Worldwide Sports News
Greetings, Panthers fans. Welcome to the weekend.
Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-football sports, you name it. As long as it’s allowed by the site’s ToS, it’s fair game here.
You know the drill.
This is now an open thread
Here are the lineups. For the Phillies:
For the Mets:
Let’s talk about it.
The Andy Green era as Mets manager begins Friday. And while it will only last until the end of the 2026 season, the former San Diego Padres skipper is ready for the challenge of taking over for Carlos Mendoza.
Green was working in the Mets' front office when the organization decided to relieve Mendoza of his duties earlier in the day, so he has seen the connections and culture that Mendoza built firsthand.
And while he won't try and replicate what Mendoza did in his two-plus seasons as Mets manager, Green believes this team is capable of more and that he will try to get the best out of them.
“We’re in a situation where we have an incredibly talented group of baseball players that haven’t come together to perform at a level we all expect and they expect," Green said in his introductory news conference before the team's series opener with the Phillies. "This isn’t a strategy problem; what it comes down to is the best thing we can do is recognize what keeps most people from performing is the burden they carry with them to work every day. And that burden is from caring too much."
Green said that his management style is rooted in authenticity, being collaborative and adaptable, and wants to cultivate an environment where the players can play freely and with joy. Green believes the players were pressing this season after a slow start to try and succeed for the sake of Mendoza, and that the managerial change can be beneficial.
"Often, what happens is you care too much," Green continued. "When you get to these types of moments where a manager change occurs, you eliminate a measure of the burden in a way that nobody wants to. Those guys are trying to come together for Mendy because they care about Mendy, and when you get to the finality of this moment, then it’s passed. And sometimes you see guys play with a greater measure of freedom and that’s the best thing I can do for this group."
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns announced Green would return to his previous position in the front office after the 2026 season and a new managerial search will commence in the offseason.
Green was asked why he was stepping into the manager's role and the former player was candid. He said he liked his position as Mets VP for player development and the flexibility it gave him to spend time with his family. But when he was approached about taking over for Mendoza, Green accepted, knowing he could help the organization in the short-term.
"This felt like a responsibility, more than an opportunity," Green explained. "Once it was made known to me that nothing was going to change, once I learned that, I genuinely believe, given my life experience, I was in the best position to help over the next three months and see what we can get done as a group."
For the first time in 2026, the Atlanta Braves were swept. For most of the season, they’ve been the unquestioned best team in baseball. The Los Angeles Dodgers now hold sole possession of that title. But, of all teams, the San Diego Padres were the first (and only) to do it. They beat them handily, outdueling them at every turn and playing good baseball for the first time in what’s felt like a while.
Starter JP Sears did exactly what he needed to do: save the bullpen. The ‘pen had been taxed after Griffin Canning couldn’t finish a single inning in Tuesday night’s matchup. Thankfully, Sears was able to work into the sixth inning in his first start of the season against a Braves lineup that has not been kind to most.
The Friars need all the help they can get facing Los Angeles. Their momentum certainly helps as the two rivals clash for the second time this season on Friday night. Winning the series opener would be huge for San Diego. They’ll need to keep their foot on the gas in order to do so.
Sasaki has started to come into his own a bit this year. After struggling in 2025 as a starter, the righty was moved to the bullpen where he dominated in the postseason. Now, he’s back in the rotation and has worked through his struggles.
That said, despite flashing elite stuff, he still doesn’t look like the pitcher he was in Japan. Sasaki owns a 4.76 ERA and 1.29 WHIP through 68 innings pitched. His last few starts have been marginally better, but he just gave up seven runs to the Chicago White Sox. The Padres’ lineup has looked good lately. It will be interesting to see how much Sasaki can limit the damage.
Buehler will make his scheduled start, with Randy Vásquez moving to Lucas Giolito’s spot after the latter was moved to the 15-day IL. He’s surged as of late, pitching to a 2.72 ERA across his last seven starts. He’s given up just one run apiece in each of his last four starts.
The longtime Dodger will face his former team for the first time as a member of the rival Padres. Buehler has had success facing his former teammates before, but San Diego will need him to keep it going in order to make up ground in the divisional race.
Tonight’s game actually marks the first time that the Friars will face Sasaki. That tends to be an advantage for the pitcher, but that hasn’t been the case for the righty in the past. San Diego just scored 13 runs off of a very good Atlanta pitching staff, and they’ll need their lineup to keep it up.
