SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 21: Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green reacts to his second technical foul of the game while playing New York Knicks in 2nd quarter during NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, January 21, 2021. (Scott Strazzante/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
Today, Marc Stein reported that New York expects to carry 14 standard contracts rather than 15. That means the five veterans brought to camp (Bruce Brown, John Konchar, Ochai Agbaji, Drew Eubanks, and James Wiseman) are effectively duking it out for one job unless the Knicks clear some cash.
From the latest Stein Line:
“It’s believed that the Knicks will only fill one of the two current vacancies in terms of the maximum 15 standard contracts they can carry starting Opening Night (Oct. 21) unless they make another roster move first that sheds salary.”
At present, New York sits only a little more than $3 million below the second apron, leaving enough room for one additional veteran-minimum contract but not two. With the Knicks needing more help at center than on the wing, it sure seems that Eubanks and Wiseman are frontrunners for the open gig.
But wait! There’s another wrinkle. Stein also reports:
“Brown, furthermore, is indeed a Wiseman fan. The newly crowned champs likewise do appear to have a clear need for a third big man behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond.”
You’ll recall that Brown was an assistant coach for the Warriors when they selected Wiseman second in the 2020 draft. He must’ve helped to evaluate the young player out of Memphis, and perhaps he spotted potential that hasn’t yet been realized on the NBA court. The 6’11”, 240lb big man averaged 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds in 21.4 minutes across 39 games (27 starts) as a rookie, but his year was cut short by a torn right meniscus. After that, the injury bug continued to chase him through Detroit and Indiana.
“James—he does stuff on a daily basis that makes you sit back and go, ‘Wow. Did he just do that? Am I seeing that?’ The sky is the limit for him. I don’t know if there’s anything that he’s not gonna be able to do when he reaches his peak.”
If Wiseman lives up to that high praise in New York’s training camp, his former coach is very likely to lock him down for the opening night roster. Meanwhile, while searching for a cover picture, your humble blogger found a few too many images of Mitchell Robinson dunking on Wiseman. Which stung.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 01: Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers reacts against the Golden State Warriors at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on November 01, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s pretty difficult to imagine that it was just 15 short months ago when the Indiana Pacers had the OKC Thunder in a dangerous place in the 2025 NBA Finals. Everything that happened to this franchise from that moment through the end of the 2026 season felt disastrous. Heck, even this offseason the luck was not in their favor, as they lost a statistical coin flip in the NBA Draft Lottery, which saw them forfeit the fifth overall pick to the LA Clippers.
However, the bad vibes can’t overshadow what this team could look like when healthy. The Ivica Zubac trade, even with the draft loss, should net out to be a big win for the team. Tyrese Haliburton will be back from his achillies tear, and as the year progresses, he should look more and more like the player he was just a season ago. The depth of this team remains solid with guys who got extended burn last year during the injury-doomed year. And lastly, the coaching staff, led by Rick Carlisle, remains one of the best in the league.
Indiana Pacers: Over/Under 43.5 wins (-120/-105)
Last season: 19-63, 14th in the Eastern Conference:
Key additions: Ivica Zubac (trade with LA Clippers), Tyrese Haliburton (achillies)
Key losses: None
It seems like this team is primed for a bounce back, even if the Eastern Conference is much harder than it was when they won it in 2025. The starting lineup should be one of the ten best in the league, in my opinion. Zubac should fit nicely with Haliburton, as their two-man game should develop into a real weapon over the course of the season. Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin return off the Finals team as well.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JUNE 11: Pascal Siakam #43, Obi Toppin #1 and T.J. McConnell #9 of the Indiana Pacers high five during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game Three of the 2025 NBA Finals on June 11, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
I really like the depth of this group, especially in the backcourt. TJ McConnell is one of the better backup guards in the league. Ben Sheppard and Aaron Nesmith got to show off what they can do last year, and I expect the team at large to benefit from the growth they showed last year. The addition of Jay Huff last year could return dividends this season, as well. Plus, maybe Jarace Walker can continue to build off of last year’s growth.
The Pacers didn’t get a real chance to defend their crown last year, and naturally the rival Knicks took home the title in their absence. Redemption will be on Indiana’s mind this entire season, and I think that helps them return to their winning ways.
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 24: Cecil Fielder of the New York Yankees bats during Game Five of the World Series against the Atlanta Braves on October 24, 1996 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images) | Sporting News via Getty Images
On August 22nd, during a divisional game between the Yankees and Blue Jays the YES Network invited to the booth a special guest: the retired slugger Cecil Fielder. Fielder had history with both franchises—he debuted as a member of the Blue Jays, and then later in his career came aboard with the Yankees after becoming a star, helping them win a championship in 1996.
Despite a brief detour in which he expressed befuddlement with modern hitting, Fielder’s conversation with Michael Kay and former teammate Paul O’Neill was ultimately a pleasant one. He spoke reverently about the 1996 team he helped bring to championship glory. “I didn’t have to do much; I just had to fit in,” he said. “All I had to do was come here and just play, and that’s what we did. We just went out, and if we play today we win today.”
Cecil Grant Fielder Born: September 21, 1963 (Los Angeles, CA) Yankees Tenure: 1996-97
Fielder grew up in La Puente, outside Los Angeles, and was so dominant an athlete during his youth that opposing parents continually accused his parents, Edson and Tina Fielder, of faking Cecil’s age. A three-sport star at Nogales High School, he enjoyed basketball more than football and baseball but chose to pursue baseball because he didn’t think his bulky frame would allow him to succeed at the point guard position he played. Concerns about his size, though, would follow him throughout the early portions of his budding baseball career.
After the Orioles took a flyer on him out of high school, Fielder played at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas—but only for one season. His college coach wanted him to lose a whopping 50 pounds; he quit the program two games into his sophomore year. Shortly afterward, in June of 1982, the Royals selected him in the supplemental draft—but they too had their doubts about Fielder long-term. In 1983 Kansas City traded him to the Toronto Blue Jays for veteran outfielder Leon Roberts.
Fielder made his MLB debut in the second half of 1985, the Jays’ first playoff season after a slow build. Over the next four seasons, he flashed the tantalizing power he was already known for, but couldn’t establish himself as a regular on a Toronto team which was perennially gunning for the World Series. So, Cecil went to Japan.
With Hanshin in 1989, Fielder overcame a sluggish start to become a fan favorite, wowing crowds with his prodigious pop. He hit 38 home runs and slugged .628 in his lone NPB season, earning some interest from a few MLB clubs. The Tigers brought him aboard on a two-year, $3 million pact, and were immediately rewarded, as Fielder tore the cover off the ball in a legendary 1990 season, once even demolishing a Dave Stewart pitch out of Tiger Stadium entirely. That was the kind of power that the man they called “Big Daddy” brought to the plate. His grand finale came in the Bronx.
