ATLANTA, GA - JULY 19: Grant Holmes #66 of the Atlanta Braves gives high fives before the game against the Texas Rangers at Truist Park on July 19, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves earned their 75th win of the season after Thursday’s 2-0 win over the Chicago White Sox. Grant Holmes and Austin Riley allowed Atlanta to avoid the sweep during the makeup game. Holmes got the start, lasting six innings and allowing just one hit. He walked three and struck out three.
Austin Riley drove in both of the Atlanta runs. He doubled in the third and singled in the seventh to give the Braves the edge. Though a makeup game, the Braves desperately needed this win following a tough series with the Minnesota Twins.
The Braves are back in action this afternoon, as the weekend series kicks off with the Milwaukee Brewers.
More Braves News:
Pitching prospect Luke Sinnard has been promoted to Double-A and will suit up for the Columbus Clingstones.
Brett Sears struck out eight on Wednesday in Double-A. More in the minor league recap.
MLB News:
The Arizona Diamondbacks are transferring Ketel Marte from the restricted list to the 10-day injured list. He is currently dealing with inflammation in his knee.
Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson is likely done for the season. He has been dealing with a shoulder injury and is headed to Sacramento to see a doctor.
The San Francisco Giants placed righty Keaton Winn on the 15-day IL with right elbow neuritis. The move is retroactive to August 19.
From the Feed:
Predict the outcome of the Braves-Brewers series here.
Head to NBC and Peacock this Sunday, August 23, for double the MLB action. First, at 3:00 PM ET, it's the San Francisco Giants vs Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Then, at 4:00 PM, the Cincinnati Reds face the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. See below for additional information on how to watch both games.
Play-by-play Jason Benetti will be on the call for Sunday's Giants vs Red Sox game, alongside four-time All-Star outfielder Hunter Pence and former Red Sox infielder Lou Merloni.
Ahmed Fareed will host the pregame show alongside Anthony Rizzo, who will also provide “Inside the Pitch” commentary from the batter’s perspective during the game.
How to watch the San Francisco Giants vs Boston Red Sox:
MLB Sunday Leadoff is a weekly Major League Baseball showcase featuring live Sunday daytime games. It highlights marquee matchups throughout the regular season and streams primarily on Peacock, with some games also airing across NBC Sports and NBC.
MLB Sunday Night Baseball is a weekly primetime Major League Baseball showcase, featuring marquee matchups each Sunday night during the regular season. The games air on NBC and Peacock and anchor NBC Sports’ Sunday night programming lineup.
NBC Sports will also stream one out-of-market game each day of the 2026 MLB season nationally on Peacock. Telemundo Deportes will present all NBCUniversal-produced MLB games in Spanish, with Universo televising all games broadcast on NBC.
How to sign up for Peacock:
Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You’ll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC and Bravo hits for whatever suits your mood.
Why are some MLB games unavailable to stream on Peacock?
Due to territorial blackout restrictions, select regular season, special event, and Postseason games may be unavailable on Peacock. Television territory blackout restrictions apply regardless of whether a Club is home or away and regardless of whether a game is televised in that Club's home television territory. For more information, visit Peacock’s Help Center.
Peacock offers one of the most comprehensive live sports streaming lineups available today, bringing together the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, Premier League, NCAA football, NCAA basketball, golf, motorsports, and major global sporting events in a single service.
This Sunday afternoon features two exciting MLB games on NBC and Peacock. The action starts at 3:00 PM ET, when the San Francisco Giants take on the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Then, at 4:00 PM, it's the Cincinnati Reds vs Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. See below for additional information on how to watch both games.
Dave Flemming will call Sunday's Reds vs Diamondbacks MLB Sunday Leadoff game alongside five-time All-Star outfielder Luis Gonzalez, 1990 NL All-Star pitcher Jeff Brantley, and reporter Caroline Pineda.
How to watch the Cincinnati Reds vs Arizona Diamondbacks:
MLB Sunday Leadoff is a weekly Major League Baseball showcase featuring live Sunday daytime games. It highlights marquee matchups throughout the regular season and streams primarily on Peacock, with some games also airing across NBC Sports and NBC.