After his homer in Wednesday’s series finale, France figures to start at first base. That seems to suggest that Taylor shifts over to right field to make room for Sheets in the outfield. That said, Sheets could DH and Tatis could start in right field. He’s played a lot of second base this season, but the Padres have used him in the outfield more in the last few games.
Like I said, Sears did exactly what the Friars needed him to do. San Diego only needed three arms to finish out the game (though why they didn’t use Ron Marinaccio instead of David Morgan remains to be seen). The latter had pitched in the previous game where the former hasn’t thrown since Sunday. Either way, it was a successful first outing for Sears.
Morgan finished out the sixth and seventh innings before Wandy Peralta covered the eighth. He set up Jason Adam, who slammed the door shut on Atlanta to sweep the series. With the off day on Thursday, the bullpen will get some much-needed (and much-deserved) rest. Everyone will be available, but, barring any moves, Kyle Hart, Ron Marinaccio, Yuki Matsui, Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon will be options after not pitching in the series finale.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are hoping to keep their winning streak alive as they begin a series with the Cincinnati Reds. After winning two of three against the Mariners earlier in the week, the Pirates welcome the Reds to town for a divisional series that could dictate how the NL Central wraps up later in the year.
Paul Skenes is on the mound for the Pirates, but that hasn’t boded well for the Buccos over his last seven starts. The last time the Pirates won a game in which Skenes started came back on May 12 against the Colorado Rockies. Since then, the Pirates have not been able to win with Skenes on the mound. In five of those seven games, Skenes has picked up the loss, including in each of his last two appearances.
The Reds will counter with Andrew Abbott, who has pitched at least five innings in each of his last 10 starts. Abbott is coming off a win against the New York Yankees in his last start on June 20, when he gave up five hits and one earned run in a 10-2 victory at Yankee Stadium.
This is Abbott’s second start against the Pirates this season. In his last start against the Pirates on April 1, he pitched 5.2 innings, giving up five hits and four earned runs in an 8-3 victory for Pittsburgh.
Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet Pittsburgh
Pitching Matchup: Andrew Abbott (5-4, 3.83 ERA) vs. Paul Skenes (6-7, 2.86 ERA)
BD community, chime off in the comments section below.
It hasn’t been a linear trend towards success for this Houston Rockets rebuild.
There have been peaks and valleys. At times, it has looked like the Rockets had one of the brightest futures in the NBA. There’s been plenty of gloom and doom as well. As is often the case, the truth is likely somewhere in the middle.
All of the Rockets’ young players have shown potential. The problem is that none have emerged as a true franchise player. That leaves us all waiting for one of these young Rockets to “step up”.
According to the latest polls, you think Jabari Smith Jr. is the man for the job.
I know…I know. The poll question was not “Is Jabari Smith Jr. a franchise-caliber player”? Maybe I’ve got writer’s block, maybe every NBA writer has writer’s block during the summer until their team makes a splashy acquisition.
What you actually voted for was Smith Jr. to step up ahead of Tari Eason next year. That makes sense. Eason is a couple of years older than Smith Jr., which gives Smith Jr. a longer runway for improvement. Eason has also been generally better than Smith Jr., so the latter’s bar for “stepping up” is lower.
The question is, what does stepping up look like for Smith Jr.?
Resisting the urge to claim that you voted this way because I’d recently written a whole article about Smith Jr. stepping up.
Joking. I know I don’t have that influence. Again, writer’s block. Trying to be funny. Words.
To reiterate: There are two clear paths to improvement for Smith Jr. One is to simply improve his three-point shooting, and the other is to explore his midrange game more thoroughly.
As the roster is constructed, that midrange game might be difficult to probe. Between Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun, that part of the floor is largely occupied. So, an increase in three-point efficiency (and, ideally, volume) seems like the more available path.
If Smith Jr. can take strides, the Rockets should win more games. If you happen to want to bet on how many games they might win (or anything else), head on over to FanDuel, who sponser our SB Nation Reacts polls. There are plenty of bets available that feature the Rockets.
Phoenix had already re-signed starting point guard Collin Gillespie and his backup Jordan Goodwin, now it has locked up all three of its own free agents it wanted to keep.
Center Mark Williams is returning to the Suns on a three-year, $38 million contract, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN.