On October 3rd, Fielder made history by hitting his 50th home run of the season off the Yankees’ Steve Adkins in the second inning. It had been nearly three full decades since an American League player last reached the 50-homer mark (and 13 years since George Foster for the Reds). Fielder pulled it off in his first season as a true big-league starter. He went on to hit his 51st homer of the season off Alan Mills in the top of the eighth. At this point, his pursuit of history was the only compelling storyline; Detroit and New York both finished well out of the playoff picture.
The next season, the Tigers improved substantially, and Fielder clobbered another 44 homers, but it was not enough to carry them to the playoffs—they finished tied for second in a crowded AL East, seven back of Toronto. That was as close as they’d come to the postseason while Fielder was under their employ—and by 1996, Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson was gone and the Tigers were back in the basement. Indeed, it was the middle of a nearly two-decade stretch of no playoff baseball in Detroit until 2006. Well on their way to 109 losses, they shopped Fielder, who had a season and a half remaining on his deal.
The Yankees, leading comfortably in the AL East, were an obvious fit. They would be willing to take on Fielder’s big salary (he was the highest-earning player in the league in 1996), and the offense lacked a true power threat from the right side of the plate. To that point, no one had hit more homers in the ’90s than Cecil, surpassing even Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, and Ken Griffey Jr. So on July 31st, they got their guy, sending Rubén Sierra—who Joe Torre wanted out of the clubhouse anyway—and preseason 12th-overall Baseball America prospect Matt Drews the other way in the deal.
Fielder’s production in pinstripes in the back half of the regular season was essentially consistent to what he did in Motown. He posted a 109 OPS+ before the trade, and a 108 after the trade. He socked 13 dingers to get to 39 on the season, and typically sat between O’Neill and Tino Martinez in the order. Despite Fielder’s quality play, the Yanks oddly scuffled to a 13-17 record in August before rebounding with a 16-11 September to clinch the AL East, their first division title in 15 years.
In the Yankees’ ensuing postseason run, Fielder made an immediate impact, hitting a home run in a 12-inning Game 2 win over Texas in the Bronx to even the ALDS. He added two more hits and RBI in Game 4 as the Bombers punched their ticket to the ALCS against the division rival Orioles.
Fielder provided quality over quantity in that five-game set. While he only grabbed three hits against Baltimore, one was a two-run homer against Mike Mussina in Game 2 which gave the Yankees some valuable insurance runs in a 5-2 victory. Then in the decisive Game 5, Fielder’s three-run jack was the first of back-to-back jacks with fellow powerhouse Darryl Strawberry.
It was easy to wonder whether that effort might be for naught when the Yankees fell behind the Braves two games to none to start the World Series as the series shifted to Atlanta. But the Bombers rallied heroically, first when David Cone outdueled Tom Glavine in a 5-3 win in Game 3, then when they overcame a 6-0 deficit to win Game 4 8-6 in extra innings. Fielder got the rally started with a two-run single to put the Yankees on the board. With no DH for the games at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, Torre had been tasked with a tough decision of whether to play Fielder or Martinez at first base. With Tino slumping, Torre had gone with Fielder; it was the right call.
With the series tied back up, it was Fielder’s RBI double off an otherwise-pristine John Smoltz in the fourth inning of Game 5 which provided the only run of the entire night—the Yankees pitching, led by Andy Pettitte, shut down the Braves and allowed New York to take control of the Fall Classic once and for all.
Fielder grabbed one last knock in Game 6, his ninth of the series, as the Yankees won 3-2 to clinch their 23rd championship.
Fielder stuck around in 1997, and remained a regular in the lineup until a thumb injury sidelined him in mid-July. He returned a few months later in time for the end of the regular season, but saw a reduced role in the playoffs. He only appeared in two games in the Division Series and picked up one hit as the Yankees bowed out to Cleveland. Fielder’s power had declined—across the full year, he only managed to hit 13 homers, the same number he had hit after the trade the previous season. His slugging percentage was .410, the lowest he’d posted in a full season to that point.
The Yankees, retooling their lineup with the additions of Chuck Knoblauch, Scott Brosius, and Chili Davis, let Fielder walk in free agency at year’s end. He signed with the Angels, and put together a solid first half near his hometown before struggling mightily after the All-Star Break. In August, the Angels released him—undeterred, he quickly joined up with Cleveland for one last opportunity to reach the postseason. But his steep decline continued there, and the AL Central champs cut bait after 14 games. Unable to catch on with Toronto the following spring, Fielder retired in 1999 with 319 career home runs: the exact total his son Prince would rack up in his own terrific career.
Cecil’s retirement was far from easy—he and Prince were estranged for a time and a purported gambling habit led to the collapse of his marriage. But by the time he joined the YES booth this August, he had repaired his relationship with Prince, remarried, and was able to reminisce about the good times with O’Neill, with whom he captured championship glory 30 years ago.
Happy birthday, Cecil.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 5: A general view as Roman Anthony #19 of the Boston Red Sox bats during the first inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles on September 5, 2026 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tonight the Jays start their second-to-last series of the season. Six games remain, with a mathematical chance of making the playoffs, but math occasionally lies. But a series sweep would make things a little more interesting.
Tuesday, 6:35 start time: Max Scherzer (3-8, 6.07) vs. Chris Bassitt (8-5, 4.64).
Wednesday, 6:35 start time: TBD vs. TBD.
Trey’s last rehab start wasn’t exactly something to build our confidence, but then I doubt there is a direct correlation between rehab starts and the major league return.
Rain is in the forecast for Baltimore this week, but the league will get the games in no matter what it takes. There isn’t time to reschedule.
The Orioles are two games back of the Jays, not quite officially eliminated, but they likely will be in the next couple of days.
The Orioles rank sixth in the AL in runs/game at 4.44 (the Jays are second-to-last at 4.01). They are 11th in runs allowed per game at 4.64 (the Jays are sixth at 4.30).
The Orioles have some excellent batters and fielders:
Pete Alonso: .264/.358/.500 with 38 home runs, a league-leading 105 RBI, 78 walks and 163 RBI for a 4.3 bWAR.
Gunnar Henderson: .223/.308/.397 with 23 home runs, 65 walks and 151 strikeouts, 3.0 bWAR. Outs Above Average has him at a +2, but I think his defence is better than that.
Colton Cowser: .224/.313/.367 with 13 home runs, 43 walks and 118 strikeouts for a 2.4 bWAR. Outs above average have him at a +7 in center field.