MLB Sunday Night Baseball is a weekly primetime Major League Baseball showcase, featuring marquee matchups each Sunday night during the regular season. The games air on NBC and Peacock and anchor NBC Sports’ Sunday night programming lineup.
NBC Sports will also stream one out-of-market game each day of the 2026 MLB season nationally on Peacock. Telemundo Deportes will present all NBCUniversal-produced MLB games in Spanish, with Universo televising all games broadcast on NBC.
How to sign up for Peacock:
Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You’ll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC and Bravo hits for whatever suits your mood.
Why are some MLB games unavailable to stream on Peacock?
Due to territorial blackout restrictions, select regular season, special event, and Postseason games may be unavailable on Peacock. Television territory blackout restrictions apply regardless of whether a Club is home or away and regardless of whether a game is televised in that Club's home television territory. For more information, visit Peacock’s Help Center.
Peacock offers one of the most comprehensive live sports streaming lineups available today, bringing together the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, Premier League, NCAA football, NCAA basketball, golf, motorsports, and major global sporting events in a single service.
A new Florida Panthers hockey season is right around the corner.
Over the next few weeks, Panthers players will continue to migrate down to South Florida ahead of the team’s annual training camp, which will be held at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale.
Every year during camp, the Panthers host a Training Camp Fan Fest, and this year’s event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 19.
The fun will begin at 10 a.m. and last throughout the afternoon.
Florida’s Training Camp Fan Fest is open to the public and free to attend, with all seating and parking available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Fans will have the opportunity to watch the Panthers during the day’s on-ice workouts and interact with mascots Stanley C. Panther and Viktor E. Ratt and the Florida Panthers Dance Team.
Additionally, there will be family-friendly games and activities for fans to enjoy, public skating sessions at 2:15 p.m. and 7 p.m., new items for sale in Pantherland and more.
For more info on the Panthers’ Training Camp Fan Fest, click here.
I like doing statistical analysis for two primary reasons. There are two main biases that it combats and we are all prey to those biases at one time or another. The first form of bias is what I would call immediacy bias. A great example of that is the string of short starts that the Astros are currently going through. The temptation is to assume that this has been constant throughout the season when that is almost never the case. There are ebbs and flows to these things, so looking at overall numbers can help us combat that bias.
The second bias is a local bias. We watch the Astros. Some of us watch them religiously. So, when we are watching one team 162 times a season and the other teams maybe a handful of times, it is easy to look at what your local group is doing and assume that it is either really good or really bad. We simply don’t have anything to compare it to. This becomes important when we are looking at relative strengths and weaknesses of a team. This can come into play in terms of game to game strategy or long-term questions about how the team should be structured.
We call this the lab because I like to start with observations that can be formed into a testable hypothesis. In this case, the hypothesis is that the Astros overly rely on their bullpen for innings because their starters do not go deep enough into games. We can test that simply by comparing them with the rest of the American League to see if that is true comparatively. We will start with the starting pitchers only in terms of innings pitched and ERA.
Innings
ERA
Yankees
676.1
3.38
Tigers
658.2
3.43
Rays
621.1
3.64
Guardians
699.2
3.73
Mariners
726.1
3.83
Red Sox
651.0
3.94
Blue Jays
602.2
4.23
Rangers
653.2
4.25
Orioles
674.1
4.31
White Sox
541.0
4.41
Angels
639.2
4.45
Royals
621.1
4.50
Twins
670.1
4.55
Astros
615.2
5.12
Athletics
616.0
5.32
I should note that the most significant thing here is not that the Astros are 14th in starter ERA, but the gap between them and the Twins for 13th place. As my grandfather used to say, they are so far down in the cellar that they have to pipe light to them. Certainly, if one were to apply park effects to these numbers you could make an argument that the Astros rotation has been the worst in the American League this season when adjusted for inflation.
It shouldn’t be any surprise that they are 13th in starter innings. The White Sox low total is jarring, but the rest of the group kind of settles in. There are three teams within 15 innings of the Astros on the season. Over the course of 120 games, 15 innings is not a completely significant sum. These numbers serve to answer our main question: are our observations valid? The simple answer is yes. This team doesn’t pitch as deeply into games as most of the other teams in the league. The overall numbers include those first couple of months when things were rough, but on balance this has not been even an average starting rotation.