Williams came to Phoenix on a draft night trade a year ago and averaged 11.7 points and eight rebounds per game. He was a solid part of the rotation, and the Suns wanted to bring him back on a two-year deal, reports John Gambadoro, the well-connected long-time radio host in Phoenix.
The bet for Phoenix in this deal is that Williams stays healthy. Williams has an injury history, and while he played 60 games last season for the Suns, he never played more than 44 games in any season during his three years in Charlotte.
This gives the Suns 15 players on their roster, and they are above the first apron and about $4.7 below the second, there is little chance they are adding any salary. If a good deal came up, the Suns have non-guaranteed contracts they could waive to make a move, but this looks like the Suns' roster for next season.
Friday notes…
Cubs lineup:
Brewers lineup:
Well, this looks like a mismatch.
Colin Rea did have a good start in his last outing, last Saturday vs. the Blue Jays, allowing no runs in 5.1 innings.
He has not faced the Brewers this year. Current Brewers are batting .316 (18-for-57) against Rea with one home run (Andrew Vaughn).
Good luck, Colin.
You all know about Jacob Misiorowski’s amazing run over his last nine starts: 0.45 ERA, 0.564 WHIP. Over that span he’s struck out 87 of 216 batters faced and thrown a metric buttload of pitches over 100 miles per hour.
That stretch includes six shutout innings vs. the Cubs May 20 at Wrigley Field.
Some Cubs have hit him okay, though. Seiya Suzuki is 3-for-9 with a home run. Nico Hoerner, 3-for-8. The Cubs did beat him last year in Milwaukee.
Doing that again will not be easy.
Today’s game is on Apple TV (how to watch). Announcers: Alex Faust (play-by-play), Ryan Spilborghs (analyst), and Tricia Whitaker (reporter).
Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Brewers site Brew Crew Ball. If you do go there to interact with Brewers 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.
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Well, folks, after a long, eventful week, the 2026 NHL Draft has finally arrived.
For the Pittsburgh Penguins, there is a lot of intrigue surrounding this draft, even if they currently only possess five picks in this year's draft as opposed to the 13 they had last year. Trade chatter has been swirling around them, as they are rumored to be one of the teams interested in Dallas Stars superstar left wing Jason Robertson. There are also rumors that Pittsburgh is trying to move up in the draft from their 22nd overall selection, as they are rumored to be interested in Swedish center Viggo Bjorck.
As of now, the Penguins' draft board looks like this:
- Round 1, Pick 22
- Round 2, Pick 39 (acquired from Winnipeg Jets)
- Round 2, Pick 54
- Round 3, Pick 86
- Round 6, Pick 170 (acquired from Nashville Predators)
Again, a whole lot can change between now and 7:00 p.m. ET, when the draft is set to begin. As of now, the Toronto Maple Leafs will select first - presumably, to select consensus first overall pick Gavin McKenna - followed by the San Jose Sharks at two, the Vancouver Canucks at three, the Buffalo Sabres at four courtesy of the Bowen Byram trade with the Chicago Blackhawks, and the New York Rangers at five.
The Penguins certainly have some tradeable assets they can use to acquire a better pick - Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust, and Erik Karlsson come to mind - but there should also be some pretty good players available in their range as-is.
With that, what will they decide to do? Will they trade up to the top-10 for a more premium prospect? Trade up as needed? Will they stand pat? Will they trade down to garner more picks in the 30s and 40s, perhaps by striking a deal with a team like the Calgary Flames, who pick three times in the 30s? Will they trade their 22nd overall pick altogether for an NHL player?
Here are THN co-editor Hunter Hodies and my predictions for the Penguins - as well as the first round, courtesy of the mock draft function on CapWages - in this year's draft.
2026 NHL Draft Tracker: Round 1 Picks, Reports, Rankings And MoreCheck out expert NHL draft coverage and track the first-round picks as they're announced. You can also catch up on NHL draft rankings, mock drafts, player profiles and more.With the 22nd overall pick, the Pittsburgh Penguins select… LW J.P. Hurlbert of the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers.
I went back and forth on this but ultimately landed on Hurlbert because of the familiarity (Penguins' prospect Harrison Brunicke also played for Kamloops this past season), and he fits the mold of past Kyle Dubas/Wes Clark picks.
Hurlbert has excellent hockey IQ and an underrated ability to forecheck. He can also go 1-on-1 against defenders and is tough to knock the puck off of. He can really rifle the puck and knows where to pick holes in each goaltender he faces. Don’t forget about his vision, either. He can anticipate a player being in a certain spot on the ice before he’s there.