Samuel Basallo: .223/.292/.408 with 18 home runs, 32 walks and 104 strikeouts for a 1.7 bWAR. He’s just 21, has a great arm behind the plate, throwing out 26.2% of basesteals (league average is 22.7).
The bullpen isn’t their strong point:
Andrew Kittredge: 3.61 ERA, 10 saves, 5 blown saves, 9 holds. Batters are hitting .274/.311/.416 against him.
Rico Garcia: 3.18 ERA, 9 saves, 6 blown saves, 18 holds. Batters are hitting .185/.261/.343 against him.
Anthony Nunez: 3.90, 3 saves, 3 blown saves, 7 holds. Batters are hitting .204/.304/.322 against him.
Grant Wolfram: 4.35, 1 save, 1 blown, 13 holds. Batters are hitting .261/.327/.397 against him. He’s a lefty, but lefties are hitting .284/.348/.382 against him.
Yennier Cano: 3.00, 3 saves, 2 blown, 13 holds. Batters are hitting .214/.273/.280 against him.
They also have former Jays lefty Josh Walker in the pen. He has a 1.57 ERA in 29 games.
England v Sri Lanka ODIs come a year before World Cup
Harry Brook is hopeful that Brydon Carse will break back into his England white-ball teams once the fast bowler is clear of his ongoing disciplinary, describing him as a “very good mate” who is “working on a few things behind the scenes”.
Carse has recently discovered he will not face a criminal charge for the late-night incident in Derby last month that led to him being briefly handcuffed. But while technically available for selection, the 31-year-old has not featured in England’s squads since that night as he awaits the outcome of an investigation by the Cricket Regulator.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 14: Jesús Luzardo #44 of the Philadelphia Phillies speaks with William Contreras #24 of the Milwaukee Brewers during the third inning of the 2026 MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 14, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Milwaukee Brewers are set to wrap up their last road trip of the 2026 regular season this week, as they’ll visit the Philadelphia Phillies for three games. A pair of playoff teams (barring a final week collapse by Philadelphia), the Brewers sit at 98-58 with the best record in baseball, while the Phillies are 86-70 and currently sit in the final NL Wild Card spot, four games ahead of the D-backs with six games to go. Last time these teams met, back in June, the Brewers took two of three in Milwaukee with a pair of shutouts.
The Brewers injured list currently includes relievers Grant Anderson (on rehab assignment), Bryse Wilson (on rehab assignment), Brian Fitzpatrick (out for season), and Angel Zerpa (out for season). They’re also without starters Quinn Priester (out for season) and Brandon Woodruff (potential late postseason return).
Philadelphia is without pitchers Jesús Luzardo (aiming for postseason return), Caleb Kilian (out for season), and Brad Keller (out for season). Outfielders Johan Rojas and Adolis García are also out for the year. Right-hander Jonathan Bowlan is also considered day to day with a mild groin strain.
Jake Bauers and Jackson Chourio lead the way for Milwaukee’s offense, with Brice Turang a homer and a steal away from a 20-20 season. William Contreras has also been a key producer over the last month or so, and Joey Ortiz has been a leader offensively in the second half. Andrew Vaughn, Garrett Mitchell, Cooper Pratt, Luis Lara, and Christian Yelich have also been regular producers, with Gary Sánchez, David Hamilton, Sal Frelick, and Bo Naylor serving as depth. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .258/.341/.403 (.744 OPS ranks fourth), with 149 homers (tied for 28th), 802 runs scored (second), and 156 steals (fifth).
Kyle Schwarber is tied for the major league lead with 45 homers this season, driving in 95 and also walking 101 times, just behind Bryce Harper’s 104. Harper has slugged 28 homers, while Trea Turner is a homer away from a 20-20 season (19 homers, 21 steals), and Brandon Marsh, Alec Bohm, J.T. Realmuto, and Bryson Stott also have double-digit homers. Deadline acquisition Luis Arraez is hitting “just” .285 since joining Philadelphia, and Justin Crawford rounds out the usual starters. Bryan De La Cruz, Derek Hill, Garrett Stubbs, Edmundo Sosa, and Rafael Marchán round out the bench. As a team, the Phillies are hitting .241/.312/.397 (.709 OPS ranks 22nd), with 179 homers (tied for 14th), 697 runs scored (tied for 13th), and 102 steals (15th).
Milwaukee’s bullpen is anchored by closer Trevor Megill, setup man Abner Uribe, and high-leverage arms in Aaron Ashby, Chad Patrick, and DL Hall. Ashby’s 3.27 ERA is actually the worst of that group, while Megill leads the team with 29 saves this year. Shane Drohan has rejoined the bullpen after working as a starter for most of the year, as has the struggling Kyle Harrison. Deadline acquisitions JoJo Romero and Antonio Senzatela are also in the ‘pen, as is Colton Gordon, who hasn’t yet made an appearance with Milwaukee (more on him later). As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.54 team ERA (second) including a 3.64 starter ERA (fifth) and a 3.41 bullpen ERA (fourth). They’ve struck out 1,492 batters (second) over 1,393 2/3 innings.
José Alvarado leads Philadelphia with 65 appearances, though his 5.02 ERA over 57 1/3 innings isn’t ideal. Jhoan Duran is the closer, as he’s 32-for-34 in save opportunities, turning in a 1.76 ERA and 79 strikeouts over 56 1/3 innings. The aforementioned Bowlan (3.36 over 56 1/3 IP), Tim Mayza (3.46 ERA over 65 IP), and Chase Shugart (4.03 ERA over 51 1/3 IP) all play key roles, while deadline pickup Brooks Raley (8.71 ERA over 10 1/3 IP) has struggled. Tanner Banks (6.82 ERA over 33 IP) and Max Lazar (5.63 ERA over 8 IP) have also had a rough go, while Alex McFarlane (2.35 ERA over 15 1/3 IP) has been solid. As a staff, the Phillies have a 4.00 team ERA (11th) including a 3.79 starter ERA (seventh) and a 4.34 bullpen ERA (21st). They’ve struck out 1,510 batters (first) over 1,384 1/3 innings.
Probable Pitchers
Tuesday, September 22 @ 5:40 p.m.: RHP Dustin May (7-9, 4.61 ERA, 3.50 FIP) vs. RHP Zack Wheeler (13-5, 2.99 ERA, 3.47 FIP)
May has had an up-and-down tenure in Milwaukee, with several strong starts and several short ones. After working six scoreless innings against the Reds on September 11, he went just 2 1/3 innings against the Orioles on Friday, allowing three runs on six hits, a walk, and a hit batter while striking out four, needing 70 pitches to do so. He’ll go on short rest after the shortened start, looking to bounce back against Philadelphia. May has faced 28 teams in his career, but the Phillies are not one of them (the other is Toronto).