Obviously, we need some more information before we decide whether the lack of starting innings is a good thing or bad thing. Most would reflexively state it isn’t, but I would caution people before making that conclusion. Throughout baseball history, bullpen ERAs typically outpace starting pitching ERA when taken collectively. So, we should expect a positive differential. I’ll throw in the starting to reliever differentials so we see what is happening throughout the league.
Innings
RERA
SERA
Diff
Red Sox
478.1
2.95
3.94
0.99
Yankees
449.1
3.02
3.38
0.36
Blue Jays
537.2
3.75
4.23
0.48
Tigers
466.2
3.78
3.43
-0.35
White Sox
583.2
3.78
4.41
0.63
Astros
511.2
3.90
5.12
1.22
Guardians
425.0
3.92
3.73
-0.19
Orioles
454.1
4.14
4.31
0.17
Rays
503.2
4.15
3.64
-0.51
Mariners
394.2
4.24
3.83
-0.41
Angels
479.0
4.28
4.45
0.17
Rangers
457.2
4.37
4.25
0.12
Twins
460.1
4.71
4.55
0.16
Royals
449.0
5.23
4.50
-0.73
Athletics
508.0
5.78
5.32
-0.46
Someone once said there are lies, damn lies, and statistics but that was obviously a gross simplification. Numbers are what they are and there is nothing that will change them. The question comes in how we interpret them. The Astros are third in bullpen innings. That is a fact and there is nothing that can change that. The question comes in how we choose to interpret that information.
Conventional wisdom would say that leading in bullpen innings is a bad thing. This is usually where the old-timers wax poetic about how pitchers used to finish their games back when men were men and sheep were nervous. I’d offer a different outlook. I’d simply say that you want to maximize your best performers as much as you possibly can. That means every manager has a different task, The managers with a negative differential are seeing their pens do worse than their starters. So, they should maximize starter innings as much as possible. The teams with positive differentials should maximize bullpen innings.
The best managers are the ones that can adapt to what their teams are actually doing. The Astros have the largest differential in the American League and likely the biggest in baseball. It may seem counterintuitive, but they should probably lean into that as they have lately. Obviously, there are workload concerns that can’t be ignored, but as a simple proposition, the pen is the best part of their pitching staff and that has been true even more so since May 1st.
Of course, this has broader implications in terms of roster construction. What is peculiar about this team is that you have a group of pitchers that have been effective in relief, but not effective as starters. That list includes Tatsuya Imai, Cristian Javier, and Kei-wei Teng. There is another group of pitchers that have worked heavier workloads in multi-inning opportunities. It’s a challenge for any manager, but this team may actually be better sticking to four and five inning starts and letting the pen carry the load. They run the risk of running out of gas, but the alternative is throwing out the worst rotation in the American League and hoping things work out.
Governing bodies had asked for ruling to end cases
Judge says claimants ‘blameless’ for missing documents
The legal action over brain injuries in rugby has been brought back from the brink of collapse after the high court ruled to give a reprieve to hundreds of claimants who had been struck out from the case.
More than 500 claimants had breached a court order by failing to disclose necessary neurological testing information to the defendants. The players’ representative, Susan Rodway KC, had said they were “staring into the precipice” at the most recent hearing, but the judge, Senior Master Cook, has now decided, with “some hesitation”, to allow all the affected claims to continue.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 08: Santiago Espinal #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at bat during a 3-1 win over the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on May 08, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers roster has been a carousel of All-Star (both current and former) talent playing nearly every day and the taxi squad members whose role is equally vital to the team’s success.
One of those former taxi squad members, Santiago Espinal, has found a new home within the NL West. Espinal signed a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday, as per an announcement from the Triple-A Reno Aces via X.
It’s been a chaotic 2026 season for Espinal, who initially latched onto a minor league deal with the Dodgers and eventually made the opening day roster. He played in 36 games with the big league squad, slashing .268/.276/.375 with a home run and seven RBI across 60 plate appearances. He was released by the Dodgers on June 18 before signing a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers on July 2, only to once again be released 26 days later. Espinal slashed .262/.333/.310 with six RBI with the Triple-A Round Rock Express.