There is a lot to like about this player.
Penguins' Draft Prospect Profiles: J.P. HurlbertJ.P. Hurlbert is a player that the Pittsburgh Penguins definitely had their eyes on this season. Does he make sense for them at pick No. 22?With the 15th overall pick, the Pittsburgh Penguins select... RD Ryan Lin of the WHL's Vancouver Giants.
If the Penguins select at 22, my pick would be forward Adam Novotny. I quite like Novotny, as he has a pretty high floor and is the type of hybrid power forward-type player and relentless workhorse the Penguins love.
However, I do think they're going to move up in this draft - just not the way many folks think. Moving up into the top-10 - and, even, closer to the top-five - to be in Bjorck range is simply going to cost more than the Penguins should pay for a "maybe." They desperately need blue line talent in their system as much as they need center depth.
As discussed on our Pucks N'at Podcast with Jesse Marshall on Friday, Lin could be a sleeper to fall a few spots in the draft just depending on how much teams will value centers as well as the blueliners set to be selected ahead of him. If he falls to 15, the St. Louis Blues are set to pick at 15 and 16 and may be willing to negotiate a trade down to 22 if the Penguins offer one of their second-round picks, and perhaps, a sweetener, if necessary.
Lin is a legitimate two-way defenseman already, and he plays a mature game for his age. He has all the offensive tools to be excellent in transition at the NHL level, and he already defends well, too. According to Marshall, he's a more complete version of a promising young Penguins' defensive prospect in Harrison Brunicke, and there's even more room to grow.
I think Lin would be a fantastic add for the Penguins, and it would significantly bolster their blue line prospect pool. He's someone worth trading up for if he's still on the board within reason.
If Pittsburgh Targets Forward In 2026 Draft, This Should Be Their GuyPeterborough Petes forward Adam Novotny might just be the perfect forward for Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins to target in this year's draft.Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
One of the first dominoes of the Knicks’ offseason now has clarity.
Jose Alvarado declined his $4.5 million player option for next season, but he’s returning on a three-year deal worth over $14 million, according to ESPN.
The decision allowed him to, instead of playing on the one-year option, sign a multiyear deal that carries a lower average annual value than that $4.5 million.
That is crucial because the Knicks are operating in accordance with owner James Dolan’s wishes to stay below the second apron and have a tight budget in order to do so.
Alvarado’s deadline for the decision was originally on Monday, but he and the Knicks agreed to push it back to Friday, after the NBA draft.
He emerged as a key bench piece for the Knicks’ championship run, providing the Knicks with a true backup point guard that they lacked before his arrival.
He also added a bit of snarl and feistiness to a team that, at the time, needed it.
They acquired him — after a series of moves that started with sending away Guerschon Yabusele — just ahead of the deadline.
President Leon Rose recently praised Alvarado as one of his best under-the-radar moves in building the Knicks into champions.
“That was huge,” Rose said on the “Roommates Show” podcast, “because we did need another ball handler, we needed another person that could put it on the floor and take some of the pressure off.”
His playing time varied, but by the postseason and Finals, he was playing critical minutes.
Alvarado memorably scored eight points and drilled two 3-pointers during the Knicks’ historic comeback in their 107-106 win in Game 4 of the Finals.
Alvarado, 28, is also a local kid, having been born in Brooklyn and played high school basketball at Christ the King.
Jose Alvaradois staying with the Knicks.
The reserve guard, who was traded midseason from the New Orleans Pelicans, will decline the $4.5 million player option for the 2026-27 NBA season and will remain in New York on a multi-year deal, according to SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley.
Begley noted that Alvarado was a key piece in helping the Knicks win their first NBA title in 53 years, and the organization has been "prioritizing his return this offseason."
The deal is reportedly for three years and at least $14 million, according to ESPN.
In his fifth season in the NBA, Alvarado, a Brooklyn native, enjoyed much success in New York while playing for the team he grew up rooting for in the city he grew up in.
"I’m Home," Alvarado posted on social media shortly after the news broke.
As the backup point guard to Jalen Brunson, Alvarado averaged 6.6 points, 3.8 assists, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game and saw action in 28 contests (three starts) for the Knicks. During the team's championship run, the 27-year-old averaged just 9.4 minutes per game, but saw an increased role in the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, which included a great fourth quarter in Game 4 while playing alongside Brunson and the rest of the starters.