Wheeler, 36, was nearly a Brewer as the return from the Mets in the Carlos Gomez trade, but that never came to fruition as Gomez ultimately headed to Houston. He remains one of the most consistent starters in the majors, as he’s 13-5 with a 2.99 ERA, 3.47 FIP, and 177 strikeouts over 150 1/3 innings this year. He’s allowed one run or fewer in each of his last four outings against the Angels, Braves, Astros, and Nationals, totaling 26 innings with three earned runs and 29 strikeouts. The veteran righty has made 11 career starts against Milwaukee, and he’s 5-2 with a 2.41 ERA and 78 strikeouts across 71 innings.
Wednesday, September 23 @ 5:40 p.m.: RHP Logan Henderson (10-3, 2.51 ERA, 3.30 FIP) vs. RHP Aaron Nola (7-10, 4.49 ERA, 4.78 FIP)
Henderson, who has quickly developed into Milwaukee’s No. 2 starter, has had a great rookie season, going 10-3 with a 2.51 ERA, 3.30 FIP, and 107 strikeouts across 93 1/3 innings. He’s coming off what he’d probably consider a “disappointing” start against the Pirates, going five innings with three runs allowed (tying a career-high mark) and eight strikeouts in a no-decision. This marks Henderson’s first career appearance against Philadelphia.
Nola, 33, is another veteran right-hander, having spent all 12 seasons of his career in Philadelphia. Nola is having a mediocre year, with a 7-10 record, 4.49 ERA, 4.78 FIP, and 169 strikeouts over 168 1/3 innings. He’s had trouble with the long ball, allowing an MLB-worst 34 homers this season. He’s looked better over his last several outings, though, allowing two runs or fewer in each of his last seven starts, totaling 48 1/3 innings with a 1.86 ERA and 48 strikeouts. Nola has made 16 career starts against Milwaukee, going 7-3 with a 3.22 ERA and 104 strikeouts over 95 innings. That includes a no-decision back in June, when he went 4 2/3 innings, allowing three runs and striking out three.
Thursday, September 24 @ 5:05 p.m.: TBD vs. TBD
Neither team has announced a starter for Thursday’s series finale, and it’s hard to predict Milwaukee’s starter due to the recent shuffling e.g., Dustin May and Kyle Harrison. This seems like the perfect opportunity for Colton Gordon, who the Brewers acquired alongside Lance McCullers Jr. in exchange for Jadyn Fielder back in July. Gordon, 27, hasn’t yet appeared in the majors with Milwaukee, but he’s 6-4 with a 5.95 ERA and 83 strikeouts over 95 1/3 innings in MLB with the Astros. He’s made 10 starts with Triple-A Nashville since being acquired, going 1-5 with a 4.67 ERA and 48 strikeouts over 54 innings. The former eighth-round pick has made one career start against Philadelphia, which came last June while with Houston. He went five scoreless innings, striking out four to pick up the win.
Philadelphia will likely go with José Urquidy as the “bulk arm” in this game, as the last turn through the rotation, left-hander Tim Mayza opened the first inning before turning it over to the right-hander. Urquidy, 31, started the season with the Pirates and also spent time with the White Sox before being claimed off waivers by Philadelphia on Thursday. He’s made 12 appearances (one start) this year, totaling 33 2/3 innings with a 4.54 ERA, 3.84 FIP, and 27 strikeouts. In Friday’s loss to the Mets, he worked 4 2/3 innings, allowing no runs on five hits and six strikeouts. Urquidy has faced 26 teams in his career, but the Brewers are not one of them.
How to Watch & Listen
Tuesday, September 22: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Wednesday, September 23: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Thursday, September 24: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Prediction
The Phillies have a lot more to play for at this point, as they’re fighting with the Cubs and Padres for home-field advantage in the NL Wild Card Series (whereas the Brewers are just fighting with the Dodgers for the top overall seed). Philadelphia hasn’t been consistent recently, though, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the Brewers sneak away with two out of three.
That virus kept him away from the team for a short while, including skating with a red non-contact sweater with Group 3 on Thursday, the first day of camp on the ice.
Since then, he's been ramped up, joining Group 1 with the main NHL roster for the past couple of practices. On Friday, he was paired with Emil Andrae, but head coach Jim Hiller said not to look too deeply into that as a sign of things to come.
On Monday, he provided an update on how he was feeling.
"I feel good," the Leafs' blueliner said. "I felt good all along, it's just some kind of virus that I didn't really know I had that came up in blood work. We wanted to avoid contact for a couple of days, that's all."
The Maple Leafs opened their short pre-season campaign on Saturday, with a split-squad game against the Montreal Canadiens. One game was played in each arena of the two teams, one at the Bell Centre in Montreal and the other at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, but Rielly didn't feature in either contest.
At Monday's practice, he was skating on what could be identified as the team's top defense pairing with Darren Raddysh. After the session, Rielly was asked if he believes that he'll be ready to go for the Maple Leafs' final pre-season outing on Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators.
On Saturday, the Maple Leafs had Chris Tanev, Jake McCabe, Raddysh and Andrae as the defensemen from Toronto's Group 1 of training camp. Ben Danford and Marshall Rifai were the two on the bottom pair.
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Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer were together on some memorable Detroit teams before moving on and winning championships elsewhere.
Will they eventually enter the Hall of Fame as part of the same class?
The first question is whether both will retire after this season. The 43-year-old Verlander already jas announced this is his final year. He’s made only one start in a reunion season with the Tigers, although Detroit fans are hoping he can return for another.
Scherzer’s future is less clear. The 42-year-old right-hander is slated to start at Baltimore, as the Blue Jays try to keep their flickering playoff hopes alive, but Scherzer has posted ERAs over 5.00 both this season and last. He’s on a one-year contract with Toronto.
Some other prominent players also may have made — or might be making — their last appearances in the major leagues. Trey Mancini signed a one-day contract to retire with the Orioles and was celebrated in Baltimore. Andrew McCutchen and Carlos Santana, both 39, were released in August. Craig Kimbrel, now 38, has pitched for 10 different big league teams in the last six seasons.
Paul Goldschmidt is 39, but his team — the New York Yankees — is heading to the playoffs. And he may be more important than expected if Aaron Judge is out.
With a lockout possible after this season, there could be some retirements we don’t anticipate. Rick Sutcliffe, Bo Jackson and Hall of Famer Goose Gossage, for example, never played again after the 1994 strike but didn’t actually retire until the following year.