Links
Right now the biggest talking point for the Dodgers outside of Shohei Ohtani’s battle for MVP is the turbulent, lackluster first year of the Kyle Tucker experience. As the Dodgers prepare to open a three-game set against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday, all eyes will be pointed towards Tucker and whether he’ll continue to underperform at home or possibly find his old, pre-Dodger self at the plate.
Mookie Betts and Miguel Rojas both sat down and spoke about Tucker’s difficult season in the most recent episode of the On Base with Mookie Betts podcast, where Rojas touched on having his teammate’s back despite the challenges.
“I have all my confidence in Tucker… I am a true believer that when you feel good, you play good. When you’re going out there everyday knowing the guys have your back, it’s a good feeling… I really want him to believe that the opinions that matter are the ones that are to your left and to your right.”
On Friday, for the first time in 13 years, Cox subscribers within the Dodgers’ broadcast territory will be able to watch the team on their local television home. Fans can find SportsNet LA on Channel 63 in Orange County, Channel 54 in Palos Verdes, Channel 36 in Santa Barbara and Channel 50 in Las Vegas.
Welcome to The Hockey News Vancouver Canucks site's 2026–27 player preview article series. This series will outline the expectations for every player projected to play for Vancouver during the 2026–27 season. Today's player is Canucks goaltender Nikita Tolopilo.
Tolopilo's 2025-2026 Season
Tolopilo started to establish himself as an NHL goaltender last year with Vancouver. The 26-year-old started 18 games and finished with a record of 6-11-2. Tolopilo also posted a save percentage of .881 and a goals against average of 3.61.
Last season, Tolopilo also played 19 games in the AHL. He finished with a record of 8-8-3, pushing his all-time record to 48-35-6. During his time with the Abbotsford Canucks last year, Tolopilo also recorded a save percentage of .897 with a goals against average of 3.07.
Tolopilo's 2025-26 Letter Grade
For his efforts in the 2025–26 season, The Hockey News' Canucks site gave Tolopilo a C grade. While he took some steps forward in his development, he also had some difficult games in both the NHL and the AHL. It is also important to note that Vancouver's defensive system caused Tolopilo issues as he faced plenty of odd-man rushes throughout the campaign.
Tolopilo's 2026-27 Predictions
Tolopilo is in a difficult situation heading into the 2026-27 season. If Thatcher Demko is healthy, he will most likely be the Canucks' third stringer, which could limit his play time. While he is on the older side, Tolopilo needs as many reps as possible to show that he can be an impactful backup at the NHL level.
As for the AHL, that is not tricky scenario as Tolopilo requires waivers. Based on his pedigree and size, another team will likely put in a claim if he hits the wire. Unless injuries occur, Tolopilo will most likely be used as a practice goaltender next year.
Bold prediction: Tolopilo plays at least 15 games in 2026-27.
Mar 30, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vancouver Canucks goaltender Nikita Tolopilo (60) warms up before a game against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 18: Kel'el Ware #7 and Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat high five during the game against the Atlanta Hawks during the 2025 SoFi Play-In Tournament on April 18, 2025 at State Farm Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
This week, our attention turned to the quartet of players—Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakučionis—the Bucks acquired as part of the trade that sent Giannis and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat. More specifically, we asked you how many of them you think Taylor Jenkins should start.
Turns out the magic number is two.
Arguably more important than the numbers, however, is the combination of starters. One prevailing line of thinking suggested that combination should be the backcourt/frontcourt tandem of Herro and Ware:
R984: …I selected 2. Herro just bc he’s probably our best offensive player (unless Rollins surpasses him, in which case move Herro to the bench imo), and I would like to see us start Ware, whether that is at the 4 or 5. I care much more about Ware being in the position to develop to his maximum potential than I do about Turner.
retired janitor: Two, Herro and Ware.
Thirty Point Buck: Hopefully there’s a trade before the season so they only have to showcase several for the deadline. Herro will start until traded . Ware will start but depending on matchups will come off the bench.