In addition to his numbers on the stat sheet, Alvarado showed great energy on and off the bench upon joining the Knicks and played with passion and hustle on the court, specifically on defense, endearing himself to New York fans everywhere.
After his performance on the biggest stage, Alvarado, who went undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft, is hoping to turn that into a significant and long-term payday this offseason.
I’m Home 🧡💙🧡💙🧡
— Jose Alvarado (@AlvaradoJose15) June 26, 2026
New York Knicks point guard Jose Alvarado is here to stay at home, according to ESPN insider Shams Charania.
“New York guard Jose Alvarado is declining his $4.5 million player option and intends to sign a new three-year, $14-plus million deal to return to the Knicks, sources tell ESPN. Knicks made it a priority to retain the NY native who played key role on a historic championship team,” Charania tweeted.
Trading for Alvarado was one of the most important moves of New York’s season. In 28 regular-season games with the Knicks, he averaged 6.6 points and 3.8 assists per contest. He also averaged a steal per game, proving to be the menace he is on the defensive end of the floor.
Knicks head coach Mike Brown explained how important Alvarado was to the team shortly after being acquired back in February.
“He’s been good. The quickness is irreplaceable. It gives us a different look,” Brown said back in March. “He’s different in a way that kind of stands out. I don’t know what that way would be, but Jose was available.
“And I give Leon [Rose] credit, he got him. It’s helped us on both ends of the floor. … The energy on top of the quickness that he brings to the table, every time we step on the floor, is irreplaceable. At least with the guys that we had, or the guys that we have. Just different.”
Posting and Toasting community, how do you feel about Alvarado’s new deal? Chime off in the comments section below.
Talk about the NHL Draft here, if you please!
Details-
When: 7:00pm eastern
What: First round of the draft (Rounds 2-7 begin tomorrow at noon)
How to watch: ESPN (tomorrow, NHL Network)
Penguin pick: Currently 22nd overall, but they have a manager with a history of draft night trades
Alright, it’s Friday, this game preview is going up in the mid-afternoon because this game is happening very late if you are on East Coast time, and I’m going to take a quick detour because I’m not sure how many people even read game previews in general, much less read game previews that will go up at 5 pm ET on a Friday for a game that starts after 10 ET.
Over the past few years, I’ve had this recurring thought: what if stuff just worked out? I don’t mean, in the end, after a bunch of detours and elbow grease and serendipitous solutions to cropping-up problems. I mean, just… from the jump. What if you wanted or needed to do something, and it was easy, and your first idea worked out fine? The reason I think about this, of course, is because it feels like stuff doesn’t just work out. Here’s an example: we got a car to replace the one that was totaled a few years ago. A minor “want” in the replacement car we got was finally having a car new enough to plug your phone into the USB port and get stuff like Google Maps shown on the infotainment display. It isn’t that we erred in this regard, it was just… I hopped into it to set this up for my wife before she took the car to work this morning, and come on, seriously? It wasn’t a plug-and-play. First the phone wouldn’t pair (even though it was plugged in via USB), then it paired via USB but apparently also needed Bluetooth to actually connect, and the Bluetooth couldn’t find the car or vice versa on my wife’s phone but could on my phone, so after clearing every cache (including the car’s, which wasn’t straightforward), and finally realizing that you had to do a specific order of operations that involved first connecting and syncing via USB and the re-syncing via Bluetooth while it was connected via USB, would you finally get the car’s system to actually be able to use Android Auto rather than just saying the phone was connected but Android Auto crashing with no error message. So that was not a great use of an hour or so.
But that’s just one example. There are so many that occur every week that — even if this doesn’t happen to you directly — you can see why I fixate on “what if stuff just worked out?” Here’s a fun one: I am supposed to get a payout from the insurer. They have an electronic payment thing. It requires 2FA to be able to log in and direct the payment. For some reason, the insurer has the 2FA number listed as my office number… which would be fine, except that during the pandemic we switched to a fully-electronic switchboard (no more receptionist), but the insurer won’t change the number on file, saying that they’ll just send me a check once the five-day limit on receiving electronic payment lapses. Why didn’t they use my cell for the 2FA number? Because stuff doesn’t just work out. There are a billion similar enshittification-related examples from daily life, but hopefully you get the idea, even if you don’t personally experience this. And, if you don’t, I am personally delighted for you.