Trivia time
Who is the most recent player voted into the Hall of Fame by the BBWAA whose primary team was the Tigers? (The drought likely will end soon with Miguel Cabrera and then Verlander.)
Performance of the week
Angel Martínez homered from both sides of the plate and had four hits in Cleveland’s 12-6 win over the Athletics. The Guardians have won five straight and are closing in on a postseason spot. They have a one-game lead over the Chicago White Sox atop the AL Central, and it’s another three games back from the White Sox to Toronto and Houston in the race for the last wild card.
In the National League, Philadelphia leads Arizona by four games for the final wild card, so anyone rooting for chaos may be disappointed.
Comeback of the week
Detroit was down 8-2 in the fifth inning before scoring nine unanswered runs to win 11-8 over the White Sox. Kevin McGonigle hit a three-run triple, and both Hao-Yu Lee and Riley Greene added two-run homers during the comeback. Detroit’s win probability was down to 3.2% in the fourth inning according to Baseball Savant.
That’s the only game the Tigers have won out of their last five. They’ve been eliminated from the playoff race, the end of a frustrating season in which nothing seemed to go as planned.
Team of the week
The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres both went 6-1, with the Dodgers posting the superior run differential. A three-game sweep of San Francisco leaves the Dodgers four games ahead of Atlanta for the second bye in the National League as they try for a third consecutive World Series title.
There still are health concerns for the Dodgers, with Shohei Ohtani on the injured list and Blake Snell having left his last start after one inning.
Los Angeles did get Edwin Diaz back, and he threw scoreless innings on back-to-back days.
Trivia answer
Al Kaline, who was inducted in 1980.
George Kell, Hal Newhouser, Jim Bunning, Sparky Anderson, Jack Morris and Alan Trammell have been elected since then with the Tigers as their primary team, but they weren’t voted in by the BBWAA.
Hockey is officially back! The Pittsburgh Penguins will play their first preseason game of the year against the Buffalo Sabres on Monday night.
The Penguins will feature some of their regulars on Monday, but younger players will also be in the lineup as they fight for roster spots.
The top line will feature Ben Kindel between Bryan Rust and Andrei Kuzmenko. Those three have played together throughout training camp and have looked comfortable. Now, it's time to see what they can do in game action.
Defensemen Harrison Brunicke and Owen Pickering will be paired together after practicing on a pair during camp. They've both had great camps and will have an opportunity to start the preseason on a high note.
Goaltender Sergei Murashov will play in the first half of the game, while Joel Blomqvist will get the second half.
Here are the expected lines and pairs:
Forwards
Kuzmenko-Kindel-Rust
Hallander-Lapierre-Brazeau
Dewar-Broz-Soderblom
Howe-Gustafsson-Hayes
Defensemen
Van Riemsdyk-Letang
Graves-Pietila
Pickering-Brunicke
It certainly appears that forward Carter Sanderson and defenseman Tomas Galvas will be the scratches.
Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'
“That is one of several aggressive financial projections included in an investor presentation being circulated by Thrive Capital,” Toonkel and Maurer wrote. “… In the presentation, the buyers laid out plans to expand the storied National Basketball Association franchise, including through international growth and new opportunities in local media rights.
“Those moves would help boost the Lakers’ valuation to at least $30 billion in a decade, the buyer group said, assuming that TV and streaming rights double in value. More favorable assumptions for the same period would place the long-term valuation at $62 billion.”
Iger and Kushner believe they will simply be propelling an already prosperous franchise. According to Iger and Kushner’s investment group, Thrive Capital, the Lakers are tracking to produce $681 million in revenue this year — led by ticketing and media rights — with projections to hit $1.6 billion by 2037.
“Profits are expected to zoom up as well, with adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization set to more than triple from an estimated $129 million to more than $589 million over that span, according to the presentation,” Toonkel and Maurer wrote.
The key point with all of this news is what actually means for the fans and the on-court product. Fans do not care about billionaires bolstering their pocket books. If the Lakers are going to generate more revenue and explode in value as a franchise, ownership better invest a significant chunk (or all of it, really) back into the team or the fan experience.
Good owners spend, whether that’s enhancing TV production and in-arena pageantry, paying staffers a proper wage or ensuring finances aren’t an impediment for the Lakers’ team-building. Iger and Kushner seem confident and outspoken about their ownership tenure elevating Los Angeles to new heights monetarily. That won’t matter if such a development does nothing to benefit the Lakers’ on-court success or enjoyment for the fans.
BALTIMORE — The Milwaukee Brewers haven’t won more than five in a row all year. It hasn’t stopped them from setting a single-season franchise record for victories.
Milwaukee broke the mark it set last season, smothering the Baltimore Orioles 3-0 to improve to 98-58.
“We haven’t had these streaks of greatness,” manager Pat Murphy said. “We haven’t put it all together.”
Even without rattling off an extended run, the Brewers have the best record in the majors. They’ve already clinched their fourth consecutive NL Central title and will make their eighth postseason appearance in nine years. Twice in that span they’ve advanced to the NLCS, including last year, but they have not reached the World Series since 1982.
Milwaukee completed its ninth series sweep of the season while receiving help from all over the roster. The Brewers stole four bases, got a stellar diving catch from center fielder Garrett Mitchell in the seventh inning and had seven pitchers combine on a four-hit shutout for the record-setting victory with six games left.
“It means a lot,” said pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (15-5, 1.86 ERA), who gave up a hit and struck out four in three innings in an abbreviated start designed to manage his workload.
“It’s always a big deal to set a new record, a franchise record at that. Hopefully, we get a few more and get to a little bigger number.”
Milwaukee enters the final week of the season two games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in the NL and needs only one more victory or an Atlanta loss to lock up a bye into the division series.
“It’s hard to be in this spot to begin with, and I don’t think it’s appreciated enough,” Murphy said. “I think people don’t realize how hard it is for any of the 30 teams to put themselves in this position, and that’s what makes me proud of these guys. We’re not the oldest team, we’re not the most experienced, we’re not the most talented. We’re not the most a lot of things, but for sure they’ve proven they’re a team.”
The St. Louis Blues have no shortage of NHL-caliber bottom-six players, but the simple fact is that not all of those players will make the opening-night roster, which is why the latest report stating the Blues are open to trades is unsurprising.
According to trusted NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Blues have made it known that they have plenty of NHL-caliber depth forwards who they are willing to part with.
“One thing I kind of heard is that in St. Louis, for example, they have a bunch of NHL guys who are kind of in the bottom six, and not all of them are going to make their team," said Friedman on his podcast, 32 Thoughts. "And I think the Blues have let it be known that if you want some NHL depth, deeper in your roster, guys who’ve played, we have extras.”