GBFanBoy: Herro and Ware all day. Keep Jaquez thriving off the bench. Let Turner have his way at the 4. Heck, he’s a better shooter than his sample size for sure. Ware as well in that regard, it’s got Cosby sauce all over it. Rollins and KPJ should get dynamic duo, Herro, Turner, Ware
Two wasn’t the only desirable total, with a fitting third of voters wanting to see three of the quartet start. But it wasn’t always for the same reason:
Knuckles: I went with 3: I still am a firm believer that Jaquez Jr. should start. High IQ, excellent secondary playmaker, and coming off a 6MOY campaign in a contract year. I think there is a very good chance he has a breakout season, and I want to see us either make him a part of the new future core (still 25 and this will be his fourth season) or make him available at the deadline. Same thinking with Herro… Ware is definitely a swingman in the front court, so I not only think he needs to start next to Turner but we want to figure out where his best fit is after we deal Turner.
naveed2000s: Three, only because currently JJJ is our best option at starting SF.
Of course, as R984 noted, some Bucks fans might think none of them should start—in which case those future picks better be great, otherwise we might really need to reevaluate the trade.
In all, as far as the comments go, it seems Bucks fans are set on—or at least accepting of—Herro starting, while also being in on a double-big lineup featuring Ware and Myles Turner. Even more surprising, discussion about who should start for the Bucks at point guard pointed to fans wanting Kevin Porter Jr. as the main distributor. So, is Ryan Rollins shafted to the bench or do the Bucks run with a three-guard lineup?
With trade target Peyton Watson now a Cleveland Cavalier, Jaquez accustomed to a sixth-man role, and the Bucks still searching for answers in the forward slots, that very much remains in play.
That question—and the rest of the small forward puzzle—will be explored in the next instalment of our “Choose Your Own Adventure” starter series, coming Tuesday.
Check out FanDuel, the official sportsbook of SB Nation.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 30: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets walks off the court after being defeated by the Minnesota Timberwolves 110-98 in Game Six of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Target Center on April 30, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Denver Nuggets and Cleveland Cavaliers feel like mirror images of each other in opposite conferences entering the 2026-27 season. Both teams are really good, but feel a step below their biggest rivals. Both have huge payrolls built around max superstars without much flexibility to tinker with the roster formula. Both have had frustrating offseasons before they came together to swap Peyton Watson as part of a massive five-team trade this week.
The Cavs will hope Watson can be the fifth starter they’ve long been missing while adding wing defense, transition scoring, and spot-up shooting. The Nuggets feel like they’re taking a step back this season with the deal, but they’re adding a valuable long-term asset by landing Cleveland’s unprotected 2031 first-rounder. The Clippers got involved to add Max Strus, while the Hornets picked up Dennis Schroder as part of the deal.
‘Who’s No. 4?’ remains the most interesting question in the NBA
Any dummy can see that the Thunder, Spurs, and Knicks are the best teams in the NBA in some order entering the season. Ask 10 people who should be No. 4 in the power rankings, and you might get seven different answers.
I’m favoring the Timberwolves here because of their playoff upside. I don’t expect them to be the NBA’s fourth-best regular season team this season, but I like their ability to advance in the postseason more than some of the other contenders for that spot. I’m always been a bit LaMelo Ball guy, and he’s quietly turned into a borderline top-20 player when he’s healthy. Obviously LaMelo’s health is a big if, but you can same thing for Aaron Gordon in Denver and Joel Embiid in Philadelphia. Ball is at least the youngest of that trio.
I’m intrigued by the Timberwolves apparent plan to try to beat the Spurs and/or Thunder with pull-up threes. Those are very tough shots to defend, and if they fall in a short series, it gives Minnesota some upset potential against the conference’s elite. I’m a bit worried about the Wolves’ depth, I don’t think the Ayo Dosunmu contract will age well, and there should be some concern about age-related decline from Rudy Gobert. The Wolves’ grip on the No. 4 spot is far from firm, but I still like their upside with Anthony Edwards and Ball leading the offense, and Gobert and Jaden McDaniels leading the defense. Let me know who you would have at No. 4 in the comments below.
I’m still not buying the Cavs even with Peyton Watson
I detailed my thoughts on the Watson deal for Cleveland in my trade grades, which is linked in the first paragraph of this story. In short, Watson feels like a better fit for the Cavs on paper than he will be in reality. I’m not convinced he’s a more impactful player than Max Strus, and I’m worried about Cleveland’s depth after giving up Strus and Dennis Schroder to land him.