(I hired a guy to do some mild landscape/lawn work because I don’t have time. My hiring process was explicitly oriented around “I want someone that will just do it and not bug me” because if I had the time to be bugged about it I’d just do it myself. He said he’d start two weeks ago. He has not. Hopefully he’s still alive. The lawn is… how it was before I hired him. | I signed my older kid up for summer camp months ago. It starts in a couple of weeks. No communication from the camp about logistics or anything, even though it was the same camp and they had clear, timely communication last year. Now I have to reach out to them. Oy. It goes on and on like this.)
Why do I bring this up? Because it’s so wholly relevant to the Braves. 2023 was the last year of “stuff just works out” (something I feel relatively mirrored in my life; I think stuff got harder in 2024). 2024 was an epic inputs underperformance that lasted for months, along with injuries. Even though it was successful, it wasn’t easy and there was no “just” in it working out. 2025, well, it didn’t work out at all, but it also featured a lot of teeth-pulling while it was failing. Injuries, an unforced error of a changed offensive approach, and more injuries.
And then we get to 2026, and it’s whiplash-inducing in a way. The first two months of 2026? It was glorious. It was “stuff just works out” with a vengeance. The Braves have to use a roster fill-in in a key role? Dominic Smith comes through, again and again, and posts some pretty insane outputs and inputs considering his career arc. The Braves don’t have a north star offensive approach with a spare parts lineup? No worries, they all hit the ball hard early in the count and post great outputs and inputs. Austin Riley has no idea what’s going on at the plate? No worries, Drake Baldwin and Matt Olson are two of MLB’s best bats in the early going to more than make up for it. The rotation is suspect? No sweat, the defense will play so well that the team barely gives up runs. The Braves could do no wrong… for a while. Michael Harris II was day-to-day and not in the lineup, but had a game-winning pinch-hit double that cleared the bases and was the only source of the Braves’ runs in a game against the Pirates that secured a sweep.
And then, just like that, it all came crashing down into “it just doesn’t work out” territory. The Braves were aggressive with pitching decisions to some extent, but have given the ball to Carlos Carrasco, in all his roster barnacle-ness, in two games in the past two weeks, each of which turned a lead into a loss. There have been a number of other foibles, but these are perhaps all overshadowed by how all the stuff regarding run-scoring that worked so well over two months just cratered. The fill-ins are playing like fill-ins, the non-fill-ins are playing like fill-ins, Drake Baldwin was rushed back to reduce the reliance on no-hit backup catchers and started hitting like one himself… I’m not going to detail all of it, but basically, things went from immaculate vibes and smooth sailing to the baseball equivalent of all those paragraphs about my personal first world problem-esque travails above.
So, how are the Braves responding to this? By… pushing Chris Sale back two more days (his normal rest pitch day would’ve been yesterday) and giving the ball to Reynaldo Lopez. Yes, the Reynaldo Lopez that was yoinked out of the rotation after five starts, and has been pitching nondescript mop-up relief since.
Lopez’ first five starts of the season were, commensurate with his whole 2026 saga, just really weird. His first two were really gross peripherals-wise, but because everything was working out easily, the only run charged to him came on a solo homer in each. His third had better peripherals, but ended after a bout of fisticuffs with Jorge Soler. His fourth kept up the good peripherals, but the Marlins BABIPed him. His fifth and final was a disaster that got him banished from the rotation. In aggregate, it was an 89/130/118 line (ERA-/FIP-/xFIP-) in five starts — okay only if you look at the ERA, and honestly, pretty brutal otherwise. So, Lopez went to the bullpen. Banished to the bullpen, more like. He’s pitched very intermittently (13 outings in about seven weeks), and has largely pitched in garbage time (no high-leverage outings, four medium-leverage but on the very low end of medium leverage). His relief performance has been better but not good considering his usage: 78/95/104, which is basically what you’d expect from a decent mop-up guy.
And now, he’s going back into the rotation. The Braves don’t expect him to go more than a few innings, but since nothing is easy, this could mean they have to cover eight or nine frames with the non-Lopez bullpen if things go awry. On the flip side, if the Giants blow Lopez up on relatively few pitches, the bullpen will still have to work a lot. It’s an odd strategy for a team desperate to save the bullpen — as someone noted in the comments, you can’t actually rest both the starters (i.e., Sale) and the bullpen, but the Braves are somehow attempting to thread that needle right now while also not collapsing out of the division lead altogether. It’s a very tall order.