The veteran core the Blues are bringing into the season includes Jonatan Berggren, Pius Suter, Ross Johnston, Alexey Toropchenko, Dillon Dube, Nathan Walker, Oskar Sundqvist and Jack Finley.
This also includes younger players waiting for their opportunity, like Otto Stenberg, Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, Zach Dean, Justin Carbonneau and Dylan Peterson, although those players are unlikely to be traded.
From the veteran group, Ross Johnston is the least likely to be traded, as he was signed to a three-year deal in the off-season to be the team's physical presence and enforcer.
There are only so many spots, and realistically, there are just five spots to be earned from a group of 13 players. Stenberg, Carobonneau and Kaskimaki are likely out of the race due to being waivers exempt. Dean and Peterson are on two-way contracts, but the organization likely wants to see a bit more from them before calling them up.
Of the veteran group, Johnston likely has his spot locked down, and Suter should get the first run as the fourth-line center. Berggren showed he was capable of a middle six role last year and it would be shocking to not see him start on the third line.
That leaves Toropchenko, Walker, Sundqvist, Finley, and Dube fighting for one roster spot and one 13th forward spot. Three players will be sent on waivers and could be claimed by other teams. If the Blues don't see a future for them in the NHL, trading them and receiving a draft pick in exchange will help mitigate the loss.
Any of those players could be traded, but Suter's name could draw the most interest. He's a better player than a fourth-line center, but with the makeup of the roster, it's the role he's been reduced to. Suter earns $4.125 million for the remainder of this season before becoming a UFA.
NHL teams in need of center depth, especially someone with Suter's two-way versatility, could be willing to part ways with serious assets.
The Blues remain insistent on competing, and keeping Suter provides them with a strong lineup. But in the case where they think Kaskimaki or Dean could adequately fill that role, they could look to offload Suter.
Whichever direction the Blues go, they could be very active in the trade market.
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CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 17: The Los Angeles Dodgers pose for a photo on the infield after defeating the Cincinnati Reds to clinch the NL West Division title at Great American Ball Park on September 17, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers are taking advantage of the schedule in front of them, with 14 wins in 19 September games, including winning the last 10 in a row at home. This week that meant beating the Reds three times in four games in Cincinnati, then returning to Los Angeles to sweep the Giants.
Kyle Tucker is starting to turn things around at the plate, and followed up an excellent series the previous weekend in Miami with nine hits in 20 at-bats, with three home runs and two doubles, with six walks and just one strikeout.
Honorable mention goes to Mookie Betts, who tied a Dodgers record with three doubles on Saturday, part of a stretch of three consecutive games with at least three hits. Will Smith found his power again with two home runs and a double, and Alex Freeland reached base eight times in 14 trips to the plate, including a home run and a double.
Pitcher of the week
Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched seven scoreless innings with seven strikeouts to beat the Reds on Tuesday, his third straight seven-inning start in September. Yamamoto this season has allowed zero or one run in 14 of his 27 starts.
Honorable mention goes to Justin Wrobleski, who retired all nine batters he faced with three strikeouts while starting Thursday’s division clincher in Cincinnati, and to Landon Knack, who got the win in that game with four scoreless innings in relief. Also to Emmet Sheehan, who continued his strong six-week run with nine strikouts in 5 1/3 scoreless frames on Sunday.
Week 26 results
6-1 record 39 runs scored (5.57 per game) 16 runs allowed (2.29 per game) .836 pythagorean win percentage
Year to date
96-60 record 780 runs scored (5.00 per game) 587 runs allowed (3.76 per game) .627 pythagorean win percentage (98-58)
Miscellany
Half a hundred: The Dodgers have won 10 games in a row at home, and Sunday’s win was their 50th win at Dodger Stadium this season. That’s six straight years with 50 wins at home, plus seven straight full seasons dating back to 2019. Since moving into Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers won 50 home games 12 times in 51 full seasons through 2014. But since 2015, they’ve won at least 50 games at home 10 times in 11 full seasons.
Parliamentary procedure: After making the All-Star team as a starter with the Kansas City Royals in 2025, left-hander Kris Bubic was on the 60-day injured list when the Dodgers acquired him just ahead of the August 3 trade deadline. Now he’s pitching in relief, angling for a spot on the postseason roster. With his appearance on Wednesday, Bubic became the 33rd different Dodgers pitcher used this season. So far, Bubic has four strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings in three appearances. “It’s just funk,” manager Dave Roberts said Sunday of Bubic. “It’s nothing overpowering, but there’s just funky swings, soft contact. I see him as a neutral pitcher, gets left and right out. I like those converted starters, because he knows how to navigate lineups.”
Monday: The fresh arm express was busy this week, beginning with Emmet Sheehangetting optioned the day after pitching six scoreless innings, in favor of Paul Gervase.
Monday: One day after a rare bad outing, Edgardo Henriquez was placed on the injured list with low back discomfort, ending his regular season and putting his playoff availability in question. Bobby Miller returned from Triple-A.
Wednesday: Trade deadline acquisition Kris Bubic was activated off the 60-day IL to make his Dodgers debut in relief, the team’s 33rd pitcher of the season. Gervase was optioned and Ryan Ward was designated for assignment.
Thursday: Miller was sent back to Oklahoma City, and Landon Knack was called up to pitch four scoreless innings in relief in the division clincher in Cincinnati.
Sunday: Sheehan got the call back up to the Dodgers, with Tarik Skubal placed on the bereavement list. Kyle Hurt was also called up, with Seth Halvorsen optioned.
The Dodgers conclude the regular season by running the Dave Dravecky gauntlet, hosting the San Diego Padres before going to San Francisco for three more with the Giants.
Expect Andy Pages and Roki Sasaki (out of the bullpen) to be active for the Padres series beginning Tuesday. Shohei Ohtani could return to the lineup as early as Wednesday.
BREAKING NEWS — Beatles biographer Mark Lewisohn just uncovered a new diary from Paul McCartney, suggesting the original lyrics to the 1968 hit “Hey Jude” were much different. Just as “Yesterday” originally came to Macca in a dream as a song about scrambled eggs, contemporaneous notes reveal that the seven minute epic was initially about future Minnesota Timberwolf Julius Randle’s troubled history with the franchise.
Canis Hoopus is proud to share an exclusive look at the original lyrics (sung to the tune of Hey Jude)
Hey Ju—lius Randle You were decent, but not immaculate Remember when you took it to Draymond and backed him down under the basket?