The Cavs have been an Eastern Conference contender since trading for Donovan Mitchell. They should be trending up after a conference finals berth following two second-round exits, but to me it feels like other teams in the conference are passing them. James Harden — now inked to a new three-year, $97 million deal — should start to decline at age-37. I’ve long been a big Evan Mobley fan, but I’m a bit discouraged with his lack of offensive development the last two seasons. Watson could potentially be a really good fit for Cleveland, but they need him to buy into being an impactful defender and spot-up shooter when his defense has always been a little overrated, and he prefers to shoot from mid-range rather than maximizing corner three attempts (where he knocked down 52% last year).
I would take the Raptors with Kawhi over the Cavs, and I think I would take the Pistons over them too. Detroit addressed its lack of shooting over the offseason, and their core is still getting better while I’m not sure that’s the case for Cleveland. Ultimately, the Cavs move up one spot in my rankings from last time. I decided to flip flop on Toronto and Detroit because while I feel like the Pistons are a better regular season team, the Raptors have more playoff upside to me with Leonard in tow.
Obviously, I could be wrong about Cleveland. All these teams are pretty close. The Cavs are good every year, and in some sense I feel like that’s the best way to eventually breakthrough: just keep fielding competitive teams until you get the luck you need for things to break your way. For now, I like the Cavs more as a regular season team than a playoff team, and that’s why they can’t crack the top-10 of my power rankings.
Are the Nuggets done competing for championships around Nikola Jokic?
The Nuggets have done a lot wrong since winning the 2023 championship. Zeke Nnaji and Christian Braun are among the worst contracts in the league. Aaron Gordon is constantly hurt, and that might be Denver’s biggest issue. Jamal Murray is very good, but he feels a bit overpaid at $50 million this year, equating to the league’s 17th highest paid player. They traded an unprotected 2032 first-round and Michael Porter Jr. for Cameron Johnson only to watch Porter have a significantly better season in Brooklyn than Johnson had in Denver. They just lost Peyton Watson for nothing after originally giving up their 2027 first-round pick to get him. It’s been bleak.
I still think the Nuggets have a chance to build a contender around Jokic again even if this year could be another small step back. Of course, they have to extend Jokic for that to be possible, and right now he’s slated to be a free agent next summer despite continually saying he’ll spend his whole career in Denver. I’d rather have the Cavs’ unprotected 2031 pick than Watson in a vacuum. That can be a valuable trade chip in the future. I’m imagining a world where Braun bounces back this season, and Denver trades him plus the pick for a real contributor moving forward. I also wouldn’t be shocked if Denver eventually does its version of the Jaylen Brown trade with Murray.
Teams aren’t meant to stay together forever under this CBA. Front offices almost have to pitch a perfect game to keep the championship window extended, and Denver didn’t even come close to that. Still, all things are possible through Jokic, and now they have an actually valuable trade chip with the Cavs pick to flip for someone better than Watson. I don’t love where Denver is at this year, especially if Gordon’s body keeps breaking down. I’m just not ready to write their obituary for the Jokic era just yet.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 7: An overall view of the court before the Minnesota Timberwolves unveil new logo, uniforms and court on June 7, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It was fairly clear from the comments section and social media that the Timberwolves community strongly believe there aren’t any currently retired/soon-to-be retired players who’s jerseys should follow Kevin Garnett’s number 21 to the Target Center rafters.
Based on the list that was provided to fans, Ricky Rubio was the strongest contender. That said, there were significant arguments against all four of these players. Most of which were based on their individual accomplishments and/or lack of playoff success appearances.
For example, though Kevin Love’s best statistical seasons were spent in Minnesota, he had an unhappy breakup here. Most concurred that Gorgui Dieng was indeed a great humanitarian, but hardly worthy of basketball recognition. Good ol’ Sam Mitchell is still just good ol’ Sam Mitchell.
The general consensus was that none of the KG era, nor the pre-Karl-Anthony Towns era, players were worthy enough to have this distinguished honor. Karl-Anthony Towns seemed to be a divisive name, but players such as Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert often came up as the next names they’d like to see enshrined in Target Center.
Others such as Jaden McDaniels or Naz Reid fell more in the Towns tier, depending on how things shake out in the future.
No matter what, a Naz Reid towel certainly belongs up there.