The Giants haven’t announced a starter. It’s nominally Trevor McDonald’s turn in the rotation; McDonald has a 121/103/94 line in nine starts, but has gotten blown up each of his last two tries, not making it out of the fourth in either try. Maybe that means the starter is unannounced because the Giants will use one of their numerous lefty relievers as an opener ahead of the right-handed McDonald, or maybe something else will happen. In any case, this isn’t a marquee matchup, and the Braves need to figure out how to win games like this in the effortless manner they managed in April and May. But if they don’t, well, maybe they can spend some time calling that lawn guy or my kid’s camp instead.
Game Date/Time: Friday, June 26, 10:15 p.m. EDT
Location: Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA
TV: BravesVision
Streaming: MLB.tv
Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan
First off, I think in 15 years of draft previews that’s the first time I’ve ever typed C/SS. It’s an odd positional combo, but is a sign of some unusual athleticism for the guy squatting behind the plate. Brick was not on my radar to review, but Kiley McDaniel of ESPN mocked him to the Phillies last week. Since all my previews feel like they’ve been of Catchers and Shortstops, why not go for the combo here?
Brick is a 6’2″, 195 lbs 18 year old who reclassified from the 2027 Draft last Fall. He currently attends Christian Brothers High School in Memphis, TN. As noted above he’s played both Catcher and Shortstop at a high level, but is expected to be able to stick behind the dish. He has a College commitment to Mississippi State and is currently Baseball America’s 62nd ranked prospect. He’s a right handed batter and while you should never draft for need, the system is short on RHB and potential future starting Catchers. If you think a group of players are roughly equal, it’s fine to use need as a tie-breaker and perhaps that could be the case here.
To talk some skills, Brick has a double plus arm and consistently puts up sub 1.9 second pop times (he’s even thrown runners out at 2nd from his knees). His lateral agility is excellent and he shows a lot of promise being able to block pitches in the dirt and get to off target throws (he’s a bit of a, ahem, Brick wall, one might say). He’s a prep Catcher, so the receiving isn’t perfect and will need some work, but the tools are all there and he’s already very advanced for his age. His speed is below average, but better than you may expect from a Catcher. He won’t be stealing many bases, but he’s not slow enough to clog the basepaths either (this could change as he adds muscle and grows fully into his frame, but it’s still a better starting point).
Hitting is a mixed bag for Will. He makes a lot of contact and seems to have a good feel for a prep bat, though spin can be an issue. His swing is a good starting point, but I expect changes will be made. He shows good, above average power potential in batting practice sessions, but in game his approach is more line drive gap power oriented. His bat has not impressed as hoped this spring. He can have a passive approach at the plate and some in zone swing and miss. Additionally he hasn’t shown any growth in over the fence power. These have dropped his stock from a possible late first round pick to more of a mid-second rounder. As you can see in the below video he has a small leg kick and stride with decent balance. I could see a team asking for a bigger kick and more lift in the swing. That said he tops a lot of balls in this BP clip, it may help if his stance was less upright as he currently has his eye level a bit all over the place throughout the swing. Some of the better power he shows in the clip are on higher pitches where he keeps his eyes more level.
In game hitting video was really tough to come by. so I apologize for the below video which is a lot of skippable content. You’re looking at #2 in white/purple. The first few minutes you can watch him catching. To see him hit you have to jump to 2:18 (bloop single), 6:10 (a gap bloop he managed to stretch into a Triple, rather inadvisably probably), and the 10:05 mark when he moonshots one over the Left Field wall, thus accounting for pretty much the entirety of his team’s scoring. It’s not the best angle to analyze a swing from, but his stride seems much shorter with just a toe tap instead of a kick, except on the Homer where he gets more of a leg kick in. It’s also the lone high pitch in the video he sees.
I’d be thrilled with Brick as a Second or Third Round pick, but the rawness of the bat would make me a bit nervous, though not upset, if he was the pick at 36. There is a potentially special ceiling here, but the risks feel commensurate with a later pick.
Partially off topic, this week is the draft combine, so next week I may do a bit of an update summary on how the players I’ve profiled so far performed and if it changes anything I wrote. Also, if you watch any of the coverage and somebody really gets your radar buzzing, feel free to comment on it and I’ll add them to my list of possible write-ups.