Hey Ju, you got done wrong by several members of the Buss family You outplayed Zion and Ingram and we get why you feel angry
And anytime you feel the pain, hey Ju, refrain, Don’t treat your coach a little colder The second apron is so cruel, hey Ju, you’ll do, The turnaround you neeeeed is over your shoulder
Hey Ju—lius Randle Take a bad shot and make it wetter You’ll probably get numbers with the dumb Nets But Karl-Anthony Towns is way, way better Better better better better better better, oh!
Na na na nananana, nannana, hey Ju… (repeat until George Harrison walks out on a rehearsal)
Hey folks, some real talk here. I know I just spent the last few paragraphs LARPing as Weird Al Yankovic, but deep down I’m just a Wolves fan with a big ol’ heart. I saw a lot of negative outbursts aimed at Julius Randle in the comments last playoffs and wanted to provide a nuanced assessment of his fun-but-flawed tenure in tree-stripes.
October, 2024 – Julius Randle’s wife allegedly says she prefers Twin Cities suburbs to New York City: I got hyped when someone on Reddit shared this rumor right after a clearly shocked Randle said he “just wants to be wanted” when he got traded on the eve of the ‘24 season. Maybe she’s on to something–the Plymouth K.U.B.E. indoor playground is a dope place to bring the fam.
November 17, 2024 – Ant hugs Julius after buzzer-beater. Unintentional hilarity ensued after Anthony Edwards gave Julius a jubilant hug to celebrate Randle’s game-winning three against the Phoenix Suns, a la Magic Johnson on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Julius reacted with saucer eyes, acting as if he had never been appreciated by a teammate before in his life. I guess Larry Nance Jr. isn’t a hugger.
Nov 27, 2024 – Julius struggles to find his footing in a depressing loss to the Sacramento Kings. Early on Julius struggled to fit into the offense. He didn’t have the court vision to facilitate from the elbow like KAT, wasn’t shooting great from three, and just couldn’t find a rhythm. It didn’t help that stonehands Rudy Gobert dropped every pass Randle sent his way.
JR’s stat line looked fine on the outside (21 points and nine rebounds), but he hit one of his five shots from three and chucked up some momentum-stopping head slappers. The Wolves were under .500 and stuck in a four-game losing streak. Nothing blares “it’s not working” like a loss to the Kings.
Dec 7, 2024 – Julius wears great sweater. Say what you will about his on-court achievements, the man performed wonders as cozy-sweater sommelier.
March 30, 2025 – Julius gets 25 points and 8 rebounds against the Detroit Pistons. Somewhere in the final quarter of the ‘24-25 season, Julius really started to settle into his role. This was the game I thought he finally figured it out. Down 16 early, Julius stayed calm and bullied his way to the line over and over. Thanks to Julius, the Wolves clawed back and celebrated a routine win in the midst of a 9-2 hot streak to end the season.
April 30, 2025 – Julius outplays LeBron James. While Jaden McDaniels was the real second option this series (backing an awesome Ant performance), Julius Randle played his part to perfection.
Randle used his strength to wear out Bronny James’ aging dad and saved his best for Game 5. Ruby Gobert got the headlines for this win, but I’ll always respect Julius for putting the team first against the Los Angeles Lakers and balling within the space Chris Finch carved out for him.
May 12, 2025 – Julius is better than Jonathan Kuminga. After dropping the first game to a veteran Golden State Warriors team, the Wolves ran the Dubs off the court for the next four games. Julius’ performance in Game 4 epitomized his dominance in the series, posting 31 points and contributing mightily to Kuminga’s minus-13 in the game.
May 22, 2025 – Oklahoma City slaps the ball out of Randle’s hands. Ooof. Aside from mood swings, Randle’s biggest weakness is losing the ball when pestered by smaller guards. OKC swarmed Julius, and turnovers fell from his fingers like cherry blossoms in an anime fight scene. Julius had six points in Game 2 of the series.
Dec 14, 2025 – Julius keeps the Wolves afloat. The rudderless Wolves got off to a frustrating start to the 2025 season, in no small part due to roster limitations forcing Finch to ask shooting guards to run the offense. Julius played great in December, frequently leading the team in scoring and bailing out the offense when plays broke down. His December 14th performance against Sacramento showed the value of having an 18-point, 9-rebound metronome on a team that struggled to run a play.
Jan 26, 2026 – Julius seems kinda bummed out by ICE shootings. In January 2026, the President paid 4chan moderators to execute a Veterans Affairs nurse. Shortly after this tragedy, the Target Center hosted a bizarre, tear-gas-stained matinee against the Golden State Warriors. Many Wolves fans were disappointed that Steph Curry and Steve Kerr seemed to be more empathetic to Minnesotans than members of our own team.
Julius Randle gave one of the better quotes, clearing a low bar by saying, “Regardless of politics, there’s a human aspect to it. For me, I have kids, I have family; for me, the job as a man is to be the protector of the house. You see things like that, and obviously, it’s tough. It’s hard to stomach things like that… regardless of whatever’s going on, when somebody loses their life, you never want to see that.”
These words aren’t the strongest condemnation, but to Julius’ credit, his demeanor was somber when reflecting on the moment. He honestly seemed saddened by the events, and my take was that he did not want to get death threats for saying the wrong thing.
Feb 6, 2026 – Giannis Antetokounmpo’s viral marketing stunt causes Julius’ self-esteem to crater. I feel for Julius on this one. After saying his only desire was to “feel wanted,” the 2026 trade deadline revealed that he was not wanted by two different teams. The Timberwolves tried to trade him for Giannis, but the Milwaukee Bucks also rejected Julius.
Randle went into a funk, pondering the ephemeral nature of love with each ill-conceived 18-footer. After the trade deadline, Giannis revealed he had an advertising contract with prediction market Kalshi, and it sure seemed like the Greek Freak engineered an effective insider trading campaign by manipulating trade rumors.
I guess that was legal??? Martha Stewart has to be so pissed about this.
May 15, 2026 – Julius scores three points as San Antonio Spurs eliminate Timbies in the second round. Randle was not the only big who floundered against Victor Wembanyama last postseason (pray for Chet Holmgren), but man, did he struuuuuugle. Wemby’s length erased Julius’ bread-and-butter foul-line turnaround/drive to the rim. By the end of the series, it seemed like Randle just wanted to go home.
July 10, 2026 – Julius traded to the third-saddest NYC team. At least it’s not the Jets or Mets, right? Looking back, I will always include Julius in the same category as Carlos Boozer and LaMarcus Aldridge: talented back-to-the-basket bruisers who could support a run to the conference finals, but who ultimately were just below the efficiency bar required for a true second banana on a title team.
No shame in that, Julius! You’re an all-star. I enjoyed your time on the Wolves and wish you the best in Brooklyn–I hear now’s a great time to catch Victoryland at Elsewhere.