If Joan Beringer turns into the next Kevin Garnett soon, then he might see his number 19 up there one day as well. Maybe he’ll show off a little shimmy-shake mid-range number. Turn into a Defensive Player of the Year. Make Tim Connelly overpay for a few of his French friends. Start a feud with Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez.
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 23: Jalen Johnson #1 of the Atlanta Hawks dribbles the ball during the game against the New York Knicks during Round One Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2026 at State Farm Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
NBA 2K is always one of the more highly anticipated games to release every year, and it’s always in August where they drop everything people want to know. The one thing everyone looks forward to before the game is seeing where the players rank, and for NBA 2K27, they’ve released player ratings for the top 100.
The Atlanta Hawks always happen to have a few players to crack the top 100, and this year is no different. Here are the players who made the top 100 list for the Hawks.
Onyeka Okongwu is listed at No. 97 and is an 81 overall. The center is one of the more versatile players at his position, as he’s able to knock down the 3-point shot as well as defend multiple positions. Okongwu was one of the constants on the team last season for the Hawks, and the hope is that he’ll continue to improve.
Of course, everyone loves to talk about his height, but he does a lot for how tall he is.
Dyson Daniels is listed at No. 94 and is an 81 overall as well. There’s no doubt that Daniels’ defensive ratings have to be some of the best in the game after seeing what he’s been able to accomplish over the past two seasons with the Hawks. Offensively, his 3-point shooting was not great last season, but his driving and playmaking were key for the team.
CJ McCollum is the next player to make it into the top 100, and is listed at No. 74 and is an 83 overall. McCollum has been a bucket for most of his career, and when he was traded to the Hawks, he gave them a much-needed boost that helped them go on their run in the second half of the season.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if McCollum’s shooting numbers in the game are off the charts, especially his ball handling.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker is No. 70 on the list and is an 83 overall, which is fitting for the Most Improved Player of last season. Alexander-Walker showed that with more responsibility on his plate, he could deliver at any moment the Hawks needed him in, whether it was hitting a late bucket or getting a defensive stop to win the game.
Alexander-Walker still has room to grow his game, and it’ll be interesting to see what he does next season.
To end the list for the Hawks, Jalen Johnson comes in at No. 28 and is an 87 overall. Johnson took the leap that many expected him to last season, and once Trae Young was traded, he elevated his game even more. It was obvious that he would be the person to count on for the Hawks, and that will be the case for the future.
Johnson ended the season on an All-NBA team, and it might be a little shocking that he was ranked a little higher in the game. Nonetheless, Johnson will have the chance to move up the ranks this season, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he reached a 90 overall at some point.
Happy Friday, everyone! We’ve made it through another week and we’re closing in on the end of August. Still hard to believe that the end of summer and the end of the regular baseball season are now just over a month away (howww????). This, of course, brings us to the weird and wacky position the wild cards are in, where it looks like several teams below .500 might be queued up to make it a very strange race to the finish to see who will make it to the postseason.
In today’s links we also dip a toe into a potentially controversial topic: is it time to shut Paul Skenes down for the season? The former ace pitcher for the Pirates hasn’t been himself this season and no one can say exactly why, but some are suggesting that letting him rest as much as possible might be the key.
We get into that and much more below, so let’s just jump right into it.
Pretty sad they even have to make a statement about this.
Little League International stands by its statement first issued last year that there is no place for betting on Little League games and players or any youth sports competition. Little League is a trusted place where children are learning the fundamentals of the games and all the… pic.twitter.com/avpghLKyoI
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA - MARCH 13, 2026: Heston Kjerstad #13 of the Baltimore Orioles bats during the third inning of a spring training game against the Philadelphia Phillies at BayCare Ballpark on March 13, 2026 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Heston Kjerstad reached base in all four plate apperances, but Norfolk never managed to bring him home. Kjerstad tripled and also worked a walk. Bryan Ramos and José Barrero added the other two singles.
Tides starter Juaron Watts-Brown failed to complete three innings during a disappointing day. The former Blue Jays prospect allowed a two run homer in the first. He posted a zero in the second, but things unraveled in the third. Brown threw only 38 of 73 pitches for strikes.
Yaqui Rivera tossed 2.1 scoreless innings of relief. Nick Raquet added a pair of zeros, and Yaramil Hiraldo did not allow a run in the ninth.
