’ farm system didn’t miss a beat in this one, as Jacobs pounded the zone for five innings of scoreless ball. He allowed just two hits and a walk, while punching out seven hitters on the night. He threw 47 of 66 pitches for strikes, and with the ‘Caps fighting for a playoff spot, they should’ve let him keep going.
The ‘Caps opened the scoring in the third. Stephen Hrustich drew a leadoff walk, and Carson Rucker and Jackson Strong drew one-out walks to load the bases. A passed ball scored a run, and then Bryce Rainer was hit by a pitch to reload the bases. Beau Ankeney and Edian Espinal struck out to end the threat and that would come back to haunt them.
Lefty Juanmi Vasquez allowed the Chiefs to tie it up in the sixth. Carson Rucker untied it with a solo shot in the bottom of the seventh. Unfortunately, Ryan Harvey gave up four runs, three earned, in the top of the eighth to take a 5-2 lead.
Espinal and Ricardo Hurtado singled with one out in the eighth, and Espinal scored on a wild pitch. Rucker cracked another solo shot in the bottom of the ninth, his third homer since his promotion, but that was as close as they’d get to a comeback.
With the loss, the Whitecaps are now a game behind Great Lakes in the East division. Also, longtime Whitecaps’ play-by-play man Dan Hasty announced on Wednesday that he’ll be leaving the position at season’s end. We’ll discuss this more as the season comes to an end, but for now we wish Dan well in all his future endeavours. He’s been the voice of the Whitecaps for 12 years now.
Rucker: 2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 HR, BB, K
Espinal: 2-4, R, K
Rainer: 1-4, 2 K, HBP
Jacobs: 5.0 IP, 0 R, 2 H, BB, 7 K
Coming Up Next: It’s a 6:35 p.m. ET start in Comstock Park on Thursday.
From championship calls to routine ground outs, you brought the excitement to every Whitecaps moment.
Thank you, @ThatDanHasty, for being our voice, and all our best for everything that lies ahead!
Lakeland Flying Tigers vs. Clearwater Threshers (suspended)
Cameron Flukey, the Tigers first round pick back in July, was overpowering in this one before rain suspended play in the fourth inning. They’ll look to finish it at 4:00 p.m. ET on Thursday before playing their normally scheduled game.
Flukey averaged 95.5 mph and a whopping 20 inches of IVB in this one. He got five whiffs on nine swing on the heater, and got a whiff with both curveball and cutter as well. He threw 26 of 44 pitches for strikes, allowing a hit and a walk, but no runs, and striking out four. Flukey hasn’t allowed a run through three short pro appearances.
The Flying Tigers scored three in the first when Jude Warwick singled and Jordan Yost doubled to lead off the inning. Jesus Pinto struck out, but Zach MacDonald walked to load the bases. Cris Rodriguez smoked a two-run double, and MacDonald scored on an Anibal Salas sacrifice fly.
Second straight night that Cris Rodriguez has had extra base hit to drive in runs. This double to first scores two. @AaronArnstein on the call. pic.twitter.com/WmfTbdYwpW
Paul Wilson handled the fourth inning, but his outing, as the Tigers look to finally stretch him out after a pair of injury plagued seasons, was interrupted by the standard August rains in Florida.
Cameron Flukey turns in another strong start for the Single-A @LkdFlyingTigers ⚡️
3 IP | 1 H | 0 ER | 1 BB | 4 K
The @tigers' 2026 first-rounder topped out at 96.9 mph and has yet to allow a run in his first three pro appearances: pic.twitter.com/HoVO5d4vmg
Jul 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Khristian Curtis (64) delivers a pitch in the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Pittsburgh Pirates have a handful of young pitchers with a lot of potential, and Khristian Curtis is one of them. The 24-year-old has only pitched in two games so far but both outings were very impressive.
His first outing was on July 18 against the Cleveland Guardians, where he threw for five innings. The right-handed pitcher allowed just two hits and struck out four batters allowing no runs.
His second outing was on August 23 against the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers. He pitched three innings, allowed no runs, struck out a batter and allowed only one walk. To have a scoreless game against the defending champion and one of the best teams in the league like the Dodgers is really impressive.
Even though Curtis has only thrown eight innings, he did so against two playoff-caliber teams and didn’t allow a single run. That’s a really promising sign for someone that could easily be a part of starting rotation in the future.
Curtis was just optioned back down to Triple A Indianapolis but is expected to be called back up when the rosters expand in September. Curtis started 12 games for Double-A Altoona before earning his Triple-A promotion on June 9 and has pitched in nine games, making five starts.
Even though Curtis was called back down I still think the righty can see some more action before the season is over. To throw eight scoreless innings as a young inexperienced 24-year-old is impressive, and I think he could be a nice piece to have especially for the start of the 2027 season.
The young pitcher was ranked as the 21st prospect in the MLB pipeline before getting called up. Curtis was selected by Pittsburgh in the 12th round of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft out of Arizona State (Tempe) University.