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 18: Gabriel Hughes #43 of the Colorado Rockies reacts after pitching in the fourth inning during the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Friday, September 18, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Casey Paul/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Gabriel Hughes and TJ Rumfield are two very different players.
Hughes was drafted by the Rockies in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft and has worked his way up through their minor league system. Rumfield was acquired from the Yankees in an offseason trade.
Rumfield made the Opening Day roster; Hughes debuted mid-season.
And, of course, Hughes is a pitcher coming off Tommy John surgery while Rumfield is a position player.
But both have made an impact for the Rockies this year in different ways.
TJ Rumfield
TJ Rumfield is making a case for NL Rookie of the Year. Through Saturday, he is slashing .302/.392/.454 with a 23-game on-base streak, the longest in the Majors and the longest single-season on-base streak by a rookie in franchise history.
But how would Rumfield sum up his rookie season?
“A lot of learning experiences,” he said. “I think a lot of the team stuff – trying to gel together with guys and make conversations with new people, and even when you have new faces in here, trying to make them feel comfortable because I know how I felt when I first got in the locker room. It’s just small things like that, and ultimately just learning every day.”
And those learning experiences have paid dividends for the rookie, as he ranks among all qualified rookie leaders in average (.302, 1st), OBP (.392, 1st), OPS (.846, 1st), hits (159, 3rd), and multi-hit games (41, T-2nd). Rumfield ranks among NL qualified rookies in doubles (29, 1st), RBI (70, 2nd), extra-base hits (47, 2nd) and total bases (239, 2nd). And he ranks among Major League leaders in OBP (.392, 3rd) and average (.302, 5th).
He and Yordan Alvarez (.312/.429) are the only qualified players in all of MLB with a batting average of at least .300 and an OBP of at least .309.
Not too shabby.
Rumfield has also been a defensive stalwart for the Rockies at first base — something they’ve been sorely lacking since Todd Helton retired in 2013. He’s made plenty of jaw-dropping plays, but one stood out to him in particular on May 18 against the Texas Rangers at Coors Field.
“I just remember the ball going up in the air and like, ‘Okay, this is one where I can maybe go over the dugout. Like this could be cool,’” he recalled. “And you get closer and closer, and you’re like, ‘Uh oh, it’s about to happen!’ And the momentum taking me over – it was just everything you dream of. Nobody caught me, but it was fine. It’s baseball. You dream of making plays like that and just trying to make a little difference in the game.”
He’s also been leaning on his teammates, especially Troy Johnston.
“(He’s given me) more golf advice,” Rumfield chuckled. “But the boy’s a great teammate. I would actually go to him when I’m feeling down. And he can attest to this – I’ll go to him and I’ll be like, ‘Troy, you’ve got to give me something. Tell me something good about myself.’ And he always does. We’re currently 3-for-3 on that one.”
Manager Warren Schaeffer has also helped his fellow Virginia Tech alum get settled from day one.
“Schaeff was unbelievably welcoming on the first day in spring training,” Rumfield recalled, “calling me into his office and letting me know, ‘Hey, you’re welcome here. I just want you to come and compete.’ It didn’t feel like anything was given to me. I just had to go out and earn it, and I’ve wanted to do that. That’s what I’ve done my whole entire career. It was nice to have the front office be so welcoming – Schaeffer be so welcoming – and just everything kind of working out.”
Gabriel Hughes
Gabriel Hughes (No. 7 PuRP) has been a different story.
The former 10th-overall pick had a long way to the majors that included Tommy John surgery in 2023. But he didn’t let that slow him down, making his long-awaited MLB debut on July 3.
Hughes made his last start on September 18 — his 13th of the year — and took yet another no decision. In 14 appearances (13 starts), Hughes is 0-8 with a 6.33 ERA. The only other Rockies pitcher in franchise history to begin their career with zero wins through their first 13 starts was Jon Gray in 2015-16.
But like Rumfield, Hughes said his rookie year has been “a learning experience.”
“It’s been very different from every level I’ve played at so far, and I think learning how to manage that schedule is part of being a professional,” he said. “But it’s been wonderful, too, being able to travel to so many different places, play so many different places, experience so many different things. It’s been really special being able to see so much of the country in such a short amount of time.”
For example, Hughes was able to pitch at Yankee Stadium — somewhere he’d always dreamed about as he grew up as a huge fan of Mariano Rivera. And he had to navigate the New York City Subway System to get there:
But like all of the other pitchers, Hughes noticed a difference pitching at Coors Field versus the road. But not necessarily in the way one would think.
“I think it’s an experience that Albuquerque has prepared me for, where you go from elevation to non-elevation every week,” he said. “I think here, the biggest difference is that you do it every three to four days instead of every week.”
In addition to his body preparation, though, Hughes has made some adjustments to his pitching.
“I think one of the things I’ve really learned is that I have to have different starting points for a lot of my pitches when I’m here versus on the road,” he said. “It’s not something I’ve thought about too much in the past when I was in Albuquerque. But here, where the margin for error is so low, I think it’s extremely important. So that’s something I’ve continued to work on. But that’s probably the biggest thing I’ve noticed because the margin for error is so low, so you have to be sharp here and on the road.”
And the coaching staff have given Hughes a lot of good advice and a lot of good ideas, which he has enjoyed.
“It’s been awesome. They’re all young and full of ideas,” he said.
“And working with Alon (Leichman) and Gabe Ribas and Matt Buschmann has been really cool because there’s always some new idea, and it’s always, ‘Hey, take it or leave it. If it works for you, great. If not, no worries.’ There’s no ego there. But I think it’s really cool because if I have ideas, I can bounce them off them. They have great ideas that they bounce off me, too.”
He also had high praise for his manager.
“I think Schaeff’s been really cool, too,” he continued. “He’s been a great manager so far because he’s been willing to give praise when you need it and to give you tough words when you need it. And I have no doubt that all the coaches would go to war for us.”
There have been a lot of up-and-down moments for Hughes during his rookie season, but one stands out in particular:
“Striking out Shohei (Ohtani) on three pitches at Dodger Stadium was pretty cool,” he said. “I think it was to lead off an inning, and it was a fastball up, a curveball that he fouled off, and a fastball above the zone for a swing and miss. That was a pretty cool feeling.”
Hughes was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque on September 19 to finish his rookie year, but still finished with 1.1 fWAR — leading the Rockies’ rotation.
Looking to the future
Rumfield and Hughes represent the Rockies future. Both have been bright spots in different ways, and it will be exciting to see what they are able to do in their sophomore campaigns.
In the meantime, there are six games left in the Rockies 2026 campaign and hopefully they are able to finish strong.