Anthony Eyanson continued to look the part with seven strong innings. Eyanson held Richmond off the scoreboard until they broke through with a broken-bat RBI single in the sixth. Eyanson finished the day with 7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 8 K, 0 BB.
Eyanson was technically outdueled by Richmond. Yunior Marte, San Francisco’s 25th ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline, pitched six scoreless frames. It’s a tough way for Eyanson to pick up his first loss at Double-A.
Anderson De Los Santos singled to bring the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but the Baysox failed to make it more interesting than that. Wehiwa Aloy pinch hit and grounded out to end the game.
Thomas Sosa finished 2-for-4 with a double. He was the only Chesapeake player to record multiple hits or anything more than a single.
High-A: Frederick Keys vs.Wilmington Blue Rocks (Nationals) — PPD
“Wet Grounds” was the official designation. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader today.
Harrison Kreiling started the game with 3.1 scoreless innings, but Connor Gehr coughed up seven runs (six earned) over 3.2 innings of bulk relief. Gehr was done in by three Hickory home runs.
Ty Head finished 1-for-3 with a walk and solo homer from the leadoff spot. Eric Booth Jr. singled and added a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning. Jemone Nuel and Adriander Mejía both doubled, and Jaide Lo Re managed a walk in four plate appearances.
More information about the financing will be published tomorrow ahead of the TIF Commission’s meeting, officials said. The City Council would be expected to vote on creating a TIF district and on formally issuing bonds for the stadium.
The council is also expected to vote on a related rezoning plan in September that would set flexible standards for future redevelopment in Crown Center.
The Royals are pursuing a $1.9 billion new stadium that would anchor a $3 billion entertainment district in the city’s urban core.
The Royals have committed to privately pay for $760 million of the project’s cost. The city and the team also plan to apply for state funding that could total roughly $540 million.
City staff said construction work could begin early next year and the completed stadium could open in time for the 2030 baseball season.
If the projections are wrong, that’s the city’s problem. The Royals aren’t guaranteeing the bonds. Kansas City is. If the taxes dedicated to the stadium fall short, the city still owes the money.
That’s what happened with the Power & Light District, where Kansas City has spent roughly $10 million a year on average since 2006 covering debt payments that district revenues couldn’t. If the same thing happens here, that money will have to come from somewhere else in the city budget. That means less funding for roads, parks, trash pickup, public safety or other basic services.
Behind the top of the farm, the depth of the system has taken a slight hit. Sure, there are fringe prospects who could reach another tier, such as Ramon Ramirez (questions on position), Yandel Ricardo (inconsistent), and Justin Lamkin (injury).
For the most part, however, it’s a bunch of 40 FV prospects with a handful more who could blossom into better as they age. The largest upswing further down the farm has without question been the international influx. Since the arrival of Johnny DiPuglia in 2024, the Royals have done tremendously well. Gomez and Chourio headline that crop, but Ricardo and others such as Freddy Contreras, Jaider Suarez, and Warren Calcaño round out what’s becoming a solid international pipeline for the Royals.
I was burned by this Royals team in 2026, but there are plenty of good players here. Bobby Witt Jr. is capable of an MVP season, and we’ve seen enough from Carter Jensen and Jac Caglianone to believe they could be All-Stars next year if things break right. Vinnie Pasquantino is capable of a better season, too. On the pitching end, they’ll have Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha back, while Noah Cameron looks like a star right now. A midseason return of Cole Ragans will help bolster the rotation, and maybe they find outside-organization help or someone like Justin Lamkin hustles on his way to the majors. The AL Central isn’t exactly a juggernaut division, either.
Additionally, some viewers feel there are “too many cooks in the kitchen” due to a large, rotating cast of secondary analysts. Sideline reporter Howard is noted as a “promising” addition who is still finding her own voice. Overall, one’s tolerance for Hudler appears to be the deciding factor in how one appreciates these broadcasts.
“Eric Hosmer has been an incredible addition to the team, adding new stories while also diving much deeper into the strategy and player mindset of the game than what’s been the norm for years,” wrote one grader. “Rex Hudler is still a lovable Kansas City treasure, but the Hosmer/Hudler contrast has been a welcome change of pace for KC.”
D.J. Short
